'Ek minute.' Sameer pushed his chair back and got up the moment Naina stood up to leave.

She stopped, looking at him with an inquisitive expression.

Sameer ran his eyes over her form, taking in her high waist pants, with tucked in top and tied up hair.

Naina raised a brow when he made a disapproving face.

Finally, he said in a skeptical tone, 'Tumhe apna dressing style change karna hoga.'

Naina crossed her arms, her body language taking a challenging stance, and glared at him, 'Batane ka kasht karenge The great Sameer Maheshwari ko aisa kyon lagta hai?'

'It's... it's so outdated.' Sameer shrugged, 'Mere ghar mein sab classy aur modern hain. Tum unke saamne... ganwar lagogi.'

He himself was aware that it was an exaggeration, mainly because he couldn't find any other adjective, but he wasn't the one to take back his words.

'Oh!' A derisive sneer appeared on her lips, 'Toh main tumhare aur tumhari family ke standard ki nahi lagti in kapdon mein?'

Munna intervened in desperation, 'Kya bol raha hai Sameer? Naina ke style mein koi kharabi nahi hai. Main bata raha hun aunty ko isse koi shikayat nahi hogi.'

Sameer pointed at her outfit, 'Yeh designer nahi hain. Naina meri girlfriend banke jaa rahi hai. Use best dikhna chahiye. Mere gharwale kaise manenge ki unka handsome beta aisi... aisi non branded dress wali ladki ke pyar mein pad gaya. Unhe convince karne ke liye Naina ko perfect hona padega. Tabhi meri family ise accept karegi.'

Her eyes hardened at his assessment, but she remained quiet to see what more he had to say.

Unaware of icy stares of his friends, Sameer continued, 'Status thoda bohot toh match hona chahiye. Agar hamari jodi ban rahi hai toh jodi jaisa dikhna bhi chahiye. Unhe aisa toh na lage ki main sadak se kisi ko bhi utha ke le aaya.'

Munna gritted his teeth while Pandit slapped his forehead.

Unaware of their reactions, Sameer went as far as showing some outfits to Naina on his phone, 'Dekho, inhe kehte hain style. Anu ne apne liye order karwaye the isliye mere paas inka link tha. Kuch aisa hi pehenna chahiye tumhe.'

After a few seconds of silence, Naina asked in a quiet voice, 'Baalon ka kya karun? Chalenge ya katwa lun? Ekdum short... ya fir colour kar leti hun. Kuch trendy sa. Blue ya pink?'

Sameer did not see the sarcasm, and ran his gaze over her hair, then shook his head, 'Baal theek hain. Haircut ki zarurat nahi hai. Bas khule rakhna. Mummy ko pasand hain lambe baal.'

Munna sat on his chair with a thud. He could already smell disaster.

Naina circled a finger around her face, 'Aur yeh chehra? Kiske jaisa banwana hai? Bollywood? Nahi, jab kar hi rahe hain toh aur classy karte hain. Hollywood ki actress jaisa theek rahega? Julia Roberts? Plastic surgery se bilkul angrez heroine ban jaati hun. Aur haan, aankhon ke liye lenses ka colour kya hoga? Blue ya... white rakh lun? Horror films jaisa?'

Sameer gave her a strange look, 'Pagal ho kya? Itna sab karne ki koi zarurat nahi hai. Koi permanent rishta thodi bana rahe hain hum. Bas kuch din tumhe pretend karna hai ki tum mere standard ki ho.'

Naina clicked her tongue a few times, 'Kitna hard work hai na tumhare liye, yeh standard maintain karna. Designer kapde pehenne padte hain, mehengi car chalani hoti hai, latest gadgets lene padte hain... aur bhi pata nahi kya kya. Mujhe kahan pata hoga, main toh tumhare level ki hi nahi hun. Bohot struggle hai tumhari life mein. Poor little rich boy.'

Sameer bit back, getting up and taking a step towards her, 'What do you mean 'boy'. 29 years ka hun. I'm a man.'

Naina poked a finger at his chest, her voice now firm and unyielding, 'Then learn to be a man. Mujhe control karne ki jagah apni situation control karo. Itna confidence dikhao ki tumhari pasand ki ladki ko tumhari family isliye accept kare kyonki tumne use choose kiya hai... isliye nahi ki usne kisi famous designer ke kapde pehene hain ya kisi mehenge brand ka perfume lagaya hai. Aisi ladki chahiye toh jao apne circle ki parties mein, tumhara female version wahan aasani se mil jayega.'

