Naina!

Naina!

Sameer was trying to wake her up by tapping on her shoulder softly and whispering her name little loudly near her ear. But Naina was too stubborn to wake up.

Sameer: Naina.....utho na.
(To himself) Yeh uth kyun nahi rahi, kahin issi bukhar toh nahi aagaya hai.

He immediately kept his palm on her forehead but finding it as cool as normal times, he sighed in relief. Though he didn't have the heart to wake her up as she looked atrociously beautiful and innocent but seeing the clock showing 09:30 and it's been more than 12 hours she ate her dinner, he had to wake her up and feed her breakfast.

This time Sameer shook little strongly and called her name little loudly. And it worked. Naina scrunched her nose and rubbing her eyes, she opened her eyes slowly. She smiled seeing the charming and subtle face of her husband infront of her eyes having his beautiful million dollar smile.

Sameer: Good Morning!

Naina whispered: Good Morning!

Holding Sameer's hand, Naina sat up straight with her back resting on the backrest of the bed.

Sameer: Mera mann bilkul nahi tha tumhe jagane ke liye, par sadhe nau baj rahe hai aur tumne kal dinner jaldi kar liya tha. Already bahut patli ho, zyada der bhukha rakh kar tumhe aur patla karne ka iraada nahi hai mera...

Naina chuckled and said: Ek din lambe time tak bhukhe rehne se thodi main patli ho jaungi, Sameer Ji...

Sameer: Haan janta hun...par tumhe aadat lag jayegi. Dekho, aaj bhukhi reh jaati toh kisi aur din aaj ke din ka reference leke tum wapas bhookhi rehti aur dheere dheere yeh tumhari aadat ban jati. Repeatedly bhukhe rehne se toh patli ho jaogi na....

Sameer had trapped Naina in the web of his words and she took some time to understand what he said now.

Naina: Sameer Ji, koi aadat nahi banne wali. Par phir bhi, aapko meri itni chinta hai yeh dekhke mujhe accha laga 😊

Sameer held her face in his palms and smiled at her before replying her: Main tumhari chinta nahi karunga toh kaun karega? Humare pados wale Mathur Uncle?

Naina giggled on his cute comment, and Sameer's heart danced seeing her glittering eyes and glowing face.

Sameer: Accha, ab yeh hasna band karo aur jao, jaake fresh ho jao. Main tab tak breakfast leke aaya.

Naina: Thik hai....woh Sameer Ji....mere liye ek cup coffee mangwa lijiyega. Woh...iss time....pain hota hai....toh....

Sameer: Samjh gaya! Tum aaram se fresh hone jao aur ek kaam karo, ek saath naha dho ke ready ho jao. Munna aur Swati bhabhi ki anniversary hai aaj, toh kuch plan kar raha hai woh. Toh shayad breakfast ke baad baad hume nikalna pade.

Naina: Oh...kitne saal huye unki shaadi ko?

Sameer: Yeh koi 5 saal huye honge. Humare group mein sabse pehle shaadi Munna ki huyi uske peeche peeche Pandit ne kar li thi, ek saal baad.

Naina: Oh, itni jaldi unhone shaadi kar li....mera matlab hai unhe tab 23 ya 24 saal hua hoga.

Sameer: Haan.....Agar Munna Pandit ka bas chalta toh woh college ke second year mein hi Swati aur Anjali se shaadi kar lete. Mere peeche bhi pade the, shaadi karne ke liye.

Naina: Toh aapne kyun nahi ki?? Aap itne acche hai aur good looking bhi hai, aapko toh bahut saare rishte aate honge na.

Sameer smiled at her and said: Haan, aaye bahut the. Dadaji, Papa aur Bua dadi ne bahut si ladkiyo ki photos dikhayi thi. Magar kisi bhi ladki mein woh baat nahi thi jo tum mein hai.

Naina: Aissi kya baat hai mujh mein??

Sameer: Tum auron ki tarah nahi ho. Tum mature hone ke saath saath, thodi bacchi jaisi bhi ho, tumhari muskaan mein woh baat hai jo kisika bura din accha kar sakta hai, tumhari aankhein bahut sundar hai shayad isiliye tumhara naam Naina hai, tumhare lehrate baal dekhkar mann karta hai ki in mein chup jaun aur kabhi bahar na aaun.......

