Naina was saved from Sameer's further talks as the train chugged into a station.

The din of noise increased, along with the crowd of people getting in and out, making it difficult for them to stand at the door.

They went back to their seats, settling back for another couple of hours before the train reached Ahmedabad.

"Munna Pandit honge na tumhare saath?" She asked with a heavy heart as the train gained speed again.

"Shayad... maine kuch kaha nahi hai unse... par woh apne aap hi aa jaate hain... toh shayad abhi bhi aa jaayein." He wished they were there at home... the idea of going to an empty house suddenly seemed miserable.

"Umm... shaadi ka pata hai kya unhe?" She asked a little hesitantly.

She herself had not told Swati about it... only Preeti was aware, besides chachaji and chachiji.

"Nahi... kisiko nahi kaha maine... milkar baat karna chahta tha." He said.

"Tum raat ko mujhe phone karke bata dena ki woh log hain ya nahi tumhare saath... main intezaar karungi." She pressed his hand.

"Aur nahi hue toh... aa jaogi kya?" He shifted closer.

Naina realised what he was trying to do... he was constantly barraging her with his talks full of love... not letting her delve into the gloom that she was sure was surrounding his heart too.

Not wanting to make him feel that his effort was going waste, she kept up the facade of being effected.

"Aa jaungi... bas tum ek baar bol dena." She leaned on his arm, playing along... but meaning every word.

"Naina, tumne ek baar kaha tha ki tumhare papa aur Arjun tauji wale ghar mein rehte hain." He recalled their conversation about the family.

"Haan, woh log wahin rehte hain." She said.

"Toh tum jahan rehti ho wahan sirf chachaji, chachiji aur Preeti hain tumhare saath?" He raised one brow.

"Haan." She didn't understand where he was getting.

"Aur unn teeno ko pehle se hi hamari shaadi ke baare mein pata hai." He said matter of factly.

"Haan Sameer, par tum kyon keh rahe ho?" She was confused.

"Toh kyon na main tumhare saath hi chalun? Jab ghar pe sabko pata hai toh darr kis baat ka? Kal subah chala jaunga wapas." He suggested.

Naina sat up in shock, facing him, "Tum jaante ho kya keh rahe ho?" Hum saat baje tak ghar pohoch jayenge... agar tum chaloge toh kal subah tak meri photo pe haar chadha dengi taiji."

He poked her forehead hard, with three fingers, "Bakwaas kari toh yahin se hamare ghar le jaunga... seedhe seedhe bolo."

She rubbed her forehead, wrinkling her nose, "Laga mujhe."

"Pata hai... isiliye kiya tha... isse zyada sazaa milni chahiye thi tumhe aisi baat bolne ke liye... dubara kabhi bola toh dekhna... mujhe muh band karana aata hai." He gave an angry look.

She held one ear, accepting her mistake.

He stared for a few moments, then smiled, bringing her hand down.

"Ab bolo yeh tumhari taiji kaise dekhengi humein... woh apne ghar mein hongi na." He wanted to know about the dynamics of her family.

She sighed, "Apne ghar se zyada woh chachiji ke paas rehti hain... kabhi chai peene... kabhi cheeni maangne... kabhi sar dard ke bahane... kabhi tauji ke dost aane wale ho toh unka khana banwane... chachiji toh kabhi ghar ka darwaza bhi band nahi karti... kyonki taiji jab marzi aa dhamakti hain... woh poora haq samajhti hain iss ghar pe... saare kaam chachiji se, mujhse aur Preeti se karwati hain."

Sameer nodded, though he didn't understand how someone could keep their door open the whole day. He had no experience of staying in such houses where the doors remained open. Hostel had taught him to keep everything locked, even the drawer of his study table.

"Toh yeh taiji ko unke husband, mera matlab tumhare tauji kuch nahi kehte jab woh ghar mein nahi hoti saara din?" He wanted as much information as possible about each member.

"Tauji khud hi bohot kam hote hain ghar pe... unka saara time court mein hi nikalta hai... aur sheher se bahar bhi jaate rehte hain... isliye taiji ko mauka mil jaata hai khana bhi hamare ghar hi khaane ka... apne yahan toh bas sone jaati hain." She made a face at the memory of seeing her seated on the swing whole day, finding faults with everyone.

"Achha toh yeh batao... " He narrowed his eyes to ask more when she cut him short.

"Tumhe achanak itni enquiry kyon karni hai? Bas itna yaad rakho ki taiji se jitna door reh sako, rehna... unse jitni kam baat karo utna achha hoga... aur jab tak main na kahun tab tak unke aas paas fatakna bhi nahi." She was worried at the way his inquisitive brain was working.

"Tumhari family ke baare mein jitna jaan sakta hun woh puch raha hun... kaam aayega na aage jaakar." He rubbed his thumb on the back of her hand that he held in his own.

