This is an additional chapter... for all those who wanted them to play holi
Ab Samaina ki life mein kabhi kuch seedha toh hua nahi... toh holi kaise seedhi saadi hoti...
Read on to know...

Naina was still on her desk in the evening when Sameer reached home.

"Kya likha jaa raha hai?" He leaned near her, wrapping an arm around her to plant a kiss at her temple.

"Arre, tum aa gaye? Kya time hua hai? Aaj mujhe kuch pata kyon nahi chal raha? Sorry Sameer, mera dhyan likhne mein tha... tum fresh ho jao main chai ka bol deti hun." She put the cap back on her pen, annoyed with herself.

"Relax Naina, main hi thoda jaldi aa gaya hun... aur tum kaam hi toh kar rahi hi na... itni pareshan kyon ho rahi ho... chai ke liye bol diya hai maine... chalo ab ek achhi si Naina wali smile do." Sameer kneeled in front of her, trying to calm her.

She pursed her lips then beamed a beatific smile at him.

He rested one knee on the floor, streched himself and kissed both her cheeks, "I Love You."

The smile reached her eyes instantly.

A little later, they went out to have tea. Sameer switched on the TV.

"TV pe kya dekhna hai tumhe?" She was surprised as he never showed interest in TV except watching the episodes of her show.

"Aise hi... aaj man kar raha hai." He settled on the couch.

Ever since the cable TV had been introduced, the choice of channels had increased considerably. He stopped at a channel playing a popular Amitabh Bachhan song.

Rang barse
bheege chunar wali
rang barse

"Naina, tumhe college ki pichle saal ki holi yaad hai?" His eyes brightened with the memory.

It was almost the end of their second year. Though most of the hostel students went back home during Diwali, they usually stayed back for holi... one reason was that exams were quite close... another one being that this was the best time to enjoy together as holi was celebrated in college campus. In fact, quite a few of local students joined in the celebration, looking for a chance to get close to their crushes.

Sameer and Naina had been together by then but a lot of things were still out of bounds for him. She came into his arms often but he hadn't made much progress beyond that. Her luscious, plump lips made him go weak in the knees. However, she had not agreed for a kiss... a proper kiss. His lips had felt the heated skin of her cheeks and even throat and neck on a few occasions... now his mind was focussed on those petals that had occupied all his waking hours, haunting him in his dreams too.

"Yaad hai, tum hamesha se aise hi ho... besharam... aur uss din toh tumne... " Her voice brought him back to present.

He looked at her lips. The same longing seared through him... even today. But things were so different today... she belonged to him, he to her... they were married, and together now... and he exactly knew the honeyed taste of these rosy petals. Still, he wanted them now... right now.

"Sameer." She placed a hand on his chest as he leaned towards the objects of his interest.

"Holi ki yaad dila di tumne... ab main kya karun?" He groaned.

"Maine dilaai? Tumne hi kaha tha pehle." She rounded her eyes at him.

"Haan, par yaad toh aa gayi na... ab mujhe mera kiss chahiye." He whispered as he nuzzled his nose in her hair.

"Na tab mili thi holi pe, na ab milegi... chup chap baitho... Ramdhari chai leke aata hi hoga." She shifted away from him, creating some distance between them.

As if Ramdhari was waiting for his name to be uttered, he appeared with the tray with two mugs.

Sameer took a sip, his thoughts still stuck on the same incident.

"Naina, tumhe pata hai, uss din tum blue suit mein itni pyari lag rahi thi na... meri nazren hi nahi hat rahi thi tumse." He reminisced.

She chuckled, "Uss suit ke baad bhi tum itne gusse mein aa gaye the... socho, agar tumhari baat maan ke maine white suit pehna hota toh?"

His fingers clenched around the mug as the incidents of that day played in his mind.

Flashback

"Naina, holi pe sab white pehente hain... tum bhi kal white hi pehenna." Sameer eagerly put up his demand.

"Pagal ho... yeh white na sirf filmon mein hi chalta hai... main dark colour ka suit pehenungi." Naina was aghast at the idea of  wearing white while playing holi.

"Tum meri koi baat nahi manti... ek main hun jo hamesha wohi karta hun jo tum kehti ho." He was petulant.

"Iss baat ko chodkar sab maan lungi... tum samajh nahi rahe ho... white bohot... bohot transparent hota hai... aur holi pe... " She wrenched her fingers, taking a few steps away from him.

They were under their favourite tree at their special meeting place, discussing the holi plan for next day.

"Achha, baaki sab maan logi?" He came to stand behind her, hands in pocket.

"Maanti toh hun... par white suit... " She turned, a little flushed as she almost brushed against his chest.

"Suit nahi... kuch aur... jiske liye kab se manaa raha hun tumhe." His voice was low.

She gulped... knowing what he was talking about.

He held her at the elbows as she tried to walk away, "Bolo na, Naina... itna sa hi toh maang raha hun."

"Hato." She had pushed him, running back to her hostel building as he watched her retreating figure, a smile on his pursed lips.

Next morning, when she had come down the stairs, he was waiting near the pillar where he always waited when they had to go for classes. Her glowing cheeks made him ache to put a fistful of colour on them... smear her in every possible colour... make not only the day but his entire life filled with the beauty of vibrant hues. But a group of girls went running to her before she could reach him. He watched in horror as they covered every inch of her exposed skin with different shades of colour. She didn't seem to mind though, giggling along with them, throwing handful of colour on them.

"Happy holi, Sameer." By the time she reached him, he was fuming.

She raised her hand to color his unstained face. He held her wrist.

