The number of vehicles increased on the road, a bus honked, couple of dogs fought, and an old lady tried to balance the numerous bags of vegetables she had bought. The vegetable vendor stopped in-front of a white bungalow, and hollered his wares, but no one came rushing out today. Disappointed, he moved on after five minutes. The birds on the trees in the spacious lawn chirped loudly, a cuckoo on the window sill sang to its heart’s content announcing the arrival of guests to the residents. The sunlight drifted in resolutely through the glass-paned windows, despite the curtains covering them.
Naina opened her eyes to the loud incessant song of the cuckoo. A hard male chest pressed against her cheek, and arms of steel wrapped around her body. She took a moment to commit the feeling to her memory, before she tried to turn over to look at the intruder. Sameer woke up as soon as she shifted, and tightened the hold of his arms and leg. She titled her head to look up at him, an incredibly sweet, drowsy smile curving her lips. He brushed his nose with hers, and kissed her softly. Words failed him – the moment was so precious for him; he couldn’t organize his words or thoughts.
The monumental trust Naina had showered on him today had left him speechless. He had been feeling uneasy ever since he had returned home yesterday. He had known that Taiji, though in shock at that moment, wouldn’t have kept quiet for long. And he had also guessed the burnt will be borne by Naina. His only solace had been that Chachaji was at home already, but that hadn’t worked out. Taiji had got her chance to do damage. He had regretted his action for some time after reaching home, wondering if he had done the right thing. But try as much he couldn’t get Taiji’s voice out of his head, as she had cursed Naina.
On top of that Naina hadn’t called him last night, so he had tried to call her but Preeti had said that Naina had fallen asleep. He had immediately known that she was lying. The moments they had shared that day was very important for both of them. It was not uncommon for him to open up and share things with her, he had been doing that always, but the way she had calmed him, got rid of his pain and guilt was much too special for him. He could never believe that Naina would fall asleep without talking to him. He had been gripped by a restless anxiety, and when the phone had finally rung at 3am he had immediately known it was her.
Since last evening, he hadn’t known peace until he had finally been able to have her in his arms. The morning sleep, however brief was the best he had ever had. Reluctantly he checked his watch, “10 baj gaye, ghar jaana padega na tumhe?”
“Hmmm”, she snuggled deeper into him, “jaana toh padega. Par man nahi ho raha.”
He chuckled, “thike toh ek kaam karte hai. Aaj hi mandir me jaake shaadi kar lete hai, fir kabhi tumko wapas nahi jaana padega.”
She laughed, rolling on her back, “haan, aur fir tumhare uss sapne ka kya hoga jo tum college me mujhe sunate the?”
He grinned, “tumhe yaad hai?”
She turned to his side, raising and supporting herself on one elbow, “tumko lagta hai main bhul sakti hun?”
Sameer fondly recalled how he would go on harping about what all he wanted in their wedding. The decorations, the food. He would keep on talking about everything he had seen in Pooja didi’s wedding and tell Naina that he wanted the same for their wedding. And Naina always sat with her cheek on her palm, listening to him fondly, not even once had she stopped him or had been irritated with all those repetitions.
“Bas ek hi problem hai”, Naina voiced bringing him out of his reverie.
“Kya?”, he asked frowning, determined to remove every problem in their path.
She drew patterns on his chest with her fingers, “Pooja didi ki shaadi me toh tumne sab dekha, lekin hamari shaadi me toh nahi dekh paoge. Hum to shaadi ke pehle 5-6 din se milenge bhi nahi.”
He sat up with a jerk, “5-6 din??!!?? Itne din main tumko dekhe bina kaise rahunga?”
She laughed again, getting up as well, “jaise main rahungi tumhe dekhe bina. Chalo ab utho.” Yawning, she stretched her arms and Sameer’s eyes focused on the interesting directions her kurti shifted. Opening her eyes, Naina looked at him, and it didn’t take her more than a few seconds to catch on to his thoughts, owing to the deepening glitter in his eyes.
She lifted one of his hands, and brushed a kiss on the back of his palm, surprising him. Slowly, she drifted down to his wrist, recalling how he had done the same to her the day she had given him the handkerchief message. He sat still, as she moved up his arm, and shoulder. When she breathed into his ear, he shivered closing his eyes. God. What was she doing? He felt her lips brush repeatedly over his cheeks, the slight rasping sound reminding him that he needed to shave. She kissed his closed eyes, his forehead, his nose, and then finally he felt her right at his lips. He drew in a breath, lips parting automatically in anticipation, but she kissed his chin. However, before he could frown in displeasure, she was back at his lips again, and he waited… A sharp hiss escaped his mouth, and his eyes flew open in surprise. Did she…? He lifted his hand, rubbing his lower lip with his thumb, feeling the tenderness. He couldn’t believe that Naina had bitten him. He looked at her to find her grinning, eyes sparkling with mischief.
