Sorry for the delay in posting. Internet has been suspended in my city for 24 hours. I've come across border to complete the story and post... will be able to communicate only tomorrow now.

The sound of singing and music floated in Naina's ears.

"Behen, chal, bua dadi bula rahi hain." Preeti came to the room to call her sister.

After wiping off some of the paste from her face, she went out to the living room again.

Taiji gave an impatient look to her.

"Arre, abhi tak aise hi baithi hai... nahane kyon nahi gayi? Jaldi se naha ke aa jisse main..." She stopped, looking at Phulla bua... knowing very well that if she mentioned that she was dying of hunger, buaji would insult her in front of all the people.

Phulla bua had no intention of being soft with taiji, "Abhi se kyon nahayegi? Thoda ubtan ka asar toh hone de... aur abhi naach gaana karenge... aise hi rasm karke muh pe taala laga ke thodi baithna hai... shaadi hai ghar mein... chalo tum log dholak bajao... aur Preeti, Swati, Neelu... zara apni behen ke liye kuch achhe se gaane gao... kitni aalsi ho sab ki sab."

The music got louder as no one bothered about taiji's upvaas that could end only after Naina's bath.

Ladies played the dholak, the girls danced to the tune of wedding songs, pulling along Bela... even Phulla bua got up to join them for a while... sitting back only when her breathing became difficult.

"Buaji, aap baithiye, main paani lati hun." Bela made her sit back on the swing.

The old lady had water, then smiled at Bela, "Tu itni chinta mat kar, kuch nahi hone wala mujhe... main abhi Preeti ki shaadi mein bhi aise hi nachungi."

"Issi ka toh rona hai." Taiji muttered under her breath.

Phulla bua gave a sideways glance to her... but didn't bother to reply... she had enough plans for her in the next few days.

Naina slipped to the room in between, going out to check in the balcony... but there was no one yet.

Sameer and Munna surrounded Pandit.

"Yeh tum log aise kyon dekh rahe ho jaise kha jaoge?" He narrowed his eyes at them.

"Khaane ke aage sochne ko kaha tha... kar kya raha hai tu... dekh raha hai na Rishi ke iraade... agar usne baat aage badha di aur uske ghar wale bhi maan gaye toh woh log seedhe chachaji se baat karenge." Sameer told him sternly.

"Aur chachaji pehle hi rishta dhoond rahe hain Preeti ke liye." Munna chipped in.

"Arre toh yaar main kya karun? Uske papa hain toh wohi rishta dhundenge na... main thodi dhoondne jaunga." Pandit turned his back towards them in frustration.

Munna rolled his eyes... Pandit was still not ready to see what was clear to them now.

Sameer placed one hand on his shoulder, "Dekh Pandit... "

He was cut by Rahul's voice, "Arre, tum teeno kya baaton mein lag gaye... chal Rishi, laga de yeh wali cassette... Munna Pandit, apne yaar ki shaadi ka dance karenge... aajao."

Loud song started to play from the system... Rahul and Rishi dragged the three of them. Everyone joined the dancing and it was almost an hour later that finally they switched off the music.

"Ramdhari, sabke liye lassi bana do bhai... garmi se haalat kharab ho gayi." Munna wiped the sweat trickling down his face.

"Sameer, aisa karte hain, table fan mangwa lete hain... yeh ceiling fan kaafi nahi hain." Munna suggested.

"Haan, main abhi tent wale ko phone kar deta hun... kal ke sangeet ke liye jab raat ko samaan aayega toh table fan bhi le aayega." Pandit got up to make the call.

"Sameer, beta tum ab naha lo... fir khana kha ke thoda aaram kar lena." Rahul's mom came to Sameer who was still covered in haldi.

"Shaam ko mehendi wali ko bulaya hai... auntyji, aap log sab taiyar rehna." Munna excitedly informed them.

"Hum toh kabse taiyar hain, Munna... Sameer ki shaadi ki saari rasmein dekhne ke liye." Sonali quipped... she was aware how important it was for both Naina and Sameer to have all these functions with family and friends.

"Haan Munna, Sameer shuru se yeh sab karna chahta tha... meri shaadi mein isne bataya tha... jab humein pata chala ki inki achanak court marriage ho gayi hai toh iss baat ka dukh hua ki dono ki yeh ichha adhuri reh gayi." Rahul recalled the day in the canteen.

