She took a few steps towards the entrance, turning back immediately when she saw some people carrying food containers coming out of the building.

That is when she noticed the paper... a small chit pasted on the pillar. It had a guitar drawn on it... with some music notes.

No words, no names, no directions... still she knew where Sameer wanted her to come.

Slapping her forehead, she grumbled, "Pehle hi aankhen khol ke nahi dekh sakti thi? Itna time barbaad kar diya."

Plucking the chit off the pillar, she ran to the music room.

Sameer wanted to meet her where he could show how much he had missed her. The college entrance was not the right place to see his Naina closely after a long gap of three days. He could not trust himself.

After ruling out the terrace as electrician would be working on the next one, library as the peon usually came early to sort out the books left here and there the previous day, classroom as some other student might drop in early... he zeroed in on music room. He had always seen it unused in the first half of the day. In fact, he himself came here during his initial days in the morning, playing guitar all alone.

He had hoped Naina would see the chit... he could not put up anything which could be understood by others.

Looking at his watch, he wondered why she was late.

"Kahin hawa se udd toh nahi gaya paper?" He worried.

Just then, he heard footsteps. Quickly, he took position.

Naina peeped into the room through the half open door. No one was around.

She stepped in delicately.

The creek of closing door made her turn.

The strumming sound reached her before she saw him.

Hum tere bin kahin reh nahi paate
Tum nahi aate toh hum maar jaate

His beautiful voice softly matched the music.

Hum tere bin kahin reh nahi paate
Tum nahi aate toh hum mar jaate

Hayee pyaar kya cheez hai
Yeh jaan nahi paate

He walked around her, eyes fixed on her face as his lips and fingers moved.

Naina looked up at his eyes, brimming with love as he poured his heart out in the song.

When he stopped, placing the guitar on the table beside him, with his back towards her, Naina could not bear the distance anymore.

She stepped ahead and hugged him from behind, arms moving over his chest, resting one palm over his heart as it drummed wildly.

Sameer closed his eyes and threw his head back, exhaling in relief as her softness melted away the yearning of so many days.

He covered her hands with his.

After a few minutes of taking in each other's presence, he turned, craving for her sight as his arms ached to go around her.

Naina raised her eyes to his face... having the same craving.

In less than a second they wrapped their hands around each other, pushing themselves more and more close.

A few tears escaped her eyes,  as she felt the warmth around her again.

"Bohot miss kiya tumhe, Sameer." She murmured against his chest.

He kissed on the top of her head, "Maine bhi kiya, Naina... itna ki main bata bhi nahi sakta."

"Yeh teen din itne lambe honge mujhe pata nahi tha, " she sniffed.

Sameer held her face in his hands, looking at her wet eyes.

He bent and kissed over each one, "Yeh aankhen har pal yaad aati thi mujhe."

Naina looked up at him... his eyes had turned into dark pools.

He bent and kissed each of her cheek, "Yeh gaalon ki narmi bohot miss ki."

He rubbed the tip of his nose on hers, before kissing it, "Yeh choti si naak wahan bhi chidati thi mujhe."

Before she could frown, his lips brushed hers lightly, "Inn hothon ki yaad toh mere hosh udda deti thi."

She coloured deep red.

His face nestled in her neck, "Yeh khushboo nahi thi toh saans nahi aati thi."

She shivered.

His nose nuzzled in her hair as his hand moved on the soft waves, "Inn baalon mein chup jaane ke liye main  taras gaya tha, Naina."

Her butterflies were let lose again.

His lips brushed against the skin of her neck, making her go weak in the knees.

"Tum nahi bataogi tumne kitna miss kiya?" He whispered against her ear.

Naina stepped back a little.

Her hand moved up to touch his face... moving lightly over his eyes, nose, jaw... brushing over his lips, moving down to his neck.

Sameer felt his pulse quickening at the feather touch on his face and now over his neck.

"Iss chehre ko dekhne ke liye, choone ke liye kab se bechain thi... isse bohot miss kiya maine," she whispered.

Her hand went to the ends of his hair at the nape... and she pressed, to bring his face down... placing a kiss on his jaw, "Iss chubhan ki aadat ho gayi hai... iski bohot yaad aati thi."

Her eyes wavered down to his chest. Placing a hand near his heart, she kissed on his chest, "Iss pyaar bhare dil ki dhadkan sunne ko miss kiya."

He tightened his arms around her waist, drawing her closer, "Baaki sab toh theek hai lekin chehre ko shayad itna miss nahi kiya."

Her eyes shot up, "Haww... sabse zyaada kiya... har jagah tum hi nazar aate the... yahan tak ki kal bhi mujhe laga ki tum sapna hi ho."

"Isiliye churayi hui photo dekh ke khush ho rahi thi?" He teased.

Her eyes lowered instantly, a streak of red climbing up her neck.

"Uss din toh keh rahi thi maine tumhara photo churaya... ab aap bataiye madam, aap kahan se layi mera school ka photo?" He placed a finger under her chin, lifting her face towards himself.

