And finally, I'm here with the final update for Expectedly Unexpected. 

The Epilogue is a lengthy one and that is why I've split it into two parts for ease of readability. I hope you all savor this final part as much as you loved the rest of the story. Much love to all my readers! 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The wintry December morning was engulfed in fog. The Sun made feeble attempts to shine through, but its warmth couldn't pierce the blanket of haze scattered around. Puddles from last night's rain still dotted the pavements. There was hardly any rush on the streets, some bonfires by the side of the road were trickling with embers, as life forced itself to rouse from the slumber and the chill. The silence due to the cold was broken only by the twittering sparrows in the background, and by Sameer's deep rumblings as he chanted the Shiva strotam-

"......

Dhara dharendrana nandini vilasa bandhubandhura

Sphuradiganta santati pramoda manamanase

Krupakatakshadharani nirudhadurdharapadi

Kvachidigambare mano vinodametu vastuni

....."

".....May my mind seek happiness in Lord Shiva,

In whose mind all the living beings of the glorious universe exist,

Who is the companion of Parvati (daughter of the mountain king),

Who controls unsurpassed adversity with his compassionate gaze, Which is all-pervading

And who wears the Heavens as his raiment...."

It is said that the stotra when sang with utmost devotion and the correct pronunciation lends a protective aura around the devotee, and can actually invoke feelings of Lord Shiva's presence around the person. Not that they were hoping for a divine intervention, being mere fallible mortals. They were content just to pray to Rudradev in whom they had utmost faith and felt sure they were blessed by him.

Naina's eyes were closed in veneration, her mind focused on the glory of Lord Shiva and Sameer's recital of the praises of Madadev- the lord who was the easiest to please, who was the destructor of the universe and also the greatest sympathizer; the lord who drank poison out of compassion for others- the only lord who had the power to change one's fate.

For He had surely changed theirs.

The night of their marriage, Sameer had confessed to her that when he thought he'd lost her in the swarms of Mumbai, when he was tormented by fear of losing her, he'd slumped down in a Shiva temple and prayed to see her just one more time, if only to tell her he loved her. Sameer had later told her, he was sure that Lord Shankar had listened to his heartfelt plea at that time, and that was the only reason Naina was brought back into his life. Lord Shiva had averted the fate that had been written for them, a fate riddled with separation and devastation, and instead blessed him with Naina and a daughter- to keep and love forever.

Even the day they'd finally reconciled at his house was the day when Ramdhari had gone to the temple to seek Bholenath's blessings and pray for his Sameer bhaiya's happiness. And that is exactly what had happened. Almost instantly.

Since that time, Sameer had become a huge Shiva bhakt. And Naina's respect and devotion towards the Lord increased a million-fold when she heard Sameer's side of the story. All those fasts that she'd kept on Shravan somwars, the offering of water and flowers to the Shivalinga every Monday must have changed her destiny too. She had ultimately been blessed with a kind, loving and responsible husband as she came to know in the coming years.

Sameer's chants came to an end. And then there was utter silence, broken only by the chirping of the birds in the distance. For a while, both of them were engrossed in their own prayers, offering gratitude to the great Lord, wishing for their happiness and of their family.

They opened their eyes simulataneously and brought their folded hands to their forehead in front of the Shiva Linga. With some difficulty, Sameer pushed himself off the cold floor and extended his hand out to Naina. She pressed one hand in his, the other supported by the floor and lifted herself up. She draped her shawl closer around her, to protect her from the unbearable chill of the morning. It must have been close to nine now, but the sun was still nowhere in sight. People too were cuddled in their homes on this bitterly cold Sunday morning.

Sameer gestured for the copper pot, and Naina handed it to him. He scooped some water in, again icy cold, and then both of them poured the water in a stream over the Shivlinga, chanting 'Om Namah Shivaay' all the while.

When they were done, Sameer folded his hands once more in front of the idol, and bowed his head at the Linga. Naina folded her hands once again too, but her Sciatica and the biting cold did not allow her to bend. Sameer then turned and smiled at her, and quietly folded the flimsy blanket on which they'd been sitting. Naina put her palm over the temple bell, and Sameer's hand covered hers. Together, they clanged the bell.

They were descending the stairs when the priest met them halfway, and cheerfully pronounced, "Arey Maheshwari ji...Ram Ram...Ram ram behenji," he added to Naina. "Aaj ravivaar ke din?"

"Aaj do tareekh hai na Panditji," Sameer smiled.

"Do tareekh?" The priest recollected internally and then exclaimed, "Arey...December ka mahina chadh gaya na....Shaadi ki saalgirah ki dher saari shubhkamnayein Maheshwari sahab, behenji! Ishwar aap dono ki jodi sada banaye rakhe."

Naina and Sameer nodded in gratitude. "Dhanyawaad Panditji!"

Then Sameer fished in his pocket, "Abhi aapse milne hi aa rahe the...yeh lijiye cheque...15 tareekh ka hawan ka aur bhandara ka jo Diya ke naam se karte hain."

Every year, the Maheshwaris held a small havan for Diya's wellbeing on her birthday. It was always followed by a bhandara (free food offering in the form of prasad) for the poor and the needy. It had started on Vishakha's suggestion when Diya had turned seven. Sameer learnt that his nanu used to do the same for his nani when she was alive, and they followed suit, hoping the lord would protect their beloved daughter from her illness.

The priest took the cheque from Sameer in gratitude. "Aap fikar mat kijiye Maheshwari ji, 15 na...sab intezaam ho jayega...Batao...samay ka kuch pata chalta hai...kal ki baat lagti hai ki choti si gudiya thi Diya bitiya..."

Sameer and Naina smiled in reminiscence. It was this pandit's father who'd gotten them married, and took care of all subsequent poojas for Diya and the rest of their family, until his son took over a few years later.

"Vaise kitne saal ho gaye shaadi ko?" the pandit asked jovially.

Sameer made a show of scratching his head, "wo...kitne saal huye...ummm...budhape mein kuch yaad nahi rehta na!"

Naina shrugged at his antics. Still so kiddish! "Mahadev ki kripa se tees saal ho gaye Panditji!"

"Ohoo...waah bhai...ishwar aap dono ko lambi umar dein...aapka ghar-baar aise hi khushhaal, phala phoola rahe, bacche khush rahein!" Panditji blessed them and then after some discussion on the havan and bhandara for the 15th, went his way.

"Yaad nahi hai tumko? Sach mein buddhe ho gaye ho!" Naina remarked as Sameer pressed the key to unlock their car. The BMW opened with a click sound.

"Huh...wo to main tumhari yaadasht test kar raha tha...aaye din khaane mein namak daalna bhool jaati ho...buddhi tum ho rai ho...main to abhi bhi jawaan hun...forever young...like Dev Anand sahab!"

"Bade aaye Dev Anand se tulna karne wale! Aur doctor ne BP ki wajah se namak kam khane ko bola hai...bhuli nahi, jaan ke kam dalti hun." She retorted, as they both settled inside the car- Sameer on the driver's side, and Naina on the passenger side.

"Hayee...aaj bhi itni fikar karti ho meri," he smiled warmly at her.

"Aadat jo hai," Naina murmured, not without a hint of smile on her own lips.

Sameer laughed at her, as he rubbed his knuckles for warmth and blew on his hands.

"Haath akad raha hai na? Doctor ne bola hai Arthritis ka beginning stage hai...maine kaha tha driver ko bula lo...lekin nahi...meri sunta kaun-"

"Oho madam...shaant...kuch nahi hai. Ab garam ho gaya. Aur vaise bhi, yeh hum dono ka din hai, hum dono ka ritual hai...haina? To koi teesra kyun aaye?"

His eyes locked with hers. Even after all these years of togetherness, all these years of fights, ups and downs, rejections and rejoices, pain and glory- his eyes shone with the same love as he had in them forty years back. And like all those years, she couldn't help blush and smile back. What would people say? A woman her age beaming like a teenager!

"Happy 30th Anniversary Mr. Maheshwari!" she said lovingly and clasped his hand resting on the gearstick.

"Thank you! And a very happy 30th anniversary to you too Mrs. Maheshwari!" he smiled back.

He put the car in gear, and let the radio play the usual retro hits common during the morning time.

As the songs whizzed past one by one, Sameer drummed his fingers on the steering as he drove singing along with the radio, "pehla pehla pyaar hai...pehli pehli baar hai," when he suddenly exclaimed, "Tees saal ho gaye Naina. Can you believe it?"

Naina nodded. It was a lot of time to be with someone. Yet with Sameer, it still didn't seem that she'd lived enough. He was her only hope, her knight in shining armour, the one who'd stood by her through all odds and ultimately given her the life she could only have dreamt of.

They entered the place they'd called home for the past three decades. Mr. Somani, as an act of repentence during his last days and as a gesture of forgiveness from his long lost wife, had willed the house to her biological son, Sameer. Not that the family had any objections- Rohan had been comfortably settled in the UK and Deepika was married into an affluent family herself.

Out of habit, Naina ushered herself into the kitchen, and Sameer propped his reading glasses on and pulled the newspaper open. She brewed coffee and brought two mugs full of the steaming beverage into the living room, where her husband was busy reading the paper.

The sun was finally streaking in through the windows.

"Suno, dhoop aa gayi hai. Chalo bahar baithate hain."

