Hey Friends, yes I'm finally back with this story. Apologies for keeping you all waiting for so long, but thanks to every one of you for waiting patiently for this one. My gratitude towards you all.

I also want to share something here. Whenever I write something, I don't know if it's my habit or nature, but I want to keep it as realistic as possible, which sometimes involves extensive research too. In this story, as we all know that Naina is preparing for CA, and to show things related to her studies, I made it like she's preparing for CA Foundation (I don't know if you people remember that). But it was my lack of knowledge in this field that made me reach to wrong research. So thanks Arya Superb_Giggles for enlightening me on this topic. So from here onwards, please consider it as 'CA Inter' preparation for Naina as she has already completed her B.Com. I'll be careful from next time onwards regarding this. 

Enjoy the story now.

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The bus was overcrowded, even to the extent of people going standing. The weather today was quite rainy past the sunset and it was clear that it would fall heavily anytime soon. The bus stopped at Andheri stop and Shubham managed to get down somehow. He started walking towards the society but was completely lost. He didn't remember he worked efficiently in the office today, predominantly in the later half. It doesn't happen with him generally, he's quite focused at work when he starts it. But today, his mind was occupied with something else. Not just today, it all started from yesterday.

Yesterday, when he was returning from the office, he saw Rakesh walking to the society from the other end. He caught him soon midway, "Tauji... namastey..."

Rakesh smiled at him, "Arey Shubham... khush raho..."

"Kahin bahar gaye the?" Shubham asked casually, but he didn't find any cotton bag or something in Rakesh's hands.

"Haan bass kaam se gaya tha bahar..."

Shubham frowned for a moment as they kept on walking. "Waise.. Aap aksar kaha bahar jaate hai tauji?"

Rakesh paused for a while. He found Shubham's question to be more than what he asked.

"Matlab?" He asked.

"Aaa... kuchh nahi... chaliye na..." Shubham continued the walk. "Naina aur Sameer kaise hai? Waise Naina se baat hui thi meri 3-4 din pehle..."

"Haan dono achchhe hai... kuchh jyada hi khush hai jabse Naina ki kahani chhapi hai..."

"Naina ki kahani?" Shubham asked frowning again, he stopped as they entered the society gate.

"Haan, Naina ki kahani chhapi hai na Hindi patrika me... ek saptah ho gaya hai..." Rakesh was beaming in happiness.

"Naina ki likhi hui kahani?" Shubham was astonished as Rakesh confirmed it by a nod. "Lekin... mujhe kisine bataya nahi..." He replied dejectedly. He likes to read generally. So if something written by Naina was printed in any magazine, then he would have liked to read it.

"Arey... maine Nirmala behenji ko bataya toh tha... mithai ka dibba bhi diya tha saath me..." Rakesh informed.

Shubham remembered having found a sweets box in their kitchen a few days back, but he didn't recall anyone telling him about it. But then he was reminded of Preeti's call that night with Anand and he could finally connect the dots.

Naina... padhna... sapne...

So they were talking about Naina's story or article that was printed in a magazine.

But why didn't Preeti mention it to him at all?

Did she think that he wouldn't appreciate it? Preeti and Anand talking about it meant it had reached Ahmedabad too. So was he the only one who didn't know about it?

When he had gone back home, he kept on thinking about the matter. He tried to recall that whole day when he returned from office. The way Preeti was checking on him frequently in their bedroom, the way she was doing something with the pillow. He had figured that she was definitely hiding something from him... probably the magazine? But why would she?

He had searched for the magazine in their bedroom after that. He absolutely didn't like searching for it in a suspicious way, but Preeti had left him with no option. Today morning, when he was getting ready for the office, he tried to sneak into Preeti's cupboard. He found a Hindi magazine which was dated 1st June and he kept it in his bag just in time before Preeti came to him.

Shubham entered the main gate of the society and looked at the balcony of J101. There he saw Naina who was collecting the clothes from the bars given the chances of heavy rain. He stopped for a moment, recollecting his talk with Naina a few days ago. Now he comprehended why she lost her enthusiasm in their conversation after what he had advised her. Her happiness lied in something else, he had known. A smile covered his lips and he walked to his wing.

