From the moment she bid goodbye to Sameer, till he called the next evening, Naina moved in a daze.

Minutes after he had left, she pinched herself to ascertain that she was awake. It hurt!

Sometime later, still in shock, she even wondered if there was any chance if it had all been a hallucination caused by that rum punch. Was it possible that she was still suffering from the after effects of that cursed drink?!

But then hit her own head thinking, had she been daydreaming - a love confession would have been accompanied by a shower of rose petals, or him reciting some sentimental shayari while on one knee.

Whereas, Sameer's proclamation had not been romantic in the least. In fact, it had felt more like a telling-off! Which, coming to think of it, was very much what could be expected from him. Bachpan se, kissi bhi baat pe bus ladhane khade ho gata hai! Aaise bhi kabhi koi propose karta hoga kya...

Her thoughts screeched to a halt. Propose?! Par propose toh kiya hi nahi... kuch bhi toh poocha nahi ussne. Sirf sunna ke chala gaya.

She didn't grasp a single word about the reception, when the elders returned and discussed the decorations and foods in detail, while deliberating on the dos and don'ts for Rohan's reception.

Later, lying in her bed, she wondered if there was any chance he was regretting blurting out things in the heat on the moment.

Kahi sirf mujhe tasalli dene ke liye toh nahi kaha ussne? Taaki main dusron ki baaton ya taanon ke baare mein chinta na karu?? Though that idea seemed a bit farfetched, she couldn't completely rule it out. Knowing how overprotective he could be of her, she could very well imagine him doing whatever he could do to shield her from any hurt. Only in this case, she wasn't sure if his love would protect her from, or expose her to more, social censure and ridicule.

The next morning did not bring any sense of calm and she remained embroiled in a constant state of emotional tug of war. Though she went through the motions, her heart did not allow her brain to grasp much of the content covered in class.

Few weeks back, his confession would have brought her intense joy, but now after hearing Leena's remarks, it was buried under an avalanche of doubts and fears. Hence, by the end of the day, some reluctant hope had started brewing within that perhaps he hadn't meant it after all and would soon take it back.

* * *

About nine that evening, Vivek answered a call that turned out to be Sameer's.

After two minutes of enquires, he held out the receiver to Naina, who had been hovering in the background, "Tumse baat karni hai usse."

Shayad yahi kehna hoga ke kal jo kaha, bus ghusse mein kaha tha... With clammy palms, and a scratchy throat, she muttered "Hello..."

"Thik toh ho na tum?" He nervously enquired. She responded, sounding the same, "Ha... Aur tum?"

"Aare, usse pooch waha thand toh nahi hai... aur sweater leke gaya hai na??", Nirmala prompted in the background.

After Naina had posed the question to him and assured Nirmala that the weather was perfectly alright in Mumbai, clearing his throat, Sameer spoke "Suno, kal jo bhi maine kaha, ghusse mein kaha."

Naina had never been so confused about anything ever in her life. If he took back the love declaration, would it be a good thing or bad?

Without waiting for her to respond, he continued "Par jo bhi kaha... I meant it. Maine socha tha... Rohan bhaiya ke visit ke baad, tumhe kissi din kahi bahar le jaayunga, aur aaram se baithke... dil ki saari baat share karunga. Phir iss Mumbai ki trip ke chakar mein busy ho gaya... toh socha wapas aake karunga. Par phir kal jab tumne woh sab bataya... toh bus muh se nikal gaya."

When she stayed eerily silent, he asked, heart pulsating with apprehension, "Naina, chup kyu ho?? Kuch toh bolo yaar! Tumhe... meri baat ka bura laga kya??"

Few silent seconds later, she mumbled "Nani pooch rahi hai train late toh nahi hui? Aur Dadi pooch rahi hai ke khaane ka arrangement kaisa hai."

"Unnhe kehna sab bohot acha hai! Aur ab na, mujhe unnke koi messages mat pass karo! Main tumhe jo pooch raha hu woh batao!" Though he dearly loved his grandmothers, in that moment, Sameer was extremely frustrated with all their well-intended queries.

