Naina slammed the pen in her hand on the desk and closed the logbook with a force. She hid her face in her palms, and took some deep breaths. She was feeling giddiness and her bowel system was troubling her too. Having your periods in office hours is the worst feeling, she mused. Thankfully she had carried the sanitary napkin and used it in the washroom at close to 12 o'clock. But since then, she has been getting terrible menstrual cramps.

"Naina, kya hua? Tum thik ho?" Naina felt an affectionate touch on her head and she looked up to find her colleague Mrs. Smita Bansal.

Naina adjusted in her chair and put a smile on her contorted face, "ji ma'am, mai thik hu." She tried to assure her.

Mrs. Smita pulled a chair from a nearby table and positioned it close to Naina's chair. "Kya hua? Sir ne bahot jyada kaam de diya?" She asked.

"Nahi nahi. Aisi koi baat nahi hai." Naina maintained a smile.

"Kaam toh hai thoda jyada. I agree on that part." Smita said, "waise.. tum direct entry route se aayi ho na?" Naina responded yes. "toh exam May me dogi?"

"Ji Ma'am."

"Good. Toh? Padhai kaise chal rahi hai? I hope you are not taking it lightly."

Naina went silent for a moment. She didn't really get time to focus on her studies since she had joined her articleship.

"I assume it's not going well?" Smita commented, reading Naina's face. "Naina, direct entry ke wajah se tum pehli baar CA ki exam dogi. Woh bhi CA Inter. It's not easy. I know 9 months ka training khatm hote hi tumhe exam ke liye appear karna padega, but please do it. Don't wait till next November."

For the first time, Naina realized the severity of the exam she had enrolled in. Before starting her articleship, she was studying at home all by herself, choosing whatever subject she felt. But now she comprehended she would need to manage both her studies and the articleship, that too with proper management of time.

"Ji ma'am, mai zaroor iss baat ka dhyan rakhungi." Naina said and her hand clutched her stomach after a sharp cramp again.

"Good girl." Smita smiled back. "Waise tum itni murjhayi si kyu lag rahi ho? Tumhari tabiyat sach me thik nahi lag rahi mujhe."

"Nahi, mai thik hu."

"Naina... you can tell me. Batao mujhe." Smita insisted.

"woh darasal..." Naina looked around for a moment and lowered her voice, "mere periods aaye hai. Aur bahot dard ho raha hai."

"Ohhooo... yeh mahilaon ki har mahine ki dukhbhari dastaan. Hume periods ke liye bhi special leave milni chahiye na?" Smita tried to cheer up Naina, but Naina could manage only a tight smile.

Smita figured Naina might be in real pain and she checked her wrist watch, "tum ek kaam karo. Half-day off le lo, aur ghar jake aaram karo." She suggested with a sweet smile.

Naina refused, stating that she had already taken a leave just two weeks ago. But Smita was persistent. "That's okay Naina, tumhari halat dekho... mai Sir se baat karti hu tum chinta mat karo."

Urging Naina to pack her bag, Smita actually went to their Boss's cabin to talk to him and Naina could only feel grateful at her caring gesture. After five minutes, she returned with a smile and a thumbs up, indicating she got the half day approved for Naina.

She assisted Naina till the main gate of the building and booked an auto for her straight till the society. Naina heaved a sigh and shut her eyes as the auto started. Whenever she had a painful first day or severe cramps at home, she would leave everything in her hand straightway, stretch her legs on the mattress and relax for some time. The hot water bag given by Sameer or Papa used to be her favourite add-on. But none of it was possible in the office today and the constant sitting position just added to her misery.

But at this moment, in addition to her period's first day woes, there was one more thing that was troubling her. And it was her CA studies.

She had practically only eight months for the exam and as Mrs. Bansal said, it wouldn't be easy.

She needed to concentrate more on her studies.

****

Sameer was close to the Sea Queen Society as he was returning home. After waiting for two hours in the office of Cine Association to make his Artist card, he was told that it wasn't ready yet. First, he actually questioned whether it was really important for an artist, but when he informed the same to Aditya and Aditya did some enquiry, they both got to know that it held some value.

