The past.....

Naina

I had started working for the handsome devil for the past 2 weeks now, I was helping him settle his own CSR venture. More like a non profit organization under the umbrella of the very empire he ran. The day I had first set foot in his office, I realized the magnanimity of his stature and that of his company too. Actually, though I had read a few times about the said Maheshwari Industries in the local newspapers but never realized that I was being hired by its very boss! I also got to know a lot of other things about him like he liked his coffee black and that he was a sucker for time. He was never late to office himself. His penchant for the musk, was another disturbing fact about him. He loved to drench himself in its scent and that somewhere was unsettling especially when he was around. He scowled more and smiled less. His employees were literally dancing on their toes whenever he was around. Infact they had a nickname for him. Am sure he wouldn't appreciate once he got a whiff as to what his employees called him behind his back. You see though the women of the office, their hearts fluttered and thudded and they swooned over their boss yet they were petrified of him. He is tough task master and if anyone faltered his words were far from kind. It was only me that he was soft to. He would usually reply back in hmss and usually agreed to all my ideas. This office when for the first time I came in, I found out was a new unit that was getting inducted recently. Rather the employees here were for the CSR venture. So the boss wouldn't waltz in everytime and hence they had settled in to an easy routine of banter mixed with work that changed recently. Recently as in since the time I started coming here, that is since last two weeks. The people here had been appalled since from the last two weeks the boss had started taking extra interest in this office of his and somewhere he was driving for this project to get launched at breakneck speed. They all eyed me with curiosity as to what or who I was? For me, coming here, was like breaking a lot of boundaries. I had never before worked in any corporate offices, though had dreams of the same. But my family rather the people from my extended family who sheltered me, were dead against me working. To them having a girl at home meant she was to be taught all the household chores and should know how to make her chappatis round. Already my taiji and tauji had started looking for prospective grooms and I somewhere had been plotting to break free. And when Sameer offered this job, it felt like I would be hitting two birds with the same stone. One I would get to spend time with him at his office and two I would be making my debut in the world of corporate, this is my chance to be self dependent and I was tempted to not let of it. And hence am here today, though once the clock strikes 4 everyday I cant stop my nervous foot from tapping against the floor constantly. Since at home, I had lied that I was giving extra tuitions to the boys at the orphanage since they have their exams round the corner. That is a different story altogether, so now coming to my new boss, like I said his employess had given him a code name and every time I think about the same I cant stop smiling. They call him the hitman as he is always shouting out orders at them, screaming when things are not done right and giving them the death stare when anyone is late. My favourite expression though is the one when he is sitting at his chair pondering over something deep in thoughts, he loved rocking in his chair while he chewed his pen and my mind would get lost seeing those lips close upon the pen lid. They would waver to places, I didn't want them. Every other employee had a cubicle to themselves but for me I sit with him in his office like now. He is at his desk chewing his pen while he is engrossed in the skyline, staring into oblivion while he rocked in his chair and me am mesmerized by him. I am the lucky girl who gets to share space with him and also gets to make him smile. Yes he smiles, he doesn't scowl at me like all others. The bitter expression that is usually pated across his features is a far cry when I am in close vicinity. He is always attentive towards all my suggestions and like I mentioned before always agrees and even smiles at the ideas and nods and appreciates. He showers compliments at me while he shoots daggers at the others. He makes my heart flutter whenever he smiles at me and those brown black orbs they make me lose myself. I know what am doing is ideally unprofessional of me, but I cant help, may be his smiles , his appreciations, his nods are merely to encourage me and also because he thinks it would help his venture in the long run but I cant stop my heart from leaping into a victory dance every time he agrees with me, I cant stop myself from expecting that may be he likes me hence he smiles at me, that may be I have already found a special corner in his heart and hence I get to share his space and that may be he is interested in me, and hence he offered this job. Why do I feel his eyes on me everytime am her in his office. As if he is running his eyes over me, taking in every inch of me. I have felt the heat and when I look up I see him engrossed in his work. So may be it is my imagination, my mind playing stupid games but then I cant stop myself from falling in love with this guy. Yes I am already in love with him. I had heard of love at first sight but never believed but now I do.

