"Mujhe aata nahi hai, Sameer... pehle kabhi kiya nahi." Naina was scared to hurt him.

Sameer chuckled, "Pehle kaise karti... tum thodi shave karti ho... haan agar tumhe aata hota toh mujhe tension hoti ki tumne kispe try kiya hai."

She pursed her lips.

"Achha theek hai... sorry... ab zara dhyaan se dekho... kahin gusse mein mere iss handsome se chehre ko kharab mat kar dena." He pouted.

"Itna hi bharosa hai toh khud kar lo... apne iss handsome chehre ko pyar dikha lo jitna dikhana hai." She wrinkled her nose.

"Pyar bhi tumko dikhana hai, jaan, aur yeh handsome chehra bhi." He circled one arm around her waist, lightly touching his cheek with hers.

More foam stained her cheeks. He grinned as she wiped her face.

"Main bhi aise hi tang karungi tumhe." She showed fake anger.

He wiped a small fleck from her cheek, "Karo na... main toh kabse intezar kar raha hun ki tum kuch karo."

She looked directly into his eyes, "Abhi filhaal yeh kar lein? Baaki ka baad mein."

His eyes brightened, "Baad mein kab?"

"Sameer, main jaa rahi hun." She turned, trying to hide the colour that crept up her cheeks instantly.

His hold on her waist did not let her move away. Pulling her to face him, he covered her hand with his, taking the razor to his chin. Slowly, he touched it to his skin and pressed, sliding it down.

She watched in fascination as a clean patch of skin appeared. He repeated the action and another clean rectangular part of skin was visible.

Still holding her hand that held the razor, he washed it under running water and brought it back to his cheek... and left her hand.

"Ab tum karo." He said.

"Mujhe darr lag raha hai." She was hesitant.

"Agar mujhe laga toh main zor se... " He started.

"Haan, tum zor se chilla dena." She agreed.

"Nahi, main zor se tumhe kiss kar dunga." He winked, getting a smack on his arm.

Naina stood on the plastic stool to reach his height, standing on the side. Carefully, she started to slide the razor down his cheek... but only the foam cleared... hair remained as it is.

"Yeh nahi hua." She pouted.

"Thoda pressure lagao... tumne bohot halke haath se kiya hai." He rubbed some more shaving cream over the patch.

She tried again... getting the hang of it this time.

"Sameer, maine kar liya." She gave a wide, excited smile.

He was amused at her enthusiasm for such a routine thing.

It took her fifteen minutes to cover his entire face. He watched her through the mirror... working with full concentration, she sometimes held her lower lip under the teeth, or squinted her eyes, flicked out the tip of her tongue in between or pressed her lips in a thin line. Each of her action was intriguing for him.

"Ahh... ho gaya... maine kar diya sab jagah se, Sameer... dekho, theek hai na... aur kahin kata bhi nahi." She held his chin, turning his face one side than the other to check if she had left any spot.

He took the razor from her hand and placed it on the basin... turning back to her, "Tum toh bohot achhe se kar leti ho... abse hamesha tumhi shave karna mujhe."

She was still excited at successful completion of this new exercise.

Rubbing her fingers on his cheeks and jaw to feel the smoothness, she chuckled gleefully, "Kitna achha lag raha hai... mujhe nahi pata tha shave karne mein itna maza aata hai."

He wrapped his arms around her, "Mujhe bhi nahi pata tha... mujhe bhi aaj pehli baar itna mazaa aaya."

She became conscious of their closeness in the small bathroom, twisting to get away, "Uhh... Sameer, bohot der ho gayi hai... ab tum naha lo... woh log breakfast ke liye intezar kar rahe honge."

He lifted her off the stool and put her down, "Theek hai."

She rushed out of the washroom.

When Sameer came out few minutes later, she was brushing her hair. Hearing the sound, she looked up... and was shocked to see him again in a towel.

"Tum... tum aaj bhi aise..." She stuttered.

"Main hamesha aise hi aata hun naha ke... woh toh shuru ke do din tumhari wajah se nahi aaya... par ab aadat daal lo." He smirked.

She quickly looked back at the mirror, trying to block the image still visible through the corner of her eye... it was impossible to remain unaffected with him standing in front of her like this... his skin glistening in the morning light coming through the curtains, the water droplets on his chest slowly dripping down his flat abdomen, wet hair stuck to his neck, few locks falling on his forehead... her fingers itched to touch the broad, clean chest...

She did not realise she was holding her breath till he reached behind her. Bending down to pick up the brush, his shoulder touched hers... making her hitch up hers to control the contact. He bent more... not letting her get away.

"Sameer, shirt pehen lo please." She almost pleaded.

He held her shoulders from behind, "Kyon... kya hua?"

She drew in a sharp breath as his bare chest touched her back through the thin fabric of her dress.

"Pata hai Naina, jab maine tumhe uss baarish wale din saree mein dekha tha... aur tum aise hi mujh se takra gayi thi toh mera dil kar raha tha wahin tumhe baahon mein bhar lun... tab tumne jo woh pehna tha na... woh green wala blouse... uss ne mere hosh udda diye the... wapas apne kamre mein jaane ke baad bhi main bas tumhe mehsoos kar raha tha apne seene se laga hua... uss saree mein... aaj agar tumne bhi woh saree pehni hoti toh kitna achha hota." He whispered huskily, looking at her in the mirror.

Her eyes flew up to him in the mirror... understanding the implication of his words.

Before she could say anything, he dropped a kiss on her neck and moved away.

