Waiting.........
Waiting.........
I just love the twist and turns story is taking..
Your each chapter is keeping readers on toes.You are amazing story teller and writer. Love the way you are carving all supporting characters , be it Arvind Or Nupur.
I wonder how Naina is going to react to Nupur, Is she going to back out from her decision of telling Sameer Truth about Diya? Their are so many questions that are keeping me on edge with every update..
Try to Update soon dear!!
Hey dear Wendy!
Thank you so much! Your kind words mean a lot to me! I know I'm terrible with timelines and responding to all comments here, but I'll try to complete the story to the end I had in mind as best as I can!
You'll get to know about Naina's reaction very soon now...I'll update the next chapter in a while! :)
Thanks for the love dear!
Sur
Originally posted by: Prerana167099
Waiting.........
Will be updating in sometime dear! :)
Originally posted by: Anjali33
Surrrrrrrr, is Nupur ko hata deš” I kniw wo acchi h, typical shaadi material nhi h lekin jo bhi ho, hata de usko
Aur Sameer ko hadd go with the flow h yaar! Baat krta hi ja rha tha krta hi ja rha tha.. Koi ajnabee haseena ko dekh k kuch nhi hona chahiye usko, okay! Huhhh, aaya bada gaane sunne walaš¤
Itta gussa aa rha h mujhe as if mere hi boyfriend ka rishta ho rha ho
Can Sameer please know of Diya's parentage ASAP! I'm one hell of an impatient irritating reader, I know
Hehehe...meri hardcore Samaina fan! :D Tu tension na le behen...bharosa rakh mujhpe...:P
Hehe...use itna kuch nahi ho raha jitna Naina ko dekh ke hota hai so chill...ab bechara itne din udaasi me raha...thoda has lene de :)
Hawwww....itna pyaar story ko aur Sameer ko...dil lele yaar! :)
Haan dear...sab pata chalega...ek to main snail pace se update de rahi hun! Varna ab tak ho jaata....2-3 updates aur hopefully...
Love,
Sur
Dear Sur, I have started reading your story from the very first update...I still remember when u started the story and asked for our views... I loved it as it was a different kind of Samaina! I have loved all the updates...have blushed reading them, have laughed and also have cried. So many times during the phase when Sameer was broken and missing Naina, i had commented that Sameer has suffered a lot and now please bring them together. š
Aww Gugul! Yes, I remember dear...I was so apprehensive about putting this story on the forum for two reasons- I felt Sameer's character might not be liked by many and secondly, I'd to put in some 18+ content for the love child angle which I wasn't sure I would be able to handle. Trust me, had you guys not egged me on, this story might be biting the dust somewhere on my computer. So thank you for all the love and support dear!
I know I've put a load of misery on Sameer as well as Naina and I was humbled to see how deeply my readers connected with the characters!
Now the story is at a very interesting point. Arvind with another girl and we still don't know under what circumstances Naina got married to him and what relationship they share. Also we don't know what all Naina he to go through to keep her and Sameer's child alive and bring her to the world. So waiting for all the mysteries to unfold.
Thank you dear...yes, these are some chapters that need to be unveiled. Unfortunately, I know I'm not as regular as I once used to be- I can't place it- a hectic life on the personal or professional front, or perhaps losing connect with the show or the pressure to be able to live upto the expectations of my readers- probably a mix of all! Hehe...but I promise that I would complete the story as I'd promised to! <3
I will not lie, I was really sad reading the last update where you introduced Noopor...cant tolerate Sameer enjoying someone's company...it was always Naina and hope in future also it will be just Naina and no one else. It reminded me of the breakup phase and Sameer's proximity with Sunaina...uff..!! This shows what a superb writer you are and as a reader you have made me so much attached to the characters!! You are doing a fabulous job..
Awww...you know what! I hated that part of the breakup phase more than the breakup! Lol! Though I wanted to slap Naina for a coward and giving up on Sameer without even trying once, I could not sleep the night the episode with Sameer and Shoe getting together was aired! Perhaps that's where I lost connect- Sameer kind of used Shoe as a rebound and to get back at Naina, which wasn't right too- after all the lessons from the bet phase, this wasn't what I expected from him.
But I promise, Noopur is nothing like Shoe! And is here to bring the love birds closer together. :) I understand it saddened most of my readers, and trust me, I got really strong feedback from my closest friends here as well. I was so shaken as I understood the extent to which the readers felt the pain of my characters that I couldn't bring myself to write at all that weekend. All I can say is thank you for believing in me still! <3
Will be waiting for the next update and I am sure the story will surely advance... Please make them happy asap as the kids have suffered a lot and they need all the love and care in the world. They need each other and please bring them together āŗļø
They will be together dear! I'm not putting any suspense now. The story will have a happy ending. I've put a target in mind of 40 chapters to wrap up the story. Let's see how well I meet it! :)
Hey Gugul!
Thank you for such a beautiful review! I've read it umpteen times as I remember you were one of the first readers of my story! My response is in bold.
