Sameer had been lying in bed for some time now.  The light fever that had been there since morning, was probably leaving his body.  The sweating continued. He was not sure it was because of the medicines or Naina's actions.

She brought a wet handkerchief again, and started wiping his forehead, face and neck. It wasn't easy this time. He was awake... and his eyes were fixed on her.

She tried to keep hers on the job she was doing but moving her hand on his skin, with just a thin fabric in between, was playing on her senses.

Sameer was lost... all that he had experienced today and what he was seeing now was giving him a glimpse of his future with Naina... a peek into his life when she would be Mrs. Maheshwari.

No one had given him this much importance, this much care, this much attention... he noticed the tension lines on her forehead, the faint dark circles due to lack of sleep last night... she had him and only him in her mind.

Once satisfied that his skin had cooled down, Naina washed the handkerchief and left it on the towel rail in the bathroom.

She then started getting ready to leave as it was already past five. She tied her hair again, and wore the cap. Sameer was watching every movement of hers.

She looked around to see if anything needed clearing up. A few things were on the table that she neatly put back in their place, his towel was lying on the side table, she put it to dry in the bathroom and put the empty lunch dishes near the door. Satisfied with the cleanliness of the room, she looked back at Sameer.

He smiled and gestured her to come closer. She went to him and sat on the bed... near his waist. He raised himself on his elbow, head resting in his palm, and winked.

"Ab yeh kisliye?" Naina smirked.

"Dil kiya... jaise tum sab sambhal rahi thi na... mujhe, mere samaan ko, mere kamre ko... aisa laga ki biwi ho meri", he voiced his thought.

She looked down shyly for a few moments, then looking back at him, pinched his nose,  "Zyaada tez nahi daud rahe, Mr Maheshwari?"

With a cheeky smile, he pinched her nose too, "Main toh isse bhi tez daudna chahta hun, Mrs Maheshwari. "

She blushed.

He could not move his eyes away from her.

"Raat ko bhi achche se khana kha lena... muh kadwa hai bolke chod mat dena",  she instructed.

He shook his head, " Ab muh kadwa nahi hai... tumne meetha kar diya."

Her ears turned hot.

Just then, there was a soft knock on the door, along with Rahul's voice, "Sameer".

He opened the door a crack, to be sure there was no one else. Rahul gestured to send Naina. She waved at Sameer and left with Rahul.

Sameer kept watching till she went down the stairs at the end of the corridor.

The room suddenly looked empty. He sighed and laid back on the bed, arms folded behind his head.

He had never imagined till last year that his life could be so beautiful. He was left with no grudges, Naina had removed all traces of bitterness from his heart... now it was full of love... and dreams.

Few more months and they will finish the second year of college. One more year after that and he could marry her. He will. There was no doubt left in his mind after what happened since yesterday. He had seen Naina's determination, her grit, her strength... she will hold his hand in front of everyone... even against her family.

And for him... he had no one except Munna Pandit... the only people who mattered to him, besides Naina. They have been more than happy for him.

His mother... so called mother... who had always been criticising him, blaming him and shunning him from her life... will not have any right in this decision. She never made him a part of her life, now he doesn't want her to interfere in his.

Naina sat in her room. She too was lost... in the dreams of their future together. 'Mrs Maheshwari'... this one word had suddenly changed the equation of their relationship. At the end of their college, she would tell chachaji about Sameer... she wasn't sure about others but chachaji would definitely hear her out and meet Sameer. When he agrees, then will begin the struggle of convincing the rest of the family. She sighed, knowing that it won't be easy to make taiji and her father understand. But she was clear in her mind... she will hold his hand in front of everyone... even against her family.

Naina was half expecting Sameer to be waiting for her in the morning... one part of her wanted him to rest for another day, while one part desperately wanted him to be in front of her eyes.

And he was there.

Waiting in front of her hostel building.

