Sameer was upset about Naina's going away. But he was more upset about being annoyed with her. It was not her fault. It was a ritual... she had to comply as they both had decided that they would do everything that other marriages involved.

Still, he could not stop the feeling of irritation that was engulfing him. He wanted her with him. Last night was not enough... he wanted her around him... in his arms... within touching distance. He wanted to feel her.

His arms tightened around her... and he pulled her up to bring her face in front of him, "Main aakhiri baar akele jaane de raha hun... iske baad kabhi nahi... tum jab chahe chachaji ke ghar chal sakti ho, par mere saath. Hum saath mein jaayenge, saath rahenge, aur saath wapas aayenge... Naina, ab yeh ghar adhura hai tumhare bina."

"Sameer." She cupped his cheek, understanding his insecurities, "Main nahi jaungi  tumhe chod kar... please, tum gussa mat karo."

Her words were an instant relief for him... and he crushed her in his arms, never wanting to let go.

Naina held him tight too, scared that he would get annoyed again... she herself didn't want to leave him... especially after knowing that he would be all alone.

He felt her soft body press into him... and the anger started to melt... getting replaced by his need for her.

His hands wandered over her back. The thin kurta wasn't much of a hindrance. His fingers moved up to her hair... bunching them lightly, he pulled her head back to see her face.

She looked so contrite that he was filled with guilt again. Mumbling a soft 'sorry', he bent to claim her lips.
She held onto him, surprised by the sudden kiss... when she was expecting more anger, more rants...

The slow movement of his mouth over hers took all thoughts away from her mind eventually... and she parted her lips. His hands dug into her waist, pulling her with a jerk... and the kiss turned urgent in a heartbeat...

He couldn't get enough, going to the depths of her mouth, his hand searching for the opening in her kurta, and going in the moment he found it. She hesitated for a moment, then surrendered to him, threading her fingers in his hair. His hand had just felt the satiny skin heat up under his touch when a shrill ring jolted both of them.

"Yeh, yeh kya hai?" He lifted his head, startled.

"Woh... alarm lagaya tha." She said hesitantly.

"Alarm? Kyon? Koi college thodi hai yeh." He furrowed his brows, wondering why she had to get up this early.

"Woh chachiji..." She began to explain.

"Oh... matlab chachiji ke ghar jaane ki itni jaldi hai ki aadhi raat ka alarm laga ke soyi thi... yahan kyon... " He started his muttering again.

She held his face within her palms, cutting his sentence, "Chup karke poori baat suno."

He fell quiet, looking at her stern face.

"Chachiji ne kaha tha jaldi uth ke taiyar hone ko isliye alarm lagaya tha... aur aadhi raat nahi hai... che bajne wale hain."

He opened his mouth to ask something... she crinkled her eyes, "Abhi khatam nahi hui meri baat."

He closed his open mouth.

"Tumhe bhi taiyar hona hai... abhi naha ke ganesh pooja hogi jo hum dono ko saath mein karni hai... uske baad main sabke liye naastha banaungi... aur kuch meetha." She said in the same strict voice.

The glint in his eyes made her realise her wrong choice of words.

"Mera meetha abhi de do toh chalega mujhe." He was not the one to let the opportunity pass, placing his hands on hers.

The hard mask dropped and her face turned pink... she pulled her hands away from his him, turning to go.

He held her wrist, "Naina, suno na... kahan jaa rahi ho?"

"Abhi toh bataya... mujhe taiyar hona hai... samajh nahi aaya kya?" Her voice was softer.

He leaned to put his face in the crook of her neck, whispering, "Samajh aaya... ki humein saath mein pooja karni hai... isliye saath mein nahana hai."

Her nerves tingled at his suggestion... she pushed him away, getting up from the bed before he could grab her again.

Her suitcase was kept next to the cupboard. She kneeled to open it to take out clothes for the day. Being her first day here, and also, the only day with the entire family, she took out a bright coloured saree with heavy border. Taking all the clothes that were needed, she headed for the washroom, aware of his eyes on her.

Sameer watched her walk to the suitcase... wearing the kurta that fell below her knees... sleeves folded till the elbows. The loose garment did not stick to her anywhere, still it quickened his pulse... the anklets in her mehendi adorned feet... green bangles on her wrists... soft hair falling on her back, till the curvy waist...

He sighed... each moment away from her was a torture for him... it wasn't enough to have her in front of his eyes... he wanted her close, in his arms...

As if she could hear his thoughts, she looked back at him, and her lips curled up in a smile.

His face lit up. Jumping from the bed, he dashed towards her. But she was quicker. The door of washroom closed before he reached her.

"Naina." He banged at the door.

Her soft laugh floated from inside.

Pursing his lips, he ran one hand through the hair falling on his forehead.

With a determined look on his face, he turned.

The fans were still throwing strong air. He walked to the end of the room and switched them off. The huge machines did not annoy him anymore.

Suddenly, his eyes narrowed... how did Naina manage to get them here? She must have asked someone... who? He recalled seeing one fan when he had come to the room before leaving for the wedding venue, and asking Munna to get it removed. He had shown no surprise to see it in his room... did that mean he was the one to place it here, on Naina's behest? And when did she ask someone to put the second one... Munna Pandit had arrived in the house after him and Naina... they were with everyone in the living room all the while... how then? Was someone else also involved? And Rahul's urgent need to talk at that hour tugged at his mind. He had mentioned that it was very important for them to leave, and suddenly agreed to stay back after talking for a considerable amount of time... was that also planned? By Naina? That means she had this idea for a long time... to wear the green saree. She had chalked out everything to perfection... involving those who were with him all the time. And he never got any hint of all the planning that was going on. He wondered when she talked to Munna or Rahul... the phone was in his room... and he rarely let anyone answer it, hoping every call to be for him, from her...

