"Ek baat puchu?" Sameer asked softly.

He sat against the tree, his legs straight ahead, crossed at the ankles. Naina leaned against his shoulder, wrapping her hands around his arm.

"Hmm, pucho." She answered.

"Aaj tum canteen mein kya soch rahi thi aisa jo ekdum laal ho gayi?" He shifted his gaze to her.

Naina lowered her eyes, "Tumhare baare mein."

He swiftly moved to sit in front of her, hands on bent knees, "Batao na, please... main bhi toh sunu ki maine aisa kya kiya tumhare khyalon mein jo tum itna sharma gayi."

"Tumne kuch nahi kiya." She laughed at his eagerness.

He gave her a suspicious look, "Achha... kuch nahi kiya toh tumhara chehra aisa kyon ho gaya tha... batao na... khyalon mein toh tum mujhe nahi rokti na?"

He leaned towards her with his last sentence.

The colour was back on her face, "Main toh bas yeh soch rahi thi ki tum black suit mein kaise lagoge... school ki farewell pe jab tumne suit pehena tha tab main chori chori bas tumhe hi dekh rahi thi."

He recalled the school farewell. Naina looked like a doll... her soft, innocent beauty pulling him like a magnet... but he had maintained the facade... the only thing he wanted was to click a picture with her... but everytime a group picture was taken, they ended up in opposite corners.

Her voice brought him out of the thoughts, "Uss din school mein tumhe dekh ke main batana chahti thi ki tum kaise lag rahe ho... par tumhare aas paas bhi aane ki himmat nahi hui... bas door se dekh ke sochti rahi ki kaash hum saath mein ek photo le paate... woh bhi nahi hua."

He placed a finger under her chin, "Main bhi uss din tumse baat karna chahta tha... tumhare saath photo lena chahta tha... tumhe batana chahta tha ki tum kitni sundar lag rahi ho... ekdum gudiya jaisi... uss din tumse chup ke tumhe dekhna kitna mushkil ho raha tha yeh mujhe aaj bhi achhe se yaad hai... kitni baar socha abhi baat karun par tumhare papa saamne dikh jaate the... aur itna toh main jaan gaya tha ki woh tumhe kisi ladke se baat karte hue nahi dekh sakte."

Though he had told about his feelings for her since school days, but the realisation that he was as desperate on that day gave her a new sense of exhilaration.

"Waise tum ab bata sakti ho... jo tum uss din kehna chahti thi." He went back to his position against the tree, sliding one hand around her waist.

Naina leaned on his chest, "Jab dubara suit pehnoge toh bata dungi."

"Main bata dun tum kaisi lagi rahi thi?" His arms around her tightened.

Before she could answer, he turned her to face him.

Looking deeply into her eyes, he whispered, "Tumhe pehli baar saree mein dekha tha... aur sochne laga ki tum dulhan banke kitni sundar lagogi... meri dulhan... uss din ke baad jab bhi tumhe saree mein dekha bas apni dulhan hi samjha... aur iss farewell pe toh tum sach much meri aadhi dulhan ban chuki ho."

His fingers lightly touched the parting of her hair, reminding her of the day his tilak had left a mark there.

The touch was as light as feather... it still sent shivers down her spine as she remembered the meaning of that red mark in her hair.

The week flew by in no time. The day of farewell was a holiday in college as the staff was busy in preparations.

Naina decided to complete the new episodes that she was working upon after lunch. The party was to begin around four. She could get ready in less than half an hour. Once at her table, she was lost to the world, immersed in her characters and their life. As the ideas for new episodes kept forming, she continued to pen them. When finally she looked up, the clock showed the time as fifteen minutes to four.

In panic, she got up. Running to the cupboard to get her clothes. Thankfully, she had ironed everything in the morning.

Sameer was ready before time. He wished he could go to Naina's room. He wanted to be the first one to see her. But the rules of hostel made him sit back with a sigh.

"Raat hoti toh tumhe dekhne tumhare kamre mein aa jaata... abhi woh bhi nahi kar sakta." He grumbled.

Naina was dressed in ten minutes. Not being a makeup person, she applied a little clear gloss and brushed her hair to let them fall behind her. The earrings she chose were rectangular in shape, with a single clear stone in the center. Adding the pendent, she was ready. Looking back into the mirror, as an afterthought, she decided to apply kohl. Once done, she looked at the clock. She had taken exactly twenty minutes to get ready.

