Samaina SS : "Suhana Safar" (*Updated*; Epilogue on Page 85) - Page 46

Amidst the huge crowd which adorned the graduating ceremony of the IIM campus, Naina's eyes searched for Sameer. Disappointed at not spotting him anywhere, her face fell. His absence at the most happiest moment of her life, turned her mood bitter. After all, it wasn't an everyday affair for a girl to be awarded a gold medal for her academic performance in the best management school of India.  "How dare he didn't bother coming here? Baat hi nahi karungi, tabhi akal thikane aayegi", Naina thought to herself. As she walked towards the stage, amidst the cheers of her classmates, to accept her award,  she caught a glimpse of her chacha chachi and Preeti and a tear escaped her left eye. Nothing could have been possible without them. It was their unwavering faith in her capabilities that had made her reach this far. She certainly had the best family in the world.

When the ceremony was declared closed, all the students hurried up to their respective parents. Their happy faces were a testimony to their hard work of the last two years. Naina approached her family, excitedly, to show them her medal. "Mai na kehta tha Bela ki hamari Naina best hai. Aaj isne hamara naam kaise uncha kar diya. Sab hume yaha par Naina ke naam se jaante hain, Chachaji hugged her, unable to control his tears.

"Uff o papa, ab aaj to itne emotional mat ho. Aaj to khush rehne ka din hai. , Preeti spoke.

"Beta, kabhi kabhi ye khushi ke din tu bhi hame de diya kar", Bela hit her arm.

"Mummy, itni khushi na aap sambhal nahi paaoge. Umar thodi jyada ho gayi hai na. Mai to aapka hi bhala sochti hun", Preeti replied and hid behind her father before Bela could  say anything.

"Vaise Naina hamare paas tere liye ek surprise hai, dekhna chahegi?" Preeti asked

"Sameer aya hai. Mujhe pata tha vo aya hai aur kahin chip ke baitha hai", Naina replied and bit her tongue as soon as she realized the presence of her chacha chachi. "Vo mai ye bol ri thi ki kya surprise hai. Dikha na", Naina tried to cover up knowing very well that she was going to fail miserably. 

"Are behan, tu chal to sahi", Preeti dragged her away leaving her parents laughing at Naina's goof up.

"Nayiii car!", Naina squealed. "Ye kab li. Aur mujhe pata bhi nahi chala."

"Topper ji, isi ko to surprise kehte hain na," Preeti teased her. "Book to papa ne parso hi kara li thi lekin le ke hum aaj hi aye.

"Haye Preeti, hamari apni car. Kitni acchi hai na", Naina looked at the car admiringly.

"Naina, tu na ab thoda bada soch. Tu IIM ki topper hai. Ab tu kisi badi company me kaam karegi. Ho sakta hai tu koi badi company khol le. To ye car var to tere liye aam baat hogi." Preeti said dreamily.

"Aap dono ke hawai kile agar ban kar taiyar ho gaye ho to ghar ki taraf chalen?" Anand asked interrupting Preeti's daydreaming session.

"Chachaji, car bohat acchi hai", Naina said happily.

"Meri betiyo ke chehro pe aayi is muskan se jyada acchi nahi", Anand patted their cheeks and they both hugged him.

As they all settled in the car, Preeti nudged Naina "Kya hua behna, itna pareshan kyu dikh rahi hai? Tu khush nahi hai ki tune top kiya hai?"

"Preeti ki bacchi, tu na sab jaanti hai. To tu agar abhi chup rahegi na to tere liye jyada accha hoga", Naina replied getting annoyed.

"Tu na sade hue mood me hi raha kar hamesha. Pata nahi jeejaji tujhe jhelte kaise hain", Preeti stuck her tongue out  at her and looked outside the window.

"Jeejaji ki chamchi, Ye nahi dikhta ki vo gayab hai aaj. Bas jab dekho meri burai karegi", Naina murmured.

"Hum yaha kyu aaye hain chachaji?" Naina asked, bewildered when their car stopped in front of Sameer's house. As she was busy cursing Sameer throughout the journey, she hadn't even noticed when Anand took the route to Sameer's home.

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"Andar chalte hain fir sab pata chal jaega", Bela replied gesturing Naina to alight from the car.

