Sameer continued to massage Naina's foot in silence, applying necessary pressure to her foot's sole, arch, heel and ankle too. He pinched her toe fingers within his thumb and index finger, pulling them lightly to free the nerves over there. Naina flinched, withdrawing her foot a little but she felt good. The same procedure was repeated for the other foot too.

"Umm... ho gaya," Naina said, pulling her legs back.

"Kamar daba duu?" Sameer asked her genuinely.

"Nahi," she replied cutely and opened the almirah to keep the cheques in the locker cabinet.

Sameer returned to the bedroom after washing his hands and took his place beside Naina. Naina immediately scooted in the space between his legs and turning sideways, she cocooned herself into the smaller space, embracing herself in his warmth and resting her head on his shoulder. Sameer locked her in his arms and kissed her forehead softly.

"Yeh articleship ki baat kaha se aayi beech me?" He asked after a minute of quietude.

"Beech me matlab?"

"Matlab... itne dino se toh baat tak nahi kar rahi thi..." Sameer remarked.

"Haan toh baat nahi ki toh kya hua?" Naina looked up at him, "lekin articleship toh karni hi hai na?"

Sameer peered at her, her dove shaped eyes had enlarged even more as she raised her brows and he could see varied emotions in her eyes.

Was the statement more like a question? A question more to herself than to him?

He caressed her cheek with his palm, rubbing his thumb on her smooth chubby cheeks. He searched for something in her eyes, maybe for confidence or a firmness of a decision. But that was certainly not there. His mood suddenly turned serious looking at her.

"Nainaㅡ"

"Karni hai na..." Naina interrupted whatever he was going to utter. His studious gaze had pierced straight to her soul, to her mind and she feared of getting exposed. She felt vulnerable. So she changed her tone instantly, sounding cheerful while breaking Sameer's serious stance. "Practical training toh karna hi padega na Sameer... kuchh bhi puchhte ho tum bhi..."

She averted her gaze so that Sameer couldn't read her again.

"Hum na jijaji ki bhi rai lete hai iske baare me," Naina continued speaking, playing with the buttons of Sameer's shirt. "August tak mil jaani chahiye kisi achchhe firm me."

Sameer pulled her more towards him with his locked hands. He didn't want to reach a conclusion so soon, that too just on the basis of her statement which looked like a question to him. She wasn't feeling well too, maybe the fatigue of the day and the chances of periods reflected on her face.

"Hmmm..." Sameer only hummed, resting his cheek on her head.

He stroked her back and lower back with his left hand, trying to soothe her back pain as well. Naina sighed and leaned more on him, keeping her thoughts aside for the time being and soaking in the love showered by her husband.

"Naina... tum thik ho na?" Sameer threw a generalized question at her, not revealing the exact context behind it.

Naina looked at him and smiled, she had felt quite relaxed by the time, "tumhari baahon me hun... kya lagta hai tumhe?"

Sameer returned the smile to her, immersing his fingers in her hair to cradle her face, he gazed at her with all the love, "Naina... jo kuchh bhi ho... hum milkar sab thik kar lenge..." A general statement again.

Naina nodded with a grin and Sameer dipped to kiss on her lips, a gentle but long peck. He pulled back, finding Naina turning red with a blush on her face.

"Aap bada blush kar rahi hai, Madam?" He asked, teasing her.

Naina chuckled, "tum na... aaj bade handsome lag rahe the shoot me...ekdum Salman Khan types..." She jerked her neck playfully.

"Achchha?" Sameer quirked his brow, "waise dekha tha maine... kaise ghoor rahi thi tum mujhe... kya-kya karne ka iraada tha Mrs. Maheshwari?" He tapped his forehead with hers, his voice turned husky at last.

"Sirf batau? Ya karke dikhau?"

And before Sameer could answer, she pulled him towards her with her hand on his nape, and kissed him deeply. Sameer responded but he kept it gentle, keeping in mind that she was in pain some time before. He put all his love and care for her in the kiss. He never held himself back from ensuring Naina again and again that he loves her a lot, that he is with every decision of hers and he is there to stand strong behind her if needed. Though Naina never sought any assurance, she had this faith in him, but that was something he would like to do himself. So he remained the one who was soft and submissive in the kiss.

