When Sameer called up at five minutes past nine, Naina picked up the phone in half a ring.

"Hello Sameer."

"Kya baat hai, Naina... maine socha nahi tha tum itni bechain hogi mere phone ke liye." He teased.

"Main toh bilkul bechain nahi hun... woh Phulla bua dadi ko tumse baat karni hai... dopaher mein tum pareshan kar rahe the na phone karke... bas unko puchna tha ki tum bol kyon nahi rahe the." Naina played along.

It was Sameer's turn to break into a sweat.

"Ky... kya... keh rahi ho tum... unko kaise pata ma... main phone kar raha tha?" His hand holding the phone was shaking.

"Unko sab pata hai... tumhara naam... tumhara ghar... tumhara irada", she was silently laughing at his condition.

He was in panic now, "Naina kuch hua hai kya? Main wahan aaun? Kisine tumhari bua dadi ko hamare baare mein bata diya hai kya?"

Naina lowered her voice mysteriously, "Bata diya... woh bhi maine".

"Kyaaa??" He screamed so loudly that the person managing the phone booth got up to ask if everything was ok.

He dipped his head to say all was well...

Naina could not hold anymore and burst out laughing, "Buddhu, itna daro mat... kuch nahi hua... bua dadi toh bohot khush hain... tumse milna chahti hain."

He took some time to process the information... first the shock, then exhilaration... two extremes in two seconds...

He kept a hand on his thumping heart, "Naina, tumne toh heart attack hi de diya."

"Achha, itna kamzor hai tumhara dil?" She teased again.

Sameer had recovered by now, "Yeh kamzor dil tumhare liye kya kya sochta hai yeh kal bataunga."

Naina went silent.

He could feel her coloured cheeks, "Ab zyaada laal mat ho... batao kya kaha bua dadi ne."

Naina told him everything... even her grandmother's own life story. He was amazed at the old lady's stand for her love in those days.

"Naina, tumhari bua dadi toh sach mein bohot himmat wali hain." He was looking forward to meet her now.

"Kal aath baje bulaya hai tumhe... aa jana time pe." She reminded him.

"Main toh abhi aa jaun, sweetheart... tum ek baar bolo toh sahi", he said softly.

Her breath hitched at the endearment.

"Aa jaun kya?" He repeated.

Naina bit her lip, thankful that he was not there to see, "Sameer, kal aisi baatein mat karna."

"Matlab aaj kar sakta hun na?" He whispered.

"Phone mat rakhna", his voice boomed through the instrument as Naina was about to disconnect, "nahi toh sachhi aa jaunga."

She gulped... knowing fully well that it was not just a plain threat.

She looked down from the second floor balcony, "Yahan zara mushkil hoga... dusri manzil pe rehti hain bua dadi."

"Mujhe sirf tum rok sakti ho... dusri ya teesri manzil nahi", his voice was heavy now.

Naina had lost the number of times she had felt the colour spread on her cheeks today.

"Ab jaake so jao... kal jaldi uthna hai na... ghar yaad rahega na tumhe?" She tried to change the course of conversation.

"Kitni baar neeche khade hoke tumhari ek jhalak ka intezaar kiya hai maine... ghar kaise bhool sakta hun", he finally told her.

Naina's eyes went wide, "Tum yahan kab aaye?"

"In do saalon mein kai baar aaya hun... shuru mein tumhe batane ki himmat nahi hui... baad mein socha bina bataye dekhne ka alag hi mazaa hai", he said mischievously.

"Maine toh kabhi nahi dekha", she wasn't sure if he was telling the truth or just teasing her.

"Tum toh abhi bhi nahi dekh paa rahi."

Shocked, Naina looked around. At the end of the street, he waved at her from a phone booth.

She felt her heart jump to her mouth, "Sam... Sameer... tum yahan kyon aaye?"

"Tumhe dekhe bina nahi reh sakta tha Naina... main bas abhi chala jaunga... tum ghabrao mat... pehle bhi bohot baar maine neeche khade hokar tumhe khidki mein dekha hai... kabhi kabhi balcony mein bhi." His voice was earnest.

She wanted to run down to him...

Sameer could see her clearly from where he was standing... but he could not make out her expressions... though he was sure presently her eyes would be filled with love.