Sameer was lost in the memories of Pranati and Pralay's wedding day when he had seen Naina laughing around with Preeti and some other girls and boys who were their distant cousins. He had seen her playfully feeding a stubborn and grumpy one year old baby boy by making funny faces and sometimes showing little bit anger too.

Naina: Sameer Ji! Main ek baat kahun?!

Sameer: Hmm kaho....

Naina: Mujhe nahi pata ki main kab aapko utna hi pyaar badle mein de paungi jitna aap dete hai, par....par.....jabse aapse mili hun. Tabse, aapki photo maine 100 baar dekhi hogi shaadi se pehle. Mann mein bahut baar aaya tha ki aapko apni taraf se bhi call karun. Lekin.....

Sameer made her look at him and prompted her to continue.

Naina: Lekin...woh manhoos wali baat ne mere dimaag mein ghar kar liya tha. Aapko pata hai, maine plan kiya tha ki meri BBA khatam hone ke baad, main Mumbai se kahin dur chali jaati, sabse dur taaki mera saya bhi na gire mere family par. Lekin kismat ko kuch aur manzoor tha. Aapka rishta aagaya aur sabko aap pasand aagaye aur humari shaadi tay hogayi.

Sameer(mentally): Accha hua jo maine Dadaji se kehke immediately rishta bhijwa diya tha. Nahi toh aaj main yahan Naina ke saath nahi baitha hota. Duniya ki kisi kone mein usse dhundh raha hota.....Ek min....isne kaha ki main sabko pasand aaya aur humari shaadi tay hogayi. Iska matlab?? Kahin....main Naina ko.....

Sameer: Nai.... Naina.....tumne abhi kaha ki....main tumhari family ko pasand aaya aur...humari shaadi tay hogayi......Kya main....main tumhe pasand nahi tha??

Naina realised what she had said and could sense from his moist and choked voice, that he was hurt.

Naina: Nahi nahi! Mera matlab woh nahi tha. Aap mujhe uss din pasand aaye the. Aur kyun nahi aate. Uss din aapne mujhse kitne pyaar se aur samjhdari se baat ki thi.....

Flashback: 6 months ago. The day of Samaina's first official meet.

The Agrawal house was witnessing a lot of hustle and bustle, as today a family is coming to meet them with the intention of fixing the alliance of their elder daughter with the only son of Maheshwari family.

Bela: Bhabhiji, maine woh dinner set aur cup set nikal kar kitchen mein rakha aap ek baar dekh lijiye woh wala chalega ki Pralay se kehkar ek aur le aaya?

Beena: Tumne dekha hai na, toh bas. Sahi hoga...Lekin yeh tumhare bhaisahab kahan reh gaye? Subah chai peeke nikle the, ab tak nahi aaye. Kya jalebiyan khud talke laana wale??

Naresh: Tumhare ladle bete ne agar gaadi mein petrol choda hota tab na jaldi aata. Adhe raste mein petrol pump jaana pada. Aur petrol pump ki bheed toh janti ho....

Beena: Mera beta koi awaara nahi hai! Kaam karta hai, business bhi dekhta hai aur apne clients ko bhi....Aur ab toh shaadi hogayi hai. Toh Pranati ke saath ghumne bhi jaata hai. Aur aapko ek baar check karna chahiye tha na jaane se pehle! Humesha Pralay ke peeche pade rehte hai.

Naresh: Haan haan! Main jaani dushman hun uska!

Rakesh: Arrey bhaiya, bhabhi! Baad mein ladh lena. Abhi kaam toh khatam kijiye! Woh log kabhi bhi aa jayenge. Kya saare kaam main hi karun?? Aur yeh Pralay kahan hai? Usse kaha tha Naina ki saree tailor se laane ko. Ab tak nahi aaya, meri beti bina taiyar huye baithi hai!!

Pralay: Bade Chachaji! Wohi laane gaya tha. Aur aapki beti ne apne college ke paas saree di thi. Toh aane jaane mein thoda sa waqt lag gaya. Aur aate huye, Preeti ko yeh kuch chudiyan aur earrings pasand aagaye toh woh lene ruk gaye the....