Sameer

I could feel her eyes on me while I pretended to chew on to my pen as in deep thoughts. But not entirely pretending, yes I had been in deep thoughts, thoughts of her. I don't know what to make of this effect that she had on me. But that's how it is, I see here everywhere these days and when I am in office I cant stop sneaking glances in her direction. The first day she walked in here, she had been nervous, fidgeting with her dupatta all the time. She had chosen white for her first day as serendipity would have it, I was dressed in all black. I had smiled all at once seeing her emerge from the lift and I saw her blush. We had shaken hands while I briefed her on her job profile. Usually I would have junior employee by my side doing it but I don't know what had gotten into me, for her I kept her close by my side while I directed her as to what her duties her may entail to. She eagerly nodded at everything I said and at once point I had caught her staring at me. She had turned the reddest of red on being caught. I liked her company, my heart would start racing, my breathing would slow everytime I checked her out. And she knocks the wind out of me eveytime her eyes meet mine. I almost lose myself in those orbs. Hypnotic is the word for it and I just cant get my head straight around her. Even when I was with that snake who apparently is my Bhabhi, she never managed to have this effect on me and that is what scares me the most. Once bitten twice shy as they say. I don't want any woman to the nail in my coffin. All women were the same. They all wanted one thing money! But then is it true? My mother she is not like that snake. I couldn't let that snake cloud my perception but then I am wary of getting into a serious relationship. After all I went through, it was torturous, though I commend myself for recovering really fast yet that moment, when they all came up at the stage while making the brutal announcement, my ashen face, and how I was almost standing like a statue witnessing their charade while they all laughed at me. It had been terrifying, had it not been for Raghav and Naanu I wouldn't be here all calm and composed. But then Naina happened, the day I saw her, it seemed as if lightening had struck. She felt like sunshine prancing away in glory, her laughter, the first time I heard it, felt like the best melody to reach eardrums. When she spoke it felt like she is composing a sonnet of her own and that smile god, it hit me straight at heart. I could tell I am different with her, I never like sharing my space with any other human being, even during meetings when they are stretched for long I feel smothered due to the existence of many human heads but here I had been sharing my cabin with her and everytime she walks in with that scent of roses wafting in, hmmm delicious, I get lost all the more. My friend Raghav thinks am head over heels in love with her but then I don't want to believe that. He cited that why else was I trying so hard to keep her close? True, this office, though I had been planning to take care of the CSR thing, yet I had been stumped with work in the other offices, I paid no or little attention her. Things moved at a snails pace here but still now all my energies were focused here. And whatever ideas that she had posed up until now, I have been lapping them up without any questions or objections. The man who usually barked at others for orders was taking them off late and happily. She had taken me to an orphanage the other day, though my Naanu took part in a lot charitable activities, I would seldom have time apart from the appearances to give away an award or to felicitate for some good work done. But for her I moved my schedule, it was like moving mountains, my secretary almost had a heart attack when I barked at her with the orders. I remember Naina's face clearly at that time, she had flinched at my voice since with her it is lot more softer. She brings out that side in me. At the orphanage too, I saw her mingling easily with all the kids across ages, while I stood in a corner marveling her. She loved kids and I wanted her to sire me some. Whoah! Yeah! Exactly, those were the precise thoughts and it boggled my mind. And when I shared the same with my friend which had been a mistake actually, he had suggested that I propose to her since according to him, I am already way deep in love with her. Is it really like they say it is? Am I really in love? Really? I had steeled my heart against the same and now I could feel my own heartbeats faster than fastest and at the same time a plan starting forming in my head. I had to know what this is? If we had a future together like everyone is impying then I need to know what that had in store for us, happiness, sorrow or bloodbath. After what happened with the snake I didn't want to take chances though now am in doubt whether I actually loved her or was it simply infatuation since I had not been reacting like my heart had been broken into pieces, shattered beyond repair, rather everytime I saw her with that spineless bastard, it more like good riddance. Yet I had to know what is going on about with NAINA, I had to know so that I had my future in perspective. I chuckled at my own thoughts rather the plan. Am sure she would be shell shocked.

