Sameer: Bhaiya.......yeh.......yeh aap kya keh rahe ho?

Devang: Haan Sameer! Main aur Pari kal wapas Udaipur ja rahe hai.

Naina: Par......

Devang showed his palm to stop Naina from speaking further. He detached Pari from himself a little and asked her to go to her room and grab all her belongings, Pari nodded and ran towards her room. Before Naina or anyone else could say something Poonam came in front of Devang with a mocking smile and clapped.

Poonam: Waah Devang! Waah! Kitni conveniently tum bechare bann gaye uss bacchi ke saamne. Haan!? 10 din already dur tha ab aur nahi! Huh! Kuch 10 din dur nahi the. Roz raat ko uske sirhane par baithe rehte the. Tumhe kya laga mujhe pata nahi chalega?

Devang: Haan! Baitha rehta tha apni beti ke sirhane. Kyunki baap hun uska. 7 saal se jisko ek minute ke liye khud se dur nahi kiya, usko tumhari shart ke liye khud se dur karna pad raha tha. Aur na jaane kitne samay tak karna padta.

Poonam: Tum jante ho na! Pari ke paas jaane ka matlab kya hai.

Devang: Pata hai mujhe! Tumhare saath zindagi bitane ka akhri mauka khona.

Prabha: Devang! Beta tu uss parayi ladki ke liye apni biwi ko tukra raha hai?

Devang: Parayi nahi hai woh! Meri beti hai. Devang Patel ki beti hai woh. Pari Devang Patel.

Kamlesh: Teri adopted beti hai woh. Khoon nahi woh tera beta. Tera apna ansh nahi hai. Agar aaj usse kisi anathashram mein chodega toh kal koi aur aake usse le jayega. Apna bana lega. Par Poonam! Dekh usse! 10 saal se apni maang mein tere naam ka sindoor lagati aur gale mein tere naam ka mangalsutra pehenti hai. Uska tujh par haq hai.

Devang: Main maanta hun ki Poonam meri biwi hai. Uska mujh par haq hai. Par haq meri beti ka bhi hai mujh par. Aur mujhe iss baat se koi farq nahi padta ki woh mera khoon nahi hai. Pichle 7 saal se maine uss paal poshkar bada kiya hai. Woh mujhe Papa kehti hai. Uski choti choti ungliyon ko pakad ke usko chalna maine sikhaya hai. Usko daudna maine sikhaya hai. Uss bacchi ne mujhe tab jeena sikhaya tha jab mere liye jeene ki koi wajah nahi thi. Jab maine bahut kamzor mehsoos kiya tha, tab woh meri takkat aur himmat bani thi. Uss din jab uss 6 mahine ke bacchi ne apni choti ungli se meri ungli ko kash kar pakda tha tab mujhe mehsoos hua ki mujhe jeena hai. Uss bacchi ke liye. Meri bacchi ke liye.

Poonam: Tum 10 din nahi reh paaye uske bina. Socho main 10 saal se kaise jee rahi hun. Tumhare bina. The soul reason behind my existence in this house.

Devang: Janta hun maine 10 saal pehle tumhe chod ke ja kar bahut badi galti ki. Aur mujhe yeh bhi pata hai ki wapas 7 saal pehle sab jaan lene ke baad maine woh hi galati dauharai. Par uss waqt ke Devang aur aaj ke Devang mein bahut farq hai Poonam!
Jo galti maine 10 saal pehle apni Bua ki baaton mein aake ki, woh aaj main tumhari ya kisi ki bhi baaton mein aake nahi karne wala.

Naina: Par bhaiya, Pari ko pure parivaar ki zaroorat hai. Usse Dada Dadi ka pyaar, Nana Nani ki dular, Chacha Chachi ke laad, aur Maa ke saaye ki zaroorat hai. Aap akele toh yeh sab nahi kar sakte na.

Devang: Naina! Usse Nana Nani ki dular, Chacha Chachi ke laad, aur apne V Dadu ka pyaar mila hai aur aage bhi milega. Par Maa ke pyaar ka kya?

Naina: Main hun na Bhaiya. Mere liye Pari meri hi bacchi hai.

Devang: Naina! Tumhe iss ghar mein aaye ek mahina bhi nahi hua hai. Tumne aur Sameer ne saath mein shanti se ek din nahi bitaya hai. Abhi abhi tum dono saath aaye ho, pati patni jaisa behave kar rahe ho. Uss par Pari ki zimmedaari. Nahi Naina! Main tum dono ke saath yeh nahi kar sakta. Maine kisiko Udaipur aane se maana nahi kiya hai. Jinhe meri bacchi se milna hai, woh Udaipur aa sakte hai. Aur hum log video calls par humesha connected rahenge hi na.

Sameer: Bhaiya.....

Devang: Nahi Sameer! Main iss ghar mein nahi ruk sakta. Iss ghar ka environment Pari ke liye sahi nahi hai.

Poonam: Yeh environment nahi. Woh bacchi iss ghar ke liye sahi nahi hai. Pata nahi kiski bacchi hai aur kya jaadu kar rakha hai usne tum par.

Devang: Koi jaadu nahi kiya hai usne mujh par. Iss tadap aur iss feeling ko na ek baap ka apni bacchi ke liye pyaar kehte hai.

Poonam: Yeh Baap ka pyaar 10 saal pehle kahan tha Devang? 10 saal pehle jab main tumhare bacche ke saath pregnant thi tab kahan tha tumhara yeh pyaar. Tab bahut asaani se tum muh modke chale gaye the.

Devang: Uss waqt main iss bhram mein tha ki tumhe humara baccha nahi chahiye tha. Aur apne aankhon ke aage main tumhe humara baccha abort karte nahi dekh pata. Main uss waqt bhi apne bacche se pyaar karta tha aur aaj bhi apne bacche se pyaar karta hun.

Poonam: Agar tum uss din nahi gaye hote toh aaj humara baccha zinda hota aur uss ladki ke jagah woh tumhe Papa bulata ya bulati. Tum uss par apni jaan chidakte. Na kisi airigiri ladki pe.

Devang: Pari airigiri nahi hai. Aur 10 saal pehle ki baatein ho hi rahi hai toh tumhe yaad dila dun ki tumne mujhe aissa koi sign hi nahi diya tha ki tum uss bacche ke aane se bahut khush ho. Mussoorie mein pata lagne se leke uss din doctor visit tak, tum pareshaan hi thi ya yun kahun dukhi thi. Ek minute bhi tum iss baat se khush nahi thi ki tumhara aur mera baccha aane wala hai. Tumhe society ki tension, apne Maa Papa ki tension thi, par iss baat ki tension nahi thi ki tumhare befizul ke tension ke wajah se humare bacche par asar pad sakta hai. Tumne ek pal ke liye nahi socha ki woh baccha hum dono ka hai. Bas tumhara baccha tumhara baccha kehti phirti thi. Tumhare unn reactions ke saath Bua ne jo kuch kaha tha bilkul sahi se fit baith raha tha.

Prabha: Devang! Unexpected pregnancy mein auraton ko yeh hi reaction hota hai beta. Tujhe ek baar Poonam se baat karni chahiye thi. Agar uss din baat karta toh aaj yeh din nahi dekhna padta Poonam ko.

Devang: Aap toh kuch boliye hi maat Mom! Mere aur Poonam ke beech ke complexities aap teeno ke wajah se hi huye hai. Aur aapko ab Poonam par pyaar aa raha hai? Yeh pyaar pichle 10 saalon se kaha tha? Chutti pe? Haan? Achanak se aapko Poonam par pyaar aa raha hai. Jab main yeh ghar aur yeh shehar chod kar gaya tha aur Poonam akeli hogayi thi, tab kahan tha aapka pyaar? Uss waqt toh aapke muh se gaali nikli thi. Aur aissi nikli ki 10 saal tak ruki nahi.
Toh aap agar mere matter mein na bole toh accha hoga.

