"Tum kuch zyada hi sochne lage ho aaj kal." Naina lowered her eyes.

"Shayad... kyonki tum itne sapne jo dikhati ho." Sameer placed two fingers under her chin, lifting her face up.

They were standing in open... they couldn't see anyone but if some other tourists were present there... or even Mr Chauhan... they could easily see them.

Seeing his eyes glint with what he had in mind, Naina inhaled sharply.

"Sam... Sameer... yahan koi bhi aa sakta hai... tum... tum... " She stuttered as his eyes got stuck to her lips.

"Main kya?" He flicked his brows.

She gulped.

He narrowed his eyes, "Naina, aajkal kuch zyada hi sochne lagi ho tum... main toh keh raha tha ki chalo wahan tak dekh ke aate hain... tea gardens hain wahan... aur tum pata nahi kahan pohoch gayi."

Her eyes rounded in wonder... both at his repeating her words and at his change of track.

He leaned again, "Waise madam, iraade toh nek hai na?"

She gasped. He winked.

She gritted her teeth. Seeing the fierce expression, he ran away, with her running behind him.

"Sameer ke bachche, chodungi nahi tumhe." She screamed.

"Chodna bhi mat... warna kaise aayenge Sameer ke bachhe." He chuckled, making her colour even more.

It was almost two hours when they strolled back to the car. Mr Chauhan was already there, resting his back against the door, busy writing in his small notepad.

"Sorry, aapko hamari wajah se wait karna pada." Naina was immediately apologetic.

He waved a hand, scrunching his nose, "Bilkul nahi... maine kahin aur thodi jaana hai... jo resort mein jaake likhna tha woh abhi likh raha hun... koi tension nahi hai."

"Waise aap likhte kya hain?" She asked when they had settled in the car and started back.

"Har location ko dekh ke usse kis scene ke saath jod sakte hain woh idea likh leta hun... jisse jab kahani final karein toh pata ho ki hamare paas kya kya scene taiyar hain... jaise yeh wadiyan aur pedon ke jungle dekh ke bachpan ki yaadein aa sakti hain." He elaborated.

"Bachpan se achha toh..." She stopped abruptly, suddenly feeling too inexperienced to make any suggestions.

Mr Chauhan turned to look at her curiously, "Boliye na... aap ruk kyon gayi? Maine pehle hi kaha tha aapke paas koi idea ho toh bataiye."

She looked at Sameer... he blinked, placing his hand over her palm.

With a deep breath, she started, "Yeh jagah dekh ke laga agar aap bachpan mein bichde hue bhaiyon ki jagah pichle janam mein bichde hue bana denge toh yahan aakar unko woh dhundli tasveerein dikhengi... pahadi ke neeche ek chota sa ghar... tea gardens mein khelte hue dono bhai... iss tarah ka kuch."

He straightened , looking out without speaking, lost in deep thought. Naina thought he was not happy about it. She contemplated whether she should say sorry for coming up with such an absurd idea.

"Bohot khoob... yeh perfect rahega... pichla janam... haan... yaddasht khone se zyada dum hai isme... main resort jaate hi apni team ko phone karta hun." He exclaimed excitedly.

Turning back to them, he beamed, "Thank you, aapko sach mein writer hona chahiye."

Sameer looked at her proudly, "Yeh writer hi hai... TV ke liye likhti hai."

It was the man's turn to be surprised.

"TV ke liye? Kaunsa show?" He was curious.

When Naina told him, he gaped at her in disbelief.

"Naina Maheshwari... aap 'Udaan' wali Naina Maheshwari hain? Aapka naam toh kai baar suna hai maine... lekin aap ne pehle kuch aur bataya tha." He racked his brains.

"Naina Sameer Maheshwari." She provided.

He clicked his fingers, "Haan... isliye ekdum se pakad nahi paaya... Naina... meri team kaafi time se ek heroine oriented project banana chahti hai... kya aap usmein hamari madad karengi?"

She was taken aback at this sudden proposal... she had never expected herself to be associated with film industry.

