Sapno Ka Shaher

53. A Day to Remember

The first thing Sameer did after entering the house was of course, look for Naina. His eyes scanned as much of the premise of the house as possible while removing his shoes, but he met with nothing but silence.

Where did Naina and Papa go leaving the door open? He wondered.

Sameer strolled to the balcony finding it open and there he met the person he wanted to. Had it been like other normal days, he wouldn't have spared even a second in scaring Naina from behind, but the look on her face was pensive today as she stared at the evening sky.

Turning and leaning on the parapet wall, he waited for his wife to notice him, to break the conversation she was having with the moon and give him the attention he wanted. Her face glowed in the moonlight, and he almost dropped the idea to call her. But the moon, which once used to be their mutual friend to stare at through their different windows, was now teasing him having his wife's all the attention.

He cleared his throat but Naina didn't budge.

"Oh hello Madam!!!" He snapped his fingers in front of her, "kahan khoyi ho?"

Startled, Naina looked at him, then heaving a sigh and smiling.

"Itni bhi kya zaroori baatein chal rahi thi chand bhaisahab ke sath?" Sameer crossed his arms.

"Nahi toh..." Naina answered, fidgeting with her dupatta.

"Kya baat hai? Kya chal raha hai madam ke dimaag mein?"

"Tanvi ke baare mein soch rahi thi." Naina turned to face outside. "Preeti bata rahi thi jab se usne kaam karne ki baat ki hai, tabse unke ghar bass ladai jhagde ho rahe hai. Nirmala aunty ne ladke dekhna shuru bhi kar diya hai." She sighed, taking a moment to rethink her suggestion to Tanvi a month ago. "Tumhe lagta hai maine sahi salah di?"

Sameer smiled gently, seeing her concerned. He turned her to him by holding her hand and looked deep in her eyes. "Tumne sirf salah di hai. Lekin Tanvi ab bachchi nahi hai. Woh apna bhala-boora jaanti hai. Yeh decision usne khud liya hai. Aur Aditya hai na uske sath... "

Sameer's assurance forced Naina's lips to smile. "Waise, mujhe laga nahi tha Aditya ko iss sujhaav se koi problem nahi hoga."

"Sach kahu toh mujhe bhi nahi laga tha. Lekin uski baaton se pata chalta hai woh Tanvi se kitna pyar karta hai."

They took themselves to their beautiful past with this statement, reminiscing how they both did every possible thing to make their dream of marrying one another turn into reality. That chaotic day when they were caught by Papa and Taiji, how Naina was beaten badly at home, how they ran away on Sameer's bike along with the friends, spent the entire day in dhobighat and in mandir, and again how they had to face the wrath of chachaji due to the misunderstanding.

Having been through all these difficulties personally, both Sameer and Naina wished none of their closed ones face this. Aditya and Tanvi's love story and their circumstances reminded them of their own struggle of convincing elders. The case of Aditya and Tanvi was going to be arduous indeed, they knew it. And hence, they wanted to stand as rock solid pillars behind the new love birds of the society.

"Ek minute!!" Sameer took them out of the reverie. "Main kab se tumhe kuchh dikhana chah raha tha, woh toh bhul hi gaya."

"Achchha!! Dikhao..." Naina grinned in anticipation.

Sameer pulled a white envelope from his hip pocket, and by blowing in it, he drew a cheque out, showing it to Naina with a wide smile. "Mere zee ke show ka cheque...."

"Mil gaya?" Naina gasped, her eyes wide.

A fraction of a second after Sameer nodded and Naina jumped onto him by wrapping her arms around his nape, followed by a sweet kiss on his cheek. Sameer lifted her as he squeezed his arms around her, absorbing her joyous vibes into himself. He did it for her, to see her grinning face and twinkling eyes, because he wasn't really feeling all that himself.