The best part of morning update for everyone was the last para.
I'm overwhelmed at the love you showered on it 😄😄

He kept looking at her fidgeting with her kurta... when he had heard her voice while he stood in the balcony, he thought she was calling out to him. Turning towards the door, his answer had died down in the throat as he heard what she was saying... his mind was blown away at her confession.

Did she actually mean what she said... did she really want him as much as he desired to be with her... was she truly ready for the next step... he had to wait for a few minutes before he could breathe again... he had expected Naina to take time to accept their intimacy... though she had shown some glimpses of the burning passion within her, he had always been under the impression that she had some apprehensions which she could not share with him yet... their new relationship had put more pressure on her and she was finding it difficult to accept his advances though she never stopped him. He had often thought of keeping himself in check but again his self control was challenged as they came to stay here. Living in the same room, watching her day and night, feeling her fragrance around him all the time made his resolve weak. Seeing her going through so much pain made him want to protect her even more, the need to keep her close to himself became stronger.

But everytime he tried to reduce the distance between them, a hint of resistance appeared to be rising from her... she responded to his kisses, to his touch, tried to show her love as well... but still, she did not meet his eye... something kept pulling her back... he had wondered if it was hesitation or something else.

Today, however, all his doubts were cleared.

Seeing her lowered eyes now, he could understand how much courage it must have taken to say this to him... to accept it all...

"Main bhi kuch baatein nahi keh paaya tha tumse, Naina." His soft voice made her look up.

He took her hands in his, sitting right in front of her.

"Aaj main bhi kuch nahi chupaunga tumse... yeh sach hai ki yeh doori mujhse bhi bardaasht nahi ho rahi... par mera ek sapna hai... jaise tumhara hai, rasmon wali shaadi ka... mera sapna hai ki jab tum dulhan banke aao toh tumhe humare ghar mein apni baahon mein utha ke le ke jaun... uss kamre tak jahan maine akele din guzare hain... jahan ki deewarein mere aansuon se bheegi hain... jahan ki khidki, darwaze hamesha mere akelepan mein jhankte the... uss kamre ki har deewaar, har khidki darwaze ko main khushiyon ke phoolon se sajana chahta hun... unn phoolon ki mehek se apne aane wale kal ke sapne mehkana chahta hun... har taraf candles jala ke uss roshni se apne beete hue kal ke andheron ko mita dena chahta hun... jis chand ko maine apni udaasi mein saath paya tha usse dikahana chahta hun ki ab mera khud ka chand mujhe kabhi udaas nahi rehne dega... aur uss samay tumhe apne aane wale kal ke saath jodna chahta hun, Naina... uss raat ko hamari zindagi ki sabse haseen raat banana chahta hun." He poured out his heart to her.

She kept looking at him in wonder... he had weaved such a beautiful dream... on one hand, his words about the past tore her heart... on the other, he had made her see how he wanted to wash away all those painful memories and make a new beginning with her.

"Ek baat aur hai... tum unn phoolon se kahin zyada sundar ho... unki mehek se zyada tumhari khushboo mujhe pagal karti hai... unn candles ki roshni se zyada chamak hai tumhari aankhon mein... aasman ke chaand se zyada khoobsurat ho tum... woh sab toh raat ke baad kho jaayenge... lekin tum meri zindagi ke har din ko apni mehek aur roshni se bhar dogi... tumhare saath meri har raat chandni raat hogi." His each word showed the depth of his love for her.

Tears spilled down her eyes... she wondered what she had ever done to deserve him... he was beyond any dream, beyond any prayer, beyond anything anyone could ever ask for...

And he was hers...

She was the luckiest girl in the world...

Sameer wiped her tears with his fingers... these tears did not hurt him... he could see it on her face that it was pure happiness that flowed out of her eyes.

"Kya hua... ro kyon rahi ho? Tum reh nahi paogi kya apne handsome pati se door itne dino tak?" The mischief in his eyes could not stay away for long.

Naina chuckled amidst tears, punching him on the chest.

He drew her in his arms, taking a deep breath.

The relief of sharing everything that was burdening them was evident in their breathing...

"Sameer, tum duniya ke sabse achhe pati ho." She whispered against his neck, still in the heaven he had created for her.

"Achha... kitne patiyon ka test lene ke baad mujhe yeh rank de rahi ho?" He teased.

A smack on the arm was his answer.

He pulled her closer, "Ek aur baat bolun?"

"Hmm." She was ready for anything now.

He placed a hand on her cheek, making her look at him, "Jo maine kaha uska matlab yeh nahi hai ki tab tak main tumse door rahunga... ab hum door toh nahi ho sakte... bas thoda thoda karke paas aana hai... dheere dheere... aur uske liye yahan se achha mauka nahi milega... wapas jaate hi exams shuru ho jayenge toh tum sab cheezon pe ban laga dogi... aur fir Ahmedabad jaakar toh milna hi mushkil hoga shayad... kam se kam sabke maan jaane tak... toh yeh kuch din sirf humare hain... hum dono ke... mujhe rokna mat, please."

The way his voice turned raspy with the last sentence, her heart jumped to her mouth.

"Toh Mrs Maheshwari, aaj apne husband ki baahon mein so sakti ho?" He tilted his head, the question making her suck in her lower lip.

His eyes did not miss the movement.

"Naina, fir se..." He closed the distance between them.

She kept a hand on his lips, "Sone ka time ho gaya."

