Sorry for the quality of picture... tried to remove everyone else, thus it looks a little blurrred

Naina turned away from Sameer, not able to face him. How could she be so bluntly counting out their kisses to him when he meant the cake that she had spent all afternoon in making? She squeezed her eyes shut, clutching the side of her dress to stop herself from hitting her forehead.

"Aur kuch banane ka soch rahi ho kya?" He asked from behind.

"Huh... na... nahi... aur kya banana hai?" She tilted her head to the side, not really looking at him.

"Aur kuch meetha?" His rough whisper was right next to her ear, his hot breath falling on her cheek.

"Main... main jaake dekhti hun... cake." She started for the door.

Sameer held her wrist, pulling back to make her come crashing on his chest. His other hand went around her waist. She looked at him.

"Saree mein bohot sundar lag rahi thi tum." His voice was heavy, his eyes soft.

She made no effort to move away. After all, she had promised just a few minutes back that all her time was his.

"Tumhe toh main hamesha sundar lagti hun." She lowered her eyes.

Sameer recalled her complexes regarding her looks earlier. He knew she did not feel the same anymore, was more confident about herself. He smoothed her hair along the face though they were neatly brushed now.

"Tumhe pata hai Naina, jab nanu kehte the ki meri zindagi mein bhi ek aisi saathi aayegi jo mere har dard ko mita degi toh mujhe pehle yakeen nahi hota tha... koi kaise uss dard ka ahsaas khatam kar sakta hai jo mere andar tab se tha jab maine sochna samajhna bhi shuru nahi kiya tha... fir tum mere khyaalon mein rehne lagi... aur achanak raat ka andhera mujhe daraane ki jagah tumhare sapno mein khone ki wajah se achha lagne laga... maine tumse kabhi baat nahi ki thi fir bhi tumhari awaaz mujhe sukoon deti thi... bohot dil karta tha nanu ko bata dun tumhare baare mein... lekin himmat nahi hui... waise toh mujhe tumhare dil ki baat ka thoda bohot pata tha fir bhi main nanu ko batane se pehle tumse baat karna chahta tha." His voice had the reference of dark past but no pain, she noticed.

"Tum yeh sab sochte the aur mujhe hamesha lagta tha ki tumhe mere hone tak ka pata nahi hai... jaise school mein aur itne bachche the waise main thi tumhare liye... ek anjaan, andekhi ladki." She mused.

Sameer gulped, still contrite about not speaking to her in school... and making both of them suffer so much.

"Pata nahi Naina hamari kahani kaisi hoti agar maine uss samay tumse baat kar li hoti... shayad hamara dard kam hota ya pata nahi, shayad hamara pyar itna na hota..." He trailed off at the end.

"Nahi Sameer, main tab bhi tumse itna hi pyar karti thi." She said quickly.

He smiled, "Tab tak humne sirf pyar kiya tha... usse khoya nahi tha... jis cheez ko hum sabse zyaada apne paas rakhna chahte hain fir bhi kho dete hain, usse keemti kuch nahi hota... shayad hamara pyar itna gehra isiliye hai ki humne usse tab paaya jab hum iss sach ko apna chuke the ki yeh pyar hamari kismat mein ho hi nahi sakta."

She stared at him... he was right. The pain she had felt when she had given up on him, taking a decision to move to Mumbai was excruciating.

"Ab humein woh din yaad nahi karne chahiye." He cupped her face, seeing her eyes moisten at the thought of those days.

She nodded... the anguish of those few days should not be heavier in weight against what she gained by going to Mumbai.

"Sach Naina, nanu bilkul theek kehte the... tum meri woh saathi ho jisne na sirf mere dil mein pyar bhar diya balki meri zindagi mein bhi khushiyaan le aayi... woh saare dard, woh saare darr, unn yaadon se hone wali takleef, apno ki kami ki chubhan... sab kuch dhundhla hote hote ab toh jaise mit hi gaya hai." He looked at her lovingly.

A smile of relief spread on her face... if she was able to erase the darkness of his past and make him come out of that murk completely, it was the ultimate triumph of their love. His eyes now held only the shine of their love and togetherness... and belief, that future would not have any traces of the past pains.

She wound her arms around him, placing her head on his heart. He rested his chin on her head, feeling the bliss of having his world in his arms, while she soaked in the warmth of this cocoon of his embrace which was her haven.

When they went out to the living room for tea, the lightness in their hearts reflected on their shining faces. Ramdhari was happy to see Sameer back to his cheerful mood.

"Sameer bhaiya, ab aap bilkul theek lag rahe hain... achha hua thoda aaram kar liya... aapke liye kuch khaane ko bana dun?" He asked enthusiastically.

"Nahi, bas chai kaafi hai... raat ko cake khaane ki jagah bhi toh rakhni hai pet mein." Sameer gave him a bright smile.

Munna and Pandit called later in the evening, to know how his first day was. He had to listen to their teasing when they came to know that he came back early.

"Oho, hamara chota bachha ro raha hoga tabhi munshiji ne lollipop dekar kaha hoga ki beta, aap ghar chale jao." Munna had laughed.

Pandit was more brutal, "Kahin wahan kisi aur ko bhabhi samajh ke pakad toh nahi liya? Pitne se bachane ke liye munshiji ne ghar bhej diya ho."

Sameer was aghast, "Pandit, tera dimaag kharab hai kya? Kuch bhi bakwaas kar raha hai... hamare office mein sirf chaar ladkiyaan hain aur mera unse koi kaam nahi padta."

Pandit lowered his voice, "Toh iss baat se tu dukhi hai?"

