Sorry sorry sorry
for the delay 🙏

Title is a beautiful song 'Aa meri jaan' from 90s  movie 'Chandni'. It was played in the show also.

It took Naina a while in the washroom, to get back to normal. She was shaking from the effect of what happened a few minutes back. Turning towards the mirror, she looked at herself. There was a deep blush on her entire face and neck. In fact, the neck was a darker shade, owing to Sameer's ministrations. Shutting her eyes, she sucked in her lower lip.

Next moment, her eyes flew open... and her lips parted. She stared at them in her reflection. Gingerly, her fingers travelled up to her mouth, and touched her lips. A gasp escaped her. Even through the fabric of curtain, she had felt the softness of his lips as they pressed over hers. Letting out a shaky breath, she wondered if the curtain would have remained... or gone... had they not been interrupted. Since she had finally confessed her feelings to him, maybe the curtain...

Naina smiled, recalling his reaction when she said it. He thought he had imagined it, she chuckled. When she had said it again, he was ecstatic. Well, she could say it every moment of her entire life... and still it would not be sufficient to tell him how much she loved him. Would he kiss her every time she said it? She surely hoped so. The feel of his lips was magical on her skin. She felt both... beautiful, and special.

When Naina came out of the washroom after changing into her night dress, Sameer had put Ayush in bed, in the center. He laid next to him, perched on his elbow, and was talking to him in a soft, soothing voice. A grateful smile spread on her face. When Ayush had declared he wanted to sleep in this room, for a moment she was worried about Sameer's reaction. But he had not even batted an eyelid, picking up Ayush in his arms instantly.

"Mere liye toh bohot lucky hain spiders." He had grinned.

Ayush stared at him with wide eyes, "Aapko spiders achii lagti hain?"

Sameer had given him a sly smile, "Unki wajah se bohot kuch milta hai umm... matlab... mujhe mil gaya." And he had looked up at her, flicking his brows.

Her cheeks flared up at the memory of her fall... the way his eyes had roved over her, it had literally burned her.

"Main... change karke aati hun." She had escaped from the same intensity in his eyes.

Now, as he softly patted Ayush to sleep, she couldn't help but admire him. Not just in appearance, he was a beautiful person at heart too. How else could someone love so selflessly.

"Agar tum aise hi dekhti rahi toh..." She did not realise when he got up and came to stand next to her, his chest touching her shoulder. When his deep throaty voice fell in her ears, she nearly jumped.

"Uh... woh... main..." She nervously tucked her hair behind the ear, averting his gaze.

"Dekh lo sweetheart, tumhara hi hun. Jitna chaho dekh lo. Itni mehnat ki hai tumhari nazron mein aane ke liye... mujhe achha lagta hai jab tum mujhe aise dekhti ho." He leaned to touch his forehead to the side of her head, linking his hand with hers and bringing it up to his heart.

"Ayush... so gaya?" Her heart fluttered as his lips brushed against her ear.

"Hmm... kyon? Kuch plan hai kya?" He nuzzled in her hair, pressing the back of her hand over his heart.

Her shoulder hitched up, and he smiled at her hesitation.

Inhaling the fragrance of her hair, he whispered again, "Sach sach batana, jab tumne office aana start kiya tha toh... toh kabhi mere liye... kabhi tumhe kuch feel hua tha kya?"

Naina bit her lip. When she had arrived in Delhi, she had not expected in her wildest dreams that she would be looking at any guy... any guy at all. Love was not an emotion she thought her heart was capable of feeling.

"Tum sach bol sakti ho. Jaise maine tumhe bataya, ki maine jabse tumhari awaaz suni tabhi se kuch feel hone laga tha, aur tumhe pehli baar dekhte hi mera dil uss ek pal mein hi tumhari aankhon mein aise kho gaya ki aaj tak mil nahi paaya. Naina, tumne kabhi notice nahi kiya?" He asked earnestly.

She turned to him, "Aap please mujhe galat mat samajhna... lekin starting mein na maine kabhi aisa kuch socha na kuch notice kiya. I told you... mere liye pyar jaisi kisi feeling ka koi meaning nahi tha."

