Wish you all a very Happy Holi

It is a beautiful festival filled with colours and fun but some distorted minds spoil the essence of this colourful day

Please be careful and safe

Sameer got up in the morning when the alarm went off. He had placed it next to his pillow the previous night as he didn't want Naina to be disturbed in the morning. He patted it shut the moment it started to ring. Looking back at his wife, he found her sleeping peacefully. Her thick, long lashes rested on her cheeks, which were flushed pink... he wondered why.  Maybe she was dreaming about him. A smile spread on his face... maybe Naina had learnt to have not so innocent dreams. So what could it be that she was seeing now... he wished he could get inside her dream.

"Woh toh main pehle se hi hounga, tabhi aise sharma rahi hai meri jaan." He thought.

She was herself no less than a dream for him at this moment. Her silky hair were spread on one side of the pillow... her puffed, pink cheeks gave tough competition to the slight pout of her soft, pink lips. The pendant of mangalsutra lay in the hollow of her neck. His eyes drifted south. She was definitely dreaming about him... the rapid rise and fall of her chest confirmed this. The quilt was pulled till her waist, and he could see the top bunched up to reveal her smooth skin. He knew exactly how it felt under his fingers... the warm touch that shook his senses everytime he felt her bare skin. He stared at her waist... marvelling at how beautiful her skin was.

The urge to see more of it seared through him again. He wondered why Naina was so shy even now. She would dazzle him with her boldness at times, but whenever he tried to see her, she would fold into a shell. His hands had felt her everywhere... she had got used to his explorations during their moments... but his eyes were not allowed to see what his fingers could feel. His eyes were filled up with the yearning to fulfill this desire. He needed to coax her again once this gargantuan time of five days passed.

He got up with a sigh, the turmoil within making the need of a cold shower more urgent.

Naina was still asleep when he came out. Slowly, he opened the cupboard, taking out clothes for office. With a smile, he slipped into the white shirt... it would always be her first choice for him. After pulling on the black trouser, he brushed his hair and sprayed the deo.

He wondered if he should let her sleep or wake her up before leaving. Well, he himself couldn't leave before knowing how she was feeling... was she as comfortable as yesterday or the pain and cramps were back.

"Naina." He said softly, sitting beside her on the bed.

"Umm." She raised one hand to shield her eyes.

"Jaan, kaisa lag raha hai?" His heart was awash with a fresh wave of love at her cuteness.

"Alarm nahi baja abhi... so jao." She turned to the side, throwing one arm over his legs.

Her fingers moved over his leg, touching the knee. She opened one eye in confusion, her nose scrunched up to understand the odd feel under her hand. Her eyes shot open, seeing him all dressed and ready.

"Sameer, tum itni subah kyon taiyar ho gaye? Aaj jaldi jaana tha kya? Tumne bataya kyon nahi raat ko? Maine toh alarm bhi roz ke time ka lagaya tha... Ramdhari itni jaldi aaya nahi hoga... par tum bhuke pet nahi jaa sakte... ruko, main abhi kuch bana deti hun" She sprang up, trying to get down from his side.

"Arre baba ruko... ab kaun ban raha hai Rajdhani Express?" He smirked, holding her at the elbows.

"Lekin tum... " His finger came on her lips... the words died away inside.

"Pehli baat, tum nahi uthogi... Ramdhari aa gaya hai... mujhe awaaz aa rahi thi... doosri baat, main jaldi nahi jaa raha, roz wale time pe hi jaa raha hun." He cleared.

Her brow creased. A quick look at the clock behind made her eyes go wide.

"Main aaj itni der tak kaise so gayi? Tumne mujhe uthaya kyon nahi?" She frowned.

"Tum soti hui itni pyaari lag rahi thi ki mera mann nahi kiya." He gave a soft peck on her cheek.

"Mujhe sote hue toh roz hi dekh sakte ho par tumhare jaane se pehle uthna chahiye tha na mujhe." She whined.

He shook his head, eyes turning mischievous in an instant, "Roz kahan dekh sakta hun... utha deta hun kyonki jo karna hota hai uske liye tumhara uthna zaroori hota hai."

She stared blankly for a second, then her cheeks tinted with the most beautiful shade of pink, her lips quivered to control the smile, her eyes glimmered with realisation, her fingers tightened on his knee...

"Aise hi sharma rahi thi jab main utha tha subah... kya kar raha tha tumhare sapne mein?" He pressed her cheek with his index finger, loving the dimple it created.

"Tumhe kisne kaha main sapne mein tumhe dekh rahi thi." She lifted her chin, giving him a defiant look.

"Yeh jo rang aata hain na tumhare chehre pe, achhe se pehchanta hun... aur apni jaan ko iss rang mein maine hi rangaa hai." He grazed the back of his fingers on her cheek, looking into her eyes.

"Bohot besharam ho tum... hato." She pushed at his chest, looking for a way to leave the bed.

"Main kitna besharam hun yeh main tumhe kuch dino baad bataunga." He winked.

Before she could say anything, he held her shoulders, "Tum abhi ye batao ki tum theek ho? Koi dard ya takleef toh nahi hai?"

She was amazed at how fast the naughty side of his changed into a caring and comforting persona.

"Theek hu bilkul... koi takleef nahi hai... bas mujhe nahana hai." She smiled at him.

He sat back on the bed, relaxing against the backrest, clutching her pillow to his chest, feeling her fragrance and her warmth that still clung to the pillow.

"Beta Sameer, har mahine yeh paanch din aise hi nikalne honge... uski khushbu se kaam chala aur uske takiye ko seene se laga." He exhaled loudly, pining for her.

