"Tumne bhabhi ko haldi lagayi?" A voice stopped him in the stairs.

"Nahi," Sameer looked back at Rishi, coming down behind him.

"Toh chalo na, main dhund raha tha par tum kahi dikhe hi nahi... upar hi the na?" Rishi stopped him.

"Main wahan peeche khada tha isliye nahi dikha shayad." Sameer gave a fake smile.

Rishi dragged him back to the house, "Abhi laga do, jitne zyaada log lagate hain utna achha hota hai."

Sameer found himself again in the same room.

"Auntyji, ek devar baaki hai abhi." Rishi called out to Sonali's mom.

Sonali looked up at him... and grinned.

"Arre Sameer, main soch hi rahi thi ki tum kyon nahi aaye... aao na." She gestured to him to come.

"Beta yeh..." One of her aunt asked her in a low voice.

"Maasi, jaisi mere liye Naina hai, waise hi yeh Rahul ka best friend hai... hum sab ek saath padhte hain... samajh lo Naina aur Sameer ek hi hain." She said loudly, making all relatives hear it.

"Matlab?" Another lady raised her eyebrows.

"Matlab mere liye ek jitne khaas aur Rahul ke liye bhi... inki wajah se hi main aur Rahul saath hain." She smiled gratefully at him, and moved her gaze to the other side of the room to look at Naina.

"Chalo fir tum dono ek saath haldi laga do." Bhabhi called Naina again.

"Par maine toh laga di thi, bhabhi." Naina said, suddenly conscious as everyone looked at her.

"Toh kya hua... fir se aaja," Sonali gave a crooked smile, knowing that the tease will be missed by most as her face was completely covered with haldi.

It however did not miss on the two people for whom it was intended.

Naina and Sameer together sat in front of Sonali. Naina showed him how to take the paste in the bunch of fresh grass and apply on her face.

Sameer took some as she had mentioned and applied it on her feet, "Bhabhi ho na ab toh tum."

He earned a special place in the heart of all people present in the room with his one gesture.

Naina felt herself swell up with pride. It was a small thing but it showed his immense respect for women.

She walked out with him, stopping at the door. Rishi joined them.

"Aap ho Naina. Nice to meet you. Kal dekha tha par tab pata nahi tha. Waise bhai kaafi tareef karta hai aapki. Woh serial bhi bana rahe ho na aap?" He asked.

"Bana nahi rahi... bas likha hai." She clarified.

"Kya baat hai. Abhi se itna kuch. Aapka toh autograph le lena chahiye. Aage jaake star ban jaoge toh miloge nahi." He was impressed.

Naina laughed, "Aisa kuch nahi hai. Sonali aur Rahul hamesha hamare khaas dost rahenge. Unse milne toh hum Ahmedabad se bhi aayenge."

He looked from one to another, "Aap dono bhi... matlab bhai aur bhabhi ki tarah..."

Naina smiled, looking up at Sameer. Then she circled her hands around his arm, giving the answer to Rishi's question.

Sameer looked at her in surprise, showing her right on him standing right outside a room full of their friend's relatives.

"Aap logon ka college badi sahi jagah hai... kaash mera bhi admission wahin hota toh meri bhi baat ban jaati." He sighed.

Looking at Sameer, he asked, "Tum chaloge ya hum log jaayein... tumhara shayad abhi man na ho."

"Tum neeche chalo, main do minute mein aata hun." Sameer told him.

"Naina, mujhe tumhe kahin leke jaana hai... bohot zaroori hai... kab chal sakti ho?" He turned towards her the moment Rishi was out of sight.

"Abhi toh yeh sab hai... fir lunch hai... chaar baje theek hai?" She asked.

He nodded... and ran a finger on her neck, on the side.

"Kya kar rahe ho, Sameer?" Naina started to raise her hand to touch her neck.

He held her wrist, "Haldi lagayi hai tumhe, shagun kiya hai."

She looked at his finger which had some traces of wet paste. Flicking a speck, she also touched the skin at the back of his ear, doing her part of shagun.

He smiled.

