"Hum Ayush ko saath kaise leke jaa sakte hain? Wahan office hai, factory hai... ek bachhe ko saath leke ghoomna achha thodi lagega." Naina was shocked at Sameer's suggestion that they take Ayush along for the visit to Mr Kothari's office and unit.
"You leave everything to me. Koi problem nahi hogi. Main baat kar lunga." Sameer reassured her.
Naina shook her head, "Nahi. I don't agree. Aap baat kar lenge aur shayad woh log haan keh bhi denge... but it's not right. Maine already Ayush ko bata diya hai. He's comfortable here in the play room. Jab maine usse kaha humein office jaana hoga toh woh aaram se maan gaya. Do din se yahan rehke usse thodi aadat ho gayi hai. Hum Ayush ko yahin chod ke jayenge." Naina was adamant.
"Lekin Naina, agar humein late hua toh woh yahan akela... mujhe bohot tension hogi." Sameer tried again.
"Aur mujhe tension hogi agar hum usse lekar gaye. Kal dekha tha na aapne breakfast ke time... woh khali baithega toh kuch na kuch gadbad karega. Main meeting mein concentrate hi nahi kar paungi. Saara time yehi sochti rahungi ki kahin Ayush kuch kharab na kar de, ya khud ko chot na pohoncha le." Her argument did have a point. Since the play room was designed specifically for this purpose, Ayush would be far more comfortable here than in an unknown place where he would be required to sit still for hours together.
Sameer had to eventually concede to her reasoning.
"Ayush, agar humein late hua toh tu darega toh nahi na?" Naina kneeled in front of him as they reached the entrance of play room.
Ayush confidently shook his head once, "Main big ho gaya hun. Ab thodi darta hun. Aur Aakash bhaiya hain na yahan pe. Woh itne nice wale games khelte hain mere saath, aur movies bhi dikhate hain."
She kissed his cheek, "Mera big wala baby hai tu. I'm so proud of you."
Sameer ruffled his hair, "Aaj wapas aane ke baad tumhe ice cream khane leke chalenge."
"Chocolate chips wali?" Ayush beamed.
"Pakka promise." He gave a thumbs up.
Mr Kothari was not only an amiable person, he was a gracious host as well. Morning meeting had two breaks where they were treated to some popular Rajasthani snacks. Pyaaz kachori, mirchi pakoda, kanji vada, methi mathri and bhujia were served with jaljeera and masala chaas, along with sweet ghujia and mohan thal.
"Mujhe pata hai aapke liye yeh sab naya nahi hai, lekin jo swaad yahan ki khaas dukano mein milta hai woh Delhi mein nahi milega." Mr Kothari gave a smug smile when Sameer praised the authentic taste.
Though it was delicious, the food was spicy for Naina. She tasted very little of other items, before deciding to stick to mathris, sweets and chaas.
Even the lunch, when it was served later, was a typical mix of local dishes of dal baati churma, bajra roti with lehsun chutney, gatte ki sabzi, ker sangri, aam ki launji, boondi raita and mawa kachori at the end. The meal, thankfully, wasn't as spicy as earlier fare.
After lunch, they all left for the factory which was about fifteen minutes drive. Sameer and Naina had hired a cab from the hotel itself. They now followed Mr Kothari's car.
"Tumne lunch theek se kiya na? Pehle toh kuch khaya hi nahi tha." Sameer asked as they sat together on the rear seat.
She looked at him, "I had, thank you. Snacks bohot spicy the mere liye... isliye kha nahi paayi."
"Tum marwari Agarwal nahi ho kya?" Sameer was surprised, because spicy food was something all marwaris were used to, whether they were from Rajasthan or Gujarat.
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Na Jaane Kyon...
FanfictionNaina and Sameer meet each other when Naina comes to Delhi from Agra, her hometown, to join a new office. Along with her younger brother, she settles down in a rented accommodation and learns to manage in the new environment. Sameer is intrigued by...
