Sameer lifted his head to look at Naina. Her eyes were closed.

She had taken off the bandage on her forehead. He could see traces of the wound... her skin was dark red around the cut but it wasn't bleeding.

He lightly moved his thumb around the mark.

Naina opened her eyes. She could see the hesitation fogging his eyes, the fire of his yearning mixed with repentance of having caused her pain, the desire to lose himself in her struggling with the need to take care of her, the hunger for closeness clashing with concern for her comfort.

"Sameer, tumhe meri aankhon mein kya nazar aata hai?" She asked him softly, threading her hands through his hair, rubbing her thumbs on the sides of his cheeks.

He shuddered at the way her thumb grazed his day old stubble.

"Pyar... sirf pyar." His words were no more than a husky whisper as he gazed deep into her eyes.

She was silent for a few seconds, before speaking, "Aur mujhe tumhari aankhon mein pata hai kya dikhta hai?"

He flicked up his brows.

"Meri zindagi... ek khoobsurat zindagi, jo sirf tumhari wajah se khoobsurat hai." Her voice turned deep.

His eyes cleared up, but something still held him back, "Lekin Naina, tumhe itna dard diya hai, uski sazaa..."

His words died in her mouth, as she captured his lips for a kiss, dispelling all his hesitation and dithering.

Her acceptance was further validated when her hands pulled hard at his shirt... and the hapless buttons met their fate, falling on the floor.

Without waiting anymore, Sameer picked her up, moving towards the bed. She covered his face with fervent kisses, lingering longer on the darkened jaw.

As the sun spread its warmth on outside world after a cloudy day, the clouds of misunderstanding that had darkened the spark between them cleared too, making the passion return with more intensity, making the urgency more ardent, making the need to surrender more devout in both of them.

Later, he got breakfast for her which was toast with butter, a bowl of corn flakes and a platter of fruits.

"Main bhi adhoora hun... tumhare bina." Sameer said suddenly when they had just finished their breakfast.

"Huh?" She looked up, confounded by his words.

He picked up a pale green envelope from the side table, "Yeh bheja tha na tumne uss din... jo main dekh nahi paaya?"

She pursed her lips, nodding.

He opened the envelope to take out a letter that he had missed on the first day. Had he seen it then, things would not have escalated to where they did... he would have known her feelings. Cursing himself silently, he realised that he should have known her feelings even without her reminder... he had been such a fool.

The letter had few lines in her curvy handwriting

Mohabbat ke iss safar mein
kyon aa gayi yeh doori hai

Jaan le meri jaan hai tu
tera saath jeene ko zaroori hai

Judd gaya hai teri saanson se
rishta meri saanson ka

Mukammal hun tujhse
Tu nahi toh yeh Naina adhoori hai

He looked up at her, the guilt flowing through him again. She was still gazing at the paper in his hand.

He shifted towards her, placing one hand on her cheek, "Phir se sorry, Naina... tumne kitni koshish ki mujh tak pohochane ki aur main sochta raha tumhara raasta hi alag hai."

She closed her eyes, thinking about the turmoil of her mind in last few days... it was a traumatic time for both of them.

Slowly opening her eyes, she placed her hand on his chest, "Agar kabhi bhi tum mujhse ya main tumse naaraz hue, aur haalat iss baar ki tarah aise ho jayein ki hum baat nahi kar paye toh likh ke bata denge ek doosre ko jo bhi kehna hai... kuch apne mann mein nahi rakhenge... jo bhi humein lag raha hai, jo kami mehsoos ho rahi hai, jo galti  nazar aa rahi hai ek doosre ki, sab bataa denge... bol kar ya likh kar... Sameer, kitne bhi nazdeeki rishte hon, unmein dooriyaan aa jaati hain agar hum apne dil ki baat khul ke nahi kehte... kal ko tumhe mera kuch karna, ya kehna, ya bartaav, yahan tak ki khana bhi achha na lage toh keh dena... chup mat rehna... main hamare rishte mein phir se yeh khamoshi ki deewar nahi aane dena chahti."

"Aisa nahi hoga Naina, lekin haan, tum mujhe mat batana agar maine koi galti ki toh." He pinched her cheek.

