Naina sat on the bed, looking down at the bandaged ankle. Her gaze moved up to the part where Sameer had touched her. She wondered why she got such a shock. She was used to his touch. But somehow, it felt different today.

Naina shivered at the memory... she lightly moved one hand over her leg... imagining his fingers resting on her skin... the thought itself gave her jitters.

In the evening, the pain was little better, but she was still limping. Sameer was right, walking to the tree, over the stony path would have been an ardous task. She would have still gone if Sameer had not insisted on coming here later.

Shalu, the girl living in the next room, brought her dinner to the room. Naina thanked her before closing the door properly. She didn't want any risk when Sameer was here.

The familiar thud came soon after dinner. The balcony door was already open. He walked in, dusting his hands.

She had changed into her pink kurta with patiala.

Sameer looked at her ankle, still bandaged.

"Abhi bhi dard ho raha hai?" He sat at the foot of her bed.

She shook her head.

"Main ispe dawa laga deta hun... kahan rakhi hai?" He got up to go to the table.

"Main laga lungi... tum rehne do." She quickly said, not ready for the shock again.

He looked at her, the lines on her forehead telling him the reason for denial.

Smiling, he went to the table and picked up the ointment given by the medical assistant. Coming back, he sat at the same place.

"Sameer, maine kaha na main laga lungi." Her voice had already started to waver.

"Shhh, " he kept a finger on his lips, asking her to be quiet.

Slowly, he started removing the bandage. As each layer was peeled off, his fingers reached closer to her skin... Naina waited with her breath quickening every moment. The bandage came off finally. He kept it aside and held her foot, looking closely at the ankle. Her toes curled at the ticklish feeling where his fingers touched the underfoot.

After looking at it for some time, Sameer took the tube of ointment and squeezed out a bit on his finger. He started to rub it lightly on her ankle. To prevent the ointment smearing on the edge of her salwar, he pushed it up slightly.

"Sam... Sameer... " Naina managed to speak up.

He stopped, looking up at her, "Naina, yaad hai jab pichle saal mujhe bukhar hua tha... tumne woh sab kiya jo uss samay zaroori tha... tab tumhe woh karna galat laga tha?"

She gulped, shaking her head slightly.

"Tab agar main kehta ki mere itne kareeb mat aao toh kya tum manti?" He questioned.

She shook her head again.

His voice dropped a few decibels, "Uss samay mujhe chune ke baare mein socha ya mujhe theek karne ke baare mein?"

"Tumhe theek dekhna tha." Her voice matched his.

"Main bhi tumhe theek dekhna chahta hun, " his voice, that was calm till now, suddenly turned hoarse, "aur yeh mauka toh main bilkul nahi chod sakta."

She bit her lip, unable to speak.

He shifted to keep her ankle in his lap, holding the leg where he had held it in the library, slowly rubbing the ointment.

Suddenly, he gave a hard twist to her ankle, making Naina scream out.

He grinned, as she gave him a shocked, murderous look.

"Ab hila ke dekho... dard gayab!" He said without moving.

Naina jerked ahead, looking at her foot. She moved it cautiously, feeling no pain... even rotating it completely did not bring any discomfort.

She clasped her hands on the mouth, eyes going wide in delight and surprise.

Sameer watched her changing reactions, enjoying the astonished expression.

"Tumne yeh kaise kiya?" She was in total awe.

He leaned closer, placing a finger under her chin, "Tumhare har dard ki dawa hai mere paas, jaaneman."

Her heartbeat accelerated and breathing stopped... both at the same time. Her eyes lowered... and fell on her leg, still in his lap. She tried to pull it back but he held onto it. Naina started to feel the heat from his fingers seep through her skin, going into her veins. He was sitting at the foot of the bed, but when she had moved ahead to check her foot, the distance between them reduced. And now she felt his breath on her face.

She kept her hands on sides, in an attempt to push herself back... his hand came around her waist, stopping any movement.

"Sameer... please... " Her voice quivered.

"Doctor ko fees deni hoti hai." He rubbed his thumb against her leg.

"Tum chodo pehle." Her eyes were on his moving thumb.

"Pehle meri fees." His hand around her waist tightened, pulling her more, as her knees folded.

She held the wrist of his hand on her leg, "Jaane do na."

He let his hand slip slowly down to her foot, letting her move the leg away from his lap. As they sat side by side now, Sameer pulled her more close, looking down at the shy face.

"Ab toh de do." He whispered against her hair.

Before Naina could say anything, a loud knock on the door made both of them jump.

"Abhi kaun hoga?" Naina was in panic.

He kept a finger on her lips.

She looked at him. He gestured to remain quiet. Then he got up and walked out stealthily to the balcony, closing the door behind him.

With her heart thumping wildly, Naina opened the door a crack.

"Woh khaali bartan de do." The ayah demanded.

Naina quickly walked to the table, picked up the empty dishes and handed them to the lady.

"Abhi tabiyat theek nahi hai tumhari, chehra ekdum safed ho rakha hai... darwaza band karlo aur aaram karo." She gave motherly advice before leaving.

Naina quickly shut the door, heaving a sigh of relief. Then she ran out to the balcony, hoping Sameer had not already left.

He was crouching under the window. Seeing her smile, he realised all was well. He walked back in after Naina.

This time, Naina sat on the chair.

After closing the balcony door, he stood leaning against it, hands crossed against his chest.

"Toh?" He raised his eyebrows.

