Hope you all remember where the last chapter ended. If not, please refresh quickly before getting on with this one😊

Naina got up in the morning at her regular time, only to find Sameer still in bed, asleep. On other days, he would have already gone for his jog followed by workout by the time she was up. For a moment, Naina wondered if he was unwell. Or was it because of what happened last night? Apparently, he was as affected by it as she was. In fact, she had been unable to sleep for a long time after that. But she hadn't dared to move, quietly lying with her back to Sameer, as she tried her best to not let her shoulders shudder because of her erratic heartbeat.

Now, with him lost in deep sleep, she found herself free to gaze at him without the fear of being caught. With one leg bent at the knee, he was facing her. In the initial months, he would usually sleep straight on his back, or, sometimes, with his back to her. And then, he had begun to be up before her. Rarely had she seen him like this. Her eyes lingered on his sleeping form, tracing every detail. His tousled hair fell across his forehead, almost covering his closed eyes. It gave him a boyish charm that made her smile. While one arm was wound around the pillow, his other arm lay in the space between them. Naina felt something akin to satisfaction fill her at the way it was stretched towards her side, as if trying to reach her.

His words from the night before echoed in her mind. The raw emotion in his eyes, the sincerity in his touch, the heartfelt plea... everything had seeped into the deepest corners of her entire being. He didn't say the exact words she was waiting to hear, but the seeds of doubt in her mind about his feelings had started to dissolve. How could he be so considerate in his gestures, so understanding of her hesitation otherwise? It wasn't just a fleeting attraction... it was a connection that threaded through their hearts and souls to bring them together in a way that it left no room for pretense anymore. It could be nothing else but love, the same love that her heart was filled with... for him.

It was indeed an absurd twist of fate. Till about six months back, if someone had told her that she would fall in love, that too with Sameer Maheshwari, she would have been appalled by the mention of it. Yet, she had, hopelessly. Her heart swelled with the certainty of her own love, that now shone like a beacon amidst the chaos of her every past belief and ideology.

Something like a faint sound made Sameer stir a little. A slow realisation settled in him when he noticed the daylight filled in the room... he did fall asleep at some point of time, maybe in the early hours of morning, because he clearly remembered spending hours watching the steady rise and fall of Naina's shoulders, his heart bursting with elation at her acceptance. He hadn't even switched on the alarm last night, and had skipped to get up before Naina. He didn't want to, though he had expected to be awake when she got up. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. Her side of the bed lay vacant now. But the sound, perhaps the one that had woken him up, had come from the closet. Today being Saturday, Naina had no office. Neither did he. After giving his arms a good stretch, he pulled himself up, against the backrest.

Just then, the door of closet slid open. Naina stepped out, fresh from her bath, her cheeks coloured with the faintest flush, possibly from the warmth of her bath. Her hair cascaded over her shoulders in loose, damp curls, droplets of water clinging to the strands. The subtle scent of her floral shampoo reached him, making him draw in a breath.

The moment Naina caught his gaze, her steps faltered slightly. Clutching the towel in hand, she asked, a little flustered, 'Uh... sorry... maine try kiya ki tumhe disturb na ho par shayad...' she pursed her lips when he did not give any reaction, except staring at her intently, 'I'm... I'm sorry.'

There was a silence of few seconds. Then Sameer slowly lifted one hand and ran his finger from his forehead, along his temple, till the ear. It took Naina a moment before she realised what he meant. Her hand instinctively went to the strand of wet hair that clung to her cheek and she tucked it behind her ear.

Sameer's response was a smile, one that was radiant, yet had a sparkle of mischief. Her own lips curved slightly. Lowering her gaze, she walked out to put her towel on the terrace. His attention to such a small detail and the simplicity of the gesture left her heart fluttering with a warmth that spread from her cheeks to the tips of her fingers.

Scrunching her nose, she tapped her forehead, murmuring to herself, 'Pagal hun main.' It was unbelievable, even to herself, that such a small thing could make her heart go racing.

When she went back to the room, he was still in bed, checking his phone.

Naina gave him a tentative look, then asked hesitantly, 'Agar tumhe washroom use nahi karna toh main... main baal dry kar lun?'

He looked up, surprised, 'Dryer toh dresser ke socket mein lagta hai. Tum washroom mein kyon use karti ho?'

'Nahi main closet mein hi...' She fell silent, unable to find words to explain her predicament.

Sameer put the phone away and got up from the bed.

'Uh, no problem. Tum...' Naina uttered quickly, her eyes darting to the door, an indication of her intention of escaping, '... main baad mein kar lungi.'

