"Naina, thodi der bahar chalein, balcony mein?" Sameer suddenly asked after about an hour.

"Sameer, itna saara practice karna hai abhi... aur bahar kya karna hai?" Naina didn't look up from her notebook where she was writing something.

"Chalo na, thodi fresh hawa se dimaag bhi fresh hoga toh achhe se padh lenge." He urged.

Naina glanced out. The wide glass door showed clear blue sky... it did seem bright and fresh.

"Theek hai, chalo." She closed her notebook.

They went out to the balcony. Being late afternoon, the road did not have much movement. A coconut water vendor sat lazily on a chair near his cart. An occasional two wheeler or bicycle passed by in between.

Sameer looked around at the nearby balconies. There was no one outside at this time.

"Yeh sab ghar dekh rahi ho, Naina... har ek mein ek parivaar rehta hai... lekin shayad hi koi humare parivaar jaisa ho." He took in the number of houses in the large society.

"Matlab... humare parivaar mein kya alag hai?" She looked at him with a perplexed expression.

"Mere aur nanu ke jaise... ya fir tumhare ghar jaise, jahan tum apne chachaji ke saath rehti ho aur saath wale ghar mein tumhare papa aur bhaiya tumhare tauji ke saath." He clarified.

Naina nodded... indeed they both had lived their lives in very different ways... it was difficult to find anyone in similar situation.

"Main toh sirf do saal raha hun ghar mein... bachpan ka kuch yaad nahi... isliye main inn do saalon ko hi ghar mein rehna maanta hun." He seemed to be lost.

Naina moved closer to him, wrapping her hands around his arm, resting her head over it.

"Aur humare ghar mein koi ladki bhi nahi thi... matlab jaise sab jagah behen hoti hai ya mummy toh hoti hi hain... isliye mujhe bohot kuch samajh nahi aata, Naina." He placed one hand over hers.

She was still not clear what he wanted to say.

He continued, looking ahead, "Ab sirf tum ho mera parivaar... meri apni, meri sab kuch... aur agar tum mujhse iss tarah hichkichati rahogi toh mujhe lagega tum mujhe alag maanti ho... kyonki maine suna hai parivaar mein toh sab log ek doosre se khul ke baatein kar lete hain... tum bhi toh Preeti se sab share karti hogi na... mana main Preeti nahi hun par main tumhara apna toh hun na... tumhe mujhse chupane ki zaroorat mehsoos ho toh woh meri koi kami hogi ki main tumhe woh apnapan nahi de paya jahan tum bilkul ghar jaisa mahaul samjho."

She could now understand what he wanted to say. And she could feel what he wanted her to know.

"Sameer, tum toh sabse pehle ho mere liye... agar tumhe apna nahi maana toh koi mera apna nahi hai... bas abhi yeh sab naya hai isliye thoda... ek baar tumhare saath rehne ki aadat ho jayegi toh kabhi tumhe aisa mehsoos nahi hoga... aur ek baat hai... hum ladkiyon ko hamesha se sikhaya jaata hai ki kuch cheezein saamne nahi aani chahiye... kisi ke bhi... isliye bhi sab kuch ekdum se share karna thoda ajeeb lagta hai." She put forth her side clearly, because of his encouragement.

He looked at her... the ease with which she explained everything was what he wanted.

"Samajh sakta hun, Naina... lekin main yeh sab nahi maanta ki ladkiyon ko kisi tarah ki bandish honi chahiye... agar mere kapde bahar sookhne daale ho toh kya tum unhe nahi uthaogi kyonki woh mere honge... mujhe pata hai aisa nahi hoga... tum meri har cheez ko foran apna logi... fir mujhe kyon nahi apna sakti ussi tarah... mujhe kyon tumhari cheezon ko haath lagane ki rok tok ho... mere liye isme kuch galat nahi hai... humara ghar waisa hi hoga jaisa hum chahenge... duniya kya sochti hai kya maanti hai mujhe usse koi fark nahi padta... main bas ek aisa ghar chahta hun jahan hum dono ek jaise ho... na koi kam, na koi zyada... dono barabar." He gave her the picture of what their life would be.

His words were like something from another world. She was amazed at his thinking, and proud of the fact that in spite of living alone all his life because of his mother, he valued women so much.

"Humara ghar waisa hi hoga jaisa tum chahte ho." She promised.

"Ab andar chalein... kuch cheezein main bhi chupana chahta hun duniya se." He pulled her inside, taking her away from the glass door.

Naina came up on her toes as he held her face in his hands, "Main kabhi tumhe kisi baat ke liye ghabrate hue ya hichkichate hue nahi dekhna chahta... tum mujhe apni parchaayi samjho... apna aaina samjho... jaise tum kal khul ke sab bol rahi thi aaine ke saamne aise hi mujhse bhi bola karo... jis din tum aisa karne lagogi main samjhunga meri Naina ne sach mein mujhe poori tarah se apna liya."

Her eyes moved over his face, "Toh samajh lo woh pal aa gaya."

He narrowed his eyes.

"Abhi tumhe dekh ke mera man kar raha hai ki main tumhe kiss karun, tumhare chehre ko apne chehre pe mehsoos karun, yeh jo tum mere liye taiyari kar rahe ho iska inaam dun tumhe." She worded her thoughts, moving her fingers over his dark jaw, admiring the thick stubble.

His eyes widened at her bold admission... heartbeat jumped to another level... he had not expected her to be this forthright so easily.