"Sameer, tum wapas aao... tab uss baare mein baat karenge..." She muttered, extremely conscious of the fact that both the grandmothers were eagerly hanging on to each word uttered.

"Haa ya Naa?" He gruffly demanded.

"Kya??"

He iterated "It's a simple question Naina. Kya tumhe meri kahi hui baat buri laagi? Haa ya Naa?!"

Not wanting him to misconstrue her response of a simple 'yes' or 'no', she instead called out to Vishakha "Mumma, Sameer ko aapse baat karni hai..."

"Naina!!! Abhi humari baat puri nahi huyi!", despite his protest, Sameer heard her put down the receiver.

Greatly irked at her, he hung up the phone with unwarranted force, for which the PCO guy knocking on the glass door, rebuked him "O bhai... kissi aur ka ghussa humare phone pe mat nikalo! Pata nahi kaha kaha se chale aate hain..."

The moment he stepped out of the booth, Prakash enquired worriedly "Kya hua? Ghar pe sab thik hai?"

"Kuch nahi... bus woh... haa... Papa se kuch baat ho gayi..." Sameer muttered the first excuse he could think of. But it was plausible, cause Prakash nodded in understanding "Yaar, mere father bhi bohot strict hain! Har baat mein itni instructions, ke pooch mat... aur chahe kuch bhi karo, kuch na kuch fault dhund hi lete hain!"

On the other side of the phone, Vishakha shook her head in disappointment when her "Hello beta!" was greeted by the dial tone, "Lagta hain phone cut gaya... Naina, kya baat karni thi usse? Kuch bataya ussne?"

Colouring in understanding that he had ended the call in anger, she shook her head and rushed upstairs, leaving the three women debating what Sameer might have wanted to talk about and complaining about the sorry state of the telephone department.

* * *

Withdrawing to the solitude of her bedroom, Naina bolted the door with trembling fingers.

It was now clear that the confession had not been an impulsive reaction, to what she had shared with him the evening before. He had been planning it for months now!

Issiliye aaj-kal har waqt aaise... uski aankhon mein kuch toh... The looks tinged with longing, his frequent, long visits to her room for no real reason - it all made sense.

The words uttered by him, in the living room, echoed in her head  - Four women – of whom, three are already Mrs Maheshwari, and one, soon-to-be.

It meant, he was resolved to share his thoughts with the family soon. And wanted to get married very soon too.

She lost colour, wondering how everyone would react. Would they happily accept his wishes? Or would they find the idea as appalling as Leena had found it?

Naina could still feel Leena's disgusted chee crawling under her skin. And it reminded her of another chee uttered by someone else many years ago. But which had stayed lodged in her psyche ever since.

* * *

About six years ago.

During the summer holiday, before she started 9th standard, she had accompanied Vishakha on the usual two-weeks annual trip to her maternal home. Being busy with his college friends and social activities, Rohan had accompanied them but returned to Ahmedabad after two days. Since he had enrolled for a two month cricket camp in Baroda, Sameer had not joined them that year.

Though she had missed the boys a little, Naina had got busy with Anish, Amol. And all the neighbouring kids that she well acquainted with owing to her repeated visits to Savitri's home.

And of course, as always, she had been spoiled by Geeta Mami. From all her favourite foods, numerous mini outings, to showering her with many gifts that Geeta and Savitri had squirreled away over the year – bangles from the mela, dress material bought during some holiday, sweater that Savitri had ordered from neighbour in the latest design.

Everything had been idyllic.

Then one evening, dressed in an orange shalwar-kameez, Naina had accompanied Geeta and the boys to a pooja at one of Geeta's cousin's. Vishakha had stayed home with her mother as Savitri was feeling a little under the weather.

As is common at such gatherings, some of the assembled ladies had inquisitively enquired about the pretty looking young girl accompanying Geeta.

After exchange of greetings, and answering many questions, Naina had slipped outside to watch Anish and Amol playing with the other children in the yard. Most of the kids being much younger to her, she had found herself playing the mediator rather than actually playing.

Some time later, growing bored of their squabbling, she had headed indoors, in search of Geeta Mami and overheard an unexpected exchange.

