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FATE TWISTED BY LOVE

CHAPTER 33

Sameer's heart almost stopped when Naina collapsed in his arms. He picked her up immediately & entered their room. He put her on the bed & sprinkled some water on her face. "Naina... Naina... please utho... dekho main aa gaya hun."

He held her hand & rubbed a little. "Naina... please utho naa..." He again speckled some more water on her face, "Naina..." She opened her eyes slowly to find her worried husband staring at her.

"Thank God... tumhe hosh aa gaya..." He pulled her in his arms & hugged her tightly. "Main kitna ghabra gaya tha. Tum uth hi nahi rahi thi Naina... I was so scared." Naina wrapped her hands around him & melted in his arms, feeling at home. He was her home, her everything. Closing her eyes, she inhaled his musky fragrance feeling at peace.

Tightening his hold, he continued, "I'm so so sorry Naina... Please mujhe maaf kardo. Main jaan bujhkar late nahi aaya hun Naina... Sacchii... Mujhe pataa hi nahi tha ki aaj Karwa Chauth hai. Subah bhi maine Nanu ki baat thik se suni hi nahi thi, mera poora dhyaan uss call pe tha. I'm sorry Naina... agar main Nanu ki baat sunn leta subah hi toh main time se pehle hi ghar aa jaata..."

When Naina didn't reply, he loosened his hold a little & slowly held her face in his palms. Her tearstained face pierced his heart & his eyes misted too. "I'm sorry Naina... please mujhe maaf kardo..."

When tears made its way from Sameer's eyes, Naina shook her head slowly, "Aap sorry mat kahiye Sameer... Aapki koi galti nahi hai. Main samjti hun ki aap kaam mein busy ho gaye honge, isliye time ka pataa nahi chala hoga aapko."

"Naina... tum..." Naina covered his mouth with her palm & said, "Nahi Sameer... pehle mujhe bolne dijiye. Galti meri bhi hai Sameer. Mujhe aapko kal raat yaa aaj subah hi bataa dena chahiye tha ki main aapke liye Karwa Chauth ka vrat rakh rahi hun. Agar main bataa deti toh yeh sab nahi hota."

"Sameer... main jaanti hun Munna aur Pandit bhi yahaan nahi hai, toh aap par saare kaam ka bojh aa gaya hoga. Aap kitne din se busy hai, maine dekha hai sab. Dekha hai maine aap kitna thak jaate hai aajkal. Aap itne din se thik se khaana bhi nahi kha rahe Sameer. Aur issi wajah se aapki tabiyat bhi thik nahi rehti na."

Naina moved her palm from his mouth while Sameer kept gaping at his loving & caring wife. His voice choked, "Naina... tum... tum... itni acchi kyun ho? Tumne subah se mere liye Karwa Chauth ka vrat kiya aur maine tumhe itna wait karwaaya, fir bhi tum mujhse zara bhi naaraaz nahi ho? Naina... sach sach bolo... kya tum mujhse naaraaz nahi ho? Maine hamara pehla Karwa Chauth kharaab kar diya, fir bhi tum mujhse thoda bhi gussa nahi ho? Ulta mere khaane aur tabiyat ki chinta kar rahi ho. Kis mitti ki bani ho tum Naina???"

Naina lowered her eyes & replied, "Sach kahun Sameer... toh mujhe aap par gussa hone ka yaa aapse naaraaz hone ka hakk hi nahi hai. Aaj hamara pehla Karwa Chauth hai Sameer aur shaayad aakhri bhi. Main agle saal toh yahaan nahi rahungi yeh Karwa Chauth ka vrat karne ke liye par main chahti hun ki aap hamesha khush rahe, bohot tarakki kare aur aapki umar bohot hi lambi ho."

