Mr Kapoor walked towards Naina later in the party, "Naina ji, ab thoda change kar do script mein... Mayank ko kahin bahar bhej do... yeh ab kaafi din shooting pe nahi aa payega."
"Mr Kapoor, bada bura lag raha hai bechare ke liye... aur aapka bhi nuksaan hoga ab uski shooting ruk jayegi toh." Sameer made a sad face.
"Arre nahi Sameer ji, hum baaki ke scene shoot karenge... aur Naina ji usko kahin bhijwa dengi jahan se sirf chithi likhi jaa sake... phone call wali jagah bhi mat bhejna usse." He looked at Naina, "Awaaz toh dub karni padegi na uske liye... aur iski toh ab bolte hue bhi hawa nikal jaayegi."
He burst out in laughter, making others around him also join in.
"Waise mujhe toh bada maza aaya... aisa gubbara banke udne laga tha kuch mahino se... girte hi saari hekdi hawa ho gayi... ab dekho kab wapas aa payega nakli daant ke saath... main khushi khushi uska track hold pe daal dunga... kal ki news se sabko pata chal jayega ki uske saath yeh haadsa hua hai toh viewers bhi uske na hone se pareshan nahi honge... pata nahi iss jaise ghatiya insaan ke itne fans kyon hain?" He scrunched his nose.
Sameer found it to be right moment, "Kapoor sahab, aisa bhi kya hai ki aap sab log mil ke iske khilaaf nahi bol sakte... ladkiyon ke saath iss tarah ka bartaav kaise bardaasht karte hain aap log... kya apne show ko chalaane ke liye zaroori hai ki aap doosre logon ki beizzati hote hue dekhen? Maine dekha yahan koi usse pasand nahi karta... toh agar aap sab log haath mila lein aur usse apne show ka hissa na banaye toh usko apne aap hi sabak mil jaayega."
Mr Kapoor glanced at his friends who were involved with some or the other show, he looked back at Sameer.
With a deep breath, he placed one hand on Sameer's shoulder, "Aisa nahi hai ki hum sab yeh nahi chahte... pehle Mayank aisa nahi tha... uski acting toh number one hai hi, uska dimag bhi thikane pe tha... lekin pichle do saalon mein usse itne award mile aur itne show aa gaye ki achanak mili shohrat uske sar chadh gayi... woh har kisi ko apna naukar samajhne lag gaya... ab jinhone usko pehle se hi sign kar rakha hai woh kya kar sakte hain... lekin ab paani sar ke upar jaane laga tha... hum sab kuch dino se soch hi rahe the ki isko kaise nikala jaaye... aaj iski kismat khud hi saath chod gayi."
Naina stifled a smile.
The initial shock of Mayank's accident slowly faded, giving way to everyone joking about it... he was still the talk of the party, but people now sniggered about how he truly got what he deserved.
When finally Naina and Sameer left the party, they were happy with all the praises Naina received and a few offers to write new shows. She had her hands full now... and it exhilarated her. She could spend more for the project on little girls...
When they reached home, it was close to midnight. Sonali had given the keys to them earlier, knowing that they would get late.
Quietly, Naina opened the main door. They entered, locking it behind them and walked to their rooms softly, so as not to wake up Rahul and Sonali.
Sameer put the latch in their room and turned... and was thrown against the door... as Naina hurled herself in his arms.
"Naina, kya ho gaya? Tum toh theek thi abhi tak... achanak kya hua?" He was taken aback, stroking her hair as he wound his arm around her.
"I Love You, Sameer."
A soft, satiated smile spread on his face... he could never get enough of her confession... she could say it hundred times a day, each day of their life... each time would still give him the same jump of heart, same quickening of breath, same racing of pulse...
"I Love You too sweetheart." He kissed the top of her head.
Her hold got tighter. She wanted to tell him how proud she was of whatever he did today, and the way he did it... discreetly... not even the person effected could realise it was him behind the mishap...
