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TANHAYEE

CHAPTER 4

SAMEER

The moment I reached Mumbai; I could feel the shift in the air around me. I felt her presence there. I searched around frantically to spot her. There was so much crowd that it was difficult for me to find her. I took in a deep breath to calm my nerves. It was after a long time that I was feeling her presence. Was she in Mumbai?

Before I could ponder much, Rohan was in front of me, "Bhai... Kise dhoond rahe ho? Main toh kabse aapke saamne khada hun?" I didn't think much & hugged him, "Main toh tujhe hi dhoond raha tha. Kaisa hai tu?" He smiled widely, "Aapko yahaan dekhkar ab main ekdum thik ho gaya hun. It's after such a long time that we've met."

I looked at him from head to toe, "Tujhe Mumbai suit nahi ho raha kya? Itna dubla kyun ho gaya hai? Thik se khaana nahi khaata kya?" I noticed that he had lost weight. He furrowed his brows looking at me, "Yeh dialogue mera hai Bhai. Yeh mujhe aapse poochna chahiye?" We stared at each other for a while & then he hugged me again. We then led towards his apartment in his car which I had gifted him two years back on his birthday.

We had breakfast together with lots of talks relating to our business & then he mentioned about a girl he was interested in. I was happy to know that finally my little brother was interested in something other than work. But then he also told me that the girl had denied him multiple times before. And when he met her the last time at her house for dinner, she had mentioned the reason about her denial. She was in love with someone else since more than ten years.

This news didn't settle well with me as I was instantly reminded of HER. I don't know why but today I was missing her very much. Was this city the reason behind this? From the moment I've landed here, I was missing her terribly. I kept my thoughts to myself & concentrated on my brother's love story. I decided to help him & get his love story on track.

It was after we finished our lunch, his phone rang & he gestured me that it was the girl's call. He asked her if I could tag along with him & she had agreed. I was feeling some mixed feelings about this situation. My heart was giving me signals about HER presence here in Mumbai.

It was evening when we left in his car towards the girl's house. I had asked Rohan about her name but he had smartly avoided saying, "Naam mein kya rakha hai Bhai? Aap khud hi dekh lena." He had never behaved like this before, speaking all filmy dialogues. My brother was no doubt affected with the charms of this city, 'The city of Bollywood' I was happy that my boring brother was finally transforming into a better person. I thanked God & the girl too in my mind for this change.

He parked the car in front of a small bungalow. He pressed the doorbell & my heartbeats accelerated again for the second time that day feeling HER presence around. Before I could think much, the door opened & I stood frozen at the doorsteps looking at the person in front of me. "Preeti...", I murmured her name silently.

Rohan pulled me inside & I took slow steps behind him, looking around the house. My eyes roamed around to find her. After seeing Preeti & Phulla Bua, there was no doubt that my girl was here too. I waited holding my breath for her appearance. Suddenly, the door in front of me opened & there she was, My Naina... I exhaled slowly as I saw her. She had turned behind to remove her dupatta from the door handle.

My heart was beating too fast as I was seeing her after almost seven long years. I took in her appearance. She looked delicate as before, dressed in a pink anarkali dress. She had tied her hair in a loose bun. When she turned & walked towards us, she stood frozen to her spot as her eyes clashed mine. The world around us had stopped & didn't matter anymore.

It was Phulla Bua's voice that broke the spell & she walked towards us in a trance. When Rohan introduced us, I was beyond shocked. My brother was in love with my Naina. I had never imagined that. But I was more shocked, when she asked him, ""Wohhh... Wohhh... main yeh poochna chahti thi ki kya tum... tum ab bhi mujhse shaadi karna chahte ho?"

My heart had stopped beating altogether after hearing her. Was she actually planning to marry my brother? I almost had a mini heart attack when she asked Rohan out for marriage. He was on his knees in front of her & asked some questions. Now I got the whole scene. She had denied my brother for me as she still loved me. But if she was still in love with me, then why was she ready to marry him? I was confused.

"Tum sach mein Rohan se shaadi karna chaahti ho Naina?", I asked, hurt & anger evident in my eyes. She didn't reply & then Rohan asked her if she was ready to be his wife in every sense. I couldn't stop my anger & spoke, "Don't worry Rohan. She would do anything for her family. Sab kuch karegi apne parivaar ke liye. Kyun Naina?"

