They went back to the kitchen. Naina mixed the batter again and started to chop onions.

Sameer stood leaning against the platform, watching her.

The onions brought tears to her eyes which she wiped with the back of her hand.

Sameer was shocked, "Naina, tum ro kyon rahi ho?" Reaching her in long strides, he cupped her chin, turning her face towards himself.

She smiled amidst the tears, "Ro nahi rahi,  buddhu, pyaaz katne se toh aansu aatein hi hain."

"To tum aaj ke baad kabhi pyaaz nahi katogi", he snatched the knife from her.

Naina laughed, " Pyaaz ke bina khana kaise banega... yeh toh har cheez mein padti hai".

He thought for a while, "Theek hai, main kaat dunga... par tumhare aansu nahi dekh sakta."

"Aur tumhare aansu main dekh paungi kya?" She looked into his eyes.

He saw his face in her brown eyes and forgot everything.

"Aaj pakode milenge bhi ya nahi", Preeti's voice brought them back to their surroundings.

"Nahi... agar pyaaz katne se Naina ki aankhon mein aansu aate hain toh pakode nahi milenge", Sameer looked at his saaliji, showing no embarrassment.

Naina, however, lowered her eyes, fidgeting with the kitchen napkin.

Preeti wrapped her hands around her sister's shoulders, " Behen, ab jijaji ne pyaaz pe pabandi laga di hai toh aloo ke hi bana de."

Sameer stared at the hands wound around Naina, and looked away.

Naina smiled and went to pick up potatoes to peel... unknowingly making Sameer relax.

The pakode were ready soon and they placed it on the table... along with soft drinks. The plates were empty in no time... major work done by Pandit.

Amidst laughter and teasing, the gang enjoyed till it was lunch time.

Swati did not let Naina get up to help to serve lunch, "Tune bohot kaam kar liya... ab tu baith... khana hi toh lagana hai... hum laga lenge... chalo Munna... aur Pandit tu zara bartan laane mein madad kar."

Pandit looked at Munna in surprise.

Munna sighed, getting up, "Chal bhai Pandit, yeh toh sabko kaam pe lagati hai... bhabhi ko chod diya isliye Sameer bach gaya... usse pata hai bhabhi ke bina hamara bhai yahan se hilega nahi."

As they left, Sameer looked at Naina, seated a little away from him.

"Naina, yahan aake baitho na, itni dur kyon baithi ho?" He leaned to pull her to him.

Naina shifted further away, "Woh log khana lene gaye hain... banane nahi... ek minute mein aa jayenge... toh zara hosh mein raho."

He shifted to close the distance between them... Naina, expecting him to do such a thing, got up immediately. Sameer held her hand and pulled with a jerk. She landed on his chest, her hands on his shoulders. His arm went around her waist.

Their faces were almost touching... his breath fanned her cheeks and she could feel the long fingers digging into her waist.

She fought hard to remain sane, "Sameer, please chodo, sab log aate honge."

He touched his nose to her cheeks, "Pehle promise karo ki khane ke baad mere saath baithogi."

"Par yahan sabke samne... kaise?" She protested.

His nose trailed down her neck, "Toh akele mein le chalunga tumhe."

Naina shivered, "Nahi... main baith jaungi... par abhi chod do... please."

He left her with a sigh... getting jealous of everyone today. He wished they were alone... seeing her after so long had ignited a new fire in him... he wanted her all to himself.

Munna Pandit walked in with some plates and bowls. Swati and Preeti followed them, holding some more dishes. They placed everything on the table.

"Chalo shuru karein", Pandit rubbed his hands, pulling a chair. Munna sat next to him and Swati took the chair next to Munna.

On the opposite side, Naina picked the corner chair. Before Sameer could sit with her, Preeti, out of habit, settled on the chair next to Naina.

Sameer fumed.

Naina looked at him helplessly.

No one noticed the exchange except Munna. He whispered something to Swati who nodded without looking up.

"Preeti, hum pao bhaji ke liye nimbu toh lana bhool hi gaye... chal zara le aate hain." She waved at Preeti, getting up from her chair.

Preeti raised her eyebrows, "Swati, nimbu laane hain... tarbooz nahi... le aa khud... uske liye do log thodi chahiye."

"Meri ungali mein chot lag gayi thi... nimbu katungi toh jalan hogi... chal na mere saath." She came to her and pulled her hand.

Preeti got up, miffed at this disturbance.

Before Sameer could sit, Naina shifted to the center, indicating the chair she had just vacated.

He happily took seat next to her, searching for her hand under the table. But Naina was busy serving food... she put some pulao for him and pao bhaji. For herself, she just took some bhaji and one pao.

Preeti was back from kitchen. If she noticed the changed seating arrangement, she didn't say anything, settling happily next to Naina.

As they all started eating, Sameer glanced at Naina, she had both hands on table... he pursed his lips and started to eat... in a few bites, he realised that he was famished, not been able to eat well last few days. But he did not fail to notice how little Naina had on her plate.

"Yeh pulao bohot achha hai... khao", he served her two heaps, before she could stop him.

"Arre, itna thodi khaungi... Sameer, itna saara khana kaise kha sakti hun?" She protested.

"Mere hathon se", he took one spoonful to her mouth.

Naina immediately looked around, they all seemed to be concentrating on their own plates.

"Sab dekh lenge Sameer... main kha lungi", she whispered, trying to take the spoon from his hand.

"Kha le, behen, hum kuch nahi dekh rahe... iss bahane khayegi toh sahi", Preeti said, without raising her eyes from her plate.

