Hello friends,
I'm back with an update for this story as well. I somehow got inspired with the beginning of struggle for our show's Samaina and penned down this update. Hope to hear your views on it!
Part 2: At your service!
Sameer couldnât stay for long at Munnaâs place for his father, when tried to mend ways between the estranged son and the step-father heard Mr. Somaniâs version of the fallout. An amicable gentleman mostly, Munnaâs father then expressed unease about Sameerâs character and honesty. He tried to drill sense into his own son- what if Sameer was actually trying to take advantage of them? And the fact that as per what Sameer had pledged, he would make something of himself without any help from anyone. Then why was he dependent on his friends for help? If his friends were by his side, wasnât he, in a way, reneging on his promise? Munna took a while to allay his fatherâs sudden suspicions. But it was too late. Sameer had already overheard the conversation between the father and son. Unwilling to put his friends through the stormy path heâd chosen for himself, Sameer left the house in angst, desperate for any job that he could start on.
As he walked, he landed upon the same small restaurant that heâd chanced upon the day he left his home. He saw the owner frying batches of savories as usual and hordes of people waiting in queue for their fill.
Food! Good business proposition! Itâs never going to go out of fashion. He contemplated for a while. But there was only one hitch- he barely knew how to cook! How he wished Naina was by his side right now. She couldâve taught him all this.
Sameer sighed, tried to ignore his pining heart, as he observed the delicacies on the stall and hoped the rumbling of his stomach did not reach the ears of the restaurant owner. But apparently they did, for the big burly man in that khadi kurta pyajama with a towel hanging on his left shoulder, beckoned to him. âBolo sahabâŠkuch dun aapko? Garma garam hai sab!â
Unable to suppress his hunger anymore, Sameer walked upto the stall owner and enquired, âBhaiyaâŠagar main aapko yeh sari plates dho ke dun to kya aap mujhe ek samosa aur thodi chai denge?â
The stall owner looked at him astounded and then broke into fits of laughter, âkahe mazak kar rahe ho sahabâŠshakal surat aur kapde latte se to khandani lagte ho!â
âBhaiyaâŠmere pass sach mein kuch paise nahi hainâŠsubah se bhookha hunâŠ,â Sameer replied.
The stall owner contemplated for a while and then gave in. âTheek haiâŠlo kha lo samosa aur yeh lo chai!â
Sameer thanked him profusely for the two samosas and a cup of wholesome Amrutulya chai offered to him. As he finished, he asked, where and how to wash the dishes. The kindly man told him, âbeta jaoâŠkoi baat nahiâŠmain kar lunga!â
âNahi uncleâŠmain aapko paise nahi de saktaâŠpar udhar to chuka sakta hun!â
As the stall owner looked on in amazement, Sameer picked up the detergent and started rinsing the used steel plates and glasses. He completed the task in some twenty minutes.
âGhar chod ke aaye ho kya beta?â
Sameer nodded sadly.
âDekho ladakpan ka josh acha haiâŠlekin yeh zindagi bahot kathin haiâŠjao jaake maa-baap se maafi maang loâŠwo tumhe apna lenge!â
Sameer did not respond and continued to dry his hands with his handkerchief.
âAisa kya hua betaâŠdekho gussa chodoâŠaur ghar jao!â
âUncleâŠkabhi kabhi insaan ko khud ko saabit karna padta haiâŠkuch bade khwab badi qurbaniyaan maangte hainâŠagar main apne sapno ke liyeâŠapni zindagiâŠkhushiyon ke liye mehnat nahi karunga to mujhe kya haq hai ki mujhe wo khushiyaan milein?â
The stall owner stood stunned by Sameerâs words. He thought, âbitte bhar ka chokra haiâŠaur baatein dekho!â
Impressed, he queried, âKaam ki talaash mein ho?â
âJi uncle!â Sameerâs eyes lit up.
âHmmmâŠVaise to mujhe zarurat hai nahi lekin tumhari imaandari dekh ke main khush huaâŠmere hotel mein waiter ka kaam karoge? Dekho tum bade ghar ke lagte hoâŠagar jame toh!â
Sameer looked at him elatedly. âKyun nahi uncleâŠthank you!â
âLekin pagar main 200 se zyada nahi de paunga abhiâŠwaiter hone ke saath saathâŠbartan dhone hongeâŠjhaadu pocha bhi karna hoga dusre ladke ke sath milkeâŠ!â
âChalega uncleâŠaap jo bolengeâŠsab karungaâŠthank you!â
âRehne ke liye jagah hai? Sote kahan ho?â
âJi woâŠ.darasalâŠ,â Sameer fumbled embarrassedly.