It was then I saw the way Preeti defended her sister. I was rendered speechless. I had no answers to her questions. She was right throughout. She was letting out her frustration that she had kept inside her since last seven years. She was right that I was the one who was responsible for our separation & mostly responsible for Naina staying away from her family & her house in Ahmedabad. I had never forgotten that & never forgiven myself.

But what surprised me the most was the way my little brother hugged Preeti & calmed her down. When he told us about his & Preeti's planning, I was again stunned with that news. Now I knew how he started acting so filmy suddenly. The effect of Preeti was now clearly visible to me. I was happy that he had made the right choice.

I had already got a mini heart attack when I thought he loved Naina. But before Naina could say anything or react to them, I held her hand & pulled her towards her room. I wanted to be alone with her now, other things could wait till later. She followed me quietly. Once in the room, I locked the door & stood facing her. She looked more beautiful than before. There was no ounce of make-up on her face as usual. She looked breathtakingly beautiful in that pink dress. Pink suited her more. It was her color.

We kept standing in front of each other & stared for a while. When I could hold no longer, I asked, "Kyun Naina?" She looked straight in my eyes, understanding my question, "Jab hamara rishta hi nahi bacha tha toh main wahaan rehkar kya karti?" Her one-line answer stabbed my heart fiercely & I took a step towards her. She held her ground & didn't move which I hadn't expected at all.

She wasn't my naïve & innocent Naina now. I could see the strong determination in her eyes that I had never seen before. She looked more confident & stronger. I stood just a foot away from her, "Agar hamara rishta nahi raha toh iska yeh matlab nahi tha ki tum apne dusre rishtey bhi tod do Naina. Maine kabhi nahi socha tha ki tum meri wajah se itna bada kadam uthaogi. Tumne ek baar bhi apne parivaar ke baare mein socha? Chachaji jo tumhari hamesha se prerna rahe hai, Chachiji jinhone hamesha tumhe apni beti maana aur Preeti jo tumhare liye zameen aasmaan ek karde. Ek baar bhi inn logon ke baare mein nahi socha na tumne?"

"Ek baar bhi mere baare mein socha? Bas maine keh diya aur tum chal di Naina. Mujhse jagad leti, maar leti mujhe, kuch bhi karti par aise sab kuch chodke chale jaana, yeh kaunsa raasta tha? Khudke saath saath tumne mujhe aur apne parivaar ko bhi kyun sazaa di Naina. Main tumhara gunehgaar hun, toh sazaa ka haqdaar sirf main tha aur koi nahi. Par nahi, tumhe toh apna Naina Devi ka avatar sabko dikhaana tha naa."

We were already crying. It was no going back again now. There was no other away that our hurt & pain would come out. We didn't even stop each other from that. We weren't ready for this sudden confrontation but I knew that this was my last chance. I had to say everything & wanted to hear everything from her as well. I wasn't the only one who had suffered our separation, there were many people attached to this & she had to see that, I would make her see that soon, no matter what.

"Bolo Naina. Uss din maine tumse kahaa ki Munna hamare rishtey se khush nahi hai, toh tumne mujhe chod diya? Tumne uski baat ko sahi saabit kar hi diya na? Maine jab tumse wohh sab kahaa tha naa toh main chaahta tha ki tum samjho ki kaisa lagta hai jab koi apne parivaar ke liye tumhare pyaar ko thukraata hai, jaisa tumne kiya tha pehle. Tumhare Arjun bhaiya mein himmat nahi thi apne pyaar ka saath nibhaane ki, toh tumne yeh soch liya ki main bhi waisa hi karunga. Itna hi jaana tumne mujhe? Itna hi samajh paayi thi mujhe unn teen saalon mein? Maine jab tumhara haath thaama tha Naina, wohh maine zindagi bhar ke liye thaama tha, beech raaste mein hargiz nahi chodta main tumhe. Arjun bhaiya aur mere pyaar mein bohot farak hai aur yeh tum bhi bohot acche se jaanti ho Naina, hai na?"

I closed my eyes for a second waiting for her to deny anything, but she remained silent & I continued, "Main kitna tadpa hun tumhare liye pataa bhi hai tumhe? Jab maine college mein tumhe red saree mein dekha toh main tum mein kho gaya tha, par fir jab maine suna ki tumhari shaadi fix ho gayi hai toh main poori tarah se toot gaya tha Naina, poori tarah toot gaya. Tab aisa laga jaise kisine meri aatma mujhse cheen li ho. Uss waqt aisa lagaa ki kaash main sach mein baba banke sanyaas hi le leta."

