Heyy everyone! I am back with the update, longer one this time! The credit for this early updates go to the readers who wait for my updates. I am a reader, a desperate one, so I can feel you man! Don't worry the updates will be regular from now!

Also, I made a mistake in chapter 4. It was not phone through which Khushi talked with Aditya. It was telephone. I have corrected it now. Very sorry for the mistake.

Happy Reading!

The morning was bright for Naina. She woke up and went to the balcony to absorb the early-morning warmth. She glanced at the Sun, as if it was smiling at her, from the horizon. The enchanting bluish-white glow of the sky just stole away her sleep. She did her chores and stood in front of the mirror in her uniform. The pattern of this uniform is the same. Only difference was the colours. The light-turquoise-blue colour of her skirt was replaced by a light shade of grey while the pristine purity of white colour on the shirt was replaced by the subtle sophistication of off-white.

The last two days of school were very boring for her and maybe for the whole of the class. The new term started two days back on Wednesday. And in these two days, only revision of the previous term was being done which bored Naina as she had read the whole syllabus, for exams, more than two times and now they are revising the same things. According to the teachers, the next term is linked with the previous one therefore they need to recollect all the concepts of the previous term. She has no option but to attend the school. After asking from a few people they got to know that, this revision goes on for the first four days and the actual studies will start after a day's break, from monday. Naina, Khushi and Aditya were unaware of this ritual and got to know about it when the two days' revision was already done.

Naina walked out of her room, just to find Khushi descending the stairs of the third floor which ends at her floor, adjusting her dress and bag. As Khushi's gaze found Naina, she smiled wide.

"Aaj to aap alag hi khil rahi hai Miss Naina..." Khushi complimented for the special glow she was carrying, as they descended the further stairs.

"Khil rahi hu?" She touched her face and hair, "But maine toh kuch alag nahi kiya hai...same hi toh hai sab kuch..." Everything was normal and usual in her appearance, she thought.

"Waisa wala nahi...tera chehra chamak raha hai...kuch khush khabar hai kya?" As they reached downstairs, Khushi's excited voice boomed on the playground that connected the parking blocks and their school.

Naina's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, "Nahi toh...mere saath toh kuch achha nahi hua hai..."

They reached the school and were walking in the corridor. Khushi stopped her, hold her by shoulders and turned Naina to herself, "Nahi hua hai toh ho jayega...Naina mujhe lagta hai aaj tere saath kuch bahut hi acha hone wala hai..."

As they continued walking to the class, Naina chirped, smiling widely, "Sachhi??"

Her smile disappeared just as quickly as she got excited about the thought of good news.

The last time somebody had said this to her was Swati 'Naina mujhe lagta hai aaj tere saath kuch bohot hi achha hone wala hai...kya pata school main tere liye Romeo aa jaye...' and the next day she had met Sameer...

Her eyes widened as she looked at Khushi. Sameer? Here? Impossible! Maybe some other thing has to be good today...it's not necessary the same good thing will happen to you...she laughed at her thought which was illogical. She shouldn't think more about it. Before she could run her horses more, Khushi snapped fingers in front of her, "Oh madam, kya soch rahi hai aap itni der se?"

Naina looked at Khushi, "Ku..kuch nahi...sir nahi aaye abhi tak..." she looked at her watch, "Period ko start hue toh 10 minute ho bhi gaye..."

Khushi's eyebrows furrowed as she looked weirdly at Naina.

Naina looked at her, confused.

"Yahi toh main puch rahi hu ki kya hua? Abhi peon uncle aaye aur bata kar gaye ki kuch emergency ki wajah se sir aur 15 minute late aayenge..."

"Woh...main kuch nahi soch rahi thi...ye sab chhod...aur bata mujhe...maths ka revise ho gaya tera...tujhe hard ja raha tha na kal wala topic exam ke waqt?" Naina raised her eyebrows at her.

"Yaar Naina tension mat de...pure din padhai ki baatein nahi hoti mujhse..." She didn't realise that Naina had changed the subject, very easily.

"Pure din? Madam...abhi ek week ki chhutti thi...do din se hi start hua hai school..." she rolled her eyes, "wo bhi sab padhaya hua wapas padhaya ja raha hai..."

Khushi was equally frustrated, but for different reason, "Wahi toh! Agar pehle pata rehta ki pura phirse padhane wale ye log starting ke teen din toh hume 3 din ki extra chhuti mil jaati na...aur rahi baat maths ki toh...abhi se piche mat pad tu mere...theek hai?"

"Main bas itna keh rahi hu...abhi new term start hui hai...toh tu regularly homework karegi toh exams main dikkat nahi jayegi...start se hi dhyaan degi toh tere liye hi achha hoga...aur ye baat Adi ko bhi samjha dena...agar final exams ke waqt tum dono phirse mere paas aaye ki mujhe ye padha de ya wo padha de...main kuch nahi padhane wali...samjhi?" The Naina devi mode was on.

