Sameer sat still on the mattress, folding one leg from knee while stretching the other. It must have been more than an hour since he was doing nothing... nothing apart from breathing calmly... rather focusing on his breathing and trying to remain calm.

There hasn't happened anything that he should be doing otherwise... but that was the thing... there was nothing... nothing had happened really...

The night was tranquil. No sound of rumbling of tree leaves, no sound of barking dogs outside of the main gate, no sound coming from any of the windows in the adjacent flats. It was eerily silent. So much so that Sameer could hear Naina's pencil scribbling on her notebook whenever she wrote something. She has been studying for three hours straight.

Sameer had seen her multiple phases of studying till now. Since the time they used to study together in the college library, pretending to study while holding a book in hand but actually staring at each other's photos hidden inside it... when she would get utterly serious and teach him all the chapters rigorously... when they studied together as husband-wife for the final year exam in Krishna-Kaustubhi and he had scored first class for the first time... to her studying here in Mumbai after she filled the form for CA.

Before Naina started with her articleship, she used to have a dedicated time for her studies and some time reserved for her writing. But in August, the articleship in the firm and the articles for the newspaper coincided, with the short stories for Kadambini continuing. Sameer had seen her choosing what to work on according to the submission deadlines of her articles... articles which she had agreed for 10 in the first meeting, which were extended to 12 and later on a special one...

When September started, Naina had shared with Sameer what her colleague Smita advised her regarding the exam studies and she confessed how she had ignored it due to the 9 to 5 job which wasn't really 9 to 5 for her. And he had soon witnessed her managing her job, exam studies and her writing all together. But there was a huge dilemma while deciding what she should prioritize first. There were days when he had seen her thinking about studying while writing and thinking about her article topics when she had books in hand. Naina was never a girl who would lose her focus and Sameer knew this. So one day, the couple had sat together to sort out her confusion and Sameer suggested to her that he could help her with the flow of the article, its tone, and editing, so that it would take the burden off of her. Hadn't he done it while passing her short stories? That had helped Naina immensely and she was back to compartmentalizing all her responsibilities in full force.

They had started having visitors in the house almost every Sunday morning, starting from Mr. & Mrs. Gadkari. Mr. Gadkari had praised Naina heartily about her articles, boasting that he would take the credit of recommending Naina to the Editor. Preeti and Shubham would often talk about it whenever they met. Arjun too had started calling every Sunday, and Rakesh would happily read Naina's article for him.

However, amongst all the articles, her studies, her articleship and the household chores... all the time of her day was getting heavily consumed... her day would start at 5:30 in the morning... sometimes even before that... and end at eleven at night. And when Sameer's day would be busy too, he would hardly get to see her properly the whole day.  And if he had thought that helping her with editing would allow him to spend time with her, he was wrong.

The things were definitely tiresome for her... managing everything, including household chores and cooking. He would be there to help her but when he would have an audition or something, Naina would push him out of the kitchen, telling him his work should be his first priority.

Sameer had recognised that Naina has lost weight in these three months. Of course... she would be constantly running here and there, doing everything possible... her physical activity had doubled up as compared to when she would be at home and studying.

The consequences were quite apparent as Naina would give up to the fatigue of the day right when she lay down on the mattress. Lately, he had observed her drowsing off by propping her head on her hand while studying on the study table. And hence he had started keeping a check on her whether she's sleeping or actually studying as the clock went past 10:30 at night.

He had to coax her at times to close her books and sleep. And sometimes when she would behave as a stubborn child, trying to focus on her books with strained eyes, he would lift her in his arms and take her to the mattress, placing her softly on it and then seeing her sleep like a little girl holding his hand.

Sameer sighed heavily and gazed at Naina. He craned his neck a little and confirmed that she was indeed studying and not sleeping. And he sighed again.

The major setback of all this hustling was the impact on their quality time at nights...

the time they spent in one another's arms... the time they spent in talking, in laughing, in kissing, in cuddling... in making love...

Sameer closed his eyes and swallowed a lump. It had been 22 days... yes, he had counted it... it had been exactly 22 days since the last time they made love... the longest break since they came here in Mumbai. It had even broken the record of the time when he had stayed at Preeti's house during the repairing of their roof.

It has been the longest...

He was hopeful that some day, or rather some night, Naina wouldn't be as exhausted... he always hoped for the night to come when Naina was less tired than the previous one... however, by smashing all his expectations, it would take her hardly two minutes to drift into the world of sleep any given night.

There were days where he already knew nothing could be done. Like the four-five days out of these twenty two days were of her periods, which he had been used to by now. Also, the five days of Diwali last week have been too hectic and full of other activities for both of them.

He had realized for the first time what it is to have the auspicious Diwali pooja fall on a Sunday, because that just ate Naina's holiday and his chance to spend an extra day with her. He must have thanked her boss a thousand times in his mind when he declared a holiday for their firm on Monday. And Naina, Papa and him cherished the day and celebrated Gujarati new year together.

But the status of the nights were still the same. Even if they got a little chance to talk and find themselves in each other's arms, it didn't lead to anything further than that.

He had started anticipating the days and nights, almost calculating his chances to have a night with her and expecting that Naina understood his advances.

A few days before, Naina had returned to bed a little early. Keeping only the dim light on, she had scooted into the duvet next to Sameer, passing a sweet smile to him. The next moment, Sameer had found himself hovering over her and soon they had indulged in a kiss, which was quite ferocious from Sameer's side. As they continued kissing that night, Sameer had slipped his hand straight into Naina's night suit pants, teasing her wet folds with his long fingers. He had given her pleasurable feels, making her reach the climax soon with relentless strokes of his fingers moving in and out.

It was when Sameer started unbuttoning his shirt while Naina took deep breaths to cool herself down, he heard her whispers, "do minutes toh de do Mr. Maheshwari... thodi energy aa jayegi..."

Sameer had only chuckled and lay down on his side, finding Naina clung to him instantly, with her face hidden. He had waited patiently for her, maybe to start kissing on his chest and move ahead, but when her hold on him loosened, he had discerned that she had fallen asleep in his warm embrace.

