Friendship Can be Love

Dil ki Baatein

After the cake-cutting was over, everyone mingled, while Chachiji served some snacks of dhokla, samosa, and fafda. Sameer grabbed the perfect opportunity.

"Tauji, wo main bhi kuch laaya tha" and he forwarded a box to him. Tauji opened a wrapper and saw a big box of Maganlal Mithaiwala, with about 2 kg of Jalebis packed in it. It was one of the most expensive sweet shop of Ahmedabad and middle-class families splurged on it only during the most precious occasion of a wedding.

While everyone's eyes widened in surprise, Taiji almost drooled over her all-time favorite sweet. "Arre Bholuram, iski kya zaroorat thi?"

"Ji Taiji...wo...Nanu ne sikhaya tha ki kabhi kisike ghar khali haath nahi jaate...aur kahi na kahi mujhe yakeen tha ki Tauji aur Chachaji mujhe mana nahi karenge, isliye aapse milne ki aur aapka margdarshan milne ki double khushi mein, main pehle hi mithai le aaya". Sameer completely bowled Taiji over with his politeness.

"Dekha Rakesh, ise kehte hai Sanskaar. Tum toh hamesha bewajah hi bechare ko koste rehte the". Tauji reprimanded Rakesh.

"Haan haan...suna lijiye...ab toh aap log bhi iss ameerzaade ki chakachaundh mein chaundhiya gaye hai"...Rakesh ranted his usual and fumingly left the house.

Naina looked on helplessly as her moment of joy was short-lived. Sameer might be paying attention to everyone in the family and appear to blend but not for one moment his eyes had left Naina. He didn't fail to notice any single emotion that crossed her face and eyes. He didn't want to see her sad even for a minute. Just then Chachiji handed him a glass of sherbet, which he purposefully held lightly and let it spill on his shirt.

Preeti saw this whole scenario and immediately understood what he was up to. Avoiding all eyes, she hastily sneaked into the outside bathroom and locked it from inside.

"Bhagwan jhooth na bulvaye beta, jaldi se dho lo warna daag pad jaayega", Chachiji advised.

Sameer moved to the bathroom and pretending to open it, smirked to himself. He knew his Saali was a step ahead too.

"Chachiji, yeh bathroom toh khul nahi raha, shayad koi hai andar", and he looked at his shirt.

Poor Bela had no choice but to allow him to use the girl's bathroom inside. Naina sneaked the opportunity "Chachiji, wo andar wale bathroom mein towel nahi hai, main Sameer ko towel de deti hoon" and without waiting for a response, she scurried behind him with a towel in hand.

"Yeh kya tha?" Naina questioned him the moment they were alone.

"Kya kya tha", Sameer feigned innocence.

"Sameer....tumhe achche se pataa hai main kya puch rahi hoon. Aur yeh itnniii itniiiiiiii zyada mehngi mithai?" Naina quizzed again.

Since the shirt was cleaned, they came out and he gave her a small packet that he had hid under his shirt and placed on her table before. "Wo sabke liye tha, yeh sirf tumhare liye".

Naina opened and her eyes gleamed in ecstasy "Sandesh....Bengali mithai...wo bhi Maganlal ki".

Sameer couldn't stop smiling seeing her so happy. "Tumhe bahut pasand hai na".

He broke a piece and fed her and without caring that anyone could barge in on them any second, she happily gulped it.

Then suddenly "Par Sameer, tumhe kaise pataa ki mujhe Maganlal ki mithai pasand hai?"

"Honewali Mrs. Maheshwari...abhi tumhe nahi pataa ki mujhe tumhare baare mein aur bahut kuch pataa hai", he winked at her and fed her another bite. She turned red but reciprocated the gesture and fed him the sweet.

"Happy Birthday Naina". He wished her again, whispering closely in her ears such that his breath wreaked havoc on her senses.

But there was no time to enjoy the feeling as Chachiji hollered her...

