"Thank you, Sameer... aaj tumne jaise apnepan se chachiji ki mushkil ka khyal karke nal theek karaya... mujhe bohot achha laga." Naina turned to him the moment their car reached the main road.

Sameer quirked up a brow, "Thank you? Tum mujhe thank you bologi?"

She shrugged, "Ab itna accha kaam karoge toh bolna hi padega."

With a deep exhale, he pressed the accelerator. The car sped up.

He didn't look at her again.

She waited.

He continued to drive... without a word... without a look.

"Sameer?" She felt uneasy with his silence.

He didn't reply.

Naina was now sure he had not liked her thanking him.

"Sorry Sameer, tumhe bura laga kya? Main toh bas... woh... itna koi sochta nahi hai na... tumne na sirf socha, balki problem door bhi kar di... isliye maine thank you kaha... lekin aage se nahi kahungi... please, maaf kar do." She was perturbed by his capricious behaviour.

He still did not react. She wasn't able to see his eyes as he looked straight ahead. But the thin line of his lips was forming a nervous knot in her stomach. She had seen his anger on a few occasions... but it was never directed towards her. Sweat beads started forming on her forehead, in spite of the air conditioning. She wasn't sure whether to handle this now, or wait till they reached home. Though home sounded a better option, the thought of bearing this coldness from him was killing her each moment. No, she couldn't keep it aside for later. But she had no idea what to do. He showed no expression. Like other times, he didn't brush his hand against her leg or arm while changing gears... with a stony face, he carried on as if she wasn't there.

With a gulp, she tried again, gingerly placing a hand on his arm.

"Sameer... kya hua?" Her voice was shaky.

The screech of brakes brought the car to a sudden halt, making her jerk ahead a little... but the seat belt kept her safe.

After pushing his seat away from the steering, he leaned towards her, without a glance at her face... and clicked open the seat belt,

Everything happened in a flash.

In one swift motion, his one arm went behind her neck, one going under her legs... and he scooped her up from the seat, bringing her to his lap, her back towards the window on his side.

Her eyes widened in shock at this unexpected conduct. Feeling the imbalance, she held his shirt... the scuffle making his top button go flying.

He looked down at the parted seams, then looked back at her.

The glint in his narrowed eyes, the mischievous smirk on his face, slight pulling in of the lower lip... she didn't know whether to be relieved or annoyed.

"Thank you bolna hai toh achhe se bolo, meri jaan." His raspy voice tingled her spine as his eyes scanned her face.

"Tumne dara hi diya mujhe... laga tum gussa ho gaye... pata hai meri kya haalat ho gayi thi?" She showed fake anger, trying to hide the effect this position was having on her.

"Aur meri kya haalat ho rahi hai... thoda sa paas aati ho fir door... aise poore din tumhare bina kaise reh sakta hun." He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, speaking in a softer voice.

She shuddered as his thumb outlined her ear.

"Tum Preeti ko gale laga sakti ho par mujhe nahi... kyon... kya mera Preeti jitna haq nahi hai tumpe... itna kyon sharmati ho, ki mann hua fir bhi gale nahi lagaya... dekha na tumne, chachiji ne kuch kaha hi nahi jab maine tumhe pakda... aur Preeti toh sab samajhti hai... usse kya chupana... sabko pata hai main tumse aur tum mujhse kitna pyar karte hain... fir saath baith kyon nahi sakte... Naina, mujhse tumhari doori bardaasht nahi hoti... aisa lagta hai main akela ho gaya hun." He clasped her hand that rested on his chest.

She cupped his cheek, "Sameer, aisa kyon keh rahe ho? Tum kabhi akele nahi hoge ab... kabhi nahi... main tumhare paas na bhi hun par tumse door kabhi ho hi nahi sakti... aur haq... tumhara sabse zyada haq hai, yeh bhi batana padega kya... ghar pe sirf badon ka lihaaz karte hain isliye apna pyar aise khul ke nahi dikhate... parson se jab tum factory jaoge tab bhi akele hi jaana hoga na... lekin uska matlab yeh toh nahi ki hum door ho gaye hain... Sameer, jab hum Mumbai mein the tab aadhe time alag hote the... par dil toh hamesha ek doosre ke paas hi dhadakta tha na."

He pursed his lips... what Naina was saying was right. He had to start going to the factory... without her. Staying apart for the whole day suddenly sounded harrowing.

He tightened his hold, "Naina, please mujhe door mat bhejo."

She wrapped her arms around his neck, drawing him against her chest... making a mental note to address his fear later... he didn't seem to be ready to deal with it at the moment.

He closed his eyes for a few moments... feeling the bliss of being where he wanted to, a serene smile spreading on his face.

When he opened his eyes, the view had begun to get inky. The spread of darkness outside and the closeness inside started to make the blood in his veins flow at a faster speed. He could hear her heart beating right under his ear... he could feel the warm softness against his cheek...

Lifting himself up, he gazed at her.