"Chaar baje gate pe aa jaana... pakka  aaogi na?" He did not want to leave before confirmation.

"Pakka aaungi." She blinked, keeping her eyes closed for a few fractions longer to show her consent.

His eyes got stuck to the line on her lashes... and drifted down to the stain on her lips, since most of the colour was taken by his neck earlier.

"Bohot sundar lag rahi ho, tumse door jaane ka man nahi kar raha." His voice turned heavy.

Her eyes reacted instantly, showing the sparks that conveyed a lot... her lips parted, he bit his lower one.

"Sameer, aa rahe ho tum?" Rishi's voice shook them, making Naina turn and go back to the room.

Sameer climbed down the stairs... waiting for the time when he would take her out.

Once the relatives left for lunch, Sonali went for her bath. Naina was helping bhabhi to clean the living room as the evening mehendi function was to be in the garden.

As Naina pulled a mattress aside, someone stopped her.

"Aap chod do, main kar deta hun."

Naina looked at the owner of the voice. Dressed in trousers and shirt, he was a friendly looking person, maybe older to her by a couple of years. She didn't remember seeing him earlier, though there was some strange familiarity.

"Thank you, par hum kar lenge... bhabhi hain mere saath." She gave a polite smile.

"Unhone hi kaha hai ki saare gadde neeche rakhwa dun." He was equally polite.

Naina looked around but bhabhi had probably gone down for something.

Nodding at him, she went back to her room.

Sonali came out after a while, exhausted.

"Kitna mushkil tha yeh haldi utarna. Sookh ke chipak gayi thi. Aur baalon se toh itni mushkil se nikli hai."

Naina remembered her haldi and touched her neck. She started to go to clean it when Sonali stopped her.

"Naina, woh bathroom na haldi ki wajah se ganda ho gaya hai... bahar se kisi ko bol de saaf karwane ko... mummy ya bhabhi ko keh dena... unhe pata hai kisko bhejna hai."

Naina opened the door and checked out. Her mom or bhabhi were not around.

"Main neeche jaake bol aati hun." She was about to go when Sonali got up.

"Arre neeche jaane ki zaroorat nahi hai... ruk." She held Naina, making her sit on the bed.

Looking outside, she called out, "Sahil, zara mummy ko bol de Kaashi amma ko bhejne ko... bathroom saaf karwana hai."

She closed the door, looking back at Naina, " Abhi aake woh amma kar degi fir chali jaana."

Lying back on the bed, Sonali smiled, "Kya kaha Sameer ne tere makeup ke liye?"

Colour spread on her cheeks as Naina remembered his eyes just before leaving...

"Usne theek se dekha hi nahi... itna time mil nahi paaya." She lied.

Sonali laughed out loud, "Kise bewakoof banane ki koshish kar rahi hai... Sameer ne toh subah dekhte hi samajh liya hoga... aur ab tak toh tujhe bata bhi diya hoga... Naina, Sameer ki aankhon se kuch chup nahi sakta."

Naina gave a shy smile, "Usne kaha bohot achha lag raha hai."

Sonali rested on her elbow, "Ab aise toh nahi kaha hoga... bata na, Sameer kaise bolta hai pyaar se... humare saamne toh woh bolta hi itna kam hai... soch nahi paati woh kaise baat karta hoga tujhse... par itna pakka hai ki Sameer hai bohot romantic... ek din chup ke tumhari baatein sunni padengi."

The colour on her cheeks deepened as Naina thought about the way Sameer touched her and praised her.

"Hayee, kaise laal laal ho rahi hai... dil kar raha hai ek baar kisi tarah sun hi lun tumhari baatein... aakhir meri friend ko itna laal karne wali kya baatein karta hai." Sonali continued with her teasing.

Naina threw a cushion at her, "Sonali ki bachhi... maine kaha kuch Rahul ke baare mein?"

Sonali sat up immediately, "Yaar, main na Rahul ko bolti hun, Sameer se thodi training le lega... matlab hansata toh bohot hai par romance thoda aur ho jaaye toh koi buraayi nahi hai."

Naina got up from the chair, hands on waist, showing fake anger.

