Since all of you were so eager to attend this class, today's morning update comes to you much before time... can't deny education to inquisitive minds.

Sameer was getting impatient for Naina. Almost all students had come but Naina was not to be seen. Neither was Sonali... Rahul was constantly checking the entrance as well.

As the girls entered, Sameer ran to them.

"Kitni der laga di Naina, kabse tumhara intezaar kar raha hun... kya kar rahi thi?" He was worried.

Sonali looked at him and smiled, "Kuch nahi... bas tumhare hi faayde ke baare mein baat kar rahe the."

Naina glared at her friend as she quickly walked to Rahul's table.

Sameer was puzzled, "Mera kya faayda? Naina, bolo na kya baat hai?"

She was finding it difficult to even look at him... colour rising again as Sonali's words rang in her ears.

"Please, batao na... kya hua? Mujhe dar lag raha hai?" Sameer could not make out anything.

Without meeting his eye, Naina replied, "Kuch nahi hua... woh aise hi kuch bhi keh rahi hai... hum log bas baatein kar rahe the aur time ka dhyaan nahi raha...  chalo ab khana khate hain."

He was not convinced but decided to not pressurise her now as the room was full of people.

They filled their plates and sat down at a nearby table.  Sameer noticed that Naina was hardly eating anything.

"Tum toh kha hi nahi rahi, Naina... tumhari tabiyat toh theek hai na?" He was sure there was a problem.

Naina tried to clear his doubts, "Main theek hun, bas neend aa rahi hai".

"Neend aa rahi hai?  Matlab tum ab so jaaogi?  Naina, hum log abhi campfire karenge... tum bhool gayi kya?" Her strange behavior was making him tensed.

"Arre haan, campfire... nahi, nahi... yaad hai mujhe... uske baad hi soungi... tum khaana khao na", she wanted him to be quiet so that she could avoid looking at him.

They had their food without much talk, though Sameer kept trying to say something or the other, but Naina just answered with a nod or shake of her head.

After dinner, they moved out to the garden which had a big rectangular cemented area on one side, to use as a stage if the resort was hired for some party, marriage or ceremony.  This was the designated place for their campfire.

Dry pieces of wood were set in the center and a fire was lit. Thick cotton mats were placed on both sides and girls and boys sat down to play antakshari.

Since Sameer had could sing well, he was asked to start from boys side, with letter 'M'.

He sang Main duniya bhula dunga teri chahat mein...

His eyes never left Naina.

She could manage to look at him since she was sitting far from where he was.

It was the turn of girls side. They sang Mera dil bhi kitna pagal hai yeh pyaar toh tumse karta hai...

Sameer started with Hothon pe bas tera naam hai tujhe chahna mera kaam hai tere pyaar mein pagal hun main subah shaam...

Sameer tried to gesture to Naina that he was singing for her, but she still appeared to be lost. Though, she looked at him a couple of times and smiled, it was not his Naina who had eyes only for him.

The game continued for a long time... both teams playing well as Bollywood songs were everyone's favourite.

When the professors came over to ask them to end the game, it was almost midnight.

Wishing good night to everyone, they walked back to their rooms.

Sameer moved closer to Naina, "Good night, jaan."

She looked at him, astonished at the endearment... then looked around to see if anyone had heard. There was no one in hearing distance.

Sameer smiled, "Maine dekh ke hi bola... koi nahi sun raha... sirf tum ho."

She smiles and said, "Good night."

He made a face, "Itna feeka good night? Kuch special nahi milega?"

Sonali's words again sprung up in Naina's mind again... she looked at him, blushed and ran away.

Sameer kept standing at the same place for sometime, wondering what was making her so shy, "Maine toh abhi kuch kiya bhi nahi hai... phir aaj itna kyon sharma rahi hai."

Taking a long breath, he went to his room.

Sonali was in the bathroom, changing into her night suit. As she came out, Naina dragged her to bed,  "Kitna time lagati hai bathroom mein...  chal ab bata."

Sonali could not help laughing at her curiosity, "Arre, mujhe konsa sab pata hai... main toh bas wohi janti hun jo meri cousins ne bataya tha."

"Theek hai wohi bata na",  Naina was getting impatient with this suspense.

