When they came out of the restaurant, Naina spotted a chemist shop near by.

"Sameer, apna purse dena", she asked him casually.

Sameer was surprised, "Kyon?"

She raised her eyebrows at him, "Kyon kya? Main tumhare purse se paise nahi le sakti? Mr Maheshwari, mat bhulo yeh har biwi ka haq hota hai."

Sameer gave a wide smile. He loved it when she called herself  'biwi'.

He handed his wallet to her.

"Tum do minute yahin ruko", she ran to the chemist shop before he could object.

Little later, she came back with a small tube of ointment in one hand and his wallet in the other.

"Apna haath aage karo." She ordered.

Sameer forwarded his injured hand.  Naina carefully removed the handkerchief, applying the ointment gently on his grazed knuckles, blowing on them in between.

"Fir kabhi apne aap ko chot dene se pehle soch lena ki tumse zyaada dard mujhe hota hai", she told him in a heavy voice.

Sameer nodded, promising himself that he would never cause such pain to her ever again.

Naina rubbed the ointment all over his hand, "Ab dard ho raha hai?"

"Tumhara haath lagte hi saare dard gayab", he gave a crooked smile.

She looked up with slightly misty eyes, "Doctor nahi hun."

"Meri doctor toh tumhi ho", he said with a tilt of his head that made her go weak in the knees, in the middle of a market.

Quickly, she finished putting the ointment and tied the handkerchief back.

Handing him the ointment, she said, "Raat ko sone se pehle ek baar fir laga lena."

She also handed a single tablet, "Zyaada dard ho toh yeh goli khani hai... raat ko khana khane ke bad."

He pocketed both things. Then extended his hand for the wallet she was still holding.

She looked at it then looked at him, not making any move to give it back.

"Meri school ki photo kahan se aayi tumhare paas?" She gave him a penetrating look.

He realised that she had seen her  passport size photograph in his wallet.

Once, when they were in class XII, teacher had asked them to get photographs in school uniform to put on the examination form. Everyone had submitted their photographs pasted on the forms which were kept on her desk. Sameer had gone to meet Munna Pandit when it was games period... seeing him entering the class, Neha ma'am had asked him to take the bundle of forms to the staffroom while she went to the principal's office. Naina's form was on the top. Sameer could not stop himself from staring at her picture till he reached the staff room. Once there, he looked around. There was no one. He picked up the form and studied her picture closely. This was the first time he was seeing her face from such close quarters. The innocence of her eyes, the simplicity of her features, the softness of her face captivated him so much that he removed the picture and pocketed it. He turned to go and saw Neha ma'am coming towards the staff room. To make sure that Naina's form doesn't remain without photograph, he confidently walked up to the teacher.

"Ma'am, forms toh maine rakh diye par upar wale form pe photo nahi hai... nishan toh hai... lagta hai photo kahin gir gaya", he said innocently.

" Achha, kiska form hai?" She enquired.

"Woh toh maine dekha nahi... ek minute dekh ke batata hun." He turned and pretended to check the form.

"Woh kisi Naina Agarwal ka hai", he said casually.

"Naina ka? Fir toh pakka gir hi gayi hogi... Naina itni gair zimmedar nahi hai... tum aisa karo, abhi jaake usse bol do ki dusri photo hai toh abhi le aaye nahin toh kal yaad se leke aaye... main nahi chahti uske form mein koi dikkat aaye... jao abhi bata so usse." The teacher gave him clear instructions

Now Sameer was in a fix. He couldn't speak to Naina, he was not ready yet. So, he  went to Munna Pandit and conveyed the message to be given to her.

"Haan, Munna Pandit ne kaha tha mujhe... bohot hairani hui thi ki meri photo kaise gir gayi kahin... maine toh khud chipkayi thi... fir agle din dusri lake lagayi thi maine." Naina could recall the incident.

