Naina was not able to contain her happiness at the thought that Sameer did love her since school... only if she knew about it then. She wanted to tell Preeti and Swati... giggling as she could easily visualise their shocked reaction.

"Jab Preeti ka phone aayega to usse bataungi... woh toh behosh hi ho jaayegi yeh sun ke... jab mujhe hi yakeen nahi aaya to usse kaise aayega... Hayeeee... school mein Sameer mujhe chup chup ke dekhta tha, " she clasped her hands and rolled her eyes dreamily, "kya sochta hoga mujhe dekhke? "

She felt like dancing... picking up her pillow, she twirled around, face shining with joy... imagining Sameer outside her class window, behind the water tap, against the pillar near playground... hiding and trying to catch a glimpse of her.

She didn't know but that is exactly what he did in school... to steal glances of his Naina.

As Sameer sat down to have his dinner, Rahul joined him again. Since they had become friends now, they would sometimes sit together in the dining hall.

"Aur, kaisi chal rahi hai teri love story? " Rahul patted Sameer's shoulder as he settled in the adjacent chair.

Sameer just smiled at him. Though they were friends, he could not form the bond he shared with Munna and Pandit.

"Tumhari story kuch aage badhi kya?" He enquired about Rahul's equation with Sonali.

"Abhi to fielding hi kar raha hun... sab tere jaise lucky nahi hote yaar... teri gaadi toh express speed se patri pe aa gayi", He carried on in his usual carefree manner.

When Sameer did not say anything, Rahul asked, " Achcha tujhe kitna time laga... Naina ne kitne dino mein haan bola?"

"Do saal mein... ", Sameer looked straight at him and replied.

Rahul almost fell off his chair, " Do saal... itne time mein to college ka end aa jayega."

And the other fact dawned upon him, a little late, "Tu Naina ko do saal se jaanta hai? Aur ab jaake usne haan kaha hai? Yaar, aisi kya buraai hai tujhme jo itna time le liya? Ekdum hero dikhta hai... break kahan lagi? " He was curious now.

"Hamaari kahani thodi alag hai... hum eleventh class se saath padhte the par yahan aane se pehle kabhi baat nahi ki thi. "

"Kyon? Agar tujhe pasand thi to baat kyon nahi ki?", Rahul was getting interested.

" Bas aise hi... waise uske papa bhi hamare school mein the... aur hamesha aas paas mandarate rehte the... isliye socha abhi baat ki toh uss ke liye koi problem na ho jaaye," Sameer remembered Rakesh sir.

"Oho! Tayyab Ali pyaar ka dushman, " Rahul winked.

Sameer grinned at him, "Kuch aisa hi samajh lo... par pyaar ekdum chupa hua tha... kisiko nahi pata tha... mere dono doston ko bhi nahi... aur Naina ko bhi nahi."

Rahul pulled his chair forward, "Aaj to teri love story poori sunni padegi... mujhe nahi pata tha tune itne papad bele hain".

They finished their dinner and went out in the garden.

Sameer told him how he met Naina and gradually fell for her, but never expressed it... how he wanted to speak to her at the farewell but her father was always around... how he decided to come to Mumbai after his nanu's death as he could not live alone in that house, giving the same reason he had given to Munna Pandit.

He did not mention about dadi's bitter words and his own reaction to them. Also, he did not tell about Naina's feelings for him since school...

Rahul was impressed with Sameer's perseverance, "Tu toh filmon wala aashiq hai, dost! Mujhe bhi kuch tips de na, meri gaadi ko dhakka laga de", he requested.

Sameer closed his eyes and leaned back on the bench, " Isme koi kuch nahi kar sakta... apne dil ki suno aur wohi karo... bas sab kuch ho jaayega..."

Later, in his room, he sat on the bed, thinking about her... how angelic she looked in that white dress and open hair... and he felt her hair gliding on his face again, filling him with their fragrance. He inhaled deeply... everything about Naina was so enchanting, he was completely under her spell.