However, he wasn't in a great mood since morning anyways. Papa had straightaway declared that he had taken off for today and Wednesday from the Library, Tuesday being his off day by default. And Naina too seemed reluctant to go to the office since she was meeting Arjun after a long time. But then she left for the office unwillingly.

When Sameer was about to go out, he heard Papa telling Arjun that they would eat outside in the afternoon and visit some places nearby. The kind of happiness Papa was bearing on his face, Sameer couldn't believe that he had actually broken all ties with Arjun.

And for Arjun... Well, he was surprised when he heard his cricket story yesterday. He had been talking to Arjun for over a month now, though in gaps, but he wasn't aware of Arjun's side till yesterday. All their calls would mostly be about Arjun wanting to hear Rakesh and Naina's voice and their chatter; and when it wouldn't be possible, he would just casually ask about all their well-being and whatever was going on in their life.

Sameer comprehended that it was his moral responsibility to check on Arjun from his side. But then... that envelope Arjun gave to Papa yesterday muddled him. He had transferred a hefty amount of Forty Thousand rupees. And he had earned it only from his cricket coaching to rich kids.

As a gift for the 50th birthday, it was indeed a big...

What did he gift Papa on his 50th birthday??

Forget the gift, had he contributed in any way for Papa's security and future?

He is his responsibility after all, right???

He was perturbed with all these questions creating chaos in his head. He was becoming restless. It didn't matter how many auditions he attended in a day or how many production houses he had submitted his photos at, the conversion rate of getting a role through it was still very much low.

Despite doing a shoot for five days for a Doordarshan show, he hadn't gotten his paycheck yet... nor did he know when the show would get broadcast, so that he can get more roles at least from its reference.

As he entered the society gate, he found Nirmalaji and Mrs. Gadkari walking slowly ahead of him, engaged in a chatter while on the way.

He heard Mrs. Gadkari speaking, "kal toh itna shock laga na mujhe. Bapre!! Mera vishwas hi nahi hua Rakesh bhau ko ek ladka bhi hai. Waise woh apne bete ke sath kyu nahi rehte? Khudka beta hote hue apni beti aur damaad ke sath koi rehta hai kya?"

Nirmalaji replied, adjusting her pallu, "ab tujhe kya batau mai Gauri. Manne na iss pariwar ke reeti-riwaaz hi na samjhe hai. Ab iss mamle me toh Rakesh Bhaisahab jane aur unka beta jaane."

The ladies dispersed to their respective wings, while Sameer stood there thinking.

Now that everything is fine between Papa and Arjun, does Papa also think the same??

Sameer entered the house with his keys, looking around as soon as he removed his footwear. There was no one in his eyesight but he could hear some laughter coming possibly from the bedroom. As he took a stride and looked through the passage, he saw Arjun and Rakesh sitting on the cane stools in the bedroom, facing in the direction of the mattress.

Were they talking to someone there? Who could it be at 3 in the afternoon, that too in their bedroom? Preeti maybe??

He just guessed.

He casually strolled towards the room, taking each step lazily, rather delaying entering into his own bedroom for no reason.

Arjun voiced, stifling his giggle and making an imaginary phone with his hand, "Papa, suniye toh... Naina aise baat kar rahi thi... 'tum kabse jaanti ho Sameer ko? Achchha tumhe pata hai na ki Sameer shadishuda hai'..." he sounded extra dramatic while mimicking Naina and then he burst into laughter, followed by Rakesh.

"Bhaiyyaaa... aap bhi naaa..."

Sameer heard Naina's voice from inside the bedroom and he stopped.

Is Naina at home already? Sameer frowned and checked his wrist watch again.

So she couldn't return home in time on her actual half-days, but took a half-day off because her brother was here? A nasty question struck in his mind again.

"Kitni der laga di yaar tum logo ne, mujhe toh laga mai bahot jaldi pakda jaunga." Arjun said and his attention got diverted to Sameer, who was standing in the middle of the passage. "Arey, Sameer... aao na... aise khade kyu ho?" he said with a smile.

