"Nahi nahi nahi main koi bahana nahi sununga tumhe aana he padega, Pandit announced to his friend. "Yaar Pandit samajh na, mera wahan hona bohot zaroori hai", Sameer replied to his friend. "Aur mera anniversary party, woh zaroori nahi hai kya." Pandit responded annoyed. "Aisa nahi hai Pandit woh bhi zaroori hai par.." "Par kya? Dekh Sameer shaadi par nahi aaya maine tumhe maaf kardiya, ab First year anniversary party hai yaar agar tu nahi aaya toh main yeh party cancel kar doonga." "Pandit sun na, Munna samjha isse," Sameer tried to persuade his other friend to support him. "Pandit sahi keh raha hai, kaam zaroori hai par dost se zyaada zaroori tho nahi hai na", but instead of supporting Sameer, Munna sided with Pandit. "Munna tu bhi? Achha theek hai, aaj sham ke party par mein aayunga. Ab toh khush hona tum dono." A wide grin emerged on the three friend's faces as they hugged each other. "Aur sun sham ko black colour pehenkar aana, hero dikhega", Pandit said grazing his fingers over his hair, imitating Sameer's signature style. "Hero dikhoonga matlab main toh hamesha se he hero dikhta hoon" Sameer said running his fingers through his silky black hair. "Chal toh sham ko milte hai, abhi bohot kaam hai", pandit said before leaving Sameer's room.

******************

"Hi jija ji kissiko doodh rahe ho", Naina asked her dearest Jijia ji. "Haan woh Preeti kahin dikhai nahi de rahi", Pandit replied to the question of his saali. "Preeti ready ho rahi hai. zara mujhse bhi baat kar lejiye na." "Saali ji abhi main bohot busy hoon, Preeti se bhi baat karne ka time nahi hain, toh please usse baata dena ki main abhi maa papa ko venue tak drop karne jaa raha hoon aur phir tum dono ko pick up karne aa jaunga." "Theek hai, main bata doongi."

***

"Preeti tayar huyi ki nahi", Naina asked knocking the door to Preeti's room. "Bas ho gayi", Preeti yelled from inside. "Darwaza jaldi khol Preeti..." "haan haan ruk abhi kholti hoon." "Huhhh Are wah meri behen tu itni sexy dikh rahi ho, irada kya hai", Naina asked nudging her sister. "Chup kar, Pandit kahan hai." "Jija ji uncle aunty ko drop karne gaye hai aur phir humme pick karne aa jayenge." "Achha, main achhi toh dikh rahi hoon na." "Achhi dekh rahi ho matlab atom bomb lag rahi ho." "Tu phir se shuru ho gayi na." "Aree sach mein jija ji tujhe dekhenge toh flat ho jayenge", both the sister started laughing at Naina's comment.

***************************

The matt black jaguar stood in front of the the venue and as the door opened, Sameer stepped down from it, wearing a black tee and blue jeans, contrasted with a white coat. He walked inside the hall and immediately caught the attention of all the girls inside. Smiling at the attention he was receiving he walked up to his best friend and his wife. "Happy wedding anniversary", he said, as he presented the couple with a bouquet. "Oh finally tum aage mujhe laga ki tum aaj nahi aaoge", Preeti asked getting surprised seeing Sameer in the party. "Kaise baat kar rahi hai aap bhabhi, apke liye aana padha." "Waise thanks aane ke liye Pandit bata raha tha ki tumhara koi meeting.." "Meeting ko maine postpond kardiya, kaam se zyaada dost important hai." "Toh Sameer aao main tumhe apne sasural walon se mila detha hoon," Pandit said holding sameer by his shoulders and guiding him to a set of people whome he was about to get introduced to. "Yeh hai Preeti ke mom aur dad aur mere saas saasur. Aur yeh Preeti ke bade Taiji aur Tauji Jagdish Aggarwal aur Bina Aggarwal aur Yeh hai Preeti ke chote Tauji Rakesh Agarwal aur yeh unka beta Arjun. Aur yeh hai Sameer Maheshwari. Mera best friend", Pandit said. "Sameer Maheshwari, Jayprakash Maheswari je ke nati?", asked Rakesh. "Jee haan uncle. Aap nanu ko jaante the." "Haan bohot achhe se." "Waise Naina kahin dikai nahi de rahi hai. Kahan hai woh, Pandit asked his in-laws. "Naina?" Sameer questioned. "Haan woh Rakesh tauji ki beti", Pandit replied. "Pata nahi kaha chali gayi, abhi toh yahi par thi. Sameer party ko enjoy karo aur kissi bhi cheez ke liye sharmana mat, Rakesh said to Sameer. "Jee uncle."

