When the flight landed at Delhi, Naina could feel a stiffness in Sameer's demeanor. Though he was talking normally, she could see his eyes lose the sparkle that was always there.

"Yahan mausam kitna achha hai na." She wrapped her hands around his arm as they stepped out of the airport.

"Tumne jawab nahi diya... yahan sardi hona kab shuru hogi?" She asked brightly when he didn't respond.

"Oh haan, main zara apni cab dhoondh raha tha... mausam achha hai... theek hai... sardi toh December mein hi hoti hai." He answered in a flat voice.

"Arre, yeh cab abhi tak kyon nahi aayi... itni thak gayi hun main aur ab intezar karna pad raha hai." Naina let out a long exhale, wiping her face for non existent sweat.

Sameer turned to her, "Tum thak gayi ho toh yahan ruk jayen thodi der? Paas mein hi ek hotel hai... ek do ghante aaram kar lo fir chal padenge."

She searched his eyes for a while before speaking softly, "Jab yahan apna ghar hai toh hotel mein kyon rahenge, Sameer?"

The veil of rancour fell over his eyes, "Apna ghar nahi hai woh... Mr Somani ka hai... apni sirf mummy hain... lekin yahan woh bhi..."

"Woh bhi kya?" She prodded when he didn't go further.

"Chodo Naina, yeh sab baatein kyon kar rahein hain hum... aao hotel chalte hain, main wahin se cab wale ko phone kar dunga ki humein baad mein hotel se pick kar le." He tried to evade the topic.

"Nahin, hum yahin se chalenge... itni bhi thakaan nahi hai... aur car mein baith ke hi toh jaana hai." She gave him a comforting smile.

A sound of horn made Sameer look at the road. A white car waited in front of them. He took out the slip from his pocket and checked the license plate. It was their booked vehicle.

Driver loaded the luggage in the car and they started the journey to Nainital.

Airport was at the far end on one side of the city and they had to head in the opposite direction. It meant that they had to cross the entire city.

Naina was impressed with the wide roads, lined with thick stemmed trees. Big bunglows on both sides of the road seemed to be hidden by the foliage.

"Mummy ka ghar bhi yahin kahin hai kya?" She craned her neck to get a better look but hardly anything was visible behind the green cover.

"Yeh Delhi ka woh hissa hai jahan sab politicians rehte hain... yeh sab ministers ke ghar hain isliye bahar police ke guard khade hain." Sameer explained.

"Kya raaste mein unka ghar aayega? Mujhe dekhna hai." She asked innocently.

"Nahi, unke ghar ka raasta alag hai. Hum wahan se nahi jaa rahe." He gave a clipped reply.

The traffic on roads thickened once they crossed the diplomatic area. However, wide roads ensured that there were no jams anywhere. What Naina found different from Ahmedabad, or even Mumbai, was abundance of greenery. Though, unlike Ahmedabad, city was teeming with people.

After travelling through the city for more than an hour, they finally hit the highway towards Nainital. The road became narrower and outside scene changed considerably. Open fields and small houses were the only view on both sides.

Naina shifted closer to Sameer, resting her head on his arm. He held her hand, linking their fingers.

"Ek baat puchu, gussa mat hona." Her voice was low.

He hummed in response.

"Tum kitni baar yahan aaye ho?" She looked up at him.

Though her question seemed straight, he knew what she wanted to ask.

He looked at their joined hands for a few seconds before replying, "Bohot chota tha jab mummy leke aayi yahan... tab khush tha main ki mujhe papa fir se milenge... yahan aake aur bhi khush ho gaya, kyonki papa ke saath saath ek bhai aur... aur ek daadi bhi thi... uss waqt mujhe pata nahi tha main uss ghar mein ek mehmaan tha, ek unchaha mehmaan."

Naina placed her other hand on his chest.