The guests that is her friends started to leave but Sameer made no attempt. Also, Arjun left for his evening practice. Sameer didn't want to go and prayed that some chance miracle would allow him to spend some more time with her.

While her friends left, and Chachiji Taiji were busy discussing something, Shefali pulled Naina aside "Naina, tujhe cake kaise laga?"

"Bahut hi sundar aur bahut zyaada tasty...Thank you Shefali...and she hugged her tight to express her deepest gratitude".

"Agar itna achcha laga toh thanks mujhe nahi, Sameer ko bolna. And she quickly narrated the incident to her".

Naina was shocked but pleasantly surprised how much he had planned and to what lengths he had gone to make her happy and the day most memorable one for a lifetime. Tauji was in a deep conversation with Sameer when she looked at him, but was so overcome with emotions that indeed her mom had sent her a personal angel to keep her happy in her absence and her eyes pooled. While pretending to hear Tauji's talks, Sameer quickly looked at her and his brows furrowed asking her "What happened".

She gave her brightest smile to indicate she was totally fine, quickly glanced around her as Shefali had also got busy talking with Preeti and blew a flying kiss to him. He was shocked at her impulsive but boldest gesture in front of her whole family but quickly composed himself and pretended to focus on Chachaji.

"Sameer, Bhaisaheb aur maine upar upar se files dekh li hai, sab kuch pehle jaisa niyantrit karne ke liye hume kuch aur kaagzaat aur jaankariyan chahiye hongi, toh tum kaho tab hum tumhare office ya factory aa sakte hai".

Sameer seized the perfect opportunity, "hmm Chachaji, wo abhi maine theek se factory jana shuru nahi kiya hai, wahan ka sab kuch Munshiji hi dekhte hai, waise bhi wo Ahmedabad se thoda sa bahar hai na, toh aane jaane mein pura din chala jaayega. Toh college se itna samay nikal paana mushkil hai. Par aap mujhe bataa dijiye, main saare kaagzaat office se mangva loonga aur yahan ghar par pahucha doonga".

Since Tauji and Chachaji glanced at each other, he added quickly "Agar aap ko koi aitraaz na ho toh?"

"Arre nahi beta, aitraaz kaisa, tum itne bade khandan ke ladke hokar bhi kisi bhi kaam ko karne mein hichkichate nahi ho, yeh dekhkar achcha laga". Tauji patted his shoulder and praised him.

"Ji Tauji, Nanu se hi seekha hai ki koi kaam chota bada nahi hota, har kaam ko puri nish..nish...", then remembering "nishtha aur imandaari se karna chahiye. Ab Nanu ke jane ke baad toh main akela ho gaya hoon, buss unki sikhayi har baat ki yaadein hi mere saath hai" and he actually got emotional.

"Fir beta, tum yahan rehte kiske saath ho"? questioned Tauji.

"Ji main akela hi rehta hoon. Mummy toh Delhi mein hai na".

"Aur tumhara khana peena?" Tauji continued to question him.

"Ji wo Ramdhari hai na....par jab wo nahi hota toh main bahar kha leta hoon, jaise ki aaj...aaj uski chutti hai na".

Now, it was Chachaji's turn "Bahar kyon khaoge, ise apna hi ghar samjho, tum toh yahan pehle reh chuke ho, sabko jaante ho, aaj tum yahi hamare saath khana khao, kyon Bhaisaheb?"

"Haan bilkul sahi kaha Anand ne. Ise apna hi ghar samjho. Ab se tum jab chahe yahan aa sakte ho." And Tauji hollered the ladies in the kitchen "Suno Bahu, aaj Sameer bhi hamare saath hi khana khayega".

Chachiji nodded happily as she too liked him.

"Par Tauji, wo Rakesh sir, shayad unhe pasand na aaye..." Sameer wanted to clear all hurdles.

