The clock moved at amazingly slow speed for Sameer. He had to meet Naina at eleven... he had finished everything and was ready only to realise that it wasn't nine yet. He had more than two hours before he could see her.

"Pata nahi gyarah baje ka plan kyon banaya? Nau baje bhi toh mil sakte the na... " He muttered to himself angrily.

Naina had been ready as well. But she was busy giving final touches to the story she had been writing for doordarshan. She had a meeting coming up next week with the channel and she had to be ready by then. The story was complete... now they had to discuss how to break it into episodes for daily telecast.

"Kitna achha hoga na... hafte mein paanch din... roz roz kahani aage badhti jayegi... abhi ke jaise nahi ki aaj dekh liya ab agle hafte tak intezaar karo." Naina was thrilled with the idea of daily telecast.

After finishing the work, she safely placed the manuscript in the cupboard and looked at her watch. It was still half an hour to eleven.

Standing in front of the mirror, she checked her appearance... she had chosen a pink dress today, with a white top. The dress was long and well fitted. Preeti's idea of zip in the dresses had been great. She had left her hair open but carried the band in her bag. She might need it if it gets too hot during the day. Combing her hair one last time, she was ready to leave... then, as an afterthought, took out a pair of silver hanging earrings from the drawer and wore them. Their shine contrasted well with her open hair. She smiled at her reflection.

Since childhood, she had not liked to look at herself in the mirror... believing taiji's words about her appearance.

"Na rang mein na roop mein... " Taiji had always said.

And Naina had taken it as gospel truth... Preeti's assurance had done nothing to change that belief. As she grew up, her own looks and clothes were the last things on her mind. The environment at home and expectations from girls also played a major role. And then, the biggest reason was that there was no reason to worry about herself... no one ever noticed... till she entered class XI... till Sameer Maheshwari entered her life.

Well, not really... he had only entered her heart and mind...

But she wanted to look good then. Sadly, there was no option. She could see him only in school and she could wear nothing but the uniform in school. Also, chachiji made sure that hers and Preeti's hair were always nicely oiled.
So, any thought of making an impression on him flew out of the window.

She had come to the college here, unaware of what destiny had planned for her. Her initial days in college added to the belief about her looks.

And then Sameer came along... making every thought, every belief, every apprehension go haywire. The way he looked at her, the way he praised her, the way he accepted her... her doubts had started to melt away. Sameer, the most handsome boy of her school... rather of the whole city of Ahmedabad... found her to be the most beautiful girl. Suddenly, the image in the mirror started to look better.

It wasn't that she always dressed up for him, in fact, many a times he had seen her in the shabby night suits or her old dresses worn only at home. But his eyes always held the same appreciative gleam. And whenever she took extra effort to wear something special for him, he made sure to express how much he was impressed.

Naina felt her cheeks go red as she remembered how he had come to the restaurant in Ahmedabad and how he had reacted when she had worn jeans to surprise him on his birthday.

Whenever she looked into the mirror now, she saw a girl who was loved madly by Sameer... and she felt good.

"Jaadu toh tum bhi karte ho, Sameer... apne jaadu se tumne ek mamuli si ladki ko sundar bana diya." She checked her reflection one last time before locking up the room.

Sameer waited impatiently... it was already three minutes past eleven. These three minutes were even more torturous than last two hours.

He turned towards the gate with a frown... the lines on his forehead instantly vanished and a smile appeared on his face.

Naina walked out in a pink, long dress that beautifully glided over her curves, her hair were left open, after such a long time. As she walked, the long, silver earrings swayed against her hair.

Sameer felt his heart go thudding at an alarming rate.

He was still lost when she reached him. She clicked her fingers in front of him, like he had done last night for her. He came to his senses.

Before he could say anything, Naina looked him up and winked, "Aaj kuch zyada hi handsome lag rahe ho."

He was dressed in a light coloured jeans paired with a jacket of same colour, over a white t-shirt.