"Congratulations", everyone shouted in union as Naina entered the drawing room. It took few seconds for her to realize what was happening. The entire room was decorated with flowers and balloons. In the middle, stood Nanaji, Munna, Pandit, Ramdhari , Sameer and and her best friend Swati, with their faces beaming with pride and happiness.

"Kyu bhabhi? Chaunk gayi?" Accha hume dekh ke jyada chaunki ho ya is frock vali pandit ko?" Munna asked Naina.

"Munna, dhang se baat kar", Swati rebuked him and stepped forward to hug Naina. "I missed you so much yar."

"Swati, tu yaha kaise?" Naina asked confused. "Naina, pehle nanaji se to mil le  beta", Bela said, interrupting them.

"Sorry, sorry nanaji. Aap ne ye sab mere liye kiya. Thank you", Naina bent forward to take his aashirwaad.

"Nahi to, humne to apni khushi manane ke liye kiya. Meri Naina beti itne acche number laaye aur hum celebrate na karen, aisa ho sakta hai kya?", Nanaji patted her head.

"Par aap sabne ye sab plan kab kiya. Aur mujhe kuch pata bhi nahi chala", Naina asked.

"Behan, ye hum sab ne nahi, jijaji ne kiya hai. Planning se le kar mumy papa ko manane tak, Munna Pandit se ye saari decoration karane se lekar Swati ko yaha bulane tak, sab jijaji ne akele kiya hai. Aur tu aiwe hi unpe chidhi ja rahi thi. AB kya hai na jinke paas itna pyaar karne vala insaan hota hai, unhe kadar hoti nahi, kyu Jijaji?" Preeti walked towards Sameer.

"Bilkul saali sahiba. Ye duniya hai hi khudgarzo ki". Sameer replied, teasing Naina.

"Chachaji, Nanaji. Dekho na. Ye dono mujhe kitna pareshan karte hain. Aur ye Preeti bhi hamesha isi ki side ho jaati hai", Naina complained.

"Accha accha bas karo tum sab. Naina ko ab koi pareshan nahi karega. Sab aaram se baith jao. ", Nanaji said.

Soon Ramdhari brought snacks for everyone to eat. Looking at the food being served to her, Naina's eyes beamed in happiness. Every single food item was her favourite. From dhokla to chatpati tikki to chocolate pastry, Sameer had made sure to not miss out on anything. Naina looked towards Sameer who was discussing something with Anand, "Ye itna pyaara kyu hai? Gussa bhi nahi raha jaata."

"Kya soch rahi hai?" Swati teased Naina as she caught her staring at Sameer. "Vaise jitna tune phone par bataya tha, jijaji to usse bhi jyada smart hai. Salman Khan to kuch bhi nahi hai unke saamne"

"Accha. Aisa hai Swati ji, aap na zara unhe jijaji ki nazro se hi dekhiye", Naina replied.

"Oho Preeti kitni possessive hai ye ladki, isse to kuch bol bhi nahi sakte", Swati laughed.

"Are hum bilkul possessive nahi hai, hamse bol lo", Munna chirped in between, earning a strong glare from Swati. "Nahi mera matlab tha ki, ki kuch nahi. Tum khao na.Kuch kha kyu nahi rahi ho. Chal ponga kitchen me dekh ke aate hain aur kya rakha hai".

As Munna and Pandit waked towards the kitchen, all the three girls burst out laughing. "Swati, ye bachpan me bhi tera deewana tha aur aaj bhi hai. Ye nahi badalne vala", Preeti remarked.

"Haan aur pehle bhi buddhu tha aur aaj bhi. Bandar kahin ka" Swati replied.

"Oye Munna ka mazak mat udao", Naina scolded Swati and Preeti.

"Hey bhagwan, iski possesiveness yaha bhi. School me to bada bolti thi ki Munna pandit dono pagal hain, ab ye jijaji ke dost hain, to tera nazariya hi badal gaya", Swati asked and she and Preeti laughed again.

Before Naina could reply, she heard chachaji call her name " Beta, mai aur tumhari chachi ab chalte hain. Mujhe office jana hai. Tum dono shaam ko time se ghar aajana".

"Hum yahin ruk jaen?" Naina asked, surprised.

