If you have read my note then you would know that this is the deciding chapter. Hope you will like it! Dekhte hai kya hoga...

***

21st January 2000, Ahmedabad

"Hello? Naina? Nainaaaa", Vinod called out her name loudly to grab her attention. "Huh?", And it successfully managed to break Naina's trance. "Kahan kho gayi?".  "Kahin nahi, bas aise he", she hoped Vinod wouldn't probe further.  "Are you sure?, agar koi problem hai toh tum mujhe bata sakti ho".  "Aisa koi problem nahi hai Vinod", she lied but did not have an option as Vinod was not the right person to discuss the probpem with. "Theek hai agar tum kaho toh main chood deta hoon, but you know you can share anything with me."  "Yes Vinod."

Naina dipped her face in her hands once Vinod left the room. Though she didn't mention about the problem in front of Vinod, she had to do something to resolve the uneasiness within herself. She took the telephone in her office and called him, knowing he was the only one who could help her right now. Soon after calling him, she took her bag and left from the office.

***

Magic café, Sameer read the board. The same cafe that witness the sweet brewing of their lovable interactions.  The cafe had opened in 1994 and he had taken her during that time to have some quiet private moments away from the hustle of the city.

*

7th May 1994

"Sameer hum humare usual jagah par jaa sakte the na, yeh kahan laye ho mujhe."

"Naina usual mein kya maza, kuch alag try karna hai, issiliye yahan laya hoon. Dekho na kitna romantic hai yeh jagah."

He had pulled her hand and dragged her to a near by seat and the waiter came to collect their orders.

"Mere liye ek expresso aur tum Naina?"

Her face was blank and looked through the menu not knowing what to order.

"Two minutes", he excused from the waiter. 

"Sameer dekho na sab itna mehenga hai, ek coffee ke liye sau rupay?"

"Tum joh chahiye woh order karo, paiso ka chinta chod do."

"Par mujhe samjh mein nahi aa raha hai kya mangvau".

"Ek kaam karo tum latte try karlo. Ok?"

She nodded agreeing with him. He called the waiter again and gave their orders.

And during the waiting time, he tried to have some magical moments of his own.
Slowly he slid his hand across the table and caught her's that was resting on the table and slowly brought it towards his lips. She pulled her hand from his grip.

"Yeh kya kar rahe ho? Koi dekh lega toh?"

"Toh kya? Acche se dekho, sab lovers he hai yahan pe, toh koi humme nahi dekhega sab apne apne duniya mein mast hai."

He caught her hand again and placed a soft kiss on the back of her palm.She blushed but did not jerk her hands from his hold.

The waiter came with their orders and with one sip Naina made a face.

"Lo yeh coffee toh kadwi hai, iss keliye sau rupay."

"Toh ek chamach shakar dal do na."

"Agle baar se inn cafes par mat lana, coffee peeni hai toh main apne ghar se bana kar laati hoon tumhare liye.  Isse acchi coffee bana loongi."

"Accha aur woh kaise?"

"Mere paas joh sectet ingredient hai woh inke paas nahi hoga."

"Aur kya hai woh secret ingredient?"

"Mera pyaar", she winked and a smile bloomed on his face.

*

"Mr. Maheshwari",  she called out to him, pulling him out of their memory.  "Thank you for coming", she said nearing him. They walked over to a nearby table. "Beto", Naina said extending her hand and pointing towards the opposite bench in the café. It was an open area with tables and a big umbrella stand above each table providing shade to it's customers. The wooden round tables and chairs complimented the look of the cafe. "Tumne mujhe yahan kyu bulaya, deal ke baare mein hum office mein discuss karte hai right?", Sameer asked confused of her behavior. He received her call asking him to meet her at the cafe, stating some discussion over a clause in the document.

"Kyuki main deal ke baare mein baat karne keliye nahi bulayi."  "Toh phir?", he asked even more confused. "Kuch personal tha...", Naina said hesitantly. Sameer opened his mouth to say something but Naina gestured him to pause with her hand. "Hummare baare mein nahi", she added before he could get any other idea. "Actually main yahan Munna aur Swati ke baare mein baat karne keliye tumhe bulai".

