Sameer hid his face in the crook of Naina's neck after he finished. He was panting and so was Naina, as the aftermath of their slow lovemaking. Naina kissed his neck when she controlled her breathing and Sameer slid down from her, only to instantly open the almirah to get the towel. Naina looked at him surprised. Usually Sameer lies down next to her for at least a minute, giving them both the time to cool down, to exchange a glance at each other, and of course to gain some energy back. She saw him draping the towel in a daze, contemplating and leaving immediately for the bathroom. He forgot to peck on her lips too.

Wasn't he good till some time ago?

Ignoring the silly thought in her mind, Naina pulled the duvet upto her neck and sighed. She was yet to recover and didn't feel like wearing the clothes, but Sameer didn't give her enough time. By the time Sameer entered the room, Naina could only wear her underwear and the night suit pants, lying half naked under the comforter. Sameer was fast in wearing his bottom wears too, leaving Naina astonished at his speed when he slipped beside her. He didn't even switch off the dim light.

She had to wear two more pieces of clothes and this man was already in the mood of sleeping, with his arm covering his face.

"Sameer", Naina called him, balancing herself on her elbow. He always keeps her clothes to his side when he takes it off.

"Hmmmmm..." He only hummed with his eyes closed, but softly. She thought he was mad at her, but he wasn't.

"Woh.. mere kapde do na..." She mumbled, shaking on his chest.

Removing his hand, Sameer looked at her. She had held the cover upto her chest with one hand. She raised her brows pointing at his left and he looked in the direction. On the floor was her yellow night suit top and a white bra. He picked only the top and passed to her.

"Sirf top? Woh bhi do na..." Naina pleaded.

"Naina, sirf sona hi hai na... yahi pehen lo.." Sameer countered which didn't sound like a counter at all.

"Offo! Yeh insaan bhi na", Naina huffed and partially lied on Sameer to get her bra that was far at his left. When she got the hold of it, Sameer snatched it from her hand. "Sameer, kya kar rahe ho?" She said, agitated.

She looked in his eyes and when she didn't get a reply from him, her smile turned mischievous. "Kya iraada hai mister?" She was playful. If her husband was in the mood of a second round then she wouldn't mind it.

"Koi iraada nahi hai... sona hai bass...", came a plain reply from Sameer.

Twisting her mouth in fake annoyance, she wore her top and lied down. But then Sameer turned to her and pulled her to his chest... gently... carefully... and kissed on her forehead.

"Naina..." Sameer whispered after a minute, to which Naina only hummed, leading him to continue. She had guessed he wanted to speak. "Tum raat ko sote waqt bra mat pehna karo na..."

Naina was stunned after listening to the direct use of the word 'bra' by Sameer. Even after one and a half years of their marriage, she couldn't utter that word in front of him and here he was not even one percent hesitant.

"Kya? Pagal ho gaye ho kya tum?" Naina asked, moving back from his hold to look into his eyes. She certainly didn't expect him to speak about this.

"Sona hi toh hai na raat ko... toh nikal diya karo..."

"Sameer subah uthke kitni gadbad hoti hai... aur mai aise iss kamre ke bahar nahi jaa sakti." Naina tried to give one more reason. But she felt a desperation in Sameer's voice all the time. He was definitely intending to suggest something else through this. She caressed his cheek, rubbing her thumb on his stubble. "Sameer... kya baat hai... sach sach batao..." Naina's voice reflected concern.

"Naina..."

Sameer sighed. He lifted her top up, exposing her belly. Naina keenly paid attention to his hand. As his big palm slipped inside her top, his thumb rubbed just below her breast. "Yeh nishan... yeh iske wajah se hi hai na..." He paused for a moment, swallowing a lump. "Yeh mujhse dekhe nahi jaate Naina... aur sirf aaj hi nahi... kaafi dinon se dekh raha hu mai..."

A warm smile crept on Naina's lips. Her husband was worried about the red marks on her skin due to the bra straps. "Sameer... yeh toh hote hi hai... saara din pehnungi toh marks aa hi jaate hai..." She reasoned.

