It took them another 10-15 minutes to reach Ambrai Ghat. Naina parked the bike in the parking area and both of them entered the ghat, holding each other's hands.

Sameer: Naina!

Naina: Hmmm

Sameer: Agar aissa hua ki Devang bhaiya aur Pari humare saath Mumbai aate hai, aur for obvious reasons ghar par koi bhi Pari ko accept nahi karega. Toh kya tum bhi accept nahi karogi?

Naina: Meer! Mujhe pata hai Maa ke bina rehna kaisa lagta hai. Aur aap bhi iss feeling se acchi tarike se wakif hai. Main uss bacchi ko kaise accept nahi karungi? Haan main uski sagi Maa nahi hungi, par jaise Chachiji aur Taiji ne mujhe pala hai. Main bhi Pari ko waise hi palungi.

Sameer gave a wide smile to her, and he immediately wounded his arm around her shoulder.

Naina: Meer, aapke paas Devang bhaiya ka number hai? Mujhe Pari se baat karni hai. Actually aapne uske baare mein itni cute baatein ki hai. I really want to meet her. Kya hum kal saare functions khatam hone ke baad usse milne ja sakte hai?

Sameer: Naina, main bhi Pari ke saath khub saara time spend karna chahta hun. But I think hume bhaiya ko thoda space dena chahiye. I mean, aaj hi woh mujhse mile, 10 saal purani baatein share ki, kuch aissi baaton ka unhe pata laga jo unko pata nahi thi, thoda waqt unhe milna chahiye na. To process everything.

Naina: Hmmm, aap sahi keh rahe hai. Itna sab kuch aaj hogaya. Itni saari baatein khuli. Aaj ka din aapke aur unke liye bahut emotionally exhausting hogaya.

Sameer: Mere liye toh aaj ka din sabse best din hai! Aaj tumne mujhse apni dil ki baat keh di. Mere naam ke aage se Ji haata diya. Mujhe ek naya aur khubsurat naam de diya.

Naina's cheeks turned pink, and she looked at the waves of the lake. From her early teenage, Naina was sucker for places like beaches. She liked peace and tranquility, the soothing melody of crashing waves and cool sea breeze gave. But a person can't such a place alone for a very long time. When Rehan was alive, there many instances she would go with him to Juhu or Marine drive. Have some alone time with each other, knowing each other better. Then life happened, and she reduced her visits. When she got to know about the deterioration of her mom's condition was the pregnancy, she was shattered and often went to Marine drive on her cycle or the scooty that Pralay had got. There were instances when Rakesh tagged along with her, and these were the times when the bond between the father and daughter strengthened.

And now, she has her husband with her, to give him company in the soothing and cool atmosphere. It was in such a calm and composed environment, where her husband had cleared off her mind. The visit to Jal Mahal, had cleared all the doubts and constraints from her life and mind. And today, even though he showed he has gotten over the conversation, she knew something or the other was bothering him. And she was hell bent to know and solve it. Tonight!

Naina: Meer, aapne yeh toh bataya nahi ki aapke kapde gande kaise hogaye the?

Sameer: Main jab aa raha tha, tab dimaag mein Bhaiya ki kahi baatein ghum rahi thi. Aur dhyaan nahi tha. Unke ghar wali gaali ke saamne ladkhada gaya tha. Aur kapde gande hogaye.

Naina: Kyaaa!? Aapne mujhe bataya kyun nahi ghar par? Aapko kahin chot toh nahi lagi na?

Naina stood up, and looked Sameer carefully trying to spot any scratch or wound. But found none, which relieved her.

Naina: Aap aisse laparwah kaise ho sakte hai Meer? Accha hua aapko chot nahi aayi, par agar aa jati toh? Waise bhi apne mujhe apni location nahi bheji thi. Bhagwaan na kare aapko agar kuch ho jaata, mujhe kaise pata chalta? Kahan dhundhti aapko?

Sameer: Naina Naina Naina! Relax! Mujhe kuch nahi hua, aur nahi kuch ho sakta hai. Tum aur tumhare bhagwaan ji hai na. Meri raksha ke liye.

Naina shook her head in disbelief, and look at the still water, and the reflection of the buildings at the river bank on the stagnant water.

Naina: Meer, aapke mann mein kya chal raha hai? Jab se aap aaye hai, gehri soch mein hai. Aapko kisi baat ka darr hai?

