Poonam and Devang stood in the middle of the living room and said: Humne ek faisla liya hai

Hearing them say that, everybody else's throat dried and numerous thoughts started running. Devang and Poonam looked at each other, and with deep breath decided to speak their mind.

Devang: Jaisa ki aap sab jaante hai, main apni bacchi, meri Pari ke bina nahi reh sakta. Usko meri aur mujhe uski zaroorat hai. Aur yahan rehte huye, woh zaroorat puri ho toh jaati par uska mann udaas hi rehta kyunki yahan sab usko apna nahi maante. Isiliye maine socha tha ki main aur meri beti kal hi Udaipur ke liye nikal jayenge.

Naina and Sameer's heart dropped at Devang's decision. Before anyone could react, they heard Poonam speaking.

Poonam: Mujhe Devang ka iss ghar mein rehne se ya Pari ka iss ghar mein rehne koi problem nahi hai. Na hi mujhe Devang aur Pari ke saath rehne se problem tha. Asli problem toh yeh thi ki main Devang ki biwi banke soch rahi thi, woh biwi jisko usne 10 saal pehle apne ghar mein chod ke chala gaya, bina soche ki uska kaisa khyaal rakha jayega iss ghar mein. Main apne bacche aur parivaar khone ke dukh mein Devang se uska parivaar, aur uski beti chinh rahi thi......Galti kuch meri bhi thi aur kuch Devang ki bhi. Main nahi chahti ki Pari ab Devang se dur rahe. Par.....main yeh bhi nahi chahti ki main Devang se dur rahun.

Devang: Isliye Udaipur sirf main aur Pari nahi ja rahe hai. Main, Poonam aur Pari, hum teeno Udaipur ja rahe hai.

Everyone gasped at hearing Devang. Happiness surged into Vivek, Jaiprakash, Sameer, and Naina's heart, but sadness also followed. Naina stepped forward with teary eyes, with Sameer behind her with clogged throat and burning eyes which threatened to leak the unshed droplets of sorrow.

Naina: Par bhaiya, agar aap teeno saath hi rehne wale hai toh yahan kyun nahi?

Sameer: Haan bhaiya! Parivaar mein toh sab saath rehte hai na.

Devang came forward and held of their faces in his palm, and gave a small smile.

Devang: Parivaar saath rehte hai, par yeh zaroori toh nahi ki paas bhi rahe. Naina bhi toh apne Papa, Chacha Chachi, Tauji Taiji, apne bhai bhabhi aur choti behen se alag yahan reh rahi hai na.

Poonam: Sach kahun toh iss ghar ka kona kona mujhe mere dard ka yaad dilata hai. Jo 10 saal mein maine bhoga hai uska jeeta jaagtta saboot hai yeh ghar aur iski deewaare. Aur mujhe nahi lagta ki iss chatt ke neeche main aur Devang kabhi khush reh payenge. Bina unn kadwi yaadon ke. At least abhi ke liye toh nahi reh payenge.

Devang: Naina! Sameer! Main janta hun tum dono ko bahut taklif ho rahi hai humara decision sun kar. Par bacche.....Hum dono ke paas iss option ke alawa kuch nahi hai.

Jaiprakash: Sameer! Naina! Beta! Devang aur Poonam ne sahi faisla kiya hai. Jis ghar aur shehar ne inke rishte ka kaatal kiya hai, wahan rehna bahut muskil hoga. Har pal athith ke andhere inhe kaatne ko daurenge. Ek baar inke beech sab pehle jaisa ho jaaye, phir dekhenge. Hmm?

Devang: Naina! Tumne meri bacchi ke liye jo bhi kiya hai, uske liye bahut bada wala thank you. Jab main usse dur tha tum uske paas thi, usko meri kami mehsoos hone nahi diya. Usko bataya ki ek Maa ke pyaar mein kitna sukoon hota hai. Thank you so much. And i am sorry. Tum nayi naveli dulhan ho, shaadi ko bas ek hi mahina hua hai aur tumhe yeh sab dekhna pada. Apne naye parivaar ko acche se jaan nahi payi, apne pati ke saath sukoon se waqt nahi guzaar payi.

