Always and Forever Part – 26: Promises to Keep

Cold air swept her hair as the auto sped on the road, crossing the Rajshri park and turning onto a signal. It was still early enough that not many people were out on the road, and many shop owners were sweeping or washing the roads in-front of their shops. Naina tightened the aztec print cardigan around her, and rubbed her palms together. It was cold, but she grinned at the thought of Sameer warming her up very soon. She recalled his demand of a kiss as soon as she came in, and wondered how to fulfil that one.

As the auto stopped outside the white bungalow, she got out and paid the fare, then quickly walked up the short driveway to the heavy wooden doors. Without the slightest bit of hesitation, she took out a bunch of keys and smoothly opened the lock, stepping inside on the gleaming foyer tiles. Tossing her ponytail from her shoulders, she ambled to the hall, her fingertips trailing on the couple of indoor plants that lined the wall along the narrow foyer. A sound of clinking steel from the kitchen told her that Ramdhari had already arrived. She checked the watch, 7am, and stepped inside the kitchen.

However, her greeting of Namaste dried on her lips, as she spotted the broad shoulders of a man wearing white t-shirt. She observed him expertly adding coffee powder to the saucepan, and her eyes drifted to the way the semi-transparent t-shirt clung to his back. He was wearing dark grey track pants, which distractingly outlined the perfect curves of his bottom. Her body warmed as she remembered touching him, and his reaction to her.

“Dekhti hi rahogi ya paas bhi aaogi?”, he suddenly asked.

Surprised, Naina frowned, “tumko kaise pata ke main aa gai?”

Sameer turned, his brows lifting in approval and appreciation, and a smile curved his lips, “tum aao aur mujhe pata na chale aisa kaise ho sakta hai.” He scanned her from head to toe, noticing the black jeans that he so loved, the mint green winter top and pink cardigan that he had bought from Delhi. She looked good enough to eat, he thought. A hissing sound from the gas made his shift his attention and he turned to turn it off. Grabbing two cups from the cabinet, he poured the coffee, and offered one to Naina who had now come up beside him.

She accepted the cup, warming her palms on the ceramic, and asked, “baki sab kahan hai?”

He took a sip of the hot liquid, “so rahe hai. Kal wapas aake movie dekh rahe the sab, toh ab tak aankh nahi khuli hogi.”

“Tumne bhi toh late kaam kiya tha”, she too took a sip.

He shrugged, “haan par… aadat ho gai hai ab subah uthne ki.”

“Hmm”, Naina kept her coffee cup on the counter-top, and tilted her head to look at him.

He frowned, “kya hua? Thik nahi bani coffee? Chini kam hai kya?”

“Haan”, she said, and took away his cup too.

His confusion increased, “aree… kya kar rahi ho? Main shakkar deta hun tumko, lekin meri coffee me thik hai.”

She smirked, “nahi. Main khud le lungi.”

He opened his mouth to say something, but the next moment the breath left his lungs as she slid her hands beneath his t-shirt, touching his stomach and trailing up to his chest. Oh dear God. He closed his mouth to keep in check the groan that threatened to erupt, and she inched closer, her hands moving to his back, skimming up his spine. She looked up at his face, lips pressed together as he bit the inside of the lower one, and eyes closed. Her own eyes glittered as she remembered something he had done to her before, and she stood up on her toes, dragging one hand out of his t-shirt and cupped his nape to pull his face down. Gingerly, she captured his bottom lip with her teeth, and exerted gentle pressure to tug it free. He made a low sound in the back of his throat, and she fused her lips to his, taking the sound in her mouth. Sameer shuddered, and grasped her waist, pulling her flush against him. “Naina”, he murmured, and her tongue slipped in his mouth, shattering the last of his control.

