Sameer had his lunch with Rahul, Rishi and their few cousins. Later, when they were in the room, Sameer changed into a shirt and jeans before mentioning to Rahul that he needed to go out in the afternoon.

"Haan toh jaa na... kahan jaana hai... main car se bhej deta hun." He offered.

"Uski zaroorat nahi hai... woh mujhe Naina ko leke jaana hai kuch kaam se," Sameer told him.

"Aur kaise jayega?" Rahul narrowed his eyes, knowing Sameer himself will never ask for anything.

"Hum rickshaw le lenge." He was nonchalant.

Rahul stood up from the bed and went to where Sameer sat on a couch, sitting next to him.

"Sameer, main tujhe apna bhai manta hun... balki bhai se bhi zyada, uss bewakoof Rishi se zyada tu mera apna hai... fir tu itna alag sa kyon rehta hai? Kya tujhe main bhai jaisa nahi lagta?" He asked sadly.

Sameer looked down, twitching his fingers, "Rahul, mujhe bhai shabd se nafrat hai... haan, dost zaroor manta hun tumhe... isse pehle mere sirf do dost rahein hain, Munna aur Pandit... unki dosti bhi mujhe Ahmedabad aakar hi mili... usse pehle main bilkul akela tha... isliye jaldi se kisi ko apna nahi pata... par tumhe maanta hun."

Rahul did not want to ask him the reason for what he said about a brother, having a feeling since beginning that there was something disturbing in Sameer's life... he didn't want to bring up any painful memories you disturb him.

Patting his leg, he said in a cheerful voice, "Dost manta hai toh haq se bike ki chaabi utha aur le jaa Naina ko... doston mein ye sab sochna kab se aa gaya yaar... kya tu Munna aur Pandit ke saath aisa sochta hai?"

Sameer was reminded of his two lifelines back in Ahmedabad. They considered his whole house as their own... there was no question of any formality or hesitation with them. When he thought about Rahul, he realised Rahul had also been there for him right from the beginning... from the time he made Sameer speak up about his feelings for Naina till today, when he let him go to Sonali's house with haldi. He had helped at every step. Still Sameer had kept himself distant to some extent. And he conceded that Rahul was indeed no less than Munna Pandit... he was their equivalent in Mumbai.

He hugged Rahul, "Tum mere liye Munna Pandit jitne hi khaas ho."

Rahul smiled in relief, "Ek baat aur, Munna Pandit ko tu bolta hai ya tum?"

Sameer knew what he meant. Holding his ear, he said, "Aaj se sirf tu."

They hugged again. Sameer felt a sudden lightness spread inside him... making him genuinely happy.

"Ab chabi bata kahan hai bike ki... Naina se theek se mila nahi hun subah se... teri shaadi ke chakkar mein mera haal kharaab hai," Sameer said, getting up.

Rahul looked at him in surprise... Sameer had never openly admitted how badly be wanted to be with Naina.

He pointed at the cabinet near the door. Sameer picked up the keys and looked back before leaving.

"Mehendi tak aa jaunga." Grinning, he left the room.

He ran down the stairs, not able to contain his excitement.

Naina was coming out of the gate when he reached. He pointed at the back seat with a jerk of his head. She sat behind him without a word. Sameer let out a long breath as her soft body pressed into him and her arms came around his waist. He started the bike, stopping only when they reached the college.

"Sameer, yahan kyon aaye hain?" She was expecting him to take her to the hill outside the city.

"Kuch kaam hai... dus minute mein apni jagah pe milo." He told her as he parked the bike.

"Par mere paas toh room ki chaabi hi nahi hai... mujhe pata nahi tha hum hostel aane wale hain." She was perplexed what work Sameer could possibly have here.

"Aur bhi achha hai... tum wahan jao, main bas abhi aaya." He smiled, running to his room.

Naina walked slowly to their spot.

She had been there for hardly two minutes when Sameer reached, a bag in his hand.

"Yeh kya hai?" She looked at it.

"Abhi batata hun," placing the bag near the tree, he turned to her and pulled her into his arms.

Naina forgot all questions and gave in to the feeling of being in her haven.

"Oh jaan... tumhe kitna miss kiya maine," he murmured, tightening his arms.

Naina closed her eyes, soaking in the feeling of being together, without the fear of someone walking in or knocking at the door.

The need to see her face made him move out of the soft warmth after a few minutes.

"Waise hum sirf kal hi yahan nahi mile, " she looked into his eyes.

He stared without a word.

"Aur kal raat ko tum wahan terrace pe aaye toh the, " she realised what she had done the moment words were out of her mouth.

His eyes got a new glint... each and every moment of last night was etched in his mind...

"Haan, kal raat ko... kal jo hua... jo tumne kaha..." His raspy voice made her break into a sweat.

She swallowed, trying to ease the dryness that suddenly gripped her throat.

"Tum... tumhe itne dino se pata tha aur tumne mujhe nahi bataya." He searched her face for any sign of discomfort.

All he could see was the spread of colour on her soft features.

"Uss din jab humne yahan woh sab baatein ki... Diwali ke baad... tab bhi kuch nahi kaha." He probed again.

Her eyes lowered.

"Naina, tumne akele kyon... kaise... mere paas aana chahiye tha." He tried to find out about her fears.

