"Bolo na, Naina... tum itna kyon sharmati ho?" Sameer prodded when she kept her eyes hooded.

"Tum pagal ho." Naina murmured.

"Pagal hi toh karti ho tum... kabhi kisi baat ke liye kabhi kisi aur ke liye." He let out a wistful breath.

Her lashes lifted to give him a glimpse into the liquid pools of brown.

"Ab maine kya kiya? Tum hamesha mujhe hi ilzaam dete ho." She raised her brows.

"Uss holi wale din main tumhe kiss karne wala tha... uss pal mein tumne mujhe itna pagal kar diya tha ki main sab kuch bhool gaya tha... aur tum mujhe rok bhi nahi rahi thi... ek pal ke liye main kho gaya tha... agar tab maine khud ko roka nahi hota toh ussi din ho jaati hamari pehli kiss." He eyed her lips, recalling how he had let his lips almost reach them that day.

"Uss din jaise rang lagaya tumne,  sharmati nahi toh aur kya karti... tab hum aise kareeb thodi the." Her lashes once again fell on her cheeks.

"Ab toh hain na... kareeb." He rubbed her waist.

She looked up, wondering why he was asking something he knew the answer to.

"Tab ke liye abhi pagal kyon ho rahe ho?" She was puzzled.

"Tab ke liye nahi... yeh abhi ki baat hai." His eyes softened, his fingers made patterns on her waist.

The phone started to ring before he could tell her more. Ramdhari came out running from the kitchen to pick up, nodding after saying hello. Naina shifted away a little.

"Sameer bhaiya, aapke liye hai." He brought the cordless to Sameer.

Pandit wanted to know about Munna. Sameer narrated his conversation with him. Naina was as shocked as Pandit to learn how Munna viewed relationships.

"Sameer, yeh Munna kis zamane ki soch rakhta hai?" She wondered aloud when the call was done.

"Mujhe khud yakeen nahi hua tha uski baatein sun ke... maine kabhi mehsoos hi nahi kiya ki woh yeh sab dimaag mein rakhta hai." He was still not over the initial shock.

"Lekin yeh theek nahi hai... iss tarah toh Swati pagal ho jayegi... woh kisi ko kuch bata nahi rahi hai par bohot pareshan hai... mujhe bhi nahi bataya... lekin uski baaton se aur uske bujhe hue chehre se samajh aa gaya." She gave him a worried look.

"Pandit kal office mein milne aayega mujhse... yahan isliye nahi bula raha ki kahin Munna na aa jaye jab woh yahan ho toh... tum Swati se baat karke dekho na... humein toh sach mein pata nahi chala Munna kab se aisa hai... Swati hi bata sakti hai ki kya woh hamesha se yeh sab karta hai, kya sagai ke baad se bhi issi tarah ki soch rakhta hai ya abhi kuch aisa hua hai jiski wajah se Munna mein yeh badlaav aaya hai." He was also tensed.

She wrenched her fingers, "Kaise puchun Swati se? Kahin usse bura na lag jaye... chalo, kuch sochti hun."

"Kuch mere liye bhi soch lena." He eyed her intently.

"Ab tumhara bhi main hi bataun kya? Munna se kaise baat karni hai yeh tum khud socho, Pandit ke saath... main Swati ka dekh lungi." She chided him.

Sameer laid his head back on the sofa, mumbling to himself,  "Munna ko toh main samjha bhi dun, Naina ko kaise samjhaun?"

When Pandit met Sameer the next day, he was in a state of shock.

"Bhai, isne yeh kya bulbul paali hai... hamara hi saathi hai ki sau saal pehle se paida ho rakha hai... bas kisi chamatkaar ki wajah se umar ruk gayi hai." He plonked on the couch in Sameer's cabin.

"Ab iski aankhen toh kholni hi padengi... tune kuch socha hai?" Sameer sat with him.

