"Swati, aise kyon bol rahi hai?" Naina was shocked more by her sad voice rather than her words.

"Kaisa? Arre, main bas yehi keh rahi hu na ki wow, tu kitni lucky hai... main aur Preeti bhi... lucky hain... jinko hum itne time se jaante hain ab unhi se shaadi karenge... har kisi ki aisi kismat nahi hoti na... hum teeno jaisi... sabke ghar wale aise maan thodi jaate hain... kuch ladkiyon ki toh zabardasti kahin aur shaadi kara dete hain... kuch toh bata hi nahi paate apne ghar pe... lekin hum teeno ko wohi mila... jo humein chahiye tha... teri shaadi toh ho bhi gayi... ab meri aur Preeti ki bhi ho jayegi... fir koi tension hi nahi... " Swati went on speaking, a wide smile beaming on her face.

"Swati?" Naina touched her arm, worried at her blabbering.

"Haan... kya?" She looked at the fingers clutching her elbow.

"Swati, sab theek hai na?" Naina narrowed her eyes.

"Sab theek hai... galat kya hoga? Aisa kyon pooch rahi hai?" Swati shrugged, the same smile pasted on her face.

"Nahi, kuch nahi." Naina left her arm, sure that something was amiss.

They talked about Swati's shopping and preparations going on at home.

"Tune lehenga le liya?" Naina asked excitedly.

"Nahi, abhi nahi le paaye... pichle sunday ko jaana tha toh Munna Baroda gaya tha kisi kaam se phir kal jaana tha toh usne mana kar diya kyonki unke ghar koi aane wala tha... ab agle Sunday dekhenge." The hint of same anguish was back in her voice.

"Lekin lehenge mein Munna ka kya kaam hai? Woh apne kapdon ke liye chala jayega, tu lele apna lehenga jaake." Naina asked.

"Uski mummy dilwayengi na... unhone kaha hai, Munna bhi pasand karega toh achha hoga. Usne toh mana bhi kiya tha ki usse yeh sab nahi pata aur jo aunty ko aur mujhe achha lage woh le lena jaake... par uski mummy ne mana kar diya uske bina jaane ke liye." Swati stated.

"Fir sunday hi kyon zaroori hai? Uncle ko chutti nahi mil rahi kya?" Naina assumed Swati's father was busy.

"Papa ko koi problem nahi hai, woh Munna thoda busy hai... usne apne papa ka kaam sambhal liya hai na toh baaki din time nahi mil pata." Swati said with an understanding smile.

Naina nodded, trying to read her eyes, "Chal koi nahi, abhi bohot din hain... lehenga toh ek din mein ban jaata hai... maine bhi aise hi banwaya tha... tujhe pata hi hai hamari shaadi kaise fatafat tay hui aur kitni jaldi mein sab kuch kiya... tu ghabra mat, sab kuch ho jayega."

"Haan, woh toh hai.. isliye koi tension nahi hai mujhe." Swati said lightly.

"Ab toh Preeti ko bhi sab kuch jaldi jaldi karna padega agar dono ki shaadi ek saath honi hai toh." Naina drifted towards the other wedding.

"Aisa karenge, main aur Preeti ek saath jaake lehenga le lenge... Pandit aayega toh shayad Munna uske chakkar mein aa jaye." Swati brightened.

Naina was again surprised, "Kya matlab?"

"Arre yaar Naina, tera dimaag itna dheere kyon chalne laga hai? Matlab bhi samajh nahi aaya... seedhi si baat hai... Munna Pandit ek saath aa jayenge dukaan pe toh bore nahi honge na." Swati laughed, playfully patting Naina's arm.

Naina could see that the laughter did not reach her eyes. There was something definitely troubling her usually bubbly friend. She tried to ask if all was well at home, fearing that there was some issue within the family. But Swati kept saying that everything was fine. After she was gone in the afternoon post lunch, Naina pondered over their conversation. As she thought more about it, she deduced that Swati was sad when talking about Munna... maybe the two had a fight. She decided to call up Sameer.

"Naina, kya hua? Tum theek ho na? Tabiyat kharab hai? Main abhi aata hun... tum uthna mat... main bas abhi nikalta hun." He was worried sick the moment he heard her voice.

"Oho mere Rajhdhai Express... suno toh... main theek hun... tumhe aane ki zaroorat nahi hai." She calmed him in a normal voice, though her heart filled up with warmth.

"Pakka koi takleef nahi hai na... dekho, mujhse chupana mat... warna main gussa ho jaunga." He threatened.

"Sameer, main sach bol rahi hun... tumse kabhi kuch nahi chupa sakti... aaj maine apne liye nahi Swati ke liye phone kiya hai." She assured him before coming to the reason of her call.

He listened as she narrated about her visit and the gloom that she kept slipping into again and again.