****

"Toh kaise lage mere saasural wale." "Acchaa hain," Sameer responded absentmindedly as his eyes were searching for someone. "Kissi ko doondh rahe ho," Pandit asked. "Haan, woh Munna ko", he lied. "Aata he hoga. Dekho phone aa gaya uska. Munna kahan par ho tum. wahan se right lekar phir left lekar aa jau. Ek second. Sameer main Munna ko lene jaa raha hoon. Tu yahi ruk." "Main bhi aata hoon na." "Nahi nahi tu party enjoy kar main abhi aata hoon."

Sameer's eyes started to search for someone again. He didn't know who he was seeking for but an uneasy restlessness formed in his heart from the time he heard her name 'Naina'. He kept moving back with his eyes looking in ever direction trying to find out who among the crowd would Naina be. As he kept moving back he collided with someone and the drink she was holding fell over him, making his white coat drenched with a tinge of red due to the colour of her drink. "What the heck" he started. But the one in front of him made his tongue tied. She was wearing an olive green long flowing kurta and churidar. A netted dupatta of the the same colour hung over her shoulders. Patterns made out of golden thread ran along the frills at the bottom end of the kurta. She was wearing a small jhumki and a bindi adored her forehead. Her umber coloured eyes where deep as ocean and he felt like drowning into them. She was saying something to him, by her lip movements he could understand that she was spelling out a sorry' but everything became inaudible to him. "I am so sorry. Excuse me. I am talking to you. I am sorry." Sameer was pulled out of his trance because of her sharp voice yet he could feel the melody dripping from it. "No its okay." "I am so sorry, mere wajah se apka coat karab ho gaya." "I am really very sorry. Aap mere saath aaye," she held his hands and directed him somewhere and Sameer followed her without a question. He entered somewhere what seemed like a washroom. "Apna coat uttar ke dejiye." He obeyed her. He gave her his coat and she started to wipe off the stain off his coat. "Yeh kya kar rahi hai aap." "Yeh daag nikhalna aasan nahi hoga isseliye..." "Nahi nahi iski koi zaroorat nahi." "Par mere wajah se..." "Its okay ho jata hai. aap mera coat wapas kijiye." "Par..." "Maine kaha na its okay." "I am sorry" she said handing him his coat. "Its okay" Sameer replied smiling. "Are you sure." "Yeah" he said. "Sorry once again" she said as she left the place. But she left behind her fragrance in the air.

************

"Sameer kahan chala gaya, kabse doondh raha hoon tujhe", Pandit asked sameer while Munna was standing beside him. Sameer still had his eyes fixed on the girl whom he met a while back. "Woh sab chod yeh bata ki woh ladki kaun hai," Sameer asked pointing his fingers to the girl who just collided with him. "Arre woh toh naina hain, Preeti ki behen," Pandit replied. So she was Naina. the one whom he was looking for. "Ek minute main usse bhulata hoon. Naina zara yahan aana." Naina came and stood in front of him. "Naina yeh Sameer, mera sabse best friend aur Sameer yeh Naina meri pyaari saali. Kya hua tum dono aise ek dusre ko kyu dekh rahe ho." "Woh actually jiju maine galti se apke friend ke upar juice gira di." "Aree koi baat nahi Naina, maine kahan na aisa hota hai, isme apki koi galti nahi. Don't worry main isse laundry mein dal dunga."