"Oh...", Sameer said composing himself back in the seat. "Yeh jagah kaafi badal chuka hai. Cheh saal pehle yeh umbrellas sab nahi the", she said looking around the cafe. "Jab log badal sakte hai, toh cafe kyu nahi", he earned a glare from her for saying such a sentence. "Anyways", Naina came to the topic. "Maine notice kiya kaise Munna, Swati ka naam sunte he udaas ho gaya. Aur Swati bhi shayad Munna ko miss kar rahi hai. Joh bhi hua usme Munna aur Swati ki koi galti nahi thi, issiliye mujhe laga ki..."   "Ki main tumhari madad kar paunga unn dono ko milane, haina?". 

She stared at him with wide eyes for a second before saying "Haan... haan tum samajh rahe ho na." He still understands what you want to say. "Haan par Naina..."  "Sameer please main sirf Swati aur Munna keliye aayi hoon, koi aur discussion nahi." Damn it! She still knows what I want to say.

"Ok fine bolo kya socha hai tumne, kya hai tumhara idea", he placed his hands on the table and leaned forward. "Tumhe kaise pata ki maine kuch soch rakha hai?"  "Main jaanta hoon, agar tumhe koi cheez pareshan karti hai toh poori raat uske baare mein soch soch kar koi hal toh nikal he dogi. Bas agar aisa do saal pehle bhi kiya hota toh..."  Naina raised an eyebrow in response and Sameer rolled his eyes. "Anyways, maine socha ki agar hum Swati ko humare brand ambassador bana de toh..."  "Toh isse kya hoga?".  Sighing Naina tried to explain, "Samjho na, Swati humare brand keliye modelling karegi aur Munna toh already is merger mein involved hai toh unn dono ko milne ka mauka baar baar aayega. Aur isme humara bhi faida hai. Brand keliye ek face bhi mil jayegi aur promotion bhi ho jayega. What do you say?"  "Hmm manna padega, nice idea".

Just then the waiter came to take the order. "Ek expresso aur ek latte. Aur haan latte mein extra 1 spoon sugar daal degiyega", Sameer completed the order and turned towards Naina. "Abhi bhi extra sugar leti ho na." She just closed her eyes for a brief period and nodded slightly in response. "Thats all", he told the waiter and the waiter left to bring their order.

"Toh kab baat kar rahi ho Swati se, aur Munna ko bataye ya nah.....", he trailed off seeing Naina not listening to him but lost in thoughts seeing something that was behind him. Her lips formed a small smile and he turned his neck to see what she was smiling at and there he saw a couple eatting ice cream from one cup. The girl was eating and the boy was trying to snatch it away from her and in between they were smiling and laughing. Sameer looked back at Naina and she was still lost but the smile had become bigger this time. Unknowingly a smile formed on his face as he too shared a similar thought.

*

5th july 1996

"Sameer apne cone se khao na, mere ice cream par nazar matt dalo."

"Par mujhe yahi chahiye."

"Chocolate ice cream itna he pasand tha toh khud manga lete... Tumhara butterscotch bechara phigal raha hai."

"Toh pigalne do... mujhe toh bas tumhara ice cream khana hai..."

"Sameer agar dobara mere ice cream ko haath lagaya na...toh...."

"Toh?"

"Toh..."

"Toh kya Naina?"

"Yeh kya kar rahe ho.... Sameerrrr...."

He gently caressed her hand with his knuckles and her hold over her ice cream loosened and then drop, her ice cream fell to the ground.

"Dekha gira diya na tumne mera ice cream."

"Arre maine kya kiya?"

"Kisne kaha tumhe itne... itne paas aane ko"

"Kyu mere paas aane se kya hota."

"Sameer please na..."

"Bolo na Naina...."

"Sameer jaooo....", she pushed him as he started to lean closer to her. The push caused him to drop his ice cream too.

"Dekho ab tumne mera ice cream gira diya."

"Isse karma kehte hai Sameer Maheshwari"

"Koi baat nahi mere paas toh doosra ice cream hai woh bhi bada wala".

"Kahan?"

"Tum ho na meri ice cream... bolo na Naina... tumhe kha loon?"

"Sameer yeh kya kar rahe ho...sameer chodo na mujhe..."

He tickled her till he heard her laugh. But somehow she managed to break free from his hold and ran around.

