Mr Kapoor was extra nice to Naina and Sameer when they met him in his office.

"Aaiye Naina ji, aap toh show shuru hone se pehle hi chaa gayi. Mujhe pata chala ki new year ke pehle hafte mein jo women achievers pe film bani hai usme aap bhi hongi. Yeh toh hamare show ke liye bhi bohot faydemand hoga." His voice was louder than usual.

"Aap aisa kijiye, ek chota sa shoot hamare liye bhi kar dijiye. Hum jo promo dikha rahe hain uske saath isse bhi dikha denge. Fir jab do tareekh se show shuru hoga toh sab aapka naam jaante honge, saath hi aapki film bhi tab tak aa chuki hogi." He continued in his boisterous style, without giving anyone a chance to speak.

Naina looked at Sameer.

"Yeh toh sachmuch achha idea hai, Naina. Mere khyaal se tumhe try karna chahiye." Sameer was equally excited.

Naina gave her consent for the shoot.

"Rekha, madam ko le jao aur zara dresses dikha do inke size mein." He called out to the assistant.

Both Naina and Sameer looked at him in surprise.

"Dress kis liye? Main koi role thodi karne ja rahi hun." Naina asked.

"Oho role ke liye nahi, bas koi dusra dress pasand kar lijiye shoot ke liye." Mr Kapoor replied.

Naina looked down at the blue suit she was wearing, then looked at Sameer. He was equally confused.

"In kapdon mein kya problem hai, Naina inme shooting kyon nahi kar sakti?" Sameer voiced his doubt.

Mr Kapoor scanned her once, then smiled at Sameer, "Sameer ji, problem toh koi nahi hai... bas modern nahi hain na... toh pata kaise chalega ki Naina ji ke khyalaat kitne naye hain, inki soch kitne naye zamane ki hai... yeh sab batane ke liye zara personality bhi modern honi chahiye."

"Kapde personality nahi badalte... aapki soch se aapki personality banti hai... Naina ke kuch shabdon se hi sunne walon ko pata chal jayega ki woh kaisi soch rakhti hai... uske liye Naina ko kapde badalne ki zaroorat nahi hai." Sameer tried to control the anger rising in him.

Mr Kapoor was instantly defensive, "Arre aap ghabrao mat... koi aise waise kapde nahi hain... humein pata hai ki aapki wife hain yeh... aisa kuch thodi bolenge... bas Indian ki jagah western dress hoga toh asar zyaada padega... aur Naina toh western kapde pehenti hi hain... fir isme problem nahi honi chahiye."

Naina pressed Sameer's hand under the table, aware of what all was going in his mind and how he was restraining himself.

"Dekhiye Mr Kapoor, mujhe Indian ya western kapdon se pareshani nahi hai..." Naina said in a flat voice, bringing a relieved smile on the older man's face.

But it was wiped off with her next sentence.

"Pareshani aapki baaton se hai... aap aisa show bana rahe hain jahan aap ek ladki ko saari duniya se takkar lekar apne liye kuch haasil karte hue dikha rahe hain... ek taraf aap iss baat pe khushi jata rahe hain ki mera naam women achievers pe bani film mein aaya hai... aur doosri taraf aapko lagta hai ki sab darshak sirf kapdon se kisi ki pehchan samajhte hain? Jee nahi, TV dekhne wale kis hadd tak inn shows ko apne jeevan ka hissa banate hain yeh shayad aap log na samjajh payein kyoki aap logon ke liye yeh bas ek naya project hai... lekin dekhne wale isse aise judd jaate hain jaise yeh sab unki zindagi ka hi hissa ho... unhe itna kamzor mat samajhiye... unke liye aapko yeh tamasha karne ki zaroorat nahi hai." Naina's words were the depiction of thoughts of all fans of good shows.

Mr Kapoor was dejected at her refusal to change her outfit... whatever else Naina had tried to explain did not register much in his business oriented brain. As Naina had correctly assessed, he was only interested in the viewers as long as they brought profit to his company by watching the shows. Once that stopped, his concern shifted to the new ones he was producing. He had no time for people who invested so much emotions into the world that was created in somebody's mind to begin with.

