Hi All! Thank you all for the responses and love.Keep voting and keep supporting.Much love to all.

Without much ado,here is the update.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Sir! Quarters ya ghar?'' Avik asked as they took a turn from the institute road.''Ghar ''Came a brief reply. Avik looked at Namrata and her nod said that she knew and that all necessary preparations have been made.Naina was bit confused about this though.Why was Sameer staying in quarters when he had a house in Delhi itself.May be Namrata had all answers.

As the car wheeled through the gate,Naina saw an old lady standing at the threshold.She could not remember seeing her anytime.The 'ghar' was a mansion looming proudly behind intricately designed iron gates.It was flanked by rows of tall Ashoka trees, swaying gently to the chilly wind.A marble fountain stood in between gurgling water in a sweet melodic tune.Naina was lost in admiring the surrounding when she felt a tug.

"Avik ke saath aao.Main Nisha ko kamre mein le chalta hun.Wo Namrata ki Mummy hai.'' Sameer said as he gently pulled out sleeping Nisha and carried her in his arms,her head balanced on his shoulder. Naina looked at his retreating figure as he ascended the stairs and disappeared behind the huge door.How quickly he has gotten into role of a father.

"To tum Naina ho.Aao.'' Namrata's mother said as she kissed Naina on forehead.Naina touched her feet in reverence.She by the time knew Sameer didn't stay with Visakha.Does that mean they had two houses in Delhi?And still Sameer chose to be in Quarters? Why?

"Namrata!Ek baat batao''.Sameer apni family ke saath nahin rehta?

"Unka family to aap ho.'' Namrata said teasingly and Naina hit her playfully.''I am serious,Namrata.''

"Ok ok.Mujhe pata hai ki aap confused ho gayi ho.Aur yeh lambi kahani hai.Baad mein bataungi.Yeh ghar Nanaji ka hai.Yahin 5 kilometre ke duri par hi Somani Mansion hai.Vishakha Aunty,Somani Uncle rehte hein.Rohan Bhaiya to London chale gaye hein shadi ke baad.Nanaji Visakha Aunty ke pass rehte hein kaafi time.Bhaiya to kitne workaholic hein aap jante ho.Nanaji yahan bhi kabhi kabhi aa jaate hein.Jab Visakha Aunty ko London jaana hota hai.'' Namrata completed and Naina felt a wrench in her heart.

He was alone too.

"Sameer uss ghar mein kabhi nahin jaata?'' She asked though she already knew the answer.

"Nahin.Bas do baar jaate hein.Naniji aur unke Papa ki varshi pe.Bhaiya to yahan pe bhi nahin aate hein jyada.Quarters mein rehte hein.Subah subah riyaaz karte hein aur karwaate hein.Har saal jo scholarship ki trainees hote hein unka extra class lete hein.Bas phir office aa jaate hein.Munna Bhaiya bhi kabhi kabhi aate hein unke saath rehne jab Swati Bhabhi Ahmedabad chali jaati hai.'' Namrata uttered ,though in a hushed voice. She knew Sameer never liked anyone to know about this mess.

"Arey wahin baatein karte rahoge ya andar bhi aaoge?'' Nanaji's voice was clear.Namrata bit her tongue and immediately took Naina inside. Naina crossed the threshold.She shuddered at the realization.This was actually his house.The threshold she was destined to cross.The threshold she had once dreamt of crossing.There were things known and unknown yet but she had crossed another door,coming another step closer to him.

"Bhabhi yeh upar aapka kamra hai.Aap jaake fresh ho jaiye. Ramdhari khana bana raha hai.'' Namrata informed as she went away to her room.''Namrata!Suno.''

"Ji Bhabhi!''

"Tum yahin rehte ho?'' Naina asked while Namrata nodded.''Bhaiya to office mein busy rehte hein aur ab to Almora bhi chale jaate hein.Isliye Papa ke guzarne ke baad hum yahin rehte hein.Yeh sab dekhval mein aur Mummy hi karte hein.Aur kuch?''

"Filhal abhi ke liye to kuch nahin.Kuch doubt hua to puch lungi. ''Naina said smilingly before rushing to the room.

