Naina closing the door behind turned to see the empty room... even though initially when they were not too friendly with each other his presence was enough to give her a relief... and now days they are in good terms with each other... they never go to bed before talking or spending some quality time... they keep talking unless one of them slept, mostly her... but today she is all alone in their room... first time...

दूरियां ही नजदीक लाती हैं,

दूरियां ही एक दूजे की याद दिलाती हैं,

दूर होकर भी कोई करीब है कितना,

दूरियां ही इस बात का एहसास दिलाती हैं!

Naina opened the cupboard and pull out his night wear subconsciously without realizing he is not present there... suddenly reality hit her making sad... giving a soft peck to his dress she left it on couch without keeping it back in wardrobe, getting a feel like he is around here... she walk till his bed and took his pillow in her arms, hugging it and inhaling his scent... it calm her a bit with the smell of him leaving a soft smile on her face... his fragrance surrounds her giving calm to her pain, her loneliness... she lied down on his bed itself keeping her head on other pillow and hugging the one used by Sameer close to her heart feeling him close to her...

Sleep was far away from her eyes...she jerked with the sound of her phone ring... thinking it might be again Preeti, calling her to tease more... without seeing the caller's name she picked up her phone and said, "okay fine... nahin aa rahi neend akele... ab tu aur majaak mat bana mera..."

Her heart sink hearing his husky voice, "kyun... meri bina neend nahin aa rahi tumhein... are you missing me this much?"

She keeps the phone away from her ear seeing the caller's name and blinked hard to realize it's his call... hearing no response from her Sameer called her name again, "Naina... what happen... are you okay...?"

She fumbled replying him, "no.. ya... I mean fine.. very fine..."

He smiled realizing how much nervous she is hearing him, "mujhe laga tum mera wait kar rahi hogi kyunki roj mujhse baatein karne ki aadat jo ho gayi hai, par lagta hai tum sone ja rahi thi... mujhe toh tumse baat kiye bina neend nahin aa rahi thi toh socha tumhein phone kar lun par lagta hai tumhein mere bina neend aane lagi thi... maine disturb toh nahin kiya na..." he asked to tease her more... may be to hear her feeling for him...

She replied instantly without thinking, "nahin nahin... mujhe bhi aapke bina neend nahin aa rahi thi... sachchi... roj aapse baat karte karte sone ki aadat hai na toh..." she stops realizing she blurt out more than she should...

He laughed slowly, "kyun... mujhse baat kyun karni thi... mein koi tumhein lori sunata hoon roj jo tumhein neend aa jaati hai... yaa meri baatein itani bore toh nahin hoti ki tum bore hokar hi so jaati ho... mujhe toh laga tum meri baatein enjoy karti ho..." he laughed slowly imagining her cute angry face on his teasing...

She made a cute angry pout asking, "aapne mera majaak udaane ke liye phone kiya hai naa... meri har baat ka ulta matlab nikaal kar hans rahe hai... it's very bad..." she felt annoyed with his teasing... since morning she is missing him badly and now here, he is making fun of her

Sameer said intensely, "toh tum kehna chahti ho ki tumhein sach mein meri yaad aa rahi thi aur tum mere phone ka wait kar rahi thi... isiliye abhi tak nahin soyi na... jaise mujhse nahin soya gaya tumse baat kiye bina... sach kaha na maine"

He paused for a moment finding silence from other side, "Naina, agar itni yaad aa rahi thi toh tumne phone kyun nahin kiya mujhe... mujhe laga tum khud phone karogi par shayad tum busy thi Preeti ke saath... thank god tum akele bore nahin huyi na... aur driver aa gaya tha na tumhein lene ke liye, kuchh pareshaani toh nahin huyi... ghar par sab theek hai na" its first time he left her alone, feeling more worried for her

She replied slowly feeling sad, "itani parwaah thi toh saath lekar jaana tha na... I mean mein aapki assistant hun toh aap mujhe kyun nahin lekar gaye apne saath..." her tone turned into a complaining mode...

