Title song is from movie 'Boss', sung by Arijit Singh 'Har kisi ko nahi milta yahan pyar zindagi mein'

Sitting in her cabin, Naina wondered how she had landed in this situation. She had no room for anyone in her life, forget about heart. Then how did the feeling seep through, how could the walls that she had built over the years crumble so easily, why did her forever cautious mind not warn the foolish heart? When did her heart make a place for someone? And that too, for a person who was most benevolent and kind to her and Ayush. On top of that, he owned the company that had given her the only chance to escape, when she needed it most. His gentle manners and actions made her feel worse. It was like taking advantage of his kindness... or trying to fit herself in the picture which included only Ayush and Sameer. Why, in the first place, did she think she could be a part of somebody's picture?

However much she tried to shake it, the fluttering in her heart didn't stop. It was an odd feeling. She didn't know how, but she had begun to feel all such things which she had never felt before. There was something about Sameer that made her feel safe. The way he had comforted her that night after the lift incident in Jaipur, and been with her throughout... she didn't know then, but she felt secure with him. The man who always seemed to be around, was making her feel things she was scared of but still, whenever he was around, she felt she could put all her trust in him. She had been doing it for long... way before she could admit it to herself.

And that thought scared her even more. Trust... which she had lost in every person. That trust brought only one name to her mind now... Sameer.

But she knew she had to keep her guards intact. She didn't want to break the walls and let everyone see her vulnerable heart. She couldn't let her emotions be in display. She couldn't melt.

She couldn't let anyone put a blame on her.

The ring of phone jolted her out of her thoughts.

"Hi behen, kya kar rahi hai? Uss khadoos ne dher saara kaam deke rakha hoga kyonki kaam ke siva aur toh usse kuch aata nahi... and according to him, saans lene se zyada kaam karte rehna zaruri hai." Preeti chirped into the phone, without letting her utter even a greeting.

"Hi Preeti." Naina said when she paused to catch a breath.

"Arre ! Mere itne saare sawalon ka jawab sirf Hi Preeti?" She lowered her voice at the other end, "Behen, tu na khul ke apne boss ki burai kar sakti hai mere saath. Promise, main usse kuch nahi kahungi."

Naina was glad they were on phone, or Preeti would have seen her flushed face at the mention of Sameer's name, "Mujhe koi burai nahi karni."

"Hain? Koi bhi nahi? Matlab ek choti si half... quarter... kuch bhi nahi!" Preeti definitely sounded shocked.

"Sameer mein koi burai hai hi nahi." Naina blurted before she could think what she was saying.

Thankfully, Preeti didn't misinterpret it, "Yeh lo. Tune toh mere gossip session ki excitement pe paani hi pher diya. Isse achha Rohan ko call kar leti. Uske aur mere notes same hote hain. Ek baar Sameer ko discuss karna start kiya toh poora din kab khatam hota hai pata hi nahi chalta. Khair tu abhi jaanti nahi na usse, isliye keh rahi hai warna saara office usse khadoos boss hi kehta hai."

"Aisa kuch nahi hai, Preeti. Sameer ki toh sab bohot praise karte hain. He's very decent and admired by everyone." Naina defended him instantly.

"Oho! Toh jaake usse ek baar bataa de, behen. Usse lagta hai sab usse arrogant aur strict samajhte hain. Tere muh se apni tareef sunega toh khush ho jayega." Preeti chuckled.

"Main? Preeti, main..." Naina was taken aback.

As her cackling laughter fell in Naina's ears, she realised Preeti was joking, "Kya behen, ab tak toh meri baaton ki aadat ho jaani chahiye thi. Anyway, maine yeh kehne ko call kiya hai ki aaj hum dono shopping chalenge. Mom ne mujhe ultimatum de diya ki agar maine dhang ke dresses nahi khareede toh woh mere liye saariyan le ayengi."

Naina couldn't help but laugh, "Saariyan? Cannot even imagine."

"I know!" Preeti drawled, "She says yeh mere 'Amrican' outfits yahan nahi chalenge. So please yaar, chal pad na. You have such elegant taste. Tere toh ghar ke kapde bhi meri party dresses se better hain."

"Buttering ki zarurat nahi hai, Preeti, main waise hi chal padti lekin mujhe office ke baad Ayush ko daycare se pick karna hota hai. Ghar jaake uske liye kuch khane ko banati hun tab tak late ho jayega. Weekend pe chalein?" Naina suggested.

