Naina waited for Sameer's call... impatiently pacing the room, "Aaj kya ho gaya?  Itni der ho gayi hai... roz toh iss time tak aa jata hai uska phone... main kar lun kya? Kar hi leti hun... ab aur intezaar nahi ho raha."

Naina dialled his number. He picked up after the first ring.

"Hello Naina", his voice did not hint at any trouble.

" Sameer, tum theek ho? "

The question that was the beginning of their story cropped up again.

He smiled, "Haan Naina... main theek hun... mujhe kya hua? Tum aise kyon pooch rahi ho? "

Naina didn't know she was holding her breath.

"Main dar gayi thi... tum roz toh jaldi phone kar lete ho na... aaj itni der ho gayi... " Relief flooded through her.

Sameer could hear the panic in her voice disappear, "Tum mujhe itna intezaar karwati ho... maine socha aaj tumhe pata chale kitna mushkil hai... intezaar. "

He stressed on the last word.

Naina blushed and got annoyed at the same moment, "Achcha... toh tum badla le rahe the? "

He chuckled, "Lena toh chahta hun par tum kareeb aane hi nahi deti."

"Achcha ji... hamesha toh kareeb aa jaate ho... main kahan mana karti hun?"

His eyes widened, "Naina, abhi toh maine kuch kiya hi nahi... ek baar tum paas aake dekho... tab tumhe dikhaunga tumse kitna pyaar karta hun."

Naina had no doubt, "Tumhe apne pyaar ka saboot dene ki zaroorat nahi hai... mujhe pata hai tum mujhse kitna pyaar karte ho... Preeti aur Swati ko bhi ek baar milke hi dikhai de gaya... keh rahi thi mujhse... ki tumhaari aankhon mein tumhaare pyaar ki gehraai saaf nazar aati hai."

Sameer was ecstatic, "Achcha ji... toh sabko mera pyaar dikhta hai... lekin Naina, tumhe toh sabse zyaada dikhna chahiye na... aur sirf dikhna hi nahi... mehsoos hona chahiye... kabhi toh mauka do na, meri jaan."

His words never failed to bring a strong streak of colour on her face,
"Mauka deti toh hun... aaj mili thi na tumse."

Sameer sighed, "Kaafi nahi tha... ab batao kab milogi... aur jaldi. "

"Isiliye phone kiya tha... kal somvaar hai... main subah mandir jaaungi... Preeti toh uth nahi sakti itni jaldi... aur chachiji ko kaam rehta hai... isliye main akeli jaati hun... kal subah 6 baje... Law garden ke samne wale bade mandir." Naina gave him the details.

Sameer jumped in joy, "Arre wah... itna achcha mauka... ab kal tak ka intezaar mushkil hoga. "

Naina smiled fondly, "Ab so jao... nahi toh subah uth nahi paoge...
Good night."

Sameer sighed, "Good night, jaan."

He placed the cordless instrument on his heart and closed his eyes, a contented smile on his face.

Later, as he stood near the window, looking at the stars, his hand reached his pocket and fished out the handkerchief he had used in the car. Bringing it close to his face, he inhaled deeply.

"Yeh subah kab hogi?" He yearned.

And kissed the handkerchief.

Next morning, Naina had woken up quite early in excitement. She got dressed in a pink suit, adding a few bangles. Combing her hair till they were shining, she left them open... then remembered taiji's views about open hair and quickly tied them up... sticking to her regular style.

She went to the kitchen and informed chachiji that she was going to the temple and will visit the library after that so she'll be late.

Chachiji nodded with a loving smile, "Ek tu hi hai jo har somvaar mandir jaana nahi bhulti... aur ek woh kumbhkarn hai jo kabhi nahi uth sakti itni subah."

Naina gave a knowing smile and stepped out... almost bumping into taiji who was rushing in.

"O bai, aankhen nahi hai kya... abhi takra jaati toh mera kya hota? "

Naina wondered who would have suffered more had they collided... taiji or she...

Seeing her all dressed up, taiji raised her brows,  "Yeh subah subah sajj dhaj ke kahan jaa rahi hai?"

"Mandir jaa rahi hun, taiji. Aaj somvaar hai na",  she quickly answered her query.

Taiji's reaction stunned her.

" Mandir... Arre mujhe bhi jaana hai... tere tauji ki kuch bade logon se baat chal rahi hai... unhone kaha tha ki mandir mein nariyal chada dun jisse unka kaam tere tauji ko hi mile... chal, main bhi tere saath chalti hun."

