After finishing some of her morning chores, Vishakha headed upstairs and entered Naina's room. Noting the young woman was still borrowed under the blankets, Vishakha shook her "Naina... uth beta, sade-aath baj gaye."

Partially opening her eyes, Naina muttered groggily "Par aaj toh Sunday hai na..."

Opening the curtains, Vishakha responded "Ha, Sunday toh hai, par tujhe Richa ke function mein jaana hai na?"

Naina immediately sat up "Mumma! Maine usse bola hai main jaldi pohoch jaayungi uski help karne. Swati mujhe sade-nau baaje pick karne aane wali hai. Aapne mein mujhe peheli kyu nahi jaga diya??"

Vishakha tsked "Raat ko dedh baaje bathroom jaane uthi thi tab bhi tera light on tha... project work chalu tha na?? Socha thaki hogi... issiliye sone diya. Aaisa kar ab jaldi tayar hoke hi neeche aa. Aur Swati ke aane se pehele thik se nashta kar lena, pata nahi waha kab khana serve karenge..."

As she headed to the door, she added "Aare ha, Sameer ka phone aaya tha thodi der pehele... woh log nikalne hi wale thay. Keh raha tha... ek-dedh baje tak pohoch jaayega Richa ke farmhouse pe." This news had Naina smiling widely "Main uska kurta... aur ek purani jeans pack kar leti hu!"

* * *

Music was blasting in the backyard of Richa's farmhouse and about fifty men and women ranging from about sixteen to thirty were enjoying the faux Holi event to the tune of 'Rang barse bhige chunarwali rang barse...' From water filled ballons, thalis filled with many colors, to Malpua and Thandai everything was available. Even nature had decided to bless the young couple with an exceptionally warm day for that time of the year!

Face smeared with many colors, Richa giggled linking her arm with Naina "Sab log kitna enjoy kar rahe hai! Thanks yaar, tune aur Swati ne decorations me bohot help ki aaj! Mujhe toh itna acha presentation sujhta hi nahi!"

Naina laughed back, "You are most welcome! Ab itne saal se design ki degree kar rahi hu... kuch toh asar hoga na!"

Her childhood friend, Swati, chimed in "Naina, toh bachpan se hi inn cheezon mein expert hai. Richa, tujhe pata hai, mere 8th birthday se lekar aaj tak, har birthday party ke decoration ka contract main isse hi deti hu!"

Just then Richa was called away for something by her fiancée.

Glancing around Naina muttered "Yaar Swati... do bajne ko aaye... Sameer ab tak nahi aaya..."

Swati first rolled her eyes "Kitni chinta karti hai! Aa jaayega... highway pe traffic hoga.", then continued with a mischievous tone "Chal, hum thoda bhang wala thandai try karte hai!"

Glaring back, Naina retorted "Pagal ho gayi hai kya?! Mujhe koi shauk nahi hai woh sab karke khud ka tamasha bananeka."

Swati sulked "Tamasha kaisa? Sab friends hi toh hai yaha... Aur ab nahi toh phir kab try karenge? Chal na... Richa ke sath sath hum bhi yeh din memorable banate hai!"

Resolutely shaking her head Naina walked away to join some of Richa's younger cousins who were trying to break a colorful, star shaped Pinata hung high from a tree.

One of Parag's cousins who had travelled from the US for the wedding had thought it would be a perfect addition to the theme, or rather a replacement for the traditional dahi-handi. To ensure that the star attraction would last for long, he had hung it quite high. And to keep the suspense high, Parag had refused to reveal the contents of the pinata. So far, the youngsters vying for it hadn't managed to whack it.

* * *

After waving goodbye to his father, Sameer, dressed in jeans, an unbuttoned blue checkered shirt over a white t-shirt, and carrying a small backpack over one shoulder, entered the farmhouse where he was boisterously welcomed by several friends.

Spotting Richa and Parag, amidst the fifteen-twenty odd youngsters chatting in groups inside the open lounge, he headed in their direction, "Big congrats tum dono ko! So, all set to tie the knot?!"