It was 10 at night and Naina was lazily flipping pages of her studies book. Her gaze was constantly falling at the Kadambini magazine on the tea table, which in this one week had become an integral part of that table. It was the unsaid pact between Papa and Sameer that whoever of them picked it to read, they would keep it back to its place so that if someone visits their home, they should find the magazine right there. And it benefited them too. Once Vanita and Sahiba had visited them and they found the magazine. Vanita casually riffled the pages when Naina was busy preparing the tea, and she found Naina's name there. What followed later was the obvious congratulatory wishes and hugs to Naina, promises to purchase the magazine and read her craft. Naina giggled to herself remembering the reaction of Sameer and Papa that evening after seeing their plan successful.

This whole week passed in receiving calls for her appreciation. When Anand told her that he was proud of her and that he brought home VCD's of Bela's favorite films just to see her happy and smiling, she couldn't control the happy tears seeing her thoughts reaching to people. She knew her chachaji was always the one who cared for every person in their family, but that small gesture by him made two ladies smile; Bela Chachi and her. When Vishakha called her the next day, she said she was impressed with the way Naina had put forth her thoughts via a fiction story. She was also congratulated by Vivek for the same.

She was surprised when she received a call from Phulla Bua Dadi, who blessed her for a bright future with a heavy voice. She had glared at Sameer and Papa for spreading the news like fire, but they both claimed that they were innocent. Later, they all got to know that it was Anand who was doing the job for them.

Three-four days ago she was stopped in the lobby by Mr. Gadkari.

"Arey Naina beta... tumhari kahani padhi maina... bahot achchhi likhi hai tumne... '' Mr. Gadkari genuinely complimented her.

"Dhanyawad uncle." Naina thanked him. By the time she had known that Mr. Gadkari sits in the lobby while reading the newspapers and magazines, and complains about the mediocrity of the current generation's writing. Receiving a compliment from him pleased her.

"Beta tum aksar kahaniyan likhti ho kya patrikaon ke liye?" Mr. Gadkari asked, looking from the gap of his spectacles.

"Uncle... yeh Naina ki pehli kahani hi hai... aur pehli baar me hi chhap ke aayi hai." She didn't know how and when Sameer jumped in. He had a sparkle in his eyes as he was talking about her.

"Arey wah!" Mr. Gadkari exclaimed, looking at both one by one. "Pehli kahani ke hisaab se bahot hi achchha likha hai Naina... aur Kadambini me itne jaldi kisi ki kahani aati nahi hai... aisehi likhte raho... hame zaroorat hai aise lekhakon ki... "

That comment by Mr. Gadkari had made both Sameer and Naina's day... rather night... as Sameer kept on kissing her at every opportunity he got, kept on expressing how happy he was and then at night proved the same.

Their friends were also not behind in praising Naina when they were informed by Preeti and Sameer. Swati made a teasing comment that only 'Filmy Kitaab' Naina can write such beautiful stories, but at last said that she was so happy for her. Munna's call was a completely different story. His statement made her chuckle even now.

"Bhabhi, aapne itne bhari-bharkam shabd likhe hai apni kahani me, toh pehle toh kuchh palle nahi pada... lekin kahani toh padhni thi aapki... isliye phir Rewa ne padhkar sunayi bhi aur samjhayi bhi..."

None of their friends were readers, she knew it. But they still did only for her and she was blessed to have such supporters in her life. How can she forget her meeting Preeti in the garden the next evening?

When Preeti saw Nirmalaji going out to meet Mrs. Gupta, she called Naina in the garden. The first thing they did was to hug each other tightly. Even after living one wing apart, they couldn't meet for more than 24hrs.

"Naina, kitni achchhi kahani likhi hai tune?" Naina could see the happiness and pride reflecting in Preeti's eyes.

She was quite skeptical to send this version of the story for the magazine, but she wasn't considering it getting printed, so she ignored it at that time. But when it was finally printed, her confidence to show this to Preeti had almost died down. After all, she was openly talking about her sister's life and her situation. If not all the readers, but her sister herself, Preeti would definitely know that it was based on her, though a little twisted. She was debating whether to reveal about the magazine to Preeti or not, but then Sameer had directly handed Preeti a copy of it. She was miffed at him, saying she was unsure of Preeti's reaction to it. But Sameer had pacified her, quoting that the 'nayika' of that story deserved to know about it. And that evening, her every doubt was washed away.

"Preeti, tu mujhse naraaz toh nahi hai na... mera matlab... maine aise... tere baare mein..." Naina said hesitantly.