This time Sameer placed his palm over her mouth silencing her, "Tumhe kisne kahaa ki tumhara mujhpar koi hakk nahi hai Naina??? Bhale hi hum ab bhi pati patni ki tarah nahi rehte, par hum bohot acche dost hai Naina... Dosti ka rishta sabse upar hota hai aur issi dosti ne tumhe saare hakk diye hai. Tum maano yaa naa maano Naina, par tumhe mujhpar poora hakk hai. Tum poore hakk se mujhse naaraaz ho sakti ho, mujhpar gussa kar sakti ho, mujhe daant bhi sakti ho Naina."

"Main jaanta hun ki hamari shaadi ke pehle se hi maine tumhe bohot galat samjha hai aur mujhe meri galti ka ehsaas bhi hai Naina. Tum jaanti ho ki mere liye kisi par bharosa karna itna aasaan nahi hai. Tumne dekha hai na ki mere kitne kam dost hai, aur unn kam doston mein se ek tum bhi ho, jo mere saath mere hi kamre mein rehti hai, jo meri dost hone ke saath saath meri wife bhi hai."

He teased, "Abhi bhi der nahi hui hai Mrs Naina Sameer Maheshwari... tum ab bhi mujhe daant sakti ho, gussa ho sakti ho aur sawaal bhi kar sakti ho mujhse." When Naina smiled a little, he continued, "Toh madam... ab vrat poora kare, warna tumhe firse chakkar aa jaayenge."

Naina hit his shoulder lightly & moved away from him to get up. As he got up, his head spun & he sat down on the bed with a thud, holding his head. She was shocked to see his state & asked, "Kya hua Sameer? Aap thik toh hai na? Aapko bhi chakkar aa rahe hai kya?"

Naina handed him a glass of water & he sipped it slowly. "Aapne lunch nahi kiya na Sameer???" He didn't meet her eyes & she sighed, "Sameer... Aap na apna bilkul bhi dhyaan nahi rakhte apna. Ek baar kaam shuru kar diya toh bas, khaana peena sab bhool jate hai. Dekho ab ho gaya naa sard dard shuru. Kitni baar kahaa hai ki aap time par khaana kha lijiye, par aap toh meri sunte hi nahi hai kabhi. Kal se naa main khud tiffin lekar aaya karungi office, fir dekhti hun kaise khaana nahi khaate aap."

Sameer kept staring at his furious wife & smiled. "Aap hass kyun rahe hai?", she asked looking at her husband's smiling face. "Wohhh main soch raha tha ki agar tumhara daantna khatam ho gaya ho, toh tumhara vrat tode. Warna ab ki baar hum dono bhi behosh ho jaayenge."

Naina closed her eyes & looked away blushing as she realized how she was scolding him like a typical wife. Sameer got up from the bed & forwarded his hand. She met his gaze & placed her hand in his. As they got up, she spoke, "Sameer... aap fresh ho jaaiye, maine aapke liye kapde already couch par rakhe hai. Tab tak main pooja ki thaali aur hamare liye khaana lekar aati hun."

Sameer didn't leave her & held her hand tightly, "Tum kahin nahi jaaogi Naina... chupchaap yahin baitho. Main bas paanch minute mein fresh hokar aaya." She agreed with a smile & sat down on the bed again. He freshened up quickly while Naina too stood in front of the mirror to check if anything was out of place.

Sameer walked out exactly after five minutes & Naina turned after hearing the click of the door. She stared at her husband who looked extra handsome wearing a cream-coloured kurta-pyjama. Her eyes slowly moved to his face & landed on his wet hair. She walked to the cupboard & picked up a small towel.

Sameer kept gazing at her. His eyes roamed over her curves & the bare midriff which was visible to him today. He took in her saree clad figure & murmured, "Gorgeous..." When he had entered the room earlier, his attention wasn't on her attire, but now his eyes didn't even blink as he saw the ethereal beauty standing in front of him with a towel in her hand.

"Yeh towel...", he mumbled & Naina pulled him to the couch. "Aapke baal gile hai Sameer. Dekho kitni paani ki boondein gir rahi hai." She made him sit & then took over the job of drying his hair. The mere touch of Naina on his scalp made him shiver. He had never felt this way before. No one had done this with him except his mother.

