The first day of college started with a lot of activity. New students could be identified as they moved in groups, diffident and in awe of the open atmosphere. Second year student moved around happily, gotten rid of the freshers tag, showing off their seniority by answering the queries of now freshers. Those who had entered final year had an air of supremacy around them. They moved as if they owned the college.

Amidst all this, Sameer waited for Naina outside the main entrance of college. She stepped out moments later, in the white suit she had worn in Ahmedabad. Before he could walk to her, a voice behind him made his blood boil.

"Yaar woh dekh safed suit wali... kya lag rahi hai na", a boy was definitely talking about his Naina.

"Yeh bhi fresher hi hogi... itni choti hai... chal sabse pehle hum hi pata lete hain... aaj dari hui hogi... isse nahi batayenge ki hum bhi aaj hi aaye hain." Another voice.

Both boys laughed at their plan, not aware of the blazing eyes ready to burn them alive.

They started walking towards Naina. As they crossed Sameer, suddenly a hand landed on each of their collars from behind, dragging them back.

"Oyee... kaun hai?" They looked back in shock, flailing their arms.

"Bacchon, aao main tumhe iss college ki first aur second year ki topper se milwata hun." Sameer held them tightly.

Naina walked up to him with a confuses expression, "Sameer, ye kya kar rahe ho? Kaun hain ye dono?"

"Naina, yeh dono tumse milna chahte hain." He gave a fake smile to the two boys who were now visibly scared.

"Nahi... humein kisi se nahi milna", begged one of them.

"Arre nahi... abhi toh tum itne betaab the inse milne ke liye... aao main milwata hun", Sameer pulled the collars to make them stand straight.

"Please jaane dijiye bhaiya, galti hi gayi", pleaded the other.

"Galti nahi beta, tune toh apne pair pe kulhadi maar li hai", Sameer muttered angrily under his breath so that his voice doesn't reach Naina.

"Dekho bacchon, ye hain Naina DIDI", he stressed on the last word.

When they didn't say anything, he pulled at their collars again, "Kaun hai ye?"

"Naina Didi", they said in chorus.

"Shabaash, ye do saal se iss college mein top kar rahi hain aur ab final year mein hain, samjhe?" He tugged.

"J... Jee bhaiya... samajh gaye", they were almost crying.

"Jab tak ye iss college mein hain, tum jab bhi inko dekhoge toh haath jodkar namaste didi bologe... samjhe?" He pulled harder.

"Jee bhaiya" their voice was a mere whisper now.

"Ab jao... par yaad rakhna... kisi ladki se badtameezi karte dekh liya maine toh fir kabhi college mein aane layak nahi rahoge." He threatened.

The boys had lost all steam... they fell as he left their collars.

Before they could get up and run, Sameer bent and held one shoulder of each boy, digging his fingers into them.

"Ek baat aur, bhaiya nahi hun main... jijaji hun tumhara", he hissed, only for their ears.

The two boys scampered away as quickly as they could.

Dusting his hands, Sameer turned to see Naina standing with crossed arms, staring at him.

He smiled.

"Yeh sab kya tha?" She asked with a fake smile.

He knew he had to handle it properly or he would be facing her wrath right away.

"Naina, tumhe toh pata hai main kisi ladki ke saath badtameezi hote hue nahi dekh sakta... ab naye students ko hum seniors nahi sikhayenge toh kaun sikhayega?" He explained in a mellow voice.

"Aur tumko yahan ka discipline monitor kisne banaya?" Her false smile was still there.

"Kya Naina, yeh school nahi hai ki koi monitor ho... aur woh dono tumhare baare mein ulta seedha bol rahe the...  kaise sun leta?" He also showed some fake anger.

Warmth seeped into her smile, "Toh aise bolo na... mere baare mein bolne ki sazaa de rahe the unko."

Her smile gave him the confidence to go ahead. Quickly he moved closer and held her hand, "Sazaa toh di hi nahi... tumhari wajah se ab maine jhagda karna chod diya hai... warna ab tak unki do chaar haddiyan toh toot chuki hoti."

Naina was reminded of Neeraj... who has misbehaved with her at freshers party... and had come to the college a few days later with several injuries and fractures.

"Sameer, yaad hai woh Neeraj jisne freshers party mein... " She could not complete her sentence.

"Yaad hai, uska woh haal maine hi kiya tha... yehi puchna tha na tumko?" He was furious as the incidents of that night flashed in his mind.

"Achha mere angry young man, ab chalo, lecture miss karna hai kya pehle hi din?" She held his arm, pulling him towards the classroom.

Sameer loved this gesture of hers... she had not shied away or asked him to keep distance... in fact, she was displaying her right on him openly.

"Aaj toh tumhara style bilkul Mrs Maheshwari wala hai", he could not help teasing her.

Naina left his hand immediately... she had been so captivated by his possessiveness that she did not realise she was holding him while they walked down the corridors of their college.