Sameer: Haan, darr lag raha hai Naina. Darr lag raha hai ki kahin Devang bhaiya ki family adhuri na reh jaaye. Yun toh Poonam bhabhi aur Dadu unhe samjhenge. Par agar nahi samjhe toh? Itne saalon se woh ghar se aur hum sabse dur the, inn 10 saalon mein kitna kuch badal gaya hai. Agar Bhaiya ko Mumbai mein ghutan mehsoos hone lagi toh? Agar Pari ko ghar wale ya ghar walon ko Pari pasand nahi aayi toh? Bhaiya Pari ko chod ke thodi reh payenge. Darr isliye bhi lag raha hai ki kahin Prabha aunty aur Kamlesh uncle, Pari ko Poonam bhabhi ke tarah pareshaan karne lage toh.

Naina: Meer, aapka darr jayez hai. Par mujhe nahi lagta ki aissa kuch hoga. Kamlesh uncle aur Prabha aunty ka toh pata nahi, par Papaji, Dadaji aur Poonam bhabhi Devang bhaiya ki baat zaroor samjhenge aur Pari ko accept bhi karenge.

Sameer: Naina, waqt aur kismat kabhi bhi kuch bhi palat sakti hai. Iss baat se tum aur main acchi tarike se wakif hai. 10 saal Bhaiya dur the, contact karne ki koshish nahi ki, of course Vishakha aunty ko sazza milegi. Par itne saal Poonam bhabhi ne jo saha hai, bewajah uska asar padega hi. Dadu aur Papa helpless the, kuch nahi kar paaye bhabhi ke liye, uska asar padega. Sach kahun, toh ab mujhe meri aur Rohan ki situation same lagne lagi hai. Hum dono hi apne bhai se bahut pyaar karte hai, par humari bhabhi ne hume itna pyaar diya hai ki uske saamne bhai ka pyaar pheka pad ja raha hai.

Naina: Rohan aur aapka situation same kaise hai? Main samjhi nahi.

Sameer realised that he hasn't told Naina about Preeti and Rohan's confrontation with Ruhaan. He took a deep breath and told Naina about the last evening's incident. Listening to what Sameer said, Naina's eyes widened and she was shocked.

Naina: Hey bhagwaan! Preeti ne yeh sab apni aankhon se dekha? Pata nahi uspe kya beet rahi hogi. Meri bacchi, usko yeh sab nahi dekhna chahiye tha.

Sameer: Janta hun Naina. Jab Sharad ne mujhe kaha ki Preeti ne yeh sab dekha aur suna hai, mera mann kiya tha ki main Preeti aur Rohan se baat karun. Par phir khudko rok liya. Yeh soch ke ki mera phone karna shayad galat ho. Main aur Preeti itne close nahi hai na. Aur shayad woh mere saath itni comfortable bhi nahi hogi.

Naina: Meer aissi baat nahi hai, aap uske Jija hai. Aapka Preeti par barabar ka haq hai. Aur usne kabhi bhi aapko Jija nahi maana hai. Aapko woh Pralay bhaiya jaise hi mann deti hai. Aapko nahi pata, humare shaadi aur sagaai ke beech ke che mahine, mere peeche padi rehti thi. Jijaji ko phone karo, photo bhejo, milo, unke ghar jao, video call karo. Usse bahut bura laga tha jab main.....

Sameer: Naina! Uss baat ko bahut time hogaya hai. Ab hum aage aagaye hai. Ek dusre ko as husband wife accept kar chuke hai, aur most importantly ek dusre se pyaar karte hai. Toh bas. Unn che mahino ko past mein rehne do.

Naina nodded, and spoke: Main abhi Preeti ko phone karun kya? Usse baat kar leti hun. I am sure uske aur Rohan ke mann mein bahut kuch chal raha hoga. Usne kisi ko bataya nahi hoga, aur dono bacche andar hi andar ghut rahe honge. Sirf 20 saal ki hai woh. Maturity puri nahi aayi hai usse.

Sameer: Karlo. Usko iss waqt koi chahiye jo uski baat sune aur usse shant kar sake.
And I think Pralay aur Pranati ko yeh baat pata hai. Itni jaldi aur hadbahat mein nikle hai aaj woh dono Mumbai ke liye.....

Naina: Toh kya main Preeti ko phone karun ya nahi?

Sameer: Karo, bilkul karo! Naina tum bhi yeh janti ho ki chahe ek ladki apne bhai ya ghar ke kisi bhi bade aur male member se kitna bhi close ho jaaye, comfortable sirf female members ke saath hoti hai.

