When Sameer reached home, his eyes were still glazed at the realisation... and mind was a jumbled mess.

Vishakha placed a hand on his arm, "Aaj kitni der kar di tune, Sameer. Thak gaya hoga. Coffee lega ya juice banwa dun?"

Sameer nodded, "Room mein bhijwa dena. Ramdhari ko bolna strong chahiye mujhe... aur ice daal ke."

Vishakha watched with confused eyes as he went up the stairs. He hadn't answered her question. And what he said... strong was how he liked his coffee, but ice was needed in the juice. His conflicting instructions left her wondering what exactly he wanted.

"Ramdhari, Sameer ke liye achhe se ice daal ke juice bana de aur saath mein uske style ki coffee bhi. Room mein de aa. Aaj shayad zyada hi kaam kar liya hai toh dono chahiye usse... ya phir usse khud hi nahi pata kya chahiye." Vishakha instructed Ramdhari.

Nanu heard this as he came out of his room. He was equally surprised. It was unlike Sameer to be not aware of what he wanted. He had always been very clear about his choices... coffee after office and juice after evening workout. But this week, he had followed this routine only twice. As far as he could recall, Sameer had not gone without exercising for so many days at a stretch... unless he was unwell. Nanu was worried.

"Ramdhari, la yeh tray mujhe de. Sameer se baat karni hai, main uske paas hi jaa raha hun." Nanu extended his hands as Ramdhari came out of the kitchen with a steaming mug and a tall glass with condensation on its surface.

"Hum pohocha dete hain na, nanaji." He insisted.

"Arre de na. Tujhe kya lagta hai main buddha ho gaya hun jo itna sa kaam nahi kar sakta?" Nanu forcibly took the tray from him.

"Sameer ke liye toh papa aaj bhi pata nahi kya kya kar sakte hain. Kabhi kabhi lagta hai mujhse zyada woh Sameer ki mummy hain." Vishakha smiled affectionately, watching her father going towards her son's room with a determined gait.

Sameer was sitting on the edge of the bed... his gaze stuck somewhere on the wall, his shoulders slumped as his elbows rested on the legs, hands clasped together against his chin, brows knitted and mouth set in a thin line. That is how nanu found him when he entered after the knock wasn't answered.

"Kya hua, Sameer?" After placing the tray on a table, nanu touched his head lightly.

"Na... nanu! Aap... aap kab aaye?" Sameer stood up, shocked at the sudden touch and voice.

"Jab tu duniya bhar ki tension leke baitha tha. Itna bhi kya pareshan hona, Sameer. Kaam ko itna khud pe haavi mat hone de ki apna routine badalna pade. Iss hafte tune shaam ki exercise bhi nahi ki, na dhang se khaana khaya. Beta, jis problem ke liye tu tension le raha hai woh itni badi nahi hai. Zyada se zyada kya hoga... yeh stock unsold reh jayega... aur yeh main extreme case bol raha hun jiska chance naa ke barabar hai. Hum itna nuksaan utha sakte hain, Sameer. Pehli baar loss thodi hoga. Aur beta, business mein nafa nuksaan chalta rehta hai, usko iss tarah dil pe nahi lagate. Tu toh mera sher hai, pehle bhi kitni saari problems ko saath milke humne solve kiya hai, isko bhi kar lenge. Bas tu apni sehat mat kharab kar... ek saath coffee aur juice, yeh kya baat hui? Tujhe pata hai na garam thanda saath mein nahi pina chahiye." Nanu tried to alleviate his turmoil.

Sameer lowered his eyes. He didn't like the fact that he was causing such distress to nanu... and that too, with both of them being on different planes.

"Aap theek keh rahe hain, nanu. Mujhe itni tension nahi leni chahiye. Main... main theek hun. Aap chinta mat kijiye." He smiled for his grandfather's benefit.

A relieved grin spread on nanu's face, "Shabash. Mujhe pata tha tu samajh jayega. Chal ab jaldi se fresh hoke neeche aaja, dinner ka time hone wala hai."

