After lunch, Sameer held Naina's hand, forcing her to come to the room though she wanted to help in the kitchen.

He pulled her in, closing the door and securing the latch.

"Kya karte ho, Sameer? Bahar Ramdhari hai... kya sochega woh?" She lamented.

"Kuch nahi sochega... main hamesha se khana khate hi apne kamre mein aa jaata tha... toh ab kyon nahi? Ab toh aur zyada zaroorat hai mujhe yahan rehne ki." He pinned her against the door, grazing his thumb over her lip, other hand holding her wrist.

"Tum pagal ho." She smiled, turning pliant under his touch.

"Haan Naina, pagal hun... aur tum har din aur pagal bana deti ho... sirf tumhe choone ki chahat se hi nahi balki tumhare dil ki garmahat se bhi... kaise tumhe sab pata chal jata hai jiski mujhe zaroorat hoti hai, kaise woh baat bhi jaan jaati ho jo mujhe bhi apne baare mein pata nahi chalti... kaise Naina?" His eyes were soft and filled with love.

She wound her arms around his neck, "Kyonki main tumhe tum se zyada jaanti hun... tumhare dil ke har kone mein jo baat chupi hoti hai, main uss tak pohoch jaati hun kyonki yeh dil hi toh mera ghar hai."

"Iss ghar ki maalkin toh ho tum." His eyes flicked to his heart.

His hand moved from her wrist to the waist, tracing the keyring tucked in the belt of her skirt, "Aaj iss ghar ki maalkin bhi banke dikha rahi ho."

She held her chin high, "Hun toh dikhaungi hi... tumne hi toh isse mere naam kiya hai."

"Maine toh sab kuch tumhare hi naam kiya hai, jaan." He leaned, eyeing her lips.

"Khaane ke baad meetha toh banta hai na." He closed the distance between their faces.

She pressed her lips tight. He frowned. She stifled a smile. He scrunched his eyes, mouthing a 'please'. She pressed her mouth tighter, shaking her head.

His eyes narrowed. Next moment, a loud gasp escaped her as his palm flattened on her belly, thumb teasing the navel, and fingers lightly pulling at the hem of her blouse.

Sameer grabbed the opportunity, capturing her lips, his tongue darting inside the warm corners of her mouth, hands clutching her waist.

Naina felt her knees go weak with the intensity of his kiss. He took her with the hunger of a starved person, with the need of a deprived soul, with the demand of a tormented heart.

She could not keep the pretence up for even a second, melting in his arms the moment his lips touched hers... the need as much hers as his.

He delved more, deepening the kiss, not able to get enough of her. Her arms went up in his hair, fisting at his scalp to bring him down more... even though their was no distance between them. His hard muscles pulsated under her palm on his back. The tightness in her own stomach increased, coiling up the nerves into a tight ball. His hands pressed into her curves, making her moan in his mouth, the pressure soothing the pain and igniting her at the same time.

Had it not been the basic need of air to stay alive, Sameer would not have left her.

They stood panting, foreheads touching, taking in big gulps of air. Her legs refused to support her, and she collapsed on his chest, his arms coming around her in a protective loop.

Helping her to walk a few steps, he made her sit on the couch, kneeling down on the floor in front of her.

"Tum neeche kyon baith raahe ho? Yahan baitho na." She patted the space next to her, still breathing heavy.

He shook his head, "Main yahin baithunga... tumhare saamne... jisse tumhe dekhte hue sab bata sakun... ki aaj kya kya hua... tum sunogi toh hairan reh jaogi."

Sameer started to tell her everything... from the moment he entered the office, his warm welcome, support shown by all employees, the cabin, plaque with his name, nanu's diary... complete narration of his first day at work.

"Aisa laga jaise nanu wahin hain... kursi mein, photo mein, diary mein... balki poore kamre mein mujhe woh kabhi kahin toh kabhi kahin nazar aa rahe the... Naina, nanu sach mein mera saath denge... mujhe yakeen hai." He was exhilarated.

She was equally shocked to know about nanu's diary... then a smile spread on her face.

