Part 36

An eternity might have passed and it wouldn't have fazed them, but a loud chiming of the temple bells as more and more devotees paraded around the premises to perform their morning religious rituals broke their trance. Both blushed but still couldn't look away before finally Sameer asked, "waise tum kaho toh aaj school se bhaagkar ghumne ja sakte hai. Celebrate karne!"

He was only teasing her but Naina's eyes widened in horror. How much ever she might have changed in love and put him above everyone, there were some values that were not rules but her characteristics and complete dedication towards studies was one of them.

Seeing her reaction, Sameer clarified with a playful grin, "Arre mazak kar raha tha".

Knowing that she was played, she pursed her lips, rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"Ab school chale?" Though he actually yearned to spend some time only with her and would have done exactly that if she had shown the slightest inclination—consequences be damned—he knew such a dream was off the table yet.

She smiled and they started their descent of the 4-5 steps to collect their shoes. This time both sat on the lowermost step to tie their laces and when Naina was still struggling with the bandaged hand to grip the lace enough to tie like the rabbit ears, Sameer without seeking permission tugged it away from her hand and completed the chore. Only then did he look up to gauge her reaction and was relieved and happy to see only a blush and no malice. She loved him, that he knew, but was more than gratified that finally, he had got her to trust him completely.

They made their descent to the parking area and Sameer moved towards his bike. Now it was Naina's turn to be completely surprised and confused. Just before he was mounting, he saw her gaping at his ride and he asked, "kya hua Naina? Kya soch rahi ho? Chalo baitho warna school ke liye late ho jayenge!" Saying so, he straddled the bike and was waiting for her.

"Sameer...bike par? Tumhari gaadi kahan hai?" She asked hesitatingly not sure how to explain her concern.

"Gaadi mein petrol khatam ho gaya tha iss liye toh wapas jaakar bike laani padi. Tabhi toh mandir pahunchne mein thodi si der ho gayi". He explained and continued, "ab chalo warna school pahunchne mein bhi der ho jayegi".

"Sameer...bike par kaise ja sakte hai?" She still couldn't phrase her thoughts into words.

"Jaise gaadi mein jate hai!" He raised his brows and stated the obvious.

"Sameer...gaadi mein saath mein jana ek baat hoti hai par bike pe jana..." she left her thought incomplete.

"Toh usmein kya ho gaya Naina. Tum meri responsibility ho. Tum roz mere saath school aati aur jaati ho. Ismein naya kya hai?"

Now she was a bit frustrated on being unable to explain the gravity of the situation.

Sameer continued, "waise bhi Naina...jabse tumse pyar hua hai...tab se tumhe apni bike pe ghumane ke sapne dekh raha hoon. Fir aaj toh mauka khud samne aaya hai. Ghumne na sahi...thodi der ke liye hi sahi. Waise bhi tumhare Papa ne khud mujhe tumhari zimmedari hai". He said dreamily as he couldn't contain his elation.

"Sameeer...tum na...agar hum dono ko kisi ne bike par ek saath itne nazdeek baithe dekh liya na toh wahi Papa tumhe zimmedari lene layak chodenge nahi. Agar hum aise bike pe dikh gaye toh pataa hai na kaisa bawal aa jayega". His face fell, understanding that she was right. "Tum jante toh ho mere gharwale kaise hai, khaskar Taiji aur Papa".

He totally agreed but that didn't stop the vast disappointment reflecting on his face. Naina didn't like it that she put it there, so she decided to remedy it.

"Achcha theek hai. Ab dukhi mat ho. Yeh bike ride udhar rahi". She declared trying to cheer him up.

He slowly looked at her and smiled wickedly. "Pyar mein udhar? Soch lo! Interest ke saath vasool karoonga. Marwari businessman ka nawasa hoon!" He cautioned her playfully and she humoured him "haan haan...kar lena. Ab tum jao...main rickshaw se aati hoon!" She started to leave in the direction to find an auto.

He hastily put his bike on stand again and hurried after her. "Tumhe akela chodke chala jaun? Aisa toh ho hi nahi sakta!"

When she scrunched her brows at him, he hailed an auto and gave him explicit instructions to reach the school, drive safely and slowly as her hand was injured and should not be jarred. Naina looked on adoring him for all the concern he had for her.

He directed her to get in the auto and only when the auto started, Sameer quickly went back and started his bike. Naina was peering out slightly, not that she hadn't travelled alone in an auto before but it was rare, so seeing him immediately catching up was comforting. He drove exactly adjacent keeping up with the speed and occasionally looking at her and smiling.

She reminisced those moments when she rode her cycle and he joined her on his bike and they travelled together initially. She also remembered how he must have followed her on the bike the day she was forgotten in school by her Papa. He was always there, despite the bet or only friends, since entry, he was a constant in her life. Every passing minute cemented her faith and confidence in their relationship.

