The title is a verse from the song 'Mere naam tu' from movie 'Zero'

When the bell rang, Ayush quickly opened the door to find Bhalla aunty's servant.

"Ayush baba, Naina didi kahan hain? Aunty ne bheja hai humein, help karne ko." Roshni peered inside.

Ayush pointed towards the kitchen. Both helpers walked to the kitchen door.

"Didi, aunty ne kaha hai abhi bachche aane wale hain toh hum dono aapki madad karein. Aap bata do kya karna hai. Aunty ne bola hum wapas neeche gaye toh woh humein hi dantengi." Kamal narrated the instructions they had been given.

At first, Sameer wasn't happy with the intrusion. But when he thought about it, he felt it was better that Naina would have someone to talk to, besides him. He had seen her expression... she was too stunned, at herself. He knew she needed time to understand that her heart was doing the talking too. For now, it was enough for him that she reached out to him... without thinking.

Naina was relieved too. Having more helping hands meant Sameer  wouldn't insist on doing things. She could maintain her distance. He was here as a guest for Ayush. She chided herself for accepting his offer of help when he came in the morning. She should have refused then and there. Nothing could be done now.

Once she explained the placement of dishes, Roshni and Kamal quickly arranged everything on the table outside.

"Ayush, aadhe ghante mein tere friends aa jayenge. Chal jaldi se naha ke ready ho ja." Without looking at Sameer, Naina directed her brother.

After Ayush vanished into his room, Naina dialled a number.

"Bhaiya, aur kitni der? Party khatam hone ke baad bhejenge kya... haan toh chaar baje kaha tha abhi sadhe chaar ho gaye hain... mujhe dus minute mein ghar pe chahiye, mujhe nahi pata." It was the first time Sameer had heard her talking harshly to someone.

"Kya laana hai, Naina? Main le aata hun." He offered in a soft voice.

She shook her head, going to the kitchen, "He's sending it right away."

Within ten minutes, a person was at their door with inflated banner of 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY', in multicolored foil balloons. It was placed in the centre of wall, under the balloons. Naina stepped back and eyed the room. It was bursting with colour... streamers, balloons, flowers, food items... everything enveloped the place with rainbow effect, exactly the way Ayush wanted.

"Nainaaa. Idhar aao please." Ayush screamed from his room.

"Kya hua?" She pushed the door open, seeing him hiding behind it.

He stood without a shirt holding the new one in hand, "Iska button open karo. Tight hai, mujhse nahi ho raha."

With a smile, she kneeled on the floor and unbuttoned the new shirt. After helping him get dressed, she brushed his hair.

"Kaisa lag raha hun?" After a satisfied look at himself in the mirror, Ayush turned towards her, his hands on waist.

She gathered him in her arms, rubbing her nose with his, "Duniya ka sabse handsome boy. Mere Ayush se better koi lag hi nahi sakta."

He grinned proudly, satisfied with the praise.

When they went out, Ayush was ecstatic to see the birthday banner and the spread on the table, "Aur bhi balloons laga diye. Isme A bhi hai... Ayush ka. Naina, yeh mere room mein laga do na."

She chuckled, "Buddhu, yeh Happy Birthday likha hai. Yahan party hai toh yahin lagayenge na."

Sameer tapped him from behind. Ayush turned to see him, and beamed, "Dekho mera new dress. Jeans bhi new hai aur shirt dekho... kitna achha hai na! Aur maine belt bhi liya."

Sameer leaned and held his shoulders, "Tum toh bilkul hero lag rahe ho. Itni smart shirt mere paas bhi nahi hai. Issi baat pe tumhare liye kuch hai."

"Kya hai? Mera cake?" Ayush asked with enthusiasm.

Sameer went near the door and brought the gift that had been delivered when the birthday boy was getting dressed for the party.

"Yayyy, ek aur Happy birthday wale." Ayush clapped to see the foam balloons.

Sameer smiled, "Yeh tumhara naam hai... A Y U S H... Ayush. Isse apne room mein laga sakte ho. Happy birthday ke baad bhi laga rahega."

