The night kept him awake again... but not because of pain. He was lost in Naina. This girl never failed to surprise him. At this age,when girls, or even boys, would only think about buying new clothes or shoes or such things, this girl was happy to earn enough money to pay her hostel fees... she wanted to be self sufficient.

When he had accepted the fact that he could only bring bad luck to anyone who was close to him... she pronounced him lucky for herself...  not knowing that she was closest to his heart.

She was lucky for him. She brought happiness whenever she was around. She was the oasis to his parched self. She was the breath of fresh air that made him feel alive again. She was the fragrance that soaked his soul.

He needed her in his life. Oh God!  He definitely did.

"No, I won't let you go... I'll fight with my destiny this time... Naina, I'll not let you go."

He made a promise to himself.

Sleep came easily after that.

Next morning, he waited for her at the college gate. As she walked out of her hostel building, a wide smile spread on her face, seeing him.

"Achcha laga ki tumne meri baat man li...  aaj saare lectures attend karna, " she soaked him with her warmth.

He smiled and accompanied her. Few steps from their classroom, he halted, "suno Naina."

She stopped and looked back at him.

"Bolo"

"Wo mujhe kehna tha... matlab... wo tumhari friends hain na... Sonali aur Komal aur Nisha... "

Naina's heart lurched... is he interested in her friends?  She stared at him in shock.

"Wo main keh raha tha... matlab..."

It took all her strength for Naina to remain standing... her legs had turned to jelly... almost giving up to support her.

"Kya Sameer",  she managed to speak.

" Naina, tum unke saath kyon nahi baithti class mein... sabse alag khaali bench pe kyun baithti ho? " He said everything in one go.

"Kyon... usse kya fark padta hai?"

"Padta hai... matlab nahi... fark nahi padta... par akele baithna theek nahi hai na... matlab kuch puchna ho ya kuch chahiye ho to... " He was sounding silly to himself.

"Wo log first bench pe nahi baithna chahte... aur main hamesha se aage baithti hun... school mein bhi aage hi baithti thi",  Naina could not understand what he wanted.

Sameer was getting frustrated, not knowing how to explain, " Aise akele baithna achcha nahi lagta... sab sochenki  ki tum kisi se dosti nahi karna chahti. "

Naina widened her eyes. The Sameer Maheshwari... who always stayed aloof... wanted her to mix up with others. What was wrong with him?  She was friendly with so many people.  It was him who needed to up his game.

Finally, Sameer gave up and walked in, frustrated at his inability to make her understand.

He settled at the back as Naina occupied the first row.  In no time, Rahul was there to give her company. But Naina was still lost in Sameer's attempt at making her sit with other girls. She paid half hearted attention to what the professor was teaching. In the middle of the lecture, she looked back and saw him looking at Rahul with a grim expression on his face.
Naina immediately glanced at the boy sitting with her. Rahul was pointing at her notebook and asking something.

The realisation finally struck Naina. And she couldn't suppress a smile.

Thankfully, rest of the classes for the day were cancelled as there was some staff meeting. Rahul jumped in excitement, "Naina, chalo canteen chalte hain... classes cancel hone ki khushi mein meri taraf se treat."

Naina had no such intention, "Nahi Rahul, mujhe Principal ma'am ke paas jaana hai... kuch kaam hai. Tum log jao." As she reached the door, she gave a quick glance to Sameer and left.

After fifteen minutes, she walked in the library to find him waiting, at the window.

"Tum yahan?" She asked with a straight face.

"Kyon, mujhe yahan nahi hona chahiye tha?" His annoyance was evident.

"Maine socha tum shayad canteen jaoge?" She bit her lip to stop herself from smiling.

Sameer narrowed his eyes and glared at her... then his face relaxed into a smile. She was teasing him. This girl...

He sat down, "Aur maine socha thoda padh leta hun... tumne kaha tha na ki tum padha dogi".

Naina smiled and pulled her chair, " Haan, padha dungi... par usse pehle ek wada". She earned another surprised look.

"Tum mujhse jo bhi kehna chaho... bina ghabraye keh dena... subah ki tarah nahi"

His face turned red... she had understood.

"Rahul sirf mujhse padhai mein help le raha hai... usne mujhe kabhi pareshaan nahi kiya... kuch galat bhi nahi kaha... haan bas ek baar... " She didn't know if she should have mentioned this to Sameer or not.

He was alert, "ek baar kya? Usne kuch kaha tumhe? Batao",  he was getting impatient.

" Kuch galat to nahi... bas tareef kari thi... thodi shaayari type ki... freshers party ke din... mujhe ajeeb laga kyonki mujhe kabhi kisi ne aisa kaha nahi... matlab meri koi kya tareef karega." Naina was visibly embarrassed.

