It was a beautiful day... for both of them.

As Sameer stood at the window of his room, staring into the darkness outside, his own being was illuminated with the blessing he had received in the form of Naina.
Her cheerful demeanor had started to reflect on him... he rarely found anything annoying these days... Sameer Maheshwari... who was agitated with everything and everyone till one year back... was satisfied with  whatever came his way... was happy with whatever he had...

His Naina was with him.

How he had loved the feel of her in his arms... she had moulded into him... completely.

"Gale toh kas ke hi lagati hai... mujhe bhi", he smiled in gratification.

Looking down at his right hand, the feel of her soft lips touching his hand made him blush. He brought the lucky palm to his lips and kissed at the same place where Naina had put her lips.

Naina sat chewing the nail of her thumb, smiling... lost in the feeling of being in his arms.

When she had hugged him first time, it was more of emotional support... to give him the strength to deal with his pain... to soothe his wounds... to let him know she was there... with him.

Today's hug was pure love... expression of eagerness to see and meet each other, expression of joy at finally being close, expression of pleasure at the touch.

She blushed at the memory. She had allowed herself to be glued to him... for so long... and how blissful it was... his arms had cocooned her like she was something precious... she had felt it to be the perfect place for herself... made only for her.

Her blush turned deeper.

Sleep wasn't easy for both of them.

Next morning,  there was a lot of activity and excitement as new students had joined and last year's freshers were now seniors.

Sameer met Rahul in the dining hall.

" Kaisa hai yaar, bada khush nazar aa raha hai... Naina se mulakaat ho gayi lagti hai... yaar tu toh poora majnu hai... phir kaise raha do mahine uske bina? " Rahul was his usual cheerful self.

"Uske bina kyon rahunga? Hum milte rahe Ahmedabad mein bhi", Sameer was glad their homes were in the same city.

Rahul was astonished, " Ghar bhi paas paas, school bhi ek, aur love story shuru karne ke liye tum dono ko ek naye shahar mein aana tha... sabse alag hoke, woh bhi do saal baad! Kamaal hai yaar tumhaari story... jab shaadi kar loge toh ispe ek picture banana... bata raha hun ekdam hit jaayegi. "

Sameer laughed at the absurdity of the idea... who would be interested in the story of unknown people... the love story of Sameer and Naina would be of no importance to anyone in the world.

He brought his thoughts back to Rahul, "Tum batao... kaisi rahi chuttiyan?  Aur Sonali ke saath baat aage badhane ka koi plan banaya ya nahi? "

Rahul rubbed his neck, "Plan to banaya hai... bas dekhna hai kuch ho paayega ya nahi... zaroorat padi to tu aur Naina help karoge?"

Sameer put his hand on Rahul's shoulder, "Pakka karenge... pyaar ke liye kuch bhi... lekin sirf time pass toh nahi hai na... kisi ladki ka dil mat todna."

Rahul's eyes were genuine, "Nahi dost... sachchi feelings hai dil mein... tabhi toh ek saal se intezaar kar raha hun."

Talking to Rahul delayed Sameer.

Naina didn't find him waiting outside her hostel wing so she left for the classroom, thinking he might have already gone.

Sonali came running from the other end, followed by Komal and Nisha,
"Nainaaa, congratulations. "

And she crushed Naina in a hug... others girls joining in.

Naina happily stood, smothered by her friends.

"Humein toh sunke itni khushi hui ki tune top kiya hai... school ki topper hai yeh pata hai par tab jaante nahi the na, " Sonali was screaming in excitement.

Komal chipped in, "Arre tab hum jaante nahi the... par ab toh hamari friend ne top kiya hai... Naina, chal na, aaj party karte hain."

Nisha was not to be left behind, "Naina, tu toh all rounder hai... Ms Fresher bhi ban gayi aur topper bhi... aaj party pakki."

Naina gladly accepted to party but on one condition, "Pehle lecture attend karenge phir party... classes miss nahi honi chahiye."

They all made a face, but followed  her to the classroom.

Naina noticed Sameer sitting at the back. She smiled at him and settled on her first bench.

Sameer had arrived few minutes back, kicking himself for getting late. He hoped to meet Naina before the class. When he saw her surrounded by the three girls, he waited... but they were busy hugging each other. He decided to move to the class. No one noticed when he crossed them... all four of them making plans of some party.

The class started with the professor applauding Naina for not only topping the university but also securing such a high percentage. She received quite a few appreciative glances.

Once the classes for morning got over,  Sonali pestered Naina again to come to canteen.

Naina wanted to talk to Sameer, since morning she was waiting but something or the other kept them away from each other.

Seeing no way out from her friends' repeated calls to join them, she went directly to where Sameer sat with Rahul.

"Umm... woh hum log canteen jaa rahe hain... tum dono bhi chalo... Sonali results celebrate karna chahti hai." She looked simultaneously at both of them, not aware that Rahul knew about her and Sameer.

Rahul got up instantly, "Haan, haan, kyon nahi... itna achcha result aaya hai tumhara toh party pakka karenge... waise Sameer result toh tera bhi badiya hai... kab padhta tha yaar?  Maine toh dekha nahi."

Sameer gave him a smile and got up, looking at Naina, "Chalein?"

They all entered the canteen.

As Sonali was about to sit next to Naina, Rahul stopped her,  "Sonali wahan Sameer ko baithne do... tum yahan aa jao",  he patted the seat next to her.

All three girls widened their eyes to look at Naina, who was herself staring open mouthed at Rahul.

Komal,  sitting on the other side of Naina, leaned and whispered, "Yeh Rahul Kya Sameer ke saath teri setting karne ki koshish kar raha hai?"

Naina was still in a shock, as Sameer occupied the chair next to her and immediately held her hand under the table.

Naina gasped.