It had taken him hours to sleep that night. He was only tossing and turning on the mattress, aroused and unsatiated. It was indeed frustrating for him, but whenever he looked at Naina's sleeping form, he was convinced how badly she needed the sleep and the rest. And then he indulged in the permutation combination about the days when Naina might be in the mood.

the answer was Saturdays...

It has always been their day... right from the beginning... they both would be more relaxed given the next day is a Sunday, especially if Sameer didn't have his auditions or shoots.

Time was in the middle of November... and it was Saturday today...

Last Saturday it was next to impossible as the next morning was the Diwali Lakshmi Pooja morning. The Saturday before that there was a dinner party at Vanita and Jatin's house for their anniversary and the Saturday before that Naina was on her periods.

Three missed Saturdays... three missed opportunities... But Sameer still hoped for tonight... there was no festival the next day... no birthday... no anniversary... no periods... no audition... nothing... just a normal Sunday tomorrow.

Dammnnn... he was hardening already just while thinking about it...

Naina yawned and closed her notebook and book, later rubbing her face with her palms. There was a slight ache in her lower back due to continuous sitting position. The cushion on the chair had indeed helped her, but that's what she was doing for the most of the day. Studying.

Pushing the chair back into the void of the study table, Naina stepped on the mattress while unfastening the hook of her bra and passing a little smile at Sameer as she found him staring at her. For no reason, she was a bit skeptical about Sameer reciprocating to her. She sighed in relief when Sameer responded to her smile with a smile. Keeping the dim light on, she flumped on her side of the mattress and pulled the comforter.

Sameer hadn't budged from his position, he was watching Naina attentively.

"Aao naa..." Naina made a sweet demand, tucking his arm and gesturing to him to sleep too.

Sameer smiled at her tone and slipped down, resting his head on his hand on the cushion. This time, he decided to wait for a while, so crossing his feet and hitting one over another, he stared at the ceiling, feeling it utterly difficult to pass the time.

"Aise kya dekh rahe ho chhat ko?" He heard Naina's question and felt her arm on his midriff holding him gently. She let out a casual giggle as he checked on her.

She looked too innocent for the thoughts making the rounds in his mind.

He too passed a warm smile and turned to her, contemplating whether he should act on his will. She didn't look sleepy to him. He bent down and paused for a moment in his track seeing her smiling, finally pushing himself further and kissing her lips softly. He drew back to observe her again. Her lips had turned upwards in the same smile as before he kissed.

This boosted his confidence and he dipped down again to capture her lips in a kiss. The feel of her soft lips was heavenly to him, alarming his system within a moment to prepare for the upcoming again. His mouth worked on Naina's lips with deep and short kisses at first, pulling her lower lip at times with his. His eyes had closed automatically as he cherished the moment. Pushing on her shoulder softly and making her lie on her back again, his body settled on hers slowly, with his chest crushing her bosom, his knees parting her legs and his length finding its perfect place on her core.

One of his hands slipped under her head, holding her so that he could find better angles to deepen the kiss, which he did ultimately as his kisses turned longer and fervent. He never knew when his hips started grinding against her core; if his brain could say he still wasn't fully hardened, then the up and down motion of his hip made him fully erect. The rubbing produced him the groans that he hardly let out, not detaching his lips from Naina's ones even for a fraction of a second. The sheer pleasure that came from their body contact was maddening him, even when they both were fully clothed. yet.

Ahh... he wished he was making all these strokes inside her; he had actually debated if he should directly head for lovemaking without wasting any time, but given the huge gap it has been, he wanted to cherish their closeness longer and hence he decided to give time to the foreplay first.

His other hand travelled to her breasts, squashing her left one in his big palm and kneading it over her night suit top. Naina's cheeks and jaw were the next destination for Sameer's lips, before he left a trail of wet kisses to reach her ear and licked it with a sharp stroke of his tongue, now aiming to go downwards to her neck.

He wondered how he was so patient and gentle with the kisses yet when he was aroused to the level of insanity at the moment. He questioned how he didn't rip his or Naina's clothes yet, while his hand was certainly shivering to tear one apart.

His brain acted on this thought instantly and he pulled down Naina's top from her left shoulder holding its neckline. Thankfully she was wearing the stretchable yellow night suit, which helped him in exposing the buttery skin of hers. He nuzzled on her neck, shifting her mangalsutra a bit and the next moment the skin on the curve of her neck and shoulder was scraped hard by Sameer, followed by a hard suction and then licking the spot. He didn't care if that would leave a mark there. Tomorrow was Sunday and Naina could easily hide it by choosing a stand-collar salwar suit.

What he only cared about was the pleasure he was getting from it...!!

His brain was fuzzing with the physical need; his mind, his body cells, the heat and blood rushing down south were screaming of sheer carnal hunger. His breath was hitching after every time he sucked in the air for oxygen. His movements had turned clumsy and needy. The unusual break of five days during his first shoot had turned him into a beast on his birthday night, and he didn't even want to think what this long break would do to him. Tonight was going to be a wild and long night for sure.

After relishing Naina's shoulder enough, Sameer slided down, kissing and biting all over her bosom over the top and halting at her belly. He pushed her top up, cluttering it near her chest and exposing her skin to his eyes. His pace of breathing increased... his mind was clogged with various ideas as to how he would feast on her belly and everything down from here.

How can someone's midriff be so attractive?

He must have questioned himself every time he gazed at her belly and her belly button. However, he had asked this question whenever he had stopped at any random body part of Naina... because he had found every part of hers to be attractive... appealing... even her toes... where her toe finger next to the thumb is oddly bigger than all others... which are often painted in red nail polish and make him crave to kiss them...

He leaned forward and put a soft kiss on her navel, continuing it all over her belly with some soft and some rough kisses, licks and bites. He rubbed his chin on her creamy skin as he knew Naina likes the ticklish feeling his stubble does to her sensitive and fair skin, ensuing her sweetest laughter rumble in his ears. But his mind didn't pay any heed to that. All his awareness was towards removing the barriers of fabric between him and Naina as soon as possible... he was losing it at any moment...