"Maine kaha tha na... jo humein sach mein pyar karte hain unka pyaar har pal saath rehta hai... woh khud hon ya nahi hon." She ran her fingers through his hair.

"Theek kaha hai tumne... aaj maine mehsoos kiya... nanu ko bhi aur tumhe bhi... apne saath." He brought up the hand that he was holding, and placed a kiss on the back of it.

They sat looking into each other's eyes... brimming with the love they felt and gratitude at finding each other.

"Ab tum change kar lo." Naina pulled at his shoulders, suddenly realising that he had been kneeling on the floor for quite some time.

"Ek baat bolun?" He raised his brows in question, not moving from his place.

She nodded.

"Aaj tumhe aise dekh ke bohot achha laga... yeh wohi haar hai na, jo mummy ne diya tha?" He touched the necklace with his fingertips.

"Aaj main tumhare liye har tarah Mrs Maheshwari ban ke rehna chahti thi... iss ghar ki bahu... nanu ki pasand... mummy ke ashirvad ke saath... jisse humein ahsaas ho ki aaj se hamari zindagi ka ek naya panna khula hai... abhi tak hum sirf apne pyar ke liye saath the... ab humein ek aur zimmedaari nibhani hai... hamare parivar ki apekhshaon ko poora karne ki... ... duniya ko yeh batane ki ki hum sirf pyar ko paane ke liye nahi lad rahe the sabse... iss pyar ko nibhana bhi jaante hain... sambhal sakte hain... tum business ko waise hi sambhalo jaise nanu chahte the, aur main ghar ko hum dono ke liye sukoon bhari jagah bana ke rakhungi... main aur tum milke hum ban gaye hain... aur iss pyar mein parivar ko shaamil karke humne saabit kar diya ki hamara pyar kitna gehra hai." She cupped his face.

He was mesmerized by her words. How beautifully she had explained the need to be more responsible... nanu would have been so proud of her. And she was looking every inch a proud daughter in law and wife... except...

"Mrs Maheshwari banne mein bas ek choti si kasar hai." He stood up, making her stand with him.

Holding her hand he moved to the dresser. The small box of sindoor was kept where Naina had left it, when she decided not to wear it. He picked it up, opening it with care. Taking a small pinch, he pressed it to her forehead, at the hairline.

After putting the box back, he looked at the resplendent picture that was in front of him, his heart flooding with so much love that he wanted to crush her in his arms... but he knew she won't let him, because of his white shirt.

Before he could think more, she held his tie, loosening it. Pulling from one side, she opened it and placed on the dresser. Her hands slowly moved up to his collar, opening the topmost button.

Sameer looked down at her hands fiddling with the second one, and looked up with a grin.

"Pata tha mujhe... aaj inn buttons ka number hai." His eyes gleamed.

Without a word, she continued to open the second one, painfully slow. Sameer clutched her waist, expecting to hear the familiar sound of ripping soon. To his chagrin, she dragged her fingers in slow motion to the third button, working on it as if she wanted to take whole day just to open the damn buttons.

"Itni dheere dheere kya khol rahi ho." He gripped her hands with one of his.

"Shhhh." She freed herself from his hold, carrying on with the same speed.

His eyes filled with stars... Naina had planned something... something good... hence this slow burn.

He rested his forearms on her shoulders, locking the fingers behind her.

"Theek hai, theek hai... tum karo jaise karna hai... main wait kar raha hun." His voice was full of excited anticipation.

When the shirt was open till his belt, she pushed the panels aside, revealing his chest. Moving closer, she placed a kiss on his heart.

"Baaki ke button... " Looking up at him, she spoke in a husky voice.

She was out of his reach, near the door before he could comprehend anything, "... tum khud khol lo."

"Nainaa." He stomped his feet in frustration.

"Ab tum fresh ho jao... aur haan, yeh lipstick zara saaf kar lena." She winked before closing the door after her.

He pulled off the shirt over his head, not bothering to open the remaining buttons.

Her words rang in his ears, and he turned to look at himself in the mirror. The faint specks of her pink lipstick were smeared on his lips and around... and on his chest. A flushed smile spread on his face... seeing those marks on himself made his blood heat up even more.