"Pandit aao cake cut karte hai", Preeti called out to Pandit. "Haan abhi aaya. Cholo cake cut karne chalte hai". "While Preeti and Pandit were cutting the cake, Sameer's eyes did not waver from Naina. Her eyes, her smile, her cute expressions, everything about her mesmerized him. Never did he feel any sort of attraction as this before.

*********************************

The party as soon over and Sameer headed back to his house. He opened the door and was shocked to find his mother sitting on the sofa in the living room. "Aap? Aap yahan kya kar rahi hai." "Kyu apne bete ka ghar hai, nahi aa sakti kya," VIshaka replied. "Beta? Kon?, mujhe toh koi yahan dikhai nahi de raha." "Sameer please, apne maa se tameez se baat karo', his mother's second husband said to him. "Please aap chup rahiye, aap beech mein na bole usse mein apki bhalai hai." "Sameer yeh kaisa tareekha hai apne papa se baat karne ka", Vishska sounded annoyed. "Ek baat aap acche se samjha lijiye, na main apka beta hoon, na aap meri ma aur na he yeh aadmi mera baap. So I don't see any reason why you are standing here in my house." "Wah Vishaka, aache sanskar diya hai tumhare baap ne isse." "Aap nanu ke baare mein kuch mat boliye please." "Enough Sameer, maafi mango inse", Vishaka said in a stern voice. "Sorry" Sameer said and Somani smirked, "but not sorry", Sameer completed as he proceeded towards his room, "Kaise batameez banta jaa raha hai yeh. Yeh sab tumhari galti hai, bohot chut de rakhi hai tumne isse, sab ussi ka nathija hai." Sameer went to his room not caring about the commotion that was happening at the living room.

***

Once inside his room, he removed his coat and threw it on the bed and sat down on the corner of the bed. his visions were clouded with her image. Her smile, her constant apologizing words. He took the coat from the bed and caressed his fingers over the red mark that was caused because of the spilt juice. "Iss daag ko toh mein kabhi nahi doounga". Saying so he neatly folded the coat and put into the cupboard.

***

The next morning he came to have breakfast and found Vishaka already at the breakfast table and Somani was sitting in the sofa, reading the newspaper. Ignoring them both, he called out for Ramdhari. "Ramdhari, mere liye breakfast lana." Vishaka got up from her chair and served breakfast to him. "Ramdhari ghar par nahi hai, sabzi lene bazaar gaya hai." "Aur aap log yahan kya kar rahe hai, mujhe laga Delhi wapas chale gaye honge." "Hum yahan tumse ek zaroori baat karne aaye hai." Sameer continued to have his breakfast without paying heed to what Vishaka was saying. "Tumhare liye ladki dhondhne aaye hai." He literally chocked on his food when he heard Vishaka say this. "What? Ladki dhoondhne." "Haan taki tum shaadi kar lo aur life mein settle ho jao." "Mujhe nahi karni shaadi wadi." "Toh puri zindagi kuwara rehna ka irada hai kya", Mr.Somani said, without taking his eyes off the paper. "Apko isse matlab." "Aap dono chup ho jayiye. Sameer dekho, ab tum bacche nahi rahe, tumhare life mein bhi koi honi chahiye na joh hamesha tumhari saath ho. acche se kamate ho aur 26 ke bhi ho gaye ho, mujhe lagta hai, its time you settle down in life." "Mujhe koi shauk nahi hai shaadi karne ki", Sameer said finishing his breakfast and getting up from his chair. "Apne liye na sahi papa ke liye man jao", Sameer stopped in his tracks when he heard Vishaka say this.