The little boy widened his eyes, "Full naam hai? Wow, abhi laga lun?"

"Chalo main help karta hun." Sameer held his hand and walked to his room, without looking at Naina for approval. He had open permission now.

A small smile lurked on Naina's face. Though it was the third gift Sameer had given to Ayush, he had been mindful not to get anything overly expensive or something that shouldn't be given to a small child. Still, he had managed to bring such things that made Ayush happiest.

"Didi, cake kahan rakhenge?" Kamal's voice brought her attention to the present scenario.

"Cake ke liye yahan beech mein chota table lag dete hain, jise cake cutting ke baad hata denge. Ruko, main apne room se laati hun." Naina rushed to her room.

The open diary didn't ring any alarm bells as she often left it there. Ayush couldn't read and there was no one else who came to her room. She closed it and placed it under her pillow, cleared the table of few things that were on it, and walked out with it.

"Laiye didi, main rakh deta hun." Kamal took it from her when she stepped out.

Roshni pointed at the clock after the table was placed, "Aap taiyar ho jao, didi. Paanch bajne wale hain."

Naina glanced at the clock, "Oh haan. Tum log baitho, abhi koi kaam nahi hai. Main bas do minute mein ready hoti hun."

She saw Ayush and Sameer as she turned. Ayush looked up at Sameer, "Aapko ready nahi hona? Yeh toh office ka dress hai na."

Narrowing his eyes, Sameer pondered for a while... he did want to change, but he didn't want to go home.

Naina realised that he had been here since morning and definitely needed to freshen up. She hesitantly looked at him, "S... umm... aap guest room use kar sakte hain. Ayush, jaa, wahan ka washroom dikha de."

Sameer nodded, glad that she finally did speak to him. After she had closed the door to her room, Sameer asked Ayush to wait for a minute and dashed downstairs. He was back with a bag in no time, glad that he had started keeping a change of clothes in the car too... after Naina smeared his white tshirt with chocolate, he thought with a smile.

"Sab kuch tumhari wajah se hi hone laga hai meri life mein, Naina." He whispered, entering the guest room after Ayush.

The room was small but neat and well furnished. Ayush pointed at the washroom, "Wahan pe towel bhi hai. Aap acche se apne baal sukha lena nahi toh aapko bhi Naina se daant padegi. Okay?"

And Sameer couldn't stop thinking about how she would lovingly scold him for letting his wet hair drip on his clothes... and then, wipe them with a towel herself.

"Oh Naina, kab ayega woh din." He sighed wistfully, rubbing his hair after a shower.

Dressed in blue jeans and a white full sleeve t-shirt, when he stepped out, his mouth fell open. Once again, Naina was wearing similar outfit as him. Her blue jeans and white t-shirt seemed to be an exact replica of his clothes.

"Arre, aapne phir se Naina ke jaise same kapde pehne." Ayush noticed instantly, but said it with a grin this time.

Naina turned, and her eyes went wide. They were indeed twinning.

"Aapke neck pe kya hai? Aapne drawing ki hai kya? Sketch pen se?" Ayush peered at Sameer, trying to see a marking that he had noticed for the first time since he was seeing Sameer without a collared shirt.

"Tattoo hai." Sameer smiled.

"Haww. Aapko kisi ne gussa nahi kiya? Mujhe ek baar chocolate mein spiderman ka tattoo mila tha, woh lagaya toh Naina ne kitna gussa kiya tha. Jaldi se wash karwa diya." Ayush narrated with rounded eyes.

Sameer pursed his lips, "Yeh permanent hai. Wash nahi hoga."

Naina shook Ayush's arm, "Saare tattoo same nahi hote. Main change karne jaa rahi hun tere friends aayein toh Roshni didi ko bolna juice dene ko."

Ayush pouted, "Abhi toh change kiya hai, phir se kyon? Ruko, main terrace se dekhta hun koi aa raha hai kya. Naina ke sir, aap chalo na mere saath." He dragged Sameer to the terrace through his room.

