This song because Randeep is using it quite a lot these days... and it describes both Sameer's and Randeep's present state 😉

Sameer had never done any such thing at home so he had no idea how to place the balloons on the wall. As kids, he and his siblings had lavish birthday parties, where everything... from decorations to food to games to return gifts... was handed over to party planners. Even now, any occasion or celebration just needed them to dress up and attend the function. He was never involved in setting up the party place. Now, with the bunch of balloons in hand, he stared at the wall. The threads could be attached if there was a beam or bar, but a flat wall... he scratched his head. In fact, the balloons did not even have threads... they were twisted around a soft wire.

Naina brought out the packets of decorative items she had purchased.
Streamers were the first things to be placed vertically on main wall. She got a step ladder from the service balcony and placed it in corner. By the time Sameer saw her, she was already on the third step, sticking one end of a streamer on the top edge of the wall.

"Naina, yeh kya kar rahi ho? Get down." He rushed to hold the step ladder.

She smiled, "Yeh girega nahi. Main hamesha ispe chadh ke hi sab kaam karti hun. Aap balloons laga lijiye, streamers main laga dungi."

"Main kar deta hun. Tum utro neeche." He commanded, holding the ladder firmly.

"Sir, mujhe aadat hai. I can..." She picked up another strip of paper.

Sameer held the trailing end, not letting her take the edge to the wall. She paused, giving him a questioning look.

"Tum utar rahi ho ya main utaru?" His determined gaze told her he wasn't joking.

Naina bit her lip. Keeping the strip back on the small surface at the top of step ladder, she slowly climbed down. Once she moved away, Sameer went up two steps and picked up the streamer she had been holding. He checked the three she had set on the wall, and placed it next to them. Since she had already put double sided tape on it, the strip was stuck easily. Elated at the ease of this job, Sameer picked up another one.

"Phir se yellow nahi. Abhi green lagaiye." She pointed at the other one.

Sameer picked up the green strip and pressed the edge on the wall. It slithered down the moment he removed his finger.

"Aapne tape nahi lagaya." Naina picked up the streamer and handed it to him.

He looked around. A tape, according to him should have been a cellotape... but all he could see was a box, with rectangular foam type pieces.

"Yeh kaisi tape hai?" He picked up one piece and asked, eyeing it suspiciously.

"Mujhe dijiye, main laga ke deti hun aapko." She held up one hand.

Sameer handed her the piece, and the streamer. He observed keenly as she peeled of the smooth paper and stuck it to one end of strip, pressing hard. Then she peeled off the paper from other surface too, and handed it back to him. Sameer placed it next to yellow one.

"Bas colour bata do. Ab main tape laga lunga." He said when she asked for next one.

"Blue." She replied.

She watched as Sameer followed the same procedure, and successfully put up another strip.

"Ab aap yehi colour pattern repeat kar lijiye." She pointed at the set that now hung on the wall.

While Sameer began doing what he was told, Naina kneeled on the floor and started to twist the strip hanging on the wall. She then pasted the stretched end to the bottom edge of the wall. After doing the same for next few, she realised more had not come. She looked up to find Sameer struggling with a big heap of entangled streamers. She had suspected that he didn't have any experience of doing these kind of things.

"Uhh, Sameer sir, aap... aap neeche aa jaiye. Main kar deti hun." She offered.

"Yeh shayad defected hain." Sameer rolled them some more, in an attempt to separate them.

Naina giggled, "Defected? Sir aap..."

"Shhh." He placed a finger on his lips.

She glanced at him... her words and smile, both silenced.

"Tum Ayush se seekho kuch. Woh ek baar mein baat maan leta hai... aur tumhe samjhate hue itne din ho gaye... na sorry thank you khatam hota hai na sir bolna." Sameer stepped down slowly, not moving his eyes from her.

"Oh haan. Main... main bhool gayi thi. So... I mean... I'll try." Naina took a step back, creating some distance between them as she was standing right next to the ladder till now.