The kisses on Naina's belly turned fervid and intense. Sameer was on the thin line of his control, slightly inside the part of his brain that still wanted to enjoy the kisses for just some time more... his fingers hooked at the hem of her pants, they were ready to pull it down at any given moment...

But something awakened his conscience... something was stopping him from going forward... something was missing...

He paused and heaved deeply on her stomach, contemplating, he evened his breath. He tried to fathom what was it. And he tried to deduce that... as a response to his passionate kisses on her body, he didn't get to hear her moans that she usually produces. As he kneaded and pinched her breasts, he didn't notice her arching her back. As he rubbed himself on her, he didn't feel her squeezing his shoulders out of pleasure. As he bit her at places over the night suit top, he didn't hear her whispering his name in sheer gratification. He didn't feel her hand in his hair when he kissed her navel. Nor did he feel her hips grinding against his length.

From the corner of his eyes, he saw her hands lying idle on the mattress. they should be doing so many things with him right now... but they didn't.

He sighed and looked at Naina, balancing himself on his hands. Naina gazed back at him with half open eyes. She carried a small smile on her lips but Sameer discerned that it wasn't the usual one.

"Kya hua?" Naina asked him, her voice was feeble.

"Tumhe kya hua hai?" Sameer questioned her back, his brows were knitted together.

"Kuchh nahi," said Naina, shaking her head as much as possible and widening her smile.

Sameer shut his eyes, frustrated and exasperated, he questioned her again, "kya baat hai Naina? Kya tum...??" He left the question incomplete for her to decipher.

Naina opened her mouth to deny but words didn't make their way. The moment her back hit the mattress, a sharp pain had surged in her lower back. All she had wanted was to twist it as much as possible, hold Sameer, hurl a leg on his and then just sleep while snuggling into him. But she had to restrain her wish after Sameer's kiss... she had felt his hard length when he had settled on her... his actions, his desperation and his need could be felt by her and she had no courage in her to say no to him.

"Aisi koi baat nahi hai Sameer..." she softly said, now stroking his forearms with her palms, "bass... thoda thak gayi hu."

Naina expected him to continue after her confirmation. She was ready for the lovemaking, just that she didn't have the strength in her to reciprocate to his moves with equal zeal.

Sameer stared at her half opened eyes and he figured nothing other than fatigue in it. He sighed and sat on his knees, pulling Naina's top down, he mumbled, "tum so jao Naina... tumhe aaram ki zaroorat hai..."

"Nahi... Sameer..."

Naina tried to cajole him by holding his wrist, but by that time Sameer slipped onto his side and leaned back on the wall.

"Sameer...."

"Naina, tum so jao... tum bahot thak gayi ho..." Sameer asserted again and pulled the duvet till Naina's chest. He put his palm on her head, drawing patterns on her forehead so that she feels restful.

Naina couldn't perceive how she should react at this moment. Her husband had respected the fact that she was too tired, but at the same time she felt guilty of leaving him unsatisfied. She knew how badly aroused he was!!

However, Sameer's pressuring thumb on her forehead weakened her power of thinking as drowsiness took over her, forcing her eyelids to give up on their task to even blink. Her might to ask Sameer if he was okay or if he was angry at her got reduced to almost zero and all the questions remained stuck only in her mind. She turned to her side with her back towards Sameer and by pulling his hand with her, she drifted to sleep within a minute.

****

It was a lonely street in Mumbai at night. Hardly some street lights must be on, creating a silhouette of a person running. It was Naina... she was running somewhere... looking behind every ten seconds... she was running away from someone... or something... as if someone or something was chasing her... she tried to hide behind a car on the street... but she didn't know what happened and she started running again... her heart was pounding, she was scared... though she couldn't see what was behind her... but she didn't stop... and in a haste, she stumbled upon something...

Naina jerked in sleep, trying to save herself from falling, only to realize that she was dreaming. She exhaled deeply. This was the second time she had a dream like this... being chased by someone... The remembrance of the scenes from her dream made her blink her eyes and look around. She found the room to be pitch dark. The dim light was on until she slept, right?

She was feeling a bit cold. Mumbai wasn't a place where you would take out the winter clothes, sweaters, blankets and all... not in November for sure... But she recognised that a certain kind of warmth was missing to her. Her husband's warmth... she had soon discerned that Sameer's warm body is enough for her to discard the use of any thick blankets or duvets. But at this moment, neither her face was crushed in the crook of his neck, nor did her back sense his muscular chest on it.

She turned on the other side and extended her hand to hold Sameer, to cuddle him or simply to feel his heartbeats by resting her head on his chest. She needed to feel the heat coming from him.

...but her hand fell on the mattress in possibly an empty space. She didn't get the hold of him even after searching for him the farthest.

This made her fully awake and she stretched herself back to lean on the wall, waiting for Sameer.

He might have gone to the bathroom... she thought.

Almost ten minutes passed and Naina didn't see Sameer returning. She started wondering where he must be because she heard nothing but the utter silence in the house. Switching the dim light on, Naina checked the time first. It was 1:30 past midnight. The door of their bedroom was ajar and she sauntered out with careful steps, sighing when she found the doors of the toilet and bathroom being open. There was no one in the kitchen too and it added to Naina's worry about Sameer's whereabouts.

A random thought crossed her mind that had they been still living in the Krishna-Kaustubhi bangalow, she would be hopeful about Sameer for the whole half an hour, since the bungalow was so huge and there were too many places to look for him. She would still be hopeful that he is in the house. ...but not in this small 1bhk flat.

Hardly 2-3 places to check and she knew Sameer wasn't in the house. Her heartbeats increased thinking about him. Where has he gone this late at night? Her forehead was laden with sweat beads and her lips quivered to call him... but she couldn't... she didn't want to wake up Papa at this time and let him notice that Sameer wasn't at home. Sighing heavily while closing her eyes, Naina tried to recollect the day all over again. She had a feeling that there was something off with Sameer. She couldn't pinpoint what exactly, but she had a sense of foreboding.

Of course!! The remembrance of the incident in the evening confirmed her doubt...