Naina trembled, her senses going for a toss when she felt him pull off her cardigan, without leaving her mouth. He pulled back for a moment, his gaze drifting down her body, the brown of his eyes glittering as he saw the way the top clung to her curves. “Yeh coffee se zyada better hai”, her muttered, and freed her long tresses from the rubber band. Pulling her close to him, he captured her mouth again, and lifted her up to make her sit on the counter-top. His lips skimmed over her cheeks, trailing to her throat, and she tried to pull off his t-shirt. He stalled her hands, wrapping them around his neck, and muttered that someone might wake up.

She made a frustrated sound, and he chuckled, however the next moment it turned into a gasp as he felt her teeth scrape the side of his throat. He fisted a hand in her hair, his eyes squeezing shut, and violent reactions surging through his body. God. He needed to stop her. Tugging her head back, he leaned his forehead on hers, “yeh kya tha?”

She rubbed her thumb on the spot she had bitten, “sazaa.”

“Tumhari sazaa sabke jaane ke baad”, he muttered and kissed her lips softly, trying to calm himself down.

A sound from the floor above, made him separate from her. She smiled, “aaj pata chala Sameer Maheshwari ko bhi parivaar se dar lagta hai.”

He grinned, straightening her hair, “hmmm… shaadi ho jaane do. Fir dikhata hun tumko… dekh lena parivaar wale khud hi sharmake hume akela chod denge.”

She laughed and jumped down from the counter-top. Snagging her discarded cardigan from the floor, she flicked it once, and carried it in the crook of her elbow. Then she looked up and asked something that she had never ever asked, “yeh top… mera matlab… achchi dikh rahi hun?”

Sameer smiled, dumping the now cold coffee into the sink, “woh toh roz lagti ho. Aaj hot lag rahi ho.”

She blushed, feeling glad that she had thought of wearing this top. Ramdhari came in soon, extremely pleased to see Naina so early in the morning. He exclaimed happily, “memsaab aap yahan! Aaj toh achcha breakfast banaunga. Aapko paneer ke parathe achche lagte hai?”

Naina nodded, “haan bilkul.”

Sameer grumbled, “waah… hume to roz alu ke paratha, ya poha khilate ho. Aaj Naina aai toh subah subah paneer.”

Ramdhari scrunched his nose, “aap alu ke alawa aur khate hi kya hai… jab bhi puchta hun kehte hai alu bana do. Memsaab aap jaldi aa jaiye yahan, fir bata diya karna kya banana hai. Main toh alu banate banate thak gaya hun.”

Naina laughed, and she walked out of the kitchen with Sameer, she commented, “tabhi alu jaise gaal hai.”

His brows furrowed, as he looked at her, “kya kaha tumne?”

She chuckled, “maine nahi. Chachiji ne… keh rahi thi ke tumhare gaal alu jaise hai, toh woh waise yaad rakhegi ke tumko alu ke parathe pasand hai.”

A tinge of red appeared on his cheeks, “umm… main dusre vegetables bhi khata hun.”

“Par alu sabse zyada pasand hai”, she countered.

He rubbed a hand over the back of his neck, a sheepish expression on his face as he nodded. She laughed, and dropped a quick kiss on his cheek.

“Naina”, Vishakha called from the stairs. Naina turned, and smiled, “Good Morning mummy.”

Vishakha smiled, “Good Morning, tum itni subah subah aane wali thi. Sameer ne hume bataya hi nahi.”

Naina nodded, “kal raat ko hi decide kiya. Aap log shayad so gaye honge tab tak.”

Vishkha held her hands and looked at her properly, “wow. Tum wakai jeans me bahot achchi dikhti ho.”

Deepika and Rohan came in another ten minutes, and all of them sat chatting in the living room. Sameer glanced over at Nanu’s photo, and smiled softly, thinking how happy he would have been to witness this sight today. He recalled how it was just the two of them in this house, along with Ramdhari. But now… Naina had brought not just happiness in his life, but in this home also… his family was sitting and talking, everyone was happy, and all this had happened because of Naina.