Taking the entangled bunch from him without meeting his eyes, she placed it on the rug, sitting next to it on the floor. In just a few minutes, she had sorted the paper strips, deftly separating them without any damage.

Holding them in the scoop of one arm, she stood up and turned to Sameer, "Ab aap kuch nahi bolenge. I'll put them on the wall in ten minutes. Kyonki iss speed se kaam kiya toh Ayush ke friends ke aane tak hum streamers hi laga rahe honge."

Sameer opened his mouth to object... but she silenced him with the same gesture... a 'shhh' with finger on her lips. For a second, his eyes drifted to her pouted lips, but he immediately moved his gaze to the wall. Naina shifted the ladder little ahead, and climbed up with ease. In precisely two minutes, she had placed five strips. Getting down, she pushed the ladder again and stuck another set. Sameer kept moving along with the ladder, staying a little behind her. When the entire wall was covered in ten minutes, as she had mentioned, Naina started to secure the lower ends after twirling the strips.

"Ho gaya." She dusted her hands, stepping back to see the white wall that was now covered in colours of rainbow from ceiling to floor.

"Wow. You're amazing. Yeh ideas aate kahan se hain tumhe?" Sameer was impressed.

"Jab dil se kuch karte hain toh ideas apne aap aa jaate hain." Naina picked up the flowers and started to make small bunches of assorted colours.

"Lekin saare ideas hamesha kaam nahi aate." Sameer picked up a pink flower and held out to her.

Naina took it, adding to the bunch in hand, and smiled at the flowers, "Toh jo kaam aa jaaye aisa hi idea use karna chahiye. Agar khud samajh na aaye toh Pinterest hai na. Wahan aapko har party ke liye, har set up ke liye ideas mil jayenge. Waise aadha kaam aapne aur Ayush ne kar diya tha, theme decide karke."

She brought out a box of tall glasses from the kitchen and started placing the flowers in them. Sameer picked up a bunch the moment she took out a glass and gave her. This went on till a dozen vases were ready with daisies in myriad of colours. Sameer was even more amazed to see each corner of the room brightened with colour.

Naina picked up the bunch of balloons and pulled a dining chair. Sameer dashed towards her when she stepped on it.

Before he could say anything, she looked at him, "I'll do it. Aapko nahi pata kya karna hai."

He kept standing close to the chair, letting her arrange the balloons in a curve on the wall. Even on the chair, Naina didn't lose balance, and easily stepped down once the work was done.

Sameer frowned, muttering under his breath, "Har movie mein, har TV show mein heroine zarur girti hai... seedhe hero ki baahon mein. Ek yeh meri heroine hai... har kaam mein expert. Jab main peeche khada hun toh ek baar balance lose nahi kar sakti thi?"

Naina turned to find him agitated, and noticed the sweat on his face. The room had become warm because of the open door. She quietly walked to the wooden door and closed it.

Seeing his surprised expression, she shrugged, "AC ka effect nahi ho raha tha. You're sweating. I'm so... main aapke liye iced tea bana deti hun."

After she had gone to the kitchen, Sameer took off his blazer and tie. It was indeed a relief. He pulled a tissue from the dining table and wiped his face, then walked to the kitchen.

"Where's the dustbin?" He asked, holding the crumpled tissue.

Naina pointed at the cabinet under the sink. Next moment, she herself turned to open it for him. Sameer reached there same second... and their heads banged as both bend down to open it.

Rubbing her forehead, Naina straightened immediately, her eyes hooded. Sameer raised his brows, pointing at his head, "Horns aaye kya?"

"What?" Naina scrunched her nose.

"Ayush ne kaha tha... aise head bang hone pe agar phir se sar nahi takrate toh horns aa jaate hain. Ab toh do baar hamari takkar ho gayi hai. Pakka horns aa jayenge." He gave an innocent explanation.

She couldn't help smiling, "Yeh uss pehli wali takkar ka answer samajh lijiye. Ab aapko horns ka koi khatra nahi hai."

Sameer sighed, and bend down to throw the used tissue in the dustbin.

