"Yaad hai, Naina, ek baar bohot baarish hui thi aur hum dono hi yahan aa gaye the... bina jaane ki ek doosre ko yahan milenge." Sameer recalled the day.

Naina smiled, "Achhe se yaad hai... bina chatri ke aa gaye the tum... geele baal leke."

"Woh toh isliye ki padhai karne ki jaldi mein mujhe chatri yaad hi nahi aayi... ya shayad isliye bhi jisse tum pyar se sukha sako." He grinned, lowering his voice towards the end.

"Rehne do... tumhare sab bahane galat hain kyonki tum ek number ke aalsi aur padhaichor ho." She said with a straight face.

She was aware what he would do next. Before he could jump over the table behind which he stood, she had sprinted out of the library door. Sameer took two stairs at a time to follow her to the terrace.

She stood at the far end, a sly smile on her face.

"Pata hai yahan ki kaunsi baat yaad hai mujhe?" He asked as he started going towards her with slow steps.

"Umm... jab tumne woh green wala blouse dekha tha mere bag mein?" She asked with a raised brow.

He shook his head.

"Jab tumne meri chot pe marham lagaya tha?" She gingerly placed a hand on her waist where he had put the ointment.

He shook his head again, though the memory made him skip a beat.

Her voice dropped as be neared, "Jab... jab... pehli baar... woh kiss... "

"French kiss... woh bhi khaas hai par usse bhi zyada kya yaad aata hai batao?" He smirked, seeing the shyness even now, at the mention of French kiss.

She was taken by surprise. What could be more memorable for him. Shrugging her shoulders, she looked up as he stood right in front of her.

"Jab tumne thappad mara tha... bohot zor se maarti ho, Naina." He placed one hand on his cheek.

The thought of that day was heart wrenching for her... he had gone missing without saying anything. She had searched for him everywhere... classrooms, canteen, parking, library, even his hostel room... but no one knew his whereabouts. Her heart had stopped beating with unspoken fear. When she was totally dejected, she had come here to cry her heart out... and here he was.

The slap was her resentment... though it was unintentional.

"Tumhe andaza bhi hai tumne kya kiya tha uss din?" She could feel the salty tears sting her eyes again.

"Main bina bataye aaya tha par tha toh yahin na... itni choti si galti ke liye tumne itna zor se thappad laga diya." He brooded, looking away, thinking of getting some sympathy from her.

His eyes darted back when he heard her sniff.

"Naina, main toh mazak kar raha tha... koi baat nahi... main sach mein bas yun hi keh raha tha." He wiped her tears with the back of his fingers.

She looked at him with a strange expression that he could not decipher.

"Tum uss thappad ke liye dukhi ho rahi ho na?" He asked in a soft voice.

She shook her head, " Main isliye dukhi ho rahi hu kyonki uss din ek hi thappad maara... teen, chaar aur maarne chahiye the... tumhe abhi tak apni galti samajh nahi aayi hai."

He was aghast, "Teen chaar? Maine aisi kya galti ki?"

She closed her eyes, letting out a long exhale before she spoke, "Socho Sameer, aaj jab tum yahan pohoche toh tumhe pata tha main kahan milungi... lekin agar main uss ped ke neeche nahi hoti... na library mein, na yahan, na kahin aur milti tumhe... bas gayab ho jaati... Rahul aur Sonali ko bhi kuch pata nahi hota main kahan hun toh?"

The mere thought hit him like a punch in the gut.

"Main mar jaata, Naina." He pulled her in his arms, shivering at the notion.

She stayed in his arms, stroking his back, "Main bhi mar gayi thi uss din."

"I'm so sorry, Naina... main kabhi aisa kuch nahi karunga." His voice choked with guilt.

"Tum mere liye sabse keemti ho... tumhe ek pal ke liye bhi khone ka ahsaas mere liye sau baar marne jaisa tha... aaj bhi hai." She went on her toes, kissing the cheek she had once punished.

"Mujhe bhi maaf kardo... tumhe maarne ke liye." She placed another kiss on the same cheek.

He lifted his head, looking into her eyes, "Tumne ussi din sorry bol diya tha... fir se bolna hai toh waise hi bolo."

It took her a few moments to register that he was already out of his gloomy mood... and what he wanted now.

Her lips were soft as she pressed them against his demanding ones.

The place where they shared their first French kiss got marked with another one, to make a new memory.

As Naina pulled out a small mirror from her bag, freshening her gloss, Sameer again marvelled at her wild tresses as they flowed in the gentle breeze.

She took out a brush to smoothen them. He held her wrist, stopping her.

"Bohot achhe lag rahe hain... aise hi rehne do na." His voice was rough.

She smiled, and put the brush away.

As Naina turned towards the passage once they were on first floor, he held her hand, "Ek minute yahan aana."

She wondered where he wanted to go... and then she saw the board.

'Medical Room'

"Tumhi leke aaye the pehle bhi... aaj bhi tum hi laaye ho." She squeezed his hand.

"Jaise pehle laaya tha waise kabhi nahi laana chahunga... meri saansen ruk gayi thi tumhe behosh dekh ke... kitni kamzor aur bejaan lag rahi thi tum." His voice was pained.

"Toh uss dard dene wali yaad ke liye yahan kyon aaye?" She wrapped her hands around his arm.

He placed his hand on hers, "Uss yaad ke liye aaya hun jo tumhe pehli baar chu ke banayi thi... apni baahon mein pehli baar mehsoos kiya tha tumhe... tumhari khushbu se mehek gaya tha... itne kareeb se tumhe dekha tha ki yakeen hi nahi aa raha tha woh tum ho jiska chehra mere dil ke paas hai... meri dhadkan tumhare kanon mein jaa rahi hai... pata hai, Naina, main raat bhar apne kamre mein jaagte hue soch raha tha ki kya kabhi tumhe fir se apni baahon mein utha paunga jab tum hosh mein ho."

