Naina checked up with HR department of her office if they had any vacancies suitable for Param. Since there weren't any at the moment, she asked them to let her know if anything comes up. Though she knew there was nothing wrong in it, she decided to bring it to Munna's notice.

After telling him about the situation, she clarified, 'Friend hai toh maine socha ek baar HR mein puch lun. I hope it's okay. Main bas Param ko vacancy ke baare mein bata dungi baaki sab kuch uske upar hai. Koi favour nahi chahiye.'

Munna waved off her doubts, 'Arey nahi aisa kuch nahi hai. Balki HR wale to kehte hai ki company se koi recommendation aaye toh unka kaam aasan ho jaata hai. Don't worry, kuch hoga toh woh bata denge.'

The topic wasn't given any importance till one day, a week later, Munna mentioned it casually when Sameer and Pandit were sitting with him in office. It was after office hours but he had to complete some reports so Munna had called his friends over, planning to go out with them after he was done.

But Sameer being Sameer, flipped his lid when he heard it.

'Tujhe ab bhi dikhayi nahi de raha ki woh ladki kya kar rahi hai? Munna, itna bewakoof toh nahi tha tu. Lekin Naina ke maamle mein pata nahi teri akal ko bina brake ke pahiye kyon lag gaye. Uski haar harkat undekhi kar raha hai. Dhyan se saari baat pe gaur kar. Sequence sochke analyse kar. Pehle usne boss wala drama karke tujhe phansaya. Jab tune job ka offer diya toh bhadakne ka natak kiya lekin agle hi din aa gayi enquiry karne. Teri recommendation milte hi usne apply kar diya aur sabko sheeshe mein utaar kar job haasil kar li. Yahan aaye chaar din nahi hue ki usne apne baaki saathiyon ko laane ki planning shuru kar di. Yeh pakka wahi ladka hai jo us din neeche Naina se baat kar rah tha. Woh pehle hi office ka address, Naina ke timings sab jaanta hai. Woh aa jayega fir ek aur ko laynege, fir ek aur ko. Inka game bada hai, bohot bada. Tu khud soch ke dekh.'

Munna shook his head at Sameer's obsession with Naina, 'Mujhse zyada tujhe zarurat hai aankhen khol ke dekhne ki. Yaar Sameer, thande dimaag se soch, agar Naina galat hoti toh itni mehnat kyon karti? Maine bataya tha na woh poore week yahan kaam karne ke baad Saturday Sunday bachhon ko padhati hai aur fir dance sikhati hai. Kisi ko shouk nahi hota saaton din kaam karne ka. Bhai, machine bhi garam ho jaati toh kaam rok kar uske thande hone ka intezar karna padta hai. Phone ko hi chalega karna padta hai tabhi chalta hai. Naina ka dil nahi karta hoga chutti ke din enjoy karne ka, aaram karne ka? Lekin woh agar roz kaam karti hai toh iska matlab kaam karna uski zarurat hai. Jo log galat tareekon se paise kamate hain woh chalaki karte hain mehnat nahi. Naina office mein bhi itne dedication se sab kuch karti hai, kabhi extra kaam ke liye manaa nahi karti, kabhi maathe par shikan nahi laati. Usmein koi kharabi nahi hai, teri nazar mein hai.'

Pandit concurred with Munna, 'Sahi baat hai Sameer. Tu pehle din se uspe shak kar raha hai lekin aaj tak shak karne ka koi solid kaaran nahi dikha. Tu bas do aur do ko paanch batata rehta hai. Bhai, itni sundar ladki ek baar muskura ke mujhe dekh le toh main papa ki factory uske naam kar dun. Planning karke time waste karne ki kya zarurat hai use.'