Sonali sat next to him, "Lekin inhone kuch bhi adhura nahi rehne diya... apne saare sapne poore kiye... aakhir aise hi thodi naam diya hai inko."

"Naam? Kaisa naam?" Rahul's father inquired.

"Papa, yeh Sameer aur Naina nahi, yeh Samaina hain... ek dusre se aise judd gaye hain ki inke sapne bhi ek hain, inki baatein bhi aur ab inka naam bhi." Sonali informed her father in law.

"Samaina... arre waah... tumne toh bada khoobsurat naam diya hai inko." Bhabhi exclaimed.

"Yaar Sameer, tune bataya kyon nahi humein... yeh toh kamaal ka naam hai." Munna was excited.

Sameer looked down, blushing.

After having tall glasses of cold lassi brought by Ramdhari, they all went back to their rooms.

Sameer wiped his face with a towel and pulled on an old shirt.

"Arre tu yeh kya kar raha hai... tujhe nahane jaana hai... yeh shirt kyon kharab kar raha hai?" Pandit was surprised.

"Mujhe Naina se milne jaana hai." Sameer ran his fingers through his hair, and picked up the bike keys.

Munna and Pandit knew better than to stop him.

"Bhai, Ahmedabad ke logon pe rehem kar aur car se chala jaa... aise lipa puta bike pe jayega toh lagega koi saadhu baba Himalaya se aaya hai." Pandit looked him from head to toe.

Sameer looked at himself in the mirror... Pandit was right. Though he had cleaned his face, his hair were still full of dried haldi. He took out a black cap from one of the drawers and placed it on his head, satisfied as his hair were covered now. Still, he put back the bike keys and picked up the ones for car.

"Main thodi der mein aata hun." He waved at his friends, running out.

"Yeh kitni baar milta hai Naina se fir bhi iska man hi nahi bharta." Pandit stared at the empty door.

Munna closed the door and came to him, "Isko hi pyar kehte hain... jitna bhi dekh lo, par dekhne ki chahat kam nahi hoti... kitni bhi baatein kar lo hamesha ussi se baat karne ka dil karta hai... baar baar milne ke baad bhi lagta hai abhi mulakaat adhuri hai."

Pandit was lost in thoughts.

Munna noticed, and prodded further, "Har cheez ko dekh ke bas ussi ki yaad aati hai jiska naam likha hai dil pe... aaina bhi dekho toh apni jagah uska chehra saamne aa jata hai."

Pandit turned towards the mirror... and Preeti grinned back at him.

He quickly averted his gaze.

"Uski khushi ke liye sab kuch kar sakte hain... jo usko pasand ho wohi aapki pasand ban jaati hai." Munna continued.

Pandit narrowed his eyes, recalling with a shock that it was years back when he had started to order samosa in school only after seeing Preeti do it every time... he had been in love with samosa since then... because of her...

Or was it... for her...

He held his head in his palms... no, a samosa cannot be the deciding factor.

"Yeh pyar kam pagalpan zyada lag raha hai." After a serious thought, he looked up at Munna.

Munna gave him a grave look, "Tujhe kabhi aisa nahi laga ki kisi se thodi der aur baat kar leta toh achha hota... ya kisi ko thoda aur dekh pata toh khushi milti... ya koi paas rehta toh sukoon aa jata?"

Pandit tapped his temple, trying to drive out her face from his mind, "Aur kisi ka nahi par kahin shaadi ya party mein jaake khana khaane ke baad jab ghar aata hun toh lagta hai thoda aur kha leta toh shaanti, sukoon sab aa jaata."

Munna smacked him on the head, "Tu khata reh... Preeti ki shaadi mein sabse zyada thoos thoos ke kha lena... kyonki aur kuch toh tujhse hone se raha."

Pandit rubbed his head, "Maar kyon raha hai?"

Munna got up, exasperated at Pandit's inability to understand his feelings, "Toh aur kya karun... tujhe samajh kyon nahi aa raha jo mujhe aur Sameer ko dikhai de raha hai?"

"Kya dikhai de raha hai?" Pandit got up and stood behind Munna.

"Ek baat bata... jab Rishi Preeti ke baare mein baat kar raha tha toh tujhe itna gussa kyon aa raha tha?" Munna asked him.

Pandit looked away, "Mujhe gussa nahi aaya."

"Jhooth kisse bol raha hai, Pandit... mujhse ya apne aap se?" Munna was irritated.

