After Sameer left with Naina, Anaya looked at the elders, 'Kya lagta hai aap sabko?'

Ambika was the first to respond, with a pleased smile, 'Kitni pyari hai Naina. Sach kahun, mujhe toh bada dar lag raha tha ki pata nahi Sameer ko kisne phansa liya. Upar se papaji ne woh gangster wali baat bata di tabse aur tension ho gayi thi. Lekin Naina ko dekh ke badi positive vibes aayi mujhe. Gentle, understanding aur Sameer ka khyal rakhne wali hai.'

Girish rolled his eyes, 'Sameer kya paanch saal ka baccha hai jo koi aur uska khyal rakhega? Tumhari aisi baaton ne hi uska dimag kharab karke rakha hai. Naam Sameer rakh diya toh khud ko hawa ka jhonka samajhta hai, jab dekho udta rehta hai.' He then looked at his father, 'Papa, us nalayak ko thodi akal deni padegi. Naina ke saath kitna rukha tha. Dhang se muskura ke bhi nahi dekhta. Pata nahi woh ladki kaise iske saath do saal se tiki hui hai.'

Dadaji nodded, 'Baat toh teri sahi hai. Sameer ka behaviour theek nahi laga mujhe bhi. Naina ke paas baithne ki bajay mere paas aake baith gaya. Aur charger lene gaya toh pandrah minute tak gayab raha. Bichari ladki kitna ghabra rahi thi.'

Seemingly in a deep thought, Anaya murmured, 'Lagta hai dono ka koi major jhagda ho rakha hai. Warna us din class ke baad bhai Naina se milte nahi kya? Aur aaj...'

When she stopped abruptly, Ambika prodded, 'Aaj kya? Kuch hua kya? Kab? Maine toh jhagadte nahi dekha unhe.'

It wasn't very good on her part to reveal what happened in the Gazebo so Anaya decided to play it down, 'Main keh rahi thi ki aaj toh bhai ko Naina ke liye moral support banna chahiye tha. First time hum sabse milne aayi thi toh uska nervous hona banta tha. Lekin bhai mujhe usse zyada nervous lag rahe the.'

'Hmm.' Narrowing his eyes, Dadaji recalled something, 'Anu theek keh rahi hai. Jab yahan pahunche toh car mein kuch kahasuni hui thi dono ki. Maine dekha tha. Sameer ne kuch kaha jisse Naina ka chehra ekdum se utar gaya. Aur phir woh Naina ko car mein chod ke muh fula kar aa raha tha. Naina ki shakl par kuch udaasi thi jab car se nikli.'

Girish offered, 'Ho sakta hai woh yahan na aana chahti ho aur Sameer zabardasti laaya tha.'

'Pata nahi.' Dadaji lightly rubbed his chin, 'Mujhe aisa lagta hai Sameer ne kuch toh kiya hai. Jaise bachpan mein galti karta tha aur phir khud ko sahi dikhane ke liye akda rehta tha.'

Ambika raised her palms and declared in a light voice, 'Mere hisaab se toh Naina Sameer ke liye perfect hai.'

Girish quirked up his brows, a sarcastic smile lingering at the corner of his lips, 'Par Sameer uske liye perfect nahi hua toh?'

Ambika frowned, 'Tum hamesha uski hi galti nikalte ho. Maanti hun thoda ziddi hai par dil se mera beta bohot achha hai. Naina se pyar karta hai na, dekhna use kitna khush rakehga.'

Anaya sighed, 'Abhi toh nahi rakh rahe I'm sure.'

'Chup kar.' Ambika chided her, 'Tujhe kya pata. Aisi relationship mein kabhi kabhi anban ho jati hai. Honi bhi chahiye. Jhagde se bhi pyar badhta hai.'

Anaya drawled in a kiddish voice, 'Toh fir jab main aur bhai jhagadte hain tab aap kyon gussa karti ho? Hum bhi apna pyar badhate hain.'

