The title is song 'Dunia from movie 'Luka Chuppi'

After putting Ayush to sleep, Naina came out to find Sameer in the living room, sitting with open laptop. A few files were kept next to him on the side table. Seeing her, he put the laptop aside and asked, "Ayush so gaya?"

She nodded, "Aap bhi rest kar lijiye. Raat ko theek se sone nahi diya hoga Ayush ne aur aaj aap office bhi gaye the." She mainly wanted to avoid being alone with him. His presence had started to make her more conscious now.

"Ayush ne bilkul tang nahi kiya. Woh toh ek baar sone ke baad hila tak nahi. Shayad medicine ka effect hai." Sameer stated truthfully. He did have a disturbed night, but Ayush wasn't the reason for it.

"Woh tang karta bhi nahi. He's a sound sleeper. Teen saal ka tha jab mumma ne usse alag room mein sulaya first time. Humein laga woh darr jayega. Lekin woh toh bohot khush tha. In fact mujhe hi kharab lagta tha uske bina akele sona. Maine koshish bhi ki usse wapas apne room mein lane ki lekin usne kaha 'main big ho gaya hun'... he's really growing up too fast. Kabhi kabhi lagta hi nahi woh sirf paanch saal ka hai." Naina didn't realise she was speaking aloud.

Sameer watched her with a soft smile on his face. He liked the fact that she was sharing something about her past life with him, even if it was more about Ayush than her.

"He's very understanding for his age. Main aur Rohan toh shayad paanch saal ki umr mein iske adhe bhi samajhdar nahi the. Mummy batati hain hum log unhe kitna tang karte the. Deepika is still better. Mummy kehti hain ladke aise hi hote hain. Lekin Ayush ko dekh ke lagta hai yeh ladka ladki ki baat nahi hai, kuch bachhe doosron se zyada smart hote hi hain." He added, keeping the conversation going.

"Ayush shuru se aisa hai. Even as a baby woh bohot kam rota tha." Naina reminisced.

"Isiliye sab Ayush se milte hi usse itne attached ho jaate hain. You won't believe, mummy aur Deepika uske saath rehna ke liye jhagda karte hain jab main usse ghar leke jaata hun. Nanu toh jaise mujhe bhi bhool jaate hain uske saath khelte hue. Unhe yaad dilana padta hai ki aap ki umr ab aise daudne ki nahi hai. I'm sure Agra mein sab Ayush ko bohot miss karte honge." Sameer chuckled.

Naina pressed her lips, swallowing the memories that still hurt, "Koi miss nahi karta."

He was taken aback. Seeing the lost look in her eyes, he decided to venture some more into the life that she had left behind.

"Tum dono ke relatives, friends aur jaan pehchan wale honge na wahan? Itne saal wahan rahe ho toh bohot log..."

Naina didn't let him complete, "Hamara koi nahi hai wahan... na kisi ko hum pehchante hain na koi humein jaanta hai. Sirf mummy papa the... woh ab chale gaye. Main aur Ayush... hum hi family hain ek doosre ki, hum dono hi sab kuch hain."

The bitterness in her voice didn't go unnoticed from him. She had definitely faced something which refused to let her live her present fully, he could see. But he didn't want to probe any further yet. One day, he was sure, he would heal her of all that was hurting her to this extent.

"Nahi. Sirf tum dono nahi ho... main hun na. Naina, maine pehle bhi kaha hai aur aaj phir keh raha hun. Mere liye... Ayush mera apna hai. Usse main dil se apni family manta hun. Tum... tum please kabhi khud ko akela mat samajhna." However hard he tried, he couldn't bring himself to say that he wanted her to be his family too.

Sitting silently with lowered eyes, Naina did not react to his words.

Sameer didn't want her to go back to same forlorn memories. Since morning, he had noticed a sparkle in her eyes which he was missing now. Probably she was happy to see Ayush getting better. Only thing to cheer her up, besides Ayush, was work. He picked up the files that he had pushed aside earlier.

"Yeh dekho, aaj ki meeting mein yeh kuch new contracts ke baare mein discuss hua tha. Tum check kar lo. Production unit ki bhi ek file hai, usmein kuch changes karne hain iss contract ke basis pe. Ek baar check karke apne views bata do. Kal hum final karne wale hain." He picked up the two files, and extended them to her.

He was right. Her expression changed instantly as she held the files.

Sameer Maheshwari. Rohan Somani.

Naina was intrigued from the beginning about their different surnames. Seeing the names of files today, she found it to be the perfect opportunity to ask.

"If you don't mind ek baat puchu?" She gave him a tentative look.

"Haan pucho na. You don't need permission." Sameer was relieved to hear her normal voice.

"Aap aur Rohan... are you brothers?" She asked directly.

Sameer gave her a perplexed look, "Aur kya. Yeh baat to poora office jaanta hai. Tumhe koi confusion hai kya?"

She contemplated for a while, then decided to clarify, "Phir aap dono ke surnames different kyon hain? Are you not real brothers?"

