And I am back after a reallyyyyy long break. Thank you so much for constantly checking up on me and I am sorry if anyone of you felt that I am being pressurized by you guys for the update by any chance. I didn't mean to convey it like that.

It was a pretty hard time for me but you guys have always been a constant support for this story. I don't know how to thank you all. I won't waste your time by ranting here so back to the update, since it had gotten way too long, I had to split it in two. There might be a few errors here and there. Do tell me if you find any.

Also, for your convenience, here's a recap of where the last update had ended, in case some of you have forgotten which is completely fine :)

~Taking deep breaths, she moved in front of the mirror to free herself from what people say to be six yards of elegance but right now seeming six yards of annoyance after wearing it for a whole day. She turned sideways and tried to unpin her pallu by craning her neck towards her shoulder but the pin didn't stir. It was in the backside due to which she was unable to get a better look. Several attempts later, she gave up as her muscles began to hurt. There was no other way to open it. 

What would she do now? ~

Happy reading:)
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Sameer entered his room and placed his blazer on the bed. He walked towards the mirror opening the buttons of his sleeves and then loosened up his tie taking it off. Grazing his thumb over the satin material, his mind went back to that particular moment. Her brown orbs locked with his chocolate ones, the warmth circumventing them. The move was out of nowhere but the tranquility surrounding them had made him forget every right or wrong. But, was there anything to be right or wrong?

The fact that she didn't flinch or went cold from his touch had surged his confidence. The minute he had tucked her hair behind, she had stiffened. Her enchanting eyes had lifted to display the shock written over them but the next second, he saw contentment radiating through them. There were some questions too, probably why he was doing it but the answer was unknown to him too. It was like a mysterious force of attraction had generated between them both.

Her face had looked alluring and so did her cheeks. His gaze shifted to the palm which had gotten the privilege to relish her supple skin. It was an exaggeration but there was nothing wrong with it. His mind was replaying it over and over, unable to get over it. He couldn't believe that he just did it amidst everyone.

What is wrong with you?

He shook his head and ran a hand through his hair discarding his thoughts. He had just opened the first two buttons of his shirt when the vibration from the pocket of his pants caught his attention. Digging his hand in, he pulled out the mobile phone belonging to Naina. She had handed it to him in the party at the time of the photo session. A notification had popped up related to her next day's session. Deciding on to return it to her first, he stepped out of his room and made his way to hers. 

There, Naina wasn't being able to find a way to get rid of the pin. Giving up, she contemplated whether to take help from Sameer. Although the situation would put them into an awkward place given the already peculiar things happening today, that didn't mean she can't take help from him. He was her husband and he had this right even if he didn't believe in it, for now. The plates of her saree had begun to loosen busying her with yet another task.

Since the door wasn't locked, he opened it without bothering to knock. The sight in front of him snatched the air away from his lungs, completely freezing him at his place. He gulped. There she was, standing with her back facing him, her hair pulled in the front over her right shoulder, displaying what stays hidden from others. Her blouse wasn't one of those simple ones she wears daily. It had a V-shaped neckline, a little wider at her shoulders displaying her buttery soft skin. Adding more to it, the groove of her spine was churning his insides. She hadn't seen him since her gaze was on the floor.

Just then, her gaze fell on him through the mirror and a gasp escaped from her mouth as she swiveled her neck to see him. His eyes widened on realizing what he had been doing and turned around with lightning speed.

"Uh...I am sorry...mujhe laga tumne change kar liya hoga..." He justified. She mentally chided herself for committing such a stupid mistake of changing without locking the door properly.

"K-koi baat nahi...kuch kaam tha aapko?" She asked, her thumb fidgeting with the saree material.

"Tumhara phone tha mere paas, wahi dena tha." He showed the phone in his hand. "Yahin rakha hai, tumhare session ka notification aaya hai kuch." He said placing the phone on the nearby stool. "Okay..." She mumbled, contemplating how to ask for help from him.

"Um, goodnight then..." He said in a dim tone and moved to leave.

"Suniye..." Her soft voice fell in his ears making his feet halt.

"Kya aap meri ek chhoti si help kar denge? Aap peeche mudd sakte hain." She asked nervously.

He turned around to face her, "Kya hua?" He asked.

She averted her gaze, "Actually...meri Saree ki pin...k-khul nahi paa rahi hai...shayad atak gayi hai...uske bina main change nahi kar sakti..." Her voice turned into a soft mumble till she reached the last sentence.