"Shuru mein Rohan ke saath khelne mein mazaa aata tha, lekin dheere dheere dekha kaise dadi hamesha usse pyar karti aur mujhe daanti rehti, usse biscuit chocolate deti aur mujhe keh deti ki khatam ho gaya, galti kisi ki bhi ho daant mujhe hi padti... fir maine mehsoos kiya ki mummy sirf tabhi mujhse baat karti hain jab mujhe daantna hota hai, toh maine aur shararatein karna shuru kar diya, mummy ko apne paas laane ke liye... lekin iss koshish ka asar yeh hua ki dadi aur unke bete ke kehne pe mummy mujhe hostel chod aayi." His voice turned bitter.

She patted lightly over his heart. He placed his palm over her hand on his chest.

"Hostel ki chuttiyon mein aate hoge na tum yahan." She probed.

"Kuch saal har chutti mein yahin aata tha. Lekin har baar pehle se zyada dooriyan mehsoos hoti thi... yahan tak ki mummy bhi kisi na kisi baat pe gussa karti rehti... Rohan apni kisi cheez ko haath nahi lagane deta tha... dadi hamesha kehti thi ki main bigda hua hun, mujhe Rohan se door rakhna chahiye... ek baar Rohan apna naya bat apne kisi dost ke ghar bhool aaya, ghar aakar woh rone laga ki uska bat kho gaya hai... tab dadi ne kaha ki zaroor maine apne samaan mein chupa liya hoga... unhone mujhe seedha chor bol diya." His voice turned bitter at the memory.

The smoldering anger inside her was mixed with pain for what a small child must have gone through at such an accusation.

"Mujhe sabse zyada dukh hua jab unhone mera bag check kiya aur mummy ne unhe roka nahi." He was hardly audible.

"Fir kab pata chala?" She asked in a low voice when he didn't speak for sometime.

He took a deep breath before speaking, "Agle din subah Rohan ka dost aaya tha bat wapas karne... lekin dadi ko ek baar bhi aisa nahi laga ki unhone galat kiya mujhe chor bolke."

They were quiet for next few minutes. She could feel the storm brewing in him. Dadi had definitely left him emotionally scarred.

She raised herself to place a kiss on his cheek, "Tumne sirf ek chori ki hai... mere dil ki."

A calm, serene feeling spread inside him as he looked at her, "Aur yeh chori karke mujhe sazaa nahi zindagi ka sabse bada inaam mila hai."

"Inaam toh tumne diya hai mujhe, meri zindagi mein aa ke... warna main saari umr ek khadoos ladke ki yaad mein bita deti jo mujhe dekhta tak naahi tha." She pouted at him.

"Achha, main khadoos hun?" He left her hand to wrap his arm around her waist, pulling her closer.

"Ho nahi, par pehle the... ab maine sudhaar diya." She flicked up her brows.

His much awaited smile brightened her day, making her snuggle into him.

The driver pointed towards an approaching structure, telling them it was a good place for lunch. They decided to stop at the recommended place.

After a proper lunch, when they hit the road again, Naina felt her eyelids getting heavy. Sameer put an arm around her shoulder, making her comfortable and she dozed off soon. After a while, he too rested his head on hers and closed his eyes, slowly drifting into sleep.

A shivering feeling made Naina open her eyes. She was surprised to see that outside view had changed completely. They were already in the mountains, the crisp, cold air causing her to shiver. She tried to straighten. The movement made Sameer get up with a jerk.

"Kya hua, Naina?" He gave her a worried look.

"Kuch nahi, yahan ki thadi hawa se neend khul gayi." She gave him a lazy smile, rubbing her arms.

He pulled out the jacket from his handbag. Naina's threshold to cold was much lesser than him... and he was aware of the sudden dip in temperature around evening which was their expected time of arrival. The warmth immediately made her comfortable.

"Sir, bas pandrah bees minute mein pohoch jayenge." The driver replied when Sameer asked him about the distance.

Outside did not look like what it was when he used to come here till about about six years back. There were more houses, more shops... and less loneliness. It appeared that the jungle was more lively around the roads. He found it strange because everytime he had travelled on these roads, the trees seemed as forlorn as him, staying apart, watching the life run past them, without sparing a glance at them... and they stood rooted, alone.

"Bohot nayi dukane aur ghar dikhne lage hain yahan... jab main pehle aata tha tab aisa nahi tha." He casually remarked.

