"Naina kya hua beta tum pareshan dikh rahi ho?" Naina glared at dadi when she said that. Smirking and putting her hair behind her ear, dadi laid on the bed and closed her eyes, sleeping peacefully, spoiling both Naina's and Sameer's sleep. Naina glanced at dadi and an idea struck her. Switching off the lights in the room, Naina laid on the bed, waiting for the right time to execute her idea. The right time came when she felt that dadi was deep in her sleep. Giggling Naina started her act.

Dadi's sleep was disturbed when she heard few noises in the room. She looked at Naina who was snoring loudly while sleeping. She tried to cover her ears and go back to sleep, but the snores became even more louder. Unable to bear it dadi was forced to wake up Naina. "Naina, utho, utho... " huh? Kya hua dadi, Naina pretended as if she was woken up from deep sleep. "Mujhe needh nahi aa rahi." "Toh kya main apko bhi story sunao, jaise deepika ko sunaya tha." "Mazak mat karo Naina, itni zoor se kharate mar rahi ho toh mujhe neendh kaisi aayegi." "Sorry dadi, ab kya kare, mera aadat hai na. Kharate na marne ki koshish karti hoon", saying this Naina and dadi both drifted off to sleep.

With a few more minutes dadi started to hear Naina snore again. Irritated, dadi took a pillow and covered it over her ear. But the next thing Naina did, made it even more difficult for dadi to sleep. Naina threw her legs over dadi. The leg was soon followed by an arm. Naina pulled the pillow that was covering dadi's ears and tossed it on the floor. Dadi tried to remove Naina's hands and legs from her and moved away from her. But Naina soon filled that space and yet again, put her weight over dadi and dadi yet again moved away from her. This process continued till the time dadi did not have any space left on the bed and she fell to the floor. Naina opened her eyes to find dadi on the floor and said, "kya hua dadi, aap neeche kyu soo rahi hai, yahan bed mein aakar soo jayena." "Upar jagah kahan chooda tumne, tumhare wajah se neeche gir gayi hai." "Sorry dadi, ab main aisa nahi karoongi, aap upar aa jayiye." Naina made space for dadi but she decreased the temperature of the AC, and within minutes the room turned extremely cold. Naina put the AC remote under her pillow and pulled the blanket more closer to her. As time passed by, the blanket was pulled more closer to Naina, leaving dadi without the cover off the blanket, being exposed to both Naina's snores and the cold AC air.

"Naina... Naina..." she tired waking up Naina from her sleep, but all her efforts went in vein. Shivering in the chill atmosphere of the room, dadi took her pillow and went down to the living room. She placed the pillow over the sofa and slept on the sofa.

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The next morning the Vishaka, Mr.Somani, Sameer and Naina were shocked to find dadi sleeping in the living room, on the sofa. Vishaka woke dadi and and asked her how come she was sleeping in the living room. "Sab tumhari bahu ke wajah se?" "Naina ke wajah se , kya kiya usne." "Yeh pooch ki kiya nahi kiya Naina ne. {ehle toh itni zoor se kharate marti hai." "kya? Naina kharate...", Sameer started to say, when he realized what his wife was upto the previous night and he too joined the act. "Haan Naina bohot zoor se kharate marti hai, ab toh mujhe uske kharate ka aadat padh gayi." "Sirf kharate he nahi, woh mujhpar apna haath aur pair dalke soo rahi thi." "Main kya karti maa, mujhe needh mein laga hoga ki Sameer..." Naina trailed off with that and everyone present in the room understood what she wanted to say. "Sorry dadi Naina", added later. "Par tumne AC ka temprerature kyu kam kiya." "AC ka temperature, kab kam kiya maine?" Naina acted innocent. "Jhoot mat bolo Naina", dadi said fuming with anger. "Uhhmm Dadi, yeh sab toh Naina ka aadat hai. Isisiliye main kal mana kar raha tha, par aap sab ne meri baat nahi suni", Sameer said and Mr.Soman nodded regretfully. "Maa aap chinta mat kijiye, maine electrician ko bula diya hai, woh AC theek kar dega. Aaj raat aap aram se apne he room mein soo sakthi hai."

