"Tum... tum naraaz nahi ho?" Pandit was amazed to see Preeti laugh at Sameer's comment.

"Ab khana kha lo... itni der tak toh tum shayad kabhi bhuke nahi rahe hoge." She picked up a dish to add more paneer in his plate.

"Maine papa se kaha tha khane mein mirch bohot kam dalwayein... isliye tum aaram se sab kuch le sakte ho." She placed the dish back, with a smile on her face.

Pandit's face lit up... whether for food or for her concern, even Preeti wasn't sure.

"Oho, bada khyal rakha jaa raha hai." Swati teased, hearing their conversation.

"Aur kya, yaad nahi kya haal hua tha iska pichli baar?" Preeti shuddered at the memory.

"Tab itna khyal rakha tha toh ab kya karegi." Swati sniggered.

"Ab toh isne pehle hi saara khana Pandit ke hisaab se banwaya hai... isse aage toh bas yehi kar sakti hai ki khud hi banaye aur khud khilaye." Naina joined in the teasing.

"Kyaa haii?" Preeti showed fake annoyance, blushing at the mention of feeding him herself.

"Kya baat hai bhai, itni izzat mil rahi hai tujhe." Munna, seated next to Pandit, nudged him.

"Haan toh sasural hai mera... milegi hi." Pandit beamed.

"Sasural toh mera bhi hai." Sameer chipped in.

"Toh tumhe nahi mili kya?" Naina asked with a frown.

"Mujhe toh bohot kuch mila hai apne sasural mein... mujhe yahan ek ghar, ek parivaar mila hai... yeh samajhdaar saali mili hai jo mujhe har baar mauka de deti hai... kabhi jaane kabhi anjaane." Sameer quirked up his brows at Preeti.

"Haan, haan, jijaji, iss mauke ka faayda toh aapne utha liya lekin jab yeh photos ghar pohochengi tab kya hoga socha hai?" Preeti scrunched her nose, worried what will everyone at home say about their photo session.

Raising his collars, Sameer ran his fingers through the hair, "Aapne shayad theek se pehchana nahi humein, saaliji... yeh photos seedhe hamare ghar jaayengi... aapke yahan baaki sab photos aayengi... agar inko dekhne ka mann ho toh hamare paas aana padega."

All five people let out the breath they were holding. Preeti's question had brought this realisation to them as well, causing a furore in their minds.

"Tumne theek se samjha diya hai na uss photographer ko?" Naina confirmed again.

"Tumhe lagta hai main yeh photos kisi aur ke haath lagne dunga?" He said in a soft voice.

Naina gave him a warm smile, relaxed.

When they went back to the main area, a small boy came running to Pandit.

"Uncle, aap yahan bhi aaye ho?" He pulled at his hand.

"Uncle nahi beta, yeh mausaji hain." Pooja didi followed her son, correcting him.

"Nahi, mausaji nahi hain." The toddler vehemently shook his head.

"Mausaji toh yeh wale hain." He pointed a finger at Sameer.

"Yeh bhi hain." Pooja didi laughed.

"Preeti maasi ne bola tha yeh wale mausaji nahi hain." The little boy remembered.

Pooja didi looked up in shock at Preeti, "Tu kya bol rahi thi isko?"

"Golu, aisa maine pehle bola tha, abhi yeh bhi mausaji hain." Preeti kneeled down in front of her nephew, explaining in a gentle voice.

"Toh pehle jhooth kyon bola? Maine inko hi kaha tha na mausaji... maana kyon nahi aapne?" Golu reprimanded her, keeping his tiny hands on waist.

"Sorry na, please maaf kar de." Preeti held his ears.

"Mummaaaa, inko bolo apne kaan pakde... mere nahi... itni badi ho gayi fir bhi kuch nahi pataa... pehle mausaji nahi pata the abhi kaan nahi pata." Golu wailed, his childish quibbles making everyone laugh.

"Inko main samjha dunga... lekin aap toh samajh gaye na main kaun hun?" Pandit picked up Golu in his arms.

"Main koi inke jaisa buddhu thodi hun... mujhe toh pehle hi pata tha aap kaun ho." Golu happily chirped.

"Lagta hai isne hi sabse pehle tere liye Pandit ko pasand kiya tha." Pooja didi chuckled.

"Aur kya didi, yeh toh apne aap maan gaya lekin aapki behen ko manane mein bohot mehnat lagi." Pandit gave a side glance to Preeti.

