Naina was elated to see Sameer walking in after a few minutes... fresh and smiling.

"Kahan chale gaye the tum? Kabse dhund rahi thi." She showed her concern when he came near her.

"Kuch kaam tha," he avoided looking at her from so close.

"Sameer, tumhara haath theek hai na? Zyada dard toh nahi ho raha?" She lightly touched his elbow.

He nodded, smiling at her with pursed lips before looking away again.

"Achha batao... tum bhi koi dance karne wale ho kya?" She was excited for the upcoming program.

"Nahi... main nahi kar raha... par tumhe dekhne ka intezar hai." He could not keep his eyes off her anymore.

"Pata nahi kaisa lagega tumhe... achha nahi laga toh?" She was suddenly nervous, thinking about him watching her dance for the first time.

"Achha kyon nahi lagega?" He joined his brows.

"Tumhe kya pata main kaisa dance karti hun... tumne thodi kabhi dekha hai." She wrenched her fingers.

He gave a small laugh, "Har dance dekha hai tumhara, school mein bhi, freshers party mein bhi... aur abhi wahan kamre mein bhi."

His eyes shone as he said the last line, looking into her eyes.

She stared at him, dumbfounded.

"Haan, har baar chup ke dekha hai...  aaj pehli baar tumhe samne baith kar dekhunga... waise kaunsa gaana hai tumhara?" He was enjoying her shocked state.

Before Naina could answer, Rahul called out to Sameer. They both turned to see what he wanted. Rahul gestured them to come to him and Sonali.

"Sameer, tum aur Naina bhi ek saath kuch dance karo na... koi romantic se gaane pe," Sonali said excitedly as they reached the couple.

"Main toh pehle bhi keh raha tha Sameer se par yeh manta hi nahi," Rahul grumbled.

"Maine kabhi dance wance nahi kiya... aur yahan toh kuch shaadi wala hona chahiye... main nahi kar sakta... Naina hai na... woh kar toh rahi hai... bas wohi hum dono ki taraf se samajh lo," Sameer frowned.

Rahul gave an understanding smile, "Chal koi nahi... Naina ka dance toh dhamakedar hoga hi... college mein dekha tha."

The performances started shortly after. Rishi and his cousins were the first to dance on 'Mehndi laga ke rakhna, doli saja ke rakhna'. Sonali's cousins joined them midway and together they charmed everyone. Next dance was by Sonali's brother and bhabhi. They performed on 'Sajan ji ghar aaye dulhan kyon sharmaye'. After a long session of almost all relatives, it was Naina's turn. She looked at Sameer once before going ahead... he gave a thumbs up sign.

The music started.

Naina began with a slow step.

Koi rok sake toh rok le
Main naachti chan chan chan chan

She lifted her saree a bit and did a step by showing off her payal.

Sameer sat up in his seat... he didn't know she was even wearing payal today. Before he could recover, Naina started with her graceful moves.

Palki mein hoke sawar chali re
Main toh apne saajan ke dwar chali re

Sameer sat spellbound. The movement of her waist, the fluidity of her body, her expressions... everything was hitting him with unimaginable force.

Mushkil se maine yeh din nikale
Chal tez chal o gadi wale
Man mein lagi hai aisi lagan
aisi lagan ho aisi lagan
Hoke main badi bekaraar chali re
Main toh apne...

Her words were effecting him as much as her dance. His eyes turned dark. He wanted to hold her now... right now.

Ho jaungi main jal jal ke mitti
Maine piya ko likh di hai chitthi
Tu na aa main aa rahi hun sajan
Kar kar ke main intezaar chali re
Main toh apne...

He could very well understand what it meant to burn... waiting for your love to melt in your arms. He took a deep breath, fingers moving over the face to hide the colour from others. His breath was coming in gasps now. Naina had managed to hypnotize him from a distance of more than thirty feet.

The clapping sound made him come out of the trance... partially though. Everyone was enthralled by her dance. As she walked back, loud calls of praise from relatives on both sides followed her.

He just hoped his heart found its pace again... it seemed to have forgotten that it had to beat... to keep him alive.

She went to Sonali first, knowing that most of the eyes would be on her presently. And Sameer... she had seen it in his eyes earlier... his longing, the fire, the darkening... she had seen it all. She could not go to him right away.

"Waah Naina, kitna achha dance karti ho tum... tumhe toh professionally karna chahiye." Rahul complimented.

"Sachhi Naina, tujhe dekhke laga Madhuri ko hi dekh rahe hain... utni hi sundar, utna hi gazab ka dance... thank you, mere liye itna khoobsurat performance dene ke liye." Sonali stood up and hugged her.

And Sameer could not help but feel the pangs of jealousy... looked like everyone could reach her except him. He looked at Sonali's hand on the bare part of her waist...

"Naina... yahan aake baitho na, Rahul aur Sonali ka dance hai abhi." He called out to her, not able to bear the distance any more.

As the to be married couple moved ahead, Naina turned and walked over to sit next to Sameer.

"Aage dekho, Sameer... dance wahan hoga." She said in a low voice, feeling his gaze on her as they waited for the dance to begin.

