It was a tough night for Sameer. What Naina had told him was enough to lose sleep over for weeks. He wanted to ask so many things... wanted to see her reaction... wanted  to know how she had been taking it... wanted her to share her own feelings... wanted to...

But there was no time. He did not say anything on the phone... it had to be in person. He had to look into those brown eyes when he talked to her about it.

Morning was too far away.

He went back to the room from the balcony... Rahul was already asleep.

Sameer sat on his side of the bed, hugging the pillow.

"Jo kabhi kabhi tumhari aankhon mein dikhta hai kya woh sach hai, Naina?" He asked the image that appeared in front of his eyes.

Sadly, the image could not provide any answer. He needed her for that.

It was early hours of morning when Sameer finally dozed off, hugging the pillow.

Next morning, Naina was up early. After a quick bath and shampoo, she dressed up in the new yellow suit. Sonali was ready as well. Dressed in a yellow saree with pearl jewellery, she looked like a princess. The relatives had started to gather in the garden where arrangements for breakfast were going on.

Naina had become comfortable with Sonali's family. They were also treating her like a daughter, taking help whenever she offered.

Since Sonali was not supposed to go down, Naina decided to get breakfast for both of them.

In the garden where the tables were set up, Naina picked up a plate, filling it up with a few dishes. She then picked up a few things in another plate for herself. Balancing both in her hand, she started walking towards the stairs, avoiding the guests coming in and out of the building.

The moment she climbed one step, someone was coming down holding a stack of gifts. His face was not visible... it was evident that he could not see ahead.

"O hello, hello, hello... gift wale... ruk jao mere paas khana hai." She hollered.

He stopped, speaking in a confused voice, "Khana kha liya hai maine."

"Tumhare liye nahi hai... upar dulhan ke liye le jaa rahi hun. Main peeche hoti hun fir tum nikalna." She stepped aside, away from the stairs, "Ab jao."

The person glanced in her direction as he crossed her. Naina did not pay any attention, going up the stairs carefully balancing the plates.

She and Sonali had breakfast together.

There was nothing to do after that. Haldi ritual could be started only when the haldi arrived from Rahul's house.

"Naina, tu makeup kyon nahi karti?" Sonali asked.

Naina shrugged, "Kabhi kiya hi nahi... hamare ghar mein yeh sab karna achha nahi mante... aur mujhe aata bhi nahi hai."

"Isme bura kya hai? Teri family ka thoda alag hisaab lagta hai." Sonali voices her opinion, without showing any disrespect for her family.

Suddenly her face brightened, "Chal main karti hun aaj tera make up. Koi mushkil thodi hai. Yeh toh tu do minute mein seekh jayegi."

Naina tried to dissuade her but Sonali didn't take no for an answer.

Making her sit in front of the mirror, Sonali started working on her face, telling Naina about each product as she used it, not that she herself used too many, but a little base, some compact, eyeliner, a touch of blush and a light shade of lipstick.

When Naina saw herself, she found it all too much.

"Dho lene de please, Sonali... yeh bohot saara hai... mujhe ajeeb lag raha hai... Sameer dekhega toh hansega mujhpe." She pleaded.

"Arre hosh udd jayenge Sameer ke... chal uss pe chod dete hain. Uspe kaisa asar hota hai woh dekhke fir saaf kar lena... theek hai?" Sonali made a deal.

Naina agreed half heartedly.

Sameer was ready in the morning. He had chosen to wear the yellow and orange kurta that bua dadi had gifted him.

"Kya baat hai, Sameer... tu toh kurte mein aur bhi zyaada handsome lag raha hai. Pehli baar dekha hai yeh pehne hue." Rahul praised him as he came out of the bathroom.

"Thanks. Rahul, woh Naina keh rahi thi ki haldi bhejni hai Sonali ke ghar... woh main leke jaun kya? Please?" He looked at Rahul with hopeful eyes.