On the other hand, Naina's hormones and her emotions had gone totally dysfunctional. They were creating havoc inside her body and mind respectively. She was overwhelmed... to an extent that she couldn't handle it. So she directed all her energy to the kiss, taking its charge completely. She slid her fingers in Sameer's hair, feeling the soft texture for just a fraction of a second and then pulling them slightly in a fist to get a better angle. Her tongue played with his, her teeth nibbled his lower lip time and again, her other hand roamed desperately on his chest over the night suit shirt and her body rubbed him down there in whichever way possible.

Sameer smiled in between the kiss, seeing fiery Naina in front of him. He knew they can't take this to the next level but as Naina had cleared him before about her desires and the periods situation, there was no reason why he should stop her from kissing him.

And not to forget, he always loved whenever his lioness dominated their makeouts.

Sameer got to know that his shirt's first button had been opened, when he felt Naina's soft palm on the bare skin of his collarbone. This was a sign of danger but he couldn't find the will to break the kiss by himself. It felt so good he wished it never stops. But what made them break the kiss was the shrill of the cordless telephone. It was so loud that they had to stop the kiss to stop the ringing sound first.

Sameer looked at his right to find the reason why the sound was so loud. Well, it was loud because the cordless was just there on the nightstand.

He peered at the alarm clock, slightly panting, "itne raat ko kiska phone hoga?" he mumbled.

Naina too controlled her breathing, "Maa ka hoga... maine phone kiya tha... toh unhone kaha woh thodi der me wapis phone karegi..."

Sameer tried hard to reach the nightstand as Naina wasn't budging even a little from her place.

"Hello..." He answered, getting back to Naina quickly. "Mummmyyy... kaise ho aap? Haan, mai bhi thik hu..."

Naina was still, sitting like an obedient child in Sameer's lap, as he was speaking to Vishakha. But then just like a kid again, she couldn't sit quietly for more than a minute. As Sameer started informing Vishakha about today's ad shoot, she was also taken to those three hours of shoot, to the visuals of how stunning Sameer looked in all the three suits.

And as if it was a reflex action by her body to the visuals in her mind, her index finger travelled from Sameer's jaw, to his throat and then to his collarbone. Sameer's breath hitched when she opened the second button of his shirt, making more of his chest visible and running her fingers through the coarse hair there. He warned her with his eyes, continuing his chat with his mother. But Naina ignored that royally.

She kissed his throat, licking his Adam's apple as he gulped under the effect of her kisses.

"Kal na.... Kal... kuchh... auditions..." He tried to form an answer when casually asked about his next day's plans by Vishakha. "Matlab, ek-do jagah jaana.... Aaauuuu...." He almost squealed when Naina bit hard on the curve of his neck and shoulder.

Stunned, he looked at Naina, who fluttered her eyes with an innocent smile.

"Huhh?? Ku.. kuchh nahi mummy..." Sameer tried to cover the situation while rubbing his neck, "woh... woh cheetti ne kaata mujhe..."

And Naina sniggered, keeping a palm on her mouth, to which she received a piercing glare from Sameer.

"Mummy, mai aapko subah phone karta hu... yeh cheetti na jyada hi pareshan kar rahi hai mujhe..."

Naina gasped as she recognized the upcoming threat. She got up hurriedly to run, but in the meantime, the phone was disconnected and thrown away by Sameer and she was back on the mattress with his strong pull.

He tickled her waist while whispering sweet nothings in her ear and her sweet giggles reverberated around the room.

****

On Monday morning, Sameer returned from jogging while wiping his face with a napkin. He must have taken hardly two steps in the house after removing the shoes, and the telephone rang. Thinking it must be Vishakha's call after yesterday's rushed talk with her, he answered the phone in the first ring itself.

He waited for the sweet feminine voice of his mother to sound from the other end, not paying much attention actually as he looked for Naina around, but later he realized no one spoke from the other end till now.

"Helllooooo...." He repeated, emphasizing on it.

A few moments of stillness from the other end and Sameer recognized it was the blank call.

He squeezed his eyes shut in annoyance. How could he forget that he was supposed to take the action on this unidentified caller?

