Naina was in the kitchen, cleaning the countertop. The used plates and the empty utensils were kept in the sink for rinsing and the leftovers from the lunch were stored in the fridge. She didn't expect this much food would be left uneaten, because Sameer hadn't eaten properly today. Her hands were working on the countertop mechanically, but her mind was completely lost. Her mind was lost in the thoughts of Sameer, who was standing in the balcony and behaving as lost since morning.

Something was so wrong with him, Naina knew that. He was answering only in 'yes' or 'no' or 'sorry' since morning. And it wasn't just about not speaking much, but his body language, his lost eyes and melancholic face was enough proof to tell her that something so dreadful had happened yesterday night. She was aware that it wasn't only about rejection, that thing Sameer had learnt to handle, but much more worse than that. But what? Did Aryan insult Sameer badly? Did they have a fight in between? She just couldn't get it. Neither she got the time to ask him peacefully nor Sameer was available in the house for that. And she was sure that he was just avoiding the situation to be questioned about yesterday night.

He had woken up early in the morning and straightaway entered the bathroom. After bath, he had had his tea, made by Papa, in a hurry and left the house saying he would get the vegetables and grocery. She inferred that he had even forgotten about her periods, as generally he wouldn't let her enter the kitchen in the morning. He had taken so long to return, carrying a grocery of over a month. She had even berated him, not meaning literally but just to make him speak.

"Yeh kya hai Sameer? Ek mahine se bhi jyada ka ration hai yeh..." Her eyes had widened seeing the multiple heavy cotton bags he had kept on the kitchen platform.

"Sorry..." was the only word he had said.

She had immediately softened, "aaa... koi baat nahi... ab tension nahi rahega na ghar me kaunsi cheez hai aur kaunsi nahi..." She tried to lift his mood with her chirpy voice.

He had just hummed and turned to leave when Papa joined them in the kitchen, "arey Sameer, kahan gaye the tum? Subah se dhund raha hun tumhe..." There was a big smile on Papa's face. Sameer didn't respond and just looked down. "Achchha, kal ki mulaakat kaisi thi tumhari... role mila tumhe?" Rakesh was keen to know the outcome of Sameer's meeting with Aryan.

Sameer didn't lift his head. "Nahi," he had said without meeting his eyes with anyone and left the kitchen.

Naina and Rakesh looked at each other, and both had observed that Sameer was indeed disturbed. Naina wanted to talk to him but he was again out for a long time on the pretext of meeting Aditya. But when he hadn't returned after an hour, she had gone to check on him and spotted him walking alone in the garden. He was walking in the harsh sunlight, which he doesn't like at all. All this wasn't enough for them, as during lunch too, Sameer was constantly thinking about something. She just wished she had stayed awake yesterday when he arrived. Yesterday night, she had woken up with a jerk thinking about Sameer, but seeing him sleeping beside her, she had heaved a sigh of relief. She had realized she slept in a new suit, but she was in no mood of getting up and changing it. So she just scooted closer to Sameer, hugged him from behind and fell asleep again. But now, she wished she should have just checked on him, asked him when did he return and whether he had eaten anything, because today morning, she had again received just a 'sorry' from him, when asked why he didn't wake her up or eat something.

She was getting worried now. Quiet Sameer had always scared her. When he would stand alone at nights in the terrace garden of Krishna Kaustubhi during his office days, she would just wonder if she has done something wrong again and Sameer is just avoiding to talk about it. But later, it had of course turned out as the bad treatment he was receiving in the office and eventually the business split. The way he had gone silent and fierce when Kartik had hugged her during the play, she knew he was carrying a tornado of emotions inside him and that was putting her into more guilt. The way he was keeping himself away from her after returning from Delhi and feared small-small things related to their relationship, it had taken her so much time to assure him that no-one and nothing could part them away. And today, since morning, she had seen reflections of all those phases in Sameer and that had scared her to the core. She was afraid that Sameer may go into the shell again and surround himself with self-doubt like all those times and she didn't want it to happen in any way. She had tried to guess all the possibilities that must have happened yesterday during Sameer's meeting with Aryan, but she just couldn't reach a specific one. And soon, she had given up the guessing game too and just wanted to hear it directly from Sameer. All she needed was the alone time with him and she just prayed that she would get it somehow.

"Naina..." Rakesh Papa's voice startled her and she blinked her tears back. She turned to see her father decked in proper clothes and possibly ready to go out. Rakesh softly asked, "Sameer ko kya hua hai? Khoya-khoya sa lag raha hai. Role na milne se dukhi hai kya? Arey, usse kehna yeh nahi toh koi dusra mil jayega..." A concern was clearly reflected in Rakesh's voice.

Naina put a fake smile on her face and cleared her throat, "aisi baat nahi hai Papa..." 

"Toh kya baat hai?" Rakesh queried.

"Wahi toh pata nahi chal raha hai Papa... usse baat karne ke liye woh ghar me kaha ruk raha hai..." Naina answered in a low volume, her worry for Sameer was increasing.

