Sameer increased the speed of bike.

"Sameer, itni tez kyon chala rahe ho?" She asked in a scared voice, getting no reply.

The nagging feeling that he was angry came back to Naina. He never rode at this speed.

"Mujhe darr lag raha hai, Sameer," she said in a shaky voice, eyes pooling up.

He slowed down a bit and moved his head sideways, "Humein jaldi pohochana hai, Naina... isliye tez chala raha hun... tum achhi tarah pakad ke baitho."

"Ek taraf toh gussa karta hai... fir kehta hai pakad ke baitho... mujhse chutkara paane ki itni jaldi hai ki bike ko hawaai jahaaz banana hai... kaise pakad sakti hun jab isko mujhse baat hi nahi karni." Her mind voice got a chance to speak today.

"Naina, maine kaha pakad ke baitho... dono haathon se... main aaj tez hi chalaunga... tum daro nahi... tumhe kuch nahi hone dunga." He reduced the speed further, assuring her as he insisted on holding him.

Naina reluctantly wrapped her arms around him... instantly the bike picked up speed again.

They reached the college in about half the time.

As she got off the bike, holding onto his shoulder for support, his hand came on hers, to help her balance.

"Gussa hai ya nahi hai... theek se bata bhi nahi sakta... aise kaise pata chalega?" Her mind voice was active again, making her confused over his mixed reactions.

"Mujhe aadhe ghante mein wahi milo," he said before turning towards his building.

Naina went to her room with a heavy heart. Standing in front of the mirror, she looked at herself. In spite of tying them in a pony, her hair had tangled up... thanks to the high speed of his bike. She took off the band and combed properly, till her hair fell in soft waves on her back. She stared at her reflection.

Sameer had appeared to be liking her when she had banged into him... initially, he had touched her delicately, even smelled her hair... then why he had become so quiet at the breakfast table? He did not talk to her properly after that.

"Jab paseene mein bheegi hui dekha tha tab toh kaha khili khili lag rahi hun... aur jab naha ke aayi toh isko problem ho gayi." She complained to her reflection.

After freshening up, she locked the room to go and meet him.

Sameer had already been waiting.

"Kya kaha tha tumne... main tumse naraaz hun... kyon laga aisa?" He was standing in front of her the moment she reached.

Naina stepped back, "Woh tum baat  nahi kar rahe subah se... alu paranthe bhi nahi khaye... yahan tak ki khana bhi nahi khaya theek se... kuch toh baat hai na!"

He held her shoulders, "Tumhe kyon lagta hai ki jo baat hai woh tumhari wajah se hai?"

She gulped... it meant there was something...

"Mujhe pata hai woh baat kya hai." She said in a low voice.

Sameer widened his eyes, "Tum... tumhe kaise pata?"

Her eyes filled up, "Tumhe mujhpe gussa aaya na ki main aise bure haal mein bathroom se nikli... matlab  bikhre baal, gile kapde... par maine pehle kabhi iss baare mein socha nahi tha... matlab hamesha aise hi bahar aa jati hun... par shaadi ke baad tum mujhe aise bhoot bane hue nahi dekhoge... main dhyaan rakhungi... par tum aise gussa mat ho please... mujhe bohot bura lag raha hai."

Sameer could not believe what he heard... he gaped at her, jaw hanging... not knowing what to say.

She waited for some time. He did not move, making her more uneasy.

"Sameer, please kuch bolo... main sach mein aisa nahi karungi... promise."

He kept a finger on her lips, "Mujhe yeh promise nahi chahiye... mujhe promise karo ki tum aise hi geele baalon mein mujhse roz takraogi jab humari shaadi ho jaayegi."

Her brows joined in doubt.

"Kya bol rahe ho... main takraungi kyon?" Pulling his hand down, she asked.

"Tumhe roz aise dekhna chahta hun isliye... tumhare woh geele, bikhre baal mujhe behosh kar rahe the, Naina." He said in a restrained voice.

Her eyes pooled up again, "Tum mujhe khush karne ke liye keh rahe ho na? Lekin mujhe pata chal gaya tha jab tum mujhse nazrein chura rahe the... subah table pe tum mujhe dekh tak nahi rahe the... please Sameer, aise gussa mat ho... maine kaha na main khyaal rakhungi."

Sameer left her and turned to his side, pressing his forehead with one hand... this girl was probably the most naive and ignorant person on the planet.

Naina kept one hand on his arm. He exhaled loudly before moving his head to her. A lone tear rolled over her cheek. He instantly turned to her, wiping it with his finger.

