"Tum pagal ho." Naina said, panting for breath as they stood in the dimly lit parking area, hidden behind a car.

"Tumne banaya hai... aise kulfi khake tumne uss din ki yaad dila di jab tum mujhe milne yahan, issi parking mein aayi thi... pighalti hui kulfi leke." Sameer grazed her cheek with the back of his fingers.

Her mind drifted to the incident he was talking about... when she had come with chachaji and chachiji... and with great difficulty she had managed to steal a few moments to meet him here in the car.

"Uss din maine kulfi pighla di thi aaj tumne pighla di." She chuckled, trying not to think about the sensations he was evoking with his fingers that had reached her neck.

"Uss din bhi tumne aise hi khayi thi... tumhari wajah se main kitna tadpa hun tumhe andaza bhi nahi hai." His voice was turning deep again.

"Sam... Sameer, sab hamara intezar kar rahe honge... yeh waqt humein unke saath bitana chahiye... ek doosre ke saath toh hum hamesha rehte hain... abhi doston ke saath aaye hain, unhe waqt dete hain na... unhone hamari har khushi ko itne pyar se manaya hai toh humein bhi aaj Pandit aur Preeti ki khushi mein shaamil hona chahiye." She said in a soft voice.

He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. When he opened them again, a smile played on his lips.

"Chalo, achhe se manaate hain unke iss khaas din ko." He stepped back, taking her hand in his.

"Sameer yahan nahi hai? Kahan gayab ho gaya?" Munna wondered aloud as he and Pandit handed over the kulfi to girls.

"Naina bhi nahi hai." Swati shrugged.

"Inki toh shaadi bhi ho gayi, fir bhi gayab ho jaate hain pehle ke jaise... saari ashiqui bahar hi karni hai... bhai ghar pe kya satnarayan ki katha sunte hain?" Munna frowned.

"Tumhare hi liye kuch taiyari kar rahe the... ab senior hain toh farz nibhana chahiye na." Sameer's voice made everyone look in their direction.

He was holding a bunch of heart shaped balloons while Naina carried a bouquet of red roses.

"Yeh kya hai?" Munna questioned.

Sameer handed the balloons to him, "Chal, hum sabki taraf se apne bhai ko dede... aaj uski shaadi fix hui hai iss khushi mein."

"Aur Swati, yeh phool Preeti ko de de." Naina held out the flowers to her.

"Hum dono ek saath dete hain." Swati wrapped her hands around Naina's and extended the bouquet to Preeti.

Munna gave the balloons to Pandit.

The new couple looked at each other, their faces glowing with delight.

Next one hour was gone in excited chattering as they discussed the scenario of same day wedding for both couples.

Sameer gestured to Pandit when it was time to leave. He moved aside to hear what Sameer wanted to say.

"Yeh le... chup chaap Preeti ko de dena... usse kehna ki tu uske liye leke aaya tha... aur sabke saamne nahi, akele mein dena." Sameer handed him a small packet.

Pandit looked at the floral print on the wrapper in amazement, "Yeh kya hai?"

"Uski pasand ke earrings hain." Sameer said.

Pandit narrowed his eyes at him, "Tu Preeti ki pasand ke earrings kyon laya hai?"

"Main nahi laya... Naina ne khareede hain bahar se... usne kaha Preeti ko bohot achha lagega agar tu aisa karega." Sameer explained.

Pandit rounded his mouth in understanding.

While walking back to the car, Swati held Munna's hand.

"Kya kar rahi hai? Sabke samne aise haath pakad ke chalegi kya?" He pulled out his hand from her grasp.

"Toh kya hua? Hamari shaadi bhi toh pakki hui hai... aur Sameer nahi pakadta tha kya Naina ka haath pehle?" Swati gave him a flustered look.

"Sameer ki baat alag hai." Munna gave a quick glance around.

"Pandit bhi pakad ke baitha tha... uski baat bhi alag hai? Ya tum hi sabse alag ho? Munna, tum kabhi dhang se pyar dikhate kyon nahi... hamara pyar toh sabse purana hai na... fir tum aisa kuch kyon nahi karte jaise Sameer hamesha karta hai aur ab Pandit bhi... aur yahan baithe itne saare log?" Swati was annoyed.

Munna turned to look at her, "Swati, samjha kar... mujhe aise numaish karna achha nahi lagta... pyar toh dil mein hai... zaroori thodi hai sabke samne aise jatana."

"Par mere samne toh jatao na... mera bhi dil karta hai tum mujhse aise baatein karo, mujhe aise chedo, sabse nazar bacha ke mera haath pakdo, mere kareeb aane ki koshish karo... mujhe toh kam se kam dil ke uss pyar ki numaish dikhao... mujhe zaroorat hai iss numaish ki." Her voice held the disappointment she felt.