Next Day at Marriage Registrar's Office

"Mumma!Hum yahan kyun aaye hein?'' Nisha asked tugging at her mother's saree.So many people were moving in and moving out.Some had garlands in hands too.Some were dressed like her mother as she was on that Pooja day in temple.But today her mother had worn a simple deep blue sari with the same old long chain with beads she has been wearing since the pooja day.And what was extra was that she had a folder in her hands.Her Papa was as usual busy on phone.Though he for a change had worn a shirt and not that what he had worn on the Pooja day. Munna Chacha was there,Swati Mausi was busy chatting with her mother and Namrata Didi was busy listening to some other person.Life seemed so boring without Rishav.None was of her age to atlest talk to her.Avik Bhaiya was kind enough to ask her for chocolate and then ice cream.

"Nisha!Kaam hai beta.Chalo andar.'' Naina said as she held her hands and took her inside. A pungent smell of papers and ink flowed in air.Nisha felt like hospital she will not like to visit this place again.Pot-bellied people adorned the chairs.There were more men and very less girls.She looked at a couple.They looked younger than her mother and father.The girl was crying and the man sitting on chair was saying something to the boy.She looked at her parents.They looked confident and others were happy.Her mother seemed relaxed also.So this was a place where not many are happy to come.Whats this place is called.She needs to ask her mother.

"Sir!Aap form fill up kar liye?Ab yeh padhiye aur sign kijiye ''The registrar took away the form checking the entries and handed over a paper for Sameer to read aloud.

"I Sameer Maheshwari take Naina Agarwal to be my lawful wife. '' He read the line aloud and looked at her.She smiled and gestured him to sign on the paper.He smiled back and quickly signed at the assigned place.

"Ab madam ji aap bhi yeh padhiye aur sign kijiye.Naina took the paper and sighed.She never had thought she would one day stand at such a desk and put her signature.But may be it was all God's will.She glanced at Nisha and kissed her before reading aloud:

"I Naina Agarwal take Sameer Maheshwari to be my lawful husband.She signed,taking all the time in world,taking in the words with a beautiful handwriting.

"Ab aap dono yeh register pe sign kar lijiye.Wish you a happy married life. The registrar wished and showed the places.

"Papa!Aap Mumma ko wo Uncle Aunty ki tarah phul ki mala nahin pehnaoge?'' Nisha asked while munching on the chocolate bar Avik had brought her.She had by then seen few couple come and leave,doing formalities just like her parents.Reading something ,signing and then putting garlands before signing in the big,fat lime coloured book.

"Nahin beta.Zaroorat nahin hai.'' Sameer said and Naina nodded in agreement.

"Main bhi sign karun?'' Nisha asked as she saw the registrar call Munna,Swati and Avik to sign at some places.''Tum iske liye choti ho bache ''The registrar said and she felt disappointed.She now wanted to grow up soon.She no more wanted to remain ''choti bachi'.

"Sameer!Chal sidhe lunch karke chalte hein.Naina ,Swati aur Nisha ghar chale jaayenge aur humein office jana hoga.''Munna said while all agreed.''Jaldi chalo,mujhe bhookh lag rahi hai.''Nisha said while all laughed seeing Nisha's pissed off expression.

In the evening

Crash! CRASH!

"Kya gira?Ramdhari Bhaiya kya gira?'' Naina shouted loud as she heard loud crashes downstairs.It was late in evening.She had kept herself busy in writing few pages for her next novel.Her personal life had been busy enough to keep her away from writing stuffs.Not that she was complaining,but surely she felt she had ignored the thing she loved the most to do.

"NISHA!RUK JAA MERI MAA.BHAIYA MAAR DAALENGE MUJHE.'' Namrata''s voice reverberated in the hall and the name Nisha was enough to make Naina jump from her seat.

"Namrata!Kya hua...'' Naina's words stuck in her throat as she saw Nisha on rolling skates.Definitely they were of Sameer.There was not an iota of doubt.But where from this little devil got that?And now she was unstoppable.Naina saw her skating in the hall,knocking the steel vases.And it didn't take her minutes to realise the reason behind broken ceramic vases.

"Bhabhi!Dekhona Nisha ne vase tod diya hai.Bhaiya ab mujhe kacha chaba jaayenge.'' Namrata complained sulking.

"Main dekhti hun.Nisha!Nikalo isko.''Naina commanded while Nisha nodded in negation.''Mumma!Bada mazaa aa raha hai.Aap bhi khelna.Didi hat jao. ''Nisha shouted as caution.Namrata jumped out of the way while Naina looked displeased.