"Jab tak main apne ice cream kha nahi leta tab tak nahi chodunga."

He ran behind her.

"Sameer woh dekho kya hai..."

"Kya...Aree Naina... yahan aao"

"Nahi"

"Nainaaaa"

*

Both Sameer and Naina broke into laughter thinking about their shared experience. But when they faced each other, their laughter died in their throat as rusty memories took a toll on their moment. As their eyes locked, it turned misty remembering the separation between them. Sameer slowly extended his hand, in an attempt to catch her's, to feel their warmth once again. But she was quick enough to pull it back and wiped the tear that threatened to fall from her eyes.

The waiter arrived with their orders and placed them on the table. They sipped their coffee in silence, but their eyes peeked at the other at irregular intervals. Finishing her coffee, she said "Main kal Swati se baat kar loongi aur ahmm... tum yeh baat abhi Munna ko mat batana, main bhi Swati se kuch nahi bolungi warna mujhe nahi lagta woh manegi." He nodded, upset with the awkwardness that popped into their relationship. "Main ab chalti hoon", she hung her bag around her shoulder and left the table. He suddenly stood up from his chair and went behind her, increasing the pace of his walk to catch up to her. "Main tumhe chod deta hoon", he said once he caught up. "Koi zaroorat nahi, main auto se chali jaungi".  "Iss waqt nahi milega yahan. Main bol raha hoon na, chod dera hoon tumhe."  "Do saal pehle chod diya na woh kaafi hai mere liye."  She walked away from him and stood at a distance. But he wasn't going stop. He knew very well that auto will not pass by easily in this part of the city. "Theek hai zid mein raho, jab auto nahi milege toh bata dena main drop kar doonga".

It had been ten minutes since her argument with Sameer and there were no sign of any auto. She decided to wait for another five minutes before approaching him. But even after ten minutes there wasn't any auto to be found. "Agar tumhe yahin rehna hai toh main rukne nahi wala, mujhe office mein kaam hai, jaa raha hoon. Bye", he started to move towards his car but stopped upon hearing her voice. "Suno, main... woh... mujhe... main tumhare saath chalti hoon". She walked behind him till the car.

Getting inside the car, the first thought that entered his mind was, Agar pata hota yeh mere saath aayegi toh aaj car ke jagah bike lata. "Tumhara office he jaana hai na", he asked starting the car.   "Nahi, tum mujhe Preeti ke ghar drop kardo."  "Pandit ka ghar", he said in a soft voice and she did notice the saddness in his voice. Pandit, how long had it been since he spoke to his friend. No not friend, Munna and Pandit were his brothers but now, one was with him and the other... That incident pulled away two out of three most important people away from his life.

***

"Aree Naina tum iss waqt yahan", Preeti asked seeing Naina at her door step. "Kyu apni behen ke ghar nahi aa sakti kya?, she said walking past Preeti inside the house. "Aisa maine kab kaha, bas iss waqt tum office mein hogi na aur tum apne kaam ko lekar bohot serious ho issiliye poocha, warna tu toh jaanti he hai mere ghar ka darwaza tumhare liye hamesha khula he ha. Agar khula na bhi ho, tho yeh le chabi isse ghar kholke andar aa jaa", Preeti extended the house key picking it from the key hanger. Naina ignored what she heard and just hugged her sister tightly.

"Main kamzor nahi padh sakti Preeti", she said as tears flowed from her eyes. "Shh Naina, kya hua, ro kyu rahi ho. Yahan baito", she guided Naina to the sofa and made her site there. "Kya hua batao."   "Aaj main usse milne café gayi thi, Swati aur Munna ke baare mein baat karne."   "Swati aur Munna ka kya?"   "Preeti joh bhi do saal pehle hua uske wajah se swati aur munna alag ho gaye, issiliye main usse baat karna chahti thi aur unn dono ko milane ke liye help mangna chahti thi. Par..."   "Par kya? Usne tumse kuch ulta seedha toh nahi kaha?"  "Nahi Preeti, woh hum log discuss kar he rahe the aur mujhe kuch poorani yaadein yaad aa gayi, jab hum saath mein the aur shayad khush the. Preeti aisa chalega toh main kaam kaise kar paungi, bohot himmat juta ke iss shehar mein aayi, ab main kamzor nahi padh sakti Preeti."

