"Aaj itna khoobsurat khyal kaise aaya tumhe?" Sameer asked while they were having dinner, seated next to each other.

Naina looked at him with a sly smile, "Mujhe toh saare khyal khoobsurat hi aate hain."

"Achha, zara ek do aur batao." He leaned towards her.

Her hand on his chest stopped him, "Mr Maheshwari, chup karke khana khaiye... ab koi badmaashi nahi."

"Offo, kitni unromantic ho tum." He brooded, straightening.

"Main unromantic? Abhi toh keh rahe the khoobsurat khyal... ab kya unn khyalon ka romance kahi udd gaya?" She frowned.

"Nahi jaan, tumhare inn khyalon ka romance toh abhi bhi meri aankhon mein, mere dil mein, meri dhadkan mein samaya hua hai... pata nahi tum yeh sab kaise karti ho... par jo bhi karti ho achha lagta hai... bohot achha lagta hai... please, aise hi karti rehna." His eyes turned intense as he placed a hand on his heart.

Her face got a hint of colour.

"Kaise kiya yeh toh batao." He insisted.

"Aaj dopaher ko jab baarish wala mausam ho raha tha toh radio pe yeh gaana bajne laga... aur mujhe yaad aaya jab humne yellow saree li thi tab tumne kaha tha tum mujhe iss gaane mein sochte ho... aaj ke mausam ko dekh ke maine socha kyon na tumhara yeh sapna sach kar dun." The glint in her eyes was back.

"Tumne jo kiya woh toh sapne se bhi kahin zyada tha... tum bohot kamaal ho." He puckered his lips to blow a kiss to her.

"Ab zyada makhan mat lagao... khana khao chup chap." She blushed again.

His hand slid around her waist, face going close to her ear, "Baaki sapne bhi yaad hai na? Iss saree mein kuch aur bhi kaha tha maine."

She tilted her head to the other side, "Sameer, tum bohot lalchi ho... mujhe kuch yaad nahi."

"Dhak dhak... Madhuri." He leaned more, kissing her cheek.

She pushed back her chair, getting up to move away from him.

"Naina, Naina, Naina... ruko, jaa kahan rahi ho, khana toh kha lo." He called out.

"Ho gaya mera." She was already in the kitchen.

He looked at her plate... half eaten chapati was still in it. He couldn't let his Naina go hungry. Picking up both their plates, he went to the kitchen.

"Achha ab kuch nahi kahunga... bas khana khilaunga... please, kha lo." He held out a piece to her after placing their plates on the platform.

She opened her mouth, taking the bite he offered. Next moment, his hands were on her waist. Before she could object, he lifted her and made her sit on the counter, standing in front of her with his hands holding the counter on either sides of her.

"Ab tum yahan baith ke mere haath se khana khaogi... hamesha tum khilati ho mujhe, aaj meri baari hai." He placed a finger on her lips when she was about to say something.

Without a word, he fed her all that was in her plate, looking into her eyes. She did not look away either.

"Ab tum khao." She picked up his plate.

He was amazed. She hadn't even looked at his plate before picking up, hadn't even seen if there was food remaining, still her hand reached the exact spot, and her fingers holding a bite touched his lips. He quietly ate his meal, which tasted better from her hands.

Next day Sameer went out with chachaji, finalising all that was to be done for Preeti's wedding. As the day started to come near, the pace of arrangements became frantic. Naina accompanied Preeti and Bela for shopping, buying enough sarees and suits needed for a new bride.

One day, Naina was busy with her writing in the room when she jumped at a touch on her shoulder.

"Sameeer... dara diya tumne." She placed a hand on her chest, where her heartbeat had suddenly gone out of measurable speed.

He grinned, "Dil bekabu ho gaya mere choote hi?"

She stood up, tension lines appearing on her face at his unexpected appearance... and her mind did not register his words.

"Tum theek ho na? Achanak kaise aa gaye? Tabiyat kharab hai kya? Kuch hua hai? Office mein? Mood kharab hai? Bolo na kya baat hai?" She touched his forehead, placed her palm against his cheeks and neck, furiously feeling his arms and chest to check for any injury, looking him up and down.

He held her wrists, smiling, "Kuch nahi hua... main bhi theek hu aur mera mood bhi... bas apni jaan se milne ka mann hua toh aa gaya."

She narrowed her eyes, "Sach kaho Sameer, kya baat hai... bina phone kare tum achanak aise kaise aa gaye?"

"Meri CID, koi baat nahi hai... bas socha aaj thodi shopping kar lete hain... isliye jaldi nikal aaya... ab tum yeh police walon ki tarah enquiry karna band karo aur jaldi se taiyar ho jao... warna ho sakta hai mera mood badal jaaye." His eyes had a mischievous glint as they moved down her and then back up.

Her face broke into a relieved smile, "Oh achha, theek hai, main taiyar hoke aati hun... chodo."

"Umm, Naina... main kya soch raha tha... " He squinted his eyes, as if in deep thought.

"Kuch sochne ki zaroorat nahi hai, Mr Maheshwari... door hatiye... aur mujhe ready hone dijiye... hum dus minute mein shopping ke liye nikal rahe hain." She pushed at his chest, moving away to the cupboard.

He ran his fingers through his hair, watching her... trying to push back the thoughts emerging in his mind. Everytime he came close to her, his heartbeat increased... everytime he saw her smile, his pulse raced... everytime a frown appeared on her forehead, his fingers itched to smoothen it... everytime she looked at him, he got lost in her eyes... everytime her lips uttered his name, he wanted to feel those pink lips...

He took a deep breath... Naina was the elixir that kept him alive... her one glance had the potency of lighting up every darkness in his life.