Sameer fumed as his naive friends refused to see what was so evident, according to him, 'Tum dono andhe ho gaye ho. Yeh kaam ka dikhawa bhi uska tareeka hai sympathy batorne ka. Munna, yaad hai maine kaha tha us din CP mein woh mujh se takrayi thi? Usne pehle mujhe phansane ki koshish ki. Laga hoga ki main ruk ke sorry bolunga. Fir woh do chaar aansu tapka degi toh main puchunga ki kya hua. Fir boss ke atyachar ki rati ratayi kahani sunayegi, aur main pighal jaunga. Iske jaisi ladkiyon ko achhi tarah jaanta hun. Ameer ladka dekha nahi ki inke dimaag mein tricks ka pitara khul jaata hai. Pata nahi boss ki kahani bhi asli thi ya nakli. Ho sakta hai use bhi ullu bana rahi ho. Itna hi bura aadmi tha toh uske saath dinner karne kyon nikli thi. Dekh ke toh aisa nahi lag raha tha ki woh gunpoint pe usko leke aaya tha. Humein parking mein itni akad dikha rahi thi aur boss ke liye Sita devi bani baithi thi. Iske jaisi ladkiyon ke liye sab kuch sirf paisa hota hai. Aur paise ke liye kuch bhi karengi. Yaad nahi, parking mein humein dekh ke pehle toh khaane ko daud rahi thi lekin jab pata chala ki woh hamari car hai toh chupchap wahan se chali gayi. Usne car dekhte hi humein patane ka faisla kar liya tha. Main nahi toh tu sahi. Socha hoga, badhiya car hai toh paise wale log hain. Bas, lag jao inke peeche. Aur tu itna bhola hai ki uski planning ke hisaab se sab kuch karta chala gaya. Arey tujhe toh tabhi samajh jaana chahiye tha jab yahan aate hi uska rang dhang itna badal gaya. Insaan hai ya girgit? Is waqt kahin baith kar apne gang walon ke saath teri bewakoofi pe hans raho hogi.'

Munna pressed his head to relieve it of the headache Sameer was giving him.

Suddenly the door of the room opened with a jerk, and in stepped Naina.

'Naina tum...' Munna stood up, colour draining from his face.

Pandit gasped, wondering if she had heard what Sameer said.

Her fiery eyes and enraged expression left no doubt in his mind.

Naina walked over to Munna's table and placed a file on it, then turned to Sameer, speaking in dangerously low voice, 'Main jaanti thi tum ek ghamandi, bigde hue aur badtameez ladke ho. Pehle din se tumhari yeh khud ko sabse superior samajhne wali aadat saaf nazar aa gayi thi. Lekin tumse mera koi lena dena nahi tha isliye maine ignore kiya. Par aaj... aaj tumne limit cross ki hai Mr Maheshwari.'

'Listen Naina.' Sameer got up, 'Mujhe Muuna mat samajhna. Main...'

