Naina reached the room, turned and tried to close the door. Sameer was already on the threshold. He pushed himself in, and closed the door... sniggering at her.

"Mujhe bahar band karne ka iraada tha tumhara?" He quirked up a brow.

"Maine dekha nahi tumhe... main toh bas darwaza band kar rahi thi." She shrugged, indifferently.

Sameer was taken aback for a moment. She moved to the dresser, taking the earrings off.

He was behind her in a flash, "Par main toh tumhe hi dekh raha hun... kabse."

She felt the stirring in her veins, but said with a straight face, "Ab dekh liye na? Ab so jao... thak gaye ho tum... lamba safar tha."

"Thak gaya hun? Aisa kisne kaha?" He looked at her reflection, not touching her.

"Tumne... Ramdhari bhaiya ko kaha tha na... isliye mujhe laga tumhe aaram karna chahiye." She removed her watch, placing it on the table.

He gave a sly smile, "Madam, ab jaake mauka mila hai... itni der baad... aur isse chod ke aaram karun... aaram toh ab sirf tumhare paas hi milta hai."

He raised his hand, tugging at her loose bun. The knot gave way easily... silky waves spilling on her back. He inhaled deeply, intoxicated by her fragrance combined with the scent of her shampoo.

"Hato Sameer, mujhe nahane jaana hai. Ooty ke baad yahan bohot garmi lag rahi hai... paseene aa gaye hain... naha ke hi fresh lagega." She removed the pearl bracelet she was wearing with her dress.

"Haan, garmi toh hai yahan... mujhe bhi paseene aa gaye." He stepped back.

Naina was surprised to see him accept what she said this easily. She kept the jewelry in a small box and turned... only to see that he had already taken his shirt off.

"Pehle tumhe jaana hai? Theek hai, tum naha lo, main tab tak suitcase khaali kar deti hun." She started to roll her hair back into a bun.

He held her wrist, making the hair fall loose again. She gave him a questioning look.

"Chalo." His voice was almost inaudible as he flicked his head towards the bathroom.

Her heart flipped... throat went dry...

"Sam... Sameer... tum... tum naha lo." She stuttered.

He pulled her, making her crash against his chest, looking deeply into her eyes, "Ab kya darr hai tumhe? Ab toh ghar pe bhi koi nahi hai... fir kis baat se ghabra rahi ho?"

She could not look at him in the eyes, his indication making her go weak in the knees...

He touched her cheek with his fingertips... the slight frown on her forehead was enough for him to understand her hesitation.

He leaned, kissing her forehead, "Mazaak kar raha hun... abhi naha ke aata hun."

Hearing his gentle voice, she let out the breath she was holding, relieved.

He reached the door of the washroom, and turned to look back at her. She immediately lowered her eyes. Smiling, he went in.

She caught hold of the chair next to her, reeling from the effect of his demand. She knew he wasn't joking. She was sure.

Sameer came out a little later to find the room empty. He checked the door. It was still bolted. That meant she had not gone out. He glanced at the balcony. The door was partially open. He's wondered what she was doing outside at this time of the night.

"Naina?" He reached the balcony.

She stood at the parapet, looking up at the starry sky.

"Tum yahan kya kar rahi ho?" He went to stand beside her.

"Sameer, yeh wohi taare honge na joh uss raat dekhe the... aisa lagta hai hum wahan ki khoobsurati ka ek hissa yahan le aaye." She mused.

He glanced up at the sky. Along with stars, there was a sliver of moon also visible.

"Yahan toh chaand bhi hai." He stated.

"Har baar meri tareef karna zaroori nahi hai." She said without looking at him.

He pointed at the three day old moon. She turned to him, holding her ear.

The sight of him like this could never stop sending her heart in a tizzy, every single day. Wearing a white towel around his waist, he was without a shirt... water droplets glistening on his bare body even in the dark.

With a smile, he pulled her hand down, "Mera chaand hamesha tum hi rahogi... sabse khoobsurat chaand."

She suppressed a smile, keeping her other hand over his fingers on her wrist, "Ab andar chalo... aise bahar kyon aaye? Koi dekhega toh?"

"Tum nahi thi kamre mein isliye... tumse door kaise rehta?" He slid one arm around her waist, pulling her closer. bringing up the hand he was holding, to his chest.

She placed her other hand on his chest as well, right over his heart. The beat was faster.

"Pata hai, jab mujhe raaton ko neend nahi aati thi aur tumhari bohot yaad aati thi toh main yahin se chaand ko dekhta tha... mujhe usmein tumhara chehra nazar aata tha... aur main ussi se baatein kar leta tha." He recalled the nights during vacations of previous two years.

"Par hum toh roz phone pe baatein karte the." She reminded him.

"Poori raat toh nahi karte the na... mujhe tumhari yaad har pal aati thi." His voice turned low.

"Ab nahi aayegi... kyonki ab main har pal saath hun." She promised.

The beat under her hand got more rapid as his eyes slowly moved over each feature of her face, "Har pal... aur uss chaand se zyada kareeb."

His head came down towards her face.

"Uh Sameer, pehle main bhi naha lun?" She was conscious of her sweaty self.

"Pehle kuch dekar toh jao... jisse tumhare aane tak intezar kar sakun." His voice had the tone she knew so well.

She placed a quick peck on his jaw which was now a little dark again, after he had shaved off the stubble today morning.

"Itna kaafi hai... itne se intezar ke liye." She winked, wriggling out of his hold.

The effect of her wink made him a little lax, and she managed to slip out, running away, grinning as she waved before disappearing behind the flowing curtain.

