The moment Naina stepped out of the bathroom, the door opened again.

"Naina, kitni whistle aani chahiye itne alu mein... maine itne pehle kabhi ubale nahi toh pakka nahi hai." Sonali gave a sheepish smile.

"Ek whistle ke baad paanch saat minute ke liye gas kam kar dena. Utna kaafi hoga." Naina had enough experience of making things in larger quantities owing to the size of her family which always included taiji.

Sonali nodded in relief and went away.

While brushing her hair, Naina noticed a stain on the front of her yellow dress. Looking down at it, she realised that probably the colour of some other clothes had bled into it. Thankfully, she was carrying spare outfits, as chachiji had always emphasised. Taking out the white suit from her bag, Naina thought of changing in the room itself as the bathroom was wet. She locked the door and changed into the alternate outfit.

As she pulled up the zipper of her kurta, something stuck right in the center. She tried hard but the zip did not move up. Bringing her hair over one shoulder, she tried to check in the mirror with her back to it but could not see what was blocking the zip from sliding up smoothly.

She was wondering whether to take off the kurta and check or change back into the same yellow dress when there was a knock again at the door.

"Shukr hai, Sonali se hi karwa leti hun." She walked to the door, relieved.

Sameer smiled as she opened.

With a flip of her heart, Naina tried to shut it back but he held the door.

"Naina, kya hua?" He could see her nervousness.

"Sameer, tum zara Sonali ko bula do, please." She stood in the center of the door, blocking his way.

"Sonali toh abhi abhi bathroom mein gayi hai... aur Rahul market gaya hai... tum mujhe batao kya kaam hai... kya chahiye tumhe?" He was sure she had some problem.

"Oh... achha fir tum jao... main dekh lungi... tum bahar baitho." She said with a glum face.

As Naina tried to close the door, Sameer pushed it open and entered, closing it behind him.

She looked up in horror and started to step back.

He raised his palms to her, "Dekho Naina, jo bhi problem hai tum mujhe bata sakti ho... main koshish karunga tumhari madad karne ki."

"Tum... tum nahi kar sakte." She gulped, taking small, slow steps back.

The panic on her face and uneasiness with which she was clutching her kurta was indication enough for him. He started to move closer when Naina stopped him.

"Ruk jao, Sameer, idhar nahi aana... please... yeh problem tumhare saamne batane ki nahi hai... tum jao na... main khud dekh lungi." She almost pleaded.

He was seriously worried now... she seemed to be in some sort of distress. He ignored her request and took another step towards her. Naina moved back further.

And he saw it.

His eyes caught the image as she stood with her back to the mirror... with her hair in front, the view of her back clearly showed the open zip... the panels started to seperate just a little above her waist, getting wider as his eyes went up. The skin on her back, along with a band of white contraption in the center was in his range of vision.

"Main kar dun?" He asked softly.

"Ky... kya kardo?" She was alarmed.

"Jo tumse nahi ho raha." He hesitantly pointed at his back.

"Tumhe kai... kaise pata?" Her voice was shaky.

He indicated behind her with a nudge of his head.

With a perplexed look, she peered over her shoulder. The mirror showed her back clearly. Shocked with the realisation, she turned. When his reflection showed his eyes where she didn't want them, she turned again... her eyes pooling up at the dilemma.

"Naina, ek minute." He tried to calm her.

Slowly moving towards her, he held her shoulders and shifted her to one side so that she was not in front of the mirror anymore. Naina quietly stepped where he made her stand, her legs trembling, eyes fixed at a point on the floor.

He slid his arms behind her, placing his hands on her lower back and slowly bringing them up, so that he doesn't accidentally touch her bare skin. When he found the point where the two sides were not joined, he carefully held the zipper and tried to pull it up... it did not budge. He tried again, a little harder... it didn't move.

"Ruko, main abhi aaya." He stepped back, running towards the door... and stopped.

Looking back at her, he said in a soft voice, "Main theek kar dunga... tum yahi rehna."

Naina closed her eyes when he was gone, biting her lip in frustration.

"Hamesha sab kapdon ki zip aaram se band ho jaati hai... aaj hi kharab hona tha isse bhi... aur subah se jab bhi darwaza khatkhataya toh Sonali thi lekin ab jab usse hona chahiye tha toh woh gayab hai... bhagwan ji... mere saath hi aisa kyon hota hai." She covered her face with her hands, mortified at the predicament.

Sameer entered to find her standing with her face buried in her palms... his heart went out to her. He understood how difficult it was for her to be standing like this in front of him.

With a deep breath, he moved closer.

Naina looked up as she sensed him, lowering her head instantly, hands clutching the dresser behind, against which she was standing.

He showed a candle to her, "Naina, yeh lagane se zip theek ho jayegi aur aaram se band ho jayegi. Main laga dun?"

Her eyes shot up... did he mean to turn her around?

"Tumhe mudna toh padega... par main apni aankhen band rakhunga... kasam se." He pinched his throat.

"Rehne do... main... main dusra kuch pehen lungi... tum jao." She managed to speak in a weak voice.

He was aware that she carried a small bag and might not be having other dress as they had come only for a day.

"Tum bharosa rakho, Naina... main aankhen nahi kholunga." He convinced her.

Trust... of course she trusted him... with a deep breath, she nodded. He closed his eyes as she turned. Sameer traced his finger from the lower back to reach the open zip... and rubbed the candle on both flaps. He tried to move it but it was still frozen. He pulled it down by an inch, rubbing the candle some more till the open end. This time when he tried to move, the zipper went all the way up without any hindrance.

