After the evening tea, Phulla bua called the maid and whispered something to her. She nodded and rushed out of the house, only to come back within minutes. Sameer watched as she handed a keyring to bua dadi... something that looked like bike keys.

"Yeh le, hero... apni heroine ko zara ghuma la... bike pe." She threw the keys towards Sameer.

He caught it in reflex action, his eyes widening in surprise.

"Aise kya dekh raha hai? Yahan the toh hamesha bike pe ghoomte the lekin Ahmedabad mein nahi jaate hoge na... toh aaj fir se ek baar wohi purane din jee lo tum dono." Phulla bua's words made Sameer realise how long it had been since they went out on a bike.

"Bahar kyon jaana hai, bua dadi, hum toh aapke paas aaye hain... aapse baatein karenge na... aur bahar koi kaam bhi nahi hai." Naina heard her as she was coming out of the kitchen after keeping their empty cups.

Phulla bua smiled genially at her, "Hamesha kaam ke liye jaana hi zaroori nahi hai... aise hi haath mein haath dalke ghoom lena."

Before Naina could raise any more objection, Sameer quickly opened his palm, "Lekin yeh bike kiski hai, bua dadi? Kahin aap filmon ki tarah kaala chasma laga ke bike toh nahi chalati?"

Bua dadi gave an austere look to Sameer.

"Uhh... sorry... main toh bas mazaak... " He fumbled, seeing the sudden change in her expression.

A few seconds of silence was broken by her loud laugh as she pointed at him, looking up at Naina, "Dekh, dekh, tere hero ka chehra kaisa ho gaya darr ke maare."

Sameer looked from one to another as Naina chuckled.

"Filhal toh tu hi chala le bike kaafi hai... samjha? Waise yeh neeche rehne wale Patil ji ke bete ki hai... tumse ek saal chota hai... college mein hai... jab dekho apni girlfriends ki pareshaniyan leke aa jaata hai salaah mangne." Bua dadi rolled her eyes as she talked about the boy.

"Girlfriends?" Sameer and Naina asked in chorus.

She counted on her fingers before looking up, "Haan, do saal mein kuch dus barah toh bana chuka hai par koi tikti nahi... lekin tum woh sab chodo... jao, thoda ghoom aao... aur haan, main road pe ek naya store khula hai... bohot bada aur achha hai... woh zaroor dekhna."

When Naina sat behind him cross legged, slipping her arms around him, Sameer cursed himself for not using the bike in last few months. He made a mental note that from now on, at least once a week they'll go out for a ride like this.

"Chalo na, kya soch rahe ho?" She whispered close to his ears... and his resolve got stronger.

When they hit the road, she rested her chin on his shoulder, her cheek against his, "Kitne dinon baad aise bahar aaye hain na."

He placed his palm over her hand on his chest, "Abse Ahmedabad mein bhi jayenge... pata nahi maine kyon nahi socha pehle... jo mazaa tumhare saath aise baithne mein hai woh car mein thodi aa sakta hai."

"Aur mujhe bhi yeh mauka car mein kahan milega." She bit his earlobe.

"Nainaa... aise karogi toh bike kaise chalaunga?" He cribbed, though he enjoyed her teasing.

"Tumhe toh aadat hai... pehle jab nahi karti thi toh kehte the 'Naina, aise baitho na, aise karo na'... ab kya hua... shaadi hote hi meri harakatein tumhe kharab lagne lagi?" She grumbled, pulling her hand out of his grip.

He brought the bike to a halt at the side of the road, looking at her through the rear view mirror. It was rare that she complained in such wife like manner... and it made his heartbeat shoot up.

"Fir se bolo." His voice came out more hoarse than he intended.

She looked at his dark eyes, peering at her through the mirror.

"Jao, nahi bolti." She twisted her mouth to one side.

It took extreme control to stop himself from pulling her in front of him and crush those tormenting lips under his.

"Naina, tum bohot sataa rahi ho mujhe... iska hisaab chukana padega." He hissed, missing the privacy of car now.

"Oho, main toh darr gayi." She rounded her mouth to show a fake expression of fear.

He drew in a sharp breath, clutching the handles of bike so hard that his knuckles turned white.

Finally, softening at his condition, she placed her hands on his shoulders, tilting her head to look at his face and not his reflection.

"I Love You." Her voice was imbued with the feelings from her heart.

He closed his eyes, bending his head backwards. She wrapped her arms around his waist, placing a kiss on his thickly stubbled jaw.

"Tum jo hisaab kahoge main chuka dungi." Touching her cheek to his, she whispered.

And he knew she was right.