He controlled his own smile from blooming, but his heart felt light. Every pain in her eyes was replaced with happiness. Still he was surprised at her boldness, and grinning he started to reach out for her. But she was quick to escape. Sameer stood up too, and soon the room was filled with their laughter as she led him on a merry chase. Finally when she felt he would corner her, she darted to the bathroom, her only chance of escape from the determined Mr. Maheshwari. As soon as she opened the door, and stepped inside, her laughter caught in her throat, and she stood still.
The renovated bathroom sparkled, new fittings twinkled at her, tiles gleamed, the sunlight pouring in from the window reflected off the glass shower cabinet. Wow! She had chosen the bathtub, the shower fittings, the tiles, yet she felt as if she was in a dream. She hadn’t imagined that everything that she had handpicked would come together to have such a brilliant impact. Even as she marveled at the sight before her, a warm arm slid around her waist, and she was pulled back against a hard chest.
His deep voice sounded in her ear, “pasand aaya?”
She sighed, “maine socha nahi tha ke yeh itna khubsurat hoga.”
He hummed, nuzzling the side of her neck, “try karna hai?”
She laughed, disentangling herself from him again, “nahi. Lekin tum try karo abhi. Naha lo jao. Main nashta banati hun.”
Sameer caught her wrist as she tried to walk past him, “ruko. Tum kaise nashta banaogi? Yaad nahi ke shaadi ke pehle…”
“Yaad hai sab”, she interrupted, “lekin bread-butter-jam toh bana sakti hun na. Aur chai bas, kyunki woh toh pehle bhi banai hai.”
He shook his head, “nahi Naina. Tab hamari shaadi tay nahi hui thi. Tum ek kaam karo, sirf bread-butter-jam banao, main aake coffee bana lunga hum dono ke liye.”
“Thike”, she agreed, but he didn’t leave her still, “chodo… jaane do mujhe.”
He pulled her back in his arms, “actually main soch raha tha… mere paas ek better idea hai… dekho bathroom naya hai, aur tumne try nahi kiya… aur mujhe abhi nahana hai… toh hum saath mein…”
She kept a hand over his mouth, her eyes widening in surprise. An electric charge ran up her spine as she felt his lips curve up in a smile against her palm, his eyes glitter in that peculiar way again, and down near her belly she could feel him very very clearly. The idea of sharing a bathroom was completely new to her. Was he serious? She looked around at the bathtub and shower with a renewed vision, and unknown to her, her hands fisted on his shirt. She now had a much better idea of what to expect after marriage. Really, how much more direct Sameer could have been than saying that he would see her without any clothes at all. However, until this moment, it had never really dawned on her that she would be seeing him like that too.
Suddenly she realized how very tall he was, pressed against him she could feel the strength in his body, and she recalled how he looked without a shirt. Her eyes shifted to the bathtub, and she wondered how he would look soaking in there. Had Sameer also thought about her? Of course he had. Her cheeks flushed as she realized the full implication of the teasing game she had played with him over the phone once, when she had said she wanted to use a bathtub. Oh God. Now she knew what he must have thought of. Even without the full permission of her brain, she looked at the shower area, and the erotic image of Sameer taking a bath popped in her mind. A hazy picture, yet potent enough to make her tremble. And he wanted her to be in there with him? How?
Sameer observed her staring at the shower cabinet with wide eyed apprehension. He could very well guess what was going through her mind. He had been imagining and fantasizing about Naina for several years now, but all this was very new for her. Just having a theoretical knowledge was not enough, and even having some idea about what to expect was also not enough. As he looked at her nervous expressions, he wondered if he had been too hasty in spelling out his fantasy. He had no idea how a woman reacted in these situations? Was she happy if her man fantasized about her? Or did she feel uneasy? And why weren’t there some guidelines for men to use in such situations? He wished he had an idea of the questions running through her mind. Or even the slightest bit of idea of her thinking in general.
She turned to look at him, still nervous, and whispered, “Sameer… h…hum… wahan kaise…”
At her stuttering tone, another wave of doubt hit him. Did she think she had to do things just because he wanted? Oh no. He couldn’t let that picture form in her head. He had no idea about how other couples in this world functioned, but he was clear on the fact that for them it will be a relationship based on equality. Her opinion, suggestions, and perspectives mattered equally in the decisions they would make, and maybe even sometimes would hold more weightage than his own because she was definitely more patient and level-headed than him. He needed to let her know that even when it came to physical intimacy, she had the right to say no. He cupped her face, “Naina, I am sorry. Mujhe zara sochke bolna chahiye tha. Hum abhi abhi toh… mera matlab inn baato ke liye bahot waqt hai hamare paas. Lekin ek baat kehna chahta hun, pata nahin tum puri tarah se abhi samjhogi ke bhi nahi. Aur shayad meri galti bhi hai isme ke maine tumhe pehle nahi samjhaya.”
