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As 2020 is ended, I wish all the negativity and difficulties also end with this year.

I wish New year 2021 renews all the happiness and good tidings and hope the joyful spirit keeps glowing in your heart forever!

Happy New Year 2021
🎊🎊🎊🎊🎊🎊🎊

Lakshman, the office helper knocked at Sameer's door two minutes later. Getting the permission, he took one step inside, and was horrified to see the petals on the floor.

"Yeh phool kisne gira diye? Maine toh subah sab achhi tarah se saaf karwaya tha, sir. Sach keh raha hun... subah yeh phool nahi the. Maaf kar dijiye, sir... main abhi turant yeh sab saaf karwa deta hun. Mujhe pata hai aapko... " Lakshman gave a frightened look to Sameer, not moving in.

Sameer put up one hand to halt his blabbering, "Koi baat nahi. Abhi saaf karwa de. Lekin pehle yeh tiffin toh dede mujhe."

Lakshman still did not move... astounded at Sameer's reaction. Ever since he had joined this office, it was the first time Sameer had not hit the roof at such a mistake. He always took extra care to leave Sameer's office spic and span... without a single thing out of place... or else, faced severe lashing. Hence, this casual reaction was no less than a wonder for him.

"Ab andar ayega ya mera breakfast lunch time pe milega?" Sameer said a little louder.

"Ji... ji sir. Lijiye... yeh phool khaiye main breakfast saaf karwata hun." Lakshman scurried in, baffled at what was happening... or not happening.

"Kya bol raha hai? Aaj pagal wagal ho gaya hai kya?" Sameer gave him a stern look.

"Haan... nahi... main yeh sab... aapke liye..." The man was completely in a shock as he placed the tiffin on Sameer's table and ran out.

Sameer let out an exasperated sigh, getting up to fetch the plate and cutlery from the drawer.

Nanu summoned him two hours later, to show the applications that had come for his assistant's job.

"Nanu, aap rehne dijiye. Main khud manage kar hi raha hun. I don't think kisi ko appoint karne ki zarurat hai." Sameer did not even glance at the screen as nanu scrolled the list.

"Aise kaise zarurat nahi hai? Beta, kaam badhta hai toh sambhalne wale bhi badhne chahiye na. Ab tu akela kya kya dekhega?" Nanu stated.

Sameer bit his lower lip. He didn't want someone to be around him in the office... he didn't want anyone to assist him.

"Nanu, main ab tak akele hi karta raha hun... aage bhi kar lunga. Koi problem nahi hai." He persisted.

"Ek toh teri yeh akele rehne ki aadat se bada fed up ho gaya hun main... kaam mein bhi akela, zindagi mein bhi akela. Yaar tu kis mitti ka bana hai... teri umr mein main..." Nanu would have again started his love story had the phone not interrupted him.

"Hello... ji ji Bansal saab... bilkul... haan aaj kar lete hain... aap aa jaiye chaar baje... theek hai." Nanu put the phone down and looked at Sameer, "Ad agency ke Mr Bansal ke saath meeting fix ki hai, chaar baje ki. Free hai na?"

"Chaar baje? Umm, kitni der chalegi?" Sameer was worried about the meeting hampering his evening plan with Naina.

"Kya? Kuch kaha tune?" Nanu craned his neck to understand when he heard some muttering.

Sameer looked up quickly, "Nahi. Maine bas kaha ki free hun. Okay, nanu, chaar baje aata hun."

He didn't get to see Naina at lunch time... probably her group had left early today. Things went further south when there was no sign of Mr Bansal till 4:30 PM.

"Yeh kaise log hain, nanu. Time ki koi value hi nahi hai. Chaar baje ki meeting mein kal pohochenge kya?"  Sameer let out his anger when nanu informed him on the intercom that meeting would be delayed even more.

"Mr Bansal Gurgaon se aa rahe hain. Expressway pe ek accident ki wajah se jam lag gaya hai isliye time lag raha hai. Unka message lagatar aa raha hai mujhe." Nanu pacified him.

It was almost 5 when the meeting finally started. Mr Bansal was handling their print media advertising for last two years. He was pestering them for giving their digital requirements to them as well, which were presently being done by another agency.

After a long discussion, nanu finally said, "Dekhiye Bansal saab, do saal ke results kuch khaas achhe nahi mile hain humein. Aise mein yeh decision lena abhi mushkil hi lagta hai."

Mr Bansal was ready with the data, "Sir, woh isliye ki print media ki reach kam ho rahi hai. Aap ek baar humein digital ka charge deke toh dekhiye. Aapko khud yakeen nahi hoga itna benefit milega."

