The visit to doctor a few days later confirmed that Naina was fine. The bandage on hand was removed to reveal an almost healed wound. She gave a blood sample for testing at doctor's insistence when Sameer mentioned to Dr Shaila that their doctor had advised the same.

Next day, when Sameer went to collect the report, he was worried to find that Naina was indeed anemic.

"Dekho Sameer, aapki wife sirf borderline anemic hai. Diet ka dhyan rakho aur kuch nahi." Dr Shaila tried to ease his tension.

"Waise Naina hamesha se hi kaafi kam khati hai, lekin shaadi ke baad se hum zyadatar saath khate hain toh main koshish karta hun ki woh theek se khaye, aur abhi ek hafte se uske khane pine ka zyada khyal kar rahe hain hum." He said in a lost voice.

"Yeh problem abhi shuru hui ho aisa zaroori nahi hai. Kabhi kabhi saalon ke neglect ki wajah se bhi kami aa jaati hai. Ho sakta hai Naina bachpan mein khane ko leke thodi choosy rahi ho... sab bachhe maa baap ke aage zid karte hain khane pine mein."

His mouth pressed into a grim line. Tantrums was the privilege Naina never had in her childhood. He recalled the incident when taiji had given her only half chapati, and was filled up with more hatred for taiji for causing such deep repercussions for his Naina's health by denying her basic needs.

"Doctor, Naina ka bachpan thoda... alag tha. Usse normal bachhon ki tarah... matlab usne shayad kabhi theek se ek baar ka khaana bhi nahi khaya hoga." The pain in his voice made the doctor comprehend that there must have been some major problem.

"Jo ho gaya usko toh badal nahi sakte, Sameer. Lekin aane wala samay toh hamara apna hai na...
usko samjhao ki ab bohot zaroori hai uske liye achhi sehat... kal ko jab khud ke bachhe honge toh koi problem nahi honi chahiye na health ki wajah se." She politely informed him.

Sameer looked sharply at her, "Kaisi problem? Kya Naina ko koi health problem hai?"

Doctor smiled in assurance, "Nahi, koi problem nahi hai abhi, lekin uski sehat aur achhi honi chahiye jab tum log baby ke baare mein socho... yeh uske aur baby dono ke liye zaroori hai."

She gave him a diet chart, showing what all food items should be more in Naina's meals. Thanking her, Sameer left for home.

"Kya hai report mein? Sab theek hai na?" Naina was curious.

He sat down to explain everything that doctor had told him, along with the food chart.

She nodded nervously.

"Naina, Doctor ne kaha hai darne jaisa kuch nahi hai... bas achha aur healthy khana zaroori hai jisse aage tumhe koi problem na ho aur..." He paused, waiting for her to question him.

"Aur?" She instantly fulfilled his wish.

"Aur hamare che bachhon ko bhi." He winked.

"Sameer." She turned crimson.

He pulled her in his arms, "Nahi jaan, che nahi, bas do... ek tumhari tarah aur ek meri tarah."

She hid her face in his chest. But he could feel the curve of her lips against his heart.

Ramdhari studied the chart with great concentration. He stuck it on the side of refrigerator for daily reference and started following it diligently.

The city of Ahmedabad soon bore a resemblance to some huge carnival, with festive look on all streets and crowded markets. Navratri was a time when whole of city paused everything to completely immerse themselves into the euphoria of colourful celebrations.

"Chalo Naina, shopping karne chalte hain." Sameer urged, as it was a holiday.

"Itne saare kapde toh hain. Kya zaroorat hai shopping ki?" Naina said as she finished her breakfast.

"Mujhe apni jaan ke liye chaniya choli lena hai." He gave a lopsided smile.

She pondered for a while before giving him the same sly smile, "Theek hai, mujhe bhi apni jaan ke liye kedia dhoti lena hai."

His eyebrows shot up in shock, "Main... main woh nahi pehen sakta."

"Toh main bhi chaniya choli nahi pehnungi." She shrugged.

After some more pestering, she agreed to go for shopping.

It was a mad rush in the shops. The splash of colours everywhere was invigorating. Jostling with the crowds, they checked a few shops till they reached the showroom where Sameer had seen Naina try a lehenga before Swati and Munna's engagement. The same memory hit them together and they looked at each other.

"Ek din yahin pe pagal banaya tha tumne mujhe... dukaan ke saare salesmen soch rahe the mujhe heart attack aane wala hai... unhe kya pata, dil hota toh attack aata na, dil toh kabka tumne chura liya tha... uss din se mera chain, meri neend bhi chura li... phir se." His voice turned hoarse as the images of that day came alive in his mind.

"Phir se?" She queried.

"Hmm, woh green saree ke jhatke se theek se bahar kahan aa paya tha main tab tak... waise abhi bhi nahi aaya hun... jab bhi tumhari woh bheegi si tasveer aankhon ke aage aati hai, dil karta hai..." He breathed against her ear, slipping his hand around her waist.

