After meeting Natasha, Munna rushed back to his office to inform Sameer, 'Dekh bhai, maine apni taraf se poora zor laga diya hai. Lekin result aane mein thoda time toh lagega.'

Munna then explained how he had tried to convince Natasha and asked her to help.

Sameer was shocked, 'Naina ko leke jaunga Dadaji ke paas?'

Munna rolled his eyes, 'Jab naam Naina ka liya hai fir use nahi toh kya Deepika Padukone ko leke jayega?'

Sameer wasn't too pleased with this idea, 'Us Naina ke saath main? Uske jaisi ladki ko mere jaise ladke ke saath dekh ke Dadaji hi nahi saare gharwale ek second mein reject kar denge. Koi match hai hamara? Kahan main kahan woh.'

Pandit scoffed at him, 'Matlab kya hai tera? Aur waise bhi, tujhe kaunsa Naina se shaadi karni hai. Dhoond lena baad mein tere jaisi koi. Abhi sirf jaan bacha.'

Munna's lips curled into a scowl, 'Tujhe ab bhi akal nahi aa rahi? Sirf ek percent chance hai Naina ke manne ka. Agar kismat ne is ek percent se tujhe mauka de diya toh zara zameen pe utar ke baat karna. Tera yehi attitude raha toh Naina wapas bhaag jayegi.'

Sameer was more troubled by status quo, 'Lekin abhi ghar kaise jaun? Dadaji se kya bolunga?'

Pandit suggested, 'Keh de Naina kuch din ke liye apni family se milne gayi hai.'

'Kahan?' Sameer asked.

Pandit shrugged, 'Kuch bhi bata de... umm... haan, bol de gujarati hai na isliye Ahmedabad gayi hui hai, Navratri ke baad ayegi.'

'Naina gujarati hai? Tujhe kaise pata?' Sameer was confused.

Pandit looked at him impatiently, 'Gujarati ho ya German, tujhe kya fark padta hai? Bolna hi toh hai.'

Munna said he was also of the same opinion.

Sameer had no option but to agree, though he couldn't help grumbling, 'Ab sach mein Naina ko apni girlfriend banana padega.'

Pandit quickly corrected, 'Asli wali nahi, nakli wali. Munna ne bataya na yeh arrangement thode din ke liye hai. Tujhe zyada feel lene ki zarurat nahi hai.'

Both Munna and Pandit tutored Sameer to be at least cordial if not warm, when he met Naina again, and keep his imagination under control.

*****

After Munna had left the park, Natasha went to a cafe and sat there alone for a long time, thinking about what Munna had proposed. While it was flawed from all angles, there was something about the proposal that lingered in her thoughts.

The biggest worry for Naina at this time was the loan that loomed over her head every month as a huge EMI, eating up a major chunk of her salary. She had suggested once but Naina did not even want to ask her brother to share some of this burden.

'Pagal ladki. Uske papa ne kabhi usse dhang se baat tak nahi ki lekin unke liye apni zindagi ke itne saal EMI deti rahegi. Apni pasand ka kuch khareedti tak nahi hai ghar ka sapna jaane kab poora hoga.' Natasha felt sad for Naina, as she was not only aware of all her problems, but her dreams too.

After a lot of thought, she decided to put this offer to Naina.

Natasha was home when Naina came back after the dance class.

She enquired, 'Achanak kaunse dost se milne chali gayi thi? Koi naya pilot aaya hai kya? Poori shaam gayab rahi.'

Natasha smiled pleasantly, 'Kaisi hai tu? Sab badhiya?'

Naina eyed her suspiciously, 'Kya baat hai Nutty? Kuch gadbad ki hai tune?'

Shaking her head vigorously, Natasha stated, 'Kaisi gadbad? Maine toh kuch nahi kiya. Aisa kyon pucha tune?'

