"Oh! Toh yeh sab sirf photo ke liye, " he raised his brows.

"Nahi, tumhari photo ke liye... tumhari har cheez bohot khaas hai mere liye," she rested her face more into his palm.

He smiled, "Aaj shaam ko pakka le aaunga... kal wale pant ki pocket mein rakhi thi."

She brought his hand in front of her and kissed his palm, "Thank you."

"O hello! Aisa thank you nahi chalega." He held her chin.

"Toh kaisa thank you chahiye?" She pouted her lips.

His eyes got stuck on the pout.

"Kya hua... bhool gaye?" She blinked.

Her teasing was making it difficult for him to remain in control.

Clutching her waist, he pulled her, "Naina, bohot mushkil se khud ko sambhalta hun tumhe itne kareeb dekhkar... aise karke mere hosh mat uddao."

She tried to move but he kept her pinned to himself, "Subah se aaj mujhe ched rahi ho... kab tak shareef banke door se dekhta rahunga tumhe?"

The butterflies in her stomach were awakened at his raspy voice... her fists clenching on his chest.

His warm breath fell on her face and the hollow feeling inside the belly made her break into a sweat.

He swallowed... her gaze fell to his neck... the vein throbbing at its base making her blood heat up.

Her hand moved up to touch the pulsating movement... not able to stop herself, she let her hand slid to the back of his neck, under the collar.

Sameer let out the breath he was holding, shutting his eyes.

She moved up on her toes, kissing the base of his neck, right over the vein.

His fingers dug into her waist as the feel of soft lips further ignited the burning skin. He buried his face in the flowing hair that were not confined today.

Circling her arms around his neck, Naina rested her forehead on his shoulder, breathing deeply.

After a few minutes, Sameer rubbed her back, before straightening himself.

He looked down at her flushed face, "Naina, mujhe tumse roz aur zyada pyar ho jata hai... kya karun?"

She held his face, "Mujhe toh har pal tumse pyar hota hai, Sameer... main kya karun?"

He smiled, bending down to touch her forehead with his as they stood holding hands.

"Aaj bahar chalein?" He suggested a little later as they were coming down the stairs.

"Nahin, bahar jayenge toh shaam ko ground mein nahi jaa payenge... aur maine waada kiya tha." She recalled.

Sameer looked sharply at her, "Kisse waada kiya tha?"

"Uss ped se... woh bhi humein miss kar raha hai... main roz shaam ko usse baatein karti thi." She reminisced.

"Tum akele wahan jaati thi?" He was worried.

"Wahan nahi jaati thi... bas balcony se dekhti thi... lagta tha woh bhi udaas hai hamare bina?"

He laughed, "Tum poori pagal ho."

She looked at him, "Pehle nahi thi... eleventh class mein aake ho gayi."

He pulled her cheek.

Sameer did not want to let her go but Naina insisted that they go back and have their lunch... and meet later in the evening.

"Ek poora din bhi saath nahi bita sakte kya... itne din se door hi toh the... ab fir se kyon door kar rahi ho?" He sulked.

"Sameer, abhi sab students nikal rahe hain... aise mein hum kahin bhi baithenge toh koi dekh sakta hai... abhi apne room mein jaate hain... shaam ko thoda jaldi aa jaungi." She tried to make him understand.

Not happy with the arrangement, he walked back to the hostel, frowning.

In her room, Naina switched on the fan, relieved to see the electricity restored. She checked her dress in the mirror... a faint mark of soft drink was still there. She decided to wash it straight away.

After lunch, she ironed the pink dress she had planned to wear in the morning.

"Sameer khush ho jayega", she thought, looking into the mirror holding the dress against her.

She was suddenly reminded of the black top. Taking the packet out from her bag, she unfolded the top, amazed by the feel and elegance.

Quickly locking the door, she changed into it, laughing at herself as she was wearing it with salwar.

She was impressed with the fit and the way its fabric fell softly at the hem.

"Manna padega, Sameer ki pasand toh bohot achhi hai." She admired the top.

After a while, she sat at her table, planning to work for sometime before going out in the evening.

Sameer stood at the window in his room. He thought about the moments spent with Naina since morning. She had taken his breath away with every sentence. Today, she was different from her usual shy and quiet self... she did blush every now and then but her reaction to his closeness and her talks were more open... was his Naina awakening to her desires? He had seen the sparks in her eyes many times, but her eyes were speaking a new language today... he did not quite understand. When he thought more about it, he realised that Naina had started changing since they returned from Ahmedabad. She had stopped blurting out things that always made him laugh and turned her red. He could feel the change but he could not ask her about it. They had not reached that level yet.

Looking at the watch, he realised it was lunch time. He walked down to the dining hall.

