Naina felt a sharp pain, along with a stiffness, making her jolt awake. She looked around, to realize that she had fallen asleep on the chair sometime towards the morning. With a tired sigh, she moved her stiff body, massaging her neck which was hurting because of the angle. Her eyes fell on the view across the glass door... darkness had given way to dull grey clarity, but the brightness of dawn was missing because of a thick cloud cover though the fury of rain had lessened considerably... as compared to previous night. It was then that the memories of last night flashed in her mind, making her sit up with a jerk, pain and stiffness forgotten.

She was left shaken by the storm of emotions that had risen in her last night.

She quickly picked up her phone to check the time. It was almost seven. There was a notification too. She opened the message box to see Sameer's text

'Naina, I'm leaving. Don't want anyone around to see me here so it's better that I go now, before people wake up. Luckily got a cab. Will get my car picked up later during the day.'

The time of message showed ten minutes back. She got up and went out to the terrace, to check the streets. He must have left, because there was no cab. His car was parked across the road. Coming back inside, she rubbed her neck. More than this pain, what was troubling her was her own reaction yesterday.

Naina shivered as she recalled the way she had fallen on him. The impact had left her numb for one moment, and burned her the next. She had no idea why, and how, such feeling had crept in. Pressed against him, she should have been repugnant by the proximity... but the havoc it had brought on her senses was far from disgust. In past, even the thought of someone coming close to her would make her skin crawl... the same skin was covered with goosebumps yesterday. She didn't know why her defences didn't feel threatened when he touched her... which had happened quite a few times now. As she thought of previous instances, her eyes widened. Almost every single time, it wasn't him... the physical contact was initiated by her, knowingly or by accident. Naina gasped, recalling each of those occasions... her holding onto him to save herself from a fall, landing on him when her hair got stuck in his button, sleeping on his shoulder on the plane, grasping his arm in Jaipur, slipping on him yesterday. In fact, she had herself held his hand yesterday on the road, to bring him home. None of these times, Sameer had shown any inclination to prolong the contact, or touch her back. Even when his arm was around her last night, he kept a towel between them, not touching her directly. Only once he had offered his hand for help... just offered, it was her who accepted it. For the first time, he had held her wrist yesterday, to make her eat. She trembled when she thought how she had been checking him out at dinner time. What if he had raised his eyes and seen her doing so.

She let out a shaky breath. Till now, if she noticed someone looking at her the way she was staring at him, or someone touched her, or even tried to come near her, she had loathed the person. Here she was, doing the same to Sameer. Wouldn't he find her actions distasteful... wouldn't he hate her for throwing herself at him like this? But then, none of his actions showed any disgust. On the contrary, he was caring and understanding. She couldn't deny that his concern for Ayush was genuine, but he respected her as well. She had come to know of his reverence for women, so it was natural that he thought of her reputation and honour, hence the way he protected her in Jaipur, and left early today.

Now it was upto her to keep her image intact in his eyes. The slips that happened yesterday, shouldn't happen again. She would keep her distance... and behave with him the way an employee was supposed to, with her boss. Nonetheless, the image that flashed in her mind was a complete opposite. She couldn't shake off the sight of his shirtless, toned chest, or flexing muscles of his back. Squeezing her eyes shut, she tried to block the image, but it got more vivid. Scared, she opened her eyes immediately. Keeping a hand on her wildly drumming heart, she tried to reason with herself... that it was happening because this was the first time she had seen a man without a shirt. Except for some actors on screen, she had never seen anyone like this, that too, so close to herself. Even her father was always in a vest, when he wasn't wearing a shirt. Probably that was the reason she had been rattled. It had to be. Pushing away the fluttering she felt even now at the memory of touching his back, she steeled herself to see him as her employer, and maybe Ayush's friend... nothing else.

Sameer couldn't sleep a wink at night. The rain, that he never liked, had become a boon for him. It felt like someone had opened his secret list, and started to put blue ticks on his wishes, one after the other. Her every touch was still burning his skin. Standing in front of the mirror, he looked at his chest where her face was buried. He had clearly felt her lips on his skin. Lifting his hand, he touched the part, just a little away from his heart. When Naina had placed her hand in his for the first time... he clearly remembered the morning in corridor outside Rohan's office... he hadn't washed his hand the whole day. Tonight, his entire body was enveloped in her feel and scent... he shivered as he relived the instances yet again. But most beautiful of all moments was when he looked into her eyes, and saw what he had been longing to see for months.

