"Bhaiya... bhaiya",  a small hand pulled at his  kurta, dragging Sameer out of the dream world.

He looked down... and remembered why he was here...

Sitting down to come to the child's level, he looked at him, "Main bhaiya nahi hun tumhara."

"Fir kya ho?" Pralay was quick to ask.

"Main... umm... bas bhaiya bilkul nahi hun... toh aage se mat bolna",  he didn't know what else to say.

"Toh aapko kya kehke bulaun?" The child was confused.

Sameer pondered for a while, "Kuch mat bolo... bas Sameer keh diya karo".

Pralay widened his eyes, " Naam se bolunga toh mummy gussa karengi."

Sameer remembered his mother's nagging voice, "Woh toh hamesha hi karti hain."

Pralay giggled, "Haan, hamesha karti hain... aap ko bhi kiya?"

Standing up, he muttered to himself, "Abhi tak toh nahi... par mere iraade pata chalne pe zaroor karengi."

Looking back at the puzzled expression on Pralay's face, he held his hand, "Chalein bahar?"

Naina had already taken the pooja thali and gone out... she had not seen her cousin with Sameer.

As they went out, Sameer looked around for taiji... she was seated with two ladies, animatedly talking to them.

Sameer walked to her and handed over her son, "Auntyji, isne achhe se kha liya hai."

"Haan, theek hai",  taiji pulled Pralay as she answered in the same rough, thankless tone.

"Arre beta, aap toh damadji ke saath hain, fir aap kaam kyon kar rahe hain... baithiye aaram se... hum dekh lenge bacchon ko",  one lady got up immediately, recognising him.

Taiji looked at him in surprise. As reality struck her, she took a complete 180 degree turn.

"Tabhi kahun... ye itna sundar ladka kaunse rishtedar ka beta hai... pehle kabhi nahi dekha... beta tum yahan baitho... main tumhare liye mithai mangwati hun",  her voice dripped honey.

Sameer could not believe what he saw... but recovered quickly.

"Nahi... nahi auntyji, mujhe kuch nahi chahiye... aur Munna ka dost hun toh bhi issi ghar se rishta hua na mera... akhir Munna ka sasural hai yeh... aur aapka toh bachha hun... fir aap kyon mere liye kuch karengi... mera farz hai aapki sewa karna",  he turned his charm on.

How could Taiji remain unaffected.

"Kitne achhe sanskaar hain... bilkul mere Parlay babu jaise... beta, kya naam hai tumhara?" her smile did not falter even for a moment.

"Sameer",  Pandit's voice made him look back.

" Jaldi aa, Munna ko kuch kaam hai",  he shouted.

Sameer looked back at the ladies, "Main aap sab se baad mein milta hun, namaste auntyji."

He ran away.

"Chal Pandit, Munna bula raha tha na", he pulled Pandit when he did not move.

"Munna ko nahi mujhe kaam hai... kya kar raha tha tu?" He glared.

Sameer wondered if he had seen him holding Naina inside the house,

"Kya kar raha tha?" He answered with a question.

"Abe woh aunty jinse baar kar raha tha... woh Taiji hain Naina ki... unke ghar ki Hitler", Pandit tried to put some sense in him.

"Mujhe pata hai woh Naina ki taiji hain... main toh unhe impress karne ki koshish kar raha tha... tune hi toh idea diya tha ",  Sameer patiently explained.

Pandit was amazed, " Idea diya tha tab yeh nahi pata tha ki tu seedhe sabse badi machli pe kaanta dalega... bhai, unse toh jitna door reh sakta hai reh le... woh teri kahani ki Mogambo hain."

The comparison brought a smile on Sameer's face, "Iss Mogambo ko toh main khush karke hi rahunga."

They went to check on Munna. He was sitting on a low stool, being a part of pooja. Panditji was chanting something... in between, the male members of Swati's family were getting up and putting a red tika on his forehead and giving him some gift.

Sameer's eyes searched for Naina but she had gone missing again. He wondered if he could go inside on some pretext... but decided against it... he had to cast an impression on a certain family today. Looking around, he identified Naina's chachaji and chachiji... he had seen them at Law garden during his previous visit to Ahmedabad. They were sitting together, with a peaceful expression. Their genuine happiness reflected on their faces. Sameer could see the kind eyes.

Taiji was busy talking to another set of ladies... he could make out by her gestures that she was bragging about something. Pralay slept on a nearby chair.

Looked like no one else had come from her family... her tauji, her father and Arjun could not be seen. He braced up for working upon whatever he had in hand.

He searched for a waiter and caught hold of one carrying a tray of lassi. Guiding him close to the place where chachaji and chachiji were sitting, he started urging the other guests to take the drink.

"Arre, uncleji, itni garmi hai... aap lijiye na", he said to one man.

"Auntyji, aapki saree toh bohot sundar hai... kitni achhi lag rahi hain aap isme", aunty immediately grabbed the lassi.

He went on to give personal attention to everyone. It did not go unnoticed from the people he was trying to impress.

As he approached chachiji, he offered glass to her, " Lijiye na, roz sabko khilati hain... aaj hamein mauka dijiye aapko khilane pilane ka."

She looked up sharply, "Kya matlab?  Tumhe kaisa pata?"

Sameer gave a soft smile, "Sabhi maayein yehi toh karti hain."

His smile and words filled her heart with warmth for him... it was rare that a male member of the family recognised the contribution of a housewife... let alone a male who was not even known to them. She blessed him and took the glass of lassi.

Before he could approach chachaji, who had witnessed the conversation, Swati's mother called out to him.

"Beta Sameer, tum toh mehman ho... ladke wale ho... yeh sab kam karne ki zaroorat nahi hai tumhe."