Naina stared at her quietly for a few seconds then shrugged, 'Zyada hi sharafat dikha rahi hai isliye laga mujhe. Achha bata toh kisse milne gayi thi. Subah tak tera koi program nahi tha. Main shaam ko uthi toh dekha Nutty madam gayab hain. Fir tera message dekha. School college se koi hota toh tu bata hi deti. Aisa laga koi mysterious person hai. Kaun tha Nutty?'

Natasha waved her hand casually and got up, 'Arey aise hi ek tha. Usko chod. Pata hai maine tere liye masala paneer banaya hai, paranthe ke saath. Chal jaldi se fresh hoke aa fir dinner karte hain.'

Naina was thrilled to hear the name of the speciality dish of her friend and quickly ran to get washed up and change.

While having dinner, Natasha offhandedly mentioned, 'Naina, medical loan ke kitne instalments baaki hain? Ek saal aur dena hai na?'

"Kahan yaar.' Naina sighed, 'Kam se kam do saal, agar itni hi EMI deti rahi. Agar kam karni padi toh aur time lagega.'

'Hmm.' Natasha pondered, 'Kitna achha hota agar yeh instalments na hoti. Tab toh apni salary mein tu kitna kuch afford kar sakti thi. Haina?'

Naina smiled wistfully, 'Fir toh problem hi solve ho jaati.'

'Achha Naina, ek baat puchun?' Natasha looked at her tentatively, 'Agar achanak teri koi lottery nikal aaye, itne paise mil jaayein ki tu ek jhatke mein loan ka payment karde toh kya hoga?'

Naina giggled, 'Hoga kya, aish ho jayegi. Bas ek choti si problem hai... lottery lag nahi sakti, kyonki maine kabhi kisi lottery ke liye register hi nahi kiya.'

'Lottery ka ticket lete hain, register nahi karte.' Natasha chuckled at her naivety.

Naina stuck her tongue out, 'Dekha, mujhe itna bhi nahi pata. So no chance of good luck coming my way.'

Giving her a cursory glance, Natasha asked, 'Aur agar aisa kuch ho jaaye ki tujhe thode se din ke kisi easy se kaam ke itne hi paise mil jaayein toh?'

Naina stopped eating and looked at her wearily, 'Tu kyon khushfehmi de rahi hai Nutty? Thode din mein itna bada amount kahan se aayega? Koi mere liye blank cheque lekar baitha hai kya? Yeh sab faltu baatein kahan se aa gayi aaj tere dimaag mein.'

Natasha shrugged, 'Aise hi soch rahi thi main. Aaj ke din bhi tujhe class ke liye jaate dekh ke achha nahi laga. Agar loan ka tension nahi hota toh tu yeh tuitions aur classes nahi karti na. Aaram se ghar pe relax karti, weekend enjoy karti.'

Finishing her food, Naina put away the plate and licked the tips of her fingers, 'Ab jo struggle kismat mein likhi hai woh toh karni hi padegi. Abhi loan hai, fir deposit ka tension hoga, aage jaake kuch aur requirement ho jayegi... meri life aise hi chalne wali hai boss. Mujhe aadat daal leni chahiye.'

Natasha was also done with her dinner, so they cleared the table and went to the kitchen. Naina took the responsibility of cleaning and doing the dishes as Natasha had cooked.

While her hands were immersed in soapy water, Natasha suddenly exclaimed, 'Tere liye ek kaam hai, jisse tujhe bohot jaldi bohot saare paise mil sakte hain. Aur zyada kuch karna bhi nahi hai. Easy peasy types.'

Naina did not take her seriously, 'Tu abhi tak wahin atki hai. Kya hai tera yeh easy peasy kaam? Nutty baby, agar paise zyada aur mehnat kam ho na toh woh kaam illegal hi hoga, gadbad wala.'

Natasha carefully chose her words, 'Illegal toh nahi... umm... bas thodi si acting karni hogi, kuch dinon ke liye. Kuch khaas gadbad nahi... bas ek chota sa, nanha sa jhol hai.'

Turning off the tap, Naina turned to look at her, her hands still covered with soap suds, 'Tu serious hai?'