He smiled thinking, "I know itni aasani se nahin bologi ki mujhe miss kar rahi thi but I am also missing you Naina... jaise tumhein mere saath ki aadat hai vaise hi mujhe bhi tumse baat kiye bina neend nahin aa rahi thi... par tumse abhi yeh kehne ka waqt nahin aaya... saare din mein ek pal bhi aisa nahin gaya jab tumhein yaad na kiya ho... ya yun kahun ki tumhein yaad karne ke siwa aur kuchh kiya hi nahin maine"

Sameer asked again expecting her to confess her feelings, "so you are missing me... right?"

Naina frowned thinking, "kabhi meri baat ka jawaab nahin dete... hamesha taal dete hai... jaise khud ko toh missing ho hi nahin rahi na... par kahenge kyun... Mr akadu... huh..."

Sameer feeling silent on other side change the topic, "vaise tumne bataya nahin ki aaj office mein kya kya kiya tumne... maine suna hai ki jab boss office mein na ho toh sabko masti karne ka mauka mil jaata hai na... tumne toh khoob enjoy kiya hoga na Preeti ke saath..." he said teasing her more...

Naina replied instantly, "aisa nahin hai... I mean haan humne saath mein time spent kiya par maine apna saara kaam complete kiya hai..." she starts sharing him what all she had done during whole day... they keep discussing on office matters and issues like other days...

Sameer thinking, "saath kyun nahin laaya iska jawaab nahin de sakta abhi... mujhe pata hai upset ho aur raat bhar meri wajah se so nahin sakogi... kam se kam thoda mood toh better hua... pyaar bhari na sahi par office ki baatein hi sahi... tumhari awaaj sun kar jo sukoon mila hai shayad dil ko thoda sa chain mil jayega aur yeh waq tumhare bina kaat sakun..."

तुझसे दूर रहकर कुछ यूँ वक़्त गुजारा मैंने,

ना होंठ हिले फिर भी तुझे पल-पल पुकारा मैंने।

She keeps informing him all office matters she handled alone... they keep chatting for an hour when he realized silent from her side... hearing sound of her even breathe he realized she must have slept now... he too laid down keeping the phone close to his ear without disconnecting whole night... soon he too slept peacefully with a smile on her face...

Naina woke up with a jerk hearing soft knock on the door... she realized how she slept on Sameer's bed clutching his pillow close to her... call was continued showing caller name... she could hear his breathing realized he has not disconnected the call whole night and must be sleeping till now...

Giving a soft peck on the mobile screen, she disconnects the call and went to open the door and smiled seeing Preeti standing there...

Preeti entered yawning, "good morning yaar... sorry I disturbed you so early... meri neend khul gayi toh socha tere paas hi aa jaaun... even last night I forget to take my bag with me, and I need my dress to take a shower..." she keeps talking but soon realized Naina standing there in a daze, smiling all over... hardly paying any attention to what all she blurt out ill now...

She nudged on her elbow, "oye madam... kya khade khade muskura rahi hai... abhi tak sapne mein hai kya... mein kab se bol rahi hoon aur tu sun hi nahin rahi"

Naina coming out from her dreamland, smiled looking down when Preeti keeping her hand on her shoulder said, "lagta hai kisi ka phone aa hi gaya finally... tabhi toh kisi ke chehre se muskurahat jaa hi nahin rahi... how cute yaar... kal tak itni upset thi aur ek phone se hi pighal gayi... isey hi toh sachcha pyaar kehte hai meri jaan..."

Naina smiled looking at her, "hmm... he called me last night... vaise kuchh kaha nahin par I feel he was also missing me... pehle socha tha ki baat bhi nahin karungi par unki awaaz sunkar sab bhool gayi, kuchh hosh hi nahin raha" she felt shy expressing her feeling...

Preeti laughed poking on her forehead, "dekha, meri baat theek nikali na.. aise hi munh bana rakha tha kal se... chal ab jaldi se ready ho ja phir office bhi jaana hai... office mein boss nahin hai par kaam toh hai na... aur vaise bhi aaj ke liye toh tu hi boss hai hamari... Mrs Naina Sameer Maheshwari ji" she laughed seeing her blushed cheeks and left taking her bag in other room to get ready...

