The whole VJN was in a state of both excitement and shock. The moment, the principal left, the whole student body had started with their own respective discussions about their preparations and issues.

Freshers were busy complaining about how they couldn't afford a dress or how their families won't even allow them to go. The second years were whining about the unfair desicion of principal regarding the participation of only third years in elections. The third years were the only ones who were truly happy, given they could attend the freshers party, participate in elections and ogle at the tiring practice of the college cricketers, with special regard to the captain, Mr. Maheshwari.

Naina didn't know how to react to the three big news. While the elections one had absolutely nothing to do with her, she still had to look for a dress for the Freshers party, and bear the tantrums of Arjun bhaiya regarding the tremendous pressure he was facing from the college cricket team.

Sameer too looked quiet happy. First, the inter-college cricket tournament was coming up. His team was preparing so hard for it, and now elections were coming up too. Maybe one of them could stand up as a candidate... But most of all, he was happy for Naina, since the freshers party was the best experience in the life of an adult, and she will definitely enjoy it. The news of the cancellation of Mr and Ms Fresher's title had somehow relieved him, since he really couldn't imagine Naina dancing with another boy.

Speaking of which, he suddenly remembered the Second year, who was staring at Naina. Blood was rushing through his entire body, what the hell. How could he stare at her? Only he, Sameer Maheshwari can stare at her.Not that he wanted too, it is totally unintentional. What is a man supposed to do, when he is expecting a little girl with pigtails, and instead gets a woman with so many umm... womanly features.

But let's not divert the topic. The second year, what was his name anyway? He had definitely seen him and well, is it Prem or something. He looked around, only to see that Naina was nowhere beside him, but was chatting with the same second year. Out of instinct, he immediately stepped closer, to see what on earth were they talking about.

Prem was looking at Naina, all adoringly, but Naina didn't quite get the fact. 

"Naina tumhare Freshers hai na. Tumhe maza ayega. Agar titles hote toh aur bhi maza aata lekin, it's ok." Though he tried to look somewhat sorry, anyone could say that he was in fact, quiet happy because the lack of titles meant that Naina won't dance with anyone for the title.

"Pata nahi gharwale aane denge bhi ya nahi. Thode se strict hai. Agar college hi band Kara diya toh." It seemed as if she was talking to herself, because she had started confessing her worries, not really noticing the presence of Prem.

"Zaroor jaane denge, main Taiji se baat kar lunga", A loud voice interrupted from behind. Sameer was coming their way, all annoyed and irritated. He came forward and stood beside Naina.

Prem saw this and the colour from his face disappeared. Wait, did he say Taiji? That meant he knew her family and maybe they were close too. Prem's face fell further and he didn't look more interested in the conversation, by any chance.

But Naina was elated,
"Sacchi Sameer. Ha please tum Taiji se baat karna. Ho Sakta hai ki woh tumhari baat maan jaye. Mujhe bahut man hai jaane ka. Tum please kehna ki tum chaaro bhi saath mein chaloge. Woh jaldi Maan jayegi." Sameer gazed at her all lovingly and triumphantly.

"Ha Naina, accha hai. Umm... Tum to Sameer ho na. Kaafi Suna hai tumhare baare mein. Tum dono jaante ho ek dusre Ko", Prem exclaimed.

"Ha main Naina Ko bachpan se jaanta hoon. In fact, 12 ya 13 saal ho gaye hai, kya din the woh. Tum dono toh woh ragging wale din mile the na"

There was a tense silence. Naina looked quiet uncomfortable, while both the boys were glaring at each other, both thinking about the ways to assert their importance over the other. Finally, Sameer thought that this much conversation was enough to declare that they both hated each other to the core. He grabbed Naina's hand and said,

"Naina chalo baaki sab ko dhoondh lete hai. Phir canteen chalenge. Ab toh bhookh lagi hai na." His voice was back to its original tenderness. He didn't wait for her answer. He simply hurried towards the crowd.

Prem scowled at the handhold and looked as if he had been told that the there will be no holidays in the festive time, while Naina followed Sameer's lead, simultaneously trying to hide her blush.

They had barely walked for five minutes, when a cheerful and rather annoying interrupted them.
"Hi Sameer"

Sunaina was coming their way and she stood in front of them, eyeing the handhold with an expression of contempt and trying her best to fake a smile. Sameer slapped his forehead and Naina looked at her questionably. Sunaina eyed Naina very carefully, as if verifying if all the rumours about her beauty were true, and looked quiet irritated, when actually they turned out to be true after all.