"Tumhara jaadu aisa chala hai mujhpe, Naina, ki ab kuch aur nazar hi nahi aata... dil karta hai tum har waqt meri aankhon ke saamne raho", he hugged the pillow, pressing it close to his face.

Much awaited morning saw Sameer waiting for her near the college building. As Naina came out of the hostel, his jaw fell. She was wearing a blue dress, shorter as compared to whatever she used to wear... just covering her knees. Her shirt was a full sleeved multi coloured one which contrasted very well with the blue of her dress... and she had tied half her hair in a clutch, lower half falling down her back.

" Chalein, Sameer ", Naina prodded when he didn't move from his place.

" Hn... Ha... Haan, chalo... kahan chalna hai? " He was lost.

Naina gave him a confused look "Kahan chalna hai? Matlab? Class mein hi to jayenge na... aur kahan jaana hai? "

Sameer closed his eyes and muttered to himself, "Jaana toh wahan hai jahan sirf tum aur main ho... koi aur nahi. "

"Kuch kaha tumne? " Naina was sure he mumbled something.

He rubbed the back of his neck, "Kuch nahi... chalo class ke liye late ho raha hai."

During the lectures, Sameer's eyes kept drifting back to Naina... her shapely legs looked so fair against the bright blue of the dress... the hair cascading down her back like a soft wave.

He waited eagerly for the time when he could meet her alone.

Before he could say anything, as the class got over, Naina exited the room and went towards the library. Sameer quickly picked up his notebooks and followed her. He found her sitting at the last table, looking out of the window.

She looked at him and smiled as he pulled a chair next to her.

"Kya iraada hai, madam? Aaj jaan logi kya? " He whispered, leaning closer.

She blushed.

Sameer could not take his eyes off her face, "Naina, aaj bohot sunder lag rahi ho tum."

Naina gave a shy smile, "Hato... jhooth mat bolo."

"Sach bol raha hun... yakeen nahi aata to mere dil pe haath rakhke dekho... meri dhadkan kaise daud rahi hai", he forwarded his hand to hold hers... to make her feel his heartbeat.

Naina quickly hid both her hands behind her, widening her eyes, " Kya kar rahe ho, yahan koi bhi aa sakta hai."

"Oh! Matlab jahan koi nahi aayega wahan tumhe mere kuch karne se problem nahi hogi? " He could not let go any chance to tease her.

"Sameer... ", she tried to show anger but the crimson on her cheeks told another story.

Naina placed the books on table, trying her best to study and make him also pay attention to the new topics... but Sameer seemed totally out of focus today. Finally, she gave up, " Theek hai, aaj nahi padna tumhe to main jaa rahi hun apne room mein", she packed the books in her bag.

Sameer placed his head on the table, a smile on his lips... eyeing her with longing... as she walked away.

He could not wait till the evening... and went to sit under the tree immediately after lunch. Naina had shaken his senses today... again. She could look hot and innocent at the same time... like she did today. He sat lost in dreamland, desperately waiting for her. The wait was agonising.

Finally, after ages, Naina appeared. His eyes got stuck on her again. She sat down folding her legs under her, conscious about her dress.

"Achcha ye batao, aaj tumhe padhna kyon nahi hai? Pata hai na exams aane wale hain? Aise hi time pass karoge to marks kaise aayenge? " She chided him like a child.

He loved it when she showed concern, "Bas aaj hi to nahi padha na, ek din se kuch nahi hoga", he also went into child mode... but not for long.

He moved a bit and took off her clutcher, making the hair spill on her face and shoulders.

Naina touched her hair in shock, " Yeh kya kiya? Baal kyon khole?"

"Mujhe tumhare baal aise achche lagte hain... lehrate hue", he whispered.

Her hands reached up to tie her hair in a bun, while she tried to look annoyed... but Sameer held her hand.

" Mat bandho na, please ", he pleaded and she melted.

" Waise ye itni se... umm... sunder dress tum laayi kab? " He controlled himself as something inappropriate almost rolled off his tongue.

