"Naina, main tumhe sab kuch bata dunga lekin usse pehle tumhe mujhse ek waada karna hoga." Sameer looked at her eagerly.

"Tum jo bologe main karungi, Sameer... bharosa nahi hai kya mujh pe?" Her eyes showed a hint of hurt.

He couldn't face her gaze, feeling her words touch him much deeper. He had indeed failed her when all those doubts clouded his mind... when he had questioned her priorities.

"Achha baba, waada... ab bolo kya manwana hai tumhe?" She assumed his silence to be a pause for her to give a promise as he asked.

He cupped her cheek, rubbing his thumb on the pale skin, "Naina, aaj jab tum behosh hui toh mujhe... mujhe laga tum wapas wohi teen saal pehle wali Naina ho... jo college mein behosh hui thi... jab tumhe utha ke yahan laaya toh laga wohi pal fir se jee raha hun... aur main darr gaya, Naina, bohot zyada darr gaya... ki itna waqt saath rehne ke baad bhi maine tumhe ek din mein wapas wahin dhakel diya."

"Nahi Sameer..." She placed her hand on his, shaking her head but he didn't let her go on.

"Pehle meri poori baat sun lo... uske baad tum jo bologi main sununga." He implored.

She nodded.

"Naina, maine tumhare chehre pe woh laachari dekhi, jo college mein thi... aur mujhe sharm aayi khud pe... tab tumhari wajah jo bhi thi, paise na hona ya kuch aur, lekin abhi tumhari haalat ki wajah main hun... aur jab doctor uncle ne poocha ki tumne kab se khana nahi khaya toh..." His voice faltered.

She patted his hand, silently assuring him.

Swallowing the pain that rose up in his throat, he continued, "Toh mujhe aaj bhi nahi pata tha, uss din ki tarah... ab toh mujhe pata hona chahiye tha na, Naina... ab toh mujhe tumhara khyal rakhna chahiye tha na... ab mujhe aisa hone hi nahi dena chahiye tha."

He couldn't control the tears anymore.

"Sameer, tum khud ko doshi mat maano... yeh meri galti thi... main... woh... mujhe laga tum... tum itne naraaz the... mujhe pata nahi chala... main... " She cried along, consoling him with incoherent words.

He gathered her into his arms gently, letting the guilt flow from his eyes.

"Galti shuru se meri hi hai, Naina... tumhare har dard ka zimmedar main hun." He muttered in a heavy voice after a while, pulling away from her.

With a deep breath, he looked into her eyes, "Waada karo ki kabhi tum khane se ladai nahi karogi... kuch bhi ho jaaye, khana time pe khaogi."

She looked down at her bandaged hand, speaking in a low voice, "Tum bhi saath khaoge toh kha lungi."

He closed his eyes, making a promise to himself that he would never again be the reason of her misery.

"Main agar office mein hun ya kisi meeting mein ya kisi kaam ki wajah se tumhare saath khana nahi kha saka toh bhi tum kha logi... main fir se apni jaan ko aise kabhi nahi dekhna chahta." He insisted lovingly, placing a finger under her chin to see her face.

She dipped her head to the side.

"Lekin ek din tum mujhe khane ko nahi kahoge yeh tum bhi promise karo." She held out her hand.

He was perplexed, "Ek din? Kyon? Aisa kaunsa din hai jab tum yeh promise todne wali ho?"

"Karwachouth... agle mahine hai... main vrat rakhungi na tumhare liye." She smiled shyly.

His eyes softened as he took her hand within his palms, "Main bhi rakhunga... tumhare liye."

She frowned, "Sameer, poora din rehna padta hai bina khaye... paani bhi nahi pina... tum nahi..."

He placed a finger on her mouth, "Agar tum reh sakti ho toh main bhi reh lunga... lekin vrat ya toh dono rakhenge ya koi nahi."

She let out a sigh, knowing that he won't accept any argument now.

"Achha ab toh bata do meri galti kya thi... jisse main phir se aisa kuch na karun." She asked hesitantly.

His eyes turned apologetic once again as he lowered his head, gaze fixated on her hand which was covered with white gauze.

"Bolo na, Sameer." Naina placed her other hand on his arm when he did not speak for some time.

He looked up at her. The brown eyes were still filled with love, waiting innocently. As his gaze wandered to the bandage on her forehead, he wanted to bang his head against the wall for causing such affliction to her.

"Bohot dard diya hai na maine tumhe?" He brushed the injury with his fingertips.

"Sameer, kya hua hai? Mujhe darr lag raha hai. Please batao." She pressed his arm.

Sitting in front of her on the bed, with one leg folded under him, Sameer started to tell her everything from the very beginning.

Her brows furrowed when he narrated the events of first day, the issues with supply from Khurana's company and the pressure of cancelled order.

"Tumne bataya kyon nahi ussi din?" She asked anxiously.