"Arre haan yaar, isme please ki kya baat hai. Rishi aur mere ek do cousins jaayenge. Tu bhi chala ja... kaunsa reservation karani hai." He laughed.

Sameer watched in wonder as everyone smeared Rahul in the yellow paste... and he enjoyed it.

"Sameer, tum bhi laga do bhai ko," Rishi called out to him.

Sameer was a little apprehensive but when Rahul asked him to come, he sat on his knees to take some paste on his two fingers, applying it carefully on Rahul's face.

"Arre aise kya laga rahe ho Sameer beta, achhe se pura rang do isse... jitna zyaada haldi ka rang chadega utna hi dono ka pyaar gehra hoga." Rahul's elderly aunt prompted him.

"Aisa hota hai?" Sameer looked back at her, surprised.

Everyone laughed.

The ritual was completed happily.

A little later, Rahul's mother brought the bowl of haldi to be taken to the bride.

"Le Rishi, sambhal ke leja... bhabhi ke liye." She handed it to her younger son.

Sameer, along with Rishi and two more boys walked to the next society.

As they neared Sonali's house, it took extreme effort for him to walk along with the boys and not sprint up her stairs.

To his dismay, everyone stopped at the covered area in the garden, not going to the house.

They handed the bowl to Sonali's mother. Amit asked them to come for some snacks and the boys gladly followed, except one. Sameer desperately looked around, searching for her in the groups sitting and chatting. His eyes fell on Sonali's mother who was walking towards the house, carrying the bowl of haldi, along with some more ladies.

He rushed to help, "Layiye aunty, main pakad leta hun... upar pohochana hai na."

"Nahi, nahi beta, aap aaram se baithiye, hum log hain na." She smiled, showing him the seating area to go and relax.

He wanted to tell her that he could relax only after meeting his Naina. With a dejected face, he came back to sit... thinking of some other way.

Within a few minutes, Amit came to him, "Arre aapne kuch liya nahi? Aaiye na, kuch kha lijiye."

"Thanks, par mujhe abhi bhook nahi hai." He managed a small smile.

"Chalo Sameer, fir upar chalte hain... bhabhi ko haldi bhi toh lagani hai." Rishi was like godsend.

Grinning, Sameer got up immediately, walking along with them to Sonali's house.

The room was devoid of any furniture, except a few chairs where some old ladies were seated. White sheets covered the mattresses placed on the floor. Mostly people sat there. His eyes searched again.

Naina was not amongst them.

He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned quickly.

"Abhi aa rahi hai, Sonali ke saath hai." Bhabhi gave a knowing smile.

He ran one hand through his hair, pursing his lips into a shy smile.

Naina walked out in a few minutes, along with Sonali.

He forgot all about the surroundings.

She was wearing a yellow suit with purple border and dupatta. Her open hair framed the face that was... that looked different. Sameer gaped with wide eyes... she was wearing make up. Her lined up eyes  made them look more brown, more dreamy. And her lips... his heart did a somersault... Naina was wearing a lipstick. He had seen her wearing it only once... at the freshers party. And once she had worn gloss. But today she was not wearing a red shade, but it still made her lips look so alluring.

Naina helped Sonali to sit on the low wooden stool, then walked aside, slowly moving near the kitchen door. Sameer thought she had not seen him yet.

He was the first person she had noticed from the corner of her eye as she had entered the room. Trying to keep her breathing normal as his kurta clad image created a storm inside her she made Sonali sit at her designated place before moving at the back of the room, till she was near the kitchen.

Her eyes darted to him... he had nowhere else to look.

Naina let her gaze roam over him, loving the colourful kurta. Going back to his face, she raised her eyebrows with a faint tilt of head, showing her admiration.

He was amazed at how she openly moved her eyes over him, in a room full of people... and let her appreciation show.

Sameer lowered his eyes, blushing.

His girl always did what he would have never expected from her... taking him by surprise.