Sameer gathered the newspapers and followed his wife outside into the verandah which was now filled with mild sunshine. They adjusted their cane chairs as Naina handed him his morning coffee and sat down besides him. And as he did every morning he had spent with her, he sipped his coffee and involuntarily nodded in approval, before returning to the paper.

Naina sipped her own drink, and examined Sameer. He was wearing the sweater she'd knit for him years ago- a blue one with tan stripes. It was his favorite amongst all he proclaimed. Naina had realized how Sameer had never had anyone to weave woollens for him back in school. Even when she did not have a mother, she had Bela chachi to do all this for her, but Sameer, despite having a mother, had never really got the motherly love he craved. So Naina knit something for him every year- be it a muffler or a pair of socks or gloves or a woolen hat, or just a random sweater. Vishakha saw Sameer donning them all with love, and finally it dawned on her what she'd been unable to give her son- affection. So for the years she lived, she learnt knitting from Naina, and knit something for every member of her family, especially the kids and Sameer. Once, she'd even crocheted a beautiful cardigan for Naina.

Naina took another sip of the coffee, her eyes fixated on the face she knew by heart- the deep lines on the face that had once been crafted with perfection, the wrinkles around those intense eyes, the glass frame resting on his nose. How the lean, haughty schoolboy had grown into a composed, kindly gentleman over the past three to four decades. She had been apprehensive about trusting him again, but age and experience taught her that one's intuition was always right. After all, all's well that ends well.

"Mujhe aise ghoorti rahogi to fir se pyaar ho jayega," Sameer muttered, as he flicked the page of the newspaper.

"Tum hamesha flirt hi karte rehna. Kisi din bacchon ke samne muh se nikal gaya na toh-"

"-Haan haan...aur jaise tum ghoor rahi ho, usse to jaise bachhon ko kuch pata hi nahi chalega," he peeked at her around the newspaper grinning.

She gave up the pretence and smiled dreamily. "Yaad hai tumhare wo udte huye baal".

Sameer splayed his fingers around his head, still a head full of hair, but cropped short, bit thinner and partly greying, and nodded in reminiscence. "Aur wo tum pe jo effect hota tha!" He winked.

Naina blushed and hit him playfylly with the magazine section of the newspaper. "Besharam ab bhi ho!"

"Biwi se kahe ki sharam," Sameer laughed and went back to the business section.

Naina, with nothing else to do, started shuffling through the magazine portion of the newspaper. The weekly magazine The Sunday Brunch dropped out from the sheaths of paper.

Emblazoned on the front cover was the picture of a woman Naina took a few seconds to recognize.

An exclusive interview with Ms. Noopur Singhal, listed as one of Florbes' Most Influential Indian Woman.

Noopur!

Naina's mind swirled back through the mists of time. Had destiny not made the two of them meet, Noopur would have been sitting here besides Sameer sipping coffee. And yet she couldn't help feel guilty for what had happened to Noopur, for in a way, she had been the reason for her heartbreak.

"Sameer," Naina said softly, her eyes still on the front page of the magazine.

"Hmmm?" Sameer looked up from the paper to her, and then to the magazine in her hands. And his jaw dropped open.

"Noopur?" His eyes met Naina's and she nodded.

Noopur was sitting propped up on a high stool, draped in a long ivory cream pencil skirt, paired with a mauve silk blouse. Her graceful legs were folded around the stool, propped in at least six inch stylish heels. Her hair was tied-up loosely in a bun, the diamond studs on her ears shining through. Thin rimless spectacles were propped up on her nose, and there was a faraway look in her eyes, and a rapturing smile on her face. The background was an exquisitely designed room, with a wall length ancient painting framed behind her, and mellow hues of violet, cream and peaches reflected on the walls.

Naina and Sameer quickly went to the end of the magazine, the last few pages where the interview began. It was full of other colorful close-ups of Noopur, in various breathtaking settings all designed by her.

Interviewer: Good morning, Ms. Singhal.

Noopur: Good morning.

Interviewer: Before we begin this interview, may I ask the secret of your ageless appearance? No one would believe you are above fifty.

Noopur (laughs gaily): Money can do that for you. On a serious note, I am very particular about my diet and fitness regimen.

Interviewer: Amazing. Care to share some tips?

Noopur (grins): With pleasure. Though I'm afraid it would take another interview for that.

Interviewer: I'd be sure to set up a follow-up then. So coming to today's point, you've recently been awarded the contract to decorate the famous Taj Mahal group of hotels? I think that amounts to at least 15 hotels in various cities in our country?

Noopur (nods enthusiastically): Yes, I'm humbled by the deal. This is a milestone for my company, 'Alankaar'.

Interviewer: How has the journey been?

Noopur: Tough, difficult to tag along at times.

Interviewer: What kept you motivated during the struggle?

Noopur: Frankly, I was blessed with a good financial background. So starting a company based on something I was passionate about was a no-brainer. But yes, despite the financial affluence, there were times when my belief in myself faltered. It was my father who propped me up and pulled me along. I owe my success to him.

Interviewer: Wow. So he's the man behind your success?

Noopur: Nods.

Interviewer: If you'd allow me to get a little personal, for years people wondered why a beautiful, accomplished woman like yourself refused to enter matrimony. No one good enough ehh?

Noopur: Well, my work demanded too much of my time. Plus, I've always been a rebel, didn't want to get tied up in household work- cooking and rearing children.

Interviewer: Yet you did adopt a girl- Payal right?

Noopur: Yes, Payal is my life.

Interviewer: Is she keen on taking over her mother's business?

Noopur: Certainly. I'd say she's a natural. She's been giving suggestions, helping me out since she was twelve. An artist to the core. I'm waiting for her to graduate after which I can formally hand-over my company to her. Till then, I would let her enjoy her youth. (Laughs).

Interviewer (beaming): So the similarity goes beyond the names and the family ties. Like mother, like daughter.

Noopur (smiling): You could say that.

Interviewer: What are the tips you would give to budding entrepreneurs, especially women?

Noopur: Be it a woman or a man, your life mustn't revolve around a single person. For if that one person vanishes, your entire existence crumbles. Keep a unique goal for yourself. Spend time on your dreams, your aspirations, so that you have something to lean on even when you have to walk the path of life alone.

Interviewer: Hmm. I can sense something here.

Noopur (grins): You want me to spill the beans about my love life now, do you?

Interviewer: The audience is definitely curious ma'am. I wonder who would have let you go.

Noopur (pensively): There was one man. I guess we weren't right for each other. It was a brief involvement- something which started as a matrimonial alliance, but I realized later, and so did he that it wouldn't have worked out. (Pauses) He had always been in love with someone else.

Interviewer: That's very sad to hear. Did you not give love another chance then?

Noopur (shrugs): I think I never met someone like him again. Sometimes, when you give your heart away, no matter the scenario, you never get it back. I just never got mine back to give it to someone else.

Interviewer: Quite a romantic outlook. Has life been lonely then?

Noopur: It was, at some points of time. Especially after my father passed away. That's why I brought Payal home.

Interviewer: That was a very noble thing to do.

Noopur: Oh no, on the contrary, it was a selfish act on my part. In a way, she was a cure for my loneliness- someone whom I could call family. And now she's my everything.

Interviwer (nodding): And did you hear from your ex any time all these years?

Noopur: Yes, a few times. He was deeply sorry for what he put me through. His story is an interesting one. Maybe you could interview him next. (Winks and laughs).

Interviewer: Haha perhaps. Does he regret his decision?

Noopur: I feel whatever happened was for the best. Or else, I wouldn't have been sitting here being interviewed by The Times of Hindustan, right?

Interviewer: Absolutely. So, how do you feel being among India's most influential women?

Noopur: At the top of the world. It's like I reached the pinnacle of success.

Interviewer: Your designs are touted as unique- you specially blend the mood of the owners of a home or an audience with the ambience.

Noopur: Yes, that's something which is my trademark style. I even design rooms that cater to different moods. So, if you're feeling sad, you can lie down in the grey room. If you are cheerful and happy, my yellow rooms would brighten you up further, and so on.

Interviewer: That's interesting. And is that how you plan on redecorating the Taj Mahal hotels?

Noopur: I'm yet to chalk out a plan, but would stick to my signature style.

The interview dived into details about interior design, the financial aspects, and ended with a close-up shot of Noopur with her eighteen year old daughter, Payal.

Sameer and Naina felt their heart go heavy as they were reminded of what Noopur had to face because of them. And having been the objects of a grave misunderstanding and having their hearts broken into pieces, they understood what the pain felt like. Over the years, Sameer had made numerous attempts to meet Noopur and apologize to her for not living upto her expectations, even to help her out, but all he'd got in return was her hostility.

Naina though, hadn't gotten the courage to face her. She realized Noopur wouldn't want to see her face, so secretly from Sameer, she had written a few letters to her, explaining their journey since college and how they both were victims of a grave misunderstanding. She wrote about Diya and how Sameer had been unaware of her parentage till after he broke-up with Noopur. Many letters later, she received an answer from Noopur, telling her that it was all right, that she was trying to move on. She told her that Sameer was never hers to begin with, and had they been married, it would have ended up in a divorce. She however wished Sameer had been as transparent throughout as he had been in their first meeting. That said, she did not want to cause any hindrance in their new life, but at the same time, she had no desire to meet either of them. She'd ended the letter congratulating them on their wedding and wishing them the best. The letter was folded carefully and stashed among her memoirs. It was only some years later that she had shown it to Sameer.

