After a long hard day, finally both felt lighter.

Sameer stretched his legs to relax when he felt something in his pocket and he remembered.

He looked at Naina. She had her eyes closed. Tears had dried up but he could see the faint marks on her cheeks. The nose still had some redness. He cursed himself again...

Shaking his head, he tried to bring back happy thoughts.

"Naina", he called out softly.

"Hmm... " She didn't open her eyes.

"Tumhare liye kuch laya hun." His voice was softer.

Naina opened her eyes... he was holding a long box in his hand.

She gave him a puzzled look, "Tum itne gusse mein bhi shopping karne chale gaye?"

He smiled, "Yeh main Ahmedabad se laya hun."

She looked at the red box with a ribbon tied around it.

Sameer removed the ribbon and opened the box. Naina looked in amazement at the beautiful piece in it.

He took out the delicate gold chain with a pendant of their initials... N*S.

"Kitna sundar hai yeh", she squealed in delight, fingering the pendant.

"Main pehna dun?" He sought permission.

Naina tilted her head to the side and  turned her back towards him.

Sameer shifted to move behind her. He held the chain in front of her and brought it around the neck, fixing the clasp as she held her pony over the shoulder.

His fingers were close to her neck but he didn't dare to touch her. Naina had forgiven him, in fact, she had not even blamed him... but he could not be so generous with himself.

Once done, she turned around to show the chain to him. Her white dupatta had covered her neck and front completely... the chain lay over the dupatta.

"Pasand aayi?" He asked.

Naina held the pendant, looking at it, "Bohot pasand aayi... Sameer, yeh sach mein bohot sundar hai."

"Par tumse zyada nahi", he looked at her shining eyes.

The colour spread on her face instantly.

"Iss suit mein tum bohot achhi lagti ho", he held her hand and traced his finger around the hemline of her long sleeve.

His touch gave her the goosebumps. Struggling to stay in control, she narrowed her eyes, "Aur dresses mein achhi nahi lagti kya?"

He picked up the hand he was holding and kissed on her wrist, "Tum toh har dress mein achhi lagti ho... bas aaj kuch zyada hi pyaari lag rahi ho."

She snatched her hand, looking away, "Ab zyada makhan mat lagao... pehle rulate ho fir meethi meethi baatein karte ho."

He held her chin and turned her face to look at him, "Ek wada karo... aage se main agar kabhi bhi tumse gussa hua ya aisi koi bewakoofi ki toh mujhe kas ke do thappad lagana."

She stared at him for a few moments, then smiled, "Matlab tum bewakoofi kar sakte ho?"

He scrunched his nose, nodding.

Naina pinched the wrinkled nose, "Do thappad mein nahi chodungi mister... aage se agar aisa kiya na toh tumhe kamre mein band karke dande se pitaai karungi."

His eyes lit up, "Kamre mein band karne ka idea achha hai... aaj se hi shuru kar sakti ho."

She took a moment to understand... and felt her ears go all hot and red when she did.

"Hato", she pushed him, getting up.

A darkness spread around and she felt dizzy, falling back.

Sameer stood up on his knees and held her before she could hit the ground.

"Naina, Naina, kya hua... Naina, ankhen kholo... " his voice was laden with fear.

She was breathing heavily. He patted her cheeks. He wished they had some water here.

Naina slowly opened her eyes, trying to straighten up, but everything spinned again and she pressed a hand to her forehead.

Sameer gently brought her down in his lap, holding her close.

"Naina... ", he said in a soft but shaky voice, wiping her forehead that was sweating.

She took a few deep breaths before opening her eyes. His hand was on her cheek, face white with fear and eyes had turned watery.

She gave a weak smile, "Theek hun main... daro nahi... bas thoda sa chakkar aa gaya tha."

He kissed her forehead, tears spilling down the cheeks, "Tumne toh meri jaan nikal di thi Naina... chakkar kyon aa gaya? Tabiyat theek nahi hai kya?"

She lowered her eyes, "Woh kuch khaya nahi tha subah se."

His eyes widened, "Subah se? Kyon? Tumne breakfast bhi nahi kiya? Naina... "

She looked up. Seeing his tears, her eyes also filled up... she held the end of her dupatta and dabbed on his cheeks.

"Woh kal din mein bahar kaafi kuch kha liya tha toh raat ko khane ka man nahi hua... fir subah late ho raha tha isliye breakfast ka time nahi bacha aur din mein kha nahi payi kyonki..." she bit her lip.

Sameer crushed her to himself, speaking in a choked voice, "Sorry Naina, maine tumhe itna dard diya hai ki mujhe khud se nafrat ho rahi hai."

She placed a hand on his heart, "Tum to mere ho... fir meri kisi cheez se nafrat kaise kar sakte ho."

He kissed the top of her head, getting up slowly, with her scooped up in his arms.

Naina was startled, "Yeh kya kar rahe ho? Neeche utaro mujhe."

