The soft light of the lamp left a dim glow in the room. Sameer could see Naina clearly... the hair tied loosely, hands away from his view, the dip at the curve of her waist, folded legs, twiddling toes... the swift movement of her shoulders indicated her fast breathing.

Naina waited... he did not make any move. Maybe, he had slept... it was quite late... they had studied after dinner and had not slept properly last two nights.

When she could not take it anymore, she turned to check.

Her breath hitched... he was looking at her, leaning against the backrest, clutching the pillow against his chest.

The moment their eyes met, he raised his brows in question.

She hid her eyes behind long lashes.

In one swift motion, he was leaning on her, pushing her shoulders into the bed as he turned her on the back, falling next to her.

Naina drew in a sharp breath, hands going up to hold his arms... his face was close, noses almost touching, dark eyes boring into hers, his breath fanned her face.

"Tum saath ho fir bhi mujhe takiye ko hi Naina samajhna padega kya?" The rough voice was enough to break her into a sweat.

His gaze shifted to her lips which were slightly parted due to the gasp...

Looking back into her eyes, he did not see any reluctance... but it was not easy for him to start something he wouldn't be able to stop. He dipped his head to bury himself in her hair, trying to calm the raging emotions.

Her hand went around his neck as she felt him restrain himself again. The confidence that he had given her filled her up with new strength.

"Sameer." Her soft voice made him lift his head.

"Tumhara sapna zaroor poora hoga... par uss tak pohochane ke liye chote kadam toh utha sakte hain na." She stroked his cheek, looking into the dark eyes.

He stared, amazed at her trust in him, "Naina..."

"Tum sambhal sakte ho khud ko... jaise hamesha se karte aaye ho... dekha hai maine... mujhe yakeen hai tumhara sapna... jo ab humara sapna hai... woh ussi din poora hoga." She slid her hand behind his neck, pressing his head down, as an answer to his unspoken doubt.

She did not reach for his lips, rather turned to the face, peppering it with slow kisses.

He was engulfed in her fragrance as she pulled him closer... the sweet smell that had invaded his sensed from the time he had picked up her unconscious form in the beginning of college... the soft hands that he longed to hold since school days were on his cheeks... the arms that he longed to be in since they started to talk in college were pressed against his chest... the feminine softness of the body that he wanted to feel since the first time she hugged him was plastered against him...

He shuddered with unexplained pleasure as she covered every inch of his face with her lips... and then her lips brushed against his, taking his breath away. Her kiss was soft to begin with as she tasted him slowly, making him numb with the need for more... till he could not take it. He let his weight fall on her while his hands went behind her, turning the kiss into a heated one in no time. She welcomed his plundering tongue, feeling the nip of his teeth on her lips.

When he looked up, gasping for air, she turned on her side and hid her face in his chest, suddenly shy at her initiative. With a smile, Sameer laid back on his pillow, taking her along... to give the same pillow to her as previous night.

They slept peacefully, catching up on the disturbed sleep of past two nights.

It was early morning when Sameer opened his eyes to see Naina cuddled into his side. He tried to shift her up to make her comfortable on his shoulder.

She stirred, throwing one arm around his waist, "Kya hai, Preeti... sone de na."

He had heard her sleepy voice earlier... she had been talking in dream that time as well. He wondered if she always talked like this... thinking what all she could say if he heard her everyday... maybe a new dream or the thoughts of her subconscious.

"Naina, Preeti nahi, Sameer," he whispered.

"Hayee Preeti, adhi raat ko Sameer ka naam le ke kya kar diya tune." She wrinkled her nose, nuzzling her face into him even more.

And before he could react to it, she held his hand and kept it on her heart, "Dekh, naam sun ke hi mera dil kaise train ke jaise daud raha hai... woh bhi express wali."

If her heartbeat was fast, his had gone hypersonic... he feared his heart would break the chest and fall out.

She held his hand flat over her heart, her palm covering it to keep in place... he could feel the rise of her curves, the slope in between, even the outline of her innerwear through the thin fabric of her kurta. His mind had gone blank... the heat from his palm could sear her skin.

"Sameer ke naam se hi mera yeh haal ho jaata hai, soch usko dekh ke kya hota hoga, Preeti." She was still in her own world.

Sameer laid motionless, gulping to give some relief to his throat that had gone extremely dry.

Naina sighed, a smile playing on her lips.

He watched as she slowly opened her eyes... the smile widened when she saw him. He kept looking down at her.

She furrowed her brows at his expression... and suddenly froze, the smile fading away.

She looked down with a jerk to see her hand holding his on her... her chest. An electric current jolted her from head to toe... she quickly moved her palm away, waiting for him to remove his.

He didn't. The rapid movement of his hand showed her sudden erratic breathing...

"Naina." His voice was guttural.