He let the short piece of information sink. By the minuscule knowledge he had about sarees, she probably meant the one which is needed to fix the pallu on the shoulder. And probably that's what she was busy with when he had practically barged into her room.

For obvious reasons, she won't be asking for his help directly but he knew she needed it. For god's sake, it was just a tiny pin, yet he felt awkward. The clinking of her bangles brought him out of the daze. This wasn't time to fuss over it. This had nothing to do with whatever level their relationship was. It was time for him to man up.

"Main help kar deta hun." He said, nodding a little.

Her eyes shot up to him. She hadn't expected him to agree at once. It's not like she didn't trust him. She did, more than he knew. It was the thought of the scene that got her showered with jitters.

Giving a mental pep talk to himself to not mess up, he ran a hand over his face. She turned to face the mirror, her gaze darted at the floor momentarily lifting up to see him stepping towards her.

The atmosphere of the room had suddenly filled up with an odd tension lingering around them. The silence was so prominent that the two of them might be clearly aware of their racing heartbeats.

Taking slow steps, he reached behind her keeping an arm's distance between them. All the while his intense eyes were trained upon her. Her eyes lifted from the ground to see him directly through his reflection. Butterflies swarmed in her belly as her gaze fell on the two opened buttons of his shirts, giving a glimpse of his fair and clean chest.

"Kounsi pin hai?" He asked pulling her out from the fantasy world while looking at her shoulder. Her hand reached to point out where a thin metal pin was visible in between the fabric. He gave a faint nod and moved forward closing the distance between them, his gaze shifting to her shoulder. He leaned a few centimeters to have a closer look. It took him a moment to figure out how the pallu had been pinned up. The pin had been clasped inversely under the fabric. He knew what he had to do.

Hooking his thumb under the neckline, he twisted the fabric exposing the pin. His thumb brushed her skin, enough to send chills down her spine. The nerves of his hand tingled with foreign sensations. His body was reacting on its own accord as if being driven by a force. The intensity of the moment was surprisingly too much for their already disheveled senses. Amidst the task, his attention was caught by something. It was a black mole on her right shoulder blade looking way too alluring. An instantaneous urge to trace it awoke in his fingers. 

He blinked his eyes to clear those unholy thoughts which had begun to fill up his mind the minute her vanilla scent hit his nostrils. Keeping the fabric stable through his thumb, he tried to unclasp the pin with his other hand but it didn't budge. Looking closely, he found there was a thread was stuck in it. His fingers began to work in an attempt to get rid of it but in vain. It was tangled in and around the clasp of the pin. There was no other way to break it than the one which came to his mind.

Throughout the whole scene, Naina couldn't gather enough courage to look in the mirror except for a few glimpses whenever she felt his hot breath caressing her warm skin. His feathery touches were making her feel jittery from the sensations it was provoking. And why not? He had never been this close to her.

"Dhaaga atak gaya hai, todna padega." His almost whispery tone made her lift her eyes and the next sight widened them. She saw him holding the pin and the fabric through his hands and the minute she saw him dipping his head and his mouth closing over the pin, her breath hitched. The contact was indirect but it sufficed to send thousands of butterflies in her stomach. The wriggling fingers now clutched the saree as tight as possible. Her pulse rate had accelerated. Her eyes had shut on their own. 

Only he knew how he was doing all that. His hands weren't in his control. And somewhere, it occurred to both of them, this moment didn't feel as unsettling as it could have been. So much was happening. The clock seemed to have slowed down. Hearts pounding, breaths haggard, senses deranged. The ambience had a sensual vibe. But it didn't last long as Sameer managed to tug at the thread through his teeth, breaking it at last.

Carefully getting rid of the thread, he unclasped the pin. Their hands reached for the pallu at the same time to prevent it from slipping away resulting in them overlapping each other, hers being on top of his. The intensity of touch almost felt like an electric shock, making them jolt. Her neck tilted to her side to meet his eyes. Their faces were a few inches apart. A wave of shiver ran down her spine to see his eyes blazing with an unknown intensity which disappeared after a second.

Had it not been for the loud ringing of his phone in his room, they didn't know what would have happened or if anything would have happened. Averting his gaze, he ran a hand through his hair stepping away from her. Licking his lips, he said, "Tum change kar lo." Without waiting for her reply he exited the room leaving her in a daze. Her eyes closed as she heard the light thud of the door, her chest heaved as she took a deep breath to calm her shuddering heart.

Glancing in the mirror, she found her cheeks heated as they glowed with the red bloom adorning them.

