As morning light filtered through the flimsy curtains, Sameer opened his eyes. His beautiful wife snuggling into him was the first sight that met his eyes... the perfect view. His arm around her looped some more, bringing her closer. He could not bear to stay apart from her even for a single minute. She had become his addiction... a heavy one. And he loved to be addicted to her this much. No, she wasn't his weakness, as any addiction would be... she was his strength.

Naina smiled a little, maybe in a dream... and he felt her lips brush against his bare chest. He bit his lower lip... she was his weakness as well.

His eyes wavered down to his chest. A bluish mark, little above his heart was a reminder of last night. She had punished him... a punishment he was ready to endure every single day. He had loved it when she dominated him, having her way without letting him even kiss her properly. It made him more crazy for her, if it was even possible. With a satiated smile, he pushed away her hair, clearing the angelic face for his eyes. Her smooth shoulder was covered only by the strap of nighty. Last night, he had told her how much he loved her pink saree, and she had immediately started to take it off. When he protested, she had stated simply that she was exhausted now and wanted to change into comfortable clothes.

He had mentally prepared himself that she had a long, tiring day and just wanted to rest now so he must lay his plans for the night to rest. But when she came out of the washroom, after freshening up and  changing, his jaw fell open. Her comfortable clothes, his favourite pink nighty, had made her intentions clear, making his heartbeat go haywire.

"Naina, tum toh keh rahi thi sona hai tumhe." He had whispered when she settled on the bed.

"Sone hi toh aayi hun." She shrugged.

"Yeh... yeh nighty..." His eyes couldn't stay in one place, roving over the dips and curves that were so clear in the clinging satin that covered her shapely figure.

"Nighty sone ke time pehenne ke liye hi hoti hai, Sameer." She answered patiently.

He looked up in her eyes. And the glint gave her away. He pulled her towards himself, kissing her with the urgency he was controlling till now.

But after that one kiss, she took charge, keeping his lips away from her while she gave him marks as and where she pleased, till he could take it no more. Her restrictions had made him desperate, the results of which were now partly visible on her gleaming shoulder. He touched the mark, blowing over it.

She stirred in his arms, slowly opening her eyes to give him the smile that was better than any sunrise.

"Good morning, sweetheart." He kissed her forehead.

She lowered her eyes shyly... and his heart did a somersault. His wild, passionate wife of last night, who had burned him with her fervid expressions of love, was shy of a mere endearment.

He placed her hand over his heart, "Yeh dekho, kya haal kiya hai mera. Aankhen utha ke dekhti ho toh maar dalti ho, aankhen jhukati ho toh dil khud hi bekabu ho jaata hai."

She looked at him, then at her hand. Her eyes fell on the mark.

"Sameer yeh..." She raised herself on one elbow, frown lines on the forehead changing to a deep blush at realisation.

"Pyar karne wale aise nishano ko dekh ke khush hote hain, ghabrate nahi hain." He placed a finger under her chin, lifting her face up.

She hid her face in his chest. He tightened his arms around her and rolled over, pinning her to the bed. Her hair now spilled on the white pillow, the strap of her nighty falling down her shoulder, her parted lips and heavy lidded eyes... the image was too inviting to let go. His lips closed over hers, as hungry as ever. The thin satin fabric between them could not stop him from feeling the heat erupting from her body, making him deepen the kiss. When his hands slipped down her shoulders, she pushed at his chest.

He lifted his head, breathing heavily.

She shook her head.

"Naina, please na." He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"De... der ho rahi hai." She mumbled, pushing him so that he lay on his side now, still holding her in his arms.

"Aaj koi der nahi ho rahi. Aaj ka poora din hamara hai. Office ki chutti hai, na kahin jaana hai na koi aane wala hai... sirf tum aur main. Aaj toh Ramdhari ko bhi nahi bulaya." His eyes danced with mischief.

"Haww, toh iska matlab uthoge hi nahi?" She widened her eyes.

He twisted his lips, giving a slight shake to his head, "Aaj poora din yahin rahenge... hum dono. Tumse door hone ka mann nahi hai... bas aise hi dekhna hai tumhe."

"Tumhe toh kuch kaam hai nahi, mujhe kitna kuch karna hai. Jaane do mujhe." She wriggled in his hold.