Sameer

I jinxed it big time and now I had been sitting in the dark for the past 3 days. My grandfather is almost at his wits end since I wouldn't talk and Raghav had been fuming since he got to know, it is to blame my insecurity or say lack of clarity regarding my own feelings and hence am wallowing in the dark. I can feel the anger, despair and disappointment seep into my being. I was angry at myself and also am in denial I know she is the one for me yet I am choosing to torture myself. My mind just wouldn't listen it wants me to shut her out. But then every time I try that her face keep coming back to focus, those tears, the disappointment, those lips had swollen red due to the anger and she had stormed out without another word and never once did she turn back, I had kept looking but she never looked back and at the time an omnious thought had crossed my mind, that may be I had lost my chance and it chilled my very bones with fear. The very thought of the same was scary enough but now I was living it. You see the plan that I had conjured up in my mind as test for her had fallen flat on its face. I had bungled up my chances and broken her heart into a million pieces. I had asked her out on a dinner date, her face when I offered, she had lit up at once and that blush gosh! I so wanted to take her in my arms and kiss her senseless. But then I didn't do any of that rather I invited her over for our dinner date, a date to get clarity about my choices and about her. She looked divine, in pista green lace salwar kameez, she had left her hair loose, I could see the dash of kohl in her eyes while the oxidezed jhumkas sparkled in her eyes, she had smiled her brightest smiles at me while we were seated at the five star outlet. We had ordered our personal favourites, I had been pleasantly surprised that she too liked continental. Over dinner she told me, that her family is orthodox and they usually prefer traditional home cooked food but she often would sneak out with her friends during college to eat continental. She looked so happy and that blush would make an appearance every now and then. I listened to her talk all the time while I smiled every now and then. She spoke about her friends, mostly boys that what she said. I remember balling my fists at the mention of some Manoj Munna, but then calmed down when she told me that she had tied him Rakhi once he is almost a brother to her and she trusts him with closed eyes. He had been helping her draft her cvs for jobs. She also told me that she was sheltered at home by her tauji and taiji who are not in favour of her studying further or even taking up jobs but rather they want her to get married and be settled. But she wanted to be independent and hence when I offered her the job, she had at once said yes for the same. The evening was going just fine with me listening and she talking most of the time but then my mind butted in and spilled water over our perfect time. It egged me to test her with the question that I had planned to ask her this evening and my heart tugged at me admonishing me not to that it would be grave mistake but yet I listened to my mind. Wish I stuck with my heart, she would be in my arms now then and not this sad me wallowing in the dark. So like I said, my mind took over and I blurted out and here is how it went.

Sameer: I needed to ask you something

We had been eating in silence for a while now, she had told me almost everything about her life until now, so the conversation had somewhat stilted and I took this opportunity to ask her what I wanted to ask.

Naina: ya go ahead

Sameer: will you marry me?

Her eyes had lit up at once though the water that she had been sipping on went down the wrong pipe and she had started coughing. I was at once at her side, patting her back while I urged her to sip up some more of the water gently. Her face had gone red due to the impact and when I saw her coughing come down I settled back in place again. She peered at me while she asked gingerly.

Naina: marry? You want to marry me?

Her voice sounded hoarse, I hated myself literally since I was about to burst the bubble for her

Sameer: don't get all excited it wont be a real marriage, I would be contractual since the time I met you, I cant get you off my mind and since I don't believe I love I know its only attraction may be my hormones, lust to put it point blank and hence I think the solution is to get married but contractually for a period of time and then when the attraction dies down we can go our separate ways and don't worry I will compensate you well to last an entire lifetime. So what do you say?

