Naina looked at the letter in her hand.

"Yeh chitthi doordarshan walon ne bheji hai... woh ek naya channel shuru kar rahe hain jispe din mein bhi program aayenge... mujhe unhone naya serial likhne ka offer diya hai." She revealed to her sister.

Chachaji proudly looked at her and elaborated, "Naina ke likhe article unhe bohot pasand aaye... uski soch aur uske likhne ke andaaz se channel wale bohot prabhaavit hue hain... woh chahte hain ki Naina ek aisi ladki ki kahani unke liye likhe jo samaj ke sab bandhano ko todkar, har mushkil ko paar karke apna liye ek alag mukaam banati hai aur  safalta ki unchaiyan choo leti hai..."

Preeti looked at Naina in awe, "Tu ab TV ke serial likhegi? Naina, humne toh kabhi TV dekhte hue socha bhi nahi tha ki ek din tu apna serial banayegi."

Chachiji lovingly placed a hand on her cheek, "Dekhna tera serial kitna pasand aayega sabko... main yahan sabko bataungi aur dikhaungi bhi."

Preeti was still looking at everyone in wonder, "Paise bhi milenge?"

Naina flashed a teary smile as chachaji  put a hand around Preeti's shoulders, smiling at the innocent query, "Bohot saare paise milenge... pehle kahani likhne ke... fir har episode ke."

"Sach much... Naina, fir toh tu TV wali ban jaayegi... behen, mujhe bhi leke jaana ek din... mujhe bhi dekhna hai ye sab program kaise bante hain." Preeti was getting her excitement back, as the news sank in.

"Haan... main bhi chalungi... main bhi dekhungi ki yeh serial wale itni achhi saree kaise baandh lete hain", chachiji also had a dreamy look.

"Naina... ab tujhe mahine mein chaar baar paise milenge... har episode ke", Preeti exclaimed.

Chachaji corrected her, " Mahine mein chaar nahi, Preeti, hafte mein paanch... ye serial roz aayega... shanivar aur ravivaar ke alawa."

Preeti clapped her open mouth.

Chachiji was shocked as well, "Roz aayega... matlab agle hafte tak intezaar nahi karna padega?"

Naina and chachaji laughed... looking at the condition of TV addicts of their house.

Later, Naina sat on her bed, thinking about this sudden change in her life.

Chachaji knocked on the door.

Naina got up immediately, "Aaiye na chachaji."

He came in and sat down on the bed, making Naina sit on the chair in front of him.

"Naina, ye mauka jo tumhe mila hai, main isse bohot khush hun... aur tumhe bhi achha laga hoga... par ye bohot badi zimmedaari hai... soch samajh ke faisla karna... iske liye tumhe kaafi samay dena padega... aur iss baar college ka aakhiri saal hai... toh padhai se dhyaan nahi hatna chahiye... tum padhai ke beech mein kuch nahi aane dogi iska mujhe yakeen hai... par fir bhi... ek baar soch lena... tumhara jo bhi faisla hoga main usme tumhare saath rahunga."

Naina looked at chachaji and thought how lucky she was to have him as her guide.

"Chachaji, maine socha iske baare mein... main iss mauke ko gawana nahi chahti... haan, mujhe zyaada time dena padega par ab ye shuru karungi toh main newspaper aur magazine ke articles likhna band kar dungi... aur aap padhai ki chinta toh bilkul mat kijiye." She assured him.

"Theek hai, beta... jo bhi karo dil laga ke karna... bas padhne ke liye time nikal lena... aur Sameer ke liye bhi." He added the last line with a smile.

Naina lowered her eyes instantly, her face going red.

He got up and patted her head, "Ab itni achhi khabar hai toh party honi chahiye... shaam ko hum log bahar chalenge khaana khane... woh naya hotel khula hai na... Sarovar hotel... wahan chalenge... main Bela ko bata deta hun."

Naina continued to play with the edge of her kurta till he left. Then, she dialled Sameer's number.

"Hello Sameer", she said eagerly.

"Naina, tum iss waqt? Man nahi lag raha kya mere bina?" He spoke softly.

"Sameer, tumhe kuch batana hai... sunoge toh bohot khush ho jaoge", her voice conveyed her happiness.

"Chachaji hamari sagai karwa rahe hain?" He asked anxiously.

Naina slapped her forehead, "Kya karun tumhara... kuch aur bhi soch liya karo."

He smiled, "Tumhari awaz sunne ke baad kuch sochne samajhne ke layak hi nahi rehta."

"Ab meri baat sunni hai ya phone rakh dun." She conveyed fake anger.

"Achha baba bolo... batao aisa kya hua jo meri jaan itni khush hai", he could not completely concentrate on anything except her.

She happily narrated the offer to him, telling how important this opportunity will be for her and how  much money she'll be earning.

Sameer was elated at the news, "Wow Naina, yeh toh bohot kamaal ki news hai... main kaise bataun mujhe kitni khushi ho rahi hai... abhi tum yahan hoti toh... hoti toh..."

Naina held her breath, "Hoti toh... "

"Kas ke gale laga leta... waise usse aage tum kuch karne kahan deti ho", he lowered his voice.

"Jab agli baar milenge na toh... "

His hopes were high, "Toh... "

"Toh laga lena gale... kas ke", she laughed.

