"Naina, Garvit ko green pasta khana hai." Ayush tugged at Naina's arm.

Moving back to the group of kids, Naina, along with Roshni and Kamal, got busy in serving them. They loved the multicoloured food items, and enjoyed fresh juices with the fruit platter. Coloured pasta was a hit too, along with other things she had made. In the end, kids were thrilled to get different flavoured jelly.

"Dekho toh Bhalla saab, Parth kaise khush hoke saare fruits kha raha hai. Jhanvi ab kahegi na ki uska beta khata nahi toh bolungi Naina se puch ke aa kaise khilate hain. Sab bachhe maze se do do bowl kha rahe hain fruits ke. Aur dekho, Naina ne sabki tarah noodles aur patties na rakh ke kitni achhi cheezen banayi hain. Badi mehenti ladki hai." Sameer heard Bhalla aunty praising Naina, and his chest swelled up in pride... indeed, his Naina was perfect, in everything.

Ayush pulled his hand, bringing him out of his favourite work of late, admiring the girl of his dreams.

Ayush pointed at the table, "Naina ke..."

"Naina ki help karun? Okay. Chalo." Sameer immediately cut him before Ayush could call him 'Naina ke sir' again.

"Naina ki nahi, meri. Rehan ko upar wala balloon chahiye. Utaar do na." Ayush implored, pointing at the blue balloon.

Sameer was more than glad to take him away from there, and made sure he was around Ayush throughout, so there was no risk of him calling him by the name that Naina didn't want to disclose.

When it was time to go, Naina brought the colourfully packed return gifts, and handed to each one of the kids. Ayush jumped around in exhilaration, when some of them opened the gifts and found puzzle blocks and colouring sets. When he asked Naina for the permission to go to the park with his friends, she let him go, as he had eaten properly with his friends.

Roshni quickly cleaned the room and Kamal cleared the table once the kids were gone. Naina served the food to aunty and uncle, apologising for not attending to them earlier.

"Bachhon se pehle khate kya hum? Tu bhi na, Naina... chal ab tum dono bhi kuch kha lo. Lunch kiya tha ya subah se hi kaam mein lagi hai?" Aunty never failed to show her concern for her.

"Lunch mein Naina ne fried rice banaye the... kamaal ke." Sameer blurted before Naina could answer.

"Yeh pasta bhi kam nahi hai. Khana bada achha banati hai tu, puttar. Tera pati bada lucky hai. Lekin kismat dekh bechare ki... tere haath ka achha achha khana hum log kha rahe hain aur woh wahan Dubai mein kachha pakka banata hoga. Waise thoda bohot aata hai na usse? Ya bahar hi khata hai roz?" Bhalla aunty was curious.

Again Sameer beat Naina to answer, "Kuch nahi aata. Naina jaise toh woh saat janam mein nahi bana sakta."

Aunty laughed, "Arre toh saat janam ke liye hamari gudiya si Naina usko mil gayi hai. Uski bhook pyas sab isko dekh ke hi mar jaati hogi."

Naina choked on the sandwich she was eating.

Bhalla aunty quickly asked Roshni to get water. When her coughing subsided after a few sips, aunty winked, "Pakka yaad kar raha hoga tujhe, isliye khansi aa gayi."

Bhalla uncle chuckled at his wife, "Yaad toh hamesha karta hoga na. Jaise main karta hun tujhe jab bahar jaata hun."

"Main... main jelly laati hun aap logon ke liye." Naina escaped from the room, her face burning at the discussion of her non existent husband.

"Kaise sharma jaati hai jab bhi iske husband ki baat karo. Mujhe toh samajh nahi aata aisi kya job hai uski jo chod nahi sakta. Beta, tum toh jaante ho na usko... usko kehna itne mahine door rehna theek nahi hai. Wapas aaye aur apne ghar walon ko manaye. Koi Naina jaisi ladki se kaise naraaz reh sakta hai... ek baar milenge toh fauran pasand kar lenge." Aunty asserted, looking at Sameer.

Sameer had earlier said casually about imaginary guy's cooking skills, but the long discussion about Naina's husband twisted his heart with jealousy... even though he knew that no such person existed.

"Don't worry aunty. I'll make sure Naina ko zyada din akele na rehna pade." Sameer said in a firm voice.

"Haan beta. Bula lo usse. Aur haan, tum na apna number zara mujhe de do. Naina ke kisi dost ka number toh hona chahiye. Yeh lo mera phone. Naam likhna Naina's friend Sameer... theek hai? Pehchanna easy hota hai." Bhalla aunty handed her phone to him.