Sameer took a few hasty steps to block her way before she could leave. Standing just a few inches from her, he tilted his head, pretending to think, 'Ab samajh aaya. Jaise tum har subah mujhe face karne se bachne ke liye itni jaldi uth jaati thi waise hi ab bhi mujhse bachne ki koshish kar rahi ho.'

Naina lowered her eyes, though she was startled to know that Sameer was aware of her practice. Did that mean...

Her thoughts were interrupted when Sameer continued, his voice turning gentle, 'Sorry Naina, mujhe kaafi time tak samajh hi nahi aaya ki tum meri wajah se late soti thi aur subah itni jaldi uth kar ready ho jaati thi. Tumne itne dinon, balki mahino tak apni neend sacrifice ki, uske liye sorry.'

Her gaze shifted, to meet his, the surprise evident in them, 'Tum... tumne apna schedule isliye change kiya? Woh jaldi sona, subah jog ke liye jaana, gym... woh sab isliye ki mujhe jaldi na uthna pare?'

Sameer nodded, a contrite look etched on his face, 'Mujhe sach mein pata nahi chala Naina. Warna main tumhe aisa nahi karne deta. Hamari shaadi ka reason jo bhi tha, lekin main kabhi nahi chahta tha ki tum iss ghar mein uncomfortable feel karo.'

Naina's face softened, 'Ghar mein maine kabhi uncomfortable feel kiya bhi nahi. Main bas yeh try kar rahi thi ki meri wajah se tumhe koi inconvenience na ho.'

It was correct to some extent, but what she did not speak out was that she didn't want any awkward moments between them, which had occurred a few times. Her cheeks suddenly heated up at the memory of the incident before he left for Mumbai.

She pushed back the scene playing in her mind and accepted, 'Thank you. Sach kahun toh tumhare naye routine ki wajah se main bohot relaxed ho gayi.' A frown marred her brow, 'Lekin tumhe roz roz itni jaldi uthna bohot mushkil lagta hai na? I'm sorry for that. Hum... hum iske liye koi arrangement kar lete hain, discuss karke. Aadhe week main jaldi uth jaungi aur...'

'Naina.' Sameer took a step closer, and held both her hands, halting her words as he looked into her eyes, 'Kya ab bhi yeh sab karna zaruri hai?'

'Huh?' The word blurted out unintentionally, while her heart jumped to her mouth, both at the meaning and his touch.

Sameer pursed his lips, looking down at their hands for a while before he raised his eyes to look back at her, 'Kya tumhe lagta hai ki main... samajhta nahi? Haan, pehle nahi malum tha lekin jabse...' He had observed every gesture, every action of hers from the time he recognised his love for her, '...jab maine iske baare mein socha toh sab kuch clear ho gaya.' He smiled faintly, 'Lekin ab humein awkward hone, ya embarrassed hone ki situation se bahar aana hoga na? Ab toh hum...' His voice was soft but filled with meaning, '... hum kisi forced rishtey mein nahi hain. We are real. Right?'

Her breath caught. His declaration wasn't a question. It was a statement, simple and undeniable. The intensity of his eyes melted her, the huskiness of his voice pulled her in a cocoon of their shared emotions, the feathery stroke of his thumbs on the back of her hand gave her the feeling of floating in the air, yet, the weight of his words held her rooted in place.

'Right?' He repeated. It was a question, and he expected an answer.

With a nervous gulp, she nodded.

'Great. Fir humein apne pehle din ki shuruat proper tareeke se karni chahiye.' His tone hinted at something different, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

Naina froze, her mind inundated with several scenarios, each one making her stomach tighten into knots.

'Sameer.' She started, flustered, her eyes darting everywhere except at him, 'Mujhe... mujhe neeche jaana hai. Mummy wait kar rahi hongi.'

'Achha? Mummy ka wait karna dikhta hai tumhe aur mera?' He remarked, his expression serious yet laced with amusement, making her tremble even as her cheeks flushed crimson.

Sameer felt the slight shiver in her hands that were enveloped in his palms. The teasing glint in his eyes was replaced with warmth as he smiled, 'Naina, aaj humne apna din itne saare sorry aur thank you se start kiya hai. Aisa laga jaise hum apne room mein nahi kisi conference ke formal atmosphere mein hain. Isliye abse hum dono ek rule follow karenge... no sorry, no thank you. Okay?' His smile turned more loving when her bewildered eyes shot up to meet his, 'Humein ek dusre ki presence se conscious nahi feel karna chahiye. Humein saath mein rehna hai, ek dusre se chhup kar nahi. Aur jab saath rehte hain toh har baat ke liye convenience, guilt, adjustment, favour... yeh sab beech mein nahi aana chahiye. Hamare rishtey ne ek dusre par jo haq diya hai usey accept karna chahiye.'