One of the ladies had been saying "Geeta, kya umar hai teri bhangi ki? Badi pyari ladki hai! Aare meri behen ke bete ke liye ladkiyan dekh rahe hai. Ladke ne abhi college khatam kiya hai, aur ab uske pitagi ka business dekhne laga hain."

Chuckling, Geeta had clarified "Bahut chotti hai humari Naina! Abhi toh school main hi hai."

While the lady disappointedly tsked, another muttered "Aare, meri nanand, jo Bombay mein rehti hain na... uss ka beta abhi junior college mein hain. Geeta, jab bhi tumhari nanand Naina ke liye ladke dekhne lage toh batana mujhe. Unnhe toh bade sheher ki padhi-likhi ladki hi chahiye hogi!"

Geeta's cousin interjected "Aare, ghar mein do chore hote, Bishakha didi kahi aur kahe dekhengi?! Kyu Geeta, kaki toh bol rahi thi, ke chotte bete ke liye hi socha hai."

"Aare jiji, abhi toh donon bahut chotte hain... abhi kaha yeh sab." Geeta awkwardly responded.

"Par humme toh laga tha, ke baat pukki ho gayi hain dono ki..." the cousin took a small pause, and then asked, fishing for some gossip, "Bishakha didi ko pasand nahi hain Naina? Kuch khot hain kya ladki mein?"

Geeta rushed to assure "Nahi nahi! Koi khot nahi hain humari Naina mein. Vishakha didi toh khushi khushi usse apne ghar ki Laxmi bana ke rakhengi! Bus abhi chotte hai na donon...zara baade ho jaaye toh sochonge."

The woman, who had expressed interest in Naina for her nephew, sighed "Such bata rahi hu... meri behen toh pareshan ho gayi hai! Koi ladki pasand hi nahi aati usse. Samajhdar hain tumhari nanand... itni dekhi-bhali aur pyaari ladki ke hote, kahi aur kyu jaayegi bahu dhudne?!"

Quickly retracing her steps to the porch, leaning against one of the porch, Naina had stood awhile, rehashing the conversation she had just overheard.

To start with, she felt increasingly incredulous that someone had considered her as a prospective bride. The awareness of a girl on the cusp of adolescence started blooming within.

But she was even more confounded by the idea that Geeta Mami's cousin seemed to be under the impression that Vishakha would want to get her married to Sameer!

Sameer -  the boy who had become so irritating over the past year. Ever since he had been made the captain of his junior college cricket team! Sote jagate... jab dekho bus cricket-cricket... dusra toh kuch sujhta hi nahi hai usse!

Pehele toh mujhe har baat batata tha, par aaj-kal bus aapne unn Munna-Pandit ke sath khusar-phusar mein laga rehta hai. Ab toh jaise main sirf kehne ko usski special friend reh gayi hu! Aur jab bhi mujhse baat karta hai, ya toh kuch kaam hota hai, ya mere liye koi order!

Aur Dadi bhi har waqt mujhe usske saare kaam karne ko kehti rehti hai... College cricket team ka captain bana hai, kahi ka nawab nahi jo mujhse usski itni seva karwai jaaye!

For some time, in her shocked state, she was resolute - Shaadi... aur usse?? Kabhi nahi!!

But as she ruminated on the Geeta words over the next couple of days, the idea of never having to leave her family started growing on her.

* * *

Few months back, one day, after returning from Swati's home, she had addressed Vishakha "Mumma... pata hai, Swati ki mummy ne ek patara bhar ke bartan jama kiye hai Swati ko shaadi mein dene ke liye! Aur Kamya keh rahi thi ke usski mummy bhi saalon se usske dahej ki tayari kar rahi hai. Par aap toh kabhi mere liye aaisa kuch nahi leti??"

Sameer had snorted from the door "Kyu ki Mummy ko pata hai, tumhare jaisi aafat ko koi nahi leke jaayega! Toh phir faltu ki tayari kyu karni hai..." 

Chucking an apple from the fruit bowl at him, which he effortlessly caught, Naina had glared "Tumhari experts comments nahi mangi hai maine. Woh na tum sirf apne Munna-Pandit ko hi sunao!"

