The week was amazingly beautiful for Sameer. Naina kept her word... he went to her room everyday, getting the regular dose of her love... coming back around four in the morning. These few hours of sleep made him feel more rested than the entire night of tossing and turning in his bed alone, missing her terribly.

They sat down to study as well... initially for a while before cuddling in the narrow bed. It was an added advantage... Naina stayed even more close, holding onto him tight, fearing that he would fall off the bed.

The day before their exam, he himself told her that it would be better if he didn't come, knowing how everyone would be awake, burning the midnight oil to cram up for the last exam. Naina smiled and accepted, like always.

On the day of exam, Sonali met Naina in the morning.

"Packing ho gayi saari? Aaj aa rahe ho na tum dono hamare saath?" She was excited.

"Aaj nahi Sonali, hum kal aayenge... aaj Phulla bua ke ghar jaana hai." Naina said.

"Oh!" Sonali was sad momentarily.

"Chal theek hai... kal lunch tak toh aa jaoge na?" She was not the one to remain upset for long.

"Haan, aa jayenge." Naina confirmed.

"Fir kal chalenge hamari shopping le liye... inn ladkon ke bina." Sonali winked at her, speaking in a low voice so that the boys could not hear.

"Oh haan, shopping bhi jaana hai." Naina suddenly remembered her plan.

"Sonali, tum log apni secret baatein kal kar lena... abhi paper ka time ho raha hai." Rahul called out.

Wishing each other good luck, they all entered the examination Hall to write the last paper to get their degree.

Sameer was extremely pleased at the end of next three hours... the exams were finally done with... and he was satisfied with his performance... Naina would be definitely pleased with his result, he was confident.

They were to leave the hostel today, going to meet Phulla bua. After staying there for the night, they were to go to Rahul's house the next day. Naina's show was completing hundred episodes after two days and the production house had planned a big party. They were to attend that... and leave for Ahmedabad the next day. Naina had packed the entire stuff that she had to take back. Though Sameer didn't have as much as her, he had no intention of traveling with so much luggage. Hence, even though she was reluctant, he had called the luggage carrier company to come in the afternoon... it was much easier to book the stuff and carry just one suitcase each with them.

"Sameer, agar yeh samaan kho gaya toh... kya yeh log pakka ghar tak pohocha denge?" She was apprehensive.

"Pehli baat... haan pohoch jayega sahi salamat... doosri baat, agar nahi bhi pohocha toh kya ho gaya, Naina, aisa kya hai iss samaan mein jisse hum sambhal ke rakhna chahein... jab hum apna ghar sajayenge toh saari cheezein nayi lenge... yeh puraane samaan ke saath thodi shuru karenge apna naya safar." He had given her much needed assurance.

She had never before heard of such services... her fears were genuine... how could someone else take your belongings and care for them as much as you do... but Sameer was sure it could be done. He had done it before as well.

"Mere liye kabhi kisi samaan ki koi keemat nahi rahi... main uske baare mein sochta hi kyon... bas book kara diya aur jab pohoch gaya tab theek hai... mujhe kaunsa jaldi rehti thi." He had once again, unknowingly, made her realise how unattached he had been to anything in his life.

It was thus decided and now they waited for the company people to come. They had brought the boxes to the ground floor with the help of peons.

"Yeh college meri zindagi ka sabse khaas hissa rahega... yahan mujhe tum mile ho... itni yaadein mili hain... itni khushiyaan mili hain... sach kahun toh thoda dukh ho raha hai... par khushi bhi hai ki hum yahan se jiss duniya mein jayenge woh isse bhi khoobsurat hogi." She reminisced about the past three years.

Sameer agreed with her, "Mere liye bhi yeh college woh jagah hai jahan maine jeena seekha hai... mujhe jeene ki wajah mili hai... Naina, hum saal mein ek baar yahan zarur aaya karenge... iss jagah se judi yaadon ko taaza karne."

The arrival of a van ended their discussion. Boxes were handed over to the men who had come, along with the address of recipients. They were assured everything would reach within a week. They were relieved. It would take them another five days to reach back.

After their things were loaded and the van left the college, Naina stopped Sameer from going back to his room.

"Ek baar apni jagah jaa ke aayein?" She dipped her head to the side.

He smiled, holding her hand as they walked back to the ground together, for the first time in three years.

The tree stood as it always had been... majestic and protecting...