"Hamesha dikhai toh hai... sab ko pata tha school mein, college mein ki main tujh se pyar karta hun... dikhaya tabhi pata chala na... toh fir abhi kyon aise bol rahi hai?" Munna couldn't understand her frustration.

"Ab jo shaadi ki tareekh kareeb aa rahi hai toh pehle se zyada dikhana chahiye na... lekin tumhe toh kaam aur doston ke alava kuch nazar hi nahi aata... Sameer aur Pandit bhi toh time nikalte hain... Munna, tum sach mein mujhse pyar toh karte ho na?" Her voice was choked.

Munna was aghast, "Tu kaisi baatein kar rahi hai? Maine toh jabse pyar ka matlab jaana hai tujhi se pyar kiya hai... aisa kaise bol diya tune?"

She swallowed the lump in her throat, "Kabhi kabhi lagta hai tum sirf isliye mujhse shaadi kar rahe ho ki kisi se toh karni hi hai... isko sabse pehle se jaanta hun toh issi ke saath sahi."

Munna was pained by her words, "Mere pyar ko itna halka samjha hai tune? Maine jabse shaadi ke baare mein socha, bas tera hi chehra dekha apne saath, jabse pyar ka ahsaas hua tera hi khyaal raha mann mein, jab bhi kisi ke liye dil dhadka woh tera hi naam tha... tujh se alag toh maine khud ko kabhi socha hi nahi."

When she looked up at him, her eyes held unshed tears, "Tumne shayad itna zyada mujhe khud se jod liya ki bhool hi gaye main ek alag insaan hun jiske paas ek alag dil hai jismein kuch armaan hain, kuch sapne hain."

Munna stared at her with open mouth... not able to understand what he had done wrong, or what he had failed to do.

Swati blinked back the tears, quashing the hopes of making him see her side... her need to see that display of love from him which she knew was there in his heart, but he rarely showed it. He was taking her for granted... one confession, marriage fixed with family's consent, a teasing smile few times, and some hand holds or a rare side hug... this was all she got from him. Even their phone calls were mostly about his work or what the friends had done or planned to do.

There was very little of them in their togetherness.

"Shaadi mein ab zyada time nahi hai... uske baad hum saath hi rahenge hamesha... pyar karta hun tabhi toh tere saath rehna chahta hun." Munna spoke up finally, disturbed by her melancholic silence.

"Tum nahi samjhoge, Munna... mujhe sirf saath hi nahi, saathi chahiye." Swati uttered in almost inaudible voice before turning to walk towards their friends.

Munna stood for a while, trying to understand the difference. When her words muddled up his brain completely, he shook his head and moved to the parking area where his bike was parked.

Pandit took out the small bag from his pocket.

"Preeti, yeh tumhare liye." He held her palm keeping the gift on it.

Preeti was pleasantly surprised, "Yeh kya hai?"

"Khol ke dekh lo." He didn't want to mention something that didn't match with the contents.

Preeti opened the wrapper quickly. She squealed in excitement at the silver hoops and another pair of beaded long earrings.

"Mujhe aise earrings bohot zyada pasand hain... thank you so much." She gave him a quick hug, much to his delight.

Sameer and Naina stood near the car, giving other two couples some time with each other.

"Tumne kaise socha ki Preeti ko yeh gift dena chahiye?" He asked her as Preeti's expression of elation reached their ears.

She smiled, looking at him, "Preeti ko har mauka kisi cheez se jodna achha lagta hai... uski bachpan se aadat hai... ab se woh jab bhi yeh earrings dekhegi, aaj ka din, balki yeh shaam yaad karegi... aur muskurate hue Pandit ke baare mein sochegi."

"Par yeh earrings tum laayi kahan se?" He was sure she couldn't be carrying them with her from home.

"Maine yahin se khareede... jab tum log kulfi lene gaye the toh ekdum se khyaal aaya ki yahan kuch dukaane hain jahan yeh sab milta hai... main aur Preeti pehle bhi lete the... isliye bina bataye bahar aayi thi." She clarified.

Sameer realised now what she was doing when he met her outside the eating arena.

No one noticed that the exchange between Munna and Swati was one that left her teary eyed and him, shaken.

Sameer dropped Swati home before going back to drop Preeti. Pandit went with Munna on his bike.

When the car stopped in front of their society, Naina stepped out along with Preeti.

"Main tere liye bohot khush hun... bas ab jaldi se shaadi ki date aa jaye toh hum taiyari shuru kar denge." Naina hugged her sister.

