Sameer could not sleep a wink the whole night. Naina's innocent face and her guileless talks made him wonder how he would handle her. She blushed at the simplest of touch of his hand... even a look could make her go red... and she went on to openly talk about all her doubts, without any hesitation.

And what was that... classes... he laughed so hard, clutching his stomach... tears were freely flowing from his eyes... he had to hide his face in the pillow, not to wake up Rahul.

If he got up, Sameer would not be able to explain what had brought these fits of laughter.

His girl was adorable.

He wanted to run back and take her in his arms... protect her... preserve her... pamper her...

Suddenly, he sat upright... she had even talked to Sonali about it. Did she talk to anyone else?  Maybe not, because she had been thinking about it since evening only. But she could...

No, no... he had to make sure that she didn't speak about it to anyone. He'll have to do something... he was aware that once Naina had a doubt, she wouldn't sit back until she had an answer... but he could not let her go about seeking one from anywhere else.

Sameer sat thinking... till the soft rays of sun filtered through the gap in heavy curtains.

All students were seated to have breakfast... excited to be visiting the old forts today.

To Sameer's surprise, Naina had worn black jeans... with a kurti. This was the second time he was seeing her in jeans... and he kept admiring her... she looked even more delicate in jeans... as if her legs could not take her weight. Though, she would hardly weigh anything... seeing her slender figure.

He remembered when he had picked her up... the day she had fainted... it was no effort to carry her up the stairs.

"Sameer... Sameer... "

Her voice broke his chain of thought.

"Breakfast karne chalein? Nahi toh late ho jaayega", she tilted her head slightly.

He smiled and nodded, moving with her to pick up the plates.

After breakfast, they got into the buses to travel to Kolaba fort... one of the famous places of Alibagh.

They reached the old ruins shortly. It was a 17th century fort, used by Shivaji as his chief naval station. It had hindu temple and beautiful carvings of tigers and elephants.

They went around, checking the solid stone walls, small pond in the center, the temple, huge pillars with hooks to tie the ropes of ships.

Everyone wandered in different directions, with their own set of friends. Naina and Sameer climbed up to the top. This side overlooked the sea. The huge canyons were still  placed next to the wall... pointing at sea.

" Dekho Sameer, kabhi yahan pe sipaahi khade rehte honge... door se aate hue jahaz ko dekhkar usspe nishana lagane ki taiyari karte honge",  Naina looked at the canyon and then her gaze shifted to some far away place near the horizon.

Sameer came near her and put his arm around her shoulder. They stood gazing at sea for sometime.

"Chalo Naina, neeche ek bohot achchi jagah hai... wahan chalte hain",  he suggested.

Naina was a little apprehensive about going near water as they had to travel to another fort after this, "Sameer, wahan paani toh nahi hai?  Mujhe bheegna nahi hai."

"Paani mein nahi jaana hai... yahan poore pathar hain... unpe baithke lehron ko dekhne mein bohot maza aayega",  he brushed aside her fears.

They went down to the place he mentioned. It was a huge opening... a big door might have been there centuries back... but now it lead to a rocky area at the end of which was water. Big stones had been placed to absorb the impact of rocking waves... so that they don't damage the structure of the fort.

Sameer held her hand as Naina balanced herself on the rocks, and they went ahead to sit on a big, flat piece near water.

He did not leave her hand even after they were seated.

"Ab tum haath chod sakte ho", she smiled at him.

He looked at her hand and put it close to his heart, " Tumhara haath... kabhi nahi."

She laughed and placed her head on his shoulder.

"Sameer, kabhi yahan bhi kitne saare log rehte honge na... kya unhone socha hoga ki ek din yeh sab aise khandhar ban jaayega", Naina looked around... the place must have been grand at some point of time.

"Har cheez badalti hai, Naina, samay ke saath aane wale kuch badlaav khushi dete hain aur kuch dukh dete hain... yehi hota hai",  as he said this, Sameer wondered how his life had also witnessed the changes... the unexpected and unthinkable ones.

