After cutting the call, Munna gave a miffed look to Sameer, 'Tu pagal hai kya? Sagar se kyon bhid raha tha?'

Pandit warned him in a weary voice, 'Apni biwi ke baare mein tu Sagar se shart laga raha hai? Hosh mein toh hai? Agar isi tarah ki baatein karta raha toh tumhari shaadi ka secret bahar aane mein zyada time nahi lagega. Abhi tere birthday mein do mahine baaki hain. Control kar bhai.'

Sameer gritted his teeth, 'Control mein nahi hota toh Sagar ko tabhi dekh leta jab usne Naina ko hug kiya tha, Munna ke office mein.'

Munna quirked up a brow, 'Achha? Lekin tab tak Naina se shaadi ki toh koi baat nahi hui thi. Tab tujhe Sagar ke gale lagane se kya problem thi?'

'Girlfriend thi tab bhi.' Sameer huffed in same tone, 'Humne sabko yehi toh bataya tha ki Naina meri girlfriend hai.'

Pandit hummed knowingly, 'Haan yeh baat toh sahi hai. Tab girlfriend thi isliye tujhe gussa aaya. Ab biwi hai isliye aur zyada gussa aaya. Banta hai bhai. Jisse pyar kartey hai usey koi aur hug karey ya chhup chhup ke miley toh kisi ko bhi gussa ayega.'

'Aur kya!' Sameer declared in exasperation.

Munna watched Sameer for a moment before breaking the silence which lingered after his affirmative reply, 'Toh tu maanta hai tujhe Naina se pyar ho gaya hai?'

After giving a look of amazement to his friends, Sameer let out a groan, 'Tum dono ek hi baat ke peeche kyon pad gaye ho yaar? Mujhe jaante ho na itne saalon se? Kya tumhe lagta hai main Naina se pyar kar sakta hun? Woh meri kahani mein fit hi nahi hoti bhai.'

Pandit banged the table in frustration, 'Peeche hum nahi tu pad gaya hai. Uss kahani ke jo kabhi likhi hi nahi gayi. Filmon ke tukde jod jod ke tune jo love story ka script banaya hai usey apni kahani samajh raha hai? Asli zindagi mein filmon jaisa kuch hota hai kya? Ab tu koi college ka Romeo nahi hai. Ab toh aankhen khol ke dekh Sameer. Ek baar apne dil se bhi puch ke dekh. Saare signs yehi keh rahey hain ki tujhe Naina se pyar hai. Isiliye tujhe uski parwah hoti hai, uske liye sadak pe maar pitai kar leta hai, usse milne walon pe gussa aata hai, uske doston se jalan hoti hai, uske baare mein janne ki curiosity...'

'Jee nahi.' Sameer cut him short in a louder voice, 'Mujhe uski fikr sirf isliye hai kyonki iss waqt woh meri responsibility hai. Humein yeh shaadi wala natak chalane ke liye ek dusre ke baare mein pata hona chahiye isliye Sagar se puch raha tha. Mujhe koi fark nahi padta ek saal baad Naina kahin bhi jaaye kisi se bhi miley. Lekin jab tak woh meri wife ke role mein hai tab tak kisi ne dekh liye aur mujhse pucha toh mere paas answer hona chahiye na. Aur kal wala jhagda... woh pange ki maar thi pyar ki chot nahi. Dono mein fark hota hai.'

Pandit shot him a piercing gaze, 'Yeh jawab tera dimag de raha hai. Tera dil kya kehta hai woh bata. Sameer, hum andhe nahi hain. Tujhe jaante hain, samjhte hain, tere andar aa rahe badlaav ko mehsoos kar rahe hain. Isliye keh rahe hain ki tu bhi apni filmy file ko ek taraf rakh aur apne aap se sach bol. Tu dusron ko bewakoof bana sakta hai par khud toh bewakoof mat ban. Apni feelings ki sachhai ko analyse kar. Tere yeh extreme reactions kuch aur nahi pyar hain.'

Sameer rolled his head with an exasperated swoosh of air, his lips twisted in a mocking smile at the absurdity of Pandit's deductions.

'Rehne de Pandit.' Munna uttered in a grave voice, 'Kisey samjha raha hai. Isne toh aankhon pe patti baandh rakhi hai. Jab tak isey akal ayegi tab tak shayad bohot der ho chuki hogi.'