The door bell rang before Naina could go ahead with her plan of changing.

Bhalla aunty and uncle were at the door.

"Arre aunty aap stairs se kaise? Aapko problem hui hogi na." Naina's attention shifted to her knee pain, forgetting about her outfit.

Bhalla aunty patted her cheek, "Arre puttar, yeh naya treatment jo ek mahine se le rahi hun, bada effective hai. Dekh, bilkul dard nahi ho raha, saari seedhiyaan chadne ke baad bhi. Mere chotu ke birthday pe sab aate aur main hi nahi aati toh kaisa lagta?"

"Pakka na? Aapko rest karna hai toh aap andar mere room mein kar sakte ho." Naina offered, worriedly glancing at her legs.

Bhalla uncle wound an arm around his wife's shoulders, "Aap chinta na karo, beta ji. Meri Manjot buddhi thodi hai. Woh toh kuch din zara speed kam ho gayi thi thodi takleef se. Lekin ab sab badhiya hai. Aur agar zarurat padi toh main hun na... utha ke le jaunga apni Manjot ko neeche. Mujhe bhi buddha mat samajhna."

Bhalla aunty playfully swatted his arm as Naina chuckled, "Aap bhi na, bachhon ke saamne kaisi baat karte ho. Aur main khud jaa sakti hun, mere pair ab ekdum sahi hain."

Naina gave her a grateful look once they were seated inside, "Thank you aunty. Aapne Roshni aur Kamal ko bheja. Dono se kaafi help ho gayi mujhe."

"Ek toh teri yeh thank you ki aadat badi kharab hai. Pagal ladki. Subah se bula leti toh aaram rehta na. Chal kam se kam tera woh dost toh saath tha. Bada achha ladka hai. Khair, yeh sab chod, hamara chotu kahan hai, usse bula."

Naina called out to Ayush.

"Ek baar phir se Happy wala birthday, puttar. Yeh le. Tere liye aur halwa banaya hai. Khana zarur. Prashad hota hai halwa. Theek hai?" Bhalla aunty handed him a tiffin when he came in.

"Thank you, aunty. Main saara finish kar dunga." Ayush grinned, holding the box.

Bhalla uncle looked at Naina, "Dekho beta, humein pata hai hamara aap dono se koi rishta toh nahi hai... lekin zaruri nahi saare rishte bas wohi hon jo paida hone se bante hain. Kuch rishte rabb ne aise logon ke saath bhi banaye hote hain jo achanak hamari zindagi mein aa jaate hain... aur phir, hamesha ke liye humse judd jaate hain... kabhi kabhi khoon ke rishte se zyada gehre ho jaate hain aise rishte. Beta, Harmeet aur Simi ke jaane ke baad jab aap aayi toh aisa laga ki hamare bachne humein phir se mil gaye. Aur yeh chotu toh Hardeep ki hi yaad dilata hai hamesha. Isliye hum iske liye rabb ka ashirwaad leke aaye hain. Aap keemat pe mat jaana. Yeh sirf apne bachche ke liye hamara pyar hai."

Naina watched as Bhalla aunty brought out a long blue box. She opened it to reveal a gold chain, with a pendant which had something written in Punjabi language.

Bhalla aunty fingered the pendant, "Iska matlab hai 'Ek Onkar'... yaani rabb ek hai. Puttar, tum dono pe rabb ki meher bani rahe hum bas yehi chahte hain. Isse sona samajh ke nahi, hamara pyar samajh ke lele. Manaa karegi toh hamara dil toot jayega."

"Aap khud pehna dijiye na Ayush ko." Naina took the box of halwa from his hand, smiling at them.

Both their faces broke into relieved, emotional wide smile. Bhalla uncle removed the chain from the box and handed to his wife, who tied it carefully around Ayush's neck.

She kissed his forehead after securing the chain, "Mere bachche ko woh sab kuch mile jo usse chahiye. Kabhi aansu na aayein teri aankhon mein."