Rakesh: Thik hai, Preeti ja teri bhabhi ke saath milke Naina ko taiyar kar de. Aur aap sab bhi jaake taiyar ho jayiye. Kuch accha pehniyega...Bhaiya aap apna woh brown kurta toh bilkul maat pehnna. Acche nahi lagte usmein, aur Bhabhi aap apni woh pink wali saree pehniyega, acchi lagti hai aap. Aur Bela tum aur Anand woh Pralay ki sagaai mein jo pehne the na woh pehen lena. Preeti tu jo pehni hai woh thik hai, bas baal thik se bana le aur earrings change kar de. Pranati toh ready hai....aur tu! Chamakdar! Yeh kya kaale kapde pehenke ghum raha hai. Kuch accha rang pehenke aa!!

Bela, Beena, Pralay, Naresh and Preeti were hiding their smile seeing Rakesh thinking about everything and looking here and there, ensuring everything is right. After a very long time, they saw him this much excited.

Beena: Suniye, Rakesh shayad itna khush aur utsuk tab tha tab usne Naina ki aane ki khabar suni thi....

Naresh: Haan, uske baad Rama ki bigadti tabiyat ke chalte, uske chehre se yeh khushi kahin gayab hi hogayi. Lekin bhagwan ki krupa se, ab wapas woh khush dikh raha hai. Bas, aaj sab sahi se jaaye. Woh log acche ho, aur humari Naina unhe pasand aaye. Aur Naina ko bhi woh log pasand aaye. Agar aaj yeh rishta tay hogaya, toh Rakesh se khush iss duniya mein koi nahi hoga.

Bela: Aapne bilkul sahi kaha bhaisahab! Rakesh bhaisahab ne apni puri zindagi Naina ki taraf apni zimmedariyon ko nibhate nibhate guzar di. Shayad hi kabhi unhone apne liye kuch liya ho ya kharch kiya ho.

Anand: Bela, kounsa pita apne bacche se pehle apne baare mein sochta hai? Haar baap ke mann ki ek hi iccha hoti hai ki woh itna kama sake ki apna parivaar chala sake. Aur Rakesh bhaisahab ne jitna kuch kamaya hai, sab Naina pe kharcha hai.

Naresh: Bhagwan inn dono ka pyaar humesha banaye rakhe.

Beena: Hum logo ko chalna chahiye, nahi toh Rakesh abhi aake humari parade laga denge 😂

After half an hour or two, the doorbell rang and the Agrawals came into action. Rakesh excitedly went to the door and opened it with a big smile on his face and welcomed the Maheshwari family. Except for the Maheswari men, no one had a genuine and pleasing smile on their faces. Rakesh asked them to come in and settle down, whereas the aunties of the adjacent houses peeped into the Agrawal house seeing two expensive cars in the basement.

Jaiprakash Ji was dressed in khaki bandhgala suit and he has his thin golden rimmed circular glasses resting on his nose, Vivek Maheswari was wearing a grey suit with white shirt, Vishakha was wearing a yellow and pink designer saree with Gucci handbag which was flaunting by keeping it on her right arm, and the Patel husband wife wore black outfit and showed off the branded watch and expensive jewellery by touching them time and again. And our hero was looking dashing in the black trousers and light blue buttoned shirt with his sleeves rolled up showing off his muscular arm.

Jaiprakash: Namaste Ji!

Rakesh: Namaste Jaiprakash Ji, aane mein koi taklif toh nahi huyi na?

Vivek could see Kamlesh opening his mouth, so he replied: Ji nahi! Taklif kaisi?? Road ke upar hi toh hai aapki society.

Jaiprakash: Sach kahun, mujhe mere purane din yaad aagaye. Jab yeh company kuch khas badhi nahi thi, tab hum bhi aisse hi ek colony mein raha karte the....

Rakesh: Accha....aayiye main aapka parichay kara deta hun sabse.
(Towards Naresh and Beena) Yeh mere bade bhai hai, Naresh Agrawal aur unki patni, Beena Agrawal. Bhaisahab lawyer hai aur Bhabhiji housewife hai lekin cooking class bhi karti hai.

(Towards Anand and Bela) Yeh mera chota bhai hai, Anand Agrawal aur uski patni, Bela Agrawal. Anand mere saath humari company sambhalta hai.

