In black T shirts and denims, with a bluetooth device in their ears, the army of SamAina shippers - PreeDit and SwaMun were ready to welcome Jubin Nautiyal to VJN University. He was late by an hour but then that's what big names in the industry are supposed to do.

Sameer and Naina too were ready in complementing blue outfits to host the event. A massive crowd of students were waiting in the concert stadium. It was the last event of their college fest and the most awaited one too. The enthusiasm, excitement and impatience was palpable.

"Yaar ye banda kab aayega?" Preeti was growing impatient and had joined Naina back stage.

"Actors ka yahi hota hai!" Naina said loud enough for Sameer who was chilling in the other corner with Munna-Pandit to hear.

"Wo singer hai" Swati said

Sameer could see a dead end ahead of him. He tried all he could but he couldn't fight with fate.  So, he knew only one thing that needed to be done in that hour. He fetched MunDit and pulled him in a relatively less noisy corner.

"Mujhe tum dono ne se abhi baat karni hai." Sameer said.

MunDit would have usually thrown in a joke or two but Sameer looked serious.

"Maine jab pehli baar Munna ko uski behen ki shaadi me dekha tha tab mujhe ek idea aaya tha." Sameer was looking at Pandit but what was coming made him shift his eyes to the ground. "Maine ye acchi tarah se dekh liya tha ki tum dono Naina ke dost ho. Mujhe, uss waqt, kisi bhi halat me Naina ke qareeb rehna tha isiliye ... isliye maine jaan boojh ke tumse dosti karne ka plan banaya. Maine apne matlab se tum logon se dosti ki thi."

Munna and Pandit shared an anxious look.

"Par tumhare saath rehte rehte mujhe dosti ki kimat pata chal gayi hai. Tum dono bahut acche ho par mai tumhe deserve nahi karta hu. Ye sab janne ke baad agar tum mujhse -"

Sameer couldn't complete his sentence. MunDit had taken him into a hug. His honesty touched them. It didn't matter what his initial intentions were. The only fact they knew was they were an inseperable group of brothers.

On the other hand Naina was still swinging between her thoughts,

"Naina tu abhi bhi school wali baat se naaraz hai Sameer se? Agar hai toh ab tujhe usse maaf kar dena chahiye." Swati continued.

"Ab tu wo saari baaton ko khich rahi hai." Preeti held Naina's hand.

"Aur ye kya superstar superstar ki rat lagai hai?" Swati asked her.

"Dekho jab fame sar pe chadh jaati hai, tab insan irresponsible aur kamchor ban jaata hai. Sameer ko hi dekh lo." Naina tried to explain her pointless point.

"Jaha se hum dekh rahe hai waha se hum sab ko lagta hai ki wo waisa nahi hai jaisa tu usse samajh rahi hai. Wo sab students se pehle aa gaya tha aur arrangements dekh raha tha. Na to woh irresponsible hai na kamchor hai aur na hi uski galti tab utni badi thi jitna tune bana diya hai." Preeti tried to knock sense into Naina. "Wo quote yaad hai? Holding ideas is blissful until they began choking you. Agar tune ab Sameer ko maaf nahi kiya na toh wo tere liye accha nahi hoga."

"Preeti sahi keh rahi hai Naina, maaf kar de na jijajee ko." Swati tried to persuade her friend too but Naina didn't bat an eyelid in recognition of what they were saying.

"Chal Swati" Preeti pulled her out and Naina was left behind wondering.
_________________________________

"Are you ready to party?" Jatin almost screamed in Dev's ear. The atmosphere of the whole set was light. They had tried to arrange lighter scenes to shoot that day so that no one was tired at the celebration.

"Bilkul." Dev replied.

"Hi Dev" Sonakshi barged into Dev and Jatin's make up room. She picked up a chair and made herself comfortable.

Jatin looked from Dev to Sonakshi.

