When most of the people were seated, Naina tugged at Sameer's hand. He was completely lost in her, not even aware what was happening around them.

"Sameer, chalo, pooja shuru ho gayi hai." She nudged him.

"Tumne yeh kya pehna hai?" He managed to speak.

Naina looked down at her dress, "Kyon, achha nahi hai? Badal ke aayun kya?"

"Iski baat nahi kar raha," he lifted his finger to her nose.

Naina moved her head back before he could touch, "Yahan sab log hain, Sameer... abhi chalo udhar baithte hain."

She walked slowly, never leaving his hand till they reached the covered area where everyone was sitting on the mattresses spread on the floor, since it was a pooja. They sat at the back, with her dupatta still over their linked hands. The huge fans placed there swiveled, sending a gush of air towards them and her hair flew back. One strand got stuck in the neck, going around like a necklace and Sameer felt his hand itch to remove the errant strand from her soft skin. The fan moved to the other side and Naina straightened her hair in one flick, making him sigh.

"Yeh phool thode aur mangwa ke rakh lijiye, baad mein zaroorat padegi." The pandit performing pooja  asked Sonali's mother.

She turned to look back to see who can get it. Seeing Naina sitting close to the entrance, she called out to her, "Naina, beta phoolon ki do tokri rakhi hain upar. Zara le aana."

"Woh akeli dono tokri kaise layegi, mummy, main chala jaata hun." Sonali's brother, Amit started to get  up as Naina left the place and walked towards the building.

"Aapki zaroorat hai abhi pooja mein." Panditji stopped him.

"Sameer chala jayega," Rahul looked back and gestured to Sameer.

He could have hugged Rahul at that time.

Keeping that for later, he rushed after Naina.

She entered the house, looking for the basket, not knowing Sameer had followed her inside. He moved closer... and his musky smell reached her.

Turning sharply she saw him standing few steps away. Naina took two long strides and crashed into his chest. Sameer wrapped her close to himself, drowning in the heavenly perfume of her hair.

"Kabse yeh karna chahti thi." Her muffled voice reached him, soaring his desire.

"Aur main kya karna chahta tha, pata hai?" He leaned and whispered in her ear.

"Kya?" Her voice was rough.

He lifted her chin up, her face still touching his chest... bending down, he kissed the nose stud.

Naina gasped... and his lips moved down to brush hers, resisting the temptation of exploring her parted mouth as the door was open.

"Mujhe pata nahi tha ki itni choti si cheez se tum mujhe itna pagal kar dogi." His eyes were stuck on her nose.

She raised her hand to remove it... he held her wrist, shaking his head.

"Mat utaro... mujhe dekhne do." His palm rested on her cheek, thumb moving over the nose lightly.

Naina could feel the goosebumps spreading at his feather light touch. His other hand in the small of her back pressed her closer.

The sound of footsteps made them jump away from each other. Naina quickly picked up one basket and handed him the other, moving towards the door. As they left, some relative entered to get something from the kitchen.

They walked with a distance of some steps between them. Naina handed over the basket of flowers to Sonali's mother, turned and took the basket from Sameer, handing that as well. Going back to their place they sat down together again, reeling under the effect of their moment upstairs. Sameer glanced at her... her breathing was still a little fast... he reached for her hand, giving the warmth of his gentle yet firm clasp, and taking in the same warmth from her soft hand. She took a deep breath, relaxing instantly... and pulled their joined hands under her dupatta again.

They sat through the pooja without a word. Once it was over, after talking with a few relatives, Rahul walked upto them.

"Naina, kaisi ho? Aaj toh badi achhi lag rahi ho." He smiled at her... and looked at Sameer the next moment.

"Ab yahan koi table wable mat gira dena... ek saali ki tareef kar raha hun... rahegi woh teri Naina hi." He glared, reminding Sameer of their interaction in the dining hall of college hostel.

"Table kab giraya tumne?" Naina gave a shocked look to Sameer.

Rahul looked at Sameer, then Naina, then back at Sameer.

"Tune bataya nahi tha?" He said in a low, guilt ridden voice.

