▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰

"Why would I do anything that would hurt you, Sameer? You know how much I love you. You love me too, right?"

"Of course, I love you too."

Naina who had listened to this conversation stood rooted to her spot. Her breaths reduced to short gasps. She felt her chest tightening and her throat closing up."You lied to me." She paused as tears rolled down like streams from her hazel orbs.

"Naina, listen, it's not like what you are thinking, okay?" Sameer tried to explain.

"You just said that you love–"

"Sameer? Don't lie, we truly love each other." Naina could feel her whole body trembling, not being able to steady herself.

"Could you just shut up?" Sameer yelled at the person.

"You can shut me now. But that's the truth. We love each–" 

"Shut the fuck up Kabir!" Kabir bit his lips to control his laughter. They were simply flirting along, not aware of Naina's presence. He enjoyed seeing Sameer's condition who was trying to comfort his wife and explain to her the matter but it only led her sobs to get heavier.

"I understand that it would have been difficult to say this to me but I do have the right to know the truth. I am still your wife. Yo-you cheated me, Mr Maheshwari." She stomped her foot on the ground as she continued whimpering. 

"Naina, we were just having fun. It was not serious talk. Trust me, Khaza. Do you think I would ever love this idiot?"

"I don't know." She mumbled against her breath. Sameer glared at Kabir who was cackling in the background.

"I never knew our fun would have turned into a serious situation like this," Kabir said as he laughed hard. Sameer held him by his collar and dragged him before Naina.

"Do you still feel I will love this idiot or any other man?" Sameer asked her, as she kept staring at him with misty eyes.

"Naina, we were just kidding, okay? We are just 'straight' friends. He's all yours." Kabir said as he placed his palm on her wet cheeks gently. "But let me tell you one secret, I love him, I love you Sameer." Kabir said only to receive a smack from Sameer. Naina stared at them bickering and chuckled seeing Kabir making offended faces.

"Why did you come here?" Sameer asked her to get back to his serious behaviour. Naina narrowed her eyes, pulling her lips into a pout listening to his gruff tone.

"Is this the way to speak to a pregnant woman?" She snapped and pushed him aside. Kabir stared at her in shock while Sameer gave an impressed look. Kabir pulled a chair and sat next to her.

"So do you want anything, Naina? I have heard that a pregnant woman craves weird things. You should use these moments and ask your husband to fulfill your demands. Are you listening to me?" Kabir asked as she was just staring at him with a blank look.

"From where do you get such ideas from, Kabir? Mr. Maheshwari would fulfill my cravings. Are you crazy?" 

"He will. He will have to. After all, every husband must fulfill their wife's demands."

"Don't teach or force her what she doesn't want to do. You should better leave now Kabir else I would have to kick you out of this cabin." 

"That's so rude of you, Love," Kabir said with a smirk.

"Leave!" Naina giggled as Kabir ran off who was still laughing like a maniac leaving behind an irritated Sameer.

"Stop laughing." 

"I won't. I will laugh and do whatever I wish to. You can't order me, Mr Maheshwari."Naina replied as she gave him a toothy smile.

"I won't hesitate to knock off all your teeth." He gritted angrily as he fisted his palm.

"I am not scared of you?" Naina said as she stuck out her tongue. He let out a small chuckle seeing her cute antics.
As he looked over at her, it suddenly struck him how elegant she was. Her hairs were tied into a messy bun while a few hair strands blew carelessly. Something did urge him to touch her bubbly cheeks. Her lips were curved into a slight smile that seemed to radiate warmth. She was happy and free. Every part of her being seemed to be a mystery, just waiting to be discovered.

“Mr Maheshwari? What are you looking at?” Naina asked, finally pulling him out of his daze. She placed back the glass of water on the table and looked at him. He was at a loss for words. Why did she suddenly make him nervous? 

"Nothing."Sameer shrugged his shoulders. He felt relieved when she did not question him further.

"Why did you come here, Khaza?" He asked her again.

"Um..actually wanted to tell you something."

"What?" 