Naina had returned home today as per her half day timings. Finishing some pending chores such as washing clothes, rinsing some dishes in the sink and arranging all their clothes in the cupboards, she thought of utilizing her remaining time only in studying. Papa was called to the library today, so she was all alone in the house.

When she had decided to take a tea break at 5 in the evening and sauntered towards the hall, she found the television on but running on mute. She took quick strides to check on it and found Sameer on the couch, with the remote control in his hand and his eyes fixed on tv.

She stopped near the fridge, multiple thoughts running in her mind. There was something in his body language or the way he was sitting or maybe the way he had sombre expressions while watching tv, it made her timid, dropping her excitement of seeing him. Lately, she had started becoming conscious and careful around him, worried about his reactions.

"Tum kab aaye?" She asked softly, playing with her engagement ring.

"Aadha ghanta ho gaya." Sameer replied, switching a channel.

"Aadha ghanta?" The shock in Naina's voice was clearly evident. "Mujhse mile kyu nahi?"

That was impossible.

The first thing Sameer does when he enters home is to holler her name... look for her... ask for her... scare her from behind... hug her...

But nothing of that sort happened today.

"Tum padh rahi thi Naina... isiliye socha tumhe disturb na karu..." Sameer glanced at her and focussed on the television again, now unmuting it.

Really?

The study table was visible from the living room, so he might have spotted her right when he must have entered the house. But how was it possible that Naina didn't notice him?

She peered at him and figured that he was freshened up too. Was she really so engrossed in her studies that she couldn't see the movements in the passage?

Naina couldn't believe herself.

"Paani... dd.. deti hu..." she stuttered.

"Pii liya maine..."

Naina's foot stopped in the air and she almost froze near the refrigerator; it wasn't due to the cold of course, it was due to his statement. It was such a small thing but she felt as if someone had squeezed her heart.

She always loved to fetch water for Sameer.

Her hand clutched her kurta and she shifted on her feet nervously. She opened her mouth only to close it again, words were stuck in her mouth for a while. The sounds from TV were making the rounds in the room but there was a silence between the two which was bothering her.

"Ch... chaii banau?" She asked as if she was scared of something. Sameer only nodded and they had the tea in silence again while Sameer continued to watch tv.

Naina wondered if that was the 'off' thing she was feeling. But Sameer had behaved absolutely normal with her after that, forcing her to believe that probably he really wanted her to focus on her studies and not get distracted. He also took charge of the kitchen along with Papa, giving her more time for study.

Then what must be the reason?

Was he still upset with her for the day when she had returned home late?

But Sameer hadn't brought that topic into their conversations after that.

Naina was perplexed, playing with her mangalsutra standing near the kitchen platform, she kept thinking about Sameer. The beads of her nuptial chain rubbed on her neck and a sensation of stinging caught her attention. Naina touched the spot and pressed it slightly, and she hissed, covering her mouth to stop the whimper coming out of it.

Ohh mannn!!! How can she forget it??

It was the love bite Sameer had left on her when they were making out...

How can she forget something that happened just two hours before sleeping?

Is something wrong with her system?

Naina started palpitating again upon the recollection of all the moments. The way Sameer was kissing her... the intensity to which he was aroused... the way he had needed it badly... and then the way he stopped it only for her.

Tears pooled in Naina's eyes thinking that it was because of her that Sameer was nowhere to be found in the house right now. It was because she had expressed that she was tired.

What a blunder she had committed!!!

Naina cursed herself over and over... feeling guilty of denying Sameer for lovemaking...

But she needed to find him first... has he gone out somewhere?? This late at night??

Balcony... she must check the balcony first...

It took her immense patience not to open the balcony latch with force as Papa was sleeping peacefully on his mattress. Pushing the door slightly, Naina roamed her eyes impatiently around the society right from the gate to the other end of all the wings.

And there he was... with his head down and his hands in his pockets, walking in the garden...

****

Sameer kicked the small stone on his way, causing it to skid out of the bushes of the garden that worked as a fence. He was walking in the ground for the past one hour; sometimes to and fro between the main gate and the end of J wing, sometimes he walked the rounds of all the ground and sometimes in the garden. He changed direction of his routes many times, nevertheless, he couldn't align the erratic thoughts running in his mind for the past two hours.

He just couldn't get the sleep; his nerves didn't demand for sleep for a fraction of a second, instead, they were doing overtime... thinking constantly about something or the other... never staying at the same topic for more than a minute though, but still shamelessly coming back to it over and over again.

Sameer was full of frustrated energy, unsure of how and where to spend it and in hope that he gets at least some respite from it. For the first time in his married life, he had thought of helping himself in the bathroom to get his release; as he was left on the edge of the mountain and his way back down was suddenly closed. But he decided to go against it, determined to torture himself bearing the pain in his privates, with all the built up arousal and also the emotions.

Sitting there on the mattress doing nothing other than exhaling deep breaths didn't help him either; so he left the bedroom first, wanting to escape from the room that was constantly reminding him of his feral state some time before, and then stepped out of the house to get some fresh air and to clear his mind.

He wished to tire himself out by walking, wanting fatigue to take over him just like it envelops Naina in it every single night. But it didn't seem to work in his case, probably the extreme fatigue and all the sleep in the world was assigned to only his wife.

He huffed to himself when he remembered a tale from Ramayan, where Urmila used to sleep in the day on behalf of Lakshman, and at night for herself.

Was it the case with Naina here? Because she seemed to be always sleepy recently, though she never had enough of it, and on the contrary he was bereft of sleep at night.

He questioned her side of this situation too. Doesn't she feel the physical need as he does? Didn't she once confess that she needs it as much as he does? Then what had happened to her nowadays?

He kicked a bigger stone this time, making it bang on the iron pole of the swing in the garden, which resulted in a sound of 'ting' rumbling in the tranquil environment.

Was all of his discontentment and vexation only because he had a forced abstinence for three weeks?

Was it all just because he was deprived of physical pleasure?

When he pondered on it deeply, he believed it wasn't. There was much more to it, unfortunately. There was something missing in their relationship... something was missing in them...