"Bhagwanji, meri Naina ko hamesha khush rakhna." He mouthed a silent prayer.

The shop they visited was the same one where Naina had tried a lehenga a few years back... and had left him in a tumultuous mess... not even aware of it at that time.

"Tum lehenga le lo... tumpe bohot zyada achha lagta hai." He whispered to her when the salesman asked what they wanted to see.

She asked him to show legengas.

After checking out quite a few, they selected three.

"Try karke dekho ab... main bahar wait karunga." His smile could not contain the excitement he was feeling.

First one was a beautiful piece in different shades of blue. The skirt was a lighter shade at the waist, the colour getting darker as it went down, with a midnight blue at the hem. Sprinkled with silver work on it, the lehenga looked like a part of sky glittering with stars. Dupatta was dark in colour, giving out the same effect of night sky.

Next one was dark red, almost maroon. It was good but she felt it was almost like a bridal one and she didn't want to wear something so heavy.

Third lehega was in pink. He had initially thought that he would ask her to wear some other colour as he might not be able to control himself when he saw her in pink. But when she tried this one, his eyes were not ready to leave her. She was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen. Small silver flowers all over the lehenga and a full sleeved blouse made her look like a princess. He was ready to lose control right away.

He was standing in the door way of trial room while she looked at herself from all angles.

"Yeh hi pehen na tum." His husky voice made her look up at him through the mirror.

"Pakka?" She turned to look at him, not so sure now.

"Hmm." He stepped in.

"Sameer, bahar jao... yeh trial room hai... aise kaise yahan... " Her alarmed words were put to a stop as he lightly pecked her lips.

"Jaa raha hun... bas yeh batane do ki tum kaisi lag rahi ho." His fingers ran along her neckline, starting from the center to shoulder, till he reached behind her neck.

"Dori khuli hai tumhari, woh baandh raha hun." He gave a lopsided smirk as she looked at him with halted breath.

Turning her towards the mirror, he held her by shoulders, leaning to speak against her ears, "Tum bohot sundar ho... aur jab pink pehenti ho toh meri jaan hi le leti ho."

She gulped as his voice and breath together touched her ear.

"Jab tumhe pehli baar yaha dekha tha, issi trial room ke bahar, toh mere paseene choot gaye the... uss lehenge mein tum jaisi lag rahi thi woh tasveer pata nahi kitne din tak mere sapno mein aake mujhe satati rahi... aur jab tumne apne baal hataye aur tumhara blouse peeche se nazar aaya, meri saansen atak gayi... Naina, tum soch bhi nahi sakti mera kya haal hua... yahan sabne socha mujhe koi daura waura pada hai... fatafat paani diya... lekin woh saara paani uss aag ke liye kam tha jo dil mein lagi thi tumhe dekh ke... jab tum lehenge ko pakad ke ek baar ghoomi toh laga main chakkar khake gir jaunga... tab hum dono mein bohot doori thi... haan, mujhe pata tha tum meri ho par uss waqt bandishen thi... lekin ab koi doori koi rukawat nahi hai... fir bhi mera dil utna hi machal raha hai tumhe aise dekh ke... wohi bekarari mehsoos ho rahi hai... saansen waise hi ruk rahi hain... gala utna hi sookh raha hai... tumhara asar mujhpe badhta hi jaa raha hai."

The colour on her cheeks matched with the colour of lehenga.

They bought some more clothes for both of them before going back home.

The entire next week, Naina went to chachaji's house daily. Sameer dropped her in the morning when he left for office and picked her up while coming back. Twice, he also stayed back till dinner time, contributing to the arrangements.

"Tum shaadi ke dino mein bhi aise hi shaam ko aaoge?" Naina asked one day as they were driving back home.

He shook his head, "Agle hafte maine chutti ke liye bol diya hai munshiji ko. Agar koi zaroori kaam hoga toh thodi der ke liye chala jaunga... baaki poora hafta ghar pe hi hun... munshiji ne kaha woh dekh lenge."

She was relieved. She didn't want Sameer to miss the excitement and activities of a typical household on such occasions. At the time of Rahul and Sonali's wedding, he was staying in a seperate house, and for their own wedding, he was again away from her. This time, she wanted to live the entire experience with him right next to her.

Munna Pandit were waiting for them at home.

"Arre Munna Pandit, tum dono?" He was surprised.

Pandit gave him a shocked look, then glanced at Munna, pointing a finger at him, "Yeh toh pehchaanta hai humein."

Sameer looked from one to another, perplexed.

"Humein laga bhool gaya tu... ki tere do bhai hain jinki shaadi hai agle hafte." Munna retorted in a scornful voice.

Sameer furrowed his brows, "Kaisi baat kar rahe ho yaar? Tum dono ko bhool sakta hun kya?"

He spread his arms, grinning widely. Both boys did not think before jumping on him yet again.

"Itne din ho gaye, milta nahi hai... tujhe koi fiqr hai ya nahi... shaadi ke kitne saare kaam hain... kaun karega... ya fir apni ho gayi toh kisi aur ki shaadi se tera koi lena dena nahi hai... yeh nahi hua ki aake pooch le ki bhaiyon, kya kaam hai mere liye... balki tujhe toh apne aap sab dekhna chahiye... iss din ke liye tujhe paal pos ke bada kiya tha?" Both attacked him together, speaking alternatively, but last line by Pandit made Munna and Sameer turn to him with baffled expression.

"Arre yaar, daant mein dum laane ke liye bol diya aise hi... mummy kehti hain mujhe jab daanti hain toh maine socha main bhi keh ke dekh lun." Pandit gave a sheepish smile.

Amidst loud laughter and plates of snacks and cold coffee, they chalked out the plan for the coming week.

Next update tomorrow morning