Sameer acknowledged Arjun with a return smile and a nod. "Mai fresh hokar aata hu... " he almost mumbled, gesturing with his thumb towards the bathroom and entering it immediately.

"Sameer aa gaya?" Naina asked; her eyes twinkled the moment she heard Sameer's name.

Arjun frowned for a moment but then pursed his lips and smiled, looking at Naina, he informed, "haan... fresh hone gaya hai."

Naina made a small face and leaned on the wall again.

"Papa, chalo hum hall me baithte hai... Naina, tum aaram karo thik hai." Arjun suggested and both father and son got up.

"Tujhe kuchh chahiye Naina?" Rakesh asked her softly.

"Pehle Sameer ko aa jane do... usse hi batati hu kuchh chahiye hoga toh." Naina answered childishly.

Sameer took longer than his usual time in the washroom to freshen up. He didn't even look in the direction of the bedroom when he was out and walked straight in the living room, finding Papa and Arjun on the couch contrary to his expectations. He chose to drink water firstー he was thirstyー so he strolled to the kitchen.

In the process of taking a steel glass, filling a jar from the matka and then filling his glass with water, all of it utterly slowly by the way, Sameer heard Arjun and Papa talking about their outing, where they had eaten street food in the stark sunlight. He gulped water little by little.

"Papa, aap na Kanpur aaiye..." Arjun said in elation, "aapko waha ke galliyon ki chaat khilaunga mai..."

The empty steel glass was slammed hard on the platform in the kitchen.

"Kya hua?" Rakesh asked as he peeped slightly.

"Ku... kuchh nahi Papa..." Sameer replied. He shut his eyes and took a deep breath. He chose to sit on the sofa chair with a tight smile on.

"Waise... Naina ne kuchh bataya?" Rakesh asked him, "usse bolo kam se kam dawai toh kha le."

"Dawai?" Sameer asked with a frown. He didn't get the context at all.

Rakesh and Arjun too got confused and looked at each other.

"Tum mile nahi kya Naina se? Tabiyat thik nahi hai uski." Rakesh informed Sameer quite unbelievably. He couldn't really believe that Sameer might not have met Naina in the bedroom. His son-in-law was a kind of husband who needed to see his wife as soon as he returned home.

Sameer sat agape for a moment, sinking in with the information that didn't cross his mind at all.

....and then he rushed.

Standing under the doorframe, Sameer saw Naina sleeping as she cocooned herself, with her head on the slanted cushion on the wall. The duvet had covered her lower half but he didn't miss the hot-water bag on her stomach. Her face was pale.

"Naina," he mumbled.

Naina looked at him and her lips turned downwards as she sat and extended her arms towards him like a little girl asking her mother to pick her up.

"Kya hua?" Sameer knelt down on the mattress and engulfed Naina in his embrace. She was almost in tears.

"Kabse raah dekh rahi hu mai tumhari... itna time kaun leta hai bathroom me?" Naina complained in a typical childish tone, rubbing her face on Sameer's shirt and tightening her hold on him.

"Sorryyy..." He rested his chin on her head and whispered while stroking her back.

"Mere na office me periods aa gaye... aur itna pet dard kar raha tha mera... samajh hi nahi aa raha tha kya karu..."

Naina continued to share her periods tale with Sameer while Sameer kept on humming in between till she was done. However, he was upset with himself for all his behavior since he had come home.

How could he not check on Naina... or at least have a glance at her?

What had happened to him??

****

Arjun went to Preeti's house for dinner in the evening. Nirmalaji wouldn't have been much happier knowing that someone from Preeti's mayka is coming for dinner at their home, but after learning that Shubham had invited Arjun, she didn't have much to say. She herself was surprised to see Shubham being so friendly with his brother-in-law.

Preeti had made all Arjun's favorite dishes and Arjun was pleased to know that his jhalli and filmy sister had mastered cooking skills too. The dinner was a pleasant chatter about various things; Shubham and Arjun discussed their office stories while Preeti too participated in between in an attempt to shift their talks from office to anything else.