Naina, along with Sameer, breathed in relief.

She turned to see him standing with eyes still shut.

"Ab tum aankhen khol sakte ho." She said.

Sameer opened them to see her face turned red... while she wrenched her hands, biting one corner of her lip.

"Thank you... mujh pe bharosa karne ke liye." He leaned to come to her height.

"Pata nahi yeh kaise... aaj tak kabhi aisa nahi hua... meri kitni dresses mein zip hai par aise..." Her voice was still strained.

"Koi baat nahi, Naina... ab theek ho gaya na... kabhi fir se hoga toh aise hi candle ragad dena." He held her shoulders.

She looked up, "Lekin tumhe yeh sab kaise pata?"

"Hostel mein kai tarah ke jugaad seekhe hain... tumhe aage jaake pata chalega tumhara pati kitna talented hai." He smirked, bringing a smile to her face.

He relaxed seeing the uneasiness finally erased from her face.

"Mujhe bata dena chahiye tha na... ya main tumhe abhi tak yakeen nahi dila paya ki..." He stopped in mid sentence as she kept a finger on his lips.

"Tum pe khud se zyada bharosa hai mujhe... main bas zara ghabra gayi thi... nahi chahti thi ki tum mujhe iss haal mein dekho." She mumbled.

"Kyon?" He held her wrist, bringing the hand down.

Her eyes widened at his deep voice, "Sameer tum... tum... tum jao yahan se... mujhe taiyar hona hai."

He rubbed his nose with hers, "Tum toh ekdum perfect lag rahi ho... aur kitna taiyar hogi?"

Naina blushed, "Achha theek hai... dupatta lene do... fir jaake Sonali ki madad karni hai alu paranthe banane mein."

His eyes brightened instantly, "Alu paranthe... tum aaj mere liye alu paranthe banaogi? Naina main tumhe kitchen mein paranthe banate hue dekhna chahta hun."

She placed one hand on his chest, moving him a little away from herself, "Pehli baat... paranthe sabke liye ban rahe hain, sirf tumhare liye nahi."

"Aur doosri baat, ismein dekhna kya hai? Sirf paranthe hi toh bana rahi hun, thodi koi dance kar rahi hun jo tumhe aage wali seat pe baith ke dekhna hai."

He had often fantasized about Naina working in the kitchen while he watched... her saree pallu tucked around the waist, or her dupatta tied delicately to keep out of the way... her hands in the dough... few locks falling on her face, which she would blow away with a swoosh from the side of her lips... sometimes chopping vegetables as he stood behind her, his hands on hers, cutting together...

He had an endless list.

"Tum jo bhi karti ho, mere liye aage wali seat hi book kar diya karo." He winked.

"Tum niklo yahan se." She pushed him out... hiding her flushed face and shy smile.

When she entered the kitchen, Sonali was not around. The bowl of boiled potatoes rested on the platform along with the kneaded dough.

She started to peel the potatoes. When Sonali arrived ten minutes later after her bath, Naina was ready with the masala.

"Naina, tune yeh kar liya... chal main paranthe banati hun, tu table laga de." Sonali gathered the necessary things for the process.

"Nahi, paranthe toh main hi banaungi aaj... tu baaki ka dekh le." Naina took the rolling pin from her.

Sonali tried to take it back but gave up when Naina did not budge.

She tied her dupatta to one side and rolled up her open hair into a bun high up on the head. Tucking the few loose strands behind her ear, she washed her hands and started to prepare Sameer's favourite breakfast.

Sonali arranged for pickle, curd and chutney in bowls and started making tea to go along with it.

Naina was rolling out the third one when Sameer entered. He stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame, with crossed arms, watching her from the side...

Naina flipped the parantha on tawa, making sure that it was cooked properly from all sides. Once done, she placed it in the casserole and started to roll the other one. An errant strand troubled her and she pushed it away with the back of her hand.

"Arre Sameer tum? Kuch chahiye tha?" Sonali saw him as she turned to go out with the tray.

"Uhh... woh main... haan, main puchne aaya tha ki hum kab wapas chalenge Naina." He fumbled before coming up with an excuse.

Naina looked at him, smiling as she could see through his lie.

"Abhi se kyon soch rahe ho... baad mein kuch plan banate hain abhi chalo breakfast laga rahi hun." Sonali directed him to come as she went out to the dining hall.

"Jao," Naina mouthed silently.

He wrinkled his nose, then blew a kiss before leaving.

They sat down to eat a little later.

Rahul and Sonali praised the alu paranthe with all their heart. Naina thanked them, waiting for Sameer to say something, but he had all his attention focussed on the plate, not looking up even once.

When he opened the casserole again after polishing off four paranthe, Naina pressed his foot under the table.

"Huh... kya hua?" He looked sharply at her.

"Kitna khaoge? Kisi aur ke ghar mein ho tum." She whispered, lowering her head.

"Kyon... kam hai kya?" He peeped into the casserole which still had a good number left.

Rahul laughed, knowing his friend's love for this particular breakfast... and today it was made by Naina, adding more flavour.

"Kam kahan hai, bhai... tu aaraam se kha... yeh sab tere hi hain." He tried to keep a straight face as he encouraged Sameer to have more.

Sameer pouted at Naina... and continued to eat with the same fervour.

Naina sat with pursed lips, thinking of brushing up her cooking skills before marriage.