“Kya bol rahe ho tum? Kaunsi baat?”, she asked, perplexed at his sudden serious expression.
He took a deep breath, “woh… shaadi ke baad… jab hum… mera matlab…”, he stammered nervously, and then closed his eyes, “aisa zaruri nahi hai ke tum har cheez ke liye mujhe haan bolo, tum mana bhi kar sakti ho. Main kabhi aisa kuch nahi karunga jisme tumhari marzi na ho. Bathroom wala aise hi muh se nikal gaya, sorry.”
She stared at him, surprised at the direction his thoughts had taken. She had been trying to imagine him, trying to visualize the image he was painting with his words. She had never even thought that Sameer would force her to do something she didn’t want. How could he? Didn’t she know that for him her thoughts, her comfort, everything about her held the utmost priority? He still had his eyes closed, probably afraid of her reaction. She realized that it was not just her, but sometimes Sameer was equally unsure and anxious about these things. It was so easy for her to forget or not understand that just because he knew the answers to her questions; it didn’t mean that he was not nervous. The insurmountable amount of confidence he had masked his vulnerabilities. She was probably the only one who had the privilege to see this side of him. And it was a privilege, because it spoke of his confidence in her love, that he knew she wouldn’t ever leave him no matter how weak he was in that moment.
She smiled, unknown territory or not, she was ready to go anywhere with him, because she trusted him. Suddenly the idea he had proposed didn’t seem scary or unimaginable. What was the need for her to be scared when he was with her? What was the need for her to imagine when he was there to show her exactly what he was imagining? She left the fistfuls of shirt she was still clutching, and flattened her palms on his chest feeling the steady thrum of his heartbeats.
He opened his eyes, looking down at her, surprised to find her smiling, “kya soch rahi ho?”
She lifted on tiptoe, and whispered, “yeh soch rahi hun ke do dino se sirf main tumko kiss kar rahi hun. Tum mujhe kiss nahi kar rahe.”
He shuddered, as she slid her hands to his shoulders, then around his neck, applying pressure to pull him down. Lost in her eyes, he obeyed her pull, wrapping his arms around her; he very gently brushed her mouth with his. It was only a fleeting contact, lighter than a whisper, but laden with a tantalizing hint of his familiar taste. Her pulse leaped, but at the same time she realized the uncertainty inside him. Knowing he might not return on his own, she again pulled him to her. And this time it was she who lingered. She removed her hands from around him, fingers lightly drifting down his back. She didn’t hold him, didn’t constrain him, but she knew he would be helpless to move away. This was the confidence that he had given her, the realization of her own hold over him.
Her lips were soft and warm, tender as they moved, and shaped his lips to accommodate her. His eyes fluttered shut, the gentle pressure of her kiss making him dizzy. His grip on her tightened, his heart beating in a staccato rhythm. What was she doing? He hadn’t expected such tender consideration from her; he had felt she might be scared, or even angry at his callous approach. He felt her move, and made a little sound of confusion, but her hands moved over his back pushing him closer to herself, soothing him. Carefully step by step she moved back, and the touch of her hands and feet guided him; eyes still closed he moved with her.
His elbow collided with something, and he gasped. She immediately drew back, “tum thik ho?”
“h…haan”, he stammered and looked around to see where he had bumped his hand. He froze. They were standing in the shower cabinet! How? He looked down at her, to find her lips curved in a lopsided sensual smile. She did this? He recalled how he had felt her move, but he had never realized that she was guiding him in here. But why?
She trailed one finger tip over a knob fitted on the tile wall, “main soch rahi thi ke hum dono yahan kaise…”, turning she slid her arms around his waist, “par tum toh kuch aur hi sochne lage. Tumhe kya lagta hai, mujhe pata nahi ke tumhare liye sabse pehle main aati hun? Maana yeh sab naya hai mere liye, aur tumhare liye bhi, lekin har baar koi nayi baat pe tum aisa sochoge main bura maan gai, ya gussa ho gai toh kaise chalega?”
He gulped, still not knowing what to say, but his hands lifted to hold her close to him. She smiled, dropping a kiss on his chest, “jis din humne pehli baar kiss kiya, uss din ka toh main samajhti hun ke tum dhire-dhire ek-ek kadam le rahe the meri taraf. Lekin aaj bhi? Fir shaadi ke baad bhi aisa sochte rahoge ke Naina bura maan gai toh? Sameer… Meri puri zindagi me aaj-tak agar koi hai jiske liye meri ichcha, meri soch, mere sapne, kuch maaine rakhte hai, toh woh sirf tum ho. Aur yeh cheez main jaanti hun, samajhti hun.”