Amongst those stowed-up letters, was another letter by Shraddha and Rahul. They had owned upto their actions and wanted to meet them.jr,kgf personally and ask for forgiveness. It had arrived just a month after Sameer and Naina had been married. Sameer had vehemently opposed the meeting, and Naina was reluctant too. They were just married, and to have someone cast a shadow on their bliss again was something she wasn't prepared for. She didn't answer the letter. Yet a few days later, Shraddha and Rahul had come by personally and were standing right on their doorstep on a Sunday afternoon. Sameer had been outraged, wanted them thrown out of his house, but Naina succeeded in calming him down.

She'd stared at them coldly, especially Shraddha.

"I trusted you," she'd simply said, and that is what broke Shraddha. She erupted into tears and almost fell onto her feet, asking for forgiveness.

Sameer still did not allow the duo inside the house. They settled down onto the lawn chairs, and Shraddha and Rahul confessed to their crime- matching word for word what Sameer had told her. Shraddha was repentant, Rahul was simply sad, Naina was aghast, and Sameer was livid. And then they told how they'd paid for what they'd done to them. Three years ago, they'd been blessed with a baby boy. Their happiness knew no bounds. And last year, in a freak accident, the child had been trampled under a bus. They did not think they could recover from the loss, yet they wanted Sameer and Naina to know they had learnt their lesson- the pain of losing a loved one, and the lesson would be there with them for life. Sameer softened at this, and Naina too was taken aback by the tragedy. Both could not bear to have something happen to their own child, so they understood the misery of the couple in front of them. Whatever had happened in the past, they still could never have wished for such a brutal twist of fate for them. Shraddha and Rahul took their leave, and never again showed their face.

Naina was brought out of her reverie as Sameer spoke, "Naina, it was because of me Noopur didn't get the life she could have had." He was suddenly morose, the newspaper lying forgotten on the table.

Naina had no answer.

Sameer picked up the magazine again, and peered at the snap of Noopur and her daughter.

"Badi pyaari hai na beti iski," he smiled sadly.

Naina nodded as she eyed the picture, "Hai toh." "Sameer, wo hamein kabhi maaf nahi karegi," she mumbled. "Agar main tumhari life mein wapis na aayi hoti to shayad-"

"Shhh! Aise mat bolo," Sameer silenced her. "Isme tumhari koi galti nahi. Galti meri thi. And I know, I don't deserve her forgiveness. Naina, you know the worst part of it all- she was a really great friend. I just wish I was honest with her all along. Fir shayad yeh sab hota hi nahi."

Naina clasped his hands in reassurance. "Maine bhi to tumse sach chupaya tha na. Tum bhi samajh nahi paaye."

"Hmmm," Sameer stared into the distance. "At least she's successful and has made a mark for herself,"

For a long while, they both gazed blankly out into the lane, Sameer's heart filled with remorse and Naina's with sadness.

Naina's phone trilled distracting the couple from those pensive thoughts. It was a WhatsApp message from Meghnaa Rai. It revealed a picture of the Maheshwaris when they'd gone to visit her in Deolali two years ago, along with Meghnaa and her family, with a caption greeting them for their anniversary and urging them to plan another trip to Deolali soon.

After they'd gotten married, Meghnaa had called Sameer to check upon him and when she learnt that he was finally with Naina, she seemed exhilarated. She then spoke to Naina in detail and apologized for her wrong-doing, while wishing her and Sameer a happy wedded life. And it so happened that Naina and Meghnaa exchanged phone calls periodically to check up on each other. Naina had felt especially bad for Meghnaa when she learnt about the untimely loss of her husband. She cited her own example and motivated her not to give up on life, and maybe find a reason to live for. 

Perhaps that had worked, for Meghnaa had gotten involved with AWWA (Army Wives Welfare Association), and worked with other less privileged war widows to help them become independent, as well as orphaned children of Army personnel who'd been martyred for the country. In helping others, Meghnaa had found a new, deeper meaning of life and felt as if her husband, Randeep was guiding her along the way. Her work often entailed travel to nearby, and sometimes far-flung areas, and she made sure to visit Sameer and Naina whenever she took a trip to Delhi.

A few years later, during one of her rehabilitation programs, she had met the much older Colonel Dev Puri. Dev was the younger brother of the officer who was martyred in a terrorist attack in Kashmir, and left behind his wife and a teenage daughter. Dev hadn't married himself for he knew that life in the Army came with a certain risk, and he did not want to put a woman through that. As Meghnaa worked with the family, she and Dev bonded too, particularly when she came to know that Randeep had trained with Dev in his early years in the Army. Two loners found a companion in each other, and Meghnaa and Dev ended up getting married. Now the entire family lived in Deolali, and the couple had a daughter who rivaled even her mother's looks and who'd just joined her mother's alma mater for graduation, but with the sole aim of joining the Army herself. And Meghnaa always credited the change in her life to Naina and her encouraging words, and this despite how mean she had been to Naina in their youth, and had almost devastated her life.

As for Naina, the Meghnaa she once felt envious of, the Meghnaa who once wanted to steal Sameer from her, the Meghnaa who was once petty enough to plot a revenge; that same Meghnaa was now one among her friends. Pondering on the capricious nature of life and relationships, Naina chatted for a while with Meghnaa, who was asking about Sameer and the kids. She told Naina that she was out of network zone right now and would call them as soon as she was back in town.

The doorbell chimed and their housekeeper Malti, a young girl of about twenty three, whose education Naina had personally seen to, entered. Sameer had offered the post of a watchman-cum-driver to her husband Bahadur, and the couple now happily resided in the servant's quarters besides their home. Malti busied herself with the household chores, while Naina prepared breakfast and chatted with Preeti who'd video-called to wish them. Preeti had just had a knee-replacement surgery, and was unable to move around a lot. She and Jitesh were staying with their elder son and his family in Chennai, who was an engineer at a multi-national company. The younger one had decided to join the armed forces, and was on the move with his family. Currently, he was posted in Darjeeling.

"Pralay kaisa hai? Kuch baat huyi?" Naina enquired as she added the beaten rice (poha) to the sizzling mix of onions and chillies in the pan. Her elder aunt and uncle had never spoken to her again during their lifetimes, and a result her cousin Pralay was also disconnected from her. After chachaji and chachiji's demise, Naina almost lost all connect with Ahemdabad except Munna, Pandit, Swati and Preeti.

"Bas wahi hai Ahemdabad mein. Chota mota business kar raha hai. Baaki share market wagerah."

"Hmm." Naina remarked. It was sad that the only son of an accomplished lawyer hadn't inherited the skills from his father.

"Yeh le, inse baat kar le," she handed over the phone to Sameer, who was still basking in the sun.

"Namaste saaliji, kaisi hain aap ab?" Sameer smiled over the video call.

"Abhi bhi pain to hai jijaji...manage kar rahe hain bas...aur aapko aur Naina ko hum sabki taraf se Happy Anniversary," Preeti replied. After a few minutes of chit-chat with Preeti and Jitesh, Sameer handed the phone back to Naina.

"Aur bata? Arjun bhaiya ne phone kiya?" enquired Preeti, as Naina scooped a serving of poha out onto plate and garnished it with coriander and lemon.

"Phone aaya tha unka subah subah, do paanch minute hi baat huyi, fir beech mein Anu ka phone aa gaya wish karne ke liye." Naina replied as she handed Sameer his breakfast. "Tujhe to pata hi hai Sameer ki aur unki khas banti nahi. Sameer ko to message kar dete hain har saal wahi badi baat hai. Kabhi kabhi phone ya video call pe baat ho jati hai. Vaise bhabhi ki tabiyat theek nahi rehti aajkal. Ab thand nahi sehen hoti unko. Bas do saal me bhaiya ki retirement hai, fir wo log bhi ya to Ahemdabad ya Dilli shift ho jayenge, aisa keh rahe the."

Few months after they'd been wedded, Sameer and Naina had taken a summer trip to Manali and the adjoining towns of Himachal. The ulterior purpose of the visit was that Naina had wanted to meet her elder brother once. So she'd taken his phone number from Preeti and called him up. He'd been stricken to hear from her personally. He'd obviously heard of her well-being and marriage to Sameer from chachaji and chachiji, but couldn't bring himself to face her.

So that day, Naina and Sameer found themselves inside one of the government quarters, seated in front of Arjun, his wife scrambling around serving them tea and other savories and their three year old daughter, Nandita, playing with Diya.

Arjun was still cold towards Sameer, but hearing Naina's story incensed him further. He kept shooting him dirty glares, troubled by the pain his sister had to go through. Yet he controlled himself, for how much ever Sameer was to blame, Arjun too had been responsible for Naina's condition.

Diya was told these were her mama and mami- two more newly found relatives, and another cousin to play with. Diya was really confused by it all. Though not as much as when her mother had told her that Sameer uncle was actually her long lost papa. That was perplexing. Her mother explained that he'd come from abroad early and due to some confusion, mumma hadn't been able to recognize him initially. She asked if she was okay with Sameer uncle being her papa. Diya had looked from the face of her mother to Sameer uncle-papa, thought for a moment as to how wonderful it was that Sameer uncle could be her father. She beamed. This was the best surprise of it all. She'd somehow got the best papa in the world.

"Pa..pa...papa!" Diya checked the syllables on her tongue, then lifted her gaze to a teary-eyed Sameer and hesitantly said, "papa? Sameer uncle, aap mere papa ho? Papa..."