Sameer wasn't convinced with it. He got up and sat crossed legged, "toh hum dusre naye lete hai na...", he urged.

"Arey yeh naye wale hi hai," Naina got up too, "abhi toh liye the sastewale. Bass thode tight hai." And she didn't even notice what she blurted.

Sameer's brows knitted listening to the word 'sastewale'. "Naina, hum achchhe quality ke lete hai na. Tum apne aap ko takleef kyu de rahi ho?"

Naina's shoulders slumped. She didn't understand why he was so much concerned about the marks, whereas she had always overlooked them since the time she had been wearing bras. "Sameer woh bahot mehenge hote hai... aur itni si baat ke liye mujhe kharcha nahi karna... good night."

She flicked the duvet and pulled over her while lying down on her side with her back to Sameer. Sameer kept looking at her sleeping figure. Why wasn't she understanding his point? He was serious about it and she took it as something so silly and stupid.

Not wanting to miss a chance to cuddle his wife, Sameer slept beside Naina, pulling her back to his chest and holding her close to him. Immersing his face in the mass of her hair, he put a soft kiss on her nape. Naina heaved with the touch and let herself drift into sleep.

But Sameer was still awake. His sleep was gone now. That one word hadn't left his mind. The fact that Naina had to purchase some 'sastewale' innerwears was bothering him. She must not have realized its severity but such cheap quality clothes were producing red marks on her body. He recalled her reasoning again. The good quality undergarments were expensive.

Expensive... costly...

Lately all their shopping outings were revolving around only this one thing. That they cannot afford certain purchases just because they were costly. He wasn't used to it. He never thought twice before buying something that he liked. And after coming to Mumbai he had to restrain his free hand while buying anything. But he wasn't okay that Naina also had to curtail her budget while purchasing something as basic as her undergarments, certainly not by compromising on her comfort.

He never thought their financial struggle would reach their basic needs too...

It was true that in his Krishna Kaustubhi bungalow deal, he got a good amount of money from it. But a huge amount was invested in a fixed deposit to secure their future and then remaining was deposited in a savings account. It was eating him from inside that after coming to Mumbai, he couldn't add much into the savings account. Their expenses were more and the income was close to nothing. He cannot touch his fixed deposit again after withdrawing money from it for the acting class. That itself was a huge hole to it.

Observing that Naina was deep asleep, Sameer slowly detangled himself from her and got up. He walked to the window and gently opened its slider. He needed fresh air as it was becoming heavy and suffocating for him.

What drastic turns had his life taken!

He had dreamt of giving a luxurious life to Naina. How many times had he said that he wants her to live like a 'Queen'? He had promised himself that whatever Naina had to compromise on in her life, he would give her all that after their marriage. But he could fulfill it for such a short period and now everything was back to that 'think of money while spending it' living for Naina. And he might not even know how many times Naina settled for cheap and low quality products, be it any. Ugghhhh... He ruffled his hair out of frustration.

What had he done in Mumbai even after a long time?

He was only going to the auditions. Cheap and third class auditions. He had convinced himself that it was okay if he was offered a side role or 'hero ke dost ka' role, but that didn't happen either. He wasn't sure when his career in this industry would actually commence. When he got the print ad and then the TV commercial, he was relieved that he would finally start getting projects frequently. But his destiny proved it wrong too. It was almost mid-June now and there was a huge gap since he did his last commercial.

What else did he need to do in order to get the work more often? He gave 2-3 auditions a day, he met several casting coordinators, he went to jogging to keep himself physically fit.

What else was needed now?

Sameer felt blocked by all the sides. His efforts weren't producing results and that made him question if he was going the right direction or not. He desperately wanted work... he wanted to earn money as a responsible person of this house... for Naina... for Papa... for all the people who believed in him...

Did he believe in himself though?

***

"Agli baar agar mujhpar koi bhi comment pass karne ki koshish ki, toh production house me tumhari complaint karne me mai der nahi karungi..."

Someone opened the door of the office to walk in and the words fell on Sameer's ears. He frowned looking at the door as he thought he had heard the feminine voice before. The tone of the voice, the confidence in it while speaking, he found it resembling someone from the past.