Sameer dipped his head in acceptance. As nanu turned to go, his eyes fell on the tray.

"Nanu, yeh coffee aur juice... dono? Ramdhari ka dimaag kharab ho gaya hai kya? Pata nahi kab rakh ke chala gaya. Aap usse kahiye wapas le jaaye. Koi ek baar mein dono kaise pi sakta hai?" Sameer pointed at the table, giving a flustered look.

Nanu narrowed his eyes at him for a few seconds, then smiled, "Haan, bilkul gadha hai woh... koi saath mein garam aur thanda thodi piyega. Main hi le jaata hun."

"Arre nahi nahi, nanu. Aap rehne do main le aaunga." Sameer quickly stopped him.

Nanu held the tray, "Itne se kaam se mujhe kuch nahi hoga... teri nani ne mujhe bohot kuch karne ki aadat daal di thi... ab toh unmein se aadha kaam bhi nahi karta par aisa mat samajhna ki kar nahi sakta. Tu bas jaldi se change karke neeche aa jaa."

After he was gone, Sameer pressed his forehead. He needed to get a hold on himself. If his family came to know of the condition of his heart, it won't be good... they would not be discreet about it. Nanu and Rohan would definitely blurt it out to Naina. And he didn't want that.

In the dining hall, Rohan was teasing Deepika over her new hair colour when nanu pulled his ear, "Yeh saara raita tera phailaya hua hai. Vivek ne samjhaya tha tujhe naye material ka production limited rakhna chahiye. Lekin nahi, tujhe kisi ki sunni thodi hai. Ab dekh, Sameer kitna tensed hai." Leaning a bit towards his ear, nanu lowered his voice, "Main toh kehta hun account mein se aadha stock gayab karwa de... aur godown mein se bhi. Na usse yeh figures dikhenge na aisa baukhlaya rahega."

Rohan widened his eyes dramatically, "Haww nanu, bachhe ko cheating sikha rahe ho!"

Deepika raised one brow, "Aap bache ho toh main kya new born hun? Huh, bade aaye... bachhe... ek din mere school aao, apni friends se uncle na bulwaya na toh mera naam badal dena."

Rohan touched his finger to the tomato sauce and swiped it across Deepika's nose, "Surpnakha naam kaisa rahega?"

To everyone's surprise, she wiped her nose with a napkin and smiled, "Bohot achha... Ravan bhai."

Nanu and Vishakha burst out laughing while Deepika gave a smug smile to a frowning Rohan.

"Nanu kehte hain meri galti hai, behen kehti hai main Ravan hun, mumma papa bhi mujhe hi daant dete hain... iss ghar mein meri koi value hi nahi hai, bas bhai ko hi sab pyar karte hain." Rohan slumped on the chair dramatically.

"Dekh Rohan, Sameer ki tension ka kaaran hai pichle quarter ka excess production... woh toh tune hi karwaya tha. Aur Deepika... ab yaar usse Surpnakha ki family ke baare mein pata hai toh hum kya kar sakte hain... tune hi yeh naam diya na usse." Nanu shrugged.

Rohan rolled his eyes, "Achha achha theek hai. Bhai ka mood kaise pehle jaisa karna hai mujhe pata hai. Bas ab aap log mera kamaal dekhna."

Vishakha was immediately alert, "Ab tu Sameer ko aur pareshan mat karna. Bechara pehle se hi..."

She had to leave her instructions midway as Sameer's footsteps announced his arrival.

"Bhai, mere paas baitho aaj. Bro to bro kuch baatein ho jaaye." Rohan patted the chair next to him.

Sameer had freshened up and changed into a light blue tee with track bottoms. Not in a mood to get into an argument, he settled next to Rohan.

Vishakha picked up a bowl and held it out to him, "Aaj tere liye kofte banwaye hain. Itne din se theek se kha nahi raha tha na. Tere favourite hain yeh toh achhe se khana aaj."

Sameer took the bowl with a smile. He had promised himself to try and appear normal in front of his family.

"Lagta hai mujhe bhi bhai ki tarah do chaar din muh phula ke ghoomna padega toh shayad meri pasand ka bhi kuch mil jaaye." Rohan said with a sigh.

