Love in Mt. Abu- A SamAina FF

Part 15: Ek Duje Ke Liye

As they reached home, Sameer's Nanu hugged him. "Beta, main bahot khush hun ki aaj tu sabke saamne nirdosh saabit hua. Mera vishwas jeet gaya beta!" Nanu said emotionally. Sameer smiled at him and touched his feet. "Aap jaante the maine kuch galat nahi kiya, mere liye yahi kaafi hai," said Sameer. "Aaj jis tarah tune Arjun se baat ki, use maaf kar diya- mujhe laga jaise aaj mera laadla bada ho gaya," said Nanu proudly. Nanu then telephoned Vishakha and told her what all that had transpired in the school today and how Sameer had reacted with such maturity. Vishakha was really pleased. Her gut instinct had always told her that Sameer couldn't steal. He was short-tempered yes, he could be stubborn too; but he had his morals in the right place. Mr. Somani went cold on hearing the 'good' news, and congratulated Sameer half-heartedly. Sameer didn't mind. If his mother was happy with him, he wouldn't hurt her.

At dinner that night, Nanu popped up the question, "Vaise Sameer, wo teri dost, aaj kuch pighli pighli lag rahi thi. Uski aankhon me gussa nahi tha. Kuch baat huyi usse?" Sameer blushed at the mention of Naina. "Nanu....Vaise haan, uska gussa to kam hua hai us raat ke baad se..," Sameer blurted, realizing his slip of tongue seconds later. "Raat ke baad, kaisi raat?" asked Nanu alarmed. "Uhh...wo Nanuuu," Sameer fumbled. "Wo...jis raat maine use jaake sab sach sach keh diya tha aur pure dil se usse maafi maangi thi aur aur...", Sameer started blushing again. "Aur kya?" winked Nanu. "Aur ye bhi keh diya tha ki...ki main...," Sameer felt too shy to complete. "Ki tu usse pyaar karta hai....Yahi na?" Nanu completed for him. Sameer went red in the cheeks and nodded shyly. "Ab raat ko ladki ke ghar ki balcony pe bhi jaane laga tu?" asked Nanu, now teasing him. Sameer was alarmed, "Nanu...aapko kaise...?" "Mujhe sab pata rehta hai. Bhai hum bhi kabhi jawaan the!" laughed Nanu and then added, "Toh fir usne kya kaha?" Sameer told him she had asked for time and Nanu understood. Broken heart and broken trust were two of the most difficult things in life to heal.

Once he was alone in his room, Sameer sat near Naina's picture on the wall, looking at her with both sadness and love in his eyes. He caressed her face, thinking about the events that had unfolded that evening. It had really pinched him that she had hid the truth from him. She had not trusted him with that secret. That had really hurt. He was the one who was playing with her feelings, but she was madly in love with him right? But then her innocence had melted him. Their love story had been a roller-coster ride. He had spent heavenly moments with Naina, but had been subjected to hellish behavior because of her too. But if given the chance, he would happily take all those beatings for her, again and again. Such was his love for her! He himself was surprised at how soon he had let go of his anger towards Naina. He pondered over the changes she had brought about in him. If he told his friends back in Nainital about all these things, they would surely think he's cracking a joke. 'The Sameer Maheshwari', the egoistic lad; had become so mature in this past one year and all because of that one girl- the girl he was head-over-heels in love with- Naina. Just then, his phone rang. He didn't have to wait for the two rings to complete to know it was Naina. He picked up the phone. Sameer could feel her each breath, heaving up and down at the other end. Naina too didn't need a confirmation. She had developed this telepathy long back. She held the phone and sensed his sighs. It was a miracle how they could recognize each other, just by the sound of their breathing. The two stayed put for many minutes, totally silent, listening to those unspoken words. It was the language their hearts spoke- the language of love. Sameer knew that Naina was ashamed of her actions and still cared for him.