He stood looking after her for a few minutes. Then, turned to stare back at the moon.

"Kaise bataun apne iss chaand ko ki ab toh mujhe saans lene ke liye bhi usse choona zaroori hai... iss dil ko dhadakne ke liye uski dhadkan mehsoos karna zaroori hai... inn aankhon ko uski aakhon mein doobna zaroori hai... hosh mein rehne ke liye usse baahon mein lena zaroori hai... zinda rehne ke liye uspe mar jaana zaroori hai... "

The moon appeared to be smiling at him, agreeing.

Sighing, he went in. Slipping into his track bottoms, he threw the towel on the couch, not bothering to wear a t-shirt. Naina loved to sleep on his bare chest, and he loved to see her hair spilled on himself as he held her close.

He leaned back on the bed, waiting for her.

She came out after bath, wearing a night suit that she had bought along with chachiji and Preeti. She had insisted on buying comfortable lower and shirt sets, earning a frown from chachiji.

"Beta, kuch aur design bhi dekh le... kuch nayi tarah ke." She had hesitantly told her.

"Chachiji, yeh kitne achhe hain, dekhiye toh... mujhe yehi pasand hain." She was adamant.

"Ab kaise samjhaun isse, thoda toh khyal kare apne hone wale pati ke armanon ka." Chachiji had murmured.

But she had heard it... and had smiled to herself.

"Chinta mat kijiye, chachiji... apne pati ki pasand ka bohot kuch maine pehle se hi leke rakha hai." Her words had remained in her thoughts.

Now, dressed in the yellow two piece set, with a pattern of white lace in front, her eyes searched for him. Not finding him in the room, she peered out, but he wasn't in the balcony. Thinking that he probably had gone to the kitchen to get water, she went to the dresser, opened the knot on top of her head, and brushed out the tangles from her hair till they were smooth again. Satisfied, she walked up to the bed.. and a gasp escaped her lips.

Sameer was sleeping.

She was startled for a moment to see him sprawled in bed... in his lowers, as always, without a t-shirt. He had not even bothered to take the quilt, sleeping over it...

The shock giving way to a knowing smile. The tiredness of the day, long journey, little sleep in the last one week... he must have been exhausted. She didn't want to wake him up. He needed the rest. Not wanting to pull out the quilt from under him, she went to a corner cabinet, and pulled out an extra one. Coming back to the bed, she sat down next to him.

He looked so perfect... the ruffled hair added to his charm... his forehead had a little frown, making her realise that he must have dozed off waiting for her... his eyes were shut, but she could feel the restlessness in them... slight parted lips made her want to feel them on herself... edge of the pillow was nestled between his cheek and neck, and she wanted her face to be in the place of that pillow, feeling his breath on her, his rough cheek rubbing on her skin...

The thoughts made her spine tingle, making her breath erratic.

As her eyes drifted down, his toned body increased her pulse rate even more... the way his chest moved in rhythm with the heart made her own heart flutter... broad shoulders invited her to lean on them... his strong arms, sinewy forearms made her itch for their feel around her... his one arm was spread on one side, as if inviting her to come and claim her place.

Not able to resist any more, she snuggled against him, resting her head on his shoulder. As if he was waiting for the moment, his arm looped around her, pulling her more over him.

"Mujhe laga aaj bas ghoorti hi rahogi." His low voice astonished her.

"Tum so nahi rahe the?" She raised her head, giving a perplexed look.

His mischievous grin and glimmering eyes cleared her doubt even before he spoke, "Main dekhna chahta tha tum kya karti ho... kya tumhe bhi itna hi asar hota hai jitna mujhpe hota hai... tumhe dekh kar."

She rested her fist on his chest, placing her chin on it to look at him.

"Yeh mat bhoolo mister ki mujhpe yeh asar pehli nazar mein ho gaya tha... main tumse aage hun... ismein bhi top kiya hai." She flicked up her brow.

"Jaanta hun... bas dekhna tha abhi kitna asar baaki hai." He said softly, forever enamoured by the  fact that she fell for him in the first meeting.

"Toh kya dekha tumne? Tumhari aankhen toh band thi." She brought him back to present.

He smiled, his eyes shining, "Tumhe dekhne ke liye aankhon ki zaroorat nahi hai mujhe... hawa mein tumhari mehek bata deti hai tum kitne kareeb ho mere... tumhari saanson ko mehsoos kar sakta hun aur pata chal jaata hai ki tumpe kya asar hua hai... tumhari dhadkan mere seene pe jaise dhadak rahi hai usse pata chal gaya mujhe ki kya chal raha hai tumhare dil mein."

She lowered her eyes... he was indeed right... she was deeply affected.

He rolled over, pinning her under him, "Ab mujhe batane do mujhpe kya asar ho raha hai."

Her arms went around his neck as his lips crushed against hers hungrily. Their breaths mingled, easing out the taut nerves, as they drowned in the ecstasy of love and longing.

Later, he smoothed her hair away from the face, gazing into the pools that mesmerised him, "Naina, meri zindagi mein aake meri zindagi banne ke liye thank you... tumhare bina main kab ka andheron mein kho gaya hota."

"Khona toh ab bhi hai hum dono ko... lekin ek doosre mein... ek doosre ke liye." She gave him a contented look.

He saw the promise in her eyes, and wanted to promise her the same, "Aaj kuch kehna hai tumse

Fanaa hote honge aashiq mohabbat mein
humein toh tere sang ik umr bitani hai

Yeh na samajh lena ishq mera kisi se kam hai
apni mohabbat ki tujhe hadd dikhani hai

Next update tomorrow morning