His face broke into a smile, "Actually jab nanu ne mujhe adopt kiya..."

"Oh, aap bhi adopted hain?" Naina blurted in shock.

"Aap bhi... matlab? Aur kaun adopted hai?" Sameer was startled by her question.

Her face paled. She hadn't planned to let him know this.

"Naina, bolo na. Tumne aisa kyon kaha?" He prodded.

"Uh... nahi, koi nahi... maine bas yun hi pucha." She clutched the files.

If Sameer noticed her white knuckles, he didn't say anything about them, and carried on with his story, "Main aur Rohan sage bhai hain. Rohan ke born hone ke baad nanu ne mujhe apna heir banane ke liye legally adopt kiya tha, kyonki mummy business sambhalna nahi chahti thi aur papa ka uss waqt apna alag business tha. Lekin kuch aise circumstances hue ki papa ko Ahmedabad chod ke yahan aana pada aur nanu ko join karna pada. Nanu chahte the ki Maheshwari Industries issi naam se chalti rahe isliye unhone mujhe papers pe apna beta bana liya. So, for all legal formalities, main Jai Prakash Maheshwari ka beta hun, Sameer Maheshwari. Lekin hain woh mere nanu hi. Bas mera surname alag ho gaya."

The look Naina gave him was difficult for him to decipher. He couldn't understand the emotions that came and went in her eyes... just for a few seconds.

"Aap coffee lenge? Agar aapko kaam karna hai toh coffee bana deti hun." The mask was back again... but with a smile.

"Okay." He shrugged.

Sameer pondered over her reaction after she was gone, till he heard a metallic banging sound from the kitchen. Putting the laptop away, he rushed in to see if Naina was fine. The moment he entered, he saw her hitting the gas lighter on the platform, causing the same sound.

"Kya hua?" He walked in.

She looked up with a sheepish face, "Lighter pe paani gir gaya. Jal nahi raha."

"Oh! Matlab ab gas nahi jala sakte? Toh Ayush ka khana?" Sameer raised a concerned brow.

"Mere paas matchbox hai." Naina quickly put away the lighter and opened the overhead cabinet in the opposite corner. She lifted her heels to reach the top shelf but her hand did not touch the basket.

"Main ladder leke aati hun." She said after another unsuccessful attempt.

But before she could turn, his musky scent hit her. Sameer was right behind her. Raising his arm, he easily picked up the basket and placed it on the platform. Naina stood like a statue, holding her breath. He hadn't even touched her anywhere, still the momentary closeness made hundreds of butterflies erupt in her stomach. She clutched the platform, sensing the warmth moving away within seconds. With shaking hands, she searched for the matchbox amidst the few things in the basket. Even after she found it, first the matchbox didn't open easily, then she wasn't able to light it, even after repeated strikes.

"Lagta hai baarish ki wajah se damp ho gayi hai. Lao mujhe dikhao." Sameer held his open palm in front of her.

Without a word, Naina placed the matchbox in his hand, and turned to open the lower drawer to take out the mugs. In one strike, the matchstick glowed with flame at one end... but Sameer had his eyes elsewhere. As Naina leaned to take the mugs, her messy bun loosened, and her long hair tumbled down the  back in soft waves. Sameer watched mesmerised as half her hair fell over her shoulders. He wondered how it would be to bury his face in the silken veil.

Captivated by her hair, he had forgotten that he was holding a burning matchstick. The realisation came the same moment as Naina turned... and gasped aloud.

"Ahh!" He let go of the matchstick, jerking his hand as the fingertips felt a slight burning sensation.

Putting away the mugs, Naina held his hand, frantically blowing on it, "Yeh kya kiya apne? Dikhta nahi hai kya? Why didn't you blow it out before it burnt you? Khud ko chot laga li... kitna jal raha hoga. Dard ho raha hai na?"

The flame had barely effected him, but her concern and touch swathed him in so much love that he could have happily burnt his entire finger, or the hand.

The panic in her eyes was much more than the extent of his affliction when she looked up at him, and his heart melted.

"Kuch nahi hua, Naina. Jala nahi hai. Dekho." He straightened his fingers in her hold, unable to see her distressed.

"Aise kaise nahi hua. Aag se jalte hi hain. Aap... aap rukiye ek minute." Leaving his hand, she darted to the refrigerator and brought out a round container. He watched with perplexed eyes as she opened it and pulled out a lump of something sticky.

"Yeh kya hai?" He was bewildered when she wrapped his forefinger and thumb with the cold, sticky substance.

"Atta hai. Aapko atta bhi nahi pata?" She was equally baffled at his naivety.

"Atta? Woh toh white colour ka powder hota hai na?" Sameer eyed the funny wrapping on his fingers.

Naina pressed her lower lip to stifle the smile that threatened to spill, "Roti banane ke liye atta knead karte hain toh aisa ho hota hai."

