Title is the song 'Shayad' from movie 'Love Aaj Kal'

When Naina went out with tea, Sameer wasn't there. Rohan, who had just joined after getting up late, mentioned that he had received a call and had gone near the main gate to talk.

Vishakha looked at her father, "Aapko pata hai papa, kal Sikandar bhaisahab ne Niharika ke saath Sameer ke rishte ki baat ki."

Vivek immediately reprimanded her, "Unhe nahi pata tha Sameer ki shaadi ke baare mein. Aur jaise hi humne bataya toh baat khatam ho gayi na... ab kya matlab hai usse uthane ka?"

Vishakha shrugged nonchalantly, "Main toh bas papa ko bata rahi hun. What's wrong in that?"

Naina stood up, a clipped smile pasted on her face, "Main jaake Ayush ko dekhti hun... kahin usse phir se daant mein dard toh nahi hai."

As she walked away, nanu lowered his voice, "Vivek theek keh raha hai. Tumhe Naina ke saamne yeh nahi bolna chahiye tha. Usse bura laga hoga."

Vishakha gave him a surprised look, "Ismein bura lagne ki kya baat hai, papa? Maine toh bas mention kiya. Humne kaunsa rishte ki baat aage badhayi."

Rohan snubbed her, "Dheere mummy. Bhabhi ko ab bhi sun sakta hai. Aap itni casually yeh sab kaise bol sakti hain?"

Vishakha narrowed her eyes, "Ab tu bhi mujhe hi sikhayega? Aisa kya keh diya maine? Bhai ek baat hui woh bata di."

Naina walked faster to avoid hearing any more on the topic.

Later during the day, Preeti came over around lunchtime.

"Aur behen, kaisi chal rahi hai married life?" She winked when she met Naina alone in her room.

"It's okay. Pehle jaisa hi hai sab kuch." Naina shrugged.

"Liar. As if main jaanti nahi... woh Romeo jo aankhon mein bhi dil laga ke ghoomta hai na, uske saath rehte hue pehle jaisa toh kuch bhi nahi ho sakta." Preeti flicked her brows meaningfully.

Naina lowered her eyes, "Sabke saath rehne ka experience thoda different toh hai."

Seeing the pensive look in her eyes, Preeti sobered up, "Naina, all well na? Kisi ne kuch kaha hai kya?"

"Nahi nahi, aisa kuch nahi hai. Sab log kitne achhe hain yahan tumhe toh pata hi hai. They all treat me like family." She quickly provided.

Preeti smiled fondly, "Haan yaar, they are too sweet. Mujhe kabhi laga hi nahi main kisi aur ke ghar mein hun. Pata hai, jab choti thi toh nanu daant bhi dete the... main aur Rohan the hi itne badmaash." She giggled.

"Preeti, tum shuru se iss ghar ka hissa rahi ho na. Kya tumhe lagta hai yahan mere aane se sab log sach mein khush hain?" Naina asked directly.

Preeti eyed her for a few seconds. She knew the family well to understand what Naina was trying to say. With a sigh, she held her hand, "Naina, mere jaisi kismat shayad hi kisi ladki ki hoti hai jisse aise ghar mein shaadi karne ka mauka mile jo uske liye bachpan se family jaisi hai. Main yahan sabko jaanti bhi hun, aur pehchanti bhi hun. Mujhe achhe se pata hai jo tu kehna chah rahi hai."

Naina looked at her in alarm, "Preeti main koi shikayat nahi kar rahi. Par samajh nahi paa rahi hun ki meri jagah kya hai yahan. Kya main ek majboori hun... agar haan toh shayad mujhe chale jaana chahiye. Kyonki ek zabardasti ke rishte ko aakhir kitne din tak nibhaya jaa sakta hai."

"Pagal hai kya? What is this zabardasti majboori nonsense. Don't you love Sameer?" It wasn't a question, and Naina didn't answer it either, "Jab tum dono pyar karte ho, shaadi kar chuke ho toh chale jaane ka scene kahan se aaya?"

When Naina didn't react to her anger, Preeti made her sit on the bed, sitting opposite her, "Listen Naina, mummy ke baare mein tujhe ek baat batati hun. Woh bohot loving hain, caring hain... lekin unka ek issue hai... unhe apni image se bohot pyar hai, jise woh apne sab janne walon ke saamne maintain karne ke liye kuch zyada hi effort leti hain. Badi badi baton ko softly handle kar leti hain par sabke saamne koi choti si baat ho jaaye toh aise bhadak jaati hain ki pucho mat. Sometimes I feel she's... she's kind of... bipolar you know." Preeti rolled her eyes.

