"Sonali, tujhe bohot miss kiya maine. Achha kiya tum log aa gaye. Itne mahinon se baat hi nahi hui thi." Naina was delighted to meet Sonali after so long.

"Maine bhi miss kiya. Agar course mein admission nahi liya hota toh hum jaate hi nahi. Lekin jis din tune yeh news di thi uske agle hafte hi hamari flight thi. Sach Naina, main aur Rahul jaane se pehle bhi ek baar aana chahte the lekin itni saari taiyarian karni thi ki time nikal hi nahi paaya. Bhabhi ka Bunty bhi tabhi paida hua tha... bas inn sab mein hi woh ek hafta nikal gaya." Sonali smiled regretfully.

Naina's eyes brightened at the mention of bhabhi, "Bunty toh ghar pe bolte hain na, waise kya naam rakha hai?"

Sonali nodded, "Atharv naam hai lekin sab Bunty hi bulate hain. Tu bata tumne kya naam socha hai?"

Naina looked at her daughter, sleeping peacefully, "Humne abhi tak socha hi nahi. Iske aane ki khushi mein khyal hi nahi aaya ki naam bhi soch lein."

Sonali was surprised, "Haww pagal. Tum dono shuru se yehi maan ke baithe the ki beti aayegi fir bhi naam nahi socha? Bhabhi ne toh itni lambi list bana li thi ladke aur ladki ke namon ki. Chal koi nahi. Abhi naamkaran mein time hai, tum dono tab tak kuch achha sa soch lo."

Naina placed her hand lightly over the baby, wondering what name could be given to her. It had to be special... after all it would be her identity for lifetime.

Sonali gazed at the sleeping baby, "Abhi kitne aaram se so rahi hai. Lekin jab andar hogi toh bohot badmaashi karti hogi na? Bunty bhi itna kick karta tha ki bhabhi ka haal bura ho jaata tha."

"Haan. Yeh bhi kam nahi thi. Pehle toh Sameer ke paas aate hi..." Naina stopped abruptly, biting her lip.

Sonali gave a nudge, a teasing smile on her lips, "Bata na, Sameer ko paas nahi aane deti thi kya? Haye bichara, uski haalat toh tere se bhi zyada kharab ho gayi hogi. Apni Naina ke bina Sameer ko kahan chain milta hai."

The blush was back on her face as she gave a shy smile, "Sameer kahan manne wala tha. Usne isse bhi pata liya."

Sonali widened her eyes, "Hain? Isse kaise pataya? Yeh Sameer ko koi jaadu aata hai kya?"

Naina lowered her eyes, speaking softly, "Woh usne kaha... umm... ki hum jaldi hi iske liye ek saathi le aayenge... aur yeh maan gayi. Uske baad Sameer ko kabhi tang nahi kiya."

"Lagta hai jab tu golu molu thi tab Sameer ko aur zyada pasand aa gayi. Isliye usne aage ki planning bhi kar li. Naina, main bhi dekhna chahti thi tujhe waise. Kitna mann tha. Lekin tujhe itni jaldi thi ki hamare aane se pehle hi tu apni doll ko le aayi. Ab tujhe waise dekhne ke liye iske saathi ka intezar karna padega." Sonali pouted.

Naina's face lit up, "Photo dekhegi?"

Sonali nodded excitedly.

Naina pointed to a cabinet near the mirror, "Wahan sabse neeche wale drawer mein ek white album hogi. Leke aa."

Sonali was thrilled to see Naina's pictures with a big tummy, "Kitni sundar lag rahi hai. Isliye Sameer ne rishwat di apni beti ko... ab itni khoobsurat biwi se door kaise rehta."

Naina tucked a lock of hair behind her ear... she knew that Sameer's love wasn't related to her beauty... he would always love her, no matter what.

Bela came to the room with a steaming bowl, "Naina, beta yeh soup hai tere liye. Garam garam pi le."

Sonali stood up from the bed, "Ab tujhe aaram karna chahiye, Naina. Hum log chalte hain."

Naina looked up in surprise, "Raat ko wapas Mumbai thodi jaa sakte ho. Tum log yahin rahoge."

Bela handed the soup bowl to Naina and turned to Sonali, "Beta, raat ko safar karna theek nahi hota. Tumhari koi majboori thodi hai ki kal hi Mumbai pohochana hai... do chaar din yahan ruko... apni dost aur uski gudiya ke saath samay bita lo. Ek baar kaam shuru kiya toh pata nahi kab milna hoga dubara."

