When they met in the evening, Sameer was still reeling under the effect of their afternoon ride.

"Naina, meri jaan, kaise jhatke deti rehti ho... kya irada hai tumhara?" He crushed her in his arms the moment she reached the tree.

"Ab maine kya kiya?" She rolled her eyes at him.

He let out a deep breath at her innocence, "Kya kya bataun... tum toh roz kuch aisa kar deti ho ki meri neend udd jaati hai... kaise ek ek din kaat raha hun tumhare intezar mein."

"Intezar? Main toh tumhare saath hi rehti hun har samay... fir intezar kaisa?" She was perplexed.

He rested his forehead on hers, "Jab jab nahi hoti ho tab toh karta hun naa."

She brought her arms around his neck, "Abhi hun tumhare saath... abhi kyon aisi baat kar rahe ho?"

He tightened his arms around her waist, "Theek hai, abhi mauke ka faayda utha lete hain."

Naina placed her hand on his mouth as he closed the distance between their lips. He kissed on her fingers before asking anything.

And then came the question, "Roka kyon?"

She just smiled, raising her heels and hugging him, her cheeks touching his.

Sameer joined his brows, puzzled for a moment... then smiled, enjoying the softness of her cheeks on his skin.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Her voice was so low, he would have missed her words had she not spoken so close to his ear.

"Thank you kis liye?" He asked in a similar tone against her ear.

"Mujhe hamesha itna khaas feel karaane ke liye." She kissed the outer line of his ear.

Sameer felt a current pass through his body...

He moved back, to see her face. Her eyes were shining with love... with gratitude...

"Kya baat hai... aaj kuch zyada meherban ho?" He tried to remember what had he done to get this special treatment.

"Tum bohot achhe ho, Sameer." Her beaming face portrayed the admiration.

He narrowed his eyes, smiling, "Ab bata bhi do maine aisa kya kiya... jisse main hamesha aisa hi karun aur tum yun hi mujhpe pyar ki baarish karo."

"Sirf aaj ki baat nahi kar rahi... inn beete hue saalon mein tumne mujhe itna kuch diya hai ki main bilkul badal gayi hun... tumne mujhe ek aisi Naina bana diya hai jiski main kalpana toh karti thi par uski parchai tak bhi jaane ki himmat nahi rakhti thi... tumhare pyar ne, tumhare saath ne, iss bharose ne mujhe khud pe itna vishwas dila diya ki ab mujhe kisi baat se ghabrahat nahi hoti, darr nahi lagta... bas haunsla rehta hai ki tum mere saath ho." The respect for him was evident in her voice.

"Ab jo hum iss naye saal mein kadam rakhne wale hain, ismein hamara rishta badal jayega... tum mere pati ban jaoge... ek saath rehte hue shayad tumhe meri kuch baatein pasand na aayein... meri galtiyon pe gussa aaye... mere tareeke theek na lage... toh tum mujhe daant dena, samjha dena, gussa bhi kar lena... par kabhi ruthna mat... tumhara ruth ke door jaana main bardaasht nahi kar paungi." Her eyes turned misty.

He kissed her forehead, "Tumse ruthne ke baare mein kabhi soch bhi nahi sakta, jaan... kya tumhe lagta hai ki main tumse door ja sakta hun... main toh iss aane wale saal ka kab se intezar kar raha hun... tum koi galti kar hi nahi sakti... lekin main kar sakta hun... tab tum bhi mujhe daant dena par ruthna mat... theek hai?"

She dipped her head to one side, going back to the crook of his neck, closing her eyes as his musky smell dulled her senses. Sameer nuzzled in her hair, inhaling deeply, intoxicated by the fragrance surrounding him.

A little later, as they were discussing the plan for new year's party, Sameer recalled something.

"Naina, tumne kaha tha tum baad mein bataogi... toh ab bolo." He asked.

"Kya?" She looked up.

"Wahan shop mein kaha tha na... jab tumne dress try kiye the... aur mujhe dikhaye nahi." He reminded her.

Naina immediately coloured at the thought of those dresses which either hugged her curves too much or had a much more dipping neckline than she could ever wear.

"Batao na... kyon nahi dikhaye?" He insisted.

"Sameer, kuch kapde mere style ke nahi the... main waise nahi pehen sakti." She worded the reason carefully.

"Tumne kitne naye style pehle bhi try kiye hain... ek baar dikha toh deti... shayad achha lagta." He was adamant.

"Offo, samajhte kyon nahi... yahan aa raha tha uska gala... aisa kabhi nahi pehen sakti." She blurted, her finger in the centre of her chest.

His eyes dropped to the finger, stayed there for a few moments before going up to her face... she was looking at him with the lower lip sucked in.

He held her wrist, "Mere samne kuch bhi pehen sakti ho... jo bhi achha lage... tumhe aur mujhe."

"Aur meri ek lambi si list hai... jaise kapdon mein tumhe dekhna chahta hun... pehenogi na?" His voice turned raspy.

Naina turned beetroot. She lowered her eyes, trying to get out of his hold. His clasp on her wrist tightened.

"Naina, pehenogi na?" He leaned towards her... the glint in his eyes sending shivers down her spine.