The shop turned out to be a large three storey departmental store which had everything one would need being sold under one roof. Huge pictures of Salman Khan modelling for men's collection being sold inside were all around the place.

"Hayee, kitna handsome lag raha hai Salman." Naina sighed, staring at the pictures with dreamy eyes.

"Yeh sirf photo hai, Naina... asli toh tumhare saath hai... usko dekho na." Sameer slipped an arm around her waist, dragging her to himself possessively.

She looked at him, "Tumhe toh hamesha dekhti hun... abhi isko dekhne do na... iss printed shirt mein kitna achha lag raha hai."

"Yeh phoolon wali shirt? Aisa lag raha hai kisi saree se banayi hai... aisi phool patti ki shirt bhi koi pehenta hai bhala?" He gave a look of disdain.

"Yeh latest fashion hai... aur Salman pe toh bohot hi suit kar raha hai... waise har kisi pe achha lage yeh zaroori nahi hai." She mocked him, giving a cheeky smile.

"Oh madam, tumhara hero na main hu... toh tumhe meri tareef karni chahiye." He pressed her into him, gripping her waist tighter.

"Kitna jalte ho... chalo ab andar." She laughed at his fazed reaction.

Inside was a plethora of all types of commercial commodities. Naina was visibly impressed with the array of items spread all around. They spent some time checking each floor.

"Umm... Sameer, maine tumhe sataya na... toh uske badle main tumhare liye koi gift lena chahti hun." She turned to him suddenly.

Sameer gave her a look from head to toe before answering with a lopsided smile, "Toh ribbon bandhwa lo khud pe."

She swatted his arm, "Faltu mat bolo... yeh batao kya chahiye tumhe?"

He narrowed his eyes, as if in deep thought, and clicked his fingers within seconds, "Main bhi gift dunga tumhe."

She pondered over it for a while before speaking, "Achha theek hai, aisa karte hain, hum dono ek doosre ke liye gift lete hain lekin chupa ke... surprise gift hoga yeh... aur haan, kuch khaas hona chahiye... yeh nahi ki tum mere liye dress le lo aur main tumhare liye shirt... kuch alag socho... bilkul naya."

She started to walk away.

"Tum jaa kahan rahi ho?" He held her hand.

"Arre, saath mein thodi lenge... ab se theek aadhe ghante baad yahin milna." She freed her wrist.

"Aadha ghanta? Naina, itne mein toh poora store khareed sakte hain." Sameer was shocked.

"Par poora store toh nahi khareedna hai na, Mr Maheshwari... iss teen manzil ke store se woh ek cheez dhoond ke nikalni hai jo aapko lagta hai mujhe sabse zyada khushi degi... toh jaiye aur achhe se dhoondiye." She waved at him before vanishing behind the racks stacked with various household things.

With a sigh, he placed his hands on hips, looking around, wondering where to start.

Naina was done with her work in half the time. Having left the packet at the counter, she started to look for Sameer.

What greeted her eyes made her blood boil in anger.

A tall, smartly dressed girl was talking to Sameer at the other end of the floor. He seemed to be enjoying her company, smiling widely at whatever she was saying. To her horror, the girl traced a finger around his neck, over the shirt... and he didn't object. Naina gritted her teeth. Sameer's nonchalant reaction to the touch left her seething. In fact, he started to talk even more animatedly to the girl, pointing towards himself. When she couldn't hold herself anymore, she scurried to where her husband stood enjoying the company of some unknown girl.

"Sameer, ho gaya tumhara kaam?" With added sweetness to her voice, she smiled at him, completely ignoring the girl.

His face went pale.

"Woh Naina... main woh... " He looked at his watch, at loss of words.

Realising that there were still ten minutes to their half an hour limit, he looked at her, "Uhh, Naina... abhi dus minute baaki hain... woh maine abhi... matlab woh kaam hua nahi hai... main milta hun tumse wahin... upar wale floor pe... dus minute mein."

Her mouth fell open... was he asking her to leave... so that he could talk to that girl?

Without a word, she turned and walked away.

