Today's update is dedicated to karenneethi
Kya bomb phoda hai boss 👏🏻👏🏻 RDX ADX saath saath 🙈
Hats off ❤ Love you for making our love reach Ashdeep

Also, the picture above is for you, Karen 😍

"Aap mere dost banoge, Ayush?" Blinking away the tears that blurred his eyes, Sameer stood up to hide them, and smiled at the little boy who didn't understand the gravity of what he just said.

"Main aapka dost kaise ban sakta hun... aap itne big ho." Ayush raised his brows, craning his neck backwards to look at Sameer.

Sameer held his hand, "Agar hum same ho jaayein toh ban sakte ho?"

Ayush nodded.

Sameer scooped him up, bringing his face at his own eye level, "Ab aap aur main same hain... toh friends?"

Ayush giggled, "Theek hai. Lekin phir aapko mere bday pe aana padega. Kyonki yahan pe abhi mere paas bas two two friends hain... aap three ho jaoge. Saare log clap karke Happy Birthday bolenge toh hi achha wala bday hoga na!"

"Aapka birthday best hoga. Promise... nahi... pakka promise." Sameer patted his cheek, pleased with the shine in his caramel brown eyes... they were so much like Naina.

Ayush clapped, "Wow, phir toh bohot saare log honge. Naina ke saare friends bhi ayenge aur aap bhi."

"Naina ke bhi friends hain yahan?" Sameer hoped none of them was a guy.

"Yahan nahi. Office wale... Vedika, Dhruv, Sanya aur ek aur hai... umm..." Ayush tapped his temple, trying to recall.

"Farhan."

"Haan wohi. Aap unke saath aa jaana. Unko hamara house pata hai." Ayush informed.

Naina came out of the shop to see Sameer holding Ayush, and both of them laughing.

"Oh God! Yeh ladka mujhe job se nikalwayega." She quickly walked over to them.

"Sameer sir, sorry, yeh aapko pareshan kar raha hai. Ayush, neeche utar." She tugged at her brother's arm.

Her voice made Sameer turn to her. As he looked into the hazel eyes, he noticed they lacked the sparkle that Ayush had, or the one she had in her dp. Naina's eyes now looked deep, mysterious... and empty. He swallowed... however much he wanted, he couldn't comfort her, for what he had learnt from Ayush. She was suffering... and she was suffering alone, as her brother was too small to understand the tragic turn of events, let alone share the pain with his sister. He wanted to know how it happened, he wanted to ask her how long back was it... but all he could do was stare at the grief in her eyes in silence.

A voice from behind Naina made him snap out of the contemplation, "Madam ji, lijiye."

Naina narrowed her eyes at the florist who stood with a bunch of white lilies, "Kisne maange hain? Humein nahi chahiye."

The man pointed at Sameer, "Inhone khareede hain aapke liye."

Naina's eyes turned round as she looked back at Sameer.

"No no Miss Naina... yeh toh maine Ayush ke liye gift liya hai." Sameer shook his head vehemently.

The florist gave her an apologetic look, "Sorry madam, zyadatar log... maaf kar dijiye. Lo beta, aapke uncle ka gift aapke liye." He extended the bunch to Ayush.

Sameer's eyes flashed red at him, "Chup nahi reh sakte?"

The confused man looked at one from another, then turned to Sameer, pleading, "Bhaiya ji, aap yeh phool lijiye aur mere 600 rupay de dijiye."

Naina again tugged at Ayush's arm, making Sameer put him down. Still glaring at the hapless florist, Sameer took out his wallet and handed the money to him.

Naina found it strange that Sameer had bought exactly the same flowers that she always preferred. She tapped Ayush, narrowing her eyes at him, and pointed at the bunch.

"Tune bola?" She mouthed, without sound.

Ayush pressed his lips, and lowered his eyes.

After putting his wallet back, Sameer noticed the reproval in Naina's eyes, and the guilty expression on Ayush's face.

He cleared his throat, "Umm, Miss Naina, aapne jo meri help ki hai uske liye ek thank you toh banta hai... kya main aap dono ko icecream ki treat de sakta hun?"

"It's not required, sir. Humne pehle hi deal ki thi no sorry no thank you wali. Toh aap takleef mat kijiye. Ayush ne already aapko kaafi pareshan kar diya hai. Aur yeh flowers... yeh kyon?" Naina was feeling awkward with this sudden familiarity.

Sameer didn't want their comfort level to drop. He placed a hand on Ayush's shoulder, and smiled as the little boy looked up at him, "Ayush aur main dost ban gaye isliye yeh flowers usko leke diye. Usne kaha ghar mein zyadatar yehi flowers dekhe hain toh mujhe laga aap logon ko yehi pasand honge. Aur kuch nahi. And believe me, Ayush ne mujhe bilkul pareshan nahi kiya... in fact, I loved his company. Mujhe bohot achha laga. Rahi baat icecream ki, toh it's okay... hum next time kha lenge. Deal yaad hai mujhe lekin aapko bhi nahi bhoolni chahiye... aap bhi do baar sorry bol chuki hain."

His pleasant voice and the way Ayush warmly gazed at him made Naina ease up. She ruffled her brother's hair as she smiled at him, "Ayush, teri koi deal nahi hai. Tune thanks bola sir ko... flowers ke liye?"

"Thank you, Naina ke sir." Ayush beamed at him.

Sameer loved the way Ayush addressed him, connecting him to Naina.

In the parking, Sameer waited while Naina made Ayush sit in the car and adjusted his seat belt after placing the packet of her purchases and the flowers on back seat. Closing the door, she turned to find Sameer still standing near their car.

"Sir, if you don't mind, can I say something?" She twisted her fingers, eyeing him with uncertainty.