"Ismein jhooth kya hai... woh bas thoda kharab laga ki hamare group ki hai Preeti aur woh Rishi uske baare mein aise bol raha tha." Pandit said in a low voice.

"Rishi sirf tareef kar raha tha... kyonki usse pasand aa gayi hai Preeti... ho sakta hai shaadi ki baat bhi chale... aajkal ek do saal ke umar ke fark ko koi nahi maanta." Munna said in an explaining tone.

Pandit pursed his lips... the thought of Preeti getting married to Rishi making his blood boil.

He suddenly turned to his friend, holding his shoulders, "Yaar Munna, main kya karun samajh nahi aa raha... na Preeti ke saamne jaa paa raha hun na usse dekhe bina chain mil raha hai... mujhe kuch ajeeb sa lag raha hai... ek alag hi ghabrahat ho rahi hai... pet mein khalipan hai par bhookh bhi nahi lag rahi... dimaag mein kal se yehi chal raha hai."

Munna took a deep, relieved breath... and smiled.

"Aisa lag raha hai ki abhi jaake Preeti se baat kar le?" He asked softly.

Pandit nodded.

"Par darr lag raha hai ki usse kya bolega?" He raised one brow.

Pandit gulped, nodding once.

"Aur usse zyada yeh soch ke ghabrahat ho rahi hai ki woh kya bolegi?" Munna lowered his voice more.

Pandit squeezed his eyes shut, bending his head.

"Abe isiko pyar kehte hain... tujhe pyar ho gaya hai Preeti se." Munna jumped in joy.

"Shhh... chilla kyon raha hai?" Pandit pressed his shoulders to keep him still.

Munna beamed, "Chilla nahi raha... khush ho raha hun ki mere iss bhukkad yaar ko khane ke alava kuch aur bhi soojhta hai... yeh bata, kab se aisa lagta hai... matlab tune Preeti ke baare mein kab sochna shuru kiya... bataya kyon nahi humein?"

"Abe bas kar... mera dimaag pehle hi atka hua hai cassette ki tape ki tarah upar se tu aur apna question paper leke aa gaya." Pandit rubbed his forehead, one hand on waist.

"Sun Pandit," Munna dragged him to the bed, making him sit, "Sabse pehle Preeti se baat karni hogi... uske baad kuch aur sochna."

Pandit gave a troubled look to him, "Yehi toh sabse badi mushkil hai... Preeti ko toh mere joke pe hansi tak nahi aati... mujhe kya pasand karegi... hamesha daant ke chup kara deti hai... kabhi dekha hai usne mujhse dhang se baat ki ho? Aise mein usse kuch kaha toh maar dalegi mujhe yaa fir hans hans ke paagal ho jayegi... Munna, dono hi suraton mein uski naa hi hogi."

"Tu itna galat kyon soch raha hai... ek baar keh ke toh dekh... ab mere aur Swati ke baare mein pata hai na tujhe... main to kabse pasand karta tha usse... par usne kitne saal laga diye haan kehne mein... lekin haan keh di... tu bhi himmat kar aur bata de apne dil ki baat." Munna tried to brighten Pandit's thoughts.

They seriously started thinking how to bring it up to the girls.

Sameer parked the car a little away from Naina's society. He peered at the empty balcony... and waited.

The excitement of her family made Naina's heart fill up with joy... this is how she wanted everything to be... the happiness on everyone's faces, the eagerness to carry out all rituals... the celebration... the teasing...

She looked around at her sisters dancing with a big smile on their faces... Swati and many other relatives were matching steps with them.

She started to get up to go and check for Sameer.

"Kahan chali bitiya... abhi se mat nahana... thodi der aur naach gaana chalne dete hain... shaadi wala ghar toh ab lag raha hai." Phulla bua called out.

"Main... main zara bathroom se aati hun, bua dadi." She made an excuse.

Bua dadi nodded... taiji gave an agitated look to both of them, pressing her stomach as it grumbled.

Naina noticed Sameer's car the moment she stepped in the balcony. He leaned from behind the steering wheel and smiled at her. She looked around for any known face in the street... then, on the pretext of putting back a strand of hair behind her ear, she lowered her head... and smiled back at him.

Sameer gestured with one fisted hand against his ear. She turned to look inside, then slightly nodded... and ran back.

