Naina nudged him. "Oww...kya hua?" mouthed Sameer, as the professor's voice boomed in the class. Naina looked at him with a pleading expression. At that moment, the bell rang and the professor and the students started emptying out of the class. Sameer stood up to pack his own bag, when he heard Naina whine, "pleasssee!!" "No!" Sameer replied firmly. "Please na Sameer!" Naina implored again. "Naina yaar....baarish ke mausam mein ice-cream kaun khata hai?" Sameer asked, exasperated. "Main khaati hun!" she snapped. "To jao jaake kha lo! Main chala!" he said as he turned to leave the class. "Agar tum mujhe Bandra ke Cream Delight Parlour pe ice-cream khilane nahi leke gaye na....,"Naina's voice threatened. "Toh?" Sameer turned. "Toh main tumse naraaz ho jaungi aur kabhi baat nahi karungi!" she huffed. "Yaar...ye to blackmail hai!" Sameer crossed his brows as well as his arms. "Par kitna tasty blackmail hai na...socho, chocolate, vanilla, strawberryyyy....aur wo jo tum bata rahe Sunday ko khate hain jo ice-cream...wo bhi to try karni hai na!" Naina's replied, her mouth watering with the thoughts of the sumptuous ice-creams. Sameer couldn't help but chuckle, "Sunday ko nahi khate buddhu...uska naam Sundae hai...S U N D A EEEE...Sundae!" "Arey Sunday Monday job hi ho...chalo na please!" Naina squeaked. "Naina...humne kuch promise kiya hai na ek dusre ko!" Sameer reminded her. "Yaar main promise todne ko nahi keh rahi...sachhi...Sameer please...please...please na...3 mahine se ice-cream nahi khayi...tumhe to pata hai na mujhe kitni pasand hai wahan ki ice-cream...aur vaise bhi weekend aa gaya hai...chutti hai...maan jao naaa!" Naina pleaded again. Sameer looked at her for a few seconds and then gave in, "Acha baba theek hai! Lekin zyada mat khana...varna 26 ki jagah 28 ki ho jaogi!" Sameer grinned as he received a smack on his arm for his cheek. "Promise yaad karo...kamar nahi!" she muttered as she dragged him out of the classroom.

As they settled themselves onto Sameer's bike, he looked at the graying, cloudy sky. "Naina...baarish hone wali hai lag raha hai...soch lo bahot dur hai ice-cream parlour...bheeg jayenge!" "Tum baarish se kaise darte ho...bheeg gaye to kya hua...baarish mein bheegne ka hi to maza hai!" Naina spread her hands out as if feeling the fresh air. Sameer revved the bike and soon they were on the way to Naina's favourite ice-cream parlour. Around a quarter of an hour later, Sameer parked his bike outside the shop. By now, the skies were already thundering, and the sun had completely hidden itself behind the black clouds. As Sameer and Naina ordered their ice-creams, they saw it had started raining outside.

"Bola tha na baarish hogi!" Sameer frowned, as they settled themselves at a table besides the window. "Arey chodo na baarish ko...ye Banana split wali badi achi hai...maine to kabhi khayi hi nai aisi ice-cream....ye lo try karo...," Naina thrust a spoonful towards Sameer. Sameer obeyed her and tasted it, "hmm...hai to...choice kiski hai?" he winked at her. "Meri choice ki...," Naina flirted back. "Naina! No!" Sameer raised his eyebrows. "Sorry...sorry...sorry!" she held her ears in apology. They sat there enjoying their ice-creams, while the rain outside was getting harder now. Sameer and Naina decided to wait till the downpour stopped to get back to their respective college hostels. But two hours later, the rain still showed no signs of relenting. They finally decided to leave, even if that meant getting wet in the rain. But they'd hardly crossed the first signal, when they were greeted with a traffic jam, caused due to water-logging in the area. They stood there getting drenched in the heavy rain, as the traffic continued to mound. Sameer tried to figure out alternative routes, but it seemed that all routes had been jammed. Then they decided to park the bike in a safe location and leave by the local train. But a nearby auto driver informed them that the train services had been hampered as well. At the end, there was no local, no buses, no taxis anywhere near to their destination.

"Ab bhugto...kal raat bhar bhi baarish hoti rahi thi...subah bhi huyi...lekin nahi...tumhe to ice-cream khani hai na!" Sameer exclaimed indginantly, as he and Naina continued to wait for the traffic to move in the rain. Naina couldn't meet his gaze. By then, the water levels had risen to certain uncomfortable levels for Sameer to be able to ride his bike as well. He glanced at his watch, "8.30!" he sighed and contemplated on a way out. "Naina...yahan se to nikalne se rahe...ek kaam karte hain yahaan aas pass dinner kar lete hain...shayaad tab tak baarish thodi ruk jaye aur trains chalu ho jayein...bike pe jaana to possible hai nahi ab!" Sameer suggested. Naina nodded, feeling guilty that she'd dragged them into this mess today.