"Are haan beta. Khao piyo acche se. Maze karo. fir aajana", Chachaji replied. Naina muttered a soft thank you and hugged him "Aap aur chachiji best ho".

"Ab dekh le Preeti, emotional kaun ho raha hai".  "Accha Jayprakash ji, hum chalte hain", Bela and Anand took his blessings and left. After some time, Nanaji also went to his room  to take his afternoon nap leavinf the kids alone.

"Movie dekhen kya VCR pe?" Pandit asked. "Haan haan chalo, jijaji ke room me chalte hain", Preeti echoed his words.

"Tum log chalo, mai na ramdhari bhaiya ke saath sab saaf kara ke aati hun", Naina said.

"Are nahi bhabhi hum sab kar lenge, aap tension nahi lo", Ramdhari who always got overwhelmed by the care Naina showed him whenever she visited home, replied.

"Mai kar rahi hun na aapki help. Tum sab jao mai aati hun", Naina said again. "Hum bhi help kara den kya", Sameer, who hadn't spoken much with Naina since she came, offered to help.

"Jijaji, ye kar legi. Aap chalo. Aur ye kisi ki help bhi nahi legi", Preeti said and all of them marched towards his room.

As Naina helped Ramdhari cleaned the living area and then the kitchen as well, Ramdhari said " Bhabhi aap na aa jaiye ab yaha jaldi se shaadi kar ke. Aap aati hain na to Nanaji aur Sameer baba bohat khush ho jaate hain". Naina smiled in return  "Jaldi hi".

After finishing the work, Naina asked ramdhari to have some rest as well. As she put her hand on the door knob to open the door to Sameer's room in order to join the others, she felt a tug at her saree. Looking back, she saw Sameer holding her pallu . "Tum to andar the na. Yaha kaise aaye"?

"Nainu, tum sawaal bohat karti ho yaar. Chalo", Sameer replied.

"Kahan?" Naina asked.

"Fir sawal. Dusre room me. Ab yaha inke saamne to baith ke baatein krenge nahi", Sameer replied.

"Mujhe koi baat nahi karni, mai to andar ja ri", Naina said as her anger resurfaced again. Before she could open the door, Sameer lifted her into his arms and took her to the room on the other side of the gallery "Aise kaise nahi ja rahi".

"Ye tumhara gussa hamesha naak pe kyu rehta hai?" Sameer asked as he put her down and closed the door.

"Accha, galti karte ho pehle aur fir kehte ho gussa naak pe kyu rehta hai", Naina said angrily turning her face the other way.

Sameer hugged her from behind,  "Ab kya galti kar di maine. Itna sab kuch plan kiya, usme bhi tumhe galti dikh rahi hai."

As his hold on her waist tightened, his hands touching her bare waist, created a havoc in her senses. After calming herself ," Convocation me kyu nahi aaye?"

"Kisne kaha mai convocation me nahi aya? Mai to vahin tha. Maine tumhari nazro ko mujhe dhundhte hue dekha, tumhare chehre ko gusse me laal hote hue dekha, tumhara naam announce hone ke baad tumhari aankho ki chamak dekhi aur medal lete time tumhari aankho se behta hua vo ek aansun bhi dekha. Fir tumse kisne kaha ki mai vaha nahi tha?" Sameer kissed her neck lightly, very well aware of the effect his closeness always had on her.

"Tum the vahan, matlab tum, Preeti, chachaji, chachiji sab itni der se mere maze le re ho?" Naina turned towards him in anger.

"Tum ye har baat me kuch na kuch nikal kyu leti ho gussa hone ke liye?" Sammer asked.

"Tum bohat bure ho Sameer. Mai ja rahi hun", Naina walked towards the door.

"Matlab tumhe aisa kyu lagta hai ki abhi mai tumhe tumhari marzi se kuch karne dunga?", Sameer held her hand and pulled her towards him.

"Pata hai aaj kitni acchi lag rahi ho tum. Man kar raha hai bas dekhte rahun", Sameer said and leaned towards her.

"Dekho, ye na cheesy baatein bol ke na tum mera gussa shaant nahi kara sakte. Mujhe nahi fark padta", Naina tried to move away.

