He moved an inch and lightly kissed the side of her mouth. Naina turned her face, a tight knot forming in her stomach. His hands on her belly were making the skin burn with a feverish pitch. She wanted to get away and breathe... she also wanted to turn and mould herself into him.

Sameer nestled his face in her neck, feeling that more skin was exposed today, as compared to her other dresses. He remembered her white kurta that she always wore to bed in the hostel... that too had a broad neck, but she covered it with a dupatta. Bringing one of his hand up, he lightly traced the neckline, stopping abruptly a couple of inches below her collarbone... it was indeed going down further.

His heart started hammering uncontrollably.

"Naina... tumhara dupatta... " he managed somehow.

She flung one hand to her neck, alarmed. The anxiety of sneaking up to the terrace to meet Sameer had made her forget the dupatta... even Preeti did not notice... maybe because at home they always stayed without one.

"Sam... Sameer... main jaati hun", she tried to free herself from his hold, conscious of her state.

He tightened his hold, "Uh... huh... itni si baat ke liye mujhe akela chod ke jaogi?"

Naina nervously moved her shoulders, trying to get him move his face.

"Please, Naina, ek dupatta hi toh hai... aur yahan sirf main hun... mujhse kya sharmana", he nuzzled deeper into her neck.

"Sameer, main pehle kabhi aise bahar nahi nikli... ye sone wala kurta hai... iska toh... " She had gone completely red.

He left her, straightening up, "Achha ruko".

He started to open the buttons of his shirt.

Naina turned to see what he was doing...

Horrified at the scene in front, she held his hands, which already had opened top two buttons and were nearing the third one down his chest.

"Kya kar rahe ho? Dimag toh theek hai tumhara?" She said in a shaky voice.

Sameer looked up at her with innocent eyes, "Main apni shirt de deta hun tumhe... ye pehen lo... fir toh ruk sakti ho na?"

"Aur tum?" She questioned.

"Mujhe tumhare samne aise khade rehne se koi problem nahi hai", he winked.

Naina felt she would melt into a puddle.

She had no idea when his hands moved away from his shirt and came around her.

Feeling her hand burn, she realised that her fingers were resting on his bare skin, holding onto the open shirt. She was unable to stop her gaze from moving slowly up from her hand, taking in the gleaming skin...

He saw her brown eyes shining with golden sparks as she let her eyes travel across his chest, moving up to his neck.

His own heart was ready to jump out...

His hand came to hold hers, slowly flattening her palm... and then he placed it on his chest, where the seams of shirt parted to reveal his skin.

There was a sharp intake of breath... whether it belonged to one or both, they didn't come to know.

Naina did not remove her hand even after the pressure of his palm was gone... she felt the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest as his heartbeat went crazy... her own could not be felt... probably her heart had stopped beating.

She clutched his shirt with other hand, for support... as her legs turned to jelly.

Sameer held her safe, his large palm flat on her back as other hand moved to her face, stroking the soft cheek with his fingers.

Naina started to slide her hand up, not breaking the contact with his skin... he gasped.

She was testing his control...

When her hand reached his neck, she pulled the open sides of his shirt together and  closed the button, moving down to close the second one too.

Her forehead came to rest on his chest, as she tried to control her breathing.

"Tumhe aise khade rehne se problem nahi hogi par mujhe bohot problem hai... meri sansein ruk jaati hain." She murmured against his chest.

Sameer felt a shiver run down his entire body... her voice was laced with passion.

He cupped her chin and made her look up at him.

The brown eyes shone with unbridled desire... there was no confusion... no question...

He was not sure what he was seeing and what to make out of it...

"Sameer", her voice was a low whisper.

"Hmm... " He was still lost.

"Chalein?" She rubbed the back of her fingers on his jaw.

He found the touch electrifying.

His girl was a seductress... he wasn't sure knowingly or unknowingly.

He pulled her more into himself, "Ruko na".

"Kyon?" Her hand continued the assault on him.

"Kyonki tumse alag hone ka man nahi kar raha." He touched his forehead with hers.

"Alag kahan ho rahe hain... hum toh saath hain hamesha... bus abhi apne apne ghar jaana padega." She whispered, moving back to look at him.

He pouted, shaking his head and nuzzled his face in her hair.

"Main aaj nahi jaane dunga", he murmured, taking in her fragrance.

"Nahi Sameer, Preeti intezaar kar rahi hai, darwaza kholne ke liye... kisi ko pata chala toh bohot bada hungama ho jayega." She tried to move out of his grip.

With a deep groan, he straightened, "Theek hai... par kal milna padega."

She nodded.

"Abhi main jaati hun... tum paanch minute ke baad utarna... aur bohot dhyaan se jaana... koi dekh na le", She instructed.

He dipped his head sideways.

Naina went to the door, stopped and looked back at him.

His eyes were fixed on her.

Blowing him a kiss, she ran down the stairs.