Love,
Sur
Originally posted by: Mayashika
Quite contrary to the response, I really liked Noopur, at least till whatever you have shown of her. I mean, what's not to like? She is smart, feisty and has a funny bone. Also not to forget, she is SORTED. (Please don't get disheartened by few comments, Di!)
Well Shreya! I love you! ā¤ļø Thank you so much! That's right, isn't it? I guess no one disliked Noopur as a character, but they disliked the fact that she was a proposal for Sameer and that Sameer was interested in her and were afraid he's falling in love with her. Blame me for my wrong choice of words and the song, but personally I like Noopur too! š
I am a hardcore SamAina shipper, don't get me wrong but I really felt good reading Sameer laughing and enjoying the company of a woman truly after so many years. He needed it and my heart just swelled with happiness. Maybe not as a wife but as a friend, I can see many reasons how her entry in his life will bring a refreshing change in Sameer. I don't know if this would be a surprise (even after having a beautiful flashback) but I loved the Noopur-Sameer part the best from the update. After many chapters of melancholy for Sameer, it really, really felt good seeing Sameer happy and not cursing his fate or thinking about Naina.
Righto! Isn't it? That's what I thought for Sameer here. He's been depressed for years and for umpteen chapters here. It was getting too much for me and I didn't want Sameer to appear desperate and weak. He should be the Sameer Naina fell in love with. Noopur actually made Sameer laugh and forget about his pain for once. It is possible that two people can be buddies without the romance angle.
So, true to the Title, this was a twist which was unexpected. Quite eager to know what twist will you bring along and how are the dynamics gonna change in the story. Also, the flashback was lovely. Really, really enjoyed reading the college SamAina after a long time! <3
Thank you so much Shreya! Reading your review pepped me up! Glad you liked the update so much! š¤ā¤ļø
Take care, Sur Di! š¤
Love, Shreya
Hey Shreya!
Thank you for the fabulous review! My response in bold.
Love,
Sur di
Hey friends! I'm back with another update!
This is my farewell to our beloved show which brought us all here. I got a chance to relive the golden era of the 90s, smile at how innocent and pure friendships and love used to be. I lost myself in Sameer and Naina and laughed and cried with them. To add to it, so overcome I was with emotion, that one day I picked up the pen and wrote down what I wanted to see during the Mt. Abu trip. Never before I'd joined a forum, nor had been addicted to a TV serial since more than a decade, but IndiaForums caught my sight and pondering for a day or two, I posted my first story here. Overtime, you all encouraged me and that's what kept me going. This new found hobby is all due to my readers here.
I just wanted to thank you all for your love and support to me!
Last but not the least, I formed a deep friendship with some friends I found here on this forum and am grateful to God for bringing such lovely, strong and intelligent women into my life!
I wanted to give you all a separate romantic update on Samaina today as an ode to our show, but somehow inspiration is not at its peak these days. Any ideas or suggestions would be welcomed! :)
And finally, here is the update (just read it lightly and don't worry much about Samaina's future š³ )...
@Anjali...title tere comment se mila :P
Part 34: To Go with the Flow
A day later, the telephone rang and the servant beckoned to Sameer. āKiska phone hai Chintu?ā
āJi koi Noopur memsaab hain!ā he replied as he handed the phone to him.
Sameer held the phone ensconsced between his ear and shoulder, as he struggled to secure his cufflinks. āHello?ā
āHi Sameerā¦!ā
āHaan Noopur bolo naā¦sab theek? Mujhe reject karne ke liye phone kar rahi ho?ā he chuckled. His family had been going gaga over the anticipated response from the girlās side, which Sameer obviously knew would be a No.
āPata nahi abhi! Acha farz karo shaadi ka soch rahe hainā¦toh ek baat bataoā¦wo tumhari girlfriendā¦us ladki ki sach mein shaadi ho gayi hai?ā she asked.
āObviouslyā¦varna kya tumko dekhne aata?ā Sameer rolled his eyes.
āAur aage chalkeā¦bhagwan na kareā¦uska divorce ho gaya toh..?ā she queried.
āKaash! Meri shaadi se pehle ho gaya to main use propose kar dunga. Lekin meri shaadi ke baad hua to firse involve nahi houngaā¦haan agar mera bhi divorce hua to baat alag haiā¦,ā he answered, amused at her questions.
āMaine shaadi ki to divorce nahi dungiā¦pehle hi bol rahi hun!ā
āGood! Mere background se tumhe to pata hi hoga ki mujhe divorces se kitni chidh hai!ā
āAur non-veg? Non-veg mera favorite haiā¦hamare ghar pe chalta hai!ā
āBahar chalke khila dunga jab man kare tumhara!ā
āAur mujhe khana banana nahi aata!ā
āChintu hai, Sadashiv hai ghar pe uske liye!ā
āAur mera business?ā
āWo to maine kaha hi main okay hun!ā
āTumhari family- wo okay honge mere is kaam aur lifestyle ko leke?ā
āNahi maane to mana lungaā¦life meri hai, biwi meri hogi- mujhe issue nahi to unhe bhi nahi hone chahiye!ā
āAur mujhe bacche chahiyeā¦!ā
āHmmā¦theek haiā¦koshish karenge!ā
āMain apni firm jaldi se jaldi set up karne ki koshish karungi, toh 3-5 saal se kaam chalega?ā
āChalegaā¦,ā Sameer smiled.
