"Tum ab toh gussa nahi ho na?" Sameer asked as he gazed into Naina's eyes.

"Tum zindagi ho meri, tumse kaise naraaz ho sakti hun?" She gave him a tender look.

He leaned, planting a kiss on her forehead, then cupped her face, "Tum itni achhi kyon ho, Naina? Maine kitna dil dukhaya tumhara, meri wajah se tum bhooki rahi, tumhe chot lagi... fir bhi tumne aise hi maaf kar diya... mujhe kheench ke do thappad kyon nahi lagaye?"

"Thappad hi lagane chahiye tumko." She poked his forehead with her fingers.

He held her hand, placing it on his heart, "Naina, pata nahi kya ho gaya tha mujhe... kyon aisi baat dimaag mein aa gayi... aur fir ek ke baad ek usmein kuch kuch judta gaya aur mera dimaag kharab hota gaya... kuch haalat ne saath nahi diya aur kuch woh Khurana..."

"Nahi Sameer, kisi ko dosh dena galat hoga... galti sach mein tumse hui hai... kamzor tum pade the... vishwas tumhara dagmaya tha... kyonki tumne har baar dimaag se socha." She spoke in a gentle tone.

He stared at her, perplexed.

With a smile, she pressed her hand on his heart, "Dil se puchte toh aisa kabhi nahi hota... Sameer, jo dil ke rishte hote hain unse judi sab baatein dil se karni chahiye, dimaag se nahi... agar iss dil pe ek baar haath rakh ke puchte toh pata chal jaata ki tumhari Naina ke liye tumse aage kuch nahi hai... mere liye kal bhi tum sabse pehle the, aaj bhi sabse khaas ho aur hamesha rahoge... tumse zyada zaroori mere liye na kuch tha, na hoga."

"Oh Naina." He squeezed his eyes shut, having no doubt about her love for him.

"Lekin iska matlab yeh nahi ki maine baaki sab rishte tod diye hain... agar fir se chachiji ko, ya parivar mein kisi ko bhi zaroorat hogi toh main jaungi... yeh mera farz hi nahi mera haq bhi hai, unn logon ke liye jinhone hamesha pyar diya hai mujhe." Her voice made him open his eyes.

He was abashed at the implications of his behaviour as it registered to him how it might have appeared to Naina.

"Main khud chalunga tumhare saath... yehi parivar hai mera bhi, jo tumne mujhe diya hai ... mere iss bartaav se chachaji aur chachiji ko kitna dukh hua hoga... woh bhi gussa honge na mujhse?" He asked in a guilt ridden voice.

"Unhe inn sabke baare mein nahi pata... maine kuch nahi kaha kisi se." She lowered her eyes, removing her hand from his chest.

Sameer frowned, "Lekin maine..."

Her eyes shot up in alarm, "Tumne kya?"

"Woh maine Preeti se... matlab maine tumse baat karne ke liye phone kiya tha ghar pe toh Preeti ne bataya ki tum aaj office... maine..." He fumbled for words, realising that he had done one more blunder.

"Haan, tumne subah suna hi nahi jab main batane jaa rahi thi ki main saath chalungi tumhare." Her eyes were sorrowful again.

He gritted his teeth, annoyed with himself, "Duniya ka sabse bada gadha hun main."

She shrugged, leaning back against the pillow.

"Naina, Preeti ko pata chal gaya hoga kya? Usne bata diya hoga sabko?" His eyes crinkled at the corners.

She smiled assuringly, "Preeti samajh jayegi toh bhi kisi ko nahi batayegi... hum dono ne ek doosre ke bohot se raaz apne dil mein chupa ke rakhe hain."

"Raaz? Aise kya raaz hain tum dono ke?" He squinted at her.

"Raaz hain... chupane hote hain." She smirked.

Curiosity flared in his eyes, "Naina, mujhe toh bata sakti ho... aisa kya raaz hai? Mere baare mein hi toh hoga na jo bhi hoga."

