Naina had been pacing in her room for the last thirty minutes, constantly wringing her fingers.

"Kya Sameer naraaz ho gaya?" She was in a dilemma.

The frown deepened as she tried to recollect what he had said about the rickshaw driver.

"Naina, Tu bhi na sudhar nahi sakti... aankhen khol ke rakha kar... Sameer ko itni door se pata chal gaya ki woh aadmi theek nahi hai aur tu saamne khade reh kar bhi nahi pehchaan paayi... paagal hi samjhega na Sameer tujhe."

The images of that day were just not clearing up from her mind. Last few days she had not been able to study or even read her novels.

Naina slapped her forehead again, which, though a habit since forever, had become too frequent in the last few days,  "Yeh ek baarish ka din mere liye itni badi musibat ban gaya hai."

A knock at the door brought her out of her thoughts. She checked her watch to see the time... a few minutes past nine.

"Pakka ghar se phone hoga",  she rushed to open the door.

" Beta, aapka phone hai",  the elderly ayah informed her.

Naina ran down to the small booth at the entrance of their building. Just before entering, the images came rushing back to her yet again... how she had allowed her eyes to openly drift down from his face to his arms, to his chest...

She squeezed her her shut. Had the phone not rung that day, what else would have happened? 

She shook her head to get rid of the image and ran to pick up the receiver... glad that those on the other side could not see her red face.

"Hello"

"Naina, kaisi hai tu?" Preeti's chirpy voice boomed, bringing an instant smile to her face.

"Preeti, tu kaisi hai... yahan to sab badiya hai... chachaji, chachiji kaise hain",  she asked about her favorite people.

" Wo sab theek hai... lekin aaj sirf tu aur main baat karenge... main kabse tujhse baat karna chahti thi... aaj mummy papa Sarla aunty ke yahan jaagran mein gaye hain to mauka mila", Preeti had an urgency in her voice.

Naina instantly slipped into the role of elder sister. "Sab theek hai na Preeti? Tujhe kuch takleef hai kya? Kisine kuch kaha... taiji ne?  Ya college mein kuch hua hai... jaldi bol naaaa. "

"Behhheen.. tu break laga zara... mujhe bolne degi to bolungi na." Preeti tried to stop the barrage of questions.

"Hmm"

"Naina, mujhe kuch nahi hua... main tujh se Sameer ke baare mein baat karna chahti hun... teri usse aur koi baat hui? Pichhli baar jab phone kiya tha to tu khushi se pagal ho rakhi thi ki Sameer tujhe pehchan gaya... ab bata... ab bhi yaad hai tu usse... ya phir bhool gaya?"

Naina blushed at the mention of Sameer. How could she tell Preeti what all had transpired between them?

"Preeti, Sameer sach much mujhe achche se pehchanta hai... usne mujhse baat bhi ki... aur uss din baarish mein... " she blurted out before she could stop herself.

Preeti was alert, "Baarish mein kya Naina?"

Naina controlled herself, "wo baarish mein meri madad ki... mere paas chatri nahin thi to ussne ka kar di... jisse main bheeg na jaun. "

"Aur tu pighal gayi... meri bholi behen... tu khud ki hi takleef badha rahi hai... chatri dena koi bohot badi baat nahi hai... balki koi baat hi nahi hai... kya ussne tera haal chaal pucha...  tujhse pucha ki tujhe wahan koi problem to nahi hai... kaha ki kuch ho to usse madad mang sakti hai... koi apnapan dikhaya ek dost ke naate?" Preeti was not convinced.

Naina pondered over the questions. Yes, Sameer had never said that he will be there to help her... but he was always present whenever she was in trouble... when she fainted, when Neeraj misbehaved, when she  was caught in rain without an umbrella... he even helped to ease out her pain after the freshers party when she was not able to eat due to the shock from what happened in the garden.

Sameer was always there... always there for her.

"Preeti, saari baatein kehna zaroori nahi hota... mujhe Sameer pe bharosa hai", Naina tried to reason with her protective sister.

Preeti was not giving in, " Naina, itni bholi mat ban... jab tak Sameer tujhse khul ke baat nahi karta, koi sapne mat dekh. Behen, main tujhe phir se tootne nahi dungi... yaad hai na school mein tera kya haal tha... ",  she tried to put some sense in her sister.

Naina closed her eyes and remembered how broken she was whenever Sameer did not even acknowledge her presence. He never spared a glance at her.

But now... no, it was not the same now.

" Preeti, tu meri chinta mat kar... main khud ko sambhalna seekh gayi hun... aur dekhna, iss baar sab achcha hoga... mera dil kehta hai", all she could do was to listen to her heart.

Preeti smiled at her sister's faith, "behen, main to chahti hun sab achcha ho... aur main to sabse zyaada khush hongi jab mujhe mere jijaji milenge"

The colour returned to Naina's face hearing 'jijaji' from Preeti. Her thoughts had still not gone this far...

"Chup kar Preeti, abhi se aise mat bol", she tried to sound annoyed but failed miserably.

" Oye hoye... meri behen to bilkul laal ho gayi, " Preeti guessed correctly.

Naina tried to change the topic, "Achha ye bata, tujhe kuch idea hai ki Sameer apne nanaji ko chod ke yahan kyun rehta hai?"

Preeti became serious, "nahi Naina, yeh to mujhe bhi nahi pata... par tu bole to pata karun? Munna Pandit mere hi college mein hai... unse pooch sakti hun"

"Theek hai... koshish karna... Maine pucha tha Sameer se par usne kuch bola nahi... bas chup chaap wahan se chala gaya. Tu pata laga sake to batana."

