There was no better place for Sameer to be than standing with her in his arms. He could stay this way forever. But he also wanted to take her for shopping. She had worked very hard, much more than him, in the last few months. He really wanted to show his appreciation. Also, her birthday and their first anniversary was just a couple of weeks away. The one of their first marriage was celebrated in Mumbai. Next one, of their court marriage, came at a time when they were neck deep in work, due to last minute change requirements in the overseas order. All they could do was to go for a quiet dinner at a well known hotel. He didn't even get time to make some special arrangements. They just got a cake delivered to their table, and had dinner.

But this anniversary was different. It was the celebration of one year of fulfilment of their dream. Getting married with the consent of family, with all rituals and ceremonies was something they both wanted badly. And it had happened on this day. His mom and her father... two people who never gave their children the love of a parent... had blessed them on this day.

It wasn't just one year to their wedding day, it was an year to the day when their wishful thinking since childhood turned into reality... of being accepted by their only parent.

"Jaan, please chalo na. Main tumhare liye kuch khaas lena chahta hun." He said in a low voice when he couldn't see her face lowered in his chest.

Her arms around him tightened, "Sameer, mujhe jo chahiye woh mere paas hai. Aaj mujhe bas tumhare paas rehna hai... aise hi. Kahin jaane ka dil nahi hai."

A frown appeared on his face. Was everything okay? Was she upset over something?

He cupped her face, stepping back to see her, "Kuch problem hai kya, Naina? Tum kisi baat se pareshan ho?"

A fleeting wave of fear passed in her eyes. He panicked.

"Kya hua, Naina? Please batao mujhe... Naina, mujhe darr lag raha hai, bolo." He was frantic.

She placed a hand on his heart, "Sameer, mujhe bhi darr lagta hai... ki kahin hamari khushiyon ko kisi ki nazar na lag jaaye. Sab kuch itna achha ho raha hai ki mujhe yakeen hi nahi aa raha... itna sab ek saath mil jayega kabhi sapne mein bhi nahi socha tha. Apni khushi ko manane se bhi darr lag raha hai ki kahin hum apne hisse ki saari khushiyaan jaldi mein khatam na kar dein. Pata nahi kyon mera dil ghabrane laga hai... ki kahin sab kuch fir se..."

He placed a finger on her lips, shaking his head, "Aisa kuch nahi hoga. Bharosa rakho... khud pe, mujhe pe, hamare pyar pe aur nanu ke ashirwad pe. Unhone hi hamare raaste ek kiye hain na... jab woh yahan the tab bhi humein saath dekhna chahte the... ab toh wahan, upar direct bhagwanji ke paas baith ke woh hum pe koi musibat aane dein aisa ho hi nahi sakta. Tumhe pata hai, nanu jinse bhi connection banate the woh kabhi unki baat taal hi nahi paate the, itna achha tareeka hota hai nanu ka apni baat manwane ka. Toh kya bhagwanji taal payenge? Kabhi nahi. Aur fir hamara pyar bhi toh mazboot hai. Mujhe kisi baat ka darr nahi hai. Itne saalon ke dard ke baad hamari zindagi mein jo khushiyaan aayi hai woh hamesha ke liye hain. Unhe koi nahi cheen sakta... koi bhi nahi. Yeh mera waada hai tumse."

His promise cleared the apprehensions in her misty eyes. She nodded, pulling his hand down from her lips.

He leaned to pick up something from behind her, from the dresser. Before she could ask, he brought the kajal stick in front of her eyes.

"Aur chachiji ka yeh auzaar toh hai hi... har nazar se bachaane ke liye." He winked, taking a little of the black kohl on his fingertip and pressing it behind her ear.

She took the stick, doing the same to him.

"Lo, ho gayi hamari taiyari poori. Ab koi mushkil hamare aas paas bhi nahi aayegi." He grinned, placing a soft kiss on her forehead.

The shopping trip finally happened after lunch. Sameer was not as excited to buy for himself as he was for her shopping. But he quickly tried one tshirt after the other, selecting a few when Naina insisted he should buy something for himself before she checked ladies section.

When it came to her, he had a lot to say, selecting every second dress for her to try.

"Itne saare thodi lene hain. Bas do bohot hain." She whispered when the saleman went away to fetch some more designs after he had already put aside more than a dozen.

His eyes went wide, "Sirf do? Tumhe aath dus toh apne birthday ki leni hai aur usse double anniversary ke liye."

Naina slapped her forehead, "Tum kya mere liye dukaan khulwa rahe ho birthday gift main? Itne dresses kaun leta hai ek baar mein?"

"Mujhe kuch nahi sunna. Agar tum nahi logi toh main khud hi yeh sab khareed lunga." He crossed his arms adamantly, leaning back on the chair.

After a lot of argument and persuasion from both sides, she could make him settle down to take only six dresses.

But he dragged her to a nightwear shop from there. This round was won by Sameer as she was left tongue tied when he kept on asking for different shades of pink, satin nighties till he found two that were acceptable. Not stopping at that, he bought one in white and one in black. She was mortified as the salesman smirked while he dreamily looked at every nighty. All she wanted was to agree to everything he said and leave the shop as soon as possible.

When he insisted to enter a jewellery showroom after that, she glared at him, saying that if he did so, she would not talk to him till their anniversary. A triumphant smile spread on her face as he walked back to the car.