"Ab mujhe dar lagta rahega... tum itni raat ko kaise itni door jaoge... aur fir subah wapas bhi aana hai." She was concerned.

He smiled, "Daro mat... main subah aath baje se pehle aa jaunga."

"Ab jao tum... kal milte hain. Good night", she forced him.

He kissed into the phone before mumbling a soft 'good night'.

After coming out of the booth, he stood looking in her direction for a few minutes. Both could feel the pull... the magnetism... but they could not give in. Sighing, he walked away to the parked bike.

Naina had a sleepless night... worrying about him for today and worrying about them for tomorrow. She kept her fingers crossed, praying for him to safely reach the hostel. There was no way to find out. He had said he had been here many times but now that she was aware of it, the fear of him riding back alone was giving her shivers.

Had she known Sameer was here almost every time she had come in the last two years, she might have been a bit more relaxed.

Next morning, Naina woke up with the sound of the whistle of cooker. She checked up the time and it was seven already. She slapped her forehead, "Saari raat jagti reh, bewakoof ladki, fir subah der hi hogi na."

She quickly ran to the kitchen to see her grandmother working with ease.

"Good morning, bua dadi... sorry, uthne mein late ho gayi", she gave an apologetic smile.

"Late kahan hui... abhi toh poora ek ghanta hai tere hero ko aane mein... ja achhe se taiyaar ho ja", bua dadi was in the teasing mode.

Naina ran out before she could tease any more.

In half an hour, she was dressed in a pink suit, regretting her decision to get this outfit as a change for today... bua dadi would definitely start her teasing again as she knew the importance of this colour now.
She tied her hair... leaving them open with this dress would not be good for Sameer's system.

The door bell rang at five minutes to eight... Naina could feel the numerous butterflies in her stomach as she opened the door to him... he stood smiling in a white shirt with dark blue jeans, hair falling slightly on the forehead. Naina forgot to breathe... unknowingly, her hand reached out to his hair. As her fingers touched him, he winked...

"Ab bahar khade rehkar hi dekhti rahegi ya andar bhi layeegi usse", bua dadi's voice made her go red again.

She quickly turned, asking him to follow.

The old lady walked out of the kitchen, wiping her hands with the napkin.

Her eyes shone with appreciation the moment she saw Sameer, "Toh yeh hai woh badmaash jisne meri bholi si Naina ko phansa liya."

Naina stood nervously as Sameer bent down to touch bua dadi's feet.

She held him by shoulders, looking at his face carefully, "Waise kehna padega Naina, hai toh bilkul hero... Salman se kam nahi dikhta."

Sameer grinned as Naina blushed, lowering her eyes.

"Aisa karte hain, pehle tujhe alu paranthe khila dete hain, fir baat karenge." She narrowed her eyes at him.

The mention of his favourite food brought a big smile on his face.

They had the breakfast, Sameer eating four paranthas on bua dadi's insistance as Naina glared at him.

"Aise ghoor mat usse, ye saare paranthe maine Sameer ke liye hi banaye hain... saath mein le jaana." She pointed at another casserole.

Once they were done, Phulla bua shifted to the comfortable sofa, asking Sameer to sit with her.

She looked at Naina, "Aisa kar, fridge mein kheer rakhi hai na, woh daal ke le aa sab ke liye... iska muh toh meetha kara den."

Sameer looked down as Naina ran to the kitchen, her heart pounding against her chest.

Bua dadi placed a hand on his shoulder, looking directly into his eyes, "Bohot bholi hai meri Naina, bachpan se usse bas chup chap sab kuch sehte huye dekha hai... har baat mein doosron ki khushi dekhti hai... khud ke baare mein kabhi nahi socha... kabhi kisi cheez ke liye zid nahi ki... khaana, kapde, khilone... kuch nahi manga kabhi... pehli baar yahan aane ke baad jo chamak, jo khushi maine uski aankhon mein dekhi tabhi samajh gayi thi ki iske peeche koi toh hai."

Sameer felt a little nervous now.

"Beta, mujhe Naina ne bataya ki woh tumse school ke samay se pyaar karti hai... woh umar toh kachhi hoti hai... par ab tum dono samajhdar ho gaye ho... ab apne rishte ko banaye rakhne ke liye tum dono ko ek dusre ko achhe se samajhna zaroori hai."