With a smile, he promised himself to start making her realise that they weren't just someone who worked together in office... they were meant to be together... forever... and beyond.

When the night started to give way to a new day, the light, however dim it was, brought a new fear. If any neighbour saw him leaving in the morning, it could create problems for Naina. After all, she was supposed to be married... the word twisted his heart again. Pushing away the tightening around his heart, he checked the availability of cabs. There were none yet. He repeatedly tapped the screen, till the search brought favourable result, half an hour later. After quickly sending a message to Naina, he left without making any sound.

Naina had finished all work for the morning, had even prepared lunch, to keep her busy so her mind didn't drift to any thoughts she didn't want. Since the rains hadn't let her wash clothes for a week, she was planning to run one more load of the machine in the evening. Presently, first lot of washed laundry waited to be put up on the stand that she had placed in the open door of utility balcony. The fan would help clothes get dry faster. She was almost done when the door bell rang. Glancing at the mesh door, she saw Bhalla aunty waiting outside.

"Aa jaiye aunty, door khula hai." Naina called out from the other end of the room.

Aunty pushed open the door, and entered.

"Aap baithiye, main ek minute mein aayi. Hafte ke kapde ho gaye hain. Baarish ki wajah se dhoye nahi. Aaj thankfully thodi ruki hai. Phir bhi bahar toh sukhenge nahi, isliye yahan stand rakha hai. Fan chala dungi toh sookh jayenge." Naina chatted, continuing her work.

Aunty sat on the sofa, "Ayush kahan hai?"

"Apne room mein. Breakfast karke abhi gaya hai. Aaj late utha tha. Movie laga di hai usko. Bachhon ki new movie aayi hai. School se sunke aaya tha toh peeche pada tha." It was a relief for Naina to have aunty in her house, and she went on with her non stop information, keeping her mind off everything else.

"Aap chai lengi?" Coming inside, she asked, knowing aunty's love for a steaming cup of tea anytime of the day.

"Nahi puttar, tu aa baith. Thak gayi lagti hai." Aunty smiled.

Naina flopped on the sofa adjacent to her, "Haan aunty. Thoda tired lag raha hai."

With a worried expression, aunty placed a hand on her forehead, "Shukar hai bukhar nahi hai. Kal itni bheeg gayi thi, mujhe laga bimar na pad gayi ho. Teri aankhen lekin chadhi hui lag rahi hain."

A faint hint of colour crept up her neck as Naina lowered her eyes, "Woh... raat ko shayad theek se neend nahi aayi."

When she lifted her gaze after a while, aunty was looking at her with a grave face. Before Naina could ask, she said in a deep voice, "Tune mujhse jhoot kyon bola, Naina?"

Her heart dropped to the bottom of her stomach as her eyes turned into saucers.

"Maine kabhi nahi socha tha tu itna bada jhoot bolegi." If Naina had any doubt earlier, now she was sure aunty had come to know about her lie of a husband in Dubai.

"Aunty main... main..." She fumbled, trying to find the right words to explain.

She hadn't thought aunty would find out so soon. Probably her hesitation to call her husband had put a doubt in her mind. But how did she come to know for sure? Well, whatever it was, Naina decided to come out clean now. She couldn't deceive them any more.

Her eyes pooled up when she looked at Bhalla aunty again, mustering courage, "Aunty, please aap pehle meri poori baat sun lijiye. I'm sorry maine aapse jhoot kaha ki mere husband..."

The door bell interrupted her.

Aunty could see the door behind Naina from where she was sitting. She called out before Naina could turn, "Andar aaja puttar. Darwaza khula hai."

Naina's mouth fell open as Sameer walked in. She gaped at him, unable to think of a reason for his presence here.

"Maine bulaya hai." Aunty said, leaving her shell shocked.

Sameer was equally perplexed. He didn't know why Bhalla aunty had called him up and asked him to come over. Seeing Naina's ashen face, his heart lurched with fear that something had happened to her.

He immediately sat on the chair next to her, "Naina, tumhari tabiyat toh theek hai? Kya hua? Why you look so distressed? Ayush... Ayush kahan hai? Who theek hai na?"

