During the second half of her first day in the new department, Naina was called to the room of senior Mr Maheshwari.

"Naina, mujhe Sameer ne brief kiya tumhari observations ke baare mein. Unhe dekh ke pata chalta hai ki tumhe market trends ki pehchan hai. Tumne pehle bhi issi field mein kaam kiya hai toh pata hi hai ki present market ko understand karna kitna important hai. Humein apne next season ke production ke liye kuch naye ideas chahiye. Since garments ka market women ke liye zyada bada hai, main chahta hun tumhara pehla project issi research ka ho."

"Sure sir. Kaunsi markets explore karni hongi?" Naina instantly agreed.

"Start with the elite ones. Shahpur Jat, Mehrouli, Hauz Khas, Saket... yahan jao pehle. Check the designer stores and big retailers. Uske baad regular markets jaana. Malls bhi dekhenge lekin baad mein. Pehle stand alone places pe focus karo. So, can we start tomorrow?" Nanu looked at her expectantly.

"No issue, sir. Markets usually 11 baje tak open hote hain. Shall I leave around 10:30?" She asked.

Nanu gave her an appreciative smile, "Thoda late niklo, jisse market mein customers ka crowd bhi ho... unke choices pe bhi dhyan dena. Aur haan, pretend to be a customer yourself... agar direct sawaal puche toh koi baat tak nahi karega. Aisa karna, Raju ko leke jaana. Tum nayi ho Delhi mein, pata nahi hoga inn sab areas ke baare mein."

"Main google maps se check kar lungi, sir."  Naina assured him.

Nanu shook his head, "This is official requirement, tumhe apni car leke jaane ki zarurat nahi hai. Raju ke saath hi jaana. Haan, apne google se yeh pata laga lo ki konsa area pehle cover karogi. Ek din mein ek hi jagah jaana, and go on alternate days. Jisse next day wahan ki report bana sako."

At home, Naina studied about the places Mr Maheshwari had mentioned. She decided to begin with Shahpur Jat. It was closest to the office. Amidst the ruins of Siri Fort, a small village had become home to some extremely popular and exclusive boutiques over the years. Narrow, non air conditioned lanes did not deter the chic crowd of Delhi's high society to visit this market place for their traditional formals. She decided to leave after 12, and spend a few hours in the market.

Next morning, as she started to dress up for office, it occured to her that probably her clothes needs to fit the environment too, if she had to go as a customer. Pulling out an elegant outfit from her cupboard she packed it, to change into it when she left for the market.

Sameer had a morning meeting with some clients, at their office. He left almost immediately after arriving, having collected the legal documents that needed to be signed. He had called up Naina on the intercom, but she probably wasn't in the room, he deduced when the phone went unanswered. With a sigh, he left, hoping to be back as soon as possible.

Naina discussed the agenda of the day with nanu, in his room. He gave her a few tips about the general trend of Delhi's shopping culture, normal behaviour of sales people, and what they expected from niche clients.

"Aur haan, agar kuch khareedna bhi pade toh hesitate mat karna. Office ke account se adjust ho jayega... marketing expenditure ke budget mein. You have a free hand." He briefed her.

Armed with the knowledge, dressed in her casual pant suit, Naina left the office before Sameer arrived.

"Nanu, aise kaise... I mean, she's new here... aap kisi ke saath bhej dete." On his arrival, when Sameer came to know about Naina's absence, and the reason for it, he couldn't help but fret.

Nanu adjusted his spectacles as he looked up from the laptop, "Sameer, uska kaam hai yeh. Jab usse koi problem nahi hai toh tu itna pareshan kyon ho raha hai? She's not a kid jo market mein kho jayegi. Arre woh toh mere kehne pe Raju ko leke gayi hai warna akele hi ready thi, google Maps ke saath."

"She's too self sufficient, yehi problem hai." Muttering under his breath, Sameer tried to keep a normal face in front of nanu, "Nahi, main kyon pareshan hounga. Woh aapne achanak... bas thoda concerned tha... kal hi aayi hai department mein aur aaj bahar... I mean, pehle exact requirements toh samajh leti... kahin uska effort waste na chala jaaye isliye keh raha tha."