Sameer remembered how his mother would dry his hair after the shower. But this touch... this touch was very much different, very much intimate. He closed his eyes to saviour this feeling which was all new to him.

"Sameer... aap kabhi apne baal nahi sukhaate, aise hi rehne dete hai. Ek toh aisa bhi aapko sar dard hai aur fir gile baalon ki wajah se aapko sardi bhi ho sakti hai." Her sweet voice broke his trance & he opened his eyes with a smile. He held her wrist, "Ab bas... aaj ke liye kaafi hai. Tum ab batao ki pooja ki thali kahaan hai, main le aata hun."

"Aap kyun jayenge? Main le aati hun." He didn't leave her hand & pulled her softly next to him. She sat abruptly & looked at him in confusion. "Tum kahin nahi jaaogi Naina. Main pooja ki thali aur khaana le aata hun. Tum yahin, issi room mein rahogi aur iss baat par mujhe koi behes nahi chahiye."

Without hearing her reply, he moved out of their room & went downstairs to bring her pooja thali & food for them. He saw Nanu still sitting in the living room, "Nanu... Aap abhi tak soye nahi?" Nanu glanced at his smiling face & attire, & understood that all was well between the couple.

"Tum yahaan kya kar rahe ho Sameer? Aur Naina kahaan hai?" Sameer didn't want to tell Nanu that Naina had fainted already & add to his worry. "Wohhh... main pooja ki thali aur khaana lene aaya hun."

Nanu smiled, "Pooja ki thali, Mandir ke paas rakhi hai. Tu wohi le jaa. Main tum dono ke liye khaana Ramdhari ke saath bhijwaata hun. Tab tak tum pooja karlo." Sameer didn't waste more time & picked up the pooja thali from the temple.

"Nanu... bohot raat ho gayi hai, aap so jaaiye. Chinta mat kijiye, main Naina ko acche se khaana khila dunga." Nanu patted his shoulder & said, "Aur tum bhi acche se kha lena." Sameer nodded & Nanu retired to his room happily. Sameer saw Ramdhari reheating the food, "Sunn Ramdhari... Tu sirf khaana garam karde, baaki ka main dekh lunga. Bohot late ho gaya hai aur tu bhi thak gaya hoga. Khaana garam karke chale jaana, main baaki sab sambhaal lunga."

Ramdhari had a knowing smile on his face & he agreed. Sameer walked upstairs hurriedly to his waiting wife. When he entered the room, Naina wasn't around. He knew she must be waiting for him in the balcony & he strode in that direction.

Naina was looking at the moon while Sameer gazed at his beautiful wife whose face shone in the moonlight. She looked ethereal in the red saree. Naina turned sensing his presence & took the thali away from him.

Sameer stood in front of her & she performed aarti facing the moon while her husband's gaze was still stuck on her. She threw some rice & poured some water from the earthen pot (karwa) while praying & worshiping the moon. She prayed for his safety, prosperity & long life.

She turned to her dashing husband & put a tilak on his forehead. She performed aarti facing her husband this time while Sameer kept watching her lovingly. She kept the thali on the table nearby & took the sieve in her hand. She placed the diya in it & watched the moon from it.

This scene made Sameer shiver a little as this was his first Karwa Chauth too. As Naina moved the sieve from the moon to his charming face, Sameer's heartbeats accelerated. Naina too was feeling something different when she had started doing the aarti.

But now when she saw her husband's face through the sieve, she knew that there won't be anyone after him. He would be the only one for her till eternity. Her eyes misted when she realized that this was the only Karwa Chauth when they would be together. From next year, she would have to do it alone.

The moment stopped for both of them. Sameer gazed at his beautiful wife whose face shone with the light of the small diya while Naina admired her husband's shining face. Some sound resonated from afar which broke their sweet moment & Naina lowered her eyes while Sameer kept looking at her.

She kept the diya & sieve in the thali & bent down to touch his feet. Sameer instantly held her shoulders, stopping her midway. "Naina... Tumhe mere pair chune ki zarurat nahi hai." "Sameer... yeh toh riwaaz hai na?"