Naina was happy that he loved her dress so much, "Yeh Preeti layi thi... usse bohot pasand aayi... mujhe bhi achchi lagi... par laga thodi short hai... par Preeti ne kaha yahan konsa taiji dekhne wali hain... pehen sakti hun... aur kaha jijaji dekhenge to lattu... "

She looked at him sharply as he watched in amusement. Naina groaned and hid her face in hands.

Few moments later, she looked up,
"Sorry Sameer, main kya karu... ek baar bolne lagti hun toh bhool jaati hun kahan rukna hai... tum sochoge main kitni pagal hun... faltu bakbak karti rehti hun... please, tum mujhse naraz mat hona... main koshish karungi chup rehne ki... "

Sameer shifted and sat in front of her, "Naina tumhe sorry bolne ki zaroorat nahi hai... mujhe tumhara bolna bohot achcha lagta hai... tumhari baatein tumhare jaisi hain... masoom aur pyaari... janti ho, meri zindagi ka sannata tumhari issi bakbak se door hua hai... jab tum paas nahi hoti tab bhi main bas yehi baatein yaad karke khush ho jaata hun... naraz to kabhi ho hi nahi sakta... na tumhari baaton se... aur na tumse. "

She smiled in relief.

He leaned more, coming close to her ears, and said softly, "Saaliji theek keh rahi thi... lattu to main ho gaya. "

Red colour was at work again.

Sameer looked at her downcast eyes for a few moments, then shifting back to his place, complained, "Mujhe tumse ek shikaayat hai? "

Naina looked at him, joining her eyebrows, "Shikaayat? Woh kya? "

"Tum iss pedh ko mujhse zyaada pyaar karti ho? " He pouted.

She looked up at the tree, then him, "Kya bol rahe ho? Theek se bolo na."

"Aur kya... isse to tumne kiss de diya... mujhe abhi tak nahi mila", Sameer tried his luck.

Naina turned beetroot red, remembering her flying kiss to the tree the other night.

" Tum... tumhe kai... kaise pata?" She stammered.

"Maine dekha... main yahin tha... tumhari yaad aa rahi thi. "

Naina decided it was time to leave. She moved but Sameer was swift... he held her hand again.

"Bolo na... mujhe kab milega? "

"Shaadi ke baad", she said shyly, jerking his hand, and ran away.

Sameer scrunched his nose as his eyes followed her... with a hand on his heart. This girl gave him shocks daily.

Days turned into months and the time of exams neared. Naina restricted their time of romance, forcing Sameer to study more. She started carrying books to their spot as well... to Sameer's horror. But he could not say no to her... so they continued to spend most of their time with the books.

However, nothing could keep Sameer Maheshwari away from romance. He was able to steal a few moments from their strict routine to romance his girl. Naina, though showed annoyance on face, she too loved these moments. Sameer always managed to make her feel beautiful... and loved.

They both were well prepared for the exams and the papers went well. After each paper, they discussed the answers and Naina was contented that Sameer was making genuine effort. Sameer was happy to see Naina happy.

After a gruelling month, exams got over and there was a sense of freedom all around. Those staying in the hostel prepared to go home... to enjoy the two months break.

When Sameer met Naina at their spot that evening, he was sad. Not being able to meet her for two months was something unbearable for him.

" Main nahi reh paunga tumse mile bina, Naina, " his voice choked.

Naina was upset too. She had become so used to being with him that the thought of not seeing him every morning, not spending the evening with him, not hearing his voice... it was making her heart heavy.

They stood holding hands, looking into each other's eyes.

And then, suddenly Naina's eyes brightened.

"Sameer hum Ahmedabad mein mil lenge... roz na sahi par mil to sakte hain... market mein, mandir mein, law garden mein ya phir wahan ki library mein".

A wave of relief spread on Sameer's face, " Sach, Naina! Aisa ho sakta hai? "

She nodded.

They went back to their rooms to pack, somewhat consoled with the fact that they will be able to find out ways to meet in Ahmedabad.