Sameer quickly saved his number in her phone. He then dialled the same number and saved hers with him after giving back her phone, "Maine bhi le liya aapka number, aunty."

"Achha kiya. Waise toh yahan poori safety hai phir bhi thoda darr lagta hi hai. Ek baar iska pati wapas aa jaaye toh meri tension khatam ho. Iski udaas aankhen dekhi nahi jaati mujhse." Aunty sadly glanced at the kitchen door.

Sameer pressed his lips in a thin line. Unable to hear anymore about her 'husband', he got up, "Main dekhta hun Naina ko koi help chahiye toh."

Naina had sent the two helpers back after the kids left. Thus, he found her alone, standing with her back to the door, setting jelly in bowls.

"Bhalla aunty tumhari... sha... shaadi wali baat ko bohot seriously le rahi hain." He uttered in a low voice, moving in to stand next to her, with a little distance between them.

"Huh?" She almost jumped, jerking her head towards him.

His eyes fell to her hands. They both noticed at the same time that she had been filling up the same bowl with jelly, which was now overflowing.

"Oh God! Yeh maine kya kar diya." She was horrified at the mess she had made on the platform.

Sameer quickly picked up a kitchen towel and placed on the melted jelly which would have otherwise slithered down the surface, onto the floor. Naina came to her senses, and tore off the paper towels from the stand, cleaning around the place.

"It's okay. Tum itni tension mat lo. I'm sure iska koi solution nikal aayega. We'll think about it. Lao, yeh jelly main daal deta hun." He was aware about her poignant state of mind... she regretted the lie from the core of her heart.

Naina stepped away, her mind not working at all.

Sameer glanced at her through the corner of his eyes, carefully adding scoops of frozen jelly into fresh cups, "Uh Naina... ek baat puch sakta hun please? Tum chaho toh manaa kar dena, agar tumhe zara bhi uncomfortable lage." He wanted  to take away her focus from this topic.

She gulped, wrenching her fingers. He looked at her when she didn't answer. Naina nodded slightly, her eyes clouded with confusion.

"Tumne kaha tha ki main aaj Ayush ke liye kuch bhi kar sakta hun. Maine uske liye kuch mangwaya hai. If you don't mind, kya main abhi uske room mein jaake arrange kar sakta hun? So that he gets a surprise when he sees it. Only if you allow... warna baad mein Ayush ke saath bhi laga sakta hun." Sameer said while keeping his eyes on the job in hand.

"Kya?" The word spilled out in shocked surprise.

Sameer gave a quick glance to her, his lips curled into a smile, "Ayush ka gift hai, tumko kyon bataun. Pehle woh dekhega phir tumhara number aayega."

"M... mera matlab tha... aap pehle hi usse itne gifts de chuke hain. Aur ki kya zarurat hai?" She muttered.

Having finished arranging the dishes in the tray, Sameer turned to her, looking directly into her eyes, "Sab kuch zarurat ke liye nahi kiya jaata. Kuch cheezen hum isliye bhi karte hain ki kisi ko khushi de saken. Unke chehre ki ek smile hamare liye sabse bada reason hoti hai aisa kaam karne ka. Ayush ke liye kuch karna mujhe achha lagta hai. Aur aaj tumne hi permission di hai usse pamper karne ki. And don't worry, aisa kuch nahi hai jo tumhe galat lagega."

Naina dipped her head to the side, to show her acceptance.

"Thank you." Sameer beamed, biting his tongue the next moment, "Lo, tumhara asar mujhpe aane laga hai. Waise ek dish iss thank you pe cancel kar sakta tha lekin nahi karunga. Sabne jo itni tareef kari hai khane ki, main khaunga bhi... aur seekhunga bhi."

Naina turned to her side, after giving a small, hesitant smile, reminded of the earlier episode. He could see the uneasiness in her eyes, and knew perfectly well where her thoughts lay.

His voice turned softer and lower when he addressed her, "Naina, please itna mat socho. It was a natural reaction. Agar main gir raha hota toh main bhi bina soche apne paas ki kisi bhi cheez ko thaam leta. Tum agar iske liye awkward ya irritated ho jaogi toh mujhe lagega tum mujhe Vikas ke jaisa samajhti ho. Maina waisa nahi hun, Naina. Please don't put me in the same category."

She lowered her head further, biting her upper lip before muttering an almost inaudible 'I know.'

After he was gone, she pressed her forehead, "Sab kuch ulajh kyon jaata hai mujhse? Pata nahi kaise solve hongi yeh saari problems."

