Hey Friends, being a fan of RD Burman music, I got introduced to this beautiful song only after yuduku. After that, it had become one of my favorites. While writing this chapter, I listened to this song multiple times to get into the vibe.

If you wanna get the same vibe as of mine while reading this chapter, you can watch this song first and then start the chapter. You will get the feel and would help in better imagination.

https://youtu.be/WRPUG-wFWXI

Happy Reading....

**********

The Sun had turned orange in color, painting the sky in the palette of yellow, orange, red, with sharp strokes of blue in the end. It was close to meeting the sea at the horizon, resulting in its heavenly reflection on the water, making it glimmer like moonlight.

Sameer kept listening to the calmness of nature, to the pleasant sound generated as the waves reached the shore, to the chirping of flocks of birds returning to their home. There wasn't much crowd today; a few stall vendors, though quite far from his place; a camel and a horse ride nearby and a group of 10-12 year old boys playing cricket. All of it added to the serenity of the evening. He slid his hands in his pockets and continued to observe the setting Sun, recalling his day.

After another bad day at auditions, Sameer had reached Naina's office at 4:50pm. He was curious to see Naina working in the office and hence he preferred to wait till the clock struck 5. Standing afar, he saw her at a table near a window. She was reading something as he perceived, and had 2-3 big open registers on her desk. With a pencil in her hand, she seemed to mark something in the logbooks and seeing her working with so much concentration, his heart surged with pride.

His wife oozed sheer confidence and elegance while working in an office setup!!

"Excuse me? Tumhi Naina Maheshwari che mister ahat ka?" His adoring stare was disturbed by the receptionist of the office. A question in Marathi.

"Ha." Thankfully he had understood it.

"Please, tumhi ithe basu shakta," the lady pointed at the couch for the guests and left.

He didn't know how but Naina's attention got diverted to him and she smiled widely, spotting him there. Waving at him, she checked her wrist watch, gaping at it right after. She started wrapping her work, stacking up the stationery and closing every open file. He saw her rushing, fumbling while putting her stuff back into her purse and then almost running towards him in excitement at the strike of 5 o'clock.

Some of the other employees had also started packing their stuff slowly, but it didn't go unnoticed from Sameer's observation that at the far end of the office, a person sitting in a posh glass cabin, who he believed was Naina's boss, checked his wrist watch and snorted looking at Naina.

He shouldn't have disturbed her maybe? ...from the work she was quite focussed on?

He got startled when Naina stood behind him almost jumping, grabbing his wrist with both her hands and flashing a wide grin.

"Thoda pani me chale?" she asked as she kept their footwear at a safe distance.

"Hum kyu aaye hai yaha?"

"Arey... tumhara hi toh sapna tha na..." Naina sounded as if it was so obvious, "subah mujhe office chhodoge, phir sham ko lene aaoge... wapsi ke raste me... ummm.... Sabarmati nahi hai, lekin bahot bada samundar hai..."

"Huhh... yeh nahi dekha tha maine hamare liye..." Sameer snorted, looking at the sea.

"Haan toh thoda idhar-udhar ho jata hai na..." Naina tried to keep the conversation light. "Ab chalo na..."

She pulled him along with her, walking further in the sea and allowing their feet to get doused by the waves.

They remained quiet for a while, observing and absorbing the setting sun ahead of them. At this moment, they both were on different tangents. Naina was thinking how to breach the topic she had planned this outing for. She knew it was a must conversation but at the same time she was afraid the talk would muddle Sameer more and hence she kept delaying it. Taking a deep breath, she let the tranquility of the surroundings, the melody of thudding waves sink in both of them, so that it's easier to talk.

On the other hand, Sameer had the complete reverse effect of the quietness on him. He found the silence to be painfully disturbing, forcing him to focus more on the chaos in his mind, to listen to the perturbations his mind was presenting to him.

Having spent the past four days interpreting his horrific dream, Sameer had lost his sanity. He was a dreamer from the beginning, always dreaming of a happy and peaceful life for himself and Naina. He never really had major career ambitions before they decided to come to Mumbai to try his luck in the film industry.

