Happy Chocolate Day to all my readers... and thanks to all those who left chocolates for me in their comments... here's one for you too 🍫

The food was served shortly after take off. Once people were done with their lunch, there was a general feeling of lethargy as most of them dozed off.

Sameer tapped Naina on the shoulder. She turned her attention from the thick, white clouds that were now like a carpet, gathered lower than the height they were flying.

"Meetha?" He quirked up his brow.

"Sameer tum... " She showed her indignation... but stopped, as he fished out one handmade bar of chocolate that they had purchased in Ooty.

"Yeh meetha?" She pointed a finger at it, surprised.

"Jo meetha tumhe chahiye woh bhi mil jayega, jaan... abhi issi se kaam chala lo." He winked, seeing her face go red again.

He peeled off the wrapper, holding the bar close to her mouth. She bit a piece, then held it, taking it to him. He took a bite, relishing it while looking at her. Closing his hand over hers, he again took the bar to her, not moving his hand away even after she bit once.

"Achhe se khao na... tumhare liye special khareedi thi maine." He insisted on giving more when she tried to move her head away.

"Aisa kya special hai ismein?" She found it to be the same plain chocolate that they had tasted before buying.

"Abhi pata chalega." He gave a mysterious smirk.

She stalled, suspicion looming in her eyes, "Sameer, kahin yeh waisi wali toh nahi hai... jo tumne new year pe khayi thi, Rahul ke ghar?"

He let out an exhale in resignation, "Meri buddhu biwi, plane mein aisi chocolate kyon khilaunga tumhe? Aisa kaam tab karunga na jab hum dono akele hon... mauke ka faayda toh tabhi utha sakta hun... haina?"

She agreed to that... he would not do any such thing in public.

He offered more, she took another bite, urging him to eat as well, though he just nibbled, making her finish it.

She could feel the stickiness on her lips, sure that his enthusiasm had resulted in a few smudges on her face. Taking a tissue from her bag, she raised it to her mouth.

"Yeh kya kar rahi ho?" He held her wrist.

"Saaf kar rahi hun... shayad yahan chocolate lag gayi hai." She pointed at the corner of her lips.

He took the tissue from her hand, pocketing it. She gave a puzzled look, wondering what he was upto.

Leaving her hand, he picked up the jacket... and pulled it over their heads, claiming her mouth before she could react.

Her shocked gasp gave him the chance to dart in... knocking the air from her lungs with his deep, intense kiss.

She clutched onto his shoulder initially, then, started melting to his assault. Her hands slipped around his waist, head tilted to accommodate him, shoulders arched back...

Sameer had waited till he saw the elderly man on the adjacent seat across the aisle doze off. They were not directly visible to most of the people. Even the couple in the front seat of the elderly man seemed to be asleep. When he felt that the rounds of air hostess would reduce to only answering the calls by someone in need, he had taken out the chocolate from his pocket, craving for her for quite some time now. It was the longest he had gone without kissing her in the last one week... and he was not ready to hold on any more.

When he lifted his head, there was no sign of chocolate on her mouth.

"Achhi hai... par... " He whispered, still under the jacket.

"Huh? Kaun achhi hai?" She asked.

"Chocolate... par tumse zyada meethi nahi hai." He bent to kiss the corner of her lip.

"Hato." She peeled the jacket away, her hair spreading on the face as the denim dragged them along.

He again held her hand, that was moving up to smooth away the errant locks.

She jerked her head a few times, trying to get rid of the strands. Just a few shifted from their position. She pushed her lower lip a little ahead, and blew air upwards. He watched patiently, letting her do what she wanted.

"Sameer, chodo na haath... mujhe inn baalon ko hatana hai... gudgudi ho rahi hai chehre pe." She gave up finally, pleading to him.

"Achha, main abhi hata deta hun." He leaned, blowing air on her face, first on one side, then the other.

The hair strands flew away from her face.

"Ab toh nahi ho rahi... gudgudi?" He wrapped one tendril around his finger, stretching it against her cheek.

More than the hair, his breath had tickled her... rather, did a lot more. The fine hair on her face and neck stood up as his warm breath teased her. He could see the effect even now... the goosebumps on her neck, slight quivering of her lower lip, her eyes hidden behind thick lashes, the streak of colour on her cheeks...

He wished they were alone.

With a sigh, he brought her hand to his mouth, and placed a kiss on the back of it. She did not look up, but he could see the hint of curl on her lips.

"Naina, mujhse kab tak itna sharmaogi?" He felt his heart pick up pace, seeing her like this.

"Jab tak tum aisi harakatein karte rahoge." She stifled a smile.

He raised his brows, then smirked, "Fir toh sharmati hi rehna... kyonki main toh bohot kuch karne wala hun... saari zindagi."

"Tum... tum kitne besharm ho." She leaned ahead, hiding her face in his chest.

"Madam, sharm karne ke din chale gaye... ab main jo chahun kar sakta hun... haq se... aur tum mujhe rok nahi sakti." He whispered.

"Waise main bhi tumhe nahi rokunga... tumhara bhi poora haq hai... jo chahe kar sakti ho... theek hai?" His voice turned heavy as he leaned closer to her ear.

"Theek hai... aur main chahti hun ki tum peeche hoke apni seat pe baitho aur mujhe apni pe baithne do." She straightened up, trying not to show the havoc he was creating within her system.

He pulled her arm as she created distance between them, "Uh huh... sirf paas aane ka haq hai... jitna kareeb aana chaho utna... door jaane ka nahi."