Sunaina huffed at Naina and shifted her attention to Sameer,
"Kya news di na aaj principal ne. Freshers party hai, that means hum fashion sense dikha sakte hai. Main to bahut relieved hoon. Mitali aur maine toh dress bhi plan kar li hai. Mujhe tumhe best of luck wish karna tha. You know tournament ke liye, I know ke tum hi jeetoge.Lekin yeh conversation kaafi one sided ho Rahi hai. By the way, tum bhi abhi hi wish kar do Sameer ko, Naina right. Ya karne ka koi plan hi nahi hai". Sunaina said in her disagreeably pleasant laugh.

Sameer rolled his eyes at her dumbness, while Naina just looked questioning. She too put on a fake smile and replied,
" Ha Naina hi hai. Main Sameer ko match se pehle ya phir ghar par wish kar dungi. Afterall, hum dono milte rehte hai"

Sunaina scowled. They met after college? In her home? So rumours were true, Sameer Maheshwari had found his "the one". With the expression he had while he was gazing at her, the rumours just got more confirmed. Sunaina's scowl deepened, time for her to get into action. She smiled forcefully and replied,
"Haan Haan, main match se pehle phir se wish kar dungi. Afterall he needs my..., actually everyone's wishes. Aur phir.."

"Sunaina Naina Ko bhookh lagi hai. Main usse canteen se kuch khilake lata hoon."

He didn't wait for her answer. He just pulled Naina's hand in his direction and went to look for his friends.

They had reached halfway through the crowd, when Sameer saw Arjun and waved. Sameer left Naina's hand. Both were missing the warmth of the other. Arjun, Munna and Pandit came towards them. On the other hand, even Preeti and Swati had seen them and they too went towards them. They all decided to go to canteen, though Arjun didn't look too happy about the idea.

They were just about to go, when Sameer stopped Arjun and signalled everyone else to go. Arjun looked at him questioningly.

"Arjun dekh main saaf baat karta hoon. Thodi personal hai lekin best friend samajhke bol raha hoon. Tujhe Naina aur Preeti se kya problem hai?"

Sameer finished and looked at him, while Arjun coloured deeply.
"Yaar tu kya keh raha hai. Mujhe kya problem hogi dono se. Behnein hai meri"

"Jhooth. Dekh main tujhe bachpan se jaanta hoon. Jhooth bolne ka koi faayda nahi hai. Bata de yaar, kab tak andar rakhega"

Arjun sighed and a defeated expression reached his face.
"Yaar dekh tujhe toh pata hai ki meri mummy nahi hai. Bachpan se unki kami feel hoti thi. Papa hai Lekin, woh mujhe sirf apne sapne poora karne ke liye chahte hai. Taiji aur Tauji sunate rehte the aur Chacha Chachi busy rehte the behno mein. Yaar ghar par, Naina Preeti se jalan hoti thi, ki atleast koi toh unhein pyaar karta hai. Kabhi Pralay se nahi hui kyuki woh Chhota hai aur na Pooja se hui kyuki woh badi hai. Mujhe pata hai bahut galat aur immature hai. Mujhe bado ki tarah behave karna chahiye Lekin kya Karu"
He had tears in his eyes. He looked hurt.

"Dekh main samajh Sakta hoon. Lekin tu Naina ka soch, tujhe Taiji se tere papa bachte the, lekin Naina Ko to koi nahi bachata tha. Bechari sab sunke chup rahti thi. Woh tujhse bahut pyaar Karti hai. In fact, did behnein tujhse bahut pyaar Karti hai. Tu unhein time de, sab theek ho jayega. Unke saath time spend karne ko nahi bol raha, lekin at least college enjoy karne se, humse baatein karne se, humare saath rehne de. Dekh teeno bahut bholi hai. Aur Sabse zyada toh Naina. Mujhe hi umm... mera matlab humein hi uska dhyaan rakhna hai. Samjha Raha hai Na"

Arjun looked unconvinced, but nodded nonetheless. Sameer smiled and him, and both friends hugged each other. They soon headed to the canteen and sat themselves down on the chair.

Sameer asked for everyone's orders and they all settled for 6 plates of samosas, 5 mangolas, 2 campa colas and one plate of pav bhaji for Naina, after Sameer insisted her to eat something more wholesome, since she had not eaten in the previous break. But all this convincing was done in whispers, so that they don't look fishy.

