Arvind pushed the door open, his face a picture haggard and fraught with lines. His shirt, an odd combination of bottle green and deep blue, part of which was pulled out of his mundane grey trousers, seemed splotchy and crumbled as if it hadn't been changed for a day or two. His hair was unkempt, and he fingered his palms through it in exhaustion.

Was this really the man he used to stare at through his office window? Sameer wondered amidst the terrified palpitations searing his chest. He gulped. This might be the final showdown moment.

Arvind put his bag down by the side of the door. He seemed distracted, even oblivious to Sameer's presence. He asked Naina, his voice slightly raspy, "wo bag ready hai? Abhi...," and then his weary gaze travelled to where Sameer stood.

He paused in his tracks as he tried to identify the dapper young man present in his house at one in the night. When he failed to recognize Sameer, his gaze flicked back to Naina, who Sameer could see was flustered and red in her face. But apparently the colour, the trepidation was all lost on Arvind.

Arvind cleared his throat and raised his eyes to Naina in enquiry. Naina, taking the cue started, "wo...Diya ko bahot tez bukhar tha subah se...badhta jaa raha tha...".

"Kya? Diya ko bukhar tha aur tum mujhe ab bata rahi ho Naina?" Arvind shrieked and his eyes widened.

"Wo...wo aap vaise hi pareshan the isliye phone nahi kiya...mujhe laga shaam tak utar jayega...lekin dheere dheere bukhar badhne laga, 103 tak chala gaya...aur Diwali ki wajah se koi doctor bhi nahi mil raha tha...to maine sir ko phone kiya...," Naina raised her palms towards Sameer, "sir doctor ko lekar aaye...viral hai...PKU se related nahi hai...abhi utara hai bukhar...!" She blabbered and Sameer was sure Arvind would sense her unease at his sudden arrival. But Arvind merely sighed and nodded, unable to sense the anxiety in the air. He then cast Sameer an accusing glance, as if his presence indicated that he'd failed to do his duty and a stranger had to be called in in his place.

Sameer did not know whether to feel pleased or dejected at Arvind's reaction. A selfish part of him had secretly hoped that Arvind would read in-between the lines and one look at Naina and Sameer's guilty faces would render him suspicious. He'd expected that he'll judge they were having an affair and maybe they could let the truth about their past tumble out. However, the other, paternal side of him seemed content with the concern for Diya reflecting in his eyes.

Arvind turned back to Naina and enquired kindly, "abhi theek hai na Diya?"

Naina nodded, "haan...fever utar gaya hai...so rahi hai!"

Sameer felt his heart slap wildly against his ribcage as Arvind finally edged towards him. He could now grasp the inherent handsomeness hidden behind those fatigued features. Unsure of what Arvind was about to do, Sameer took a deep breath and prepared himself for the worst. His eye caught Naina's behind Arvind's back, who averted her gaze instantly, embarrassed of what had happened minutes ago.

Arvind was now standing face to face with him and Sameer observed that his eyes had crinkled kindly at the edges. He grasped his hand firmly, "Thank you very much sir!" The grip was steadfast, yet gentle.

Surprised at his reaction, Sameer nodded courteously, and placed his hand over his. This wasn't the response he was anticipating after having been stealthily kissing his wife.

After a few moments, Arvind motioned Naina inside the room. Naina nodded and followed him inside. Sameer stood in the hallway, clueless as to what to do. He could hear some murmurings about some documents and then shuffling of papers. Naina came out of the room suddenly, and darted a glance back towards the room to make sure Arvind was preoccupied. Her eyes clambered to his and held them, her chest heaved up and down slowly, as if asking for the meaning of what they'd done just minutes before. Both stood like statues, their brains having forgotten all languages to communicate. Sameer felt another stab of longing to pull her in his arms again, to kiss her wholeheartedly one more time, to let Arvind know that he wanted Naina and to dare to hope that Naina wanted him back. Sameer wiped his mouth with his palm and noticed the heavy gold ring that reminded him of Noopur and the promise of being hers. Guilt seeping his senses after the headiness of love, he pulled his gaze to the floor. Without meeting her eye, he pronounced, "aa..ab Arvind aa gaya hai...mujhe nikalna chahiye!"

Naina took a step towards him, starting to stop him, and Sameer felt his breath hitch for a moment before Arvind yelled from the room, "Naina?"

Their collective gaze darted towards the room, unsure of how to talk with Arvind in their midst. Finally, Sameer took a deep breath and mumbled a good bye to her. He quickly grabbed his jacket, his car keys and his wallet from the table and then turned to the bedroom one more time. He hesitated at the door as Naina followed him. She opened the door for him and Sameer peeked in. There Arvind was kneeling over an overnight bag and fumbling through some papers, and Diya was sleeping on the bed peacefully. Right at that moment, Sameer felt like an intruder amidst the family. He eyed Diya once again, her relaxed form pacifying him. She was okay! He shot Naina another clandestine look, and the next minute, he was out the door, into the street as Naina stood rooted to the spot, wondering what their kiss had meant- her past, her suspicions on a side, and her heart on the other side.

***

Sameer had just creaked his door open when he heard a familiar voice. "Sam?"

"Oh no! Of all the people, he wasn't ready to face Noopur at 2am in the night, after the guilt of having kissed Naina! And what in the world was she still doing in his home?"

Sameer did not answer and dropped his keys onto the bedside table, flicked open a button of his shirt, folded the sleeves, and plopped down onto the bed. He realized that Noopur had now appeared in his doorway. She was dressed in one of Deepika's night dresses, and somehow, her being donned in his sister's attire made the situation weirder.

"Sam?" she asked again, and Sameer noticed worry writ across her face.

He rubbed his face with his palms and exclaimed. "Tum ghar nahi gayi?"

She shook her head, "Thoda late ho gaya...tumhara wait kar rahi thi, to mummy ji aur Deepika ne insist kiya ki aaj raat yahin ruk jaun!"

There was a silence and then Sameer nodded.

"Tumhe itni der kaise huyi?" She bit her lip.

He shrugged his shoulders and slumped against the headboard of his bed. Noopur clambered inside the room slowly and sat at the edge of the bed besides him. This somehow inexplainably irked Sameer. How difficult was it to understand that he wasn't in a mood to talk and wanted to be left alone?

"Tum so jao Noopur...2 baj gaye hain!"

She merely asked, "Wo bacchi theek hai?"

He nodded and then stretched his limbs. He was getting uncomfortable now. He couldn't bring himself to look into her eyes for he was sure she would see his guilty conscience reflected in the same. How could he, when he'd kissed Naina and had been desperate for more! Why was he being so unfaithful to Noopur, hiding things from her? She'd given him a go when no other woman would have accepted him. She took him in with all his flaws, but did he really deserve her? Had he made a grave mistake saying 'yes' to the alliance, without having in him the ability to move over Naina?

"Theek hai!" He replied instead.

Noopur nodded in understanding. "Wo Mrs. Mittal ki beti hai na? Unke husband nahi the?" She noticed Sameer's raised eyes and added, "Matlab aaj to Diwali hai! Beti se badhke kya hota hai?"

Sameer had to admit. "Pata nahi kya chalta hai unka. Wo hamesha busy hi rehta hai usko chod ke. Wo dari huyi thi ki PKU se related na ho, par shukar hai viral tha...lekin tha kaafi tez...103 tak ho gaya tha aur Diwali ki wajah se koi doctor nahi mil raha tha."

That sudden feeling of displeasure towards this Mrs. Mittal overpowered Noopur once again. It wasn't that she didn't feel concerned for the little girl, and had she been in Sameer's shoes, she too would have arranged for immediate help, but surely not at the cost of her own family. She wouldn't have simply abandoned them all and run away to help her. However, the last thing she wanted was for Sameer to get angry if she tried to berate him or that Mrs. Mittal. So, she composed herself and asked instead, "PKU?"

"Haan ek beemari hai us bacchi ko...genetic hai...to wo kaafi pareshan rehti hai...khane peene ka bahot restriction hai, upar se treatment ka kharcha bhi bahot hai."

Noopur's hands found his and she entwined her fingers with him. Sameer cringed inwards. He didn't want to lose the essence of Naina's touch on him, but he dared not protest, held her hand back, hoping she'd go back to bed soon.

"Tum help karte ho na uski?" she asked soothingly, unable to tame her heart seething in a bizarre envious frenzy.

Sameer remembered their discussion days before and responded cautiously, "jitna ban paata hai utna kar dete hain hum log."

"Hmm...Ab phir to nahi jaana?" she queried.

"Mostly nahi...uske husband aa gaye the raat ko," Sameer answered evasively.

This reassured Noopur slightly. Good that her husband had come back. Maybe she was just overimagining things. If he hadn't minded Sameer's presence late at night at his house, perhaps there really wasn't anything to be afraid of where this Mrs. Mittal was concerned, and that their friendship was purely platonic.

