In the previous update, one mistake was left out in editing... After Naina and Preeti's conversation, when Sameer gets up, picking the used plates, the word is "Chalein" and not "Challenge"... Sorry for the error, I have corrected it now.

And thanks to JyotzNayak for making me realise my mistake.

"Sameer yeh... ", Naina uttered when she found her voice.

" Haan",  he said before she could finish, turning off the song.

"Kya", she was perplexed.

" Haan... tumhare sawal ka jawab", Sameer was still smiling, enjoying the confusion on Naina's face.

"Konsa sawal?"

"Haan... main tumhe dost manta hun... sabse achchi... sabse karibi dost maanta hun", He said in a low voice, taking small steps towards her, one hand in pocket and the other holding the recorder.

Naina was rooted to the spot. She kept looking at Sameer, wide eyed.

He was so close... she could just raise her hand and touch his face, feel the light shadow of his stubble, reach his forehead and touch the tension lines, which were lighter now... but still there, push aside his silky locks, almost falling into his eyes... or even place her hand on his chest and feel his heartbeat... Was it as fast as hers?  She was deafened by the sound of her own...damn  sure that he could hear it.

Sameer took out his hand from the pocket and held a chocolate for her, " A gift for someone... jo dost hai. "

Naina saw her own face reflecting in his eyes... nothing else registered.

"Naina, chocolate nahi chahiye?" Sameer teased her, lightly touching the bar to her chin.

Naina's breath hitched... she quickly grabbed the chocolate and turned her back to him, closing her eyes. Everything was happening too fast... she wanted to believe what she saw in his eyes... but it all was like a dream.

"Kahin sapna to nahi dekh rahi?", She pinched her arm, and hissed, as she felt the pain.

Sameer was still standing right behind her... too close for comfort. She took a few steps forward... and turned.

Meeting his gaze was not easy... but she managed to look at him, " Thank you... chocolate ke liye bhi... aur dosti ke liye bhi."

He made a face, "Dosti ke usool nahi jaanti kya?"

"Dosti mein no sorry no thank you", they both said together and laughed.

As they settled down with their back to the tree, Sameer asked, " Naina, ek baat puchun? "

"Har baar permission kya maangte ho, pucho na? " She gave him a look of mock anger.

He smiled at her cute expression, "Tumne kaha tha na main tumhare liye lucky hun... to batao kal humare milne se tumhare saath kya achcha hua? "

She was surprised that he remembered what she had said the other day, not aware how her one sentence had given him a lease of life... a new reason to live... and love.

"Kal to sabse bada faayda hua", she said delightfully.

Seeing his raised eyebrows, she continued, " Maggi khane ko mili na",  and he laughed again.

He was himself surprised how easily she could make him laugh... how, without any effort, she made him feel alive... last few days that he had spent with her were the best days in the past three months. The darkness around him was making way for the light of contentment that he felt within.

They spent some time talking about their likes and dislikes in food and then Naina taught him a new chapter. They left the place with a new spark in their gait.

At dinner time, Sameer sat alone in the dining hall eating his meal, when Rahul pulled a chair next to him.

Sameer gave him a deathly glare, "Aur koi jagah nahi mili tumhe? "

"Arre yaar, naraaz kyon hota hai... aaj to main Naina ke saath baitha bhi nahi." Rahul chuckled.

Sameer almost choked on his food.

"Ky... kya matlab hai tumhara?" He stammered.

Rahul gave him a knowing smile, "Ab kya chupa raha hai yaar, saaf dikhta hai teri aankhon mein jab tu Naina ko dekhta hai... itne dino se jo tera dil sookha bejaan para tha, ab usme phool khilte hue dikhne lage hain."

Sameer wrinkled his nose at the metaphor. But he was puzzled... Rahul himself mentioned that he liked Naina, than how was he so relaxed and jovial knowing about Sameer's interest in her.

"Par tum to... tumne kaha tha... tumhe Naina...",  he fumbled.