Rakesh studied his daughter for a moment. She had clenched the countertop with both her hands and was seeming restless. "Achchha sunn, mai bahar jaa raha hu kaam se. 2-3 ghanton me aa jaunga..." He said.

Naina nodded looking at her father. She wanted to know where he goes in the afternoon in alternate 2-3 days, but right now wasn't the time for that. "Papa, aap Sameer ko andar bhejiye na... kabse dhoop me khada hai balcony me... meri woh sunega nahi..." Naina pleaded, her voice turned heavy and so did her heart.

Rakesh understood the alone time these two needed together and mentally thanked that he had to go out now. Keeping his palm on Naina's head, he nodded and left for the balcony.

Sameer was standing in the balcony with his hands clutching the parapet wall and leaning further a bit. The ruthless sun at 12:45 in the afternoon was raising the temperature of his body, but it looked like he had voluntarily opted for it, as a punishment to himself for missing yesterday's judgement and also to avoid the confrontation with Naina about the same. He wasn't avoiding Naina because he was feeling embarrassed or something, but he knew that he would break down dismally in front of her, and Papa being around, he didn't want it to happen somehow.

He was wondering if his struggle in the film industry is going to continue just like that. He was perplexed if this happens everywhere in the industry to get the hero's role. Does this film fraternity work only like this? On favours? If he gets selected for a role in future, would he again be asked to do a favour? But the last time he was selected for a next level audition, it appeared purely on the basis of skills. Hold on!! Really? Wasn't he selected for a side role, even after auditioning for a lead role? Didn't they already have planned to cast a hero of their choice? But, that was fair too. Rohit Roy was already working in films and television, so they must have seen his work. He was baffled. He couldn't figure out how exactly this industry works, and how it is surrounded with people with so many different shades. One time he met some assistants in a producer's office, who laughed at him for his poor performance, and the other time he met a friendly and kind-hearted man like Anil Sir. He observed how humble and dedicated Ravi Sir was even after being at a senior position, but also saw the arrogant Viren though with little experience. He met someone so helpful and generous like Piyush Sir, and the next day he met the cunning and manipulative Aryan.

He shuddered again with Aryan's memory. How could he not judge what was behind that lopsided smile whenever Aryan was looking at him. Whether it was on the day of the audition itself when he and Aditya were talking to Vikas and Aryan was gazing at him or when he was standing in front of Aryan's house and Aryan just leered at him from top to bottom. How could he miss it when Aryan called him inside his bedroom and undid his shirt. What had happened to him in Aryan's presence that he felt this urge to smoke? He had never felt like that before. He had of course been around people who smoke, in acting class or during some auditions. But he never wanted to have even a puff or take a cigarette like that and brought it almost to his lips. Well this is what someone's influence can cause to you, he mused. Sameer was flummoxed, wondering if it was only him who was trapped by Aryan's charming personality or there were more such struggling boys and girls, who in need of work, acceded to Aryan's every wish. He squeezed his eyes shut to put a brake to his uncontrollable mind, wishing and hoping it doesn't happen with anyone else. But he failed. Again and again. And he had almost reached the threshold due to these constant thoughts running haywire in his mind for a long time.

It had been almost forty-five minutes after lunch that he was standing in the balcony. His legs were aching terribly. His calf muscles had tightened more and his ankles and feet were demanding for the pressure on them to be lifted for sometime. It wasn't just due to the long time he was standing now or the long walk he had taken to the farther grocery shop or the garden walk. The option he had taken yesterday to walk all the distance from Aryan's place to back home, was the major contributory factor in his soreness. His eyes were burning due to lack of sleep as he had slept barely for an hour or two. He had sensed yesterday Naina getting up suddenly in the night and then hugging him from behind. But he had just pretended to be asleep till dawn when his body had finally given up on the fatigue. He wasn't paying any heed to his body ache though, because what had drained him more, mentally or emotionally, was meeting with his fears all at once.

After keeping the stone in his pocket, he had taken the route he had come from. He would always be attentive during the travel anywhere in the city and would observe all the minute things. For some significant areas of the city like Goregaon, Bandra, Dadar or Borivali etc. he had even learnt the bus routes and the landmarks on the way. Hence, he remembered most of his way back home from Aryan's place, as it was barely one-two turns and then there's the link road. He was almost walking in a trans yesterday, taking out the stone sometimes, observing it and just keeping it back. His rage was mostly about getting introduced to such an ugly face of this film world, which he wasn't aware of, or himself choosing a field that has such a hideous side. While walking on the road, he had wondered how his life would have taken a turn, had he listened to Nanu and learnt the business skills when he was alive. While rejecting many auto-wallas who were offering him the ride, he questioned himself what it would be if Mamaji wasn't so deceptive and he himself was the owner of 'Maheshwari Industries', just the way Nanu wanted him to be. He had always imagined a life where he would leave for the office in the morning or look at the factory work and go back to Naina in the evening who would be waiting for him. He had always dreamt of a simple life with Naina but never knew that he, and eventually Naina because of him, would have to face so many struggles in life.