"Samajhta kya hai khud ko... 'Naina, abhi kaam nahi hua'... hoga kaise agar karega nahi... aur karega kaise agar kisi ke saath aise hans hans ke maze leta rahega... main hi pagal hun jo uske liye itna soch ke gift liya... usse toh koi parwah hi nahi hai... khaas aur alag gift lene ko kaha tha... aisa khatarnaak jhatka dene ko nahi... khud toh Salman ki photo dekhu tab bhi chid jayega... lekin mujhe wahan se jaane ko bol diya... main... main disturb kar rahi thi usse... Sameer ke bachhe, aaj toh tum gaye... bada hero banne ka shouk aa raha hai na... model jaisi ladki dekhi aur shuru kar diya apna Sameer Maheshwari wala style dikhana... aur woh ladki bhi kitni besharam hai... arre, ladke ki biwi khadi hai saamne fir bhi nahi gayi... hai kaun yeh... Naina, tune galti ki wahan se aake... uske saamne Sameer ka haath pakadna chahiye tha... nahi, uske kandhe pe haath rakhna chahiye tha... nahi, nahi, usse kiss hi kar dena chahiye tha... pata toh lagta uss ladki ko... " Naina continued to rant, holding the rails of the grill where she stood.

"Toh kardo na kiss... rokti kyon ho khud ko?" His voice fell in her ears.

Turning sharply, she saw him standing right behind her.

"Dus minute kahan hue... abhi toh baaki hai na aadha minute... aur baat nahi karni tumhe uss heroine se?" She blazed fire through her eyes.

"Meri heroine toh tum ho, jaan." He stepped closer.

"Ruk jao, Sameer Maheshwari... yeh mat samjho ki tumhari inn meethi meethi baaton mein aa jaungi aur bhool jaungi jo abhi dekha... kaun thi woh?" Her hand on his chest wasn't a deterrent but he himself stopped.

"Kaun woh?" He furrowed his brows.

Her mouth was a thin, angry line.

"Achha wooohhh." He drawled, "Woh koi nahi thi."

She stared in disbelief at his audacity, "Koi nahi thi? Maine apni aankhon se dekha tumhe uske saath... gale mein haath daal ke baat kar rahi thi... uss koi nahi ko kaise jaante ho tum... kabse jaante ho... yahan ki hai ya Ahmedabad se hai... kab mile the usse... kitni... "

He placed a finger on her lips, "Bas meri Jhansi ki Rani... aaj maarne ka irada hai kya? Woh yahan ki salesgirl hai... gift ke baare mein usse poocha maine toh wohi bata rahi thi... aur gale mein kisne haath daala, yaar... main kahan kisi ko jaanta hun, Naina... tumhare alava kabhi kisi se baat hi kahan ki hai maine?"

She knew this was true... but she just couldn't wipe off the image of that girl touching Sameer from her mind.

Without another word, she walked towards the elevator. He ran behind her. At the counter, the cashier handed over Sameer's packet to him. Seeing Naina, he held out her packet as well. She turned and walked out of the store. The person called out after her. Sameer took the packet from him, stating that his wife wasn't feeling well and they were in a hurry to leave.

When she refused to hold him on the bike, Sameer stopped in the middle of the road.

"Pagal ho kya... beach sadak pe kyon rok di?" Naina hollered as a car zipped past them.

"Pehle pakad ke baitho tabhi chalunga." He sat with crossed arms.

"Sameer, bike chalao." She punched him on the shoulder.

"Mrs Maheshwari, yeh bike tabhi chalegi jab tum kareeb aake, pakad ke baithogi." He was adamant.

Having no alterative, she shifted closer, taking her arms to his chest.

"Naina, sach mein uss ladki ko nahi jaanta... kya tumhe yakeen nahi hai mujhpe?" He asked softly once they started again.

She didn't reply.

"Tumhe lagta hai tumhare alava main kisi se bhi baat karna chahunga? Agar tum nahi batati toh shayad mujhe pata bhi nahi chalta woh ek ladki hai." He stressed.

She couldn't help but smile, "Tumhe woh ladka lag rahi thi kya?"

"Mujhe woh bas ek zariya lag rahi thi... jo mujhe tumhare liye surprise gift lene mein madad kar rahi thi... usse zyada kuch nahi." He looked at her in the mirror.

She closed her eyes, chiding herself at her reaction. Her anger was not because she didn't trust him... but because his proximity to any girl made her mad, even if it was for work.

"Agli baar se salesboy se madad lena... jisse mujhe surprise gift mein koi billi na dikhe jo mere malai ke katore ke aas paas mandra rahi ho." She placed her head between his shoulder blades, flattening her palms on his chest.

He smiled in relief, "Jee, madam... aaj bhi yeh galti na hoti par uss store mein sirf salesgirls hi thi, koi salesboy nahi the."

"Toh gift nahi lete... mere liye tumse achha gift kuch nahi hai." She turned up her face to mumble against his ear.

"Uss salesgirl ne bhi yehi kaha tha... isliye maine ek gift card le liya hai... khud pe laga ke de dunga." He grinned.

The bite on his earlobe this time made him yelp.

Next update tomorrow evening