He wasn't keeping a good mood since a few days. He was thinking more and speaking less... albeit, he was hardly getting the chance to speak his heart out. Not that he would always be irritated about things, but he had become quiet and less expressive these days. And when something unexpected came his way, he would react overly on it.

Just like that random day before Diwali....

*Flashback*

It was the day when Diwali was only four days away. Sameer was back at home by 5:15pm and had enjoyed tea and some evening snacks with Papa. When Naina wasn't at home by 6:45pm, Sameer had started checking the time often.

"Aajkal toh 6-6:15 tak hi aa jati hai na?" He asked Rakesh.

"Haan aaj pata nahi kyu der ho gayi... market gayi hogi..." Rakesh predicted the obvious and Sameer nodded. But they both knew their kitchen and fridge were full of groceries and vegetables.

"Uske office me phone karke puchhu ek baar?" Sameer asked Rakesh after 10 minutes, and Rakesh nodded in agreement to ease out Sameer's tension. Well, he too had started thinking about Naina's delay looking at Sameer.

Sameer talked on the call for a minute.

"Deshpande Sir ne phone uthaya tha... Unhone kaha Naina 5 baje hi nikal gayi thi office se." Sameer informed, with creases of worry taking place on his forehead.

"Ummm... aa jayegi... shayad bus chhut gayi hogi uski..."

Sameer only pursed his lips. In no case it would take two hours to Naina if she'd left the office at sharp five. Not unless something urgent and important has come her way.

Sameer couldn't stay calm after that. His mind started calculating various scenarios of her getting late. Was there any chance Preeti might be knowing about it? He decided to give a chance to the fleeting thought and called Preeti. He sounded casual, not revealing much, but in response got to know that Preeti too had no clue.

He knew he was worrying unnecessarily, but panic had taken over his mind by the time. He wouldn't take a breath of relief until he saw Naina in front of his eyes.

The urge of checking on the bus stop and auto stands must have bothered him for the hundredth time, but he stayed put just by looking at Papa lighting the diya for the evening, who was hiding his concern by praying in front of bhagwanji.

Sameer positioned himself on the sofa, resting his elbows on his knees and his palms joining near his mouth. His legs shook nervously, as if the speed of his shaking legs could pass the time faster and Naina would be home soon. He had barred his mind from thinking about anything unpleasant but there was no control left over his chaotic thoughts. His body had started dehydrating, asking for water, but all the fluids from his body were directed to his temples and forehead in the form of sweat, with his increased heartbeats to accompany with.

Rakesh had put the daal-chawal pressure cooker on the gas stove, probably he was practicing to stay calm at the moment given that Sameer had taken all the charge of panicking.

When the clock struck at 8:15pm and Naina still wasn't there at home, the bubble of Sameer's patience burst and he got up, checking his wallet.

"Papa, mai Naina ka intezaar karte hue aise baith nahi sakta... Mai bahar dekhke aata hu..." He licked his dry lips and dashed towards the door, but at the same moment, Naina entered the house hurriedly and they bumped into one another.

Sameer finally seemed to have found his breath when he saw Naina right in front of him. He blinked multiple times, confirming that he wasn't hallucinating, rather Naina was really back home.

He cradled her face clumsily, finding it hard to speak due to a lump formed in his throat, but somehow uttered, "tum... thik ho na?"

Naina nodded, assuring her husband who she knew must have been terrified.

"Kaha thi tum itni der?" Sameer held her shoulders possessively, he was speaking in angst, "kabse pareshan ho rahe the hum yaha... jaan nikal di thi tumne meri pata hai tumhe?"

Naina heaved deeply and delayed her response, giving Sameer the time to sink in with the fact that she was here, at home, with him. She saw him taking deep breaths, and glancing at Papa through the corner of her eyes conveyed that he too was taking the necessary breaths, just that he wasn't showing it.

"Sameer... mai.." She voiced, "newspaper office gayi thi... unka phone aaya tha jo... mai... batana bhool gayi..." stuttering at last, cursing herself again that she had forgotten to inform about it.

Sameer's hold on her shoulders loosened and his hands fell down, his demeanor suddenly changing from being worried to stern. "Waha kyu gayi thi tum?" His tone reflected an interrogation rather than just a question. "Tumhare articles ka target toh poora ho chuka hai na?"

He didn't move from his place, nor did he let Naina enter the house further. Rakesh was only a spectator, standing near the couch with his hands on his waist.

"Woh... Diwali aa rahi hai na, toh unhone mujhe special edition ke liye ek article likhne ke liye kaha... aur sath hi me proof-reading... aur editing ke liye bhi." Naina answered as she clutched the strap of her bag in her fist. Her voice was low, aware of Sameer's piercing glare on her.

Sameer huffed, shutting his eyes in annoyance, "mai maanta hun Mrs. Naina Maheshwari aap bahot busy rahi hongi dinbhar..." he gritted his teeth as he spoke, "lekin ek phone karke bata toh sakti thi na... mai aur Papa yaha 2 ghante se pareshan ho rahe hai... na jaane kya kya khayal aa rahe the dimaag me... lekin madam ko apne articles aur articleship ke aage kuchh soojhta hi nahi hai..." his voiced raised high in last.

Naina looked at Sameer unbelievably without blinking her eyes. Did he really think that she wouldn't even try to inform about her getting late?

"Maine kiya tha phone..." She replied earnestly, "jab mujhe yaad aaya tabse teen baar phone kar chuki hu ghar pe... bara baje, phir sadhe-char baje, poune-paanch baje... kisine uthhaya hi nahi..."

Sameer's eyes turned to Rakesh instantly. Naina had called when Rakesh was usually at home, or was supposed to be at home. "Papa, aap ghar par nahi the?"

"Mai aaj 11 baje hi library gaya tha... waha kaam tha kuchh... mai bhi 5 baje hi aaya ghar pe..." Rakesh put forth his reasoning.

Sameer was now vexed to the next level, he rubbed his temple and almost yelled, "iss ghar me koi kisi ko kuchh bata kyu nahi raha hai chahe koi bhi baat ho..." his glares switching between Naina and Papa.