"Thanks yaar! Yes, all set and very eager too!" Parag winked pulling him in a bro hug. Swatting Parag's arm, Richa squealed "Sameer! Toh finally tum aa hi gaye! I am so glad you could make it."

Sameer laughed "Aata kaise nahi?? Warna tum aur Naina, dono ki galiya khaani padti mujhe!"

Richa immediately nodded "Woh toh hai! Bohot help ki hai ussne aaj meri yeh sab setup karne mein! Come, make yourself comfortable. Journey bohot tiring to nahi thi na??"

After assuring her that the journey had been fine, looking around he asked "Naina kaha hai?" Richa gestured toward the back, "Thodi der pehele backyard mein thi... meri cousins ke sath."

Just then Munna pushed toward him "Aare tu kab aa gaya?! Kabse raasta dekh rahe thay hum! Traffic tha kya??" Before Sameer could respond, Pandit thrust a glass of thandai in his hand "Abe Chenu, saare sawal-jawab baad mein kar lena! Pehele bhai ka muh toh meetha kar!"

Richa instantly asked "Muh kyu meetha karna hai?? Koi good news hai kya??"

As Sameer rolled his eyes and Munna slapped his forehead, Pandit stilled for a moment, but quickly recovered "Itni badi party ki khushi kuch kum hai jo koi aur wajah chahiye? Such keh raha hu Richa aaj tak kissi asli holi mein itna mazaa nahi aaya hoga, jitna aaj iss nakli holi mein aa raha hai!"

Feeling very pleased that her party was such a big hit, Richa linked her arms with Parag "Dekha sab ko kitna acha laga humara idea!" Her fiancée smiled back "Tumhara toh har idea ekdum number one hi hota hai!"

Leaving the couple to exchange some more lovey-dovey compliments, the trio walked away. Very thirsty, Sameer quickly downed the glass of thandai and accepted a second from a friend when they stopped to chat with another group.

Some fifteen minutes later, when they were finally on their own, Munna expectantly asked "Toh sab thik??" Before Sameer could respond, Pandit interjected "Tujhe isski shakal dekh ke samajh nahi aa raha hai? Aaya hai tab se sab ko apni battisi kya inn sab ko milne ki khushi mein dikha raha hoga?!" Ignoring Pandit, Munna again asked "Sameer, toh pakka hai?"

Beaming widely, Sameer pulled both his besties in a hug "Ekdum confirmed!"

Sounding emotional, Munna uttered "Yaar, main bata nahi sakta tujhe kitni khushi ho rahi hai mujhe! Kal ghar aaya toh Mummy ne bataya ke tera phone aaya tha jab main bazaar gaya tha. Poocha toh kehene lagi ke tune koi message bhi nahi choda tha... bus kaha hai sab thik hai."

When Sameer responded, "Abe, mausi ko kya batata??", Munna nodded in understanding "Woh bhi hai..."

Pandit nudged Sameer, "Chal peeche garden mein chalte hai... ekdum solid arrangement kiya hain Richa ne!" and added with a teasing look "Aur kuch khaas log bhi wahi hai!" Sameer flushed a little as his friends led him outside, bursting into laughter.

He paused in the doorway, taking in the sight. It would have been impossible to tell that people were celebrating fake holi! Everyone had completely embraced the theme and the backyard was a riot of colors. The plates of colors which had been neatly spread earlier in the day, now resembled a rainbow. A long table covered with a variety of food and drinks was setup in one corner. At another end, a guy was spraying his friends with a hose as they shrieked and tried to evade the cold water. One group had settled in a sunny spot to warm themselves and dry their clothes.

His eyes eagerly scanned the crowd till they found her with a bunch of young girls who were taking turns trying to break the Pinata.

He stilled, noticing that unlike a lot of other people at the party who were completely dressed in white, she was dressed in a black shalwar kameez paired with a white dupatta. Understandably, the dupatta wasn't white anymore!

Sameer's mind flew to the Holi when she was about fifteen, and he eighteen.