She let him link his arm with hers, leaning back in the seat, knowing he wouldn't let her move an inch away from him... nor did she want to.

As the plane started to descend near the city, she was excited to see the familiar structures, tugging at his arm to look out of the window. He had travelled to Ahmedabad several times by air, had seen everything, finding the view almost similar in any city... but today, peering out of the window gave him a chance to put his chin on her shoulder, lean on her back, wrap his arm around her... and how could he miss such a chance.

"Wow Naina, maine pehle kabhi dhyan hi nahi diya, yahan se dekho woh library ka clock tower bhi dikh raha hai... aur dekho woh safed jhande wala museum bhi." He made proper use of the opportunity.

"Kahan? Mujhe toh nahi dikh raha museum... bas clock tower dikh raha hai." She craned her neck, not able to locate the white flag.

"Ruko, main dikhata hun." He held her in the circle of his arms, raising one hand to her cheek, bringing her face close enough to rub their cheeks.

"Sameer, museum yahan se nahi dikh sakta... woh sheher ke doosri taraf hai." She said in a quiet voice, watching him through the corner of her eye.

"Oh." He realised his trick was caught.

Sameer Maheshwari was not the one to let go so easy, though.

He quickly pecked her lips, "Museum hoga doosri taraf... hum dono toh ek taraf hain na."

She stiffened, pushing him away as the announcement for seatbelt boomed on the system.

"Apni belt lagao aur seedhe baitho." She said in a stern voice.

Brooding, he sat back in his seat, fastening the belt around himself, watching her click hers in place as the plane landed.

After collecting the luggage, they took a cab. The familiar roads, same old markets, often seen buildings and parks... everything filled her up with the contented feeling of coming back home.

The palatial white bungalow greeted them, as if waiting for them. The sound of cab brought Ramdhari rushing out to meet them.

"Namaste Sameer bhaiya, namaste bhabhi." He greeted them with a wide smile.

"Ramdhari, samaan nikal le taxi se." Sameer instructed.

Naina gave him a warm smile as they entered the house, "Namaste Ramdhari bhaiya, kaise hain aap?"

"Main theek hun, bhabhi. Aap logon ke liye khana taiyar kar diya hai... aap jab khana chahe main laga dunga... abhi chai bana dun?" He beamed at her.

"Haan, bana dijiye. Hum zara haath muh dho ke aate hain. Khana abhi nahi." She told him.

He nodded, rushing back to the kitchen.

Sameer was coming out of the washroom when she entered the room. He threw the towel and pulled her in his arms.

"Sameer, zara fresh toh hone do... apna hi ghar hai." She giggled as he rubbed his nose against hers.

"Apna ghar, apni biwi... toh apni marzi." He winked.

"Tumhara kuch nahi ho sakta... neeche chalo, chai ban gayi hai... main bas abhi aayi... khana ek ghante baad kha lenge." She squirmed to move out of his grasp, tying her hair in a loose bun.

He let her go... happy with the prospect of one hour after tea... lot of time to have his way with her.

They had tea in the living room. Ramdhari filled them up with the happenings of the week, which were not all that important. When Sameer asked about Munna Pandit, he said they visited every alternate day to ask if everything was okay.

As if they were waiting to hear their name, Munna Pandit barged in at the exact moment.

They jumped on Sameer, all three of them falling back on the sofa.

"Arre yaar, hum iss baar bhi pehle se aane wale the, lekin iss Pandat ne kaha ki ab tu akela thodi aayega jo tujhe ghar mein khalipan lagega... ab toh bhabhi saath hai... bas isiliye pehle se nahi aaye... waise tune bhi intezar kiya hoga na... main keh raha tha iss Pandat se, hamara bhai sabse pehle humein hi puchega... aur tu wohi kar raha tha, suna humne." Munna excitedly went on, forgetting that Naina was sitting right there.

Sameer felt a sense of guilt... each time he had arrived home, they had greeted him... and today, he did not feel their absence even for a moment.

"Maine isiliye poocha Ramdhari se... mujhe laga shayad tum log kahin bahar gaye hoge... isliye nahi aaye." He tried to cover up his folly.

"Arre bhai, bahar gaye bhi hote toh tere liye sab chod chaad ke wapas aa jaate... par Preeti ne kaha... " Pandit stopped abruptly, biting his tongue.

Naina looked up at him, her eyes lighting up, "Kya kaha Preeti ne? Pandit, tum mile the usse?"

Pandit lowered his eyes shyly as Munna smacked his back.

"Arre bhabhi, ab toh isse ek din bhi nahi raha jaata Preeti se mile bina... jitni khatara iski gaadi start hone mein thi na, utni hi ab superfast ho gayi hai... agar aap log ek hafte baad aate toh kya pata seedhe inke mandap mein hi pohochate." Munna teased a blushing Pandit.

"Kyaa? Shaadi pakki ho gayi?" Sameer stood up, bewildered.

Pandit gave a look of fake annoyance to Munna, then looked back at Sameer, "Abe tu bhi kiski baat pe yakeen kar raha hai... aisa kuch nahi hai... main bas ek do baar mila hun Preeti se."

Munna raised one brow at him.

"Achha teen chaar baar mila hounga, bas." Pandit held up his hands at him.

Munna placed his hands on hips, tilting his head.

"Achha yaar, roz milta hun... toh kya ho gaya... ab usse nahi milunga toh kya uski taiji se milunga." He blurted out in frustration.

Sameer and Naina gaped at him... a lot had changed in one week.