"Arey isme batana kya hai?" Rakesh countered, "na tum ghar pe rehte ho na Naina... mai apne samay par gaya aur wapis bhi aa gaya." He sighed as he finished, sensing a strange change in Sameer's attitude. "Ab usko kitni der aise katghare me khade rakhoge... andar toh aane do... " he added authoritatively.

Sameer snorted, "ghar par intezaar karnewala apna koi hai... yeh shayad sab bhool gaye hai yaha..." he said, finishing while looking at Naina and walking to the bedroom.

It wasn't difficult for Naina to understand that it was for her. Her eyes glistened at his comment. "Aisa nahi hai, Papa..." she urged from the bottom of her heart, forcing Sameer to stop in the middle of the passage.

Sameer tried to look at her from the corner of his eyes. Even though she had addressed Papa, he knew it was for him.

"Aisa nahi hai ki mai aapke baare me soch nahi rahi thi, Papa..." Naina's voice cracked a little, "lekin Sulekha ma'am mujhe seedha printing press me le gayi... jahan na phone tha na kuchh aur... kaise batati mai... bass... subah office nikalne ki jaldi me batana bhool gayi."

Sameer passed a neutral stare at her, his lips sealed tightly. For the first time, Naina's teary eyes didn't melt him.

*Flashback ends*

Sameer tried to decipher again what was the reason behind him getting so upset with Naina that day.

Was it only because he was so worried about Naina and she had forgotten to inform him just like that?

Or was it because she had gone to the newspaper office and he had started disliking it lately?

He tried to reflect on why Naina going to the newspaper office had started bothering him recently. He clearly remembered how he had taken a sigh of relief when Naina's target of ten articles was completed, and then how he was perturbed when Naina told him she was asked to do two more articles.

Was Naina's progress troubling him?

He asked the question to himself multiple times but couldn't get a solid NO to it. He had always been the one who would be happiest about Naina's progress. He had taken pride in telling people that Naina had written the A1 cooker advertisement or when her short stories were featured in Kadambini magazine.

He was a Queen maker for her, wasn't he?

He was rather happy and proud that Naina was stepping forward to her dreams little by little.

This was something different for sure. But what? His disturbed mind couldn't find an answer to it.

He was standing facing the compound wall of the society, lingering there for no reason. He didn't have any other option than to turn and look back, in literal meaning and also in terms of reflecting on what was really the missing thing in his and Naina's relationship these days.

Sighing and messing his hair completely, Sameer turned and found Naina in front of him, who was startled a bit by his sudden turn. Walking for more than an hour hadn't provided any sort of relief to him. Looking at Naina's cute and innocent face should have done the work though, but tonight nothing was working on him. His frustration kept surging up as he looked at her deep eyes.

What was she doing here by the way? She should be sleeping without any worry of the world...!!! A sarcastic thought echoed in his mind.

Naina gazed at Sameer with dough eyes. She had seen him kicking stones exasperatedly from the balcony and she had guessed the conversation wouldn't be easy. As she stared deep in his eyes, she found so much stored in them.

It was astonishing how she always found shades in his eyes... different shades for different emotions... and though they were the same black eyes. How can black color have shades to it? Black should be black, right? But his eyes did have it every time. At this moment, his black eyes didn't define the peaceful and tranquil night... it rather bore the turbulent ocean at night, which was dreadful, signifying the upcoming storm that was ready to thrust down everything to the bottom of it.

And honestly, she felt scared looking into his eyes.

Didn't they mirror the same emotions when she had found him in the music room of the college after the Kartik drama?

"Tum... yaha neeche kyu chale aaye?" Naina asked, keeping her voice utterly soft.

Sameer kept shooting piercing glares at Naina for a few seconds and then shoving his hands in his pockets, he looked away from her, not answering her question.

"Sameerㅡ"

"Neend nahi aa rahi thi," Sameer cut her in, his eyes not matching with hers. "Tum jao Naina... apni neend poori kar lo..."

"Tum... bhi.. chalo na sath me..." Naina urged. It terrifies her when Sameer goes into silent mode and stays away from her.

Sameer gazed back at her. Her eyes were hopeful and contained love, and he found himself surprised that he wasn't affected by it... at least for now.

"Maine kaha na mujhe neend nahi aa rahi hai... tum jao Naina," Sameer asserted, raising his voice just a bit and walking away.

"Sameer," Naina managed to stop him by holding his arm as he tried to cross her. Sameer shut his eyes in annoyance and freed his arm from her hold.

Resistant to her touch... Naina's heart skipped a beat.

"Tum gussa ho mujhse?" Naina asked sweetly, she had to keep it subtle since they were talking in the open.

Sameer glanced at her tiny figure on his left, "kyu?" he asked her, frowning.

"Woh.. maine... mana kiya isliye?? Mai mana nahi kar rahi thi... mai toh bass..." her voice trailed at the end, seeing Sameer's grim face.

Sameer remained unmoved, his eyes kept looking at something in the dark and his hands stayed in his pockets.

"Sameer... kuchh toh bolo... mai... mai abhibhi tayyar hun... hum uparㅡ"

"Mai un patiyon ki tarah nahi hu Naina," Sameer looked at her sharply, gritting his teeth, he commented, "jo patni ke thake hone ke bawjood uspar apne pati hone ka haq jamate hai."

Naina's shoulders slumped on his comment. She was unable to perceive whether this should make her feel happy for the kind of husband she has gotten, or sad for how distant and resentful he was behaving with her.

She saw him continuing as anger spat through his eyes, "aur maine kaha na tumse tum upar jao, tumhe samajh me nahi aa rahi hai baat?"

Naina shuddered with his tone. She looked around to check if anyone could see or hear them. Apart from the natural moonlight, there was only a zero power bulb lighting above the closed door of the society office. Other than that, it was dark and quiet. so quiet that she was convinced their conversation could be heard by anyone in the society.

"Sameer, hum upar chalke baat karte hai na," she held his arm again and he freed it from her hold again...