He frowned slightly, thinking about what she said, and then suggested, “chachaji aur chachiji…”
“Nahi”, she interrupted, “woh bhi nahi. Jaante ho kyun?” He shook his head, and she continued, “kyunki maine unki baate sirf maani hai. Maine kabhi apna soch vyakt nahi kiya, apni ichcha zaahir nahi ki, apne sapne kabhi bayaan nahi kiye. Khudke parivar me ek zimmedaari hone ka ehsaas hamesha raha hai mujhe. Chachaji aur Chachiji ne kabhi mehsoos nahi karaya, lekin Taiji aur Papa ne kabhi bhulne nahi diya. Bas ek tum ho Sameer… sirf tum. Jiske saamne Naina, sirf Naina hoti hai.”
It took him a few moments to process her words, but when he realized exactly what she was saying he couldn’t help the smile that bloomed on his face. She also smiled, staring lovingly at him, “ab kiss karoge, ya firse mujhe hi karna hoga?”
The smile on his lips widened to a grin, as he firmly pulled her to him, and resumed the kiss. His tongue slipped into her mouth, not thrusting deep, but inviting her to taste. He was amazed at this woman, so confident, so sure of their relationship, that now she sought to ease his insecurities. The most stunning fact was that she wasn’t afraid of anything that could happen between them. The shimmering pleasure that engulfed him was precious.
Trusting her instincts, she reached between them and undid the buttons of his shirt. When her hands stroked his bare chest, a shudder ran through his muscled body, astonishing her. She did it again, this time trailing to his belly, using her fingers to apply slight pressure, and he groaned aloud, a deep sound that reverberated through his chest. Delight in this new found sensual power bloomed inside her.
Heat pounding through her body, she wrenched her lips away from him, and moaned when he immediately moved to her throat, removing her dupatta and dropping it carelessly. Yes! This was her Sameer – who never hesitated with her, be it saying something to her, or doing something to her. Careful yes, but she never wanted him to be hesitant. When she felt his hands at her back, moving up to unzip her kurti, and pulling it down, she felt the anticipation pooling inside her. She reveled in the power that coursed through her veins when she tugged his shirt off him, and he almost growled aloud simultaneously jerking her bra down. As his teeth marked the swells of her exposed breasts, she opened her eyes, and her gaze fell on the mirror over the bathtub wall. She caught a glimpse of the two of them in that mirror – her lips swollen from his kisses, his dark head moving down her half-bare body, her own hands moving over his strong back as he feasted on her – it was one glimpse before her eyes again fluttered shut with pleasure. Just one glimpse, but it made her breath catch. They looked primitive – male and female, sharing a bond, learning and exploring.
“Sameer”, she moaned his name, fisting her hands in his hair, pulling him up. Moving swiftly, she used the same hold to tug his mouth to her, and nibbled at his lips. His knees buckled under him at the onslaught of pleasure, and he spread out his hands feeling the need to hold his balance. His open palm hit the knob, which fluidly turned, and cold water gushed out of the shower suddenly. They both jerked, and he turned, so that he was against the wall, and the cold water fell on him first.
Shocked, she blinked the water out of her eyes, and gazed up at him. His eyes held a mixture of arousal and shock, and he was still panting, “galti se mera haath lag gaya.” He shielded her with his body, but his eyes drifted down her body, witnessing his fantasy come alive as the water ran down her silken flesh. Shuddering at the sight, he struggled to get a hold over himself and reached out to turn off the knob. But, even as he tried to do that, she moved again, combing her fingers through the patch of hair on his chest. Before his eyes, he saw the marvel of desire blooming in her eyes, as she explored him with her hands. His own hand stilled, her heated gaze moving over his body, burned him.
Naina didn’t know what was happening to her. She forgot every logic; failed to recall every reason. She didn’t remember anything she had read in books, neither did she recollect anything that Sameer had done to her previously. Only guided by her instinct, and the primal hunger she felt for him, she leaned forward and brushed her lips over his chest. Opening her mouth she tasted the water, mixed with the essence of him. He made a choked sound, collapsing against the wall, rendered completely helpless by what she was doing to him. When her heated mouth closed over his left nipple, he groaned loudly, his long fingers twining in her hair. He felt her hands trail down to the waistband of his jeans, and squeezed his eyes shut, silently praying to God that she shouldn’t touch him. If she even brushed her fingers over him by mistake, he would snap.
This was unknown. This was new. This was unimaginable. Naina. His Naina. She was touching him like this, kissing him like this. He had no idea what they would do about her wet clothes. He did not know how he would control himself. All he knew, all he felt, was the woman who was setting his skin on fire with each flick of her fingers and tongue. He trembled at the scrape of her teeth just below his ribcage, and then again on his stomach. His fingers skimmed down her back, the trail hindered only by the twisted strap of her bra, because he had jerked it down, too impatient for her taste to even try unhooking it. When she trailed up her body, and nipped at his throat, he damn near lost it.