Nanu gave him a deep look, "Effort koi bhi ho, sachhe dil se aur mehnat se karoge toh waste nahi jayega."

Sameer nodded absently, looking at the edge of the table.

Nanu placed his crossed arms on the table, "Waise tujhe itni chinta hai toh saath chala jaya kar."

"Main?" His eyes shot up, brightening at the prospect... but next moment, he shrugged, finding the probing gaze of nanu fixed on him, "Main jaake kya karunga? Womenswear hai, she can handle it."

"Arre yaar tujhe bhi experience ho jayega. Ab kal ko shaadi hogi toh womenswear ki shopping nahi karega apni biwi ke liye?" Nanu said casually.

He bit his lip to control the shy smile, "Abhi shaadi mein time hai."

Nanu let out a hearty laugh, "Waah barkhurdaar. Teri progress se khushi hui."

"P... progress? Kaisi progress?" Sameer quickly replayed his own words in his mind, to be sure that he hadn't blurted anything about his feelings.

"Pehle shaadi ke naam se bhagta tha, gussa karta tha, muh banata tha ki kyon zaruri hai shaadi karna. Lekin aaj... shaadi mein time hai... matlab shaadi ke liye haan ho gayi teri... waah waah, dil khush kar diya." Nanu beamed.

"Kya nanu." The blush crept up on his face.

"Usne bhi haan kar di kya?" Lowering his voice, nanu asked quickly.

Sameer looked up in alarm, "Ki... kisne?"

"Arre teri special friend ne... jiske khyal se teri aankhen chamak rahi hain... jiska ziqr tere chehre pe rang bikher raha hai... jiske liye teri naa jhat se haan mein badal gayi hai." Nanu flicked up his brows, grinning.

Sameer ran his fingers through his hair, lowering his eyes, "Aap pata nahi kya kya soch rahe ho. Aisa kuch nahi hai. Main toh bas... aap sab log kehte rehte ho isliye maine bhi bol diya. Koi special friend nahi hai."

"Nahi hai toh bana le. Dil ki baat kahega nahi toh kaise pata chalegi usse...

"Na... nanu!" Sameer widened his eyes.

"Mera matlab jo bhi hai tere mann main, usse ab tak tune kuch kaha toh hoga nahi... warna aise khoya khoya nahi khila khila rehta. Waise chahe toh kuch dinon ki chutti le le... mil le jaake... apna charm dikha usse, impress kar. Aakhir mera naati hai tu, dil ki baat zubaan pe laane ke liye mahaul banaa." Nanu urged.

Sameer stood up before the discussion made him actually blurt out what he was trying hard not to show, "Aaj pata nahi aapko kya ho gaya hai. Rohan chala gaya toh uski kami poori karne ko aap hi double dose mein aisi baatein karne lage."

Nanu laughed again, "Yaar, Rohan hota toh hum dono mil ke tere dil ki baat uss tak khud hi pohocha dete. Bas phir, chat mangni pat byah."

"Nanu, mujhe bohot kaam hai... aur aapko bhi. Office mein hain toh office pe dhyan dein?" Sameer turned to leave, his cheeks flushed.

"Sahi keh raha hai tu. Kaam toh bohot hai karne ko." Nanu chuckled, straightening in his chair.

"Arre haan Sameer," He called out as Sameer opened the door, "Ek baar phone karke pata kar lena uska haal chaal."

Sameer turned, pursing his lips.

"Ghoor kyon raha hai, office ki baat kar raha hun... Naina ki. Puch lena usse koi problem toh nahi ho rahi manage karne mein." Nanu raised his brows innocently, till Sameer went out and closed the door behind him, then smiled fondly, "Pagal."

In his room, Sameer paced nervously, "Nanu aise kyon keh rahe the? Kya main itna transparent ho raha hun? Iska matlab Naina ko bhi dikh raha hai?"