Shubham and Preeti walked downstairs with Arjun and they actually talked for a long time in the garden. Arjun checked on Preeti's status with her parlor course permission and she looked at Shubham surprisingly again.

"Yeh kya baat hui Bhaiyya? Matlab aapko ek naya dost mil gaya toh aap apni hi behno ko bhul gaye?" This time she was really unhappy with Arjun.

Arjun only smiled. He tried to explain how he was caught with guilt and stuck in wanting to talk to his sisters but make himself worthy of it first. He accepted that though there wasn't any restriction on him talking to Preeti but knowing how close Preeti and Naina are, he was sure Preeti wouldn't waste even a moment to tell Naina about it.

Preeti was convinced with the answer. Because even she knew the moment she would have talked to Arjun, she would have ran to Naina and share about it, and that actually would have hurt Naina more... not being able to talk to her own brother.

Preeti directed her attack to her husband, crossing her arms. "Bhaiyya ka toh mai samajh sakti hu... Lekin Shubhamji, aap ne bhi nahi bataya mujhe?"

Shubham chuckled, "Preeti, yeh tumhara bhai hai na... yeh bahot pohchi hui cheez hai... isne mujhe aur Sameer, hum dono ko apni-apni patni ki kasam de rakhi thi."

This made the trio burst into laughter. Before leaving, Arjun hugged Preeti and Shubham again, he promised Preeti he would be directly in contact with her and wished her best for her mission to get permission for her parlour course.

The night at Maheshwari's passed in chatters, a call with Juhi, card games and soothing old classics songs playing on radio.

****

It was Tuesday night when all were engaged in random chatter in the living room after dinner. Rakesh looked at the clock and voiced, "chalo bhai, tum log baatein karo... mai tehel ke aata hu... waise bhi 3-4 dinon se gaya nahi hun..." While wearing his chappals, he looked at Sameer and asked him, "Sameer, chaloge sath me?"

Sameer's eyes twinkled with Papa's proposition. "Haan haan Papa. chaliye na." He replied hurriedly and almost rushed to Rakesh.

"Sameer..." Arjun called him from the couch as Sameer fumbled while wearing his chappals. "Tum toh aksar jaate hoge na Papa ke sath, toh aaj mai jaaun?" Arjun suggested.

The glow on Sameer's face faded. It had been weeks that he couldn't join Papa for the walk, and when Papa himself asked him to join, that chance too seemed to go away now. Sameer looked at Rakesh first to see what 'he' wanted. He found Rakesh only smiling while looking at Arjun, as if he had no problem with it, and Sameer sighed. He nodded to Arjun and walked back inside the house.

Rakesh and Arjun started their walk with Rakesh telling Arjun about the places that fell on his way. When Arjun casually enquired about Rakesh's work in the library, Rakesh happily shared every detail about it. He shared how he accidentally found the library when he had lost his way back home after a wrong turn. He shared how he hid it first from Naina and Sameer because of his fear of going back to his past. He happily revealed how his colleagues are very kind to him and how they actually respect him. When he asked Arjun about his life in Kanpur, Arjun too shared how he is managing his office responsibility and cricket, and maintaining a balance between them. Arjun also said he is willing to shift into a rented house with Juhi and they both will work to support their finances.

"Aap maa ko bahot yaad karte hai na, Papa?" Arjun asked. "Maine suna tha uss din phone pe."

Rakesh furrowed his brows, not getting what day Arjun was talking about.

"Jiss din aap Sameer ko kavita padhkar suna rahe the," Arjun himself clarified looking at Rakesh.

Rakesh only smiled, knowing that his son was listening to him when he shared some personal details of his life with Sameer. "Yaad toh hamesha karta hun," he uttered as he continued looking straight on the road. "Agar aaj Rama mere sath hoti... toh shayad yeh zindagi kuchh aur hi hoti..." a big pause and he sighed, "aur mai bhi."