Noopur squeezed his hands and the discomfort rose further in Sameer. He sat upright next to her, and freeing his hand from hers, put it across her shoulder and patted her awkwardly. Before he could say anything to her, Noopur turned in his arms and inched closer to his face, her eyes part closed, part searching his own. Sameer stood fixated. Noopur wanted him to kiss her. He shook his head at her slowly.

"Abhi nahi...please?" And he couldn't justify it further. Noopur colored with embarrassment and Sameer resented himself for it. He knew that as his wife and soulmate-to-be, what Noopur wanted from him wasn't wrong. At least wouldn't be in the coming month when they got married. Yet, today he was too riled up and confused. And he did not want to put up a farce with her when his heart was craving for someone else.

Noopur gave him a small smile and rose from the bed.

Sameer held her hand and she paused. "Jao jaake so jao. I'm fine. Bas thoda tired hun...ek to Diwali, upar se bhaag daud ho gayi bahot. Kal subah baat krte hain? Sorry...abhi kuch sahi nahi lag raha." Noopur nodded, bade him good night and then slid out of the room.

As she exited, Sameer's eyes fell upon the shining gold band on his finger again. He remembered their engagement, a low-key affair as he'd wished for- the ring that Noopur had chosen for him. And he'd disrespected her trust in him.

A melee of thoughts dashed hither and thither in his mind as Sameer tried to resolve the dilemma he was in. If he refused to marry Noopur, all hell would break loose. His mother would protest voraciously, his step-father would holler that Sameer could never keep his commitments, Deepika would be teary-eyed, her father would be hurt. But most of all, he was worried about Noopur. She would be shattered. But wouldn't it be better than getting to know of his infidelity later on. At least she could choose someone who would be committed to her- mind, body and soul, which he'd failed to be. There's less than one percent chance that Naina would be his. But even then, that didn't give him the right to play with someone else's heart. Noopur is a wonderful girl. Moreover, she is his friend.

He couldn't go on like this! No...he needed to talk to Naina. The way she kissed him was obviously not some 'Thank You Kiss'. It was an 'I Want You Kiss'. Whatever Naina had to say to that was a separate matter. He decided to take Noopur out for breakfast tomorrow and confess his disloyalty to her.

He glanced at his ring one more time. Then quietly, he slid it off his finger and locked it in his cupboard.

Sameer spent rest of the sleepless night worrying about Diya, conjuring up scenarios of the discussion between Arvind and Naina about him, replaying Arvind's entry in the midst of their kiss in different scenarios and most of all, he relived the feel of Naina's lips on his. It was around 4 am when the distinction between his thoughts, his fantasies and his dreams was lost and Sameer fell asleep.

Noopur on the other hand, lay wide awake, embroiled in her thoughts. She felt shaken tonight. Sameer was acting strangely. Her gut told her something was off between her and Sameer these recent few days and the feeling kept getting stronger. She'd ignored it at first, then decided to give it time, but nothing seemed to help. The child was all right now. Why was Sameer so upset and terse then? He'd point blank refused to kiss her. That had hurt! She knew he would take time to love her, but his suddenly being more aloof than before was getting on her nerves. His refusal just now had inflamed her being. She'd felt as if she'd been begging him for the kiss and he didn't want to. He wouldn't marry her if he didn't. Or perhaps he was having second thoughts? No, Noopur, don't get ahead of yourself. Give him time. Maybe the child's illness has upset him. Yes, perhaps. There was no need to overreact. Determined to empty her mind and sleep, she closed her eyes.

Early next morning, Sameer felt himself being shaken awake. Vishakha was hovering over him, "Sameer...beta, utho!"

"Mmmm!" He rubbed his eyes, and scrunched to see out through the window and then squinted groggily at his bedside clock. It was 7.20.

He eyed his mother, and observed that her face was pale with worry. "Sameer, Noopur ke papa ka accident hua hai subah subah!"

"What?" Sameer shook himself awake.

"Haan...wo hospital me admit hain...surgery ki tayyari ho rahi hai...tumhare papa Noopur ko leke nikal gaye hain. Maine Deepika ko college bhej diya hai. Tum tayyar ho jao to hum bhi nikalte hain."

Sameer ran to the loo and in less than ten minutes had freshened up and was pulling on his shoes, while he enquired about how Noopur was coping, and Vishakha brought him abreast with the details.

"Bahot ro rahi hai...pata nahi kaise hua sab...subah morning walk pe nikle the to ek car ne hit kiya...shayad piya hua tha...pair pe bahot lagi hai unko...kaafi bleeding hui hai."

Hardly twenty minutes later, they were all seated in the waiting room outside the Operation Theatre, where the surgery was progressing. Mr. Somani was narrating the details of what the doctors were saying, while his wife and Sameer were listening to him intently and meanwhile trying to console Noopur, who was sobbing hysterically.

"Sameer...papa ko kuch ho gaya toh...," she wailed.

"Shhh...kuch nahi hoga yaar! Bhagwan pe bharosa rakho!"

He had her in his arms and was constantly patting her head. But even in the midst of all this upheavel, he couldn't help but compare it to the way he'd held Naina last night. Not that he wasn't tense about his father-in-law, but now that he was fully awake, he was dying to check upon Diya's health, silently worrying for the child, but he dared not broach the topic in front of Noopur considering the situation they were in.

Sometime later, Vishakha advised Sameer to take Noopur to the hospital cafeteria and get her to eat something and perhaps a tea or coffee to add to it. But till now, Noopur hadn't taken even a sip of water.

"Noopur, please yeh sandwich kha lo!" he coaxed.

But Noopur just shook her head.

"Noopur...doctors apna kaam kar rahe hain...tum chinta mat karo, surgery definitely successful hogi!"

Noopur didn't respond.

"Dekho Noopur...agar tum nahi khaogi to papa ka khayal kaise rakhogi...aur dekho fir main akele nahi khaunga!"

"Sameer...abhi man nahi hai. Thodi der mein kha lungi!" she seemed piqued at his constant cajoling.

He'd been able to feed an ill five year old last night, but so far, he'd had no luck with Noopur.

"Acha theek hai...yeh chai to pi lo?" He pushed the paper cup with tea towards her.

Noopur nodded absently.

Some ten minutes later, the doctors announced that the surgery was successful and the patient was recuperating. "Dariye nahi...bas ek hi major fracture tha...diabetic hain isliye thoda darr rahe the hum, bas healing me thoda time lagega."

The family, especially Noopur, breathed a sigh of relief.

"Main yeh dawaiyan la ke rakhta hun tab tak...," Sameer offered as he unfolded a prescription that had been handed by the nurse to him.

While the man behind the counter searched for the prescribed drugs, Sameer's eyes fell upon the landline on the counter. He glanced behind his back once to make sure no one from his family was coming.

"Excuse me? Yeh phone use kar sakte hain?"

The man nodded, "bill isme add kar denge!"

Sameer thanked him and immediately dialled Naina's home. It was just nine in the morning. He knew it was quite a bold move, especially if Arvind had been enraged at his presence last night. But today he did not care. Add to it, Sameer was betting A was either in office or on his way there, considering 'how hard he worked'.

Naina picked up on the first ring. He was relieved to hear that her voice sounded normal, but as she heard him on the line, he could sense her flutter.

"Diya kaisi hai ab? Bukhaar?"

"Nahi hai."

Sameer breathed a sigh of relief as Naina went on, "aaj subah ka dose bhi de diya hai...tumhe bahot yaad kar rahi hai ki Sameer uncle chahiye," and then she paused uncertainly.

"Toh main aa jaun?" Perhaps the question was more for Naina.

Before he could hear her response, he heard someone clear their throat behind him.

He snapped around to find a tear-stained Noopur standing just inches from him.

"Hey...!" Sameer uttered.

"Kisse baat kar rahe ho?" Noopur's voice was brusque.

"Wo...wo Rita se...bata raha tha ki aaj office nahi aa paunga." He covered the mouthpiece, though a tad bit late.

"Tumne Diwali ki chutti di huyi hai!" She told dryly.

Sameer realized his lie was on the verge of being caught. "Haan...lekin kuch kaam se jaana tha ek do ghante ke liye...to bulaya tha use bhi...inform kar raha tha aaj na aaye." He tried a lame attempt at covering up.

Noopur peered at him wordlessly for a few seconds and then responded, "medicines maang rahe hain doctors. Papa ko hosh aa gaya hai."

"Haan...wo...bas ho hi gaya!" He turned to the counter and said, "jaldi kijiye na...kabse wait kar rahe hain!"

The man behind the counter stared at him in surprise. "Medicines aapke saamne paanch minute se rakhi hain...payment aapko karni hai."

Sameer flustered further and cast him an irritated glance which the man returned with vigour.

Sameer then smiled nervously at Noopur. He realized she was waiting for him. His gaze went to the receiver in his hand, but as he put it to his ear, he realized the line had gone dead. He hoped that Naina hadn't heard him lying to Noopur. Anyways, he couldn't risk calling her again, with Noopur standing in scrutiny.