Taking a deep breath, she looked up at him, "Tumhare paas hi aayi thi, Sameer... kuch pal ke liye darr laga tha... fir tumhari baahon mein aake sab kuch saaf ho gaya... kisi darr ki jagah hi nahi chodi tumne... tumhare saath se behtar kuch aur nahi hai mere liye... toh kis baat ki ghabrahat... tum ho na mere paas... humesha... "

He looked at the trust reflecting in her eyes... the complete trust that she had conferred upon him.

Overwhelmed, he kissed her forehead.

As he moved back, her hand slid behind his neck... and she smiled.

And he saw the longing in her eyes... the need to feel her hit his senses like a jolt... before he could think more, her lips brushed against his, taking away any trace of control left in him.

His mouth closed over hers, taking her soft lips with the heat simmering inside him for so long.

She pressed her hand on his back, the other one weaving through the hair at his nape. Her body arched to fit into his... her mouth giving in to his demands. His hands traced the curve of her waist, slowly moving to the small of her back. She could feel the pressure of his hands as he pulled her more.

Naina felt herself melting with the heat spreading inside her... she found it difficult to stand as her knees felt weak with the throbbing that left her shaking. She held onto him tighter for support, the closeness burning her more... the heat emanating from his body mixing with her own... threatening to turn into a raging fire.

He felt her softness pressing further, her curves fitting perfectly against him. He deepened the kiss, until there was a serious need to breathe... his lips did not leave her though... just trailed across her cheek to move over her ear.

"Naina, tumhe pata hai tumhare liye kitna pagal ho gaya hun." His deep, rough voice against her soft skin, mixed with the hot breath that made her skin burn, drew away whatever little strength she was left with... at the same time, filled her with a pleasure that tingled her whole being.

Naina realised this was her desire... the ache that throbbed within her, the pain that delighted her, the need
to feel him even closer to fill up the emptiness that engulfed her, the urgency to break the tightness of constraint that she could sense in his muscles.

She let out a deep sound, her head tilting back. Sameer gladly accepted the invitation, gliding his lips down her throat, leaving a trail of soft kisses as he reached the base of her neck. Slowly, his lips touched her collarbone... her back arched further, pushing her curves into him even more. He let his lips rest in the hollow of her neck for a few moments... and then, inched down... very slowly, ready to stop if she showed any sign of stiffness.

She didn't.

He planted small kisses on the exposed part, reaching till her neckline. The V neck of her kurta was not deep, but there was a slight hollow spot at the center where the point of fabric made a dip.

He pressed his lips deep into the groove that seemed to be created for him.

Her fingers clenched his hair... her body jolting at the contact as a gasp escaped her lips... but she did not pull back.

Sameer inhaled deeply, taking in the sweet smell... his arms holding her safe in his grasp as her body lost the ability to support itself.

With reluctance, he lifted his head, looking at her face... her entire face along with the neck had turned into a deep shade of red, her hand around his neck was holding onto his hair, fingers of the other one curled behind his back, nails digging deep into his skin.

He straightened her, nervous about what he would see in her eyes when she opened them.

"Aankhen kholo, Naina, " his voice was a low whisper.

The column of her throat moved as she swallowed... and the veil lifted... to give him the view of his lifetime. Her eyes shone with untamed desire and passion.

He placed his hand over her cheek, sighing, "I Love You, meri jaan."

Her lips moved but he could not hear anything... probably no sound came out. But she didn't have to say it. The way she had surrendered to him... body and soul... showing her absolute faith in him... it had left him wanting to protect her more...

Naina felt no inhibition in accepting the pleasure she had felt at his touch... her hand moved to his chest, resting over his heart, feeling the strong thumping under her fingers. She had known his desire for her, but she was also aware of his heart... a heart that respected the trust her family had placed in him, a heart that would always uphold the boundless faith chachaji had shown in him.

"Main kal raat se tumse baat karna chahta tha, " he said softly.

"Mujhe pata hai tumhe meri fikr ho rahi hogi... par tumhe chinta karne ki zaroorat nahi hai." She assured him.

His gaze turned soft, a new emotion passing through his eyes... his racing heart accelerated at a greater speed as the reality hit him... Naina, his Naina wanted him with the same passion, shared the same desire, burned in the same fire... his innocent, naive Naina had grown into a woman who craved for the pleasure of his closeness.

He sank his face in her hair, deeply breathing in the fragrance to bring his raging emotions in control.

Her hand slipped to his back as the rhythm of his heart now drummed in her ear.

After a few minutes, Sameer held her hand and moved towards the bag placed near the tree trunk.

"Yeh tumhare liye," he pointed at it.

She looked at the bag, then at him, "Kya hai?"

"Tum shaadi mein kya pehenogi?" He answered her question with a question.

"Umm... socha hai purple wala suit pehen lun... jo pichhli baar diwali pe pehena tha," she tried to remind him.

There was no need. He remembered each and every outfit of hers.

"Kya tum yeh pehenogi?" He picked up the bag and handed over to her.

She raised her brows, he indicated to check it herself.

Naina sat down and placed the bag in front of her. She opened the zipper to take out muslin wrapped clothes. Carefully placing the delicate package on the bag she unwrapped it.

Her hand flew to clasp the open mouth as a gasp escaped her lips.

There was the peach lehenga she had once tried in Ahmedabad... with  Preeti... when he had accidentally seen her in the shop.