Ever since Sameer had met her, Naina had been a great teacher for him. Things did not change even now that they had been married for so long. Her persistent efforts had made him well versed with usage of computers. He had bought a few more for office use as well... one for himself and three more to be used in different sections. Some trained staff was hired to handle them, and also to upskill the existing employees.

As the winters came to an end, Vishakha had come over for a day to visit them. Though Rohan and Deepika wanted to accompany her but owing to Deepika's exams it wasn't possible... and she did not let Rohan go alone.

"Mummy, aap agar ek din ruk paati toh kal factory chalke dekhti ki hamare fabrics kitne naye tareeke ke designs ke ban rahe hain. Waise hum aapko computer pe dikha denge lekin apne haath se choo ke dekhne ki alag baat hai." Sameer excitedly mentioned when they were having tea in the evening.

Vishakha smiled proudly at them, "Mujhe pata hai tum dono ne bohot mehnat ki hai. Uska result dikh bhi raha hai. Sameer, tumse kuch baat karni thi. Delhi ke designers ki Association ne Vivek ko approach kiya hai. Tumne jo naye blends ready karwaye hain woh bohot pasand aaye hain sabko. Kyon nahi iss project mein tum Vivek ke saath partnership kar lete... ab toh tum unse..."

Sameer lowered his head, speaking before Vishakha could finish, "Yeh nahi ho sakta, mummy."

She was taken aback. After their Delhi visit, Vivek had called up and spoken to Sameer on a few occasions. Although their talks were mostly a formal greeting or something business related still she felt the ice was broken and a warmth was seeping in. But Sameer's curt reply made her doubtful again.

"Lekin beta, ab toh sab theek hai na. Vivek ne maafi bhi maang li hai. Ab toh tum unhe papa maan sakte ho." She asked hesitantly.

Naina placed a hand on Sameer's forearm. He kept his hand on hers, assuring her that he would not do anything to spoil the relations again.

"Mummy, woh aapke husband hain. Mere liye usse zyada kuch nahi. Haan, unse baat ki hai kyonki unhe apni galti ka ahsaas hua lekin isse hamara rishta badal nahi sakta. Rahi baat saath mein business karne ki... toh main unke saath kisi cheez mein shamil nahi hona chahta. Agar aapko koi help chahiye toh aap apni factory se kisi ko bhej dijiye yahan ka kaam samajhne ke liye. Lekin please, aisi koi maang mat rakhiye jiske liye mujhe na bolke aapka dil dukhana pade." He tried to keep his voice neutral.

Vishakha gave him a helpless look, "Sameer, jo ho gaya usko toh main badal nahi sakti lekin ab main chahti hun mera poora parivaar milke rahe. Tum log yahan settled ho woh theek hai lekin khud ko uss ghar ka hissa toh maano."

Sameer looked up at nanu's picture, "Mera ghar yehi hai aur hamesha yehi rahega, mummy. Iss ghar ke har kone mein nanu ke ashirwad ka apnapan hai. Rohan aur Deepika ko maine apna maan liya hai lekin usse zyada mujhse nahi hoga."

Vishakha blinked her moist eyes, "Naina ke aane se tumhare liye khushiyon ke raaste khul gaye hain, beta. Ab kisi khushi ko roko mat. Jo ghaav bhar gaye hain unka dard kyon fir se mehsoos karna chahte ho?"

Sameer picked up Naina's hand that was on his arm till now, linking his fingers with her, "Naina ne sach mein meri zindagi khushiyon se bhar di hai. Main nahi bhoola hun, mummy, ki aapka pyar bhi Naina ki wajah se hi mila... aap bhi mat bhooliye ki main agar Dilli aaya tha toh woh Naina ke kehne pe tha. Aaj mere ghaav agar sookh gaye hain toh isliye ki unhe sirf Naina ne dekha aur unpe marham lagaya. Lekin gehre zakhm theek hone ke baad bhi nishan chod jaate hain, jo humein yaad dilate hain ki ek din yahan chot khayi thi. Dard mehsoos na bhi ho par yaad rehta hai. Iss dard ko bhulakar aapki baat manna mushkil hai mere liye. Main yahan apni duniyan mein rehna chahta hun... Naina ke saath, nanu ki yaadon se bhare ghar aur office mein."