Sameer looked at the soft, experienced face, "Aap theek keh rahi hain, dadiji, hum dono itne time se saath hain... ab hum samjhte hain ek doosre ko, Naina meri saari kamiyon ko pehchanti hai", he lowered his eyes, " balki usne toh meri bohot madad ki hai apni kamiyaan sudharne mein."

She looked at him lovingly, "Aur tumne? Kya tumne usse uski kamiyaan door karne ka ahsaas dilaya?"

He gaped at the old lady, astonished, "Naina mein toh koi kami nahi hai."

She smiled, patting his cheek, "Aisa nahi hai... Naina ki sabse badi kami hai apne aap ko naa dekhna... woh apne aas paas ke sab logon ka dhyaan rakhti hai... sabki parwah karti hai... sabke liye unki pasand napasand ke hisab se kaam karti hai... par khud ko bhool jaati hai... uski khud ki bhi kuch ichha hogi, zaroorat hogi, yeh woh doosron ko toh kya khud ko bhi nahi batati... beta, agar hum khud se pyar nahi karenge toh kisi aur se utna pyaar nahi kar payenge jitna humein unko dena chahiye... man ke kisi kone mein aapne dard ka ehsaas reh jaata hai..."

She held his hand between both her palms, "Naina tumse sach mein behad pyar karti hai... lekin yeh tumhari zimmedari hai ki tum usse khud ko bhulne na do... usse sikhao apne aap se bhi pyaar karna... uske saath khade rehkar bhi usse Naina bane rehne do."

"Sameer ne toh yeh sab pehle hi kar diya hai bua dadi"

They both turned to look at Naina who stood smiling with damp eyes, holding a tray in her hand.

She walked up to them and placed the tray on center table.

"Sameer ne mujhe woh sab sikhaya jo apne abhi kaha... usne mujhe yakeen dilaya ki main poore aasman mein apne pankh faila ke udd sakti hun... usi ne har kadam pe mera hausala badhaya... yahan tak ki mujhe apne chehre se bhi pyaar karna ussi ne sikhaya." She lowered her head, sofly uttering the last line.

Then she went on to explain how Sameer had supported her writing... how his behaviour and his respect for her made her write the article that won the award last year... how he had always praised her looks but also made her understand how much her inner beauty had drawn him in the first place.

Her eyes were filled with pride when she looked at him, "Yeh sab kuch Sameer ki wajah se hua... mujhme jitne bhi badlaav aaye hain, apne upar jo aatmvishvas aaya hai woh Sameer ne diya hai."

Phulla bua looked at her with eyes filled with tears, then she gave the same loving look to Sameer, her happiness spilling out on the wrinkled cheeks.

She took off her glasses and wiped the eyes, "Mujhe hamesha se lagta tha ki jo ladka meri Naina se shaadi karega woh bohot kismat wala hoga... aaj lagta hai ki meri bachi bhi kam kismat wali nahi hai jo usse tere jaisa saathi mila." She stroked Sameer's head, blessing him.

Sameer and Naina looked at each other, their emotions matching their grandmother's.

"Chalo ab rona dhona bohot ho gaya... Naina, kheer de mere bete ko... " Her commanding tone was back.

Naina gave the bowls to both of them, sitting down on the opposite chair with her share.

"Ab mujhe batao aur kya kya hua inn do saalon mein... aise trailer se kaam nahi chalega... mujhe poori picture dekhni hai." Bua dadi relaxed on the sofa, waiting for them to start their story.

They were more than happy to share the major happenings. She listened with interest as both excitedly told her about Naina's new project with TV industry. Her eyes filled with anger to know what kind of boy taiji had selected for Naina, laughing at Sameer's idea of marriage in the temple when his mother was forcing him for marriage. She was not surprised to know that Anand had accepted Sameer.

"Main janti thi... Anand shuru se hi suljha hua hai... Bela toh seedhi sadi hai... jaisa woh kehta hai kar leti hai... lekin yeh Bina sabse badi musibat hai... isko toh main hi theek kar sakti hun", She knew her family well.

Then she called Naina to come and sit next to her, patting her head, "Tere tauji aur tere baap ko bhi main dekh lungi... tu bas apne iss hero ko sambhal aur iske saath aise hi apni zindagi sanwarti reh."

She pulled both of them in her embrace.