Naina was elated at being able to buy something for Sameer. This kind of freedom, of having your own money... and spending it the way you want... is what she always wanted in life.

She paid for his clothes and they left.

Sameer did not refuse anything that Naina selected for him. He could see how much satisfaction she got from buying for him. Her happiness was utmost for him.

They reached the college when it had started to get dark.

As Naina turned to go, he called out, "Naina suno".

She looked back.

" Umm... ek baar ground mein aake milogi? Bas thodi der ke liye... please", he looked at her hopefully.

"Aur haan... isi dress mein aana", he added.

She nodded without hesitation and left for her room.

Sameer ran to his room too.

Once inside, Naina placed the award on her table... stepping back to admire it. How happy chachaji, chachiji and Preeti will be, when she'll call them up.

She quickly fteshened up and moved out again.

Sameer was there... in his white shirt... looking more handsome than ever.

Naina could not take her eyes off him. She didn't want to.

Sameer was pleased to see what he was hoping to see.

Suddenly, Naina remembered something, " Sameer, abhi yeh button kaise band kiye?"

He was caught.

Scratching his head, he wrinkled his nose, "Woh... waha... main mazak kar raha tha."

Naina fisted her hand to hit his arm but he held her wrist.

"Maine toh bas hisaab barabar kiya tha", he cleared.

Naina narrowed her eyes, " Kaisa hisaab? "

"Tumne aaj lip gloss kyon lagaya tha?" His low voice made her freeze.

She stared... her white dress reflection in his eyes matching with the shirt he was wearing.

"Pata hai aaj tum kitni sundar lag rahi ho... dil nahi bhar raha tumhe dekhne se", he whispered.

" Tum bhi bohot achche lag rahe ho iss shirt mein", Naina's voice was softer.

His eyes sparkled.

"Tumhari dress se matching shirt isiliye liya hai... tumhare rang mein jo rang gaya hun", his hand moved from her wrist to clasp around her hand.

His eyes turned soft, " Naina, aaj mujhe tumpe itna abhimaan ho raha hai... tumne sirf apni soch duniya ko batayi hi nahi balki sabko uss soch ka saath dene ke liye majboor bhi kiya... tabhi toh tumhare article ko award mila... jitni tum bahar se sundar ho utna hi tumhara dil sundar hai... aur iss sundar dil mein mere liye jagah hai yehi mere liye duniya ki sabse badi khushi hai. "

Her eyes remained fixed on him as her lips curved into a smile. She did not realise the movement till his hand, holding hers, came in the line of her vision.

He was slowly bringing her hand towards his lips... her heart hammered against the ribcage.

She looked at their joined hands, then into his eyes... and her gaze slipped to his lips.

Breathing hard, she waited till she could feel his breath on the back of her hand... and jerked it out of his hold.

Giving a shy smile, she ran from there, stopping a few steps away to look back and blew a kiss to him, before running back to her room.

Sameer stood stunned.

As he recovered, a smile played on his lips... he marveled at her shyness at one moment and boldness the next one.

Placing a hand on his heart, he shook his head, "Yeh ladki hi meri zindagi hai aur yehi roz mujhe maar dalti hai."

In the coming days, Naina became popular in college because of the award... many students and professors, unknown to her, came over to congratulate. Principal made a special mention of her achievement in her monthly address to the entire college.

One morning, Sameer waited for her but she did not come. He left for the class, thinking that maybe she had gone early.

Naina did not attend the lectures all day. Doing some mental calculation, Sameer realised it was not the time for her periods. He had come to know by her mood swings and irritability when she was in need of chocolates. And of late, she had become comfortable enough to herself tell him when she would be needing the sweet treat.

Probably, she had been called for something by the Principal, who had started asking her to do all write ups on behalf of their college.

He was worried, though. Hoping that all was well with her.

Now he waited for evening to run to the ground... knowing that she would not miss the daily meeting at their spot.

The evening arrived after a long wait. As he checked his reflection in the mirror, sliding a hand through his hair... there was a knock at the door.

Rahul barged in, without waiting for him to answer the knock.

"Kya chal raha hai, bhai? Aaj bada handsome lag raha hai... kahin jaa raha hai kya?" He looked at Sameer from top to bottom.

Their evening meetings and their spot was something Naina and Sameer had kept hidden from everyone. None of their friends knew about it... the ground being at the back side of college and abandoned due to various huge trees in the center of it.

Sameer didn't want the secret to be out now.