Naina quickly get freshen up and as per her daily routine open Sameer's wardrobe picking up a suit for him for the day... before she kept it on couch her phone rings... a video call...

Subconsciously, she clicks on green button and shocked seeing Sameer's face... her smile faded from her face realizing Sameer is far away from her...

Before she greets him, he asked, "what are you doing with my clothes... are you planning to wear my suit today in office... but sorry I think tumhein yeh size fit nahin aayega... tum meri koi shirt kyun nahin try kar leti ya t-shirt..." he said pointing towards her hand in which she is still holding his suit giving her a teasing smile...

Naina realize his teasing feeling nervous how to explain, "sorry... voh mein... mein kyun aapke kapde pehnungi... mera matlab tha... haan voh mein na apaki wardrobe clean kar rahi thi toh isiliye... kyun aapko kya laga ki mein aapki absence mein aapke kapde pehnungi... itni bhi buri dressing sense nahin hai meri" she said confidently to cover up her mistake to avoid getting embarrassed...

Sameer smiled knowing she is lying, "really... par achanak kyun... I mean meri wardrobe kal tak toh theek thi toh aaj cleaning ki jarurat kyun huyi tumhein... lagta hai ghar mein chhoti si chuhiya ghus aayi hai... hai na..." he laughed loudly enjoying her nervousness...

Naina said making a grumpy face, "kya hai... subah subah aap phir shuru ho gaye... mera chhodiye aap yeh bataiye ki aapne achanak se phone kyun kiya mujhe... voh bi video call... aisa kya kaam tha mujhse... boliye..."

Sameer went silent as unable to say that he was missing her badly and wish to start his day only after seeing her beautiful face... he too covered up lying, "hmm... haan voh matlab kaam tha isiliye toh phone kiya... voh na ek urgent file mere bed ki side drawer mein hai... tum usey office le jaana... I will tell you what to do with it..." he takes a deep sigh covering up his real emotions

She took his words seriously and keeping his suit back in almirah walked till his table... there was only one file lying there... she picked it up surprisingly and asked, "yeh toh teen saal purani koi data file hai... aapko isase kya urgent kaam aa gaya..."

Sameer changed his tone suddenly saying sternly, "boss mein hoon ki tum... jaisa kaha hai utna karo bas... yeh file le jaakar meri table par rakh dena... okay..." how could he say openly that he wants to see her... she looked him surprisingly with his sudden changed tone and nodded her head obediently, "okay sir..."

Sameer feels sad to make her depressed, "sorry Naina... I didn't mean to upset you... please don't spoil your mood... tum theek ho na..."

She smiled seeing him talking softly, "it's okay.... even I should not ask such silly question... vaise how are you? I mean sorry kal mein kab so gayi pata hi nahin chala baat karte karte..."

He smiled, "it's okay, you must be tired... I am fine aur tum kaisi ho... I hope Preeti is with you... you will not get bored and feeling lonely... usake saath waqt ka pata hi nahin chalta hoga tumhein..." he said casually knowing how much they both like each other...

Her smile vanished replying softly, "you really think so..."

Sameer too gets speechless as very well knew how much she must be missing him... he reprimands himself for asking such idiotic question to make her upset... he suddenly changed the topic discussing about the work she needs to handle alone in his absence...

Naina asked in between, "par yeh sab decisions toh hamesha se aap hi lete hai na... I mean mujhe itna experience bhi nahin aur agar maine kuchh galti kar di toh... kahin nuksaan ho gaya toh mein..."

Sameer interrupt her, "toh kya Naina... pehli baat I have full trust on you and your intelligence... I am sure ki agar tumhein mauka mile toh tum mujhse bhi better business chala sakti ho... aur rahi baat galti ki toh Naina tum aur mein alag nahin hai... hum dur jaroor hai par akele nahin hai... mein hoon har kadam par tumhare saath... and I know ki tum jaan kar kya anjaane mein bhi koi galti nahin kar sakti... you are perfect... I believe on you"

Naina got dumbfound realizing how much confidence and believe he has on her... which was unbelievable... since her childhood her parents always insist to make her believe that she has no consciousness and senses to take any decision but now in few months only he has full faith on her... like true partners... she keeps listening his instructions for all what she is supposed to do during whole day... he gave her the confidence showing his trust on her that she can manage well in his absence... after few minutes they disconnected the call wishing each other a nice day...