As he continued to walk for a certain kilometres, he reached a bridge on the link road and halted. The traffic had slowly lessened and the darkness on the road had intensified due to the defective street lights. He stepped on the footpath, walked closer to the walls of the bridge and looked down. He had learnt from Aditya that this was the Oshiwara river which goes ahead to drain in the Malad Creek. The quietude of the place made him hear the rhythmic sound of the flowing water. And his mind unapologetically compared it with the peaceful environment of Sabarmati river he would often visit with Naina. It didn't match even an ounce. The Sabarmati river water had the capability to sooth him even in the worst of his moods. But here, the pandemonium within him had just stopped his mind from getting comforted. He badly wanted those days back.

He didn't know how much time he was standing there, but every minute of it was spent in counting the mistakes of his life till date. Was Mamaji true while telling that he just wanted to acquire an already established position and not strive hard for it or earn it? Considering the fact that he was going to join the office soon after college ended, what preparations had he done or planned anything about his work? Did he really want to do business? Probably not. Now when he sees in retrospect, he agreed to the fact that he definitely had a business mind, as inherited from Nanu, but didn't really have any interest in doing that business. But what about this life in Mumbai then? Hadn't he joined the acting class to learn the basics? Isn't he going to the auditions daily? Then what's lacking now? What's that thing that's yet to be done? What's that thing that's yet to be faced? Are there more insults and failures coming? He had taken out the stone again, and thinking that the Aryan chapter is closed, he had whirled it in the water, unsure of whether the memories of it would just wash away like this.

A barking dog had pulled him out of his thoughts and he jerked. As he turned to the road, he saw the dog was a few feet away from him but slowly approaching towards him. It was probably barking at another dog at the other end of Sameer and he found himself caught in the dreadful situation. He was scared of dogs, rather any animal and as the two dogs continued barking, his fear continued to grow. He had started sweating and was breathing deeply, trying to defy the pool of tears falling from his eyes, standing there petrified. His heart was beating at a thunder speed and he feared of fainting from the anxiety then and there. The very next moment, the dog at one end ran with the speed towards the other and Sameer had literally squeezed his eyes shut while keeping his hands on his ears. He was no less than a kid lost from his parents. After a few minutes, when he regained some courage, he had opened his eyes and, seeking the opportunity, he immediately walked off from there and took his route home.

The rest of the walk wasn't smooth either for him. It was decked with the darkness on the road with absence of street-lights at some places, the now-turned empty roads with only beggars sleeping on the footpath and some stray animals, the constant feeling of a drunkard following him for almost one kilometre and again a kennel of dogs fighting in front of the 'Sea Queen Society' gates. Only he knew how he passed that fifty metres distance, crossing almost eight barking dogs, with utmost fear and finally entered the gate.

Why and how did he become so vulnerable?

Why did he bear so many fears?

How is he going to protect Naina if such a situation happens again?

He felt there was a question mark even on his being. ....of him being a grown-up man, a husband to a very innocent and naive girl who has given her everything to him, a son to his mother who is proud of him, a friend to Munna-Pandit who treat him as their hero and a son-in-law to Papa and Chachaji who are expecting of him to become a successful person. He thought he had faltered in every relationship of his life. He found himself worthy of nothing. He found himself directionless. Yesterday night and today too, he found himself in a position where he just couldn't see anything ahead. Yesterday there was darkness, but right now, even in the hottest sun, he couldn't see anything in front of him. He found himself at the end of the tunnel, helpless, and nothing could help him to get out of it. He found himself at a dead-end.

"Sameer...."

Sameer heard his name and felt someone touching him. He couldn't perceive the voice, but all he could feel was someone's big palm on his left arm. He was so much lost in anguish, that the sudden touch just added into his distress. As a result, all his bodily sensations worked at double speed, and he gasped, flinching his arm in fright while taking a step back. He looked at the person with widened eyes while breathing heavily.

"Arey... Mai hun.... Darr kyun gaye?" Taking off his hand, Rakesh asked in concern.

Sameer blinked for a moment and realized that it was Papa in front of him, that he wasn't on that dark empty road but at his home. He heaved and just stayed quiet, not preferring to answer.

"Mai bahar ja raha hu kaam se... 2-3 ghante lagenge aane me..." Rakesh informed Sameer as he wanted him to know it. "Aur tum yahan dhoop me kyun khade ho? Jao... Andar jao..." He prodded.

Sameer just nodded, hoping Rakesh would leave but he saw his father-in-law standing right there with his hands on his waist.

"Jao na... andar..." Rakesh didn't want to sound harsh, but he knew his stubborn son-in-law wouldn't listen to him.

"Tch... Ja raha hun Papa..." Sameer said in extreme low volume, looking in the front.

"Jaa raha hun nahi... abhi jao... tabiyat kharab karni hai kya yahan dhoop me khade rehke... jao...." Rakesh was feeling bad for scolding Sameer like this, but he didn't have any other option. He wanted to hold Sameer affectionately and ask him what was wrong, just like he would ask Arjun when he would come back home crying as a child. He wanted to keep his hand on Sameer's head or rub his back and just give him some comfort, but their relationship was still so tender to cross that boundary.

