"Joote us mithai ke dabbe me rakhe hain," whispered Preeti in Naina's ear. "Wo lal rang ke dabbe me?" asked Naina. "Haan...maine Varun jiju ke bhai ko baat karte suna. Aur wo do Rahu Ketu aur Sameer jiju bhi Varun ki side se hain...pakka wai dabba hai...dekh kaise un teeno ki nazrein usi dabbe pe gadi hain!" Preeti muttered to Naina and Swati.

At the same time, the trio on the opposite side was murmuring about the groom's shoes being hidden inside the mithai box behind the stage. "Tum logon ko saara plan samajh aa gaya na, ki joote kab aur kaise lene hain...wo dekho ladkiyaan idhar hi dekh rahi hain..," Sameer whispered in Munna and Pandit's ears. And then as he looked on at Naina, his smile grew dazed and his eyes dreamy. Naina looked at his intense gaze and knew what was going on in his mind. They did not need words to communicate. Their eyes could do their talking. Naina felt as if his eyes were saying, "haaye Naina...kitni gazab lag rahi ho is yellow salwaar kameez mein...ghur to mujhe rahi ho...bas thoda sa pyaar se ghur leti toh...". At this, she intentionally made her gaze frigid. Sameer's eyes pleaded, "ab maan bhi jao na meri jaan...mera bas chale to main isi mandap pe tumhare sath abhi ke abhi phere le lun!" Naina blushed, yet her eyes conveyed, "is baar in aakhon ka jaadu nahi chalega...itna bhi aasaan nahi hai Naina ko manana...". Sameer's determined eyes responded, "acha...ye baat hai...toh I Love You to main tumse bulwake rahunga...lagi shart...," and immediately his eyes widened in fear as he realized his mistake... ,"na na sorry sorry...no shart vart this time...". Munna and Pandit pulled the lovelorn Sameer back into reality and the trio started to put the plan into action.

There Naina, Preeti and Swati were hurrying towards the red sweet box. In less than a minute, the three boys and the three girls were face to face, separated only by the red sweet box lying on the floor between them. Naina was quick as lightning. Before anyone could react, she had taken the box and had started running away. Everyone started chasing her. Much to her surprise however, Sameer hadn't moved from his place. He was sitting squat where the shoe box had been kept. Naina turned to look at him while running and she did not miss that smirk on his face. He eyed her naughtily as he opened another box lying there- a yellow sweet one with a red cover on it. Naina stopped in her tracks as she saw him take out the new, gleaming pair of shoes- the groom's shoes. Naina quickly opened the box in her hand and found it to be full of laddus and chiwda. She had been fooled by Sameer. Sameer dangled the shoes in front of Naina to tease her. She thrust her box in Preeti's hand and hurried over to Sameer, who was now running with the shoes in the opposite direction. Naina didn't realize that neither Swati nor Preeti bothered to follow her and they were giggling with Munna and Pandit as they all cheered for Sameer.

Sameer saw Naina inching closer to him and his athletic side kicked in. He ran faster, towards Naina's society, up the stairs with Naina scrambling behind him. He turned and muttered "tut tut" to a disgruntled and tired Naina and rushed inside her home, Naina chasing him. The house was vacant as everyone was downstairs for the wedding ceremonies. "Sameer! Koi fayeda nai hai....joote to main hi lungi," panted Naina as Sameer ran into her room. This was her territory...Sameer bachke kahan jayega, thought Naina quite sure of her victory. Neither Sameer nor Naina bothered to turn on the light inside the dark room, so busy were they playing cat and mouse. The only bit of light coming was the moonlight shining through the bedroom window and the brightly lit decorative lights outside on the gallery. "Naina, ruko tum...dekho...," Sameer tried to stop her from snatching the shoes from him, albeit unsuccessfully. It was Sameer's turn to block Naina's way. "Ouch Sameer...ruko toh...," Naina muttered and climbed over on the bed to escape him. "Nanana...," she teased him from atop the bed, shoes out of his hand's reach. Sameer was enjoying seeing Naina finally so chirpy and lively. He felt he saw his old Naina back tonight. He smiled at her and acted as if trying to snatch the shoes from her. "Sameer babu...ye Naina jis cheez ko pakad leti hai na....wo uske haath se phisalti nahi...," Naina said in a filmy accent. But at that moment, Sameer had got hold of one of the shoes. In order to take it back from him, Naina lunged forward, which caused her foot to slip on the bedsheet. She grabbed Sameer's collar to prevent her fall. Sameer was taken by surprise and he too lost balance along with Naina. The two of them fell on the bed and rolled over each other. Naina had landed over on Sameer, who was lying face up on her bed. Naina's yellow dupatta, which had flown off her neck in the scramble landed gently over Naina head. The two were left gazing into each other's eyes. The moonlight flitting in through the window was illuminating their faces. It was a sight to behold! Yahan to Naina hi puri phisal gayi thi....wo bhi Sameer pe.