Naina: Bhaiya! Maafi ki koi baat nahi hai, so please sorry maat kahiye. Parivaar hai hum, aur parivaar mein sab saath milkar hi bure waqt se nikalte hai.

Sameer: Aap teeno khush raho ek saath, hume bas itna hi chahiye.

Jaiprakash: Tum dono ab akele nahi ho. Ek bacchi bhi saath hai, ab se jo bhi faisla lena, usko nazar mein rakh kar lena. Hmm?

Devang and Poonam nodded their heads. Kamlesh and Prabha were glad that their children were taking steps towards their happy future.

Kamlesh: Devang, agar tere Udaipur wale ghar mein do kamre khali ho, toh main, Prabha aur Vishakha bhi tum dono ke saath chalenge.

Vishakha, who hadn't expected this, looked at Kamlesh with wide eyes and fisted her palm tightly to control her anger.

Devang got excited to hear his father, and said: Khali hai na Dad.

Jaiprakash: Tum teeno jaana chahte ho toh jao. Par....Devang, Poonam aur Pari.....

Prabha: Jaiprakash Uncle main samjh sakti hun aap kya kehna chahte hai. Par 10 saal alag alag rehne ke baad, ab aur alag nahi raha jayega hum se. Inn 10 saal mein jo galat hua hai, usko sahi karna hai hume.

Kamlesh: Uncle......Yun toh Vishakha iss ghar ki bahu hai, kayde se usko yahan rehna chahiye. Par.....uska iss ghar se sirf naam ka rishta hai jiske wajah se main usko humare saath le jaana chahta hun.

Vishakha wanted to speak something, to protest Kamlesh's decision, but he held her hand tightly and signalled her not to open her mouth.

Prabha: Vivek, aapko koi aitraaz nahi hai right?

Vivek: Mujhe kya aitraaz hoga. Humare beech agar kuch hota agar tab hi mujhe kuch taklif hoti. Par jab humare beech kuch hai hi nahi, aur na hi aapki Vishakha ne mere parivaar ko khush karne ke liye kuch kiya hai, toh uske yahan rehne aur na rehne mein koi farq nahi hai. Maine bas Vaishali ke khatir ab tak inhe yahan rakha hai.

Vishakha: Ab tak nahi kiya lekin ab toh kar sakti hun na.

Vivek: Bahut der hogayi hai Vishakha....Maine sirf Vaishali ke waade ke wajah se tumhe divorce nahi diya. Warna tumhara aur mera rishta ussi din khatam hogaya hota jiss din tumne mere bacche ke saath badsulukhi ki thi.

Kamlesh: Vishakha apna saaman bandhna shuru kar lo.

Kamlesh and Prabha went towards their room, and dragged Vishakha along with them. Samaina, Poonam, and Devang's eyes followed the trio and Vivek and Jaiprakash sat down on the couch to read their newspapers.

Naina: Amm, Dadaji aap nashte mein kya khana pasand karenge?

Jaiprakash: Beta, kuch bhi bana le apne pasand ka. Par dopahar ko kuch meetha zaroor banana. Finally jo hum sab chahte the woh hone ja raha hai.

Naina smiled and nodded her head. When Naina was heading towards the kitchen, Poonam followed her into the kitchen.

Poonam: Naina! Kya banane ka socha hai? Main madad kar leti hun.

Naina: Bhabhi, aap packing par concentrate kijiye. Main kitchen dekh lungi. Ab se aap bas apne, Bhaiya pe aur humari Pari par dhyaan dijiye.

Poonam smiled at her and held her hand. She looked at their joined hands, and gathered courage to speak to Naina.

Poonam: Mujhe maaf kar do Naina. Maine tumse bahut badtameezi ki hai. Tum mujhe samjhna chahti thi aur main thi ki tum par gussa kar rahi thi aur tumhe na jaane kya kya keh diya.

Naina smiled and held Poonam's face in her palm. She lifted Poonam's face and wiped the tears resting on her cheekbones.

Naina: Bhabhi! Main aapse naraz thodi hun jo aap mujhse maafi mang rahi hai. Mujhe aapke kisi bhi kahi baat ka koi bura nahi laga. Haan ek cheez ka bura laga tha aur woh bas aapka Pari ke saath behavior par laga tha. But woh bhi justified hai kyunki aapke liye unexpected tha woh. Aur aap bas apni feelings bayan kar rahi thi. Aapke jagah shayad koi aur hota toh woh bhi hum logon ke saath aissa hi behave karti.

