"Sameer..." Naina called out hesitantly.

She had wrapped the saree around her, not tying properly but not wanting to step out without it.

He looked up from the chair, finding her standing at the door of washroom, twisting her fingers.

He knew something was wrong.

"Kya hua, Naina? Tumhari tabiyat toh theek hai?" He was in front of her next instant.

"Sameer, ek... ek help chahiye." She said with lowered eyes.

"Bolo kya hua... kya karna hai?" He looked behind her, thinking there was some problem inside the washroom.

She looked up at him, "Woh dori... tab atak gayi thi... usmein... shayad gaanth lag gayi hai... khol doge?"

His heart jumped to his mouth... another prayer answered... he had wished to tie it in the morning and now she was asking him to open it... he wondered how strong were the petals he had offered at the temple...

She turned slowly... her hair were already tied up in a knot on top of her head.

One corner of his lips extended into a triumphant smile as he neared her, feasting his eyes on the view.

The dori was tied into a tight knot at the base of her nape... he tried to pull at one end to loosen it... then twisted the coiled up string with his fingers... nothing seemed to work.

He had no qualms about trying the whole day, standing behind her, enveloped in her fragrance... but she would soon get impatient.

"Naina, yahan light kam hai... ya toh bathroom mein chalo ya bahar aao, idhar theek se dikh nahi raha." He blamed the shadow of the door.

Holding onto her saree carefully, she walked out... it was better than calling him inside the washroom.

She stood with her back against the glass door... he tried again... the coils were wound against each other too tight. He needed something sharp to pull at one... if he could loosen one, it would be easy to open the whole thing. Absence of long nails like girls left him with only one option.

Naina felt his breath even before the lips touched her skin.

She stiffened, "Kya... kya kar rahe ho?"

He lifted his head to speak over her ear, "Daanton se khol raha hun... aur koi tareeka nahi hai... tum hilo nahi."

He bent down again, holding the string between his teeth and pulling up.

Naina shivered as his teeth touched the sensitive skin behind her neck, nose and lips pressing into her. The knot gave away within seconds.

He moved his face, seeing the goosebumps clearly on her back... the natural light from the door falling on her from behind.

As he opened the other layer of coil easily with his fingers, the fine hair on her neck stood up...

His breath quickened... the dori was not providing any cover, still, when it fell on either sides, it somehow gave a wider dimension to the view he had earlier.

Her saree lay lower on the waist at the back, unlike how it was during the day. He could see the gap between her blouse and waistband where she had tied the saree. Her entire back covered in goosebumps made his own hands shake with the tremulous hold over himself. As his eyes got stuck on a mole low on her back, on the left side... almost hidden under the neckline of the blouse, his fingers ached to touch it. He had never seen it before... but then, he could not have... she didn't wear anything with such back... except, of course, the first day in the rain...

He started to imagine the green blouse... probably, when she would wear it, he would be able to see the mole clearly. He traced the neckline with his fingers, stopping on the small black dot, mustering courage to shift it a little to get a better look at the mole.

Naina had turned into a stone. The moment his teeth had touched her skin, she had lost the capability to think or move. The jolt of current that passed through her had dulled her brain, paralyzing her. Now, as his fingers grazed her skin, she had the nagging thought somewhere at the back of her mind that she needed to move... to get away... the work was done... she had to go back to the safety of washroom...

Her feet did not support her... the sensation that immobilized her, also made her entire system churn at a much faster pace... the throbbing that rocked her had only one solution... she stepped back, colliding with his chest, her head resting back on his shoulder.

His hand came around her waist instantly, on her belly, the smooth skin cool under his burning palm.

"Naina, kuch... kuch kehna hai tumse." He whispered in a hoarse voice.

She waited, not able to breathe.

His thumb moved over her flat stomach, circling the navel. His heated breath fanned her cheek, making her legs loose all their strength.

"Naina, woh saree... "

His sentence remained incomplete as the sound of doorbell made them snap out of the world they had drifted into.

She straightened, eyes getting back the focus finally. Breathing hard, she realised why she was here. Her hand shot back to touch the knot... and touched skin.

The knot was open.

She rushed to the washroom, not able to look at him once.

He saw her snap out of the trance... her shoulders suddenly tensed up... and she ran away, closing the door of washroom.

Everything around felt vacant in an instant... her scent still lingered in the air but her presence was gone, leaving him bereft of the captivating warmth within his arms.

The door bell rang again.

Running his fingers through the hair, he went out to answer it. The postman stood at the door... with a registered letter. He held the letter and signed for it. Locking the door, he placed it on the center table, making sure that Rahul gets to see it first thing when he enters the house next day.

The room was still empty when he returned.

Naina stood with her back to the closed door, holding a hand against her forehead. Her heart was beating so hard against the chest, she feared it could stop functioning any moment... her breath was constricted in the throat that itself had gone dry as a leaf... her hands were shaking... she wondered how she managed to bring herself here on the legs that were no better than jelly... what in the world was she doing... she kicked herself mentally. She should have tried to open the knot herself... or at least had the sense to move away when he had done it... she had rather lost all sense of right and wrong.