"Woh kuch nahi, Naina... bohot purani baat hai... bilkul shuru ke dino ki." Running his hand through the hair falling on his forehead, Sameer looked down.

"Umm... main chalta hun," Rahul slipped away.

"Bolo na, table gira diya tumne? Kab, kyon?" Naina wanted to know what made him so angry.

"Chodo na... ab uss time ko kyon yaad karna... waise Rahul theek keh raha tha... aaj bohot achhi lag rahi ho tum." He leaned a bit towards her, trying unsuccessfully to waver the course of conversation.

Naina squinted her eyes at him

"Achha theek hai... bata dunga... lekin yahan nahi... jab akele milogi tab," seeing her open her mouth to object, he added, "sabke samne pitna nahi chahta."

Her eyes opened wide, "Haww... maine kab peeta tumhe... Sameer ke bachhe... tum... tum... "

She huffed and crossed her arms, turning her back to him.

"Arre yaar Naina, ab itni si baat pe gussa mat ho na... kaha na bata dunga... promise..."

He tilted his head towards her and said in a low voice, "Aur bachhon ki tum chinta mat karo... jitne bologi usse do chaar zyada hi honge..."

She could just evaporate with the heat that spread in her veins at that moment... his words made her go beetroot red upto the toe nails. Swallowing hard, she took one shaky step ahead... Sameer stepped in front, blocking her path... one look at her coloured face and he had to fist his hands to control the need to touch her flaming cheeks.

"Beta, aap bhi prashad lo," an elderly lady offered them a laddoo from the box that she was carrying.

Naina quickly joined her hands to take the sweet, urging Sameer to do the same.

When the lady went away, Sameer whispered, "Meri baat pe bhagwanji ne prashad bhej diya... iska matlab jaanti ho?"

She ran to join Sonali, who was talking to a few girls.

Seeing Naina, she pulled her hand, "Ye hai meri pyaari dost... jiske baare mein tumhe bata rahi thi... aur Naina yeh hain meri cousins. Abhi inko bata rahi thi ki tu topper hone ke saath saath TV show bhi likhti hai, aur ek foundation..."

"Bas kar, Sonali," Naina interrupted her, "yeh kya meri baat lekar baithi hai... shaadi teri hai... apni baat kar na... inko bataya tune Rahul ne kaise kaise papad bele tere liye?"

"Haan bata na Sonu," one of her cousin said excitedly, "Jiju ne aakhir kaise pataya tujhe?"

Sonali laughed, "Usme bhi Naina ki baat aayegi... Rahul ne Naina mein interest dikhana shuru kiya tha.. mujhe jalaane ke liye... lekin mera kabhi dhyaan hi nahi gaya shuru mein... woh toh baad mein jab hamari baat ho gayi thi tab Rahul ne bataya... achha hua jaldi ruk gaya... nahi toh Sameer se pit jaata."

The colour that had started to ebb from Naina's cheeks was back in an instant.

"Sameer kaun? Tumhara boyfriend hai?" Another girl looked at Naina.

Before she could say anything, Sonali pointed out towards Sameer, who was standing a little away, talking to Rishi.

"Yeh hai tumhara boyfriend," the girl gushed, "Kitna handsome hai yaar."

Seeing the dreamy look on the faces of her cousins as they all looked at Sameer, Sonia clicked a finger, "Oh hello, uski taraf toh dekhna bhi mat... uske dil ki cassette ke A side mein bhi Naina hai aur B side mein bhi... ek baar jab woh iske saath hoga toh uski aankhen dekhna... samajh aa jayega main kya keh rahi hun."

Naina's cheeks matched the colour of her kurta.

Later, while having food, Naina told him about Sonali's cousins talking about him.

"Unko bata dena ki mere dil ka station toh bas ek hi hai." He moved closer to her.

"Kya kar rahe ho... pooja hui hai yahan." She stepped back.

"Main bhi toh pooja hi kar raha hun... yahan jitne log hain unme se koi bhi bhagwan mein itna vishwas, itni aastha nahi rakhta hoga jitni main tum mein rakhta hun." He looked into her eyes.

