When Rohan called up an hour later, he was ecstatic, "Bhai, congratulations. Mujhe abhi pata chala. Mera mann kar raha seedha udd ke aa jaun aap logon ke paas."

Sameer grinned, "Congratulations tumko bhi. Aakhir tumhari zindagi mein bhi ek ladki aa hi gayi."

Rohan wasn't shy as Sameer had expected, "Meri life mein pehli aayi hai, tumhari life mein toh doosri ladki aa gayi."

"Oh, toh tumko kya dono ek saath chahiye thi?" Sameer smirked.

This time, his voice was laced with embarrassment and Sameer could visualise him rubbing his neck, "Kya bhai, kaisi baat karte ho."

Letting out an audible laugh, Sameer teased, "Rohan, mujhe poora yakeen hai tumhare case mein tumne kuch nahi kiya hoga, ladki ne hi pehle baat ki hogi aur ussi ne baat aage badhayi hogi."

Rohan had recovered by now, sounding more confident, "Tum toh rehne hi do. Kitne teer maare the pata hai mujhe. Bhabhi ne hi har baar tumhari akal thikane laga ke raasta dikhaya tha. Aur Rahul dhakka nahi lagata toh tumse kuch hona mushkil tha. Tumhare case mein bhi tumne apne aap kahan kuch kiya."

It was Sameer's turn to rub his neck, "Waise tumko poori kahani sunani nahi chahiye thi. Mera itne saalon ka impression kharab ho gaya."

Rohan's voice turned softer, "Bhai, tum idol ho mere. Main pehle se hi tumhe bohot maanta tha lekin jabse tum bhabhi ke saath yahan aaye, main bas tumhare jaisa banna chahata tha. Aur fir jab hum log Ahmedabad aaye, tumne jis tarah se sab kuch sambhal rakha hai, jaisa pyar tum aur bhabhi ek doosre se karte ho, jaise har pal tum dono ki aankhen ek doosre ko dhoondti hain... mujhe pyar ke ahsaas se hi pyar ho gaya."

Sameer smiled, "Ab uss ahsaas ke baare mein details bhi bata do... kya naam hai, kya karti hai, kahan mili, kaise mili, kaise tumhari kahani aage badhi aur baat shaadi tak pohoch gayi."

Rohan let out a sigh, "Main toh pehle din se tumhe batana chahta tha. Par phone pe nahi, aamne saamne baith ke. Lekin yahan kaam itna hai ki aane ka mauka hi nahi mila. Khair, abhi ke liye itna bata deta hun ki uska naam Nidhi hai. Baaki sab milne par."

"Arre yaar, milne ka mauka pata nahi kab aayega... tab tak kya aise suspense mein baitha rahun?" Sameer was flustered.

"Yeh bhi tumse hi seekha hai, bade bhai. Love story saamne baith kar sunani chahiye. Shukr manao maine tumhari tarah yeh shart nahi rakhi ki tumhe yahan aana padega. Main khud wahan aake bata dunga." Rohan smirked.

"Main mummy se hi pooch lunga. Tum pata nahi kab aaoge. Ek saal mein sirf ek baar aaye ho, woh bhi humne lalach diya tha isliye. Ab lagta hai seedhe shaadi ke baad milawane ka plan hai tumhara."

Rohan's voice turned soft, "Sameer, tumhare aur bhabhi ke bina shaadi kya main sagai bhi nahi karunga. Kal Chandigarh mein jab finally Nidhi ke parents maan gaye toh kehne lage ki abhi sagai kar dete hain. Maine mana kar diya. Meri zindagi ke itne khaas pal ko main unke bina nahi manaa sakta jinse maine pyar karna seekha hai."

Sameer wanted to hug him right away.

His voice boomed again when Sameer did not say anything, "Tumhara intezar zyada lamba nahi hoga. Mummy parson aa rahi hain aur hum sab naamkaran wale din aayenge."

Sameer was thrilled, "Tum aaoge? Deepika bhi?"

Rohan said in a quiet voice, "Papa bhi."

There was a short silent gap before Sameer let out an exhale, "Mujhe bohot khushi hogi."

Later, when he recalled the conversation, he realised that the mention of his step father did not bring the same resentment in him. In fact, it did not bring up any emotion, except surprise at his decision to come.

The love that had been growing each day and filled up all emptiness in his life had erased the bitter trail of yester years. As Naina had said in Nainital, this was the hard path he was destined to cover, to reach his destination... his Naina.

And now... his daughter as well.

A smile spread on his face, and he wanted to see both of them. The room was quiet when he entered. He found both his girls asleep. He drew up the curtains to block the evening sun and went near the bed. Naina was sleeping facing the baby, her head tilted lower and her hand on baby's chest. His little doll slept with her arms turned upwards on both sides, fingers clutched into fists.

