The leap taken in the last chapter is two and half years. We had seen Sana's first birthday and in the previous update, she was three and half year old.

The office building had become much bigger in the last two years. A new portion was added to the factory building, along with setting up of new machines. Work force had almost doubled because their business had expanded manifolds. After the deal with Singapore firm, they had bagged two more international contracts, making Maheshwari Industries a well recognised name.

Sameer and Naina still had separate cabins, though he had tried to convince her many times to get a bigger one made for them to work together.

"Tum na rehne hi do. Jaise mujhe pata nahi hai kitna kaam karoge agar hum dono ek hi cabin mein baithenge." She had rolled her eyes.

Sameer looked at her inocently, "Utna hi jitna abhi karta hun. Naina, tumhe itna bhi bharosa nahi hai kya mujhpe?"

She shook her head, twitching her mouth.

He walked upto her seat and placed a palm on the table in front of her, leaning a little, "Kyon? Tum kya meri goud mein baithne wali ho?"

Her upturned face turned red instantly, and she looked away.

"Waise mujhe chalega." He leaned, placing his arm on the table.

"Yeh office hai, ghar nahi hai hamara. Hato." She swiveled her chair to the other side and stood up, dashing all his hopes of having her sitting next to him the whole day.

Today, as they reached Sameer's cabin, his secretary came rushing with the files, holding them out to him, "Sir yeh woh saare papers hain jo aapne mangwaye the."

Sameer gave a perplexed glance to the files, then looked at her, "Maine kab mangwaye?"

"Woh... woh aapne kaha tha... meeting se pehle saare documents... unko ek saath..." She mumbled uncertainly.

Sameer raised his brows, "Maine kaha tha saare documents ek saath hain mere paas... ek file mein... main dekh lunga. Mera matlab tha computer ki file mein. Maine aapse kaha hi nahi yeh laane ko."

Her face lost colour as she lowered the files in her hand, "So... sorry sir."

Leaving her standing with a flushed face, Sameer opened the door of his cabin and entered.

Naina smiled at the girl who was still staring at the closed door, "It's okay, Kanika. Actually hamara saara kaam computer pe hota hai. Tum abhi nayi ho isliye shayad confusion ho gaya hoga."

The girl nodded sadly and left.

Naina went to her cabin before letting the smile spill. The girl was clearly smitten by Sameer... and was more than eager to do everything perfectly. Since she had joined just three days back, she wasn't yet aware that most of their work was computerised now. She wondered how the poor girl had managed to take the printouts of required documents.

The meeting an hour later was with the marketing department. The company was planning to launch new fabrics according to state wise demands... making thicker and warmer ones for the places which remained cold, and soft and breathable ones for warmer states. The samples were ready. Trial outfits had also been prepared. Naina explained the features of all the blends to them, insisting on which quality should be highlighted for which region. They had decided to hit the market with their new range by Diwali.

When the meeting got over, Sameer eagerly looked at Naina, "Sana aa gayi hogi na?"

She checked her watch, and smiled, blinking her eyes.

He beamed, getting up quickly. Naina heard a few suppressed chuckles behind them as he held her hand and left the room. Entire office was aware how much they both loved each other. Their eyelocks were often discussed in the lunch room. But it brought them more respect. The employees were amazed to see them engrossed in serious discussion over some project, even argue over it... and smile indulgently at each other a few minutes later. Sameer and Naina were a perfect example for the entire office... the strongest support of each other in true sense... true partner for each other.

"Main Tara aunty ko bolti hu Sana ko bahar le aayein. Rushali aur Cheeku ke saath khel rahi hogi." Naina stopped him from entering the play room.

Rushali was Rashmi's daughter and Cheeku was Mr Joshi's son. They had been with Sana ever since the play room started. A few more younger children had joined since then, but these three had become close friends. Together, they behaved like seniors, even helping the caretakers with the younger babies, by fetching a toy or a handkerchief. Minal, Tara aunty's daughter had got married the previous year. Since she had moved to another part of the city, she wasn't coming to office any longer but had brought one of her friends to help her mother. Since the number of children had increased, Naina had hired two more girls. In the supervision of a very efficient Tara aunty, the play room was always a happy place.

Naina knocked. When the door opened, Tara aunty stood with Sana, a knowing smile on her face.

"Mujhe pata tha aap log hi honge." She let the little girl step out.

"Papaaaa." Sana enthusiastically jumped on seeing them.

Sameer picked her up immediately, kissing both her cheeks.

Naina fondly stroked her back, "Kaisa tha meri doll ka school? Maza aaya?"

Sana nodded, then lunged ahead from Sameer's arms to come to Naina.

Holding her lovingly, Naina smoothed the front of her dress, "Kya kiya aaj?"

Sana started to tell in halting sentences about the activities and games, before giving a proud smile, "Ma'm ne bola main best girl hun."

Sameer pinched her cheeks in elation, "Haan toh meri beti best hi hai... aakhir papa pe gayi hai."