"Dono theek hain, puttar. Maine kuch baat karne ke liye bulaya hai tumhe." Aunty answered on Naina's behalf.

Unclear about her motive for calling Sameer, Naina gave a harrowed look to Bhalla aunty, when it dawned on her. She quickly looked at him, with hurt eyes, "Aapne bataya?"

"Kya?" Sameer looked from her to aunty, baffled at what was going on.

"Usne kuch nahi kaha." Aunty said in a serious voice.

They both looked at her.

"Mujhe khud pata chala. Apne husband ke baare mein itna bad jhoot bolne ki kya zarurat pad gayi tujhe, puttar? Humne toh apni beti jaisa samjha tha tujhe. Maine apni life ki saari kahani tujhe sunayi thi. Phir tune kyon nahi bataya? Tujhe kyon Dubai wali baat bolni padi?" Bhalla aunty was clearly upset with Naina.

When the scenario became clear to him, Sameer was equally zapped. Now he could comprehend Naina's question. He turned to her earnestly, "Maine... maine nahi..."

Aunty raised a palm, making him fall silent. While Naina was unable to look at her, buried under the weight of her guilt, Sameer pursed his lips, thinking how he could help salvage the situation.

"Puttar, shaadi koi mazaak nahi hoti. Bohot gehra bandhan hota hai. Ek rishta jo do logon mein banta hai, woh saat janam ka hota hai. Aur hum chahe isse love marriage ka naam de ya arranged maane, baat toh yeh hai ki joda ussi ke saath banta hai jiske saath rabb ji ne tay karke rakha hai. Aise rishte ko jhoot ka parde mein chupana kisi gunah se kam nahi hai." Aunty's voice was emotional.

Naina covered her face with her palms, "Please mujhe maaf kar dijiye, aunty."

Aunty let out an exhale, "Agar tu khud mujhe batati... mujhe aise pata na chalta toh zyada achha lagta, puttar."

Sameer asked her hesitantly, "Aapko... aapko kisne bola aunty?"

She looked at him with piercing eyes, "Koi bolta toh main shayad yakeen na karti. Maine khud dekha aaj subah subah tumhe yahan se jaate hue."

Naina's head jolted up, colour draining from her face. In one instant, all these months in between vanished, and she was back in Agra, being ridiculed for calling her male 'friends' home. She felt the room spin, all bitter memories hitting her like tonnes of bricks... the accusing voices lambasting her character, saying how she was denouncing the reputation of their respectable society, asking her to learn to live like a 'woman'. Sweat trickled down her temple while she clenched her hands to stop the shivering.

Sameer stole a glance at her, and his eyes widened, seeing her condition. He got up and dashed to the dining table, filling up a glass of water from the jug kept there and brought it to her, "Naina, yeh lo, paani piyo... sab theek ho jayega... main... main baat karta hun."

Naina took a few sips after aunty urged her to do the same.

Putting the glass on side table, Sameer turned to Bhalla aunty, "Dekhiye aunty, ismein Naina ka koi kasoor nahi hai. Actually main..."

"Mujhe pata hai tumhare parents Naina se khush nahi hai isliye tum dono ko unke maan jaane tak aise rehna pad raha hai. Lekin Naina, agar tu pehle hi bata deti ki teri shaadi Sameer se ho rakhi hai toh puttar, main toh khush hi hoti na... ismein chupane jaisa kya tha?"

If they were shocked before, Sameer and Naina now turned into stone.

Bhalla aunty carried on, "Subah Sameer ko dekh ke samajh aaya ki tera husband kahin Dubai wubai mein nahi hai balki Sameer hi tera husband hai."

They stared at her, without blinking.

"Sach kahun toh Sameer ko gate se jaate dekha tab mujhe bada gussa aaya. Yakeen nahi hua ki Naina ke yahan ek ladka raat bhar ruka hai. Seedha jaake Bhalla saab ko bataya." Aunty's face finally relaxed into a smile, "Unhone kaha ki nahi, Naina aisa kar hi nahi sakti. Phir hum dono ne baith ke do aur do milaye toh samajh aaya... Sameer kaise tera aur Ayush ka khyal rakhta hai, Ayush ko tu akele uske saath ghoomne bhej deti hai, koi bhi kaam ho madad karne foran aa jaata hai, Ayush ke birthday pe toh poora din yahin tha... Sameer ka naam hi sunte hain hum tere aur Ayush ke muh se hamesha. Yeh saari baatein sochi tab humein pata chala ki darasal Sameer lagta kya hai tera."