Disconnecting the call Sameer looked at his picture on phone smiling, "jhuthi... bahana bhi banana nahin aata... wardrobe ki safaai... meri cute si chuhiya" he laughed loudly...

Naina too looked at their picture on her phone smiling, "liar... bahana banana bhi nahin aata... 3 saal purani file desk par rakh dena... jaise aankhon mein x-ray fit hai jo Mumbai mein baith kar cabin mein rakhi file read karenge..." she too laughed on their silly excuses...

दूरियां बहुत हैं मगर इतना समझ लो,
पास रह कर ही कोई ख़ास नहीं होता,
तुम इस कदर पास हो मेरे दिल के,
मुझे दूरियों का एहसास नहीं होता.....

Naina talked to herself feeling sad, "par yeh toh bataya nahin kab aayenge... pata nahin aur kitne din akele rehna padega... please kanhaji, voh jahaan bhi hai, unka kaam jaldi se khatam kar ke vaapas bhej dijiye na... yeh jo kuchh mahine bache hai unke saath mein ek bhi din akele nahin rehna chahti... usake baad toh poori zindagi shayad akele hi rehna hai na... maana mujhe chidane ke liye hans rahe the par unki shakal se lag raha tha ki kitna miss kar rahe hai par kahenge nahin... jitni akeli mein hoon yahaan utane akele voh bhi hai vahaan mere bina... please come soon"

Soon getting ready both girls came down to have breakfast... Vishakha was already sitting there and gets annoyed seeing Preeti again... she recalled how Preeti insulted her last night, making fun of her... Naina greets Vishakha and sit with Preeti...

Vishakha said rudely glaring at Naina, "Sameer kahaan hai Naina... kal bhi tum akele dinner kar rahi thi... don't you think ki apne doston se jyaada tumhein apne pati ke saath time spend karna chahiye..."

Preeti laughed making her more annoyed, "aunty aap bhi kya baat karte ho... aapko toh pata hona chahiye ki agar Sameer Sir ghar par hote toh ek pal bhi kabhi Naina se alag nahin rehte... lagta hai aapne notice nahin kiya ki aapke bete aur bahu mein kitna pyaar hai... like do jism ek jaan types... toh aapko iss umra mein chinta karne ki koi jarurat nahin... vaise bhi chinta toh chita samaan hoti hai na... kahin heart attack aa gaya toh... oh no... jyaada sochne se kahin brain hemorrhage ho gaya toh... kahin aapki yaaddasht chali gayi toh" she said in a teasing tone making her shocked with wide eyes...

Naina hold her hand firmly, glaring her to keep her mouth shut... she turned to Vishakha replying, "voh actually he is out of station for few days... he will be back soon..."

Knowing Sameer is not at home, Vishakha smiled evilly planning to torture Naina... in Sameer's presence she never gets this chance to taunt her, "ab batati hoon ki mein kya cheez hoon... kal se iss middle class badtamij munh fatt ladki ne meri itani beizzati ki toh uska badla toh Naina se lena hi padega na... aakhir dost ki galti ki saza toh bhugatni hi padegi..."

Vishakha replied casually, "ya... I know... voh shayad mein bhool gayi thi... achchha suno, aaj meri kitty party hai aur meri bohot saari friends aa rahi hai... vaise bhi Sameer is not in town toh tum bhi office jaakar kya karogi... aakhir ek assistant hi toh ho, jo sirf boss ke orders follow karta hai... tumhare office jaane ya na jaane se kya farq padta hai... toh tum ghar par hi raho aur aaj ka saara khaana khud apne haathon se banana... ab hum bhi toh dekhe ki jiske khaane ki taarif Sameer aur Karthik hamesha karte hai voh khaana kaisa banati hai... khaane laayak hai bhi ki aise hi tareef ke pul baandhe jaate hai... aur haan aaj kuchh servants leave par hai toh tum sab kaam akele dekh lena... tumhein toh vaise bhi naukaro ki tarah ghar ke kaam karne ki aadat hai na... don't forget yeh meri izzat ka sawaal hai... apne middle class tariko se hamara status mat kharaab karna... 0kay" she said smiling evilly to get relief after insulting her in front of Preeti and all servants standing there...

