Originally posted by: Samaina_1990
Hello friends,
I'm back with an update for this story as well. I somehow got inspired with the beginning of struggle for our show's Samaina and penned down this update. Hope to hear your views on it!
Part 2: At your service!
Sameer couldnāt stay for long at Munnaās place for his father, when tried to mend ways between the estranged son and the step-father heard Mr. Somaniās version of the fallout. An amicable gentleman mostly, Munnaās father then expressed unease about Sameerās character and honesty. He tried to drill sense into his own son- what if Sameer was actually trying to take advantage of them? And the fact that as per what Sameer had pledged, he would make something of himself without any help from anyone. Then why was he dependent on his friends for help? If his friends were by his side, wasnāt he, in a way, reneging on his promise? Munna took a while to allay his fatherās sudden suspicions. But it was too late. Sameer had already overheard the conversation between the father and son. Unwilling to put his friends through the stormy path heād chosen for himself, Sameer left the house in angst, desperate for any job that he could start on.
As he walked, he landed upon the same small restaurant that heād chanced upon the day he left his home. He saw the owner frying batches of savories as usual and hordes of people waiting in queue for their fill.
Food! Good business proposition! Itās never going to go out of fashion. He contemplated for a while. But there was only one hitch- he barely knew how to cook! How he wished Naina was by his side right now. She couldāve taught him all this.
Sameer sighed, tried to ignore his pining heart, as he observed the delicacies on the stall and hoped the rumbling of his stomach did not reach the ears of the restaurant owner. But apparently they did, for the big burly man in that khadi kurta pyajama with a towel hanging on his left shoulder, beckoned to him. āBolo sahabā¦kuch dun aapko? Garma garam hai sab!ā
Unable to suppress his hunger anymore, Sameer walked upto the stall owner and enquired, āBhaiyaā¦agar main aapko yeh sari plates dho ke dun to kya aap mujhe ek samosa aur thodi chai denge?ā
The stall owner looked at him astounded and then broke into fits of laughter, ākahe mazak kar rahe ho sahabā¦shakal surat aur kapde latte se to khandani lagte ho!ā
āBhaiyaā¦mere pass sach mein kuch paise nahi hainā¦subah se bhookha hunā¦,ā Sameer replied.
The stall owner contemplated for a while and then gave in. āTheek haiā¦lo kha lo samosa aur yeh lo chai!ā
Sameer thanked him profusely for the two samosas and a cup of wholesome Amrutulya chai offered to him. As he finished, he asked, where and how to wash the dishes. The kindly man told him, ābeta jaoā¦koi baat nahiā¦main kar lunga!ā
āNahi uncleā¦main aapko paise nahi de saktaā¦par udhar to chuka sakta hun!ā
As the stall owner looked on in amazement, Sameer picked up the detergent and started rinsing the used steel plates and glasses. He completed the task in some twenty minutes.
āGhar chod ke aaye ho kya beta?ā
Sameer nodded sadly.
āDekho ladakpan ka josh acha haiā¦lekin yeh zindagi bahot kathin haiā¦jao jaake maa-baap se maafi maang loā¦wo tumhe apna lenge!ā
Sameer did not respond and continued to dry his hands with his handkerchief.
āAisa kya hua betaā¦dekho gussa chodoā¦aur ghar jao!ā
āUncleā¦kabhi kabhi insaan ko khud ko saabit karna padta haiā¦kuch bade khwab badi qurbaniyaan maangte hainā¦agar main apne sapno ke liyeā¦apni zindagiā¦khushiyon ke liye mehnat nahi karunga to mujhe kya haq hai ki mujhe wo khushiyaan milein?ā
The stall owner stood stunned by Sameerās words. He thought, ābitte bhar ka chokra haiā¦aur baatein dekho!ā
Impressed, he queried, āKaam ki talaash mein ho?ā
āJi uncle!ā Sameerās eyes lit up.
āHmmmā¦Vaise to mujhe zarurat hai nahi lekin tumhari imaandari dekh ke main khush huaā¦mere hotel mein waiter ka kaam karoge? Dekho tum bade ghar ke lagte hoā¦agar jame toh!ā
Sameer looked at him elatedly. āKyun nahi uncleā¦thank you!ā
āLekin pagar main 200 se zyada nahi de paunga abhiā¦waiter hone ke saath saathā¦bartan dhone hongeā¦jhaadu pocha bhi karna hoga dusre ladke ke sath milkeā¦!ā
āChalega uncleā¦aap jo bolengeā¦sab karungaā¦thank you!ā
āRehne ke liye jagah hai? Sote kahan ho?ā
āJi woā¦.darasalā¦,ā Sameer fumbled embarrassedly.
