Naina's idea seemed to be a brilliant new concept for the company. Sameer was excited to discuss it in detail but had to leave for the phone call from Mumbai.

"Naina, main thodi der mein wapas aata hun fir tumhe woh naye rooms dikhaunga jahan yeh kiya jaa sakta hai." He left in a hurry, after giving a quick kiss only to Sana as the peon waited at the door.

Naina looked around the room, thinking how lively it must be getting everyday at lunch time. All people sitting and eating together, sharing their food, and some parts of their lives... it was indeed very thoughtful of Sameer.

Once Sana got bored of the napkin, Naina took her to the fountain. She gaped at it silently for a few minutes, then extended her hand to catch the spray. Naina tilted her a little, letting her wet her hand in the fine shower, and she was ecstatic.

Sameer came back along with munshiji a little later.

"Kaisi hain aap, Naina beta?" The old man was as respectful as ever.

Naina bent down to touch his feet, as a mark of respect. Since she had already mentioned in the beginning that she sees him in the same place as nanu, he blessed her without objecting. When he patted Sana's head, she stared at him.

"Bohot seedhi bitiya hai aapki." He smiled at Sameer.

Naina rolled her eyes, "Utni hi seedhi hai jitna Sameer."

Munshiji laughed as Sameer gave her an offended look.

When the plan was discussed, munshiji was very forthright about it. He took them first to the room that Sameer suggested.

"Yeh ek kamra hai jiska abhi tak koi istemaal nahi hua hai. Hum log isse Party Hall banane ka soch rahe the." He opened the door to a vast room, which looked even bigger since it was vacant.

Sameer held Naina's hand and dragged her to the window, "Dekho isme yeh badi wali khidkiyaan lagwayi hain, sliding wali. Kamre mein bohot roshni aur hawa aati hai. Aur yahan jagah bhi zyada hai. Party Hall hum upar wale kamre ko bana denge, isse bachhon ke liye taiyar karwa dete hain."

Naina shook her head, "Yeh theek nahi hai. Humein bada kamra nahi chahiye, Sameer. Ismein bachhon pe dhyan rakhna mushkil hoga. Aur yeh khidkiyaan... yeh bohot achhi hain lekin chote bachhon ke liye khatarnaak ho sakti hain jab woh chalne lag jaate hain. Humein safety ka khyal rakhna hai."

Munshiji nodded, "Naina beta bilkul theek keh rahi hain. Mere ghar mein har umr ke bacche rahe hain, pehle apne aur ab apne bachhon ke. Yeh saari baatein bohot zaroori hain kyonki bachhe khud yeh baat nahi jaante ki unhe kis cheez se chot lag sakti hai aur kis harkat se nuksaan pohoch sakta hai. Inn khidkiyon se girne ka khatra hai. Aaiye, main doosra kamra dikhata hun."

Sameer was amazed at the number of things that needed to be considered while keeping a child in a room.

The other room was considerably smaller, but spacious. Although it was also vacant at the moment, Naina could visualize the arrangements she had planned to make.

Sameer was apprehensive though, "Lekin yeh zyada chota nahi hai? Agar bohot saare bachhe hon ek saath toh? Naina, hum ek aur kamra banwa lete hain."

She placed a hand on his arm, "Sameer, hum school nahi khol rahe jo bohot saare bachhe honge. Jitni ladies yahan kaam karti hain, uss hisaab se ek samay mein teen ya chaar bachhon ko hi yahan rakhne ki zaroorat padegi. Aur jo unki dekh rekh karengi, unke liye bhi aasan rahega sab ko sambhalna. Kyonki jab bachhe chalne lagte hain toh unke saath saath rehna padta hai."

He could see her point. Presently, Sana only rolled on the bed, and they were always worried about her falling off, in spite of all precautions.

The room would be painted in bright colours, with some patterns of stars and cartoons on the walls and ceiling. Large baskets would be placed around, filled with soft toys and educational ones. They would get some story books as well which could be read out to children. Beds would be placed along the walls, with the same wooden rails as Sana's bed. Soft and cushioned seating arrangement would be made to minimize the risk of any mishap. A store room right next door would be turned into a kitchen, for preparing food for the kids. Along with a refrigerator, they decided to fill it up with all nutritional requirements for growing children.

They planned to keep two helpers initially. Later, if the need was felt, they would keep more. Naina was sure Rajni would happily agree to bring her daughter here. Diksha had a larger family at home. They might not be keen for this arrangement but she decided to keep the offer open for everyone.

Once everything was decided, they went to inform the staff about the new kidsroom in office.

The news brought a round of applause for them.

Naina went to Rajni, and gave her a comforting smile, "Jitni jaldi ho sake hum yeh creche shuru kar denge... jisse tumhe apni beti ko kahin aur na rakhna pade."

The moisture in Rajni's eyes was enough to tell her how thankful she was.