* * *

Like each year, the neighbors had played Holi in the lane all morning.

As usual, some people had holed up in their homes till friends had pulled them out! Lots of color had been applied accompanied by delighted shrieks. The kids, and some elders too, had spent the whole morning enjoying the festival of colors.

By lunchtime most of the participants had returned home to bathe and then ravenously eat a larger than usual meal. Only some of the young men had still stayed out to prolong the festivities for as long as possible.

Sameer had been standing with a group of guys, some of whom were visiting one of his neighbors, when Naina along with another neighboring girl, Sonal, walked by. She was running an errand for Vishakha to buy something from the corner shop, and Sonal had tagged along giggling over the highlights of that morning.

Sameer was already annoyed, noting the way the visitors were eyeing the girls, when one of the visitors threw a water balloon at the girls. Much to the guy's bad luck the balloon hit Naina's back and her pale-yellow dress had turned transparent.

The very next second, the boy's leery grin had been wiped off by Sameer's punch.

"Himmat kaise hui teri kissi ladki pe aaise gubara phekne ki? Aur woh bhi hummari gali ki!" he had demanded and landed another punch.

The other boys from the group had to pull Sameer away from the simpering guy with a split bloody lip.

Shocked, Naina had stood rooted in place, till Sameer had pulled her home, lecturing her "Itna kya jaruri tha jo abhi bahar nikli ho?"

When she muttered, "Mumma ne doodh lane ko kaha tha... khane mein kheer banayi toh khatam ho gaya...", he retorted "Thodi der mein main aa hi toh raha tha na? Samajh nahi aati aaj har kone pe aaise-waise log khade hote hai?!"

He had glared at Sonal, "Aur tum toh bina kise kaam ke nikal padi?!" Muttering something incoherent, Sonal quickly ran home leaving Naina to face the music by herself.

Pulling her hand away, Naina had countered "Agar itne hi aaise-waise thay to tum kyu khade thay unke sath?? Tum waha na hote toh main aur Sonal raaste ke uss par se jaati... tumhe unke sath dekha toh mujhe jaruri nahi laga!"

Flustered by her accusation, he first mumbled "Main nahi jaanta unhe... Raja ke pehechan ke thay..." but flared up again "Aur itna bhi samajh nahi aata ke holi ke din kaise kapde pehene chahiye? Kuch aaisa nahi pehen sakati thi jo paani girte hi aaise... paradarshik na ho jaaye?!"

As they entered the gate, he had declared "Aage se holi ke din kuch black pehena karo, samjhi? Mujhe acha nahi lagata ke koi tumse aaise dekhe!"

Since that day, Naina always dressed in black on Holi.

* * *

As he climbed down the few steps leading to the garden, an acquaintance rushed forward with some colors, but Sameer stopped him "Sumeet, please abhi nahi! Pehele change kar leta hu... bhar gaav se direct aaya hu." Sumeet walked away laughing, "Panch minute de raha hu tujhe. Uske baad no excuses!"

Guzzling the rest of the thandai, Sameer handed the empty glass to Pandit "Main abhi aaya. Naina ne mere liye kapade laaye honge."

Pandit smirked "Bilkul bilkul... warne, bina kaam ka toh tujhe usse milne mein koi interest hi nahi hai!", which had Munna laughing aloud.

Coloring at little at the truth in Pandit's remark, Sameer slowly started making his way towards her. Halfway through, he paused seeing Naina was now having a go at the pinata. Or at least trying!

Pride rose within him, Chahe jo bhi challenge ho... kabhi katrati nahi hai! Panch foot ki hai... par phir bhi itna ucha pohochne ka hausla aur zidd rakhti hai!

Aaj jee bhar ke tumhe waise dekh sakta hu, jaisa pata nahi kab se dekhna chahata hu... His heart now felt free to admire her.

The earlier song ended and a new one started.