"Sochna kya hai... saale ko kamre mein band karke dho dete hain achhe se... uske dimaag ke saare jaale jhad jayenge." Pandit showed his annoyance.

"Mazaak ki baat nahi hai, Pandit." Sameer frowned.

"Main mazaak kahan kar raha hun... aise baba adam ke jaise baat karega toh kya usse gale lagayenge." Pandit said in frustration.

They were quiet for a few moments till Pandit blurted out, "Bhai, isse na nanaji hi samjha sakte the... kaash unke rehte humein pata chal gaya hota iski akal kis kuein mein padi hai... waise nanaji bhi Munna se. behtar romance kar lete."

The smack on his head was nothing new for him.

"Teri baat poori tarah se galat bhi nahi hai, yaar... nanaji jaise mujhe chedte the, pakka humein iss mushkil se bahar nikal lete." Sameer said after pondering over what Pandit said.

"Ab main sirf isliye chod raha hun tujhe ki tera office hai... kisi ne dekh liya toh izzat ka falooda ho jayega... warna thodi sikai toh main bhi kar deta... bina samjhe laga diya." Pandit huffed, rubbing his head.

"Sorry yaar, woh dimaag ghooma hua hai." Sameer rubbed where he had hit, sounding apologetic.

They though of various possible ways of talking to Munna, but each plan seemed flat when they elaborated. Dejected, they slumped back on the sofa.

"Idea." Suddenly, Sameer sat up straight.

"Kya, kya... jaldi bata." Pandit was excited.

"Nanu jab mujhse puchte the ki meri zindagi mein koi special hai kya toh main hamesha mana kar deta tha... main unhe tabhi batana chahta tha jab Naina se baat ho jaati... woh bas ek baar puchte aur fir apna aur nani ka koi kissa sunane lag jaate... kaise mile the, pehli baar dekh ke kaisa laga tha, kahan milte the chup chup ke, kaise unka haath pakadna chahte the par himmat nahi hoti thi, aur bhi bohot kuch... unki kahaniyon mein main hamesha khud ko aur Naina ko dekhta tha... aur itna kho jaata tha ki kitni baar bas batane hi wala tha Naina ke baare mein." Sameer reminisced about those talks.

"Achha kissa hai... ab bata idea kya aaya." Pandit asked flatly.

"Abe, yehi toh idea hai... hum bhi Munna ke saamne apne baare mein baatein karenge... hum dono." Sameer elaborated.

Pandit furrowed his brows, "Lekin hum toh jaante hain na Swati ke baare mein... fir hum aisa kyon kare?"

Sameer tried to be patient, "Isliye batayenge jisse meri tarah woh bhi khud ko dekhe Swati ke saath hamare kisson mein."

"Aur usne nahi dekha toh?" Pandit was quiet for a few moments before asking.

"Nahi dekha toh fir wohi karenge jo tune kaha tha... maar maar ke uska dimaag durust karenge." Sameer said in exasperation.

"Main toh pehle hi keh raha tha... usee yehi bhasha samajh aayegi." Pandit beamed at acceptance of his idea.

"Nahi Pandit, Munna ke dil mein pyar ya uske ahsaas ki koi kami nahi hai... woh doosron ke dil ka haal bhi samajhta hai... tere pyar ka ahsaas bhi sabse pehle ussi ko hua tha... tab usne mujhe bataya aur humne mil ke tujhe apne dil mein jhankne pe majboor kiya." Sameer recalled with fondness.

"Bas yehi karta hai... sabke dil mein jhank lega par apne dil mein parda laga rakha hai." Pandit said sadly.

"Chal fir hum dono mil ke yeh parda hatayenge jisse usse roshni mein sab kuch nazar aaye." Sameer held out his hand.

Pandit grasped his palm tight, grinning, "Mil ke yeh parda hata hi denge."

Sameer told Naina about the plan in the evening. She liked the idea. From her side, she had decided to speak to Swati directly... but first, she wanted to include Preeti into it.

