The first face that Sameer and nanu encountered as the lift opened on their floor was Vikas, Sameer's missing assistant.

After he wished them with a glum face, nanu asked him in a stern voice, "Vikas, tum ek week tak bina inform kiye gaayab ho gaye. Tumhara phone bhi unreachable tha. Yahan tak ki ghar pe bhi lock tha, humne bheja tha kisi ko. Leave chahiye thi toh inform karna chahiye tha na."

Vikas blinked his eyes a few times, trying to hold back the tears, "Sir, I'm very sorry. Emergency hi aisi aayi ki baaki sab kuch mind se nikal gaya. I'm extremely sorry."

Nanu softened a little, seeing his forlorn state, "Aisa kya hua? Tum toh yahan akele rehte ho na? All well with you?"

Vikas lowered his eyes, "Sir, meri mummy ko serious heart problem batayi hai doctor ne. Pichle week woh achanak behosh ho gayi. Padosi ne mujhe phone kiya. Main toh sunte hi pagal ho gaya. Kuch hosh hi nahi raha... aur seedha ghar ke liye nikal gaya. Jaldi mein inform karne ka khyal hi nahi aaya. Bas yeh poora week unko leke alag alag doctors aur hospitals ke chakkar lagata raha. Kabhi ek test kabhi doosra. Bohot paise lage. Lekin sir, paise maa baap se badh kar toh nahi hote na... aur mere paas ab sirf maa hi hain parivaar ke naam pe."

Nanu placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, "Ab kaisi hain tumhari mummy?"

"Theek toh nahi hain, sir, lekin mujhe wapas bhi aana tha. Aakhir job ka sawaal tha. Unki surgery kaafi expensive hogi. Isliye mujhe job important hai. Warna unhe iss haal mein akele chod ke bilkul nahi aata." Vikas was on the verge of crying.

Sameer was surprised, "Lekin tum unhe akele chod ke aaye hi kyon? Yahan saath le aate na apne paas. Tum bhi akele hi rehte ho."

"Woh sir, woh actually yahan nahi aa sakti. Main ek room ke ghar mein rehta hun. Koi kitchen tak nahi hai. Paise bachaane ke liye bas ek basic room le rakha hai. Unko kaise rakh sakta hun aisi condition mein. Bade ghar ki aadat hai unhe." Vikas explained.

Nanu patted his shoulder, "Daro nahi, tumhari mummy theek ho jayengi. Mujhe yakeen hai jaldi hi unki surgery karwa paoge tum."

As nanu and Sameer went towards their rooms, they failed to notice Naina who had stopped a few steps away, behind the lift partition. She was seeing Vikas for the first time, but she had heard his name often so it wasn't difficult to understand who he was. Listening to the condition of his mother, she could feel his pain.

"Uhh, Mr Vikas... hi." She stepped out from where she was standing when Vikas neared her.

He gave her a startled look.

Naina smiled gently, "Actually maine abhi aapki baatein suni... sorry for that, but I just wanted to say please don't hesitate to ask for any help if you need it. Oh I'm sorry, maine apna introduction toh diya hi nahi. I'm Naina Agarwal, Rohan ki new assistant... last Monday hi join kiya hai. Aapki mummy ke baare mein sunke... I know how you must be feeling. Parents kitne important hote hain life mein, jaanti hun. I wish aapki mom jaldi se jaldi theek ho jayein."

Vikas had gotten over the initial shock, "Thank you, Naina. Achha laga sun ke. Aapko zarur bataunga agar help chahiye hogi. Waise ab aapne wish kiya hai toh I'm sure mummy jaldi theek ho jayengi."

Naina nodded, "Fingers crossed. Okay, see you. Good to meet you."

Holding the file, she knocked and went inside nanu's room where Rohan was waiting for her.

Sameer had just entered his room when he realised he hadn't asked nanu about the details they were to discuss with Mr Seth whom they were to meet today.

"Jaake hi puch leta hun." Instead of calling up, he opened the door and stepped out into the corridor... only to see Naina's smiling face.

