Preeti's hands trembled as she kept on holding the piece of paper in it. Her mouth was dry as well as her throat.

"Shubhamji... yeh... " Preeti started but couldn't complete her question.

Shubham swallowed a lump and adjusted in his seat nervously. His eyes shifted between Sameer-Naina and Preeti. He had planned it for the afternoon or maybe night, with only them in their solitude and no one disturb. But it came out this way, in the open, just because of his stupidity of leaving his wallet on the table.

He had to reveal it for Preeti's sake. He couldn't see her perturbed face for long now.

He wore a bright smile, slightly turning towards Preeti, he voiced, "yeh tumhare liye hi hai Preeti..."

Preeti's eyes glistened unknowingly, she was overwhelmed since the moment she held the paper.

"Kya hai yeh?" A curious voice drew Preeti and Shubham's attention in the front, and Sameer hit Naina's knee with his under the table, passing a sharp glance at her that that might be something personal between them and they should not intrude.

Naina realized her folly and she slid back on the couch more. But the question had been asked.

Shubham took the charge to reply without any hesitation, he certainly didn't have any problem in sharing it with Naina and Sameer. "VLCC naam ka ek beauty & wellness service center hai," he started informing the three curious people, "Mrs. Vandana Luthra chalati hai usse. Unki ek branch Andheri me khulne wali hai. Toh Preeti ka admission karaya hai waha pe... Hair and Make-up ke course ke liye." Finishing, he looked at Preeti who just chuckled, finding all this unbelievable and wiping a tear from the corner of her eyes.

"Kyaaa?? Sachchi??" Naina almost screamed while covering her mouth with her palms. Sameer too smiled widely, finding Shubham's gesture impressive.

Shubham nodded and Naina gasped, looking at Preeti with sheer happiness.

The two sisters' eyes met and a lot of emotions and memories flooded in their eyes. All the moments when Preeti cut Naina's hair and gave her new looks, the way she did Naina's makeup in all the special occasions, may it be her first day as GS in college, dandiya nights, Naina and Sameer's two engagement functions and many more. The dream they saw together, of Preeti's own parlor, how Naina would be Preeti's first client and she would pay it from her own money and then of Preeti becoming a successful hair-stylist. At this moment, they both saw it in one-another's eyes. It was just a baby step towards it, though they were happy with the step taken itself. They wanted to hug each other right here, right at this moment, but a big wooden table stood as a partition line between them, restraining them to hurl themselves on their sister.

Sameer engulfed his big palm around Naina's fingers, pressing it slightly as he could perceive what the sisters must be going through. Naina craned at her left and nodded, clearing the pool of tears in her eyes with her white cotton dupatta.

Preeti too looked at her husband on her left, who had only love in his eyes for her. His smile was so pure and subtle. She felt bad that she probably ruined Shubham's surprise but then felt absolutely pleased that it came out in front of Naina, who was the first person to have the right to know about it.

She cleared her throat, wanting to clear some questions in her mind, "Shubhamji... yeh bahot jaldi nahi ho gaya? Mai mummyji ka dil nahi dukhana chahti aur mujhe pata hai woh abhi raazi nahi hai inn sab ke liye."

Shubham knew this would come from Preeti. The fact that she cared about his mother's opinion first. She had said it before too that she would never intend to rebel to convince the elders of the house. She wanted everyone to be happy with her decision and support her willingly from the bottom of their heart.

"Preeti, yeh jo nayi branch khul rahi hai Andheri me, yeh Diwali ke baad ho rahi hai... November me... utna waqt hai hamare paas... tab tak hum Maa ko bhi mana lenge... aur mai yeh akele nahi kar sakta... mujhe tumhara sath chahiye isme..." Shubham said gently, enunciating each word, each sentence slowly and calmly.

Preeti chuckled again, still recovering from the shocks, sniffing and then nodding at Shubham, whose deep love-filled gaze had pierced straight to her heart.

On the other side of the table, Naina held Sameer's palm with both her hands and leaned on his shoulder. She too was equally overwhelmed seeing Preeti all happy and nearing towards her dream.

When Preeti and Shubham entered their house with their key, they found that Tanvi had gone out to her friend and the senior ladies were taking their afternoon nap, forcing them both to direct themselves straight to the bedroom.