Driver smiled at him through the mirror, "Sahab ji, pichle das saalon se toh aisa hi hai... kuch khaas farq nahi aaya... inmein se kuch dhabe toh pandrah saal se hain yahan... aap kab aaye the?"

"Main... main bohot pehle aaya tha." Sameer preferred to stay quiet about the time, frowning how he had missed all these shops and people around.

"Abhi se itna sundar hai aage jaake toh aur bhi achha lagega. Haina?" Seeing his confusion, Naina tugged at his arm.

Before he could answer, their car took a steep turn on the winding road and the view cleared to give a panoramic glimpse of breathtaking Himalayan range. Naina was mesmerised by the snow covered peaks. As the time of sunset was close, it appeared that the pure white of mountains was bathed in gold dripping from the sky. The majestic range was like a crown on the beautiful hill station.

When they reached the town, her eyes widened at the sight of small, colourful houses doting the hills till as far up as her eyes could see.

Their hotel was at the beginning of Mall road. A fairly large hotel, with a beautiful white facade, it instantly delighted her with the large terraces that she could see on higher floors. She just hoped their room had one of those.

It did. Their room was on the top floor, with a huge open area in front. She turned to thank Sameer for such a beautiful place but stopped. The glum look on his face looked more severe with his lips pressed in a thin line.

"Sameer, aisa socho na ki hum ek nayi jagah ghoomne aaye hain." She touched his arm.

"Nayi kahan hai, Naina? Sab kuch dekha hai maine... har jagah bas dard ki yaad dilati hai... haan, tumne kaha tha jagah nahi haalat kharab hote hain par main kya karun... inn sabko dekh ke mujhe woh kharab haalat hi yaad aate hain jinhone meri zindagi ke itne saalon ko sirf kadwi yaadon se bhar diya." His voice was pained.

"Woh samay guzar gaya, Sameer... ab nayi yaadein banane ka waqt hai." She said softly, cupping his cheek.

He looked at her, "Iss hotel ke bahar ek bench hai... kitni baar wahan akele baith ke maine poora din bitaya hai."

"Ab tum uss bahar ke bench par akele nahi ho, yahan ho, hotel ke andar, mere saath... tum akele nahi ho, Sameer." She held his face within her palms, her eyes determined to bring him out of this melancholy.

He staggered a little, by the force of her kiss, but balanced himself, holding her close as she kissed him with deep passion. It was her way to calm and soothe him... to tell him that she was the belongingness he longed for... she was there for him... and she would never leave him alone again.

Her method did work.

When they parted, his eyes had the shine back in them.

"Ab zara dekh lein ki yeh jagah hai kaisi?" Her brows went up in question.

He nodded.

She stepped out in the balcony. Sameer followed her, in time to hear her gasp as she stared at a beautiful lake on the opposite side. Deep blue, calm water had several boats with large, triangular sails. At the backdrop of lake was another hill, which was mainly covered with thick, dark trees. The scene was surreal. She stood frozen, not because of the weather, but by the copious natural beauty around her. It was undoubtedly a painter's muse.

"Ahh." She let out a sigh as Sameer took her in his arms, standing behind her, "Kitna sundar hai na."

"Bohot sundar hai." He planted a kiss on her cheek.

"Sameer, main jagah ki baat kar rahi hun." She gave him a look of mock annoyance.

"Main bhi." He whispered.

"Yeh jagah, aur yeh jagah..." He kissed on her temple,then the side of her neck.

"Aur yeh jagah." A light nibble on her shoulder.

She squirmed, "Sameer."

"Yeh saari jagah bohot pasand hain mujhe, lekin aur bhi hain... andar chalo, batata hun." He breathed in her ear.

"Tum..." She turned in his arms, only to see the light of falling sun making his face glow like the  enchanting, angelic snow covered mountains.

"Main kya?" He raised one brow, a smug smile playing on his lips as he gloated in the effect he had on her.

"Tum... tum kya?" She was lost.

"Lagta hai tumhe hosh mein laane ke liye mujhe zyada mehnat karni padegi." He winked.

Next moment, she was being carried inside in his arms.

Next update tomorrow evening