He gulped. Naina wasn't ready yet. If he tried to show his feelings, it could have a reverse effect. He recalled how she never moved beyond a handshake even with her friends while others were quite casual with each other... patting, smacking, hugging... they were relatively comfortable, like all young people of present day. But Naina had walls around her, which even her friends couldn't scale. For him, he wasn't sure how much she considered him a friend even though she had accepted the proposal readily when he had asked.

With a sigh, he dialled her number. It didn't get through, the message of being out of coverage area repeating in his ears in both hindi and english. When he couldn't reach her even after an hour, in spite of several attempts, he called up Raju, the driver.

"Jee sir, ma'm toh market mein chali gayi thi. Main parking mein hi hun." Raju answered.

"Kuch kaha unhone kab tak ayengi? Ya phone kiya?" Sameer was anxious.

"Aisa toh kuch bola nahi, sir. Na mera number liya. Mere paas bhi unka number nahi hai." Raju informed.

Dejected, Sameer ended the call. By four in the evening, he was worried sick. The phone was now switched off. He sent messages on WhatsApp and insta. But her last opened showed morning time.

At 5:30 in the evening, he called Raju again, but his phone didn't connect either. Sameer was frantic... it wasn't like her to be irresponsible. If she didn't leave from the market on time, she'd get late to pick up Ayush. And he had seen how upset he got if Naina was late.

"Nanu, aap aaj papa ke saath chale jaoge? Mujhe actually kisi kaam se abhi nikalna hai." He asked nanu on intercom.

It was still five minutes to six when Sameer left the office premises. He cursed himself for not reacting earlier.

"Pehle hi Shahpur Jat ke liye nikal jaana chahiye tha mujhe. Ab wahan gaya toh Ayush ke liye late ho jaunga. Naina office khatam hone ke time tak nahi pohonchi aisa kyon hua? Please God! Let her be fine." He sweated in the air conditioned car.

In another stroke of bad luck, there was a huge jam on the main road. He came to know from the traffic policemen that an accident involving two construction material laden trucks had blocked the road, leaving a very small passage for the moving  traffic. Sameer was frustrated at the snail's pace but there was no option of turning back and taking an alternative route. He was late by twenty minutes when he reached Ayush's day care.

"Sorry sir, lekin bachhon ko sirf registered guardian ke saath bhej sakte hain. Aapka naam hamare record mein nahi hai." The guard stopped him at the gate.

"Okay fine. Ayush se baat toh kar sakta hun? Leke nahi jaunga, yahin aapke reception pe le aao usse. Ayush jaanta hai mujhe." Sameer said in an authoritative voice, not leaving any scope for further argument.

"Naina ke sir, aaj aap Naina ko kyon nahi leke aaye?" Ayush screamed from the other end of the room the moment he saw Sameer.

Sameer leaned to hold him as he came running, and jumped into his arms.

"Sorry dost, aaj Naina ko nahi laa paaya." Smiling sadly, he patted Ayush's cheek.

"Dekho sab chale gaye. Maine bola tha Naina ko mujhe last nahi jaana phir bhi woh nahi aayi. Aaj uske paas car hai na toh late kyon ho gayi? Aapne office mein itna saara kaam karne bola kya?" Ayush pouted.

Sameer shook his head, "Maine koi kaam nahi diya. Naina bahar gayi hai. Abhi tak wapas nahi aayi."

"Woh bhi God ke paas gayi hai kya?" Ayush asked plainly.

"Ayush." Sameer felt the ground beneath his feet shake as his voice wavered, "Naina... Naina aa jayegi abhi. Zarur ayegi."

"Mr Sameer Maheshwari?" The caretaker of the facility came out to the reception.

Sameer nodded, his throat constricted with the fear that had knocked the lights out of him.

"Naina ka call aaya tha. Woh traffic mein phans gayi hai. Jab maine bataya aap Ayush se milne aaye ho toh usne kaha aap Ayush ko le jaa sakte ho. Aap please yahan register pe sign kar do tab tak main iska bag mangwa deti hun." The lady had no idea how her words had brought him back to life again.

His phone pinged the moment Sameer put Ayush down. It was a message from Naina.

