Naina had decided to stay back in Mumbai this year again. She could not leave Sameer here and go to Ahmedabad to celebrate Diwali.

"Tum sach mein nahi jaana chahti? Kya tumhara man nahi hai Preeti aur chachaji chachiji ke saath Diwali manane ka?" He questioned her decision.

"Mera man tumhare saath rehkar Diwali manane ka hai... jahan tum wahan main." She tilted her head, smiling.

"Lekin Naina, main saath chal padunga Ahmedabad... tum mere liye kyon akeli rehna chahti ho." He knew how much she loved her family and how Diwali was a time she really enjoyed with all of them.

"Sameer, agar hum dono ek saath chale bhi gaye toh bhi saath toh nahi mana payenge na... tum apne ghar mein rahoge aur main apne ghar mein... agar tum nahi hoge toh meri Diwali adhuri hogi." She tried to convince him that she was happy, which she was.

He looked into her eyes, "Main toh apne ghar mein rahunga par tum apne ghar mein nahi hogi."

She raised up her brows in question... then, realising what he meant, held his hand between her palms.

"Agli Diwali pe apne ghar mein hi rahungi, tumhare saath... aur uske baad aane wali har diwali aur baaki saare tyohaar hum dono apne ghar mein manayenge."

His eyes brightened as he imagined Naina lighting diyas... all decked up in a beautiful saree and glittering jewellery.

They decided to go shopping the next day as the college was closed for Diwali vacations.

At night, Naina was busy making notes for the chapter covered before vacations when there was a knock at the door. Most of the students had gone home for the festival. She wondered who could be there as she picked up her dupatta before opening the door.

"Aapka phone hai," the guard of their wing stood outside the door.

Going down the stairs, Naina wondered who could it be since she had spoken to Preeti and chachaji chachiji the previous day only.

"Hello?"

"Hello Naina?" The voice made her alert and she was tensed.

"Bua dadi... namaste... kaisi hain aap? Aaj aapne kaise phone kiya? Sab theek hai na? Aapki tabiyat toh theek hai na?" She let out a long list of questions.

"Arre ruk toh sahi... kya masterni ke jaise ek ke baad ek sawal puchti hi jaa rahi hai... theek hun main." Phulla bua chided her.

Naina smiled at her pyar wali dant,"Woh aap kabhi phone nahi karti isliye thoda ghabra gayi thi... shukar hai aap theek hain."

"Haan toh mujhe kya hoga... kuch hona ho toh mere dushmano ko ho... achha sun... maine isliye phone kiya hai ki tu Diwali pe ghar nahi jaa rahi  hai toh akele kyon rehna... yahan aaja... iss bahane mujhe bhi achhe se tyohaar ka maza lene ko milega." Bua dadi explained the purpose of her call.

Naina didn't know how to refuse, "Woh bua dadi... main woh... ghar bhi nahi jaa rahi... isliye..."

"Yeh kya badbada rahi hai... mujhe pata hai nahi jaa rahi... Anand ka phone aaya tha... ussi ne bataya ki tera TV wala program aane wala hai isliye tu yahin rahegi... par mere paas toh aa sakti hai na." Bua dadi would not listen to any excuse.

"Lekin main kaise... " Naina was caught in a tough situation.

Then she heard the old lady chuckle, "Pata hai kyon nahi aana chahti... main kab keh rahi hun akeli aa... usse bhi saath leke aana... Diwali wale din dono yahin ruk jana... usse keh dena maine bulaya hai... sab saath mein Diwali manayenge."

Naina could have jumped in joy had the guard not been standing right outside the booth.

When she told Sameer the next day he could not believe his ears.

"Main ruk sakta hun wahan... ghar pe?" His eyes had gone wide.

"Haan baba, bua dadi ne khud kaha," she gave him a bright smile, spreading more sunshine around him.

He rubbed his hands in excitement, "Mujhe Diwali bohot pasand hai, Naina... woh saari sajawat, lights, har taraf diyon ki roshni, mithaiyan, khana peena, sabke chehre ki khushi."