His one hand landed on his heart as
the other one held onto the bike for support, "Yeh roz roz maar dalna zaroori hai kya?"

Naina raised her brows innocently, "Maine kya kiya?"

He leaned towards her, "Ab tum itni pyaar bhari tareef karogi woh bhi aankh maar ke, toh kaise hosh mein rahunga?"

"Arre, tum bhi toh meri tareef karte ho... aur aankh toh bohot baar marte ho", she said.

He pulled her cheek, "Woh main hamesha karunga."

"Ab chalo", she pushed him towards the bike.

He started the bike and Naina held onto his shoulder with left hand and brought the right one around his waist.

Sameer was overjoyed.

"Aaj kuch zyaada hi mood mein lag rahi ho." He looked at her through the rear view mirror.

"Mood toh tumhare paas aate hi achha ho jata hai." She rested her chin on his shoulder.

His throat went dry... what was wrong with this girl today...

Trying to keep his racing heartbeat in control, he asked, "Naina, tum theek ho na?"

"Haan... ab chalein?" She smiled.

Hoping that he is able to concentrate on road, Sameer started the bike.

It had rained two days back so the weather was pleasant. The breeze felt good on their faces.

They stopped in a market to get some food packed before moving again.

After about half an hour, they reached the hilly area which had become their favourite now. Sameer parked the bike away from the road and they walked ahead to the place where they could see the city from height.

"Kitna sundar dikhta hai na yahan se yeh sheher!" Naina was always mesmerised by this view.

"Haan... par tumse sundar nahi." His hand came around her shoulder.

Naina looked at him... his eyes were already on her.

"Chalo baithte hain", she pulled him down as she settled on the clear area.

They sat next to each other... Sameer hugging his knees and Naina had her hands in her lap.

"Sameer... kuch bolun?"

He was surprised by the hesitation in her voice. He took her hand in his.

"Naina, tumhe puchne ki kya zaroorat hai? Tum jo chaho bol sakti ho... kaho na?"

"Thank you", Naina said emotionally.

Sameer looked at her, puzzled.

"Tumhe thank you bolna hai, meri zindagi mein aakar usse itna khoobsurat banane ke liye... tumne sab kuch badal diya mere liye... ab main pehle wali Naina nahi hun... tumhara saath pakar mujhe sirf tumse hi nahi khud se bhi pyaar ho gaya hai... kyonki tum mujhse pyaar karte ho." She said everything looking at their joined hands.

"Naina, lekin... " He started.

She interrupted him, "Shh... aaj mujhe kehne do... pata hai Sameer, mujhe hamesha se lagta tha ki mujh jaisi sadharan si ladki ke liye toh pyaar jaisa shabd bana hi nahi hai... isliye main kehti thi Swati aur Preeti se, ki meri toh saat pushte bhi kabhi pyaar nahi karengi."

She paused, laughing... then looked at him.

"Aur dekho zara, ek baar tum samne aaye aur sab socha samjha hawa ho gaya."

Sameer smiled.

Naina carried on, "Woh to tab sirf ek tarfa tha par jabse tum mujhse pyaar karne lage, sab badalne laga... sach Sameer, jab tum mujhe sundar kehte ho toh lagta hai main hun sundar... sabse sundar... jab tum meri tareef karte ho toh woh saare ghaav bhar jaate hain jo bachpan se taiji ki kadwi baaton se hue hain... ab toh unke taane bhi asar nahi karte... khud ko dekhti hun toh woh chehra dikhta hai jo tumhe pasand hai... aur khud pe abhimaan ho jaata hai."

Sameer looked at her unshed tears. Holding her face, he wiped the pooling eyes.

"Ab main bolun?" He asked softly.

She nodded.

