Sameer was not able to concentrate on anything in his room... whatever he did, wherever he looked, all he could see was Naina's face, mesmerising him yet again...

He had not been in a position to say anything to her earlier when they left the terrace... in fact, she had beaten him to that too... grabbing her bag and the jacket she had discarded sometime earlier, she rushed down the stairs... he had realised that she had left only after a few seconds... and had run after her. She was already  at the exit gate when he reached the ground floor, waiting to see him... but did not stop to talk, running away to her hostel as he tried to reach her. With a wide smile, she waved and went in.

He stood there for a few minutes, getting some hold onto the jumbled mess of coiled nerves that she had left behind. He was completely enraptured by her today... his throat still dry, his heartbeat still racing, his pulse still erratic, his ears still buzzing, his blood still gushing like hot lava...

He had walked back to his room... lost.

Her boldness had taken him by storm... it wasn't that Naina had kissed him for the first time or let her desires show suddenly... but the way she had taken everything in her hands... right from the time she called him 'jaan' in the library... Sameer shivered again, reminded of her sweet yet seductive voice at that time... the way she took him to the terrace... her plan to get him to put the ointment, even though her pain seemed to be gone... her kisses... her acknowledgment of each thing he had sent last night...

Oh God!! He could send her gifts everyday for such a thank you... he could do it every hour...

He wiped the sweat off his face... a cold shower was badly needed.

He could not eat a proper lunch, nibbling at the little food he had taken in his plate. All he wanted now was to see her again. That had to wait till evening. Going back to his room, he laid on the bed, thinking about the time when they would be together again, back home, without any restraint, without any holding back... she would still drive him crazy...

He knew she was capable of loving fiercely, he had seen the intensity in her eyes right from the beginning... rather he had seen it in school itself, without even looking at her directly... and after coming here, after getting close to her, he was not left with any doubt in his mind that his girl was one hell of a woman... but the sensuous side of her that he saw today had riled up the calm control he had been keeping on his feelings and wants.

Clutching the pillow to his chest, he rolled over on the bed, "Naina, kya ho tum... kabhi itni sehem jaati ho ki tumhe chune se bhi darr lagta hai aur kabhi aisi aag ho jaati ho ki main jal jaata hun... kabhi shaant jheel ke jaisi hoke mujhe khamosh rehne par majboor karti ho aur kabhi aisa toofan le aati ho ki main bolne layak hi nahi rehta... kabhi rok deti ho aur kabhi khud hi ruk nahi paati... kya karun main?"

He buried his face in the pillow, counting the minutes till it was time to go to the ground.

Naina was pacing her room in tension... worried about the outcome of her actions... the plan was to just thank him for everything... a few kisses she had thought about, along with giving him a chance to apply ointment on her arm... but on the waist had happened on the spur of the moment.

She didn't know what had gotten into her. When his fingers had delicately touched her arm, the desire to get more had taken her by storm. The distance after sharing the proximity for so long had created a deep longing in her... and it was fueled even more by his touch. She had controlled herself later... but he was still in shock when she had left. She could see he wanted to be with her some more when she waved at him... she had flashed a bright smile, trying to hide her own quivering.

Now she had no idea what was in store for her in the evening. Should she avoid meeting him... not possible. Naina was very well aware what he would do... land up straight in her room. Even more disastrous. With a sigh, she decided to meet him in the ground.

She was going down the stairs when a voice reached her.

"Naina."

She looked back to see the warden coming behind her.

"Kaisi ho tum?" She asked as she reached Naina.

"Main theek hun, ma'am... kaafi... kaafi behtar hun pehle se." She gave a courteous smile.

"Lekin tumhe aaram karna chahiye na... kahan jaa rahi ho iss waqt?" The warden glanced at her watch.

Naina felt a nervous flutter in her stomach, "Woh... woh ma'am, thodi ghutan ho rahi thi isliye bahar garden mein jaa rahi hun... walk... walk karne."

"Arre nahi, nahi, aisi weakness mein walk nahi karte... kahin behosh ho gayi toh." The lady adjusted her spectacles.

"Nahi ma'am, abhi sach mein theek hun... saara din andar baithe baithe ghabrahat ho gayi thi... bas thodi der mein aa jaungi." She knew she was late now.

"Achha chalo, main bhi saath chalti hun... tum sahi keh rahi ho... poore din andar rehna bhi mushkil hai." The warden started to go down the last few steps.

Not hearing any sound behind her, she turned to find Naina standing where she was.

"Aao na... kya hua?" She quizzed.

"Jee." Seeing no option, Naina walked out with her.

They had been in the garden for barely ten minutes when she started to breathe heavily.

"Kya hua, Naina? Tabiyat kharab ho rahi hai fir se?" The warden stopped her by holding onto her shoulder.