She laughed, "Khoob saara khana banate hain hamare yahan... bua dadi ke haath ki mithai khaoge toh ungliyan chatte reh jaoge."

His eyes suddenly had a lost look, "Maine aisi Diwali bas do saal manayi hai... nanu ke saath... wahan bhi mithai bahar se hi aati thi... khana Ramdhari banata tha... bas thode se diye jalate the... baaki toh nanu lights lagwa lete the... fir bhi mujhe bohot achha lagta tha."

Naina pressed his hand.

He looked at their joined hands, then looked up at her, "Nanu kehte the 'Dekhna beta, jis din teri shaadi hogi na, uss din se iss ghar mein ek nayi Diwali hogi... teri dulhan ke chehre ki roshni teri zindagi mein ujaala bhar degi'... sach mein Naina, jabse tum meri zindagi mein aayi ho saare andhere khatam ho gaye."

She raised her hand to wipe his misty eyes, "Tyohaar ke din rote nahi hain... khush hone ka din hai... ab chalein market? Bua dadi ke liye koi achha sa gift leke aate hain."

He got up instantly from the bench where they were sitting in the front garden, pulling her hand, "Toh chalo jaldi... soch kya rahi ho?"

Their shopping included a silk saree for their grandmother, a kurta in royal blue for Sameer and a suit in red for Naina. They also bought a few sweets, some crackers and a box of perfumed candles.

Next morning, on the day of Diwali, Naina and Sameer reached Phulla bua's house.

She greeted them with hugs and a big smile.

After a round of tea with homemade sweets, Sameer took out the packet of saree, looking at Naina... she blinked, indicating to go ahead.

"Bua dadi, yeh aapke liye hai," Sameer held out the bag to her.

Bua dadi narrowed her eyes, "Yeh kis liye? Tum mere bachche ho... tumhe tohfa dena chahiye ya tumse lena chahiye?"

Naina held the bag along with Sameer, "Hamesha aap hi deti hain... bas iss baar hum dono ki taraf se... Happy Diwali."

She smiled, eyes brimming with tears, as she took the packet from them. She opened it to see a beautiful silk saree in yellow and green, embroidered with gold thread.

Her smile became brighter as she took off her glasses to wipe the corners of her eyes, "Aaj mere bachche itne bade ho gaye ki mere liye saree layein hain."

Naina sat next to the old lady and wrapped her hands around her shoulders as Sameer sat on the floor, placing his head on her knees. Immediately, Phulla bua's one hand stroked Naina's cheek and the other went down to pat Sameer's head.

"Tumhari har Diwali khushiyon se bhari rahe, " she blessed them lovingly.

After a while, she pointed at the bags they had placed on the floor near the door, "Chalo apna samaan uthao aur andar rakho... Naina, Sameer ko balcony wala kamra bata de... aur tu apna samaan mere kamre mein le aa."

They picked their bags and walked to the room where Naina always stayed.

"Aaj tum yahan rahoge, " she smiled pleasantly at him.

Seeing that they were not visible from outside, Sameer pulled her close, "Tum bhi yahin reh jao, kamra toh tumhara hi hai. "

Naina looked at the open door in horror, "Chodo Sameer, bua dadi aa jayengi."

He tightened his hold, "Abhi apne kamre mein gayi hain... nahi ayengi... chalo mujhe Happy Diwali bolo."

Naina blinked her eyes innocently, "Happy Diwali."

He gave a lopsided smile, "Aise nahi, Naina... tumhe pata hai kaise wala."

She rounded her mouth in realization, "Ohh... achha... waise wala?"

He nodded.

"Theek hai, ankhen band karo." She gave a coy smile.

Sameer closed his eyes, waiting to feel her touch.

He felt it, on his chest... as Naina pushed him and rushed out.

Smiling, he opened his eyes and ran a hand through his hair.

He looked around the room... reminiscing about the day when he had come here for the first time. Sitting down on the bed, he moved a hand lightly on the pillow, wondering how many times Naina must have slept on it.