Sonali settled comfortably on the bed, a pillow behind her,  " Achcha bata, jab tu Sameer ke saath hoti hai to kaisa lagta hai?"

"Bohot achcha lagta hai... dil karta hai bas ussi ke saath baithi rahun... ussi se baat karti rahun... bas ussi ko dekhti rahun",  her eyes turned dreamy.

" Haan, toh aise hi usse gale lagana, usse chuna bhi achcha lagta hoga?" Sonali looked directly at her.

Naina was startled, "Ky... kya matlab?"

Her teacher was not ready to give in, "Dekh Naina, Maine kaha tha na... sab sach batana...  bol ab."

She lowered her eyes, nodding the head a little.

"Aise hi kareeb aane se rishta aage badhta hai... agar tu Sameer ko apne paas nahi aane degi toh tum hamesha aise hi bas doston ki tarah baatein karte rehna",  Sonali tried to tell whatever she knew.

"Par maine toh Sameer ko chune se mana hi nahi kiya... woh toh roz mera haath pakadta hai... aur... aur...  gale bhi lagata hai",  the puzzle remained unsolved.

"Aur mana karna bhi mat... bas tu uski baatein maan lena shaadi ke baad...  baaki toh ladkon ko sab pata hota hai... Anjali didi ne bataya tha ki isse aage jo bhi puchna ho apne pati se puchna... lekin sirf shaadi ke baad",  Sonali narrated what she had been told.

Naina was not the one to accept anything without reasoning, " Par ladkon ko kaise pata hota hai jab hamein nahi maloom... matlab unke liye koi classes hoti hain kya?"

Now, Sonali was also in doubt. It had never occurred to her to ask this question.

"Pata nahi... shayad hoti hongi", Sonali tried to recollect if she had heard about any special classes for boys.

Naina suddenly brightened, "Arre haan, jaise ladkiyon ko jaana padta hai na... woh cooking class mein... Pooja didi bhi gayi thi... waise hi ladkon ko iss class mein jaana hota hoga."

She was relieved to have solved one mystery at least.

Sonali agreed with her... thinking that Naina did have a topper brain.

But she was tired for now. Yawning, she slid into the bed, "Good night, Naina... bohot neend aa rahi hai... main sone lagi hun... please light off kar de."

Naina got up to switch off the light and came back... lying down on her side of the bed, eyes wide open.

Sleep was nowhere near her. When Sonali had talked to her earlier, she had expected to get some answers at the end of her conversation... but her friend had left her even more confused.

When she could not sleep after a long time of tossing and turning, Naina got up and quietly went out to the verandah. There were two big, wrought iron chairs... with thick cushions for seating and at the back. She settled on one of them, tucking her legs under her.

She needed answers. All her life, she had been solving questions with ease... sometimes, it took more effort and time, but she didn't sit back until she could reach the correct answer. It was unlike her to leave a difficult question unsolved.

And this situation appeared to be a tough one. She had unexplained feelings... she could not read Sameer's eyes that had unexplained emotions... when he had come close to her at the beach today, something inside her had caused an ache... deep in her stomach... it was much stronger than the butterflies she always felt at his touch. She wondered if Pooja didi could help her in this... she was not very bright in school but as Sonali said, marriage was the key to all these answers and Pooja didi was married.

Sameer was sure Naina was preoccupied with something at dinner and also during the campfire. He had never seen her so lost for such  a prolonged period. She had not shared her problem with him... their comfort level had risen considerably in last few months and Naina did not hesitate telling him about anything... if something bothered her or even her physical discomforts... she shared with him. But today she was in her own world... not even enjoying the campfire or his songs.

Frustrated, he got up from the bed. Glancing at the sleeping form of Rahul, he stepped out softly.

Outside air was cool. It felt good. He looked up at the dark sky, hiding behind a blanket of twinkling stars...  and a smile played on his lips, recalling his birthday night when he and Naina had seen this beautiful sight together.

Still smiling, he moved his gaze in the direction of their cottage... and froze.

Naina was sitting curled up on the chair, looking straight ahead.

His heart stopped beating. Something was majorly wrong. Without giving a thought to being seen or caught, he stepped out and ran to her cottage.

"Naina."

His voice startled her. She looked up at him and immediately checked all around... there was no one.

