"Sameer, utho... humein jaana bhi hai na... uth jao... naha lo." Naina's soothing voice flowed in his ears as he stirred, wondering where she wanted to go.

"Sameer, utho na... der ho jayegi." She was closer, almost in his ear.

"Kahan jaana hai, Naina... aaj kahin ghumne ka man nahi hai... tum bhi aao, so jao." He pulled her on the bed, making her lie over him, without opening his eyes.

"Sameer, kya kar rahe ho?" The panic in her voice made him open one eye a bit.

"Tumhe yahan bhi ghoomne ki padi hai... isliye thodi Ooty aaye hain." He murmured in heavy, sleepy voice, nuzzling in her neck.

A sharp pinch on the waist made him cry out, "Ahh, Naina... yeh kya kar rahi ho?"

He sat up in bed, rubbing his waist where she had pinched.

"Aankhen kholo aur dekho... Ooty mein nahi Rahul ke ghar mein ho." She moved away from the bed, out of his reach.

Sameer looked around, dazed. How did he land here... they were together in Ooty... for their honeymoon...

"Naina, yeh toh Rahul ka ghar hai." He was still groggy from sleep.

"Wohi keh rahi hun... Rahul ka ghar hai aur aaj humein yahan se jaana hai... isliye tum ab uth jao." She replied patiently.

He rubbed his eyes... finally coming to senses, "Main so kaise gaya? Hum toh poori raat jaag rahe the na?"

She came back near him, now that he was fully awake, "Main jab bathroom se bahar aayi toh tum so rahe the... maine socha sone deti hun... maine saari packing kar li hai... tumhare jo kapde bahar ya cupboard mein the, woh maine nikal ke table pe rakh diye hain... tum apne bag mein rakh lena... books maine sambhal ke saari rakh li hain... notes bhi."

"Tumne itna sab kar liya? Kitni der se so raha hun main?" He rubbed his chin.

Her eyes drifted to his action, fingers itching to feel it herself... but she knew if she fell weak now, it would be extremely difficult for them to leave...

"Zyada nahi, bas do ghante." She smiled.

His eyes widened, "Main do ghante se so raha hun... aur tum itni der tak packing karti rahi?"

"Arre baba, packing toh dus minute mein ho gayi thi... main thodi der balcony mein baithi thi, fir kitchen mein Sonali se baat ki, uske baad kuch notes banaye... ab laga ki zyada time ho gaya hai isliye tumhe utha diya." She shrugged.

"Offo, do ghante ka time barbaad karwa diya na... bathroom se aate hi uthana tha... maine kaha tha na main so ke yeh time khatam nahi karna chahta." He was visibly miffed.

Naina ruffled his hair that were already falling on his forehead, "Sameer, neend aa gayi toh kya hua... achha hai ma abhi thoda so gaye nahi toh din mein neend aa jaati aur shaam ko milna reh jaata... wapas apni purani jagah pe."

His eyes brightened instantly, "Aaogi  na... mujhe darr tha kahin tum exam ki baat karke shaam ka hamara milna band na kardo."

"Abhi pehla exam ke baad toh ek hafte ka break hai isliye band nahi karenge... lekin uske baad jo teen exams jaldi jaldi hain tab hum time waste nahi karenge... fir aakhiri paper se pehle bhi ek hafte ki chutti hai toh bas... beech ke kuch din hi toh hain... pata bhi nahi chalega aur exams khatam ho jaayenge." She tried to sound cheerful.

"Mujhe toh bohot achhe se pata chalega... ek ek din, ek ek ghanta... pata chalega woh har pal jo tumse door rehkar katega." He brooded.

She sat in front of him, "Sameer, please mushkil mat banao, apne liye bhi aur mere liye bhi."

"Naina, aasaan bhi toh nahi hai na... mere liye bhi... aur tumhare liye bhi." He swallowed.

Her lip quivered... she had been consoling herself since morning that this time was bound to come and they should view it as a stepping stone to their togetherness... each day would strengthen their resolve to stand up against all those who would try to distance them from each other. But with Sameer showing such vulnerability, she would collapse in no time.

He held her hands, realising his mistake, "Lekin hum mil ke kar lenge iss mushkil ka bhi saamna... sorry, main zara neend ki wajah se pata nahi kya, kya bol raha tha."

She smiled, and pulled at his hands, getting up from the bed, "Ab bas uth jao aur naha lo."

Sameer dragged himself out of the bed reluctantly, picking up his towel as she pushed him towards the bathroom.

Upon reaching the door, he suddenly stopped, and turned... Naina was right in front of him.

"Ab kya hua?" She asked with hands on her waist.

"Kuch meetha nahi milega?" He looked hopefully at her.

"Chup chap jao andar, nahi toh namkeen pakka mil jayega." She raised one hand.

"Chalega, tumhare haath se thappad bhi chalega." He extended his cheek towards her,  closing his eyes.

She pursed her lips... placed one hand on his cheek, rubbing the thicker growth... and lifted her heels to plant a kiss on his other cheek, stepping back immediately.

He opened his eyes, smiling.

"Yeh dekho, yeh kitna udaas hai, isko bhi toh kuch milna chahiye na."  He pointed at his other cheek.

She huffed, narrowing her eyes.

"Achha baba, jaa raha hun." He turned up his hands in resignation, and entered the washroom.

Naina smirked, about to turn when he opened the door, sticking his neck out.

"Yeh wala abhi bhi ro raha hai." He pointed at his cheek.

He shut the door before the cushion could hit him.

Naina had just sat at the table to complete the episode she had started in the morning when the door opened again.

"Agar abhi bhi ro raha hai tumhara gaal toh ab thappad taiyar hai... tum bhi ro lo uske saath." She feigned annoyance.

"Woh mujhe... lag gayi." He extended his index finger.

She saw the drops of blood... and was next to him in an instant.

"Sameer, yeh kaise... kya kiya tumne... offo... kitna khoon aa raha hai... dard ho raha hai kya... ab ho hi raha hoga itni chot lagi hai toh." She blabbered, eyes welling up at his pain.

"Arre, itna dard nahi ho raha... kuch sochte sochte razor ko ulta pakad liya... toh blade se cut gaya." He made a sad face.

"Ruko, main abhi first aid box laati hun." She ran out... and was back in two minutes... a white box in her hand.

She made him sit on the chair, turned the bottle of antiseptic on the cotton pad, and held his hand.

"Naina, yeh mat lagao... isse jalta hai."   He tried to pull away his hand, not too keen to feel the sting on the cut.

"Chote bachhe jaise mat karo... yeh zaroori hota hai." She tightened her hold on his hand.

"Naina, please nahi na." He whispered.

"Agar yeh lagwa liya toh tumhare gaal ko rona nahi padega." She offered the bribe.

He grabbed the chance, "Ab usko do chahiye... itna time jo laga diya tumne."

"Theek hai, lekin ab hilna mat." She placed the cotton on his wound before he could think of something else.

He hissed loudly, as the sharp sting burned his entire hand.

Naina blew over it, trying to soothe the burning.

She applied the ointment, then wrapped a white bandage neatly over his finger, checking if it wasn't too tight or too loose.

"Ab tum jaake naha lo." She placed everything in the first aid box.

"Umm... ek problem hai." He twisted his mouth.

"Kya hua... dukh raha hai? Tight ho gaya kya zyada? Lao dubara bandh deti hun." She was concerned.

He shook his head...

"Main shave nahi kar paunga... tum kar dogi kya?" He said in a low voice.

Sorry for the short one... little pressed for time today.