He was still sitting in the same position when Naina came out a little later.

"Arre, tum abhi tak yahin ho? Maine socha breakfast kar rahe hoge." She went to the mirror.

"Intezar kar raha tha ki shayad tum bhi aise hi bahar aao jaise main aata hun... nahane ke baad... tumne toh dil hi tod diya." He dramatically clutched his chest.

She threw the brush she had just picked up, aiming at him.

"Ah Naina, lag jaati mujhe... apne pati ko ghayal karogi tum?" He caught the brush, coming up to her with it.

"Jao jaake khaa lo... der ho jayegi tumhe." She held out her hand to take the brush from him as he neared her.

"Tumhe saath leke jaunga." He came behind her, holding it out of her reach.

Untying the knot on top of her head, he started to smooth her hair delicately.

"Sameer, tumse nahi hoga, sone se ulajh jaate hain baal... main kar lungi." She looked at him through the mirror.

"Shhh." He didn't look up, engrossed in carefully removing all tangles till her hair shone like a cascade of silk on her back.

"Ab chalo." He placed the brush on dresser, holding her hand to turn when something occurred to him.

"Offo, main bhool kaise gaya?" He banged a fisted hand on his forehead, turning quickly to the cupboard.

Naina looked at him perplexed as he fished through the clothes... and came towards her with something hidden behind him.

"Sorry, yeh kal laaya tha... socha tha raat ko Munna ke jaane ke baad dunga par bhool gaya... tumhare abhi wale time ke liye." He held out the chocolate with one hand holding his ear with the other.

She took the chocolate, raised her heels, and placed a kiss on his jaw, pulling down his hand that held the ear.

"Sorry ki zaroorat nahi hai... iss baar mujhe iski bhi yaad nahi aayi... mera personal malai ka katora hai na mere paas." She winked.

Sameer let out another long exhale, watching her run away to the kitchen.

His day at office was usual, with some meetings and some discussions with munshiji. He had started to feel more comfortable with each passing day as the general methodology of all processes started to become clear to him. Nanu had set up an extremely efficient system and munshiji had managed it so well in last three years that the smooth working of all departments made him effortlessly slip into their working.

Naina was able to write quite a bit during the day. Her thoughts kept drifting back to Swati, though. She had not mentioned any problem... nor had complained about Munna even once. It wasn't that there was a lack of emotions in their relationship... but there was a lack of expression. And it was threatening to overpower the feeling of immense love they had for each other. Swati was not wrong in expecting some display of affection from Munna... he wasn't much at fault, either, as he had grown up in an environment where any blatant display of love openly was considered indecent.

She recalled the occasions when she had met Munna's parents... they were nice and simple people but more conservative than other families. His mother rarely even glanced at her husband in public. She had seen her chachaji and chachiji always comfortable with each other, holding hands, touching or even hugging in front of children. She found this ease very comforting. It gave her and Preeti the assurance of a love filled environment.

But then, there was taiji... who gave a scornful expression everytime she saw any such thing at home. Munna's parents were not like taiji but they still adopted the village type behavior. Munna, however, had learned to accept Sameer's ways and habits... whatever may be the reason, but he always supported Sameer. Now, it was hers and Sameer's turn to make him see that times had changed... a relationship was as much in need of a constant display of love as it needed a strong foundation to build a life together.

Sameer was thinking about the same issue as he sat in office after lunch. His last evening talk with Munna was almost a one sided conversation. He didn't say anything when Sameer tried to explain that it was very important to make your partner feel loved, wanted and cherished. He had not responded even when Sameer had told him about the gift that Pandit gave Preeti and how exhilarated she was about such a small thing.

"Yeh bata, tujhe kharab lagta hai jab  main Naina ke liye kuch karta hun ya uske saath time bitata hun?" Sameer had asked when he had not responded.

"Tu pagal hai kya, bhai? Mujhe kharaab kyon lagega? Mujhe toh bohot khushi hoti thi jab tu chhuttiyon mein aata tha aur bhabhi ke khyaalon mein khoke muskurata rehta tha." Munna had given him an understanding look.

"Main sirf khayal mein hi nahi khoya rehta tha... Naina ko dekhne ki har din koshish karta tha... usse milne ke liye plan banata tha... uske liye choti choti cheezen khareedta tha... aur jab milti thi toh usse har tarah se jatata tha ki maine usse kitna miss kiya hai." Sameer told him what he had seen every year.

"Tab ka theek tha, Sameer... lekin ab toh tum saath hi rehte ho na... toh ab zara bahar thoda dhyan rakha kar." Munna had shocked him.

"Bahar kya kiya maine?" He asked with joined brows.

"Jaise kal Law garden mein tu gayab ho gaya tha... achha nahi lagta, Sameer... ab ho gayi hai na shaadi... toh raho shaanti se... yeh bahar jaake bhi aise dikhawa karna... koi dekhega toh kya sochega." Munna had spilled out what was gnawing at the back of his mind since day before.

Sameer had gaped at him open mouthed...

Munna needed to learn a lot... and he didn't know how to start it. Maybe Naina could help. He decided to tell her the entire conversation tonight.

"Naina, yeh kaam humein karna hi hoga... Munna aur Swati ke pyaar ko line pe laana hi hai... iss tarah toh Munna kho dega Swati ko... aur yeh main hone nahi dunga." He fingered the thread on his wrist, promising himself that he and Naina would make Munna see what mistake he was committing.

Next update tomorrow morning