'Extremely sorry, sir. My phone had stopped working. Got it repaired now. On my way back. Smita mam ne bataya aap Ayush ko ghar le jaane ke liye aaye hain. Sir, I would be grateful if you can do so. Ayush ko pata hai spare keys kahan hain. Mujhe abhi half an hour aur lagega. There's mad traffic here.'

Had he not been amongst a room full of people, Sameer would have kissed the phone. He was awashed with relief... his Naina was fine.

Somehow he managed a tight control on himself till they reached home. Ayush pointed to the decorative light over the door. A spare key was kept over its wooden border. Once they were inside the house, Sameer fell on his knees, taking Ayush in a tight embrace.

"I promise you, Ayush, Naina tumhare paas hamesha rahegi. Usse hum kahin nahi jaane denge... kabhi bhi nahi." His voice choked.

Ayush stayed quiet for sometime, then pushed at his shoulders. Getting a hold on himself, Sameer moved back.

"Aap cry kar rahe ho?" Ayush was surprised to see his misty eyes.

Sameer smiled, wiping his tears with the back of his hand, "Nahi, khush ho raha hun, kyonki ab hum friends hain."

"Hum toh pehle hi friends ban gaye the... uss din jab apne flowers diye the. Bhool gaye?" Ayush placed his hands on the waist, glaring at him.

Sameer chuckled, pinching his cheek. He couldn't tell his little friend that today he finally felt Naina had accepted him as a friend... the way she had asked him to bring Ayush home, trusting him with her most precious thing... and let him know the secret place of her house keys, let him be alone here with Ayush, knowing that she would take some time to to reach. Her faith in him filled him with inexplicable warmth.

"Uh, Naina ke sir, main fresh hoke aayun?" Ayush shuffled his feet, speaking urgently.

Sameer dipped his head to the side. As Ayush dashed to his room, his bag slung on the shoulder, he stood up and looked around. The room was spic and span. Not one thing out of place. His eyes fell on the vase... white lilies still looked fresh and blooming. He turned towards the two doors that led to bedrooms. He had been to Ayush's room. The other one belonged to Naina. Unknowingly, his feet took him to the open door. Neatly made up bed with two side tables, a dresser with a few baskets which contained some bottles and jars of lotions and perfumes, a built in wardrobe... and a well worn easy chair, placed next to the glass door. This was the world Naina called her own. He smiled, visualising her perched up on the chair, lost in thoughts... because he didn't know what she did in her free time. Hesitantly, he stepped in, walking to the dresser. Instantly, the same perfume hit him. It wasn't the aroma of only a brand... it was her fragrance, that enveloped him now like it did when she was with him in the car.

"Naina ke sir, aap chale gaye kya?" Ayush hollered from his room, making Sameer come out of the intoxicated state.

"Main yahin hun, Ayush." He went back to the living room.

Next second, Ayush skipped out of his room, after changing into fresh clothes. He scratched his head, coming to Sameer, "Mujhe bhook lagi hai. Aap mere liye kya banaoge?"

Sameer scrunched his nose, "Mujhe kuch banana aata hi nahi."

Ayush widened his eyes, "Itne big hoke bhi nahi aata?"

Seeing Sameer's helpless expression, he clasped his mouth with both hands for a few seconds, then said, "Mere mumma papa aur Naina ko sab kuch aata hai. Naina ne kaha jab main aur big ho jaunga toh woh mujhe bhi sikha degi."

"Hamare ghar mein cook hai, wohi khana banata hai." Sameer stated.

Ayush thought for a moment, "Hamare ghar mein bhi Shankar kaka the, kabhi kabhi woh banate kabhi kabhi mumma ya papa ya Naina." He then frowned, "Apko aapki mumma ne sikhaya nahi?"

Sameer shook his head.

"Aapki Naina ne bhi nahi?" He asked in the same tone.

Sameer's heart did a somersault at 'apki Naina'. Pursing his lips, he shook his head again, speaking almost in a whisper, "Mere paas Naina nahi hai."

Ayush rounded his mouth in realization, "Oh. Koi baat nahi. Meri Naina aapko sikha degi... main bolunga usse."

"Thank you." Sameer beamed.

