Naina spent the day reading and re reading her story... she had to decide an ending. It is not easy to end something... specially when you are attached to it emotionally... Naina had written the story with her heart, she had felt it while writing... it wasn't just words on paper, they was her own sentiments. And she wanted to give it a happy ending.

Sameer was having a difficult time too... without her. In the last two years, there were very few days when he had not met Naina in the evening... today was one such day and was not easy for him. Naina had become as essential for his system as the air he breathed. He had decided that once they were married, he wouldn't let her move away from his sight... they would go to office together, having your own office had to have some advantages... whenever she wanted to write, she could do it in the office itself... he had even planned to set up a library there, knowing Naina's fascination for one.

He had to make up for many years of loneliness.

But, for now, he had to wait, and it was killing him.

After spending a restless night, he was ready for college much before time, waiting for her.

She arrived before time as well, an evening without meeting him was equally hard for her.

"Kitne time baad dekh raha hun tumhe... bohot sundar lag rahi ho", he said as she approached him.

"Sameer, tum roz roz aise tareef karte ho toh lagta hai jhooth bol rahe ho... ab main har din toh itni achhi nahi lag sakti." She was a little embarrassed as she had worn one of her older dress today which was not very well fitted.

Sameer took a step back and looked at her from top to bottom, making her conscious.

"Kya kar rahe ho... sab hain yahan pe", she looked around at the students moving towards the entrance in groups or alone.

He smiled, "Main check kar raha tha ki kahan se kam achhi lag rahi ho par aisi koi jagah hi nahi mili... tum toh upar se neeche tak perfect ho."

He had done it again... made her go red with his first sentence in the morning.

Dragging him by arm, she moved towards their class.

The first lecture was about to get over when Naina suddenly panicked. By the time the class was over, her face had gone pale.

Sameer looked at her and was shocked, "Naina, kya hua? Tabiyat toh theek hai tumhari?"

"Woh... main... Sameer, main room mein jaa rahi hun... main baaki lectures nahi attend kar sakti." She said in a pained voice, getting up and walking out.

He quickly came along, "Lekin hua kya... doctor ke paas jana hai?"

He checked her forehead.

She pulled his hand down, "Offo, doctor nahi chahiye... woh meri date hai... kuch din jaldi aa gayi... bohot dard ho raha hai... main baith nahi paungi."

Ever since Sameer had talked to her about her monthly problem, she had become comfortable in telling him.

He was both relieved and worried at the same time... relieved that it was the usual, natural thing, and worried because she seemed to be in more pain than previous times.

"Tumhe kuch chahiye? Koi dawa ya... kuch... kuch samaan?" He asked softly, walking along her.

She shook her head, "Tum jao... class attend karo... main kal notes le lungi..."

He accompanied her till the main door, watching her enter the hostel building, feeling helpless and frustrated.

Naina reached her room with difficulty... the pain shooting up her legs with each step. She braced herself up for that once in a several months situation where every cell of the body hurt.

After a trip to the washroom, and swallowing a painkiller, she collapsed on the bed, clutching her stomach, trying to control the spasms. All she could do was wait for the medicine to start showing its effect.

It was another restless day for Sameer. Knowing that Naina was suffering, he was getting agitated.

After lunch, he picked up the bike and went out, planning to pick up a few things for her.

Around noon, feeling marginally better, Naina requested the ayah to get some food to her room. Working in the girls hostel for many years, she was used to such requests and complied. The food, however, made her nauseous... Naina could hardly eat.

By late evening, the cramps were back, making her cry out again.

Sameer secured everything in a shoulder bag and carried it carefully, as he climbed up the pipe after dark.

His heart shrunk at her sight... she lay in bed clutching her stomach, her knees folded.

He kept the bag down and walked to the bed, sitting next to her. Gently, he stroked her hair.

Naina turned towards him, throwing her arms around his waist as buried her head on the side of his abdomen.

"Mujhe pata tha tum aaoge", she whispered.

Her voice pierced his heart.

Bending down, he kissed her head, "Tumne dawa khayi?"

"Hmm... par ab uska asar khatm ho gaya", her muffled voice reached him.

He cleared the hair that were covering her face, "Naina, kuch khaa lo, tumne khaya nahi hoga."

She shook her head lightly, "Man nahi hai."

"Main tumhare liye garam garam maggi laya hun... khake dekho, achhi lagegi", he insisted.

She stirred at the mention of maggi.

Sameer picked up the bag and brought out a container, opening it for her. The smell suddenly made her feel hungry.

She moved to come in a sitting position. Sameer immediately held her shoulders and helped her sit up.
He handed the container which she kept on her tummy, giving out a sigh of relief as the warmth spread over the tender area.

He had seen the small stove in her room during his earlier visits. A pan was kept right next to it. He emptied a bottle of water that he was carrying and put it for heating. When it was done, he brought out a hot water bag he had bought in the afternoon and filled it up.

As Naina finished the maggi, he was there to take away the empty bowl.

