Samaina FF : Love is Blind Part 16 on page 78 - Page 11

Part 5:

Naina's POV:

I was startled a bit to see each and every member of my family seated in the living room. Taiji, Tauji, papa, arjun bhaiya, chachiji and even Pralay! Now I started to wonder what was chachaji about to announce.

"Anand aisa konsa baat hai jho tum pure parivaar ko yahan aane ko kaha. Tauji questioned chachaji, not only tauji but everyone present in the room had no idea why had chachaji called everyone together. "Ab baat itni zaroori hai ki sabko bulana padha, aaj subha Anju didi ka phone aaya tha Udaipur se aur bade bhaisaab aur Rakesh bhaisaab ka phone nahi lag raha tha toh unhone mujhe phone kar liya. Aur sab keliye ek khush kabri hai, unki beti ki shadi tay ho chukki hai aur issi silsile mein unhone mujhe phone kiya tha.

"Kya Chanchal didi ki shadi fix ho gayi.. Preeti shouted being excited as if her marriage was fixed. "Neva, ab shadi jaisi baatien ghar ki bado se ki jaati hai aur yahan tho ulti ganga beh rahi hai. Taiji started her ususal ranting session. "Beena, Anand keh raha haina ki hummari phone nahi lagrahi thi issiliye didi ko Anand ko phone karna pada. Tauji reprimed her. "Aur baato Anand aur kya kaha didi ne. Tauji continued.

"Didi ne kaha ki shaadi ek hatfte mein hain aur keh rahi thi ki pure parivaar ke saath aana hai aur unhone hum sabka ticket bhi karwadi hai Udaipur ke liye, do din mein nikalna hain humme.

"Theek hain Anand, baki ke details mein didi ko phone karke poochleta hoon. Aab sab chalein apne apne kaam karne. Saying this tauji got up to leave when taiji said. "Oh bai, pura parivaar ek saath aa hi gaye aur sham ki 5 baj gayi toh ek ek cup chai toh banti hai na. Bela ja sab keliye chai banana aur meri wali mein aadrak aur ellaichi dalna mat bhoolna aur saath hi biscuit bhi lekar aana.

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"Waah Naina, itne dinon baad kissiki shaadi attend karne ka chance mila hain aur woh bhi Udaipur mein. Shaadi ka maaza bhi hoga aur saath hi Udaipur ki sightseeing bhi ho jayegi. Preeti exclaimed.

"Aur yeh sab tabhi hoga jab tum dono apni packing karlogi. Yaad hai na do din mein nikalna hain humme. Chachi said as she entered our room. "Haan mummy yaad hain aur ho jayegi packing. Preeti replied. "Ho jayegi packing chachi said pulling Preeti's cheeks "kaise ho jayegi, peechle baar ki tarha Naina se karwaoogi apni packing, Naina beta tum iski packing mein koi madhadh nahi karogi. Chachi said turning towards me. "Ji chachiji I responded enthusiastically.

"Ji chachiji preeti imitated me once chachi left our room. "Naina ab mein packing kaise karoongi agar tum meri madhadh nahi karogi toh. Preeti continued sulking. "Woh sab toh mujhe nahi pata philhal toh mein sone jaa rahi, good night.

"Nainaaa...

************

Next day I informed my school that I would be taking leave for about a week and after returning from school I started my packing. I saw preeti getting ready. "Kahan jaa rahi ho packing nahi karni. "Kar loongi na yaar pehle Rohan se toh miloon. Uske ghar se aane ke baad karloongi. Preeti said putting on her earring.

Hearing about Preeti going to meet Rohan even I felt like meeting Sameer. "Preeti ruk mein bhi chalti hoon tumhare saath I called out to her before she could step out of the room. "Tum!! Kyu?? Ohh achaa Sameer se milna haina? preeti said and I instantly understood why she stressed on Sameer, to tease me, but I don't understand what was the need to make Sameer as an object to tease me when I clearly told her that there is nothing between as as she assumes.