Naina nodded and immediately dialled her baby sister. PreeNa had an age gap of just four years, yet, for Naina Preeti was her baby sister. For her Preeti was still that 1 year old Preeti who with just one front teeth and baby pink frock, had given her first ever full smile to her. She was the same 7 year old Preeti, who had own first dance competition and jumped around the house till bedtime. She was the same 12 year old Preeti, who had panicked seeing spotting for the first time in her life, and came with a swollen face and eyes, thinking of suffering from a major disease. She was the same 16 year old Preeti, who after scoring 87% in boards exams, had demand a long list of dishes to be made. And Naina couldn't imagine her baby sister of witnessing heartwrenching scenes like yesterday.

Preeti who was sitting in the balcony of her room, and was gazing at the stars and thinking about Rohan and Purvi, got startled with the sudden ringing of her phone, which broke the peace and silence of the night. The caller name brought a full blown smile on her face, and she immediately accepted the call to find the two faces that can soothe her racing and aching heart.

Preeti: Jiji! Jijaji! Aap iss waqt phone....

Naina: Bitti! Mujhe sab pata hai meri bacchi.

Yes! Naina called Preeti Bitti whenever Preeti was undergoing some dilemma. Naina had some power of knowing that Preeti is in some dilemma and like Mr. India, she would come to her. Preeti's eyes pooled up and she whispered her Jiji's name.

Naina: Bitti, aisse roote nahi. Meri Bitti sabse bahadur hai. Hai na?

Preeti: Jiji, mujhe apne se zyada Purvi bhabhi ke liye bura lag raha hai. Unhe agar pata laga, toh woh iss baat ko kaise handle karegi.

Naina: Unhe tu aur Rohan hi sambhal paoge na. Accha tu ek kaam kar, Rohan ko add kar iss call pe. Mujhe aur tere Jijaji ko tum dono se baat karni hai.

Preeti: Haan ek minute.

Preeti added Rohan to the call, and within a minute Rohan accepted the call and they got done with the greetings.

Sameer: Dekho, hume pata tum dono ke mann mein bahut kuch chal raha hoga. Kisse share kare, yeh bhi nahi pata. Kya kahe, yeh bhi nahi pata. Isiliye maine aur tum dono ki Jiji ne tumhe call kiya hai. Tum dono humse sab kuch share kar sakte ho.

Naina: Meer sahi keh rahe hai. Rohan! Beta tum shuru karo.

Rohan: Naina jiji, mujhe....mujhe toh kuch samjh hi nahi aa raha. Aissa lag raha hai ki main ab tak ek sapne mein jee raha tha. Aur kisine achanak se kaan ke paas balloon phoda aur main neend se jaag gaya. Itne saal Dada ne kitne sundar tarike se mujhe aur Boudi ko iss illusion mein rakha ki woh Boudi se bahut pyaar karte hai. Unki gairhazari ko apne kaam pe thop dete the.

Preeti: Jiji! Jijaji! Jab maine dekha na ki woh aadmi kaise uss ladki ke saath.......mere mann mein pehla khayal Rohan ka aaya. Rohan humesha se apne Dada ki tarah banna chahta tha. Uske liye woh aadmi ek role model tha.

Rohan: Mujhe unn par se zyada gussa khud par aa raha hai. Maine kaise unn saari choti choti baaton ko nazarandaaz kar diya jo signal dete the. Dada ka wapas na aana, Boudi ka sofa pe intezaar karte so jaana, Dada ka Boudi ke karib na jaana, Boudi ka khudko dress up na karna. Dada sirf meri zid ke wajah se hume leke chalte the bahar, aur Boudi ka jhat se khush hoke dress up hona. Yeh sab nishaniyaan thi, unke infidelity ka.

Sameer: Rohan, kabhi kabhi hum kisi apne ke pyaar mein itna kho jaate hai ki inn choti baaton ka dhyaan nahi rehta. Isliye don't blame yourself. Jo hogaya hai usse hum control nahi kar sakte but jo hone ja raha hai, usse manipulate zaroor kar sakte hai. I know achanak se apne bhai ke baare mein itna bada sach janne ke baad tumhare mann mein bahut se sawaal uthe honge, jinka jawab tum janna bhi chahte ho aur nahi bhi. Par jawab janna zaroori hai beta. Waqt lo, apni speed ko slow rakho, par jawab dhundho. Kyunki inn sawaalon ke jawab mein hi woh rasta chupa hai, jispar chal ke tum apni, Preeti ki, aur tumhari Bhabhi ki aane wali zindagi decide kar sakte ho.

