The boy seemed to be taking forever.

"Meri toh itni jaldi lag gayi fir Naina ki mehendi mein itna time kyon lag raha hai?" Sameer's irritated voice reached Rahul.

"Tere jaise ek phool aur naam thodi likhwayegi... uska toh poora design hoga... dekh Sonali ko." Rahul pointed at his soon to be bride.

Sameer looked in the direction he pointed and was shocked to see Sonali's mehendi. Her hands were covered till elbows. And her feet had the intricate pattern as well... his eyes went wide in horror as he saw the pattern going a little above her ankles.

"Itni saari kyon lagayi isne?" He looked at Rahul.

By now Rahul had understood that this was the first wedding Sameer was attending in his life...

"Uski shaadi hai isliye... dulhan ki mehendi aisi hi hoti hai." He smiled.

Sameer looked back at Sonali, then at Naina... her other hand was now in the grasp of the boy applying mehendi. He imagined the same person holding Naina's leg, bending over it like he was doing now over her hand...

No way...

He decided that it would be a girl who would come for Naina's mehendi. Or he would do it himself.

He had still accepted the tailor as she could write her measurements and give to him... but she could not draw her leg on a paper and give to a mehendi wala... no, even if she could, why would a random guy hold a drawing of Naina's leg.

He squeezed his eyes shut. It had to be a girl at their marriage. He would start looking for one right away. Munna Pandit could help him find one in Ahmedabad.

Naina was happy with the beautiful pattern adoring her hands, the curved alphabets of their names inconspicuous in one palm. Naina smiled shyly, thinking about the day when she would get his name written boldly on her hand and show it to everyone.

Sameer breathed in relief when finally Naina got up and moved to sit on the other side of Sonali.

"Naina, tune Sonali ko toh khana khila diya tha par tune nahi khaya na?" Bhabhi guessed correctly.

"Maine khaya na bhabhi... tab gayi thi khane." Naina did not mention Sameer's name, seeing the crowd around them.

"Maine wahan bas Sameer ko khate dekha... tere haath mein kuch tha hi nahi... main Sharma aunty ko leke gayi thi khaane ke liye tab dekha tha." Bhabhi gave her a deep look, coming and sitting closer to the girls.

Naina felt the colour rise on her cheeks at the thought of what else she might have seen.

Her wink confirmed that she did see what Naina was thinking.

"Main khila deti hun... woh scene toh dubaara milna abhi mushkil hai." Bhabhi smirked.

If Naina had any small doubt earlier, it was completely gone now.

"Kya hua... mujhe bhi batao na." Sonali leaned closer to Naina.

Bhabhi laughed, "Naina se hi pooch le... aisa kya hua dining area mein... kyon isne haath pe SN likhwaya hai... kyon laal laal ho rahi hai."

"Bas kijiye na, bhabhi." Naina had turned completely red.

"Yeh bhabhi bas karne walon mein se nahi hain Naina... tere aane se mujhe thoda chain mila hai warna itne dino se mere peeche padi thi." Sonali sighed.

Bhabhi pulled Sonali's cheeks, "Bas aur ek din peeche pad sakti hun tere... fir toh le jayega woh jo college mein tere peeche pad gaya tha."

"Ye lo, aa gayi meri baari," Sonali wrinkled her nose.

And all three of them laughed.

Sahil, who was passing from there, heard his sister tease Naina about the initials that she had got written on her hand. His heart jumped in delight... and the mention of dining area gave him some more misconceptions.

"Lagta hai Naina bhi pasand karne lagi hai mujhe... tabhi didi se itni sharma ke baat kar rahi thi." He thought with a shy smile.

The smaller designs on their hands let the boys enjoy more freedom as compared to the girls who had to sit at one place, holding their palms in front.

Sameer saw Naina sitting with a few girls. He wanted to talk to her but was not sure if it was okay in front of all of Sonali's cousins.

He walked up to her. Naina could sense him instantly, looking behind to see him.

Sameer indicated with his eyes for her to come.

Before Naina could reply, a girl looked at Sameer and said loudly, "Arre aap toh Sonu ke friend ho na... wahan kyon khade ho... aao thodi der humse bhi baat kar lo."

Sameer could not let the opportunity pass... he could sit  with  Naina.

He smiled and walked towards the group. But before he could sit where he wanted, another girl shifted closer to Naina and asked him to sit in the place she has vacated. Having no option Sameer settled between two girls, stealing a glance at Naina. Her lips were a thin line.

