He reached home after dropping Naina and entered where Vishakha was sitting in hall waiting for him... he greeted and smiled to her calling Ramdhari.. "jaldi se khaana laga de, mein abhi fresh hokar aaya.. bohot bhukh lagi hai..." saying this he rushed to his room to freshen up.... the moment he stepped out from washroom wiping his face, Vishakha was standing there glaring him in anger... she asked, "kahaan gaye the Sameer tum..." he looked her nervously said, "voh... voh Nanu ne bataya toh tha na ki mein factory ke kaam se Baroda jaa raha hun... kyun koi kaam tha kya aapko mujhse..." she burst, "ab jhuth bolna bhi sikha diya teri Naina ne tujhe..." he tried to control his anger and said calmly, "Mummy, aap Naina ko kyun har baat mein beech mein le aati ho... jo kehna hai mujhse kahiye na..."

Seeing him taking her side she shouts again, "tujhe kahaan ab meri koi baatein samajh aati hai... teri aankhon par toh bas Naina ke naam ki patti bandhi huyi hai, ma kuchh sunana chahta hai, na samajhna... aaj pehli baar tu ne mujhse jhuth bola... tu koi factory ke kaam se nahin gaya tha varna Baroda ke office toh tu gaya hi nahin Mamaji ke paas, aur maine factory phone kiya tha, mushiji ko bhi nahin pata aisa koi kaam jiske liye Baroda jaana pade..."

Sameer keeping his anger low, "dekhiye Mummy, mujhe kuchh jaruri kaam tha isiliye gaya tha, ab har kaam toh office mein nahin hota na... aur Mamaji ko nahin pata, Nanu ne bheja tha, unka kuchh kaam tha.. aur aap kya meri jasusi karwa rahi hai Mamaji se kah kar... kya matlab tha unko phone karke puchhane ka... agar itna tha toh aap Nanu se puchh leti..." she keeps her hand folded near her chest, "baat mat badal Sameer.... toh uss jaruri kaam ke liye tu Naina ko bhi apne saath lekar gaya tha aur restaurant mein lunch kiya ja raha tha na.... bol de ki mein yeh bhi jhuth kah rahi hun..."

He looked at her shockingly but then said sternly, "okay fine.. mein gaya tha Naina ke saath Baroda... tha mera koi jaruri kaam jo mein aapko batana jaruri nahin samajhta.... hamari shaadi hone wali hai toh itna toh haq hai mera ke mein usake saath kahin bhi aa ja sakta hun... vaise bhi usake ghar mein sabko pata tha aur Nanu se permission bhi li thi maine... ab toh koi dikkat nahin hai na aapko..."

Vishakha fumed more in anger, "haan haan... kyun nahin... ab vohi log toh tere sage hai, isiliye unhein pata tha aur mein... mein toh koi nahin na teri, mujhe kyun bataayega... hai na.. ab teri zindagi mein toh sab kuchh voh ladki hi hai na... usake aage Maa ki na koi izzat hai na parwah tujhe...."

He instantly replied in anger losing his all temper, "uska ek naam bhi hai... Naina... aur haan hai voh meri sab kuchh kyunki usane kabhi dusron ki khaatir mujhse munh nahin moda... kabhi mujhe akela nahin chhoda, mujhse kabhi kuchh nahin maanga sirf diya hai, apna pyaar, apni zindagi.. aur yeh sab aap nahin samjhegi, kyunki usake liye ek pyaar bhara dil chahiye hota hai jo aapke paas nahin hai... aur agar hota toh aap samajhti ki ek aath saal ke bachche ko akele hostel ke andhere kamre mein chhodna kya hota hai... kaisa hota hai voh akelepan ka dard jab koi apna aapke paas nahin hota.... kaisa lagta hai jab aap bimaar hote ho aur koi aapke sar par haath rakh kar aapko tasalli nahin deta... koi raat ko aapke sirhane baith kar aapko raja rani ki kahaniyaan nahin sunata... aap samajhati ki ek bachche ke liye uski Maa duniya mein kitani maayne rakhti hai... par yeh sab aap nahin samjhengi kyunki aapke liye aapki nayi duniya, unka pariwaar, unki khushiyaan sab maayne rakhta tha... bohot aasani se aapne apni khushiyon ke liye mera bachpan, meri khushiyaan compromise kar diya..." Vishakha got stunned with his outburst as in his entire life he never ever shouted or talked with her in high tone....

