Happy Valentine's Day dear friends ❤❤

The song is 'Muskurane ki wajah tum ho' from the movie 'City Lights'

Sameer paced his hotel room, in deep thoughts. It had been such a beautiful day. Even though he was disturbed in the morning, her gentle persuasion at the breakfast table, her reverence for him and his family, her appreciation for the office environment... it all invigorated him immensely. During the meeting, he had desperately waited for an opportunity where she would call his name... but it didn't happen. And when it did, later... it left him breathless. Sitting in front of her with a straight face, while his heart pounded hard enough to break his ribs, was an effort that should get him an award for acting. He could have asked her to say his name again... but decided not to mention it. One meeting with Mr Kothari could bring such positive result... they had three more days with him. He wasn't losing hope.

But after all this, the shadow of pain returned on her face.

After a perfect day, he did not like leaving Naina in a pensive mood. On top of that, she had refused to come out for dinner. It was only six in the evening yet.

When he was unable to come up with any idea that could brighten her mood... or give him a chance to see her again in the evening, he slumped down on the bed, dejected.

"Main tumhe aise nahi dekh paata, Naina." He mumbled, smashing his fisted hand on the side table.

A large book fell on the floor as his hand hit its edge, instead of landing on the table. Sameer turned to his side and picked up the book. It was a journal about the hotel. With a sigh, he opened it to check what all equipments they had for workout. If there was nothing else to do, he could visit the gym and burn out his frustration.

Checking the book turned out to be a great decision. He sat up, his eyes sparkling in anticipation as he read.

After coming to the room, Naina changed Ayush's clothes and ordered a milk shake for him, along with some fries.

"Thak gaya hai toh soja thodi der." She told him.

Ayush shook his head vigorously, "Ab main wapas strong ho gaya, milkshake pi ke. Mujhe nahi sona. Naina, main colouring kar lun?"

She fetched his crayons and colour book from the suitcase and placed it on the table, "Main change karke aaun? Tujhe akele darr toh nahi lagega na?"

"Naii. Mujhe darr nahi lagta. Tum jao." His attention was already on the bright sticks of colour.

In the bathroom, as Naina stared at her reflection, she couldn't hold back the tears. Sitting on the edge of the bathtub, she covered her face with her palms and cried silently. Half an hour later, she was lying in bed, staring into vacant space when her phone started ringing.

She checked the id, and quietly put the phone against her ear.

"Hello Naina, how is Ayush now? Is he still tired?" His concern for Ayush softened her.

"Nahi ab theek hai. Colouring kar raha hai." She glanced at her brother.

"Aur tum?" He asked in the same voice.

"Main colouring nahi kar rahi."

"Nahi... matlab tum bhi tired feel kar rahi ho?" He rubbed his forehead at the other end.

"I'm fine. Kuch kiya hi nahi saara din toh tired kis cheez se hona tha?" She said plainly.

"Exactly. Itne late lunch ke baad agar room mein baithe rahe aur koi activity nahi hui toh kal fresh feel nahi hoga. Isliye main soch raha tha..." Sameer's hoped he wasn't sounding too pushy when she cut his sentence.

"I'm sorry, sir, lekin bahar nahi jaa payenge. Ayush aur main..."

He didn't let her finish either, "Bahar jaana hi nahi hai. Bas hotel ki terrace pe jaana hai. Tumhare room mein bhi hogi ek book, usmein dekho. Yahan sunset ke baad ek cultural program hota hai, terrace pe. Local artists perform karte hain. Puppet show bhi hota hai."

"Puppet show?" Naina was pleasantly surprised.

"Puppet show?" Ayush screamed in joy, "hum puppet show dekhne jaa rahe hain?"

His loud voice reached Sameer, and a smile spread on his face, "Ayush ko achha lagega. Warna yeh sab kahan dekh payega woh... also, terrace pe hi toh hai... tum jab wapas aana chaho aa sakti ho."

Ayush jumped on the bed next to her, "Tum mujhe puppet show mein leke jaogi? Pata hai, maine aaj sach much ki puppets dekhi thi play room mein. Two two... ek boy puppet ek girl puppet... unke na... "

He stopped when Naina held a finger to her mouth, and pointed at the phone. Ayush sat in silence, looking at her with eyes dancing at the mention.

When Sameer could not hear his voice anymore, he smiled, knowing that Naina must have asked him to be quiet, then said in a softer voice, "Chalte hain na, Naina. Dekho Ayush naam se hi kitna khush hai. I'm sure he'll love it. Uske liye yeh trip holiday hai... let him take back some great memories."

She could not say no.

Sameer decided to dress casually in a grey t-shirt with jeans. It was too hot to wear a jacket or blazer outdoors. When he met Naina outside their room, she was wearing a striped t-shirt with bright yellow skirt, her long hair open. Though her eyes still had traces of puffiness... he was sure she had cried... the smile on her face lit up his evening. Ayush was the bundle of energy as always.