"Sameer...," she finally said, "Gussa ho na?" "Thoda to haan...hurt hun...," he responded truthfully. Sameer always knew he would be a possessive lover- one part of him wanted to shout at her for not trusting him and treating him as an extremely important second priority. The other part, well, the other part wanted him to hold her tight in his arms, bury his face in her sweet-smelling hair and never let go. Hers was one love, one assurance he craved for. "Tum tension mat lo. Main manage kar lunga," he added. "I'm really sorry Sameer!" said Naina. "Hmmm...Jab laga tha teer, tab itna dard na hua Ghalib, zakhm ka ehsaas tab hua jab kamaan dekhi apnon ke haathon me...Sach Naina...aaj maine tumhare dard ko sach me samjha. Jab koi apna, jisse aap betahasha pyaar karte ho, wahi aapko chot pahuncha de, wahi dil dukha de to kaisa lagta hai...Jo maine tumhare saath kiya, uske aage to ye chot bahot choti hai. Lekin jab mujhe itni taqleef huyi to tumhari taqleef ka to andaza bhi nahi lagaya ja sakta...Naina...I'm really sorry us shart ke baare mein. Tumse to mohabbat ho gayi thi mujhe. Par aise kisi ke bhi dil ke saath khelna sahi nahi tha...," Sameer spoke with a heavy heart. "Lekin Naina, agar tum pehle bhi mujhe Arjun ke baare me bata deti, tab bhi main use kisi ke saamne beizzat nahi karta. Main bas yahi chahta tha ki meri mummy aur mere sautele papa ko pata chal jaye ki maine chori nahi ki thi. Khair unhe aaj pata chal gaya. Aur pata hai Naina, mom mujhse bahot khush bhi hain," he said, his mood lifting now. Naina smiled sadly, "Sameer...kya ho tum...samajh nahi aata tumse nafrat karun ya pyaar karun...sach me hawa ka jhonka ho tum...pal pal badalte ho...kabhi itne bure aur kabhi itne ache, itne sacche...," said Naina. Sameer smiled, "ab aisa hi hun main...soch lo...jhel paaogi?" Naina blushed, "dekhte hain...lekin maaf to kar sakti hun na...Sameer- aaj jaise tumne meri taqleef ko mehsoos kiya, thik usi tarah aaj maine bhi khud ko tumhari jagah paaya...maine bhi ye gunaah jaan ke hi kiya tha, anjaane me nahi...aur iska jitna paschataap kar lun, ise badal nahi paaungi...aaj samajh aaya tumne kya mehsoos kiya hoga us waqt...jab tum sacche the par tumpar kisi ne vishwaas nahi kiya, maine bhi nahi...Sameer...shayad...kahin na kahin is cheez ko hum dono ko piche chodna hoga. Aur main tumhe maaf isliye nahi kar rahi jo aaj tumne mere liye kiya...par isliye ki tumhe apni bhool ka ehsaas hai...kisi ke dil se khelna galat hai ye tum jaan gaye," concluded Naina. Sameer felt his heart jump in his chest. "Maaf kiya? Sach?" he reiterated as if he couldn't believe his ears. He felt his sadness go away. "Sach me baba...lekin haan wo special wali dosti ke liye thoda sa aur waqt doge?" asked Naina good naturedly. "Hmmm...," said Sameer. Naina sensed the dejection in his voice. "Par tum please fir dukhi mat ho jao," she added, concern evident in her voice. Sameer smiled at this. If he wanted Naina to overcome her pain, he would have to overcome his own too. "Hey...I'm okay...maine kaha na...aur tension mat lo...jaldi hi theek ho jaunga main...vaise bhi main to udaas hoke bhi handsome hi dikhunga...lekin tum to vaise hi behenji lagti ho...upar se Meena Kumari ki tarah udaas baithi rahogi to aur buri dikhogi!" he giggled, trying to lighten the mood. "Oh hello...itni buri bhi nahi dikhti...aur vaise Mt. Abu mein to tum lattu ho gaye the mujhe dekh kar...," Naina replied haughtily. "Wo to maine socha bechari seedhi saadhi si hai...kahan jayegi...mere saath reh kar kamse kam has to legi...varna mere aane se pehle to tum na aasuon ki factory thi...," Sameer replied, teasing her. "Haan haan...main bechari na...aur tum hero...," she said. "Obviously...Wo to main hun...ekdum Salman types...," he said proudly. "Bas bas haan...itne bhi ache nahi dikhte ho...," Naina tried to downplay his tirade of self-obsession. "Acha Kamya se pucho kitna acha dikhta hun main...ab tum interested nahi ho to uski taraf se aaj bhi khulla offer hai mujhe," Sameer teased again. "Haan haan pata hai kitna gir rahi thi tumpar...giri huyi ladki...kitni bekaar dikhti hai wo," Naina said, making no efforts to hide her envy now. "Kya baat kar rahi ho...kamaal dikhti hai wo to...," Sameer added fuel to the fire. "Haan tabhi mini skirt me use ghur rahe the na...," she replied coldly. "Ohhh tumhe jalan huyi...ab tum to mini skirt pehenene se rahi to use hi ghurna padega na...," Sameer added naughtily. Naina blushed at the thought of her being in a miniskirt and Sameer imagining the same. Sameer too felt shy as he realized what he had said. He couldn't help but visualize Naina in a miniskirt and the thought made his cheeks flush with colour, making his environs seem hotter than usual. "Chee...Sharam nahi aati...Tum kisi ko nahi ghuroge samjhe!" snapped Naina. "Acha...to matlab Kamya ko hold pe hi rakhun na ya...," Sameer paused intentionally. Naina smirked, "Bano mat...us din to tumne use jhatak diya tha... sab pata hai mujhe...aur haan kuch bhi bolo par mujhe behenji mat bola karo...". "Acha...kyun?" Sameer prodded again, his naughty self enjoying itself. Naina was at a loss of words at this and continued to blush. She did not want to admit her love so soon this time. Sameer sensed Naina's embarrassment and smiled internally to himself. He could sense she was coming to terms with her feelings for him. Sameer and Naina remained silent, both feeling shy, aware that the love they had harboured for each other was still alive. They chatted for another hour or so and laughed like they used to. (Dheere Dheere Se Mere Dil Ko Churaana, Tum Se Pyaar Humein Kitna Hai Jaane Jaana, Tumse Milkar Tumko Hai Bataana ...Tune Bhi Aksar Mujhko Jagaya Raaton Mein, Aur Neend Churayi Meethi Meethi Baaton Mein, Tune Bhi Beshak Mujhe Kitna Tadpaya, Phir Bhi Teri Har Ek Ada Par Pyaar Aaya, Aaja Aaja Ab Kaisa Sharmaana, Dheere Dheere Se Dil Ko Churaana, Dheere Dheere Se Meri Zindagi Mein Aana, Dheere Dheere Se Mere Dil Ko Churaana, Tum Se Pyaar Humein Kitna Hai Jaane Jaana, Tumse Milkar Tumko Hai Bataana...plays in background). After many days, it felt like the olden times were back.