He immediately refuted, "Riwaaz hoga Naina... Par main isme nahi maanta. Zamaana badal gaya hai Naina. Tum meri biwi ho, iska yeh matlab nahi ki tum mujhse kam ho. Main yahi maanta hun ki shaadi mein pati patni ka darja ek samaan hona chahiye. We are equals Naina. Agar tumne mere pair chuye toh main bhi wohi karunga."

"Hum humse bade logon ke pair chookar aashirwaad lete hai, unhe izzat dete hai, kyunki wohh humse bade hai. Par hamare beech yeh sab nahi hoga Naina, kyunki hum dost hai aur pati patni bhi. Pair chookar hi izzat dene mein main believe nahi karta. Hamara rishta dosti ka hai, jahaan yeh sab formalities ki zarurat nahi hai Naina..."

Naina was glad hearing all this from him, she agreed with him & forwarded the earthen pot of water to Sameer. He hadn't known much about Karwa Chauth but he had seen a lot of movies, so he knew what he had to do. He held the pot near her mouth & made her drink some water.

He picked up the kaju katri from the thali & fed her. She bit half of the sweet & the rest half was fed to him. Sameer didn't stop her from feeding her half eaten sweet. He thought that this was the best sweet he had ever eaten till now.

Once the pooja was done, they entered their room again. Taking the thali from her, he said, "Naina... main hamare liye khaana le aata hun." She just nodded in reply & he left. Sameer was starving too as he had skipped his meal too. As he had instructed, Ramdhari left after reheating the food.

Sameer served two plates for them & walked back to the room. Naina was sitting on the couch when her husband entered. He handed her a plate & joined her for the meal. Sameer fed the first morsel to her & she too did the same. They finished the entire meal together feeding each other.

This time Naina didn't allow her husband to take the plates back. She went downstairs while Sameer searched for something in his cupboard. Naina came back to the room to find him waiting for her. As she neared, he spoke, "Naina... mujhe jyada Karwa Chauth ke baare mein pataa toh nahi hai, par itna jaanta hun ki ek pati ko apni patni ko koi gift dena hota hai."

Naina raised her eyebrows at him & he rubbed his neck nervously, "Maine google mein padha tha..." She controlled her laughter & her nervous husband continued, "I'm sorry Naina... main tumhare liye koi gift nahi laa paaya aaj."

"Sameer... please... aap sorry mat kahiye... main samaj sakti hun ki aapko aaj ke baare mein kuch pataa hi nahi tha." Before she could say more, Sameer continued, "Naina... main aaj tumhe kuch dena chaahta hun."

Naina looked at him in surprise when he opened a small box which he was holding for a while. He took out a beautiful golden chain which had a small pendant too. He closed the distance between them & showed her the chain & pendant.

Naina loved it but she refused politely, "Sameer... main yeh nahi le sakti. Aapne mujhe waise bhi bohot gifts diye hai ab tak, mujhe iski zarurat nahi hai." Sameer smiled holding the chain, "Yeh sone ki chain aur pendant mujhe meri mummy ne di thi. Yahi unki aakhri nishaani hai mere paas."

Meeting her gaze, he continued, "Aaj tumne mere liye Karwa Chauth ka vrat kiya, poora din bina kuch khaaye peeye rahi ho mere liye, toh yeh gift tumhe accept karna hi padega Naina... Mere liye aajtak kisine yeh sab nahi kiya hai. Yeh chain mere liye utni hi important aur special hai, jitni tum ho."

Sameer went down on his one knee & asked, "Mrs Naina Sameer Maheshwari... Kya aap meri iss special gift ko accept karengi???" Naina couldn't look away. The way he was sitting on his one knee made her numb. She had never imagined that Sameer would do this for her. But now when it happened, she didn't know how to react.

Sameer knew that his loving beautiful wife wasn't expecting something from him this way, but he didn't have any choice. He had hurt her enough already, & even today he had hurt her unintentionally by not showing up on time. He wanted to do something special for her & this is what he could do at the last moment.

