This SS is a like a sequel of my previous SS "By your side". However, this can be treated as an independent entity.

The manhoosiyat phase had ended and Naina had declared to the gang on the form submission day that although she was filling up both Patel and VJN forms, she would manage to convince Chachaji to let her take admission in VJN.

Sameer was elated that now Naina would be with him everyday like in PVKM, with little more freedom as college was a place without so many rules and restrictions on girls and boys mingling together. But on the other hand, he didn't want her to compromise on her studies and career just to be with him.

"Nahi Naina, tum Patel mein hi admission logi. Tum topper ho aur saare toppers wahi padhte hai. Mein nahi chahta ki tumhari padhayee ke saath koi bhi samjhauta ho. Yaad hai na, tumne mujhse vaada kiya tha ki tumhari padhayee ke beech mein koi nahi aayega, na main, aur naahi hamara pyaar. Aur fir main aaunga na roz tumse Patel mein milne, college ke baad".
Sameer tried to put his foot down as it was the question of Naina's education.

"Yaad hai mujhe, aur yeh bhi yaad hai ki tumne kaha tha ki hamara pyaar hamari taqat hai, hum use kamzori nahi banne denge. Fir tumhe kyon lagta hai ki agar main tum sabke saath VJN mein padhungi toh meri padhayee mein kami reh jaayegi? Chachaji kehte hai ki phool ka paudha bageeche mein lagao ya gamle mein uagao, use achcha khaad paani milega toh phool khilega hi aur khushboo failayega. Mein chahe Patel mein padhoo ya VJN mein, agar main apna dimaag lagaungi aur padhayi karoongi toh kahi bhi top karungi". Naina argued logically.

Sameer started to say something, but Naina whispered slowly "Aur ab main tumse aur durr nahi reh sakti. Itni lambi judaii ke baad kya tumhara mann nahi karta mere saath rehne ka?" she asked him with a sullen expression and that was his undoing.

He took a deep breath, heaved, and finally relented with a shake of his head. A small victorious smile tugged at the corner of Naina's mouth.

"Tum chinta mat karo, hum padhayee bhi karenge aur pyar bhi". Naina gave a flirtatious smile with this statement that made him skip two heartbeats.

This was indeed a very bold statement for Naina, he realized that their distance had brought them even more closer and how much she had grown to love and trust him. After their hug at his house the other night (last part in By your side), she had grown more comfortable with him. Although she still blushed, which endeared her more, she accepted his side hugs when no one was looking. She was also not uncomfortable to hold his hand in front of the gang. Their relationship had definitely grown emotionally as now there was nothing in his life that Naina didn't know, right from his childhood till date, everything that occurred in Delhi, all about his fears and insecurities that had led him to close his mind and senses and believe in Dadi's nonsense. But now, all was well as she had marched right inside his soul as was her right and uprooted all the rubbish out of him forever. Time and again he recalled Nanu's last words that Naina would be his partner forever and he had trusted her to always be there for him. Though at times, she was not physically present, she always knew when he needed her and somehow her love would warm his heart and mind and bring him solace. Although he had also formed other bonds, thanks to Naina's patient counselling, he still considered only her to be his sole confidante.

He constantly gazed at her while she was busy devising a plan with Preeti and the gang as to how to convince her family about VJN, when she felt something and immediately looked at him. This was the best thing he loved about their relationship, both always knew when they needed each other and could easily read each other's heart through eyes, which had a conversation of its own and no words were needed. Although they were lightly holding hands, she firmly squeezed his palm as if trying to assure him that no matter what, she will always be there for him. She conveyed with her eyes that they were not only lovers but best friends and could share everything with each other.

Sameer flashed his content smile and that brought out a happy blushy smile on her face too.

"Ab tum logon ka aakhon aakhon mein romance khatm ho gaya ho to ghar chale behen?" Preeti spoke loudly to break their reverie and both smiled and let go of each other's hands.

Night phone call after 2 days:

"Ab main bhi VJN mein hi padhoongi". Naina was ecstatic to be with the gang but more so that she would be with her Sameer every day.

"Toh tumne Chachaji ko mana hi liya", Sameer remarked as he knew when Naina put her brains to it, she could achieve anything.

"H...haan...hmm...maan gaye", Naina replied hesitantly.

"Naina, kya kiya tumne? Itni aasani se kaise maan gaye? Chachiji toh tumhari padhyee ke saath kabhi samjhauta nahi hone dete?" Sameer sensed the hesitation in her reply and knew she would have played some antics to convince Chachaji.

"Sameer wo... hmmm, buss thoda natak karna pada, fir sab maan gaye".

Now Sameer was worried, he knew Chachaji was more than a father to her, as her papa didn't care much about her. He didn't want any misunderstanding between her and Chachaji because of him. Now he had to know the truth, so he prodded more. "Naina, sach batao kya kiya tumne? Tumhe batana padega, humne taiyy kiya hai na, ki ab se ek dusre ko saari baatein batayenge, achchi buri saari, aur tum toh waise bhi mujhe hamesha sab kuch batati ho, toh batao!"