"Main janta hoon ki wo tumhara shikshak tha issliye tum school ke bahar bhi uska samman karte ho, par iss ghar ka sabse bada main hoon, toh tum uski chinta mat karo", Tauji assured him.

"Tum baitho aaram se, Anand zara chalna mere saath”, and Tauji took Chachaji with him to his house.

"Achcha Naina, main bhi chalti hoon....bahut der ho gayi hai...Mummy aane hi wali hogi"...Shefali too bid her goodbyes to everyone and made a move.

"Bela....tu sabjiyan wagerah kaat le, aata goond le, main thodi der mein aati hoon..."Taiji also made an excuse and left Bela to the cooking chore for the full family and left in a hurry smiling at her Bholuram.

Bela muttered to herself, "Jabh bhi thoda kaam badh jaata hai, toh nikal leti hai aur mujhe kaamchor kehti hai". Then loudly, "Preeti, aaja beta, thodi madad kar de".

"Main kar deti hoon Chachiji" Naina and Sameer were busy looking at each other chori chori, he seated on his usual dining table chair and Naina wandering around the hall but offered to help her Chachi.

"Arre nahi beta, tu rehne de, aaj tera din hai...aaj tujhse koi kaam thode hi karvaoongi".

Leaving the love birds alone, Preeti moved to the kitchen, while Naina pretended to arrange the hall, clear away the used dishes and started folding the clothes hanging in the balcony, all the while her gaze fixed on Sameer. There was no way they could talk openly in front of Chachiji and also when anyone could walk in the open doors any minute. Sameer too longed to hold her and kiss her ever since the cake had smeared on her lips and she had licked it with the tip of her tongue. But he longed to spend some alone moments with her. True they had just spent an entire night together and none other than their four friends knew about it, but now he was desperate for more. A plan devised in his head and he smirked to himself. He was excited to see how Naina would react.

After dinner was over, even though he didn't wish to leave, he couldn't extend his stay more, lest they would feel him to be a pile on guest. He thanked the elders for their hospitality and took their leave after letting them know that he would be back as soon as he had collected the documents they had requested of him.

While Preeti bade a smiling goodbye, the love birds conveyed it through their eyes.

Later at night:

It was already past 10:30, when everyone was already asleep, and Naina was getting impatient and had measured the room in more than 50 rounds according to her sister.

"Behen, aise hi chalti rahi na, toh farsh mein khadde pad jaayenge".

"Chuap kar na Preeti ...Sameer ko gaye ek ghanta ho gaya hai, aur uska ghar, yahan se sirf 20 minute hai bike par...toh wo ab tak pahucha kaise nahi. Use pataa hai na mujhe kitni fikr ho rahi hogi. Ab tak 20 baar phone kar chuki hoon, na utha raha hai na khud phone kar raha hai. Pataa nahi kya hua hoga? Bhagwan kare sab theek ho". Naina voiced her concern.

"Arre behen, tu bhi na bekar fikr karti rehti hai... ho sakta hai Jijaji thakk gaye ho, kal raat bhar tere liye jaag rahe the na... toh ghar jaate hi so gaye honge, isiliye phone ki ghanti sunayi nahi di hogi".

"Nahi Preeti, aisa kabhi nahi hua, ki Sameer aur main ek dusre se baate kiye bina so jaaye...aise neend nahi aati hume", Naina countered off her explanation.

"Toh ho sakta hai wo Munna Pandit ke ghar chale gaye ho... bata rahe the na...aaj Ramdhari bhi nahi hai toh akele bore ho rahe honge". Preeti provided another explanation.

"Agar aisa hai toh unke ghar se bhi toh phone kar sakta hai na...use pataa hai jab tak main uski aawaz nahi sun loongi, mujhe chain nahi aayega". Naina continued to sulk when she heard some scraping noise in the balcony.

Even before Preeti registered, she ran outside and peered down and was frozen at what she saw. Sameer was climbing up the ladder and was trying to get a hold of her balustrade when he peeked up and saw her and smiled his goofy grin.

