"Naina, mere kamre mein chalogi? Tumhe kuch dikhana chahta hun." Sameer looked at her hopefully.

She smiled and tilted her head sideways to show her acceptance.

Holding her hand, Sameer took her to his room.

"Tum baitho, main abhi aaya." He waved at the couch and ran out.

Naina kept staring at the door for a few seconds, then turned and looked around. His room was much bigger than hers and Preeti's room. A huge picture of maybe last two years of school  or a bit earlier adorned the wall over his bed. She smiled.

Sameer and his self obsession.

A round mirror was on the opposite wall... with a chest of drawers below it. A couch was placed in the center, next to a small table where the phone was placed.

His study table had very few books. Most of the space was taken by cassettes of movie songs. One walkman was kept in the corner. On the shelf above the table was a frame with a happy picture of Sameer with nanaji. They both were looking at each other and smiling... a smile that reached their eyes and reflected in the glow on their faces.
Naina picked up the frame and lightly moved her fingers on it... then kept it back.

There was another frame where he stood between Munna and Pandit, his arms around their shoulders. All three were brightly smiling at the camera.

Sameer had placed the gift she had given him between the two frames.

The small shelf held his entire world.

His towel was still on the back of the chair. Naina touched it and found it to be damp. She looked around... there was no place to put it for drying. She went to the bathroom and placed it on the metal stand fixed on the wall.

As she came out, Sameer entered the room. Seeing her coming out of the bathroom, he asked, "Naina, tumhe bathroom use karna hai? Yeh  abhi Ramdhari ne saaf nahi kiya toh geela hoga... main tumhe upar wale bathroom mein le chalta hun."

"Main toh bas tumhara towel sukhane gayi thi... yaha kursi pe pada tha", she explained.

Sameer raised one eyebrow, "Achha,  apne ghar ka aur pati ka bada khyaal rakha jaa raha hai."

He never failed to turn her into a tomato... whatever he did or said.

Coming closer, he took her hand and made her stand in front of the mirror.

Naina noticed through the mirror that he was holding a packet. He brought out a beautiful saree from the packet.

She turned towards him, admiring the saree, "Kitni sundar saree hai Sameer... kiski hai?"

He made her turn again... and wrapped the saree around her shoulders... Taking the pallu, he placed it on her head.

Naina held onto the pallu...

They looked at each other in the mirror.

"Ye saree meri nani ki hai... ab tumhari ho gayi", he squeezed her shoulders lightly.

She looked at the saree in amazement, then back at him, "Sameer, yeh... yeh... kaise... "

He could understand her confusion, "Ek baar nanu ne mujhe ye di thi... school khatam hone ke baad"

He remembered that day...

Flashback :

Sameer entered his grandfather's room, "Nanu, apne mujhe bulaya?"

The old man smiled warmly, indicating Sameer to come and sit next to him, "Aaja mera bachha, aaj tujhse kuch baat karne ka man kar raha tha."

Sameer settled on the bed, close to nanu, "Kahiye na nanu, kya baat hai?"

He stroked his grandson's head affectionately, "Beta, tune aaj tak jo bhi kiya, mera ashirwad hamesha tere saath raha hai... aur aage bhi rahega... main khud na bhi rahun toh bhi upar baith ke teri khushi hi mangunga..."

Sameer made a face at him, "Nanu aap fir se aisi baatein kar rahe hai... aap yahin rahenge... mere paas... mere liye..."

Nanaji rested his head on the backrest and looked up at the ceiling, "Ab main umar ke uss padaav pe pohoch gaya hun, beta, jahan samay ko baandhne ki koshish bhi nahi kar sakte... woh ret ki tarah fisal jaata hai haathon se..."

Sameer was worried... he placed his hand on nanu's arm, "Aap aisa kyon keh rahe hain? Aapki tabiyat toh theek hai naa? Main doctor uncle ko phone karta hun... "

As he was about to get up, nanu held his hand, "Kuch nahi hua mujhe... woh bas... aaj teri naani ki yaad aa rahi hai."

Sameer patted the gnarled hand over his own.

Nanu's eyes brightened, "Sameer, meri almari mein ek packet rakha hai neeche wale shelf pe... zara leke toh aa."

He got up and opened the cupboard... there was a brown paper bag on the lower shelf. Picking it up carefully, he handed it to nanu.

The old man opened the bag and took out a red saree... it was old, but beautiful... embroidered intricately with gold thread.

He ran his hand over the gold pattern, "Yeh teri nani ki saree hai... jab maine yeh company shuru ki thi toh pehle munafe se kharidi thi uske liye... bohot pasand thi usko... kehti thi mere Sameer ki dulhan ko dungi ye saree."

Sameer fondly looked at the saree and then at nanu... he had not told him yet how he felt about Naina and that he planned to talk to her when they start going to college.

Nanu placed the saree in Sameer's hand, "Yeh ab tu apne paas rakh... jis din tere dil mein koi khaas ladki jagah bana legi... uss din yeh teri nani ka ashirwad usse de dena... tab tak sambhaal ke rakhna."

Sameer stared at the packet in his hand, "Nanu... main kyon... aap hi rakhiye naa... agar koi kabhi hogi toh aap khud de dena."

The mischievous look returned to his grandfather's eyes, "Koi kabhi... achha bachhu... mujhe bewakoof banane ki koshish kar raha hai... Arre teri aankhon se tere dil ki baat padh leta hun... dhadakne toh laga hai... ab manzil tak kab pohochega bas yeh dekhna hai."

Sameer was dumbfounded.

