"Tum theek keh rahi ho, Naina... aaj agar nanu hote toh woh bhi bilkul yehi kehte... main jaaunga... mushkil hoga... bohot mushkil hoga tumhare bina rehna par tumhare liye aur nanu ke liye karunga." He pulled her closer.

"Hamare liye karoge... hum dono ke liye... " She smiled.

Remembering something, she immediately looked up... placing a hand on his cheek, she held her ear with the other one, "Sorry Sameer, pata nahi kaise maine... mujhe aisa nahi karna chahiye tha."

Her eyes brimmed with tears.

He quickly pulled down her hand holding the ear, bringing the one on his cheek to his lips.

He placed a kiss on her palm, "Ek nahi do char lagane chahiye the mujhe... bas subah se yeh soch soch ke pagal ho raha tha ki kaise ja sakta hun... time ka hosh hi nahi raha... main toh pehle library gaya tha... par aaj wahan kaafi students the... aur koi jagah samajh nahi aayi toh yahan aa gaya... tumhe kaise bataun yehi baat dimaag mein ghoom rahi thi... yaad hi nahi raha ki class ka time ho gaya hai aur tum mera intezaar kar rahi hogi."

He wiped a tear that rolled down her cheek and continued in a softer voice, "Sorry mujhe bolna chahiye... tumhe itna dukhi kar diya... maaf kardo please."

She smiled amidst her pooled up eyes.

"Umm... waise bas issi baat ke liye sorry hun... dusri baat ke liye nahi", his eyes had a naughty glint.

"Dusri baat?" With so many things happening, Naina was a bit confused.

He pressed his lower lip under the teeth and she coloured to the roots, lowering her eyes instantly.

Leaning closer to her, he whispered, "Wapas aaunga tab ek dose aur de dena... meri sehat ke liye achha rahega."

She turned her back to him, breaking  into a sweat, not able to bear his burning eyes or his hushed tone.

Sameer circled his hands around her from behind, "Aise laal hone ki kya baat hai... yeh toh hona hi tha... apna pyaar jatane ke alag alag tareeke hain ye... aur pyaar toh main har pal jatata rahunga."

She kept her hands on his, leaning against his chest.

"Ek promise karogi?" He asked softly.

"Kya?"

"Bas promise karo ki jab main wapas aaunga toh meri ek baat manogi." He nestled his nose in her neck.

"Promise... manungi jo bologe", she accepted without hesitation.

He was astounded. She did not even ask what he wanted. And he knew she had said it with complete sincerity... Naina was not the one to make false promises.

"Tumne poocha tak nahi ki kya karna hoga... agar tumhe achha nahi laga toh?" He could not keep the curiosity to himself.

"Mujhe pata hai tum aisa kuch kahoge hi nahi jo galat ho", she said, turning around to face him.

The trust in her eyes filled him with love.

"Wapas aake bataunga", he cupped her face with one hand.

Her face fell as she looked at his cheek, "Mujhse bohot badi galti hui hai, Sameer... tum na aisa karo, mujhe do thappad maar lo."

"Pakka? Tum gussa toh nahi karogi?" He raised his brows.

She happily shook her head and waited with eyes shut tight.

When nothing happened for almost a minute, she opened one eye to see why he was not going ahead.

Sameer was waiting for her to open her eyes... the moment she did, he bent and kissed hard on her cheek. Before she could react, he planted a kiss on the other cheek as well.

"Ab do ho gaye... waise marwadi hun... thoda interest bhi lena banta hai", he bent again towards her lips but Naina kept her fingers on his mouth.

"Woh tum pehle hi le chuke ho", she said without thinking... and coloured deeply at her own words.

Sameer chuckled, "Pehle toh tumhe chup kara raha tha."

Her heart started hammering again at the memory of his previous kiss...

Sameer saw the colour on her face getting darker as her eyes hid behind the heavy lashes.

His hand moved to her face, stroking the soft, porcelain skin, as he fretted over the thought of not seeing her for next few days, "Tum bhi saath chalo na."

She desperately wanted to say yes.

"Nahi, Sameer... tum Ahmedabad ja rahe ho... wahan humare parivaar wale hain... wahan aise nahi jaa sakti tumhare saath... agar aur kisi jagah ja rahe hote toh pakka chal padti." She hated to say no.

She had left him speechless again... by agreeing to go with him at any other place... alone.

"Kahi aur jaata toh chalti tum?" His voice could not hide the surprise.

She nodded.

"Tumhe darr nahi lagta mere saath akele chalne mein?" He asked.