Khushi joined her hands, "Devi ji! Ham padhai kar lenge...but please aap shant ho jaiye..."

Before she could lecture her more, sir came and saved Khushi. Khushi had never been this happy from Sir's arrival than she was now.

Naina knew Khushi won't listen to her, no matter how much she tried. She was a decent student, no doubt. But she could not study regularly, like her. Studying only before exams is her thing. And it surprised Naina when she scored 60+ in this term. Naina knows if she studies a bit more, she will easily make her place in the topper's list, which is good for her only. That's why Naina has decided to remind her now and then to study, more than she used to do before.

**

Sameer gazed out of the window. Trees passing by, without any purpose, without any recognition, just like his life.

He sighed, "Be ready Sameer, Nainital wali ghisi piti life is back now.."

Then his eyes went to the couple in front of his seat. The girl was eating ice cream, while the boy was looking at her like if he'll avert his gaze, she'll vanish. What nonsense, he thought.

He laughed at them and their rubbish kind of romance when the trance of that man broke and he introduced himself, "Hello, main Manav, and she's my wife Smita!"

Oh. They are married.

He shook hands with Manav, "Hello, My name is Sameer!"

The couple smiled at him, "Aapse milkar khushi hui"

Sameer nodded formally "Same here!"

"Aap kaha ja rahe hai?" He questioned Sameer.

No matter how disinterested he was talking to them, he replied, "Jaipur"

The couple looked at each other and smiled widely, "Hum bhi Jaipur hi ja rahe hai" and the man added, "Honeymoon ke liye" to which his wife blushed.

Newly married. Sameer rolled his eyes inwardly. Who does these kiddish things in their honeymoon man?

Sameer wanted to end the conversation but couldn't and the couple started talking to him, telling him their love story.

When he had enough of their talks, he excused himself with the pretext of going to the washroom and left.

**
In the lunch break, Naina enquired about Aditya who was seen nowhere since morning, "Khushi, Adi kaha hai?"

She shrugged in reply.

Naina countered, "Kitni galat baat hai Khushi, tujhe kaise nahi pata?"

The reply from her side was nonchalant "Nahi...main kaun lagti hu uski jo mujhe sab pata hona chahiye"

Naina murmured, "Tu kya lagti hai uski ye tujhe toh bilkul nahi pata.."

"Kya badbad kar rahi hai?"

"Main ye bol rahi hu ki ab pata kaise lagaye Adi kyu nahi aaya?"

Khushi forced a smile, "Pata kyu lagana hai...kal aayega toh pata chal jayega na!"

Naina's eyes narrowed, "Kal? Kal sunday hai madam...aur kaisi dost hai tu...bilkul khayal nahi hai uska...ek wo hi pagal hai jo pura din Khushi-Khushi karta rehta hai!"

Khushi retorted, "Haan toh meri kya galti? Usko jakar bol ki pura din Khushi-Khushi na kare!"

Naina raised her hands in defeat, "Tera kuch nahi ho sakta" then she joined her hands and looked at the ceiling, "Bhagwan ab aap hi isko sadbuddhi do.."

Everything remained in the last seat for Khushi except, "Ye sabudhi kya hota hai Naina?"

Naina covered her face and fake cried, "Hey Bhagwan!" And looked at her, faking a smile, "Sadbuddhi matlab dimag, akal, sense, jo terme bilkul nahi hai...isliye maine socha bhagwan se mang deti hu...ab tere liye itna toh kar hi sakti hu na!"

Next moment, both of them were running in the corridor, Naina saving her life from Khushi.

**

He stood at the entrance of the train, gazing outside. He was hell irritated by that couple. How could they tell their long love story to a stranger who was least interested in hearing it?

In the name of the love story he has only heard his Nanu's and Nani's love story which he has been hearing since childhood. And he never felt bored while listening to it.

He smiled at an instance...

"Nanu...Nanu...kaha ho?" He descended from the stairs and started searching for him in the whole house. He stopped when he saw Nanu standing behind the sofa, gazing at his Nani's photo. He walked and stood beside him, looking at his Nani.

"Nani ko yaad kar rahe ho?" He looked at his grandfather.

"Hmm.."

How much he missed Nani, his wide smile never wavered while talking to her. He always talks to her happily.

When he sat, Nanu asked him to sit beside him and tapped his fingers on the radio which was kept beside him and a beautiful voice boomed in their house, complimenting the beautiful silence of night..

Abhi na jao chhodkar
Ki dil abhi bhara nahi
Abhi abhi toh aayi ho
Bahar banke chhayi ho..

Nanu lurched behind and sat against the sofa, closing his eyes in satisfaction.

"Nanu...Nani ke photo ko dekhne se aapka dil bhar jata hai..."

Nanu smiled, still his eyes close, "Beta dil ko sambhalne ke liye toh teri Nani ki yaadein hi bohot hai...ye photo toh bas ek zariya hai un yaadon ka..."