"Tumhe uss restaurant mein Sharad ke saath dekhkar mera mann kitna jalaa tha, yeh main hi jaanta hun. Ek ek second marr raha tha main Naina, ek ek second... Fir kuch dino baad mujhe pata chala ki tumne wohh rishta tod diya. Uss din mujhe ek ummeed ki kiran nazar aayi thi. Par fir, uss ummeed ko bhi tumne ek jhatke mein tod diya Naina. Yaad hai na, kaise tumne mera pyaar sabke saamne thukra diya tha, yeh kehkar ki hamara pyaar galat tha aur tum apne Chachaji ka bharosa todna nahi chahti thi."

"Uss din maine thaan liya tha ki kabhi tumhare raaste mein nahi aaunga. Dur rahunga tumse. Kabhi palat kar tumhe dobara nahi dekhunga. Par fir waapis hum aamne saamne aaye jab Sharad ne tumhe sabke saamne thappad maara tha college mein. Mann toh kar raha tha ki usse wahin zinda gaad dun, par nahi kar paaya. Uske baad bhi sabne mujhe hi galat samjha. Chachaji aaye the uss din college mein, unhone kya kuch nahi sunaaya mujhe. Tab bhi maine sirf tumhara hi saath diya, unhe aayna dikhaaya ki tumne sachmuch wohh rishta unke liye toda tha, mere liye nahi. Bataaya unko ki kaise tumne tumhare parivaar ke liye mera dil toda aur mere pyaar ko chod diya."

"Par fir pataa nahi kya hua aur tumne mujhe agle din mandir mein milne bulaaya yeh kehkar ki Chachaji humse milna chaahte hai. Aur main aaya bhi, sirf tumhare liye, hamare pyaar ke liye. Uss din main bohot khush tha ki tumne Chachaji ke saamne hamari love story sunaayi. Unhe sab sach bataaya. Aur jab unki sehmati mili toh mujhe aisa laga ki bas ab aur kuch nahi chahiye mujhe."

"Jab wahaan se nikla toh mujhe Munna ki kahi hui baat yaad aa gayi. Jab main tumhe propose karne wala tha, tab usne mujhse promise maanga tha ki agar tumne waapis mera dil toda toh main tumhe chod dun. Main jitna tumse pyaar karta hun na Naina, utna hi main Munna Pandit se bhi pyaar karta hun. Tum jitni important ho, utne hi wohh dono bhi important hai meri life mein. Main kabhi tum logon mein se chunna nahi chaahta tha. Maine socha at least tum mujhe samjhogi Naina. Mujhe laga tha ki tum mujhe aur Munna ko samjhaogi aur hamara rishta tootne nahi dogi. Par uss din jab tum waapis college nahi aayi tab main samaj gaya ki meri har ummeed ke jaise iss ummeed ko bhi tootna hi tha."

I slumped down on the floor & cried, "Maine uss din tumhe hamesha ke liye kho diya Naina. Maine kabhi nahi socha tha ki tum aisa kuch karogi. Maine Preeti se kitni minnatein ki jisse wohh mujhe tumhare baare mein koi khabar de de. Par usne kuch nahi kahaa, usne toh mujhse baat karna hi band kar diya, dekhti bhi nahi thi meri taraf. Fir mujhe Chachaji se pataa chala ki tum hum sabko hamesha ke liye chodkar chali gayi ho. Unhone ne bhi tum kahaan ho, yeh kabhi nahi bataya. Par unhone sahi kahaa tha ki yeh meri galti ki sazaa hai ki mujhe tumhare bina poori zindagi guzaarni padegi. Aur maine wohh sazaa hasi khushi sweekar bhi kar li. Kyunki main jaanta tha ki tum waapis nahi aaogi. Tum kitni ziddi ho, yeh mujhse behtar aur kaun jaan sakta hai bhala."

I sobbed for a while & then controlled myself, "Meri sazaa toh maine maan li Naina, par yeh sazaa tumne apne parivaar ko kyun di? Unhone tumhara kya bigaada tha Naina? Kitna pyaar karte hai sab tumse. Unhe kyun itni taklif di tumne? Mujhse durr reh leti, par apne parivaar se kyun durr rahi Naina. Kyun??? Main jaanta hun ki iss sab mein sabse jyada sazaa tumne khudko di hai, akele rehkar. Main kitna guilty feel kar rahu hun peechle saat saal se, ki maine tumhe apne parivaar se, apne ghar se aur apne pyaar se dur kar diya."