"No way. Aaj toh Monday hi hai. Weekend tak toh mera wardrobe saariyon se bhara hoga. You don't know my mom. Sun, main Sameer ko bol deti hun ki aaj tera lunch mere saath hai, aur uske baad humein kuch kaam hai isliye tu nahi aayegi office. Ayush ko lene jaane ke time tak hamari shopping ho jayegi. I'm not fussy at all, jo tu bolegi main le lungi." Preeti was excited at her own idea.

"Lekin yahan ka kaam." Naina tried to explain but Preeti wasn't the one to give in.

"Leave it to me. Sameer ek din reh sakta hai Naina ke bina I mean, ek din office ka kaam chala sakta hai Naina ke bina. I'll come over to office at one. Be ready." She ended the call without waiting for a reply.

Naina stared at the phone... not sure if Preeti had actually said what she thought she did, or it was a figment of her imagination. It had to be her imagination... why would Preeti say such a thing. Shaking her head to rid it of whatever had been boggling her, she opened her laptop.

"Hey Sameer, guess what!" Preeti shrieked into the phone when Sameer answered her call.

He quickly held it away from himself, rubbing his ear before hissing at her, "Why can't you be normal? Har baat pe chillana zaruri hai kya?"

"It's about Naina." Preeti whispered.

It was his turn to screech, "Naina? What about her? Kya hua? Tumne kuch kaha usse? Usne kuch bola tumhe?"

"Sameer, why can't you be normal? Har baat pe chillana zaruri hai kya?" She repeated his words in the same tone.

"Preeetiiii. Don't do this, yaar. Batao na Naina ne kya kaha?" Sameer said in a weary voice.

"She said yes." Preeti stated plainly.

The phone almost fell from Sameer's hand. Choking on his own breath, he stuttered, "Y...yes... yes kaise means... means she..."

When his voice went silent, Preeti giggled, "Maine pucha mere saath shopping chalegi she said yes."

"Sh... shopping?" Sameer felt like somebody had thrown chilled water on his dreams that had soared to a new level one minute back.

"Of course shopping, idiot. Aur nahi toh kya main usse tumahre behalf pe propose karti? Sameer, thodi toh akal lagao yaar. I can only help you to an extent. Apne dil ki baat tumhe khud batani hogi." Preeti sobered down, pitying his condition.

When he was again silent, she said in a soothing voice, "Main isiliye uske saath bahar jaa rahi hun... jisse uske dil ki baat bhi samajh sakun. This is a plan to know her better."

Sameer wasn't happy initially with the prospect of Naina not being in office for second half of the day but on Preeti's insistence, he agreed. He was surprised to see Naina a little hesitant to speak to him when Preeti barged in with her in tow, just before leaving.

"Thodi der ke liye tumhari associate ko chura ke le jaa rahi hun, Sameer. Don't mind." Preeti winked at him, which Naina couldn't see as she was behind Preeti.

"No problem. Naina, aaj kuch itna important kaam hai bhi nahi toh tum aaram se jaa sakti ho." Sameer smiled warmly at her, taking her edginess to be due to leaving the office like this. He knew how serious she was about her work.

Naina looked up at him for a second, and looked away, "I'll... I'll try to come back after shopping. Leave lene ka koi plan nahi hai."

"Take it easy. Tum aaram se Preeti ke saath jao. Yahan ke liye worried mat ho. Aur jab free ho jao toh ghar chali jaana. I'm sure Preeti ke saath itna time spend karne ke baad rest ki zarurat padegi." Sameer smiled, even though she didn't meet his eyes again.

Giving a look of fake anger to him, Preeti ushered Naina out of his room, speaking over her shoulder, "Preeti is the best partner. You'll know soon."

The mall in Saket wasn't as crowded as it was when Naina had visited a few times on weekends. They had lunch in one of the restaurants before hitting the stores. Preeti was right when she had mentioned that she wasn't fussy about clothes. Whatever Naina suggested, she was ready to try. Soon, her bag was full of selected outfits.

"Tu bhi kuch choose kar le, Naina. Look at this dress. Kitni mast hai. Try kar na." Preeti stopped to pick a long flowery dress when they were walking to the billing counter.

Taking it from her, Naina placed it back on the stand, "Mere paas pehle hi bohot dresses hain. Office ke formals, aur ghar ke easy kapdon ke alava rarely kisi outfit ka number aata hai. Kahin jaana hi nahi hota."

"Toh jaya kar na. Achha tell me, what do you enjoy most... movies, shopping, eating out, aise hi ghoomna ya... I mean, sabse zyada kya achha lagta hai?" Preeti asked with a twinkle in her eyes.

