Always and Forever: Part – 4 : Faith – Family – Friends

The night felt too quiet, or maybe it was because she hadn’t stayed up so late since a long time now. Preeti turned over in her sleep trying to find a more comfortable position, tugging at the blanket. Naina covered up her sister properly, then got up, feeling the need for fresh air. She went to the kitchen to get a glass of warm water, adding a lemon slice to it, it was a new taste she had acquired, courtesy Chachiji who had started drinking it every morning after reading in Grihshobha that it aids weight loss. Sauntering back to her room, she picked up the knitted shawl Sameer had gifted her, wrapping it around herself and went outside on her balcony. She placed the glass on the parapet after taking a sip, looking at the silent stretch of road, the star strewn sky. She had hugged him today. What had she been thinking? She had just seen him crying and hadn’t been able to stop herself. But it hadn’t felt strange, it had felt so right. They were going to get married soon. Wasn’t it okay if they hugged? Or was it bad to do such things before marriage?

 

It was so cold. She took another sip, letting the warmth of the water soak in her veins, but it was nothing compared to the warmth of Sameer’s arms, she thought, smiling to herself. She remembered how she hadn’t been able to control herself when he had finally returned from Delhi for good, Swati and Preeti had helped her sneak out from her home, with excuse of movie at a friend’s place, Munna and Pandit had escorted them to Sameer’s home. He was alone, his eyes had brimmed with tears on seeing her, and her own eyes spilled over, she had hugged him, sobbing. He had comforted her, hugged her tight, while their friends had tried to be invisible in the background, and then he had slowly disentangled himself from her. That was just before they had started college, and Sameer had never made any advances towards her in college. Although she had seen couples snatching some moments together in empty classrooms, wrapped in each other’s arms, she and Sameer had never done anything like that. They had held hands, but only when they were alone, that much Sameer hadn’t been able to resist, and she had given him that freedom. Sometimes though she had wondered, if it was because he respected her boundaries, or there was something lacking in her that held back Sameer. These thoughts were especially more prominent whenever a bunch of girls had teased her for her simple dresses or lack of fashion sense. She had been torn between her resolution to uphold her morals and her unexpected desire for Sameer to hold her in his arms. Yet Sameer never insisted they do anything like that, he had assured her of his love in several ways, by being happy with her success, by not paying the slightest bit of attention to any girl despite the fact that he was almost as much popular in college as he was in school, by whispering the three magical words to her at times she wasn’t expecting to hear them at all.

 

But now, during their date Sameer had held her hands in movie theatre, touched her legs in the restaurant, she shivered, she didn’t know because of cold or because of the memory. A sound caught her attention, and she saw the watchman doing his rounds, tapping his stick on the ground. Sameer had also touched her back that day, and then again today, repeatedly. Today when she had hugged him, he had wrapped his arms around her, not tight, but neither had he separated himself. She had nearly sunk into the sensation, her hands had almost started moving on his back, when she had realized what she was doing and straightened herself. Everything was different. She wanted to analyse the sensations that erupted in her body every time she was close to him. But, how could she? She didn’t know anything about it. Did Sameer know? Did he feel the same thing? If he did, then how was he so unruffled? She literally trembled from the proximity, while it seemed as if there was no effect on him.

 

No. That wasn’t true. She frowned thinking. Something had happened in the restaurant, his eyes had changed, the brown glittering more, and then he had picked up that cheese from her lips. He had the same expression in his eyes when he had talked about the kiss. Does this mean he wanted to kiss her? She almost choked at her own thoughts, spurting out the sip she had just taken. What was she thinking? But what if her thought was right? Would she let Sameer kiss her? She tried to imagine how that would feel, but frustratingly enough her brain couldn’t simulate the scenario. Unknown to her she was clutching the glass real tight and surprisingly enough she wasn’t cold anymore. What was happening to her? She sighed feeling confused, as if she didn’t know what path she had started traveling on, but still her heart knew it was the right path, and she had complete faith on Sameer to lead the way. She yawned, making her way back into the room and lying down, she didn’t want to let go of the shawl, maybe that was keeping her warm, she thought as she drifted into sleep, or maybe it was Sameer.

