"Naina, beta yeh lifafe hain shagun ke... main aise hi leke ghoomti rahi toh guma dungi... inko andar kamre mein rakh aa... wahan ek kaale rang ka bag hai na, usmein rakh dena... sabse neeche." Bela handed over a bunch of coloured envelopes to Naina.

It was considered absolutely normal and acceptable to give cash as wedding gift amongst relatives and friends. It was preferable too... as too many of the same gadgets or unnecessary decoration items were only used for recycling, having no other value.

Naina held the thick bundle of envelopes, and strode down the garden, towards the room at the other end.

Sameer was talking to Munna's cousins when he noticed her moving in the direction that seemed deserted and dark at the moment.

"Naina." His voice reached her when she was almost near the door.

"Tum kyon aa gaye?" She turned in surprise, her eyes checking behind him to see if anyone was watching them.

"Main toh tumhe dekh ke aaya hun par tum yahan kya kar rahi ho? Akele, iss andhere kone mein?" He was perplexed.

She waved the bundle in front of him, "Bas yeh rakhne aayi thi... chachiji ne kaha isliye... ab tum jao, main aati hun."

She pulled open the latch, entering the well lit room. Sameer entered the room with her, shutting the door.

"Sameer, yeh kya kar rahe ho? Koi bhi aa sakta hai yahan... tum jao, please... main bas yeh rakh ke ek minute mein aati hun." Her voice was desperate.

The room was accessible to everyone... even Swati's stuff was kept here. If someone from her family came here and found them together, it would be a huge embarrassment.

"Naina, relax... main sirf isliye aaya tha kyonki yahan andhera tha aur tum akeli iss taraf aa rahi thi... mujhe laga kahin koi problem na ho tumhe... bas check karne... tum kar lo apna kaam fir hum saath mein wapas chal padenge." He kept standing near the door, his arms crossed against his chest.

She sighed, knowing he wouldn't leave her alone here. Fishing out the black bag, she quickly opened it, and stashed the envelopes under layers of clothes, as chachiji had directed her. Instead of leaving it on the chair, she leaned down, pushing it in the narrow space between a heavy sofa and wall, so that it was less conspicuous if some random person sauntered in.

As she straightened, her elbow knocked against the table behind her.

She let out a yelp, holding her arm.

Sameer immediately rushed to her, "Lagi tumhe? Dikhao... dard ho raha hai? Haat hilao zara... Naina, haath utha paa rahi ho na?"

The concern in his voice made her smile, "Kuch nahi hua, baba... bas woh kabhi kabhi aise lagne se current jaisa lag jaata hai na hath mein, woh ho gaya tha... aur kuch nahi."

She had hit the funny bone on her elbow... though why it was called a bone when it was actually a major nerve of the arm was an unanswered question... the smack on this part always left one with a jolting sensation shooting through the entire arm. It was still tigling up to the finger tips. She was holding at the elbow, pain reflecting through her smile.

Sameer held her arm gingerly, blowing over the elbow.

"Sameer, isse kuch nahi hoga... apne aap theek ho jayega do minute mein." She said in a comforting voice.

He looked more distressed than her.

"Tumhari takleef ke do minute mere liye kithe dard bhare honge jaanti ho na." His eyes turned moist.

"Oh Sameer, yeh kuch nahi hai, sachhi." She cupped his face, her own eyes brimming up at his anguish.

They stared into each other's eyes... soothing, comforting, calming...

And she came into his arms, needing the solace as much as he needed the reassurance.

His hold was firm... she could hear his erratic heartbeat, sense the tension in his body, feel his uneven breath on her hairline.

She tighened her arms around him, "Main theek hun, jaan."

The change in his heartbeat was instant... the arms gripped her tighter.

"Sam... Sameer, chalen?" She tried to undo what she had done.

"Ab aa hi gaye hain toh... " His voice removed any shred of doubt about the change in his intentions, if at all it was there.

He moved his head back, looking down at her. His eyes had turned dark, making her gulp. Her gaze drifted down to his lips, going back to his eyes immediately. He was eying her lips too. She lost the will to stop him.

Before they could give in to their need, a sound of approaching feet startled them. There were more than a pair... someone was approaching the room, not alone.

She looked at him in panic. He strared at the door.

Next moment, he tugged at her arm, directing her towards the huge table kept against the wall. Lifting up the white sheet that covered it completely, he pulled Naina with him, crouching together under the table.

He had just finished adjusting the cover back securely when the door opened.

"Maine yahin rakha tha." Voice of Swati's mom floated in the room.

"Yahin hoga na, didi... aap ghabrao nahi... mil ke dhoond lete hain." Another unknown female voice appeased her.

Sameer waited as the sound of picking up things and shuffling the bags made them realise that the object in question was not found yet.

"Hey bhagwan, ab kya hoga? Woh dupatta toh gathbandhan ke liye chahiye... nahi mila toh kya karenge." Swati's mom slumped heavily on the sofa next to the table.

Naina gripped Sameer's wrist, tensed for their own situation, as well as for her friend's mother.

Sameer noticed her white knuckles, and looked up at her frowning face. Scooping her in his arms, he blinked as she jerked in alarm.

"Didi, aap theek se yaad karo, jab saara saaman pack kiya tha tab kahan rakha tha, kis cheez ke saath." Other voice tried to help.

"Uss dupatte ke saath subah se hi kuch kuch ho raha hai... pehle samaan ke neeche dab gaya toh uski press kharab ho gayi... jab main wapas press karne lagi toh light chali gayi... maine Aarti ko kaha tha light aate hi sabse pehle usse press karde." Swati's mom was agitated.

Sameer watched as Naina's face reflected the distress of conversation they had overheard. He placed one hand on her cheek, shaking his head when she looked at him.