Before he could get over her words, she captured his lips, taking him by more surprise. He parted them, letting her play... not knowing that she could leave him panting for breath which he was, when she moved after a few minutes... only to kiss his chin, followed by slow, small kisses on his jawline as her hands put more pressure on his back, pulling him closer. Her soft, warm lips made him shudder, his hands around her waist tightened the hold unknowingly... he had not anticipated her to react like this to his talk... he just wanted to make her comfortable, feel more secure about the smallest things in her day to day life even with him around all the time, give her the confidence to be herself in front of him... and she had accepted everything... not only accepted, but was all out to prove to him..

Her lips slowly skimmed down to his neck... the raspy sound making her shiver in pleasure while he thought she might be finding it too bristly.

"Naina, tumhe lagega." He whispered, hoarsely.

"Mujhe pasand hai." Her warm breath on his throat made him dizzy... her fingers had slipped under his collar, making patterns on the sensitive skin... he could take it no more.

Cupping her chin, he bent more to take her for a kiss. She pressed his head, delving deep in his mouth, making it more of her kiss than his. When he lifted his head, her eyes were closed... she opened them slowly to see his dark ones full of admiration... and pleasure.

She smiled... a slow, satiated, sensual smile... and he was stunned... his shy, simple, innocent girl was turning into a bold, aware and passionate woman.

"Ek baat bataun?" She lifted her brows.

He nodded.

"Tum mere sabse best aaine ho... baaki sab mein itni khubsurat nahi lagti jitni tumhari aankhon mein lagti hun."

The smile that bloomed on his lips was brought by the shine in her brown eyes, the serene expression on her face, the calmness in her voice, the surity in her actions...

This time when they went back to the study table, there was nothing awkward between them.

After dinner, Naina helped Sonali clear the dishes from the dining table. While they were in the kitchen, she looked back at Sonali.

"Umm, Sonali, woh jo shopping ke liye keh rahi thi na tu, woh chalenge exams ke baad." She said with a straight face.

Sonali abruptly turned, leaving whatever she was doing, "Sachi Naina, tu chalegi?"

Facing her friend, she nodded.

Sonali squealed, running to hug her, "Pakka chalenge, mujhe best shop pata hai... tujhe jo bhi chahiye ho le lena."

Naina smirked at her excitement.

"Aur koi dresses bhi lene hain toh bata." Sonali moved back to give a naughty look.

"Aur koi? Konse dresses?" Naina gave a blank look.

"Oho, ek baar tune pucha tha na ki Rahul mujhe apni pasand ke kapde pehenne ko kehta hai kya... tabhi samajh gayi thi ki zaroor Sameer ne koi demand rakhi hogi... agar aisa hai aur usne kuch special pehenne ko kaha hai tujhe toh le le woh bhi... khush ho jaayega tera Sameer." Sonali gave her a piece of advice.

Sameer had always praised her in all types of dresses... even the ill fitted drab clothes that she used to wear in first year, all of taiji's choice... she knew his fascination for one particular outfit, but that she already had ready with her... waiting for the right time.

"Nahi, aisa kuch nahi hai... aur agar usse chahiye hoga toh khud le aayega... pehle bhi laaya hai." She smiled back at her friend.

"Chal theek hai, fir exams khatam hote hi chalenge, agle din... tu wapas toh nahi jaa rahi na hamesha ki tarah theek ussi din ya agli subah?" Sonali narrowed her eyes.

"Nahi, iss baar thoda rukna padega... mere show ke 75 episode ki party hai... main pachaas wali mein jaa nahi paayi thi isliye ab toh pakka jaungi... maine ghar pe bata diya hai." Naina revealed her plans.

Sonali was delighted, "Waah Naina, iske liye toh ek aur party karenge."

"Tu bas masti ke bahane dhunda kar... chal ab chal ke padhai kar... agar marks nahi aaye toh aunty mujhe bolengi ki maine theek se padhaya nahi." Naina showed fake anger.

Sonali laughed again, "Jitne number aayenge na woh teri wajah se hi aayenge... pichle do mahine mein tune itna padha diya ki main toh iss baar exams ke liye ekdum ready hun... aur mummy se yaad aaya, unhone kaha hai ek baar unse milna zaroor wapas jaane se pehle... bhabhi ko bhi milna hai tujhse... sab teri shaadi ki baat se bohot khush hain."

Naina gave a warm smile, reminiscing about the days spent in Sonali's house during her wedding.

In the room later, she picked out her white kurta and patiala from the bag... and stared at it, wondering if indeed Sameer was not happy to see her wear this old, worn out outfit. She and Preeti always got the night wear kurtas stitched loose, to feel comfortable... and this one had been in use for long... the material had softened considerably but she preferred it over other two kurtas that were relatively new. On an impulse, she placed it back and fished out the light pink one. It had the same loose fit but looked new as compared to the white one.

Sameer was half lying on the couch, a book in his hand.

"Tum chaho toh pehle naha lo, main baad mein change kar lungi." She said.

"Nahi Naina, tum jao... main thodi der mein naha lunga." He looked up at her for a moment before going back to the book.

Naina was pleasantly surprised to see him study with such concentration.

She changed for the night, brushed and washed her face.

When she came out, Sameer was searching for something in his bag.

"Ab tum bathroom use kar sakte ho." She told him.

"Haan jaata hun... mera tshirt nahi mil raha." He started to shuffle the clothes.

"Saamne toh hai tumhare." She could see the white tshirt right on top.

"Nahi, yeh toh do din pehen liya na... raat wala doosra tshirt shayad main lana bhool gaya." He pursed his lips.

"Oh... toh koi din wala hi pehen lo... t shirt hi toh hai." She suggested.

"Ab yehi karna padega." He picked the red one and went to the washroom.

They studied for another two hours before deciding to sleep.

Sameer switched off the light after flicking the bedside lamp on.

Naina felt a fluttering in her stomach as she sensed him lie down on his side of the bed. She had her back to him.