Here's the next part.....

Naina and Sameer both came down, and all the while he was holding her hand. They came towards the car, and just then Sameer received a message from Preeti stating that they've reached home taking Rudra with them, and they did not want to disturb them as Naina needed him the most at that time. Sameer made Naina sit on the passenger seat and then he himself sat on the driving seat. Naina was still lost...she didn't say anything after her revelation. Sameer sighed and taking both her hand in his, he softly called her

Sameer: Naina...

She just looked towards him. Her eyes were still moist....He simply held both her hands between his palms. They fitted so well, as if they were two pieces of the same puzzle.

Sameer: Naina....chup ab bilkul nii rona okay !! Coz meri dost bht strong her....aur don't worry jo b hua usme tumhaari koi glti nii thi....I'm not gonna judge you...

She was shocked beyond limit...How did he even know what she was thinking...

Sameer: Ab apne dimaag p itna zor mt daalo...maine kaha tha naa tumhaari aankhein bht bolti hain....sb bata deti hain mujhe....aur haan ab tum bilkul tension mt lo.....mai hun tumhaare saath...aaj, kal aur hamesha.

Saying this he kept his hands on her cheeks and kissed her forehead lovingly. She closed her eyes feeling the bliss in the moment. When he moved back, she just hugged him. It was indeed her solace, the reason behind which was still unknown to her......Sameer didn't know why he kissed her forehead, but it felt right at that moment and also needed. Whereas Naina didn't know why she hugged him but still she did.

The drive back, was really quite and silent. But that silence wasn't awkward. It was peaceful. Sameer was driving and taking glances of Naina from the corner of his eyes. Even she was sitting leaning her head against the window but still stealing his glances. She didn't realize when she dozed off. Sameer saw her sleeping figure and smiled. She needed it badly after such a hectic and tormenting incident and heavy confrontation with her past.

Sameer parked the car, and tried to wake her up, but she just stirred a little and slept again. Sighing he slowly lift her fragile figure in his arms and walked slowly towards her room, as to not disturb anyone's sleep and invite any unwanted trouble. He took her to her room and made her lie down on the bed. He took off her heels and covered her with the duvet and again kissed her forehead. He turned to leave but she held his hand and mumbled in her sleep...

Naina: Sameer...please ruk jaiye naa....

Sameer: Par Naina...mai kaise...

Naina: Please...

Sameer: hmmm...okkk

He moved her a little and sat down in half lying position next to her.....she just kept her head on his lap and slept again with a contended smile on her face. Sameer was shocked at first, but then he too smiled seeing her calm again....and he too slept in the same uncomfortable position.

Preeti came in the morning to check on Naina. But the sight in front of her made her smile widely. Sameer was in half lying position, his one hand on Naina's head and the other one was in her grip. Naina's head was on his lap, with one hand she was holding his hand and other circled around his waist. She kept standing, but thinking that if anyone else will come, it'll become awkward for them. She slightly tapped on his shoulder he stirred in sleep, not able to remember his surroundings. Then he felt some weight on his lap, when he looked down he found Naina's head on his lap. That was when everything came back rushing to him....He lifted up her head and placed it on the pillow, but she was still holding his hand. Even in deep slumber her hold was tight, he softly removed his hand, and she frowned in sleep. He chuckled at her reaction but he stood up with a jerk remembering Preeti being there next to him.....

Sameer: Preeti...vo...mai..bas...Naina...

He stuttered badly. But she gave him an understanding smile...

Preeti: I know...don't worry...mai smjhti hun...she needed you and I'm happy that she trusts you..Usne tumhe kuchh bataya?

She looked at him with worried expressions. But he gave her a warm smile...

Sameer: Haan sb bataya....aur ab mera iraada aur b pakka ho gaya h...ab to meri aur Naina ki shaadi hogi...and I promise I'll always protect her...Mai ye to nii keh skta ki I love her...but I do care for her...

Preeti: Thank you Sameer....I know tum apna dialogue chipkaoge..but aaj nii...aur ab tum jaake freshen up ho jao aur taiyaar ho jao...it's almost 11....mai ise uthake aur taiyaar krke laati hun...aur haan Nanu se mil lena...Nanu, Nani and Mummy Papa knows what happened....don't worry they are with us...