"I like everything. Sab tarah ki outings enjoy karti hun." Naina shrugged.

"Enjoy karti toh roz ghumti. Don't lie to me. Bataa na, what is your favourite activity?" Preeti pestered.

Smiling at her eagerness, Naina looked at the screen saver on her phone, "Favourite activity toh Ayush ke saath time spend karna hai. Phir woh chahe kahin bhi ho."

Failing in her first attempt, Preeti tried again, "Kaash yahan beaches hote. Hum Ayush ke saath har weekend pe jaate. I love beaches. America mein bhi sirf ek baar California gayi thi. New York mein rehke sabse zyada beaches ko hi miss kiya maine."

"Jaise yahan toh roz beach pe jaane ka mauka milta hai na." Naina chuckled.

"Arre yaar, yahan nahi lekin jab chaho Goa jaa sakte hain na. Infact, I feel hum sabko jaana chahiye. Friends ke saath beach party karne ka alag hi mazaa hai. Nahi?" Preeti looked at her dreamily.

"I don't know. Main kabhi gayi nahi." Naina's words shocked Preeti.

"Kabhi beach pe nahi gayi?" She asked with wide eyes.

Naina pursed her lips, "Beach dekha hai, par kabhi friends ke saath nahi gayi."

"Kyon?" Preeti's question left her at loss for words. She couldn't tell her that she had no friends.

Seeing her go quiet, Preeti presumed that maybe her family wasn't keen to allow such things. She didn't want to create any embarrassing situation for Naina.

Flashing a bright smile, she said, "Jo pehle nahi kiya, ab karte hain. Let's plan a beach holiday. You don't worry. Main hun na... expert at everything."

Naina didn't say no to her directly, thinking that she would find some excuse if Preeti does plan something like this with her friends and wants to include her. Also, she didn't know any of her friends.

They had just stepped out of the store, laden with bags, when Naina's phone started to ring. Seeing the name, her face became tensed and she quickly pressed the phone to her ear, "Ji Smita ma'm oh... I'll come right away."

"Kya hua, Naina?" Preeti placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Woh Ayush is not well. Fever aa gaya hai. Sorry Preeti. Mujhe jaana padega." Naina gave her a harried look.

"Let's go. Abhi office ka traffic start nahi hua hai. Hum fifteen minutes mein pohonch jayenge." Preeti was already rushing towards the parking.

In less than fifteen minutes, they were in the daycare. Ayush was sleeping. Naina touched his forehead, and was relieved to find it just a little warm.

Smita ma'm reassured her, "Maine Crocin syrup de diya tha. Bohot restless ho raha tha isliye tumhe bulaya. Aur koi symptoms toh nahi hain. Mausam ki wajah se bhi fever aa jaata hai. I think tension wali koi baat nahi hai."

Naina nodded, "Kabhi kabhi zyada exhaustion se Ayush ko ek din ka fever aa jaata hai. Thoda rest kar lega toh theek ho jayega. Thank you, Smita ma'm. Main ghar le jaati hun isse."

After laying him on the back seat, Naina turned to Preeti, "Come, main pehle tumhe ghar drop kar deti hun."

"Not at all. Tu Ayush ko leke ghar jaa main cab le lungi. Waise Naina, I can come with you. Ayush is not well toh tujhe..." Preeti glanced at the sleeping boy.

Naina shook her head, smiling, "Mujhe aadat hai. Bachhe toh bimar padte hi hain. I can handle. He'll be fine by tomorrow."

"Sure?" Preeti raised her brows.

"Hundred percent. Zyada fever hai bhi nhai. Do teen dose Crocin syrup lega toh theek ho jayega. Smita ma'm ne kaha tha aur kuch complaint nahi ki isne. Nothing to worry." Naina reassured her.

After Preeti left in the cab that she had called for, Naina got into her car. Before starting, she turned and placed a hand on Ayush's forehead. A frown appeared on her face when she realised that his temperature had risen considerably. She immediately pulled the seat belt, eager to reach home so she could place strips of cloth dipped in chilled water to bring down his temperature. Naina was barely halfway when Ayush started shivering, uttering her name in broken, almost incoherent voice, "Nai... na... su no... Na... Nai Naaa."

She stopped the car, turned to him and touched his cheek. The burning skin almost scalded her fingers. Panic spread over her. It didn't look like normal fever. She patted his cheek fervently, "Ayush, Ayush aankhen khol baby. Dekh Naina hai tere paas. Ayush."

