The shooting for the show had started and Naina visited the sets along with Sameer. They both were amazed at the amount of hard work required for the making of a TV show. What they had always thought to be real places were actually sets, created only for one show... sometimes only for a part of the show. In present case, the small town set was required for first few episodes after which the characters were to move to a big city.

They met the girl who was playing the lead. Her name was Shilpa.

"Naina ji, thank you... aapne itna achha likha hai Kalpana ka character ki audience ko behad pasand aayega... mere liye yeh bohot zaroori hai kyonki mere career ki shuruaat hai." She gave a warm smile to Naina.

"Maine toh sirf likha hai... jaan toh aap dalengi usme, Shilpa ji." Naina smiled back.

"Arre yaar, yeh aap aap bohot formal ho raha hai... mujhe iski aadat nahi hai... kya aap mujhe tu kahengi?" She was suddenly chirpy.

"Hum dono ek dusre ko tum keh lete hain... aur naam se bulayenge... yeh ji bada bhaari bharkam hota hai." Naina made her more comfortable.

Sameer walked upto her and said, "Naina, wahan ka set up dekho... story ke hisaab se toh ek choti dukan honi chahiye na?"

Naina went away to check, after nodding at Shilpa.

Later, as Shilpa was reading her script sitting in a corner, Naina walked back to her and settled on the next chair.

Seeing her alone, Shilpa asked, "Naina, tumhare saath woh ladka kaun hai?"

Naina turned to see in the direction she was pointing. Sameer stood there, talking to a technician about something. She decided not to reveal anything straight away.

"Woh mere co writer hain, " she said with a straight face.

"Ekdum hero hain... unhe kaho na audition dene ke liye... abhi humare show ka male lead final nahi hua hai... agar select hue toh meri lottery lag jayegi." She said, looking wistfully at Sameer.

"Kyon nahi, main bol dungi, " Naina tried not to laugh.

Shilpa kept eyeing Sameer the whole time. Naina observed this but did not say anything to Sameer. They decided to leave after lunch.

"Shilpa, main jaa rahi hun. Ab shayad agle hafte hi aana hoga. Tab milte hain." She said goodbye to Shilpa.

"Uhh... Naina... woh baat ki kya tumne apne un co writer se? Kya kaha unhone?" Shilpa was stuck on Sameer.

Naina looked back at him, "Unhe koi interest nahi hai... unka toh apna bohot bada kaam hai... business hai, factories hain."

Shilpa was surprised, "Toh fir yeh sab kyon kar rahe hain?"

"Apne pyaar ke liye." Naina smiled.

Shilpa looked at her with pained eyes, "Pyar? Kaun hai unka pyaar?"

Before Naina could say anything, Sameer walked upto them and circled his arm around her shoulder.

"Chalein madam?" He smiled lovingly at her.

Naina nodded, then looked at Shilpa, " Yeh mere pati hain."

The girl watched open mouthed as they left.

"Aaj toh tumhari ek fan ban gayi aur usne tumhe hero banane ki thaan hi li thi." She said the moment they were out.

Sameer gave a questioning look to her.

Naina laughed, "Woh Shilpa... bol rahi thi tum audition de do... agar isi show ke liye select ho gaye toh uski lottery lag jayegi."

Sameer looked around... finding the parking area deserted, he pulled Naina closer, touching her cheeks with the back of his hand.

"Main toh pehle se hi selected hun... meri heroine ne mujhe apna hero chuna hai... lottery toh meri lagi hui hai." He gave a lopsided smile as Naina nervously looked at him.

"Sameer hum sadak pe hain." she moved aside when he did not show any sign of leaving her.

"Pati hun... kahin bhi romance kar sakta hun." He reminded her.

Naina recalled what she had told everyone at the production house and channel.

"Ab chalo, Mr Pati," she walked towards the bike, trying to hide her blush.

They visited the set again next week. Shilpa was shooting for an emotional scene. They were impressed with her expressions... she essayed the scene with such ease that it looked like she was actually facing such a problem. Once the shot was okayed, she wiped off her tears and instantly switched on to her chirpy self.

