Natasha left a message for Naina, saying that a friend called and she was going to meet him.

'Jhooth thodi hai. Uska boss hai lekin mera toh dost hi hua na.' She explained to herself as the cab stopped in front of the same market.

Munna was waiting at the place they met last time. Waving at her, he quickly walked to meet her.

'Thank you so much Natasha,' he said gently, 'Aaj Sunday hai toh restaurant mein kaafi log hain... hum saamne wale park mein chalkar baat karein?'

Natasha followed him as he rushed ahead, crossing the road till they reached the entrance of the park, then uttered loudly, 'Stop.'

Munna halted, and looked at her.

She took a deep breath before turning to face him, 'Park Mein Munna? Seriously? Aisi kya baat hai?' She then narrowed her eyes, 'Kahin tumhe mujhse pyar vyar toh nahi ho gaya? Dekho agar aisa hai toh main pehle hi bata dun ki main tumhare baare mein aisa kuch nahi sochti. Tum achhe ho, bohot achhe ho par pyar ke liye toh mujhe sirf pilot hi chahiye. Agar tumhare mann mei aisa koi khyal hai toh abhi nikaal do. Kya hai na, baad mein jaake koi complication ho jiska gussa tum Naina pe utaro, toh mujhe chalega nahi.'

Munna stared at her dumbly.

Not getting any answer from him, Natasha sighed, 'Tumhara dil todna toh nahi chahti par sach maano mere paas aur koi option nahi hai. jaisa maine kaha...'

Munna suddenly raised both his palms, signalling her to stop.

When she did, he said in a quiet voice, 'Tum galat samajh rahi ho. Maine tumhe Naina ke baare mein baat karne ke liye bulaya hai.'

Natasha's eyes rounded, 'Matlab tumhe Naina se pyar ho gaya hai?'

'Nahiii.' Munna yelled in frustration, then consciously looked around as a few people stopped and stared at him.

Natasha frowned, 'Offo toh kisse pyar hua hai?'

Munna waved a hand at the park, 'Andar chalkar baat karein? Yahan sab log dekh rahe hain. Koi us din wala mil gaya toh sochega tumne fir se mujhe chori karte hue pakda hai.'

With a sour face, Natasha walked in behind him, muttering under her breath, 'Ek hi toh galti hui thi. Har baar uska taana dena zaruri hai kya?'

Munna was too engrossed in his plan to listen.

Once they found a relatively secluded place, Munna said, 'Sabse pehle toh ek baat clear kar deta hun. Naina ko main apni behen jaisa samajhta hun. Aur tum uski dost ho toh mere liye bhi dost hui. Rahi pyar ki baat, toh mera na aisa koi irada hai na time. Apni job ke alawa Sameer aur Pandit meri part time naukri the lekin ab toh Sameer full time... nahi overtime wali naukri ban gaya hai. Pyar ke baare mein toh sapne mein bhi nahi soch sakta main.'

'Okay!' Natasha tried to make sense of what he just said but wasn't really successful so she asked, 'Tum mujhse kya chahte ho? Main tumhare liye koi job karun?'

Munna raised his index finger, 'Sabse pehle toh please koi assumption karna band karo. Pehle meri baat sunna uske baad seedhe wale sawal puch sakti ho. Lekin please, haath jodta hun, apni taraf se matlab mat nikalna. Paani pehle hi hamari gardan tak pahunch chuka hai use sar ke upar mat le jaana.'

Natasha rolled her eyes, 'Ab aisi tedhi medhi baat bologe toh kya hi sawal puchun aur kya hi assume karun.'

'Sorry.' Munna quickly admitted his mistake, 'Main bikul simple baat karunga.'

Natasha waited.

Munna tried to frame what he wanted to say, so that it didn't sound intruding, then asked haltingly, 'Naina ki family... matlab uske ghar mein... koi problem hai kya?'

Natasha blinked, 'Nahi. Hamare ghar mein koi problem nahi hai.'

Munna shook his head, 'Tumhare nahi, Naina ke ghar mein.'

'Hum dono ek hi ghar mein rehte hain, main aur Naina.' Natasha stated simply, 'Humein toh koi problem nahi hai.'

Munna was stunned for a few seconds, then asked, 'Tum dono Delhi se nahi ho? Kahin aur se aaye ho?'

Natasha shrugged, 'Nahi. Hamesha se Delhi mein hi rahein hain. School, college aur ab job, sab kuch yahin par hai.'