Mumbai... Sapno ka shaher...

He had heard from various people that this city fulfills everyone's dreams.... dreams that become the purpose of their lives...

...and like many of them, he too had dreams for himself, for Naina, for Papa. He was ready to do anything to get them fulfilled... But a few days ago, there was an addition of one more.

He looked at Naina and noticed that she hadn't left her hands on his yet. His big hand required both her tiny hands to cover it. She had a genuine smile on her lips and her face was glowing in the twilight. He understood her efforts to cheer him up... her wish to bring him here to tell that she would make his dreams turn to reality.

And in this moment, he wished that out of all his dreams, that one dream should never come true to life...

Dream?

It was a nightmare...

No, it cannot come true... it shouldn't...

because he had finally understood the meaning behind it...

"Mr. Maheshwari??" Naina's snap of fingers brought Sameer back to the moment. "Aise kya dekh rahe ho?"

Sameer chuckled and shook his head. "Kaisa tha tumhara office ka pehla din?" He asked.

"Achchha tha," Naina replied, smiling, "bahot kuchh padhne ke liye diya, firm ke operations samjhaye, mera kya kaam hoga woh bataya... aur bhi bahot kuchh..."

"Arey waah!" Sameer adored her as she shared her day animatedly.

"tumhara din kaisa raha? Aur woh film wala audition kaisa tha?" Naina jumped on her heels.

"Bakwaas..." Sameer grimaced, staring at the setting sun, he replied in a low voice.

Naina's shoulders slumped listening to his dejected reply again. She made him turn towards her, holding both his hands in hers.

"Kya baat hai Sameer?" Concern reflected from her voice, "mai samajh sakti hu kuchh auditions achchhe nahi ja rahe honge lekin..." she took a pause before continuing, "kuchh hua hai kya?"

Sameer identified worry in Naina's eyes and her overall approach and he fathomed that he should have answered differently to her question. "Chhodo na Naina, kya meri baatein lekar baith gayi..." He changed his tone to cheerful, "aaj tumhara pehla din tha na, toh hum celebrate karte hai..."

"Sameer," Naina held her grip firmly and pulled Sameer back when he was about to leave it and get something for her. "Mujhse baat karo... " Her voice carried an urge and desperation. "phir se Aryan jaisa kuchh?"

Sameer lowered his gaze and shook his head in no.

"Toh phir tum itne udaas kyu ho inn dino? Tumhe lagta hai mujhe tumhari hasi ke pichhe jo dard hai woh dikh nahi raha?"

Sameer raised his eyes to her deep ones, and then back to their strong handhold. He knew there was no escape from the situation.

He sighed heavily, "mujhe samajh nahi aa raha hai Naina mere sath kya ho raha hai... koi audition thik se nahi ja raha... jo achchhe ja rahe hai waha se response nahi aa raha hai... mujhe yeh tak lagne laga hai mai sahi raste par ja bhi raha hu ya nahi..."

"Koi baat nahi Sameer aisa hoga hi," Naina tried to console him, "itne samay me hame itna toh pata chal gaya na ki kisi baharwale ko iss industry ke kaam milna aasan nahi hai... toh tumhe auditions dene hi padenge..."

"Mai thak gaya hu yaar Naina audition de-dekar... ek toh itne third class dialogues bulwate hai aur ummeed karte hai hum achchhe expressions de unpar..." He took some deep breaths through his mouth so that he wouldn't choke. "Mujhe nahi lagta mera yaha kuchh honewala hai..."

"Sameer, tum zaroor kamyaab hoge..."

"Yaha kaam ka koi bharosa nahi hai Naina... aaj kaam hai toh kal nahi... koi aaj superstar hai toh kal zero..."

"Sameer kaam ka risk toh har jagah hai... koi kaam aasan nahi hai... aur tum aisa kyu soch rahe ho? Mai jaanti hu tumhe bass ek achchha role mil jaye, phirㅡ"

"Nahi Naina... ab mujhe bharosa nahi raha khudpe..." He sighed and took a brief pause. He was mentally exhausted. "kabhi kabhi inn sabse door kahi bhag jane ka mann karta hai... yeh bheed, auditions, production houses... sabse door..."