***************

We reached outside Sameer's house. The guard let us inside the gate without questioning us. Probably he knew Preeti quite well because of her visits to this house to meet her boyfriend with the excuse of combained study. As we entered through the main gate a huge white banglow stood in front of us with a garden around the house and a shelter for the cars to be parked. We walked past the garden and Preeti rang the doorbell. Now I was feeling nervous, Preeti had visited this place before but it was my first time, what would I say if someone asked why was I here, I didn't know what to say or do. A lady opened the door and greeted us with her smiling face.

"Hi aunty. Preeti waved to that lady. "Oh preeti what a surprise. Itne dinon baad aayi ho yahan aur... she shifted her eyes towards me. "Aunty she is my cousin Naina, Sameer aur Naina kafi acche dost hai. "Oh is it, Hello Naina. "Hello aunty I replied though I didn't know who she was. "Come in saying this she lead us inside the house. Preeti leaned towards me and whispered "Sameer ki maa hai yeh. My eyes widened in shock and in the next moment I bent down to touch her feet but aunty stoped me midway saying "oh no no isski koi zaroorat nahi. Beto. Ramdhari zara juice lana. Saying this she sat next to me on the sofa.

"Preeti, Rohan apne kamre mein hoga tum jaakar usse mil lo. "Ok aunty saying this preeti immediately left to meet Rohan leaving me in an awkward situation with sameer's mother.

"Toh beta apne bare mein kuch baato. "woh aunty I work as a councellor in a school. I just said this when Ramdhari placed a glass of mango juice on the table in front of me and aunty offered the glass to me picking it up from the table. "Toh tum sameer se kaise mili? I gulped down large volume of juice when she asked me this question. I wondered if Mother and son have the habit of asking the wrong question at the wrong time. Placing the glass of juice back on the table I attemped to answer her question. "woh actually aunty, who preeti... uuhhhmmm woh aa... I started to fumble when a voice said "uss din jab Preeti ki maa apne ghar le gayi thi us purse wale incident ke baad tabhi mile the hum haina Naina I found Sameer looking at me and smilling. "Haan aunty tabhi mile the hum.

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Sameer's POV:

"Sameer tumne kabhi apni nayi dost ke bare mein mujhe kyu nahi bataya? I understood what she was trying to say with the special emphasis on nayi dost' but I didn't want to make Naina uncomfortable hence I just replied "apne kabhi poocha hi nahi? "Theek hai tum dono baatein karo mujhe kitchen mein todha kaam hai.

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We sat in the gazebo placed in the garden adjacent to our bunglow. Long ago this used to be my favourite spot where I would spend quite evenings with my Nanu , but after his death I rarely ever visited this place again. Today it was different; it was different because Naina was there with me...

"Accha laga mujhe.. I spoke breaking the awakward silence between us ever since we entered the garden. "Kya? She looked at me confused. "Tumhara surprise dena ka tareeka I heard her chukle at my statement. "Sameer mere paas tumhare liye ek aur surprise hai. "Kaisa surprise? I wondered what was the matter as I saw that her face lacked the ususal excitement. "Woh.. Sameeer parso main Udaipur keliye nikal rahi hoon. Meri bua ki beti ki shaadi hai ek hafte mein. Shaadi Udaipur mein ho rahi hai.

"Kya??: I just managed to say this much. "Toh iska matlab tum ek hafte keliye mujhse mil nahi paogi. I did not know how to react to what Naina said. "Par Naina tumne kuch promise kiya, bhool gayi woh promise? I know I sounded like an idiot, she had to attend her sister's marriage but here I was cribbing like an infant. "I know Sameer, that I promised to come with you to the orphanage but main kya kar sakti hoon. She tried to reason. I had decided to spend a part of my earnings for a good cause when Naina suggested donating it to an orphanage as we both knew the pain of not having one parent in life and the pain felt by those children losing both their parents was something we did not want to imagine. So we had planned to visit the orphanage and spend time with the children there. But now that she had to go to Udaipur the plan had to be put on hold.