She sat with the elderly couple for sometime as they had the pudding and told her stories about their grandson.

"Yeh Sameer kya karne mein laga hai? Usse bula zara, jaane se pehle ek baar mil toh lein hum log. Kitna helpful ladka hai. Sahi bande pe bharosa kiya hai tune puttar. Tere office mein hi kaam karta hai?" Bhalla aunty's sudden question caught Naina off guard. With the door of his room closed, Sameer was in Ayush's room for quite some time now.

"Woh mere saath..." She fumbled, not wanting to weave another lie, and got up quickly, "Main bula laati hun."

Naina knocked at the door. There was no answer. She knocked again, a few times. Neither any sound was heard nor the door opened.

"Si..." She checked herself. 'Sir' wasn't what she could call him. However hard she tried, his name... only the name... didn't come to her lips.

"Suniye, aunty uncle jaa rahe hain." She placed her face near the door edge and said loudly.

Inside, Sameer had heard the knock but he wanted to finish the work in hand, thinking that it was Ayush outside. He had almost reached the door two minutes later, when her 'Suniye' made him stop. A warm, fuzzy feeling shot from his heart, skimming through his veins, making him grab the handle of the door tight.

She had just raised her hand to knock again when the door opened.

"Au... aunty... she wanted to say bye." Naina stepped back a little.

If he stood another moment looking at her, it could make him do something inappropriate, Sameer realised... and walked briskly to the guests.

"Aunty main Ayush ke liye kuch surprise set kar raha tha." He sat down in front of them, smiling gently.

"Oho! Surprise gift! Mujhe bade pasand hain surprise." Bhalla aunty clasped her hands together excitedly, peering at Naina, "Yeh surprise dekhne baad mein aungi. Abhi toh sabse pehle chotu ko hi dekhne do."

They were still at the door when Ayush climbed up the stairs.

"Aaj badi jaldi aa gaya tu. Achaa, gifts dekhne honge na." Aunty pinched his cheek.

Ayush nodded with a grin.

Once inside, Sameer held his hand, "Tumhare liye ek surprise hai. Dekhoge?"

Ayush squealed in delight, "Aap mere liye ek aur gift laaye ho?"

Sameer nodded.

"Wow. Aap toh sach mein mere sabse best wale friend ho. Dikhao kya hai." Ayush looked around.

"Chalo. Tumhare room mein hai." Sameer walked with him till they reached the door. He paused to see Naina had not moved from her place.

"Naina, tum bhi aao na. Dekh ke batao Ayush ka yeh wala gift kaisa hai." He said in a gentle voice.

The two of them couldn't see anything new in the room when they looked around. Sameer pulled the curtains. Since the sun had set outside, the room became dark instantly.

"Aap kya koi ghost laaye ho?" Ayush asked when Sameer stopped him from switching on the light.

"Tumhe sabse zyada kya pasand hai batao... sote waqt kya achha lagta hai?" He chuckled, slowly moving to the other side of the bed.

Ayush narrowed his eyes, looked up at Naina, then clicked his fingers, brightening, "Stars."

The moment he said it, the room was aglow with hundreds of tiny, twinkling stars.

Ayush gasped, his mouth open wide as he turned his head around in all directions. Every surface was covered... the bed, walls, ceiling, floor, curtains, cupboard, cabinets... the stars glimmered everywhere.

Naina was equally stunned. The room looked like a part of the beautiful night sky, adorned with shimmering dots.

"Kaisa laga?" Sameer's soft voice broke their trance.

Ayush jumped on the bed to reach him, and wrapped small arms around his neck, enthralled, "Sabse best wala gift. Thank you, Naina ke sir... mujhe itne saare stars dene ke liye."

Sameer gently took him in his embrace, "Anything for you, my best friend."

"Abse mujhe curtain bhi open nahi karna padega, stars dekhne ke liye. Aapne kaise kiya?" He again stared at his room in awe.

Sameer pointed at a small gadget plugged beside the bed on both sides. The glass top brought out the effect which was generated by a perforated cylinder which had a set of soft bluish white light bulbs inside, and rotated slowly to give the twinkling effect to the stars.

Naina was impressed with the arrangement, "Aapko kaise pata Ayush ko stars itne pasand hain?"

Sameer smiled fondly at the little boy perched in his arms, "Isse kya pasand hai kya nahi, mujhe sab pata hai. Aise hi thodi best friend banaya hai."

Ayush gave him a radiant smile, the stars glowing on him as well, "I love you, Naina ke sir."

"Sirf kehne se kaam nahi chalega. Mujhe return gift chahiye." Sameer pinched his cheek.