'No, you listen to me Sameer Maheshwari.' She hollered, pushing at his chest, which made him fall back on the chair, 'Kya jaante ho ladkiyon ke baare mein, correction, mere jaisi ladkiyon ke baare mein? Research ki hai, doctorate li hai, ya bhagwan ne aake tumhe koi special powers di hain? Agar aisa kuch nahi hai toh kisne haq diya tumhe mere baare mein itni giri hui baatein karne ka? Hote kaun ho tum mujhe certificate dene wale? Main paise kamaane ke liye ghar se bahar nikalti hun toh tum mere character ke, meri intentions ke, mere circumstances ke, meri life ke judge ban gaye? Har koi tumhari tarah sone ke paalne mein paida nahi hota Sameer Maheshwari. Kuch logon ko apni zindagi khud banani padti hai. Lekin tumhe kahan se pata hoga. Jabse aankhen kholi tabse tumhare aas paas laad dular karne walon ki bheed hogi. Chalne lage to haath thaamne walon ne kabhi girne nahi diya hoga. School aane jaane ke liye driver aur gaadi, college mein apni pasand ki bike aur car, jise tum jab chaho naye model se replace karte hoge. Kabhi socha nahi hoga ki career oriented course kya hota hai aur kaunsi internship tumhare resume ko strong banayegi. Part time jobs ka toh tumhe concept bhi nahi pata hoga. Jaise hi degree mili, ek shaandaar office mein tumhe bouquet aur taaliyon ki saath comfortable room aur saari facilities mil gayi hongi. Aakhir raja beta ghar ka business join kar raha hai. Tumhare naam shares aur property hote hi tum crorepati ban gaye, aur khud ko baaki sabse kahin upar samajhne lage. Sabko judge karna jaise tumhara right ban gaya. Kyon? Kyonki tumhare paas family hai, paisa hai, secure future hai? Ya fir tumhe andaza hi nahi ki duniya mein kuch log inke bina bhi jee rahe hain. Apne fools paradise mein rehte ho, aur dusron ko bina jaane, bina samjhe unpe shak karte ho, unke character par keechad uchalte ho. Let me make it clear to you mister... tumhe patane ka sochne se bhi pehle main suicide karna pasand karungi. Main apne dimaag mein tricks ka pitaara leke nahi ghoomti, lekin tum apne dimaag mein apni choti aur ghatiya soch lekar har us ladki ko judge karte ho jo tumhari tarah paise wale ghar ki nahi hai. Yeh jo list tumne meri tareef mein padhi ki main kya kya plan kar rahi thi, uski copy maine bheji thi tumhe? Ya fir tumne dekha mujhe aisa karte hue? Haan maine Thakkar ki company mein job kiya. Yeh jaante hue ki ko woh kameena aadmi hai maine job continue kiya, kyonki mujhe paison ki zarurat thi. Lekin zarurat ka matlab ye nahi ki main kuch bhi bardasht kar rahi thi. Thakkar ki nazren galat thi, uske iraade gande the lekin main sahi thi. Maine use kabhi limit nahi cross karne di. I swear, agar usne kabhi ek ungli bhi lagayi hoti mujhe toh main uska poora hatth tod kar uske...' She paused and looked at three of them, '...bolungi nahi warna fir se kahoge ladki hokar kis tarah ki baat kar rahi hai.'

Pandit and Munna were gaping at her, their mouths open, their eyes wide. While Sameer was watching her with narrowed eyes, his jaw ticking.

She took a few deep breaths, then turned to Munna, 'Kal ki presentation ke liye kuch different ideas aaye the toh socha complete karke tumhe dikha dun. Agar koi changes honge toh hum subah se pehle kar sakte hain. Isliye ruk gayi thi. Designs tum file mein check kar lena, baaki details maine mail kar di hain. Aur haan, office hours ke baad tak rukne mein agar tumhare dost ko meri koi nayi planning nazar aaye toh... I give a damn.'

Without giving another glance to Sameer, she walked out with her head held high.

The silence in the room stayed undisturbed several minutes after the door was banged shut.

Finally, Munna sat down with a thud, letting out a groan, 'Yeh sahi nahi hua Sameer.'

Sameer, who had been glaring at the door, quickly turned his head and said eagerly, 'Heina? Tujhe bhi sahi nahi laga na?'

Pandit stared at him in disbelief, "Abey tu aadmi hai ya ghonchu?'

Sameer frowned, 'Main ghonchu? Aur woh madam kya hai? Suna ke chali gayi. Yeh jo itna lamba bhashan deke gayi hai, use lagta hai sirf uski life mein struggle hai? Agar main ameer ghar mein paida hua toh isme meri kya galti? Haan hain mere papa, mere Dadaji ka business empire, lekin kya woh jaanti hai is empire mein mujhe koi hissa nahi milega agar che mahine mein maine shaadi nahi ki. Uski struggle struggle hai aur meri problem kuch nahi?'

Munna could not take it any longer.