āAur main abhi bhi tumhe sundar aur intelligent nahi lagti?ā
āMere level ki to nahiā¦but kaam chala lunga!ā
āMain tumse zyada sundar hunā¦aur tez bhi!ā Noopur declared.
āAcha baba hoā¦toh?ā
āToh meri haan haiā¦!ā Noopur muttered shyly.
āKya?ā The receiver dropped from his hold in shock. He hastily bent down to pick it up.
āTumhari haan hai?ā he croaked in disbelief.
āHaan!ā she answered.
āWo sab jaanene ke baadā¦ki main tumse shayad kabhi pyaar nahi kar paaunga?ā he reiterated, wondering if she forgot that particular part of their conversation at Coffee House yesterday.
āHaanā¦rahi baat tumhari toh umeed pe duniya kayam haiā¦papa kehte hain waqt ke saath sab badal jaata haiā¦tumhari haan naa jo bhi hai wo bata denaā¦us hisab se papa tumhare ghar pe shaadi ki baat kar sakte hain!ā With this, the line went dead and Sameer looked at the phone in bewilderment.
She said āyesā? He sat down on the sofa, thinking.
Perhaps it was for the best.
āMummy?ā he peeped into her room an hour later, when heād regained his senses.
āSameerā¦haan boloā¦?ā
āMummyā¦wo Noopur mujhe pasand haiā¦uski taraf se bhi haan haiā¦aap families ek baar mil lijiye aur baat pakki kar lijiyeā¦,ā he let out a feeble smile.
Vishakha turned ebullient with glee. She started calling out to her husband and her daughter, Deepika. āSameer ne haan kar diā¦!ā Within minutes, the family started planning his marriage along with Rohanās in December. Rohan was also telephoned and he was ecstatic and congratulated Sameer heartily.
Soon, Sameer was engulfed in a series of hugs and wishes. But as he retreated back to his room, he couldnāt help but feel dismayed, even dejected that the girl heād agreed to finally marry was not Naina. He picked up the phone in his room, thinking of informing Naina about his wedding. But then couldnāt bear to relay the news to her and scrapped the idea. āIse Arvind se phursat mile tab na!ā Add to it, with all the preparations and the family hovering around him, the chances of being overheard were high.
Two days later, Sameer and Noopur had a small traditional roka ceremony, where they were officially engaged to wed. The priests of both families set about finding an auspicious wedding date- which was as soon as possible, for both the families were worried that one of these children will have a change of mind very soon and back out of the marriage.
The morning when he went to his office after a break of nearly a week, Rita had loads of messages and pending appointments for him to consider.
āSir aap itne din chutti pe achanak seā¦tabyat theek hai na aapki?ā Rita exclaimed.
Sameer smiled, and decided that he needed to break the news to his employees as well. And then slowly, he let in her on the news of his Roka ceremony. He ordered sweets to be distributed to the entire staff on his behalf. Ritaās face lost some colour but she regained her composure and congratulated him and then briskly, started briefing him on the impending deadlines and appointments and the messages heād missed.
āRita?ā Sameer interjected.
Rita looked up in attention. āYes sir?ā
āWo Reena madam aayi thi beech mein?ā
āSir unhone do teen baar call kiya aapke liyeā¦fir unhone kaha ki aapne bola tha to ek baar aayi thi parsoā¦Arjit sir se mili thiā¦!ā
Sameer nodded, āokay!ā Then deciding something, added, āRita, please mujhe 10-15 minute doā¦main pehle yeh files dekh lunā¦fir purana kaam start karte hain?ā
Rita nodded and retreated, thankful that she could now fully acknowledge her disappointment. No matter how despicable a boss Sameer was, she still felt a pang of hurt that he was taken.
As soon as she was out of sight, Sameer shifted the already completed file away and picked up the receiver, intending to call Naina and then ended up staring at it. He would need to inform her eventually! Never had he thought heād be sharing the news of his marriage with Naina.
Sameer knew heād been quite rude to her that evening at her home and he would need to check with Arjit on the status of her book as well. Well first things first. Heād apologize to her and ask her to come over as he wanted to talk about something important with her. Then not finding in him the courage to place the phone call himself, he buzzed Rita to set up an appointment with her on his behalf.
As the telephone rang, Naina hastily picked up, hoping it was Sameer. Ritaās voice caused her slight dismay, but when she informed her that Sameer had requested an appointment with her, her heart was relieved. Till now, Naina had been oblivious to the happenings in Sameerās life and had spent the time apart from him contemplating his behavior on the evening of his visit.
After Sameer had left in a sullen mood, that night while switching off the lights in the drawing room and securing the doors, sheād found that one of the photoframes had fallen face down. That had been weird for sheād dusted the entire living room that very morning and had cleaned and placed all the showpieces at their places.
Sameer had been in a jovial mood when heād come in. What had happened while sheād been busy preparing coffee? Heād been strolling about, inspecting the living room. Had he seen this picture? Could heā¦could he haveā¦? No, no! That was of course quite impossible. Why would he?
