The more Sameer read the book, more he realised how silly he was earlier. He facepalmed himself, embarrassed at the stupid questions he had asked Naina earlier.

"Kya hua, Sameer? Tum aise muh pe haath rakh ke kyon baithe ho? Tabiyat toh theek hai na tumhari?" Naina was worried when she found him like this upon entering the room.

He moved his hand, pursing his lips as he gazed at her, "Naina, ab mujhe samajh aaya uss din... tum... tum mujhpe itna hans kyon rahi thi. Main bhi kitna bada gadha hun."

She stifled a smile at his sudden declaration, "Apni tareef iss tarah toh nahi karte the tum... aaj kya hua?"

He rubbed the back of his neck, showing her the book, "Yeh padh ke pata chala ki mere sawal kaise the... mujhe thodi toh akal lagani chahiye thi. Pata nahi tab dimaag mein kuch aaya hi nahi. Woh toh shukr hai aisi bewakoofi wali baatein sirf tumse ki... agar yeh sab maine kisi aur ke aage kaha hota toh..."

She gave an understanding look, "Koi baat nahi, Sameer. Aakhir tumhe pata bhi kaise hota?"

He was puzzled, "Fir tumhe kaise pata hai sab kuch?"

"Pooja didi jab pregnant thi toh ghar pe rehne aayi thi. Tab main eleventh mein thi. Chachiji unhe saara din kuch na kuch samjhati rehti thi. Tab suna tha. Aur waise bhi school mein thoda bohot toh padhate hi hain na, tumne bhi padha hoga tenth mein." She stated.

"Tenth tak toh main hostel mein tha. Aur maine bataya tha na, mujhe padhne ka koi shouk nahi tha. Balki jaan ke nahi padhta tha. Mujhe sirf paas hona hota tha isliye kabhi dhyan hi nahi diya kya chal raha hai class mein." He shrugged.

"Kaun kahega ki school mein sirf paas hone wala Sameer Maheshwari college mein jaake top karega." She pinched his nose, bringing him out of the thought.

The glint was back in his eyes, "Itni rishwat jo di tumne top karne ke liye. Aisa jaal bichaya ki phansa liya mujhe. Main seedha sada ladka kahan tik paata tumhare jadoo ke aage."

"Oh! Toh meri wajah se top kiya. Uske liye thank you bolne ki bajaay tum mujhpe ilzaam laga rahe ho?" She raised one brow.

He twitched his mouth, giving a sly smile, "Thank you bolne wala hun yeh warning de raha hun."

Before she had a chance to protest, he draped his arms around her small frame, kissing her softly, invading her senses with his probing tongue. The kiss was meant to be a tease, but her fervent response turned it into something else. Her hands went around his neck, clutching the hair ends as she kissed him back intensely.

A loud sound of cooker whistle from the kitchen made them realise that it was evening and Ramdhari was at home, preparing dinner.

They broke apart... breathing hard. He looked at her flushed face. Her cheeks turned a darker shade of red, thinking about how she had responded.

He took her in his arms again, smiling fondly, "Ab toh aise sharmana chod do, mummy ban ke bhi yun hi laal hoti rahogi kya... woh bhi sirf ek kiss se?"

"Hato." She buried her face in his chest.

Coming weeks were comfortable, with less work in office. Naina finished the story she was working on, sending it to Mr Chauhan who was thrilled at the romantic tale. Regular visits to the doctor confirmed that all was going well. Sameer had started to take most Saturdays off as well. He wanted Naina to be at home, with him besides her.

One such Saturday morning, munshiji came over to get some essential papers signed. After sitting with him for about an hour, going through the papers before he signed them, he went back to the room to find her lost in thoughts. She had been thinking about the change in her appearance that would become prominent soon. Since it was just three months into the pregnancy, her body still looked the same, but it won't remain so for long.

She stood in front of the mirror, brushing her long hair. Sameer wrapped his arms around her from behind, rubbing his cheek against the silky waves cascading over her shoulder.

"Bohot sundar lag rahi ho." He smiled at her reflection.

She put the brush back, holding his hands that were locked around her belly, "Ab aise hi gale lagane ki aadat daal lo, hone wale papa."

He raised his brows in question, unable to understand.

She moved his hands away from her, picked up a thick cushion from the couch and turned towards him. Taking two steps back, she placed the cushion against her stomach.

"Jab baby ko itni jagah chahiye hogi toh tum kaise gale lagaoge mujhe?" She shrugged.

He glanced at the cushion. To her surprise, he bent down and placed a kiss on it.

"Baby ko jitni jagah chahiye usse lene do. Apni jagah main khud bana lunga." He smiled at her.

She rolled her eyes when he leaned and put her head against his chest, delicately circling the wider girth around her waist without putting pressure on the cushion.