His Naina really knew how to make everything special... a smile spread on his face. Putting his hands in the pockets of his track bottom, he stood in the doorway of balcony. The breeze after rain was cooler than other days. He looked at the brightness that had started to spread with the daylight cutting through shadows of night. Everything looked washed... pure and serene... after the rain last night.

His smile widened... Naina had even managed to conspire with God to make it rain... to recreate the first most important day of his life, on the next most important day in their lives. Even God considered her special, giving in to her demand. The wind, the rain, the saree... everything had blown him away. He had expected her to be sitting coyly on their bed, with her face under veil... like he had seen in the movies. But that was not his Naina. A blush crept up his neck as he recalled how she had pretended to twist her ankle, to make him carry her to their room.

"Oh Naina... tumne pagal kar diya hai mujhe." He crossed his arms against his bare chest, a shiver passing through him.... though he didn't know it was due to the cold outside or the heat inside.

The click of door made him turn. She stepped out... in a skirt and blouse. The saree was kept on her suitcase. Wet hair fell on her shoulders, her face looked fresh like a morning bloom. He stood mesmerised.

"Ab tum naha lo, main tab tak ready ho jaati hun." She said without looking at him, dabbing at her hair with one end of the towel, holding the rest of it against her front.

He smiled at her inhibitions... and took slow steps ahead. Her eyes shot up as he went close.

His fingers threaded through her wet hair... pulling at the towel in her hand. Reluctantly, she let it go. He started to pat her hair softly, just the way she had shown him in Mumbai. She stood quietly in front of the mirror, stealing glances at him as he went behind her, pressing her hair ends with towel.

He noticed the dori at the back of her blouse... which wasn't there in the green one. And the dori was open. He picked up the thick mane to place over her shoulder, and held the strings.

"Main... main kar lungi." Her hands went behind her neck... she was used to tying the dori, at least, a single one on the top.

"Abse main hi bandhunga." He continued to tie it, "aur main hi kholunga."

His low, rough voice brought the goosebumps again, which he noticed on her back.

He leaned and placed a few kisses on her exposed skin, making her shoulder hitch up. He noticed her lowered eyes through the mirror. And went lower to notice other things...

"Sameer." She let out a shaky voice when his hands went around her waist.

"Aur jab tumhari koi bhi chain, ya yeh mangalsutra kho jayega... andar... toh main hi dhoond dunga." He traced a finger along her neckline.

She held his hand, trying to keep her shivering in control.

"Kabhi tum itni himmatwali ho jaati ho ki sabko bata deti ho tumhe hamari pehli raat mein kya karna hai... aur ab tum mujhse hi aise sharma rahi ho." He teased her, nuzzling his nose against her face.

Her eyes flew open, "Maine kisko bataya?"

"Nahi bataya toh yeh fans kaise aaye yahan? Aur raat ko woh Rahul ka aana... woh bhi tumhara hi khel tha na... jisse main bahar jaun aur tum change kar sako." He raised his brows at her reflection.

She flushed at being caught, biting the inside of her cheek.

"Kaise kiya bataogi nahi?" He prodded.

"Woh maine... Munna ko sangeet ke din hi bol diya tha." She said in a low voice.

"Oh, toh tumhari planning tabse chal rahi hai?" He raised one brow again.

"Iss din ko khaas banane ke liye toh main kabse soch rahi thi." She admitted shyly.

"Achha, aur kya kya socha tha?" He rubbed his thumb on her waist.

"Bohot kuch... lekin fir dil ne kaha ki jo tumhari sabse pehli khwaahish thi woh poori karna shayad tumhe sabse zyada khushi dega." She raised her eyes to meet his.

"Meri sabse pehli khushi toh tum ho... lekin jhooth nahi bolunga... jo tumne plan kiya tha usne mujhe pagal bana diya." He kissed her cheek.

His happiness reflected in her eyes.

"Rahul ko kab bola?" He wanted to know.

"Ussi din... Sonali ko bataya tha ki kuch der ke liye tumhe kamre se bahar karna hai... kam se kam pandrah minute ke liye... usne kaha woh sambhal legi... lekin Rahul ne tumse kaha kya?" She was curious what made him stay out for so long, without getting suspicious.

Sameer narrated the conversation with Rahul.

"Naina, kya tumne Sonali ko bata diya tha... matlab yeh saree ke baare mein?" He asked.

"Nahi... bas itna kaha tha ki mujhe tumhare liye ek surprise taiyar karna hai... jab woh mujhe chedne lagi ki hamare liye yeh koi pehli baar thodi hai kyonki hum toh Mumbai mein bhi saath the toh maine bataya usse... ki humne iss din ka intezar karne ka faisla kiya tha." Naina told him about her planning.

He was amazed... she had thought about all these things for so long... had wanted to make it special for him... just like he had planned to change the room for her.

And everything put together had been a heady mixture... he would never ever forget this night. Just like her image in the green saree in college remained imprinted in his memories, so would her picture in the green saree now... in this room, as his bride... would remain ingrained in his mind.