Naina stepped back, lower lip under her teeth.

Sameer lifted his hand to touch the place where she had left a mark.

"Naina, tum... tum... " He was at loss of words.

"Tumne bhi kiya tha na... maine badla le liya." She said with a straight face.

They stared at each other for a few seconds in silence...

She sensed it before he sprinted, running away at the exact same moment... silent terrace resonating with the sound of her laughter.

Sameer caught her at the other end of the terrace, holding her from behind as he lifted her... twirling just once.

"Chakkar toh nahi aaya?" He asked, gently placing her down.

"Jab sar neeche hota hai tab aata hai... aise nahi." She was running again before her sentence ended.

Sameer held her much faster this time, picking up in the same manner as he took few quick rounds with her circled in his arms, her hair teasing him, her hands holding onto his arms for support as she laughed harder.

"Sameer, please chodo... main gir jaungi." She squealed playfully, knowing that Sameer would never let her fall.

"Nahi chodunga... mujhse badla liya tumne ab main tumse lunga." He stopped but did not let her feet touch the ground.

"Par tum kis baat ka badla loge?" She was perplexed.

"Umm... sochna padega... kuch toh hoga." He squinted, thinking what he could use to his advantage.

"Main bataun... tum bhi aise hi bhaag jao jaise main bhag gayi thi." She suggested.

"Achha? Aisa badla hota hai?" He nudged his nose on her back.

Naina twisted at the ticklish feeling, "Aur kaisa hota hai?"

"Batata hun." He walked a few steps ahead, still holding her, and let her down next to the wall. Placing both hands on her sides, he caged her.

"Main bhag ke nahi paas aake apna badla leta hun... aur yeh hamesha yaad rakhna." His voice was throaty.

Naina went still. The smile on her face froze as he placed his lips on her neck.

"Kahan?" He whispered against her soft skin.

"Huh?" She asked in confusion as goosebumps flared up.

His hand reached the back of one shoulder, "Pehle yahan tha... ab kahan chahiye?"

Her heart pounded in her ears so loud that she was sure he could hear it. Her hands unknowingly clutched the sides of his shirt.

He lifted his head to gaze into her eyes...

She broke into a shy smile... realising that he was teasing her.

"Hato," she mumbled and wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face in his shoulder.

Sameer held her tight... happy to see his girl back in her usual form.

"Achha ek baat puchu?" He slipped his fingers in her soft mane.

"Hmm."

"Kya kal raat bhi tum meri shirt pehenke soyi thi?" He asked softly.

"Kal so hi nahi paayi... aur tumhari shirt ko toh haath lagane ki bhi himmat nahi hui." She truthfully told him.

He chuckled, "Himmat nahi hui? Naina, shirt mein kya tha jiske liye tumhe bahaduri ki zaroorat thi?"

She moved her head back to look at him, "Tumhari khushbu."

He was mesmerized by her straight answer.

"Main toh tumhare dupatte ki khushbu apne saath lekar soya tha... neend mujhe bhi kuch zyada nahi aayi par raat katne ke liye kuch toh chahiye tha na." He touched her cheek.

"Agar tum chaho toh main tumhe do chaar shirt aur de deta hun... roz roz ek hi ko pehen ke bore ho gayi hogi na." He suggested with a slight tilt of his head.

"Roz nahi pehenti." She lied, unsuccessfully.

"Oh... par main toh roz tumhare dupatte ko lekar hi sota hun... uske bina neend nahi aati... aur agar tum mujhe kuch aur kapde dena chaho toh mujhe koi problem nahi hai." He said innocently.

The thought of him holding her kurta or dress against himself as he slept made Naina colour instantly.

They went back to their rooms after lunch.

Naina looked at the mess her room was, shocked as to how she could leave it in this condition. And was instantly reminded of her mental state since last night... till Sameer removed all doubts from her mind.