"Sameer I am sorry mere hath mein kuch nahi hai, shadi ke bare mein mujhe kal hi pata chala tha. I am sorry na.. Naina appologised holding her ear, a habit that she also got seeing me doing it. "Its okay Naina issme tumhari galti nahi hai. I said sulking a little. "Sameer jaise hi main Udaipur se laut thi hoon, agle din hi hum dono orphanage jayenge... I promise. Iss baar pakka wala. Ab udas mat ho. She tried to console me. "Main udas nahi hoon toh kya karu ek hafte keliye hum mil nahi sakte, baat nahi kar sakte. "Hum phone pe toh baat kar sakte haina Sameer? "I know Naina but... what was wrong with me, why was I sounding so illogical. Naina is absolutely right we can visit the orphanage the next day she returns from her trip and we can talk over phone for the next one week but still being away from her even if it was for a week didn't quite settle well with me. Maybe because I will not get to see the red tinge on her cheeks that I used to see every time I teased her or maybe because I would not receive those playful hits on my arms and shoulders by her soft delicate hand. But whatever maybe the reason I still could not understand why being away from her made so much difference.

"Sameer, SAMEER.. her voice interrupted my line of thoughts and brought me back to reality. I saw Preeti standing beside her and I realised it was time for her to leave. "Bye Naina have a safe journey I told half heartedly. "Bye Sameer she replied and walked past the main gate. I just stood there watching her leave wondering what in the world was wrong with me.

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Naina's POV

What does he think of himself?? I thought to myself as I was pacing up and down of my room. Is he out of his mind to do such a thing??? Anger was visible on my face as I remembered the course of events that took place today...

*Flashback*

We arrived at Udaipur this morning at 9 o'clock. We took a cab from the bus deport and reached our guesthouse. Anju bua arranged for a guesthouse where my whole family could stay till the wedding. Though the guesthouse was not very huge it shone golden under the rays of the sun. The decorative jharokas jutting out of the building added to its beauty. Their was a courtyard in the middle of the house with chairs and a tea table placed. The backside of the house lead to a beautiful garden with a small water pond. We took an hour's nap to relive ourself from the exhausting 5 hour bus journey. At noon Anju bua had come to pick us up and we had our lunch at her place. Later our other relatives and cousins started flowing into bua's house to help her with the arrangements for the various functions. I was givev the duty to look after decoration and Preeti decided to help me.

In between I tried calling Sameer but all my calls went unanswered. He had informed me that he had two important meetings lined up at his office so he would not be able to receive my calls but still I kept trying thinking he will call me whenever he gets a break. I also left couple of messages but I did not receive reply to any of them.

We were so busy with the arrangements that we did not realize when the sun had set and the sky had turned dark. After dinner my family was about to leave when we heard a car park outside bua's house.

We went out to check who had arrived when I was schocked to see Sameer getting down the car and along with him a lady also got down from the car. With the amount of respect the lady received I understood that she is the groom's mother and our Chanchal didi's to be mother-in-law. She had come to request if there was accommodation for one of her guest as rooms were full at the place the groom's family had arranged for accommodation. That guest was none other than Sameer Maheshwari. There was a huge conversation between the groom's mother and my bua regarding where to accommodate Mr.Sameer Maheshwari. While all these talks were going on between the elders Sameer was just smiling at me and I just stared at him with my eyes wide open with shock. Finally it was decided that Sameer would stay with us at our guesthouse.

If this wasn't enough I received another shock. Sameer had come to Udaipur by car which he drove by himself and there were heavy rains in Gujarat region which made his travel a lot riskier...

*End of Flashback*

I heard a knock on my door and I instantly knew who had knocked the door.

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Narration:

"SURPRISE!!! Came a voice as soon as Naina opened the door. She immediately turned her face away from him. "Kaisa laga tumhe mera surprise? Sameer asked coolly. There came no response from the other party. Sameer held her shoulders and turned her to face him. "Naina main tumse baat kar raha hoon. Naina jerked of his hands from her shoulders. "Tumhara dimag toh theek haina? Raat ko aur woh bhi barish mein ahmedabad se Udaipur aane ki kya zaroorat thi. Sameer!! Ek hafte ki he toh baat hai uske badh hum mil lete. She spoke, her voice full of anger yet laced with care, which didn't go unnoticed by Sameer. "Oh Hello agar tumhe yeh lagta hai ki mein raat ko aur woh bhi barish mein Ahmedabad se Udaipur tumse milne keliye aaya hoon toh tum galat ho Miss. Naina Agarwal. Sameer replied as he sat on her bed. "Toh kisleiye aaye ho? Naina asked with her hand on her hips. "Shaadi attend karne... He replied.

