When Naina opened her eyes again, the brightness outside made her aware of the morning setting in. The breeze was not cool like the day before but still the feel of it on her skin directly felt soothing.

A smile played on her lips as the memories of their midnight venture filled her senses... Sameer did not let her move away even an inch. Even now, his arm was around her neck, his legs bent over hers, keeping her captive... the captivity that felt like bliss...

But she wanted to get up and be ready before he was awake... though a slight movement would bring him out of his slumber, she was sure.

Still, she tried to pull herself out of his hold, very slowly.

She had almost managed to free herself when he stirred... patting the bed next to him. Finding it empty, his eyes flew open.

"Naina, ab kahan jaa rahi ho? Tumhe har waqt kahan bhagna hota hai?" He saw her trying to get away.

"Sameer, subah ho gayi hai... uthna nahi hai kya?" She flicked her brows at the balcony door.

"Subah toh roz hoti hai... par itni khubsurat nahi... aise door jaake isse kharab mat karo." He pulled her again, making her fall on his chest.

"Saat baj chuke hain... shaam ke saat baje se so rahe hain hum log." She feigned annoyance.

"Par hum soye kahan the... tumne sone diya hi nahi." He rubbed his nose on hers, smiling mischievously.

Naina's cheeks were red in a second... she lowered her eyes.

Suddenly Sameer screamed, "Saat baj gaye? Itni der ho gayi... Naina, jaldi karo... warna flight miss ho jayegi."

"Flight?" She looked at him in confusion.

"Haan, humein jaana hai abhi... jaldi se taiyar ho jao." Sameer jumped out of the bed.

"Lekin humein jaana kahan hai? Aur kyon?" She was flummoxed.

"Kyon jaana hai matlab? Log honeymoon pe kyon jaate hain?" He leaned back from the cupboard where he was picking out his clothes.

"Honeymoon?" Naina's eyes widened like saucers...

"Jee haan, Mrs Maheshwari, ab uth jao nahi toh tumhe godd mein utha kar bathroom mein le jaunga." He threatened.

She was about to get up when he realized her state... and wondered how Sameer always had his clothes near him... he was in his track bottom... without a shirt.

"Naina, jao na bathroom mein... kab tak baith ke sochogi?" He prodded.

"Tum... tum apni... aankhen band karo." She flushed, pulling the quilt upto her neck.

Sameer sniggered, "Aur aisa mauka jaane dun... main koi aankhen nahi band karne wala."

Naina frowned... then pulled the quilt around her, wrapping herself properly in it. Sameer stopped everything, leaning with his arms crossed against his bare chest... staring at her with a sly grin.

She quickly went near her suitcase, taking out the first outfit that caught her hand... and ran to the washroom.

His soft laugh reached her even through closed door.

She saw the suit she had brought... and slapped her forehead. It was one with heavy embroidery, suitable for a party or festival. They had to travel. Also, Sameer might not like to see her dressed in these type of clothes at such time. Thinking that she would change it before leaving, she quickly finished her work.

Sameer had kept his suitcase ready when she stepped out, keeping the folded quilt aside.

"Maine apne kapde rakh liye... tum bhi issi suitcase mein rakh lo... ek hafte ke kapde... main bas abhi aaya." He grabbed the towel and went for his bath.

Naina picked up another suitcase, still shy to keep everything in the same one. She changed quickly into another dress, before Sameer came out of the washroom... and packed her clothes for a week.

"Haww... yeh toh maine poocha hi nahi hum jaa kahan rahe hain... garam kapde lene hain ya nahi... yeh Sameer bhi na... ek toh pehle bataya nahi... aur ab yeh bhi nahi bola kahan ke liye packing karun... mujhe kya sapna aayega ki hum Kashmir jaa rahe hain ya Kanyakumari." She went on to blabber, keeping her few cosmetics and other accessories.

The click of the door went unheard in her tension and muttering.

"Pati ke peeche uski burai shuru." Sameer breathed into her ear, making her jump.

She turned... and landed into his arms... his wet body engulfing her.

"Sameer... tum... tum taiyar ho jao." She squirmed.

"Taiyar hun... tumhare liye hamesha taiyar hun." He traced a finger along her hairline.

"Ab.. ab nahi miss hogi flight?" She managed to speak, amidst the shiver she felt.

He straightened, "Oh haan... flight... tumne packing kar li na?"

He picked up his clothes from the bed and noticed the suit she had been wearing when she came out after the bath.

"Tumne change kyon kiya? Yeh suit pasand nahi hai kya?" He asked, wearing his shirt.

"Nahi woh... galti se le gayi thi andar... itna bhari pehen ke thodi jaungi." She folded the suit, placing it back in her main suitcase.

"Naina, tum jo chaho woh pehen sakti ho... mujhe tum sab kapdon mein achhi lagti ho... haan, agar apne liye badla hai toh theek hai." He smiled at her.

She looked at him lovingly... wondering how he could understand everything without being told.

He saw the smaller suitcase kept next to his.

"Tumne alag se pack kiya hai apna samaan? Kyon?" He frowned.

"Woh... woh... haan... tumne bataya nahi hum kahan jaa rahe hain... garam kapde chahiye kya? Agar haan toh unke liye jagah honi chahiye na... isliye alag kiya hai... ab batao kahan jaana hai." She asked sweetly.

"Ooty... kyonki meri biwi ko hamesha se wahi jaana tha apne honeymoon pe... aur main apni biwi ki baat kaise na maanta?" He bowed slightly.

"Ootyyyy... sachhi... oh Sameer... main tabse wahan jaana chahti thi jabse Salman Khan ko wahan Dil deewana mein dekha tha, Maine Pyar Kiya mein... chachaji ne bataya tha yeh jagah Ooty hai... aur maine socha tha... " She suddenly fell quiet, seeing him looking at her with a grave expression.