I saw her red puffy eyes that hadn't stopped crying, which pained me too. I could never see her crying but I was the reason that she was crying since last seven years. I knew that even she would've cried like me every night before sleeping. We weren't different, our souls were connected for an eternity. Even if we stayed apart, we were always connected by heart.

I was still on the floor & was waiting for her reply. But she stood speechless & was looking at me with misty eyes. I slowly got up & closed the gap between us. It was too much for me now. I slowly held her face in my palms & looked deeply in her eyes. She was crying too much.

"Naina... Please kuch bolo. Chahiye toh thappad maarlo, par kuch toh react karo. Aise chupchaap mat khadi raho tum. I want to know everything about you Naina... Please say something." This was the first time that we were standing so close to each other. This was the first time that I had held her face in my palms. My heart was beating erratically. I wiped her tears & asked again, "Kuch bolo na Naina."

"Sameer..." I inhaled deeply after hearing my name from her mouth after such a long time. Even in her choked voice, my name sounded melodious. I wanted to kiss her senseless & take her away with me forever. But I knew Naina wasn't ready yet for that. I knew I had to remove all her pain from her heart, only then she would allow herself to come back to me. She was a tough nut to crack right now. I knew she had kept all the hurt & pain in herself which needed to come out.

I heard her deep intake of breath & she pulled away from me. She took a step away from me & started, "Kya jaanna chahte ho Sameer? Yeh sunna chaahte ho ki main kaise har pal tooti hun ya fir yeh saat saal maine kaise bitaaye yahaan?" I again took a step forward, "Sab kuch Naina. Mujhe sab kuch jaanna hai." I wasn't going to let her run away from me this time.

She closed her eyes & calmed herself. When she opened her eyes, I saw a storm brewing there & I wasn't going to back down today, even if I had to beg her to stay with me. "Jab Arjun Bhaiya ne Shefali ke pyaar ko sabke saamne maanne se inkaar kiya, tab mujhe unki jagah hum dikhaayi diye the. Mujhe pataa tha Sameer ki tum mera haath kabhi nahi chodte, par mujhe khud se dar lag raha tha. Thi toh aakhir Arjun Bhaiya ki hi behen na. Unhi ki tarah kayar ban gayi thi. Main nahi chahti thi ki main tumhara bharosa todun. Aage jaakar hamare rishtey ka bhi yahi haal hota Sameer."

"Fir jab maine papa ko khudkhushi karte hue dekha toh main itna darr gayi ki main tumhe, hamare pyaar ko bhool gayi Sameer... Uss ek pal mein sab kuch badal gaya. Uske baad jab Chachaji ne yeh kahaa ki unhe mujhpar aur Preeti par poora vishwas hai, ki hum aisa kuch nahi karenge, tab maine soch liya ki ab hamare rishtey ka anth hona hi hai. Aur fir aage ka toh tum jaante hi ho."

"Tumse rishta todna meri majboori thi Sameer. Jaanti hun ki tumhare pyaar mein aur Arjun Bhaiya ke pyaar mein zameen aasmaan ka farak hai. Tum kabhi mujhe nahi chodte. Bhaiya aur Shefali ke rishtey mein Bhaiya kayar the, jinhone apne pyaar ko nahi apnaaya. Aur hamare rishtey mein wohh kayar main thi Sameer." She cried terribly.

I again took a step towards her & handed her a glass of water that was kept at the side table. She took few sips & kept the glass away. I took it again & drank from the same glass. Our gazes fixed on each other.

"Uske baad meri shaadi Sharad se tay ho gayi. Main, Preeti, Chachiji aur Chachaji, hum sab iss shaadi ke khilaaf the. Par tauji, taiji aur papa ne hamari ek na suni. Maine kitne thappad khaaye hai, yeh main hi jaanti hun Sameer. Ek taraf main tumse rishta tootne ke gham mein doobi thi aur dusri taraf iss shaadi ne meri neend uda rakhi thi. Mujhe kuch samaj nahi aa raha tha Sameer. Maine bohot miss kiya tumhe uss time. Agar hum saath hote toh tum kuch na kuch zaroor karte yeh shaadi todne ke liye."