Naina turned to others, "Paanch saal tak ke bachhon ke liye hum yeh creche bana rahe hain. Aap jab chahe, jitne din chahe unhe yahan laa sakte hain. Reception pe ek register rahega. Laane se pehle din usme apne bachhe ki umr aur baaki details bhar dijiye jisse humein pata rahe kiske liye kya intezam karna hai. Aap chahe toh apne ghar se unke khaane pine ka samaan laa sakte hain lekin yahan bhi sab rahega... doodh, baby food, phal, aur thoda bohot saada khana banane ka intezam bhi. Hum jo helpers rakhenge aap khud unhe apne bachhon ki aadatein aur zaroorat samjha dijiyega. Aur kabhi bhi koi shikayat ho toh bina kisi darr ya jhijhak ke hum teeno mein se kisi ke paas bhi aa jaiye."

Rajni was new to the company, so she asked hesitantly, "Woh ma'm... iske liye... iski fees kitni hogi?"

Naina shook her head, "Kuch nahi. Iske koi charges nahi hain."

Her face lit up, and she thanked Naina profusely.

One Mr Joshi stood up with another query, "Madam, yeh suvidha sirf ladies ke liye hai ya hum bhi apne bachhe ko laa sakte hain?"

Sameer turned to him, "Yeh ladies ya gents ke liye nahi, bachhon ke liye hai. Aapka baby chota hai aur aap yahan laana chahte hain toh koi manahi nahi hai."

Mr Joshi explained that he and his wife both were working and since they belonged to another city, there was no one to take care of the child at home while they were at work. They left him with a neighbour but would prefer this arrangement as the neighbour already had one small child of her own.

Once the staff was assured that the facility was open to all employees and the children would be given utmost care in the creche here, their bright smiles conveyed their relief.

Sameer and Naina went to chachaji's house after office.

Anand was delighted to find Sana sitting without support, "Arre waah, hamari gudiya toh baithne bhi lagi abhi se. Bohot jaldi jaldi sab seekh rahi hai."

Bela gave a furious look to her husband, "Offo ji, aise bolte hain kya? Itne bachhon ko dekh liya lekin itni si baat nahi jaante ki aise bolne se nazar lag jaati hai."

Anand smiled as she put a black dot under baby's foot, "Apne parivar walon ki nahi lagti. Tum bhi itne saalon mein yeh baat nahi samjhi."

Bela brushed off his reasoning, "Aisa thodi hota hai. Yaad hai na jab Preeti aur Naina choti thi toh roz hi nazar lag jaati thi meri betiyon ko. Tab kahan ghar se bahar jaate the hum?"

Sameer blurted suddenly, "Tab taiji laga deti hongi."

He bit his tongue when everyone looked at him, with wide eyes.

Bela chuckled, breaking the silence, "Waise baat toh tum theek keh rahe ho. Bhabhiji jab kabhi apne bhai ke ghar jaati thi toh kuch din dono bachhe theek rehte the."

Anand laughed aloud, making Sana giggle along. He picked her up, and took her out to the balcony. They could hear her joyful shrieks as Anand showed her the artificial hanging parrot that squawked every time it was touched.

Naina told Bela about the arrangement they were planning to do in the office.

"Lekin inn sab ki kya zaroorat hai, Naina? Hum hain toh sahi... main sambhal sakti hun Sana ko... balki mujhe achha lagega." Bela protested.

Naina didn't want her to feel that they were doing all this because they didn't trust her, "Hum logon ke paas aap hain, chachiji, lekin office mein kuch aise bhi workers hain jinke paas koi nahi hai. Unhe apne chote chote bachhon ko creche mein chodna padta hai. Kuch log achhe se khyal rakhte hain lekin kuch ke liye yeh sirf ek paise kamane ka tareeka hai. Unn sabka soch ke humne yeh faisla liya hai. Aap akeli hain aur ghar ke, bazaar ke sab kaam karne hote hain. Aise mein roz Sana aapke paas rahegi toh aap bandh jayengi. Hum kabhi kabhi usse yahan chod denge aur baaki waqt uska office ke kidsroom mein rehna hi sahi hoga. Aap jaanti nahi woh kitni badmaash ho gayi hai. Pata hai aaj kya kiya usne?"

Bela was soon laughing at her tantrums which led to their visit to the office.

Sameer assured her that they would leave Sana with her once every week.

"Lekin iss kaam ke liye aapki madad chahiye humein." Naina looked at her hopefully.

"Haan, haan beta, bol na, kya kar sakti hun main?" She was more than eager to help them.

When Pooja had come at the time of Golu's birth, Bela had kept a middle aged lady to help with the child. At that time, the lady had mentioned that she had been working off and on in various creches as well.

"Chachiji, aap agar unn aunty se baat karwa dein toh hum unhe rakh lenge. Saath mein ek aur ladki chahiye hogi. Abhi toh Sana ke alava sirf do hi bachhe honge isliye do logon se shuru kar sakte hain." Naina asked.