Giving a final look to herself, she walked out of the room.

Sameer saw her descending the stairs, holding her pleats delicately, one arm bent to balance the flowing pallu, head slightly tilted to the side to see the stairs, eyes lowered to prevent herself from stepping on the saree... she looked ethereal.

The moment her feet touched the ground, she turned in the direction of the pillar. The side vision made her look on her right.

And there he was... in his dark suit... her eyes moved from top to bottom... and again from bottom to top.

He looked even more handsome than he did in school... if it was even possible. His shoulders were broader, the jacket fitting snugly on them... the long arms that were her haven made her itch to be in them, his white shirt streched on the chest, making her want to touch him... the contrast of his shirt with the blazer made his features look sharper and... she drew in a sharp breath... he had not shaved. The shadow on his jaw made him look rugged... her rapid breathing reacting to his raw appeal.

Sameer was no better. The saree hugged her curves making her look exactly like the image of his dreams... her hair were always his weakness but as they gently flowed in the breeze, he wanted to feel their silky texture... he could see the pendent with their initials through the thin fabric, it rested where the neckline dipped... and his own heartbeat plummeted... the shining stones in her ears competed with her glowing face... as his eyes registered her shining lips and kohl lined eyes, his throat went dry.

Naina slowly walked up to him, "Bohot achhe lag rahe ho... dil kar raha hai yahin, sabke samne tumhe kas ke gale laga lun."

Up close, she was even more enchanting.

He looked into her eyes, reflecting the same feeling as his own, "Aur mera dil kar raha hai tumhe kiss kar dun... abhi... issi waqt."

They stood drinking in the sight of each other... not touching... but able to feel each other in every breath.

"Sameer, Naina," Rahul's voice brought them out of their own world.

Sameer looked in the direction of the gate. Rahul and Sonali were walking towards them.

"Naina, kitni pyari lag rahi hai," Sonali beamed, giving a thorough look to Naina.

"Tu bhi bohot sundar lag rahi hai." Naina smiled at her friend who was glowing, the orange bandhni saree with gold border making her look every bit the new bride that she was. Sonali had worn her thin mangalsutra today.

Rahul and Sameer hugged each other and together they walked to the party hall.

The place was bustling with people who were almost unrecognizable... in spite of seeing them everyday for three years, today, they all looked so different.

The girls were in different styles of sarees, from simplest to the most glamorous versions. All boys were in suits.

The corner of the room had been turned into a stage, with a slightly raised dais, covered with red durries. It had few chairs and a long table covered with white satin sheet.

The chairs for students were arranged in front of the stage. As per the norm, after the Principal and professors addressed the students, a few popular ones were given some titles and prizes.

Rahul and Sonali were talking to one of the professor who was congratulating them for their marriage when Sameer got a chance.

Holding Naina's hand, he dragged her out, going into the empty classroom next to the party hall.

"Sameer, yahan kyon laye ho? Sab ko pata chal jayega ki hum gayab hain." She was worried.

Sameer stood against the door, holding her hands, "Chalne do, jab tak tumhe bata na dun ki tum kaisi lag rahi ho tab tak yeh darwaza nahi khulega."

Her tensed face relaxed into a smile, "Aaj pehle main bataungi."

Sameer was taken aback. Her increasing boldness had been testing his self control for some time but her alacrity today was making it difficult for him to breathe.

"Aaj tum itne handsome lag rahe ho jitna maine sapno mein dekha hai... yeh kapde jaise tumhare liye hi bane hain... tumhe dekh ke kuch pal ke liye meri saansein ruk gayi thi... bas aisa laga ki kaise tumhe sab se chupa ke apne liye rakh lun... bas main hi tumhe dekhun... fir dusre pal laga ki chilla ke sabko bataun ki tum sirf mere ho... sabko pata chale ki duniya ka sabse handsome ladka mera Sameer hai... aaj toh mujhe bhi laga... laga ki ab humein shaadi kar hi leni chahiye." Her hoarse voice left no doubt in his mind about her feelings.

Sameer gaped at her with rounded eyes... she had openly expressed her thoughts, without a hint of embarrassment or shyness...

Pulling her to himself with a jerk, he wrapped a lock of hair around his finger, "Toh ab tum bhi wohi sapne dekhne lagi ho jo main dekhta hun."

It is unedited. Please pardon any mistakes.