I had blurted in all out as a monologue all at once and when I looked up at her there were tears in her eyes, her expression had been a mix of hurt anger disgust and disappointment. I could see her getting up from her seat and suddenly I had been hit by the impact of what I had done. I had broken her heart and the  pain of the same, I could feel. I could feel my heart bleeding, next she just stood up without and she grinded out the words, "I will let the offer pass" while the tears kept coming. She almost dashed for the door and I well I had tried to run after her but somehow I stayed glued to my spot, I saw her retreating back and felt as if I would never see her again, that thought made my insides howl in anguish! As if on automaton, I paid the bill got in my car and rove back home. On the drive back home, her face kept flashing across my eyes. The hurt had been palpable. And the pain within resonated through my veins. Since then I had locked myself inside my room and refused to talk to anyone. On prodding I had confessed to Raghav about the blunder and he had fumed. But then he is my friend, and later he just said that I would get over it. But the glum feeling just wouldn't pass for days. I felt dead. If before I barked at my staff, now my mood had turned a shade darker and almost I screamed at everyone even when they didn't do anything wrong rather followed my instructions to the T. at home too I seldom now spoke to anyone, not even to Naanu. He tried to get the words out of me but I had been ashamed of my self and I just couldn't bring myself to tell him as to what troubled me. And hence I decided to take Raghav's suggestion and put some space between. Though my mind wandered back to the thoughts of her. How is she coping with it. After all she had left the venue in shambles and I had been the cause for the same. Did she miss me? Should I call her? The questions just wouldn't stop and hence I had picked up the phone to dial her number, she had picked up, I had heard her voice all hoarse and then the silence. As if she knew it was me. But then she had disconnected and after that everytime I had tried her phone at home some lady picked up and I knew that it was all beyond repair. So with a broken heart, I decided to move to New York for a few months to put some distance between us. So that I could forget her after all if I could get over Sunaina after years of relationship, me and Naina didn't even date properly, there was no proper relationship between us, I would definitely get over her too. But alas! The more I denied, the more the feelings festered deep inside and by the time a few days in NEW York had passed I knew, I was in deep trouble. I am in love with the lady in question and hence the next thing I knew I was on a plane back to India where it all began. She made me into a stalker, yes that's what I had resorted to now, I stalked her and I could tell she felt my presence since I saw her go stiff once as if she could feel me walking behind her, she had turned around at once but I had the presence of mind to dug behind a parked car. I followed her everywhere, to the market, to the orphanage and even the temple, though now she religiously avoided the usual morning time to go there. But then I followed her there in the evenings where she continued with her usual activities where in helped elders and children. And then one day, I didn't see her at all. All day not once, she came out of the house, I had my car parked in there for the longest of times and yet she never came to the balcony even. I had been fretting thinking probably she was ill, did she have fever? But then I saw a group of people emerge from a taxi and step take the stairs that led to their house. At that point I thought may be this was the reason she had not come out after all her tauji taiji made her do everything whenever a guest came over. I had balled my fist in anger. Already not seeing her made my already frayed nerves jittery and now this. Things at home was not looking up either. Naanu's health had been deteriorating and he wanted me to be married. Now what do I tell him that the girl I loved wouldn't spare me a glance?! because I jeopardized my chances in order to test her. At the very moment I saw the group come out of the house and then I saw her, she had been touching the feet of the old man and woman who had been accompanied by this stupid looking young guy. The guy was grinning from ear to ear but why did they all look so happy, I could see her tauji and taiji beaming at the boy and his family while naina looked so pale and then that stupid jerk went an extra step to go stand closer to her and put his arms around her shoulder. How dare he? I almost growled at them while shooting daggers at the guy though I still stayed hidden behind a banyan tree peeking every now and then. I tried listening onto what they were giggling about though Naina stood as a statue. Some of the words wafted in the air to my benefit and I could catch 'shaadi ki tareekh and samdhi' my ears perked up at once and somewhere my body turned cold, I couldn't feel my own legs and hands. Was it what I had heard? Was it actually what I was thinking? Is it? My wayward thoughts didn't have to wander for too long since all my fears were confirmed when the stupid jerk stepped a little more closer to naina while all of them gleefully clapped in unison calling it a match made in heaven! Match made in heaven! Match made in heaven! She was getting married to this sorry excuse for a guy! No way! She was, is and will be mine forever. She is to be mine! I have to act fast now enough of stalking and watching now I had to act. I got into the car with the purpose in mind and as the engine revved up so did my mind and I had the perfect plan and before I was home I knew just how I am going to get her!

Present

Naina: hahahahaaha! I wish I could see your face then!

Sameer: when?

Naina: when sharad had his hands around me

Sameer: don't even go there, don't remind me of that terrible time, you have no clue how I had lived through those excruciating periods. Hilarious to me was when your tauji and taiji actually called it a match made in heaven!

Naina: so?

Sameer: what so? Are you telling me you had no qualms about marrying that fool is it?

Naina: he is kind of handsome

Sameer: handsome! Handsome! you actually think that god forsaken being is handsome! I hope our daughter doesn't get your eyesight.

Naina: what do you mean?

Sameer: I mean then she would be shortsighted as well and then she too would have a sorry taste in men

Naina: bhulo mat mr tum bhi meri choice ho

Sameer

I grimaced, she wasn't entirely wrong but then I had the perfect retort

Sameer: true! But then I think we chose each other the very first instance we laid our eyes upon one another so darling you are mine

Naina: and you are mine..ouch!