Had it been any other time, Sameer would have been embarrassed at making a fool of himself regarding his kitchen knowledge... but presently, his mind could only register what his heart was feeling. Naina was holding his hand in one of hers, as she spread the sticky paste on his fingers. The touch was setting him on a much stronger fire than what she thought had effected him. He clenched his other hand into a fist, to stop his arm from going around her and pulling her against him. The open hair, which had caused all this, were again sliding over her shoulder and touching his wrist. He just had to lean a little to bury his nose into their alluring fragrance... something he wanted to do minutes back. Unable to control himself, his fist opened, and his hand went up... to push back her hair with two fingers, without touching her.

Naina jerked up straight, her eyes wide... and his mind jumped back to control the heart.

"Woh... woh mujhe dikh nahi raha tha tum kya kar rahi ho. Tumhare baal view block kar rahe the... isliye main... maine..." He offered the first thing that came to his mind.

Her glance softened in understanding. Stepping away, she washed her hands, and wrapped her hair into a bun again. Sameer itched to tug at it, to let the waves brush her face, her neck, her shoulders. He swallowed... he itched to do a lot more... weave his fingers in her hair, turn her faceup towards him, lower his face to meet her...

"Aap bahar baithiiye, main coffee leke aati hun." Real Naina's voice made him break from the image of Naina in his thoughts. Unable to say anything, he went out... to bring his wavering heart in control.

After lighting the stove with matchbox, Naina continued to prepare the coffee. Though she was worried about the burn, her reaction made her slap her forehead. How could she reprimand him. Thankfully, it was nothing major, but her heart had plummeted to bottom of her stomach when she saw him holding the burning matchstick. At that time, it was needed to attend to the injury, but now, she wondered how she could hold his hand so easily. Her pulse still raced with the feel of his soft hand. Indeed, she had held his hand a number of times, and he had held hers as well... but this was the first time she realised the incredible softness and warmth that it exuded. A shy smile played on her lips as she looked at both her hands. From the time she couldn't tolerate any accidental touch by any man... to now, holding his hand out of her own will, she had come a long way. Nothing about Sameer intimidated or threatened her.

These few days would give her moments that she would cherish forever. After all, such few instances and unexpected serendipitous encounters were all she could have of him... nothing more.

While having coffee, they both tried to push away the storm brewing inside them, and concentrate on the files that they discussed, while another storm rumbled outside. Within half an hour, it started to rain heavily. The room turned dark, in spite of the time being just six in the evening.

"Naina, I guess ab tum thoda rest kar lo. Ayush uth jayega toh tum phir se uske saath busy ho jaogi." Sameer suggested.

Since they had completed the office work, she dipped her head and got up to put back the coffee mugs in the kitchen. When she came out, Sameer wasn't around. Thinking that he had gone to his room to relax, Naina went to her room and closed the door.

Sameer sat next to Ayush, watching him with a relieved smile. He looked much better now, the healthy radiance back on his face. Leaning closer, Sameer placed a kiss on his forehead. Ayush moved a little, and opened his eyes.

The darkness in the room made him stretch them as wide as possible, "Main raat mein hi uth gaya?"

Sameer smiled, "Raat nahi hai, shaam hai. Bahar baarish ho rahi hai na, isliye andhera hai. Light jala dun?" Ayush nodded.

The room was awashed with warm white light. Ayush looked around, then at Sameer, "Naina?"

"Woh apne room mein hai. Tumhe kuch chahiye toh mujhe batao." Sameer patted his cheek.

Ayush came ahead on all fours and climbed into Sameer's lap, holding his hand. That is when his eyes fell on the hardened dough.

"Yeh kya lag gaya?" He peered at the fingertips, touching them gingerly.

Sameer gazed lovingly at his fingers, "Thoda sa jal gaya tha. Naina ne atta lagaya hai."

"Kyon?" Ayush frowned.

"Theek karne ke liye." Sameer replied.

"Naina ne kissi nahi ki? Mujhe chot lagti hai toh woh kissi kar ke theek kar deti hai. Aapko atta kyon lagaya?" Ayush craned his neck to look up at him.

"Uhh... koi baat nahi. Mera haath theek ho gaya." Sameer recalled a similar conversation sometime back... and promised himself that the day wasn't far when she would give the same remedy to him.

"Mujhe Naina ke paas jaana hai. Aap chalo na mere saath." Ayush squirmed, tugging at his arm.

They stood outside her room. Sameer knocked softly, stopping Ayush from opening it directly.

"Aap knock kyon kar rahe ho?" Ayush gave him a perplexed look.

"Jab bhi kisi ke room mein jaate hain, pehle knock karna chahiye. Good manners hote hain." Sameer explained.

But when his repeated knocks went unanswered, he was worried. Taking out his phone from the pocket, he dialled her number. It went unanswered... twice.

"Naina..." Unable to hold any longer, he turned the knob and pushed opened the door.

What he saw took his breath away.

Outside, on the terrace, Naina was standing with her arms crossed against her, face upturned, her eyes closed... drenched in the rain.

The most beautiful thing was a genuine, serene smile on her lips.

Next update tomorrow