Sameer's mind started working. Naina was alone... of course, Preeti and Swati were there, but they were on his side. He had time till evening, when the irritating lady with the heavy voice will be back. He could not miss this chance. 

"Kuch sochna padega... din ka time hai... koi bhi dekh sakta hai... kya karun?" Sameer pondered.

"Bhai mujhe bhi bata de... main bhi banunga", Pandit entered the room, munching on a samosa... holding a plate with two more.

"Kya... kya banega?" Sameer gave a puzzled look to him, as Munna came along, eating a banana.

Pandit looked at Munna," Hamara bhai itni gehri soch mein tha toh mujhe laga ki soch raha hai pradhanmantri kaise banunga... toh maine kaha mujhe bhi bata de... main bhi banunga".

Both looked at each other for a moment and then, burst out laughing at their own joke.

Sameer was not amused. He wanted a plan. Fast.

He looked at them for help, "Yaar,  ye sab chodo... mujhe batao hum Naina ke ghar kaise jaa sakte hain"?

Munna looked at him fondly,  "Sameer, mere bhai, kabhi sapne mein bhi nahi socha tha ki tu aisa pagal ho jaayega pyaar mein... tu toh nafrat karta tha pyaar ke naam se... "

"Aur Naina hamari bhabhi banegi, yeh to agle janam ke sapne mein bhi nahi soch sakte the", Pandit chipped in.

Sameer smiled at his best friends, "Haan yaar, maine bhi nahi socha tha ki main iss had tak pyaar kar sakta hun... sach kahun to Naina ne hi mere andar ke saare dard, saare dar, saare dukh nikal ke meri zindagi ko khushiyon se bhar diya hai... jitna woh mujhe pyaar deti hai, jitni meri parwah karti hai, jaise meri choti se choti cheez ka khyaal rakhti hai... aisa lagta hai mere adhoore jeevan ko usne poora kar diya hai, mere khalipan ko samet ke,  apna saath mujhe dekar usne meri zindagi ke saare andhere door kar diye."

Munna Pandit enveloped him in a hug, wiping their eyes. They had never seen him so happy. During their two years of school, although he used to laugh and enjoy with them, there was always a sadness in his voice, an emptiness in his eyes... which had completely disappeared now. They thanked God for this bliss in their friend's life.

"Acha ab emotional mat karo... kuch plan banao", Sameer was overwhelmed with their love for him.

Munna gave a teary smile, " Arre, bhabhi ke ghar jaa rahe hain...  shaan se jaayenge... hamein kaun rok sakta hai. "

"Haan... safari suit nahin hai ghar pe isiliye itni bahaduri beh rahi hai... warna dekhta", Pandit tried to remind them of the dangers of their destination,  and continued, "Yaar Sameer, tujhe uss khadoos safari suit ki hi beti mili thi pyaar karne ke liye... bhai, saari zindagi thapadon se swaagat karega tera",  receiving a smack on his head from Sameer.

They decided to drive straight to Naina's society, park the bike a little away, and reach her house one by one... after making sure no one was looking.

The girls had finished watching one movie.  They felt hungry and decided to make pakodas.  All three got busy in the kitchen, working together and teasing each other.

" Pata hai Swati, raat ko sawa dus baje jijaji ka phone aaya tha... mummy ne to pakad hi liya tha par maine sambhal liya", Preeti raised her imaginary collars.

"Achcha, shaam ko to baat ki thi... phir raat main phir se kyon phone kiya? " Swati wanted to know.

"Pata nahi... ab toh hamari behen hamari nahi rahi... kuch batati hi nahi hai... bus baat karne ke baad laal laal hoke ghumti rehti hai",  Preeti said with a long breath.

" Hayee Naina, bata na... phone pe jijaji ne kiss kar diya kya", Swati's direct question made Naina and Preeti's eyes wide.

And Naina ran to hit Swati with the ladle she was using to mix the batter. Preeti tried to come in between to save Swati, who picked up the box of besan in front of her to save herself. In all the pulling and pushing, the box fell on Naina... covering her with besan all over. The three stood in shock for a few moments and then the kitchen was filled with the happy sounds of their laughter.