"Waise toh aap jiju ke dost ho toh aapko batana nahi chahiye par fir bhi bata dete hain... joote wapas chahiye toh pocket bhar ke paise laana... warna aise hi ghar lautna padega... hum log saste mein nahi chodenge." The girl who had called him said in a chirpy voice.

"Joote? Wapas chahiye matlab? Woh toh choti behen hi le sakti hai na... jaise Madhuri ne liye the... Hum Aapke Hain Kaun mein?" He could understand only as much as he had seen in the movie.

The girls started to laugh, confusing him further. He raised his brows at Naina... she shrugged, giving a slight twist to her lips. Sameer stared at the cute expression he was seeing for the first time.

"Hum bhi choti behne hi hain... waise aap bhi Salman jaise ho... toh yahan koi Madhuri mil sakti hai aapko." Another girl winked at him.

Sameer gulped, not used to such open flirting... he had never even talked to girls properly. The only reason to accept the invitation to sit was to continue with his resolve of being more friendly and also to be with Naina.

"Paseene toh aise aa rahe hain Salman ko jaise chori pakdi gayi ho... kyon ji, mil gayi kya koi Madhuri?" The teasing continued.

"Main... main... mujhe kuch kaam hai." Sameer started to get up to escape from Rahul's salis.

"Abhi kahan chale, abhi toh aapse bohot si baatein karni hai... baitho na." Another girl held his hand, pulling him back.

Sameer's only thought was that thankfully it was not the hand with mehendi... but one look at Naina's face confirmed that whichever hand it was, he was in trouble.

"Mujhe ghar pe kuch kaam hai." Naina said in a sharp voice, getting up and walking to the house.

The girls started to laugh, leaving him even more confused.

"Jaiye ab manaiye apni Madhuri ko," the girl who has called him initially pointed at the retreating figure.

Sameer looked in shock at her, than at others, as everyone laughed.

"Aap sabko... ka... kaise... " He stuttered.

"Kal se pata hai... Sonu ne bataya tha Bhavna ko... ussi ne humein bataya... hum toh bas aap logon ko ched rahe the... ab shaadi mein aisi masti nahi karenge toh kahan karenge?" The girl who had held his hand explained in a soft voice.

Relieved, Sameer ran after Naina, smiling about her reaction when she would come to know that the girls were knowingly teasing them.

His smile was wiped off the moment he reached the door of the house.

Sahil was standing in front of Naina. His back was towards the door but Sameer had no doubt it was him. Naina however, saw him at the door but looked away next instant, softening her expression towards the person standing in front of her.

Sahil took out a small gift from his pocket, "Main aapke liye yeh laya tha... agar aap kal pehnogi toh mujhe bohot achha lagega."

She was about to refuse when a look at Sameer reminded her of the handhold outside... and she smiled at Sahil.

"Le toh leti par kya karun, mehendi kharab ho jayegi na," she held her palms in front of him.

Sahil tries to look for SN but could not see and Naina drew back her hands next moment.

"Main aapke kamre mein rakh deta hun... mehendi toh kharab nahi kar sakte na." He offered.

Naina dipped her head in acceptance and Sahil happily went inside the room she was sharing with Sonali.

Sameer took a step inside with clenched teeth when Naina gave him a hard look and shook her head, stopping him in his tracks.

Sahil came out, grinning, "Maine table pe rakh di hain... wait karunga kal."

Naina gave a fake smile, "Ab mujhe zara kaam hai... toh aap... " She pointed towards the door.

Sameer quickly stepped behind the door as Sahil left.

Naina turned and walked to her room. She was about to close the door when Sameer held it... opening to enter and then closing it behind him.

Naina stood looking at him with defiance.

"Yeh kya tha?" He questioned.

"Kya? Sahil tha... dikha nahi kya tumhe?" She raised her brows.

"Woh tumhare saath kya kar raha tha?" His eyes narrowed.

"Aur tum kya kar rahe the neeche unn ladkiyon ka haath pakad ke?" Naina shot a question for his question.

"Kuch nahi, Naina, woh toh neeche bas baatein kar rahi thi... mazaak mein aisa kar rahi thi." He turned soft, making things clear to her.

"Toh main bhi bas baatein hi toh kar rahi thi na, Sameer... isme gussa hone wali kya baat hai?" She said in the same tone as his.

He closed the distance between them in two strides.

"Lekin woh Sahil mazak nahi kar raha Naina... woh tumhare kareeb aane ki koshish kar raha hai." His voice was serious.

