As they walked out of the room Naina noticed that Sonali had worn her dupatta in such a way that her back was covered now. A glimpse could be seen through the fabric but no skin was showing.

"Sonali, yeh dupatta kaise pehna hai?" She asked.

"Parlour wali didi ne set kiya hai... neck deep tha toh aise achha nahi lagta na... kyonki baal bandh liye hain maine... isliye unhone kaha aise chup jayega... bura lag raha hai kya?" She was conscious.

"Arre nahi... bohot achha lag raha hai... ekdum perfect... kitna sahi idea hai... mere paas bhi aisa ek blouse hai... usme try karke dekhungi." Naina assured her.

Sonali was satisfied about her look. They walked down the stairs together.

Rahul was surprised to see an extremely happy and cheerful Sameer. Putting the keys back from where he had taken them, he sat heavily on the bed, resting his back against the headboard.

"Aaj toh kuch alag hi chamak raha hai tu... kya baat hai?" Rahul exclaimed in a teasing tone.

A slight blush crept up on his face, "Naina se milke aisa hi hota hai hamesha."

"Achha, kal raat ko jab milke aaya tha toh lag raha tha heart attack aane wala hai tujhe... tab yeh chamak kyon nahi thi?" Rahul teased again.

Sameer recalled the last night's conversation with Naina on the terrace... and his shocked reaction over it. How dazed he had been with her revelation... he was surprised it was less than twenty four hours ago... so much had happened since then... their moments in the college brought a contented smile on his face.

Seeing him lost to the world, Rahul rolled his eyes and walked out of the room, a smile playing on his lips as he turned his back to Sameer... he had been with Sonali for quite some time... he could understand the look on Sameer's face.

After a shower, Sameer got dressed in a light pink shirt with the half jacket that Phulla bua had got made for him. It fitted him very well. He had never bought anything like this for himself... it had never occured to buy anything besides his regular clothes. He had only two kurtas that nanu had bought for the two consecutive diwalis that he was with him. And then, Naina had bought him two more... on Diwali again... the parallels between nanu and Naina never failed to intrigue him... it was like God had taken one and given him another... equally loving and caring... a replacement.

But he did wish sometimes that it would have been so much better had nanu seen how much Naina loved him. His eyes misted at the thought. Looking at his reflection, he  came back to present... Naina's words ringing in his ears, 'Unhe jab bhi yaad karo khush hoke karo... nanaji jahan bhi honge tumhe dekh rahe honge... aur tumhare chehre ki khushi unko kitna sukoon degi, socho.'

He smiled, turning to see Rahul entering the room, wearing an off white kurta with a half jacket as well.

They both praised each other's outfit... and wondered secretly how their would be wives react... having no idea what the two girls had in store for them.

As Sonali and Naina entered the covered area in the garden, all eyes went to them. Sonali's cousins came running to her gushing over her look.

An elderly lady, looking at the pretty girl with Sonali, asked her son sitting with her, "Yeh wali hai kya?"

Sahil was looking at Naina with open mouth, not able to hear anything that his mother said.

Not getting an answer, she looked at him... his expression said everything. She looked back at the girl... beautiful and graceful. Her warm smile and soft voice was definitely impressive. She made a mental note to talk to her daughter and Sonali's mother during the ceremony.

Naina looked around... nobody from Rahul's side was visible. They had not arrived yet. The girls settled down on the low seating in front of the mehendi walas. There were two boys and two girls. One girl was designated for the bride. Sonali started to see the designs in their album.

Naina felt a wave of air gently blow over her and she knew he had arrived.

"Main aati hun, " she got up, informing Sonali.

As she neared the door, her eyes fell on Sameer. He was talking to Rahul while coming towards where she stood. Naina quickly moved behind a pillar decorated with flowers. She wanted to have her fill of looking at him without being observed. He looked strikingly handsome, the jacket fitting over his broad muscles, contrasting very well with the powder pink shirt. She was instantly filled with pride... knowing that he belonged to her.

Sameer entered the venue, suddenly getting a feeling that she was around. His eyes searched for her... she was nowhere. Still he could feel her presence.

"Sameer beta, pyar mein poora pagal ho gaya hai tu... har jagah Naina ki hi khushboo aati hai." He rubbed the back of his neck and sat on one of the chairs as Rahul was whisked away to the place where the mehendi walas were seated.

"Naam kya bataya tune?" He heard a woman's voice besides him.

"Naina."

Sameer was instantly alert at the mention of her name by a male voice.

He looked to his left. A few seats away, a lady sat with someone who looked like her son. Why were they talking about her? Why did the boy take her name so softly? He knew something was not right.

"Naina, yeh thaali zara Rahul ke wahan rakh de... main mithayi leke aati hun." Bhabhi handed a plate to her, seeing her standing near the entrance.

Naina walked in with the plate in hand.

That is when he saw her.

And once again, her green clad form made his heart stop beating. He was mesmerised by her look... the silk suit flowed on her body like it was in competition with her silky skin, swaying against the direction she moved... long net sleeves covered yet revealed her slender arms... her hair... for once, he did not want to pull out whatever was keeping them piled to a side, a strand falling on her forehead... her makeup this time made her look ethereal... her flawless skin never needed anything but today it appeared to be illuminated... and her earrings... he was smitten by the way they were held by a gold chain going all the way up her hair.

He was knocked dead.

The surroundings blurred... everything paused... the soft breeze brought her scent to him... music  filled the air... it was just her and him...