"Chalo kum se kum yeh toh admit kiya na ke main expert hu." He had smirked in reply, while taking a big bite of the apple.

Annoyed at him, Naina had frowned at Vishakha "Mumma! Isse bolo na ke koi bhi mujhe khushi-khushi le jaayega."

Smiling, Vishakha had quipped "Haa, le jaane wale toh bahut aayenge... par main mere bache ko kisiko nahi dene wali!", and then asked in a teasing tone "Kya hua? Yeh achanak tumhe shaadi ki jaldi kyu ho gayi? School mein koi 'Prem' aa gaya hain kya?!"

When scrunching her face in embarrassment, Naina had mumbled "Mumma... koi nahi hai... aur na mujhe koi jaldi hai... maine toh bus aaise hi poocha.", Sameer had snorted "Jaldi ho bhi toh kya fayeda? Jiss tarha kitabon mein dubbi rehti hain... Salman Khan khud isske saamne aake khada ho jaye toh bhi dikhega nahi!"

She had retorted "Kabhi kabhi cricket chodkar tum bhi kitab padh liya karo! Warna, sirf field pe nahi, exam hall mein bhi clean blowed ho jaoge!"

"Balike, hum clean bowl karte hain, hote nahi!" chuckling, he had left the room.

* * *

Now, Naina wondered - if Vishakha had really meant it when she had asserted that she didn't intend to send Naina away. O... shayad issiliye Mumma mere liye koi dahej jama nahi kar rahi hai! Waise bhi... ghar mein toh already itne saare bartan hai...

A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth - Waise... itna bhi bura nahi hai Sameer. Matlab thoda idiot hai... par woh toh saare ladke hote hi hai!

Once the idea was planted, over the coming weeks, her initial shock had been replaced with some timid anticipation, as she awaited his return from the cricket camp.

His arrival at the end of that summer, had been accompanied by an heightened awareness in her, forcing her to see him in a new light.

The song from the movie 'Awaargi' could have easily portrayed the jumble of emotions that her insides were constantly knotted in during those days.

Baali umar ne mera haal wo kiya

Baali umar ne mera haal wo kiya

Jan chhuda li maine, dil de diya....

Things that she had found annoying about him earlier, were now endearing. Where she had snapped at him before for stealing her crisps, or occupying her favourite chair at the dining table, now she just playfully poked her tongue at him.

Naina had experienced an onslaught of butterflies in her belly, whenever he casually plopped next to her on the sofa, or his arm accidently brushed against hers.

Not ready to reveal the secret within, her eyes would often lower in his presence.

Ghunghat banaye kitne dhaani chunar se

Itna chhupi main teri pahli nazar se

Ghunghat banaye kitne dhaani chunar se

Itna chhupi main teri pahli nazar se

Even Dadi's constant nagging to do things for him was no longer irritating! In fact, she readily ran upstairs to fetch him for dinner. Or happily volunteered to put his clothes away when the dhobi brought back the stack of ironed clothes.

When his hair, which has grown longer over the summer, fluttered in the breeze, her heart fluttered along with them.

Pahli nazar mein mera

Ho rabba, pahli nazar mein

Mera haal wo kiya

Jaan chhuda li maine, dil de diya

It had not helped that his eyes had seemed to smoulder with something new too. While she had fumbled in his presence, he had been gripped with some unease too.

Ho rabba, darde jigar ne mera haal wo kiya

Darde jigar ne mera hal wo kiya

Jan chhuda li maine, dil de diya

Naina had been flummoxed when even his behaviour had turned a little awkward, considering nothing had happened between them to provoke a change in him. The poor girl had been extremely flustered wondering if her feelings were that transparent!

These new feelings of tenderness, had been accompanied by some others too. Where she had always felt possessive about his time, now she would experience bursts of envy and resentment towards any girl that he seemed even remotely interested in associating with. The mention of any female classmate or college friend, would bring a frown to her face.

On one occasion, she had been extremely irritated when Sameer had returned from watching the movie 'Khal Nayak', starring Madhuri Dixit, with Munna-Pandit. The boys had, seemingly endlessly, fawned over the Bollywood beauty, while sharing the movie review with Rohan and her. Her affection for Rohan bhaiya had gone up a few notches that day, when Rohan had scolded the boys for concentrating so much on heroines, when they had exams coming up.

