Naina sipped her tea as Sameer gorged on two more paranthe. Finally, when he did not open the casserole after his plate was empty, she offered him tea.

"Jagah bachi hai pet mein ya ab kal hi khaoge?" She placed the cup in front of him.

"Kal kyon? Lunch nahi karenge kya?" He gave a perplexed look, completely missing the sarcasm.

Naina gave a wide, fake smiled, "Karenge na, lunch mein kya khana pasand karoge?"

Sameer looked around, "Oh, hum kya lunch tak yahin ruk rahe hain? Theek hai, waise mujhe sab achha lagta hai par shahi kofte, matar paneer, masala gobhi aur jeera alu mujhe sabse zyada pasand hai."

Rahul and Sonali burst out laughing. Naina placed her elbow on the table, holding her forehead in the palm.

"Kya hua? Tum hans kyon rahe ho?" He narrowed his eyes at his friends.

Turning towards Naina, he saw her exasperated expression, wondering what was it that was making them laugh and get annoyed at the same time.

Giving him a stern look, Naina picked up the casserole and walked away.

"Yeh rooth gayi kya?" Sameer pondered aloud.

"Shayad... jaake dekh kya hua usse?" Rahul prompted him to go after Naina, holding Sonali's hand under the table, stopping her from following her friend to the kitchen.

Sameer quickly pushed back his chair, going after her.

Naina placed the container on the platform with a bang, "Kitna bhukkad hai... aise koi khata hai kya? Itne paranthe khane ke baad kam se kam do din tak bhookh nahi lagni chahiye... aur ye maharaj toh lunch ka order de rahe hain... par hamesha toh Sameer aise nahi khata... fir aaj kya hua isse... bhagwan ji... shaadi ke baad main bas saara din kitchen mein hi lagi rahungi agar sach mein Sameer aise khata hai toh."

"Tumhe lagta hai shaadi ke baad main tumhe kitchen mein lage rehne dunga." His arms came around her waist from behind, startling her.

Naina kept one hand on her heart, to steady the thudding at his sudden appearance.

"Tum... tum yahan kyon aaye?" She tried to see behind him, checking for Sonali.

"Koi nahi aane wala ab yahan... Rahul ne hi bheja hai mujhe... tumhe manane." Sameer buried his head in her hair that were open again.

She turned to ask him about his food habits... regretting the action instantly.

The dark shadow on his jaw weakened her anger, making the hammering stronger against her rib cage.

Naina closed her eyes to gain composure... then placed her hands on his chest and pushed him a little away from herself.

Sameer's face fell. He was sure now that she was upset.

"Naina..."

"Sameer..."

They said at same time.

A smile crept up on their faces, melting the tension.

"Naina, tum rooth gayi ho kya?" He put forth his doubt while she still had a smile on her face.

How could she stay angry when he was asking with such innocence...

Keeping the smile intact, she shook her head, "Nahi Sameer, roothi nahi hun... bas hairan hun ki tum itna khana kaise kha sakte ho... jab hum saath mein bahar kahin jaate hain tab toh tum aise nahi khate... fir aaj aise kyon... aur jab diwali pe Phulla bua ke ghar gaye the tab bhi tumne raat ko aise hi khaya tha... mujhe soch ke darr lagta hai ki aakhir tum apne ghar pe kaise khate ho."

"Naina, yeh khane ki nahi pyar ki bhookh hai... mujhe bohot kam mauka mila hai kisi apne ke haath ka khana khane ka... hostel mein main aise nahi khata tha, na hi ab khata hun... aur ghar pe Ramdhari jo banata hai woh achha hota hai par usmein woh baat nahi hoti jo apanepan ke khane mein hoti hai... Phulla bua ne tumhare kehne pe meri pasand ki saari cheezein banayi thi... mujhe itna achha laga ki bata nahi sakta... aur jab tum train mein mere liye khana bana ke layi thi tab bhi maine uss pyar ko mehsoos kiya tha... aur aaj toh meri aankhon ke samne tumne mere liye yeh banaya hai... itne kya main toh saare ke saare paranthe kha sakta tha... inmein tumhare haath ki khushbu jo hai." He took her hand in his and kissed her fingers.