Poonam: Tum bahut accchi ho aur humare Sameer ke liye ekdum perfect ho. Bilkul uski tarah soft hearted ho.

Naina: Aur aap Devang bhaiya jaisi. Strong and kind. Mujhe pata hai ki Pari ko apnana muskil hoga par woh bacchi aapke liye sab kuch asaan kar degi.

Poonam: Maloom hai. Kal jab main uske paas gayi, usse baat ki, usse maafi mangi toh jhat se usne mujhe maaf kar diya.

Naina: Dekha kaha tha na maine aapko! Ab aap jao aur uske bonding kijiye aur apni packing bhi. Main yahan sambhal lungi.

Poonam nodded and left. Naina smiled at Poonam's retreating figure and silently thanked God to bring this joyous day into their lives.

Like the blink of eyes, the day passed and the next morning came with heaviness in everyone's hearts. Jaiprakash, Vivek, Sameer, and Naina were heavy hearted due to the loss of the chirpy and lively presence of Pari at their home, but they were also happy due to reconciliation of Devang and Poonam along with Kamlesh and Prabha.

Naina: Pari! Aap apni Pretty Chachi ko bhul toh nahi jaoge na?

Pari shook her head vigorously and replied: Never! Pari apni Pretty Chachi ko kabhi nahi forget karegi. Aap best ho! Aapne mujhe kitna saara love kiya aur kitne baar tasty tasty food diya hai. Main aapko bahut love karti hun.

Jaiprakash/Vivek/Sameer: Aur hume?

Pari giggled and replied: Aapko bhi!

Sameer: Pari! Princess! Aapko jab bhi humari yaad aaye, ek call karna. Hum aa jayenge. Hmm?

Pari: Yess! Hum everyday photo wala call karenge. Okay?

Jaiprakash: Pakka!

Vivek: Devang! Beta apna aur humari dono bacchiyon ka khayal rakhna.
(To Kamlesh and Prabha) Aap dono bhi apna aur sab ka khayal rakhna. Jab kabhi kuch zaroorat ho toh batana.

Everyone nodded, and started dispersing as the time for their flight was approaching. Seeing Pari leave, Naina's eyes moistened, and seeing her glistening eyes, Sameer took her in his arms. She hid her face in his torso and let few of her tears roll down her cheeks.

Vishakha looked back at the house and the Maheshwari family with burning heart.

Vishakha (to herself): Abhi toh ja rahi hun! Par jald wapis aaungi aur apne saath aissa toofan laungi ki tum chaaron sambhal nahi paoge! Just wait and watch!

Three months passed like a gush of wind. In these three months, Naina's bond with Jaiprakash, Vivek, and Ramdhari strengthened and the romance between Samaina got intensed. Though they never crossed beyond kisses, but the love and respect for each other increased. In these three months, Sameer's bond with his in-laws also got strengthened and he became a part of the Naina and Rakesh's sunday outings. The carrom games between the four Maheshwari became a regular affair and Vivek was successful in teaching Naina to drive a car. The equation between Devang, Poonam, Pari, Kamlesh, and Prabha improved with Vishakha being a silent spectator. Pari was connected with her favorite people in Mumbai through regular video calls and celebrated virtual diwali, karwachauth, Christmas, and New Year with them.

It was a regular Wednesday morning at Maheshwari House, Naina was busy preparing the lunch for Jaiprakash and her, as he was at home today. While Naina was checking on the dal, her phone rang. Wiping her hands with the towel near her, she lifted her phone to find Sameer calling her.

Naina: Hello......Jaan

Sameer: Haayeeeee! Meri jaan hi le logi kya meri jaan!

Naina giggled and connected her airpodes with her phone to work hassle-free.

Sameer: Waise.....Kya kar rahi ho?

Naina: Lunch bana rahi thi apne aur Dadaji ke liye. Aap ka kya haal hai? Subah wali meeting hogayi na sahi se?