"Arre, Ramdhari kahan chala gaya?" Sameer was surprised to see the lock when they returned.

"Maine hi kaha tha kaam khatam karke chala jaaye. Humein toh bahar jaana tha toh woh kya karta yahan baith ke?" Naina walked in after unlocking the door.

"Par mujhe coffee pini thi." He placed all shopping bags on the couch, pouting.

She turned to look at him, amused at his petulant expression and nasal tone.

"Main bana dungi coffee, Sameer, isme bachhon jaise muh banane ki kya baat hai?" She ruffled his hair, making him look like a sulking kid.

"Nahi, tum yeh dresses try karke dikhao. Coffee main banaunga." He held her arm as she turned to leave.

"Abhi nahi, Sameer. Itna thak gaye hain. Kal dikha dungi." It was her turn to be grumpy.

"Main toh nahi thaka. Tum kaise itna thak gayi?" He narrowed his eyes.

She placed her hands on hip, "Yeh jo ek ke baad ek kapde try karwa rahe the wahan, usse thakan nahi hogi kya? Pata hai kitni mehnat lagti hai baar baar change karne mein?"

His pull made her land on his chest, with his arm around her waist, "Isliye hi toh maine kaha tha mujhe bhi aane do trial room mein. Tumhe mehnat karni hi nahi padti."

"Yaad hai na pichli baar kya hua tha? Tab toh ghoonghat mein chupke bach gaye the lekin iss baar kya dress pehen ke bahar aate?" She tried to hide her flushed face behind a mask of fake annoyance.

There was no awkwardness or discomfort on his face as he smiled, "Main uss din bhi aise hi aane ko taiyar tha. Darr toh tum gayi thi. Sirf tumhare liye pehna tha woh lehenga dupatta... warna Sameer Maheshwari kisi se darta warta nahi hai... aur pyar ke maamle mein toh bilkul nahi."

The colour on her cheeks was darker, "Woh pata hai mujhe... jab tum shaadi se pehle aadhi raat ko mere kamre mein aane ke liye Arjun bhaiya ko bol sakte ho toh taiji ki saheliyon ke saamne kya nahi kar sakte."

He smirked as the memories of her previous birthday brought a glint to his eyes.

However, he did not get time to plan something grand for this year. At the beginning of next week, the machines that they had ordered from Germany arrived, along with a team of experts to help in installation and operations. Naina assured him that she was more happy to be in the factory when this happened rather than cutting a cake at home.

"Birthday toh har saal aata hai. Agli baar manaa lenge. Waise bhi mujhe aadat nahi hai, Sameer. Pichle saal tumne jaise manaya woh mere liye kaafi tha. Usse achha toh kuch ho hi nahi sakta. Please, yeh kaam time pe khatam karna zaroori hai jisse hum apni anniversary tak free ho jaayein." She had brushed aside all his ideas.

The mention of impending celebration for the anniversary finally made him accept her decision. But he felt guilty... of letting such an important day go without doing anything special for her. To make up for it, he made her promise that they would go out for a few days after the party, just like a honeymoon. She couldn't say no to that demand.

"Tumhe kya gift chahiye anniversary ke liye?" She asked him one night, lying in his arms.

"Mera gift toh tum ho. Tum mil gayi ab aur kisi cheez ki zaroorat hi nahi hai... tum batao tumhe kya chahiye." He looked into her eyes.

"Mujhe toh tumne pehle hi itna kuch leke de diya... aur pata hai na, mere liye bhi sabse bada gift tum hi ho." She eyed him fondly.

He sighed, "Yeh toh bohot mushkil ho gaya, Naina... har saal hum same gift se kaam chalayenge kya?"

"Nahi, nahi, tum har anniversary pe ek aur Naina le aao." She pinched him hard on the waist.

"Owwww, Naina, lagta hai.... main toh bas yeh keh raha tha ki kuch gift toh tumko lena padega." He howled, holding her hand to loosen her fingers.

She sat up swiftly, clasping her hands, "Hum na koi surprise gift dete hain ek doosre ko. Jaise tab shopping ki thi jab Phulla bua ke yahan gaye the... waise hi iss baar bhi kuch alag, kuch naya sochte hain."

He narrowed his eyes. The idea struck him almost immediately.

Laying back with arms behind his head, he gave her a smug smile, "Madam, iss baar tumhe haraa dunga. Dekh lena, mere gift ka koi muqabla nahi hoga."

Her eyes rounded in wonder, "Soch bhi liya? Maine abhi abhi idea diya aur tumhara gift ready bhi ho gaya? Sameer, cheating toh nhi kar rahe na? Pehle se kuch khareed ke rakha hai kya?"

He jumped up to sit on his knees in front of her, "Tumhari kasam, Naina... abhi socha. Lekin bas aisa idea aaya hai ki tum uski takkar ka kuch soch hi nahi sakti."

She started to chew on her lower lip unknowingly. If Sameer had something in his mind already, she had to quickly think of something. Their anniversary was just two days away.

"Nainaaa, kitni baar kaha hai aisa nahi kar sakti tum." He groaned.

Before she could grasp his meaning, he had pulled her into his arms, taking the lip which she was holding under her teeth.

And as always, he didn't stop at the kiss.

Next update tomorrow evening.