Sameer: what happened

Naina: the baby

Sameer: what happened to the baby? Is she ok? What?

Naina: uff! Stop fretting! Your baby is kicking me!

Sameer:hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Naina: stop laughing will you?

Sameer: why should I, you see my daughter doesn't like sharing me with anyone not even you! She is just giving you the message. Are you that daft not to take the hint?

Naina: oh c'mon! stop it! And moreover it's a boy!

Sameer: it's a girl!

Naina: boy! I know! I am the mother

Sameer: really?! Acha!

Naina: what really?! Achaa! Stop it! These gimmicks wont work with me, I know it's a boy I am the mother and what do you mean by acha and really huh? Am I not the mother? You know there is a saying mothers instinct and she is never wrong I know it's a boy!

Sameer: sweetheart, if you are the mother I am the father, you are the nurturer while am the planter of the seed. So I know what I gave you and if you want to precisely calculate the date, time and even seconds as to when I gave her to you am ready for that battle as well, I know I made a girl and so no more arguments.

Naina

As if I could argue after that statement, he knew how to shut me out and leave me all tongue tied. Now I am busy blushing furiously, did he have to mention about the day time and seconds? Does he actually know? Remember I mean? The blush grew and so did his laughter

Sameer: you are actually thinking rather questioning as to whether I actually know or am I just bluffing? Isn't it sweetheart? Hahahahahahha

Naina: stop laughing will you? No I wasn't thinking any of that. Am not as shameless as you!

Sameer: really? Ok so I think I still have some of the marks on my chest from a few nights back, was it you? Or your alter ego playing naughty games with me?

Naina

He was clearly enjoying this, yet gain he left me in a spot!

Naina: sameer please!

Sameer: please what love?

Naina: you know what I am talking about and aren't you bothered now that your daughter might me picking up on all the dirty conversations?

Sameer: then agree with me, that it's a girl and I would stop

Naina: I just did didn't i?

With that I pecked him on the lips while he pulled me closer for a full blown hot kiss

A few days later

Naina

I felt like an overblown balloon these days, could seldom walk for long, get tired easily and often drop off to sleep without a preamble. Though sameer had turned extra attentive and caring, but the growing child within me didn't actually make things easier. This baby is a naughty one just like the father. It just wouldn't rest, just kept wiggling away to glory all night keeping me awake and whenever I mention this sameer he takes pleasure in my misery calling it like father like daughter. It irritated me though the man never failed to steal my heart and I actually wish for the baby be it a boy or a girl like sameer wants it to be, to turn out just like its father. The day we went for the first scan, sameer had been a bundle of energy, more than me he had been excited to catch the first glimpse of his baby and when the doctor had pointed at the little speck on the screen while she turned on the volume to make us hear its heartbeats that went faster than fastest, he had been entranced all at once. While all the way to the doctors he couldn't stop talking or smiling, here she sat still while he caressed the screen. That night he hugged me closer while he kept on showering kisses on my abdomen every now and then and when I wiggled in his hold saying that it all made me ticklish he simply shut me out saying..

Sameer: what feeling ticklish! This is my time with my daughter. Do not disturb!

I had sighed in resignation, my darling husband had made it into a daily routine to speak with our unborn child since the very beginning. He complains about my mood swings too. Sometimes I laugh at his ministrations and sometimes its infuriating. Imagine he wouldn't let me eat anything spicy and I crave that so much. Still with the help of ramdhari and naanu I sneak in junk food when he is not at home. Its not like am banished at home now that am heavily pregnant. I make those occasional trips to the office where my darling husband is always at my beck and call bringing me food and water and even massaging my feet if the need me. The females of the staff are oohing and aahhing most of the time seeing this side of his. And I beam with pride giving them death glares to stay at bay since he is all of mine. I work mostly from home these days, since I cant take the exhaustion, anyways am always tired even when I hardly do anything at home. But I enjoy my time at home especially the evening tea with naanu and walks with Sameer. He makes it a point to come home early and take me out for walks. We both are eagerly waiting for this baby.

A few days later...