Vishakha pointed at the dish in front of him, "Nautanki karne se pehle dekh toh le. Tera butter paneer bhi hai."

Rohan beamed and quickly served himself. Dinner continued with Rohan's silly banters with Deepika and Vishakha's fake admonishing. Nanu asked a few questions from Sameer which he answered, and also tried to talk to his siblings. It was almost the end of a pleasant family mealtime that it happened.

"Bhai, aaj main bhi aapke kofte try karta hun... dekhe toh isme itna special kya hai." Rohan leaned and started to put some in his plate.

"Main bowl deta hun na tujhe, seedha baith." Sameer picked up the dish to take it near Rohan.

Their muddled actions made Rohan's hand shake a bit... and a ladle full of curry landed on Sameer's tshirt.

"Sorry sorry bhai... pata nahi kaise gir gaya... so sorry. Lao main saaf kar deta hu." Rohan picked up a napkin and strated to rub the stain.

Sameer pushed Rohan's hands away, getting up in a hurry to pull the stained garment away from his body, his face distorted as he stared down, "I don't believe this. Itna bada nishaan hai Rohan, yeh saaf thodi ho sakta hai. Hat yahan se, mujhe abhi change karna hai. Mummy, yeh kapde..."

"Haan haan, phenk dungi inko bhi." Vishakha agreed, knowing what he would say.

Sameer rushed to his room, holding the tshirt within his thumb and index finger.

Nanu glared at Rohan, "Yeh tha tera tareeka Sameer ko wapas pehle jaisa banane ka? Kaafi third class idea tha waise."

Rohan chuckled, "First class tha nanu. Ab iss daag ke chakkar mein bhai baaki saari tension bhool jayenge dekhna. Aapko pata hi hai woh kitne disturb ho jaate hain kisi mark se. So chill."

Sameer peeled off the tshirt the moment he reached his room. Throwing it on the bathroom floor, he washed himself at the basin for any residue on the skin. After drying up, when he opened his cupboard, his eyes fell on a yellow shirt. It instantly reminded him of Naina's yellow shirt that she had worn to office... and he picked it up absentmindedly. That he was wearing it with track bottoms did not register to him.

A knock at the door jolted him, and he turned to find Rohan standing with a sheepish smile.

"Sorry bhai, galti se aapki tshirt kharab ho gayi. Aap gussa toh nahi ho na?" He held both his ears, like he always did after playing a prank.

Sameer looked at him with a furious expression, "Gussa toh bohot hun. Aage se tere paas kabhi nahi baithunga."

Rohan bobbed his head to the side, "Bas yeh punishment hai? Chalega. Waise bhi thode time mein toh wife ke saath baithna hoga na... phir hum dono saath thodi baithenge."

Rohan had sprinted away before Sameer could ask him the precise meaning of his words. He kept standing like a statue in the middle of the room... stunned. What was Rohan trying to hint at... was he planning to get married... how... and to whom... was it... was it HER! Sameer shivered. Next moment, he smacked himself to stop such thoughts invading his mind. It couldn't be... he hadn't seen Naina giving any special attention to Rohan... but then, Rohan had been talking only about her since she joined. Again shaking his head, he assured himself that Rohan had always been talking about marriage, and whatever he said now was a general statement.

Lost in the fight of the inner voice of his heart and mind, Sameer went out to the backyard. He didn't notice nanu sitting there, alone.

By the time Naina parked her car in front of her house, it was close to 9 PM. Mrs Bhalla was sitting in her lawn, checking the phone. Hearing the sound, she quickly looked at the brother sister entering the gate.

"Arre puttar, aaj badi der kar di. Mujhe toh tension hi ho gayi thi... laga tujhe office mein late ho gaya aur yeh bechara bachha abhi bhi wahin creche mein baitha hoga, woh bhi akela." Bhalla aunty said in a concerned voice.

Naina stopped, "Maine Ayush ko time pe hi pickup kar liya tha, aunty. Late isliye hua kyonki aaj hum dono bahar dinner karne chale gaye the."