Naina glared at him before turning to her daughter, "Aur baaki sabko kya bola?"

"Baaki sabko bhi yehi bola... hum sab best hai na... isliye." Sana tilted her head to the side, smiling widely.

Naina stifled a laugh as Sameer pretended to not hear, looking everywhere but at them.

When they reached home in the evening, Sana was excited to narrate her new experience to Ramdhari, after recounting it on repeat mode to her parents during their drive back.

"Radu chachu, pata hai, new shchool mein kya hua?" Leaving the car door ajar, she ran to Ramdhari.

When Sana had started forming words, Sameer had always addressed him as Ramdhari chachu while talking to her about him. Since 'Ramdhari' was too long for her to grasp, she had christened him with a new name.

"Kaise pata hoga? Sana baby humko thodi leke gayi thi." He picked her up, showing fake sadness.

Sana slapped her forehead, "Aap kaise jaoge? Itne big hoke shchool jaate hain kya?"

He gave her a sheepish smile, which made her extremely happy, thinking that she had made him understand what he didn't know. Her account of the day was something he looked forward to hear everyday when they returned.

The evenings had become lively in Maheshwari household, with Sana chirping around throughout the house, making all three elders either admire her, or squabble with each other for her attention.

Sameer had a faint hope that probably Sana would not enjoy her new school and would refuse to go. But seeing her avidity about the first day experience and her delighted chatter about it made him gloomy.

"Naina, mujhe itni jaldi apni beti ko school nahi bhejna. Kyon hum usse apne paas nahi rakh sakte? Kehne ko teen ghante hain par aadha din nikal gaya uske bina. Roz roz aisa nahi chalega." He grumbled, leaning against the refrigerator as Naina cooked dinner.

It had become a routine for her to cook every evening since she didn't get time during the day to make anything for them... also, alu parantha in breakfast was mandatory every Sunday. Just like Sameer, Sana loved it.

She looked at Sameer's tensed face, "Tum sach mein Sana ke school jaane se itne pareshan ho ya koi aur baat hai?"

He wrenched his fingers nervously, then stepped closer to Naina, "Padhai ke naam pe meri mummy ne mujhe khud se door kar diya tha. Main nahi chahta Sana ko kabhi aisa mehsoos ho ki hum usse time nahi de rahe ya padhai ke bahane usse alag kar rahe hain."

She wiped her hands on the napkin and turned to face him, "Sana ko aisa kabhi nahi lagega... tum lagne hi nahi doge. Woh jaanti hai tum kitna pyar karte ho usse. Aur school toh sab bachhe jaate hain, Sameer. Dooriyan raasto ke faaslon se nahi badhti, rishton ke faaslon se badhti hain. Mere papa saath wale ghar mein hi rehte the... lekin tumhari mummy se zyada door kar diya tha unhone mujhe."

Sameer chewed on his lip before speaking, "Naina, hum dono ne apna bachpan khoya hai, main Sana ko apne mummy papa ke saath ke pal khone nahi dena chahta. Jo kami hamari zindagi mein reh gayi woh kami usko kabhi nahi hone denge. Mujhe nahi pata pyar bhara bachpan kaisa hota hai... ab dekhna chahta hun."

She held his hands, "Sirf dekh nahi rahe hum jee rahe hain uske saath uska bachpan. Saath ka matlab yeh nahi hai ki hum usse khud ke paas chupa ke rakhein. Woh ugta hua paudha hai, Sameer... usse bahar ki hawa aur roshni dono chahiye... lekin uski jadein humse hi bandhi rahengi. Hum uska sahara hai, uski mazbooti hain... uska bandhan nahi hain. Yeh jitna bhi samay hum Sana ke saath bitate hain yehi woh rishta hai jo humein uske saath jod raha hai. Pata hai, main chachaji se sirf raat ke khane ke waqt milti thi... subah jaldi school ke liye nikal jaati thi aur din mein woh office mein hote the. Raat ko aath baje tak aate, fir naha ke hamare saath khana khate. Utni hi der mein woh hum sabko itna pyar aur kuch achhi baatein sikha dete the. Papa school mein bhi dikhte the, ghar bhi dopahar mein aa jaate the... saara din milte the, lekin unse kabhi aisa lagaav nahi mila jo chachaji ek ghante mein de dete the. Sana hamare saath jaati hai, hamare saath aati hai, office mein bhi usse milte rehte hain... aur ghar mein uske saath hi rehte hain. Hum uske paas hi hain. Baaki sabse milne se hamare saath uska apnapan kam nahi hoga. Abhi bhi toh woh Ramdhari ke saath khel rahi hai... kya yeh galat hai?"

"Lekin Ramdhari toh hamare hi parivar ka hai." Sameer reasoned.