Naina looked agape at Sameer. She feared if Sameer was thinking of quitting it. She held his arms and said, "Sameer, nahi... humne boutique ka business bhi aise hi beech me chhod diya tha... agar yaha par bhi humne bina koshish kiye chhod diya toh kahi par bhi tik nahi payenge... hum aisa nahi kar sakte..."

Sameer stared at Naina and the sincerity she was speaking with about their failed boutique business. He wished they could have stayed longer to make it work or better let Naina pursue her career or do a job, instead of dragging her with himself in that business. He cursed himself for wasting Naina's precious time behind him and was afraid he might do the same here.

"Hum?" Sameer's eyes had glistened by the time. He chuckled awkwardly.

Naina's grip on his arms loosened. The question mark ahead of 'hum' had made a royal entry again in their conversation. It had started becoming the barrier between them... a wall that was probably separating them from each other... marking them as individual personalities and not as a whole... not as a team... and neither soulmates...

Her eyes brimmed with tears, "yeh prashna chinh wapas kyu aa raha hai hamare beech? Kya tumhe phirse aisa lagta hai ki mai tumhe chhodㅡ"

"Nainaa..." Sameer interrupted her, not allowing her to complete. "Mujhe tumse ek promise chahiye..."

Naina was anguished by his inability to believe in her... their togetherness... and now him asking for a promise increased her misery. What after all is going on in his mind?

"Mai nahi karnewali koi promise," she denied straight, crossing her arms.

"Please Naina..." Sameer urged.

Naina glanced back at him and what she saw in his eyes was helplessness and a plea.

"Kaisa promise?" She queried with a thousand questions in her eyes. Her heart was beating fast and she didn't know what was coming towards her.

Sameer took her hand in his, enclosing it both with his hands, he rubbed them slightly. His voice trembled as he spoke, "Naina mujhse vada karo... ki agar iss safar me mai pichhe reh jaun, ya kahi gir jaun... aur tum aage badh gayi ho... toh mere liye tum wapas nahi aaogi... tum sirf apne aap par dhyan dogi, apne raste par focus karogi, thik hai?"

Tears flowed down Naina's eyes without her permission.

What had happened to her Sameer? He never spoke like this...

She sniffed, wiping the tears from her cheeks, "tumhe kisne kaha mai tumhara sath chhodkar aage nikal jaungi??" she accused him. Her eyes bore absolute hurt.

Sameer shut his eyes in exasperation, "Naina mera yaha kya hoga mai nahi jaanta. Aur mere liye mai tumhare future ko daav par nahi laga sakta."

Leaving his hold on her hand, Sameer walked more into the sea. He ruffled his hair. He was so overwhelmed with despair and grief that his throat couldn't bear the pressure anymore and a sob left his mouth.

"Sameeeerrr..." Naina followed him. She saw him shedding tears and not matching his eyes with her. She cradled his face in her palms, "meri taraf dekho... meri taraf dekho Sameer..."

The earnestness in his beloved wife's voice forced Sameer to control his sobs and look at her.

"Mai tumhe chhodke kahi nahi ja rahi... suna na tumne..." Naina affirmed, wiping his tears with her thumbs, "aur... Hame haarna nahi hai... hame koshish karte rehna hai... aur tab tak nahi rukna hai jab tak hame kaamyabi nahi mil jaati... iss baar nahi Sameer... iss baar hum peeth dikhakar nahi bhagne wale..."

Sameer sniffed and exhaled through his mouth. Naina's words worked as a gentle blow on his wounds.

Naina stroked his jaw, "tumhe yaad hai? Isi beach par tumne kaha tha hum apna waqt khud badlenge... sath chalkar... aage badhkar..."

Sameer's eyes twinkled as Naina reminded him of his own poem. He had recited it to her on the same beach, while observing the sun in the same way. He recalled how Naina had shown her faith in him that he will become a superstar one day. And he had countered that not only him, but she too will be as successful as him. They were in a similar situation again, but this time the equation had changed... their roles had reversed as the time passed by.

