As Naina stepped out her hostel building the next day, she was surprised to find Sameer missing. This was the first instance he was not there waiting for her. She checked the time... she wasn't early. Deciding to wait for him, she stood near the pillar he always leaned upon while he was here.

The bell rang for the first lecture to begin but there was no trace of him. Naina reluctantly started moving towards the classroom, constantly checking behind.

But Sameer did not come.

Since she had entered the class, she had to sit through it, hoping that Sameer might walk in any moment. He didn't.

The only person who could tell her about him was missing too. Rahul and Sonali often skipped lectures to go out. Today happened to be one such day.

When the lecture ended, she ran out to the entrance of the boys hostel, wondering if she should ask any random person to go and check if Sameer was unwell. But most of the students were in classes now and she could not find anyone. As she was walking back slowly, a voice made her eyes brighten.

"Namaste didi".

It was one of the boys Sameer had threatened on the first day of the new session.

"Suno, aaj tumse ek bohot zaroori kaam hai... idhar aao." She called him.

He was visibly scared, "Didi, aaj maine kuch nahi kiya... maine toh uss din bhi nahi kiya tha... woh toh Vivek hi ulta seedha bol raha tha."

"Arre, main woh sab nahi bol rahi... mera ek kaam karo." She did not ask, just ordered him to run to the first floor of boys hostel and check in the particular room number.

"Dheere se khol ke dekhna, Sameer andar ho toh jaake yeh bhi dekhna ki usse bukhar toh nahi hai." She gave him clear instructions.

As the boy ran inside the building, Naina stood chewing her lip, her forehead lined with tension. Unknowingly, her hands folded in prayer.

In less than two minutes, the boy came back, "Didi, woh room pe tala laga hai."

"Tumne theek se dekha? Koi aur room pe toh nahi chale gaye na?" She was both relieved and disappointed.

He shook his head, "Aapne jo bataya wahi gaya tha... ek safai wala ladka bhi tha usse pucha maine... usne kaha yehi room hai Sameer bh... matlab jijaji ka."

Naina was taken aback at his words, "Yeh kya bol rahe ho?"

He panicked, wondering if he had unknowingly revealed the feelings of his senior to his secret crush.

"Kisne kaha aisa bolne ko?" She narrowed her eyes, sure of his answer.

"Please didi, aap unse mat kehna ki maine bata diya... woh... unhone hi kaha tha bhaiya na bolne ko... kaha ki woh ji... jijaji hain." The boy answered in a shaky voice.

In spite of the tension, Naina smiled, "Daro nahi, theek hi kaha tha usne."

He looked up sharply... then relaxed seeing her expression.

"Main jaun?" He saw a chance to get out.

Naina nodded, "Thank you."

As he dashed without looking back, Naina was anxious again.

"Kahan chale gaye ho, Sameer... bata ke toh jaate", she muttered.

She started counting the reasons that make a person leave in a hurry... family emergency was the first one that came to her mind.

"Jo log uski family mein hain, unke liye Sameer aise bina bataye nahi jaayega", she was sure his equation with his mother and her family was not such.

"Sameer ko kuch hua toh nahi ho sakta... mera dil nahi manta ki usse koi chot aayi hai ya koi takleef hai", she was convinced that she would have come to know had he been in any physical discomfort.

Her mind started making a list of places he could be... within the college. His room and class was out. She was sure he wouldn't walk to their spot during regular college hours... they didn't want anyone else to discover their secret place. Canteen... though the chances were less, she rushed to check.

He wasn't there.

Next was library. Hoping to see him seated at the corner table, she ran up the stairs.

Surprisingly, there were quite a few students occupying several tables. It appeared that the new lot was more studious than the previous ones.

But the face she yearned to see was not around. In fact, their corner seat was also taken up by two girls.

With a sinking feeling and heavy steps, Naina walked out. Her eyes started to pool up.

"Kahan dhoondu tumhe?" She sat on the stairs next to the library door as her legs felt weak.

Curious stares from passing students at her falling tears made her aware of the place. Her throat choked up and she wanted to hide somewhere to cry her heart out. The stairs led to the open terrace of college... she ran up.

Once there, she fell on her knees, not able to control her tears.

"Bhagwanji, Sameer jahan bhi ho bas theek ho... usse koi dukh ya takleef mat dena... uski raksha karna", she prayed with closed eyes and cracking voice.

"Naina"

Her eyes flew open.

Sameer stood in front of her. She got up and swiftly took two steps to reach him.

Gingerly moving her hand up, she touched his face, making sure he was real and not just her imagination.

As her hand felt the familiar prickle, a loud sigh escaped her lips as she crashed against him, tightly holding around his waist.

Sameer stood frozen for a moment... then his hands engulfed her sobbing form as he rested his chin on her head.

No one spoke a word.

When her crying subsided a little, she stepped back, urgently touching his face, head, arms, chest...

"Sameer, tum theek ho na... kuch hua toh nahi na tumhe?" She enquired in an urgent voice.

"Main theek hun, Naina... mujhe kuch bhi nahi hua", holding her by shoulders, he softly replied.

The eyes that were filled with tears suddenly blazed with anger.

He didn't see the slap coming.

The loud sound of her palm cracking on his cheek made him gasp as his hand flew up to the stinging cheek.

"Tum samajhte kya ho apne aap ko... jab marzi aaoge jab marzi gayab ho jaoge? Kabhi socha hai mera kya haal ho raha hai dedh ghante se? Kaise kaise darr man mein baithne lage the? Jhooth bolte ho tum, Sameer Maheshwari... koi pyaar nahi karte mujhse... warna ek baar toh sochte aise gayab hone se pehle... ek baar toh mera khyaal aata... par nahi... tumhe koi fikr hi nahi hai... kyon hogi... meri tarah pagal jo nahi ho pyaar mein... tumhe toh sirf..."

