"Thud...thud...," a series of loud knocks awoke Naina one fine morning. Sameer too groaned in sleep, lying besides her, spooning her. "Kaun hai yaar...wo bhi itni subah subah...," he half thought as he held onto her tighter. And then suddenly, both Naina and Sameer got up and looked at each other. "Thud, thud...Naina!" came in a girl's voice through the door. It was 6am. Who had come in to visit Naina this early in the morning? Now fully alert, Sameer and Naina hastily dressed up. "Nainaa...!" the voice shouted again! "Aa....aayi...ek minute...bbbathroom me hun...," Naina shouted back. "Tum jao...hum baad me milte hain...dhyaan se...koi dekh na le...," Naina ushered Sameer towards the window of her room. She quickly took a peek to see the coast was all clear. It really helped Sameer and Naina's arrangement that Naina's window looked onto an abandoned piece of garden, with dense foliage surrounding it. As Sameer was about to climb down, Naina muttered, "Ek minute...!" She hastily cupped his face and gave him a quick, deep kiss on his lips. Sameer closed his eyes and reciprocated with intensity as he clambered down the pipe next to her room. Naina saw him reach the ground safely and tied her dressing gown around her form swiftly, as she ran to open the door.

"Shefali? T..tuuu?" came out from her mouth in surprise. "Tu tu... is waqt?" Naina stammered. "Haan...kyun? Tu shayad kuch bhool rahi hai!! Happy wala Birthday Naina!!!" screamed Shefali with joy. It was then that Naina saw a homemade birthday cake in her hand. "Birthday! How could she and Sameer forget!" Naina quickly closed the door as Shefali entered. "Thank you Shefali!" Naina exclaimed as the two friends hugged.

Last night, Sameer too had come in to her room, taking her by surprise. He'd got her a birthday cake and they'd cut it at dot 12. Sameer told her he'd to leave for Ahemdabad early next morning for some urgent work with Nanu, but he'd wanted to celebrate her birthday before he left. That's why he gave her a midnight surprise. And then they had celebrated with cake and some dancing. "Sameer! Thank you! Mujhe to laga bhi nahi tha ki tumhe mera birthday yaad bhi hoga!" Naina expressed her gratitude. "You are welcome...aise kaise yaad nahi hoga yaar...aur vaise bhi ab hum jaani dushman nahi hain...best friends hain!" replied Sameer. "Best friends...," thought Naina, as her smile faded. She was someone who had believed in the sanctity of friendship, even if it was a friendship of a special kind, even if it was love. And yet, here she had slept with Sameer innumerable times and he still called them as 'best friends'!

Sameer jerked her back into the present as he playfully tapped her head. "Mera yahan tumhare alawa kaun hai...arey ek minute...kahin tum wo Tibrewal ka intezaar to nahi kar rahi thi na wish karne ka, aur main aa gaya...," Sameer joked. It was Sameer's turn to be punched now as Naina grinned. "Kuch bhi...wo to chewing gum hi tha...! Vaise chewing gum se yaad aaya...Meghnaa kaisi hai?" she asked, trying to act casual. She still sometimes felt envious of her. "Bahot sexy hai...," pat came the reply. "Sameer!!" Naina pushed him playfully. He chuckled, "us din ke baad se mujhe dekh ke hi door bhaagti hai...Yaar ye idea pehle aazmana chahiye tha!" "Aur vaise tum zyada sexy ho Ms. 34-26-36!" Sameer quipped mischieviously. Naina blushed as Sameer added with a wink, "pehle se pata thi...bola tha na X-ray hai aankhon mein!" And then he'd again pulled in his arms and kissed her voraciously. And then they moved to the bed to make the night even more memorable.

Tired with the celebrations, they had slept there on Naina's bed spooning each other. Well, they had completely overlooked the fact that someone could come rushing to wish Naina on her birthday this early in the morning!

"Naina!" Shefali clicked her fingers in front of her, "kahan kho gayi?" "Uhh...wo aah...kuch kuch nahi!" stammered Naina. "Tu aa baith na...!" she invited Shefali to sit inside. Shefali came near her bed. "Naina...matlab hostel jaake na tu ekdum bigad gayi hai...," Shefali chided her. "Tu..tujhe kaise pata?" Naina blurted out, afraid that she got to know about her and Sameer. "Pata kaise nahi chalega...ye chaadar ki halat dekh...tu raat ko bistar pe so rahi thi ya kood rahi thi...," Shefali exclaimed. "Ohh...wo wo... change...change karni thi na...," Naina replied, thinking, "kood hi to rahi thi raat bhar Sameer ke saath bistar par!"