In one smooth move he had her turned away from him, and facing the chilled tile wall. Still partially blocking the water with his body, he leaned against her, his head on hers, as he simply waited for minute. He tried to calm the tempest inside him, but his temptress was determined to shatter his every resolve today. Unbelievably, he felt her hips move, or her back arched, he didn’t know, but his already throbbing erection rubbed against the round curves of her bottom.
Oh. Dear. God.
He didn’t know what to do, how to stop. He trembled like a leaf, panting hoarsely in her ear, “Naina, please ruk jao.” She lifted one hand back to cup his head, and turned her own head just enough to capture his mouth. And he could have sworn he literally felt his control snap like a dry twig. He snatched the control of the kiss from her, his hands moving up her belly to her breasts. A bolt of heat shot through her, completely blocking the coldness of the water, his lips pressing hot and unyielding against her. Her insides seemed to melt as he attacked her senses, his tongue and fingers teasing her with stolen strokes. Leaving her mouth yearning for more, he moved to her shoulders, tasting and nipping. He pushed her wet hair aside, fulfilling another of his fantasies, his mouth trailing over the satiny expanse of her back. The icy spray turned to steam, her toes curled, she almost quit breathing, her bones going liquid as kissed down her spine.
Abruptly he shot back, away from her, and before she realized it she almost slid down the wall bereft of his warmth. Immediate next moment, strong arms enclosed her, steadied her, and the water no longer splashed on her. She understood he had turned off the shower. As he turned her in his arms, she blinked up at him, her eyes languorous and dazed, as if she wasn’t quite certain what had happened. He wasn’t too sure himself. He had lost his control completely, and would have taken Naina right in here against the wall today, if the phone hadn’t rung, the shrill sound breaking through the pheromone fog. The enormity of the situation didn’t escape him as he held her tightly, trying to calm her and himself. He wanted to curse himself for his lack of self-control, but somehow he couldn’t do that when even after everything she still wrapped her arms around him, trusting him endlessly. They hadn’t made love; his resolve, his promise had been saved by the ringing telephone. But whatever happened between them felt perfectly right, to him, to her, to them.
She shivered, and he realized they were both soaking wet. His discarded shirt, her kurta and dupatta, were lying in a wet soggy mess on the floor. He reached up on the steel shelf, and pulled the towel he usually kept there, and wrapped it around her.
“Yahin ruko. Main kuch pehenne ke liye laata hun”, he softly whispered, and stepped out. Water dripped everywhere from his jeans, and he too felt the cold permeating in his body from his soaked jeans, but his priority was Naina. Grabbing one of his t-shirt, and two spare towels, he stepped inside again. She was leaning against the glass partition, waiting for him.
He touched her cheek, “yeh lo. Apna sir poch lo aur yeh pehen lo. Main bahar change kar leta hun.”
She grabbed his hand, suddenly afraid that he was pulling back from her, or worse blaming himself for losing control, “Sameer, yeh jo bhi hua… mera matlab tum please…”
He placed a finger on her still swollen lips, “main jaanta hun. Jo bhi hua bilkul sahi tha, aur hum dono chahte the. Main kuch bhi nahi soch raha, bas tumko aise dekhta rahunga toh khud ko control nahi kar paunga. Isiliye thodi der…”
She smiled, “thike. Main change kar leti hun.”
Ten minutes later, she stepped out wearing his t-shirt, one towel draped around her waist like a sarong, and another wrapped around her head covering her wet hair. He had also changed in a fresh pair of jeans and a light green shirt. A wave of possessiveness shot through him on seeing her dressed in his clothes. The blue t-shirt hung loosely on her slim frame, the round neck big enough to slide over her shoulder, exposing the slender curve and a mark of his teeth for his view. The reddish mark and her obvious braless breasts almost did a number on his thin thread of control again.
She smiled, “yeh kapde kahan sukhau.”
That’s when he realized that she was holding the wrung out wet clothes. “Laao main sukha deta hun niche”, he offered extending his hand.
She blushed, “nahi… bahar nahi. Ramdhari dekhenge toh.”
He understood, “thike, toh main yahin hamare balcony me sukha deta hun. Do mujhe.”
She again shook her head, “tum kaise… matlab… isme mere… umm…” He laughed, completely understanding what she was shy about. He caught her hand, taking the wet bunch, “tum bhi na puri pagal ho”, and dropped a kiss on her cheek before moving out.
She stood still, surprised at how relaxed he was in handling her clothes. She had never seen a man do it before, at least not in her family. She smiled, moving to the small dressing table, removing the towel from her head and rubbing her hair. Wasn’t this why her Sameer was different? Lost in her musings, she never realized when he came back in, but suddenly he was standing behind her. The sight was so close to what she had seen in the bathroom mirror that she froze. The fact that they were clothed again didn’t matter to her, or rather to her body as it warmed again.