"Dekho main jaanto hoon ki woh aaj hamare beech nahi hai, par maine unhe promise kiya tha ki tumhari shaadi ek achi ladki se karwaongi, joh hamesha tumhari khayal rakhe. Maine unse promise kiya tha ki unke jaana ke baad tum life mein kabhi akele nahi rahoge. Papa ko bura lagega agar tum aise he akela jeete rahoge toh. Dekho Sameer, main jaanti hoon kaisa lagta hai jab tumhe life akele guzarne padti hai, aur apne experience se keh rahi hoon. Kk baar tum haan kar do, hum tumhari pasand ki he ladki layenge." Sameer looked at nanu's photo in the hall and nodded in a yes. "Theek hai, kariye joh karna hai." "Very good, main aaj he tumhare liye ladki dhoondhne suru karti hoon."

*******************************

Sameer left for work in his car, half way through his office he saw something that stopped both his heartbeat and car. She was standing on the platform, wearing a light blue salwar kameez. Her hair was left loose, a watch was wrapped over her left wrist. The wind was blowing over, causing her to continuously brush her hair behind her ear, to stop them from falling over her face. He honked his car and she looked in his car's direction. He waved at her from inside the car and then got down. "Hi Naina" he said enthusiastically. "Hi arhh.. Sameer right." He nodded. "Tum yahan kya kar rahi ho." "Har somwar ko main mandir aati hoon, aur bas yahan se nikhal he rahi thi par auto nahi mil raha." "Oh toh tum chaho toh main tumhe drop kar sakta hoon." "Nahi nahi its okay, waise bhi main ghar nahi library jaa rahi hoon aur aap apna kaam dekhiye na." "Tumse badhkar kya kaam." "Kuch kaha apne." "Nahi...kuch nahi. Par main tumhe aisa yahan par chodkar nahi jaa sakta, i will drop you." "Are nahi apko itni takleef uthane ki zaroorat nahi hai. Main khud chali jaungi." "Come on Naina, isme takleef ki kya baat hai, gaadi mein baito, mein tumhe chod deta hoon." Thinking for a while Naina got into the car.

****

Sameer stopped in front of the library, none of them spoke anything for the whole drive. "Thank you aap yahan tak mujhe drop karne aaye." "Its okay thank you bolne ki koi zaroorat nahi hai." "Aur yeh aap kehna chod do, tum mujhe Sameer bhula sakti ho." "Ok fine. Thank you sameer." "No need for thank you. Waise bhi dosti main no sorry no thank you. Argghh toh issi baat par kya tum mujhe apna dost manogi." Sameer asked extending his hands. Naina shook hands with him. "Ok bye", She said opening the door. "Arghh Naina", he managed to say before she got down from his car. "Woh.. kya tum aaj sham ko free ho?" "Huh?" "Main aur Pandit aaj sham ke liye plan bana rahe the toh socha agar tum bhi join karo toh, Preeti bhi aa rahi hai", he added just to be on a safer side. "Please Naina." "Main dekh kar batati hoon. Main jiju ko call karke confirm kar doongi", she said closing the door and walking towards the library.

*******

He first thing he did after going to office was to call Pandit and convince him to make a plan for the evening lest Naina would get to know about his planning. "Pandit mujhe urgently tumse ek madad chahiye." "Kya hua Sameer sab theek hai na." "haan haan sab theek hai. woh bas kya tum aaj sham ko free ho, agar ho toh bhabhi ko lekar law garden aa jau na. Aur sun chaho toh tum Preeti ki behen, ko bhi saath lekar aao, woh.. kya naam hai tumhari saali ka... Na se kuch haina?" "Naina?" "Haan Naina". "Sameer zyaada bano mat, sidhe sidhe bol ki tujhe Naina se milna hai, aise gol gol ghumane ki zaroorat nahi hai." Sameer chuckled at how well his friend cum brother had understood him. "Aree arree sharmao matt, main Naina ko bhi lekar aata hoon." "Ok bye." Sameer sighed leaning back on his chair. "Ab sham kab hoga." He thought getting restless to see her again.

*************************************