Each day was a new learning for both Sameer and Naina. There wasn't just a new baby in the house, there were new parents too. Sana was not a difficult or troubling baby... they knew because Phulla bua and chachiji told them... but she still needed attention. And she cried everytime for it. Each time she did, whether it was a howl or a soft whine, Sameer was distressed.

"Sameer, maine bataya tha na pehle bhi. Bachche aise hi rote hain. Abhi se bol ke thodi bata sakti hai ki woh uth gayi ya usse bhook lagi hai. Isliye shor machaati hai. Isme pareshan hone wali koi baat nahi hai." Naina pacified him for the hundredth time when he panicked.

Sameer gave a worried look to his daughter who now played in Naina's lap, "Lekin sach mein kuch takleef hogi toh bhi ro ke hi batayegi na. Humein kaise pata chalega ki yeh rona kisliye hai?"

Naina held the baby closer, touching her cheek to Sana's head, "Rone ki awaaz se hi samajh aa jaata hai. Uss din jab isko pet dard hua tha tab alag awaaz thi. Aur god mein lene se bhi chup nahi hui. Bua dadi ne bataya ki isse zaroor pet mein dard hoga. Aur unke nuskhe se chup bhi ho gayi. Ab mujhe bhi samajh aane laga hai."

Sameer widened his eyes, "Kya? Kab hua tha? Tumne bataya kyon nahi? Doctor ke paas leke jaana chahiye humein. Naina, abhi chalein?"

She gestured with a flick of her head, asking him to hold Sana. Sameer took the baby in his arms, his tensed face immediately easing into a warm smile.

"Do din pehle jab tum market gaye the tab hua tha. Kabhi kabhi ho jaata hai bachhon ko. Bua dadi ne fatafat theek kar diya aur fir yeh aaram se so gayi." Naina explained.

He smiled at Sana, elated to see her eyes fixed on him, "Ab toh kuch takleef nahi hai na, Naina? Isse koi problem nahi honi chahiye."

"Dekho isse. Tumhe lag raha hai abhi kuch problem hai? Kitni khush hai tumhare paas aake." Naina softly pressed his arm.

His smile turned complacent, "Woh toh hogi hi. Apni mummy ki tarah isne bhi pehchaan liya ki iske papa kitne handsome hain."

Naina ruffled his hair, "Handsome toh ho par buddhu ho ek number ke."

He scrunched his nose, "Naina, tum kya mujhe Sana ke saamne bhi buddhu bologi?"

She nodded, pursing her lips.

Sameer leaned and planted a kiss on her cheek, taking her by surprise.

Her hand flew to her face, "Tum Sana ke saamne bhi aise karoge?"

He nodded, shrugging.

"Hato." She pushed at his shoulder, and went out to the balcony to pick up Sana's clothes that she had put out for drying.

Sameer looked at the little one, watching him with big eyes. He lifted her and kissed softly on her forehead.

"Tumhe pata hai na main tumhari mumma se kitna pyar karta hun... toh batao unhe, kaise reh sakta hun apna pyar dikhaye bina... aur tumse kyon chupana, tum bhi toh bohot pyar karti ho na apne mumma papa se." He whispered to his doll.

As if to agree with him, she squirmed, and landed a kick on his chest.

It wasn't easy to persuade Sameer to join back office after a few days. He was appalled by the idea of staying away from Sana the whole day, besides being away from Naina.

Phulla bua tried to put sense in him, "Sameer, factory toh jaana hi hai, beta. Apna kaam sambhalna bhi utna hi zaroori hai jitna parivar sambhalna. Aise ghar baith ke thodi chalega. Pehle Naina ki tabiyat ki wajah se tera faisla sab ne maan liya ki tu ghar se hi kaam kar lega par aisa hamesha nahi ho sakta na."

"Kyon nahi ho sakta, bua dadi? Poora din wahan akele kaise bitaunga? Naina ke bina pehle hi itni mushkil se rehta tha ab Sana ki bhi yaad aayegi toh kaam kaise karunga." He whined.

Phulla bua gave him a light smack on the shoulder, "Tu akela nahi hai duniya mein jo ghar pe biwi aur beti ko chodkar office jayega. Sab jaate hain. Yeh bacchon jaisi zid karega toh bachha samajh ke pitai kar dungi. Itna toh pehli baar school jaane pe Sana bhi nahi royegi jitna tu ro raha hai."

Naina chuckled at the comparison.