Heād been still cheerful when she handed over the coffee mug to him. What had happened at that time? What was it that sheād said that he found so inappropriate? She was only telling him about the cake and how it was Arvindās birthdayā¦
And then suddenly her eyes darted back to the photoframe. She stared at the picture, at her bedecked laughing self, standing next to Arvind.
Did he thinkā¦? Could he have beenā¦jealous? He did not know the truth behind Arvind. Ohh Lord, that seemed too good to be true.
And since then, her heart had been debating with her mind on the possible scenarios that had played out that evening and had led to a sudden abrupt change in his mood. If he was really jealous, he was probably in love with her and if so, she must reveal the truth to him as soon as possible. She didnāt want to take any more chances. Sheād had enough of this lying game now. And if he wasnāt jealous?...Well, she would still take the chance. He had a biological right upon his daughter and she would let him propose a way out.
Sheād tried to get in touch with him that entire week, but was told by Rita that he was out on some work, the details of which even she did not know. Impatiently sheād waited. Meanwhile sheād kept her word and discussed with the other editor in Sameerās team, Arjit. Heād given her a lot of good suggestions, but her mind had been on Sameer half the time. Why hasnāt he called and said sorry?
One could imagine that the sudden phone call with a message from Sameer requesting a meeting with her seemed like the olive branch sheād been hoping for. Her spirits high, sheād immediately agreed to a meeting that very day during lunch and had then spent the entire morning reigning in her beating heart, and rehearsing what she wanted to say to him. She picked out the yellow chikankari churidaar for their ādateā, for she knew that yellow suited her. And more so, she wanted him to remember the memories of that rainy night in his car. If heād really intended to kiss her that night as well? The thoughts made Naina blush and her insides squirmed with delight. Ifā¦if all goes well, sheāll speak to Arvind and tell him the truth.
***
Naina hurried down the hallway of the office and greeted Rita, Sameerās secretary happily.
The secretary, however seemed less bubbly than usual today.
āHello maāam!ā she greeted in a subdued fashion. āAbhi to bas 12.15 hi baje hainā¦aapki appointment to 1 baje hai na?ā
āHaanā¦wo mera kaam thoda jaldi hi finish ho gaya to main aa gayiā¦Iāll wait- not a problem!ā Naina chirped.
āSir meeting mein hai, par shayad 10-15 minute mein free ho jayenge. Aap tab tak intezaar kijiye. Main chai coffee kuch mangwa dunā¦?ā she politely asked, her voice still dull.
āNahiā¦main theek hunā¦,ā Naina responded and settled down on the rexine sofa set in the lobby. A few minutes later, a peon waded in with a box of sweets- malai burfi perhaps, and offered it to Rita, āmadam aapne mithai khayi ke nahi?ā he asked jovially.
āOffice mein koi kaam nahi tum logon koā¦das baar ek hi cheez ki mithai khila rahe ho!ā she snapped irritably. The peon retreated, shocked by her anger, and Naina looked up at her in surpise- at the sudden change in her demeanour. The peon muttered an apology to the secretary whoād already gone back to her work. He looked around and spotted Naina sitting in the lobby.
āMadam sahibaā¦yeh lijiyeā¦aapne khaayi mithai?ā he offered the sweets to her.
Naina smiled and took a piece, āthank youā¦kis khushi mein hai?ā she enquired.
āArey Sameer sahab ka roka ho gaya hai naā¦!ā the peon beamed.
Her smile vanished in an instant. The colour faded from her cheeks. The merriment in the surroundings were suddenly replaced by a lugubrious lament.
āRā¦roka?ā she couldnāt help asking as the sweet lay fixed between her fingers.
āHaan madamā¦kitni khushi ki baat hai naā¦sahab sabko office mein mithai baant rahe hainā¦arey humein to laga hi nahi tha ki wo kabhi shaadi karengeā¦par bhagwan ka laakh shukar haiā¦shaadi December mein haiā¦madam bahot achi hain suna haiā¦bahot ache ghar se hainā¦.,ā he continued, but the words were lost upon Naina. She felt herself sucked into gloom yet again. He was getting married? Married? To someone else? He was okay to marry someone else, but not her? So he was in love with someone! Sheād been foolish to think that he was jealousā¦that he had feelings for her! Idiot Naina!
āOhh Ravinderā¦tumhara pravachan ho gaya? Isse pehle tum shaadi ke mantar padhna shuru karoā¦jao jaake ye file Sir ko de aao!ā Rita snapped.
Ravinder, the peon grimaced at Rita. He walked over and roughly took the file from the desk and made way for Sameerās cabin. As the door opened, a piece of laughter escaped from the room. Sameerās laughter! He was happy! And this brought Naina back into the present. She eyed the piece of sweet in her hand, suddenly feeling nauseated by it. She got up from the sofa and told Rita sheād remembered some urgent work and would come back later.
Once outside in fresh air, she immediately flung the expensive sweet into the dustbin in disgust. She rubbed her palm and fingers together to get rid of the sweet stickly syrup, wiping furiously with her handkerchief when it didnāt help.