Quiety, he paid for the call and medicines and led Noopur back to her father's ward. Noopur was walking ahead silently and hadn't said a word to him.

As they crept down the hallway of AIIMS, passed through the maternity ward, Sameer noticed an anxious father or two waiting outside for news of their babies. A man was seated with his head in his hands, and somehow the figure seemed familiar to Sameer- the ruffled black hair, that crumpled green-blue shirt registered somewhere inside him. Arvind? Ohh yes, he works at AIIMS. But maternity mein..? Before he could dwell further, Noopur said out of the blue, "Sameer...?"

Sameer noticed she hadn't used 'Sam'.

"Hmmm?"

"Jitna dhyan tum dusron ki family pe dete ho, utna please apni family pe bhi diya karo." With this, she turned to the corridor where the Somanis were waiting for them.

Sameer was stumped. Does she know? Does she suspect him? And why is she wrong in that Sameer? She has reasons to. You've betrayed her trust. He felt a renewal of those sharp pangs of guilt which'd been bothering him since last night. He knew he was a fraud. In a way, he was cheating upon Noopur even before they wed. Was it really a good idea to marry her, with all this baggage? Would it be too late to call it off? Would it impact her image in the society if he broke off the alliance? Perhaps, but then would it be fair for her to live and adjust with a man who couldn't love her, who wasn't faithful to her and ultimately be doomed to live a life of compromise? He knew she cared for him. But he didn't want her to fall in love with him so that it broke her heart. He, of all the people, knew what a broken heart did to oneself.

By eleven in the morning, Noopur's father had been shifted to a fully-equipped private ward. He seemed to be largely fine, except for the pain and multiple bandages on his right leg. Several intravenous injectables were pierced into his hand, and his body was exhausted and in recovery mode. He narrated the accident about how, while on his morning walk, an errant taxi driver had taken a wrong turn and hit him. Some of their other relatives had also paid their visits and offered to help the Somanis if they needed anything. Deepika too visited, and Rohan spoke on the phone with them. At night, Mr. Somani took Vishakha and Deepika home, while Sameer insisted that he and Noopur would spend the night at the hospital.

Noopur did not leave her father's bedside for a minute for the whole of that night, despite her father urging her to go home with Sameer and get some rest. Sameer sat across from her, after she took a soup on his insistence. He was firm with her and told her that she had to eat, whether she liked it or not. She had acceded at stern glances from her father.

All through that night, Sameer kept wondering about how life could change in an instant. Just last night, he was by Diya's bedside, had Naina in his arms, her lips on his, her husband walking in and almost catching them red-handed, his desperation to confront Naina on what that kiss had meant, and what she wanted to do going ahead. Not that he had a lot of hopes on her leaving her home and family for him, even if she had developed feelings for him, Sameer felt he needed to confess his own love to her this time. And then, whatever be it that Naina decided, he was desperate to come out clean in front of Noopur, to tell her all about Reena, the kiss last night, his burgeoning, untameable feelings for her. Yet those eyes brimming with tears, the wan face that overlooked her father, those worried creases knitting her forehead signaled him to wait.

***

The whitewashed walls of AIIMS, with alleys smelling of disinfectants, people in white coats running about, hordes of families surrounding the victim of a casualty, or a young couple dropping in to check on their parents's health after an operation, or a mother constantly crying for her newborn housed in the ICU- the scenarios had become all too familiar to Arvind over the past few months. His initial tryst with the hospital had been partly owing to his job and now because of the pregnancy she'd chosen- no, they had chosen.

The gestational complications had really taken a toll on her. Day in, day out, they waited as the doctor resolved one issue, but a malevolent one reared its head anew. He was worried, and too exhausted to keep up with everything- losing his job, being outcast by his family, and now awaiting with bated breath on the fate of the one he'd sired. The labour pains had come all of a sudden, too early for their preparedness, despite all those regular visits to the hospital.

He slumped down onto the rickety stainless steel benches, his feet spread out in front of him as he waited for the news to reveal. It was a bustling morning and Arvind stifled a yawn, and remembered the last he'd last slept was more than thirty six hours ago. He checked his watch. 9.45 am. And then suddenly the silence of the room was broken by the shriek of a baby. His head tossed towards the Operation Theatre. The baby wailed again. Arvind hastened on his feet and pasted his face on the glass window. Just at that time, a kindly old matron opened the door, and smiled at him. Arvind's eyes fell upon the bundle of flesh and blood in her arms and then to the wan, but smiling woman catching her breath on the hospital bed.

"It's a boy!" the nurse exclaimed as the baby let out another cry- the most melodious thing Arvind had ever heard.

***

Naina on the other hand, in between nursing her child back to health, had alternating bouts of hope and joy, interspersed by depressing melancholy, and after a while, she sat fuming at Sameer and that Noopur.

"Itni bhi himmat nahi ki Noopur ko bata sake kisse baat kar raha hai? Rita...huh! Aur wo kya har time iski jasoosi krti rehti hai?" She huffed, as Diya fell back to sleep after another dose of medicine and after asking if Sameer uncle was going to visit again. It hurt Naina's heart that she'd to call her own father an uncle.

Abhi bhi usi ke pass hai! Itni fikar thi to dobara phone karta na? Arvind se darr gaya? Ya Noopur se? Aur itna hi darr tha to kiss kyun kiya? Firse mere sath khel to nahi raha? Lekin...lekin kal jis tarah se usne Diya ko sambhala...wo sach mein pareshan tha. Agar main use sach bataun to kya wo us Noopur ko chod dega? Shayad....? Aisa kyun lagta hai jaise wo chahta hai mujhe....jis tarah se usne...Nahi Naina...agar utni himmat hoti to aaj use jawab deta...kya insaaniyat bhi koi cheez nahi? Par kal raat jo hua wo sab insaniyat to nahi thi....

"Urgghhhh," she held her head in her palms to block the thoughts from her mind. She glanced at the clock. Arvind had left shortly after Sameer last night and still wasn't back. She was also worried for news on his front. She hoped all would be okay. Just then, the ringing of the telephone broke her reverie. She ran towards the phone, hoping to hear Sameer's voice again. It was Arvind who spoke and Naina momentarily castigated herself for being so self-centered.

As she heard him speak over the receiver, Naina stood stumped for a few seconds before her face split into a broad smile, and her eyes welled with tears of happiness.

***

A few days had elapsed but Sameer hadn't had another opportunity to speak to Naina. Noopur's father was recouping well, and most of Sameer's time was spent in the hospital having extended his leave at work. The Somanis kept visiting along with many of relatives and friends of Noopur. Noopur's father had finally been discharged last night, and a nurse appointed for his daily needs. Sameer finally resumed office the next day. Noopur though, was determined not to go to work for another week or so and spent all her time catering to her father's needs and in keeping him company in his illness. She was also juggling her work and assisting Sameer in preparations for his party. She'd insisted a contract like that would benefit her reputation. Sameer spent most of his evenings at Noopur's house, where in between conversations with the two of them, he kept thinking how to tell her he wasn't fit to marry her, for Noopur was stressed with having too many things on her plate to worry about already. And Sameer realized as their wedding date approached, time was running out. He'd also tried to arrange for a meeting with Naina, but she'd said she was busy this week. He asked about Diya and learned that she was perfectly healthy now. Though Sameer was sullen that she was not free that week and his conversation with her was getting delayed, he still reminded her of his party that Sunday and invited her to the same, along with her family.

***

The sprawling lawns of Chattarpur were booked for the gala event. The trees lining the driveway were lit with bright yellow fairy lights. Across the driveway lay the perfectly manicured verdant lawns, accessible through a stone paved pathway. In the centre of the garden was a huge fountain, with water gushing down in steps into a shallow well, and the movements captured through a scintillating colourful light show. Sounds of laughter and revelery carried out from the majestic hall in the midst of the garden.

Draperies and valance in hues of cream and pink, were hung all around the spacious hall. The lighting was set to a golden hue, setting a serene ambience. Numerous potted plants, decorative shrubs and creepers adorned the windows. A five layered, strawberry cake was placed on a table in the centre of the hall. Chairs were set around several round tables covered in white with bands of pink tied across the back rests. A band was playing at the front of the hall, treating the audience to a mix of the current Bollywood hits as well as some evergreen numbers. Waiters scurried through the crowd, which mostly consisted of the staff of Somani Publication Agency and their families- right from parents to wives and husbands to children frolicking around.

A black sedan drove into the driveway and Sameer got down from the car. An attendant hurried over to his side and took his car down the parking. Dressed impeccably in a black, well-fitting tuxedo, a pale cream shirt, and a contrasting black tie, Sameer Maheshwari was at his handsome best. As he entered, several heads turned around to watch him. Sameer shook hands and nodded and smiled and muttered "good evenings" and "thank yous" to the greetings pouring from all sides, and moved about the hall. But all the while, his eyes kept darting around, for that one esteemed guest of honour.