It was around eight when three of them reached the terrace. Huge screens, covered with foliage were placed at various places, with large pedestal fans behind them. Naina noticed that a thin pipe was attached to the borders of all screens. Drops of water from the top panel were keeping the foliage wet, resulting in cool air making the torrid surroundings pleasant and moist. Low benches with thick cushions were arranged on one side of the vast open area. A slightly raised platform had a group of men in traditional Rajasthani clothes, along with their heavy pagdi and thick moustache which were neatly rounded at the edges to make a proper loop. On the other side, a brightly coloured box type structure was put up with an empty space as the window... for the puppet show. In another corner, was a stall filled with traditional items... clothes, handcrafted artifacts and few other things that Rajasthan was famous for. The whole area gave a vibrant vibe, with strings of marigold and flimsy fabric curtains making it look like a film set.

"Puppet show kahan hoga?" Ayush eagerly looked around.

"Yahin hoga. Thodi der mein. Wahan chalke baithen?" Sameer pointed at a seating arrangement, a three seater with two cane chairs around a circular table.

They were served chilled sugarcane juice the moment they were seated. Ayush loved the taste and asked for another glass which Sameer promptly ordered. The place was half filled with people, most of them families with children. There were a some foreigners too.

The puppet show started few minutes later. Ayush was awestruck at the way the rag dolls moved. He clapped heartily when they danced and laughed hard when the baby doll was chided at by parent doll. Sameer felt a weight lift from his heart when he saw Naina's genuine, wholehearted smile at Ayush's delight.

Next performance was a song by the local artists. The deep voiced, soulful rendition was appreciated by everyone. When a few women arrived in elaborate cotton lehengas, Ayush stared at them wide eyed.

"Naina, ab fancy dress hoga yahan?" He asked innocently, having never seen such outfits except once in his school's fancy dress competition.

"Idhar aao, Ayush, main batata hun." Sameer was seated on the single cane chair while Ayush and Naina occupied the three seater.

Ayush perched up on his knee, with Sameer's one arm around his shoulder. With the other, he opened his phone and showed him the traditional dresses of the people of Rajasthan. When the dance started, all guests were mesmerised at the flexibility of the dancers as they swiveled their bodies in almost any direction. Later, when the women started asking the ladies amongst the guests to come and join them, Sameer glanced at Naina. She had been enjoying till now. After a few ladies had joined the group, and one of the dancers came over to Naina, she hesitated for a moment, then got up and went with them. A shocked Sameer watched her match steps with the folk dancers with such ease that he couldn't tear his eyes away.

"Naina Agra mein dance class mein jaati thi kya?" He asked Ayush.

"Nahi, Naina toh Agra mein bhi office hi jaati thi." Ayush said matter of factly.

Her smile became more vibrant, her step got lighter, her movements turned more fluid as she got into the rhythm with the professional dancers.

And his heartbeat reached an unthinkable level.

"Didi aap toh bohot achha nachti ho. Agar ghagra pehen ke, sar pe odhni leke nachogi toh hamare yahan ki hi lagogi." One of the girl commented after the dance ended.

"Ghagra nahi hai mere paas." Naina giggled.

"Toh le lo na. Yahan mil raha hai. Aap sach mein bohot sundar lagogi." A younger dancer, not more than fifteen years, pointed at the stall.

Naina peered at the makeshift shop. Then went back to join the boys. The shadows in her eyes had completely dissipated, and she glowed with the aftermath of a physical activity.

"You really dance well. Ek baar dekh ke hi unke steps copy kar liye." Sameer couldn't stop himself from appreciating... also, it was a way to continue looking at her.

If she blushed, it was difficult to make out as her cheeks were already coloured, but her shy smile did give him a reason to believe she did.

A man with a camera around his neck approached them, "Sir, aap logon ki photo nikal dein? Ekdum badhiya banayenge."

Naina was about to refuse when Sameer held Ayush tighter in his lap and smiled at him, "Haan. Hamari achhi si picture le lo."

He them asked the photographer to click Naina with Ayush.

"Ab aap teeno iss sofe pe baith jaiye toh hum sabki ek saath le lete hain." The man waved at Sameer, asking him to shift with them.

Still seated, Sameer glanced at Naina. Without meeting his gaze, she shifted a little to the edge, and made Ayush sit in the center. With a wide grin, Sameer took the seat next to Ayush. Thankfully, the photographer didn't say anything about them being a family.

"Sir, main yeh photo aapko abhi bhej deta hun phone pe. Jo bhi achhi lage aap bata do, kal subah aapke room mein bhijwa denge." He took out his phone.

Sameer gave his number to him. Half a dozen photographs arrived on his phone within five minutes. The man asked them to select while he went away to click for other people.