But nothing was wrong... her inner voice corrected her.

No, it was wrong if it came in the way of achieving his dream... something she couldn't let happen... his dream... any dream... was more precious to her than anything else in the world... and this dream was even more valuable... it was essential to be fulfilled... to erase the sadness, the bitterness of his past... so that they could start their new life on a fresh slate... build up happy memories... he needed the light of their closeness to put an end to darkness of his lonely days...

She decided to take a shower... it was needed to clear her head... also, she needed the time to gather courage to face him.

Standing under the shower, she felt the prickles of cold water hit her, making her heated skin cry out in protest as well as in relief.

When she stepped out... Sameer looked up from where he was sitting. Giving a small smile to him, she went out to put the towel on stand outside.

"Tum chai piyoge?" She asked, coming back to the room.

He dipped his head to the side, pursing his lips.

Naina left the room. She placed the pan on gas stove in kitchen. The transparent jars of sugar and tea leaves were kept on the platform itself. She was waiting for the water to boil when Sameer walked in.

She carried on with her work... trying to keep her heartbeat in control. He rested against the platform at the other end, arms crossed against his chest, watching her as she moved about getting milk from the refrigerator, adding yea leaves and sugar to the boiling concoction, taking out the cups and arranging on a tray...

When she strained the tea in two cups, putting away the pan in the sink... he came closer.

She picked up the tray and turned... to see him standing in front of her.

He took the tray from her hands and placed it back on the platform.

"Naina, aaj jo hua uska na mujhe koi guilt hai na main sorry bol raha hun... mujhe yeh kehne mein koi hichkichaht nahi hai ki mere liye tumse door rehna bohot mushkil hota ja raha hai... main jaanta hun humara pyar hamari zaroorat se bada hai lekin apni ichhaaon ko dabana bhi galat hai... ab hum pati patni hain... humein haq hai ek dusre pe... aur yeh haq jatana galat nahi hai... ek sapne ke liye main khud ko ya tumko koi sazaa nahi dena chahta." He looked directly into her eyes.

She saw clarity, sincerity and unending love for her in his soft eyes.

"Sameer, baat sahi ya galat ki nahi hai... tumhare sapne ke peeche jo ahsaas hain woh mere liye bhi itne hi maayne rakhte hain jitne woh tumhare liye zaroori hain... haq toh humein bohot pehle se hai... maine saare haq tumhe ussi din de diye the jiss din apne dil ki baat kahi thi tumse... shaadi karke humne bas samaj ke saamne apne rishte ko manzoori dilwayi hai... rishta toh kab ka judd chuka tha... agar yeh sapna tumhare beete hue kal se iss kadar nahi judda hota toh main kabhi nahi rokti tumhe... waise main ab bhi nahi rokungi... agar tum kaho ki tumhe iss sapne ke adhoore reh jaane ka bilkul dukh nahi hoga." She placed one hand on his cheek.

Sameer was once again left spellbound by her words. She had
extracted the most crucial point that he was ready to put behind him... yes, there would be a tinge of regret somewhere in the hidden corner of his heart if he could not wait till the night of his dream... he was ready to give in now, knowingly... but she was right... it would not make him feel guilty nor was there anything wrong in it... but he had waited so long for her... he could do it for a few more days.

"Tum theek keh rahi ho... yeh bhi ek exam hi hai... agar hum baaki exams ke liye itni mehnat kar sakte hain toh iss exam mein bhi paas ho hi jayenge... yeh sapna khaas hai aur khaas hi rahega... aur poora hoke zyaada khaas ban jayega." He took her in his arms, relieved.

They had tea in the balcony of the hall... looking down at the garden where few women were walking while some children played on the swings or ran here and there... some old people sat together on a bench, occupied in a discussion.

"Humare ghar ke bahar se aisa kuch nahi dikhta... tum bore toh nahi ho jaogi?" He asked, seeing a happy expression on her face as she watched the activities in the garden.

She looked sideways at him, "Bore tab hote hain jab hum bahar khushi dhoondhte hain... meri khushi toh har pal mere saath hai... bore kaise ho sakti hun."

They were indeed each other's happiness.

After their tea session, they sat down to study till dinner time. Sameer felt much at peace and was able to study with more concentration. He was happy with the pressure that Naina had put on him, he felt well prepared for exams... confident that he would do well again this year. More than anything else, he wanted to see the proud glow in her eyes that his result brought.

Naina just had to heat up the food when it was time... they had dinner in their room.

"Sameer, main toh abhi aur padhne wali hun... tum so jao... warna yahan baithe baithe so gaye uss din ki tarah toh utha ke le jaana bada mushkil hota hai." She sat on the chair after dinner.

"Abhi nahi sona mujhe... aisa karte hain... aaj bed pe hi baith ke padh lete hain... main so bhi gaya toh koi problem nahi hogi." He suggested.

She agreed. In Ahmedabad, she and Preeti often studied in bed... it was more because Preeti wanted to sleep rather than any other reason.

Sameer finished his bath and joined her on the bed, along with his books.