They carried the required things to Sonali's mother. She saw Sameer helping Naina.

"Beta aap kyon pareshan hote ho... aap toh Rahul ke dost ho toh aaram se baitho." She felt conscious at getting work done from her son in law's friend.

"Mummy, Naina aur Sameer hum dono ke dost hain... kal bataya toh tha aapko. Aur aap isko koi bhi kaam bol sakti ho... Sameer ko koi problem nahi hogi... haina Sameer?" Sonali said from where she was sitting.

Sameer smiled warmly, "Bilkul auntyji, koi problem nahi hai... balki aap kaho toh main yahin aapke ghar reh jaata hun... fir main aapki taraf se hi ho jaunga."

Naina looked at him, amazed at the ease with which he was talking. Sameer had always been hesitant in front of others... even in the morning, when he was asked to put haldi on Sonali, he was reluctant to come in.

"Haan mummyji, isko hum yahin rakh lete hain... yeh bhi khush aur hum sab bhi khush," Bhabhi gave a mischievous smile, looking at Naina and then at Sonali.

Naina could feel herself go red.

But Sameer was in a different form today, "Bilkul sahi kaha aapne, bhabhi... Amit bhaiya ko bhi help ho jayegi... Sonali, kya bolti ho?"

She grinned, nodding.

"Naina tum kya kehti ho?" He said nonchalantly.

Thankfully, Naina didn't have to answer as Rahul spoke up, "Oye dal badlu, yahan mere saath rehne aaya hai... mere hi saath rahega... dulhe ka dost hai... samjha na?"

"Lo bhai Sameer, tumhara patta toh humare damaadji ne kaat diya... ab inke aage hum bhi kuch nahi kar sakte." Bhabhi raised her one hand in defeat as she was getting mehendi done on the other one.

"Arre bachhon tum log bhi kya baaton mein lag gaye... chalo, kuch kha lo, Naina, fir tujhe bhi mehendi lagwani hai na... aur haan Sameer, beta aapne kuch liya ya nahi... main mangwa dun?" Sonali's mom asked him.

"Aap kyon mangwayengi auntyji... main bas khane hi jaa raha tha... aao Naina, tumhe bhi khana hai na." He looked at her.

Rahul raised his brows at Sameer's smart move to go and eat with Naina.

"Sameer, kya hua hai tumhe... aaj aise baat kar rahe ho jaise pehle kabhi nahi ki." Naina asked him the moment they were out of the seating area.

"Bas aise hi," he gave a crooked smile.

"Bolo na, kya baat hai?" She probed, curious to know the reason behind this change.

Sameer himself was a little surprised at the comfort he felt with everyone. It felt as if there was a shell he had created for himself where he did not allow anyone to enter and today Rahul had helped him to break that shell. And suddenly he wanted to be a part of everything... feeling relaxed in the surroundings. The other reason was the afternoon meeting with Naina in college. Her acceptance had cleared all his confusion and apprehensions of last night... and of last so many months. The feeling that Naina might find it wrong to be close to him or might get frightened if he tried to show his love was keeping him on the edge. His fear of a long time was gone in a second when he looked into her eyes.

On the same day, Rahul had broken a wall he had built around himself and Naina had broken a wall he had put up around his heart.

And there was a third reason too... he wanted to show someone how close he was with this family... and what he meant to Naina. There was someone who had to understand that Naina was forbidden... even to look at.

"Kahan khoye ho, Sameer... main kabse pooch rahi hun tum kya khaoge par tum batate hi nahi." Her voice sounded worried.

"Uhh... kuch bhi... jo tum khila do." He tilted his head and smiled.

Naina wrinkled her nose and went away to get a plate. Sameer was reminded of the day she had similarly gone to get a plate during their freshers party. The situation was so different. And so was their equation. He had still kept an eye on her.

Naina started to keep his favourite things in the plate.

"Aap ye samose try karo, Naina... bohot achhe bane hain." A voice from behind startled her.

She turned to find Sahil standing there.

"Nahi, samose khaane ka dil nahi hai." She politely refused, moving ahead to another dish.

Sahil followed her.

"Aapko bhi khana lena hai toh plate lijiye na." She stated, seeing him moving behind her without taking anything.

"Nahi, mujhe abhi khana nahi hai." He smiled.

Naina looked around for Sameer. He was sitting a little away, lost in some thoughts.

"Achha hai dekh nahi raha... warna yahan hungama ho jaata." She muttered to herself.

"Aap mehendi nahi lagaogi kya?" Sahil tried again.

"Zaroor lagwaungi... aakhir meri best friend ki shaadi hai." She replied.

"Toh uss samay agar aapko kisi bhi cheez ki zaroorat ho toh mujhe bata dena... main laa dunga." He offered.

"Thank you," Naina had started getting the feeling of discomfort.

Though he had not misbehaved or said anything improper but she could feel that he was showing more interest than required.

"Ab main khana kha lun?" She said with a fake smile.

He moved aside, waving a hand to show the way.

As Naina walked away, he picked up the cup of coffee he had come to take and moved out. Near the gate, he looked back at the seating area... and stiffened... she was sitting with Sameer.

"Ek hi college mein hain isliye shayad dosti hai." He consoled himself and moved out.

His mother had a good news for him. She had spoken to Sonali's mom and came to know that Naina was not only a university topper but was also writing a show which would start airing from next month. Her achievements impressed Sahil even more.

"Tum kahan khoye hue ho aaj?" Naina was sure something was playing in Sameer's mind.

"Bas woh din yaad aa gaya tha jab tum ek kone mein plate leke akele khadi thi... bina kuch khaye." He placed a hand on hers.

"Tumne uss din bhi mujhe khila diya tha... jab se Mumbai aai thi tum har pal mera khyaal rakh rahe the." She gave him a warm smile.

