Sameer sat in his car, clutching the wheel so hard that his knuckles turned white. He couldn't believe his love story had ended even before it could begin.

The shortest love story in the history perhaps.

"Bhaiya, aap gaadi nikaal rahe hain kya? Doosri car wait kar rahi hai parking ke liye?" The attendant knocked at his window.

"Sab jagah se nikal jaun kya? Saari jagah doosre logon ne book kar rakhi hai?" Sameer snapped at the parking attendant.

The man was visibly scared. He took a step back and pointed behind his car, "Nahi, main bas isliye puch raha tha ki woh babu..."

Sameer banged his fist harshly on the wheel, causing a loud honk, "Yeh babu shona jaadu tona jo bhi hai na, usse keh de rehne nahi aaya hun yahan. Jaa raha hun. Aur dubara aaunga bhi nahi. Koi shouk nahi hai mujhe yahan baith ke har kisi ko baby babu karte hue sunne ka."

Swerving his car sharply, he drove out, leaving a confused attendant.

"Yeh itne gussa kyon ho gaye? Main toh sirf yeh puch raha tha ki doosri car wale babuji wait karein ya kahin aur park karwa dun... koi jaadu tona thodi kar raha tha." He scratched his head, watching the car speed away.

When Sameer reached home, nanu was reading the newspaper in the garden.

"Arre waah mere sher, subah subah sehat ka khyal. Yaar Sameer teri yeh baat mujhe bohot pasand hai... chutti ke din bhi jaldi uth ke time ka sahi upyog karta hai. Rohan aur Deepika ki tarah 11 baje tak sota nahi rehta." Nanu gave him a bright smile.

"Achha hota agar soya rehta aur kahin jaata hi nahi. Kam se kam hopes toh rehti." Sameer muttered under his breath.

"Kya kaha?" Nanu narrowed his eyes, seeing his lips moving.

Sameer forced a smile, "Kuch nahi, nanu. Kal raat theek se neend nahi aayi isliye socha aaj achhi tarah exercise kar lun."

Nanu observed his forlorn eyes, drooping shoulders, tired face and sad voice. Before he could ask anything, Sameer left, saying he needed a bath.

"Hain? Yeh ek raat mein aisa kya ho gaya? Kal jahan umeed ki kaliyan nazar aa rahi thi wahin aaj bilkul ujda chaman dikh raha hai." Nanu wondered at the changed demeanour of his grandson.

Sameer did not come down for breakfast nor lunch, saying that he had a lot of work. Though the breakfast plate came back to the kitchen untouched, nanu was a little relieved when Ramdhari told him that Sameer had eaten his lunch.

Alone in his room Sameer replayed the incident in the mall several times in his mind. And each time he wanted to punch that boyfriend of Naina. Even that day, when he didn't know her, he found it odd that she was being a puppet at his mercy... getting ice cream, listening to his complaints, pampering him, opening the car door for him, even carrying the heavy bag that he saw on her shoulder.

"Kaisa kaddu insaan hai, aisi nazuk si ladki pe saara burden daal diya. Kam se kam bag toh utha leta. Maine toh suna tha ladkiyon ko aise ladke pasand aate hain jo unke peeche peeche ghoome yeh toh Naina ko apne peeche ghuma raha hai." Sameer paced in the room in frustration, hitting his palm with a fisted hand.

Suddenly he stopped, running his fingers through his hair, "Naina ne aisa kya dekha usmein? Bohot handsome hai kya?"

He quickly went to the closet area to look at himself in the mirror, "Main konsa kam hun. Achha khaasa toh dikhta hun. Ghar pe sab kehte hain main bhi bohot handsome hun. Mummy toh hero bolti hain. College mein kitni ladkiyon ke request aur messages aate the. London mein bhi kitni saari girls ne date ke liye pucha tha. Aur nanu... jahan bhi hum log jaate hain nanu hamesha point out karte rehte hain ki woh dekh woh ladki tujhe dekh rahi wahan dekh woh bhi dekh ke smile kar rahi hai."