'Toh apne gharwalon ke saath kyon nahi rehte?' The question slipped out of Munna's mouth before he realised that it wasn't okay to ask so bluntly.

But Natasha didn't seem to mind as she made a dramatic expression, 'Bohot dard bhari kahani hai Munna mausi, sunoge toh tumhare aansu nikal ayenge.'

Munna asked in a flat voice, 'Sholay bhi dekhi hai tumne?'

'Haan.' Natasha grinned, 'Ek baar kisi ne mujhe kaha ki main Sholay ki Basanti jaisi hun. Isliye dekhni padi. Dekhkar pata chala yeh toh compliment tha. Shayad meri beauty unhe Basanti, yaani Hema malini jaisi lagi.'

Munna mumbled, 'Beauty nahi baatein lagi hogi Basanti jaisi.'

'Anyway.' Natasha turned serious, 'Hamare ghar ke alag alag issues hain. Tum unmein interested kyon ho?'

Munna lowered his voice, 'Naina ko koi... koi financial crisis hai kya?'

Natasha narrowed her eyes, 'Tum drugs bechte ho?'

'Kya?' Munna was startled.

'Naina ko apne saath iss kaam pe lagana chahte ho? Paison ka lalach dekar.' Natasha mentioned it as if it was just a simple business of selling golgappe or samose.

Giving her a furious look, Munna hissed, 'Kaha tha na assume mat karna kuch.'

Natasha scrunched her nose, 'Fir tum aise secretly paison ki baatein kyon kar rahe ho yaar. Saaf saaf bolo jo bhi kaam hai. Tumhe paise chahiye kya? Loan de sakti hun main. Naina ki bachhi toh leti nahi mujhse lekin tumhe zarurat hai toh batao, mere paas savings hain. Interest bhi nahi lungi kyonki tum Naina ke boss ho.'

Munna rubbed his face with both palms. The conversation wasn't going as planned at all. He hadn't even reached the beginning... and he had been talking to Natasha for half an hour. At this rate, Sameer would turn thirty before he could get any information out of this girl.

To hell with being diplomatic and subtle, he decided to ask directly, 'Ek din Naina ne office mein kaha tha ki use paison ki sakht zarurat hai. Subha mandir mein tumne bhi aisa kuch kaha. Aisa kya burden hai uske upar? Mujhe janna hai use itne paise kyon chahiye.'

Natasha stayed quiet for a few seconds, then asked, 'Kyon? Aur agar janna hai toh Naina se hi kyon nahi pucha? Use bina bataye aane ko kyon kaha? Uske baare mein ussi se chupakar information kyon ikatthi kar rahe ho?'

Munna fell silent. Natasha wasn't as dumb as he had thought.

Carefully planning his words, he said, 'Sach baat yeh hai Natasha ki main bhi ek bohot aam se parivar ka ladka hun. Meri mummy se tum mili hi thi. Unke alawa bas ek chota bhai hai. Hum koi paise wale ya khandani type ke log nahi hain. Ghar ke kharchon ke liye mummy ko ek ek rupaya bachate dekha hai maine hamesha. Ab bhi hum budget bana ke ration khareedte hain aur mahine ke aakhir mein pehli tareekh ka intezar karte hain. Kabhi kabhi itni frustration hoti hai ki lagta hai koi lottery nikal jaaye toh kitna achha ho. Lottery ka muft ka paisa lene ko taiyar hain, lekin agar koi charity samajh kar paise dena chahe toh humein lena manzoor nahi hoga. Hamari self respect pe chot lagegi. Naina ki baaton se mujhe laga uski bhi kuch aisi hi zaruratein hain. Par woh kisi ki help nahi legi chahe hafte ke saaton din kaam karke bimar hi kyon na pad jaaye.'

He paused to take a breath.

Natasha nodded, 'Sahi keh rahe ho. Naina bilkul aisi hi hai.'

Munna went ahead, 'Lekin agar paison ke badle use kaam karna pade toh use koi problem nahi hogi, haina?'

'Lo, problem kyon hogi? Yeh job, tuitions, dance class, yeh sab paison ke liye karne wale kaam hi toh hain.' Natasha agreed.

'Lekin kaam agar bohot mushkil ho... aur use pasand na ho toh?' Munna tested waters.

Natasha smiled confidently, 'Meri Naina mushkil kaam se darne walon mein se nahi hai. Rahi pasand ki baat, toh jab Thakkar ko jhel sakti hai toh duniya ke kisi bhi bure se bure insaan ko jhel sakti hai.'

'Aur agar woh insaan Sameer ho toh?' Munna asked slowly.