Outside, Sameer's mind was a mess. He had never been this close to her. Heck! He didn't know what exactly had happened to him. It was like he was being controlled by some force. The smooth feel was still fresh in his fingers. Only he knew how he had picked on his every move with caution. His lips had almost touched her bare skin.

Tera dimaag kharab ho gaya hai Sameer.

And that distracting mole below her nape...God, he needed to clear his mind. Discarding his shirt off, he randomly took out a pair of t-shirt and pants before entering the bathroom for a much-needed shower.

Finally, they both called it a day and drifted off to sleep with their minds revisiting the unprecedented moments of the night and their senses frenzied.

* * * * *

In a span of two days, they had received around twenty applications for the job, much to their surprise. Amidst this, their own chores kept them occupied. Naina was aiming at finishing off as much work as she could before she leaves to avoid any discrepancy that could entail any business transactions simultaneously focusing on her internship while Sameer looked after the shipment of their recent order for another clothing brand. The awkwardness resulting from that night was still persisting between them but they conscientiously avoided letting it apparent. None of them both wanted it but didn't know how to erase this tensed air whenever they come face to face.

The next step in the process was to shortlist the applicants for the interview. Therefore, they were currently in the living room sitting on the sofa with the entire day's weariness. Several sheets of white paper were scattered in front of them on the table along with two empty coffee mugs which they had half an hour ago. 

Sameer was holding the last one of the resumes while the fingers of his right hand were busy pressing the sides of his temple to soothe the headache resulting from a very tiresome day.

"Yeh dekhiye zara, inhone isse pehle kaafi companies mein kaam kiya hai. Inka work experience kaafi acha hai." Naina said forwarding the stapled sheets towards him. He put down the resume he was checking to have a look at the one she was showing.

"Haan...Irani Groups ke saath bhi kaam kiya hai. Isse side mein rakhlo." He told her. She noticed the creased on his forehead and understood his distress. Putting the stapled sheets aside with the others, she asked, "Kya hua aapko? Tabiyat thik nahi lag rahi kya?"

He shook his head, "Kuch nahi bas headache ho raha hai. Abhi coffee pi lunga toh theek ho jaayega."

"Aap pehle hi subah se teen baar coffee le chuke hain. Itni coffee thik nahi hai aapke liye. Isse headache aur zyada ho sakta hai." Ever since the company had returned back on track, they had been receiving proposals from various brands and companies, eventually increasing the workload, especially for him. All this had only added more to his stress for which he had only one solution - coffee and she completely detested it.

"Aapke liye itni coffee thik nahi hai. Coffee faayde se zyada nuksan hi karti hai. Aapko lagta hoga ki aapko relief mil raha hai but woh sirf temporary hota hai jo andar hi andar aapki health ko affect kar sakta hai." All the awkwardness was forgotten when it came to his health as her care for him overpowered.

He sighed, "Toh tum batao...kya karun fir?" The tiredness in his tone was evident to her.

"Aap raat ko time pe soya kariye. Iss pure hafte aap roz raat ko kaam ke chakkar mein late soye hain. Neend puri nahi hogi toh thakaan mehsoos hoti rahegi. Aap mujhe tension lene ke liye mana karte hain aur khud kaam ko leke pressurized rehte hain." His mouth could form no words to answer back since she was right. It wasn't entirely wrong that he was compromising his sleep and health for work.

"You are forgetting ki main CEO hun. Agar meri taraf se koi chook hui toh problem ho sakti hai." He said rubbing his eyes before leaning back on the chair. 

"I know par iska matlab yeh toh nahi na ki aap khud par dhyan naa de...proper rest ki zarurat hai aapko..." Pausing for a moment to ponder over something, she continued, "Kal mat jaaiye office, ghar se kaam kar lijiye agar possible ho toh..." She suggested.

He shook his head in denial, now scrutinizing the pages of a file in his hand, "Kal kuch clients ke saath meeting hai. Kafi postpone karne ke baad kal ki date fix hui hai. Can't leave it." 

She sighed but then an idea struck her mind, "Main aapke sar ki massage kardu, oil se?"

"Massage? As in head massage?" He raised a questioning eyebrow at her.

She nodded timidly, "Sar pe tel se maalish karungi toh aapko relaxed feel hoga, fir neend bhi thik se puri hogi."

In response, he only shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know. Maine kabhi karwayi nahi."

She felt surprised, "Kabhi nahi karwayi?" 

"Koi karne waala tha hi nahi." His deadpan expression conveyed the very emotion he was trying to conceal.

After a brief tensed pause, she spoke, "Koi baat nahi. Main kar deti hun. Aapko acha lagega." She immediately sauntered upstairs without waiting for his reply.