Sameer smiled gently, "Achha yeh batao, tumhe kab laga ki tum mujhse... pyar karne lagi ho?"

She recalled Kamya's visit, when her closeness with Sameer had disturbed her. But she had started being conscious of him much earlier.

"Sameer, yeh story thodi lambi hai. Phir kabhi bataungi." She said with a shy smile.

He furrowed his brows for a second, then relaxed, "Okay. Aaj ka din waise bhi kaafi tiring tha tumhare liye. Lekin Naina, aaj ka din mere liye bohot achha tha. Subah toh iitna gussa aa raha tha, Lekin uske baad jo bhi hua..." His gaze dropped to her lips, "I loved it."

Her face glowed with the warmth of his love, and memory of their half kiss.

As they laid in bed facing each other, with Ayush in between, Sameer looked at her lovingly, "Ek baar phir kaho."

She instantly knew what he wanted to hear. Her lips curled in a smile, "I love you."

"Hayee." He thumped his heart, scrunching his nose as he fell back.

Naina giggled. He was hopelessly romantic... and he was turning her into one.

"Good night Sameer." She whispered.

He turned to his side again, and winked, "Good night sweetheart. I hope kal ka din aaj se bhi zyada achha ho."

Soon, both of them drifted off to sleep, thinking about the next day.

Sameer was woken up by a strange sound. He looked at Ayush. The little boy was sleeping soundly. His eyes darted behind him... and he sat up in alarm.

Naina was twisting her head from side to side, her eyes squeezed shut, shivering and muttering incoherently. Sameer jumped off the bed and sprinted to her. He kneeled next to the bed, concern writ large on his face.

"Naina." He whispered, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Don't touch me. Go away." She hissed through clenched teeth.

Sameer recoiled, like she had slapped him. He drew back his hand instantly.

"Please hata do... yeh smell... pagal ho jaungi main... mumma..." She cried, moving her hand frantically on the bed, her face contorted.

"Naina." He repeated, in a pained voice.

"Chale jao... sab chale jao... jao yahan se." Her words were hardly audible, still the excruciating agony of her voice chilled him to the bone.

He wanted to comfort her, but she didn't want him near her.

She dug her head more into the pillow, tears rolling down the corner of her eyes, "Mumma... Sameer ko bula do... mujhe Sameer... ke paas jaane do."

It then dawned on him that she wasn't pushing him away. She took his touch to be a part of her nightmare. He immediately got up and perched on the edge of the bed, placing his hands on the bed, on her either side.

"Naina, jaan, main yahin hun. Sameer tumhare paas hai Naina." Leaning a little, he spoke in a gentle voice.

Her sobs grew louder, her hand hurling up to clasp her nose, "Yeh smell hata do na."

Instantly, Sameer bent over her, rubbing her arms as he whispered in her ear, "Hata di. Ab koi smell nahi hai. Yahan koi nahi hai."

Her eyes shot open as his weight pressed her to the bed. Fear crawled into her heart and her body stiffened. She gasped for air, covered in sweat and pushed at him roughly.

Sameer lifted himself to a sitting position. Naina jolted up and looked around the room, her eyes dripping with tears, her body still shaking. The cold silence of the room was broken by her hiccup. Sameer felt as if a sharp knife pierced his heart. The shattered look on Naina's face shocked him. He could see the scars of her past wounds reflect in her eyes. Her current state made him understand how deeply she was still effected. Anyone who saw her during the day, even him, would not come to know how bravely she was fighting her demons. She had gone against the world to make a place for herself. She had faced it all alone... and survived. The soul in front of him was cracked, but she was cracked perfection... and he loved her with all her scars, which he hoped he could heal one day.

Her trance was broken as she gazed into his curious eyes, clouded with worry. It took her a moment to realise that she was again hit by the painful memories of her past. She took in a deep breath, trying to calm her frantic heartbeat. His scent filled her up, clearing all traces of the fearful stench of her dream.