***

Everyone left the living room and went on to proceed with the routines of a new day. Sameer followed Naina to their room and hugged her immediately as they entered their room. "I love youuu... maan gaye tumko Mrs. Maheshwari. I love you for this". "Par Sameer mujhe dadi ke liye bura lag raha hai." Kyu? Tumhe unke liye bura feel karne ki zaroorat nahi hai, do din se raat ko theek se so nahi paya, accha sabak sikhaya hai tumne dadi ko, ab woh raat ko humme chain se sone degi."

******
Later that morning when Naina came down from her room to refill the water jug of her room, dadi stopped Naina to have a word with her. "Ruko Naina, kal raat tumne joh kiya woh theek nahi tha." "Aur apne joh kiya woh bhi toh theek nahi tha." "Games khelne ka itni he shauk hai tumhe toh tayar ho jau. I promise ki jab tak tum Delhi main ho, main tumhe aur Sameer ko chain se rehne nahi doongi." "Toh ek promise main bhi karti hoon apse, ki jab tak main Delhi main hoon, tab tak apko, aap he ki bhasha mein sabak seekhathi rahoongi." "Bacchi ho tum Naina." "Aur yeh bacchi kya kar sakti hai, yeh toh kal raat aap dekh he chuki hongi right." Pushing her hair behind her ear, dadi stomped off to her room.

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Naina was strolling in the garden, looking at the plants and talking to them. How she wished she would have been in Ahemedabad, she would have gone to meet chachi or Preeti to get rid of her boredom, but it was Delhi and even Amritha was not at home and she was in no mood to continue with her book. As a solution to her problem, Vishaka came to the garden. "Naina kya hua beta." "Kuch nahi maa." "Hmm bore ho rahi thi right", Naina nodded in a yes. "Tumhare bore ko dur karne keliye mere paas ek idea hai. aao main bata thi hoon." Vishaka took Naina along with her to her room and brought out an album from her cupboard and handed it to Naina.

Naina opened the album and the first photo was enough to bring a wide smile on her face. It was a photo of a boy of two, happily playing with his toy. "Sameeer!!!!" Naina squealed looking at the photo and without noticing the spectator sitting beside her, she kissed the picture of the little boy and immediately her cheeks turned red when Vishaka coughed. She flipped the page and the next one was probably taken in a studio, but here the little boy was dressed up like a girl. Naina chuckled at the photo. "Yeh tab kijwayi gayi thi, jab Sameer do saal ka tha. Yeh frock pehenne se pehle bohot nakhre dikha raha tha. Phir Sameer ke papa ne usse frock pehnai aur do chote chote pony tails banaye aur studio le gaye the." The next photo was of a man lifting Sameer up in the air and the small boy laughing with joy. "Karan, Sameer ke papa. Sameer unka ladla tha." The next was of Sameer receiving a gift from Nanu. "Yeh Sameer ka 3rd birthday ka photo hai." The next photo was Sameer on a tricycle and Vishaka behind him. "Yeh tab ka photo hai, jab woh 4 saal ka tha. Sameer ke papa ne Sameer ko yeh tricycle uske 4th birthday par gift kiye the. Tricycle dekhte he woh apna saare khilone ko dur kar diya aur hamesh tricycle par he nazar aata tha." The next one was a family picture, where Sameer was with his mom and dad. He looked extremely happy in that picture. Naina's heart was filled with joy seeing him so happy, she wished to go inside the picture and pull the kid's cheeks. "Yeh Sameer ke papa ke saath akhiri photo hai. Bohot khush tha Sameer, jab yeh photo kijwane gaye the. Karan hamme Canada le jaa raha tha aur passport photo ke liye hum studio gaye the aur saath he ek family photo bhi kitchwa liya. Agle din he, unka accident..." tears welled up in Vishaka's eyes speaking about Sameer's father's death.

