Naina continued to teach Sameer and he also concentrated ... and was soon able to complete whatever he had missed while he was away for cricket practice. They met every day under the tree and talked about a lot of things. Growing comfortable in each other's company, they often pulled each other's leg. Sameer had found a new  reason to live. He was eating well, sleeping well and stayed happy. He could smile... even laugh. Naina was his therapy.

She had started staying back in the hostel on weekends, missing the trip to Phulla bua's house, making excuses about busy schedule and pending work for newspaper and magazine. She loved to spend a little extra time with Sameer on weekends.

The love they both shared was felt by them but they had not spoken about it to each other. Both felt shy to confess their feelings in clear words. Naina was now sure that Sameer had feelings similar to hers and waited for him to speak out first. Sameer was aware of Naina's love for him, and now that she had cleared his misconception about himself unknowingly, he wanted to walk up to her and tell her how much he loved her... but everytime he tried... he got tongue tied.

"Sameer",  she came running one evening while he was waiting under the tree.

He looked at her and raised his eyebrows.

" Preeti aur Swati aa rahe hain... mujhse milne... chachaji ko Mumbai kuch kaam tha to woh dono bhi saath aa rahe hain. " Her happiness made her face glow.

Sameer looked at her excited expression, without blinking.

Naina waved a hand in front of him, "Kahan kho gaye?"

He recovered, "Kahi nahi... bolo kya bata rahi thi tum?" He tried to hide his blush.

Naina excitedly started, "Preeti aur Swati aa rahein hain... Kal... Poore teen din rahenge mere saath... main bata nahi sakti ki main kitni khush hoon... kal to Saturday hai to half day hoga... wo bhi lunch time tak aa jaayenge... Tuesday subah jaana hai wapas... kitna mazaa aayega", she rubbed her hands together.

Sameer was happy for her but a little sadness gripped him. Naina sensed it instantly.

"Kya hua? Tum pareshan kyon ho gaye? "

"Kuch nahi... main to bohot khush hun ki tum unse milogi aur time spend karogi... yahan tum unhe miss karti thi naa", He tried to hide his disappointment, but Naina could  read his eyes.

" Karti thi miss... shuru mein... phir ek dost mil gaya... aur ussne mujhe kisi ki kami mehsoos hi nahi hone di... main ab unhe yaad karti hun...khush hokar... miss karti  to dukhi hoti na... jo main nahi hun,"  Naina said softly, eyeing him.

All his doubts and apprehensions flew away and Sameer looked at her naughtily, "Achcha", he said, in the same husky tone that made Naina's poor heart skip a beat.

She again forgot to look away from his face.

" Bolo... mere saath hoti ho to kisi ki kami nahi mehsoos hoti tumhe?", His voice was still the same.

Naina gulped and shook her head.

"To tumhe kisi aur ki zaroorat nahi hai? " He started spinning his web.

Naina shook her head again, in a trance.

"Matlab meri zaroorat hai? " He struck at the right time.

Naina's eyes flew open... and she understood the implication of his words.

"Main jaa rahi hun",  she turned to go, not wanting to show her red ears and face to Sameer.

" Ruko", he said, before she could run.

"Idhar mudo"

Naina shook her head, again.

"Naina, mudo... nahin to main khud aake tumhe idhar mod lunga", He threatened.

Naina shivered and slowly turned around, lowering her eyes.

Sameer stepped closer...

When she still didn't look up, he held one finger lightly under her chin and lifted her face towards himself.

Naina's heartbeat skyrocketed. Her breath got stuck in her throat. She couldn't look up to his face and kept her gaze on his neck, noticing the wildly throbbing vein at its base. She swallowed.

" Naina," His voice was not more than a whisper, "Tum un logon ke aane se mujhe bhool to nahi jaaogi?"

Her eyes shot up to him. And she could sense his insecurity. She wanted to wipe out his fear completely.

"Sameer, har kisi ki apni jagah hoti hai hamari zindagi mein... aur tumhaari jagah sabse alag hai mere liye... jo kissi ke aane se nahi badlegi... tum khaas ho... aur hamesha rahoge. " She gave a comforting smile to him.

Sameer wanted to take one more step and crush her in a hug... but he was not sure if Naina would be comfortable with it or not... she was from a conservative family and whatever she said about her family made him believe that such proximity was not considered appropriate before marriage. It took  an enormous amount of control for him to remove his finger and step back.

Naina continued to look at him... seeing the passing emotions in his eyes. As he stepped away from her, Naina called out his name, "Sameer".