Vishakha noticed her son looking at her father’s photo, and smiled. It still amazed her that how off mark she had been in her estimation of her own son. How could she have been so blind? How had she not seen the strength of his character?  Her brows furrowed in confusion as she suddenly noticed a small reddish mark on his neck. For a moment she panicked thinking some insect must have bitten him, but as she opened her mouth to ask, suddenly realization dawned… and her mouth opened in surprise before a grin tugged at her lips. Her eyes shifted from her son to Naina, who was talking to Deepika about her school, and the grin on her lips widened… She could have never thought… Didn’t Naina blush at each statement from Sameer? A girl who was so shy in-front of her family… well… well… looks like there are some moments when Naina isn’t shy at all.

Suddenly Naina laughed on something, and she saw Sameer’s gaze shift from her father’s photo to her, the expression in his eyes changing, and he became very very still. Laughter threatened to erupt out of her throat, but she somehow controlled herself, and said, “Rohan… beta jao apni packing puri karlo. Aur Deepika tum bhi bhaiya ke saath jao. Mujhe Sameer se business ki kuch baat karni hai.”

Rohan and Deepika stood up, but Deepika tugged on Naina’s hand, “aap bhi chalo na Bhabhi.”

Vishakha objected, “nahi beta. Naina se bhi kaam hai mujhe.”

Sameer and Naina looked at each other, slightly confused as to what business was this where they both were required. When the siblings left, Vishakha took a moment to frame the statement, and then said, “tum dono ki shaadi me ab zyada waqt nahi bacha… toh aage ka kya soch hai tum dono ne?”

Sameer frowned puzzled, “matlab?”

“Matlab… shaadi ke baad ka”, Vishakha tried to explain, “kuch plan kiya hai kya?”

Naina tried to answer, “furniture ka toh saara kaam kar liya hai, aur shaadi ki taiyariya bhi chal rahi hai… aur toh aise kuch socha nahi hai. Shaadi ke baad ki kisi rasam ki taiyari abhi se karni hai kya?”

Vishakha smiled, “haan… ek zaruri rasam hai jiske liye planning chahiye…”

“Konsi?”, Sameer asked. “Honeymoon”, Vishakha replied, and watched the shocked expression on his son’s face, and the crimson tinge on Naina’s face. She laughed softly and prodded further, “kuch socha hai?”

Naina shook her head, and Sameer stuttered, “aah… n… nahi mummy… ab tak nahi…”

“Itni planning karte ho, iski bhi kar lete”, Vishakha suggested, “agar meri maano toh Naina ko kisi achchi jagah le jao… India ke bahar.”

Naina’s head shot up, “itni dur…!!?”

Vishakha smiled, and stood up to sit beside her, “shaadi ke baad ghumne jaane ke liye toh log kitni achchi jagah chunte hai. Shimla, Mussoorie… yeh sab jagah toh tum Sameer ke saath uske business trips pe bhi jaa sakti ho. Honeymoon toh khaas hona chahiye na…”

Sameer was perplexed, “lekin kahan? Aur iske liye toh abhi se Naina ka passport bhi banwana padega.”

“Jagah tum dono milke socho”, Vishakha said, “aur passport banvane de do. Naina ke ghar pe bolna ke zaruri hai, ya aisa ho toh main baat kar lungi.”

Sameer nodded, already wondering where could he take Naina. Suddenly there were squealing sounds from upstairs, and Naina used it as an excuse to escape, “main Deepika ke paas jaati hun.”

He watched her leave, and grinned, “kitna sharmati hai.”

Vishakha went to her son, and lightly touched the base of his neck, “haan… par shayad hamesha nahi.”

Sameer frowned, “matlab?”

“Mirror me dekho”, Vishakha grinned, “aur haan… airport pe aate hue collar wala shirt pehenna.”

Sameer watched her leave too, and perplexed, stood up and went to the mirror. He checked his neck, and saw the reddish mark, that was deepening in color already, and his mouth fell open is surprise. He recalled how Naina had bitten him this morning. His mother had seen it… and obviously understood what was it… and… and she had suggested honeymoon. He blushed, not knowing how to react or what to say. Thank God no one was here, not even Naina.