"Haan Naina, kyon nahi... yeh toh bohot achha mauka hai." Seeing her ponder over it, Sameer insisted, pressing her hand.

"Nahi, jaldi nahi hai... aap aaram se soch lijiye." Mr Chauhan fished out a card from his pocket, holding it out to her, "Yeh mera card hai... aap kabhi bhi phone kar sakti hain ya agar aap log Mumbai aayein toh mil sakte hain."

She took the card, keeping it in her handbag.

Later, they completed their story that the filmmaker was very keen to hear. He was amazed at their three marriages, and the circumstances in which they happened.

"Yeh toh apne aap mein ek film ki kahani hai... aap logon se milna mere liye bada faydemand raha... main sach mein chahta hun ki aap mere liye kuch likhe, Naina... aapki soch bohot alag hai... show dekha hai maine... poora nahi par jab uske itne charche hue the toh maine bhi kuch episodes dekhe the... tabhi samajh gaya tha ki iski writer kamaal ki hai... tab kahan pata tha ek din unse takra jaunga... aur unke pati se darna padega." He laughed, winking at Sameer.

Naina gave a puzzled look to him, then Sameer as he smiled sheepishly.

"Sach mein, kal party mein lag raha tha aap mere naam ki supari leke aaye ho... isiliye jaldi chala gaya main." He smirked.

She wasn't sure what he was talking about. Her confusion did not remain hidden from the experienced eyes of Mr Chauhan.

"Lagta hai aaj wapas jaake kaafi kuch clear karna padega aapko, Sameer." He straightened as they reached the resort, a faint smile still tugging at the corner of his lips.

They said their goodbyes before leaving for their respective rooms.

"Sameer, yeh kya tha? Kya clear karne ko bol rahe the woh?" She asked the moment they entered.

He was dreading the question.

"Naina, abhi itni der bahar reh ke aaye hain... zara chai pike thakaan toh utarne do... kya inquiry karne lag gayi tum aate hi." Looking for some diversion, he entered the washroom, on the pretext of freshening up.

She called up for tea and some sandwiches, knowing that Sameer would definitely be hungry after the small packed lunch that Mr Chauhan had shared with them.

"Pehle batao... paas tabhi aaoge jab mujhe pata chalega ki tum log kya baat kar rahe the aur mujhe samajh kyon nahi aa raha tha." She swatted at his arms as he came closer to cuddle on the couch.

"Mujhe kya pata... yeh film wale log jaane kin khyalon mein khoye rehte hain... aise hi kuch bhi bol diya hoga." He avoided her gaze, lying to get out of the situation.

"Sameer." Her voice was enough to tell him that she wouldn't let him get away.

He gave a quick look to her, before getting up to stand near the window, "Tum... tum gussa mat karna."

"Aisa kya hai, Sameer... please batao na... ab mujhe ghabrahat ho rahi hai." She was next to him instantly, turning him to face her.

He lowered his head, and narrated in a low voice how he was infuriated when the man had touched her the day they had arrived... how he was on alert, looking for him every time they stepped out of the room... how he was disturbed seeing him at the party... the looks he gave him whenever their eyes met... and then, the misunderstanding about the flower that resulted in their argument.

She was stunned beyond belief... he had been keeping so much in his heart and she had no idea... the recollection of his strange reactions on the first day tugged at her memory... and then, the fight they had... she wondered if the fight would have become severe had she not eaten the spicy fries, and the juice episode not happened...

Sameer raised his head slowly, looking at her when she did not say anything.

She saw the forlorn look in his eyes... and she could fathom the underlying reason for his behaviour. His fear, of losing what belonged to him... like he always had, in the past... made him insecure. She had not been able to erase the fear completely, it seemed.

Her eyes welled up. Wrapping her arms around him, she placed her head on his chest.

Sameer was pleasantly surprised. He was sure Naina would be annoyed at his behaviour... more so because an outsider had been able to see it. But she had hugged him, that too without a word.

"Naina." He stroked her back.

