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Naina smiled seeing Sameer a bit knowing that he won't return her smile. She noticed a girl standing there who was beautiful. Her jet-black hair tumbled at her shoulders while she had a beautiful pair of black eyes. She was wearing a black top matched with a grey slit skirt. She indeed looked like a model.

"She is Shrikha Sethia and Shrikha, she is my wife Naina Sameer Maheshwari." Sameer introduced. Naina felt her heart flutter listening to the way he just introduced her. But, who is this girl? She thought.

"So beautiful! Kab pyaar hua yaar tujhe inse?" Shrikha spoke as she hugged Naina gently. Naina just smiled a bit at her comment. Shrikha too smiled in response and then went towards the fridge to take a water bottle. Naina pulled Sameer's hand, making him look at her. Naina gestured him to lower down till her height.

"Yeh kon hai?" She whispered.

"My school friend," Sameer replied at which she bobbed her head in a way of understanding.

"Voh cartoon kab aane wala hai?" Shrikha asked Sameer, making him smile a bit. Naina looked at him, widening her sockets. Did Mr. Maheshwari just smile?

That's a rare moment.

"Aaj raat ko." He replied, covering his face with his usual cold expressions.

"Kon aa raha hai?" Naina asked, confused as they talked about some third person, whom Shrikha entitled as 'cartoon'.

"Kabir Ahya. He is too irritating. Pata nahi kaise voh Sameer ka itna close friend ban gaya." Shrikha said making a bad face at which Naina chuckled.

"He's not that bad," Sameer spoke in his gruff voice, in defense of Kabir.

"Oh please, he is the most irritating person I have ever met," Shrikha replied.

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"Naina?" Shrikha called as she came into Sameer and Naina's room. Sameer just looked at her as he was typing something on his laptop. Shrikha asked Sameer through gestures about Naina. He eyed the balcony where she was praying. Shiksha sat on the bed waiting for her.

"She is a theist just like Vishaka aunty," Shrikha spoke as she looked at Naina who was uttering prayers.

"Believing in things which don't exist!" Sameer remarked as he shook his head in disbelief.

"That's rude. It's just that she believes in god and you don't. You can't stop the world from praying." Shrikha replied, rolling her eyes.

"Let's chuck off on this matter. Why did you come here?" Sameer asked, getting back to his grumpy tone.

"Actually I am planning to go shopping so wanted to ask Naina if she would come along," Shrikha replied.

"She won't. I can't leave her alone, you know that right?" Sameer replied.

"So will you not let her leave this mansion of yours? Pagal ho jayegi voh, if she stays 365 days in this mansion. She will feel as if she has been kept on house arrest. You don't want to leave her alone right? So accompany us." Shrikha suggested.

"I am not interested in these girly things," Sameer spoke, drawing back attention to his work. Shiksha huffed in anger before she could speak anything Naina came into the room.

"Naina, will you come with me shopping?" Shrikha asked while Sameer simply glared at Shrikha.

"N-No, I...I actually have to stu-study." Naina, who had noticed Sameer glaring at Shrikha, refused to accompany her.

"Yaar you have changed a lot. Usse dara kyu raha hai? I will kill you, Mr. Mafia!" Shrikha said fisting her hands.

"You can't.'' He simply said with his signature smirk and walked towards Naina.

"Do you want to go shopping?" He asked her, trying to be soft, palming her cheeks. Naina lowered her eyes as she was unable to look into his orbs and bobbed her head in a hesitant way of no hesitantly.

"Tumhe mai nahi pasand?" Shrikha spoke dramatically.

"Nahi, aisa nahi hai," Naina replied swiftly, not wanting her to interpret the wrong meaning of her statement.

"Are I know it yaar. She's cute. Chalo so it's decided you are coming and this grumpy Maheshwari is also joining us. Wear something nice Naina, just married bride humesha saj-dhaj ke rehti hai na, suna hai maine. Wait, let me choose something for you. Which is your closet?" Shrikha asked her casually.

"V-Voh I will wear something nice," Naina spoke not wanting her to see her limited section of clothes.

"Oh-okay. I will be waiting for you guys at six." Shrikha said and left their room.

"Mujhe nahi aana." She said to Sameer clutching his palm.

"You really need to add on to your wardrobe, so we will go shopping," Sameer said.

"I have clothes and that's enough," Naina said, looking at him.

"You must add some more pretty dresses in your closet, Naina. As far as I know, you have two kurti and just one dupatta as one of them was burnt due to your carelessness. A red saree which you often wear when we go out, a black gown which I bought for you when we attended a party, your bridal dress and three pairs of lingeries. So, shopping for new clothes is a must." Sameer spoke as he caged her in between his arms, which rested on the wall.

Her eyes and her mouth were frozen wide open in an expression of stunned surprise. She was a reserved-natured girl, listening to such things from him made her shocked to the core. She pursed her lips, refraining her eyes to look at him, and then shut her eyes tight feeling embarrassed.

"Look at me Khaza!" He said in an authoritative tone.

"You should not speak like that, it's prohibited girly talk," Naina spoke in a hushed voice.