Naina had seen it happen in last one week several times. Vishakha's ambivalent reactions had kept her utterly confused. Her annoyance of first day had subsided when she welcomed her in the house... but then Naina had overheard the conversation in the hospital. Since then, she had been ruminating over her decision to accept the marriage. Seeing Vishakha's softer side towards Ayush, her mind did waver, but what Preeti told her set her thinking again.

If image was this important to Vishakha, would she ever see her as a part of her family... would she ever accept her as her son's wife?

Preeti shook her, bringing her out of the turmoil, "You don't worry. Mummy ko handle karna mujhe aata hai. Ek baar main bhi aa jaungi yahan toh dekhna, unhe kuch bhi sochne ka time hi nahi denge hum dono."

Naina couldn't help but smile at her positivity, "Aur aisa kaise karenge?"

Preeti looked at the door, then leaned closer to her, lowering her voice, "Line laga denge... ek saal tu ek saal main."

"Line? Kiski?" Naina gave her a questioning look.

"Bachhon ki aur kiski buddhu. Mummy apne grandchildren mein itni busy ho jayengi ki sab kuch bhool jayengi." Preeti giggled.

Naina straightened with a jerk, widening her eyes, "Are... are you crazy?"

"Pretty much. Sab kehte hain." She grinned.

"Stupid." Naina waved her head at her absurd solution, keeping her thoughts to herself.

Sameer had been busy since morning, working on the project with his dad. When he felt he had taken care of everything, he shut the laptop and went back to his room. Spending a Sunday in the library was the worst possible thing, especially when he had a wife. The thought brought a smile to his face as he entered his room. Naina wasn't around. He thought of checking in Ayush's room when his phone started to ring. The manager informed him about the changes which needed to be made according to the new contract before they approached the agency for distribution network.

"Okay no issue. Main abhi check karke reply bana deta hun. Hum issi week mein meeting rakh lenge." Sameer assured the manager.

He pulled the chair and sat down, opening his laptop to get to work again. The signal of low battery flashed in a corner. He attached the charger and started tapping. The same sign flashed again. Frowning, he checked the charger. Finding it to be plugged in properly to the laptop, he glanced at the multiplier pin attached to the main plug point. It was hanging, with just one pin in the socket.

"Oho, yeh loose ho gaya hai. Jab jaldi ho tabhi saare kaam kharab hote hain." He muttered angrily and crouched on the floor on his toes, bending his head to fix the point behind the table. After tightening all three pins, he plugged it in. The green sign blinked on his laptop screen. Satisfied, he was trying to get up when he lost his balance, and fell back. A groan escaped his mouth.

Naina had just entered the room when she saw him fiddling with the plug point. Before she could tell him to be careful, he fell back, probably from a shock.

"Sameer!" Her heart fell to the pit of her stomach as she rushed to him in panic.

Though he was fine, Sameer did not attempt to get up.. or even move. She reached him in a flash, kneeling against him. He laid on the floor, with closed eyes. After checking around him for any wires, she quickly flicked the switch off.

"Sameer... kya hua? Uthiye na." Taking his hand in hers, she started to rub. He didn't respond.

She lowered herself to sit with folded knees, dragged his head in her lap and patted his face in more panic, "Sameer... Sameer... kuch toh bolo. Are you okay? Oh God! Shock lagne pe kya karte hain mujhe pata bhi nahi... Sameer, please utho na."

"Kiss kar sakte hain. Main ekdum theek ho jaunga." He mumbled softly, opening one eye a crack.

"Huh?" Her hands on his cheeks froze.

Cradled between her palms, he opened his eyes, and looked at her face bent on him, "Ek kiss... chota sa bhi chalega."

She stared at him, "Aap aapko... shock nahi laga?"

"Laga na. Bohot zor se laga. Tumhare kareeb aane se hamesha lagta hai. Abhi bhi lag raha hai." He held onto her wrists, knowing that she would pull her hands away the moment she got aware of his acting.

And she did the same, twisting her hands to free them, but his hold was strong.

"Jahan haath hai tumhara wahan..." he puckered his lips to show what he wanted, "theek karna hai na mujhe?"

Her breath turned ragged. Looking down at him in her lap, her palms pressed on his cheek... the effects of a shock were more on her than him. She tore her gaze away, pleading, "Sameer, please."

"Naina... please." His earnest whisper made her look back at him.

Their eyes locked... hers clouded with several emotions, his shimmering with longing.

"You're beautiful." His one hand travelled behind her head, to pull out the clip that held her hair. The silken mass spilled down her shoulders, spreading around them like a curtain.