He gingerly slipped next to them, resting on his elbow to admire the serene hint of smile on both their faces. He didn't come to know when he drifted off to sleep.

An hour later, Phulla bua entered the room with some snacks for Naina. When she saw them sleeping, her eyes filled up with warmth, and she stealthily walked out.

Bela saw her coming back with the plate full, "Arre buaji, Naina ne mana kar diya kya? Kuch aur bana dun? Main pooch leti hun usse kya khayegi."

Phulla bua held up her hand to stop Bela from going to the room, "Abhi teeno so rahe hain. Sone de."

Bela's eyes rounded, "Teeno?"

"Bela, mujhe yakeen hai Sameer bhi raat ko jaaga hoga jitni baar bachhi uthi hogi. Aur subah se idhar udhar bhaag raha hai. Usse bhi aaram ki zaroorat hai. Raat ko phir jagayegi yeh badmaash. Sone de unhe." Phulla bua had no doubt about his complete involvement in everything.

Anand nodded, "Aap bilkul theek keh rahi hain, buaji. Sameer ne poore nau mahine Naina ka bohot dhyan rakha hai. Aur ab woh apni beti ke liye bhi utna hi karega."

Bela glanced at the closed door of their room with a contented look in her eyes, "Duniya mein aise aadmi bohot kam hote hain jo apni patni ke har ahsaas ko mehsoos kar lete hain... chahe woh dard ho ya khushi, pareshani ho ya sukoon. Naina ko aisa jeevanasathi mila iske liye bhagwan ko jitna dhanyavad dun kam hai."

Phulla bua sat down next to Anand, lines of worry creasing her forehead, "Haan lekin ab kuch din mein Sameer wapas factory jaana shuru karega toh raat bhar jaagne se kaise chalega? Bachche toh pata nahi kitne saal aise hi karte hain."

Bela gave an assuring smile to her, "Buaji, aap bilkul chinta mat kijiye. Lagbhag ek mahine toh gudiya aise hi karegi lekin uske baad main usse raat bhar sone ki aadat dalwa dungi. Bachhon ko shuru se jaisi aadat dalo, waise hi ho jaate hain. Maine chaaro bachhon ko shuru se hi yeh sikha diya tha isliye kabhi pareshani nahi hui."

Anand widened his eyes at her, "Bela, yeh kya... Pooja, Preeti, Naina toh pata hai lekin iss chauthe bachche ke baare mein tumne bataya hi nahi."

"Pooja rahi thi na hamare paas Golu ke time... toh Golu ko bhi yeh aadat maine hi daali thi." Bela explained innocently.

With a knowing smirk, Phulla bua smacked Anand on the arm, "Kyon bechari bholi si meri bahu ko ched raha hai? Do bachhon ka nana ban gaya hai, kuch sharam kar."

Bela eyed them in confusion, then her eyes widened as she realised her husband's teasing.

With a shy smile, she lowered her eyes, "Kya Preeti ke papa, aap bhi. Kuch toh umr ka lihaaz kijiye."

Anand smiled fondly at his wife before turning to Phulla bua, "Iss function ka saara intezam main kar dunga. Sameer ko aur koi kaam nahi denge. Ramdhari ne bataya tha woh log kaunse caterer ko bulate hain. Main aaj hi baat kar leta hun. Baaki ghar ki sajawat wagerah ke liye Munna Pandit ne zimmedari le li hai. Sameer pe koi dabaav nahi rahega function ko lekar. Saaman jo bhi chahiye aap bata dijiye, main aur Bela jaake le aayenge."

The room was quite dark when Sameer woke up with a start at baby's crying voice. Naina got up at the same moment.

"Yeh itna andhera kyon hai? Raat ko sote waqt lamp on nahi kiya tha kya?" She looked around.

Sameer fumbled to switch on the lamp beside him. The clouds in his mind cleared when he noticed he was sleeping in his jeans.

"Naina, hum log shaam se so rahe hain. Abhi raat ke nau baje hain." He checked his watch to tell her exact time.

"Oh, nau baj gaye. Teen ghante kaise so gayi yeh?" Naina quickly checked the sheets under the baby.

After changing her clothes, she removed the cap to clean the scalp. Sameer was shocked to see her head covered with thick, silky, black hair.

"Iske sar pe baal kaise hain?" He touched the soft hair, bewildered.

Naina gave him a puzzled look.

"Matlab, filmon mein kisi baby ke sar pe baal nahi hote. Sab ganju rehte hain. Itne saare baal... yeh normal hai kya?" He put forth his apprehension.

She hit her forehead with her palm, "Sameer, tumne kabhi filmon ke alawa bachhe nahi dekhe kya?"

"Nahi... matlab haan, dekhe hain, lekin doosre logon ki god mein ya pram mein... aur sabne cap peheni hoti hai." He shrugged, not able to recall any baby with such dense hair.