"I know main kuch khas help nahi kar paaya abhi tak, lekin main seekh raha hun. Next time dekhna, tumhe kuch karne ki zarurat hi nahi padegi." He flicked his brows, taking the glass of ice tea from her.

Stifling her smile, Naina checked the consistency of gravy, "Mujhe aadat hai. It's okay."

"Umm, kya kya bana rahi ho?" He leaned as she uncovered another simmering pan.

"Boiled alu nahi bana rahi." She gave him a quick teasing smile.

He twisted his mouth, "Bohot mazaa aaya hoga na tumhe, mera ullu bana ke. Agar mujhe pehle se pata hota ki boiled alu dish nahi hoti toh?"

"Aapko dekh ke samajh gayi thi aapko cooking ke baare mein kuch nahi pata hoga." Naina answered, stirring the gravy after adding ketchup to it.

"Kaise?" He was curious.

"Sir..." He touched his finger to his lips.

Naina gulped... it would be a difficult habit to let go. His name didn't come easily to her.

"Uh... woh aapne kaha coffee se seekhna start karte hain. Coffee is literally the easiest thing to make. Agar woh bhi nahi aati aapko toh obvious tha ki baaki sabke baare mein kaise pata hoga. Aapko dekh ke lagta nahi aap kabhi kitchen mein gaye honge." She explained.

"Wow. Ekdum correct read kiya tumne. Achha yeh batao, mujhe dekh ke mere interest ke baare mein aur kya laga tumhe?" Sameer grabbed the opportunity to know what she thought about him.

"I don't know. Main kisi ko read nahi karti. I'm not good at it... isliye koshish nahi karti." There was a hint of grimace in her voice.

He didn't want to push her, but the flow of conversation gave him a chance to delve more, "Phir bhi, Naina. Apne aas paas ke logon ke baare mein hum kuch image toh bana hi lete hain. Roz milne walon ka impression ban jaata hai mind mein, unhe observe karne se."

"Sab galat hota hai. Nahi banana chahiye. Sirf aapke apne hi hote hain jinhe aap jaan sakte ho. Roz milne walon ko saalon tak bhi milen toh unke dil mein kya hai nahi samajh paate. Main kisi ka koi impression nahi banati. Logon ko galat samajhne se achha hai unhe samajhne ki koshish hi nahi karni chahiye. Main na kisi ke liye sochti hun na observe karti hun." She said tersely.

Sameer was taken aback. He hadn't expected her to be this direct. When he had initially noticed that she didn't pay attention to her surroundings and people, he had taken it to be a habit... but now, it seemed there was a reason behind it. Probably someone had betrayed her trust... or hurt her. He stiffened at the thought.

"Naina, kya tumne... kya kisi ne tumhari trust ko break kiya hai?" He asked, holding his breath.

She looked at him sharply, "I don't trust anyone. Main kisi pe bharosa nahi karti."

"Bharosa karna pade toh woh ek effort hota hai. Kabhi kabhi humein kisi pe apne aap bharosa ho jaata hai... unke behaviour se dil ko khud hi yakeen ho jaata hai ki woh hamare apne na hote hue bhi apno jaise hain. Aisa trust real hota hai, Naina. Zabardasti karna pade woh ahsaas dil se nahi hota... majboori hota hai... dil se jo aapko sachhi lage wohi sachhi feeling hoti hai... phir chahe woh bharosa ho... ya pyaar." Sameer did not waver his gaze from her face.

Naina carried on with her work, without showing any reaction to what he had said, "Yeh sab filmi baatein hain. Dil ka kaam sirf humein saansen dekar zinda rakhne ka hai. Har insaan dimag se hi sochta hai, dimag se hi samajhta hai. Dil ko bina baat ke movies aur songs mein aisa portray karte hain. It's just an organ... jiske paas sochne samjhne ki capability nahi hai."

Though they should have, her views did not dishearten him... rather they brought a smile to his face. She had started to trust him... and she didn't know yet. It only meant one thing... her heart was doing it on its own, without being directed by her mind.