Kamlesh: Devang! Tameez se!

Devang: Really? Aapko tameez aati hai? Toh yeh tameez Poonam ka haath jalane se pehle kyun yaad nahi aayi aapko? Usko apne doston ke saamne zalil karne se pehle kyun yaad nahi aaya. Yeh tameez aap dono ko tab yaad kyun nahi aaya jab aapko pata tha ko Poonam is pregnant! Uska miscarriage ka reason mera chodke jaana nahi, balki aap dono ka torture tha.

Prabha: Beta! Hume maloom hai humne galti ki thi. Der se hi sahi, par we have realised. Beta isliye keh rahi hun. Pari ko chodke Poonam ko chun. Pari bacchi hai, kuch din mein tujhe bhul jayegi. Par Poonam? Woh nahi bhul payegi.

Naina: Prabha Aunty! Aap yeh kya keh rahi hai? Aisse kaise bhaiya apni beti ko bhul jaaye?

Devang: Nahi Naina! Bolne do inhe. Main bhi sunu, inn 10 saal mein kya kya badlav aaya hai inmein.
(To Prabha) Boliye aap.

Prabha: Beta! Agar Pari tera khoon hoti toh alag baat hoti. Par woh tera khoon nahi hai na. Par Poonam! Uske paas mauka tha iss ghar ko chodke jaane ka. Lekin woh nahi gayi, sirf tere wajah se beta. Isliye meri baat maan! Bhul ja uss ladki ko aur apni zindagi apni biwi aur family ke saath bita.

Devang: Mujhe lagta tha ki aap chahe kitni neeche gir jao, par ek acchi Maa hongi. I was wrong. Aap acchi Maa nahi hai. Kyunki agar hoti toh aap mehsoos kar paati mere andar kya chal raha hai. Kaise mera dil chhalni chhalni ho raha hai, aapko bolte sun ki main Pari ko chod dun.
Aapse aapka 28 saal ka beta dur gaya toh aapne apni bahu ka jeena dusvar kar diya. Aap mujhse meri 7 saal ki beti ko dur karne ki baat kar rahi hai, sochiye mujh mein kya kya karne ki takkat hai. Mujhe aap majboor maat kijiye ki main aapse nafrat karne lag jaun.

Naina: Prabha Aunty! Jis tarah aapko Poonam Bhabhi aapke dukh aur Devang bhaiya ke ghar chodke jaane ki wajah lagne lagi thi, kya aap chahti hai ki Devang Bhaiya aap sab ko Pari se dur rehne ki wajah thehraye aur aapse waisi hi nafrat kare jaisi nafrat aap karte aaye ho Bhabhi se? Aap logon ko uss masoom bacchi par zara sa bhi taras nahi aa raha hai. Yahan khada har ek insaan ko maloom hai Maa Baap ka pyaar kya hota aur kitna zaroori hota hai. Phir bhi....

Poonam: Naina! Tumhare liye hume bhasan dena bahut asaan hai kyunki tumhara pati ek anjaan bacchi ko leke nahi aaya hai ghar. Mera pati laya hai. Aur yeh expect karta hai ki main uss anjaan bacchi ko apna lun.

Naina: Woh bacchi anjaan nahi hai. Devang bhaiya ke saath saath woh meri aur inki bhi beti hai.

Poonam laughed mockingly, and said: Tumhari bhi beti hai? Tum banogi uski Maa? Maa hona kya hota hai pata bhi hai tumhe?

Devang: Pata toh tumhe bhi nahi hai. In fact tum kabhi Maa ban bhi nahi sakti. Kyunki tum mein woh kabiliyat nahi hai. Kehte hai na ki jis pal se ek aurat ko pata chalta hai ki woh pregnant, Maa woh ussi pal ban jaati hai. Par tumhare maathe par tension ki lakire thi Poonam. Main hi pagal tha, jo aurat apne bacche ko pyaar nahi kar sakti woh dusre ko kya hi karegi. Jo apne bacche ki Maa nahi ban sakti woh kisi aur ki Maa kya hi banegi. Pata nahi kya sochke maine Sameer ko Mumbai aane ke liye haan kaha! Accha hua ki Pari tumhe apni Maa except karne se pehle hi yeh sab hogaya. Warna main usse ek pathar dil aurat ke hawale kar deta.

Poonam: Devang!

Vivek: Basss! Bahut bol liya hai sabne! Ab ek aur shabd nahi.

Poonam: Fuf......

Vivek: Maine kaha na! Ek aur shabd nahi.
(To Devang) Maana tu Pari ka Baap hai. Uske liye decisions lene ka haq tujhe hai. Par uss ka rishta iss ghar ke kuch aur logon ke saath bhi hai. Woh meri poti hai, Papa ki parpoti hai, Sameer aur Naina ne usse apni beti maana hai. Jaise woh teri aankhon ka tara hai, waise hi woh humare jigar ke tukda hai.
Main apne bacchon ko yeh ghar chodke jaane nahi dene wala.

Devang: Fufaji! Main nahi chahta ghar chodke aur aap sab ko chodke wapas jaana. Par meri mazboori hai. Main apni beti ko aisse halat mein nahi rakh sakta.

Vivek: Parso Pachami hai aur hawaan shuru ho rahe hai. Tum dono ke drame ke wajah se Navratra ke chaar din humne barbaad kar diye. Par ab aur nahi. Tyohaar ke din honge. Log aayenge, celebration honge, aur har taraf khushiyaan hongi. Iss saal mere ghar laxmi aayi hai, mere paas meri bahu aur meri beti, meri Naina aayi hai. Main uski pehli Navratri iss ghar mein khas banana chahta hun. Meri gudiya rani Pari ke liye yaadgaar banana chahta hun. Isliye abhi ke liye na tu yahan se jayega aur na hi meri gudiya.
Agar kisiko problem hai toh bata de. Agar kisiko Maheshwari khandaan ki dono laxmiyon ki khushiyon mein saamil nahi hona, toh darwaaza khula hai. Apna samaan bandh kar ja sakta hai. Agar rehna hai, toh bina kisi chu ke rehna padega. Devang aur Pari ko saath nahi dekh sakte, toh aankhen bandh kar lo nahi toh wahan se chale jao. Devang aur Pari ko saath baat karte nahi dekh sakte, toh kaan bandh kar lo. Magar mere ghar ki dehleez mere yeh dono bacche nahi langhenge.

Poonam: Main aapki bacchi nahi hun Fufaji?

Vivek: Tu hai beta. Par iss waqt mere saamne meri Poonam nahi khadi hai. Meri Poonam kuch bhi ho sakti hai par pathar dil nahi ho sakti. Tujhe Devang ko jo sazza deni hai tu de. Par tujhe Pari ko sazza dene ka koi haq nahi hai. Tere saath jo kuch hua usmein Vishakha, Devang aur tum dono ke halat ka kusur tha. Aur kahin na kahin tera bhi haath tha. Tune kabhi Devang ko yeh surety nahi di ki tu apni pregnancy se khush hai.

Khair! Ab iss topic par koi discussion nahi hoga. Devang! Upar kamre mein ja, Pari ko bol ki tum log kal nahi ja rahe. Navratri ke baad hum wapas iss par discussion karenge.
Naina! Beta kal tum aur Sameer Pari ko leke shopping ke liye chale jaana. Apne liye kapde aur baaki saara samaan le aana. Chaho toh Pranati, Pralay aur Preeti ko le jaana apne saath. Pari unse milegi toh accha lagega usse.

Jaiprakash: Aur Naina! Maine Ramdhari ko bol kar dinner banawa liya hai. Toh tu dinner banane ki chinta maat karna.