He shook his head, "Tumhe khana khilane le jaa raha hun. Canteen toh band ho gayi, aur mess mein abhi time nahi hua dinner ka... isliye hum bahar chal rahe hain. Jab tak tum achhe se kha nahi leti, main tumhe akela nahi chodunga."

"Sameer hum college mein hain... iss jagah koi humein nahi dekh sakta par tum mujhe aise bahar nahi le ja sakte... main chalti hun na... jahan bologe wahan... bas mujhe neeche utar do." She pleaded, clutching his shirt.

He knew she was right... they could not go out in the open like this. Unwillingly, he put her down, keeping his hand around her shoulder.

Naina looked at him with pursed lips, "Main ab theek hun... chal lungi... yeh haath hatao aur thoda dur hoke chalo."

"Tumse door ho jaun... yeh toh kabhi ho hi nahi sakta." His romantic streak was back as he pulled her closer.

"Mr. Majnu, yeh humara ghar nahi hai... college hai... aur yahan aisi ashiqui karte hue pakde gaye toh hum dono bahar honge college se." She tried to move out of his grip.

"Humara ghar?" He raised his brows.

"Ab chaloge ya mujhe fir se behosh hona padega?" She stepped ahead, trying to hide her blush from him.

Walking slowly behind her, so that he could provide support if she felt weak again, they reached the main gate.

"Bike ki chabi toh le aao." She reminded him.

"Nahin, hum rickshaw se chalte hain... fir se chakkar aaya aur tum bike se gir gayi toh?" He gave a concerned look before hailing a passing rickshaw.

They went to a close by restaurant.
Sameer ordered chapati, pulao, vegetables and raita, not listening to her when she said it was too much food.

"Itna saara khana kyon mangwaya? Bhukkad nahi hun tumhari tarah." She pouted.

"Issi baat ki toh pareshani hai... kuch khati nahi ho... aise nahi chalega, Naina... tumhe khana time pe khana padega... ek baar tum mere paas aa jaogi fir toh main tumhe kabhi bina khaye rehne nahi dunga... lekin tab tak apna khyal rakho na... mere liye... " His voice was heavy with the pain he felt at his helplessness for not being able to take care of her.

"Achha baba, ab se aisa nahi karungi", she kept her hand on his.

"Aise nahi... tumhe wada karna hoga... ki aage se tum kabhi bhi khana nahi miss karogi... teeno time ka, " he held out his hand, asking for a promise.

Naina thought about it. Then, placed his hand back on the table.

"Yeh wada nahi kar sakti... hamesha nahi kha sakti... bhookha rehna padega... woh bhi tumhare liye", she smiled mysteriously.

He narrowed his eyes, "Mere liye kyon bhuki rahogi? Maine kaha na aage se koi bhi bewakoofi karun toh thappad laga ke meri akal thikane le aana... fir khana kyon nahi khaogi?"

She lowered her eyes, "Shaadi ke baad karwachouth ka vrat rakhungi tumhare liye... usme kuch khate nahi hain poore din."

Sameer widened his eyes, "Poore din? Nahi, nahi Naina, aisa kuch nahi karogi tum... koi zaroorat nahi hai aisa vrat rakhne ki."

"Arre, kyon zaroorat nahi hai? Yeh vrat toh tumhari lambi umar ke liye hoga... aur yeh toh main rakhungi... chahe tum ladai karo ya gussa karo", she gave a defiant look.

"Itna zaroori hai toh main rakh lunga... par tumhe nahi rakhne dunga." He was adamant.

Naina laughed, "Tum apni lambi umar ke liye khud vrat rakhoge?"

"Nahi... tumhari lambi umar ke liye... kyonki jab tak tum mere saath rahogi, mujhe kuch nahi hoga." He looked into her eyes with intense love.

She got lost in those eyes.

They came back to their senses when the waiter placed their order on the table.

Sameer served a big helping of everything in her plate, not paying any heed to her protests.

As she started to eat, she realised he had not taken anything... sitting in front with his face resting on his fist, looking at her lovingly.

"Tum bhi lo na... main akele thodi khaungi." She insisted.

He shook his head, "Tumko dekh ke mera pet bhar jaayega."

She smiled, "Rehne do, jaise mujhe pata nahi ki tum kitne bhukkad ho... aur mujhe ye bhi pata hai ki tumne bhi dopaher ko kuch nahi khaya... ab zyada romeo mat bano aur chup chap khana khao."

She started to put  vegetables in his plate.

Sameer smiled sheepishly. She was right. Having skipped his lunch, he was famished.

They started to eat, enjoying every bite.

In no time they had polished off everything.

"Kuch aur khaogi?" He asked.

"Nahi, ab toh achhe se pet bhar gaya." Naina was feeling too full.

"Lekin meetha toh baaki hai", he smiled.

She looked at him, horrified, "Pagal ho kya? Restaurant mei hain hum".

"Haan toh main bhi ice cream ki baat kar raha hun... tumhe kya laga?" He gave her an innocent look.

Naina turned scarlet... she could not look at him... feeling deeply embarrassed.