Bela brightened at the mention of the lady, "Arre haan, woh toh bohot achhi hain. Main kal subah jaati hun unke ghar. Abhi kuch din pehle hi mili thi bazaar mein. Keh rahi thi unki beti ko naukri chahiye. Agar uski ab tak naukri nahi lagi hogi toh woh dono hi aa jayengi tumhare paas. Bohot saaf suthri and dhyan se kaam karne wali hain Tara behen."

Anand heard a part of their conversation and asked them about it.

"Yeh toh tum dono ne bohot achha socha hai. Hamare yahan kitni hi aisi mahilayein hain jo kaam karne nahi jaa sakti kyonki unhe bachhon ka khyal rakhna hota hai. Aur kahin chod ke jaayein toh fauran unhe achhi maa na hone ki upaadhi de di jaati hai. Tumhare iss prayas se tumhare office ki aurton ke liye ek naya raasta khul jayega. Aur agar unke dil se yeh pareshani nikal jayegi toh kaam bhi behtar hoga. Shayad pehli baar kisi ne aisa socha hoga." Anand was impressed with the idea.

Bela insisted that they stay back for dinner but Naina refused, seeing the sleepy eyes of her daughter. Sana had missed her afternoon nap and was feeling tired now.

At home, she fell asleep immediately after Naina changed her clothes and fed her.

After dinner, Sameer helped Naina to unpack as the suitcases from Delhi were lying unopened since they reached back in the afternoon. His eyes fell on the pink lehenga when she took out her clothes and placed them on the side table to give for dry cleaning.

"Naina, iss lehenge mein kal tum bohot sundar lag rahi thi. Meri nazren hi nahi hat rahi thi tumse. Aur sach kahun, ab tumhare bandhe baal bhi achhe lagte hain mujhe." He reminisced about the previous day,

"Achha? Itne saal tum mera har hairband kheench ke baalon se nikalte rahe aur ab achanak bandhe baal pasand aane lage? Mr Maheshwari, yeh badlaav kaise?" She was amazed.

He twirled the dori of her lehenga blouse around his fingers, giving an impish wink, "Dori nazar aati rehti hai na... jo mujhe ghar aake kholni hoti hai."

"Tum..." She turned crimson, and punched him on the chest.

He fell back against the wall dramatically, "Kal raat khud hi toh kaha tha tumne kholne ko... ab mujhe kyon maar rahi ho?"

She threw the dupatta in hand at him. The red dupatta fell open, covering him in a soft veil.

Naina gasped as the memory hit both of them together.

Pulling her to himself, Sameer took her inside the dupatta, watching her already red face aglow with the hue of their canopy. Since he was sliding against the wall, his face rested on her shoulder, while she looked down at him.

"Yaad hai?" His voice was gruff.

"Kaise bhool sakti hun." Hers was shy.

"Tum pehle se taiyar thi na? Tumne pehle se tay kar rakha tha ki mujhe yehi gift dogi? Dekho, aaj sach bolna." He was reminded of her pretence of getting a gift from the cupboard.

She placed a hand on his jaw, that had just a hint of the darkness that always left her breathless, "Pehle se toh nahi, lekin tumhara result dekh ke soch liya tha. Jo ladka pehle kabhi nahi padhta tha woh sirf mere liye itni mehnat kar sakta hai toh kya main uski ek baat nahi maanti?"

"Toh train mein manaa kyon kiya? Mujhe toh laga tum manogi hi nahi." He pouted.

She gave a sly smile, "Agar pehle se bataa deti toh kya tum train mein ruk paate? Main nahi chahti thi hamara yeh lamha chalti train mein, kisi ke dekh lene ke darr se juda ho."

His eyes twinkled at the thought that she had planned for it to be special, "Achha... lekin tumne toh mujhe bulaya hi nahi tha kamre mein... main khud hi aaya tha. Kya meri photo ko hi..."

She turned even more red, "Dhat. Maine socha tha agle din jab hum uss ped ke neeche milenge toh... woh jagah sirf hamari thi na."

"Lekin mujhse aur intezar nahi hua. Main sochke aaya tha ki agar ek baar aur tumne manaa kiya toh main maan lunga ki tum aisa nahi chahti... aur fir se nahi bolunga." His voice had a hint of sadness.

Her eyes lowered, "Tumhari baaton ne aisa asar kiya tha mujhpe ki main bhi sapne dekhne lagi thi... tumhari tarah."

His eyes turned dark, "Oh, toh madam bohot pehle se taiyar thi, aur main aise hi darr raha tha."

She looked up shyly, "Pehle himmat nahi thi. Lekin uss din gift dene ke liye himmat aa hi gayi."

His eyes drifted to her lips, "Uss din jo gift diya tumne, uska nasha ab tak utra nahi hai."

His heated breath on the sensitive skin of her neck made her erupt into goosebumps... and his heavy voice and hooded eyes weren't helping either.

She shuddered as his hand travelled up her arm, over her shoulder and threaded into her hair.

"Naina, tum har pehli baar ko kabhi na bhoolne wala pal bana deti ho. I Love You." His last words before he captured her lips filled her up with gratification.

Next update tomorrow evening