"Naina, tumhara mood shayad abhi bhi kal shaam wala hi hai." Sameer smirked at her pouted lips.

She pursed them instantly, masking her eyes behind lashes, "Main toh bas tumhari pyar bhari nazm ki tareef kar rahi thi."

He broke a piece of parantha, taking it to her mouth, "Tum pehle breakfast kar lo. Fir nazm kya, main ek lambi si kavita banaunga tumhare liye... aur tum aaram se uski tareef karna... apne tareeke se."

Her eyes shot up as his fingers lingered over her lips even after feeding the bite to her.

His voice was heavier when he uttered in a lower voice, "Ya mere tareeke se."

Her push was strong enough to make him fall back on the bed.

"Kya Naina, ek toh tumhare liye breakfast leke aaya aur tum ho ki mujhe dhakka de rahi ho." He grumbled.

"Kuch aur dun?" She smiled sweetly.

He was quick to sit up, knees folded under him, "Haan do na. Main kabse keh..."

Words stopped abruptly as she stuffed his mouth with a big piece of parantha. He chewed quickly, watching her with a flustered look while she continued to eat nonchalantly.

Swallowing the food, he opened his mouth again to speak, and she did the same again, rendering him speechless with another big piece.

He held her wrists the moment he had swallowed the second bite.

But she beat him to it yet again, leaning to brush her lips over his before speaking, "Shhh, khate time jhagda nahi karte. Baby kya bolegi... uske papa mummy subah subah lad rahe hain."

His eyes darted to her tummy, and a bright smile lit up his face. Without another word, they finished the breakfast, feeding each other.

"Waise yeh batao, aaj jaldi kaise uth gaye tum? Aur yeh breakfast... matlab paranthe kisne banaye? Aur yeh juice, coffee, chai... ek din Raju banke kya itna kuch seekh liya?" She asked as she took a sip of her coffee.

Sameer smiled sheepishly, "Woh... yeh sab maine nahi, Ramdhari ne banaya hai."

Naina remembered that Vishakha had asked Ramdhari to stay back last night. That explained the elaborate breakfast.

"Lekin socha toh tumne na... idea tumhara hi tha. Isliye credit tumhe hi milega." She said lovingly.

His eyes were shining again, "Agar credit dena hai..."

She cut him yet again, knowing the direction of his thoughts, "Par jaldi uthe kyon? Tum toh kabhi mujhse pehle nahi uthte?"

He straightened, looking away, "Woh mummy... mummy ko jaana tha... wapas."

"Wapas? Lekin mummy toh aaj rukne wali thi na? Unki kal subah ki flight thi." Naina was taken aback.

"Aaj koi meeting hai, Mumbai mein. Shayad koi foreign ke clients hain. Raat ko phone aaya tha mummy ke paas, Mr Somani ka. Isliye woh subah Mumbai ke liye nikal gayi." Sameer explained in a dull voice.

"Tumne mujhe kyon nahi uthaaya, Sameer? Kam se kam mil toh leti unse." She said sadly.

Sameer held her hand quickly, "Maine bhi yehi kaha tha mummy se... ki Naina ko bura lagega agar woh bina mile gayi. Lekin mummy ne kaha ki tumhare liye iss waqt sabse zaroori hai aaram karna. Kal itni thakaan ho gayi thi isliye unhone tumhe uthane nahi diya... balki mujhe bola hai ki aaj ka poora din tumhe bed pe rehne ko bolun."

She rested her back against the pillow, sighing, "Haan Sameer, thakaan toh bohot ho gayi hai. Mummy sab kuch kitne achhe se samajhti hain. Aur kitna khyal hai unhe mera."

Sameer patted her hand, "Woh fir se ayengi, jaldi hi... unhone khud kaha."

Naina smiled. Though he was going to be a father now, she could see the child in him, excited at the thought of meeting his mother soon. She was sure he would have sulked when Vishakha told him about her changed program. And suddenly, her eyes rounded.

"Sameer, tumhe... tumhe subah mummy ne uthaya?" She asked.

"Haan. Unhe jaldi jaana tha na." He shrugged.

"Mum... mummy yahan aayi thi? Kamre mein?" She panicked.

He nodded.

She closed her eyes, mortified at the  thought of being seen sleeping on Sameer's bare chest.

Seeing her face going a deep shade of red, he realised the reason of her strange questions.

"Nahi, Naina. Mummy andar nahi aayi thi. Unhone knock kiya tha toh maine jaake darwaza khola... woh bhi tshirt pehen ke." He cupped her face.

She opened her eyes, letting out a relieved breath.

"Tumse zyada ghabrahat mujhe hoti agar koi hamare kamre mein aa jaaye jab tum so rahi ho toh... kyonki tumhe aadat hai na, neend mein bolne ki. Kya pata kya bol do." His eyes had a mischievous glint.

The redness that had ebbed at his assurance returned with more fervour.

He chuckled, "Sach Naina, jab tum Mumbai mein kuch bhi bol deti thi neend mein toh mujhe bohot mazaa aata tha. Lagta tha jab tum saath rahogi toh pata nahi kya kya sunne ko milega."

"Haww, aisa kya bola maine?" She frowned.

She was aware of her habit of blurting out in sleep sometimes. Preeti had told her long back. Earlier, it was mostly the mention of her father to acknowledge her presence. But after meeting Sameer, it was always his name that slipped out of her mouth. No one could tell her if she did the same when she was alone in hostel but Sameer had heard her mumblings on some occassions.

