"Naina, sazaa toh maine tumko deni thi tum mujhe kyon de rahi ho." He said in a gruff voice.

"Kaisi sazaa?" She could not comprehend what he meant.

"Tum itne kareeb ho, yahan hum akele hain aur main tumhe na theek se chu sakta hun na kiss kar sakta hun?" He whined.

"Kyon?" She asked with genuine innocence.

His eyes turned dark, "Matlab tum chahti ho ki main... "

Naina was red in a second... this was not what she meant.

His hands  went to her waist, holding her from the sides, "Kyonki meri jaan, agar main ek baar behek gaya na toh tum iss haal mein toh neeche bilkul nahi jaa paogi."

Naina was ready to evaporate... she could not look at him... and covered her face with hands.

Sameer took a deep breath and kissed her hands over the eyes, "Yeh tumhari aankhon ke liye jinme main hamesha khud ko dekhta hun."

His next kiss was over her mang tika, "Yeh uss maang ke liye jo aaj mere rang mein rang gayi hai."

He kissed over her cheeks, "Yeh unn galon ke liye jo mere liye hamesha laal ho jaate hain."

He could not see but he was sure her cheeks would have gone redder.

His lips touched the hands over her nose, "Yeh tumhari pyari si naak ke liye jo mere aane se pehle hi mujhe pehchan jaati hai."

Next was the turn of lips... and his voice turned heavier, "Yeh unn hothon ke liye jo mera naam itne pyar se lete hain."

He wanted to say some more but controlled himself.

His eyes now moved down to her neck... and the image of her gulping down the soft drink came alive. He removed her hands from the face. Naina still could not open  her eyes. His gaze went down further.

"Aur jahan tum mera naam chupa ke rakhti ho yeh kiss wahan ke liye hai."

Before she could understand, he bent his head and kissed over her heart.

"Tumhare dil ke liye."

Naina got a jolt of the extent that she had never felt in her life. Her breath left her lungs... tightened stomach muscles clenched so hard she thought they might snap... legs turned into jelly... She would have fallen had he not been holding her... but he was... aware of her reaction to his kiss...

Her eyes flew open as one hand went over the heart instantly while one clutched the side of her lehenga.

And he swiftly bent again to kiss over her hand this time, making her inhale sharply.

He straightened, looking at her, searching the brown eyes that looked darker... there was surprise, confusion, shock, shyness... but no anger...

His girl had accepted him... wholeheartedly.

Naina could feel his kisses... even though they were over her hand, she could feel them right where he wanted to give them. When he pulled her hands away, she thought he would kiss her again... he did... but not where she was expecting it. His lips over her heart were separated by multiple layers of clothing but she could feel him... she could feel him right on her heart.

Her mind had stopped functioning... holding him was difficult... the hand over her heart slipped to her side to gather the lehenga in a fist this side too.

His hands were clutching her waist... his eyes bore into hers... his breath heated her already burning face...

She stepped back, only to hit the partition of cupboard.  Looking behind, her eyes fell on the dupatta and she remembered why she had come here. She picked up the dupatta.

"Sameer yeh... " She lifted it to bring to his attention.

His eyes registered the red dupatta in her hand... sighing, he took a step back.

Naina moved through the little space he had given. Before she could reach the door, he held her wrist. They stood for a few seconds with their backs to each other, hands joined... and then he jerked her to him, turning to bring her into his arms. His lips found the place he had missed earlier... her throat. He peppered small kisses on the soft skin... feeling the goosebumps under his lips.

Naina was ready to fall the umpteenth time today. Her free hand went around him for support... he drew her closer, not lifting his head from the task.

She lifted her other hand to hold him, and the dupatta again brought back the recollection of surroundings... she tried to move away, knowing that she had to be down.

His finger hooked into her pearl necklace as she tried to turn... his one arm around her waist, eyes on her as she stood sideways, forcing herself to step away... though all she wanted was to stay.

She looked at him... and his eyes melted her... with a sigh, she took a step, crashing her back into his chest.

Sameer pushed her hair over the shoulder, to reach the back of her neck, the only part he could kiss without fear of spoiling anything. His lips trailed all over the skin visible till her dupatta layered the open back... somehow it was too less... and the necklace was competing to claim whatever little he was getting.

Without a thought, he pulled hard at the finger around the string.

The pearls were let loose all over the floor. Each one that hit the tiles, bounced multiple times before rolling in one or the other direction.

No one noticed the fate of the only piece of jewellery that she had been wearing till now.

"Naina."

The sound came from outside, jolting both of them out of their trance.

Sameer immediately stepped away. Naina pointed at the washroom and he went in.

Sonali's cousin entered the room the moment he was out of sight.

