Na Jaane Kyon...

Mera dil bhi kitna pagal hai... Yeh pyar toh tumse karta hai

Kamya was seething as she silently took a sip of coffee, still glaring at the shut door... through which Naina had left a moment back. Preeti winked at Sameer, thrilled at the way Naina had behaved, making the right impact on Kamya. Sameer, slowly coming out of the daze, felt a warm, fuzzy feeling course through him. Naina... she had not shied away from giving the impression that Preeti was trying to create. She had clearly added to the notion... that she and him... that they were more than just coworkers.

Kamya's voice brought him out of the entrancing feeling, "Do saal mein kaafi progress kar li hai tumne, Sameer. I've never seen you this comfortable with any girl except Preeti." She gave Preeti an impertinent look before continuing, "But then, Preeti was never like a girl to you, right? Yeh toh tum logon jaisi hi hai. Hamesha tum paancho ko same frequency pe dekha hai. I wonder Naina ke saath sirf do saal mein itna achha bond kaise ban gaya."

Preeti could make out the envy hidden behind her casual remark. With a cheeky smile, she said in a buttery tone, "Special bond toh pehli nazar mein hi ban jaata hai, Kamya, jiske saath banna hota hai. Aur jiske saath connection nahi hona ho, wahan saalon ke baad bhi kuch nahi ho paata."

Colour drained from Kamya's face. Placing her half finished coffee on the table, she gave a piercing look to Sameer, "Are you trying to say that you and that girl..."

"Naina." Sameer immediately provided in a crisp voice.

"Are you... ?" Not bothering to complete what she started, Kamya kept her gaze fixed on him.

Sameer looked at Preeti nervously. This pretence seemed to be going out of hand. He hadn't expected Kamya to be this direct. Preeti gave a slight nod, urging him to accept.

"Well Kamya, I... me and Naina... we... we do have... I mean... hum dono... right from the time I saw her first time..." The words were hard to come out, even in Naina's absence.

Kamya spared him the quandary, getting up suddenly, "Uh... I have a meeting. Catch you guys later."

She was gone before any of them could react. A second later, Preeti burst into giggles, "God Sameer, Kamya ke saamne nahi bol paaye toh Naina ke saamne kaise bologe?"

"Shut up, Preeti." He fished out his handkerchief, wiping the sweat off his face, which had made its presence prominently in spite of strong air conditioning, "Itna sab karne ki kya zarurat thi? What will Naina think? Kamya ne sabke saamne kuch keh diya toh?"

"Kiske saamne? Mujhe nahi lagta woh ab wapas aayegi. Tumne... aur tumhari Naina ne... bina rehearsal ke bhi aisa show diya hai ki mujhe tak doubt ho raha hai." Preeti narrowed her eyes.

His heart, which had done a somersault on hearing 'tumhari Naina', suddenly stopped beating, "Kaisa doubt?"

"Are you guys sure that you are not already together? I mean, kabhi kabhi... balki, zyadatar tum dono ko dekh ke lagta hai 'too much in love' couple ho. Maine uss din bhi kaha tha... mujhe na, badi strong vibes aati hain ki tum dono sach mein..." Preeti's eyes rounded, "Oh my God Sameer! Tum dono mujhe... aur baaki sabko ullu toh nahi bana rahe? You are together na... shaadi waadi kar li hai kya?"

"Shhh Preeti. Pagal ho tum? Dheere bolo." Sameer frantically waved at her to lower her volume, scrunching his nose, "Kya kya aata hai pata nahi tumhare dimaag mein. Aisa kuch hota toh main batata nahi kya? We... I haven't told her anything yet. Mujhe toh yeh bhi nahi pata usse kaise bolun. Himmat hi nahi hoti. Upar se Naina ko yeh sab pyar wyar useless baatein lagti hain. Mujhe toh darr lagta hai agar maine kuch kaha toh kahin yeh sab bhi khatam na ho jaaye... dosti, office mein saath kaam karna, ghar aana... abhi ke liye yeh hi mera sahara hain. I cannot take a chance. Waise tumne bhi kaunsa koi help ki hai. You said you'll find out what she feels about... about everything."