As the exam date drew closer, the environment in the college changed from fun to serious... every corner and every bench had students pouring over their books and notes.

Naina had put strict restrictions on Sameer... no studies during the day meant no meeting in the evening. He could never think of giving up the evening session... so he diverted all his attention to studies during the day.

She was aware of what motivated him... and promised a big gift if he surpassed his last year's result.

Half of his day went by, thinking what a big gift could mean... would it be a material thing... he hoped not. Other thoughts coming to his mind made him blush... he looked around to  check if anyone was watching him.... but their table in the library had the cover of book cabinets.

"Tum phir kho gaye... aise hi baithe rahoge toh ho gayi padhai aur aa gaye marks",  she reprimanded him.

Coming back from his world of various scenarios of receiving a gift from Naina pictured before him, he looked back at the books with a new interest.

Naina was pleasantly surprised at his increased attention span and more interest in studies.

One day, while sitting together at their spot, Sameer asked her about a concept he was finding difficult to grasp. It was something unlike him... he had always valued this time at this place and when a few times she had  tried to bring up the topic of studies here, he would stop her... saying that this short period belonged only to them.

Clearing his doubts on the topic, Naina gave him a look of pride, "Sameer, mujhe bohot achcha lag raha hai yeh dekhke ki tum apni padhai ke liye itne serious ho".

" Result lana hai na mujhe",  he leaned a bit.

Naina smiled at his dedication, "Haan, achche result se kitni khushi hoti hai... khud ko bhi aur baaki sabko bhi."

Sameer smiled back.

He could not tell her that he was not bothered about the result... but the end result.

Exams were a cake walk for him. All those studying sessions had made it possible for him to feel that he was closer to his goal.

On the day of their last exam, Naina waited for Sameer in the corridor.

He had been writing till the last minute. As the bell rang and students were asked to put their pens down and leave, he took a deep breath of relief and ran out.

Seeing her standing at the end of pasaage, swaying a little, chewing the end of pen she was holding, he stopped in his tracks... she looked breathtakingly beautiful in a yellow skirt and white top. She had pulled her long pony in front and it rested on her shoulder.

Sameer slowly walked to her... drinking in the sight.

"Arre, aa gaye tum? Kaisa hua paper?" Naina enthusiastically asked, the moment she saw him.

"Bilkul tumhare jaisa... ekdum top class",  his wide grin showed his confidence.

Naina was elated. She was not much worried about him. He had been working hard and whenever they discussed any topic, he showed his understanding of it completely.

They discussed the paper for a while and went back to their room, looking forward to the evening.

Sameer was too excited to sit... he kept pacing in his room... wondering why the results had to take an awfully long time of two months to be declared. Why they could not get them in a week's time, like school.

School brought back the thought of Naina in school... he cursed himself for not talking to her then. How much of precious time got wasted. He could have known her for four years now, rather than two... they would have had so many memories... he kicked the bed... hurting his foot... wincing in pain... telling himself that he deserved it for losing out on love filled moments with her.

There was still some pain when he reached the ground to meet her... but as he saw her standing there with her back against the tree, hands crossed, eyes closed... he forgot everything.

Sensing his presence, Naina opened her eyes... and got lost in him. He stood with his hands in pocket, head tilted and a beautiful smile... with a gust of wind, his hair fell on his forehead... and she wanted to go and fix it. It had been many days since she had restricted his romancing and now she was missing his warmth.

Eager to reduce the distance between them... Sameer quickly took a step forward and shuddered.

Naina was near him in an instant, " Kya hua, Sameer?  Tumhe lag gayi kya? Kaise? Kahan? Dikhao".

Sameer held her by shoulders, "Kuch nahi hua, Naina... bas halki si lag gayi thi bed se... mujhe dhyaan nahi raha aur uspe zor de diya."

Her eyes filled up, "Halki si chot bhi toh dukhti hai na... dikhao mujhe kahan lagi hai."

She helped him walk down till the tree and sit... not listening to his reasoning that he had walked down all the way till here on his own.

As he took off his shoe and socks, Naina saw that his toe was red and  slightly swollen.

"Rumaal do", she ordered, without looking up.

He gave his handkerchief.

Keeping it against her mouth, she blew hot air in it and kept it on his toe... covering from all sides. She kept her palms around it to keep it warm. After a few moments, she removed it and blew on his foot.

Once... twice... thrice... he could take it no more.

" Bas... aur nahi",  he said in a restricted voice.

Naina looked up. He had closed his eyes.

He folded his foot and looked at her.

"Ab theek lag raha hai?" Naina was still concerned.

He nodded.

Now her attention was drawn to the reason for his injury, "Tum dekh kar nahi chal sakte kya... itna bada bed nahi dikhayi diya... kya... kar kya rahe the... ab toh padhai bhi khatam ho gayi... toh phir khoye kahan hue the..."

He held one ear and pouted, "Ek toh maine tumhare kehne pe itni padhai ki... achche paper diye... aur tum daant rahi ho."

Her heart melted in an instant.

"Achcha sorry, ab kuch nahi kahungi",  she smiled and sat down next to him, holding his hand.

" Aise nahi", he gestured at their hands.

When she raised her brows in question, he spread his arms.

Naina shifted closer and rested her head in the crook of his arm.

"Achcha hai exams saal mein ek hi baar hote hain... warna toh tumhara curfew mujhe pagal kar deta",  he teased her.

She laughed, "Iss curfew ki wajah se hi tum padhte ho."

They sat for sometime when Naina suddenly straightened, "Sameer, tumhari Ahmedabad ki ticket kabki hai?"