"Tumhara khyaal rakhna meri zaroorat hai, Naina... tumhe kuch hote hue nahi dekh sakta." He pressed her hand.

"Mujhe kuch ho hi nahi sakta jab tum mere saath ho." She assured him.

They were lost in each other for a few minutes till a few more people entered the dining area, talking loudly.

Naina looked around, suddenly conscious.

"Jaldi kha lo, Sameer. Mujhe jaana hai mehendi ke liye." She insisted.

He picked up a kachodi, happily biting into it. It was gone in no time.

"Naina, tum bhi khao na." He offered another kachodi to her.

She shook her head, "Mujhe bhook nahi hai."

He leaned towards her, "Kyon... tumhara pet malai ke katore se hi bharega?"

Naina was red in an instant, "Sameer tum... "

"Main kya?" He raised his brows with a smirk.

She lowered her eyes, not able to look at him.

He took a piece of dhokla from the plate, offering it to her.

Naina tried to take it but he insisted on feeding her. She took a bite and raised her hand to wipe the crumbs. He held her wrist.

"Saaf toh karne do baba," she was puzzled.

Sameer placed her hand back on the table, slowly moving his own to her face... and grazed his thumb around her mouth, cleaning the crumbs.

Naina felt a tremor pass through her at the slow but delicate touch.

Again he gave the piece to her.

"Itne log hai yahan Sameer. Main aise nahi kha sakti." She was already getting a fluttering feeling in her stomach.

"Mere haath se khaogi toh main apne haath se saaf karunga aur khud khaogi toh... "

He pressed his lower lip under the teeth.

Before he could stop, Naina was out of his reach, moving towards the main area.

He kept looking at her till she reached the gate... and turned.

He puckered his lips for a quick second.

Naina ran out.

"Kya hua Naina?" Sonali was worried to see her breathing heavily.

"Woh... bhaag ke aayi na... isliye zara... saans phool gayi." She kept a hand on her chest, trying to control her breath.

"Paani le lo."

She thankfully looked at the bottle... then at the person offering it.

She wanted to refuse but Sahil was standing right in front and there were a lot of people around.

Muttering thanks under her breath, she took the bottle and gulped down half of it. Putting the bottle aside, she turned to see Sonali's mehendi which was half done.

Naina did not notice Sahil pick up the bottle but another pair of red eyes at the gate did.

Sameer picked up a basket of flowers kept there and quickly walked inside.

"Rahul, tujhe kuch khana hai toh bata de... coffee ya soft drink la dun?" Looking sideways and walking straight ahead, Sameer banged into Sahil, the basket and bottle both falling on the floor.

"Oh sorry, maine dekha nahi," Sameer apologised, bending down immediately to pick what he had dropped.

First thing that went in the basket was the bottle, hidden with a pile of flowers placed on it instantly.

"Sameer tum rehne do, main karwa deta hun, " Amit, Sonali's brother tried to move him away.

"Nahi bhaiya... isme kya hai... main abhi utha deta hun." He was done in no time, taking the basket back.

No one saw him removing the bottle and gulping down the rest of the water.

Sameer went back in and sat with Rahul.

"Arre, tune kyon mehendi nahi lagayi? Teri toh shaadi hai na... Naina ne kaha tha jiski shaadi hoti hai unki khaas mehendi hoti hai." He looked at Rahul's hands.

Rahul straightened his palms to show the small pattern with 'RS' in the center.

"Yeh kya likhwaya hai?" Sameer was perplexed.

"Yehi toh khaas hota hai... naam hai hum dono ka... Sonali bhi likhwayegi." He explained.

And Sameer wondered if Naina would do it too.

"Yeh naam sirf shaadi mein hi likhwa sakte hain kya?" He asked.

"Dil se shaadi maan li ho toh bhi likhwa sakte hain... likhwana hai?" Rahul winked.

Sameer thought for a while, then dipped his head in acceptance, happy to do it.

Rahul called out to the guy who had done it for him.

"Iske haath pe bhi banana hai... SN likhna." He directed the boy.

"Nahin, NS likhna." Sameer corrected him.

The boy settled down in front of him, taking the cone to draw the pattern.

Naina finally sat down for her mehendi after Sonali was done.

"Bhaiya, isko bhi tum hi lagao... achhi si... aur naam bhi likhna." Sonali asked the boy in front of her.

He took Naina's hand in his and started to make the intricate design.

"Naam kya likhna hai?" He asked after the outlining.

"Sameer," Sonali answered before Naina could say anything.

"Aur ek saath mat likhna... saare akshar alag alag hone chahiye." She added.

"Pagal hai kya? Poora naam kyon likhwana hai? Bhaiya, aap bas S likhna." Naina instructed him.

"Achha NS likh dena. Ab theek hai?" She looked at Naina.

'Nahi, SN likhna." She smiled.

Sameer was done in no time as his pattern was small. He looked around to see Naina sitting in front of the mehendi wala... and he held her hand tightly.

Sameer got up immediately.

"Arre sun Sameer, kahan jaa raha hai?" Rahul called out.

"Woh Naina... uska haath..." He fumed.

"Tu baith yahan... abhi baith." He ordered, in a stern voice.

Sameer sat down in exasperation.

"Mehendi aise hi lagti hai... teri bhi toh aise hi lagayi hai abhi abhi." He tried to pacify his friend.

"Toh ladkiyon se lagwani chahiye." He was still annoyed.

"Yeh dono ladke zyaada expert hain... isliye khaas logo ko ye hi lagate hain." He knew Sameer was capable of even throwing out the mehendi wala.

"Yeh kya baat hai? Ladkiyon ke liye tailor bhi ladke, mehendi wale bhi ladke."

Sorry again but no update tomorrow morning. Will be back in the evening.