Her eyes remained hooded.

"Batao na... kahan se aayi... nahi toh main apne tareeke as puchunga", his face dipped towards her lips.

"Bata rahi hun... ruko toh", she moved her head sideways.

He raised his brows.

Naina hesitantly told him about the incident in school when he had dropped the photograph in her class  and she had picked it up.

Sameer chuckled, "Tumhe kya lagta hai woh photo galti se gira tha?"

Naina gave him  a shocked look, "Tumne khud... matlab  mere liye... matlab tumhe pata tha hamesha se ki mere paas yeh photo hai?"

He laughed at her state, "Nahi Naina... waise man toh hua ki keh doon maine jaan ke giraya tha par sach yehi hai ki uss samay mujhe tumme koi dilchaspi nahi thi... kisi mein bhi nahi thi... main toh baad mein dhund raha tha jab ek form pe lagana tha." He looked down at his revelation.

Her eyes flashed with pain of those days for a moment, before filling up with love again, "Tab dilchaspi nahi thi aur ab?"

The mischief was back in his eyes, "Ab toh sirf dilchaspi nahi aur bhi bohot kuch hai."

"Achha... aur achanak se yeh bohot kuch kaise aaya?" She was ready to play the tease game.

His eyes turned wide. He had expected her to shy away at his teasing but she was giving it back to him... openly.

"Tumse door jaake teen hi din mein pata chal gaya Naina ki tumhare bina toh ab saans bhi lena mushkil hai... yeh sheharon ki doori chaand ki doori se bhi zyaada lagi... tumhara chehra, tumhara ehsaas jab tak nahi hota tab tak main kuch nahi kar paata... iss baar toh akele chala gaya lekin aage se kabhi bhi, kahin bhi tumhare bina nahi jaunga... shaadi se pehle ho ya shaadi ke baad... ab jo yeh bohot kuch hai na mere man mein tumhare liye, isko tumhara saath har pal chahiye." He crushed her to himself, burying his face in her hair.

Naina welcomed the warmth again... losing herself in his arms.

A few minutes later, she remembered something, "Sameer, tumne jaane se pehle ek promise karaaya tha... ab batao kiske liye tha?"

His eyes darted to a small packet kept on a table at the end of the room... then he recalled the sight of previous night.

Stepping away from her, he picked up her hand,fingering the hem of her sleeve, "Promise toh tumne poora kar diya, Naina."

She gave him a puzzled look.

He went back and got the packet. She tried to take it but he held it above her. She frowned at him.

"Yaad hai ek din tumne woh black top pehna tha, net wala?" He asked.

She nodded.

He smiled, "Uss din man mein ek baat aayi... ki tum sach mein sleeveless pehnogi toh kaisi lagogi. Jaane se pehle maine isliye promise liya tha ki main tumhare liye ek sleeveless top lana chahta tha... lekin tum yahan bhi mujhse aage nikli... raat ko jab tumhe dekha toh dil ki dhadkan hi ruk gayi... mere sapno ki tasveer mere samne khadi thi... lekin main toh yeh pehle hi le aaya tha... ab tumhari marzi hai isse pehna ya na pehnna kyonki promise tum poora kar chuki ho."

He handed the packet to her.

Naina opened it to take out a black, sleeveless top... the soft satin material felt smooth under her fingers, the neck was lined with black sequins arranged in a dainty pattern. She loved it.

"Bohot sundar hai, Sameer", she beamed at him.

He was relieved. He had been a little apprehensive about buying it, hoping Naina would not find it too outrageous.

"Thank God! Main toh darr raha tha ki kahin tum gussa na ho jao ya meri pitai na kar do, " he winked.

"Woh kyon?" She asked innocently.

"Tum aise kapde pehenti nahi ho na... ab mujhe thodi pata tha ki tum chup chup ke aise kaam bhi kar leti ho." He teased again.

She gave him a disgruntled look, "Ek hi hai waisa kurta... garmi ki wajah se liya tha... sabse chupa ke rakhna padta hai... kal light ki wajah se itni garmi ho gayi thi isliye pehna... mujhe kya pata tha Maheshwari ji raat ko hi sair pe nikal padenge."

He smirked at her explanation, "Meri toh aish ho gayi raat ki sair se", then, bending closer to her, he whispered, " Waise mujhe koi problem nahi hai... shaadi ke baad tum hamesha aise hi night suit pehenna."

She turned crimson at his words.

Turning away, she started to fold the top, trying to keep her hands occupied so that he could not see them shaking.

Sameer smiled and brought his hands around her, "Teen din door rakha hai tumne, ab aane wale che din tak har samay aise hi chipka ke rakhna padega... jo pyaar ki kami ho gayi hai woh poori bhi toh karni padegi na."

She leaned back into him, "Pyaar ki kami toh tumhe kabhi hone nahi dungi, Mr Maheshwari."