"Mere baare me? Nahi toh... hamare baare mein Naina... yeh kahani hum dono ki hai..." Preeti chirped, as they sat on the bench. "Tu soch Naina... jab yeh kahani log padhenge toh Sneha aur Isha ke beech jo behenchaara hai, uske jo charche honge na... tu dekh bass..."

Naina laughed at Preeti's way of saying the word behenchara. She grabbed Preeti's hand in hers, "Preeti, mazak chhod na... mai sach keh rahi hu maine bahot socha ki yeh kahani bhejni chahiye ya nahi... kyunki agar tere yaha... "

"Naina..." Preeti interrupted her. "mujhe jaan'ne wale log toh sirf gine-chune hai yaha... lekin usse bhi badhkar, teri yeh soch poore samaaj tak pahuchna bahot zaroori hai... isliye ab tu jyada soch mat... "

Naina smiled heartily on Preeti's comment. She didn't need to think about it anymore.

"Sunn, teri kahani chhapne ke khushi me kal ghevar banaye the maine..." Preeti opened a steel box and fed it to Naina. "Kaise bane hai?"

Naina munched on the sweet dish, closing her eyes while devouring its taste and then signalling Preeti the same through her hands. "Kya bane hai yaar yeh ghevar Preeti?" She exclaimed, "waise Jiju ko pasand aaye ki nahi?" Naina nudged Preeti, teasing her.

Through this question, she tried to bring Shubham in the discussion, if she could know about his reaction to her story. She has immense respect for Shubham and somehow his reaction meant to her. But she was afraid too.... afraid that he might take it personally and not like it.

Naina had soon realized that just changing names of the characters and twisting the narrative a little won't change the fact that it was after all based on Preeti and her. Did she commit a big mistake with this one?

"Shubhamji ko toh bahot pasand aaye... woh toh kal se khaye ja rahe hai bass... " Preeti replied with a blush on her face.

Naina had studied Preeti's face, her expressions and her tone that evening. She had fathomed that no one in Preeti's house knew about her story. She didn't have any expectations from Nirmala aunty or Tanvi. But some words of praise by Shubham Jiju would have lifted her morale. She was in a battle of emotions whether to be relieved that Shubham hadn't read that yet or be disappointed.

She cannot force people to read just because they were her relatives or close ones. People have their own life, they have their own things to do in their leisure time.

But he could have at least taken some time out to read his favourite Saali's story...

Ughhhhh... She couldn't come to a conclusion about what she wanted...

And when she met Shubham some three-four days ago, all her debates were silenced. Instead, some new debates took place in her mind after that small talk with Shubham.

She was returning from the market when Shubham spotted her near the society gate as he returned from the office. After the normal pleasantries, Shubham asked her, "tumhari padhai kaise chal rahi hai Naina?"

"Achchhi chal rahi hai Jijuu..." Naina replied with a smile on her face.

"Chalo achchha hai... waise tum articleship ke liye kaha dekh rahi ho? Mere office me baat karu main?" Shubham casually said.

Naina's cheerful mood downed a bit, "articleship?"

"Haan... experience ke liye dekhni toh padegi na... aur yahi sahi waqt hai... Meri koi bhi madad lage toh mujhe batana... Mai achchhe firms dhund ke dunga tumhe..."

Naina was pleased to see the help offered. "Thank you Jijaji... lekin abhi tak socha nahi kuchh... socha thodi aur tayyari kar lu... uske baad dekhti hu..."

Naina had smoothly dodged the question of articleship that day, but she soon realized that she must think about it. Articleship was needed for three years for the industrial experience. And as Shubham said, this was the right time for it. Amidst all the happiness around her story, she comprehended she wasn't paying much attention to her studies. She would open books as per routine but she couldn't concentrate as required. She would reminisce about all the congratulatory messages and compliments on her writing, sometimes thinking about the fate of her next story, keeping the page from her notes unturned. Just like how at the moment she was flipping pages absent-mindedly.

Her reverie was broken by the telephone ring and she frowned looking at the wall clock. It was quite late for anyone's call.

"Helllo", Naina answered the phone casually. But nothing could be heard from the other end.

"Kaun?" She asked again.

The line was again just blank. Naina waited for a few more seconds for someone to speak, but the status of the call remained unchanged. Plain. Blank.

