Kabhi Toh Nazar Milao Part 3

Connection

The day was last one in office for Sameer before he took leave for a week. It was a hectic one. He had to go through the scheduled actions for next week, taking decisions regarding them.

"Aap chinta mat kijiye... agar kuch bhi hoga toh main aapko phone kar lunga ya ghar aa jaunga." Munshiji assured him.

Sameer smiled at him, "Mujhe koi chinta nahi hai, Munshiji... aapne itne saal sambhala hai sab kuch... aap hain toh yahan ka sab kaam aaram se hoga... mushkil toh tab hoti agar meri jagah aap chutti jaa rahe hote... main akele nahi sambhal paata."

"Aisa nahi hai, beta... ab aap achhe se samajh gaye hain... aur yeh hunar toh aapke khoon mein hai... isse seekhne ki zaroorat nahi hai... bade sahab hamesha yehi kehte the ki jab mere Sameer ka mann shaant hoga toh woh sab sambhal lega... aur unka kehna sahi saabit hua... Naina bitiya ke aane se sab kuch badal gaya aapki zindagi mein... iss baat ki khushi sabse zyada bade sahab ko hoti." Munshiji became sad at the thoughts of his employer.

Sameer looked at the picture on the cabinet, "Nanu jahan bhi hain wahan se dekh sakte hain humein... aur main jaanta hun woh khush honge... balki woh toh sabse pehle se khush the... Naina ko unhone ghar ka hissa tabse bana liya tha jab main Naina se mila tak nahi tha... shayad unhe ahsaas ho gaya tha ki Naina hi woh ladki hai jisse bhagwanji ne mere liye bheja hai."

Munshiji was not surprised. He was aware of senior Maheshwari's fascination for her. He had seen them in the temple. Mr Jay Prakash Maheshwari, the owner of biggest manufacturing unit of Ahmedabad, used to sit on the hard, cemented stairs of temple for hours to chat with a simple, school going girl... and always came back happier on those days. He had mentioned how this girl was so different from his grandson yet so much like him... and how he felt there was a connection.

"Bhagwan ke dwar pe mili hai yeh ladki, Munshi... dekhna, ek din mere ghar ko bhi mandir jaisa bana degi." Mr Jay Prakash Maheshwari had happily announced in his deep, heavy voice.

That time Munshiji had laughed at his dreams, "Aap itne yakeen se keh rahe hain jaise Sameer baba ki shaadi pakki kar di ho... unhe toh pata bhi nahi hoga iss naam ki koi ladki hai duniya mein, aur aap usse bahu banane ko taiyar ho gaye."

"Bahu toh ab main Naina ko hi banaunga... dekh lena... iss baar mera bachha yahan aayega toh dekhna, kaise dono ki mulaqat karwata hun... unhe lagega woh kismat se ek doosre se takra jaate hain har baar... par unki kismat har baar main banunga." Jay Prakash Maheshwari rubbed his hands in excitement.

He had decided to play Cupid for his grandson...

And very next month, Sameer had arrived at his doorstep, declaring that he would not go back. Nanu had been elated. When he had sent Munshiji with him, for school admission... a strange stroke of luck had made Sameer take admission in the same school as Naina... and not the elite St. Xavier's... where they had planned.

Nanu had taken it to be an omen... and taken a back seat, allowing destiny to play its game.

Within a year, he had seen a considerable change in Sameer. His experienced eyes had immediately seen the spark of love brighten his sad eyes. But Sameer had not shared anything, inspite of his repeated probing. However, once when he had gone to their school for some work, he had seen Sameer standing quietly in a hidden corner, his eyes fixed at one place, a dreamy smile on his face. Glancing in the direction of his gaze, nanu's heart had swelled up with pride. His grandson had not disappointed him... his loving eyes were on Naina who was talking to some junior children who had circled around her.

In fact, when he himself met Naina in temple these days, he had observed a change in her as well. She was not as forthright with him as she was earlier... was a little hesitant. Of course, once she started with her chattering, she would blurt out just about anything, hitting her forehead when she realized she had spoken too much. But he had seen a glazed look in her eyes whenever he talked about Sameer.