She lowered her head, "Unke baare mein na jaano toh hi achha hai... wahan se kabhi apnapan milne ki umeed mat karna... bas chachaji aur chachiji hi mera parivaar samjho."

He decided not to prod her any more, not wanting to add to her pain.

Seeing another station approaching, Sameer asked if she wanted to have tea. She accepted. He went out to buy from a vendor right in front of their coach. Holding both paper cups from the edge, he came back... giving her one.

They sipped quietly.

As the minutes ticked by, the nervousness that Sameer was trying to mask behind his constant teasing started to surface. He fidgeted with the bottle of water kept on the table, dropping it twice... tried to adjust the luggage again... picked up the empty tea cups to drop in the dustbin near the door but kept them on the top berth absentmindedly... only when the man sitting next to him pointed it out did he realise what he had done.

Naina could see the shaking hands, louder voice, unnecessary movements... she knew what he was going through.

"Sameer," she pulled his arm as he checked the small bag of food for the fourth time.

"Haan Naina, kuch chahiye tumhe... main agle station se laa dunga." He said without looking at her.

"Agla station toh Ahmedabad hi hai bhai sahab... aadhe ghante mein aayega... wahan tak hi hai yeh train." The man responded to his loud voice.

"Tum yahan baitho." She tried to make him sit.

He continued to place things properly.

"Yahan baitho na, Sameer." She tugged at his sleeve.

"Tumhe kya chahiye batao na." He was finding it difficult to look at her, lest he lost control and crushed her in his arms.

She pulled him with force, making him fall on the seat next to her.

"Mujhe tum chahiye ho, budhhu... aur kuch nahi chahiye... bas yahin baitho... mere paas... jab tak yeh raasta baaki hai." She shifted closer to him, pressing against his chest.

His arm went around her instantly, crushing her as much as he could.

"Naina, I Love You." His voice was heavy with emotions.

"I Love You too... bohot saara... itna ki tum mujhe jab bhi bulaoge main aa jaungi." She placed one hand on his chest.

He squeezed her hand, "Main toh tumhe jaane hi nahi dena chahta... par hum dono ke sapne poore karne ki yeh keemat humein deni hi hogi... aur isse hum khushi khushi karne ki koshish karenge... waada karo mujhse ki tum apni aankhon mein aansu nahi aane dogi."

She nodded.

"Aur yeh bhi waada karo ki achhe se khana khaogi... mujhe bhi meri pari aisi hi chahiye jab woh hamare ghar aayegi." He cupped her face.

She nodded again, swallowing the lump in her throat.

"Tum bhi yehi dono promise mujhe bhi do." She slipped her hand under his collar.

He nodded, smiling, "Khane ke liye kisi promise ki zaroorat nahi hai mujhe."

"Par mujhe chahiye." She looked into his eyes.

He pursed his lips, bowing his head to convey his acceptance.

That moment, the man on his seat got up and went away, taking out a cigarette from the packet he held in his hand.

They were alone.

There was no need for words.

He leaned, taking her mouth, hungry to take as much as he could before they parted. She closed her eyes, giving him what he seeked, feeling the pressure of his lips as he took her mouth with the intensity of his fear of separation.

Her hands went behind his neck, still under his collar... his hand reached her waist, clutching it hard.

The kiss didn't last long... but it was a vow for them to come back to each other soon... a pledge that nothing could keep them apart... and the few days of distance were  only to bring them closer...

The train started to slow down, the activity in the coach increased, with people leaving the comfort of their seats and gathering their items of luggage. Some eager ones started to pile up the suitcases near the door.

Sameer peeked out... the yellow cemented low height structure announced the name of their destination.

Ahmedabad.

They got down from the train after most of the crowd had gone.

"Main tumhe chod deta hun ghar tak." He offered.

"Nahi, main rickshaw le lungi." She didn't want anyone to see him.

"Naina, tum itni door akele rickshaw mein jaogi... aisa nahi ho sakta... main chod ke aaunga tumhe... hum taxi lete hain... tumhe chod ke main aage chala jaunga." He was adamant.

They hailed a cab, giving him the address of Nirmal Jyoti Society.

They sat holding hands, trying to get whatever little they could, of each other.

She asked the driver to stop a few meters from her society.

"Abhi toh aage hai... yahan se chal ke jaogi? Suitcase ke saath?" He started to get out.

She placed a hand over his arm, shaking her head. He stopped.

"Main phone ka intezar karungi." She whispered, not saying bye.

"Main call karunga." He mouthed silently... and puckered his lips to blow her a kiss.

She smiled wide, indicating to him with her thumb and finger to smile as well.

He gave an equally wide smile.

She turned before the tears she was holding in her eyes spilled out.

Sameer sat in the cab, watching her go... hoping to come back soon to these lanes to take her away from here... forever.