Naina: Ji thik hai Dadaji.

Vivek: Naina Beta main apne kamre mein ja raha hun. Mera dinner wahin bhej dena. Abhi Maharaj Ji aur Pandit ji se baat karni hai aur saari samaan ki list banani hai. Bahut kaam hai mujhe.

Naina: Thik hai Papaji

Kamlesh: Tumne sahi faisla nahi liya hai Vivek.

Vivek: Mere bacchon ke liye kya sahi hai aur kya galat yeh mujhe acche se pata hai.
(Eyeing towards Vishakha) Aur mera kounsa faisla galat tha woh sabhi ko maloom hai.

With this Vivek left, followed by Jaiprakash, Prabha, Kamlesh, and Vishakha. Sameer slumped on the nearest couch and held his head in between his palms, and Naina exhaled loudly. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When her eyes fell on the slightly shaking shoulders of Sameer, she immediately went next to him. Sameer wounded his arms around her waist and hid his face in her stomach, when Naina kept her palm on his shoulder. Naina's one arm was around him and rubbing his back and with the fingers of the other hand, she caressed his head.

Sameer: Nai....Naina! Phir se mera parivaar adhura reh gaya. Mera sapna phir toot gaya!

Naina: Nahi Meer! Aissa kuch nahi hua hai. Aapka sapna nahi toota hai.

Sameer: Nahi Naina! Aissa hi hai. Maine jab jab apne parivaar ka pure hone ka sapna dekha tab tab kuch aissa hua ki woh sapna sapna hi reh gaya. Iss baar bhi aissa hi hoga.

Naina: Nahi aissa kuch nahi hoga! Meri taraf dekhiye.

She held his face in her palm, and rubbed her thumbs on his light stubble.

Naina: Iss baar aissa kuch nahi hoga. Kyunki iss baar main hun aapke saath. Hum dono milkar Devang Bhaiya, Poonam Bhabhi aur Pari ko ek dhaage mein piroenge. Aapka sapna phir ek baar nahi tootega. Main tootne nahi dungi.

Naina sat next to him and pulled him towards her. Sameer wrapped his arms around her back and kept his head on her chest. She kept weaving her fingers through his hair to calm him down. And it was working. Sameer's restlessness was settling down and he could feel a cool breeze flowing and taking away his pain.

This moment Sameer realised that he has a person who would always be there with him to calm him and assure him that everything would be fine. He finally got a person who would not judge him for getting overwhelmed and letting tears flow down his eyes, rather would wipe them and make him feel better.

He lifted his head up and looked straight into to the dark orbs of his wife which spoke lots of things. But the most important things that he could see in those eyes were love for him, a promise of being there with him always, and the determination to not let any of these wishes vanish.

This time Sameer pulled Naina towards him and wrapped his arms around her. Naina kept her head on his torso. He leaned on the arm of the couch so that Naina's neck won't feel pressurised. Naina scooted closer, and kept her head on his shoulder blade. Wanting to feel more of her warmth, Sameer pulled her whole frame on top of him and lifted his feet off the ground. Now Naina layed on top of Sameer, and was rubbing his cheeks softly with her thumb.

Sameer: Naina! Maine shayad kuch bahut accha kiya hoga pichle janam jo tum mujhe mili. Main bahut bahut bahut thankful unn sari energies ke taraf jinki wajah se main aur tum, hum ban gaye.

Naina: Thankful toh mujhe hona chahiye unn sab energies ke liye. Maine aap ke liye kuch nahi kiya hai ab tak. Par aapne! Humari shaadi ke inn 3 hafton mein aapne mere liye bahut kuch kiya hai. And I want to do everything possible for you.

Sameer: Tum mere saath ho, bas utna hi kaafi hai.

Naina: Mere liye bhi.

Sameer and Naina laid on their living room's couch, entangled in each other's arms, for a very long time. The peace and serenity they felt being close to each, relaxed their tensed facial and body muscles, and they fell asleep.

When the clock struck 8, Jaiprakash descended down the stairs to have dinner. He could see the couch from the fourth stair, and noticed two feet resting on the armrest. When he stepped closer, he saw Naina and Sameer sleeping in each other's arms. A smile spread on his face, and his gaze went to the smiling photographs of Janaki and Vaishali which was placed on the wall shelves facing the staircases. Jaiprakash's eyes went on the fresh flowers' decorations on and near the frames and the akhand diya placed infront of it.
He remembered how on the first day after arrival from Jaipur, Naina had cleaned the rack and decorated the place.

Flashback

The clock showed 07:15 AM, when Jaiprakash entered into the living room area from the backyard door after spending sometime in the garden. After locking the door, he turned around to face the living room to find Naina standing in front of the shelves on the wall opposite to the backyard door.

Jaiprakash: Naina?

Naina turned around to show her nose and mouth covered with her dupatta. After seeing her grandfather-in-law, Naina uncovered her face and walked to him. She touched his feet and gave a bright smile to him.

Naina: Good Morning Dadaji

Jaiprakash smiled and patted her head, before replying.

Jaiprakash: Good Morning meri bacchi. Tu itni subah kyun uth gayi? Abhi abhi hi toh safar se lauti hai aur kal ke itne bade drame ke baad, tujhe aaram karna chahiye tha na.

Naina: Dadaji, main jaldi hi uthti hun chahe kitni late kyun na soyi hun. Haan kabhi kabhi late hota par woh exceptional cases hote hai. Aur kal ke baad neend udd si gayi hai.

Jaiprakash: Hmm, neend mujhe bhi khas nahi aayi. Waise tu wahan shelves ke paas kar kya rahi thi? Kuch dhundh rahi hai?

Naina: Ji nahi. Actually haan! Kuch dhundh hi rahi thi.

Jaiprakash: Kya?

Naina: Ek perfect jagah!

Jaiprakash: Kis liye?

Naina smiled at him and turned back to go to the place where she was standing. She picked by two frames and showed it to him.

Naina: Inhe rakhne ke liye.

Jaiprakash gasped seeing the smiling and lively photo frame of Janaki, his wife and Vaishali, his daughter like daughter-in-law. He noticed that the frames were the bigger size of the photos that were placed near the TV unit.

Naina: Main jab apne pehle din living room ghum rahi thi tab maine dekha tha aap sabne Mummy Ji aur Dadiji ki photo TV unit ke bagal mein rakhi hai. Par mere khayal se Dadiji aur Mummy Ji ki photo agar inn shelves mein rakhe toh better rahega. Aur racks wide hai toh badi photo bhi reh sakti hai. Plus racks detachable hai. Toh thoda aur bada bana sakte hai space. Aur maine dekha tha ki inn dono ke saamne wala diya pura din nahi jalta aur shayad Ramdhari Kaka ya aap subah puja ke waqt thode se hi phool rakhte hai inke saamne. Papaji ne bataya tha ki Mummy Ji aur Dadiji ko phool bahut pasand the. Toh maine socha ki kyun nahi Dadiji aur Mummy Ji ko ek naya environment de.
Main aissa kar sakti hun na Dadaji?

Jaiprakash's eyes had dampened listening to Naina's plan. He felt proud and happy that Sameer had chosen the best girl for being his wife and the daughter of this house. He walked to her and kissed her forehead.

Jaiprakash: Tu iss ghar ki sirf bahu nahi hai. Humari beti bhi hai. Yeh ghar tera hai. Teri jo marzi tu woh changes kar sakti hai. Janaki aur Vaishali sirf Sameer ki Dadi aur Mummy nahi hai, teri bhi Dadi aur Mummy hai.

Naina gave a big smile and with lots of excitement continued her plan. And Jaiprakash chuckled seeing her speaking with so much excitement.