Sameer was smitten. The girl of his dreams was in his arms. His hand had unconsciously fallen on her back. Her Kohl lined eyes, her bindiya, those sparkling jhumkas and that maang teeka; her hair flowing in the slight breeze coming through the window...and to top it all, the duppatta on her forehead. She was looking every inch his bride to be. Sameer was suddenly feeling like it was summer on that cold January night. His heart was throbbing in his chest as he tried come to terms with the fact, that Naina's body was infact touching his own. This was the first time he and Naina were this close. This proximity was sending electric pulses in his entire body. His mind was jammed with this sudden influx of sensations. So much so, Sameer had given up on thinking. All he could do was to stare into Naina's beautiful eyes, which he was doing so pretty happily. His lips were stretched into a wide smile as he adored her pretty face, with the yellow dupatta on her forehead. Yellow was her colour. He would buy her many yellow sarees when they marry, he thought in the back of his mind. His eyes then hovered over to her luscious lips, which had been painted a bright pink tonight. Sameer was grabbed by a sudden urge to taste them. His eyes became dazed as he slowly, unconsciously inched closer to her.

It had all happened in a fraction of a second. There she was, lying right on top of Sameer, encased in his arms, her face hardly a few inches away from his. This was the first time she had been this close to a boy. And this was no ordinary boy. This was the boy who was in her thoughts 24x7. The boy who taught her what it felt like to be in love. The boy whom she loved ardently, desperately, passionately, wildly. Yes, wildly too! There were times when Naina had dreamt of Sameer taking her romantically in his arms, on a moonlit night like this and kissing her passionately, as if trying to devour her. And Naina would be kissing him back in those dreams with the same fervor; her hands caressing his back and neck and traversing through his soft, silky hair. When Naina would wake upto such dreams, she would feel extremely abashed of having shared such a sensuous moment with Sameer, even if it was in her dreams. But all the same, a big, shy smile would be adorning her lips; thinking about how ethereal it felt...encased in his arms, fully submitted to his care and his desire; and the kiss- Naina would feel the sensation of his lips on hers till well into the evening. So vivid were her dreams about him! Today morning had been one of those too when Naina had woken upto being kissed by Sameer passionately on her lips. How she tried to maintain her walls around him! And on top of it, he had to come dressed in that bright orange and pink embroidered kurta today. How dashing he looked tonight, Naina's heart told her. As if he did not look handsome enough everyday. Even Preeti was on his side now. Naina knew Sameer had changed and that he truly, deeply loved her now. And this time it was all for real. Preeti was right- he was suffering so much just to win back her love and trust. Naina had already forgiven him deep inside, but found it hard to admit it to him.

Naina's mind was now clouded. Something was pulling her towards him, towards his lips. Naina and Sameer were about to kiss, when they were jolted into the present with the sound of the band, which had started playing downstairs. Naina immediately got up to allow Sameer to rise. Sameer got up and sat down besides her. Both were feeling embarrassed at the intimacy that happened between them just seconds ago. Sameer thought of lightening the situation. "Oh hello Naina....maana ke hum dono ek dusre se pyaar karte hain...lekin tum to mere upar hi chadh gayi...," he said in a self-concerned tone, ignoring Naina's angry gasp. "Dekho main ek seedha saada, sharif aur sanskari ladka hun. Mere liye ye sab sirf shaadi ke baad!" he added. "Acha ji...kyun karni hai shaadi?" responded Naina indignantly. "Haww Naina...matlab tumhe shaadi se pehle hi...," Sameer faked the alarmed look and then opened his arms and came closer to Naina, "chalo tumhara hukm sar aankhon par....". Naina got flustered and pushed him away,"uffo...mere liye bhi ye sab sirf shaadi ke baad...". "Aisa? Toh chalo abhi shaadi kar lein?...Dekho mood hai, mausam hai, mandap bhi hai....aisa mauka fir kahan milega...," Sameer sniggered as he gave up his pretence of innocence, and began flirting with her openly. "Tum na...ekdum tedhe ho...bilkul seedhe nai ho tum...lao wo joota do mujhe...," she commanded. Sameer smiled flirtatiously and dangled the shoe away from her reach. "Pehle wo teen magical words bolo mujhe...," he put forward his condition. "Bol dungi...pehle joote do...," she said feigning irritation. Sameer lovingly gave her the shoe back and smiled adoringly at her, waiting for his return gift. Naina made to run, but Sameer grabbed her wrist. Naina turned and looked into his eyes. He wasn't going to let her go now she knew. He had had enough of this fight. She was his and he knew that. She too knew that. "Naina, wo teen magical words?" he enquired smilingly. "Thank You Sameer....," replied Naina naughtily. Sameer tightened his hold on her wrist and pulled her closer to him. "Aaj jaane nahi dunga...chahe mere hone wale Sasurji hi kyun na aa jayein...," Sameer whispered into her ears. Naina smiled shyly and lowered her eyes. "Kar do na maaf Naina...please...ek baar phir is bejaan Sameer me jaan bhar do...ekbaar phir apni mohabbat ka iqraar kar do na!" he pleaded. Sameer saw Naina's eyes were still lowered to the ground. She didn't respond. His smile faltered and his hold on her wrist loosened. He sighed and left her hand. Naina looked up at him in surprise. His eyes were deeply morose. He turned away from her as if he had allowed her to go. He was trying to fight the tears trickling down his cheeks. Naina need not see them and forgive him out of pity.