He looked her with teary eyes and asked, "sach kahiye Mummy, kabhi aapne apni saas, apne pati se kaha ki nahin mein Sameer ko hostel nahin bhejungi... kabhi aapne mere baare mein sochkar unse kaha ki voh mujhe ghar mein rakhe, mujhe apne pariwaar ka hissa samjhe .... nahin na... kyunki aapko bhi sabse aasaan aur simple tarika yahi laga... Mummy, mein manta hun ki Papa ke baad apni nayi zindagi basana kuchh galat nahin tha par usake liye apne bete ki zimmedariyon se pichha chhudana, kya yeh sahi tha ... Mummy maine toh kabhi aapko shikayat ka koi mauka nahin diya, kabhi koi zid nahin ki jaise har bachcha apne Maa Baap se karta hai, sirf ek cheej maangi thi aur voh thi aapka saath, aapka pyaar aur ek ghar, jise mein apna ghar kah sakun.... kya itna bhi haq nahin tha mera..."

He turned his face wiping his tears, "sach toh yeh hai Mummy, ki meri khushiyon se aapko kabhi koi lena dena tha hi nahin, toh aaj bhi aap mujhse ummid mat rakhiye ki agar koi meri Naina ke khilaaf ek bhi shabd kahega toh mein bardasht karunga... bilkul nahin... aur yeh baat aap hamesha yaad rakhna..." he paused and said, "par aap chinta mat kijiye, mein bilkul aap jaisa nahin hun... maana mein aaj apni nayi zindagi shuru karne ja raha hun par mein kabhi apne purane rishton se munh nahin modunga... shukra kijiye mujhe yeh seekh mere Nanu se mili hai, varna aap yahaan khade hokar itna sab nahin suna rahi hoti mujhe aur na mein sun raha hota..." then only Ramdhari came to call him for dinner, "bhaiya khaana lag gaya aapka.." he picked up his bike keys and rushed out from house saying, "mujhe nahin khaana... tu so ja, mein baahar ja raha hun..." he starts his bike and left with having tears in his eyes...

Naina after having dinner laid down fully tired with whole day travelling but sleep was far away from her eyes... "Sameer ne abhi tak phone nahin kiya... lagta hai jyaada thak gaya... itni lambi drive ki hai aaj usane.." they only phone bell rings, she picked in first ring itself...

Samaina, "Hello"... she smiled hearing his melodious voice whereas his eyes turned misty.. his silence pinched in her heart, "kya hua Sameer, tum ... tum ro rahe ho.. kya hua batao mujhe... aur kahaan ho tum... please kuchh toh bolo..." he controls his tears and said, "baahar balcony mein aaogi... please ek baar tumhein dekhna hai.. please.."

She understood his dilemma that something is bothering him so much and he is badly hurt... needed her to be with him more at this time... she got up and came out in balcony holding cordless in her hand, he was standing inside the phone booth in front of her house, he opened the gate to see her more clear, "sorry Naina itni raat ko aise yahaan, bas tumhari bohot yaad aa rahi thi... sirf ek baar dekhna chahta tha tumhein..."

Naina said slowly, "I love you Sameer.." his heart skipped his beats listening this three magical words which healed all his wounds in a fraction of second, though it's not first time she said this but this time he was craving for her love and concern to forget the heated argument he had with his mother first time in his life few hours back.... finally, he smiled a bit .. she asked, "kya hua Sameer, ghar mein kuchh hua kya, kisi ne kuchh kaha tumse... achchha pehle batao khaana khaya ki nahin, aur tum iss waqt yahaan kaise.." he smiled on her concern, "tum kuchh bhi bhool sakti ho na par mera khaana kabhi nahin, aur ek meri Mummy hai jinhein shayad kabhi yaad bhi nahin rehta ki maine khaana khyaa bhi hai ki nahin... Naina Maa aise toh nahin hoti na, toh meri kismat mein hi yeh sab kyun likha tha bhagwan ji ne... maine aisi kya galti ki thi..." saying this tears rolled out on his cheeks more...