She started to clean up the room, putting back the clothes that were left unfolded last night, clearing the table, straightening the bed. Once everything was sorted, she sat down on the bed, thinking about how Sameer has managed to remove the uneasiness from her mind. How shaken she had been since last night but his soothing talk had washed away every guilt. He was right, showing her feelings to him was nothing to be embarrassed about... he was the one to make her feel that way... she could show him how deeply she was effected by his proximity.

The thought again brought the same stirring back... as if a storm was brewing inside her. She chided herself... staying away from him even for a few moments was so tormenting and she had pushed herself far from him since morning.

They slept peacefully that night, after their evening meeting.

Naina was surprised to see Sameer in a polo neck white t shirt next morning. She had always seen him in full sleeves shirts or half sleeves t shirts.

"Aaj yeh kyon pehna hai?" She questioned as she reached him.

"Aise hi... achha nahi lag raha toh change karke aaun?" He straightened from his usual leaning position, ready to run back to the room.

"Nahi, nahi... achha lag raha hai, bohot achha... woh bas tumhe dekha nahi kabhi yeh pehne hue isliye pucha." She held his arm.

Sameer loved it when she held onto him in front of everyone, forgetting her own rule of no physical contact in front of outsiders during college hours.

"Aise pakad ke chalogi toh roz pehen sakta hun." He gave a lopsided smile as they entered the college building with her both hands still wrapped around his arm.

"Oh," she left him immediately... suddenly aware of the surroundings.

Rahul was the first one to meet them as they entered the classroom.

"Arre Sameer, kya hua? Teri tabiyat toh theek hai na? Aise t shirt toh tu sirf tabhi pehenta hai jab thand lag jaati hai." Rahul was concerned.

"Main bilkul theek hun, yaar... yeh toh bas aaj aise hi... kuch alag pehenne ka man tha." He assured Rahul.

"Alag? Hmm, koi khaas baat hai kya? Tumhari anniversary ya kuch hai aaj?" Rahul winked.

"Anniversary? Kis baat ki?" Naina gave him a perplexed look.

"Arre tumhari baat banne ki... lekin nahi... woh toh isse pehle ki baat hai... mujhe yaad hai... Sameer se pit te pit te bacha tha... tab jaake isne maana tha iske dil mein kya chal raha hai... tumhe bhi uske baad jaldi bata hi diya hoga... hero se zyada intezar nahi hota." Rahul nudged Sameer.

Sameer rounded his eyes at him as Naina blushed, turning to take her seat.

When Sameer settled down next to her, she asked again, worried, "Sameer, kahin sach mein tumhari tabiyat toh kharab nahi ho rahi? Please, chupana mat mujhse... jo bhi hai bata do."

He moved closer, "Tabiyat toh nahi par haalat kharab hai... kisi ne aisi nishani di hai ki usse chupane ke liye aise kapde pehne hain... galti se bhi collar idhar udhar ho jaata toh sabko dikh jaata ki tumhe mujhpe kitna pyaar aata hai."

As realisation struck her, Naina turned crimson... the mark must have turned blue... like hers. But she had it on the shoulder, so there was no danger of anyone seeing it.

"Samajh aaya ki kyon aise aaya hun aaj?" He said in a low voice.

She was saved from answering as the professor entered the class.

They had a break after two classes as one professor was on leave... but had two more classes after that.

"Chalo na canteen chalte hain. Ek hi period ka break hai kahin aur toh jaa nahi sakte." Sonali suggested as she stood in front of their desk with Rahul.

They went to the canteen. After ordering, they settled on the table, Rahul and Sonali on one side and Sameer with Naina opposite them.

"Sameer, hum log apne ghar pe new year party rakhne ka soch rahe hain." Rahul said.

"Arre waah, new year party!" Naina exclaimed.

She had heard about such parties, even seen pictures in newspapers about the grand celebrations on this day but never got a chance to attend one. The last day of the year was spent watching the special program aired on TV, ending at midnight. The entire family wished each other and they slept, waking up to a new day which was similar to all previous ones.

"Haan, aur tum dono ko bhi aana hai." Sonali declared.

