"Tum ghar pe hamesha mere hi shirt pehenna." He kept his hand over hers that was resting on his chest.

"Kyon?" She looked up at him.

"Kyonki jitne achhe yeh tum pe lagte hain... utne toh mujhpe bhi nahi lagte." He looked straight ahead.

"Oho, toh ab tum apne shirt se jal rahe ho ya mujhse?" She teased.

He tightened his hold and bent towards her, straightening the next instant.

She felt him stiffening suddenly.

"Kya hua, Sameer?" She sat up.

He didn't look at her, "Kuch nahi... jaane do."

"Sameer, bolo na... fir kisi baat se pareshan ho?" She asked again.

He closed his eyes, "Naina woh button..."

She looked down... and realised her button was still open.

Naina went red... how could she forget to close it... quickly she tried to correct her folly with shaking hands.

"Ho gaya," she said in a low voice once it was done.

He opened his eyes and looked at her, "Kaise rokta hun khud ko main hi jaanta hun... aur agar tum aise... shaadi tak toh jaan le logi tum meri."

His deep voice made her colour even more.

"Ab aake baitho idhar," he pulled her again, "bas ek baar license mil jaaye fir dekhta hun tym kaise door jaati ho."

Naina panicked, "Sameer, tumhare paas license nahi hai? Tum aise hi car aur bike chalate ho? Agar kisi din pakade gaye toh..."

He silenced her by keeping his fingers on her lips, "Uss license ki baat nahi kar raha hun."

She furrowed her brows.

"Aur kaunsa license hota hai?" Pulling his hand down from her lips, she enquired.

He threw his head back and groaned.

"Batao," she shook him.

The pull was sudden for Naina. She landed on his chest, his face hardly an inch from her.

"Isse aage jaane ka licence... jo Ahmedabad jaake hi milega... shaadi karke... samajh aaya ya aur samjhaun?" His lips barely moved as his eyes scanned hers.

Naina felt his voice go heavier again... and the combination of his voice and explanation made her suck in her breath.

She held onto his shirt for support... his hand holding her securely around the waist.

"Samajh aaya, Naina?" His voice was just a whisper this time.

She nodded... once.

He cupped her face, "Agar mujhe pata hota ki aaj tum aise mere sabr ka test logi toh main ek baar soch leta aane se pehle."

"Achha, tum nahi aate poore din ki doori ke baad bhi... itna sabr bhi nahi ho pata tumse." Her words left him speechless.

"Aaj kya khila diya tumhe TV walon ne... aaj toh tumhari saari baatein alag lag rahi hain." He wondered aloud.

"TV wale kyon khilayenge?" She asked innocently.

He snickered, pulling her cheeks, "Tum kab badi hogi?"

"Matlab kya hai tumhara? Mujhe aaj itne bade program ka hissa banne ka mauka mila aur tum mujhe chida rahe ho." She pouted.

"Program? Tum toh keh rahi thi interview hai." He was alert.

"Aisa maine kab kaha?" She raised her brows.

"Nahi, woh peon ne kaha tha... tumhara intezaar kar raha tha main tab usse pucha toh usne bataya ki koi interview lene aaye hain TV wale." He recalled.

"Usko aisa kaha hoga ma'am ne. Darasal kya hai ki aane wala saal 'Naari ki nai pehchan' ka saal announce kiya gaya hai... toh TV ke liye ek series ban rahi hai jisme aisi mahilaon ke jeevan ki jhalak hai jinhone kuch alag karke apne liye koi mukaam banaya hai... samaaj ke tay kiye niyamon se alag jaake kuch haasil kiya hai. Principal ma'am ne apna saara waqt apne padhane ke jazbe ko de diya... unhone na shaadi ki na kabhi apne liye kuch karne ka socha. Isliye unke iss prayas ko ek achievement maanke unke ek din ko shoot kiya hai... unki kahani batate hue." She said proudly, explaining the reason for the whole day involvement.

Sameer wasn't aware that Principal ma'am was so dedicated to this work. He was surprised... and felt a new respect for her. But something still bothered him.

"Par tumhe kyon rakha apne saath saare din ke liye?" He was perplexed.

Naina looked down shyly, "Unhone mere upar bhi ek program kiya hai."

Sameer sat up on his knees in a second, his eyes ecstatic.

"Kya? Tum pe bhi? Aur tum yeh ab bata rahi ho? Lekin kaise? Pehle toh kuch pata nahi tha... fir achanak seedhe shooting?" His barrage of questions made Naina more conscious.

"Woh pehle se nahi pata tha mujhe... jab kal office mein gayi tabhi pata chala... maine toh kaha bhi tha ma'am se ki main kyon... par... " She could not complete her sentence.

He held her hand between his palms, "Naina, yeh toh bohot khushi ki baat hai... tum ghabra kyon rahi ho? Mujhe itna garv ho raha hai yeh sunke aur tum aise sharma rahi ho... theek se batao mujhe."

She looked at the genuine happiness  reflecting in his eyes... for her achievement.