Naina: Maine Ramdhari Kaka se kehkar Mummy Ji aur Dadiji ki photo reframe karwa di thi. Aur unse kaha tha ki unn dono ke favorite white aur pink phool ke podhe garden mein laga de. Jab tak woh podhe bade hoke khoob sare phool na dene lage tab tak main bahar se le aaungi. Main khud roz inke photo ki rack ko sazaungi aur inke saamne akhand diya lagaungi taki inki positive energy uss diya ke form mein humare ghar mein humesha rahe aur inke favorite phoolon ki khushboo hume unke aas paas rehne ka ehsaas dilate rahe.

Jaiprakash smiled at her thoughts and was about to speak, when Sameer walked into the living room with a tray of steaming tea cups.

Sameer: Naina! Sameer special chai ban gayi......Arre Dadu! Aap!? Good morning!

Jaiprakash: Yeh kya? Tu bhi uth gaya hai!

Sameer: Haan Dadu, Naina ke saath meri bhi neend toot gayi thi toh main uske saath neeche aagaya. Aap yahin baitho, aapke liye bhi chai banake aata hun.

Jaiprakash: Rehne de beta. Mujhe abhi nahi peena. Thodi der baad peeunga.
(To Naina) Tu apni chai pee le. Thandi ho jayegi.

Naina: Ji thik hai Dadu. Par abhi aapko kuch aur chahiye? Juice ya kuch?

Jaiprakash: Nahi beta. Mujhe abhi kuch nahi chahiye. Main kamre ko ja raha hun, naha dhoke aata hun.

Naina: Thik hai Dadaji.

Jaiprakash had stepped up on the staircase, and turned around to look at his children to find Sameer standing behind Naina with a cup of tea and a piece of biscuit in his hand. Looked like he is about to dip the biscuit in the tea and feed his wife. He smiled at them and left. After 30 mins, when he came down, he found Naina had placed Janaki and Vaishali's pictures at the centre of the whole rack. She had decorated the rack with white jasmines and pink zinnia, and as said, she kept a golden lid and bottom transparent glass akhand diya infront of their frames. Jaiprakash's eyes watered seeing so much love hidden in Naina's gesture.

Flashback over

Jaiprakash was brought back to the present when he heard shuffling and looked at his kids sleeping on the couch. Sameer had changed his position a bit and pulled Naina towards him a little closer. Jaiprakash ran to the storeroom and brought a quilt. He covered his sleeping beauties with it and placed a loving kiss on their foreheads.

Then he walked towards the wall shelves and looked at the smiling picture of his wife and his daughter.

Jaiprakash: Dekh rahi ho na dono, kaise iss bacchi ke aane se yeh ghar sawarne laga hai. Yeh ghar jo itne saalon tak bas ek makan tha, usko iss pyaari bacchi ki kadmon ne wapas ghar bana diya. Waise tum dono ko yeh sajawat acchi toh lagi hogi. Lagegi kyun nahi? Humari Naina ne ki hai. Janaki! Vaishali! Naina ke aane se ghar mein wahi mahol laut aaya hai jo tum dono ki maujudgi mein hua karti thi. Wohi khushi aur wohi sukoon. Bas.....Devang Poonam aur Pari ke beech ki uljhane sulajh jaaye phir sab thik ho jayega. Ho jayega na?
Accha tum dono aaram karo, main tum dono se kal baat karunga.

Jaiprakash went towards the kitchen and silently served a plate for himself and Vivek. He had already called Vivek to notify him about Naina and Sameer resting, so he asked Vivek to come down and eat quietly and go back. When Vivek stepped down, and he was walking stealthily towards the dining table, his phone rang loudly breaking Naina and Sameer's slumber. Vivek immediately silenced it but, the damage was done. His son and daughter-in-law were awake. Jaiprakash hit Vivek's head in annoyance and Vivek made a sorry face.

Sameer and Naina sat up with the sound, but Sameer didn't shift Naina from his lap. She was still sitting on his lap and rubbing her face to come out of sleep. But when her eyes fell on her grandfather-in-law and father-in-law, she jumped off her husband's lap and started looking here and there with red cheeks. Sameer also stood up and started finding words to construct an explanation. Vivek understood their situation and gave a smile.

Vivek: Nayi nayi shaadi huyi tum dono ki aur ek dusre se pyaar karte ho, toh publicly apna affection dikhana chalta hai. Upar apne hi ghar ke hall mein chup chap soye the. It's fine.

Jaiprakash: Haan bacchon, mujhe aur Vivek ko khushi huyi dekh kar ki tum dono ek saath comfortable hogaye ho aur khush bhi ho. Aur beta! Pyaar humne bhi kiya hai tumhari Dadi aur Mummy se, toh humare saamne close hone se hichkichana maat.

Vivek: Tum dono uth gaye ho toh jaake muh haath dho aao. Kapde change karke fresh ho jao, phir mil kar dinner karenge.

Jaiprakash: Haan beta, hum dono tum dono ka wait karte hai. Aao tum.

Naina: Nahi nahi Dadaji! Aap dono kha lijiye. Aapka time par khana zaroori hai aur dawa bhi leni hai na.

Sameer: Haan Dadu! Kal se taiyaariyaan shuru hongi, aur aap dono ka uske liye ekdum fit hona zaroori hai.

Vivek: Ek din time se nahi khane se kuch nahi hoga, toh humare saath behas maat karo. Chup chap jaake fresh hoke neeche aao. Hum chaaron saath dinner karenge!

Naina: Papaji.....baaki sab?

Jaiprakash: Beta, jisko jab khane ka mann karega toh tab aake apna khana le jayega. Tu chinta maat kar, aur aaj ke drame ke baad thoda space dena chahiye Devang, Poonam, Prabha aur Kamlesh ko.

Naina nodded her head and followed Sameer to their room. Sameer asked Naina to get into the washroom first and by that time he changed his clothes and put his mobile phone on charge. After 10-15 minutes when Naina walked out of the washroom, she saw Pari inside their room, sitting on her Sameer Chachu's lap.

Sameer: Lo! Aapki Chachi wapas aa gayi.

Naina: Hi baby!

Pari: Pretty Chachi! Papa bol rahe the ki hum kal home ke liye nahi go kar rahe hai. Hum kuch din yahin Tumbai mein stay karenge. Kya yeh true hai?

Naina: Haan betu, yeh true hai.

Pari: Par.....Papa......Pari.......again.......

And Pari started crying. Sameer hugged her tightly and whispered sweet nothings convincing her that this time her father won't distance himself from her. Naina who stood near the bed held Pari's arm and picked her up in her arms. Pari kept her head on Naina's shoulders and kept on sobbing.

Naina: Betu, aapke Papa ne neech aapse promise kiya tha na ki woh aapse dur nahi jayenge. Phir aap ro kyun rahe ho?

Pari: Papa agar apna promise break kar diye?

Sameer: Princess, kya ab tak Papa ne kabhi apna promise toda hai?

Pari shook her head in a No, and Naina smiled at her. She joined her forehead with Pari's for a second and spoke.

Naina: Toh phir Papa iss baar apna promise kaise tod sakte hai? Aur betu, kal se toh festival shuru ho rahe hai. Aapko enjoy nahi karna?

Pari: Karna hai.....but Papa ke bina nahi. But aap tell kar rahe ho, toh Papa nahi far jayenge Pari se.

Sameer: Haan, accha aap jaake Papa se bolo ki khudko aur aapko dinner ke liye ready karke neeche aa jaaye.

Pari nodded her head and ran out of the room after jumping off Naina's arms. Naina smiled seeing the happiness back on Pari's face. She was still looking at the direction from where Pari disappeared when Sameer wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. He nuzzled in her hair and planted a kiss behind her ear sending goosebumps through her skin.

Sameer: Ab toh khush ho na? Pari ke chehre ki smile wapas aagayi.

