The drive from the city to the foothills was as beautiful as the flight. When they started to ascend, the view began to change. Concrete buildings gave way to low hills. Land was marked with more trees. As the road started to lose width, the vegetation around got thicker... and the number of visible people lessened.

Sameer sat with one arm looped around Naina, not leaving her hand throughout the journey. Her glowing face enchanted him... the simple things that made her happy were something he had not even bothered to notice before he met her.

Nainital was also a hill station... but he did not remember a single road journey that made him admire the view outside his cab. He had no idea how the valleys looked from high up... or where the road was too narrow to make passengers hold their seats tighter when another vehicle approached from front... when the trees changed from thick, heavy ones to tall, pointed ones... when the wind changed from warm to cool to chilly...

She had taught him to love the things around them... find pleasure in doing normal activities... enjoy the mundane... value the regular...

She had taught him to live life...

And now they would always be together... to make every day a celebration, to make every prosaic poetic, to make every ordinary special.

He looked at her... eyes filling up with love as she rested her head on his shoulder, looking out with excited shine in her eyes.

"I Love You." He kissed the top of her head.

She tilted her head slightly to see him... and gave a calm smile, snuggling closer to him.

Within minutes she drifted off to sleep, the cosy haven of his arms giving her comfort and warmth.

Sameer lifted her hand to plant a kiss on it, tightening his hold around her... and closed his eyes, the smile still on his lips.

A sudden brake by the driver woke them up after what seemed like two minutes... but a look outside made them realise they were about to reach... they had been sleeping for more than an hour.

The view was breathtaking. Tall pine and eucalyptus trees stood like soldiers in attention. Dark hills were visible all around, giving the place a mysterious aura. Naina could see the blue shade rendering a deep look to the hills, earning the name of Nilgiri Hills.

The valley on one side of the road and thick forest on the other side reminded her of the drive to Lonavala... only, this was much more dense.

The cool air from the window made her shiver. Sameer wrapped his other arm around her too.

"Yahan toh Lonavala se bhi thanda hai." She observed.

"Yeh Lonavala se bohot zyada unchai pe hai, isliye." Sameer explained.

After a few more turns on the curvy roads, suddenly they could see the signs of town. Small houses and shops started to appear, which soon turned into clusters of houses.

The driver took them to the hotel Sameer had told him. It was a single story building, but spread over a vast area. Garden was filled with flowers of all colours. White benches were placed every few metres... some were occupied by the hotel guests.

A helper carried their luggage inside the hotel. At the reception, Sameer made Naina sit while he completed the formalities.

He waved at her once he had the keys. She stood up and took a step towards him... and stumbled on the edge of carpet that was loose.

"Sambhal ke, ma'am." She was saved from a fall...

Sameer was by her side next moment, holding her, "Naina, theek ho na? Lagi toh nahi?"

"Main... main... theek hun." She replied, shaky from the experience.

Looking around, she saw the person who saved her.

"Thank you." She said politely.

"It's ok, ma'am... aap theek hain na?" He smiled.

Naina nodded.

Seething, Sameer looked at the man who had held Naina in his arms. He appeared a few years older, lean and tall, with a heavy stubble... wearing a smart jacket over his T-shirt, he had a pair of sunglasses hanging from the neck of his T-shirt. He acknowledged Sameer with a slight bow... and turned to walk out... where he was headed when he happened to be right in front of Naina, to save her.

"Sir, aap chaliye... samaan abhi bhijwa deta hun." The manager came to them.

"Aur yeh carpet bhi theek karwaiye... koi bhi gir sakta hai." Sameer said in a stern voice.

"Sorry sir, woh aaj subah hi ek guest ke luggage se ukhad gaya... abhi theek karwa deta hun." Manager apologised.

Sameer walked to the room holding Naina close.

She squealed in surprise as they entered. It was a beautiful room, with a huge window, covered with flowing curtains, thick ones drawn aside... two cushioned chairs and a table occupied one side of the room... a stylish dresser with a full mirror was on the opposite side... a large bed against one wall had pristine white silk sheets... the room had two vases, filled with rose blooms.

"Itna sundar hai yeh room, Sameer... aur yeh phool... yeh kaise... tumne karwaya kya?" She looked back at him with wide eyes.

Sameer was still reeling from the effect of seeing someone's arms around his wife.

"Sameer... kahan khoye ho?" She shook him, breaking his thoughts.

"Kuch nahi... kya... kya keh rahi thi tum?" He shoved his hands in pockets, scrunching his shoulders.

"Yeh phool tumne lagane ko kaha?" She was again lost in the beauty of the room.

"Main kyon kahunga? Unhone khud hi lagaye honge." He answered without any enthusiasm.

Naina turned back, her smile fading, "Tumhe kya hua? Tabiyat toh theek hai na tumhari?"

"Hmm." He was about to walk ahead when the bell rang.

Sameer opened the door to see the helper with their luggage. He placed both suitcases in the room... greeted them... and stood with his hands locked in front of him. Sameer fished out some money from his pocket and handed to the boy. He beamed to see a hundred rupee note.

"Thank you, sir. Mera naam Mohan hai... aapko koi bhi kaam ho, reception pe phone karke mujhe bula lena." He said with a quick bow... and left.

Sameer turned... Naina was standing near the window. She had shifted the curtain a bit to admire the view outside.

He sat down on the chair, same scene playing in his mind.

A few minutes later, Naina turned... and was surprised to see him sitting quietly. She had expected him to come straight to her the moment they were alone.

"Kya baat hai, Sameer? Tum pareshan ho kya?" She went near him.

"Nahi." He didn't look up.

She sat down on the arm of the chair, placing one hand on his shoulder.

"Mujhse jhooth nahi bol sakte... tumhare maathe ki har lakeer pehchanti hun main... batao, kya baat hai." She ran her fingers through his hair.

