It had been 3 days since Sameer and Naina returned from their honeymoon but they still seemed to be lingering on in that feeling, offcourse Mr Maheshwari a little more than his studious wifey who had set a very unromantic timetable for the next fifteen days as their final exams were just a week away and Ms. Topper wanted to be Mrs Topper too with her darling husband accompanying her in first division atleast.
Sameer tried all sorts of tricks to avoid studies but in vain cos if Naina was the most loving girlfriend or wife, she was always the stringent teacher, his masterni and he, for the first time was witnessing her studying. He had seen her study in school and college library and hated it because books caught her attention and he felt ignored but never thought about the sight of her studying in a night suit could make her look even more charming, distracting him more towards her who according to him was busy romancing her books.

The routine was continuing like this with little doses of their trademark arguments, makeups, morning hugs & kisses stolen by Sameer & his masterni wifey happily obliging only because Sameer had actually started concentrating on studies and putting in efforts just because it made her happy. One fine night post dinner and after completing household chores together, Sameer went to call Munna. Since, the revelation of heartbreak, if not with him, Sameer always called him at regular intervals to keep a tab on his well being and to keep his spirits high & happy always. He was chatting away with him when he realised it had been quite some time and Naina hadn't come to their room.

He finished his call and went down and around in search of her, calling her out but when she didn't respond, unknowingly got worried and scared pacing all around the house when he finally saw her standing in the lawn of the their home gazing up the sky.
He ran upto her and hugged, crushing in his arms jolting Naina out of her thoughts.

N: kya hua Sameer, tum itne ghabrae hue kyu ho?
S: Kaha chali gayi thi tum, pore ghar mei dhund raha tha, kitna dar gaya tha mai ki kahi firse mujhse dur...
He stopped on the word itself and there was a certain silence that creeped in where Sameer tried to blabber something to change the topic while Naina was just reading his face, knowing he has been avoiding a lot of things in the past.
N: ohho Sameer, mai kaha jaungi, mai toh bas gate lock karne aai thi ki nazar aasman mei chamakte chand aur taaro par pad gayi aur unhi mei kho gayi aur waise bhi Mr Maheshwari, aap shayad bhul rahe hai mujhe saza mili hui hai.

S: Saza kaisi saza?
N: umarqaid ki, aapki baahon mei

Passes a blushing smile and she hugs to relax him like a therapy.

S: Acha ab chalo, padhai nahi karni aaj tumhe,mera matlab hume?
N: tum padhne ke lie keh rahe (acting all surprised and agasht to make him smile.)
Hey bhagwan, wahi mai kahun aaj chand kuch alag kuch dikh raha, ab samjh aya, ulti disha se nikla hai (giggling along)

Sameer made puppy face and started to walk when Naina held his hand

N: ermm, thodi der yahi baithe, kitna acha mausam hai, baatein karenge
S: Aaj tumhe padhai nahi karni? Yeh kaise hogaya? Aaj taare bhi isilie zyada chamak rahe, cheekh cheekh ke keh rahe, Sameer tera waqt badal raha hai aaj (and giggles at her)
ok madam, as you wish (winking at her)

They sat down on the grass but Naina wanted to lie down and have a clear view of the sky while Sameer found it as an opportunity to cuddle and romance under the stars with her. He lay on his side facing towards Naina resting his head on his hand and his other hand sliding slowly over her hands on her stomach caressing them while she snuggled closer to him.

N: humari shaadi ko 10 din bhi beet gaye Sameer
S: haa aur abhi tak tumne na toh nightie pehni na hi kuch karne dia (making a puppy face)
N: kya nahi karne dia maine batao zara? Ab to French kiss bhi dedi
S: ohh meri padhaku biwi, shaadi ke baad French kiss ke aage bhi bahut steps hote hai ekdum tumhari trigonometry jaise.
He started closing in and dropped a kiss on her cheek followed by a peck on her lips. Naina blushed but didn't move back.

S: revision acha tha madam, ab naye steps sikhe?
N: naye steps?

He kissed her chin and started moving towards her neck when she felt weak in her knees, a feeling more constant since their wedding. He knew how she felt at his advances and hence knew she would take longer to understand but he was ready to wait despite his momentary frustrations because his naina, her comfort was his prime. He stopped midway and looked instantly in her eyes piercing her.
S: Naina kabhi socha hai tumne aaj iss ghar mei hum dono hai, future mei humare bache bhi yaha khelenge, Naina mujhe na beti chahie, tumhare jaisi.
N: Kya tum bhi, abhi to shaadi hui hai aur kya tum bache leke...(she looks the other side blushing)

S: (giggling at her blush), Naina bacho ke naam pe itna sharmaogi to humare bache kaise honge?

