Sonali and Naina were ready soon. They had their breakfast and waited in their room till Sonali was called downstairs.

"Naina, tune Sameer ko bataya ki Sahil ne tujhe chudiyaan di hain?" Sonali asked when they were alone.

"Sameer ke saamne hi di thi, " Naina replied calmly.

Sonali was taken aback, "Aur Sameer ne kuch kaha nahi? Aisa kaise ho sakta hai... usne toh tab Rahul ko..."

She stopped in mid sentence.

Naina looked at her sharply, "Rahul ko? Kya? Kab? Kya baat hai Sonali... please bata mujhe."

Sonali told Naina about the time when Sameer had thought that Rahul was interested in Naina... his glares in the class, his anger in the dining hall, his threat about not sitting with her... everything.

"Aur tab tak toh tum dono ki koi khaas bol chal bhi nahi thi." She stated further.

Naina smiled, "Par pyar toh tha... Sameer ko koi bardaasht nahi hota mere aas paas... tu manegi nahi par usse toh tera ya Preeti Swati ka gale lagana bhi jalata tha... badi mushkil se usse samjhaya hai."

"Ye lo... jab ye ladka tere paas kisi ladki ko nahi dekh sakta toh Sahil ko kuch kyon nahi kaha?" Sonali was amazed.

"Maine roka usse... yahan shaadi mein koi hungama nahi chahiye, Sonali... main khud Sahil se door rahungi. Mujhe bhi kal shaam ko hi ahsaas hua... Sameer ko bhi... usne bataya mujhe." Naina clarified.

"Kal subah hi aaya hai woh... Naina, main bhabhi se bolun usse baat karne ko?" Sonali offered.

"Uski zaroorat nahi padegi... main nahi chahti bhabhi ko bura lage... unka bhai hai akhir, " Naina could not think of giving any discomfort to bhabhi who had been extremely loving ever since she had come.

A cousin of Sonali came over to call them and they went to the garden where arrangements for the tilak ceremony were done.

The moment they entered, Sameer walked towards them from one side... and Sahil from the other.

Sonali stiffened. Naina might have asked Sameer not to say anything to Sahil but she was sure Sameer would not be able to control himself if Sahil said or did something here.

"Sahil, achha hua tum mil gaye... main kabse tumhe Rahul se milana chahti thi... aao na," Sonali stepped ahead of Naina, forcing Sahil to go along with her to meet Rahul.

He looked behind once... at the glass bangles on Naina's wrists.

Sameer stopped in front of her, "Sonali le gayi usse warna aaj agar woh kuch kehta toh main..."

"Toh tum... " Naina raised her eyebrows.

"Toh main... toh main le jaata na tumhe yahan se... aur kya karta... jhagda karne ko toh tumne mana kiya hai." He gave a wide grin.

"Tumhari kahani sun ke aayi hun... kaise Rahul ko maarne wale the hostel mein... jab woh mere saath baithta tha." She gave him a deep look.

Sameer gave a sheepish smile, "Ab saath jaake baith gaya tha tumhare... saara time baat karta rehta tha jhuk jhuk ke... aur fir tumne hi toh kaha tha ki usne freshers party mein tumhe kuch shaayari sunayi thi... kya mujhe achha lagta yeh sab?"

Naina continued to look at him... taking in the yellow shirt he was wearing with jeans today. The colour suited him very well... and he looked even taller.

Seeing Naina lost in him, Sameer ran a hand through his hair, "Pata hai handsome lag raha hun... ab aise ghoor ghoor ke dekhogi toh yahan sab kya kahenge."

Naina joined her brows, "Achha? Bade aaye handsome... bandar."

She walked away before Sameer could react.

He was left staring... she had called him 'bandar'. He should have been annoyed but the way she said it was so adorable that he wanted to kiss her right away.

He had noticed that she was not wearing any makeup today. She didn't need it... the bright orange suit gave a flaming glow to her face... the golden work on the neck and sleeves made her shine. She had worn heavy golden earrings... and a small mang tika. Last time she had worn one was at the freshers party... he remembered how beautiful she looked that day... she had worn red lipstick... something she had never worn before or after that day.