* * *

Unknown to her – that day in private, to Sameer's bafflement, Rohan had lectured him for admiring some girl in front of Naina.

When Sameer had countered "Aaisi kya badi baat ho gayi? Sirf Madhuri kya solid lag rahi thi yahi toh kaha! Kuch... ashlil thode hi kaha tha?"

After some fumbling, Rohan had retorted "Abhi uska mind bohot impressionable hai! Ghar mein, uss Madhuri ki itni tarrif sun kar, agar woh waisa behavior imitate karne lagi toh acha lagega kya? Will it okay if she starts singing that song... 'choli ke peeche kya hai?'! Humme sochna chahiye na, ke ghar se kya... sanskar milte hai, nahi?"

This argument from Rohan had left Sameer utterly speechless, and thoroughly scandalized at the idea of his special friend singing or dancing to that tune.

Especially, after he overheard Naina telling Vishakha that she wanted to stitch a copy of one of Madhuri's pink ghagra and golden choli from the song 'Palaki mein hoke sawar chali re, main toh apne sajan ke dwaar chali re...' from that same movie for Navratri, Sameer decided that Rohan bhaiya's concerns had been completely valid.

Never again had he admired any other heroine in front of Naina!

Though the vision of Naina enacting 'choli ke peeche kya hai' had been appalling to start with, over time, it had grown alluring.

Specially, as he had already been grappling with some strange new feelings for her over the past few months. Since the time, he had seen her dressed up for some multi-cultural school event as a typical Marwari bride.

While others in the family had oohed and aahed over her look, for some bizarre reason, he had felt almost dizzy with a mix of euphoria and longing.

When the maid had teased Naina that it wouldn't be long before it would be time for her to dress up as a real bride and leave for her sasural, his heart had silently, but savagely, roared 'Never! She is mine!' This claim had left his poor head bewildered.

From that moment, for months, every time he had looked at her he had wrestled with a pandora of feelings, wants and desires.

And hence the frequent dark, smouldering stares that wreaked havoc on poor Naina's young heart!

But the growing yearning in him was tinged with a sense of guilt. She was the tempting, yet forbidden, fruit in his garden.

* * *

Oblivious of the turmoil gripping his heart, Naina's crush had bloomed for a few months. Until one day, her classmate Kamya stomped all over it.

Naina had been seating near the classroom window during a free period overlooking the playground where some older boys were playing cricket. Though the classes for 11th and 12th were held in a separate building, they shared the playground with the high school students.

She was trying to made some headway on her homework, since Sameer had mentioned something about heading out for an ice cream later that day, while some of her classmates were more inclined to enjoy the view outside. Though most of the girls were content to sneak some glances at the boys outside, some of the bolder ones were openly admiring the cute boys.

All was well, till Nisha, who had joined the school just last month, first announced dreamily "Haaye... woh Sameer Maheshwari toh ekdum hero hai yaar. Naina, tu kitni lucky hai! Sameer se kafi close hai na?? Bohot baar sath mein school aate-jaate dikhte ho..." and then wiggled her eyebrows, "Kuch chal hai kya tumhara??"

Just as a blush had started creeping up her face, Kamya, who had been hoping to snare Sameer for herself, snapped "Chee Nisha! Kuch bhi bolti hai. Lucky kyu?! Usske toh bhai jaisa hai."

Puzzled, Nisha muttered, "Bhai kaise?? Yeh Agarwal, aur woh Maheshwari...  mujhe laga family friends ho..."

When Naina started uncertainly "Sirf friends nahi hai... family hai... par bhai-behen bhi nahi hai hum...", Kamya interrupted, scowling, "Aare bachpan se ek ghar mein rehte ho, jaise uske parents ne tujhe adopt kiya ho. Usski maa ko Mummy bulati ho, bade bhai ko Bhaiya... toh hua na tumhare bhai jaisa? Aisa toh sochna bhi paap hoga!"