Sameer shuddered at Rakesh's voice and looked at him. He found only concern and care in Rakesh's eyes, and he agreed while nodding again and this time indeed going inside.

Sameer went straightaway in the bedroom and sat on the cane stool near the window. He was feeling a little dizzy coming from the harsh sunlight into a comparatively darker bedroom and also as a result of the lack of sleep and exhaustion reacting on his body. Keeping his elbows on his knees, he rubbed both his palms on his face and slowly dragged them into his hair. But as soon as he closed his eyes, he remembered Aryan's raging face who was screaming at him when Sameer left his bedroom.

"Tumhe kya lagta hai, tum sirf ek ad karoge aur tumhe aisehi film mil jayegi? You can't just go like that, Sameer..."

He was becoming restless thinking if Aryan would sabotage his career using his power and he became frantic, breathing heavily and choking again. The constant thoughts were making him crazy now. One moment, he felt disgusted, the next moment scared and fearful and again the next moment mortifying. Would there be any end to this loop? Would he be able to come out of the memories of this horrifying night yesterday? Would he just breathe freely again without any suffocative feeling? He had no answers. But in the next few moments, his rapid breaths evened, the running thoughts in his mind took a pause and his parched soul felt sprinkles of warmth and affection as he sensed a soft palm caressing his head. It was such a gentle and comforting touch, and it held so much motherly affection that he felt as if his mother was stroking him with all her love. But he was aware that wasn't possible here. He knew whose touch it was and in that very moment, he lost all his semblance of a matured man he was trying to bear since morning. With that one touch, he finally let go of every emotion, every drop of tear he was holding back and without looking up, he just hurled his arms around his wife's waist, landed his cheeks on her belly and hugged her tight, sobbing like a child.

Naina circled her arms around Sameer's neck, stroking his back with one hand while just caressing his hair with the other. She had seen Sameer rushing to the bedroom and as soon as she locked the main door after Papa left, she too hurried to their room and saw Sameer sitting dejected. She had the answer of what Sameer needed the most right now.... A soothing touch... just a loving touch... wasn't that why Sameer hadn't touched her even once since morning? Nor had he let her touch him the slightest... he was just avoiding the situation for Papa being in the house. But, it wasn't required now. They were only the two in this house now, and nothing could stop him to pour his heart out in front of her. And so it happened. Listening to his sobs, she couldn't stop the tears forming in her eyes. But she was supposed to be the stronger one between the two now, and she did. Exhaling heavily through mouth, she controlled herself and bent down to kiss on his head. The afternoon had turnt all quiet, tranquil, with only Sameer's sobs filling the room.

Naina continued to caress Sameer's hair, with so much love, telling him that she's there. She need not know what was it that has hurt Sameer so badly. If that particular thing is so devastating for Sameer then she didn't want him to repeat it for her. She just wanted him to release all his held back emotions. A few minutes passed in a quietude and Sameer's sobs subsided. Naina sensed him wiping his face on her suit and an unknown smile crept on her face. Little kid Sameer would have wiped his face the same way to Vishakha Maa's pallu, had they lived together in his childhood. And for a moment, she couldn't see her husband but a little kid in him. She made him look up with both her hands and wiped the side of his face which was still wet due to his tears. She caressed his right cheek in her left palm, and ran her fingers through his dishevelled hair to set it. She then grabbed her dupatta and cleaned his running nose with it. 

"Ek minute haan Sameer, mai abhi aayi..." She said as lovingly as possible, as if a mother telling her child to wait. She quickly ran to the kitchen and came back with a glass of water for him. As he gulped the glassful of water, Naina pulled him up with his wrist, took him to their mattress and sat down with a cushion in her lap, asking him to lie down through her eyes.

Sameer had been just staring at her in astonishment since then. She hadn't asked a single word about yesterday but still understood that he may not be wanting to talk about it. How could she always read him so aptly? He rested his head on the cushion on her lap and spread his legs diagonally on the mattress. Her long fingers started their magic on his forehead and scalp, and every particle of his body began to loosen. He was finally getting relief from the headache he was having since morning due to lack of sleep and he closed his eyes.

He felt quite relaxed after surrendering himself to Naina's love, care and affection. He hadn't shared yesterday's details but still felt relieved. And as Naina's fingers were massaging his temples, he finally spoke, "yeh sab kab khatm hoga Naina? Yeh struggle?" He waited for Naina to answer it, but she was just doing the massage. "6 mahine ho gaye hame Mumbai me aaye, lekin do commercials aur ek print ad ke alava mere paas kuchh nahi hai," he whispered.

Naina had thought of letting him open up and speak, but this time, she intervened. "Abhi abhi toh safar shuru hua hai Sameer. Abhi toh manzil bahot door hai."

He smirked, still not opening his eyes, "lekin kya koi manzil hai bhi? Mujhe toh kuchh nazar nahi aa raha hai."

Naina's running fingers paused for a moment. She was clueless what Sameer was talking about but her mind warned her that she is not supposed to get trapped into Sameer's game of words and she has to have a reply to his every hunch. 