 

Few kilometres away, Sameer sat on the sofa in his room with Naina’s photo in his hands. He didn’t feel like leaving this room tonight. Just a few hours ago Naina was sitting at this same place, and he had knelt in-front of her, his head on her lap, while she combed her fingers through his hair. It was such a blissful feeling that he hadn’t wanted to move at all. But he needed to drop her back home, it was getting late, so he had reluctantly got up. Before leaving, she had quickly looked around the room once more, and he knew that she had accepted it as her own, as theirs.

 

She had hugged him today. He had been just as surprised as he had been the first time all those years ago. His plan had been tossed by her moves, although what had transpired was much better than his plan, but now he was getting impatient. Today, after feeling her in his arms, he wanted more. More time with her. More of her.

 

He had learned early on during his stay in Delhi that how tremulous his control was when he was away from Naina. She kept him calm. Upon returning to Ahmedabad, he had devoted himself completely to take over Nanu’s business, trying to fulfil his wish. Handling business along with studying in college was tough, and he wouldn’t have been able to do it if Naina hadn’t been there to help him with his studies. He had learned to exercise iron control not only on his temper, but also on his impulses. He had understood that he was different from the other boys in college. They were still discussing career choices, while he was already deep into his business where his one decision could affect many lives. They had time for taking their girlfriends out on dates, watch movies, but he didn’t even have enough time to talk to Naina on phone for the first year. Slowly as he had become more comfortable, securing his position as the head of Maheshwari Industries, he had more free time when they started their second year. Needless to say, he had wanted to spend every single minute of his free time with Naina. But going to restaurants or movies with a boy, even if it was him, was not part of her ideals, he had known that, and he had respected that. Plus, he remembered that Taiji had been suspicious of her before, he didn’t want to risk such a thing happening again. That didn’t mean they couldn’t meet at the temple every week or spend more time in college. They had explored every corner of their college, every table in the library, every desk in every classroom. Often, they would just sit and talk, he would hold her hands. Sometimes he had been exhausted enough to fall asleep and had woken up to see her sitting beside him patiently reading a book or writing a story. She would place her hand on his when he was sleeping, somehow that touch soothed him, and he could sense it even in his sleep, as if her touch was part of his chromosomes.

 

He had wanted more. He had wanted to hug her, feel her in his arms, kiss her smooth cheeks, his thoughts had even wandered to her lips. It was astonishing how that happened, he thought. Naina didn’t exactly put any special effort to tempt him, but still he wanted her, dreamt of kissing her. Once when they were in library, her pen had fallen, when she had knelt to pick it up, her top had shifted slightly, and he had got a tantalizing view of the flawless skin of her waist. The instant jolt he had felt within him had surprised him. While Naina had been completely oblivious to his raging reaction, he had sat there sifting through the new emotions coursing through his body, trying to keep his hands in check, controlling the irresistible temptation to grab her. After that day, this reaction had become almost common for him whenever Naina was around, and quite often he had been frustrated with her boundaries, not knowing what to do, how to initiate.

 