"Tum bharosa karti ho, Naina, bas abhi jaanti nahi ho. Aise hi pyar bhi karne lagogi... bohot jaldi." His thoughts made him blush.

"Ek boiled alu ki baat pe itna dantogi, maine socha nahi tha. Ab tum sikha do, main seekh jaunga... jo bhi dishes bataogi." He controlled his thoughts, and tried to bring back the easy camaraderie between them.

Naina realised she had been too harsh in expressing herself. In alarm, she looked at him, ready to apologise.

Sameer didn't let her begin, "Aur haan, sorry mat kehna ab kisi bhi baat pe. Yaar, itna saara khana banana seekh liya toh chef banke hotel kholna padega."

Her face softened... in spite of being her boss, he was trying to help her, doing things which he had never bothered with, in his life till now. Only because he genuinely cared for Ayush. Like other guests, he could have come in the evening, and still made Ayush happy, but he was trying to be a part of his birthday celebration.

"S... aap bahar baith jaiye. Kitchen mein garmi hai. I'll take some time to finish these." Naina waved at the four pots and pans on the stove.

"Nahi. Mujhe dekhna hai kya aur kaise ban raha hai." Putting his empty glass near the sink, Sameer rolled his sleeves, coming near the vessels.

"Aapki shirt... shirt kharab ho jayegi. Aap itni paas mat aaiye stove ke." Naina stopped him.

"Okay. Main yahan se dekh lunga." Sameer leaned against the refrigerator, crossing his arms.

He watched as she rinsed the different shaped pastas in the sink, and put them in pans... one in red sauce, one in green and one in white. After mixing them properly, she switched off the flame. Next, she took the bread slices and started to cut the edges.

"Tumne yeh sab kahan se seekha, Naina?" He asked, watching her smear the slices with spreads, again in different colours.

"Mumma se. Woh bohot achha khana banati thi. Main shayad eight standard mein thi tab mumma ne mujhe kitchen mein le jaa ke mere saamne meri favourite dishes banani shuru ki. Woh mera haath pakad ke pan mein curry mix karwati thi, spices dalwati thi, mujhse puch ke ingredients daalti thi jisse mujhe yaad rahe. Dheere dheere mujhe akele cooking ka confidence aa gaya." She stated, reminiscing about her early kitchen experiences.

He loved the glazed look in her eyes. Her parents must have been great people, he thought. Both Naina and Ayush were very mature for their age, sensitive yet understanding. They were so alike... it had to be in their genes.

"S...uh... aap lunch ke liye rukenge na?" Naina asked casually.

He shrugged, "Agar tumhe koi problem nahi hai toh haan. Ya phir, main kuch order kar deta hun. You are already doing so much."

"Hum log bahar se kam order karte hain. I prefer Ayush ko ghar ka khana hi khilaun. Maine apne aur Ayush ke liye mushroom fried rice banaye hain." She informed.

"I would love to have mushroom fried rice." Sameer smiled.

"Great. Yeh sandwich bana ke main Ayush ko le aati hun. Aaj usko jaldi leke aana hai daycare se. Wahan ke friends ke saath bhi celebrate karna tha isliye chutti nahi li." She fondly recalled his excitement in the morning when she handed him cake and chocolates for distributing to his friends.

"Ayush ko main le aaun? Ab toh unke paas mera naam registered hai." He offered eagerly.

"Aap? Aap kyon pareshan hote hain? Main le aungi." She was hesitant. After all, he was her boss.

Sameer came close to her, "Naina, jab main haq se tumhare ghar aake khana khane ko bol sakta hun toh tum kyon nahi bolti? Yaad hai na, yahin dost banaya tha tumne mujhe? Dosti ka haq jataogi nahi toh mujhe lagega main zabardasti tumhari life mein interfere kar raha hun. Is it so?"

"Not at all." She said quickly, "I mean, aisa kuch nahi hai. Aap... aap le aaiye Ayush ko. Usse achha lagega."

I had thought of writing a small one but here it is... a full length chapter 😅

Next update tomorrow