Naina had just entered the room when her phone started to ring.

'Hi Nutty.' Her face lit up with a broad smile as she took the video call after plugging in the ear buds.

'Uff meri jaan, kya kamaal lag rahi hai.' Natasha dramatically placed a hand on her heart, 'Ladka hoti toh main tujhe bhaga ke le jaati, tere pati se dur.'

'Shut up yaar Nutty.' Naina chuckled, 'Tu apna focus apne pilot ko dhundne pe rakh aur mujhe baksh de.'

Natasha grinned, 'No sweat girl. Woh mera part time job nahi hai, full scale business hai. Don't you worry. Pata lagte hi aapko sabse pehle khabar di jayegi sweetheart.'

The word brought a shy smile to Naina's face as she recalled how different it felt when Sameer had once called her the same.

'Oye hoye.' Natasha was quick to catch it, 'Baat meri love story ki ho rahi par gaal tere pink pink ho rahey hain.' She wiggled her brows, mischief dripping from her tone, 'Lagta hai teri gaadi patri pe hi nahi aayi ek do station bhi paar kar chuki hai.'

'Tu na, bakwaas mat kar.' Naina tried to hide her flaming cheeks in fake anger, 'Tere dimaag ke ghodon ke paas koi aur raasta hai hi nahi.'

Natasha's eyes widened, 'I am 100 percent sure tu kuch chupa rahi hai Naina. Teri shakl dekh ke bata sakti hun. Listen, mujhe har ek detail chahiye. Bas ab shuru hoja. Kya hua, kaise hua, kisne pehle dil ki baat kahi, kisne pehla step liya... umm, baaki ke steps bhi batayegi toh chalega.'

'Itni lambi jump lagane ki zarurat nahi hai. Aisa kuch nahi hua.' Naina hissed, the deep streak of red covering her neck and face.

Natasha scrunched her nose in frustration, 'Dhatt yaar. Mujhe toh laga tha ab tak baat kahan se kahan pohonch gayi hogi. Lekin tu...' She narrowed her eyes, 'Ek minute, kya tu abhi tak soch hi rahi hai ki teri feelings ka matlab kya hai? Are you... are you still unsure?'

Naina lowered her eyes, staying silent for a few seconds while Natasha waited patiently.

When she looked back at the screen, her eyes had a different sparkle, 'I'm sure about how I feel. Lekin Sameer... uski asli feelings kya hai, yeh mujhe nahi pata. I know woh abhi mere saath hai, apni marzi se iss rishtey ko aage lekar jaana chahta hai. Lekin yeh rishta sach mein uske dil se jura hai ya nahi, yeh main nahi jaanti. Fir bhi, jo woh mere liye karta hai usse sukoon milta hai, khushi hoti hai. Nutty, uski baaton se, uske gestures se feel hota hai ki woh mujhe samajhne laga hai.'

Natasha smiled, her voice turning gentle, 'Aur tu? Kya tu bhi samajhne lagi hai usey? More importantly, kya tu uske liye apni feelings ko poori tarah se accept kar rahi hai? Ya fir abhi bhi tujhe lagta hai ki yeh sirf ek attraction hai?'

Naina's smile was a bit forlorn as she met her friend's eyes, 'Pata hai Nutty, maine usey paaya tak nahi hai, fir bhi usey kho dene ka soch ke kaanp jaati hun. Achanak yeh sab... yeh sab chinn jayega mujhse toh kuch nahi bachega, khalipan ke siva. Wohi khalipan jo Sameer ke aane se dur hua hai... woh fir se mujhe gher lega. Yeh soch ke raaton ko so nahi paati ki contract ke khatm hone par, ya fir kuch waqt baad, agar mujhe yahan se jaana pada toh kya main usse dur ho paungi. Agar woh meri zindagi mein nahi hoga toh kya uske bina jee paungi. Usey dekhe bina subah nahi hoti, uski awaaz sune bina din nahi kat ta. Uski aadat si ho gayi hai. Uski smile, uska gussa, uski ajeeb harkatein ya fir uski confusing baatein... ab mujhe kuch bhi bura nahi lagta.'