She gave a fond look to both of them, "Waise jhoot bolne ki wajah main samajh sakti hun, puttar. Tumhe laga hoga ki kahin hum log zid na karein tumhare ghar walon ko manaane ki, unse milne ki, haina? Shayad main aisa karti bhi. Naina kitni pyari bachhi hai, usko koi kaise napasand kar sakta hai yeh soch ke main bolti Sameer ko ki mujhe leke chal zara apne mummy daddy ke paas. Lekin ab nahi kahungi. Main dil se chahti hun ki Naina apne sasural jaaye lekin yeh kab aur kaise hoga, iska faisla tum dono pe chodti hun."

Naina felt she was falling much deeper into a hole she had dug for herself, which was turning into a dark well now. The plain simple lie, which involved a non existent person was turning into a full fledged deception... forcing Sameer to be a part of it. She could not do this to him... even at the risk of going through the same horrifying experience again.

Clearing her throat, she began, "Aunty, aap jaisa soch rahi hain, waisa kuch nahi hai. Actually Sameer mere boss hain, hum dono kal office se saath hi nikle the. Lekin baarish ki wajah se Sameer ki car yahan kharab ho gayi. Raat ko cabs bhi available nahi thi. Koi aur option hi nahi thi. Raat bhar main unhe car mein kaise rehne deti... isliye ghar pe aane ko kaha. Woh subah bhi isiliye jaldi chale gaye ki koi dekh ke galat na samajh le. Aunty, saari galti meri hai. Maine hi aapse jhoot bola. Aap jo chahe sazaa dein mujhe, main deserve karti hun... agar aap kahengi toh main yeh ghar bhi..." her voice choked.

Sameer sat motionless, unsure about what he could do to get Naina out of this situation, saving her from getting hurt.

Aunty looked at Sameer before shifting her gaze to Naina, her eyes stern, "Haan, yeh ghar chodna padega. Main nahi chahti ki tu yahan rahe." Her attention went back to Sameer, without seeing the pain on naina's lowered face, "Jab tak tum apne mummy papa ko manaa nahi lete, sirf tab tak Naina ko yahan rehne de rahi hun."

Again, two pair of eyes shot back to her, flabbergasted.

Aunty let out a weary sigh, "Offo, tum bachhe bhi kitna drama karte ho. Yeh kya baar baar TV show wale actors ke jaise pause mode mein chale jaate ho. Arre puttar, boss se pyar hone mein koi burai thodi hai. Aur tera pati agar tere paas rukta hai toh ismein safai kyon de rahi ki car kharab hui ya cab band hui... uska haq hai apni biwi ke saath rehna. Woh jab chahe yahan aa sakta hai."

Naina kept looking at her till it slowly sank in that her entire explanation was taken by Bhalla aunty as clarification about his stay here last night. She was still thinking of them to be married to each other.

"Aunty, main aur Sameer..." She started again, determined to make it clear... when Sameer's action made her stop abruptly.

Her eyes stretched to the maximum as his hand closed over hers. She stared at their joined hands with a dumbfounded expression.

"Naina, I think ab humein aunty se sach nahi chupana chahiye." His soft voice made her look up at him. His pleading eyes confused her even more... his words and actions did not match.

Sameer blinked at her in assurance, then looked back at Bhalla aunty, "Actually hum dar gaye the ki yahan sab ko pata na chal jaaye. Agar koi mere parents ko jaanta ho aur unhe bata de toh hamari problem badh jaati. Kyonki mere ghar pe abhi tak yeh nahi pata ki humne shaadi kar li hai. Woh log bas yeh samajhte hain ki main Naina se shaadi karna chahta hun."

Naina's heart jumped to her mouth. His words gave her the shock of her life.

Sameer didn't move his eyes from aunty, "Main apni taraf se har koshish kar raha hun. Mere nanu jaante hain, aur woh mera saath denge, lekin aur kisi ko batane ki abhi himmat nahi hui hai. Par mujhe iss baat ka yakeen hai ki jaldi hi main Naina ko apne ghar le jaunga."