Ayush sighed, "Lekin abhi kya karun? Mujhe bhook lagi hai."

"Kitchen mein dekhen kuch hai toh?" Sameer suggested.

"Haan." Ayush brightened at the idea and ran to the kitchen, Sameer at his heels.

"Aap mujhe uthao. Woh wale shelf mein dekhna hai." Ayush lifted his arms, pointing at a cabinet with his chin.

Taking him in his arms, Sameer had just opened the cabinet to reveal two jars of cookies when the sound of key turning in the door alerted both of them. They rushed out, to see the door opening... and Naina hurried in.

"Ayush." She threw her bag on the console and scampered to them.

Sameer watched with halted breath as she stopped just inches away from him, raised her hands to take Ayush from his arms, without realising how close she was to him. The bare shoulder, left open in her wide neck top, brushed lightly against his chest, taking his heartbeat through the roof.

"Oh Ayush, I'm so so sorry. Please mujhe maaf kar de." She crushed her little brother in her arms, still standing so close that he could just lift up his arm and bring her against himself. As Ayush moved to smile at her, her elbow moved, coming to rest on his abdomen. He shoved his hands in pocket, to stop them from holding her.

Ayush held her face within his palms, "Naina, tum sorry mat bolo. Main tumhare sir ke saath aa gaya." He leaned to her ears, whispering, "Aur maine aake susu bhi kar liya tha."

She kissed his cheek hard, "I love you, Ayush. Maine bohot miss kiya apne baby ko."

"Maine bhi. Pata hai, tumhare sir ko kuch banana bhi nahi aata. Maine abhi tak kuch nahi khaya." Ayush sulked, rubbing his belly.

That is when Naina looked at Sameer. Her eyes locked with him, her arm almost touching his chest, her mouth slightly open, their faces just a few inches apart. Sameer had no idea whether he was dreaming, or he had died and gone to heaven.

"Nainaaa." Ayush placed a hand on her cheek and turned her face towards himself, breaking the spell.

Sameer immediately took a step back, knowing she would get uncomfortable the moment she realised their position.

"Main... main tere liye abhi pancake banati hun." She put him down and turned to the kitchen.

After washing her hands, she opened the fridge and took out the bowl of batter she had prepared in the morning. As she turned to get the pan, her head banged on the open cabinet door.

"Ah." She pressed her forehead.

"Oh no! I'm sorry Naina, yeh maine khula chod diya galti se." Sameer sprinted to the kitchen.

Her hand went up to stall him, out of habit, as he came closer.

"Tumhe chot toh nahi lagi?" He stopped, but still concerned.

Naina pulled back her hand, "So... sorry sir. I'm fine. Woh main... mujhe... I'm not used to..."

Sameer held up both hands, "It's okay, Naina. Relax. I know. Tum... tum theek ho na? That's all I'm worried about."

She gulped, and nodded.

With a deep exhale, he waved at the stove. Naina placed the pan, and quickly poured the batter, while he stood a few feet away, watching her.

Dressed in a floral pants and a crop top of the same print, she looked like a model. Her hair were tied in a pony, with some errant strands falling on her face and neck. Unlike the gloss or shades of brown that she wore in office, her lips were painted with pink today, making his pulse go erratic. He was still not over her touch on his chest, his skin burning from the effect... and her appearance was brewing up another storm in him. As she lifted her arm to take the bottle of chocolate sauce, her top hitched up slightly, and his breath left his lungs. As if the glimpse of her rounded shoulders and slender neck wasn't torturing him enough, a peek of her smooth waist made it difficult for him to stand away from her. He fisted his hands in pocket, trying to get the control back. Seeing her dressed up like this had made his senses go haywire for some time, but he reminded himself that he needed to know the events of the day.

"Aap... aap lenge pancakes?" She glanced at him over her shoulder, after making two for Ayush... bringing him out of his reverie.

"Nahi. Par coffee lunga. Banaogi?" He asked softly.

She gave a quick smile, and opened the drawer to take two mugs.

Few minutes later, while Ayush had his pancakes with chocolate sauce, Naina and Sameer sipped their coffee.

The conversation in next update, on Wednesday.