He sighed, "Kal sham ki... tum bhi kal jaa rahi ho na?"

Her face fell, "Nahi, Arjun bhaiya ka phone aaya tha... woh kal nahi aa sakte... parson aayenge... isiliye unhone ticket bhi parson ki li hai."

Sameer wanted to kick himself for being planned. He always bought his tickets on the last day, after reaching the station. This time, he decided to book in advance so that he could travel by the same train as her. And his planning failed.

"Kya Naina, tumne pehle kyon nahi bataya? Main bhi ruk jaata", he could not bear the thought of leaving her behind... even for a day.

" Mujhe kal hi phone aaya Arjun bhaiya ka... kab batati", she was equally upset.

"Yeh saala bhi na", Sameer muttered.

Naina glared at him.

" Kya... saala hi toh hai... shaadi ke baad tumhara bhai mera saala hoga na",  he winked, bringing colour to her cheeks.

Suddenly he thought of something, "Naina, kal bahar chalein? Din mein toh kuch karne ko hai nahi... chalo bike pe ghoomne chalenge."

"Par tumhare paair mein toh chot lagi hai", Naina could not cause him any discomfort.

" Arre, yeh kuch nahi hai... aur ab tumne theek kar diya na... kal tak toh bilkul fit hoga",  he grinned.

"Theek hai, subah dus baje."

When they started to leave after a while, Sameer called out, "Naina suno, kal woh pink top pehnogi?  Jo mere birthday pe pehna tha"

Naina shook her head.

"Kyon?" He frowned, she rarely said no to such demands.

She lowered her eyes, "Woh sirf tumhare liye hai... aur kisi ke saamne nahi pehna."

Sameer put his arm around her waist and pulled her close, "Mere liye sirf ek top... nahi chalega... mujhe toh poori ki poori Naina chahiye."

She looked up at him, "Naina toh tumhari hi hai",  and placed her head on his chest as he glided his hand through her hair.

Next day, Naina wore a pink dress... at least half of his demand was met.

They planned to go to the market as both wanted to buy gifts.

Naina had saved quite a bit of money that she earned through her articles... she also had the money that she got with the award. Even after paying for her hostel and food, she was left with plenty. She decided to take gifts for everyone at home.

Sameer had never thought of buying anything but when Naina mentioned gifts, he also wanted to take something for Munna Pandit.

They spent half a day buying various things.

Then they went to aunty's restaurant for lunch. She was very happy to see them.

" Betaji, ab toh exam khatam ho gaye tumhare... kabhi kabhi aa jaya karo",  she lovingly asked them.

"Aunty hum log Ahmedabad jaa rahe hain... ghar. Ab do mahine baad lautenge." Naina replied.

As they were leaving after the meal, aunty came to them with two boxes. She handed one each to them.

"Yeh tumhare ghar walo ke liye cake hai... meri taraf se sabka muh meetha karana", she placed a hand on their head.

" Arre aunty iski kya zaroorat thi?" Sameer protested.

"Zaroorat nahi thi... meri ichha thi, betaji... aur jab tum dono ki shaadi pakki ho jaaye tab tum mera muh meetha karwa dena", she smiled at them.

Naina blushed and thanked her.

There was a huge garden behind the market. They decided to sit there for some time before heading back.

Seeing Naina lost in thoughts, Sameer clicked his fingers in front of her " Kahan khoyi ho?"

Her eyes still looking at some far away point, she said, "Pata hai Sameer, yeh aunty pehli hain jinhone hamari shaadi ki baat ki hai... matlab bade logo mein."

He gave it a thought, "Ek din sab karenge... aur khush bhi honge... dekh lena."

"Haan, main bhi chahti hun ki hamari shaadi sabki khushi aur unke ashirwad se ho",  Naina voiced her dream.

" Tumhe maloom hai, agar nanu hote toh koi problem hi nahi thi... woh sabko mana lete",  Sameer's voice was sad.

Naina took his hand in hers, comforting him.

"Pata hai... nanu mujhe hamesha kehte the ki ek din meri life mein bhi koi aisi khaas dost aayegi jo mera hamesha saath degi aur mujhe sambhaal legi... aur main hans deta tha... kehta tha ki aisi koi ladki ho hi nahi sakti jo itna pyaar kare... ladkiyaan toh apne matlab ke liye pyar karti hain... par nanu mujhe yehi kehte the ki mere saare galat khyaal door ho jaayenge jab koi mujhe milegi... main iss sach se door bhagta raha... school mein jab tumse pyaar ka ehsaas hua tab bhi main sochta raha ki pata nahi yeh pyaar hai bhi ya nahi... maine toh nanu ko bhi nahi bataya... agar bata deta toh woh bohot khush hote... tumhari hamesha taarif karte the... school ke functions mein tumhari speech achchi lagti thi unhe... aur har saal tumhe topper ki trophy dete hue bada garv hota tha... bataya tha unhone mujhe... ab lagta hai ki kahi nanu ko ehsaas toh nahi ho gaya tha ki mere man mein kya hai... shayad isiliye tumhari itni baatein karte the... "

Naina quietly sat through his monologue. He was missing his nanu... she could feel his pain.

"Sameer, nanaji ka ashirwaad hamesha tumhare saath rahega... aur woh khud bhi... tumhare dil mein ek meethi yaad banke... aur woh jahan bhi honge khush honge ki tum apni uss khaas dost ko paake khush ho",  she smiled at him, eyes brimming with tears.

Sameer smiled back, unshed tears wetting his eyes too.