"Aap mujhe itne shock pe shock kyu dete ja rahe hai?" Preeti voiced as she crossed her arms on her chest, raising her brows.

Shubham laughed, "kyu? Pasand nahi aaye?"

"Mazak chhodiye na... aapko pata hai aap aaj dinbhar me kitna kharcha kar chuke hai?" She tried to tease him.

"Haan bikul jaanta hu... tumse toh behtar hi hai meri economics..."

"Phir bhi... yeh course ke fees toh..." Preeti left the sentence incomplete, not comprehending whether she should ask how Shubham managed all the expenses.

"Jab hamari shadi tay hui thi na," he chuckled before sharing a memory, "tab mai jaanta tha bahot kharcha honewala hai... isliye maine bank me ek RD* shuru karwa di, taaki har mahine usme paise jama karta rahu... pichhle mahine woh RD mature ho gayi... toh bass... madam ke liye course register ho gaya unn me se..."

Preeti heaved deeply at this shared information. No one can truly know the investments and savings done by her husband. She wouldn't tease him as 'mahaan' and the 'great economist' only for fun. She knew the vision he had. But she was aware what his expenses and investments were planned for. For her two mother-in-law's health, all their future and for Tanvi's wedding. And learning that he had expended a great share of his return amount for her parlor course, she couldn't help but fall more for him.

Her happy stance was broken when Shubham pulled her closer to him and she blushed.

"Preeti, kal tak mai sirf pati-patni ke economics ko samajh raha tha... yehi samajh kar chal raha tha ki itna kafi hota hai... lekin aaj... uske pare... mai pyar ka economics bhi samajhne laga hu... tumhare aur mere bich..."

Preeti directed her eyes at the floor, crushing the end of her pallu in her hand. She isn't used to listening to such romantic statements from Shubham. All she wanted was to hide her blush and sink in the arms of her husband. And there was only one way for it.

She looked up at him and whispered, "I love you Shubhamji," jumping and throwing herself on him for a hug.

Smiling back, Shubham wrapped his arms around her. Given the kind of height difference they had, his hands never reached below the small of her back. "Mai bhi..." came his usual reply.

The couple stood in each other's embrace, feeling the warmth they radiated. But something struck Shubham's mind and he asked, not leaving the hug though, "waise Preeti... yeh Farzaan Poonawala tumhe sach me itna pasand tha?"

Preeti frowned, wondering about the sudden mention of her college professor. But then she was reminded of the tease game by Sameer and Naina.

She only laughed... pushing herself more to his chest and tightening her grip on his back.

Farzaan Poonawala? Who?

****

Naina adjusted her dupatta again, standing in front of the mirror and bouncing on her heels, feeling jittery. She exhaled through her mouth, trying to calm herself down, but the butterflies in her stomach didn't settle.

"Chale Naina?" Sameer appeared behind her.

She shut her eyes and heaved again, nodding in yes. She opened her eyes when she felt Sameer's big and warm palms on her shoulders. Their eyes met in the mirror and his smile did its work to soothe her soul.

Turning towards him, she voiced, "Sameer mai phir se bol rahi hu... tumhe aane ki zaroorat nahi hai... mai chali jaungi na..."

"Shshsshhhh..." he put his finger on his lips, "maine kaha na... iske baare me ab no discussion... mai sath me aa raha hu toh aa raha hu..."

He stepped closer to her and put a soft kiss on her forehead, erasing the creases of worry and nervousness from there. He also rubbed her arms with his hands, providing her his warmth as much as he could.

"Naina... Sameer... tum dono aa rahe ho ki nahi?" They heard Rakesh's holler from the kitchen.

The couple strolled to the kitchen holding hand in hand and found Rakesh Papa holding a bowl of dahi-cheeni.

A small smile crept on Naina's lips as she stood in front of her father, who had pride and happiness in his eyes. As he had promised her, he was doing everything for her that she had missed in all these years... even such a trivial thing like feeding dahi-cheeni which was generally done by Bela or sometimes Anand.

Sameer looked at the father-daughter duo who were having an emotional eye-lock. "Picture ka scene karne ke liye time nahi hai hamare paas...." he declared, indirectly hinting that they were getting late. His arm getting slapped by Naina right in front of his father-in-law was inevitable.