She cleared her throat, "haan... hai toh... Manzil hai... ek khubsurat raasta bhi hai... tum bass mera hath thaame chalte raho, tumhe bhi dikhayi dene lagega sab..." Her subconscious patted her back for the smart answer.

"Lekin kab tak Naina?" He asked. "Yeh sab kab tak chalne wala hai? Kab hum keh sakenge ki haan, hum settle ho gaye hai..."

"Aaa... pata hai Sameer..." Naina changed her tone to excited one, "Shah Rukh Khan ko uski pehli film abhi '92 me mili, lekin woh kaam toh '88 se kar raha hai... aur... woh... Akshay Kumar... haan... usne bhi toh modelling se hi career shuru kiya tha apna... aur usko bhi toh pehli picture kitni der baad mili... hai na..." She tried to make some logical points.

Agitated, Sameer opened his eyes and looked at her. "Tch... Naina... mujhe nahi sunni yeh Shah Rukh aur Akshay ki kahaniyan..."

Naina could feel the harshness in his voice and she got afraid for a moment. But she was aware Sameer wouldn't lash out on her. She softened her tone, "Sameer.... Mai bass kehna chahti hu ki, thoda waqt toh lagega hi... humne apne boutique ke business me bhi kitni jaldi haar maan li thi... lekin ab nahi Sameer... ab chahe kitna bhi waqt lage, hum dono datte rahenge..." 

Sameer passed a sarcastic laugh while looking at the wall in the front. "Huhh.... HUM?" He said, raising his eyebrows.

Naina was perplexed as to what Sameer is perceiving from their conversation and what direction he is taking it to. Is he thinking that he will be left alone in this struggle?  Is he thinking that she wouldn't support him after a certain period? Noooo.... That wasn't true... she would be there with him till her last breath... She sighed and felt the need to motivate him. Caressing his cheeks with her soft palm, she asked him, "Sameer, kuchh achchha padhke sunaau?"

Sameer looked above at her and saw her moist eyes. What was he doing? He didn't want to make her cry now or feel guilty about a thing he hasn't even shared to her. His eyes softened looking at her innocent face, and he blinked his eyes in yes with a little smile on his face.

Naina came back to the mattress with an old copy in her hand, after hunting her father's book collection for five minutes. She sat crossing her legs and the next moment Sameer kept the cushion in her lap and again settled his head on it.

"Padhu?" She asked while rifling through its pages.

Sameer nodded, happy to see his wife's excitement to read something for him.

As Naina's eyes settled on a page, she cleared her throat and started reciting-

Naina stopped reading and looked down at Sameer. He was looking somewhere at the wall, but his eyes had a shine in them, which she was dying to see since morning.

A peaceful smile had taken place on Sameer's face. He had no doubt that his wife is unbeatable when it comes to intellect. Such a perfect poem she had chosen to recite for him. And he truly believed that instead of listening to the same stories of film actors again and again, a Hindi inspirational poem was like a fresh breath of air.

"Bahot achchhi kavita hai..." He commented while taking the old notebook from her hand, studying it. "Yeh kiski copy hai? Itni purani?"

"Papa ki hai..." Naina answered. "Jaante ho, Papa ne bataya tha unke paas kabhi itne paise bhi nahi the ki kitabein kharid sake... toh woh logon se kitabein lete the, aur unki pasandeeda kavitaayein isme likh kar rakhte the...."

He turned some pages and exclaimed, "Ohoo!! Toh yeh handwriting poojneey sasurji ke hai?" He was genuinely impressed by such good handwriting and couldn't believe that it was of his khadoos father-in-law.

"Haan... Papa ke hi hai..." Naina chuckled. She ran her fingers from his hair again and applied pressure on his scalp.

Sameer hummed and kept the copy on the mattress and closed his eyes. He had started feeling sleepy by now. He was finally feeling good and felt a weight lifted from his chest. He turned fully on his stomach, shifted more on Naina's lap and wrapped both his hands behind her while folding a leg a bit. He need not use a pillow to fall asleep, unlike his lonely days, he has his Naina now, who without singing a lullaby, can make him fall asleep.

Naina was a little surprised by the move. She had figured out by the time that Sameer hadn't slept enough yesterday and he needed to sleep. But the way he had completely locked her with him, had amazed her. He had tightly hugged her lower back, his face almost buried on her thigh, and his strong chest crushing her toes beneath it. She wanted to kiss his head, but she couldn't bend down much now. While stroking her fingers in his hair, she noticed him slowly delving into the sleep. But she suddenly remembered something. How did he return last night? She was awake till 11:30pm, but Sameer wasn't home till that time. It meant he returned later to that? How did he get any bus or Auto Rickshaw at such a time? She had asked him in the morning once, but he hadn't answered it. And she gauged the moment to be a perfect chance.

"Sameer, tum kal ghar kaise laute?" She softly asked.

She didn't get any answer for a few moments. Disappointed, she thought to let it go, but she then heard him almost whispering 'paidal' in his half-asleep state, saw him adjusting a little again and he became quiet, which she figured that he's asleep now.

