The breakfast was Sameer's favourite alu parantha. Naina saw the happiness in his eyes as they sat on the table.

"Suno, aaj zara sambhal ke khana... pichhli baar ki tarah nahi." She leaned towards him to whisper in his ear.

"Aaj tumne thodi banaye hain." He whispered back.

Even Sonali was surprised when he did not eat after three paranthas.

"Sameer, aur lo na... khaas tumhare liye banwaye hain." She urged.

"Thanks Sonali, par mera ho gaya." He smiled politely.

They did not waste much time at the table, going back to their rooms for studies.

Naina preferred to sit on the bed... the feeling of uneasiness had started again... she rested her back against propped up pillow, straightened her legs and opened the book.

Sameer had been studying for about half an hour when he heard a sharp intake of breath. He quickly checked on Naina. She sat with head pressing into the backrest, legs stretched, clutching her stomach. He was with her instantly.

"Naina." He placed one hand over hers on the stomach.

As he watched, she bit her lower lip hard, stretching the legs more... toes curling with the pain of cramps.

Sameer had seen her pressing her legs the previous day. He was not sure if he could do it...

Her breathing had become harder, she started to press her thighs with fisted hand, still holding her stomach tightly with the other.

"Naina, tum dawai le lo." He offered, recalling that she had said she would take it during daytime.

She nodded, adding in a pained voice, "Paani la do please, garam."

He rushed to the kitchen and was back with a glass of warm water in no time. He gave the tablet kept on her side table. Naina gulped it down. Her eyes did not open though. He kept sitting close to her, waiting for the signs of relaxation.

Two drops trickled down her closed eyes. Sameer felt his throat getting constricted. It was not normal to have so much pain... she needed to see a doctor.

"Suno Naina, shayad tumhe doctor ke paas chalna chahiye... itna dard koi kaise bardaasht kar sakta hai... main tumhe leke chalun?" He asked softly, wiping off her tears.

Naina shook her head, without speaking. He shifted closer to her, placing an arm around her, covering her hand on the abdomen with his palm again. She rested her head on his shoulder, breathing in gasps.

They sat for almost half an hour before Sameer felt her breathing return to normal. She had stopped rubbing her feet with each other. The hand on her stomach also laid flat, not clutching anymore.

The medicine had worked.

He turned to face her... she had opened her eyes.

"Naina, main yeh nahi dekh sakta... iske liye doctor ke paas jaana chahiye... ho sakta hai koi aur problem ho jiski wajah se tumhe itni takleef hoti hai." He was gravely concerned.

"Koi aur problem nahi hai, Sameer. Mujhe paanch che mahine mein ek baar itna dard hota hai... baaki time nahi... matlab bohot kam hota hai... ismein doctor ke paas jaane ki zaroorat nahi hai." She said in a weak voice.

He was not convinced. The only way was to find out himself. He decided to check about it in some books from the library... if Naina could get all information about what was nagging her mind at one point of time, he could do it too. What he couldn't do was let his Naina go through such experience repeatedly.

He leaned and wrapped his arms around her, kissing her hair, "Abhi koi padhai nahi... bas tum aaram karo."

"Main ab theek hun... aur tum mere bahane se apni books se door mat bhago... chalo jao wapas." She smiled up at him.

He knew she won't listen to any excuse when it came to studying. With a sigh, he went back to his table. Naina got back to hers.

They studied till evening with a break of one hour in between for lunch. She was satisfied with the amount of course they had revised since morning.

"Agar aise hi karte rahe toh iss ek hafte mein aaram se poora course ho jaayega, Sameer... yahan aane ka faayda hai ki time waste nahi hota." She remarked, straightening her legs after a long session post lunch.

Sameer streched his arms, "Agar Munna Pandit ko bataunga ki main lagatar kitne ghante padhta hun toh woh hans hans ke paagal ho jayenge... kahenge ki main poori tarah tumhare rang mein rang gaya hun."

"Oh, toh tumhe iss baat se sharm aayegi ki tum meri tarah padhte ho?" She narrowed her eyes.

He got up immediately, worried that she was annoyed again, "Nahi, nahi, main bas yeh bata raha tha ki pehle hum kabhi padhte hi nahi the... theek thak number aa jaayein paas hone layak bas utna kaafi tha... ab toh tumhari wajah se mera rank bhi aaya hai aur newspaper mein naam bhi."

She continued to stare at him with a stern face for a few seconds, watching the fear reflected in his eyes... then burst out laughing.

"Agar koi dekhega ki Sameer Maheshwari apni biwi se kitna darta hai tab tumhe zaroor sharm aayegi." She teased, still laughing at his expression.

He put his hands in pocket and started to take slow steps towards her.

"Achha, toh tumhe mazaa aa raha hai mujhe darte hue dekhkar?" He raised one brow, a thin smile on his lips.

"Pata hai kya bulayenge tumhe? Joru ka ghulam." She was lost in her own laughter to see his darkening eyes.

He was suddenly sitting close... pinning her to the backrest... his hands on her shoulders... his face right in front of her...

The sound died within her throat as her pulse went racing.

"Joru ka ghulam banne ko taiyar hun... mauka toh do." Goosebumps erupted all over her body at his husky voice.

"Sam... Sameer." She whispered.

"Hmm... ab kya kahogi? Yahan koi dekh bhi nahi raha... koi aayega bhi nahi... aur kya bahana hai?" He eyed the plump lips.

She bit the lower one.