"Naina, tum bhi dekh ke bata do. Agar koi theek nahi lag rahi toh phir se click karwa lete hain." He extended his hand across Ayush to hand his phone.

"Baba, aapko dekhna hai puppets kaise hilti hain?" Another man approached them, addressing Ayush. There were two children around him already.

Sameer gave him an uncertain look.

"Sahab, kahin leke nahi jayenge aapke bachhe ko. Bas yahin dikha rahe hain." The man pointed at the table next to the place where show was held. "Bachhon ko achha lagta hai isliye hum log har karyakram ke baad bachhon ko dikhate hain."

Naina nodded when Ayush looked at her. He happily walked away with the man and other children.

"Mujhe sabhi achhi lagi sir, bas ek yeh thodi blurred hai." Naina held the phone to her side, to show the picture to Sameer.

"Kaunsi?" He craned his neck, without moving.

His heart was ready to jump out of his mouth when she slid towards him, reducing the distance considerably.

"Yeh dekhiye. Don't you think yeh thodi hil gayi hai? Paper pe clarity nahi ayegi." She showed him the picture, his phone still in her hand.

"Hil toh main bhi gaya hun." He mumbled in a shaky voice, not realising that she was close enough to hear it.

"Nahi aap hi nahi, hum teeno thode blurred lag rahe hain. I think iske liye mana kar dijiye. Baaki print karwa lete hain." She tilted her head a little and observed the picture... while Sameer observed her from the corner of his eye, wishing he could stop the time...

Ayush came back jumping with excitement, "Naina, mujhe puppet leke do na. Woh uncle keh rahe hain hum khareed sakte hain. Uss shop se." He pointed at the stall.

"Achha theek hai. Chal." She grinned at him and held out the phone to Sameer.

Though he gripped it, Sameer remained seated, basking in the perfumed warmth of her proximity, even if it lasted only a couple of minutes.

The stall had a few pieces of almost everything that could be associated with the state of Rajasthan. Ayush selected a puppet of a man with moustache. The shopkeeper suggested that he also takes the bride as the one he had taken was a groom. After Naina bought the set for Ayush, her eyes fell on a dupatta, in traditional tie & dye pattern. Dark pink silk dupatta was sprinkled with hues of red and orange subtly, and had a gold border. It wasn't something she was used to wearing often, but the mention of dupatta by the dancer girl made her pick it up. The soft fabric against her fingers felt good.

"Yeh kaisa hai, Ayush?" She placed the folded dupatta in front of the little boy who was admiring his new toys.

"Nice hai." He gave it a quick glance and shifted his attention back to the puppets.

"Yeh bhi de dijiye." She decided to buy it.

"Sameer, dekho maine two two puppets liye. Pata hai, inki shaadi hai... yeh dulha hai aur yeh uski dulhan." Ayush showed off his purchase to Sameer, repeating what the shopkeeper had said.

Sameer chuckled, "Lekin inki shaadi abhi hui kahan hai? Dulha dulhan hain... matlab shadi honi baaki hai."

Ayush gave him a perplexed look, then glared at Naina, "Shop wale uncle ne jhoot bola?"

She picked up the female puppet and pointed at her forehead, "Jinki shaadi ho jaati hai, yeh red nishan unke hi baalon mein hota hai. Teri doll ke baal mein hai iska matlab shaadi ho gayi."

He turned to Sameer, showing him the red threads weaved amongst the dolls black hair, "Yeh dekho. Naina ne kaha yehi shaadi hoti hai... yeh red red."

"Sorry, mujhe pata nahi tha." Sameer held one ear, pouting at Ayush, which made him giggle.

During the whole program, a continuous supply of snacks to the guests had taken care of their dinner. Even Naina had eaten a few, Sameer had noticed. And Ayush had enjoyed the food immensely. Hot jalebis were served in the end, which the three of them relished.

"Thank you, sir." Naina said as they came out of the lift on their floor.

"Teeno words galat hain." He rolled his eyes.

She was taken aback for a moment, then the realisation dawned upon her, and she pursed her lips.

He smiled, "Correct words kya hain, pata hai? 'Kal phir chalenge'... okay?"

She nodded.

"Waise tum chaho toh fourth word bhi bol sakti ho." Seeing her positive response, he tried his luck.

She furrowed her brows, "Fourth word?"

"Sameer... kal phir chalenge Sameer... doesn't take much effort." He flicked up his brows.

After opening the door of her room, Naina halted, and turned, "Kal phir chalenge."

Sameer let out a sigh, knowing that she wouldn't say it.

"Sameer." The word hit his ears when he was about to turn.

It was an enormous effort on his part to not jump in air.

That night, Sameer's dreams were filled with a saree clad image of Naina, dancing on the terrace with him.

Next update on Tuesday, since my office starts tomorrow.

This week's pattern would be Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday