Pratiksha was having Dal Rice while staring at her strict mom, dad, and elder brother. She wanted to ask them one last time if they'd permit her to fulfill her dream, and hence She gulped down a glass of water and wiped her wet mouth from the napkin. She fluttered her eyelashes while toying with the spoon, and Parvati, her mother asked her a bit curtly - "Kya hua? Chamach ke saath aise khel kyu rahi ho?"

"Kuch nahi aai," Pratiksha replied to her in a low voice.

"Mujhe aap sabse kuch pooch na hai." She uttered, in a soft voice, and all of them hummed while chewing the steam rice with more dal.

"Can I give an audition for singing?" Pratiksha asked them with a hopeful expression, and Everyone looked at her strangely.

"Yeh bhoot firse tumhare dimag pe kaise chadh gaya?" Parvati questioned her with bitterness in her voice.

"Aai, mere dimag se kabhi yeh bhoot utra hi nahi. I love singing, please meri baat sun lijiye." Pratiksha requested them, her eyes flickering hopelessness.

"Ekach gosht kiti vela repeat karnar amhi mi nako bolo na tar bas," Parvati announced her decision in a firm voice, emptying her plate.

(Ek hi baat kitni baar repeat kare hum? Maine mana kiya na bas fir)

"But aai mala gana khup avadta mala singer banaycha ahr." Pratiksha tried to plead, and her brother had enough of his sister's drama. He threw the spoon on the table with a thud and glared at her.

(But Aai mujhe gana bahut pasand hai, mujhe singer banna hai)

"Khadat jaude tucha passion ata parat hai nhi bolaycha nahitar mi tula sodnar nai." Pratiksha's brother Omkar threatened his sister in a dangerous tone, and his eyes blazed with the inevitable firestorm.

(Bhaad me jaye tera passion, ab firse yeh mat bolna warna tujhe choduga nahi)

"Matlab aap log meri baat nahi manege?" Pratiksha asked them with an emotionless face, and Her father Gajanan interrupted - "Tum humein dhamki dene ki koshish kar rahi ho?"

"Nako Baba, dhamki hi deni hoti toh kabka de deti...I'm asking all of you nicely." Pratiksha softened her tone, knowing her father might even raise her hand at her if She would speak to him disrespectfully.

"Theek hai, toh sunlo fir dubara, tumhe singing karne nahi milega," Gajanan said in a finality tone and stood up.

"But I can't understand singing me aisa kya hai jo mujhe karne se roka jaa raha hai?" Pratiksha demanded an answer to her question, and Omkar clenched his jaw, saying quite solemnly - "Tujhe jitna kaha hai utna hi kar samjhi? Yeh sab bollywood ki duniya hum jaise logo ke liye nahi bani hai. Humein humara career ache se padh likh kar khud banana hai."

"Dada, aap singing shows nahi dekhte hai kya? Door door se log aate hai apne sapne pure karne, apni pehchan banane...apna talent dikhane." Pratiksha looked at her brother with a disbelieving expression.

"Aur wahi sapne woh heartless judges tod dete hai unhe reject kar ke," Omkar said in a stern voice.

Pratiksha took a deep breath, and explained to her brother in a gentle voice - "Toh kya hua isme dada? Hum jab alag alag offices me interview dene jate hai toh zaroori hai woh sab humein select karege? Just because they reject us Iska matlab yeh toh nahi hua na ki hum me kuch kar dikhane ki capabilities nahi hai? Rejection is a key to success and growth, aise hi toh log improve karte hai apne aap ko."

"Tu na zyada gyaan mat baant mujhe, maine tujhse zyada duniya dekhi hai...aur is duniya me survive karne ke liye humein Degree chahiye hai Passion nahi," Omkar told his sister in a bitter tone, his jaw tightening bit by bit.

"Toh degree lene ke liye bhi toh passion ki zarurat hoti haina dada? Bina passion ke koi kaise padh payega aage? Ab agar aapko hi koi kahega ki Omkar tum Doctor bano engineer nahi, toh kya aap Haan bolege unhe? Of course nahi na, because aapka passion engineering ki padhai hai, doctor ki nahi." Pratiksha thoughtfully answered him, making her family gape at her in astonishment. Was she the same girl who used to shudder at the tone of her parents? Was she the same girl who used to cry harder if anyone raised their voice at her?

"Sach sach bata yeh teri itni zubaan kaise chalne lagi hai? Kaun tujhe itna secretly motivate kar raha hai?" Omkar asked his sister with fury in his eyes and slammed his hands on the table.

"No one is motivating me." Pratiksha didn't shiver to answer him despite feeling weak in her heart.

"Then be quiet and start preparing for your CA entrance exam," Omkar warned her in a sharp tone and walked away.

"Aai Baba aap log toh samjhiye meri baat ko." Pratiksha turned to her parents, who, in response, decided to ignore all her pleadings and cries.

She stared at them with pain in her moist eyes and decided to do what was right for her future.

Pratiksha quickly got up and went to her bedroom, shutting the door in frustration. She has to stop being a Lachrymose Girl if her family can't value her tears and dreams. Why should she cry for them? If they can't see the pain in her voice while asking their permission to become a Singer. Then why should she care about their words? She has to be strong if she doesn't want to become another Swara Waghmare. She has to endure the hatred of her family if she has to complete her passion, and for that She would need someone's firm support.

Sighing slowly. Pratiksha grabbed her phone and dialed someone's number with an impassive countenance.

"Hello." Atharva greeted her softly.

"I'm ready to give an audition," Pratiksha announced in a cold tone, and there was a thorough silence from his side as He was surprised to know This timid girl finally decided to do something good for herself.

"Really?" He asked her unbelievably.

"Yes, main nahi chahti main bhi dusri Swara Tai banke reh jauga," Pratiksha told him in a soft voice, and Atharva couldn't express his happiness in proper words. He wanted this timid girl to at least try giving auditions in various music departments, and finally, She acknowledged his request.

"Thank you so much Pratu, kal mil kar we will fill up the forms, and you decide kaunsa song tumhe gaana hai," Atharva advised her in a gentle voice, and She hummed.

"I'm so happy ki tumne apne bare me kuch karne ka socha. I'm sure tumhara talent waste nahi jayega." He encouraged the pretty dusky skin girl with a sweet smile, and Pratiksha sighed a slow breath.

"Dekhte hai, I don't care about results, but at least aage jake mujhe regret toh nahi hoga ki maine apna dream pura karne ki koshish bhi nahi ki," Pratiksha said with a calm smile, and Atharva raked his fingers through his hair, delighted to help this girl whom He once upon a time used to dislike from the bottom of his heart. Funny how time and incidents change everything within you.

"I agree, All The Best Pratu." He said genuinely.

"Thank you." She replied, fearing the forthcoming drama in her family that can cause her mental trauma.

But she was ready to face all the challenges to accomplish her Awaited Dream.

   ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

"How was your exam?" The moment Naina saw Sameer walking out of his examination hall. She asked him with a solemn visage.

"It was good." He answered her.

"Kuch khana hai tumhe? Bhook lagi hogi na." Naina looked at him affectionately.

"Haan bhook toh bahut lagi hai, soch raha hoon vada pav kha loon, what do you say?" Sameer asked her with a bright smile on his face.

"I've got something for you." She said softly.

"Really? What?" He sounded genuinely excited to know what his girlfriend has brought for him.

"Pehle chal kar kahi shanti se baith the hai fir," Naina said gently, and they both walked to the nearby garden which looked nice to them.

They sat on the vacant bench, and Sameer demanded - "ab batao kya layi ho tum?"

"Aloo ki sabji aur chapati." Naina apprised him with a cute smile, and opened the steel tiffin, making him feel shocked beyond anything.

"Wow, this is my favorite but tumne itni mehnat kyu ki?" Sameer said dishearteningly, and She replied while touring the morsel - "Tumhare liye itna toh kar hi sakti hoon na main."

She fed him with a loving smile, and Sameer was chewing while staring at his caring girlfriend who bothered to travel here just to feed him.

"Bahut tasty hai." He commented.

"Thank you," Naina replied, happy to know Sameer liked her cooked food.

"Tumhari aai ko thank you bol dena meri taraf se," Sameer said with a beaming look, and Naina chuckled.

"Maine banaya hai." She informed him and dipped the morsel in the aloo gravy.

"What?" He exclaimed surprisingly.

"Yes, vacation haina so I was trying to cook," Naina said with a sheepish smile and pushed the chapati inside his mouth. Sameer wasn't able to swallow it down. How could his disastrous chef girlfriend make such a tasty meal?

"Tum itna tasty kaise bana sakti ho?" Sameer rubbed his sweaty scalp while staring at her in confusion.

"What do you mean? Tumne mere haath ka kuch bana hua kabhi khaya hai?" Naina asked him in a stern voice and cleaned the corner of his lip from the handkerchief as She spotted an oily stain there.

"Khaya tha na maine. Karela Cake." He cringed his eyebrows, and She sharply glared at her boyfriend.

"Oye, tumhari wajah se hi maine woh cake banaya tha, don't blame me," Naina said with a cute pout.

"Yeah, yeah, put all the blame on me," Sameer remarked sarcastically.

"Tum chup chap khao warna main next time kuch nahi banane wali hoon." Naina threatened him, although she would never do this for her man whom She loves to feed from her hands.

"Fine, don't scare me." Sameer looked at her with a puppy face, and both of them smiled at each other after a moment of silence.

"Tum yahan aayi kyu?" He asked her while chewing.

"Oh, mere baba ki clinic yahi hai, so Aai told me to deliver him the lunch because maine banaya haina," Naina replied to him with a proud smile, and Sameer nodded his head.

"Toh tum mere liye bhi leke aagayi? How Caring." Sameer pinched her soft chin while grinning.

"Mujhe pata tha tum bina breakfast kiye gaye rahoge exam dene, toh tumhe bhi bhook lag rahi hogi na," Naina said in a soft voice and stared at him lovingly.

"Itna acha khana banaogi toh shadi ke baad mota ho jauga main," Sameer remarked with a lopsided smile and licked his lower lip.

"Har pati shadi ke baad mote hi hote hai, nothing new," Naina replied to him with mischievousness in her irises and cleaned the container by wandering the last piece of chapati over it.

"Don't you think I'll look like an uncle agar mota hogaya toh?" He asked her with a scrunched-up nose.

"Acha haina, koi ladkiyan tum par line nahi maregi fir." She said with an evil smile on her lascivious lips, and He gaped at her like a fish.

"You're so mean. Ha." Sameer said annoyingly.

"I am possessive, not mean." Naina corrected him in a husky voice and fed him the morsel while smiling.

"But someone told me She doesn't like possessive people," Sameer asked her with a dramatic expression, and She chuckled while opening the locks of the tiffin.

Naina mixed the dal with rice, and slide the spoon inside his mouth, explaining to him - "That time I was in a toxic relationship that's why I felt possessive people are so bad, but tumse pyar karne ke baad yeh ehsaas hua ki relationship me jealousy hoti hai if your partner gets friendly with someone else. Of course, I'm not asking you to stop befriending females, just make sure tum apni girlfriend ko na bhool jao."

Sameer just stared at her with a benign smile on his lips, and everything She cooked today tasted delicious.

"I think I should stop now." He said reluctantly.

"What?" She asked cluelessly.

"Eating and what?" Sameer said vexedly.

"Why? Khao na...baba ko kam nahi padega don't worry." Naina insisted on him to not stop eating.

"Are you sure? Because I'm a foodie person." He warned her with an adorable smile, and She giggled.

"Main bhi same hoon." She laughed and pushed the spoonful of rice.

"By the way, we are planning to go to Anshuman's villa after exams. Will you join us?" Sameer asked his girlfriend with a hopeful smile on his face.

"I'll let you know," Naina said meekly.