"Toh kya tum humein kabhi maaf nahi karoge?" Vishakha could barely speak now.

Sameer gave her a courteous look, "Maine toh kabka maaf kar diya. Mujhe koi shikayat nahi hai kisi se. Aapke liye mere dil mein izzat aur pyaar dono hain. Lekin mere guzre hue saalon mein jo khaalipan tha uska bhar paana mushkil hai. Woh time guzar gaya, mummy. Ab woh galti sudhaari nahi jaa sakti."

Vishakha looked down. She was aware of her mistakes. By forcing Sameer for anything, she didn't want to add to that list. Coming and staying with them in Delhi was a huge step for Sameer. She decided not to jeopardize this amicable connection.

"Theek hai, beta. Jaisa tum chaho. Main bas tumhari aur Naina ki khushi chahti hun. Tumhari tarakki se mujhe sach mein bohot sukoon milta hai." She gulped back the lump in her throat, smiling at him.

At dinner, the talks were back to normal... anecdotes of Deepika's tantrums made Sameer and Naina laugh out loud.

Back in their room, Naina could not wait to ask him about what he said to Vishakha.

"Sameer, mujhe laga ki tum apne kal ke andheron ko peeche chod chuke ho." She asked anxiously.

"Peeche chod diya hai lekin yeh baat khatam toh nahi ho sakti na ki meri zindagi ke itne saal kin haalat mein guzre." He said in a solemn voice.

"Toh kya ab bhi tumhe woh yaadein dard deti hain?" She was troubled by the reference.

"Nahi Naina, aisa nahi hai ki main abhi bhi unn yaadon se darta hun ya dukhi ho raha hun. Lekin woh beeta hua kal meri zindagi ka hissa toh tha na... aur uske zimmedaar jo log the unse shikayat bhi rahegi. Aisa mat sochna ki tumhara pyar mujhe un kadwi yaadon se bahar nahi nikal paaya. Tumhara saath paake hi toh maine sab kuch paaya hai. Tumhari wajah se ab Nainital ya Dilli ke naam se mujhe chubhan nahi hoti. Lekin Naina, kya itna aasan hai sab kuch bhula dena? Kya tum bhool paayi ho woh saare aansu aur woh ghutan? Aaj papaji badal gaye hain isliye woh tumhe aur mujhe apna maante hain, lekin kya har baar aisa mehsoos nahi hota ki kaash yeh badlaav pehle aaya hota... kaash woh hamesha se aise hi pyar lutane wale pita hote... kaash hum dono ka bachpan bhi baaki bachhon ki tarah apne mummy papa ke laad pyaar mein guzra hota? Hamare bachpan ki iss kami ke liye tumhare papa aur meri mummy kasoorvar hain kyonki unhone doosre logon ki baaton ko zyada mahatva diya aur apne khud ke bachhe ki zaroorat ko bhool gaye. Jaise hum taiji tauji ki dil se izzat nahi kar sakte aise hi Mr Somani aur dadi kabhi mere liye koi maayne nahi rakhenge. Lekin ek aur sach yeh bhi hai ki main ab unn andheron mein kho nahi jaata. Meri roshni tum ho. Har jagah raasta dikhane wala woh taara ho jiske rehte main kabhi nahi bhatkunga."

His reply made her breathe in relief. Yes, it wasn't possible to forget the wounds that had been inflicted on them, or the trauma they had endured... but the bliss that had been bestowed upon them in the form of each other was a soothing balm on all those wounds which were just marks now, not the painful gashes on their heart and soul.