Naina: Rohan, tum akele nahi ho. Preeti hai tumhare saath, aur hum dono bhi. Main sirf Preeti ki nahi, tumhari bhi behen hun. Jaise mere liye Preeti hai waise tum bhi ho.

Sameer: Haan Rohan! Aaj tumne apna Dada khoya zaroor hai, par ek behen aur ek jija paaya bhi hai.

Preeti: Jiji! Jijaji! Aap log jaldi humare paas aao! Hume kuch samjh nahi aa raha ki hum kya kare. Jiji, aankhein bandh karti hun toh Ruhaan aur uss ladki ke beech huye uss incident ko hi dekhti hun. Khamoshi mein unki awaazein sunayi deti hai. Jab jab cupboard aur bed dikhta hai, mujhe woh shaam hi yaad aati hai.

Sameer: Preeti, main janta hun woh sab bhulna muskil hai, par namumkin nahi hai. Jab bhi woh sab yaad aaye na, toh earphones laga lena. Aur apni favorite singer ke favorite gaane suna. Nahi toh hume call kar lena.

Rohan: Jijaji, jab ghar aaya toh Boudi sofa pe har baar ki tarah baithi thi. Maine pucha yahan kya kar rahi ho, toh unhone kaha ki uss aadmi ka intezaar kar rahi hai. Do din hogaye usse ghar ka khana khaye huye. Bimaar hone ke bawajud woh uss aadmi ke liye khana banayi, bhookhe pet baithi uska intezaar kar rahi thi. Unke aankhon mein maine umeed dekhi thi Jijaji! Umeed ki woh aadmi unse pyaar karega. Unki parwah karega. Mujhe aissa laga ki kisine mere dil mein chakku ghusa diya hai, aur usse nikalne ke bajaye, usko ghuma raha hai.
Jijaji! Woh sirf meri bhabhi nahi hai. Woh woh aurat hai jisne kabhi bhi iss baat ko apne pyaar aur ladd ke aade nahi aane diya, ki main unke Pati ka saga bhai nahi hun. Unhone mujhe haar uss taunt se bachaya hai jo meri identity ke upar based hota tha.

Sameer: Rohan! Main janta hun woh feeling. Maine jeeya hai iss feeling ko. Apni aankhon ke aage uss aurat ko tadapta hua dekhna, jisne kabhi aapko tadapne nahi diya, is the worst feeling in this world. But you have to fight it! Tumhe mazboot rehna hai, apne aur apni Bhabhi ke liye. Mere khayaal se tumhe Purvi ji ko sab kuch bata dena chahiye. Der nahi karni chahiye.

Rohan: Bata sakta toh kab ka bata deta. Par Boudi uss aadmi par andhavishvaas karti hai. Aur usse bhi zyada pyaar. Jab tak thosh saboot nahi milte, Boudi ko mere kisi bhi kahi baat ka bharosa nahi hoga.

Preeti: Aur Jijaji, aap hi socho, jo insaan saalon se iss baat ko chupa sakta hai ki woh apni biwi aur chote bhai ke saath loyal nahi tha, woh baat ko manipulate karne mein master hoga. Agar bhi Rohan ne kuch kaha, toh Ruhaan usse manipulate badi asaani se kar dega.

Naina: Preeti ki baat sahi hai, Meer. Ruhaan bahut shatir aadmi hai. Hume jo bhi karna ya sochna hai, bahut savdhani se karna hoga.

Sameer: Rohan, ek baat batao. Tumne Ruhaan ko confront kiya hai? I mean pucha hai ki kab se chal raha hai yeh sab?

Rohan: Haan, pucha tha na aaj subah. Par as expected, jhooth kaha tha unhone. He said that he was drugged and it's the first time he has done something like this.

Preeti: Jijaji, jis tarah se woh dono baat kar rahe the aur jis tarah woh log energetic the, it was evident woh drugged nahi the.

Sameer: Main Ruhaan ko janta hun Preeti. Kutte ki punchh jitni koshish kar lo, teedhi rehti hai. Ek percent ka badlaav nahi aaya hai usmein.

Naina: Accha hua tum dono ko uska asli chehra pehle dikh gaya. Main toh chinta mein thi, Preeti uss aadmi ke aas paas kaise rehti.

Rohan: Ek minute! Jijaji aapka kya matlab hai? Woh pehle se?