That day on the call, Arjun for the first time had perceived Rakesh as just a man, and not his father. He discerned how children always find it difficult to look at their parents from a neutral perspective. That day he tried to see Papa as a man who had lost his wife, and not as a father who had the responsibility of two children on his shoulders. And today while seeing that very man right in front of him, he understood the gravity of this statement. He finally fathomed why his father was the way he was.

They walked silently for a while and took a detour from the nearby park, but lingered there due to the pleasant weather. Arjun had his hands in his pockets while Rakesh was only cherishing the breeze and the rumbling of leaves.

Arjun turned slightly towards Rakesh and cleared his throat to get his father's attention. "Papa, aapse kuchh baat karni thi." His voice lowered as his confidence shook.

"Haan bolo na." Rakesh said casually.

"Aap se maafi mangni thi Papa... Uss din maine phone par jo bhi kuchh kaha uske liye... mere bartaav ek liye..."

It didn't take a second for Rakesh to realize which call Arjun was talking about. The smile on his face weakened and a glower took place on it instead. He averted his gaze and locked his hands behind. Arjun huffed awkwardly, knowing that his guess was right. Papa still had the grudge in his heart for his improper behavior and words that day on the call. He had assumed that it must have been a father's love for his son that overpowered the resentment he had and that made him accept him inside the house on Sunday evening. But that didn't mean he had forgiven him. And how right he was about his father.

Rakesh didn't move from his place, allowing Arjun to continue. "Mujhe aapse aise baat nahi karni chahiye thi, Papa. Lekin mai pareshan ho gaya tha jis tarah se mujhe waha treat kiya ja raha tha. Aap pe gussa aa raha tha ki aap mere pyaar ka samjhauta kaise kar sakte hai. Aur mujhe aise logon ke beech kaise dhakel sakte hai jahan mera koi maan-sanmaan nahi tha. Jis faisle ki wajah se mujhe apni hi behen ki shadi ke beech me se bulaya gaya aur na hi woh meri shadi me aa payi thi." Arjun's voice turned heavy gradually, he took a deep breath, "lekin phir samajh aaya yeh sab meri nakamyabi ka hi nateeja tha."

Rakesh looked at Arjun, his gaze was soft and gentle. He had never asked his son whether he was really ready to get married in such circumstances. Today, his son was finally pouring his heart out and expressing what he truly felt in those days.

"Bete ke nakamyab hone par rishton ke saude nahi kiye jaate Arjun... balki usse housla diya jaata hai... Uspar vishwas jataya jaata hai ki beta koi baat nahi, mai hu tumhare sath." Rakesh turned emotional as he spoke, "jo mai nahi kar paaya." His eyes rooted fixed to the ground and quietude dominated the environment for a while.

Rakesh recalled the situation he was caught in right in between Naina's wedding. "Bhaisahab aur bhabhiji ne itna dabaav daala mere upar ki mai samajh hi nahi paaya uss samay kya sahi tha aur kya galat... " He patted Arjun's cheek, eyeing him deeply and said, "tumhe maafi mangne ki avashyakta nahi hai Arjun..."

Rakesh took a stride to leave and wiped the tear from the corner of his eyes. He didn't feel the need to stretch this talk, he was relieved when his son apologized to him for misbehaving. He felt it was his ego that had made him backlash on Arjun on the day of Diwali, his pride was hurt when his son rejected him on the face and made him feel he wasn't needed in his life. But today, all his grudges submerged in the salty water of his tears.

"Papa..." Arjun held Rakesh's wrist, making him turn. "Kisi aur baat ke liye bhi maafi mangni hai aapse." Arjun mumbled with a heavy throat.

Rakesh smiled, "arey... maang toh li tumne.... Ab kya baaki hai?"

Arjun chuckled with glinted eyes, "bahot galtiyaan ki hai maine Papa... aur ab saari galtiyaan bojh si banti jaa rahi hai."

Rakesh's brows knitted, "kya baat hai?" he asked.