Sameer placed the file down and rubbed his forehead. It was just an ordinary head massage but not everyone had the privilege of relishing the warmth and care emanating from the soft fingers of someone whom you matter to. He still remembered how his mother used to find flaws in everything and bickered over them instead of looking after her son. The void that had been created in his heart deep down still affected him despite his dislike for it.

Naina descended down the stairs with her hands holding a towel and a small bottle of 'Navratna cool' hair oil. He saw her coming and stand behind him. She unfurled the towel and placed it on his shoulders from behind, covering his nape.

"Yeh kyu?" He asked, holding it's corners.

"Jisse agar galti se oil tapke toh aapki t-shirt kharab na ho." She said.

She was about to open the cap of the bottle when he piped in, "Arey tum khade hoke kyu laga rahi ho, sofe pe baitho...main neeche baith jaata hun."

"Nahi koi baat nahi. Aise hi thik hai." She said when she saw him sliding down to sit on the floor.

He turned to look at her, "Baith jaao." He gestured at the now empty sofa.

She couldn't protest further and took her seat. He picked the file that was lying on the table in front of him and opened it to read it in order to utilize the time till she massages his head. But even before he could read a word, the file was taken away by her, catching him by surprise.

"Nahi. Ab aap bilkul kaam ke baare mein nahi sochenge. Thodi der ke liye yeh sab bhul jaaiye aur shaanti se baithiye." Her tone came out more authoritative than she had intended. A look of amazement emerged on his face, "Okay madam." With that, he turned his face in the front and waited.

She poured and rubbed a small quantity of oil between her palms and reached for his head. Starting with the scalp, she lightly began to massage it, giving gentle and slow strokes, and continued it until the oil had been applied all over the scalp. Using her fingertips, she made light circular motions across his head, moving from back to front and vice-versa. His head was feeling light by her massage. All those negative memories reeling in his mind had now begun to vanish as the clinking of the bangles on her wrists was creating a music of its own. It felt so soothing that he closed his eyes, relishing the calming sensations generating.

Naina was focused on massaging his silky black hair. However, her heart would occasionally compel her to just caress them with all the adoration. He was indeed charming by looks but what made them stand out was his hair which would flow and bounce every time the wind would blow past them. She wondered which type of shampoo he might be using or if he had any secret mantra behind having such fine hair.

"Kaisa lag raha hai?" She asked softly, her hands busy with the task.

"Bahut relaxing." He murmured, his eyes still closed.

She smiled to herself at her nominal yet vital achievement - relieving his weariness.

After a few minutes of the mellow massaging session, Sameer began to feel drowsy as he felt lightheaded by the slow and gentle movements of her delicate fingertips. She was advising him about how he should take care of himself more by taking breaks from work when he is at the office and should avoid coffee as much as possible. His reply had shortened to small words and then just 'hmms'. 

"Sameer? Aap sun rahe hain na?" She spoke out when she heard no response from his side.

"Hmmm." 

She understood that he was now feeling sleepy. 

"Aapko neend aa rahi hai. So jaaiye ab aap." She left his hair and waited for his reply.

He opened his eyes which were nearly drooping, "Wow...yeh toh bahut acha tha...kuch jaadu hai kya tumhare haathon mein..." His voice came out relatively raspy. 

"Kuch halka mehsoos hua aapko?" She asked, watching him stretch his arms, resisting to linger her gaze on the rippling muscles of his sturdy back.

He craned his neck to see her, "Bahut...Firse karogi kabhi?"

"Of course, aapka jab mann kare aap bol sakte hain." She smiled which he reciprocated. He watched her capping the bottle.

"Ouch. Pairon mein bhi dard ho raha hai. Dabaado zara..." He said playfully clasping his legs but she took it seriously, "Arey, pehle kyun nahi bataya aapne. Aap sofe pe baith jaaiye, main dabaa deti hun." 

He gaped at her in amusement.

"Kya hua? Zyada dard hai toh koi baat nahi." She got up, kneeled beside his legs, and was about to reach for them when he clutched her arms and moved them away, "Arey arey, main mazaak kar raha tha bhayi."

"Oh." That was all she could utter.

It was then when she noticed that he was indeed joking as spurts of laughter escaped from his mouth. Her cheeks flushed in embarrassment.

"God Naina...tum kitni cute ho..." He giggled looking at her flushed state. She couldn't help but chuckle half by watching him, half at her silliness, and lightly hit her head.

As the laugh subsided, a yawn escaped his mouth.