"Maine aur Preeti ne bahut koshish ki Chachaji ko manane ki, yeh kehkar ki mere sschool ke saare dost VJN mein padh rahe hai, main bhi wahi padhungi warna Patel mein jaake bilkul akeli padd jaungi. Maine unka wo phool wala udaharan bhi unhe yaad dilaya jo uss din tumhe bataa rahi thi, par fir bhi nahi mane. Bus yahi kehte rahe ki dosti bahut zaroori hai par wo mere bhavishya ke saath koi samjhauta nahi karna chahte. Fir sari koshishon ke baad, maine aur Preeti ne decide kiya ki ab kuch tedha karna padega. Chachaji ne fees ke 2000 rupiye diye the jama karne, humne wo paise chupa diye aur sabse keh diya ki kahi kho gaye. Taiji aur Papa ne dou thappad maare mujhe aur Preeti ko. Chachaji ne kaha ki wo kal paise ka intezaam karke subah principal se request karke late fees ke saath jama kar denge, par papa ne mana kar diya yeh kehkar, ki main laparwah hoon aur isliye achchi padhyee ke layak nahi hoon, isliye pehle bhi mujhe Vanasthali jaane ka mauka milkar bhi nahi mila. Meri yahi sazaa hai ki main best college mein na padh sakoon, aur VJN ki fees sirf 500 rupiye hai, jo unke paas the, toh bina kisika ehsaan liye, meri padhayee bhi ho jaayegi. Wo khud hi shaam ko counter bandh hone se pehle fees jama kar aaye." She completed the narration and took a deep breath.

Sameer was flabbergasted; on the other hand, he couldn't believe what Naina had just accomplished. She had compromised her values just for him, but then he remembered her breakdown when he was in hospital and she had come to talk to him. She had confessed that she was ready to take on and fight the world for him, including her family but he had betrayed her. Today she had done exactly that. She had gone against her conscience for her love. He couldn't decide if he should feel happy that now she would be with him everyday or feel bad that his love had made her do things she wouldn't even have imagined.

"Kuch bologe nahi, Sameer?" Naina asked cautiously, trying to gauge his silence.

"Kya bolu Naina, mujhe toh samajh hi nahi aa raha hai. Meri Naina kuch aisa bhi kar sakti hai? Naina, main kabhi nahi chahta ki tum mere liye, apne zameer se samjhauta karo. Hamara pyaar tumhe koi galat kadam uthane ko majboor kare, yeh toh hamare pyar ki haar hogi na! Aur upar se tumhe thappad bhi pade, jo mujhe bilkul achcha nahi lagta".

"Aisa mat bolo Sameer. Main maanti hoon ki shayad ye sab sahi nahi tha. Zameer aur pyar ki jung mein pyaar jeet gaya, par tum chinta mat karo, main zameer ko bhi haarne nahi doongi. Ek do din mein Chachaji ko paise wapas kar denge aur unse maafi bhi maangenge, agar sazaa denge, toh use bhi pura karenge. Wo thode naaraz honge, par hum unhe mana lenge. Aur rahi thappad ki baat, toh wo toh hamesha padte hai, koi nayi baat nahi hai, uske liye toh main pehle se hi taiyaar thi, par meri wajah se Preeti ko bhi pade, wo thoda bura laga".

Then smiling Naina continued "Pataa hai, thappad khate waqt Preeti ne mujhse kya kaha?" (Preeti's words) "Koi baat nahi behen, tere aur Jijaji ke liye ek nahi, sau thappad kha sakti hoon, aur mujhe pataa hai jab mera waqt aayega, tu bhi mere liye thappad kha legi".
Sameer smiled, he knew the bond between SwaPreeNa was as precious as his with MunDit. The four could endure anything for the duo. He was grateful for his friends and Saalis.

"Toh fir Saaliji ko special thank you banta hai na?" Sameer asked to lighten the mood.

"Haan, wo toh hai, waise bhi ek bhi mauka nahi chodti, Jijaji Jijaji ki ratt lagaye rehti hai. Har baat mein tumhari side leti rehti hai. Tumhe pataa hai, Pooja didi ki haldi ke waqt, jab maine usse kaha ki mujhe Sameer se koi rishta nahi rakhna, toh wo tumhe Jijaji na bulaye, to kehne lagi ki wo Saali hai, aadhi gharwali aur aise Jiaji ki toh puri gharwali bhi banne ko taiyyar hai, aur agar main tumse koi rishta nahi rakhna chahti toh tumhare saath bhaagkar shadi karne ke liye taiyaar hai, bilkul QSQT ki tarah".

Sameer couldn't control his mirth, he knew Preeti adored him and was his best supporter and critic. He too adored her more now, after all, soon she would lawfully be his sister, so he felt a surge of protectiveness towards her. Now, he understood how Arjun would have felt with boys meddling with his sisters, because he couldn't imagine anyone troubling Deepika and Preeti. He would definitely be apprehensive about any guy and be raged if anyone troubled them.

"Tum fikr mat karo Naina, Preeti ka time aayega, toh hum dono milkar uska saath denge, aur uski love story ke liye jo bhi karna padega, zaroor karenge."
Sameer continued to talk a little about his bonding with Rohan and Deepika too, that how they had started to speak on phone every few days now.
Naina was happy that now their relationship was slowly encompassing family-related conversations. They were growing in every aspect, age, relationship, emotional, life experiences, and of course physical. She blushed at that thought. After few minutes, they hung up saying mutual I love you and promised to meet on the first day of college in two days.