Sameer helped Naina with the suitcase till her building once they reached the college. He watched her climb up the stairs, waiting till she was visible. Then he left for his room.

They were back in college within a few minutes for the lecture at nine.
Sitting on the first seat, Sameer could not look at her as much as he wanted, being in the direct view of their professor. When he did, Naina narrowed her eyes at him, asking silently to look ahead.

Three back to back lectures were nothing but sheer torture for Sameer. And after the classes, Naina wanted to take the notes for two days that they had missed. Nisha had been on leave for last fifteen days for her elder sister's wedding and Komal had gone with her family where her father was transferred recently. She was to come by month end. Naina asked some other students for notes and once she had what she wanted, her destination was the library.

"Naina, aaj hi saare notes le lena zaroori hai kya?" Sameer wanted to take her out for lunch.

"Sameer, maine kaha na lunch hum wahi khayenge jo bhabhi ne diya hai... fir kisi din bahar chale jayenge... aur saare notes nahi par kuch toh aaj poore karne hi padenge." She kept walking towards the library.

He knew once she made up her mind about studies, it was impossible to divert it. Dejected, he entered the library with her.

And his eyes lit up.

There were just two students, sitting  on the side that was not visible from their regular table. Even the librarian was missing.

They sat at their corner table and Naina took out the notebooks. She handed one to Sameer and started her work. And he started his... of admiring her.

Her hair, that she kept open these days, were flying slightly due to the fan above them. A few strands were constantly  falling on her face which she kept putting behind her ear, but it kept flying back to touch her cheeks. He held the errant lock and placed it behind her ear again. Naina looked up at him... and he winked. She looked around with wide eyes but seeing no one, she looked down at the books again, a shy smile on her lips.

He continued his exploration. Her face was devoid of any makeup and her naturally pink lips were puckered as she concentrated on the words in front of her. His gaze remained fixed on her lips, recalling the events when she had applied lipstick.

Naina looked up suddenly and found him staring. She placed a hand on his face to make him look into the notebook.  He wrinkled his nose... but got to work with a deep breath when she said a silent 'Please'.

After working for one and half hour, finally they were able to finish the work.

"Chalo ab lunch karte hain... main toh thak gaya." Sameer stretched his arms behind.

Naina looked at the fabric of his shirt strain over the broad chest and biceps. The buttons looked like they would snap open any moment. His shirtless image swam in front of her and she wanted to touch him...

Sameer pushed back his chair and stood up, picking the notebooks, ready to leave.

Feeling embarrassed, Naina quickly averted her gaze, standing with her books and bag.

"Aur yeh lunch hum kahan khayenge?" He asked.

"Canteen chalte hain." She suggested.

They walked to the canteen. Though Sameer would have preferred a place where they could eat in solitude but it might be risky to go to their spot this early. There were still a few students roaming around and a few extra classes going on. He had to wait till evening.

They had lunch together and left for their respective rooms.

Once there, Naina unpacked the suitcase. She put aside the clothes that had to be dry cleaned and filled up her laundry basket with all others.

"Bohot kaam hai Naina... college ka, episodes likhne ka, yeh sab saaf karne ka..."

The thought exhausted her and she decided to lie down for sometime. The happenings of previous day and no sleep during the night took a toll and she drifted off to sleep within seconds of hitting the bed.

Sameer sat on his bed thinking about last four days. The first marriage that he attended in his life  turned out to be his own as well. He knew it could not be called a proper marriage... they had not completed all the rituals like Rahul and Sonali... but it could not be denied that it was one in some way.

The feeling of having a relation for life... a true relation which he could call his own was overwhelming. Of course, Munna Pandit were more than a relative to him... always supporting him, consoling him, always there... And now Rahul, he had not only been a friend but included him in his own family as well. Sameer was filled with gratitude for this gesture of his.

But in the end, it all meant being treated like a family... not being one.

Naina was the family he longed for... the one he never had... she would be the one to stay with him forever... treat him like a child, guide him as a mentor, indulge him like a wife, pamper him like a baby... and love him... like he had never been loved before.

He could not wait to go and meet her. Looking at the watch, he was disappointed... there were still a couple of hours before he could see her.

He picked up the keys of his bike and left.

Naina woke up to a dark room. She wondered why she was getting up when it wasn't morning yet. But something didn't feel right. Rubbing her eyes, she looked at her clothes... confused.

Suddenly her eyes were wide open. She checked her watch. It was one hour past their meeting time. She ran to the balcony... she could see the tree but nothing else.

"Sameer wapas chala gaya hoga kya?" She panicked.

Without thinking about anything, she ran out, hurriedly locking the door and moving only as fast in the corridor and stairs that would not raise anyone's curiosity about the emergency that was causing her to panic.

