Part 7

Naina and Sameer were lost in each other's eyes. Sameer couldn't take his eyes off  of his new bride, according to Panditji. He smiled inwardly as there was much to happen before that actually happened in real. After this major step in life, he was quite content, as if he found his solace and was at peace. He was sure that now whatever happened, he was ready to face it as he had Naina in his life, his own personal miracle. He was such an idiot to not have seen through her before, when she had compromised her principles to save him from punishment due to smoking, wore her best dress for him on his birthday admitting that it was her special dress and how she wore it again 2 days back thinking he liked it. She even took the risk of facing her father's wrath for helping him in studies. Now, it was his turn to endure her wrath when that would come and still never leave her side, come what may.

Naina was so overwhelmed with emotions, she wanted to tell him so many things, pour out her heart to him that even though her family was always her priority, she was ready to fight the world to be with him. She could not believe that a guy like Sameer, who could befriend every and any girl in the school or as he liked to put it "Nainital se Ahmedabad tak", had just given his undying declaration of love to her, committed himself to her for eternity and was Forever Hers. All her dreams related to Sameer were just fulfilled and here she couldn't form one coherent sentence to say back those three magical words that always belonged to him as there was never anyone before Sameer she even gave a passing thought to, and there would never ever be another one. She had so willingly given her hand in his, although never a guy had touched her before, and knew he would always keep it safe and her trust in him intact.  But, she still felt so shy to complete the "You" and continued to stare into his eyes. Finally, mustering the much needed confidence, which his love for her provided, she started to say something.

Naina: Sameer, I.. but he interrupted her.

Sameer: Naina...just when he had finally gathered the courage to tell her about the bet, he saw MP, hastily climbing the temple stairs and calling out to him tailed by Swati.

MP: Sameer, chal yaar jaldi yahan se, woh ladke.....Sameer gave them a death glare and they stopped immediately not understanding why he didn't allow them to complete the sentence.

Just then Swati came up to Naina: Naina, ab chal jaldi, bahut der ho gayi hai, pataa hai na, andhera hone se pehle hostel pahuchna hai, warna Shanti teacher ko kya jawab denge!

Naina was disheartened that again their love moment was interrupted, but she decided to talk to him later at dinner and gave in when Swati started pulling her along.

Sameer continued to stare after her and was dispapointed that once again, the task was incomplete. He turned and looked at Shivji's idol. Kya kar rahe ho bhagwanji? He shook his head in dismay and went away along with MP.

At the hostel room Munna to Sameer: Kya? Tune ab tak Naina ko shart wali baat nahi batayi? Par kyon?

Pandit: Face palmed! Yaar, itni der se saare ulte seedhe hathkande apnakar humne unn ladkon ko mandir se durr rakha, taaki tu araam se Naina ko sach bataa sake aur use samjha sake. Par tune toh kuch bola hi nahi. Arre bhai, agar tune Naina ko sach nahi bataya toh itni der mandir mein tum log kya ghanta baja rahe the ya prasad baant rahe the? Hamari saari mehnat bekar ho gayi!

Sameer was in another world: Nahi yaar, kuch bekaar nahi hua... aaj toh meri life ka sabse achcha din hai! And he went on to describe whatever happened at the mandir.

MP were confused, amazed, and astonished sequentially at what his friend had just executed. He had completely fallen for that behenji, naaa...now bhabhiji. This thought crossed their mind at the same time and they slapped Sameer's back.
MP: Tou aakhir tune uss behenji ko hamari bhabhiji bana hi diya! Sameer smirked slightly and was elated that how easily his friends could accept his every action and be there for him always. They shared their trio hug.

Pandit: Yaar, tune Naina ko apna pyar toh jataa diya, apne baal katakar, par sach ka kya karenge?

Munna: Haan yaar, aur woh shartwale ladke, tujhe aise dekhenge, toh pakaa kuch khurafat karenge! Agar unhone bhabhiji ke samne kuch bakk diya toh saare kiye karaye pe paani fir jaayega!

An idea struck Pandit: Tu na ek kaam kar, iss kamre se bahar hi mat nikalna.

Sameer: Nahi yaaron, tum log tension mat lo, unhe main dekh loonga, par apni Naina ko dekhe bina nahi reh sakta. Kitni der se nahi dekha hai use... ab jo ho jaaye, dinner hall mein toh jaaonga hi!

In the other room, Naina was on cloud nine, floating in her dreamland. She couldn't stop smiling and blushing, and hugging her guglupuchu so hard...

Swati: Naina, buss kar, uss gulgupuchu ko itna zor se gale laga rahi hai, agar Sameer hota toh uksa dum hi nikal jaata.

Naina was so embarassed that she jerked the teddy out of her embrace..and Swati chortled uncontrollably. Chal, ab yeh bhi bataa de ki mandir mein kya hua?