But the smile wasn't for him. She was talking to Vikas. Sameer simmered at the easy manner in which she was speaking. He didn't like Vikas from day one, and it wasn't just for his efficiency in work. He always gave a bad vibe. Though Sameer couldn't exactly put a finger on the traits that troubled him, Vikas appeared to be a slimy character. And now, he stood gaping at Naina. Sameer fisted his hands, controlling himself from straightaway going and punching him in the face. But then, what was wrong with Naina... how was she so comfortably talking to someone she met right now... Sameer had no doubt that Naina didn't know Vikas from before. Gritting his teeth, he watched as Vikas talked to her with interest. Sameer came back inside his room and banged the door shut. It seemed everyone in the office was on friendly terms with Naina... everyone but him.

Once Naina was done with her work, Rohan told her he would be with nanu for some more time. As she came out of the room, Naina thought of apologising to Sameer for the other day. She had been feeling guilty about leaving so abruptly that morning at the park, that too when he had bought nariyal pani already.

"Kya sochenge Sameer sir mere baare mein, kaise bhaag gayi. Ek baar sorry toh bol hi dena chahiye." She prepped herself to go to his room.

Without looking up, Sameer answered the knock in an angry voice, "Come in."

Naina gulped as she entered. He seemed to be in a bad mood.

"Sir, good morning. I'm..." She uttered, still at the door.

"Nai... Miss Naina... aap... kyon... I mean kaise... I mean yahan kaise?" Hearing her voice, Sameer's head shot up with a jerk... he stood up instantly, not realising that he had cut her sentence midway.

Naina bit the corner of her lip, "Sir, I'm sorry for that day... at the garden. Actually maine time notice hi nahi kiya. Bohot der ho gayi thi isliye Ayush ne call kiya tab time pata chala. Ayush is my..."

The name was like an ice bucket poured over his excitement at seeing her in his room, and once again, without realising, he interrupted her coldly, "That's okay. I understand aapke bhi commitments honge. Sorry, maine uss din aapko rukne ko kaha... it was my mistake."

Naina shook her head, "No sir, you don't have to say sorry. Maine hi Ayush ko 9 baje ka bola tha aur already 9:30..."

"Miss Naina, I said it's okay. I'm absolutely fine with it. I think iss baat ko dubara karne ki koi zarurat nahi hai." He was irritated at the mention of her boyfriend in every sentence of hers.

Naina pursed her lips. He definitely wasn't in a good mood. She decided to leave, without troubling him more.

"Right sir. I'll take your leave." She turned and stepped out, closing the door behind her.

Sameer slapped his forehead. He hadn't even asked her to come inside the room. She talked to him standing at the door and went away.

"Idiot, pehli baar tere cabin mein aayi thi aur tu... ek number ka gadha hai." He rubbed his forehead in frustration.

"Andar bula ke bhi kya karta... woh toh sirf apne uss... uss..." He wrinkled his nose before taking the name, "uss Ayush ke naam ki hi maala jap rahi thi. Kitni pagal hai yeh ladki uske peeche... office mein, garden mein, mall mein, har jagah bas wohi yaad aata hai."

And he burned more in jealousy for the guy to whom he had lost... without even getting into a competition.

The meeting with Mr Seth wasn't easy for Sameer. His thoughts kept drifting away to the morning incident. Thankfully, nanu handled most of the conversation.

His preoccupied mind did not register the time when he ventured into the cafe, badly wanting a strong coffee. He was on his second cup when he noticed Naina and her group of friends walk in for their lunch. Since he was next to a pillar, they didn't notice him, and settled on a bigger table. After a discussion of few minutes, they decided on their dishes. Just as Naina and Dhruv went to the counter to place  order, her phone kept on the table started to ring.

Vedika peered at the screen and beamed, "Ayush ka phone hai."

She looked back to see if Naina was done when Farhan urged, "Arre answer toh karde. Warna Ayush phir se bechari Naina ko daant lagayega."

Sameer fumed, "Hitler hai kya... phone na uthane pe daant lagata hai!"

Giggling, Vedika picked up the phone, "Hey Ayush, Vedika here... arre arre Naina yahin hai... bas order place karne gayi hai... do minute humse baat kar lo, ab toh hum sab bhi tumhare dost ban gaye hai na... achha baba lo, aa gayi tumhari Naina."

Sameer fisted his hands under the table hearing 'tumhari Naina', "Sab jaante hain iss ladke ko? Kamaal hai, ek hafte mein isne Naina ke doston pe bhi jaadu kar diya... kisi ko iski possesiveness galat nahi lag rahi... ulta hans rahe hain. Bechari Naina... she deserves better."

Vedika gave the phone to Naina after she placed the tray in hand on the table.