"Ok, tum aaogi toh acha lagega." He looked at her somberly.

"I know, but can Radhika, Sonali join us? And Aditya bhi? Aur Anjali bhi." Naina asked him enthusiastically, and Sameer stared at her, dumbfounded by the list of her best friends. He slightly nodded, wondering why this girl can't go anywhere without her pals?

"Sure, why not." He said forcefully.

"Thank you, now I'll definitely come." She beamed.

"Agar woh log nahi aate toh tum nahi aati?" Sameer asked her carefully.

"Pata nahi, but aai baba shayad hi permission dete," Naina said with a displeased face.

"Why? You could've told them tumhare college ke friends jaa rahe hai 2 din ke liye." Sameer suggested, and She took a deep breath.

"Haan but they don't know any of my colleagues, toh maybe mana kar dete but since Radhika, Sonali, Aditya, Anjali all of them are joining us on the trip. They'd allow me to come." Naina answered him with a sweet smile and put the empty container inside the polythene bag.

"Acha, fine." He dismissed the useless topic.

"Haan, exams kab khatam hoge tumhare?" She simply asked him.

"3 papers aur hai," Sameer informed her and drank the water which She brought with her.

"Oh, all the best," Naina said happily.

"Thank you." He smiled at her warmly.

    •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

16 Days Later...

Naina was jumping like a monkey as She finally got the permission of her family to go on the trip with her friends. She was hell excited for the first road journey with her Sameer and it could be reflected on her face. She took the luggage and started to pack her clothes while thinking of the adventurers she would get by being away from her family...She wouldn't need to be scared of anyone and anything, she can romance Sameer without any fear, and make him hers completely. Her cheeks flushed in coyness as she gazed at the tempting piece of cloth lying on the bed, and her eyes shone in mischief.

"Kitna maza aayega jab main aur Sameer ek saath ek room me rahege, bina kisi darr ke." She thought with enthusiasm creeping in her heart and bit her lower lip.

"Haye, I'm so so excited for this trip." Naina clapped her hands while hurrying to pack the essential stuff, and neatly folded clothes.

Her phone chimed, and She rushed to attend to the call - "Hello."

"Hi." Naina greeted him softly, keeping her undergarments beneath the folded clothes.

"Kya kar rahi hai meri jaan?" Sameer asked her in a husky voice.

"Packing, tum batao?" Naina replied to him and balanced the cellphone between her ear and shoulder as She picked up the fallen t-shirt from the floor, and wrapped it neatly.

"Oh, mera toh packing hogaya aaj subah hi," Sameer said normally.

"Tum ladko ko acha hai, 2 t-shirt 1/2 shirt aur jeans liye toh hogaya, yaha hum ladkiyon ko kitni sari chizein yaad kar kar ke leni padhti hai." Naina taunted him with pursed lips and walked to the closet to take out another piece of cloth.

"Please ha, hum ladko ko bhi bahut chizein yaad se leni padhti hai." Sameer defended his male community.

"Really? Batao kya?" She asked him sarkily.

"Socks." He said quickly.

"Aur?" Naina asked him while opening the drawer to pull out the pouch of makeup stuff.

"Baki sab private hai," Sameer replied to her in a meek tone, making her raise her brows in question.

"What private? Bata do I'm your girlfriend." Naina insisted on him.

"Sure?" He confirmed.

"Yes." She assured him.

"Vest, Underwear...Boxers and..." Sameer was interrupted by a fuming Naina who said - "Enough."

"What? Tumne hi kaha tha na batao you're my girlfriend, so I was just obeying you." Sameer replied to her with an innocent smile, and Naina rolled her eyes.

"Fine, let's not talk about this." She said after calming down.

"Ok, what are you bringing with you? Saree? Suit?" He asked her excitedly.

"Seriously Sameer? Main dosto ke saath trip pe jaa rahi hoon, buzurgon ke saath Tirth Yatra par nahi." Naina jeered at his illogical question, and Sameer twisted his lips.

"So what? Your boyfriend loves to see you in traditional clothes." Sameer said in a raspy voice.