His teeth gritted and fists clenched hard, he collected all the worst slangs in his mind he had learnt in Nainital and was about to spit it to the caller so that whoever the person is learns a lesson, but at the moment Rakesh came out after bathing and directed himself to the Lord Krishna idol for pooja.

Sameer refrained himself and disconnected the phone. He needed to act on it immediately as things had gone overboard. He rushed to take the bath and came out within ten minutes. Finding Naina in the kitchen preparing breakfast, he informed her that he will be back in 10-15 minutes.

Walking out, he rang the doorbell of Gadkari house. It was Mrs. Gadkari who opened the door, who looked coming straight out of the kitchen.

"Aunty, Namaste!" Sameer greeted her with a smile, "Aditya ko bahar bula sakti hai? 2 minute baat karni thi..."

"Arey ha mulga pan na... mahit nahi sakali sakali kuthe nighun gela..." Mrs. Gadkari answered in Marathi out of habit, while tapping the sweat on her neck with her pallu, "khali gela asel bahutek."

Sameer frowned listening to what Mrs. Gadkari said. He had recognised she was speaking in Marathi but could pick up only one word out of it, 'khali'.

"Khali... matlab? Empty?" He asked with the same perplexed expression.

"Arey dewaaa..." Mrs. Gadkari slapped her forehead as she realized her folly and chuckled, "mera matlab tha pata nahi subah subah yeh ladka kaha chala gaya. Aur Marathi me khali ka matlab hai neeche. Shayad neeche garden me hoga." She informed, with her pleasant smile on.

After thanking her, Sameer ran downstairs to look for Aditya, but didn't find him there either. He couldn't figure out who he should ask now to know about the unknown calls. His gaze darted towards the C wing and the idea of asking Shubham about it struck his mind.

Tanvi opened the door as Sameer rang the doorbell. "Shubhamji hai kya ghar pe? Kuchh baat karni thi." Sameer said.

"Haan aaiye na," Tanvi made space for him to get inside.

Shubham was seated on the center chair of the dining table, dressed in his office clothes and having his tea.

"Arey Sameer, baitho na...." He offered Sameer to sit.

Listening to the name Sameer, Preeti came out from the kitchen in excitement, "Jijaajiiiiii..." Her face beamed with a big smile. "Aap baithiye, mai aapke liye bhi nashta lekar aati hu..."

"Nahi nahi Preeti..." Sameer intervened quickly, sitting on a chair, "Naina bana hi rahi hai nashta ghar pe... baad me kabhi... pakka..." He assured her.

When they both settled on tea upon Preeti's persistence, Sameer turned to Shubham, "Shubhamji... kuchh puchhna tha aapse..." he started the topic immediately.

"Haan bolo na..." Shubham replied while taking a sip of his tea.

"Woh..." Sameer looked around if anyone was in the vicinity of hearing capacity, he lowered his voice, "aapko pata hai agar hame koi phone kar raha ho, toh uski jaankari kaise mil sakti hai?"

Shubham's brows knitted, he didn't understand the exact context, "Matlab?"

"Matlab agar hame pata nahi chal paa raha hai ki kaun phone kar raha hai, toh uska pata kaise lagate hai?" Sameer elaborated.

"Wohh..." Shubham cleared his throat, "jab pata na chale ki kaun phone kar raha hai, toh uske phone ke turant baad telephone department me phone lagakar puchh sakte ho... kuchh cases me woh log bata dete hai...."

Sameer processed the information and just mumbled an 'ohh'. He was about to ask further but stalled himself as Preeti came with a cup of tea for him. He accepted the tea with a smile and took a sip.

"Aisa... kyu... puchh rahe ho?" Shubham confirmed first that Preeti was back in the kitchen, he had a sheepish smile on his face.

"Woh hamare yaha pata nahi kabse blank calls aa rahe hai... usi ka pata lagana tha."

"Achchha?" Shubham asked, trying to drink tea from the cup which was now empty. He kept the cup on the table clumsily.

"Aap mujhe woh telephone department ka number de dijiye. Taaki mai pata laga saku un calls ke baare me," Sameer urged.