The food arrived, and everyone started munching on them. Sameer was extremely jealous of the Mangola bottle, after seeing how Naina was practically sucking it and the bottle could touch her soft and rosy lips. What if it was his lips instead of that stupid bottle... Sameer shifted uncomfortably and swallowed his entire Mangola in one go. He had to calm himself down.

Thankfully, the topic soon shifted and Sameer found himself quiet less-aroused than before.
"Elections aa rahe hai. Dekh main soch Raha tha ki hum log bhi khade ho jaate hai." Munna suggested.

"Abe chenu, tera toh pata nahi, lekin main samosa khaye bina kahi nahi jaaunga"

"Tu hamesha Ponga hi rahega. Election mein, candidate ki tarah khade honge. Lekin hum mein se kaun hoga"

"Sameer". Arjun exclaimed proudly.

Sameer however, looked shocked.
"Kya main, dekh yeh sab mujhse nahi hoga. Yeh sab faaltu ki cheezein hai. Abhi cricket match hai. Unki taiyaari zyada zaroori hai."

"Bhai Maan Jaa na yaar. Dekh tu pakka jeetega. Poora college tera Deewana hai. Ho Sakta hai ki vote dene ke saath saath campaign mein bhi help kar de."

Sameer still looked unconvinced.

"Nahi. Yeh Netagiri mujhse nahi hogi. Tum teeno bhi toh khade ho sakte ho na."

"Yaar lekin humein shayad utne vote na mile jitne tujhe mil sakte hai." Arjun said.

"Ha, please maan jao na Sameer, socho na kitna maza ayega agar tum jeet jaoge. Main sabko bata paungi ki hum log college ki cricket team ke captain aur Students council ke President Ko jaante hai. Please maan jaao." Preeti practically begged him.

"Maan jaa na yaar" Munna and Pandit said in unison.
"Please bhai." Arjun tried to convince him.

"Please Sameer"

As soon as he heard Naina's voice, something inside Sameer burned and suddenly, college elections seemed like a very good event to participate in.
"Accha Accha theek hai. Kal hum sab jaake mera nomination form submit kar denge. Ab sab mujhpe chillana band karo."

-------------------------------
Taking part in the elections, was a big responsibility. The first thing that they did the next day, was to file Sameer's nomination.

The fact that Sameer Maheshwari was taking part in the elections, spread like wild fire. Everyone now and then, girls came to Sameer, extending their support to him and promising their vote in his favour. Hardly two days had passed, when the gang learned the name of their rival in the elections. It was none other than the college trustee's grandson, Karthik.

This did not bother them much, because Karthik could never be as popular or as handsome as Sameer. He was nothing but a dumb and boastful fellow.

One such morning, Sameer was walking in the corridor, when he saw Karthik and his sidekick Priyank coming towards him. He was followed by the same group of second years, who were there in the ragging incident. Even Vicky was with them.
"Kya competition mila hai Priyank. Sameer hero Maheshwari, haarte huye kya mast lagega na"

Karthik and Priyank laughed, while Sameer just smirked. He glanced at Vicky, who shifted somewhat fearfully.
"Woh toh waqt hi batayega ki kaun haarega aur kaun jeetega. Mungeri Lal ke haseen sapne Abhi se mat dekho. Chalo bye, mujhe bahut kaam hai. Captain hona asaan nahi hai."

The taunt had hit Karthik hard. Everyone knew how much he wanted to be in the cricket team. But Sameer had cut off all of his chances, by playing extremely well and the coach selected him immediately. From that day, Sameer and Karthik developed animosity towards each other, which was fuelled by Sunaina's liking to Sameer. She was Karthik's ex girlfriend and she dumped him instantly after seeing the hero Sameer Maheshwari and his charms.

Sameer ran his hand through his hair and swaggered down the corridor. The girls who came with Karthik sighed dreamily, while Dimple swooned. Karthik scowled at Sameer and walked away.

The gang worked very hard too. Naina, Preeti and Swati prepared non-stop posters and Munna and Pandit talked the second and first years into supporting them.