Now she was not sure about the dress she had bought. Was it okay to wear something like that... or keep it for later, after they were married... she could wear the red one he had selected for her for the party. Her mind clouded with confusion.

They all continued with their plan for morning studies in the library for next four days. Naina, as always, was able to make the sessions interesting even for Rahul who was initially cribbing about being dragged to study in the college library during holidays, that too when he could be with his new wife.

"Yaar Sameer, Naina ko padhne ka itna shauk hai... lagta hai tere ghar ko library bana degi shaadi ke baad... tera kya hoga dost?" Rahul said with a sigh when they were standing alone near the window, taking a short break on the last day before the party.

Sameer looked back at Naina, seeing her submerged in the books spread out in front... and then the image of her wearing his shirt with one open button swam in front of him, making his heartbeat erratic instantly. No one could imagine how she turned into a temptress when she was with him... probably she herself did not know the effect she had on him... he had seen the traces of wildness she kept hidden so well. His hand unknowingly went to the collarbone where she had nipped him... though there was no mark now, he could feel her hot breath and sting of her teeth everytime he thought about that moment.

This Naina, sitting here in the library, pondering over the balance sheets could transform into someone so enchanting, so alluring was the discovery meant only for him. Her serious expressions and simplicity in school could have fooled anyone... she was called a boring behenji... a soft laugh escaped his lips as he thought about the way she had kissed him and moaned his name few days back, defying any name given to her in school ever.

"Ismein hansne ki kya baat hai?" Rahul gave him a puzzled look.

"Tu chinta mat kar, main library se bhi kaam chala lunga... bas ek baar woh mere ghar aa jaaye." Sameer placed a hand on Rahul's shoulder, stealing a glance at Naina while speaking to him.

Rahul gave a warm smile to his friend, "Waise pyar bohot karti hai tujhse... teri kismat achhi hai. Naina ki saadgi aur uske pyaar ki gehraai hi uski khoobi hai... uska hamesha khyaal rakhna... mujhe usse dekh ke aisa lagta hai ki kaash woh meri behen hoti."

"Toh ab bana le usse behen... ismein kya hai?" Sameer grinned.

Rahul let out a deep exhale, "Tujhe bhai bana liya hai... ab kahe toh usse behen bana leta hun... fir tum dono raksha bandhan pe milna."

Sameer took a second to assimilate what he said... by that time Rahul had swiftly gone back to sit between Naina and Sonali on the table, sniggering at Sameer's helplessness.

"Kya hua tumhe?" Naina looked up at him, flaring nostrils at Rahul.

"Isse pucho, kya bakwas kar raha hai." He fumed.

Naina turned to look at the teasing expression of Rahul.

She looked back at Sameer, "Chote bachhon jaise jhagda kar rahe ho tum dono... aao yahan aake baitho... yeh naya question try karte hain."

Sameer quickly took the seat she patted next to her. He wanted to hold her hand but she had both on the table, busy in writing. He placed his hand on her knee.

Naina gasped, as the pen fell from her hand.

"Naina, kya hua?" Sonali looked up sharply.

She gulped, shaking her head. She picked up the pen with trembling fingers, nervously shifting her leg... but Sameer did not move his hand, keeping all his attention to the notebook in front of him. Naina nudged him... Sameer rubbed his thumb over her leg. She jerked.

"Naina, teri tabiyat toh theek hai na?" Sonali was worried.

"Umm, Sonali, chalo paani pee ke aate hain... thodi garmi ho rahi hai." Rahul got up, pulling Sonali along.

"Garmi? Pagal ho kya... aur mujhe nahi peena tum jao." She tried to get back to her seat.

"Arre tumhare bina kaise jaa sakta hun... miss karunga tumhe... chalo na." He grabbed her waist, dragging her out as Sonali blushed.

"Sameer, tum..." Naina turned to reprimand him but he silenced her with a peck on her lips.

She looked at him, wide eyed.

He removed his hand, only to take it around her waist, "Tumhe kya lagta hai... Rahul ko sach mein paani peena hai?"

Naina stared into his eyes that were darker now, his face so close that she could feel the minty breath on her cheeks.

His eyes dropped to her lips.

"Woh... woh aa jayenge." She stammered, knowing his intention.

"Toh?" He did not lift his gaze.

"Library hai." She was feeling breathless.

"Toh?" His voice was low.

"Toh ab tak ruke kyon ho?" She placed her lips on his.

Sameer was taken aback for a moment... only for a moment... then his hand went to her hair, adjusting the head to fit perfectly against him, savouring her mouth the way he wanted as her fingers bunched his hair.

Rahul and Sonali took their own sweet time to come back. Naina had brought her breathing under control by the time they sat down to work on the question that was left incomplete.

At the end of their session, Rahul stretched, happy at the progress they had made in last four days.

"Thak toh gaye par Naina tumne bohot saara kaam poora karwa diya... thanks... tum sach mein itna achha padhati ho ki sab yaad rahega... tum padhai mein perfect ho." He exclaimed, giving an appreciative look to her.

"Naina toh har baat mein perfect hai." Sameer placed an arm around her shoulder, lovingly looking at his girl.