"Mila nahi dupatta?" She asked.

"Bhabhi ne kaha shayad tumhe milega nahi isliye mujhe bheja par tumne toh dhund liya." Her eyes fell on the sought after piece in her hand.

"Bas abhi... abhi hi jaake mila... main leke aa hi rahi thi." Naina tried to smile.

"Toh chalo," The girl walked towards the door.

Not hearing any sound behind her, she looked back to see Naina still standing at the same spot.

"Chalo na, Naina... kya hua?" She questioned.

Then her eyes fell on the pearls lying on the floor which were camouflaged by the white tiles.

"Arre tumhara necklace kaise tut gaya?" She walked back to Naina.

Her hand went up to the neck... and as it dawned upon her how she lost the string, a fresh wave of colour spread on her cheeks.

"Woh... woh cupboard mein ulajh gaya." She lied.

"Oh! Kitna pyara lag raha tha tumpe... chalo koi nahi... neeche chalte hain nahi toh bhabhi hum dono ko dhundne aa jayengi." The girl smiled and  walked ahead to go down.

Naina followed her, halting at the door once and glanced at the washroom.

Licking her lips in nervousness, she called out to Sonali's cousin, "Tum chalo main do minute mein aati hun."

She stopped, "Kya hua Naina? Kuch kaam hai toh main rukti hun na... woh Sonu bhi tumhe bula rahi thi... sab wait kar rahe hain."

Naina hoped Sameer would be able to come out discreetly and went back to the marriage venue with the girl.

Sameer could hear their talks. He waited for a few minutes, then looked out. There was no one. He stepped out and moved towards the door, hoping there was no one outside either. His foot hit something and he almost slipped. As his eyes searched for the cause, he was shocked to see the white pearls scattered on the floor. And their heated moment played in his mind. He rubbed the back of his neck, promising himself that he would try to remain more in control... it was still a few months before he could actually claim a right on Naina in front of the whole world.

In the dining area, almost everyone was done with their food. Naina quickly went to the table to set a plate before the food containers were whisked away. Five minutes later, she saw Sameer entering the place. She indicated at the plate and put it on a table. As he reached her, Naina stepped ahead.

"Khana kha lo," she whispered, crossing him to go where Sonali waited for her.

Sameer sat down, knowing fully well that she had not eaten and now she won't come to sit with him.

He picked up a napkin and rolled two paranthas in it. Then he ate whatever she had put in his plate first time as his wife.

"Naina, abhi jab pheron ke liye baithenge toh nikalte hi Rahul ke joote utha lena... warna iski fauj lene nahi degi." Sonali whispered to Naina when she sat with her.

"Jooton ki chinta mat kar... woh toh hum le hi lenge," Naina assured her.

When panditji asked them to be brought for pheras, Rishi and other boys lingered around. Naina whispered something to Sonali's cousins who formed a semi circle around the bride and groom, walking directly behind them. As the couple reached the pooja area, they started to take off their footwear.

"Ek minute... yahan ke riwaz ke hisab se sabse badi saali aapki madad karegi." Naina stopped Rahul from removing his shoes.

She kneeled down... Rahul quickly stepped back.

"Naina, tum mere pairon ko kyon haath laga rahi ho? Aisa koi riwaz nahi hota... aur tum thodi saali ho." Rahul was uncomfortable with her touching his feet.

"Aapko kisne kaha riwaz nahi hota... bhai hamare yahan toh hota hai aur aapki yahan shaadi ho rahi hai toh yahan ke riwaz bhi manne padenge." Bhabhi took Naina's side without knowing anything about her plan.

"Par Naina... woh toh... " Rahul looked around with a frown.

"Naina hamaare liye Sonu jaisi hai toh hui na aapki saali... aur baaki beheno se badi hai toh yehi karegi." Bhabhi smiled.

Naina again tried to help Rahul take off his shoes but he stepped further back... and collided with Sameer.

"Yaar Sameer dekh na yeh Naina... " he heaved a sigh of relief.

Before he could complete his sentence, Sameer was on his knees, next to Naina. He held Rahul's feet one by one and helped him with his shoes, handing them to Naina without a word.

A cousin immediately produced a box and shoes were placed in it.

"Kya Sameer, tumhe toh hamare saath hona chahiye tha, tum inka saath de rahe ho apni team chod ke," Rishi whined.

Sameer got up, dusting his hands and went to the boys.

"Tum log toh sab kal chale jaoge... Rahul ko Sonali mil gayi... mere liye toh sirf Naina hai... uska saath nahi dunga toh akela reh jaunga." He gave a side glance to her.

Those who knew about them smiled at his open declaration and those who didn't, laughed at what they thought was harmless flirting.