Sonali  doubled up laughing, "Yeh tera gussa hai? Haye Naina, mujhe bhi pyaar ki training tujhse leni padegi... aise dekhke toh mera hi man kar raha hai tujhe gale laga lun, Sameer toh pagal hi ho jaata hoga."

Naina spread her arms and Sonali jumped out from the bed, hugging Naina tightly.

There was a knock on the door.

Without moving, Sonali shouted, "Aa jao Kaashi amma."

They stood hugging each other till they heard a soft cough.

Sonali moved away slowly, "Kaun hai?"

She looked at the person, "Saahil... kya hua?"

Naina turned to see it was the same person who was in the living room earlier.

"Aunty ne kaha hai woh amma abhi dus pandra minute mein aayegi... woh neeche ki safai ho rahi hai." He glanced at Naina.

Sonali looked at her, "Naina, yeh Sahil hai, bhabhi ka chota bhai. Hum logon se do saal bada hai par main isse Sahil hi bulati hun, bhaiya nahi."

Naina gave him a courteous smile with a soft 'Hello.'

"Aur yeh Naina hai Sahil, mere college mein hi hai... meri best friend." She gave a loving look to her.

"Haan dekha abhi kitni best hai... thoda pyaar Rahul ke liye bhi bacha le... ya usse teri maar se hi kaam chalana padega?" He teased Sonali.

"Chup kar tu... yeh bata khana ready hai?" She looked at him with fake anger.

"Lag gaya neeche... tu jayegi yaa abhi bhi Naina se yahin mangwayegi?" He teased again.

"Tujhe kya? Tu ja aur apna khana kha le... baad mein mat kehna Sonali ki shaadi mein bhookha reh gaya." She tried to send him away.

"Maine toh khana kha liya." He said.

Naina looked up instantly. He was the same person she had met in the stairs in the morning... who was carrying gifts. That was the reason his voice sounded familiar.

He looked at her at the same time, giving a knowing smile. Naina curved her lips a bit and looked away.

"Theek hai, hum kha lenge." Sonali went near the door, opening it more to let him know that he must go.

Sahil stopped at the door and looked again at Naina before walking out.

"Yeh Sahil bhi na... bada nakhre wala hai," Sonali murmured, shutting the door.

"Nakhre wala?" Naina was surprised.

Sonali made a face, "Aur kya... do saal ho gaye apne papa ka business join kiye hue par shaadi nahi kar raha... bhabhi aur unke mummy papa itne pareshan hain par isse koi ladki hi pasand nahi aati... kehta hai koi special honi chahiye... thoda dekhne mein achha hai toh kitne saare rishte aaye par nahi... inko toh pata nahi kaun chahiye... khair chod... thodi der mein neeche jaake lunch kar lete hain fir aaram karenge. Shaam ko saat baje bulaya hai mehendi ke liye sabko."

"Uhh... Sonali, main lunch ke baad Sameer ke saath zara bahar jaa rahi hun... kuch kaam hai... mehendi ke time tak aa jaungi." Naina hesitantly informed her friend.

Sonali gave a mischievous smile, "Achha ji, aisa kya kaam hai... abhi batayegi ya wapas aake?"

"Chup karegi tu? Shaadi hone wali hai teri parson... aur tu abhi bhi... " Naina tried to hide her blush by showing annoyance.

"Abhi bhi nahi abhi hi... aisi baatein karne ka time toh yehi hai madam." Sonali was not ready to let go.

Thankfully, the maid entered the room at that time and their conversation ended. Naina freashened up, and washed off the haldi, blushing again when she remembered the way he had said 'shagun'.

They went down to have lunch.

Naina changed into a simple suit before leaving.

"Main mehendi tak aa jaungi." She said again.

Sonali winked, "Jaldi karne ki zaroorat nahi hai... shuru hone ke baad bhi aayegi toh chalega. Bas Sameer ka zara dhyaan rakh lena... bechare ke naina apni Naina ke liye zyaada hi bechain ho rahe honge."

Naina again aimed a cushion at her... running out before Sonali could tease her more.