His mother had gifted this golden chain to him on his birthday which was the last birthday he celebrated with her. The chain was very special for him & today he wanted to gift it to his wife who was very much special for him too.

"Naina... Kuch bolo... ghootna dard karne lagaa hai ab." Naina came out of her trance & held his hand. He stood up & kept looking at her expectedly. She smiled & replied, "Aap sach mein mujhe yeh chain gift karna chaahte hai, jo aapki mummy ki aakhri nishaani hai aapke paas?"

He nodded knowing very well what must be going in his wife's head. She turned & stood facing the mirror. "Fir aap hi pehna bhi dijiye Sameer..." Sameer finally let go of his breath that he was holding for a while.

Sameer stood right behind her & looked at her reflection in the mirror. He moved her hair to one side. The view that greeted him made him suck in a long breath. The red blouse was deep necked & he could see a mole on her back clearly. His heartbeats quickened & the urge to move his finger over the mole increased.

Naina waited for her husband to make a move & make her wear the chain but the sight of him standing right behind her & gawking at her almost bare back, accelerated her heartbeats too.

Sameer reluctantly moved his gaze away from her bare back & met her gaze in the mirror. He put the chain around her neck & tried clasping it. His fingers brushed her upper neck & she shuddered with the touch.

Sameer knew that she was affected by their proximity & his touch which affected him too. When the chain's hook didn't clasp properly, Sameer leaned in & closed it with his teeth. Naina closed her eyes when she felt his lips on her neck. His lips lingered on her skin for a little longer which made Naina lose her own control of being close to him.

Naina turned in a fraction of second & hugged him tightly, finding peace in his arms. Sameer closed his eyes & savoured her warmth. Without breaking the hug, he whispered, "Naina... tum aaj iss saree mein bohot khoobsurat lag rahi ho. You are beautiful Naina..."

Her heartbeats stopped when she heard those words coming out from him. No one had ever called her beautiful or praised her attire. Her husband was someone who always complimented her for her looks which no one had done till now.

Sameer had never praised any girl in his life except his wife. He liked the way she dressed in simple attire. She never needed any kind of make-up to enhance her beauty. She was beautiful in & out. Her nature & behaviour was something that drew Sameer to his simple wife. Her simplicity was what he was falling for.

When they parted, Sameer didn't let go of her hands. He kept holding them & kept her close. "Naina... Thank you... tumne aaj jo mere liye kiya, wohh mere liye bohot special hai. Main kabhi yeh bhool nahi paaunga ki tumne mere liye itna kada vrat rakha. Aaj tak jitni bhi ladkiyon ne mere paas aane ki koshish ki wohh sirf mere paison ki wajah se mere paas rehna chahti thi."

"Par tum alag ho Naina. Tumne kabhi mere paison ki taraf nahi dekha, tumne wohh dekha jo aajtak kisine dekhne ki koshish bhi nahi ki. Tumne mujhe, mere andar ke dard ko dekha, usse samjha, usse mitaane ki koshish ki, jo aaj tak koi nahi kar paaya. Isliye tum special ho Naina... mere liye bohot special ho..."

Naina kept staring at her husband who was gazing at her lovingly & was saying sweet things about her. She was falling in love with her husband hard & fast. Today was indeed a special day for her as Sameer had gifted her his mother's chain. Her eyes moved to the chain & the pendant. Sameer followed her gaze & he smiled looking at it.

"Naina... yeh pendant tum khol bhi sakti ho. Dekho... aise..." Sameer opened the pendant & continued, "Ismein tum kisi ke bhi photos daal sakti ho. Abhi isme meri aur mummy ki photo hai, tum jab chaaho isse change kar sakti ho."

Naina saw their small photos in the pendant & smiled to herself, "Main isse kabhi change nahi karungi Sameer..." Sameer glanced at the photos once & his eyes misted immediately. Naina held his hand in support while he met her misty gaze. Without breaking the gaze, he brought the pendant to his eyes' level & kissed it, "This is my life Naina..."