āShaadi kar raha hai! Kya samajhta hai wo ladkiyon ko? Iski biwi ko pata bhi hai yeh kitna kameena aadmi hai..meri to zindagi barbaad kar diā¦aur ab khushiyaan mana raha haiā¦tujhe bhi isi se pyaar karna tha Naina?ā She tried to hold back the tears that threatened to spill out from her eyes. She couldnāt cry here- in public.
Naina took several deep breaths to calm herself and just as she boarded an auto outside, Sameer appeared out of his cabin into the lobby, to see off his clients. He was happy that heād been able to sign the deal for translations of some popular Marathi and Gujarati novels.
āAb kaunsi appointment hai meri?ā Sameer asked Rita, who he noticed seemed a bit too professional since he met her in the morning.
āSir, wo Reena madam thodi jaldi aa gayi thi- boli kaam jaldi ho gaya unkaā¦phir 10 minute baad boli ki unhe kuch aur urgent kaam yaad aa gaya to wo chali gayiā¦shayad reschedule karna padegaā¦uske baad yeh Mr. Sanghi ke contract ke baare mein dekhna haiā¦3.30 bajeā¦ā.
Sameer did not listen further. Naina had come there and heād missed her? Heād been thinking on how to apprise her of his impending marriage and had decided to explain everything- right from his behavior that evening at her home, to respecting her feelings and boundaries. He might even tell her frankly that heād been in love with her- still was. But on the other hand, her acceptance or rejection of his love made no sense whatsoever. Naina belonged to some other man and he too had bequeathed himself to some other woman. All Sameer wanted was to lay everything out in the open, his reasons for marrying Noopur and promising to Naina that she would not have any problems with him in future. He would solely stick to having professional relations with her.
āā¦aur haan sirā¦Noopur madam ne aadhe ghante pehle phone kiya tha jab aap meeting me theā¦wo puchna chah rahi thi ki aap aaj lunch ke liye available ho?ā Rita asked, trying to keep her face devoid of emotion.
āHaanā¦aaj? Reena ji ka pakka cancel hai naā¦hmmā¦Noopur ke sath hmmmā¦Uhhā¦nahiā¦wo inke contracts ke baare mein dekhna haiā¦aaj busy hunā¦main unse khud baat kar lunga!ā
Half an hour later, Naina reached her home and fell onto her bed. Big blots of tears tumbled out from her eyes as she rocked in agony. Why was her destiny doomed? Why couldnāt she have the love of the man she loved? What wrong had she committed to be subjected to such misfortune? She scrunched the corners of her bedsheets in her hands, and pushed her face into the pillows to muffle her howling. Her eyes swollen and aching with all the weeping couldnāt sustain anymore. Very soon, a blanket of sleep fell over her, giving her but a brief respite from her heartache.
***
āMummaā¦.yeh Sweety ko saree pehenao naā¦merese nahi ho rahaā¦aaj uski shaadi hai!ā Diya chimed and held out the Barbie that Sameer uncle had gifted her. Diya had fixed her Barbieās wedding with one of her older dolls and was busy in preparing the food items with colored clay, to be served in utensils of her tiny Kitchen set, the attires for the bride and groom, the tent with a bedsheet sheād sneaked in from the cupboard.
Nainaās chain of thoughts was broken and she eyed Diya, and for the first time that evening realized what she was upto. āGudde-guddi ka khel!ā she smiled sadly.
Diya stood up and hurried towards her mother and thrust her doll as well as the makeshift saree, torn out of a piece of Nainaās old dupatta at her.
Naina took the doll unfeelingly and then slowly wrapped layer upon layer of fabric around the Barbie- Sameerās first and perhaps last gift to his daughter. Diya was looking at her in awe, as her fingers weaved through the fabric, securing it in place.
If only she too had a chance to get ready to be Sameerās bride- but that place was taken by someone else. Did she know her? Had he always been involved with her or had he met her in Delhi? Was it a love marriage or an arranged one? An arranged one it seemed, as the peon had told her how unlikely it was that their boss had agreed to marry. The Sameer she knew, had always feared commitment, then what had changed now? Had he fallen for this girl?
Her reverie was broken by Diyaās squeal of delight and Naina realized the doll was ready for the pseudo wedding planned by Diya. Her daughter eyed the doll and the perfect drape of the saree approvingly.
āMummyā¦Sweety ki jab beti hogi naā¦to uska ka naam bhi main Diya rakhungi!ā Diya exclaimed happily.
Naina was overwhelmed. Pushing away the tears in her eyes, she pulled Diya onto her lap and held her close, wrapping her arms tightly around her. She was the only thing which made Naina look forward to life. She held her little fingers and caressed them and prayed to God for a miracle- for Diya to get her fatherās love.
***
Two days later, Naina received another call from Rita. āMadamā¦sir ne aapko phone karne ke liye pucha hai ki wo manuscript ka kaam finish karna hai to aap kab free hongi?ā
Naina had forgotten about the book in her misery. That has to completed. Naina apologized to Rita about leaving in a rush that day and assured her that she would be there for the appointment today.