"Sameer, market mein hain hum... hosh mein raho." She swatted his arm, pushing him to maintain a distance.

But he could see the colour of his adulation spreading on her cheeks.

Though the store was less crowded as compared to other shops, enormous piles of dresses everywhere were an indication that several shoppers had been here. After checking out almost all colours, Naina's eyes spotted something that immediately caught her fancy. She pulled at the piece, frowning as she felt someone tugging at it from the other side. She looked up to find Sameer trying to pick the same lehenga.

The outfit was black in colour but it was filled with mirror work and embroidered patterns in all possible colours, to make it look vibrant. A few more pieces had been shortlisted half heartedly earlier. Picking up all of them, Naina went towards the trial room. Sameer followed her, waiting outside as she tried each one, saving the black one for last.

"Yehi best hai." His eyes lit up when she opened the door wearing the black one.

"Toh isko theek se pehen ke dekh leti hun. Fit theek hoga toh yehi le lete hain." She took her arms behind her, trying to grasp the intricately woven doris.

Sameer looked around. The doors to two other rooms were shut and there was no one else. He slightly pushed Naina in and entered the trial room, closing the door behind him.

"Yeh kya kar rahe ho?" She was startled.

"Wohi jo uss din nahi kar paaya... maine kaha tha na, tumhari dori toh main hi bandhunga." He turned her to face the mirror, standing right behind.

His hands on her shoulders, his eyes on her image, his breath on her ear... there was no way she could resist him. Gathering her hair with one hand, she brought them over her shoulder. His eyes widened at the pattern on her back. There was hardly any fabric, just the criss cross of strings, which was presently half open, making the luminescent skin glow even more in stark comparison to black.

He leaned to plant a kiss on the back of her shoulder.

Her breath caught in her throat as his heated lips burned her sensitive skin. With their clear images in front of her, not just the feel, but the sight of him subjecting her to tender ministrations created havoc in her system.

He flattened his palm on her belly, skimming his lips on the expanse of skin in front of him. She trembled against him, pressing her lips to stop the groan from erupting.

"Jab tumhe yahan pehli baar aise dori wale blouse mein dekha tha toh uss dori se jalan ho gayi thi, jo tumhe itne kareeb se chu rahi thi... aur main itni door tha." He whispered against her ear, tracing a finger along the pattern on her back.

She hunched back her shoulders, looking at his hooded eyes in the mirror.

"Lekin ab... yeh dori mere raaste mein nahi aa sakti kyonki main isse kahin zyada kareeb hun tumhare." His lips again trailed down from her neck to her back, leaving the skin flared up.

"Sam... Sameer... yeh tum kya... yahan..." She tried to hold onto the little part of her sanity.

"Haan, yahin pe... iss jagah se badla lena hai... pichli baar tumne theek se lene nahi diya tha na... jab shaadi ki shopping karne aaye the." He reminded her.

She was hardly able to understand, going weak in the knees as his hands and lips roamed freely on her.

They were lost in a heated kiss when a thumping knock on the door made them jump.

"Zara jaldi kijiye please, auron ko bhi try karna hai." A loud voice from outside made her panic.

"Ab kya karen, Sameer, lagta hai bahar kaafi log hain... hum dono ek saath kaise jayenge?" She whispered in a fearful voice.

"Toh kya hua, Naina... hum married hain, agar main tumhari madad kar raha tha dress try karne mein toh isme galat kya hai... aur kaunsa hum yahan kisi ko jaante hain." Sameer tried to pacify her.

"Arre Meena behen, kaisi hain aap? Navratri ki shopping chal rahi hai?" Naina almost fainted at the shrill voice coming from outside.

"Yeh toh taiji ko jaanti hain, Kusum aunty... aur woh Meena aunty bhi." The nervous tension brought tears to her eyes.

"Shh... bina ghabraye hue socho... kuch toh idea hoga yahan se nikalne ka jisse kisi ko pata na chale." Sameer looked around.

The tiny cubicle had no window or opening, just one door. But then, all trial rooms were the same. He pursed his lips, wondering if they should wait till the sounds outside died down and they were sure that everyone was gone.

"Ek idea hai, Sameer." Her hesitant voice made him look at her.

His eyes almost popped out at her suggestion.

"Naina... yeh kaise..." He was baffled.

"Aur koi raasta nahi hai." She shrugged.

A little later, they opened the door.

"Arre Naina tum..." Kusum aunty gaped with open mouth at another person emerging from the same trial room.

"Yeh... yeh kaun hai? Aur tum iske saath trial room mein..." She asked in a peculiar, nosey manner.

Everyone peered at the tall lady behind Naina, dressed in a red lehenga, her head and face covered completely with dupatta.