Like every other time, this time too Sameer's close proximity had clogged her throat and she lost her voice. So Naina nodded to his question with thumping heart and heated cheeks. And like every other time, Sameer was enjoying Naina's blushing state. Before he could say or do anything more to deepen the cheek color of his wife, they heard Vivek's voice from the dinner room. Naina pushed Sameer a little and ran downstairs after giving a shy smile to him. Sameer grinned sheepishly and after combing his hair with his fingers, he went down stairs.

Vivek: Naina! Jaise maine kaha tum aur Sameer Pari ko leke shopping karne kal chale jaana. Maine Naresh aur Rakesh bhaisahab se baat kar li hai. Kal Pralay, Pranati aur Preeti tumhare saath chalenge.

Pari: Tomorrow Pari kahin go karne wali hai?

Vivek: Haan meri gudiya rani! Festival hai na toh meri gudiya rani ko ek princess jaise dikhna hai na. Toh uske liye usko princess dress chahiye. Isliye kal tujhe tere Chachu, Chachi tere Mamu Mami aur Masi ke saath le jayenge. Shopping ke liye.

Pari: Aur Papa?

Jaiprakash: Jaise tu apne Chachu ke saath jayegi, waise tere Papa apne Fufa ke saath jayega shopping.

Pari: Oh! Papa aap mujhe photo wala call karna okay? Hum matchy matchy karenge. Jaise hum home mein karte the.

Devang: Ok Papa ki jaan! Papa aapko video call karenge.

Pari: Papa! Repeat!

Devang furrowed his brows and asked her what to repeat.

Pari: Abhi aapne Pari ko jo call kiya. Repeat!

Devang understood what she meant and smilingly repeated Papa ki jaan and lifted her off her seat and made her sit on his lap. He pulled her nose and brought her head to his chest and patted her head.

Devang: Pari humesha se Papa ki Jaan thi aur humesha Papa ki Jaan rahegi. No matter Pari aur Papa kitne far chale jaaye, par Pari ko Papa humesha pyaar karenge.

Pari: Same pinch! Pari bhi apne Papa ko bahut bahut bahut pyaar karti hai. 200 times!

The Maheshwari clan giggled at Pari's cuteness, and someone else also found Pari's claim cute. But she immediately covered her smile. And she was Poonam who had stepped down to get herself a plate of food. But seeing Samaina, Jaiprakash, Vivek, Devang, and Pari, she went back.

The next day after having their breakfast, Naina, Sameer and Pari went off for their shopping. Clothes, shoes, jewelleries, hair clips, bracelets, hair bands, perfume, skin products, shampoo, doll shaped soap, every single item a 7 year old would require was put inside their shopping basket along with clothes and accessories for Samaina. It took 2-3 hours for Maheshwari couple, junior Patel and young Agrawal clan to shop everything. On their way back home, Sameer received call from his secretary, Sreeja that an emergency has come up and he needs to come to the office for few minutes.

When asked about accompanying her Sameer Chachu, Pari scrunched her nose and shook her head in a big NO! She said offices are boring as she had accompanied her Papa once, and got bored within 5 minutes. She said she would go to her favorite Nanu's house and wait for both them as Sameer said her Pretty Chachi would be tagging along with him.

Naina: Meer, aap upaar jao. Main Pari ke saath yahan Bhaiya ka wait karti hun. Unke paas isse drop karke aa jaungi.

Sameer: Ok. Tum enter karte hi right ki taraf aana. Tumhe ek elevator dikhega, usmein aana aur 15th floor press kar dena. Wahan ke elevator se nikalte hi sidha aana, cubicles honge 2-3 usko cross karke right aana. Mera cabin wahin hai.

Naina: Thik hai. Ab aap jao....

Sameer: Pari! Baby apna aur apni Pretty Chachi ka take care karna. Aur Nanu ke ghar par bahut saara fun karna!

Pari: Okie Sameer Chachu!

Sameer pecked his little princess's cheeks who was in her Pretty Chachi's arms and also pecked Naina on the right corner of her lips. Naina's eyes widened and she gave a fake glare to her husband who winked and went inside. From the glass windows of the elevator, he could see Naina tickling Pari and both of them laughing heartily.

Naina: Amm, Meer ne right kaha tha ya left? Main sahi floor pe toh hun na. Call kar leti hun.

Naina had dropped Pari with Pralay 5 minutes back, and now was standing in front of the 15th floor elevator, trying to remember which direction did her husband tell. She was about to call her husband, when a lady approached her from back.

Lady: Excuse Me? Who are you?

Naina: Hi! I am Naina.

Lady: Hi, I am Pooja, front desk of CEO office. Aap kis se milna chahti hai?

Naina: Meer se......I mean Sameer Maheshwari se. Unka cabin kis taraf hai?

Pooja: I am sorry par aap bina appointment ke Sir se nahi mil sakti. Aapka unke saath appointment tha?

Naina shook her head and giggled before she said: Main unki wife hun. Wife ko toh appointment ki zaroorat nahi hoti na.

Pooja first scanned Naina from top to bottom. Naina was wearing a magenta jaipuri print chiffon saree with orange curved lacy and mirrored embroidery. Her blouse had puffed sleeves which reached till her wrist. She wore her mangalsutra, engagement ring, Sameer's gifted ring, a pair of gold and diamond bangles, and a pair of jhumkas in the name of jewellery. And her face had just eyeliner and lipstick in the name of makeup. Naina felt a bit uncomfortable when Pooja scanned her from top to bottom. She shifted a bit at her place and tried to remain calm.

After a scrutinizing two minutes, Pooja started laughing loudly looking at Naina, which confused her.

Pooja: Tum! Aur Sameer Sir ki wife? What a joke! Tumne apni shakal aur dressing style dekha hai? Aur Sameer Sir ko kabhi dekha hai? Koi match nahi! Dekho! Dikhne mein sharif ghar ki lagti ho, toh kyun yahan jhooth bol rahi ho? Jao! Wapas apne ghar jao!

Naina: Par mera yakin kijiye. Main hi hun Sameer Maheshwari ki wife. Aap chaho toh internet pe check kar sakti hai. Aap toh apne company ka trademark pehchan sakti hai na aur Sameer Maheshwari ka signature bhi. Toh iss ring ke peeche dekhiye, aapko dono mil jayenge.

Pooja: Oh hello! Pagal samjha hai? Tumhare jhooth ko sach maan lun itni badi gadhi nahi hun. Aur kya proof hai yeh gehne asli hai, artificial jewellery nahi hai.

Naina: Accha thik hai. Aapko jewellery par bharosa nahi hai. Fine. Aap Sameer ko bula lijiye, phir aapko pata chal jayega ki main hi unki wife hun.

Pooja: Tumhe kya lagta hai ki tum Sir ko bulane ki baat karogi aur main maan jaungi ki tum unki wife ho! Dekho ladki! Sameer Maheshwari hai woh. Kisi airi gairi se shaadi thodi karenge. Unke class aur elegance ko match karne wali ladki se shaadi ki hai unhone. Mrs. Sameer Maheshwari, iss duniya ki sabse sundar aur elegant lady hai. And look at you! Sirf shakal acchi hai, baaki sab bandstand se uthaya hua hai.

Ab apna aur mera time waste maat karo, and jao yahan se. Warna mujhe security ko bulana padega.

Naina who hadn't faced such level of humiliation in her entire life, could sense her eyes filling up and she felt helpless. The lady in front of her wasn't ready to listen to her, and was spitting venom which indirectly was true. Before Pooja could humiliate Naina more, a loud and cold voice echoed through the corridors. Naina and Pooja turned around to find Sameer with Sreeja standing near the conference room.

Sameer: What the hell is happening here?