Sometime during the same year, he had been travelling for a week for his business, and when he had returned he had been a bundle of nerves, desperately craving for her. They had met in an empty classroom, and he had immediately grabbed her hand, pulling her to him, but just before wrapping his arms around her he had looked in her eyes. The shock in them had brought him to an abrupt halt. He had realized how hard he was gripping her delicate hand, how he had almost been on the verge of losing control. He had seen the shock in her eyes turn to confusion, but she hadn’t asked him anything, she hadn’t tried to pull her hand from his hold. That moment he had known that she probably wouldn’t stop him even if he kissed her, but what he hadn’t been able to imagine was what her reaction would be after he kissed her. Hadn’t he always known how innocent she was? How different she was from the other girls in school and college? He had looked at her, standing inches away from him, patiently waiting for him to do or say something, and her absolute trust on him had overwhelmed him, her innocence had hit him hard, something had shifted in his heart, he had calmed down. Instead of hugging her, he had lifted her hand and rubbed his cheek against her palm, he had slight stubble and the rough texture had tickled her, made her giggle, he had closed his eyes, the sound shimmering through his veins. That day he had decided that he wouldn’t let her lose this innocence, until it happened on its own or until he had complete right to call her his own. Plus, somewhere in his mind he had also known that it wouldn’t be easy to convince her family for their marriage, especially given his impression in-front of her father. He had shuddered at the thought of them being physically intimate and then god forbid something happened and they couldn’t get married. Even one kiss would be a big thing for Naina, and he wanted them to have the security of future before it happened. This wasn’t only about him, but also about her, a girl who was more precious to him than his own life, and whose safety was his responsibility. He knew the wait would be a torture, he also knew that given the friend circle and family Naina had it was impossible for her to gain any knowledge about physical intimacy on her own, but he had complete faith that when the right time came he would relish teaching her about it.

 

Now they had that security, the right time was now. He still wouldn’t cross his ultimate limits before their marriage, but now at least he could hold her, kiss her. With that thought in mind, he formed his next plan. The scenario pleased him. He felt drowsy, keeping her photo beside the telephone, he rubbed his eyes, it was late. There was no bed in this room, so he curled up on the sofa, a tough task given how small it was, but the warmth that was here wasn’t in the bed next door.

 

Sameer paced in his cabin with a file in hand, minutely checking each line of the contract. He had learned to do this the hard way. Once in haste during his early days he had signed without checking properly and had missed noticing the penalty clause added by the buyer. Unfortunately, the production had been delayed by two days for some reason, and he had had to pay a hefty penalty. The phone rang, he scowled at the interruption, picking it up, “Hello.”

“Hello beta”, his mother’s voice sounded, “tumne phone kiya tha yahan?”

Sameer sat back on his chair, “ji haan Mummy. Lekin Rohan ne bataya ke aap nahi ho ghar pe.”

Vishakha sounded a little anxious, “haan main Deepika ko leke shopping karne gai thi. Sab thik to haina beta? Aise achanak phone kiya tumne?”

He fumbled a little for the correct words, “haan sab thik hai. Main actually… main aapko thanks kehna chahta tha.”

“Thanks? Kyun?”, she was confused.

“Woh aapne Naina ke Chachaji se dahej ke maamle me baat ki na, isiliye”, Sameer explained.

Vishakha relaxed at the other end, “oh bas itni si baat. Usme thanks kehne ki kya zarurat hai.”

“Umm… darasal maine socha tha ke aapse iss baare me baat karunga, kyunki mujhe samajh nai aa raha tha ke yeh baat main Naina ke gharwalo se kaise karu”, he clarified, “par aapne bina mere kuch kahe hi saamne se iss masle ko sambhal liya.”

Vishakha smiled, “yeh to karna hi tha na. Papa hote to woh bhi yahi karte. Aur tum Naina se pyaar karte ho yeh to mujhe pata tha, lekin kitna zyada pyaar karte ho yeh uss din samajh aaya jab mujhe pata chala ke tumne Arjun ko maaf karke itna bada ilzaam apne upar hi laga rehne diya tha”, she tried to explain her perspective, “main jaanti thi ki mera beta zimmedar ho gaya hai, ek successful businessman ban gaya hai. Lekin saath saath woh itna bada bhi ho gaya hai ke pure mann se kisiko maaf kar sakta hai, yeh nahi pata tha pehle. Shayad Papa sahi kehte the hamesha, main hi tumko nai samajhti thi, lekin Naina bahot achche se jaanti hai tumhe, aur samajhti bhi hai. Isiliye to usne Roka me koi nayi saree ke jagah Maa ki saree pehni thi, haina?”