(Towards Pralay and Pranati) Yeh humare bade bhaisahab ka beta aur bahu hai, Pralay aur Pranati. Pralay bhi lawyer hai aur saath mein humara legal department bhi sambhalta hai. Aur Pranati ka apna ek boutique hai jis par ab shaadi ke wajah itna dhyan nahi de pa rahi hai.

(Towards Preeti) Aur yeh hai humari choti shaitan, yaani mere chote bhai ki beti, Preeti. BBA kar rahi hai, Xavier's se.

Aur aap mujhe toh jante hai, main Rakesh Agrawal hun, Naina ka Papa.

The whole Agrawal family was folding their hands and greeting the Maheshwari family when they were getting introduced. And after the introduction, Sameer touched the feet of all the elders once again.

Naresh: Arrey beta, pehle bhi toh ek baar pair chua tha na, phir ek aur baar kyun??

Sameer: Uncle, badon ke pair jaroori thodi hai ek hi baar chua jaye. Baar baar bhi toh chu sakte hai. Aur tabhi mujhe nahi pata tha ki aap mein se koun kya hai. Lekin ab malum hai.

Jaiprakash: Naresh Ji, humara Sameer aissa hi hai. Badon ka aadar karne wala, mujhe toh garv hai apne pote par aur apne bete ke sanskar par ❤️.
Aayiye main, aapka parichay karata hun.

(Towards Vivek) Yeh mera beta hai, Vivek Maheswari.

(Towards Vishakha, Kamlesh and Prabha) Yeh mere bete ki dusri patni hai, Vishakha aur uske bhaiya bhabhi, Kamlesh aur Prabha.

(Towards Sameer) Aur yeh hai mera jigar ka tukda aur meri aur apne Papa ki jaan, Sameer.

After some chit chat about business, Rakesh went to get Naina from her room. Seeing this, the Maheshwari men were little confused.

Naresh: Jabse Naina ki Maa, yaani Rama ka dehant hua hai, tabse Rakesh ne uski Maa aur Baap dono ki zimmedari uthali hai. Isliye......

Jaiprakash: Baap beti ka rishta hota hi kuch aissa hai, Naresh Ji. Yeh baat, hum bete wale baap shayad hi kabhi samjh payenge 😊

Anand: Sahi kaha apne 😊

Rakesh came out with a nervous Naina who was looking very pretty in the navy blue bandhani saree. She wore golden chandbalis, and had blue glass bangles around her wrist. Her face was having just a thin stroke of eyeliner and kajal with a nude shade lipstick, on the name of make-up. Sameer was once again flat seeing Naina and his heart starts beating rapidly just by the mere glimpse of her, was now threatening to pop out.

Rakesh: Yeh hai humari aankhon ka tara, meri pyaari gudiya, Naina ❤️

Naina went and touched everyone's feet and passed a nervous smile to Sameer. Seeing her trembling hands and nervousness written all over her face, he mentally noted to be calm with her if they are sent to have some alone time. Which he was sure, they would be given.

Jaiprakash: Beta, tum bahut sundar lag rahi ho....

Naina smiled faintly and didn't have the courage to look at the guy who has come to meet her. This didn't go unnoticed by Vivek, so he asked Sameer and Naina to have some alone time.

Rakesh: Preeti, beta Naina aur Sameer ko chhat pe le ja. Aur tu neeche aa jaana. Jab inn dono ki baat khatam ho jayegi, dono aa jayenge. Thik hai beta?

Sameer nodded his head with a smile and followed Preena till the terrace. After opening the gate of the terrace, Preeti rushed down. And Naina guided Sameer till the farthest corner of the terrace. There too Naina wasn't looking at Sameer and was moving her gaze here and there.

Sameer: Itni bhi buri sakal nahi hai meri!

Naina looked at him for the first time, and she felt some strings in her heart getting pulled which made her feel lightheaded. The man standing infront of her was no less than a big banner film's hero. His deep black orbs were holding softness and nervousness, his silky brown hair were flying lazily according to the breeze. His squared jawline was more attractive due to the lightly densed stubble and his whole face was so serene and picturesque. Just like a beautiful painting.

Sameer could see that she was lost and was mentally dancing too. But he needed to have a conversation with her too. As for the first time, he would hear her voice which he had only imagined. He clicked his fingers infront of her eyes and brought her out of her reveries.

Naina: Ammm....Amm...I am sorry.....woh....woh main....main kuch....kuch soch....soch rahi thi. Aap kuch keh rahe the!!??