"Shaadi attend karne?? Naina was confused. "Par tum na hi Anju bua ko jante ho aur na hi Chan-... her words were left incomplete as Sameer spoke "par tumhare honewale jija ji ko toh jaanta hoon. "Kaise? Naina questioned. "Tumhare hone wale jijaji ke Dada aur mere Nanu bachpan ke dost the aur ussi dosti ke maan rakte hua unhone mujhe iss Shaadi mein aane ka nyotha de diya. "Par tum yeh baat mujhe ussi waqt kyu nahi bataya jab mein tumhare ghar aayi thi. "Kyuki tab muhje khud pata nahi tha. Tumhare jaate hi unka phone aaya tha "uske baad mujhe phone karke bata toh sakthe the na?? Naina didn't stop her questioning session. "yaar tum kitne saare sawal poochthi ho, madam mein ladke walo ki taraf se hoon aur ladke walo se sawal jawab nahi karte par phir bhi agar sawal poochne wali itni cute ho toh mein bata doon ki agar mein tumhe pehle hi sab kuch bata deta toh surprise kaise karta. Ab mein bohot thak chooka hoon kal milte hain. Sameer said stretching his arms and yawning. "Good night he said before closing the door.

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The whole Agarwal family were dressed in shades of yellow as it was Chanchal's Haldi ceremony. They were at Anju bua's house. Sameer stood there resting his back on a pillar, laughing as he saw two servants struggling to change the position of a huge ceramic vase as bua was constantly telling them to shift its position. Amisdt this his eyes fell on a girl wearing a yellow sleevless anarkali with floral embroiding in light pink and a yellow netted overcoat, carrying a plate full of rose petals. His legs as if involuntarily started moving towards the girl and a strong hand caught hold of the girl's wrists and pulled her to a corner causing the rose petals to fall off the plate and fall on top of them.

Naina's eyes widened in shock trying to register the turn of events, first she was carrying a plate of rose petals and the next moment she was pulled by someone which made the petals fall over her as well as over him and she stood between his arms as he caged her along a wall. Sameer stood in front of her with both his arms towards her sides and his eyes directly looked into hers. There was such intensity in his eyes that for one moment she felt as if she was lost in some distict world. When his words brought her back to reality. "aaj yeh strawberry achanak mango kaise ban gayi

She didn't know how to reply back, this close proximity and his intense gaze was creating havoc within her. He took a strand of her hair falling over her face gently and pinned it behind her ear, letting the tips of his fingers brush against her soft cheeks. Sameer slowly started to bend his head and Naina involuntarily shifted her head to a side giving sameer the required access to her neck. His lips were just inches away from her neck when they heard Preeti's voice that made both of them pull part from each other.

"Naina... Naina yahan ho tum pata hai kabse dhoond rahi hoon main tumhe, chal Chanchal didi ko bhi haldi lagani hai. Aur aap... aap yahan kya kar rahe hain aap toh ladke walo ke taraf se ho na toh yahan kaise. Preeti asked turning towards Sameer. "Woh Jayanti aunty ke saath aaya tha Chanchal didi ke liye haldi lekar toh socha yahi par ruk jau.

"Waise aapse ek aur baat poochni thi, aaye tho aaye Ahmedabad se saath mein Rohan ko bhi laate. Akele hi aage. Preeti questioned sameer with a disappointed look on her face. " uska kuch kaam tha isliye woh nahi aa paya. Sameer replied.