"So? Tum log direct set se jaaoge party tak or you'll go back and change?" Sonakshi was smiling real big and Jatin was worried looking at the hope in her eyes.

"Tumhara kya plan hai?" Dev asked her.

"Well the creative team wrapped their work just now. Tum logon ka bhi pack up hai na aadhe ghante me?" Sonakshi wished that Dev would express his wish to pick Sonakshi up from her house and then they could attend the party like other unofficial couples do.

Jatin sensed something odd in Sona's question.

"Actually we'll pack up in half an hour and then we are planning to do some boy stuff fir we'll meet you at the venue." Jatin replied in Dev's place.

"Boy stuff? Plan?" Dev asked Jatin and he stuffed his elbow in Dev's stomach.

"Ouch!"

"Theek hai fir milte hai." Sonakshi got out of the room. Her love story oscillated between extreme happiness and hope and disappointment.

As soon as Sona was out of sight, Jatin asked Dev, "Kya kar raha hai? Tujhe bataya tha na maine ki she likes you probably aur tu hai ki uski hopes badha raha hai! Chahta kya hai tu?"

"Nothing. She talks to me. I tease her. Maza aata hai and as far as uska mujhe pasand karna is concerned wo koi chota sa crush hoga, wo kaun sa serious hai mere baare me? Thoda sa khush kar dete hai usko." Dev winked and moved out of the room.

He didn't knew that it would be difficult for him to come back from these words even if he would desperately want to someday.

_________________________________

The star of the evening finally arrived. PreeDit and SwaMun escorted him to the green room where he was provided with all the refreshment he would need before his performance.

"Kitna kaam karwa raha hai ye? Kabhi pani lao kabhi A/C kholo kabhi band karo, maharani victoria hai kahi ka?" Munna was fed up.

"Aaj seh le bhai, kahi bahar mila toh dekh lenge." Pandit let out his frustration.

The crowd was being entertained by the college band and dance group till now. It was finally time to start the concert.

"All the best Naina." Sameer said and she nodded. "Tum nahi kahogi?"

She knew her wishing him had always boosted his confidence. Whenever he reminded her of their school days she felt the same nostalgia that he did but she never showed it on her face. Sameer thought that it will again be one of those moments.

"All the best Sameer." She said and he felt a new found confidence brimming in him.

They began hosting the show. They welcomed Mr. Nautiyal and the crowd. One by one they counted his achievements and then left the stage amidst hoots and shouts from the audience. Dry ice began spreading on the stage, disco lights flashed and music filled the air as the concert began.

Ek ho gaye hum aur tum

(Humma Humma Humma)

Deafening cheers roared.

To ud gayi neendein re

The crowd lost control as the introductory music played.

Ek ho gaye hum aur tum
To ud gayi neendein re
Fir khanki payal masti me
To kangan khanke...

Sameer began enjoying with the crowd and Naina looked at him expecting some discipline back stage but he was having a good time. Even SwaPree and MunDit had come from the green room to enjoy the evening. All the volunteers were dancing to the beat. She realised that she was holding on to unnecessary anger.

Dil kya kare jab kisi ko kisi se pyar ho jaaye?
Jane kaha kab kisi ko kisi se pyar ho jaaye?

Unchi unchi deewaro si iss duniya ki rasme
Na kuch tere bas me jaana na kuch mere bas me

Naina saw the back stage turn into a dance floor. Her attention got stuck in the smile on Sameer's face. The broad smile that she hadn't seen in ages. Preeti pulled Naina in the group of slowly dancing volunteers and she went with the flow.

Sameer saw her dancing and enjoying. She noticed his eyes on her and when she looked back in his orbs she found her eyes locked with his and there was no way she could avert her gaze. It was as if he was asking the same question as the singer-

Tere mere sapne sabhi
Band aankho ke tale me hai
Chabhi kaha dhundhe bata
Wo chand ke pyale me hai
Fir bhi sapne kar dikhau sach to kehna bas yahi

Their reverie broke as they heard the audience sing along-

Mai tere kaabil hoon ya,
Tere kabil nahi
Mai tere kabil hoon ya,
Tere kabil nahi

That was a question Naina had to answer.