Sameer nodded, "Chaliye theek hai. Digital ka response period almost immediate hota hai toh aisa karte hain aapko che mahine ke liye trial pe yeh contract dete hain. Agar humein thoda bhi faayda nazar aaya toh next Financial year mein yeh responsibility aapko hi denge."

Though Mr Bansal wasn't really satisfied but he accepted the short term offer. They decided to get the documents prepared and mail to him. It was ten minutes past six by the time Sameer and nanu left the office.

"Yaar Sameer, aaj tune badi jaldi ki decision lene mein. Sach kahun, main toh soch raha tha iss year end ke baad Bansal ka contract khatam hi kar denge. Doosri agency achha response dilwa rahi hai. Aur inki digital reach humein pata bhi nahi hai." Nanu commented in the car.

"Actually nanu, mujhe laga koi nahi, do agencies kar lengi toh kya hua... hamare paas bhi parameter ho jayega comparison ka. Mr Bansal hilne wale nahi the agar main unhe yeh offer na deta toh." Sameer explained as he maneuvered the car through evening traffic.

"Hmm. Kahan jaana hai tujhe?" Nanu asked nonchalantly.

"Nai... nahin... mujhe kahan jaana hoga... kahin nahi." Sameer gulped, shrugging.

"Toh phir ghar jaake aaj ek film dekhte hain. Bade din se koi mazedaar si film dekhi nahi hai. Rohan aur Vivek bhi aaj factory nahi gaye toh time pe aa jayenge. Kya kehta hai?" Nanu happily started to search for the movies on his phone.

Sameer licked his lips, wondering how to slip out of this situation. He wanted to meet Naina... and Ayush.

"Ayush. Woh Ayush hai na... mere school ka friend... woh kuch din ke liye aaya hai... kal hi message kiya tha. Mere dimaag se hi nikal gaya. Usse milne jaana hai mujhe. Aap log dekhiye film... main milke aata hun." He said quickly.

"Oh achha. Chal koi nahi. Aaj tu mil ke aaja, film kal dekh lenge." Nanu leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes.

Sameer breathed in relief.

After freshening up and feeding his evening mug of milk and snacks to Ayush, Naina told him about the trip to the market. When Sameer had insisted that he wanted to join her, she wasn't very keen. But when he mentioned Ayush, she had accepted.

"Kya shopping karaogi mujhe? New shoes le do na." He tugged at her hand as they entered the market after parking the car.

Naina crouched in front of him, holding him by shoulders, "Dekh Ayush, hum yahan apni shopping karne nahi mere office ka saaman lene aaye hain. Tu sir ke saamne good boy banke rehna. Kuch lene ki zid mat karna."

"Nahi toh woh phir se cake nahi bhejenge?" Ayush asked innocently.

Naina shook her head, stifling the smile at his childish query.

He waved his head from side to side, "Ekdum good boy banunga. Kuch nahi lunga."

Sameer had noticed Naina's car the moment it turned inside the shopping complex. He smiled as the cute little boy jumped out from the passenger side. His throat, however, went dry as Naina came into view after taking the parking slip. She was dressed in a light blue jeans with a dark blue tshirt. He himself was wearing the same combination. The cotton summer jacket he had added to his outfit at the last minute covered his grey tshirt. He had been contemplating whether to take it off... but now he liked their twinning, even if it was just a coincidence.

Before he could come out, Naina kneeled to reach Ayush's height and started talking to him. He smiled... it had to be the usual last minute instructions issued to children to behave well when they were meeting someone for the first time. And Ayush's vehement wavering of head confirmed it.

She stood up and held his finger, walking to the stationary shop. Sameer reached them just a few steps before the shop.

"Hello Miss Naina." His voice made her turn instantly, her open hair flicking at the sudden jerk.

"Oh hi Sameer sir." She smiled.

"So this is Ayush. Hi big boy." Sameer leaned, extending his hand.

Ayush looked at Naina. She blinked. Ayush brought his small hand ahead, which Sameer shook lightly.

"Aap Naina ke sir ho? Aapne cake bheja tha?" He asked in a hesitant voice.

Sameer nodded, "Haan. Maine hi bheja tha. Aapko pasand aaya?"

Ayush dipped his head to one side, his eyes fixed on Sameer.

"Aapne same Naina jaise kapde kyon pehne hain? Aap cheating kar rahe ho kya Naina ki?" Ayush asked suddenly, making Naina run her eyes over Sameer... for the first time.

He laughed, "Cheating nahi, par shayad aaj mera bhi same colour ka day hai."

"Blue colour mera favourite hai. Aapka bhi hai kya?" Ayush beamed.