Sameer

I cant stop grumbling while this Raghav cant stop laughing. I can see Naanu from the corner of my eyes, he was trying hard not to burst out laughing while me I am sweating like hell. The Ac is on at full blast but yet am drenched in perspiration. The reason being Naina, her labor started early, 3 weeks early. When I shrieked the same to the doctor, he had barely smiled and said it happens. Already am not so happy that it's a guy gynae and now these two are making fun of me. Yes am excited as hell too to meet my daughter but then am scared for Naina. Her screams just wouldn't stop! What is the god forsaken doctor doing. He is barely out of the med school and already allowed to handle such complicated cases. A while back the nurse scurried to me with a bunch of papers, saying the doctor wanted me to sign before they did surgery. Surgery! Surgery! Wasn't she supposed to have a normal delivery?! Then why this surgery?! But the smooth talking doctor glided in then, almost when I was ready to throttle him by his neck and informed me that since my wife's pelvis was too narrow, they don't want to take risks of a normal delivery. I had sighed in relief but when I saw my wife being wheeled into the OT, I was instantly by her side, holding her hand assuring her, that all will be ok. She seemed calmer than me, rather she joined these two Brutus's who are still laughing at my back in some banter. And so now we are all stranded at the hall way that leads to the OT and minutes away from jubilating. But wish I could rest in peace. I just cant stop pacing up and down the corridor. Such torture! Uff!

Raghav: so whose idea was it?

Sameer: what idea?

Raghav: this baby?

Sameer: idea! Idea! It's a baby not some idea

Raghav: but the idea of you as a father, that's scary enough

I could hear their peals of laughter

Sameer: cut it out will you?

Raghav: why should i? look at you, since the time we arrived you haven't sat once rather you have been pacing up and down constantly, checking your watch every 2 seconds while beads of perspiration appear on your forehead every 2 secs. And yes the death glares that you have been giving the staff and doctors here wow, murderer in the making, I don't see a father.

Sameer: stop it will you, am nervous!

Raghav: hitman nervous! What are you saying that is something you are good at making

Sameer: will you please....

Before I could finish my sentence. My name boomed through the speakers on the wall, I was being called at the nursery a floor above. I literally ran up the stairs only to be greeted by the smiling doctor and a nurse who wheeled in a glass box. When I looked in closely, I saw that something white, with pink toes were wiggling in it and when I walked up to it, there she is! My girl! The little piece of me, placed on a pink towel wiggling away to glory just like the way she probably would do inside my love Naina. She is so tiny, such tiny fingers, so pink and that little mouth, she had been woken up from slumber it seemed, just couldn't stop yawning. This little angel, we had made her, with all our love. I couldn't stop the tears that spilled out on their own accord while the stupid grin remained pasted on my face but then suddenly my brows creased and my face was back to a scowl and I marched up to the doctor.

Doctor: before you actually punch me in the face, since I think that murderous glare says you are about to, let me provide you with an information. Your wife is doing good and she is being shifted to her cabin if you would just look behind. She is a bit groggy given the sedation we had used and I would advice you to let her rest and sleep though you are allowed to see her.

Sameer

Wow! The doctor could read minds too, smiling to myself I walked up to naina while Raghav and naanu joined me, she indeed seemed groggy alternating in and out of consciousness though we could catch a word or two in between.

Naina: so happy?! It's a girl!

Sameer: I always knew it would be

Naina: so... papa.. whats the name? am sure you already have a name for her. Since you were so eager

Sameer: Tamanna..

Naina: why Tamanna?

Sameer: because she is my hearts desire! The first day I saw you, the thought that had crossed my mind was, we would make great parents together. I subconsciously had known that you were to be mine, that you would be that girl who would one day bear me kids and since the day I believe I have harbored this dream to hold our little being in my arms. A part of me, that you would nurture within you and whom we would shower with love and care and love and cherish! She is here Naina and I cant tell you how happy I am, you have made me the happiest man on this planet. You remember the day you had told me about her, I had been stunned beyond words, remember? It was because i was trying to picture you in the new role and then I suddenly remembered that I didn't have to do that since in my mind you wre always to be mine, mother of our little munchkins. and today the dream has come to a fruition my love and it is the pain that you had to go through to bring her out into this world, is what making my heart bleed but otherwise my love am over the moon.

She had tears in her eyes while I kissed her on the head and nuzzled her nose against mine when she said...

Naina: I would go through such a pain time and again, over and over again just to bring this smile on your face. Ours is a forever!