He took a deep breath, "Tumhe pata hai school mein jab tumse pehli baar mila tha toh mujhe tumse pyaar nahi hua tha... dheere dheere tumhe dusron ke liye choti choti cheezein karte dekha... bachhon ki madad karte dekha... sabke chidane ke bawjood unko padhate dekha... aur pata hi nahi chala kab tumse pyaar ho gaya. Aur fir jaise jaise tumhe janne laga... door door se... waise waise woh pyaar badhne laga... bas batane ki himmat nahi hui."

She laughed with teary eyes.

"Sach mein... tumhare papa ka tumhare saath bartaav dekhkar mera khoon khaul jaata tha... par tum fir bhi do minute mein khushi khushi kisi ki help kar rahi hoti thi... Yeh sundarta tumhare chehre ki nahi tumhare man ki hai, Naina." He said gently.

Naina could only stare at him.

He brought her hand up and kissed it, then continued, "Jitni tum dikhne mein sundar ho utna hi sundar aur saaf tumhara man hai... issme itna pyaar bhara hai ki tum kabhi kisi ka bura soch bhi nahi sakti... shayad hi duniya mein koi itne sachhe man wala hoga...isliye iss man se pyaar karta hun main... tumhari achhaiyon se, tumhare bholepan se, tumhari saadgi se pyaar karta hun... tumme koi banawat koi dikhawa nahi hai, na hi tum alag chehre rakhti ho...jo dil mein hai wohi muh par hai, koi chhal nahi... yaad hai Naina, tumhe jab mujhse pyaar hua toh mere chehre se hua... haan, sab kehte hain main achha dikhta hun... par mujhse achhi tum ho... mujhse bohot zyaada achhi... bahar se bhi aur andar se bhi... agar maine tumhari zindagi badal di hai toh Naina... tumne toh meri zindagi sanwar di hai... woh zindagi jo main khatam karna chahta tha... aaj tumne uss Sameer ko kahan lake khada kar diya hai... apna pyaar deke, mata pita jaise chachaji chachiji deke, Preeti jaisi behen deke."

His voice wavered a little.

Naina pressed his hand, not able to speak as a heavy lump formed in her throat.

Sameer shifted to hold her in the crook of his arm, "Naina, mujhe pata nahi tumhari taiji aisa kyon bolti hain... par ek din main unhe zaroor bataunga ki tum kitni khoobsurat ho... aage se aisa kabhi mat kehna ki meri Naina sadharan hai... meri Naina ke jaisa koi nahi hai."

They sat quietly for a long time.

When the heaviness of emotions settled to some extent, they decided to eat. Sameer had got Naina's favourite paav bhaji packed.

She relished it, licking her fingers, "Sameer, kitne dino baad khayi hai itni achhi paav bhaji... umm."

He was happy to see her enjoy it so much.

As they finished the food, his eyes fell at the corner of her lip where a small piece of paav was stuck.

"Uh Naina, ek minute", he called out to her as she got up to throw the empty packets in dustbin.

"Kya hua?" She was unaware of his intention.

Sameer got up, took everything from her hand and emptied it in the dustbin kept a little away from them. Then he came back.

Before Naina could react, he wound his one arm around her waist and pinned her to himself.

Slowly, he grazed his thumb on her lip, reaching the crumb at a slow speed. Picking it up, he held it to show her.

"Yeh saaf kar raha tha."

She narrowed her eyes, "Ho gaya na... ab chodo."

He shook his head, a naughty smile playing on his lips, "Abhi toh tumhe batana hai ki tum aaj kitni sundar lag rahi ho."

The butterflies in her stomach seemed be fluttering with enormous wings as well as roaring, because her ears buzzed with the sound as he planted soft kisses all over her face.

Her hands clutched his shoulders.

After kissing her eyes, her nose, the plump cheeks, her jawline... he moved to the neck, making her shiver. As his nose slid against her ear, she held his collars.

When she felt her legs were about to give up, Sameer stopped.

"Yeh jo pagal ho jaata hun na tumhe dekhkar, iske baad bhi tumhe shaq hai ki tum kitni sundar ho?"