The week was both exciting and hectic. Naina was finding the subjects of second year quite interesting. Sameer had no other agenda than to look at her, admire her and find moments to be close to her. Sonali and other two girls let no opportunity pass when they could tease Naina. Rahul had started paying small compliments to Sonali and Naina caught her blushing a couple of times. It was a good sign.

On Friday, they sat chatting under the tree.

"Naina kal bas do class hain aur parson to Sunday ki chutti hai... chalo na bike pe ghumne chalte hain",  Sameer was excited.

"Nahi Sameer, mujhe Phulla bua ke ghar jana padega... do mahine ki chuttiyon ke baat lauti hun... unhone kaha tha phone pe ki aate hi mujhse milne aana... chachiji ne unke liye kuch saaman bheja hai woh bhi dena hai", Naina also wanted to go with him but could not postpone this visit.

Sameer was disappointed, " Kab jaaogi aur kab tak aaogi?"

"Kal do hi lecture hain subah... uske baad chali jaungi... aur parson dopaher ko lautungi", Naina told him her schedule.

" Theek hai, main yahan tumhare intezaar mein akela baitha rahunga aur tum maze karna." He was not happy with the prospect of spending the time alone.

"Sach mein, Sameer, main pakka ruk jaati agar ruk sakti... bua dadi bhi akele rehti hain... woh bhi chahti hain ki koi unse aake mile... khud to zyaada bahar jaa nahi sakti",  Naina loved her grandmother.

" Toh mujhe bhi le chalo",  he desperately wanted to be with her.

Naina remembered how Phulla bua always had been very modern in her thinking... she had even asked Naina when she had visited last time, if she had any boyfriend.

Naina was aghast.

"Arre, isme itna chaunkne wali kya baat hai... ab iss umar mein tera nahi toh kya mera boyfriend hoga?" The old lady had affectionately reprimanded her.

"Aap kaisi baatein kar rahi hai, dadi bua, main kaise kisi ladke se dosti kar sakti hun? Ghar pe sab kya kahenge? "

"Tere ghar wale sab kuen (well)  mein hi rehte hain... bas Anand thoda samajhdaar hai... lekin yeh naya zamana hai... ladkon se dosti karne mein koi burai nahi... aur kya pata... tujhe tera hamsafar issi shahar mein mil jaaye. " Phulla bua encouraged her.

Naina sighed, "Mil bhi gaya toh konsa hamare pariwaar wale maan jaayenge... itna aasan nahi hoga. "

The old and experienced eyes of her grandmother sensed something, "Koi hero mil gaya hai kya?"

Naina quickly controlled herself, "Nahi, nahi, main toh bas bata rahi thi ki agar aisa hota toh... "

The old lady placed a hand on her cheek, "Meri pyaari si gudiya ko jis din uska hero milega na, sabse pehle mujhe batana... main ek baar usse parakh lungi toh phir dekhti hun woh Bina kaise taang adati hai... Tu kisi baat ki chinta mat kar... teri yeh dadi bua tere sapne tootne nahi degi."

Naina's eyes had brimmed with tears.

"Hello... kahan kho gayi? " Sameer waved a hand in front of her.

Naina came out of the memory of that day, "Kahin nahi... soch rahi thi ki kal nahi par kisi din tumhe Phulla bua ke ghar zaroor lekar chalungi... unhe mere hero  ko dekhna hai."

"Achcha",  Sameer was amazed at her courageous idea.

" Pehle tum toh apne hero ko theek se dekh lo ", he shifted closer.

Naina did not move, but shifted her gaze to him" Maine toh dekha hai... tabse dekh rahi hun jab uss hero ko pata bhi nahi tha ki koi usse dekhta hai."

Her love never failed to fill him with pride.

"Naina, pehle do saal dur rahe aur ab do mahine... un dino ke time ka hisaab hamein ab poora karna chahiye na" His mind was at work again.

"Matlab? " Naina didn't know what he was getting at.

"Matlab... ek toh tum roz mujhe gale lagaya karo... zyaada baar bhi chalega par ek baar to kam se kam... woh bhi kas ke... jaise tum apne doston ko lagati ho." He explained in an innocent voice.