Next day, being off day for parlours, Preeti was at home. Naina called up during the day and asked her to come over.

"Swati ne bataya kyon nahi humein?" Preeti was surprised.

"Wohi toh... agar uss din main usse nahi bulati toh humein shayad pata hi nahi chalta." Naina felt sorry for her.

"Swati hamesha se kitni romantic thi... sabse zyada sapno mein khoi rehne wali... yaad hai, jab tune pehli baar apne aur jijaji ke baare mein bataya tha tab kaise har waqt tujhe chedti thi kiss ke baare mein puch ke?" Preeti was lost in the memories.

"Haan, par ab woh pehle jaisi nahi hai... kahan chedti hai humein... maine kabhi nahi socha tha Swati itni serious ho jayegi... ab sochti hun toh yaad aata hai, hamari shaadi mein maine kabhi unn dono ko saath dekha hi nahi... pata hai, Sonali ki shaadi mein Sameer toh ek second ke liye bhi mujhe... " She stopped abruptly, biting her tongue.

A mischievous smile played on Preeti's lips, "Ek second ke liye bhi kya? Bata na... jaise tu nahi batayegi toh mujhe pata nahi chalega... jijaji ko sab achhe se pehchante hain... unke mann mein jo hota hai unki aankhon mein saaf dikh jaata hai... ab yeh photo hi dekh le tumhari... kehne ko alag alag khade ho par jaise tujhe dekh rahe hain na... hayee, kya bolun... mera toh dil zor zor se dhadakne lagta hai."

Naina could feel herself go red.

Trying to divert the topic, she patted Preeti's arm, "Meri chod, tu apni bata... woh toh tune der kar di warna meri shaadi mein aisa ek photo tera bhi mil jaata... Pandit ka woh devdaas wala photo yaad hai na hamari album se."

It was Preeti's turn to blush.

"Pandit bhi yehi kehta hai... ki agar vidaai ki jagah sagai pe maine haan bol diya hota toh shaadi mein aur bhi mazaa aata." She lowered her eyes.

"Aur ek woh Munna hai... sagai ho rakhi hai, Swati itni pyari bhi lag rahi thi shaadi ke har function pe aur unki ek bhi photo nahi hai saath mein... stage ki saari photos mein dono kitni door door khade hain." Naina sighed.

They decided to call Swati over and speak to her today itself, since next day Preeti had to go back to the parlour.

"Pehle kyon nahi bulaya? Tum dono subah se masti kar rahe ho aur mujhe ab yaad kar rahe ho." Swati made a face when she came a little later.

They hugged her together.

"Hum toh aise hi baatein kar rahe the... masti toh ab karenge... tu jo aa gyi hai." Naina gave her a bright smile.

They settled down in the bedroom, munching on the snacks that Ramdhari had supplied.

"Shaadi ki date pakki hui?" Swati asked Preeti.

"Abhi nahi, papa ne kaha Saturday ko jab taiji aur tauji aa jayenge toh unhe bata denge for date nikalwayenge." The disappointment in Preeti's voice was caught by both girls.

"Sunn, jumma jumma char din huye hain tumhari aashiqi ko... itni jaldi shaadi tak baat pohoch gayi toh shukar mana... mujhe dekh... kabse sagai ho rakhi hai... baithi hun na chup karke." Swati reprimanded her with fake annoyance.

Naina thought it to be a perfect cue, "Samjha isse Swati, yeh jo din hote hain na shaadi se pehle wale, yehi sabse yaadgaar hote hain... main aur Swati samjhte hain inn dinon ki value... hai na, Swati?"

Preeti looked sharply at Naina... who blinked once... and Preeti got it.

"Waise baat toh tum dono ki kareeb kareeb saath hi shuru hui thi... jab hum Mumbai aaye the tere paas, usse kuch din pehle hi Swati ne haan kaha tha aur uske kuch din baad jijaji ne tujhse bulwa liya tha." She smirked, joining in.