Mr. and Mrs. Somani, who'd arrived early were engrossed in a conversation with Mr. and Mrs. Gupta of the Gupta Handloom Inc. As soon as they saw Sameer, they beckoned over to him and a quick round of introductions and compliments followed. Slightly bored after a while, he cast another glance at the entrance. His eyes widened in surprise. Noopur had just entered the hall. She'd donned a scarlet, net saree, with a matching sleeveless blouse.

"Good evening Sam!" Noopur chimed at him and then greeted her in-laws-to-be.

"Good evening! Tum aa gayi? Mujhe laga tha tum nahi aaogi," Sameer exclaimed and pasted a smile on his face.

"Aati kaise nahi! Tumhare liye aaj ka din khas hai!" she smiled at him.

"Aur uncle?" Sameer responded to her smile and then felt grossly guilty again. She came especially for him!

"Papa theek hain. Nurse thoda raat ko stay karegi. Unhone hi bheja mujhe ki jao, sasural ki party hai. Main theek hun and all....to main aa gayi!" she explained.

"Hum jaldi nikal jayenge, don't worry!" Sameer assured her.

A waiter scurried past them and offered them drinks. Noopur took a glass of Limca, while Sameer chose a glass of Wine. And as he did so, he stole another glance at the main door.

Noopur followed his gaze. "Kisi ka intezaar kar rahe ho?"

"Uhh nahi toh! Bas arrangements dekh raha tha!" He lied. In truth, her long, lovely hair, her smoky eyes, her vermillion lips, her creamy skin peeking through her pallu, did nothing to sway his conscious away from Naina.

Noopur raised the glass of mocktail to her lips and scrutinized the arrangements. She took his arm. "Hmmm...toh kaisa laga mera kaam?"

"Wonderful! The arrangements are dazzling! Thanks yaar! Papa ki aisi condition mein bhi tumne itna sab manage kiya. It's a customer delighter, honestly!" Sameer smiled genially towards her.

"Dosti me no sorry, no thank you!" she whispered kindly. And Sameer felt the guilt of betraying his friend again.

A few more people came over to talk to Sameer and Noopur, congratulated him on their upcoming wedding as well as their professional successes. Some even took appointments from Noopur for an interior overhaul of their office spaces or residences.

Yet, Sameer kept glancing at the entryway, waiting for Naina.

Damn it Sameer! Why do you care if she comes or not? And if she does come, she'll come with that joker of a husband. A handsome joker though. He glanced at his Tag Heuer. 7.55 pm. She should have been here by now. Stop thinking about her Sameer!

It was then that Rita called out to him, "Sir...actually Mr. Khanna aapse milna chahte hain...Success Publishing House ke...jitna unhone bataya hai wo ek partnership ke baare mein soch rahe hain hamare saath...isse hum Academic publishing mein bhi ghus sakte hain," Rita elaborated.

Sameer nodded curtly, "bring him to me!" And then Rita caught sight of Mr. Khanna. She moved across the hallway again and greeted him with her charming smile and finally brought him back, acquainted him with Sameer and left the duo to discuss the possibility of a joint business venture. Noopur too excused herself and got busy with her in-laws to be and Deepika, who seemed more interested in food than in the party.

He must have been in discussion with Mr. Khanna for a long time. How long, he didn't know. They'd had a drink or two already! And people had started to settle down for dinner. Sameer was feeling unnecessarily irked by now, for she had not graced the occasion with her presence. So what? This is your party Sameer! Not hers! And then, a laughter, as melodious as Krishna playing the flute, as serene as the rustling of leaves in autumn, as thrilling as the first drops of rain after a parched summer, reached his ears.

He swivelled around and stood stunned by the aura of the woman, who had once again taken his breath away. It was a deja-vu moment. Dressed exactly like she had on the day of their freshers party. Her hair was longer now, open like she had it that night. The translucent pink saree covered, yet highlighted her perfect curves- fuller than they had been all those years ago. And she wore heels tonight. Sameer could see the silvery stems sneaking under the folds of the saree. As she brushed her fingers through her ravenous hair, his heart stopped to listen to the chiming of her pink glass bangles. And then she turned towards him.

Time must have stopped. She was looking right at him and he couldn't tear his gaze away. He wondered in some recess of his mind if 'A' was there around with her. Another part of his brain calculated the possibility of a divorce or a separation since their meeting that night. Majorly however, he relived their past memories, craved to have her in his arms again, to slowly undrape the pink fabric from around...And then, the moral part of his brain kicked in. She was married. Period. He literally shook his head, shrugged hard to wave off the magic her mascara and that fuschia lipstick of hers was having on him. The same shade he'd wiped off her lips several times.

Get a hold on yourself Sameer!

"Mr. Maheshwari?" A voice registered somewhere in his mind. He took a few moments to process it and then turned, flustered, towards Mr. Khanna, who had been in the middle of a rant, and had broken off seeing Sameer's gaze fixated on something or someone behind his back.

"Ahhh...yes Mr. Khanna!" Sameer regained control, effectively blocking out Naina and his thoughts about her from his mind in the next few minutes- a technique he'd mastered when he'd learned of her marriage; and led the conversation with Mr. Khanna to its smooth end.

As Mr. Khanna moved for dinner, Sameer stood rooted to the spot, afraid to move, lest he became possessed by her spirit again. Why had she dressed like this? Was she thinking about the past too? Naina and her memories were to be a black box, Sameer had decided the day he'd avowed himself to Noopur. But that had never happened.

"Sameer?" Her voice sounded, nearer to him. He closed his eyes, willed himself into the hardened entrepreneur and her boss again and turned.

"Hello Mrs. Mittal!" he wished her, hopeful the trace of panic in his voice would not be sensed. She was beautiful! Breathtakingly beautiful! Sameer's heart ached, but his face remained impassive.

Their eyes met and lingered on. As if on cue, the band ramped up song on the stereo.

Dil mera har baar yeh sunne ko bekarar hai

Kaho na pyaar hai...Kaho na pyaar hai

Haan tumse pyaar hai

Ki tumse pyaar hai

"Sameer! Arvind...tum mil hi chuke ho!" Naina pointed out to the man standing besides her. Sameer's jaw fell open. Whoever he'd seen that night had been a ghostly shadow of what Arvind really was. His observations through his office window had been right on point. Today his face was radiant, full and healthy. It streamed joy and those soft brown eyes glittered in excitement.

At six inches tall, Arvind Mittal towered over Sameer. Seeing himself face to face with those brown eyes, the exquisitely cut face, the now trimmed-and-styled thick hair, to the taut manly physique, to the inexpensive, yet somehow perfect suit on his body, Sameer had to conclude, A won over him by looks. 1-0.

He seemed so much like...like...and then the lyrics wafted upto him again.

Inpyaari baaton mein anjaana ikraar hai

Kaho na pyaar hai....

And it clicked. Hrithik!

"Hi Sameer! How are you? Sorry us din thode halaat theek nahi the!" Arvind jerked out his hand, a polite smile on his lips.

"What a baritone of a voice!" 2-0.

The raspy voice in which he'd thanked him that night seemed to have belonged to some other planet.

Yeh to sach mein Raj aur Rohit wala scene ho gaya boss! Us raat pakka yahi tha?

Sameer shook his hands. Ah, yes that firm grip- a man of determination and substance. A persevering guy.

Hrithik Roshan of Moti Bagh scores another! 3-0.

But Sameer was rich and successful and A wasn't. Sameer's heart did a jig. 3-1.

Salman of Vasant Vihar opens his tally.

Moving ahead, A is a biotechnologist. A is intelligent. 4-1.

A is married to Naina and he isn't. 5-1.

Sameer was there to take care of Diya when she needed him, not A. 5-2.

But he hadn't known and he was frenzy with concern too. 6-2.

Well to be fair, that point is a draw.

Sameer had been the first to make love to Nai...Forget it...let it be 6-2.

A waiter miraculously appeared at their side, carrying a tray full of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Sameer gratefully took a glass of Vodka and gulped it down to cool his parched throat.

He remembered his invitation to her two weeks back. "I would like it if you would attend the party...and you can bring your husband along too! Damn it Sameer! Aur bulao pati ko! Why did you need to be so formal?"

Noopur observed this exchange from a distance. The flustered look on Sameer's face, the blush on Naina's cheeks, the furtive glances stolen at each other. There's more to these two than meets the eye. She remembered their conversation a few days back about Anni and Sharmila and about how Sameer was defending Anni's move of bringing his ex to work with him again. His extravagant concern for the daughter of a colleague....Could it be possible that..? No Noopur! That would be pretty absurd. But then how else could she explain what she could sense brewing between her fiancé and that lady in pink.

Sameer smiled and excused himself. As he reached a corner far away from them, where he could breathe, he finally collected the courage to look back at Naina and A.

"A perfect couple!" he sighed. He met people, spoke to them, but all through his eyes kept darting secretly to Naina and A standing together, laughing together. A seems to have a good sense of humour. 7-2. Sameer calculated despondently.