Naina's eyes did not show surprise, but more love... though her heart skipped a beat seeing him this close.

"Tum mere dost thodi ho",  she managed to say.

" Toh kya hun?" His voice was almost a whisper.

"Dil ho... jaan ho... pyaar ho... yakeen ho... meri har saans ho..." Her reply left him mesmerized.

"Agar doston ko yeh sab milta hai toh main toh itna kuch hun... phir mujhe toh bohot zyaada milna chahiye na", He was ready to get the benefits.

Naina was caught in her own words.

She could see the longing in his eyes, " Kya chahiye tumhe?"

And he brought his face very close to hers, "Bata dun? "

She could almost feel his lips on her ear, his breath on her face.

"Nahi, abhi nahi... " She closed her eyes as the words came out in a hushed tone.

She sat still, without opening her eyes... till she could no longer feel his erratic breathing on her face.

Sameer could see the goosebumps on her neck, he was so close that he could feel the heat rising from her skin... just a dip of head and his lips could have been on the soft skin of her neck.

He saw her quivering lips, her shivering hands, her shut eyes... and moved.

He stepped back... his arms aching for her.

Resting against the tree, he closed his eyes, trying to control his breathing.

When Naina opened her eyes, she found him back where he was sitting earlier...

She placed her hand on his.

Sameer opened his eyes at the soft touch... and smiled... knowing that this was her way to calm him.

But she had more.

"Suno... mujhe ek idea aaya hai!" Her voice had the hint of excitement.

"Hmm... "

"Sunday ko main subah hi Phulla bua ke ghar se aa jaungi... phir hum ghoomne jaa sakte hain",  her eyes were shining at the prospect.

Sameer sat up straight, happy to see his plan back on track, " Sach... par tum jaldi kaise aaogi? Bua dadi se kya kahogi?" He was still a bit skeptical.

"Main keh dungi newspaper ke articles poore karne hai... bohot kaam hai", Naina's eyes were bright.

"Jhooth bologi?" Sameer raised his brows.

Naina gave a lopsided smile, "Jabse tumhe dekha hai na, Mr. Maheshwari, maine tumhaare liye itne jhooth bole hain sabse ki ab toh darr bhi nahi lagta. "

Sameer wrinkled his nose, "Mere liye ek seedhi sadi ladki itni bigad gayi? "

"Nahi, bigdi nahi hun... sanvar gayi hun... aur hamare pyaar ke liye jhooth bolna mujhe galat bhi nahi lagta... hum kisi ko nuksaan nahi pohoncha rahe... bas ek dusre ke saath kuch pal chura rahe hain", Her reply stole his heart.

Suddenly, he also got an idea, " Naina, tum aisa karna, yahan mat aana... main tumhe lene wahin aa jaunga."

She gave a wide eyed look to him, "Pagal ho kya?  Maine kaha na milwa dungi dadi bua se... par abhi samay nahi aaya hai."

"Arre buddhu topper, ghar nahi aaunga... tum wahan se rickshaw leti ho na... main tumhara bahar wale raaste pe intezaar karunga... tum rickshaw ki jagah mere saath chalna."

"Theek hai... main 11 baje tumhe wahan milungi",  Naina loved the plan.

Though Sameer was upset to see her walk out of the gate next day, he still had Sunday to look forward to.
When he had taken Naina out for the first time on his bike, it had turned out to be a beautiful experience... she had made the day very special... the idea of going to the beach, eating at the stalls, playing in water, watching the sunset... Naina had shown him how to find happiness in small things... something that was missing in his life. She had come like a rainbow in his dark life and spread her colours all around him.

Phulla bua hugged Naina as she entered, " Aaja meri gudiya, tune phir se itne achche number laake mera dil khush kar diya... Maine tere liye kheer banayi hai... aaja, saath mein khayenge."

Naina was always astonished at the energy and positivity of her grandmother, she managed her house all alone, was always happy and showed her love to others without any hesitation.

They had a lunch of pulao, jeera alu and raita, followed by a generous amount of kheer.

Naina handed her the gifts chachi ji had sent. Phulla bua was ecstatic to see the beautiful saree and box of laddoos, along with other snacks.