"Now move and get going to your work."

He heard the voice again and couldn't resist the curiosity to see who the person was. He walked to the door and saw a boy coming in with a dull face. Probably he was the one who got scolded by the girl. As he stepped out, he saw a girl with her back to him. She was wearing a green top and white skirt upto knees, and white sandals. Her head was bent down as she was checking her pager, but he couldn't see her face due to her long and straight hair.

"Excuse me?" He said.

The girl turned to the source of the voice, only to find herself absolutely surprised seeing Sameer in front of her.

"Shefali? Tum?" Sameer's face and voice carried the same surprise.

"Sameer...??? Hiii..." Shefali turned from surprised to pleasant quickly. "Tum yaha kaise?"

Sameer was pleased to hear her same cheerful voice she used to speak with. He felt so good meeting with someone from Ahmedabad after a long time. But at the same time, he was doubtful how much to open up with her. "Woh... ek film ke role ke silsile me aaye tha... second round..." Sameer informed hesitantly.

Shefali's face radiated happiness, "Woww... Baat bani phir?"

Sameer shrugged, a disgusted smirk covered his face. "Huh!! Lag toh nahi raha aisa kuchh...." Playing with his fingers, he averted his gaze.

Shefali somehow guessed the entire story behind Sameer's dejected tone. Having seen this industry closely for more than three years now, she had perceived how this field works. Those several auditions in a single day, waiting for hours outside a production house, the treatment given by the assistants and casting directors, she could see all that journey on Sameer's face too.

Her face softened, still maintaining a constant smile. "Kab se try kar rahe ho?"

"Mumbai aake toh kuchh 8 mahine ho gaye... acting class kar liya, 1-2 tv commercials bhi mil gaye... lekin abhiabhi dhang ka koi role mila hi nahi hai..." Sameer couldn't figure out why, but he was comfortable sharing it with Shefali.

"Television me try kiya?" Shefali asked. Sameer gave her a questioned look. "Haan... tv serials me bhi achchha scope hai aaj ke time me... aur waha kam se kam film industry jitna favoritism toh nahi hota..."

"Lekin Shefali... mai yaha hero banne aaya hoon... filmon me kaam karne...", came the instinctive reply from Sameer. He soon realized that he should have answered something else.

"Sameer, yaha naye logon ko itne easily hero ka role nahi milta... jin logon ko yeh chance mila woh log aaj kaha hai yeh tum khud soch lo..."

Sameer smiled at the earnestness she was speaking with. "Tumhe badi khabar hai industry ke baare me... tum bhi try kar rahi ho filmon me?"

A laughter spurt out from Shefali's mouth, "Haan thodi kareeb se dekh li yeh industry aur jald hi samajh bhi gayi... ki mai modelling me hi theek hu..." She looked away for a moment, as if remembering something. "Sameer, mai tumhe discourage nahi karna chahti... lekin yaha har koi Shah Rukh Khan ya Akshay Kumar ki kismat lekar nahi aata... yaha achchhi filmein sirf bade banners ki hi banti hai... aur bade banners ke raaste sirf bade logon ke liye khulte hai... Unn logon ke paas bade producers ke contacts hote, apne maa-baap ki sifaarish hoti hai... Aisi jagah hamare jaise aam logon ko pohochne me saalon lag jaate hai Sameer... Tumhe filmon ke sath sath tv serials ke liye bhi try karna chahiye."

Sameer nodded at her friendly but concerned gesture. He asked where he could find about the tv serial auditions, to which Shefali gave him a number on a paper, telling that he can get the leads about tv auditions from it.

"Toh chalu mai? Mujhe milna hai kisise..." Shefali said, pointing towards the office. Sameer nodded with a warm smile and they shook hands. As they crossed each other, Shefali stopped, her hand on the door handle, "Sameer...."

"Haan?" Sameer turned back.

"Naina kaisi hai?"

Sameer was glad that Shefali didn't forget to enquire about her long-last pen-friend. He smiled, "Naina bahot achchhi hai... aur... ab meri wife bhi hai..." He couldn't control the blush.