"Jab moti ho jaungi na, toh tumhe itna pyar nahi aayega." She teased.

"Tum jitni moti ho jaogi utni achhi lagogi mujhe." He whispered softly.

"Haww, iska matlab main abhi achhi nahi lagti?" She frowned, putting away the cushion.

"Aisa kab kaha maine? Abhi toh sabse zyada achhi lagti ho." He grazed her cheek.

She stepped back, throwing him an angry look, "Mr Maheshwari, aapka hisaab zara kamzor pad raha hai... ya fir aap jhoot bol rahe ho... theek se batao, abhi zyada achhi lagti hun ya moti hoke zyada achii lagungi?"

He gulped, caught in the web of his own words. There was no way he could give an answer that would make her happy... whatever he said, she would be annoyed for the other thing.

"Bolooo." She persisted.

"Uh Naina. Yeh kya sawaal hua? Tumhe pata hai na, jaan, main kitna pyar karta hun tumse. Tum jaisi bhi ho mujhe har haal mein achhi lagti ho, bohot achhi." He tried to find a way out.

Her eyes widened. He wondered where he had gone wrong now.

"Jaisi bhi hun matlab... matlab main sachmuch mein achhi nahi hun?" Her voice quivered.

He sighed. Her hormones had taken over her heart and mind. It was nothing but a mood swing, but he had to tread carefully... one wrong word and she would burst into tears. That was something he couldn't see, even if it was a phase.

He took a step towards her.

"Pehle jawaab do. Jab main achhi hu  hi nahi toh kareeb kyon aa rahe ho?" She said in a shaky, yet angry voice, holding out a hand at him.

He held her hand within his palms and took it to his mouth, kissing her fingertips while his eyes stayed on her.

"Tum mein sabse achha kya hai, pata hai?" He smiled, fighting the urge to wipe the tears that settled at the rim of her eyes.

She stared at him.

"Tumhari aankhen. Kyonki unmein mujhe apni poori duniya nazar aati hai. Aur woh duniya hai tumhara pyar bhara dil, jo aaine ki tarah saaf hai, jisme tumhare chehre jaisi maasoomiyat hai aur tumhari baaton jaisi shararat, tumhare inn lehrate baalon jaisi gehrayi hai aur tumhare hothon jaisi narmi, jo tumhare gaalon jaisa khila hua hai aur tumhari muskurahat jaisa khilhilata bhi hai. Tum jitni khoobsurat ho Naina, utna hi nishchal tumhara dil hai, jismein sirf pyar hai. Sabke liye hai par mere liye zyada hai. Aur yeh mere liye duniya ka sabse bada tohfa hai... tumhara pyar. Yeh pyar mujhe dene ke liye main saari zindagi bhi tumhe thank you bolun toh kam hoga, isliye main nahi bolunga. Kyonki main chahta hun yeh udhar mujhe aane wale janmon mein chukana pade, jisse har janam mein tumse mil sakun, tumhe paa sakun. Kyonki tumse jitna pyar hai woh ek janam mein nahi dikha sakta main."

The tears spilled out of her eyes, rolling down her cheeks. He cupped her face, kissing her cheeks to clear them of the emotions that tumbled out of her eyes.

"I Love You, Naina... aaj, kal, parson, hamesha." He leaned to capture her lips before she could say anything.

She shut her eyes, stepping forward to close the distance that he was still keeping. His hands, that were cupping her face, went around her, covering her with his warmth. Her hands went behind him, pressing his back. His lips moved softly against hers, giving her the same assurance that his words did. The kiss was gentle... not demanding, but giving... not a need, but gratitude... not fire, but soft rain... not heat, but calmness.

When he lifted his head, she felt guilty of having such doubts.

"Sorry. Pata nahi mujhe kya ho gaya tha jo aise sawaal pooch rahi thi tumse." Her eyes showed remorse.

He shook his head, "Nahi, jaan. Yeh tum nahi pooch rahi thi. Yeh hamari choti si pari pooch rahi thi. Woh janna chahti thi ki uske papa uski mumma se kitna pyar karte hain."

She chuckled, "Achha? Tumhe kaise pata?"

He lowered his head to her belly, "Baby, ab toh aapko pata chal gaya na? Ab mat tang karna mumma ko."

"Buddho ho tum." She went back to the safe cocoon of his arms, feeling his heartbeat under her ear.

He let out a relieved exhale, glad that the moment passed without a storm.

She wondered why she was being so insecure suddenly. Her anger and frustration confused her. There was no reason to doubt his love, yet she had raised such a question.

"I Love You, too.... aaj, kal, parson, hamesha." She blurted in guilt, tightening her arms around him.

He grinned. The extra dose of love was worth the little tantrums he had to face off and on.

