This is the third book in the series Kabhi Toh Nazar Milao.

If you are a new reader, I would suggest you read Part 1 and Part 2 of this book to know the back story.

For my existing readers, thank you so much... it is your constant support and love that has made me go on and we have together reached this milestone. This is your achievement more than mine. It's not easy to remain connected to a story which goes on and on.

I'm obliged to every single one of you for keeping me motivated.

Sameer started the car with Naina sitting next to him. Pandit and Preeti were at the back. They had planned to drop the two at Law Garden before going to pick up Swati as she wasn't supposed to know about them. They had asked Munna to come half an hour after that. The entire plan seemed perfect for now.

Sameer glanced at Naina. She was looking out of the window as the car sped through. He streched his hand to reach her palms that were clasped together in her lap. She turned her face. He was looking at her intently. She raised her brows in question. He winked, puckering his lips in a quick kiss. She rounded her eyes, indicating towards the back seat. He blew a kiss again, alternating between watching her and seeing the road ahead.

"Kam se kam road ka khyaal toh karo... mujhe ghar jaake dekh lena, abhi aage dekho." She murmured, only for his ears.

"Toh mera haath pakad ke baitho... agar dekhunga nahi toh mehsoos karna chahta hun tumhe." He held out his hand.

She turned his palm, placing it back on the gear stick... and wrapped her fingers around his forearm. As he looked up with a vibrant smile, she placed her other hand on her shoulder, making him take in a sharp breath.

Nothing was observed by the two seated behind, obviously... they were lost in their own world.

"Sunn, kahin idhar udhar gayab mat ho jaana... hum log Swati ko leke abhi aate hain." Sameer told Pandit after he dropped him and Preeti in front of Law garden.

Pandit looked around, "Kahan jaunga, bhai... saare khaane ke stall toh yahin pe hain... inmein se kisi pe hi dekh lena."

Preeti swatted him on the arm, "Inhi se shaadi kar lo tum."

Sameer chuckled, leaving them to their banter as he drove away, along with Naina.

"Inse kyon kar lun? Mere haath ki lakeeron mein toh tumhara naam hai." He spread out his palm in front of her.

"Woh bhi tumhe tumhare doston ne dikhaya... apne aap nahi pata chala?" She groused.

He held his ears, "Sorry Preeti, pata nahi itne saal kaise lag gaye... ab sochta hun toh yaad aata hai ki school mein bhi koi tumhe kuch kehta tha toh mujhe gussa aata tha... khaaskar woh safari su..."

He stopped abruptly, biting his tongue.

"Rakesh tauji ab badal gaye hain... tum bolo kya keh rahe the school ke baare mein." She impatiently prodded him.

Pandit chose a secluded table, pulling his chair close to her as they sat down. Placing one elbow on the table, he sat facing her.

"Sach mein Preeti, main sabse bada gadha hun... school mein, college mein, hamesha tumhe dekhke khushi hoti thi, hamesha tumse baat karne ka man karta tha, jab kabhi tum nahi aati thi toh lagta tha sab khaali sa hai, tumse jhagda bhi karta tha toh gussa nahi aata tha chahe tum kuch bhi bol do... saare ishare saamne the par main andha tha... pata nahi kyon nahi dekh paya iss haath mein tumhara naam." He looked down at his palm again.

She made a grumpy face, "Kaise dekhte? Haath pe hamesha samose ka tel, breadpakode ki chatni ya jalebi ki chaashni lagi hoti thi... aur aankhen menu card mein ghusi rehti thi."

Pandit placed a finger under her chin, "Ab se sirf ek hi menu card padhunga, inn aankhon ka... aur haath mein sirf tumhara haath hoga... dekh lena."

Preeti's gaze went behind him, "Woh pav bhaji ka stall naya khula hai kya jo itni bheed hai?"

"Kahan?" He quickly turned to check, only to get a punch on his chest.

"Ahh... mazaak kar raha hun... aur tum meri hone wali biwi ko mat maro." He looked back, holding a hand to his chest.

"Hain? Maine kab mara? Aur tumhari hone wali biwi toh main hun... kya bol rahe ho?" Preeti was perplexed.

He picked up her hand, placing it on his heart, "Yahan maara na... yahin toh rehti hai meri hone wali biwi... tum."

The shy smile on Preeti's face mesmerised him even though she snatched her hand away.