Rakesh took a spoonful of the curd and raised his hand to feed Naina. Naina opened her mouth, not to have it but to speak. "Tum nahi khilaoge, Sameer?" she cutely asked.

Rakesh's hand stopped in the air, he felt his gut wrenching. Isn't Naina okay with him feeding her?

Sameer looked down for a moment. How was it possible that he didn't wish to feed dahi-cheeni to Naina?

But how could he tell Naina that he had entered the kitchen intending for it but then spotted Rakesh papa preparing the same for her. He didn't want to ruin a father's happiness and wish to do so, who had promised to fulfill all the little things he had missed. So with a heavy heart, he backed out.

"Umm... tum Papa ke hath se pehle kha lo... phir mere hath se kha lena..." Sameer suggested.

"Nahi... mujhe tum dono ke hathon se ek sath khana hai..." Naina put a sweet demand, sounding absolutely like a small kid.

The men stared at her with frowns on their faces. And reading their puzzled expressions, Naina chuckled. She took Sameer's right hand in hers and placed it on Papa's, which was holding the spoon.

The two men smiled at her act, pleased with the reinstated feeling that they both were equal for her, that she knows them both inside out and that she cares for them equally. Naina finally ate dahi-cheeni from her dear husband and father and then bent down to take blessings from Rakesh.

"Waise Papa," Sameer uttered, "kisi zaroori kaam se pehle yeh dahi-cheeni kyu khilaya jaata hai?" He wanted to know the reason behind this since ever.

Rakesh smiled and said, "beta, dahi insaan ke sharir ko thanda rakhta hai, shant rakhta hai... aur meetha khane se mann prasann rehta hai, sharir me khushi ke hormones utpann hote hai... toh jab sharir aur mann dono swasth ho, toh hamare saare kaam achcche se ho jate hai..."

Sameer beamed with pleasure, having received the apt reason behind this tradition. He was first surprised after listening to words like hormones and all from Papa, but then it struck him soon that his father-in-law was a school librarian.

"Toh mujhe kyu nahi? Mera interview nahi hai toh kya hua?" Sameer sulked.

Both Naina and Rakesh laughed at his statement. This time, Naina joined her hand with Papa's and they fed dahi-cheeni to Sameer too, a warm smile embracing all their faces.

"Achchha Naina," Rakesh turned towards his daughter and voiced, "Interview poore aatmavishwas se dena. Kisi bhi prashn pe bikul jhijakna nahi."

"Ji Papa..." Naina nodded and Sameer rolled his eyes, knowing this cannot be the only advice.

"Chalein Naina?" Sameer intruded, gesturing to Naina to hurry up.

The couple prayed together in front of Lord Krishna, and as they turned to leave, they heard Rakesh speaking, "aur haan... jitni awashyakta ho, utni hi baat karna..."

"Ji Papa..." Naina nodded again while Sameer literally pulled her towards the door.

"Tumhare saare certificates unko dikhana..."

"Ji Papa...." Naina didn't change her reply.

"Aur Sameer... tum Naina ko jyada pareshan mat karna..." came the fourth instruction from Rakesh when Sameer and Naina were wearing their footwear.

"Papa, mai kaha pareshan karta hu Naina ko?" Sameer countered and turned to Naina, "mai pareshan karta hu tumhe?"

Naina huffed seeing a new banter loading between Sameer and Papa at the last moment. She pulled Sameer holding on his arm, and mouthed, "bye Papa", dragging a pouting Sameer with her who had an argument ready.

It took 20 minutes by auto for Sameer and Naina to reach Mehta & Associates' Andheri office. The building was old, painted in British dominated red and white. Contrasting to other tall buildings in the surrounding area, this was only a four storey building with a huge area for parking, with Ashoka trees planted on all the sides, secured within huge walls of the premise.

For the given time of 9:30am for the interview, Sameer-Naina had reached by 9 itself. They climbed the two floors holding hand in hand, where the office was, but found it close with grills and locks.

Disappointed, they walked downstairs again and searched for a place to wait for some time. They chose a tree platform to the right side of the building and decided to wait.