Sonali shook her head, "Arre nahi nahi, aunty, hum Mumbai nahi jaa rahe. Mere mamaji kuch mahine pehle yahan Ahmedabad mein shift hue hain. Hum unke ghar pe ruke hain. Wapas jaane mein abhi ek hafta hai." She looked at Naina, "Main mummy ko bol ke aayi thi ki Naina ki pregnancy ke kisse sunungi aaram se... socha abhi toh time hai, ek baar delivery ho gayi toh tu baby ke saath busy ho jayegi. Mujhe kya pata tha iss chutki ko apni maasi se milne ki itni jaldi hai ki mujhse pehle hi aa jayegi. Ab maasi hai hi itni great ki isse intezar nahi hua hoga."

Bela and Naina laughed as she raised her imaginary collars.

Rahul and Sonali left for their relative's house. Sameer insisted that both stay with them but they said it wasn't possible as Sonali's mamiji was very fond of her and wouldn't let them stay anywhere as long as they were in Ahmedabad. They promised to come regularly till they were here.

After they were gone, Sameer wanted to go to his room but Phulla bua stopped him.

"Tu thodi der yahin ruk. Mujhe aur Bela ko Naina se kuch baat karni hai. Usse kuch samjhana hai." She held his arm and made him sit on the sofa.

Sameer gave her a perplexed look, "Aap kar lijiye, bua dadi. Main manaa thodi karunga. Mere wahan hone se kya farq padega. Main bhi sun lunga aap jo bhi samjhoge."

Phulla bua let out an exasperated sigh, "Apni beti se pehle tu hi Naina ki god mein baith ja."

A deep blush spread on his face and he lowered his head.

Phulla bua chuckled at his shyness, stroking his head, "Beta, Naina ko abhi bachche ke baare mein kuch pata nahi hai. Usse batana padega ki kaise sambhalna hai, kaise chup karana hai, kaise uthana hai. Aakhir din raat Naina ko hi uske paas rehna hai aur uska khyal rakhna hai."

Sameer looked up quickly, opening his mouth to say that he wanted to learn too... but stayed quiet. He would ask Naina later. If bua dadi was saying that she needed to speak to Naina alone, maybe it was required... she would never keep him away from Naina, and now, from the baby.

He smiled, "Theek hai, bua dadi. Aap baat kar lijiye. Main tab tak fir se mummy ko phone karne ki koshish karta hun. Hospital se kiya toh ghar pe kisi ne uthaya hi nahi."

She patted his cheek, giving a mischievous smile, "Kar le. Waise mujhe pata hai tu kitna bechain hai apne kamre mein jaane ko. Bas thodi der, fir mil lena apni Naina aur apni beti se."

He pursed his lips, rubbing the back of his neck.

The call to Delhi went unanswered again. He wondered where everyone was. He had tried in the afternoon as well but there was no reply. Searching the telephone diary kept next to the instrument, he found Mr Somani's office number. After trying the residence a few more times, he decided to call up at office the next day.

Bela and Phulla bua sat with Naina, telling her how to handle the baby. Though she had seen Golu when he was newborn, but she could remember only the fun part, of playing with him... how Pooja didi or chachiji took care of him never registered to her or Preeti. Now, seeing the tiny limbs of her daughter, she was scared to cause her any harm when she changed her nappies or dress.

Bela smiled when Naina was hesitant to turn the little one, while changing her clothes, "Darne ki baat nahi hai. Bachche ko thoda hilana dulana achha hota hai."

She looked puzzled, "Lekin iske haath seedhe kyon nahi ho rahe?"

Bela chuckled, "Bhool gayi kya Golu ka time? Tab tu aur Preeti kitna khush hote the usse aise haath pair mod ke sote hue dekh ke. Beta, bachche jab paida hote hain toh aise hi hote hain. Dheere dheere haath pair khul jaate hain, aur fir jo sharaaratein karte hain na... tab kehna choti thi toh hi sahi tha."

Phulla bua laughed aloud, "Bade bachhon ki shraratein sambhalna toh Naina ko khoob aata hai. Sameer kam thodi hai... ek number ka badmaash hai."

Naina smiled shyly, but her eyes drifted to the door... it had been a long time since she had seen him. She wondered what was keeping him away from his daughter.

Phull bua could see the anticipation in her eyes.

"Dekh beta, bachche ko paalne ka tareeka ek din mein nahi samjhaya jaa sakta. Tum dono kuch dinon mein achhi tarah seekh jaoge. Lekin tab tak kuch bhi puchne ke liye jhijhakna mat. Agar aadhi raat ko bhi kuch janna ho toh mujhe utha dena. Waise toh main yahin so jaati tere paas, jisse raat ko agar gudiya roye toh main usse sambhal lun... lekin maine aisa sujhav bhi diya toh tum dono fir se koi nayi kahani suna daloge... chor, bhoot ki toh pichli baar ho gayi thi ab ki baar shayad naagin ya koi aatma wagerah..." Phulla bua pinched Naina's cheek.