"Main sone jaa raha hu ab. Tumhari massage se sach mein bahut neend aa rahi hai." Standing up, he began to gather his things when she intervened, "Yeh sab main rakh dungi, aap jaake so jaaiye. Aur kuch bichha lijiyega apne sar ke neeche jisse pillow kharab na ho oil se."

"Okay. Thank you...um...good night." Clutching both the ends of the towel, he rotated on his heels after hearing her polite 'good night'.

She kept watching his retreating back until he disappeared upstairs and then went into the bathroom to wash her hands. Coming back, she piled up everything on the table and switched off the lights before leaving for upstairs. She decided to keep the files in his room so that they could be easily found the next day. Assuming he might have fallen asleep, she slowly pushed open the door of his room and peeped inside only to find him fast asleep. She tiptoed towards the study table near the entrance momentarily glancing at him so that she doesn't wake him up.

Placing everything carefully, she heard a faint rustling behind her. Afraid that she had disturbed him, she turned instantly but sighed in relief as she still found him asleep, only this time, his comforter had slid down till his waist while he was turning to his side. She walked slowly towards his side of the bed, her gaze stuck on his face which looked similar to that of a kid- innocent and peaceful. As per her suggestion, he had spread an old piece of cloth below his head which made her smile. She noticed a few locks of his hair on his forehead. On an impulse, she leaned down and reached for them making as much of a low sound as possible. Pushing them gently over his head, she observed his face.

She knew how he might be feeling when he told her that he had no one to look after him. It wasn't just about a head massage, but the care and warmth embedded in it. She wanted to know everything that had happened with him, about his mother, about his family, and what made him like he is now. She wanted to try everything that could make him feel better, that could replace those memories, that could make him smile by heart because she cared for him, a lot more than she had ever expected.

"Main bahut parwah karti hun aapki aur puri koshish karungi ki aapko kabhi akela mehsoos na ho." She said in her mind.

Gazing at his face for some time more, she stood up and pulled the comforter properly over him before leaving for her room to call it a night.

The next morning, Sameer felt content waking up after having a satisfying sleep. The result of her deeply relaxing massage was apparent as he combed his hair which felt extra smooth and silky after showering, all thanks to her. His hair was not only the dearest to him but he treasured them by doing what not for its maintenance. From applying curd to egg, a special slot in his schedule would always be specially booked for his hair-care. And now when he had seen the outcomes of a proper 'champi', he made up his mind to make her spare time for him in the future for more such relaxing sessions. 

For some reason, a fragment of her presence near him last night flashed through his brain but then he dismissed it thinking it to be an illusion. Clothing himself in his formal attire, he ran a hand again through his hair relishing the smoothness, and made his way downstairs to resume his normal routine.

* * * * *

In the next two days, the interview process was completed. The company decided to keep the shortlisted candidate as an intern under Naina so as to get him completely accustomed to the functioning of the company and the job role, though she felt slightly dull by the fact that her workplace might get separated from Sameer's. She too had submitted her article and was waiting for the results which could be declared any day.

In the midst of all this, she was still pondering over her feelings for Sameer which were amplifying day by day. It was like she knew what it was but was apprehensive to name it or admit it. A strange feeling had begun to engulf her that would make her heart feel like floating with happiness and contentment whenever she would be with him.

She wanted to share this with someone to get her mind clear and that would always take her to Smriti who still hadn't returned from Bangalore. She had even called her to ask if everything was okay for which she had only replied that she will be back soon. This had somewhat assuaged Naina's worries.

She had just returned to her cabin from Sameer's after getting a report reviewed by him when someone tapped her shoulder. She turned around only to find Smriti standing there with her characteristic beaming smile. Naina's eyes lit up with exhilaration to see her best friend after so long. Without wasting any second, they both pulled each other in a tight hug and separated their frames after few seconds. 

"Kab aayi tum? Bataya bhi nahi tumne toh." Naina enquired.

Smriti chuckled, "Bata deti toh surprise kaise de paati?" She wiggled her eyebrows playfully making the other chuckle. 

Naina asked her to sit as she herself rounded her desk to take her seat and asked, "Toh kaisa raha sab kuch? Aur pehle yeh batao ki tumne office mein kya reason diya?"   

Smriti giggled and leaned forward to talk in a hushed voice, "Maine bol diya ki mere ek relative ki tabiyat thik nahi thi and it was emergency. Unhone bas warning deke chhod diya." 

Naina looked at her in amusement, "Agar kuch problem hoti toh?" 