Sameer giggled and said: Haan, main yeh keh raha tha ki main itna bhi bura nahi dikhta jo, aap meri ore neeche ek baar bhi nahi dekhi 😜😅

Naina: Nahi nahi! Mera woh intention bilkul nahi tha....woh main toh.....

Sameer: Nervous thi? Right?

Naina was mortified due to his correct guess. And she nodded her head lightly.

Sameer: Arrey! Ismein ghabrana kya? I am sure har ladki ke saath aissa hota hoga. Aap akeli nahi hongi. Aur main samjh sakta hun. College ke just baad baad, aapko mere saath meeting karni pad rahi hai. Jabki aapko apne friends ke saath enjoy karna chahiye tha....

Naina shook her head in no but Sameer chuckled making her confused.

Sameer: Aapko mujhse jhooth bolne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Mujhe bura nahi lagega agar aap haan keh dengi toh....aur main aapko yahan darane bilkul nahi aaya hun.
Amm...ek kaam karte hai. Let's introduce each other. Isse ek dusre se baat karne mein aasani hogi. Ok?

Naina nodded her head in yes with a sweet smile, and this swelled Sameer's heart.

Sameer: Toh aap shuru kijiye! Ladies first.

Naina: Amm...mera naam Naina hai. Main jaisa ki aap jante hai BBA graduate hun. Aap meri family se neeche mil chuke hai. Mujhe cooking ka aur gardening ka bahut shauk hai. 10 saal pehle, meri Mumma mujhe chodke chali gayi thi. Tabse Papa hi mere Mummy hai aur Papa bhi. Woh mere best friend hai, aur unke alawa mere kuch aur dost hai lekin unki shaadi hogayi hai aur kuch, abroad mein hai..... Ab aap bataiye.

Sameer: Mera naam Sameer hai. Main jaisa ki aap janti hai, apni family business sambhalta hun, kapdon aur jewellery ka. Mujhe travelling aur cooking ka shauk hai. Jyada acchi toh nahi par khane layak khana zaroor bana leta hun. Aapki tarah meri Mummy bhi mujhe chodke chali gayi hai, jab main 10 saal ka tha. Mere do dost hai, bachpan se leke ab tak. Manoj aur Raghav.

Naina: Amm....agar aapki Mummy chal basi hai toh.... neeche........woh.......

Sameer: Woh meri Papa ki dusri wife hai. Meri stepmother aur unke bhai bhabhi yaani mere step uncle aur aunt.

Naina: Ohhh

Sameer: Hmmm.....toh Naina aapki kya ambition hai? I mean kya sapna hai aapka?

Naina: Mera bas ek sapna hai. Apne parivaar ki khushi. Aaj main jo hun, unn sabke wajah se hun.

Sameer: Parivaar ke bina har koi adhura hi hota hai....Humare sapne unse hote hai aur humari kamyabi bhi. Chahe kitna chota ya bada kyun na ho, parivaar akhir parivaar hota hai.

Naina: Sahi kaha apne.....

Sameer: Amm.... aap acchi lag rahi hai iss saree mein. Color aap par suit kar raha hai.

Naina: Ummm.... thank you aur aap bhi acche dikh rahe hai.

Sameer smiled sheepishly and looked here and there. Realising that she did something against her plan, she decided to divert the topic.

Naina: Aap humesha se business karna chahte the??

Sameer: Amm not exactly! Maine fashion designing ka course kiya hai. Main fashion designer banna chahta tha, par Papa aur Dadu ki badhti umar dekh kar maine business take over karne ka decision liya. Par meri padhai waste nahi gayi....Humare business mein kaam aa raha hai 😊 So I am happy.

Naina: Insaan ko woh hi karna chahiye jisse usse khushi mile....

Sameer: Bilkul! Jab tak insaan khush nahi hai, woh kuch haasil nahi kar sakta. Ek baar, woh khush rehne laga toh duniya ki koi takat usse haara nahi sakti.

Naina: Lekin zaroori nahi, khushi har insaan ki kismat mein likhi ho!