Bhalla aunty relaxed, "Oh achha! Koi baat nahi. Main na tujhe yahan ke famous restaurant bataungi. Bade hi badhiya hain, aur butter chicken toh itna kamaal..."

"Hum vegetarian hain, aunty." Naina clarified.

Bhalla aunty gave her a surprised look, "Hain? Vegetarian? Kyon?"

"Umm, shuru se hi... koi nahi khata hamari family mein." Naina shrugged.

Bhalla aunty had recovered by now, "Woh hamari kitty mein Mrs Sharma hain na, unse puch lungi, woh bhi vegetarian hi hain."

Naina smiled at her eagerness to guide her, "Maine google pe check kar liya tha, aunty. Aap pareshan mat hoiye."

Mrs Bhalla diverted her attention to a sleepy looking Ayush, "Aaj teri didi ne party kara di teri. Khush hai tu?"

Ayush straightened proudly, "Mujhe star mile the na, isliye hum gaye the. Maine double chocolate wali icecream bhi khaayi."

"Dikh rahi hai tere kapdon pe. Aadhi chocolate tshirt ko khila di." Aunty bent down to point at the stain on his chest.

"Offo aunty, dheere bolo na. Naina ko yaad aaya toh phir se gussa karegi." Ayush whispered to her, though Naina could hear it clearly.

"Sun Naina, agar kabhi office mein late ho ya kuch kaam ho toh mujhe phone kar dena, main driver ko bhej ke Ayush ko bulwa lungi. Bachha raat tak akela wahan kyon rahe." The lady offered in a gentle voice.

Naina was touched by her willingness to help, "Thank you, aunty, lekin aisa mauka ayega nahi. Maine office mein pehle hi bata diya tha ki main timings adjust nahi kar paungi. Aur office mein sab hain bhi bohot achhe toh yeh zarurat nahi padegi. Main aapko kabhi tang nahi karungi."

Bhalla aunty swayed her hand, "Ismein tang karne jaisa kya hai, puttar... Bhalla saab toh inne khush ho gaye the Ayush ko dekh ke, ussi din se icecream mangwa ke rakhi hai. Roz puchte hain. Kal aa jao na tum dono neeche... Saturday hai toh chutti hogi teri."

"Uncle mere liye icecream laaye? Chocolate wali hai na?" Ayush was now alert.

"Haanji chocolate wali hai, Choco Chip. Kal aana, aaj toh tu pehle hi party karke aaya hai." Aunty beamed at him.

Promising to meet them next day, Naina went up with Ayush. It was a relief to have such caring and compassionate people around her. Bhalla aunty wasn't dubious about her coming late, or working for extra hours in the office. She was a bit prying, but Naina accepted that as her way of treating them more than mere tenants.

That night, after Ayush had slept, Naina looked at the full moon, "Ek hafta... ek poora hafta ho gaya yahan. Jitna socha tak nahi tha utna achha lag raha hai sab kuch. Aisa lag raha hai ki achanak mere aas paas ka andhera khatam ho gaya. Raat hai phir bhi itna ujala hai jaise aaj tumne har taraf apni chandni bikheri hui hai. Ek baat batao, achanak itne saare achhe log kaise aa gaye meri zindagi mein? Office mein dost hon ya boss, sabke saath kitna comfortable lagta hai. Aur aaj toh Sameer sir bhi normal lage. Unki baaton se kuch odd nahi laga. Shayad mujhe hi galatfahami hui thi. Anyway, all's well that ends well. Yeh week itna perfect gaya ki mujhe yakeen ho gaya hai yahan aane ka faisla galat nahi tha. Lagta hai woh zindagi jo hum jeena chahte the woh yahin milegi humein... mujhe aur Ayush ko."

This Friday, I tell you... it started on monday and didn't end even today. Guess this Friday will go on till Friday.

Ok I haven't gone mad, if you're thinking so 😂 Just talking about the day in the story. Couldn't end it today... Sameer still has a few hours before Friday ends for him... and for us.

So, next update on Friday