"Mujhe pataa hai ki main bahut handsome hoon ki jab bhi tum mujhe dekhti ho, meri aakhon mein kho jaati ho..." Sameer openly displayed his self-obsession. "Par abhi apna haath do, warna gir jaunga" and he extended his hand for support from her.

But the gesture made him to lose his balance and Naina broke out of her trance and immediately held his hand tight, and with the other hand hooked around his elbow, helped him up and he jumped inside with a thud.

Preeti also came out and was delighted to see him again. "Wah jijaji, aap toh meri behen ke pyar mein Spiderman ban gaye ho", she teased him.

"Koi shaq Saaliji", Sameer replied wiggling his eyebrows.

Seeing that they were already lost in their intense eyelock Preeti remarked, "aap log apna romance jaari rakho, main toh sone ja rahi hoon" but before leaving she warned them "Par sambhalke, Taiji ya mohallewale na dekh le".

Sameer started pulling the ladder up, so as to avoid it from everyone's eyes at its unusual placement and also so that he could use it later to climb down".

"Tum pagal ho kya? Baar baar iss tarah koi deewar chadh kar aata hai bhala? Gir jaate toh? Chot lag jaati toh?"

Sameer didn't fail to notice that her pyarwali daant was not because she was worried that she would get caught and someone would scold her or her reputation was at stake but rather she worried about him.

"Arre meri jaan, tumhare liye toh main roz  yeh deewar chadh sakta hoon", they shared an intense gaze into each other's eyes. Just then they heard someone coughing from a nearby flat.

Naina helped him pull the ladder into the balcony quickly, balanced it against the wall and ducked down to avoid being spotted. A few minutes in that position and they were very close to each other, Naina's eyes clenched tightly and her hands into his, her nails digging sharply into his palms. But instead of pain, he felt a searing pleasure shoot up his veins.

A few moments later, "sab shaant ho gaya Naina, he whispered huskily and she slowly opened her eyes and was mesmerized when she looked into his. Something very primal lurked there and she was afraid to face it. Some tendrils escaped her ponytail, caressing her face, and his hands of their own volition tucked them behind her ear. The feathery-light touch ignited something inside her and she couldn't stop blushing. The full moon light lent a glow to her ethereal beauty that was incandescent due to her blush.

After a few moments, she managed "Sameer... tumhe aise yahan nahi aana chahiye tha. Kisine dekh liya toh?"

"Aise kaise nahi aata...meri Naina ki khwahish thi, ki wo aaj ka saara din mere saath bitana chahti hai...toh puri kaise nahi karta" he checked his watch and moved his wrist under her eyes. "Dekho, abhi bhi sawa ghanta baaki hai aaj ka din pura hone mein", indicating the time to her and she broke out into a smile.

"Tum bhi na...pure pagal ho".

"Haan... wo toh hoon...par sirf tumhare pyar mein....baaki sab barabar samajh aata hai mujhe". Sameer hiked his collar of the light blue shirt, her favorite.

"Achcha, ruko...main abhi aati hoon...." She went inside and a few seconds later, came out with a quilt, blankets, pillows, the Sandesh box and a bottle of water, juggling everything in 2 hands and under the arms. Seeing this, Sameer immediately rushed to help her and gathered half the things and placed them on the floor. Naina quietly closed the balcony door but kept it slightly ajar, so as to not disturb the sleeping sister but enough to hear if anyone woke up in the house.

Sameer was impressed at her thoughtfulness. Naina neatly placed the mat and covered it with a thick quilt, arranged pillows resting against the pillar and asked him to join her on the floor.

"Wah Naina, tumne toh puri raat bitane ka intezaam kar liya".

"Haan toh....main tumhe achche se jaanti hoon....agar abhi jane ke liye bolungi toh jaoge toh nahi...hai na?" Sameer smiled and shook his head that indeed she was right and he joined her on the floor.