"Arre Naina, tum? Aao na... kaisa laga mera scene?" She noticed Naina and came over to meet her.

"Tum kitni achhi acting karti ho, Shilpa... aisa laga hi nahi ki yeh sirf ek scene tha... laga tumhara dard asli hai." Naina praised her talent.

"Jaise hi camera on hota hai... bhool jao ki tum kaun ho... ab tum sirf woh character ho jise tum parde pe utaar rahe ho... uski zindagi, uska dard, uska ahsaas sab tumhare andar sama jaana chahiye... aisa hamare sir kehte the jahan main acting seekhti thi... ab toh ghar pe bhi main Kalpana ki tarah baat karti hun." Shilpa happily told her.

Seeing Sameer, she turned to him, "Hi Sameer, agar Naina pehle hi bata deti ki aap uske husband ho toh main kisi aur ke sapne dekh leti... chalo koi nahi... waise aap dono saath mein bohot achhe lagte ho." She surprised him with her direct words, without any sign of uneasiness.

The three of them chatted for some time before Shilpa had to go for her shot again. Naina was thankful that there remained no awkwardness amongst them due to her initial interest in Sameer.

They could not visit the sets again... regular classes and fast approaching date of Sonali and Rahul's marriage kept them busy. Naina helped Sonali whenever she wanted to catch up on studies. She came to know the large scale preparations going on in her house. The amount of shopping Sonali mentioned made Naina stare at her unbelievably.

"Itne kapde kaun banwata hai?" She asked in astonishment.

"Arre shaadi konsa baar baar hoti hai... dhoom dham se honi chahiye...aur papa ne keh diya tha ki beta jo kapde pasand aayein le lena. Jewelry toh ghar ki hi baat hai." Her father was a famous jeweller of Mumbai.

"Par fir bhi... itni saariyon ki kya zaroorat hai?" Naina could not digest the fact that she had bought more than hundred sarees.

Sonali looked at her in an elder sisterly manner, "Naina, shaadi hoti hai toh aisa hi karte hain sab. Kitni jagah jaana hota hai shaadi ke baad... sab rishtedaron ke yahan achhe kapde pehen ke hi toh jaayenge... unko dikhana hota hai ki aap kitne khush ho."

"Khushi toh chehre par hoti hai." Naina still could not see the reason to buy an entire shop, at least by Ahmedabad standards.

"Offo, jab teri shaadi hogi na, tab samajh aayega... tere aur Sameer ke dost aur rishtedar jab bulayenge toh  tum bhi toh jaoge na." She tried to make Naina see all this in terms of her wedding.

Sonali's sentence brought back the apprehensions she always had... Sameer had no one who would be happy for their marriage, let alone calling them over. His mother herself was distant and aloof. Except Munna Pandit, there was no one who would be there in baraat. If at all there was one... she shivered at the thought. Her own relatives were a big problem. Though chachaji had happily consented to get them married after college but the nagging fear of her father and tauji taiji not agreeing never left her.

She had no doubt that she would marry Sameer, whether it would be a celebrated family event or a quiet ceremony was her fear. She had always wanted a wedding like Pooja didi's... where everybody was happy, everybody participated in all functions. Sighing, she brought her attention back to what Sonali was telling about mehendi designs.

Sameer managed to get Naina to himself amidst all this, finding ways to get closer to her. He did not let himself lose focus from studies, though. Along with her, he regularly attended classes and had their library session everyday. Studying with her was never boring. Not only did she explain in an absorbing manner, her proximity when she shifted closer to write something in his notebook was exhilarating.

One such day, as they studied together, Naina was trying to see how Sameer had solved a particular problem. She bent onto his register, back of the pen in her mouth, tilting her face to see clearly.

Sameer could not suppress the urge and kissed her cheek.

The pen dropped from her mouth as she looked up at him, eyes wide with shock and hand on cheek.

"Hum library mein hain, Sameer... tum pagal ho gaye ho kya... yahan koi dekh lega toh aafat aa jayegi." She looked around, speaking in a low voice.