Sameer: Haan hogayi! Aur acchi kaise nahi hoti? Meri jaan ne itna accha all the best jo bola tha subah. Ya yun kahun ki itna soft aur sweet all the best diya tha.

Naina's cheek and neck got heated up remembering the long and passionate kiss that they had at the same spot in the morning. What happened was, Sameer had a meeting with a foreign client who was avoiding Sameer's emails and calls repetitively, because the client was delaying in giving the payment. So this stressed out Sameer, and Naina wasn't able to see him so stressed. So when Sameer came into the kitchen to say bye to Naina before leaving, Naina grabbed his collar and gave him a long and passionate kiss.

Naina: Dhatt! Bahut besharm hogaye hai aap!

Sameer: Arre! Main toh subah ke suji ka halwa ke baare mein bol raha tha. Tum bhi na! Khud dirty minded ho aur bol mujhe rahi ho.....

Naina started stammering and was unable to reply back. Sameer laughed loudly and this mortified Naina.

Sameer: Waise main ussi all the best ke baare mein bol raha tha jo tum soch rahi thi.....Bas tumhe chedh raha tha....

Naina: Aap na! Aap aayiye ghar! Aapko batati hun.....

Sameer: Accha! Toh abhi bata do!

Listening an echo of his voice, Naina turned around to find Sameer standing at the threshold of kitchen. He smiled at her and waved his phone. Naina shook her head in disbelief but soon chuckled. She walked to him and hugged him tightly. Sameer ruffled her hair and kissed her head.

Naina: Aapne bataya kyun nahi ki aap aaj jaldi aane wale hai.

Sameer: Batata toh mujhe yeh tight hug kaise milta? Hmm?

Naina tightened her grip on him and kissed his torso. Sameer kept his chin on her head and closed his eyes to soak in his wife's warmth and presence. Hugging Naina had become the only way to relieve his stress. When the pressure cooker whistled, Naina detached herself and walked to the stove.

Naina: Aap jaldi se fresh ho jayiye, main extra chawl baitha deti hun aapke liye. Accha hua maine aaj aapko tiffin nahi diya, warna waste ho jaata.

Sameer: Aye aye Captain!

Naina chuckled and pushed him out of the kitchen. She quickly cooked rice for him, and simultaneously finished the vegetable curry, chapatis, and raita.

Jaiprakash: Arre Sameer! Jaldi aagaya!

When Jaiprakash entered the dining area, he found Sameer helping Naina in setting the table. He patted Sameer's shoulder and sat on the head's chair.

Jaiprakash: Accha kiya jo jaldi aagaya. Thoda aaram karke niklega toh accha rahega. Waise Sreeja ka phone aaya tha mujhe, tune itni late night wali flight kyun book ki. London pahunchte pahuchte wahan ke 7 baj jayenge. Meetings bhi scheduled hai, aaram kab karega beta!?

Naina's hands halted hearing to Jaiprakash. She looked at Sameer and found him not meeting her gaze. Her heart twitched at the fact that he hid this from her. He is leaving for London tonight and she doesn't know about it.

Jaiprakash: Naina! Beta, tu iski packing check kar lena. Maine temperature check kiya tha wahan ka, kaafi low hai. Acche se jackets aur sweaters dal dena beta. Ek do din ki baat hoti toh chalta, 10 din bahut lamba time hota hai.

Naina felt the ground beneath her feet slipping and tears pooling her eyes. She felt betrayed and her appetite was lost. She doesn't know how and what she served to the three of them, and how she gulped all food. Somehow she finished her lunch, and went to their room.

Naina sat on the swing in their balcony, and looked outside at the streets of Juhu. Her eyes were brimming with tears and she felt betrayed and defeated. Sameer who was already guilty about not telling Naina about this sudden trip, was feeling more guilty hearing her sniffing. At the lunch table, when he tried holding her hand under the table, she didn't let him do that, and didn't look at him also. He walked to her, and kept his palm on her shoulder.

Naina had sensed Sameer the moment he stepped in. His touched made her more sad and she cried loudly.

Naina: Aap isliye jaldi aaye kyunki aapko London jaana tha!

Sameer: Nai.......