He smiled as she stepped out, dressed in a pink suit... one of his favourite. She did not wear suits often in college... it was mostly dresses or skirts... long ones. 
He loved her in everything... even in the ill fitted jeans she had worn the previous day. The thought made him laugh.

" Badi hansi aa rahi hai subah, subah... aisa kya yaad aa gaya?" Naina enquired as she reached him.

He teased, grinning at her, "Soch raha tha... kal wale kapdon mein tum zyaada achchi lag rahi thi."

"Mera mazak udana chodo aur yeh batao ki tum ab kaise ho? Khana khaya na? Dawa li thi raat ko? Chakkar toh nahi aaye phir se? Bolo... chup kyon khade ho?"

His eyes filled up with admiration, "Sabse pehli baat... mazak nahi uda raha tumhara... tum sach mein achchi lag rahi thi... hamesha ki tarah... bohot pyaari bohot sundar... ekdam meri pari."

She frowned, though he could see the twinkle in her eyes, "Rehne do... pari nahi para lag rahi thi kal toh."

He laughed so hard that students around them stopped to look at him.

Naina quickly looked around and shook him, "Sameer, chup karo... sab dekh rahe hain. "

When his laughter subsided, she gave an angry look, "Ho gaya?  Ab bataoge ki kaisi tabiyat hai tumhari?"

A smile still on his face, he looked down at her small form, "Bilkul theek hun, khana bhi khaya aur raat ko dawa bhi le li thi... aur haan, koi chakkar nahi aaye", and then leaned a bit, " woh toh sirf tumhe dekhke aate hain."

She hit his arm lightly and they walked to their class. She did not let it show on her face but whenever Sameer laughed like this, whole heartedly, her heart danced at the happiness reflecting in his eyes. This laugh of his was worth hundreds of crazy outfits... she could be a 'para' again for him.

The third lecture was almost over when a peon interrupted the class with a notice in hand. The professor read it and nodded towards him, "Theek hai, class ke baad bhej denge."

"Nahi sir, Principal madam ne turant aane ko kaha hai", the peon stated.

Professor looked at Naina, " Aapko Principal ne abhi bulaya hai, Naina Agarwal."

Naina picked up her things and got up to leave the class. She stopped at the door for a second, gave a quick glance to Sameer and rushed out.

He wanted to wait but her look had clearly indicated that she wanted him to go back to his room and rest.
He had no option.

But she could not stop him from coming to meet her in the ground. She was also aware of that. He had been waiting when she reached there.

Her wide smile meant a good news. She almost ran to hug him but stopped, averting her eyes as she turned red.

This girl... Sameer wondered... even after sharing such closeness for the past two days, she was shy to hug him now.

"Kya kaha Principal ne, Naina?" He bent his head to look at her downcast face.

Her excitement returned, "Sameer, pata hai kya... mere article ko award mila hai".

Sameer's eyes radiated her excitement, combined with pride that he felt for her achievement, " Nainaaa... yeh toh bohot badi good news hai."

He held her shoulders and twirled her around.

"Poori baat batao mujhe", he demanded after stopping.

Naina held a hand to her head, to stabilize herself from the giddiness of twirling.

She sat down, pulling him down to settle next to her, " Maine do mahine pehle magazine ke liye ek article bheja tha... chap gaya toh mere liye yahi bohot tha... par aaj pata chala ki koi competition hota hai jisme magazine walon ne mera article bheja tha aur usse 'Best Article' select kiya gaya hai."

Sameer wanted to know all about it, "Achcha kya topic tha iss article ka? Batao na tumne kya likha tha."

With a dreamy look in her eyes, Naina got up and moving around, started animatedly, "Iska title tha 'Pankh'... Maine yeh aaj ki ladki ke baare mein likha tha... hamare samaaj mein hamesha se pitratantra raha hai..."

Sameer wrinkled his nose, "Pirta... kya... Naina, hindi mein bolo na!"

She smiled at him, "Hindi hi hai, budhu... pitratantra matlab patriarchy... purush pradhan samaaj."