He let the long fingers run through his silky hair, "Achha, ab itni badi good news sunayi hai toh party karte hain."

"Party kar rahe hain na... chachaji hamein le jaa rahe hain shaam ko bahar... Sarovar hotel mein." She knew what he meant but she could see no chance of meeting him with chachaji at home and evening outing plan.

"Aur mere saath kab celebrate karogi?" He very well understood her limitations.

"Uska mauka bhi dhoond lungi", her reply held a promise.

"Main intezaar karunga", he blew a kiss into the phone.

"Chachaji bula rahe hain, bye", she kept the phone in a hurry, a shy smile on her face.

Sameer looked at the phone for a few seconds, wondering when his girl will stop being demure with him. He touched the instrument to his forehead, lips curling into a smile as his heart gave the answer, "Shayad kabhi nahi."

Naina decided to wear the black jeans today... pairing it with a light yellow floral top with long sleeves. She left her hair open, wearing the big hoops she had worn for the award function.

Chachiji was all praises when she saw Naina dressed up.

"Kitni pyaari lag rahi hai... sundar toh pehle bhi thi par Mumbai ne tujhe ek naya rang roop de diya hai... nazar na lage meri bachhi ko", she quickly took some kajal from the corner of her eye and put behind Naina's ear.

They reached the hotel in a car chachaji had specially hired for their outing. The imposing white building impressed everyone. Central area was decorated with beautiful flower arrangements. Big potted plants were placed strategically.

The restaurant was no less either. White cushioned chairs and light wood tables made it look airy and fresh. Each table had a small glass vase with white petunia flowers.

They settled down, marvelling at the opulence of the place. They had never been to such a grand place before.

"Suniye ji, ye toh bohot mehenga hoga na." Chachiji leaned towards her husband and whispered.

He smiled, "Bela, ye ek khaas jagah hai... khaas maukon ke liye... aur aaj ka din toh hum sabke liye bohot bada hai... isliye koi na kuch bolega na kuch sochega iss jagah ke baare mein. Apni pasand ka khana mangwao aur khush hoke khao."

The girls happily made their selection and chachaji decided for himself and his wife as she could not read the menu in english. Once they placed the orders, they looked around. Quite a few tables were occupied.

Naina got up to go to the washroom. She asked Preeti to come along but she was too busy admiring the outfits of all the affluent women present in the restaurant. Naina walked out and asked about the washroom at the reception. She was shown the sign at the end of the corridor.

She walked slowly, observing everything around her. The washroom was no less, covered with fancy mirrors. Naina splashed water on her face and wiped with the napkins kept there in a basket.

As she came out, a hand pulled her... because of the shock, Naina took a while to recognise the touch...

Sameer held her waist and whispered in her ear, "Congratulations."

He wrapped his arms around and crushed her in a hug, "Meri writer biwi."

More than his sudden appearance or his crushing hug, Naina blushed at his comment... resting her palms on his back.

"Sameer... thank you... lekin ab chodo... koi dekh lega", she could not move an inch.

"Aaj itni sundar banke aayi ho ki mere toh hosh hi udh gaye... chodne ka man nahi kar raha", he nuzzled into her hair.

She closed her eyes, fighting the sensation he was evoking by the touch of his nose and his breath on her neck.

"Naina" Preeti's voice made them jump.

Sameer immediately entered the men's washroom. Naina calmed her racing heartbeat, straightening her hair and took one step when Preeti reached her.

"Kya hua? Itni der kaise lag gayi? Tabiyat toh theek hai na?" She looked at her sister with concerned eyes.

Naina tilted her head, "Haan, theek hai... mujhe kya hona hai... main toh bas yahan ki sajawat dekh rahi thi."

Preeti looked around, "Kitna sundar hotel hai na... bilkul mehel jaisa."

"Chal ab chalte hain... chachiji pareshan hongi", she dragged her sister, worried that Sameer might step out any moment.

She had some inclination that he would come here. Blurting out the name of the hotel was her mistake. But in her heart of hearts, she was happy. She had wanted Sameer to be a part of her celebration... at least he was in the same place even though he could not join them.

Chachiji asked them worriedly where they were but calmed down when Preeti said they were looking around, admiring the hotel.

Their food arrived. The dishes looked tempting. As the waiter placed gleaming white plates in front of them, Naina heard Preeti scream.

" Jijaji"

She looked behind... shocked was not the right word to describe her state.

Sameer stood behind their seat... along with Munna Pandit.

Chachaji looked at Preeti with narrowed eyes.

"Munna jijaji... aap yahan kaise?" She rectified her mistake.

"Woh main apne doston ke saath khana khane aaya tha... aap log dikh gaye toh namaste karne chala aaya", he folded his hands to greet the elders. So did the other two.

Chachiji smiled at them and looked at Sameer affectionately, "Tum bhi aaye ho beta... achha laga tumse dubara milke."

Munna looked at chachiji, "Yeh Sameer hai, auntyji aur yeh Pandit... dono mere bhai jese hain... hum har jagah saath hi jaate hain."

Chachaji looked at Naina who was looking down at her plate, then looked back at Munna, "Darasal aaj hum yahan ek khushi manane aaye hain... main chahta hun tum teeno bhi iss khushi mein shaamil ho jao... aao aaj hamare saath khana khao."

Naina looked up sharply at chachaji... so did Preeti.

Even the boys were shocked at this invitation.