She looked at the clock. It was late and she was alone at home. At the given situation, she should just disconnect the phone and keep the receiver aside, but she didn't feel like doing it. She wasn't afraid of anything. She was rather curious. She tried to figure out if she could hear something in the background, if she heard any voice, any noise. Anything. But no... it was complete silence at the other end. She wondered how the other person, who had been calling them for quite a long time now, could manage sheer silence at the other end. If any girl was calling for Sameer, then how didn't she act on anything yet? Naina herself as a sixteen year old would play songs for Sameer. But this person? Is so disinterested in giving any signal or any hint or any song proposal. No.. nothing... just a blank call...

The call got disconnected after a minute and Naina was back to her place. She was cheerful for no reason. She was smiling, humming a song she had listened to on the radio in the evening, as if some positive vibes were transferred from the phone. She resumed turning pages of her notebook without reading a word.

"Naina..."

She heard a voice coming from the main door.

"Ji Papa..."

"Sameer kab tak aa raha hai? 10 baj gaye raat ke..." Rakesh said, removing his chappals as he returned from his walk and entered the living room.

"Thodi der me aa jana chahiye Papa... usne bataya tha der hogi... "

Sameer was out to meet a casting coordinator, who had his office in Thane, much outside of Mumbai city. When he informed Naina about it, she was apprehensive about meeting him in the evening. But Sameer assured her that there's nothing fishy about it and that he had checked everything beforehand. Also, Aditya was with him. Later, he called her from the office telephone saying they would be late and would eat something outside, so Naina and Papa shouldn't wait for him for dinner.

"Yeh ladka bhi na... itni der tak ghar se bahar rehne ki kya avashyakta hai... '' Rakesh said in concern, to which Naina only chuckled.

Naina got up from her place when Rakesh shifted the center table to make his bedding. Getting a jar of water from the kitchen, she started helping her father in the arrangement and then saw him dozing off within five minutes.

She made her way to the balcony to see if Sameer had returned. She remembered the teaching by Bela chachi in their childhood, that they shouldn't wait specifically for someone or for their husbands, as this way the person only takes more time to return. She didn't forget the lesson, but the rising thunder and the strong wind were worrying her more now. She knew it would rain heavily anytime, and Sameer getting caught in the rain was more petrifying.

A few big droplets of water from the sky and Naina almost feared for Sameer. She prayed to the rain god to delay the rain, so that her husband is back home safe. But there were no signs of her prayers getting answered. Her eyes remained focused on the main gate of the society, narrowed, straining her vision to see a glimpse of him. A sigh escaped from her when she saw Aditya running in, entering the gate with his hand over his head to save himself from the rain. It meant Sameer must come too now...

And he came... with a smile on his face and his gaze directed straight to their balcony...

She smiled looking at him, relieved to see him. And the rain smiled at their eye-lock while pouring heavily. Two people sitting in the garden ran to their houses. Dhondu collected his register and tiffin, and ran to the society office. Aditya took long strides again and entered J wing hurriedly. But Sameer remained firm at walking slowly, one by one... step by step...

Naina signalled him to come up fast, but he denied with a smile.

"Neeche aao..." Sameer said instead.

Rain had drenched Sameer enough and Naina felt the need to drag him inside. Taking quick but careful steps, she ran out of the flat and went downstairs.

"Sameer... kya kar rahe ho... ghar chalo..." Naina uttered in absolute concern as soon as she stepped out of J wing. Her husband was enjoying himself in the rain.

She grabbed his hand to take him inside, but her little force couldn't move him and within time, Sameer pulled her to his chest.

"Arey... bheeg kyu rahe ho? Tabiyat kharab ho jayegi tumhari.." Naina tried the last attempt to convince her husband.

"Hone do... tum ho na mera khayal rakhne ke liye..." He voiced, sounding husky.

Naina dropped all her worry and concern seeing the mood Sameer was in. She knew her persuasion would go in vain. He was so stubborn but she had happily accepted all his stubbornness in her life. She looked around for a second, the area completely vacant given the heavy downpour. They were the only two there, soaked in rain water... and soaked in longing for one another...

Sameer held her hand in his and pulled her closer from her waist. With a bright smile on his lips, he started swaying a little, enabling Naina to move with him.

"Kya kar rahe ho?" Naina laughed.

