The sound of rumbling thunder made Sameer open his eyes. The room was still dark, but the faint streaks visible under the curtains in thin line confirmed that day had paved in its way. Thick dark clouds, however, had kept the sun hidden behind them.

A smile played on his lips. It had to be daytime... it was already crack of dawn when they had fallen asleep. His eyes drifted to the head that rested under his chin. Naina's arm was wrapped around him while her hair spilled in a silky mass over his chest. Holding his breath, he lightly pushed away the hair from her face, setting them behind her ear.

His exquisite fairy. How many different experiences she had given him in one day. The day that had started with disappointment and panic for him, ended so beautifully... he was still reeling from the effect of the night long impassioned moments.

His heart quickened its beat at the mere thought of how she had created an ethereal world in this room... everything was covered with white flowers, the satin bedsheet was pristine white, his outfit matched her white, sheer nighty. The only colour in the room was the rose blooms and her bright red lips... and after a while, the hue on her cheeks.

She had left him so shocked initially that he couldn't move from the door, gaping at the atmosphere she had created. No wonder she had kept the room locked... the aroma of jasmine was unmistakable. Her ardent, sensuous kiss brought him out of the trance. And then, there was no looking back. All the desires that they were holding back since afternoon made them insatiable. Only when the first light of horizon led to incessant chirping of birds did they realise that a new day had begun... and fell into a sated slumber in each other's arms.

He admired his gorgeous woman now. She was his heartbeat, his love, his life, his strength, his weakness... his whole existence was around her, and her only. He loved her beyond anything. But more importantly, he loved how she loved him. She made him feel like he was the most important person in the world for her, he was her priority... and he felt it in her every gesture. He admonished himself for that one time when he had thought otherwise. He turned his head slightly and kissed her forehead. She stirred, tightening her arm around him, and upturned her face to snuggle into the crook of his neck.

He smiled, loving the way she moulded her body to his... and how she fit perfectly into him. He had become so accustomed to her soft breathing and the rhythm of her heartbeat, but he missed her mumblings in sleep. Once, when he had asked her why she didn't talk in sleep anymore, she had given him a secretive smile, saying earlier her dreams about him made her talk, but now she was contented with her life with him... and always had a peaceful sleep, since all her dreams had come true.

She moved a little and her lips brushed against his neck. He sucked in a sharp breath. Her hand slowly trailed from the side of his abdomen to his chest, coming to rest on his heart. He groaned. She had again started her torture. He rolled her over onto her back, pinning her to the bed. Her half open mesmerising brown eyes, twinkling with love and mischief, sparked an urgency in him. She was irresistible.

"Anniversary ki morning hai, good nahi, best honi chahiye." His deep, husky voice made her heart flutter in anticipation of what she knew would follow.

He lowered his head, tilting it to adjust against hers. The kiss was slow in the beginning, so slow that she turned desperate, clutching his hair at the back of his head. His heart felt an inexplicable expansion at the way she demanded more... her subtle ways of telling him how much she wanted him always intrigued him. The years hadn't waned the fire that crackled everytime they were together. He captured her mouth for a full fledged, uncontrollable kiss. Ecstasy transformed to bliss as the roaring thunder outside turned into torrenting downpour.

"Yeh kaunsa tareeka hai anniversary ke agle din uthane ka?" Naina showed him fake anger as he tried to pull her into his arms after sometime, resting his back against the headboard.

"Meri jaan, agla din nahi hai... yeh poora mahina hamari unn yaadon ki anniversary hai. Aur tumne hi toh kaha tha har raat anniversary manaogi." His eyes sparkled with mischief.

"Par abhi toh din hai." She flicked her brows.

He glanced at the streaks of light through the curtains, then smirked, "Tum raat ko manana main din mein manaa lunga."

She picked up a pillow and hit him with it.

"Arre, main itna supportive hun aur tum gussa kar rahi ho. Kal kitna saath diya maine tumhara. Lekin aaj meri baari aayi toh tum..." His lips turned in disappointment.

"Tumhari baari?" She narrowed her eyes.

"Ek anniversary tumhe nahi pata. School ke doosre saal jab iss mahine mein chhuttiyon ke baad hum wapas mile toh itne dinon ki bechaini tumhe dekhte hi khatam ho gayi. Tum dil mein itni samaa gayi ho iss baat ka yakeen ho gaya jab tumhe sabke saath muskurate dekh kar mera dil do mahine baad khil utha. Kal tumne unn saare palon ki anniversary manayi jo humne saath jiye. Lekin uss saal bhi yeh mahina mere liye aisa ahsaas leke aaya tha jisse main tab tak anjaan tha. Tum dil mein ho iska andaza ho gaya tha mujhe pehle hi lekin chhuttiyon ke baad tumhe dekh ke pata chala ki tum dil, dimaag aur zindagi mein kis qadar chaa gayi ho. Main tumhe dekhne ke liye Munna Pandit se bhi chupta raha. Uss sukoon aur usko dene wale ahsaas ki bhi anniversary hui na." His smiled, recalling the school days.

She placed her palms on his cheeks and blinked hard, "Happy anniversary, darling."

His heart bloomed at her endearment, "Same to you darling."

"Kitna kuch badla hamari zindagi mein saal dar saal. Lekin har baar yeh mahina koi achhi yaad hi de gaya." She smiled.

"Naina, yeh poora mahina mere liye bohot khaas hai. Meri zindagi mein jaise har khushi issi mahine mein aayi." A dreamy look descended in his eyes as he reminisced about everything.

She narrowed her eyes, flaring her nostrils, "Har khushi? Mere alava aur kaun aayi tumhari zindagi mein?"