Oblivious to her state, he was totally focused on straightening the wire of the appliance in his hand. She frowned, her attention shifting to the unknown thing. “Yeh kya hai?”, she asked.
He looked up, staring at her in the mirror, and grinned, “hair-dryer. Tumhare baal jaldi sukh jayenge.” He plugged in the cord, and switched it onn.
Her eyes rounded in surprise, “aise kaise… tum jaante ho yeh istemaal karna.”
He laughed, combing one hand through his hair, “haan toh… tumhe kya laga mere baal itne achche aise hi hai? Madam… bahot mehnat lagti hai. Ab chalo sidhi khadi raho.”
She stared at him in wonder, as he carefully sifted through her hair, using the dryer with expertise. He pulled out a comb from his pocket and proceeded to gently detangle her long hair. What was he? How had she landed with such a man in her life? He didn’t find it odd to hang her clothes to dry; he was patiently standing and drying her long hair without even getting irritated at the tangles. She herself was sometimes annoyed at the effort it took to detangle her hair after washing it, and tried to rush through it, but he was being so careful of not hurting her at all.
He sniffled slightly, and her lips curved in concern, “tumhe shardi ho gai. Paani thanda tha isiliye.”
Switching off the hair-dryer, he grinned at her, “thanda tha? Mujhe to pata hi nahi chala. Tumhe thand lag rahi thi kya andar?”
She blushed, biting her lip, “umm… mujhe bhi baad me ehsaas hua. Pehle nahi… tab toh…”
He slid one hand around her waist, and dipped his head to kiss her exposed shoulder, “ab samajh aa gaya hoga na uss gaane ka matlab tumhe.”
“Konsa gaana?”, she asked puzzled.
He hummed the tune, and then sang, “Yeh deewani shaam, yeh toofani sham, Aag barasti hai sawan mein pani ka hai naam. Yeh deewani shaam, yeh toofani sham, Aag barasti hai sawan mein pani ka hai naam. Bas kuch bhi ho sakta hai. Arre bas kuch bhi ho sakta hai. Dar kuch aisa lagta hai…”
She stilled, turning to look at him. Her whisky coloured eyes were rounded in surprise, and the soft, slightly swollen lips parted. Color flushed her satiny cheeks. Her now dry hair tumbled in messy waves over her shoulders. She looked like a woman who had been thoroughly loved. And she almost had been, he thought with satisfaction.
“Y…yeh gaana”, she stammered, “uss din woh ladka…”
He pulled her firmly to him, “uss din bhi main tha, aur aaj bhi main hun… Her heart thudded, and she shivered at his possessive tone. Yes, she couldn’t deny it, for her it was always him. He rubbed his nose in her hair, “samajh aaya gaane ka matlab? Ya firse samjhau?”
Despite her shock, laughter bubbled from inside her, “nahi nahi. Aaj ke liye itni class kaafi hai. Main sab samajh gai.”
He chuckled, cupping her face, and aiming for her lips again when the phone rang. “Iss phone ki toh…”, he muttered and went to pick it up.
“C..chachiji…”, he stammered, “Namaste.” He listened for a minute, and his eyes narrowed, “haan woh mere paas hi hai. Main ek ghante me usko leke aata hun. Aap fikar mat karo, main sambhal lunga. Taiji se bas kehna ke maine subah call kiya tha aapko, aur mujhe pata hai ke Naina kahan hai. Iss phone ka mat batana.”
“Kya hua?”, she asked worriedly, wondering what had happened at home.
He glanced at his wrist watch, which had stopped working because of the shower, and then looked at the clock on his desk, “hum time bhul gaye. 12 baj gaye hai. Taiji tumhe dhund rahi hai.”
She paled, “ab… ab kya hoga. Chachaji ko nahi pata ke main tumhare saath hun… aur mere toh kapde bhi…”
He quickly went to her, and hugged her, “tum daro mat. Maine kaha tha na ke ab tumhe kisi cheez se darne ki zarurat nahi hai. Mujhpe bharosa karo bas.” She relaxed, placing her head on his chest. Thinking for another few minutes, he quickly formulated a plan, and then cupped her face, “suno… tum yahin ruko, main 10 minute me bahar jaake aata hun. Ramdhari bhi shayad aa gaya hoga niche, tum kamre ka darwaza bandh karlo.”
She nodded, and closed the door behind him after he left. Feeling slightly restless again, she paced the room, until the phone rang again. She hesitated before picking it up, but then thinking that it might be Chachiji and she would worry, she picked the receiver but didn’t say anything.
“Sameer beta”, a gentle voice came from the other end which Naina immediately recognized.
She sighed in relief, “mummy, main Naina bol rahi hun.”