"Yeh kaisa office hai.... " Naina sounded piqued, adjusting herself on the place and balancing her file and handbag on her lap.

"Kaisa hai matlab? Achchha toh hai... dekho charo taraf ped hai... " Sameer said, scanning the surroundings.

The environment was hazy and pleasant.

Naina shot a dagger at him for misinterpreting her statement. She spat in anxiety, "9:30 baje bulaya tha interview ke liye. Aur inka abhi office bhi nahi khula."

"Haan toh abhi 25 minute baaki hai na..." Sameer reasoned, "ab unko kya pata Mrs. Naina Maheshwari itne jaldi pohoch jayegi." He chuckled at the end.

"Toh kya office ke khulte hi interview ke liye bitha denge?" Naina glared at him again, "tum mere side ho ya unke? Ek toh mai itni nervous hu aur tum..."

"Yeh nervousness hai?" Sameer questioned, frowning, "isse gussa kehte hai Naina..."

Naina slammed her file and bag on the platform, and stood up, "thik hai... mai kar lungi manage... " She started pacing around not before passing a sarcastic smile to Sameer, to which Sameer laughed harder.

Naina kept checking the entrance of the building, looking for something even she didn't know. She saw a number of people coming in and going out of the building, some parking their cycles and bikes while some getting down from cars like ambassadors. She also spotted some people in black coats. A board on the ground floor had indicated that there were nine offices in this building, and one of them was a firm of advocates.

Oh, that's why the people in black coats.

Crossing her arms on her chest, Naina continued her walk. She had gotten the response from all the four firms she had applied for articleship, and she was called for the interview by them, scheduled over the next ten days, today being the first one. There was a cheerful environment in the house amongst Sameer and Papa, well, her too. But what troubled her was her stories and writing taking a backseat as she needed to focus on the preparation of the interviews.

It had become a part of her daily routine... writing... she would write something daily... an anecdote, some random quotes she mused, the plot of a story, an unsent letter or even a note to herself... as if she revived one of her old habits she had forgotten long back.

The interview calls shifted her focus, even though she used to study daily, and her last week was occupied with gaining practical knowledge as much as possible, from Shubham and Anand.

Sameer let Naina walk alone for ten minutes, observing if she calms down. But the constant frown on her face didn't assure it. He recognised that checking on people won't result in anything since there were multiple offices here. Nor did they know anyone from the CA firm. So it was better to go to the office straight at 9:30am.

Getting up, he looked at Naina, who still appeared restless from her body language. He walked to her and blocked her way, expecting her rebuke. But she didn't. She only sighed.

"Chai piyogi?" Sameer asked, his voice was soft. Naina heaved again and shook her head in no. Sameer opened his mouth to speak but then saw a passerby tittering at them. He held her hand in his and took her behind an Ashoka tree, so that they are partially hidden. "Kya baat hai Naina? Maine tumhe itna bechain kabhi nahi dekha." He queried; he was genuinely concerned about her.

"Pata nahi..." Naina shrugged, averting her gaze from Sameer.

"Meri taraf dekho," he whispered, and as her cute puppy eyes met his, he continued, "Naina tum itni intelligent ho... ek interview ke liye itna nervous kyu ho rahi ho..."

"Nervous nahi lekin... ab tak sirf ghar par padhai karna alag baat thi... lekin yeh interview... articleship, office ka mahol... aisa lag raha hai mujhse ho payega ya nahi..." She looked down, fidgeting with her dupatta.

"Arey! Meri topper biwi kabse yeh sab sochne lagi?"

She snorted, "college ki zindagi pichhe chhoot gayi Sameer... ab yaha mai koi topper nahi hu..."

"Sirf yahi baat hai?" Sameer bent down a little towards her, trying to find something in her deep eyes.

Naina contemplated, she wasn't sure herself what was bothering her. "Pata nahi Sameer... lekin aisa lag raha hai jaise kisi baat ki kami hai... jaise kuchh toh sahi nahi hai..."

Sameer sighed and wore a small smile on his lips. He had heard such ambiguous statements from her before too. He wanted to go deep on this topic but at the moment, time was running. He put his hands on her shoulders and voiced, "Naina... tum aise confused aur nervous hoke interview dogi toh kaise chalega... tumhe sabse pehle relaxed hona padega..."

