Rahul was sitting at the small lobby that served as a reception.

Seeing Sameer and Naina, he got up, excited to share with them the information that he had gathered.

"Yahan kitna kuch hai dekhne ko, Sameer... maine socha nahi tha iss choti so jagah mein itna kuch hoga... itni jagah toh Mumbai mein bhi nahi hain... lake, waterfall, fort, parks aur bhi bohot kuch... bada mazaa aayega." He rubbed his hands, eyes shining like a child.

"Sabki list bana le... koi jagah reh na jaaye... poora din aur poori raat bhi ghoomna pade toh bhi saari jagah dekha ke hi jayenge." Sameer said sarcastically.

Naina pressed her lips to control her chuckle... but the sarcasm was lost on Rahul. He looked strangely at Sameer.

"Itna kya ghoomne ka shauk aaya hai tujhe? Raat ko thodi kuch khula hoga... bas din mein hi dekh sakte hain." He placed one hand on Sameer's shoulder.

Naina moved away... so that the sound of her laugh doesn't reach the boys.

Sameer gave an agitated look to him, "Yaar Rahul, tujhe lagta hai mujhe ghumne ki padi haihai?"

Rahul narrowed his eyes in confusion... then his mouth rounded as he realised what Sameer meant.

Naina saw Sonali sitting in the garden outside. She went out to join her.

"Yahan akeli kyon baithi hai?" She asked, settling in the comfortable cane chair.

Sonali gave a bright smile, "Naina, yahan mausam itna achha hai ki lagta hai yahin reh jaun... Rahul andar ghoomne ke liye taxi book kara raha tha toh maine kaha main andar nahi baith sakti... isliye yahan aa gayi... yahan ka garden hi itna sundar hai ki saara din baithe raho."

Naina looked around. The lush garden was lined with white pickets, small patches of flowering plants were grown all over, outlined with white painted bricks. Cane chairs were placed around marble tables with huge umbrellas over each table. Low lamps lined the pathway. She was sure the lamps would be giving a festive look to the place in the evening.

"Chalo Sonali, Naina, taxi aa gayi." Rahul called out to them.

Since the driver was there, three people had to sit behind. Sameer was more than happy when Sonali sat next to Naina, making her shift close to Sameer. He leaned more on her, taking advantage of the situation. She could very well make out what he was trying to do but sat with a straight face. Sameer pressed his leg against her, hoping to get some reaction.

"Sameer, woh dekho, aadha pahad baadlon se dhak gaya hai, kitna sundar lag raha hai." Forgetting all about teasing him, she excitedly pointed outside, placing one hand on his thigh, her face almost touching his, shoulder resting on his chest.

"Kahan?" He leaned to join his cheek with hers, putting his hand over hers on his leg.

She stiffened, realising their proximity when their friends and the driver were around.

He did not let her move her hand, nor did he let her shift back, wrapping his arm around her other arm.

"Sameer, kya kar rahe ho... sab hain yahan pe." She hissed in a low voice.

"Ab tum akele mere saath rehne ko taiyar nahi thi toh sabke saamne hi sahi." He whispered, lips brushing against her ear.

Naina could feel the tiny hair rise on her neck as his warm breath teased the sensitive skin. She swallowed the gasp when his fingers rubbed the side of her waist over the long dress she was wearing.

A sudden brake by the driver made him quickly move away from her.

"Lijiye sir, aa gaya aapka lake... ab aap aaram se boating kijiye, uske baad hum log doosri jagah chalenge." The driver pointed at the narrow lane in front that led them to the lake.

They walked up to the lake, astounded by the size of it. It was an artificial lake, surrounded by lush greenery, with boating facilities. There were some people enjoying a picnic lunch, quite a few were boating.

Rahul and Sameer bought tickets for boat ride. They had to wear life jackets for safety. Sameer stepped in the boat, giving hand to Naina to get  on it. He had selected a pedal boat so that they don't have to take along someone to row it. Pedalling away from the shore, he looked at her excited expression.

"Sameer, mujhe lake bohot achhe lagte hain... balki paani wali sab jagah achhi lagti hain... nadiyan, samundar, yeh lake, jharne... sab kuch." She said enthusiastically, looking all around.

"Pata hai mujhe... paani dekhke tum sab kuch bhool jaati ho." He continued to look at her.

She turned to smile at him, "Sab kuch... bas ek ke alava."

"Aur woh kya hai?" He tugged at her wrist, pulling her closer.

"Woh hai... umm... meri books... aur kya." She grinned.

His nostrils flared as he left her hand, sitting back in his seat.

"Kaise bachche jaise ho tum... har mazak pe rooth jaate ho." She placed her hand on his cheek, turning him to face her.

"Mujhe baat hi nahi karni tumse." He brought out his sunglasses from the pocket and covered his eyes, looking the other side again.

"Achha... par mujhe toh karni hai... aur shayad kuch aur bhi..." She left her sentence incomplete, waiting for his reaction.

His face half turned towards her... waiting for her to say more.

"Aur woh hai..." She placed a kiss on his cheek.

His heart jumped... kissing him in public was something he never thought Naina could do. His pulse became rapid, but he did not move.

When he did not react, Naina was surprised. She looked around. Finding other boats to be at a little distance, she leaned and bit his ear lobe.