Listening to this he simply nodded and went out from there not before caressing her head. Preeti tried to wake her up softly calling her name.....Naina slowly opens her eyes, with a sweet smile on her lips....But when she finds Preeti next to her, she wakes up with a jerk and looks around with confused expressions....

Preeti: Sameer ko dhoondh rii h?

Still lost in daze, she didn't realize and she just nodded her head.....

Preeti: (teasingly) kya baat h bhn? Subah subah Sameer ko dhoondh rii h...

Naina: (nervously) Tu ye kya Bol rii h Preeti....vo kl jo b hua...uske baad ......isiliye maine...vo ....Sameer..

Preeti: Bhn tension mt le....tu chill kr....mai bas mazaak krri thi....

Naina: Par Preeti.....vo Sameer...

Preeti: Bhn vo yahin tha.....mai jb aayi tb maine tujhe uthaane se pehle usko bheja...dekh 11 bj re hain naa...isiliye ready hone bhej dia...aur Nanu ko usse kuchh kaam b tha...isiliye....chal ab tu b jldi se ready ho jaa....

Naina: Haan okk...tu ruk saath neeche chlte hain....

Preeti: Tu bolti b to b mai tujhe chhod k nii jaati...jaa ab....

Naina takes her outfit for Mehendi and goes towards the washroom to get ready.....meanwhile Sameer was already talking to Nanu...

Nanu: Sameer..... beta Naina kaisi h?

Nani: Haan kl jb Preeti ne bataya to hum sb bht darr gye the....fir Preeti ne kaha ki tum Naina k saath ho...vo theek h naa? Usne kuchh kaha?

Sameer: Haan Nani...Naina ne mujhe sb bata dia....Now I know everything about her.....and ab mujhe pehle se b zada trust h is baat p that she's damn strong...Nani koi ldki apne andar itna kuchh chhupa k rakhne k baad b...kaise muskura skti h....jaise kuchh hua hi naa ho....

Nani: Haan...jb Jai ne mujhe bataya tha to meri b aankhein namm ho gyi thi....aur kaise koi itni masoom bachchi ka dil dukkha skta h....

Nanu: Sahi keh re h aap dono....

Sameer: Nanu...Rudra ka kya krna h?

Nanu: Beta usko kuchh krne layak tune chooda hi kahan h...

Sameer: I'm sorry Nanu...but you know naa....ki mai kisi b ldki ki disrespect bardaasht nii kr skta...aur jb maine Naina ko us haal mei dekha to mai apne gusse p control nii kr paya...sorry Nanu...I'll be more careful next time......

Nanu: It's ok .....but I hope it wasn't another anger attack....

Yes....Sameer had anger management issues...earlier they were very often...and they happened especially when Sameer talked with his mom in his earlier days in boarding....as his relations with his mom or her new family wasn't great......But later when he came to Mumbai.....it was in control though.....

Sameer: Nii nii Nanu...aisa kuchh nii h......(he said looking down)...

Even Nanu knew that he was hiding something...but did not force him to say anything else...as he somewhere knew that he was lying......he definitely went out of control again....but felt like leaving the matter for now....

Nanu: Hmmm.....Aur rahi baat Rudra ki...to humne use kl hi wapas bhej dia tha....Pooja b bht naraaz thi....

Sameer: Nanu...kis kis ko pata chal gaya?

Now Sameer was worried thinking who all knew about it,  he did not want any more trouble for Naina.....As he knew what all she's already been through...now he won't be able to tolerate any more tears in her eyes...

Nanu: Bas tum sb k alawa.....mai, teri Nani tere mummy papa aur Pooja jaante hain...aur humne use b keh dia h ki kisi se kuchh naa kahe....achha ab ye sb chhod...chal mehendi mei chlte hain, sb aa gye honge.

They all leave from there, just when Sameer was coming out of the main door, suddenly Naina came there as she was running behind Aman.....she was about to collide with Sameer, but she somehow managed herself.....they both held hands to save each other from falling down....and due to this sudden collision...they twirled around....lost in each other's eyes....Finally they stopped, but still stood holding hands and lost in each other's eyes.....But their trance was broken by the commotion outside.....they left each other's hand...when Naina suddenly spoke....

Naina: Sameer...

Sameer: (softly) Hmmm..

Naina: Thank you....