************

Naina's hands were covered with haldi, partially because of applying it on chanchal and partially because the girls started playing with it, applying it on each other. Now she stood near the water tap to wash the haldi off. The place had become slippery due to multiple ladies washing their hands in that area. Naina slowly proceeded towards the tap, when she lost grip and was about to fall but a pair of hands held onto her tightly preventing her from falling. Naina's hands caught hold of his arms for support.

"Dekh ke chalo, gir jaati toh. Sameer said. "Thanks Sameer. Suddenly Naina's eyes fell over his arms and noticed that the haldi got smeared on his arms when she had caught him for support. "I am so sorry. Only when Naina said this Sameer noticed the yellow colour on his arms. "Its okay. Saying this Sameer opened the water tap so that she could wash her hands.

Naina washed off the haldi on her hands and shyly turned towards Sameer. "Idar aao, she instructed him and he just obeyed. She took handful of water and started rubbing off the haldi from his arms. Sameer just managed to stare at her. Then out of impulse his arms wound around her waist pulling her closer to him. It was the second time they shared such proximity since the morning. Naina who was engrossed till now with the task at hand, looked up at him. His eyes had the power to captivate her and they stood there in each others arms, motionless, speechless. Sameer's phone rang bringing both of them back to reality.

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Naina's POV:

The whole day I tried to make myself as busy as I could, so that I stop thinking about Sameer. But no matter how much I tried to get busy, Sameer refused to leave my mind. The flashes of the imcident that took place in the morning would always come in front of my eyes. When I was caged between his arms and the wall, when his intense gaze was creating havoc within me, when his voice made my heartbeat stop for a moment and when I felt his warm breathe on my delicate skin, I felt as if my knees would give up any moment and that I would go crashing onto his chest. I could not imagine what would have happened if Preeti hadn't disturbed us at that moment.

How would I ever meet his eyes again without being remined about the incident that took place today morning? But why hadn't I stopped him. I could have stopped him the moment he pulled me to a corner. But I had let it happen. I had let him come so close to me and Sameer... What was wrong with him. Never has he behaved in such a manner.

I took the glass of water kept on the table beside me. I gulped it down to calm myself. I reminded myself that I was here to attend my sister's marriage and Sameer was just my friend. Maybe be the closest friend I have but still a friend and I should cross the limit of friendship that will make both of us feel embaressed.

I mentally decided not to bring what happened between us this morning between our friendship and that I would behave normal with him...

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There was still few hours left for Chanchal didi's mehendi ceremony to start so I decided to explore the place around the guesthouse. I walked for about ten minutes from our guesthouse and found a Shiv Mandir, hence I decided to visit it for sometime. Removing my sandals I climbed up the steps to the temple and was astonished to find a familiar figure in the premises of the temple. Though his back was facing me, it took me just seconds to realize that it was Sameer. I decided not to disturb him and quietly I went and stood next to him closing my eyes and folding my hands. When I opened my eyes I found a pair of eyes looking at me.

"Chalein he said I just nodded in response. As we started decending the steps I asked him "Waise tum yahan kaise, tumhe dekhkar toh aisa nahi lagta ki tum mandir jaane wale types ho? "Toh kis type ka lagta hoon. My mind brought back what happened yesterday at the haldi ceremony.. "kuch nahi chalo I said as I wore my sandals. "Pehle baar jab maine tuhme dekha tha tab tum bhi blind dates par jaane wali types nahi lagti thi. He chuckled. "Sameeer... I stretched his name a bit longer and frowned.

"Hmm main Nanu ke saath mandir jata tha aur aaj jab mujhe iis mandir dekha toh socha iska darshan kar loon. "Tum apne nanu ke bohot close the na. I asked him "haan bohot bohot bohooot close tha main. I saw his facial expression had changed so I made an attempt to divert his mind.

"Sameer mehndi ke baat main free hoon, toh... toh kya hum sham ko ghumne chalein. I asked with my eyes fixed on the groud. "Not a bad idea. He said "Then its decided. 3:30 ko ready rehna, mehendi ke function hote hi hum ghumne chaleinge. He continued. "Done. I replied.