âHmmâŠaaj raat se yahin so jana hotel band hone ke baadâŠkitchen mein garmi bhi hogi to thand nahi lagegi zyadaâŠbaaki ladke tumhe kaam bata dengeâŠaur nahane dhone ka bhi sikha denge!â
He gestured him to go upstairs and Sameer obliged after thanking him generously.
In the next few days, Sameer tried his best to adjust to the dark, dingy, humid environment of the kitchen upstairs of the hotel where he slept in the cramped room, with another waiter and a cook.
He struggled with the daily chores, the need to wake up at the break of dawn, the less than fulfilling meals that they managed to have in the day.
Munna and Pandit continued to visit him regularly and offered him homemade snacks whenever they could. Even Munnaâs father apologized and told him how heâd been brainwashed by his step-dad, but Sameer insisted heâd actually said the right thing. He wanted to prove that he could sustain himself without any help. When Naina as she got to know of Sameerâs condition, she was horrified beyond measure- how her Prince Charming had been converted to a pauper overnight! She pleaded with Bela chachi and her chachaji to allow her to meet him for sometime. Anand and Bela, miserable at Sameerâs condition as well, relented. They all went to meet Sameer at the hotel Munna and Pandit had informed them of, where Sameer was employed.
As soon as Naina stepped foot inside, her eyes welled up in tears as she saw a lanky man (he seemed to have lost quite some weight since sheâd last seen him and that had been a month or so back) meticulously wiping a table top. He was dressed in a white vest, which seemed to be covered with grime and splotched with oil and a pair of similarly filth laden three fourths. As he finished cleaning the table, he replaced the small piece of gingham cloth back onto his shoulders.
âThe affluent boy, with looks men would kill to have did not even have a proper set of clothes on?â Nainaâs heart wept at the irony of life. At that instant, Sameerâs eyes fell to the door, expecting some customers. His jaw dropped as he saw Naina and her family enter. Preeti was crying along with Naina and Bela, and Anand looked distraught at his condition. Arjun seemed appalled beyond measure. Sameer tried to smile, for his heart leaped with joy at seeing his love after so many days. Before he could say something, he saw Naina dash towards him and crash into him, holding onto him fiercely and sobbing. Chachaji and chachiji averted their eyes as they did not have the heart to reprimand her for such a public display of affection. Arjun too pushed his hands in his pockets and suddenly gained interest in a set of salt and pepper sprinklers set on the table besides him. Preeti continued to weep looking at the two lovers.
âAyeâŠayeâŠshhhâŠNainuâŠshhâŠrote nahi!â Sameer tried to console his sobbing girlfriend.
She smacked him in response and clutched him harder, as she continued to shed tears.
âAyeee NainaâŠsab dekh rahe hain jaanâŠ,â Sameer whispered as he looked upto see chacha and chachi being uncomfortable. Arjun finally took action and quickly ushered chacha, chachi and Preeti outside for a while so that the two lovers could talk. He then turned and gestured to him that Sameer had his approval.
The moment they were gone, Sameer looked around and pulled Naina into a corner and put his lips to hers in desperation. The kiss was reciprocated with intense need and passion by Naina. When they broke off, there were beads of tears in Sameerâs eyes.
âNainuâŠyou still love me na? Mujhe chod to nahi dogiâŠmere pass kuch nahi hai ab!â
âP..pagal ho kya tumâŠyeh sab kyun kar rahe ho SameerâŠmeri khatirâŠSameer mujhe bas tum chahiye aur kuch nahiâŠyeh kya haal bana rakha hai apnaâŠraat thand mein bitate hoâŠthither rahe ho sardi meinâŠvazan kitna kam ho gaya haiâŠ,â Naina continued to fuss over him.
Sameer suddenly gulped. Why was he letting his heart overpower his mind? He steeled himself, ready to deliver the speech heâd rehearsed numerous times, in case Naina found his hardships too much to handle. Though deep down his heart knew she would never leave him in misery, his brain commanded him to make sure Naina was comfortable and happy. He did not want to pass on his share of troubles to Naina.