Then looked at him, "Agar tum mujhse ek baar bhi mangte toh main khushi khushi apni photo tumhe de deti... tumhe ye sab karna nahi padta."

He gazed at her lovingly, "Mujhe pata hai... tumhari aankhon mein apne liye kuch mehsoos karta tha main."

She widened her eyes, "Kya? Tumhe pata tha? Iska matlab aur logon ko bhi dikhta hoga... kya Munna Pandit ko bhi pata tha? Hey bhagwan, Naina, tu shuru se hi pagal hai", she slapped her forehead.

Sameer held her hand, smiling, "Arre, Arre, yeh kya kar rahi ho? Daro nahi... Munna Pandit ko kuch nahi pata tha... mujhe toh isliye dikhta tha kyonki meri aankhen tum par hi rehti thi."

She sighed, "Aur main poore do saal yeh sochti rahi ki tumne toh kabhi mujhe dekha tak nahi."

He smiled and pressed his index finger on her cheek, "Tab bhi dekhta tha, ab bhi dekhta hun aur hamesha tumhe hi dekhta rahunga."

"Achha... par yeh baat toh galat hai na... tumhare paas meri photo hai par mere paas tumhari nahi hai." She tried to start another topic to control the streak of red that crept up her neck at his touch.

He leaned towards her, "Tumhe photo ki kya zaroorat hai... jab chaho main tumhare saamne aa jaunga... aadhi raat ko bhi kahogi toh foran balcony se aa jaunga."

The red streak refused to stop, covering her face with a vengeance.

"Ab chalein." She decided it was better to leave. They were in a market place and there were people around.

In her room later, Naina opened the cupboard and took out one envelope from under the pile of clothes. She came to the bed and emptied its contents.

Sameer's passport size photograph in school uniform fell on the sheet. He was much thinner then, his hair longer... and how could she forget the style, the attitude... it was even visible in the picture.

She picked it up, smiling at him, "Tum kya samajhte ho Sameer Maheshwari, sirf tum hi yeh chalaki kar sakte ho? Naina bhi kam nahi hai..."

The day she got the photo was as clear in her memory as if it happened yesterday.

The boys had to give their names for selection in cricket team. They had to deposit a small fee along with a photograph. Sameer and Munna had already paid but Pandit had forgotten to bring it. When Sameer came to meet them in their section, Naina was seated on the next desk.

Pandit sat with a sad face, "Meri kismat hi kharab hai... aaj hi paise nahi hain aur aaj aakhiri date hai naam dene ki... koi nahi bhai, tum log jao... main bahar baith kar tumhare liye taaliyan bajaunga."

Munna gave him a dejected look, "Ab aise muh mat latka yaar, pehle toh kuch yaad nahi rakhta fir roni shakal banata hai... chal canteen chal ke sabse paise ikathe karte hain."

Sameer saw the disappointed faces of his friends, "Kya hua tum dono ko? Aise chehre pe barah kyon baje hain?"

His deep voice made Naina shiver in her seat. She sat still with her head down, inhaling the same air that touched him.

Munna explained Pandit's problem.

"Bas itni si baat", Sameer took out his wallet and handed the money to Pandit.

No one noticed a photograph that fell out of his wallet with the notes... except the girl sitting on the next seat, trying to calm the fluttering butterflies in her stomach.

The boys immediately ran out to give their names for selection.

Once they left, Naina bent down and quickly picked up the photograph, enclosing it in her palm before anyone could see it. Since then, she had kept it hidden in this envelope. Many a times towards the end of her school days she had thought of tearing it up, but could not do it. It was, after all, her Sameer... well, not hers at that time but she couldn't see him in pieces, even if they were made of paper.

And ever since Sameer had actually entered her life, she had been even more careful with the picture.

Tonight, both sat in their seperate rooms, holding each other's photo, lost in their dreams as they looked at the face they loved most in the entire world.

Next morning, when she met him out side her hostel, she checked his hand.