'Haan Naina.' Natasha quickly took a few steps away from Naina, 'Ek option ke baare mein pata chala hai. Maine bohot socha. Jab mujhe convincing laga toh hi tere paas lekar aayi hun. Kiya jaa sakta hai. Almost no work, aur paise teri choice ke.'

Naina gave her an incredulous look, 'There's no free lunch, pata hai na tujhe. Saaf saaf bata kya kaam hai, jiska jhol tujhe already nazar aa raha hai.'

Natasha took a deep breath and moved closer to the door. Naina's first reaction could be violent to any degree. She had to be prepared.

Then she stated in clear words, 'Girl friend banne ki acting karni hai'

Naina blinked.

Natasha quickly uttered the last words before sprinting out of the room, 'Sameer ki.'

She heard the sharp intake of Naina's angry breath, almost like a hiss.

'Poori baat sun le Naina, sach keh rahi hun perfect option hai.' She screamed as she locked herself in the washroom.

'Pehle tu bahar aa.' Naina banged at the door, 'Aisi bakwaas karne ka khyal bhi kaise aaya tujhe?'

'Mujhe bhi bakwaas hi lagi thi, lekin tu thande dimaag se ek baar sunegi toh samajh ayega ki ismein tera kitna fayda hai?' Natasha shouted from inside.

'Nutty tu bahar aa warna main darwaza tod dungi. Tu bachegi nahi mere haathon se.' Naina gritted her teeth.

Assured that Naina couldn't carry out her threat as the door was quite sturdy, Natasha calmly explained, 'Dekh Naina, ismein sirf paison ka fayda hi nahi hai, yeh achha mauka hai uss ghamandi nakchadhe Sameer se badla lene ka.'

There was silence outside. Natasha waited for a while, then asked hesitantly, 'Tu sun rahi hai na?'

Naina stated quietly, 'Bahar aake baat kar.'

'Pehle promise kar ki tu Gandhiji ko follow karegi... no hinsa.' Natasha urged in a gentle voice.

'Okay okay, promise. Chal ab nikal bahar.' Naina replied, curiosity masking the irritation that echoed in her previous commands.

Slowly, the door opened a crack. Natasha peeked out. Seeing Naina standing a little away, she gingerly opened the door a bit wider and stepped out, a goofy smile pasted on her lips.

The moment she was completely devoid of the safety of confines, she raised her hands in surrender, 'Remember your promise. Meri baat wahi rehkar sunna. Paas aana allowed nahi hai jab tak main The End na bolun.'

Naina sighed, 'Ab drama band kar aur bolna shuru kar. Meri patience khatam hui toh promise invalid ho jayega.'

Natasha gave an apologetic grin, then began to explain what she had learned from Munna about Sameer accidently blurting her name as his girlfriend and the soup he was in because of it.

Before naina could react adversely at the end of the story, she confidently stated, 'Ab mera plan sun.'

Naina simmered with suppressed anger, 'Agar plan uske murder ka hai toh I'm in. Uski himmat hui kaise mera naam lene ki. Nutty, you better be good warna sabse pehle tu pitegi. Mera dimaag already ubal raha hai.'

Trying not to be intimated by the contrast of Naina's burning eyes and icy tone, Natasha mentioned in a firm voice, 'Iss kaam ke paise milenge tujhe. Wait, wait... abhi se reaction mat de. Paise jo tu chahe... kaam, jaisa tu chahe.'

She paused, then continued animatedly when Naina did not show any enthusiasm, 'Kitna bada chance hai Naina, uski akal thikane lagane ka. Tu apne terms dictate kar sakti hai. Uski family ke saamne sach batane ki dhamki deke usse jo chahe karwa sakti hai, girlfriend ka natak karna hai toh mast nakhre dikhana aur uski family ke saamne use apni ungliyon pe nachana. Uske paas koi option nahi hoga teri baat manne ke alawa. Bohot hawa mein udta hai na, yehi mauka hai use zameen pe laane ka. Soch ke dekh, yeh chance perfect hai. Ismein dono taraf se tera fayda hai. Paise bhi milenge aur satisfaction bhi.'

