Naina stood holding onto the back of chair, breathing heavily... she needed support...

Her lips still tingled from the second kiss... his fierceness had made her go hot all over. She could not face him like this... pressing a fisted hand over her heart, she tried to bring it in control.

Sameer looked at the red dupatta lying on the floor. He got carried away seeing her swollen lips... and some of his bottled up feelings spilled out. He hoped Naina was fine.

She stood with her back to him. He slowly walked up to her, "Naina... "

When she didn't respond, he held her shoulders and turned her around.

She stood with lowered eyes. Sameer lightly placed his fingers on her cheek... it was burning.

"Meri taraf dekho, Naina", he said softly.

She swallowed, not lifting up her eyes.

Sameer pulled her in a comforting hug... wrapping his arms around her gently.

"Thank you... mujhe itna achha gift dene ke liye", he whispered.

Naina hid her face in his chest.

"Toh yeh tha woh gift jo tumne yahan chupa ke rakha tha... mujhe tang kar rahi thi itne din se." He teased.

He could feel her lips curling into a smile on his chest.

"Pata hai Naina, jab bhi main padh padh ke thak jaata tha aur man karta tha bas ab kisi book ko haath na lagaun tab mujhe bas ek hi cheez yaad aati thi... tumhara promise ek special gift ka... aur main wapas zor shor se padhne baith jaata tha." He revealed the secret of his good result.

"Achha... jab college mein sab poochenge toh yehi bataoge kya?" her curiosity won over her shyness as she looked up at him.

Finally being able to see her face, he smiled, "Tum kaho toh yehi bata dunga... sabko pata chalne do meri Naina mujhse kuch bhi karwa sakti hai... bas thodi si rishwat deke."

"Hato... " She pushed him, moving away to pick the dupatta lying on the floor.

He held her hand, "Tumne yeh dupatta mere liye kharida tha?"

Naina looked at him in surprise, "Tumhare liye dupatta kyon lungi?"

"Par tumne kaha tha na ki tumne gift kharid ke yahan rakha hai... kya hai woh?" He was not ready to let go.

"Woh toh maine aise hi kaha tha... socha tha ki wapas aake tumhare liye kuch achha sa le lungi." She tried to get away.

He pulled her close, looking into her eyes, "Sach kaho, Naina, kya tumne bhi yeh nahi socha tha jo main chahta tha?" He lighly grazed her lower lip with his finger.

Naina lowered her eyes, not able to lie any more.

Sameer could feel his heart jump in joy... a small nagging thought had been troubling him for the last few minutes... Naina had done this only for him or she wanted it as well...

Seeing her expression now, he had no doubt that the demure girl standing here with lowered eyes had the same passion in her... only, she kept it hidden, unlike him.

He wrapped his arms tightly around her, "Thank you, meri jaan... tumhe pata nahi hai tumne aaj mujhe kitni khushi di hai... main toh kabse sapna dekh raha tha."

"Kabse?" Naina's muffled voice reached him.

"Sach bolunga toh tum gussa ho jaogi", he nuzzled his face in her hair.

"Nahi houngi... bolo na kabse?" It was her turn to make him come out with the truth.

He brought his lips closer to her ear, brushing against the earlobe as he spoke, "Do saal se..."

Naina felt a shiver run down her body... her shoulder lifted up involuntarily to cover the part he was torturing.

"Suna na tumne, do saal se... " He repeated when she didn't react.

She had actually missed it the first time.

"Kya... tum do saal se aise sapne dekh rahe ho?" Her eyes went wide as she stepped back to look at him.

Sameer gave a lopsided smile, "Sapne toh main aur bhi dekhta hun... par tum sun nahi paogi."

He had no idea Naina could understand everything but she did... turning red as she spun away from him.

He lowered his voice, "Isiliye yeh tshirt pehenke sota hun... jisse sapno mein tumhe dekh sakun aur tshirt mein tumhe mehsoos kar sakun."

The colour on her face deepened... as her pulse turned erratic.

"Ab tumhe jaana chahiye", she said in a shaky voice, wrenching her hands.

Sameer went behind her, "Abhi se? Abhi khana toh khaya hi nahi."

"Huh?" She turned to look at him.

"Khana... tumne bhi toh nahi khaya na..." He pointed at the packet of sandwiches and kachori.

"Chalo saath mein khate hain", he made her sit on the bed, bringing the packets and placing before her.

"Tumne kyon nahi khaya?" She asked offering him a sandwich.

He took a bite from her hand, "Tumhare saath khana tha."

He offered the same sandwich... urging her to take a bite. She did. He  looked at the sandwich closely after her bite... then took a big one himself.

"Zyada achha ho gaya." He gave a mischievous smile.

Naina was perplexed for a moment, before she understood... and blushed.

Picking up a kachori, she bit into it... an involuntary gasp of pain escaped her lips.

Sameer was instantly next to her, "Kya hua?"

She felt a point on her lower lip with the tongue and sucked in the lip.

"Naina, dikhao kya hua... " Sameer sat in front of her.

She shook her head, "Kuch nahi... tum khao na."

Putting pressure on his arm, she tried to send him back to his place but Sameer was not the one to give in.

He cupped her chin, gently pulling the lip down with his thumb.