Sameer's fists tightened under the table, turning his knuckles white. He wanted to go right now and teach that Rahul a lesson. But Naina would not like it.  He tried to compose himself.

"Chalo batao tumne kal wale notebook ki reading ki?" Naina turned her teacher mode on, trying to divert his attention from Rahul.

They spend two hours  studying, without realising that lunch time in the mess was over.

As Naina checked her watch, she exclaimed without thinking, "Offo... aaj phir lunch miss ho gaya... ab chai se kaam chalana padega."

She bit her tongue, hoping Sameer had not heard.

But he had. He gave her a confused look,  "chai se kyon? Canteen mein kha lo... Chai se pet thodi bharega."

"Haan, haan... baad mein kha lungi... chalo main chalti hun... bye",  she wanted to leave before Sameer could ask anything.

It hit him a little late, but Sameer understood...  he realized that she won't be spending money... only yesterday she had told him how bad she felt taking money from her chachaji. He wondered how it must feel to not have enough money to even eat properly... he didn't get a lot of things in life but money was not one of them... he always had more than he wanted... he could always buy whatever could be bought with money. He could easily take her to the canteen and buy whatever she wanted to eat... but Naina would feel insulted at such a suggestion. Suddenly his eyes lit up.

" Naina, aadhe ghante mein wahin milogi? "

"Kya hua Sameer? Kuch kaam tha kya? " She was surprised at his request... happy too.

"Bas tum aa jaana... aaogi na? " He asked with hopeful eyes.

Naina smiled and nodded before leaving.

When she reached the ground later, Sameer was not there. She sat down, resting her back at the trunk. How much had changed since she came to this spot first time. She recollected the day she had come to know about Sameer staying right here, in the hostel... she was in a turmoil she couldn't understand herself. When she came here for some solace, she unknowingly had ventured into his territory. And he had let her...  he had shared his grief with her, let her see his vulnerable side, he had not stuck to the stupid machoism that boys should not cry,  he had considered her important enough to share his pain... And that interaction had melted the ice between them... well, to some extent.

He was still hesitant about talking to her directly, but she could see that he was trying. It was easier for her to open up to him as she was in love with him... but he had never even said hi to her till a few days back. Of course, he knew she was in his school, he himself said so, but she was just another student for him. Why would he attach any emotion to a fellow student? But now he had started considering her a friend... Well... Had he?

And Naina realised that she still needed some answers.

"Aaj puch le Naina, khud ko kab tak dhoke mein rakhegi," she promised herself.

"Khud se baatein kar rahi ho?", Sameer stood grinning at her, with a newspaper wrapped packet in his hand.

" Kuch nahi... wo bas aise hi" Naina mumbled shyly.

"Yeh kya hai? " She wanted to divert his attention.

"Kuch special." Sameer settled in front of her and opened the covering.

There were two paper plates piled with Maggi noodles... one with vegetables, one plain.

"Maggiiiiii",  Naina squealed in happiness.

" Konsa pasand hai tumhe... plain ya vegetables wala? " Sameer wanted her to choose.

"Vegetables wala," She snatched the plate from him.

He fished out two forks from his pocket and handed one to her. She grabbed it and immediately took a mouthful... closing her eyes in pleasure. Sameer just sat there, drowning in her delight... How could  such a common thing make someone so happy,  he wondered.

After a few mouthfuls, Naina opened her eyes and noticed he hadn't started to eat yet.

"Tum bhi khao na... bohot acchi hai", she gestured with her thumb joining her forefinger.

As he was about to take first bite, she asked,  " Umm... main thoda sa taste karlu... mujhe plain bhi pasand hai."

Sameer laughed at her innocent question and offered his plate to her. Naina picked up a little with her hands,  "Fork to jhootha hai na",  she scrunched her nose.

She closed her eyes again as she popped it in her mouth, licking her fingers.

" Yeh bhi mast hai... Khao na",  she continued to relish it.

Sameer took two forkfuls and then extended his hand towards her plate, "Mujhe bhi taste karao. "

He instantly got a light smack on his hand and Naina shifted her plate far from him.

She gave him a look of false annoyance, "Meri waali Maggi sirf meri hoti hai... koi aur nahi le sakta usme se... samjhe?"

Sameer was shocked at her reaction for an instant and then burst out laughing. She was such a kid...

She frowned at him for a moment and then, went back to her Maggi... smile plastered on her face. In no time she had polished off the entire thing. Licking her lips, she let off a long breath.