Finally, he settled himself at the bar.

The elders proceeded to the dining hall for dinner, while the youngsters stayed on to enjoy the musical evening and to steal a dance or two. Noopur tried her best to engage Sameer in a conversation, but there was no denying he was lost tonight. He had a weird faraway look about him. She couldn't quite place it. The way he looked at her, was almost as if he felt incredible sorry for her. Why would he? Half an hour later, the Somanis strode over to Sameer and Noopur and bade their goodbyes. They'd had their dinner and had decided to leave early as Deepika had her exams the next day. They entrusted Noopur to Sameer's care.

"Khana khaoge tum Sameer?" Noopur asked after the family had left.

"Umm?" He gazed back at her distracted, in a morose mood, his eyes traversing frequently to the end where Reena stood, and A glanced at his watch a little too many times. He's getting bored!

Naina was feeling extremely conscious. This was her first meeting with Sameer after that fateful night. She hadn't confided in anyone as yet. Not even Arvind. She'd made up her mind not to attend the party when Sameer had called and Arvind had overheard the party invitation. Happy as he'd been since the past week, when Naina made an excuse that she couldn't go out alone at night, she'd been offered company. In addition, she was mentally cursing herself for her choice of saree. She'd rummaged around in her cupboard for a proper attire- but for a party of that scale, all her garments seemed too thrifty. She came across this saree, which seemed to be the only one in the wardrobe fit for that occasion. She'd had her initial reservations against wearing it. Somehow, her story with Sameer had started since that night of the fresher's party- he'd come over to speak to her of his own will, though he was drunk. And when she was all alone, he'd grudgingly seen her safely back to her hostel. And that night had been the first when he'd touched her. He'd been overcome by rage at that instant, yet the proximity had been exhilarting- an omen of what was to happen between them exactly a year from then.

Sara time yeh Noopur iske aage piche ghum rahi hai. Ek mauka nahi de rahi ki kuch baat karun. Jis hisaab se saj dhaj ke aayi hai, aasaar to nahi lag rahe ki Sameer ne ise hamare baare mein kuch bataya hai. Huh. Aur main mari jaa rahi hun ek hafte se iske phone ka intezaar kar rahi hun ki milne bulayega. It was her desperation to talk to him that had ultimately brought Naina to this party.

Arijit strode upto where Naina and Arvind stood and offered his acquaintance. Sameer observed them smiling at him, shaking hands, thanking him profusely for his help in editing.

"Ise kya zarurat hai baar baar jaake milne ki...das minute se aas pass phatak raha hai...waiter de dega na snacks...tu kyun laaye jaa raha hai?"

"Sameer?" Noopur asked again, trying in vain to break his trance.

"Hmmm?" He lifted another cocktail from the array offered at the counter. Isko mujhse baat nahi karni bas...Arvind se kar lo, Arijit se kar lo, batao! Yahan main mara jaa raha hun ki puchun us raat ko jo maine feel kiya, kya isne bhi kiya...inhe koi padi hi nahi hai! Le aayi upar se pati ko sath mein. Khair akele kya bolke bhi aati. Aaj ke din yeh mahashay busy nahi hain bas! He scoffed inwardly.

"Let's dance?" She looked at him coquettishly.

He glanced back at Naina who just threw back her head in laughter at what Arvind had just remarked. And Sameer downed another drink and held out his hand for Noopur.

Naina observed that Sameer was leading Noopur to the dance floor, amidst many other couples swooning alongside.

They were greeted by an audience who cheered the engaged couple. Her chest writhed with envy as she saw his hands travel around her slender waist, and his eyes peer into hers as they danced to the slow romantic hits of the era and then some peppy numbers as well.

Ten to fifteen minutes into it and Sameer observed Naina from the corner of his eyes. The sadist side of him was satisfied at having received the desired effect.

Noopur muttered, "khana kha lein?"

"Nahi yaar! Bhook nahi hai. Tum kha lo please!" He suggested and then Noopur saw him settle back down at the bar.

As he sipped his drink, he saw Naina and Arvind move about for some snacks. He gulped the Whiskey down, the heat searing his throat, but their proximity searing his heart. Her attire had brought back memories even he hadn't remembered, to the fore. He realized the way he'd drunk on their fresher's party and had still dropped her home. He'd held her that night. Though it was in anger, his body had been electrified at the touch. He recalled Tibrewal and Meghnaa's cheating act, which had led to her drinking bout and consequently, the beginning of it all. If he'd known he'd love her the way he did now, he would have confessed it all to her that very night.

The old melancholy began sweeping through him. The pain of seeing his love with someone else wrenched his heart. The act of trying to seem indifferent to her started falling off, when he heard someone calling out to him from a distance.

"Sameer sir?" Rita was calling him. He cupped his face in his palms and rubbed his eyes, put on a smile and moved over to where Rita was standing. A few others of his staff had gathered there as well. His steps had begun to wobble. "Just how many drinks did he take," he struggled to remember.

"Sir Noopur madam ne bataya...aap expert singer and guitarist bhi hain! Hamein to pata hi nahi tha! Please aaj aapki itni badi success party hai...aaj aapko gaana hoga!" Vishal pleaded, along with Neha and Arijit.

"Definitely sir! Today you have to sing!" Mayank too declared cheerfully.

"I don't sing anymore!" Sameer declined politely.

"Ohh please sir! Please! Madam ke liye! Ab to aapki shaadi hone wali hai...wife ke liye!" The chorus echoed and laughed. Noopur too made a puppy face, pleading him to sing for her.

Sameer's heart constricted suddenly but the reason wasn't Noopur. Naina had walked over to him, A on her heels.

"Sir! Please gaaiye na!" Arijit added to the din, but Sameer didn't hear him.

His eyes locked with Naina's and without a word, he moved over to the band, mentioned the song to them, and pulled out a mike. He adjusted a chair and sat down upon it, the guitar propped upon his leg. His eyes scanned the crowd once. Noopur beamed and showed him a thumbs up. His gaze flicked to the other side of the hall, where A was standing suavely, a drink in one hand, and the other hand in his pocket. He was murmuring something to Naina, when she looked up and her eyes met his.

This song is one of my personal favorites. He chose not to elaborate on his playlist when he had been trying to cope up with life post Naina and Nanu. And then his eyes flickered onto Naina for an instant and then closed. Sameer began to sing.

Jab kisiki taraf dil jhukne lage

Baat aakar zubaan tak rukne lage

Aankhon aankhon mein ikraar hone lage

Bol do agar tumhein pyaar hone lage

Hone lage hone lage

The stanza was met with a look of surprise in her eyes, while the rest of the audience merely nodded in appreciation.

Jab kisiki taraf dil jhukne lage

Baat aakar zubaan tak rukne lage

Aankhon aankhon mein ikraar hone lage

Bol do agar tumhein pyaar hone lage

Hone lage hone lage

He moved down the stage to where his staff stood, mesmerized by the quality of his voice and his control over rhythm. He deliberately turned away from Naina and with a big smile on his face, turned to Noopur.

Chaahne jab lage dil kisi ki khushi

Dillagi ye nahin ye hai dil ki lagi

Aandhiyon ko dabaane se kya fayda

Pyaar dil mein chhupaane se kya fayda

He casually moved and twirled Noopur to the music, while the audience clapped. The Whiskey was beginning to show its effect now. It had been a while since he'd been a teetotaler and his body hadn't agreed to the empty stomach downing of several pegs.

Jaan se pyaara jab dildaar hone lage

Bol do agar tumhein pyaar hone lage

Hone lage hone lage

Pyaar to hona hi tha

Pyaar to hona hi tha....

He crooned as he crescended the pitch and finished off the song to a hearty applause.

"Wow! Sir! Incredible! Aapko to Bollywood mein gaana chahiye!" Someone called out from the crowd. Sameer observed Arvind too seemed impressed, and was clapping happily.

Looks like I'm a better singer than A. 7-3.

"Sir...ab aap to Noopur madam mein kho gaye aur itna romantic gaana suna diya," Mayank grinned and a couple of others chuckled, and Sameer noticed Noopur was blushing. Naina just seemed in a daze.

Mayank then winked, "sir, ek sad song bhi to banta hai...un sab ladkiyon ke liye jinke aapki shaadi ke bad dil toot jane hain!"

Sameer observed Naina looked distinctly uncomfortable.

Vishal nudged Mayank to remind him he was talking to their no-nonsense boss, but Mayank was a little under the alcohol. "Sir...ek dedication, please!"

Sameer again glanced at Naina. It was perhaps what her eyes told her, or alcohol beginning to invade his senses, but his fingers strummed the guitar and the words wafted out of his mouth. His gaze still fixated by Naina's, he began to sing.

Why did you break my heart?

Why did we fall in love?

Why did you go away, away, away, away?

The audience marveled at his voice. He again registered surprise in her eyes, a hint of realization and his heart soared in triumph.