Sameer sighed and nodded his head. Rohan gasped seeing this, and he felt like his head would explode. He was thinking that Ruhaan got involved in extramarital affairs after few years of his marriage with Purvi. But the reality is something different.

Rohan: Jijaji! Please mujhe sab kuch sach aur sahi se bataiye.

Sameer: Rohan, dekho beta. Tum bas itna samjhlo ki, jab main aur Ruhaan saath mein the school mein, tab bhi Ruhaan aissa tha. Usne ek ladki ke saath sexual relations isliye initiate kiye kyunki uski ek cousin ko rejection mila tha. Uss neech aadmi ne, uss ladki ke saath sex karne ke baad, agli subah bhaag gaya. Aur toh aur usne video shoot kar rakha tha. Jo usne uss ladki ko bheji thi.

Naina: Rohan, main janti hun yeh sab kuch digest karna tumhare liye bahut mushkil hai. Par beta, tumhe overcome karna hoga. Jaisa humne pehle bhi kaha hai, tumhe tumhare aur tumhare chote parivaar ke liye strong banna padega.

Sameer: Aur Preeti! Tumhe bhi ab sab kuch bhulke aage badhna hai. Jo dekha, jo suna, woh sab peeche chodo. Tum dono ko bahut kuch karna hai, bahut kuch achieve karna hai. Focus on that! Aur rahi baat Ruhaan ki, toh iss baat ko bhagwaan par aur hum par chod do. You both have way more important things to think of. Career, family, tum dono ka relationship, tumhare dost aur bhi bahut kuch important.

Naina: Haan, ab acche bacchon ki tarah jaake so jao! Aur Rohan, tum mujhe ya apne Jijaji ko kabhi bhi call kar sakte ho. Hmm?

Rohan nodded, and the call got ended after the byes and goodnight. Sameer took a deep breath and looked at the still water and the fading lights. Naina kept her head on his shoulder, and wrapped her arm around his. They were sitting in silence, letting the calmness and tranquility seep in.

Sameer: Naina, chalo. Wapas chalte hai. Raat ho rahi hai, aur itni raat gaye ek anjaan sheher mein zyada der bahar rehna sahi nahi hai.

Naina: Hmm, chaliye. Kal subah hume Kairav bhaiya ke roke aur ganesh puja ke liye jaana bhi hai. Phir aap mujhe Pari se milane bhi leke jayenge. Yaad hai na?

Sameer: Haan haan yaad hai. Pari bhi bahut excited hai tumse milne ke liye. I really wish bhaiya humare saath chalne ke liye taiyar ho jaaye.

Naina: Ho jayenge! Har cheez ek sahi samay hota hai, Meer. Agar yeh sahi samay hai bhaiya ke lautne ka, toh zaroor lautenge humare saath. Aap jski chinta chod dijiye.

Sameer nodded, and asked Naina the keys of the bike. Initially Naina denied to give as she was the one who drove the bike, but with his great persuasion power, he persuaded her and now they were back on their way to Birla House.

They were about to enter the House, when Naina held Sameer's arm and stopped him. Sameer raised his brows in question, and Naina shook her head in denial and just hugged him tightly. Sameer chuckled and hugged back. He left a long and loving kiss on top of her head, and walked her into the house without removing his arm around her.

Their room had a small balcony which opened to the main road of the locality. Naina was standing near the balcony glass door and was looking at the starless night sky.

Sameer: Naina! Wahan kya kar rahi ho? Aao, bed pe aake so jao. Aaj bahut tiring din tha, tum thak gayi hogi.

Naina smiled at her husband, and sat next to him. Like every night, she recited a silent prayer, and after turning off the lights, she lied down next to her husband. Sameer stretched his arm, and signalled Naina to keep her head on his arm. Naina did so, and wrapped her free arm around his torso.

Sameer: Naina, pata hai tumhe gaale laga lene se, mujhe itna sukoon milta hai. Pucho maat. Jaane kitne dino se yeh sapna dekha tha. Aisse hi ek shant aur thandi raat mein, tum meri baahon mein leti hogi. Aur hum baatein kar rahe honge.

Naina: Meer, sukoon toh mujhe bhi bahut milta hai aapke paas hone se. Aur yeh aaj nahi, bahut pehle se hai. Aap jo kabhi bhi milte the, unn kuch palon ko main puri tarike se jee leti thi. Bas itna malal hai ki maine aapke efforts ko reciprocate nahi kiya.