While Naina helped the other finish packing, he took a shower and pulled on a plain black shirt over blue jeans. The journey to the airport was frustrating, as Naina had to sit behind with Deepika, and Rohan sat beside him. He struggled to keep his eyes on the road and not on the rearview mirror. When Sameer hugged Rohan, he hinted softly, “apna timetable free rakhna… ho sakta hai jaldi hi wapas aana pade.” Rohan was perplexed but Sameer didn’t elaborate.

The drive back home was full of anticipation as she knew she had almost invited Sameer for more than kissing, and she had heard him give Ramdhari off after he had prepared lunch. When he locked the door behind them, she bit her lip, walking towards the living room and feeling his presence behind her. The cardigan was still on the sofa where she had left it, and the living room felt suddenly too warm for her.

Sameer came up behind her, and she closed her eyes, “main paani leke aata hun.”

She opened her eyes, looking behind in confusion. Why did he leave? She suddenly recalled how they had stepped inside just like this on the day they had kissed for the first time. At that time too, Sameer had left her and gone to the kitchen, because he had known that she was nervous. But now… Did he again feel that she was nervous? Or not ready? Not wanting to be back to square one with him, she rushed behind him inside the kitchen.

He was standing just as she had seen him this morning, but with different clothes of course, and he was pouring water. She went up to him and slid his arms around his waist, hugging him from behind.

“Naina”, he held her hand, confused at the way she was clinging to him, “kya hua?”

She softly asked, “tum aise aa kyun gaye wahan se? Pehle din main nervous thi, par aaj nahi…”

His brows furrowed as he tried to understand what she was saying. First day… what first day? After a moment he understood that she was thinking back to the first time they had kissed, and how he had waited, giving her enough time to be comfortable with the idea. But after that, in all these days, their relationship had progressed to a level where it was not necessary for him to wait and prepare her anymore. She thought today he was doing the same thing… but… he wasn’t… he was just… well he was just thinking that it might feel odd if he pounced on her as soon as they stepped inside. So he had come to the kitchen, to give himself some time. But looks like it didn’t sit well with Naina… Well… he could resolve this little misunderstanding immediately.

He freed himself from her hold, and then turned, also turning her so that her back was against his chest. His arms wound around her waist, one big palm, sliding inside her top and coming to rest on her bare belly. Lowering his head, he spoke against her ear, “tumko kya laga? Ke maine socha ki tum nervous ho?” She trembled in his hold, her hands coming to rest on his thighs, as she collapsed on his chest. With his other hand, he shifted aside the mass of her hair, placing open mouthed kisses along the column of her neck. His hands moved inside her top, trailing up her belly, to her breasts, and she stood helpless while he… played.

“Tension mat lo… tumhari sazaa se tum bach nahi sakti”, he murmured and turned her in his arms, dipping his head to kiss her. She moaned in pleasure and relief both as soon as his mouth closed over hers, and her hands lifted to his head fisting in his hair. Teeth nipped, tongue invaded – nothing gentle or docile about the kiss. There was no waiting, no brushing of lips, no coaxing to open… and the pleasure… was sharp and splintering. His tongue moved, deep and sure, taking… and giving. This time when she tried to rid him off his shirt, he didn’t object, rather helped. Impatiently he reached for her top, meeting her eyes for one moment, to confirm that she was okay. But she was also impatient, so the only assurance she could provide was to help him take off her top. He pulled her in his arms, fusing his mouth to hers, and picked her up just like he had done that very morning, and placed her on the same counter-top.

Her hands explored his chest, and she wrenched her mouth away moving to his throat and shoulders. He closed his eyes shut as a groan erupted from his throat. Trailing his hands up her back he reached the strap of her bra, which again presented an obstacle to him, but one that he was determined to win over this time. Focusing on the task at hand, rather than her luscious mouth venturing across his chest, he desperately tried to open the contraption. She looked up at his concentrated gaze, and then reached behind her to help him, but he swatted her hand away.

