Next morning, Naina could not look at Sameer in the eye... the images of her dreams vivid in her mind. He, however, was more unabashed, their conversation the previous day giving him the courage to speak up in front of her.

"Kal fir sapna dekha, Naina," he leaned towards her as they walked together to the classroom.

She was mortified... how could she say that her dreams were not so masoom either.

Unaware of her turmoil, he whispered, "Puchogi nahi kya dekha?"

Before she could say anything or he could pester her further, the familiar voice reached their ears.

"Nainaaa."

Sonali was next to them, smiling widely.

"Yeh le," she produced a brown paper packet and gave it to Naina.

"Thank you," quickly keeping it in her bag, she started walking to the class, so that they are directly in the hearing range of Sonali and Sameer doesn't ask any more questions.

He was quiet till they settled down on the first seat.

"Naina, Sonali ne kya diya hai tumko?" He leaned again.

"Kuch nahi... woh maine kuch mangwaya tha usse... wohi laayi hai." She kept her eyes down while answering.

"Toh mujhe kyon nahi bola? Main laa deta jo bhi chahiye tha... hum saath chalke le aate." He narrowed his eyes wondering why Naina was lying.

"Aisa kuch khaas nahi hai... bas chhuttiyon se pehle Sonali ne pucha toh maine laane ko keh diya." She tried to brush off his questions.

The professor entered, forcing Sameer to stop his interrogation. But the thought did not leave his mind. What was there in the packet?

Naina did not hide anything from him. She had even become comfortable about her periods and told him about her requirements... in fact once he had gone alone go the chemist to get a packet of sanitary napkins for her. Then what was it that she wanted now which she could not share with him. He was unable to concentrate on the lecture.

After the classes for the day were over, Sameer asked her to come to the library.

Naina was happy that he wanted to divert his mind to studies.

The library was almost empty in the afternoon. They went to their seat near the window.

"Aaj kya padhna hai, Sameer?" She started to take out the notebook from her bag.

He held her hand, making her look at him. She raised her eyebrows in question.

"Please batao na, Naina.. . aisa kya mangwaya hai Sonali se jo hum khud nahi la sakte the?" He could not contain his curiosity anymore.

A hint of smile appeared at the corner of her lips, "Sameer, tumhe sab kyon janna hai... kuch cheezein hoti hai ladkiyon ki... tumhe dekhna zaroori nahi hai."

Her words only made his resolve stronger, "Dekho Naina, yeh toh main jaankar hi rahunga ki tumne kya mangwaya hai... ya toh tum apni khushi se bata do ya main apne tareeke se pata kar lunga."

"Achha, itna bharosa hai khud pe? Theek hai... pata kar lo kyonki main toh nahi batane wali." She challenged him.

Sameer was surprised... he had expected Naina to give in when he talked about 'apna tareeka'... but she was not ready to budge. He was more intrigued now... he had to find out... and soon.

Seeing no other option, he picked up her bag and ran. By the time Naina realised what he's up to, he was out of the library. She ran after him, just in time to see him vanish up the stairs. He had gone to the terrace. She quickly started to climb up.

He was at the far end when she reached up, he had already opened her bag and was about to take the packet out.

"Sameer tumhe meri kasam agar tumne woh khola." She shouted.

He froze midway... packet in hand.

"Kya Naina, challenge mein aise kasam nahi dete... yeh toh cheating hai." He stood holding her bag, frowning.

Naina walked up to him, smiling.

"Agar main kasam de deta ki tumhe dikhana padega toh?" He showed his annoyance.

She gave a mischievous smile, "Par pehle maine de di."

Forwarding her hand, she asked for the bag. Sameer handed it to her, with a defeated expression.

Naina took it and as she searched for the strap, the brown packet fell out... since the bag was open.

They both looked down.

The contents had spilled out partially.

Sameer stared at the green blouse.

Naina looked at it, then at Sameer, biting her lip.

He had not blinked... the blouse making the images alive that always floated in his mind.

"Yeh... yeh toh ussi saree ka hai... " He stammered.

Naina was a little confused, "Haan, tumhe pata toh hai... tailor ke paas tum dekh ke aaye the na."

"Yeh silwaya hai tumne uss tailor se?" His eyes had gone wide.

"Yehi silwaya hai... hum saath hi toh dekar aaye the... aur tum khud woh kagaz dekh kar aaye the jispe sab likha tha... fir abhi itne chaunk kyon rahe ho?" She looked at him, wondering what happened to his memory.

Sameer had been so lost in seeing her measurements at that time that he did not read anything else. Because of the tailor's words, he was aware that it was a blouse... and... he gasped... it was deep neck.

Naina had actually got a blouse stitched with that saree... that meant she intended to wear it... of course she would... she had herself said so the previous day... his mind started conjuring up images.

"Ab chalein?" Naina had picked up the packet and secured it in her bag, turning to go down.

Sameer slid his hand around her waist, pulling her back to land on his chest, "Abhi se kaise jaa sakti ho?"

"Sameer, lunch time ho gaya hai... chalo na... koi aa jayega," she squirmed, suddenly the dream of last night coming back to her.