"I wanted to tell you something really important. We have stayed together for nearly a month or more than that. We both know each other so well by now. Before meeting you my perception about you was way different. I got to know that you are a kind person by heart." She took a pause and held his hand. "I wanted to say that I h-have started liking you," Naina said with a shy smile plastered on his face. All expressions were drained from his face and pulled back his hand from her grip.

"What did you just say?" 

"I like you, Mr Maheshwari." Sameer's face turned pale and his eyes widened in horror. Naina, unable to hold back, instantly cracked up into laughter.

"I never knew The Great Maheshwari is scared of falling in love. I will surely tell Kabir about this." She continued laughing. Sameer glared at her to stop. She nodded her head, placing a finger on her lips. She looked at him and again broke into laughter.

"Sorry."Naina mumbled suppressing her laughter."I know our deal, you and I can never be together. I had come here as I was getting bored in the room. I had completed my studies for today so decided to walk in your cabin." Sameer nodded his head in response and sat on his chair, getting back to work. Naina sat there surfing in her phone, which Sameer had bought recently.

◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

"I know you hate me but I won't allow you to go back to your apartment at this hour, alone. Shrikha, I will accompany you."

"I don't need your help, Kabir. I can go back to my apartment myself. Sameer, why don't you make him understand?" 

"It's nearly 2 am, Shrikha. It's not safe to return at this hour." Sameer tried to explain to her.

"But I have work tomorrow, Sameer. I came here to visit Naina. I have a presentation to complete for tomorrow's meeting, my laptop and files are in the apartment. I have to go now." 

"You won't go back alone!" Kabir scowled.

"I am not going to follow what you say, Kabir Ahya," Shrikha replied sternly.

"Shrikha, I will drop you at your apartment," Sameer said but she shook her head in a way of no.

"You must stay with Naina. She might need you. I will call you once I reach my apartment, Sameer." Shrikha said with a sweet smile and strode out of the mansion. Kabir went to his room and brought the keys to his car.

"I will drop her so it might get late," Kabir yelled, informing Sameer as he scurried out of the mansion. Sameer sauntered towards his room, closing behind the door he stared at the sleeping figure of his wife. Changing into some casuals he laid next to her, adoring his wife.

"Don't look at me like that."

"You weren't sleeping?" 

"How can I sleep when my husband is staring at me?" 

"There was a bug in your hair so I was just taking it off."Naina shook her head, which made his heart speed up.

"Is it gone now?" She asked giggling softly. She leaned towards him and took his phone which was kept on the table. Wrapping her arm around his neck she spoke, "I will be gone once the contract ends but this will last longer. Now smile." Naina said as she clicked a few selfies. She groaned as Sameer did not smile in any of the pictures.

"Smile please, for me." She put up the cutest face she could only to earn a small grin from him. She clicked a few pictures and handed him his phone. Naina gulped realising the proximity they were sharing and shifted back.

"Don't move, let me look at you." His deep husky voice was more of a request than a command. He raised his thumb grazing her ear while his other hand curved around her neck. Barely able to handle the heat his presence ignited inside her, she grabbed a fistful of his t-shirt. Naina found herself looking at him, at the way his muscles tensed to overgrown stubble and the full curve of his lips. He was impossibly handsome, unimaginably powerful. She inhaled his scent as he leaned more towards her and kissed hollow under her ear. Her heartbeats pounded rapidly as he ran his fingers through her hair. Naina instinctively looked at his lips and then glanced at her husband who was gazing at her, stroking her cheeks. In a flash, his lips placed on hers. Sameer tightened his arm around her waist and ran one up her back, pressing her harder against his chest, careful that he does not hurt her. Her hands had curled up his hair as she clung to him. He cradled her head as he deepened the kiss. He made her lay on the bed as they broke apart. He looked into her eyes. She looked back into his, alarmed.

 “I think I should go.” He uttered as if he was talking more to himself.

"W-We should haven-haven't done this," Naina mumbled against her breath touching her lips. Tears coursed down her cheeks as she felt helpless.

"It was just a mistake." Sameer said, palming his face and stepped back. He picked his phone and walked out of the room. 

▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰

Thank you for reading!

Do not forget to vote and comment down your views💜