"NISHA!Abhi usko utaro.Mumma ki order hai.'' Naina's soft eyes were replaced with an angry gaze.Playing skates inside the house and breaking things was not expected from a disciplined child she had wished Nisha to grow up to.

"Ise utarna nahin aata.'' Nisha finally said,truthfully.She did enjoy but now the game had gone out of control.She skidded and Namrata too had no experience in skating.Naina felt her heart skip a beat.She didn't know how to stop Nisha now.She tried but seemed that Nisha would badly hurt herself because of Naina's inexperience.

"Ramdhari!Yeh bahar ka darwaza band kyun hai?Aur tum bahar kya kar rahe ho?'' Sameer asked as he parked the car and came to the door.

"Wo ...Nisha Memsahab skating kar rahi hai.'' Ramdhari informed while Sameer's eyes opened wide.''ANDAR?'' His own voice sounded alien to him.He pulled the door wide open and rushed to the hall.Naina's fear struck face and Namrata's attempts to create a boundary so that Nisha doesn't hurt herself ,banging against the pieces were enough to gauge the intensity of trouble.Sameer slid on floor knowing well how to stop the skaters.Holding tightly her feet he lifted her up in his arms.Nisha breathed finally feeling safe. Naina rushed towards them.She quickly unfastened the straps.The skates falling to ground,she hugged Sameer.He could well understand her fear of something happening to Nisha.

"Kya kar rahi thi?Agar phir se gir jaati to?Ek baar gir ke kitna bura haal hua tha na?'' Naina scowled at Nisha.She still could not forget the horrifying days of her life.The way Nisha laid almost lifeless on hospital bed..she didn't want to see that in dream again.

"Sorry Mumma!'' Nisha held her ears and Naina quickly hugged her. The sunshine of her life,she was too precious to be lost.''Tumhe yeh skates mile kahan se?'' Sameer asked remembering that he had not worn skates since years.Perhaps after he left Ahmedabad.

"Wo store room mein tha.Main aise ghumne gayi thi to dekha aur phir pehnke acha laga to khelne lagi.Sorry Papa.Par mein bahar gayi thi khelne.Par ek budhe se uncle ne mujhe daant diya.Isliye ghar ke andar khel rahi thi. ''Nisha said and Sameer wondered who scolded her.''Aap uss uncle ko bulake pucho.Wo jo gate ke pass hein.'' Nisha asked and Sameer agreed though he by now knew who she was referring to.

"Sahab!Kuch galti hui kya?'' The guard asked;quite surprised seeing Nisha sitting on Sameer's lap.Smiling wide with pride of majesty.

"Haan Papa yahi hein jinhone mujhe daanta tha.Aap bolo Papa ko ki mujhe kya bola tha.'' Nisha nearly commanded and the guard felt his job was over.The misunderstanding now is going to cost him his job.

"Sahab!Mujhe pata nahin tha ki aapki beti hai.Matlab aap to ...shaadi nahin kiye the '' He bit his tongue yet continued "Mujhe laga Namrata Madam ki yahan koi milne aaya hai.Lawn ki abhi kaam khatam hua hai to skating karti to kharab ho jaata.Aur parking area mein to bike aur cars hein na.Isliye maine mana kiya tha.Galti ho gayi sahab. ''The guard informed and pleaded while Sameer nodded that it was fine.''Tum jao.'' Came the brief command.

"Main tumhe skating sikha dunga.Thik hai?'' Sameer assured caressing her head.He could know she was in an age of growing up.Her energies needed to be channelized. Even if they wanted they can't bind her for long.She needs to learn to be adventurous.He knew he needs to address Naina's fears too.He didn't want that her fear should anyway inhibit Nisha.And they needed to talk about it.The sooner,the better.

"Thik hai Papa.Aap to Rishav ko lane se mana kar diya.Aur yahan to koi saath bhi khelne wala nahin hai.Aur Priya ki tarah meri bhai behen bhi nahin hein saath khelne ke liye.Ab isise kaam chalana padega.'' Nisha sulked,not realising what she had spoken.If that was not the end,she went ahead to further stress.''Papa!Aap mere liye ek bhai ya behen le aana,office se aate waqt.Mumma aap bhi try karna.Mujhe aise akele acha nahin lagta.'' Naina looked at her as if Nisha had grown horns and Sameer could not help laughing.

"Bhaiya!Office se aate waqt bhai ya behen le aana.''Namrata said as she winked at Naina.Naina blushed hard before ending up in giggles.