"Fir main khud ko yeh samjhaati ki yahi meri sazaa hai, tumhara pyaara sa dil todne ki sazaa. Ek pal aisa nahi tha jab maine tumhe yaad nahi kiya tha Sameer. Par jaanti thi ki yahi sahi tha. Jab Sharad ne mujhe choone ki koshish ki thi, tab jaakar samaj aaya ki main tumhare sivaa kisi ki nahi ho sakti. Par meri kismat ne kabhi saath kahaan diya tha. Sharad ne mujhe ek trophy ki tarah numaaish ke liye saamne khada rakha baar baar, kabhi uske rishtedaaron ke saamne toh kabhi fir uske friends ya cousins ke saamne. Bohot royi thi har pal aur uss ek ek pal mein maine sirf tumhe yaad kiya tha Sameer, sirf tumhe."

"Uss din jab main college mein red saree pehen kar aayi thi, toh socha tha ki tumse baat karungi, tumse maafi mangungi apne bartaav ke liye. Par tum toh mujhe dekhkar hi bhaag gaye Sameer. Aur jab waapis aaye toh tumne mere saamne, sab college waalon ke saamne Sunaina ka propose kiya. Bas aur main samaj gayi ki ab tum aage badh rahe ho apni zindagi mein. Bas chaahti thi ki tum jiske bhi saath raho, khush raho aur wohh ladki kabhi tumhara dil na tode jaise maine toda tha. Par main tumhe bohot acche se jaanti hun Sameer Maheshwari, main jaanti thi ki tum wohh sab mujhe jalaane ke liye kar rahe the. Maine koshish ki thi tumse baat karne ki, yeh samjhaane ke liye ki sirf mujhe jalaane ke liye Sunaina ka dil mat todna. Par Munna aur Pandit ne mujhe tumse baat hi nahi karne di."

"Ghar par shaadi aur Sharad ki wajah se pareshaan thi aur college mein tumhari harkaton se. Sameer main toh Sharad se shaadi karne ke liye majboor thi par tum Sunaina ke saath apni marzi se the. Har pal dheere dheere main mar rahi thi. Tumne kitni aasaani se meri jagah Sunaina ko de di thi. Bike par tumhare peeche baithne ka hakk bhi tumne usse de diya. Tumhari jhoothi cold drink tak tumne usko offer ki Sameer. Meri aankhon ke saamne main tumhe meri jagah kisi aur ko dete hue nahi dekh paa rahi thi. Par kar bhi kya sakti thi, kyunki maine hi toh hamara rishta toda tha, shikayat karti bhi toh kisse karti."

"Maine apni kismat sweekar kar li thi apni sazaa samajkar. Bas main tumhe khush dekhna chaahti thi fir wohh Sunaina ke saath hi kyun na ho. Fir jab Sharad ne mere Chachaji ka apmaan kiya, unki beizzati ki, tab maine tay kar liya tha ki main usse shaadi nahi kar sakti aur maine rishta tod diya. Tumhe pata hai Sameer, maine kitne taane sune hai bachpan se hi aur thappad bhi utne hi khaaye hai, par kabhi dil mein taklif nahi hui thi. Par iss baar har ek taane se, har ek thappad se, mujhe taklif ho rahi thi, mera dil toot raha tha, main toot rahi thi poori tarah se. Aur iss sab mein sirf Preeti mere saath thi, jo sab dekhti toh thi par kuch nahi kar paa rahi thi mere liye."

"Sach kahun Sameer. Aaj main tumse jhooth nahi bolungi. Agar meri shaadi Sharad se ho jaati toh main ussi din khudkhushi kar leti. Main tumhare siva kisiko mera pati, mera humsafar nahi bana sakti Sameer, iss janam mein nahi aur aage ki kisi janam mein nahi. Jab mera dil sirf tumhare liye dhadakta hai toh main kaise kisi aur ko mujhe choone ki izaazat deti. Main yeh kabhi nahi kar paati, isse accha toh main mar hi jaati..."

I covered her mouth with my palm & quietened her, "Aage se aisa kuch bhi mat sochna Naina. Kabhi nahi... Tumhe meri kasam hai Naina..." We stayed that way looking intensely in each other's eyes. Our trance broke when we heard the sound of the doorbell. But we didn't go out, she continued, "Fir pataa nahi kya hua aur Chachaji meri shaadi Sharad se karvaane ke liye taiyaar ho gaye. Fir to tumhe pataa hi hai kya hua tha college mein."