She looked at him with love filled eyes, " Hamari zindagi mein bhi toh kitne badlaav aayein hain... hamein inse khushi hi mili hai... aage bhi aisa hi hoga na?"

Sameer pressed the hand he was holding against his chest, "Haan Naina, aage bhi khushiyaan hi milengi... hum dono ne bohot dukh utha liye alag alag... ab hum hamesha saath reh kar aane wale har dukh ko khushi mein badal denge".

His promise gave a feeling of peace to her... and she snuggled closer to him.

After about half an hour, Rahul called out to Sameer, asking him to come as they were leaving.

They got up.

Turning back, Naina gasped at the distance and uneven surface.

"Sameer, main gir toh nahi jaaungi na?"

Without wasting a moment, he picked her up.

"Ahh... yeh kya kar rahe ho? Dono gir jaayenge... mujhe utaro... Sameer", she panicked.

Bending his head, he brushed the tip of her nose with his, and started moving.

Naina wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, squeezing the eyes shut and buried her face in his chest.

He carefully walked back and stood inside the fort, looking down at her.

Feeling no movement, Naina opened her eyes. All she could see was his checked shirt... and his musky smell fogged her brain. Her hands tightened some more around his neck as she inhaled deeply, closing her eyes again.

Sameer could feel his breath stuck in his throat. He had picked her up as she was scared... and his morning thoughts had come rushing to him. He saw the opportunity and grabbed it. But what she was doing now was not good for his system. She looked up and her nose glided against his neck.

He groaned, closing his eyes.

Naina stiffened, " Sameer, neeche utaro mujhe... jaldi."

He quickly kept her down, "Woh tum dar rahi thi... bas isliye uthaya."

"Tumhe mushkil hui na... bohot bhari hun main?" She rubbed his arm.

Sameer glanced at her, then at her hand on his arm and then back at her. She had thought he groaned in pain.

Sighing, he pulled her in his arms, muttering in a low voice "Bohot bhari ho, par akal se."

They joined others and boarded the bus to go to the other fort.

Korlai fort was built by Portuguese in 1521. It had three huge Portuguese inscriptions and a light house. The inside doors and compartments had their walls covered with the roots of trees which could have been standing here for centuries, witnessing the rise and falls of various kingdoms... all the while making their own hold stronger on this land.

After spending about half an hour there, the students started back for the resort.

The buses were back by lunchtime. After a good meal, they retired to their rooms to rest, planning to spend the evening at the beach again.

Naina was writing something in her notepad and Sonali was watching TV when there was a soft knock on the door.

Naina got up to answer. She was surprised to see Rahul.

"Naina, woh main thoda time Sonali ke saath bitana chahta tha", he said, scratching his head.

"Aa jao, par main bhi yahan hu toh thoda khyaal rakhna", she smiled and let him in.

He hesitated, "Tum hamare room mein chali jao... please."

Rahul had helped her a lot, even at the risk of being caught himself... she could not say no to him.

"Sameer... ", she wanted to know if Sameer was aware of the arrangement.

"Sameer so raha hai... aur baaki sab bhi... maine peeche ka darwaza khula choda hai... wahan se chali jaana", Rahul quickly said.

Naina picked up her writing and walked out of the back door.

Entering the room, she saw the curtains drawn... the room looked darker as she had come from outside. She waited for a while to get her eyes adjusted. As things became clearer, she saw Sameer... covered with a quilt till his neck, he was sleeping, his face buried in the pillow. Air from the fan was making his long hair fall on the forehead.

Naina went closer.

As if he could sense her, he turned, mumbling, "Naina."

The quilt slipped away...

She stood still, rooted at the spot...

He was sleeping without a shirt. And had a pillow clutched to his chest.

Her breathing became faster and sweat started forming on her face, in spite of the pleasant weather. She thought of going up to him and pulling up the quilt back to its position...