Naina refused to take the bait and spat at her, 'Aur tujhe lagta hai main paise lekar yeh kaam kar lungi? Itne bure din bhi nahi aaye hain ki mujhe nakli girlfriend ya biwi banke loan ka amount ikattha karna pade. How could you even think of this Nutty?'

Natasha's response was swift, 'Soch ke hi bol rahi hun. Sameer ne tere baare mein kitni bakwaas ki thi. Khud ko woh zyada hi uncha aur perfect samajhta tha. Lekin hua kya? Ab use teri zarurat aa padi. Itna hi perfect hai toh kyon nahi sach bata deta apni family ko. Kuch locha toh hai Naina warna tu soch woh tere paas help ke liye aata kya? Yeh offer tere saamne rakhne se uski ego already ghutno pe aa gayi hai. Tera upper hand ho jayega agar tu haan kar degi. Woh apni family ke saamne tujhe leke jaane ko ready ho gaya matlab unke saamne teri har baat manni padegi. Tere haath mein literally uski chaabi aa jayegi Nainaaa. Isse better kya hoga.'

Naina stared at her, without a word. Her stoic expression concealed her true state of mind.

Natasha's face brightened with a hopeful excitement, 'Maine bohot sochke hi tujhe yeh sab karne ko kaha hai. Sameer ko mazaa chakhane ka yeh chance haath se nahi jaane dena chahiye.'

Finally, Naina showed some reaction as her eyes clouded with doubt, 'Lekin usne mera naam kyon liya? Aisa toh hai nahi ki usne pehle se socha hoga ki Naina se acting karwa lunga. Na hi aisa hai ki woh aur ladkiyon ko nahi jaanta hoga. Fir mera naam kyon?'

Natasha offered the excuse she received for the same question, 'Munna keh raha tha Sameer tum dono ki argument ke baare mein soch raha tha jab achanak uske Dadaji ne puch liya. Aur uske muh se tera naam nikal gaya.'

'Munna ne kaha? Kab? Matlab yeh saari story tujhe Munna ne batayi? Aaj subah mandir mein? Lekin tune din mein toh kuch kaha nahi.' Naina asked in confusion.

Natasha scrunched her nose in guilt, 'Woh main... main Munna se hi milne gayi thi. Usne text kiya tha ki kuch important discuss karna hai. Tu so rahi thi isliye... chupane ka irada nahi tha bas maine socha uski baat sunne ke baad tujhe bata dungi. Mujhe laga tere job se related kuch hoga. Mujhe thodi pata tha woh aisa kuch offer karega.'

Naina closed her eyes and rested her head on the wall behind her. It was all too jumbled to make any sense. How could she even think of pretending as someone's girlfriend. And if that someone is Sameer Maheshwari, it was akin to taking a leap... right into a well. A person who couldn't see eye to eye with her, it was impossible to act even normal with him, forget about being more than that.

"Nahi Nutty, possible hi nahi hai.' Naina muttered, thinking aloud.

'Kyon nahi hai Naina.' Natasha was more pragmatic, 'Ek baar mere bataye tareeke se future dekh. Sameer tere saamne bheegi billi bana rahega. Imagine, tu jo kahegi use manna padega. Tujhse bande ki tarah baat karega, naak fula ke nahi. Tujhe criticise nahi kar payega, na ulte seedhe drame kar payega. And the best part, you'll be paid for this.'

A pang of guilt flashed in Naina's eyes, 'Mujhe uska nahi pata lekin mujhse kisi ko dhokha dena nahi ho payega. Uski family ko toh yeh sab sach lagega. Matlab main un sabko dhokha dene ka paap karungi. Yaar Nutty pehle hi meri life mein kuch achha nahi hota upar se galat kaam karke kisi ki baddua aur le lun? Is it right?'