She actually contemplated on it and said
N: Jaise sabke hote. Usmei kya hai. Maine biology mei padha tha vo to mummy papa ke chromosomes..aisa kuch tha toh.
S: Nainaaaa, bache romance se paida hote hai biology se nahi. Hey bhagwannn, masterni masterni hi hoti hai. (And gets a stern glare and an elbow pat in his stomach)
Par kher chalo haa aisa kuch hota hoga, achi baat hai itna kuch pata hai tumhe, aur?
N: aur samjh nhi aya aur kisi ne padhaya nahi. School mei chapter chudwa dia tha, maine khola janne ke lie aisa kya hai par zyada samjh nahi aya

He knew, he needed to be slow in explaining because it might scare her of a lot of things.

S: kabhi socha hai tumne mujhe jo wachan dia tha ki tan man dhan se meri hojaugi, to tumhare dimag nei nahi aya ki man se tumne pyar kar lia aur dhan wo to humne humesha share kia hai, fir yeh tan

N: vo chachiji ne thoda sa samjhaya tha ki pati ki kuch demands hoti hai aur vo poori karni padti hai par tum kabhi aisi koi demand nahi karte jo samjh na aae.
S: Naina, unhe demands nahi zaroorat kehte hai, jo sirf pati ko nahi patni ko bhi hoti hai aur dono ko samjhna padta hai. Naina pati patni ka rishta ek aisa rishta hai jismei koi line nahi hoti, na hi kuch chupaya jata hai.
N: Vo to hum kabse kar rahe. Hum kabhi jhoot nahi bolte ek dusre se.
S: Naina mai kuch aur kehna chaha raha hu
N: saaf saaf bolo na
S: arre yr! Naina mera matlab hai, mai aur tum ek dusre ko kahi bhi chu sakte hai kiss kr sakte hai, aur bhi bahut kuch, (no matter how extrovert Sameer was, when it came to talking about such things he himself shied a little bit and here it involved his Naina, he knew he had to be careful and easy, hence,he himself didnt have the right words to explain)

N: chiii, aise kaise kahi bhi kiss karlo, chiiiiiiii
S: kya naina har baat pe bas chii chii karti ho, mereko baat hi nahi karni
N: arree, gussa mat ho na.
S: Tum bharosa nahi karti na merepe, islie bol rahi ho na aise chiii(imitating her) krke.
N: tumne kaha zaroorat hoti hai, Sameer uss din tumhe towel mei dekhke na bahut kuch feel hua par samjh nahi aya kya
S: Toh kal firse try karei samjha dunga (and giggled sheepishly), acha no mazak. Naina bas agar tumhara dil kehta hai ki mai jo kar raha hu wo galat nahi toh bas agli baar se waise hi bharosa rakhna jaise rakhti ho, dheere dheere sab samjh jaogi, Jaise padhte time naye chapter mei interest leti ho na waise, kyunki yeh sab bahut normal hai shaadi ke baad.
N: mai tumpe bharosa na karu? Mera dil keh de ki tum mere saath galat karoge aisa kabhi nahi hoga. I promise mai abse poori koshish karungi ki jo feel kar rahi wo samjh bhi saku aur keh bhi aur tumhare batae raaste pe shaadi ke baad ke har pal ko jee pau. Acha Batao na kya karoge waise?
S: Madam theory se zyada interesting practical hai, exams ke baad na aapko full classes milenge ispe (sliding his finger from her forehead to her eyelids to her cheeks,down to her chin and further to her throat, making her feel ticklish, and a bit more down reaching her cleavage he stopped and looked in her eyes intently he bent to whisper near her ear), tum kitni intelligent ho janta hu, in sab jagaho pe to mera haq ho hi chuka hai, aage tum samjh gayi ho mai aur kaha apna haq jatane wala hu aur tum ready ho yeh tumhari aankho ne bata dia.

S: issi baat pe (and he points towards his lips)
N: (Feeling weak in her knees and the knots in her stomach doing somersaults, she was about to give in but knew she had an agenda in her mind) ummmm, patidev kiss to milega par 1 sawal ke baad.
S: tum na humesha aise karti ho, acha pucho
N: Tum achanak dar kyu gaye?