"Oh achcha", he nodded in understanding.

She continued, "Maine likha tha ki ek ladki ko apni udaan bharne se darna nahi chahiye... samaaj mein jo purushon ne niyam banaye hain hamare liye, unhe badalne ka waqt aa gaya hai, jab tak hum khud yeh nahi samjhenge ki hum kisi bhi tarah purushon se kam nahi hain, tab tak koi aur kaise hamara mehetva samjhega... ghar sambhalne ke saath saath apni pratibha ke anusaar har ladki ko apne pairon pe khade hone ke liye poora prayatn karna chahiye... iske liye samaaj se ladna pade toh woh bhi galat nahi hoga... jab tak yeh samaaj purush aur stree ko ek jaisa sammaan nahi dega tab tak hum sahi mayne mein aage nahi badh sakte. "

All Sameer could do was stare at her open mouthed... this tiny, fragile girl, who came from a family where girls were bound with all types of rules, right from what to speak,  what to do, what to eat, how to dress, how to behave, not to go out alone, not required to study more than the basic learning, not to interact with boys, not to say anything against elders... this girl had such progressive thoughts inspite of having lived in an environment where she had to suppress all her needs and wants.

When he recovered, he saw Naina looking at him with raised brows, asking for his opinion.

He got up and started clapping. She gave a contented smile.

"Naina, main toh bata bhi nahi sakta mujhe kaisa lag raha hai... mujhe... mujhe lag raha hai ki yeh tumhari udaan hai... yeh pankh tumhe mile hain, Naina... aur tumhe udna hai... aasmaan ko chuna hai... Oh Naina! Main itna khush hun... itna khush hun... ki man kar raha hai tumhe kiss kar dun. "

Majnu Maheshwari was back... he could not keep romance away from any situation.

Naina blushed, "Chup raho... tumhe aur kuch nahi sujhta? "

Closing the gap between them, he said in a low voice "Sujhta hai na, bata dun?"

"Sameer... ", she tried to push him but he held her hand.

" Achcha baba, ab itni badi baat ke liye kam se kam gale toh laga sakta hun na", he said,  pulling her into his arms.

She immediately wrapped her arms around him... real tight.

"Main bohot, bohot khush hun tumhare liye... aur mujhe itna garv ho raha hai tum par ki tumhari soch kitni alag hai", he let his feelings out, resting his chin on her head, as she kept her head on his chest, his heartbeat drumming in her ears.

They stood in the same position for sometime, soaking in the exultation.

Then, Naina stepped back a bit and tilted her head to look at him, " Agle hafte function hai jahan mujhe award denge... kya tum mere saath chaloge? "

"Agar tum mana karogi toh bhi nahi rukunga... tumhare saath rahunga... har samay",  he looked down at her with eyes brimming with love.

Later, they sat down to discuss what she should wear for the function.

" Waise toh tum iss pink suit mein bohot achchi lagti ho... ekdam hosh uda deti ho mere." He said in a heavy voice leaning against her.

She made him sit back straight by shoving her elbow in his ribs.

"Ouch... main bimar hun aur tum mujhe maar rahi ho? Kya yaar Naina, bimar ko toh pyaar karte hain na", he brought back his cute pout.

" Natak band karo... bimar ho toh kamre mein jaake aaram karo... zyaada sapne dekhne ki zaroorat nahi hai",  she chided him.

He frowned and sat quietly for a moment, suddenly brightening up at the next.

" Chalo na, Naina, tumhare liye kuch naya leke aate hain", he wanted to indulge her... also utilise this opportunity to take her out again.

"Nahi Sameer, uski zaroorat nahi hai... tumne jo do dress dilaye the na, unme ae ek Maine ab tak nahi pehna hai... kisi khaas mauke ka intezaar kar rahi thi", Naina remembered the white dress she had bought when Sameer had taken her shopping.

He could not convince her to buy something new for herself. Giving up with a sigh, he consoled himself that at least next week they'll go together to the award function.