He frowned at her, "Tum toh yahan maze se rahogi saara din Sana ke saath. Aur main akela, wahan office mein. Thodi bhi fiqr nahi hai tumhe meri."

Phulla bua let out an exasperated sigh, "Ab tu hi samjha isse, Naina. Main Sana ko le jaati hun. Usse sambhalna zyada aasan hoga iss pagle ko samjhane se."

Phulla bua took Sana to her room, leaving the two of them alone.

"Sameer, Munshiji kab tak hamara kaam akele karte rahenge? Ab toh Sana ko paida hue bhi bees din ho gaye hai. Tumhe jaldi se jaldi office jaana shuru kar dena chahiye. Main toh kehti hun kal se hi chale jao." Naina suggested, picking up baby clothes and toys from the bed.

When she didn't get any reply, she turned to find Sameer sitting on the chair at the other end. His lips were pressed in a thin line. She chewed her inner cheek... he was visibly annoyed.

Putting away Sana's clothes, she walked up to him and placed a hand on his shoulder, "Itni si baat ke liye naraaz kyon ho rahe ho? Galat thodi kaha bua dadi ne."

He did not react... neither to her words, nor to her touch.

She moved ahead of him, standing between him and the table, "Sameer, please baat karo na. Aise chup hoke kyon baithe ho?"

He did not even look up at her.

Naina shook his shoulder roughly, "Tum dekh kyon nahi rahe meri taraf? Bologe nahi mujhse?"

His eyes shot up, "Main toh tumhare saamne hi hun, Naina, tab bhi do minute baat na karne se tumhe kitni takleef ho gayi. Fir main sara din kaise rahunga... bina tumhe dekhe aur baat kiye? Aur Sana... uske bina reh paunga kya? Shayad tumhe itna farq na padta ho par mere liye mushkil hai."

She pulled apart his crossed arms and plunked herself in his lap. Before he could fathom her intention, she cupped his face and pressed her lips over his shocked mouth. Instantly, his one arm circled her waist, other went behind her head, holding her in place if she even wanted to move away... which she did not.

The kiss was all hers. First, the consternation of her sudden move did not let him take over, then he didn't want to... enamoured by her dominance. She kissed him hard and deep, but with intense love and passion.

When she finally lifted her face, breathing hard, his hand behind her head did not let her move away from himself.

"Sameer, dobara kabhi mat kehna ki mujhe tumhare door rehne se farq nahi padta. Aur agar iss tarah baat karna band kiya toh..." Her voice wavered.

It was his turn to show his love... his kiss was equal in fervour and intensity, leaving both of them breathless again.

He gazed into her eyes little later, "Mere gussa hone pe tum aise manaogi toh main roz ek do baar pakka gussa ho jaunga."

A faint smile spread slowly on her face, "Roz aise nahi manaungi."

His brows flicked up in question. Her answer was a quick nip on his jaw.

"Ahh Naina. Yeh kya tha?" He wrinkled his nose.

She leaned again, and brushed her lips where she had bitten, "Bohot dino se roz shave karte ho, socha yaad dila dun ki mujhe kya pasand hai."

His fingers on her waist found the slit of her kurta, and slipped in, grazing her satiny skin, "Madam, irade toh nek hain na?"

She tugged at his hand, bringing it out, "Apne iraado ko sambhaliye, Mr Maheshwari."

His voice turned husky as his eyes drifted down to her lips, "Mere iraade toh tumhe dekhte hi nek ke aas paas bhi nahi rehte."

"Hato Sameer. Darwaza khula hai." She pressed at his chest, pushing him back as some sounds from outside reached them.

He twisted his mouth, standing up with her, "Main toh kabhi tumhe aise 'hato' nahi kehta. Darwaza tab bhi khula tha jab tum khud mere paas aayi thi."

She turned towards him. His puffed cheeks looked adorable. Stepping ahead, she pulled them lovingly.

Before he could take his revenge, a knock on the door made her step a little away.

Ramdhari opened the door slightly to inform that munshiji had come.

The talk with munshiji made Sameer realise that he could not stay away from work any longer. Two meetings scheduled for next day kept him occupied whole evening as he studied the files left by munshiji. Though Naina wanted him to join back office, she had become habitual of seeing him in the house all day. It made her heart sink when he dressed up next morning.

He had just brushed his hair when she hugged him from behind.

"Kya hua, jaan?" His voice turned soft, his hands wrapped around her locked hands over his chest.

She remained quiet, soaking in his warmth, basking in his fragrance.

