Welcome to Part 2 of the same book, same story. The last chapter of previous one was 'Readymade'... this story starts from where that chapter ends. If you are new here, I would suggest you read 'Kabhi toh nazar milao' and then come to this one as this is in continuation.

"Chalein?" Sameer asked in a low voice.

"Uhh... haan." Naina gulped, trying  to control her racing heart.

Holding him on the bike was somehow not easy this time. His words still rang in her ears, making her own thoughts go haywire.

Sameer felt her hands on his shoulders though she was sitting cross legged.

"Naina, kya hua? Aise kyon pakda hai? Theek se pakdo na... please." He asked as the bike moved.

Hesitantly, her arms went around him lightly.

He pulled one of her hand, tightening the hold as he drove, "Ab main tabhi bike chala sakta hun jab tum aise baithogi."

"Achha, fir Ahmedabad mein kaise chaloge? Wahan toh kabhi bhi iss tarah pakad ke nahi baith sakti... na pehle na shaadi ke baad." She asked.

"Madam, Ahmedabad mein romance ke liye bike pe jaane ki kya zaroorat hogi... wahan toh ghar hai hamara... ghar mein hi... " He grinned, winking at her through the mirror.

"Tum chup chap aage dekh ke chalao." Naina turned her face away from the mirror, showing fake anger, hiding herself behind his shoulders.

She wanted to go back to college or lunch but Sameer had decided to have lunch outside.

"Kitna time waste hoga, Sameer... wapas hostel chalte hain na... humara kaam toh ho hi gaya hai." She argued.

"Aaj hum hostel mein nahi khayenge bas... mujhe pao bhaji hi khani hai... kuch time kharab nahi hoga, Naina... aaj raat ko ek ghanta zyada padh lunga... par abhi maan jao, please." He pleaded, his voice going husky at the end.

Naina never stood a chance against this voice.

She gave in.

The restaurant had very less people as it was still early for lunch. They settled on a table at the far end.

After placing the order for pao bhaji and soft drink, Sameer turned his attention to her.

"Ab batao, aaj try karke kyon nahi dikhaya?" He placed his face on the palm, his elbow on the table... looking at her with intense eyes.

"Tum kuch bhi bolte ho, Sameer... chup raho." She chided him again... the hint of colour unmistakable on her face.

"Arre, ismein kya galat kaha maine? Pehle bhi dikhati thi na saare dress? Aaj aisa kya hai jo tum itna gussa kar rahi ho?" He was perplexed.

Naina lowered her eyes, knowing he wouldn't let go.

"Blouse tha jo aaj try kiya tha... poora dress nahi... aur blouse saree ke saath pehente hain... maine saree ke saath nahi jeans pe pehena tha... sirf fitting check karne ke liye try kiya tha... aise kaise..." She hesitated.

The waiter brought their food as they sat in silence... Naina looking at some point on the table cloth and Sameer staring at her face.

He didn't know what was better... his previous confusion regarding her not taking his opinion while choosing the blouse... or knowing the reason that unleashed a riot of images in his mind...

"Khana achha nahi laga aapko?" The voice of waiter brought them back...

Realising that the food still remained untouched in front of them, Sameer smiled at the waiter, telling him they were discussing something important and the food was good.

He started to eat, urging Naina to do the same.

Pao bhaji was able to melt the silence that had suddenly crept up between them... making things normal again.

"Achha tum batao, woh pink saree itni achhi thi, woh kyon mana ki tumne? Mujhe lagta tha tumhe pink pasand hai." Naina recalled his forceful refusal for the saree she had selected initially.

"Mana isliye kiya kyonki pink pasand hai... ab tum sabke saamne pink pehen ke aa jaati toh main kya karta... na tumse door reh pata na tum paas aane deti... kuch toh khyaal karo mere bechare dil ka." He placed one hand on his heart.

Naina giggled at his dramatic voice, "Green saree bhi nahi pehen sakti, pink bhi nhi pehen sakti... iske baad kaunse rang band karwaoge?"