“Naina!”, Vishakha exclaimed happily, “tum ghar pe ho. Kaisi ho tum? Aur Sameer kahan hai?”
“Main thik hun, aur Sameer bahar gaye hai”, Naina blurted.
Vishaka sounded puzzled, “bahar? Tum aai ho aur Sameer bahar gaya? Aisa toh kya kaam tha?”
“Aah”, she stammered, unsure what to say now, “woh main…”
There was a knock on the door and she turned, “lagta hai Sameer aa gaye. Ek minute.” She placed the receiver on the side, and went to open the door. Sameer entered inside with a bag in hand, “hey sweetheart”, and dropped a loud smacking kiss on her lips.
Naina clapped a hand over her mouth, staring at him through big rounded eyes. He frowned, “kya hua? Aise kyun dekh rahi ho? Pehli baar thodi na kiss kiya.”
She shook her head, and pointed at the phone, “woh… mummy hai phone pe.”
He turned his head to look at the receiver placed on the side, and coughed, realizing that his mom had just heard that he called Naina as sweetheart, and also the exuberant kiss.
Knowing that there was no escape route, he handed her the bag, and moved forward to pick up the receiver, “h…hello mummy.”
“Hi sweetheart”, Vishakha crooned from the other end, and then promptly started to laugh.
He rubbed the back of his neck, “umm… woh… bas aisai.”
She giggled, “kya aisai? Yeh to batao pehli baar nahi toh…”
His cheeks flushed with color, “mummy please…”
Vishakha controlled herself with difficulty, “thike. Tum mat batao. Main kal aake Naina se milungi na, tab usko puch lungi.”
He immediately frowned, “Nahi. Naina ko mat pareshan karna. Aap mujhe…”, then paused, “ek minute. Aap kal aa rahi hai? Mujhe toh bataya bhi nahi.”
She smiled, “haan wahi batane ko phone kiya tha. Main, Rohan aur Deepika, teeno aa rahe hai. Tumhare pa… umm… mera matlab Rohan ke papa ne tickets karva di.”
Sameer noticed how his mother corrected herself, “flight ke details de do. Main aa jaunga lene.” He talked for a few minutes more noting down the details.
Naina had come up to him, and he disconnected the call, then gave her a quick hug. She worriedly enquired, “mummy kuch boli?”
He rubbed her back, “Naina, woh mummy hai, Taiji nahi. Fikar mat karo. Woh kuch bolegi bhi to bas chedne ke liye, koi galat matlab nahi nikalegi. Iss bag me tumhare liye kapde hai, pehen lo. Ramdhari ke garam alu ke parathe aur chai banai hai, khake fir Chachaji ke wahan chalenge.”
She still didn’t know what they would say at home, but she wasn’t worried anymore, because he was with her. As she went into the bathroom to change, she noticed that the bag contained a light green salwar-kameez, and a new pair of innerwear. Surprised, she wondered how he knew what size to purchase for her, and also how did he achieve the feat of buying a dress in a colour that was almost similar to what she had worn. Yet, when she wore it, she knew that Chachiji would surely know it’s different. Thankfully, no one else had seen her. After a quick meal, and a blissfully hot cup of tea, they drove back.
While climbing up the stairs of her society, Sameer clasped her hand slightly squeezing. She smiled up at him, conveying without words that she wasn’t worried. Taiji was sitting on the swing, muttering under her breath. Chachiji sat at the dressing table, trying not to pay much attention to her Bhabhiji. He knocked on the door, and Chachiji immediately rushed towards them, “Naina… beta. Itni der kaise ho gai pustakalaya mein?”
Sameer stepped inside too, “sorry Chachiji, galti meri hai. Aapse subah baat ki na, uske baad main Naina ke paas library chala gaya tha. Darasal kal mummy aa rahi hai, aur saath me Rohan aur Deepika bhi toh mujhe unke liye kuch surprise gifts kharidne the. Rohan ke job ki khushi me, aur Deepika ne bhi school ke unit tests pe top kiya. Isiliye main Naina ko apne saath leke gaya.”
Chachiji sighed in relief, partially hiding Naina behind her. She had noticed immediately that Naina was wearing a different dress from morning, and she feared the consequences if Bhabhiji noticed. Taiji glanced at Naina, and then at Sameer, her tongue tied out of compulsion. She had been strictly instructed by her husband to offend Sameer at any cost. However, when he leaves, she would have a clear field to question Naina. A girl of Agarwal khandaan didn’t just stay out for the whole morning under any pretext.
Sameer could easily read the changing expressions on Taiji’s face; he knew that just like yesterday she was again planning to question Naina after he left. He moved, a subtle smooth move, but that put him directly in-front of Naina, acting as a shield. He smiled, “Namaste Taiji, main thodi der yahin rukne wala hun. Tauji se kaam hai, unhone kaha ke woh aa rahe hai abhi thodi der me.”
