Chachaji chachiji arrived in the afternoon. Mausiji was fine... just a hairline fracture in her leg. Taiji was back to her demands... waiting to have her chai... elaichi daal ke...

The day went by doing normal household chores and chit chatting.  Chachiji had a hearty laugh hearing about Preeti's perfect plan to save themselves from taiji.

Naina and Sameer had their phone conversation at night. Sameer was desperate to meet her, while Naina was a little shy talking to him... images of the dream of previous night presenting themselves repeatedly in front of her eyes everytime Sameer said 'Naina please'.

Next day being Sunday, there was a general relaxed atmosphere at home. Chachaji decided to take his wife and the girls to Law Garden for a session of chaat and pao bhaji, followed by kulfi. Naina called up Sameer to inform him that he can come there around 7:30 in the evening. Though, they might not be able to talk with each other... a glance was no less for now.  Naina was equally desperate to see him. And Sameer could think of nothing else.

He was near the garden much before the time Naina had mentioned. Munna Pandit gorged on all the food available at the stalls while Sameer kept checking his watch impatiently.

And then he felt her presence. Turning around immediately, he saw her getting down from the rickshaw with Preeti. Another rickshaw stopped behind theirs and chachaji chachiji stepped out. Sameer watched as all four walked to the stalls located on the other side of the road. Naina looked around nervously... trying to find him.

She caught his eye... and her own brightened instantly. She gave a small smile and Sameer placed a hand on his heart, tilting his head.

Controlling the urge to run to him, Naina followed her family.

They had a round of paani poori. Preeti and Naina had a competition, trying to outdo each other, and went on to eat several plates, while chachaji looked at them affectionately. Chachiji, however, was worried, "Arre tum dono kitna khaogi... beta, pet kharab ho jaayega... ek toh teekhi wali poori khati ho... suniye ji, dekhiye na inn ladkiyon ko", she turned to her husband. 

He gave her an assuring smile,
" Khane do Bela, kuch nahi hoga... itne dino ke baad inka yeh pyaar dekhne ko mil raha hai... khush hone do bachchiyon ko."

Sameer was watching in awe as Naina polished plate after plate of paani poori, "Itni si toh hai... itna kaise kha leti hai... aur hamesha toh khati bhi nahi hai... phir paani poori se itna pyaar kyon hai?"

His eyes drank in her sight... plain blue dress with a thin belt... hair tied in her usual pony, no makeup... and he felt the magnetic pull... that he always felt whenever he saw her.
She once looked behind, eyes searching for him... and a contended smile appeared on her face on seeing him leaning next to his car.

Preeti won the competition when Naina's attention faltered, as she searched for Sameer. To cheer her up, chachiji took them to the small shops around the garden, selling trinkets. Naina tried a few earrings... little different from what she usually wore.  She decided on silver loops and a few long ones. Preeti also picked up a few things for herself.

It was time for pao bhaji. They had their fill, laughing and chatting. While Sameer kept getting more and more restless. He wanted to be close to her... watching her from a distance was not enough.

When chachaji took them for kulfi, Naina started thinking... she had to find a way... she knew Sameer would be on edge by now.

"Chachiji, main aur Preeti zara wahan kuch dupatte dekh ke aate hain", Naina made an excuse.

" Chal beta, main bhi chalti hun".

Naina's heart sank.

"Jaane do,  Bela. Ab badi ho gayi hain dono... apni khariddari apni pasand se karne do",  her saviour, chachaji, helped her out again, unknowingly.

Chachiji stayed back.

Preeti was puzzled, " Dupatte kyon dekhne hai? Konsa naya suit silwaya hai jo tujhe dupatta chahiye? "

"Chup chap chal... mujhe Sameer se milna hai", Naina pulled her before she could come up with more questions.

They reached behind the stalls where she had seen him earlier. But no one was there.

" Kahin gussa hoke chala to nahi gaya? " Naina was worried.

"Bhabhi... ", Munna's voice reached her.

She turned to see Munna Pandit smiling at them.

Before Naina could ask them, Pandit spoke up, " Bhai ki halat kharab hai aapke intezaar mein... jao wahan apni car mein baitha hai. "

As Preeti stood confused, Pandit turned to her, "Chal Preeti, main aur Munna falooda khilate hai tujhe. "

Naina ran to the direction pointed out by Pandit.

Sameer was waiting for her in his maroon maruti car.

"Sorry, sorry, Sameer... badi mushkil se aane ka bahana bana paayi... mujhe pata hai tum gussa ho... par main kya karun?  Chachiji akele kahin jaane hi nahi de rahi thi... woh to ab jaake chachaji ne unhe roka toh main aa payi... lekin thodi der ke liye... please maan jao", She said everything in one go.

Sameer smiled and pointed at her hand, " Kulfi pighal rahi hai".

She gave a confused look to the direction he was pointing at... only to realise that she had forgotten about the kulfi she was holding.
Bringing it to her mouth, she quickly licked the remaining kulfi, making slurpy sound.

"Sameer zara paani dena, " Naina forwarded her hand to him, without looking in his direction, "Haath kaisa chip chip ho gaya... dhona padega. "

Sameer gave her a bottle.

She opened the door and washed her hands outside, not getting out of the car. Jerking off the excess water, she closed the door and handed the bottle back to him.

The moment she turned to look at him, Sameer leaned towards her.

"Kya... kya kar rahe ho? " Naina stammered.