Sameer stood transfixed... how could she make him blush with a simple flying kiss... he weaved his long fingers through the locks falling on his forehead and waited for a few minutes before going down the stairs cautiously.

Naina gave two soft knocks on the door. A faint sound came from inside and she could hear two light taps before the door opened. Relieved, she entered and latched the door from inside.

She turned around to thank her sister but she was already gone. Naina reached her room to see Preeti in bed, in deep sleep.

Smiling, she went out to the balcony, waiting for Sameer. He walked out of the gate a few minutes later. Looking up, he found her waiting.

This time, he blew a kiss and she gave a shy smile.

She stood watching till Sameer left on his bike.

When she laid back in bed, sleep was nowhere close. Her mind was buzzing with whatever happened on the terrace... she had started to feel the tightness in her stomach more often... the feeling of her blood heating up in the veins was more pronounced. She could not believe she had stared at his bare chest unabashedly.

Naina turned to hide her face in the pillow... what was happening to her... she was getting affected by his closeness more and more. Just thinking about it, a strange hollow feeling settled in her belly.

Sameer reached home and found his two friends already asleep. Changing into the night suit, he made space for himself by shifting Pandit to the center. He knew sleep won't be easy tonight either.

Naina always shocked him with something or the other. Right from the school days... he was amazed how this simple girl wore her heart on the sleeve for him... and she never said a word to him for two years... in Mumbai, she happily accepted to be his friend, how could she take him just as a friend when she loved him... she never showed her pain... and when he showed his, she accepted him with open arms, without questions.

Not only her behaviour, she surprised him with her appearance also...

Whether it was her saree on that rainy day... or her elaborate dress for freshers party... the jeans she wore for his birthday... her gloss for award function... the list was endless.

And now she was giving him shocks every time he met her. She was becoming more comfortable with the closeness they shared. He had started to see the fire in her eyes... she was burning too...

He didn't know when he drifted off to sleep.

The much awaited phone call came next morning.

Munna picked up the phone as Sameer was still asleep.

"Sameer se baat karao", Vishakha said dryly, not showing any recognition.

Munna smiled into the phone, "Mausi, namaste, main Munna... kaisi hain aap?"

"Sameer nahi hai kya?" She did not acknowledge his greeting.

"Sameer so raha hai... abhi utha deta hun", Munna said quickly.

"Jaldi uthao... mere paas zyada time nahi hai", Vishakha was irritated.

Munna ran to wake up Sameer.

"Bhai, jaldi uth... Vishakha mausi ka phone aaya hai", shaking him, Munna said in a low, urgent voice.

Sameer had spent major part of the night lost in thoughts of Naina. And now he was dreaming about her. Munna's words had no effect on him.

"Sameer... Sameer... uth jaa bhai... do din se jiska intezaar kar rahe the woh phone aaya hai toh tu so raha hai", Munna shook him vigorously.

"Naina... sone do naa... raat ko toh jaga ke rakha... ab bhi sone nahi de rahi", Sameer muttered, turning to the other side.

Munna looked at Sameer, shocked. Then he picked up the jug of water and poured half of it on him.

Sameer got up with a start... totally disoriented.

"Bhabhi ke sapne dekhna band kar... Vishakha mausi ka phone hai... kabse hold pe hai... baat kar", Munna handed over the cordless to Sameer.

"Hello"

"Kitni der tak sote ho, Sameer... time ka koi hosh hai bhi ya nahi... main kabse wait kar rahi hun." Her patience was already gone.

"Kahiye", he was alert now.

Vishakha went on with whatever she had to say... Sameer listened without a word.

Munna handed him a towel to wipe his face and hair which were dripping till now.

Sameer disconnected the phone after five minutes.

"Kya hua", Munna was dying of curiosity.

Sameer did not have any expression on his face. He stood wiping himself, without a word.

Munna waited for a few moments, then ran to the door, shouting from the doorway, "Pandit, jaldi aa phone aa gaya."

Pandit, who was busy scouting for something to eat before breakfast, forgot everything and ran back to the room.

"Ab bata... ab hum dono hain", Munna looked at him impatiently.

Sameer took a deep breath, "Unhone kaha hai woh ladki aaj phone karegi, mujhe usse baat karni hogi."

The two boys looked at him with open mouth.

"Unhone yeh baat kahi aur tu chup chaap sunta raha... na gussa kiya na koi jawab diya... bhai... tu theek toh hai na" Pandit was amazed at Sameer's reaction.

"Sach kahun toh mujhe gussa aaya hi nahi... bas Naina ka chehra samne aaya aur mujhe unki baaton se koi fark nahi pada... ab jab phone aayega toh main uss ladki se bhi saaf saaf keh dunga." Sameer was calm.

Happy Raksha Bandhan to all my readers.
I'll not be able to give any updates tomorrow.
Please accept my apologies.
Will be back with the morning update on Friday.
Love you all.