He could feel her hand going icy cold in his grip... his hold tightened, to give her warmth.

Aunty beamed, "Yeh toh badi achhi baat hai ki tumhare nanu ko tumhari pasand se koi aitraaz nahi hai. Chalo, ab mujhe lag raha hai baat ban hi jayegi."

Sameer nodded, giving a small smile.

Aunty turned to Naina, "Chinta na kar, puttar. Rabb sab pe meher karta hai. Tum dono bhi jaldi hi saath hoge. Main kal gurudware jaungi toh tumhare liye ardaas karungi."

"Thank you, aunty." Sameer's smile was genuine.

"Ab main chalti hun. Aur Naina, jhoot wali baat dil se na lagana, puttar. Mujhe tere jhoot ke dukh se zyada badi Khushi iss baat ki hai ki koi aur nahi balki Sameer woh ladka hai." Bhalla aunty gave him an adoring smile, "Pata hai, mujhe shuru se hi bade pasand aaye the tum. Pehle laga ki chalo Naina ka ek itna achha, khyal rakhne wala dost hai lekin phir lagne laga ki kaash Naina ki shaadi na hui hoti toh tumhare saath uski jodi kitni perfect hoti. Aur dekho, rabb ji ne meri baat sun li. Bata rahi hun, puttar, meri baat pohoch jaati hai wahan tak. Dekh lena, tumhara sapna sach ho jayega ab, meri sifarish se."

Sameer lowered his head, stealing a glance at Naina who sat still.

After aunty left, he got up and closed the door. Their conversation had to be contained within the room.

Naina sat frozen in a complete state of shock.

Sameer bit his lip... he hoped he would be able to make her understand.

"Naina."

Her eyes were stuck to some point on the floor.

"Please ek baar meri baat suno. Maine jo kiya uske peeche ek reason hai." He said in a low voice.

Her eyes, when they met his, were hurt, "Yeh aapne kya kar diya, Sameer? Aapko toh pata tha na ki mera jhoot mujhe kitni takleef de raha hai. Aaj aunty ke saamne agar sach bolne ka mauka aaya tha toh aapne usse ek aur jhoot mein kyon badal diya, kyon ek dhoka bana diya? Ab main iss bojh ke saath kaise reh paungi ki aunty uncle ko itna bada dhoka de rahi hun? Aur jab ek din sach ayega unke saamne tab kya hoga? Kya kahungi main unhe? Kaise samjhaungi ki mera aapka koi rishta nahi hai? Kaise yakeen dilaungi ki main aur aap..." Her voice cracked.

Sameer felt a fearful apprehension clutch his heart, "Nahi Naina, mera iraada kisi ko dhoka dene ka nahi hai. Tumhe sach bolne se maine nahi roka. Tumne toh aunty ko sab bataya tha... lekin unhe poora sach samajh nahi aaya. Aur jab unhone kaha ki unhone mujhe subah jaate hue dekha tha..." He gulped, "Naina, tumpe koi ungli uthaye, woh bhi meri wajah se, yeh nahi hone de sakta main. Agar tum clear karti ki hum... hum sirf... dost hain jo ek office mein kaam karte hain toh pata nahi aunty usko kaise leti. Shayad woh saamne kuch na kehti, lekin unke dil mein shak reh jaata. Jab tumhe married maante hue unhe mujhe subah dekh ke jhatka laga toh socho, yeh maalum hote hue ki tum single ho, kya unke mann mein sawaal nahi aate ki kal raat main kyon... Naina, main yeh nahi keh raha ki aunty aisi hain, ya unki thinking conservative hai, lekin tum jaanti ho na hamari society kaisi hai. Agar kal yeh baat kisi aur ke saamne aa jaati toh zaruri nahi doosre log bhi aunty ki tarah tumhe samajh paate."

Whatever he was saying was making sense... Naina recalled when the lady who ironed their clothes enquired about her husband, after knowing about it from Roshni. But still she feared the time when truth would be revealed in front of Bhalla aunty and uncle. They would be devastated. She gave him an earnest look, "Lekin uss din ka kya jab unhe pata chalega? Aaj iss jhoot ne bacha liya lekin uss din kaise rok paungi main apne aapko aunty ki nazron mein girne se? Tab society mein baat nahi uthegi kya? Tab toh zyada log ungli uthayenge na... mujh par bhi... aur aap par bhi."