"Achha... badi jaldi hai aaj tumhe... kaha tha na mujh jaise handsome pati se alag rehna mushkil hoga... aise hi thodi sab hero kehte hain." He pulled down her wrist with one hand, raising his collar with another.

Naina chuckled, "Hero ho tabhi toh heroine mili hai."

"Aye hayee, meri heroine, ab khud ki tareef karna bhi seekh gayi." He raised his brows, giving a crooked smile.

"Tumse hi seekha hai." She gave the same smile with raised brows.

Sameer jumped out of the bed.

"Kya hua?" She was surprised.

"Aree light off kar raha hun... ya kal ki tarah light on mein hi... " He winked.

"Sameer." Naina shut her eyes, blushing at his teasing.

He switched on the bedside lamp before turning the main lights off.

Naina was still sitting with her eyes closed when he came back.

"Ab aankhen khol sakti ho." He said in a low whisper.

"Tum... tum... jao main tumse baat nahi kar rahi." She turned her back towards him, moving to her side of the bed.

Sameer was next to her before she reached, his pillow joined with hers like previous night.

"Kal toh pakad ke paas kheench rahi thi aaj baat bhi nahi karni." He rested himself on the elbow, looking at her with dark eyes.

Naina looked up in shock, "Kal? Kal kya kiya maine?"

He sat up on his knees, widening his eyes, "Naina, tumhe zara bhi yaad nahi tumne kya kiya?"

She gulped, recalling how she got up in the morning with him sleeping close, her hand clutching his tshirt.

"Thoda toh yaad hoga tumne kaise mujhe... " Seeing her lost in thoughts, he prodded.

Naina shook her head, frowning... nothing about the night seemed to come to her mind.

"Toh tumne neend mein woh sab kiya tha?" He moved closer, widening his eyes even more.

"Kya kiya tha maine? Batate kyon nahi?" She was frustrated.

"Main... main kaise bataun... ab itna besharm thodi hun." He bit the corner of his lip, giving a crooked smile.

That is when she saw his game.

"Oh, toh Sameer Maheshwari ko sharam aa rahi hai... tumse bada besharm na maine aaj tak nahi dekha." She clenched her teeth, hitting him with her pillow.

"Ahhh..." He covered his eye with one hand.

"Kya hua, Sameer... lag gaya kya? Sorry, sorry... please dikhao... Sameer, please dekhne do na kahan lagi hai." She was almost in tears, rushing to him, sitting in front of him on knees, trying to move his hand to see where he was hurt.

He held her hand, placing it on his heart, grabbing her with the other one, "Yahan lagi hai... bohot dino se... nahi saalon se... tumhare pyar ki aag... iske liye bhi sorry bologi?"

She exhaled in relief, seeing he was not hurt...

"Nahi, iske liye sorry nahi bolungi." She bent and kissed over his heart, "Par lagi hai toh dawa lagani padegi na."

He was mesmerized by her... yet again.

"Aur bhi lagi hai." He looked without blinking.

"Kahan?" Her voice was soft.

He raised one finger to his lower lip.

Naina did not hesitate even for a second, taking his lips with a force that made him gasp. He had expected a peck... maybe a gentle kiss...

Her hands went behind him,  clutching the hair ends, her teeth played with him till he gave her the access... and she took his breath away...

His hands spread on her back, angling her closer to take the control of the kiss...

Their lungs yelped for want of air but the need to feel each other did not let them move away, till they started to feel dizzy.

Taking long breaths, Naina held onto him, inhaling the deep musky smell with each breath. Her hands were still at his nape, playing with the hair... her cheek brushing against his bristled jaw. She had noticed his unshaven face during the day, but the turmoil brewing inside her did not let her say anything. Now that they had talked about it and made things clear to each other, she felt more at ease with him and with the feelings surging inside her.

"Shave kyon nahi kiya?" She mumbled.

"Tumhare liye... tumhara mood kharab tha... socha tumhe yeh pasand hai toh... " He was glad she mentioned it finally after a long wait throughout the day.

She kissed his jaw, moving down towards the chin, planting small kisses as she trailed to the center of his face.

He gentry grasped her hair, pulling her head back, looking into her brown eyes.

Even in the dim light of lamp, he could see his face reflecting in her dilated pupils.

"Yeh kya tha?" He groaned.

"Thank you tha... mere liye itna sochne ke liye." She replied innocently.

"Agar tum aise hi thank you bologi toh main shave karna hi chod dunga." He brought her hand against his cheek, rubbing it on his stubble.

She pulled her hand, "Ab so jao, ya padh lete hain neend nahi aa rahi toh."

"Nahi, aaj koi books humare beech mein nahi aayengi... aaj bas tum aur main." He grabbed her again.

"Achha baba." She picked up his pillow to put on his side.

He laid down, spreading his arm for her.

"Sameer, mujhe bina takiye ke neend nahi aati." She wrinkled her nose.

He indicated at his spread arm, "Aake toh dekho, tum isse apna favourite takiya bana logi."

Naina contemplated for two seconds. He pulled her, making her fall on his arm. Wrapping it around her, he made her shift up, to rest the head on his shoulder.

"Ab se yahin sona roz... aisi neend ke liye kabse intezar tha mujhe." He kissed her forehead.

After the initial hesitation, she realised it was indeed comforting... feeling the rhythm of his heart under her hand, taking in his male scent, soaking in the warmth of his body, secured in the haven of his embrace... it was indeed the best way to sleep... and dream about their future.