Pandit immediately agreed with her and added his sensibility, 'Ekdum correct Naina. Yaar Sameer, tujhe bas filmon ki tarah dil pe haath rakh ke kehna hai... I love you k...k...k...Naina.'

'Shut up.' Sameer snapped at him, 'Ye sab bolne ki zarurat nahi hai. Family ke saamne kaun aise bolta hai girlfriend ko?'

Munna again came to rescue the situation, 'Sameer, Naina ki baat galat nahi hai. Agar teri sach mein koi girlfriend hoti toh use bhi change karne ki koshish karta kya?'

'Haan.' Sameer said matter of factly, 'Use bhi mere hisaab se khud ko badalna padta.'

Pandit pondered aloud, 'Yeh kaisa pehli nazar ka pyar hoga bhai? Matlab jise pehli baar dekh ke tu pyar mein pad gaya uska huliya hi badalna pade toh pehli nazar wala pyar null and void ho jayega.'

Munna explained when Sameer looked confused at Pandit's interpretation, 'Jab hum kisi ke pyar mein padte hain toh use aise hi apnate hain jaisa woh hai. Uski har aadat, uski appearance, chaal dhaal, sab kuch pasand aane lagta hai.'

Naina chuckled, 'Fir toh tumhare dost se koi ladki pyar karne se rahi. Kyonki isi form mein isko apnana impossible hai.'

Sameer growled back, 'Same goes for you. Tumse toh koi andha bhi pyar nahi kar sakta.'

'Thank God!' Naina said indifferently, 'Mere paas aise faltu emotions ke liye time bhi nahi hai.'

Sameer could not help the shocked exasperation that made his voice louder than intended, 'Pyar faltu emotion hai? Are you crazy?'

Naina held up both her hands to bring an end to this conversation, 'Pyar pe tumhari thesis sunna mere contract ka hissa nahi hai. Rahi baat mere style ki, woh meri marzi ka hoga. Tumhe chalta hai toh theek hai warna contract cancel. Mujhe aur bhi kaam hain. Meri tuitions ka time ho gaya hai. I have to go now. Subah tak Munna ko bata dena yeh drama karna hai ya nahi. Agar karna hai, toh deal mat bhulna. Main tumhara aaina banke rahungi. Get it?'

And she was gone before Sameer could come up with a retort.

Munna shook his head disapprovingly, 'Yeh kya karne ki koshish kar raha tha tu? Daad deni padegi Naina ki jo teri aisi baaton ke baad bhi teri help karne ko maan gayi. Sach keh raha hun Sameer, main khud Naina ki jagah hota toh kehta bhaad mein jaa tu aur teri problem.'

Sameer rolled his eyes, 'Tujhe bhi aadat ho gayi hai rai ka pahad banane ki. Aisa kya keh diya maine. Kuch baatein clarify kari, kuch suggestions diye lekin us behenji ko manne hi nahi. Main toh uski looks thodi improve karne ke liye hi bata raha tha. Par woh khud ko perfect samajhti hai. Mera aaina banne ki jagah khud ko aaine mein dekhe jaake tab pata chalega main sahi keh raha hun.'

Pandit folded his hands with a bang in front of him, 'Maharaj, thode shaant ho jao. Kiye karaye pe paani ki balti nahi tune toh kuan hi phenk diya. Ek baat ki aaj gaanth bandh le. Jaise school mein exam ki guide lete the hum, waise Naina tere is exam ki guide hai, teri problem ka iklauta solution hai. Use naaraz mat karna. Kal koi nayi mushkil bhi aayi na, toh life mein guide mile na mile, Naina pakka mil jayegi.'

Later that night, Naina sighed wearily as she laid in bed, 'Pata nahi Nutty main sahi kar rahi hun ya nahi. Iss bigde hue nawabzaade ko jhelna bada mushkil hai.'

She had narrated the whole conversation to Natasha after coming back.

Natasha chuckled, 'Sahi jaa rahi hai. Teri baatein sunkar mujhe toh FOMO hone laga hai. Yeh saara drama mujhe sunna nahi dekhna hai yaar. Usse puch girlfriend ki behen ki vacancy hai kya? Family se pehli meeting mein mujhe bhi le chal. Bina ticket ke mast picture dekhne ko milegi.'

Seeing her excitement, Naina let out a sigh, 'Picture do dhai ghante mein khatam ho jaati hai. Mere gale mein yeh fanda pata nahi kitne din rahega.'

Natasha tickled her, 'Lekin kitna adventurous hoga yeh fande ka jaal. Jab khatam hoga tab dekhenge nawabzaade ka haal. Coutsey Naina Agarwal.'