"Main soch rahi thi kyon na hum Munna ko aaj ghar pe bula lein... usse baat karke dekhte hain... shayad kuch pata chale." She suggested.

Sameer accepted immediately, "Main abhi bol deta hun usse... lekin tum kuch mat karna... Ramdhari ko bol do... jo bhi banana hai wohi bana lega... tum bas aaram karo."

Naina blew a kiss into the phone before speaking, "I Love You... jaan."

There was a silence on the other side... till she wondered if he was there or the line had gone dead.

"Sameer?" She asked hesitantly.

"Naina... kyon karti ho aisa?" He groaned audibly, clutching the receiver hard.

Her heart jumped at his voice that seemed to come from the back of his throat.

"Bye, shaam ko milte hain." She whispered softly before disconnecting.

Staring at the phone in hand, she herself didn't know why she did so... maybe she was overwhelmed with the way he was fussing over her since morning... or maybe... she missed him...

When he arrived in the evening, she was waiting in the living room as he had asked her not to come out.

"Naina, theek ho na?" He asked the moment he saw her, sitting down next to her on the couch.

"Main theek hun... kaisa tha tumhare din?" She lovingly loosened the knot of his tie.

His eyes turned brighter seeing her face after so many hours.

"Ab mera din bohot achha lag raha hai... mere chaand ko dekh ke." He cupped her cheek.

"Buddhu, chaand din mein nahi raat mein dikhta hai." She pinched his cheek.

"Mera personal chaand hai... hamesha dikhta hai." He slid one hand behind her waist, pulling her closer.

"Sameer bhaiya, aap chai ke saath kya khayenge?" Ramdhari called out from the kitchen.

Naina jerked away from Sameer.

"Sirf chai chahiye... aur roz hi sirf chai dena abse... kuch khana nahi hai." He looked behind.

"Kyon... roz kyon nahi khaoge?" Naina questioned when Ramdhari was gone.

"Main bhi toh tumhara personal malai ka katora hun na... roz itna sab khaa ke mujhe mota thodi hona hai." He smirked, running his fingers through his silky locks.

She could not help pinching his cheek again, "Woh toh tum ho."

"Kya? Mota?" He frowned.

"Malai ke katore." She chuckled, making him smile proudly.

When Munna arrived around eight, he was his usual happy self. Naina wondered whether she was correct in her assessment.

"Bhai tune Pandit ko nahi bola? Mujhe laga woh bhi hoga." He was surprised.

"Bola tha par usse aaj kuch kaam tha." Sameer gave a small smile, uncomfortable about lying to his friend.

He had called up Pandit, apprising him of the situation. Pandit said it would be better if Sameer and Naina talked to Munna alone. He wanted to be there to help his friend but they all knew how Munna liked to keep his problems bottled up, not sharing easily even with friends.

"Sameer, tu aur bhabhi koshish karna janne ki... waise koi problem honi toh nahi chahiye lekin agar kuch hai toh hum pakka pata laga lenge... Munna se aaj tum dono baat karo, nahi hua toh kal main baat karunga... woh pooche toh keh dena mujhe aaj kuch zaroori kaam hai." Pandit had said when he came to know of everything.

"Aur, shaadi ki taiyari kaisi chal rahi hai?" Sameer asked casually.

"Bhai, ghar wale kar rahe hain... maine kya taiyari karni hai... papa ne card chapne diye hue hain, mummy saara din list banati rehti hain Swati ke liye kya kya lengi... maine toh bas ussi din jaana hai ghodi pe baith ke... woh book kara li hai." Munna laughed.

"Kyon, tujhe Swati ke liye kuch khaas nahi lena?" Sameer was genuinely surprised.

Munna gave him a perplexed look, "Ab main thodi saariyan ya zevar khareedne jaunga... yeh kaam toh mummy ka hai... woh kar lengi."

"Achha Munna, shaadi ke kapde le liye tumne? Kaisa hai Swati ka lehenga?" Naina asked eagerly though she knew this shopping was pending.

"Nahi bhabhi, woh baaki hain... iss Sunday ko jaa rahe hain... maine toh kaha tha le aao jo bhi laana hai mere liye... lekin mummy aur Swati peeche pade hain ki mujhe chalna padega... yaar Sameer, tu bataa... main itni der kya karunga dukaan mein baith ke... apna toh paanch minute mein le lunga lekin Swati do ghante lagayegi, usse jaldi se kuch pasand hi nahi aata... ek baar gaya tha main sagai ke kapde lene... tabse tauba kar li." Munna touched his ears, letting out an exhale.

Naina glanced at Sameer. They had started to get an inkling of the reason of Swati's forlorn attitude.

"Chal Munna, aaj hum dono thodi der chat pe gappe lagate hain, pehle ki tarah." Sameer stood up suddenly.

"Haan, tum log jao, main khane ka dekhti hun." Naina knew why Sameer had suggested this.