"Tum saare rang pehen lena... main khud tumhe har rang mein dekhna chahta hun... par tabhi jab mujhe khud ko rokna na pade yeh batane ke liye ki tum kaisi lag rahi ho." He closed his palm on her hand resting on the table.

Naina tried to pull away her hand, looking behind... but his grasp was firm.

There were two more couples in the restaurant... everyone far from each other, lost in their own world. Even the waiters were not visible, making the place look almost deserted.

"Umm... Sameer, chalein kya?" She asked.

He shook his head, "Itne dino baad toh mauka mila hai kahin bahar aane ka... thodi der aur rukte hain na... ice cream khate hain."

He looked behind Naina who sat with her back to the entire restaurant. Not able to see anyone, he got up and went to the counter where a sleepy man sat with a few bill books in front of him. Placing the order for ice cream, Sameer walked back. Instead of going back to his seat, he slipped next to Naina.

She was alarmed, "Yeh... yeh kya kar rahe ho... yahan kyon... koi dekhega toh kya sochega... hum abhi..."

His finger on her lips stopped her in mid sentence, her throat suddenly going dry.

"Yahan koi distrub nahi karta kisi ko." He whispered, looking into her widened eyes.

Slowly, he removed his finger, resting his palm on one side of her face... tracing her lips with his thumb.

"Naina, tumne freshers party pe red lipstick lagayi thi na." It was not a question... he remembered each and every feature of her face at every occasion.

She nodded.

"Aur ek baar Swati ke ghar lagayi thi... jab tumne mere rumaal pe kiss karke diya tha, lekin tab tumhe dekha nahi tha lagaye hue." His eyes were still on her lips.

Naina was still.

"Fir se lagaogi? Farewell pe?" His voice was rough.

Her slight shake of head made him look up at her.

"Kyon?"

"Freshers pe dance ke liye lagayi thi... itni bright lipstick main nahi laga sakti aise hi... aur farewell ki saree ke saath match bhi nahi karegi." She stated.

The corners of his mouth dropped, "Har cheez ke liye intezar... kab khatam hoga yeh intezar, Naina?"

He bent his forehead, resting it on her shoulder as his hand went around her waist.

"Intezar khatam ho gaya, sir... aapki ice cream aa gayi." The smiling waiter stood with the bowls of their ice cream.

Sameer straightened, looking angrily at the waiter as Naina suppressed her smile.

After the waiter left, Sameer took one spoonful from his bowl and closed his eyes, enjoying the flavour.

"Kaunsi ice cream hai tumhari?" Naina asked, indulging in her favourite chocolate flavour.

"Yeh special hai... sitaphal ice cream... yahan ka khaas hota hai... khaa ke dekho." He extended a spoon to her.

Naina took what he offered, loving the new and fresh taste.

"Sameer, yeh toh bohot achha hai... maine pehle kabhi nahi khaya." She relished the flavour.

"Theek hai, tum yeh kha lo... aaj main chocolate kha lunga." He shifted his bowl in front of her.

"Nahi, tum kha lo... main agli baar le lungi." She didn't want him to eat chocolate as she knew he didn't like it much.

Sameer took another spoonful and brought it to her mouth, "Agar tum nahi khaogi toh main bhi chod dunga."

They shared the same ice cream, chocolate one left untouched, melting.

When they started back from the restaurant, Naina had no hesitation in holding him the way he liked.

As they stopped at a signal, a lady approached them, holding a basket covered with a wet cloth.

"Bhaiya, le lo na inke ke liye... itni sundar hai, aur bhi sundar lagegi yeh lagake... kal ko jab tumhari shaadi hogi toh aisi hi khushbu rahegi tumhari zindagi mein." She begged Sameer.

He didn't understand what she was trying to sell but the fragrance was heavenly.

"Lena kya hai?" He asked.

She uncovered the basket to reveal strings of small, white flowers... the scent coming out stronger.