"Batana chahta tha, Naina... lekin tumhe aane mein der ho gayi... fir maine socha pehle khana kha lete hain... jaise hi khana khaya, munshiji ka phone aa gaya ki order cancel hona pakka hai, aur Khurana se baat karne ki koshish kar rahe hain par woh phone nahi utha raha... maine bhi phone milaya par usne nahi liya... issi chakkar mein time lag gaya aur jab tak main kamre mein aaya tum so gayi thi." He explained.

Her eyes filled up with regret, "Pata nahi kaise neend aa gayi, Sameer... main toh baith ke tumhara intezar hi kar rahi thi... lekin tumne uthaya kyon nahi?"

He smiled, "Tum bhi thak gayi thi... maine socha subah bataunga tumhe lekin tab bhi achanak woh phone aa  gaya."

He went on to narrate about the panic that day and meeting that followed.

"Isliye dono baar mera phone nahi laga." She nodded in understanding.

He was confounded at her statement, "Phone? Do baar?"

"Woh subah time nahi mila tumhe toh maine socha phone pe baat kar lu... mujhe lag hi raha tha koi problem hai... do baar koshish ki par tumhare kamre ka number band tha... peon se pata chala meeting chal rahi hai." Her revelation made him stare at her in silence.

"Fir chachiji ki tabiyat achanak bohot zyada kharab ho gayi toh doctor ko bulana pada... jab dopaher ko tumne phone kiya tab main doctor ki madad kar rahi thi chachiji ko drip lagane mein isliye tab bhi baat nahi ho paayi... aur chachiji ke sone ke baad phone kiya toh fir se tum meeting mein the... abhi bhi chal rahi hai kya Khurana wali problem?" She asked worriedly.

He was filled up with extreme penitence... not only had he failed Naina, he had even neglected his duty towards the people who had given him a family... he had been inadequate in reciprocating  their love.

"Ab... ab kaisi hain... chachiji?" He asked with difficulty.

"Preeti ne bataya aaj kaafi behtar hain... doctor ne kaha hai aaj aaj agar bina hile rahengi toh kal se thoda bohot uthne layak ho jayengi." Her face conveyed the relief she felt.

"I'm so sorry, Naina... jab mujhe tumhare saath hona chahiye tha, main aur hi cheezon mein..." This time, she kept a finger on his lips.

"Tumhe bhi kaam tha, Sameer... chachaji ki tarah tumhe bhi office jaana zaroori tha... sab samjhte hain... balki chachaji ko toh iss baat ka dukh hai ki main do din office nahi gayi... isliye Preeti ke wapas aate hi unhone mujhe wahan aane ko manaa kar diya... maine bhi maan liya kyonki mujhe lag raha tha tum bohot zyada kaam kar rahe ho aur tension mein ho." She said everything with her finger pressing his lips.

He held her hand, pushing his thumb to her palm to open all her fingers over his lips, and planted a kiss on her fingertips, making her smile.

"Naina, maine bohot badi galti ki hai... kaam se zyada main kisi aur baat ki tension mein tha... aur wohi gussa tumpe nikal diya." He said slowly, garnering strength to speak about his irrational thoughts.

She waited.

He started in a low voice, telling her how agitated he was when she had abruptly ended the call, and thought that she was not giving him priority. When he mentioned about the likeness of her dismissed call to the ones he made to his mother as a child, and which had met the same fate almost every time... he saw a wave of anguish pass through her eyes.

"Tumhe khana khate hue uss din mera letter dekha tak nahi?" She asked in a flat voice.

He was startled, "Letter? Kaunsa letter?"

"Tumhari favourite cheezon ke saath maine ek letter bhi bheja tha jo shaam ko wapas aa gaya tha ussi bag mein... main puchna chahti thi par tumne na khane ke baare mein kuch kaha na meri kavita ke baare mein." Her dejected face tore his heart.

"Kahan hai woh letter? Mujhe abhi dekhni hai tumhari kavita." He started to get up.

She tugged at his arm, "Pehle baat khatam karo, Sameer... tumne abhi tak theek se bataya nahi hai itne gussa kyon the tum."

Though his courage was waning, but it was important to tell her everything. He recounted the scenario that unfolded after lunch... how Khurana questioned everything, from his taking over the business to her joining the office, his questions about her qualifications and munshiji's answer.

"Jab usne tumhare baare mein bola toh mera mann kiya uska galaa dabaa dun... lekin ruk gaya... aur ussi waqt soch liya ki ab yeh Khurana hamari company mein ek din bhi nahi rahega." He was infuriated at the mere thought of Khurana.

She was surprised as he described how he provoked him and how the staff witnessed his attack.

Her eyes widened in fear, "Pagal ho gaye the kya? Agar tumhe lag jaati toh?"

"Aise kaise lag jaati, Naina? Main taiyar tha uske vaar ke liye." He soothed her.

She was perplexed again, "Iska matlab Khurana ko nikaal diya?"

He nodded with a smile.

"Offo, fir gussa kispe the?" It was becoming frustrating for her.