Two hours later, Naina was ushered into his cabin by Rita and Sameer walked up to greet her with a smile. āHiā¦finally tum mili to sahiā¦baitho!ā
His smile wasnāt reciprocated as Naina sat down onto the sofa in his cabin and started taking out bunches of paper of the editing that sheād been doing. Sameer felt a little disconcerted. āAb tak naraaz hai us din ki harkat se..,ā he thought.
He cleared his throat. āKaisi ho Naina? Aur Diya kaisi hai? Aā¦Arvind...,ā he managed to utter the word with difficulty, ākaise hain?ā
āTheek hai!ā came the crisp response. She did not lift her eyes to him.
āUs din bina bataye chali gayiā¦main intezaar kar raha tha!ā
āKaam aa gaya tha kuch.ā
āHmmm!ā
An uncomfortable silence ensued.
āChai coffee kya logiā¦?ā Sameer asked, helplessly trying to lighten the mood.
āNo thank youā¦ghar se peeke aayi hunā¦ab please kaam pe focus kareinā¦mujhe yeh jaldi nipta ke khatam karna haiā¦!ā Naina responded brusquely and suddenly her eyes bored into his as if challenging him to say otherwise.
āVaise main Arjit ji se discuss karun ya aapse yeh bhi clarify kar doā¦kabhi kuch bolte ho kabhi kuchā¦yeh notes Arjit ji ne diye the chapter 24 aur 25 peā¦kaafi badhiya suggestions diye hain unhone,ā she pronounced, handing him the sheath of papers.
Sameer winced slightly on Arjitās praise and mumbled weakly, āArjit dusre aur authors ke saath busy haiā¦main hi dekh lunga!ā
Then without another word, he began screening through her work. Rita peeped in once or twice about a meeting or two, but Sameer asked her to postpone his appointments as he wished to finish off the discussion on this manuscript first.
As the clock ticked by, Sameer and Naina absorbed themselves in work. Sameer stole furtive glances at her in between. She seemed really angry. Even after all these years, Sameer was still afraid of her anger.
Naina, in turn, took her chance to glower at Sameer as well, to study him when he was not noticing, but turned away the moment he looked at her. Finally around lunchtime, Sameer asked Naina what she would like for lunch, and she curtly refused saying she wasnāt hungry and would wait till he was back from lunch.
āYaar itne kharab mood me rahegi to kaise bataunga ise!ā Sameer thought dejectedly.
Not in a mood to go out and leave her alone, Sameer ordered a few sandwiches, hoping that Naina may take a bite. But to no avail. Finally, unable to take it anymore, he voiced, āNainaā¦tum khaogi nahi to weak ho jaogiā¦dekho manta hun tumhe mujhpe gussa haiā¦ā
āMujhe koi gussa vussa nahi hai aur na hi tumhe meri fikar karne ki zarurat haiā¦main yahan sirf apne kaam ke liye aayi hunā¦aur behtar yeh hoga ki tum bhi kaam pe focus karo!ā she shouted.
This did it for Sameer. His temper raced back. He slammed the pile of manuscripts onto the table. āTum samjhati kya ho khud koā¦tum ehsaan kar rahi ho mujhpe apni kitaab chapwa kar?ā
Naina stood seated, fuming herself.
āItne time se hum ek dusre ko jaante hainā¦dost hainā¦yeh sab kya hai?ā
āDost hain hum? Jab tumhara man kare jhaad ke chale jaoā¦.jab man kare pyaar se pesh aaoā¦aise hote hain dost?ā
Sameer bit his tongue to prevent a retort. He knew this time the fault lied with him. Quietly he got up and opened his drawer. He extracted a small gift-wrapped rectangular box and handed it to Naina.
He inhaled deeply and began, āYeh loā¦Iām sorry, maine us din kaafi kharab se behave kiya tha!ā
āYeh kya hai?ā
āArvind ke liye birthday gift hai meri taraf seā¦Parker pen haiā¦Rohan London se laaya tha last time aaya tha!ā
āToh tum rakho!ā Naina snapped and handed over the box to him.
āDekho Nainaā¦agar tum aise mood mein rahogi to hamara saath me kaam karna impossible haiā¦waqt ki barbaadi hai! Gift nahi lena theek haiā¦but please cooperateā¦abse tumhe mujhse koi problem nahi hogi!ā
Naina scowled. āProblem kaise hogiā¦koi dusri jo hai tumhare pass,ā she mused. āOkay!ā she said coldly, declaring peace for time being but making sure he knew he wasnāt forgiven.
Sameer understood. āAb please yeh kha loā¦main aur mangwa deta hunā¦!ā
Naina obeyed and took the sandwich, reminding herself that she shouldnāt land in a temper. Sameer does not, should not mean anything to her now. What mattered to her was the money she could hopefully gather from the publication of this book, which could put an end to her financial woes and pay back all that Sameer invested on Diya with due interest.
Sameerās phone rang a few minutes later. He got up from the sofa to pick it up, while Naina continued to rewrite the paragraphs that Sameer had suggested her to work upon.