She was lost in the deep black pools that reflected her face, with absolute clarity... the eyes also reflected his passion. His hand moved down to her shoulder, sliding down over the arm slowly, till it reached her waist.

She drew in a sharp breath when his fingers slipped inside the slit of her kurta, skimming over the curve of her waist. He did not take his eyes away from her face, watching the colouring cheeks, darkening eyes, trembling lips... he could feel her laboured breathing, the creamy smoothness under his fingers... her hand clutching his shirt, her one hand threading into his hair...

Sameer slowly lowered his head, reducing the distance between them. When he was almost there, she turned her face. His lips landed on her cheek.

"Naina?" He was perplexed.

"Hum sadak pe hain... ghar jaake." She whispered.

He buried his face in her hair, speaking in a muffled voice, "Bahar dekho."

Her eyes drifted out... she had earlier been so engrossed with his silence and anger... and then, with his display of love, that she failed to notice the surroundings. He had driven to outskirts of the city. They were not on main road anymore, but parked on a deserted lane between fields. It probably led to some village. There was no person or vehicle till as far as her eyes could see in the blanket of dusk over the fields.

"Hum... hum yahan kyon aaye hain?" She was surprised... they would have been alone at home too, there was no need to steal moments of togetherness outside.

He whispered, "Mera mann kiya.. tumse khule aasman ke neeche pyar karne ka... jaise college mein hum ped ke paas milte the."

The memories of those meetings became reminiscent in her mind. She was also reminded of the multiple occasions when they controlled their desires... how he had stepped back... again and again... even after they were legally married.

"Tab main sochta tha ki apni Naina ko ek din kahin bhaga ke le jaunga... jahan humein koi na dekh sake... aur koi na rok sake... hum khud bhi nahi." His lips brushed against her neck as he spoke.

All her excuses fizzled out at his sweet torment on her senses... his lips skimmed down the throat to her neck. She bent her head back, fisting his hair.

He placed slow, soft kisses on her neck... making her go weak more and more with each one. His hand went up behind her back to balance her as he reclined her towards the windscreen.

Her shoulder touched the steering, pressing the horn as he pushed her back... the loud honk made her jerk ahead, clinging to him.

"Jaan, koi nahi hai... hamari car ka hi horn hai." He eased her, smiling.

"Mujhe darr lagta hai, chalo na... ghar chalte hain." She straightened, looking at him.

"Jab main hun toh darr kaisa? He peered into her eyes.

"Sameer, raasta hi toh hai... abhi koi nahi hai... par aa sakta hai na... aise yahan... " She was hesitant.

"Main sirf woh lamhe jeena chahta tha jo hum college mein bitate the... usse zyada kuch nahi... lekin lagta hai tumhare dimaag mein kuch aur hi chal raha hai... hmm?" His tone teased her.

Her face turned red. She could not look at him... lowering her eyes, she pressed her lower lip with the teeth, leaving it immediately the moment she realised the mistake. Her eyes shot up... the damage was done... his gaze was stuck on her lips. He tilted his face, slowly coming down on her. The kiss was slow... like he wanted to savour her... sucking onto her lip, feeling her soft mouth with the tip of his tongue. She did not wait to give him full access, pliant  to each stroke of his tongue, each touch of his fingers on her back, each hammering heartbeat against her chest, each demand that reflected in his eyes...

Though he didn't show the hunger in his kiss, it fired his need for her. He wanted to go on kissing her, wanted to feel her mould against him, wanted to be seared by the heat emanating from her body.

They were left panting when he finally lifted his face... his feelings getting stronger at the sight in front of him... her swollen lips wanted him to go for them again. But he resisted, knowing that he would not be able to control himself if he did that now.

"Dekh lo, tumse door rehna kaise pagal kar deta hai mujhe." He closed his eyes, taking in huge gulps of air to fill up his lungs.

She cupped his face, placing a soft kiss on his forehead before looking into his dark eyes, "Main toh yahin hun na... tumhare ekdum paas."

"I Love You, Naina." His eyes got intense.

Her lips curled at the corners, eyes shining at his words, "Ab ghar chalen?"

He nodded, eager to reach home.

She started to get up... he did not let go. She raised her brows in question. He again placed his hand under her legs, lifting her up, and put her back in the seat with ease. Leaning over her, he pulled the seat belt, stopping for a moment as his eyes levelled with her mangalsutra... the pendant with their initials sat snugly on her neckline. He placed a kiss over it before securing the seat belt.

She looked down at the mangalsutra, touching the pendant.

"Iss N aur S ki tarah, yeh N aur S bhi kabhi alag nahi honge... paas paas hon ya na ho... hamesha saath honge." She held it with one hand, pointing a finger at them simultaneously with the other one.

He let out a relieved breath, smiling as he put the car in ignition.

The drive back was quiet again... but it did not disturb Naina this time. She leaned back in her seat, looking out at the darkness... her own heart filled with the light of their love.

Next update in the evening... Sunday special