Smriti shrugged, "Koi baat nahi. Main handle kar hi leti." She paused seeing Naina putting some folders under the shelf beside her, "Kitna kaam reh raha hai tumhara? Kahi bahar chalte hain na...Tumhe bahut saari baatein batani hai..." She nearly whined. Naina seemed to ponder over it but then agreed as she too wanted to hear everything and therefore decided to inform Sameer beforehand and also told him that she will directly go to the PH (Publication House) after that.

He gladly encouraged her to go since he too knew how much concerned she was for her best friend. 

Fast-forwarding an hour, they were currently sitting in a lavish rooftop cafe after strolling in a nearby mall. Smriti had ordered for an iced lemon tea while Naina had settled for a creamy iced coffee as the former began her tale of everything that happened in these two and a half weeks. 

"You know, the first week was bliss. Uski shakal dekhne layak thi jab main uske office ke bahar usse mile. We were so happy to see each other. Bahut mazaa aaya, hum dates pe jaate the, movies pe jaate the, long drives and khub saari baatein karte the. Inn do hafto mein humne itna kuch jaana ek durse ke baare mein." She lowered her voice only to be audible to her, "And we kissed." Her eyes gleamed with excitement as she said it making Naina's eyebrows raise in surprise.  

Nonetheless, the other continued, "Pandit jitna time ho sakta tha mere liye nikaalta tha and I also used to tell him ki itna karne ki zarurat nahi hai but he was like, 'Abhi mauka mila hai, pata nahi fir kab milogi'. I felt so grateful par do din pehle pata nahi kya hua usey. Woh thoda irritate sa ho raha tha kisi cheez se as if woh mujhe kuch bolna chaa raha ho. Mujhe samajh nahi aya toh maine bhi dhyan nahi diya fir ekdum se bol diya ki 'Smriti, tum yeh bachpana kam dikhaya karo. Thoda mature act kiya karo.' Aise directly koun bolta hai...Isiliye naraz hun ab main usse, hmph." Leaning back on her chair, she crossed her arms in annoyance. 

It took Naina a moment to process all the information and then replied, "Smriti, Pandit ne aise hi bol diya hoga. I am sure he didn't mean it." She tried to console her irked best friend when she herself been taken back by his words. 

"Aise kaise? Tum batao, Sameer sir itna pyar karte hain tumse. Tumse aise kabhi bola unhone?" She said raising her brows in anticipation. Naina found herself tongue-tied at her question. She didn't know to tell her that it wasn't true. 

"Bolo." Smriti drawled. Naina slowly shook her head, immediately feeling guilty for lying. 

"Dekha. Ab dekhna tum, ek call nahi uthana maine uska. Usey bhi pata chale uska paala Smriti Ahuja se padha hai." She said out triumphantly making Naina smile a little at her ability to handle things without pondering much over them and couldn't help but wish she could be like her. 

They chatted for some more time as Naina told her about her internship sessions. Smriti sulked over the news of her leaving the job but then let it go knowing it won't change their bond. She told her that she would miss their mini-chat sessions in her cabin but then shifted over teasing her for Sameer that how he won't be able to focus on his work without her presence and much more. Naina didn't know how to react.

Earlier, it didn't use to affect her much as she made it clear to herself that it was just a facade but as Smriti kept on teasing her more about how he must love her so much and take care of her, she felt her chest constrict with an unusual ache thinking none of it was real. And hence, she decided to tell her the truth. 

"Aur kitne dates pe gaye mere peeche tum? I am sure sir ko tumhara yeh new hairstyle itna pasand aya hoga ki tumhe chhoda hi nahi hoga..." She was still rambling when Naina intervened with a stoic voice, "Smriti, mujhe tumhe kuch batana hai. Please pehle meri puri baat sunna, please."

Smriti slowly nodded making her continue, "Tum jaisa Sameer aur mere beech mein samajhti ho, hum dono ke beech waisa nahi hai. Hum ek dusre se pyaar nahi karte. Woh sab sach nahi hai."

"What? Naina yeh kya bol rahi ho tum?" The shock was clearly written on Smriti's face as she asked to crosscheck if whatever she heard was right. 

Naina began to narrate everything starting from how they had gotten married to fulfil Nanaji's wish and then how they had formed a fake story about them being in love for the sake of the company's reputation.

"Hum koi risk nahi lena chahte the, isiliye humne kisi ko bhi nahi bataya." Naina said her gaze which had dropped down to her lap slowly raised up only to see the expression on Smriti's face just as she had expected. She clearly looked hurt. 