"Usse mera pyar dena..." Shefali voiced with a smile and walked inside the office.

On his way back home, Sameer replayed the whole conversation with Shefali in his mind. She had spoken the utmost truth that he too had been experiencing in this industry. During all this time he gave auditions, he fathomed that getting the main role, getting the chance of portraying the Hero of the film was definitely not easy. For some of the auditions he went for the main hero's role, he later got to know that the hero was already selected. And some roles that he auditioned for were so gross, that he himself prayed not to get selected for those ones. True that out of hundreds of films releasing in a year, only few films would score well. And all those films used to be from big production houses, because they had the budget for their films.

He discerned that being present in the right place at the right time is extremely important in this industry.

And unfortunately, that wasn't happening with him.

He once had said to Naina that he didn't want to hear the stories of Shahrukh Khan and Akshay Kumar, but the thing was, it was the fact. As Shefali said, no one got the luck here like them, because others are just the kids and relatives of yesteryear's successful stars. And for the rest who got the opportunities were nowhere to be seen now or still struggling.

So should he think of giving television auditions?

But wouldn't that be a downward path? From films to television? But Shahrukh Khan had also done the same. He did television first and then got into films. So... maybe that can work too... but what if it doesn't?

Sameer was nothing but exasperated. After giving all his energy to bag a role of a film hero, now he needed to change his direction again and focus on becoming a tv serial hero. Like that Rishabh Malhotra from Swabhiman? If so, then it meant more auditions, more confusion and his attention split into multiple things.

Ahhh!! This was so exhausting...

Naina opened the door in an almost grumpy mood. She expected Rakesh Papa but it was Sameer. When their eyes met, none of them smiled nor did the happiness to see each other after a tiring day reflected in their eyes. Naina went back to her place on the single sofa and resumed her writing. While taking his shoes and socks off, Sameer eyed her, figuring if something was wrong. To argue with Naina on anything was the last thing he wanted at the moment.

He took the seat on the sofa adjacent to her. Generally, he doesn't need to tell if he wants water or not; Naina herself gets water for him as she likes it to do. Today, he wondered if he should tell her or just go by himself if she was immersed in whatever she was doing. He couldn't guess, as there were her study books, notes and her diary as well. But the day's exhaustion was taking on him, so while rolling his sleeves, he leaned back on the sofa and exhaled heavily. That didn't go unnoticed by Naina. Doesn't matter her grumpy mood, she knew he was out since morning and must be tired after all. So keeping her books and her mood aside, she walked to the kitchen.

"Hmmm..." Naina only hummed while seeking Sameer's attention. Sameer accepted the glass in silence and saw Naina getting back to her work again. While gulping the water sip by sip, he observed her. She didn't ask today if he finished the tiffin, she didn't question him how the audition was. What was coming towards him now? Some angry stares were definitely in the store.

God!! Now what? He thought but decided to break the silence himself instead.

"Kya padh rahi ho?" He threw the most common question to start with.

"Padh nahi rahi hu... likh rahi hu...", came the dry reply from Naina without matching eyes.

"Hamne abhi abhi toh ek kahani submit ki hai na... Itne jaldi nayi kahani?" Sameer was puzzled.

"Haan lekin mai kisi patrika ke liye nahi likh rahi hu.... Bass mann kiya toh likhne baith gayi..."

Considering Naina's plain and dry replies, Sameer wanted to ask her if something was wrong, but somehow he didn't want a conflict between them. He himself wasn't in a good frame of mind and Naina wasn't helping him either. He decided to change the topic after seeing her books.

"Articleship ka kya decide kiya hai Naina?" He came straight to the point.

"Pata nahi..." Naina looked away, her grip on the pen tightened. The topic of her articleship was bothering her and she kept on avoiding or delaying it for herself too.

"Matlab?" Sameer frowned. "Agle saal May me group 1 dena hai toh uske pehle 9 mahine ka practical training karna padega na Naina..."

Naina directed a pointed gaze at Sameer, "mai jaanti hu Sameer... CA mai hi kar rahi hu... toh itna toh mujhe bhi pata hai..." She started taking deep breaths.