It was enough for Natasha to break into a wide grin, 'Yess. Jaaneman, isey hi pyar kehte hain. Tujhe usse asli wala pyar ho gaya hai. Apne dil ki baat bata de usey Naina. Jab tu uski taraf se aise hi signs dekh rahi hai aur apne dil mein uska pyar mehsus kar rahi hai toh der kyon karni hai baby. Tere dil ke darr ko khatm karne ke liye yeh zaruri hai. Ek baar uski feelings ke liye sure ho jayegi toh tujhe aisa nahi lagega. Sameer unn ladkon mein se nahi hai jo ek baar haath pakad kar kuch waqt baad chor de. I'm sure woh teri feeling ko reciprocate karega.'

'Yehi toh main nahi chahti.' Walking out to the terrace, Naina declared in a voice so low that Natasha almost missed her words.

'What do you mean? Jab sab kuch theek hone laga hai toh tu peeche hatna chahti hai? You want to give up?' She asked in wonder.

Naina let out a small sigh before giving her friend a knowing smile, 'Main sirf itna keh rahi hun ki main Sameer pe apni feelings ka pressure nahi daalna chahti. Woh sach mein mere liye kaisa feel karta hai yeh jaane bina main usey kuch nahi keh sakti. Par iska matlab yeh nahi ki main peeche hat rahi hun.' In slow, deliberate words, she carefully explained the complexity of her emotions, 'I want to give this relationship all I have. Because I love him. Isliye jab tak mujhe uska saath milega, main usey poori tarah se jeena chahti hun. Jisse agar kisi din Sameer ko apne sapno wali ladki mil gayi aur mujhe uski zindagi se jaana pada toh mere paas bohot si khoobsurat yaadon ka sahara hoga.'

Natasha was silent for a moment, processing Naina's raw honesty. She knew Naina for long enough to know that if her friend was ready to take such a step, without a promise of lifelong commitment from Sameer, she was not just in love, but that same love had filled her with exceptional strength. All her life, Naina had condemned this one emotion, questioning its existence. And now, she was ready to gamble her life because of this very emotion.

Only because she didn't know yet that Sameer loved her too. As much, if not more.

Natasha urged one more time, 'Naina, tu ek baar usey keh ke toh dekh. Kya pata woh bhi bataa nahi paa raha ho par woh bhi same feel karta ho. Maine tujhe pehle bhi bola tha ki mujhe Sameer ki taraf se aisa lagta hai. I'm sure he...'

'Nahi Nutty.' Naina rejected her outrightly, 'Main usey force nahi kar sakti. Agar uski feelings attraction se zyada hain toh ek din khud saamne aa jayengi. Lekin tab tak main iss rishtey ko hold par nahi rakhungi. I want to experience this life Nutty. Kal ka intezaar mujhe bhi hai lekin aaj... aaj mere liye itna pyar kaafi hai jitna mere dil mein uske liye hai. I'm happy. I'm really happy.'

And she was.

In the study, Sameer was surprised to find not just his father and grandfather but Anaya too.

'Kya hua Dadaji?' A wave of apprehension coursed through him, 'Anu ne koi problem create kar di?' He looked at his sister, 'What is it?'

Ambika entered the room and hurriedly shut the door before he got any response from anyone.

Sameer was suspicious now, 'Mummy, sab theek hai na? Aap log mujhe anxiety de rahe ho.'

Dadaji shot him a sombre look, 'Main subah se Naina ke bhai ko contact karne ki koshish kar raha hun par usne phone nahi uthaya. Teri baat hoti hai kya usse?'

A knot of panic began to tighten in Sameer's chest, his voice faltering as he asked, 'Kyon... kyon Dadaji? Naina ke bhai se kya kaam tha?'

Girish got up and came to him, his face as serious as dadaji's, 'Usey yahan bulana hai.'