Then, she opened the sweet box he had brought earlier and fed him some and he too fed her some. Next, he took out a long sleek box from the back of his shirt and extended it towards her "Happy Birthday Naina".

"Ab yeh kya hai Sameer?"

"Khud kholke dekh lo".

She opened it slowly and saw a beautiful pearl bracelet with three strands of pearls, white indicating the purity of their love, pink indicating their beautiful romance and fulfilling all her dreams a color that suited her best and her favorite and now his too, and blue, symbolizing the sky and ocean as the limit of their love free yet deep and his favorite color which suited her too and she had come to love it because of him. Near the clasp dangled a heart with NS embodied together indicating them so into each other that they were inseparable.

"Yeh toh bahut sundar hai Sameer", she delicately fingered it and extended it back to him and he with the same delicateness clasped it around her wrist. As if it was irresistible, he slowly brought her wrist to his lips and looked into her eyes as if seeking permission for what he was about to do. Her pooled eyes was all he needed, and he placed a feathery light kiss on the inside of her wrist where the clasp held.

The gesture sent shivers down her spine, while a teardrop involuntarily leaked out. But Sameer was quick to collect it on his fingertip and looked at it with love-filled eyes. When she gazed at him, he touched the precious gem to his lips and kissed it and entrenched it forever in himself.

They shared an intense eye lock without even blinking. New overwhelming emotions were cruising through both their minds & heartbeats racing. Sameer started inching closely to her face without even realizing his action. The increasing proximity led to a myriad of feelings and thousands of butterflies erupted in Naina's stomach that she shivered visibly rubbing her arms involuntarily. Her action was noticed by Sameer, which he mistook for her feeling cold due to the slight drop in the temperature. He moved away for a second to open the neatly folded blanket and wrapped it around her shoulders and in the next second extended one end to wrap himself in the same blanket to feel cozy with her. He shifted closer to her and started to wrap one arm around her. But before he could complete the action, she froze visibly and leaned her body away from him.

Sameer's brows furrowed in confusion and question when she blurted out, "tumhe nahi lagta ki hum ek hi din mein bahut kareeb aa gaye hai?"

Sameer brought his hand back to the front with a fisted palm indicating his frustration to have to keep away from her. But he loved her more than himself and her comfort was his priority.

"Naina, main manta hoon ki hum ek din mein bahut paas aa gaye hai. Ab bade ho rahe hai aur saath saath hamara rishta bhi aur gehra ho raha hai. Par tumhari marzi mere liye apni ichchaon se jyaada zaroori hai. Tumhare pehle meri zindagi mein koi nahi thi aur Bhagwan na kare agar kisi wajah se kal hum saath na hue toh bhi tumhare alawa kabhi koi nahi hogi. Aur tum bhi yeh achchi tarah samaj lo ki tumhare itne paas aane ka haq bhi sirf mera hai....par na maine kabhi tumhari marzi ke bina kuch kiya hai aur na aage kabhi karoonga!" Sameer openly declared his rights on her but never ever he would force himself on her.

Naina trusted him implicitly already but just again he had proved to be the best decision of her life. A second later, without any further ado, she lifted his left hand and placed it around her shoulder and moved closer into the crook of his arm and leaned her side body on his. He took that as a yes and moved his hand from her shoulder to her waist, clutched it tight and pulled her further into him. She gasped and looked at him in surprise; he winked flirtatiously and she rolled her eyes but smiled and stayed put.

He slowly bent his head, looked into her eyes and wished her happy birthday again. Now she was really curious. She straightened slightly to be able to look at him & asked "yeh kya hai Sameer?" Ek din mein kitni baar wish karoge? Agar kal raat se ginu toh saare din ka aur yeh wala mila kar tumne ab tak lagbhag satrah baar mujhe happy birthday bola hai! Kyon?"

"Arre wah meri topper Naina, maan gaye tumhari mathematics aur yaddasht ko! Barabar ginti rakkhi hai!"

