Sameer had been tossing in bed for one hour now. He had even switched off the night lamp... thinking that complete darkness might bring on sleep at last. Nothing helped.

He sat up finally... it was no use.

He had studied for two hours after dinner. Around eleven thirty, he had decided to go back to bed. And now it was past midnight. He got up and flicked the light on.

"So nahi paa raha toh padh hi leta hun... ab bas ussi se neend aayegi." Muttering to himself, he left the bed.

He could have happily gone to Naina's room. But she had made him promise that he won't attempt any such thing tonight.

"Nahi Sameer, saath wale room ki Shalu bata rahi thi ki raat mein der tak padhte hain woh log... fir kabhi kabhi sab saath baithkar chai bhi peete hain... woh keh rahi thi aaj mujhe bhi bula lenge... aise mein koi mere kamre mein aaya aur tum wahan hue toh toofan aa jayega... humne teen saal nikal diye hain par apne upar koi ungli nahi uthne di... main nahi chahti aakhiri bees din mein bhi aisa kuch ho." She had explained.

"Naina, kuch nahi hoga... agar koi aayega toh pehle knock karega na... tab main wapas chala jaunga... tumpe koi ungli nahi utha payega." He argued.

"Main hum dono ki baat kar rahi hun... tumhe kya lagta hai mujhe tumhari fikr nahi hai... Sameer, tumhare hostel mein bhi toh bohot ladke jaag rahe honge... agar kisi ne dekh liya ya puch liya toh... tumpe koi aanch aaye yeh toh mujhse kabhi bardaasht nahi hoga." She was  determined.

His each plea was quashed with her logical reasoning. He had to promise in the end. Had it not been a promise, he would have been with her now. Naina was aware... she did not let him move till he said in clear words that he promised not to go to her room tonight.

The sleep during the day had taken care of the night before. In fact, he had slept for two hours in the morning as well. And the habit of having her next to him for last one week had ruined any chance of catching a wink.

With a sigh, he pulled the chair and opened his notebook. They had agreed to sit together and study in the library from morning ten till lunch time everyday, starting tomorrow. He began to reread the chapters they would be revising the next day.

Mornings breeze drifting into the room made it a little cooler. Naina stirred, shifting more to one side. The warmth she was searching for seemed to be missing. She shifted some more, waving her hand in air, her sleep heavy mind wondering why Sameer had moved so far on the bed.

THUD...

The eyes flew open.

She had fallen off the bed. Sitting up quickly, she looked  at the room, in a daze.

And slapped her forehead.

It wasn't the big, spacious bed of Sonali's house... it was narrow, single bed in her hostel... there was no one in the room besides her.

She touched the side of her waist that had hit the floor when she fell. It hurt. She rubbed over it. Even the side of arm was hurting.

Getting up from the floor, she frowned, "Aaj toh sach mein ho gaya... falling in love... jisne yeh lafz banaye hain uske saath bhi yehi hua hoga."

The sleep deprivation of one night before had caused her to hit the bed immediately after dinner. She had not lied down the whole day, fearing that she might not be able to get up on time to meet Sameer in the evening. When her back finally found the bed, she had slept instantly... till now, when the room turned cooler. The fall had finally woken her up.

She stretched her arms in front, interlinking the fingers.

After so many beautiful mornings, this one was again the same lonely one.

"Kitna adhura sa lag raha hai sab kuch, Sameer... uthte hi tumhara chehra dekhne ki aadat ho gayi hai." She sighed.

She looked at herself in the mirror... her reflection, in his shirt, stared back at her.

"Bas yehi tareeka tha tumhe apne kareeb mehsoos karne ka." She held the lapels, bringing up one panel to inhale deeply.

It wasn't same as nuzzling into the crook of his neck, but it had to make do for now. She changed back into the kurta to go out for her bath.

It was the constant sound of talking that made Sameer open his eyes. He lifted his head, only to realise he had fallen asleep at the table, resting his head on the books. And now it hurt. The neck was twisted... he tried to straighten it, and cried in pain, pressing on the side with his fingers.

Somehow, he got up from the chair to go and check the source of constant noise outside. A group of boys were gathered close to his door, animatedly discussing some plans of picnic after exams.

"Oye, subah subah yahan kyon shor kar rahe ho? Apne room mein jao na." He recognized them to be from first year.

A veil of silence fell on them as all eyes turned to him. Everyone had seen him in college... were aware of the punishment he had given to two boys who had tried to say something to his girl... they had heard about the bashing he and his friends had given to some boys during a cricket match. No one wanted to be on the wrong side of Sameer Maheshwari.

The group quickly dispersed.

Shutting the door, Sameer came back, thinking he should sleep some more, on the bed. One glance at the clock changed his plans instantly. It was almost nine. And he had to meet Naina in the library at ten. Breakfast in the mess was served only till nine thirty.

Grabbing his towel, he rushed to the bathroom, pressing the painful neck.

Out in ten minutes, he looked at himself in the mirror... and missed her immensely. His arms longed to feel her, close to his bare chest... something she had become used to now.

A smile played on his lips... at the memory of the bath she had given him the previous day... knowing about his lie all along. Her image in wet kurta made his throat go dry...

He shut his eyes to shake off the thoughts, quickly dressing up to leave for breakfast and reach library on time.