Naina wanted to slap her forehead... she reprimanded herself silently for not understanding such a simple longing of his.

"Jab tumhare ghar aa jaungi toh hamesha pyaar se khana banake khilungi tumhe... jitna chahe khana... ab kabhi nahi tokungi." She promised with misty eyes.

Sameer stepped closer, "Pehli baat, mera ghar nahi... woh humara ghar hai."

She nodded.

He closed the distance between them, "Aur doosri baat, jab tum aaogi toh tumse khana banwane ki mujhe koi jaldi nahi hogi."

The colour spread on her face and neck faster than she could breathe. His arms went around her and she waited to feel them on her back, closing her eyes. When there was no touch for a few moments, she opened her eyes to see Sameer standing with the open casserole he had picked up from behind her.

"Ismein abhi bhi ek parantha bacha hain... main kha lun?" He raised his brows.

Naina couldn't help laughing at his love for food... dipping her head to one side.

Sameer rolled the parantha and bit into it, savouring as if it was the first bite since morning. Then he offered it to her. Naina shook her head.

He placed one arm around her shoulder, drawing her closer, and took the rolled parantha to her mouth. She took a small bite. He took a large one after her.

"Yeh toh pehle se bhi zyada tasty ho gaya." He winked.

"Bhukkad," she pinched his nose fondly.

"Jaisa bhi hun... tumhara hun... tumhe aise hi kaam chalana padega." He made her take another bite.

Naina squinted her eyes, wrinkling her nose, "Koshish karungi... kisi tarah kaam chalane ki."

His hand slipped around her waist, pulling her closer, "Achha?"

She giggled, "Kha liya toh bahar chalein?"

As he took the last bite, his free hand wrapped around her, "Naina, mujhe wapas jaane se darr lag raha hai... tum fir se alag ho jaogi... yahan kitna achha hai... main Rahul se baat karun kya... jitna time bacha hai college ka hum yahin reh lete hain... Rahul kabhi mana nahi karega... hostel wapas nahi jana mujhe... yahan kitna ghar jaisa hai."

She melted at his craving for a home...

Placing a hand on his cheek, she looked into his eyes, "Yeh pal hamare nahi hain, Sameer... jaise yeh ghar hamara nahi hai... humein aisi udhaar ki khushi nahi chahiye... apne ghar mein apne haq ka saath chahiye... yeh ek din ki khushiyan humare aane wale kal ki jhalak hain... lekin mujhe yakeen hai ki woh kal iss jhalak se bhi zyada khoobsurat hoga."

"Aur uski bhi tum koshish karogi?" He teased, reminding her of her previous comment.

She cupped his face, "Nahi, iska main wada karti hun."

Going up on her toes, she brushed her lips against his.

The glint was back in his eyes, "Aise paanch dus waade aur kar do."

Without hesitation, she raised herself again and peppered his dark jaw with soft kisses.

"Itna kaafi hai?" She asked softly.

He crushed her against his chest, "Kaafi toh bilkul nahi hai par main kaam chalane ki koshish karunga."

A smile spread on her lips hearing the same line from him.

Rahul had switched on the TV and was settled comfortably on the sofa with Sonali.

"Mana liya?" He looked at their joined hands as Sameer walked out with Naina.

"Naina ko toh main chutkiyon mein mana leta hun." Sameer grinned... and got a sharp pinch on his arm.

"Mera matlab manane ki koshish karta hun." He held one ear, looking at Naina.

"Haan bhai, samajh sakta hun... chaar din mein hi pata chal gaya ki apne ghar mein boss banne ke liye bhi boss se permission leni padti hai." Rahul sighed.