Naina: Aapne mujhe batana bhi zaroori nahi samjha? Kya main aapki kuch bhi nahi lagti? Aap aaj raat ki flight se ja rahe ho woh bhi 10 din ke liye. Agar dadaji nahi batate toh mujhe pata bhi nahi lagta. Aapne aissa kyun kiya Meer?

Sameer: Sudden plan bana Jaan. Isliye maine ghar aake lunch ke baad batane ka socha tha. Phone par yeh batana sahi nahi laga mujhe.

Naina: Par aap 10 din ke liye ja rahe ho.....

And Naina's voice cracked. More tears started running down her cheeks and her nose watered. Her face had become full red and her baby hair stuck to her face due to the tears and running nose. Sameer's heart broke at this sight. He immediately sat next to her, hugged her and made her sit on his lap. She dug her face in his torso and sobbed.

Sameer: Mera baccha! Main.....main nahi janta tha ki yeh sudden trip 10 din ka hoga. London ka jo client hai woh ek naya tender sign karna chahta hai aur usne apne saare vendors and client companies ko bulaya hai. Pure 10 din meetings hi scheduled hai aur pata nahi kitne lambe chalenge isliye tumhe nahi le raha hun. Warna tum pakka chalti mere saath.

Naina hiccuped and with her face still dug in his torso, she replied in a muffled voice.

Naina: Par....par main 10 din aapke bina kaise rahungi? Kal Papa ji bhi bata rahe the ki woh aur Dadaji Bua dadiji ke paas jayenge parso. 3-4 mahine ke liye.

Sameer: Mera baccha toh tum Papaji ke paas chali jaana na. Bahut din hogaye tum unke paas nahi ruki ho.

Naina pouted and shook her head in NO. She looked at him with teary and puffed eyes.

Naina: Mujhe aapki yaad aayegi phir bhi. Mujhe aapko hug karke sone ki, aur aapko hug karke uthne ki aadat lag gayi hai.

And she cried more. Never in her life Naina felt this heartbroken. She had become very much attached to Sameer. Hugging, cuddling, talking to, and physical touches with Sameer had become a part of her daily life and not being able to see and touch him for 10 days made her head go round and round. Sameer's heart felt like bursting in pain seeing tears in his Naina's eyes. That too due to him.

Sameer: Accha thik hai. Main Sreeja se baat karta hun. Usko bolta hun ki woh client se baat kar le ki main yahan se meeting mein part lunga. Tum rona bandh kar lo.

He wiped her face with his T-shirt and pushed back her hair back with his palm. He kissed her face and made her face rest on his torso. Naina had stopped sobbing but still held him in her arms.

Naina: Aap jao! Apna kaam finish karke aao. Main aapke kaam mein obstacle nahi banna chahti......

Sameer: Baccha I can......

Naina: Nahi! Aap jao. But jaldi aana! 10 din se adha din bhi zyada nahi! Bahut muskil se maine khudko manaya hai!

Sameer: Yes! Main 10 din se ek ghanta zyada nahi lagaunga!

Naina raised her palm in front of him and asked: Promise?

Sameer put his palm on top of her's and said: Pakka promise!

Naina snuggled up to him and spent as much time in her husband's lap as possible. She didn't realize when her eyes drooped and she fell asleep in his arms. Sameer kissed her forehead and held her in his arms.

It was very heart wrenching for him, to leave his wife in Mumbai. But the circumstances was making him go, he kept looking at the puffed and red face of his wife. He tried to capture as much of her as possible, as he knew the upcoming 10 days are going to be really tough for both of them.

When Naina's eyes opened, she found herself on their bed, and Sameer running around the room finding something. She sat on the bed and looked at him.

Naina: Aap dhoondh kya rahe ho?

Sameer: Woh.....sweaters dal raha hun bag mein. Space le raha hai zyada toh isliye kuch kapde kam kar raha tha.

Naina took few seconds to understand what he was saying, and reality struck her soon. Her eyes pooled up once again, but she composed herself and stepped down to help him.

She packed his bag properly with all of this warm clothes, business suits, shirts, trousers, ties, pyjama, toiletries, and other essentials.

Naina: Aap ek baar phir check kar lo. Main dinner ka dekh kar aati hun.