He smirked, running a hand through his hair, "Waise toh bohot so ladkiyan taiyar thi aane ko... mujhe dekhte hi sabka dil mujhpe aa jaata hai na... tumhe toh pata hi hai."

She gritted her teeth, picking up the pillow to hit him again.

Sameer let out a full throated laugh before pinching her cheeks, "Meri jaan, woh ladkiyan thi... lekin khushi sirf tum ho. Chahe uss waqt main jaan nahi paaya lekin ussi din mera  dil tumhari aankhon mein kho gaya tha jab pehli baar corridor mein tumse takkar hone wali thi. Pyar ki pehchan nahi thi isliye samajh nahi paaya... aur shayad main door bhaag raha tha pyar se isliye dubara dekh bhi nahi paaya tumhe."

"Maine kal subah se itna sab kiya unn palon ko dubara mehsoos karne ke liye, ab tum batao tum kya karoge uss ek anniversary ko manane ke liye jo mujhe pata tak nahi thi." Her eyes danced, challenging him.

"Pehle yeh batao, tum kal subah ghar mein kahan chupi thi? Maine sab jagah dhoonda. Aur tum Sana se milti rahi lekin mujhe kyon nahi dikhi?" The questions came back to him at her mention of previous morning.

"Main bathroom mein thi." She giggled.

His eyes rounded in amazement, "Ba... bathroom mein? Lekin tum... jab main gaya toh tum nahi thi."

She explained that she was all the while in the bathroom, hearing his talks with Sana. When he had gone to adjust the shower for Sana, she hid behind the door.

"Lekin Sana ne mujhe bola nahane jaane ko, uske aane ke baad. Agar main chala jaata toh tumhare surprise ka kya hota?" He was too shocked to realise that he would have loved that scenario as well.

"Mujhe pata tha woh towel wali chit milte hi tum phone karoge sab jagah. Isliye maine tumhara mobile aur cordless dono room ke bahar rakhe the, jisse tumhe bahar jaana pade. Tab tak tum ek baar saara ghar dekh chuke the. Ussi waqt main nikal ke guest room mein chali gayi. Aur jab tum nahane gaye toh Sana ko bye bolne fir se aa gayi." She shrugged, smiling smugly.

"Agar kisi wajah se woh chit main nahi dekhta toh pata hai kya hota?" His eyes darkened again.

She was scooped up in his arms before she could answer. Her feeble protests didn't deter him as he shut the door of bathroom behind them.

After breakfast, Naina called up chachiji's house.

"Beta, tu bilkul chinta mat kar. Sana bade maze se khel rahi hai. Itni baarish mein aane ki zaroorat nahi hai. Jab ruk jayegi tab aana. Le, Sana se hi sun le ki usse ghar aane ki kitni jaldi hai." Bela assured her before giving the phone to the little girl.

"Mumma, pleesh pleesh mujhe two days aur rehne do na. Yahan kitna mazaa aa raha hai. Maine aapki photo bhi dekhi, jab aap mere jaisi thi, aur usse pehle jab baby thi woh bhi." Sana's voice conveyed her delight.

"Mumma papa ko bhi tumhari yaad aa rahi hai na. Tumko nahi aa rahi?" Naina asked.

"Nanu nani ko bhi aati hai na roz aapki yaad... par aap papa ke paas hi rehti ho." Her argument rendered her speechless.

Sameer talked to her and convinced her to come but she asked them to pick her up only later in the evening.

"Ab kya karein? Na kahin bahar jaa sakte hain na koi kaam hai." Naina sighed, glancing at the pouring rain outside.

Sameer wrapped his arms around her from behind, "Aise mausam mein romance se achha koi kaam nahi hai."

"Wohi toh kar rahe ho kal se. Aur kitna romance chahiye tumhe." She quirked up a brow.

"Abhi toh badla bhi poora nahi hua, jo kal subah tumne mujhe itna tang kiya tha uska." He nuzzled his face into her hair.

"Haww. Itne surprise diye maine, aur kya chahiye?" She tilted her head, his nose behind her ear making her voice shaky.

He caught the little tremble, and turned her to face him,

Phir sataogi nahi aise kabhi
aaj tumse yeh waada chahiye

mujhko tumhara pyar
har din pehle se zyada chahiye

She shook her head, "Waada... nahi sataungi. Ab kabhi aisa mauka nahi aane dungi jab tumhe mujhe dhoondna pade."

He kissed the bridge of her nose, then gave a lopsided smile, "Aur agli line ka kya?"

Her eyes glinted with the same promise like the previous day, "Tumse pyar karne ke liye mujhe koi waade ya bahane ki zaroorat nahi hai... tumse pyar karna meri zindagi ki zaroorat hai... tum woh baarish ho jisne meri sookhi zindagi ko rangon se bhar diya. Haan, har din tumse pehle se zyada pyar ho jaata hai... aur main har din woh pyar dikha sakti hun."

He crushed her in his arms. Destiny... something that he did not even believe in... had brought them together, and filled their life with contentment. His life had changed so much since she stepped into it... for the better. She brought a feeling of love and joy which was so addictive, that now he couldn't imagine how he had lived without her. Her every look, every touch drove him crazy, but holding her in his arms brought the calm feeling of being home.

"Naina, chalo bahar chalte hain." He said suddenly.

She gave him a perplexed look, "Bahar kahan, Sameer? Itni baarish ho rahi hai. Bimar ho jaoge tum."

His eyes had a glazed look when he peered at the scene outside, "Issi baarish ko thank you bolna hai... jisne mujhe meri Naina di hai. Aur bimar main pehle hota tha, ab tum saath ho toh mujhe kuch nahi hoga."

When they stepped out in the garden, the rain fell with more force, as if to acknowledge their thanks.

Next update tomorrow evening