When Naina opened her eyes at the faint sound of birds from outside, the room had just started to lose the darkness.

Sameer slept next to her. The quilt covered them to protect against the cold. They had slept in the same clothes... she in her dress and he was in his jeans, without the shirt. She blushed as she recalled how she had again broken his buttons... he would tease her to no end over it. But it didn't matter... nothing mattered except the fact that she was his wife and they had every right on each other. He knew it too... holding her like this in his sleep, knowing that she would accept his every touch, without any hesitation.

She could have never imagined till a few months back that she could sleep soundly in this position. He had held her captive under himself... his head lay under her chin, his arm around her waist, his shoulder pressed her curves, his leg, folded at the knee, rested heavily on her flat legs.

She felt no discomfort... none at all. If anything, it felt soothing, natural... and needed. She wanted to savour each moment, each touch, every breath of his that fanned her skin, every brush of his lips, his unique, musky scent, the raspy scratch of his stubble, his hard muscles, the silky hair beneath her fingers, those dark eyes shining with mischief, the curling of his lips into a naughty smile, that pressing of lower lip... in nervousness or in childlike enthusiasm... his deep, husky voice, his urgent kisses...

She could go on and on... each gesture of his was a treasure for her... and she would be denied this treasure from tomorrow...

The sign of morning that had begun to lighten the horizon did not bring any brightness for her... it took her closer to the time of their separation.

Her eyes filled up... she would still be with Preeti, chachaji, chachiji... Sameer would be alone... what if even Munna Pandit didn't come to stay with him... she shuddered at the thought of him being lonely in that big house...

Her fingers went to his hair, other hand covered his arm over her waist. She lightly weaved her fingers through the soft hair...  wishing there was a way of going and staying in his house till her family accepted their marriage. They were legally married... no one could stop them from living together...

Her fingers clenched in frustration... why was everything so complicated in both their lives... why they could not live happily together like Rahul and Sonali... why everyone could not see their love and accept it as nothing but love, instead of creating complications for them...

Sameer felt a tug in his hair... he opened his eyes, to see what was causing the pull. The first feeling was of the thudding under his ear... her heart was beating fast... her fingers bunched up his hair in a tight grip... her hand over his arm was holding him in a tight clasp. He could feel her chest move up and down with her rapid breathing.

He didn't move... she could never do anything to hurt him knowingly... the tug meant she was lost in her own world... he lay silently where he was, enjoying the warmth... letting her think that he was asleep... or else she would make him get up.

"Tum jaan ho meri, agar tumhe zara bhi dard hua toh main seh nahi paungi." Her voice was almost inaudible... but he heard it...

Turning up his head, he looked at her, unable to bear her sadness.

"Naina?" He was shocked at her tearful eyes.

She jerked, as he moved his head away, loosening her fingers instantly.

"Mujhe dard nahi hua." He cupped her cheek, thinking that she was talking about the pulling of his hair.

"Sameer." She flung her hands around his neck, bringing him down over herself.

"Naina, itni pareshan kyon ho... sach mein mere baal nahi khiche... galti se thoda haath lag gaya hoga tumhara par mujhe sach mein dard nahi hua." He rubbed her arm, pacifying her.

"Hone bhi nahi dungi." She mumbled against his ear, her voice heavy with emotion.

Sameer smiled, she was so tensed for such a small thing. He could not fathom how she would react if he really got hurt someday.

As if she could read his thoughts, she blurted out, "Tumhara chote se chota dard bhi bardaasht nahi kar paungi, Sameer... bhagwan se hamesha yehi maanga hai ki tumhare hisse ke saare dukh, saari takleef, har dard mujhe mil jaaye... tumhari aankh mein koi parchhai na aaye kabhi."

He lifted up to rest on his elbow, looking into her misty eyes, "Aur tumhe lagta hai tumhe woh saari takleef jhelte hue main dekh sakta hun?"

She swallowed, pursing her lips... of course, he couldn't see her in any kind of pain either.

Gently smoothing her hair away from her face, he smiled, "Dard toh har kisi ki zindagi mein aate hain... hum unse bach nahi sakte... abse bhagwan se yeh mangna ki humein har dard ko sehne ke liye ek dusre ke saath rakhein... hum dono milkar har dukh ka, har dard ka samna kar sakte hain... koi bhi takleef aaye, usse jhel sakte hain... ek dusre ke dard khud pe lekar nahi balki apne dukh baantkar... samjhi?"

She nodded, gulping as she pressed her lower lip with the teeth... releasing it the next instant as his eyes darted to her action, darkening.