Sameer was overwhelmed with emotion. He pulled his daughter close to his chest as he sobbed with happiness. "Haan beta. Main hi aapka papa hun. Maine bataya tha na, meri aunty aur beti mujhse naraz ho gaye mere gusse ki wajah se. Bas ab Sameer uncle, nahi...papa...aapke papa ab bilkul gussa nahi karenge. Kabhi bhi nahi." And he had stuck to his word, well most of the time.

Arjun invited them to stay with them for a while, and showed them around. As they reached the end of their visit, before seeing them off, he whispered to Sameer. "Take care of my sister. If you don't, I swear, this time I'll break your neck."

Sameer had nodded. "I would. I would guard her with my life and make her so happy that these past painful years would seem like a dream to her." He paused, "But while I can try to atone for my wrongs, I cannot erase what her own family did to her."

Arjun had looked up at him in surprise, but Sameer continued. "Haven't you hurt her as well Arjun? Apologize to her before we leave, or I too have expertise in breaking necks," he stated with narrowed eyes.

This had taken Arjun aback, but like Sameer had 'requested', he also asked for Naina's forgiveness. That had brought tears in Naina's eyes, and Sameer hoped that she would be able to move past the betrayal by her brother in future. 

After the call with Preeti, Naina sat down with her plate of poha besides Sameer, who was eating and simultaneously guiding his secretary, now a much older Rita, on some royalty related issues for an author of Somani Publications (now one of the biggest and most renowned publishing houses in India). Even though he was planning to retire in a few years and everyone urged him to take things slower now, Sameer was still professionally very active and worked as hard as his health allowed. Perhaps that was her only complaint with him- he always worked too hard.

She leaned against her palm and sighed as she stared at him, "The times when she could work up her charm and get him to forget about work."

Once they'd taken a trip to Ahemdabad for a felicitation that Munshiji had planned for Sameer's Nanu when the company had completed seventy years. Vishakha, who'd become too feeble to travel had egged them to go on as a couple and leave the girls behind with her. But Sameer, as usual, was overloaded with work, and much to her irritation, carried over a bunch of manuscripts for review on their Ahemdabad vacation.

The first two days were good as Naina got to spend time with her family- chachaji and chachiji as well as Preeti. They also met with Munna, Swati, Pandit and Anjali. The evening after the felicitation function, it had been almost eight in the night when they returned. Full with the day's meals, they decided to skip dinner.

The evening was pleasant and breezy and Sameer was looking exceptionally handsome in that black tailored-to-perfection suit of his. Naina felt her cheeks go fuzzy at the thought of finally spending some lone time with her husband, away from the kids and the in-laws. Her fingers laced with his as they walked up to the front porch. His body responded and his fingers curled around hers, but his mind was elsewhere. As soon as they entered the room, much to his wife's displeasure, Sameer shrugged off his jacket, plopped down at his desk, and started typing away on his laptop, his face contorted in concentration.

"Sameer? Change to kar lo pehle."

"Hmm...karta hun," he murmured distractedly.

Naina lingered around for a bit, hoping he'd finish soon, but Sameer was oblivious to her impatience. Finally to get a bout of fresh air, Naina opened the balcony door and stood peering at the expanse of the neigbourhood. The night was beautiful. The shimmering white moonlight swathed the balcony floor. The gentle breeze rustled in a soulful rhythm adding to the romance in the air. Naina peeked through the door at her husband who was still engrossed in work.

"Sameer," she called out to him, "dekho kitni suhani raat hai...chaaron ore chandni bikhri huyi hai."

"Hmmm," Sameer barely looked up from the screen.

She started humming, "Raat shabnami, bheegi chandni...Teesara koi, door tak nahin"

Her gaze flicked to her husband in desperation, "Iske aage hum, aur kya kahe....Jaanam samjha karo..."

Sameer had not even noticed that she was singing.

"Shaadi ke baad sare aadmi aise hi ho jate hain," she huffed and then on an impulse stormed inside the room and stood right next to him.

Sameer continued to type when a hand shut the laptop in front of him, "Arey-" His protest was muffled when he saw his wife leaning against the desk, standing in between the laptop and him. And then much to his surprise, Naina pulled her hair loose, and ran her fingers through the strands, her eyes locked with his. She pulled the pallu of her saree up her shoulder, revealing an expanse of creamy white skin of her waist. She bit her lip, feeling conscious with what she was about to do. Her foot grazed his ankle, and started dawdling against his foot, making intricate patterns. Her toe flicked up his trousers slightly and tickled the bare skin underneath. Sameer's breath hitched. He grabbed her by her waist, mesmerized by the woman enticing him.

"You know what? I think my wife is trying to seduce me," he whispered, half-amused, half-aroused, as his hands stroked the velvety skin of her waist, his fingers dipping in at places, desire swirling through his veins.

She bent towards him slowly, just inches from his face. Leisurely, she ran a finger down his forehead, a slow, soft caress, down his nose, and landed on his very lips. "Is it working?" she murmured, her voice sultry.

His breath heaved, his eyes closed in relish, as he kissed her finger, and then pulled it in his mouth, giving it a small bite. "Absolutely!" His eyes glinted wickedly.

And then he slammed his chair back, picked up his wife in his arms and pulled her straight to bed with him. Right in the midst of the pool of moonlight, the two lovers kissed and fondled, the groans grew louder by the minute, the kisses grew heavier as love pushed harder, and their bodies succumbed to that etheral gratification that their oneness brought.

They pulled the sheets up, spent and lay cuddled in each other's arms catching their breath. As his breathing returned to normal, so did his playful mood. Sameer started humming,

"Thehro padi hai raat ye saari, Kaahe ki jaldi jaaneman....

Daale huye ye reshmi baahein, Yun hi lipte raho tum gulbadan..." He pulled her closer to him.

"Taqdeer se yeh mil gaya mauka

Aage khud hi jaan lo, aur kya kahe?

Jaanam samjha karo"

Naina's eyes widened, "Matlab tum sun rahe the?"

"Of course!" He winked at her. "Maine socha test karun tum kitni bekarar ho!"

She flushed and nuzzled her face against his chest. She was still an open book to him. He knew how much she wanted him, and when she wanted him. All that absent-mindedness was a pretense. Lord, he really was a brilliant actor. Deepika was right- he should have gone into films!

"Sharma gayi?" he nudged her.

"Ab tum mood mein nahi the to kya karun," she mumbled.

"Huh! Main to hamesha mood mein rehta hun," he exclaimed, "jaise abhi!" And then he pulled a giggling Naina beneath him again.

"Memsaab, itna laal laal kyun ho rahe ho?" Malti, who was mopping the floor of the living room, jerked her out of her racy past. Naina realized that she was gaping at Sameer with rapture, who was still on the phone, now jotting down a few points on a notepad.

A flustered Naina shook her head, "wo kuch nahi...aa jaa teri aur Bahadur ki tankwah bhi deni hai na."

Malti dried her hands on her dress and came closer, still smiling smugly. The expression of adoration on Naina's face must have betrayed her thoughts. Malti could see her employers were obviously still very much in love. And love like theirs, still so young, still so true, had actually made her believe that relationships like theirs existed, unlike the abusive one her poor mother had suffered at the hands of her drunken husband.

Naina fished into her purse and counted the notes. "Le...tum dono ki tankwah...aur yeh 500 rupay extra tere saab aur meri taraf se."

"Thank you memsaab, aap dono ko shaadi ki salgirah ki bahot bahot shubhkamnayeein," Malti nodded happily, and Sameer smiled and put his hand on her head to bless her. Her employers were very kind-hearted people. They had helped her since childhood, gotten her educated and married, and employed her husband as well. They were almost like her parents, so much so that every time Naina cooked a meal, she would offer it to her if she was around, just like the sumptuous breakfast of poha she'd just had.

As Malti left, and Sameer again became engrossed in the details that Rita was giving him, his eyebrows scrunched in concentration, Naina counted the remaining cash in her purse. Years ago, had anyone told her that she would be living in affluence and luxury, she would not have believed them. But Naina who had once struggled to make ends meet, to put food on the table for herself and her daughter, now had so much to spare that she could help other, less privileged beings. And none of this money was ill-gotten. It was earned with the hard work and toil of Sameer and his family, and of course herself.

Her mind drifted to the time in college when consumed with anger and frustration, she had slammed a wad of cash in Sameer's face, the money that he'd offered to help her with her mess bills, and accused him of vile intentions. He'd turned white with rage as he pronounced that she had no right to disrespect someone's hard-earned money, much less than judge his intent.

Years later, when Naina was challenged with adversity and was on the brink of poverty, she had bent against her will to Sameer's offer of help, his financial assistance for the sake of her daughter. That was the same money, Sameer's money- that had saved Diya's life. Karma had played its cards. And now as she looked at Sameer instructing Rita, and how hard he had worked his life to ensure his family would not be deprived of anything, she was appalled that she could have ever thought so lowly of him, when all he'd always wanted was to help her.

She got up at that moment, and struggled the phone out of his reach. "Bahot ho gaya kaam. Aaj Sunday hai aur hamari anniversary bhi!"

Sameer bit his lip and gestured for a moment to wind up the call. Quickly, he gave Rita instructions and told her that they'd take the matter up with their lawyers tomorrow.

"Ho gaya."

"Aaj ke din bhi kaam....tumhe kitni baar bola hai itna kaam mat kiya karo. Vaise bhi heart pe stress padta hai-"

"Kuch nahi hoga mujhe meri jaan. And ab no kaam for today. Happy?"