"Achha Swati, meri shaadi mein kuch toh khaas hua hoga... sabse chup ke... bata na... Munna ne koi faayda toh uthaya hoga mauke ka." Naina asked eagerly.

Swati paled a bit, before bringing back the smile that was pasted on her face all through the conversation, "Woh shaadi ka saara kaam Munna Pandit hi kar rahe the na... toh kuch khaas time nahi mila."

"Ab humse jhooth mat bol... aisa ho hi nahi sakta... kitna bhi kaam tha, tere liye toh time nikala hi hoga." Naina held her hand.

The pain that Swati was trying to hide suddenly became too much at Naina's words.

And the dam broke.

Naina quickly engulfed her in a comforting embrace, stroking her hair gently as Swati cried in the arms of her best friend.

Once the flow of tears stopped, she opened her heart to them... telling about how Munna always kept distance from her, how he did not indulge in any romantic talks even on phone, how he always cited the pressure of taking up such a large business as the reason of not getting time for her.

"Mujhe galat mat samajhna tum dono... Sameer aur Pandit se Munna ki dosti se mujhe koi problem nahi hai... par dukh hota hai ki unke liye hamesha time nikaal leta hai par main jab bhi milne ki baat karti hun usse koi kaam aa jaata hai." She spoke amidst hiccups.

"Swati, tune pehle kyon nahi bataya? Kuch toh kehti? Kab se Munna ka aisa bartaav hai?" Naina kept her hand on her knee.

Swati lowered her eyes, "Pehle bhi woh kam hi meri taraf dekh ke baat karta tha... hamesha idhar udhar dekhta tha jab main saamne hoti thi... mujhe laga sharmata hai... lekin sagai ke baad bhi woh akele mein milne se katrata hai... sabke saamne fir bhi kabhi haath pakad leta hai ya kandhe pe haath rakh deta hai lekin akele mein kabhi mere kareeb aane ki koshish nahi karta."

Preeti and Naina were shocked.

Swati looked at them, teary eyed, "Sameer aur Pandit toh aise nahi hain... tum please galat mat samjhna... main koi muqabla nahi kar rahi... balki maine isiliye kabhi tum dono ko kuch nahi kaha... jisse tumhe yeh na lage ki main Munna ko uske doston jaisa banana chahti hun... nahi yaar, Naina... shuru se jab Munna ko pasand kiya hai toh usse kisi aur ke jaisa kyon banaungi... par iss baat se dil dukhta hai ki jin doston ke liye woh sab kuch chodne ko taiyar ho jaata hai unhe dekh ke thoda sa pyar dikhana bhi seekh le na... mera bhi mann karta hai woh mujhe pyar se dekhe, aisi baatein kare jisse main sharma jaun... kareeb aaye... kam se kam mujhe aisa lage toh ki usse mere saath ki sach mein chahat hai... sirf shaadi karne ke liye ek ladki chahiye isliye mere saath rishta nahi jod raha hai."

"Swati, tune Munna ko yeh sab samjhane ki koshish kyon nahi ki?" Preeti asked.

"Kitni baar koshish ki usse pyaar bhari baatein karne ki, haath pakadne ki... har baar jhidak deta hai... kehke ki sabke saamne yeh sab achha nahi lagta." Swati took a deep breath.

"Phone pe toh koi nahi hota na... tab usse kya problem hai?" Naina started to feel anger rising in her.

"Phone pe bhi usse jhijhak hoti hai... isliye hum bohot kam phone karte hain ek doosre ko." Swati had a guilty look on her face.

After a silence of few minutes, she looked up at her friends, "Main bohot pyar karti hun Munna se... uski shikayat nahi karna chahti thi...  yeh bhi jaanti hun ki woh mujhe pyar karta hai... bas uski nazron mein apne liye thodi jagah dekhna chahti hun... uski baaton mein apna naam sunna chahti hun... uske bartaav mein apne liye fiqr mehsoos karna chahti hun."

Next update tomorrow morning