The song is 'Hai dil yeh mera' , from movie Hate Story 2

"Naina, ek request karni hai tumse." Sameer stopped a few steps from the meeting room.

"Yes sir. Kahiye." Naina was surprised.

"Mr Kothari mujhe jaante hain lekin tumse pehli baar milenge. Main nahi chahta woh tumhe ek subordinate samjhe. Woh thode purane khyal ke hain. Isliye unke saamne tum mujhe sir bologi toh... I want him to see us as equals." Sameer didn't want their permanent clients to see her as a mere employee when she would be one of the owners in future.

Naina could understand what he was saying. He was probably referring to the discussion they had at the breakfast table.

"Main... main try karungi, sir." She said truthfully.

"Bas yeh chaar din ke liye... uske baad tum jo chaho waise bula sakti ho. Umm... aisa samajh lo ki Bhalla aunty uncle wala case hai... jaise unke saamne hum log cautious rehte hain... bas yeh chaar din... Mr Kothari aur unke staff ke saamne. Tum naam nahi lena chahti mat lo, lekin bas sir mat bolna." Sameer insisted.

She nodded, hoping she remembers it when she had to address him.

Mr Kothari was an aristocratic old man, who had come with a team of five people.

"Kaise ho Sameer? Looking as dashing as ever. How is Mr Jai Prakash?" He asked in a baritone voice.

"Good morning Mr Kothari. I'm very well. Thank you. Nanu is better, lekin travel ki thodi restriction hai... exhert nahi kar sakte abhi. Isliye main aur Ms Naina Agarwal unko represent karenge. Nanu ne aapko bata hi diya hoga. We all work as a team." Sameer said confidently.

"Oh yes. He must take care of his health. After all, jaan hai toh jahaan hai." Mr Kothari patted Sameer's shoulder before turning to Naina, "Welcome Ms Naina Agarwal. Don't mind but main tumko Naina hi bulaunga."

Placing her palm in his extended hand, Naina smiled, "Good morning, Mr Kothari. I'll also be more comfortable if you call me Naina."

The introductions were made with other members on his team. The meeting started five minutes later. Sitting next to Naina, Sameer frequently leaned towards her, checked the report on her laptop screen, discussed with her before every point... making it apparent that they both were taking decisions together.

Two hours later, they all took a break when coffee and snacks were served.

Naina got up and went to the other side of the room to make a call to Ayush. He was fine, and enjoying himself immensely.

She turned, to find Mr Kothari approaching her.

"You had coffee?" He asked softly.

"Main leti hun. Ek important call kar rahi thi." She replied.

Mr Kothari called out to the helper, and got a cup served to her.

"I must say, Mr Maheshwari chun ke employees rakhte hain. Tumhari knowledge achhi hai markets and trends ke baare mein. Kabse ho yahan... iss company mein?" He praised her candidly.

"It's been some time. As for knowledge, main undue credit nahi lungi... yahan ki markets ke baare mein study kiya tha maine jab meeting fix hui." She gave him an honest reply.

Mr Kothari let out a laugh, "I'm impressed... tumhari sincerity se. Yeh sach hai Rajasthan ke kapdo ki market demand bohot hai, na sirf India mein balki foreign countries mein bhi. Hamari supplies all over the world hain. We want the best possible material. Isliye Maheshwari Industries ke saath itne saalon ka rishta hai... Jai Parakash ji ne kabhi hamara trust halka nahi hone diya. He has an eye for the best, and you are another example. Since you are young, tumhare ideas bhi fresh honge. I'm open to suggestions... ek baar hamari unit mein aake hamare products dekho, aur phir agar tumhe lagta hai ki jo tumne yahan ke baare mein study kiya hai uske hisaab se kuch naya humein de sakte ho toh I'll definitely give it a try."

Naina accepted his invitation, "Aapke unit ki visit already hamare agenda mein hai. We'll visit soon."

"Mr Kothari, shall we resume our meeting?" One of his assistant called out.

Sameer had his eyes on Naina all the time, even when he was talking to other people present in the room while having coffee. He was a bit apprehensive... Mr Kothari was a very smart person... and if, somehow, he felt that Naina wasn't that experienced, he might refuse to carry out the meeting with her. It was a relief when both returned to the table, talking comfortably.

Naina had seen Sameer in office meetings... with Mr Maheshwari and other staff. He was always quite well versed with information about his field. Today, for the first time, she was witnessing his acumen as he modified the deal to make it financially more suitable to their company. He involved her in all discussions, listening intently when she suggested a minor change in the deal, and incorporated it immediately.

By the time Mr Kothari and his team left, it was past lunch time. They had refused Sameer's offer of lunch, citing another meeting in the opposite part of the city.

"Ayush ke liye bohot late ho gaya. Woh sabko tang kar raha hoga. Bhook usse bilkul sehen nahi hoti." Naina quickly started to shut the windows on her laptop, talking more to herself than to anyone else.

"Relax Naina. Ayush ne kha liya hai. Coffee break mein maine manager ko call karke usko khana khilane ko bol diya tha. Mujhe laga hi tha ki humein late hoga." Sameer calmed her.