He gulped... this was more difficult than whatever he had told her till now.

"Khurana ne kuch aisa kaha... ki main... main hil gaya... aur... aur sochne laga ki... ki kahin yeh sach toh nahi." The painful lump was back in his throat.

"Kya kaha?" Her voice dropped decibels as she stared at him.

Sameer inhaled deeply, with closed eyes, then slowly told her the exact words.

The colour drained away from her face. All she could do was to stare at him with cold eyes.

"Pata nahi, Naina, mujhe kya ho gaya tha... main kaise aisa soch sakta hun... kyon maine khud ko uski baaton mein uljha liya... main... main... sorry Naina... mujhe maaf kardo." His voice was heavy with emotions as he leaned to take her in his arms.

Her frail hand on his chest stopped him only because he froze at the touch.

"Tum theek keh rahe the, Sameer Maheshwari." Her quivering voice betrayed her stony expression.

"Naina?" He stared in disbelief.

"Theek keh rahe the tum... ki tumne mujhe teen saal pehle wale haal mein dhakel diya... wohi kiya hai tumne." She fought back the tears.

He fiercely shook his head, "Nahi Naina, main isliye..."

"Bas Sameer." Her loud voice stalled him.

"Ab yeh safai dene ki jagah tum tabhi sachhai bata dete toh..." Her voice choked.

He wanted to kill himself now... for causing more pain to her.

"Maine sach mein bohot badi bhool kar di hai, Naina... main darr gaya tha... main ghar ke akelepan se darr gaya tha... hamare beech ki doori se darr gaya tha... tumse baat na kar paane ki wajah se ghutan ho rahi thi." He whispered.

Suddenly she surged at him, holding his collars, "Isliye tumhara pyar khatam ho gaya... aisa kaisa pyar tha tumhara jo itni si doori ko rishton ki doori samajh baitha... aisa kaisa vishwas tha jo itne saal ke mere pyar ko pehchaan nahi paaya... aisa kaisa janmon ka bandhan tha jo kisi aur ke do shabdon se gaanth mein badal gaya... kya tumne mujhse kabhi pyar kiya bhi tha, Sameer?"

"Yeh kya keh rahi ho, Naina? Kya tumhe bharosa nahi hai mere pyar pe?" He gripped her shoulders, narrowing his eyes painfully.

She let out an exasperated breath, going limp in his hold as her hands slipped down the collars to rest on his chest.

"Ek pal ka shaq kaise chubh gaya na tumhe? Socho, mujhe kis hadd tak dard hua hai tumhari baat se." She mumbled in a tired, dejected voice, leaning back against the pillow.

Her sharp words jolted him... making him realise the gravity of blunder that he had commited. He had pushed their relationship back to where they started... when she wasn't sure of his love for her and he dwelled in his loneliness.

The only thing that remained constant from then, till now, was her unconditional love for him... and he had doubted that pure love.

His eyes squeezed shut as he hung his head, ashamed of how he misconstrued everything.

The silence in the room weighed on both of them heavily.

His frustration mounted as he looked at her, staring out of the balcony door, at the patch of bright light that reflected on the floor tiles.

Wiping his eyes, he vowed to put back together whatever he had undone.

He shifted ahead, closer to her, and took her hands in his, "Hamara rishta itna kamzor nahi hai, Naina, ki ek halke se jhatke se bikhar jaaye... main galat tha jo maine kaha ki tum teen saal pehle wali Naina lag rahi thi... nahi, tum ab woh Naina nahi ho... tum Naina Sameer Maheshwari ho... meri Naina ho... Sameer ki Naina... thodi dhool gir gayi thi tumhare Sameer ki aankhon mein... lekin ab woh saaf ho gayi... hum dono ke aansuon ne dil ki har gard ko hata ke sheeshe jaisa saaf kar diya hai... aur iss sheeshe mein ek hi tasveer hai... meri Naina ki."

He placed their joined hands over his heart.

She did not move, nor shifted her gaze from the floor.

"Shayad pehli baar iss tarah ki doori dekhi isliye ghabra gaya... sabne chod diya na mujhe, toh shayad dil iss doori ko faasla samajh baita." The sincerity in his voice reached her, making her slowly look at him.

As her eyes fell on him, he quickly held his ear, leaving one of her hand, "Dubara aisa kabhi nahi hoga... promise... kabhi nahi... tumhare pyar pe shaq karne se pehle meri saansen band..."

She swiftly placed her free hand on his lips, shaking her head.

He kissed on her fingers. She pulled it back, pursing her lips.

"I Love You, Naina." He said in a choked voice.

She hurled herself in his arms, relieved to get her haven back, "I Love You too, Sameer."

He wrapped his arms around her, drowning himself in the warmth that he had been craving for since last two days.

They were for each other... and they had survived a storm to realise that they would always be with each other.

Uff... ladai khatam

It was as painful for me to write as it was for you to read. Can't wait to get back to our lovey dovey Samaina

Next update tomorrow evening