āHmmā¦aaj raat se yahin so jana hotel band hone ke baadā¦kitchen mein garmi bhi hogi to thand nahi lagegi zyadaā¦baaki ladke tumhe kaam bata dengeā¦aur nahane dhone ka bhi sikha denge!ā
He gestured him to go upstairs and Sameer obliged after thanking him generously.
In the next few days, Sameer tried his best to adjust to the dark, dingy, humid environment of the kitchen upstairs of the hotel where he slept in the cramped room, with another waiter and a cook.
He struggled with the daily chores, the need to wake up at the break of dawn, the less than fulfilling meals that they managed to have in the day.
Munna and Pandit continued to visit him regularly and offered him homemade snacks whenever they could. Even Munnaās father apologized and told him how heād been brainwashed by his step-dad, but Sameer insisted heād actually said the right thing. He wanted to prove that he could sustain himself without any help. When Naina as she got to know of Sameerās condition, she was horrified beyond measure- how her Prince Charming had been converted to a pauper overnight! She pleaded with Bela chachi and her chachaji to allow her to meet him for sometime. Anand and Bela, miserable at Sameerās condition as well, relented. They all went to meet Sameer at the hotel Munna and Pandit had informed them of, where Sameer was employed.
As soon as Naina stepped foot inside, her eyes welled up in tears as she saw a lanky man (he seemed to have lost quite some weight since sheād last seen him and that had been a month or so back) meticulously wiping a table top. He was dressed in a white vest, which seemed to be covered with grime and splotched with oil and a pair of similarly filth laden three fourths. As he finished cleaning the table, he replaced the small piece of gingham cloth back onto his shoulders.
āThe affluent boy, with looks men would kill to have did not even have a proper set of clothes on?ā Nainaās heart wept at the irony of life. At that instant, Sameerās eyes fell to the door, expecting some customers. His jaw dropped as he saw Naina and her family enter. Preeti was crying along with Naina and Bela, and Anand looked distraught at his condition. Arjun seemed appalled beyond measure. Sameer tried to smile, for his heart leaped with joy at seeing his love after so many days. Before he could say something, he saw Naina dash towards him and crash into him, holding onto him fiercely and sobbing. Chachaji and chachiji averted their eyes as they did not have the heart to reprimand her for such a public display of affection. Arjun too pushed his hands in his pockets and suddenly gained interest in a set of salt and pepper sprinklers set on the table besides him. Preeti continued to weep looking at the two lovers.
āAyeā¦ayeā¦shhhā¦Nainuā¦shhā¦rote nahi!ā Sameer tried to console his sobbing girlfriend.
She smacked him in response and clutched him harder, as she continued to shed tears.
āAyeee Nainaā¦sab dekh rahe hain jaanā¦,ā Sameer whispered as he looked upto see chacha and chachi being uncomfortable. Arjun finally took action and quickly ushered chacha, chachi and Preeti outside for a while so that the two lovers could talk. He then turned and gestured to him that Sameer had his approval.
The moment they were gone, Sameer looked around and pulled Naina into a corner and put his lips to hers in desperation. The kiss was reciprocated with intense need and passion by Naina. When they broke off, there were beads of tears in Sameerās eyes.
āNainuā¦you still love me na? Mujhe chod to nahi dogiā¦mere pass kuch nahi hai ab!ā
āP..pagal ho kya tumā¦yeh sab kyun kar rahe ho Sameerā¦meri khatirā¦Sameer mujhe bas tum chahiye aur kuch nahiā¦yeh kya haal bana rakha hai apnaā¦raat thand mein bitate hoā¦thither rahe ho sardi meinā¦vazan kitna kam ho gaya haiā¦,ā Naina continued to fuss over him.
Sameer suddenly gulped. Why was he letting his heart overpower his mind? He steeled himself, ready to deliver the speech heād rehearsed numerous times, in case Naina found his hardships too much to handle. Though deep down his heart knew she would never leave him in misery, his brain commanded him to make sure Naina was comfortable and happy. He did not want to pass on his share of troubles to Naina.