Feeling extremely contrite, Nisha rushed to sure Naina "Sorry yaar! Mujhe kuch pata nahi tha... I just assumed. Please bura mat manna... main kuch kharab nahi kehna chahati thi tumhara ya usske baare mein."

Uncomfortably muttering, "It's okay... don't worry', Naina brushed away the topic for then, but Kamya's repulsed 'Chee!!' didn't leave her mind for days.

As Naina pondered, the notion that Vishakha might consider her as a potential daughter-in-law began to appear utterly absurd. Mamiji ne kuch aur kaha hoga... mujhe hi kuch galat sunnayi diya hoga... Naina! Aaisa kaise feel kar sakti hain tu... Sameer sirf tera friend hain. Special, par ekdum masoom, nirdosh dost. Samjhi?!

Slowly, she set out to crush all those freshly blossomed feelings and bury them somewhere deep within.

* * *

But just because something is buried deep down does not mean its dead.

Nature has a way of bringing to life things that have stayed dormant for decades. Buried, underseen and forgotten bulbs, can sprout, grow and even bloom, when the environment turns conducive.

All these years later, perhaps, it was finally spring time for Sameer and Naina too.

But the blood gushing through her heart still carried the murky memories of the chee uttered many years ago by Kamya. Which had been further muddied by Leena's words.

Hence every time she thought of his declaration of love, she started wondering about the repercussions of his claim - that he was ready to publicly announce his intentions.

Intensions, which going by his tone, were already etched in stone for him.  

Each time Naina glimpsed her reflection, she saw what he had been envisioning when he looked at her—for quite some time now.

Soon-to-be Mrs Maheshwari.

And she would apprehensively wonder, what others would see post his declaration.

Would people start seeing a young woman of questionable character? Would they assume she had done something to entice him?

She paled wondering if any of her actions were responsible for the feelings that he had developed for her.

She knew, back when she had first caught feelings for him, she had probably watched and followed him like a little puppy. Had that affected him? Or had he read the longing-laced-pride in her eyes while cheering for his cricket matches?

Or was it something more recent? Was it that time she had hugged him while crying in the Raipur house? Or allowed him to tuck the rose in her hair during Rohan's engagement? Nahi...woh sab toh abhi hua... Sameer toh keh raha tha ussne pehele hi decide kiya tha...

Could it have been because - sometimes she thoughtlessly, leaned against his shoulder while watching TV... or sat a little too close on the bike??

Naina! Duniya ko chod... yeh soch gharwale kya sochenge?! Her eyes widened in alarm.

The people who really mattered to her - would they start questioning her integrity? And even if they didn't blame her, wouldn't they hate the gossip something like this might result in?

How would her Mumma face all their acquaintances, if people started implying that they had to get her and Sameer married as a consequence of something unsavory happening between the young couple?

No! She couldn't put her family, who had truly loved her as a daughter, through such an harrowing experience. The fear of that family losing face because of her, was much bigger than the fear of having to watch another woman by Sameer's side.

Mujhe Sameer ko samjhana hoga... humme emotional hoke kuch nahi karna chahiye. Haa, yahi thik hoga, aate hi usse samjhayunji. Even as she decided, she knew it wouldn't be that easy.

Ek baar jo usske dimag mein aa jata hai... itna asaan nahi hoga usse samjhana. And a voice piped from within – Aur yaha toh baat dil ki hai!

Bhagwanji... please aap hi kuch rasta dikhayiye. Kya karu?? She earnestly prayed.

Her internal conflict ended the evening before he returned.

Naina had been sorting a bunch of methi settled on the floor of the living room, while Nirmala and Savitri watched some serial on TV. She hadn't been paying much attention to the show as it wasn't one that she followed, and nor was she in the mental state to enjoy such frivolous activities at the moment.

But she was suddenly roused out of her thoughts, when sounding very annoyed Nirmala remarked to Savitri "Dekho toh kaisi kamini aurat hai! Aare woh bechari isse behen banake apne ghar le aayi thi... aur yeh estate ki lalach mein usske hi bhai pe doore daal rahi hai!"

Savitri sighed "Mujhe toh pehele se hi isski neeyat pe shak tha. Tabhi toh, beemari mein uss bechare ki seva ka natak kar rahi thi.

