Sameer had dinner with Rahul and Sonali while Naina stayed in the room. She utilised this time to change for the night.

Later, when Sonali came with a glass of hot milk, she was back with the books in bed.

"Tu fir books leke baith gayi... aaj rehne de na." She chided.

"Kaise rehne dun, Sonali... time hi kahan hai... waise bhi aaj din mein kuch khaas padhai ki bhi nahi maine... aur meri wajah se Sameer ka time bhi waste ho gaya... isse achha toh hum hostel mein hi reh lete... ya fir yahan alag room mein." She blurted, immediately regretting her last sentence in front of her friend.

"Pagal hai kya... alag kyon rahoge... husband wife ho... aur achha hai na Sameer hai tere saath aise mein... yaad hai hostel mein akele kaise roti rehti thi bas... mujhe toh teri daant bhi yaad hai... jab bhi aati thi tere paas, kuch na kuch suna deti thi." Sonali chuckled.

Naina gave a sheepish smile, "Kya karun, bohot gussa aa jaata hai ekdum se... subah se Sameer bhi jhel raha hai bechara."

"Usse toh ab hamesha jhelna hai... aadat daal leni chahiye... waise bechara toh hai tera Sameer... uske plans ko tune chaupat kar diya." Sonali was in no mood to leave Naina.

"Maine kya plans chaupat kiye?" She asked.

Sonali winked, "Achha, yeh bhi main bataun? Shaadi ko do din hue hain... honeymoon ke plans hi banaye honge na usne."

Naina felt a shiver run down her spine. She had been so preoccupied with the mess created by her father, unexpected marriage, sudden change in the status of their relationship... along with the tension of exams... that first it did not occur to her that she would be staying in the same room with Sameer... and her present condition did not let her thoughts get to the outcome of this proximity...

"Par Sameer ne toh kaha tha phoolon... " She checked herself before giving more information to her inquisitive friend.

"Kya kaha tha? Phoolon ka kya? Bata na... main mangwa dungi jo chahiye... yeh problem toh khatam ho jaayegi chaar din mein... fir bata dena kya kya chahiye tere Sameer ko tum dono ke kamre mein." Sonali pinched Naina's cheek.

"Mujhe kuch nahi chahiye, Sonali... Naina se puch lo." His voice jolted both of them.

Sonali turned to see him entering the room. She looked at Naina, who had turned pale. They didn't know how much he had heard, but his expression was neutral.

"Main... main chalti hun... bye." Sonali got up immediately from the bed.

She mumbled a 'good night' to Sameer before stepping out, closing the door behind her.

Sameer walked in with a perplexed look.

"Isse kya hua? Aise kyon bhaag gayi?" He pointed back at the closed door.

Naina swallowed... it seemed like he hadn't heard anything... but if he had...

"Tum... tum kab aaye?" Her voice was shaky.

"Kab aaya matlab? Abhi abhi toh aaya hun tumhare saamne... Naina, tum theek ho na?" He quickly touched her forehead, sitting next to her.

Naina pulled her legs closer to herself, "Theek hun... kh... khana kha liya na tumne."

"Haan, aur chachaji ko phone bhi kar liya... unhe yahan ka number diya hai... abhi tak unhone baat nahi ki hai kyonki Rakesh sir aur Arjun Rajkot gaye hue hain... unhone kaha baat hote hi phone kar ke bata denge." He explained the reason for his absence.

Naina dipped her head to the side. He was surprised at her silence... she did not show any anxiety or restlessness... maybe that was also because of her condition.

He took out a chocolate from his pocket, "Yeh tumhare liye... agar tum aaj subah hi bata deti toh raaste se le lete... sorry, din mein tumhe uss haalat mein chod ke jaane ka man nahi hua... abhi Sonali thi yahan isliye market chala gaya."

Naina looked at the chocolate he had placed in her hand... ever since she had told him, he always got it for her... every month...

"Tumhe hamesha yaad rehta hai laana." She marvelled.

"Jis cheez se tumhe khushi mile woh kaise bhool sakta hun." He gave a warm smile.

She was lost in his eyes for a few minutes.

"Ab pehle yeh piyo fir mujhe jitna chahe dekh lena." He held the glass of milk in front of her eyes.

Naina held the glass, lowering her eyes. Sameer smiled, getting up as she took small sips from the glass.

He took out his tracks and tshirt from the bag and went to the washroom.

She was engrossed in the books when the click of the door made her look up. He was rubbing his wet hair with the towel. Dressed in half sleeves white tshirt with a grey track, he reminded her of the night they shared their first kiss... he had come to her hostel room freshly after bath... the ends of wet hair clinging to his neck... she could feel her fingers in his wet hair...

Naina looked away quickly, before he could see her thoughts reflected in her eyes.

Sameer brushed his hair, ran a hand through them, and joined her with his books.

"Tumhe sona hai toh so jao... main lamp on kar lungi." She said without looking at him.

"Mujhe neend kahan aayegi." His soft whisper didn't help.

Seeing her go silent, he sat back against the headrest with a pillow on his lap, "Raat der tak padhne ki aadat jo daal di hai tumne... ab main bhi roz padhta hun tumhari tarah."

Naina still kept her eyes glued to the notebook in hand.