She let out a sigh, "Aisa toh kabhi nahi hoga, Mr Maheshwari."

"Huh?" He shot her a perplexed look.

"Kyonki tumhari baahon mein aake main hamesha hosh kho baithti hun." She winked at him.

"Kya baat hai, Mrs Maheshwari... aaj aap badi romantic baatein kar rahi hain... yeh judaai ka asar hai ya college wapas aane ka nasha?" He wrapped his arms around her waist, grinning at her.

"Umm... yeh main baad mein bataungi." She pushed at his chest, running down the corridor.

He found her standing in front of their first year classroom. She stepped in, with him right behind her.

"Yahan baithti thi tum hamesha... aur main wahan se dekhta rehta tha tumhe." Sameer stopped at first desk, pointing to the last one in the same row.

"Tumhare liye aasan tha... peeche baith ke jitna marzi dekho... main toh mud ke tumhe dekh bhi nahi sakti thi... bas aate jaate nazar aate the." She pouted.

"Aur meri nazar tumse hat ti hi nahi thi... kamaal ki baat hai ki kisi professor ne kabhi mujhe baahar kyon nahi nikala... board ki taraf toh main kabhi dekhta hi nahi tha." He shrugged.

"Dheere bolo, koi sun lega toh kahenge pakka cheating karke top kiya hai." She smacked him lightly on the arm.

"Aise kaise kahenge... meri personal teacher ne itne pyaar se padhaya hai mujhe... abhi toh thank you tak nahi bol paaya theek se." He smirked.

"Arre, bol toh diya." Her brows shot up.

"Woh toh results ka tha na, jaan... abhi toh medal ke liye, fir certificate ke liye, fir... " He placed his palm on the desk, leaning to reach her height as he gazed into her eyes.

"Sameer tum... " Her surprise turned into a gasp as he quickly pecked her lips.

Before she could say anything, he ushered her out of the room.

When they reached the canteen, first thing that came to her mind was their first conversation... though it was hardly one... she was too dazed to utter a single word when he had spoken to her.

"Tum theek ho?" His voice brought her to present... and she gave him an astounded look.

"Uss din bhi yehi pucha tha, aaj bhi yehi puch raha hun." He winked, sure about her line of thoughts.

A smile warmed her face, "Ab theek hun, jaan."

He held one hand to his heart, staggering back a few steps, "Tumhe pakka kuch hua hai yahan aake."

She danced her eyes suggestively, and walked ahead with a broad smile.

"Aa gaya late lateef." Rahul jumped up from his chair as they reached the far end where their friends were seated.

Sameer was engulfed in a bone crushing hug before he could answer.

Sonali got up as well, hugging Naina, taking her by surprise.

"Kaisi ho, Naina?" Rahul asked as he moved away from Sameer.

"Tum dono kya kar rahe ho? Main toh pehle se yahin hun, Sameer abhi aaya hai." She gave a perplexed look to both of them.

"Jee nahi, tu bhi abhi aayi hai... kal se toh yahan bas tera bhoot tha." Sonali rolled her eyes.

Sameer gave an amused look to Rahul.

"Kya? Sach keh rahi hai Sonali... teri Naina ke chehre pe ab jaake muskaan dekhi hai... bhai, teri pocket mein bhool aayi thi kya?" Rahul nudged him.

"Kya tum dono bhi... theek toh thi... aaj subah tere saath shopping gayi, yeh, yeh chatta bhi banwa liya tere kehne pe." Naina pointed at her hair as she sat down opposite Sonali.

"Iski baat mat suno, Sonali... bohot achha style hai." Sameer settled next to her, giving an appreciative look to her hair again before nodding at Sonali.

Naina frowned at him.

"Kal se hayee mera Sameer, hayee mera Sameer aur aate hi ladai bhi kar li?" Rahul narrowed his eyes at her frown.

"Rahul... maine aisa kab bola?" Naina shrieked, turning red at his remark.

"Ek baar fir se bolo na, Naina... kya bol rahi thi kal se." Sameer leaned sideways towards her, smirking.

"Tum sab toh mere peeche hi pad gaye... maine kahan kuch kaha ya kiya." She placed one hand on his cheek, pushing him away without looking in his direction.

"Wohi toh... tune na kuch kaha, na kiya... tabhi toh keh rahe hain tu thi hi nahi kal se yahan... ab aayi hai." Sonali quipped.

"Uggghhh." Naina covered her face with her palms.

Sound of laughter erupted on their table. She pouted at Sameer. He looped an arm around her shoulder.

"Yaar Sameer, yeh toh galat baat hai... ab aaya hai tu... aur function ke baad tum log Phulla bua ke ghar chale jaoge... kal wapas Ahmedabad... yeh bhi koi aana hua... na koi masti na party." Rahul grumbled.

Naina sadly lowered her eyes.

Sameer looked at their glum faces.

"Aur agar main kahun ki abhi hum tumhare saath hi rahenge?" He raised his brows with a grin.

"Sach?" Rahul was excited.

Naina and Sonali looked at him hopefully.

He nodded, "Program thoda badal gaya hai hamara... hum dono kal tumhare saath hain... parson subah Phulla bua ke ghar jayenge aur uske agle din wapas."

"Arre yaar, iss baat pe ek baar aur gale lag ja." Rahul started to get up from his chair.

Sameer showed him a hand, "Baar baar kya chakkar lagayega... gale hi toh lagna hai na... Naina ko laga leta hun."

He pulled her into a quick hug as Rahul and Sonali stared in surprise.

"Yeh nahi sudhar sakta." Rahul declared with a chortle as Sonali sniggered and Naina flushed.

Next update tomorrow evening