"Haan, shayad thak gayi... main... main jaake aaram kar leti hun." She wiped her neck, showing signs of fatigue.

"Chalo, main tumhe chod deti hun tumhare kamre tak." Warden offered.

Gritting her teeth, she slowly went up the stairs, the lady again at her heels.

As Naina unlocked the door, she touched her forehead, "Tum toh ekdum thandi ho gayi ho...  main abhi tumhare liye doodh bhijwati hun... tum aaram karo... aur kuch chahiye kya?"

"Chahiye na... aapse chutkara... aapko aaj ka hi din mila tha saari timardari dikane ka?" Naina screamed in her mind.

On face, she gave a tight lipped smile and shook her head.

"Ab bas aaram karo... abhi bhijwa rahi hun... parson tumhara pehla paper hai... tab tak theek hona hi padega." The warden patted her shoulder and walked away.

Naina stood watching her retreating figure, wrenching her fingers.

Sameer would be worried sick and impatient by now. She ran out to the balcony.

He had been waiting for quite some time now. It wasn't like Naina to get late like this. There definitely was some problem. He had spent the afternoon hours with great difficulty. And now this wait... it was killing him. He had glanced at her balcony multiple times... but the room was engulfed in darkness. If she wasn't in her room, and she hadn't reached here, where was she? He was going crazy all the more. Of all the days, this mysterious issue had also to crop up today...

Biting his lip, he again went to the side of the tree, looking in the direction of her room.

She stood in the balcony.

His heart fell to the pit of his stomach... was she unwell... was there a problem... was she caught while coming... did she...

He felt another jolt... did she herself decide not to come?

No, the last one could not be the reason... not with his Naina.

He waved.

She waved back, giving him some relief.

To his amazement, she gestured for him to come towards her room, going back in the moment he started to walk in that direction.

He reached the balcony and waited. The dark cover of moonless night helped him stay hidden  if anyone ventured this side.

Naina came out again... joining her hands to mouth a silent sorry as she wrinkled her nose. He questioned with the gesture of his hands.

She waved a paper at him, looked back once... and folded it quickly before throwing it down. He picked it and looked up again, puzzled.

She indicated him to leave, furiously waving her hands in air, looking back repeatedly.

Sensing some trouble, he quickly moved away, running to turn behind the building. When he looked back after a while, she wasn't there.

Sameer reached his room before opening the letter. He wanted to read it in the privacy of his own surroundings.

"Sorry, sorry, sorry...
Mujhe pata hai tum bohot gussa hoge... tum kitni der se wahan intezar kar rahe the aur main nahi aayi. Please maaf kardo.

Main jaise hi aane ko nikli, warden ne dekh liya aur rok liya... kyonki meri tabiyat kharab hai na...

kal hi meri behen ne bataya tha unhe...

Aaj kuch zyada hi dhyaan rakhne ka man tha unka... maine bahana banaya ki main walk karne jaa rahi hun toh woh bhi saath ho li... kyonki meri tabiyat kharab hai na...

Maine socha kamzori ka bahana banake wapas aa jati hun aur unke jaane ke baad nikal jaungi toh woh aaram karne ko bolke gayi hai aur doodh bhijwane wali hai... kyonki meri tabiyat kharab hai na...

Apne hi jaal mein phans gaye hum, Sameer.

Aaj nahi aa paungi... kal subah milti hun...

Darwaze pe koi hai... main jaati hun... tum bhi please jao... baaki sab kal bataungi...

Aur haan...

I Love You, jaan."

He read the letter multiple times. Initial frown slowly turned into frustration... then a smile spread on his face.

Just like her, the letter was also cute... and her last line stayed imprinted in his heart. He could see her biting the corner of her lower lip while writing it.

Holding the paper against his face, he inhaled deeply, falling back on the bed. This girl had his heart wrapped around her little finger... and she knew it very well.

But what to do now... he needed to be with her... he needed her badly...

He kissed the letter... groaning.

Naina placed the glass of milk on her table, thanking the ayah who got it.

She hated it... more so today as this stupid glass of milk had kept her away from Sameer.

Lying face down in her bed, she cursed the situation they were in... so close yet far away... bound together in the sacred bond of marriage yet not able to disclose to anyone...

She didn't get up to go for dinner either. Food was far away from her mind.

The scent reached her before any sound...

He was here.

She rushed to the balcony, peering down the pipe.

Sameer held out his hand. She helped him jump in. He pulled her against himself, not able to wait another second.

It was like they were trapped under water... not able to breathe till now... and suddenly they were able to come up to the surface... getting another chance at life...

"Sorry Sameer." She mumbled against his chest.

He kissed the top of her head.

He was home.

Next update would be tomorrow morning as I won't be able to work on it during the day. Sorry!