Sameer kept pacing the room. Sleep was not an option. He wished there was some way he could remain in touch with her throughout the journey.

Damn!!

As of now, he could do nothing but wait till she reached Mumbai.

Turning towards the phone, he quickly dialled a number.

"Hello." A sleepy voice greeted him.

"Rahul, abhi tak gaya nahi? Late ho jayega station pohochane mein toh? Naina ko mushkil hogi na... woh akeli..." He hollered into the instrument.

"Sameeeer... shaant reh." Rahul's pleading voice made him stop.

"Saat baje hain, yaar... Naina ki train dus baje yahan aayegi... abhi se chala jaun? Coolie ki naukri de denge mujhe wahan." Rahul smirked at the other end.

"Oh, saat baje hain... sorry Rahul, woh maine time nahi dekha... mujhe laga itni zyada der ho gayi hai Naina ko gaye hue ki ab tak toh... " Sameer sheepishly rubbed his forehead, glancing at the bedside clock.

"Tu bilkul chinta mat kar... main time se le aaunga usse... Sonali toh kabse uth ke lagi hai Naina ke saath karne wale kamon ki list banane mein." Rahul assured him.

"Kaam? Naina se kya kaam karwana hai? Sun Rahul, uski meeting hain aaj... ek nahi, teen teen... usse... " Sameer was tensed again.

"Arre yaar, tu toh ration paani leke chadh gaya... hum kya pagal dikhte hain tujhe... abe, kaam matlab, masti maza... sirf teri biwi nahi hai, hamari dost bhi hai woh... yaad hai ya bhool gaya?" Rahul chided him.

Sameer frowned, "Sorry, woh bas... tension ho rahi hai ki... "

"Sameer," Rahul stopped him mid sentence again, "sambhal bhai... sirf ek din ki baat hai... kal subah tak toh tu bhi aa jayega na... Naina ka poora khyal rakehnge hum... yeh toh nahi keh sakta ki usse teri yaad tak nahi aane denge kyonki tum Laila Majnu ke paas ek doosre ko yaad karne ke alava koi kaam nahi hai, par haan, koshish karenge ki usko dukhi na hone dein."

Sameer pursed his lips. Rahul had no idea that it would be an impossible task. The moment he had uttered the words about them leaving separately, the smile from Naina's face had vanished... and his too.

"Sameer, agar tum chaho toh main Naina ke saath jaa sakti hun usse jisse bhi milna hai." Sonali's voice boomed on phone, bringing him out of his thoughts.

"Umm... woh tum Naina se hi pooch lena... agar woh chahti hai ki tum jao toh theek hai... lekin agar woh mana kare toh akele jaane dena... bohot samajhdaar hai meri Naina... woh khud sambhal sakti hai sab kuch." Sameer finally had a small smile tug at the corner of his lips.

"Isiliye keh raha hun, bhai... itna pareshan mat ho... Naina sambhal legi... jab tujh jaisi uljhi hui paheli ko sambhal liya toh baaki sab toh choti moti baatein hain." Rahul's teasing could not stay dormant for long.

Sameer let out an audible sigh. He could visualise both his friends sticking to the phone, so that they could talk to him together.

"Chal main rakhta hun, par tu wapas aate hi phone karna. Naina ke paas office ka number hai, main wahin milunga. Aur haan, Rahul... please... dhyan rakhna." His voice dipped at the end.

Rahul turned soft, soothing him with his assurance again.

Sameer was taking a look at the documents for the impending meeting, though his mind could not register anything that lay before him. He looked up warily when office phone started to ring.

"Hello Sameer." Her voice reached him before he could speak.

"Naina?" He looked at the clock.

It was just one minute past ten. How could she call so early. The train was to reach Mumbai at ten. Another half an hour to the house after walking out the long platform. He wasn't expecting a call before eleven.

"Kya hua? Tum theek ho na? Kahan se phone kar rahi ho? Aur kaise kar rahi ho? Kahin ruk gayi kya train? Naina, tum train se kyon utari? Wapas jao abhi." He stood up in panic.

"Sameer, main Mumbai pohoch gayi... train chaar minute jaldi aa gayi thi... Rahul hai yahan pe... maine socha tumhe station ke phone booth se hi call karke bata dun... ghar pohochane mein abhi aur time lagta." Her words let him breathe out in relief.

