Naina checked her watch to realise they had been studying for almost two hours. It was past midnight. She looked at Sameer. He was awake, engrossed in writing something in his notebook.

She smiled... aware that he was working hard only for her sake... to make her happy. His own interest was only to pass the examination and get a degree. Only because she wanted him to perform better, he had constantly been doing it since first year. Naina's heart filled up with pride and love.

She rested her hands on the bed, bending towards him, and planted a kiss on his cheek.

Sameer looked up at her with a jerk, startled.

"Naina... yeh kya?" He held a palm to his cheek.

"Kya... arre... kiss hi toh kiya hai... thappad thodi mara hai jo tum aise aankhen phaad ke dekh rahe ho... aur muh band karo... makkhi ghus jayegi." She frowned.

He immediately closed his mouth... staring at her... and broke into a grin.

"Aise achanak pyar dikhana toh mera kaam hai... tumne kiya toh main zara chaunk gaya tha... par achha laga... main wapas padhta hun... tum apna kaam karti raho." He looked down at the books, cheek extended towards her.

"Bas ab ho gayi aaj ki padhai... chalo so jao... baaki kal." She chuckled.

He made a face at her, then smiled and started to close the books.

When he was done, Naina switched off the light, flicking the night lamp on, and sat on the bed, fluffing her pillow.

"Tumhara takiya toh yeh hai." He reminded her, spreading his arm.

She smiled, immediately going to him.

"Mujhe laga tum itna padh ke thak gaye hoge toh shayad aise disturb hoge." She settled in the crook of his arm, hand on his chest.

"Haan, disturb hota hun... jab tum paas nahi hoti." He wound his arm around her, drawing her closer.

"Main hamesha hi paas hoti hun." She snuggled into him.

"Hoti ho par kabhi kabhi hi mujhe dekhti ho." The corners of his lips dipped, like a child.

"Sameer, aisa kyon keh rahe ho?" She turned her face towards him, worried at his whining.

"Aur kya kahun, tumhare liye aaj white shirt pehna tha... tumne ek baar theek se dekha tak nahi." He brooded.

A knowing smile spread on her face. His self obsession always needed her appreciation as well. She raised herself on the elbow, looking down at him.

"Bohot handsome lag rahe the tum... maine subah jab dekha tabhi socha tha... Sonali ke ghar pe bhi meri aankhen tum par hi thi... socha wapas aake bataungi par..." Her eyes slipped down to his chest, recalling how he had opened his button after one had come apart.

"Par?" He raised one brow.

"Nahi, bas... bas mauka nahi mila." She said softly.

"Toh ab bata do... ab toh mauka hai na." He lifted one hand to roll a strand of her falling hair around his finger.

"Tum hamesha hi itne achhe lagte ho... har shirt mein... school uniform mein bhi lagte the... tabhi toh sab ladkiyan marti thi tumpe." She pinched his nose.

"Sabka toh pata nahi... par ek ka pata chala tha mujhe... matlab kuch kuch ahsaas hota tha." He rubbed his thumb on the hair rolled on his index finger, feeling their silkiness.

"Woh ek toh pehli nazar mein hi mar gayi thi... aur aaj bhi wohi haal hai." She smiled shyly.

He lifted her hand from his chest and brought to his lips, kissing the palm, "Naina, kaash main bhi tab pehchaan paata ki tum kya ho mere liye... tumhare saath rehne ke do saal maine ganwa diye."

She was aware how much he regretted not accepting his feelings once he had started to like her in school.

"Purani baatein hain woh... chodo unhe... ab toh hum saath hain na... hamesha ke liye." She soothed out the frown lines from his brow.

Her words did not bring the expected bright smile, "Kal ka din aakhiri hai yahan... parson hum wapas chale jayenge... fir hostel mein akele... aur jab Ahmedabad jayenge tab toh tumse milna bhi mushkil ho jayega, Naina... main kaise rahunga tumhare bina."

She shuddered at the thought of going back to her house and stay without him till her family accepted their relation.

"Yahan aake tumhari aur bhi aadat ho gayi hai... ab toh raat ko bhi tumhare saath hi neend aati hai." He pressed her hand on his chest.

She laid her head on his shoulder again, "Sameer, bas kuch din aur... fir hum hamesha saath rahenge... ek din ke liye bhi tumse door nahi jaungi... kabhi bhi nahi."

She could feel a tremble in his body.

"Naina, tum mere saath hi chalo na... chachaji toh sab jaante hi hain... unko koi aitraaz nahi hoga... jab sab log maan jayenge aur shaadi ki date aa jayegi tab... tab tum kuch din chali jaana." He was desperate.