She could not complete her sentence as his mouth covered hers.

Naina stood rooted as his arms crushed her while his lips roughly claimed her soft ones in a way that was different than previous times.

Her resistance shattered in no time as her hands moved to his neck, welcoming the intrusion.

His teeth felt sharp on her lip and she gasped... his tongue took the chance and darted right in.

Her hands on his neck fisted, pulling at the hair, grazing the nails on his skin... she was drowning in a new sensation he was evoking in her... a feeling of unknown passion surged through her as his tongue explored the depths of her mouth. Not knowing how to respond, Naina allowed him to go on, the way he wanted, giving him all the access.

His one hand kept her head in place, while the other moved on her back, pressing hard.

When Naina felt she would collapse, he lifted his head.

They breathed heavily, taking in the oxygen their lungs had been devoid of for so long...

His hands were still around her as he touched his forehead to hers, "Sorry."

She felt herself go red... he was saying sorry for something she wanted to thank him for.

As he opened his eyes, her flushed cheeks and the faintest hint of smile on her swollen lips revealed her thoughts to him.

"Kiss ke liye sorry nahi bol raha", he whispered, bringing his mouth over her ear.

Her eyes shot open... and lowered again the next instant, as she saw the dark eyes teeming with passion.

Gently, he placed her head on his chest, his thundering heartbeat reverberating in her ears, matching her own drumming sound.

"Sorry Naina, maine tumhe itna pareshan kar diya... main jis haalat mein tha mujhme himaat nahi thi tumhare paas aane ki... samajh nahi aa raha tha kya karun... isliye yahan chala aaya... akele mein sochne ke liye." His voice was soft, realising how worried she must have been.

His words started to clear up her mind and she remembered the reason for coming here.

Instantly, she stepped back, some traces of anger coming back but more of concern shone in her eyes at his statement.

"Kaisi haalat? Kya hua hai?" She asked, silently praying for everything to be fine.

He took a deep breath, "Naina, mujhe jaana hoga."

The ground beneath her feet slipped away, "Ka... kahan?"

He lowered his head, "Subah munshiji ka phone aaya tha... che mahine pehle kuch nayi machine order kari thi factory ke liye... woh aa gayi hain... ab unka operation sikhane ke liye Germany se log aayenge kal... mujhe bulaya hai munshiji ne... jis se main unn nayi machines ke baare mein jaan sakun. Do teen din wahi rehna hoga."

After such a shock of him going missing and them him making a heavy statement of leaving, this trip of two three days brought a big sense of relief to her heart.

"Sameer, tumhe do teen din ke liye Ahmedabad hi toh jaana hai na... isme na batane wali kya baat hai... iske liye himmat jutane jaisa toh kuch nahi tha." She said with a sigh.

His eyes turned wide, "Main itne din tumse door jaane ki baat kar raha hun aur tum keh rahi ho isme koi badi baat nahi hai."

She smiled, "Arre baba, kaam toh karna padega na... maanti hun mushkil hoga par do teen din mein wapas aa jaaoge... ab agle saal se factory ka saara kaam tumhe hi sambhalna hai... toh aadat dalni padegi."

He sulked at her reaction, "Yahan main pagal ho raha hun ki tumhare bina main kaise rahunga aur madam khushi khushi mujhe jaane ko keh rahi hain... Naina, jitna main pyaar karta hun na tumse, tum mujhse nahi karti."

She fondly looked at the child standing in front of her, then stepped back into his arms.

"Subah se paaglon ki tarah dhoond rahi thi tumhe... jaan nikal gayi thi meri ki pata nahi kya hua tumhe... bas ek hi baat thi man mein, ki tum theek ho... kisi takleef mein na ho... itni tension ke baad jab ye do din ki baat suni toh uss samay ke bhari bharkam khyaalon ke aage yeh ek choti baat lagi." She spoke against his chest.

Sameer tightened his arms around her, "Tumse door rehna mere liye choti baat nahi hai, Naina."

She placed a kiss on his heart, "Mere liye bhi nahi hai... lekin tumhe aage badhte hue dekhna chahti hun... agar munshiji ne bulaya hai toh bohot zaroori hoga na... ab nayi machines ke baare mein toh naye zamane ke log hi achhe se samajh payenge... tumhara jaana hi theek hoga."

"Mujhe nahi badhna aage... agar tum saath nahi ho toh mujhe kuch nahi seekhna." He pouted.

She looked up at him, "Sameer, main tumhari kamzori nahi taqat banna chahti hun... jaise tumne hamesha mera saath diya hai aage badhne mein, main bhi tumhara saath dena chahti hun... please zid mat karo... main nahi seh paungi agar kal koi tum pe ungli uthayega ki apne nanu ki factory sambhalne mein tumse koi galti hui... nanaji ke liye tumhe jaana hoga."

The name of his nanu brought back the fond memories when he had once patted his grandson's head and said, "Mujhe pata hai ek din tu bohot achhe se yeh sab sambhal lega... aur apni mehnat se hamare naam ko aur bhi aage le jaayega... Sameer, beta hamesha yaad rakhna... jeevan mein aage badhna bohot zaroori hota hai... ek jagah ruk jaane wala toh paani bhi peene layak nahi rehta... kitni bhi mushkilein aa jaayein, mera sher darega nahi... wada kar mujhse."

And Sameer had promised.