As he sat with his plate, Rahul joined him.

"Aur, kaisi rahi padhai?" He winked.

Sameer looked at him and smiled, "Tumhari film kaisi rahi?"

Rahul leaned closer, "Waise tujhe bhi aana chahiye tha... theater mein romance ka mazaa alag hi hai."

Sameer did not say anything but his mind started working. He had never thought about this. Till now, he had never taken Naina for a movie in a theater... he himself was not that big a movie fan but Naina was. In fact, she was a big fan of Salman Khan.

"Salman Khan ki film toh nahi dekhenge", he decided in his mind, recalling how Naina had gone all dreamy over him when they had seen his movie at Swati's house.

Rahul kept on talking about the preparations that were going on for his December wedding.

"Shaadi yahin Mumbai mein karenge toh mere ghar wale pandrah din pehle hi yahan aa jayenge. Ek ghar dekha hai humne, shaadi ke baad ke liye... abhi ek do hafte mein papa aake final kar denge." He informed.

"Shaadi ke baad tu aur Sonali ussi ghar mein rahoge?" Sameer asked.

Rahul smiled, "Aur kya shaadi ke baad bhi hostel mein rahunga? Bhai, apni dulhan ka grah pravesh toh apne ghar mein hi karwaunga."

Sameer felt a pang of jealousy... Rahul would be married to the girl he loved and they would be living together in their own house... just a few months from now.

Suddenly, the end of their final year seemed too far.

Sameer was getting restless waiting for her. She was late again. He checked the time... and hit his forehead with a fist... he had come an hour early.

Sitting against the tree, he looked up... the thick foliage did not give a glimpse of the sky at all. He wondered how old the tree must be.

"Itne saalon mein tumne kitni love stories dekhi hongi... kya pehle bhi koi kahani bani hai yahan tumhare samne?" He smiled at the tree.

"Bani bhi hogi toh meri aur Naina ki kahani jaisi nahi hogi... tumne do toote hue logon ko ek doosre se judte hue dekha hai... aansuon se shuru hue hamare safar ko rangeen sapnon mein badalte dekha hai... tum hi toh hamare pyar ke sabse pehle gawaah ho... hamare pyar ko aage badhane mein tumhara saath bhi raha hai... yeh jo choti si chuppi hui duniya tumne humein di hai iske liye thank you." He spoke fondly stroking his hand on the thick trunk.

"Maine kaha yeh ped humein miss kar raha tha toh main pagal thi aur jo tum akele baith ke yahan iss ped se aise baatein kar rahe ho jaise saalon se jaante ho woh pagalpan nahi hai", her voice startled him.

Quickly getting up, he moved towards her, " Woh Naina... main... main toh... "

She stepped in front, "Kya main main kar rahe ho... baatein karne ko aur koi nahi mila kya?"

He looked down... and his gaze got stuck on her ankle... which had a black thread around it. Her dress was slightly above the ankles and he could clearly see the thread against her white leg.

"Ab aise sar jhuka ke mat khade ho... jo baatein karni hai mujhse kar sakte ho", she said softly, stepping ahead.

Sameer came down on his knee, startling her.

"Pehle zara dekh lun yeh kaala dhaga tumhe tang toh nahi karta", his hand touched the thread.

Naina stumbled... he was prepared... catching her in his arm, making her sit on his bent leg.

"Yeh tum kya kar rahe ho?" She said in a shaky voice.

Without answering, he lifted her foot,  moving his fingers slightly around the ankle.

"Naina, yeh toh bohot tight hai... tumhare pair pe nishan pad gaya hai." He saw a red line on the skin.

She was still reeling with the effect of his gesture and the feathery feel of his fingers on her leg.

"Naina... " He looked up at her.

"Woh... woh kuch nahi hai... thode din mein khul jaayega toh dheela ho jayega." She tried to sound normal, failing miserably as her own voice sounded alien to her.

"Par abhi tumhe dard ho raha hoga na?" He rubbed the red skin with his finger.

She pressed her lips to stop any sound escaping her mouth, clutching his shoulder.

Sameer smiled at the effect he was having. Slowly he placed the foot down and supported her to get up, standing along with her.

"Kuch hua kya?" He asked in a low voice.

She shook her head too fast, still looking down.

Holding her hand, he walked to the tree, sitting down together.

"Main toh bas iss ped se pooch raha tha ki hamari kahani ke jaisi koi aur dekhi hai kya?" He said.

"Ped se pooch rahe the... aur kya jawab diya ped ne?" She smiled, getting some control on her racing heart.

"Isne kaha... jab tumhari Naina jaisa koi nahi hai toh aisi kahani kisi ki ho hi nahi sakti", putting a hand around her shoulder, he said lovingly.