"Sach me Naina...kitna messy room ho raha hai tera..., ye kya wrappers feke huye hain! Ruk main clean karti hoon!" Shefali started collecting the wrappers of the chips and chocolates that Sameer had bought for her birthday party last night. As Shefali was throwing the wrappers in the dustbin, she caught hold of one small, half-torn packet. She looked closely at it and when she read what the label said, a wave of shock amalgamated with horror passed through Shefali's eyes. She read it again, reread it, because she could not believe it. Shefali turned to face Naina in shock, and Naina saw the small, black package in her hand. "Was it the...the wrapper of...?" Naina's heart skipped a beat. She and Sameer forgot to throw it away in a hurry this morning. It was still lying hidden under the very bed she was sitting upon right now. And now the wrapper which held proof of all Naina's wrongdoings was in Shefali's hand. Sameer usually brought a stack with him for their night-outs together, considering how wild they'd become. Most of the times, they would use it. Other times, when Naina, being the bookworm, had researched it should be safe or when their passions were unable to be tamed, they forgot about them. And then, Naina and Sameer would fervently wait the entire month for her monthly cycle to arrive, and heave a sigh of relief when it did. How Naina wished they'd not used protection last night as well! Then, Shefali would not have found that wrapper on the floor. Naina was in a fix about what to tell her now.

"Naina...ye kya hai?" Shefali's voice had a sense of urgency and formality now. "Wo...wo...kya hai... pta nahi...shayad hawa se udd ke aaya hoga...," Naina muttered, her eyes on the floor. "Hawa se udd ke...tere hi kamre mein...ye packet...?" Shefali spoke, her anger and disappointment now evident in her voice. "Kaun hai wo hawa jo ye leke aaya tha?" she demanded from Naina, suddenly understanding the reason behind the delay in the opening of the door, the crumpled bedsheet, and the messy room. Naina stood silent, unable to think of a plausible excuse to escape the situation.

"Naina Agarwal!" Shefali almost screamed at her. "Tere liye behtar yahi hoga ki tu apna muh khol abhi isi waqt...nahi to ye wrapper main tere ghar, teri Taiji ko bhejne wali hoon!" Shefali threatened her. With the mention of her Taiji, Naina immediately found her voice. "Taiji...nahi nahi...Shefali...tu meri dost hai na...please aisa mat kar!" she started pleading. "Dost hun...aur teri bhalayi chahti hun...isiliye aisa karungi...agar tune mujhe us ladke ka naam nahi bataya toh...aaj tu galat hai Naina aur Taiji sahi!" Shefali hollered at her.

Naina slumped onto her bed, her eyes fixated on the floor again, as she slowly uttered, "Sameer...". "Sameer?...Kaun Sameer?" Shefali asked as she came closer to her. Naina looked up at her, her eyes a sorry picture. And then recognition dawned on Shefali. "Wo Sameer?...Sameer Maheshwari?" she exclaimed in surprise. Naina nodded slightly. "Naina!" Shefali slapped her palm to her forehead as she too slumped on the bed besides her. She was extremely worried for Naina now. And then, Naina told her everything from the beginning of their physical intimacy. How that night she'd been vulnerable and drunk. How Sameer had tried to help her! And how even he had lost control and they had finally slept together. Both of them had been embarrassed after that incident, but soon, the night had repeated again. And then again. Until it became routine for them. Somehow they'd failed miserably at staying away from each other.

