The house was enveloped in darkness, with just one light in the porch showing the parking area clearly. Naina got down as he stopped, opening the gate to let Sameer bring the car inside. She secured the heavy metal gate once he parked in the designated place.

He fished out keys from his pocket, opening the main door of the house. Naina turned on the switch... the darkness was immediately overcome by bright lights, fans swirling into action as well.

"Toh?" He stood against the shut door, arms crossed against his chest.

"Toh kyaa?" She placed the packet of sweets on the table, turning to look at him.

"Toh... bas yehi?" He raised his brow, taking slow steps towards her.

"Toh bas yehi kya?" She tried to control the smile lingering at the corner of her lips, blinking her eyes innocently.

"Yeh... yeh mithai... matlab khana nahi khilaogi... bas yehi? Ramdhari nahi hai toh kya mujhe bhooke rehna padega?" He pouted, rubbing his stomach.

"Achhaa... bohot bhookh lagi hai? Theek hai... khana zaroor khilaungi... apne haathon se banake." She smiled sweetly, hiding the surprise at his sudden change of track.

Before he could hold her, she hastened to the kitchen. He was right behind her next moment. She looked at the basket of vegetables kept in one corner.

"Toh patidev, bataiye... inn sabme se aap kya khana pasand karenge... aapki biwi zaroor aapki farmaaish poori karegi." She waved at the basket, turning to face him.

He dipped his head to the side, his eyes raking over her from top to bottom.

"Maine khane ke baare mein poocha hai." She felt conscious of his gaze, moving to the side, twisting her dupatta.

"Khane ki farmaiish hi bata raha hun." He took a step ahead, standing close so that her arm pressed against his chest.

She did not look up at him, knowing very well he would be gazing at her. He leaned... before she could say anything, he had picked up a bunch of spinach from the basket.

"Tum na, palak paneer bana do." He held the bunch out to her.

She tilted her head, accepting.

He leaned again... picking up a cauliflower.

"Masala gobhi bhi bana do... tumhe toh pata hi hai mujhe kitni pasand hai." He held out the big cauliflower.

She smiled, nodding, as she took it from him.

He leaned again, pressing against her arm.

"Yeh bhindi badi achhi lag rahi hai... aise karo, bharwan bhindi bhi bana lo... bohot din se khayi nahi hai." He looked carefully at the single ladyfinger he had picked from the small basket filled with it.

"Kyon nahi... aur kuch?" Naina grabbed the bhindi from him.

"Umm... aur kya?" He lifted the lid of one of the containers.

It contained curd.

"Arre waah, dahi ki kadhi saath mein bana dena... Pandit ko bohot pasand hai." He exclaimed.

Naina pursed her lips, pulling the container closer to where she had kept all the vegetables.

"Bas itna hi khaoge aaj?" She asked with a straight face.

"Haan, aaj ke liye kaafi hai... dopaher ko chachiji ne itna khila diya tha isliye abhi zyada bhook nahi hai... itne se ho jayega." He raised his palms at her.

"Oh, aaj halka khane ka mood hai... isliye." She nodded in understanding.

"Aur kya, kabhi kabhi halka bhi khana chahiye... sehat ke liye achha rehta hai." He gave her a bright smile.

"Bilkul theek keh rahe ho tum... chalo, ab main yeh halka khana banati hun, tum bahar jao... nahi toh disturb karoge... khana kharab hua toh sehat ke liye sahi nahi hai na." She pushed him towards the door.

"Arre arre Naina, main yahin rehta hun na... tumhe bilkul tang nahi karunga... promise." He resisted her push, pinching his throat.

"Nahi, yahan garmi lagegi tumhe... bahar hawa mein baitho... TV dekh lo... abhi aath baje hain... sadhe nau baje tak khana ban jayega." She was adamant to send him out.

"Garmi toh tumhe bhi lagegi... aisa karo, change kar lo pehle... kuch halka dress pehen lo." He suggested.

She peered at her suit. It was indeed too hot to wear a heavy suit like this one... also, it might get spoiled while cooking.