"Jaa behen, ab to tujhe nahana padega", Preeti pushed Naina to their room.

As the two girls set about to clean the kitchen, the doorbell rang. They looked at each other, scared...

Preeti opened the door a bit, praying it was not taiji, and was shocked to see Munna standing there.

" Tum? Tum yahan kya kar rahe ho?" Preeti was clearly astounded.

Munna pushed the door open and quickly entered, closing it behind him. Turning towards Preeti, he saw her standing with hands on her waist, glaring at him with questioning eyes.

"Main yahan apne aap nahi aaya hun... mujhe Sameer leke aaya hai", he tried to make his position clear.

" Sameer? " Two voices rang loud in his ears.

Turning back, he saw Swati coming out of the kitchen and his eyes shone, " Swati, tu bhi yahan hai?  Main toh Sameer ki madad kar raha tha... yahan toh meri bhi lottery lag gayi ", he grinned.

Swati and Preeti were still looking at him with wide eyes.

Munna told them how Sameer came to know that they were alone, and wanted to meet Naina... he assured them that they'll be careful and leave much before anyone came back.

" Bas apne bhai ko bhabhi se milna tha...  maan jao na, please... Swati, pyaar karne walon ka saath nahi degi kya? " He pleaded.

As the whole thing sank in, Preeti and Swati agreed, excited for the adventure... it was a big thing for boys to come home... and unthinkable for the boys to come home when girls were all alone.

Three of them heard a soft knock on the door and Preeti quickly opened it while Munna hid behind the door... not wanting to take any chance.

Preeti kept a hand on her mouth to avoid letting her enthusiasm alert the entire neighborhood... and Sameer stepped in.

Both girls looked at him in awe... they had seen him in school and were aware of his good looks but seeing him this close... and he looked even better now...

Preeti could not control herself and her thoughts spilled out in slow motion, " Jijaji, aap toh sach much bohot handsome ho... bilkul hero."

Swati nodded in agreement.

Sameer looked at the two lifelines of his girl and grinned, "Thank you saaliji... aap dono bhi bohot achchi ho. "

As his eyes searched for Naina, Preeti recovered from the initial shock, " Ahem, ahem... kisse dhoondh rahe hain? "

Sameer lowered his eyes shyly, "Apni heroine ko. "

"Aa jaayegi, thoda sabr rakhiye",  Preeti was back in form... fully in control now.

" Waise aaj aap logon ka teesra saathi nahi aaya?  Dar gaya kya? "

As Preeti completed her question, there was a light knock and Pandit entered, as Preeti opened the door.

He looked at all of them with a tensed expression, "Sab theek hai na bhai?  Zinda wapas jaa paayenge na? "

They all laughed softly and settled in the living room, while Munna followed Swati to the kitchen, happy with the unexpected opportunity.

"Preeti, Naina kahi baahar gayi hai kya? " Sameer was getting restless now. He didn't want to miss a single minute with her.

Preeti heard some sound from the room, realizing that Naina is done with her bath.

She gestured towards their room, "Naina andar hai... aap jaake mil sakte ho... saali ki permission hai",  winking at him.

Sameer was elated. He walked towards the door Preeti had indicated and softly opened it.

The scene took his breath away.

Naina stood in front of the mirror, dabbing her hair with a towel.

She was wearing a light grey dress with tiny blue flowers printed on it... and very short blue sleeves. He had never seen her wear anything with short sleeves. Her slender arms appeared to be glowing in the sunlight streaming through the window. Her long hair were wet... but not like what he had seen on that rainy day... her hair were all tousled today, as she rubbed around her hairline.

Sameer leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms... with a smile playing on his lips.

As Naina moved to put the towel on the chair, she caught his reflection in the mirror.

And she smiled... at him.

Sameer had imagined many reactions but a gentle smile... without any hesitation... was nowhere close to the scenes he had played in his mind.

He looked dumbly as Naina settled on the chair and picked up a comb,
" Tu na bilkul pagal ho gayi hai, Naina... Sameer ke pyaar ne tere hosh udda diye hai... sab jagah bas wohi nazar aata hai... ",  she hit her forehead with the comb.