"Kyon? Tum khud ko perfect samajhte ho kya?" She frowned.

"Main toh khud ko gadha samajhta hun... main hi nahi, nanu, munshiji, Munna, Pandit... woh sab bhi yehi samajhte hain... lekin main keh raha tha tum mujhe meri galti batana mat, seedha kaan kheench ke usse sudharne ko bolna... chaho toh do thappad bhi laga dena."

"Aajkal tumhe thappad khane ka bada shouk chadh raha hai... jab dekho yehi kehte ho." She said in a lighter voice.

The glint was back in his eyes instantly, "Tumhe practice karwa raha hun... jab humare babies honge..."

"Tum pagal ho?" She gave him a horrified look.

He was taken aback by her reaction.

With a hint of sadness in her eyes, she pointed a finger at him, "Kaan khol ke sun lo, Sameer... bachhon pe haath uthane ka socha bhi na... toh main... main... main tumhari pitayi kar dungi."

He pulled her into his arms, kissing on the top of her head, "Chalega, jab bhi tumhe gussa aayega, mujh pe nikaal lena... lekin hum apne bachhon ko kabhi gussa nahi karenge... jo pyar hum dono ko kabhi nahi mila woh apne bacchon ko deke hum kami poori kar denge."

She snuggled into him, "Haan, apne bachhon ko hum na maarenge na kabhi sazaa denge... bas thoda sa daant denge kabhi kabhi jisse woh bigad na jayein."

"Umm, ek baat puchun, Naina?" He tilted his head to look at her.

"Pucho na." She said softly.

"Che kaafi hain na... ya tumhe saat hi chahiye?" He asked innocently.

There was a silence for a few seconds before she picked up the pillow and started hitting him, while he ducked to save himself.

It was a perfect day. Ramdhari fussed over Naina's food once he arrived in the afternoon, making Sameer chuckle everytime Naina groaned seeing him with a tray.

"Isne bohot sataya hai mujhe, ab mazaa aa raha hai dekh ke jab tumhari baari aayi hai." He teased, watching Naina forcing down the sprouts salad.

"Zyada uddo mat, warna usko keh dungi tumhare liye bhi yehi sab banaye." She glared at him.

He decided to stay quiet, fully aware of his condition if the two of them teamed up against him.

In the evening, they went to meet Bela.

"Kaisi hain aap, chachiji?" Sameer asked when he saw Bela moving around with slow, careful steps.

"Ab toh bilkul theek hun, beta... sab tumhari Naina ki wajah se... isne itna khyaal rakha mera... hilne bhi nahi diya... bechari do din mere aas paas hi chakkar lagati rahi... ek second bhi na aaram karne ko mila isse na kuch aur hi kar paayi." Bela fondly smiled at Naina.

"Kya chachiji, do din ki baat ke liye aap itna kuch keh rahi hain... aapne toh saari zindagi sabke liye aise hi kaam kiya hai, sabkuch bhool ke." Naina hugged her.

"Naina, beta ab kaisi hai teri chot?" Anand asked affectionately as he came out of his room.

"Kuch khaas nahi lagi thi, chachaji, bas zara thokar lagne se gir gayi toh yeh..." She looked at her bandaged hand.

"Yeh sab meri galti hai, chachaji." Sameer lowered his head.

Bela and Anand looked at him, startled.

"Offo Sameer, ab kya tum issi baat ko leke baithe rahoge." Naina chided him casually, placing one hand on his arm.

"Woh chachaji, Sameer ko office jaana padta tha na jab mujhe lagi toh... isliye bas yehi baat pakad ke baithe hain ki mera dhyan nahi rakh paye." She stated.

Anand gave an understanding look to Sameer, smiling sadly, "Samajh sakta hun, Sameer... mujhe bhi zaroori kaam tha isliye Bela ke liye chutti nahi le saka, aur iss baat ka behad dukh hua mujhe."

"Suniye ji, aap aisa kyon keh rahe hain... itna toh khyal rakha aapne... saara din office mein kaam karne ke baad bhi poori raat mere sirhane baith ke bita di." Bela comforted her husband.

"Mummy papa ki love story lagta hai phir se shuru ho gayi hai, jabse Naina aur main iss ghar se gaye hain." Preeti's chirpy voice made them look at the door.