"Sam... Sameer." She shuddered, frustrated at being in the current situation, and making Sameer go through all this. Controlling her tears, she looked at him helplessly. Sameer felt his heart being crushed painfully, seeing her fighting so hard.

"Kuch nahi hoga Naina. Main hun na tumhare saath." He whispered in a voice that held so much love and affection that she couldn't stop fresh tears from falling.

"I'm... I'm sorry." Her voice was filled with embarrassment, her eyes laced with panic.

"Hush. Sorry kisliye. Naina, tumne ek bura sapna dekha... jo ab toot gaya hai. Ismein tumhari galti kahan se aayi?" He soothed her in a gentle voice, trying not to scare her more than she already was.

"Woh sapna... woh smell... pata nahi kaise..." The guilt was quite evident in her eyes, even in the dim light of night lamp.

With his fingers, he rubbed away the tears that soaked her face. Pushing her hair out of the way, he pressed his lips to her forehead. Backing off, he spread his arms to his sides haltingly, not sure if she was okay with his touch or not.

Naina's eyes softened and her breath slowly eased. Nodding, she went into his arms... her home, a home that could heal the scars of her past and make her feel at peace.

He was home... and he was hers.

"I love you Sameer."

He heaved a sigh of relief. His arms circled around her fragile, shivering body, rubbing her back in a soothing way. He could feel his tshirt getting soaked as she wept silently into his chest.

When her sobs died down, he stroked her hair, speaking in the softest voice, "I love you jaan."

Naina straightened, but she didn't meet his eyes, "I... I don't deserve you. I'm sorry aapko yeh sab... dekhna pada."

He cupped her face, making her look up, and waited till she lifted her eyes to look at him, "You deserve the world. Naina, mere liye tum perfect ho. You are the most beautiful person... tumhari smile, tumhare aansu, dono mere hain. Sirf tumhare saje sanware roop se pyar nahi hai mujhe... jab tumhare chehre pe kisi dard ka baadal ayega, main tab tumse aur zyada pyar karunga. Tum har pal mein utni hi khoobsurat ho... and I want you at every moment. Tumhara dard mujhe bhi dard deta hai Naina, lekin iska matlab yeh nahi ki main tumhara dard dekhna nahi chahta. Main toh tumhare har zakhm ko dekh ke usse apne pyar se heal karna chahta hun. And I'm sure, ek din yeh sab bure sapne khatm ho jayenge, aur sirf main rahunga tumhare har pal mein chahe woh jaagte hue ho ya sote hue. There will be no nightmares, only dreams of a beautiful life. Aur woh saare sapne sach honge. I promise. Pakka promise."

Her damp lashes fluttered, and her lips stretched into a smile, at the way he repeated his promise like Ayush, "Tumne toh mere sapne pehle hi sach kar diye, Sameer... jo maine dekhe bhi nahi the woh sapne bhi."

She didn't understand the shocked look on his face, which turned into a beaming grin slowly, "Jo kaha woh phir se kaho."

She was perplexed. He had asked her to repeat when she had confessed her love... but now...

"Kya phir se kahun? Sapne sach kar diye" She said tentatively.

"Nahi... shuru se kaho... poora sentence." He shook his head impatiently.

The moment she opened her mouth, she was struck with realisation. Without a word, she closed her mouth.

"Kaho na Naina. Tumhare muh se apne liye 'tum' sunna kitna achha laga yeh baad mein bataunga, pehle ek baar aur sunna hai." He insisted like a child.

"Woh... galti se... sorry." She mumbled.

His fingers weaved into her hair, "Ek aur baar sorry kaha na... toh uska hisaab lunga... aur iss baar punishment udhaar nahi rahegi."

She trembled as his thumb rubbed over her lip.

"Aap... aap mujhse gussa nahi hain?" She asked.

"Hun... kyonki tum mujhe kisi uncleji ki tarah aap bolti ho." He puffed his cheeks, frowning.

"Mujhe... ajeeb lagta hai. Hamesha aapko... aap hi kaha hai." She was hesitant.