"There's nothing to hide Naina. I have seen you, you have seen me and after the time we spent yesterday there's nothing to hide or shy from." Sameer spoke in hushed voice mimicking her, noting her expressions. Naina's cheeks suddenly kissed pink like a spring rose, the blooming color which seemed so cute against her freckled skin. She looked away, to find a distraction so that she could escape this uncalled embarrassing situation. She tilted her head to look at him, seeing him staring at her made her feel shy. She covered her face with her palms. Sameer let out a deep chuckle and pulled her into his embrace.

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"You both shop together, I will choose some dresses for myself till then," Shrikha said with a genuine smile.

"Okay, I will pay for what you buy," Sameer said.

"I am Shrikha Sethia, a renowned journalist. I can buy for myself, bas mere khane ka bill bhar dena." She replied giggling.

"You won't change," Sameer said with a smile.

"Never! I hope you spend time with this not so romantic husband of yours Naina." Shrikha taunted Sameer at which Naina chuckled but stopped seeing Sameer who was looking at her narrowing his eyes.

"Sorry.'' She mumbled cursing herself for giggling at that comment. Shrikha left them alone, giving them their personal space. Sameer sat on a sofa which was placed while a guard brought coffee for him. Naina sat next to him.

"Choose some dresses for yourself," Sameer said to her as he sipped his coffee.

"Mujhe nahi chahiye. I had told you before I have enough clothes." Naina replied. Sameer called an employee and asked her to show a new collection for his wife.

"Try in the trial room Khaza," Sameer said but she frowned and made a bad face.

"I said I don't want anything. I am a student and even after a year I will be a student, how will I repay you then? Don't waste your money on me." She spoke making sure that it was audible just to him.

"You are my wife, if I spend money for my wife I am not wasting it. Can you stop bringing that contract thing every now and then? Just go and try these dresses." Sameer said, touching her face slightly with his fingers. Naina was too stubborn and looked at the other side.

"Try it Khaza else I will kiss you right here," Sameer spoke huskily against her ears and kissed her earlobe, making her stiffen in position. She glanced angrily at Sameer as she went into the trial room taking clothes.

"Is it nice?" Naina asked as she came out of the trial room wearing an off-shoulder light yellow frock.

"Your shoulder seems to be too exposed," Sameer remarked. Naina looked at herself and nodded her head in a way of okay and went in to change.

"This?" She asked again, changing into another dress.

"It's sleeveless." He said, sipping his coffee. Naina scrunched her nose in irritation but did not speak anything against him and went to change.

"Is this one okay?"She asked, changing after he had rejected unnumbered dresses with extremely silly reasons. Sameer looked at her and made a bad face.

"The pants are too short," Sameer spoke, making her stamp her feet in anger totally infuriated by his comments.

"Shorts are always short Mr. Maheshwari!" She snapped in anger and went in to change.

"Which dress should we pack ma'am?" The employee came towards the couple. Sameer back hugged Naina resting his face in her crook of the neck. She was okay with this kind of proximity though every touch made her heart flutter with some unknown feelings. Naina was really frustrated by his behavior. She stood standing with her hands crossed against her chest, huffing in anger.

"No-" Before she could speak he interrupted her.

"Pack everything!" He spoke, making Naina perplexed and look at him.

"There are sleeveless, shorts, long-sleeved kurtis, long dresses, and off-shoulders too. You don't like them, right?" Naina asked him with a perplexed look.

"Pretty dresses for the pretty woman in my life. It's your life, wear whichever dress you like, I was just kidding you then." Sameer said the first line in a flirty tone making her look at him with widened eyes but composing herself, she held his hand.

"Mr. Maheshwari jo bhi ho mujhe yeh kapde nahi chahiye." She whispered.

"Pasand nahi aaye aapko?" He asked.

"I have enough clothes and these are too expensive so I don't want any new clothes," Naina spoke. Sameer did not reply to her and pulled her out of the showroom instructing Ron to complete the payments. Shrikha joined the couple in the food court.

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Naina was arranging all her new clothes in the closet. She looked at Sameer who was talking to someone on his phone. Naina sighed as it had been an hour he was talking. She took her books and sat on the bed focusing on her studies.

"Naina." Sameer after a few minutes came towards her and sat next to her.

"I am going to visit Nanu tonight. Will you come along?" He asked at which she bobbed her head in a way of yes smiling widely. Sameer nodded his head in a way that was okay.

"Thank you, Mr. Maheshwari," Naina mumbled with a sweet smile plastered on her face.

"For?" He asked her in his cold voice.

"For the dresses and also for taking me to Nanu's house," Naina replied and as usual, he did not reply to her. Naina shrugged it off and continued to study.

"You don't have to thank me for everything," Sameer spoke, making her look at him in confusion.

"But-"

"You are my wife and I can buy things for you." Sameer interrupted her.

"Why are you so nice to me?" Naina asked him with a slight smile lingering on her face.

"Maybe because you mean something to me." He replied swiftly.

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"Hello, Miss." A boy called Shrikha made her shriek.

"Idiot!" She murmured at which the boy giggled.