"Sameer, mujhe yakeen hai hum dono ek sath kaamyab honge... hamara naam hamesha sath me liya jayega... hum me na koi aage rahega na koi pichhe... hum dono har kadam par sath sath hi chalenge..."

A warm smile appeared on Sameer's lips for the first time this evening.

"Yeh sab kaise hoga Naina?" Sameer asked, "itna time ho gaya hame Mumbai me aur ab ek bhi role nahi mila mujhe..."

"Milega... Pakka milega..." Naina's hands slipped on his chest, "tum bata rahe the na kal tumhara screen test hai kisi serial ke liye? Aur tumhe character bhi achchha laga tha, hai na?"

He nodded.

"Toh kal apna 200% do screen test me... ji-jaan laga do... dekhna, tumhe role zaroor milega... mujhe bharosa hai tumpe..."

Sameer smiled, looking down, he found her hand on his chest. He flattened her palm on his heart and said, "phir se kaho..."

Naina chuckled as she perceived what he wanted her to repeat. "Mujhe bharosa hai tumpe Sameer..."

The next moment, they both laughed together. "Dekha, mera dil sirf tumhari sunta hai..." Sameer voiced and Naina blushed, as they both experienced his accelerated heartbeat.

"I love you, Naina..." Sameer said in a horse voice, his intense gaze pierced straight to Naina's soul.

"I love you, Sameer..." Naina reciprocated with equal intensity but full of love.

She stood on her toes, taking support of her husband's shoulders and directed herself towards his lips. Sameer had anticipated a hug from her, but looked like his Naina was becoming bold little by little. His hands settled on her waist and their lips brushed gently on one another in the softest kiss possible.

The Sun had gone down the horizon way before but it was present as the twilight to witness the unison of these two souls on the beach. The waves kept thumping the knees of the couple, drenching them but the couple stood tall and remained unmoved. The power of their togetherness was greater than that.

****

"Toh aapko kahaniyaan likhna kyu pasand hai?" The senior editor of the Hindi newspaper, Mrs. Sulekha Sharma asked, holding a pen in her hand and leaning back to her chair.

Naina smiled before answering, "Ma'am, mujhe lagta hai kahaniyaan humari zindagi ka atut hissa hai... hum sabke zindagi me kahin na kahin kahaniyaan basi hui hai, har chhotasa pal ek qissa hai... aur inhi khubsurat palon ko shabdo me baandhna mujhe achchha lagta hai."

Mrs. Sharma passed a small smile looking at Naina's enthusiasm. "Gadkari sahab hamare vishwasneey hai. Unhone mujhe aapki Kadambini me chhapi kahaniyaan dikhayi aur mai wakai inse prabhavit hu. Aapke dono kahaniyon me ek sandesh chhupa hua hai? Koi vishesh karan?"

"Ma'am, mai maanti hu kahaniyaan sabse aasan zariya hai koi baat samjhane ka ya sikhane ka... kahaniyon ke zariye logo ka manoranjan bhi ho jata hai, aur sath hi sath unhe ek seekh bhi milti hai, jise apne jeevan shaili me apnana jyada aasan hai... jaise akhbar, patrikayein, films, tv serials..."

"Lekin hame ek columnist ki zaroorat hai..." Mrs. Sharma informed as she noted something on her notepad, "jo har hafte hamare bataye muddon par lekh likhe... jinhe ek shabd-maryada bhi hogi. Aapko kam se kam shadbo me jyada prabhav lana hai."

"Ji, mai jaanti hu," Naina answered, keeping a smile on.

Propping her chin on her fist, Mrs. Sharma asked further, "hum chaar salon me ekkisvi sadi me pravesh karnewale hai... toh aap ekkisvi sadi ki mahilon ko kaise dekhna chahegi?"