"Apni biwi ke sath dance", Sameer shrugged, as if it was too obvious. He straightened their hands, twirled her once and pulled her to him again.

Naina looked at her handsome husband to observe his perfect features in the rain. His silky mass of hair was now stuck to his scalp, some locks fallen on his forehead. His running fingers through his hair would move them back, only to let them fall on its place once again. Each droplet of water was fast enough to run down his face, running in rivulets from his temple to his jaw, to the side of his throat and then disappear in his shirt. His shirt... the white shirt he wore today was now clinging to his body like a second skin, making his white vest totally visible, forcing her to imagine his muscular chest underneath it. He had rolled his sleeves exposing his forearms... no, her focus was on the veins of his forearms. As her gaze went back to his face, she noticed the content smile on his face and his lips soaked in rainwater. When they further went up to his eyes, she recognized his eyes were busy doing just the same work as hers... to observe her...

Sameer saw Naina's wet hair fall on her shoulders. She had forgotten to take her dupatta in hurry, giving him the opportunity to scan her from top to bottom. Her mangalsutra was shining proudly around her neck. Her white dress had crumpled at places and was glued to her skin. Even her white bra was visible to him and he smiled looking at the exposed skin of her collarbone, and the swell of her bosom inside her kurta. And going down a little, her stomach could be seen too through the wrinkled fabric there. He stirred down there and he shuddered.

They continued swaying in the rain, dancing on the tune known only to them. The smiles were getting exchanged as they looked at each other, but the smile had a tinge of longing and desires for one another.

"Kaunsa gaana gaau?" Sameer asked, raising his brows.

"Ummm... pyaar hua iqraar hua...", came the quick reply from Naina.

"Yeh wala? Muhje laga tum koi aur gaana bologi..." Sameer quirked his brows, hinting Naina about something.

Naina frowned for a moment, trying to figure what her husband was trying to suggest. A careful gaze into his eyes and Naina understood what he was implying.

She blushed with the remembrance of the special incident they shared in the rain.

In this enchanting rain....

The rain had witnessed many shades of them over the years. This rain was present between them when they were accusing each other falsely during the headboy competition result. When they were separated by the distance of two cities, it was this rain that had kept their faith alive, watering their rose plants. This rain had witnessed their longing in each other's eyes when they had headed to different colleges. But last year was the most beautiful one for them as they were together for the entire time. Of course! They were a married couple and not just girlfriend-boyfriend.

One such night last year in Ahmedabad, it started raining heavily. Sameer and Naina were watching television for namesake, as they were distracted by the thundering. The powercut occurred soon and they both shifted closer to each other, given the fear of darkness. They both walked together to get the candles and lit a few in the living room as Sameer hadn't booked a generator by the time.

After lighting the last candle near the television set, Sameer held Naina's hand. They got startled again with a dreadful thunder, turning the hold of their hands tighter. Naina craned her neck to have a look at their big bungalow. It was such a humongous one and they were only the two living there. At other times, she wouldn't stop praising how beautifully Sameer had decorated each corner of it, but at that time, she found the dark corners of the house haunting and creepy. Her breath quickened and Sameer stroked his thumb on the top of her hand.

"Darr lag raha hai?" Sameer asked as he cleared his throat. His condition was no different than hers.

"Thodasa..." Naina replied sweetly.

Naina's pre-wedding life was quite cheerful at Agrawal's during the rains and power cut. She was always surrounded by elders like Chachaji-Chachiji, Preeti and others. They used to play games like Antakshari in the candlelight and spend the time happily in the limited space of their flat. This was her first time to face the powercut in such a huge bungalow, with fear of falling anywhere due to lack of light. And here she had only Sameer, who had his own set of fears with darkness and animals since his childhood.

"Toh... darr bhagaye mil ke?" Sameer proposed.

"Kaise?" Naina asked expectantly. Her eyes bore sheer innocence.

Sameer smiled at her and took her to the swimming pool area. They took slow strides in whatever light they had from the four candles in the living room. As they stepped outside, the rain caught them in its trap, drenching them thoroughly. They stood beside the pool, hand in hand and bearing the noise of the lightning happily on them.

Sameer looked at Naina as her yellow maxi dress clung to her body. He himself was wearing a maroon colored shirt and something struck his mind. He pulled Naina closer to him by her waist, tucked her wet locks behind her ear and started moving back and forth.