He raised his eyes to her and found hers to be filled with tears. He immediately turned and came closer, "Naina kya hua?  Tum ro kyon rahi ho? Mera choona tumhe bura laga... I'm sorry Naina... woh galti se... please mujhe maaf kar do",  his voice choked.

Naina kept a finger on her lips,indicating him to be quiet. Then,she extended her hand and wrapped it around his. Sameer was taken aback at her touch. He sharply turned and looked at her tiny palm around his own. He forgot everything else... nothing was visible anymore except her beautiful and soft hand slightly pressing his own. Naina lifted his hand and wrapped her other palm also around it... giving him warmth and security.

" Sameer... main tumhe abhi tak vishwas nahi dila payi na ki main tumhare saath hun?  Tum abhi bhi sochte ho ki main chali jaungi?" She said in heavy voice, tears threatening to spill out.

Sameer was filled with guilt, "Nahi Naina... mujhe poora yakeen hai ki tum hamesha hamesha mere paas rahogi... main bas ye soch kar dukhi ho gaya tha ki main tumhare saath samay nahi bita paunga... aakhir Preeti aur Swati tumse itne dino baad milengi to unhe bhi to tumhaara saath chahiye hoga."

Naina could not tear her gaze from him... and a few tears rolled down her cheeks. Sameer pained  seeing her like this... he slowly brought his other hand to her face and wiped her tears, shaking his  head... as his own eyes pooled up. They both stood looking at each other... Naina holding Sameer's hand in both of her own... and Sameer looking into her eyes which held a promise of lifetime.

They had no idea how much time had passed. It was Naina who recovered first. Colour crept up her cheeks when she realised their proximity... and slowly left his hand, turning to her side to avoid his eyes.

The heavy feeling in Sameer's heart gave way to a flutter...

He felt time was right for him to say what he wanted to tell Naina for so long... he swallowed, trying to gather some courage...

And suddenly Naina ran away... before he could even utter a word.

Sameer wrinkled his nose and ran his fingers through his hair, smiling shyly.

Next day, Naina waited for him in front of the hostel for sometime but when he didn't show up, she hesitantly walked in, looking back repeatedly.  As she neared the classroom, Sonia came running to her, holding a newspaper in hand. Komal and Nisha followed her.

"Nainaaaa, kamaal kar diya tune", Sonia's excitement surprised her.

Sonia came closer and hugged her tight. Naina also wrapped her arms around her, though not sure what was the reason.

Sonia left her after a while, and, with the same enthusiasm, screamed, "Newspaper mein article chapa hai tera... kitna achcha likha hai tune... mere papa ne subah dekhi teri photo to pehchan liya... mile the naa jab last week meri fees ka kuch matter ho gaya tha. Unhone kaha ki abhi se itna achcha likhti hai to aage jaake bohot badi writer banegi."

Naina was elated at the praise from someone unknown. She beamed at her friends. Sonia again crushed her in a hug. Before Naina could breathe after Sonia left her, both Komal and Nisha repeated the gesture. Naina was overwhelmed at their happiness for her achievement... she stood with her arms around them for quite some time... letting the truth sink in that her name, her photograph and her words had found a place on a print platform.

Sameer had entered the building a few moments after Naina... he got late in getting up as he had spent the night tossing and turning in bed... thinking how and when he could confess his love to Naina. He was about to call out to her in the corridor when he saw her friends rushing to her. When Sonia hugged Naina, Sameer stopped breathing. She was a girl, alright, but seeing her one hand wrapped around Naina's waist and other one around her shoulders... he did feel jealous. And to add to his frustration, Komal and Nisha also hugged her. And Naina too had wrapped her hands so tight around them... will she do the same with him... hold him this tight? His mind went in an overdrive again. His mouth went dry, seeing his girl, with someone else's arms around her... standing there happily. After what seemed like an eternity to Sameer, the girls broke the hug and walked to the classroom.

Sameer followed a little later, after he had controlled his racing heart to some extent, and giving a smile to Naina, walked to his bench at the back.

After the lectures for the day got over, Naina shared her happiness with Sameer, showing him the article in the newspaper that Sonia got for her. Sameer wondered if he could hug her too, to show how proud he was. But the moment passed as Naina quickly folded the newspaper and rushed out to the gate, saying that Preeti and Swati are due to arrive any moment. She had taken permission from the warden to let them stay with her. Chachaji was staying with Phulla bua.

Sameer watched hiding behind a pillar near his hostel entrance, as two girls descended from an auto with an elderly man.  Naina rushed out to him and he blessed her. He was holding a newspaper too and by their expressions, Sameer could make out that he was telling Naina how proud he was seeing her published. After talking for a few minutes, the man left in the same auto while the girls waved at him, holding  onto a small bag. Then they turned to look at each other with a big smile on their faces... and got into a rib crushing hug... all three together.