She managed to give him a weak smile, "Thank you... sach mein bohot achha laga."

He brought the hot water bag and made her lie down, placing the bag on her stomach after spreading a small towel.

"Zyaada garam toh nahi hai na?" He asked softly.

"Nahi", she closed her eyes at the soothing feeling of heat over the coiled muscles.

Sameer kept sitting next to her, stroking her head, his eyes never leaving her.

He changed the side of the bag after sometime.

Naina started to feel a little better in about half an hour... the warmth on her tummy and the warmth he gave her making the pain ease out to some extent.

She opened her eyes to see him looking at her.

She removed the pouch from her stomach and shifted, to sit up.

He helped her, placing a pillow on the backrest. Naina shook her head and gestured at him to sit.

Smiling, he sat with his back against the bed, making her sit with him. She leaned back on his chest, head resting on his shoulder. Scared to bring his arm around her tummy, Sameer kept it on her arm.

"Joote nikal ke pair upar kar lo", she could sense that his twisted position was not very comfortable.

Sameer kicked off his shoes, keeping his legs crossed on the bed as he pulled her closer, linking his fingers with hers.

"Ab kuch theek lag raha hai?" He asked gently.

"Haan... tumhara haath lagte hi dard kam ho gaya." She smiled, eyes still closed.

"Oh Naina... kaash main tumhara dard kisi tarah khatam kar sakta", he whispered against her hair, frustrated at his helplessness.

Naina opened her eyes. Lifting their linked fingers, she kissed on his hand.

"Tumhare paas aane se hi mere baaki dard khatam ho jaate hain... aur yeh problem jo hai, iska kuch nahi kar sakte... ladkiyon ko jhelna hi padta hai." She touched his hand to her cheek.

"Par kyon... saare dard tumhare liye hi kyon?" It was not easy to see her in pain.

"Sameer, pareshan mat ho... itna zyaada kabhi kabhi hi hota hai... tumhe pata toh hai... kahan main hamesha aise class miss karti hun?" She tried to soothe his pain as well.

He rubbed his hand gently on her arm as his face came down to rest on her shoulder.

Feeling something, Naina turned her head a little to look at him... and smiled.

Her hand went up to his face, "Oho... aaj fir se... itne dino baad."

He felt her hand over his two day stubble and smiled, "Maine socha tum subah hi bologi par tumne toh dekha hi nahi... laga kahin iska asar khatam toh nahi ho gaya."

She laughed, "Buddhu, iska asar kabhi khatam nahi hoga... woh aaj subah se hi kuch ajeeb sa lag raha tha... date ka time hua nahi tha toh mera dhyaan uss taraf gaya hi nahi... bas kuch jhunjhalahat ho rahi thi aur gussa aa raha tha... shayad isliye dekh nahi paayi... sorry."

"Toh ab dekh lo... jitne kareeb se chaho", he brought his face closer, touching her cheek with his.

"Badmaash ho ek number ke", she smiled, wondering how he could make her heartbeat go faster even when she was in pain.

"Jaisa bhi hun tumhara hun", he placed a small kiss at the edge of her mouth.

Her hand around his fingers tightened as she felt the hair rise at the back of her neck.

Not able to take her in his arms, he sighed, curling his fingers on the arm that he was rubbing.

Naina sensed his need... she held his arm, bringing it around her, "Pakad sakte ho... tut nahi jaungi."

He let out a breath of relief, taking care to keep his arm little above her stomach.

"Tum mera itna khyaal rakhte ho, Sameer, ki mujhe kabhi kabhi sab kuch sapne jaisa lagta hai." She was overwhelmed by his concern.

"Tumhara khyaal toh rakhunga hi... meri jaan ho tum... aur tum bhi toh hamesha meri har baat ki fikr karti ho." He snuggled more into her.

After a while, he felt her stiffen again.

"Fir se dard ho raha hai?" He was instantly alert.

She nodded, doubling up in pain.

Sameer got up to heat some water again. He quickly checked the medicine box on her table and got the painkiller she always took.

"Ye khao", he handed her the medicine along with a glass of water.

Naina gulped it down.

He brought the hot water bag and helped her with it.

When the warmth gave her some relief, Naina looked at him, "Ab tum jao... der ho gayi hai."

"Aaj nahi jaunga... tumhare paas hi rahunga raat bhar", he refused.

"Nahi, aisa kaise ho sakta hai... please jao... kisi ne dekh liya toh bohot musibat hogi." She insisted.

He was adamant, "Naina, tumhe aisi halat mein chod kar kaise jaun? Mera man nahi manta."

"Maine dawa kha li hai na... aur yeh garam paani bhi hai... pehle se theek hun main... please, zid mat karo... meri khatir", she tried to force him.

Finally, Sameer gave in.

Keeping everything that she might need right next to her along with the chocolates that he had bought, he left, unwillingly.

The effect of medicine and the warmth that he gave her made Naina fall asleep soon.