"Ayush, chup kar. Kitni baatein karta hai. Hum yahan kaam ke liye aaye hain." Naina chided him.

"Miss Naina, it's okay. Ayush se milna bhi toh aaj ka agenda hai." He said softly.

"Iski baatein shuru hui toh aur koi kaam nahi hoga. Chaliye, hum pehle woh sab le lete hain jiske liye yahan aaye hain." She showed the place to Sameer.

The shop, which seemingly looked like a normal stationary shop from front, had a fairly large area after entering through a narrow passage. It was filled with hundreds of party decoration items. Sameer watched in amazement... he had no idea how most of the things were used.

"Yeh dekhiye, hum aise letters le sakte hain." Naina showed him a blown up foil balloon of letter A.

"Yeh toh A ka balloon hai... A means Ayush. Naina, mujhe ye lena hai... please, please, mere room ke liye." Ayush jumped to snatch it from her.

She gave him a stern look, lifting her hand beyond his reach. He lowered his eyes, disappointed.

Sameer ran a hand through his hair. He had also been seeing every A as Ayush... till a few days back... though, with annoyance. But today, the little boy delighted him with everything he said or did. Before he could ask her to take it for him, she had put back the letter.

"I think it's a great idea. Zyada le lete hain, kuch aur bhi phrases bana ke laga denge." Sameer said brightly.

They checked the other items, and picked up a few things, along with the ones they had already decided. Ayush soon forgot about the balloon and excitedly pointed at things that he wanted for his birthday decoration.

After getting everything billed, Sameer paid for the stuff. The moment they stepped out of the shop, Naina halted, "Uh, Sameer sir, aap chaliye... mujhe kuch aur yaad aa gaya. Main leke aati hun."

He didn't want to let go of her company so soon. Holding the bag in one hand, he extended the other, "Ayush ko mere paas rehne dijiye aur aap le aaiye. Ayush, aap aaoge na mere saath? Mujhe yeh arcade dikha do... aapko sab kuch pata hai na yahan ka."

Getting such importance, Ayush immediately held his hand, "Haan, mujhe toh sab kuch maloom hai. Aapko kya chahiye bolo. Main aapko dikha dunga."

Unable to find a polite way of avoiding this situation, Naina bit her lip, and let Ayush go, telling him to behave well.

After she vanished inside the same shop again, Sameer diverted his attention to the little boy, "So champ, yeh batao tum kya khaoge?"

"Kuch nahi. Naina ne kaha hai roz bahar khaane se main big nahi hounga... aur mujhe jaldi se big banna hai." Ayush said matter of factly.

Sameer was impressed, "Very good. Toh phir aapke liye kuch gift lete hain. Bolo aapko kya chahiye?"

"Gift kyon? Maine aapko bataya tha na mera bday 10 June ko hota hai... bhool gaye kya? Tab gift dete hain." Ayush placed his hands on waist and looked up at Sameer.

Bemused, he smiled, "Okay. Toh flowers le lein? Aap apne ghar mein rakh lena."

Sameer was aware that he couldn't buy flowers for Naina yet... she wouldn't like it... but he can get them to her house through Ayush. For now, this was good enough.

"Kaunse flowers aap apne ghar mein rakhte ho... roses, lilies ya orchids?" Sameer pointed at the different bunches at florist shop.

Ayush narrowed his eyes, "Yahan wale house mein toh Naina koi flowers laayi hi nahi. Lekin purane ghar mein laati thi. Yeh white wale." He touched the large white Asiatic lilies.

Sameer asked the florist to put together a bunch.

Ayush looked at the roses, "Yeh rose hai na?"

Sameer nodded.

"Naina ne poore house mein lagaye the jab papa mumma ki ann... annsary... answery... "

"Anniversary... jab aapke mumma papa ki anniversary thi." Sameer helped him with the heavy word.

"Haan wohi. Mumma ko bohot achha laga tha." There was a twinkle in his eyes, similar to the one in Naina's.

"Toh theek hai, aapke mumma papa ki anniversary pe hum phir se yeh roses le lenge." Sameer patted his head.

Ayush looked up at him with hopeful eyes, "Tab tak woh aa jayenge wapas?"

"Kahin gaye hain kya?" Sameer asked.

"God ke paas. Naina ne bola unko pata chal jayega hum new house mein hain." Ayush dipped his head to the side, smiling.

The bag fell from Sameer's hand. He couldn't believe what he had heard... Naina and Ayush had lost both their parents. He kneeled on the ground and hugged the little boy.

Sorry for the emotional twist, but wanted Sameer to know this about Naina

Next update on Monday