He gave an appreciative glance to himself from head to toe. Fairly tall, with a toned body and good complexion, he was always praised for his looks. To add to the charm, his silky hair fell on his forehead as he liked to keep them a little long. He recalled a long dm he had once received on insta when he was in London... the girl had claimed to have fallen for his killer smile and deep, dark eyes. His lips curved into a wide smile at his reflection to confirm.

"Dikhaya toh tha Naina ko smile karke... usse killer kyon nahi lagi?" He pouted.

Next, he leaned closer to the mirror and looked at his eyes... they were dark but then everyone had dark eyes only. Then he remembered the caramel brown ones that had mesmerised him. Hers were not black like his eyes... they were a hypnotic shade of melted chocolate when he had stared into them for the first time. But today, her sun kissed eyes were magical, the golden rays that reflected in them seemed to light up his morning... she was the sunrise he wanted to wake up to everyday.

"Control Sameer, woh committed hai. Uske liye aisa sochna galat hai." He squeezed his eyes shut, commanding himself as the reality struck him again.

It was painful. Having no appetite, he hadn't touched his breakfast. But when Ramdhari mentioned that nanu was worried, he forced himself to have some of the food from his lunch plate. After spending the afternoon brooding over his broken heart, Sameer opened the laptop. He decided to find out what that creep of a boyfriend of Naina looked like. He was more frustrated when after searching her name on all SM portals didn't bring any result. There were a plenty of Naina Agarwals but none was the one he wanted to see.

"Rehti toh yahin aas paas hi hai. Dekhta hun address upload kiya hai ya nahi company ke account pe." He quickly opened the official page to check her details, but was left disappointed again.

Around evening, nanu knocked at Sameer's door. Seeing him sitting with the laptop, he wasn't sure anymore whether what he felt last night was real or he had read his grandson's eyes wrong.

"Sameer, aaj itna kaam kahan se le aya? Kuch nayi tension hai kya?" Sitting on the edge of the bed, he asked casually.

Sameer hadn't heard the knock nor realised that someone was in the room. Nanu's voice almost made him jump.

"Na... nanu aap... kab aaye?" He closed the laptop, so nanu couldn't see that he was not doing any work but checking Naina's profile.

"Main toh yahin rehta hun, barkhurdaar, tum kahan ho? Kis kaam mein itna khoya hai?" Nanu laughed.

"Kuch... kuch nahi nanu. Woh bas... woh Sanjay aur Raghav ke saath chat kar raha tha. Itne din ho gaye, dono hi Delhi mein nahi hain na, isliye." He cooked up a story.

"Hmm. Matlab doston ki yaad aa rahi hai isliye mood off hai." Nanu nodded in understanding.

Sameer lowered his head. He didn't want to lie to nanu but there was no way he could tell the real reason of his misery.

"Raghav Sanjay hi na? Kahin koi khaas dost toh nahi hai jiski wajah se tu... mera matlab koi naya... ya phir nayi..." Nanu narrowed his eyes.

Sameer looked up in alarm. He could see the doubt in nanu's piercing eyes.

"Arre nahi, nanu. Khaas dost... meri? Aap bhi kamaal karte ho. Aisa kuch hota toh sabse pehle aapko batata." For both their benefits, he faked a loud laugh.

"Haan, yeh baat bhi hai. Chal phir neeche aaja. Driver Vivek ko lene airport gaya hai, bas aata hi hoga. Sabke saath baithega toh doston ki yaad zara kam aayegi." Nanu agreed readily.

Vivek was back from Mumbai later that evening. They all sat for dinner together, along with Sameer.

"Sameer, Rohan, sab kaisa chal raha hai office mein?" He asked with enthusiasm.

"First class, papa. Aapko pata hi hai main kitna efficient hun." Rohan gave a bright smile.

Vivek raised his brows, "Achhe se pata hai... mujhe bhi aur Sameer ko bhi... kyon Sameer?"

"Kya papa, ek choti si galti ke liye ab aap bechare Rohan ko kitna sunayenge?" Sameer tried to appear normal.

Rohan nodded, "Bhai sahi keh rahe hain. Galtiyaan karke hi toh seekhunga. Aur phir aap sab hain na rectify karne ke liye."