She held his hand and touched his fingers to baby's hair, smiling at his explanation, "Bilkul tumhare jaise baal hain. Sab bachhon ke na hon par aisa nahi hai ki kisi ke nahi hote. Aur jab iske papa ke baal itne khoobsurat hain toh iske hone hi the. Pata hai, jab school mein tum bike pe aate the aur tumhare baal udkar maathe pe aa jaate the toh mera dil karta tha unhe apne haath se peeche kar dun. Tumhare lehrate baalon ke pata nahi kitne sapne dekhe hain maine."

With a smug smile, he raked his fingers through his hair, "Jab main khud itna handsome hun toh baal toh achhe honge hi."

She rolled her eyes, picking up the baby close to her chest, "Bas tumhari yeh khud ki tareef karne ki aadat na lag jaaye hamari beti ko."

He shifted close to her, looking into her eyes, "Uske saamne sirf tumhari tareef karunga."

A knock on door made them aware that they weren't alone at home. Sameer got up to open the door that wasn't latched.

"Light dekhi darwaze ke neeche toh laga tum log uth gaye. Khana yahin bhijwa deti hun. Tab tak gudiya ko main bahar le jaati hun tum dono kha lo." Phulla bua came ahead to take the baby.

"Bua dadi, aap bhi hamare saath khaiye na. Aur chachaji chachiji ka khana bhi Ramdhari ko kehke kamre mein hi mangwa leta hun. Hum sab saath mein khayenge." Sameer made her sit on the couch.

She gave him a doting look. As much as he wanted to be with Naina... and now his daughter... he valued other relations equally and wanted all family members to be around as well.

"Beta, maine kha liya, Bela aur Anand ke saath. Woh log abhi abhi gaye hain. Tumhe jagaya nahi kyonki raat ko yeh shaitan fir nahi sone degi." She patted his cheek.

They had their dinner while Phulla bua played with the baby who seemed alert and happy. Even when she left after an hour, the little one didn't seem to be in a mood to sleep.

"Lo bhai. Ab tum dono sambhalo isse. Main sone jaati hun." She handed the playful infant to Naina.

When they were alone again, Sameer took the baby in his arms, smiling at her as she made faces, "Naina, tumhe kya lagta hai... yeh kiske jaisi dikhegi jab yeh badi hogi... tumhari tarah hogi ya meri tarah?"

Naina rested her back against the pillow, "Hum dono se milti hui hogi iski shakl bhi aur aadatein bhi."

He narrowed his eyes, observing the face of the baby, "Mujhe lagta hai mere jaisi hi zyada dikhegi... abhi se itni pyari hai toh jhalak aa rahi hai ki apne papa pe hi jayegi."

She adoringly looked at him, "Agar tum jaisi hogi toh mujhe aur bhi zyada pyar aayega ispe."

"Achha?" His voice was husky, and his eyes sparkled.

Naina turned her gaze back to the baby, unable to bear his deep eyes, "Uhh Sameer, koi naam socho na, achha sa... bilkul alag."

He lowered his eyes at the excited bundle in his arms, who was constantly kicking at his chest, "Hamari gudiya itni pyari hai ki koi naam iske jitna achha lag hi nahi raha."

Naina laid her head back and closed her eyes. It never occurred to them that selecting a name for their baby would become such a colossal task. She recalled all the names she had ever heard... in school, college, in movies, actresses... till she reached her own name. And with her name was attached Sameer's name which cropped up even though it was a boy's name.

Her eyes shot open.

"Sameer, mujhe naam mil gaya... hamari beti ke liye." She squealed, leaning towards him.

His eyes lit up as well. If Naina had decided on something, it would be the best. He flicked his brows.

"Dekho, humein aisa naam chahiye jo hum dono ke naam se juda ho aur sunne mein bhi achha lage." She explained like a teacher.

"Nainaaa, please yeh exam ke time jaise mat padhao. Jaldi bolo na." He grumbled.

She smiled proudly, "Maine tumhare aur apne naam ke pehle akshar jod diye... aur ban gaya ek pyara sa naam... Sana."

His mouth fell open. It was indeed the perfect name... for their daughter.

He looked at her, speaking in a soft, mellow voice, "Sana."

The baby gurgled, and kicked him again.

He grinned, "Isse pasand hai."

"Lekin abhi hum kisi ko nahi batayenge. Seedhe naamkaran wale din hi sabko bolenge." She tugged at his arm.

He nodded, with a wide smile.

He loved a suspense as long as he was keeping it.

I had planned to reveal the name only at the time of naamkaran but decided not to keep the suspense any more... we all are already buried under so much suspense about Randeep's song. Itna tension handle nahi ho raha.

Happy reunion guys 🥰🥰 tomorrow is a special day