"Theek hai, main change karke aati hun... tum kitchen se door hi rahoge, samjhe?" She said with a determined expression.

He quickly nodded.

In the room, she searched her suitcase. A soft cotton dress from her college days was in the bigger one that she had brought with her from chachaji's house.

Picking it up, she went to the washroom. Ten minutes later, she was out, feeling much lighter, with her hair tied up in a pony, freshly washed face and a soft, cotton dress.

"Sameer, maine kaha tha na kitchen mein mat aana." She stood in the doorway with hands on her waist.

His back was towards her.

"Main woh... bas... " He turned... and froze.

She looked like how she was during the initial days of their meetings.

The dress, the pony, the clear face... only difference was the string of black beads around her neck...

She stepped inside, craning her neck to see what he was up to.

It was her turn to stop in her tracks.

The pan on stove was filled with Maggi noodles, simmering in water along with some vegetables.

"Yeh... yeh Maggi kyon banayi hai tumne? Main khana bana toh rahi thi." She was confounded.

He held her shoulders, "Naina, tumhe sach mein laga main itna saara khana khaunga abhi?"

She narrowed her eyes, "Mujhe laga bhukkad toh ho hi... kha bhi sakte ho."

He threw his head back and laughed.

"Pagal ho tum... maan bhi gayi itna sab kuch banane ke liye." He smirked.

"Tum khana chahte the, Sameer... tumhe naa kaise bol sakti thi." Her voice was sincere.

His gaze turned soft, "Jaan, tum mere liye itna sab karne ke liye taiyar ho gayi toh main kaise tumhare baare mein nahi sochta? Mujhe pata hai Maggi tumhe kitni pasand hai... aur aaj zyada bhook bhi nahi hai... isliye maine yeh bana di."

Her face broke into a smile, "Mujhe keh dete toh main Maggi bhi bana deti."

He stayed quiet for a while, then stepped back, looking at her from top to bottom.

"Aise kya dekh rahe ho?" She smoothed her hair.

"Yaad hai tumhe, ek baar meri wajah se college mein tumhara lunch miss ho gaya tha?" He flicked his brows.

"Yaad hai... tab mujhe laga ab toh raat tak bhuke rehna padega... kyonki tab mere paas paise bhi nahi hote the ki canteen se hi kuch le sakun... par tum bina kahe hi sab samajh gaye... aur Maggi banwa ke le aaye the." The scene replayed vividly in her mind.

"Aur tum itni khush ho gayi thi ki main hairan ho gaya... koi itni choti si cheez ke liye kaise pagal ho sakta hai." He recalled.

She let out a small laugh, "Main toh aisi pagal thi ki sirf apni hi nahi, tumhari bhi saari Maggi kha li thi... uss din toh tumne hi mujhe bhukkad samjha hoga."

He exhaled loudly, "Bilkul nahi, tumhe khate dekh kar hi mera pet bhar gaya tha... yakeen nahi hua khud pe ki maine tumhe itni khushi di hai ek mamuli si cheez se."

"Tumse judi koi cheez mere liye mamuli nahi hai, Sameer... kabhi bhi nahi thi... aur fir Maggi toh pehle se hi pasand thi mujhe... tum leke aaye toh aur khaas ho gayi." She said lovingly.

"Chalo, aaj fir se wohi yaad taaza karte hain... tum anjaane mein college wale kapde pehen ke, waise hi baal banake aa gayi ho toh ab aur bhi mazaa aayega." He turned off the knob of stove.

Filling up two plates, they went out to the dining area.

"Yahan nahi, upar jhoole pe chalte hain." He wanted to relive the experience as close to the real one as possible.

They went up to the terrace.

"Ek minute. " He dashed back after placing their plates on the table near the sofa seat of the huge wrought iron swing.

She sat down, wondering what he wanted now.

He was back soon... with a plastic bottle of water... like he had carried with him that day.

They started to eat their noodles, picking up from each other's plate in between, trying to keep their own plate away from the other.