"Haan, haan, bhabhi... humein kuch nahi dikh raha", Munna supported her.

Naina went red while Sameer grinned.

"Yahan nahi khaogi toh andar kamre mein lejakar khilana padega", he murmured, bringing his lips close to her ear.

She had no option but to open  her mouth.

Sameer made her eat a proper lunch... not bothered about the sniggering sounds from his friends.

Once the lunch was done and the table cleared, they settled back in the living room.

"Chalo ab koi achhi si picture dekhte hain... Swati, konsi leke aayi hai?" Munna turned to Swati.

She gave a guilty look to everyone, "Woh main jaa nahi paayi kal shaam ko... toh sab purani cassettes hi hain... unhi mein se kuch dekhna padega."

"Arre yaar, toh bata deti hamein... Sameer ke ghar pe do nayi cassette padi hain... woh le aate." Pandit was disappointed.

"Toh abhi le aata hun... zyada time nahi lagega." Sameer offered.

They all looked at him in surprise, it was unlike him to go out when he could be with Naina at home.

"Tu jayega? Bhabhi yahan hai aur tu bahar jaane ko taiyar ho gaya?" Munna could not keep his thoughts to himself.

Giving them a crooked smile, he ran his fingers in the silky locks, "Saath leke jaunga na... tumhari bhabhi ko."

He looked at her, offering his hand.

Naina stared at his hand, then at her friends... and back at him.

"Chalooo... ya god mein uthakar leke chalun?" He waved his hand impatiently.

She had no doubt that he would do exactly what he had said... quickly getting up, she looked back at Preeti, "Bas abhi aate hain hum."

"Koi jaldi nahi hai, behen... jijaji, aap aaram se aana...", Preeti chuckled, winking at Sameer.

Grinning, Sameer dragged a visibly red Naina outside to his car.

Still feeling embarrassed at their friends' reaction, Naina sat quietly in the car. Sameer took the driver seat and waited. She felt his gaze on her and turned to ask why he was not starting... before she could utter a word, he leaned  towards her, coming very close.

Naina stopped breathing... they were still outside Swati's house... anyone could walk out anytime.

His face was right next to her, he brought his one hand around her neck...

Naina tried to stop him, placing her hand on his arm, " Sam... Sameer, ye kya kar rahe ho?"

He looked at her innocently, "Belt laga raha hun tumhari... tum bhool gayi thi."

Hiding a smile, he pulled the belt from behind her shoulder and secured it around her waist, brushing his hand on her side as he straightened.

She gave an angry look and he instantly held one ear, pressing his lips together.

Her smile made his heart jump... and he started the car, eager to take her away from here.

They reached his house and Sameer parked the car inside main gate. Fishing out the keys from the pocket, he went ahead to open the door.

"Taala kyon laga hai? Ramdhari bhaiya nahi hain kya?" She was surprised as the door was never locked from outside.

"Nahi... woh kisi rishtedar ke yahan gaya hai... kal subah aayega", he looked over his shoulder.

Walking into the house alone with him, Naina had a strange feeling in her stomach.

He went near the cabinet to look for the new cassettes while she moved around, taking in the surroundings... she had never observed this room properly. The elegant furniture and heavy curtains gave it a royal look. Paintings of beautiful landscapes decorated the walls. She stood admiring one particular piece of art when his hands came around her.

"Pasand hai na apna ghar tumhe? Agar kuch bhi na pasand aaye toh hum usse badalwa denge... tum apne hisaab se saja lena isse."

She placed her hands on his arms around her, "Mujhe toh sab pasand hai... kuch nahi badalwana... aur pata hai sabse zyaada kya pasand hai?"

"Kya?" His hopeful voice turned heavy.

"Yeh painting... kitni sundar hai... ye samundar ka kinara aur doobta suraj... kitne achhe rang hai na iske?" She went on.

His hold became lose... and he moved away, disappointed.

Naina kept looking at the painting.

He went to the kitchen and poured a glass of water.

Draining it, he kept the glass loudly in the sink and turned.

She stood right behind.

He looked at her without any expression.

Her eyes travelled from his eyes, to the dark shadow on his jaw and moved down to his lips, where a drop of water rested precariously.

Lifting her finger, she wiped it, looking back into his eyes.

The black eyes became darker in a moment... he grabbed her waist, pulling her close, "Mera number painting ke baad aata hai?"

She shook her head, "Tumse pehle toh kuch bhi nahi hai... main khud bhi nahi... tum mere liye sabse aage ho... sab kuch ho."

He rubbed his hand on her soft, porcelain cheek, "Sach?"

She nodded.

Bringing her hand to his face, she traced the line of his stubble.

"Tumhe achhi lag rahi hai?" He chuckled.

She continued to feel the prickly sensation, not answering.

Sameer held her palm, stopping its movement... and brought his face down... rubbing his cheek on her neck.

She gasped, closing her eyes at the heavenly feeling.

"Chubh rahi hai na?" His voice was low.

"Hmm... "

He started to move his head away... her hand came around his head, pressing it further into her neck.

He sank without resistance... tightening his hold, taking his other hand behind her to free the long hair of the band he had been wanting to pull away for so long.

Naina felt the rustle of his hard stubble against her soft skin... she moved her face to feel the same on her cheek.

He was taken by surprise... as she slowly rubbed her face on his, moving to get the same feeling on her other cheek... her lips brushed his chin... and she froze.

This time, Sameer put the pressure on her head and her lips dug into his chin...

All he had to do was bend his head a bit...