Naina feel hurt thinking that how can she consider her as a servant... whatever relation she is sharing with Sameer, but no one has this right to consider her so low... Preeti looked at Naina shockingly and planned to give her a good piece of mind...

But Naina stood wiping her hands from tissue saying, "sorry, par mera schedule office mein kaafi busy hai... aur vaise bhi Sameer nahin hai toh unhone mujh par hi office ki aur unke projects ki saari responsibility chhodi huyi hai... afterall, apni wife par trust nahin karenge toh aur kis par karenge... so I can't disappoint him by wasting my time in serving for a gossip party... if you want, I can order all the dishes from a five-star hotel... as per your standards and I am sure your friends will like it too..."

Vishakha got stunned hearing her straight reply... Naina hold Preeti's hand, "chalein Preeti... aaj bohot kaam hai office mein... humein bilkul time waste nahin karna chahiye auron ki tarah..." she left with Preeti without turning back towards Vishakha...

Vishakha fumed in anger seeing her stubborn reply thinking, "bohot parr nikal aaye hai iss ladki ke... Kamya ne sahi kaha tha ki agar isey control nahin kiya toh ek din sab kuchh apne naam karwa legi aur hum sabko naukar bana degi... mujhe jaldi hi iska kuchh karna padega... vaise bhi Sameer aur Karthik donon hi meri koi baat nahin manate aur ab yeh bhi ulta jawaab dene lagi hai... I wish jaldi se mein Kamya ko iss ghar ki bahu bana paaun toh sab kuchh mere control mein aa jayega..."

In car, Preeti laughed clutching her stomach, "I can't believe Naina... tu ne kya jawaab diya unko... matlab... unka chehra dekhne laayak tha... aisa laga jaise 1000 watt ka current lag gaya ho... awaaz bhi nahin nikali unaki tere saamne... hamesha Pandit se suna tha tere Naina devi wale roop ke baare mein, aaj dekh bhi liya... kya mast nazara tha yaar..."

Naina smiled replying, "mein jaanti hun bado ko aise jawaab nahin dete par Sameerji ne hi sikhaya hai ki agar tum galat nahin ho toh kisi se darna nahin chahiye... galat ko galat kehna hamesha sahi hota hai... aur jab baat apne samman ki ho toh kisi se compromise nahin karna chahiye... chaahe voh koi bhi ho..."

Preeti patted on her back laughing, "kya baat hai... Sameer ke pyaar ne toh iss bakri ko bhi sherni bana diya... I wish mein record kar paati toh unhein dikhati ki aapki student kitne achchhe se sab seekh rahi hai... 100/100 marks milte aaj tujhe"

Naina said with a cute smile, "aaj subah jis tarah phone par unhone mujhe saari responsibility di, I mean unka jo confidence hai mujh par voh mein kaise tod sakti hun... mujhe business ke baare mein jyaada nahin pata par unke saat kuchh hi dinon mein bohot kuchh seekha hai... I can't let him down... aur rahi baat rani sahiba ki toh vaise bhi voh pehle din se hi mujhe kuchh khaas pasand nahin karti.. so, it doesn't matter anymore for me too... even she didn't like Sameerji too..."

Preeti asked concernedly, "par tu ne toh bataya tha ki teri shaadi unhone hi fix karwayi thi... then why she hates you so much... itna tha toh apne level ki ladki laani chahiye thi na dhundh kar... Kamya types fashion ki potli..."