Before Sameer could say anything, Naina ran away. He knew Naina was trying to avoid him so that he wouldn't be able to see her pale and unhappy face. He sighed and sat on the ottoman. He rubbed his face and looked around the room.

It was not the first time he was leaving for a meeting, abroad, but this time was different. Earlier, whenever he went outstation, he didn't feel a pull towards his bedroom or his home. But this time, each and every corner of their bedroom was telling him that he isn't alone anymore, he has his special someone, who has captured his heart and made her own and special space in his home and life. The dressing table which had only his perfume and comb on it was filled with different types of bottles of skincare and different colors of perfume and body spray. The empty drawer of the dressing table was filled with hair clips, hair ties, scrunchies, bindi packets, makeup boxes, nail paints, lipsticks, earring boxes, bangle boxes, and other feminine things. The empty space in his wardrobe was accommodated with her sarees, suits, night suits and kurtas. The shoe rack was now divided into two parts, one with his shoes and one with her shoes. The room no longer smelled musky, rather it had a softer fragrance. The room was filled with the intoxicating fragrance of vanilla and lavender.

His eyes fell on a dark green dupatta peeking out of the wardrobe door. He opened the wardrobe and found Naina's dark green bandhani fallen off the hanger. He was about to put it back when his hands stopped. He rather put it inside his laptop bag. Being miles away, he would need something to make him feel her presence near him, and let him miss her a little less.

On the other hand, Naina went to Vivek's room rather than the kitchen as she wanted to cry freely in front of her second father.

Vivek was aware that Naina wasn't notified earlier, about Sameer's sudden trip to London. He had already anticipated Naina's condition and when she knocked on his door, his anticipation turned into reality. Naina sulked and entered inside her father in-law's room.

Naina: Mujhe aapse aapke bete ki shikayat karni hai Papaji!

Vivek opened his arms and signalled her to come near him. Naina ran and sat near his feet, she kept her head on his lap and started sobbing. These three months turned their relationship from a father in law and daughter in law to a father and daughter. Naina treated Vivek and Rakesh equally, and claimed her right on Vivek just like his own daughter.

Naina: Woh bahut bure hai! Unhone mujhe bataya bhi nahi ki woh ja rahe hai itne dino ke liye. London kitna dur hai aur time difference bhi toh hai. Humari baatein bhi nahi ho payenge thik se.

Vivek caressed her head and silently heard her sobs and rants. He knew that Naina needs to let everything out so that she can gather the courage to live without Sameer for the upcoming 10 days.

After crying for more 10 minutes, Naina stopped herself and lifted her head. Vivek gave a comforting smile to her and wiped her tears. He planted loving kiss on her forehead and patted her cheeks.

Vivek: Ja! Sameer ke paas ja. Thodi der mein nikal jayega. Ramdhari ne khana bana liya hai. Tu uski tension maat lena.

Naina nodded her head and went towards their room. She found Sameer picking up the selected clothes for his flight, and ran to him. Sameer looked up when he heard her footsteps and dropped the clothes so that he can hold his wife in his arms. She inhaled his musky and minty fragrance and tightened her grip on him. Sameer's fingers weaved through her hair and was giving a comforting massage.

Naina: Aap ja rahe ho.....raat ko mere baal koun banayega?

Sameer: Main video call kar lunga, tum baal bana lena. Lagega ki main hi bana raha hun.

Naina: Aap ja rahe ho.....mujhe goodnight hug aur kiss koun dega?

Sameer: Same solution! Video call pe virtual hug and kiss de dunga. Phir jab wapis aaunga tab sab compensate kar lunga.

Naina: Aap ja rahe ho......mujhe khali pet chai peene se koun rokega?

Sameer chuchkled and replied: Tumhare phone par reminder laga diya hai 10 din ke liye. Tumhare chai peene ke time se adha ghante pehle bajega.

Naina: Aap ja rahe ho.....mujhe carrom mein jeetne koun dega?

Sameer: Dadu hai na.

Naina: Aap ja rahe ho......

Sameer: Jaan! Main humesha hun tumhare paas. Ek call karna aur main haazir ho jaunga. Tumhe jab bhi meri yaad aaye mujhe video call kar lena. Main tumhare phone ka intezaar karta rahunga.

