"Preeti, chalen dandiya khelne?" Naina loudly asked her sister, making sure Sameer was within hearing distance.

Cognizant of the fact that she was trying to run away from him, he walked off with a resolute smile.

"Chilla kyon rahi hai? Saamne hi toh khadi hu tere... kaan ke parde faad diye." Preeti rubbed her ear.

"Preeti, tere kaano ki kise parwah hai... iski pukaar toh kisi aur ke kaano ke liye thi." Swati leaned on Naina's shoulders from behind.

"Toh jijaji ke paas hi jaake bol de na, behen, abhi kyon yeh door door se ishare de rahi hai?" Preeti pinched her cheek.

"Yeh tum dono mere peeche kyon padi ho?" Naina placed her hands on waist, giving them a stern look.

"Achha... hum teri itni mushkil baat bhi maane aur tu hamare itna sa kehne se chid jaa." Swati huffed, rolling her eyes.

"Kaunsi baat?" Naina was perplexed.

"Oho, dekho zara iss bechari bachhi ko... iski yaddasht chali gayi hai shayad." Preeti slapped her hands on her cheeks dramatically.

"Nutanki karne ki jagah mujhe bata degi toh zyada achha hoga." Naina tugged at her hand.

"Bata de, Preeti, bechari ko kahan kuch yaad rehta hai Sameer ke alava." Swati gave a sympathetic look to Naina.

"Tum dono ab pitogi mujhse." Naina lunged at Preeti but she jumped back quickly.

"Bata rahi hu na... aise junglee billi kyon ban rahi hai?" She grinned, enjoying her sister's uneasiness.

A streak of red crept up Naina's neck, recalling how Sameer teased her with same words.

"Offo, aisa bhi kuch nahi hai jo tu Sameer ke kapdon ke rang ki hui jaa rahi hai." Swati gave a mischievous smile.

"Jao, mujhe tum dono se baat hi nahi karni." Naina turned her back to them.

"Dekh le, Swati, ab baat bhi sirf jijaji se hi karegi... achha bahana hai behen... humein chod ke bhagne ka." Preeti was not ready to let go of any chance.

"Achha, tumhe bhi jaana hoga na apne walon ke paas... isliye mujhe tang karke bhagana chahti ho." Naina turned towards them again, giving them a dose of their own teasing.

"Arre waah, dil ne thodi chutti li hai shayad jo meri behen ka dimaag harkat mein aaya." Preeti clapped at her remark.

Naina stamped her feet, "Nahi batana toh mat batao... main jaa rahi hun."

"Tere kehne pe hi toh hum dono ne Munna Pandit ko yeh kapde pehenne ke liye majboor kiya... pata hai kaise kaise blackmail karna pada in dono ko manane ke liye... aasan nahi tha... pyar se, gusse se, daant ke, dhamki de ke... saare hathiyaar laga diye." Swati quickly explained what they were talking about.

Naina recalled her phone call to both of them after her shopping trip with Sameer. She had urged him to buy the outfit but was sure that he would be uneasy wearing something so different.

"Woh maine isliye kaha tha ki Sameer ko sabse alag na mehsoos ho... thank you, tum dono ne aakhir mana hi liya mere dono devaron ko." She gave grateful smile to both of them.

"Chup kar, aayi badi thank you wali... tune bol diya toh karna hi tha... chahe uske liye jo bhi drama karna pade... lekin zayad mushkil nahi hui... tera woh matching wala idea kaam kar gaya." Preeti poked her shoulder.

Laughing, the three of them hugged, before running to the ground with their dandiya sticks.

Sameer was not as shocked as he should have been. Somehow, the thought had been nagging his brain for quite a while now. When the initial surprise of seeing his friends wearing similar traditional outfits had faded, he wondered how such a coincidence was possible. And then he recalled Munna's shy smile. He understood that Swati had made him do it and the whole thing was connected to Naina in some manner.

Of course, outfit matching must have been suggested by wives... and his wife had planted the seed.

Smiling, he shook his head. Naina had done this so he wouldn't feel conscious about this outfit. He wanted to tell her right away that he wasn't uncomfortable... rather, he had loved the effect of his look on her... so much that he was ready to wear it again, and again... for her. Twisting the kada on his wrist, he smiled smugly... he would definitely wear it again. The way she was lost in him gave him immense satisfaction. The way her eyes roamed over him, showing the streak of unbridled passion that he so loved in her was inspiration enough for him.

"Kya soch ke itna khush ho raha hai?" Pandit settled on a chair next to him.

Munna Pandit had gone to get some food as they were feeling hungry. When Naina had spoken loudly to announce to him that she was going to play dandiya with Preeti, he had moved away, aware that she was teasing him. And he was ready to play the teasing game gladly.

But Swati's back hug had made him stop. Seeing someone's... anyone's... arms around Naina always deluged him with envy. And he had slipped into a chair with his back to them, becoming unnoticeable as he slid lower so his outfit was not visible from behind. Hearing the two girls tease Naina about him made his jealousy diminish a bit... also, because he had his back to them now, unable to see their affection for Naina. His decision to eves drop turned out to be great when his doubts were confirmed about Naina being the sole reason for all the boys dressed in traditional clothes.

Hearing the other two constantly pull her leg while she replied with a blush... he couldn't see but he could make out from her voice... was an additional advantage.

"Aur kya sochega, Pandit... bas bhabhi ke khyaalon mein khoya hua hai." Munna chipped in.

And it registered to Sameer that he was being subjected to same treatment by his friends.

"Ek baat batao, tum dono mujhe har waqt aise chidate kyon ho? Tumse zyada purana mera pyar hai, tumse pehle se meri shaadi hui hai, koi nayi nayi toh hai nahi... fir bhi jab dekho..." He gave them a solemn look.