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Narration :

"Naina... nainaa... Preeti tried to call her sister who was sitting amisds a group of ladies waiting to put mehendi onto their hands. "Ss..ss.. Naina... preeti tried again. This time she was successful in gaining the attention of her sister. As soon as Naina saw preeti,Preeti gestured her to come near her.

"Kya hua. Naina questioned as she came towards her sister. "Naina tujhe iss mehendi mein kuch khaas dikh raha hai. Preeti asked showing her hands to Naina. "Nahi toh. Naina replied. "Arghh Naina acche se dekhna. Preeti was restless. "Nahi preeti kuch nahi dekh raha. Naina replied after looking at Preeti's hands. "Naina tumhe Rohan ka naam nahi dikh raha. Upon hearing this Naina pulled Preeti's hands onto hers and started scrutanising her palms that were having a red tinge due to the mehendi. "Mila kya? Preeti asked enthusiastically and Naina nodded her head in a yes. "Ab meri mehendi ka ek photo kichna. Preeti said offering her phone. "Done. Naina replied. "Ab isse Rohan ko bejna. "Done.

"Naina tum bhi aakar mehendi lagalena. Chachi shouted to Naina as a woman was putting Mehandi on her hands. "Jee aayi chachiji. Naina shouted back. "Ab tumhara ho gaya hai toh main jau. Naina was about to leave. "Acha sun kiska naam likwa rahi ho apne haaton pe. Kahin Sameer ka naam likwane ka irada toh nahi hai. Waise kal dekha tha maine kaise tum dono ek dusre ke baaho mein... Preeti started of her usual teasing session. "Preeti kuch bhi bolti ho yaar tum. Naina blushed and ran away from there.

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Naina sat down to get mehendi applied onto her hands. She and the other girls were busy chit chatting, when Preeti came and sat next to her and signaled the lady applying the mehendi onto Naina's hand to pass the cone to her. Without Naina noticing it, Preeti scribbled something onto Naina's hands,while Naina was talking happily with her cousins unaware of what Preeti had done.

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It was around 3. Naina quickly changed from the churidar she was wearing for the mehendi to a blue kurti and leggings. She ran a comb through her silky hair and looked at the mirror once again. She found Preeti had also changed her dress. She wore jeans and a top.

"Naina agar tumhara ho gaya ho toh chalein. "Ek minute tum kaha jaa rahi ho. Naina questioned Preeti. "Tumhare saath Udaipur ghumne. Preeti replied. "Tumhe kaise pata ki main ghumne jaa rahi hoon. "Uhmmm... Wwoohh jab tum Sameer se phone par baat kar rahi tab maine tumhari baat sunli. Phir maine socha ki main bhi tum done ke saath ghumne chaloongi. Naina's face clearly showed annoyance when she heard Preeti saying this. Just then they hear a knock on the door.

"Naina tum tayaar ho.. Naina heard sameer's voice. She went forward and opened the door. "Chalein said Sameer. "Haan haan chalo.. came a voice which did not belong to Naina. "Tum?? Sameer questioned the owner of the voice. "Haan main. Ab time waste mat karo. Preeti replied. "Preeti tum bhi aa rahi ho kya hamare saath. Sameer was confused. "Haan. Preeti said smiling. "Lekin uhmm.. wohhh ahhh... Sameer was stammering not knowing what to say. "kyu main nahi aa sakthi. Oh accha tum Naina ke saath AKELE time spend karna chahtete. Without any disturbance. Preeti questioned sameer. "Aisi koi baat nahi hain Preeti, tum bhi chalo hamare saath. Naina received an annoyed glare from Sameer when she said this.

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None spoke during the entire drive. Sameer was continuously stealing glances of Naina who was sitting with him on the front seat. Naina oblivious to this was just looking out of the window admiring the scenic beauty of the city and Preeti who was sitting on the back seat was busy taking photos of the place throughout the journey until they arrived at their destination. The three of them disembarked from the car upon reaching their destination.

I hope didnt bore you all with this update. chappals are welcomed. Request to all those reading to please leave a comment. It will really encourage me or i might decide to discontinue the story as even the flow must have been broken... so please do comment...😕