Natasha gave him a befuddled look, 'Sameer Naina ko job offer kar raha hai? Kyon? Woh toh Naina ko gangster samajhta hai. Fir uske saath kya kaam karega?'

Munna was suddenly alert, 'Gangster? Aisa kisne kaha? Gangster toh koi aur tha jisne Naina ko...'

'No no no.' Natasha quickly refuted, 'Woh sab ek misunderstanding thi. Naina ko kisi gangster ne approach nahi kiya. Balki Sameer ne aisa kaha tha. Naina ki tareef mein jo pul bandhe us din... tum bhi toh the wahan. Sameer ne hi kaha na Naina ka gang hai, plan banake attack karega, wagerah wagerah.'

Munna was sincerely apologetic about it, 'Sameer ki taraf se main maafi maangta hun. Use woh saari baatein nahi kehni chahiye thi. Gadha hai ek number ka. Agar us din yeh kaand nahi kiya hota toh aaj itni problem mein nahi hota.'

'Kaisi problem?' Natasha asked, then waved a hand before he could explain, 'Rehne do. Mujhe kya uski problem se. Main toh kehti hun ek nahi dus musibatein aa gire uske sar pe. Aaya bada meri Naina ke liye apna sada hua opinion dene wala.'

Munna was literally about to beg her with folded hands to once listen to him without wavering, but Natasha did not even let him do that.

She twisted her mouth and said, 'Achha chalo bata hi do. Warna bekar mein tumhare pet mein dard ho jayega. Mujhe koi interest nahi hai bas tumhari wajah se sunne ko ready hui hun.'

'Thank you.' Munna finally let out the breath he was holding.

But now that the moment was here, he did not know how to start.

'Arey bolo yaar. Itna kya footage kha rahe ho. Kisi ka murder wurder kar diya kya usne?' Natasha urged, impatient because of his silence.

'Apna hi kar diya samajh lo.' Munna blurted in frustration.

Natasha gave him a perplexed look, 'Apna murder? Woh bhi khud ko pasand nahi karta kya?'

Munna quickly looked at her, and added, 'Matlab uski problem hi aisi hai ki marne wali haalat ho gayi hai.'

Letting out a breath, Natasha mumbled, 'Mujhe laga duniya ka pehla insaan hoga jo apne hi murder ke liye phaansi chadhega. Waise tumhara yeh namuna Sameer kar bhi sakta hai aisa impossible kaam. Anyway, kya problem hai aisi?'

Munna rubbed the center of his nose, then stated in slow, deliberate words, 'Please Naina ko Sameer ki girlfriend banne ke liye manaa lo.'

Munna was expecting a scream, attack, her running away... just about any extreme reaction but not the pleasant smile that she gave him. Was it that easy...

Natasha's smile changed into a chuckle as she rubbed her ear, 'Naina sahi kehti hai, main kuch bhi dhyan se nahi karti. Tumne kuch aur kaha mujhe kuch aur hi sunayi diya. Tum yakeen nahi karoge kya suna maine?' She laughed again.

Munna gulped, then uttered, 'Maine wohi kaha ju tumhe suna... Naina ko Sameer ki girlfriend banane ke liye mujhe tumhari help chahiye.'

The shriek was ear shattering.

Thankfully not many people were in the park, but still some around them stopped with a jerk, while a few came running. Munna was extremely embarrassed as everyone stared at him with suspicious eyes.

'Nahi ji, kuch nahi hua.' He got up quickly and addressed the crowd, 'Yeh toh...'

One man stepped forward and looked at him menacingly, 'Tum ched rahe the ladki ko?'

Natasha stood up before more interaction, and looked at the man, 'Aapko lagta hai yeh shareef aur bechara sa dikhne wala ladka aisi harkat karega?' Then she stepped closer to Munna and held his hand.

Munna gave her a shocked look.

One garishly dressed guy, who looked like he did nothing but eve teasing, looked at her from head to toe and sneered, 'Itna shareef hai yeh toh tum cheekhi kyon? Kya sharafat dikha di isne?'

Natasha glared at him, 'Main cockroach ko dekhkar cheekhi. Inhone toh use bhagaya hai.'

The guy looked at people around him and laughed in a lewd manner, 'Cockroach? Bhala park mein cockroach aa sakte hain kya?'

Natasha scoffed, 'Jab tum aa sakte ho toh cockroach kyon nahi aa sakte? Tumse toh zyada achhe dikhte hain.'

Everyone started to laugh, looking at the guy who turned red faced. The small crowd dispersed as Natasha walked away with Munna to another bench.