When he went out, Phulla bua was arranging laddus in a plate, to be placed where pooja would be done in the evening. He helped them decorate the mandir, doing exactly what he was told. Naina made a rangoli outside the main door... they placed a string of marigold flowers at the entrance... center table was decorated with a glass bowl with rose petals, perfumed candles placed on both sides, to be lit in the evening.

After lunch, Phulla bua went to her room for the much needed rest. Naina sat at the dining table, rolling small pieces of cotton to make the wicks for earthern diyas.

Sameer came behind her... placing his forearm on the chair, he brought his face close to her, "Kuch kehna hai tumse."

Without moving her head, she smiled, hands busy with what she was doing, "Kaho na."

"I Love You, Naina." He kissed her cheek.

He had confessed his love innumerable times, but every time she felt her heart flutter... and swell up with pride.

She tilted her head to look at him... his breath fanned her face... Naina saw the deep pools of black filled with love.

"I Love You, Sameer," she kissed the tip of his nose.

He pouted, "Yahan nahi... yahan." He placed a finger on his lower lip.

Laughing, Naina turned back to the work in hand, "Jitna mila hai usme khush raho... zyada laalach achha nahi hota."

Sameer pulled her chair back... before she could turn to ask anything he slid his one arm under her knees and one around the waist... and picked her up.

She looked at him in shock, clutching his collar for support.

Sameer started to twirl holding her tight, mischief playing in his eyes, "Jab tak meri baat nahi manogi, aise hi ghumata rahunga."

She squeezed the eyes shut, feeling her head spin as she pressed her face into his chest.

He continued to move in circles, not taking his eyes off her.

"Mujhe chakkar aa raha hai," he heard a faint murmur, her hands tugging at his collar.

He stopped immediately, placing her legs slowly on the ground, worried to see the pale face.

She stumbled, holding on to his shirt for support... her hand slid down his collar, sliding further down... and his buttons flew off as Naina slipped to the floor.

Sameer caught her before she hit the hard floor... sitting down holding her.

"Naina, kya hua... please aankhen kholo..." He patted her cheek, sweat forming on his forehead.

She opened her eyes slowly.

He breathed in relief, "Kya ho gaya, Naina... tumhari tabiyat toh theek hai na?"

She nodded feebly, "Mujhe gol ghumne se chakkar aa jaate hain... aur tumne itni tez ghuma diya."

He held her close to his chest, "I am so sorry, Naina... mujhe pata hota toh main aisi bewakoofi kabhi nahi karta... please maaf kardo."

Naina smiled, bringing her hand up to his chest... before she could speak, her hand landed on his skin, directly. Shocked, she stirred to realise that her cheek was also touching his chest, the shirt wide open till his stomach.

"Sam... Sameer, yeh k... kya hai?" She stammered, trying to move away.

His hand kept her pinned, "Sach mein nahi pata tha, Naina... aage se humesha dhyan rakhunga... please gussa mat hona."

She was finding it difficult to breathe, his heartbeat drumming in her ears, his muscles moving under her cheek.

She clutched his waist, pushing him back, "Chodo please... tum aise kyon baithe ho?"

Sameer looked down at her, seeing for the first time that he was holding Naina against his bare chest. His eyes went wide. Quickly, he straightened... letting her bring some distance between them.

"Yeh.. woh... tumne... matlab... tumse  ho gaya yeh," he pointed towards his shirt.

She frowned, "Main kaise kar sakti hun?"

Sameer explained the scene to her, making her go a deep shade of red.

"Humein abhi isse theek karna hoga... bua dadi kya sochengi." Naina got up in panic, shaking a bit as she stood up in a hurry.

Sameer brought his arm around her. She tried to move back but he held her firmly.

"Mere tute hue button se zyada tumhari sehat zaroori hai... aur mujhpe toh haq hai tumhara... ab chup chaap baitho yahan." He kept her close, speaking softly to make her comfortable.

"Yahan nahi... andar chalo... main yeh button abhi laga deti hun... agar shirt badloge toh bua dadi zaroor puchengi ki kyon badla... kya bologe?" She had tension lines on her forehead.

"Bol dunga aapki Naina ne itne zor se kheencha ki button toot gaye... baaki woh khud samajh jayengi." He winked.