Preeti and Pandit entered, bringing along the exuberance that instantly lifted everyone's spirits.

"Chup kar, Preeti... kuch bhi bolti hai." Bela flushed at her daughter's teasing.

"Arre, ismein galat kya hai... meri Rekha abhi bhi aajkal ki ladkiyon se zyada khoobsurat hai... toh love story kyon nahi banegi." Anand looped an arm around his shocked wife.

"Aap yeh sab kya keh rahe hain... bachhon ke saamne... woh bhi damaad..." Bela was aghast at her husband's statement in front of both her son in laws.

"Preeti, tum mummyji pe kyon nahi gayi?" Pandit gave a solemn look to his wife.

Preeti narrowed her eyes, "Apni marzi se nahi gayi... na shakal mein na aadaton mein... mummy ki tarah shaant nahi rahungi... zyada bole toh yahin sabke saamne pit jaoge."

Pandit quickly placed a finger on his lips, shaking his head to convey that he won't utter another word, making others burst out in laughter. Time passed quickly as they all chatted happily, teasing each other in between.

Naina and Preeti urged Bela to let them prepare dinner but Anand said he wanted to cook today.

"Ek sunday hi toh milta hai... ek din toh biwi ki sewa karne do mujhe bhi." He vehemently refused any help from his daughters.

Preeti and Pandit had a dinner invitation from some distant relative hence they left in an hour. Naina and Sameer also decided to leave along with them, so that Bela could rest.

Ramdhari had clearly instructed them that Naina had to eat home cooked food and he had even prepared dinner for them before leaving. They headed back home even though Sameer wanted to go to Law Garden.

"Isse achha khana pack karwa ke le jaate usse... Hitler ne aisi pabandi laga rakhi hai ki kahin jaa bhi nahi sakte." He grumbled after they were home.

"Aur kahan jaana tha tumhe?" Naina quirked up a brow.

"Law Garden jaa sakte the na." He pouted.

"Kya karna tha tumhe wahan jaake?" She asked.

He stepped closer to her, grazing her cheek with the back of his fingers, speaking in a low, rough voice, "Itna achha mausam hai, apni biwi se romance karna tha aur kya."

"Jaise aur kahin toh tum yeh karte hi nahi na." Her shoulder hitched up as her heart fluttered at his light touch.

His arm went around her waist, pulling her against his chest, "Taaron ke neeche apne chaand ko dekhne ka alag hi mazaa hai."

"Tumhari aisi kaunsi khwahish hai jo maine poori nahi ki." Her eyes glittered.

"Naina? Abhi chalogi Law Garden?" He was ecstatic.

"Kuch aur karungi." She raised her heels, and nipped at his chin.

Grabbing the chance when his hand went to rub his chin, she pushed him and ran inside, towards the store room.

Sameer was amazed at the arrangements half an hour later. She had made him place a mattress in the garden. They had carried all food outside. Placing a small portable table along with a battery operated lamp, she created the perfect ambience. Sameer also got a soft drink bottle from the fridge.

They had their dinner under the stars, sharing the soft drink. Each time she took a sip, he snatched the bottle, placing his lips around the rim while looking at her with hooded eyes.

"Yeh kya kar rahe ho, Sameer?" She tried to hide her blush.

He gave a long look to the bottle, then blinked at her, "Oh haan, yeh kya kar raha hun main... jab direct meetha mil sakta hai toh aise lene ki kya zaroorat hai."

And he pecked her lips before she even had a chance to move away.

After dinner, once they had put everything back, Sameer got two cushions and a thin quilt. They laid down, looking at the stars.

"Tumne sach kaha tha, Sameer, mausam itna suhana hai... yahan bohot achha lag raha hai." She inhaled deeply.

He raised himself on his elbow, "Kuch aur bhi kaha tha maine."

"Kya?" She feigned ignorance.

"Ki taaron ko apna chaand dikhana hai." He answered in a thick voice, leaning to claim his 'meetha'.

He was glad their garden was hidden from view from all sides, with only the stars on a moonless night.

But his moon was shining bright, in his arms.

Next update tomorrow evening