When they were alone, Munna let out a breath, 'Tum... tum bohot zor se chillayi thi.'

It was his turn to get the fiery look, 'Shukar karo sirf chillayi. Agar restaurant mein hote toh jo mere saamne hota tumpar phenk deti, chahe woh garam coffee hoti ya chilled juice.'

Munna muttered inaudibly, "Isilye waha nahi baithe.'

Natasha stood in front of him, hands on waist, 'Itna wahiyaat khyal tumhe aaya bhi kaise? Tumhari aankhen kharab hain, ya kaan... ya dono? Dikhta nahi hai Sameer Naina se kis tarah baat karta hai, use kya kya kehta hai? Dono jab bhi ek dusre ko dekhte hain, kaat khane ko daudte hain. Naina Sameer ka naam sunte hi bhadak jaati hai, Sameer ko Naina ke naam se allergy ho jaati hai. Kis angle se tumhe woh ek saath hone ke layak lagte hain? Meri ya Naina ki chodo, Sameer bhi yeh sunega toh... toh tumhe shayad tumhare hi office ki building se utha ke neeche phenk dega. Aur agar Naina ke kaan mein galti se bhi yeh baat pad gayi toh samajh lo Delhi mein ek aur earthquake aa jayega. Rahi baat meri, toh mera dil kar raha hai sirf Sameer ke hi nahi tum teeno ke sar mundwa dun, jisse dimaag ko thodi hawa lage toh kaam karna shuru kar de.'

Munna listened to everything with downcast eyes. The outburst was expected. Probably he and Pandit would have been equally flabbergasted if the situation would have been other way round. Who, in their right minds, could imagine Sameer and Naina as a couple.

'Ab saanp kyon sungh gaya, bolo na kuch.' Natasha hollered.

Munna was genuinely scared but the job had to be done. He gathered some courage and looked at her with hopeful eyes, 'Actually Natasha, ek ajeeb si situation ho gayi hai Sameer ke saath. Aur ab humein isse bahar nikalne ka koi raasta nahi dikh raha.'

'Toh Naina kya uske liye sadak banayegi? By the way, kya hai yeh situation?' Natasha was still fuming.

Hesitantly, Munna explained, 'Sameer ke Dadaji... thode strict type ke hain woh... Sameer ka rishta apni pasand ki ladki se fit karwana chahte the. Unse bachne ke liye Sameer ne keh diya uski already ek girlfriend hai. Achanak se Dadaji ne naam pucha. Din mein Naina ke saath jhag... kuch baat hui thi aur Sameer uske baare mein soch raha tha toh Dadaji ke sawal par galti se Naina ka naam bol diya.'

Natasha gasped in disbelief, 'Tumhara Sameer toh jitna maine socha tha usse kahin zyada idiot aur useless hai. Girlfriend ke naam par Naina yaad bhi kaise aa sakti hai use?'

'I know. Humne bhi yehi kaha. Lekin ab toh galti ho gayi.' Munna replied with a heavy sigh.

Natasha did not understand what was such a big deal about clarifying to his grandfather.

'Haan toh ab keh de apne grandpa ko ki Naina se uska koi lena dena nahi hai.' She suggested calmly.

'Yehi toh nahi ho sakta.' Munna lashed out in exasperation, 'Maamla bohot complicated ho gaya hai. Ab toh Dadaji ko Naina se milwana hi padega. Please please Natasha, sirf kuch din ke liye Naina ko is drame mein hissa lene ke liye manaa lo.'

Natasha met his gaze, her anger evident, 'Tumhara dimaag kharab ho gaya hai kya? Naina is dhokhe ka hissa kyon banegi? Uss nawabzade ko jaakar bolo problem khud khadi ki hai toh khud hi nibte isse. Naina ko uske kisi issue se koi lena dena nahi hai.'

Munna's voice tightened, 'Dekho Natasha, galat mat samajhna please... actually is kaam ke liye Naina ko... mera matlab... use paison ki zarurat hai toh... woh jitne paise kahegi use mil jayenge.'

Before Natasha could burst again, he clarified, 'Jaise acting karte hain... filmon mein, web shows mein, TV par... uss acting ki bhi toh fees hoti hai na. Waise hi Naina ki fees deke hum bas use ek acting ka assignment dena chahte hain. Yeh offer main directly use deta toh pata nahi use kaisa lagta lekin tum use achhi tarah jaanti ho. Tum apne tareeke se use samjha ke baat kar sakti ho. Sirf kuch din. Hamari problem bhi solve ho jayegi aur uska financial burden bhi thoda kam ho jayega. Na use aisa lagega ki uspe koi ahsaan kar rahe hain na humein guilty feel hoga.'