âNainaâŠ,â Sameerâs voice was suddenly serious. âAisa ho sakta hai ki mera yeh haal umar bhar aisa hi raheâŠmain mehnat puri karunga par kamyaab honga ke nahi iski guarantee nahiâŠagar tum aaj bhi piche hatana chahti ho to main bura nahi maanunga NainaâŠmain samajh lungaâŠpar please mujhse sach kehna!â
Naina looked at him in disbelief. âSameer? Tum aisa soch bhi kaise sakte ho? Saath jeene marne ki kasam li hai humneâŠaur chahe duniya hamare rishte ko mane na maneâŠmain to tumhe dil se apna pati maan chuki hoonâŠ!â
The breath Sameer hadnât realized heâd been holding, exhaled. Tears streaked his face again as he pulled her into another crushing embrace. Was he the luckiest man on earth? No man who had suffered what he had from the hands of his step-father since his fatherâs demise would have labeled himself lucky. But with Naina in his arms, life seemed merry, hopeful again. And it was a sign that lady luck was shining for him!
âSameerâŠchalo bhaag jaate hainâŠmain tumhara saath dena chahti hunâŠpar tumhari patni banke!â Naina mumbled at his chest.
Sameer caressed her hair. âNahi NainaâŠdulhan to tumhe banaungaâŠtab jab Rakesh sir khud is rishte ko leke khush hongeâŠmain nahi chahta ki kal ko koi tumpe ya hamare rishte pe koi ungli uthaye!â
The couple lay in each otherâs arms for many silent minutes. And then Naina suddenly back in control exclaimed, âmain bhi kitni buddhu hunâŠ!â She pulled out the shawl from her shoulders and covered Sameerâs flimsy clothes with it. âAb thand nahi lagegi tumhe!â
And then she ran to call her family inside. Soon, all were asking about his well-being, feeding him with home-made snacks that Bela, Preeti and Naina had stayed up all night to prepare for him.
âBeta kabhi khud ko akela mat samajhnaâŠhum hainâŠtumhara parivaar hai!â Anand and Bela reassured Sameer.
âHamara bas chaltaâŠagar Naina hamari beti hoti to hum tum dono ki shaadi kab ki karwa deteâŠaur tumhe settle hone mein bhi madad karteâŠpar Rakesh bhaisahabâŠ,â Anandâs voice choked.
âMain puri koshish kar raha hun chachajiâŠbas ek vinti haiâŠjab tak main thoda stable nahi ho jaataâŠaap please Naina ke rishte ka na socheinâŠkisi tarah Rakesh sir ko mana leinâŠplease?â Sameer pleaded.
âMain Naina ki shaadi tumhi se hote dekhna chahta hunâŠjo ban padega hum karenge!â Anand patted Sameerâs head. Then he took out some five thousand that heâd withdrawn from the bank and offered the same to Sameer. âBetaâŠthode paise rakh loâŠtumhe zarurat padegiâŠek achi jagah dekh lo rehne ke liyeâŠkuch kapde bhiâŠmaine daftar mein bhi naukri ke liye pucha haiâŠjaldi batayenge wahanâŠtab tak isse kaam chala lo!â
Sameer calmly and politely refused as he handed the money back to Chachaji. âBeta kehte hain to bete pe bharosa rakhiyeâŠmain chahta hun ki is baar mere pass jo bhi hoâŠmere apni mehnat ki kamayi ka ho!â
Chachaji was surprised at the maturity exhibited by this lad of hardly twenty one.
At that moment, Naina fished into the jute bag that sheâd brought along and brought out two sweaters of chachaji, three pairs of new socks, two T-shirts and a pair of jeans for him.
âYeh kya puri dukaan khareed laayi ho?â Sameer exclaimed.
âChup rahoâŠsab tumhare liye laaye hain hum!â
âNainaâŠmaine kaha na main kisi se favour nahi lena chahtaâŠjo hoga sab meri kamayi se liya hoga!â
âYeh lecture na mujhe baad me sunanaâŠaur vaise bhi yeh sab meri scholarship ki kamayi se khareeda haiâŠaur jab hum dono mein koi fark nahi, to hamare paise mein fark kaise hua?â
A quiver of a smile played on Sameerâs lips. He itched to pull her to himself again, but refrained in presence of her entire family.