He brought his handkerchief close to her face and wiped the corner of her mouth which had a speck of kulfi stuck on it. 

Naina quickly ran a wet hand over the lower part of her face. Sameer again wiped her wet mouth with his handkerchief.

He then placed it in his pocket, smiling at Naina.

"Kitni der se chup ke tumhe dekh raha tha... kitna intezaar karwati ho tum." He complained.

Naina held her ears in answer, pursing her lips... which made her cheeks plump up.

He wanted to pull her cheeks... she looked so adorable.

"Aise mat karo na, Naina... ek toh milti nahi ho... aur thodi der ke liye jab milti ho toh aise kaam karti ho ki man karta hai... " He was on the verge of losing control.

Naina thought he was angry, "Kaise kaam... Sorry, Maine tumhe gussa dila diya."

Sameer let out a deep breath, "Naina, meri Naina... gussa nahi pyaar dilati ho tum... hamesha bas pyaar hi yaad rehta hai tumhe dekhkar... abhi bhi aur kuch nahi samajh aa raha. "

His voice changed.

Naina slowly placed her hand on his... pressing it a little.

Sameer swiftly placed his other hand on top of hers.

Naina looked at him lovingly,"Pyaar mujhe bhi aata hai... par kya karun... apne pariwar ke saath bhi toh rehna zaroori hai na. "

Sameer pouted like a child, "Tum bhi mere hi ghar aa jao na rehne, jaise Munna Pandit rehte hai. "

Naina blushed at his suggestion and lowered her eyes.

"Aa jaungi... ek baar shaadi ho jaayegi toh hamesha tumhare ghar pe hi rahungi", she said softly.

" Mere ghar nahi... " He reacted.

  She looked up at him in surprise.

"Hamare ghar", Sameer gave a cheeky smile, making Naina blush more.

" Chalo na abhi shaadi kar lete hain", Sameer wanted her to himself.

"Mr Maheshwari, abhi aap sirf 20 saal ke hain... ek saal aur shaadi nahi kar sakte... samjhe? " She reminded him.

And then thought of teasing him,
"Haan, par main kar sakti hun... 19 ki ho chuki hun na... toh mujhe problem nahi hai."

Sameer pulled her to him so quickly that she realised the proximity only when he spoke and his breath touched her face, "Sochna bhi mat... tumhari shaadi mere alawa kisi se nahi hogi... main hone hi nahi dunga. "

She looked at him with wide eyes. The red lines of anger were visible in his dark ones. She shivered.

Sameer felt her slight tremble and realised he was holding her too tight. He softened his hold and the longing was back in his eyes.

"Sorry Naina... tumse door rehna itna mushkil hai... tumse door jaane ke khayal se hi mera dil dahal gaya",
he closed his eyes and lowered his head.

" Abhi toh tumhara dil aur bhi dehlega jab main tumhare ghar rehne aaungi... shaadi ke baad... mujhe seedhi sadi mat samajhna... main tumhe bohot pareshaan karne wali hun... tab tum hi kahoge, hey bhagwanji, iss ladki se mujhe bachao",  she tried to lighten the mood.

She was successful.

Sameer looked up with a mischievous glint in his eyes, "Main to kabse soch raha hun kab mujhe badmaash Naina dekhne ko milegi... aur tum kya mujhe pareshaan karogi, ek baar aao toh sahi... dekhna main tumhe kitna pareshaan karunga... aur rahi bachaane ki baat... toh Mrs Maheshwari, aapko toh mujhse koi nahi bacha sakta",  he winked.

Naina turned beetroot when he called her 'Mrs Maheshwari'.

She tried to free her hand, " Chodo Sameer, bohot der ho gayi... mujhe jaana hai. "

He shook his head.

Naina pleaded, "Please, chod do na."

He left her hand with a sigh and Naina quickly stepped out of the car. Then she bent and looked at him through the window... and winked... before running away.

Sameer was stunned. And then he leaned back on the seat, a hand on his heart... this girl made his heart change it's beat so often that he wondered how the poor organ was still working.

Naina called out to Preeti who was on her third falooda with Pandit, while Munna sat on the footpath, holding his head.

"Bhabhi, yeh tumhari behen ka pet hai ya kuan... kabse khaa rahi hai", Munna was frustrated.

Naina laughed, dragging Preeti along,  running to join her family.

At home, Preeti groaned about a stomachache.

" Kisne kaha tha itna thoos thoos ke khane ko... teen, teen falooda Preeti? Woh bhi khana khane ke baad? " Naina gave her a disgruntled look.

"Aur kya karti? Tu toh chali gayi apne majnu ke paas... woh Pandit aise ghatiya jokes marta hai ki mere kaan pak gaye... toh socha khane se uska muh band rahega aur saath dene ke liye mujhe bhi khana pada",  Preeti cleared her stand.

She suddenly got excited, forgetting about her pain, " Waise aaj kya hua?  Akele car mein... aur itne romantic jijaji... hayeee... Naina teri life to set hai, yaar. "

Naina smiled dreamily, "Haan, romantic toh bohot hai Sameer... har baar jab milti hun toh mere dil ka haal bura ho jaata hai... pata hai, Preeti, kabhi kabhi to lagta hai kahin mujhe heart attack na aa jaye... aise dekhta hai Sameer mujhe ki sach me dhadkan ruk jaati hai... "

"Oye, hoye... meri padhaku behen bhi romance karna seekh gayi hai...
sach Naina, main tere liye bohot khush hun",  Preeti happily hugged her sister.