The pain in her foot had completely vanished. Naina was still amazed at the way he had twisted it and made it okay. She moved around with ease in the morning, happy to be rid of the limp.

"Tumhare paas sach mein mere har dard ki dawa hai." She held his white shirt close to the heart, smiling at herself in the mirror.

The classes got over early that day as one of the professors was on leave.

Rahul called out as Sameer and Naina got up to leave.

"Ek minute rukna, Sameer... Naina, tum bhi." He said from the third bench where he was seated with Sonali.

They waited while Sonali took out something from her bag. Both walked upto their friends... Rahul handed the card to Sameer and Sonali gave one to Naina.

"Yeh humari shaadi ka card. Tum dono khaas dost ho humare isliye sabse pehle tumhe de rahe hain." Sonali smiled at them.

Rahul hugged Sameer, "Khaas se bhi zyaada hai tu toh... teri wajah se hi aaj Sonali mere saath hai... teri madad ke bina main toh intezaar hi karta reh jaata yaar."

Sameer hugged him back, "Ab tumhare dil ka haal main nahi samajhta toh kaun samajhta."

He looked at Naina and winked.

Sonali saw this and pinched Naina, "Lekin tu shaadi mein meri taraf se aayegi... Sameer ko aane de Rahul ki taraf se."

"Arre, aise kaise hum alag alag aayenge? " Sameer frowned as Rahul moved away.

"Jee haan, aur itna hi nahi... Naina mere ghar aake rahegi dus din, mere saath... tum chaho toh Rahul ke saath shift ho sakte ho." Sonia teased Sameer.

Naina opened her mouth to say something but Sonali pressed her hand, wanting to see the effect of her teasing on Sameer.

His eyes rounded in horror, "Main dus din nahi jaane dunga Naina ko... itne din uske bina nahi reh sakta main."

Rahul and Sonali laughed as Naina blushed.

"Arre uske bina kyon? College aayegi woh roz... mere papa car se drop karwa denge... tab mil lena. Waise bhi toh roz sirf college mein hi milte ho tum dono." Sonali kept holding Naina's hand.

Rahul glanced at Sameer, aware of their evening meetings, though he did not know the place.

Sameer looked at Naina, their meeting previous night in her room coming alive in his mind.

Naina stole a glance at Sameer, recalling how he had kissed her even harder... murmuring that her own smell was intoxicating for him. She coloured deeply as the image became vivid in front of her.

Sonali stared at the quiet faces, all with different expressions.

"Kya aisa kuch hai jo mujhe nahi pata aur tum sab jaante ho?" She asked suspiciously.

"Nahi, " They all said in unison.

She nodded, "Iska matlab kuch secret toh hai... chalo abhi nahi batana toh koi nahi... par main pata laga ke rahungi." She narrowed her eyes at Rahul.

Naina tugged at her hand, trying to take her away from the topic, "Sun na, dus din kaise reh sakti hun? Tune toh chaar din kaha tha."

Sonali laughed, "Haan baba, chaar hi din reh lena. Main toh bas Sameer ko tang kar rahi thi... dekha kaise chehra utar gaya iska."

"Chaar din bhi zyaada hain... main aur Naina ek din bhi alag nahi rahenge." Sameer whined, holding Naina's other hand.

Naina looked down, one hand held by Sonali, one by Sameer... as if they were going to fight over her.

"Sameer, tu chinta mat kar. Tu mere saath shift ho jaana woh chaar din. Kal meri family aa rahi hai... Sonali ke ghar ke paas hi ek society mein humne kuch flats liye hain... sab wahin rahenge." Rahul assured Sameer.

"Par tumne toh alag ghar liya tha na?" He questioned.

"Haan, jo ghar papa ne mere liye khareeda hai wahan hum seedhe shaadi ke baad hi jayenge." Rahul looked at Sonali.

It was her turn to blush.

"Par chaar din ka college?" Naina was apprehensive.

"Naina, ab tu itna nahi kar sakti mere liye?" Sonali made a face at her.

"Arre topper Naina, do din toh chutti hai isme... bas tumhara do din ka college miss hoga." Rahul eased her fears.

"Ab do din ke liye meri hone wali biwi ka dil mat todo na, please," he added with a wink to Sonali.

She punched his arm, her cheeks going red again.

"Lekin... " Sameer's objection was cut short by Rahul.