"Mazaa aa gaya... Mumbai aane ke baad maine pehli baar Maggi khayi hai... tumhe andaza bhi nahi hoga mujhe kaisa lag raha hai",  Her excitement was evident in her eyes.

Sameer was lost in her expression. Naina looked at his almost full plate and gave a perplexed look,  " Tum kyun nahi khaa rahe? Lunch to tumne bhi miss kiya hai na... to khao",  she directed like a teacher.

Sameer slowly ate some more while Naina contently sat looking ahead.

"Tum meri wali mein se chaho to aur kha sakti ho... mujhe zyaada bhukh nahi hai" He offered.

She gave him a surprised look and he realised his folly.

"Sorry, yeh to jhootha ho gaya... mujhe khyaal nahi raha... sorry" Sameer sheepishly apologised.

Naina's face broke into a smile, "sorry ki zaroorat nahi hai... main kha sakti hun agar tum share kar sakte ho to... Bolo?" She again stunned him.

He offered his plate and Naina took his fork and transferred some of it to her empty plate, returning his plate and fork. She went on to enjoy the extra treat with same enthusiasm.

Sameer had a rough time eating his share as his mind had gone into overdrive... but he somehow finished what was in plate, to avoid any more questions from Naina.

He took out the bottle of water that he had brought along and offered to her.

She gladly accepted it and opening the lid, raised it to drink without touching the bottle to her mouth. As she took few more gulps, few trickles escaped her lips and slipped down to her throat, making her pink top a little wet at the neckline.

Sameer looked away.

When she was done, Naina handed the bottle to him and he also took a few gulps, closed the lid tight and placed it next to him on the ground.

"Thank you." Naina gave a satisfied smile to Sameer,  "par yeh tumne kaise kiya? Itni jaldi kahan se Maggi laye? " Her curiosity was back.

Sameer was happy that she wasn't hungry anymore, "Mess wale bhaiya se banwaya. " He gave a one liner.

But Naina was not to be silenced easily,  "Mess wale bhaiya se? Mess mein kahan Maggi banti hai?  Hamare yahan to kabhi nahi mili... tum logon ko milti hai kya? " She was annoyed at the discrimination.

"Nahi, hamare yahan bhi nahi banti. Woh to hum log apni khud kharid ke rakhte hain jisse kabhi raat mein ya aise hi bhookh lage to... wo bhaiya paise lekar bana dete hain... sabhi boys karte hain aisa."

Naina was genuinely impressed with their resourcefulness.

Sameer continued, "Aaj meri wajah se tumhara lunch miss ho gaya to maine socha ki tumhe bhookha na rehna pade, isliye le aaya. Par mujhe nahi pata tha tumhare liye yeh itni badi cheez hai."

"Sameer, mere ghar mein saada khana banta hai... maine hamesha wohi khaya hai... aur chachiji to zyaadaatar tinde hi banati thi", she stiffled a laugh,  " bahar ki cheezein hamare yahan nahi aati... kabhi kabhi jab taiji nahi hoti thi to chachiji mujhe aur Preeti ko Maggi leke aane deti thi... par aisa mushkil se saal me do teen baar hota tha... hamare liye woh din bada khaas hota tha... tumne ussi tarah mera aaj ka din khaas bana diya. Thank you."

Sameer never thought some people would be living like this... devoid of such simple things in life which had absolutely no meaning for him as he had access to whatever he wanted to eat.

"Tumhe khushi deke mujhe achcha laga, Naina... ab iske badle mein kuch puchun to bataogi? "

"Haan",  she said without any hesitation.

" Tumhe jhootha khaane se koi problem nahi hoti? Main to nahi kha sakta."

Naina gulped, unsure of what to say.  Her mind started its silent conversation again, "Mauka hai, Naina... puch le... sab saaf saaf pata to chale jaayega". And she decided to clarify what was going on in her mind for sometime now.

" Sameer, tum mujhe kya samjhte ho? "

Sameer instantly sat straight, "kya hua Naina? Maine kuch galat kaha kya? I'm sorry... main to bus... ", Naina pacified him by raising her palms to him.

" Mera matlab tha tum mujhe apna dost maante ho kya? Kyonki main to tumhe dost maan chuki hun... aur yeh Naina Agarwal apne doston ko dil se apna manti hai... toh phir unka jhootha khaane mein kya problem hai... waise bhi jhootha khaane se pyaar badhta hai. " 

The moment Naina said it, she could have hit herself. She shut her eyes tight and with great difficulty, controlled her hand from hitting her forehead.

Sameer looked at her with a jerk, and seeing her sitting with tightly shut eyes and scrunched nose, he realised he had fallen even more in love with her.