Sameer: Hawww Naina......mai nii krra ab tumse baat.... Katti (cutely)

Naina: Sameer...aap aise kyu bol re hain...aap kyun gussa h mujhse?

Sameer: Tumne mujhe thank you kyun bola? Mai to dost hun naa tumhara? Itni jldi paraya kr dia tumne mujhe...tchhh...

Naina: Achha ab nii bolungi...please ab mt gussa kijiye naa...I promise kabhi nii bolungi aise...please...

And before saying sorry, she realized that he could again get angry so instead of saying so...she just held both her ears and look at him with a sad pout....and seeing him not say anything, a lone tear drop escaped her eyes. He mentally reprimanded himself for again bringing tears in her eyes.....but he went in all aww seeing her cute face....He slowly moves his hand and bring both her hands down and then gently cupping her face he wipes her tears and tells her in a soft voice....

Sameer: Shhh Naina...aise rote nii...aur tumhaare is sorry yaa thank you se zada tumhaare aansu takleef dete h.....aaj k baad mai kabhi tumhaari aankhon mei aansu nii dekhna chahta....meri Naina bht strong h....aaj k baad no rona and no aansu....

Hearing meri Naina from his mouth a hue of red spread on her face...but not to make anything awkward she just nodded her head cutely in a way of yes.....Sameer saw her blushing but didn't say anything and just pulled her cheeks softly and both chuckled....They both left for the garden where mehendi ceremony was about to start.....

The entire garden was decorated with multi-colored long strings of flowers and drapes...Long strings of mirror were also put up instead of fairy lights, as it was day and to give it a shimmery look......few stations were set up with different props to click pictures. White mattresses were put up and canopies with drapes were set up on top of them as well to avoid direct sun light......a small stage at a bit of height was set up for Preeti and Rohan. And a few more such smaller stages were set, next to theirs, for others.

Preehan sat there and the mehendi artist started applying mehendi on her hands, and a guy started applying mehendi on Rohan's hands. They both decided the designs for each other. Earlier Rohan denied for the Mehendi, but seeing that even though Preeti didn't like the smell of henna, still she's sitting there and getting beautiful intricate designs on her hand along with his name. He too decided to get mehendi on his palms along with her name. She was too happy when he asked her to suggest design for him. They started applying mehendi with a few lovey dovey moments.

Swati also sat next to them, while Munna sat with her deciding the design for her. And she sat there adoring her loving husband. When Munna asked the mehendi designer to write his name on her palm she just blushed and Munna was just drooling over his shy wife. Even after so many years of relationship and almost two years of marriage, she still blushed like when she used to when they were in school. But he still loved it. He had loved her since they were in sixth standard, but she only reciprocated his feelings when they were in eleventh. Even then she didn't show him her feelings, but would shout on him for teasing her or flirting with her, but then would blush when he's not around. It took Munna almost three years to finally propose to her. He proposed to her when they were in first year of college, only after a lot of provoking from Sameer and Pandit. But he was happy that he got to be with his true love for the rest of his life.

Amrita was sitting next to Swamun, along with Pandit. But as usual Pandit was busy with his food, and also feeding Amrita simultaneously. At first she felt annoyed as to why Pandit is not taking interest in her mehendi like Rohan and Munna, but then she thought otherwise as, if asked, Pandit would ask the artist to draw Samosa and Kachori on her hand and she definitely didn't want that. She chuckled thinking about this and Pandit looked at her strangely but then again concentrated on his food. People might find it weird but for Pandit feeding her along with himself, was the way of showing his love and affection towards Amrita. When he saw her for the first time, he fell in love with her then and there. He couldn't eat for next few days properly, well... hard to believe but that's the truth. He was back on his appetite only once he proposed to her and that too not with a ring, but with a samosa. And that he found someone to share his food with and that too for lifetime. And on their wedding, the board didn't have a regular,

Amrita weds Pandit

But....

Samosa weds Kachori... 

All these pranks were done by their friends but they became memories for life.

Naina was sitting on the other side of Preehan. She's always loved Mehendi and all these things. Even when she was in US, she used to apply it on festivals. She was just seeing happily as the artist filled her palms with the intricate and beautiful design. Just then the artist asked her...

Artist: Aapke haath p kiska naam likhna h?

Before she could answer, Naina saw Sameer going somewhere. She called out to him...

Naina: Sameer....