"Ummm... mere paas number nahi hai... kabhi zaroorat hi nahi padi na..." Shubham reasoned. "Mai... sham tak pakka tumhe number deta hu... ummm... haan... office... office me puchhta hu kisise..."

Sameer nodded and Shubham sighed.

While Sameer was finishing his tea, he thought of bringing one more topic. "Ohh haan Shubhamji, aapse aur ek baat puchhni thi," he said.

"Aur ek baat hai? Haan haan, puchho!" Shubham tried to maintain a smile.

"Woh Naina ke articleship ke liye firms dekhni hai... toh aapko koi achchhi firms pata ho, toh aap bata sakte hai."

"Ohh articleship!" Shubham huffed, "haan batata hu na... waise 1-2 achchhi firms hai meri nazar me."

Meanwhile Preeti came to them, placing a lunchbox on the table and standing beside Shubham, keen to know the talk happening between the saadu's.

"Lekin Sameer," Shubham continued, remembering something, "Naina ko training sach me karni hai?"

"Haan... karni toh padegi hi na group 1 ke liye..." Sameer shrugged. He found Shubham's tone suggestive and thought if he implied something else. He focussed on finishing his tea, "kya pata kuchh dino se woh bhi...." finishing it, he mumbled while looking away.

That wasn't missed by Preeti, she jumped in the conversation, "Kuchh dino se kya? Naina ko kya hua hai?"

"Nahi nahi... kuchh nahi..." Sameer covered up swiftly, putting a smile. He didn't want to share something that he himself wasn't clear about. "Lekin aap aisa kyu puchh rahe hai?" He turned to Shubham.

"Nahi... mai toh bass... yunhi..." Shubham too then didn't share his doubt. "Toh? Naina ki kahani phir se chhap ke aayegi?" He changed the topic.

Sameer was surprised with the question coming from Shubham. He wasn't aware that Shubham knew about Naina's story featured in a magazine. Shubham had never talked about it to Naina or him, unlike others. He looked at Preeti to find the answer, but only found the similar question in her eyes too.

"Hamne kahani toh bheji hai... Pata nahi iss baar chhap ke aayegi ya nahi..." He answered softly.

"Usi patrika me?" Shubham's next question appeared.

"Haann... shayad..." Sameer shrugged.

The conversation was soon wrapped up given that Shubham needed to leave for his office. Sameer wished to have gotten the telephone department number right away, but he had to wait for Shubham to provide him with it.

In the evening, Shubham gave him the number but it was of no use at least for the day. Due to several other calls in the day, Sameer now had to wait for the blank call again, so that he could find out about it. Thankfully, he controlled himself in the morning and didn't utter anything. He was desperately waiting for the call now.

***

Sameer started getting more leads about the tv serial auditions and he shared it with Aditya too. They actually got better experience in these auditions than film ones. TV auditions had lesser crowds, and they appeared more organized and well conducted.

On Thursday night, he actually confessed it to Naina too.

After finishing all the chores, they were on the mattress in their nightwears. Naina was writing the application letters to the four firms that Shubham had recommended to her. To both Sameer and her surprise, he had also shared the details like the place where the office is located, whether the firm offers any stipend or not and the standard and reputation of the firms in their field.

When the fourth application letters were written, Naina kept her writing pad aside and turned to Sameer, who was waiting for her to finish so that he could resume what he had started in between and Naina had told him to wait.

"Haan, kya keh rahe the tum?" she asked, crossing her legs and paying full attention to him now.

"Yahi, ki film ke auditions me aur tv ke auditions me itna jyada fark hai..." Sameer continued from where he had paused, "yaha tv serial me audition me bhi achchhe scenes dete hai yaar... unke dialogues achchhe rehte hai, characters achchhe rehte hai. Aur wahan filmo me... itne ghatiya dialogues rehte hai ki mai kya hi batau..."

"Yeh toh maine bhi dekha hai Sameer," Naina replied enthusiastically, "aajkal tv pe kitne achchhe shows aa rahe hai... woh jo abhi DD pe serial aayi thi, Aarohan? Kitni achchhi serial hai woh... waha ladkiyon ko Navy ka training lete hue dikhaya hai..."