The slight blush and the sparkling eyes conveyed to Sameer that his Naina was indeed thinking about them and their future and definitely those were happy thoughts. A calm settled over him that the girl he had known was back full throttle. Her love, values and rules, all inclusive and that's the way he liked her and had fallen for her. There wasn't a single thing he wished to change about her.

Both lost in thoughts finally reached the school, and since only private vehicles were allowed in the premises, Naina had to let go off the auto at the gate. While she disembarked, Sameer paid him. Under other circumstances, she would have protested, but now that she knew him well, she knew it wasn't about affluency or pomp, rather he was non-chalant about his wealth and status. It was all about friendship and love for him. He placed the relationships above everything else. On numerous occassions, she had seen him paying for food and other things in school and trip for all his friends. It was just his way because friendship was priceless for him. He truly treasured those who loved him unconditionally and each of his gesture screamed that she had a deep impact on his heart and life, earning her that same position as his besties.

So, saying nothing, she started to walk as soon as he was done. He maintained the bike speed to match her gait and halfway in, she heard Preeti calling out to her.

Both stopped to let her catch up. As soon as she reached, Preeti started ranting, "Kya behen? Koi aisa karta hai kya? Teri wajah se subah subah kitni daant pad gayi. Mujhe uthaye bina hi chali gayi. Pataa hai hawai jahaz ki speed se pedal maarti hui aayi hoon". Preeti exaggerated and explicated her excuse for oversleeping as usual.

When Naina only chuckled, Preeti sniggered, and Sameer interrupted, "aapko bhi good morning saali sahiba".

She only acknowledged him and he shrugged, "main bike park karke aata hoon". And he zapped away towards the bike parking area.

Naina Preeti too started walking towards the cycle parking. Naina was bursting at seams and couldn't contain her excitement but seeing Preeti's sour mood, she decided to curb it down. She knew she would have to share with Preeti and Swati soon but at an opportune time.

They passed the boys as Munna Pandit were already waiting for Sameer. The five walked together without being together towards the class. After Naina waved away Preeti to her class, she turned her head slightly, peered at him from the corner of her eye and preceded him to the classroom.

While Munna Pandit had no clue about the morning events, Sameer knew exactly what she conveyed. She walked to other seat from the other side and he unabashedly joined her. Both smiled at each other but it was hard to contain the blush.

Munna Pandit's eyes widened and they looked at each other, surprisingly asking with mouths agape if either knew anything. Just then Swati entered, and seeing the changed scenario unfolding before her eyes was surprised too. But her filmy mind took measure of the situation instantly and deciphered that all was well between them. Now, she had to get Naina to spill the beans, bit it had to wait since Chemistry Sir was already there.

Half the day in school passed by and while both tried to focus in the class, it was hard to take eyes off of each other. To avoid their friends from falling prey to suspicious glares, the boys and even Swati, occasionally signaled them by coughing or dropping things to make noise. Boys also threw small chits rolled into paper balls to break Sameer's trance.

Finally, in the break hour, when Sameer tried to take Naina with him to canteen since he didn't have the luxury of lunch box today, Swati intercepted. "Mujhe Naina se baat karni hai!" She proclaimed trying to maintain a serious face.

"Haan toh break ke baad kar lena", Sameer tried to divert.

"Abhi karni hai. Aur waise bhi, tum toh apne ghar se aaye ho toh aaj dabba toh hoga nahi. Toh ek kaam karo, aaj apne doston ke saath jaakar khana khao, Naina ko company main de dungi. Waise bhi yeh jodiyon ke chakkar mein na tumhe time milta hai theek se Munna Pandit ke saath aur na meri baat ho paayi hai Naina se. Toh aaj hum apne apne doston ke saath khana khayenge!" Swati said as if she decreed it.

Sameeer would have argued but knowing Swati and her stance—seen in mt.Abu—he knew she was forebearing of him but firm about Naina. He glanced at Nsina once, but seeing that she pursed her lips and had already given into her friend with eyes pleading him to understand, he simply walked off followed by Munna Pandit.

When they were out of sight, Swati pulled her to the bench, and assuming that it was only about lunch, Naina pulled her tiffin box out of the bright orange bag and started to place it on the desk when unexpectedly Swati asked point blank, without beating around any bush, "Chal ab jaldi se bataa tu ne Sameer ko I Love You kaise bola?"

The tiffin almost slipped out of her hand but she grasped it in the nick of time and stared at her bestie with horror-stricken eyes and mouth agape. Swati was never one for subtlety, she knew, but this was outright brutal even for her.

When the girl continued to stare raising eyebrows in question, Naina knew she wasn't going to back down. So she started to beat around the bush . "Tujhe aisa kyon lagta hai ki maine aisa kuch kiya?" She tried to avert the qustion and then answered it herself, thus proving her friend's theory only speculative at best so far.