She took some moments to process the information before gasping heavily. He had told her yesterday before leaving that he was going to Malad West, and according to her knowledge of this city, she knew it was at least 6-7 kilometres away from the society. Does that mean he walked for all the 7kms? And not just that, he hasn't stayed at home and rested even for some time, he was constantly walking since morning. She looked down at her husband, who was sleeping peacefully in her lap, finally shedding all his worries. She rested her back on the wall and kept on stroking his hair. She would feel overwhelmed with emotions, tears would brim in her eyes, but she would blink them away.

Some time later when she noticed that Sameer was deep asleep, she tried to get off from the place. This time, it was a lot more difficult than the previous times, as there was more of his weight on her than usual, and he wasn't a child but a heavy man to shift from his place without disturbing his sleep. With a bit of struggle, she was able to lay his head on the cushion and she slowly walked to the living room. Opening the cabinet below the Lord Krishna idol, she grabbed a sesame oil bottle, which they all use for lighting diya, then went to kitchen to get a small vessel and poured some oil into it. She heated the oil just for half a minute so as to make it warm, poured it back into a steel bowl. Also, she took a piece of rock salt from a shelf and dipped it in another bowl containing water. With two bowls in her hand, she headed for the bedroom, but halted midway near the Lord Krishna idol, added some oil from the diya itself, lit yeh diya by refilling it and then left. Keeping the salt-water bowl near the side-table, she walked further and sat near to Sameer's legs. She slowly moved his jeans up upto his calf muscles, and taking a little oil onto her fingers, she started massaging the feet, ankles, toes and calves of her tired husband.

Sameer and Rakesh Papa were watching the evening news on Doordarshan and Naina was folding the dried clothes in the bedroom. Sameer was feeling good when he woke up at around 5 in the evening. The darkness in the room created by the curtains assured him that Naina had taken care of everything to let him sleep longer. He had also felt that the pain in his legs and feet had almost vanished and a look at his oily feet had confirmed that he was given a foot massage by his beloved wife. He had smiled thinking the way Naina was treating him like a baby when he was crying. He felt as if going back to his childhood and he had indeed liked it a lot.

A telephone ring broke Sameer's reverie and he sat in alertness in his seat and gasped. What if the call was from Aryan? He had his telephone number. A little fear appeared on his face and he licked his lips.

"Sameer.... Jao dekho toh kiska phone hai..." Rakesh said, paying attention to the news.

"Mai... mmaaiii nahi dekh raha... aap hi dekhiye..." Sameer stuttered.

Rakesh narrowed his eyes looking at Sameer, but the continuously ringing cordless didn't give him time to question his frightened face.

Rakesh answered the call and muttered, "haan ek minute ruko..." He walked towards their seats and forwarded the cordless to Sameer, "yeh lo... tumhare liye hai..."

"Kaun... hai..." Sameer tried to sound normal but failed.

"Pandit ka hai... lo toh sahi.... Mujhe samachar dekhne hai...." Rakesh hastily put the cordless on Sameer's hand and focussed on television again.

"Hello," Sameer said with a relief.

"Bhaaaiiiiiiiiiii......" He heard a loud and excited scream of Pandit from the other end and he had to pull the phone away from his ear. A genuine laughter spurted from Sameer's lips but as he received a glare from Papa for creating a disturbance, he got up and went to the balcony.

"Pandit...Kaisa hai yaar..." Sameer asked with a wide grin on his face.

"Bhai, mai toh ekdum badhiya hun..." Pandit replied. "Tu bata kaisa hai... aur tera kaam?"

"Mai... mai bhi thik hi hu..." Sameer answered hesitantly. "Tu bada khush lag raha hai?"

"Arey woh toh bass... tujhse baat kar raha hu na, isliye..." Pandit said enthusiastically.

Sameer frowned as he found it as a forced answer, but he overlooked it. "Achchha, tera supermarket ka kaam toh ekdum joro-shoron se shuru hoga na?" Sameer shifted the topic from him.

"Haan... chal raha hai...." Pandit's voice lowered.

"Matlab? Kya baat hai Pandit?" Sameer asked gently.

"Arey kuchh khas nahi," Pandit tried to ease the tension, "bass, jo jagah humne ki hai, uske pados me jiski zameen hai usne stay order laaya hai. Kehta hai uski zameen pe hamara construction hai... Toh kaam thoda ruk gaya hai..."

Sameer turned serious listening to this. He wanted at least his friends to be happy in their career but are they also suffering like him? "Toh... tune kya socha hai?" He asked.

"Sochna kya hai usme? Humari galti toh bilkul bhi nahi hai isme... Hamare paas saare kagjaat hai... Lawyer bhi hire kar liya hai Papa ne... Bass thodasa rukna padega... Kyunki procedure me waqt lagega...." Pandit stated.

"Pandit tujhe bura nahi laga? Sab itna achchha chal raha tha aur ab achanak se ruk gaya..." Sameer could relate it to himself.

"Nahi yaar Sameer..." Pandit said, "bura toh nahi laga... aur waise bhi... zindagi hai... rukaavatein toh aayegi hi... safar hai... toh raaste me kaantein toh honge hi..."

