Naina stood staring at the spread of colour on the sky that matched the colour on her flamed cheeks.

They had spent the whole night with each other... even though it was spent talking on phone but Sameer had made her go red every moment of their first night after marriage.

The thought made her blush to her ears and behind them, the colour going down her neck to spread on her entire being.

"Ab sharmana chodo aur taiyar ho jao... main ek ghante mein tumhe lene aa raha hun." He made her look around again, suspiciously.

"Naina, sun rahi ho na tum? Mujhe yahan wahan mat dhoondo... main abhi tak ghar pe hi hun... tumhe kya lagta hai agar wahan hota toh aata nahi tumhare paas? " He smiled.

She closed her eyes and pressed the phone on her heart... he could read her completely...

"Par tum... tumhe kaise pata chalta hai?" She placed the phone back on her ear, flummoxed.

"Kyonki, sweetheart, ab main tumhe achhe se pehchanta hun... tumhari ek ek dhadkan ko padh sakta hun... sirf sun ke bhi pata chal jaata hai." His honeyed voice was all out to kill her today.

If this is how he would be as a husband, she would be red all the time... and blue... her hand went back to touch her shoulder.

"Ready rehna," his voice shocked her.

Had he read this thought too?

"Naina, ready rehna ek ghante mein, main aa raha hun tumhe lene... hostel jaana hai na... Uncle ke driver ko maine raat ko hi bata diya tha ki hum saat baje tak nikalenge." He cleared her doubt.

Naina breathed out, "Shukr hai."

"Itna miss kar rahi thi hostel ko? Mujhe toh laga tumhe yahan bohot maza aa raha hai." He was surprised at her reaction.

"Nahi college ke liye nahi, tumhare liye," she blurted before she could stop herself.

Slapping her forehead, she tried to clarify, "Mera matlab tumhe samajh nahi aaya na uske liye."

He chuckled, "Kya samajh nahi aaya mujhe, Naina... tum samjha do kuch reh gaya hai toh."

She slapped her forehead again.

"Ek ghante mein aaoge na... main taiyar hoti hun. Bye." She disconnected before saying something silly again.

It was always difficult to remain normal in front of him... and with him talking like this, Naina was sure she would get a chance to torture her forehead many times. But she was not complaining.

"I Love You," she smiled at the phone and kissed it.

Realising she was in the balcony, she looked around nervously to check if anyone had seen her... thankfully, it was too early for anyone to be out.

Naina went back to the room. Bringing out her suitcase, she quickly started to pack all her things. As she went near the cupboard, something came under her foot.

Looking down, she saw a white pearl. Her necklace...

The images from last night came back again. The shiver that hit her till the toes made the hair at the back of her neck stand. He had pulled it away with such force that the pearls had scattered all over the room. It was difficult to make out as the tiles were white in colour too. She touched the side of her neck that had a red mark where the string had grazed her skin. Sameer had given her many marks in one day... rather half a day... the second  half of the day that had started with a mark in her hair... and it changed everything. She had seen him look at her differently... and she had accepted it. His gaze, his fingers, his lips... all had been different, touching her in a manner that showed his right on her. And she had given in... she could not leave him and go down from this room.

Naina shuddered at the thought... what if Sonali's cousin had not come when she did...

She'll have to be more in control... their proper marriage was still a few months away...

She kneeled on the floor and picked up as many pearls as she could find, keeping them in a paper  napkin tied with a rubber band. She would get them made into a necklace again and give back to Sonali.

Going back to her packing, she placed all her clothes in the suitcase, along with the green suit bhabhi had presented her. Once everything was neatly packed, she went to take bath. There wasn't enough time to shampoo so Naina decided to skip it for now.

When she went out to the living room, bhabhi and Sonali's mom were having tea.

"Tu itni subah taiyar hoke kahan jaa rahi hai, Naina?" Bhabhi was surprised to see her in a long dress.

"Bhabhi class hai na... isliye Sameer ne kaha jaldi chal lenge jisse aaj ke lecture miss na ho." She explained.

"Arre beta aaj aur ruk jaa... dopaher ko Sonu pag phere ke liye aayegi...  tu bhi hogi toh usse achha lagega." Aunty insisted.

"Nahi aunty, college miss ho raha hai... maine Sonali ko bata diya tha...  usse malum hai main subah chali jaungi." Naina said with a smile.

"Achha main breakfast banwa deti hun tera." Bhabhi got up.

Naina stopped her, "Nahi bhabhi, breakfast wahin jaakar karungi, mess ke time pe pohoch jaungi."

"Wahan kyon karegi? Ghar se jaate hue toh poore din ka khana lekar jaana chahiye... aur tu khaakar bhi nahi jaana chahti... chup baith... main bolke aati hun." Bhabhi went to the kitchen.

Naina sat down with the cup of tea that bhabhi had poured for her before going.

"Aunty, driver aa gaya kya?" A voice from behind made Naina look back.