Nanu laughed, "Ab aise kya dekh raha hai... nanu hun tera... mujhse kya chupayega... main toh bas uss din ka intezaar kar raha hun jab tu khud mujhe apni khaas dost se milwayega."

He blushed and lowered his eyes, "Meri koi khaas dost nahi hai."

"Haan toh bana le usse khaas... beta, sochne mein zyaada waqt nahi gawana chahiye... ab jaldi se aage badh aur apne dil ki baat bata de usse."

Sameer was not sure whether he should tell nanu about Naina as yet... he decided to wait till he talked to her and then bring her to meet his grandfather.

For now, he got up and tucked the blanket properly around nanu, "Aap kuch zyaada sapne dekhte hain, nanu... ab aaram kijiye... good night."

He did not forget to pick up the packet of saree before leaving.

Nanu smiled as he saw Sameer closing the door, eyes still on what he was holding.

Taking a deep breath, he said, "Dekhta hun kab tak chupata hai... pagal."

Naina touched the fabric enveloping her, feeling the blessings of both his grandparents.

Sameer saw how beautiful she looked with the red pallu around her face.

He turned her to face him, "Aise hi dulhan banke ek din issi ghar mein aana hai tumko."

She nodded slightly, looking up at his eyes filled with love.

When they went back to the living room, Pandit was gorging on a plate of  sandwiches while Munna was looking at the collection of video cassettes.

"Munna, main Naina ko chod ke aata hun... Preeti ke parlour se aane ka time ho gaya hai", he informed his friend.

"Bhai, hum bhi chalte hain... bhabhi ko chodne ke baad ghoomke aayenge... kuch badhiya sa khaa pee  bhi lenge", Pandit straightened up.

Munna looked at him angrily, "Sameer, tu jaa... iska toh khaana kabhi khatam hi nahi hoga... tu bhabhi ko chod ke aa... hum shaam ko bahar chalenge."

Sameer gave an irritated look to Pandit, then a small smile to Munna... who blinked to assure him that he will not let Pandit disturb their drive.

They reached his car and he opened the door for Naina.

As he started driving, Sameer glanced at her... she was looking down at the packet in her hand.

"Ab kab milogi?" He shifted his gaze to the road.

"Umm... pata nahi", she could not think of next opportunity.

"Aaj raat ko balcony se aaun? Yeh saree pehen ke dikhaogi?" His voice was hopeful.

Naina stared at him, "Marna hai kya? Baar baar yeh pipe chadne ke baare mein mat socha karo... gir gaye toh haddiyan totengi aur pakde gaye toh... toh bhi haddiyan totengi... dono ki."

"Koi haath toh laga ke dikhaye tumhe... aise kaise..." His eyes showed sparks of anger.

Naina saw his mouth press into a grim line.

"Sameer, ek baat puchun?" Her voice was hesitant.

Relaxing immediately, he smiled, "Pucho na... itna ghabra kyon rahi ho."

"Woh... uss ladke ko... matlab... uss Sharad ko... kitni chot lagi hai?"

He slowed down... turning into a lane before stopping the car.

Holding the steering wheel tight, he kept his eyes on the road as he asked, "Kyon? Maine galat kiya kya?"

She took a deep breath, "Nahi, bohot achha kiya... main isliye puch rahi thi ki usse sahi sazaa mili ki nahi... aise logon ko unki bhasha mein hi samjhana chahiye."

Sameer looked at her, astounded, "Yeh tum keh rahi ho? Tumhe toh kisi ko bhi chot pohochana pasand nahi hai."

Her eyes filled up with hatred, "Par woh issi layak tha... tum yakeen nahi kar sakte uski soch kaisi thi... uski aur uske ghar walo ki baatein... chee."

"Toh tumne tabhi usse thappad kyon nahi lagaya? Jaise uss din market mein lagaya tha."

She twisted her lips in disdain, "Maine konsa uski shakal dekhi thi uss din... bas uski baatein kano mein padi thi."

"Naina, tumne uski shakal bhi nahi dekhi... Preeti bata rahi thi kamre mein bhi baat karne aaya tha woh"

She shrugged, "Aya tha... mujhe nahi dekhna tha... maine nahi dekha."

He leaned towards her, "Bohot himmat dikhane lagi ho... school mein toh kitna darti thi sabse."

She surprised him by not moving back, rather brought her face an inch closer, "Yeh himmat tumne hi di hai... school se hi tumhare liye papa se jhooth bolne ki himmat ki thi... warna toh papa ke aage meri awaaz bhi nahi nikalti thi."

He placed his hand on her cheek, "School mein bohot gussa aata hoga na mujhpe... ki kitna bura hun kabhi tumse baat tak nahi ki."

She shook her head, "Gussa nahi pyaar hi aata tha... jis din se pehli baar dekha tha tumhe uss din se... bas tumhara chehra aur tumhari ankhen hi mere samne rehti thi har samay."

He gazed into her deep brown eyes, "Aur ab?"

"Ab kya?"

"Tumne kaha na... rehta THA... toh ab nahi rehta kya?" He teased.

She flicked a strand of hair falling on his forehead, "Ab toh har saans mein rehte ho... tumhari khushbu, tumhara ehsaas har pal mehsus hota hai."

Sameer closed his eyes and rested his forehead on the side of her arm, "Naina, meri zindagi mein aane ke liye thank you."

She placed her fingers under his chin and made him look at her.

His dark eyes reflected her face.

She brought her lips to his forehead and placed a gentle kiss, "Thank you... tumne mera sapna sach kar diya."

Without moving, he raised his brows, "Kaunsa sapna?"

"Jo tumhe pehli baar dekhke mere man mein jaaga tha... "