Naina hugged Vishaka. "Uske baad maine Sameer ko uthna khush tumhare saath he dekha. Jab bhi woh tumhare baare mein baat karta tha na tab uske chehre par ek alag chamak aur khushi hoti thi. Tumne Sameer ki zindagi ko pyaar se bhar diya. Joh pyaar main usse nahi de payi woh tumne diya." "Aisi baat nahi hai maa, kissi bhi bachhe ke liye apni maa ke pyaar ka koi tulna nahi hota. Aap agla photo dekhaiye na", Naina said, holding Vishaka's hands. The next photo was of a 6 year old boy with his Nanu. But looking at the picture, something shifted in Naina's heart. Though Sameer was smiling in this picture, the happiness that was there in the previous ones was missing in this. "Yeh tab ka picture hai jab Sameer pehli baar hostel se vacation ke liye Ahemedabad gaya tha, papa ke paas. Karan ke baad, Sameer sabse zyaada close apne nanu se he tha."

Vishsaka and Naina kept turning the pages of the album, and continued laughing and talking. This did not go unnoticed by dadi. She had heard the sound of laughter coming from Vishaka's room and went to check on it. She found Naina and Vishaka happily shifting through pages of album. Shifting her hair behind her ear, dadi stepped inside the room. Arre tum dono photos dekh rahe ho aur mujhe bulaya he nahi. Zara mujhe bhi dekhao." Dadi sat beside Vishaka and looked at the picture in the album. It was probably taken in Delhi as Vishaka and Rohan were present in the picture. Vishaka was standing between Rohan and Sameer. But something was different in Sameer's face. His face was devoid of happiness and it seemed as if his cheeks were a bit swollen. "Arre yeh toh Rohan ka 10th birthday ka photo hai. Par Sameer iss photo mein kaise? Woh toh hostel mein tha na. Haan yaad aaya Sameer ko uske school ne ek hafte ke liye suspend kar diya tha, kyuki woh kissi ladke se mar peet ki. Sach mein kitna batameez ladka tha woh. Accha kiya Bobby ne usse hostel bejke, warna pata nahi ghar par rehta toh Rohan ke saath kya karta", dadi said making a disgusted face. "Kuch nahi karta. Sameer har koi par haath nahi uthatha. Woh kissi ko tab marta ha jab samne wale ne kuch galat kiya ho, Sameer bina wajah kissi par gussa nahi karta." Naina said with confidence. "Aur usse hostel bechne ka ek he faida hua, woh apse toh dur tha, warna aap Sameer ko dusra Rohan bana dete. Sameer ki individuality kahin kho jaati." Naina turned towards Vishaka and said, "maa kya main yeh album apne saath le jaa sakthi hoon, mujhe yeh Sameer ke saath milkar dekhna hai". "Of course Naina." "Thank you maa." Naina said taking the album from Vishaka's hand and leaving the room not before giving a cold look to dadi.

"Vishaka apni bahu ko badho se baat karne ka tameez sikhao", dadi said as soon as Naina exited the room. "Isme mein kuch nahi kar sakti maa. Naina ne apne pati ko support kiya tha, har patni ki tarha woh bhi apne pati ki insult nahi dekh payi. Aap he toh kaha karti thi, ki mujhe Sameer ko apne pati ki insult karte dekh chup nahi rehna chahiye. Toh main bhi Naina ko yahi sala doongi ki apne pati ki insult hote dekh usse chup nahi baithna chahiye. Joh baat meri saas ne mujhe samjhyi, woh main Naina ko bhi samjhaongi. Aur maa mujhe lagta hai ki apko Sameer ke bare mein aisa bolna theek nahi hai, aur Naina ke samne toh bilkul bhi nahi kyuki har koi Vishaka nahi hogi."

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That evening Sameer returned back from work a little earlier than usual. He quickly made his way to his room and found his wife back on working on her story. She looked up at him and was pleasantly surprised to see him in the house much earlier. "Tum aaj jaldi aa gaye, chalo aacha hua tumhare liye ek surprise hai" "That's nice kyuki mere paas bhi tumhare liye ek surprise hai", Sameer said. "Kaisa surprise?", Naina asked excitedly. "Woh tumhe jald he pata chal jayega." He finished saying this and they heard the door bell ring. "Wow, that was fast. Chalo neeche chalte hai, tumhara surprise neech tumhari intezar kar rahi hai."