Vishakha left for Delhi next morning, promising to come back after Deepika's exams.

The work at office kept them busy the entire month of March. Only in the first week of April, they could breathe easy, after successful completion of a big order.

"Naina, chalo aaj shopping chalte hain." Sameer suggested on a Saturday.

"Kya lena hai tumhe?" She quirked up her brow.

"Kuch bhi... jo tum chaho. Hamari anniversary ka gift hoga. Aakhir teesri shaadi ko bhi ek saal ho hi jayega agle hafte." He gave a dreamy smile.

Naina scrunched up her nose, "Ho hi jayega kya hota hai? Aise toh tab kehte hain jab dukhi hote hain."

He was seated on the bed, clutching a pillow while she stood brushing her hair in front of the mirror. Hearing her grumble, he threw the pillow and went to stand behind her.

"Tumhe lagta hai main dukhi hun?" He held her shoulders from behind burying his face in her damp hair.

"Kya pata? Maine suna hai ki pehle saal toh pati ko bohot pyaar aata hai apni patni pe fir uska dhyan kamiyon pe jaane lagta hai... aur fir dheere dheere usse apni patni ki koi baat achhi nahi lagti. Kuch saalon baad toh sirf jhagde hi reh jaate hain." She frowned, twisting her lips.

He raised his head sharply, narrowing his eyes at her reflection, "Aisa kaun bewakoof kehta hai? Kisse suna hai tumne?"

She shrugged, "Bas suna hai."

He wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on her shoulder, "Jaan, jo aisa kehte hain unke paas Naina nahi hai. Meri Naina ke liye pyar kam ho jaaye aisa toh ho hi nahi sakta. Har saal ke saath aur badh jayega mera pyar. Agar tumhe yakeen nahi hai toh main tumhe abhi yakeen dilata hun."

"Abhi? Kaise?" She smiled.

He quickly went to the study table, searching for the writing pad. She looked on as he sat down and picked up a pen, scribbling down something on the pad.

"Ye lo." He handed the paper to her.

She took the paper, her forehead creased in confusion. A smile appeared on her face as she read his declaration.

Main, Sameer Maheshwari, apne poore hosho hawaas mein yeh vachan deta hun ki apni patni, Naina Maheshwari, se har saal pehle se zyaada pyar karunga.

Hum apni har anniversary pe saal ki balance sheet banayenge jisme likha hoga ki kitni baar maine Naina se pyar jataya aur kitni baar usne.

Main promise karta hun ki iss balance sheet ke hisaab se meri biwi nahi main top karunga.

I Love You, Naina... pichle minute se zyada.

Naina ka Sameer

She looked at him. He stood with crossed arms near the chair, watching her intently. She brought the paper to her lips and placed a hard kiss on his signature.

"Offo, aise waste mat karo." He took the paper from her hand, placing it back on the table.

Her eyes widened, "Waste kahan kiya? Maine lipstick thodi lagayi hai jo uspe nishan padega."

He pulled her into his arms, "Apna kiss mat waste karo. Mere naam pe nahi, iski jagah kahin aur hai."

He pointed a finger at his lower lip.

She did not wait for another second, raising herself to reach his mouth. He leaned, making it easy for her. As their lips met, a feeling of completeness washed over her. This togetherness, his presence, his touch, his love... everything was meant for her. And this made tears roll down her eyes.

"Naina, tum ro kyon rahi ho?" He lifted his head, bewildered as he felt the wetness from her cheeks on his face.

Smiling fondly as her glistening eyes filled up with more tears, she whispered, "I Love You, Sameer."

And he could see.

He could see the wet eyes declaring her love... the tears rolling down her cheeks were dancing with love... her quivering, low voice was soaked in love. Every cell of her body screamed out how much she loved him.

He gathered her in his arms, peppering her tear stained face with soft kisses.

"Buddhu ladki. Khushi ke aansu the toh batana tha na. Aise hi dara diya mujhe."

Next update tomorrow evening