Sameer didn’t know what to say, “Mummy woh…”

“Kuch bolne ki zarurat nai hai tumhe beta. Maine aisa kuch nai kiya jiske liye ek bete to apni maa se thanks kehna pade”, her voice was thick with tears now, “mujhe to garv hai tumhari pasand pe.”

He sat silent, his eyes moist, holding the receiver tight, this was the first time he was hearing such words from his mother. This wasn’t the ‘very good’ or any objective praise she had quite often uttered for his business handling skills, but rather a completely personal compliment about him as a person. Vishakha understood her son’s silence, so she tried to lighten the mood, “achcha, yeh batao Naina ko Delhi ka ghar dikhane kab laa rahe ho?”

Sameer managed a strained laughter, “Delhi? Kitne papad belne ke baad to ghar se bahar le jaane ki permission mili hai. Delhi le jaane ki baat karunga to mere sasurji merepe thappado ki baarish kar denge.”

His mother laughed, “hahaa…haan Munna ne bataya tha ke tumne kitne thappad khaye hai unse”, then added, “waise maine tumhari Naina ke liye aaj saree kharidi hai. Pink color. Achcha lagega na uspe?”

He smiled dreamily, “Pink to hamesha uspe bahot achcha lagta hai.”

Vishakha smiled hearing the dreamy voice of her son. Just then Munna entered Sameer’s cabin, “Sameer, busy hai kya?” Sameer signalled him to come in, as he said on the phone, “Mummy, kuch kaam aaya hai shayad. Main aapse baadme baat karta hun. Bye.”

“Bye beta. Apna khayal rakhna, aur Naina ka bhi”, Vishakha said.

Sameer felt as if his heart was submerged in a gulf of happiness. His mother finally understood him, probably even loved him, loved Naina. He looked at his friend, “kya hua Munna?”

 

Munna had taken up a job at a local garment factory as a production manager after college, but unfortunately, due to heavy losses incurred by that factory many people were laid-off including Munna. Sameer had then insisted that he join him, and he had recognized that his friend’s talent didn’t lie in production units, but rather in the field. Munna was extremely good when it came to handling people, his friendly approach made people open up to him, and he could calm others, make them do what he wanted. So, Sameer had appointed him to deal with the suppliers, as they were the biggest headache in any business, his wager had paid-off, they had never faced any severe problem with suppliers since Munna had taken up that responsibility.

 

Munna handed him an envelope, “hamara application manzur ho gaya. Ab hamari company bhi trade exhibition me hissa le sakti hai.”

Sameer was elated, “really? Yeh to bahot achchi khabar hai.”

“Haan, khabar to achchi hai”, Munna said, “lekin waqt bahot kam hai. Sirf ek hafta hai.”

“Ek hafta!”, Sameer exclaimed checking his calendar, “haan, exhibition to ek hafte me hi hai. Maine date mark kiya hua tha. Lekin itna late kaise inform kar sakte hai woh humko?”

Munna sighed, “maine pucha yahi. To kehte hai ke pehle letter pe address me galti thi to woh return gaya unko, isiliye dusra letter bheja.”

“Excuses”, Sameer muttered, “khair ab kuch kar nahi sakte. Yeh bahot important hai hamare liye. Tu ek kaam kar, 5-10 logo ki team select kar, hum adhe ghante me meeting karte hai.”

“Thike”, Munna said and left to do his job.

Sameer frowned. It seemed like his life was taking the route of “man proposes, god disposes.” His second plan was tossed by Naina, and now his third plan was being spoiled by this exhibition. He had thought to keep a gap of two days in meeting Naina, but now this whole week he would have to stay parched. Well, at least he should inform Naina.

 

“Nainaaa”, a voice rang out and a pair of arms wrapped around her from behind while she stood watering the plants in her balcony. Naina turned slightly, smiling wide at her friend, “Swati ki bachchi… itne dino baad aane ka waqt mila tujhe?”