Rahul smirked and slapped Sameer's back, " Kaha tha... dekhne ke liye ki uska tere pe kya asar hota hai... kuch dino se lag raha tha ki iss paththar mein shayad jaan aa rahi hai... thoda doubt tha ki woh jaan kaun hai... kal socha pakka kar lun... isliye naatak kiya tha... aur dekho... sahi nishana maara... pakad liya tujhe."

Sameer looked at him open mouthed.

"Arre yaar, muh band kar aur khana kha le... warna kal ki tarah table gira dega phir se angry young man banke," He winked.

Sameer slowly started eating again. Rahul went on to enjoy his food with great pleasure.

While walking back together to their rooms after dinner, Sameer could hold it no longer. He hugged Rahul, "Sorry Rahul, kal tumhara khana girane ke liye... mujhe laga tum Naina ko...", he could not utter the words.

" Arre yaar... aise kaise... Maine dekha tha tujhe shuru se... Tu kisi se baat nahi karta tha par Naina ko dekhke thoda pighal jaata tha... uss din jab wo behosh hui thi to tera chehra dekhne layak tha... bilkul safed par gaya tha... aur phir doctor se baat karte hue teri ghabrahat... mujhe laga kuch to gadbad hai boss... phir Naina ne bhi tere baare mein pucha jab tu gayab tha... Maine socha yaar dono taraf aag hai par beech mein ek bridge ki kami hai... dono alag alag kinaare pe khade hain... bas main ban gaya tumhara bridge... ab to sab theek hai na?" He winked again.

Sameer blushed at his analysis. He didn't know he was so transparent.
"Par tumhe itni jaldi samajh kaise aaya... college ko shuru hue abhi zyaada waqt to hua nahi hai?"

"Ab ek aashiq doosre aashiq ke dil ki baat nahi jaanega to kaun jaanega",  Rahul smirked, " aur Naina ka reaction bhi dekha tha maine jab usse pata chala ki usse uthakar medical room le jaane wala tu tha... tum dono pehle se jaante ho na ek dusre ko?" He caught Sameer by surprise.

"Haan wo... wo hum... hum ek hi school mein the", he hesitantly answered.

" Kyaa",  it was Rahul's turn to be surprised, "phir aise kyon ghabra rahe the... tum to pehle se hi dost ho. "

"Nahin, humne pehle kabhi baat nahi ki... balki uske behosh hone ke baad pehli baar humne ek doosre se kuch bola."

Rahul's eyes became wide, "Bina baat kiye Tu uspe fida tha? Kamaal hai yaar... aur pehle se pasand thi to pehle kyon kuch bola nahi? Kis muhurat ka intezaar kar raha tha?"

Sameer gave a sheepish smile, running a hand around his neck. Suddenly, something registered and he gave a questioning look to Rahul, "Lekin tum agar Naina ko nahi to kisko pasand karte ho? Tumne kaha na ek aashiq... "

Now it was Rahul's turn to blush. He looked down and mumbled, "Sonali ko. "

"To phir Naina ke saath kyon baithte the? Aur freshers mein usse kyon shaayari suna rahe the? " A hint of jealousy was still there.

Rahul was astonished to know that Naina had mentioned this too.  Then grinned and slapped Sameer on the back again.

"Tezaab nahi dekhi kya... focus saheli pe rakho... main Sonali ko jalaana chahta tha... Naina ke tareef karna, uske saath baithna, usse padhna, sab Sonali ke liye".

" Mujhe pata tha Naina safe hai... wo to pehle hi tujhme uljhi hai isliye mera yeh sab karna usse Impress nahi karega... main kisi ka dil nahi dukhana  chahta tha." Rahul's each layer of revelation was widening Sameer's eyes more and more.

Seeing Sameer lost, Rahul shook him lightly, "Ab to mujhe nahi khayega naa? "

Sameer again gave him a puzzled look.