āNainaā¦,ā Sameerās voice was suddenly serious. āAisa ho sakta hai ki mera yeh haal umar bhar aisa hi raheā¦main mehnat puri karunga par kamyaab honga ke nahi iski guarantee nahiā¦agar tum aaj bhi piche hatana chahti ho to main bura nahi maanunga Nainaā¦main samajh lungaā¦par please mujhse sach kehna!ā
Naina looked at him in disbelief. āSameer? Tum aisa soch bhi kaise sakte ho? Saath jeene marne ki kasam li hai humneā¦aur chahe duniya hamare rishte ko mane na maneā¦main to tumhe dil se apna pati maan chuki hoonā¦!ā
The breath Sameer hadnāt realized heād been holding, exhaled. Tears streaked his face again as he pulled her into another crushing embrace. Was he the luckiest man on earth? No man who had suffered what he had from the hands of his step-father since his fatherās demise would have labeled himself lucky. But with Naina in his arms, life seemed merry, hopeful again. And it was a sign that lady luck was shining for him!
āSameerā¦chalo bhaag jaate hainā¦main tumhara saath dena chahti hunā¦par tumhari patni banke!ā Naina mumbled at his chest.
Sameer caressed her hair. āNahi Nainaā¦dulhan to tumhe banaungaā¦tab jab Rakesh sir khud is rishte ko leke khush hongeā¦main nahi chahta ki kal ko koi tumpe ya hamare rishte pe koi ungli uthaye!ā
The couple lay in each otherās arms for many silent minutes. And then Naina suddenly back in control exclaimed, āmain bhi kitni buddhu hunā¦!ā She pulled out the shawl from her shoulders and covered Sameerās flimsy clothes with it. āAb thand nahi lagegi tumhe!ā
And then she ran to call her family inside. Soon, all were asking about his well-being, feeding him with home-made snacks that Bela, Preeti and Naina had stayed up all night to prepare for him.
āBeta kabhi khud ko akela mat samajhnaā¦hum hainā¦tumhara parivaar hai!ā Anand and Bela reassured Sameer.
āHamara bas chaltaā¦agar Naina hamari beti hoti to hum tum dono ki shaadi kab ki karwa deteā¦aur tumhe settle hone mein bhi madad karteā¦par Rakesh bhaisahabā¦,ā Anandās voice choked.
āMain puri koshish kar raha hun chachajiā¦bas ek vinti haiā¦jab tak main thoda stable nahi ho jaataā¦aap please Naina ke rishte ka na socheinā¦kisi tarah Rakesh sir ko mana leinā¦please?ā Sameer pleaded.
āMain Naina ki shaadi tumhi se hote dekhna chahta hunā¦jo ban padega hum karenge!ā Anand patted Sameerās head. Then he took out some five thousand that heād withdrawn from the bank and offered the same to Sameer. āBetaā¦thode paise rakh loā¦tumhe zarurat padegiā¦ek achi jagah dekh lo rehne ke liyeā¦kuch kapde bhiā¦maine daftar mein bhi naukri ke liye pucha haiā¦jaldi batayenge wahanā¦tab tak isse kaam chala lo!ā
Sameer calmly and politely refused as he handed the money back to Chachaji. āBeta kehte hain to bete pe bharosa rakhiyeā¦main chahta hun ki is baar mere pass jo bhi hoā¦mere apni mehnat ki kamayi ka ho!ā
Chachaji was surprised at the maturity exhibited by this lad of hardly twenty one.
At that moment, Naina fished into the jute bag that sheād brought along and brought out two sweaters of chachaji, three pairs of new socks, two T-shirts and a pair of jeans for him.
āYeh kya puri dukaan khareed laayi ho?ā Sameer exclaimed.
āChup rahoā¦sab tumhare liye laaye hain hum!ā
āNainaā¦maine kaha na main kisi se favour nahi lena chahtaā¦jo hoga sab meri kamayi se liya hoga!ā
āYeh lecture na mujhe baad me sunanaā¦aur vaise bhi yeh sab meri scholarship ki kamayi se khareeda haiā¦aur jab hum dono mein koi fark nahi, to hamare paise mein fark kaise hua?ā
A quiver of a smile played on Sameerās lips. He itched to pull her to himself again, but refrained in presence of her entire family.