Vivek looked at nanu, "Papaji, lagta hai ab bata hi dena chahiye Rohan ko."

Nanu let out a long exhale, "Haan bhai, waqt aa hi gaya. Rohan, taiyar ho jaa. Teri galtiyon ko sudharne ka jimma abse hum sab nahi le payenge."

Everyone looked at the two of them with perplexed expressions.

Vishakha was the first one to question, "Aisa kya karne wale hain aap, Vivek?"

Rohan opened his mouth to speak but nanu quietened him with a raised hand, "Nahi, jo tu soch raha hai aisa kuch nahi hai... teri shaadi ki koi baat nahi ho rahi."

Deepika giggled, "Rohan bhai pakka yehi kehne wale the."

Rohan closed his open mouth. Sameer let out the breath he was holding. Though he knew now that Naina was already with someone else, the fear jabbed him with every mention of Rohan's marriage.

Vivek cleared his throat, and turned somber, "Mumbai mein ek hafte tak market analyse karne ke baad maine realise kiya ki humein Mumbai ki manufacturing unit ko expand karna chahiye. Labour cost almost yahan jitna hi hai lekin hum transportation ka bohot bada share bacha payenge. Machines already hain wahan, maine do aur order kar di hain. Land toh tha hi, wahan construction start karwa diya hai. Contractor ne kaha hai jaldi se jaldi ready karne ki koshish karega. Rohan, main chahta hun tum Mumbai ka unit sambhalo kuch din. Of course hamara sabka support rahega. Kuch bhi issue ho toh do ghante ki flight hai... main, papa ya Sameer tumhare paas aa sakte hain. Lekin handling tumhari hogi. Kya bolte ho?"

Rohan pondered over what his father just said, unsure if he would be able to take up such a huge responsibility.

Nanu placed a hand on his shoulder, "Beta, har insaan ko ek din apni udaan bharni hoti hai. Hum jitni marzi koshish kar lein, lekin agar pata hai ki hamare peeche mazboot sahara hai toh girne ke darr ko utni ahmiyat nahi dete. Haan lekin khud aage badhna pade toh ek ek kadam soch samajh ke rakhte hain. Yeh experience tere liye bohot zaruri hai. Aur phir kuch mahino ki hi toh baat hai. Ek baar wahan ka set up complete ho jaaye to wapas aa jaana."

Rohan looked at Sameer, "Bhai saath nahi chal sakte kya?"

Vivek smiled, "Sameer apne hisse ka kaam kar chuka hai. Yaad hai na jab usne naya naya join kiya tha toh do do mahine har sector ki markets explore ki thi... poora ek saal door raha tha ghar se. Ab teri baari hai."

The only thought that was nagging Sameer in this conversation was that if Rohan was to go away, what would be the status of Naina's job. Obviously nanu couldn't send her to Mumbai with Rohan... or would he?

He looked at nanu, trying to keep the panic in his voice masked, "Rohan ke jaane se N... baaki staff ka kya hoga... matlab uske office mein jo log hain woh bhi Mumbai..."

Vivek cleared his doubt, "Of course not. Wahan staff hai. Yahan ke log yahin continue karenge. Rohan nahi hoga par department toh rahega na. Kisi ko move karne ki zarurat nahi hai."

They continued to discuss the plans about Rohan's shifting to Mumbai till late. Sameer tried his best to show interest in the conversation.

The next whole day wasn't easy for him either. He went to the gym in the morning, but didn't stop at the mall even though Deepika asked him to get cheese cake for her. He couldn't take a chance and run into Naina again... maybe with her 'baby shona' this time. He grimaced at the word again. Somehow, Naina didn't appear to be the type of girl who would address her boyfriend in this manner.

"Tujhe bada pata hai kis type ki ladkiyaan kya bolti hain. Keep your stupid ideas to yourself." His mind voice admonished him.

He spent a restless day at home, trying to search for Naina's social media accounts on every platform again.

