When they went out for dinner to the garden restaurant, Sameer looked around, his eyes searching.

"Aaiye sir, yeh table bohot achhi hai... yahan aapke paas privacy bhi rahegi aur aapko poora restaurant nazar bhi aayega." A waiter waved at the table behind a pillar that was decorated with fairy lights spiralling around it.

The garden restaurant had just about fifteen tables... it was an extension of indoor one where most of the people preferred to sit. Outside area was lit with strings of lights placed on the hedges around, and some burning torches kept at some distance from the seating. The wooden tables and chairs were painted white shining even in the dark night. Not many people were out, weather being a little chilly. But Sameer accepted the table shown to him, liking the idea of being able to keep an eye on the entire restaurant.

They settled at the secluded table, placing order for the food.

Naina had worn a cardigan, the weather too cold for her.

"Sameer, yahan garden mein toh aur bhi thanda hai... tumhe bhi sweater pehen lena chahiye tha." She was worried about him catching a cold.

He crossed his arms, relaxing back on the chair, "Madam, mujhe koi thand wand nahi lagti... Nainital ki sardi ki aadat hai mujhe... yeh toh kuch bhi nahi hai... waise bhi yahan abhi garmiyon ka mausam hai."

Naina pulled the cardigan tighter across her, "He bhagwan, yeh garmi hai toh yahan ki sardiyaan kaisi hongi... na baba, main toh aisi jagah nahi reh sakti... mujhe bohot sardi lagti hai."

He rested his face on the palm, keeping his elbow on the table, "Tumhare paas toh sardi bhagane ka sabse achha tareeke hai."

"Kya? Yeh sweater kaafi nahi hai... mujhe ismein bhi thand lag rahi hai." She shivered.

He spread his arms, "Aa jao... ek second mein saari thand door ho jayegi... promise karta hun... kisi sweater ki zaroorat nahi padegi."

She leaned, quickly pressing his arm down, looking around, "Kya kar rahe ho... pagal ho kya?"

"Hun toh... poora pagal... tumhare pyar mein." He dipped his head to the side.

Her gaze shifted back to him, a warm smile spreading on her face, "Sach mein pagal ho... aise hi rehna hamesha."

"Main toh hamesha aisa hi rahunga, Naina... tum bhi aise hi pyar karogi na mujhse?" He kept his crossed hands on the table, leaning to get closer to her, tilting his chair ahead.

"Tumhe kya lagta hai?" She raised her brows, resting her face on a fisted hand, just like him.

"Umm... mujhe lagta hai tumhara pyar kam zyada hota rahega." He pretended to be in deep thought.

"Huh... kya matlab?" She gave him a perplexed look.

"Matlab... jab main shave nahi karunga tab tum zyada pyaar karogi... jab main bina shirt ke rahunga toh tumhara pyar aur badh jayega... jab main tumhare kareeb..." His voice turned huskier as he stopped mid sentence.

"Achha... jaise tumhara toh kam zyada hota hi nahi na... tum bhi aisa hi karte ho." Naina failed to see the trap yet again.

"Main toh hamesha hi itna saara karta hun... batao kab kam zyada hota hai." He looked at her innocently.

"Hota hai na... jaise jab maine woh green saree..." She realised what all she would have to list.

"Bolo na, Naina... green saree... aur?" He prodded.

She pressed her lips, lowering her eyes.

"Tumhe batana padega... kab zyada hota hai mera pyar... agar tum nahi bataogi toh main woh saari cheezen ginwaunga... abhi... woh bhi saath baith ke." He gave a lopsided smile.

Their food arrived before Naina could answer... making her breathe out in relief... and making him inhale in frustration.

"Bach gayi tum... lekin wapas room mein jakar sab batana padega." It was no less than a threat.

The fear that had been nagging Sameer for some time had started to ease out... the man was nowhere to be seen. Maybe he wasn't a guest at the hotel... maybe he was just visiting someone... or he could be checking out, but he carried no luggage. Sameer shoved aside the thoughts... they were not needed... as long as he didn't have to see that face again, he would be able to shake off the annoying feeling... and the vision of his hands on her arms would also fade away...

"Kya baat hai, Mr Bhukkad, aaj khana nahi khana tumhe? Kya soch rahe ho?" Naina was amazed to see him toying with the food in his plate.

"Tum mujhe bhukkad keh rahi ho?" He widened his eyes, shirking away from the turmoil in his mind, not wanting Naina to get troubled by it.

"Waise aaj lag nahi rahe ho... isliye ab nahi kahungi... lekin Sameer, please khana khao na... tumne plane mein hi khaya tha... uske baad se kuch khaya nahi hai theek se." She insisted.

He smiled at her concern, going back to his food, only to realise he was famished. Naina smiled with satisfaction, seeing him gorge on the dishes, all of them his favourites.

"Sir, meetha kya lenge?" The waiter asked, once the dinner was over.

Sameer looked at him, "Meetha toh bohot zaroori hai... lekin shayad yahan theek na rahe."

Naina was bewildered. She quickly picked up a glass of water.

The waiter immediately started to praise the restaurant, "Sir, aap ek baar leke toh dekhiye... swad bhool nahi payenge... hamare yahan ka special hai."

"Nahi dost, mere paas meetha hai... aur woh sabse special hai... ab jaldi se bill la do... mujhe der ho rahi hai." Sameer grinned, making Naina almost choke on the water she was having.

The waiter gave a puzzled look to him, before walking back to get the bill.

"Kuch bhi bol dete ho tum... thoda toh khyal kiya karo ki hum kahan hain." She chided him.