When Naina nodded in agreement, Sameer continued, "apni aankhe band karo..." he whispered.

Naina closed her eyes in a hypnosis, as if a reflex action to Sameer's voice.

"Naina, unn saare palon ke baare me socho jo tumhe khushi dete hai.... Jab cheezein tumhare control me hoti hai..." Sameer enunciated slowly as he saw Naina take a deep breath. He continued, "jaise kagaz aur kalam... jab tumhare hath me hote hai... jab tum shadbon ko ek-dusre ke sath jod kar apni kahaniyan bunti ho... jab tumhari bhavnayeein, tumhari soch, aasani se kagaz par utar aati hai..."

Sameer's calm voice and his words started their work on Naina's unsettled mind instantly. For some unknown reason, he started speaking in shuddh Hindi, which he does sometimes, and that worked like sprinkles of water on her burning soul. A warm smile covered her lips as her mind took her to her favorite world.

"Jaise tumhare diary ke ek-ek panne ki haqdar sirf tum ho... jaise tumhari kahaniyon ke kirdaaron ko tum apni kalam se zinda karti ho..."

The smile on Naina's lips widened, as if Sameer had caught on the exact nerves that would make her happy. He had taken her into her world of pen and paper, something she had always found herself immensely happy in.

Despite her eyes being shut, Naina felt Sameer coming closer to her, his warm breaths falling directly on her skin, hinting that he was so close to her now. She was in no mood to not like the moment, with her fantasy world playing in her mind and the love of her life, her husband, standing right in front of her like always.

"Ya phirrr...." Sameer continued and Naina prepared herself for whatever he was going to say next.

But why did he sound husky? Naina questioned herself. A part of her brain warned her that her husband standing so close and his husky voice was dangerous for herself.

"Ya phir... jab tum mere upar hoti ho... in the dominating position..."

Upar? What does it mean? And what is the dominating position?

Naina mused as a frown formed on her forehead. The image of her diary and pens and papers were now distorted because of the deroute Sameer had taken.

On top of him? What does that mean?

A few moments of processing and Naina gasped heavily, opening her eyes. "Sameerrrr..." She swatted his arm, still not believing how he made her imagine that in the broad daylight.

Sameer laughed, holding his stomach, almost prepared to run away if Naina continued to hit him.

"Jyada na hero banne ki zaroorat nahi hai..." Naina twisted her mouth.

"Mai toh sirf tumhe relax karwa raha tha..." Sameer said, plastering a wide grin on his lips.

Naina averted her eyes from him, blushing heavily with the newly formed images in her mind... images that were extremely graphic... erotic and utterly sensual... her breaths had gone uneven and goosebumps erupting all over her body... all thanks to Mr. Sameer Maheshawari.

Sameer chuckled, looking at her gratified face, "Chalein Mrs. Maheshwari? Nau-pachhis ho gaye..."

Picking up her file and bag from the platform, Naina followed Sameer to the office, stabilizing not just her belongings in her hand but her distracted self too.

"Hello, mai Naina Maheshwari. Interview ke liye aayi hu." Naina introduced herself to the receptionist who peered at her.

"Aap dono candidates hai?" The receptionist asked sternly.

"Nahi... sirf mai hu..." Naina replied.

"Interviews 10 baje se shuru honge... aur yaha par sirf aap ruk sakti hai..." The receptionist looked at Naina and Sameer one by one.

The Message was clear to the Mahewari couple that Sameer had to wait outside. Sameer smiled at Naina and strolled to the passage outside of the office, with Naina following him as an instinct.

It was a limited area with two offices opposite each other and a small space left for lift and stairs, and people constantly rushing in between, which meant Sameer had to go all the way down.

Sameer turned to Naina and voiced, with a big smile on, "all the best!! Aur itna dhyan me rakhna... tumhe select karke woh log lucky sabit honewale hai," and winked at last, earning a genuine smile from Naina before she walked inside.

Naina took her seat in the office and observed the place. She didn't like the way they called her at 9:30am but actually commencing the interviews at 10. It means Sameer had to wait for more than half an hour. This morning she tried to convince Sameer with all her possible weapons that either he shouldn't come at all or simply go for the auditions after dropping her to the place. But Mr. Maheshwari was so stubborn.