Pooja: Sorry Sir! Yeh ladki pata nahi kaise aapke floor aa gayi. Main isse nikal rahi hun.

Sameer who had listened to everything this woman had sprawled for his wife, had his blood boiling in his arteries and veins. But he decided to bring her ego and arrogance down by uplifting it a bit and then pulling it down with full force.

Sameer: Aapne pucha inse ki yeh yahan kya kar rahi hai?

Pooja: She said she was going to you.

Sameer: Did you ask why she was coming to me?

Pooja: Yes sir! She said she is your wife. Aaj kal ki ladkiyan I tell you Sir! Bahut chalak hogayi hai. Ab koi bhi muh utha ke bolega ki woh aapki wife hai aur hum maan thodi jayenge.

Sameer: Aapko aissa kyun laga ki yeh meri wife nahi ho sakti?

Pooja gave stinky look towards Naina and her clothes, and replied with a disgust in her voice.

Pooja: Iss ladki ke kapde dekhe aapne Sir! Middle-class level ke hai. Business tycoon Sameer Maheshwari ki wife aisse saste kapde aur sasta look thodi legi.

Sameer: Hmmm......Waise aapko meri wife ka naam pata hai? Ya kabhi unhe dekh hai!?

Pooja: No Sir, social media mein main itni active nahi hun. So maine unko dekha nahi hai. Par itna maloom hai ki woh Agrawal Logistics ke malik ki beti hai. Aapki tarah business family se aati hai par Maheshwari Industries ki tarah big scale company nahi hai.

Sameer: Hmm.....So Miss. Pooja aaj aapko meri wife ka naam aur uski tasveer dikha deta hun. Aur yeh chehra apne jehen mein acche se baitha dena. Okay?

Sameer found out a solo picture of Naina which he clicked on the day of Kairav and Krisha's reception. She looked like a royalty in the golden sequin and net lehenga. Her beauty was glorified with the kundan jewelleries that she had worn which included a mathapatti, a mangatika with matching earrings, a choker necklace, a double layer princess necklace, haathphool for both hands, golden and kundan kangans and bangles. She had kept her makeup minimal and her most beautiful ornament, her bright and gorgeous smile. He smiled at this photo and looked at his wife, who stood behind Pooja with pale face and slightly moist eyes. The humiliation she faced snatched the glow and color of her face brutally. Lost was the cheerful Naina whom he had left in the parking area with Pari.

He also selected a picture from their wedding day. He selected the picture clicked during their pheras. He remembers that this picture is of that time when he had witnessed Naina looking lost somewhere and kept his palm over her palm and had drawn her out of reveries. She looked at him and he gave her a small smile.

Sameer quickly came out of his reveries, and gave a forceful smile to Pooja before showing her the reality.

Sameer: So Miss Pooja! Introducing you to my wife, Naina Sameer Maheshwari

Looking at the pictures on her boss's phone, Pooja's face lost its color and she gulped a thick saliva. She started sweating profusely and lifted her eyes, to find her boss digging deep holes into her head with his daggering gaze.

Pooja: S......ss.....sii.....sirr.....

Sameer: You're fired!

Pooja gasped at her boss's statement and immediately tears started rolling down her eyes.

Pooja: I am sorry Sir.....

Sameer: You! Are! Fired! Pooja! Get the hell out of my office! Now!

Naina: Meer......

Sameer: Naina! No!

Sreeja: Sir, please Pooja ko fire maat kijiye. She is the only earning member of her family. Iske pitaji heart patient hai. Open heart surgery hone wali hai unki.

Sameer: Hmmm, let me solve this problem. Sreeja, humare welfare trust se Pooja ke pitaji ke naam ka cheque ready karo. Jis hospital mein procedure hone wala hai wahan contact karke provisional bill banwao. Humari welfare Trust unke treatment ka saara payment kar degi. But main ek minute ke liye bhi Miss Pooja ko humare office premises mein nahi dekhna chahta.

Pooja: Sir! Ma'am! I am sorry. Please mujhe naukari se maat nikaliye! Please.

Sameer: Miss Pooja, main aapko isliye fire nahi kar raha kyunki aapne meri biwi ko humiliate kiya hai. Main aapko isliye fire kar raha hun kyunki aapke andar humanity nahi hai. Main aapko fire isliye kar raha hun kyunki aap duniya ki materialistic soch ko follow karti hai. Maheshwari Industries believes and makes sure that humare saare customer humare kapde aur jewellery pehnkar khud ko confident mehsoos kare. Ab chahe woh kapde ₹500 ke ho ₹5000 ke ho ya ₹500000 ke ho doesn't matter. Haan meri wife ka social status mere social status ko match nahi karta, but this doesn't matter for any of us. So it should not bother anyone else as well. It's high time hum logon ko unke outfits ya appearence se judge karna bandh kar de. Agar kisiki saree ya suit designer nahi lagti toh comment pass karna shuru kar dete hai hum, judge karne lagte hai, assume karne lagte hai ki woh ek acche ghar se taluk rakh nahi sakti.

Meri wife ko sadgi mein sundarta nazar aati hai, apne se pehle apno ko rakhti hai, ek well known logistics company ki malik ki beti aur millionaire Maheshwaris ki bahu hone ke bawjud woh jewellery ke naam par apna mangalsutra, apni engagement ring, meri gift ki huyi ring, aur bangles pehenti hai, makeup zyada nahi karti hai, aur apne husband aur father ke paise kharche karne ke nahi bachane ke raste dhundhti hai. So? So what? So nothing! Mujhe meri biwi, meri Naina, par bahut garv hai, aur mujhe meri biwi ki inhi sab cheezon se pyaar hai. Aur iske Papa ko bhi apni beti par naaz hai.

Miss Pooja, aap bhi ek middle class ghar ko belong karti hai. I am sorry but aapki financial condition Naina ke financial condition se compared low hai. But she didn't demean you. She didn't act like a snob when you called her names and tried to impose her power. Ek ladki hi dusri ladki ke baare itne gande words use karegi toh kya hoga iss society ka. Gold digger Naina nahi, aapke jaise soch rakhne wali ladkiyan hoti hai. Jo yeh sochti hai ki agar kisi middle class ghar ki ladki ko ek paise wale ladke se pyaar ho jaaye ya unki shaadi ho jaaye toh ladki ka motive ladke ke paise hatiyane ka hoga. Kyun? Pyaar paisa aur class dekhkar hota hai? Dil ka koi role nahi? Agar Naina chahti toh aapko explanation dene ke bajaye pure haq se andar aa kar mujhe dhundhti, but she didn't. She respected you. But you didn't.

Pooja: Sir, mujhe nahi pata tha ki yeh.....yeh aapki wife hai. Mujhe....mujhe laga ki.......I am sorry Sir. Please mujhe fire maat kijiye.

Sameer: Aapne sahi kaha tha Miss Pooja. Mrs. Naina Sameer Maheshwari iss duniya ki sabse sundar aur elegant ladki hai. Woh sirf bahar se nahi balki andar se bhi behadh khubsurat aur elegant hai.

Sreeja! Type her termination letter quickly. I want her out of my campus the soonest! Meri Naina ke aankhon mein aansu laane wale ko itni asaani se jaane nahi dunga. It's a promise!

Sameer stepped towards Naina, and held her face. He wiped her tears with his thumb and planted a long kiss on her forehead. He wounded his arm around her back, and guided her towards his cabin.

Entering into his cabin, Naina started assessing the aesthetic and design of his cabin. The cabin had off-white and shades of brown as its color theme. The first thing one can see after entering the cabin is Sameer's workstation. His teakwood table had his desktop, a wireless mouse, keyboard, a pen stand, a photo frame facing his light brown leather chair with two similar yet smaller size chairs facing it, and a small pile of files. The wall behind his chair had numerous shelves having small indoor plant, awards, business related books, and showpieces. The wall to her right had a full length glass window giving the scenic view of the bustling Mumbai city, and a set of coffee brown couch set and an off-white center table was kept against the window. A small conference room table was kept on the left hand side wall, maybe for the times when more than two people come for meeting him.