"Itne saal baad mile hai at least gali galoch se swagat mat kar." He replied.

"Listen mujhse dur reh tu nahi toh pakka pitega." Shrikha said warning him.

"Kabir," Sameer called him as he entered the cabin, hugging him brotherly.

"Sameer, biwi hai yaha teri. Itne pyaar se hug karega tere is pagal dost ko toh gay na samaj le?" Shrikha said chuckling.

"Do you think so Khaza?" Sameer asked, pulling Naina by her waist towards him. Naina bobbed her head in the way of no and remembering last night's event made a shy smile touch her lips.

"She's beautiful!" Kabir commented.

"Just mine," Sameer replied, narrowing his eyes.

"I was just praising bro, itna possessiveness. Sahi hai." Kabir said giggling.

"Hi, myself Kabir Ahya. Apke pati ka bachpan se khas dost. A lawyer by profession" Kabir introduced himself to Naina, forwarding his hand.

"Hi Naina, Naina Sa..M-aheshwari. I am a science student." Naina hesitated a bit and shook hands with him.

"You don't have to be so formal with him Naina. Itni izzat mat de isse." Shrikha spoke glaring at him, making Kabir chuckle.

"I need to talk about something really important with Kabir. Naina aap aur Shrikha you both have your dinner." Sameer said at which they both agreed.

"Kabse aaya hai irritate kardiya. I feel like killing him." Shrikha was still murmuring curses against her breath while Naina pursed her lips to avoid laughing.

"Pata nahi kyu peeche pada hai." Shrikha said eating a morsel of food.

"Maybe he likes you." Naina voiced her opinion.

"Please no. Ab tum bhi mat kehna that he likes me. You know what school mai people used to tease us with all those hashtags and joining our names. Like seriously, we are way more different and us bande ke saath relationship bilkul bhi nahi." Shrikha exaggerated every word she spoke.

"Pyaar bhi toh unexpected hi hota hai na. I have read that people who are really opposite to each other's nature and habits start loving and caring for each other." Naina spoke.

"Naina, I agree to this, but Kabir is not of my type. We can't be together. Ab Sameer aur tumhari example hi lelo, you both are so much perfect for each other jaise rab ne bana di jodi. A happy, understanding couple." Shrikha spoke. Naina's smile faded listening to her.'A happy couple' seriously!

"You are actually the perfect match for Sameer. He is getting back to himself. Getting back his happiness. I am so happy for him. You know when he was a kid, he was a prankster, a carefree boy lekin us hadse ke baad he changed, changed in a way which nobody ever thought." Shrikha spoke.

"Konsa hadsa?" Naina asked her, confused.

"I don't know much, neither does anyone know about it except Sameer's nanaji and Sameer himself. What maa said to me was, he was the first one who saw his mother's body hanging, strangulated to a fan. I know how close Sameer was to Vishaka aunty. People said that it was suicide but some people also say that it was murder. And on the same day, his father was also shot dead. Both his parents' deaths are still a mystery to the world." Shrikha said as much as she knew. Leaving Naina shocked.

"He never told me about this," Naina uttered.

"He has never spoken about his parents to anybody. Even Kabir and I, who are his closest friends, got to know other people. He stopped interacting with people then. We have not had any conversations since many years then." Shrikha spoke at which Naina just hummed in response.

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"Naina, I am leaving Nanu's house," Sameer informed as he changed into a black shirt.

"You said that you will take me along," Naina spoke in a confused tone.

"I have to discuss something really important, Naina. Bahut der ho jayega, you take a rest." Sameer said in his usual tone buttoning up his shirt.

"You had said that you would take me to Nanu's house. Kitne din ho gaye hai maine Nanu se baat nahi ki, nahi unse mili. You too don't allow me to go anywhere alone. Bas panch-dus minute hi baat karungi and then I won't disturb you neither will I listen to what you and Nanu will discuss. Mujhe aana hai aap ke saath. Please." Naina requested holding his palm in her hands tightly. Sameer was unable to refuse her seeing her puppy face nod in the way of yes a bit. Naina squealed and hugged him tight, realizing what she had done moved away from him.

"Sorry." She murmured against her breath, taking some decent clothes from her closet she ran into the washroom to change.

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Naina looked out of the window with a smile plastered on her face. She was wearing a simple white gown with her hair braided loosely. While Sameer was busy typing on his phone. A loud scream escaped from Naina's mouth when she heard a gunshot and the window shattered into many pieces.

"Naina!" Sameer screeched, pulling her close to him, his eyes raged with anger seeing her hand as warm blood gushed out of the exposed wounds. Sameer pressed her arm a bit so that he could remove pierced glass pieces else it would cause infection. She yelped in pain resting her head on his chest. He quickly did the first aid without speaking a word.

"Khaza, stay here. I will be back teaching these bastards a lesson." Sameer spoke as he was about to leave but Naina clutched his arm nodding in the way of no and stiffened listening to the loud gunshots noises which were echoing.

"I-It's not safe. Please don't go." Naina stuttered, Sameer took off his arms from her grip.

"Stay here." He uttered as he kissed her shivering hand by which she was holding his palm and went from there.

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