"Arey sab has kyun rahe ho?Pata hai Priya ki Mummy doctor hai.Aur wo hospital se uske liye ek choti si sister leke aayi thi.Priya uske saath khelti hai.Dono saath mein khate hein,kitna mazaa aata hai usko.Priya to ek baar boli ki agar koi bhi uski friend na bane to bhi use tension nahin.Uske pass best friend hai ab.Mujhe bhi waisa best friend chahiye.'' Nisha explained well.Naina face palmed at her ignorance about Nisha's knowledge.She never knew such things were brewing.Parenthood is never easy,not at any stage.She felt it was more difficult now than handling an infant Nisha.

"Par tumhara to Rishav hai na best friend.''Sameer asked while Nisha looked more upset with the mention of name.''Par wo to humesha saath nahin hoga na.Jaise abhi.Priya bol rahi thi uski sister aisi best friend hai jise wo har jagah le jaa sakti hai.Par Rishav ke liye permission chahiye na Niru Aunty se.Aap samjh rahe ho na?'' Nisha asked Sameer and he nodded.She felt happy that now that her father has understood her predicament he would definitely bring a cute baby soon on his way back from office.

"Nisha! Papa samajh to gaye lekin ab tum chalo sone.Mumma Papa ko decide karna hai na ki kounse dukan se kharidenge cute baby ko.''Namrata said ,controlling her giggles.

"Okay.To decide karne ke liye mujhe aapke pass sona hoga?'' Nisha asked,though she didn't like sleeping away from her mother but sacrifices for a future friend will be worth it.''Papa!Mumma!Baby sister laana.Good Night. ''Nisha waved back before rushing inside Namrata's room.

"Tumhein kya hua?Itna tensed lag rahi ho?Nisha thik hai.'' Sameer asked as he saw Naina look tensed.By now,he had come to understand her better.Her mere expressions could convey thousands of words.

"Nisha ki demands...Yeh sab.. ''She could not voice the exact words yet he knew.He gestured her to go to room and then talk about it.There was so much to talk and decide,mutually.

"Tum pareshan mat ho.Nisha to bachi hai.Jo dekha wohi boli.Mujhe pata hai use kaise distracted rakhna hai.Aur waise bhi abhi to ek dusre ko janna hai.Iske liye waqt hai.Main bhi taiyaar nahin hoon.'' He confessed.He knew he never wanted to let Naina feel like Nisha was a burden for him.He never thought Nisha so even.But given his present conditions he was not ready for another responsibility.And not even when two psycho paths were on release.He would not think of anything until he puts Vikram and Sudip behind the bars.

"Thanks mujhe samajh ne ke liye.Main bhi taiyaar nahin hoon.'' She confessed and he nodded acknowledging.''Suno!Thanks ajnabee logon ko bolte hein.Apnon ko nahin.Waise bhi Maine Pyar Kiya ka wo dialogue to yaad hai na?Dosti mein no sorry no thank you.'' She smiled and he felt a burden lift from his head.He was new to family life and the experience with Varsha had left him in a bad taste.

"Naina!Ek baat bolni thi tumse. ''He asked after much hesitation.''Hmm..Bolo.Nisha ke baare mein?'' She asked as she tidied the bed.''Nahin humare bare mein. ''He said with enough serious tone that she halted for a second.What was he going to discuss?Was it about Vikram? About Sudip? About her? She had told him enough.What more he wanted to know?

"Ghabrao mat.Baitho bed pe.Main aata hun.'' He said and went away to change his clothes.By the time he returned,locking the door,she had thought of numerous things he could possibly ask.She even had prepared answers for few questions.She chuckled that she was not so nervous for her interviews even.

"Haath dikhao.'' She heard his voice and realised that he was already on the bed,looking intently at her and her closed fists.She tremblingly forwarded her hand and he gently slipped a floral designed gold ring in her ring finger.''Aaj lawfully wedding night hai humara.'' He said and winked.She had sense of wonder and then realization sinked in.She didn't realise that they were lawfully wedded that day.Thoughts of Nisha had kept her engulfed and engaged enough.And whatever was left,her thoughts were invaded by characters of her book.Now she realised why her Nikita Didi and Sharad Bhaiya fought over forgetting about things.Then she laughed it off as silly banters,but now she knew how these small things made a big difference in relationship.