"Tum mere liye sab kuch ho, Sameer... mera dil, meri dhadkan, meri saansein, mera har ahsaas, meri subah, meri shaam, meri har khoobsurat raat, meri neend, mera chain, mere khwaab, meri khushi, meri chahat, meri har zaroorat...sab kuch tum hi ho... tumse alag main kuch nahi hun... kuch bhi nahi... jabse tumhe dekha tha tabse dil ne tumhare alava kuch nahi maanga, na kuch aur chaha... aur jab tum mil gaye toh kuch bhi maangne ki zaroorat hi nahi rahi... tumhare aane se meri adhoori duniya poori ho gayi... meri veeran zindagi mehek uthi... maine socha tak nahi tha itna pyaar leke aaye ho tum mere liye." She said softly, one hand on his heart.

He was enamoured at her declaration.

She stepped back, looking up to meet his eyes, "I Love You, Sameer."

He was shocked to see the dampness in her eyes.

"Naina, please... main fir kabhi... tum ro mat... sorry... " He fumbled for words till she placed a hand on his lips.

"Tumhe sorry bolne ki zaroorat nahi hai... maafi toh mujhe mangni chahiye... ki main tumhare dil se yeh darr nahi nikal paayi... shayad main tumhe utna pyar nahi de paayi jitna tumne mujhe diya hai..." Her voice became heavier.

This time Sameer placed a hand on her lips, shaking his head.

She held his wrist, pulling the hand down, "Aaj mujhe kehne do... Sameer, kisi aur ka choona main bhi bardaasht nahi kar sakti... par hum duniya ki bheed mein rehte hain, jungle mein nahi... jaane, anjaane logo se takra sakte hain... agar koi galat irade se mujhe choota hai toh main khud chahungi ki tum uski saari haddiyan tod do... lekin agar koi madad karne ke liye ya galti se choo leta hai... toh isme na uska kasoor hai na mera."

He stared at her.

"Mere liye us chuan ka koi matlab nahi hai, Sameer... jaise yeh saari bejaan cheezen hai... yeh deewar, darwaza, almari, parda, furniture... aise hi mere liye kisi aur ka sparsh hai... mere liye choone ka ahsaas sirf tum ho... sirf tum... har saans sirf tumhari khusbu mein gumm hai... dhadkan sirf tumhare kareeb aane se tez hoti hai." She looked intently into his eyes.

He could feel her words spreading a calm over his heart.

"Mere liye duniya ki sabse mehfooz jagah tumhari baahen hain... sabse zyada sukoon mujhe tumhare seene pe sar rakh ke milta hai... jab tum mere paas hote ho toh mujhe kisi ka darr nahi hota... yeh bharosa, yeh taaqat, yeh himmat tumne mujhe di hai... tumhare pyar ne... batao main aisa kya karun jisse tumhe bhi mere pyar pe itna bharosa ho jaaye?" She said in a deep voice.

He cupped her face, "Jaan, mujhe poora bharosa hai... tumpe aur tumhare pyar pe... mujhe iss baat ka darr nahi hai ki tum kuch aisa karogi... Naina, tumhe pata nahi shayad ki tum kitni sundar ho... lekin auron ko dikhti hai yeh khoobsurati... isliye darta hun ki... "

She placed one hand on his heart, "Sundar tum bhi ho, Sameer... bohot handsome ho... bohot zyada... lekin main nahi darti... kyonki mujhe pata hai... jitni bhi nazren tum pe ho, tumhari aankhon mein sirf main hi rahungi... jitne dil dhadak jaayein tumhare liye, tumhari dhadkan sirf mere liye tez hogi... tum sirf mere hi rahoge, iska yakeen tumne mujhe bohot pehle se dila rakha hai."

She could feel his heartbeat quicken under her hand. Her eyes dropped to his heart, going back to his dark orbs.

She held his hand, brought it up, and placed it over her heart... her own heartbeat matching his.

His eyes turned darker.

"Sunayi de raha hai, Mr Sameer Maheshwari... sirf tumhara naam hai yahan." She dipped her head towards her heart.

"Sun raha hai, lekin achhe se nahi... thoda aur kareeb aana padega." He took his hand away, moving hers from his chest as he stepped back, making her sit on the bed.