Naina smiled. "Happy!"

"Acha, paune gyarah (10.45) ho gaye? Chala jaye? Samaan gyarah (11) tak pahunch jayega."

Naina's eyes widened as they darted to the wall clock. "Paune gyarah? Der ho gayi...chalo nikalte hain."

Every year on their anniversary, Sameer and Naina donated food grains and woollens to the destitute and the needy on the streets. Their philosophy was when God had blessed them with abundance, it was their duty to show their gratitude and help those who were less privileged than them, people like Malti and Bahadur, and the impoverished souls shivering and starving in this nerve-wracking chill.

Half an hour later, Sameer and Naina were standing besides a loaded truck, distributing woollen clothes, shawls and blankets as well as packets of flour, pulses and rice, to a flock of homeless beggars and penurious children, women and men.

It was over half past twelve in the afternoon when they finished, and on Naina's insistence, instead of a restaurant lunch, Sameer treated her to an assortment of Delhi's famous fast foods- gol gappas, aloo tikki chat and chole bhature topped with some sweet jalebi to end it.

"Maza aa gaya aaj toh," said Naina licking her fingers as she followed Sameer inside the house.

"Tum toh saste mein nipat jaati ho- koi aur hoti to aaj 5-star mein lunch karwane ko kehti," he grinned.

"5-star ka khana bhi koi kaam ka hota hai- das guna daam aur taste mein maha bekar. Celebration ho to aisa," replied Naina.

"Abhi celebration puri kahan huyi...abhi to raat ka khana bacha hai," Sameer exclaimed.

"Raat ka?"

"Haan, tumhari laadliyon ne jo surprise plan banaya hai. Diya ne kaha hai ki aaj dinner uske ghar par hai," Sameer explained as he slumped down on the bed.

"Aaj? Mujhe nahi bataya dono ne."

Sameer grinned. "Surprise party hai na."

"Sameer...pata nahi yeh log kya plan kar rahe hain. Kya zarurat hai dinner vinner ki...ek to itna kaam rehta hai dono ko- ghar ka, bahar ka...upar se thakaan aur weakness...In ladkiyon se kaisa sambhlega sab -"

A frown came over Sameer's brows. "Badi ho gayi hain. Sab sambhal leti hain!"

"Tum to betiyon ke baare mein kabhi kuch sun hi nahi sakte!"

"Chodo na. Bacche hain, mann rakh lo."

"Budhape mein yeh sab kya-"

"Budhapa? Kiska? Mera to nahi aaya!" He crossed his legs and rested his arm beneath his head. He looked at her smugly. "Abhi to main jawaan hun!" he hummed.

"Haan haan....bada jawani ka josh chadh raha hai."

Sameer chuckled, "suno main na raat ko wo gaana gaunga...o mere joharajabi, tujhe malum nahi, tu abhi tak hai haseen aur main jawan..."

"Bas bas...sharam nahi aati...jawan bacchon ke saamne yeh sab gaoge?" Naina looked mortified.

"Ohho...bade ho gaye hain bacche. Sab samajhte hain papa mummy se kitna pyaar karte hain." He winked.

"Aur mummy to nahi karti haina?" She looked at him crossly.

"Mummy to pehli nazar se lattu hain," he chuckled as he moved his hands across his face, "aisa possible hai ki koi is chehre pe fida na ho? Nainital se leke Ahemdabad tak, Dilli se leke Mumbai tak line lagti thi ladkiyon ki-"

Naina hit him with a pillow, "pata hai! Badi lambi list hai tumhari girlfriends ki."

Sameer caught the pillow, "Sabse best to wo diary wali Shreya thi...main hairaan maine kisse shaadi ka waada kar liya bhai?"

"Acha aur wo tumhari Simi?"

Naina narrowed her eyes at him in displeasure, and even after all these years of marriage, Sameer looked at her timidly, his eyes seeking forgiveness as he smiled at her. "Kaun Simi? Meri to bas Naina hai...."

One time she and Sameer had gone to purchase some jewellery at the Zaveri in CP, and they'd run into a pretty middle-aged woman. She'd been startled to see Sameer, and Naina noticed that Sameer had paled as he recognized her. He muttered, "S...Simi?"

She nodded happily. She turned around and gestured towards her husband, who was following her up the steps. "This is my husband, Ankit. Ankit, this is a friend of mine, Sameer."

Naina couldn't help but notice the way Ankit's face stiffened as he heard his name. He took a moment or two to collect himself, before pulling out his hand to shake. Sameer reciprocated cordially and then introduced Naina to the couple. Simi stared at her for a while and then finally smiled.

"Is she the one?" she simply asked Sameer, who nodded before shooting a hesistant glance at Ankit. Naina busied herself at the counter with the earrings display so that the friends could have a few moments, though she felt ill at ease, as if there was something more to Simi than met the eye. She had never heard of any friend called Simi before. As she knew by then, Sameer had not had any friends, except Munna, Pandit and her at a later time. Had she come into his life after they'd been separated?

She eyed them from a corner of her eye and noticed Simi muttering that Ankit knew, and she was thanking Sameer, telling him that he was right after all, and that he'd chosen well.

After that encounter, Naina's mood for jewellery shopping had evaporated and she demanded that they go home. Sameer had tried to mollify her, but to no avail. When home, she'd immediately demanded to know who Simi was. Vestiges of her trust issues with Sameer still remained, and though she'd been married to him for ten years, she was still miserable whenever any female was associated with him.

"Naina, calm down yaar. It was a long time ago when I thought I'd lost you," Sameer tried to explain.

"Means you were involved with her?" Naina's eyes widened in horror.

Sameer sighed and nodded. "I was. Briefly and it did not mean anything- to either of us."

"Sameer," Naina shrieked, "why didn't you tell me about it?"

"Naina, I did tell you that I'd been with some women after you left. And that was partly to get over you. I had confessed hadn't I, that I'd been angry, had felt betrayed and really want to shake off the love I had for you. Not that I could do it, of course."

"You didn't tell me about Simi!" she clenched her teeth in distress. Her husband had slept with that woman. He'd touched her. She had touched him. Her Sameer!

"Do you want to know the details? You yourself told me not to talk about it. Listen Naina, I cannot undo it. I'm terribly sorry about it. I was a jerk. Even if you had really left me, I shouldn't have resorted to what I did. I'm ashamed of it. But I don't even remember the names of some girls, and I'm sure they don't too. And as for Simi, remember I told you about the day I saw you with Diya for the first time. I'd been shattered that you were married and with a child, and I was so distressed that I'd wanted to sleep it off with someone; only I'd stopped in the nick of time, suddenly realizing it wasn't the right thing to do- for me, and for her as well. That girl was Simi."

"You said her name was Seema."

"Yes it is. Simi is her nickname."

Naina was still unsure.

"Naina, I have never loved any woman the way I love you- not even close. You ought to know that by now."

She heaved a deep breath, looking on the verge of tears. "I know but....but I can't stand it that you were with someone else too."

"Naina," he hurried close to her, engulfing her in his arms. He rocked her to and fro to calm her down. "I'm only yours darling. I'm so sorry...really sorry yaar," he murmured into her hair. "I love you Naina and wish I'd had some sense back then. Please forgive me...don't hurt yourself for something that was utterly my fault."

It had been really tough for Naina to come to terms with the fact that Sameer had resorted to his old ways after she left- she'd learnt about the smoking and drinking, the drunken brawl with Tibrewal, the accidental-or-not ingestion of sleeping pills, but the woman in her was pinched the most when she learnt that Sameer had given himself up to other females, even if it had been lust, not love. She understood that Sameer hadn't had any feelings for any of them, and he'd also confessed about this particular incident about bumping into Diya and Naina that night outside the resto-bar, and then almost making out and then stopping, and advising Simi (Seema) to stop. He'd lost touch with her after that. Yet it aggrieved Naina and it always took her a while to push those thoughts out of her mind.

Sameer felt guilty too and lambasted himself for being a selfish ass. How would he have felt if Naina had been with some other man? He might have wanted to tear off the guy into pieces. After all, he'd felt jealous to the core when he thought she was with Arvind. Sameer promised her that she was the last woman to be with him, the only woman who had his love, and tried his best to keep Naina as happy as possible.

For a while, Naina was insecure about every new female friend or colleague Sameer introduced her to. She'd even goaded him about Rita, when he confessed that at one time, she seemed to have a crush on him, but he'd strictly made it clear that he was not interested in any office romance. With time, Sameer was sure her infatuation toned down, especially with the kind of harsh boss he was with them. "You're the only woman who can handle me Naina," he would often say, sometimes jokingly, sometimes seriously.

Now with thirty years of marriage past them, Naina had to admit that she was still filled with dislike at the thought of those other women with her husband, but the love he'd showered upon her, the wonderful father he'd been to their kids, made her forgo that debauchery of youth in favor of marital bliss.

She rushed to the almirah, cleansing her mind of such disturbing thoughts, focusing on their beautiful present, and the evening ahead.

"Acha Sameer, batao aaj raat ko main kaunsi saree pehnun?" She pulled out stacks of the finest silks out with their hangers and laid them on the bed, trying to choose for the occasion.

Sameer was busy in answering the umpteen pings popping up on the numerous family WhatsApp groups, responding to the continuous stream of wishes. He hardly looked up from the phone as he said, "tumhari almari ke dusre shelf pe jo package pada hai, wo dekho...aur usme jo saree rakhi hai wo nikalo...wahi pehena aaj raat." 