"Tumhe kaha tha na aise nahi karna." He pulled at it with his thumb on her chin.

Naina noticed the tiny movement before he pursed his lips to control their quivering... he was holding himself back... for her sake...

She closed her eyes, lifting her chin towards him.

Her parted lips were enough for him to know she was ready... his thirsty ones gladly accepted the soft invitation.

The kiss was gentle... he didn't want to cause any pain to her. His hands slid down her shoulders slowly, going over her arms, till he reached the hands flattened on his chest. He held them, taking them around his neck, without breaking the kiss.

She understood what he wanted... sliding her hands on his nape, she fisted his hair with one, pulling his head more with the other.

He deepened the kiss, armed with the knowledge that she was comfortable... but still did not hold her.

When he finally moved his head up, she was panting for breath... eyes still closed.

Her dishevelled hair were falling on her flushed face, the lips were swollen, her eyes were closed and thick, heavy lashes rested on her porcelain cheeks... she was breathing heavily, making his eyes slip down to the rapid rise and fall of her chest. She had stopped worrying about dupatta in front of him... making things more difficult... the slight dip in the neckline of her kurta right in the centre gave a hint of the valley it was leading to...

Naina opened her eyes... she almost brought up her hand to cover herself when she realised where his gaze was stuck... but she resisted the urge...

Sameer was her husband now... a shiver ran up her entire body.

His eyes shot up, feeling the trembling of her hands around his neck.

"Jab pehli baar tumhe dekhte hi tumse pyar hua tha na, toh kabhi socha bhi nahi tha ki ek din hum itne kareeb aa jayenge." She said in a low voice.

"Lekin maine jabse jaana ki mujhe tumse pyar hai tabse tumhe choona chahta tha... tumhe apni baahon mein mehsoos karna chahta tha." His voice was a low whisper.

She led his hands around her waist. Sameer immediately wound his arms, drawing her closer.

"Aur maine tumhe le bhi liya apni baahon mein... baat karne se bhi pehle," he gave a deep look.

Her brows furrowed, "Baat karne se pehle?"

"Yaad nahi jab tum behosh hui thi first year mein? Inhi baahon mein utha ke le gaya tha tumhe." He tightened his arms.

"Achha, main behosh thi aur tum maze le rahe the?" She showed fake anger.

"Nahi Naina, meri jaan nikal gayi thi... main toh tumhe khud se alag karna hi nahi chahta tha jab tak mujhe yakeen nahi hota ki tum theek ho... par college mein sabke saamne kuch kar nahi paaya... lekin main wahin tha jab tak doctor ne check karke nahi bataya ki tumhe bas kamzori hai, kuch na khaane ki wajah se... sach bataun tab laga abhi tumhe apne haathon se khana khila dun... jab baaki log chale gaye toh mujhe bhi jaana pada wahan se... par tumhare uss pehle ahsaas ko maine har din mehsoos kiya... tumhe fir se baahon mein lene ko tadap raha tha... jab canteen mein tumhe dekha toh laga sab kuch bhool ke bas tumhe utha ke le jaun... sabse door... aur kho jaun tum mein... par kuch kar nahi saka... uss samay ki majbooriyan kuch alag thi." He lowered his eyes, thinking about that dark phase of his life.

She placed a hand on his cheek, "Tum keh ke toh dekhte, Sameer... main toh kabse tumhara hi intezar kar rahi thi."

"Yeh shayad tumhare hi dil ki duaa hai jo aaj hum aise ek dusre se bandh gaye hain... humesha ke liye." He smiled, pushing the dark memories away.

"Aur aise hi hamesha saath rahein." She smiled with him.

"Nahi." He gave a thoughtful look, the soft smile turning mischievous.

She was surprised, "Nahi matlab?"

"Matlab aise nahi... isse bhi zyada... aur kareeb... ab koi majboori nahi hai, sweetheart." He whispered against her ear.

Naina shuddered as his lips skimmed down her face to the throat... his hands roaming on her back. He planted small kisses on the soft skin, moving down to her collarbone. Suddenly,  a sharp nip made her gasp.

"Sameer." She dug her fingers into his shoulders.

He kissed softly where his teeth had left the mark, soothing the pain.

A knock on the door made them jump. Quickly getting up from the bed, Sameer ran a hand through his hair.

Trying to control her heavy breathing, Naina straightened, tying up her hair in a loose bun.

Slowly, Sameer walked to the door. The servant stood there with a tray of tea and some snacks. He took the tray and closed the door again.

He placed the tray on the table, pushing aside his books.

"Naina, tumhe wahin de dun?" He looked at her.

She was still flushed from the closeness they had shared...

"Main... main abhi aati hun." She rushed to the washroom.

In front of the mirror, she searched for the mark on her neck... there was nothing. Naina was surprised... she was sure she had felt his teeth on her skin...

She pulled the neck of kurta aside... and there it was... a small reddish mark that had started to turn dark at the edges.

She was stunned. He had taken care to not do it on the exposed skin... even in the heated moment, he had been this thoughtful... and she did not even come to know when he pushed the neckline.

The colour on her face deepened.

Sameer took deep breaths to calm himself. He had almost slipped when the knock came. He didn't know he was relieved at this disturbance or frustrated.

It was probably better, in Naina's present condition... she was going through so much already...

He plopped on the chair with a sigh, rubbing his forehead.

Naina saw him as she stepped out of the washroom. She wanted to run into his arms, letting him know she was all his... she was his wife and this fact freed him of all other promises... all the restraint...