Naina was at their usual table near the window, her back towards the door. There were only two more girls... sitting in another corner.

He walked up to her stealthily.

"Good morning," he bent near her, taking his arm around to press her closer.

"Ahh." She cried out.

"Naina, kya hua?" He was shocked.

Pulling back the next chair, he sat down facing her, "Tabiyat toh theek hai na tumhari?"

"Haan... sab theek hai... bas woh tum achanak se aa gaye toh thoda darr gayi thi." She smiled, hiding about her pain, not wanting him to be worried.

He continued to look at her, feeling something amiss... but stayed quiet.

They discussed about the chapter. Naina was happy to know he had completed it last night itself.

"Fir toh yeh problem tumhare liye bohot asaan hogi." She showed him the notebook she was holding.

Sameer turned, and groaned as his neck hurt.

She turned sharply, "Sameer, kuch hua kya? Tumhe kahin chot lagi hai? Batao kya hua? Tumhari ungli toh theek hai na? Aise dard mein kyon bole tum?"

He pressed the side of his neck, looking ahead again, "Kuch nahi, Naina, raat ko gardan mud gayi usme dard ho raha hai... saamne dekhne mein theek hai par idhar modne mein dukhta hai."

She touched the place where he was pressing, "Kaise mud gayi? Dhyaan se sona chahiye tha na... ab kaise baithoge din bhar? Aur dard ki wajah se raat ko bhi neend nahi aayegi."

He turned his chair to face her, "Arre baba, itni saari daant ek choti si baat ke liye? Kal mujhe neend nahi aa rahi thi toh padhne baith gaya... pata hi nahi chala kab table pe hi sar rakh ke so gaya... subah utha toh dard ka ahsaas hua."

She furrowed her brows, tilting her head, "Kya karte ho tum Sameer... aise kyon soye? Ab pata nahi kab tak dukhega... aisa kaise chalega?"

"Kuch nahi hua itna zyada jo tum aise pareshan ho rahi ho... bas thoda sa dard hai... ek din mein theek ho jayega." He cupped her face with both hands, eyes on the pouting lips.

She saw his gaze and straightened, looking around, "Sochna bhi mat, library mein hain hum... aur students bhi hain."

"Kya mat sochna? Main toh bas apne dard ke baare mein bata raha tha... tumhe kya laga? Naina? Kahan jaa raha hai tumhara dimaag? Yaa fir aaj sirf dil ki baat sunke mujhe koi hint de rahi ho?" He teased her, with a mischievous smile.

She turned red to the roots... maybe he was actually talking only about his problem. Lowering her head, she looked back at the book on table, biting the corner of her lip on the side of face that was hidden from his view.

"Waise main wohi soch raha tha jo tumhe laga." He whispered, leaning closer to her.

The pen fell from her hand.

"Sameer, tum... tum chup chaap baith ke padhai karo." She said in a low voice, fumbling with the fallen pen.

With a long exhale, he turned his chair back to face the table.

Few more students ventured in, checked some books, sat for a while and left. When Sameer got up to stretch himself a couple of hours later, he noticed that they were alone. A smile crept up his face. He gave one look to her, busy writing in the notebook, and walked up to the window.

"Naina, dekho toh yahan kya hai?" He called out, without looking back.

The sound of chair dragging, followed by the shuffling of feet brought her next to him instantly.

"Kahan? Kya hai?" She peered out, looking in all directions.

"Bahar nahi... yahan... tumhara pati... jo tumhare bina subah se udaas hai." His arm went around her waist, pulling her closer.

She flinched.

It was a shock for him... Naina never flinched at his touch. He was sure she was hiding something.

"Naina, sach batao kya baat hai... mujhe pata hai kuch hai jo tumhe pareshan kar raha hai." He held her hands.

She looked down, her voice almost inaudible, "Main gir gayi."

"Kahan? Kaise? Kab? Kahan chot lagi?" It was his turn to barrage her with questions.

Naina told him about the morning incident... how she kept shifting on the bed to reach him... till she fell off the edge.

He stayed mum for a moment, then could not control his laughter, holding one hand over his mouth to not let the sound reverberate in the library.

"Tumhe hansi aa rahi hai mere dard pe?" She placed her hands on hips, immediately removing from one side as it hurt with the pressure.

"Nahi... sorry... tumpe nahi... woh main... bas soch raha tha kaash main wahan hota." He uttered between the bouts of giggling.

"Aur tum hote toh kya karte?" She pursed her lips.

He pulled her, plastering her to himself as his arm went around her, careful to not touch where she was hurt, "Wahan hota toh tumhe girne hi nahi deta... aise hi apne paas chipka ke rakhta."

"Sameer, chodo... yahan koi aa jayega." She squirmed, trying to get away.

"Yahan abhi koi nahi hai hum dono ke alava." He nestled his nose in her hair, tightening the hold.

"Naina, maine bhi miss kiya tumhe... jab naha ke aaya... roz tum jo gale lag ke apna pyar dikhati thi na, uski aadat ho gayi hai." He murmured against her neck.

Her hands itched to hold him, to show how much she had missed him... but they were in the library.

"Sameer, please, yahan yeh sab nahi... koi bhi aa sakta hai." She placed her hands on his chest, trying to move away.

"Haan, abhi nahi, shaam tak toh rukna hi padega." He released her, controlling himself.