"Koi lekin nahi... tu mere saath rahega... aur roz kisi na kisi rasm ke liye aana jaana toh hoga hi. Jee bhar ke dekh lena Naina ko." Rahul cut him short.

He sighed, giving in... as Naina pressed his hand in assurance.

"Main toh kal se nahi aaungi. Ab sirf pandrah din bache hain. Lekin tujhe lene ke liye car bhijwa dungi... pakka dopaher se pehle aa jana che tareekh ko." Sonali raised her brows at Naina.

"Car ki zaroorat nahi hai, Sonali, hum bike se aa jayenge." Sameer said.

Rahul placed a hand on his shoulder, "Bike pe mushkil hoga Sameer... tum dono ke paas bags honge... chaar din ka samaan bhi toh laoge na... tu bhi car se hi aana Naina ke saath. Aur agar wahan bike ki zaroorat padi toh meri le lena... waise main abhi ek hafte aur aaunga college lekin hostel chod raha hun kal se."

Later in the evening, when they sat at their spot, Sameer linked his fingers with hers.

"Tum sach mein chaar din ke liye jaogi?" He asked sadly.

"Haan, Sameer. Sonali ne itne pyaar se bulaya hai. Woh chahti hai main saari rasmon mein uske saath rahun... par tum bhi wahan paas mein hi toh hoge... hum aaram se mil sakte hain, " Naina was hopeful.

"Aur nahi mil paye toh... Naina, main ek din bhi nahi reh sakta tumse baat kiye bina... tumhe dekhe bina." He kissed the back of her hand.

"Par aisa hoga hi kyon ki hum na mile. Sameer, jab main Ahmedabad mein apne parivaar walon ke saath rehte hue tumse milne ke mauke nikal leti thi toh yahan kya mushkil hai... aur fir jaisa Rahul ne kaha, sab rasmon mein toh dono taraf ke log milte hi rahenge." She rubbed his hand.

"Mujhe shaadi ki rasmon ke baare mein kuch nahi pata... main kabhi kisi shaadi mein gaya hi nahi." He said in a dejected voice.

Naina looked at him in surprise, "Kisi bhi shaadi mein nahi gaye?"

He shook his head, pursing his lips sadly.

This was something she could not have even imagined. She had attended several weddings in her family and neighbourhood... some only on the big day and some... in close relations... where she had stayed to attend all functions.

"Iska matlab tumhe kuch pata nahi shaadi mein kitna kuch hota hai?" She was still trying to digest the fact.

Sameer tapped a finger to his temple, squinting his eyes, "Thoda bohot pata hai... jo filmon me dekha hai, " he looked back at her, "Hum aapke hain kaun, chandni aur abhi dekhi thi na saath mein, kuch kuch hota hai... usmein dikhaya tha woh sab dekhke lagta hai bohot saari rasmein hoti hain."

"Achha batao, kya kya yaad hai tumhe." Naina clasped her hands, excited to know how much he remembered.

"Umm... angoothi pehnate hain ek doosre ko sabse pehle." He tried to recall.

"Haan... usse sagai kehte hain... kabhi woh shaadi se kuch din pehle hoti hai par kabhi kabhi kaafi pehle ho jaati hai... mahino pehle." She clarified.

"Toh hum abhi sagai kar sakte hain? Hamari shaadi mein bhi toh kuch hi mahine bache hain." He was excited.

"Sagai ghar wale karate hain... aise nahi hoti... chalo, aage batao." She tried to sound normal, though the streak of red crept up her neck.

With a sad face, he thought for a moment before answering, "Kuch haldi mirchi jaisa hota hai."

Naina burst out laughing, holding her stomach... till her eyes teared up.

"Tum aise kyon hans rahi ho?" He was conscious, knowing for sure that he had messed up badly.

"Hansu nahi toh kya karun... tumne toh shaadi mein masale ka tadka laga diya." She managed to speak in between bouts of laughter.

"Mujhe kya pata... jo suna woh bol diya." He said sheepishly.

She poked her fingers on his forehead, "Buddhu, woh haldi mirchi nahi haldi mehendi hota hai."

His mouth rounded in a silent 'oh' as he recalled it  was indeed mehendi.

"Par haldi toh masala hi hai na... fir uska kya kaam?" He was still confused.

Naina smiled fondly at his naivety, "Haldi dulha dulhan ko lagate hain... ubtan ke jaise... "

"Upta...  what? Naina, hindi mein bolo na!" He said with a frown.