"Haan toh waha bhi yeh sab hi pehnu main?" She asked him irately.

"If mera bas chale toh haan." He uttered, in a hoarse voice, his brain racing to imagine Naina wearing a romantic red saree with a backless blouse.

"Chup Karo Tum," Naina yelled at him in annoyance.

"Fine, fir main bhi sirf t-shirts pehnuga shirt nahi." Sameer teased her in a fake solemn tone.

"This is cheating. Ha." She whined.

"Everything is fair in love." He remarked.

"Ufffo, theek hai le rahi hoon main kurti saath me." Naina agreed to fulfill her boyfriend's cute wish, and Sameer had a smile of delight on his lips.

"It's ok, I was kidding. Tumhe jo pasand ho wahi pehen na." Sameer replied to her in a soft voice.

"Nah, rehne do...itni simple si wish puri kar sakti hoon main tumhari, but tum bhi apne saath 2/3 shirts rakhna especially the white and black ones," Naina ordered him like a judge, and He lightly chuckled, gazing at his unzipped suitcase in which He had already kept the shirts Naina mentioned.

"Dekhuga." Sameer tried to pull her leg.

"Oye." She said amusingly.

"Oye." He replied to her with the same zest.

"Don't dare to reject my demand." Naina threatened him in a sweet voice, and Sameer just sighed in response.

"Acha Suno." He said after a minute.

"Haan bolo?" She replied.

"Are you nervous?" Sameer asked her in a gentle tone, rubbing his slightly dried lips.

"No, Why?" Naina questioned.

"Umm, it's your first trip with me, so." He said in a meek tone, feeling embarrassed for asking her such a stupid question. Soon he heard her laughing soothingly over the call, and He squeezed his eyes in peeve.

"You're so cute," Naina said with a loving smile.

"I know, you're laughing at me for asking you this question," Sameer spoke with a displeased pout on his lips.

"No, I'm laughing over the fact that how a cocky guy like you can turn out to be so cute and funny?" Naina replied to him with astonishment brimming in her voice, and He bit his lower lip.

"Pyar insaan ko badal deta hai darling," Sameer said in a gruff tone.

"Ji, ab phone rakhiye aap bahut kaam hai," Naina said with a sweet smile.

"Ok, take care," Sameer replied, and ended the call with reluctance.

• As guided Anshuman's luxurious car reached the alley, and Sameer left his home before his arrival as He didn't want Naina's family to doubt him if they'd find him leaving the society right after Naina with luggage in his hands. In no time Everyone joined the duo with an enthusiastic smile playing on their lips, and Naina almost fought with Sonali for the seat beside Sameer. He amusedly watched his girlfriend glaring at her best friend for teasing her, and Sonali at the end sat next to Sagar who passed her a gentle smile. The space wasn't enough for the youngsters to feel comfortable but they somehow tried to adjust as the trip was more important for them than this trivial matter. Ankita was fighting with Satvik for pushing his whole body weight on hers, and like this, their journey began.

Samaina were hell excited for their First Trip together.

"You know I thought main tumhari lap pe so kar aaram se villa pahuch jauga, but dil ke armaan ansuon me beh gaye," Sameer whispered in Naina's ear with a disgruntled visage, and She giggled.

"Yaha saans lene ke liye bhi space nahi hai aur tumhe meri godh me sona tha." Naina mocked him while gazing out of the window at the lush green trees and shrubs coming in their way.

"Mujhe kya pata tha ab itne log ek saath aa jayege, I thought koi na koi toh cancel ho hi jayega," Sameer said with a flared-up nose.

"Bahut problem haina tumhe mere dosto se?" She glanced at him grumpily.

"Of course no baby." He said with a forceful smile.

"Kise humse problem hai bhai? Naam bata uska?" Radhika asked her best friend from the front seat, and Naina was about to mention Sameer's name when He interrupted - "Kisko tumse problem hogi? You people are so lovable."

"Thank you jiju," Radhika said with a sweet smile.

