Naina was in the kitchen when the door bell rang. She presumed it must be John... he was late today.

"Arre, Sonali, Rahul... tum log? Tum toh breakfast ke baad aane wale the?" She was surprised to see them early.

"Naina, sorry, woh John ka phone aaya tha... usse kuch kaam hai toh woh late aayega... main nahi chahati thi ki tujhe breakfast banana pade... main lekar aayi hun saath mein." Sonali said with regret.

"Iske liye jaldi bhag ke aayi? Arre maine toh sandwich bana liye hain... aajao, tum dono ke liye bhi bana deti hun." Naina smiled to comfort Sonali.

"Uski zaroorat nahi padegi... main poori sabzi laayi hun... dono cheezein milakar ho jaayega sabka... chal hum laga dete hain." Sonali relaxed.

In the kitchen, they together put everything in the bowls and carried to the table.

Rahul and Sameer were impatiently waiting... almost jumping on the food the moment it was placed.

"Aaram se Rahul... bhaag nahi jayega yeh khaana." Sonali glared at him.

"Dekh le Sameer, shaadi ke kuch mahino mein pati ka khaana bhi galat lagta hai biwiyon ko." Rahul gave a side glance to Sonali, stuffing his mouth with poori.

"Khaane se problem nahi hai, Mr, dhoosne se hai... kaise tum itna kha lete ho pata nahi." Sonali rolled her eyes.

Sameer grinned at Naina, seeing the same wondrous expression in her eyes.

Back in the room after breakfast, Naina was ready to get back to studies.

Sameer could hardly focus on the books... her image from morning not leaving his mind... he had to really tear himself away from her at that time...

Naina in her regular outfits tested his patience to a great extent... seeing her standing in the towel while he was alone at home with her... it had been an enormous effort to control himself.

His mind however could not stop thinking...

Had they been at their own home, nothing could have kept him away from her... his Naina would have melted in his arms, straight out of his fantasy.

"Tum kya soch rahe ho?" Her voice made him jump.

"Ku... kuch nahi... bas jo padha hai... uske... uske baare mein." He gave a sheepish smile.

'Samajh nahi aa raha kya?" She glanced at the open page.

He groaned silently, "Samajh toh sab aa raha hai Naina, bas yeh soch raha tha yeh exam ke din kab khatam honge."

"Arre, datesheet nahi dekhi kya tumne? Pata kyon nahi... bas bees dino ki baat hai... fir koi exams ki tension nahi hogi." She tried to make him see the brighter side.

"Kaash mere paas bhi datesheet hoti... kam se kam pata rehta ki kab aayega woh din." He muttered under his breath.

Naina heard him. She quickly picked up a notebook lying on the table and opened the last page.

"Yeh lo, tum bhi note kar lo... pehle hi likh lena chahiye tha na... datesheet nahi rakhoge toh kaise chalega?" She forwarded the examination schedule to him.

Sameer looked at the notebook, then looked at her... and slumped lower in the chair... his head in his hands.

Naina got up and came to him, running her fingers in his hair, "Sardard ho raha hai kya? Agar tumhe nahi padhna toh aaram kar lo... so jao thodi der... ya chai bana du tumhe?"

He looked up at her... face full of concern, a frown on her forehead that had creased up thinking about his pain... only, she didn't know that they both were talking about different pains.

He held the hand in his hair, bringing it to his lips to kiss her fingertips softly.

She narrowed her eyes, "Sardard nahi hai na tumhe?"

He shook his head.

"Jhooth bol rahe the?" She gave an accusing look.

"Maine kahan kuch bola... tum khud hi bol rahi ho sab kuch." He made an innocent face.

Her lips curved in a smile, "Haan, waise tumne kuch nahi bola... meri hi galti hai... sorry... par agar tum nahi padhna chahte toh rehne do."

"Aaj kya baat hai... Naina aur padhne ko na bol rahi hai." He raised his brows.

"Umm... woh aajkal tumhe zyada hi bitha ke rakhti hun... yahan saath mein ho toh tum fans gaye ho... warna aaram se hostel mein apne hisab se padhte." She had a guilty look.

He got up to stand in front of her. Taking her other hand in his as well, he smiled.

"Budhu ho tum... tumhe lagta hai main yahan aane se zyada hostel mein rehna chahta tha? Yahan tumhare saath rehne ke liye toh main kuch bhi kar sakta hun... saara din aur saari raat padh sakta hun... bas beech mein thoda dose deti rehna." He leaned towards her.

She saw the glint in his eyes and realised what he meant...

Going on her toes, she gave a kiss at the corner of his lips, taking him by surprise.

"Yeh dose kaafi hai abhi ke liye?" She asked mischievously.

