Naina had just returned from Diya's school and the teacher had complained of her once again.
"She doesn't seem to focus on studies Reena ji. Matlab itni practice karayi hai...ise aata bhi hai...par pata nahi exams mein likhti nahi!"
Naina had rebuked Diya all the way home. She'd mumbled, "ekdum baap pe gayi hai...khali khel kood mein man lagta hai...sare sums solve karwaye the....fir bhi nahi likh ke aayi...pata nahi kaise sambhalun ise...life mein tension kam nahi hoti upar se yeh ladki." When she caught Diya looking at her apprehensively, Naina raised her hand as if to slap her and Diya immediately cowered. Mellowing down at the sight, Naina brought her tone a few notches down and banished Diya to her room. "Aaj koi bahar khelne nahi jaana...na hi Sunday ko aunty ke ghar cartoons...Disney Hour sab band!" Diya found it wise not to irk her more, hoping that the bout of rage her mother was in since the last two days would pass soon.
As Diya obeyed her and walked meekly to her room, Naina moved to the small temple she'd hung on the wall. She lit a diya and some incense in front of the pictures of various Gods and Goddesses that she'd collected over the years. Diya's result was expected in another week and Naina prayed fervently that she would pass.
Already in quite a foul mood at Diya's petulance and still mighty bitter at Sameer, she was greeted by Rita at office.
"Reena madam...aapke liye yeh saree...present hai!" Rita exclaimed as she saw Naina enter.
"Saree? Mere liye? Kyun?" Naina looked baffled.
"Madam wo na sir ne kaha aapko dene ke liye," Rita started.
Naina felt her blood boil and her face begin to heat up. Her anger of the morning that had been showing signs of relenting, surged again. So he hadn't been fooled! He knew she'd been about to kiss him the night before the last! And now he was giving her clothes? How dare he? Do chaar baatein kya kar li dhang se...sir pe hi chadh gaya....samajhta kya hai khud ko...saree dega...shaadishuda aurat ko? Itni giri huyi harkat...ise sharam nahi aati? Has he been noticing her limited wardrobe and her constantly repeating dresses? Was this out of pity or merely a ribald act on his part? She hated both the explanations.
"Kahan hain tumhare sir?" she enquired from Rita, her eyes furious, her voice caustic.
"Wo...wo to...Ahemdabad gaye hain...unke Nanaji ka ghar wahan pe hai...!"
"Pata hai mujhe!" Naina snapped. "Kab aayenge wapis...?"
"Madam wo shayad ek do din mein aa jayenge...wo unke dost," Rita trailed off as Naina snatched the saree from her and stomped out.
"Yeh bhi pagal hi hai...boss ek kam tha jo yeh bhi aa gayi!" Rita rolled her eyes and set about distributing the gifts to the other employees and associates.
Naina hurtled out of the office onto the lane and hailed a cycle rickshaw to take her to the market. She opened the plastic bag and saw a beautiful, though economical red silk, with a navy blue border embroidered with zari. How dare he! She slammed the packet shut in rage.
As soon as she paid off the rickshaw puller, she scanned the market for a PCO. Having located one, she sped off in that direction. There were two people in the queue before her and each minute the person inside the cubicle spent chatting, Naina's temper rose a few degrees more.
Finally as she entered the cubicle and slammed the door shut, she adjusted the saree packet and her purse in one hand, while her fingers automatically punched the numbers of his Ahemdabad residence. The number was still on her fingertips- literally. And then, like a simmering flame, she waited for the phone to be picked up.
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Expectedly Unexpected: A SamAina FF
FanfictionSameer is a flamboyant, rich and supposedly spoilt brat. Naina is the quintessential good girl. The story is set in the 90s. But what if the same story had a twist? What if the characters acted as we'd never expected them to? What if school was just...