Naina stayed silent.

He added in a softer voice, 'Tumhe mere liye kuch bhi change karne ki zarurat nahi hai, na apna routine, na tareeka aur na aadatein. Aur agar mujhe bhi permission do toh main bhi roz subah itni jaldi uthne ki yeh duty khatm kar dun?'

'Tum apni exercise band karna chahte ho?' Naina blurted out the first thing that came to her mind.

'Don't worry, band nahi kar raha.' Sameer echoed, his smile turning into a full grin, 'Mujhe yaad hai ek baar tumne kaha tha mujhe body banani chahiye kyonki tum meri body se impress nahi hui thi, isliye workout toh continue karna parega. Bas timing thora change karna chahta hun.'

Naina's face blazed up at the reference. She pulled back her hands with a jerk, trying to slip away from his hold as she mumbled a breathless 'Shut up!'

Before she could get past him, Sameer reached out and gently caught her wrist. The motion made her swivel back to face him, her hair whipping lightly against her cheek with the movement. Naina's eyes widened in surprise, her breath hitching as she looked up at him.

'Shut up bol sakti ho.' He smirked, 'Lekin rule break nahi kar sakti. Yaad rakhna... no sorry, no thank you.'

She thought he would leave her after that, but he didn't. Rather, he pulled at her wrist slightly, just enough to make her come within his touching distance. Then, he lifted his one hand and gently tucked the errant strand of hair behind her ear. His fingertips lingered for just a moment, tracing the curve of her ear before retreating, leaving her skin breaking into goosebumps from the lightest of touch.

Sameer's voice was soft when he finally spoke, his tone low and filled with meaning, 'Neeche jaane se pehle baal sukha lo. Kisi ko aisa na lage ki tumhe iska time tak nahi mila.'

The meaning slowly dawned on Naina, but, by then, Sameer had already vanished into the washroom. Her hand flew to stifle the gasp that threatened to escape her mouth.

'Nahi, Sameer ka matlab kuch aur hoga.' Her mind voice rang into her ears, louder than the noise of hair dryer, 'Main hi galat direction mein jaa rahi hun. Woh aisa thodi bolega. He cannot... he would not... or would he?'

Somehow, she semi dried her hair and wrapped them in a clutch before slipping out of the room. She didn't want to be in the closet when Sameer came out after his bath.

After breakfast, Girish rubbed his temple as he turned to his wife, 'Ambika, aaj lunch mein kuch achha sa sweet banwao yaar. Yeh week bada hectic aur tiring tha. Thakaan mitane ke liye koi zabardast dessert hona chahiye.'

Ambika smiled, 'Bolo kya khane ka dil hai. Main bana dungi.'

Girish frowned, 'Nahi, tumhe effort karne ki zarurat nahi hai. Cook se bol do.'

'Usne aaj dopahar ki chutti maangi thi toh maine breakfast banane ke baad usey bhej diya. Lunch mein aaj noodles banane ka plan tha. Lekin tumko agar kuch aur khana hai toh order kar lenge. Aur dessert main bana dungi.'

Girish agreed for the arrangement, but stated that both lunch and dessert should be ordered since he didn't want Ambika to stress herself. He did not give in even when she insisted that it would not tire her at all.

Naina interrupted their argument, 'Mummy, papa sahi keh rahe hain. Aapko rest karna chahiye. Noodles main bana dungi. Saath mein manchurian bhi.'

'Lekin tum akele...' Ambika frowned, 'nahi beta, tumhe bhi ek weekend hi toh milta hai. Tum bhi rest karo.'

Anaya quickly chipped in, 'I can help her mummy. Last time bhabhi ke saath pao bhaji banane mein bada mazaa aaya tha. Aaj bhi...'

'No way.' Sameer was quick to reject her offer, making everyone look at him in surprise, 'Meri wife ko main help karunga.' He wrapped his arm around Naina's shoulder, drawing her to himself, 'Kisi ko tension lene ki zarurat nahi hai. Main aur Naina milkar lunch bhi bana lenge aur dessert bhi. Aap log bas enjoy karna.'

In front of the family, they had always pretended to be a loving couple. Naina was used to his random touches, his side hugs or occasional kisses that he dropped on her head. But today, this sudden display of closeness made her heartbeat go haywire. His touch felt different, or maybe she was more aware of it.