Sameer, as much as he tried, never understood the concept of love. Nevertheless, Nanu's love for Nani was enough to light a sparkle in his eyes.

Nanu saw a flood of emotions in his grandson's eyes and how his eyebrows knitted whenever he talked about love. He was very naive in terms of love and he knew, how much he denied it, he craves love.

"Beta...tension mat le..jab tujhe pyaar hoga na kisi se...toh tujhe samajh aayega dil bharne ka matlab!" Nanu grinned.

He rolled his eyes, "Nanu, aisa kuch nahi hone wala...kitni baar bolu main aapko?"

"Beta shuruaat main aisa hi lagta hai...tujhe pyaar ho jayega aur pata bhi nahi chalega..."

"Arre par khush hu main apni zindagi mein..." he put his head on Nanu's shoulder, "Apni mummy ke saath, Munna Pandit ke saath...aur koi nahi chahiye mujhe..."

Nanu lovingly caressed his hairs, "Sameer, ye jo hamara dil hai na...ye sirf apne liye nahi...kisi aur ke liye bhi dhadakna chahiye..."

When Sameer hummed, he continued, "Aur jab tujhe wo milegi na...tere saare pyaar ke notions badal jayenge..."

Sameer smiled at him, "Theek hai Nanu...tab ki tab sochenge...abhi sote hai"

He got up and hugged him, "Goodnight Mummy"

Nanu reciprocated the hug, "Goodnight Beta, sleep well, aur meri baaton ke baare main sochna jarur"

Sameer gave him a thumbs up and stormed to his room.

He smiled at that memory. Does love really feel this good that one can spend his whole life just remembering the loved one.

Suddenly he was reminded of his mother, who never loved him. Since childhood, he craved motherly love. He didn't know how the warmth of a mother felt. He'll be a fool if he expects a girl to love him unconditionally and truly. He smiled sadly at the irony.

His trance broke when a man in his 50s chided him for standing at the entrance of the train, "Dikhta nahi hai tumhe? Kitni speed se chal rahi hai train? Jaan gavani hai kya apni? Jao jakar andar apni seat par baitho...pata nahi bachho ko akela kaise chhod dete inke maa-baap!"

Sameee gritted his teeth and walked back to his seat to see the couple sleeping peacefully together in their arms. He smiled watching them, genuinely this time, the reason still unknown to him.

**

It was evening. Naina was expecting Khushi to come to her room as she comes to her room everyday and does drama to go outside and wander the area around. But she was surprised as there was no trace of Khushi.

She decided to go to her room. She knocked the door only to find it was already open. She peeked inside the room. The room was empty. Then she heard the sound of water coming from the bathroom. She felt relieved.

After some minutes, she saw Khushi coming out of the bathroom, with her wet hair.

"Main tera wait kar rahi thi...tu aayi hi nahi...isliye main aa gayi!" Naina smiled widely and informed Khushi.

Khushi was drying her hair with the towel, standing in front of mirror, "Sorry yaar, main na baal dhone chali gayi...iske baad aane hi wali thi tere paas"

"Koi baat nahi...Khushi chal na kahi bahar chalte hai ghumne"

Khushi turned around and gaped at her, "Behen teri tabiyat toh theek hai na? Bahar jane ki baat tere muh se sunke thoda ajeeb lag raha hai!"

Naina pouted, "Chal rahi hai ki nahi...ye bata..."

Before Khushi could answer, her telephone rang. When she picked it up, it was her mother. Asking Khushi to talk to her mother leisurely, she came outside the campus. She knew her mother is very busy and cannot afford talking to her everyday, she didn't want Khushi to miss her call.

She decided to walk on the Jaipur road. She had been here many times with Khushi. They come here just to refresh themselves. It is a peaceful road that starts from the Bus stop of Banasthali, with a beautiful garden in between and leads to the highway which ends at Jaipur. Naina never thought she'll be able to walk on a road, this freely. With Khushi, she has become much more confident in doing things which she likes, without any fear. She strolled till the footpath ended and decided not to go further as it will be dangerous to walk on the highway.

She turned around and started to walk back to the hostel. All of a sudden she was feeling something odd. Something like she couldn't decipher. And suddenly she could understand the feeling...

This was the same feeling she had...when she, Preeti and Chachiji, with Chachaji and Pralay went to eat the panipuri. When some idiot boy had stuck a chewing gum in her hair, and she was beaten up by Chachiji for cutting her hair. This was the same feeling when she had gone to the same market, with Preeti, for flour milling, when, she didn't know how, her dupatta tore and she had to listen to the taunts for the whole day from her Taiji. It was the same feeling when she was auditioning for the role of Juliet, the day when boys were playing Antakshiri and she couldn't help but get slapped by Taiji just because she was questioning the meaning of lyrics. The same giddiness in her heart.

But, the thing was, she still couldn't understand the reason behind this feeling. Neither did she then.

Any guesses for the next update?

Next update - Wednesday
STAY TUNED!