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Naina was sitting across the room on the couch with a book in hand, arms pressing down the blanket that wrapped her body. She looked up from the book she was reading, sensing her husband's gaze. She smiled softly, making him drift to another world. She had become much more lovely in these four months. He had noticed her checking herself in the mirror touching her slight bump with an infectious smile on her face. Seeing him lost, she pulled her lips into a pout adding on a confused face.

"Stop doing that."He growled.

"Doing what?" 

"Doing that with your face when you're confused."She giggled softly and turned back her attention to her book.

"Love, did I disturb you?" Kabir said as he entered only to receive a hard stare from Sameer. Kabir grinned and sat next to Naina.

"We should plan on going to a beach. Just you and me." He whispered to Naina.

"Mr Maheshwari won't allow it." She replied sadly, eyeing Sameer who was keenly looking at them.

"You won't go anywhere, Khaza!"

"That's crazy not to allow her to go anywhere, Sameer. She will lose her sanity if she stays in this madhouse."

"She's my wife. I know what's good for her. She won't go anywhere, not in this condition."Naina sighed seeing them argue. She kept her book on the table and pulled the blanket as she laid on the bed.

"Are you even listening?" Sameer asked as he flicked her forehead.

"Yes, it takes me time for processing so much stupid talks," Naina replied, rubbing her knuckles over her eyes lazily.

"She wanted to go to the beach but because of you she rejected the offer." Kabir sulked as he sat on the bed.

Surprised, would be an understatement, Kabir shrieked in horror as he saw Sameer kneeling next to the couch where Naina was resting. He raised his hand and rubbed his thumb on her cheek."Do you want to go, Khaza?" He questioned staring at her. Naina shook her head in a way of yes hesitantly.

"On a bike, please?" Naina squealed but her voice trailed as Sameer glared at her. He stood up quickly and noticed that Kabir had left the room. Sameer wore a shirt and ruffled his hair while Naina walked in the bathroom to change. As she came out, he walked towards her and wrapped a shawl around her shoulders.

As they reached a beach, Naina quickly got down and gazed at people who were laughing and embracing the sunset. She turned back to see her husband who had grabbed her hand, intervening his fingers with hers. She clutched on the shawl a bit tighter than before and pressed her lips together to hide a shy smile. Sameer took off his shoes and helped her to take off her sandals too. He kept them in the car and looked at his wife who squealed as the sand squished slowly through her toes.

They sat on a rock seeing the sky painted into the hue of orange and yellow. She rested her head against his chest. He held her by the shoulder making her feel what she would often feel with him, safe. With him, she was at ease, she did not had to think before she acted in a way because she trusted him and knew that he would never judge her. It seemed so natural to talk to him even about odd things. The trust, so sudden yet so complete. She had always craved someone who cares about her the way he does. But this secure feeling frightened her as reality struck her. She shuddered with the thought of being left alone after their contract ends.

"What's disturbing you?" His rough voice broke her chain of thoughts. She shook her head and hid her face in his chest, inhaling his scent which helped her to calm down her thoughts.

"I have something to ask you," He paused as he twirled her curls, "Have you ever thought about us?" 

"I have. But every time I think about us, I feel confused. Our lives are different. You have everything. You can afford anything and this marriage is just a contract.  You married me because of your parent's will and Nanu. You could have got a much prettier wife than me. It's not that I am degrading myself but that's the truth. Who would wish to have a wife with scars and bruises." 

"Those scars never mattered to me, Naina." 

"That's too generous of you. I am grateful that I met a person like you. About us, I am still unsure. If we are meant to be, we will surely stay together. Sorry but it's urgent, I am hungry."She smiled as he laughed, sliding his nose along her jaw, he pressed his lips behind her ear.

"We will have to go back to the mansion then. I won't allow you to eat anything from here."

"No! It's fine."Naina mumbled grumpily, moving away from him. She looked at the fast food shops and then glanced at her husband who was staring at the sea.

"I wish I could have married Xan. He is much better than you.''Sameer scrunched his eyebrows listening to Naina who was annoyed.

"He will never be able to bear tantrums of my crazy wife," Sameer replied curtly.

"He said that he likes me. At least he does let me eat whatever I wish."She countered.