Sameer could feel the trickle of sweat from his temple, 'Yahan? Hamare ghar?'

While the elder men glared at him, Sameer heard a giggle from behind, unmistakably from his sister who tried to stifle it by covering her mouth. Sameer frowned as he turned to throw her a baffled glance.

Before he could ask another question, Ambika lightly smacked the back of his head, 'Arey buddhu tu toh aise darr raha hai jaise koi chori pakri gayi. Yeh ghabrane ki nahi khushi ki baat hai.'

In an excited voice, Anaya added, 'Bhabhi ka birthday aa raha hai bhai. Yeh urgent meeting uski planning ke liye hai.'

Girish chuckled, 'Shakl dekh apni. Totey udd gaye tere. Arey yaar tere saale ka number hi toh maanga hai. Ismein shocked hone ki kya baat hai?'

It took a few moments for Sameer to get his heartbeat slow down a little, though his breath still remained unsteady. The topic of Naina's brother was a precarious one.

'Papa, actually...' His mind formed a quick excuse, '... humein Naina se puche bina uske bhai se baat nahi karni chahiye.'

'Kyon?' Dadaji narrowed his eyes, 'Apne birthday pe apne bhai bhabhi ko dekh ke Naina ko pleasant surprise milega. Khush ho jayegi.'

'Aur kya.' Ambika insisted, 'Shaadi par bhi woh log nahi aa paaye. Yeh achha mauka hai.'

Sameer lowered his head for a while, then drew in a long breath before speaking in a firm voice, 'Yeh surprise Naina ko achha nahi lagega Dadaji.'

The room fell silent as his family stared at him in stunned disbelief. Sameer quickly explained, 'Actually, Naina ke relations apne bhai ke saath kuch theek nahi hain.'

'Aisa kya ho gaya Sameer?' Girish worriedly looked at Sameer, 'Family ke naam pe bas woh dono bhai behen hi toh hain. Unmein kis baat ki anban hai?'

It was neither his place to reveal the truth nor the time was right. But since he had brought up the topic, Sameer decided to give a rough outline to his family.

In carefully articulated words, he told them, 'Ismein Naina ki galti nahi hai. Uska bhai... woh aur uski wife Naina ke saath kaafi kharab tareeke se behave karte hain. Kuch property ka issue hai.'

Dadaji was taken aback, 'Tune pehle kyon nahi bataya? Kahan hai unki property? Main abhi apne lawyer se baat karta hun. Hamare rehte Naina ko yeh sab akele karne ki kya zarurart hai.'

'Nahi dadaji.' Sameer panicked, 'Please aap aisa kuch mat karna.' He pleaded with everyone else too, 'Aap koi Naina se iss baare mein kuch mat kehna. Usey pata nahi lagna chahiye ki maine aap logon ko yeh baat batayi hai. Woh isko lekar bohot sensitive hai. Aur embarrassed bhi.'

Ambika placed a hand on his arm, her voice comforting, 'Theek hai, hum kuch nahi kahenge. Lekin tu Naina ko samjha ki ismein sharminda hone ki baat nahi hai. Kabhi kabhi haalaat aise ho jaate hain ki khoon ke rishton mein bhi faaslein ban jaate hain. Jaise main apne parents aur bhai behen se hamesha ke liye dur ho gayi.'

'Ambika.' Girish wrapped an arm around her shoulders, a hint of guilt betraying his voice, 'Agar tum chaho toh hum ek baar fir se unhe...'

'Nahi Girish.' She cut him short, smiling warmly, 'Tum guilty mat feel karo. Yahi baat main Sameer ko samjhana chahti hun. Zaruri nahi har baar bachhon ki galti ho. Kabhi kabhi ghar ke bade bhi galat hote hain.'

Everyone in the family was aware what Ambika's parents had done to her. They did not approve of the person she had chosen for herself and tried to blackmail her into getting married elsewhere, to someone who belonged to a well known family but was notorious for his scandalous lifestyle and dubious character.