She slid her arm around his neck, mumbling, "Tum jaante ho na aisa nahi ho sakta."

She could feel his loneliness, the fear of going back to the house where he had been abandoned by his mother, where he had lost the only person who was his family... who loved him unconditionally all his life, where he was pushed into the bottomless pit of being labelled as 'manhoos'... which had almost consumed him had she not reached out to him when she did...

Naina felt her breath leaving her lungs... had she not gone to him at that time, would he have...

An uncontrollable shiver gripped her as a dam of tears burst from her eyes.

Sameer felt her shaking body, along with a wetness on his neck.

He lifted his head with a jerk, "Naina? Kya hua? Tum... tum aise kyon ro rahi ho?"

She looked at his face, hot tears streaming down her cheeks...

Her Sameer... she realised how close she had come to losing him forever.

Holding his face within her hands, she peppered it with feverish kisses.

Sameer was shocked beyond words... not knowing what had triggered this reaction from her. He started to rub her back vigorously, trying to stop her sobbing that had resulted in hiccups by now.

He could not bear her distress and tears... and there seemed to be only one way to make her forget it.

His mouth sought her lips in a gentle, soothing kiss, hand reaching back in her hair while he continued to stroke her back.

Her hiccups died in his mouth, the kiss more of a reminder that whatever was the past, he is here now... with her... as her husband... she had married him... she was his wife... and this was a sign of their bond for not only one life but more...

She closed her eyes in gratitude, giving in to the bliss.

Sameer softly explored her mouth... relieved when her hand pressed into his back.

Slowly, her fingers bunched the long hair on his nape, her nails dug into his back as he felt her press herself more into him.

His pulse shot up... fisting her hair, he deepened the kiss.

In a heartbeat, everything changed.

A soothing, comforting kiss became urgent and demanding... gentle stroking of the back became a desperate requirement to touch...

His male scent plundered her senses, blocking out any other thought except the need to be with him... the fear of almost having lost him intensifying the force of her wants.

Her hand at his back slipped to the hem of his t-shirt, seeking the pleasure of his skin under her fingers.

He froze for a moment... feeling her touch on his back... directly on the skin. She took the chance he gave to let her tongue tease him before breaking the kiss... but did not let her lips leave him... skimming over his cheeks, feeling the roughness of tiny hair ends on his jaw and chin, trailing down the column of his throat to nip at his collarbone.

He felt her sharp teeth... and sucked in a breath. Her hand had now reached his abdomen, feeling the tight muscles, tracing every inch like she wanted to print it in her memory.

The hot trail of her lips and burning touch of her fingers left him staggered, his own desires flaming up to match her fire.

He held her tight, and rolled over so that her back hit the bed. His torso half over her... looking at her flushed face, dilated eyes, swollen, wet lips, he groaned... this girl was the reason of his existence and this girl would be his undoing.

He bent down to claim her lips hungrily... making her whimper in his mouth.

Naina closed her eyes... pulling his head down more to get as much as she could... till she moved her face to the side to catch a much needed breath. He raised his head, seeing her breathe heavily.

He missed her touch on his chest... the storm inside raging more with each passing moment...

She felt his weight on her go missing and opened her eyes... to watch him pull his t-shirt over his head.

Before she could react, he was back... pulling her hands to his chest. She shivered for a moment, then, let them glide up to his shoulders, slowly going down over his arms, feeling the taut muscles.

He held her again and rolled back, bringing her up on himself. His insides coiled up in pleasure as she reached down to his chest, placing small kisses... his hands seeked skin as well, going under her kurta to reach her back.

The smooth, velvety, feel under his fingers and wet, soft lips on his chest were as soothing as they were tormenting, intensifying the ache in him...

He pulled her up, holding one arm... losing himself in the bliss of another kiss, his big palms returning to feel every inch of her skin.

It was when his fingers pulled at the hooks on her back that Naina got  the sense of what was happening. She cursed herself silently... for not letting him go on... and lifted herself up.

Sameer opened his eyes to see what was the reason of this sudden loss of warmth. Her eyes were more clear now. He saw the soft smile as she picked up his t-shir, extending it to him... though she didn't remove his hand from her back.

He closed his eyes, taking off his hand from her... trying to calm his jumbled nerves.

Sitting up in front of her, he pulled down the t-shirt, covering himself... and planted a kiss on her forehead.

"I Love You." She said in a voice that was instantly soothing... and satisfying.

He laid back, sucking in lungful of air to bring his ragged breathing to normal.

Naina came down to lie on his shoulder, holding his hand to wrap around herself.

They drifted off to sleep with a smile on their faces.