Ambika grinned, 'Haan, yeh theek rahega. Bade din se tune kuch banaya bhi nahi hai. Apne papa ki tarah biwi ke aane ke baad sust ho gaya hai.'

'Arey!' Girish gave her a hurt look, 'Maine kab mana kiya tumhare liye cooking karne se? Tum khud hi nahi karne deti, ki rehne do, chutti hai toh aaram karo. Ek toh tumhari baat maanta hun upar se taane bhi sunta hun. Aisa pati kahan milega batana zara.'

Anaya rolled her eyes, 'Please papa, aap yeh sataye hue pati ki acting hamare saamne toh mat karo. Hum sab reality jaante hain.'

Girish let out a weary exhale, 'Beta ji, husband wife ki reality koi nahi jaanta, un dono ke alava.' Then, with a sudden twinkle in his eyes, he turned to Sameer and winked, 'Kyon Sameer, sahi keh raha hoon na?'

Sameer, caught off guard by the question, muttered in a tone that was both embarrassed and indulgent, 'Uh...haan... haan papa.'

Naina's cheeks flared up as she darted a glance at Sameer, who seemed to be confused whether to pull his arm back. Then, deciding against it, he tightened his grip and looked at her, silently pleading for support.

Ambika flicked her brows at Naina, 'Dekha Naina, control khud rakhte hain aur naam hamara lagate hain. Husbands ki yehi aadat hoti hai, har baat mein apna faayda nikaal lete hain. Tumhara pati bhale hi mera beta hai, par main hamesha tumhare saath hun, same team mein.'

Getting a grip on himself, Sameer gave a playful smile to Naina, his voice carrying a touch of mischief, 'Yeh aapke jaadu ka asar hai madam, jo sab log mujhe bhoolkar sirf aapko support karte hain.'

Naina narrowed her eyes at him, then decided to join the tease and shrugged innocently, 'Ab jisko jaadu karna aata ho woh toh karega hi. Aur waise bhi, support strong team ko hi karna chahiye.'

While others burst into laughter, Sameer couldn't help smiling with the realisation that he himself was team Naina now.

A little later, Ambika and Girish went out to pay a visit to a friend of his who was hospitalised. Anaya was busy in work while Mohan had been sent to the market to get the ingredients for lunch menu. Sameer received a call from one of the clients, and he went to the study for a video conference. For Naina, it was the perfect time to speak to Natasha.

Quietly slipping to the gazebo, she pressed on the video icon after securing her earbuds in place.

'Hey jaaneman.' Natasha's pleasant smile brightened her screen within seconds, 'Tere lover boy ne time de diya tujhe? I'm actually surprised.'

'Shut up Nutty.' Naina's ears turned red, 'Kuch bhi bolti hai. Aisa... aisa kuch nahi hai.'

'Saaf saaf bol na babydoll, kaisa hai aur kaisa nahi hai?' Natasha winked, 'Aur tujhe kaisa chahiye?'

When Naina did not reply immediately, her brows went up in suspicion, 'Kal raat tune kaha tha tu ab peeche nahi hategi. Are you having second thoughts again?'

Naina chewed onto her lip, a bit shy, then told her the gist of the conversation between her and Sameer the previous night along with the message in his note, before adding, 'Peeche hatne ka koi reason raha nahi Nutty. Usne directly nahi bola, but I think he... he also... usey bhi... matlab...'

Natasha let out an excited shriek, making Naina wince and rub her ear, 'Pagal hai kya Nutty? Behra karegi mujhe? Jab dekho kaan mein chillati rehti hai.'

Waving her fists in air, Natasha expressed her exhilaration, her voice practically a squeal, 'Aise kaise behri hone dungi tujhe meri jaan. Abhi toh tune sirf ek word suna hai. Nahi nahi, woh bhi bas padha hai... khaas. Abhi tujhe Sameer ke muh se woh teen words sunne hain, aur apne muh se bhi toh... jab tu Sameer se kahegi.'

The sheer idea of it made Naina's heart skip a beat. Nervousness gripped her and she looked down, fidgeting with the hem of her top, 'Kaise kahungi yaar? Main toh abhi bhi jawab nahi de paati jab woh kuch kehta hai. I don't think... main uske saamne woh teen words bol paungi.'

'Kis baat ka jawab?' Natasha narrowed her eyes.