"Aur patthar bhi..." Sameer almost whispered, finding it as if Pandit was talking for him.

"Kya?" Perplexed, Pandit asked.

"Aaa... kuchh nahi..." Sameer fumbled.

Pandit chuckled and added, "cheezon ko thoda waqt do Sameer, sab apne aap thik ho jayega..."

"Hmmmm..." Sameer nodded in agreement but something struck him. "Ek minute, yeh tu mujhe kyun bata raha hai?"

"Kya... mai... mmaaiiii... woh... mai toh apna bata raha hun yaar..." Pandit stammered while almost facepalming himself.

Sameer pondered over his state for some moments, he could easily figure that Pandit must be banging his head to something now. He narrowed his eyes and mumbled, "bhabhi ke chamche... sach sach bata Pandit, Naina ne kuchh bataya hai kya tujhe?"

"Bhabhi ne? Nahi toh... kya bol raha hai tu?" Pandit faked a laugh while searching for a place to hide. Why was he hiding? He was talking over the phone. He smacked his forehead again.

"Overacting ki dukaan..." Sameer gritted his teeth and threatened, "Pandit, dekh, mai na baat nahi karunga tujhse... tu bata raha hai ya mai phone rakhu abhi?"

"Areyyy.... Nahi nahi nahi.... Bhaiiiii.... Ruk ja..." Pandit yelled at the other end giving up and finally confessed, "bhai maine hi phone kiya tha subah... bhabhi ne uthaya tha. Unhone kuchh nahi bataya, lekin pareshan lag rahi thi bahot... toh maine hi guess kiya ki shayad tujhe lekar pareshan hogi..." He breathed deeply and added, "kuchh hua hai kya Sameer?"

Sameer listened to Pandit's innocent confession and smiled widely. He cleared his throat, "hua tha Pandit, lekin ab nahi hai... kisi din fursat me bataunga sab... aur... tension wali baat nahi hai... sab thik hai." He was genuinely smiling now.

Pandit too grinned and felt relieved listening to his answer. They talked for a minute more and disconnected the call on a happy note.

Sameer placed back the cordless into its holder and looked at Papa, he looked so engrossed in the news. Yupp! That's what he wanted and he strolled to the bedroom.

Sameer entered the room to see Naina arranging the clothes in their Almirah. He slowly walked to her and saw a folded bedsheet in her hand, which she was neatly arranging in the lower shelf.

"Naina... koi phone aaya tha kya aaj din bhar me?" Sameer tried to sound casual.

"Hmmmm?" Naina stood up, finishing her work and raised her brows while locking the Almirah.

"Koi phone aaya tha aaj? Mere liye?" He repeated, slightly twisting words.

Naina's eyes shone with the remembrance of a phone call in the morning, but she was unsure of whether to tell about it. "Phone.... Nahi toh..." She smiled sheepishly.

Sameer pursed his lips while leaning on the cupboard, he folded his arms, "achchha? Pandit ka bhi nahi?" He raised his brows dramatically.

Her expressions changed on the mention of Pandit. How did he know? Did Pandit call? He had told he would call later.

"Haan... aaya tha..." She admitted innocently. "Kuchh hua kya?"

He smiled warmly, shaking his head. Grabbing her wrist, he pulled her to him and looped his arms behind her, "haan... uska phone aaya tha... kya bataya tumne usse Naina?" He thought of pulling her leg.

"Kyun? Kuchh keh raha tha kya woh?" Her face contained a little fear.

"Haan, keh toh bahot kuchh raha tha..." Sameer continued his teasing game.

Naina's eyes widened, "maine kuchh nahi bataya usse... kasam se Sameer... usika phone aaya tha subah jab tum bahar gaye the... lekin shayad... use kuchh mehsoos hua hoga... akhir dost hi hai na tumhara... Maine kuchh..."

"Shshshshsh...." Sameer put his finger on her lips to hush her. "Relax.... Mai bass tumhari taang khich raha tha... baat ho gayi meri usse abhi..." He said softly.

Naina gasped and blessed him with a tap on his arm, "jao mujhe baat nahi karni tumse..." She freed herself from his grip and stepped down the mattress to the floor but her hand was again clutched by her husband and she turned back. "Ruth ke nahi jaa rahi Sameer, khana banana hai," she reasoned with an assurance in her voice.

"Mai aur Papa milkar bana lenge Naina... Sorry, mai bhool gaya tha aaj tumhara second day hai." He stated, feeling bad from inside that he remembered it only after seeing the bedsheet in her hand.

Naina's smile widened and her eyes twinkled. She was getting her Sameer back slowly. "Tum aur mai milke banaye?" She proposed, to which he happily agreed.

"Suno... kuchh puchhna tha tumse?" Sameer stepped beside her and as she raised her brows in a question, he queried, "jab tum mere liye tayyar hoti ho, toh kaisa lagta hai?"

Naina frowned as she couldn't perceive what he meant. Reading her face, he revealed, "kal padha tha maine..."

She remembered how she had fallen asleep while writing this and chuckled. She hadn't intended for him to read it, it was just her self-musing. But now that he had read it, she felt the utter pleasure to share it with him. She grinned and rendered as if reciting that anecdote from her diary.