Bela was horrified, "Haye buaji, aap kaisi baatein kar rahi hain bachhe ke kamre mein. Ruk Naina, main abhi fir se nazar utar deti hun tum dono ki... koi bura saaya na aa jaaye."

As Bela rushed out to the kitchen, Phulla bua again flicked her brows, "Waise sach kaha na maine? Suna dete na kahani?"

"Bua dadi." Naina leaned ahead, hiding her face in Phulla bua's shoulder.

She rubbed her back lovingly, speaking in a gentle voice, "Tu meri gudiya hi rahegi chahe tere paas ab apni khud ki gudiya aa gayi hai. Beta, bachhe ko sambhalne mein thakaan ho jaati hai, isliye agar tujhe aisa lage toh isse mere paas sula dena. Iss umr mein mujhe zyada neend ki zaroorat nahi hai. Lekin tujhe aaram aur neend ki hai. Isliye sochna mat. Jab tak main yahan hun, tu kabhi bhi mujhe bula lena ya isse mere paas le aana."

Bela entered, along with Sameer who had been impatiently pacing outside. His eyes brightened at the sight of his girls.

Bela performed her ritual before teasing him, "Ab saans mein saans aa gayi? Tumhari biwi aur tumhari beti ab tumhare hawale. Subah mat kehna ki raat bhar nappy badal badal ke thak gaye."

Naina's eyes lifted to him, her anxiety suddenly replaced by tranquility. They would together do everything for their daughter.

Phulla bua turned and walked towards the door, "Bela, ab tu aur Anand bhi ghar jaake aaram karo. Aur haan, panditji ko bula lena subah, naamkaran ke liye kaunsi tareekh theek rahegi woh bata denge."

Bela followed her, after asking Naina to take care of herself, along with the baby. As she closed the door behind her, Sameer kept one knee on the bed, leaned down and placed a soft kiss on the baby's forehead.

A contended smile played on Naina's lips, "Ek din mein hi bhool gaye mujhe... sirf apni beti ko miss kiya."

He took his time, touching the tiny wrapped form with light fingers before looking up.

"Tumhe abhi bataya kahan hai tumhe kab se aur kitna miss kar raha tha." His eyes brimmed with love.

He walked around the bed to her side and sat down in front of her, cupping her face, "Tum theek ho?"

The question filled her eyes with blissful tears. A journey that started with these three words had come this far... wiped out all darkness of their past... changed them completely... turned them from strangers to each other's life... and brought a bundle of joy to complete their family.

She nodded, blinking hard to fight the tears, "Tum theek ho?"

His smile turned wide as he realised what she was thinking.

Shifting ahead, he took her in his arms, breathing out in relief, "Thank you, jaan."

Her eyes closed, soaking in his warmth. The pain, the tiredness, the weight of sudden responsibility, the fear of handling the baby... everything melted away. Within the safe cocoon of his arms, she was home.

He kissed the top of her head, "Tumhe bohot takleef hui na?"

Her eyes opened to glance at the baby, "Badle mein jo mila hai woh uss takleef se kahin zyada bada hai."

He moved back, cupping her face, "Lekin Naina, beti toh mujhe bhi mili hai... par mujhe koi dard nahi sehna pada. Sirf tumhe hi kyon?"

She was aware that he would be effected deeply by her pain. It was one thing to read and prepare for labour, and absolutely a different experience to go through that excruciating pain. Even while she was in hospital, writhing with white flashes that left her sweating, she knew her cries would not be easy on him.

"Tumne bhi dard saha hai, Sameer. Mera har dard tumne bhi mere saath mehsoos kiya hai main jaanti hun. Woh kisi aur ko bhale hi na dikhe par mujhe pata hai, tum ab tak uss dard mein doobe ho, tum iss baat ko bhula nahi paa rahe ki mujhe yeh sab sehna pada." Her voice choked.

He was silent. She could read him by his expression, reach his soul through his eyes, understand him without spoken words.

"Naina, I'm sorry maine tumhe baar baar itne saare bachhon ke liye bola. Hamare liye bas hamari gudiya hi kaafi hai. Mujhe aur bachhe nahi chahiye. Main tumhe fir se aisi takleef mein nahi dekh sakta." He held both his ears.

As a short laugh escaped her lips, the tears resting on the edge of her eyes rolled down her cheeks. Holding his wrists, she pulled his hands down.

"Mr Maheshwari, aaj hamari beti paida hui hai. Aaj hi aur bachhon ke baare mein baat karna theek nahi hai. Pehle isko sambhalna toh seekh lein hum dono." She rested her head on his chest.

As if she heard them, the baby started to cry... ready to make them begin their training.

Next update on Sunday evening