"Jaana kahan hai? Main toh yahin hun", he replied with a smile.

Rahul jumped on the bed, " Chal aaja phir, bade dino se saath nahi baithe... bata teri love story kahan tak pohochi".

Sameer reluctantly sat on the chair, thinking that probably he would be able to leave shortly if he talked with Rahul for a while.

"Meri toh theek hai... tum apni batao... Sonali ke saath kaisa chal raha hai?"

Rahul gave a wide grin, "Yaar, tune aur Naina ne meri life bana di... Sonali itni achchi hai ki kya bataun... sundar toh woh hai hi... matlab isiliye pehle pasand aayi thi... par waise bhi bohot achchi hai... aur mujhe bohot pasand bhi karti hai", he added shyly.

Sameer laughed at his blushing friend.

Rahul told him about the places he and Sonali had been to... the movies they had seen together... how they were almost caught once by one uncle of hers who happened to come to the same restaurant where they were having their cold coffee from one glass.

Though Sameer liked Rahul a lot... and was grateful, too, for helping Naina to come to his room... today he felt like killing him.

He was late by almost half an hour when Rahul left. Sameer just waited for him to enter his room. As the door closed shut, he ran out.

Rahul opened his door, leaned back to look at the running figure and went inside his room with a smile.

Sameer ran as fast as he could, hoping that Naina had not gone back, tired of waiting. The sun had already set and in no time, the darkness would surround the them.

He reached the tree, huffing, and turned towards the area hidden from the view... hoping to find her.

His breath got stuck in the throat.

Naina was not there.

A mat was placed on the ground... with a cake in the center... lit candles on it. There was one bottle of campa with two straws and a plate of samosa.

He looked around in urgency.

" Naina... ", his voice was low.

She stepped out from where she stood hiding behind the tree.

" Happy birthday, Sameer!" She said with a big smile.

He stared, jaw hanging.

Naina was wearing black jeans and pink top...

It was the same outfit he had imagined her in... when they had gone shopping for her.

HOW??

She walked up to him slowly, "Pehle cake kat lein? Nahi toh saari candles jal ke khatam ho jaayengi... mujhe baad mein ghoor lena."

She held his hand and made him sit on the mat. Sameer was still lost in her when she shook him, handing the knife.

Like an obedient child, he blew the candles and cut a piece of the cake. He took the piece to her mouth and got another shock. She was again wearing the pink lip gloss.

Seeing his frozen state, Naina took the piece of cake from his hand and took it to his mouth.

He bit into it, without knowing what he was doing... until Naina tapped his cheek a few times.

"Wapas aa jao, Sameer, warna yeh sab kon khayega?" She made an innocent face.

Coming back to his senses, Sameer understood her game. She was doing everything to tease him.

'Yeh sab bhi kha lenge, pehle tumhe cake toh khila dun".

He picked up a piece and took it to her. She had opened her mouth but Sameer purposely smeared some at the corner of her lips. She looked at him in fake anger but smiled the next instant and lifted her hand to clean it. He stopped her.

She gave a surprised look to him, "Saaf kar rahi hun".

His eyes were stuck, on her mouth, "Main karunga."

He slowly reached her face and cleaned the frosting with his thumb... and licked his thumb.

Naina was thunderstruck.

The heat that ran through her entire body made her face burn.

Sameer looked at her darkening eyes, quivering lips and trembling hands... the score was even.

"Chalo Naina, samosa thanda ho raha hai", he pulled her down, next to him and took one bite of the samosa, closing his eyes to enjoy the taste.

He offered it to her... seeing she was still in shock, he tapped her cheek, "Wapas aa jao, Naina."

The focus in her eyes returned slowly. And she felt her cheeks going red.

Sameer offered the samosa again and she took a bite... trying to get her normal heartbeat back.

His mind was buzzing with a lot of questions, but he waited till they finished the samosa and one more piece of cake. Putting the straws away, Sameer took a big gulp of soft drink and offered her the bottle. Naina took two sips when he snatched it back. She could get it only for a few small sips once more.

Done with the food, he looked into her eyes, "Ab hum baat kar sakte hain."

She gave a questioning look to him.

"Woh tumhara lip gloss maine kha liya na", he winked.

Her eyes turned into saucers as her hand flew to touch the lips.

Leaning a bit, he said with a naughty glint in his eyes, " Pehle cake ke saath, phir samose ke saath aur phir bottle se."

Naina had planned to surprise him with the arrangement and her dress... but here, she was the one who was not able to take the shocks he was giving one after another.