"Oh! Toh koi bhi mujhse baat kare toh woh galat hai aur tum doosri ladkiyon ka haath bhi pakad lo toh mazak hai?" She was not affected by his voice.

Sameer held her waist, pulling  her against himself, "Woh shaam se aisa kar raha hai... maine pehle bhi dekha tha... aur tumhe koi aise dekhe yeh toh main hone nahi dunga."

Naina looked at the dark embers in his eyes, having no doubt that he meant every word he said.

"Tumhe kaise pata?" Her voice did not have much resistance anymore.

"Tum bhi dhyaan se dekhti toh pata chal jaata... par jab tum yeh rang pehenti ho toh shayad aas paas walon ko dekh  nahi paati." His voice turned heavy, hands moving to reach her back as he pulled her closer.

"Kaise dekhun... tum jo hote ho samne... tumse nazar hat ti hi nahi." She whispered, taking him by surprise.

His eyes roamed over her face, her innocent charm shining through the makeup, making her look more alluring... her eyes, lined to perfection, were more deep... her lips, his eyes could not move away...

"Naina, subah tumne apni lipstick ka nishan choda tha mujhpe woh main saath nahi le ja paaya... abhi ek aur de do jo main sambhal ke rakh lun." He kept his gaze fixed on her lips.

"Abhi bhi toh sabke saath hi jaoge... kaise doon... dikh jayega." She said in a soft voice.

His hand moved and Naina turned her face, ready to kiss on his hand... her own covered with mehendi so she could not hold him.

Sameer did not offer his hand. He opened the top button of his shirt and pulled it to one side, along with the jacket.

"Dil pe chahiye yeh rang," he kept one hand around her waist, knowing that she would step back the moment he did this.

Naina gulped, her heart threatening to jump out of her mouth... her lips just a few inches away from his heart.

"Please," his hoarse voice made her tremble.

"Sameer... yeh... " She tried to speak but words failed her.

"Naina, please," he tightened his hand around her.

Her eyes slowly drifted down to his chest... her lips quivered, not able to cover the distance.

His hand moved behind her head, applying a little pressure.

Naina closed her eyes... gathering courage to do it for him.

The shrill sound of phone made her jerk and her lips touched his skin.

Naina stared at the lipstick mark with wide eyes and looked up at him... he smirked, winking.

She turned to pick up the phone, hiding her burning cheeks from him.

"Hello... wrong number."

"Lekin mere liye toh bohot sahi number tha." He whispered behind her as she placed the phone back on stand.

"Tum bohot bure ho." She grumbled, turning towards him.

"Aur tum unromantic," he teased.

"Achha, main unromantic... woh saara plan unn ladkiyon ke saath maine hi banaya tha... tumhe upar laane ke liye... jaane se pehle ek baar milna jo tha." Her wink nearly gave him a heart attack.

"Tum... tum acting kar rahi thi gussa hone ki?" His shock was evident from his wide eyes.

Naina nodded, chuckling.

"Woh toh Sahil peeche aa gaya warna..." She left the sentence in the middle.

He narrowed his eyes, "Warna..."

"Warna thoda aur gussa dikhati tumhe... par usko dekhke tum khud hi gussa ho gaye." She sighed.

Sameer was reminded of Sahil's efforts to gain her attention, "Naina, main sach keh raha hun... yeh Sahil kuch zyada hi tumhare paas aane ki koshish kar raha hai... kaho toh main samjha dun... apne tareeke se?"

"Jee nahi... yahan tum kuch nahi karoge... Sameer, yahan shaadi mein kuch ladai jhagda nahi hona chahiye... main Sahil se door hi rahungi... bas tum bhi door rehna." She pleaded.

He nodded, though not very happy.

"Chalo, ab neeche chalein... jaane ka time ho raha hai." She held his hand as her mehendi had dried up. Feeling something she lifted his palm to see the small flower along with the letters of their names.

"Sameer, yeh tumne... kab," she was amazed.

"Kyon, tum mera naam apne haathon pe likhaa sakti ho toh main bhi likhaa sakta hun... aur maine NS likhwaya hai... kyonki meri Naina ka naam mujhse pehle aayega hamesha." He smiled.

She looked at his hand, standing in front of him, "Jahan tum ho wahan se tumhe NS dikh raha hai... par jahan main hun, wahan se yeh SN hai... hum dono ko wohi dikh raha hai jo hum dekhna chahte hain."

He looked at his hand in wonder, realizing that she was right.