S: kuch nahi naina vo tum kamre mei nahi aai na toh bas
N: Sameer pata hai aaj kya hai?
S: kya?
N: aaj poornima hai, ekdum waise jaise uss raat thi jo humne Mt Abu mei bitai thi aur tumne kaha tha tumhe jhoot bolne ka dil nahi kar raha.
S: tum na bahut chalu ho.
Par yeh sach hai Naina, in chaand taro ko dekhkar ek alag ehsas ata hai, ek alag sukoon milta hai ya yu kahu tumhara saath inke niche waqt bitane se ek alag shanti milti hai.
Haa Naina dar gaya tha mai, janta tha tum yahi ho fir bhi ek ajeeb sa dar aajata hai kabhi kabhi ki kahi tum duur na hojao. Itna kuch khoya hai fir bhi zinda hu, tumhe khokar toh chain se mar bhi nahi paunga.

Naina was stunned at his declaration that she was not just his life but his soul too & hated when he spoke of death cos it stops her heartbeats. She knew he had too many things to share but couldn't ever because they neither have been this alone or this comfortable to speak and its always the night silence that brings the worst demons out of people.
She got up and he got up too.
S: kya hua?
Naina just goes and cuddles herself in his arms. He wraps his arms securely around stroking her hair.
S: tum theek ho???
She doesnt reply but looks up and pulls him in for a deep, long french kiss full of emotions, love and passion creating a havoc inside him. Pulling apart she saw him teared eyes but said
N: aaj ke baad kabhi marne ka naam mat lena, andhera cha jata hai aankho ke aage.
S: sorry nahi karunga baba, ab hanso.
N: nahi mujhe janna hai kyu darte ho tum, apni Naina ko jante ho fir bhi? Ya fir hum aage to aagye par purani baatei bhul nahi pae. Tum aaj bhi gussa ho na ki maine tumhe choda tha. Hona bhi chahie. Tumhe beizati se bachane ke lie, tumhara dil na toote usse bachane ke lie tumhari zindagi ko cheen lia tumse. Maaf kar paoge kabhi mujhe uss 1 faisle ke lie, sharad se rishta judne par chahke bhi na kuch kehpane ke lie? Bahut dukh die na tumhe.

S: haa Naina gussa toh hu tumse lekin islie nahi kyunki tumne mujhe balki islie kyunki khud ko dukh dia, khud ko kamzor mana. Meri vo Naina jisne mujhe sahi galat ka fark sikhaya, usne apni zindagi ke saath galat hone dia. Vo sharad, haath uthane dia usse. Aaj bhi khoon khaulta hai mera naina. Tumne socha ki tum jataogi aur mai maan jaunga ki tumne usse apna lia, tumhari aankhei mujhse jhoot nahi bolti Naina. Haa darta hu tumhe khone se islie nahi kyunki bharosa nahi hai tumpe, balki islie kyunki ghutan hoti hai zindagi se tumhare bina. Har vo pal jo Delhi mei kata, ya jab khud ko manhoos samjha,ya tumse duur hua aise laga jaise mujhe kisi ne firse uss daur mei bhej dia jab mai akela tha.
N: ab tum kabhi akele nahi hoge. I promise. Ab humesha yunhi rahungi tumhare saath chipak ke
Sameer puts his arm around Naina and shifts more close to her,
S:Aur ab mai kahin nahi jane dunga tumhe, kyunki ab aap meri baahon mei qaid ho chuki hai, ab aap Mrs Naina Sameer Maheshwari ho chuki hai.
waise sharad ki naak style se todi thi na?
N: tum na sach mei gusse mei na jaan hi lelo logo ki. Itna bhi kya marna tha ki haddi toot jae
S: tumhe bura lag raha hai na tumhare favourite sharad ko mara maine, maine tumhe bachaya, tumhara saath dia, tumne itna kuch sunaya tha fir bhi aur ab keh rahi ho ki usse kyu mara.
Jao Naina, mujhe baat nahi karni, tumhe na sab dikhte hai siwai mere. Mai jaa raha padhne tum hi dekho taare sharad ki yaad mei.

He gets up & starts to walk (pretending to be angry knowing she was being playful and he loves everytime she stops him) when Naina hold his hand and stops him.

N: Itna kuch hai dil mei par kabhi kaha nahi, kyu? Maine tumhe itna sunaya, tumne chup chap sun lia, kyu? Kyu bachaya sharad se? Kyu nafrat nahi kari mujhse. Sameer sab seh lia na, kuch nahi kaha. Mai wapas aai, tumne 1 sawal nahi kia. Humari ladai mei aksar sharad ka zikr hua, gharwale firse le jaa rahe the uske pass, tumne roka fir bhi kuch nahi kaha, humne kabhi baat hi nahi ki kyu? Humne sab dabaya apne dil mei...bas behte chale gaye...jo hua jaisa hua bas sehte gaye...tumne to kabhi mere pyar pe bhi sawal nahi kia.