Girish let out a chuckle, 'Baat toh sahi hai Ambika. Jawab do apni beti ko.'

Exasperated at the duo's constant teasing, Ambika got up and walked to the kitchen, telling them over her shoulder, 'Tum dono baap beti team banake baithe ho mere aur mere bete ke khilaf. Ek baar Naina shaadi karke aa jayegi toh main use apni team mein lekar rahungi. Tab dekhti hun kaise tum dono har baat mein humein tang karoge.'

As Girish and Anaya started to laugh, Dadaji called out, 'Arey bhai main kis team mein jaunga yeh toh bata do.'

Ambika hollered from the kitchen, 'Aap refree banna aur batana kaunsi team jeetegi.'

A little later, all of them were in their own rooms, wrapped up in different thoughts, but about same people... Sameer and Naina.

Away from them, taking the stairs to her first floor house, Naina kept counting to cool herself till she opened the lock and entered the dark apartment. Natasha was away, having received a call to fill in for a friend who had to take a sudden leave. Having no one to talk to and let out her steam, she picked a cushion, pressed it against her face and screamed her lungs out. Feeling a little relieved, she put away and cushion and breathed hard.

When Sameer had walked up the steps the moment they reached his house, Naina wanted to drag him back by his collar and remind him that she was with him too. How could he just leave her alone with his family and vanish? Did he do it on purpose... to put her in an awkward situation? But if anything had gone wrong it would have harmed him much more than it would have effected her.

'Itni akal bhi nahi hogi usme.' Naina huffed.

He was even more annoying than she had imagined. But she did not feel as suffocated with his family as she had expected. After the initial hesitation on everyone's part, things were pretty smooth. They seemed to be a likeable bunch. A smile played on her lips as she recalled the confusion regarding the gangster misconception. They actually thought she was related to some gang. As in Mafia... or underworld.

Naina let out a chuckle, 'Waise unke akdu bete ke liye koi gangwali ya hunterwali hi sahi rehti.'

Shaking her head to get rid of the thoughts about evening, she went to freshen up. All she wanted to do now was to crash. The effort had drained her.

She wasn't the only one though. Sameer was equally exhausted as he drove back, mumbling to himself, 'Bhav to aise khaati hai jaise queen ho kahin ki. Aur rona aise roti hai jaise usse zyada zaruratmand koi aur nahi hai. Itni top ki society mein reh rahi hai. Matlab uski family theek thaak hai. Fir kyon paison ke liye mari jaa rahi hai? Pakka jhooth bolti hai. Kal bataunga Munna ko. Uska dil toh Naina naam sunte hi naram pad jaata hai. Address sunega Naina ka toh ankhen khulengi.'

By the time he reached home, everyone had gone to their rooms. Sameer was kinda relieved. He had no energy to answer their questions after the ordeal. After going to his room, as he took off the jacket, a different scent wafted around him. He scrunched his nose. The scent instantly reminded him of Naina.

He looked around in wonder, 'Naina is room mei thodi aayi thi. Fir aisa kyon lag raha hai ki woh abhi bhi aaspaas hai?'

Holding the jacket in hand, he moved around the room. The distinct aroma was everywhere. He went back to the cupboard, put the jacket in a hanger and was about to place it back when it suddenly hit him... the scent was coming from his jacket. He slowly brought it close to his face and sniffed. It definitely was. Maybe when he had kept her close to himself in a side hug, her perfume had left its lingering trail on his jacket.

"Ugghh.' Sameer shook his head in disapproval, 'Kitna strong perfume lagati hai. Pata nahi kaunse ghatiya brand ka hai. Ab jacket dryclean karwani padegi.'

Next morning, as Sameer dragged a chair and sat down for breakfast, Dadaji was the first to ask, 'Jhagda hua hai Naina se?'

Before getting any response from a shocked Sameer, Girish sighed, "Isi ne kiya hoga. Naina toh mujhe kaafi suljhi hui lagi. Isne kuch bewakoofi ki hogi.'