Naina adjusted herself in the seat, taking a moment for herself before answering. "Mai chahti hu ekkisvi sadi ki mahila sabse pehle apne pairon par khade hona sikhe, woh aatma-nirbhar bane. Paison ka vyavhar khud kare, apne faisle khud le. Aur na sirf bank me ya kisi school me naukri kare balki har kshetra me apna naam kamaye."

Mrs. Sharma tried to remain neutral and plain after Naina's answer, but she couldn't resist sporting a warm smile.

She pursed her lips and only nodded, now ready to grill Naina on political and financial questions.

***

Naina entered the house in her own zone, sighing from exhaustion while removing her sandals and locking the door. She gasped as she got startled when she spotted Sameer sprawled on the sofa, with a similar furniture arrangement as a few weeks before; a cushion below his head on the armrest, and his legs extending on the joined sofa chair.

She wasn't expecting Sameer at home at this time...

Sameer removed his hand he had covered his head from after hearing a gasp.

"Tum phir se jaldi ghar aa gaye?" Naina asked with a shivering smile. She had recognized that Sameer was still skipping some auditions he would inform about.

He only stared at her, not wanting to answer her question and glanced at the wall clock.

Keeping her purse on the tea-table, Naina walked to the couch, "hato na thoda," she said cutely, asking Sameer to make space for her.

"Tch... yahi baithna hai kya tumhe bhi?" Sameer said irked, but adjusting himself.

Naina showed him her colgate smile and swayed her hips in order to sit closer to him.

"Aaj half-day hota hai na tumhara?" Sameer asked her in a deep and low voice.

Naina turned excited, "haan woh-"

"Khair... achchha hai tum dil lagakar kaam kar rahi ho..." Sameer didn't let her complete.

Naina sighed, rubbing her thumb on her palm. She knew she had to be cautious while talking to Sameer these days. "Papa kaha hai?"

"Library gaye hai... note chhodke gaye tumhare liye," Sameer showed him a chit where Rakesh Papa had left a message for Naina. "Inko ab saturday bhi library me jana hai... " he huffed, keeping the back of his palm on his forehead again.

Sameer had returned earlier expecting to see Naina and Papa at home, but was greeted by an empty house again. After finding the note by Papa, he had waited for an hour for Naina, but there was no sign of her too. Finally tired of waiting and paying heed to his gurgling stomach, he sat to have his meal all alone in the house.

"Papa bhi na... pata nahi chhata lekar gaye honge ya nahi... aisa lag raha hai baarish hone wali hai..." Naina remarked, having a look outside through the window. She gazed at Sameer expecting something in return, but there wasn't any response from him.

She wanted to share something badly with him. ...but he didn't look in a good mood.

"Tum..." she cleared her throat, "tumhe aaram karna hai toh bedroom me jakar so jao na... ittu se sofe par kyu so rahe ho?"

"Kyunki bada sofa lene layak paise nahi kamata mai..." came the curt reply from Sameer.

Naina's heart stopped beating for a moment. She softly clasped her palm in his, the one on his head, and slowly drew it back.

"Mazak kar raha hu Baba..." Sameer smiled, "mai thik hu."

She nodded and leaned towards him, balancing herself on the small space, she tried to rest her head on his chest.

"Kya kar rahi ho yaar?"

"Mai apne takiye par so rahi hu... tumhe koi problem hai?" her tone was childish.

Sameer chuckled, "mujhe kya problem ho sakti hai? Ittu se sofe par hum kar bhi kya sakte hai..."

Naina too giggled at his playful comment and sighed. Sameer pulled her more on himself so that she doesn't fall and heaved deeply by sinking his chin in her hair.

The couple cherished this little moment with each other for a while, until the telephone ring breached their solitude.

Sameer made an annoying sound and tried to get-up, but it was Naina who rushed before him to pick-up the call.

The casual smile that was on her lips slowly faded after she heard the other person speaking.

"Ji ek minute," she said and turned, finding Sameer right behind her. "Tumhare liye hai... kisi production house se hai."

Naina passed the cordless to Sameer in apprehension. ....in the fear of repetition of the day when he had got a rejection call at home.