“Nahi”, he whispered fiercely, “main karunga.”

She nipped at his shoulder, “nahi ho payega jaldi…”

He lowered his head, nibbling at her ear-lobe, gratified by her heavy breathing, “mujhe koi jaldi nahi hai.”

For all his impatience, he kept on carefully studying the hooks, and she didn’t know whether to laugh or continue her exploration. “Sameer…”, she nipped at his chest, and he shuddered. He came even closer, but didn’t give up his attempts. She reached back again, and he grumbled, but before he could push her hand away, she gripped his wrist. Breathing erratically, she rested her head on his chest, and slowly moved her fingers against his hand, trying to feel what he was doing. His brows furrowed at her action, but he didn’t object as she didn’t try to open it herself.

He watched in wonder, as she guided him, the act in itself arousing him more than their kiss. She guided his two fingers under the stretched band, so that he was holding the fabric away from her body. He watched with rapt attention as she guided his other hand to the place where the two sides overlapped, right over the book, and helped him pinch the fabric together. The she guided the thumb of both his hands to where the fabric was pinched, and made him do a motion as if he was snapping his fingers softly. And voila… one hook was undone.

Her mouth found his nipple and she caught it between his teeth, pinching lightly, whether as a reward for learning or punishing for making her wait, he didn’t know… and he didn’t care. Gleeful at the impromptu lesson, he repeated it with the second hook, it took a little bit more time than before, but he managed to unhook it too. “Yes!”, he exclaimed, and she laughed.

For a moment he looked adoringly at her as she laughed, apparently finding the learning session too funny, but he could only feel happy and proud at the fact the now he could wage a war against those damn demon-ish tiny hook next time on his own. He hooked a thumb under her chin, tilting her head up, then simply silenced her laughter by capturing her lips in another heated kiss. His hands were busy in getting rid of her bra, and then his fingers found her naked breasts, plumping them, his thumb caressing the sensitive tips.

Her breasts were tight, achy, and heat pooled between her legs, the relief from which, she knew, only he could provide. She moaned, clutching his hair again, when his mouth moved down her throat, finding one succulent bud to suckle on. Instinctively, she knelt backwards, her one hand finding support on the cold marble counter-top, in a way that her back arched lifting her breast in his mouth. He moved to her other breast, letting his fingers have his way with the one that was already wet.

When she squirmed, moaning his name, and intuitively placed her leg against his thigh, he growled, lifting his head and grasped her bottom pulling her to him, nestling the hard ridge of his erection in the notch of her thighs. Trembling slightly, he cursed the thick fabric of jeans that covered both of them, and wondered how it would finally feel to be with her without any barrier at all. She framed his face with her hands, and lifted herself to kiss him again, while her legs clung to him and her hips undulated a little, rubbing against his throbbing length. God, this woman. He tried to soften the kiss, his hands stroking her back, calming her. Pulling back from her hungry mouth, he gasped for air, and hugged her to himself.

Gathering enough breath, he muttered, “jaise hi hamari shaadi hoti hai sabse pehle uss pandit ko peetunga.”

Naina was baffled, “Pandit ne kya kiya? Woh to hamara dost hai.”

He made an impatient sound, his hand sifting through her hair, “Pandit nahi… panditji… jisne shaadi ki date nikali. Teen mahina wait karvaya usne… chodunga nahi use.”

A light hiccupping laughter was all she could manage, her body too lax to manage anything other than leaning against him, burrowing in his warmth and strength. He muttered something about cold, and picked her up, her legs still wrapped around him slightly awkwardly as she was not used to position herself like this. But she need not have worried, for he managed her as if she didn’t weigh even an ounce. With quick strides he carried her to the living room, and fell back on the sofa with her on top of him. Picking up the cardigan, he wrapped it on top of her, and let the sides fall free so that it partially covered him too. She squirmed a little, adjusting herself, and pressed a quick kiss on his beard-roughened jaw.