"Kal se thoda theek lag raha hai... dard hai kya?" She held it, observing from all sides, satisfied to see that the swelling was almost gone... the wounds would take some more time to heal.

"Nahi", he said, enjoying the feel.

"Raat ko dawa lagayi thi?"

He nodded.

"Aaj bhi laga lena", she smiled, tying the handkerchief to protect the wounds.

As they entered the college building, first people who met them were the two fresher boys.

"Namaste didi", both said together the moment their eyes fell on Naina.

She was taken aback initially, then remembered Sameer's instructions to them the previous day.

She smiled and politely said 'namaste.'

Sameer, who was glaring at the boys, tugged at her elbow when he heard her reply.

"Naina, tumhe jawab dene ki zaroorat nahi hai", he said in a low voice.

Naina looked at him with stern eyes, "Fir se?"

"Nahin, woh baat nahi hai... main toh bas yeh keh raha tha ki woh apni marzi se tumhe wish nahi kar rahe... unki sazaa hai... isliye unke saath narmi mat dikhao." He smiled sheepishly.

"Tumne sazaa deke apna kaam kiya ab mujhe apna kaam karne do... warna tumhi ne kaha tha thappad lagane ko... yaad hai", she threatened.

Sameer quietly followed her with lowered eyes.

They had only two lectures today. Sameer sat with Naina on the first desk... Rahul and Sonali were on the second one. Nisha and Komal sat behind them.

After the classes, Rahul asked all of them to come to the canteen.

"Aaj kuch khaas baat lagti hai... bada khush hoke bula raha hai Rahul, " Nisha smirked.

"Khaas baat hi hai... chalo treat deta hun." He beamed.

"Arre par baat toh bata", Komal was curious.

"Bata denge, canteen toh chalo", Sonali tugged at Komal's hand, asking her to get up.

They went to the canteen, settling down  on the table near the counter. Rahul ordered soft drinks for everyone along with pastries.

"Pehle muh meetha karo fir batata hun", he urged them to eat.

As they had a bite each, Sonali could not hold any longer.

"Hamari shaadi ki date nikal gayi hai... December mein hai." She blurted out happily.

They all congratulated Sonali and Rahul.

"Par itni jaldi kyon, Sonali? Exam toh ho jaane dete." Naina could not help asking.

Rahul scratched his head, "Woh mere ghar wale kundali ko zyaada mante hain... main nahi manta par shaadi ka mamla hai toh unke hisaab  se hi chalna padega. Unhone kaha hai iss saal mein hi ho jaani chahiye shaadi kyonki hamari kundali mein fir agle do saal muhurat nahi hai. Bas isliye itni jaldi sab ho raha hai."

Sonali looked at her friends, "Tum teeno ko aana padega... Naina, tu toh kuch din mere ghar pe hi rehna... maine toh abhi se mummy ko bata diya hai."

For now, Naina nodded, wondering if she will get permission for the same.

They all happily made plans for the wedding though it was still quite a few months away. Rahul ordered a lot of food and they had their fill, Sameer making sure that Naina ate properly.

"Tumhe har samay ghoorne ki zaroorat nahi hai... main kha rahi hun." She whispered when she noticed that his eyes had not left her ever since they sat here.

"Tumhe toh main aise hi dekhunga... sabke samne bhi aur akele bhi", Sameer whispered back.

"Yaar Sameer, aisa kar, tu bhi mere wale mandap mein hi shaadi kar le... tujhse door raha nahi jaa raha Naina se", Rahul said, seeing them whispering to each other.

Everyone laughed as Naina felt herself go red.

"Main toh kabse taiyar hun... bas Naina haan keh de", Sameer grinned.

"Naina, maan jaa na... phir hum saath mein shaadi karenge... kitna mazaa ayega", Sonali joined the teasing.

"Haan Naina, maan ja na" everyone said in chorus as Sameer chuckled.

Naina could not take it anymore and ran from there, blushing to the roots.