"Nai na." He mumbled... and fainted.

With fear gripping her heart, Naina drove at break neck speed to reach the hospital, which wasn't far from there. Handing the keys to valet, she scooped Ayush in her arms and ran to the emergency wing.

"He... he has... fainted." She uttered to the doctor who was instantly by their side once Ayush was put on a narrow observation bed.

Doctor checked his parameters while Naina kept her lip tightly pressed under her teeth, her fingers wrenching in dread against her belly.

"Sister, blood test karao aur drip arrange karo." Doctor commanded in a solemn voice.

Turning to Naina, he raised a hand when he saw her white face, "Relax. Drip sirf isliye laga rahe hain jisse body mein sufficient fluids aur energy rahe. This looks like a case of viral. Iss mausam mein common hota hai. Blood test ki report do ghante mein aa jayegi. Tab tak drip mein medicine daal ke hum fever ko kam kar denge. Aap aap iske parents ko bula lijiye. Bachhe secured feel karte hain unke saath."

"Doctor, main Ayush ki sister hun. Hamare parents... woh nahi hain." The pain in her throat got more intense.

"I'm sorry. Toh aap can you manage alone? Kisi relative ko bula lijiye." Doctor was sympathetic.

"Main... manage kar lungi. Koi aur baat toh nahi hai na? Yeh faint kyon ho gaya?" Naina gave a distressed look to Ayush's still form in bed.

"High fever mein ho jaata hai. Jahan tak dikh raha hai, koi major problem nahi hai. Baaki blood report ke baad bata paunga. Aap tab tak reception pe paperwork kar lijiye. Hum Ayush ko room mein shift kar dete hain." Doctor pointed at the reception area outside the large door.

"He needs to be admitted? Why?" The fear was back as Naina stared at the doctor.

"Dekhiye ma'm, Few hours ke liye observation mein rakhenge. Itna high fever kisi bhi tarah ka trauma cause kar sakta hai, jo hum hospital mein prevent kar sakte hain. Most probably, kal morning mein aap apne brother ke saath aaram se ghar jaa payengi. Just to be on safer side, hum aaj ki raat monitor kar lete hain. But if you insist, main blood report check karne ke baad aapko le jaane dunga Ayush ko." Doctor explained.

Naina was convinced, "No. Let him be here. Main koi risk nahi lena chahti. I'll fill up the forms. Lekin Ayush yahan akele chod ke kaise jaun?" She gave an uncertain look.

"Don't worry. Yeh emergency room hai filled with doctors and nurses. Ayush is safe." Doctor gave a quick smile.

Naina touched Ayush's forehead... it was considerably less hot. He was sleeping with a calm face. The medicine in drip had started to show effect. With a deep breath, she rushed out to the counter to finish everything as fast as she could, and return to him.

"Hi Preeti. Ho gayi shopping ya abhi bhi mall mein ho?" Sameer called up from the parking before starting from office.

"Shopping ho gayi. Aur Naina chali bhi gayi ghar. Actually Ayush ke daycare se call aa gaya tha. Usse fever hua hai. Naina ghar le gayi Ayush ko." Preeti informed him.

"WHAT? Mujhe bataya kyon nai? How is he now? Kaise aaya fever? Naina akele kaise sambhalegi? Preeti, ek call toh kar deti tum mujhe." Sameer jerked upright, flustered at the news.

"Relax Sameer. Bas halka sa bukhar tha. Seasonal viral hai probably. Naina bhi itni tensed nahi thi jitna panic tum kar rahe ho. Maine jab offer kiya ki main saath chalti hun toh usne kaha aisa kabhi kabhi ho jaat hai and she'll manage. Sameer, darne jaisa kuch tha nahi isliye maine call nahi kiya." Preeti apprised him.

Sameer wasn't convinced, "Phir bhi, yaar. Anyway, I'll go and check on him. Baad mein baat karta hun."

It took him a little over twenty minutes to reach her house. Sameer hopped up the stairs... two at a time.

His heart sank, finding the door latched from outside.

"Excuse me, Naina aur Ayush... aaye kyon nahi abhi tak?" Seeing a maid in the porch below, he called out.

Roshni looked up at him, "Pata nahi, bhaiya. Waise iss time tak aa jaate hain dono."

"Bhalla aunty kahan hain?" Sameer rushed down.

"Aunty uncle subah Chandigarh gaye hain. Parson aayenge." Roshni stated.

In frustration, Sameer called up Naina. She didn't reply in first attempt. He tried again. No reply.