Arjun moistened his lips that had dried suddenly with the thought of what he was going to confess. He rubbed his nape with his palm, with an awkward smile on his lips, and shifted from one foot to another. He was nervous. The burden he was weighing in his chest for six years had been unbearable for him lately.

He took his time and was surprised that Rakesh was standing there patiently to hear him out. Papa hadn't lashed on him even for once, quite opposite to what he had anticipated. He was looking for a chance to speak about it since he had come, but he didn't get the right opportunity due to Naina and Sameer's presence. He liked the idea of night-walk and talk in a secluded place, so that even if he got slapped by his father, he would deal with it.

"Papa," Arjun gulped and tried to maintain his eyes on Rakesh, "headboy competition ke dauran jo paper ki chori hui thi... woh... maine ki thi..." he confessed.

Rakesh kept staring at Arjun with knitted brows. Firstly he just didn't perceive what Arjun was saying, he wasn't prepared for it. Headboy competition... papers stealing... library keys... Principal office... All the images from the past, that were actually long forgotten, started appearing in front of his eyes like fresh memories.

A painful smile played on his lips as Rakesh huffed. "Yeh kehna galat nahi hoga agar mai kahu ki shayad mai yeh jaanta tha," he said.

Arjun forgot to breathe for a moment, he became anxious, "Aapko... kisine... bataya Papa?" he stammered.

"Nahi," Rakesh denied firmly, "kisi ke batane ki awashyakta nahi padi. Lekin jitna samay maine yahan Sameer ke sath bitaya hai, jitna maine usko samjha hai... mai samajh gaya tha ki Sameer papers ki chori nahi kar sakta." Rakesh sighed and stared somewhere in the trees, "mujhe yeh samajhne mein bahot samay lag gaya ki uss din jab usne mera thappad roka tha, woh isliye nahi kyunki woh battameez tha... balki isliye tha kyunki ki woh sach bol raha tha."

Arjun lowered his eyes remembering the day again. He rubbed his hands on one another nervously.

"Lekin chori toh hui thi," Rakesh continued, "aur unn dino jis tarah se mai tum par pratiyogita jitne ke liye dabaav bana raha tha... mai samajh gaya ki..." he swallowed the heavy lump in his throat, "maine kabhi isse swikar karna nahi chaha lekin..." he took a deep breath, "kahin na kahin mai yeh jaanta tha ki woh tum hi the."

"Maine aapka dil dukhaya hai Papa... aapka vishwas toda hai... mai ek achchha beta nahi bann paya." Arjun sniffed as he averred.

Rakesh turned fully to look at Arjun. They both had the equal amount of pain in their eyes that could be seen even through the pool of tears filled in it. Their eyes also carried the guilt of wronging each other. Overwhelmed with emotions, he held Arjun's shoulders, thinking for a moment how broad they had become. His son was sporting a raw manly look, who looked so big because of his full-grown beard, his broad chest, his strong shoulders and muscular biceps; despite him being only 24.

When did his son grow into a big man? While all he could remember of Arjun was a little boy who would come crying to him, telling someone didn't allow him to play cricket because they belonged to rich families.

He still remembered that small kid... his little Arjun...

How many times Arjun came to him crying in his fragile years of teenage?

Is it the sons, who don't wish to open up to their fathers about their issues?

Or is it the fathers, who lay tons of expectations on their sons in their small age, calling it growing up, and remain emotionally unavailable for them?

"Mai bhi toh ek pita ke roop me kabhi safal nahi ho paya... na tumhare liye... na Naina ke liye..." Rakesh stated, "Mai hamesha apni apekshayein, apne sapne tum par thopta raha... bina tumse puchhe tum kya chahte ho... mai sirf darata raha, dhamkata raha... tumhara yeh baap bhi galat hi tha Arjun..."

"Nahi Papa. Aap galat nahi the. Galat woh raaste the jo maine chune... mujhe samajh se kaam lena chahiye tha." Arjun's voice trembled heavily. Tears threatened to flow from his eyes as he looked away. He couldn't avoid his father much due to his secure hold on him, so he kept exhaling through his mouth and blinking his eyes.