They kept holding the phone for sometime, just listening to each other's breathing.

"I miss you, Naina." His soft voice conveyed his sadness.

"I Love You, Sameer." Her voice gave him new energy.

A smile spread on his lips as he closed his eyes.

"Aaj ki meeting mein poora dhyan dena... hum yeh judaai isliye nahi seh rahe ki jiss kaam ke liye alag hona pada hai usse hi bhool jayein... promise karo ki tum ab meeting ke alava kisi cheez ke baare mein nahi sochoge." She never failed to read his mind, even when she couldn't see him.

"Hmm." He swallowed the hesitation.

"Promise karo, Sameer." Her low voice melted in his ears.

He nodded, "Promise, Naina... tum bhi aisa hi karna."

He could feel her smile when she spoke, "Promise... mera bhi... Best of Luck."

He wished her good luck as well, before she disconnected. Placing the instrument against his heart, he closed his eyes, throwing his head back as he breathed out loud... it was as if it was the first breath he had taken since she left.

When he sat down again, there was a new energy in him. He could not let Naina... and nanu... down.

The foreign clients were not easy to please. They previously had a bad experience with an Indian firm so their initial response was curt and rigid.

"Sir, lagta hai yeh deal mushkil hogi... inhe agar itni problem thi toh yahan aaye hi kyon? Itni saari conditions ke saath kaise time pe inka order taiyar ho payega?" One of the managers said in a dejected voice when they were on a break a couple of hours into the meeting.

Sameer took a deep breath. They were a tough lot but he could see that they were impressed with the quality and his understanding of their specific requirements... they were also pleased with the acceptance to their demand of changing the patterns of printed materials.

"Munshiji, jo khana maine kaha tha woh arrange ho gaya na?" Looking back at the elderly man, Sameer asked.

He nodded.

Being in an elite hostel for the children of rich and affluent people, Sameer was exposed to English food in his early years. He had the foresight of arranging a proper English menu for lunch, along with some non greasy, light Indian dishes.

The guests were taken by surprise. They thoroughly enjoyed the hospitality, softening towards Sameer as he insisted that they try the mildly spiced local dishes as well.

Once the ice was broken, it was easy to strike a deal. The conditions were difficult but Sameer had already started planning how to go about it.

But the process of finalising all details went on till evening. The entire contract had to be typed before it could be signed by both parties. The foreigners were not prepared to stay in the office till late as they were not used to the heat. They said they would sign next day, making Sameer agitated. That meant he couldn't take the same four am train for Mumbai.

Since the deal was a real big one, he kept his disappointment to himself... mentally preparing himself for taking a train next morning immediately after signing.

Hundreds of kilometres away, Naina was greeted warmly by Sonali as she reached home with Rahul. She tried her best to look happy and cheerful, meeting them after so long, but both could see the sadness in her eyes. She refused when Rahul offered that he or Sonali could accompany her for the meetings.

"Uski zaroorat nahi hai... tum log mere liye pareshan mat ho... channel office aur studio toh mujhe achhe se pata hai... pehle bhi kitni baar gayi hun... Chauhan ji ka office dono ke beech mein padta hai... main cab le lungi." She convinced them.

She left after freshening up and a good breakfast which Sonali forcefully made her have, saying that she wouldn't be allowed to leave unless she finished.

The day was a successful one for her. Channel signed her for another show as they were bringing the present one to an end. They did not even ask for a complete written story, accepting the verbal outline that she gave.

"Aapke upar poora trust hai ji... jo bhi likhoge hamare liye top ka show ho jayega." Mr Kapoor had happily given her the cheque, which she donated for the project 'Kaliyan', that she had started for young underprivileged girls.

The meeting with Chauhan was equally smooth. She was amazed at the six figure amount on the cheque that he gave her. Her story had impressed him greatly.

When she reached the shooting site for the show, the creative team at the studios was elated to meet the writer whose story they were transforming into scenes on daily basis. They, along with the director, discussed a few details with her, happy that she was accommodating when they made some suggestions. She had met Shilpa, the female lead of the show but she wasn't around presently, since her scenes were not scheduled. After Mayank's episode, a new male lead had been signed. He was a decent boy, who spoke to her with great respect.