Sameer stopped the car when they were out of the crowded market area. Naina looked around. They were not yet at Swati's place. She understood why he had stopped here. But decided to play ignorant.

"Arre Sameer, Swati ka ghar bhool gaye kya? Yahan kyon rok di car?" She asked with a straight face.

Without a word, he stepped out. Coming to her side, he opened her door, leaned in to unclasp her belt, stopping for a moment to stare at her face when he was inches away from it... straightened up again and brought her out holding her arm. Shutting the door, he caged her, placing his hands on her sides.

"Tumne ghar pe kya kiya tha?" The inky depth of his eyes was clearly visible even in the dullness of dusk around them.

"Kya kiya? Ghar pe toh subah se bohot kuch kiya... tum kiski baat kar rahe ho?" She seemed to ponder.

He placed one hand on her cheek, tracing her lower lip with his thumb, "Tum achhe se jaanti ho main kiski baat kar raha hun."

His raspy voice made her go still.

"Ab batao, kya tha woh?" He looked deeply into her eyes.

She lowered hers, not able to bear the heat from his gaze.

"Fir se karo." His demand took her by surprise and her eyes shot up.

"Yahan? Yeh sadak hai... koi bhi aa sakta hai." She looked at the presently deserted road.

"Main ghar pohochane ka intezar nahi kar sakta... abhi." He moved closer.

A flash of light and sudden horn made him squeeze his eyes shut. A car zipped past them. He opened his eyes, realising that this was indeed not the place. And their friends were waiting... he had no option but to wait.

"Ghar jaake tum... " He pressed himself into her but couldn't finish his sentence as heavy sound of a truck approaching reached them, along with a beam of light on the road behind him.

Reluctantly, he stepped back, opening the door for her. She quietly sat inside, waiting till he came in and settled on the driver seat. She placed one hand on his face, making him turn to look at her. His eyes were filled with longing. Cupping his face with both hands, she lifted herself to capture his lips. In a flash, his hands clutched her waist, leaning to adjust his mouth to hers, savouring what he had been starving for. Her hands slipped to his neck, tracing his collar before going to the nape as she bunched his hair with one hand.

"Yeh mat samajhna itne se ho gaya... ghar jakar jo maine maanga hai wo chahiye mujhe." He mumbled against her hair after the kiss.

"Ghar pe na... abhi humein jaana hai... Swati ko lene." Her eyes held the promise he wanted to see.

With his heart jumping in anticipation, he started the car to take the road to Swati's house.

When they reached Law garden along with Swati, they saw Munna coming from opposite direction.

"Achha hua tum log yahin mil gaye... aaj yeh kulfi party kis khushi mein bhai?" He grinned.

"Bas aise hi... socha kulfi achhi rahegi itni garmi mein... aur jab khabar itni garam ho toh thanda chahiye hi." Sameer shoved his hands in pocket, giving a crooked smile.

Swati and Munna looked at him, perplexed.

Naina stared at them without any expression.

"Kya khabar laya hai aisi? Jaldi bata... Pandit ko kyon nahi bulaya? Usse bhi bata dete." Munna was eager to know.

"Bulaya hai usse bhi." Sameer pointed behind him as he saw Pandit and Preeti walking towards them.

Munna and Swati turned to look at them... and Swati's eyes started to widen.

"Preeeeetttiiiii." Her shriek made Munna stagger back.

"Kaan ke parde tere dushman hain kya? Itni zor se kyon chilla rahi hai jaise Preeti se pata nahi kitne saalon baad mil rahi hai?" Munna rubbed his ear.

"Sachhi?" Swati held Preeti's shoulders, not paying any heed to Munna's cribbing.

Preeti nodded, lowering her eyes. Swati engulfed her in a tight hug.

"Abe hua kya hai? Preeti, tu kahin videsh jaa rahi hai kya?" Munna was confused as to why Swati was going gaga over Preeti, who seemed to be overdressed for an evening out for kulfi.

Everyone watched silently, not offering any explanation to Munna.

He gaped at the two girls.

"Toh jijaji... shaadi kabki hai?" Swati finally turned to Pandit with her question.

"Arre Swati woh Pandit hai... Sameer tere peeche hai... aaj kya bhaang chadha ke aayi hai? Hua kya hai tujhe? Inki shaadi mein gaye toh the hum sab... bhool gayi kya?" Munna was clearly puzzled.