Suddenly she sat up with an elated smile, 'Arey waah, yeh toh rhyme ho gaya. Kehte hain log pyar mein sher o shayari karte hain. Main toh contract mein karne lagi... woh bhi tere contract mein.'

Naina pulled her down, 'Aisi ghatiya shayari tu pehle bhi karti thi. Mere kaanon pe rehem kar aur chupchap sone de. Mujhe energy chahiye, kal uski family se milna hai.'

It did take Naina a long time to sleep. It was pinching her somewhere to deceive an entire family like this. Had she not been driven by the irritation and hatred for Sameer to such great extent, she would have never fallen in this trap. But now that the web had started to spin, there was no escape. The solace was that she wasn't the one to start it.

Next day, Sameer was feeling a strange premonition in the pit of his stomach as he left his office in the evening. His family seemed to be super excited. He just hoped Naina played her part well. She had been her same wild self the previous day. Letting out a sigh, he cursed the fact that she did make him lose control and say things that he usually wouldn't. She was a turbulence that had hit his simple, orderly life by instigating him in such a way that whenever he met her, he just wanted to prove his dominance. And when she refused to bend down, he unintentionally turned on a contemptuous attitude, earning an earful from his friends later. He didn't know why Naina evoked such hatred in him. At present, all he wanted was to end this game of deception in as short time as possible. Being in the vicinity of the most unpredictable and dubious person he had ever met wasn't good for his system.

Lost in his thoughts, he didn't realise he had reached Munna's office until he was in the parking lot. He checked the time to find that he was already running late.

'Naina ko bolta hun neeche hi aa jaaye.' He grabbed his phone. Another realisation hit him... he didn't have her number.

Grumbling to himself, Sameer called Munna. His friend, who rarely missed his call, decided today to be the day when he wouldn't answer.

'Shuruaat hi galat ho rahi hai. Pata nahi aage kya hoga. Jahan Naina involved ho wahan kuch sahi ho bhi kaise sakta hai.' With his temper already on the verge of cracking, Sameer locked the car and rushed towards the elevator.

Naina felt a slight nervous sensation in her belly as the evening approached. Showing Sameer his place was one thing but meeting his family, that too as his girlfriend, was not a very comfortable feeling. She had never imagined herself in such a situation, in fact, she had never wanted a guy in her life. And yet, she had to pretend to be in love with someone like Sameer Maheshwari, the conceited, bossy birdbrain.

She took a few deep breaths to calm down and reminded herself, 'Bas kuch din Naina. In paison se tujhe kitni help milegi yeh sochke chad jaa sooli. Aur complimentary gift mein uske sooje hue muh ko thoda aur suja dena. Dono taraf se tera hi fayda hai. Ghabra mat. Jaise bachhon ko tuition deti hai, samajh le is overgrown bachhe ko bhi manners ki tuition deni hai... aur aaj iski PTM hai.'

She went to the washroom to check her appearance. A smile appeared on her lips. Adjusting her hair, she walked out, thinking about the oncoming meeting. The moment she turned towards her cabin, someone came rushing from the opposite side... and bumped into her with full force.

In reflex, Naina squeezed shut her eyes and grabbed whatever was in front, to stop herself from a free fall. But soon realised that her grip wasn't what saved her. Rather, it was a pair of arms that circled her waist. Slowly, she opened her eyes, to find a familiar face staring at her.

'Tum?' She squirmed to get out of Sameer's grip, leaving his jacket that she was clutching in her fists.

He left her with such a jerk that she stumbled. Looking annoyingly at him, she seethed, 'Aaj kiski galti hai? Aaj kaun lehra ke chal raha tha? Dikhta nahi hai kya?'

Sameer gaped at her. Once again, she had changed her appearance completely. Had he not heard her voice, probably he wouldn't have recognised her.

Naina waved a hand in front of his face, 'Hello hello. Ab yeh mat kehna itni si takkar se tumhe amnesia ho gaya. Apna naam yaad hai na? Bol ke dikhao.'

'Sameer.' He mumbled, without thinking. Only after he heard his own voice did he come to his senses and shook his head to clear the fog that had enveloped him suddenly.

Looking at her from head to toe, he asked in a sharp voice, 'Yeh kya huliya banaya hai tumne?'

'Kyon? Achha nahi hai kya?' Naina glanced down at herself before giving him a complacent smile, 'It's okay agar tum tareef nahi kar paa rahe. Mujhe pata hai main bohot achhi lag rahi hun.'