"Return gift? Lekin aur puzzles toh bache hi nahi. Colours bhi nahi hain." With the corners of his mouth sagging, Ayush was genuinely sad.

Sameer shook his head, "Yeh sab nahi. Mujhe return gift mein ek promise chahiye."

"Promise? Kis baat ka?" Ayush was confused.

Sameer gazed at Naina. She was looking at him with the same surprised eyes as her brother. He smiled, looking back at Ayush, "Jaise tum Naina ko Naina bolte ho, aise mujhe abse Sameer bologe. Okay?"

Ayush thought for a while, then tilted his head to the side, "Okay... Sameer... theek hai na?"

Sameer tightened his arms around him, kissing the side of his head, "Perfect. Aise hi bolna abse."

Ayush was still gaping at the glittering stars in the room after Sameer bid good night to him and came out, followed by Naina.

"Aaj do teen baar Bhalla aunty ke saamne Ayush mujhe Naina ke sir bolne wala tha. Main nahi chahta unke saamne sach iss tarah se aaye ki unhe koi misunderstanding ho. Isliye Ayush agar mujhe Sameer bulaye toh hi achha hoga." He explained once they were in the living room.

Naina lowered her eyes, "I'm so sorry, sir. Meri wajah se aap bhi iss jhoot mein phans gaye hain. Mujhe aunty ke saamne aapki identity nahi chupani chahiye thi."

Sameer inhaled deeply, "Right. Tumne bohot badi galti ki hai."

Her head jerked up, eyes widening at this unexpected remark.

"Galti ki hai baar baar sorry bolke... aur iss galti ki sazaa hai ki ab tumne jo jhooth bol diya usse sach banao, aur mujhe dost hi samjho... isliye sir nahi, Sameer bolo. Ab toh Ayush bhi Sameer bulane ko ready ho gaya hai, Naina." He raised his brows, giving her an expectant look.

She gave a small nod, without uttering a word. Sameer sighed, knowing it would be still some time before he could actually hear his name from her mouth.

But he was ready to wait... till the time she herself wanted to say it... however long it took.

Seeing her twisting her fingers nervously, he changed the topic, to ease her discomfort, "Mujhe pata hai tum ab thank you kahogi. Lekin Naina, aaj thank you main kehna chahta hun tumhe. You have no idea how much I loved to be a part of Ayush's birthday celebration. Thank you, mujhe yeh mauka dene ke liye. Also, thank you mujhe poore din jhelne ke liye, itna achha khana khilane ke liye, mujhe sikhane ke liye ki yeh sab decorations kaise hoti hain... aur boiled alu ko dish bata ke mujhe ullu banane ke liye bhi." He smiled sheepishly at the end.

Her face broke into a smile, "Itne thank you toh maine total nahi bole jitne aapne ek baar mein bol diye. Aur last wala... uske liye sorry."

He waved his head, closing his eyes, "Chal beta Sameer, ek aur dish add kar le seekhne ki list mein. Teri yeh dost tujhe cook banake hi chodegi."

Naina couldn't help but laugh at his exaggeration, "Chaar dishes banane se koi cook nahi ban jaata."

Her laughter melted the ice that had been sitting cold and frigid between them. His heart felt lighter as he drove back home.

After a long and eventful day, Ayush went to bed early, tired because of his hyper excited state whole day. Sleep, however, eluded Naina, even though she was feeling tiredness in her limbs.

As she stood on the terrace, staring at the moon, the events of the day played in her mind. She was astonished when she thought about Sameer... how easily she had accepted his presence in the house. And how, without thinking, she had reached out to him to save herself. Even though she stood holding him, Sameer had not once tried to touch her. He respected her boundaries. He was right... by reacting the way she did, she was making him believe that she put him in the same category as Vikas... which he was not. It was her own paranoia that had made her go numb. But he had understood that too, and helped her overcome it. His love for Ayush was pure too... if he had noticed and remembered so many things about what Ayush liked, he really felt for him.

She looked up at the moon, "Sahi galat ki pehchan nahi hai mujhe, phir bhi itna toh lagta hai ki Sameer sir Ayush ke liye dil se mehsoos karte hain. Agar woh mere Ayush ke liye itna sab karte hain toh mujhe bhi unki baat maan leni chahiye na... lekin unka naam lena itna mushkil kyon lagta hai?"

She took a deep breath, braced herself, and tried, "Sameer... sir."

Giving her head a good shake, she tried again, "Sameer...  ... sir."

With a sigh, she gave up.

Next update on Monday