Naina was surprised, and so was Taiji, “Oh bai! Parlay babu ke papa aa rahe hai. Maine to khana bhi thik se nahi banaya. Abhi jaana padega.” As she rushed out, he moved to the door and locked it, feeling glad that he had the presence of mind to call Tauji asking to meet, while Naina was changing. The environment was tense, as his eyes wandered over the living room and kitchen, wondering where Taiji had asked those questions to his Naina. He could feel the anger surging again, and so could Naina. Abandoning Chachiji’s protection, she went to him, “tum betho yahan. Kuch khaoge aur?”
He closed his eyes for a brief second, “bhuk lagi toh bataunga. Lekin Tauji se baat karke, office jaana hai.”
Chachiji could no longer hold herself, “sab thik toh haina? Tere kapde kyun alag hai? Kahin chot toh nahi lagi na?” Sameer was surprised at the first assumption of Chachiji being that Naina might be hurt, and not that there was something fishy. It made him feel good inside that he had somehow held on to his promise and resolve, that he hadn’t broken this innocent trust.
Before he could cite any excuse, Naina herself spoke up, “main thik hun Chachiji. Yeh toh bas main naya bathroom dekhne gai, aur samajh nahi aaya shower ka system, to galti se chalu kar diya. Saare kapde bheeg gaye… fir Sameer ne naye kapde laake diye.”
Bela worriedly asked again, “tujhe chot nahi lagi na kahin?”
Naina smiled, “nahi Chachiji. Paani se kaisi chot… aur fir… aapko toh pata hai na ke mujhe nahana kitna achcha lagta hai.” She glanced at Sameer as she said the last line, and he froze. Was she flirting with him? Now? Here? God, this woman. How would he keep a hold over his self-control?
Sameer stayed there for an hour more, talking to Tauji briefly. Before leaving he reminded Naina to call him as soon as she needed him, even if it was at odd times. And he made sure that this message was conveyed in-front of Tauji and Taiji. He turned back at the door once, “aur haan. Kal sab log aa rahe hai, to main tumhe pick-up karne aaunga. Airport chalna, Deepika khush ho jayegi, aur Rohan bhi.” Naina nodded. And none of them missed, that this time he didn’t seek any permission to take her with him.
The remaining day went in peace. Sameer’s message was clearly heard and understood, Taiji though came in several times, not even once did she question Naina. When they talked at night, Sameer enquired if everything was okay, and she assured him.
Next day too started as normal. Everyone was busy, Preeti was happy as Rohan was coming, and Naina sat to type out a section of her story. At around 10am, the telephone rang at Agarwal house, and she rushed to pick it up, “Hello.”
“Good Morning sweetheart”, his voice flowed over her.
She smiled, “good morning. Main tumhare phone ka hi wait kar rahi thi.”
“Jaanta hun”, he replied, “lekin meri ek urgent meeting aa gai hai, post-pone bhi nahi ho sakta. Tum chali jaogi airport akele?”
She instantly agreed, “haan zarur. Usme puch kyun rahe ho?”
He grinned, “main 2pm tak free ho jaunga, uske baad milta hun. Love you.”
She quickly glanced around, “I love you too.”
Naina dressed in a red salwar-kameez, one of Sameer’s favorites, and put on bangles and jhumkas. She picked up the shawl that Sameer had gifted her, and grabbed her purse. Taiji came in just as she stepped into the kitchen.
“Oh bai! Aaj firse chaldi Bholuram se milne”, she taunted unable to control.
Naina smiled, “airport jaa rahi hun. Mummy, Rohan aur Deepika ko lene. Sameer nahi aa payenge ek meeting ke wajah se.”
Taiji looked at Bela, who was cutting vegetables for lunch, “Neva! Akele akele auto leke jayegi. Shaadi hone wali hai, kuch unch-nich ho gai toh.”
Chachiji paused looking up at Naina knowing she might be hurt, but strangely enough she was calm. Naina kept smiling politely, “waise toh main bahot baar akele auto me aai-gai hun, lekin ghabraiye mat ab zarurat nahi hai auto me jaaneki. Hamari car aa jayegi mujhe lene.”
Taiji stood stumped at the response, but before she could say something, there was a knock on the door and a uniformed chauffeur stood there with his cap in his hands, “memsaab, gaadi leke aaya hun.”
“Ji chaliye”, Naina nodded, “Jai Siyaram Chachiji.”
The woman that left Agarwal house that day was not Miss. Naina Agarwal, but rather Mrs. Naina Sameer Maheshari, and none of the family members failed to notice the difference. Taiji however, had the added emotion of jealousy, and tried to think of some other ways to counter this confidence, not knowing how her own crafty plans and attitude was going to shatter very soon.