"Thank you, behen... tune aur jijaji ne itna sab kiya hamare liye... meri toh halat hi kharaab ho gayi thi papa ka gussa dekh ke... aisa gussa pehle kabhi dekha ho, mujhe toh yeh yaad tak nahi." Preeti gratefully held her hands.

Naina poked her forehead, "Jhoothmooth ka gussa tha woh... chachaji ne manna hi tha... hum nahi bhi hote toh bhi woh haan hi kehte... sirf isliye nahi ki teri marzi hai balki isliye bhi ki Pandit bohot achha ladka hai aur hum log usse bachpan se jaante hain."

"Par mujhe tumhare yahan hone se bohot himmat mili... ab ek baar fir se aa jaana jab papa taiji tauji ko batayenge... jijaji ki zaroorat padegi taiji ko sambhalne ke liye." Preeti leaned to look at Sameer who could hear their talk through the open window.

He smiled and nodded.

Bidding goodnight to each other, Preeti went up the stairs, holding her bouquet of roses while Naina and Sameer drove away.

As he opened the lock, Naina walked ahead, twisting her hair around her palm to tie them in a bun.

"Ab jaldi se bata do kya khaoge... main bana deti hun... bohot der nahi karni chahiye... kal se wapas tumhe office jaana hai." She said without looking back as she reached the kitchen.

"Main jo khaunga woh milega?" He followed her after locking the door.

"Isiliye toh pooch rahi hun... bolo kya banau?" She turned to find him at her heels.

"Main tumhe khaunga." His hands slid around her waist, pulling her with a jerk.

Her hands landed on his chest, "Arre baba, khana bhi khana hai na... tum jaise bhukkad ke pet mein chuhe pakka kud rahe honge... fir raat ko tang karoge toh uss waqt nahi banaungi."

His eyes gleamed as he tugged at her bun, spilling the hair down her back, "Raat ko toh pakka tang karunga... lekin khane ke liye nahi."

"Sameer, tum... " She tried to wriggle out.

He tickled her waist, making her double up with laughter. She clutched his shirt to balance herself. He continued to tickle her with one hand, keeping one around her waist.

A sound of tck, tck made them stop. Naina stared with wide eyes at the open lapels of his shirt, three buttons missing.

He grinned, "Bade dino baad inn buttons ki kismat jaagi hai."

She looked up at him... the shock in her eyes was slowly replaced by mischief.

"Unko main isliye chod deti thi ki woh office ki shirts hain... warna unka bhi yehi haal hota." Her finger trailed down his chest, stopping for a moment at the fourth button that was still attached.

His eyebrows went up in amusement as she pulled out his shirt from jeans, jerking at the joined part, making all buttons go flying in different directions.

Slipping her hands under the shirt, she drew circles on his back, "Ab batao kya khaoge?"

He looked into her enticing eyes, his face reflecting in them.

"Ab toh kuch aur khaa hi nahi sakta." He scooped her up as she giggled against his chest, walking to their room.

Kicking the door shut with his foot, he placed her down near the bed. The room was bathed in soft glow of moonlight falling in through parted curtains. Her warm, feminine fragrance was filling his senses as much as his deep, musky, male scent was driving her crazy. His eyes fell on her lips... and he recalled what she had done in the evening.

"Tum yeh sab kahan se seekhti ho?" He cupped her face, pulling at her lower lip with his thumb.

She didn't need an explanation about what he was asking.

"Tumse."

His raised one brow, "Maine toh aisa kabhi nahi kiya."

"Kuch tumko dekh ke seekhti hun aur kuch tumhe dekhke apne aap ho jaata hai." She flicked her brows seductively.

The blood in his veins rushed to his ears, making his mind buzz with urgent need for her. Swiftly, he tore off the shirt from his torso, crushing her to himself. As her soft curves melted against his toned chest, he fumbled with the zipper behind, burning with the desire to feel her skin under his fingers. Once the kurta was jerked off, his fingers moved further, but she held his wrist.

He lifted his face from the crook of her neck where his lips were tasting her skin, a frown on his forehead.

She flicked her eyes towards the bed.

"Abhi toh light bhi on nahi hai." He muttered hoarsely.

"Lekin bahar se light aa rahi hai... aaj poora chaand hai." She lowered her eyes, sticking close to him.

His hands traced the sides of her body, stopping at the curve of her waist, "Naina, main kab poora chaand dekhunga?"

She stepped closer to the bed, falling on it with him, whispering as she pulled the quilt, "Pata nahi."

With a groan, he adjusted the quilt around them before slowly and passionately taking both of them to the heights of pleasure.

Next update in the evening