Sameer looked back at her, "Auntyji, aap beta bhi kehti hain aur mehman bolkar paraya kar deti hain... jab Munna iss ghar ka beta hua toh main bhi toh bete jaisa hi hun na... fir apne ghar mein kaam karne mein kyon sochna?"

She tried to reason, not ready to take any help from her daughter's sasural family,  but Sameer held her by shoulders and gave a glass of lassi to her as well, saying that she needed to relax.

"Kitna achha ladka hai na", chachiji looked at her husband.

He was impressed too, " Haan... aur bohot achhi soch bhi rakhta hai... aise hi bachhe aage jaakar desh ki pragati ka hissa banenge."

There was a flurry of activities and everyone turned to look at the main gate of the house.

Swati walked out, looking ravishing in her beautiful, orange saree. Preeti and Naina walked along... on  her sides, holding her.

Naina did not dare to look up and search for Sameer as she knew all eyes were on three of them.

Sameer had no such restriction... he watched with admiration as she took dainty steps, along with Swati, and guided her to the sofa where Munna was seated now.

Quickly reaching the place next to the stage, Sameer stood close to Pandit. Naina walked past him, her dupatta brushing against his hands as the place was restricted... and he suppressed the urge to hold it.

Munna stood up and stepped forward... as Swati reached the stage. They stood facing each other... Munna adoring his wife to be and Swati feeling too shy to even look up at him.

Her mother handed the ring to Swati and she slid it on Munna's finger. Everyone clapped. Munna's father handed him the ring for the girl and he held Swati's hand, slowly sliding it down.

They were showered with flower petals. Then they were asked to sit on the sofa and photo session started, with all guests trying to get pictures clicked with them.

Naina stepped back, moving out of the way.

Sameer saw her walking backwards and immediately placed himself strategically. Just a few steps and she banged into his chest. He held her arm and whispered, "Andar chalo... abhi."

Next instant, he was gone. She looked around nervously, hoping nobody had seen them. All were busy trying to meet the newly engaged couple. She went to inform Preeti... if required, she would have to handle her absence.

The house was empty now... all guests and family members were outside. Sameer had noticed a door next to the kitchen. It looked like a store room. He opened the door slightly and peeped inside. It was perfect.

As Naina entered the house, Sameer pulled her and walked to the store room, closing the door behind him.

Naina gasped. The place was full of assorted items, having little space for movement... and a small window made the room dimly lit...

She clenched the sides of her kurta as Sameer took slow steps towards her. Stepping back, she hit a cupboard in two steps.

The glint in his eyes sent shivers down her spine. He caged her, placing his arms on both sides of her head, "Toh?"

She gulped, "Toh... toh kya?"

His hand moved to her hair falling on the face, wrapping a curled tendril around his finger.

"Aaj itni mehnat ki hai sajne mein... uska inaam nahi logi?" His voice was low.

"Sajna toh tha hi... meri sabse pyaari saheli ki sagai hai", Naina said in defiance.

Sameer was ready to accept the challenge, " Oh!  Toh yeh pink suit sirf apni saheli ke liye? "

His finger moved gently from the hair to her face, gliding down her cheek to the neck.

Naina melted at his touch, "Tumhare liye... "

He brought his face closer, "Sach?"

She nodded, swallowing... her breathing getting difficult.

His finger touched the gold chain... and lightly moved around her neck, along with the chain, till it reached the centre end of her collar bone.

Her eyes remained fixed on his face... as his finger moved up, across her chin, stopping just below her lower lip.

"Gloss kyon nahi lagaya?" He whispered.

"Tumhe nahi pasand isliye",  she teased.

His raised his eyebrow, marveling at her teasing when she was in this condition.

"Mujhe tumhara sab kuch pasand hai... bas kabhi kabhi jalan ho jaati hai... "

She smiled... but his next sentence made the butterflies in her stomach turn into monsters... messing up her insides.

"Jalan hoti hai ki woh gloss mujhse pehle tumhare hothon tak kaise pohoncha... "

His finger moved further, tracing her lower lip, then going onto the upper one.

Her lips quivered and his eyes caught the movement. Slowly, his face started getting nearer, eyes fixed on her lips.

She turned her face to the side, a moment before he could close the distance.

He stopped, shut his eyes and buried his face in her neck, breathing hard.

"Kab Naina?"

She slowly brought her hands around his back and plastered her body to his, putting pressure on his back to pull him even closer.

His hands went around her slender frame, encircling her completely into him... and he placed a kiss at the base of her neck.

A deep sound arose from the back of her throat... the blood in her veins heated up and her hands resting on his back clenched into tight fists.

Sameer could feel her erratic pulse under his lips, his palms on her waist tightening.

Hearing some sound from outside, she tried to get a hold on herself and realised that they had to go out before someone came looking for them. Naina tried to move but Sameer tightened his hold.

She brought her hands to his chest, whispering into his neck, where her face rested, "Sameer, bahar chalna hoga."

With a groan, he moved, still holding her, "Tumse door jaane ka man nahi karta."

She placed her hand on his face, "Abhi toh jaana padega... kisi ne pooch liya toh hamare liye mushkil ho jaayegi."

He tilted his face and kissed her palm, "Theek hai... lekin wapas jaane se pehle ek baar aur milna... abhi dil nahi bhara."

She pouted, "Bas ek baar aur milke mujhse dil bhar jaayega? Nahi milungi... "

"Jaaneman, tumse toh saari zindagi dil nahi bharega... aise hi pakad ke rakhunga hamesha", he tickled her waist.

She blushed and laughed at the same time... running out of the room.