I feel love when I look into your eyes
I believe, if you move out from my sight,
I'll be losing, I'll be losing...
Grip on you ... Grip on me ...

Dekho karib se mile hai naseeb se
Aayega pal ye fir kaha?
Aaj achanak tumse mile hum,
Ye to nahi hai bewajah
Poocho zara iss dil se hum hai mile mushkil se,
Kal fir na ho hum jo yaha
Gazab ka hai din
Dekho zara
Ye deewanapan socho zara
Tum ho akele hum bhi akele
Maza aa raha hai
Kasam se ... Kasam se...

"It's actually a good day Naina. Kuch toh bolo!" Sameer felt like shaking her for an answer but he knew it was Naina's decision and she deserved her time. Still there was a fear of losing her forever.

Sameer's attention was on Naina; Naina's attention was on Sameer. They were lost in their own little world and why not even the song selection of Jubin was apt for their situation.

Tum mere ho is pal mere ho
Kal shayad ye alam na rahe
Kuch aisa ho tum tum na raho
Kuch aisa ho hum hum na rahe
Ye raaste alag ho jaaye
Chalte chalte hum kho jaaye

Mai fir bhi tumko chahunga
Mai fir bhi tumko chahunga
Iss chahat me mar jaaunga
Mai fir bhi tumko chahunga.

Jubin changed the song and Sameer wondered if he would be able to lead a happy and indifferent life after Naina's complete rejection just as the lyricist said 

Tum saath ho ya na ho kya farq hai?
Bedard thi zindagi bedard hai,
Agar tum saath ho ...

Agar tum saath ho ...

Or he would drift into depression like the other song went -

Khwab jo huye hai khandar,
Khwab hi nahi the
Ek neend thi neem si,
Kho diya hai tune jisko,
Tera hi nahi tha,
Ek haar thi jeet si,
Kitna rulayega yeh to bata,
Rabba ve tujhe hai tere rab da vasta

Chal chal ve tu bandeya
Us galiye jahan koi kisi ko na jaane
Kya rehna waha par sun bandeya
Jaha apne bhi na pehchane hmmm...

With their eyes and hearts locked Naina could read his eyes, his emotions and feelings with every thought of an ultimate heart break within him, something broke inside her. The feeling that her being judgemental had made him so vulnerable and had hurt him killed pieces of her. Even she knew that they were incomplete without each other and they were remedies to each other's pain but was she ready to give him, to give them another chance?

Aashiyana Mera Saath Tere Hai Na
Dhundte Teri Gali Mujhko Ghar Mila
Aabodaana Mera Haath Tere Hai Na
Dhundte Tera Khuda Mujhko Rab Mila

Tu Jo Mila Lo Ho Gaya Main Kaabil
Tu Jo Mila Toh Ho Gaya Sab Haasil
Mushkil Sahi Aasan Hui Manzil
Kyunki Tu... Dhadkan Main Dil...

Was it time to forgive?

Tumne jo hai maanga toh
Dil ye haazir ho gaya
Tumko maana manzil aur
Musafir ho gaya… (x2)

Lo safar shuru ho gaya
Humsafar tu ho gaya
Lo safar shuru ho gaya
Mera humsafar tu ho gaya
hmm… ho…

Dil ki bechaini ko aaya
Ab kahin aaraam hai
Tu na ho to sochta dil
Tujhko subaho shaam hai
Iss kadar tu har ik pal mein
Mere shaamil ho gaya…

Lo safar shuru ho gaya
Humsafar tu ho gaya
Lo safar shuru ho gaya
Mera humsafar tu ho gaya

___________________________________

"Shona! Shona!"