"Sameer kya ho gaya hai tumhe? Kis baat se naraaz ho tum? Aur mai sirf aaj ki baat nahi kar rahi hu... kaafi dino se dekh rahi hu mai tumhe... upar-upar se tum thik se bartaav kar rahe ho lekin kuchh toh hai jo tumhe pareshan kar raha hai... mujhe batao na kya baat hai?"

Sameer snorted, leaving a sneering chuckle from his mouth. "Yeh tum mujhse nahi... apne aap se puchho Naina..." he remarked.

Naina frowned on his statement. How would she know what he is upset with? Okay she figured that he was keeping off since a few days, she thought of giving him the time to open up about it, she also got to know that it was related to her now ... but how can he expect that she could discern everything by herself?

Will his male ego be hurt if he comes forward himself and shares what's exactly bothering him?

"Sameer jab tak tum mujhe khulke nahi bataoge mujhe kaise samajh aayega?"

Listening to this, Sameer started walking again, he took long strides in speed but was again stopped by Naina.

"Sameer ruko..." This time Naina's hold on his wrist was strong. She had given him his time to confront, but if she needed to make an upper hand in their conversation, then she would.

"Mujhse door bhag rahe ho ya sawaal se?"

Sameer grimaced on her persistence. Why can't she just leave him alone? He had come down to get rid of all the thoughts, but Naina bringing up that topic again and telling him that she was ready for it just made him feel disgust flow through all his nerves.

Though he couldn't deny that Naina's soft palm on his wrist had started breaking the tough exterior he was bearing. This is the reason why he stays away from her when he doesn't want to give in so soon. Naina always held the capability of getting under his skin, something which he could never separate himself from. Her earnestness and love makes him shed the layers of anger and bitterness, and when it's related to only her, he has found it utterly difficult to hold his stance.

Can't he get some alone time to spend his frustrated energy? Can't he stay angry at her for some time? He wasn't a sadist, but why can't he dwell in the feeling of sadness or anger or whatever he feels for his own sake? Sameer squeezed his eyes shut in pique.

"Sameer, kya baat hai batao na... kuchh ho gaya hai? koi galti hui hai mujhse? Kuchh aisa hai jo shayad mai dekh nahi paa rahi hu? Sameer please..."

"I'm missing my wife, Naina..." Sameer snapped at her, finally turning fully to face her, "mai tumhe miss kar raha hu... tumhare pyar ko, tumhare sparsh ko miss kar raha hu mai... tumhare paas mere liye waqt hi nahi hai... tum mere paas hokar bhi mere sath nahi ho Naina... I miss us..."

What one hour of retrospection couldn't provide him, Naina's sincere words, her love-filled eyes and her warm touch gave him. ...the answer to what was the missing element between the two.

Naina watched Sameer agape, him spitting out his suppressed emotions in the form of painful words.

"Tum batao Naina... aakhri baar kab humne ek dusre se dil se dil ki baatein ki... jee bhar ke... tum batao aakhri baar kab humne chaar pal shanti se bitaye ho... aakhri baar kab hum baahon mein baahein daalkar sirf hase hai... poore 24 ghanton me mujhe tumhare 2 minutes bhi theek se naseeb nahi ho rahe hai... iss CA aur inn articles ke chakkar mein tum woh keemti waqt bhool gayi Naina jo sirf hamara tha..."

Naina's eyes started glistening listening to Sameer's outburst. Yes, it was all related to her.... but she didn't anticipate it would be this. She thought Sameer would be proud of the way she was managing her office, her studies and writing.

Hadn't he always supported her? Whether in school or college, he was always there cheering for her in the crowd... to give her the much required moral support... to tell her that she need not fear anything as he will always be there for her... may it be any competition or any challenge.

But they were not in school or college anymore... sadly... This was the reality of life. Funny that one misses how blissful school-college life was once it's over. Because once you step out of it and enter the survival phase, life throws challenges on your face almost daily... without any warning... it always surprises you with its difficulty level keeps increasing as if in a video game. Just like at this moment, when Naina couldn't process Sameer's statements.

She was flabbergasted...

She struggled to reply to him in coherent words, his eyes were emitting fire and she wanted him to calm down a little before their conversation turns into a big mess.

Her eyes spotted a bulb getting switched on in a random window of a random wing, and she was reminded of how they were talking in the open, at night... a sheer tranquil night.

"Sameer, hum ghar chalkar baat karte hai... yahan khamakha tamashㅡ" She squeezed her eyes, as even before completing it, she knew she had chosen the wrong word.

"Tamasha? Wow..." Sameer huffed, "matlab pehle khud hi zidd karke mujhse baatein nikalwao... aur phir usse tamasha ka naam de do... woww Naina... great..."

"Sameer tum jante ho mera woh matlab nahi tha... aur... CA aur articles ke chakkar me matlab? Kya chahte ho tum? Kya karu mai? CA chhod du? Ya likhna chhod du?"

Sameer snorted and looked away, crossing his arms over his chest. And Naina wondered if this was the reason Sameer had started avoiding any topic related to her articles and newspaper office in the past days.

She voiced, "hum dono yahi chahte the na ki mai likhu... tum bhi yahi chahte the na... ki meri kahaniyan, meri soch sirf meri diary tak seemit na rahe? Toh ab achanak se aisa kya ho gaya hai?"

How was it possible that Sameer was bothered by her writing?

"Naina yeh baat tumhare writing ki hai hi nahi... baat tumhare samay na dene ki hai..."

"Ab yeh dono cheezein ek sath aa gayi toh isme mai kya kar sakti hu? Sameer, yeh dono cheezein mere liye bahot zaroori thi... hai... "

Does he really need to know how much of these two things, CA and writing have become part of necessity in her life? Isn't he aware of their current situation? Or is he skillfully bypassing some facts?

"Mere articles, meri kahaniyan, agar yeh saari baatein mere andar ki lekhika ko kareeb rakhti hai toh yeh articleship mujhe ghar chalane ke liye paise de rahi hai."

Sameer passed a pointed glare at her, his demeanor getting more and more serious.