Naina: Par aap meeting mein hoge na. Ya so rahe hoge. Ya bathroom mein hoge. Kisi client ke saath ho sakte ho. Aisse thodi jab mann kare main aapko phone kar paungi.

Sameer: Kar sakti ho! Tum meri jaan ho! Meri jahaan ho! Meri wife ho! Meri life ho! Tum aur tumse judi har baat top most priority hai mere liye. Clients, meetings, ya kuch bhi can wait. But you shouldn't!

Naina looked up and deep into his eyes. His eyes spoke the deep volume of his love, care, respect, and a hint of sadness due to the upcoming separation. Naina held his face and brought it closer to her's. She kissed his whole face and brought it closer to her chest. She dropped kisses on his head and rest her head against his. Sameer kissed her shoulder and played with her waist long silky dark tresses.

Naina: I will miss you so much Meer!

Sameer: I will miss you too Jaan! I will miss you alot!

He lifted his head from her chest, and held her hand. He walked her to the bed and sat with his back against the headboard, and legs stretched out. He made Naina sit on his lap sidewise, and she leaned on him. She rested her head on his torso, against the place under which his heart was beating softly.

Naina: Aapne sahi se packing kar li hai na? Sweater, jackets, gloves, wollen cap, scarfs, socks, sab le liya hai na? Maine dhyaan hi nahi diya tha ki kya kya aapke bag mein dala tha.

Sameer: Haan meri jaan! Maine sab check kar liya tha.

Naina: Aap wahan zyada der bahar, khuli hawa mein maat rehna. Thand lag jayegi aur garam paani se hi nahana. Khana bhi time se khana. Apna pura khyal rakhna. Maine mere husband jaisa bheja hai, waise hi wapas aana chahiye. Thik hai?

Sameer: Promise! Tum bhi apna acche se khayal rakhna, aur jab bhi meri zaroorat pade ya meri yaad aaye mujhe call kar lena. Sochne maat lag jaana ki busy hunga main.

Naina: Aap bhi! Aap time maat dekhna mujhe call kar lena. Main pura time aapke call ka wait karungi.

Sameer: Accha yeh batao ki London se kya laun main apni Jaan ke liye?

Naina: Bas uski jaan ko wapis 10 din mein le aana. Mujhe aur kuch nahi chahiye.

Sameer: Par....

Naina: Nahiii! Ssshhh!

She wrapped her arms around his torso, and closed eyes for sometime. Sameer weaved his finger through her hair and caressed her face with the other hand's fingers.

Naina: Aapki bahut yaad aayegi Meer. Inn 4 mahino mein aap meri aadat nahi meri zaroorat bangaye. Jab tak aapka sota hua masoom sa chehra na dekh lun, din shuru hi nahi hota. Aapki raat wali champi toh meri favorite bangayi hai. Sukoon ki neend aati uske baad aur jab aap mujhe kaske gaale lagake sula dete ho.

Sameer: Mujhe bhi tum bahut bahut bahut yaad aane wali ho. Meri monochromatic life mein rainbow colors bhar di ho tum. Kahan yeh kamra sirf 3-4 color janta tha aur ab dekho! Tarah tarah ke colors hai aur kitni tarah ki cheezein. Dressing table hi dekh lo. Bhar gaya hai tumhare skincare aur perfumes hai. Aur bathroom ki self mein pehle ek bodywash aur facewash tha. Ab kitna kuch hai wahan. Sach Naina! Tum meri life ki sabse best decision ho.

He kissed her crown and lifted her face so that he could see it. But he didn't remove her face from his torso. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. Naina rubbed his cheeks with her thumb and looked towards his partly dried lips.

Sameer understood what she wants, and leaned on her. He took her lips with his, and started slowly moving his lips. Naina reciprocated the same, and started syncing with him. After few seconds, their position seemed a bit uncomfortable, so Sameer made her lay down on the bed and hovered over her without breaking the contact between their lips.

Naina softly hit his chest when she felt breathless, but Sameer was determined to keep her on her toes. He began peppering kisses all over face, and trailed down towards her partly exposed cleavage. Naina's toes curled and a knot formed in her stomach. She tightly clutched his T-shirt and tried to control her moans. Sameer fingers and reached her waist through the slit of her kurta and his lips were near her ears. Before he could do anything more, somebody knocked on the door. Naina pushed him off her, and went inside the bathroom with red face, quivering lips, and wobbling feet. Sameer combed his fingers through his hair to set them at their place and opened the door to find Ramdhari.