Instead, Arjun came and enclasped him in a tight hug. He patted his back in reassurance and muttered, āSameer kuch bhi zarurat ho mujhe yaad karnaā¦mujhe bharosa hai tujhpeā¦fikr mat karā¦hum sab tere sath hain!ā
The family bid him farewell. Sameer clutched the shawl tightly to him as Naina and his eyes met as she retreated.
***
When the restaurant owner handed him his very first earning, Sameer decided to go to the temple. He relayed the message to Naina through Munna and Pandit during their daily visit to him. It was 6 am on a Monday morning and Naina was already waiting for him. The lovers did the aarti together and prayed to Lord Shiva for his blessings. Sameer gave his first share of his salary to the temple fund for free lunches for the poor and needy. With another part, he brought a beautiful studded imitation bracelet for Naina, which he himself locked across Nainaās wrist. He then took her hand and placed a kiss on it.
āYeh bracelet hamesha apne sath rakhna..main na sahi yeh har waqt tumhare pass rahega aur tumhe mere kareeb hone ka ehsaas dilaata rahegaā¦samajh lena ki main dil-o-jaan se mehnat kar raha hun ki jaldi se jaldi tumhe Naina Sameer Maheshwari bana sakun!ā
Nainaās eyes turned misty as she nodded. As they talked in the park across from the temple, Naina informed him about the response from the magazine, wherein sheād sent some of her essay excerpts two months back.
āKeh rahe theā¦thank youā¦humein content pasand aaya par filhaal hamein zarurat nahi hai! Aage koi zarurat hogi to hum aapko contact kar lenge! Sameer yeh 6 mahine mein teesra rejection haiā¦aise to kaun dega naukri mujhe graduation pe? Mujhe to lag raha hai yeh lekhika wagerah banne ka sapna chodun aur koi aur part-time job dekhun!ā
Sameer hushed her immediately. āShhhā¦.kisne kaha tumse ki tumhara sapna pura nahi hogaā¦Naina jo tumhari kahaniyon mein jaadu hai naā¦wo tum nahi dekh sakti lekin main dekh sakta hunā¦aur is rejection se haar maanene wali meri Naina to nahiā¦chahe hum sau baar haareinā¦ek sau ekvi baar to jeetengeā¦lekin agar hum pehle hi haar maan jayenge to us ek sau ekvi baar tak kaise pahunchenge? Nainaā¦main tumse hamesha kehta hun na⦠āSuccess has no short-cuts!ā To bas lagi rahoā¦har mat maano!ā
Naina seemed reassured by his words. She clasped his hands firmly. āAgle hafte se college khul jayengeā¦Chachaji ne tumari liye principal maāam se baat kar li hai ki attendance mein linient ho jayein!ā
āChachaji ko thanks bolna meri taraf seā¦lekin Naina is haalat mein mujhe nahi lagta main apni degree puri kar paaunga! Jab paise honge thode to fir se koshish karunga I promise!ā
āNahi Sameerā¦tum degree puri karogeā¦wo bhi mere saathā¦main saare notes bana ke laungi tumhare liyeā¦tumhe padhaungi jab jab tumhe time hogaā¦!ā
Sameer kissed her hand again and smiled, ātumhara wo hitler baap aane dega tumhe?ā
āHitler nahi hain woā¦aurā¦aur unhe kuch pata nahi chalega!ā
His clasp on her hand tightened. āPata chale bhi to chalne doā¦unhe bhi maalum hona chahiye ki tum sirf meri hoā¦aur chahe puri duniya bhi mujhse tumhe cheenana chahegi naā¦main hone nahi dunga!ā
āMujhe bharosa hai tum pe!ā Naina assured him and then added as she suddenly realized, āSameerā¦tumne pehli salary se khud ke liye to kuch liya hi nahi?ā
āMere pass tum ho, Munna Pandit jaise dost haiā¦tum sab Preeti, Swati, Arjunā¦iske aage main bhagwaan se kya hi maangu?ā Sameer told her.
With the last share of his salary, barring the half heād put up for future savings, Sameer had brought two keychains with āFriends Foreverā for Munna and Pandit. Though the gifts were relatively inexpensive, for that was the best that Sameer could afford, Munna and Pandit clung to them and wept along with their brother, encasing him in a tight hug.