Naina stood rooted to her spot.

Taiji stepped out of the door and looked behind to see her still standing at the same spot.

She hollered, "Arre chal na, aalas hi khatam nahi hota inn ladkiyon ka... hum iss umar mein bhi bhaag bhaag ke kitna kaam karte hain aur yeh dono... "

Naina followed her taiji with heavy steps... and a dejected expression.

At the temple, she  saw Sameer waiting near the stairs, standing against his bike.

He straightened and smiled as she stepped out of the rickshaw. His smile faded the next moment as taiji stepped out after Naina.

He quickly turned his back to them.

Taiji had a difficult time dragging her heavy body up the stairs of the temple... Naina following her with slow steps.

As they reached up, Taiji stood huffing, "O bai, yeh mandir itni upar kyon banate hain? Bhagwan ko hamare nazdik nahi rakh sakte? "

Naina gave her an exasperated look.

They rang the bell hanging from the ceiling and went to the praying area. Taiji quickly muttered a few prayers with closed eyes and handed the coconut and flowers to panditji.

"Yeh meri taraf se chada dijiye, panditji, jisse mere pati ka kaam ban jaaye",  she offered the bribe.

Naina stood with closed eyes, her hands joined.

Taiji collected the prasad and wanted to leave immediately, to reach home by the time Bela prepared breakfast.

" Ab chal bhi... kitni pooja karegi... kaunsa bhagwan teri zindagi mein koi chamatkaar karenge", she looked impatiently at Naina.

"Taiji, mujhe aarti tak ruknaa hai... mera result aane wala hai, uske liye prarthana karni hai... aur phir library jaana hai", she looked back at Taiji.

" O bai, tab tak toh Bela rasoi ka kaam khatam kar legi, phir mera nashta kaun banayega? Tu bana dena, jab apne liye banayegi", Taiji was happy with the solution.

But Naina had her plans chalked out, "Mera toh upvaas hai na, isliye main kuch nahi khaungi. "

Taiji frowned, muttering to herself, "Toh kya main khud khana banau?"

She looked at Naina and said loudly, "Toh phir tu aarti kar, main jaati hun... woh tere tauji ko kuch kaam tha."

Naina nodded and turned her back to the retreating woman, "Thank you, bhagwanji,  aur sorry... aapke samne jhooth bola... par yeh jhooth maine pyaar ke liye bola aur prem toh khud bhagwaan ka hi roop hai, hai na?"

As taiji stepped down the temple, another lady greeted her, "Arre Bina behen, aaj aap bade din baad mandir aayi?  Kaisi ho?  Sab theek chal raha hai na?"

Taiji stopped and adjusted her pallu on her head, "Arre haan Meera behen, sab theek hai... woh Naina ko leke aayi thi mandir... aapko toh pata hai uska kitna khyaal rehta hai mujhe... bin maa ki bachchi hai... aur aisi jali hui kundli leke paida hui hai... ab maine aur aapke bhaisahab ne hi pala hai... socha thodi pooja paath bhi kar le toh shayad college hote hi shaadi ho paaye... warna toh aapko pata hai... rang roop mein bhi ekdum peeche hai Naina... aur uske baap ke paas dahej ke bhi paise nahi hai... ab aisi ladki ki shaadi karwana toh bhagwaan ke hi haath mein hai... agar thodi bhi sundar hoti toh ab tak koi rishta aa bhi jaata... lekin iski shakal dekh ke toh bohot mushkil hai koi isse pasand kare."

Sameer stood near his bike, hearing taiji spit venom about his Naina. His hands fisted, mouth turned into a grim line and eyes turned red.

He wanted to step in front of her right away and shake her... but controlled himself. He was shocked to know that Naina's mother was not alive...  never did she mention it in front of him... but then he hardly knew anything about her family... he had never asked... thinking that though they were not very well off, she was leading a happy life with a loving family. His eyes turned misty, thinking about the treatment she must be subjected to by this cruel lady.

Looking up at the temple, he quickly ran up the steps, as he saw taiji getting into a rickshaw that had just stopped.

Naina stood in front of the idols, hands folded... as the chants of aarti floated around. He removed his shoes and rang the bell. As if on cue, Naina turned to look at him, a bright smile on her face. He went and stood next to her, folding his hands, still looking at her.

She gestured at him to look ahead.