"Naina, maine suna hai tumhe baatein karte hue. Lekin har baar woh baat mere baare mein hi hoti thi." He said softly.

Her wide smile was laden with sarcasm, "Achha? Aise kaise ho sakta hai? Sapne toh main Sanjay Tebriwal ke dekhti thi."

"Naina." He jerked her hand, pain evident on his face.

"Kya Naina? Jaisa sawal puchoge waisa jawab milega. Tumhare baare mein hi bolungi na jab har sapne mein tum aate the." She huffed, crossing her arms.

He quickly held one ear, "Achha sorry, lekin aage se kisi aur ka naam mat lena."

Her face relaxed into a smile and she held his wrist, bringing the hand down, "Tumse milne ke baad meri zindagi mein koi aur naam reh hi nahi gaya, Sameer. Sapno mein, khyalon mein, kitabon ke panno pe, dil aur dimag ke har kone mein sirf tum hi the. Jab tum mere nahi the tab bhi main sirf tumhari thi."

His arms surrounded her in a flash. The feeling of being complete, being whole was nowhere else but with her in his arms. When his lips sought hers, she welcomed his soft, grateful kiss. There was no urgency or need... just the tranquility of togetherness, calm of belonging, contentment at the presence of each other.

"Naina, ek shikayat hai tumse." He rubbed his thumb on the back of her hand, after they parted.

She flicked up her brows.

He bit his lip, tilting his head to the side, "Ab tum neend mein baatein kyon nahi karti?"

A small laugh spurted out of her at his innocent query, "Kyonki ab mere saare sapne poore ho gaye. Tumne kar diye."

His eyes narrowed, "Saare?"

She nodded.

He clenched his fingers against his chest, his eyes shining with the mischief of college days, "Umm Naina, mere kuch sapne abhi baaki hain. Tum kaho toh bataun?"

The glint, the action, his heavy voice... she knew how the answer would be, even if she didn't know what it was.

"Sameer, mujhe nahane jaana hai." She shifted towards the edge of the bed, unable to look at him.

He smiled to himself, knowing the reason for her sudden change of topic. But the new topic was equally good for him.

"Haan chalo." He slid off the bed from other side, pulling his tshirt over the head.

"Pehle tum naha lo." She moved back on the bed.

Seeing her firm expression, he knew he couldn't get his way today. With a sigh, he wore back the tshirt. Picking up her towel, he fished out her clothes from the cupboard and went inside the bathroom to place them on the stand.

"Maine tumhara samaan rakh diya hai. Tum pehle chali jao." He offered his hand to assist her in getting up.

She held his hand, getting up with difficulty. The moment she stood up, the room swam before her eyes, and she clutched his tshirt.

"Kya hua, Naina?" He asked in alarm, bringing his other arm around her.

"Uhh Sameer... chakkar... sab ghoom raha hai." She pressed her forehead.

"Tum baitho yahan. Koi zaroorat nahi hai abhi nahane ki." He put her back on bed gently, sitting next to her.

She rested her head on his chest, feeling exhausted.

"Main doctor ko bula leta hun." He said after a few minutes.

"Nahi. Ab thoda theek hai. Mummy ne kaha tha na, shayad yeh kal ki thakaan hi hai." She let out a long exhale.

"Tumhe koi dard ya aur kuch bhi ho raha hai kya?" He was tensed.

"Aur kuch nahi hai. Bas aisa lag raha hai ki uthne ki himmat hi nahi hai." She said in a tired voice.

"Theek hai. Tum let jao. Main tumhare liye fruits lekar aata hun." He made her lie down comfortably before getting up.

After asking Ramdhari to prepare a fruit bowl for her, he called up Bela. She heard everything first, and assured him that it was nothing but exertion. Since Naina had no other discomfort, all she needed was rest.

"Beta, kal bhari kapde, zevar pehen ke itni der tak baithe rehne se aisa ho gaya hoga. Ghabrane jaisa kuch nahi hai. Usse kehna aaj poora din aaram kare. Waise mujhe pata hai tum achhe se khyal rakh loge par kaho toh main aa jaati hun." Bela offered.

"Nahi chachiji, main kar lunga. Phone bas isliye kiya tha ki kahin kuch aur problem na ho jisse hum sirf kal ki thakaan samajh rahe hain. Ab aapne bhi keh diya toh meri tension khatam ho gayi. Mummy ne bhi yehi kaha tha jaane se pehle." Sameer was relieved.

When he went back to the room, Naina had fallen asleep. He placed the bowl on side table, and adjusted the quilt around her.

Bela had assured Sameer but she was worried. Today it was a simple issue of exhaustion but these were last few weeks of Naina's pregnancy and any problem could come up anytime. Ideal would have been had she come to stay with them. But Bela had also seen how this suggestion had distressed not only Sameer, but Naina too. There was no question of Vishakha staying with them. She herself didn't want to go and live with them, scared of the societal rebuke. Some people were openly remarking about them choosing a boy without a family only because he had money.

But all this should not be a reason for her daughter to suffer. After a lot of thought, an idea hit her. She was sure it was the perfect solution. But she wanted Anand's approval first, before suggesting it to Sameer and Naina.

Next update tomorrow evening