"Oh!Main bhul gayi thi.. ''She stuttered feeling embarrassed.She felt like smacking herself for forgetting.Now she realised why Namrata took away Nisha and did n't care for asking permissions either from Sameer or her.She thought what she should classify her as?Fool or Dumb or Moron?

"Naina!Kounsi khayal mein kho gayi?'' He asked snapping her from her world.She smiled back adoring the ring in her finger.On a close attention she saw her initials engraved in it.She could feel the engraved 'N'.The ring looked expensive now,on closer inspections.

"Bahut expensive hoga na?Kya zaroorat thi?Imitation ya silver ka le aate.'' She said ,still adoring the ring.''Pati apni patni ko gift kare..ismein zaroorat word kahan se aati hai Naina?Zyada mat socho.Bas isse utarna mat kabhi.'' He said and tried getting up to leave.She acted on impulse,and held his hand.''Kuch bolna tha tumhein iske alawa.Aaj koi office ka kaam nahin karoge''. She commanded and he returned back to bed.He didn't want to leave but wanted her to stop him.The relationship was no more about Nisha it was also about them.But he also knew he can never force it upon her.Till the time she accepts this relation whole heatedly he was ready to wait and support her.

"Idhar aao.Wahan kya baithe ho.Suhagraat pe log aise dur baithte hein kya?'' She asked wiggling her eyebrows and Sameer immediately checked her temperature.He had expected her to stop him,may be if she will get upset she would hug him,but such talks? Was he dreaming?Let him pinch himself.

"Naina!Tum thik ho?Matlab..'' He asked and she laughed.She knew he was not surprised but shocked with her talks.She would lie if she would say she was not enjoying surprising him.

"Mujhe kya hua hai?Tum hi bhag rahe ho.Aaj koi office ka kaam karta hai kya? Aur main tumse bahut gussa hun. ''She sulked,pretending to be angry.He shifted closer to her.Scratching his head he thought what did he do to make her angry?He gestured her to answer,failing badly at guessing.

"Itni achi kurti pehni hun.Thoda praise bhi nahin kiya.'' She tried hard to ace the acting.He scanned her and knew how she was playing along.If she thought the flirty Sameer was replaced with a complete serious man ,then she was definitely wrong.He should better give a demo.Samples are must before stocks are sold.Afterall he was a businessman even.

"Kurti to bahut acha hai.Lekin mujhe to laga tha tum sleep shirt pehenke mere intezaar kar rahi hogi. ''He whispered in her ear ,sitting close beside her,caressing her long tresses.She shivered and all the boldness went down the drain.He could see her blush profusely before sinking her face in palms.

"Ab mein jaun office ka kaam karne?'' He asked ,teasingly,and earned a punch in chest.''Tum na bahut kharab ho.'' She said and hugged him.His arms went round her waist and gripped it hard.He wanted to feel her enough,to let the realisation sink that she was there to stay forever..as his.

"Naina!''

"Hmm''

"Main soch raha tha ki kal to half day hai institute mein.Jyada kaam bhi nahin hai.Hum sham ko dinner date pe chalein?'' She couldn't help a smile hearing him say that..she looked cute with that smile on...

He smiled back at her and added, "Aise hi smile karte rehna..You look beautiful and cute.''

"Compliment deke date ke liye razi karva rahe ho Maheshwari ji?'' She teased before nodding that she was ready.

"Chalo ab so jao.Kal mujhe institute jaldi bhi jana hai.Agnihotri ne sab kuch mess up kar diya hai.'' He mumbled and she could see how again a flirty Sameer was replaced by responsible Dean of institute.As his partner for life time now it was her responsibility to ease away his worries and tensions.Just as he was trying for her.

"Sameer! Mujhe thodi shopping bhi karni hai.Hum pehle shopping karlenge phir dinner karne jaayenge... ''She trailed and he knew she wanted to say few something more.

"Baaki ka sentence khatam karo.I am waiting. ''He said as he tossed on bed facing her.''Nisha ko bhi saath le chalein?'' She asked;and he took a long breath.

"Naina!Main soch raha tha Nanu ko bhi le chalte hein.Tum Namrata ki Mummy ko bhi invite karlo.'' He said ,looking serious enough.

"Sameer!'' She playfully punched him; before both bursting into laughter.''Sochna bhi mat'' He said in between before drifting to a peaceful slumber,in each others arms.

If you want to be happy, do not dwell in the past, do not worry about the future, focus on living fully in the present.

(To be continued)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Would love to read all your comments. :)