"Kya hua Naina, tujhe koi problem hai kya?" Sonali, who had settled next to Rahul, asked her, suspicious about Rahul's intention.

"N... nahi... nahi... kya problem hogi... kuch nahi... main th... theek hun",  Naina gulped.

They started deciding on what to take, Sameer went to the counter to place order for everyone. Only then they realised that Naina had been very quiet and had not mentioned her choice to Sameer.

" Arre Naina, tune toh bataya hi nahi... ab Sameer tere liye nahi laa payega... woh bhi bina count kiye chala gaya hai", Sonali was worried.

Sameer placed everything on the table, and a plate of pao bhaji in front of Naina... along with a bottle of Campa.

The three girls together looked at the plate, then at Sameer, then at Naina and back at Sameer again.

Rahul could not bear the confusion at the table anymore, "Haan bhai... sahi soch rahe ho tum sab... ek saath hain yeh dono."

"Kyaaa? " Sonali was the first to react, "Naina? " She gave a questionable look to her friend.

Other two just stared at Naina.

Naina looked up at Sameer and he smiled , blinking his eyes to assure her that it was okay for their friends to know.

He then pulled his chair closer to Naina, breaking a piece of pao and taking it to her mouth.

Naina coloured instantly... this was the first time they had shown such closeness in front of anyone. But she ate from his hand.

Sonia squealed in delight, "Wow Naina, mujhe toh yakeen hi nahi ho raha... tum dono... sach mein".

She clasped her hands dreamily under her chin, "Mujhe love stories bohot pasand hain... ek mere saamne thi aur mujhe dikhi nahi... hayee... mujhe sab kuch sunna hai... kya... kab... kaise",  and added as an afterthought, " aur kabse. "

Rahul's eyes shone bright at Sonali's words... he looked at Sameer and gave a thankful smile.

The girls kept teasing the couple as long as they sat there. Finally, Naina could take it no more and ran back to her hostel, blushing.

Later, when they met at their spot, Naina was angry with Sameer.

"Tumne sabko kyon bataya? Ab woh hamesha mujhe chedenge."

"Mujhe pata hai mujhe tumse puchna chahiye tha... par tum subah se mil hi nahi paayi... Maine bohot koshish ki par tumse baat nahi hui... Sorry, Naina",  he held one ear and her heart went out to him.

But she maintained an annoyed expression, crossing her arms and standing with her chin high.

Sameer came closer, " Maan jao na".

Naina didn't move.

Sameer closed in the gap between them.

Naina felt a shiver.

"Maan jao nahi toh... " He left the threat hanging.

Naina composed herself and kept up the defiance, "Nahi toh kya... dara rahe ho? "

He bent, bringing his face closer, "Dara nahi raha... mana raha hu... baaton se nahi toh kiss karke... ".

Naina jumped back, " S... Sameer... tum... tum... "

He held her elbow, steadying her,  "Nahi karunga baba, kiss nahi karunga... matlab jab tak tum haan na kaho".

" Haan", Naina blurted.

"Haan?" Sameer was stunned at her unexpected reaction.

"Haan... matlab kiss ke liye nahi... woh... woh matlab tum aisa mat karna... matlab haan tumne achcha kiya jo kaha ki nahi karoge." She wasn't making much sense to herself either.

"Offo", she slapped her forehead in confusion.

Sameer smiled indulgently at her innocence, " Idhar baitho... main batata hun baat kya hai".

Naina let him take her and sit under the tree.

He explained how Rahul was always interested in Sonali but could not say it... how he had got annoyed with Rahul in first year when he was sitting with Naina... how Rahul had cleared his confusion... how he had asked for help from Sameer, saying that if Sonali was made aware of their love story then Rahul would know her thoughts about it and he would plan to propose her.

Naina's eyes went wider and wider as Sameer unveiled the story layer by layer.

"Maine socha woh hamare dost hain... agar hum unke pyaar mein madad kar paaye toh kitna achcha hoga... ho sakta hai Sonali bhi Rahul ko pasand karti ho. " Sameer gave his point.

"Nahi... usne toh kabhi nahi kaha." Naina tried to recollect.

"Naina, Maine bhi toh apna pyaar do saal tak chupa ke rakha tha... Munna Pandit tak ko nahi bataya." Sameer reminded her.

She nodded, and was suddenly excited, "Socho Sameer, agar Sonali bhi aisa kuch mehsoos karti hogi toh unke pyaar ko poora karne ka zariya hum banenge... hum naa sirf ek dusre ke liye lucky hain... balki aur pyaar karne walon ke liye bhi lucky hain. "

Sameer was happy to see her back to her chirpiness.

She suddenly got up, "Chalein Sameer, bohot der ho gayi hai. "

He got up after her, "Thoda aur ruko na Naina, abhi toh aayi thi... aur yahan konsa tumhe koi gussa karega der se aane ke liye." He pouted.

Naina could not help but agree, "Tum jab aisa chehra banate ho toh man karta hai... " She stopped herself.

"Kya man karta hai? " Sameer's senses were on alert.

"Kuch nahi", she looked away.

" Batao, kya man karta hai... phir main bhi bataunga ki mere dil mein kya hai ",  He was close to her.

Naina turned, looking directly into his eyes, she brought up her hand and placed the index finger right over his heart, " Tumhare dil mein kya hai mujhe pata hai."

His skin burnt under her finger... and heart picked up speed in an instant.

This girl could melt him with one finger.

She pressed the finger a little, "Tumhare dil mein main hun." She said softly.

Sameer held her hand before she could move her finger... and placed it on his heart, flattening her palm completely against his chest.

"Aur dekho tum mera kya haal karti ho yahan reh ke",  he whispered huskily.

Naina could feel his racing heartbeat... she could feel her own matching his.