"Woh kya hua... jab shooting ke dauran ma'am se pucha gaya ki unke kaun students aise hain jinhone koi bada mukaam haasil kiya hai toh unhone mera naam bhi liya... woh log TV serial ke baare mein sunke mujhse milne ke liye kehne lage... jab maine unse baat ki aur award je baare mein pata chala toh unhone kaha ki meri kahani bhi shoot karenge... aur kyonki aaj saara samaan laaye the toh aaj hi karna chahte the... ma'am ne apne ghar ke liye bhi haan kardi toh bas... saara din isi mein nikal gaya... mehnat bohot lagi par ab kaam khatam ho gaya nahi toh dubara aana padta unhe."

He sat listening with rapt attention, his pride increasing with each word of hers.

When she finished, he pulled her into a hug.

"Tum inn sab ki hakdaar ho, Naina... balki isse kahin zyaada ki... tumhe bohot kuch haasil karna hai zindagi mein... main nahi chahta ki tum kisi bhi wajah se khud ko roko... meri wajah se toh bilkul nahi... yeh ek din ki doori ke badle agar tumhara naam itna aage jaata hai toh mere liye yeh khushi ki baat hai." He said lovingly.

Naina wrapped her hands around him, "Tumse door rehke nahi, Sameer, tumhare saath chal ke aage badhna hai mujhe... aur aisa hoga bhi... aaj sab kuch achanak hua aur ma'am ke aage tumhare baare mein bol bhi nahi sakti thi isliye door rehna pada... lekin aage se aisa nahi hone dungi... meri pehli pehchan tum ho aur tum hi rahoge."

He was overwhelmed.

They sat absorbing the warmth of each other, till mischief shone in Sameer's eyes again.

"Abhi toh mujhse itna pyar karti ho par mujhe yakeen nahi hai ki hamesha karogi... tumhara pyar aage jaake kam ho jayega." He lamented.

Naina moved away, looking at him with shocked expression, "Tumhe lagta hai main tumse zyada pyaar kabhi bhi kisi se bhi kar sakti hun?"

He nodded.

"Sameer ke bachche, tum itna hi jaante ho mujhe?" She was clearly annoyed.

His eyes had the glint again, "Jaanta hun tabhi toh... pata hai tum Sameer ke bacchon se kitna pyar karogi... tab mera number peeche chala jayega na."

It took her a few moments to understand what he was saying... and felt the colour rising as she got it... her eyes lowered and a faint smile appeared on her lips.

He placed a finger under her chin, lifting her face, "Sach bol raha hun na?"

She lifted her eyes, "Tumhara number hamesha sabse aage rahega, Sameer, hamesha... bachche apni jagah honge... unke pyar mein koi kami nahi aane dungi... lekin tumhare liye jo jagah hai woh koi kabhi nahi le sakta... kabhi bhi nahi."

He kissed her forehead.

"Ab bachhon ki planning ho gayi ho madam toh main jaun? Man nahi hai fir bhi jaana toh padega na... saari raat tum rehne nahi dogi." He gave a crooked smile.

His words again made her shiver. She got up from the bed to let him move.

Seeing her standing in his shirt, her face flushed, Sameer did not want to go... all he wanted was to sit here with her head resting on his chest.

With a sigh, he picked up the pillow and his eyes fell on his own face... his photograph lay on the bed. He picked it up and looked at her.

"Tum kya roz meri shirt pehen ke meri photo leke soti ho, Naina?" He asked in a low voice.

Her eyes shot up... she had forgotten about the picture that she had been clutching to her heart when he came. She darted to take it from him.

He moved his hand away from her, "Pehle batao... roz?"

She bit her lip, shaking her head.

He looked at the picture again, "Mujhse zyaada achhi kismat toh meri iss photo ki hai jo tumhare paas rehti hai."

Naina was able to snatch it from him this time.

Smiling, he got up and put on his shoes.

"Jaaun?" He asked in a heavy voice, standing close to her.

Naina didn't say anything... her heart wanted to stop him... to be with him some more... to keep him with her... like his photograph...

"Good night, Sameer," she uttered in a sad voice.

"Good night, jaan... aaj ki raat main saari zindagi nahi bhulunga... mere liye yeh hamesha bohot khaas rahegi," he crushed her in his arms.

Naina watched as he carefully went down the pipe. She stood holding onto the railing as he turned to wave at her one last time before turning towards his building.

Naina stood for some more time... her gaze drifted to the tree... the place where this beautiful journey began. She marvelled at the distance they had covered in these years... from the chance meeting under the tree when she saw him in tears... to this day... when they had discussed about the children.

She blushed... children...

Sameer reached his room... his heart much lighter than it had been the whole day.

Naina... his Naina... he could not believe what she did... or what she had been doing lately. Not in his wildest dreams had he thought that she could be this bold.

The simple, naive Naina of school time... who had no idea about anything... had turned into a seductress.

He felt a chill run down his spine as he remembered the open button of her shirt... the ease with which she had let him slip the shirt over her shoulder... he shuddered. The tremendous amount of trust that she showed in him never failed to amaze him. Given her conservative upbringing, the way she lets him come close was incredible.

The two souls in love had a peaceful  sleep that night.