"Aarti ko? Didi, jab chalne lage toh Aarti ne diya toh tha ek neele rang ka packet aapko... wohi toh dupatta nahi tha?" Other lady asked hopefully.

"Arre haan, jab car mein baithe tabhi diya tha... offo Sarita, main beti ki shaadi ke chakkar mein pagal ho gayi hun... woh packet car mein hi chod diya tha maine... soch ke kahin yahan samaan mein idhar udhar na ho jaaye." The relief in her voice was evident.

"Chalo tension toh khatam hui... main Aarti ke papa ko keh deti hun car se laane ko." Swati's maasi, Sarita, wasn't anxious anymore.

"Didi, ab aa hi gaye hain toh zara woh saree bhi dikha do na jo aapne Swati ki saas ke liye li hai... baahar toh abhi photo hi khinch rahi hai... do minute mein kuch nahi hoga." Sarita's insistence made Naina gasp.

Thankfully, Sameer had placed his hand over her mouth, stifling the sound.

She raised her brows at him. He removed his hand, keeping a finger on her mouth, shaking his head. She nodded. He swallowed... and the way his Adam's apple bobbed, her heart flipped. Her breath quickened.

She was crouching against his chest, her forehead near his lips.

Sameer felt her heated breath on his neck. His hand went behind her, and landed on the bare part, under her hair.

She drew in a breath silently.

The conversation in the room was not tensed anymore. Both ladies happily talked about the warm and accepting nature of Swati's new family, appreciating their behaviour and love for Swati.

Seeing the tension lines from her forehead gone, Sameer pulled Naina closer, making her sit in his lap. She bit her lip, wrapping her arms around his neck to balance herself. His eyes caught the action, and darkened. She shook her head slightly, aware of the direction of his thoughts. He cupped her face, rubbing his thumb lightly under her lip, careful not to spoil her lipstick. She shuddered at his feather light touch.

The proximity, with restrictions, added to the intensity that he was feeling since evening.

The two ladies seemed to be lost in their discussion, in no hurry to leave.

Naina closed her eyes, praying silently that they are not discovered. Sameer watched in fascination... her long lashes looked even thicker and darker today, because of the liner... the way her pupils danced under the lids, he could feel her nervousness... her pink lips, murmured something silently, pursing once her prayer was done. Unable to control himself, he leaned a few inches, and nestled his face in her neck, deeply inhaling the fragrance that was invading his senses for so long.

Her hands clasped in his hair, bunching them tight as his nose brushed behind her ear.

The sound of door opening made her clutch him tighter, pushing herself more into his chest.

"Aunty, aapko bahar bula rahe hain... kuch guest aapke aur uncle ke saath photo khichwana chahte hain." A small boy's voice resonated in the room.

"Haan beta, chalo... Sarita, tu car se dupatta mangwa ke panditji ke paas rakh dena, main jaati hun." Swati's mother quickly left.

The other lady also put away the sarees they had taken out.

Naina breathed a sigh of relief as she went out, leaving the room vacant.

"Sameer, ab jaldi se chalo, isse pehle koi aur aa jaaye." She tried to move out.

His strong hold did not waver.

"Please, chalo na." Her plea wasn't convincing enough.

"Please, ruko na." His voice was hoarse.

"Yahan se toh bahar niklo." She tried to move again.

"Uh huh... ek yaad toh yahan ki bhi honi chahiye na." He gave a meaningful smile.

Her eyes widened, "Sameer, abhi... yahan... pagal ho kya?"

"Hun... tumhare pyar mein." He dipped his head to the side, flicking his brows towards her.

"Offo, tumhara kya karun main?" She scrunched her nose, in a dilemma.

"Jo chaho kar lo... main kuch nahi kahunga." He closed his eyes.

"Achha theek hai, lekin abhi nahi, ghar jaake... abhi agar jaldi se bahar chaloge toh ghar jaake jo tum chaho." She tried to lure him with a promise.

His eyes twinkled, "Okay, par trailer toh de do."

"Nahi, ab kuch aur nahi, pehle ke jaise meri bindi kho gayi ya lipstick  tumhare chehre pe lag gayi toh kitna mazak banega pata hai." She said in a stern voice.

"Tumhara naam Naina nahi, kuch aur hona chahiye tha." He frowned.

"Kya?" She quizzed.

"Jhansi ki Rani." He puffed up his cheeks.

A smile spread on her face, "Uske liye pehle tumhe Jhansi ka Raja banna padega."

"Tumhare liye woh bhi ban jaunga." He rubbed the tip of his nose against hers.

"Yahan baith ke toh pakka nahi ban sakte." She chuckled, finally able to slip away from his hold.

They carefully came out from under the table, Naina placing a hand on the inner edge as Sameer ducked his head to come out. Still he banged his head on the corner, but her hand saved him from getting hurt.

"Tumhe pehle se pata tha mujhe lagegi?" He kissed the back of her hand once they stood in front of each other.

"Nahi, par mujhe pata tha mere budhhu ko khud ko sambhalna nahi aata... uska dhyaan mujhe hi rakhna padega." She smiled fondly at him.

As she turned towards the door, Sameer pulled at the dori from behind.

"Yeh kya kiya?" She gasped... the dori falling open.

He held her shoulders, stopping her from turning to face him.

"Trailer chahiye tha... tumne nahi diya toh main khud le lunga." He pulled her against his chest.

In a heartbeat, his fingers pushed down the blouse from one shoulder, marking it with a hard, nipping kiss. He rubbed it gently as she hissed in pain, and blew over it before securing the dori again.

"Ab meri Jhansi ki Rani iska badla toh zaroor legi na ghar jaake." Winking at her, he led her out of the room, towards the well lit garden.

Next update tomorrow evening