"Tumne yeh baat mujhse kyun chhupayi? We are bestfriends Naina. Par I guess I was wrong, kyuki best friends to woh hote hai na jo har cheez ek dusre se share karte hain. I can't believe auro ki tarah main bhi iss jhut mein fass gayi." Gone was the chirpy and gullible Smriti as anger took over her.

"Smriti please-" She was cut short by another question thrown in her direction, "Pandit ko bhi sach pata hoga, hai na?" Naina struggled inwardly to decide whether to tell her or not but when she prodded her to speak, she reluctantly nodded. 

Smriti scoffed, "Wow...sabko pata tha aur main hi bewakoofo ki tarah sochti thi ki tum dono kitne ache rehte ho saath mein. Sabko pata tha, Pandit ko bhi. Kisi ne mujhe batana zaruri hi nahi samjha aur batana hi kyu hai...Smriti toh bachpana dikhati hai, kahi usne kisi ko bata diya hota toh. Tum bhi yahi sochti ho mere baare mein." Feeling of betrayal and being left out washed over her as Pandit's words began to ring in her ears, fuelling her insecurities. 

"Smriti..." Her name escaped out as a painful whisper as she saw her friend anguished state all because of her. 

"I need to leave." Saying this, Smriti instantly shot up from her place, pulled out some notes from her bag, and thrashed them on the table without bothering to even glance Naina. And then she was gone leaving her under the dark cloud of guilt and pain. She sat frozen at her place blaming herself for telling her the truth without thinking and pondering over it. 

Did she commit a mistake by telling her the truth? Did she just lose the only best friend she had ever made?

* * * * *

Sameer unlocked the main door and entered inside his house after a long and tiring day. The meeting had unexpectedly exceeded over an hour since the client had some issues regarding some of their terms and conditions but his team had very expertly managed everything and the deal was finally in their hands. The eerie silence and the pitch darkness in the living room made him frown. It was nearly 8:30 p.m., which meant Naina must be back home. Owing to the meeting, he wasn't able to pick her from the PH and had instead sent the driver. 

"Naina?" He called out her name but was again met by silence. Where was she? 

Plopping his blazer and files on the sofa chair, he rushed upstairs to check for her in her room, worried if she hadn't returned back home yet. Much to his relief, he found her sitting on the floor by the glass doors which opened to the balcony. Her chin was propped on her knees, her arms wrapped around them. He called out for her again snapping her attention to him. She immediately stood up, "A-aap? Aap kab aaye?" She asked wriggling her fingers trying to keep her voice normal but it took him a second to tell that something was wrong. Her face looked pale and not as cheerful as he would see daily. 

"Main toh abhi aaya. Ghar mein itna andhera kyu kar rakha hai? Tum thik ho na?" He asked in a go. 

She forced a smile, "Haan. Sab thik hai. Aap fresh ho jaaiye. Main dinner serve karti hun neeche." Not waiting for his reply, she moved past him and went downstairs leaving him in a bewildered state. 

Throughout the whole dinner, she had kept her mouth zipped. She kept zoning out in between whenever he talked about something contradicting her own statement of being fine. After being done, she got up taking her empty dishes and walked over to the kitchen followed by him. He was observing her every action but she seemed too dazed to even notice, so much that she was about to pick a knife from the side of its blade. Had he not grabbed her wrist, she might have cut her hand. 

"What's wrong with you Naina? Kahan dhyan hai tumhara? Abhi chaaku haath mein lagta tumhare." His grave tone as he scolded her made her flinch a bit, "I am sorry." She apologized looking away. 

His demeanor softened, "Kya hua hai tumhe? Kisine kuch kaha tumse? Kuch hua kya internship mein? Batao mujhe." He asked growing concerned over her silent state.

She sniffed. Pulling her hand out of his hold, she rubbed her arms hugging herself, "Maine aaj Smriti ko humare baare mein sab kuch sach bata diya." He began to connect dots and nearly figured out what might have happened. As she briefed him about her conversation with Smriti, her voice began to quiver, tears welling up her eyes, "Mujhe nahi pata tha ki woh itna naaraz ho jayegi warna main usey kabhi nahi batati. Maine apni eklauti dost ko hurt kar diya Sameer." 

She looked at him through her tears which made him feel sad over her miserable state. Driven by his instincts, he stepped forward and gently pulled her in a comforting hug. For a moment, she went stiff but then she felt his hand caressing her hair slightly. Not under less than a few seconds, he heard her sniffs as her hands clutched the material of his t-shirt at the back. 

He tried to calm her down, "It's okay Naina. Sab thik ho jaayega. Humne hi decide kiya tha hum kisiko nahi batayenge."

