"Sh... show... tum pagal ho." Naina turned beetroot as the meaning of Sameer's words descended on her.
Pushing him away, she flipped the fabric over herself, and ran... without looking back once.
Sameer stood holding the yellow saree... smirking... his eyes shining with determination.
When he came down after a few minutes, she was in the kitchen.
"Ramdhari, aaj kya koi mehmaan aane wale hain?" He leaned against the platform opposite of where Naina was chopping something.
"Nahi bhaiya, aisa kyon laga aapko?" Ramdhari stopped his work, confused at the question.
"Aaj kaam hi khatam nahi ho raha kitchen ka... tu kabse laga hai... ab toh khana bhi ho gaya... fir bhi tu kaam kare hi jaa raha hai." Sameer gave a slanting look to Naina who did not turn.
Ramdhari was touched by this concern, "Aapne itna socha wohi hamare liye bohot hai, Sameer bhaiya... hum toh bas Naina bhabhi ki madad kar rahe hain... woh cake bana rahi hain na."
Sameer stuffed his hands in pockets, looking at things kept on the platform as he moved nonchalantly towards Naina, "Cake toh oven mein ban raha hai... isme tujhe kya karna hai? Thoda aaram kar lena chahiye na."
Naina smiled, as she chopped the cherries... his words were addressed to Ramdhari but were meant for her.
"Nahi, nahi bhaiya, aaram hi kar rahe the itne saalon se... humein toh achha lag raha hai ki iss rasoi mein alag alag tarah ke khaane ki mehek phailne lagi hai." Ramdhari gave a wide smile.
"Haan par saara din aise hi phailegi toh main bhi jaldi hi phail jaunga." He said with some annoyance, getting impatient as Naina neither answered nor looked at him.
"Ramdhari bhaiya, inse kahiye thodi exercise kiya karein." Naina spoke up finally.
He inched closer to her, "Ramdhari, keh de teri bhabhi ko, exercise toh bohot karta hun... abhi bhi kar leta agar... "
Naina closed her eyes, pressing lips hard to stop her gasp from making any sound.
Ramdhari, unaware of what was happening, quickly chipped in, "Nahi bhaiya, abhi thodi der pehle hi khana khaya hai... khana khate hi exercise nahi karni chahiye."
Sameer heard a faint chuckle from her.
"Achha, toh kab karni chahiye?" He asked, irked at not getting her attention, even though he was standing next to her now.
"Sabse achha samay toh subah hota hai, uthte hi... waise aap chahe toh shaam ko bhi kar sakte hain." Ramdhari showed off his knowledge.
"Oh, subah uthte hi? Woh toh pakka karunga lekin shaam ko bhi? Shaam toh hone wali hai... kya bolta hai... aaj shaam ko try karke dekhun?" Sameer leaned to pick a glass, grazing his arm against her hand.
Naina was almost frozen by now... she wanted to tell Sameer to stop... but his remark on the terrace had made her extremely shy... and she was unable to look at him.
He poured water from the jug, gulping it down, eyes fixed on the hair that were hiding her face on the side.
"Shaam ko hum bhi chalenge aap ke saath, exercise karne." Ramdhari said excitedly.
The water sputtered out of Sameer's mouth, making him cough as some of it found its way to his wind pipe.
Naina quickly turned to him, rubbing his back, her brow creased.
"Bhaiya, jaldi se cheeni dijiye." She asked Ramdhari who immediately brought sugar canister.
Naina took half a spoon, making Sameer eat it, continuously stroking his back.