Naina was lost in his eyes. That his hand no longer restrained her did not register. Her palms remained glued to his cheeks, her eyes lost in the inky depths that reflected her face.

"And you're my wife." The voice was huskier... and closer.

Only when his breath fell on her face did she notice that he had been slowly pulling her down, and their faces were now just a few inches apart.

She straightened with a jerk, taking her free hand away from his face, other one still in his grasp as he lay in her lap.

"Koi aa jayega... please uthiye." She uttered in a shaky voice. All she wanted was to get away, so he couldn't read her eyes again.

Slowly, Sameer lifted himself to a sitting position, but made no effort to get up. If anything, now they were more close, facing each other. He raised his hand to her face... but a knock at the door made them sharply turn their faces at it. Naina swiftly got up, stepping away from him.

"Kaun hai?" Sameer asked, getting up with a sigh.

"Sameer bhaiya, yeh files aayi hain office se. Manager sahab ne bhijwayi hain, kaha hai urgent hain aapko abhi ki abhi de dein. Bade sahab ne aapko files ke saath library mein aane ko kaha hai." Ramdhari entered with two files.

"Sab kuch urgent hai sivay..." He twisted his lips, muttering under his breath as Ramdhari left after handing him the files.

Naina took the opportunity to slip out of the room. To soothe her jittery nerves, she went to Ayush's room. He was with Deepika, who was helping him with daily writing practice that was his holidays homework.

"Deepika, tum apni studies toh neglect nahi kar rahi na? Eleventh class bohot important hoti hai, please tum apna study schedule mat change karna. I don't want ki hamari wajah se tumhe koi problem ho." Naina sat down with them.

Deepika touched her arm, "Relax." She refrained from calling her bhabhi in front of Ayush, "Main studies se koi compromise nahi karti. In fact, Ayush ke saath time spend karke toh main fresh ho jaati hun. Warna pehle free time mein phone ya laptop... aur phir mummy aur bhai ki daant. Ab woh bhi khush, main bhi khush." She explained pleasantly.

"Naina mujhe raat ko sardi lagi. Mujhe yeh nahi doosra wala quilt chahiye." Ayush drew her attention to himself, pointing at the quilt placed at the foot of the bed.

"Oh! Achha main aaj ghar se tera quilt le aungi." Naina assured him.

Deepika gave her a puzzled look, "Ghar se kyon? Yahan hai na aur bhi." She peeked under the bed, "Oh, yeh room khaali tha bohot time se isliye yahan nahi rakha."

"Kya?" Naina asked.

"Hamare yahan har room mein bed ke neeche ek box hai jismein extra pillows, sheets, quilts rehte hain. Aapke room mein bhi hoga. Main Ramdhari bhaiya ko bolti hun usmein se Ayush ko quilt de denge." Deepika offered.

"Unhe rehne do, Deepika. Main khud le aaungi." Naina smiled, "Thank you."

After spending some more time with them, Naina went back to her room with Ayush after Deepika received a call and started talking to her friend animatedly. Finding the room vacant, she let out a relieved breath. A box was indeed placed under the bed when she checked. Kneeling on the floor, she slipped her arm inside and tried to pull. It was quite heavy.

"Ayush side ho jaa. Yeh heavy hai main kheench ke nikalungi." Naina lowered her head to assess the size of the box.

"Main bhi help karunga." Ayush bent to see the object in question.

"No. Tujhe lag jayegi." Naina said sternly.

Ayush tapped on her shoulder. She looked back. He raised his arm to show his muscles, "Main strong hun, nahi lagegi."

She chuckled and went back to try, "Arre baba tu strong hai par itna nahi. Abhi chota hai, jab bada hoga toh tujhse hi sab kaam karwaungi."

He tapped again, making her look back, "Naina, main big hun. Mujhe small mat bolo." He puffed his cheeks in anger.

She pinched his cheek, waving her head and leaned to continue her effort.

The tap made her sigh. She turned and planted a kiss on his cheek, "Achha baba tu big hai..."

Sitting on his knees in front of her was Sameer... his mouth open, his eyes wide, his hand frozen between her shoulder and his cheek.

She was dumbfounded.

"Aa... Ayush..." She mumbled.

With his other hand, Sameer pointed towards the door. She glanced at it. Ayush had run away, annoyed as she wasn't ready to take his help. The moment he left, Sameer had entered the room. Finding her looking under the bed, he had tapped her to know what she was looking for. But what he got, even before the answer, was a delectable surprise.