Sameer: Ohho Sameer ki Jaan, tum bhi na. Jo hogaya so hogaya. Aur ab Kairav ki shaadi mein woh pal hum wapas jee lenge. Shaadi wala mahol hai. Hum dono kuch na kuch kaam karenge. Inn kaamon ke beech, ek dusre ke liye waqt nikal lenge. Tum bas aage ki socho, peeche ka bhool jao!

Naina: Thik hai......waise humne Jaydev ji ke diye kapde dekhe nahi. Agar fit nahi aaye toh?

Sameer: Amm, I don't think aissa hoga. Maine unhe humare measurements sahi se bataye the. But in case hua, toh hum kuch purana pehen lenge, ya karenge kuch jugaad. Tab ki tab dekhenge. Abhi aankhein bandh! So jao.

Naina giggled and after planting a kiss on Sameer's cheeks, and wishing him goodnight, she snuggled up to him. Sameer wounded his arms tightly around her, and planted a kiss on her temple. He mumbled a goodnight and love you.

Naina (to herself) : Phew! Finally maine inhe sab kuch bol diya. Ab dil mein kisi baat ka bhar nahi hai. Sab jante hai yeh. Bhagwaan ji, bas, aisse hi inko khush rakhiye. Bahut kuch saha hai unhone. Ab bas. Aur mujhe itni shakti aur sadbuddhi dena ki main apne pati, apne Meer ko humesha khush aur tandarusth rakh sakun. Aur unki saari icchaayen puri kar dena. Waise toh kuch mangte nahi hai apne liye, par aapko toh sab pata rehta hai na. Toh aap jaan ke inki mann ki kar dena please.

Sameer (to himself) : Finally! Finally mere I love you ka jawab I know ya I like you too nahi, balki I love you too hoga. Naina ke bhagwaan ji, aapko nahi pata aaj ka din mere liye kitna maane rakhta hai. Pehle Devang bhaiya ka milna aur unse related galatfahami dur hona, Pari se milna, uske masoom sawal ke jawab dena, aur akhir mein Naina ka pyaar ka izhaar. Kash, main aaj ke din ko rok sakta. Agar kar pata toh main kabhi bhi aaj ke din se aage nahi badhta. Naina ke bhagwaan ji, ab jo mujhe mere khoye huye rishte mil gaye, mujhe itni shakti dena, aur sahi rasta dikhana, taki main sab kuch sahi se sambhal sakun. Mera saath dena Bhagwaan, mujhe Naina ke saare sapne pure karne hai. Aur usse bahut khush bhi rakhna hai. Usko humesha tandarusth rakhna. Uski saari icchaayen aur mannatein puri kar lena Bhagwaan. Iss baar please mujhe disappoint maat karna.

The next morning, due to the sunlight entering into their room and the noise coming from the busy road, Samaina's slumber broke. Both of them woke up at the same time, and with a bright smile on their faces, they got prepared for the commencement of a new day in their marital life. Naina noticed that she is wrapped in arms of her husband and so is he, and his strong and muscular arms weren't loosening the grip, with his dark orbs looking at her with love and affection. She raised her arm and rubbed his little stubble with her thump pad.

Naina: Good morning!

Sameer: Good morning Sameer ki Jaan ♥

Naina blushed and looked at the solid t-shirt that he was wearing. Sameer curled his finger under her chin, and raised it a little. He pecked her button nose, and left a trail of soft pecks all over her face.

Sameer: Tum ho businessman Sameer Maheshwari ki jaan, toh aadat dal do. Har baar toh aisse laal tamatar nahi ban sakti na tum.

Naina: Kya aap bhi!

Sameer: Arre!

Naina: Waise, Meer mein ek baat puchu?

Sameer: Hmm, pucho!

Naina: Ab jo Devang bhaiya mil gaye, aur sab sahi se hogaya toh humare saath Mumbai bhi chalenge, ghar walon se mil lenge. Sabko sach bata denge. Uske baad kya hoga? Mera matlab, uss sabke baad, Prabha Aunty aur Kamlesh Uncle, Poonam bhabhi ko aur pareshaan toh nahi karenge na?

Sameer exhaled loudly and replied: Pata nahi Naina. Woh dono bahut unpredictable hai. Pata nahi kab kya kar le. But I am sure, hum sab milkar situation ko manage kar lenge. Main mudda yahan bhaiya ko convince karna hai. Unko aur Pari ko, dono ko parivaar ki zaroorat hai.