S: bas karo Naina, bas karo, maine bas gusse mei bola, (moving closer to her, he held her hand and took her near swimming pool and asked her to put her legs inside the pool water along with him)
Yeh pani mei paer dalte hi achnak se ek alag ehsas hota hai fir kuch waqt mei yeh paani sukoon deta hai, waise hi naina tumse duur hone ke baad har chiz buri lagti thi lekin tumhare lautne ke baad vo ehsas alag tha jaise kisi ne meri saza khatam kar di ho aur tumhara saath mujhe sukoon deta hai islie maine socha tha hum iss baare mei ya apni judai ke baare kabhi bhi baat nahi karenge kyunki bahut pal gawan die ab unke baare mei baat krke aage ke pal nahi gawana chahta tha par lagta hai aaj zaroori hai. Naina jo hua usse dono ko dard hua, takleef hui, haa bahut gussa tha naina par pyar pe shaq kabhi nahi kar sakta. Yaad hai hum juda ho sakte hai par dilo mei duria kabhi nahi aaengi wada tha humara. Aur vo sharad aur uski naak, Naina uski jagah koi hota na wahi karta jo uske saath kia.
He tucked a hair strand behind her hair and kissed her forehead.

S: tum meri sabse keemati amanat ho Naina, tumhare saath koi kuch galat kare iska haq nahi kissiko. Thank you Naina wapas aane ke lie, mera humesha saath nibhane ke lie.

N: aap kuch bhul gaye Mr Maheshwari, dosti mei no sorry no thank you. Saath toh tum nibhate ho humesha.
S: Tumhe yeh aasman bahut pasand hai na?
N: Haa, yeh chamkte tare ehsas karate hai ki zindagi chahe kitni kaali ho, waqt chahe kitna bura ho, koi na koi tara hoga jo uss andhere mei roshni failega.
S: Acha, toh apna favourite tara chuno, mai tumhe laake dunga
N: ummm vo, vo, vo (pointing to each star in the sky she acts to choose but ultimately points to him) yeh wala. Meri zindagi ka ek lauta tara, kyunki taiji ke taano se bhari aur gharwalo ke bandhno mei bandhi Naina ki kali zindagi ko tumne hi toh aake roshni di na.
Sameer was so overwhelmed that he actually had tears and he adored her like his most beautiful dream and seeing the tears she wiped them off, kissing his forehead and cheeks, said
N: taare rote hue nahi sirf roshni failate hue ache lagte hai.
S: Naina, agar kahu tumhare iss tare mei daag hai, toh kya tab bhi fav rahunga tumhara?
N: tum na kuch bhi bolte ho bas, dekho na aasman kitna sundar hai, aur mera tara dunia mei sabse chamkeela malai jaisa. (Pulling his cheeks softly). Mera bas chale to zindagi bhar apne taare ke saath chandni ki thandak mehsoos Karun.

He knew he was about to reveal something which might spoil the night, maybe more but today he was confused. He had thought never to let her know that dark phase, he even asked Munna Pandit to hide it. He had buried it in his heart long back because he didn't want to even see that in his dreams yet today for the first time in the 3 years he felt the need to take it out of his system.

S: suno na, kuch batana hai.
N: acha bolo, kya hua tum waise toh kuch bolne se pehle sochte nahi, specially ladne se pehle, abhi dekho paseena aa raha thand mei. Kya baat hai?
S; Naina wo Delhi mei, actually Naina baat yeh hai ki
(and he narrates everything from the time he returned after that fight with her to getting into a bad company, smoking, to finally munna pandit giving him her rose and his realisation leading him to taking up radio)
Both had tears by the time he finished and Sameer instantly looked away and shifted leaving his hand and went to stand in their lawn.

S: (sensing her following,he said) Tumhara jo faisla hai manzoor hai mujhe, mere jaise bure insan ke saath rehna majboori nahi hai though his heart wanted to scream for her to forgive.

