Preeti came out of the parlour and saw Naina waiting for her. She looked around... Sameer was at the end of the street, sitting in his car. She smiled at him... he would never leave until he saw Preeti joining Naina... any other man would just drop and go, but not Sameer. In fact, he would keep watching till the sisters would board the rickshaw.

And he did... driving back once the rickshaw left.

Naina gave the packet she was holding to Preeti, "Ye apne bag me neeche rakhle... chupa ke."

Preeti adjusted it at the bottom of her bag, giving a questioning look to her sister.

"Ghar jaake bataungi", Naina gave a mysterious smile, increasing Preeti's curiosity.

"Achha bata jijaji ko gift kaisa laga? Ye to bata sakti hai na?" She was excited.

Naina remembered Sameer's words, "Bohot achha laga... usne bhi wohi kaha jo mujhe laga tha... ki yeh hum dono hain."

"Haan, haan... ab tum dono ka ek hi sur hota hai", Preeti let out a long breath.

After finishing their lunch at home, chachiji went to her room for a short nap while Preeti pushed Naina to their own room.

"Jaldi bata kya hai uss packet mein", she was now impatient.

Naina opened the packet to reveal the red and gold saree.

Preeti gasped... she had never seen such an elaborate and expensive saree so closely.

"Behen, ye toh bohot zyaada sundar hai... jijaji laye tere liye?" She asked, delicately touching the border work.

Naina smiled, "Yeh saree Sameer ki naniji ki hai... uske nanu ne di thi usse..."

Preeti wrinkled her nose, "Par unhone jijaji ko saree kyon di... woh thodi pehen sakte hain."

Naina poked her head with her fingers, "Sameer ke liye nahi... uski zindagi mein aane wali ladki ke liye di thi... aur isliye Sameer ne aaj mujhe de di."

"Oh! Waise saree hai kitni pyaari... nanaji bohot pyaar karte honge na naniji se... tabhi toh itne saal baad bhi unki saree sambhaal ke rakhi hai", Preeti admired the saree and the story behind it.

"Haan... jaise Sameer batata hai, lagta hai bohot pyaar karte the."

"Fir toh jijaji apne nanu pe hi gaye hain", Preeti teased her.

Naina blushed, " Pata hai, Sameer keh raha tha aaj raat ko balcony se aane ke liye... usse mujhe ye saree pehne hue dekhna hai".

Preeti looked lovingly at her sister, feeling very happy for her, "Toh aa jane de na... main bahar sofe pe so jaungi."

"Chup kar", Naina suddenly remembered something, " Preeti, uss din tune mujhe kyon nahi bataya ki Sameer aane wala hai? Aur aise kaise tune haan bola uske aane ke liye... agar koi dekh leta toh?"

Preeti instantly understood which day Naina was talking about, "Teri jo haalat thi na... dar gayi thi main dekhke... mujhe pata tha tujhe uss waqt jijaji ki kitni zaroorat thi... aur mujhe pata tha unka haal bhi bura hoga... isliye maine Swati ko haan bol diya jab usne pucha ki Sameer aa sakta hai kya."

Naina was amazed that her silly sister could think like this. She hugged Preeti tightly.

Sameer sat in his room, clutching the pillow, a small smile playing on his lips.

In the morning, he was woken up by Munna and he had looked around in confusion. Seeing Munna standing in front of him and Pandit lying on the bed with his head under the pillow, Sameer realised that he had been dreaming... he had seen Naina here... in his room... his arms around her... and she was getting redder by the minute. He was annoyed with Munna for waking him up from such a beautiful dream... wondering where it could have gone had he not been disturbed.

Even after both Munna and Pandit were done with their bath, he did not get up. They asked him to come for breakfast but he told them to go, saying he'll come a little later. He sat lost in her thoughts for some time and finally got up for his bath.

When he had seen Naina standing in front of him later, he even forgot that he was not dressed. Seeing her shut her eyes and go crimson at his state, he was tempted to go a step further.

He wanted to feel her warmth on his bare skin.

Her resistance had melted eventually... he recalled how she had surrendered to him... a smile curling his lips.

He could feel his affect on her... she had gone weak... he had to hold her tight to keep her standing.

He closed his eyes and wondered how she'll come over her shyness after they got married.

Another thought made him chuckle as his eyes flew open. She had been jealous... for the first time he had seen her getting annoyed with him. That too, over something as trivial as short skirts.

What if he bought her one? Will she ever wear it... he felt a current pass through him as his imagination ran wild.

Bringing his thoughts in control, he wondered why she had mentioned Kamya. Yes, Kamya was in school and she had approached him many times... but he had no interest in her or anyone else... his eyes settled only on one girl... even at the time when he could not look at her directly.

