Chachaji called up in the evening to let the girls know that they will stay back in Gandhi nagar for the night and return next day by afternoon. Naina assured him that they were fine and he need not worry about home. He asked them to request Swati to stay there for the night if she gets permission. Swati called up her mother who allowed her to stay with Naina and Preeti for the night.

Taiji came in the evening, hoping that Bela was back so that she could ask her to prepare khichdi, citing tiredness because of sitting on the floor in pooja. When she came to know that the girls would be staying alone at home for the night, her barrage of words started.

"O bai, aise jawan ladkiyon ko koi akela chodta hai raat bhar? Batao, Anand babu ko toh naye zamane ki hawa lag gayi hai par iss Bela ki akal kahan ghas charne chali gayi... behen ke chakkar mein betiyon ko aise chod degi kya... ladkiyon ka kya bharosa... kal ko kuch unch nich jo gayi toh hamara hi naam lagayenge ki bhabhi ji aap toh ghar par thi, aap dekh leti... ab kya karein... hum toh bade hain toh badon ka farz ada karna hi padega...  sun lo ladkiyon... aaj main yahi soungi."

The girls looked at each other in exasperation,  "Jee taiji",  they said in unison.

When they were back in their room, Preeti whined, "Behen, yeh taiji kyon yahan rahengi... saara din o bai, o bai karke pareshaan karti hain woh kam hai kya jo inko raat mein bhi idhar sona hai?"

Naina tried to pacify her, "Kya kar sakte hain, Preeti? Unko thodi koi mana kar sakta hai."

She herself was very disappointed as she won't be able to talk to Sameer on phone in the night.

The three girls sat sulking.

Suddenly Preeti shrieked in excitement, "Behen, mil gaya idea... taiji khud hi mana kar dengi dekhna... bas tu meri haan mein haan milati jaana... woh bhi shayad hi zaroorat pade par agar mauka laga toh."

Naina's eyes shone too, "Bata na, Preeti... kya idea hai?"

Preeti raised her brows, with a mischievous  smile, "Pata chalega... par tu promise kar... sach -jhooth ka lecture nahi degi mujhe... bas meri baat pe haan bolti jaana... samajh gayi naa."

Naina nodded, wondering what was cooking in her sister's brain and how much lie will she have to speak. Till just a couple of years back, she had never spoken a lie... and then Sameer Maheshwari happened... and Naina started making excuses to catch a glimpse of him, lying to save him... and in college too, lying to her friends when she spent time with him.

But it never felt wrong... nothing about Sameer felt wrong... his touch, his demands... nothing felt wrong... Naina shivered.

"Kahan kho gayi? Acting ka pehla scene... jaake let jaa... kuch bhi ho uthna mat", Preeti instructed Naina and turned to Swati, "Tu bas chup rehna... beech mein bolna mat."

Swati too nodded.

When taiji constantly rang the doorbell  a little while later, Preeti opened the door, groaning.

She gave a weak smile to taiji, "Achcha hua aap aa gayi, taiji. Hamein bohot zaroorat thi kisi bade ki... mummy toh hai nahi to ab aap hi ka sahara hai."

Taiji gave a look of suspicion to Preeti, under no circumstances would she take responsibility of any work, "Kya hua hai tujhe, aisi murde jaisi shakal kyon banayi hai?"

"Woh taiji mera aur Naina dono ka mahine ka time hai... uski haalat to subah se kharaab hai... main dopaher tak theek thi toh maine khana bana liya... lekin ab main bhi kitchen mein nahi jaa sakti... ab aap aa gayi ho toh kam se kam hamein khane ki chinta nahi hai", Preeti spinned a web of lies.

"O bai" , taiji's mouth remained open. Cooking... for everyone... 

"Aur haan... woh Naina ko bohot dard hota hai na toh mummy usse garam paani de deti hain... zara aap bana dena... aur woh khana bhi nahi kha paati toh sirf soup piyegi... main toh kha lungi jo bhi aap banayengi... Swati ke liye bhi bana dijiye... woh bhi yahin ruk rahi hai, " Preeti closed in.

Taiji gulped. She had planned to get some oil massage, pressing of legs, hot food and hot badaam milk before sleeping... putting the girls to work. But here the tables had turned. She thought of ways to get out.

"O bai... main toh khud yeh batane aayi thi ki main yahan nahi aa sakti... woh Pralay babu ke school ka uniform taiyaar karna hai aur tumhare tauji ke bhi sar mein dard hai... tum log aisa karo... kuch phal khake so jao... aise mein zyaada khane ki zaroorat nahi hai... main chalti hun... darwaza laga lo."