Sameer: Khushi kisiko kismat se nahi milti! Usse dhundhni padti hai. Khushi sirf paise se ya acche facility se nahi milti. Agar aissa hota toh, middle class aur garib log sukoon ki nind nahi sote. Even ab bhi sukoon nahi hai par tab haalat aur battar hote. Khushi kisi insaan se nahi hoti, agar hoti toh woh saare log jinhone kisi apne ko khoya hai, woh tumhe suicide karte milte na ki sar uthake jeete huye!

Naina: Hmmm.....

Sameer: Waise.....agar aap iss shaadi se khush nahi hai. Toh aap maana kar sakti hai. I know it's very early for you. Aap par koi pressure nahi hai. Aap abhi bata dijiye. Main kisi ko nahi kahunga ki aapne manna kiya hai. Main bol dunga ki mujhe aap pasand nahi aaye. Aur uske baad...aap shaadi ki baat taal dena kuch din.

Naina was really touched by his words and someone in her heart, told her that maybe he is the cure to all of her pain and suffering. But the mind didn't allow her to make walls of happiness. This is what, was evident on her face and was visible to Sameer. He had thought that maybe he can make her confident about new relations but he failed. He was aware of Naina's vow and wanted to give a try, that's why he decided that if Naina still persists on her vow of not marrying then he would move out of her life, and live his whole life loving her from the distance. And that's what his mind was signaling him seeing her face.

Naina came back to reality and keeping a straight face, asked him to go down. As everyone would be waiting for them. Sameer didn't want the moment to end, as he didn't know when will he see her next. But he couldn't do anything also, so he followed her with heavy heart.

Rakesh: Aagaye dono!

Vivek: Hmmm, toh beta. Kya hai tum dono ka faisla?

Sameer was about to say something when Naina spoke and her reply stunned everybody.

Naina: Meri haan hai

Sameer's eyes popped out and he looked at Pranati who was equally flabbergasted. But they thought that she was willing to give a chance to herself and Sameer, little did they know, Naina was planning to marry Sameer and leave everything after few days. As she didn't anyone's harm due to her ominous presence. She agreed marry because she wanted her family to be happy as they wanted this alliance to get fixed.

Flashback over.

Sameer: Naina! Ek baat puchu?

Naina: Puchiye na!!

Sameer: Tum mujhe....aur hum sabko ab abhi chodke jaogi?? Jaisa tumne plan kiya tha?

Naina smiled at him lovingly and held his face in her palm and said: Nahi! Ab main apne pati ko aur apne parivaar ko chodke kahin nahi jaane wali!!

Sameer's love confession scared her at first, but the amount of patience he had that while explaining her that she isn't manhoos and all the incident were mere coincidence, and the pain and hurt she had seen in his eyes when she had mentioned that she will leave, melted her heart. And she genuinely wanted her marriage with Sameer to work. And she wanted to develop feelings for him, but she was aware as well as Sameer that, this can take time. And he was ready to wait for her.

Sameer: Kabhi maat sochna iss baare mein, Naina! Tumhi ho ab mere khushi aur jeene ki wajah. Bhale tumhe mujhse pyaar na ho, par tumhara saath hi kaafi hai mere liye ❤️

Naina: Janti hun! Aur mere liye aapki muskaan aur aapka saath, meri jeene ki nayi wajah hai! Sameer ji, aaj se....aaj se humare rishte ki nayi shuruwat!

Shuruwat humari dosti ki! Humare beech understanding aur trust ki! Shuruwat aapke pyaar ki aur meri fikar ki ❤️

Sameer: Aaj se hum, saare purane buri yaadein bhula ke, nayi acchi aur khubsurat yaadein banayenge.

Waada?

Naina kept her palm on his and said: Waada!

Sameer held her face in his palm and kissed her forehead for few seconds which got a pink tint on Naina's cheeks. Sameer chuckled and made her look at him. But she was so shy to do that, so she hid her face in his chest which sent shivers through his spine. He wrapped his arms around her and dropped a kiss on her head.

This hug was the indication of the new beginning. The new relationship between Sameer and Naina!

And this time, Naina didn't get out of his embrace, rather found it soothing and peaceful. She dug her face more into his muscular chest, and closed her eyes to feel his heartbeats which were taking only one name "Naina". And she..... Liked it 😊❤️

This was a peaceful and precious moment for Sameer which told him that he is slowly conquering the battle of his love.

And Delhi ab dur nahi!!! The day Naina's confession would come soon!!!