Once in the ground, she sprinted.

Sameer was sitting with his back resting on the tree. His neck was bent at an angle and head was falling on the shoulder.

He was asleep.

Naina's eyes filled up. She had made him wait for so long. Quickly, she sat next to him, gently holding his head and placing in her lap.

Sameer accepted the comfort without resistance. She moved her fingers through his hair, looking at the slight frown on his forehead.

"Kitna intezaar kiya Sameer ne tera... aut tu maze se soyi rahi... Naina, woh bhi toh kal raat nahi soya tha na... fir bhi yahan aa gaya time pe... aur tu... kaisa pyar hai tera?" Her mind voice reprimanded her as her fingers stroked the frown lines.

Naina was filled with guilt. She closed her eyes. The tears spilled out... and fell on Sameer's face.

His eyes flew open. He was instantly aware of the softness under his head and the lightly moving fingers in his hair. He looked up... only go be greeted by her tear stained face.

"Naina, tum ro kyon rahi ho?" He got up with a jerk.

She wiped her eyes and looked at him... and next moment she wrapped her arms around his neck, crying on his shoulder.

"I am sorry, Sameer, please mujhe maaf kar do... pata nahi aisa kaise ho gaya... mujhe khyaal hi nahi raha." She sobbed.

He rubbed her back, tensed, "Naina, hua kya? Batao mujhe... kis baat ki maafi maang rahi ho?"

"Main bohot buri hun, Sameer... tum itna pyaar karte ho mujhse aur maine tumhare saath... I'm very sorry." She continued to wet his t shirt.

His heart sank... what was she even talking about.

He held her shoulders and brought her away from him, looking at her face.

"Naina, mujhe darr lag raha hai... batao kya hua?" He said slowly.

She looked into his eyes, sniffing, "Tum... tum mera intezaar kar rahe the aur main... main so gayi... main time pe nahi aayi... tum kab se baithe ho yahan aur main..."

Fresh tears found their way on her cheeks.

Sameer was silent for a minute... then a smile appeared on his face.

"Tum isliye ro rahi ho? Ki tum late ho gayi?" He cupped her face.

She nodded.

"Budhu... isme rone ki kya baat hai? Agar ek din so gayi toh kya hua... meri hi wajah se hua ye bhi... kal raat maine hi toh tumhe jagaa ke rakha." He gave a warm smile.

"Lekin tum bhi toh nahi soye the... tum toh aa gaye the na... main pata nahi kaise itni der soyi rahi." She was still annoyed with herself.

He wiped her tears with his thumbs, "Main bhi so gaya na... yahan aake... jab tum aayi toh mujhe pata hi nahi chala."

"Par tum... " She started again.

Sameer kept a finger on her lips, shaking his head.

She was silent.

He kissed her forehead, bringing a smile on her face.

When she looked a little better, he picked up a small box from his side.

"Yeh tumhare liye."

Naina looked at the red velvet box, perplexed, "Kya hai yeh?"

He opened it to reveal a set of silver payal.

She looked at them with astonishment.

"Main pehena dun?" He asked softly.

She folded her knees and kept her feet in front.

Sameer saw the black thread that had become comfortably loose now. There was no mark around it. He put the payal around her ankles, putting the hook to secure them.

Once done, he flicked a finger on each one, the tinkle sound bringing a smile to both their faces.

"Jab tumhe dekha payal pehne hue uss din saree ke saath toh mujhe bohot achha laga... isliye le aaya." He fingered it again.

The brush of his fingers against her skin repeatedly gave her goosebumps. She swallowed, folding the legs under her.

His eyes shifted to her face. The tear marks could still be seen on her plump cheeks... the tip of her nose was slightly red... her eyes looked heavy... from getting up from deep sleep and also from crying.

"Kitna roti ho tum, Naina," he touched the tip of her nose.

"Main kab roti hun... woh toh tumhe meri wajah se akele baithe rehna pada isliye main dukhi ho gayi thi." She defended herself.

"Main tumhari wajah se kabhi akela ho hi nahi sakta... tumne toh mera akelapan door kiya hai." He looked into her eyes.

They gazed at each other for sometime.

"Par tumne abhi roke sab kharab kar diya," he suddenly moved away, sulking.

Naina was surprised, "Maine kya kharab kiya?"

"Agar tumhare aansu mujh pe nahi girte toh main tumhari god mein sota aaram se... wahin sulaya tha na tumne?" He raised his brows at her.

Naina lowered her eyes.

"Abhi so jaun?" He bent his head to look at her.

"Hato," she pushed away his face, getting up to go and stand a little away.

He was with her next instant.

"Ab kahan jaunga hatke." He took her in his arms from behind.
his face nestled in her hair.

She relaxed in his arms.