"Yeh mere sasural ki rishtedaar hain... gaon se aayi hain isliye akele try karne mein ghabra rahi thi... maine kaha main madad kar deti hun." Naina said calmly, hiding her nervousness well.

"Lekin yahan kisse parda kiya hua hai? Aisa ghoonghat toh ab koi nahi nikalta... kam se kam apne rishtedaron se humein toh milwa do." Meena aunty was equally prying.

"Woh thodi sharmeeli hain, aunty... pehli baar Ahmedabad aayi hain toh darti hain... ab main chalti hun warna yeh pareshan ho jayengi."

"Waise kaafi lambi hain tumhari rishtedaar." Kusum aunty looked at Sameer.

Naina smiled wide, "Sabhi hain... mere sasural mein sabhi lambe hain."

"Haan tumhare pati ka kad bhi waise achha khaasa hai... lekin dikh nahi raha... Preeti ki shaadi ke saare function mein toh har samay tumse chipka rehta tha... aaj kahan reh gaya?" Meena aunty sniggered.

"Shaadi ko time ho gaya isliye ab akele ghoomne bhej diya kya?" Kusum aunty quipped.

Sameer controlled the urge to slide his arm around Naina's waist and let everyone know that he's still right behind her, as much in love as before... rather more than before.

"Sameer humein lene aane wale hain... der ho gayi toh bohot chinta ho jayegi unhe... hum chalte hain." Naina held Sameer's hand and walked away quickly.

The two ladies were busy snickering... hence failed to notice mens shoes under the red lehenga.

Pulling off the clothes and dumping them on the side table once they were in a hidden corner, Sameer quickly held Naina's hands. She was shaken from the 'almost caught' situation.

"Relax Naina, kuch nahi hota agar pata chal bhi jaata." He rubbed his thumb on the back of her hand.

"Tum jaante nahi ho taiji ki saheliyon jo, Sameer. Woh aise namak mirch laga ke sabke saamne baatein karti ki main sharm ke maare ghar se bahar bhi nahi nikal paati." She was dreadful at the thought itself.

"Jaan, main hu na tumhare saath... jab taiji ko humein kuch bolne mein ab darr lagne laga hai toh yeh sab log hote hi kaun hain jinki wajah se tum itni dukhi ho rahi ho." He soothed her fears.

"Tum na chup raho... tumhe kya pata yun dukaan mein sabke saamne aisi haalat mein phans jaane se kaise jaan nikalti hai." She tried to jerk off his hand.

He tightened his hold, pulling her a little closer while leaning to whisper, "Mujhe bas itna pata hai ki issi dukaan mein ek baar tumne mujhe kareeb kareeb behosh kar diya tha... aaj maine tumse apna badla le liya."

She stared at him in amazement, "Tumne... tumne yeh sab jaan bhoojh ke kiya?"

He shrugged... though he hadn't planned anything.

"Chalo." She turned, with a firm hold on his hand.

"Kahan Naina? Kahan jaana hai? Counter toh udhar hai... iss lehenge ka bill toh banwa lein." He was surprised when she moved to mens section.

"Nahi, yeh kabhi nahi pehnunga." He gave a petrified look to the traditional costume Naina held out to him.

"Tum pe woh laal wala lehenga kuch zyada hi achha lag raha tha... isliye ab ya toh tum yeh pehenoge ya hum navratri mein nahi jayenge... aur haan, main sabko bata dungi ki tum dukaan mein laal lehenga pehen ke ghoom rahe the." She crossed her arms, a determined look on her face.

He laughed uncertainly, "Kaun maanega tumhari baat... sab jaante hain main lehenga kyon pehenunga bhala."

She narrowed her eyes, "Tum bhi toh jaante ho mujhe, Mr Maheshwari, agar yahan sabko yakeen dila sakti hun ki tum ladki ho toh kya main ghar pe sabko koi kahani nahi suna sakti?"

"Achha baba, jo karna hai karo." He threw up his hands in resignation, knowing that her play with words might make everyone believe her.

He didn't want to imagine the look on Munna Pandit's face when she would narrate such a story to them.

"Yaar Sameer, bhabhi ke pyar mein itna kho gaya ki khud hi bhabhi ban gaya?" He could almost hear Pandit's voice.

"Toh?" Her question startled him, breaking his terrifying dream.

"Toh kya?" He wiped his forehead though there was no sweat.

"Toh kya socha tumne... red lehenga ya yeh wala kedia dhoti?" She held up the costume.

He pointed at the dress.

With a winning smile, Naina walked to the counter to make the payment for both their outfits.

I don't know much about Gujarati dresses except chaniya choli which is widely used nowadays... google helped me to put a name to the dress Sameer had worn for navratri function. Do tell me if I've named it incorrectly... I'll make the changes.

Next update tomorrow evening