As the aarti got over, panditji offered prasad to everyone, smiling kindly at Naina, "Kaisi ho Naina bitiya? Mumbai me college achcha chal raha hai? "

Sameer looked at panditji in surprise as Naina smiled and answered, "Jee... achcha chal raha hai... bohot khush hun."

She gave a fleeting glance to Sameer and walked out.

He quickly took prasad and ran after her.

Naina went behind the temple... and started climbing down the narrow steps, leading to a small pond.

He followed her. Reaching the pond, she sat on one of the big stones. Sameer went closer. She pointed to another big stone next to her.  He settled down.

"Badi mushkil se taiji ko bhagaya hai... pata hai, subah jab unhone kaha woh saath chalengi toh meri jaan hi nikal gayi... par yahan aake bhagwanji se maanga ki mujhe Sameer se milne ka mauka mil jaaye... aur unhone meri sun li",  she gave him a bright smile.

Oh God!  How can this girl remain so cheerful around that venomous lady, Sameer wondered.

" Naina, tumhari taiji kaisi hain?"

"Achchi hai... unhe kya hoga?" Naina was surprised why he was suddenly interested in taiji's well being.

Sameer reframed his question, "Mera matlab tumhare saath kaisi hain? Unka vyavhaar... tumhe pyaar karti hain?"

Naina gave him a suspicious look, wondering why he was asking all this, "Woh thodi sakht hai... daant deti hai... par hamare bhale ke liye hi na... baaki sab theek hai."

He was astonished at her positivity.

"Naina, tumhari mummy ko kya hua tha? " He decided to come to it straight away.

Naina turned sharply at him. Something had definitely happened... what had he discovered that made him talk like this?  And who had told him about her mother?

"Tumhe kisine kuch kaha hai kya, Sameer? Aaj achanak mere gharwalon ke baare mein kaise poochne lage? " Naina wanted to know the reason behind his sudden eagerness.

Sameer lowered his eyes, "Maine tumhari taiji ko mandir ke bahar kisi se baat karte hue suna... woh keh rahi thi ki tum, " he gulped, "tum sundar nahi ho."

Naina smiled, "Oh, itni si baat... woh toh hamesha se kehti hain... aur mujhe pata hai ki main sundar nahi hun... par ab mujhe koi fark nahi padta... tum jo mere saath ho... tumhare saath hoti hun toh mujhe lagta hai ki main bhi sundar hun."

Sameer shifted closer and held her hands, "Khabardaar, aaj ke baad meri Naina ke baare mein kuch kaha toh... tum bohot sundar ho... bohot zyada... hamesha se... tumhara chehra ek khile hue gulab jesa hai... bas dekhte jaane ko man karta hai."

Naina kept listening to him, mesmerized.

Sameer stood up, making Naina stand up in front of him.

He glided one hand down her hair, in the pony, and lifted a few strands, bringing them towards his face.

"Tumhare yeh baal itne sundar hai ki main hamesha inko apne chehre pe mehsoos karna chahta hun", he said softly, bringing the strands to his lips and placed a kiss on them.

Naina stood rooted.

" Tumhara yeh matha itna sundar hai ki dil karta hai apni ungliyon se ispe aane wali har pareshani ki lakeer mita dun",  he kissed two of his fingers and placed them on her forehead.

She looked without blinking.

"Tumhare aankhen itni sundar hain ki main inme dekhta hun toh bas kho jaata hun, " He kissed his fingers again and placed on her eyes, one by one.

Naina closed her eyes.

"Tumhare yeh gaal itne sundar hain ki inki narmi ko apne haathon mein chupa lena chahta hun", He placed his fingers on her cheeks, after kissing them.

Naina shivered.

" Tumhari yeh naak itni sundar hai ki jab tum isse hawa mein rakhke baat karti ho toh chahta hun hamesha tum apne upar aise hi garv karo",  kissing his fingers, he lightly touched her nose.

Naina gulped.

"Tumhare yeh hoth... yeh hoth itne sundar hain ki main bata nahi sakta main kya chahta hun... tum gussa ho jaaogi", His voice had turned throaty, as he kissed his thumb and ran it over her lips.

Naina's legs turned into jelly... she could feel the colour on her face turning into deepest shade of red... her ears heated up... her heart hammered against her ribcage, threatening to jump out.

Sameer looked into her eyes, his own burning, " Phir kabhi mat kehna ki tum sundar nahi ho... warna main aur bhi bata sakta hun ki mera man kya kya karta hai."

Naina's breath altogether stopped, as she understood the meaning of his words.

They stood looking at each other, feeling the heat surrounding them.