"S... sorry." Naina gulped... and got up with a lightening speed.

He was faster, grabbing her arm before she fled like other times. The jerk made her stumble even before she could stand properly... and she landed on Sameer, with him falling back on the floor. His arm came around her waist... her hands fisted on his pullover as she closed her eyes in fear.

A moment later, when she opened them, she found herself lying over Sameer, his arm keeping her plastered to him, his lips curling at the corners to hint a complacent smile, his eyes sparkling with pleasure, his cheeks radiating a glow that made her blush to the darkest shade.

"Sorry... hmm... aise maafi nahi milegi. Aaj ka Sunday lagta hai mere liye bohot special hone wala hai. Dil ki har khwahish poori ho rahi hai." His voice was filled with impish delight.

Naina squirmed, but her attempt to raise herself went futile as he tightened his hold around her waist. He watched in amusement, making it evident that he was in no hurry to change the position they were in.

"Puchogi nahi maafi kaise milegi?" He whispered against her cheek.

Her lashes did not lift, nor did any words come out from her dry throat.

"Jo diya woh... ek baar phir..." His voice turned hoarse.

She lifted her head, to escape the feel of his hot breath everytime he spoke... his hand went behind her head, forcing it in place. Her breath came out in gasps as she realised their faces were almost touching. She wasn't sure her heart had stopped beating... or it was beating at such a fast pace that she could not feel the usual hum. Or maybe she felt it even louder... or was it his heart, hammering against her chest so hard that she feared it would break his ribs. Her gaze was stuck at the base of his neck, where she could see the wild throbbing of his vein. The pulsating heat felt unbearable. The tension mounted to another level when his raspy voice croaked again.

"Ya main bhi kar sakta hun... lekin main ek step aage chalunga, kyonki yeh level maine pehle hi cross kar liya hai."

She didn't have to even look at him to know what he meant... she could feel his heated gaze on her lips. Alarmed, she wriggled again. Sameer was too lost in her to keep his hold... and she managed to lift herself partially. But her hand slipped and she felt sideways, giving him yet another chance to pin her... to the floor this time. Sameer was up on one elbow, pressing her shoulders to keep her where she was. Lying on her left side, he looked into her eyes. They were not the soft caramel any longer... they glittered like embers, burning with the fire that was consuming him completely.

"Dammit Naina." Unable to control himself, he buried his face in her hair, pressing his cheek to hers.

She stopped breathing altogether, fisting her hands at her sides. Thousands of feelings raced through her entire body. Though his touch was only on her shoulders and against her face and hair, every cell in every pore of her body felt his presence. This burning proximity rendered her speechless. Her brain completely stopped functioning. She wasn't even aware she could get such intense feelings. There was something magical in his presence that made her melt, and urged her to give in... to him, to herself, to them.

Shutting her eyes, she gulped. He felt the movement against his neck. He also felt the absence of her hands... anywhere on him. Drawing in a shaky breath, he moved away. Her heart seemed to disagree on the distance that was created between them. A chill swept through her body as he stood up, and all contact was lost. Without looking at her, Sameer extended his hand to her. Naina sat up slowly, and taking his hand, she got up. The moment she was standing, Sameer walked away, towards the door.

"Sameer." Her voice hardly sounded like hers.

He stopped. After what felt like an eternity, he turned, looking at her with eyes that swirled with several emotions... love, guilt, longing, pain, hurt. When she started walking towards him, another emotion was added to them, surprise... but when she went past him, all he was left with was confusion. He did not even turn... closing his eyes when he heard the door close. She was again gone without saying anything, without telling him the reason for her reluctance when he could clearly see everything in her eyes, without...

A sudden jolt made Sameer stumble ahead, throwing every single thought out of his mind.

Her soft body was pressed against his back, her arms around him, and her palms rested on his chest. With her head between his shoulders, she hugged him from behind, holding him so hard as if her life depended on it.

"I cannot hurt you, Sameer." Her voice quivered as she stood still, holding onto him.

Awashed with a sense of relief, Sameer placed his hands over hers, "I love you, Naina. Main kitna pyar karta hun shayad yeh main kabhi bata nahi paunga lekin tumhare bina ek din toh kya ek lamha bhi mushkil hai rehna. Jab tak tum mere paas ho, tum mujhe hurt nahi kar sakti."

The warmth from his body gave her some courage, "Aap meri wajah se hurt ho sakte hain. Sirf aap hi nahi, sab log... aapki family..."

"Hamari family, Naina." He corrected her, "Ab yeh saare rishte tumhare apne hain. Jitna main iss family ka hissa hun utni hi tum bhi ho."