"Achha, aisa kyon laga tumhe? Kisi aur ke baare mein bhi ho sakta hai... sunke kya karoge kisi aur ke bare mein hua toh?" Her face lit up with a mischievous smile.

"Khoon pi jaunga uska." His nostrils flared up instantly.

She held his fisted hand, "Yehi gussa shaant karna hoga tumhe, isike wajah se yeh sab hua... kisi aur ka khyal bhi aa sakta hai kya mere mann mein?"

He bit his lower lip, "Sorry."

"Buddhu." She pressed her palm on his cheek.

A knock on the door diverted their attention.

"Naina bhabhi, aapke liye khane ko laye hain." Ramdhari entered the room with a large tray when Sameer asked him to come.

"Lekin maine abhi abhi toh khaya tha." She scrunched her nose.

He placed the tray in front of her. She glanced at the bowls of fruits and a plate of dhokla.

"Itna sab kaise kha sakti hun, Ramdhari bhaiya?" She looked up helplessly.

"Do ghante ho chuke hain aapko kuch khaye... apna dhyan nahi rakhti isiliye aapki tabiyat kharab hui hai... ab se hum aapko bhuka nahi rehne denge... Sameer bhaiya, aapko bhi bata rahe hain, chahe aap humein jitna bhi gussa kar lein lekin Naina bhabhi ne khana nahi khaya toh hum bhi anshan kar denge... rasoi mein hi aasan laga ke baith jayenge." His stringent manner amused both of them.

Sameer stood up from the bed, going near Ramdhari. To his surprise, Sameer looped an arm around his shoulder.

"Tu hi nahi, main bhi baith jaunga anshan pe, tere bagal mein aasan laga ke... aur hum dono tab tak nahi uthenge jab tak teri bhabhi kha nahi legi." Sameer's friendliness elated Ramdhari.

Emboldened by the support, he looked back at Naina, "Aap jaldi se kha lijiye warna..."

"Bas kar, yaar, ab dhamki dega kya?" Sameer stepped away, scowling at him.

Ramdhari scratched his head sheepishly, "Hum dhamki kaise de sakte hain, bhaiya... hum toh keh rahe the ki kha lijiye warna hum kuch aur banake le aayenge."

Naina laughed at their childish antics, "Main kha lungi, Ramdhari bhaiya... aur kuch banane ki zaroorat nahi hai."

Nodding, he left the room.

Sameer had to forcefully feed her the entire food, with his hands. Once both the bowls were empty, he breathed in relief.

By bed time, Naina had to have two more meals. She wasn't given any choice.

When he shifted close to her on bed at night, she cuddled into him, "Do din se isko pehen ke so rahe ho, mujhe achha nahi lagta."

He grinned as she tugged at his tshirt. Raising himself a little, he pulled it over his head, taking her back in his arms.

The feel of her soft body against his skin fired up the desire in him. He had kept himself away for two days because of his stupid anger. But now, as her fragrance filled him up, he couldn't control the fierce longing rising in him.

Cupping her face with one hand, he looked into her eyes. He could see the immense love of her heart reflecting in those soft brown orbs that not only comforted him but held him captive. He was lost in them as she gazed back... with same passion.

But his yearning turned into hesitation as his gaze went up to the bandage on her forehead. She had suffered both physically and emotionally because of him. More than the surface healing, her heart had to be given the assurance of his love.

"Naina, kahin dard ho raha hai kya tumhe?" He asked gently.

She shook her head.

"Achhi baat hai... lekin fir bhi tumhe aaram karna chahiye... ab tum so jao." He softly kissed her forehead.

She laid her head on his chest, her eyes getting heavy with the effect of medicines. Doctor had given some painkillers so that she doesn't feel any discomfort.

He weaved his fingers in her hair, feeling her steady breath on his bare skin. She had fallen asleep. Having her in his arms was not good for his system, but he reminded himself that he alone was responsible for this state.

