The starry sky and a crescent moon were witness to the two gratified souls, standing on their terrace... wrapped in each other's arms, contented at being together, grateful that they found each other back, after having lost their love once, relieved that they would never have to be away from each other, overwhelmed with the love they received.

With a deep breath, Sameer parted. He looked at the beautiful face of his wife... her shining eyes glimmered with happiness, her soft cheeks glowed with love, her firm chin held up in pride, her inviting lips... waited...

His eyes got stuck to the plump lips... ever since she had initiated the kiss on first day of their final year, he had lost count how many times he had kissed her, still they never failed to intrigue him. How could she have such perfect lips, which were made to fit exactly against his own... as if in answer to his need...

His gaze and the change in his breathing did not leave any doubt in Naina's mind about his intentions. The way his tongue pulled in his lower lip, she knew it was just a matter of few moments. But she needed to talk... talk to him about something that had been lurking in her mind since their conversation in the car. However, she needed to calm him first.

"Mera naam lo, Naina." He demanded suddenly... his eyes not moving away.

Her lips parted slightly first, then closed again, a hint of smile twisting them to one side... slowly, they moved apart again...

She lifted her face more, directly gazing into his eyes, which were fixated at the same point.

"Mera Sameer."

He was expecting just the name...

The declaration of her possessiveness filled him up with a new warmth. The way her lips rolled, he felt the movement over his own lips.

She saw the fascination grow in his eyes. Without waiting another moment, she went up on her toes, sealing her mouth over his, taking him by surprise. He recovered quickly, though... but let her be in control, surrendering to the unhurried play of those soft lips. She kissed him deeply, delving into the warm corners of his mouth, stroking his tongue with hers... and still taking her own sweet time.

When she left him, he felt a serene feeling wash over him. The way she had kissed him was so satisfying, so soothing, so complete...

"Aise kiss karna kahan se seekha?" He flicked up his brows.

She did not shy away.

"Paani mein aag laga sakti hai yeh ladki toh ek aag ko bujha bhi sakti hai... jisse tum jal na jao." She said with confidence.

"Tumhare liye jo aag hai woh kabhi nahi bujh sakti... koshish bhi mat karo." His voice was rough.

"Main jis aag ki baat kar rahi hun usse bujhna hi hoga." She was vehement.

He was puzzled now, "Naina, yeh kya bol rahi ho? Mujhe kuch samajh nahi aa raha."

She took a deep breath, "Sameer, tumhe abhi bhi door hone ka darr kyon hai?"

He was taken aback. The fears that had gripped him all his life... had become stronger after he found her. He had never been able keep the people he loved, close to himself... his father, mom, nanu, Naina... who he had to leave on his own, along with Munna Pandit... till she stepped into his life again.

Her love, her assurance about their togetherness, her faith in their cohesion... kept him afloat. He started to feel comforted by her credence... accepted that the fate had finally given in... he would never lose her now. The marriage has strengthened that belief.

But the nagging fear still lurked somewhere at the back of his mind. He couldn't get rid of it, however much he tried. Naina was right when she had mentioned that in college they were not staying with each other... were meeting only a few hours in the day. Somehow, he was satisfied that time, happy with the knowledge that she was right there, in the next wing. Now, since the time she had come to this house, since the time she had started to be with him every moment, the demons had started resurfacing. The more he was getting closer to her, more the apprehensions scared him.

He realised today how addicted he had become... to her sight, to her touch. When she was away during the day, in chachaji's house, even for a short time, he felt lost. He had to control the urge of getting up to go and look for her.

He needed her, to keep her safe from anything that could take her away from him.

He feared that some harm might come to her.

He dreaded that destiny would play its game again.

He was frantic about being left alone... yet again.

"Bolo Sameer, kya tumhe mujhpe bharosa nahi hai? Mere pyar mein koi kami hai kya? Kyon main tumhe yakeen nahi dila paa rahi hun ki hum hamesha saath hi rahenge?" Her soft voice brought him out of his thoughts.

He gulped, his insecurities were not because of her... they were because of him... and he had to tell her that.