"Hindi hi hai yeh... ubtan... matlab chehre aur haath pairon pe lagaya jaane wala lep... ek mask... samjhe?" She rolled her eyes at him.

"Achha... woh jo holi jaisa khelte hain?" He nodded in understanding.

"Par lagate kyon hai?" He looked at her.

"Sundar banane ke liye... jisse dulha dulhan apni shaadi mein ekdum nikhar jaayein." She explained.

He shifted closer to her, "Tum mat lagana... isse zyada nikhar gayi toh main apni hi shaadi mein behosh ho jaunga."

The spread of colour on her face was clearly visible to him.

"Tumhe bhi lagani hogi," she said slowly, avoiding his eyes.

"Mujhe kya zaroorat hai... main toh waise hi bohot handsome hun." He raised his collar.

She pulled his cheek, "Haan, bohot handsome ho... par shaadi ki rasmein karna zaroori hai."

She looked ahead dreamily, "Pata hai Sameer, main jab bhi kisi ki shaadi mein jaati thi toh sochti thi ki kaise ek din main bhi yeh sab karungi... bas yehi sapne dekhti thi ki kab woh din aayega jab sab mere aas paas baith ke mujhe haldi lagayenge, chunri udhayenge, kisi ke naam ki mehendi lagayenge, fir uska naam leke mujhe chedenge..."

"Main yeh sab kar deta hun tumhare liye." He wanted to fulfill her dream.

She laughed again, "Tumhe nahi karna... dost, rishtedar aur ghar wale karte hain... tumhare liye yeh sab karwaungi main."

"Woh mehendi mein naam bhi likhte hain na? Woh bhi likhwaogi?" He remembered the movies again.

Naina looked at her palms, "Haan, likhwaungi... sabko pata chalna chahiye mere dil pe kiska naam likha hai... jab wohi naam mere haathon pe aa jaayega toh humein apna rishta chupana nahi padega."

He brought her palms to his lips and placed a kiss on each one.

"Achha batao aur kya yaad hai tumhe?" She asked eagerly.

"Bas woh ghode pe baith ke dulha aata hai... woh aag ke gol gol chakkar hote hain, fir ek chain pehnani hoti hai... " He went on, playing the scene of movies in his mind.

Naina slapped her forehead, "Hey bhagwan."

"Kya hua?" He looked at her in surprise... according to his memory, the events he mentioned were all performed for marriage only.

"Pehli baat... aag ke gol gol chakkar nahi phere hote hain... jisme dulha dulhan saat janmon tak ek dusre ke saath rehne ki kasam khate hain aur hamesha ek doosre ka saath dene ka wada karte hain." She looked at him like he was a child who needed to be told everything.

"Sirf saat? Main toh sau janmon ki kasam khaunga... nahin, saare janmon ki... jitne bhi humein milenge." He tilted his head.

Her heart went out to him, yet again.

"Aur chain nahi mangalsutra hota hai... apne pati ke naam ka... saari duniya ko batane ke liye ki usse pyaar karne wala bhi koi hai." She said softly.

"Tumhe kaisa mangalsutra chahiye, Naina?" He looked into her eyes.

"Jismein hum dono ka naam ho... uss pendant jaisa jo tumne mujhe diya tha." She saw her image in his black eyes.

"Aur bataun kya yaad hai mujhe shaadi ka?" He circled his hand around her waist.

She raised her brows, wondering what name he will give to sindoor.

"Saja hua kamra... phoolon se." He whispered.

Her cheeks flamed up in a second. She tried to move back but he held her tight.

"Humare kamre ko phoolon se bhar dunga jab meri dulhan aayegi." He tucked her hair behind the ear, looking at her red cheeks.

"Aur ek pal ke liye bhi tumhe apni baahon se nahi nikalne dunga."

She closed her eyes, opening them again the next moment... as the images that flashed were not good for her system.

His eyes darkened as his finger trailed down her face, to the neck.

"Tab tum woh chain... woh mangalsutra... hamesha pehen sakti ho... kisi se chupana nahi padega." He let his finger move along her neckline, tracing the boat neck of her top.

Naina felt a chill run down her spine as his finger lightly moved over her collar bones.

"Naina, tum dulhan banke kitni sundar lagogi yeh toh main soch bhi  nahi pata." He brought his hand to rest on her cheek, feeling them burn his palm.