"Aapki saari baatein sahi hain... par aap khud hi ek suit wali ladki ko behenji samjhoge aur choti skirt wali ko modern... aisa toh sabke saath hota hai... isme galat kya hai? Bhai jo jaisa dikhta hai waisa hi log sochenge na uske baare mein. Hum toh TV pe aisa hi dikhate hain." He made another attempt to make them understand.

Naina was still polite but the steely note in her voice ended the discussion.

"Shayad aapke liye modern aur naye zamane ka hone ka matlab hai chote kapde pehenna... par mere liye iska matlab hai purani soch ko badalke aage badhna... jin purani zanjeeron ne humko tarakki karne se rok rakha tha unko tod ke kuch haasil karna... dakiyanusi aur purane khyaalon ko chod dena... modern hona sirf bahar ka roop badalna nahi hota Mr Kapoor, uske liye apne dimag ko, apne khyalaat ko badalna padta hai... ho sakta hai woh choti skirt wali ladki bhi isiliye aise kapde pehennti ho jisse kuch log usse behenji na samjhe... aur usse koi chidaye nahi."

Sameer looked sharply at Naina, reminded of the school days when everyone teased her for her appearance and quiet demeanor. But she appeared to be saying it all in the same flow.

Whether the words had any effect on Mr Kapoor or not was not known but Naina shot for a small sequence in her own suit, talking about the strength of the lead character in her story and also informing the viewers about 'Kaliyaan'.

After collecting her cheque, she left the office with Sameer.

When they reached the parking area, Sameer asked, "Naina, aaj beach pe chalein? Bohot dino se nahi gaye hain."

She happily agreed.

While riding, Sameer recalled the bike ride when he had accompanied Naina to the newspaper office and they had gone to Juhu beach for the first time.

"Pata hai Naina, jab tumhe pehli baar Juhu beach le jaa raha tha na toh main kitna chahta tha ki tum mujhe pakad ke baitho." He spoke over his shoulder.

"Pakad ke hi baithi thi... kandhe pe haath rakh ke." She replied innocently, knowing fully well what he meant.

He pulled her hand that was clutching his waist and flattened the palm on his heart, "Jisko itna chahiye uska kandhe pe haath rakhne se kaise kaam chalta?"

Naina rested her chin on his shoulder, rubbing her nose on his ear, "Itne se kaam chalega ya..."

He almost lost his balance.

She chuckled, "Kya hua? Mr Romantic Maheshwari ke liye romance zyada ho gaya kya?"

"Tum yeh sab tabhi kyon karti ho jab bohot saare log aas paas hote hain? Akele mein toh door bhaagne ki jaldi mein rehti ho." He groaned.

"Abhi toh paas hun na... itne paas," her voice was throaty as she placed a kiss behind his ear.

The bike came to a screeching halt. Naina slid more into him with the sudden brake.

"Bike kyon rok di, Sameer? Yahan kuch kaam hai kya?" She looked at him through the rear view mirror.

Sameer held her hand that was on his chest, looking at her reflection with narrowed eyes, "Hai, bohot khaas kaam hai... meri Naina ka mood romance ka hai toh main mana kaise kar sakta hun... toh beach pohochne se pehle yahin kuch..."

She knew her teasing had gone too far... and she looked around.

"Sam... Sameer... yahan kitne log hain." She panicked as he got off the bike.

"Toh? Madam, main kisi se darta nahi hun... main tumhe yahan inn sabke samne kiss kar sakta hun." He leaned towards her.

She placed a hand on his chest as he stood facing her, "S... sorry... main bas aise hi... please chalo na."

A sly smile played on his lips as he sat back on the bike.

"Yeh jo tumhara aise hi tha na... mujhe bohot achha laga." He tilted his head back and spoke to her reflection.

Naina felt the rush of colour to her face and she hid herself behind him, not looking into the mirror.

The beach was crowded, being Saturday evening. They took off their shoes. Sameer rolled up his jeans and they walked along the line where the frothy waves reached just before losing the force with which they gushed ahead. The feel of cold water and slipping sand under their feet was always soothing.

