"Naina dekho, TV par kaunsa gaana aa raha hai." Preeti called her cousin as she turned up the volume of the TV.
"Kajra mohabbat wala, ankhiyon mein aisa dala."
The song playing was one of Naina and Preeti's favorite. Naina immediately came running to the living room, the scarf she had been folding still in her hands. Preeti who was already twirling and dancing happily, motioned for her sister to join her. Naina didn't have to be asked twice. Laughing, she tied the scarf around her forehead and joined Preeti in her antics. Usually, she would have refused out of fear of the elders. However luckily there was nobody at home right now to reprimand them for dancing; Tauji and Chachaji were still at work while their spouses had gone to the market to buy vegetables. As for her father, he was accompanying Arjun to his doctor's appointment, with Sameer tagging along like the dutiful "nurse" that he had become lately. For the first time in weeks, Naina was smiling genuinely as all worries forgotten, she danced and sang along to the television.
"Duniya hai mere piche, lekin mai tere picche. Apna bana le meri jaa.."
Her little moment of joy was suddenly interrupted by the sound of someone coughing slightly, twice. Naina froze in mid dance, her arms outstretched, as she looked towards the intruder. Her jaw dropped open at the sight of Sameer leaning casually against the door frame, trying his best to hide a smile but failing miserably.
He coughed again, breaking Naina out of her trance. Naina felt her cheeks reddening out of embarrassment. Preeti whose notice it had escaped that they were not alone anymore, was still dancing and shouting at the top of her voice.
"Ayi ho kahan se gori ankhon mai pyaar leke! Chadti jawaa...Aah!"
Naina nudged her cousin hard in the ribs causing her to scream in pain.
"Ouch! Tu pagal ho gayi hai kya? Preeti complained. "Kya ho gaya hai?"
Naina indicated to Sameer with her eyes. Looking rather annoyed at being interrupted in the middle of her dance, Preeti put her hands on her hips and glaring at him asked:
"Kya hai? Weren't you supposed to go to the hospital with Tauji?"
"Yeah actually we were just getting into the taxi when Rakesh Sir remembered that he had forgotten his wallet at home. Toh mai wahi lene aaya tha." He said shrugging apologetically.
"Um his wallet would be at Taiji's house. You should look there." Preeti answered.
"Haan par the door is locked and Rakesh Sir said he left the key with you girls."
"are haan. Sorry." Preeti apologised, internally facepalming. "Naina look the key is there on the table. Please get the wallet for him. He won't know where it is."
"Why can't you bring it?" Naina asked, having no intention of helping Sameer.
"Are yaar Amir Khan ka gaana start hua hai. I can't miss it! Tum hi le aa na please!" Preeti pleaded to her sister.
"Preeti ki bacchi!" Naina was going to protest but Preeti had already turned back to the TV, ogling at her favorite actor. Having no choice, Naina grabbed the key from the table and proceeded to Taiji's house, Sameer in tow. As Naina unlocked the door she heard him cough again. Irritated, she turned around to see him smirking.
"Don't you dare!" she said, threateningly.
"Okay! Okay! I won't laugh." He replied, his hands lifted as if in surrender.
Naina went in her father's room to get the wallet and handed it to him. Sameer took it from her hands, thanking her. He opened his mouth as if to say something else but then shut it as he received another glare from her and started to walk away before stopping and turning around.
"Now what?" Naina thought in her mind, her heart pounding as he ambled towards her.
"woh"
"Woh kya?" she asked irritatedly.
He gestured wordlessly towards her head. Naina lifted her hand to feel her head and her eyes widened as realisation hit her; she still had that stupid scarf tied around her forehead. Cursing herself for turning bright red yet again, she made to untie it but he stopped her.
"Wait!" he said.
If Naina's heart had been beating fast all this time, it now felt like it was about to pop out of her chest. He reached up to undo the scarf, taking care to avoid brushing his fingers against her skin.
As Sameer finally walked away, after returning the scarf to her, Naina let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding.
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