Naina could feel the dampness in hers... his words showed the purity of his love, his faith in her, his complete surrender to their togetherness... and suddenly her mind filled with gratitude. The pious environment around seemed to be created for them, to bless them and give the indication of a new beginning, to tell them that with this blessing, the rituals for their own bond being sealed into a holy relationship had begun.

As the groom's side prepared to leave, Sameer took Rahul to one side.

"Rahul, mujhe woh..." He started but stopped as Rahul showed him a hand, blinking to show that he knew what Sameer wanted.

"Maine setting kar li hai... ghar jaake, change karke ek ghante baad Sonali ne upar terrace pe aane ko kaha hai. Naina bhi aayegi." He explained, giving the answer to Sameer's unasked query.

Not able to contain his excitement, Sameer walked to Naina, who was talking to Sonali's bhabhi.

"Naina, ek minute suno." He tried to keep his tone casual.

Bhabhi looked at Sameer, her face breaking into a smile, "Oh toh aap ho Naina ke Sameer," she looked back at Naina, "jao bhai, ab inhone bulaya hai toh hum kaise rok sakte hain."

They both stared at her open mouthed as she walked away.

"Inko bhi bata diya Sonali ne!" Naina managed to utter.

"Chalo achha hi hua... jitne kam logon se chupana pade utna khul ke pyaar dikha sakte hain." Sameer was happy.

She turned to look at him, eyes narrowing, "Ab kya karne wale ho tum?"

"Ek ghante baad aaunga terrace pe, aise hi aana, aur yeh pehen ke rakhna, abhi batana baaki hai ki tum kaisi lag rahi ho." He winked, touching her nose.

Naina was worried, "Yahan nahi, Sameer, Sonali se kya bolungi... uske ghar wale sab honge... aise hum... "

He kept a finger on her lips, removing it the next instant, looking around, "Sonali aur Rahul ka hi plan hai... woh bhi aayegi tumhare saath."

An hour later, Naina and Sonali waited on the terrace.

The boys reached a few minutes late, having to wait for the guard to go to the other side of the building.

Rahul held Sonali in a side hug, looking at Sameer, "Ab ek ghante baad milte hain."

He went to the opposite side, across the staircase, along with Sonali.

Naina stood twirling the edge of her dupatta as Sameer kept looking at their retreating form.

When they were out of his line of sight, be turned towards Naina. Her nose pin reflected the light from a pole afar.

Slowly walking upto her, Sameer let his eyes roam over her from head to toe.

The way her kurta hugged her, he was left gasping for air. During the day, she had pulled the dupatta sideways, keeping herself covered... but now it lay on one shoulder, giving a shape to the numbers he had seen in the tailor's shop.

He held one of her hand, twisting it lightly behind her back. Naina arched due to this movement. He looked into her eyes, unabashed at the feelings reflecting in his own. Leaning towards her, he kissed the nose stud again, moving to the bridge of her nose, dropping soft kisses. His lips trailed over her cheeks, the heat emitting from her skin telling him the colour that had washed over her. His kisses moved from her jaw to her neck, making her free hand around his waist tighten.

He did not stop.

As his lips pressed into the hollow between her collar bones, Naina threw her head back, a deep voice escaping her lips. Her hand shot up to his neck, fisting into his hair.

Sameer left her hand, letting her hold onto him, as his arms pulled her into him.

He could feel her heart drum against his chest, giving competition to the one inside him, threatening to pop out anytime.

"Ek taraf tumhari chuan mujhe hadd todne ko uksati hai aur doosri taraf tumhara bholapan mujhe tumhe sahej ke rakhne ko majboor kar deta hai... main kya karun Naina... kaise suljhaun apne andar ki iss kashmkash ko?" He mumbled against her ear.

She took a few deep breaths, then drew her head back, looking at him.

"Tumhari uljhan samjhti hun main, Sameer... bas kuch mahino ki baat hai... fir tumhe kisi baat ke liye apne dil ko samjhana nahi padega."

He stared at her, eyes widening, "Naina, tum... tum... jaanti bhi ho..."

"Main janti hun... samajhti hun tumhari chahat ko... aur isme kuch galat nahi hai... mujhe bohot pehle se ahsaas hai." She felt no hesitation in telling him, no inhibition in accepting his desire for her.