Rahul and Sonali joined college after another week. Naina was happy to meet her friend after almost ten days. They were back from their honeymoon and were staying in their new house.

"Naina, tu aana ghar pe... itna maza aayega... koi tension nahi hai... koi dantne wala nahi ki abhi sone ka time hai, abhi uthne ka, abhi khane ka, apna kamra saaf karo, yeh khao, woh khao... kuch nahi... apni marzi se raho. Bada achha lagta hai." She gloated about the new found freedom.

Naina was surprised that Rahul's parents had left the entire house to them and gone back so soon.

"Rahul ke ghar wale itni jaldi chale gaye? Tu toh unse theek se mili bhi nahi... shaadi ke do din baad hi tum log Shimla chale gaye the aur ab woh sab nahi hain... tujhe ghar mein akele rehna ajeeb nahi lagta?" Naina asked, thinking about her own house in Ahmedabad which was always full of people... including taiji from the neighbouring house.

Sonali winked, "Rahul hai na mere saath... akeli kahan hun... aur uski family se shaadi se pehle kaafi baatein hui thi... ab exams ke baad hum kuch din wahan jaake rahenge... hum soch rahe hain iss sunday ghar pe tumko bula le... saara din humare saath rehna... raat ko aa jaana... theek hai?"

"Abhi nahi Sonali, iss sunday kuch kaam hai show ka... baad mein aa jayenge." Naina gave an apologetic smile.

Sonali was sad for a moment, then smiled again, "Koi nahi, agle hafte rakh lenge... tu apna kaam poora kar le pehle."

Naina settled on her first seat. Sameer joined her a little later after talking to Rahul outside the class.

The study sessions had started as there were just a few months left for exams. Naina had been studying with Sameer in the library and sometime continuing at their spot as well, with him whining about it all the time.

"Kya Naina, yeh hamara time hota hai... isme kyon padhna hai? Roz itni der padhte hain na library mein... aur ab toh main akele bhi saare chapters kar raha hun jo tum bolti ho... raat ko der tak apne kamre mein yehi karta hun... fir bhi tum yahan books le aati ho." He huffed when Naina carried the study material again to the ground one day.

She sat next to him, placing the books in front, "Sameer, thode din ki hi baat hai... uske baad kahin bhi mat padhna... ek baar exams ho jaayein toh fir tumhari chutti... jab do saal se itni mehnat ki hai tumne toh iss baar kyon peeche rehna... main chahti hun iss baar bhi tumhara naam newspaper mein aaye."

"Aayega na... ki kaise ek bechara ladka padh padh ke pagal ho gaya," he pouted, wrapping his hands around the knees as he sat.

Naina smirked at his antics, "Aajkal tum zyada hi drama karne lage ho... kabhi suna hai kisiko padhai se pagal hote hue jo tum hoge?"

He lifted his face to her, directly looking into her eyes, "Main ho sakta hun... tumhare liye pyar mein, padhai mein... jiss cheez mein tum saath ho main usme pagal ho sakta hun... ho chuka hun."

She was lost in the depth of his eyes... the dark pools of love... and longing.

Naina could feel her heartbeat going erratic... a faint thought gnawed at the back of her mind... if she gave in now, he wouldn't let any studying happen here today.

Clearing her throat, she shifted back, tearing her eyes away from him reluctantly.

With a sigh, Sameer straightened.

Picking up a book, he mumbled under his breath, "Chal beta Sameer, aaj bas yehi milega."

They worked till the evening light turned into darkness, forcing Naina to shut the books.

"Chalo, abhi wapas chalte hain... baaki ka hum apne room mein kar lenge." She gathered the books to keep them back in the bag.

"Sachhi... aajaun tumhare room mein?" His elation dripped from his voice.

Naina narrowed her eyes at him, "Tum apne room mein aur main aone room mein... samjhe."

She started to get up, smiling at the sudden switch in his expression.

"Uh... Naina, thodi der ruko na," he held her arm.

She sat back, snuggling against him as he pulled her closer.

"Yeh saal khatam hone wala hai, Naina... dus dinon mein... aur fir jo saal shuru hoga woh mere liye sabse khaas hoga... kyonki usme main tumhe saari duniya ke saamne Naina Maheshwari banake apne ghar launga." He spoke against her hair, one hand around her, the other linking his fingers with hers.

She felt a melting feeling inside her... in less than six months, they would be married... bound with each other forever...