Swati made a face, “sorry na yaar. Tujhe to pata hai meri badi buaji aai hui hai ghar pe. Hitler ka dusra janam hai woh”, she plopped down on the bed as they entered the room.

“Hahhaa…”, Naina laughed sitting beside her, “nai nai, woh to meri Taiji hai”, she winked.

“Competition karate hai dono me”, Swati said animatedly, “kaun sabse zyada taane maar sakta hai.”

They both chortled. They were meeting each other for the first time after Naina’s roka. The school and college days, when they would meet and talk to each other daily, seemed like a dream now. Swati now helped her own father in his business, they owned three garment shops, and nothing interested her more than fashion and movies. “Preeti kahan hai?”, she asked leaning against the pillows.

Naina checked the wall-clock, “Aati hi hogi parlour se.” After their graduation Preeti had taken up a course in hair styling much to the objection of Taiji and now worked at a beauty parlour. She didn’t earn much, but she finally had an ambition, and she wasn’t ready to let go of it. Chachaji had supported her decision. Naina herself used to teach at a kindergarten, until six months ago, when she had left it to focus completely on her freelance writing, this also didn’t pay much, but then she wasn’t writing for money but for experience. Just after a minute they heard Preeti’s voice asking for food from her mother, and she came into the room “Hieee… Tu yahan? Teri buaji chali gai?”, she asked delighted to see Swati.

“Aisi meri kismet kahan”, Swati sighed, “lekin mujhse aur torture bardaasht nai ho raha tha isiliye main yahan aa gai.”

Preeti kept her purse and climbed up on bed, stretching her legs, “torture ki baat to mat hi kar tu… mujhse zyada torture koi nai hua hoga aaj.”

“Kyun aisa kya hua?”, Naina enquired.

“Aree woh Mrs. Patel hai na… 45 minutes lagaye hair style select karne me… jaana padosi ki shaadi me hai unko, lekin tevar aise jaise kisi filmstar ne invite kiya ho”, Preeti imitated her customer’s style, making them laugh.

Bela came in with some snacks and tea, “tum ladkiya jaldi se kha lena. Bhabhiji aa gai to bolegi chai banai lekin unko nai bulaya”, she placed the tray on bed and left. She knew how precious their friendship was, they were meeting after many days and if her Jethani comes in then she wouldn’t let them talk in peace.

They helped themselves to gathiya and chakli, “Achcha jaldi se bata ab mereko. Tum logo ne date pe kya kya kiya tha?”, Swati asked.

“Kuch nai kiya inn dono ne Swati”, Preeti said dejectedly, “bas movie dekha aur khana khaya. Haan jijaji ne ek shawl gift kiya hai apni hone wali biwi ko.”

Swati was surprised, “Kya? Bas itna hi? Haath nai pakda? Gale nai lagaya?”

Naina hadn’t revealed any details of her romantic date to Preeti, she had wanted to spill it out, tell each and everything that had happened, ask questions about her strange feelings, but instead she had skimmed over the details and presented a rather simple picture to her.

Preeti scoffed, “meri behen thodi zyada hi sanskaari hai. Kal pata hai yeh log furniture kharidne gaye the. Bata ab konsa couple dukan me jaake catalogue dekhne me time waste karta hai. Bahar jaane ki permission hai to ghume, fire, romance kare. Lekin nai…”

Naina hadn’t even told her that she was at Sameer’s home yesterday. She didn’t exactly know why she was hiding these things from her friends. But somehow, all these moments after their Roka seemed very private to her.

“Yaar, main to tereko Madhuri samajh rahi thi par tu to Meena Kumari nikli”, Swati said with a complete disappointed expression, “khair teri chod, mujhe lagta tha jijaji to kaafi romantic hai. Unhone tereko ab tak kiss bhi kiya hai ya nai?”

Naina looked up from her cup of tea, “kiss?”, she whispered surprised. The conversation at the end of the date flashed through her mind coupled with her thoughts from last night.