"Naina, mera peela dupatta bhi laa de room se, sar pe rakhne ke liye, " Sonali's voice brought them out of their lost state.

Naina rushed to the room. Seeing everyone busy with the preparation of the ritual, Sameer quietly slipped to the room behind her.

As Naina turned after taking the dupatta from the cupboard, her heart lurched.

He stood there with crossed hands... against the locked door.

She remembered their last night's conversation over the phone... and the dupatta fell from her hands.

He reached her in fraction of a second, bending down to pick it up at the same time as her. Their heads banged with each other.

"Ahh..." Naina straightened, rubbing her forehead.

Sameer pressed his, immediately holding one ear to apologise, bringing a smile to her face.

She picked up the dupatta, moving past him to go.

He held her wrist. As she looked back, he shook his head once.

"Bas yeh dupatta deke aati hun... tum yahin ruko." Her soft voice made his heart go racing.

Naina was back in less than a minute, securing the latch on the door.

She did not turn, suddenly feeling a strange nervousness in facing him in a closed room.

Sameer walked to her, stopping right behind. Holding her shoulders, he made her turn.

Her eyes were lowered... he could see the line over her lashes, making them look thicker and darker. Cupping her face with one hand, he touched the side of her lip with his thumb.

"Ek toh pehle hi ghaayal karke rakha hai... upar se yeh makeup karke aaj jaan lene ka iraada hai kya?" He whispered.

Her eyes shot up, "Bola hai na aisi baat mat nikala karo muh se... hato muh dho ke aati hun... maine toh pehle hi Sonali ko kaha tha yeh sab mujh se nahi hoga."

She started to move sideways... he stepped forward, his frame pressing into her, pinning her to the door.

"Sam... Sameer, " she gasped.

"Aaj yeh kyon nahi pehna?" His finger touched her nose.

"Woh... woh match nahi karta inn kapdon se, " she uttered with difficulty.

"Par yeh make up bohot match kar raha hai... isse hatana mat... tumhari aankhon aur bhi gehri lag rahi hain." He looked deep into her eyes making her forget everything.

"Mujhe kuch puchna hai tumse," he spoke against her cheek, his lips brushing against her skin, her knees going weak.

A knock on the door made her jerk... and her lips touched his neck.

"Naina, kya kar rahi hai... bahar aaja... Sonali ko haldi lagani hai na." Bhabhi's voice rang in their ears.

"Aa... aati hun bhabhi, " she answered.

Sameer sighed, placing his forehead on hers, "Mere liye kab time milega tumhe?"

"Abhi toh jaana hoga, Sameer... tum aise karna, paanch minute baad nikalna... main bahar se sabko hata lungi... saath mein hi kitchen hai, wahan bahar ka ek darwaza hai... wahan se chale jana." She directed him.

When he did not make any attempt to move, she raised her hand to his hair, running her fingers through them, "Aaj tum bhi bade jaanleva lag rahe ho."

He looked up...

"Jaan toh tum hi ho meri." His voice was rough.

"Aur tum meri."

She let her hand fall from his hair, slowly moving down his face, grazing over his neck till it reached his heart. She applied a little pressure and Sameer stepped back.

Naina opened the door a bit and walked out, closing it behind her.

Sameer exhaled loudly and turned to look at the room. He walked towards some clothes kept on the bed, recognising one outfit... it was Naina's suit that Phulla bua had got made for her.

"Toh shaam ko yeh pehenne wali ho tum." He touched the soft silk material.

Turning to his side, his eyes fell on his reflection in the mirror. In the bright daylight, he could see the lipstick mark on his neck. When Naina had jumped hearing the knock, that time she must have given it to him.

He lovingly moved his fingers over it, wishing he could let it be.

But that was not possible... he took out his handkerchief and wiped the mark.

Walking back to the door, he opened a crack to see everyone busy, and moved out to the kitchen, walking out the open  door to reach the stairs.