"Isiliye darti hun, Sameer. Mummy ko achha nahi lagega." She tightened her arms more, as if she feared he would disappear if she left him.

"Kya achha nahi lagega, Naina? Ab toh mummy ka gussa bhi khatam ho gaya hai. Sabne tumhe apna maana hai. Kya kisi ke behaviour se tumhe koi discomfort laga?" He stiffened, "Naina, kisi ne kuch kaha hai kya tumse?"

"Nahi Sameer." She clarified immediately. He felt her arms slacken. Before she could move away, he held her hand and turned, facing her.

"Toh kya baat hai? Kis cheez ka darr hai tumhe?" Holding her other hand, he looked into her eyes.

She stared at him silently. He had to be told.

"Ayush... Ayush mera bhai nahi hai." She said clearly, lest he missed any single word.

The shock that spread on Sameer's face made her swallow hard.

"Whattt? Toh kaun hai?" He could not believe.

"We... we found him abandoned. Mandir mein koi chod gaya tha. He was a newborn baby. Sirf ek blanket mein lipta hua mandir ke thande farsh pe... phir bhi ro nahi raha tha. Sab log aas paas khade the lekin kisi ne usse uthaya nahi. Jaise hi maine goud mein liya, usne mujhe dekh ke smile kiya." Her face had a sad smile as her eyes turned glassy, probably at the memory.

He waited... for her to say further.

"Main usse wapas nahi rakh paayi. Mumma papa ne kaha hum kaise le jaa sakte hain usse, agar koi family hui toh... woh log hum pe case bhi kar sakte hain. Isliye humne police mein report likhwayi, newspaper mein, radio mein, local channel pe sab jagah uski family ko dhoondne ki koshish ki, lekin koi nahi aaya. Ek mahine ke efforts ke baad finally humne ek NGO ke through Ayush ko formally adopt kar liya." She looked at him, "Humein uske baare mein kuch nahi pata, Sameer. Kyonki main... kisi unmarried ladki ke liye adoption ke rules bohot complicated hain isliye... mumma papa ne usse apna beta bana ke adopt kiya. Aur Ayush mera bhai banke hamare ghar aa gaya."

Even for a single moment since he had known them, Sameer had never felt Naina and Ayush were not related by blood. The way she doted on him, cared for him, worried about the smallest of his needs... the little boy was always family.

He still was.

After the initial shock subsided, Sameer smiled at her gently, "Iss sach se darr rahi thi tum? Isse kuch nahi badlega. Sirf mera pyar tumhare liye aur badh gaya. Naina, Ayush aaj bhi wohi hai... tumhara bhai, aur hamesha rahega. Uska janm kahan aur kaise hua isse koi farq nahi padta. He is so much like you... koi bhi kahega ki tum dono ek family ho."

"Lekin yeh baat jab ghar pe malum hogi... mummy ko?" She asked hesitantly.

"Har baat sabko janna zaruri nahi hai. Kya tumne saare relatives ko Ayush ka sach bataya tha Agra mein?" He queried, almost sure about the answer.

A strange look passed through her eyes. He could not understand whether it was fear or anguish or despair... she just shook her head in answer.

He pressed her hands, "Naina, yeh baat hum dono ke beech rahegi. Hamara rishta aisa hai ki humein apni baatein kisi ko bhi batane ki obligation nahi hai. Tum daro nahi. Ayush tumhara bhai tha, hai aur rahega."

She continued to look at him.

"Ab agar tumhare dil se iss baat ka bojh hat gaya hai toh... kya tum apne dil ki baat keh sakti ho?" He pulled her closer.

Naina seemed to come out of a spell. His easy acceptance left her in awe. Not for once did he wince at her divulgence. Did it mean she could tell him more?

"Sameer, mujhe aapse kuch aur bhi kehna hai." She took a deep breath, filled with determination.

"Ussi ka toh intezar kar raha hun." His eyes turned soft, as he smiled at her, anticipating a totally different revelation.

A loud persistent knock at the door brought in Deepika's urgent cry, "Naina Bhabhi, Ayush ko phir se toothache ho raha hai."

"Oh!" Everything flew out of her mind at the mention of Ayush's pain. Pulling her hands from Sameer's grip, she ran to find the gel doctor had prescribed yesterday, along with the medicine, and rushed out to his room.

"Kisne kaha Ayush ka aur tumhara koi rishta nahi hai, Naina... uska dard jis tarah se tum mehsoos karti ho, Ayush alag ho hi nahi sakta." He smiled, before going out to check on his little friend.

Next update on Thursday