"Arre yaar, ek hafte se aise dekh raha tha jaise kachcha chaba jaayega... kal to jab table giraya, mujhe laga beta Rahul, haddiyan salamat rakhni hain to yeh naatak khatam kar warna yeh majnu tera bharta bana dega." Rahul gave a look of being scared.

Sameer couldn't help but smile at his genuineness.

"Chal ab maze mein jaake so aur Naina ke sapne dekh... main bhi chala apni wali ke sapne dekhne", he gave a big smile.

As Sameer walked to his room, he felt light... and happy.

Stopping in his tracks abruptly... he realised there was one thing he had to do.

*****

Naina's hand shivered as she picked up the chocolate again. She was on cloud nine... Sameer had given her a gift... and his friendship... and she was sure more would come eventually. She could see it in his eyes... feel it in her heart... he did consider her more than a friend. The thudding sound in her chest was threatening to completely make her deaf.

She got up from the chair and went to the mirror. Looking at her reflection she saw a plain girl, dressed in white chikan kurta, hair tied in a pony... nothing worth looking at... and she frowned. Sameer was an extremely handsome guy... very good looking and stylish... girls kept staring at him in school and here in college too, she had seen many girls following him with their eyes. And a few times she had heard some girls discussing him in the washroom... mentioning how hot he was and how they would be ready to be his girlfriend if he even looked at them once.

But he looked at her... Naina's heart flipped again, recalling his gaze when he gave her the chocolate... how he had burnt her with his intense eyes... if she had not turned... what?

Her mind had become numb. His little act of touching her chin with the chocolate made her break into cold sweat... it's not that he had himself touched her... but the way he had done it... Naina could almost feel his fingers brushing along her chin. She squeezed her eyes shut to block the images but couldn't.

" Naina, tumhare bhai ka phone hai", Shalu's voice echoed in her ears, pulling her out of her dream world. Grabbing her dupatta, Naina rushed out... wondering how Sameer had called during the day and now Arjun bhaiya actually is calling up.

"Hello bhaiya, kaise hain aap?" She spoke into the receiver.

"Hello Naina", the deep voice hit her senses again... Sameer.

She looked around and thanked her stars that the warden or her assistant were not around.

" Tum... phir se?" She whispered.

"Maine to socha tum pehle hi samajh jaogi Arjun ka naam sunke...
kya Naina tumhara topper dimaag aaj kaam nahi kar raha Kya? " Sameer teased her.

Naina mumbled in a low voice, "Kaam to tab karega jab tumhare alawa kuch soch paungi. "

" Kuch kaha tumne? " Sameer asked, though he had heard what Naina had said.

He smiled shyly.

"Main keh rahi thi aise phone karoge to pakde jaoge... phir tumhe aur mujhe dono ko hostel se bahar kar denge." Naina tried to sound annoyed, but she was extremely pleased to hear his voice.

"Achcha theek hai... danton mat", she could almost see his pout,  "Maine to good night kehne ke liye phone kiya tha. "

"Kyaaa... tum pagal ho? Yeh mera aur tumhara ghar nahi hai jahan hum good morning aur good night ke liye phone karein? " Naina looked around to see if anyone was in the hearing range.

"Achcha sorry na... lekin ab phone kar hi liya hai to ek baar good night bol do".

She couldn't suppress her smile at the child in him,  " Good night Sameer." She said sweetly.

"Good night Naina", his tone changed instantly and the low, husky voice made Naina gulp.

She quickly kept the phone down and ran to her room, hoping that nobody met her on the way... she needed to hide her scarlet face.

Once inside, she locked the door and placed her hand on her heart, trying to control her breathing.

" Yeh ladka itni baar dil ki dhadkan badhata hai ki mujhe to jaldi  hi heart attack aa jayega." She gave a small tap on her head, "pagal ho gayi hai Naina, uske peeche",  and hid her face in her dupatta.

In his room, Sameer found his thoughts stuck on one phrase, 'mera aur tumhara ghar'...

Such a beautiful dream...

He wanted it to be a reality... he wanted a home... their home...

'Hamara ghar'