There Naina remained standing in her place. She knew he was deeply hurt now. She knew the choice was hers. She could choose him or lose him as she pleased. She could lose his love, like he had once lost hers. But she did not want to lose him- again. How much ever she tried, she could not forget him. She could not stop loving him. And at that moment, she thought it was time- time for him to know that she too wanted to spend every single moment of her life with him. She put the shoes on the bed and touched his arms from the back. This was the second time she was doing this. Her heart beat wildly. The last time she had got betrayal at the end of her confession. Yet she mustured up the courage to take a chance one more time, with him. Sameer was startled by her touch. "Sameer...," she called lovingly and softly. The warmth in her voice made him turn. "Naina....," he paused. She took his hands in his and Sameer was pleasantly surprised. "Sameer...I Love You...main bhi tumhare bina nahi jee sakti!" Naina said, tears of happiness in her eyes. Sameer felt as if a burden had been lifted from his heart. Suddenly, joy, warmth and happiness engulfed him. He smiled and his hand moved over to touch her cheek, "I Love You too Naina...", and with this he bought her closer and embraced her in a tight hug. Naina wrapped her arms around him tightly and the two stood there in each other's arms, murmuring I love you in each other's ears repeatedly.

Finally as they broke from the hug, Sameer saw Naina smiling happily and blushing. He bought her face close to his and kissed her forehead. He wanted her to know that she was in his care now. That he is going to be there for her always. He looked over at her soft, smooth cheeks and without thinking, planted a kiss on them. Trying to kiss her hand had earned him a slap the last time. But this time, Naina had just closed her eyes smilingly, as if trying to take in his touch. Sameer's eyes darted over to her bright, pink lips which were enticing him once again. Should he, should he not...he was fighting a battle inside. Unable to restrain himself, he pulled her even closer. She opened her eyes and looked into his. Her eyes spoke of yearning, of passion, of longing- longing for that seal of true love. It was her submission to him which instigated a sense of responsibility in him. They were too young for this. He did not want Naina to lose her innocence so soon. He heaved and stopped, trying to pull himself away. Naina opened her eyes and understood his hesitation. She smiled, proud of her man- proud of how he respected her and the boundaries between them. Their eyes remained locked onto each others. Naina then took Sameer by surprise as she placed her lips over his. Sameer shuddered in the sensation and so did Naina. Their lips started to caress each other and what ensued was an enthrilling melody of desire, passion and submission to each other. Sameer thrust her against his body and his hands scrambled all over her back, her neck and her hair, while his lips did their task of kissing Naina relentlessly. Naina's hands moved through Sameer's hair and pushed him closer to her, wanting to get the most from him. They kissed and kissed and kissed. Some two to three minutes passed by when they broke apart. Both of them were breathing heavily and looked at each other shyly, yet happily. "Woww.....," was all Sameer could say. Naina blushed even more. "Ab tum mere ho....ab chod ke gaye to dekh lena!" Naina held his collar and threatened him playfully. "Main pagal hun jo pakadne wali cheez ko chodunga...," he laughed flirtatiously and pulled her into his arms once again. "I Love You Naina...I promise main tumhe hamesha khush rakhunga...hamesha!" said Sameer.

Few minutes later, Naina took the groom's shoes and happily desceneded the stairs towards Preeti and Swati. The girls were happy to win the shoes. "Itni der kaise lag gayi....aur ye lipstick kaise phail gayi....tujhe na bilkul makeup sambhalna nahi aata...," said Preeti as she adjusted her lipstick with her hanky. Naina blushed at this and turned to look at Sameer standing smiling on top of the stairs. With this, the girls ran over to their Varun jiju to return his shoes and get their reward.

Sameer came down and was greeted by Munna and Pandit. "Bhai...aakhir bhabhi ne tujhe maaf kar hi diya!" Pandit danced with joy. "Haan....," Sameer accepted shyly. "Ek minute, lekin tum dono ko kaise pata chala?" he asked, now surprised. "Tera chehra bata raha hai...," said Munna. "Acha? Itna khush lag raha hun kya main?" asked Sameer happily. "Wo bhi...., lekin ye pink lipstick na tujhpe suit nahi kar rahi!" Munna said slyly and offered Sameer his hanky. Sameer felt himself go red in his cheeks. Munna, Pandit knew he'd kissed Naina. Pandit and Munna laughed and tried to make him comfortable. They helped him clean the lipstick from his lips. "Arey hume pata chal gaya theek, lekin tere wo safari suit sasur ko nai pata chalna chahiye....varna shaadi se pehli doli uthwa dega teri yahan se...", they laughed.

The trio went to join the others for the wedding ceremonies. Sameer and Naina were completely absorbed in each other; their eyes full of love and longing for the other. The night of 14th of February 1991 had become one of the most special nights of their lives- the night of their love confession, the night of their first kiss. It was a night worth remembering. It had been their first Valentine's night...