Natasha stared at him as if he had just dropped from the sky, 'Pehli baat toh Naina koi actor nahi hai. Dusri baat woh acting karegi bhi toh tumhare us khadoos ki heroine toh bilkul nahi banegi. Teesri baat main use itne ghatiya kaam ke liye nahi bolungi. Chauthi baat maine bol bhi diya toh woh kisi buzurg insaan ko dhokha dene ke liye kabhi nahi manegi. Paanchvi baat paison ka offer sunke Naina ke joote padenge sabko. Chathi baat...'

'Bas baba bas.' Munna raised his palms to stop her, 'Ab kya ek se sau tak ki ginti ka revision karwaogi.'

Natasha shrugged, 'Main paanch sau tak bhi jaa sakti hun.'

Munna tried to make her see the reason, 'Natasha, tum ek baar thande dimaag se socho. Naina jo itni zyada mehnat karti hai usse break milega. Usse weekend par kaam karne ki zarurat nahi padegi. Jaise woh kaam hain waisa hi yeh kaam samajh lo. Aur iske liye use kuch khaas karna bhi nahi hai. Bas ek do baar Sameer ke ghar walon se milna hoga aur aisa dikhana hoga ki woh aur Sameer ek dusre se pyar karte hain. Sirf unke saamne. Uske baad Sameer apni duniya mein Naina apni duniya mein. Naina ko thoda aaram mil jayega aur Sameer ko thoda time.'

Natasha looked at him with narrowed eyes, 'Lekin Naina hi kyon? Agar Dadaji ke saamne lekar hi jaana hai toh kisi ko bhi le jao. Kisi bhi ladki ka naam Naina bata do. Dadaji kaunsa uska birth certificate mangne wale hain.'

Munna steeled himself to reveal another harsh truth which he hoped wouldn't have a negative effect.

He explained slowly, 'Actually Sameer... uski family bohot zyada ameer hai. Sameer nahi chahta... matlab... kabhi kabhi aisa sab kuch dekh ke... you know... agar koi aur ladki hogi toh iss natak ko sach mein badalne ke liye Sameer ko blackmail kar sakti hai. Lekin Naina... tum toh Naina aur Sameer ki equation jaanti hi ho. Naina kabhi usse ya uske paison se impress nahi hone wali. Uski nafrat ki wajah se safety hai.'

As expected, Natasha scoffed, 'Oh toh uss nakchadhe ko lagta hai woh kahin ka raja hai jiska raajmahal dekh ke ladkiyan behosh ho jayengi. Use jaake keh dena ki sab ladkiyan mehlon ke sapne nahi dekhti. Isliye apne sinhasan se utar kar zara aas paas dekhe toh shayad uski koi asli wali girlfriend hi ban jaaye.'

'Karega. Woh yeh sab karega. Main karwaunga usse. Lekin abhi time nahi hai na. Isliye kuch din ke liye Naina ko manaa lo please.' Munna pleaded.

'Dekho Munna...' Natasha scoffed.

But Munna interrupted her, 'Kya tum nahi chahti Naina ke sar se zimmedariyon ka bojh kuch kam ho? Tumne kaha na tumhare paas savings hain. Mujhe pakka pata hai tumne Naina ko offer kiya hoga lekin usne udhaar lene se bhi manaa kar diya hoga. Tumhe bura lagta hoga use is tarah saaton din kaam karte hue dekh ke. Socho zara, kaisa hoga agar Naina ki yeh saari problem sirf kuch din ki acting se dur ho jaaye. Use khush dekhkar kya tumko khushi nahi hogi? Bilkul hogi, aakhir tum uski sachhi dost ho. Aur yeh toh ek challenge hai. Jab Naina mushkil se mushkil kaam karne se nahi darti toh yeh bhi kar legi. Aakhir Sameer jaise ladke ki girlfriend banke uski taraf pyar se dekhne ka kaam difficulty level mein kaafi upar hoga.'

He quietly observed Natasha's face, to judge the effect of his emotional manipulation.

Natasha chewed her lip. What Munna said was absurd no doubt, but still, it could mean a big financial help for Naina.

Phew 😅 Long one
Next update on Monday

Happy Diwali to everyone ✨🌟✨may the light of diyas brighten not just one day but your entire life🪔🪔be happy and safe 🩷