"Uske saamne toh indifferently behave kar leti hoon par main apne aap se jhoot nahi bol sakti. Sach toh yahi hai ki uska presence mujhe bohot affect karta ha. Teen dinon mein gussa, pyaar, nafrat, sharm, niraasha, aise bohot saare emotions ek saath face kar rahi hoon. Aur mujhe kuch samajh mein nahi aa raha. Main kya karoon Preeti", she hugged her again sobbing. "Naina shant ho ja, joh tum feel kar rahi ho na woh to iss situation mein normal hai. Do saal pehle joh bhi hua woh handle karna aasan nahi hai par tum Naina Aggarwal ho joh uss dard se ladh kar aaj ek kamyamb aurat ban chuki ho. I am sure tu yeh bhi handle kar loogi aur main hoon na tumhare saath. Bas tum aapne kaam mein dhyan do, baaki sab hum milkar handle kar lenge. Ab aansu poch lo." Naina nodded wiping her tears.

"Aacha hua tum aa gayi main apne liye chai bana rahi thi ab tumhare liye bhi bana doongi." "Preeti ek aur baat."   "Kya?"   "Chai mein shaker he dalna namak nahi", Naina said giggling. "Uss baat ko huye das saal ho gaye please bhool jao."   "Bhool jau? Itna aasan hai kya. Bechari Pooja di tumhari wajah se unka rishta toot sakta tha. Ladke walon ke Chai mein shaker ke jagah namak mila diya", Naina said laughing. "Par toota nahi na, maine bol diya tha na sabke samne ki Chai mein namak maine galti se mila di thi. And for your information, I cook well".   "Yeh toh Pandit se he poochna padega."   "Pooch lo usse. Shaadi ke baad poore 5 kilo chad gaya uska."   "Accha theek hai meri chef, maan liya ki tum accha khana bana leti ho, par mujhe ab chai nahi chahiye, abhi toh coffee pikar aayi hoon. Ek kaam kar, kuch khane keliye bana do pet mein chuhe daud rahe hai, jaldi jadli mein subah nashta kha nahi paayi."   "Yeh tum ab bata rahi ho, pehle bol dena chayiye tha na. Tumhare liye sandwich bana deti hoon. Likewise the sisters spent their time together laughing eating and enjoying.

But laughter, or even a smile was miles away from someone sitting in Maheshwari factory,  looking at the photo he used to look everyday for the past two years. But this time unlike the others, he wasn't speaking to the photo but just stared at it, blankly. Someone called out his name forcing him to look at that person instead of the photo. "Kab tak aise he baita rahega, kaam nahi karna hai kya", Munna asked trying to take away the photo from his hand. "Mann nahi hai yaar", Sameer said holding the frame in his hands not letting it slip away. "Sameer isse wapas drawer mein rak do aur apna mood theek karo."  But Sameer didn't give any reply, just kept his eyes on the photo. "Kya dekh raha hai itne der se iss photo mein, woh ab tumhare samne aa gayi hai na aur aise behave kar rahi hai ki kuch hua he nahi. Jaise ke pichle dus saal uski memory se gayab ho gayi."

Sameer smiled at this statement, "Yahi toh dekh raha hoon iss photo mein. Kaise badal gayi hai woh. Woh meri Naina ki tarah dekhti toh hai par hai nahi".  Slowly caressing the photo he continued, "na akkhon mein chamak, na hoothon par hasi, sab gayab ho gaya hai. Bilkul badal gayi hai woh."   "Mere wajah se", he added in a soft voice laced with guilt. "Tumhare wajah se?", Munna question. "Galti toh uski thi, usne tumpe...."   "Kya fark padhta hai. shuruat toh mujhse he huyi na".   "Sameer apne aap ko koste rahoge toh kaise chalega. Tumhe  aage badna chahiye. Tum wapas ussi stage par chale gaye ho jahan do saal pehle the. Issiliye main iss contract keliye mana kiya tha. Ab bhi waqt hai Sameer mana kar do. Woh wapas chali jayegi aur... "  "Aur kya? Munna, main ab peeche nahi hatunga. Par mujhe ek baat samajh mein aa nahi rahi, Naina ne humare he company kyu chuna merge keliye. Kuch soch samjhkar he liya hoga. Warna do saal pehle joh hua uske baad mujhe laga, Naina doobara meri shakal tak dekhegi."