"Tip tip barsa paani... paani ne aag lagayi..."

Sameer started singing with Naina in his hold.

"Kya kar rahe ho?" Naina asked, laughing.

"Gaana gaa raha hu... waise yeh gaana toh tumhe gaana chahiye... meri Raveena..." Sameer winked.

Naina blushed profusely as he called her Raveena. She couldn't believe that Sameer had brought Mohra film VCD on rent just to show her this dance. But she had to have a befitting reply to his comment. She chuckled, "mujhe toh yeh gaana hi samajh me nahi aata... paani ne aag lagayi... kuchh bhi likhte hai..." And she spoke the truth instead, crunching her nose.

"Haan... kuchh bhi likhte hai..." Sameer grinned. Naina didn't miss the sarcasm in his voice though, but she didn't get the joke either.

He then wheeled her with his hand and pulled her back to his chest, looping his arms around her belly. He shifted her hair on one side and ran his index finger on her nape, making her squirm in his hold. He dipped down and kissed her neck.

The rainfall had slowed down and Naina felt Sameer's hot lips on her skin more than the water droplets. An electrifying jolt spreaded through her entire body, as if the water did its work to carry the current from Sameer's lips. She couldn't take it the next moment when Sameer pulled the zipper of her maxi down. She turned to him instantly but that didn't stop him from opening it as much as he wanted.

Naina looked straight into his eyes. What she saw in it was scarier but satisfactory at the same time. His eyes had turned dark, giving a tough competition to their surroundings. They were full of desire and longing for her, he was absolutely soaked in the rain but his soul was thirsty. All she could do was to wait for his action.

Sameer nuzzled her temple and cheek, and whispered,

"Doo doo doo dooba dariya mein... khada mai saahil par...

Tu bijlee bankar giri mere dil par..."

This time, Naina didn't laugh, nor did she smile. The whole attention of her mind and body was at Sameer's nose tickling her face. It was so sensuous for her to ignore. Her fingers curled on Sameer's shoulders, clutching his shirt. She was feeling shivers in her body, not due to the rain, but because of the Sameer's doings to her. First nuzzling and now the kisses.

Sameer kissed her forehead and then her eyes, and Naina calmed a bit with the gentle touch, thinking he didn't go ahead with whatever he had thought with the zipper.

But her resistance was still very much on. "Sameer, hum bahar khade hai... '' She said, conscious about someone noticing them from the neighborhood.

"Chaaro taraf andhera hai Naina... aur... darr toh bhagana hai na?" He threw a surprise question.

Naina didn't understand what fear he was talking about. Whether it was the darkness or being only them in this big house... or was he implying something else... Was he talking about her fear about their closeness?

Whatever it was, Sameer was right. The fear was indeed needed to overcome.

She nodded positively and he took it as a sign to continue. He cradled her face in his palms and bestowed her with gentle kisses on her nose, on her cheeks and jaw. Naina had forgotten that it was raining. She didn't feel the water, she only felt Sameer's lips on her. She was submerged in the pleasurable feeling of his touch on her wet body. His hand then travelled down her neck, reached her shoulder and he slowly pulled the left sleeve down off the maxi. Naina jerked instantly with the move but Sameer hushed her. He exposed her bare shoulder to him by pulling the strap of her bra too. He had opened the zipper of her dress for a purpose. For this.

He bent down and planted open mouth kisses from her throat, continuing to the side of her neck and then on shoulder, as if drinking all her nectar. He held her possessively, his kisses turned intense and passionate. After a good time, the side was changed and he repeated all the kisses on her right side too.

Meanwhile, all Naina could do was to moan his name in between, to tilt her head to give him more access, to clutch his hair in her fingers and pull them at times when she felt losing her mind, to clench her inner thighs to suppress the throbbing between her legs and to suck inn as much air in her lungs.

He came up and smacked his lips on hers. The moment his tongue invaded her mouth, she forgot almost anything. His warm tongue was creating havoc to her entire system. She felt as if the rain drops falling on them were evaporating instantly as a result of their burning bodies in the heat of the desire.

Their kiss turned more intense by every passing moment. Her body responded in the form of liquid pooling between her legs, while his one responded in the form of his straining erection poking at her belly. Their heads kept changing angles, their tongues stroked playfully in each other's mouths, Naina pulled Sameer's hair while his hand roamed all over her back with madness.