Realisation dawned on Sameer. She was thinking he was a dream... of course... Naina would have never expected to see him in her room like this... obviously she would think she was imagining him there.

His smile turned naughty.

Slowly, he started moving towards her. Naina continued to smile fondly at him, combing her hair in slow strokes.

As he reached just behind the chair, Naina got up and turned... he somehow stifled his gasp.

" Tum kyon mere har pal mein mere pass hote ho?  Kyon har samay tumhaari khusboo mujhe choo jaati hai? Kyon sirf tumhara chehra har jagah dikhta hai? Kyon tumse door rehna itna mushkil ho raha hai? ",  and then,  " Kyon daud ke tumhaari baahon mein chup jaane ka man karta hai? "

Sameer's poor heart stopped functioning.

She turned her back to him, facing the mirror again... but still looking at him.

Sameer gained his senses back somehow. He looked at her wet hair, drops of water hanging from the tendrils, soft, milky skin of her arms, her freshly washed face, glowing, her brown eyes showing his reflection in the mirror... he moved closer...

Naina closed her eyes.

He raised his finger and placed at the hem of her sleeve, sliding down her arm... with a feathery touch.

She shivered.

He leaned closer to her ears and whispered, "I love you Naina".

She felt his breath on her cheek.

And her eyes flew open...

Turning with a jerk, she bumped with the table, knocking a few things down.

Sameer held her hand... to balance her.

" Tum asli ho... matlab ho? Matlab yahan pe ho? Matlab... ",  her eyes had turned into saucers.

Sameer smiled and tilted his head,  "Tumne yaad kiya aur main aa gaya."

Naina was still in a daze. She kept her hand on her racing heart, trying not to get a heart attack.

"Par tum ghar pe kaise aaye? Kisne aane diya? Kisine dekha liya toh? Agar ghar wale aa gaye toh?" She turned hyper.

"Shhh... ", Sameer tried to pacify her, placing one finger on his lips.

" Tum daro mat... hum sabse chupte hue aaye hain... aur tumhare ghar walon ke aane se pehle chale jaayenge. "

Naina was not convinced, "Par tum yahan kyon aaye?  Tumhe nahi pata kya ho sakta hai agar kisi ne dekh liya toh. Hamare ghar mein ladke nahi aate... aur abhi toh koi bada bhi ghar mein nahi hai... taiji hamein maar daalengi, Sameer. "

"Naina, please, mera yakeen karo... main aisa kuch nahi hone dunga... kisiko pata nahi chalega... Munna Pandit bhi aaye hain mere saath... hum abhi thodi der mein chale jaayenge... please Naina, main to tumhe khushi dena chahta tha... agar tumhe itna bura lag raha hai to main abhi chala jaata hun",  his voice conveyed his feelings.

" Nahi... mera matlab... ab aa gaye ho toh thodi der ruk sakte ho... par bas thodi der... dopaher ko sab log gharon ke andar hote hain... tabhi tum chale jaana... jisse kisiko pata na chale... theek hai? " She melted.

He nodded with a big smile.

"Ab bahar chalein? " She asked, smiling back.

But Sameer had better plans. He moved towards her... Naina stepped back... till her back hit the cupboard... she stood transfixed as Sameer moved closer. He put his hands on the cupboard... caging her.

"Abhi kaise bahar jaa sakti ho? Abhi toh tumhe theek se dekhna hai... tumse milna hai... jaise tum baaki sabse milti ho... gale laga ke... aur woh kya keh rahi thi tum...bahon mein chupne ka man karta hai?" he looked into her eyes, with a lopsided smile.

Naina lowered her eyes... feeling her ears turning hot.

"Meri taraf dekho Naina," Sameer commanded, "meri sansein ruk gayi thi tumhare bina... ab jaan mein jaan aayi hai... apni jaan ko dekh ke."

Naina could not lift up her eyes... as the colour on her face deepened.

"Jijaji... ab aa bhi jao... aur bhi mauke milenge romance ke",  Swati called out from the living room.

Sameer looked at the door and Naina, taking advantage of his attention, ducked and ran out.

Running his fingers through his hair, Sameer followed her, with a smile.