Ayush waved his head, "Main kabhi cry karta hi nahi. Aur ab toh big ho gaya na, ab toh bilkul nahi karunga. Main strong hun na, Naina ke jaise."

The room filled with laughter, washing away the heaviness. Bhalla uncle patted his back, "Haan yaar, strong toh bohot hai tu. Itna daudata hai mujhe par thakta nahi... na meri pakad mein aata hai."

Loud noises from outside announced arrival of other children. Ayush was thrilled to receive gifts and wishes from his friends. After they were served juice, Naina got busy in making children play the games she had planned. Bhalla aunty and uncle watched as she made the children enjoy every moment of the party... laughing, playing, frolicking and pampering at the same time. Sameer helped wherever he could. The winners of games were delighted to receive gifts. Sameer was amazed to see that Ayush allowed others to win even when he had better chances, letting the prize go to his friends, and cheered loudly when they did win.

"No more games. Ab cake cutting ka time hai. Phir aap sabko park bhi jaana hai na." Naina firmly refused their demand of more games when she announced that the prize given was the last one.

There was a loud gasp when the cake was brought to the room.

Along with the rainbow colours, it had a rainbow on top, and  a sprinkling of stars.

"Wow, stars bhi hain mere cake pe. Aisa cake maine pehle kabhi nahi dekha." Ayush skipped around it, the euphoria rubbing onto other children as they started jumping too.

Sameer gently moved them a little away from the cake, lest someone caused an accident.

"Aap Ayush ke uncle ho?" One cherubic little boy asked as Sameer held him by shoulders.

Ayush chipped in before anyone could react, "Arre nahi Parth, yeh toh Naina ke..."

"Main Sameer hun. Ayush ka dost. Tumhari tarah." Sameer cut him before Ayush could call him 'Naina ke sir' in front of Bhalla aunty and uncle.

"Itne bade dost?" Parth gave him an uncertain look.

Ayush immediately was defensive, "Haan toh main bhi ab big hun na. Five years ka."

Naina drew their attention to the cake, unaware of the conversation as the noise of kids incessant chatter around her drowned these voices.

Everyone clapped when Ayush cut the cake after blowing the candles on it. Naina sliced a small piece and fed him. Ayush took the same piece from her and made her take a bite from it. Wiping her mouth of the extra frosting, Naina placed a kiss on Ayush's cheek, wishing him again. He then turned to Sameer, and before she could stop him, held out the same piece to him. Without hesitation, Sameer took a bite from it, and kissed the same cheek. Ayush roared with laughter.

"Aapne clean bhi nahi kiya apna mouth aur mujhe kissi de di. Saara cream mujhe laga diya." He lifted his hand to rub over his cheek, but Naina held his wrist.

Sameer was aghast. The speck of frosting on Ayush's cheek was caused by him. How could he forget to clean his mouth smeared with cream.

Before he could react, Naina picked a napkin and handed to Sameer, then took another one and wiped Ayush's cheek and fingers.  She then placed slices in a two plates and asked Ayush to give to Bhalla aunty and uncle too while Roshni handed over plates to other kids.

After feeding her with the spoon in hand, when Ayush held out the plate to her, Bhalla aunty patted his cheek, "Issi se khila de Bhalla saab ko."

"Nahi aunty. Doosri plate lijiye na." Naina insisted.

Bhalla aunty smiled, "Na puttar. Humein ek doosre ka jhoota khane se koi aitraaz thodi hai. Arre pyar badhta hai jhoota khane se. Miyan biwi mein aisa hi hota hai."

Bhalla uncle took a bite from Ayush's hand, from the same spoon, and wiped his moustache, grinning at Naina, "Issi trick se isne saalon se mujhe apni quaid mein rakha hua hai."

"Kya Bhalla saab, kuch bhi kehte ho." Aunty blushed, punching his arm.

Naina fondly gazed at them, reminded of her parents.

Sameer lovingly looked at her, knowing fully well that the cake he had eaten moments back was her 'jhootha'.

Next update... no, you don't have to wait till Monday

Next update tomorrow, since I want the day to end this week itself 😁 it's already gone too far