It was a flash of bright lightning on their faces, followed by a loud noise that made them stop. When Naina looked at Sameer, she forgot why they were beside the swimming pool, she couldn't remember what fear they were trying to conquer when they stepped out of the house. She could only feel... his hot lips on hers, on her face, on her throat and on her shoulder. All she could feel was the warm wetness in her innerwear despite being completely drenched by the rain. She was still in Sameer's hold and his body was radiating heat like anything. She suddenly started feeling so hot, the drizzle now making a zero impact on her body.

Was this the reason the atmosphere had turned steamy around them? She mused.

"Waise, tumhe aaj bataya maine tum kaisi lag rahi ho?" Sameer asked her, grazing his thumb on her lips.

Naina shook her head in negative, still very much under the effect of their make-out... under the open sky... under the rain...

"Ek boond ki talash me mai aaya tha teri gali me,

Tumne baarish me bheegkar paani me aag laga di,

Mai jalta bhi raha...

Apni pyaas bujhata bhi raha...

Aur sirf tumhe dekhta bhi raha..."

Naina kept staring at him, finding in his eyes what he meant. His eyes had turned intense, much more intense than before. She almost witnessed fire in his eyes. And that was it! She gasped heavily, realizing the meaning of his shayari and the song ultimately. Sameer didn't explain it to her through words, rather he chose to show it to her.

"Naina..." Long fingers snapping in front of her eyes brought Naina back from her thoughts. "Kaha kho gayi?" She found Sameer smirking at her.

"Usi raat mein... jiske baare me tum bhi soch rahe ho..." Naina pointed a gaze at Sameer, sounding seductive.

"Haaye... meri biwi ka jawab nahi..." Putting his hand on his heart, Sameer threw a filmy dialogue at her.

Naina laughed as he turned her back to him. He started singing 'pyar hua ikraar hua hai' and making her dance with him on the tunes. They tried to synchronize some steps but failed. But they tried again as Sameer taught her the moves. The next time, she did perfectly.

"Kehta hai dil rasta mushkil... maloom nahi hai kaha manzil..."

She joined him while singing the female part of the song. They covered distance dancing while hand in hand, he lifted her from her hips, making her giggle in exhilaration and wrap her arms around his neck, he placed her back on the ground and planted soft kisses on her forehead.

If the night they recalled from last year was about beating the fear of their closeness or even about the darkness, then tonight was only about living in the moment, enjoying life and showering their love on each other. Sameer still hadn't made any progress in his acting career while Naina hadn't started her articleship yet... nor was she sure how she needed to take the debates in her head ahead. They both were unsure of what their 'manzil' really was. But what they knew was that they had their partner's grand support with them.

The Sea Queen Society garden area was eerily empty. People had shut their windows to avoid the invasion of rain water in their flats, most of the windows were already in the dark indicating the residents there had already gone to sleep. Except there was one window in C wing that was half open with the slider, the room was dimly lit and there stood a woman who had worn a genuine smile on her lips.

It was Preeti standing near the window of her bedroom, who was adoring her sister and her favorite Jijaji happily dancing in the rain. She knew how they were madly in love with each other, at many times she had been the witness to see their longing for each other. But this was something very personal and private between them she was witnessing for the first time. Her mind had warned her to give them privacy even if they were dancing in rain openly; not in their huge Krishna Kaustubhi mansion but in a society full of people; but her heart wanted to see them for one second more. Their contentment made her content, their smiles made her happy.

Preeti didn't recognize when Shubham stood behind her... exactly behind her and he too started observing Sameer and Naina dancing. As the downpour reduced, the sight got much clearer and they saw Sameer and Naina indulging themselves in a lip-kiss. Preeti lowered her eyes, she turned to leave from the place and bumped onto Shubham. He had something in his hand, a folded magazine, and he tried to hide it behind him.

"Ummm... mai paani ka jar lekar aati hu..." Preeti uttered, playing with her mangalsutra.

As she left to the kitchen, Shubham directed his eyes downstairs again, to Sameer and Naina who were now laughing on something, he saw Naina hitting Sameer's arm and him pulling her to his chest again.

How can this couple be head over heels in love with each other? He thought.

Is it really possible for a husband-wife to share this much love in their relationship?