With a deep breath, he compared that time to present... he had remained so aloof and indifferent with her... and now, whenever she appeared in front of him, he fought with himself to remain in control... her eyes, her face, her hair, her softness, her fragrance... everything attracted him... with a magnetic pull. He found it difficult to keep his hands off her. When he took her in his arms, it hurt to keep the embrace gentle... he wanted to crush her to himself... completely moulding her into him. But he didn't want to hurt her. She was so delicate. His feelings, his emotions were overpowering his mind.

He looked around, breathing hard... and his eyes fell on the mirror. Her image was again in his eyes... head covered with the red saree. How beautiful she would look when she actually wore that saree. The red and gold against her beautiful, glowing face made her look like a bride.

His heart stopped as he imagined her as one... she would indeed be the most stunning bride anyone would have ever seen. And that day onwards she would completely become his Naina... Naina Maheshwari.

The name sent tingles all over him.

"Oh Naina! Kab aaogi tum", he clutched the pillow tighter.

Naina looked up from the table where she was writing... Preeti had dozed off. She quietly got up and locked the door of their room. Then she took out the saree from the cupboard...

She fished out a dull gold blouse which she had got stiched for Pooja didi's wedding.

Holding all the clothes, she went to the bathroom.

Few minutes later, she stood in front of the mirror, draped in the red saree, looking resplendent.

On an impulse, she brought the pallu around and placed it on her head. She couldn't help bite her lip.

By gifting this saree, Sameer had taken her one step closer to their being together forever.

When he had told what this saree meant to his nanu and to him, she was overwhelmed. And scared. Was she worthy of so much affection?

Sameer had showered her with unconditional love... he always gave her the warmth, the comfort she needed.

But she could see the desire in his eyes... he craved for more...

Naina shivered.

When she had seen him in the morning, her senses had created havoc inside her. She could not understand the feeling... was that desire too? She had tried not to touch him when he had come close... she had resisted for some time. But when he had hugged her from behind, she gave in...happily.

The feel of his skin was ecstatic...

And she had wanted to stay like that... in fact, when he had moved away, she felt at loss.

She had longed for his closeness.

Naina closed her eyes, reliving the moment... his image from morning came alive...

She opened her eyes quickly. For a second, she was shocked at her reflection, then she looked down and realised why she looked like a bride in the mirror. Smiling to herself, she wondered how Sameer would react if he was here.

She jumped as the phone rang.

" Hello", she said in a low voice.

"Naina, kya kar rahi ho?" His voice was soft as well.

"Umm... kuch nahi." She answered, looking into the mirror.

He let out a long breath, "Mujhe laga shayad mujhe yaad kar rahi ho... kyonki mujhe tumhari bohot yaad aa rahi hai."

"Achha, subah se tumhare saath hi toh thi", she tried to sound casual.

"Haan thi... par ab nahi ho... mujhe achha nahi lagta jab tum paas nahi rehti", he complained.

She smiled at his childish tone, "Ab ghar toh lautna hi tha... wahin thodi reh sakti hun."

His frowned, "Ghar woh nahi hai tumhara... yeh hai."

"Hai nahi hoga... jab tum khud aake mujhe yahan se leke jaaoge", she chuckled.

The image of bride flashed again, "Tum dulhan banke kitni sundar lagogi... pink rang ke lehenge mein."

"Pink nahi... main laal rang ka lehenga pehnungi", she liked the red colour of the saree.

" Laal kyon? Pink kitna pyaara lagta hai tumpe." His fascination for pink on her was never ending.

"Yeh laal saree bhi bohot achhi lag rahi hai", she blurted.

He gasped.

She realised her mistake and hit her forehead.

His voice was heavy when he finally spoke up, " Naina, tumne saree peheni hai?"

She gulped, but could not lie to him, "Haan."

"Kaisi lag rahi hai?"

"Saree toh bohot sundar hai... " She looked at herself in the mirror.

"Tum kaisi lag rahi ho iss saree mein?" He reframed his question.

"Jaisi tum dekhna chahte the waisi"

He closed his eyes, imagining her standing in front of the mirror in her room.

"Mujhe dekhna hai", he murmured.

" Nahi Sameer, din mein kaise aa sakte ho? Aur main bhi bas badalne hi wali thi, chachiji aur Preeti uthne wale hain... tum please kuch karne ki mat sochna... Main na... main tumhe Mumbai mein pehen ke dikha dungi." She was scared that he might come.

"Pakka?"

"Kya pakka?"

"Mumbai mein pehen ke dikahogi... yeh pakka?" He wanted to confirm.

"Pakka... wada", she smiled.

"Theek hai... bye." He tried to console himself.

"Bye."