"Ho sakta hai purani baato ko yaad karke tumhe aur pareshan karne ke liye..."  "Munna", he stopped his friend before he could say anuthing further.  "Naina aisi nahi hai. I am sure woh mujhe iss had tak nafrat nahi karti, koi wajah zaroor hogi aur mujhe woh pata karna hoga. Pata nahi kyu mujhe aisa lag raha hai ki woh kuch chupa rahi hai mujhse."   "Joh bhi ho Sameer tum Naina se dur he rehna, yeh rishta professional he rahe toh accha hai, warna tum ek aur heartbreak sehen nahi kar paaoge."   "Munna, main iss baar kamzor nahi padunga, khud ko sambhalna seekh gaya hoon, tum tension mat lo."

That's when his phone rang and he answered it and was kisska phon shocked to hear her voice.  "Kiska phone hai Sameer", Munna asked. "Ek supplier ka", he lied. Hello main Naina bol rahi hoon."   "Jee boliye", he replied. "Huh?" Naina was confused with the way he said that but ignoring it continued saying, "kal subah swati ko main apne office bula rahi hoon, tum bhi aa jana aur haan Munna ko iss baare mein abhi kuch mat batana. Pehle swati man jaye uske baad bata denge. Tumhe kya lagta hai?"  "Jee jaisa aap bole, main wahan aa jaunga. Baaki ke formalities uske baad dekh lenge. Shukriya." Saying so he cut the call.

"Kya hua?", Munna asked. "Supplier ka phone tha keh raha tha kal subha milna chahta hai, materials dikhana. Ek kaam karte hai main iss supplier se milne chala jaata hoon tum Vinod ko yahan bhula lo aur joh bhi formalities hai, usse shuru kar do." Munna immediately agreed thinking it's better if he concentrates on other work instead of just Naina.

"Kya kahan usne?", Preeti asked Naina. "Kal milne aa raha hai."   "Main bhi saath chaloon kya?"  "Nahi Preeti main manage kar loongi. Main yeh meeting formal rakhna chahti hoon warna Swati nahi manegi."   "Woh bhi theek hai".   "Bas Swati maan jaye, uske baad kaam aasan ho jayega."   "Don't worry maan jayegi woh, agar nahi bhi maani toh aise ek dum puppy jaisa chehra bana lene, phir mana nahi kar payegi", Preeti said putting a cute pout on her face with dropping innocence expression.

*

4th March 1991

"Tum chalogi na mere saath bike pe?"

"Nahi Sameer main nahi aa paungi. Agar koi dekh lega toh. Hey bhagwan main soch bhi nahi sakti. Taiji ne mujhe ghar se  bahar nikal degi."

"Naina I promise kissi ko pata nahi chalega, hum zyaada dur nahi jayenge. Bas school ke pass he ek round. Please na nainaaa."  He pleaded with a cute expression on his face, making it difficult to resist his request.

"Ab aisa chehra mat banao, main mana nahi kar paungi."

"Achha, toh phir jab bhi koi baat manwani ho toh aisa he karoongi. Pleaseee man jao. Please pleaseee."

"Theek hai, par sirf ek round hai."

"YES!!!"

*

"Naina kya hua?"   "Kuch nahi bas Swati ko kaise bataye yeh soch rahi thi."   "Phone karke bol do usse ki kal tumhare office aaye, aur haan phone par kuch mat kehna usse, warna madam ki nakhre shuru ho jayengi."   "Theek hai, main usse directly baat karloongi".   "Ab main nikhalti hoon Preeti, kaam chodke yahan baith nahi sakti."   "Chal no problem, aate jaate rehna aur agar kuch bhi share karna ho na toh phone kar mujhe. Main hamesha tumhare saath hoon." Hugging her sister, Naina left for her office.

********************

Update is done! Pata nahi if this will be the last update of the story or if I will continue. Anyway, I hope you liked this update.

Aur yeh kehne ki zaroorat nahi hai par, eagerly and impatiently waiting for your comments...