She smacked him near the shoulder and he yelped in fake pain. "Kya pagalpan hai yeh Sameer? Aur itne saare gifts bhi!"

Nainu... hum dou saal se saath hai par main aaj tak kabhi tumhe wish bhi nahi kar paya, tohfa dena toh bahut durr ki baat thi. Aur uske pehle solah saal toh maine puri tarah se miss kar diye toh buss yeh ek choti si koshish hai tumhari zindagi ke un beeten palon ko aur aaj ke din ko yaadgar banane ki!" He explained nonchalantly.

"Thank you Sameer....tumne sach mein mere liye iss din ki manhoosiyat ko mitakar yaadgar bana diya hai". She leaned back into him and they held each other's free hands.

"Tumhe pataa hai Sameer, pehle mujhe hamesha lagta tha ki kaash yeh din calendar se mit jaaye, par na thode din pehle jo hua usse toh laga ki kaash yeh din banta hi nahi".

"Aisa kya hua Naina?" He questioned when she unknowingly tightened her grip on his hand, he didn't flinch, rather let her feel her comfort.

"Wo college ke liye Preeti aur main Chachiji aur Taiji ke saath shopping gaye the, wahan usne mujhe wo dress try karne ke liye di jo usne aaj gift ki. Hum use khareed toh nahi sakte the, ek toh itni mehngi upar se itni modern. Par badalne se pehle hi Taiji ne dekh li. Buss fir kya tha...hamesha ki tarah khoob daant padi donon ko aur mujhe toh dou thappad bhi pade, par sabse zyaada darr tab laga jab Taiji ne yeh baat Tauji ko batayi! Humne baar baar maafi maangi aur hamari taraf se Chachiji ne bhi bahut minnatein ki tab wo maane ki Papa ko kuch nahi batayenge. Fir unhone sirf ek baat boli. "Agar aage mujhe tumhari ek bhi shikayat sunayi di toh yaad rakhna bahut jald atarah ki honewali ho, usi din shaadi karvaoonga tumhari". Pataa hai pehli baar itna darr laga tha jitna uss din bhi nahi laga tha jab Papa ne hume school mein baat karte dekh liya tha aur maine darr ke mare tumhe padhane se mana kar diya tha. Uss waqt Preeti ke alava koi nahi tha jisse dil ki baat kar sakti thi. Tum toh Ahmedabad mein hokar bhi na mujhse mil rahe the na baat kar rahe the. Tumhare hote hue bhi kuch palon ke liye mujhe laga ki main bilkul akeli hoon".

The pain and fear of that day still echoed in her voice that seared his heart. He clenched his eyes for being such a jerk when she needed him most, his hold tightened on her waist & eyes misted.

"I am sorry Naina, tumhare budhdhu ke dimaag mein bhusa bhar gaya tha uss waqt jo yeh soch liya ki tumse durr reh loonga".

Then he bent his head and looked straight in her eyes as if promising her soul "par ab aage se kabhi aisa kuch nahi hoga. Hum hamesha saath rahenge aur jo koi bhi problem hogi hum milkar samna karenge".

Seeing his guilt-stricken eyes, Naina placed a palm lovingly on his cheek and shook her head slightly as if gesturing to not feel bad about it and smiled at him.

Remembering something and talking to herself, "lekin Preeti ne mujhe wo dress gift kaise de di...main toh usse puchna hi bhool gayi. Aur itni mehngi dress khareedne ke paise kahan se aaye? Chachaji se toh nahi maang sakti, kyonki fir wo zaroor puchte ki kya gift liya? Aur uski khud ki jeb kharchi toh chaat aur samosa khane mein khatm ho jati hai. Kam se kam ek saal ki jeb kharchi bachayegi tab shayad sale mein dress khareed paye! Par main apni behen ko acche se jaanti hoon, itni aage ki toh kabhi nahi sochti".