Taiji ran before Preeti could ask her for something.

Naina and Swati heard taiji's voice and heard the sound of closing door. They waited for Preeti with bated breath.

Preeti walked in with a fallen face. They looked at her expectantly. 

She jumped suddenly, yelping, " Bhaga diyaaa... ab hum azaad hain."

"Sachchiiiii..." Naina and Swati hugged her.

Preeti told them what she did, "Maine isliye tujhe yahin rehne ko bola tha... waise to mujhe yakeen tha taiji nahin aayengi tujhse puchne par chance nahi le sakte the naa."

They were rejoicing when the phone rang. Naina picked up the cordless kept next to bed.

"Hello?"

"Kaisi hai meri jaan?" Sameer's endearment brought colour to her cheeks.

Getting no reply, he teased, " Oh! meri yaad mein awaaz bhi nahi nikal rahi? Aa jaun kya?"

Naina laughed, " Jee nahi... ek din ke liye itna kaafi tha."

Sameer was about to say something when he heard Preeti squealing and Swati laughing aloud.

"Kya ho gaya... tum log badi khushiyan mana rahe ho." He wanted to know the reason for their happiness.

Naina got up from the bed and walked out to the balcony to talk in peace," Haan, hum log bohot khush hain... Aaj chachaji chachiji wapas nahi aa rahe toh Swati yahin ruki hai."

Sameer squinted his eyes, " Tum chachaji  chachiji ke naa aane se khush ho ya Swati ke rukne se?"

Naina laughed again, " Offo, suno toh... taiji ne kaha woh raat mein yahi rukengi... toh hum dar gaye... phir Preeti ne plan banaya... aur taiji khud hi bhag gayi... ab hum free hain... isliye khush hain."

Sameer was impressed at his saaliji's smartness, "Achcha, kya bahana banaya Preeti ne?"

Naina started in excitement, " Usne taiji ko keh diya ki hum dono ka... " , she slapped her hand on her mouth in horror.

Sameer waited, " Tum dono ka..."

Naina was thankful that she didn't blurt out the complete plan, "Umm...  kuch nahi... woh hamara secret hai... hum kisiko nahi bata sakte."

To Naina's relief, Sameer accepted it to be something between the two sisters and did not pester much.

"Achcha yeh batao ki aaj raat sirf tum teeno hi ho ghar pe?" Sameer had a twinkle in his eyes.

Naina didn't get the hint in his voice, " Aur kya... bohot maze karenge... aisa mauka kahan milta hai? "

"Phir main bhi aa jaata hun... mujhe bhi aisa mauka kahan milta hai? "

Naina froze at his suggestion.

"Bolo... aa jaun... tum bologi toh abhi aa jaunga... bolo na, Naina", he continued to tease her.

" Nahi... bilkul nahi... din mein aaye the na... shukar karo pakde nahi gaye... par har baar bach jao itne lucky nahi ho sakte",  Naina was scared that he might try to come again.

Sameer's expression changed for a moment, but his smile was back almost instantly, "Jab tak tum mere saath ho, main lucky hun... mujhe yakeen hai... aur tumhe bhi to hai."

Naina trembled, she had unknowingly touched his wound, but was happy to know that he himself had tried to put it behind him.

"Mujhe poora yakeen haai... tum lucky ho mere liye... jabse mile ho meri duniya badal di hai... aur jabse tumne mujhe pyaar diya hai, mujhe bhi badal diya hai... ab har cheez se khushi milti hai, sab kuch achcha lagta hai... sab kuch sundar lagta hai... apna chehra bhi",  Naina expressed her feelings.

Sameer smiled, " Badal to tumne diya hai... mujhe."

Naina looked up at the stars, taking a deep breath, absorbing the beautiful feeling of love.

Later, the girls had a dinner of maggi noodles that Preeti and Swati had prepared while Naina was talking on phone.

They chatted for sometime and Preeti and Swati  drifted off to sleep.
Naina laid awake... thinking about the day...

Her reaction to Sameer's touch... the darkening of his eyes... butterflies fluttering in her stomach at his intense gaze... everything made her heart beat faster again. She could feel sweat forming on her forehead. Holding the pillow tight, she closed her eyes, trying to sleep.

A sound from the balcony made her alert. Memories of the night in hostel, when Sameer had come up through the pipe, flashed before her eyes and she rushed out.  As expected, Sameer stood there, dusting his hands.