"Iss bechare ko kya pataa behen kabse maani hui thi... aankhen toh khud ki band thi." Naina mumbled in Preeti's ear, earning a swat from her.

"Waise Pooja didi, yeh Golu mere aur Pandit ke liye bada lucky hai... hum dono ki gaadi isne hi patri pe lagwayi hai... agar aapki ek aur behen hoti toh uske liye ladka dhoondte time sabse pehle Golu ko hi usse milwa dete." Sameer grinned.

"Pandit ka humein pata chal gaya par tumhare liye Golu ne kya kiya? Tumse toh woh shaadi mein hi mila tha." Pooja didi gave him a perplexed look.

"Iski wajah se hi toh Naina ne woh saree pehni thi jab... " His sentence was cut short by Naina as she clutched his hand hard.

"Saree? Kaunsi saree, Naina?" Pooja didi glanced at them simultaneously.

"Sameer ko kuch zyada hi sapne aate hain, Pooja didi... pata nahi ab kya dekh liya... koi naya sapna hoga." Naina gave a fake wide smile,  praying that Pooja didi doesn't pursue this topic.

"Achha? Sapne? Hmm... agar Sameer ko bachhon ke sapne aane lage hain toh iska matlab... " Her trail of conversation made the situation even more complicated.

"Pooja didi, kya bol rahi ho aap." Naina blushed to the roots.

"Lo, maine kuch bola kya, Preeti? Main toh sirf Sameer ke sapne ki baat kar rahi thi." Pooja didi commented nonchalantly.

Preeti shook her head. Naina gave her a flustered look.

Seeing her discomfort, her elder sister giggled, taking her son from Pandit and leaving to get a soft drink for him.

"Waise Naina, itni laal ho gayi hai tu ki lag raha hai sach mein koi khushkhabari hai." It was Swati's turn to tease.

"Swati ki bachhi, tujhe bhi main hi mili hun tang karne ke liye?" Naina hissed, jerking her arm to show her annoyance.

"Naina, bata do na inhe khushkhabari... inse kya chupana." Sameed turned towards her with a straight face.

The collective gasp of their friends made her turn beetroot, giving tough competition to her own skirt.

"Naina?" Preeti gave her a bewildered look.

"Sameer, tumhara dimaag toh kharab nahi hai... bol kya rahe ho?" She was ready to turn into a puddle... as each one of her friends stared at her with wide eyes.

"Khushkhabari hi toh milne wali hai na do hafte mein... jab hamara college ka result aayega." Sameer elucidated.

Naina slapped her forehead... Preeti gave an exasperated look to her jijaji... Swati flared her nostrils at him... Munna punched his arm... Pandit stood silently.

"Arre, maine kya kiya jo sab aise dekh rahe ho jaise kha jaoge?" Sameer frowned.

"Aaj ke din result ki baat karni zaroori thi kya? Pata hai kaise dil baith jaata hai soch ke bhi... woh toh shukr hai shaadi ke baad ayega... warna mujhe yehi darr laga rehta ki main ya Preeti mein se koi fail na ho jaaye." Pandit wiped the sweat off his forehead.

"Main kyon fail houngi? Mujhe poora bharosa hai ki paas toh hona hi hai mujhe... tum apna socho." Preeti huffed.

Their banter gave Naina a few seconds to calm her heart. She threw an infuriating glance at Sameer, but he was frowning at Munna, rubbing his arm.

"Koi nahi, yeh ladke na pagal hi hote hain... tu jaane de... humein koi jaldi nahi hai result ke alava kisi doosri khushkhabari ki." Swati whispered in her ear, making Naina go crimson again.

Not able to stand with them any more, she ran away.

Preeti and Swati stifled their smiles, looking at each other. They could understand how shy she must have felt about such talks. They had themselves faced fleeting references to such topics by relatives, and it had never failed to bring up a tint of colour on their faces. They left the boys, going in the same direction as Naina.

When it was time for the guests to leave, Anand got some sweets and fruits placed in the cars which were to go back to Pandit's house. All other guests were presented with a box of sweets as well.

"Suniye ji, Sameer ki car mein bhi phal aur mithai ke dabbe rakhwa dena." Bela rushed to her husband.

"Nahi chachiji, mujhe mat dijiye... hum toh roz yahin aane wale hain shaadi tak... ghar pe kharab ho jayenge." Naina stopped her.