A cushion landed on his head.

Amidst fun and teasing, they planned to watch a movie and have lunch at home. It was decided that Sameer and Naina will go only in the evening. Sonali wanted them to stay for another day but Naina declined... insisting on the need to give time to studies.

After clearing up the table of breakfast remains, the group of four sat down to watch a new release 'Coolie no. 1'.

Sameer was satisfied as it was not a Salman Khan movie... Naina would not be lost in the on screen hero, forgetting to pay attention to her own.

What he didn't expect was her reaction to the comedy. He had never seen her laugh so hard... tears streamed down her eyes as she clutched her tummy and doubled over at the hilarious dialogues. He could have also found reasons to laugh like others had he been paying as much attention to the movie but he was lost in his girl who sat huddled against him on the sofa... the legs folded under her, with every outburst, she leaned on him... holding onto his arm or just resting her head on his shoulder.

During a particular scene when the hero was forced to stay in the house with his wife, her sister and his father in law, waiting for his twin brother who was none but him, Naina sat up straight in excitement. As the hero paced around, she clutched his shirt front and whispered something which he could not understand as all his focus was on her.

When the movie got over, Sonali went to the kitchen and Rahul followed her, leaving Sameer alone with Naina in the room.

He looked at her, "Naina, tumhe filmein dekhna bohot pasand hai na?"

"Bohot... kitni bhi ek saath dekh sakti hun." She rolled her eyes dreamily.

Then turned to him, "Kyon, tumhe nahi pasand?"

"Mujhe bhi achha lagta hai par jaise tum bilkul kho jaati ho waisa kuch nahi hota... aaj toh Salman Khan ki film bhi nahi thi fir bhi tumhara dhyaan poora time ussi mein tha." He subtly groused.

"Toh kya tum mujhe shaadi ke baad filmein nahi dekhne doge?" She pouted innocently.

He thought for a moment before answering, "Shayad aisa hi karna padega."

She shrugged indifferently, "Theek hai, main Preeti ke saath dekh lungi, balki main aur Preeti maze se raat bhar VCR pe filmein dekhenge... tum rehna apne sapno ki duniya mein."

"Madam, sapno ki duniya sirf abhi ke liye hai... baad mein koi sapne wapne nahi... meri duniya mein tum rahogi." He leaned towards her, looking into her eyes with mischief.

Naina wondered how their every conversation ended on such talks.

"Main jaa rahi hun Sonali ki madad karne." She got up before he could say something more to make the fluttering inside her belly grow stronger.

In the kitchen, Sonali was chopping some vegetables while Rahul was shelling the peas.

"Kya bana rahi hai, Sonali... mujhe bata main kar deti hun." Naina offered.

"Kyon na hum maggie khayein? Jaldi bhi ban jayegi aur sabko pasand bhi hai." Sameer suggested as he followed Naina.

Sonali stopped her work to look at him in shock, "Tumne toh itna lamba chauda menu bataya tha lunch ke liye... ab kya hua?"

Sameer gave a sheepish grin, "Woh toh bataya tha ki mera favourite kya hai... banane ko thodi kaha tha... main koi bhukkad thodi hun jo itna khaunga."

The three of them looked at each other in silence for a few moments, then broke into peals of laughter.

"Nahi bhai, tujhe kaun bhukkad kahega... humne aisa socha bhi nahi." Rahul managed to speak when he could control his laughing.

"Naina, Sonali, tumhe aisa kuch laga kya?" He looked at the girls with a forced sober face.

Sonali shook her head.

Naina walked up to Sameer, wrapping her hands around his arm, "Tum log mere Sameer ko zyada chedo mat... koi bhukkad nahi hai woh... bas mere haath ka khana dekh ke ruk nahi paata."

Sameer looked at her in amazement.

Not able to resist the way she held him, he pulled her closer in a side hug, joining others in laughter as Naina blushed.