There was a cut... though a tiny one but the blotch was visible.

He fingered it, "Dard ho raha hai?"

She pulled his wrist, trying to remove his hand, "Nahi, bas woh kachori ka masala laga toh zara..."

"Sorry Naina", his eyes filled up with regret.

She immediately placed her fingers on his mouth, " Shhh... sorry kyon bol rahe ho?"

"Maine kiya na yeh", he lowered his head, holding her hand.

She leaned and kissed his forehead.

"Kuch nahi kiya tumne, kiss mein toh aisa ho jaata hai." She pacified him.

"Achha? Tumhe kaise pata?" His eyes glinted with mischief again.

"Padha tha na uss book mein... kiss ke nishan reh jaate hain", she tore a piece of kachori and put it in her mouth, avoiding the lip.

Sameer's eyes were wide open, "Konsi book? Kya padha tha?"

Naina felt her heart fall to the pit of her stomach. She had not realised what she was saying... and blurted out the most guarded secret.

She sat with eyes fixed on a point near the toe of her folded leg.

"Naina... "

She gulped.

"Woh... woh... main novels padhti hun na... usme tha." She tried to sound convincing.

"Konsi novels padhti ho?" He could read the body language... Naina was a pathetic liar, at least in front of him.

"Love... love stories", her eyes were still downcast.

She could feel his eyes on her, but looking up at him was not an option.

Sameer was sure that she was hiding something, but he decided to let it be for now... questioning too much would make her more tensed. He wanted her to relish the feeling of what they had shared...

A smile appears on his face.

"Yeh laal dupatte ka idea bhi tumhari novels se hi tha?" He leaned closer.

Naina looked up sharply. Relief spread over her as she saw his eyes devoid of any queries related to her source of knowledge... he had accepted her lie.

Seeing her lost, he clicked his fingers in front of her, "Bolo... kahan se aaya ye idea?"

"Umm... bas aa gaya... mera apna idea tha... tumhe achha nahi laga?" Her confidence returned.

"Idea toh bohot achha tha... aage bhi aise naye naye tareeke soch ke rakhna", his voice had turned raspy.

"Maine toh bas iss khaas pal ko sirf aur sirf hum dono ka banane ke liye aisa kiya tha... main nahi chahti thi koi humein dekhe... phir chahe woh ye bejaan cheezein hi kyon na ho." She waved her hand around the room.

He looked at her in wonder... she was not aware that he would come here tonight... or that they would share what they did... still she had thought of something that made the moment even more special... he shivered in anticipation at how she would give her special touch to their romance after they were married. This girl was a bundle of hidden talent... and he had to wait for another year to find out.

He shifted closer, "Achha lagta hai jab tum kuch khaas karti ho... sirf hamare liye."

She put a finger on the tip of his nose, "Tum jo mere sabse khaas ho... tumhare liye toh karungi hi naa."

The satiated feeling of a few minutes earlier turned into hunger again.

He shifted towards her... Naina shifted back...

They continued to move till her back hit the headboard of the bed.

Sameer smirked.

Naina looked at him nervously, "Sam... Sameer... bohot der... der ho gayi hai..."

He let his fingers move up in her hair as his palm rested on the soft cheek.

He brought her face closer to him and kissed on the forehead.

"Good night, Naina".

Climbing down the pipe with ease, he walked back to his hostel, turning at the corner to wave at her, as she stood in the balcony, waving back.

Naina went back to the room. It suddenly looked empty. His presence here felt so natural... so required.

Sighing, she cleared the bed, putting back food containers on the table. As she turned, her eyes fell on the red dupatta, neatly folded and placed on the other side of her bed.

She picked it up, holding it close to her face. His scent was trapped in it...

She looked at the dupatta, "Jaise tum uss tshirt ko apne paas rakhte ho aise hi main abse isko apne dil se laga ke soungi... jab tumhare sapne dekhungi."

Blushing at her own thought, she hid her face in the dupatta.

Later, as she lay in bed, her thoughts drifted to the events since morning... how the day had started with her feeling annoyed with Sameer for reaching the station late... their journey together... his open claims about her being his wife... their closeness in train... his unexpected appearance in her room... her decision to give what he wanted... she had not planned to do so... but their meetings in Ahmedabad had awakened the longing in her... the tightening of her insides everytime he touched her lips or licked his own had gone to another level... he had always been so gentle, so giving, so considerate... her initial thoughts of 'shaadi ke baad' started changing... after going through that book, she had realised that a kiss was another expression of love, just like a hug... and she had always felt warm and secure in his arms... so she had taken a decision... to satiate his desire, and hers too...

And when the moment was here, she wanted it to be private... just the two of them.

Naina brought her fingers to her lips... they felt tender, running her tongue over then she could feel him, his taste was still there. The thought again sent her heart beat skyrocketing.

Sameer was in the same state. He had been standing near the window since he reached his room. He had been thinking of nothing else ever since the results were out, but today he had given up the hopes of getting what he wanted... Naina had clearly told him that the gift was here in the hostel... he didn't want to pressurise her for sometimes she wasn't comfortable with... but her fervent actions had taken him by surprise... his shy, hesitant, timid Naina had initiated the kiss...

He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply... her fragrance was still around him... and her soft touch lingered on his lips.