Sameer spread his palms in frustration, 'Aapko main pagal lagta hun kya? Mujhe kya padi hai Naina se jhagda karne ki?'

Walking out from the kitchen with a bowl of fruits, Ambika smiled, 'Arey isme defensive kyon ho raha hai? Jhagda wahin hota hai jahan pyar hota hai. Koi nahi, mana le usko. Itni pyari ladki hai. Lekin kal kaisi dari hui lag rahi thi. Tune kahin usse hamare baare mein kuch ulta seedha toh nahi kaha?'

Sameer rolled his eyes, 'Ulta seedha kyon kahunga mummy? Woh... woh shayad thodi nervous ho gayi hogi. Pehli baar aap logon se mil rahi thi na.'

Dadaji leaned forward and gave him a solemn look, 'Lekin tu toh pehli baar nahi mil raha tha. Tu usse zyada nervous lag raha tha.'

Casting him a frightened look, Sameer gulped, 'Main... mujhe dar tha... kahin aap logon ko Naina pasand nahi aayi toh?'

There was a silence of a few seconds, makin Sameer wonder if that really was the case.

But before he could ask, Dadaji graciously smiled, easing the atmosphere, 'Humein toh bohot pasand aayi. Khushi hui dekh ke ki kam se kam ek kaam tune sahi kiya. Ab yeh bata shaadi ke baare mein kya socha hai?'

The piece of apple Sameer was eating got stuck in his throat and he broke into a bout of cough. Anaya quickly handed him a glass of water and gave a few heavy blows on his back.

After he could breathe again, Sameer turned to her in annoyance, 'Kushti ladni zaruri thi? Haddiyan todna chahti thi kya?'

Anaya rolled her eyes, 'Aajkal pata nahi aapko kya ho gaya hai. Jab dekho ubalte rehte ho. Bhai, itna gussa theek nahi hai.'

Girish narrowed his eyes, 'Haan Anu. Sahi keh rahi hai tu. Kuch zyada hi bhadakne laga hai Sameer pichle kuch dino se.'

Sameer pushed away the chair before anyone could bring up the topic of marriage again, 'Shaam ko baat karenge. Mujhe office jaane se pehle kuch kaam hai. Bye.'

He had barely reached the door when Dadaji called out, 'Achha sun, Naina ko aaj fir se leke aana. Mujhe usse kuch baat karni hai.'

Sameer froze in his tracks. After a few seconds of silence, he replied with whatever came to his mind first, 'Aaj... aaj use ek shaadi mein jaana hai. Free nahi hai.'

"Koi nahi kal le aana.' Dadaji wasn't deterred, 'Waise shaadi mei tu uske saath jaa raha hai kya?'

'Main kyon...' Sameer stammered as he realised his folly, 'Haan... jaunga. Saath mein hi jayenge hum dono.'

Ambika heaved a sigh of relief, 'Chal achha hai. Warna mujhe tension hoti ki raat ko akele ghar kaise jayegi?'

'Tension? Naina ke liye?' Sameer blurted before he realised what he was saying, 'Kal hi mile ho aap usse. Ek din mein itni fikr?'

Her eyes widened, 'Arey kal mili hun toh kya? Aakhir meri hone wali bahu hai. Anu ke liye jitni fikr hoti hai utni uske liye bhi hogi.'

Girish stated drily, 'Tujhe humse zyada tension honi chahiye.'

Anaya too gave him a piece of her mind, 'Aur kya bhai. Kal bhi dekha maine aap kitne stern lag rahe the Naina ke saath. Main sach keh rahi hun, mere boyfriend ne mere saath is tarah behave kiya toh main ek second mein breakup kar lungi.'

Sameer frowned at her, 'Tu fir se yeh boyfriend ki baatein karne lag gayi. Maine kaha tha...'