He kneeled down in front of her.

She stopped breathing the next moment, as he bent down his head to rest on her bosom, his ear on her heart... his arm holding her securely around the waist.

"Hmm... ab ekdum saaf sunayi de raha hai." He murmured.

The rise and fall under his cheek, the softness against his face, drumming heartbeats in his ear... everything was casting a spell on him.

Her hands moved up to his hair, fingers raking through the silken locks.

"Jo tumhare choone se hota hai, Sameer, woh kabhi pehle nahi hua... aur na kabhi ho sakta hai... yeh ahsaas sirf tum jagaa sakte ho... apni aankhon se, apne hothon se, apni saanson se, apne haathon se, apni baaton se... kuch bhi na kaho toh bhi sirf tumhe dekh ke hi dil mein hazaaron khwahishen bhar uthti hain." She whispered against his hair.

"Toh unn khwahishon ko poora karne ka time aa gaya ya abhi nahi?" His hand behind her inched upwards, towards the zipper of her dress as he looked at her.

He waited, searching her eyes for her consent.

"Tumhe poochne ki zaroorat hai kya?" She lowered her eyes.

He got up, sitting next to her on the bed.

Holding her chin, he lifted her face, "Naina, hamari shaadi ho gayi hai iska matlab yeh nahi ki tumhe har waqt meri baat manni hai... tumhara bhi utna hi haq hai iss rishte mein jitna mera... har baar sirf mere liye haan bolna mujhe khushi nahi dega... tumhari nazdeekiyon ki chahat hai mujhe, lekin usse kahin zyada tumse pyaar hai... yeh toh pyar ka ek hissa hai... agar tumhe zara bhi takleef ho, ya tumhara dil na ho toh tum naa bol sakti ho... tumhari kasam, mujhe khushi hogi agar tum apni marzi zaahir karogi... shaadi ka matlab sirf yehi nahi hai... haan, main manta hun itne saalon ke baad tumhe paa ke main behek jaata hun... par mujhe ahsaas hai ki tumhe shayad yeh sab thodi takleef de sakta hai... lekin tum kabhi kahogi nahi... tum khud socho, agar mujhe kisi baat se takleef ho aur main tumse chupaun toh kya tumhe achha lagega? Nahi lagega jaanta hun... isliye tum bhi apni takleef mat chupana mujhse... tumhari aankhon mein apna chehra dekhna bhi mujhe sukoon se bhar deta hai... please, mujhse waada karo, kabhi bhi sirf mere liye tum khud ko kisi takleef mein nahi rehne dogi... main zabardasti tumhe apni baat manne pe majboor nahi karna chahta."

Each of his word had a soothing effect on her soul... she had read in novels, seen in movies and shows how men considered wives their property, forcing them to give in to each of their demands. Of course, Sameer could never be like those husbands... she had never feared that... she knew he would keep her comfort before his desires... but such consideration, that too when they had been properly married only for four days...

She had seen the flood of desires drown him so often in last two years... and now, when they were free from all restraint, he was asking her to take the decision...

"Sameer... aisa kyon bol rahe ho... aisa kuch nahi hai... hum dono ne iss waqt ka intezar kiya hai... tumhe aisa kyon laga ki main sirf tumhare liye... kya tumhe mera pyar mehsoos nahi hota? Aur tum mujhe koi takleef de hi nahi sakte... yeh main achhi tarah jaanti hun... agar thodi ghabrahat thi toh woh bhi tumne kaafi hadd tak door kar di... hum ab poori tarah se pati patni hain... toh isme zabardasti wali baat kahaan se aa gayi? Tumhe aisa lagta hai kya ki main majboori mein tumhari baat maanti hun?" She raised her brows.

He pursed his lips, shaking his head.

She let out a long sigh, "Agar aisa hai toh fir shayad tumhe batana padega ki Mrs Maheshwari bhi tumse utna hi pyar karti hai jitna tum karte ho."

The words slowly sank in... and his glittering eyes filled up with a new hope.

Next update tomorrow morning