"Jaan le logi tum meri." He muttered, running his fingers through the hair.

Looking around, he found his towel neatly folded on a rack near the bathroom door. He grabbed it and went inside the washroom.

The cold shower felt good. It helped to cool him somewhat. He stood under the spray of water with his eyes closed, her picture refusing to leave his mind. How he wished she was here with him.

"Jis din aa gayi uss din yahan bhi paani mein aag laga degi." His thoughts turned haywire, imagining her in the shower with him.

He recalled the day in Mumbai when he had faked an injury and she had agreed to give him a bath, even though she was aware that he had inflicted the cut on his own. Without realising, he had poured water on her and the kurta had stuck to her like second skin, making him breathless when he saw her. He skipped a heartbeat at the recollection... even after the proximity they had now, his heartbeat plummeted at the thought of her curves becoming more pronounced in a wet kurta. He had wanted to touch her so badly that day... wanted to tell her what her sight was doing to him... but, bound by their own conditions imposed on themselves, he had controlled himself.

Those conditions were gone, but her teasing made the fire burn him even more now. The craving did not lessen... it became stronger.

He ran his hands through wet hair, letting out a long exhale. The cold shower was of no use anymore. Her thoughts filled him with tremendous fervour... making him yearn even more.

When he came out after another fifteen minutes, the room was still vacant. With a towel around his waist, he opened the cupboard to take out his clothes.

Her fragrance wafted through... hitting him again with the need for her. He noticed her clothes neatly set on lower shelves... and in the hangers. He picked up a dress, a blue one, and brought it to his nose, inhaling deeply. The same feminine fragrance filled his senses... his hands ached to feel her, wishing she would somehow appear in this dress.

Well, his desires would have to wait, he accepted with a sigh. Keeping her dress back, on an impulse, he pulled out a blue t-shirt for himself.

When he went out a little later, the house was filled with the smell of baking.

"Naina, kya ban raha hai?" He entered the kitchen, his mouth watering.

"Bhabhi cake bana rahi hain." Ramdhari informed him.

"Cake?" His eyes brightened, recalling the cake Naina had once baked for his birthday in Mumbai.

"Lekin woh hai kahan?" He looked around.

"Yahin thi, bas abhi cake ko oven mein rakhke chat pe gayi hain... unke kuch kapde sukhne daale the, woh lene." Ramdhari told him.

Sameer ran up the stairs... terrace was a good place to steal a few moments. Her back was to the door. A few sarees and dupattas were spread on the clothesline. She was carefully removing the clips, not to damage the fine material of her clothes. He watched for a few minutes... her dainty movements, the sneak view of her back and waist when she bent to put the clips in the box and her hair slipped over her shoulder...

He walked up stealthily behind her... and said loudly, "Boo."

She yelped, the yellow saree that she had just removed from the clothesline flying up in the air... and landing on them, covering them in a soft veil of yellow.

Sameer grabbed her, grinning.

"Yeh kya tha... pata hai kitni zor se darr gayi main?" She showed fake anger, holding a hand to her  heaving chest.

"Aao, main darr mita deta hun... meri baahon mein koi darr nahi lagega tumhe." He closed his arms around her, both of them still wrapped in the yellow fabric.

"Hato, tumhe bilkul sharam nahi aati... hum din ke ujaale mein chat pe hain... koi dekhega toh kya kahega?" She pretended to be worried, her glittering eyes giving away the rush of feelings though.

"Jahan koi nahi dekh sakta wahan bhi nahi aati tum... toh yahin sahi... dekhne do jinko dekhna hai." He ran his hand over her back playing with the dori.

"Kahan nahi aati? Abhi kamre mein hi toh thi tumhare saath." She reminded him.

"Kamre ki baat nahi kar raha... wahan jahan tumne mujhe bheja tha... maine bohot miss kiya tumhe?" His voice turned rough, making her spine tingle.

"Office?" She whispered.

"Shower mein." He nuzzled in her hair, his hot breath burning her ear.

Next update tomorrow morning