"Aur yaha filmon me..." Sameer intervened, but just to continue her thoughts, "ladkiyon ko ek cheez samjha jata hai jisko hero ko sirf haasil karna hai. Ladkiyon par gaane bhi aise hi likhe jaate hai... khambe jaisi khadi hai... ladki hai ya chhadi hai... shhhyaahh..." He grimaced at last on the lyrics of the song.

Naina smiled at his statement, discerning how synchronized their thoughts are on some topics. Six years ago, when the said film was released, Preeti, Swati and she had become obsessed with the songs and had borrowed the cassette of the film from Swati so that they could copy the songs in their own cassette. At that time, none of them were mature enough to understand the lyrics. All they knew was to shake their legs on the beats of the songs. But when they grew up, when they faced how girls are treated in college, when they would go standing in the bus enroute to college and some boys used to sing this song in chorus, its lyrics appeared different and regressive to them.

"Tumhare auditions kaise jaa rahe hai?" Naina queried.

"Achchhe ja rahe hai," Sameer shared genuinely, "thode aur contacts banane padenge... kuchh mil jana chahiye bass abhi..." He had hope in his eyes and a warm smile on his lips.

"Mil jayega... mujhe poori ummeed hai..." Naina asserted, kissing his cheek softly and then going into his arms.

"Haan madam, ummeed par toh duniya kayam hai..." Sameer sighed, tightening his hold on Naina and kissing her forehead. "Waise... ek baat kahu?" He asked after a minute.

"Hmmm..." Naina had her eyes closed as she rested her head on Sameer's shoulder.

"Mujhe na Pallavi Joshi bahot pasand hai..." Sameer voiced, pursing his lips right after to stifle the giggle.

Naina looked at him with narrowed eyes, contemplating and she found his mood playful. "Achchha? Mujhe bhi Rishabh Malhotra bahot pasand hai." She joined the tease game.

"Yaar tumhari sui toh woh Rishabh Malhotra pe hi atki hai," Sameer sulked, loosening his hold on her.

"Kam se kam ek insaan par toh tiki hai..." Naina countered, "tumhari tarah nahi... Pehle Rupa Ganguly, phir woh Shanti aur ab yeh Pallavi Joshi..." Naina twisted her mouth.

"Mandira..."

"Kya?"

"Shanti ka naam... Mandira..." Sameer corrected her, adding more fuel to her fuming state.

"Haan haan jo bhi hai..." Naina made a face again. But she didn't give up. She was determined not to fall for Sameer's ploy tonight. So she continued in a dreamy voice, "Waise... woh Aarohan me Lt. Shammi hai na... kya naam hai uska? Haan... R. Madhvan... mujhe na, woh bhi bahot pasand hai... kitna handsome dikhta hai na... tumse bhi jyada handsome hai woh..."

"Mujhse bhi jyada handsome?" Sameer burnt in jealousy and Naina's eyes lit up seeing her plan going successful. "Batau tumhe haan... mujhse bhi jyada handsome?" He tried to grab her hand but by the time Naina slipped from his hold and tried to shift away from him.

"Sameer nahi... mera teesra din chal raha hai," Naina warned him, when she saw Sameer turning into all his fours, as if a lion was ready to attack his prey.

Sameer smirked, as if this information was going to save her from him. You're so naive, Naina!

He mused.

He took a step towards her but failed to catch her again as Naina threw a cushion at him and ran for her life, obviously followed by Sameer.

Opening the door of the bedroom, Naina ran to the living room but stopped midway in the passage as she saw a figure moving towards the bathroom in the darkness. While saving herself from bumping into the person, she screamed. As a result, both Rakesh and Sameer screamed too.

Frightened, Rakesh switched on the bulb over the sink. He had his hands on his heart and he looked at Naina and Sameer with utter shock.

"Kya kar rahe the tum dono?" he asked in disbelief, he was breathing heavily and so was Naina and Sameer.

The couple recovered themselves, Naina pushed her hair behind the ear while Sameer adjusted his shirt.

"Sorry Papa..." Naina mumbled.

"Tum dono raat ko pakdam pakdai khel rahe the? Yeh kya bachpana hai?" Rakesh chided.