Reluctantly, he turned his face to look ahead.

Next moment, Naina felt his hand on her back.

He frowned, as the entire back was covered... bringing his hand to the side of her waist, he found it to be covered too. But he had himself seen Sonali's hand on her skin a few moments back... confused, he looked down.

"Kya kar rahe ho tum... aage dekho... sabke samne kuch bhi." She chided him.

"Tumne saari ko kuch kiya hai kya?" His entire focus was on her.

Naina looked at him strangely, "Saari ko kuch nahi kiya... bas abhi badal ke aaungi."

He panicked... she could not change before he got a chance to admire her... if she did, he knew he would have  to wait for a really long time before he could see her like this again... like he was waiting for the green saree... the one he could not even talk about. He was already buried under too many dreams, he could not add to them.

"Nahi, badalna nahi... yehi pehne rakho, please," He pleaded.

As the music started and Rahul started dancing with Sonali on 'pehla pehla pyar' from Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, Sameer felt it was being played for him... and Naina.

He let his hand slide around her waist again, brushing his fingers on her silk saree. Naina sat motionless, his touch making her goosebumps active again, her pulse started to race as his fingers moved around the waist.

A feel of her skin startled him... bringing the realisation that one side of her waist was not under the cover of saree. He inched his hand further, getting more of her smooth skin under his touch.

Naina gulped... he had made the butterflies go mad with their fluttering in her stomach. Her heart rammed against her rib cage, making it difficult to hear or see anything clearly.

She quickly kept her own hand on his, making him stop the exploration. It was not a very good move she realised... his palm was flattened on her waist, covering the side as his long fingers almost touched her belly. She tried to move his fingers but he kept them glued, the heat from them burning her skin. Naina was sure he could feel the butterflies.

They did not come to know when the song got over. The sound of applause made her aware of the surroundings. Nudging her elbow in his ribs, Naina brought him to his senses.

Sameer looked around, comprehending the need to remain in control.

The music started again and everyone began dancing together. Naina was still trying to bring her breathing in control when Sonali's cousins forced her to get up and join in. Naina held Sameer's hand, pulling him along. Soon, the atmosphere was filled with gleeful delight, the loud songs and blinking lights making everyone enjoy without inhibitions.

Sameer pulled Naina closer, bringing his face very near her, "Main andar jaa raha hun... jahan tumne dance sikhaya tha thodi der pehle... do minute mein aa jaana."

He left before she could reason or object.

Naina went to Sonali and said in her ear, "Main saree theek karke aati hun... dheeli ho gayi hai."

Sonali nodded.

Naina walked towards the guest house.

The entire flat was dark. She stepped in gingerly, feeling a little scared.

"Yahan light nahi hai kya?" She didn't take Sameer's name... not wanting to take a chance if he wasn't here and someone else was.

But he was there... waiting.

His arms went around her, holding her in a firm grip.

"Light nahi jala sakte... yahan parde nahi hain." He whispered roughly.

She gave in to the feeling, moving her hands around him.

"I Love You," he murmured over her  ear.

"I Love You, too," she whispered against his neck.

Sameer crushed her like he needed her more than the air to breathe.

"Naina, tum bohot zyada sundar lag rahi ho... itni ki mere paas shabd hi nahi hain batane ke liye... tumhe aise dekh ke dil kar raha hai abhi tumse shaadi kar lun." He cupped her face, when they had moved back after a while.

She could see the glint in his eyes in the dark room.

He looked into her eyes, "Tumhe dekh ke man hi nahi bharta... bas dekhte rehna chahta hun... har pal... aisa lagta hai agar tum aankhon ke saamne nahi ho toh sab taraf andhera hai... aur tum ho toh iss andhere mein bhi sab kuch saaf saaf dikh raha hai... jab ankhen band karta hun toh tum dikhti ho... jab kholta hun toh tumhe dhundta hun... mere naina bas meri Naina ko dekhna chahte hain... main itna pyar karta hun tumse jitna aaj tak kisi ne nahi kiya hoga... koi kar bhi nahi sakta tha... kisi ke paas tum jo nahi thi."

Naina could feel the tears stinging her eyes. His love left her speechless.

She went into his arms again.

"Aur agar tum aise hi alag alag tarah se saj dhaj ke roz mere hosh udaogi toh main pagal ho hi jaunga na." His voice turned heavy.

Naina felt his hands roaming on her belly, making her clench her stomach... the tightening coming back to torment her.

Next moment, he pulled a chair, making her stand in front of him as he sat.. and placed his head on her belly... circling her waist.

Naina went red as his stubble brushed against her skin. Her hands clutched his shoulders.

Sameer felt the soft as feathers skin on his face, the fragrance of his girl covering him as he rubbed his nose against her belly.

"Sam... Sameer... yeh tum..." The words refused to come out.

He moved his face... he could feel her sharp intake of breath as she drew in her stomach muscles.

Bringing his breathing in control, he  slowly moved back, standing up to hold her again in his arms.

She collapsed against him like she needed all the support to remain standing on  her feet.

They stood holding onto each other for some time, before walking out.