Sameer's expressions were changing when something struck her and she straightened "Ek minute...kahi usne tumse toh paise nahi liye?"

Sameer now averted his eyes completely confirming her suspicion. "Sameer, idhar dekho", he stole a glance and looked away.

"Sach batao...tumne paise diye na?"

She continued to stare at him that he could feel her piercing gaze. He looked up slightly and she raised her eyebrows in question. "Nahi, maine paise nahi diye, buss jo kam pad rahe the use pura kiya".

Then again, she thought of something "Aur Munna Pandit, itne saalon mein unhone bhi na kabhi wish kiya na kabhi koi tohfa diya, aur aaj achanak itna pyar? Unki madad bhi tumne ki na?"

"Nainaa...main manta hoon ki paise se maine hamare doston ki madad ki....par gift ka idea unka hi tha. Waise bhi tumhi se seekha hai ki keemat tohfe ki nahi, denewale ki bhavnaon ki hoti hai....aur unn sabka pyar tumhare liye ekdum saccha hai".

She rolled her eyes as he was pacifying her with her own preach. "Aur cake? Wo bhi tumhara idea hi tha na? Par kyon Sameer? Tumne toh kal raat ko mere liye itni mehnat se cake banaya tha, fir dobara order karne ki kya zaroorat thi? Aur itna alag aur itna sundar cake aise achanak toh nahi ban sakta, toh matlab tumne bahut pehle se planning ki thi?"

Now Sameer was exasperated at his inquisitive girlfriend, but she wasn't letting it pass because when it comes to being adamant, even Sameer Maheshwari bowed down before Naina Agrawal.

He took a deep breath and continued, "waise mujhe yeh tumhe nahi batana chahiye, par bina jaane tumhe shanti nahi hogi, iss liye bata raha hoon. Hum sab doston ne milkar college ke baad ek khali classroom mein tumhara birthday celebrate karne ka pura plan bana liya tha kyonki tum kisi restaurant mein shayad comfortable nahi hoti. Peechli baar mere janamdin par bhi tum Kanshikura se bhaag gayi thi, iss liye hum tumhe class ke baad surprise dene wale the. Wo cake bhi ussi din dopahar ke liye order kiya tha. Par fir Preeti ne bataya ki Chachaji bhi iss baar tumhare liye surprise plan kar rahe hai, toh main unki planning ke beech mein kaise aata? Issliye fir maine sab kuch badal diya aur socha sabse pehle main tumhe wish karoonga aur tumhara birthday toh special banake hi rahoonga. Buss mushkil thi ki aadhi raat ko tumhe apne saath chalne ke liye kaise manaoonga wo bhi surprise kharab kiye bina. Aur iske liye na chahte hue bhi mujhe Taiji ko Thank You bolna padega ki na wo tumhe itni baatein sunati, na tum itni dukhi hoti aur na hi bina sawal kiye mere saath chal padti. Par yakeen mano mera Naina, uss waqt tumhe aise dekhkar mere mann mein sirf ek hi khayal tha ki tumhare saare dukh apne bana loon aur kisi bhi tarah tumhare chehre ki muskaan wapas le aaon".

He became emotional for a second recalling the last night's events how his world had trembled when he saw her in a devastated state. Then continued, "ab cake toh aaj dopahar mein aanewala tha, toh buss maine soch liya ki bhagwan bhi chahte ki main tumhe aur ek surprise doon...fir aaj shaam ko wo special cake main tumhare ghar bhejne wala tha, Phulla bua ke naam se, iss yakeen ke saath, ki ek cake ke baare mein pataa karne ke liye mere sasuralwale STD pe paisa kharch nahi karenge". She hit him playfully.

"Par tabhi dukaan mein Shefali mil gayi aur usne bataya ki cylinder khatm ho gaya....toh dimaag ke ghode daudne lage aur maine cake uske haathon bhijwa diya, par mujhe yeh nahi pataa tha ki wo tumhe sach bataa degi".