Sameer held one ear, pursing his lips, making her smile instantly.

He bent down to pick up the pen and his breath stopped.

She had crossed her legs, the one with the black thread towards him. Her skirt had shifted a little and he could see the fair, smooth and shapely leg almost upto the knee... right in front of his face. His hand moved on its own, hesitating just for a moment before it landed on her leg, little above the ankle.

Naina got an electrifying jolt, making her jump. As she tried to stand, her foot got stuck in the beam of table and the ankle twisted, making her fall back on  the chair.

Sameer quickly helped her sit properly, "Naina, tum theek ho na? Lagi kya? Doctor ke paas le chalun?"

She looked at him, still shaking from the effect of his touch, "Tum... tum kya kar rahe the?"

He rubbed his hand behind the neck, looking down, "Main khud ko rok nahi paya... itne paas se... "

She started to put back the books in her bag, not in a condition to sit next to him and study anymore.

"Abhi se jaa rahi ho? Abhi toh time hai na?" He looked at her flushed face.

Without a word, she got up, falling back on the chair the next instant, her eyes scrunched up in pain.

"Kya hua, Naina?" Sameer was worried.

"Shayad pair mud gaya hai. Khadi hui toh ekdum se tez dard hua." She said in a dull voice.

"Chalo main yahan medical room mein le chalta hun. Doctor toh nahi honge abhi par medical assistant hogi." He offered his hand.

Naina held him, getting up slowly. As the weight fell on her ankle, it hurt again... making her gasp loudly.

Seeing her condition, Sameer did not think twice... he leaned and picked her up.

"Sameer... utaro mujhe... main chal lungi... aise koi dekhega toh kya sochega?" She hollered.

"Shh...  aankhen band karo... koi dekhega toh keh dunga tum behosh ho." He whispered, walking out of the library.

Naina immediately closed her eyes, letting her head fall back, recalling Shilpa's words. She was portraying the role of an unconscious girl and got into the character.

They did not encounter anyone. The classes had got over an hour back and mostly students had left. Those who were still lingering around were either in the canteen or  cricket ground. No one ventured to the library on the first floor, which also had the medical room.

The medical assistant was present. Sameer placed Naina gently on the narrow bed, telling the nurse that she had fainted. She looked at Naina's condition and checked her pulse.

"Shayad weakness se behosh ho gayi, ek minute, BP check kar leti hun." She turned to get the BP instrument.

Sameer nudged Naina and she made a sound.

"Inhe hosh aa raha hai." He looked at the nurse.

"Paani." Naina said in a feeble voice.

Quickly taking the glass of water from the side table Sameer offered to her, before the nurse could react. Naina gulped a few sips, handing it back to Sameer.

"Kaisa feel ho raha hai tumko?" Nurse asked Naina, checking her forehead and eyes.

"Woh mere pair mein zara lag gayi... jaise hi khadi hui, tez dard hua aur... aur behosh ho gayi." She carried on the act of fainting.

The nurse checked her foot, twisting a bit and Naina grimaced in pain.

"Mud gaya hai... main ointment laga ke crepe bandage baandh deti hun. Teen char din lagenge." She said going to the store room.

After the bandage was secured, Naina stepped down, feeling a little better. But as the weight of her body fell on the foot, the pain shot up again.

Sameer held her hand, placing one arm around her shoulder to support.

Seeing her reluctance, he said, "Abhi koi nahi hai yahan... aur agar tumne kuch kaha toh main fir se utha ke le jaunga."

She quietly walked out, leaning onto him. They reached her hostel wing.

"Aaj ground mein mat aana... tumhare pair ke liye theek nahi hoga." He said softly, voice full of concern.

"Lekin... " Naina started to protest... not meeting him till tomorrow seemed too much time without him.

"Main raat ko aunga." He whispered before she could complete her sentence.

She could not say no to him.

Sameer made her sit on the guard's chair and went to inform the caretaker. Promptly, two girls were called and they helped Naina to her room. Sameer watched from outside till she disappeared at the turning of stairs.