Sameer: Naina....kaisa laga tumhe mera cabin?

Naina: Bahut sundar hai.

Sameer: Chalo baitho, main tumhe humare latest designs dikhata hun.

Sameer guided her towards his table. She had anticipated that he would pull out the visitors' chair for her, but he suprised her when he pulled out his own chair and made her sit on it.

Naina: Meer......yeh......yeh aap kya kar rahe hai? Yeh aapki chair hai! Main iss chair par kaise baith sakti hun?

Sameer: Tumhara haq hai yeh Naina! Tum iss company ki CEO ki biwi ho, iss office aur iss company ki haar ek cheez par utna hi haq hai tumhara jitna mera hai. Isliye tum iss chair par baith sakti ho.

Naina: Hoga haq par, main iss chair par baith nahi sakti hun. Meer, iss chair par baithne ke liye aapne kitna struggle kiya hoga, kitni saari parikshaon ka samna kiya hoga, aur kitni mehanat ki hogi. Inn sabka main andaza bhi nahi laga sakti hun. Main iss chair par isliye nahi baith sakti kyunki main aapki biwi hun. Yeh sirf ek chair nahi hai Meer, yeh aapki ab tak ki saari mehanat ka phal hai. Aur main aapka phal kaise bhog kar lun. Yeh chair aapka hai aur sirf aapka rahega. Iss par aapke baad koi kabil insaan hi baithega.

Naina stood up and went to sit on the couch. Sameer shook his head and went near her. He sat near her feet, and held her palms in his.

Sameer: Tumne aaj phir se saabit kar diya ki main bahut lucky hun ki mujhe mili. Tumhare jagah agar koi aur hoti toh phat se baith jaati. Aur ek meri Naina hai! I love you Sameer ki Jaan.

Naina: I love you too

Naina smiled at him, and looked outside the window. Even though she smiled, her smile didn't reach till her eyes. Deep down, Pooja's words were replaying in her mind and through the glass windows she was seeing herself and Sameer in a comparative sense. Sameer knew what dilemma she must be going through, and held her palm tighter.

Sameer: Tumhare aur mere beech chahe kitne hi farq kyun nahi ho Naina, ek cheez bilkul same hai. Woh hai ek dusre ke liye aur ek dusre ke family ke liye humara pyaar. Maine tumhe pehle dekha tha, mujhe tumse pehle pyaar hua tha, agar mujhe meri status aur class ki ladki chahiye hoti, ya mujhe tum aur tumhara dressing sense pasand nahi hota toh aaj tum meri biwi nahi hoti Naina! Kisi dusre ki baat ka itna gehra asar maat dalo khud par.

Naina: Meer, main aapse bahut pyaar karti hun aur humari family se bhi. Par aap public personality hai, log aapke baare mein baatein karte hai, aapko jaante hai. Aapse shaadi karne ke baad ab main aapse jud gayi hun, main kar rahi hun, kahan ja rahi hun, kya kha rahi hun, kis ke saath ja rahi hun, kya pehen rahi hun, yeh sab ab important ban gaya hai. Kyunki ab main Naina Agrawal nahi hun, main Naina Sameer Maheshwari hun. Aapki image mere ek galat kadam se kharab ho sakti hai. Pooja ne bas ek aam aadmi ke nazar se hi kaha jo bhi kaha. Koi bhi aapki wife ko classy aur elegant hi imagine karenge na. Galti meri hai, aap humesha mujhe support nahi kar sakte!

Sameer chuckled and said: Naina! Haan main tumse bahut pyaar karta hun aur mujhe tumhari haar baat pasand hai. Par I can assure you agar kabhi tum galat ho toh main tumhe tokunga. Aur Naina! Tum meri biwi ho toh iska yeh matlab toh nahi hai ki tum apni identity kho di. Dekho, tum shaadi se pehle jo thi ab bhi woh hi ho. Bas ghar badla hai, aur kuch naye rishte mile hai tumhe. That's it! Aur tum mujhe, Dadu aur Papa ko dekhi hi hona. Tumhe apne aap ko change karne ki koi zaroorat nahi hai. Tum simple, beautiful aur elegant ho. Bas mujhe kuch aur nahi chahiye. Logon ka kya hai. Unka kaam hai baatein banana aur judge karna. Unki sunne baithenge toh kabhi kuch nahi kar payenge. Agar Dadu logon ki sunne baithte toh kabhi bhi itne bade fashion designer nahi bante aur na hi aaj Maheshwari Industries exist karti. Agar Papaji logon ki sunne baithte toh shayad aaj tumhara aur unka rishta itna strong aur loving nahi hota. Logon ki baaton ko filter karna sikho Naina. Haar insaan humari family jaisi acchi aur sacchi nahi hoti Jaan.

Sameer held her face in his palm, and rubbed her cheeks with his thumb pad. He brought her face closer and kissed her forehead.

Sameer: Accha tum yahan par baitho aur apne husband ka cabin enjoy karo. Main bas 15-20 minute mein aata hun. Kuch files sign karni hai aur ek client ke saath deal wrap up karni hai. Phir hum ghar chalenge. Hmm?

Naina nodded her head, and let her husband go with a big smile on her face. She kept sitting on the couch and looked outside. She was busy admiring the Mumbai skies and high rise buildings when her phone rang.

Naina: 10 din baad yaad aayi tujhe meri!

Akshara: Ab kya bataun. Kairav bhaiya ki shaadi ke baad mujhe ek music camp mein jaana pada Jodhpur, phir Abhi ke saath Mumbai wale hospital se related kuch official kaam aa pada. Ab jaake free huyi. Tu bata! Kaha hai?

Naina: Inke office aayi hun.

Akshara: Ohho......Mr.and Mrs. Maheshwari ka office romance chal raha tha! Main baad mein call karun?

Naina: Chup kar! Kuch bhi bolti hai!

Akshara: Dekho toh! Gaal kaise laal ho rahe hai. Aissa tab hi hota hai jab chori pakdi jati hai....

Naina: Amm....kya kuch bhi bol rahi hai.

Akshara: Kuch bhi nahi, sach bol rahi hun. Accha bata! Kaisa chal raha hai sab kuch? Pari aur Dev Ji ghar mein settle hogaye?

Naina shook her head in a NO, and narrated every single details that happened since the last 10 days.

Akshara: Hey bhagwaan! Ab? Dev Ji aur Pari wapas aa rahe hai Udaipur?

Naina: Abhi ke liye toh nahi. Papaji ne unn dono ko Navratri khatam hone tak roka hai. Papa Ji aur inhone plan kiya hai ki Navratri ke baad kuch na kuch karke Devang Bhaiya ka decision change kar le.

Akshara: Naina, mujhe tere family matter mein bolna toh nahi chahiye par bol rahi hun. Make sure ki jo bhi decision liya jaaye woh Pari ki mental health aur emotions ko consider karke liya jaaye. Uss bacchi ke paas sirf aur sirf uske Papa hai. Dev ji ko apna pura parivaar lautane chakkar mein Pari se uska eklauta parivaar maat chinh lena.

Naina: Par hum sab bhi Pari ka hi parivaar hai na Akshu.

Akshara: Haan ho. Par Naina, Dev Ji ki family ka haar ek insaan Pari ko nahi apnana chahta na. Dekh, teri family Pari ko apna rahi hai which is good. But Sameer ke side mein infact Dev ji ka hi family Pari ko dekhna tak nahi chahta. Aisse mein Dev ji Pari ko dekhenge ya apne ruthe parivaar ko. Pari tum sab ko janti hai, regular video calls mein connected rahoge usse aur Udaipur kounsa dur hai, jab chaho tab aa sakte ho yahan.