"Par hum kaise? Raat ko hostel mein aane ka time nau baje hai... party mein toh late ho jayega." Sameer voiced his doubt.

"Tum log hamare ghar hi reh jaana. Agle din wapas aana. Waise bhi raat ko itni der se aana safe nahi hota." Rahul offered.

Sameer looked at Naina at the same time she turned to face him, raising her brows in question. Seeing no hesitation in her, Sameer smiled.

"Theek hai Rahul, shaam ko kitne baje aana hai?" He asked.

"Shaam ko? Guest ho kya tum log? Subah se aana hai... Naina meri help karegi aur tum Rahul ki karna sajawat mein." Sonali ordered.

They laughed, agreeing to the plan.

"Chalo fir shopping bhi saath karenge. Naina, maine ek bohot achhi shop dekhi hai... wahan chalenge. Theek hai Rahul?" She asked him excitedly.

Rahul leaned towards her, "Tum bolo aur main na keh dun... aisa ho sakta hai kya?"

Sonali blushed, pushing him away with a hand on his chest, "College ki canteen hai yeh."

The college was closing down for Christmas and New Year shortly. They planned the shopping trip after Christmas which was just two days away.

"Umm, Sonali, yeh nayi shop jo tumne dekhi hai, kaisi hai?" Sameer twisted his fingers under the table.

Sonali was surprised, "Achhi hai bola to... tumhe kya lagta hai main tumhari Naina ko aisi waisi shopping karaungi?"

He was quick to clarify, "Nahi, mera matlab tailor hai kya? Banwane padenge kapde? Kyonki usmein time lagega na... toh jaldi jaana chahiye."

Naina tried to control her smile, understanding exactly what was going on in his mind and how much concerned he actually was about timely delivery of her dress.

"Nahi na, new shop hai, readymade dresses ki... main gayi thi ek din... achhe se dress mil jayenge wahan hum dono ke liye... silwane ki koi tension nahi hai." She was amazed at his foresight.

"Oh achha... fir theek hai." Sameer heaved a sigh of relief.

One look at Naina and he knew she could see through his lie. He rubbed the back of his neck, pursing his lips.

When they met in the evening, Naina gave him a knowing look.

"Aaj badi fikr ho rahi thi tumhe ki time pe kapde banwa lene chahiye... tumne socha sab tumhari baaton mein aa jayenge?" She teased.

"Sab aa gaye na... Sonali keh rahi thi Rahul se ki dekho Sameer ko sab baaton ka kitna dhyaan rehta hai." He lifted his non existent collar.

"Agar main bata deti ki Sameer ka dhyan kahan hai toh?" She raised one brow.

"Toh?" He raised both.

"Sab jaan jaate ki tumhe mera tailor ke paas jaana pasand nahi hai." Her voice dropped, sensing his intentions.

Sameer wrapped his arm around her waist, resting the other palm on her cheek, fingers in the hair.

"Mujhe kaise bardaasht hoga koi tumhara naap le... aise toh maine bhi kabhi tumhe nahi chua jaise woh tailor... " His fingers traced the curve of her waist.

Naina kept her hand on his mouth, not able to hear what he was about to say.

He held her wrist, pulling away the hand as he gazed into her eyes, "Maine soch liya hai... Ahmedabad mein koi ladki hi dhund ke rakhunga tumhare kapde banwane ke liye... warna bekaar mein kuch tailor mere haathon shaheed ho jayenge."

She laughed aloud at his declaration, "Tum bhi na... kuch bhi bolte ho... akele insaan hoge tum jisse bechare tailor ke pet pe laat marni hai."

"Uski galti hai... kisne kaha tha aisa kaam seekhe... kuch aur bhi toh kar sakta tha... aur main akela hun toh hun... bas meri Naina ke aas paas mujhe hi rehna hai... aur tumhe chuna toh musibat ko bulana hai... chahe woh Neeraj ho, Sharad ho, Sahil ya koi tailor." His voice turned heavy.