Sahil stopped in his tracks. He was conscious of the bandage on his nose.

"Haan beta, aa gaya driver subah hi. Abhi Naina ko chodne jaayega. Aao tum andar toh aao. Tumhe kab nikalna hai?" Sonali's mom asked him.

"Woh humein... koi baat nahi... main taxi bula lata hun." Sahil kept standing in the doorway.

"Nahi, aap car le jaiye." Naina addressed him.

She looked at Sonali's mom, "Aunty, main Sameer ke saath ja rahi hun. Woh car leke aayega. Hum dono saath jayenge toh aapki car free hai."

"Achha, isliye jaldi hai jaane ki, Sameer ke saath jo jaa rahi hai," bhabhi teased, hearing Naina's statement as she came out of the kitchen.

Naina gave a quick look to aunty who appeared to be surprised.

"Mummyji, Sameer aur Naina ek saath hain. College khatam hote hi dono ki shaadi hogi. Aur maine Naina ko kaha hai ki hum toh sab ussi ki taraf se aayenge." She explained to her mother in law.

Sahil squirmed.

"Yeh toh bohot khushi ki baat hai, beta... hum sab zaroor aayenge... Sameer toh mujhe bhi bohot achha laga... tu pehle bata deti toh main Sharda mausi se baat nahi karti. Unko Sameer bada pasand aaya tha jab usne Sonu ke pairon mein haldi lagayi thi. Keh rahi thi kitna sanskari ladka hai... main toh soch rahi thi aaj uska address puch ke Sharda mausi ko bata dun jisse woh aage baat kar sakein... chalo ab unko bol dungi usne toh pehle hi apne liye ek sundar si ladki pasand kar rakhi hai." Sonali's mother showed genuine happiness.

Naina looked down with a shy smile. She was a little disturbed when aunty mentioned Sharda mausi but her next sentence took all her tension away.

"Sahil tu wahan kyon khada hai, andar aaja... chai lega?" Bhabhi saw him now.

He came inside and sat with Sonali's mom, leaving the seat besides Naina  empty.

"Mummyji inki bhi train hai do ghante mein toh abhi hi niklenge. Maine inka naashta bhi banane ko bol diya hai." Bhabhi said.

A sound of horn from below made Naina alert. It had to be Sameer. She got up quickly.

"Arre upar toh aane de usse... humse mile bina kaise jayega." Bhabhi pushed her back on the sofa.

Within a minute, Sameer was at the door.

"Aao beta, andar aao?" Aunty greeted him warmly.

"Namaste aunty, woh bas Naina ko lene aaya tha." He hesitated, seeing Sahil seated there.

"Haan toh le jaana. Tumhari Naina ko rok nahi rahe... par andar aake zara chai pani pee lo... aakhir humare ghar ki beti ke hone wale pati ho." Bhabhi never let go a chance to tease.

Naina turned crimson... Sameer coloured as well.

He walked in and sat with Naina.

Sahil did not look up at them.

After tea and breakfast, Naina got up to get her suitcase from the room as Sonali's mom went inside her own room with tea for her husband.

"Akeli uthayegi kya itna bhari suitcase... jao uski help karo." Bhabhi directed Sameer to go behind Naina.

He did not waste a single second.

Naina had just put her hand around the handle when her hand was jerked away and she was crushed in his arms.

She wrapped hers around him, placing her head on his chest, and felt at home instantly.

Sameer took a deep breath of relief... feeling her soft body pressed to him was the best thing for his morning.

He kissed on top of her head, pulling her closer, if it was possible.

He could have stayed like this forever had it not been for the open  door and everyone outside waiting for them.

After a few seconds of bliss, he let her move back and picked up the suitcase. He looked around the room, last night's moments flashed in front of his eyes. One glance at Naina confirmed that she was also thinking the same.

The blush crept up on their faces again and Sameer walked out with the suitcase.

Naina waited for a few seconds, getting her breathing to calm down.

Outside, bhabhi gave a packed tiffin to her, "Yeh tum dono ke liye lunch hai... aur yeh kuch mithai."

Naina took both packets.

They bid farewell to Sonali's parents and brother. Naina hugged bhabhi, thanking her for everything.

"Itna kya thank you bol rahi hai, Naina... mummyji ne kaha na yeh tera bhi ghar hai... toh apne ghar walon ko aise nahi bolte." Bhabhi chided her.

Amit and Sonali's dad blessed her.

"Jab tera man kare yahan aa jana... sochne ki zaroorat nahi hai... humein bohot achha lagega." Sonali's mom said lovingly.

Naina joined Sameer in the car where he was waiting after keeping her suitcase in the trunk.

They waved at bhabhi who was in the balcony and left for the hostel.

"Bhabhi ko bata deti na ki hone wala nahi ho chuka hun... tumhara pati." He whispered as the car hit the road.

Naina lowered her eyes, feeling his hand clasp hers, fingers entwined.