It was almost midnight when Sameer realised that he had dozed off over the books. He looked to the side to find her sitting with her legs crossed, head bent down, tightly holding her stomach with both hands. She was breathing heavily, with eyes squeezed shut.

He touched her shoulder. She opened her eyes. He could see the pain in them. Shifting closer to her, he slid his arm around her shoulder. She leaned on his chest, knees falling in his lap. One hand was still on her stomach while the other fisted on his chest.

Sameer rubbed her back slowly, not knowing what else to do.

She moved her hand behind and pulled his palm down to her lower back, whispering, "Yahan."

He continued to rub till he felt her breathing get normal. The slump indicated that she had fallen asleep. He gently put her down on the pillow. When he tried to move away, her hold on the tshirt stopped him.

Sameer smiled... and pulled his pillow closer, lying down right next to her... his hands clasped under his cheek as he didn't want to put his heavy arm on her.

Watching her sleep peacefully, he closed his eyes after a while.

The brightness hit her eyes when Naina tried to open them. Squinting, she placed a hand over one eye to make out why the room was so well lit when it should have been dark. The lights in the room were still on.She opened her eyes properly to see that she was sleeping next to Sameer. He was sleeping on his back, hands behind his head... her hand was on his chest.

She sat up quickly, wondering why his pillow was joined with hers... and why the light was still on. Looking at the clock, she realised it would be daylight soon.

Naina left the bed, checking the bedsheet behind her. Thankfully, there was no mishap. She took her clothes from the bag and went to the washroom after switching off the light.

Half an hour later, when she came out after her bath, Sameer was still sleeping. She looked at his calm face... how patient he had been with her throughout the day... it was all so new for him still he accepted whatever she said or did...

She walked upto him and sat down on the bed... his hair were falling on the forehead. She flicked them back, threading her fingers through his hair... her hand slipped down his face, tracing the darkness that appeared on his jaw... it felt rough against her fingers... and she loved the raspy sound.

Her fingers itched to feel the dark line going upto his neck, but that could wake him up. Biting the corner of her lip, she turned to get up.

The sudden pull on the wrist made her fall on his chest... and she looked into his eyes, staring at her reflection in the early morning light filtering through the glass door of the balcony.

"Roz itne pyaar se hi uthana." His voice was heavy with sleep.

Naina gulped, "Woh main... main... "

He placed a finger on her lips, "Kuch bolne ki zaroorat nahi hai... tumhara haq hai."

Her cheeks turned red.

Sameer saw the hair piled up on top of her head.

"Tum itni subah naha leti ho?" He was surprised.

"Uth gayi thi toh..." She tried to get up.

His arm came around her waist, pinning her half lying form over himself, "Abhi theek lag raha hai?"

"Hmm." Her eyes remained at some point on his neck, one arm around him while the other elbow rested on the bed for balance.

"Toh?" His voice was still heavy.

"Toh?" She looked up.

"Toh good morning?" He eyed her lips.

His gaze made her heart flip. Sameer did not give her another second to think... his lips softly pecked hers.

"Har subah itni meethi good morning hi dena." He winked, pulling at a lock of hair falling on her face.

Naina managed to move away, getting up from the bed. She was still holding her towel. Stepping out in the balcony, she spread it on the stand. The view from here was of the road on the side of society. She could see the early morning movements of newspaper vendors, a small grocery stall stacked with bread and eggs along with some bakery items. Few school vans could be seen moving around.

She wondered how would it feel to stand on the terrace of Sameer's Ahmedabad house... their house, she corrected herself. How would be the view?

And her thoughts drifted to him... the rough stubble, heavy voice, hooded eyes, crooked smile... would she even bother to check the view outside...

She herself was the cause of scarlet spreading on her face today. Smiling shyly, she went back to the room.

Sameer was still in bed, lying on his stomach, chin resting on his clasped hands... eyes on her.

"Tum bhi naha lo." She looked away... unable to meet his eye... her cheeks still bearing the colour of her thoughts in the balcony.

He got up and came behind her, locking his arms around her, "Achha lag raha hai dekh ke ki tum ab theek ho."

"Uhh Sameer, yeh takleef do teen din hoti hai... abhi dard nahi hai iska matlab yeh nahi ki theek ho gaya." She explained, not wanting to surprise him later.

He turned her around, "Matlab itna dard tum teen din tak jhelti ho?"

She nodded.

He engulfed her in his arms, "Meri jaan, tumhe kaise dekhunga iss takleef mein?"

Her heart was filled with love at his concern, "Koi baat nahi, Sameer... sabke saath hota hai... main toh bohot lucky hun ki tum mere saath ho."

He held her tighter, "Main hamesha saath hun tumhare... aur lucky main bhi hun jo mujhe tum mili ho."

She went on her toes and kissed his jaw, "I Love You, Sameer."

His eyes shone with the glint as he remembered her fascination for his unshaven face...

"Ek baar aur kaho." He demanded, looking down at her.

"I Love You, Sameer, bohot, bohot saara." She tilted her head, smiling.

He leaned, pressing his lips over hers again as his hand tugged at her piled up hair... till it fell on her back in soft waves.

Naina closed her eyes, living the morning when there was no hurry to go away.