Sameer was ready to retort but before he could say what was on his mind, his phone started to ring. He looked at the screen, and frowned as he realised that the caller was none other than the one they were talking about, rather, arguing about. If he took the call now, his friends would get a chance to stress upon the same point again. Swiftly, he cut Naina's call and put the phone screen down on the table.

'Ek baat kaan khol ke sunn lo, yeh pyar nahi natak hai, sabke liye. Aur fikr... aadhe se zyada toh dikhave ki hai, bas usey comfortable karane ke liye jisse woh contract ke beech mein bhaag na jaaye. Warna mujhe uski kisi baat se koi farq nahi padta. Tum dono toh sab kuch jaante ho. Tumhe pata hai Naina jaisi ladki mujhe saat janam mein bhi achhi nahi lag sakti. Yaar yeh baat main pehle din se keh raha hun ki Naina mere type ki nahi hai. Usse pyar karna toh dur main uske jaisi ladki ke baare mein soch bhi nahi sakta. Mere liye woh aaj bhi wohi hai jo pehle thi. Duniya ko dikhane ke liye hum married hain par reality yehi hai ki uske saath asli shaadi ka sapna bhi mere liye darawna sapna hoga. Woh kahan fit ho sakti hai meri life mein? Tum log bhool gaye ki main kaisi ladki ki baatein karta tha? Naina mein woh qualities dikhti hain kya? Ek bhi nahi hai. Mujhe toh pata hai na. Uske saath rehta hun. Maanta hun woh sabke saath achhi hai, helpful hai, samajhdaar hai par aisi toh bohot saari ladkiyan hoti hain. Kya sabse pyar kar lun? Mujhe award dene ke liye nahi balki apne dil ke uss cutout mein fit baithne wali sapnon ki raani chahiye jo sirf mere liye bani ho.'

He looked at the faces of his friends, which showed no signs of getting convinced by his talks. Undeterred, he continued, 'Rahi baat uske baare mein janne ki toh haan mujhe uske liye thoda bura laga jab uski family ke baare mein pata chala. Bechari ko kaafi galat treat kiya uske bhai ne. Aisa sunke hamdardi toh har insaan dikhata hai. Achha tu bata Pandit, agar teri factory ke kisi bande ke saath bura ho jaaye toh tujhe sympathy nahi hogi? Aur Munna, office ke employees ke saath kuch tragic hone pe tu hi sabse pehle unko support karta hai. Bhai dusron ke misfortune ke liye understanding ya pity hona pyar nahi hota, insaniyat hoti hai. Hum apni taraf se jitna ho sake unhe help karenge hi na, bas isiliye maine Naina ko help offer ki. Paisa ek aisa zariya hai jisse har problem solve ho sakti hai. Thode paise dene se uski life ki problem bhi solve ho jayegi toh charity samajh ke kar sakte hain. Isko koi bewakoof hi pyar samjh sakta hai. Aur tum log jo har baat mein Naina ko zabardasti mere dil mein bithane ki koshish karte rehte ho, isse mujhe pakka yakeen ho jaata hai ki woh mere dil ka hissa kabhi nahi ban sakti. Jisey tolerate karne ke liye hi itna saara effort daalna pade ussey pyar kaise kar sakte hain?'

Munna held onto his patience at Sameer's irrational babble and tried to reason with him, 'Wohi hum tujhe samjhane ki koshish kar rahe hain. Effort daale bina Naina ke liye teri soch badalne lagi hai. Tu bata kya tu uske dukh se pareshan nahi hota, kya tera mann nahi karta ki woh hamesha khush rahey, hamesha muskuraye? Yeh sab tu dil se kar raha hai, zabardasti nahi. Buri toh woh pehle bhi nahi thi lekin tujhe ab samajh aane laga hai ki woh kitni achhi hai. Yeh sab dekhne samajhne ke liye humne tujhe force nahi kiya. Sameer, jab hum kisi ko janne lagte hain tabhi hamari feelings unke liye strong hoti hain.'

Pandit was of the same opinion, 'Haan bhai. Munna ki baat pe zara gaur kar. Dekh, hum dono tujhe bachpan se jaante hain isliye keh rahe hain. Tu Naina ke saath itna judd chuka hai ki ab usse alag hokar rehna mushkil hai. Agar Naina se alag hone ke baad tujhe ahsaas hua ki tujhe sach mein usse pyar ho gaya tha toh baat sambhalna mushkil ho jayega. Apne pyar ko accept karega tabhi toh Naina ke dimaag se pyar ke liye nafrat nikal kar uske dil pe apna naam likh payega.'