"Kitne pal jee liye humne tumhare saath... aaj hum wapas jaa rahe hain... lekin shayad firse koi Sameer aaye yahan apne aansun duniya se chupane... tab tum uske liye ek Naina zaroor bhejna." Sameer placed one hand on the tree, recollecting his first few days when he would drown himself in grief.

Naina placed a soothing hand on his arm, "Yahan sirf pyaar bikhra hua hai, Sameer... jo bhi iss jagah aayega, uski zindagi bhi aise hi pyaar se bhar jaayegi jaise hamari badal gayi."

He placed his hand over hers, nodding.

They sat for sometime, talking about everything they had shared... their troubles, their tears, the first hug, her confession, all the kisses, the happiness... the list was endless.

"Ab chalein? Phulla bua intezar kar rahi hongi." Sameer stood up, giving his hand to her.

She held it, got up and wrapped her arms around him, "Main yahan ki ek bhi shaam nahi bhul paungi."

He held her close, kissing the top of her head, "Main bhi."

Back in her room, she looked around. All her things were gone. Last of the things were kept in the suitcase which waited outside the door. She had spent three years in this room... it had become all the more special after Sameer started to come here. He had made it home for her. Her eyes pooled up as she thought about the first time he had climbed up the pipe to reach her balcony. That was the day he had said he loved her... and she had closed her eyes.

Naina let out a laugh as tears spilled on her cheeks... how silly she was... not even looking when he was saying those three magical words that she had wanted to hear all along in the school.

"I Love You!"

Her head jerked back.

"Sameer, tum yahan? Aaj kyon?" She was shocked to see him standing behind her, balcony door open.

"Maine socha iss raaste ko bhi toh theek se bye bolna chahiye." He grinned.

"Tum bhi na... I Love You too." She hit his chest lightly.

He pulled her in his arms, wiping her tears with the back of his hand.

They stood soaking the memories they had created in the room.

"Ab wapas kaise jaoge... fir pipe se?" She raised her brows.

"Aaj sab hostel khali kar rahe hain, madam... aaj koi rules nahi hain... hum yahan se seedhe jaa sakte hain... seedhiyon se." He gave a triumphant smile.

She chuckled.

Picking her suitcase, he went down the stairs with her.

Sameer had sent the bike along with the luggage... they took a cab to Phulla bua's house.

The old lady was delighted to see them.

"Kaise gaye tum dono ke paper?" She asked once they were seated.

"Bohot achhe the, bua dadi." Naina chirped.

"Iske toh hamesha hi achhe hote hain... tu bata, kuch padhai likhai kari bhi ya saara time Naina ke hi sapne dekhta raha?" She looked at Sameer mischievously.

Both Sameer and Naina blushed profusely.

"Achha yeh batao ghar pe koi baat hui kya?" She spared them further embarrassment.

"Nahi bua dadi, abhi tak chachaji ne kuch kaha nahi hai... jab pata chala ki papa ne apni zid chod di toh woh bhi chup ho gaye... kaha ki jab hamare exam khatam honge tabhi iss baare mein baat karenge... unhe darr tha ki tauji aur taiji kahin mujhe wapas bulane ke liye na keh dein." Naina updated her on the situation at home.

Phulla bua was aware of this scenario. She knew all family members very well.

"Chalo koi nahi... ab agle hafte hi batayenge... main bhi aa rahi hun wahan." She informed them.

"Sach... aap aa jayengi toh aadhi chinta khatam ho jayegi." Sameer was elated.

After lunch, they discussed various plans to break this news to others at home. One after the other, all were rejected for some reason or the other.

Later, Sameer helped the two ladies in the kitchen to prepare dinner which was simple vegetable and dal with chapati.

Once the dinner was done, Naina picked up her suitcase and walked to Phulla bua's room.

"Arre, tu wahan kahan jaa rahi hai?" Bua dadi raised her brows.

"Apna samaan andar rakh rahi hun... raat ke kapde nikalne hai na." She was perplexed.

"Haan toh apne kamre mein jaa." Bua dadi said with a stern face.

Naina looked at her wide eyed.

"Aur nahi toh... pati hai tera... mere kamre mein aake kyon meri neend kharab karna chahti hai... fir uss din ki tarah saari raat chithiyaan likhte rahoge."

Their faces turned white as they looked at the old lady in shock.