Naina shrugged her shoulder, "I don't know... I mean maine kabhi Sameerji se iss baare mein baat nahin ki... vaise bhi yahaan sabke rishtey bohot uljhe huye hai aur Sameerji nahin chahte ki mein in sab mein interfere karun... vaise bhi tu ne toh dekha hi hai that how she behaves with me... Sameerji ke aage toh awaaz bhi nahin nikalti unki and worst to that she wants Karthikji to get married with Kamya... Karthik bhaiya saaf mana kar chuke hai but she is too adamant for this... apne bete ki feelings ki koi kadra nahin unhein"

Preeti shocked hearing this, "ya, tu ne bataya tha but how can this be possible... I mean Kamya aur Karthik sir are poles apart... there is no match between them at all... and worst to that Kamya is after Sameer sir..."

Suddenly Preeti asked, "vaise tu ne puchha Sameer sir se ki kya voh aur Kamya ek saath... I mean kal achanak donon ek hi time par Mumbai... yun achanak se... aur koi bhi bata nahin raha ki kis kaam se gaye hai... Pandit se bhi kitna puchha par usne bhi kaha ki Sameer ka personal work hai so he can't tell me"

Naina smiled looking at her, "I trust him more than anyone... agar puchhna pade toh samajh lena ki baat karne ke liye kuchh nahin bacha... Preeti jis se pyaar kiya hai us par vishwas karna bohot jaruri hai... mein manti hoon ki hamare beech aisa koi rishta ya bonding nahin hai ki mein yeh sab kah sakun... par jitna maine unko jaana hai voh kabhi mujhse kuchh jhuth nahin bolenge, na hi kuchh chhupayenge... haan apne dil ki baat batane mein unko waqt jaroor lagta hai but I trust him and will wait until he himself will not reveal his secrets... maine unse pyaar kiya hai toh mera vishwas unpar se kabhi nahin tootega..."

Naina looking outside lost in her thoughts... she was totally confused from last few days seeing his changed behavior towards her... in one thought she is doubtful that he has someone very close to his heart but on other hand the way he is getting attached to her giving her a slight ray of hope that their relation is more than as a friend, "aisa kyun hai ki hamare ankahe rishtey mein bharosa hai, vishwas hai, lekin pyaar nahin hai... kahin mere samajhne mein koi galti toh nahin... agar sach mein unke dil mein koi aur hota toh  kya voh kabhi mere itane kareeb aate... un par kisi tarah ka pressure bhi nahin hai kyunki mein divorce papers bhi sign kar chuki hoon... toh kya jo mein itane dinon se soch rahi thi sab galat tha... aur aaj jis tarah unhone kaha ki hum ek hai... inn sabka kya matlab samjhu... aur yeh do din ki duriyaan toh shayad humein aur kareeb le aayi hai... unki tadap unki aankhon mein saaf nazar aati hai"

राज़ खोल देते हैं नाजुक से इशारे अक्सर,
कितनी खामोश मोहब्बत की जुबान होती है।

Taking a deep sigh thinking deeply, "Sameerji kabhi kisi ko dhokha nahin de sakte... shayad kahin mujhe hi toh unhein samajhne mein galti nahin huyi... mein unki zindagi mein abhi aayi hoon aur abhi tak mein unke past ke baare mein bhi theek se kuchh nahin jaanti... aisa bhi toh ho sakta hai ki voh jis ladki ko dhundh rahe hai voh unka pyaar na ho... koi aur wajah bhi toh ho sakti hai kisiko dhundhane ke liye... jis tarah se hum kareeb aa rahe hai, ek dusre par itna trust karte hai, apne dil ki baat bina hichak ke kah dete hai, mujhe poora yakeen ho raha hai ki unke dil mein mere siwa koi aur nahin hai... aur agar aisa hai toh shayad hum donon ke dil ek dusre se jud chuke hai... jo sabko dikhta hai shayad ab mujhe bhi ehsaas ho raha jaise we are "perfect for each other..."

अनजान सी राहों पर चलने का तजुर्बा नहीं था,
इश्क़ की राह ने मुझे एक हुनरमंद राही बना दिया।

Hope you all like the update.... please give your comments about 

- Preeti & Naina vs Vishakha 

- Naina's first realization about Sameer's feeling

Next update by tomorrow... stay safe and enjoy your weekend