Shefali listened to all this intently and with growing disapproval. "Naina...tu aise kaise kar sakti hai...tu to itni samajhdaar thi...fir tune kaise kisi ladke ko apna fayeda uthane diya...aur ek baar nahi baar baar...tujhe kya lagta hai haan Sameer tujhse pyaar karta hai? Shaadi karega tujhse? Sameer ek ladka hai Naina...wo bhi bigda hua aur bura ladka... tune hi toh mujhe uske baare mein sab bataya tha na...ki usne papers ki chori ki thi...cigarette peeta tha...badtameez tha...Naina thoda to soch...kya use ladkiyon ki kami hai? Wo crorepati hai...khubsurat hai...use teri kya zarurat hogi? Uske liye har raat ek nayi ladki aa sakti hai wo chahe toh...," Shefali tried to drill sense into her. "Par aayi to nahi na...aur papers ki chori usne nahi ki thi...Arjun bhaiya ne ki thi," Naina interjected. "Arjun ne?" Shefali's eyes widened in surprise. Naina looked at her and nodded.

"Shefali...dekh main jaanti hun tu is sab ke baare mein kya soch rahi hai...aur main sach keh rahi hun maine Sameer se door rehne ki koshish ki...usne bhi ki...wo itna bura nahi hai yaar...halaat ka maara hai...maine use galat samjha tha...wo to meri fikr karta hai...usne mujhse khud kaha tha ki wo mere saath sirf is sab ke liye nahi hai...par wo mujhe apni bahot achi dost bhi manta hai...usne mujhe apni family ke baare mein bhi sab bataya...kaise uski mummy bhi usse pyaar nahi karti...kaise...," Naina was cut-off by Shefali. "Aur tune sab maan liya Naina? Tujhe kaise pata usne jo bhi kaha wo sab sach tha? Aur chal maan liya ki sab sach hai bhi...ki wo teri fikr karta hai...wo tera fayeda nahi utha raha...but in dedh-do saal mein usne ek baar bhi tujhse kabhi kaha ki wo tujhse pyaar karta hai...ya tujhse shaadi karega...kal ko college khatam ho jayega...fir kya karegi tu? Kya Sameer ne tujhse is baare mein baat ki hai kabhi? Kabhi tujhse kaha ki wo college ke baad bhi tere saath rahega...zindagi tere saath guzarega? Kabhi kaha kya?" Shefali shook her by her shoulders as she questioned her exasperatedly.

"Naina...meri baat dhyaan se sun...Sameer ek ladka hai...use tujhse wo mil raha hai jo ek ladke ko ek ladki se chahiye hota hai...aur agar ladki saamne se aati hai...to wo use bhala kyun mana karega....wo tere saath aise hi karta rahega jab tak uska man nahi bhar jaata...aur uske baad...tujhe chod dega...fir...uski zindagi me koi aur...lekin tu kya karegi Naina...jee payegi uske bina...main to sochti thi tune apne man se uska khayal hamesha ke liye hata diya tha school ke baad...lekin ye sab....aur Naina...apne baare mein to soch...wo ladka hai...kal to kuch galat salat ho gaya to badnaami teri hogi...uski nahi....," Shefali added anxiously. Naina listened silently as each and every word of hers gashed her heart like a knife. "Wo kahega mujhse main jaanti hun Shefali...Sameer aisa nahi hai jaisa tu sochti hai...," Naina tried to defend Sameer somehow, though knowing deep down, Shefali was right- Sameer had never given the slightest hint that he loved her till now!

Shefali sighed as she shook her head, feeling distraught at Naina's guileless behaviour. Suddenly, Shefali's face turned pale as she enquired, "Naina...kya...kya abhi tak sab theek hai...kuch gadbad huyi hai kya?" Naina looked at her with misty eyes for a while and then shook her head. "Date aayi thi thode din pehle!" she responded. And then, overcome with emotion, she hugged Shefali and started crying. Shefali patted her shoulders in an attempt to comfort her. Never had she known Naina would fall in such a deep mess...did she love Sameer this much that she crossed all her moral boundaries just to be with him? How she wished Naina had fallen for a sensible guy who had the guts and the willingness to commit to her for life, unlike that depraved Sameer.

Shefali finally commanded a sobbing Naina. "Naina...you have to end this...and end it as early as possible! Tujhe seedhe jaake usse apni dil ki baat kehni hogi...agar usne haan kaha to theek hai main tere saath hun...bas uske reaction se samajh jaana ki wo tujhse pyaar karta hai ya nahi...ki use sach mein teri fikr hai ya sirf waqt kaat raha hai yahaan. Naina! Jitni jaldi tu isse aar ya paar niklegi utni hi jaldi tere liye behtar hoga...ye bahot risky hai...aur agar kisi rishte ka koi bhavishya nahi....us rishte ko bandhne, sambhalne wala thokar hi khata hai!" Shefali and Naina spent the whole of Naina's birthday in that room, talking about how to take things forward.