"Fir bhi Sameer. Smriti ne itna saath diya mera...Main usey batane bhi wali thi...Woh meri wajah se naraz hai, mujhse bhi aur ab Pandit se bhi. Abhi toh dono saath huye the, maine sab gadbad kardi. Bahut buri dost hun main." Her incoherent sentences in between her sniffs worried him. At this moment, he didn't care if his cotton t-shirt was getting wet by her tears. His hands never stopped caressing her hair as he saw her breaking down in the confines of his arms.

"Shh...it's okay Naina. Galti tumhari nahi hai. Woh situation hi aisi thi. Hum bahut logo ko nahi bata sakte the..." He tried to put the best reason he could to calm her but it didn't seem to work.

"Galti hai Sameer..." Her voice quivered as she said. 

He shook his head clutching her arms, detaching her from himself to face her. "Idhar dekho." He cupped her face, wiping her tears off by his thumb, and tucked a few strands sticking on her wet cheeks behind her ears. 

Holding her hand, he walked over to the dinner table and pulled out a chair before making her sit. She sniffed and rubbed her cheeks with the back of her palm. He came back with a glass of water and forwarded it to her. She took it silently, taking only a few sips, and placed it down on the table. He pulled out a chair for himself and repositioned it such that he was facing her. Sitting down, he dragged it further close to hers.

Her gaze was stuck on her lap, her nose and cheeks were now flushed after shedding so many tears. She lifted her glistening eyes to him, a drop slid down her right cheek. He took her hands in his, "Meri baat dhyan se suno. Smriti tumhari best friend hai na? Bolo."

She nodded meekly. He continued, "I know abhi usey bahut bura lag raha hoga ki tumne usse yeh baat chhupayi but sirf tabhi tak jab tak woh gussa hai. Jab uska gussa shaant hoga, woh khud samajh jaayegi ki tumne aisa kyun kara. Dost aise hi toh hote hain. Main, Munna, pandit bhi kabhi kabhi jhagadte hain but baad mein sab normal ho hi jaata hai. Isiliye khud ko blame mat karo. Thoda time do usey." 

His comforting words brought her solace and she nodded. 

"Ab bilkul nahi rona. Jaake fresh ho aur so jaao." He said patting her arm and got up along with her. 

"Ji." She said but made no move to leave making him flick his brows in question. Before she could know what she was doing, she wrapped her arms around him again, resting her head lightly over his chest, "Thank you." She mumbled as she felt at ease being engulfed in his warmth of care. This was the very first time she had hugged him voluntarily being overwhelmed by his subtle gesture of comforting her.

The sudden move caught him off guard as he felt her petite frame pressed against his well-built one a little too tight. As if reality dawned upon her all of a sudden, she quickly withdrew back from him and pushed her hair behind her ear feeling self-conscious. 

He saw her avoiding his gaze and himself cleared his throat. He tried to cool off the air by saying, "Thank you ki zarurat nahi hai. Bas ek chhoti si smile." He gestured using his forefinger and thumb. She smiled softly and then left abruptly after wishing him goodnight, afraid that he might see the crimson color blooming on her cheeks. He too went upstairs in his room attempting to shut off his unholy mind and dozed after a while. Knowingly or unknowingly, they both had begun to fill the voids that had been created due to their embittered pasts by their tendance for one another.

Coming back to her room, her mood became dull again recalling Smriti's words but then went over what Sameer had said. She would give her some time. The strings of their friendship might have loosened but she will try her very best to keep them intact in place. As she reminisced about what happened downstairs, she blushed profusely. She didn't know what sort of magic his embrace had that provided the consolation she needed. How does he understand her so easily? Which superpowers does he possess to affect her so much? To make her like him even more? She just hoped to get her answers soon, which she will, very soon. 

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Do give me your reviews on this chapter. I hope the pace was okay, rest you all will tell. The next part would be posted tomorrow since I have an exam :)

I had gone through all of your suggestions and would try to include them in the storyline accordingly. Thank you for your patience, your support, your encouragement and everything.

And last but not the least, BLOOMING HEARTS had completed its one year on the 8th of June. I had wanted to post on that day but couldn't due to some reasons. Can't believe this story, which I had begun writing out of fun has reached this far, just because of you all. I would like to thank each and every reader of mine for taking out time to read this book. This whole experience had been absolutely great. I had planned out so much for this book but things couldn't go quite well. But it's fine, I will try to bring everything on track soon.

THANK YOU & LOVE YOU❤️

Loads of love, Sim❣