As per her habit, Naina picked up the last bunch with her fingers, and put it in her mouth.

He held her wrist.

"Kya hua?" She questioned.

He kept his plate aside, "Jab uss din tum aise hi kha rahi thi toh mera mann jo karne ka tha woh aaj kar sakta hun."

She flicked up her brows.

He brought her hand to his mouth, and licked each of her finger, watching her go more red every time his tongue touched her fingertips.

"Lo." He handed her the bottle of water, taking away her empty plate.

She twisted the cap, tilted her head back, holding the bottle at an angle to pour water directly in her mouth. Since it was full up to the brim, some trickles went over her chin, finding a way down her neck.

He watched in fascination as the rivulets slid inside her neckline.

Oblivious to all this, she continued to take some more gulps, giving him more spills to stare at.

When she held out the bottle to him, his need was much more than a few sips of water.

His eyes conveyed it clearly to her.

He took the bottle, putting it behind him. She moved closer to him, seeing his eyes go dark. He held her head to tilt it back, and placed his lips on the water drops, sipping whatever was left. His lips followed the trail from the corner of her mouth to her neckline.

Inspite of the high temperatures, she shivered in his arms. He saw the goosebumps on her neck, resulting from his touch, and his eyes glimmered.

He stood up, holding out his hand to her.

She took his hand, getting pulled against him the moment she stood up.

"Uss din bhi aise hi paani piya tha tumne... tab maine socha tha, kya ladki hai, jab milti hai paani mein aag laga deti hai... tabse yeh karna chahta tha." He said in a low, deep voice.

Her cheeks flared up, "Tum tab bhi aise hi the? Tab tak toh hamari dosti bhi nahi hui thi."

"Pyaar tha, Naina... isliye apni lagti thi tum... uss pyar ko jitna main dabane ki koshish kar raha tha utna hi tumhari yeh sab baatein bhadka rahi thi... woh baarish, Maggi, aise bottle se paani peena, tumhari nazuk si kamar pe yeh belt, hawa mein lehrate tumhare baal jo iss band ki qaid se azaad hona chahte the, tumhara hansna, tumhara mujhe sambhalna... main tabse pagal hun tumhare liye... bas kisi tarah rok ke rakha khud ko... yeh mat puchna kaise... har baar tumhe dekhte hi baahon mein bhar lene ka mann karta tha... har baar tum mera naam leti toh lagta woh naam nahi main hun tumhare inn hothon pe... tumhari dhadkan sunna chahta tha, pata lagane ke liye ki mujhe dekh ke woh tez hoti hai kya... tumhe choona chahta tha, janne ke liye ki mere haath lagane se tum kaanp jaogi kya... Naina, maine pehle kabhi kisi ke baare mein nahi socha tha... jab tumhari tasveer aankhen band karke bhi aankhon ke saamne rehne lagi, jab har sapna tumhara hone laga, jab har subah tumhara naam leke uthne laga... tab mujhe andaaza hua ki tum kis hadd tak mere andar samaa gayi ho... aur main kis hadd tak tumme kho jaana chahta hun."

She was mesmerised. The earnestness in his eyes showed the depth of each and every word he uttered. Her eyes welled up with tears of gratitude at her luck.

"Kaise meri kismat itni achhi ho gayi, Sameer... jo mujhe tum mil gaye... maine toh bachpan se sab kuch haathon se phisalta hua dekha tha... jaise tumhe bhi shuru mein kho diya tha, paane se bhi pehle... fir achanak yeh bhagwan ji itne khush kaise ho gaye mujhse... iss poori duniya mein tumse zyaada pyar toh koi kisi ko kar hi nahi sakta... aur yeh pyar meri kismat mein aa gaya." Her voice choked.

He cupped her face, his own eyes turning misty, "Kyonki tumne hi kaha tha... hum dono lucky hain... ek doosre ke liye."

She wrapped her arms around him, crashing against his chest, "I Love You, Sameer."

He kissed the top of her head, holding her within his arms like she was the most precious thing in his life.

Which she was.