Natasha moved closer to Naina and placed a hand on her shoulder, 'Right aur wrong tujhe nahi decide karna. Dhokha tu nahi de rahi woh khud de raha hai. Tera unse kya lena dena. Agar Sameer ko bura nahi lag raha apne gharwalon ke saamne jhooth bolne se toh tujhe kyon problem ho rahi hai. Aur baddua ka angle kahan se aa gaya beech mein? Unse zyada jaan pehchan ho isse pehle hi khel khatm. Munna ne kaha bas kuch din ke liye natak karna hai, uske baad Sameer breakup ka drama karke tujhe free kar dega. Tujhe bas itne dinon mein do ek baar uske gharwalon se milna hai. Khud soch Naina, apne bete ki girlfriend se kaun roz roz milta hai? Woh toh unhe naya naya pata chala hai isliye ek baar dekhna chahte hain. Sirf unke saamne hi toh acting karni hai.'

Naina pursed her lips, lost in thoughts.

Natasha gently mentioned, 'Tu soch le. Mujhe ismein koi burai nazar nahi aa rahi. Fir bhi decide tujhe hi karna hai. Sleep over it.'

It was a tough night for Naina. Her mind was screaming to not even pay another moment of attention to the idea but her rational heart wanted to do it for the money that came along. She would be rid of the burden a lot sooner than she thought. And of course, the allure of seeing arrogant Maheshwari at the receiving end was cherry on the cake. But was it ethical?

Next morning, when Naina went to Munna's room, he seemed to be uncomfortable and did not meet her eyes. She knew the reason.

After giving him the update about what she planned for their new campaign, she smiled, 'Awkward hone ki zarurat nahi hai Munna. Nutty ne mujhe bataya ki tumne usse baat ki thi. It's okay.'

Munna's response was tinged with surprise and disbelief, 'Okay matlab... tum ready ho?'

Naina curtly replied, 'Aisa nahi kaha maine.'

Munna's face fell, 'Oh. Mujhe laga shayad...'

'Thoda time chahiye sochne ke liye.' Naina clarified before he, like Natasha, started to pester her.

The tension on Munna's face abated to some extent, 'No problem Naina. Tum soch lo achhe se. Lekin agar ho sake toh... thoda jaldi... I mean... time ka thoda sa problem hai.'

Naina couldn't understand why everything was so rushed up. And then it struck her. Natasha had mentioned something about Sameer's grandfather. Was he the reason? Could it be like movies, that he was in a health related issue and wanted to see Sameer's partner before...

Would she be creating a world of lies for a person who was on his deathbed?

She couldn't do that.

'Munna,' She asked with uncertainty, 'Yeh sab Sameer ke Dadaji ki wajah se ho raha hai?'

Munna nodded heavily.

Naina took a deep breath before responding, 'Sorry Munna, fir main yeh nahi kar sakti. Kisi ko unke akhiri dinon mein dhokha dena... mera dil nahi maanta.'

'Ek minute.' Munna frowned, 'Akhiri din se kya matlab hai tumhara? Kisko... kiski baat kar rahi ho?'

'Dadaji.' Naina stated, 'Mana unhe khush karne ke liye tum log yeh drama kar rahe ho. Lekin yeh sahi toh nahi hai na. Waise hua kya hai unhe?'

'Arey dadaji ko kuch nahi hua.' The words came out too strong and Naina looked at him strangely.

Munna softened, 'Dadaji... woh bilkul sahi salamat hain, aur baaki sab bhi. Yeh situation isliye paida ho gayi kyonki dadaji Sameer ki shaadi karwane ke peeche pade the aur Sameer ko unki batai ladki se milna nahi tha. Usne keh diya woh kisi se pyar karta hai. Aur ab dadaji is ladki se milna chahte hain. Bas itna hi hua.'

'Bas itna hi.' Naina said sarcastically.

Munna was embarassed. Scratching his head, he lowered his eyes, 'Jaanta hun galat hai par ab kuch ho nahi sakta. Please thodi si help kardo Naina.'

The pleading in his voice strengthened Naina's resolve, which she had taken just a few seconds back.

This Sameer Maheshwari badly needed a lesson... or two. And she was ready to be the one to do the honours.

Next update on Saturday