Surprised, Naina peered closely onto the second shelf, and sure enough there was a package from Nalli Silks. She opened it to an exquisite emerald green printed silk, with fine golden borders. The saree was as elegant as it was rich.

"Wow...!"

"Pasand aayi?"

Naina realized Sameer was observing her.

"Bahot...kitni khubsurat saree hai...aur mere pass aisa green tha bhi nahi."

Sameer grinned. "Teen ghante lagaye tumhari betiyon ne color, texture, print, quality ke chakkar mein....mummy ki choice yeh, mummy ki choice woh..."

"Bahot pyaari hai Sameer...thank you! Par tum kya pehnoge?"

"Wo jo naya coat khareeda hai do hafte pehle...isi ke saath to liya tha."

"Matlab tum inke plan mein tabse shaamil ho?" Naina quirked her brows.

"Nahi baba...tum busy thi to mujhe le gayi dono shopping pe...zabardasti mujhe bhi kharidwa diya."

"Dinner ke liye itna sab taam jhaam?"

"Chodo na." Sameer eyed the stack of sarees scattered on the bed and said, "Ab is sab ko andar rakh do aur thoda aaram kar lo. Varna raat ko hararat ho jayegi." And then his gaze fell upon a piece of flimsy fabric peeking from underneath the sarees. He pulled it out.

"Areyyyyy.....," he exclaimed with delight. "Yeh to tumhari wahi pink saree hai na?"

Naina lifted a few hangers to put them back in place, and grinned. "Haan...wahi hai tumhari favorite. Bechari Shefali ne tumhari us office party ke baad yeh saree mujhe hi de di...boli ki meri lucky saree hai. Aur vaise hai bhi...jab jab is saree ko pehna hai kuch acha hi hua...pehli baar tum mujhe hostel chodne aaye...dusri baar tumne pure office ke saamne ek tarah se pyaar ka izhaar kar diya-"

Sameer laughed as he reminisced those times.

"Aaj tak maine yeh saree kisi aur ko nahi di- Diya mangti rahi school farewell pe pehene ke liye, use bhi nahi di," she chuckled.

"Sach mein is saree mein kya kamaal lagti thi tum...." A sudden light came into Sameer's eyes. "Naina! Wo green saree cancel, aaj raat ko yahi saree pehen lo!"

"Kuch bhi...yeh meri umar hai aisi saree pehene ki?"

"Ohho...acha mere saamne pehen lena."

"Thand dekhi hai?"

"Abhi kahan hai? Ab to dhoop khili huyi hai...!"

Naina shook her head as she pulled the pink saree from his hands and started folding it to keep it back in the almirah.

"Kya yaar Naina...tumhara itna pyaara pati kuch maang raha hai, tum uske liye ek saree nahi pehen sakti? Aaj hamari salgirah hai!"

Naina rolled her eyes, "acha baba...ruko 5 minute." She went into the washroom and hurriedly changed into the saree. Though the sun was still bright and up outside, she was shivering. She draped a shawl around her shoulders and walked out in front of Sameer.

The room was warmer. She saw Sameer had actually closed the door and turned on the heater to full blast. She couldn't help but smile at his concern.

She pulled the shawl away, flung her arms out wide and said, "pehen li...ab khush?"

Sameer was staring at her in adoration. He beckoned her closer to him, and then bent to remove the lone pin holding her hair in a bun. Her tresses, still long, albeit with a few silvery streaks, splayed around her shoulders. There were now lines on her face and her skin had sagged in places. Yet even now when Sameer looked at her, he found her as beautiful as she was years ago.

"Ab perfect hai," he smiled at her and pulled her by the arm onto the bed besides him.

"Bas..bas itna bhi mat ghooro," she gushed.

"Not in my hands ma'am! Still the same effect- wo freshers pe bhi mere dil ki dhak dhak badh gayi thi tumhe isme dekh ke," and then suddenly, without warning Sameer burst out laughing.

"Kya hua?"

"Tum college ki freshers pe saree pehen ke aayi thi Naina!" He howled with laughter.

"Toh?"

"Toh kya...Kitni saree ladkiyan thi wahan ek se ek modern dresses mein...matlab hum Mumbai mein the...aur tum saree, eklauti bandi thi tum-"

Naina pushed him away, but he gathered her in his arms again as he continued to laugh. "Pata hai main soch raha tha behenji saree pehen ke aa gayi-"

"Sameerrrr!" she tried to wrestle out of his arms again.

"Arey suno toh....lekin maine socha behenji lag badi hot rahi hai...badi sexy saree hai...I mean it Naina, meri nazrein hat nahi rahi thi tumse!"

"Sacchi?" Naina asked.

"Arey kasam se."

"Remember the first time I touched you, you were wearing this saree."

Naina nodded dreamily. "Tum mujhse jhagad rahe the...aur fir achanak tumne mujhe pakad liya aur mere itne kareeb...jaise bijli si daud gayi dil mein...tab agar pata hota ki tum mere hi ho toh-"

"Toh-?" he cocked his brows. Naina flushed.

Sameer's phone beeped at that instant, distracting the couple. Sameer opened his WhatsApp to a message from Sanjay Tibrewal, wishing them both a happy anniversary.

"Lo...yeh saala chewing gum hi rahega...us din bhi tumse chipka hua tha...aaj bhi taang adane aa gaya," Sameer mumbled.

"Ohho...jalan? Main to behenji hun na?"

"Uski behenji!" Sameer replied sassily as he typed him a note of thanks. "Mera bas chalta to use rakhi bandhwa deta tumse," he muttered to a chuckling Naina.

Tibrewal was suggesting meeting up for drinks or lunch when he was back in town as it had been almost a year since they last got together. Though Tibrewal still irked him, since the time he'd guided him to Meghnaa, and ultimately to the truth, Sameer had become kinder towards him. The two could almost be called friends- well almost.

Sameer noticed that Tibrewal had updated his profile picture as well. He pointed it to Naina.

"Naina, dekho iski DP- wife no.2 ke sath Paris vacation pe hai."

Naina peered at the picture Sameer was showing her. "Yeh Tibrewal ki beta hai? Kitna bada ho gaya na?" Naina pointed at the ten year old with braces, standing alongside a middle-aged woman and Tibrewal in front of Eiffel tower.

Sameer nodded, "ekdum baap ki carbon copy hai. Tumhe bhi wahi ek sample mila tha haina? Kaun apni girlfriend ko raat ko akele chod ke jaata hai, wo bhi anjaan shehar mein! Sometimes I can't blame his ex-wife for deserting him."

Naina shrugged. "Chodo, wo hamein kya pata. Aur acha hua na wo mujhe akela chod ke gaya, varna mera akdu hero kaise aata mujhe bachane."

Sameer nuzzled his face onto her shoulders. "Point! All thanks to this idiot...agar yeh na hota to hamari kahani kabhi shuru hi na hoti."

"Bechare ne kitni maar khayi hai tumse is chakkar mein. Kya khauf tha tab tumhara by God!" Naina chuckled.

He grinned. "Tibrewal to bas ek example tha madam! Mera naam sunke hi kitnon ne baazi khelne se pehle hi haar li...Naina, tumhe kya malum tumne kitne dil tode hain."

Reminiscing about their college times, they did not realize when they drifted off to sleep in the cozy warmth emanating from the heater and of each other's arms. 

"Sameer?" Naina handed him a cup of tea as he woke up. "4 bajne wale hain."

He took the cup proffered to him and took a deep sip to ward off the chill. The heater had been turned off. His clothes had been ironed for the evening and were neatly placed on the table.

Naina was still wearing the pink saree, albeit with a woollen cardigan and a shawl along with it.

"Tum pehle taiyyar ho jao. Mujhe to zyada time nahi lagega." Sameer said.

Naina nodded, "Paanch saadhe paanch tak nikalte hain?" She drained her tea and then hurried to freshen-up and dress for the evening.

Sameer was lying down on the bed, scrolling over on his phone, when it started ringing signaling an incoming video call. Sameer slid it to the right. "Hello Rohan! Kaise ho tum?"

Rohan exclaimed happily. "Happy Anniversary Sameer! Yahan hum sab theek hain! Aap sunao."

"Thank you Rohan. A very Happy Anniversary to you and Neha bhabhi as well!" Sameer grinned.

Rohan smiled. "Thank you bhaiya. Naina bhabhi kahan hai, unhe bhi wish karna hai."

"Bas taiyyar ho rahi hain. Bacchon ne 'surprise' party rakhi hai aur humse taiyyar hoke aana ko kaha hai," Sameer laughed.

Rohan too joined in. "Yahan bhi yahi haal hai. Nitish aur uski girlfriend ke ghar dinner par jaana hai. Batao, hamari anniversary celebrate kar rahe hain, aur is ladke ko bolo shaadi ke liye to kehta hain 'dad, I need time!' Yeh angrezon ke desh ne bigaad diya hai pura."

Sameer laughed and then enquired about Nitish and his Spanish girlfriend when Neha came on the line. After a few minutes, Naina came back into the room and he handed the phone to her. Wishes and pleasantries were exchanged as well as promises of visiting each other soon. All this while, Sameer's eyes were fixated on Naina, now decked in the dark green, richly printed silk. Somehow she was looking more elegant than he'd imagined in this attire.

"Bahot sundar lag rahi ho," he complimented her as Naina pulled her hair loose and adjusted the pleats of the saree.