"Kitni sundar hai na?" A voice in the background made him nod foolishly.

His brain processed the voice and Sameer was jolted back to reality. The voice belonged to the boy seated a few seats away. He clenched his teeth, fingers twisted each other as he wished the boy's neck was stuck between them.

He looked at Naina. She was sitting next to Rahul, talking about something. Sameer quickly got up, walking in her direction.

"Sameer, main Naina se keh raha tha aaj kitni alag lag rahi hai... nahi?" Rahul looked up at Sameer.

He could not take his eyes off her... up close she looked even more breathtaking.

Naina looked at him, her eyes filling up with the similar appreciation for him.

He sat with her, "Aaj sachmuch kuch alag hi lag rahi ho."

Naina looked at both of them, "Yeh tum log tareef kar rahe ho ya mazaak udda rahe ho?"

"Jaake zara dekho khud ko... koi andha bhi mazaak nahi udda sakta tumhara," Rahul said in a flirting tone, stealing a glance at Sameer.

As expected, Sameer looked sharply at him, "Tu apni wali ki tareef kar jaake... meri wali ko main khud bata dunga woh kaisi lag rahi hai."

Naina was pleasantly surprised to see him talk so openly with Rahul.

"Main toh jaana chahta hun par koi uske aas paas bhi phatakne nahi de raha," Rahul sighed, looking at Sonali.

Naina chuckled, "Bas ek din ki baat hai jijaji... fir toh aap ke hi paas rahegi."

Both boys were startled for a moment at her calling Rahul 'jijaji'.

"Haan, toh yehi bolungi na... kal tumne hi kaha tha saali hun." She shrugged at Rahul.

All three burst out laughing... making someone burn in jealousy.

"Nainaaa... aaja na, tu bhi mehendi lagwa le," Sonali called out.

"Nahi, main thodi der mein lagwaungi, " Naina remembered the responsibility bhabhi had given her.

"Sameer, tum zara chalo mere saath," Naina said, getting up.

"Haan, haan... leke jao isse... isi ka intezaar toh kar raha hai." Rahul winked at Sameer.

Naina narrowed her eyes at them as Sameer got up quickly.

"Gussa baad mein kar lena, pehle batao kya kaam hai." He held her hand, walking towards the entrance.

She pulled her hand back, "Kya kar rahe ho... sabke samne."

"Sabko dikhana hai," he lowered his voice.

"Naina."

Hearing her name, Naina looked back to see Sonali's mother calling her. Asking Sameer to wait, she ran to see what she wanted.

Sameer waited with hands in pocket, looking around... his eyes halted for a moment over the boy... he was staring at Sameer with murderous expression.

"Chalo Sameer," Naina moved towards the gate without stopping.

Sameer looked again at the boy, ran a hand in his hair and followed Naina, whistling.

"Yeh kahan le jaa rahi ho?" He asked when they passed Sonali's house and went up another flight of stairs.

"Upar wale ghar se kuch lana hai." She said, entering the house directly above Sonali's.

She went in one of the rooms and looked above the cupboards. As her eyes fell on the big black one she raised her hand, "Woh wala suitcase..."

Her sentence could not be completed as his hands slid around her waist, pulling her to crash her back against his chest.

"Sameer, koi aa jayega." She said in a shaky voice, feeling his fingers move on her belly, the satin material of the suit suddenly appearing too thin.

"Maine darwaza band kar diya." He whispered.

Her head jerked in the direction of the door on the side, bringing her cheeks right in front of his lips. Sameer did not let the opportunity pass, landing a kiss on her glowing cheek.

She grasped his hands on her waist.

"Naina, aaj tum itni sundar kyon lag rahi ho?" His voice changed.

"Tumhare liye, " she said softly.

He groaned, placing his lips on her shoulder, "Abhi na tumhare baalon ko chu sakta hun na chehre ko... kharab ho jaayega sab kuch... kyonki main hosh mein nahi hun abhi."

His hand continued to rub her belly and waist, loving the feel of satin gliding against her skin.

Naina was finding it difficult to remain standing, to keep her hair and makeup intact.

"Sameer, mat karo na..." She managed to say as the fluttering in her stomach became unbearable.

"Kaise rokun khud ko... aaj jaisi tum lag rahi ho na aisa toh maine kabhi sapne mein bhi nahi dekha tumhe Naina... aur main toh roz tumhare hi sapne dekhta hun." His voice was getting deeper.

"Woh Sonali ne kaha toh maine ye style aur makeup... agar tum kahoge toh aage se nahi..."

He cut her in mid sentence, "Karwana... zaroor karwana... main tumhara har chehra, har roop dekhna chahta hun."

"Ab neeche jaana padega... ye samaan leke." She reminded him why they were here.

He turned her with a jerk, his eyes darkening as he looked into her brown ones, "Naina, aaj raat ko bhi upar milne aana... main subah tak ruk nahi sakta... tumhe batana hai ki tumne mere dil ka aaj kya haal kiya hai... ek baar fir se tumne mujhe iss rang se ghayal kar diya."

He did not mention anything about the first time, remembering her kasam.

"Lag toh tum bhi bohot achhe rahe ho... ekdum jaise koi malai ka katora." She placed her hands on his chest.

His dark eyes glinted with sparks, "Toh kisne roka hai tumhe... malai ka katora tumhara hi hai... jab chahe kha lo."