Munna Pandit exchanged a knowing smile.

"Kyonki tere jitna paagal kahin aur dekhne ko nahi milta na. Aaj ke zamane ka Majnu, Ranjha, Mahiwal hai tu... bhabhi ke alava koi aur kaam nahi hai tere paas." Munna smacked him on the back.

"Achha? Main factory nahi jaata kya? Karta hun na saara kaam!" He replied.

"Bhai, wahan bhi saath hi le jaata hai bhabhi ko... tera bas chalta toh apne kamre mein apne paas hi bitha leta office mein bhi." Pandit sniggered.

Sameer ran his hand through the hair... that is exactly what he had planned to do.

"Tum log faaltu mein tang kheenchte ho meri... tum bhi toh aise hi pagal ho... warna yeh kapde thodi pehente apni biwiyon ke kehne pe." He retorted, with a flushed face.

Pandit scratched his head, lowering his eyes, "Haan yaar, woh Preeti ne itne pyar se kaha ki main..."

"Swati ne toh keh diya ki yeh nahi pehna toh aayegi hi nahi navratri ke liye." Munna said with a sad face.

Sameer was tempted to let the secret out in front of his naive friends... but decided against it. Whatever had happened had been a win win situation for him. And now he was ecstatic with the anticipation of what lay in store for him when they reached home. But there was something he had to settle before they left. A challenge had to be completed.

"Chalo yaar, ab itne saj dhaj ke yahan baithne ke liye thodi aaye ho... dandiya shuru ho gaya hai, hum bhi khelte hain." Sameer started to get up.

"Main toh pehle pet puja karunga... kapde alag hue toh kya, pet toh apna wohi hai na... bechara kab se chilla raha hai." Pandit pulled the plate of samosa, stuffing his mouth.

"Haan Sameer, tu bhi thoda kha le... pyar se toh tera pet kabhi bharega nahi, kam se kam khane se toh bhar le." Munna brought a piece of dhokla to his mouth.

After emptying their plates, the boys marched to the open area which was resonating with the sound of wooden sticks being struck in rhythmic beats. The song being sung by a famous singer had strong drum beats which commanded the rhythm of the dance. Girls were performing in the inner circle while boys were in outer circle. Both circles moved in opposite directions, making the dancers match their sticks with different person after every swirl.

Sameer was not happy as he had come face to face with Naina only twice in last five minutes.

As she neared him the third time, he held her hand and pulled her out of the circle swiftly, without disturbing others.

"Yeh kya kar rahe ho? Mujhe aur khelna hai." She whined, trying to go back.

"Khelne ke liye hi toh bulaya hai... lekin mere saath." He pulled hard, bringing her close.

He had tapped his friends before leaving and soon the other two couples joined them.

Six of them started their own dance, with their respective partners. As the pace of music became faster, their steps hastened to match the rhythm. Since they were not in a large circle, constant twirling made Naina dizzy. She stopped, pressing her forehead.

"Munna Pandit, Naina thak gayi hai, main zara paani pila ke laata hun." Sameer informed his friends.

They nodded, continuing with their dance.

"Ye lo." Sameer handed her a glass of water after making her sit on a chair.

"Woh tez tez ghoomne se chakkar sa aa gaya tha." She breathed heavily after gulping down the contents.

"Idhar fan ke saamne baith jao, main kuch khane ko laata hun tumhare liye." Sameer made her sit in front of a large pedestal fan.

Though the weather was pleasant, physical exertion had made her sweat. Closing her eyes, she relaxed on the chair, feeling relieved at the strong gush of air.

"Naina, yeh lo... thoda kha lo." Sameer pulled a chair next to her, placing a plate full of assorted snacks on the table.

"Tum bhi lo na." She insisted, picking up a piece of pakora.

He shook his head, looking intently into her eyes, "Maine Munna Pandit ke saath khaya tha... tumhare saath toh bas... bas meetha chahiye."

She gave him a flustered look.

He quickly picked up a piece of jalebi from the plate, grinning foolishly.

"Yeh keh raha tha main." Biting into the crisp, juicy sweet, he winked.

Stifling a smile, she carried on with her food, realising she was actually famished.

Once she was done, Sameer picked up another piece of jalebi, taking it close to her mouth, "Tum bhi meetha khao."

She held out her hand to take it, but he took his hand away. She gave him a puzzled look, frowning.

"Maina khilaunga... maine yeh dress pehen ke tumhari baat maani ab tum meri maano." He insisted.

Naina looked around. There was no one at food tables... the music had gone much faster and everyone seemed to be busy, matching steps with each other with feverish gusto.

She opened her mouth, leaning towards his hand.

Swiftly, he held the piece between his teeth, not moving his eyes from her.

"Nahi Sameer, yahan kaise..." She glanced back at the ground, reluctant to do what he asked.

He held her arm, turning her face back at him, surging ahead.

She contemplated for a few seconds. No one seemed to be looking in their direction. She could take a quick bite to make him happy.

The moment she reached his mouth, he gulped the piece, placing his lips on her parted ones. She did not even get a chance to comprehend as his sweetened lips filled her senses with their taste.

The kiss was short... but impassioned with his fervent desire.

When he moved back, the only touch was his fingers around her arm... still, she broke out in goosebumps. The need to feel his touch made her shudder. Her gaze shifted to his other hand, placed on the table. His eyes followed her gaze.

And he instantly knew.

His big palm moved slowly from her waist to her back, hidden under the long hair. When he slightly pressed his hand she tilted her chin up.

Sameer could never say no to such an invitation.

Next update in the evening