"Mai maanta hu tum bade ho gaye ho... lekin itne bade bhi nahi hue ki apne baap ke saamne ro nahi sakte..." Rakesh voiced, squeezing Arjun's shoulders.

A sob escaped from Arjun's mouth unknowingly and he dashed himself into his father's arms, hugging him tightly on his torso. All his stacked up emotions collapsed in a moment when he felt his father's warmth.

"I'm sorry Papa..." He said while crying hard and sinking in Rakesh's embrace more and more.

They say a man's ego is his biggest enemy. Here, it was the ego of the two men that had kept them apart from each other. Arjun was afraid he had lost his father for his whole life on an auspicious occasion like Diwali. But an initiative from him a few months ago and a heartfelt apology today, he got his father back in his life. He couldn't be happier and he couldn't stop crying.

Rakesh stroked his palm on Arjun's back, letting his tears fall down too. He knew his son was weaker today, so he supported him with all the love he had for his son and let him be free of guilt and repentance.

He realized that a reaction to your child's mistakes should never be a punishment. That's probably the worst sign of parenting as it only pushes your child away from you. Rather, it should be acceptance. Acceptance of your child's mistake and behavior. It should be understanding. Understanding your child's situation, his/her problems, their internal battles.

Rakesh felt he had lost his son months before, however today with acceptance of his son's apology and understanding how he too had been wrong as a father, he got his son back in his life.

****

Sameer had been standing in the balcony for the past fifteen minutes now. He was constantly peeping and checking on the main gate of the society. He checked the wall-clock again. It was late. Half of the society was already asleep and Dhondu too was now sleeping with his head down on the table.

He felt pats on his back and he turned swiftly. Naina got startled with his move for a moment and then she frowned, "kya hai? Kabse khade ho yaha pe? Chalo na sone..." she complained.

Sameer smiled back at her but then checked on the main gate again. "Bass... panch minute." He pursed his lips in a sheepish smile.

Naina crossed her arms on her chest and peered at him. She raised her brows in a sign, asking what was going on. Sameer too then leaned on the parapet wall and shook his head in no, shrugging and telling her there's nothing.

"Papa ki raah dekh rahe ho na?" Naina teased him.

"Nahi toh." Sameer denied straightaway, though not looking into her eyes.

"Ohhooo... mera pati apne sasurji ke liye itna possessive ho gaya hai? Haayeee... kisko pata tha ki kuchh saal pehle jo log ek-dusre ko 'baalon ki dukaan' aur 'khadoos librarian' ke naam se pukarte the, aaj unn dono me itna pyar badh jayega? Waah-waah..." Naina tried to be extra dramatic, stifling a laugh and taking her teasing to the next level. However in return, she received the smallest smile from Sameer.

Naina released her laughter as she covered her mouth with her palm. "Aa jayenge Papa Mr. Maheshwari... woh chhote bachche thodi na hai." Naina said, looping her arms around Sameer's neck. "Aur unke sath toh unka beta bhi hai, toh woh ghum bhi nahi sakte." She continued teasing as she pulled him down to her height and wobbled their heads.

"Wahi toh probー" Sameer squeezed his eyes shut.

"Kya? Wahi toh kya?" Naina looked at him suspiciously, knitting her brows.

"Nahi... kuchh nahi... bass aisehi." He averted his gaze again.

Naina studied him for a minute, he looked pensive looking out in the dark. His folded arms spoke about his resistance to open up and his tightly sealed lips seemed to be holding much more than what he said.

She freed his locked arms first and grabbed his jaw in her palm, "idhar dekho!" She made him face her and looked deep into his eyes.

"Sameer, tum..." Her tone changed to disbelief, "tum... Arjun Bhaiya se insecure ho? Kyu?"

"Tch... aisa kuchh nahi hai Naina."

"Tumhari aankhen mujhse jhooth nahi bolti... aur aisa kuchh nahi hai toh yaha kabse tak lagaye kyu khade ho?"

"Woh toh bass... kafi der ho gayi hai isliye..." Sameer replied but in a low voice.