Once in the room, Naina closed the door, picked up the cordless , and rushed back to the balcony.

Sameer stepped out of the car... and she drew in a sharp breath... he looked incredible in the black cap. Though she loved his hair, the cap added to his charm.

Sameer walked to the phone booth in front of her building, keeping his head lowered so as to keep the face hidden in case someone saw him.

She picked up the moment first ring started.

"Hello jaan." His voice filled her with warmth.

"Bade achhe lag rahe ho iss cap mein." She dipped her head to the side.

"Achha." He raised one brow, drinking in the brightness that she was exuding.

They looked at each other for a while in silence... feeling the comfort just by hearing the breathing of the other one.

"Aur tum kaisi lag rahi ho yeh main bol ke nahi bata sakta... mere toh hosh hi udd gaye hain... kal raat ko sirf mera pyar tha... aaj toh itne saare logon ke pyar ne rang diya tumhe." He could not take his eyes off her.

"Rang toh tumhara hi hai... baaki sab ne sirf saath diya hai... iss rang ko gehra karne ke liye." She said in a deep voices

"Naina, aaj mehendi hai shaam ko... tum kya likhwaogi apne haath pe?" He asked softly.

"Main algebra ke formule likhwaungi." She gave a fake smile.

The phone fell from his hand.

"Tum... tum kya keh rahi ho?" He gave a puzzled look after putting back the instrument to his ear.

"Tum kya puch rahe ho? Mehendi mein tumhara hi naam likhwaungi na... itna toh pata hona chahiye." She chided him.

A lopsided grin spread on his face, "Aur mera naam kya hai?"

She narrowed her eyes, "Tum theek ho na? Kaisi baatein kar rahe ho? Apna naam yaad nahi hai kya?"

He tilted his head, "Iss peele suit mein tum itni sundar lag rahi ho ki mujhe kuch bhi yaad nahi hai... sivaye iske ki parson hamari shaadi hai... aur uske baad mujhe kabhi tumhe itni door se nahi dekhna padega... kabhi khud ko rokna nahi padega."

He could not make out from that distance but her lowering of eyes and shy smile conveyed that the colour on her cheeks was deep.

"Ab batao... kaunsa naam likhwaogi... sirf mera, dono ka ya... " He paused.

"Ya?" She lifted her eyes in question.

"Ya Samaina... Sonali ka diya hua naam?" He grinned.

"Oh... isliye puch rahe the... tum hi bata do kaunsa naam likhwaun?" She raised her brow.

He pressed his lower lip under the teeth, deep in thought.

Suddenly, his face brightened, "Tum sirf Sameer likhwana... aur uske aage thodi khali jagah chod dena."

She was perplexed, "Khaali jagah kyon?"

"Woh main raat ko aake bataunga." He tilted his head.

This time, it was she who almost dropped the phone.

"Sam... Sameer... raat ko... fir se?" She said in a shaky voice.

"Haan... mehendi ki rasm hai... kaise apni biwi ke bina karunga... haldi ki tarah pehle nahi laga sakta par baad mein toh mil hi sakta hun na." He eyed her lovingly.

"Sameer... abhi tak kisi ne dekha nahi iska matlab yeh nahi ki kabhi pakde nahi jaoge... aaj toh Pooja didi bhi hain... kaise aaoge tum?" She tried to dissuade him.

"Naina, mehendi ke baad tumse mile bina toh nahi reh sakta... kuch karna padega... bas mujhe dekhna hai tumhe." He was adamant.

She bit her lip... unknowingly.

He groaned, "Yeh abhi karna zaroori tha kya... ek toh itni door ho upar se aise tadpa rahi ho."

He closed his eyes... she could hear his heavy breathing.

"Sameer," her soft, but firm voice made him look at her, "hum raat ko milenge... zaroor milenge."

He brightened, "Kaise?"

"Woh main tumhe baad mein bataungi, shaam ko phone karke... bas thodi der se aana hoga." She smiled with determination.

"Jab kahogi tab aa jaunga, meri jaan." His voice was filled with joy.

She smiled... and his heart flipped.

"I Love You, jaan." He was mesmerised.

"I Love You too... jaan." She whispered.

The phone slipped again from his hand... eyes went wide... mouth fell open...

He had heard it a few times but seeing her speaking in front of him, with a shy twist to her lips... he just wanted to run up to her house and crush her in his arms, claiming the mouth that had enchanted him.