Dil mera churaya kyun

Jab yeh dil todna hi tha

Humse dil lagaya kyun

Humse munh modna hi tha

Sameer got up from the chair and the band continued with the melody. Naina observed him moving in drunken stupor, her heart pounding against her chest, at what he might accidentally reveal to everyone. Even Arvind. She dared not look at him, but knew he was uncomfortable. Something had struck him odd- the way Sameer had taken up this particular song. Sameer moved to the to the other side of the hall, towards the bar. With trembling hands, Naina took a sip of her drink, her lipstick tainted the glass at her touch.

Sameer halted near the bar, just a few feet away from where Naina stood. He lifted his glass, eyeing her through the amber brown liquid. He didn't know why, but he couldn't help himself. Couldn't pretend any longer. Tonight. He had to convey to her that he had loved her.

Ho dil ko dhadakna tune sikhaya

Dil ko tadapna tune sikhaya

Aankhon mein aansu chhupe the kahin

Inko chhalakna tune sikhaya

Sameer's gaze was leveled straight at her. She hadn't realized she was holding her breath. Everything else seemed forgotten, but him. Was he singing this for her?

His eyes must have pierced her soul with that look. Naina was transfixed. At one moment, she forgot about Arvind standing next to her, who oblivious to her, was now silently seething with anger. Why had Sameer chosen to sing this song? This particular song? He was acting as if she had betrayed him and he had loved her all along. Rubbish! It had been the opposite. Wait! What is she thinking? How can she be sure it is not just a song he chose and that she's over-reacting. Moreover, who says the song is for her? He'd sung the earlier one for his stunning, foxy bride dazzling around in that red net saree. But...a heartbreak song didn't really fit that picture.

Seene mein basaya kyun

Dil se jab khelna hi tha

His gaze turned accusing again, before he moved about and mingled with the rest of the crowd swooning to his words.

Humse dil lagaya kyun

Humse munh modna hi tha

Dil mera churaya kyun

As the interlude was played by the band, a couple of youngsters swayed onto the dance floor. Sameer took Noopur's hand and twirled her about, but her stoic demeanour did not register on him in his inebriated state.

His head swam, yet his feet knew where to go. He lost himself in the song as he moved close, very close to Naina- this time his eyes averted from her, but acutely aware of the rippling disturbance he felt emanate from her. The glass of Mirinda in her hands was clutched too tightly. He swiveled suddenly on his heels and looked into her eyes and all the unsaid feelings erupted in that gaze.

Ho milti thi nazrein jab bhi nazar se

Uthte the sholay jaise jigar se

He moved around her as he sang, with Naina feeling more and more conscious.

Saason se nikla jaise dhuan sa

Banta tha mujhse jeete na marte

Her eyes met his finally and he shook his head sadly, his forehead constricted, a bitter smile on his lips.

Aag kyun lagayi jab

Bujha yeh dil chhodna hi tha

Humse dil lagaya kyun

Humse munh modna hi tha

And then she knew. Knew that her heart was right. The song was for her and he...he might have been...or is now...in love with her. Her gaze travelled to Noopur, who stood oddly silent, observing Sameer. "What are they doing to Noopur?" She thought horrified.

Dil mera churaya kyun

Jab yeh dil todna hi tha

Humse dil lagaya kyun

Humse munh modna hi tha

The rest of the audience was enthralled by Sameer's possessed singing. Naina gathered courage and looked besides her at Arvind. He turned. His face was eerily cold, but his eyes showed the fury he'd concealed within. He cared too much for her. Arvind downed his glass of Rum and left the room, trying to be as inconspicuous as he could. Naina panicked and set down her glass of cold drink on the side board immediately. She glanced at Sameer once and then followed Arvind outside.

Sameer did not know, nor care if anyone else saw him behave peculiarly. Or if they understood he was in love with Naina. Even if A understood tonight. Or even Noopur! He wanted her to know. He wanted everyone to know tonight! He had to get it out of his system. He had yearned to tell her. He wanted to. And tonight he had in a way. He felt she'd understood. And then he saw A become disconcerted and leave. He did not know if others saw him leaving or the colour draining from Naina's face. His stomach must have fallen into an abyss. Was she in trouble?

His reverie was broken by the huge ovation from the crowd- one for the amazing talent Sameer had been hiding inside all this while, secondly, this party had enabled them to get their normally taciturn and brusque boss to open up. He moved over to Noopur and smiled at her. His fogged brain now registered that she did not look well. Her face was pale. People crowded around him, lauding him, and the next moment he lost track of Noopur. His eyes sought Naina and A. He was becoming restless. He hastily excused himself from the throng and on the pretext of using the washroom dashed along the corridor which led outside.

Naina was standing in an empty corridor, perhaps waiting for A.

"Naina?" he yelled.

Naina hastily turned and looked around if anyone was watching them.

"Uhh...Sameer...hum bas nikal rahe hain...bye!" she fumbled nervously.

"Yaar Naina...main tumhare jitne pass aane ki koshish karta hun...tum utna hi door bhagne lagti ho!" His voice was slurring slightly.

"Sameer...behave yourself. You're drunk."

"Come on Naina...itni jaldi kya hai? Abhi sab dance kar rahe hain...come on, one dance with me please?"

Naina turned to leave, but Sameer caught her wrist. Her glittery bangles jangled against his knuckles and her flesh tingled where he touched her.

Naina did not pull away, but merely stared at him.

And then without warning, he pulled her closer.

"Just one dance Naina? Please?"

"Sameer...hum kal baat karenge...abhi tum hosh me nahi ho."

"Yaar jab tumko dekhta hun to sab hosh kho baithata hun!" His fingers were now resting on her waist. He slithered them around slowly against her creamy skin and Naina felt herself get alight. Her eyes peered into his, her breathing shallow.

He bent down and whispered into her ear, his fingers caressing her waist. "30!"

He barely registered the force with which Naina was pulled away from him. He had a moment where he saw A's face, before he smacked him hard across his cheek. He was seething with anger. Then he twirled, and without a word, held onto Naina's hand and led her out and away from the hall.

Sameer was stunned for a few moments. The slap seemed to have reigned in his inebriation slightly. He was manhandling Naina? You've lost it Sameer! Way to go for a heart-to-heart talk! You try to force yourself upon someone.

All he could see Naina's widened eyes- in pity, or regret, or what- he didn't know. She continued to stare at him as Arvind led her out into the garden. Without knowing what else to do, and his heart worried for what Arvind will do to her, Sameer scurried after them near the lawn, and peered clandestinely out of a window.

The scene which greeted him made him halt in his tracks. He hid himself in a corner, but there was no mistaking the conversation behind the huge glass windows. A and Naina were having a fight. A was hollering out loud- well loud enough to show his anger, and low enough not to have the party rushing out to see them fighting. Naina was sobbing, her head was bent down. She kept on shaking her head, pleading to him. But A was adamant. Damn A! She's crying you moron! Sameer suppressed the urge to pull her in his arms and console her. And then Naina moved towards A, and grabbed his hands and shook them, her eyes imploringly turned up to him, tears flowing torrentially. But A jerked his hand from her grip. He was shaking his head. His fingers raked through his hair, his beautiful features highlighted in rage. He was still gorgeous damn it! Sameer saw him point a finger at Naina and caution her or accuse her- he couldn't say what. And Naina listened, her head bent down. And then she nodded. And moments later, A calmed down. He took in a deep breath and gestured Naina to follow him. And minutes later, Sameer saw A and Naina drive off in the taxi they'd hired for the evening.

When he could no longer see them, Sameer turned back onto the corridor. It was thankfully empty. His fingers automatically ran through his hair, trying to keep the muddiness due to alcohol at bay, and to think rationally. Has A guessed about him and Naina? Did Naina actually admit to it tonight when she shook her head? Is there any other explanation to it? "Would he seek a divorce?" A small happy voice suggested, but Sameer immediately subdued it. She would be destroyed if he did. It would not be good for Diya.

With a half-founded conclusion in mind, Sameer traced his steps back to cheering hall, where people knew nothing of the scene outside, or of the anguish inside him. He paused at the place where Naina had been standing some fifteen minutes ago, listening to him sing and give out their secrets- his secrets.

His palm rested on the sideboard and hit a solid object. Exhausted with all the ordeal, he looked up at the half-drunk glass of Mirinda lying there. On one end, was a deep pink lipstick mark. The place where Naina had taken a sip from. His fingers trembled as he took the stem of the glass in his hands. He twirled the glass so that the lipstick mark came to his side. Slowly, steadily, he lifted the glass to his lips, at exactly the place where the lipstick mark rested. As he tasted the imprint, his body gave a shudder, as if he'd tasted her lips again. And then he gulped the liquid down. The first and the last time he ever drank someone's jhootha. And then he took the glass away from his lips, looking in satisfaction at the glass wiped clean of the pink hue. He put it down and took his handkerchief out and dabbed at his lips. The pink tinges stuck to the white fabric. He looked at the stains longingly and then folded the hanky neatly back in his pocket and went back into the hall.