"Iski zaroorat nahi hai... meri holi ab happy nahi rahi." He gave her a harsh look.

"Kya hua? Darr gaye? Isliye abhi tak aise rukhe sukhe khade ho? Koi bhi aaya hoga toh usse yeh badi badi aankhen dikha di hongi Sameer Maheshwari style mein... apni bhaari si awaaz se darake usse bhaga diya hoga... lekin main nahi darne wali... tumhe apne rang mein rangke hi rahungi." She teased him, thinking that he was acting to look all annoyed and irked.

"Tum toh khud doosron ke rang mein rang ke aa gayi ho... ab kya tumhe main apne rang mein rangunga aur kya tum mujhe." He gave a taunting smile.

Her hand froze in mid air... Sameer was actually mad at her... for letting others put colour on her before him.

"Sorry Sameer... par holi hai, main manaa kaise karti." Her voice wavered.

"Toh jao, ab unke saath hi khel lo... waise bhi jagah kahan bachi hai tumpe rang lagane ki jo main laga sakun." He scoffed, turning away.

She was almost in tears, swallowing back the painful lump at the back of her throat. Looking around, she noticed the huge drum. A thick pipe attached to garden tap was pouring water into it. She gave one look to Sameer who stood with arms crossed against his chest, looking away.

"Jagah nahi bachi na... abhi ruko tum." Anger started to bubble inside her as well.

Before he could stop her, she had picked up the hose, directing the flow of water over herself. He watched in shock as she scrubbed her face clean... in the process, the thick stream of water drenched her completely, from head to toe.

"Khud ke saath kyon holi khel rahi ho, humein keh deti." A voice erupted from a large group of boys nearby.

Sameer fisted his hands, taking quick strides towards her. She had to be taken away from the prying eyes before he dealt with the boys.

"Chalo yahan se." He pulled at her arm.

"Abhi hua nahi hai... dekho yahan baaki hai." She yanked herself free, directing the hose to her arm, the water splashing all over her front.

Sameer took the hose and threw it away, holding her hand as he walked into the college building.

Others were busy revelling in their frolic to pay attention to them.

"Chodo mujhe... achhe se saaf karne do na." She tried to free herself from his steely grip.

They had reached inside the building. It was deserted. He pulled her in a vacant classroom, shutting the door after leaving her hand.

"Abhi baaki tha... kyon laaye aise kheench ke... tumhe jagah nahi dikh rahi thi na... ab dikh rahi hai?" She placed her hands on waist, lashing out at him, her eyes fixed on the board beside her.

His gaze moved over her. The fabric stuck to her like second skin. He could see the exact shape of her delectable body, the tapering of her waist, the broadening below it, her long, slender legs...

When his eyes moved up... the breath seemed to forget its passage, not able to make its presence felt...

The kurta was moulded against her feminine beauty, enhancing their shape to make him realise how ample she was. His eyes got stuck to the tempting view, making the lost breath rush out in short spurts.

She wasn't looking at him... or she would have seen the raw desire flamed up in his entire being.

"Rang lagane ko jagah chahiye thi na... ab lagao... ab toh dikh rahi hai na jagah." She spread her hands, lifting her head to look at him.

All colour drained away from her face... he was taking slow steps towards her his eyes stuck at a place that made her heart jump out of her mouth. That was when it registered to her what she had done. Lifting a shaky hand to her dupatta, she drew in a sharp breath as she realised it was coiled up around her neck. She needed both hands to open the wet thing before she could cover herself.

Sameer reached her before she could even attempt, holding her hand.

Her eyes shot up to him.

"Ab jagah hai toh rang bhi lagana banta hai... haina?" He thrust his hand in pocket, to bring out a small packet of bright pink colour.

Placing it on the desk on his side, he took a handful... and smeared it across her face.

She turned her face to one side.

His hand did not stop... skimming down slowly from her cheek to throat... across the neck... and down.

The softness hitched up even more as she drew in a breath... when his fingers traced her neckline... and slipped slightly inside.

"Sameer... yeh... yeh kya... " Her head fell back at the touch of his fingers on the cool skin that singed as his fingertips felt the slight raise right under her neckline.

He felt his ears burst with the mad pounding of blood... by a simple action of hers, she had pushed herself more towards him... and his fingers ached to delve deeper.

While his heart screamed to go ahead, his mind tried to clear the fog of carnality that had made him numb.

His hand went up again, pulling the dupatta from her neck.

She opened her eyes wide, mistaking his move for something else, her hand instinctively going over her bosom.

He held the dupatta with both hands and spread it... then he placed it on her shoulders, covering her front.

She looked at him in relief, finally able to breathe.

"Rang toh har jagah lagana hai na." His eyes still had the stars, making her wonder what he wanted now.

Taking all the colour from the packet, he pulled her dupatta a little, creating a gap between the fabric and her chest... and put the entire colour down her neck, his eyes boring into hers.

"Jab yeh rang dhone jaogi toh soch lena maine khud lagaya hai." He whispered.

The colour that spread on her face was much deeper shade than the one he had put.

He wasn't done. Leaning, he rubbed his cheek against her neck, resting his lips at the corner of her mouth... contemplating whether he could...

She was too dazed to know what he intended. With a sigh, he moved away. When he straightened, she saw his face coloured in the same pink shade.

"Ab rang gaye hum dono... ek dusre ke rang mein." He smirked.

Flashback ends

"Tab se hi besharam ho tum." Naina leaned on his shoulder.

"Main toh usse bhi pehle se hun... par tum kab banogi?" He held a finger under her chin, making her look up.

The same hue of pink found place on her face again.