"Thank you." Nodding at Roshni, he ran out to his car.

Before starting, he called one more time.

"Hello." He could feel the strain in her voice.

"Naina, where are you? Ayush kaisa hai? Tum ghar kyon nahi aayi abhi tak?" He was as anxious as he was relieved to finally get through to her.

Naina felt a sense of reassurance, hearing his voice, "Ayush ko hospital leke aana pada. Fever shoot up kar gaya tha. He's better now."

"Which hospital?" He asked in a clipped tone.

The short drive seemed extremely long to Sameer. Leaving the car at the entrance, he sprinted inside, without waiting to take the parking slip from the valet.

"Ayush... Ayush Agarwal." He enquired breathlessly at the reception.

The record didn't show anyone by this name. Receptionist looked at him, "Aap emergency mein dekh lijiye. Wahan ke records der se update hote hain."

Sameer rushed to the emergency wing. Most beds were protected from direct view by curtains around them. He went to the small counter.

Naina sat on the bed next to Ayush, stroking his hair. He had been shifted to a room five minutes back. After the drip was removed, he had opened his eyes, and even smiled at her. But weakness made him go back to sleep within minutes.

She leaned and placed a kiss on his forehead, letting out a shuddering breath as she straightened, "I love you, baby. Tumhe kuch nahi hone dungi."

"Naina." Sameer whispered from the doorway.

Her eyes shot up. Gulping down the restricting lump in her throat, she stood up. Sameer shut the door silently, and walked to the bed. Amidst large, heavy white pillows, Ayush looked tiny. He placed a hand on the forehead, and peered at Naina, "Abhi fever gaya nahi hai."

"Lekin kam hai. Doctor ne kaha shayad viral hai. Blood test ki reports ke baad clearly pata chalega." She informed in a low voice.

Sameer perched on the other side of bed, holding Ayush's hand, looking at him tenderly, "He'll be fine. Kuch nahi hoga hamare Ayush ko. Promise. Pakka promise."

The way he said 'hamare Ayush', something stirred in Naina. Everyone who met Ayush loved him, he was an adorable child. But Sameer's affection for him was something different. He cared for Ayush like he was his own, loved him as if he had known Ayush forever, and not just a few months. Maybe this is what Preeti meant when she said Sameer doted on kids.

"Main... main check karke aati hun reports aayi hain kya." She mumbled, crossing the bed to go out.

Sameer looked back at the door as it closed slowly behind her. He was amazed at the strength of this petite girl. He was sure had he been in her place, he would have broken down. But she was holding herself incredibly well.

Outside, Naina enquired at the nurses station. The reports hadn't yet arrived. The nurse assured her that the moment they get it, she would bring it to the room, and call for the doctor on duty.

Sameer was sitting at the same place when she went back to the room. Seeing her, he raised his brows. She shook her head once. Just for a second, her eyes lingered on his face, then moved away. Sameer could feel she was avoiding him.

He stood up, watching her as she went to the other side of bed, and settled on a narrow settee against the wall.

"Yeh sab kaise hua?" Sameer asked.

She narrated the entire sequence of events to him.

"Tumne mujhe call kyon nahi kiya, Naina?" He asked in a soft voice.

She glanced at him, "Aapko? kyon?"

"Kyonki aise waqt mein dost ki madad karna ek ache dost ka farz hai. Tumne dost kaha tha na mujhe... toh madad karne ka mauka kyon nahi diya?" Sameer kept his voice gentle, so he didn't sound accusing.

Naina turned her gaze back to her linked hands, "Aap pehle hi itna kuch karte hain Ayush ke liye. Main aapko aur pareshan nahi karna chahti."

"Tumhe kya lagta hai abhi mujhe taklif nahi ho rahi? Ayush ko iss haal mein dekh ke mujhe khud pe gussa aa raha hai ki main saath kyon nahi tha jab usse meri zarurat thi." Sameer ran his fingers through his hair in frustration.

"Please Sameer. Aap aisa mat sochiye. Uss waqt mujhe kisi ka khyal hi nahi aaya. Bas priority yehi thi ki Ayush ko jaldi se jaldi hospital laana hai." She didn't want him to feel guilty.

"Main aisa kya karun Naina ki tumhe mera khyal aaye?" He gave her an earnest look.

Her heart jumped to her mouth, and she stared at him with wide eyes.

"Can't you see how much I love... Ayush." Her expression brought him to his senses before he blurted out what she wasn't prepared to hear yet.

Next update on Saturday