Naina shied away and gazed down...but Swati didn't relent: Ab sharmana chod, chal bataa warna Sameer se poochne chali jaoongi aur abhi jo tu kar rahi thi woh bhi bataa doongi.

Finally, she could manage to make Naina unfold the events of the afternoon. She was so happy for her best friend but at the end of the narration, she scolded her. Naina, tu bhi na kisi black & white film ki heroine ki tarah hai...

Naina gave her an amused expression.
Swati: Arre, Sameer ne apna dil nikalkar tere kadmon mein rakh diya aur tu ne jawab mein use hug karna toh durr, I love you bhi nahi bola! Kya sochta hoga, sach mein behenji hai!

Naina in her and Sameer's defense: Nahi swati, mera Sameer aisa nahi hai! Wo bina kahe hi mere dil ki har baat aakhon mein padh leta hai! Uske liye meri bhavnaein hi kaafi hai, use mere shabdon ki zarrorat nahi hai.... par fir bhi tu sahi keh rahi hai.... mujhe usse kuch toh bolna chaahiye tha! Feeling remorseful, she contuned: Par usne itna sab kuch keh diya aur kar diya, ki mujhe toh kuch suja hi nahi... main toh bass pyar ki nadi mein behti chali gayi, again doning her dreamy look!

Swati: Arre meri swimmer, wapas aa ja... abhi dinner ke liye chal, wahan usse bhi baat kar lena... waise ab toh mein use Jijaji bol sakti hoon na...

Swati loved teasing her best friend...  She was so happy for her; her bff could experience the best feeling of the universe and that too with a partner like Sameer...and an instant thought of Munna flashed across her mind, but she curbed it down... well that could be saved for later, right now it was everything about Naina and Sameer.

At the dinner hall: Naina was restless as Sameer had not shown up yet, just then the heart fluttered singaling his arrival. He had an aura about him that made heads turn and take notice, boys and girls both; girls drooling over his looks, while boys were envious that girls drooled over his personality and charm. But Sameer had eyes only for his girl, and she noticed that so late in the evening and indoors, he had a cap placed on his head very strategically that no one could guess the state of his hair... Naina smiled instantly but didn't understand why he hid them...

They sat at adjoining tables pretending to eat but constantly stared at each other, lost in each other, oblivious to the surroundings and their friends. Thank god they understood them and the depth of their relationship. After dinner, everyone requested Shanti teacher and principal sir to allow them to have their last campfire as they were to leave for home on the following afternoon.

Sameer was dying to spend some alone time with Naina but they could not just sneak out raising suspicion and risking Naina's reputation once more. Nah, he could never allow that and that meant he had to endure the long wait until everyone slept and had to be content with gazing at her from a distance. He also cleverly warded off the questions about donning a cap at night saying that he had been ill a couple of days ago and didn't want to catch cold again.

Finally, after everyone went to sleep in the wee hours of the morning, he sneaked close to Naina, and whispered, "mere saath pehla sunrise dekhne chalogi?" She silently walked with him to their favorite toad rock and sat down at the same spot. Tehcnically, it was their first night together, Sameer blushed inwardly, but he couldn't bring up such terms infront of Naina and make her uncomfortable. He respected her as much as he loved her and would never dream of doing anything untoward lest she would be angry at him. Yaa, he had friends in Nainital, who didn't mind getting physical by holding hands or hugging, but he didn't care much... he didn't like such closeness and usually kept them at bay, nothing more than platonic friendships... but Naina was different....he wanted to be lost in her being forever, but that would happen at the right time... for now, he was happy being in her proximity and basking in her love, care, and trust in him.

He was suddenly reminded again of why he wanted alone time with her... he had to tell her the truth, there could be no more procrastination but he didn't want to ruin the moment for both of them. May be was getting greedy as somewhere he feared losing Naina if she knew the truth. For a moment, he thought, what if he managed to do away with the bet boys and not tell her the truth. Then, they could be together without hassles and she would not be hurt. But then, he reminded himself of his promise to her that he would never lie or hide anything from her... he couldn't build a new relationship on the basis of lies.... Sighing, despite the aversion, he decided to do the right thing... soon...

Naina too couldn't stop gazing into those dark hazel eyes, which conveyed heartfelt emotions. She wanted to tell him how much she loved him... he had a right to know her feelings too and though she knew he would never demand anything from her, not even words, they were his only..

Naina: Sameer, main...

Sameer: Kuch mat bolo naina.... Iss khoobsurat khamoshi ko mehsoos karte hai...ismein hamare dil ki dhakdan sunayi deti hai... tumhe kuch kehne ki zarrorat nahi hai... tumhari aakhon mein khushi, yeh khamoshi, aur tezz saansein, tumhare dil ki har baat mujhe bataa deti hai....and they smiled at each other, reveling in the feeling that in such little time, how well they had come to know each other... how well they could read into each other's souls... so they continued to gaze at the sky and its changing colors signaling the arrival of a new dawn, a new beginning!