Once the groom's family had left, Sonali came back to her room along with Naina.

"Haye yaar, thak gayi main toh... Naina, shaadi karna bada mushkil kaam hai yaar... baithe baithe kamar toot gayi meri." She fell on the bed exhausted.

Naina smiled, "Shaadi ki jaldi bhi tujhe hi thi."

She sighed, "Pata thodi tha itne papad belne padenge... tu toh mandir mein shaadi kar lena... ek din mein kaam khatam... abhi toh kal ke bhi do function hain."

Naina recalled Pooja didi's tilak.

"Tujhe tilak mein nahi jaana hoga na? Humare yahan toh nahi jaate... matlab  baaki sab jaate hain, dulhan ke alawa." She asked.

"Par mujhe jana hoga... yahan pe saare function mein jaate hain... woh log bhi apna shagun kal hi denge mujhe... isliye jaana padega." She said in a tired voice.

They changed into their night suits... applied the mixture of lime juice and sugar on their mehendi to get a darker colour and drifted off to sleep, not washing their hands as directed by the mehendi wala.

Sameer went to the washroom after Rahul had changed into comfortable clothes. Taking off his shirt, he looked at the mark Naina had accidentally given him... second time in one day... not bad. Her nervousness when he had asked her to do so was stirring... she could turn from demure to vivacious to bold in a moment... and go back to being timid again in no time. She had so many layers... he was eager to discover each one.

He moved his fingers lightly over the mark, feeling her lips. Taking a deep breath he pulled over the closed neck t-shirt and went out.

Naina got up with a start. Looking around, she realised it was still middle of the night... she felt there was a sound from the balcony.

"Yeh Sameer yahan bhi toh nahi aa gaya... marwayega yeh dono ko." She tip toed to the balcony, muttering under her breath.

It was empty. She looked all around... checking the pipe and also down below... there was no one. She pressed her forehead, wondering if it was all a dream. Lost in her thoughts she walked back to the bed.

A loud gasp escaped her mouth. Sameer sat on the bed, hugging her pillow, smiling at her. She looked behind him, Sonali was in deep sleep.

"Tum pagal ho, Sameer? Yahan kya kar rahe ho? Itni raat ko aise kyon aaye tum? Agar koi dekhega toh kya kahega? Sonali uth jayegi... please tum jao abhi." She pleaded in a low whisper.

He gave a crooked smile... then pulled her, circling his hands around her waist, he rested his head on her belly. Naina stood motionless, not even breathing... the weight of his head was surprisingly very light. She moved her hand to touch it... her hand could not feel him.

Naina opened her eyes.

Looking at her belly she realised the weight was of Sonali's hand. Her eyes scanned the dark room. Sameer was nowhere... even the balcony door was closed.

After carefully removing Sonali's hand, she got up to use the washroom, sweating from the touch she felt in her dream.

Sameer stood at the door, hands crossed against his chest, smiling.

She panicked, "Laga tha mujhe tum aaye ho... Sameer, kya karte ho tum? Kaha tha na yahan nahi aana? Ab wapas kaise jaoge?"

She turned to check the door... it was locked. So was the balcony door.

"Lekin tum aaye kaise?" She turned to ask him, confused.

He was gone.

Naina looked around... checking inside the washroom as well. There was no one.

She let out a long breath, "Yeh tumne kya haal kar diya hai mera, Sameer? Aise toh pagal ho jaungi."

Going back to bed, she quickly lied down and closed her eyes, not to get any more hallucinations. Exhaustion took over and she fell asleep soon after.

The sound of birds and soft light filtering through the curtains announced the arrival of morning, making the girl stir from their sleep.

First thing they did was to look at their hands... then at each other's.

The wide grin confirmed that they were satisfied with the deep maroon colour that decorated their palms... and more, in Sonali's case.

She streched, still feeling some stiffness in her body, "Thoda aur time milta sone ko toh achha hota... par uthna padega... nahi toh time pe ready nahi ho paungi."

Naina patted her arm, "Tu yahin baith... aaj teri chai main le aati hun."

Sonali started to get up, "Nahi nahi Naina, tu toh meri guest hai... tu  kaise... "

"Kal bhabhi aur aunty ne kaha na ki main bhi beti hun iss ghar ki... toh guest kaise hui... teri behen hui na... chup kar ke baith... main laati hun." She held her back.

Sonali smiled and nodded.

Naina washed her hands to rid them of the sticky feeling of lime sugar solution applied last night. The rich colour brought a shine to her eyes.

She stepped out of the room, collecting her hair to tie them in a bun.

Her hands froze... Sameer was leaning at the door of the kitchen, standing with crossed arms, smiling.

He looked at her... and his eyes brightened.

Naina exhaled, rounding her lips as the air filled up her cheeks.

"Fir se dikhne lag gaya... raat bhar tang karke man nahi bhara jo subah bhi aa gaya." She crossed him, speaking to herself in a low voice.

"Good morning, aunty," Naina wished Sonali's mom in a cheerful voice.

Looking back, she smiled, "Good morning, beta... uth gayi? Sonali ko bhi utha de."

"Uth gayi woh... main dono ke liye chai lene aayi hun."

Directing the maid to get two cups ready, Sonali's mom looked at Naina's hands, "Dikha toh teri mehndi... kaisa rang aaya hai?"

Naina showed her palms eagerly, secured with the knowledge that the initials won't be easy to locate.

"Arre waah, kitna gehra rang hai... tujhe toh zabardast pyaar karne wala pati milne wala hai." She lovingly patted Naina's cheeks.

Naina could feel the similar colour creeping up her face... she lowered her eyes with a shy smile.

"Sharma gayi," the lady looked back,   "pata hai, Sameer, kehte hain jitni gehra mehendi ka rang hota hai utna gehra pati ka pyaar."