He held her hands, keeping his eyes on them, "Naina, tumpe saari duniya se zyada bharosa hai mujhe. Tumhara pyar mere liye woh sahara hai jisne mujhe jeene ki wajah di hai. Aisa kabhi mat sochna ki tumhare pyar mein koi kami hai."

"Fir kisse darte ho tum, Sameer? Ab toh hamari shaadi bhi ho gayi hai... woh bhi sabke ashirvad se... koi humein door nahi kar sakta. Tum iss darr ko apne dimag se kyon nahi nikal paa rahe?" She was worried.

He looked up. Her eyes held pain... pain of seeing him suffer.

"Naina, mujhe apni kismat se darr lagta hai... jab tum nazron ke saamne nahi hoti ho toh ghabrahat hone lagti hai... aisa lagta hai ki pata nahi tumhe fir se dekh bhi paunga ya nahi... jab tumhara haath mere haathon mein nahi hota toh lagta hai mere haath fir se khaali ho gaye... kuch nahi bacha mere paas." His voice was a mere whisper.

She was stunned.

It had not occurred to her that he was still living with such notions. He was always so loving, so caring... she could see the delight in his eyes whenever she looked into them.

She had thought he was genuinely happy.

"Tum... tumhe aisa kyon lagta hai?" She swallowed the lump in her throat.

He was aware of the pain it must be causing to her... but he couldn't hide it any more.

"Naina, mera har rishta ek umr leke aaya hai... bohot choti umr... sabse lamba saath nanu ka tha... do saal. Jaise jaise tumhare saath ek ek din nikal raha hai, mujhe lagta hai iss rishte ki umr beet rahi hai." He spelled out his fear.

She stared at him, dumbfounded.

"Isliye mujhe har uss pal ko kho dene se gussa aata hai jab tum saamne na ho, kareeb na ho... dum ghut jaata hai tumhare bina, Naina... aisa lagta hai main mar... "

She placed a hand on his mouth, not letting him complete his sentence.

Her lips twitched, fighting the tears that threatened to spill out of her eyes.

The glistening unshed ones in his eyes constricted her throat. She could not let him suffer like this... could not see him in pain.

Holding his hand, she walked towards the door, without a word. He followed her quietly, eyes not leaving her even for a second.

They came down to their room. With one hand firmly around his, she closed the door, them switched the light off, letting the soft glow of lamp spread around.

She brought him to the bed, making him sit back against the pillow. Sitting down in front of him, she brought his hand to her waist, placing it there before taking both her hands to cup his face.

He inhaled deeply as she kissed his forehead, then his eyes which closed as her lips neared them. She placed soft kisses on his cheeks, on the jawline, chin... and went down to his neck. Without breaking the trail of her lips, she carefully opened each button of his shirt, the top one already missing. Pushing the lapels apart, she moved down from his collarbone to the chest, not leaving an inch that didn't get the touch of her lips.

Sameer drew in a sharp breath. The feel of her lips, her warm breath, brushing of her curves along his bare chest, her hands moving on his back, under the shirt... he forgot everything except this heaven she had created for him.

Pulling her up, he turned, lowering her on the bed, and went down to take the mouth that had not touched his lips yet. But Naina stopped him. He looked at her, perplexed.

"Aaj mujhe batane do tum kya ho mere liye." She whispered in a voice heavy with passion.

Before he could fathom her meaning, she captured his lips. And this kiss was nothing like the one she had given on the terrace. She was fierce, demanding... and hungry.

He happily left himself at her mercy.

And she made him feel her love, her desire, her need, her longing...

The whole night was nothing less than a bliss for Sameer. If he was elated by her surrender on other nights, he was euphoric with her incessant demand to be in control this time.

They had no idea when they slept, but it felt just a few minutes when the door bell woke them up.

"Itni raat ko kaun aa gaya?" He murmured in a groggy voice, without opening his eyes... and pulled the pillow over his head.

Naina looked at the clock. It was eight in the morning. Sameer must have forgotten to tell Ramdhari about coming late today. She quietly slipped out of the bed, pulling on her dress that lay on the floor. Folding her hair into a bun, she went to open the main door.