At the end of the hallway, Noopur stood, randomly smiling at people who greeted her. A plate of uneaten food which Rita had fetched for her, stayed in her hands, her eyes cloudy at the entire scenario she'd witnessed in front of her eyes. She tried to reign in her composure, put the plate on a stand nearby, and went to the restroom.

"Sameer...?" Noopur called out to him. The crowd had thinned by now. Most of the guests had left and the staff was cleaning up after the party.

"Hmm?" He eyed Noopur bleakly from the chair he was resting on .

"Let's go home!" It wasn't a request. It was a command from her side and Sameer involuntarily acquiesced.

As he settled down in the passenger seat of the car, he could feel his head throbbing and his eyes drooping in delicious oblivion. His cheek was still tingling where Arvind had hit him.

Noopur had a few words with the staff, ensured Rita was dropped at home by the driver and then she opened the door of Sameer's car and sat down.

Quietly, she buckled herself and turned the ignition.

"Tum bahot achi ho Noopur!" Sameer blabbered. "Mera kitna khayal rakhti ho...aur main kitna bura hun!"

Noopur did not respond and pulled out of the parking slot. She was pretty sure Sameer wasn't in a condition to notice the tears that she'd contained with great effort all evening, were now flowing uninhibited down her cheeks.

"Tumhari driving bhi perfect hai!" She heard him say, but ignored it as she swerved round the corner.

After riding in silence for a while, Sameer took a gulp from the water bottle nestled in the car. He pressed a button on the deck, and the tape recorder swerved into action.

Yeh kya hua, kaise hua, kab hua...

Kyun hua...

Jab hua, tab hua....

O chhodo yeh naa socho

"Fir Kishore Kumar! Pata hai Noopur, mujhe bhi Kishore bahot pasand hai...Naina ko bhi!"

There was a sharp braking from her side, but she regained control.

Hum kyun shikawa karein jhutha

Kya hua jo dil toota

Shishe ka khilauna tha

Kuchh naa kuchh toh hona tha hua

Yeh kya hua, kaise hua, kab hua...

Kyun hua...

Jab hua, tab hua....

O chhodo yeh naa socho

"Noopur...I'm sorry!"

She drove on and listened to him.

He turned to face her. He wasn't sure if he was making sense, but he saw her stiffen and noticed the trail of tears glistening over her cheeks. She knew.

His hand flicked towards her cheek, wanting to wipe the stream of tears flowing through her eyes, but she shrugged him away.

"I'm sorry Noopur kyunki maine tumse jhoot bola hai...I'm still in love with Naina. Maine koshish ki nahi ki, pata nahi...lekin tumhare liye wo mehsoos nahi kar paaya."

She stayed mum, her eyes focused on the road ahead.

"I kissed her."

She swerved right violently and shifted the gears.

Sameer continued hesitantly, his brain still muzzled. "I don't want to keep lying to you. Naina...Naina....".

"Naina is Mrs. Reena Mittal!" She completed and then turned to face him for the first time, hoping against hope in her heart that it was a lie. But her sixth sense had been warning her all along, and the way he'd lost his inhibitions tonight after all those drinks- the subtle and not-so subtle gestures towards Reena, the heart-broken look in his eyes when he sang, as if he sang only for her.

Sameer's heart coiled in his chest at the saddened look in her eyes. He slowly nodded.

At this, unable to restrain herself any longer, Noopur braked the car. Her heart shattered into a million pieces and she broke down. She started sobbing with her head bent down on the steering wheel.

Sameer knew he was a bastard. Never had he made a woman cry. Never had he deceived someone like this. And now, he had hurt one of the sweetest girls he'd ever met, his dear friend.

His hand went over to her forehead and he tried to caress her hair.

"I fell in love with you Sameer! Kyun kiya tumne aisa?" she sobbed. "Mujhe pehle hi keh dete to main kamse kam apne dil ko samjha to leti. Jaanti hun tumne kaha tha pyaar nahi hoga. Lekin sacchai, imaandari to thi na hamare rishte mein?"

Sameer's heart wrenched in agony at her condition. She had fallen in love with him and he'd broken her heart.

"Noopur!" He pulled her up. "Listen, I will marry you if you want me to. I know I don't deserve you, and also that I can't forget Naina. Lekin meri Naina ke sath koi aisi commitment nahi hai. Main tumhe jaan ke dhokha nahi de raha tha. Please aisa mat samajhna. Us raat...Diya beemar thi, aur wo...wo mere gale lag gayi...aur fir pata nahi kaise...," he left the sentence incomplete.

"Maine bevakoofon ki tarah usse KarwaChauth ki pooja karwa rahi thi...use thanks bolti rahi...tumhe usse door rakhne ki koshish karti rahi...you know what...isiliye mera vrat pura hi nahi hua tha!" She sniffled.

He placed his hand over hers. "Main tumhare layak nahi hun Noopur."

"Jaanti hun! Aaj sabke saamne mera tamasha ban jaata...kya sochte log...shayad aur logon ne bhi observe kiya hoga! Papa kya kahenge? He'll be devastated. Unka to khayal karte tum!"

"Noopur...main yeh baat tumhe us din bhi batana chahta tha...lekin us din tumhara wo Anirudh aur Sharmila ko leke jo stance tha...main wo nahi keh raha ki wo galat tha, par maine Naina ko already kitaab ke liye promise kiya tha. Jab maine contract sign kiya tha, tab tum meri life mein nahi thi. Naina sach mein bahot talented hai- uski book chapne ka decision, 90% business tha...aur shayad haan, 10% personal.

Sach bolun toh, I never thought I was over her. I knew I wasn't. Mujhe shayad kabhi wo closure nahi mila jo main chahta tha. Lekin wo shaadishuda hai, plus ek bacchi ki maa. Maine chah ke bhi apne dil ki baat usse kabhi keh nahi paaya.

Aur fir jab mujhe Diya ki beemari aur unke financial conditions ka pata chala...to main kya karta Noopur? Is sab mein- jo bhi Naina ne mere sath kiya, main uski saza us masoom bacchi ko to nahi de sakta na. Socho, is aakhri padav pe aake agar main Naina se kahun ki main book nahi chapunga, contract todun- wo kya kar leti mera? Legally to shayad kuch nahi kar paati. Aur chahe main use jitna bhi remuneration de dun, kya uska khud pe confidence aur uski umeedon ko tootne se bacha pata? Main kisi ka bhi career kharab nahi karna chahta tha, chahe mere sath wo insaan jaisa bhi raha ho.

Jab wo meri zindagi mein thi, toh main sach mein khush rehne laga tha, hasne laga tha. Ho sakta hai us waqt galti meri hi thi ki main samajh nahi paaya tha ki yeh pyaar hai. Jab tumse mila, mujhe umeed nahi thi ki tum sab jaanene ke baad haan karogi. Aur us time, Naina aur meri baat-cheet professional hi thi...zyada se zyada Diya ki wajah se humari fir se dosti ho gayi thi.

Mujhe tumhari company achi lagti thi Noopur, tumhare sath waqt bitana bhi acha lagta tha. Tum meri bahot achi dost bani Noopur, lekin...chah ke bhi main Naina ki jagah tumhe nahi de paaya. Tum jaanti ho, main uski book is year end se pehle chapwane ka plan kar raha tha, taaki uska aur mera interaction kam ya khatam ho jaye, aur main tumhare sath ek nayi zindagi ki shuruaat kar paun- jisme mera past na ho, Naina ka saath bhi na ho.

Lekin us Diwali ki raat, shayad hum Diya ke liye itna ghabra gaye the aur fir shayad ek dusre ko dilaasa dete dete...," he sighed and closed his eyes. "I'm sorry Noopur. Main yeh karna nahi chahta tha."

"You know what Sameer? I was an idiot. Bas Naina aur Reena mein ulajh ke reh gayi. Lekin aaj jis tarah tum use dekh rahe the, koi bhi samajh jaata."

Sameer pursed his lips in silence and shook his head. "I'm drunk. Shayad isliye."

Noopur turned away from him, the tears still washing down her face. After a minute or two of silence, she spoke again. "Wo Diya...kya wo bhi tumhari beti hai?"

Sameer's eyes widened in shock. "What?"

"Ab to sach bol do Sameer...ab to sab keh diya!"

"Lekin yeh cheez tumhare dimag mein aayi kaise?"

"Tumne bataya tha use PKU hai...aaj dopahar mein Dr. Mehra aaye the papa se milne. Tumhari baat hone lagi to wo batane lage ki tumhara dil kitna bada hai!" Sameer sensed her tone was mocking.

"Wo batane lage us raat ko tum us bacchi ke liye itne pareshan the aur kitni help ki thi Naina ki. Aur fir baaton baaton mein unhone bataya kaise tumhari nani ko bhi PKU tha. Sameer, itne ittefaq?"

Sameer did not respond as he mulled over her words. The alcohol was making it difficult for him to think in depth.