Swati and Preeti facepalmed, and Swati took the cup from Naina’s hands, keeping it back on the tray, and then shifted closer, holding her shoulders, “Haan Naina… Kiss”, she elucidated, “you know jaise movies me hero-heroine ke beech me hota hai. Jaanti hun tu apni aankhen bandh kar leti hai aise scenes me par kuch to dekha hoga na. Kuch to pata hoga na kaise karte hai.”

Preeti sat up eager. Naina looked at their excited faces, “n…nai… mereko nai pata…”, she stammered, then tried to steady herself, “aur tu kya yeh kiss kiss kar rahi hai. Bol to aise rahi hai jaise Munna ne tereko bada kiss kiya ho”, she paused, “umm… kiya hai kya?”

Swati blushed. Preeti and Naina looked at each other, eyes wide is surprise. “Iska matlab tune aur Munna ne…”, Preeti trailed off not sure how to spell it out.

“Nai nai…”, Swati jerked up, “woh darasal usne mere haath pe… mera matlab…”

“Haath pe kiss kiya?”, Naina tried to finish her sentence.

Swati nodded. Munna and Swati’s uncertain relationship had finally taken a steady route from college. Preeti whooped and whistled. Naina clapped a hand on her sister’s mouth, “Shh… kya kar rahi hai pagal.”

Naina turned to Swati in surprise, she had never seen her blush so much, “tujhe bura nai laga?”, she asked softly.

Swati looked up at her, “kyun? Bura kyun lagega? Hum to pyaar karte hai na ek dusre se.”

“Haan… lekin yeh sab shaadi se pehle…”, Naina voiced thinking how to phrase the question.

“Dekh Naina… main jaanti hun tu kya sochti hai inn sabke baare me. Lekin pyaar me to yeh sab kabhi kabhi hota hai”, Swati tried to explain, “yeh pyaar jataneke tarike hote hai. Jaise tu humse gale milti hai. Thik waise hi. Aur ab to tum dono ki shaadi honewali hai yaar… Ek kiss to banta hai shaadi se pehle.”

Naina looked thoughtful, “lekin fir bhi…”

“Ooff oo… tu na rehne de Swati”, Preeti said, “pehle to mujhe vishwas nai hua tha ke Naina kisike pyaar me pad sakti hai… main kitni khush ho gai thi jab jijaji ke baare me pata chala tha mereko… lekin ab lagta hai pyaar karke bhi konse tambu gaad liye isne. Bechare mere jijaji. Mereko to isiliye yeh sab pyaar ke jhamele me padna hi nai hai.”

Naina rolled her eyes, “achcha ji… to fir Rohan ka kya hoga… woh to kunwara reh jayega.”

Now it was Preeti’s turn to blush, much to her irritation she couldn’t control it. Naina and Swati laughed, and the next moment they heard Taiji’s voice outside their room. They quickly hid the empty cups behind pillows, just as she entered, “Oh bai! Teeno maharaniyan yahan bethke gappe lada rahi hai”, she eyed the dishes of snacks, “kuch ghar ka kaam bhi kar liya karo, ya aisai bethe bethe thusti rahogi.”

She scanned the room, satisfied that there was no tea-cup in sight, “Bela kahan hai? Mera sir dard se fata jaa raha hai lekin kisiko kuch padi hi nai hai.”

“Main aapke liye chai bana deti hun Taiji. Chachiji shayad niche sabji lene gai hogi”, Naina got up from bed signalling the other two to stay in the room. “Pralay aa gaya tuition se? Aa gaya ho to uske liye bhi nashta bana deti hun”, she asked knowing that was the only topic that could divert Taiji.

Taiji nodded approvingly, “nai ab tak nai aaye Parlay babu”, she followed Naina into the kitchen, “aaj unke woh hai… woh kya kehte hai… ekastra calasses.”