He shook his head, biting the inside of his cheek, "Ab strong dose ki aadat ho gayi hai, Naina... isse kya hoga... ab toh marz bohot badh chuka hai."

She coloured at the way he looked at her, lowering her eyes.

"Hayee, ab bhi itna sharmaogi tum? Subah ke baad... kal raat ke baad... " He touched the mark on his neck that was hidden under the collar.

She was astounded... at his unabashed teasing.

"Sameer, maine kaha tha na... woh galti se..." She gave a look to the blue mark before turning her face away... colour on the cheeks deepening.

He hooked a finger under her chin, turning the face up, "Naina, main tumhe tang karne ke liye yeh nahi keh raha... mujhe toh bohot achha lagta hai ki tum ab khud ko mere paas aane se rokti nahi ho... tumhara yeh bharosa, yeh mujh par yakeen,yeh sab hamare rishte ko aur mazboot karte hain... humein himmat dete hain aane wale dino ka saamna karne ki."

She could see the truth behind his words reflecting in his eyes.

Without a word, she went into his arms, seeking the warmth that was most soothing and comforting for her.

Sameer rested his chin on her head, a serene smile on his face.

Rest of the day went by in the same pattern after lunch.

While having dinner, Rahul again tried to persuade Naina to stay with them.

"Naina, please maan jao na... main aur Sonali bhi toh aayenge college... toh hum sab saath chal padenge... bas yeh kuch hi din toh bache hain ab tum logon ke saath... ek baar Ahmedabad chale gaye toh kahan itna aana jaana ho payega... hum log teen saal se itne achhe dost hain... kya apne dost ki itni si baat nahi manogi?" He pleaded.

"Haan Naina, dekh na... ek mahina bhi nahi bacha ab toh... yeh thode se din agar hum log ek ghar mein reh lenge toh ismein problem kya hai?" Sonali joined in.

Naina looked at Sameer, he blinked in assurance.

He looked back at his friend, "Rahul, Sonali... tum dono bohot achhe dost ho humare... Rahul, teri shaadi mein aana meri life ka ek bohot special mauka tha yaar... aur iss zaroorat ke samay jo tumne madad ki woh bhi main aur Naina bhool nahin sakte... par ab aur rukna mushkil hoga... exams ke baad wapas aayenge na... tab yahin rahenge Ahmedabad jaane tak... aur tab yeh padhai ki tension se azaad ho chuke honge toh khoob masti karenge."

Rahul gave an understanding nod.

In the room, Sameer went for a shower while Naina brought back her clothes from the balcony, folding and putting them back in the bag.

She still was arranging her bag when he came out.

He quietly went to bed.

Naina finished her work and went in to change.

When she switched off the light later, Sameer was lying with his hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling. The usual naughty smile was missing from his face.

She could feel the heaviness in her chest... was she being unjust by forcing him to come along to the hostel? He was so desperate to be with her at least while they were in Mumbai... she wanted the same but the way they were coming closer with each passing day had her thinking again... how long will they be able to step back from each other... the pull was too strong...

Also, more the closeness now, more difficult it would be to spend the days once they went back home.

"Lekin chahe kuch bhi ho jaaye, Ahmedabad jaate hi main ghar pe bata dungi... taiji aur papa ko jitna gussa karna hai kar lein, tauji ko jitna sunana hai suna lein, jisko thappad marne hain woh bhi apne armaan poore kar lein... main wahan jaate hi chachaji se keh dungi ki hamari shaadi ki date nikalwa de... Sameer ke bina ek ek din saalon jaisa hoga... woh bhi akele nahi reh payega wahan... mujhe ab sab khud karna hoga... aur main karungi... apne pyar ke liye... hamare pyaar ke liye." She thought to herself, getting more determined to face her family.

"Kya soch rahi ho, Naina?" His quiet voice reached her.

He had not moved, eyes still stuck at the same point.

She sat on her side, in the far corner, her back against the bed.

"Bas gharwalon ke baare mein soch rahi thi." She replied truthfully.

"Kya lagta hai tumhe? Kitne din lagenge unhe manaane mein?" He was equally scared.

"Pata nahi... par main poori koshish karungi ki jaldi se jaldi sabse baat ho jaaye... unka faisla nahi janna hai mujhe... bas jo faisla ho chuka hai woh unko batana hai... chahe woh log kuch bhi kahein, chachaji ke saath milke main jaldi hi shaadi ki date nikalwa lungi." She assured him.

Sameer turned to look at her... his eyes misty.

Naina shifted towards him... holding his head, she placed it in her lap, weaving her fingers through his hair.

"Hum bohot jaldi saath honge, Sameer... yeh mera wada hai tumse."