Sameer pulled her with him to the living room and Naina was indeed surprised to see Mrs. Verma standing at the doorstep. She looked at Sameer with a smile on her face and eyes full of love for him. She knew why Mrs.Verma was here. Vishaka and dadi were also present in the room along with Naina, Sameer and Mrs.Verma. "Naina, beta woh main, woh... woh..." "Aunty accha hoga agar aap woh..woh... se zyaada kuch kahenge toh", Sameer prompted the lady. "Haan, beta mujhe maaf kardo, mujhe woh sab nahi bolna chahiye tha, pata nahi kya ho gaya tha mujhe uss waqt, Maaf kardo Naina." "Its okay aunty, galtiyan sabse ho jaati hai aur apko apki galti ka ehsaas hai, yahi mere liye kaafi main. Warna kuch logon ko apne galti ka ehsaas kabhi nahi hota", Naina said eyes dadi. While dadi put her hair behind her ear and glared back at her. "Toh main nikalti hoon". "Aunty ji aap aa he gaye toh, chai peekar jayiye na". "Nahi beta, its okay." Saying this Mrs. Verma left and Vishaka closed the door and then turned towards Sameer, "I am proud of you Sameer", she said placing her hand over her son's head. "Apko kaise pata ki yeh sab mere wajah se hua". "Maa hoon main tumhari, itna toh tumhe pehchanti he hoon." Truly she was proud of her son for he stood with his wife, for her respect. Something she did not see in Rohan's father, but was proud that he had inherited this trait from his own father.

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"Mera surprise kahan hai", he asked as soon as they entered the room. "Ek minute", Naina said turning towards the study table and pulling out something that looked like an album from the table drawer. They both sat on the bed as Naina held out the album towards him, he opened the album and a smile adored his face seeing the first picture. "Dekho na Sameer, tum iss photo mein kitne cute lag rahe ho. Mann kar raha he ki photo ke ander jaaker tumhare golu molu si gallon ko keechu aur tumhe tighly hug karloon." "Toh kar lo na, tumhare samne he toh baitha hoon", he said winking at her. "Main iss Sameer ki baat kar rahi thi", Naina said pinting at the photo. "Toh phir theek hai, tum chaho toh aise he ek Sameer ko gale laga sakthi ho, par uske liye tumhe nine months wait karna padega", he received a smack of his arm once he uttered this statement. "Tum na... page turn karo..." Naina said blushing and lowering her eyes covered with shyness.

Sameer chuckled at his wife's cuteness and turned the page. "Yeh kya hai? cartoon dikh raho ho main," he said looking at his photo where we was dressed like a girl. Naina couldn't control her laughter seeing his reaction to the picture. "Waise iss photo mein bhi cute dikh rahe ho. Sameer main soch rahi thi ki kaisa lagega agar ab tum aise he ek photo kichwaoge toh. Tumhare baal itne lambe hai ki aaram se do ponies aa jayenge." Naina said laughing. "haha..Very funny Naina", Sameer said frowning. "Aacha theek hai gussa mat ho". Sameer turned the page and the next photo filled his eyes with tears. He traced his fingers over the photo gently and whispered, "papa". Tears rolled down his cheeks looking at his father in the picture. Naina rubbed his arm to comfort him. He smiled through his tears, recollecting the faint memory of his childhood days spent with his father.