He moved a little and Naina quickly shifted out of his sight... in case he got up.

Seeing no further movement from him, she slowly placed a chair near the window... her back to the bed. Carefully, she opened the curtain by a crack, just enough to get some light for her writing.

Sameer, as always, was dreaming about her. He felt her close and hugged tightly, placing his lips on her soft cheek... but it did not feel as soft. He grimaced and opened his eyes to realise it was the pillow and not his Naina.

With a sigh, he sat up, looking around.

Naina was sitting in front of the window... her back towards her. No... it was again a dream... she could not be here... alone with him... and where was Rahul?

He shook his head to clear the false images it was creating... but Naina was still visible. He had to check for himself.

Getting down from the bed,  he softly walked towards her. Placing his hand on her shoulder, he called out in a low voice, "Naina?"

She got up with a gasp, startled, the pen and notepad slipping out of her hands.

She was real... she was actually here.... and her face had turned white.

Seeing her scared state, Sameer pulled her close and wrapped his arms around, to comfort her.

As her body came in contact with his bare skin, she jumped back.

He gaped in confusion.

"Sa... Sameer... tum shirt pehen lo", she stuttered.

But did not shut her eyes.

He looked down... realising why Naina had jumped back.

" Oh!  Woh main aise hi sota hun... hamesha",  he explained... but did not move.

She stood silent... waiting... keeping her eyes fixed on his face.

"Tum yahan kya kar rahi ho?  Aur Rahul? " He was sure she had not come on her own.

"Rahul Sonali se milna chahta tha... isliye mujhe yahan bhej diya... tum so rahe the jab main aayi", she explained in a soft voice.

"Tumne uthaya kyon nahi?"

"Woh... maine socha... ki tum... matlab... shayad tum gehri neend me ho",  she could not tell him that seeing him sleeping shirtless, she had wanted to keep maximum distance from him.

And he was bent upon reducing that distance now.

" Please shirt pehen lo",  she was finding it difficult to stop her eyes from drifting down his chiselled physique.

Her effort was not lost on Sameer.

He stepped closer... and Naina turned... her back towards him.

He stood right behind her... not touching but close enough for her to feel his breath on her ear when he spoke.

"Kal raat ko jo tumne mujhse kaha... jo bhi pucha... woh sab kabhi bhi aur kisi se mat puchna... kisi se bhi nahi... jab zaroorat hogi tab main tumhe bata dunga... aur agar iss baare mein aur koi baat karni ho toh hamesha mujhse hi karna... theek hai?"

She wanted to ask him the reason... wanted to know what was the harm in discussing with someone who might have more knowledge... but his proximity in this state was too much for a rational thought to cross her mind.

She nodded, hoping he would go and get dressed.

Controlling his urge to put his arms around her waist and feel her against him... he walked back to the bed and put on a t-shirt.

"Ho gaya",  he called out.

Naina turned. Satisfied to see him covered, she burst out, "Yeh kya tum har samay aise hi ghumte rehte ho...  theek se kapde pehen ke nahi rakh sakte?  Pichhli baar bhi jab achanak tumhare kamre mein aayi thi toh bina shirt ke the aur aaj bhi."

Sameer tried to defend himself, "Par pehli baar tum aayi thi tab toh pehna hua tha na".

Naina recalled his almost unconscious state, " Tab tum hosh mein nahi the."

"Main toh ab bhi hosh mein nahi hun", he gave a cheeky smile.

The wave of crimson shot up her face.

He was next to her in a few long steps, " Tum jeans mein bohot
zyaada achchi lagti ho."

She raised her eyebrows and smiled, "Achcha, tumhari pasand ki jo hai."

He shook his head, "Nahin... meri pasand ki to tum ho."

Her smile got wider.

Sameer put his hand around her waist and Naina rested her head on his chest. He placed his cheek on her hair, happiness radiating from their faces.