There was no one. She looked around. Her gaze fell on the milk bottles. With a smile, she picked them up. Sameer did not forget. Ramdhari was not here to take the milk, so the milkman had rung the bell. She went to the kitchen and put the bottles in refrigerator.

Sameer still had the pillow over his head when she went to the room. She went to his side, gently moved the pillow and kept it aside.

He was in deep sleep. His hair were all messed up, covering his entire forehead. The lips still looked swollen from the uncountable times she had taken them. A blush spread on her cheeks as she recalled other things. The marks of her teeth were visible on his body. She was sure of the scratches on his back, the ones which had shocked her when she saw them for the first time... not anymore. With alarm, she noticed a bluish mark on the side of his neck. He would have to wear collared shirts for a few days. But then, he would do that from tomorrow, when he would start going to factory.

And she was reminded of her resolve last night. His fears had to be erased... she needed to do it slowly, but with conviction. She had to free him of the apprehensions of his past. She had to smooth away the crinkles of his former days.

With a determined breath, she turned to go for a bath.

The sudden pull was the last thing she expected, falling freely on his chest.

"Sam... Sameer, tumhe lagi toh nahi?" She was instantly worried.

"Good morning, sweetheart." He smiled with sleep laden voice, eyes half opened as he looked down at her face.

The endearment brought a rush of colour to her face.

He was amazed. The flushed, shy face was a direct contrast to the bold, brazen side of hers last night. He loved both... immensely.

"Agar tum sirf andhere mein hi yeh sharmana chod sakti ho toh main aaj hi bhaari wale curtains lagwa deta hun. Fir iss kamre mein hamesha andhera rahega... aur tum hamesha mere saath kuch bhi kar sakti ho... kal raat ki tarah." He knew his teasing would mortify her, but he wanted to see her go all red.

She did, lowering her forehead on his chest.

He wrapped both arms around her, rolling over to pin her under him, impatient to see her face. Her shocked expression amused him.

"Uff Naina, tum har din mujhe hairan kar deti ho... kahan se seekha yeh sab? Kaunsi kitaaben padhti ho?" His teasing continued.

"Dhatt... main aisi koi kitaab nahi padhti." She turned her face away, her ears heating up at his indication.

"Achha, pehle toh sab kuch kitabon se hi seekh ke aayi thi... yaad hai?" He raised one brow.

She squeezed her eyes shut.

"Bolo na, Naina... kisse seekha, kaunsi kitaab se?" He rubbed his nose with hers.

She opened her eyes slowly, looking straight into his inquisitive ones.

"Tum hi sikhate ho sab kuch... jab main kitaab mein dhoondne gayi thi tab bhi tumne hi janne ki ichha jagayi thi... tumse toh pooch nahi sakti thi... aur kisi se poochne ko tumne mana kiya tha... toh kya karti?" She explained.

"Agar tab bata deta toh?" He asked.

Something flipped in her belly... now was different... but had he taken the onus of explaining everything to her, at that time... she gulped nervously.

"Oh meri jaan, kitna pagal karogi mujhe?" He adored her flaming cheeks.

"Dekhte hain.. kab tak pagal rehte ho... shaadi ke shuru mein toh sab aise hi kehte hain... paanch saal baad kitne pagal rahoge dekhna padega... aur dus saal baad toh mujhe dekh ke gussa aaya karega tumhe... bees saal baad kahoge mera dimaag kharab tha jo Naina se shaadi ki aur jab main 60 saal ki ho jaungi tab kahoge bas yehi saatvan janam hona chahiye, main isse aur che janam nahi jhel sakta." She painted a picture before him.

He gaped at her... his thoughts had never taken him that far... he had not seen himself growing old with her... it never occurred to him... his dreams never ventured that ahead in time.

"Ab jaldi se taiyar ho jao, humein mandir jaana hai... aaj Munna Pandit aur Preeti Swati aa rahe hain toh unke aane se pehle mandir se aa jayenge hum." She patted his cheek, pushing at his shoulder.

"Mandir? Kyon? Aaj kuch hai kya?" He got up, still slightly shaken from the window of future she had shown him.

"Wahan jaake bataungi." She smiled, placing one hand on his cheek as she kissed the other one before getting up from the bed.

Next update tomorrow morning