"Haan Ayush... arre do minute ke liye..." she laughed at something he said, "Achha baba de dena punishment... done... khana khaya na tune... chal theek hai... bye... love you." Naina put the phone away, a warm smile lingering on her lips.

"Punishment? Uski itni himmat... aur yeh Naina..." Sameer wanted to go to her and shake her real hard so that she could open her eyes to the kind of torture that guy was subjecting her to, and still hearing the most beautiful words from her... 'love you'.

Vedika laughed, "Yaar Naina, yeh tera Ayush ek second mein itna hyper ho jaata hai... Naina kahan hai, Naina ka phone aapne kyon uthaya, Naina, Naina... he bhagwaan. Jaake batana usse hum uski Naina ko leke bhaag nahi rahe... uske paas hi wapas aayegi office ke baad."

The fire at another table burned more fiercely.

Naina smiled wider, "Actually Ayush ko meri aadat si ho gayi hai. Usse pata hai yeh mera lunch time hai isliye ek baar call zarur karta hai."

"Toh call karke kaunsa phool barsata hai... CID ki tarah sawal jawab karta hai har baar. Seriously Naina... aankhen kholo aur samjho... he's not right for you." Sameer had to force himself to remain seated.

Dhruv took a bite of his sandwich, "Lekin Vedika, kuch bhi kaho, Ayush hai kamaal. Maine aisa banda aaj tak nahi dekha."

"Dekhoge bhi kaise... mere Ayush jaisa koi hai hi nahi." Naina said with evident pride.

If thoughts and feelings could be seen, the cafe would have witnessed fireworks of Sameer's curses and the entire floor would have been engulfed in smoke of his heart burning in jealousy.

He wanted to leave, but that would make him visible to them. And he wasn't in a condition to face anyone at the moment. Though his mind forced him to look away, his eyes, on their own accord, kept returning to the face that had been his undoing. She was so beautiful, so pure... her smile warmed up the entire room. But then, it would never brighten his room... they only shone for someone who had become his arch enemy, without even knowing of his existence.

Sameer decided to keep distance from now on. If he kept seeing her every day, he wouldn't be able to take her out of his mind. Since she wasn't on his floor, it wouldn't be so difficult.

"Abse lunch karke jaldi aa jaaya karunga room mein... jisse dubara aisa na ho. Haan, agar mujhe iss pyar ko bhulana hai toh Naina se door rehna padega." He made the painful decision.

Naina preferred to take stairs when she was alone and had to go to any of the floors. After clarifying a few things with the accounts department, she was on the way towards the staircase when she heard a subdued laugh. She stopped to check. Leaning against the wall behind the door was Vikas. He was talking into the phone. Leaving him to continue what appeared to be a private call, Naina was about to leave when his words stalled her.

"Abe yahan sab itne naram dil hain koi shaq kar hi nahi sakta. Aur phir meri acting bhi toh top class hai. Tu dekhta toh bolta mujhe yahan nahi filmon mein hona chahiye."

Naina was frozen to the spot.

Unaware about her presence, Vikas carried on, "Dono Maheshwsri ek second mein jhanse mein aa gaye. Waise mera boss, Sameer, woh thoda khadoos hai, sawaal puch raha tha lekin maine usko bhi chup kara diya. Kehta hai mummy ko yahan le aao."

There were a few seconds of silence and then he laughed, "Aur kya, hamari raat bhar ki partiyan kaise chalengi phir. Aur mummy papa ko kaun saath rakhta hai iss umr mein."

A short silence pursued before his crude voice lowered, "Nahi papa ka toh naam bhi nahi liya maine. Bas mummy ki bimari ka bahana bana diya. Baat ko aisa ghumaya ki lage papa toh already... hehe... unhe kaunsa pata chalne wala hai ki na meri mata akeli hai na marne wali hai. Ab tu dekh surgery ke naam pe bada loan lunga yahan se bhi aur Meerut wali company se bhi."

Naina held a hand to her mouth to curb the gasp that erupted from her throat.