"Mujhe zyaada kuch yaad nahi haan, bohot chota tha main jab papa... Par itna pata hai ki papa mujhse bohot pyaar karte the. Mujhe pyaar se 'nanhe' bulate the", he said, caressing the photo, trying to feel the connect with his father. He turned the page again and found a picture with his nanu. "Nanu... nanu mera har birthday ko memorable banathe the, jab main boarding mein tha, tab woh wahan aa jate the, cake aur gifts lekar. Ek wahi the joh mujhe har birthday par wish karte the." He turned to the next picture and his eyes widened with joy. "Mera tricycle. Naina yeh mera sabse favorite cheez thi aur aaj bhi yeh mere liye bohot khaas hai. Pata hai kyu, Papa ne gift kiya tha yeh mujhe, mere 4thbirthday par. Aur woh last birthday tha joh maine unke saath celebrate kiya tha aur yeh unka last gift. Hamare ghar mein ek lamba saa veranda tha aur uska poora faida uthaya tha maine." Naina was over joyed to see the excitement in his face and the happiness that brimmed in his eyes but suddenly sadness took over his face. "Par... jab mummy ki dusri shaadi huyi aur hum Delhi shift huye, tab Rohan ko yeh tricycle bohot pasand aa gaya tha, mujhe bilkul accha nahi laga jab mummy ne kaha ki mujhe Rohan ke saath tricycle share karna padega. Uske baad mujhse zyaada hamesha Rohan he woh tricycle use karta tha." Unable to bear the sadness on her husband's face, an idea struck Naina's head and she said, "Sameer kya yeh tricycle abhi bhi yahan hai". Ho sakta hai pata hai", Sameer answered her question. "Chalo dekte hai." "Naina par..." "No par war.. chalo na Sameer."

Naina took Sameer along with her to Vishaka and asked her if the tricycle was still in the house. "Yaad nahi hai Naina, lekin tum upar ke storeroom mein dekh sakti ho, shayad ho, lekin main sure nahi hoon." "Theek hai" Naina said before she excitedly ran upstairs towards the storeroom and Sameer followed her. Vishaka smiled seeing the level of excitement in her to bring back her husband's childhood memory back to life.

***

After scanning the nook and corner of the storeroom, Sameer and Naina were victorious in finding the tricycle. Sameer's face lit up seeing the tricycle, his most cherished gift from his father. She took the tricycle out of the storeroom and shouted from there "Maa mil gaya." Vishaka heard her voice and immediately left her room and proceeded up to see the tricycle and so did dadi, wondereing what Naina had found out that she sounded so excited.

Naina and Sameer were busy dusting the tricycle when dadi walked upto them and said, "Aree yeh toh Rohan ka tricycle hai", the excitement in Sameer's eyes fades hearing the statement. "Correction dadi, yeh Sameer ka tricycle hai joh Rohan sirf use karta tha. Sameer ke papa ne yeh Sameer ke liye gift kiya tha Rohan ke liye nahi." "Maa kya main yeh apne saath Ahemedabad le jaa sakta hoon. Please, sameer asked, racing his fingers over his childhood favorite. "Nahi. Manti hoon ki yeh tumhara hai par Rohan ka bhi haq hai iss par, afterall woh bhi isse use karta tha." Dadi said unable to see the smile on sameer's face.

"Dadi iss par mera koi haq nahi hai. Sameer bhai, aap pooch kyu rahe ho, apka hai, bejijak aap isse Ahemedabad le jau." Shocked or anger or disappointment, none of these words could explain what Dadi was experiencing when she heard her grandson speak in favor of Sameer. She hadn't expected such a response from Rohan. Sameer went and hugged his brother and said "Thanks Rohan". But Rohan replied to the thanks with a sorry. "Sorry bhai". "Yeh sorry kiskeliye?." "Bachpan mein mere wajah se apko bohot dukh hua hoga na woh sab keliye. Sorry." "Arre tum sorry kyu bol rahe ho, iss mein tumhari koi galti nahi thi, mere tarha tum bhi toh chote the." "Haan Rohan Sameer sahi keh raha hai, iss mein tumhari koi galti nahi hai, galat toh mein thi, mere wajah se Sameer ko kitna kuch sehna padha. Sorry toh mujhe bolna chahiye." "Maa aap..." Sameer couldn't come up with any words and hugged Vishaka and both the mother and son couldn't stop the tears from flowing down their eyes. "Kya main bhi join kar sakta hoon?, if you don't mind", Rohan asked and Sameer extended his arm towards Rohan. Naina stood there with tears in her eyes seeing the bond between a mother and her two sons. "Tum wahan kyu kadi ho", Vishaka asked Naina, "aa jau" she added. Naina also wrapped one arms around Sameer and the other around Vishaka while dadi couldn't bear the sight in front of her eyes and left for her room, fuming with anger.

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I am soooo sorry for the delay in the update. But here is the next update... Hope you all like it...