āHi handsome!ā Noopurās lively voice chirped.
āTum?ā Sameer knew heād shouted, because Naina looked up at him questioningly. He tried to focus between Naina and his fiancĆ©, wondering how to talk to her in front of Naina.
āHaan main! Aur kaun- tumhari purani girlfriend?ā she chuckled.
Sameer swallowed audibly. He was suddenly feeling guilty of not having told Noopur that he was working with Naina today, or the fact that he was working with her at all, and then of not having informed Naina about Noopur and his impending marriage in the way heād set about to.
āNahiā¦kaisi ho?ā Sameer croaked.
āTum itne busy ho ki hone wali biwi ko time hi nahi deteā¦teen din se lunch ke liye piche hunā¦aaj bhi bhul gaye? Hmmm, acha haiā¦achi jamegi apniā¦,ā she giggled and Sameer couldnāt help with grin himself. Her laughter was contagious.
āSorry wo kaam mein phas gaya tha to time ka dhyaan nahi raha! Sunday ko milte hain?ā he mumbled into the phone.
Nainaās eyes widened with horror. She was appalled at the way Sameer was blushing and talking over the phone. No, he wasnāt blushing. He was! Nope! Yesā¦maybe she didnāt know. Her sense of judgement, her sub-conscious which strived for peace and wanted to get the work done as fast as possible, vanished all of a sudden. Naina tried hard to tame her seething anger. How could it be that she was still so possessive for this man? That too, after what heād done to her! And why in the world does he have to talk so much to her? It is almost a minute and heās still on the phone.
āHaan pakkaā¦kal shaam ko milenge na shopping ka dekhne ke liye...sureā¦!ā Sameer spoke, his eyes on Naina, who seemed to be busy in writing. Did she not feel jealous? Why would she Sameer? Sheās happily married remember? Dejectly, he replaced the receiver and headed back to where Naina was sitting.
She ignored him completely as she continued to write. āNaina, yeh line thodi galat haiā¦iski grammar dekhoā¦,ā his voice trailed as he saw the murderous look in her eyes, as she snatched the paper and began thinking and scribbling onto it.
He knew it wasnāt wise to bring up the topic of his wedding right now, but it had to be done. āNainaā¦wo actuallyā¦ā.
She glanced up at him coldly, waiting for him to begin.
āUmm,ā he cleared his throat. āActuallyā¦ek good news haiā¦Iāmā¦Iām getting married.ā
His words lashed at her and Naina listened dumbfounded. It was as if sheād been expecting the news to be false, a misconception, but hearing Sameer talk about it himself made all her doubts wash away.
āā¦ladki ka naam Noopur haiā¦mom ke kitty ke friend thi unki beti haiā¦parso roka thaā¦,ā
The words were lost upon her.
āNaina? Tum kuch bol kyun nahi rahi?ā Sameer asked hesitantly. āKya tum mere liye khush nahi ho?ā
Naina turned towards him. The look in her eyes was distant as she enquired expectantly, ātum khush ho?ā
Sameer peered into her eyes and slowly nodded, āI think so!ā
She pulled herself together and put on a smiling front, ābas fir main bhi khush hunā¦congratulations!ā She held her hand out for him to shake.
His eyes boring into hers, his hand laced against her soft fingers. And momentarily, again, he felt a warmth unsurpassed, an affection he wanted for himself, love he still craved, and his heart sighed. He wanted to pull her to himself right then, and to beg her to accept him, by some chance.
His touch made her yearn for him. She wanted to scream out to him to break off that engagement, that Diya was his child- to please give them both a chance in his life. Sheāll forget everything- the past. But now, she needed him.
But neither said a word, and solemnly broke the handshake.
***
āSameer?ā
āHmmm?ā he said, amidst a mouthful of popcorn.
āEk baat puchun?ā
āPucho!ā
āTumhare sach mein itni saree ladkiyon ke sath affair the ki tum fenk rahe the?ā
Sameer averted his eyes from the theatre screen where Shahrukh was romancing with Aishwarya Rai on āHumko hamein se chura loā¦dil me kahin tum basa loā¦,ā and stared at her. āTumko kya hua achanak se?ā
āYahi ki tumko kuch nahi hua!ā she muttered petulantly.
āMain kuch samjha nahi Noopur,ā Sameer appeared nonplussed.
āYaar Sameerā¦itna romantic gaana chal raha haiā¦hum itni dates pe gaye hainā¦lekin tum to mera haath tak nahi pakadte!ā
The popcorn got lodged in his throat and Sameer violently coughed. āUhhā¦hmmmā¦wo sab to shaadi ke baad hota hai na!ā
āKaunse zamane mein ho tum? 1960? Sameerā¦2000 chal raha haiā¦main to kiss expect kar rahi thiā¦tumhari to hath pakadne me hi halat dheeli hai! Ram jaane aage kya hoga!ā
Sameer grinned and whispered. āItni betaab ho rahi ho?ā
Noopur blushed instantly and fixed her eyes on the movie screen.