Jaante ho Sameer, mai jab bhi tumhare liye tayyar hoti hu, toh lagta hai mai sirf tumhare liye hi bani hu... taaki tum mujhe aisehi dekhte raho, taankte raho...

His face turned peaceful and he closed his eyes for a moment to drench in his wife's poetic words.

She continued, entwining their fingers,

Jab tum mujhe aise pyar se nihaarte ho, toh lagta hai mai iss duniya ki sabse khubsurat ladki hun...

Jab tum meri tareef karte ho, toh dil jhoom uth'ta hai mera... lagta hai yeh waqt kabhi guzre hi naa...

Jab tum meri baalon ki uss ek latt ko dheere se hatate ho, to lagta hai inn baalon ko kabhi sawaaroon hi naa...

Jab tum pyarbhari baatein karte ho, toh lagta hai saare kaam chhod kar, tumhare saamne baithkar, woh baatein sunti rahu...

Jab tum pyaar se chhute ho, mujhe gale lagate ho, toh lagta hai sab kuchh mil gaya mujhe... poori duniya mil gayi hai mujhe...

I love you Sameer...

She could have gone on and on speaking about the effect he has on her, but both their glistened eyes forced her to stop.

Sameer had a beautiful smile on his lips throughout. He was overwhelmed with the feeling of being blessed with such a loving wife.

"Tumhe pata hai, mai tumse kitna pyar karta hun?" Sameer said, taking a step towards her.

"Ummmm... kitna?" She started the tease game now, retreating back slowly.

He put his hands in his jeans pocket, following her and smirked, "lekin mai bolke nahi bataunga.... Karke bataunga..."

"Achchha? Toh batao..." She quirked her brow as her back hit the wall, mischief clearly evident in her tone.

Sameer took long strides to reach her and placed his hand on the wall, next to her head. As he leaned further, he saw Naina closing her eyes and the flashes of Aryan caging him the same way appeared in his mind. He wondered if Naina was feeling uncomfortable like this and immediately took off his hand and took a step back. He couldn't cage her like this! He couldn't forcibly kiss her like this in such a dominant position!! He mused. Sensing their proximity to be diminishing, Naina opened her eyes and before Sameer could go away from her, she held his hand.

"Ruk kyun gaye?" She questioned.

"Aisehi..." Sameer replied while looking down.

It was Naina's turn to go crazy now. What was it after all that made him this miserable? What was it that made Sameer Maheshwari hesitant to kiss his wife? She somehow just wanted to kill Aryan now without knowing anything about their meeting.

"Sameer... yeh mai hu tumhare saamne... tumhari biwi... tumhari Naina... hamare bich me yeh jhijhak, yeh hichkichahat... yeh toh kab ke mit chuke hai na..." She didn't leave the firm grip on his hand. He continued to look down without answering. She paused for a moment and voiced, "aur agar koi aur baat bhi hai jo tumhe pareshan kar rahi hai, toh aaj woh bhi khatm kar dete hai Sameer..."

Taking a quick stride towards him, she put her right hand on his shoulder for a leverage, immersed her left hand in his hair, and tiptoed herself to slam her lips on his for a deep kiss. Stunned by her move, Sameer took a few moments to recollect his shocked-self, but soon he circled his arms around her back and responded to the kiss.

Their lips were meeting each other after more than 24 hours of gap and they moaned in pleasure and satisfaction. Sameer roved his hand up her back and brought it to her skull behind to tilt her head slightly, and their souls felt to have gained a new life altogether as they both deepened the kiss. It was a soft and gentle but deep and passionate kiss. It was a sensuous and arousing one but still full of love. Their tongues invaded each other's mouths, but none of them wanted to exert dominance. They kept relishing each other's taste, each other's beautiful heart and soul and each other's unconditional love through the kiss.

For her, she need not check whether the door was locked or not. She wasn't worried if Rakesh Papa would call them or not. She just wanted to squash every single thing that was bothering her husband or coming in his way. She just wanted to smash all those things that were stopping her husband from kissing her.

And for him... Well, for him, it was just his wife who he wanted to focus on. Her soft bosom crushed on his chest, her delicate body plastered to his hard one, including his hardened length, her wet lips playing with his... it was only her.... And nothing else... Every bad memory of yesterday night had been vanquished now by her sensuous kiss. He wasn't stressed anymore about anything now. He had his friends with him, who would be there for him as a moral support. He had his wife who was his 'humsafar', one who would walk with him hand-in-hand all the way. He had Papa who with his elderly presence and experience, gave him a kind of assurance that he would tke care of things. If yesterday night was a horrific one for him then today, with Naina's love and care, with that poem, with Pandit's comforting words and his infectious laughter, and with Papa's silent gestures, today was bliss for him. He felt lucky to have these people in his life.

"I love you too Naina!!!!"

He parted for a moment, whispered on her lips and resumed their kiss.

Unknown to both of them, Rakesh Papa had put a pressure cooker of Daal-Chawal on the gas, and the first whistle blew in the air.

**********

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