Feeling cornered, Sameer snapped, 'Mujhe toh nahi par lagta hai tum dono ko pyar hone laga hai uss behenji se. Wakalalat toh aise kar rahey ho jaise Naina ne tumhe paise diye hain mujhe jaal mein phansaane ke. Hadd hai yaar. Keh toh diya agar Naina duniya ki akhiri ladki bhi hogi toh main uske pyar mein nahi pad sakta. Kahan main aur kahan woh. Ek zara sa natak kya kar liya tum logon ne usey mere galey ka dhol bana diya. Main kaise time nikaal raha hun mujhse pucho. Roz ek hi baat sochta hun... kab khatm hoga yeh ek saal aur kab main iss musibat se azaad hounga. Roz roz uski shakl dekhte dekhte tang aa gaya hun. Uske saamne jhoothi smile karte karte muh dukhne laga hai mera.'

Without waiting for any response from either of them, he got up and stormed out the main door. The moment he stepped outside, away from the din and music of the restaurant, his senses came back to him and he could realise how idiotic his reaction was.

Instant regret filled his brain as he ran a hand over his face, grumbling, 'Munna Pandit pe bhadakne ki kya zarurat thi mujhe? Pata nahi Naina ka naam sunte hi kya ho jaata hai. Yeh ladki sach mein mujhe pagal kar rahi hai.'

Leaning against his car, he sighed, wondering if he should go back and apologise to them. But what if they again stressed on their theory and he again lost his mind. Why were they so hell bent on proving that all his actions meant one thing... that he loved Naina. Of course he did not. How could he love a girl he hated at the first sight? The love cupid was supposed to hit him when he met the girl of his dreams. Naina only infuriated him every time their paths crossed. It was only after they had started the pretense of fake relationship did he see that she had a reasonable side too. Yet, it did not mean that his opinion for her would change.

Mumbling to himself, he kicked a pebble, 'Pehle hi mera dimaag crossword puzzle se bhi zyada complicated ho rakha hai upar se yeh dono naya gaana gaane lag gaye. Jaise mujhe pyar hoga toh mujhe hi nahi pata chalega. Khud jaake bataunga dono ko sabse pehle, ki jis din ka intezaar tha woh aa gaya hai, mujhe bhi apne sapno ki raani mil gayi hai, mujhe bhi pyar ho gaya hai. Par ho tab na.'

After a brief pause, he gave a sharp jerk to his head, again feeling bad about his outburst. He should not have lashed out in this manner. Munna Pandit had always been his closest friends, his support, his partners in crime... practically his brothers. He had relied on them for every problem since forever. It wasn't a new thing amongst them to get agressive to make one of them realise his mistake. He remembered when Pandit wanted to leave his parents' house during their college days because he felt they did not care about him, the two of them had locked him in the room. It took them several weeks and long sessions of heated arguments to make him see the absurdity of his action. Around same time, when he himself had challenged a group of goons of a rival college for making fun of their cricket team, Munna Pandit had forced him to lie low and not get into unnecessary fight with such a rowdy bunch. That time he was filled with rage as his ego was hurt, but later, was grateful when few boys who had indeed exchanged blows with them were rusticated from the college.

For the three of them, they were not just each other's anchors but therapists too. When Munna's father passed away, he was devastated. Only because of Sameer and Pandit, he was able to get back to his life within a month. During that period, both of them were more of a family to Munna, his mother and brother than the relatives who were present only for namesake and shirked away from every responsibility.

The bond between them could not be defined. However much they pulled each other's leg, condemned each other's actions or even fought, deep down they only had pure concern for each other at heart. The difference of opinion was not a clash, but their way of keeping each other on the right track.

Making up his mind, Sameer walked back inside the restaurant. He would apologise and tell them that he had blurted all that nonsense because his mind was messed up. And no, it wasn't due to love, it was due to the absence of it. He had been extremely frustrated playing a lovey dovey husband, when his heart still yearned for his real soulmate. He was mad at himself, for getting attracted to Naina knowing fully well that all his feelings were reserved for just one person. He was irked by the affect she was having on him. And he was confused about the need he felt to protect her. Wrapped up in all these upheavals, he had come to them to search for solutions.