"Naina theek kehti hai... dimaag ki jagah dil se socha hota toh abhi dil aise tadap na raha hota." He reprimanded himself.

Next day, she had to force him to go to office.

"Aaj toh Saturday hai... kal waise hi chutti hai... Naina, aaj rehne do na... kuch hoga toh munshiji ghar aa jayenge... mujhe tumhara khyal rakhna hai." He whined when she placed his clothes on the bed.

"Nahi Sameer, main nahi jaa rahi lekin tumhe jaana chahiye... main koi choti bachhi nahi hun jiska khyal rakhne ke liye tum office se chutti loge... chalo jaldi se ready ho jao." She pushed him to the bathroom.

Any other day, he would have taken her along with him but today, seeing her condition, he curbed the waves of yearning rocking him, needing a cold shower more than anything.

She was not in the room when he came out.

"Yehi sazaa hai teri... aur kar faaltu ke shaq... ab ban gaya na babaji... itne din ho gaye, ek kiss tak nahi mili... apne pair pe kulhadi maarna koi tujhse seekhe, Sameer Maheshwari." Cursing himself, he got dressed.

"Aaj jaldi aa jaunga, lekin tum apna khana theek se khana warna pata hai na... woh Hitler Ramdhari." Sameer raised his voice at the end, turning towards the kitchen.

"Haan, haan, bol lijiye jo bolna hai... humein pata hai waise toh ki Hitler kaun tha lekin bura nahi manenge... Naina bhabhi ke liye yeh naam bhi manzoor hai." Ramdhari came out with his tiffin.

"Naina bhabhi ka chamcha." Sameer pulled the cloth around his neck, giving him a look of fake annoyance.

"Tumhe der ho rahi hai, Sameer." Naina tugged at his arm.

"Hmm." His gaze shifted to her, and got stuck to a small bit of jam on her lower lip.

"Umm, Ramdhari, aisa kar, ek apple ko cheel ke, chote chote tukde kar de... aur ek dabbe mein daal ke le aa... dil kar raha hai khane ka... main saath le jaunga." He put up a demand.

"Abhi laate hain." Ramdhari quickly turned towards the kitchen.

"Jaldi nahi hai... aaram se leke aa... chote chote tukde hone chahiye, ek hi size ke, dhyan se kaatna." He called out.

Muttering why he needed such small pieces, Ramdhari went to the kitchen.

"Sameer, yeh kaisi farmaish hai?" Naina gave him a perplexed look.

"Idhar aao batata hun." He pulled her to the corner behind the pillar.

"Yeh meethe ki farmaish hai... itne din se mila jo nahi." His voice turned husky as he pinned her against the pillar, leaning to taste the jam on her lips.

The light brush of his mouth made her skin erupt into goosebumps. It was like a new feeling... a feel after so much had happened between them in last few days. Her body shivered in anticipation as he looked deeply into her eyes, asking for permission.

Lifting herself, she pressed her mouth to his, ending the wait. His arms went around her waist, taking the control of kiss instantly. Her hands draped around his neck, bunching his hair as her lips parted to welcome his tongue. The sudden rush of heat burned them both, as they devoured each other, realising how parched they were.

He had to pull away, knowing that they were not in their room, and he had to leave for office.

Placing his forehead against hers, he tried to catch his breath.

"Naina, kaise rahunga poora din tumhare bina?" His voice was heavy with the craving that pulsated in every cell of his being.

She took a deep breath, holding herself together for his sake, "Bye Sameer, shaam ko jaldi aana."

Sorry for the delay in posting. Wattpad ate up my draft and I had to start typing again at five in the evening. And posting it has been equally harrowing... it was just not getting published.

Since it has been put up in a hurry, it isn't as you would have expected.

I promise to give you everything tomorrow... and on time.

Tomorrow evening.