With dripping wet clothes, they entered a nearby restaurant and settled down for dinner. After the 45 minutes or so they spent on dinner, the situation was nowhere close to improving. "9.15!" he exclaimed, as he eyed the darkened, water-logged roads morosely. "Aaj to hostel pahunchne se rahe!" he looked at Naina. "Sorry Sameer...maine zidd ki...mujhe nahi pata tha haalat itni kharaab ho jayegi!" Naina mumbled, looking at the floor. Sameer looked at her and mellowed down. "Koi nahi! Aadha ghanta aur rukte hain...nahi to yahan aas pass raat ko rukne ki koi jagah dekhte hain!" Sameer reassured her. But the rains were incessant and the traffic was increasing to unimaginable levels. Sameer then went over to the manager of the restaurant and discussed accommodation options nearby as Naina waited for him at the entrance. "Chalo!" Sameer said, as he finally emerged out of the lobby. They again stepped out into the rain and walked for another 15 minutes to a nearby inn. As they entered inside, Sameer sneezed, "Achho!" Naina was feeling miserable now. She knew he caught cold easily, and he'd been wet for like hours now. It was all her fault! What was the need to have ice-cream today?

"Do rooms chahiye humein, aaj raat ke liye!" Sameer requested to the lady at the reception, as he took out his wallet to pay. "I'm sorry sir...but hamare pass sirf ek hi room available hai!" the receptionist replied. Sameer turned to look at Naina and back to the receptionist, "dekhiye na please kuch ho toh!" "Sorry sir!" she shook her head. "Aur koi hotel hai aas-pass?" Sameer enquired. "Sir aaj baarish ki wajah se kaafi log fase huye hain...isliye kaafi places booked hain...aur sir dusra hotel to yahaan se 5km door hai...aur wahan bhi availability hai ki nahi pata nahi!" she explained. Sameer was thinking what to do, when another man came upto the reception and demanded for a room- the last room in the inn. "Wo hum le rahe hain!" Sameer snapped, before the receptionist could answer the other man. She nodded and apologized to the new customer, "I'm sorry sir...we are full now!" Sameer completed the formalities and then he and Naina headed to their room. "Sorry yaar...wo ek hi room available tha!" Sameer stated, and Naina nodded, "koi baat nahi Sameer...thank you!"

It'd been almost a week, since they'd been together in a room, all alone. Their feelings were hard to suppress, considering they used to pounce upon each other, the moment they got some privacy. "Uhhmmm...! Uhh...tum bathroom mein jaake change karlo...bheeg gayi ho...thoda garam paani se naha lo nahi to beemar pad jaogi!" Sameer muttered, as he himself sneezed. "Tum pehle jao...beemar tum ho!" she commanded. "Nai...tum jao...main coffee order karta hun tab tak...jao ab jaldi!" he coerced her. Naina smiled inwardly, "was he was worried about her more than himself or just trying to act gentlemanly? Whatever be the reason- it was extremely sweet of him!"

20 minutes later, Naina emerged after taking a bath. Sameer clenched his fists to take control, as he saw her wrapped in a long white towel, her hair dripping with water, her fair skin accentuated under the effect of the rain. Their eyes met and the next instant, Naina averted his gaze as she clutched the towel tightly, and tried to cover herself as much as she could. Sameer gulped. "Of course, they don't have any spare clothes!" he thought, as he caught himself staring at her bare shoulders and legs.

"Woah!" he shook his head to bring himself back into his senses, and went into the bathroom. He let the jet of hot water drench his body, in an attempt to quench the bubbling emotions inside him. He stroked his hand through his hair, letting the water warm his body, yet he couldn't wash away the arousing sight of Naina wearing just a towel. "No Sameer! She's a good girl!" he reiterated to himself, as he turned the shower off and patted himself dry. He then wrapped the other spare towel around his lower body. As soon as he opened the door, his eyes fell upon her, now sitting on the bed, fidgeting with the towel still clutched tightly in her hands. She too turned to look at him, and felt a lump form in her throat, as she saw his staggering male physique draped in a towel, and his hair dripping water onto his chest. "He was right! Ice-cream today was a bad idea!" she groaned to herself.

Sameer stayed put for a minute at the bathroom door, and then moved to the table where he'd kept the coffee jar. "Naina! Ye lo tumhari coffee...extra sugar wali!" Sameer finally broke the silence. Naina looked at the coffee cup in his hand and smiled gratefully. She came and sat on the chair opposite him. "Achoo!" Sameer sneezed again. "Sameer...tumhe to sardi ho gayi...,"Naina mumbled helplessly. "Kya karun...ek pagal ladki Bombay ki baarish mein ice-cream khilane le aayi aur main bheeg gaya!" he giggled as he saw the pained look on Naina's face. "Abey coffee pike theek ho jayega...tension mat lo...itni si cheenk se bhi koi darta hai?" he smiled, trying to placate her.