"Honestly Noopur, I don't know," he responded.

After a few more minutes of silence, she started the car. All through the return journey, they did not speak another word. As they reached her home, Sameer got down to call his driver.

Noopur stood looking at him through the car, knowing that tonight was the last night she was seeing him. She pressed her forehead to the steering wheel, as Kishore da's voice crooned softly out of the car stereo.

Humne jo dekha tha suna tha

Kya batayein woh kya tha

She turned the slender golden ring with a solitaire on her finger. She recalled that she'd asked Sameer about his ring a few days back. He'd told her that he'd taken it off as he wasn't used to wearing a ring and it was itching him. But the truth had been something else.

Sapna salona tha

Khatam toh hona tha...

Hua

And she took out the ring.

***

Sameer's head swarmed with numerous things. When he awoke that morning, his head was searing with pain.

"Uhh!" It was a terrible hangover. How much did he drink last night again?

He reached out for the jug of water by his bedside and gulped down a few mouthfuls.

He clambered out of his room, and noticed his family was seated in the living room in silence. As he descended the stairs, he noticed Mr. Somani eye him disapprovingly, collect his briefcase and exit the house. His mother was stony-faced as she peered out of the window. Deepika pored over her books sadly. The moment she saw him, instead of her cheery good morning greeting, she called out to her mother that she was leaving as she was getting late for her exam.

Suddenly, Vishakha stood up. "Kya kaha tumne kal raat ko Noopur se?" She demanded.

"Matlab?"

"Matlab yeh ki aaj subah subah uske papa ka phone aaya hai aur unhone kaha ki wo yeh rishta tod rahe hain. Noopur tumse shaadi nahi karna chahti."

The news hit Sameer. Instances of last night wafted through his mind. Not that he'd expected her to still want to marry him.

"Hmm...okay!"

"Okay? How is it okay Sameer? How can she change her decision overnight? Kal tumne kuch to kaha hai usse...kuch kiya? Tum nashe mein the...usne bataya tumne bahot pi thi...did you do something to her?"

His eyes widened in horror. "Aap aisa soch bhi kaise sakti ho?"

"Toh aur kya sochun? Kal tak sab acha bhala tha, aaj achanak se shaadi tod di?"

"Achanak nahi hai...wo...," Sameer started.

But Vishakha cut him off. "Tumhe zara bhi khayal nahi hai hamara...hamari izzat ka...hamare status ka...tumhe hua kya jaa raha hai?"

"Mom please. Is baare mein thodi der mein baat karein? Is waqt mere sir mein thoda dard hai!"

"Dard to tumne hamare sir mein kar rakha hai Sameer! Kuch socha hai...do hafte mein Rohan ghar aa raha hai...tum dono ki shaadi ki tayyariyan shuru hone wali hain aur achanak tumhara rishta toot gaya?"

Sameer stayed silent.

"Noopur was so upset," Vishakha brought her pallu to her face and sniffed.

"Main jaanta hun. Aur shayad isliye jo faisla usne liya hai, wo sahi hai. Main nahi chahta wo apne aane wali zindagi mein aur upset ho."

"Kya matlab?"

"Matlab yeh hai ki main Noopur ke layak nahi hun."

"Yeh kya rat laga rakhi hai Sameer. Tum dono ka kuch jhagda hua hai? Choti si baat pe shaadi todna kaise sahi hai?"

"Baat choti nahi hai...bahot badi hai!" He sighed and elaborated. "Naina...is still in my life."

A hushed silence fell across the room.

Vishakha stared at him dumbfoundedly. "Kya?"

Sameer shook his head. "Sorry...main yeh sab pehle hi batana chahta tha, lekin Noopur ke papa ka wo accident..."

"Tumne Noopur ko samajh kya rakha hai Sameer? Tum kisi aur ke sath rahoge aur shaadi usse karoge?" Vishakha started seething with rage.

"Nahi, maine jaan ke kuch nahi kiya mom. Mere office mein jo Reena Mittal hai- wahi Naina hai. Uski financial zarurat thi, bacchi thi- isliye main use help karta raha. Maine nahi socha tha ki baat firse kabhi us muqaam pe aayegi, lekin...," Sameer couldn't complete.

"Naina! Naina! Naina! Is naam se mujhe nafrat ho chuki hai! Kitni baar wo teri zindagi barbad karna chahti hai? Ek baar teri jaan leke use chain nahi aaya, ki tera basta hua parivar ujaad diya?"

"Mom...yeh bahot complicated hai."

"Complicated hai to simplify karo!" she hollered. "Uski financial need hai na? Main deti hun use paise. Jitne chahiye, utne. Fir to khush ho na tum. Aur tum please Noopur ke ghar jao, aur usse aur uske papa se maafi mango."

"Mom! Bol diya aapne? Naina ko paison ki zarurat hai, lekin wo paison ke liye meri zindagi mein nahi aayi hai. Aur Noopur aur uske papa se maafi to main maangunga, hazaar baar mangunga, lekin use kabhi khud se shaadi karne ko nahi bolunga. Kyunki mujhse shaadi karke wo khush nahi reh payegi."

With this, Sameer stormed back up the stairs to his room.

He punched his pillows. He felt frustrated- frustrated at himself for acting like a jerk at the party last night. Everyone would have smelt something fishy between him and Naina. What if people start talking? She's married. And then Noopur? It would taint her image as well and she'd no idea of what was coming. All because you had to drink. He tried not to think of Arvind's livid face and the shouting match between him and Naina outside the party.

He tried to call Noopur and ask her how she was doing, but when he gave his name, the servants told that Noopur had refused to attend the call.

Sameer felt awful for having broken his friend's heart. And he still didn't know about Naina. He owed both of them an apology. He took a hot shower and dressed up, his head faring better now.

He made for Noopur's house first, but was told that Noopur and her father had gone to the doctor's. He knew it wasn't true, for from the top window, he caught a glimpse of Noopur, before she swished the curtains closed.

Sameer got back into his car, and turned towards Moti Bagh.

He creaked up the steps of the familiar DDA building, unaware of the welcome he'd receive- perhaps another slap that he deserved. He'd just reached the landing of her floor, when he heard shouting voices drifting through the slightly ajar door.

"Tum itni bevakoof kaise ho sakti ho?" It was the deep male voice from last night. Arvind.

"Sari galti kya meri hi hai?" Naina shrieked.

"Tum uske saath itne din se kaam kar rahi ho, tumne yeh batana zaruri nahi samjha ki yeh wai Sameer hai...?"

"Main kisi ko apni problems se pareshan nahi karna chahti thi!"

"Wow! Aur ab kya ho rahe hain hum? Tum sirf apne baare mein sochti ho kya Naina? Diya ka koi khayal nahi tumhe?"

"Diya ka khayal mujhse zyada koi nahi kar sakta!"

"Damn it Naina! Use yeh tak nahi pata ki Diya uski beti hai...aur wo fir bhi, Diwali pe sab chod-chaad ke tumhare sath uski dekhbhaal kar raha tha? Uske ilaaj ke liye intezaam karta hai, uski fikar karta hai! Aur kya saboot chahiye tumhe?"

Diya uski beti hai? Diwali? The words landed upon Sameer's ears.

Arvind sounded defeated now. "Naina, please kamse kam Sameer ko bata do ki Diya uski khud ki beti hai. Aage wo jo karna chahe, uski marzi. Uska Diya pe utna hi haq hai jitna tumhara! Aur mujhe nahi lagta Diya ko leke uske pyaar mein koi kami hai. He needs to know! He's her father for God's sake!"

And the earth slid beneath Sameer's feet.

Arvind's voice boomed. Sameer ko bata do ki Diya uski khud ki beti hai. He's her father for God's sake.

Kya Diya tumhari beti hai? Noopur's question flashed, bringing to the fore the memories of last night.

Nani ko bhi PKU tha. Deepika stated matter of factly.

Diya premature hai? He heard himself ask.

Hhh..haan...Naina's jittery reply.

Sameer's head swirled with the revelation, trying to grasp if it was indeed the reality and not some nightmare he was having in his sleep. Was it his hangover...was he really at Naina's home? His knees suddenly felt too flimsy to carry his burden. He'd to struggle. Deep down, his heart resonated with what he'd just heard. Maybe, a corner of him had always suspected it, even known it! His memories churned out images of Diya- her habits, her silky hair so like his own. But...that's absurd! It's not possible! Naina had had her periods. Was the condom torn? But if she was pregnant, why did she not tell me?

Rage began to splutter through his veins. His love, his concern for Naina was pushed to a side. At that moment, Arvind pulled the door open and was shocked to see Sameer standing outside.

Sameer did not move away from him. His expression was strangely stoic, glassy-eyed. Arvind figured out he'd heard it all. And he now felt incredibly sorry for having slapped him last night. He peered back over his shoulder and saw Naina's horrified expression as she too noticed Sameer standing near the doorway.

Arvind shook his head, placed a commiserating hand on Sameer's shoulder and left the scene.