Anaya cut him short angrily, 'Offo, aap apni love story ke topic pe kyon nahi tike rehte? Listen, mujhe Naina bohot pasand hai. Sirf isliye nahi ki woh aapki girlfriend aur meri hone wali bhabhi hai. Main jabse dance class mei usse mili hun tabse Naina se impressed thi. Woh itni patient, gentle aur cool hai. Main hi nahi class mein sabhi pasand karte hain use. So please, be good with her. Naina agar aapki wajah se hurt hui toh main aapse gussa ho jaungi.'

Dadaji got up and came to Sameer. Placing an arm around his shoulder, he walked out towards the porch, talking gently, 'Mujhe lagta hai tujhe shaadi ke naam se ghabrahat ho rahi hai. Dekh beta, shaadi toh ab karni hi hai. Koi anjaan ladki hoti toh tera darna jaayaz tha lekin Naina ko toh tu itne samay se jaanta hai. Jab tum dono ek dusre se pyar karte ho toh is rishte ko aage badhane se kyon darna? Naina hum sabko shaant aur samajhdar lagi. Tum dono saath mein ache bhi lagte ho. Bohot pyari jodi lag rahi thi. Tu kal Naina ko lekar aana. Hum sab use thoda aur samajhna chahte hain. Aaj dono jao shaadi mein, mazey karo. Bas uska khyal rakhna.'

Sameer felt a ton of weight on his head as he drove off towards Munna's office. Naina had managed to cast that spell which he was dreading. His family didn't seem to have anything else to talk about besides Naina.

'Aakhir bana hi li usne apni team.' He huffed, taking a sharp turn to park under the office building.

Only when he looked at the time he realised it was still half an hour before office started. He called up Munna, only to know that his friend hadn't even left his house yet.

'Yaar tu pehle bata deta toh main jaldi aa jaata. Achha main bas abhi nikalta hun aur aadhe ghanta mein pohonchne ki koshish karta hun. Tu wait karna, jaana nahi.' Munna was also eager to know about last night since Sameer hadn't called up after the meeting.

Sameer decided to grab a cup of coffee to give some kick to his mind and probably get a new idea. But the moment he entered the cafe under the building, he knew the decision was wrong. On a table in the far corner, Naina sat with a steaming cup in front of her but her eyes were on her phone. Sameer thought of turning back, but then decided against it. Why should his actions be determined by her presence? He wanted to have a cup of coffee which he would definitely have, Naina or no Naina.

He shouldn't have bothered. Naina seemed least interested in anything or anyone. She did not lift her eyes even once. Sameer took a table diagonally opposite in the large cafe, and sat with his back to the wall, which meant he could see her on his side. He glanced in her direction after placing his order but Naina seemed to be too engrossed in her phone. She was dressed like she did everyday in office. Gone were the unruly hair from yesterday. But the hair were open, not in a ponytail like he had seen other times in office.

The waiter had just placed the cup in front of him when the door opened with a swing and someone walked in, as if in urgency. Sameer looked up to see a guy, around his age, wearing a bright jacket, something quite unlikely for office attire. He ordered coffee and took a seat in the same row as Naina. Pulling a chair, he settled facing her, and openly stared. Sameer found his gaze unnerving. What irritated him even more was that Naina hadn't even looked up to check if something was wrong with her surroundings.

'Aisa kya khazana dhoond rahi hai phone mein jo kisi baat ka hosh hi nahi hai. Khair, mujhe kya.' He muttered and looked away.

Just a few seconds, and his gaze went back to her, then the guy. There was no other customer in the cafe besides three of them. Sameer noticed how the guy leered at Naina, while his eyes moved ever her frame. Then, he slowly pushed aside the cup, as if preparing to get up.

With a speed that later amazed him too when he thought about it, Sameer got up and shot towards Naina. He slipped in next to her and placed an arm around her shoulders, whispering in her ear with a smile, 'Chup rehna. Don't panic. Baad mein puri baat bataunga.'

To someone watching from far, it appeared that he was saying some sweet words in her ear. Naina almost fainted in shock at his sudden show. But before her face displayed her reaction, Sameer cupped her face and turned it towards himself. Her eyes widened.

