Kiska Hai Tumko Intezaar

Galatfehmi dosti mein souten ka kaam karti hai

Throughout the lunch, Sameer was quiet. He felt a pang of guilt for speaking without thinking.

'Oye Sameer.' Pandit nudged him, 'Kahan kho gaya?'

Munna suppressed a smile, 'Lagta hai iska dimaag... aur dil... kahin aur hai.'

Pandit chuckled, 'Ab toh mujhe bhi lag raha hai ki apna bhai asli nakli mein thoda confuse ho raha hai.'

Sameer snapped in irritation at their speculations, 'Agar main Naina se gusse mein baat karta hun toh tum dono mujhpe chadh jaate ho aur agar apni galti manta hun toh alag kahani bana lete ho. Aakhir main karun kya? Honestly, mujhe bura lag raha hai ki maine Param ke saamne aisa bola. Main toh sirf party ki baat kar raha tha. Isliye soch raha hun ki kahin Param bhi Nakul ki tarah Naina ko zyada pareshan na karey, sirf meri baat ki wajah se.'

Pandit narrowed his eyes, 'Woh saala Nakul abhi tak Naina ke peeche laga hai kya? Maine pehle hi kaha tha usey pakad ke koot dete hain.'

Sameer shook his head, 'Uska pair fracture ho gaya tha us din. Abhi toh ghar pe hi baitha hai. Waise uncle ne kaha tha ki woh Nakul ko US bhej denge. Poori baat uske parents ke saamne lane ka mera agenda yehi tha ki usey sahi tareeke se roka jaa sake. Warna dhulai toh main bhi kar sakta tha. Par usse baat badh jaati.'

Nodding his head in understanding, Munna softened his voice, 'Aisa kar, Naina ko clear kar de ki tu party ke liye keh raha tha aur tera irada bas Param ko usse dur rakhne ka tha. Waise sach kahun toh main bhi surprised hun ki Naina ne react kyon nahi kiya. Woh har galat baat pe takkar ka jawaab deti hai. Fir aaj...' He shrugged, 'Anyway, tu apni taraf se usey sab clear kar de. Galatfehmi hone se rishton mein daraar aa sakti hai.'

'Kaisa rishta?' Sameer countered, 'Mera aur Naina ka koi rishta thodi hai.'

Pandit chipped in, 'Dost maan ke hi kar de bhai. Yeh galatfehmi hai na, dosti mein bhi souten ka kaam karti hai.'

'Hmm.' Sameer responded thoughtfully, 'Bata dena chahiye. Kahin is baat ki wajah se woh contract cancel na karde.'

Munna and Pandit exchanged a glance... he had finally started to accept her as a friend.

After lunch, when they went back to office, Naina wasn't around. Munna got to know that she had gone out to meet a client. Sameer did not want to speak to her on the phone about this. He decided to meet her later, and clarify everything. But he himself got busy with some meetings once he reached office. Talking to Naina was put on the back burner for now.

A day later, Naina and Natasha visited a senior lawyer who was known to Natasha's family. He explained that Naina could challenge the will but since the property belonged solely to her father, and he had clearly given it to her brother according to his will, she did not have much in her favour. Unless, she wanted to take the route of deception and say that her father was forced to make such a will. He distinctly mentioned what all was needed to be faked for such a case.

Once they were out of the office, Natasha looked at Naina with uncertainty, 'Kya socha hai ab? Case karna hai?'

With a sigh, Naina looked away, 'Aise cases property ke liye kiye jaate hain Nutty. Mere liye woh ghar koi inheritance nahi hai. Main toh bas itna chahti thi ki bhaiya usey kisi anjaan ke hawale na karein. Lekin, in the end, hai toh woh ek property hi. Agar unhe paison ki zarurat hai toh sell karna hi padega. Shayad main hi zyada emotional ho rahi hun.'

She turned to Natasha and smiled, 'Jaane de. Jab unhe koi issue nahi hai toh mujhe bhi fark nahi padna chahiye.'

Natasha could see the sadness that lurked in her eyes. Whatever Naina might say, but she still had an attachment to the house. Unlike other girls, there was no particular piece of jewellery or maybe a saree or something that she was handed as a remembrance of her mother. Natasha was aware about her family's financial condition in earlier days. The only jewellery that she knew about was a set of bangles which her father had presented to Tina when Anuj got married to her. At that time too, Naina had confessed to her that she was shocked, because no one ever mentioned to her about those bangles. She has so little, and one by one, all of it was being snatched away from her. This made Natasha's heart ache. Naina deserved to belong... she needed a strong anchor, someone who could erase the barrenness of her heart.