Thankfully, Naina had a much easier time, according to the doctor. She did not have nausea, except a few occasional times of morning sickness. Nor did she have any other discomfort. Though she had developed strong likes and dislikes for a few food items, nothing else changed much in her habits. Sameer had reduced her office days to three times a week, on alternate days. She got ample time to rest.

One Friday, when they started back from office, Sameer noticed that she looked quite exhausted. The moment they were seated in the car, she leaned back and closed her eyes.

"Naina, tum theek ho na?" He asked in a concerned voice.

"Hmm. Bas aaram karna hai. Jaldi se ghar chalo please, Sameer." She muttered in a tired voice.

Once at home, she refused to have tea or coffee, lying down with closed eyes. He gave her some fresh juice but she couldn't have more than two sips. He had started to feel worried when she didn't get up even once from the bed. He decided to take their dinner to the room. Making her sit up, he had fed her just one bite when she clutched her stomach, her face distorted in pain.

"Naina, Naina." He quickly put the plate aside, holding her by shoulders.

She pressed over her tummy, panting for breath. Her forehead filled up with sweat beads.

"Nainaa." He was in a state of panic.

"Sam... Sameer... dard... doctor." She managed to speak a few broken words, breathing with difficulty.

"Ramdhari, doctor... jaldi." Sameer screamed his lungs out.

Dr Shaila arrived in about twenty minutes, but it felt like an eternity to Sameer. Seeing Naina in so much pain was devastating for him. Her face had lost colour, tears streamed down her eyes. She was pressing her lower lip under her teeth to keep herself from screaming out because of pain.

He was asked to wait outside the room while the doctor checked Naina for reason of this sudden sharp pain. Sameer kept pacing impatiently, glancing at the door every next second. He wanted to barge in when there was no noise from inside.

"Sameer bhaiya, aap dariye mat. Hanumanji sab theek karenge. Hum unse abhi keh ke aate hain." Ramdhari patted his arm, rushing to the small temple in the living room.

It was another five minutes when doctor called out to him. He ran inside.

Naina was lying calmly. There was no sign of pain on her face. He finally let out the breath that he hadn't even realized he was holding... and since when.

"Kya... kya hua? Naina, tum theek ho na?" He sat on the other side of the bed, taking her hand in his.

She smiled, giving a small nod.

He looked up at the doctor.

"Acidity ho gayi thi. Aaj poore din heavy khana khaya tha isliye digest nahi hua. Yeh normal hai lekin baar baar nahi hona chahiye. Main yeh dawayen likh rahi hun, inhe bhi roz lena hai baaki tablets ke saath. Aisi haalat mein system thoda kamzor ho jaata hai isliye acidity ho jaati hai. Koshish karna ki agar ek time heavy khana khao toh agle meal mein kuch saada hona chahiye. Iss waqt ki acidity zyada dard deti hai." Dr Shaila explained in detail.

Sameer recalled that Naina had insisted on having kachori for breakfast. In office, she wanted to eat pao bhaji... that too with extra butter. It was unlike her but he had not stopped her when she polished off not only hers but his plate too.

After the doctor left, Sameer asked Ramdhari to stay back for the night, scared after the situation he had just witnessed.

"Sorry Sameer, mujhe nahi pata tha sirf acidity hai. Tumhe itna dara diya." Naina gave him a regretful look.

"Arre jaan, tum mujhe kyon sorry bol rahi ho. Saara dard, saari takleef toh tum bardaasht kar rahi ho." He stroked her hair, sitting next to her.

"Lekin Naina, tumne pehle kyon nahi bataya? Hum office se seedhe doctor ke paas hi chale jaate. Itni der tak dard kyon sehti rahi?" He chided her.

"Nahi Sameer. Pehle dard nahi tha. Bas shaam se ghabrahat ho rahi thi. Aisa lag raha tha jaise kuch hone wala hai. Ajeeb si bechaini ho rahi thi. Mujhe nahi pata tha yeh acidity se ho raha hi. Mera toh bas dil baitha jaa raha tha yeh soch ke ki kahin yeh ghabrahat kisi buri khabar ke aane ka andesha toh nahi hai." Her voice trembled.

He leaned to place a kiss on her forehead, "Tumhe yaad hai na nanu ne kya likha tha apni chitthi mein... tumhe kuch bhi lage, kitna bhi darawana, mujhe bataya karo. Shayad main bhi nahi samajh paata ki aisa kyon hai, aur shayad yeh dard tumhe fir bhi sehna padta, lekin tumhara darr toh baant sakta hu na... tumhara haath tham ke tumhe bharosa toh dila sakta hun na ki main saath hun tumhare. Naina, waada karo, tum apna koi dard, koi darr, koi soch nahi chupaogi mujhse."

As she grasped his outstretched hand, her heart filled with immense love for the blessing that was showered upon her by God... the blessing named Sameer Maheshwari.

Next update tomorrow evening