He felt more miserable, her sadness making him wonder yet again if he could somehow stall his attending office. But for how long... he was reminded of the time when he had joined office for the first time and Naina had been a pillar of support of him. Today, he had to do the same for her.

"Naina." He tugged at her hands, making her come in front of him.

Holding her by shoulders, he leaned and placed a soft, comforting kiss on her forehead, "Tum chahti thi na main office jaun... toh ab kya hua?"

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them, the clouds were gone.

"Aaj ki meeting ke liye all the best. Mujhe pata hai yeh contract wapas humein hi milega. Tum aaram se jao. Aur shaam ko jaldi aana. Main aur tumhari beti tumhara intezar karenge." She smiled warmly.

He crushed her in his arms, taking the strength to face the challenges of the day. Instead of him giving her support, she had again held him together with her resilience.

It was a long day... for both of them, and for the baby.

Sana was more cranky throughout. Both Phulla bua and Naina tried their level best to stop her repeated crying bouts but she seemed to be irritated. Even the home remedies for stomachache and indigestion didn't work.

"Iske rone se aisa lagta toh nahi hai ki isse kahin dard hai. Fir chup kyon nahi ho rahi." Naina gave a frenzied look to Phulla bua.

The old lady nodded, "Sahi keh rahi hai tu, na iski awaaz se aisa lag raha hai na god mein lene pe aisa mehsoos ho raha hai ki isse koi dard ya takleef hai. Shayad neend na aane ki wajah se ro rahi hai."

Naina was exhausted, "Maine bohot koshish ki, lekin yeh soti hi nahi. Itni der ghumaya, kamre mein andhera karke bhi koshish ki. Pata nahi kya hua hai."

Phulla bua was also anxious now, "Shayad dopahar mein so jaaye. Thak jayegi toh neend aa jaani chahiye."

They decided to visit the doctor when Sana did not sleep even after lunch.

Sameer entered the house to find both his girls dressed up to go somewhere.

"Naina, humein kahin bahar jaana hai kya?" He was ecstatic at the prospect of first outing with his daughter.

"Sameer! Achha hua tum aa gaye. Sana ko pata nahi kya ho gaya. Kabse nahi soyi aur baar baar ro rahi hai. Hum isse doctor ke paas le jaa rahe hain. Bua dadi iski file lene gayi hain." She had been distraught with worry but relief spread over her on seeing him back.

The smile was wiped off Sameer's face. He threw the bag aside and came rushing to them, taking Sana in his arms.

"Kya hua baby? Aap theek ho na?" He touched his lips lightly to her head before whispering.

The soft whining stopped immediately. Sana looked at him without blinking.

And then, she smiled... a proper, wide smile.

Sameer felt his heart would explode with joy. His daughter smiled for the first time... for him.

Naina came closer to see why he had gone numb. The sight was equally mesmerising for her. Sana had been making some expressions for last few days, but this was the first time she had given a broad smile, leaving no doubt that it was a happy expression.

She excitedly held his arm, "Sameer, yeh... yeh toh hans rahi hai."

He nodded, unable to speak.

Suddenly, it dawned on her. Sana wasn't unwell... she was missing Sameer... she was missing her father. Now that he was here, all her whimpering vanished.

"Sana... Sana ne pehli baar smile kiya hai na? Ya din mein bhi..." He was still in a daze when he glanced at Naina momentarily.

She grinned, "Pehli baar... tumhare liye, apne papa ke liye. Sameer, isse kuch nahi hua. Sana tumhe miss kar rahi thi isliye ro rahi thi. Dekho ab kitni khush hai."

They both looked at their baby with misty eyes... and she threw her tiny legs up in the air, flashing a toothless smile at her parents.

"Chal beta, main le aayi iske saare kagaz. Bhagwan kare sab theek ho." Phulla bua scurried out of the room, holding a bag, her forehead lined more than usual.

"Sab theek hai, bua dadi." Naina's relieved voice made her look up.

Sana was happily gurgling in Sameer's arms.

Before Naina could tell her, the realisation made her breathe out in relief. It was the first day Sana had spent without Sameer... she was upset about his absence.

With a long exhale, the old lady slumped on the sofa, "Bilkul apne baap par gayi hai. Tum teeno na chipka lo khud ko ek doosre se."

They quickly kneeled on the floor next to her, excited to show off the first milestone of their daughter. Phulla bua was also overwhelmed by this new turn. She quickly asked Ramdhari to get the required things and did the ritual to ward off all evil from her children.

Next update tomorrow evening