"Main bohot khush thi ki Chachaji ne hamara pyaar, hamara rishta manzoor kar diya tha uske baad. Mere liye Chachaji hi sab kuch hai. Papa ke hote hue bhi unhone hi mere papa ki zimmedariyan poori ki hai. Mujhe aage badhne ko pankh unhone he diye hai. Unhone hamesha mera saath diya hai. Toh unki manzoori mere liye bohot maayne rakhti thi. Par fir dekho meri kismat agle din hi badal gayi fir se. Jab tumne mujhse kahaa na ki Munna hamare rishtey se khush nahi hai, tab kuch kehne jaisa bacha hi nahi tha Sameer, kyunki main jaanti thi Munna tumhari zindagi mein kya maayne rakhta hai. Main tumhe humme se chunne ki choice nahi dena chaahti thi."

"Isliye main tumhari zindagi se chupchaap chali gayi Sameer. Agar main tumhe ek aakhri baar dekh leti toh mera faisla kamzor pad jaata, jo main kabhi hone nahi deti. Sameer, bhale hi Chachaji ne hume manzoori de di thi, par mere gharwale kabhi nahi maante. Aur Chachaji akele kuch nahi kar paate mere tauji, taiji aur papa ke saamne. Kabhi na kabhi toh hamara rishta tootna hi tha. Yahi wajah thi ki maine tumhe chod diya. Munna ne sahi hi toh kahaa tha Sameer. Kuch galat nahi kahaa tha usne. Usne jo bhi kahaa, main usse poori tarah se sehmat thi. Isliye maine Ahmedabad chodne ka faisla liya."

"Agar wahin rehti toh main shayad mar hi jaati Sameer, kyunki iss baar main tumhe kisi aur ke saath nahi dekh paati." She started crying again. I so wanted to take her in my arms & sooth her pain & wash away her insecurities. But I didn't want to scare her away. She would come to me on her own & I was sure about it.

"Naina... Tumhe Ahmedabad nahi chodna chahiye tha, apna parivaar nahi chodna chahiye tha." I regretted that too much. All this happened because of me. She was looking at me intently as if reading my expressions. "Tumne mujhe dhoodne ki koshish nahi ki Sameer?", I almost smiled hearing this & she raised her eyebrows in question, silently asking me about my reaction.

I made her sit on the bed & I sat down in front of her. I held her hand & told her about how I went to stay with my mother in Delhi after I got to know that she had left Ahmedabad. I could see the shock on her face & explained how my stepfather & mother took me with them. I didn't want to be alone at that time & craved for a family which was fulfilled now. I was staying with them in Delhi & completed my graduation there. I told her that I completed my business management course from New York University & then when I was back, I took over Maheshwari Industries.

She was still in shock & I knew that she had never expected me to stay in Delhi with my stepfather. I rubbed her palm with my fingers & our eyes landed on our handhold at the same time. I was happy that this time she didn't pull away. She was melting finally. "Maine tumhe har jagah dhoonda Naina. Main aur Rohan kai baar vacations aur trips ke naam par alag alag destinations gaye hai, tumhe dhoodne ke liye. Maine toh Pandit ko bhi keh rakha tha ki tumhare ghar par nazar rakhe. Jab bhi tum apne parivaar se milne aao toh mujhe bataa de, par aisa kabhi kuch hua hi nahi. Tum aayi hi nahi Ahmedabad kabhi."

She lowered her eyes & spoke, "Chachaji, Chachiji aur Preeti mujhse milne saal mein do baar yahaan aa jaate the." "Meri taraf dekho Naina. Tum nahi bataogi ki tumne yeh saat saal mein kya kya kiya?" She looked at me & stared, "Maine bhi mera graduation aur post-graduation yahin college se kiya. Fir maine Rohan ki company mein as an intern join kiya aur wahin ek saal se kaam kar rahi hun as a marketing executive."

I was impressed with her confident behavior. I had never thought that she would go for marketing thing. But nonetheless I liked this change. She asked me a little hesitantly, "Ummm... Tumne sab ke baare mein bataaya, par Munna ke baare mein kuch nahi bola." I looked down at our joined hands & then looked at her straight in her eyes, "Maine Munna se saat saal se baat hi nahi ki hai Naina."