"Sameer, kabhi kabhi mujhe darr lagta hai ki yeh sab sach hai bhi ya nahi." She felt a lump in her throat.

"Kyon? Tumhe kis pe bharosa nahi hai... khud pe ya mujh pe?" His voice was soft.

"Apni kismat pe... mujhe hamesha apni kismat se shikayat rahi hai... tab bhi thi jab tum mile the... kyonki tab tum mujhse bohot door the... aisa lagta tha main zameen hun toh tum aasman ho... kabhi tum tak nahi pohoch paungi." She shivered at the memory.

Sameer stroked her face, "Maine bohot dard diya na tumhe?"

"Dard toh tha... par fir bhi lagta tha ki tumhe pyar karne se hi meri zindagi badalne lagi hai... tumhara pyar paane ki chahat toh thi par umeed nahi thi... hamara koi mel hi nahi tha, Sameer... kahan tum kahan main... par dil yeh sab kahan dekhta hai... woh toh bas tumhara hi naam leta raha... kitni baar samjhane ki koshish ki dimaag ne... lekin tumhara junoon iss kadar chaa gaya tha ki main tumhare alawa kuch soch hi nahi paati thi... kai baar socha tumhe bata dun... par himmat nahi hui... laga tum toh hansne lagoge yeh sunke... ki mere jaisi ladki ne socha bhi kaise tumhare baare mein... jab tumse door jaane ka faisla liya tha toh itni mushkil se dil ko sambhala tha... jis din Ahmedabad se Mumbai ki train pakdi thi uss din laga aaj tumko kho diya... hamesha hamesha ke liye... sapne mein bhi nahi soch sakti thi ki tumse door nahi jaa rahi, tumhare paas aa rahi hun." Her eyes turned misty.

"Main bhi toh sabse door hone ke liye hi aaya tha, Naina... aur dekho hamari kismat ne hum dono ko wahan laake khada kar diya jahan hamein hona chahiye tha... ek dusre ke saath... toh fir tum kismat pe bharosa kyon nahi kar paa rahi?" He said with all the warmth.

"Kyonki kabhi soch bhi nahi sakti thi ki meri kismat mein tum hoge." Tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Hum dono hamesha saath rahenge... ab tum kabhi aisa mat sochna... tumhari jaisi ladki ko toh aur bhi achha ladka milna chahiye tha... main kismat wala hun jisse tum mili ho... Naina, aasman main nahi tum ho... mera aasman, mera sukoon, meri jannat." He cupped her face, wiping the tears with his thumb.

She smiled, "Kabhi door mat hona mujhse... kabhi bhi nahi."

"Door? Main toh aur paas aane ko taiyar hun aur tum door jaane ki baat kar rahi ho... jaan, tumse alag ek ek pal kaise kat ta hun yeh main hi jaanta hun... mere haath mein ho toh main bas tumhare saath hi baitha rahun har samay... tumse chipak ke." He rubbed his nose with hers.

"Uske liye mujhe pehle Naina Maheshwari banna padega na!" She could feel the affect of his words and his touch in the pit of her stomach.

"Tum Naina Maheshwari toh ban chuki ho par ek baar sabke saamne yeh elaan ho jaye toh tumhe koi mujhse door nahi rakh payega... tum khud bhi nahi." He nuzzled his nose in her hair, deeply inhaling the scent of her shampoo.

"Tumse door hona hi kyon hai... main toh tumhare paas hi rehne waali hun hamesha... chahe tum jo bhi kaho." She said firmly.

"Haan, bas ab ussi din ka intezar hai... jab main..." He left the rest of the sentence unspoken, tightening his hold on her waist... her body shifted up a little with his pull, her face at his level now.

Naina looked into his eyes...

She let her fingers slide in his hair and kissed his cheek.

"Ab jaun?" She asked softly.

He shook his head, "Abhi toh shuru kiya hai... thoda aur.'

She held his face again and kissed the other cheek.

Then, raised her brows in question.

He shook his head lightly, taking his lower lip under the teeth.

Her eyes drifted to his mouth... and darted back up, her lips quivering.

His fingers tightened around her waist... and he dipped his face in her neck, "Naina, meri Naina... tumhe kaise bataun tum kya ho mere liye."

The next few days before the weekend were gone in classes and usual studies. Rahul and Sonali also started sitting with Naina and Sameer in the library, trying to catch on the lectures that they had missed.

Naina had to visit the channel office on Saturday after the lectures.

Sorry for keeping it a bit short today. Will make up for this tomorrow. Occupied with something...