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 couldn’t stay for long at Munna’s place for his father, when tried to mend ways between the estranged son and the step-father heard Mr. Somani’s version of the fallout. An amicable gentleman mostly, Munna’s father then expressed unease about Sameer’s 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, wasn’t he, in a way, reneging on his promise? Munna took a while to allay his father’s 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 he’d 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 he’d 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! It’s 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 could’ve 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. “Bolo sahab…kuch dun aapko? Garma garam hai sab!”
Unable to suppress his hunger anymore, Sameer walked upto the stall owner and enquired, “Bhaiya…agar main aapko yeh sari plates dho ke dun to kya aap mujhe ek samosa aur thodi chai denge?”
The stall owner looked at him astounded and then broke into fits of laughter, “kahe mazak kar rahe ho sahab…shakal surat aur kapde latte se to khandani lagte ho!”
“Bhaiya…mere pass sach mein kuch paise nahi hain…subah se bhookha hun…,” Sameer replied.
The stall owner contemplated for a while and then gave in. “Theek hai…lo kha lo samosa aur yeh lo chai!”
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, “beta jao…koi baat nahi…main kar lunga!”
“Nahi uncle…main aapko paise nahi de sakta…par udhar to chuka sakta hun!”
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.
“Ghar chod ke aaye ho kya beta?”
Sameer nodded sadly.
“Dekho ladakpan ka josh acha hai…lekin yeh zindagi bahot kathin hai…jao jaake maa-baap se maafi maang lo…wo tumhe apna lenge!”
Sameer did not respond and continued to dry his hands with his handkerchief.
“Aisa kya hua beta…dekho gussa chodo…aur ghar jao!”
“Uncle…kabhi kabhi insaan ko khud ko saabit karna padta hai…kuch bade khwab badi qurbaniyaan maangte hain…agar main apne sapno ke liye…apni zindagi…khushiyon ke liye mehnat nahi karunga to mujhe kya haq hai ki mujhe wo khushiyaan milein?”
The stall owner stood stunned by Sameer’s words. He thought, “bitte bhar ka chokra hai…aur baatein dekho!”
Impressed, he queried, “Kaam ki talaash mein ho?”
“Ji uncle!” Sameer’s eyes lit up.
“Hmmm…Vaise to mujhe zarurat hai nahi lekin tumhari imaandari dekh ke main khush hua…mere hotel mein waiter ka kaam karoge? Dekho tum bade ghar ke lagte ho…agar jame toh!”
Sameer looked at him elatedly. “Kyun nahi uncle…thank you!”
“Lekin pagar main 200 se zyada nahi de paunga abhi…waiter hone ke saath saath…bartan dhone honge…jhaadu pocha bhi karna hoga dusre ladke ke sath milke…!”
“Chalega uncle…aap jo bolenge…sab karunga…thank you!”
“Rehne ke liye jagah hai? Sote kahan ho?”
“Ji wo….darasal…,” Sameer fumbled embarrassedly.
“Hmm…aaj raat se yahin so jana hotel band hone ke baad…kitchen mein garmi bhi hogi to thand nahi lagegi zyada…baaki ladke tumhe kaam bata denge…aur nahane dhone ka bhi sikha denge!”
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 Munna’s father apologized and told him how he’d been brainwashed by his step-dad, but Sameer insisted he’d 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 Sameer’s 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 Sameer’s 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 she’d 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.
“The affluent boy, with looks men would kill to have did not even have a proper set of clothes on?” Naina’s heart wept at the irony of life. At that instant, Sameer’s 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.
“Aye…aye…shhh…Nainu…shh…rote nahi!” Sameer tried to console his sobbing girlfriend.
She smacked him in response and clutched him harder, as she continued to shed tears.
“Ayeee Naina…sab dekh rahe hain jaan…,” 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 Sameer’s eyes.
“Nainu…you still love me na? Mujhe chod to nahi dogi…mere pass kuch nahi hai ab!”
“P..pagal ho kya tum…yeh sab kyun kar rahe ho Sameer…meri khatir…Sameer mujhe bas tum chahiye aur kuch nahi…yeh kya haal bana rakha hai apna…raat thand mein bitate ho…thither rahe ho sardi mein…vazan kitna kam ho gaya hai…,” 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 he’d 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.
“Naina…,” Sameer’s voice was suddenly serious. “Aisa ho sakta hai ki mera yeh haal umar bhar aisa hi rahe…main mehnat puri karunga par kamyaab honga ke nahi iski guarantee nahi…agar tum aaj bhi piche hatana chahti ho to main bura nahi maanunga Naina…main samajh lunga…par please mujhse sach kehna!”
Naina looked at him in disbelief. “Sameer? Tum aisa soch bhi kaise sakte ho? Saath jeene marne ki kasam li hai humne…aur chahe duniya hamare rishte ko mane na mane…main to tumhe dil se apna pati maan chuki hoon…!”
The breath Sameer hadn’t realized he’d 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 father’s 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!
“Sameer…chalo bhaag jaate hain…main tumhara saath dena chahti hun…par tumhari patni banke!” Naina mumbled at his chest.
Sameer caressed her hair. “Nahi Naina…dulhan to tumhe banaunga…tab jab Rakesh sir khud is rishte ko leke khush honge…main nahi chahta ki kal ko koi tumpe ya hamare rishte pe koi ungli uthaye!”