His eyes turned dark, "Hum apne honeymoon pe hain... aur ussi ka khyal kar raha hun... bas do minute, jaan... mujhe pata hai tumhe wapas room mein jaane ki jaldi hai."

Naina closed her eyes, pressing her lower lip in mortification.

It wasn't possible to take his mind away from what he wanted.

The sound of a grunt made her open her eyes instantly... and she realised her mistake.

His eyes were stuck on the lip pressed under her teeth. She quickly released it.

His gaze moved up to catch hers... the intensity in them making her break into goosebumps... which had nothing to do with the weather.

His arm draped around her waist as they got up to go back to their room.

She had expected him to take her in his arms the moment he locked the door. His walking away was a surprise. Next moment she knew why... he pulled the heavy curtains on the windows, securing them properly.

He turned, his eyes on her...

She had changed into a suit for dinner, anticipating the cold outside. Now, she stood in front of him, wearing the broad dupatta covering her completely, even her twisting fingers were not visible.

He was near her in an instant, holding her shoulders, "Uff Naina, kya ho tum? Ek jhalak mein pagal kar deti ho... sar se pair tak chupi hui ho, fir bhi dimaag mein aise khyal le aati ho ki mere hosh udd jaate hain."

She placed her palms flat on his chest, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips, "Aisa tumhe lagta hai... kyonki tum mujhse itna pyar karte ho... warna main ek bohot aam si ladki hun... jise koi mud ke bhi nahin dekhta tha."

"Tum kitni khaas ho, kitni sundar ho yeh mere dil se poocho." He touched her cheek with his fingertips.

"Wohi toh... yeh tareef tumhara dil karta hai... tumhari nazar karti hai... Sameer, main sirf tumhare liye sundar hun." She tilted her head to rest her face in his palm.

"Nahi Naina, bhool gayi woh sab jo tumhare deewane ho gaye the... Sharad, fir Sahil... woh TV wala Mayank... aur ab..." He stopped.

She again failed to catch his last words, listening to his rapid heartbeat, "Unn sabka naam kyon le rahe ho... jinki hamari zindagi mein koi ahmiyat hi nahi hai... unki baat toh tabhi khatam ho gayi thi... aur tumne khud hi ki thi."

"Lekin baat toh thi na, Naina." His voice had the fear of his apprehensions.

She sensed the gloom in his voice, and her eyes crinkled...

Straightening up, she cupped his face, "Sameer, tum aise kyon bol rahe ho? Tum theek ho na?"

He looked at the creases on her forehead, and reprimanded himself silently, pushing the disturbing thoughts away.

"Woh main... main... bas... main toh isliye keh raha tha ki tum kuch kam mat samjho khud ko... itne saal mere saath reh ke meri tarah ho gayi ho... matlab sundar ho gayi ho... aakhir asar toh hoga hi na, itne handsome ladke ke saath rehne ka." He brought back the same tease in his voice, winking at her.

Seeing him back to his normal self, she smiled, punching his chest lightly, "Apne muh miyan mitthu."

He grinned, "Miyan toh ban gaya hun tumhara... aur mitthu se yaad aaya... abhi meetha baaki hai."

Without waiting for an answer, he pressed his mouth over hers, taking steps ahead... making her move behind till her back hit the wall. Pinning her against it, he leaned more into her, letting her feel his weight.

The kiss changed into deep from soft... and into urgent in a heartbeat. His lips still locked with hers, he lifted her... and walked to the bed, falling back on it, with her on top.

She lifted her face, her hair spilling around them, covering them like a curtain on both sides.

Holding her waist, he brought one lock of hair near his nose, inhaling the floral scent that always intoxicated him.

"Tumhari khushbu se nasha ho jaata hai mujhe." He mumbled.

She looked into his eyes... he could see the flecks surrounding her brown rings... her uneven breathing electrifying him instantly.

Holding her tight he rolled over, pressing her under him. With a soft, deep sound escaping her lips, she turned her head to the side as his lips came down to nibble the wildly beating nerve at the base of her neck.

They drifted off to sleep in each other's arms later, a satiated smile on their faces.

Sameer had booked a cab for nearby sightseeing places. They quickly got ready in the morning after the intercom buzzed, to tell them that the cab was there to pick them up.

The first stop was rose garden. Naina took in the breathtakingly beautiful display of myriad of roses all around them. A number of animal and bird shapes were put up as structures in the garden, made completely of flowers.

"Maine aaj tak itne saare gulaab nahi dekhe." She squealed in amazement.

"Yahan har rang ke gulaab hain... shayad aur kahin dekhne ko bhi na mile... dekho, yeh kaala wala... koi soch bhi nahi sakta ki gulaab kale rang ka bhi ho sakta hai." Sameer took her to show a rare variety.

Her eyes widened, seeing the huge blooms in black.

"Sundar hai, par gulab toh laal hi sabse achhe lagte hain." She looped her hands around his arm, leaning against his shoulder.

He looked at her, dressed in a pink suit, her open hair flying in the wind, face glowing in the sun, cheeks turned pink due to the slight nip in the air... she was herself no less than a bloom.

"Mujhe toh pink bhi achhe lagte hain." He whispered, close to her ears.

She looked up... and blushed, knowing what he meant.

They went around the garden..
he clicked several pictures of hers, she of him. They requested some other visitors to click some of theirs together. Even while posing, he found it impossible to take his eyes off the most beautiful rose in the entire garden.

The first half of the day was gone before they could realise.