Sameer gasped... her dare had left him speechless. How did she gather such courage...

"Abhi bhi roothe ho?" She was a little lost as she couldn't see his eyes.

He was about to turn to her when she perched up from her seat and brushed her lips against his.

His arm went around her waist immediately, to balance her.

"Naina... tum... tumhe kya ho gaya?" He was stunned.

"Mujhe kya hoga? Bas apne pati ko honeymoon ki practice kara rahi thi." She pulled down his sunglasses over his nose with one finger.

His eyes clearly reflected the shock she had given him.

"Tum kya karti ho, Naina... ek minute ke liye bhi roothne nahi deti... upar se pagal bana deti ho." He groaned.

"Pagal toh pehle se hi ho tum." She rested her head on his shoulder.

"Haan, tumhare pyar mein." He hooked a finger under her chin to make her look up at him.

"Aur main tumse badi pagal hun... jabse tumhe pehli baar dekha tha tabse." She gave him a soft smile.

He wanted to kiss the mouth that just confessed that she fell in love with him at first sight. Promising himself that it would be the first thing he would do once they reach back to their resort, he contended himself with grazing his thumb over her lower lip.

Hearing the sound of other people as some boats ventured in their direction, Naina sat back in her seat. They took one round of the lake, watching the forts that were visible from different sides of the lake.

Their next stop was a hilltop which was called Duke's nose because of its shape.

"Yeh kitna darawana raasta hai... iss pahadi pe kyon chadte hain log?" Sonali exclaimed, seeing the dangerous tracks going up the steep hill.

"Jisse trekking karni hoti hai woh chadte hain... socho, upar se sab kuch kitna sundar lagta hoga." Rahul looked up at the highest point.

"Main toh yahin se dekh ke khush hun... jab aap khud uss sundar jagah pe khade ho toh usse itni door se jaake kyon dekhna." Naina looked around,admiring the beauty of the place.

"Haan Naina, baat toh tumhari theek hai." Rahul scratched his chin.

Next, they visited a waterfall. Though it wasn't in its full flow since monsoon was yet to begin, it did give a glimpse of what it would turn into during heavy rains.

A light lunch later, they went to the other town of Khandala which was just a few kilometers away. It was similar to Lonavala in beauty... lush green, with lakes and waterfalls, and some popular caves. They went to one of the caves, deciding to go back after that as it would soon start getting dark.

It had turned cooler when they reached their resort.

"Dekha, maine kaha tha na thand ho jaayegi... ab kya karenge?" Sameer said as he stepped out of the car.

"Main laayi hun garam kapde. Naina, mujhe pata tha tere paas nahi hai isliye maine tumhare liye bhi rakhe hain... aaja main deti hun." Sonali held Naina's hand, taking her along to their room.

Sameer waited with Rahul in the TV lounge for sometime.

Naina had wrapped the shawl around herself when Sameer reached his room.

"Itni der laga di tumne... kya kar rahe the?" She asked the moment he shut the door.

He turned, pulled her, turning her against the wall next to the door and captured her mouth in the much awaited kiss.

She froze for a moment, but melted against him the next, opening her mouth to let him get what he wanted. His hands moved from her waist to her shoulders, going down her arms, coming back to the waist... she felt him fumbling with the metallic brooch of her belt. Her hands went down to her belly and she removed her belt. His body pressed into her the moment it was gone, tongue going deeper to get the taste of all corners. Her hands went back to his neck, fingers going up in the hair. His kiss deepened, making her whimper in his mouth... a shudder ran through her as the hollowness in her belly made her impatient, kissing him back with equal fervour.

When he eventually lifted his head, they both were on the last stretch of the available air, breathing hard to get back their lungs to function again.

He cupped her face, "Kitna khelogi mujhse... ab bardaasht nahi hota."

Her eyes showed a cloud of doubt about what he was saying.

"Aaj subah Mumbai mein jab tumne poocha tha ki main kya soch raha hun, tab main yahan ke baare mein soch ke khush ho raha tha... ki yeh hamare liye honeymoon jaisa hoga... mujhe nahi pata tha yeh itna mushkil hoga, Naina... itna sabr nahi hai mujhmein." He rested his forehead on her shoulder.

Her condition was not much different from him... the need to remain in the warmth of his arms, the want to feel his breath over her, the desire to feel his weight crush her, the passion to surrender to anything he wanted... it all made her burn...

When he came out of the washroom after freshening up, she was standing near the door that opened to the terrace, her shawl clutched tighter to protect from the cold air filling up the room.

He went and stood next to her, hands in pocket.

"Tumhe jacket chahiye toh le lo... Sonali ne diya hai." She pointed at the jacket kept on the couch.

He turned towards her, pulling her close. Removing her shawl, he took it around his shoulders, covering her with the same as he brought her in his embrace.

"Nahi chahiye... tumhe lagta hai muhje thand lag rahi hai." He murmured against her ear.

"Tumne hi kaha tha." She reminded him.

"Nainital mein lagti thi... mujhe nahi pata tha tumhare saath hone se yahan paseene choot jayenge." His eyes had gone dark.

No update today evening and tomorrow evening... tomorrow morning I'll post the next part.

Please accept my apologies as I have a very important family event today and cousins staying over tomorrow whole day.