Ramdhari: Baba! Tumhara samaan agar taiyar ho toh bata do. Giriram ko bulake gaadi mein rakhwa deta hun.

Before Sameer could reply, Naina interrupted.

Naina: Kaka uski zaroorat nahi hai. Main jaungi inhe airport chodne.

Ramdhari: Thik hai choti bahu! Main nikal raha hun, Radha akeli hai ghar par. Shravan kuch kaam se Bhiwandi gaya hai.

Naina: Thik hai Kaka.

Sameer: Naina! Main Giri bhaiya ke saath chala jaata. Tum itni raat ko......

Naina: Please Meer, mujhe aapke saath thoda aur waqt spend karna hai.

Sameer: Thik hai, jaisa tum kaho.

Naina: Aap ek kaam karo, change kar lo. Dinner karne ke baad hi nikal jayenge. International flights mein time lagta hai na immigration aur baaki sab bhi karana hota hai.

Sameer: Hmm, tum bhi change kar lo.

Naina: Ji

Finally it was time for Sameer to leave for airport, Jaiprakash and Vivek stood near the car and were giving instructions to Sameer whereas Naina was looking at her feet with moist eyes. She didn't want him to go but also wanted him achieve all of his aspirations.

Vivek: Naina! Beta, tu gaadi leke ja par Giriram peeche peeche apni bike pe aayega. Kahin kuch help agar chahiye hogi tujhe toh asaani rahegi.

Naina didn't want to debate with Vivek as she was not in a space for debating with him. She was constantly thinking about how would she survive without Sameer.

Once their ride was on the main road, Sameer held Naina's hand which was on the gear and he looked at Naina who was quietly driving.

Sameer: Naina! Aisse dukhi hoke mujhe bye bologi?

Naina: Toh kya naach naach kar aapko bhejun? London ja rahe hai woh bhi apni biwi se durr! Apne sasuraal nahi ja rahe ho jo aapko dhoom dhaam se vida karun.

Sameer: Naina!

Naina: Kya Naina? Dekhiye! Iss baar mein aapko jaane de rahi hun. But agli baar aap aissa maat karna. Please!

Sameer: Agli baar hoga hi nahi meri jaan. Kyunki aage se har trip pe tum bhi mere saath chalogi.

Naina didn't reply anything, and kept driving. She wiped the lone tear slipped out of her eyes, with her dupatta and concentrated on the road. Sameer too didn't say anything and just silently held her hand. Within 10 minute, they were in front of the terminal of Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport.

Naina: Aap apna khyal rakhna. Thik se sona, khana, aur zyada stress maat lijiyega. Mujhe phone karte rehna!

Sameer: Tum bhi! Mera phone humesha on hai tumhare liye. Papa aur Dadu ke jaate hi Papaji ke paas chali jaana.

Naina nodded, and hugged him tightly. She kissed his torso and sniffed his scent. Sameer kissed her head and hugged her back. Both of their eyes were wet with tears of separation and an anticipation of the coming 10 painful days.

Pecking her lips, and wiping her tears, Sameer left Naina and pushed the trolley with his luggage. Naina stood near the entry gate till the time Sameer was visible inside the airport premises. With every fading image of Sameer, Naina's eyes pooled up.

Naina picked up her phone and started typing a message to Sameer.

Meer, please aap apna khayal rakhna. I love you so so so much and I will miss you alot. Come home soon. Aapke bina Maheshwari Mansion mujhe sunah sunah lagega!

I would be desperately waiting for you ❤

-Your Jaan ❤

Sameer had just scanned his bag when his phone beeped. He unlocked his phone to find Naina's message.

Baccha! I love you too and I will miss you too. Tum bhi apna dhyan rakhna. Thik se khana kha lena aur bhookhi maat rehna zyada der. I will be back to you very soon.

-Your Jaan ❤

After seeing each other's message, Sameer and Naina kissed her wallpaper which contained their smiling couple picture.