Naina was stunned to know everything with tears falling. She actually didn't know how to react because she knew Sameer had gone through a lot due to dadi and she never spoke only to save him of those bad memories but today she felt she failed but knew it was never late.
She snuggled closer and hugged him from the back. Sameer was shook. He turned towards her, he had no words to say and they stood there for quite some time with silence speaking more than a thousand words.
S: kuch kahogi nahi?
N: kehne ke lie kuch bacha nahi.
S: janta tha mai sab kharab kar dia maine. Kaash khud ko control kar pata pat kya karun tum nahi hoti ho toh, aise lagta hai meri parchai bhi mujhse ruth gayi hai. Aisa lagta hai jaise ek machali se uska paani cheen lia ho. Sorry bhi kehne ke layak nahi hun. Mai seh lunga Naina, tumhara faisla manzoor hai mujhe. Mai maii....(stammering & blabbering anything when Naina cuts in...)
N: ssshhhh(places her finger on his lips) shaant sameer. Kaunsa faisla? Kya seh loge?
S: Naina, maine bol toh dia tumhara faisla manzoor hai par please chodke mat jana, nanu, mummy aur ab tum...mar jaunga..mujhse galti Hui hai manta hu par

And naina stepped up cupping his face in her hands, she kissed his forehead,

N:par tumne usse sudhar bhi to lia na. Mai kahin nahi jaa rahi hun, na aaj, na kal aur na fir kabhi.
Agar mujhse galti hojae to? Mai galat rah pe chali jaun toh? Nahi chodoge na, kahi nahi jaa rahi mai. Sameer galtiya insan se hoti hai, hum har waqt ek sa behave kare zaroori toh nahi na. Har insan mei achai burai dono hoti hai aur aksar hum jante hai hum galat raste jaa rahe par wahi dil ko sukoon deta hai aur hum karte jate aur fir yahi waqt hume gira deta hai, humare apne humse duur hone lagte aur ehsas hota hai hum galat the lekin uske baad hum aur strong hojate hai.

And sameer immediately crushed her into his arms, kissing her shoulders with his hands moving up and down in her hair with the restlessness to have her close to him forever and it felt totally like he hugged her for the first time after their fight.
Finally after a long, bone crushing, satisfying hug, Sameer let off Naina and said
S: Mai sachi dar gaya tha, Naina. Tum Zindagi ho meri. Ek pal ke lie laga sab kho gaya. Par sach mei

"Yeh aasman na bahut shatir hai, humesha mere dil ki gehraiyo ko tumhare samne laa deta hai, lekin humara sacha saathi hai, mere akelepan se leke humari dosti tak aur fir pyar ke palo se leke judai tak aur fir wapas milne se leke humare har jhagde aur manane tak ka gawah hai yeh. Humare ansu ho ya hansi sab ek dusre tak pahunchaya hai aur aaj saath hone ka bhi gawah ban gaya"

Sitting down on the bedsheet Naina spread her arm asking him to sit too (wiping each other's tears)
N: sach kaha tumne. Aur dekhna aage aane wale har ache bure pal ka saathi bhi banega yeh.
S: acha, to hume aur bhi bahut kuch karna chahie na yaha (and winked at her)
N: Jaise??? Ab control nahi ho raha batao na.
S: Nainaaaa, yeh sab examsss ke baad.
N: Sameerrrr.
S: Jab pati romance kare na toh tadpana nahi chahie, jaise tum tadpati ho. Ab meri baari hai madam. (Smiles sheepishly)
N: Tum na bahut chalu ho, yeh sab un magazines ka asar hai na?
S: Kaunsi magazine?
N: Wahi Delhi wali?
S: Vo, haaa, kya magazine thi, haee
N: Padhai karne chale, patidev?? (Knowing this will bring him out of his trance)
S: arre arre, mai mazak kar raha tha. Maine sachii nahi padhi voh.
N: Waise mujhe sachi nahi pata tha, tum poori dunia ke samne, radio pe mere lie shayari kahoge, mujhe gana dedicate karoge. Kitna romantic tha voh.
S: Achawwww
And he pulled her to lie next to him as close as possible and whispered near her ear lobe, "I love you Naina" and kissed it making her shift more closer to him but the tease that he was made him shift and giggle but this time Naina crawled up and took him for a kiss again pressing her lips against his for quite sometime and then kept her head on his chest while sameer locked her in his embrace by putting his leg over her and kissing her head, reliving their dating phase before moving into deep slumber after long without the heaviness in his chest while she lay contented to have let all their past gone and to be with her man forever only to wake up to new struggles of life and to realise life and dreams were different and the testing times make you go to different routes of behaviour to strike a perfect balance after learning and give you strength to face the demons prevailing in name of struggle.