Naina joined bhabhi to ask if she needed help.

"Kuch nahi chahiye... tu aaram se baith... humein khud kuch kaam nahi hai. Bas abhi panditji pooja kar lein fir Amit tilak kar denge... samaan kuch dena hi nahi hai... Rahul ke mummy papa ne saaf mana kar diya tha ki Rahul ke kapdon ke alawa woh log kuch nahi lenge... koi kapde, koi zevar, koi sone chandi ke sikke, koi ghar ka samaan... kuch nahi." Bhabhi proudly looked at Rahul.

Naina was surprised to hear this. During Pooja didi's tilak chachaji had arranged a huge collection of various things to be given to the groom's family but they were still not happy, complaining about the quality of clothes and brand of electronics. She was impressed with the thinking of Sonali's soon to be family.

After the pooja, Amit applied tilak on Rahul and made him wear a gold chain. He placed the gift of clothes and other accessories for the wedding day outfit.

Once he was done, Rahul's mother came forward and gave the bridal lehenga to Sonali, along with the jewellery and cosmetics. She also placed a coconut and a few other auspicious things in her lap.

Once the ritual was done, Naina went out looking for Sameer since he was nowhere in the view. She saw a few people gathered near the dining area.

"Yahan kuch hua hai kya?" She asked a passing waiter.

"Ek sahab ko chot lag gayi hai... takra gaye the shayad, " he informed.

Naina wanted to go and see but she was called by Rishi.

"Naina, aapko aunty bula rahi hain." He called out from inside, directing her to Sonali's mom.

Naina rushed back.

"Beta, yeh Sonu ki bhabhi ki mummy hain... tumse milna chahti thi." She introduced Naina to Sahil's mother.

"Namaste aunty, mujhse koi kaam tha kya?" She asked directly, not comfortable to be talking Sahil's mother.

"Tumse baat karni thi... aao yahan baitho," she patted the seat next to her.

Naina looked around again, searching for Sameer... getting worried as he seemed to be missing.
She sat down grudgingly.

"Apni mehendi dikhao, " she asked.

Naina showed her palms.

"Bohot gehra rang aaya hai... pata hai iska kya matlab hota hai?" She said gently.

Naina did not reply.

"Iska matlab hai tumhari jisse shaadi hogi woh tumhe bohot pyar karega," she smiled.

Naina was still quiet... thinking where Sameer could be.

And she saw him. Sameer was entering the venue, dusting his jeans... his shirt also had mud patches. Without giving any excuse to the lady she was sitting with, Naina ran to him.

"Kya hua tumhe, Sameer? Kahan the? Aur ye kapde kaise gande hue?" She asked everything in one sentence.

"Kuch nahi... bas chota sa accident ho gaya." He gave a small smile.

Then she noticed the scratch mark on his elbow.

"Sameer, yeh kaise hua? Tumhe chot lag gayi? Accident ka kya matlab hai? Tum bahar gaye the kya?" She screamed.

Thankfully, the music being played was able to camouflage her voice... or everyone would have come to know.

Bhabhi who was close by, heard her though. She came rushing.

"Sameer, tumhe kaise lag gayi? Theek toh ho na?" She was concerned.

Before he could say anything, bhabhi called out to her husband who came  over immediately.

"Zara hamare kamre ki chabi dijiye... Sameer ko doosra shirt de deti hun... yeh kharab ho gaya hai... baaki baatein baad mein karenge abhi iska change karke aana zaroori hai nahi toh sab dekhenge aur baatein banengi, " she asked her husband.

Amit fished out the keys, giving a worried look, "Sab theek hai na, Sameer?"

He nodded.

"Naina, mere cupboard ki chaabi hai... Sameer ko Amit ka shirt de de... change kar lega." Bhabhi handed the keys to Naina.

"Uski zaroorat nahi hai bhabhi, main jaake change kar aata hun... bas Rahul se chaabi lene aa hi raha tha ki Naina ne rok liya... main abhi aata hun." Sameer started to leave when Amit caught his hand.