“Shave karna bhul gaya, sorry”, he murmured. She intended to ask him why he was apologizing, and also tell him that she liked the slight beard he kept, but drowsiness overtook her. And when he tightened his hold over her, pressing her head to the crook of his neck, all she could do was hum in pleasure. Sameer waited until he felt all her muscles loosen, and she almost melted, her body completely molding to his, and her breathing evened out, and then he too fell asleep.

He woke up after almost an hour, and smiled at the way she was cuddled on top of him. He should have felt uneasy, with her sleeping like that for such a long time. But he didn’t… all he felt was pure happiness. Gingerly, he shifted, rolling slightly so that he could get up. Thankfully she didn’t wake up, and he covered her properly with the cardigan, his eyes straying for a long moment on her bare curves. Reining in his control, he turned and went to the kitchen, picking up his discarded shirt and pulling it on again. He picked up her top and straightened it, and also gathered her bra, taking a minute to look at the hooks again. He grinned as he recalled how she had guided him, taught him… and was surprised at her bold idea. She hadn’t been squeamish at all… before this, she had helped him open, the other times he had pulled her bra down, but every single time it had been in moment of arousal. But this time… this time he had taken time, made her wait… surely she was thinking clearly, and her brain wasn’t fogged with his actions… yet she had taken it upon herself to teach him, enable him. He folded her clothes carefully, and then went back and kept them on the coffee table so that she could wear them when she woke up.

He strode back into the kitchen, and noticed it was of course well past lunch time. Rather than taking out the roti-sabji that Ramdhari had cooked, he pulled out a packet of bread, a bottle of jam and the dish of butter. He prepared coffee, while letting the butter sit so that it softened enough to apply on bread. Then he went outside to wake her up. Kneeling on the floor beside the sofa, he pressed a soft kiss on her forehead, and called her softly. She stirred a little, her hand moving on the sofa as if she was looking for him. He saw a small frown curve her lips when she only found fabric instead of his skin. He touched her shoulder, “utho Naina.”

Her eyes fluttered open, and she smiled, “Good Morning.” He chuckled, “ab tak thode din baaki hai jab tum mujhe uthke good morning bol sako. Filhaal, good evening sweetheart.”

She frowned, “evening?” Then her eyes widened, and she sat up, clutching the cardigan to her as she realized she was half naked, “shaam ho gai…??”

He averted his eyes, lest he lost control, “haan. Par chinta mat karo, 3 hi baje hai. Kapde pehenlo, main coffee leke aata hun.”

She quickly put on her clothes, smiling to herself as she recalled the happenings in the kitchen. A blush tinged her cheeks as she thought of a similar scenario after their marriage. What would happen then? Would he carry her out to the sofa or up to their bedroom? Or would he make love to her right where they were? As she watched him walk towards her with a tray cautiously balanced with coffee mugs and a plate of bread, looking extremely delicious in that black shirt with two buttons open on top, she somehow knew that if they had been married, he wouldn’t have moved one inch away from that countertop.

They had a quick snack, and then he dropped her off, quickly kissing her one last time before leaving their home. While driving he told her, that he had some work to finish the next day, but would meet her on Sunday. When she asked where they were going, he just said that it was a surprise.

The next day passed in a blur, with Chachiji giggling unnecessarily at odd moment confusing her and Preeti. Chachaji also came home early, and was in an extraordinary happy mood. Naina didn’t know what was up, but found thing to be extremely strange. In evening when they sat for tea, Taiji came hurrying into the house, an envelope flapping in her hands. She asked Chachaji to read it, but he handed it over to Naina.