Karthik never lost a chance to destroy Sameer's posters, which were spread practically everywhere in the college. Naina had been quiet attached to the pieces of papers, since she worked very hard on them, but more because they carried Sameer's name on it. She had been quiet upset, when she saw the ruins of her precious posters scattered everywhere on the floor. Sameer couldn't see her pain on her beautiful face, so he took it upon himself to destroy Karthik's posters, and punch his sidekick Priyank, when he was boasting about tearing away his posters, in front of Naina.

As if this much trouble and the tiresome preparation of cricket matches were not enough, the end of the week was arriving and so was the Fresher's party. They still had to prepare for the party.

The Fresher's party is usually quiet casual where everyone can manage with decent clothes. But this time, it was quiet formal since even the trustees were arriving. The moment the principal heard about it, she sent a notice that the students are supposed to dress in formal clothes, with the rest of the events in the party continuing at the same pace.

Now the boys had to look for some formal clothes. Munna and Pandit didn't look too happy about it, while Arjun was worried about the expenses. Their problem were solved, when Sameer asked them to come to his house and look for the suit they like.

After about an hour's shouting and arguing matches, the boys finally came to a conclusion. Arjun settled for a cream sack suit jacket, while Munna decided to wear double breasted structured suit . Pandit couldn't really choose till the very last moment, until his eyes landed on a blue unstructured suit and he immediately liked it.

As for Sameer, he decided to wear a black-coloured, fitted, double vented suit, with matching trousers, a white shirt, black tie and a nice low v waistcoat.

-----------------------

But the preparation was not so smooth for the Aggarwal girls, due to the presence of their respected elders. Though Sameer had convinced everyone to let the girls go and had promised to drop them off in his car, the problem of a formal dress was still intact.

One such ordinary evening, merely one day before the big night, the usual banter was still continuing.
"Dekho koi zaroorat nahi hai bekaar mein paise udaane ki. Arey chhota-mota function hi toh hai. Mujhe toh samajh nahi aata ki kirtan ya jagran kyu nahi rakhte iss college mein. Yeh bekaar ki cheezein karke bas ladka ladki bigadte hi hai. Woh to bechaare Bholuram ne kaha tha, isliye main maan gayi, warna hum to iske saqt khilaaf hai." Taiji exclaimed while sitting on her throne, which is also the swing of Bela's house.

"O ladkiyo, chup chap dono sari pehenke jaana. Main nikaal ke deti hoon. Koi paise nahi milenge ye dress ke."

"Bhabhi ji, inke College ka pehla function hai. Jaane dijiye na, dekhiye main paise de deta hoon. Aur college ke trustee bhi ayenge na, toh dono Ko accha hi lagna chahiye. Sameer ne hi bataya tha." Anand said, and smartly lied about the Sameer part.

Hearing Sameer's name, Taiji nodded, though she was still unconvinced.
"Theek hai, Chali jaana. Lekin kitne paise dene hai yeh toh main hi bataungi."

Taiji agreed on the least money she could manage, and said that she would be accompanying them. Preeti smartly reminded Taiji and Bela about Rashi Didi's mehandi, and the family was left with no option, but to send them alone. The girls even convinced the elders to let them get ready at Swati's home, since their house would be locked.

After much drama and negotiations, Naina, Preeti and Swati finally found themselves in the best shop for stylish dresses, but the Fresher's party was tonight and they had limited time to choose a dress and get ready for the party.

Preeti and Swati were arguing about the colours of their respective dresses, while Naina was frustrated with the same designs.

"Yaar kya pehnenge party mein. Agar kuch accha nahi mila na, toh main toh nahi jaungi. Jaakar insult karwane se kya faayda hai." Preeti told sadly.

"Preeti abhi haar mat maan. Dekh humne itni mushkil se paise liye hai, ab toh dress leke hi jayenge." Swati said and went back to choosing.

After another hour of tiresome choosing, the girls came victorious. Preeti found a beautiful red u-neck top and a nice yellow layered skirt. The dress was chosen, keeping in mind the matching sandals she had, while Swati chose a blue bell shaped skirt that came down to her knees, and a matching top with frilled sleeves.

But the problem was not completely solved, since Naina's dress was still not chosen. The spent half hour until Naina finally exclaimed,
"Yaar chhodd na yeh sab. Main Ghar pe kuch dekh leti hoon. Kya farak padta hai."

"Aise kaise farak nahi padta. Dekh dress toh leke hi jayenge. Aur Abhi toh time hi kya,..." Preeti stopped in middle of the sentence, when her eyes landed on the most beautiful dress she had seen.