When she questioned her father's choice, he had stated, 'Toh kya hua? Shaadi ke baad sudhar jayega. Ladka hai, thodi mauj masti kar li toh kya ho gaya.'

Stunned by her father's regressive mentality, Ambika had stood her ground, refusing to surrender to his demands. Once she married Girish despite their vehement opposition, her family responded in a drastic manner. They declared her dead to their community and even went to the extreme of publishing an obituary in the newspapers, severing all ties in the most public and cruel manner possible.

Dadaji nodded, giving an affectionate look to Ambika, 'Haan beta, zaruri nahi ki umr ke saath insaan ki samajhdaari bhi badhe. Tum purani baaton ko yaad karke apna dil mat dukhao. Shayad unke saath itna hi rishta likha tha tumhara.'

Ambika shook her head, her eyes filled with warmth, 'Nahi papa, main bilkul dukhi nahi hun. Bas Sameer ko samjhane ke liye yeh baat uthayi. Main toh bohot lucky hun ki main iss family ka hissa ban paayi. Jaisa pyar, jo comfort aur apnapan aap logon ne mujhe diya wohi main Naina ko dena chahti hun. Yeh baat humein batane mein uki hesitation bhi samjah sakti hun.'

She directed her gaze to sameer, 'Tu ghabra mat, abse hum Naina ke saamne uske bhai bhabhi ka zikr nahi karenge. Lekin haan, do hafte baad uska birthday hai, uski celebration toh zarur hogi.'

'Haan bhai, dhamakedaar celebration.' Anaya's chirpy exclamation brought back the excitement to the discussion, 'Bhabhi ka pehla birthday hai hamare saath. Grand hona chahiye.'

Sameer ruffled her hair, his face relaxed, 'Tujhe toh bahana chahiye party karne ka. Lekin Naina ke naam pe yeh mauka nahi milne wala tujhe.'

He then turned to his family, 'Hum celebrate zarur karenge lekin waise hi jaise baaki sabke birthdays celebrate hote hain, Dadaji ke banaye hue tareeke se. Main Naina ko jaanta hun. Usey koi bada function nahi chahiye hoga. Uski choice simple hai. Aur usey hamara yeh style bohot achha laga tha.'

While the entire family went ahead with the planning within a closed room, in the other part of the house, Naina ended the call with Natasha, feeling a sense of relief flood through her. Speaking it aloud had given her better confidence to go ahead with what she wanted. For a long time, she had run away from such feelings, but now she was prepared to embrace every emotion without hesitation. Yes, she wanted to bask in the affection and warmth of the family that doted on her, wished to be held in the arms that felt like home, hoped to be loved deeply and passionately by the man she had come to love with all her heart.

With a smile on her face, she came back to the room. Sameer was not back yet. She thought of quickly freshening up before going down for tea. But before that she needed to put her phone on charge. Taking the charger from her bag, she plugged it in the socket near the study table. Nothing happened.

'Ab isey kya hua?' She mumbled in irritation, pressing the plug. But the screen did not come to life.

Exasperated, she checked the charger. At one end, the wire had come loose, hanging from where it was attached to the adaptor. With a sigh, she went to her bedside table, to look for the other charger. The moment she pulled open the drawer, her gaze fell on the note stuck to the book

Yeh room mera ya tumhara nahi hai. Yeh hamara hai. Hum dono ka. Hamesha ke liye. Aur haan, tum 'kisi' nahi ho. Mere liye tum 'khaas' ho. Sabse khaas.

Naina remembered the note she had left in the morning. This was the answer to that one. Slowly, a shy smile curved her lips. The way Sameer had highlighted the words 'khaas', it could mean only one thing. And she hoped with all her heart that it did.

By the time Sameer reached the room, Naina had already changed and gone down. He sighed. The day felt like it had stretched into an eternity. Now he had no option but to wait till after dinner.