"Jiju?" He repeated her words with a shy smile.

"She has already considered me as your husband and their brother-in-law," Sameer told his girlfriend in a raspy voice, and his lips lightly brushed on her earlobe.

"See, how sweet they're," Naina said annoyingly.

"Yeah right." He shrugged off.

Soon the beautiful atmosphere was disturbed by a horrible voice as Anshuman sang carelessly - "Main Nikla Oh Gaddi Le Ke...Oh Raste Par Oh Sadak Mein...Ek Mod Aaya Main Uthe Dil Chod Aaya."

Anjali closed her ears and squinted her eyes at Anshuman's flop singing talent, and He was dancing through his hands while driving.

"Bhagwan ke liye please chup ho jao tum." Anjali requested him as she was the one who sat beside him and was tolerating his voice.

"Kyun?" Anshuman asked him quizzically.

"Bahut acha gaa rahe ho tum aur tumhari itni achi aawaz sunke kahi main coma me na chali jaun isliye," Anjali replied to him with a sarcastic smile, and Anshuman thought She was complimenting his bathroom singing skill. So he bowed his head and said - "Shukriya Ji Shukriya, kuch nahi hoga tumhe...isi baat pe ek aur gaana ho jaye."

"Tunak tunak tun...Tunak tunak tun...Tunak tunak tun...Da da da." He sang zestfully while smiling to his fullest, and Anjali murdered him through her dangerous eyes for ruining the beauty of this peaceful trip.

"Nainaaaaa." She called her school friend's name in utmost annoyance.

"Kya Hua?" Naina asked her confusingly.

"Bol tere is bathroom singer devar ko ganaa band kare," Anjali told her in a sharp tone, immensely depressed by Anshuman's endless torture.

"Why Ji, tumne hi toh kaha main bahut acha gaa raha hoon," Anshuman asked her solemnly.

"Ek kaam karo record your voice and listen to it, fir mujhse poochna yeh sawal." Anjali looked at him vexedly, taking out the earphones from her bag.

"Lo ji karli na tumne bewakoofi wali baat, main toh soch raha tha ki mujhe singing competition me part lena chahiye hai. Mujhe yakeen hai mainu woh log select karege hi next round ke liye." Anshuman said with a bright smile on his punjabi face and turned the car towards the highway.

"Sure, only if they stay alive after listening to you," Anjali remarked with a tight-lipped smile, and put the earphones in her ears, scrolling through her music playlist.

The journey was smooth until Anshuman decided to disturb the silent lion - "Suno Ji."

"Kya Hai?" Anjali stopped the music and looked at him annoyingly.

"Kaunsa gaana sun rahi ho?" He asked her happily.

"Mere angne mein tumhara kya kaam hai...Jo hai naam wala wohi toh badnaam hai." She answered him with an irritating smile and was about to start the music again when Anshuman started to sing - "Jiski biwi lambi uska bhi bada naam hai...Kothe se laga do, seedhi ka kya kaam hai. Mere angne me tumhara kya naam hai."

Anjali raised her hands in annoyance while shutting her eyes, and Anshuman sniggered.

"Sameer." Naina woke up her boyfriend from his slumber, and He looked at her with drowsy eyes.

"Kya Hua?" He asked her in a low voice.

"Mujhe bhook lagi hai." She said cutely.

"Toh bag me se nikal kar kuch kha lo na," Sameer replied to her softly.

"Space hi nahi hai bilkul, sab bags peeche hai," Naina said helplessly.

"Uffo." He looked at her annoyingly but decided to help his lady love.

"Guys." Sameer grabbed everyone's attention, and suggested - "Chalo kuch khate hai, bhuk lag rahi hai."

"Ok ji, reverse le leta hoon peeche abhi dhaba gaya hai," Anshuman said, and took the car inside the narrow passageway, glancing at Anjali who was calmly listening to the music.

"Khush?" Sameer asked Naina, who responded to him with a cute smile.

"Thank You." She said lovingly.

"Welcome." He replied, and kissed her forehead.

To be continue...

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