***

"Arey so raha ye toh abhi bhi...!" exclaimed Munna to Pandit as they entered Sameer's room. Nanaji had informed them that Sameer had come back last night. He was here for two-three days, but Munna and Pandit were eager to meet their friend, so they rushed upto his room as usual, planning on giving him a surprise.

Both Munna and Pandit jumped to either side of Sameer's bed as he slept ensconced in between them. "Haaye kitna pyaara lag raha sote huye...," Munna started grinning and he stroked his cheeks playfully. Sameer smiled in his sleep and moaned softly. Munna and Pandit looked at each other and began stroking his cheeks again, giggling at his response. Sameer's smile grew wider at each touch of Munna's fingers, when in half-sleep, he flung Munna down beneath him and caught hold of his wrists, as he almost stooped over to kiss him. And then as Sameer tried to open his eyes, he felt Naina's usually delicate wrists seemed to have fattened overnight. And did she not wax her hands for like the past one year? No yesterday, they were not like this. What was...? And then Sameer's sleep vanished as his eyes opened to Munna's horrified expression. His gaze darted over to his hand, which had enclasped Munna's and then over to Pandit's alarmed face. He immediately straightened up and ruffled his silky hair as he sat upright on the bed.

"Tum log itni subah subah...yahan kya kar rahe ho?" he stammered unable to meet their piercing gazes. Munna and Pandit didn't find words for at least a minute as they too got up and looked at Sameer, disbelievingly. Finally, Pandit spoke up, "Hum nahi to tujhe kya laga kaun hai?" "Wo...koi nahi...main sapna dekh raha tha...," Sameer lied through his teeth as he slid down the bed. "Sapna...aur sapne mein kise kiss karne wala tha? Mujhe?" asked Munna sharply. "Dekh bhai...main tera na bhai hun...teri mausi ka beta...aur main na vaisa hoon nahi...main to wo Swati se shaadi bhi karne wala hoon...," Munna started explaining. "Main bhi nahi...," Pandit offered from his side as well. "Chup karo Munna, Pandit...kuch bhi bole ja rahe ho!" Sameer snapped, as he plopped himself down on the wooden sofa in irritation.

Munna and Pandit too climbed down the bed and moved to the chairs besides the sofa where Sameer was sitting. "Bhai...Nanaji kya sochenge...aur mausi...wo to soch rahe hongi...bahu aayegi...lekin tu toh...ladke se shaadi karega?" Pandit started thinking about the repurcussions this revelation of Sameer would have on the family. "Munna! Bahu agar ladka ho to use kya bolenge...baha?" Pandit enquired seriously. "Kya?" Sameer almost yelled. "Ho gaya tum dono ka...main kisi ladke nahi...ladki ke baare mein hi soch raha tha...!" he snapped irritatedly. "Acha...kaun?" quipped Munna. "Naina!" The name escaped Sameer's mouth before he could think. Munna and Pandit were too quick as they saw him bite his tongue. "Naina...Kaun Naina?" "Naina Agarwal? Maniben! Wo Safari suit ki beti? Wo teacher ki chamchi!" they started. This morning was giving them strange surprises. "Chup karo tum dono...wo Naina nahi please! Main to Naina Chaudhary ke baare mein soch raha tha!" Sameer now lied coolly. "Acha Naina Chaudhary!" Munna and Pandit looked at each other again, not at all convinced. "Kahan rehti hai ye Naina Chaudhary?" Munna asked. "Haan...aaj tak to kabhi tere muh se iska naam bhi nahi suna...photo dikha...uske sapne dekh raha hai to photo to hogi na...kahan rehti hai...kaunse course mein hai...gori hai...kaali hai...height kitni hai...moti hai ya patli hai...," Munna and Pandit continued with their tirade of questions about Naina Chaudhary, much to Sameer's irritation. "Yaar please chup karo!" he voiced exasperatedly.