"Jaise parivar ke sab logon ke saath samay bitana uski development ke liye achha hai waise hi alag mahaul aur naye log bhi chahiye. Dekha na tumne, aaj ek din school jaake Sana kitni khush hai. Tabse teacher banke Ramdhari ko sikha rahi hai." She took him to the door and pointed at the duo lost in their recreation of a classroom.

Sameer smiled, wrapping one arm around Naina's waist, "Teacher banne mein tum jaisi hai."

She looked up at him with a mischievous smile, "Main teacher bhi ban gayi aur marwaadi bhi... isliye yaad dila dun ki abhi jo tumne kiya... toh tumhara number bhi ab chaar ho gaya."

He stared at her in confusion, then his eyes glittered as he recalled his chewing of lip a while back.

"Achhaaw... toh chalo hisaab barabar kar lete hain." He pulled her inside the kitchen, standing next to the refrigerator.

She fiddled with a button on his chest, "Hisaab hi toh barabar karna hai."

He leaned towards her face eagerly.

She ducked to the side, placing a hand on his lips, "Hisaab sun toh lo... chaar tumhare, chaar mere... dono aapas mein cancel... toh hisaab saaf."

Giggling at his frustrated expression, she went back to her work.

He took two long strides and grabbed her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder, "Hisaab kaise saaf hota hai yeh main sikhaunga tumhe raat ko. Har baar tum teacher nahi ban sakti... main bhi kabhi kabhi ban sakta hun."

Her shoulder hitched up as his stubble tickled her soft skin through the kurta, "Achha abhi chodo, Sana aa jayegi."

Her stern voice did not fool him... he could feel the quickening of her breath because of his touch and his threat.

"Mummaaaaa." Sana's approaching voice made him jump away before he could make her melt completely.

"Aaja meri doll, mumma ke nahi papa ke paas aa jao." He lifted her the moment she stepped in the kitchen.

Sana held his face within her small palms, her eyes wide open with excitement, "Pata hai papa, Hash nani ke ghar gaya tha... fir maasi aur chachu ne usse nani ke paas rehne diya... goonight mein bhi aur gumoning mein bhi."

Sameer nodded, "Achha, tumhe kaise pata?"

"Abhi phone aaya na chachu ka toh maine Hash se baat ki... usne bataya." Her eyes danced at the recollection of talking to her brother.

Sameer peered out, "Phone aaya tha? Humein kyon nahi aayi ring ki awaaz?"

Ramdhari entered the kitchen, holding Sameer's mobile phone, "Ispe aaya tha. Jitna chota khud hai utni hi kamzor awaaz hai iski. Aap wahan table pe chod aaye the. Agar hum nahi dekhte toh pata tak nahi chalta."

"Toh baat kyon nahi ki Pandit ne? Ya tune yeh dukh puraan uske aage bhi gaa diya aur usne pareshan hoke phone rakh diya?" Sameer growled at him.

"Lo, hum unse kyon kahenge? Unhone hi kaha baad mein baat kar lenge itna zaroori nahi hai. Bas Sana baby se baat ki fir rakh diya." Ramdhari replied and went towards Naina to help her.

"Laiye Naina bhabhi, khana table pe hum laga dete hain. Aap teeno aaram se baithiye." He took the casserole from her.

As they all sat down to eat, Naina fed one bite to Sana and raised her brows, "Harsh roya nahi mummy papa ke paas jaane ke liye?"

Sana fiercely shook her head, "Ab woh bhi thoda thoda big hone laga hai na, isliye nahi rota. Pata hai mumma, nani ne itni saari stories sunayi Hash ko... aur nanu uske liye ice cream leke aaye... woh bhi two two."

"Achha. Fir toh Harsh ko bohot mazaa aaya hoga." Naina put another small piece in Sana's mouth.

"Hmm. Mumma, mujhe bhi jaana hai. Pleesh, mujhe bhi nani ke ghar leke jao na... main bhi gumoning tak wahin rahungi." Sana swinged her dangling legs, tapping on Naina's arm.

Sameer, who was sitting on her other side, fed the next bite to her, "Lekin Sana chali gayi toh papa mumma akele kaise rahenge? Hum bhi chalein?"

"Nai. Preeti maasi ne kaha ki big bachhe mummy papa ke saath hi sab jagah nahi jaate. Nani ke ghar akele rehna chahiye, toh hi nanu aur nani maze karwate hain." Sana lowered her voice, as if telling him a secret.

"Lekin baby..." Sameer started with a gloomy look but Naina cut his sentence.

"Bilkul theek kaha Preeti maasi ne. Aisa karein, Saturday ko tumko leke jayein nani ke ghar? Sunday ko waapis aa jaana." Sameer was shocked at her suggestion.

Sana clapped her hands in joy, "Yayyyy. Mujhe bhi nani stories sunayengi aur nanu mere liye two two ice cream layenge."

When Sameer gave an irritated look to Naina, she raised a palm at him, blinking in assurance... and asked him to finish his food.

Turning back to her plate, she silently thanked Preeti for helping her plan take another step.

Next update tomorrow evening