Her hands went still. She looked up at him, pleasantly surprised, "Aapne... aapne bata diya tha? How did you know?"

Rolling his eyes, Sameer shrugged, "Mr Kothari ko jaanta hun. Ek baar shuru hote hain toh jaldi se na break lete hain na khatam karte hain. In fact, aaj unki doosri meeting na hoti toh abhi bhi nahi jaate. Hum toh manage kar lenge par Ayush... uss bechare ko kyon punish karein apni official responsibility ki wajah se."

"Thank you so much sir. I was so worried." Naina was relieved.

"Thanks to you too... ek baar bhi sir nahi bolne ke liye." He flicked his brows, giving a lopsided smile.

She went back to her work. The word had come to the tip of her tongue several times but she has suppressed it... since he was sitting right next to her, she managed without taking his name either.

"Naina, chalein? Woh wait kar rahe hain." He said after two minutes.

"Kaun?" Her head spun to the door. There was no one. She raised questioning eyes to Sameer.

"Mere pet ke choohe." He rubbed his stomach, scrunching his nose.

A spurt of laugh escaped her lips, which she covered with one hand, shutting the laptop with the other. Whenever she laughed because of him, Sameer felt like patting himself on the back. From rarely even smiling, she had now come to letting out these bursts of sporadic laughter... it was no less than a feat for him.

Ayush refused to come to the restaurant with them, engrossed in an animated movie.

The caretaker took them out of the TV room, "Sir, he's had proper lunch. Uske alava snacks bhi khila diye the, jo aapne kaha tha. Sabhi bachchon ko hum popcorn denge dus minute baad. Aap log ek ghante baad le jaiye Ayush ko, tab tak movie khatam ho jayegi."

Sameer looked at Naina. She nodded, after peering inside... Ayush was comfortably seated on a large chair, his eyes glued to the screen with rapt attention.

The restaurant was empty since lunch time had been over almost an hour back.

The waiter placed the menu in front of them. It was their Punjabi restaurant, serving only typical North Indian food. Without touching the menu, Sameer looked at Naina, "Choose one... dal makhani, dal tadka, pindi chole ya kadhi pakode?"

"Aap jo..." She started to say.

He cut her short impatiently, "Jaldi batao. Mujhe bohot zor se bhook lagi hai."

"Dal makhani." She blurted.

"Shahi paneer, kadhai paneer, butter masala ya palak paneer?" He raised his brows.

"Kadhai paneer." She answered instantly.

"Kashmiri dum alu, navratan korma, mix veg ya bhindi masala?" He asked in the same tone.

"Uhh... korma... navratan korma." She hesitated, but seeing his eagerness, stated her favourite from the list.

"Last. Butter naan ya tandoori roti? Jaldi." Sameer clicked his fingers, pointing at the waiter, who stood watching them, from one to another.

"Tandoori roti." She answered.

Nodding, Sameer turned to the guy, his finger still at him, "Sab note kar liya na? Saath mein biriyani, raita, salad bhi. Aur haan, lime soda." He asked her if she wanted sweet, salted or mixed, and directed the waiter to make it mixed for both,according to her choice.

"Fatafat."

The waiter, who hadn't yet written anything, furiously noted down the order, and rushed to the kitchen.

Sameer slid the menu to the other side of table, "Main itna bada menu dekh ke decide hi nahi kar paata... sabhi kuch achha lagta hai. Isliye tumko options deke order place kiya."

"Lekin apne do logon ke liye itna saara khana order kar diya?" Naina gave him an astonished look.

"Actually subah bas ek parantha khaya tha toh..." He smiled sheepishly, then narrowed his eyes, "Tumne toh kaha tha tumhe mera appetite pata hai... yeh koi zyada thodi hai mere liye."

She chuckled, "Isiliye subah khane ko kaha tha maine. Agar force nahi karti toh aap woh ek parantha bhi nahi khate... tab kya haal hota aapke choohon ka?"

He leaned to his side, pointing at her feet as she sat across him, "Yahan ghoom rahe hote saare choohe... tumhe darane ke liye."

Another laugh brought another tinkling of bells in his ears.

"Main choohon se nahi darti." She declared.

"Wow. Very brave." He raised his brows in wonder, then turned, only to find the kitchen door still closed.

"Naina, I'll just come from the restroom." Pushing his chair back, he got up.

He had been gone for hardly a few minutes when his phone started to ring. She didn't touch it. After a few rings, it became silent, but started again almost instantly. She leaned ahead and glanced at the screen. Mr Kothari's name flashed on it. She contemplated for a moment, then picked it up.

"Hello Sameer." The heavy voice on the other side was definitely their client.

"Hello Mr Kothari. I'm Naina." She answered.

"Oh Naina. Yeh toh Sameer ka number tha shayad pehle." His voice was uncertain.

"Yeh si... unka hi number hai. He's not here isliye maine pick kiya. I can ask him to call you back if you want to speak only to him." She offered.