"Dekh Sameer...tu hamse kuch chupa raha hai...tujhe hamari...hamari dosti ki kasam....sach bata...tu Naina Chaudhary ke baare mein soch raha tha ya fir us Maniben ke baare mein?" Pandit gave him an ultimatum. Sometimes, when your friends knew you better than you knew yourself, it could be a pain in the a**. Sameer sighed and told the truth finally, "Naina Agarwal!" Munna and Pandit were shocked to the hilt. They'd been under the assumption that she was just a classmate for him, in school and in college as well. And they had been sure that Sameer had infact always loathed that girl. Never had they imagined that Sameer would be dreaming about her, and thinking of her in this way. They goaded him for details and Sameer finally gave in. Maybe he too needed to share the complexities in his life with someone. And who could be better than his two best friends?

Munna and Pandit listened to the entire story, right from the drunken one-night stand which had happened by mistake. And then the many nights, which had ensued, the trying-to-stay-away and not-being-able-to and finally giving in, to the kind of bond that Sameer and Naina shared by now. With each word of Sameer, Munna and Pandit started getting convinced that Sameer had developed feelings for Naina. His behavior in the past few months had already cast a shadow of doubt on their minds, what with his sudden, strange abstinence to cigarettes and alcohol. To check, Pandit lit a cigarette in front of him and offered one each to Munna and Sameer. "Mood nai hai yaar...," Sameer refused. Again, Munna and Pandit locked eyes and smiled. "Jo banda din mein 2 packet cigarette ka pi jata tha...jise subah uth ke paani ki jagah cigarette, daru ki zarurat hoti thi...wo bol raha hai 'mood' nahi hai...ajeeb baat hai!" said Pandit. "Naina ke saath tu kya rehne laga ki uske sanskaar tere andar aa gaye aur tere uske andar....," Munna poked humourously. "Arey Munna...maine kaha tha na tujhse kuch gadbad hai...pyaar aisa hi to hota hai...," added Pandit. Munna hummed in acquiescence.

Sameer felt himself go red in the cheeks as he tried to wave it off. "Pyaar...kuch bhi! Wo bhi Naina aur main! Possible hi nahi hai...Hum dono mein aisa kuch bhi nahi hai...na uski taraf se na meri taraf se...hum bas dost hain...aur uske alawa wo sab...baaki kuch nahi...," Sameer tried to clarify. "Acha...chal maan liya...pichle kareeban do saal mein...aur kitni ladkiyon ke saath soya tu....ya kitni ladkiyon se baat bhi ki tune?" Munna asked again, to which Sameer crinkled his eyebrows, trying to remember. "Damn...not even a single name crossed his mind...no one!" he thought. Munna smiled, noticing Sameer's frown as he fiercely tried to recall, "ek bhi nahi na...". "Aur tu Naina ke saath dedh-do saal se hai...matlab jo Sameer kisi ladki se ek raat mein hi bore ho jaata tha...wo do saal se ek hi ladki ke saath hai...aur usse door hai to bhi usi ke sapne dekh raha hai...Sameer kaunsi duniya mein hai tu?" Munna and Pandit blurted as Sameer tried to make sense out of their talk. "Sameer...Naina ke baare mein yaad kar...jab hum school mein the...kya usse koi sanskari ladki kabhi dekhi thi tune? To kya wajah hogi ki usne achanak khud ko tan-man se tere hawale kar diya hai...wo bhi itne mahino se?" Munna stated. "Abhi hum jaate hain...dukaan pe jaana hai...tab tak ye baith ke sochna aaram se...ki kahin is khel khel mein tujhe Naina se pyaar to nahi ho gaya...saccha wala pyaar...shaadi wala pyaar!" they said as they left the room, a mischevious and understanding grin on both their faces, while Sameer kept looking at them incredulously.

"Love? Was he in love with Naina? NO! NO! He cannot be!" he gulped. And then, Sameer shuddered as a thought waded into his mind. What about Naina then? What if Naina doesn't just like him? What if she is in love with him? True love? Would she want a commitement from him now? Was he ready for any commitment? He wasn't, he decided. He could never give himself away for love- no matter how good he felt in her arms. He knew that such things were only temporary- it was only attraction he'd felt for her and obviously some concern since she was now his friend. There was no such thing as true love- or love which lasted a lifetime, Sameer affirmed to himself.