Hand in hand, they kept walking... not realising the absence of noise and people around them.

When they stopped to look at the sun that had turned into a huge soft ball of orange, seemingly sinking with its own weight, one look in the direction from where they had come astonished them.

"Hum itni door kaise aa gaye?" Naina exclaimed at the activity she could see at the far end.

"Shayad hun itne kho gaye ki pata hi nahi chala," he left her hand and slid an arm around her shoulder.

Naina let her head rest on him and they watched the sun going down inch by inch, merging into the sea... till the last sliver of orange was absorbed by dark waters. The area suddenly started to look scary.

"Sameer, wapas wahin chalte hain... yahan kuch ajeeb lag raha hai." Naina looked at the eerie surroundings.

He kept his shoes down and placed his forearms on her shoulders, locking hands behind her head.

"Mere saath ho toh darna kyon hai? Hamein mauke ka faayda uthana chahiye." His low voice sent shivers down her spine.

Even in failing light of dusk, she could see the darkening of his eyes.

He leaned towars her, eyes fixed on her lips.

She placed her hands on his chest... and when he was just an inch away from her mouth, she pushed him... and ran back towards the beach, laughing.

Sameer let out a long breath, then picked up his shoes and ran after her.

She stopped just a few meters before the well lit area, panting for breath.

Sameer was next to her in an instant.

"Kya hua? Thak gayi?" He teased, seeing the sweat beads on her forehead.

Naina kept a hand on her chest... breathing heavily, "Itni tez bhagne ki aadat nahi hai ab."

The flushed face and rapid rise and fall of her chest made his throat go dry. He knew his control might slip if he continued to look at her.

"Tum yahan ruko main nariyal paani laata hun." He walked away before she could say anything.

While coming back, he saw her sitting on the sand, hands around her knees, looking at the twinkling lights of some far away ships and fishing boats. Her hair were flying gently in the breeze and a soft smile played on her lips. The plump cheeks glowed in the darkness spread around. He stood a few feet away, dazzled by her beauty, wondering how lucky he was to have her in his life. Her grace, her charm, her allure matched her inner beauty...

She was a dream... a dream come true... and he was enchanted by her.

Naina glanced back to check what was taking him so long and found him staring at her from some distance. She raised one hand in question, her brows furrowed.

He shook his head and walked up to her, settling down on the sand and handed the coconut.

"Tum bhi lo na," she held it out to him after one sip.

He shook his head, "Nahi... tumhare liye hai... main straw bhi ek hi laya hun... tum piyo."

"Achha, mere wale straw se nahi pee sakte? Jhootha hai?" She teased.

"Nahi aisa nahi hai... main bas... " His words died down as she looked around and swiftly pecked him on the lips.

"Ab pee sakte ho?" She rounded her eyes and asked naively.

He drew in a sharp breath, closing his eyes, "Nainaaaa... kya chahti ho tum? Bar bar aise mat karo... mushkil se rok raha hun khud ko."

Naina again held out the coconut to him without a word as he opened his eyes.

Taking it from her, he took two long gulps.

"Pao bhaji khayein?" She asked once the coconut water was done with, trying to bring the normality between them.

He got up, giving his hand to her... Naina held it and stood up, crashing against him when he pulled her suddenly the moment she was up.

"Agar pichhli baar chod diya tha tumhari badmaashi ke liye iska matlab yeh nahi hai ki har baar tum mujhe sataa ke bach sakti ho." His soft whisper against her hair sent her heartbeat to another level of thundering as the goosebumps made their presence felt all over.

She looked at him... his dark eyes held a promise as his hot breath fanned her face.

Pao bhaji was forgotten.

When they reached the college, it was already dark... usually they did not go to the ground when they came back this late from outside.

Today was different.

"Naina, mujhe dus minute mein wahan milna." He indicated towards the ground before turning towards his wing.

She hesitated, "Par aaj toh late ho gaya hai, Sameer... kal..."

He held her arm, "Agar nahi aayi toh apne room mein mera intezaar karna."

"Aa jaungi." She said quickly, scared to meet him in the room.