"Tum to hamesha aise hi kehte ho," she said.

"Hamesha sundar lagti ho to main kya karun," he mumbled.

Naina couldn't help but smile as she peered into the mirror and applied a small line of sindoor on her forehead, while Sameer watched her mesmerized.

It had been thirty years before, on this very day, and Sameer was sure at this very moment, that Naina had been getting ready for their wedding. Rohan and Neha, and Sameer and Naina were married together, on the same mandap and on the same day. Sameer remembered the beautiful crimson silk that she'd draped herself in, her face aglow with happiness as she moved towards him on the mandap, garland in hand. He remembered Vishakha patting his head happily as she glanced towards Naina.

In the eyes of the world, this was just a formal acceptance of their marriage. They had told their friends, families and colleagues that they'd gotten married at twenty in secret but her family had not consented to it, which had caused a grave misunderstanding and a subsequent rift between them. Now the misunderstanding was clear and they had been reunited.

Of course, no matter how much Sameer tried to quell the rumours, there were murmurings of a scandalous affair between their boss and the new author in their office. Gossip was that the lady had gotten involved in an extra-marital affair with Sameer, and now had divorced her husband to marry him.

Having worked with both of them at close quarters, the blow had been the biggest to Rita, who along with her peers was discussing the reasons for her boss's broken engagement to Noopur, when he announced his intentions to marry Reena, or Naina, or whatever her real name was. She could tell most of the people did not believe the elopement tale that the couple had told them.

But in retrospect, Rita knew she'd had always sensed that something about their relation wasn't what it seemed. Like her boss swinging from loathing her and dismissing her initially, to becoming extremely charitable and kind when he heard of her financial wreck. Even his moods had been drastically different- he'd always been so soft and patient with Reena- something that had never happened before with any other author. And then his bond with the little girl, her daughter- she had never seen him share such a camaraderie with other children. Come to think of it, even the heart-rending songs he'd pelted out at the party in a drunken haze might've been for her- all that about not confessing to love and heartbreak.

Rita opened her drawer and pulled out the signed papers for the publication of the novel, 'If Only I had You', and saw the author's name was written as Naina, as her boss had suggested. Means there was truth in what they said. She starkly remembered Naina's reaction when she came to know of his engagement. She'd been dumbstruck and left in a hurry. Then the saree incident, when she knew about boss's Ahemdabad roots.

Dreary, she took a sip of the coffee the peon had placed in front of her. Urggh! It was so bitter! As usual, Ravinder had forgotten to add sugar. She pushed herself off the chair and headed to the pantry. As she swirled in a teaspoon of sugar, another piece of information swirled to her mind. How during the initial days, Sameer sir had ordered a coffee for Reena madam. His words resonated in her ears, "strong, doodh zyaada and 1 and ½ chammach shakkar," and then the smile Naina had given as she sipped the beverage. Rita smiled despite herself. Yep, they must have been lovers before. But that could not justify Mrs. Naina abandoning her husband.

It was at the wedding when the entire staff, including Rita, saw Arvind present with his wife there and when he perform the rituals in lieu of the bride's brother that they were assured that their boss had been telling the truth. And then with time, the rumours all died down. The office staff was especially quick to forget because their hard taskmaster of a boss had softened considerably after his marriage.

Now sitting in his room, Sameer recalled each of those seven vows he took with her that night around the holy pyre- the moment when he filled the parting in her hair with red sindoor, and tied the chain of gold and black beads around her neck that he felt assured that Naina did belong to him. He remembered the time they were alone in his room, on their very first night together. At first, they were hesitant and couldn't believe it wasn't a dream. And then the way they had made love seemed to have been borne of years of longing for each other and the culmination of those pent-up desires. Life had taught them that it was ephermeral and to make the most of it till it lasted.

Naina was seated in front of her dressing table and was brushing her hair now. Oblivious to the thoughts in Sameer's mind, Naina was lost in a reverie of her own.

It had been thirty years since she'd been Mrs. Naina Maheshwari and never once had he given her a chance to doubt her decision- the decision of trusting him, of giving his love a chance again. He'd proved to be a wonderful husband. Yes, they had had more than their share of fights, but then there was always love to make up for it. Her dreams and aspirations were balanced with his, his joy and sadness mingled with hers. Together, they had undertaken the journey of life. They'd held onto the other for support when they lost their dearest ones, and clung with joy when they welcomed a new member into their family. When one faltered on the professional front, the other always had their back. And they'd felt enormous pride when one of them succeeded.

Naina remembered the time she'd set foot inside his house for the first time as his bride. Vishakha had tears in her eyes, mostly of joy Naina could see as she saw her new daughters-in-law awaiting their welcome at the doorstep.

Vishakha had looked over to Mr. Somani and asked Naina to step-over the threshold first. Sameer was the elder son and Naina was their elder daughter-in-law. Mr. Somani did not object.

She did Naina's aarti and then hugged her deeply. Next, she called Neha to the threshold and did her aarti. The two brides flicked the utensils filled with rice with their toe and stepped in with their husbands.

Initially, Naina had been apprehensive when Sameer took her to his house for the first time, declaring his intention of marrying her. She'd expected huge resistance, maybe abuse and taunts from his mother. Much to her surprise however, Vishakha, when she'd come to know the whole truth had wept profoundly and begged Naina to forgive her, her family and her son. As time passed, she proved to be a loving grandmother to both their kids till the time she survived. It was as if she was compensating for the love she never gave Sameer by showering her grandchildren with more love than they could dream of.

At times, Naina felt worried if her children would get spoiled at the hands of their grandmother, but Vishakha nudged her away by saying if children won't be indulged, who should be?

Vishakha was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2006, and fought a fierce battle with the deadly disease as it metasised, spreading its tentacles to her lungs and liver. Her subsequent loss to the Cancer two years later had been a great blow to all of them, but most of all to their daughters.

Naina was jerked out of those painful memories, as Sameer exclaimed. "Quarter to five."

He quickly took off the warm sweater that he was wearing and pulled on a navy blue shirt over the layer of thermals. He slowly buttoned it up and then paired it with his caramel brown trousers. As he lifted the new woollen coat that he'd purchased, he saw a tiny, blue-colored box beneath it.

"Yeh kya hai?" he glanced at Naina, who was lining her eyes with kajal. She smiled, "tumhara anniversary present."

Sameer's eyes lit up. "Ohho! Gift?" He opened the box and inside was a simple midnight blue tie, with small prints over it. "Bahot sundar hai...lekin Naina, tumhe nahi lagta ab meri tie vie pehenene ki umar chali gayi?"

"Acha mujhe to laga tha tum jawaan ho!" she chuckled, and then added. "Pehen lo. Aur bhi handsome lagoge."

"Handsome huh?" he smiled and pulled the tie around his neck.

Naina beckoned him towards her. He stepped next to her and she stood up and started weaving the tie in a double knot as Sameer's gaze remained glued to her.

"Kya dekh rahe ho?" she asked, as she worked on the tie.

"Bas yahi soch raha hun ki main itna lucky kaise ho gaya."

She smiled, tightened the tie knot and adjusted his collar around it.

"Tumhare saath yeh tees saal kaise beete pata hi nahi chala...kitna kuch hua na...kitne ache saal beete...main kabhi soch bhi nahi sakta tha ki kabhi meri zindagi bhi normal hogi...meri zindagi mein bhi itni khushiyaan aayengi!" He held her hands as he looked at her. "Thanks Naina. Agar tumne mujhe us waqt ek aur mauka na diya hota to mujhe yeh sab kabhi nahi milta!"

Naina looked at his pale skin, those creases around his eyes, the white in his once smooth black hair. She pulled his hand towards her and kneaded her fingers with his. The matching wedding bands shone on their fingers- the ones that had stood the wear and tear of time and their marriage and stayed intact. His fingers were knobbly like hers, and his hands were thinner than they used to be, yet it was the warmest grasp she'd ever known.

"I Love You Sameer!" She put her arms around his back and rested her head on his chest. He stroked her hair softly and his chin rested on her head. "I Love You too!"

They stood there contended in the familiar warmth of each other's embrace.

"Time kya hua?"

Sameer glanced at his beloved Fossil watch, a birthday gift from his daughters, as he strapped it on his arm. "Paanch bajke das minute."

"Chalo main taiyaar ho jaati hun, varni tumhari laadliyaan hungama macha dengi!"

Naina sat down on the dressing table and Sameer looked on as she dabbed a soft pecan brown shade of lipstick on her lips, and then wrapped her hair in a neat chignon, a few tendrils escaping through. He pulled open the drawer in front of her and extracted a velvet covered box.

Naina was surprised. "Yeh kya hai?"

"Tumhe kya laga? Main koi gift nahi laaya?"

"Saree to laaye-"

"Wo Diya aur Anu ki taraf se hai...yeh meri taraf se hai...I was just waiting for you to get ready. 30 years Naina. It's a milestone for us. Kaash tum hamesha aise hi mere pass raho."

Naina looked on in surprise as Sameer flicked open the box. Her eyes widened with wonder. Inside was a gorgeous necklace encrusted with small diamonds hanging like drops in an intricate pattern, with matching earrings, and a pair of bangles to go with it. It was simple, yet exquisite- exactly her taste.

He pulled the necklace around her neck and clasped it securely. His chin rested on top of her head, eyeing her reflection as Naina's fingers traced the diamonds with awe.

"Diamonds are forever!" he murmured. "And so are we!"