Naina nodded and tightened her hold on Sameer, and snuggled more. Sameer adjusted his head accordingly and kept his chin on your head. They were lying that more sometime, and then went to get ready for the day as the clock stroke 7:00 AM.

Within half an hour to forty-five minutes, the Maheshwari couple was ready and headed down stairs. The hall was empty, which meant that the Birla family hasn't come down yet. So Naina decided to visit the pujaghar for the time being. And Sameer joined. They asked a staff member nearby, and they told that the pujaghar is on first floor, beside Abhimanyu baba and Akshara bahu's room.

Sameer: Humne toh Abhimanyu baba aur Akshara bahu ka room dekha hai nahi hai. Hume kaise pata kahan hai unka room. Naam jaisa bigshot, help bhi waise bigshot.

Naina: Meer! Aap bhi na. Chaliye, mandir dhundhna hai.

Both of them once again climbed the stairs, and reached the first floor. They were walking ahead searching mandir, when they heard a loud noise of glass shattering. It was coming out of a room. Curiosity got them inquisitive, and they decided to stand in front of the room, and wait to hear any other noise. But there were none. So they thought maybe due to wind, something broke. After crossing two more room, they found the pujaghar.

It would have been approximately 20 mins since they sat down in the pujaghar, when Manjiri and Akshara came there.

Manjiri: Arre Sameer Naina! Beta tum dono yahan?

Sameer: Good morning Aunty, woh hum dono ki need jaldi khul gayi thi. Neeche aaye toh koi nahi tha. Also, Naina ki aadat hai, subah 10-15 minute bhagwaan ji ke saath bitane ki. Toh hum dono yahan aagaye.

Naina: Mandir bahut sundar hai Aunty. Bahut kam mandir maine dekhe jo itni sukoon deti hai.

Manjiri: Beta, bhagwaan ke paas hum sukoon paane ke liye hi toh aate hai. Agar wohi nahi milega, toh kya fayda aissa mandir banake.

Naina: Sahi kaha aapne. Aap bahut acchi acchi baatein bolti hai Aunty. Aapko sunke mujhe meri Chachiji aur Taiji yaad aa gayi.

Suddenly a gush of uneasiness entered Sameer. He felt like there is this one thing that he didn't have in his life, which was true. He didn't have a source of motherly love. Man, he had forgotten how it feels when a mother talks about things with her kids. He felt like his eyes are tearing up, but he controlled his emotions for the sake of his wife, and Birla ladies.

Sameer: Aap dono apni puja khatam kar lijiye. Hum uske baad baat karte hai.

Akshara: Aap dono chaho toh yahan reh sakte ho. Nahi toh neeche jayiye. Abhi aur Neil neeche hi hai. Ganesh pujan ke baare mein Bade Papa se baat kar rahe hai.

Naina: Main yahin hun, aap dono ke saath. Aapko madad kar dungi puja mein.

Sameer: Maine neeche jata hun, in case Abhimanyu aur Neil ko kuch help chahiye ho.

Sameer went down, and greeted the Birla brothers. They were discussing about both of the rituals, when Sameer realised that he and Naina hadn't got anything as a gift which would be given to Kairav's future wife during the Roka ceremony.

Sameer: Abhimanyu, main thodi der mein aa raha hun. Humari car theek hoke aagayi hai?

Abhimanyu: Arre haan! Woh toh kal shaam ko hi aa gayi thi, par aapko jaana kahan hai?

Sameer: Kuch kaam yaad aagaya hai. Main directly aap sabko Roka mein milta hun.

Sameer went to his room for changing his clothes. He wore the sky blue silk kurta that Jaydev ji had sent yesterday, and immediately left for getting gifts for Kairav's future wife after keeping a note for Naina.

After completing the puja, when Naina didn't find Sameer anywhere, she decided to call him. That was when her gaze fell on the note typed on her phone.

Naina! Mujhe subah Abhimanyu se baat karte waqt yaad aaya ki humne Kairav ki wife ke liye roke mein dene ke liye koi gift nahi laaya hai. Isliye main bahar ja raha hun, gift leke directly Goenka house chala jaunga. Abhimanyu se address le liya hai.

Maine tumhare aaj ke liye kapde right wale cupboard mein rakha tha. Pehen lena. Aur mujhe zyada miss maat karna.

See you soon, I love you ♥

Naina chuckled seeing his note, and kissed her phone. She immediately ran to the cupboard and found a very beautiful sky blue and golden silk saree. The body was plain with golden zari polka dots, and the embroidery was finely done with golden zari thread. The blouse had a similar embroidery borders and the body was golden zari thread floral design.