Sameer straightened listening to her curt answer. "Yaar tum mujhpe kyu gussa ho rahi ho? Maine kya kiya hai... Nahi karni kya tumhari articleship ki koi baat? Bata do waise phir... Nahi bolunga kuchh agli baar se..." He couldn't control raising his voice. How could he miss in these days that Naina wasn't taking any step for her articleship?

Naina smacked her pen in the diary and shut it. She didn't want to talk anything about it. Seeing her avoiding the topic again, Sameer decided to leave to freshen up. What he didn't want to happen had happened. He was about to get up but he spotted a khaki envelope on the glass table.

When he peered at it, a name caught his attention.

Natasha Antara Acting School

He opened it keenly and a smile crept on his lips. There were photos of him clicked in acting school at various instants. Naina watched him watching the photos and she too knew what he was thinking.

It must have been hardly 15 minutes before Naina opened the door to a courier boy. After confirming the name Sameer Maheshwari to him, she received an envelope and opened it in curiosity. There were photos in it and she giggled looking at the first picture. Sameer was dressed as a 'samosewala' in it, wearing a khadi kurta, a red gamchha around his neck, his head covered in a desi pagdi and a cute mustache adorned. How can such a cute 'samosewala' exist in this world? That was the first thought in her mind. Some of the next photos were of Shergil Sir explaining to him about something, the students rehearsing some dance moves, Sameer dressed in a few more get-ups and then of the finale of the class.

Her smile faded when she observed Sameer posing with his fellow mates, especially girls during the event. Looked like they had a photo session backstage. That girl Tejashree, who acted with him in the act was also seen in most of the photos. Some of the last ones showed Sameer receiving the certificate, some stills from his act including when Sameer and the girl had hugged. Last one was of Sameer and Tejashree again; the photo taken backstage where she had circled her hands around his arm. They were looking at each other and laughing at something. It looked like a candid photo.

Naina packed the photos back in the envelope and tried resuming her work again. But she was still stuck in 'some' of the photos from it. And a fleeting thought of the blank calls crossed her mind unknowingly. Was there any possibility of the connection between Sameer's acting class and the calls? She tried to recall when it started and she was shocked after remembering it was only after Sameer's class was over. She tried to find if there was any pattern in the blank calls. Like the time of the day, the gap between two calls, any sound, any noise. But she reached no conclusion.

The fact that they were getting the blank calls for such a long time and still didn't know who was the caller, was now unsettling her. What if any girl... okay... that girl Tejashree is doing it? How can she forget the way she was looking at Sameer?

Naina had become disturbed about the whole blank call scenario. She had become restless thinking of the possibility that the girl hadn't forgotten Sameer yet. She had complete trust in Sameer, but she was always a little possessive about him, be it as his girlfriend or his wife.

"Kaun lekar aaya tha isse?" Sameer's voice broke Naina's chain of thoughts.

"Pata nahi aisehi tha koi..." Naina answered and saw him smiling at the photos again. "Tumne bataya nahi tha tum logon ka backstage me photo session chal raha tha..." She said, without giving much context to her statement.

Sameer frowned but then gazed at the photos in hand. "Isme batana kya hai... sabhi log khichwa rahe the ek-dusre ke sath."

Before Naina could continue asking more about it, they heard the cordless ringing and Naina got up to receive the call. After uttering 'hello' twice and getting no response, Naina figured it was the call again.

Woww!! What timing!!

She was piqued and enraged. Taking quick strides, she handed the cordless to Sameer. "Tumhare liye hai..." She muttered.

Sameer didn't notice her tone and put it to his ear. After repeating 'hello' for twice, thrice, he too didn't hear anyone speaking from the other end and thought that there might be a connection problem. He disconnected the call and looked at Naina, who was standing behind her chair with crossed hands. "Kiska phone tha?" He casually asked.

"Pata nahi..."

"Tumne utthaya tha na phone Naina? Kisi ne toh baat ki hogi?"

"Haan lekin nahi ki na... toh socha usse tumhari aawaz sunni hogi..." Naina shrugged.