"Pehle yeh batao pehen ke kab dikhaogi... tumne kaha tha jab aayega toh dikhaogi." His throaty voice was close to her face.

She tried to move, "Haan toh dikha dungi... par abhi toh chalo na."

He rested his face in her hair, "Ab mujhse ruka nahi jaayega tumhe uss saree mein dekhne ke liye... jaldi dikhana."

Her resistance had started to melt... as he pushed the open hair aside and placed a kiss on the back of her neck, she felt her throat go dry.

Sameer came closer to her ear, speaking softly, "Woh pendant kyon utaar diya?"

She drew in a breath, speaking in a halting voice, " Yahan koi... koi puchega toh... toh... isliye."

He exhaled hard, "Chalo, neeche chalte hain."

As they reached the door, Naina pulled at his hand, halting him.

He raised his brows in question.

"Sameer, tumhe meri kasam hai tum mujhe yeh saree pehenne ke liye nahi kahoge... jab iska time aayega tab main khud pehen ke tumhe dikhaungi... lekin tum tab tak mujhe kuch nahi kahoge." She said seriously.

Sameer looked at her, stunned beyond belief.

"Promise karo." She looked into his eyes.

"Ab promise ka kya karogi jab kasam de di toh," he said in a dejected voice.

As they reached the gate, he turned to her and whined, "Naina yeh galat baat hai... main koi baat manwane ke liye tumhe kasam de dun toh? Mera kitna dil tha... tumne saare armano pe paani fer diya."

She held one ear, wrinkling her nose, "Waise sorry bol rahi hun... par bata dun ki na tum yeh bag leke bhagte aur na yeh dekhte aur na hi mera plan kharab hota na mujhe tumhe kasam deni padti."

His eyes were instantly bright, "Kaisa plan? Kya karne wali ho tum?"

"Ab iske liye bhi kasam de dun kya?" She threatened.

He made a face, "Bye... shaam ko toh aaogi na?"

She frowned, "Kyon nahi aaungi? Aisa kabhi hua hai ki maine mana kar diya aane ko?"

"Pehle aise kasam bhi toh nahi di na." He shrugged.

She smiled as he turned to go to his room, sulking.

Walking back to her wing, she moved her hand on the bag, thinking, "Sameer, abhi main nahi pehen sakti yeh tumhare samne... thoda intezaar karna hoga."

In her room, Naina tried the blouse. It was a great fit... the tailor had made it exactly like she had told him... rather conveyed to him, through Sonali. She checked the back in the mirror. It looked perfect. 

In the evening, she remembered Sameer's grim face when he had said bye to her. She smiled, thinking of making it up to him.

She was surprised to see that Sameer was not there yet. Sitting down, she waited. He came late by fifteen minutes.

"Sorry, main late ho gaya." He said dryly, words not matching his demeanor.

She smiled, "Koi baat nahi... isme sorry ki kya zaroorat hai?"

"Isliye bola ki kahin tum naraz ho jao aur kasam de do ki aage se kabhi late nahi ho sakta." He said in a sarcastic voice.

Naina suppressed her laughter. Sameer being sarcastic was something new for her.

"Tum toh teekhe teekhe ho rahe ho... pehle wala Sameer wapas laane ke liye kuch meetha dena padega." She gave a suggestive look.

Sameer turned sharply towards her... forgetting about his anger, he shifted closer.

"Toh meetha de do." His voice was already heavy.

Naina was holding one hand behind her. She brought it forward to reveal a chocolate.

"Yeh raha kuch meetha." She gave a bright smile.

Sameer was back to his previous dull expression in a second, "Yeh tum hi khao... mujhe nahi chahiye."

"Oh! Main toh soch rahi thi aaj khud tumhe khilaungi." Her voice was sad too.

Sameer looked at her again, narrowing his eyes... she broke a piece, placed it half in her mouth and looked at him.

His eyes were ready to pop out.

She pointed a finger at the chocolate and raised her eyebrows at him.

He was holding her by shoulders before she could blink. He brought his mouth closer... she took the whole piece in her mouth.

He continued to glare at her.

"Khaoge?" She asked in a sweet voice.

His eyes had started getting a glint. As he leaned towards her face, Naina placed her fingers on his lips.

"Chocolate toh aaj khake hi rahunga." He spoke against her fingers.

She brought another piece without looking, and placed it in her mouth, slowly removing her fingers from his lips.

Sameer bent and took the bite, his lips brushing hers. She moved her head back the moment he had taken the chocolate.

"Kaisi hai?" She asked, softly.

"Ek aur khani padegi... pata nahi chala." He said with a straight face.

Naina brought up another piece, offering it to him. He looked at it once and took half in his mouth. She   went closer, taking the piece from him, her lips touching his again.

They looked at each other as the chocolate melted in their mouths.

"Ab theek hai? Meetha khila diya... ab toh teekhe nahi ho na?" She asked innocently.

He brought up his hand and grazed his thumb over her lip, taking the chocolate that was stuck there. As she watched, he took the thumb to his mouth and licked it clean.

"Ab meetha kha ke teekhe ka asar khatam." He smiled, winking.