Without looking at him, she fled the room.

When she reached the kitchen, Sonali was already there, setting up the breakfast prepared by their servant.

"Naina, tumhara room free hai toh bol dun John ko saaf karne ke liye?" She looked up.

"Bas paanch minute mein Sameer aa jayega... fir bol dena." She said.

"Haan, theek hai... abhi toh hamara room kar raha hai, dus minute lag jayenge usse... main bol ke aati hun uske baad tumhara bhi kar de jab tak hum sab yahan hai... baad mein time waste nahi hona chahiye na." She walked out of the kitchen.

Naina carried on to do what Sonali had left.

She had placed everything on the table by the time Sonali came back.

"Naina, ek baat kahun." She hesitantly approached her friend.

"Haan bol na, Sonali... itna kya soch rahi hai." Naina was surprised to see her like this.

"Kal na mere ghar mein pooja hai... matlab mummy ke wahan... mujhe aur Rahul ko jaana padega... tum log please bura mat manna... main John ko bol dungi khane ke liye... tumhe koi problem nahi hogi." She was feeling embarrassed to leave like this.

Naina stared at her in disbelief, "Tuh kaisi baat kar rahi hai... bura kyon lagega, Sonali... tum dono aaram se jao... balki main toh Sameer se keh rahi thi ki ab papa wali problem khatam ho gayi hai toh..."

Sonali cut short her sentence, "Isiliye... mujhe yehi darr tha... ki ab tu wapas jaane ki zidd karegi... kyon bhai... apne papa ki wajah se yahan reh sakti hai lekin mere kehne se nahi? Kyon? Main tujhe behen bana ke baithi hun aur tu aise baat karti hai jaise koi mehmaan hai... Naina, mujhe bohot gussa aata hai jab tu aisi baatein karti hai."

"Achha baba, nahi jaa rahe... poori baat toh suni nahi tune pehle hi daantna shuru kar diya... Maine kaha tha Sameer se par usne bhi kaha ki jab hum ek hafte ke liye aaye hain toh ek hafte mein hi jayenge... maine bhi tabhi maan liya tha." Naina tried to pacify her.

Sonali's anger flew away as fast as it had descended.

"Dekha... uska toh bilkul man nahi hoga... balki tu maan jaaye toh woh exams dene bhi yahin se jaaye... wahan hostel mein kaise rahega bechara akele... ab shaadi hone ke baad aisi sazaa... mujhe toh bada taras aata hai... sun, reh jaa na yahin pe." Sonali was back to her chirpy, teasing self.

Naina gave a hard look to her, "Ab tu shuru mat ho... itni mushkil se Sameer ko samjhaya hai... bas teen din aur rukenge hum... fir aa toh rahein hain exams ke baad."

Sonali made a face, then smiled and hugged her.

As they sat together, having the breakfast of puri and alu sabzi, the phone started to ring.

Sonali got up to answer.

From her talks, they could make out it was her mother on the line. She animatedly discussed the program for next day, listening to the instructions... when she mentioned Naina was staying with them, along with Sameer, her mother's reaction brought a wide smile on her face. After talking for some more time, she put down the phone and joined them.

"Naina, mummy ne tum dono ko bhi aane ko kaha hai pooja mein... hum sab saath chalenge." She beamed.

Naina looked up in surprise, "Arre Sonali, hum kya karenge... tumhare ghar ki pooja hai... tum dono jao."

"Ghar ki nahi hai... yeh ek special pooja hoti hai... suhaagano ke liye... jaise tumhare yahan karwachouth hota hai... par ismein vrat nahi hota... bas ek pooja hoti hai... mujhe bhi zyada nahi pata... meri bhi pehli baar hai na... jab mummy ko pata chala tu yahan hai toh unhone kaha ki tu bhi zaroor aana... aakhir ab teri bhi shaadi ho gayi hai... waise agar tu nahi maanti in sab mein toh koi baat nahi... koi zabardasti nahi hai." Sonali explained the whole thing, leaving the decision to Naina.

"Aisa hai toh main chalungi." She accepted the invitation, happy to do her first pooja after marriage.

"Saari hai koi tere paas yahan?" Sonali asked.

"Nahi, saree toh nahi laayi." She did not see any need at the time of packing.

"Koi nahi, tu meri pehen lena... bas achhe se taiyaar hoke... matlab woh saari cheezein hoti hai na, bindi, sindoor, chooriyan, mangalsutra... woh sab pehente hain... tu dekh lena mere paas jo hai usme se." Sonali offered.

Naina nodded.

When they went back to the room, she was silent... lost in thought.

"Kya baat hai, Naina... pareshan ho kisi baat se?" Sameer could see the lines on her forehead.

"Sameer, main soch rahi thi mere paas toh inme se kuch nahi hai... saree toh Sonali se le lungi par baaki sab... mera matlab sindoor wagerah." She voiced her apprehensions.

Sameer pondered over what she said, realising that the ritual she had explained about the colour in hair and the chain was not performed in their marriage. Maybe it was done only in the proper, full fledged one. He dared not ask Naina about it again.

"Naina, kya hum market se nahi le sakte... matlab shaadi mein bhi toh market se hi laate honge na... tab nahi liya toh abhi le aate hain... pooja toh kal hai." He ssuggested.

She brightened instantly, "Haan Sameer, chalo le aate hain... main bhi apni pehli pooja mein apni khud ki sab cheezein pehenna chahti hun."

They decided to go for shopping after lunch.