Naina was so overwhelmed at his thoughtfulness..."Sameerrrr....tum....maine kabhi nahi socha tha ki koi mujhse bhi iss tarah itna zyaada pyar karega". She leaned back in him and they had a moment of togetherness.

"Par Sameer...yeh sab toh theek hai par tumhare Nanaji ke business mein Tauji aur Chachaji...matlab yeh bhi tumne mere liye...?" She was confused.

Sameer held her hands..."Waise toh Naina iss duniya mein aisa kuch nahi hai jo main tumhare liye nahi kar sakta....par kuch din se Munshiji ke saath milkar business ko samaj ne ki aur seekhne ki koshish kar raha hoon....bahut mushkil hai kyonki mujhe kuch bhi nahi aata. Aur Nanaji ke achanak chale jane se bahut cheezein bigad gayi hai jinhe theek karna zaroori hai aur mujhe bharose ke logon ki zaroorat hai. Munshiji toh hai hi, par Tauji aur Chachaji gussewale aur sakhth kyon na ho, apne kaam mein unhe saalon ka tajoorba hai jo mere liye bahut achcha hai. Toh main sach mein chahta hoon ki wo meri madad kare....aur fir bonus kise achcha nahi lagta".

He was back in his playful mood. "Ab main officially iss ghar mein kabhi bhi aa ja sakta hoon, bina rok tok tumse mil sakta hoon, dekh sakta hoon...aur ab toh mujhe librarian...hmmm matlab param pujya Sasurji se bhi darne ke zaroorat nahi hai".

Sensing her thoughts, he side-hugged her again and continued "Par tum chinta mat karo, ek din wo bhi maan jaayenge...aakhir Sameer Maheshwari ka jadoo hai, kab tak bachenge?" He assured her with a wink.

Just then, somewhere in the distance he heard a clock chime softly and when he checked his wristwatch the hands were just about to unite. He straightened and pulled out a packet and handed it to her "Happy Birthday Naina".

"Sameer, yeh kya hai.....ab buss itne tofhe....Potli Baba ki tarah kahan kahan se nikalte hi ja rahe ho! Main ab aur nahi le sakti".

"Yeh aaj ka aakhri tohfa hai Naina...aur waise bhi yeh meri taraf se nahi, Nanu ki taraf se hai".

Naina was super confused but she took it and opened the envelope. They appeared like some legal documents she had often seen at Tauji's place. "Yeh kya hai Sameer? Kuch kanooni kagzaat lag rahe hai. Par mujhe kyon de rahe ho?"

"Padho Naina" was all he said.

Naina read them and after skimming the first 2 pages, she was shell-shocked that the papers dropped out of her hands.

"Nanaji ki wasiyat?"

"Haan Naina... Nanu ko tumhare baare mein pataa tha aur unhe tum par pura vishwas tha ki tum hamesha mere saath rahogi... unke aakhri shabd bhi yahi the". Sameer got emotional recalling his Nanu's last moments.

Naina placed a hand on his shoulder. "Main jab Delhi se wapas aa raha tha, tabhi Mummy ne yeh file mujhe di thi. Mujhe bhi usi waqt pataa chala ki Nanu ki aakhri khwahish yahi thi ki unke ghar ke waaris hum dono ho, aur atharve janmadin par wo ghar hamara ho jaaye. Mujhe toh pehle mil gaya, par tumhe dene ka sahi waqt aaj hai. Tum bhale hi uss waqt wahan nahi thi par unhone jane se pehle hume hamesha saath rehne ka aashirwad de diya".

The lovers were so emotional and overwhelmed. They gazed at the stars and silently thanked Nanu who might be smiling upon them and showering his unconditional love and blessings over them. They sat there entwined in each other till eternity before the dawn cracked signaling for him to leave but also their new beginnings. They were ready to take on the world together with the support from their friends and blessings of his Nanu, the only elder who had already cherished them together.