He sat on the chair next to her, "Naina, koi baat toh hai jo tumhe pareshaan kar rahi hai... maine tumhe aise pehle nahi dekha... batao na kya baat hai?"

Naina stared at him. She had shared so much with him... all her insecurities, all her fears, all her discomforts... but...

And Sonali's words rang in her ears, "Sirf apne pati se puch sakti hai... woh bhi shaadi ke baad."

She smiled, "Kuch nahi... sar mein thoda dard hai."

Sameer picked up her hand from her lap and wrapped his palms around it, "Ab tum mujhse chupaogi? Kya main tumhari takleef samajh nahi paunga... aisa lagta hai tumhe? Naina, ek baar keh kar toh dekho... main tumhari zindagi ki har uljhan suljha dunga."

His eyes were filled with love... immense love...

Her mind voice came to help again, "Sameer se zyaada tujhe kaun samajh sakta hai? Jab usse teri zaroorat hoti hai toh tu padhati hai... aaj agar uske paas tere sawaalon ke jawab hain toh dar kyon rahi hai... aakhir pati toh Sameer hi banega tera."

She blushed at the last thought and lowered her eyes.

He pressed her hand, to bring her out of the space she had again drifted to.

Without lifting her face, she decided to go ahead, "Sameer, aaj jab wahan beach pe... matlab... jab wahan akele mein... tum... "

He gulped... she was annoyed.

He had let his control slip for a moment... and made her so uncomfortable.

Taking a deep breath, he began in a low voice, "Naina, main janta hun mujhse galti hui... mujhe aisa nahi karna chahiye tha... main... main... kuch der ke liye... matlab... Naina, tumme kho gaya tha... par main khyaal rakhunga... tumhe aage se kabhi aise tang nahi karunga... shaadi hone tak."

Naina sprang up, "Wohi toh... sab yehi kehte hain... shaadi ke baad... shaadi ke baad... ab yeh shaadi ke baad hai kya? Mujhe samajh nahi aa raha ki mujhe kya hua jab tum ne aise dekha... mujhe kuch ajeeb sa hua... kuch jaise... jaise... jaise pata nahi kya... kyon?"

Sameer sat stunned. Of all the things in the world... or even in outer space... she had been troubled by this... her awakening to physical warmth... her desire.

He didn't know what to say...

"Naina, umm... isme itna pareshan hone jaisa kuch nahi hai... jab hame zyada khushi hoti hai toh kabhi kabhi aisa ho jaata hai... tum ye sab mat socho." He somehow managed to speak.

"Matlab tumhe bhi nahi pata", she sighed, " tumhe bhi classes leni padengi."

He almost fell off his chair, "Classes? Konsi classes?"

Naina pitied him... he didn't even know he had to take classes... atleast she was not so naive.

She was back in her teacher mode, "Jaise ladkiyaan leti hain na, cooking classes... shaadi se pehle... aise hi ladke bhi lete hain... yeh sab seekhne ke liye... par abhi nahi... tum shaadi se pehle check kar lena kahaan hoti hain."

Suppressing his laugh with great effort, Sameer tried to keep a straight face, "Aur tumhe kisne bataya ki aisi classes hoti hain?"

Naina gave him a 'collars up' look, "Mujhe khud hi ehsaas hua... jab Sonali ko bhi nahi pata tha, aur uski Anjali didi ne kaha ki ladkon ko sab pata hota hai toh main samajh gayi... ab itna dimaag toh hai mere paas."

He just marvelled at her cuteness and innocence.

Lifting her hand, he brought it to his face and rubbed his cheek on the back of it, "Ab tum zyaada mat socho aur jaake so jao... subah ghoomne bhi jaana hai na."

She got a tingling feeling as his stubble pricked her. She turned her hand and placed her palm on his cheek, moving it lightly...

"Tumhe chubhta nahi hai?" She was fascinated how something that pricked like this could look so delectable on him.

Sameer had recovered from the shock by now, "Nahi, tumhe chubhega."

Naina frowned, "Mujhe? Kaise?"

He pulled her closer and rubbed his cheek on hers, taking care not to hurt her.

"Aise",  he mumbled in her ear.

Naina pushed him and ran inside, colouring deeply.

Sameer looked at her till she closed the door.

Then, he smiled, touching his cheek and got up to go back to his room.