Naina's phone rang shrilly breaking their moment. Diya's bright beaming face shone on the caller screen. "Lo aa gaya bulawa."

"Main to ready hun!" he announced as he pulled on his new blazer.

"Aadmi hona kitna aasan hai!" she huffed.

He chuckled. "We're blessed."

Now Diya was calling on Sameer's phone. "Papa?? Kahan ho aap? Mummy phone nahi utha rahi...Nikle ke nahi? 5.30 baj rahe hain...traffic shuru ho jayega nahi toh...thand bhi hai-"

"Nikal rahe hain beta. Teri mummy taiyyar ho rahi hai bas."

Naina quickly secured the earrings in her ears, and slipped the bangles on her wrists, as she responded over the phone, "beta bas 10 minute mein nikal rahe hain."

"Ok mumma...jaise hi Shakti Nagar pahuncho to phone kar dena mujhe."

"Kyun?"

"Arey kyun kya...bas kar dena...," Diya said.

Sameer laughed, "Beta yeh surprise vurprise chod...tujhse mil lenge wahi kaafi hai hamare liye!"

"Papa...dinner hi to hai...aap bas phone kar dena na," Diya said as they ended the call.

Naina slipped into her comfortable Dr. Scholls and Sameer put on his boots.

Sameer held out his hand for his wife and together they headed out the door, downstairs where Bahadur was waiting for them with the car.

As Sameer and Naina descended the stairs in the dimming light of the evening, their eyes roved over the numerous photoframes they'd decked onto the walls.

There were their wedding photographs, photos of Vishakha and Mr. Somani with Rohan, Sameer and Deepika, as well as pictures of Naina and Sameer with their kids on family vacations. Post their wedding, Naina had discovered a new addiction to travelling, which often worked as fodder for her writing with characters of different ethnic origins, myriad cultural trends or novels set in different cities/ countries. She told Sameer that they must take at least a vacation every year, and he should plan his work in advance so that he could enjoy the break with them all. Over the years, in addition to covering several Indian states, they'd covered many international destinations ranging from the pyramids in Egypt to the Cherry Blossoms in Japan, the Eiffel Tower and Louvre in Paris to the the Roman ruins and cave hotels of Turkey, the London Bridge (on numerous visits to Rohan and his family) to the Statue of Liberty in the United States (visits to the Aroras), the stunning landscapes of Greece to the Kangaroos in Australia, the northern lights of Norway to the architectural splendor of Russia, and many more countries.

As they waited for Bahadur to bring the car out from the garage, Naina's gaze stilled over a particular family photograph. It was taken just outside their home in the winter of 2001, just a month or two after Ananya was born. Sameer was grinning from ear to ear, holding an infant Ananya (again a name for Goddess Parvati) wrapped in a blanket, basking in the sun. His head was tilted towards Naina, who was sitting right next to him, Diya perched on her lap. The picture was clicked by Deepika.

Naina remembered her anxiety during her second pregnancy. Sameer was over the moon when he heard Naina was expecting again. He wanted to compensate for his absence during Diya's time. Naina voiced her concern to him, "kahin is bacche ko bhi wahi beemari...," but Sameer would always assuage her, "kuch nahi hoga is baar!"

He was there by her side at every doctor's appointment, at every scan, at every ultrasound. He didn't let Naina get up from the bed or work, getting all sorts of nutritious food items for her. Vishakha too fussed over her, and Deepika was like a sister to her.

This pregnancy was physically torturous for Naina- she was vomiting multiple times a day, the sight of food repulsed her, she couldn't sleep, and faced excruciating pains in the back. And all this was multifold as compared to what she had experienced during Diya's time. Yet, Naina felt more reassured, more comfortable this time, because Sameer was by her side, there to take care of her.

It was around one in the night, when she went into labour. Sameer was on his toes at her first cry. His face was expectant, worried despite how much he tried to reassure her. It was only when he heard an infant's cry in the wee hours of the morning that a wave of relief crept inside him. But he was still worried- worried for Naina, worried if the baby was normal.

The nurse had come out and assured him that the baby and the mother were both doing well. Half an hour later, he was allowed inside the ward and he saw the first glimpse of his new-born. Naina could never forget the look of awe on his face as he held his second daughter in his arms.

She looked at her husband now- how time had passed- the moments they had lived together. Ananya had tested negative for PKU and other genetic diseases. Now she was twenty nine, and expecting her first born herself. How times change!

Sameer's eyes had instead rested on a picture of the two of them after a function. He was dressed in his navy blue suit and Naina was wearing a peachy pink, richly embroidered organza saree. Sameer's arm was looped around her shoulders and they both were shouting at the camera in glee. Naina's fingers were curled around the award that she'd won. It was the night she'd been felicitated by 'The INDIAN TIMES' for the best debut novel and promising talent. That had been Naina's first milestone in her journey of becoming one of the most successful writers of her generation in India.

Every word of her speech as she took to the stage and collected the award was fresh in Sameer's ears.

She had ascended the stage gracefully, and for a few seconds, peered at the award as if it was a dream. Sameer could see the tears shining in her eyes- only this time the tears were of joy. He felt his own eyes well-up, as he clapped his hands sore.

"I would like to thank 'The Indian Times' and the entire team at Somani Publications for this award. And I'm especially indebted to my editor for trusting my instincts, the voice of my heart and giving me the leeway to narrate the story I wanted to. Thank you for believing in me, and in my story." Her gaze cut to Sameer seated in the audience, who beamed at her.

"A decade ago, I would never have believed I could complete a book, no more than be recognized for a talent I was not aware I possessed. They say that life works in mysterious ways. It has definitely been so for me. When I was hopeless, penniless also at times, I could not afford to doubt myself. Writing became not just a hobby, but an indispensible means of earning a livelihood. Had times been favorable for me then, I would not be standing here with this award in my hands. 

"My life has been crazy- I'm sure I could patch up a good bestseller on my story." Naina grinned and this earned a few laughs among the audience. "But then doesn't every story have their roots in someone's real life? I believe writing is an assimilation of real life incidents with our creative liberties, a free fall into an abyss of imagination- contorting and twisting reality as we know it, into either beautiful or grotesque ways. This is what makes writing as real and relatable, as it is bizzare- for it is a mix of what is and what might have been.

"During my dark days, I had my fair share of complaints to God. I led a troubled, despondent existence. To escape the woes of my life and to fend for my family, I immersed myself in this cathartic art. As I started writing, I began pouring my soul onto paper. It was liberating. It was as if I could carve out someone's life the way I wanted to at a time I had no control over mine. I could be the creator, the destiny of each of the characters in my story. I wielded the power to make them prosper, or make them suffer. And when I started to shape my characters, put them in situations I myself was horrified to be in, or brought them the happiness they couldn't have envisioned, understanding dawned on me. It had to be done if you had to create a gripping, fascinating narrative. I realized as millions like me sat cursing their stars, how tough it was for God to design such individualistic, such imaginative, such endearing tales for each of us living and breathing on Earth.

"And that makes me bow down in veneration to God- for he's handling each one of us, each one of our stories in a way that seems beyond our fantasies- the right mix of hope, tragedy, joy and life. And we mortal creators can merely draw inspiration from God's exemplary work and use the abilities he's bestowed us with to create tales that can drift their readers along as they flow; tales that can immerse them in the sorrows, the joys and the pains of the characters- for that is truly the mark of success for a writer.

She took a deep breath as she drew close to the conclusion.

"For all the aspirants out there. Remember, there's a good chance you'd fail if you try. But then there's a good chance you'd succeed as well. No matter the hardships and the defeats you face, keep working towards your goal.

"A diamond needs to be scrubbed, and sharpened and polished for its inner light to shine through. It happened with me, and the circumstances that tested my grit, my passion, were actually the ones that brought me here on this pedestal.

"You must have heard the phrase- there's always light at the end of the tunnel. I'm sure it must be true. But to reach that light, you need to keep walking ahead, even if it is slow, even it is a step at a time, you have to keep moving. And sometimes, the tunnel is so long, so dark, so dreary, that instead of waiting for the light, all you can do is adjust your eyes to see in the dark. It is when seconds flit by like years, when you lose hope- that is when you adapt to the darkness around you. You accept your reality. And when you do accept it, you become surer of yourself, and start moving faster, edging along closer, towards the very light you were always supposed to find.

That was greeted with a rapturous applause. "God, she could mint words. His woman!" thought Sameer proudly as he stood up in ovation.

Naina noticed this and smiled. "And while God has been benevolent on me, and showered me with a happy ending when I least expected it, I would say that behind this successful woman that you see upfront, there's a man too, my husband and also my editor (again some soft giggles from the audience)- Mr. Sameer Maheshwari." She had pointed out to him at that moment.

"Sameer, thank you for believing in me, when it was the most difficult thing to do. And thank you for making me believe in life, in love and in happiness again. Thank you!"

Sameer shook his head, a smile playing on his lips as he called out to Bahadur.

"Bahadur, gaadi nikal di?" Sameer asked to which Bahadur nodded.

"Ji saab!"

"Tu aaram kar...main chala lunga aaj," Sameer remarked. "Zarurat padi to phone kar denge."

"Malti aur tum khana kha ke so jana," Naina advised him as they locked the doors of their house. 

To be continued....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So, how is it so far? I  hope not too difficult to read or confusing as it is more of a collection of memories. Would be waiting eagerly on your take on this! I would be updating the rest of the Epilogue by tonight itself.