She was beyond shock. She asked softly, "Kyun???" Before I could say anything, we heard a knock on the door, "Naina... Sameer... Ummm... Phulla Bua tum dono ko dinner ke liye bulaa rahi hai. Jaldi baahar aa jao aur baaki baatein baad mein kar lena.", we heard Preeti's voice.

I got up & offered my hand to her, "Chalein???" She nodded & slipped her hand in mine. We went outside & joined the others for dinner. They weren't surprised to watch us coming out together holding hands.

We sat at the dining table next to each other & continued eating. "Rohan... Ab mujhe sab thik se batao, tum Naina aur Preeti se kaise mile? Aur yeh love story kab se chal rahi hai?", I asked him directly. I heard Phulla Bua chuckling in front of us, "Yeh kahaani main bataati hun."

I & Naina glanced at each other & she continued, "Naina ke post-graduation ke baad, usse job karni thi. Anand ne permission de di thi par iske tauji aur papa nahi maane. Fir maine unn dono se baat ki aur bola ki jab Naina yahaan mere saath reh rahi hai toh aakhri faisla bhi mera hoga. Uske baad usse Rohan ki company join ki. Jab pehli baar Rohan yahaan aaya, tab hi usne mujhe sab bataa diyaa tha. Aur mujhe Anand ne bhi sab bataayaa tha pehle. Toh jab mujhe dono side ki story pataa chal gayi, toh maine Rohan ko kahaa ki wohh Naina ko propose kare. Main bhi Rohan ki tarah dekhna chahti thi ki kya ab bhi meri bacchi Sameer se utna hi pyaar karti hai yaa nahi."

She smiled fondly, "Aur Naina ne wohi kiya jo humne socha tha. Usne har baar Rohan ko manaa kar diya. Fir ek din Preeti yahaan aayi aur maine usse sab bataaya. Preeti bhi yahi chaahti thi ki ek baar hum tum dono ko aamne saamne laaya jaaye. Par Rohan ke kitni baar bolne par bhi Sameer Mumbai nahi aaya. Aur issi beech kisiko kisise pyaar bhi ho raha tha." She said looking at Rohan & Preeti who were blushing by now.

"Preeti ne Rohan se kahaa ki wohh kisi meeting ke liye aa rahi hai aur kuch bhi karke Sameer ko ab Mumbai laana hi hai. Isne bechaare ko dhamki di thi ki agar iss baar Sameer nahi aaya toh wohh usse bhool jaaye hamesha ke liye. Bechaare ne fir apne mummy papa ko sab bataa diya aur unke kehne par Sameer yahaan meeting attend karne aa gaya." She looked at me, "Toh beta, tumhari koi office related meeting nahi hai yahaan, tumhari ek hi important meeting thi jo abhi ho gayi hai.", saying that she winked at me.

"Toh yeh sab aapne kiya Phulla Bua?", Naina asked incredulously. She nodded, "Ab tum dono kuch kar hi nahi rahe the toh mujhe hi beech mein padna pada. Aakhir hero aur heroine ko ek jo karna tha." God... She was my favorite person from now on. If she hadn't meddled in our lives like that, I would've never met my Naina.

"Sameer toh pehle se hi hero hai. Dekha tha maine Pooja ki shaadi mein, kaise hamesha Naina ke aage peeche rehta tha. Main toh tab hi samaj gayi thi sab ki kya khichdi pakk rahi thi tum dono mein.", she said teasing us both. All this while Preeti was quiet. I had to change the situation between us too, so I asked a little hesitantly, "Preeti... Kya tum ab bhi mujhse naaraaz ho?"

She looked at Naina first & then at me, "Mujhse maafi tab milegi jab meri behen aapko maaf karegi." She was right. There were many things that were still left unspoken. I just needed to fix this. I looked at Naina & asked softly, "Naina... Ummmm... Kya tum mere saath Ahmedabad chalogi?"

How was the update?

Thanks each & everyone for having patience with the updates.

I'm doing fine now & will give regular updates from now on.

I will be finishing this story first as only one more chapter is left.

After that, I will update 'Fate Twisted By Love' & 'An Inevitable Intruder' later this week.

Do shower your precious love through votes & comments if you like the update.

Ignore the mistakes.

With Lots of Love,

Daksha...❤