"Marry him once the contract ends, okay? And about eating junk food, go ahead and have it.  When you feel you have spent enough time, return to the mansion and even if you don't want to come back. It's absolutely fine."
H

e growled in anger, raising his hands in the air and walked back towards the car. Naina huffed in anger and chose to stay there itself. She had never fought over such trivial matters. She turned back to see if her husband had left. A sob wobbled through her lips as tears started brimming in her eyes. She quickly got up from the rock as her eyes searched for Sameer. A gruff voice made her jump in fear.

"Miss me, already?"  Naina noticed Sameer standing with his arms crossed against his chest. A hint of a devilish grin in his eyes made her flare in anger."No! I would never miss a bastard like you."She yelled, punching his chest only to earn a deep chuckle. He held her fist and pulled her close, resting his forehead against hers. He stared at her misty eyes as he pressed his lips on her brow as gently as he could.

"I know you missed me. How could you even think that I would leave you alone? Kabir had urged me to research how to take care of a pregnant woman so that I could help you in this condition. I have read about the fluctuations in emotions during this phase. I was mad at you when you spoke about marrying Silva. He's just your friend and I am the only husband you have." Sameer quipped.

"So basically it means that you are sorry for yelling at me," Naina asked as she raised her brow while her lips tugged into a smirk. He glared at her but she did not stop laughing. Grabbing his hand she pulled him towards the stalls. Sameer gestured her to sit on the bench as he went to order food for them. Naina kept staring at her husband, tapping her feet when her phone rang. She scrunched her nose as she got a call from an unknown number.

"Hello?" She waited for a response from the other side but the caller quickly cut the phone.

"Take this, Khaza," Sameer said as he handed her a plate of momos. She quickly took it, mumbling a thank you, forgetting about the call. Somebody tugged Sameer's pants which made him turn. He looked at the tiny figure who shifted back, being afraid of him. Sameer kneeled to her height while the little girl tilted her head trying to analyse something.

"Aapko yeh chahiye?" He asked her as his voice softened and touched her head gently. She bobbed her head in a way of yes hesitantly in response. He handed her his plate of food. The child took it and kissed his cheeks, quickly running back. He sat next to Naina who was still looking at him with adoration.

"It's mine!" Naina whined as Sameer took a momo from her plate. Sameer raised his brow and then both of them chuckled.

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"Do you still believe that you do not feel anything for her?" 

"I don't know how to deal with the situation. Every time I prepare myself to stay away from her, I fail miserably. I don't know any lenient or easy way to say this but what I said to Naina is the truth. I'll never love anyone again. The only person I loved and cared for was Nanu and my parents. Moreover, she is too pure and deserves happiness. I like being with her but things in which I dwell aren't meant for her. Sometimes I feel like I just want to–" Sameer takes a pause, tearing his messy hairs through his fingers, "Never mind what I want." he continued as he sipped his drink.

"You know what's the actual problem with humans, it's that we overthink. I wish people could have just said whatever they felt like. Instead, we choose to overthink and misunderstand situations. Hey! I like you or I don't like when you do such things. Or I do feel something for you. Is it that difficult to speak such things openly? Why can't people be painfully honest? Communicate! It may get awkward or difficult but at least you won't stay with the guilt of not speaking up the truth to the person you cared for." Kabir spoke, annoyed by Sameer's behaviour.

"I don't think there is anything left to be spoken about. Naina and I are clear about the status of our relationship. Just screw these matters, Kabir. I look up to you to take care of my wife as I am away for a few weeks."

"She might need you. You are fucking father of the child whom she's going to give birth to. You need to stay by her side as she goes through this phase." 

"I have work to be completed. Do as I say." Sameer said grumpily and rested his head on the headpost, staring at the night sky.

"It's better to confront whatever you feel for a person rather than suppressing and trying to neglect those feelings. You never know the last time you met or spent with that person would be the last memories you would have. You would think you have forever time but you won't." Kabir uttered with the only hope he could make Sameer realise his feelings.

"And if there are no feelings it's better to just shut up and not listen to any advices. I am making this clear to you again, I just care for her." 

"Great! Keep on uttering such things as it would help you to ignore what you feel." 

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