"Oh Naina... meri jaan... main kaise bataun ki mujhe gussa nahi kitna pyaar aaya tha tumpe... mera dil... mera dil... bas tumhe hi dekhte rehna chahta tha... ek pal ke liye aisa laga ki hum apne ghar mein hain... aur humari shaadi ho chuki hai... main sach mein iss pal ko fir se humare ghar mein jeena chahta hun... tumhe aise hi dekhna chahta hun... tum roz aise hi bathroom se bahar aana... tumhare woh geele kapde, woh bikhre baal... Naina... meri neend udda di hai tumne."

She listened to each word, astounded at the intensity of his voice and the sparks in his dark eyes. Did he really mean what be was saying?

"Aisa tha toh breakfast ke time tumne mujhe dekh ke aise aankhen kyon neeche kar li? Mujhe laga tum meri taraf dekhna tak nahi chahte." She wanted all answers.

He groaned, "Tumhe dekh ke jo khyaal aa rahe the unhe rokna chahta tha."

"Kaise khyaal?" She raised her brows.

He closed his eyes, "Yehi toh problem hai... bata nahi sakta kaise khyaal."

She stared silently at his closed eyes, then placed a hand on his cheek, speaking in a gentle voice, "Tum bata sakte ho... main sun lungi."

Sameer took a deep breath. Opening his eyes, he looked at the eager face in front of him... her brown ones were filled with love again, reflecting his face clearly... he decided it was time Naina was taken a little further in her knowledge in this department as well. Holding her hand, he walked to the base of the tree.

"Baitho," he indicated at the ground with his eyes, sitting next to her after she settled with her back resting on the trunk.

They sat in silence for a few minutes... he organising his thoughts and she waiting for an answer.

"Yaad hai tumhe jab hum shuru mein yahan milte the toh kaise bas door door baith ke baatein karte the?" He finally started, taking her hand in his.

She nodded, reminiscing about their initial meetings, "Yaad hai achhe se... tum kitna kam bolte the aur main kitna zyaada."

He rubbed his thumb lightly on the back of her hand, "Tab main agar tumhe kiss kar deta toh tumhe kaisa lagta?"

She turned sharply at him, eyes going wide in horror, "Sameer... tum kaise... tab toh hum... main toh soch bhi nahi sakti thi."

He looked at her petrified expression "Par main sochta tha, Naina... main karna chahta tha... lekin mujhe pata tha tum uske liye taiyar nahi thi isliye maine aisa kuch nahi kiya."

She was unable to hide the shock at his revelation... he wanted to kiss her since then... and the colour spread on her cheeks.

He continued, "Dheere dheere maine tumhara haath pakadna shuru kiya... tumhe usme koi problem nahi thi... lekin mere liye woh kaafi nahi tha... main tumhe gale lagana chahta tha... tumhe apni baahon mein mehsoos karna chahta tha... aur jab tumne khud mujhe apni baahon mein samet liya toh mujhe laga ki hum bas hamesha aise hi khade rahein."

She remembered the time when she had hugged him for the first time... right here... when he was so lost, so broken... she could not think of anything except giving some solace, some comfort to him.

"Woh toh tum itne dukhi the..." She murmured.

"Uss samay toh haan... lekin uske baad itni baar humne ek dusre ko gale lagaya... khushi se... kya tumhe usme kuch galat lagta tha... ya koi hichkichahat hoti thi?" He looked directly into her eyes.

"Nahi, bilkul nahi... balki mujhe toh tumhari baahon mein bohot achha lagta hai." She blurted, colouring a deeper shade as she felt his eyes shine.

A faint smile curved his lips, "Mujhe bhi."

She lowered her eyes... keeping her gaze fixed on their joined hands. He slowly intertwined his fingers with hers.

"Uske baad mera dil tumhare kiss ke liye tadapne laga... kitni baar maine bohot mushkil se khud ko roka tumhare gaalon tak khud ko jaane se... jab tumne pehli baar mere haath pe kiss kiya tha toh saari raat baith kar main iss haath ko dekhta raha." He lifted his right hand, staring at it.

Looking back at her, he placed a finger under her chin and lifted the face, "Aur fir haath se chehre tak... aur dheere dheere hothon tak pohoch gaye hum."

His low voice made her heart lurch and the fluttering of butterflies became more pronounced as she remembered their first kiss in her room.

His arm went around her shoulder, pulling her closer, the side of her body crushing against him.