Instead, Arjun came and enclasped him in a tight hug. He patted his back in reassurance and muttered, âSameer kuch bhi zarurat ho mujhe yaad karnaâŠmujhe bharosa hai tujhpeâŠfikr mat karâŠhum sab tere sath hain!â
The family bid him farewell. Sameer clutched the shawl tightly to him as Naina and his eyes met as she retreated.
***
When the restaurant owner handed him his very first earning, Sameer decided to go to the temple. He relayed the message to Naina through Munna and Pandit during their daily visit to him. It was 6 am on a Monday morning and Naina was already waiting for him. The lovers did the aarti together and prayed to Lord Shiva for his blessings. Sameer gave his first share of his salary to the temple fund for free lunches for the poor and needy. With another part, he brought a beautiful studded imitation bracelet for Naina, which he himself locked across Nainaâs wrist. He then took her hand and placed a kiss on it.
âYeh bracelet hamesha apne sath rakhna..main na sahi yeh har waqt tumhare pass rahega aur tumhe mere kareeb hone ka ehsaas dilaata rahegaâŠsamajh lena ki main dil-o-jaan se mehnat kar raha hun ki jaldi se jaldi tumhe Naina Sameer Maheshwari bana sakun!â
Nainaâs eyes turned misty as she nodded. As they talked in the park across from the temple, Naina informed him about the response from the magazine, wherein sheâd sent some of her essay excerpts two months back.
âKeh rahe theâŠthank youâŠhumein content pasand aaya par filhaal hamein zarurat nahi hai! Aage koi zarurat hogi to hum aapko contact kar lenge! Sameer yeh 6 mahine mein teesra rejection haiâŠaise to kaun dega naukri mujhe graduation pe? Mujhe to lag raha hai yeh lekhika wagerah banne ka sapna chodun aur koi aur part-time job dekhun!â
Sameer hushed her immediately. âShhhâŠ.kisne kaha tumse ki tumhara sapna pura nahi hogaâŠNaina jo tumhari kahaniyon mein jaadu hai naâŠwo tum nahi dekh sakti lekin main dekh sakta hunâŠaur is rejection se haar maanene wali meri Naina to nahiâŠchahe hum sau baar haareinâŠek sau ekvi baar to jeetengeâŠlekin agar hum pehle hi haar maan jayenge to us ek sau ekvi baar tak kaise pahunchenge? NainaâŠmain tumse hamesha kehta hun na⊠âSuccess has no short-cuts!â To bas lagi rahoâŠhar mat maano!â
Naina seemed reassured by his words. She clasped his hands firmly. âAgle hafte se college khul jayengeâŠChachaji ne tumari liye principal maâam se baat kar li hai ki attendance mein linient ho jayein!â
âChachaji ko thanks bolna meri taraf seâŠlekin Naina is haalat mein mujhe nahi lagta main apni degree puri kar paaunga! Jab paise honge thode to fir se koshish karunga I promise!â
âNahi SameerâŠtum degree puri karogeâŠwo bhi mere saathâŠmain saare notes bana ke laungi tumhare liyeâŠtumhe padhaungi jab jab tumhe time hogaâŠ!â
Sameer kissed her hand again and smiled, âtumhara wo hitler baap aane dega tumhe?â
âHitler nahi hain woâŠaurâŠaur unhe kuch pata nahi chalega!â
His clasp on her hand tightened. âPata chale bhi to chalne doâŠunhe bhi maalum hona chahiye ki tum sirf meri hoâŠaur chahe puri duniya bhi mujhse tumhe cheenana chahegi naâŠmain hone nahi dunga!â
âMujhe bharosa hai tum pe!â Naina assured him and then added as she suddenly realized, âSameerâŠtumne pehli salary se khud ke liye to kuch liya hi nahi?â
âMere pass tum ho, Munna Pandit jaise dost haiâŠtum sab Preeti, Swati, ArjunâŠiske aage main bhagwaan se kya hi maangu?â Sameer told her.
With the last share of his salary, barring the half heâd put up for future savings, Sameer had brought two keychains with âFriends Foreverâ for Munna and Pandit. Though the gifts were relatively inexpensive, for that was the best that Sameer could afford, Munna and Pandit clung to them and wept along with their brother, encasing him in a tight hug.
Edited by Samaina_1990 - 7 years ago