Sameer wanted to speak aloud but couldn't. His heart, however, made a silent promise to her, "Uss din ke aane se pehle main iss jhoot ko sach kar dunga, Naina. Kyonki yeh koi dhoka nahi, yeh mera waada hai tumse... aur khud se."

Naina took his silence to be a reassessment on his part, about what he had done. She took a deep breath, and straightened her back, "Aap chahein toh hum abhi jaake baat kar sakte hain. You need not be a part of it. Aunty jo mere baare mein sochengi, main woh bardaasht kar lungi. Aap apne aapko kisi uljhan mein mat daaliye. Yeh meri problem hai... iss jhoot ka khel maine shuru kiya tha toh iske repercussions bhi mere liye hi hone chahiye. Main aapko involve nahi kar sakti."

"Main toh already involve ho chuka hun, Naina. Agar aunty ne subah mujhe nahi dekha hota toh yeh sab hota hi nahi. Main aur jaldi chala jaata toh unko shak nahi hota... lekin usse pehle cab mili hi nahi. Ab hum baith ke har baat ka 'agar aisa hota agar waisa hota' karne lage toh koi solution nahi niklega. It's all destiny. Jo hona hota hai wohi hota hai. Tum khud ko blame mat karo. And I promise, tumpe kabhi koi ungli nahi uthayega." Sameer assured her.

"Par main khud ka saamna kaise karungi? Kaise khud ko samjhaungi ki aap... " She lowered her head enough to hide her face from him. He need not see her unshed tears.

Sameer wanted to tell her now... right now... what he felt for her. But he was aware that it was too soon. The stiff walls around her heart had just started to soften, and taking such a step at this moment could make her go back into her shell again. He had to tread carefully.

He shifted to the edge of his seat, turning his body towards her, "Don't be so harsh on yourself, Naina. Humne marketing ki books mein padha hai na... sometimes, a façade has to be created, an illusion is to be designed, to stabilise the market when situations become extreme. Yeh ek extreme situation thi, isliye deal karne ka tareeka bhi normal nahi ho sakta tha. Tum galat nahi ho... poori society galat hai. Yeh jhoot tumhe bolna hi nahi padta agar har jagah se tumhare akele hone pe objection nahi hota. Hamari situation humein kabhi kabhi kuch aisa karne pe majboor karti hai jo hum karna nahi chahte."

When she didn't look up, Sameer swallowed hard before speaking, "Kisi aur ke naam ke saath yeh jhoot bolna pade isse achha toh aunty ki galatfehmi bani rehne dena hi theek hai na. Main... tum... tum mujhe ache se jaanti ho... bharosa kar sakti ho... I'll be with you in this."

Her eyes lifted to him, "I'm extremely sorry. Main koshish karungi ki aapko jaldi se jaldi iss problem se chutkara mile."

It was a big relief for him that she wasn't annoyed with him. As for the 'problem', he was sure he would not let it remain one for long.

Taking a deep breath, Naina stood up, "Aap coffee lenge?"

Sameer accepted the offer with a slight tilt of his head. When she was gone, he finally smiled... whatever he had told Naina was true, but one more reason prompted him to do what he did... he couldn't hear any other person's mention as her husband. Even if it was a lie as of now, he knew it would be the ultimate truth. His eyes fell to the side table, where the glass of water rested. Picking it up, he gulped down the entire contents. That is when his gaze fell on the clothes stand placed in the doorway. His eyes widened, seeing his clothes drying there, along with Naina and Ayush's clothes.

Naina came out with two mugs, and found him looking towards the balcony with a dazed look. Following his line of vision, her eyes landed on his clothes. A deep hue spread on her face. When she was cleaning the room in the morning, she had discovered his clothes, which were still wet. Thinking that she would not be meeting him before Monday, since Ayush wouldn't go for his Sunday outing owing to the rain... she decided to wash them, or else, the dampness could make them stink.

"Woh... I'm sorry maine aapke kapde machine mein hi wash kar diye. Car thi nahi drycleaner ke paas jaane ko... aur Monday tak... baarish wale kapdon mein smell ho jaati hai isliye maine socha..." She offered the explanation.

Sameer couldn't tell her how elated he was... getting a feel of being a family that he wanted desperately.

Next update on Wednesday