Sameer could feel the irritation creeping in again, "Aaj har koi Naina ko gale laga raha hai... main bhi to dost hun... mujhe to Naina ne kabhi aise gale nahi lagaya. " He was getting jealous again.

Three of them walked to Naina's hostel entrance, their hands still wrapped around each other. Sameer's eyes followed them till they were out of sight.

Once inside her room, Naina once again hugged her sister and best friend.

"Oye hoye, kuch zyaada hi pyaar aa raha hai", Swati said with a smile.

" Swatiii... isse puch to sahi yeh pyaar hamare liye hai ya hame koi aur samajh ke itna gale laga rahi hai, " Preeti teased her sister.

Naina blushed to the root.

"Chup karo tum dono",  she managed to show fake anger.

Preeti nudged her, " Bata na... jijaji ne I love You bola ya nahi".

Naina shook her head... biting her lip on hearing Preeti call him 'jijaji'.

"Offo, unse achcha to Munna hai... koi time waste nahi kiya... jhat se propose... phat se I Love You." Preeti blurted as Swati looked at her in horror. She had planned to tell Naina slowly about her and Munna.

Naina's eyes turned wide, "Munna... apna school wala Munna... usne tujhe propose kiya?" She looked at Preeti.

"Arre mujhe nahi, Swati ko, " Preeti clarified.

Naina turned to look at Swati in wonder as she turned red and lowered her eyes.

"Swati ki bachchi... tune mujhe bataya bhi nahi, " Naina rained her with blows with the cushion she was holding.

"Arre bata to rahi hun abhi... ab phone to kar nahi sakti... ghar mein STD nahi hai... aur bahar mummy jaane nahi deti",  Swati tried to dodge to save herself.

The girls continued to chatter for a long time. Naina told them all about her meetings with Sameer and his care and concern for her... except the parts where he came really close to her... she blushed again as she recollected those times.

Swati also told her story... how Munna proposed to her in the first month of college... confessing that he had liked her since sixth standard. Naina and Preeti teased her continuously.

Suddenly Preeti jumped and took out a packet from her bag.

" Naina, mummy ne tere liye alu ke paranthe bheje hain", she forwarded the packet to Naina.

Naina looked at her watch and holding the packet, got up from the bed.

"Tum log baatein karo, main abhi aati hun... bas pandrah minute mein", she ran out... to the ground.

Sameer was sitting alone, gazing ahead. He knew Naina would be busy today... he decided to still come here. This place made him feel that his Naina was present around him.

" Sameer"

He turned around abruptly to see her standing there... smiling down at him.

"Naina, tum yahan?  Wo log kya kahenge?" Shock was clear in his voice. 

" Kuch nahi kahenge",  she settled down next to him, at some distance, and forwarded the packet.

Sameer was puzzled, "yeh kya hai? "

"Yeh alu paranthe... chachiji nee bheje hain... tumhe pasand hai na?"
She offered.

Sameer grabbed the packet from her hand and quickly opened it. The sight of four paranthas was like heaven. Grabbing one... he rolled it and took a big bite... and closed his eyes in pleasure. The parantha was over in a few bites. Picking up the next one, he noticed Naina... she was looking at him with a satisfied smile. He offered her but she refused, holding her hand to her stomach, indicating that she was full. Sameer polished off the four paranthas in no time. Naina's smile of satisfaction changed to wonder.

Rubbing his hands together, Sameer looked at Naina apologetically,  "mera favourite hai... sorry, poora kha liya."

"Koi baat nahi... mujhe pata hai tumhe kitna pasand hai... isiliye leke aayi", Naina smiled.

Sameer was surprised, " tumhe kaise pata... Maine to kabhi nahi bataya "

"Woh school mein jab tum naye aaye the tab ek din mera tiffin canteen mein rakha tha aur main bahar gayi thi... tab tumne mera alu parantha chura ke kha liya tha... mujhe baad mein pata chala wo tum the", she said sheepishly.

Sameer remembered that day in school. He never knew it was Naina's tiffin. And then his mind drifted to college canteen.

" Tumhe pata hai, ek din yaha college ki canteen mein bhi aisa hua tha... kisi ke khule tiffin mein alu parantha rakha tha aur main khud ko rok nahi paaya... phir se chura liya", he confessed.

Naina rolled her eyes, bewildered, "Wo bhi tum the? "

Sameer was equally shocked, "Woh bhi tum thi?"

And both burst out laughing.