'Apni hi biwi se milne ke liye itna intezaar. Pandit ne kaha tha baby steps lena. Meri kismat ki speed ke aage toh koi baby bhi Usain Bolt lagega.' He muttered in frustration as he peeled off his office clothes and headed to the washroom.

The conversation at the dinner table flowed like everyday, lighthearted and full of warmth. Sameer could not help stealing glances at Naina. She had become a part of his family with ease, fitting in like she always belonged here. Why did he not see this before? Maybe this would have given him some hint about what the universe was telling him... 'the kainaat' he begged, just like Shahrukh Khan, to help him reach the one who was meant for him. The mistake had been his. He was trying to choose from the ones who were around him, whom he met, or who crossed his path in all those years. What he didn't know at that time was that the one meant for you was not to be chosen... she had to be found. It took a little longer, but he found her. He finally found Naina. The only one for him. Time and beyond.

After dinner, Girish asked him something about a client and it took Sameer a few minutes to explain. By the time he eventually went to the room, Naina was at the table, working on her laptop.

'Umm... tumhe time lagega kya?' He asked, a little hesitant.

So was Naina. She did not meet his eyes when she answered, 'Uh... haan. Actually thoda kaam baaki hai.'

Another hour had slipped by before she shut the laptop. Sameer quickly closed his eyes, pretending to be asleep. If she was deliberately stalling their talk, he didn't want to give her another reason. She got up from the chair, without making any noise, and turned. Inadvertently, her gaze flew to him.

One part of her was relieved that Sameer had fallen asleep, but some part of her heart yearned for more. It longed for him to bridge the gap, to speak the words she desperately wanted to hear, to show the emotions she had felt in those little notes. She wanted him to take some step that would give her a glimpse of his real feelings.

She slipped into the bed, her movements careful so as not to disturb him. Just when her hand reached the lamp switch on her side, the lamp on the other side flickered to life. The room suddenly turned brighter. Naina snapped her head toward him in surprise. To her astonishment, Sameer was sitting up.

'S... sorry.' She murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, 'Meri wajah se tum uth gaye. I tried to be quiet.'

'Tumhari wajah se so hi nahi paaya.' He looked into her eyes, 'Because you have been so quiet.'

'Kya... kya matlab?' Naina blinked, wondering how he was aware of her thoughts.

Sameer tilted his head slightly, a mix of confusion and curiosity playing on his face, 'Tumne ab tak ek bhi jawab nahi diya Naina.'

A faint disappointment tugged at her heart. He only wanted to know why she had used such colourful adjectives as his contact name.

With a shrug, Naina replied, 'Jab maine tumhara number save kiya tha tab ki situation alag thi. Hum jab bhi milte they hamara jhagda hi hota tha. Tumhari baaton pe, tumhare mannerism pe gussa aata tha. Aur fir achanak shaadi... jaanti hun yeh shaadi maine apni marzi se ki thi. Lekin ab toh tum bhi jaante ho meri haan ke peeche kya majboori thi.'

She paused for a moment, while Sameer kept his intent gaze on her.

'Tab main bas jaldi se jaldi iss contract ke rishte se chutkara chahti thi. Kyonki tum bohot annoy karte they mujhe. Yeh saare naam tumhari kisi na kisi harkat ki wajah se diye they. Aur woh last line... woh tab likhi thi jab main Singapore gayi thi... jo hua tha... uske baad.'

Sameer lowered his head, filled up with guilt at the mention of the incident he regretted most in his life.

'I'm sorry.' He whispered, regret filling each breath of his. His voice carried the weight of his remorse. He wished he could take back all those moments when he had hurt her.

'No. Please.' Her voice was soft, 'Tum bohot baar uss baat ke liye maafi maang chuke ho. Sach toh yeh hai ki ab main khud uss kisse ko yaad nahi karti. Tum bhi mat karo. Aur guilt ko apne dil se nikaal do. Agar tumhari kuch baaton se mera dil dukha tha toh aise incidents bhi hain jahan tumne meri unexpected tareeke se help ki thi. So... we can call it even. Okay?'