She stood there in trepidation, crumpling her kurta in her fist. During the previous time, Sameer had behaved so weirdly after the rejection call that she found it difficult to deal with him. Moreover, he has turned quite unpredictable these days. The talk on the beach had worked on him, but she guessed there was still some pessimism left in him.

Putting the device back in the stand as he finished the call, Sameer turned to Naina and Naina held her breath. She was so scared about whatever Sameer was going to tell her that she didn't notice that he was smiling.

He was smiling big...

"Kal jo audition diya tha na... serial wala... Woh role mil gaya Naina...." Sameer disclosed.

Naina sighed in despair, looking at the floor.

Wait... whaaatttt???

Her now wide eyes raised up to him and his smile turned into a grin.

"Kya?" She asked to confirm again. She was so lost in herself that she didn't want to mishear anything.

Sameer chuckled, "Haan Naina, mai select ho gaya."

"Sachchi?" She gasped and covered her mouth with her palms.

She didn't need to cross-check though. She saw a sparkle in Sameer's eyes after many days.

"Muchchi," he said, pouting.

That's all she needed. His face radiating happiness, his plum lips that had forgotten to smile now carrying a big smile, his deep black orbs twinkling and his voice back to normal.

"Sameeerrrr..." She jumped on him in happiness, looping her arms around his neck and leaving rest of her body for him to handle.

Beaming ear to ear, Sameer wrapped her in his arms and lifted her petite body from the floor.

How many days he had waited for this moment!!!

To finally get casted into something, a television show or a film... to see himself on the screen for more than 30 seconds... to get to deliver some genuine dialogues without holding a product in hand...

...and to share this news with Naina first... to crush her into a hug... and hear from herㅡ

"I'm proud of you, my husband!!!" Naina whispered near Sameer's ear and kissed it.

The kiss on his ear caused vibrations in his brain, making him almost bypass the words she had said.

But he had heard it. He had heard what he wanted to for a long time!!

On the other side of the hug, Naina squeezed her eyes shut to protect the happy tears.

How long she had waited to say these words to him!!!

To see Sameer getting selected for a good role... to see him on television screen again... not during the commercial break but actually in a serial... to be the first person to receive this news and to jump on him in joy...

She slowly drew back from the hug, settling herself on her feet and looking at Sameer adoringly. His glinted eyes told her that he too was equally happy and overwhelmed, and their hands still on their partner's body signified their need to be with one another at this moment.

Sameer tucked Naina's loosened hairlock behind her ear and voiced, "DD par 13 episodes ka ek show aanewala hai... 4-5 din ka shoot hoga... shayad 2 episodes me dikhunga mai... aur kal paperwork ke liye bulaya hai..."

Naina heaved, still sinking in the news. "Sameer mai bata nahi sakti mai kitni khush hu yeh baat sunkar..." She finished her sentence and put a quick peck on his lips.

Sameer chuckled but then sighed, "kash tumhari teesri kahani bhi chhap jati Kadambini me... hattrick ho jati."

"Kahani nahi chhapi toh kya hua," Naina shrugged, "ab articles chhapenge..."

"Matlab?"

"Matlab..." She moved closer to him, "aaj office ke baad woh columnist ke interview ke liye gayi thi... unhone mujhe select kar liya..."

"Sach?"

"Mooch... 10 articles ki baat hui hai... ab 15 August ke baad se har ravivaar mera article chhapega akhbaar mein..."

"Woww Nainaaa..." Sameer almost screamed and by tightening his hold on her back, he lifted her to whirl in sheer happiness.

The laughter of the duo reverberated in the living room as they twirled, with broad smiles on their lips, happy tears in their eyes and joy, pride and contentment in their heart.

Outside of the confined walls, dark clouds gathered in the sky and a low but long thunder shook the environment. The leaves and branches of trees rumbled, the dust on the ground wheeled in the eddies of the wind.

It was a hint of the imminent storm. A storm that perhaps had the potential to vandalize the strong pillars and buildings too.

What the Maheshwari couple was oblivious about was thatㅡ

a storm was approaching towards them too...

and sooner or later... it was going to hit them...

*********

Damnnn that end... 

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