Naina was certainly not buying it. "Sameer, mujhe pata hai koi aur baat hai... kya baat hai? Batao mujhe," she insisted.

Sameer didn't budge in divulging what was on his mind and Naina shifted on her feet second by second, waiting for him.

After a minute, she moved closer and leaned forward on him, her bosom crushing on his chest as the distance between them curtailed to zero. She gazed into his black orbs that had a tinge of helplessness. She caressed his cheek and rubbed her thumb on his jaw. He really hadn't shaved for three days. So he had grown a fine dark stubble on his cheeks, if not a full-grown beard.

Sameer kept his hands steady on her waist, staring into her eyes. Her beautiful eyes had captivated his attention thoroughly and he feared revealing too much only through his eyes.

"Sameer... Papa hame chhodkar kahi nahi jaa rahe... tum tension mat lo." Naina uttered softly.

Sameer's facial expressions changed into surprise, and he sucked in air.

How does she always find the exact nerve of what's bothering him?

He heaved deeply and voiced, "lekin Arjun toh unhe Kanpur bula raha hai na?"

Naina smiled gently, knowing how her husband can get possessive about someone who he feels attached with. "Woh sirf kabhi-kabhi aane ke liye keh rahe hai Sameer... jaise normal case mein Papa apni beti ke sasural jaate hai usse milne... waise hi hamare case me Papa kabhi kabaar Arjun bhaiya se milne jayenge... unka bhi toh haq banta hai na... "

"Toh hamara case abnormal hai?" Sameer diverted the topic to another route.

Naina giggled with his question, "abnormal nahi hai... fark sirf itna hai ki logon ki yeh dekhne-sunne ki aadat nahi hai. Ki beti ke pita uske aur uske pati ke sath hi rehte ho. Lekin jo baat pehle hui nahi hai, iska matlab yeh toh nahi ki woh galat hai ya abnormal hai... hai na?"

Sameer smiled a little and nodded. He left an audible from his mouth, as if he was relieved from a heavy burden on his chest. "Naina yaar... woh Papa hai merー... matlab... hamare... aise kaise jaane denge hum unhe..."

Naina's heart filled with contentment. This statement coming from someone like Sameer, who hadn't really had a father in his life, meant much more to her. She was pleased to learn that Sameer finally got a father in his life. But he also needed to learn one thing.

"Mr. Maheshwari, Papa toh hamare ek hi hai... lekin unke bachche toh ek se jyada hai na?" Naina darted a pointed gaze at him, letting him understand her point. Sameer nodded understandably, discerning exactly what she wanted to say.

"Ab hass bhi do thoda..." Naina said, poking her fingers so as to widen her lips and Sameer finally laughed from the bottom of his heart.

"Ab lag rahe ho na mere hero!!" Naina winked and hugged Sameer tightly.

"O Romeo-Juliet..."

They heard Preeti's voice coming from the other end and they both turned together to check on it, not leaving the hug at all.

Preeti giggled looking at them from her balcony, "yeh balcony romance karna zaroori hai kya? Kuchh toh lihaaz karo iss society ke logon ka?" She teased them. She didn't speak loudly, but they heard her due to the tranquil environment.

"Yeh Ahmedabad nahi, Mumbai hai..." Naina answered, leaning more on Sameer's chest and tightening her hold on him. "Yahan sab chalta hai."

The three laughed together wholeheartedly, basking in the pleasant glimmer of the full moon in the sky.

*********

How was this chapter guyzzz... do let me know...

Apologies for the delay. I was caught up last week. There was supposed to be one more scene in this chapter, but ugghhh... I didn't want to prolong the update much. So thought of giving it.

As Rakesh had his own journey in this story, which was majorly done at him getting a job in the library, I thought he deserved this closure too. That doesn't mean he won't be there in the story onwards. But this was a major part of his path.

How do you feel about the development in Sameer and Rakesh's relation?

Any theories for upcoming updates?

Keep showering your votes and comments on the chapter. And keep sharing your feedback.

Love.