"Woh Pandit ki shaadi ki baat kar rahi hai... hamare jijaji ki... hamari behen Preeti se." Naina decided to enlighten him.

Munna's mouth fell open... he stared at Pandit. And his eyes took in the tika on both his and Preeti's forehead.

"Apne bhai ka roka ho gaya aaj... ab hamari saali hi hamari bhabhi banegi." Sameer looped an arm around Pandit, smiling at Munna.

With a scream, Munna jumped to take Pandit into his embrace, wrapping his arm around Sameer as well. The three of them happily stood hugging each other on the road, with their girls looking at them fondly.

"Badhai ho, bhai... dil khush kar diya... aakhir teri naiya bhi paar lag hi gayi... kitna natak hua Preeti ke ghar pe?" Munna excitedly asked, forgetting that Preeti and Naina were right there.

The girls looked at each other, then at Sameer... and all three of them burst into peals of laughter while the other three stared at them silently.

Settling down on a large table, Sameer narrated the events of the day... how chachaji had scared them with his acting and how chachiji had supported him.

"Main sochta tha Preeti ke mummy papa seedhe se hain... lekin yahan toh... " Pandit said with a stunned expression.

"Seedhe hi hain... woh toh bas mere liye aisa drama kiya tha." Preeti scoffed.

Naina explained the reason, telling about Preeti's phone conversation with her that chachiji overheard.

Swati let out a spurt of laughter, "Tu bhi kam nahi hai, Preeti... lekin ab pata chala aisi kyon hai... apne mummy papa pe gayi hai."

Preeti made a face for a moment, but then, joined others in laughing.

"Chalo Munna Pandit, kulfi leke aate hain sabke liye." Sameer stood up.

His friends sprang up to their feet, walking together to the kulfi stall.

Swati started to ask about the details animatedly, admiring Preeti's chain and praising her looks.

"Main abhi aayi." Naina got up suddenly, hurrying towards the entrance.

"Arre Naina, kahan jaa rahi hai? Sunn toh... " Preeti called out but she was already near the gate, showing them five fingers to tell that she would be back in five minutes.

Hearing Naina's name in a loud voice, Sameer looked back just in time to see her going out of the main entrance of food arena. His eyes crinkled, wondering where she was headed.

"Yeh lijiye aapki kulfi." The vendor pulled out one kulfi from the metal container, handing it to Sameer who was standing right next to him.

Absent mindedly, he took it.

"Main aata hun... tum kulfi leke chalo." He told his friends, running towards the gate before they could ask him anything.

Naina looked around. Her eyes lit up as she located what she was searching for. Swiftly walking to the woman, she completed the work she had come for. She had taken just two steps back to the garden when she saw Sameer standing in front of her.

"Tum... tum yahan... kab aaye?" She stuttered.

"Tum akele yahan kya kar rahi ho? Kuch chahiye tha kya? Mujhe kyon nahi bola? Batao kya chahiye?" He looked around to see what had brought her out.

"Woh main... nahi, kuch nahi... bas dekhne aayi thi ki car ka darwaza khula toh nahi reh gaya." She swallowed.

Sameer was confounded, pointing behind him, "Lekin car toh uss taraf hai."

Naina raised herself on her toes, peeping over his shoulder, "Ohh, isiliye mujhe mili nahi... main bhool gayi thi ki car uss taraf hai.'

He placed a hand on her shoulder, "Naina, tum theek ho na? Kuch chahiye toh batao."

Her eyes fell on the kulfi that was melting in his hand.

"Kulfi... kulfi chahiye mujhe... khilaoge nahi?" She held his wrist.

"Kulfi? Oh haan... lekin yeh toh pighal rahi hai." It occurred to him now that he was holding it.

She took it from him, quickly slurping whatever was left. He watched in fascination as she finished the whole of it in less than a minute.

"Lo, yeh toh khaa li... lekin mujhe aur chahiye." She walked to the edge of parking area to drop the stick in a dustbin placed there.

When she turned after doing so, he was right behind her. Next moment, his arm was around her waist as he pulled her against his chest.

"Mujhe bhi chahiye... yehi wali kulfi." His eyes glittered, fixed on the white specks around the corner of her lips.

Unaware of what he was looking at, she raised her brows, "Yeh toh khatam ho gayi."

He leaned, speaking roughly against her face, "Baaki hai."

His lips were on hers before she could speak more, tasting the best kulfi he ever had.

Next update tomorrow morning