"Aaj koi kaam nahi. Tumhe pata hai na Diwali ke agle din saare kaam rok dete hain. Koi kuch nahi karta. Waise toh tum har riwaaz ko zabardasti manwati ho, yeh kyon nahi manna?" He frowned.

"Thodi der mein tum hi kahoge ki bhook lagi hai... khane ka kya?" She raised her brows.

"Aaj maggi khayenge. Aur kuch nahi. Aur woh main banaunga. Toh ab tumhare bahane khatam?" He tickled her waist.

She immediately twisted, giggling, "Sameeer, aise mat karo na."

He tickled her some more, fascinated by her hysterical laughter. She tried to speak but words did not come out. Her eyes teared up by the time he stopped.

Smacking him on the shoulder, she wiped her eyes, still panting from the effect, "Aage se kabhi kiya na toh dekhna."

"Kya karogi? Abhi dekhna hai mujhe... dikhao na." He smirked.

She narrowed her eyes, then opened them fully, fluttering her lashes. Her hands threaded into his hair behind the ears.

With a sweet smile, she brought her face closer, speaking in a husky voice, "Abhi dikhati hun... tum bhi kya yaad rakhoge."

He closed his eyes in anticipation, waiting for her soft lips to touch his. When he felt them on his cheek, a complacent smile played on his lip, knowing how she couldn't resist his stubble. Next moment, a shriek escaped him.

Naina had bitten him... on the cheek. His skin still tingled from the sharpness of her teeth as she lifted her head, a victorious smile on her face.

"Yeh kya kiya, Naina? Itni zor se kaun kat ta hai?" He was flustered, rubbing his cheek to soothe the pain.

"Tumne hi kaha tha dikhao. Ab itne zor se gudgudi karoge toh uski sazaa bhi toh zor se hi dungi na." She again fluttered her lashes.

This time she was quicker. Before he could catch her, she had jumped out of the bed, waving a thumb at him as she ran to the washroom. In spite of the stinging feeling, he smiled. This mischievous side of hers was something to cherish. They both had not indulged in such pranks when they were in that age. They could bring out the inner child in them only with each other. She had done her part... now was his turn to throw some tantrums.

"Jaldi se naha lo, Sameer, main breakfast banati hun." Naina tied her hair in a messy bun, after brushing out the tangles.

When there was no movement, not even a sound from him, she looked in his direction. He sat with crossed arms against his bare chest. With puffed cheeks and drooping corner of lips, he left no ambiguity in her mind about his state of mind.

"Achha ji, galti bhi khud karo aur sazaa milne pe muh bhi tum hi phulao. Aaj main bhi nahi manane wali, Mr Maheshwari, dekhti hu kab tak line pe nahi aate." She thought, smiling silently.

His eyes were averted, staring at some point outside the balcony, so he couldn't see the smirk on her face.

"Kitchen mein jaa rahi hun, maggi toh lunch mein khayenge na, abhi main poha bana deti hun. Tum naha ke aa jao." She said nonchalantly, walking out without sparing him another glance.

Sameer sat up straight with a jerk as the door closed behind her, astonished at her reaction.

"Arre, main rootha hua tha aur Naina ne dekha tak nahi... aise kaise bina manaye chali gayi? Poocha bhi nahi ki poha khaunga ya nahi... mujhe alu parantha khana hai... nahi khata yeh poha... pehle kaat liya, fir saath mein nahane ko bhi nahi bola, aur ab bina dekhe, bina puche chali gayi... ab main sach mein gussa hun." He threw the quilt away, stomping his feet while staring angrily at the door.

Naina clasped her hand against her mouth, stifling the sound of her chuckles. Standing outside the door, she could imagine him huffing and puffing about, mumbling to himself. With a knowing wave of head, she went to the kitchen and put up potatoes for boiling. She had planned to make alu paranthas beforehand... mention of poha was only to annoy him some more.

As the paranthas piled up in the casserole, she could hear loud bangs from the room. An angry Sameer was the loudest, banging everything hard enough to make others aware of his indignation.

He pulled the dining chair noisily, sitting down with a thud. She smiled as he turned his face to the other side, hearing her footsteps.