In a flash of a second, he had captured the demanding lip, moving his head to adjust against her. Her lips curled according to his pressure, without protest. He cupped her face, keeping the kiss gentle and comforting.

It relaxed her... the disturbing thoughts were laid to rest... they would together sail through these rough waters.

They were ready on time as was planned last night. After a hearty breakfast, they left for Mumbai. The drive back made all four of them a little sad... they wished they had some more time and could spend a few days here.

"Maine suna hai baarish ke mausam mein yeh jagah aur bhi khoobsurat ho jaati hai... tum log baarishon mein aana... tab aayenge yahan... aur aaram se ek hafta rahenge." Rahul looked at Sameer through the rear view mirror.

He nodded, "Fir se aana hi padega... ek din mein man nahi bhara... kitna shaant hai yahan sab kuch... agli baar pakka ek hafta rahenge."

"Haan, tab tu saari jagah dekh lena achhi tarah... kal bada shauk aa raha tha na tujhe ghoomne ka." Rahul grinned, teasing him.

Sameer glowered at him, making him laugh even more.

They reached home by lunchtime. John had come within five minutes of their arrival. He quickly prepared a simple lunch of pulao and raita. They decided to rest for some time. Evening seven o clock, Naina and Sameer had to leave for the party of their show. They had asked their friends to come along too but they had refused.

"Sameer, batao na, mujhe sari pehenni chahiye ya koi suit, ya fir dress... samajh nahi aa raha kya pehnu." Naina was in a dilemma.

"Kuch bhi pehenogi, sabse sundar tum hi lagne wali ho." He rested his chin on his fist, staring at her with a tilt of his head.

"Wahan bohot saare log honge... actors toh tumhe pata hi hai kitna makeup karke aate hain... main toh unke aage kuch bhi nahi hun." She said plainly, without any jealousy or complex.

She had laid a few clothes on the bed and was standing next to it, staring at them. Sameer got up from the chair where he was sitting. He came behind her and held her shoulders, taking her along with him to stand in front of the mirror.

"Dekho zara, iss chaand se chehre ko kisi makeup ki zaroorat hi nahi hai... tumhari khoobsurati asli hai... doosri cheezon ki mohtaaj nahi hai... Naina, sach mein, tumhare paas jo khazana hai uske aage koi aur tik hi nahi sakta... itna saaf aur masoom dil aur itna pyara aur haseen chehra ek saath milna namumkin hai." He stood behind her, staring at her reflection.

"Sameer, tum itna pyar karte ho na mujhse, isliye tumhe aisa lagta hai... ab saare log toh mujhe tumhari nazar se dekh nahi sakte... isliye thodi mehnat mujhe karni hi padegi." She raised her brows, smiling at his effort to always make her feel beautiful.

His grip in her shoulders tightened, "Main chahta bhi nahi koi tumhe meri nazar se dekhe... iss nazar se sirf main dekh sakta hun... yeh mera haq hai aur main bardaasht nahi kar paunga agar kisi ne ek nazar bhi tum pe uthai."

She chuckled, "Arre baba, pareshan mat ho, mujhe koi nahi dekhne wala... tum hi budhu the jo phans gaye... aur koi kabhi mere aas paas bhi nahi fatakta... school ke itne saalon mein sabne mujhe behenji hi bulaya... pata nahi tumne kya dekha... warna main koi hoor pari nahi hun, mujhe achhe se pata hai."

He rested his chin on her shoulder, his eyes going all soft as he gazed at her smiling face, "Tum meri pari ho... meri kahani ki pari."

She tilted her head to rest against him, "Ab agar aise hi khade rahe toh time pe kaise jayenge?"

With a sigh, he straightened, "Okay madam... ab mujhe bhi bata do main kya pehnu... aapke saath jaana hai toh aapke standard ka bhi lagna padega na."

She laughed again, "Tum black pehno... bohot din se poore black mein dekhne ka man hai tumhe."

He circled her waist, pulling her closer, "Toh pehle bata deti, main khushi khushi tumhare man ki ichha poori kar deta... waise mujhe toh laga tha tumhe sirf mere button todne ka man karta hai."

Here it was... she coloured to the roots, turning her face away.

He placed one finger under her chin, bringing her face up, "Sharmane ko nahi kaha, tareef hai... chaho toh aaj wapas aane ke baad black shirt ke bhi tod dena... mujhe koi aitraaz nahi hai."

She pushed at his chest, running away to the washroom. His teasings would never stop... and she didn't want them to. However much she blushed, she loved it when he talked in such tones.

Looking into the mirror over the sink, she sucked in her lower lip... going crimson again as she thought of his reaction had he seen her doing it.