'Achhi?' Sameer groaned, 'Kal se bhi zyada old fashioned lag rahi ho. Tumhari dressing sense itni bekaar hai toh dusron se suggestions le liya karo. Maine kal designs dikhaye the na. Tumhe samajh nahi aaya kaise kapde stylish hote hain?'

Her cotton suit was heavily flared and embroidered. It was far too traditional for his liking. On top of that, she had done something to her hair. Like other days, it did not fall in a smooth layer but looked wild and so unpolished, as if she hadn't put much effort into styling her hair. On top of that, she wore huge round earrings which were again too rustic.

Naina fluttered her eyes innocently and said in a fake apologetic tone, 'Pasand nahi aaya mera style. Maine socha apne boyfriend ki mummy ko impress karne ke liye typical Indian style hi best hoga.'

Sameer was ready to smash his head against the wall.

All of a sudden, Naina gave him a brilliant smile, 'Idea! Tum mujhe pehle apni choice ka naya dress dila do fir parlour le jaana. Jaisa kahoge waisa style banwa lungi baalon ka. Maine toh kal bhi pucha tha. Lekin tumne kaha baal theek hain.'

She pouted at him.

Sameer gritted his teeth, 'Kal theek the lekin aaj inhe chidiya ka ghonsla kyon bana liya?'

'Bol toh rahi hun parlour chalte hain. Maan rahi hun na tumhari baat. Aur kya karun?' Naina was back to her stern tone.

Sameer checked the time, 'Kaisa parlour ab toh udd ke bhi jaayein toh late ho jaynege. Chalo ab.'

He turned and rushed back into the elevator which thankfully arrived the moment he pressed the button.

'Ek minute. Bag toh lene do.' Naina called out, and rushed to her room.

Exasperated, Sameer held onto the doors, waiting for her. By the time she came out, the siren in the lift because of open doors was deafening him.

Once the annoying sound stopped, he asked with clenched jaw, 'Bag yahan se kahin bhaag nahi jata. Kal office aake bhi le sakti thi. Maine kaha na hum late ho rahe hain. Dadaji bohot punctual hain.'

Naina snapped back, 'Toh jaldi aana tha. Mere do minute se hi late hue hain kya? Main toh kabse ready hun. Aur bag yahan chod ke nahi jaa sakti. Usmein ghar ki chaabi hai. Nutty do din ke liye flight pe gayi hai.'

'Tumhe har baat mein argue karna zaruri hai kya?' Sameer looked at the numbers flashing on display, his brows furrowed in frustration.

'Argument nahi hai jawab hai. Agar chahte ho main chup rahun toh apni patar patar bhi band karo. Mere kaan dard ho rahe hain.' She retorded in defiance.

'Kahan phans gaya.' Sameer thought to himself, too tired to utter it aloud.

The drive to his house was in absolute silence. Only when the car stopped in front of a magnificent, palatial bungalow did Naina gasped in wonder, 'Yeh hai tumhara ghar?'

Sameer looked at her, 'Neeyat mat kharab karna. Tum yahan rehne nahi aayi ho.'

The admiration in her eyes was instantly replaced by contempt, 'Tum yahan rehte ho, yeh reason kaafi hai mere liye kabhi yahan na rehne ka.'

Sameer smirked, 'Jaise tumhe mauka mil hi raha hai. Aisa ghar kabhi sapne mein bhi tumhara nahi ho sakta.'

The topic of her own house was not one that Naina could casually talk about so she picked up her bag from back seat and gave him a dry look, 'Ab der nahi ho rahi?'

Sameer looked at his watch and muttered, 'Oh shit.'

Quickly he jumped out of the car, running a hand through his long hair and walked towards the main door. After a few steps, he remembered that Naina was with him, and swiftly turned around. Already out of the car, Naina was walking behind him, her eyes downcast. Sameer was about to tell her to drop her dainty damsel act and hurry up when he heard a loud voice.

'Pehli baar ghar laaya hai aur saath lekar bhi nahi chal sakta.' Dadaji stood in front of the gazebo, looking at them.

Sameer froze in his tracks. He was saved by a whisker.

Naina stopped too. Looking at the aristocratic old man in front of her, she didn't know what to say.

Dadaji walked towards them. Sameer started to sweat. He just hoped Naina would play her part well.

Stopping in front of them, Dadaji gave a hard look to him before turning his gaze to Naina. She folded her hands respectfully, and slightly bowed her head. A hint of smile appeared on Dadaji's face.

He waved at them, 'Bahar hi khade rahoge kya? Andar aao.'

As he walked ahead, Naina chewed her lip, not sure what his expression meant.

Next update on Saturday