The artist thought that she wants Sameer to be written on her hand and she wrote the same. Naina didn't seem to notice that..,Just then Sameer came to her..,

Sameer: Kya hua Naina? Kuchh chahiye h kya?

Naina: Haan

Sameer: Batao kya chahiye?

Naina: Sameer.....mujhe naa bahot pyaas lagi h...aap paani laa skte hain kya? Please...

Sameer: Are usme please waali kya baat h? Mai abhi mangata hun...,

He called out to a waiter....,and asked for a glass of juice for Naina...,but seeing her hands full of mehendi, and since it was all wet, he decided to make her drink the juice with his own hands. He took the glass close to her mouth....but she looked around but all were busy in themselves (that's what she thought though😉). Sameer simply nod and smile in an affirmative manner....And she drinks the juice. He sat with her and saw her hand which were filled with beautiful henna designs. Just then he noticed something and asked Naina to show her hand to him, and he checked it closely and was shocked seeing his name on her palm. She was observing his changing expressions constantly. She tried to see what he was looking at, and she took her plan closer to her eyes and her eyes turned into saucers. Sameer was written on her hand...,

She looked at Sameer....he was equally shocked....

Naina: Sa...Sam...Sameer....Sachi Maine...nii ...ye... I....I'm....

She was sweating, Sameer just kept his hand on her shoulder and then looked at the mehendi artist who was going towards Nani and Vishakha as it was their turn to apply henna.....

Sameer: Ye aapne kya kia?

Artist: kya hua sir?

Sameer: Aapne unke (pointing towards Naina) haath p Sameer kyu likha?

Artist: Unhone hi kaha...isiliye...

Sameer was shocked as to why Naina would ask to write his name...when Naina came from behind....

Naina: Hawwww Maine kb bola?

Artist: Maine jb aapse poochha ki aapko kiska naam likhwana h aapne hi zor se Sameer kaha...isiliye Maine likh dia....

Naina tried to recollect as to what that girl was saying and realised it was when she called Sameer for water as she was really thirsty and that's when that girl wrote his name, thinking of it as an answer to her question. Realizing what happened Naina was about to hit her head with her hand when Sameer held it indicating that her mehendi hasn't dried completely. She realised her folly and explained him the entire sequence that followed. Even he didn't know what to say so he too left the matter as it is...

But all this was heard by Nani and Nanu. They were really happy and took this as a sign from God and were sure that they were indeed made for each other. Nanu decided to talk with Naina straight away and if she's ok he'll talk to her parents as well when they would come here for Preeti's wedding. Naina's family was to join for wedding on the evening of mehendi....

Nanu went to Samaina who were still in daze with whatever happened. He didn't want to make it awkward so he decided to send Sameer away from there and talk with Naina in private.

Nanu: Sameer...

Sameer: Jii Nanu....

Nanu: Teri Nani tujhe dhoondh rii thi...shyd kuchh kaam tha unhe jaa dekh k aa...

Sameer: Jii Nanu ...

Saying this he gave a quick glance at Naina and left from there....Nanu came to Naina and said in a loving voice...

Nanu: bahot sundar h teri mehendi...aur tu b bahot pyaari lg rii h....

Naina: Thank you Nana jii 

Nanu: ummm,..beta vo tujhse kuchh baat krni thi...

Naina: Kahiye naa Nana jii kya baat h? Aapko mujhse kuchh b kehne k liye itna sochne ki zaroorat nii h....

Nanu: Hmm...par pehle ek baat bata...kya tujhe mujhpe bharosa h?

Naina: Ye aap kaisi baatein krre hain Nana jii...Mai aap p utna hi bharosa krti hu jitna apne mom dad p....yahan is anjaan sheher mei mere liye aap unhi ki jgh hain...aapko aise poochh k please mujhe sharminda mt kijiye....

Nanu: Beta tune Ye bol k Meri aadhi chinta dur kr di...dekh Mai jo tujhse poochhne jaa raa hu...uska jawaab dil se dena....kisi pressure mei aake nii....aur haan mai jo kehne jaa raa hu....vo soch smjh k Bol raa hu....

Naina: Nanu please bataiye naa ki kya baat h?

Nanu: Beta mai chahta hu ki tumhaari aur Sameer ki shaadi ho jaaye....ki tum Sameer se shaadi k liye haan bol do.....

Naina was shocked Bering limits hearing this....