For Naina, Sunday was a day filled with frolic. The four friends from office, Vedika, Sanya, Dhruv and Farhan dropped in for lunch to her house. Ayush was ecstatic to find so many people give importance to him, besides getting gifts as well.

"Ek baat bata Naina, Ayush itna chota hai, phir didi kyon nahi bolta tujhe? Hamesha Naina kyon bulata hai?" Sanya was a little surprised.

Naina recalled fondly, "Papa mummy Naina bolte the toh yeh bhi aise hi bulane laga. Shuru mein mummy ne try kiya ki isse didi ya Naina didi bulwaye toh yeh dadi kehna seekh gaya. Maine mummy se kaha dadi se achha toh Ayush naam se hi bula le mujhe. Bas, tabse main iske liye sirf Naina hun."

They all had a hearty laugh, imagining a still younger Naina being called dadi by her baby brother.

Ayush addressed all of them also by their names, and they happily accepted it, lest he gives them some other heavy duty designation.

Monday morning, Rohan left for office with Vivek while nanu got in with Sameer in his car. Knowing his fondness for music, nanu switched on the FM channel. The RJ wasn't cheerful as most of the times. His deep voice held strains of pain.

Kehte hain pyar kismat walon ko milta hai
Heer Ranjha, Laila Majnu, Shiri Farhaad... aise kitne hi naam the jinki kismat ne unke pyar ka saath nahi diya
Lekin phir bhi unke naam aaj tak saath mein liye jaate hain
Par kuch aise pyar karne wale bhi hote hain jinka pyar ek tarfa hi reh jaata hai, kabhi uss manzil tak pohoch hi nahi paata ki do naam judd sakein
Aur kabhi kabhi toh ek dil ki awaaz doosre tak jaane se pehle hi pyar ki kahani ka The End ho jaata hai
Toh kya dil uske liye dhadakna chod dega

Dil jisko chahta hai woh bas ek hai
Dil jisko maangta hai woh bas ek hai
Dil jiske liye dhadak raha hai woh bas ek hai
Lekin woh ek hi agar kisi aur ka ho toh
Yeh duniya sach mein sooni ho jaati hai

Aaiye sunnte hain Raahat Fateh Ali Khan ki awaaz mein aise dil ka haal

Sameer pressed his lower lip under his teeth... he knew perfectly well how it felt.

Dil jude bina hi tutt gaye
hatth mile bina hi chhut gaye
Ki likhe ne lekh kismat ne

He could feel the words... his destiny had taken away the girl he had actually fallen in love with.

Chann se jo tute koi sapna
Jag soona soona lage
Jag soona soona lage

Koi rahe jo na apna
Jag soona soona lage
Jag soona soona

Unable to hear more of it, he switched off the FM.

"Band kyon kar diya? Kitna achha gaana hai." Nanu looked at him.

"Woh... music sunne ka mann nahi hai, nanu. Sar thoda bhaari hai aaj." He gave a small smile.

Nanu placed a hand on his forehead, "Garam toh nahi hai. Chal aisa karna, aaj jaldi ghar chale jaana. Aur jaake rest karna, phir se yeh laptop mein mat ghus ke baithna. Tum aajkal ke bachhon ko isliye itna sar dard hota hai kyonki har waqt ya toh phone ya laptop... kabhi bahar ke khule nazaaron ko dekho, khuli hawa mein ghoomne jao... phir dekhna kaise tandarust rahoge, meri tarah."

"Yeh sar dard bahar khuli hawa mein jaa kar hi aaya hai." Sameer murmured to himself, recalling the morning in Lodhi garden.

Next update on Wednesday

P. S.
I don't wanna boast par ab mere saath hi aisa coincidence hota hai toh kya karun 😁🙈

Naina was mentioned as a school girl by Sameer in their first meet and we got Ashi dressed as a schoolgirl now, remembering Naina 🤐
Yahan Sameer Naina ko yellow mein dekh ke apni sunshine socha aur wahan Ashi apne yellow suit mein aagayi... also, Randeep ne reel like ki 'tu suhehara savera' 😭

By God, itne predictions karti hun par kasam se, kabhi ghamand nahi kiya 😌