She looked up in shock... first at aunty, then at Sameer.

"Yeh Sam... Sameer hai?" Naina stuttered, eyes rounded in surprise.

She looked at Naina, perplexed, "Kya ho gaya tujhe, Naina... Sameer ko nahi pehchanti kya?"

Naina gulped, lifting her eyes to him.

He was still smiling.

Sameer had realised she was taking him to be a dream when she crossed him muttering to herself. He even heard what she said, his heart jumping at the thought that she was dreaming about him the whole night.

His poor heartbeat has started racing seeing Naina all tousled up... so this is how she looked first thing in the morning. She had worn a long t shirt over her patiala... not the usual kurta that she always did. Then she had plumped up her cheeks... making it difficult for him to breathe. He wanted to crush her in his arms, feeling those soft cheeks under his lips. And her words had fuelled his longing.

How could she take his breath away with every move and every word... he rubbed the back of his neck, biting the lower lip to control his emotions.

Naina took in his form... grey tracks and a closed neck white t shirt... his crossed hands made the sleeves stretch on the muscles. Her breathing fastened at the glint in his eyes. He raised his own palm at her, showing the same dark shade of his mehendi.

"Auntyji, kya ladkon ki gehri mehendi ka bhi yehi matlab hota hai ki unki biwi unse bohot pyaar karegi?" He asked.

Sonali's mom smiled, without looking at him, "Haan, hota hai... tumko bhi lagwani thi kya kisi ke liye?"

Raising his brows at Naina, he gave a lopsided smile, "Woh Rahul ki mehendi bhi achhi aayi hai isliye poocha."

"Tumhari bhi aayegi... jab tumhara number lagega... itne pyare ladke se kaise uski biwi pyar nahi karegi?" The lady said, handing him a bag, "yeh lo, jo cheezein bhabhiji ne mangwayi hain woh sab hain... unse kehna aur kisi cheez ki zaroorat ho toh bata dengi."

Sameer took the packet from her, "Thank you, aunty... chalta hun."

He glanced at Naina, who was still looking at him with open mouth.

Seeing the two ladies busy in their work, he winked... and blew a kiss, a hand over his heart.

Naina came back to her senses.

Her flushed cheeks got another layer of colour.

She picked up the tray the maid had prepared with two cups of tea and walked back to her room as Sameer walked towards the main entrance.

Both halted at their respective doors, looking back. This time, Naina winked, and blew a kiss... making him stare open mouthed as she closed the door behind her.

"Naina, yeh kya hai?" Sonali picked up a small round packet from the table.

She looked at it, "Yeh kal diya hai uss Sahil ne."

Sonali dropped the packet... her eyes going wide.

Both did not hear the sound of breaking glass.

"Sahil ne... tujhe diya... kyon... Sahil ko kya hua... aur bhi kuch kaha usne?" Her barrage of questions made Naina laugh.

Sonali was serious, "Naina, usne koi badtameezi toh nahi ki na? Waise woh aisa hai nahi... matlab maine kabhi usse dekha nahi kisi ladki se baat karte... teen saal se jaanti hun... kya kaha bata na?"

Naina repeated their conversation in the dining area and then at the time of giving this gift.

Sonali was astounded, "Usse tu pakka pasand aa gayi hai... Naina, ab tak toh usne apni mummy ko bol diya hoga... aur aunty uski shaadi ki liye itni pareshan hain ki agar teri family yahan hoti toh ab tak rishte ki baat bhi kar leti."

"Kisike pasand karne se ya baat karne se kuch nahi hoga, Sonali... mera rishta jiske saath likha hai uske saath jud chuka hai... aur iss sachai ko koi nahi badal sakta." Naina looked down at the names on her palm.

Sonali's voice turned soft, "Naina, tere iss yakeen pe khushi bhi hoti hai aur garv bhi... lekin rishte aur bhi hote hain... rishtedaron se... aur unme kuch log aise hote hain jo bas aag lagana jante hain... Rahul ke ek tauji hain... unhone bohot koshish ki hamari shaadi rokne ki... jab unki nahi chali toh ab har baat mein kuch kuch kami nikal ke mahaul kharab kar rahe hain. Kal mehendi mein aa nahi aa paaye kyonki unki tabiyat kharab thi... uske liye bhi pooja wale din ke khane ko dosh de rahe the... mummy toh itni darr jaati hain unko dekh ke... bas iss baat se sukoon milta hai ki Rahul aur uske mummy papa hamesha humara saath dete hain."

Naina was reminded of her own tauji and taiji. She could expect such behaviour from them. Some corner of her heart was scared about their reaction though she was sure that chachaji would always be with her and Sameer.

A knock on the door brought them back to present.

"Tum dono abhi tak taiyar nahi hui? Jaldi karo... Sonali, pehle tu naha le... parlour wali bas aati hi hogi... tujhe aaj saari pehenni hai... time lagega." Bhabhi directed, entering the room.

Sonali rushed to the bathroom. Naina started to clean the bed.

"Arre Naina, yeh sab chod... woh maid kar legi... tu apni mehendi dikha." Bhabhi stepped ahead... and a crunching sound emerged under her feet.

Both looked down.

The packet was lying open and glass bangles inside it were all broken. Thankfully bhabhi was wearing slippers so she was not hurt.

"Sorry Naina, teri chudiyaan toot gayi... main abhi ye saaf karwa deti hun... tere liye nayi bhi mangwa dungi..." She looked apologetic.

Naina stared at the broken glass pieces... the bangles had met their fate... without even being touched by her, they would be thrown.

"Yeh meri zaroorat ki nahi thi, bhabhi, mujhe jo chahiye woh sambhaal ke rakhi hain maine." She gave a contended smile.