Munna looked up at him, without any surprise, as if he knew all along that Sameer would be back shortly.

Pandit hummed, 'Akal ke saath aaya hai ya abhi bhi teri sui wahin atki hai?'

Sameer pulled a chair and sat down heavily, running a hand through his hair, 'Sorry yaar. Fir se mere dimag ka fuse udd gaya tha. Mujhe tum dono se jhagda nahi karna tha. Balki main toh yahan advice lene aaya tha. Pata nahi kaise...'

Again, he was interrupted by the ringtone of his phone. He pulled it out, narrowed his eyes at the number, and was about to take it when the phone stopped ringing.

'Kiska call hai?' Munna asked, sensing his confusion.

'Pata nahi.' Sameer pondered, 'Number saved nahi hai par dekha dekha lag raha hai. Ek minute, call log mein check karta hun.'

Seeing that he had received calls from the same number twice before, and had a conversation everytime, he placed a call back. It turned out to be a travel agent who had booked his tickets for Mumbai.

'Sir, aapki ticket ho gayi hai. Lekin return ke baare mein nahi bataya aapne.' The agent said politely.

'Kaunsi ticket?' Sameer impatiently brushed away his query, 'Dekho, jab chahiye hogi tumhe office se call aa jayega.'

'Lekin sir...' The agent began to explain but Sameer cut him short, saying that he was busy presently and would call when a booking was to be made.

He was about to put the phone back after disconnecting when suddenly his face went white. In a state of complete shock, he stared at the screen. It was not possible. Absolutely not.

'Oye, ab kya hua tujhe? Aisa lag raha hai phone mein bhoot dekh liya?' Pandit shook his shoulder when Sameer kept gaping at the phone like a statue.

Neither he looked up, nor responded. Munna Pandit looked at each other, their faces etched with tension. It was evident from Sameer's stance that something was gravely wrong.

'Bol na Sameer kya hua.' Pandit nudged him again, harder this time.

Sameer finally lifted his ashen face to meet their eyes, and uttered in a shaky voice, 'Woh call... Naina ka call... jo maine reject kiya tha...'

Munna hastily asked the first thing that came to his mind, 'Ghar pe tumhare contract ka pata chal gaya kya? Naina ne yeh kehne ko call kiya tha? Lekin kaise? Kisne bataya?'

Cold sweat broke out on Sameer's face, 'Nahi.' Unable to speak more, he flashed his phone screen in front of their faces. It took a while for Munna Pandit to notice what he meant... but when their eyes zeroed on it, they felt a chill through their bones.

The phone record showed that Naina's call did not end instantly... it lasted for twenty minutes. Twenty long minutes. But how was that possible? Sameer had instantly pressed the red icon. Or did he not?

Pandit's eyes widened in realisation, 'Abey kahin tune galti se green sign toh nahi dabaa diya tha? Sameer, bees minute ka matlab... Naina ne sab sunn liya? Usne hamari baatein sunn li hongi bhai. Yeh toh kaand se bhi bada wala kaand ho gaya.'

Sameer gasped for breath, 'Kya... kya aisa nahi ho sakta ki call on tha par... meri tarah usne bhi phone na dekha ho? Agar usne bhi galti se rakh diya hoga toh? Fir toh hamari baatein nahi suni hongi na?'

Munna mumbled in disbelief, 'Aur agar aisa na hua ho toh? Agar Naina ne sab kuch sunn liya hoga toh woh ab nahi rukegi. Yaad hai pehle ek baar usne tujhe kaisi khari khari sunayi thi. Tab usey tujhse koi lena dena nahi tha isliye baat khatm ho gayi. Ab maamla pehle jaisa nahi hai. Tere muh se apne baare mein itna kuch sunne ke baad woh kyon help karegi teri? Contract tod degi pakka. Lekin usse pehle saari baat gharwalon ko bata degi. Sameer, tera khel khatm. Tu toh gaya.'

Sameer felt the ground had been pulled away from under him. He could not even imagine what would be the outcome of this. His whole world seemed to be falling to pieces in front of his eyes. Could he let that happen? No. He had to do something before Naina decided to punish him by laying the truth open in front of his family.

He grabbed the phone and dashed out without another word. It was a miracle that he did not meet with an accident, considering the way he drove at break neck speed.

Surrrrprissseee 🎉🎉🩷😘

Next update on Tuesday 😊