"No no. Mujhe bas kal ki meeting ke time mein thoda change karna tha... tumhi decision le lo. Agar hum kal subah ki jagah post lunch meeting rakhein toh tum logon ko problem toh nahi hai na? Say, at two? Darasal morning mein ek urgent kaam aa gaya hai." Mr Kothari stated the reason for his call.

"No issue. Hum kal afternoon mein mil lete hain." She accepted as they were here only for this purpose, and had no other commitment.

"Ek baar Sameer se bhi confirm kar lo... kahin uska koi program na ho. Mere liye baad mein reschedule karna shayad possible nahi hoga, I'm sorry." Mr Kothari was apologetic.

"I'm sure si..." She gulped, "Sameer will be fine with it. We have come for this meeting only."

Mr Kothari was relieved, "Great. Toh kal do baje milte hain. Sameer ko tum inform kar dogi ya main phir se call karun?"

"Main Sameer ko bata dungi." The name was easier to come second time.

"Kya batana hai Sameer ko?" His voice startled her, making her head spin in his direction, his phone still in her hand though the call had ended.

Her first thought was that she had answered his phone without asking, "Woh call... Mr Kothari ka... second time aaya toh maine pick kar liya. Sorry, koi personal hota toh nahi uthati... mujhe laga kuch important hoga shayad."

He didn't interrupt her, and settled down in the chair opposite her, waiting for her to finish.

"Sameer ko kya batana hai... jo tumne abhi abhi kaha." He repeated, eyes on her while his face remained devoid of any expression.

She had mentioned him by name... and he had heard it. The realisation made her a little conscious.

"Mr Kothari ko kal ki meeting ka time change karna tha." She narrated the entire conversation, skipping his name altogether.

"Doosri baar bologi toh zyada easy hoga." His gaze did not move from her.

She gave a perplexed look, and started to repeat the talk with Mr Kothari.

Sameer shook his head, when she had barely spoken one sentence, "Mera naam... Sameer."

"Aapne... aapne kaha tha unke saamne sir nahi bolna... sirf isliye..." She bit her lip.

Before he could say anything, the waiter arrived with their order.

Sameer had just entered the restaurant when he heard his phone ringing. He quickened his pace, but halted when he saw Naina picking it up. Thinking that it could be from the Play room, he walked ahead... stopping a little behind her when she paused while calling him sir. When he comprehended that the call was from Mr Kothari... he let her continue the conversation. And then, she again faltered... and spoke out his name. Before he could recover from the rapturous sensation, she said it one more time. Sameer was over the moon. His name sounded so melodious when she didn't add sir to it, like other times.

Seeing her fussing over the placement of dishes on the table now, he wondered how blissful it would be when she would do the same after they were married, and then nudge him, saying 'Sameer, itna kaafi hai ya kuch aur order karun'.

"Aap kya soch rahe hain? Ab aa gaya khana toh start kijiye." Same voice, but a different dialogue brought him out of the dreamworld.

He hadn't realised how famished he was. At home, he never felt this hungry. Vishakha had been repeatedly complaining about his lack of interest in food since last few months. But today, after nanu cleared his mind of the conflict, he had been extra cheerful, and ravenous.

"Dessert?" He asked after they had eaten.

"Nahi. I'm too full. Aaj toh lagta hai dinner skip karna padega. Itna heavy khana... woh bhi..." She checked her phone, "paanch baje. Oh! Ayush ki movie khatam ho gayi hogi."

After Sameer signed for the food, they left the restaurant, and went to pick up Ayush. His movie had got over just a few minutes back. Now he was eager to go back to the room. In the lift, he filled them up with all the exciting games he had played with other kids and the interesting platter of food that was served to them.

"Ab main thak gaya. Aur nahi chal sakta." He bowed down, resting his palms on knees the moment they stepped out of the lift.

Without a moment's hesitation, Naina swiftly picked him up in her arms. Sameer was surprised how she held him with ease.

"Naina, main utha leta hun. Tumhe mushkil hogi." He pointed at her heels.

"Mujhe Ayush ko uthane ki aadat hai." She walked without any difficulty.

Ayush looked at Sameer, his arms wound around her neck, "Naina toh mujhe saree pehen ke bhi godi utha leti hai. Aapko pata hai, ek baar woh mere purane wale daycare mein aayi thi saree pehen ke, toh wahan ki ma'am ne socha yeh meri mumma hai." He sniggered.

Sameer grinned, recalling what the air hostess had said... and looked at Naina with a side glance. He was shocked to see her blinking hard, to control her tears. Ayush, in his innocence, had mentioned their mom, but for Naina, it must have been a painful reminder that now she was actually a mother to him.

He wanted to console her, and tell her that he would always be there by her side... she would never be alone.

"Aaj main dinner nahi kar paungi. If you don't mind, Ayush ke liye room mein hi kuch mangwa lungi. Woh thak gaya hai." Stopping in front of her door, she said before he could find words to soothe her.

With a smile pasted on his face, Sameer nodded, waved at Ayush, and left.

Next update tomorrow evening... the last one for this week 😊