Naina! Tu aur main lucky the ki humari situation simple aur humari family ke saare members hume dil se accept karte the, isliye humara bachpan itna traumatic nahi tha. Par yahan bahut complications hai. Dev Ji 10 saal ke liye gayab the, Pari unki adopted bacchi hai, aur Dev Ji ki wife situation ko accept nahi kar rahi hai, already 10 din uss bacchi ki muskaan usse dur thi. Ab aur nahi. Tujhe, Sameer aur Vivek Uncle ko unn dono ko freedom dena hoga apni choices karne ke liye.

Naina: Tu sahi keh rahi hai Akshu. Apne swarth mein hum sab Pari ka bhul gaye the. Usne khud kaha hai ki usse sirf uske Papa chahiye.

Akshara: Naina! Papa ke bina rehne ka gam mujhse behtar koi nahi janta. Main Pari ki umar ki thi jab Papa aur Sirat Maa dono mujhse dur hogaye. I know from where she is coming. Isliye meri baat par gaur karna. Hmm?

Naina nodded her head and they continued talking till Abhimanyu barged into the room where Akshara was talking and they started bickering over some silly topic and Naina declined the call with a chuckle.

Getting some free time with herself, Naina thought about what Akshara said. Throughout those painful 10 days, Naina was there with Pari just like a shadow. She has seen Pari's every tear and whimper. She has seen the hollowness in that little girl's eyes and the paleness of her face. It was today morning when Pari finished all of the food served on her breakfast plate, which she had stopped doing since the day Devang started ignoring her.

Naina (in her mind): Mujhe Papaji aur Meer se iss baare mein baat karni chahiye.

On this cue, the door opened and Sameer stepped in. As Naina was lost in her thoughts, she couldn't hear the sound of clicking of the door lock and Sameer's footsteps. Seeing his wife standing near the window unfazed, Sameer decided to grab her attention. He wounded his arms around her bare waist inside her saree and drew her closer, leading her bare back crashing with his torso. Naina's attention was diverted off her thoughts when her husband's warmth radiated through his shirt to her bare skin. Sameer drew the curtains of her silky smooth tresses and put them on her right shoulder and kept his poky chin on her bare shoulder blade, which tickled her and formed knots in her stomach. Naina kept her palms over his locked palm which rested on her stomach and drew a sharp breath. Sensing her fastening breaths, Sameer pecked her earlobe, and trailed feathery kisses till her clothed shoulder, and simultaneously caressed her waist and stomach with his fingertips. Naina who had just rested her palms on his, clutched her saree with one hand and held his palms with other, and with closed eyes tried to control the strange and unfamiliar sound, that threatened to come out of her vocal cords. After reaching her clothed shoulder, Sameer trailed back on his feathery kisses' path and whispered in her ears sensuously.

Sameer: Main tumhe uncomfortable toh nahi kar raha na Jaan.

With her lost voice, Naina couldn't reply with words and just shook her head in a no slowly. Sameer had a smile on his face and sucked her earlobe before continuing further. He kept kissing her left side neck, shoulder blade, cheeks, temple, and collarbone, till he reached the border of her saree. And his innocent wife had her lower lip pressed between her teeth to control her moans and felt like a cageful of butterflies set free inside her stomach. Long forgotten was the tension regarding their family disputes and the corridor fiasco, as the newly wed were busy romancing each other. Sameer turned a panting Naina, to find her whole face and neck colored pink, matching her magenta saree. With parted lips, hooded eyes, and red cheeks, Naina looked very appealing to him, and caged her between him and the window. He leaned forward, touching his torso with her front, and snaked his right arm around her bare stomach, and held her face with his left palm. Sameer touched his nose with her's and kept looking at the art he created. With his warm breathes fanning her face, Naina didn't have the courage to look into his eyes. She kept her eyes half closed, and waited for his next move.

Naina didn't have to wait for long, as Sameer started peppering feathery kisses all over her face, and stopped near the corner of her lips. He rubbed his thumb on her lower lip, which was parted a bit. Feeling his thumb rub on her lower lip, Naina fisted his shirt from behind, and her heartbeats raised frantically. He slid his fingers along her arm, and dug his face in the crook of her neck to give the same amount of attention that he gave to the left side of her neck and shoulder. While he was kissing her nape, suddenly he heard an unfamiliar sound from her and realised it to be his wife's first moan and that spot to be her soft spot. Smiling like a greedy kid got his favorite toy, he peppered numerous kisses there and felt his wife squirming in hold.

Not being able to control herself, Naina clutched his hair with one hand and rubbed his back to another. She decided to give the control to her body, and let things flow as they wish, thus she leaned on him and rubbed her front to his. Sameer's hand which was already inside her saree, resting on her stomach, roamed around and reached her back. His fingers reached the hook of her blouse, and outlined the borders of it. Naina gasped and opened her eyes. Even Sameer's trance broke hearing her gasp. He removed his hand from there and detached himself from her. He was about to break his promise and thus decided to move away, when Naina pulled him closer and held his face in her palms. She rubbed her thumb near the corner of his lips, and looked into his eyes with the same passion and desire as him. Seeing no resistance from her, Sameer held her petite bare waist and drew her closer, he slowly leaned forward and kept his rough and slightly dried lips on her soft and nude brown painted lips. No one moved their lips and just stayed there glued to each other. Naina's eyes were once again closed due to shyness and Sameer's eyes we're looking deeply into her closed eyeseyes.

Sameer could feel his control slipping when she didn't move her lips, and he moved his fingers on her waist sensually. He took the initiative and sucked her lips. Naina was so lost in the new sensations called ecstasy, that she had no idea what she is doing or is supposed to do. She just followed her husband's lead. Their lips started moving in sync after few seconds passed, and Naina could feel her stomach doing sumosaults and her grip on his back tightened. His palms got a mind of their own, and started roaming around her bare waist and back, while her hand got lost in his hair. Slowly, his tongue entered her mouth as he found it difficult to control his raging desires. His tongue explored her mouth and clashed with her's. The touch of her soft petal like lips drove him insanse and his lips moved fast which seemed unmatchable for her.

Sameer felt like he was in heaven. Never in his life, did he feel this amazing. He was very much happy that his first kiss was his wife who is the love of his life. Now he understood why couples those are in love can't keep their hands off each other. Because this feeling is out of the world and very beautiful. Sameer wanted this moment to last very long but he had to stop as Naina was lightly hitting his chest, indicating her breathlessness. He rested his forehead on her's and both of them took their own time to stabilize themselves and their racing breaths.

After calming himself, Sameer walked to his desk. He filled the glass with water and gave it to Naina. Naina looked at the glass intently as she wasn't able to meet her eyes with him due to the heated moment they shared a few seconds back.

Sameer: Pee lo. Aur kab tak mujhse nazar nahi milaogi? Biwi ho meri, aur maine apni biwi ko kiss kiya hai. Mujhe sharam nahi aa rahi toh tumhe kyun aa rahi hai? Waise bhi tum mujhe apne paas khinchi thi. Main toh dur hi ja raha tha....

Naina gasped and looked at her husband. He was smirking and her cheeks flared once again. She looked down and grabbed the glass of water. After she finished it, she kept it on the table and looked towards the window. Sameer curled his finger under her chin, and lifted her face. He planted a kiss on her forehead and whispered a I Love You. Naina smiled at him and replied him back, and hugged him.

Just like this, the day which could become memorable for Naina due to a different reason became memorable for both of them, in a romantic manner. Today's day marked a new chapter in their love story. A new level of comfortness and proximity got unlocked in their marital life.