Overall, it was a successful day. By the time she left the studio after meeting everyone, it was already getting dark. She sighed, looking at the sky, twinkling with stars. It would have been so perfect had Sameer been here too. Closing her eyes, she assured herself that it wasn't long when he would be her.

At home, Sonali was excited to have her back. She had made Rahul get Naina's favourite pao bhaaji from the joint which she frequented with Sameer often. But without him, she didn't feel like eating anything.

Just as they started, the phone rang. Naina jerked her head in the direction of ringing... hoping it was for her.

It was.

After speaking to Sameer for a few seconds, Rahul handed the phone to Naina, whisking Sonali away from the room, taking their plates along.

"Tum theek ho?"

Both asked together.

They laughed together.

They gazed at the phone in hand and touched it to their forehead, pursing their lips... together.

"Naina, I miss you." His voice was soft.

She closed her eyes. She missed him as well... too much.

"Kuch bolo na?" He was desperate to hear her voice.

"Tumhari meeting kaisi rahi?" She asked, bringing some cheer in her voice.

Sameer told her about the day long interaction with the clients, telling her how it became easier for them to make some changes in the conditions put up by those foreigners once they had their type of food.

"Tumhare jaise bhukkad honge woh bhi." She giggled.

"Maine kahan khaya... main toh... " He stopped, realising he had spilled out what he wasn't supposed to.

"Sameer, tumne abhi tak khana nahi khaya?" Her concerned voice was louder.

"Bas woh... khane jaa hi raha tha... abhi hi office se aaya tha na... toh main... socha pehle tumse... " He stammered.

"Lunch kiya tha?" She knew the answer.

His silence confirmed it.

"Tumne bhi nahi kiya na?" It was his turn to question her.

They held onto the phone in silence before she turned to look at the plate on the table.

"Main hold karti hun, tum khana leke aao... hum saath khayenge." She said impatiently.

He promptly ran to the kitchen, filling up his plate with palak paneer that Ramdhari had prepared, along with chapati. Placing the phone against his ear, he sat at the table.

"Naina, maine khana le liya... tumne?" He queried.

"Maine bhi... kya kha rahe ho tum?" She asked.

"Palak paneer... aur tum?" He raised his brows.

"Pao bhaji." She smacked her lips, teasing him.

He sulked, "Kya Naina, main yahan roti kha raha hun aur tum Mumbai ki pao bhaji... mujhe bhi chahiye."

"Bachhon jaise mat karo... chalo khao ab... dono ek saath." She chided him, breaking a piece of pao.

Talking to each other, they finished their dinner, the fulfilment more because of the company rather than the food.

"Ab so jao, Sameer... kal subah subah nikalna hai tumhe." She moved to the kitchen, placing her plate in the sink.

He knew the moment was here... to tell her.

He took a deep breath before letting the words out, "Subah nahi, Naina... pehle office jaana hai... abhi contract pe sign nahi hua hai."

"Kya? Tum kal nahi aa rahe? Sameer, kal toh college... " She panicked.

"Usse pehle aa jaunga... bas subah nahi pohoch sakta... aaj late ho gaya tha isliye contract ban nahi paaya... kal subah tak hi taiyar hoga... lekin main sign karte hi nikal jaunga." He himself was a little tensed but tried to assure her.

"Please aa jaana, main nahi chahti tum late ho... Sameer, main tumhare bina nahi jaungi." Her throat choked up again.

"Shh Naina, aisa mat karna... main pakka aaunga... lekin tum aisa sochna bhi mat ki tum nahi jaogi... warna mujhe lagega tum naraaz ho ki main meeting ke liye yahan ruka." He knew she would react to that.

She did, "Aisa kyon bol rahe ho? Maine kab kaha... "

He pacified her, "Toh promise karo ki tum har haal mein jaogi kal."

She frowned, "Sameer, tum... "

"I Love You, jaan." His voice turned to a whisper.

And her grouse was forgotten.

The sound of his long, hard kiss reached her through the phone.

"Ab tumhari baari." He smiled.

She kissed back with same zeal.

When she went back to the room, all memories of the days... and nights... they had spent here, flashed in front of her eyes. And she missed him even more, if it was possible.

Don't worry, they'll meet tomorrow

Next update tomorrow evening