"Tum... mana kiya tha na...".

" Tumne yeh bhi toh kaha tha ki aisa mauka kahan milta hai", he replied innocently.

"Lekin agar... ".

"Shhh... ", telling her to be quiet, he sat on the floor, pulling her down with him, " Aise hi khade hokar ladte rahe toh koi dekh lega. "

Naina was glad some sense prevailed in him... realising next moment that she had landed very close to him... her knees rested on his leg... her arm was plastered to his arm... and her face was close to his.

Sameer was still holding her hand tight... and she was leaning on him. She tried to straighten but Sameer pulled her a little more.

Naina looked up sharply at him... and got lost in his eyes. His dark eyes were getting darker...

Her own heart was hammering... a voice at the back of her mind telling her to get up... move away...  but her heart was jumping in joy. And Naina wanted to listen to her heart.

"Tum bohot sundar ho Naina", Sameer said in a low, deep voice.

All she could do was stare into his eyes. His other hand slowly came into view, as he removed the band from her pony and her hair fell on her shoulders. He did not remove his hand... allowing his fingers to stroke the silky softness of her mane. Then, he touched her cheek, the back of his fingers brushing the plumpness, going down to her jaw. The fingers continued the trail, till they reached under her chin. He rested his hand there as his gaze kept Naina captive. Then, very slowly, his thumb touched her lips.

She gasped.

Sameer pulled her more... towards him... tracing her lower lip with his thumb... Naina held her breath.

As her vision clouded and her senses dulled, Sameer leaned and gave a kiss on her cheek.

Her eyes turned wide... her hand flew to her cheek and her heart skipped several beats.

" Sa.. Sam... Sam... Sameer... yeh... ky... kya... ",  she could not speak without stammering.

" Sorry, " he immediately held his ear, one hand still pinning her to him, "par tum badla le sakti ho", he tilted his face and forwarded his cheek to her.

Naina blushed and turned her face sideways.

He again placed his fingers under her chin and made her look towards him, bringing his cheek closer to her, " Naina, aaj na mat kaho please... main kab se tadap raha hu... please Naina".

The husky voice and dark eyes had Naina completely under their spell... she brought her lips closer and gave a kiss to Sameer.

"Nainaaaaaa"

Everything started shaking... as if there was an earthquake... she panicked and clinged on to his arm,
"Yeh kya ho raha hai Sameer? "

"Sameer ke sapne dekhna band kar aur uth ja... kabse tujhe utha rahe hain... ",  Preeti's voice and a jerk on her shoulder made Naina get up with a start.

She looked around... she was in her room... Sameer was nowhere... whatever she had seen was a dream...

" Uff... ", Naina slammed her hand on the forehead.

Preeti looked at her with a frown, " Kyaaa huaaa? "

"Kiss hua",  Naina blurted.

Swati, who was busy combining her hair, jumped, " Kyaaaa... kiss kab hua? "

Naina recovered quickly, "M... m... maine poocha kisko... kissko... kya hua... jo itna shor macha ke utha rahe ho? "

Preeti and Swati looked at each other for a minute... and then, fell on the bed, laughing hard. Naina kept staring at them with pursed lips.

When Preeti could breathe again she wiped off the tears that had filled up her eyes due to excessive laughing, "Behen, tu kitni bhi koshish karle... hamse jhooth nahi bol sakti... jijaji ko sapne mein kiss kar rahi thi na? "

Swati raised her brows at her and winked.

Naina turned crimson. Jumping off the bed, she grabbed her towel and ran to the bathroom, shutting the door with a bang.

She stood panting, her back resting on the closed door.

"Yeh kya tha Naina... aisa sapna... ab tu Sameer ke baare mein aise sapne dekhegi? " She smacked herself.

Next instant, a smile played on her lips and her heart assured her, "Kuch galat thodi hai... woh mera Sameer hai... pyaar karti hun usse... ek kiss kar diya toh kya hua? "

She closed her eyes, placing her thumb between the teeth.

But the mind voice was ready, "Pagal hai kya Naina... shaadi se pehle yeh sab... aisa sochna bhi mat",  and her smile vanished.

The heart tried again, " Naina, jab pyaar karte hain toh darte nahi hain... haq hai tera uspe aur uska tujhpe... isme kuch galat nahi hai"

In the fight between heart and mind, if you are in love, the heart always wins.

Naina smiled and accepted, "Isme kuch galat nahi hai."