Both sisters talked for some more time before ending, with a promise to speak again soon.

Next few days passed without Sameer again. Though, this time, there was no practice or match. Rather, the two sections were merged. Now the lectures for cricket team students and regular students were held together. Naina had been excited that Sameer will be in the same class at last, but he was gone again. She didn't know whom to ask about him.

One morning, as she entered the class, she found Rahul sitting on her bench in the first row. He smiled at her.  She halted for a moment... then, smiling back, she started to walk to the second row, to sit with Nisha.

"Arre Naina, tumhari seat to yahan hai... peeche kahan jaa rahi ho?" Rahul tried to stop her.

"Koi baat nahi... aaj tumhe yahan baithna hai to main peeche baith jaaungi",  Naina gave a polite smile.

" Mujhe koi shauk nahi sabse aage baithne ka... so bhi nahi sakte... main to tumhare saath baithne ke liye aaya tha... woh mujhe kuch doubts the isliye... a tum to topper ho... itna achcha teacher mujhe kahan milega" he indicated with his eyes to the seat next to him.

Naina hesitated for a moment... but then decided to sit with him. After all, he just wanted some help in studies. And Naina Agarwal never refused to help anyone.

She was engrossed in explaining the topic to him till the time the lecture started.  After the class too, she patiently answered all his questions. After three lectures, finally Rahul streched his arms and yawned, "Bas aaj kaafi padhai ho gayi... main to thak gaya... tum bhi to thak gayi hogi... chalo aaj main tumhe canteen leke chalta hun... samose aur gold spot ki treat... meri taraf se"

Naina tried her best to refuse but Rahul did not take a no for an answer. Sonali, Nisha and Komal also pulled her, saying she hardly ever went with them too, so today it had to be a good eating session with all.

Entering the canteen brought back the memories of the day she had seen Sameer there... after he had taken her to the medical room. She looked around. He was nowhere today. "Where does this boy disappear like this?" Naina was puzzled.

While everyone contributed to the happy chatter,  Naina tried to finish her food fast so that she could run to her corner in the library... maybe find Sameer there.

Muttering an excuse about last day for returning library books, she almost ran. But there was no one in the corner seat. A few students sat here and there, but college library was not a place preferred by most of the students.

Disappointed, she went back to her hostel room.

Late evening, as she stood in the balcony, she saw the outline of a person seated under the tree... only right side of his back and head was visible... but someone was definitely there. Naina wondered why someone wants to spend time here all alone.  She was also not with friends all the time but then she was in love. She did not need anyone but the person she loved.

Maybe this person was in love too. The realisation brought a smile to Naina's face. "Phir to yeh khushi se yahan baith ke sapne dekhne aata hoga",  Naina deduced.

But somehow, she was not convinced with her own analysis. The sulking shoulders of the person were telling a different story...

She kept looking in the same direction, holding the empty cup in her hand, her tea over long back till she saw him move. She straightened to see properly if he was someone from the college, but the failing light of dusk and the distance did not help. But the stooping shoulders and dejected gait confirmed that he was someone who was totally lost...

Next day Naina again searched for Sameer. Classroom, library, canteen... she even went out to the cricket ground. But he was nowhere. Getting restless, she decided to ask someone. But she had never seen him with anyone. Who could answer her?  Who was his friend?

Lost in thoughts, Naina reached the classroom. Seeing Rahul seated at her bench again, she beamed.
" Rahul bhi to uske saath cricket team me hai... dost na bhi ho to mujhse to zyaada jaanta hoga",  she decided to ask Rahul.

"Hi, mujhe tumse kuch puchna tha",  Naina looked at him.

" Sorry, main tumhe nahi padha sakta... Maine tumse kuch doubts kya puche, tum to badla lene pe aa gayi... yaar, main itna intelligent nahi hun ki tumhare doubts clear karun",  Rahul's horrified look made her smile.

"Arre nahin... padhai ke baare mein nahin... mujhe Sameer ke baare mein puchna tha", she clarified.

Rahul gave her a shocked look,  " Sameer ke baare mein kya? Kahin tumhe bhi woh pasand toh nahi aagaya?" He teased her.

Naina coloured visibly. Composing herself, she realised what he said, "tumhe bhi matlab? Kisko pasand aaya woh?"

"Kya bataun yaar, kitni ladkiyaan puchti hain uske baare mein, apne college mein bhi aur jahaan jaate hain cricket match ke liye wahan bhi...  par sab bekaar.  Woh hero to kisi se na baat karta hai na dekhta hai... pata nahi konsi duniya mein rehta hai",  He went on, not noticing the look of anger in Naina's eyes.

" College mein kisne pucha uske liye? " She inquired about the competition,  feeling a strange clutching feeling in her stomach.

Rahul went on, "ek ho to bataun... chodo na... tumhe kya kaam tha? Waise main mazaak kar raha tha... mujhe pata hai tumhe koi interest nahi hai usme... bas hairani hui tumhare muh se uska naam sunke".

Naina didn't know how to proceed. She tried,  " Usne kuch books liye the library se,  woh mujhe chahiye,  to puchna tha woh kab wapas karega. "

"Main kal puch ke bata dunga",  Rahul's answer left her shocked.

" Tum kaise puchoge?  Uska ghar pata hai... ya phone number?"

"Woh to yahin hostel mein rehta hai... ghar yahan thodi hai uska... woh Ahmedabad se hai. "

It took some time for her to absorb the information.

Sameer had been living here... right here...

There was hardly any distance between their hostels... just a few meters.

But the distance between them... why was it so much?  Why was he always running away... and from whom?