She too cried silently but he needed her more this time so she tried to divert his mind, "dekho tun baat mat badlo ... mein samajh gayi ki tumne kuchh nahin khaaya na... chalo jaldi se upar aa jaao, mein darwaja kholti hun... Chachaji kuchh nahin kahenge.... aur baaki sab batein hum baad mein karenge" he stopped her, "nahin Naina... aaj nahin please.. bas tumhein dekhna tha aur kuchh nahin... sach kahun agar aaj tum mere paas aayi toh shayad mein khud ko rok nahin paaunga.. aur voh galat hoga... aaj sirf yeh ehsaas karna chahta tha ki tum mere paas ho, mere kareeb ho..."

Understanding his predicament, she said, "ek baat maanoge please.. tum abhi ghar jaao, aur ghar jaakar mujhe phone karna... mujhe tumse kuchh jaruri baat karni hai... par pehle ghar jaao... bohot raat ho gayi hai na toh Nanu pareshaan ho rahe honge tumhare liye... please.." he smiled and nodded his head in yes, she smiled, "ab phone par aise sar hilaoge toh kaise pata chalega.. buddhu.." he laughed recalling its his own words she is telling him now, "achchha ji mera dialogue mujh par hi.. par sach tumhein ek baar dekh kar hi sukoon sa mil jata hai... tum andar jaao, mein tumhein ghar pahunch kar phone karta hun..." she stopped him, "nahin ruko.... pehle ek pyaari si muskan dikhao varna jaane nahin dungi..." he smiled widely and kiss the receiver, she too does the same and he waived her bye and left on his bike...

She came inside and dial his residence number picked up by Ramdhari. She talked with him for few minutes and disconnect the call, laid down, waiting for his call... he entered and finding the hall empty straight went to his room, the moment he came out from washroom after changing in night dress, Ramdhari entered with a big tray in his hand

He placed it in table and stands there only like a statue.. Sameer looked him surprisingly and asked, "yeh kya hai aur aise kyun khada hai mere sar par bhoot ban kar.." he said with an expressionless face, "humein kaha gaya hai ki jab taka aap poora khaana nahin kha lete hum yahin khade hokar aapko dekhe.."

Sameer laughed hitting on his head, "aur kiske kehne par meri pehredari kar raha hai tu, yeh bhi bata de.." he said in same tone, "iss ghar ki hone wali nayi malkin ke kehne par... unka kaha taalne ki himmat kisi mein nahin hai toh aap chupchap se khaana khaiye.. sab aapki pasand ka hi hai... thoda sa bhi bachna nahin chahiye... samjhe aap"

Sameer removed the cover and saw aloo parantha with curd and pickle.. "bhaiya ab aap jaldi se khaiye.. Naina didi ne kaha tha yeh sab banane ko.." Sameer was about to eat first bite when stops, "didi nahin hai voh teri... Bhabhi bola kar... chamcha kahin ka.." he stood there only until he finished the whole food and left with tray saying, "ab aap phone kar lijiye, wait kar rahi hongi aapka... aur haan thodi der mein hum doodh de jayenge, usase aapki saari thakaan mit jayegi..."

Sameer looked him amazingly and laughed, "kya team hai Naina ki.... saare sipahi ki tarah khade rehte hai usake ek order par.." he picked up the phone and dialed her no, which she picked in first ring, "khaana khaya.." he laughed and said, "haan baba kha liya varna jo talwar tumne mere sar par latkayi thi, voh mujhe nahin chhodti... tum bhi na poori jadugarni ho... sab ek baar mein hi tumhare deewane ho jate hai.. mujhe toh lagta hai shaadi ke baad sab tumhari team mein ho honge, bas mein hi akela rah jaaunga..." she laughed, "koi baat nahin mein hun na tumhari team mein... hum alag kahaan hai.." they talked for some more time when suddenly he realized silence from other side, "lagta hai so gayi... thak gayi hogi..." he smiled and keep the cordless near his ear and laid down... soon he too drifted into sleep peacefully after such a hectic day and hurtful argument with his mother...