It was 10 minutes to 10 o'clock when she heard thunder from outside and when she was told that she needed to go in 5 minutes, the rainstorm struck heavily on the windows of the office. She got worried for Sameer who was in the parking lot, with nothing as a shelter for him.

Why does it always rain when we forget to take the umbrella?

She clutched her wooden bench underneath her, constantly looking outside even though she knew it wouldn't show her glimpse of Sameer. Her name was called and she reached the peak of panic.

But she couldn't go inside like this. Closing her eyes for a moment, she remembered what Sameer said. She has to believe in herself. Collecting all the confidence and faith, she finally shed the perturbations about the interview with a long exhale and entered the cabin.

The interview went smoothly for Naina, as she answered all the questions confidently. She found the preparation done by Anand and Shubham quite helpful. After the grilling session of 35 minutes, she stepped out with a smile, enquiring on the reception if she was required to stay and immediately making her way downstairs when she was informed they would call her if she gets selected.

On the ground floor, she was greeted with the alluring sight of her charming husband, who appeared partially drenched in the rain. His messy hair told that he might have ruffled his wet hair and she wished it were her hand that did it. He had something in his hand that looked like cardboard and he swiftly looked at her as if he got the intimation of her arrival.

Sameer's lips curved upwards when his eyes saw their favorite sight, Naina. He leaned closer to her, his face bearing expressions like he was about to share a secret plan with her. He mumbled, looking around and making sure no-one was in the vicinity of hearing range, "Mrs. Maheshwari, apni is file aur purse ko kass ke pakad lo... kyunki ab aap aur mai bhaagne wale hai..."

Naina's brows knitted, not understanding anything out of it but without giving much thought to it, she covered her stuff with her dupatta. Thankfully the rain wasn't as heavy as before. Sameer held her wrist tight, covering them with cardboard over the head and they ran... ran in the rain... Naina let herself completely in the hands of Sameer. She has never needed to think much when it comes to holding the forwarded hand of Sameer. After running some distance, Sameer took her to a chai-tapri which had a shelter over it. Beside it was a Bhutta vendor.

"Pehle chai ya bhutta?" Sameer asked, carrying a grin as he enjoyed the rain.

Naina chuckled, seeing her exhilarated husband. "Chai," she replied.

As they both relished the cutting chai while their bhutta being roasted on the charcoal on the next cart, Naina gazed at Sameer, who slurped the tea noisily, and peered at her to get her reaction. She only giggled at his childish act.

She mused if all the unrest that was going on in her head was really valid and even made any sense.

Standing next to her was her Sameer, for whom she had fought with her elders and the notions of the society.

Wasn't that sufficient enough that this man was in her life and was on a mission to make her every day, every hour, even every little moment beautiful?

Wasn't that sufficient to live her life?

Her chaotic mind was still unable to find any solid answer to these unvarying questions for months now.

She felt as if she herself needed some more time to decode the haywire thoughts in her mind, scrutinizing them one by one, and then put labels of what they exactly mean.

For now, she only wanted to focus on the moments she was savoring with Sameer, the cutting chai in her hand and the bhutta she would share with Sameer next.

The transistor at the tea-stall played a song and she couldn't relate more with it.

'Aanewala pal... jaanewala hai...

Ho sake toh isme zindagi beeta do...

Pal jo yeh jaanewala hai....'

***********

*RD: Recurring Deposit (Don't go elsewhere (⁠◠⁠‿⁠◕⁠) )

Hey guys, let me know how do you find this chapter.

There was supposed to be one more scene in this chapter, but then... phhewww... I decided to stop it here.

So Preeti finally got enrolled to a parlor, though she had time to join it. How do you feel about it?

Given the kind of relationship Preeti-Shubham share and their family environment, some things are actually dependent on Shubham. He is NOT exactly allowing her, but giving her access to certain things. I hope you understand the difference.

Naina's dilemma persists to continue. What's your opinion on her state of mind?

Any theories?

Do shower your love with votes and comments. I wish you interact more so that I can understand if you're okay with the flow of the story.

Next update soon.

Love.❤️