'Yeh... kya...' Her broken words couldn't form a sentence.

'Keep looking at me.' Sameer commanded, his eyes not moving from her face.

They were too close for Naina's comfort. His leg was pressed to the side of her leg, his arm had drawn her near his chest and his face... it was barely inches away. She tried to move, but he slowly started stroking her cheek with his thumb.

Infuriated, Naina hissed through clenched teeth, 'What do you think you are doing?'

Keeping a loving smile intact on his lips, he whispered, 'Jo kehna hai smile ke saath kaho. Jisse aisa lage ki hum pyar bhari baatein kar rahe hain. Ek gunda type ka ladka hai. Bohot der se tumhe ghoor raha tha.'

'Toh?' Naina asked in same rough tone.

Sameer forgot to smile at her silly question, 'Toh matlab? Woh aake tumse badtameezi karne wala tha.'

'Aur tum kya kar rahe ho?' She asked in a heated voice.

Sameer realised she was right to some extent. But he did not back down, and replied defensively, 'Mujhe jaanti ho tum. Main na gunda hun na badtameez.'

'Oh really?' Naina gave a smile finally, but it was full of sarcasm, 'Mujhe toh is waqt dono lag rahe ho. Yahan tumhari family nahi hai toh boyfriend ka natak karne ki zarurat nahi hai. Isliye mujhse bina puche mere paas baithna aur mujhe is tarah se touch karna offence hai. Main tumhari complaint kar sakti hun. Get away.'

Sameer slowly removed both his hands and shifted a little away. Only then he noticed that the man in bright jacket was already gone.

He shifted further and shot back, 'Thank you kehne ki jagah dhamki dena... aur kuch expect bhi nahi kiya jaa sakta tumse. Tum jaison ki help karni hi nahi chahiye.'

'Haan toh kyon karne aaye the? Maine bulaya tha? Tumhe kya lagta hai, meri 26 saal ki zindagi mein pehli baar kisi awara gunde ne dekha hai mujhe? Ya pehli baar raat ko ghar jaane ke liye nikli thi kal? Aaj tak maine khud manage kiya hai sab kuch. Toh tum mere guardian kyon ban rahe ho? Hamara ek contract hai. Hamari acting sirf tumhari family ke saamne honi chahiye. Tumhare upar meri koi responsibility nahi hai. So please, mujhe damsel in distress aur khud ko hero dikhane ki koshish mat karo.'

Hearing her heated voice, the lone guy from the counter approached them and asked hesitantly, 'Ma'm any problem?'

Naina took a deep breath, then smiled at him, 'Kuch nahi Varun. Ek play ke dialogues practice kar rahi thi. He's my co actor.' She waved a hand at Sameer.

'Oh!' Varun was visibly relieved, 'Mujhe laga shayad aapko koi... koi issue hai. No problem. Aap practice kijiye.'

"Ho gaya. Waise tumhari evening classes kaisi chal rahi hain?' Naina stood up, and slung her bag on one shoulder.

Varun beamed, showing her a thumbs up sign, 'Last time aapne jo rule bataya tha uske saath balance sheet banayi toh jhat se tally ho gayi. Test mein full marks aaye hain.'

Naina patted his shoulder, 'Very good. Practice karte rehna.'

She walked away, leaving a dazed Sameer behind.

Varun then asked him, 'Sir aap... aap actor hain? Mujhe pata hi nahi tha ma'm acting bhi karti hain. Kahan hone wala hai aapka play? Main bhi dekhne aaunga.'

Sameer got up, and patted his shoulder in the same manner as Naina, 'Abhi jagah decide nahi hui. Hote hi bata dunga.'

He caught up with her in front of the elevator. Naina walked in the moment doors slid open and pressed the button of her floor. There were a few more people who seemed to have come from underground parking lot. Sameer followed Naina and silently stood away from her. At least no one in the elevator seemed to be a part of her fan following.

Next update on Tuesday