His gaze softened, "Achha ek baat batao, jab mere liye kuch likhti ho, apni diary mein toh 'tum' likhti ho na?"

He knew the answer... he had seen it in the diary, and in her note today. Her nod confirmed it.

"Jab mujhe sapno mein dekhti ho..." He narrowed his eyes, "Mere sapne aate hain na?"

With a chuckle, she nodded again.

He let out a relieved exhale, "Thank God! Mujhe laga kahin main itni aage tak chala gaya hun sapno mein aur tum... abhi start bhi nahi hui."

She wasn't naïve to not understand the meaning of his words. The colour of her cheeks brought a lopsided smirk to his face, "Sapno mein bhi 'tum' kehti ho na?"

Her lowered gaze was his answer.

His voice turned heavier, "Naina, ab main tumhara boss nahi hun. Hamara rishta badal chuka hai. Main woh Sameer hun jiske liye tum shayari likhti ho, main woh hun jiske tum sapne dekti ho... main woh hun jo tumhare itne kareeb hai jitna koi aur nahi aa sakta. Main tumhara Sameer hun... apni Maina ka. Aap kehke mujhe doori ka ahsaas dilati ho tum, jaise ab tak mera status wohi hai tumhari nazron mein jo pehle tha. I want to feel the change... I want to feel our closeness."

She gazed into his eyes. It was unbelievable that just half an hour back she had woken up from one of her repetitive nightmares, which always left her broken for at least a few days... and tonight, Sameer had eased away every shred of pain in just a few minutes. What he was asking was too small a thing... and it wasn't unreasonable either.

"Sameer, office mein jab maine sir bolna shuru kiya tha, mujhe laga nahi tha kabhi naam se bula sakti hun, lekin uss mukaam pe aane ke baad kabhi odd nahi laga. Shayad ab next step lene ka time aa gaya hai." She looked into his eyes confidently.

He raised one brow, waiting to hear it.

"Abse main tumko tum hi bolungi, okay?" She held his hand within her palms, her smile showing all the love that she felt for him.

Flashing a big grin, Sameer pulled her in his arms, "Yeh spiders sach mein bade lucky hain mere liye. Naina, spiders ko pet rakh sakte hain kya?'

"Tum pagal ho." She laughed against his neck, wrapping her arms around him, finally saying what she always said to him in her subconscious.

"Haan. Pagal hun... tumhare pyar mein." He accepted proudly.

"Aise hi rehna." She lifted her face and placed a kiss on his jaw.

"Damn, tumhara nishana galat lag gaya." He sighed.

"Huh?" She gave him a confused look.

"Yahan." He touched his jaw, then dragged his finger to his lips, "Aana toh yahan chahti thi na?"

Mischief glinted in her eyes, as she rubbed her knuckles on his stubbled jaw, "This is better anyday. Mujhe tumhari stubble bohot pasand hai."

Sameer gasped, "Are you kidding? Matlab main jab shave kar lunga toh mujhe kuch nahi milega?"

She twitched her mouth, indicating a negative.

He narrowed his eyes, then lunged towards her lips. She dipped her face to the side, smirking.

"Fine. It's a deal. Tum mujhe sirf tabhi kiss karna jab meri stubble ho." He resigned in a sad voice.

Naina was surprised at his easy acceptance... till he uttered next sentence, "Baaki din main tumhe kiss kar lunga. Mujhe tum bina stubble ke bhi pasand ho."

"Sach mein pagal ho tum." She broke into a laugh, punching his stomach lightly.

He tightened his arms, "Tumhe kya laga, main week mein do din ke kiss se kaam chalaunga?"

When they went back to sleep, Sameer did not go to his side of the bed, but snuggled next to Naina. Narrow space was a boon for him, as he shifted closer to her, engulfing her in his arms. The fear of nightmare was long forgotten when she buried her head in his chest, and closed her eyes to the lullaby of his heartbeat.

I'm sorry this update is shorter as I didn't get much time to write today. So posting what I had penned yesterday. My schedule is a little hectic presently, thus I need two days break this time. I know it's a weekend but I'm working this weekend.

Next update on Monday.