"Achha sirf mithai ke kuch dabbe rakhwa deta hun... woh toh tum fridge mein rakh sakti ho... aur Ramdhari ko bhi khila dena." Anand patted her shoulder.

"Bas ek hi dijiye fir... Sameer bhi zyada mithai nahi khaate." She insisted.

After saying their goodbyes, they left for home.

"Main gussa hun tumse." Sameer's words surprised her.

"Tum? Gussa mujhe hona chahiye aur tum gussa ho?" She turned sharply to look at him.

"Tumne mere baare mein jo kaha mujhe bohot kharab laga." He kept his gaze on the road.

Her anger vanished in a second. Sameer actually seemed to be miffed over something. She tried hard to recall if she had said anything about him to anyone that could have brought such reaction from him. But nothing clicked. How could she talk wrong about him... but something had hurt him for sure.

She gingerly placed a hand on his arm, speaking softly, "Sameer, mujhe sach mein yaad nahi aa raha ki maine kuch bhi aisa kaha ho... par agar tumhe kisi bhi baat se takleef hui toh I'm sorry... please, aise gussa mat ho."

He slowed the car, bringing it to a halt at the side of the road.

Placing his hand over hers on his arm, he looked at her with dark eyes, "Tumne mere baare mein jhooth kyon bola?"

She was pained to see his hurt face, "Kaunsa jhooth, Sameer? Kab bola?"

"Tumne chachaji ko kaha mujhe meetha pasand nahi."

It took her a few moments to see mischief shining in his eyes.

His face cracked up in a smile, seeing her expression turn from guilty to disbelieving to furious.

"Sameer ke bachhe... tumne dara diya tha mujhe." She lunged at him... but was restricted by seat belt.

"Control madam, bachhon ki badi jaldi hai tumhe... pehle unke papa ko toh thoda pyar dikha do." He dipped his head to the side.

She was mortified.

Seeing her face go red again, he leaned. She shut her eyes. His hand went around her waist. The click sound and absence of his warm breath on her neck made her open her eyes. He was back in his place.

As she stared at him, he raised his brows... and his gaze fell to her lips.

She gulped. They were on a road... even if it was dark outside, a lone car parked on the side would definitely draw attention.

"Ghar chalte hain, Sameer... yahan bohot sunsaan hai." She mumbled.

His eyes met hers. She didn't see the movement of his hand. Only when the flower touched her cheek did she realise he was holding a rose.

"Naina, jab se tumhe iss dress mein dekha hai, intezar kar raha hun ki kab hum akele honge." His throaty voice made her lips quiver.

He slowly grazed her smooth cheeks with soft petals, making her skin tingle with the sensation. His eyes drifted down to her luscious, red lips again.

"Naina, please na." He leaned towards her.

The craving in his husky voice... yearning in his hooded eyes... tightness of his grip on her leg... all showed his need.

Her eyes slipped to his eager, parted lips. She was on the verge of giving in when shrill siren of a patrolling van reached them.

"Sameer, humein yahan dekh ke police wale zaroor sawal jawab karenge... please, ghar chalo na." She pushed at his chest.

He could hear the sound of siren getting louder as the distance between two vehicles reduced. With a deep sigh, he started the car.

She unlocked the house, quickly running to the room... taking advantage of the two minute headway as Sameer parked the car.

When he reached the room, it was vacant. He checked the washroom. It was covered in darkness. He was about to turn to check in the kitchen when a flicker of gold caught his eye as the flimsy curtain swayed in breeze.

She was in the balcony, gazing at the sky covered with stars.

His arms went around her waist, plastering her back to his chest. Both closed their eyes. The warmth seeped through from one to another. Her floral perfume, mixed with her own delectable feminine fragrance, flared up his desire. With one swift motion, he flicked her around. Her lips parted even before her eyes met his. He cupped her face, running his thumb over her plump lips.

"Meri kahani ki pari itni sundar hogi maine socha nahi tha." His voice was deep.

She kissed the tip of his thumb that rested in the center of her lower lip. The feel of her lips made his blood pound in his ears.

The kiss was fierce and demanding... and giving. His hands slipped inside the small gap between her top and lehenga... feeling her cool, smooth skin under his heated palms. She clasped her hand behind his neck, bunching the hair ends, pressing his back with the other.

When they finally moved inside the room, the half moon appeared to be smiling at them... enthralled at their adoration along with passion, their fondness along with ardour, their devotion along with desire, their tender warmth along with heated yearning...

Their love was as pure as the moon itself.

Next update tomorrow morning