Her touch soothed him instantly, easing the tension. Probably he was thinking too much about a small accident. It was an involuntary reaction by the man... he could not have stepped back seeing someone falling in front of him. After all, he was just passing by. But still, a corner of his heart pained to think about his hands on Naina's arms, when he held her.

"Dimaag sahi rakh, Sameer... ek chote se accident ke peeche apna honeymoon kharab karega kya? Yahan sab kuch itna khoobsurat hai... aur inn sabse khoobsurat teri Naina... yahan ke mahaul mein aisi faltu ki baaton mein nahi apni biwi mein dil laga." His mindvoice reprimanded him.

Not getting any reaction from him, Naina looped her arm around his shoulder, touching her head to his.

"Hamesha itne romantic rehte ho... aur yahan aate hi aise rookhe se ho gaye... tumne toh kaha tha dus saal baad tumhara pyar khatam hoga... yeh toh dus ghante se pehle hi ho gaya." She said in a sad voice.

His eyes cleared up... getting back the mischievous glint. With one swift move, he picked her up and shifted her in his lap, enjoying the shocked look in her eyes.

"Dus ghante? Madam, yahan tumhe pata chalega mera pyar dus ghante, dus din, dus saal, dus janam... aur usse bhi aage tak chalne wala hai... itne saalon se jo khud ko rok ke rakha tha, uska hisaab tumse lete lete hi nikal jayenge dus saal." He held her face close to his, peering into her eyes.

Naina felt a relief wash over her, seeing him back in his usual form... the sudden change in his demeanor had made her uneasy, thinking that she had done something to annoy him.

"Waise itna kuch rok ke toh nahi rakha tha tumne khud ko... itne saalon mein kaafi aage badh gaye the." She matched his mischief.

"Lekin jitna aage aana chahta tha, utna nahi... ab batata hun tumhe kitna roka tha maine." His hand trailed up her back.

Her eyes drifted to his lips, thinking he would bring her closer for a kiss. A gasp escaped her with the sound of her zipper sliding down.

"Sameer... yeh..." She stiffened as his hand wandered on the exposed skin of her back.

"Shh... sirf itna nahi... isse aage... batane do mujhe." He said huskily.

His hand bunched her dress down on one side, exposing one shoulder.

She hitched up the shoulder, inhaling sharply.

He placed his face on her bare skin, her warm feminine fragrance filling his senses. The blue mark he gave her the previous day was stark against her white skin. He kissed over the mark.

"Dard ho raha hai isme?" He asked, blowing over it.

"Thoda sa." She whispered.

"Aise nishaan aur bhi dene hain." His hand started to move down from her shoulder, over her dress.

Her breath started to come in gasps as his hand rested over the softness of her curves.

"Naina, ek baat puchun?" His rough voice was effecting her as much as his hand over her.

"Wahan... Mumbai mein... Rahul ke ghar... ek baar tumne... tumne... aise kaise... matlab itni himmat kaise... main... maine kuch kaha bhi nahi tha... fir bhi tum... agar main uss samay ruk nahi paata toh?" The question had been in his mind since then.

Her heart was already beating at a mad speed under his hand... and now, his question and the memory of that day made her nerves coil up.

"Bolo na, Naina... kaise uss din... kya tumhe darr nahi laga mujhse?" He looked deep into her eyes.

She gulped... that day, she herself had wondered how she got the courage to do what she did... but the guilt she had seen in his eyes was bigger for her than any inhibition... and she could do anything to rid him of that guilt.

"Woh main... uss din... tum... tum khud ko zimmedaar maan rahe the na... matlab tumhe khud pe gussa aa raha tha... pata nahi tum neend mein mere kareeb aaye ya main sote hue tumhe khud ke paas le aayi... par jo hua usmein tumhari koi galti nahi thi... fir bhi tumhe lag raha tha tumne koi rekha paar ki hai... aur main tumhare andar se yeh ahsaas nikalna chahti thi... ki hamare beech koi rekha hai... hum apni marzi se jo faisla nibha rahe the, uske liye khud ko sazaa dete hue nahi dekh sakti thi tumhe... bas batana chahti thi ki mere liye tumhara koi ahsaas, koi choona galat nahi hai... pati tab bhi the tum... haq tab bhi tha... uss haq ko na jataane ka faisla bhi tumhara tha... aur main bhi chahti thi tumhara sapna poora ho... lekin uske liye tum mere kareeb aane ka dosh do khud ko, yeh nahi dekh sakti thi... Sameer, tumse darr nahi lagta mujhe, kabhi nahi laga... balki tumne toh mere saare darr mita diye... uss din bhi main jaanti thi ki tum rok sakte ho khud ko... hum kitne bhi kareeb ho jaayein, tum kabhi apna sapna tootne nahi doge... par tumhare chehre ki parehsani bhi nahi dekh sakti thi...
isliye bataya ki main tumhari hun, poore haq se tum mere kareeb aa sakte ho... tum galat nahi ho."

Sameer watched her in fascination as she unraveled the reason for her action that day... she had stepped out of her comfort level, this much he knew... but he was not aware that she had assessed his feelings so correctly. She herself had placed his hand on her heart in sleep... but he had not attempted to remove it. The accidental touch that day had jolted him... and shaken his conscience. He felt he was betraying her trust in him... taking advantage...

And then, she had come to him... to clear his compunction... by doing something that he could never imagine. His mind was completely boggled that day... but he could never bring up himself to ask her about it. Now was different though... she belonged to him completely, and he could ask anything.

So he did... her truthful reply filled up his heart with the warmth of her love yet again.

"Aur ab kitna haq hai?" He touched his lips to her collar bone.

She arched back, feeling his lips trail down.