Sameer stared at her, his mind replaying her words. It was remarkable how she had decided to let go of the hurt he had caused and instead chosen to focus on the good.

She then turned to pick her phone, switched it on and showed him the screen, 'Yeh dekho, maine naam change kar diya.' She smiled as she explained, 'Honestly, main khud hi bhool gayi thi ki maine yeh sab likha hua hai. Hamari phone par baat hoti hi kahan hai. Isliye dhayan nahi gaya.'

He glanced at the phone in her hand. His name was saved as 'Sameer Maheshwari'. Just that.

'Okay.' He nodded, pulling himself out of the glum memories and bringing his focus to what he had to say, 'Ab agla sawaal. Tumne mere note ka reply kyon nahi diya? Maine sab jagah dekha, lekin tumne koi note rakha hi nahi.'

Naina's heart began to race. Her eyes darted to the drawer, where his note was kept safely.

'Woh... woh koi sawaal thodi tha.' She uttered in a slightly shaky voice, 'Tumne kaha yeh hamara room hai toh... toh maine maan liya.'

Sameer leaned forward, his voice tinged with something deeper, 'Sirf room nahi, sab kuch. Yeh ghar, yeh family... jo bhi ab tak mera tha abse hum dono ka hai.'

Naina's breath caught in her throat. She slightly dipped her head to the side, her fist tightening on the bedsheet at the edge.

Sameer took her other hand in his. Her gaze jumped to the warm hold of his fingers that tightened around her cold ones. She could feel the slight tremor in his grip.

Even his voice quivered with nervous excitement, 'Iska matlab... kya tum... kya tum hamari shaadi ko real maankar... hamesha ke liye... meri wife bankar rahogi?'

It was a very slight nod, and even slighter sound of her barely audible voice when she gave him the answer he so badly wanted... Haan.

The moment Sameer heard that one word, it felt like every nerve in his body caught fire. His heart began to thud uncontrollably, and for a minute, he forgot how to breathe. Then, joy exploded in his chest.

'Sach Naina?' His voice was thick with emotion as he asked again, just to hear it one more time, 'Hamesha?'

She swallowed, reminding herself of what she had confessed in front of Natasha, then looked up to meet Sameer's eyes, voicing her deepest fears, 'Tum iss rishtey ko hamesha ke liye nibha paoge? Agar kuch waqt ke baad tumhe...'

He did not let her continue, clutching her hand in both his palms, 'No way. Main kabhi peeche nahi hatunga. Kabhi nahi. I... I...' He gulped, the most important words getting stuck in his throat.

When he noticed Naina's hopeful eyes flickering between his, he quickly completed his sentence with what he felt would sound convincing, '...I will be with you forever.'

If she was expecting something else, Naina did not let it show on her face. Sameer lifted her hand to his lips, and placed a gentle kiss on her knuckles. Her heart skipped a beat at the touch of his lips on her skin. At the same moment, the memory of their kiss on the terrace the day before flashed in their mind. Their eyes shot up to meet, the tension between them growing taut. Neither of them had a clue what to do next.

Naina could hear her heart beating in her eardrums, feel it straining against her ribcage, so loud and frantic as if it wanted to break out of her chest. Before her unruly heart betrayed her rational mind, she slowly pulled her hand out of his grip, shifting back a little.

With her head lowered, she whispered, trying to clear the chaos of their feelings, 'I think... humein... we should... take time... to...'

'We must.' Sameer repeated in a gentle voice, her hesitation evident to him, 'Aaj se hum apni nayi kahani start karenge Naina. Aur iska ek ek chapter hum apne pace pe likhenge. Jaise tum chaho waise.'

With a relieved smile, Naina nodded.

That night, while Naina slept in her usual way, Sameer could not turn his back to her. For the major part of the night, he lay awake, watching her back, a smile plastered on his face.

Next update on Sunday