Puzzled Naina opened the white and red envelope, and read aloud that the buyer ‘Mrs. Beena Agarwal’ had won a lottery draw at the electronics shop from where she had bought her new mixer machine last month. As a prize, the buyer would receive tour tickets for Char Dham Yatra – the whole circuit of Badrinath, Puri, Rameshwaram and Dwarka – for four people. They needed to collect the tickets from the shop tomorrow evening between 5pm to 6pm, and if not done during that time period then the offer would expire.

The gift was so expensive, that Naina almost thought it was a hoax, but before she could say something Chachiji exclaimed, “bhagwaan jhuth na bulaye bhabhiji… yeh toh kitna badhiya inaam hai. Tirth yatra ho jayegi aapki. Suniye na Preeti ke papa, chaar log jaa sakte hai… Hum bhi chalenge na?”

Taiji who till now was swelling with happiness, suddenly became serious, “Neva Bela! Parlay babu aur unke papa ko leke toh hum teen jan ho gaye. Toh tu kya Anand Babu ko chodke jayegi?”

Bela made a thoughtful face, “inko chodke toh kaise jaa sakti hun. Aap ek kaam karna Rakesh bhaisaab ko le jaana saath.”

Anand also joined in, “bilkul thik kaha tumne Bela. Rakesh bhaisaab bhi khush ho jayenge.”

Taiji’s eyes rounded as he adjusted her pallu and muttered, “oh bai! Woh neem chada karela saath chalenge toh saare safar kud-kud karte rahenge. Kuch toh karna padega.” Aloud she said, “thike thike… main Parlay babu ke papa ke baat karke dekh lungi jo karna hai.”

Dinner was a celebratory event that night in Agarwal house. Much to her amazement, Taiji announced that night that she was going to take her cousin sister with her on the trip as her husband and children were not at home with her. Naina watched her father sit gloomily and shook her head, thinking that till Taiji returned from the trip, he would stay over here and that meant he would keep a watch over her. She thought she needed to tell Sameer this when they meet tomorrow.

When Sameer called that night, she updated him about the lottery incident and inquired if it was possible for shops to give out such expensive gifts. He gave a vague answer of how it depended on profit, but she felt that something was amiss as he didn’t elaborate and also didn’t talk much saying he was tired.

The next day she dressed up in a blue floral skirt and white v-necked top, thinking she could pair it with the baby pink cashmere that Vishakha had gifted her. She looped gleaming silver rings in her ears, and pinned her hair loosely in a clutcher. Lining her eyes with kajal, and slipping on a watch on her wrist, she left it at that. However, before turning from the mirror she couldn’t resist adding a touch of pink gloss and then dropped the thin tube in her purse.

Sameer came to pick her up after breakfast, and to her immense confusion spent ten minutes talking to Chachaji in private. She couldn’t help but think that something was wrong. Everyone around her was behaving weird except Preeti. When they sat in the car, she asked, “Sameer, tum Chachaji se kya baat kar rahe the?”

He smirked, “private hai.”

She frowned, “mujhe bhi nahi bataoge?”

“Tum bhi toh mummy, Rohan aur Deepika ke saath khusur-pusur karti rehti ho”, he suggested.

She nodded, “haan par main tumse kuch chupati nahi hun.”

His eyes softened, as he picked up her hand, “main bhi tumse kabhi kuch nahi chupaunga. Yeh bhi bata dunga… promise. Bas thoda waqt do.”

She smiled and nodded, and he softly kissed her hand. She removed the clutcher from her hair and he slipped on his sunglasses, finally driving out of the society.

Staring out of the window, she wondered where he was taking her, but all too soon the road started to feel very familiar. And why wouldn’t it… she had pedaled her cycle along these roads for so many years.

“Yeh toh hamare school ka rasta hai”, she exclaimed.

He grinned, “haan. Ek minute…” As they took the turn to the final long stretch of road that would lead them to their school, Sameer took out a portable cassette player and switched in onn. Her lips parted in surprise as she listened to the song.