She shifted a little away from him and her top stretched... giving him a glimpse of her waist... smooth and white.

It was his turn to go speechless.

The distance made her breathe better.

She didn't look at him and he couldn't look anywhere except at her. Both sat quiet for some time.

When he was able to speak again, he asked, "Kaise kiya yeh sab? Aur aaj mera birthday hai kaise pata chala?"

She gave him a warm smile, "Tumhare id card se dekha tha... saal ke shuru mein... first year mein toh tumne bataya bhi nahi... phir maine socha check toh karna padega... isliye ek din chupke se dekh liya tha."

He was surprised, "Aur yeh cake? Kahan se laayi?"

"Maine banaya... aunty ke restaurant mein jaa kar... subah se wahin gayi thi... tumhare liye surprise ki taiyari jo karni thi... " She had a look of satisfaction.

"Sabse bada surprise toh yeh kapde hain... tum toh kabhi jeans nahi pehenti... aur yeh short top... yeh kaise pehena? " He wanted to know how Naina bought this particular outfit.

She was more than happy to tell, "Jab meri shopping karne gaye the toh maine dekha tha tumhe, in kapdon ko dekhke muskurate hue... main samajh gayi ki tum mujhe inme dekhna chahte ho... uss din jab tumhare liye market gaye toh maine dekha ye abhi bhi dummy pe the... bas, aaj jab cake banane gayi toh le liya... aur pehle nahi pehena toh kya... tumhe pasand aaya toh tumhare liye zaroor pehenungi."

"Aur kisi gift ka intezaar mat karna, yehi tumhara gift hai." And she winked at him.

This girl...

He exhaled deeply, then gave a cheeky smile, "Mere liye pehne hain toh theek se dikhao na... khade hoke."

Naina innocently got up and spread her hands, circling once.

Her beautiful face and slender neck looked more white against the dark pink of the top. The long arms... the narrow waist... a hint of skin every time she moved... jeans hugging her figure... her shapely legs...

He could take it no more.

In two quick steps he was in front of her.

Seeing the look in his eyes, she stood rooted to the spot.

"Mera birthday hai na... toh mujhe mera gift toh chahiye... " his husky voice chilled her to the bones.

Sameer slowly put his hands on her shoulders... his touch making her shiver... his fingers started gliding down her arms... painfully slow... till he reached her elbows... and then, she could feel his palms going around her waist.

She stiffened... closing her eyes.

"Naina, please aaj mat roko... maine hamesha apne aapko roka hai... bas aaj pehli baar... thoda sa... ", his voice was pleading.

When she still held her breath, he started to withdraw his hands with a sigh...

Her hands stopped him... pulling them back to her waist.

His eyes flew to her face, surprised and elated.

" Pehli baar nahi hai... par tab tumhe pata nahi tha", she said in a low tone.

"Kyaa? Maine tumhe aise chua aur mujhe pata bhi nahi... kab Naina?" He could not believe how he could forget.

Naina narrated how he had held her close, circling her waist, in his unconscious state when he had fever.

Sameer dipped his head in frustration, "Yeh bukhaar phir kab hoga? Ab toh isse aage badhna hai."

Naina blushed at his thoughts.

The feel of her skin under his fingers and her red face made his eyes burn with longing.

He rubbed his thumb on her bare skin, making the hair on her neck rise.

Bringing down his face close to her ears, he whispered, "Aaj bhi chad gaya bukhaar... tumhara... agar tumhe kiss kar lun toh sochna behosh hun."

As he turned his face towards her, she hid her face in his chest, unable to bear the feelings he was invoking in her.

Her hands on his chest and head on his heart... his hands around her waist and face nuzzling her neck... they stood fighting with themselves.

Slowly, Sameer held her face and brought it to look at him.

Her eyes were still dark, breathing erratic and lips parted. He stared at her beautiful face, groaning at his helplessness.

She was his... yet he could not touch her with his lips... could not feel her with his fingers... could not mould her into him.

Looking into her eyes, he spoke, "Naina, aaj mein 21 saal ka ho gaya hun... ab hum shaadi kar sakte hain."

His words registered slowly. She came out of the trance he had held her in.

"21 ke kaise? Tumhe toh bees ka hona chahiye na?" She voiced her confusion.

"Mere papa ki death ki wajah se meri padhai ek saal late shuru hui thi", he cleared.

" Oh! "

"Shaadi karlein? Ab tumse door nahin raha jaata." His voice was hoarse again.