'Shut up Sameer. Tu apni is problem ko uski life se kaise compare kar sakta hai. Tujhe samajh bhi aa raha hai tune kya kiya hai? Tune uski self respect ko hurt kiya hai. Lekin galti meri hai jo ab tak tujhe roka nahi. Pehle din se tu Naina ke liye ulti seedhi baatein karta raha aur main sirf tujhe shaant karne ki koshish karta raha. Nahi karna chahiye tha. Pehle din hi tere sar par ek dena chahiye tha tika ke. Jisse tera dimaag sahi raaste pe aa jaata. Tune aaj Naina ko hi dukh nahi pohonchaya, mere dil pe bhi chot ki hai. Aaj mujhe lag raha hai ki mere jaise middle class dost ke liye bhi tu shayad aisa hi sochta ho, ki main tere paison pe aish karne ke liye tere saath hun. Tu ya Pandit har dusre din mujhe office se pick karte ho, apni car se ghar drop karte ho, kabhi khaane pine ka bill nahi dene dete... shayad mere dimaag ka bhi postmaortem karke meri plaaning pe tune koi kitab likh di ho. Aakhir main toh saalon se tujh jaise ameer ladke se chipka hua hun. Mere liye...'

'Bas kar Munna.' Pandit shouted at him, 'Apne bachpan ke yaar ke liye kaisi baatein kar raha hai. Tu Sameer ke baare mein aisa soch bhi kaise sakta hai?'

Sameer was too shocked to retaliate at this outburst of his friend.

Munna smiled bitterly, 'Isi bachpan ke yaar ne sikhaya hai.'

Pandit stood from his chair and held up his hands in resignation, 'Bhai ab bohot ho gaya. Humein aapas mein nahi jhagadna hai balki is kaand ko thanda karne ka hal sochna hai. Sameer, Munna galat nahi keh raha. Us bechari ladki ke liye tune kuch zyada hi zeher ugal diya. Dil dukha diya uska. Sorry bolna chahiye.'

Sameer widened his eyes, 'Main sorry bolun?'

Pandit scoffed, 'Raita tune failaya hai toh tu hi sametega na.'

He then looked at Munna, 'Yaar Munna Sameer ki galti hai maana, usne khud apne liye khoda hai yeh gaddha jisme gir gaya... lekin is waqt humein use bahar nikalne mein madad karni chahiye. Tu Naina ko humse zyada jaanta hai, bata na ab kya karein, kaise baat ko sambhalein?'

Munna let out a long, tired breath, 'Pata nahi Pandit. Mujhe toh kuch samajh nahi aa raha. Jitna maine dekha hai Naina bohot suljhi hui ladki hai. Lekin aaj ki chot gehri hogi. Pata nahi woh kya karegi. Kahin resign na kar de. Use job ki zarurat hai. Yahan se choda toh kahin wapas Thakkar ke paas na jaana pad jaaye.' He checked the time in his phone, 'Ab tak chali gayi hogi. Mujhe toh yeh bhi nahi pata ki rehti kahan hai aur kaise jaati hai.'

Sameer looked from one to another, then declared, 'Main koi sorry worry nahi bolunga.'

Munna raised his eyes to Sameer wearily, 'Mat bol mere baap. Main bol dunga. Sorry bolunga, haath jodunga, zarurat padi toh uske pair bhi padunga. Lekin use wapas purani company mein nahi jaane dunga.'

Pandit gave an appreciative smile to Munna, 'Main bhi tere saath sorry keh dunga. Kyonki Naina us leechad aadmi ki company mein jaaye, mujhse bhi bardasht nahi hoga.'

Sameer chewed his lip. In his heart, he did not feel he did anything wrong. Everyone had a right to have an opinion about others. And it wasn't that he had said those things to Naina on her face. He was just sharing his thoughts with his friends. It was she who was eves dropping . So the mistake was actually hers. Isn't it wrong to listen to private talks of other people while they are oblivious of your presence? Had she not been standing outside the door, none of this would have happened and his friends wouldn't have been annoyed with him.

But what Munna said about himself was painful. He had never thought about Munna in that way. How could he... they were together since they were kids. Munna was like his own brother. And today his brother was hurt, because of that stupid girl. Anyway, he wouldn't let Munna feel sad because of an outsider.

'I'm sorry Munna.' Sameer sincerely apologised, 'Agar tujhe meri kisi baat se kabhi bhi laga ho ki main apne paison ka ghamand dikha raha hun toh uske liye sorry. Tum dono ki kasam, maine kabhi tujhe ya Pandit ko apne bhai se kam nahi samjha. Paise toh kabhi hamare beech aa hi nahi sakte. Please mujhse gussa mat ho yaar. Tum dono se baat kiye bina main ek din bhi nahi reh sakta.'