Asha came looking for Sonakshi and when she opened her room's door she found her little girl wearing a beautiful red gown with her hair curled and resting on her shoulder. Six months back an underconfident Sonakshi had joined this TV project and today she looked like a changed person. The show had given her a lot.

"Kitni sundar lag rahi hai!" Asha couldn't take her eyes off her and Sonakshi wondered how would Dev react to her look?

Sona lifted her invisible collars in response.

"Shona, iss show me kaam karna tere liye kitna mushkil hota hoga ... Tere Baba se roz roz milna ..." Asha expressed her concern.

Sona took her mother's hand in hers.

"Baba to kab ke chale gaye. Aap mere paas ho. Sirf aap mere liye important ho. Aap aise tension mat lo." Sona lied.

"Have a great time tonight Sonakshi." Asha patted her back. Sonakshi's response had increased the weight on Asha's chest.

She bid Sonakshi good bye and after a few minutes decided to go for a long walk. Maybe a breath of fresh air would make her feel better.

......

Sonakshi's car pulled up outside the venue. She remembered the opening party of the show where she had reached by a taxi, stopped it way before the banquet and then walked to the gate. Her assets had grown so much in such a short time. She was forever grateful to the Malanis that she was roped in for the show and beyond all of this was the greatest pleasure... Dev, her first and final love.

The Dev - Sahil confusion was still there in her head but she decided to look beyond all of it for the night.

Shefali was the first one who saw Sonakshi enter. She rushed to her and gave her a warm hug.

"How are you?" Shefali asked her wondering if she had seen the message?

"Perfect. Just perfect."

Not a glimpse of remorse or heartbreak - Shefali noted.

Sonakshi spotted her crowd - the creatives and joined them.

The DJ in the corner was playing hip hop beats and Bijoy and Khatri were trying to do break dance on it.

"RR join them too!" Nikki insisted.

"Haye!Haye! Garib ki beti se ye sab karwaoge?" Radha Rani faked anger but when all the girls pleaded she went to break (literally) the dance floor.

Elena and Ishwari entered just in time to see the oldies perform on Bano Tera Swagger. They were showcasing their swag and the cast and crew were having a lot of fun.

The music turned from peppy to desi.

Teri ankhya ka yo kajal
Mane kare se gori ghayal

Everybody started grooving to the beats.

"Sameer ko aana chahiye tha." Arjun said.

"He is enjoying somewhere else." Sona replied in the noise. She had a hint of the ongoing SamAina story and she smiled feeling love in the air.

Sapne ke mai tera deedar karta hu
Jaan se zyada jaan-e-man tane pyar karta hu
Meri zindagi me aake mere dil ka chain churaya
Tu sangmarmar ki murat tane dekh ke man lalchaya.

Jatin and Dev entered the party after their boy stuff. The dancing crowd dispersed to make them gel in. Dev and Sonakshi were dancing on two other corners of the crew and slowly cutting past people, overcoming the madness they reached closer with their backs towards each other.

They bumped and turned around.

Dilbar dilbar haa dilbar dilbar
Ab to hosh na khabar hai
Ye kaisa asar hai
Tumse milne ke baad Dilbar

The new track filled everyone's ears. Jatin pulled Dev away before he could start flirting. Sonakshi found it odd.

She looked around to see where they had disappeared. Her eyes caught Bijoy and Ishwari dancing to Lollipop lage lu. It's just friendship Bijoy used to say but how long could a kid tolerate this stuff.

Forgetting all about the apparent love in the air, Sonakshi reached the drinks counter in anger.

"What would you like ma'am?" The waiter asked her.

Clueless about what to order Sonakshi said, "the hardest one?"

"On the rocks then?" The waiter smiled at the first timer.

"Yeah whatever!"

Precap -  "I like you. You're a good boy Dev." She pulled his cheek and repeated the line over and over again. Dev had a hard time in keeping her steady.

And

The public that gathered on the road at the accident spot called an ambulance. Someone called the last dialled number on her phone -

'Preeti'

____

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