"Tum kehna kya chahti ho?" he muttered.

Naina sighed deeply before continuing, "tumhe pata hai Papa ko kabse library me full time job ke liye puchha ja raha hai... Papa bhi bol rahe the woh log jyada salary dene ko tayyar hai... tum batao, hame Papa ki salary par yeh ghar chalana hai? Hamari savings din-ba-din kam hoti ja rahi hai... toh hum dono me se kisi ek ko naukri karni hi padegi na?"

"Mujhe baar baar yeh yaad dilane ki zaroorat nahi hai Naina ki mai mahine ke pehli tarikh ko ghar par salary nahi lata..." Sameer snapped at her, gritting his teeth. He had kept his voice low, realizing the place, but he couldn't hide the distate coming from his words.

It had been more than two weeks for his shoot for the Zee TV show. The Show was already running, so there wasn't any case of it being in post-production. His episode hadn't been featured on tv yet and there was a possibility that it may be broadcast next Friday. But again, he would receive its payment three months later. Neither the two shows he had shot for had gotten any release date yet. He had followed up with the two production houses, receiving the same response. Abhi kuchh pata nahi...

"Sameer tum kyu meri baaton ka galat matlab nikaal rahe ho?" Naina uttered unbelievably, the heel of her palm pressing her forehead in helplessness.

"Kyunki tum mujhe aisa sochne par majboor kar rahi ho Naina... aur tumhe kya lagta mai inn sab baaton ke barein me nahi soch raha?"

Naina flinched and looked around again. This was getting messier than she thought and she needed to calm him down first.

"Sameer," she whispered, stroking her palms on his chest, rubbing softly on his heart, accepting the warmth of his body that she was craving for and transferring the calmness to him, to his 'almost thudding to the ribcage' heart. "tumhe yeh sab sochne ki zaroorat nahi hai... tum sirf apne kaam par dhyan do. Mai hun naa... mai sara ghar-kharcha dekh lungi... yeh sab hamare liye hi toh kar rahi hu na mai Sameer..."

Her hands were pushed away by Sameer again, this time bit gently. He snorted, "isme tumhare liye kya hai yeh toh mai samajh raha hu... lekin mere liye kya hai iss sab mein? Tumhare poore din me 2 minutes mujhse baat karne ki toh fursat nahi hai tumhe... aur tum keh rahi ho yeh mere liye hai?"

"Tumhe kiss baat se problem hai Sameer? Mere job karne se? Mere likhne se? mere articles se?"

"Mujhe tumhare articles se kya problem hoga Naina?"

"Nahi, kyunki lag toh aisehi raha hai..." Naina didn't miss to catch on how he picked up on only her articles. "Tum batao aakhri baar tumne kab mere articles ke baare me puchha? Aakhri baar kab tumne jaan'ne ki koshish ki ki mujhe kaisa response mil raha hai, office me kitne letters aa rahe hai mere articles par... saare editors meri kya tareef kar rahe hai? Tumne kabhi puchha?"

Sameer averted his gaze from her, turning slightly and crossing his arms on his chest. He couldn't form any answer to Naina's questions.

And the reason being, she was speaking the truth.

"Sameer yahi sapne toh hamne dekhe the na?" Naina's voice bore a pinch of defeat looking at her husband. "Doobte suraj ko dekhkar, samandar ke saamne kiye hue woh waade... woh saare sapne... bhool gaye tum?"

Sameer passed a scornful chuckle, shaking his head, "agar inn sapno ke wajah se humare hi beech dooriyan aa rahi ho... toh kya fayda aise sapno ka Naina..." he peered at her as he remarked.

His voice was low all the while, but each of his words had sharp edges, as if they were mounted on the tip of the arrows. They all were aimed at Naina's soft heart, piercing straight to her soul and causing invisible but painful wounds.

"Yeh sapne dekhe the humne Naina? Jisme hamara khudka koi khubsurat pal bhi nahi hoga? Do pyarbhari baatein bhi nahi hogi? Jisme sukoon se bhari raatein bhi nahi hogi? Yeh dekha tha humne?"

Naina's cheeks were laden with streams of tears by now. She was looking at Sameer agape, unable to control her tears.

"Mai jaanta hum tum ek extraordinary ladki ho... bahot talent hai tum me... aur jiski mai kadar bhi karta hun... lekin mai abhibhi ek sadharan insaan hi hun Naina... meri zarooratein abhibhi ek aam insaan ki tarah hi hai..." He exhaled heavily as he finished.

"ab bhagwan me liye mujhe yaha thodi der ke liye rehne do aur tum ghar jao..."

He joined his hands in a plea and Naina's heart sank deep down. Wiping her tears and sniffing, she walked back to J101, which was just a flat for her, with walls and furniture, and not 'ghar' without her Sameer in it.

Naina was wide awake when Sameer returned home and to their bedroom. She had cocooned herself on her side, discarding the duvet. Her pillow was completely wet due to her sobbing, as she had hid her face in it to avoid any kind of noise.

Sameer sat on the corner of the mattress on his side, and the distance between them felt like miles to Naina.

She questioned if it was only her who felt the night to be colder than usual. She rubbed her arms to warm herself but it didn't provide her any kind of relief.

Probably this was what all she had for the time being.

A cold night... and even colder Sameer...

*********

That hurt... ouuchhh!!! ☹️

Thank you all for waiting patiently for this update. Apologies for so much of delay. There were several reasons behind it. Anyways.

A looonnnnggggg chapter at your service for this loonngg break.

How was it? I know it must not be a delightful read for you all, but I'm really really keen to know all your views on it.

What do you think about the situation Naina and Sameer have arrived at?

Do you recognize if anyone is at fault here?

What according to YOU is the missing element between them?

Also, do you all know what dreaming about being chased signifies? Does the dream have anything to do with Naina's headspace? (You can surely google if you want :P )

Any theories?

I want to reinforce this to you all that your votes and comments matter a lot to me. It motivates me to keep writing. And trust me, I'm not at very solid headspace at personal level either.

Anyways. Pllleeeaaasssseeee vote and comment.

Love, ♥️