"Kya socha tha... ki wahan Salman tumhara intezar kar raha hoga?" He asked drily.

"Nahi, mere Salman toh hamesha se tum the... jab tum mujhe nahi dekhte the tab bhi meri aankhen bas tumpe hi rukti thi... aur ab meri nazar tumse shuru hoti hai aur tum pe hi khatam hoti hai." She eased his tension.

"Yeh toh bataya nahi ki tumne kya socha tha." He relaxed, soothed by her words.

"Maine socha tha jab meri zindagi ka Salman mera ho jayega, tab main uske saath hi Ooty jaungi... aur woh saari jagah dekhungi jo film mein thi." She said brightly.

Sameer came closer to her, looking deeply into her eyes, "Agar hum dono Mumbai mein ek hi college mein nahi hote toh? Kya karti tum?"

She took a shaky breath, a chill running down her spine.

Looking back into his eyes with determination, she said in a soft, but firm voice, "Toh main kabhi Ooty nahi jaati... kabhi kisi ko apna Salman nahi banati... kabhi shaadi nahi karti."

His heart pierced at her words... he had almost lost her... had almost ruined her as well as his own life... had almost lost out on the world that was so beautiful, because it had Naina in it... his Naina.

He crushed her in his arms, "I'm so sorry, Naina... kaash maine pehle hi sab suljhane ki koshish ki hoti... kaash maine tumhari taraf kadam badhaya hota... kaash main..."

She kept her fingers on his lips, shaking her head... swallowing the lump in her throat.

He kissed on her fingers, held her hand and moved it away, leaning to kiss her.

"Uh... huh... ab chalo... baaki ka pyar Ooty mein." She leaned back, smiling through damp eyes.

"Ooty tak toh main bohot kuch wasool kar lunga, madam." He quickly pecked her lips, grinning.

They packed a few warm clothes, picked up the suitcases, and went out. As they were leaving, Ramdhari entered.

"Namaste Sameer bhaiya, Naina bhabhi." He beamed at them.

Naina returned his greeting.

"Ramdhari, ghar ka dhyan rakhna... ye le saari chabiyan." Sameer handed him the keys.

"Aap fikar mat kijiye bhaiya, jab aap ek hafte baad aayenge toh ghar chaka chak milega." He held the keys with care.

"Ramdhari tak ko pata tha ki hum jaa rahe hain... ek hafte ke liye... aur tumne mujhe nahi bataya... kyon?" Naina complained when they were seated in the cab that Ramdhari had brought.

"Kal poora din sabke saath the... kab batata... tumhare paas time hi nahi tha mere liye." He pouted.

"Ghar aane ke baad bata dete, Sameer... kam se kam main packing kar leti pehle se... subah subah aise bhagna toh nahi padta." She kept her hand on his palm.

"Isiliye nahi bataya... ghar aane ke baad ka saara time mera tha... usmein tumhara dhyan kahin aur jaaye yeh main nahi bardaasht kar sakta tha." He whispered.

"Aur subah uthne mein der ho jaati toh?" She whispered back.

"Mujhe laga, hum sone wale thodi hain... fir uthne mein der kya hogi jab tumhare saath saari raat jag ke kategi." He linked his fingers with hers, pressing her hand.

Naina turned her face towards the window, the streak of crimson spreading upwards from her neck.

The airport was buzzing with activity. It was the first time she was seeing an airport from inside. Her excited eyes moved in all directions, taking in the various counters, smartly dresses boys and girls in similar dresses, assisting the passengers... big trolleys piled up with suitcases being pushed by men towards the aircraft waiting outside on the tarmac... elegant looking air hostesses wearing sarees in a very different manner, their hair tied in high knots, walking briskly with their bags... the overall feel of the place was so different, so clean, so sophisticated.

Naina held Sameer's hand excitedly. He could understand her enthusiasm.

They collected their boarding pass and entered the aircraft. Naina was amazed to see so much of space inside. She had always presumed the insides of an airplane to be a small area... but here was a large seating space, with comfortable seats. They were directed to their seats by a smiling air hostess.

Sameer asked Naina to sit at the window. Her excitement reached another level... looking out when the aircraft would be up in the clouds was something she and Preeti always talked about as a dream that could never be fulfilled.

Suddenly, her forehead showed creases of tension.

"Sameer, ghar pe toh kisi ko pata bhi nahi hai... woh sab pareshan ho jayenge jab humse baat nahi hogi." She gave him a worried look.

"Maine kal chachaji ko bata diya tha... sabko pata hai... Munna Pandit ne toh saara intezam karaya hai... mummy ko bhi bata diya tha... Rahul bhi jaanta hai." Sameer smiled, seeing her eyes widen as she realised everyone except her was aware.

"Tumne sirf mujhse chupa ke rakha... kitne bure ho... sab kitna mazak banayenge mera." She frowned.

"Meri jaan pe kaun hansega? Maine sabko bola tha tumse kuch na kahe... jisse main tumhe surprise de sakun." He wrapped one arm around her shoulder.

"Yeh kya kar rahe ho? Yahan itne saare log hain." She stiffened, looking around.

"Kisi ko nahi dikhega... yeh seats aisi hain... aur na koi dekhta hai... isliye tum mujhe rok nahi sakti... kyonki mera honeymoon toh shuru ho chuka hai, Mrs Maheshwari." He picked up her hand, kissing on the back of it.

This was the last evening update for at least one month. My coming days are extremely busy... along with work, I have a wedding in the family this month end... that time I'll be taking a break of minimum three days... it's my cousin's wedding and it will keep me very busy.
I can understand your desperation for the updates, but my present commitments won't allow me to give more than one in the coming days.

I apologize in advance.