Naina hid her smile, “achcha, extra classes hai. Waise ab marks to bahot achche aate hai Pralay ke, maine Sameer ko bhi bataya uske results ke baare me”, she kept Taiji diverted while Bela entered with a vegetable bag in hand.

“Neva! Bholuram ko bataya tune!”, she exclaimed excited, “Kya bola woh?”

Before Naina could spin a tale of praises, the phone rang. Naina started towards the living room, sensing it was Sameer’s call. “Tu chai bana, main dekhti hun”, Taiji stopped her.

She picked up the telephone, “Helloo.”

“Namaste Taiji”, Sameer’s voice came from the other side.

Taiji was ecstatic, “aree Bholuram! Abhi tumhari hi baat ho rahi thi. Badi lambi umar hai tumhari.”

Sameer smiled, “bas aap sabka hi aashirwaad hai. Naina hai kya ghar pe?”

“Haan haan hai na… Chai bana rahi hai mere liye. Main bulati hun”, she paused, then asked expectantly, “waise Parlay babu ke results ke baare me kya kaha tumne Naina se?”

Naina had come from the kitchen and was now standing tensed. Sameer was quiet for a moment, confused, but his brain caught up quickly to what he realized was Naina’s trick for some reason, “Ohh woh… Naina keh rahi thi ke uska chota bhai kitna intelligent hai. Arjun se bhi zyada achcha hai padhai me. To maine kaha ke woh to hoga hi na, aakhir aap aur Tauji uski padhai-likhai ka itna dhyan jo rakhte hai.”

“Haan bilkul bilkul”, Taiji almost burst with happiness, “yeh lo Naina aa gai, baat karo.” She gave the phone to Naina, waddling off into the kitchen to tell Bela about it.

 

“Hello Sameer”, Naina sat down on the sofa to talk.

“Mujhe chai nai pilaogi?”, Sameer asked.

She smiled, “chai peeni ho to ghar aana padega.”

“Konse ghar?”, Sameer enquired, “Chachaji ke ghar ya hamare ghar?”

Naina blushed, “filhaal to yahan aa jao. Hamare ghar me fir kabhi chai banake pilaungi.”

He got a swift feeling of satisfaction, “achcha, chalo main intezaar kar lunga thoda aur”, he added, “Naina suno, ek baat batani thi.”

“Haan bolo na”, she smiled thinking he would ask her to meet.

He sighed, “tumhe yaad hai maine ek trade exhibition ke baare me bataya tha tumko?”

Naina recalled their conversation, “haan yaad hai na. Tumne apply kiya tha participate karne ke liye.”

“Correct. Hamara application accept ho gaya”, he informed.

“Wow! Yeh to bahot achchi khabar hai”, she chirped happily, “congratulations!”

Sameer smiled, “Thanks sweetheart. Bas ek hi problem hai.”

The endearment again made her blush, “kaisi problem?”

“Exhibition ek hafte me hai. Aur hume bahot saara preparation karna padega”, he explained, “to main tumse mil bhi nai paunga shayad.”

She was slightly disheartened to know they won’t be able to meet, but she knew this was very important for him, “to usme kya hua. Hum exhibition ke baad milenge. Ek hafta to yun beet jayega”, she consoled, “tum bilkul fikar mat karo. Bas kaam pe dhyan do.”

Then she teased him, “waise bhi main konsa tumhe miss karne wali hun. Main to aaram se yahan enjoy karungi.”

Sameer laughed, “Haha… achcha. Thike to fir tum enjoy karna, main miss karunga tumko to call kar lunga kabhi kabhi.”

She understood the hidden sadness behind his laughter. She knew how to cheer him up though. She looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping on their conversation, then whispered, “I love you.”

He took a deep breath. Even after all these years, he never got tired of hearing this from her, “I love you too sweetheart.”

He picked up the relevant files and strolled down to the conference room, intending on preparing for the exhibition, and disappointed that he won’t see Naina’s beautiful face for one whole week. Little did he know that whenever God disposed, he also had the means to propose new plans.