Pandit's mouth fell open, 'Oh teri! Tujhe toh sorry bolna aata hai.' He rubbed his ear, 'Kahin mere kaan toh nahi baj rahe. Kasam se, pehli baar suna tere muh se. Fir se bol ke dikha.'

Sameer pursed his lips as Munna let out a chuckle, 'Arey theek hai yaar. Hum logon ke beech mein iski zarurat nahi hai. Gusse mein bol diya maine. Mujhe pata hai tu mere liye kya sochta hai aur mujhe kya samajhta hai. Lekin Sameer, dusron ke liye bhi dil aur dimaag ko thoda khula rakh. Hum tere yaar hain isliye tujhe samajhte hain par tere attitude ki wajah se zyadatar log tujhe ghamandi aur arrogant kahenge.'

Sameer waved his hand carelessly, 'Bhaad mein jaaye baaki log. Bas tum dono mere saath ho toh mujhe kisi aur ki zarurat nahi hai.'

'Biwi ki bhi nahi?' Pandit asked with a curious expression.

Sameer sighed, 'Biwi se pehle toh girlfriend chahiye thi lekin thanks to dadaji, lagta hai yeh step skip karna padega.'

Munna rubbed his forehead, 'Girlfriend apne aap prakat toh hogi nahi. Itne din se dhakke kha rahe hain lekin teri nazar mein koi ladki tikti hi nahi.'

'Kaise tikegi?' Pandit shrugged, 'Iske dimag mein har waqt Naina ghusi rehti hai. Bhai ko Naina se fursat mile toh kisi ko dekhega.'

Sameer twisted his lips to one side, 'Mujhe kisi Naina Sunaina se matlab nahi hai. Chodo usse aur batao aaj kahan chalna hai.'

Pandit declared, 'Yaar aaj mere ghar hi chalte hain. Do do drink lagayenge aur milke Naina wali problem ka hal sochenge. Aakhir Munna ko uske saath kaam karna hai. Tujhe matlab nahi hoga par Munna ko toh use roz face karna hai na.'

Reluctantly, Sameer agreed and they left for Pandit's house.

Naina was in a foul mood as she opened the lock of her house. Today she desperately needed Natasha but her Nutty was away for next three days for consecutive flights.

Had the laptop not been in her bag, she would have thrown it on the floor to vent out the anger brewing within her. But she couldn't afford to damage the laptop given by the company.

'Samajhta kya hai khud ko. Meri kabhi usse baat tak nahi hui aur usne mujhpar poori kitaab likh di. Mere character pe ungli utahyega? Khud hoga bigda hua raeeszada isliye sabhi aise nazar aate hain use.' She fumed, as she went about to change and freshen up.

Going to the kitchen, she banged the pan on stove as she started to make tea, 'Ameer hoga apne ghar mein. Uske liye naukri karti hun kya jo uski dhauns sunu. Chaar paison ka itna ghamand. Agar uske paas se khaandani paisa aur kaam le liya jaaye toh dekhungi kitne ki naukri milti hai usko. Chai tak nahi banani aati hogi.'

In the living room, she threw all cushions on the floor, gritting her teeth, 'Use pataungi main? Main? Us jaise ladke ko? Shakal dekhi hai kabhi aaine mein? Hero samajhta hai kya khud ko, villian hai ek number ka. Yeh style jispe akadta hai na, paison se aata hai. Mehenge kapde, stylish joote, branded perfume... lekin dil aur soch itni ghatiya. Main kya koi ladki uske jaise ladke ke saath chaar din na rehna chahe. Aur use lagta hai main uski gaadi dekh ke fida ho gayi.'

By dinner time, Naina had a severe headache. She decided to skip dinner and go to bed. As it is, her appetite was killed by one arrogant and conceited friend of her boss.

She wished she never had to set eyes on Sameer Maheshwari again in her life.

Next update on Thursday