"Main tujhe bachpan se jaanti hoon. Tu kab kya sochti hai aur kya karnewali hai...tujhe tujhse behtar bata sakti hoon. Aur jo bacha hua shaque tha, woh tune khud hi durr kar diya". Naina mentally headpalmed herself.

Just then Preeti padded in looking for her sister and started ranting once again, "Ab tu yahan baithi hai? Main bekaar hi pure school mein tujhe dhoondh aayi aur Sameer ko bhi suna diya ki tera khayal nahi rakh raha. Naina....tera subah se chal kya raha hai?"

Naina and Swati both stared at her and Swati gave her a cocky grin. "Wahi toh puch rahi thi main isse!" Swati said in support of Preeti.

Preeti still not getting the situation, asked "Kya puch rahi thi?"

Swati got up and draped one arm on Preeti's shoulder from behind, ganging up against Naina, "Yahi ki isne Sameer ko I Love You kaise bola?"

Preeti's eyes widened and her head whipped from staring annoyingly at Naina to Swati. "Kya? Isne Sameer ko... kab? Kaise? Aur tujhe kaise pataa? Ohh...matlab issliye yeh subah mujhe chod ke chali gayi!" She fired a barrage of questions bobbing her head from one girl to another and also answering them simultaneously in her frenzy.

Naina blushed crimson, cast her eyes down in shyness. Both girls got the confirmation they were seeking and in an instant they looked at each other and simultaneously hurried to her side and enveloped her in a bone-crushing trio hug. Only when Naina yelped about her hand, did they let go. Naina gave a gist of the morning events and patiently answered their questions.

Meanwhile in the canteen, Sameer was also subject to same scrutiny but they boys were not as bright as the girls. However, Sameer couldn't contain his excitement anymore and he always shared everything with his besties. This was an epic moment indeed and had to be shared anyways. On the other hand, his impatience for the break to end so that he could go back to see his love and sit so much in her proximity was a bliss.

"Sameer yaar! Subah se dekh rahe hai tu badla hua sa hai". Pandit stated his observation.

"Haan aur Naina...aise dekh rahi thi...jaise jaise..." Munna was trying to word his observation but couldn't describe the look in Naina's eyes. Anyways it was a lover's look and only a counterpart would be able to read it.

So Sameer supplemented,"jaise ki use mujhse pyaar ho gaya ho", and he stated that they had confessed their love for each other. It took a second to sink in, both boys went silent and stared agape on Sameer's bent head with forehead resting on the back of the chair as he straddled the chair cross-legged as was his habit. After a moment, he looked up at both boys sitting on either side of him.

"Bhai...." was all Pandit could manage before Sameer broke into a all blushy mess that he had to close his eyes. Both boys started hooting and whistling and jumping around like monkeys attracting everyone's attention in the canteen and also incurring some reprimanding words from the canteen lady.

Sameer was embarrassed and started tugging on their elbows but they were way too excited to care two hoots about anyone's opinion on them. Finally, the break bell rang and it was time to head back to the class. Sameer was relieved and he pulled both the dorks along, "Chalo nalayakon..."

On the way back, they kept pestering him, "Arre Sameer bataa na...kya hua kaise hua kab hua?"

He wasn't answering but they weren't one team to let their friend off the hook. So finally, he had to halt in the corridor and answer vaguely... "buss ho gaya...hamesha ki tarah mandir mein. Hum donon ne Bhagwanji ke samne ek dusre ko I Love You bola". He said the last with profound emotion that his friends could feel it and his love for her. They got emotional and hugged him. Finally, everything was falling back to place and they hoped things would go back to normal.

Sameer reclaimed his seat from Swati and this time she relinquished it willingly. The blushy smiles on their faces conveyed to each other that each had shared their happiness with their besties. The moment was short lived as it was Lochan Sir's class and the curve of his mouth indicated that he was about to drop a bomb on the kids.

"Ek nayi announcement hai. Competition mein ek final surprise entry hai". Murmurs and whispers were heard around the classroom as all, especially the teams started speculating that what new they have to endure now.

Lochan sir let the whispers quiet down a bit before continuing as occasionally he loved to be theatrical given his love for stage performances. "Art section mein ek aur addition hai. Dance. Semi-classical. Aur iske liye saari teams Kumud teacher se contact karengi".

He dropped the bomb and then immediately got back into teaching mode instructing them about the new chapter on Shakespearean literature.

Naina was sporting a crestfallen look and Sameer couldn't bear it neither stop himself from asking. "Kya hua? Itna kya soch rahi ho?"

Naina glanced towards the front and seeing that Sir's back was still turned and he was busy scribbling on the blackboard, she answered, "Mujhe kisi bhi type ka classical dance nahi aata. Waise bhi patti bandhe haath se practice kaise karenge? Ab hamari team ki selection par bada sa question mark lag gaya".

She stated as a matter-of-fact with evident disappointment in herself. He couldn't bear it and brain wheels started churning on how to make the situation favourable.