Patta anaaron ka

Patta chinaaron ka

Jaise hawaaon mein

Aise bhatakta hoon

Din raat dikhta hoon

Main teri raahon mein

He thought - Kasam se aaisa lagta hai meri toh sari zindagi iske aage peeche gayi hai... aur Bhagwan kare, aage ki bhi aaisi hi jaaye!

Mere gunaaho mein

Mere sawaabo mein shaamil tu

Bhooli athanni si

Bachpan ke kurte mein se mil tu

He smiled thinking how she had been his partner in crime during so many of his childhood adventures. And a constant in his life. Humesha sath. Humesha paas.

Rakhun chhupa ke main sab se woh Laila

Maangun zamaane se, Rab se woh Laila

Kab se main tera hoon

Kab se tu meri Laila

His gaze flickered upwards - Naina, upparwale ne toh bina maange hi tumhe meri jholi mein daal diya. Kitna lucky hu na main?!

Teri talab thi haan teri talab hai

Tu hi toh sab thi haan tu hi toh sab hai

Kabse main tera hoon

Kabse tu meri Laila

She held the key to all the yearning of years. She was everything his heart had desired since it had started knowing desire.

O'meri Laila, Laila

Khwaab tu hai pehla

Kab se main tera hoon

Kab se tu meri Laila...

All his dreams were poised to turn into reality. His heart reveled watching the young woman who had enchanted him since she was two months old.

Jaise Laila-Majnu ki mohabbat ki kahaniya mashhur hai... waise hi ek din humari kahani bhi sab ke labbon pe hongi! Jaise unke naam humesha ke liye jude hai, waise hi Sameer and Naina ka naam bhi ek sath hi liya jaayega!

Suddenly feeling a little silly at this thought, he flushed a bit.

Shaking himself out of these daydreams, he took some quick strides in Naina's direction, who currently had her back towards him.

She completely obliviously of his presence was very intently trying to reach the pinata as Swati and the other girls egged her on.

Swati was about to draw Naina's attention to Sameer, when she noticed him, but Sameer gestured to her to keep quiet.

Maangi thi duaayein jo

Unka hi asar hai hum saath hain

Naa yahaan dikhava hai

Naa yahan dunyaavi jazbaat hain

Naina shrieked in surprise when someone suddenly lifted her. Realizing it was him, she squealed at him "Sameer! Kya kar rahe ho?! Neeche rakho mujhe!!" Silently shaking his head, he gestured in the direction of the pinata with his eyes.

Catching on to what he was asking her to do, one of the other girls called out "Yeh toh cheating hui!"

Sameer smirked in reply "All is fair in love and war! Aur mere hote, Naina na jeete... yeh toh ho nahi sakta!"

Yahaan pe bhi tu hooron se zyada haseen

Yaani dono jahaanon mein tumsa nahi

Jeet li hain aakhir mein

hum dono ne yeh baaziyan

Another girl, who was probably fed up with the long wait to sample the contents of the pinata, urged Naina "Didi, tod hi do! Kab se lage hue hai hum... sab ke kitne sare turns bhi ho gaye. Dekhe toh kaunse chocolates bhare hain Parag jiju ne uss mein!"

When a few others voiced their approval, taking a deep breath Naina took a swing at the pinata which finally burst open.

Zaaiqa jawaani mein

Khwaabon mein yaar ki mehmaani mein

Marziyaan tumhari ho

Khush rahun main teri manmaani mein

Only, instead of the treats expected, a big lump of red gulal dispersed in the air, most of which rained down on Naina and Sameer.

Naina instinctively looked down to avoid the color getting into her eyes and then froze seeing Sameer's expression. The glimpse of pure adoration of his face, before the gulal veiled it, took her breath away.

Sameer smiled blissfully thinking it was apt that they had been covered together in the color of love. It felt like an auspicious start to their story.

He wanted to twirl around, holding her high up, and declare that she was his. But mindful of the audience, he slowly lowered her to the ground.