They drank their coffee in silence, all the while, trying not to look at each other. And when the coffee finished, both waited for the other to move. Seeing no response from Naina, Sameer got up from his chair. But incidentally, Naina chose the same moment to stand up and in turn, they both came close to each other, face to face. Their eyes met, their breathing turned slow and heavy. Sameer tried to avert his gaze, but couldn't. His feet took a step closer to her, against his apparent wishes. Naina felt her knees go wobbly under the effect of his proximity. Her gaze lowered itself to the floor. And then she felt his hands on her. Surprised, she looked at up him again and saw what must have been mirroring in her own eyes- desire. Sameer took another step towards her, but Naina didn't move away- couldn't move away. Not that she wanted to. She felt his fingers slide away the locks of wet hair on her face, as her eyes remained captivated by his. And then his hand moved down along her bare skin, to her towel, to the place where she'd tucked it in for support. Sameer heaved, as he saw his fingers attempting to undo the towel. And the next instant, the towel covering Naina had fallen down to the floor. The sight which now greeted him made it impossible to abstain any longer. He yanked Naina towards him, plastering her body onto his and his lips fell upon hers. Naina found her arms encircling his back as she too gave into the feeling she'd been desperately yearning for. She responded to the kiss with zeal, as her hands undid the towel from his waist. Sameer couldn't help himself. He lifted her in his arms and put her to bed. As he scrambled on top of her, he managed to utter, "humne promise kiya tha...!" "Aage se aise promise karenge hi nahi jo nibha nahi sakte...," Naina completed for him, as she pulled him closer to her and began kissing him ardently. It did not matter, who tried to control and who tried to initiate. They both made love to each other again, as the clouds thundered and the rain pattered hard against the windows. It was as if the rains had conspired to bring the two souls together again tonight.

***

Six more months passed by. Naina and Sameer both knew they were going too far in their relation- without even a formal commitment of liking, love or marriage. Sameer hardly paid heed to the advances of any other woman now and Naina rarely found time for anything except her studies and Sameer. During one such night in Naina's room, Sameer and Naina were sitting in each other's arms- Naina resting her head on his chest. They had made out a few minutes back. Sameer grazed his fingers over her thighs, and kept encircling them around, while his eyes gazed into the distance thoughtfully. "Aisa...kab tak chalega Naina? Ye sahi nahi hai....," he said, for the umpteenth time. "Jaanti hun...ye bahot galat hai...par main tumse door nahi reh paati...," she answered, for the umpteenth time as well. "Main bhi nahi...lekin kyun....ye sab isliye shayad hum akele hain...haan isiliye toh...," said Sameer, trying to convince himself more than Naina perhaps. Naina looked at him and sighed, 'if only he could realize...but wouldn't he have understood it by now if he was in love?" Sameer continued, "Naina hum dhyaan to rakhte hain...lekin isme problems ho sakti hain...kisi ko pata chal gaya toh...tumhari badnaami hogi...aur...aur kuch galat ho gaya toh....?" He was worried for her. "Badnaami to tumhari bhi hogi na...?" Naina asked softly. "Mera to naam hi badnaam hai...aur kya hoga...," he spoke in a disconcerted zone.

"Mom ka phone aaya?" she asked after a while. Sameer shook his head in negative. Naina felt pity on him. On Naina's insistence, Sameer had called up his mother to talk. Naina felt it might fill in the gap in the mother-son relationship. But Vishakha had been involved in a high-end business meet with her husband and had told him she'll call him back when she was free. That was two weeks back. Naina didn't know how to react. She too never had a mother. Still she felt Sameer's condition was worse than hers. At least she could never set any expectations from her mother. But Sameer- he had the woman who'd given birth to him, yet she seemed so aloof, so far-out-of reach. But then, this could have been another of Sameer's lies...lies about having a disturbed family that could easily get a girl into bed with him. But she managed to play along, choosing to trust him, choosing to make a fool out of herself. Because she assumed he was genuine with her. Love trusted blindly. Naina knew that she was irretrievably, madly, desperately in love with him. But now, day-by-day, night-by-night, he was growing on her. Naina shuddered to think what would happen in a few months, when the college would finish. Sameer hadn't said he loved her as yet. What if he didn't? He would move on, but what about her? Should she tell him how she feels? Would he then reciprocate or would he try to maintain a distance from her? She tried to brush away those thoughts as she turned to kiss Sameer again. She pushed him down on the bed as Sameer relished the dominant side of her. Before realizing, the couple was making out again.