"Papa... yeh Naina hi keh rahi thi mujhse... ki mai usse pakad ke dikhau..." Sameer couldn't leave the opportunity to tease Naina, but he immediately got punished for his statement with a deadly glare from Naina and her foot landing on his. He whined in pain.

"Kya bachchon ki tarah harkate kar rahe ho..." Rakesh admonished them, "jao... so jao..." He almost commanded, directing himself to the bathroom.

Sameer and Naina returned to the bedroom keeping their palms on their mouths. They looked like the shameless school-kids who even after getting scolded by the teacher, kept on giggling. As the door was shut and locked, Sameer's beast mode awakened again. He lifted Naina in his arms and carried her to the mattress in two strides, followed by placing her gently on it, hovering over her and kissing her.

***

On Saturday night, Sameer and Rakesh were seated in the living room, while watching old songs on Doordarshan in low volume. Tonight Rakesh had skipped going for a walk.

Naina joined them in some time, keeping a jar of water on the tea-table. Taking a seat on the sofa chair, she queried, "Papa, aapne woh library walon ko jawab de diya? Naukri ke baare me?"

Rakesh lowered the volume of the tv further. He was going to share it with them anyway. "Haan woh log kal bhi puchh rahe the." Rakesh stated.

"Toh kya jawab diya aapne? Aapne ha kar diya?" Naina asked further. Sameer too keenly paid attention to the conversation.

"Haa... matlab nahi..." Rakesh fumbled, he himself was unsure of the decision.

"Matlab?" Both Naina and Sameer exclaimed simultaneously.

Rakesh adjusted himself on the sofa, "matlab... mai jaanta hun unka naukri ka prastaav achchha hai... lekin... iss baar mai kisi ke dabaav me ya kisi ke neeche kaam nahi karna chahta... itne saalon ki meri naukri me mai sirf aadesh hi swikarta aaya hu... lekin ab nahi... bahot jhel liye dusron ke orders..." Rakesh divulged his inner side, while keeping his gaze fixed on his palm.

Naina and Sameer kept looking at him, they knew there was more to come and he still hadn't revealed whether he had accepted the job or not.

Rakesh continued, "Mumbai me aane ke baad mujhe Naina ke sath sabse jyada waqt bitane ka mauka mila hai... ek aadat si ho gayi hai usse dekhne ki... woh mauka mai gavana nahi chahta." He looked at Naina with pride and affection in his eyes. He cleared his throat and added, "Toh maine unse kaha ki mai waise hi library me jaunga jaise pehle jata tha. Mahine me 15 din, aur sirf dopahar ko. Aur iske liye mujhe tankhwah de ya na de, koi baat nahi."

"Papaaa... aap itna bhavuk kyu ho jaate ho???" Naina complained sweetly, taking a seat next to Rakesh and hugging him from the side. "Aur aapko pata hai, aap hi ke wajah se Sameer hum dono ko filmy baap-beti karke chidhata hai..."

The three laughed at her innocent comment.

When the laughter subsided, Sameer asked, "unhone accept kar liya Papa?"

"Haa parso ek tarikh hai... tab batane wale hai..." Rakesh informed.

Naina and Sameer were happy with the decision Papa had taken. He hadn't compromised on his terms and accepted it blindly when he was offered a job. Rather he put forth his own conditions this time and countered the offer. They were glad to know that Papa was aware about what he wants from life at this stage and at this age. His expectations from his life were clear, he wanted to be free from other's supremacy over him and that he wanted to spend more and more time with his daughter. He knew what his needs and priorities were.

They wished they too were clear about what they wanted from their life. But looking at Papa, they could certainly take a step ahead towards that direction. Towards the clarity in their life.

***

It was 1st July Monday and Sameer had carried more money with him for jogging. He had increased his rounds to the park nowadays and had also added some exercise like push ups and some boxing techniques. But today, he got impatient as the time struck 7o'clock and he curtailed his push-ups.

He returned home running, climbing the stairs hurriedly and removing his shoes in haste as he entered the house. Perceiving Naina to be in the kitchen, he directed himself immediately there. He was high on adrenaline rush, which was now mixed with love... no, so much love... probably immense love... and a high desire to claim her right away, to tell everyone that she is his wife.