"Accha Nainu? Ye to tum kayi saalon se keh rahi ho. Tumhe fark nahi padta?" Sameer asked as he kissed her cheek.

"Sameer, tum hamesha aise hi karte ho", Naina relented and hugged him tightly.

"I know mai best hun. Aur madam tumhe to kisi chiz ka khyal rehta nahi. Kya bol ke aata mai vahan pe ki mai Naina Agarwal ka boyfriend hun? Pata bhi hai kitni muhskil se jugaad kar ke aya mai vaha. Tumne to bas farmaan suna diya tha ki Sameer mujhe tum convocation me chahie hi chahie ho," Sameer replied and hugged her tighter.

"Haan to, tumhare bina meri koi khushi puri thodi hoti hai. Aur vaise bhi mujhe to pata tha ki tum kaise na kaise kar ke aa hi jaoge", Naina said.

"Accha, to fir gussa kyu kar rahi thi itni der se"? Sameer looked in her eyes.

"Vo tum dikhe nahi islie.  Vaise tum  har ocassion itna special kaise kar dete ho? Aur tumne Swati ko kaise bulaya. Aur chacha chachi ko kaise manaya?" Naina asked.

"Are meri sawalon ki encyclopedia, kisi mauke par to sawaal jawaab bhool jaya kro. Swati ka yaha pehle se aane ka plan tha tumhe surprise dene ke liye. Preeti ne mujhe bataya to maine socha ki usko aaj aane ko kehte hain. Mere kehne pe to usne sirf apna schedule change kara hai. Aur rahi bat chachaji chachiji ki, tum to jaanti hi ho vo jab se mujhse mile hain, mere fan ho rakhe hain. Vo meri haar baat maan jaate hain", Sameer said proudly.

"Apne mu miya mitthu", Naina broke the hug and said " Munna Pandit bhi kitne acche hain na. hamesha hamare saath hote hain."

"Han tumhare Sameer ko chodh ke sab acche hain", Sameer said, faking a sad face.

Naina looked at him and smiled at his antics "Mera sameer to best hai". Naina encircled her arms around his neck and kissed him lovingly and he returned it with equal passion. In the last two years, they had kissed each other several times, yet everytime Sameer held her, Naina felt a new sensation tingling with her body. He avoke certain emotions within her  which were indecipherable. Their kiss deepened and they got lost in each other. Suddenly, they heard Munna shout their name "Are yar kahan ho tum dono. Tumhari bohat zarurat hai yaha pe", causing them to break apart.

"Yar ye Munna na. Naina tum kahin nahi ja rahi, mai bata raha hun", Sameer said.

"Isse pehle vo yaha aajae, chalo". Naina straightened up her clothes and hair and took Sameer to his room, "Kya hua tum sabko ab".

"Hum movie nahi decide kar paarahe kaun si dekhe", Swati said dejectedly.

"Kya? Is kaam ke liye tum itna chilla rahe the. Aur tum log itni der se movie hi nahi decide kar paae. Vaah", Sameer clapped sarcastically.

"Haan to tum dono hi bata do na", Munna said.

"Dil dekhte hain. Theek hai?", Naina said as she glanced through the pile of casettes kept on the table.

"Mai to kab se keh hi rhaa hun dil le lo", Pandit said looking at Preeti who was standing with her back towards him. The sudden change in his tone made Preeti turn towards him and the emotions she saw in his eyes, sent her heartbeat racing.

"Mai kab se to suggest kar raha tha dil dekhte hain. Tum hi sab keh re the purani ho gayi movie", Pandit said tryingt to avaoid Preeti's gaze.

"Haan chalo ab decide ho gaya. Ab sab aaram se baith ke movie dekho. Nanaji so rahe hain. Shor mat machao", Naina ordered everyone forcing everyone to take their respective places.

Soon all of them got engrossed in watching the movie or maybe everyone played along in maintaining the facade. Preeti sat throughout the movie contemplating over Pandit's words while Pandit mentally cursed himself fearing what would Preeti be thinking of him. Sameer kept thinking of ways to arrange his marriage to Naina soon while Naina's thoughts kept drifitng back to whatever Sameer had planned for the day. And yes, there was another lovestruck boy too, thinking of ways to woo his childhood crush, yet again.