āHmmmā¦!ā With that, Sameer slithered his hand around to hers and clasped her fingers in his. Noopur looked at him in surprise and then flushed again. Clearly, his touch was sending tingles down her spine. But what bothered Sameer was that he couldnāt feel them. Even an accidental grazing against Nainaās hand could turn him on, but his being was not reacting the same way towards Noopur. Irked, he pulled her closer by her hand and planted a gentle kiss onto her cheeks.
āSameerā¦koi dekh lega..,ā Noopur whispered, though clearly enjoying his proximity.
He hardly heard her. Still nothing special. No sparks! He remembered how Naina had felt under his very lips. He shook his head to rid of the imagery in his mind, and tried to adjust his fingers with hers to get a comfortable hold. But somehow Noopurās hand felt too alien to him, and just when he thought heād gotten her fingers to fit perfectly in his, his palms started feeling clammy and sweaty despite the airconditioning.
Finally on the pretext of scooping out popcorn, Sameer freed his hand from the awkward hold and determinedly focused on the screen on Shahrukhās lessons on love. When Noopur looked at him in surprise, he smiled and whispered an excuse, āshaadi mein abhi bahot time haiā¦thodi dooriyan bhi zaruri hain!ā
Though Sameer and Noopur had started hanging out more with each other and thoroughly enjoyed the conversation and the company of the other, the fact remained that even after so many meetings, Sameer never felt a pang of attraction for her, the way he felt for Naina, and this made him uncomfortable. To say he never felt drawn towards Noopur would be wrong. But the way his heart blazed in fiery passion with Naina, was merely stoking some embers with Noopur. Handholds with her were platonic at best. He pulled her into embraces, but that failed to stir up the passion in him as well. It was probable that he was always comparing Noopur to Naina, so he tried to assuage himself by thinking that such feelings were but natural. Heād known Naina for a very long time. He couldnāt just replicate that bond with someone else in a matter of weeks. Noopur was a fantastic person, she could make him laugh during his gloomiest days and was basically a soul with a golden heart. Sameer loved all this about her, but deep down, he knew he wasnāt in love with her. Not as yet perhaps. It was good that she didnāt expect more than what heād promised her. She wasnāt pinning her hopes on him falling for her. Or was she? Or maybe she would in future. Would he be able to love her then? Well, not every marriage comes with that romance, that level of intimacy. And maybe when they get married, with time, he would come around to it.
I really need to breath! Hyper nahi hounga... Samaina hi honge!!! Shaant Suparna, shaant. I trust youš¤!
Noopur may be a fantastic person... but Sameer will be Naina's, always foreverā¤ļø! Koi to pehle batao apne dil ki baat.... oh god! In dono ka kya karoon.... dono apni jagah sahi hai... lekin sahi bhi nahi haiš.
Shaadi to hogi nahi... so I rejected that bacche chahiye dialogue, but handhold, cheek kiss, hugsš„ŗ!! Sameer ke liye koi attraction ya phir passion nahi ho raha, lekin mai yaha jal ke rakh ho gayi.... off noopur!
Agar Naina aaj thodi impulsive ho jaati, to shayad baat ban jaati! That conversation of Sameer and noopur.... wo bhi naina ke saamne, mujhe pata nahi mai kaise react karoon... it's tooo complicated, Diš!!!
Naina samajh gayi thi ki Sameer us din jealous tha, ye bhi samjhi ki ye shaadi arranged hai... phir bhi kuch nahi bolišš„ŗ. Ye Arvind ka to kuch alag locha hai.... ye bhi to kisike saath relation mein hai... wo ladki hai kaun?
Monologue of Naina when she draped saree on barbie doll... sachi mein rona aa gaya, piece of brillianceš!!! Every emotions feltš, kudos to you!!!
Roka to ho gayi, sameer noopur ki movie date, lunch, brunch wagerah... aur kya kya ho gayaš„ŗ!!! Sameer ko kab pata chalega, uski khud ki beti hai... wo hai Diya...!! I am just waiting for that moment, desperatelyā¤ļø!!
Ho sake to please jaldi de diyo next update!! Ab intezaar karna bahooot mushkil hai... will be waiting desperatelyš¤!!
I am glad ki I decided to see YUDKBH after KRPKAB. And then joined IF, lekin wo to bahoot baad mein, pehle se hi nai ye story padti hu, jab mai member bhi nahi thi.... then I was bhatakti aatma hereš¤£! Hopefully, aise hi Samaina related story aur bhi padne mile... aur Samaina aur Ashdeep to humesha dil mein rahenge hiā¤ļøš¤!! Hopefully season 2 jaldi aa jaaye....! IF mein bahot didis mile, dost aur behans bhi....š¤!! Expectedly Unexpected is one of the most favourite story of me hereā„.
Ab to bas next update ka intezaar hai....š¤.
Happy Rakshabandhan and Independence Day!!ā¤ļøš¤
With love,Suparna
Nothing is to be clear in my mind . Why naina and diya suffering too much of pain . Atleast sameer have a right to know about that diya is his daughter. Please reveal the truth in front of sameer. They all are playing with their self ego. No one think about diya. Waiting for next update egerly and impatiently.
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