Turning her towards him and crushing her to his chest, he smacked his lips on hers. He kept on applying pressure till Naina responded to him, who was still in very much shock with the sudden kiss. One of his hands soon travelled to her hair, and he pulled it slightly to deepen the kiss. Invading his tongue in her mouth, he earned a moan from her and it took hardly some seconds for the kiss to turn passionate.

Sameer didn't care if his father-in-law was anywhere around and could see them, he didn't think for a moment if they could be seen through the kitchen window or anyone just walked in through the open door. All he wanted was to convey to Naina that he was the luckiest person in the universe to have gotten her in his life.

Although Naina was enjoying this sweet assault by Sameer's lips on hers, her conscience awakened the moment she felt his bulging length on her belly. She was standing on her toes, her arms wrapped around his nape, her soft bosom plastered to his hard chest. All this was weakening her decision making capability and before all her senses stop doing their duty, she slowed down the kiss and gently pulled out from it.

They breathed the much needed air while resting their foreheads on one another's.

"Kya hua Sameer?" Naina asked, caressing his cheek. Her gaze turned concerned, thinking if something had happened.

Sameer smiled warmly as he distanced from her, taking a folded magazine from back that was tucked in his track pants, he showed its front page to her.

Naina's eyes twinkled looking at the magazine. The suggestive smile on Sameer's lips and the pride in his eyes confirmed her guess and a wide grin took place on her face too.

Sameer nodded, his eyes and lips smiling widely, "haan Naina... tumhari kahani... "

Naina heaved the breath she had held till now, only to suck in more air through a gasp, and she jumped... jumped to hug Sameer. As synchronized they always are, Sameer lifted her slightly from the floor, crushing her in his embrace.

"I'm so proud of you my wife... " he whispered in her ear, blessing her exposed skin on the shoulder with soft kisses.

"Nainaaaa... tu hamesha mujhe kyu bhejti hai Preeti ke yaha se kadipatta laane???"

The voice turned louder as it came closer and the couple lost in the blissful hug separated with a laugh.

"Tum Papa ko batao, mai nahake aata hu..." Sameer said, handing the magazine to Naina, "phir hum sath me padhte hai thik hai?"

Sameer exited the kitchen to go to the bathroom while Rakesh entered the house with a bunch of curry leaves in his hand, and the cordless took the exact moment to ring.

Both the men approached to answer the call but Sameer's instincts told him it might be that call.

"Papa, mai dekhta hu," he told Rakesh and grabbed the cordless swiftly.

"Hello," Sameer tried to sound casual, what if it's a genuine phone call.

But true to his gut feeling, no one responded from the other end. He looked back once, confirming Papa and Naina were in the kitchen and he strolled to the bedroom, still waiting patiently if someone spoke.

The day he had gotten the number of the telephone department, he was waiting for the blank call, but it didn't happen. He knew there wasn't any fixed pattern, he had confirmed that with Naina too. The only pattern he could see was between this call and the last call, both on Mondays and in the morning.

He debated if he should really utter those slangs he had held back last time, but he didn't wish to spoil his mood with it. He only waited... trying to see for how long the caller could stretch this call. It must have been almost a minute that the call was still on and no one uttered the word.

Sameer shut his eyes and exhaled, the time had come to discover the identity of the caller. He did a count of five in his mind, to disconnect the call and dial the number of the telephone department.

He gritted his teeth and was about to disconnect the call, but soon his mouth went agape, his eyes widened and his heartbeat took a pace, when the person on the other end of the call voiced,

"Sameer...."

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

Hey peeps, hope you're doing well.

How did you find this chapter? Tell me your views in the comment section.

Do you recognize what exactly is Naina's fear about her career? What must be going on in her mind?

Regarding Sameer, I've shown a few of his auditions' experiences. Can you see a pattern in his auditions and his opinion about it? 

Let's see who has understood the subtext behind some of the scenes I have shown till now.

And what an irony it is... There were actually so many good shows in 90s time and look at the quality of the shows produced these daysss... siggghhhhhh....

Let me know how did you find the progress in all the character's journey from the start to now. Any noticeable changes?

Do shower your votes and comments to the chapter. I'm trying hard to come up with quicker updates.

Love. ❤️