As they reached the door, a scream from behind stopped them.

"Nainaaaa"

Sonali came running and enveloped Naina in a tight hug.

Sameer looked away, pursing his lips.

After what felt like eternity to him, they moved away from each other.

Sonali was bursting with excitement, "Sabse pehle toh congratulations, tune fir se top kiya... yaar tu har saal itna saara kaise padh leti hai?"

Naina laughed at her amazement.

Sonali looked at Sameer, "Congratulations Sameer, tumhari bhi third position aayi hai... tum logon ko Ahmedabad ke schools mein koi khaas training dete hain kya top marne ki?"

Sameer muttered a polite 'thank you' as Naina looked at him proudly.

"Lekin ek baat mein main tumse aage nikal gayi... yahan maine top mara", she grinned.

Before they could ask anything, Sonia extended her hand towards them, a beautiful ring adorned her finger.

"Meri sagai ho gayi... gharwale aaram se maan gaye." She was exhilarated.

"Congratulations Sonali", Sameer smiled at her as she beamed at him, nodding.

"Arre waah, congratulations", Naina threw her arms around Sonali, extremely happy for her friend.

"Main tere liye bohot khush hun..."

Sameer could not bear it anymore. Seething, he walked inside the class, leaving the two girls rejoicing with their arms around each other.

"Yeh har baat mein aise gale kyon lagna hota hai? Theek hai, khushi ki baat hai par haath mila ke bhi toh bol sakti thi na", the green eyed monster inside him was wide awake.

"Sameer, uski dost hai... aur ladki hai... kya hua gale lagaya toh... Naina hamesha hi sabko itna pyaar deti hai",  his mind tried to reason.

"Naina ko aise gale sirf main laga sakta hun... uske itne kareeb jaane ka haq aur kisi ko nahi hai", the monster reasoned.

"Uski dost hai Sonali... aur khushi bant rahi thi apni... doston aur parivaar waalon se jalna theek nahi hai", the mind made an effort to tame the monster.

"Naina ko toh choone wali hawa se bhi jalan hoti hai mujhe..." the monster refused to listen.

Just then, Naina entered the room with Sonali, laughing. She settled on the first bench as usual and Sonali walked back to the second one. Sameer saw her sitting alone. Pushing away the conflict going on inside him, he got up and sat next to Naina. She looked at him in surprise.

"Aaj se main bhi first seat pe baithunga... tumhare saath", he declared.

Naina smiled and dipped her head sideways to show acceptance.

As the professor walked in, everyone shifted their attention to him. While taking attendance, he stopped first at Naina's name and then at Sameer's name to congratulate them for scoring such good marks, before starting with the class.

Sameer could not concentrate on the lecture.

Rahul walked in before the second class started. Seeing Sameer sitting with Naina, he grinned.

"Kya baat hai yaar, tune toh kamaal kar diya... badhai ho", he congratulated Sameer.

As Sameer offered his hand, Rahul pulled him up, giving a warm hug, "Yeh toh gale lagane wali baat hai".

Sameer gave a smile, "Tumko bhi badhai ho... sagai ho gai Sonali ke saath."

"Thank you", he looked at Sonali who blushed.

Rahul then turned towards Naina, offering his hand, "Tumhari toh aadat ban gayi hai har saal top karna."

Naina shook his hand, thanking him.

With great difficulty, Sameer sat through the next two classes.

"Sameer, canteen chalein?" Naina turned to ask him, reminded of his complain that she hardly ever wanted to go there.

"Mujhe kahin nahi jaana", he got up.

Naina held his hand, moving out of the desk with him. She could sense the anger in his voice.

"Kya ho gaya, Sameer? Tum gussa ho kisi baat se?" She was worried.

Sameer turned his back to her, "Nahi... bas kuch zaroori kaam hai... abhi chalta hun," he pulled his hand from her grip and walked away.

Naina stood frozen.

Sameer had never been rude with her. She had no idea what had triggered this type of behaviour. Everything was fine in the morning than why he suddenly changed...

Naina tried to replay the entire sequence of events since morning... nothing appeared odd to her.

Her eyes filled up, this distance from him was unbearable.

Both of them moved about restlessly in their rooms. Naina was not able to stop the constant flow of tears. She was ready to apologise if only he would tell her what had made him so furious. He had learned to control his anger... she remembered how he managed to remain calm while talking to his mother. Then why today...

He was fine in the morning... the incident with those two fresher boys had not made him this mad.

Naina could not put her finger on anything. She burst into tears again at the helplessness of the situation. She wanted to go and meet him. But he was back in the hostel. It was not possible in broad daylight.

She decided to go and wait at their spot. It was still a few hours before their meeting time but she couldn't stay here in the room.

Locking her room, Naina sneaked out of the hostel, walking across the deserted ground.

The tree stood strong and serene... as if waiting for them.

She sat down, resting her back against it... praying that Sameer comes sooner than their time.