Later, at night, as she sat getting her hair oiled, Naina told her about next day, "Dadi bua, main kal subah hi chali jaungi... gyaarah baje tak... mujhe apne articles poore karne haain... phir hafte mein to samay nahi milta."

"Theek hai, beta, kaam bhi zaroori hai... tu chali jaana... tujhe dekh liya, bas mera dil khush ho gaya. Jab mauka mile tab dobara aa jaana... par apna kaam pehle karna... meri wajah se koi nuksaan na ho tera",  she had always been so understanding.

Naina felt bad about lying to her... she took a deep breath.

" Naina... bitiya... ek baat kahun",  dadi bua's voice brought her out of her thought.

"Kahiye na."

The old lady started thoughtfully, "Waise to tu hamesha se hi bilkul gudiya jaisi dikhti thi... nazuk si, pyaari si... lekin jab se yahan aayi hai Mumbai mein, ekdum khil gayi hai... jo khushi ab dikhai deti hai na tere chehre pe, woh maine pehle nahi dekhi... aisa kya hai jisne tujhe itna nikhaar diya hai? "

Naina was stunned.

Phulla bua had read her face... her experienced eyes had seen what she was not ready to disclose.

She found her voice after sometime, "Aisa toh kuch nahi hai, dadi bua... woh yahan ka hawa paani alag hai na... shayad mere liye zyaada achcha hai..."

Dadi bua took a deep breath, "Theek hai beta, ho sakta hai aisa hi ho... chal ab so jaa... subah jaana hai na tujhe".

Naina lay in her bed, wondering if she could tell about Sameer... she decided it was too soon.

" Waise toh dadi bua shayad mera saath dengi, par unhone agar abhi ghar walon ke aage kuch kaha toh taiji foran mujhe wapas bula lengi aur college band karwa ke shaadi karaane ke peeche lag jaayengi... thappadon ki baarish hogi woh alag... " Naina contemplated.

In the morning, she had a breakfast of alu parantha, her freshly shampooed hair still wet. Getting dressed in a yellow dress, she brushed her hair to make them smooth and fall straight down her back. Aa she said goodbye to Phulla bua, the old lady handed her a packet.

"Yeh kya hai, dadi bua? " Naina was curious, as it was warm.

Phulla bua gave her a mischievous grin, "Yeh tere badle hue hawa paani ke liye alu paranthe hain... tujhe pasand hai toh usse bhi honge. "
Naina's face turned white, "Ky... kya... kya matlab... kiske liye?"

She immediately softened her gaze, "Arre, tere doston ke liye... ab hostel ka khana khaa ke pareshan ho gaye honge toh maine socha ghar ka kuch kha lenge... unhe achcha lagega."

Naina gave a weak smile and left, her heart thudding wildly.

Sameer was waiting.

He saw Naina walking to him... her yellow dress making her face shine like sun... her hair flying in the gentle breeze... and he forgot to blink.

"Sameer, bohot badi gadbad ho gayi", Naina was wrenching her hands nervously.

Getting no response from him, she looked up... only to find him staring at her... lost.

" Sameer", she said a little louder to bring him back.

He was pulled out of stupor, "Haa... haan Naina, bolo?"

"Tumhe pata hai kya hua hai? Mujhe lagta hai hamaari chori pakdi gayi", she was dead scared.

Sameer was confused, " Hamne chori ki?  Kab? "

Naina slapped her forehead, "Arre budhu, chori matlab yeh chori chupe wala rishta... lagta hai Phulla bua ko sab pata chal gaya"

Sameer was nervous too, "Kaise pata chal gaya? Unhone gussa kiya?  Aur kya kaha? "

Naina narrated the conversation of previous night and morning.

He exhaled in relief, "Naina, tumhari baaton se toh lagta hai yeh tumhaari Phulla bua hamare bohot kaam aane waali hain... tum daro mat... agar unhe shaq ho bhi gaya hai toh bhi woh tumhare ghar pe kuch nahi kahengi... mujhe poora yakeen hai."

His last sentence gave her reassurance that nothing will go wrong... and Naina was at peace.

She handed him the paranthas and he ate all four in no time... leaning against his bike.