The rain had reduced to a fine drizzle as Naina stood at the window looking out.

Sameer sat quietly, his elbow on the table and cheek resting on the fisted hand. His eyes never left her.

"Pata hai, Sameer, baarish itni achhi kyon hoti hai?" She asked, lost in the view outside.

Hearing no reply from him, she carried on, "Iss baarish mein sab dhul jaata hai... saaf ho jaata hai... sab kuch naya naya sa lagne lagta hai."

"Hmm... "

His lack of words made her turn... he seemed to be lost.

She walked back and sat on the chair next to him, "Kahan kho gaye?"

"Kitni sahi baat boli hai tumne... pata hai mujhe pehle baarish bilkul pasand  nahi thi... zara sa bheegte hi bukhar aa jata tha", he thought about the days in school.

"Haww... tumhe baarish nahi pasand... aisa koi kaise ho sakta hai?" She widened her eyes like a child.

He could have died over her innocence and cuteness.

"Bolo... " She insisted, seeing him go quiet again.

"Pehle nahi pasand thi... ab hai... jabse ek bhigi bhaagi si ladki ne aake mujhe baarish se pyaar karna sikha diya hai." He looked at her with a slight tilt of his head.

Naina turned red at being reminded again, "Sameer, tum hamesha uss din ki yaad kyon dilate ho? Ab meri kya galti thi ki mere paas dusra dress nahi tha ya ussi samay itni tez baarish aa gayi... agar uss din paanch minute baad hoti yeh baarish toh main aaram se apne kamre mein pohoch chuki hoti... na tumhe aana padta aur na tumhe aise chidane ka mauka milta... tumhe toh pata bhi nahi chalta ki main kab aayi."

He leaned towards her, "Pata kaise nahi chalta... tumhe dekhne ke liye subah se khidki pe khada tha."

"Subah se?" She was astonished.

He nodded, "Maine tumhe dekha tha pehle din jaate hue... ek din canteen mein jab tum Sonali ko bata rahi thi ki tum weekend pe apni dadi ke ghar jaogi toh maine sun liya tha. Uss din samajh gaya ki wahin jaa rahi ho... bas mera intezaar agle din subah se hi shuru ho gaya."

"Tum sach mein pagal ho", she said fondly.

"Waise thoda toh pehle bhi tha par uss din poora ho gaya... shukr hai baarish paanch minute baad nahi shuru hui... waise toh jab tum hawa mein lehrate hue aa rahi thi tabhi mere hosh udd gaye the, lekin jab baarish shuru hui aur tum ek ped ke neeche ruk gayi tab meri saansein bhi ruk gayi... Naina, jab main Pooja didi se milunga na tab unhe sau baar thank you bolunga." He said softly.

Naina hit him with a book on the arm, "Tum Pooja didi ke samne kuch nahi bologe."

He snatched the book from her, putting it on the other table.

"Bolna toh padega, agar woh apni saree nahi deti toh mujhe pata kaise chalta ki tum... " His eyes glinted with mischief.

"Chup ho jao, Sameer", she interrupted, "Besharam ho gaye ho tum."

"Achha... aur tum jo uss din mujhe ghoor ghoor ke dekh rahi thi." He reminded her how she had been checking him out.

Naina got up again and ran to the window, breathing heavily to calm herself as his image in a soaked white t shirt flashed in front of her.

Sameer got up and went to her. He put his hand around her shoulder, drawing her to his side as they both looked outside.

"Naina, iss baat se itni pareshan  mat ho... uss din ki baarish se kitni achhi baatein hui... purane dard dhul gaye... hum dono ko ehsaas hua ki ab hum school mein padhne wale bachche nahi hain... hamare man mein kuch naye ehsaas bhi huye... yeh sach hai ki maine unhe khud se hi chupane ki koshish ki magar kuch palon ke liye toh main behek gaya tha... jab tum mujhe aisi nazron se dekh rahi thi toh man kiya ki tumhe sab bata dun ki tumse
kitna pyaar karta hun... aur yeh bhi socha ki kya yeh sun ke tum mere gale lag jaogi..."

His wistful voice reminded her of the pain he was going through at that time.

She rested her head on his shoulder, "Ek baar keh dete na, Sameer... dono ka dard kam ho jata."

He kissed the top of her head, "Maine itne din tumhe khud se door rakh ke jo galti ki ussi ko sudharne ke liye ab main har samay tumhare kareeb rehna chahta hun."

She laughed, "Aisa thodi hota hai... agar aap chaar din bhooke rahoge toh panchwe din aap un chaaro dino ka khana toh nahi kha sakte na."

He moved to stand in front of her, looking into her eyes, "Agar meetha ho toh main chaaron din ka ek saath kha sakta hun."

Naina pushed him,  turning away so that he could not see her biting the lip, "Library mein ho toh thoda padh bhi lo."

"Offo Naina, itne achhe mausam mein kaun padhta hai",  he pouted, going after her.

"Hum padhenge... chalo aaj tum jo marzi kitaab le lo... ek tumhari pasand ki ek meri pasand ki... theek hai?" She directed him to the cabinets as she herself turned around to check some new shelves.