For a few moments Naina watched him uncertainly, trying to make some sense of what she thought his face had reflected. But then deciding it had been just her imagination, she rushed to break the loaded silence "Sameer! Tumhare kapadon mein toh rang lag gaya!" and ordered with an urgency "Jaldi aankhen band karo! Kahi rang na chala jaaye..." Grabbing one end of her dupatta she went on to carefully wipe away the gulal around his eyes.

Bandh aankhein karun

Din ko raatein karun

Teri zulfon ko sehla ke baatein karun

Ishq me un baaton se ho meethi si naraziyan

Munna and Pandit, who had followed their friend, exchanged some smug glances, as Sameer obediently stood in front of Naina with his eyes closed.

Rakhun chhupa ke main sab se woh Laila

Maangun zamaane se, Rab se woh Laila

Kab se main tera hoon

Kab se tu meri Laila

Teri talab thi haan teri talab hai

Tu hi toh sab thi haan tu hi toh sab hai

Kab se main tera hoon

Kab se tu meri Laila

O'meri Laila, Laila

Khwaab tu hai pehla

Kab se main tera hoon

Kab se tu meri Laila...

Most of the youngsters who had been eagerly waiting for the hoped-for foreign chocolates sulked away letdown by the gulal!

Swati too grumbled "Kya yaar Naina, itna time iss pe waste kiya isse acha toh woh... special wali thandai hi peete!"

Munna immediately issued an order "Pandit, special logon ke liye special thandai hazir ho!" Pandit quipped "Mere liye toh yaha aayi hui sari sundar ladkiya special hai! Aur woh kya kehete hai... beauty lies in the eyes of the looker! Toh mujhe toh saari ladkiya sundar hi nazar aati hai!"

Sameer instinctively corrected him "Looker nahi... eyes of the beholder!" To which Pandit responded chuckling "Bhai... kaun kisse hold kar raha tha... yeh toh sabhi ne dekh liya! Kyu chenu??"

Smacking his head, Munna retorted "Special thandai ka bola hai... woh lana chod ke tu bus ulti-seedhi baaton mein laga hai!" Sameer added, sounding irritated "Seedhi nahi... sirf ulti!"

Naina overruled Munna's order "Pandit! Sadhi wali thandani hi lana."

Noticing a guy passing by with a plate of Malpua, Sameer grabbed one. Bringing it near Naina's lips, he uttered with a goofy smile "Tumhara favorite hai na??"

Looking suspiciously at him, she asked "Kya ho gaya hai tumhe?? Pehele dialogue maar rahe thay ke tumhare hote main haar nahi sakti... aur ab Malpua kheela rahe ho??"

Before Sameer could respond, Pandit gleefully announced, "Shayad isse hi pyar ka nasha kehete hai!"

When both Naina and Swati uttered together 'Kya?!", Pandit laughed nervously "Matlab... Richa aur Parag ke pyar ke wajah se yeh yaha aaya... aur jabse aaya hai... do special thandai gatak li... toh ab thoda nasha toh hua hi hoga... shayad..."

"Tumne woh bhang wali thandai pee hai?! Aur wo bhi do-do?! Kuch ho raha hai kya?? Thik ho na?" Naina started interrogating Sameer.

After contemplating on how he was feeling for a few seconds, he muttered "Mujhe toh samjha hi nahi... jo bhi di thi bus pee li..."

"Sar ghoom raha hai kya??" thrusting two fingers in front of his eyes, she continued "Yeh kitne hai??"

He cheekily replied "Naina, lagta hai such much chad lagi hai! Ungliyon ka toh pata nahi... par jaha dekhu, tum hi tum nazar aa rahi ho! Kum se kum dus-bara Naina toh deekh hi rahi hai mujhe!"

Scandalized, believing he was really that intoxicated, she immediately arrived at the conclusion - O... isse toh bohot chad gayi hai! Tabhi... jab thodi der pehele mujhe uthaya tha toh kuch alag hi expressions thay isske... Hey Bhagwan! Shayad isse meri jagah woh Madhuri nazar aa rahi thi!

"Naina, kya soch rahi ho??" tapping her shoulder, Sameer shook her out of her thoughts.