"Toh yeh batao ki tumne yeh kaise kiya... tumhe kaise aata hai yeh sab?" She said, rotating her foot again.

He smiled, "Hostel mein seekha tha ek bar... scout camp mein... wahan kisi ka pair aise mud gaya tha... tab guide ne bataya kya karte hain."

"Aur tumhe aa bhi gaya? Aise ek baar batane se?" She was surprised.

"Camp mein bohot baar gaya tha... wahan bhi kiya tha maine... isliye tumhare saath kiya... tumhe kya lagta hai, mujhe nahi aata hota toh main tumhare saath itna bada risk leta?" He questioned.

"Haan pata hai risk nahi lete, langdi ho jaati toh tumhe hi mushkil hoti." She teased.

He slowly started walking towards her, "Kya mushkil? Main saari zindagi tumhe god mein utha ke ghum sakta hun."

Naina guessed his intentions as he inched closer.

"Nahi Sameer, main theek hun na... khud chal sakti hun... toh fir kyon faltu mein bojh uthana hai." She pushed her chair back.

"Bojh? Tumme bojh hai hi kahan? Tumhe utha ke lagta hi nahi kuch utha bhi rakha hai." He came to stand next to her.

"Isiliye jab main pehli baar behosh hui thi tab mujhe leke seedhiyan chad gaye the?" Her voice turned soft.

His eyes instantly filled with pain at the memory. He had almost fainted himself, seeing her lying flat in front of the classroom.

"Agar tum sau kilo ki bhi hoti toh bhi leke aise hi bhagta... uss din meri jaan  nikal gayi thi tumhe behosh dekh ke." His voice trembled.

At that time, his only thought was that Naina was in trouble because of him... his feelings for her combined with his proximity had started showing its effect. In spite of all this going on in his mind, his body had felt her softness, her almost weightless form in his arms was his ultimate dream come true. He had himself thought so many times how it would be to touch her, to go close to her, to feel her fragrance surround him. And he had got his wish in an instant. Only, he was terrified at that time. How many times he had relived those moments in his mind after that day... crushing a pillow against his chest, thinking that Naina could never ever be in the place of that pillow.

Seeing him lost in the memories, Naina got up... standing in front of him, she held his hand, "Aur mujhe pata bhi nahi chala ki jis dil mein main apna naam likhna chahti thi uski dhadkan mere kaanon ke kareeb thi."

He cupped her face, "Uss dil pe toh hamesha se tumhara hi naam likha tha Naina, aur hamesha likha rahega."

Pulling his hands down, she tried to lighten his mood, "Pata hai, baad mein jab mujhe maloom hua ki woh tum the jisne mujhe apni baahon mein uthaya tha toh bohot gussa aaya tha."

He gave her a shocked look, "Gussa aaya tha ki maine tumhe god mein uthaya?"

She smiled, "Nahi buddhu, gussa aaya tha ki tumne god mein uthaya aur main mehsoos bhi nahi kar paayi... tumhe choone ka ehsaas hi nahi le paayi... tumhari baahon mein thi aur tumhari khushbu pata hi nahi chali."

His eyes got back the glint, "Toh ab kar lo yeh sab, maine kab roka hai?"

She placed one hand on his heart, "Kar toh liya... tumhara ahsaas, tumhari khusbu, tumhare dil ki dhadkan... sab pata hai mujhe."

"Toh darti kyon ho?" He played with a lock of her open hair.

"Darti nahi hun... tumse kyon darungi?" She joined her brows.

"Darti ho Naina... jab main kareeb aata hun toh tum bhaag jaana kyon chahti ho?" He asked.

She gulped, her heart pounding again.

He closed his arms around her, keeping her pinned to himself, lest she runs away again.

"Tumhe jaana nahi hai? Der ho rahi hai." She mumbled.

"Dekha... fir se bhaga rahi ho... abhi toh tumhe theek se dekha tak nahi hai Naina." He nestled his face in her neck.

Her arms went around his back, feeling the heated skin through the fabric of his shirt. She could hear his heart hammering against her ear, her own giving it tough competition.

Moving slowly towards her face, he whispered, "Fees baaki hai abhi."

Realising what he meant, Naina tried to move out of his hold. Sameer felt her resistance and raised his head.

"Kya hua, Naina?" He was perplexed.

"Umm, tumhari fees udhar rahi... " She tried to say lightly, not letting her raging emotions show.

He frowned, "Par aaj kyon nahi?"

She fidgeted, wriggling out of his hold, "Woh... aaj... aaj mujhe achha nahi lag raha?"

"Kya achha nahi lag raha? Mera kareeb aana... mera yahan aana... ya main?" He said softly.

"Offo, main nahayi nahi hun shaam ko, aur brush bhi nahi kiya khana kha ke... pair mein lagi thi na... isliye bathroom tak jaa nahi paayi... main nahi chahti tum aise mein... matlab main... main... " She blurted out but could not complete her sentence.

He could not help but laugh.

"Tum hans rahe ho mujhpe?" She was embarrassed.

"Pagal ladki... idhar aao." He pulled her close.

"Yaad hai ek baar main paseene mein bheega hua aaya tha aur tumne kaha tha main tumhe har haal mein achha lagta hun... aise hi tum bhi mujhe har pal achhi lagti ho... aur yeh bahana chalega nahi."

He claimed her mouth before she could protest again.

Later, in his room he laughed again, thinking about her hesitation.