He rushed back while Munna was going up the stairs, holding Naina's shoulders to whisper in her ears, "Tum kuch nahi karogi... Munna ko samjhane ke liye mera jaana zaroori hai par iska matlab yeh nahi ki tum kaam mein lag jao... chup karke yahan baitho ya kamre mein jaake aaram karo."

She dipped her head to the side, smiling as he dropped a quick kiss on her cheek.

"Aur bata yaar, kya kya kiya hai tune Swati ke liye? Ab toh hum dono hi hain, khul ke bata de." Sameer adopted a teasing tone.

Munna laughed, "Kya karunga main... bata toh diya ghar wale jo kar rahe hain... aur kya karna hai?"

"Munna, itne saalon se tu Swati ke sapne dekh raha hai... ab jab woh tere paas aane wali hai hamesha ke liye toh tujhe nahi lagta uske swaagat ke liye tujhe thoda sochna chahiye?" Sameer said gently.

Munna looked at him with a shy smile, "Haan toh kamra sajaoge na tum log... aakhir doston ka kaam hai yeh... humne bhi kiya tha tere liye."

He got an unexpected smack on head.

"Seedhe wahin pohoch jaa... usse pehle ka toh kuch soch." Sameer huffed.

"Usse pehle? Pagal hai kya tu? Shaadi se pehle?" Munna gasped in shock.

The punch was harder this time.

"Bhai tune khana khilane bulaya hai ya maar khane? Kyon haath saaf kar raha hai mere pe?" Munna held his stomach where he had received the blow.

"Main shaadi ki raat ki baat nahi kar raha... uske alava kuch nahi karega kya apni hone wali biwi ke liye?" Sameer gritted his teeth.

Munna narrowed his eyes, "Kya karun?"

Sameer took a deep breath, preparing himself for the daunting task.

"Tumhe lagta hai yehi problem hogi?" Naina asked him later in the night when they were in their room.

She was standing near the balcony door, with his arms around her as he stood behind her, resting his chin on her shoulder. The room was again bathed only in the cool luminescence of almost a full moon,  flimsy curtains flew around them with the gentle breeze... the fragrance of jasmine from their garden wafted in the room.

"Munna ke hisaab se usne ek baar bata diya Swati ko ki woh usse pyar karta hai toh ab fir se bolne ki zaroorat nahi hai... usse lagta hai kisi bhi tarah se pyaar dikhana ya phone pe iss tarah ki baate karna bachpana hai, ya fir filmon ka asar." Sameer sighed.

"Toh wo tumhe kya bachha samjhta hai? Tumhari kisi harkat ke liye maine kabhi usse mana karte ya muh banate nahi dekha." Naina was astounded.

"Wohi toh baat hai," Sameer straightened, turning her towards himself, still keeping her in the circle of her arms, "Munna ne hamesha mere pyar ko samjha, meri har baat mein poora saath diya, chahe woh pipe se chadhke tumhare ghar aana ho ya tumhare liye iss kamre ka renovation karana... humein kabhi laga hi nahi woh aisa sochta hai... Naina, woh toh har ahsaas ko itni gehrai se mehsoos karta hai, mere har dard se usse utni hi takleef hoti thi jitni mujhe, mere liye aansun bahata tha... aur Swati se kitna pyar karta hai yeh bhi jaanta hun main... sagai ke baad kaise khayalon mein khoya rehta tha."

Suddenly, something struck him, "Lekin ek baat hai... sagai ke baad bhi maine usse zyada phone karte nahi dekha Swati ko... jaise main hamesha tumse baat karna chahta tha... tumhare phone ka intezar karta tha, woh aisa kuch nahi karta tha... balki kabhi kabhi Swati ka phone aata tha toh bhi jaldi se ek do baat karke rakh deta tha."

Naina could now clearly see what Swati was fretting about.

"Iss mushkil ko humein unki zindagi se nikalna hoga, Sameer." She looked up at him.

He nodded, smiling at her.

Her face was reflecting the moonlight. He saw her brown eyes turning soft as his own face glared back at him in them. Leaning, he planted kiss on her forehead.

"Ab tumhe sona chahiye... thak gayi hogi na?" He said gently.

She wrapped her arms around him, placing her head on his chest, "I Love You... jaan."

She could feel the chest go in rapidly as he sucked in air.

"Kya hua?" She smirked against his chest.

"Tum yeh paanch din baad bolti toh batata kya hua." He held her shoulders, pulling her away to look at her.

His smouldering eyes made her skin burn up in a second.

His lips landed on hers, delving deeper as he tried to fill all his desires with her taste.

"Tum asaan nahi hone dogi yeh din mere liye." He said after a few minutes, panting for breath.

He slept keeping her as close to himself as he could, pulling her every few minutes to feel her softness against his body strung with need. The exhaustion of the day, however, made him drift into sleep soon where he could dream about her without restraint.

Next update tomorrow morning