Noting he had not experienced any difficulty recognizing the real her amongst the supposedly dozen Nainas' that he was seeing, she realized that he was just pulling her leg. Grabbing the Malpua from his hand, she stomped away, "Kissi aur ke samne karo apni yeh nautanki! Ullu banana ke liye sirf main hi milti hu kya tumhe?!"

Sumeet and a few other guys approached and started smearing color on Sameer, reminding him he had run out of time.

* * *

After enjoying the event for a couple of more hours, Sameer and Naina were dropped home by their friends.

As expected, Nirmala and Vishakha fussed over them and repeatedly hoped the duo wouldn't fall sick after this unseasonal Holi celebration. Following a long hot baths, both were presented with steaming cups of turmeric milk.

While sipping on the milk, Naina described the event in great detail.

Once her narration concluded, Vishakha turned to Sameer, "Vivek bata rahe thay, tu bohot der baitha Kusum bua ke pass. Ji khush ho gaya tera milke?"

"Haa Mummy, bohot acha laga Kusum dadi se mil kar!" he first smiled, then added pensively "Tabiyat thik nahi hai unnki. Pata nahi agli baar hum waha jaane tak kaise hogi... Acha hua main abhi chala gaya tha. Abhi toh phir bhi baate kar rahi hai."

Vishakha enquired "Kya keh rahi thi?"

Peering into his mother's eyes, Sameer vaguely replied "Kuch humare bachpan ki yaade..."

"Kuch khaas kaha kya?" Vishakha probed, her voice tinged with some apprehension.

Raising a brow, Sameer responded "Khaas matlab? Kya khaas bata sakti hai Kusum dadi mujhe??"

Chucking nervously, Vishakha muttered "Matlab... kuch nahi... bus aaise hi poocha." Quickly changing the topic, she asked "Acha, bachon ko toys ache lage? Dono bohot bade lagane lage honge nahi? Aur Kashi kaisi hai?"

"Kashi ko bataya na ghutno ka tel aur electric pad bheja hai? Warna bag mein reh jayega!" Nirmala expressed her concerns and the topic, once again, turned to Kusum's health.

* * *

Later that night, as Naina stood at her window watching the moon, her thoughts again returned to that look on Sameer's face when he had picked her up, and the myriad feelings that had erupted within her in that moment.

In an attempt to squash any unnecessary analysis of his expression, she firmly told herself - Naina, jarur do mein se ek thandai mein toh bhang rahi hi hogi! Aur usse na pakka hallucination hua hoga... ke usski favorite Madhuri ko uthaya hai!

Though the whole world loved the super star Madhuri Dixit, and to be fair Naina too mostly admired her... at times, she would experience bursts of resentment towards the actress. She found it unfair that all the girls out there felt like they paled in comparison to the on-screen beauty, who the boys couldn't stop drooling over.

Jaan na pehechan... aur main teri sautan!, her heart grumbled. Of course, only on behalf of all these other poor girls out there!

Her brain mocked back, Sajan toh hai nahi... phir sajan bina sautan kaha se aa gayi?!

Trying to push the thoughts of Sameer out of her mind, she settled at her desk to work on an assignment. In the other room, dwelling on the memory from the afternoon of being enveloped in a cloud of gulal with the girl in black, he was happily humming - Mere rang mein rangne wali, Pari ho ya ho pariyo ki Rani, Ya ho meri prem kahani...

* * *

(Happy Holi everyone! May this festival infuse your lives with many beautiful colors of love and joy.

And Ramadan Kareem to all my readers observing Ramadan!

Just to clarify, I have envisioned this story as set in the year 2000s. Considering this, I know the song 'O Meri Laila' is not apt for that time frame. But it was while listening to this song, on loop, that the idea for this story , along with the Holi scene of Samaina being showered in gulal, had popped into my mind. Hence along with the naming this story after it, I have taken some creative liberty and used the song in this chapter. 😊

Do share your thoughts on this part. Writing this part has been my attempt at celebrating this festive season while being far away from India!

Lots of love, May)