Another box was kept near the saree packet, which had matching jewellery. A kundan necklace set with dark green, baby pink beads, and sky blue drop beads. A packet of sky blue and golden bangles was kept alongside of the jewellery set box.

Within 30-45 minutes, Naina was ready. She had draped the saree beautifully, and had left her hair open with middle partition, and two thin section of hair from either side rolled and pinned above her earlobes. Her makeup was minimal, she had applied a light brown shade lipstick with a stroke of eyeliner and kajal. She had stuck a golden hindi in between her brows, and filled her hairline with sindoor.

She was adjusting her mangalsutra when Mahima walked in. Naina was confused seeing her in the room. But she didn't show it on her face. She passed a smile to her, and greeted her.

Naina: Good morning Mrs. Birla.

Mahima: Good morning Naina. Aur please mujhe Manjiri ki tarah Aunty bulao. Mrs. Birla bahut formal ho ja raha hai.

Naina gave a forced smile to her, somewhere she knew Mahima wae being sweet as she needs something from her. Or maybe something from her husband.

Naina: Aap yahan, kuch kaam tha aapko?

Mahima: Actually main puchne aayi thi ki Sameer kahan hai? I mean woh kahin dikh nahi raha hai. Upar se kal he was very devastated when he came home.

Naina: Oh, that's so sweet of you Mrs. Birla, I mean Aunty. Aap mere husband ke baare mein concerned hai. Sunke accha laga. Well, woh bahar gaye hai kuch kaam se. Goenka house directly pahunch jayenge for the function.

Mahima: Oh! That's nice. Actually let me be honest Naina. Tumhe malum hai ki hum humari hospital ki ek chain Pune mein khol rahe hai. Jisko Abhimanyu operate karega wahan se. And you for that we need capital. Ab yahan Udaipur ya Rajasthan ke kisi ek jagah par karna hota toh hum kar lete hai. But this is about in another state. So, main, Anand, aur Harsh soch rahe the ki agar Sameer , uske Dada ji aur uske Dad agar hospital par invest karte toh.......Agar tum unhe convince karo. Akhir tumhara bhi kuch inclusion hoga business mein.

And Naina knew it! She knew it Mahima was here for no pep talk, but for business talk. Naina took a deep breath and looked at Mahima.

Naina: Mrs. Birla, firstly main business mein involved nahi hun for the time being. Secondly, maine aaj tak apne husband se unke kaam se related kisi bhi matter mein intrude nahi kiya hai. Yes, I would love if Sameer would invest and help. Main unse baat karungi. But guarantee nahi de sakti.

Akshara: Naina sahi keh rahi hai Taiji!

Naina and Mahima turned towards the door, to find Akshara, Manjiri and Abhimanyu standing there.

Manjiri: Haan didi, aap aisse kaise Naina ko akela paake usse business ki baatein kar rahi hai. Yeh galat hai.

Mahima: Tum mujhe galat sahi ka paath maat sikhao Manjiri. Aur maine kuch galat nahi kaha. Khair, whatever!

Mahima left the room with an irritated face. Naina felt bad realising that Abhimanyu, Akshara and Manjiri heard what she said to Mahima.

Naina: Akshu, Aunty ji, Abhimanyu, main......meri baat ka bura maat maniyega. Main aur Sameer bahut khush honge aapke saath judke. But yeh decision unka, Dadaji aur Papa ji ka hoga.

Abhimanyu: Naina, hume aapki baat ko bilkul bura nahi laga. Itne saal se main hospital mein hun, maine dekha hai investors ko. Deal ki hai maine aisse situation.

Akshara: Haan Naina. Aur chahe Abhi aur Sameer ke beech business ho ya na ho. Hum saath time spend karenge. Dosti rahegi humari!

Manjiri: Aur beta, mujhe bahut accha laga jis tarike se tumne didi ko jawab diya. Bilkul sahi kiya tumne. Kaam aur rishton ko alag rakhna chahiye. Agar mil gaye, aur kisi ek ore se thodi si gadbadi huyi, toh dusra bhi gadbada jayega.

Naina: Ji Aunty.

Manjiri: Dekho baaton baaton mein yahan kyun aaye the yeh bhul hi gaye hum. Sameer nahi hai, isliye hum tumhe humare saath car mein aane ke liye bulane aaye the.

Naina: Mera hogaya hai Aunty, bas phone lena baaki hai.

After checking on everything for the last time, four of them left for Goenka house.