The couple lay in each other’s arms for many silent minutes. And then Naina suddenly back in control exclaimed, “main bhi kitni buddhu hun…!” She pulled out the shawl from her shoulders and covered Sameer’s flimsy clothes with it. “Ab thand nahi lagegi tumhe!”
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.
“Beta kabhi khud ko akela mat samajhna…hum hain…tumhara parivaar hai!” Anand and Bela reassured Sameer.
“Hamara bas chalta…agar Naina hamari beti hoti to hum tum dono ki shaadi kab ki karwa dete…aur tumhe settle hone mein bhi madad karte…par Rakesh bhaisahab…,” Anand’s voice choked.
“Main puri koshish kar raha hun chachaji…bas ek vinti hai…jab tak main thoda stable nahi ho jaata…aap please Naina ke rishte ka na sochein…kisi tarah Rakesh sir ko mana lein…please?” Sameer pleaded.
“Main Naina ki shaadi tumhi se hote dekhna chahta hun…jo ban padega hum karenge!” Anand patted Sameer’s head. Then he took out some five thousand that he’d withdrawn from the bank and offered the same to Sameer. “Beta…thode paise rakh lo…tumhe zarurat padegi…ek achi jagah dekh lo rehne ke liye…kuch kapde bhi…maine daftar mein bhi naukri ke liye pucha hai…jaldi batayenge wahan…tab tak isse kaam chala lo!”
Sameer calmly and politely refused as he handed the money back to Chachaji. “Beta kehte hain to bete pe bharosa rakhiye…main chahta hun ki is baar mere pass jo bhi ho…mere apni mehnat ki kamayi ka ho!”
Chachaji was surprised at the maturity exhibited by this lad of hardly twenty one.
At that moment, Naina fished into the jute bag that she’d brought along and brought out two sweaters of chachaji, three pairs of new socks, two T-shirts and a pair of jeans for him.
“Yeh kya puri dukaan khareed laayi ho?” Sameer exclaimed.
“Chup raho…sab tumhare liye laaye hain hum!”
“Naina…maine kaha na main kisi se favour nahi lena chahta…jo hoga sab meri kamayi se liya hoga!”
“Yeh lecture na mujhe baad me sunana…aur vaise bhi yeh sab meri scholarship ki kamayi se khareeda hai…aur jab hum dono mein koi fark nahi, to hamare paise mein fark kaise hua?”
A quiver of a smile played on Sameer’s 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, “Sameer kuch bhi zarurat ho mujhe yaad karna…mujhe bharosa hai tujhpe…fikr mat kar…hum sab tere sath hain!”
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 Naina’s wrist. He then took her hand and placed a kiss on it.
“Yeh bracelet hamesha apne sath rakhna..main na sahi yeh har waqt tumhare pass rahega aur tumhe mere kareeb hone ka ehsaas dilaata rahega…samajh lena ki main dil-o-jaan se mehnat kar raha hun ki jaldi se jaldi tumhe Naina Sameer Maheshwari bana sakun!”
Naina’s 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 she’d sent some of her essay excerpts two months back.
“Keh rahe the…thank you…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 hai…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!”
Sameer hushed her immediately. “Shhh….kisne kaha tumse ki tumhara sapna pura nahi hoga…Naina jo tumhari kahaniyon mein jaadu hai na…wo tum nahi dekh sakti lekin main dekh sakta hun…aur is rejection se haar maanene wali meri Naina to nahi…chahe hum sau baar haarein…ek sau ekvi baar to jeetenge…lekin agar hum pehle hi haar maan jayenge to us ek sau ekvi baar tak kaise pahunchenge? Naina…main tumse hamesha kehta hun na… ‘Success has no short-cuts!’ To bas lagi raho…har mat maano!”
Naina seemed reassured by his words. She clasped his hands firmly. “Agle hafte se college khul jayenge…Chachaji ne tumari liye principal ma’am se baat kar li hai ki attendance mein linient ho jayein!”
“Chachaji ko thanks bolna meri taraf se…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!”
“Nahi Sameer…tum degree puri karoge…wo bhi mere saath…main saare notes bana ke laungi tumhare liye…tumhe padhaungi jab jab tumhe time hoga…!”
Sameer kissed her hand again and smiled, “tumhara wo hitler baap aane dega tumhe?”
“Hitler nahi hain wo…aur…aur unhe kuch pata nahi chalega!”
His clasp on her hand tightened. “Pata chale bhi to chalne do…unhe bhi maalum hona chahiye ki tum sirf meri ho…aur chahe puri duniya bhi mujhse tumhe cheenana chahegi na…main hone nahi dunga!”
“Mujhe bharosa hai tum pe!” Naina assured him and then added as she suddenly realized, “Sameer…tumne pehli salary se khud ke liye to kuch liya hi nahi?”
“Mere pass tum ho, Munna Pandit jaise dost hai…tum sab Preeti, Swati, Arjun…iske aage main bhagwaan se kya hi maangu?” Sameer told her.
With the last share of his salary, barring the half he’d put up for future savings, Sameer had brought two keychains with ‘Friends Forever’ 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.
Arjun
Cricket
Indian Mythology