"Tumhe kiss karta hun toh duniya ke saare rang meri aankhon mein sama jaate hain, " he whispered huskily, pressing her even more.

Naina placed one hand on his chest, over the heart.

"Naina, French kiss ke baare mein toh Sonali ne tumhe bata diya lekin pyaar wahin par khatam nahi hota." His voice was almost inaudible.

Naina felt herself go still...

He placed his hand over hers, on his heart, "Mere dil mein aur bhi bohot sapne hain jo main tumhare saath dekhta hun... aur kareeb aane ke sapne... tum abhi nahi samajh paogi isliye tumhe shayad aisa mehsoos nahi hota... par tumhe dekhke mujhe unn sapno ko jee lene ka man karta hai... subah jab tumhe aise dekha toh... toh woh sapne fir se aankhon ke aage ghoomne lage... main subah tumhe isliye nahi dekh pa raha tha kyonki tumhe dekhte hi mujhe kuch aur nazar aane lagta tha."

She had gone ice cold...

He picked up her hand and placed a kiss on her palm, "Tum buri nahi lag rahi thi, Naina... tum toh mere sapno ki woh pari lag rahi thi jise main har samay apne paas rakhna chahta hun."

She swallowed... this was the first time Sameer had spoken to her like this.

Her silence made him wonder if he had gone too far... looking down at her, he whispered, "Naina, idhar dekho."

Slowly, she lifted her gaze to him.

"Ek din main tumhe apne sapno ki duniya dikhaunga... uss din ka intezaar kar raha hun jab saari duniya ke samne tum meri ho jaogi." He said softly.

She felt her ears go red with the heat that had started to rise from the pit of her stomach.

"Sapne toh main bhi dekhti hun, Sameer." She managed to whisper.

His eyes sparkled again, "Fark hai, Naina... tumhare aur mere sapne alag hain... hum dono hi galat nahi hain... par tumhare sapne wahin tak jaate hain jahan tak tum soch sakti ho."

Her voice was stuck at the back of her throat... she could not tell him.

Seeing the clouds in her eyes, he thought she was confused again, "Achha batao, kya tumhe mujhe gale lagana ya mera chuna kharab lagta hai?"

"Bilkul nahi." She shook her head vehemently.

He lowered his voice again, "Kya tumhe kiss karna galat lagta hai?"

She pressed her lower lip under the teeth, shaking her head slowly this time.

His eyes dropped to her lips, "French kiss bhi nahi?"

She released her lip instantly, lowering her face, then shook her head once, lightly.

He smiled, "Aise hi Naina, aage bhi kuch galat nahi hota... humara pyaar koi do chaar din ka nahi hai... paanch saal hone wale hain humein ek doosre se pyaar karte hue... haan humein apne dil ki baat kehne mein do saal lage par dil ne toh tabse ek doosre ko apna liya tha na... aur ab iss janam mein toh kya agle saare jaanmon mein yeh saath nahi chootega... toh fir ek doosre ke baare mein sochna galat nahi hai."

"Galat kyon hoga, Sameer... tum kuch bhi kehte ho woh galat nahi lagta... kyonki mujhe bharosa hai tumpe... ki tum kabhi galat kar hi nahi sakte... agar tum mere sapne dekhte ho toh mere liye yeh khushi ki baat hai." She looked straight into his eyes.

Her trust gave him some confidence, "Mere sapno mein tum aise nahi aati... jaisi uss din baarish mein, uss saree mein dikh rahi thi waise aati ho."

Her heart skipped a beat, "Pehen ke dikhaungi."

Emboldened, he went on, "Jo choti skirt dekhke tum gussa kar rahi thi, waise aati ho."

She gulped, "Pehen ke dikhaungi."

He whispered, "Jo lehenga tumne Preeti ke saath try kiya tha, waise aati ho."

Her eyes lowered, "Pehen ke dikhaungi."

His voice turned raspy, "Pink nighty mein bhi aati ho."

Her face turned the shade he was talking about... her heart hammered against the ribcage... a shiver ran down her spine.

She closed her eyes for a moment, then opened and looked at him, "Pehen ke dikhaungi."

"Kab?"

And she turned crimson.

The song from her favourite movie, Maine Pyaar Kiya, started to play in his mind

Mere rang mein rangne wali
Pari ho ya pariyon ki raani
Ya ho meri prem kahani

Mere sawalon ka jawaab do
Do na...

That night, Sameer had wilder dreams.

Naina had dreams too... of the pink nighty he was talking about.