She closed her eyes, feeling the pressure of his large, heavy hand. She wanted to get up and run away... and she wanted to stay. There was an ache deep inside her... she had no idea what she wanted.

She felt the heaviness move away... and she felt empty... the pressure of his hand took away something from her as it lifted off her.

He left the bed, getting up before her, going out to the balcony to clear his mind. He held onto the metal grill, gripping hard till the knuckles turned white. What was he thinking... Naina is not ready for all this yet... what she had done was in sleep, thinking it was Preeti with her... but he had knowingly let his hand linger on her... even when she was awake. He pressed his lips into a grim line. What will Naina think... how will she react to it... how will he face her... he ran his fingers through the hair.

He could not explain this to her... everytime she hesitated over something, he could clear her doubts... but not this time. He had gone too fast for her... he hit the grill with his fist, annoyed with himself.

The sound of bathroom door closing indicated that Naina had gone in. He quickly went to the room, picked the keys of his bike and left. He needed to go out.

Naina came out of the washroom to see the room and balcony empty. She looked at the table. His keys were missing.

She took a deep breath before taking her clothes and going for a bath.

When Sameer came back later, he could hear Naina and Sonali talking in the kitchen. Quietly, he went to their room. It was good that she was not in the room. He planned to meet her in front of everyone now... and talk normally, as if nothing happened. Maybe that will give him courage to talk to her when they were alone. He reasoned with himself that he was not running away... just trying to find a way to sort this out without offending her.

He picked up the towel and went for a bath. Maybe a cold shower will soothe him.

With a towel around his waist, wet hair falling on the forehead, he stepped out of the washroom... to see Naina standing in front of the mirror, brushing her freshly shampooed hair. He had left his clothes outside, thinking she wouldn't come back. The sound of the door made her look in his direction.

Her breath hitched seeing him standing there in a towel. She quickly looked away, shutting her eyes.

Sameer chewed on his lip, wondering what to do. Seeing her closed eyes, he walked over to his bag and picked out the clothes, going back to the washroom to get dressed.

"Sameer." Her voice stopped him a few steps before the door.

The voice held no trace of anger... it was soft... and full of love.

He turned slowly.

Naina stood facing him, her eyes open... and clear of any accusation.

"Woh main, Naina... main... " He started.

She raised her palm, gesturing him to stop.

Sameer gulped.

She stepped ahead, coming towards him with steady steps.

He stood watching her with uncertainty clouding his mind.

She stopped right in front of him...

"Aaj good morning nahi kahoge?" She raised her brows.

He lowered his eyes... she had accepted... yet again... he felt guilty.

"Bolo na... aaj ki good morning kahan hai?" She said in a gentle voice.

"Naina, main sach keh raha hun... main... " He started again, looking at her.

She stopped him again.

To his horror, she held his hand and placed it over her heart, just like morning... this time, knowingly.

He looked at his hand, then at her, aghast.

"Jiss din se yeh dil tumhare liye dhadakne laga uss din se yeh Naina bhi tumhari ho gayi thi... tumhi ne sikhaya tha na ki pyaar jatane ke bohot saare tareeke hote hain... pehle bohot si baaton se anjaan thi... par ab samjahti hun... tumko bhi aur khud ko bhi... Sameer, tumhe aisa mehsoos karne ki koi zaroorat nahi hai... agar tum chahte toh khud ko kisi waade mein na bandhkar ab tak mere jitna chahe kareeb aa sakte the... aakhir shaadi hui hai hamari... par tumne khud kaha ki hum apna pyar dheere dheere aage badhayenge... tumne kuch galat nahi kiya jiski wajah se tumhe aise nazar churani pade... kal tumne hi kaha tha na ki hum sabse zyada apne hain ek dusre ke... toh aaj tum achanak aise gairon jaise kyon darr rahe ho... kisi aur ko thodi chua hai tumne... main biwi hun tumhari... tumhara haq hai."

He stared at her, dumbfounded, as she cleared his mind of all doubts, holding his hand on her chest all the while.

"Haq mante ho na?" She stepped closer, her fingers that were around his hand, brushed against his bare, wet chest.

"Naina, main zabardasti koi haq nahi dikhana chahta tum pe." His voice was  uncertain.

"Tumne kahan koi zabardasti ki... pehli baar bhi maine rakha tha tumhara haath aur abhi bhi." She whispered.

Sameer looked into her eyes, trying to see if she was saying it to rid him of his guilt or she meant it genuinely.

Naina saw the lingering question in his mind... she moved his hand lower, moulding it over the curve completely.

Sameer felt his knees go weak as she pressed his hand over the softness he was yearning to feel.

"Tumhe haq hai... jaise mujhe hai." She remained undaunted under his gaze, reaching up to touch his bare chest.