"Nahi Sameer, ghar jaane ki zaroorat nahi hai... upar jaake change kar lo... aur Naina, dressing ke pehle drawer mein first aid box rakha hai... iski chot saaf karke dawa laga dena." Amit insisted.

Sameer could not say no.

He climbed the stairs to go to Sonali's house.

Naina was holding onto the tears threatening to spill out any moment. She walked to bhabhi's room, opened the cupboard and took out the shirt that was right in front, not even noticing. Then she picked up the medical kit and took Sameer's hand, walking to her room.

Sameer did not move his eyes from her at all.

She took him to the washroom and helped to wash his hands and wiped them with the towel.

They walked out and she made him sit on the chair, pulling it closer to the bed where she could sit.

Taking some cotton she cleaned the wound... tears rolling down her cheeks seeing the blood on his skin.

"Naina, halki si chot hai... kuch nahi hua... tum itni pareshan mat ho, please." He tried to wipe her tears.

She jerked her face away, not letting him touch her. Then she applied the ointment, sniffing.

Once she closed the box, Sameer tried to pull her into his arms.

"Pehle shirt badlo, saari mitti mujhpe lagani hai kya?" She pouted amidst tears.

He quickly started to unbutton his shirt.

"Yahan nahi, bathroom mein jao," she held his wrist.

"Itna time nahi ruk sakta," her soft hand could not stop him as he continued to open the buttons.

Naina turned her back to him.

Sameer threw his shirt aside and wrapped his arms around her.

"Sameer, yeh... yeh... pehle shirt pehno." Naina jolted at his touch, not expecting him to do so while not wearing a shirt.

"Naina, tumhe koi mujhse cheen nahi sakta... tum meri ho.... main kabhi tumhe khud se door nahi jaane dunga." He whispered against her hair.

She forgot his shirtless state, turning immediately to him, "Kya hua, Sameer? Kaun cheenega mujhe? Kuch toh baat hai jo tum chupa rahe ho... please batao, mujhe darr lag raha hai."

She was encircled in his arms, her body touching his skin directly, he could feel her breath on his chest.

Naina looked at him with tensed eyes. Only thing in her mind was his words.

He pursed his lips before starting, "Sahil tumse shaadi karna chahta hai... maine usse kehte hue suna... jaise woh tumhare baare mein baat kar raha tha main sun nahi paya."

"Kya keh raha tha... Sonali toh bol rahi thi woh seedha sa hai... kuch bura bola kya?" She narrowed her eyes.

Sameer bit his lip, "Keh raha tha tum kitni sundar ho... kitni talented ho... kitna dhyan rakhti ho sabka... aur bhi bohot kuch."

"Sameer, yeh toh tareef hai," she was confused.

"Par woh kyon kar rah tha... meri Naina ki tareef koi aise shabdon mein karega toh main bardaasht nahi kar sakta... usne kaha ki woh tumse hi shaadi karega." He gritted his teeth.

Not able to bear the distance he crushed her in his arms.

Naina gasped as she felt his bare chest against her, fisting her hands on her sides, not having courage to wrap them around him.

Sameer buried his face in her neck, "Mere samne koi tumse shaadi ke baare mein kaise soch sakta hai."

Naina tries to remain stiff... the heat of his skin making it difficult for her. The sound of her own drumming heart was deafening. She could feel the sweat beads forming on her forehead.

As Sameer pressed her more, she clenched her fists tighter, nails digging into her palms.

"Sameer... tum... tumhari shirt," she managed to whisper.

Finally, he loosened his hold. With a deep sigh, he picked up the purple satin shirt. As he tried to pull the sleeve, a wave of pain shot up through his elbow, making him wince.

"Dard hua kya?" Naina was by his side again.

She got her answer in his eyes.

Taking the shirt, Naina went behind him and helped him put the sleeves. She then slipped it over his shoulders. Coming in front, she brought the lapels together and started to button it up, trying to keep her eyes on the task, not what lay behind.