Sameer took a deep breath and started looking at the titles, knowing that she would not let him sit with her unless he got some book.

Finding one about the old forts of India, he came back to the empty table. Naina was still looking for something interesting. As he was about to sit, he heard her call out his name. He went to the other side of the library to find her looking at one of the top shelves.

"Sameer, woh upar wali book utar doge... mera haath nahi pohoch raha." She pointed towards a thick one.

He brought it down for her.

"Yeh nahi, woh side wali." She pointed at another one.

He picked out the one next to it.

"Arre baba, dusri side wali", she tried to show him which one.

Sameer went close to her and before she could realise or say anything, he picked her up, his hands holding her close to the knees.

"Ab dekh lo jo bhi chahiye", he smiled, looking up.

Naina was astounded, " Ky... kya... yeh kya kar rahe ho... neeche utaro."

"Pehle tum lelo jo book chahiye fir utaar dunga... aaj konsa yahan koi hai jo dekh lega." He held her tight.

Naina could not see anything ahead. All her concentration was on her legs where the dress had hitched up and his bare arms touched her skin. She clutched his shoulder tightly.

"Daro nahi, Naina... main giraunga nahi tumhe", he thought she was scared.

She moved a shivering hand to pick up a book in front and said, "Le li maine, ab utar do..."

Sameer moved his arm, suddenly realising that the satiny feel that he thought was her dress was actually her skin... his hands were around her legs.

It was his turn to freeze.

"Sameer, please utaro", her voice was no more than a whisper.

He bent down slowly, placing her legs on the floor, closing his eyes to avoid looking down.

Naina immediately straightened her dress, regretting her decision to wear it today.

"Sorry Naina, maine toh bas isliye uthaya tha jisse tum apni pasand ki book le sako... please galat mat samajhna..." He said with lowered eyes.

Naina held his hand, "Sameer, galat nahi samajh rahi... tum kabhi galat nahi karoge... bas achanak tumne aise uthaya toh... thoda dar gayi thi... isme tumhari koi galti nahi hai..."

His eyes shot up to her, amazed at the trust she had on him.

"Chalo", she dragged him, still holding his hand.

They settled at the table, checking out each other's books. They were surprised to see that both had taken books based on history. Where Sameer had chosen one on forts, Naina had taken one about the most powerful women rulers in Indian History.

It was not possible to read the complete book... they just went through the broad outline of each person and place described.

"Kitni purani baatein hain yeh lekin inn kahaniyon mein bhi auraton ko kitna samman diya gaya hai." Naina exclaimed after reading about a few women.

"Maine bhi Jhansi ki Rani ke baare mein padha abhi... auraton mein zyaada himmat aur musibaton se ladne ki taaqat hoti hai." Sameer was equally impressed with the first story he read about Jhansi fort.

He remembered something and his eyes lit up, "Naina, tumne apni kahani poori kar li... jo tumhe TV walon ko deni hai?"

She smiled, "Haan, kahani toh poori ho gayi... bas ending ke baare mein thoda soch rahi hun... Saturday ko unke office jaana hai."

He was excited, "Toh tum mujhe sunao na, tumhari kahani sabse pehle main sunna chahta hun."

Naina was more than happy.

Next one hour, she narrated the story with full passion that she had felt while writing it.

At the end of it, Sameer was left spellbound.

"Kaisi lagi?" Seeing no words coming from him, she asked hesitantly.

He pursed his lips and started clapping, "Bohot bohot zyaada achhi hai, Naina... yeh toh kamaal ki story hai... iske liye toh TV wale tumhe foran sign kar lenge."

She was exhilarated, "Sach... pasand aayegi na unhe?"

"Pasand nahi bohot pasand aayegi... bas tum iska end jaldi se likh do... mujhe yakeen hai isko koi mana kar hi nahi sakta." He was genuinely impressed with her imagination.

The rain had stopped and the lunch time was soon to get over in the mess so they decided to go back to their room, agreeing that going to the ground in the evening was not possible.

"Kal milte hain... college mein", Naina said as she turned to leave.

His hands came around her from behind, "Kal tak rukna padega toh abhi kuch extra nahi milna chahiye?"

She leaned back on him, "Zyaada lalchi mat bano."

"Woh nahi ho sakta", he nestled his nose in her hair as his lips touched her nape.

Her hands tightened around his as a feverish feeling hit her body.

Sameer rubbed his nose behind her ear, making her shiver.

"Jab tum aise kaanp jaati ho toh dar lagta hai mujhe", he whispered.

"Toh chod do na", she was finding it difficult to breathe as his warm breath fanned her cheek.

He kissed her temple, "Naina, ek pal ke liye bhi tumhe chodna kitna mushkil hai yeh mere dil se poocho."

"Apne dil ko kaho thoda intezaar kare", she said in a low voice.

As he bent to kiss her cheek, Naina freed herself, taking advantage of his lose grip, and ran to the door.

"Naina... " He made a face.

She turned and gave a mischievous smile, "Jo mazaa intezaar me hai, woh kahan vasl-e-yaar mein."

He gaped at her as she winked and ran away.