The tear that rolled down from Naina's eyes made him aware of their closeness & he moved a little away from her. "Tum... tum change karlo Naina... pataa nahi kabse itni heavy saree mein ho?" She nodded & turned towards the washroom.

As she took a step ahead, her foot got entangled in the pleats of her saree & she stumbled. Before she could fall, Sameer got hold of her hand & pulled her to him. She landed on his chest which was beating rapidly.

Naina was almost sure that she would fall, but the sudden pull of her husband saved her. She stayed in his arms till their heartbeats came back to normal. She shivered when she felt his fingers making circles on her bare waist.

Sameer was itching to hold her & feel her. When he saw her stumbling, he instantly got hold of her hand & pulled her. His wife had immediately hugged him tightly in fear & his hands encircled her waist. He wanted to hug her once before she would change her saree & God had definitely helped him with this wish.

When Naina parted, she went on her tiptoes & kissed his cheek, "Thank you Sameer..." He smiled & kissed her forehead, "Thanks to you too Naina..." She just smiled & turned to leave but Sameer caught hold of her hand again.

Before she could understand what her husband was upto, Sameer picked her up in his arms & walked towards the washroom. "Sameer... aap kya kar rahe hai? Main chal sakti hun..." He just furrowed his eyebrows & teased, "Tumhara pair waapis saree mein atak gaya aur tum gir gayi toh? Main itna risk nahi le sakta. Mujhe meri dost cum biwi ki bohot aadat ho gayi hai. Agar wohh gir gayi toh subah mere liye meri favourite coffee aur aloo parathe kaun banaayega???"

Naina scrunched her nose while Sameer chuckled. "Ab chalo... bohot der ho gayi, jaldi fresh ho jao, main bhi tab tak change kar leta hun." He opened the door of the washroom & made her stand, "Ab jao..."

After freshening & changing into comfortable clothes, they sat down on the couch for a while, "Naina... Aaj tumne mere liye Karwa Chauth rakha, jiske baare mein tumne mujhe kuch nahi bataaya tha. Aage se tum aisa koi vrat mat rakhna Naina, jisse tumhe chakkar aa jaaye yaa tumhari tabiyat kharaab ho. Bhagwaan mein shraddha acchi hoti hai, par jisse khudki tabiyat bigde, usse toh shaayad bhagwaan bhi manaa hi karenge. Tum samaj rahi ho naa Naina ki main kya kehne ki koshish kar raha hun?"

Naina replied calmly, "Main samaj rahi hun Sameer. Par main bhagwaan ko bohot maanti hun aur inn sab rasmon aur vrat mein bhi. Aur waise bhi agli baar mujhe aise chakkar aa bhi gaye toh aap honge na mujhe pakadne ke liye, kyun honge naa???" She winked & he gasped.

"Toh tum aage bhi aise vrat karogi???" She nodded, "Haannn... karungi..." He shook his head & replied, "Thik hai... par promise karo ki jab bhi tum aisa koi vrat karogi toh mujhe bataaogi..." She accepted, "I promise... main aapko pehle bataaungi... Par aapko bhi mujhse ek vaada karna padega."

He raised his eyebrows & she continued, "Aap kitne bhi busy kyun naa ho, aap khaana miss nahi karenge. Kariye promise..." She forwarded her hand towards him. Sameer kept his palm on hers & promised, "Main kabhi khaana miss nahi karunga Naina. I promise..."

"Chaliye so jaaiye... bohot late ho gaya hai." He got up from the couch & headed towards his bed. As they rested on the bed & couch respectively, they bid goodnight to each other & drifted to sleep with a peaceful smile.

Their first Karwa Chauth finally coming to a happy end...

How was the update???

As promised, the update was full of Samaina only...

I hope you liked it...

I will update the Epilogue of An Inevitable Intruder next in this week & after that I would give an update of this story...

Till then take care & stay safe...

Ignore the mistakes...

With Lots of Love,

Daksha...❤