"Yeh bimari ka bahana bada kaam aane wala hai... dono jobs mein. Bas aise hi ek hafte yahan ek hafte wahan kaam karunga aur dono jagah keh dunga mummy ki sewa ke liye chutti chahiye. Thode bohot paise salary se kaat bhi liye toh kya hua, inko toh maine laakhon ka choona lagana hai. Bas tu dekhta jaa. Ek mahine ke andar dono naukriyon ko laat maar ke, dono jagah owners ko bewakoof bana ke ek bada amount leke main yahan se paar. Phir dhoondhte rahein yeh log... pehle wale aaj tak nahi pakad paaye toh yeh kya pakdenge. Tu bas dekh apne yaar ka kamaal... arre haan yaar aaj ki party pakki. Aa jaa raat ko ghar pe, aur baaki sab ko bhi bula lena."

Naina quickly hid behind the pillar when Vikas ended his call and walked away. She stood like a statue at this revelation. He was not only cheating the company, he was cheating his family too.

Vedika found her lost in thoughts an hour later when she came to her cabin.

"Naina, kya hua? Aise kyon baithi hai?" She shook her friend when Naina didn't respond to her in the first time.

Naina told her everything, still astounded at how someone could talk like this about their hale and hearty parents.

"Dekh Naina, yeh Vikas hum logon ko bhi thoda ajeeb laga. Isliye iske saath hum mein se kisi ne bhi dosti nahi badhayi. Rude hai, mannerless hai aur zara lecherous type ka bhi hai. Tu bhi usse door rehna." Vedika warned her.

Naina was aghast, "Vedika, kya humein Maheshwari sir ko batana nahi chahiye? Yeh toh openly fraud kar raha hai? Woh log itne decent hain aur Vikas unka faayda utha raha hai."

Vedika pressed her shoulder, "Tu bohot innocent hai, Naina. Vikas jaise log dangerous ho sakte hain. Agar humne kuch kaha aur kal ko Maheshwari sir ne usko confront karte time hamara naam bata diya toh? Tujhe idea bhi nahi hai uske jaise log kya kar sakte hain."

Naina wasn't convinced, "Lekin iss darr ki wajah se hum chup toh nahi baith sakte na. Vedika, yeh log kitne achhe hain, hum sabko kitni respect dete hain... sab employers aise nahi hote. Tum batao, kaise hum inke saath dhoka hote hue dekh sakte hain!"

Vedika tried to pacify her, "Lekin koi evidence nahi hai na. Agar hamari baat pe kisi ne believe nahi kiya toh? Kya bolegi... ki chup ke uski baatein suni hain phone pe? Aisa nahi hota Naina. Hamare paas koi solid proof hota toh alag baat thi lekin abhi... uss Vikas ko ek second nahi lagega humein galat saabit karne mein."

Though Naina wasn't fully convinced, she agreed with Vedika. They needed something concrete against him.

Sameer submerged himself in work completely. Since Rohan was to leave shortly, a lot of things had to be sorted so that his department could function smoothly after he left. Vikas was more of an irritant than help... he had to be explained everything before he could be of any use... rather, Sameer had yet to experience anything that turned useful because of him.

"Nanu, I don't think main Vikas ke saath kaam kar sakta hun. He's too slow. Usko itna kuch samjhana padta hai ki lagta hai woh mera nahi main uska assistant hun." Sameer whined, after spending an hour next day trying to show Vikas how to segregate sector wise dealers vs performance wise.

Nanu nodded patiently, "Mujhe bhi uski competence pe doubt hota hai. Pata nahi kaise itne achhe marks aaye the Management Course mein aur recommendations bhi top class hain. Anyway, kuch din manage kar le uske baad main isko kisi aur department mein fit karne ki koshish karta hun. Phir dubara ad daal dunga... hum ek naya assistant rakh lenge tere liye."

Sameer frowned, "Vikas abhi probation pe hi toh hai, nanu. Hum usko nikaal sakte hain. I'm sure woh kisi bhi department ke liye burden hi hoga."

Nanu pursed his lips, "Aisa karna theek nahi rahega, beta. Uski family ko abhi paison ki zarurat hai. Tune dekha na woh kitna worried tha apni mummy ke liye. I know hum usse terminate kar sakte hain lekin insaniyat ke naate main aisa nahi karna chahta. Aur phir, ho sakta hai iss mental tension ki wajah se hi woh kaam theek se na kar pa raha ho, isliye tujhe inefficient lag raha hai. Let's give him some time."

Sameer always accepted nanu's decision, trusting him to be the best judge of situation. But today, he wasn't as sure as him... about giving Vikas a chance.

Nevertheless, he agreed.

Next update on Friday