Naina immediately picked up two strings, "Yeh do gajre ka kitna hua?"

"Dus rupay." The lady was satisfied.

Before Naina could take out money from her bag, Sameer fished out a hundred rupee note and gave to the lady.

"Mere paas chutta nahi hai, bhaiya." Her expression turned sad, fearing the loss of sale for not having change.

"Rakh lo, aur yeh itne phool de do." He picked up a handful.

With a wide grin, the lady tied them in a newspaper, handing it to Sameer.

"Itne saare kya karoge?" Naina asked once they started to move again.

"Inki khushbu kitni achhi hai... aadhe main apne kamre mein rakhunga aadhe tum rakhna... aisa lagega humara kamra saja hua hai phoolon se." He gave a lopsided smile in the mirror.

Naina did not miss his hint... going red all over.

When they reached college, he gave half the flower strings to her.

Their rooms were filled with the redolance of jasmine... bringing a smile to their faces and a feeling of bliss to their hearts.

Though, for Sameer, it was difficult to understand how to place them when there was no stem, neither they were long enough like garlands to hang somewhere.

When  they met in the evening, he put forth his confusion to her, "Agar sajane ke hain toh itne chote dhaage mein kyon hai? Gulaab ya doosre phoolon ki tarah vase mein bhi nahi rakh sakte."

"Budhu, yeh gajre hain... baalon mein lagate hain... aur kahi nahi toh filmon mein toh dekha hoga." She touched his temple with her fingertips.

Sameer recalled the scene of HAHK where Salman khan was dreaming of Madhuri as his wife... her green saree and lots of white flowers in her hair... and his eyes started to shine.

"Matlab tum bhi laga sakti ho?" He turned towards her.

"Haan, shaadi ke baad kabhi kabhi laga lungi." She shrugged.

"Green saree ke saath lagana... jaise Madhuri ne lagaye the uss gaane mein 'pehla pehla pyar hai'." He was excited.

Naina was reminded of the scene... and blushed at the thought.

"Waise toh itne khush nahi hote filmon ke naam se par yeh bada yaad hai." She teased.

"Yaad kaise nahi hoga... Madhuri jo thi ismein... jabse 'dhak dhak' dekha hai tabse wohi favourite hai meri." He said dreamily.

Naina looked sharply at him. Sameer talking about someone in this manner was something new for her... the sharp pang of envy stabbed her heart though she herself was a huge fan of Madhuri.

"Tum kitne besharam ho." She retorted, narrowing her eyes.

Sameer looked back at her in surprise, "Besharam aur main... aisa kya kiya hai maine... tum bhi toh Salman ko dekhke kho jaati ho."

"Haan, par main uski acting mein kho jaati hun... tum toh uss gaane mein... matlab woh gaana..." She could not go further.

"Tumhe kya lagta hai, Naina, maine aaj tumhe woh peeli saree lene ko kyon kaha?" He pulled her closer, looking deeply in her eyes.

The realisation dawned on her as his eyes strated to darken, making her break into a sweat.

"Jab tumne woh saree dikhai toh mujhe tum usmein 'dhak dhak' wali Madhuri bhi lagi aur 'tip tip' wali Raveena bhi... mujhe toh bas tum nazar aati ho, Naina... har jagah... aur ek din tumhe uss saree mein mujhe Madhuri banke dikhana hoga." His raspy voice left no doubt in her mind about his thoughts.

"Sameer tum aisi baatein mat karo... har rang ke saath tum aise kuch... " She swallowed, trying to breathe through the tightness that was gripping her insides.

"Haan Naina, har rang mein tumhara alag ahsaas sochta hun main... har rang mein tumhara doosra roop dekhna chahta hun... jaisi Naina sabke saamne hamesha rehti hai usse mujhe behad pyar hai par jo Naina tum sirf mere liye banogi uss Naina mein kho jaana chahta hun." His hot breath on her face and his burning eyes conveyed the fever within.