"Aare, dayan bhi saat ghar chod ke khaati hai! Aur yeh toh... jiss thali mein khaya, ussi mein ched! Sach keh rahi hu Savitri behen... achayi ka toh zamana hi nahi raha!" Nirmala strongly voiced at displeasure, and then called out to her daughter-in-law "Aare Vishakha, shaadi ki kharedari ki baat uss nayi kaamwali ke saamne mat karna. Abhi aaye char din hue hai... par dus cheezon pe nazar lagake baithegi!"

Naina stiffened.

Is this what Dadi would think of her? That she had taken advantage of all the love they had showered her with!

For years, her friends had expressed their envy at how much Dadi invariably pampered her. Where in most other houses the grandmothers doled out preferential treatment to their grandsons, Nirmala had always gone the extra mile when it came to Naina. Every time she went travelling, or even just to the local market, she returned with many goodies for her Laado. Every Diwali, she would buy her some ornament, and new pretty outfits for every family wedding.

Kya humare decision se naraaz hokar, Dadi mujhse aankhe pher legi?

The remaining sliver of doubt was wiped away.

She stayed awake for most of the night, as all silent hopes and dreams now seemed to be slipping away as tears. Tears - that she couldn't afford to spill in front of Sameer, if she wanted to convince him to let go of that pipe dream.

The next morning, when Vishakha noticed the swollen eyes as she knocked on Naina's door, since the girl wasn't up at the expected time, she worriedly asked, "Aankhe kyu sujhi hai teri? Ro rahi thi raat ko? Kya ho gaya beta?!"

She started with a denial "Kuch nahi... bus woh..." but then clinging to her Mumma burst into sobs. "Mumma... agar mujhse koi galati ho jaaye... toh... aap mujhse pyar karna band toh nahi kar doge?" she hiccupped.

"Naina! Kya hua? Bol beta... mera dil baitha ja raha hai..." Vishakha's voice quivered, along with her heartbeats.

Seating Naina on the bed, she continued "Kissine kuch kiya tujhe?? Dekh... jo bhi hua hai hum milke sambhal lenge. Main jaanti hu tujhe beta... tu kabhi bhi jaan kar kuch galat kar hi nahi sakti!"

Trust is good. But sometimes the it comes with a hefty price. In that moment, all Naina could think was how she couldn't bear to break her Mumma's trust.

Drawing in a few deep breaths, she shook her head "Kuch nahi hua... na kissine kuch kiya... bus raat ko kuch ajeeb sa... bohot bura sapna aaya tha... bohot darr gayi thi main. Aaisa laga main akele ho gayi hu... koi nahi hai mere sath. Sab naraaz hai mujhse."

Relieved, Vishakha hugged her "Itni badi ho gayi hai, par ab bhi sapnon se itna darr jaati hai. Bilkul pagali hai! Aur darr gayi thi toh mujhe jaga ke apne pass bula leti." Softly kissing the top of Naina's head, her added "Sameer nahi hai na saamne ke kamare main... issiliye shayad darr gayi. Chalo, aaj dopahar tak aa jayega woh bhi." Glancing at the clock, she asked "Late jaaogi aaj?"

Not able to meet Vishakha's eyes, Naina muttered "Nahi... important lectures hai. Bus jaldi se tayar hoke aati hu. Please, breakfast pack kar dijiye."

After a restless, teary night, Naina's head began to ache slightly before lunchtime. As the day wore on, the ache intensified into a pounding sensation. Even the Anacin offered by Neha didn't help much. And yet, when the classes were over, she found herself dragging her feet at the prospect of the confrontation with Sameer, awaiting her at home.

"Aare, tune bataya nahi Sameer wapas aa gaya!" Naina's gaze jerked towards the gate, at Shefali's exclamation.

There he sat, casually perched on his bike, wearing jeans and a simple black t-shirt. Eyes concealed behind a pair of aviators, he exuded an air of utter relaxation—as if he hadn't just unleashed a hurricane upon her once-sheltered world.

* * *

(Hi Dearies,

Hope you enjoyed this part and do share your thoughts.

Lots of love, May)