Naina shook her head, 'Not exactly an answer, lekin jis tarah ki baatein Sameer ne subah ki, mujhe samajh hi nahi aaya ki main uspar kaise react karun. It was... it was so different.'

She then mentioned how Sameer had correctly interpreted her morning routine of getting up early, and how he confessed to have changed his own timing to make her comfortable. She also told Natasha about how he wanted them to be more comfortable in each others' presence.

Natasha quirked up a brow, 'Fir tune kya kaha?'

Naina confessed softly, 'Kuch nahi. Mujhe samajh hi nahi aaya kya bolun.'

Natasha let out a dramatic sigh, 'Naina darling, tujhe toh kindergarten se padhana parega. Yeh woh school hai jiski taraf tune kabhi muh tak nahi kiya.'

Naina frowned, crossing her arms, 'Shut up yaar Nutty. Isme school education kahan se aa gayi. Kaunse school mein yeh sab sikhate hain zara batana.'

Natasha slapped her forehead with mock despair, 'Dekha. This is what I meant. Tujhe meri baat tak samajh nahi aayi, Sameer ki kya khaakh samjhegi.'

Frustration flared in Naina's eyes, 'Nutty tu gol gol mat ghuma. Seedhe seedhe aisi language mein bol na jo dimag mein ghus sake.'

Natasha gave her a deliberate, mischievous smile, 'Sweetheart yeh koi design ya formula nahi hai jo tu dimag se create ya solve kar legi. Naina baby, yeh dil ka maamla hai. Saare reactions dil se dene honge. Aur tera dil toh hamesha se hibernation mein tha. Ab ekdum se racing car ki speed thodi pakar sakta hai.'

Naina gritted her teeth, 'Toh tu kehna kya chahti hai? Main kya karun? Dimag completely band kar dun?'

Natasha grinned, her hands clutching together as if declaring victory, 'Exactly! Dimag off, dil on. Aur jab Sameer saamne ho, bas us feeling ko flow karne de.'

When Naina blinked at her, utterly perplexed, Natasha threw her hands up air, in resignation, 'Offo baba, tujhe sab kuch samjhana parta hai. Sabse pehli baat, Sameer se nazar chura ke nahi aankhen mila ke baat kiya kar. Uski aankhon mein dekhte hi tera dil zor zor se dhadakne lagega.'

Naina gulped, wondering how Natasha could know this. She was hundred percent right. Whenever their eyes had met, and stayed locked for more than a few moments, Naina could feel the drumming of her heartbeat resonate not just in her ears but her entire body.

Natasha explained further, her expression serious, 'Usey avoid karne ki jagah uske saath rehne ka mauka dhoondh. Aisa koi chance miss mat karna jahan tum ek dusre ke saath time spend kar sako. Take it, even if it feels ki tu selfish ho rahi hai.'

'Kaisa chance?' Naina pondered aloud, 'Hum ghar pe saath hi toh rehte hain. Ab kya office bhi ek hi bana lein? No way, main apna job nahi chorne wali. Aur Sameer, woh toh...'

'Nainaaa idiot, tera toh track hi galat hai.' Natasha shook her head in exaggerated exasperation.

Seeing the confusion on Naina's face, she again let out a sigh, 'Sunn, tu na aisa kar, sabse pehle kuch romantic films dekh. Aur haan, dimaag se unka postmortem mat karna, dil ki aankhon se unko dekhne samajhne ki koshish karna.'

Then, as an afterthought, added, 'Main tujhe list bhejungi, kyonki tujhe toh aisi filmen bhi dhoondna mushkil hoga.' She rolled her eyes at the way Naina gave her a bright smile, 'Ek baat aur, pehle ki tarah jab hero heroine nazdeek aayein aur pyar bhari baatein karein toh apna phone mat check karne lagna.'

Naina's face flushed with embarrassment. At every movie session, whether it was in a theater or on Netflix, Naina had done exactly what Natasha stated. She found the lovey dovey dialogues of the couples extremely superficial and their intense proximity so suffocating that she couldn't bear to look at the screen. She would roll her eyes, mutter under her breath about the unrealistic portrayal, and escape into her phone, scrolling through messages and mails.

Natasha leaned back after the call ended, an almost wicked grin on her face. They both loved each other. And she was the only one in the world who was aware of the feelings of both, for sure. It gave her a sense of power. And she would use this power to make sure they confess to each other... very soon.

I'm really sorry to make you all wait so long for this update 🙏 My mind was preoccupied with meeting several deadlines and some impending decisions. I tried to write but couldn't focus despite my best efforts. Hence the break

Next update on Monday