"Anything, Miss Naina. Aap jo chahe bol sakti hain." His heart started to beat wildly at her hesitant question.

Naina lowered her eyes for a moment, then looked up at him, "Aap Ayush ko yeh cake, ice cream wagerah mat dilwaiye. Woh bohot chota hai. Uski expectations phir aapse aisi hi ho jayengi. Bachhon ke liye thode restrictions zaruri hote hain. Aaj shop mein usne jab A wala balloon maanga toh maine isiliye manaa kiya tha... usse aisa nahi lagna chahiye ki woh jaise hi kuch mangega usse mil jayega. Bachhon ko manaa karna unka dil todna nahi hota... bas unko yeh sikhana hota hai ki humein hamesha woh sab nahi haasil ho sakta jo hum chahte hain. Aur yeh lesson jitni jaldi start ho utna achha hota hai. Aap aisa mat sochiye ki main Ayush ke liye strict hun... bas usse ek responsible person banana chahti hun, jo khud ko situation ke hisaab se adapt kar sake. Life hamare liye kaise twist laati hai yeh hum pehle se nahi jaante. Ayush ko aane wali life ke liye ready karna chahti hun main isliye thode rules banati hun."

Such intense words coming from someone so young would have definitely astonished Sameer had he not learned about the tragedy that had struck her and Ayush... not very long ago, it seemed. Situations of her life had made Naina understand lot more than people her age, or even elder to her.

"I understand, Miss Naina. Don't worry. Ayush ko spoil karne ka mera koi iraada nahi hai. In fact, he himself is a very smart child... maine usse offer kiya tha ki kuch khila deta hun par usne khud hi manaa kar diya... aur gift lene se bhi. Generally iss age ke bachhe aise offers ko kabhi na nahi bolte. But Ayush is much matured for his age... aur iska credit aapko jaata hai. Kal ka cake dosti ki shuruaat ke liye tha aur aaj ke flowers iss friendship ko celebrate karne ke liye. Next time se, jab tak aap allow nahi karengi tab tak main kuch nahi khareedunga."

"Next time? Kuch aur kaam bhi hai kya?" Naina was puzzled.

Sameer flashed a wide smile, "Ab hum friends hain... main aur Ayush... toh kabhi bhi mil sakte hain. With your permission, of course."

Naina bit the corner of her lip, forming words in her mind to tell him that this friendship wasn't very comfortable for her. But before she could speak up, Sameer leaned on the window at Ayush's side.

"Bye Ayush. Next time milenge toh aapke birthday ki planning karenge." He patted the chubby cheek of the little boy.

"Okay. Bye." Ayush dipped his head to the side, grinning.

"Sir, actually main..." Naina started as Sameer straightened.

"Nainaaaa, please chalo na. Mujhe..." Ayush's loud voice interrupted her, and she glanced at him.

Ayush leaned a little inside the car, to hide himself from Sameer's view, and raised the little finger of his fisted hand, giving a desperate look. Naina nodded and said a quick bye to Sameer, rushing to her side of the  car. Within minutes, she was driving out of the complex while Sameer stood leaning against his car, watching till the last glimpse.

The truth that he had learnt about her parents made his heart go out to both Ayush and Naina... they were too young to be left all alone in the world. He was sure she would be having relatives and friends back in Agra but here, she only interacted with her group of friends in office. There didn't seem any financial problem, as he could judge by her car and clothes. Also, she had decided to take a house on rent in one of the most expensive residential areas of Delhi was an indication that money wasn't a concern for her. He was aware about the rental costs here... and knowing Naina's salary, he knew a major chunk must be going for the same. He recalled nanu telling him that she was ready to take up this job at a lower salary than her previous one... this confirmed that Naina belonged to an affluent family. But she had no airs or haughtiness that he had seen so often in the children of his acquaintances in their circle. She had very normally suggested this market for their purchases.

With a deep sigh, his gaze turned to the small market area. In spite of it being so close to their house, Sameer had never come here. The few shops sold essential items, along with some kiosks selling a few eatables. Neither he, nor his siblings had to go to the market to buy essentials. Even in school, they just handed the list to servants. Whenever they went out as a family, or with friends, it was to high end restaurants, hotels to eat or big malls for shopping. For his first outing with Naina, he had not only gone to a simple stationary shop, but also bought flowers from a roadside florist.

And he loved the experience.

With a shy smile, he ran a hand through his hair, "Tumhare saath sab kuch achha lagta hai, Naina. Tum bhi chalke dekho na mere saath... I promise, tumhari aankhon se yeh dard mita dunga... pakka promise."

Later, at home, he stood on the third floor of his house which was a terrace, wishing that Naina's house was visible from here.

"Jab yahin ghar le rahi thi toh thoda aur paas aa jaati." He rubbed the back of his neck, as if she was listening to him, "Koi baat nahi. Tum kahin bhi raho, aakhir ek din aana issi ghar mein hai."

He had to stop himself with great difficulty from making a call that night.

"Aise roz call karne se kahin Naina ko bura na lag jaaye. Aaj nahin karni chahiye." He convinced himself, looking at her dp, till it finally occurred to him, "Main bhi kitna idiot hun. Naina ki ek bhi picture click nahi ki. Aaj toh achha mauka tha jab woh market mein aayi thi. Usko dekhne mein itna kho jaata hun ki kuch yaad hi nahi rehta."

He made up his mind to take some of her pictures in the coming days, candidly.

Guys, I'm so sorry lekin aaj likha nahi jaa raha. I'll start the next day in next update. After seeing Ashi in Randeep's story and her repost, I'm ded... literally 🤪

Glad I'd written most of this chapter yesterday or else I would have skipped today's update. Mera bichara dil uchal ke bahar aa gaya hai 😍

Next update on Wednesday