"Main poha nahi khaunga." His drawl was like that of a pre school kid.

"Toh kya khaoge?" She asked, without showing any change in her demeanor.

"Alu parantha." He patted himself internally, for showing attitude to her.

He was sure now she would pester him to eat a little, promising to make alu parantha in lunch. And he would comply, but not before he made her...

"Ye lo." A rolled up parantha appeared before his eyes.

He forgot his anger for a moment, turning to her with surprised expression, "Yeh kahan se aaya? Tumne toh kaha tha tum poha..."

"Mere dil ne kaha shayad tumhe alu paranthe zyada pasand aayenge isliye maine yeh bana liye." She smiled sweetly at him.

Grabbing it quickly, he took a big bite. It was delicious. He closed his eyes and relished the taste, all pretence forgotten... till he had almost finished the parantha.

"Aur bhi hain." She placed the casserole in front of him.

Now that he remembered, he picked up one more, without showing much interest.

"Akele akele khaoge? Mujhe khane ko nahi bologe?" She pouted.

"Tumko kahan sunna hai jo main bolta hun. Tum toh apni marzi se hi sab karti ho na... toh apni marzi se kha bhi lo." He gave her an icy look.

She bit her lip, gulping down the rising laughter, and pulled the chair next to him. She had to applaud his self control... he didn't look once at her even when she brushed her leg against his on the pretext of taking butter or pickle.

When she went back to the kitchen with the empty dishes, he gulped down a glass of water, then another.

"Pehle gusse ki aag mein jalati hai, fir pyar ki... bas jalte raho... paani pi pi ke samundar ban jaunga." Thumping the glass back, he whined again, rubbing his leg where she had been constantly pressing.

"Ahhh, Sameer." Her groan from the kitchen made him rush inside, the grumbling of a moment before nowhere in his mind.

"Naina, kya hua? Tum theek ho na? Chot lagi kya? Dikhao kahan... kitni baar kahaa hai dhyan se kaam kiya karo... zyada dard ho raha hai kya?" He ran his hands on her arms, after checking her face for any injury.

"Chot kyon lagegi. Main toh yeh ice tray nikal rahi thi fridge se toh woh atak gayi thi... usse nikalne ke liye bulaya tumhe." She gave a lopsided smile.

He narrowed his eyes. She had tricked him again. He was sure the ice tray had given no trouble at all... it slipped out easily when he picked it up. He turned his back to her, rubbing his hands in irritation after putting the tray on the counter.

"Tumhe ya toh mujhpe gussa karna hota hai ya bas aise natak karke mujhe tang karna hota hai. Inn sabke liye time bhi hai, dimag bhi aur idea bhi aate rehte hain... lekin pyar ki baat sunte hi bhaagna hota hai tumhe... maine socha tha aaj poora din hum dono akele hain ghar mein toh..." His sentence was left incomplete as something cold slid from his nape to settle around the hem of his jeans, burning his skin with its coldness.

"Nainaaa... yeh kya hai?" He turned to give her a frustrated look, pulling out his t-shirt from the jeans to rid himself of the ice cubes.

She gave him a credulous look, "Ab akele hain aur pyar karne ka mood hai toh pehle gussa shaant karna padega na... wahi kar rahi thi."

She was pulled against his hard chest next moment.

"Achhaw, gussa shaant karna hai toh mere paas kuch aur plan tha lekin yeh barf wala idea bhi bura nahi hai." He gave her a mischievous look.

She was sure he would put the ice in her dress now, to take his revenge.

He picked up one ice cube from the tray behind her. She stared wide eyed as he brought it to her face, sliding down her cheek. The frozen cube melted as her cheeks heated up.

"Dekha, tumhari garmi se barf bhi pighal gayi." His fingers rubbed against her neck, going down to the neckline with fast melting ice cube.

She closed her eyes, feeling his touch close to the dip in her neckline.

"Aur barf se pehle main pighal gaya." His lips landed where his fingers were, making her gasp when his tongue lapped up the water droplets left by ice.

His pretence did not even have a life of an ice cube... losing its identity in no time when she came near him, melting him even faster.

It was indeed a blissful day for them, with Sameer getting all the attention and love he wanted, and more.

Next update tomorrow evening