Sameer wanted to get inside the phone and wring his neck.

"Agar tere dimaag mein aisa kachra bhara hai toh tu meri saali ke laayak hai hi nahi... main koi baat waat nahi karne wala chachaji se... bhaad mein jaa tu." He hissed through clenched teeth.

Pandi immediately softened, "Arre bhai, main toh mazaak kar raha tha... tune dil pe le li... aur seedhe mere dil pe attack kar diya... yaar, pata hai sab ko, ki tere dil dimaag ki ghanti sirf ek naam se bajti hai... main bas taang kheech raha tha... ab se woh bhi nahi karunga... maaf karde bhai, aisi sazaa mat de... tu hi mera sahara hai... tu hi meri naiyaa paar laga sakta hai."

Pandit's pleading voice brought a smile on his face, "Theek hai, ab zyada naatak mat kar... bola tha na Sunday ko main aur Naina jayenge... lekin tu usse pehle apne papa se baat kar."

Pandit smiled shyly, rubbing the back of his neck, "Woh mummy aaj karengi... maine kaha tha unhe... aaj papa ke aane ke baad woh baat karengi... main kal batata hun tujhe... waise woh mummy ki baat taalte nahi hain... doosre joru ke ghulam hain."

Sameer narrowed his eyes, "Doosre matlab?"

Pandit bit his tongue, "Doosre? Maine doosre kab kaha? Main keh raha tha doosron ki tarah... jaise aur bohot se log hote hain."

Sameer threw his head back and laughed, "Itna ghabra mat... main hun aur maanta hun, khushi se... aur hamesha rahunga, apni Naina ka ghulam."

Pandit let out a sigh, "Toh mujhe bhi ghulami karne ka mauka dilwa de na bhai... kasam se, ghulam, naukar, gadha, ghoda, jo banayegi Preeti, sab ban jaunga... bas ek baar hamari shaadi ho jaaye."

They talked some more, planning how to go about talking to Preeti's family.

Ramdhari left dinner, having cleaned up the kitchen. He offered to come early the next day as Sameer would have to carry lunch. Naina agreed.

"Lunch baad mein bhi toh bhijwa sakti thi na... subah subah uske aane se disturb hota hai... woh mera time hai tumhare saath." He leaned towards her chair, rubbing his nose in her hair.

Her shoulder hitched, "Woh main... maine usse ek chaabi de di hai... bell nahi bajayega."

He beamed, "Waah, matlab tum bhi nahi chahti subah ki exercise mein koi disturb kare."

The colour found its way up her neck, spreading fast on her face.

"Main cake laati hun." She ran to the kitchen.

As she straightened after picking up the cake dish and closed the refrigerator door, a shriek escaped her lips. Sameer was standing next to the refrigerator.

"Dara diya tumne... laa rahi thi bahar... yahan kyon aaye... chalo main plates aur knife lekar aati hun." She kept one hand on her chest to stabilize her heartbeat.

He stepped ahead, taking the dish from her without a word. After keeping it on the counter top behind him, he held her hand, bringing her close to the platform. Before she could understand, he held her waist, lifting her off the ground and made her sit on the granite kitchen platform.

"Sameer, yeh kya kar rahe ho?" She was surprised.

Her legs not reaching the ground, she was now at the same level as him, looking directly into his eyes.

"Cake... meetha." The glimmering eyes held more than the excitement of eating a cake.

He picked up the plate, bringing it between them. The black forest cake looked delectable with vanilla icing, covered with lots of cherries and grated chocolate flakes.

"Itni mehnat se banaya hai tumne toh achhe se swad lekar khaana chahiye." He eyed it with appreciation.

She watched as he cut a small piece, and brought it to her mouth.

"Pehle tum... tumhare factory ke pehle din ki khushi mein banaya hai." She held his wrist.

"Pehle main hi khaunga... lekin apne tareeke se." His voice was low as he moved his hand closer to her mouth, undeterred by her slender fingers around his wrist.

He touched the cake to corner of her lips, grazing it over them till he reached the other corner. She gulped, going still. Keeping the piece back in plate, he leaned, tasting the icing on her lips. She closed her eyes. He sipped the corners, moving slowly over her plump lips, tasting the sweetness that had doubled. She clutched his shoulders. When he had licked her mouth clean, he picked up the cake again.

"Aankhen kholo, Naina." His voice made her open her eyes.

He brought the piece to her mouth. She looked at him in question. He urged her to take a bite. She did. He brought it to his mouth, biting over the same place where she had her teeth marks.

"Jhootha khaane se pyar badhta hai." He said, making her eat again.

They finishes the piece, taking alternate bites, their eyes fixed on each other.

"Yeh meetha toh ho gaya, ab hamara wala meetha?" He leaned towards her.

She leaped from the counter top, held his hand and took him to the sink. Opening the tap, she placed his hands under running water, rubbing them with her fingers. His gaze remained fixed on her as she cleaned each finger, turned his hands, interlinking their fingers and rubbing his palm... doing everything that he had done to her a few times.

Once it was done, she took a napkin, dabbing his hands with it.

"Bohot kuch seekh liya hai tumne." He said as she put the napkin back.

"Jab sikhane wala itna expert hai toh seekti kaise nahi?" She flicked her brows.

His eyes filled up with mischief, "Chalo fir thodi aur training deta hun."

Not giving her a chance to say or do anything else, he scooped her up in his arms, walking to their room.

It was another blissful night in each other's arms with the moonlight spreading its cool luminescence over them.

Slowly, they drifted into sleep, with dreams of a beautiful tomorrow  and a satiated smile on their lips.

Next update tomorrow morning