"Darr? Tumse kyon darr lagega?" She gave him a smile.

His heart skipped a beat at the thought... but he mentally kicked himself for trying to think in those directions when she had such faith in him.

They went back to their rooms, neither having any inclination to attend the classes for the day.

Packing his suitcase, Sameer tried to ignore the sinking feeling that was gripping him with each passing minute.

Naina could not go for lunch. She had lost her appetite. After putting up a brave front for him, now she felt the emptiness grip her. Staying away from him for three days... not being able to see him... not feeling his warmth... not having his arms around her... she could not stop the tears.

Second time since morning, she cried her heart out.

"Nahi Naina, aise ro ke Sameer ko kamzor nahi banana hai... usse jaane de... bas do teen din ki baat hai... uski zaroorat hai wahan", she tried to convince herself.

The afternoon was spent in waiting for the time when they could meet briefly in the evening at their spot, before he left to catch the train.

Naina wished she could go to his room.

Sameer wished he could go to her room.

Both wished they could go to the ground early... but it was risky... there was a possibility of being seen.

Naina decided to dress up for him, wondering what will make him happy... he liked her in all dresses but she wanted to wear sometimes special.

And she found it.

As she stood brushing her hair, adding the silver loops seemed to be a good idea.

She gave one final look to herself and walked out to meet him.

Sameer waited impatiently. The thought of being away from her for next three days was bad enough for him... waiting now seemed even harder.

"Sameer"

Her voice reached him almost at the same time as her fragrance.

He turned... and stood rooted.

She was wearing the black jeans... with the pale yellow top that she had worn in Ahmedabad, for the dinner party.

As she walked up to him, the silver loops in her ears moved.

He stood mesmerised... she was a song... a song he wanted to sing all his life.

"Naina... tumne aaj yeh kyon pehna", he found his voice with great difficulty.

"Tumhare liye", she looked directly into his eyes.

Sameer looked her up from head to toe.

"Jab tumne yeh Ahmedabad mein pehna tha tab tumhe kareeb se dekhne ka itna man tha... lekin mauka nahi mila", he reminisced.

Her eyes stayed on him, "Jaanti hun... isiliye aaj pehna hai... uss din mauka nahi mila par aaj jitna chahe dekh lo... kareeb se."

She stepped closer.

He held her hand, bringing it up to his chest. Slowly, his fingers moved up her arm, over the long sleeves. The fabric was not a deterrent enough for the heat that emanated from him.

His fingers reached her neck, moving up further... as he reached the earring, he looped one finger through it, pulling lightly. Her face moved closer.

His other hand went to her waist. Her top was long enough to cover the waist but not too long. As his fingers clutched her, the hem bundled under his hand. Naina gasped, as his fingers brushed on her bare skin.

He felt her shiver, but did not remove his hand... the touch was unintentional... he searched her eyes for any sign of discomfort... there was none.

He slowly moved his other hand to her hair...

Naina was finding it difficult to stay away... he had maintained a distance of few inches between them. His musky smell was clouding her senses but he seemed in no hurry...

His thumb on her waist started to rub lightly... she could feel the goosebumps erupting all over her.

Sameer continued to tease her... his hand reached her nape, thumb lightly stroking the skin.

"Sameer... " His name escaped her mouth as she clutched his wrist.

He pulled her in his arms with a sigh.

Naina finally breathed easy as she found her solace.

They stood tightly holding their world in their arms.

"Jaldi aana, Sameer", she said in a heavy voice.

"Jaldi aaunga... par tum apna khyaal rakhna... khaana time pe khana... agar wapas aake maine dekha ki ek gram bhi wazan kam hua hai toh dekh lena", he gave strict instructions.

In spite of the sadness, she chuckled, "Ek gram... Sameer tumhe ek gram ka kaise pata chalega?"

He moved to look at her face, "Meri aankhen sab pehchaan leti hain... foran pata chal jayega."

He had made her go red again.

"Khaogi na?" He asked again.

She nodded, "Achhe se khaungi... tum bhi khyaal rakhna apna... khane ke liye toh kehne ki zaroorat nahi hai tumhe par baaki sab cheezon ka dhyaan dena... aur factory mein bhi dil laga ke sab karna."

"Jee madam", he rubbed the tip of his nose against hers.

She looked into his eyes, trying to control the wetness that threatened to fill up in them, " Main miss karungi tumhe."

He closed his arms around her again, burying his face in her hair.

"Naina, I Love You." He whispered.

"I Love You too, Sameer", she whispered back.