He had seen very few examples of couples around him who led a successful married life. He was the last one in his friend circle to get married, and he saw them mostly complaining about their partners. He had a very basic image of marital life in his mind from whatever he had seen around him from his childhood. He knew there are certain marital duties that husband-wife need to fulfill for each other and for the society. He had learnt all his life that the husband has to earn money for the survival of the family and the wife looks for the other departments like cooking, cleaning, and other household chores. That was the definition of a marital life for him. When he met Preeti for the marriage talk, he checked if Preeti fits in all the check-boxes his mother told him, and when all of the boxes were ticked, he said yes for Preeti, ignoring the fact that he had really liked her in the first meeting itself.

Marriage was a complicated thing for him till that time. He never really believed in the depiction of 'true love' shown in the films. 

How is it possible that the boy and the girl fall in love with each other, the world opposes their love, they fight for their love and then there is happy ending?

Isn't it needed for them to check where the boy actually works and how much he earns?

It was definitely one of the most important questions asked to him before Preeti.

How is it possible that the couple lives happily ever after as the end credit board suggests in the films?

He had personally seen jealousy between couples in his close friend circle. He had seen them envying each other's progress, he had seen them complaining about their polar opposite habits and nature, he had seen them struggling financially and living a compromising life with their partners.

But when Preeti came into his life, he felt that marriage must not be that difficult as he saw around. He realized that it was a beautiful feeling to see a smile on Preeti's face whenever she would open the door for him. 

And then came Naina and Sameer in his life, as his neighbors.

He had seen Naina and Sameer's love for one another at many instances. He had seen Sameer helping Naina in cooking from his kitchen window. He had also seen Sameer fulfilling Naina's every wish, like buying new dresses for her. He could feel the love they had for each other whenever he met them together or whenever they talked about each other. They were certainly different than others.

He lifted his hand and peered at the magazine, reading the title again. Badlaav ki Pehli Dastak. He had finally taken the magazine out from his bag during lunch time. He shuffled the pages to find Naina's story, found it and read it. And then he read again and then again... He was barely focusing on his work later. He read it one more time in the crowded bus and kept on pondering over what was written in it.

Why did it have to be a sister helping his married sister to push her to pursue her dreams?

This was the first question he asked himself. Why couldn't it be the husband supporting and encouraging his wife for the same? He is the closest relation to the woman after the marraige, right? He contemplated it again and again. And he got his answer when he placed himself and Preeti in the story instead of Sameer and Naina.

He fathomed why Naina felt the urge to write on this topic. Even if this wasn't the case in her personal life, it was all over the society they were living in. It was them, him and Preeti, who were the closest example of this story for Naina.

And looking at Naina and Sameer right now, he felt the urge to change the narrative of the story. He felt the urge to have the same kind of love between him and Preeti, as it was between Sameer and Naina. He wasn't comparing themselves and their married life with Sameer-Naina. He knew every couple is unique in their own way. But he knew that something was missing in their own love story. And somehow, that missing part itself was the origin of this story for Naina.

It was his support for Preeti regarding her dreams. It was his faith in her that she can reach new heights while pursuing a career that she wants.

An uneasiness rose in his chest with so much going on in his mind. He thought of himself as such a bad husband, who needs to be told a few things about his wife by a third person. He wanted to change things. He wanted to tell Preeti that he loves her a lot.

No... he didn't want to tell her. He wanted to show it to her. He wanted to do it for Preeti... he wanted to do it to see the shine in her eyes forever... he wanted to do it to see the love and pride in her eyes for him. It was time to do something beyond his marital duties, and beyond expecting anything in return.

It was time to take some action...

***********

Okay, done with this chapter after a looonnggg gap. And to be honest, I have no idea how it had turned. So do share your views on it.

Okay, I admit here that Surrendering Completely has totally spoiled me. I keep going back to Samaina's life in Ahemedabad and keep thinking what all must have happened there. So the portion included here was just to showcase how Samaina dealt with even smallest of things together while in Ahmedabad. They were of course dealing with their closeness too, but don't merge Samaina from SC into Sapno Ka Shaher.

Would you like to see some Krishna Kaustubhi flashbacks in between the chapters?

Any thoughts about Shubham?

And who's the caller after all?

Share your opinions.

I see a small decline in the number of votes here. It's a request to silent readers to show some support at least in the form of votes, if not comments. To the other ones, please do vote and comment. Your comments really encourage me to write faster.