Sameer understood the sarcasm in Naina's voice instantly. He pondered for a moment and realized that it was the blank call. He got up in anger, "Naina blank call tha toh disconnect kar dena tha na... mujhe kyu diya?"

"Yaha aur kiske liye blank calls aa sakte hai Sameer? Tumhare liye hi honge..." Naina didn't know if it was her insecurity or her possessiveness about Sameer that made her speak to him this way.

Sameer shut his eyes in exasperation, "Naina mai hazaar baar bol chuka hu ki woh calls mere liye nahi aa rahe hai... Aur tumhe ho kya gaya hai?"

"Tumhe kya ho gaya hai Sameer?" Naina countered with equal rage. "Hamare ghar me na jaane kitne dinon se yeh calls aa rahe hai... aur tumhe toh koi farak hi nahi pad raha... ya phir tumhe maza aa raha hai ab?"

"What do you mean by maza aa raha hai?" Sameer couldn't believe her words.

"Haan toh aur kya kahu Sameer? Pehle pehle toh sabne nazarandaaz hi kiya hai na... lekin yeh calls toh ruk hi nahi rahe... aur naa hi tum kuchh kar rahe ho..."

"Naina tumne hi kaha tha ki report karke hame kisi ka nuksaan nahi karna..."

"Haan toh report mat karo... kam se kam pata toh lagao kiska number hai... kaun hai..."

"Karta hu meri maa... dekhta hu kaha se pata lag sakta hai iske baare me... ab 2 minute saas lu ghar me ya abhi jau pata lagane??" Sameer was furious.

Naina stopped herself from continuing. She didn't want Sameer to go out again for sure. She didn't ask him how his day was... if he had finished the tiffin. He must be hungry or at least needing tea or coffee. She calmed herself down with a deep breath. The blank call matter can be resolved later too, she first needed to get something for him.

"Abhi mat jao kahi..." She toned down her voice too. "Mai chai banati hu... Papa bhi aate hi honge..."

Keeping his hands on his waist and sighing, Sameer too put an end to their quarrel.

What a day it was for him today! Starting from waiting for hours at the production house, followed by a crass audition again, Shefali's advice putting him into a dilemma and now this. Hoping to get at least a peaceful evening, he headed for the bathroom to freshen up, not forgetting to pass a fuming look to Naina.

Naina entered the kitchen and started preparing for the tea. Her hands worked mechanically but her mind was lost. She was actually mad at Rakesh Papa. And when Sameer came home before Papa, she could have utilized the time to inform Sameer about what she found. But then the photos from Sameer's acting school and Sameer raising the matter of articleship turned the whole episode into a completely different direction and she vented both Papa's and Sameer's frustration on Sameer.

She found herself caught into a catch-22 situation. She needed to start the articleship soon, otherwise she cannot appear for Group 1 in May next year. But she was not confident about her preparation either. She wasn't sure if she could complete the training and then immediately appear for the exam. She found herself underprepared and under confident... about everything related to her studies...

She heard the click of the door opening and saw Rakesh entering. Turning the knob off of the tea, she marched into the living room.

"Naina yeh tere liye..."

Naina didn't pay attention to her father smiling at her, her focus didn't shift to the paperbag in his hand that he had forwarded towards her, nor did she realize her father was saying something. She had to ask him what was bothering her since afternoon. She needed to end the suspense for everyone's good. Without thinking about anything, she uttered in fury.

"Papa... aapke paas itne paise kaha se aaye?"

***********

Hey friends, let me know how you find this chapter. Do vote and comment.

How did you find Shefali's cameo in this chapter?

I'm deliberately using the word 'hero' here since it was how it used to be in 90s. Becoming an 'actor' came quite lately. 

I hope you get the reference of the girl 'Tejshree' and Sameer's acting class event. If you still can't recall it, please refer to the chapter 'Acceptance'.

So, do you think Naina is right thinking the connection of the calls to Sameer's acting class?

Why is Naina angry at Rakesh Papa? Any theory?

And what about Sameer and Naina's dilemma about their career?

Do share your opinions.

Love.