4years later

Naina

4 years! Wow! 4 years already! Our hearts desire is 3 today. today is the special day, 28th of May. The emotions that course through are difficult to put together in words. Sameer has been a doting dad in all of these 4 years, be it in feeding her in the middle of the night, so that I could catch a wink or staying up all night walking with her in his arms as she wouldn't settle down for the night without him cooing and singing to her to now when he is the one running pillar to post with the glass of milk! It's a delight to watch the father and the daughter and how things have drastically changed. This man who was once addressed as the hitman is now a doting father reading fairytales to his daughter, taking her for ice cream walks and choosing candies for her. Recently he even learnt to tie her hair. Yes you heard it right, in his pastime that is what she does. You see our little princess has long silky tresses thanks to the amazing genes of her father and hence the daddy dinosaur like our Tamanna loves to call him once in a while, wants the best hairstyles for his daughter and hence in his pastime he is watching youtube videos, rather tutorials where they show you how to tie your child's hair, rather how your style their hair in different styles and hence my darling husband right now with pins in his mouth, deep in concentration tugging at the hair of our daughter while she winced every now and then but to no vail. Apparently papa wants to make a ship out of his darling's hair! Ship!?

Tamanna: ahhh! Papa!

Sameer: hmmm, don't move my hearts desire, it will all go kaput!

Tamanna: but this hurts

Sameer: wait baby just 2 seconds

Tamanna: mumma how long is 2 seconds?

I couldn't stop my giggles

Sameer: stop laughing will you? You aren't helping!

Naina: don't you think its better if we just let her hair loose. She looks cute with the long tresses loose.

Tamanna: yes I don't want a ship, I want something else

Sameer: what? I learnt to make a squirrel yesterday

Naina: are you serious

He simply shrugged his shoulders

Tamanna: no, I want something different for my birthday

Sameer: ship, squirrel, yeh aata hain mujhe baaki nahi pata, French braid?

Tamanna: uff! No not hairstyle, I want a gift

Sameer: gift?

Naina: he gave you so many of them like you wanted, books, dolls, toys, boardgames so many things, now you want more

Tamanna: yes

Naina: now what?

Tamanna: baby

Naina: baby? But did you not give her that doll that cries, laughs and crawls, now which baby?

Tamanna: uff mumma! I want a real baby, a baby brother

It was my turn to be speechless but it didn't go unnoticed that sameer had been regarding me from the corner of his eyes trying to assess my reaction. What do you tell you girl when she makes such a demand.

Naina: we will have this discussion later

Tamanna: no now

While she was about to break into one of her fits of tantrums, Naanu called from the other room and she scurried over to him. I almost breathed a sigh of relief only to be pulled into my husband's arms.

He leaned in closer nuzzling into my neck huskily whispered.

Sameer: So Mrs Maheshwari? Shall we start?

I could feel myself melting into his arms, almost giving in to his ministrations

Naina: start what

I could feel my voice tremble

Sameer: start making another baby, this time I promise it shall be a boy like you always wanted. Lets start right away so that we aren't late and Tamanna gets her gift before her 5th birthday

Naina: acha? And what about the pain that I would have to go remember you had said you cant see me in such pain and hence since then you have been very particular about us using protection without fail.

Sameer: ok, then I will think of something to tell Tamanna, you are right I cant see you in so much pain and those screams they still are nightmares to me. I will think of something, don't worry.

With that I felt his arms moving away from me and he was about to let go of me only to be stopped this time by me.

Naina: and do you remember what I had said, I would go through such pain over and over and over agin only to see you smile and now when our hearts desire wants a baby brother for her, how can we deny her that privilege. Am all yours honey. We don't have much time, she will be back soon from her stroll.

And with that I crashed my lips upon his. His arms went around my waist and he pulled me closer and closer until there was no more space between. He picked me up in a jiffy and proceeded towards our bed where he worshipped me with his lips and hands while I devoured him with mine. The house echoed with our moans while we writhed for the ultimate bliss and when we met at the penultimate point, he crashed into me while I soaked in all of him. when I looked towards the window, the sun had been setting, they say the end is the beginning of a new tomorrow and I knew at the moment we had laid the foundation for a new tomorrow. He kissed me while he whispered,

Sameer: mine forever

Naina: ever ever and ever, yours and only yours

So that's the end, hope you all like it. Do share your honest reviews and comments