Tum ladki ho main ladka hoon

Tum aayi to sach kehta hoon

Aaya mausam dosti ka

Ki aaya mausam dosti ka

He grinned at her and winked. She laughed recalling how they had played songs to each other, and the tradition had continued for a long time. However, it was many years since they had not used songs to communicate. They hadn’t needed it anymore, their relationship at such a comfort level that they could speak almost anything to each other.

As he parked in-front of the school gate, she grabbed the player and fast-forwarded it to the end. He tilted his head and listened to the lines that played.

Rishta nahin hai dono ko phir bhi baandhe koi dor hai

Rishta nahin hai dono ko phir bhi baandhe koi dor hai

Is dosti ko kya naam dein hum ye baat kuchh aur hai

Deewanapan keh sakte ho

Dil ki dhadkan keh sakte ho

Aaya mausam dosti ka

Ki aaya mausam dosti ka

His eyes glittered as he recalled when she had played these specific lines, and he grinned, “yeh toh tumne tab sunaya tha na jab Pooja Didi ka rishta hua tha.”

She nodded, “haan. Aur tumne itni help ki thi…”

They descended from the car, and he went over to her, “tumhe pata hai… uss din jab raat ko tumne yeh gaana sunaya uske baad main Nanu se baat karne gaya tha. Unhone mujhse pucha tha ke tum sirf meri dost ho ya koi khaas… aur fir kaha ke tumhari jaisi ladki hi mere liye sahi hai.”

She smiled, “aur tumne toh tab mana kar diya hoga na? Main toh tumhare liye behenji thi tab…”

He thought about it for a moment, and then said, “haan… uss waqt toh mana hi karna chahiye tha. Par… pata nahi kyun maine mana nahi kiya.” She looked at him, surprised at his confession, and he shrugged, “jaane do… chalo andar chalte hai.”

She frowned, “andar? Par aaj toh Sunday hai.”

He smirked, and leaned to her eye level, staring at her with a heated expression, “toh…?”

Naina was taken aback for a moment, her mind immediately flashing back to how he had done the same thing the first time they had talked about their friendship. What was he doing? She looked at him properly, her eyes moving over his familiar features. He was clean shaved, his jaw as smooth as it had been in school, but the line sharper and pronounced than before indicating that he had indeed left his teenage years far behind. His hair was styled like it used to be in school, and she frowned wondering how had she not noticed it before. Sameer usually had a very quick hair growth, so his parlor visits were frequent, but now… she noticed the long silky hair bouncing slightly in the wind and realized that he had probably skipped his last parlor visit. It wasn’t still as long as it used to be in school, but quite close and the locks falling on his forehead made her hands itch.

She let her gaze drift down to his white shirt with customary two buttons open, his vest peeked from the top along with the glimpse of skin that she was so used to now. The sleeves were folded till elbows, his sinewy forearms again highlighting that he was no longer seventeen. The trousers were not light blue, but a shade of deep blue, still it was blue and… wasn’t that the watch he used to wear in school? Yes it was… the big blue digital watch, rather than the sleek silver one which he now wore to office. So that meant he was… her lips parted in surprise, and eyes rounded as she realized that he was dressed quite similar to how he did in school.

Hesitantly she asked, “hum yahan kya kar rahe hai?”

He smiled, but didn’t reply, rather grabbed her hand and pulled her inside the compound. They crossed the parking place, and he excitedly spoke, “tum apni cycle hamesha yahan rakhti thi.”

She laughed, and pointed to place a little further, “aur tum apni bike wahan pe. Waise tumko pata hai… tumhari di hui cycle jab papa ne mujhse bina puche bech di na, toh mujhe bahot gussa aaya tha. Maana main istemaal nahi kar rahi thi, par fir bhi… woh di toh tumne hi thi na.”

His lips thinned as he recalled how he had sent the cycle to her as a lottery prize, but she had nevertheless guessed it was him, and had misinterpreted his intentions. He recalled she hadn’t even used it earlier, and her hateful words about how he had tried using his money to flaunt. He looked away at the distance, “achcha hua bech diya uss cycle ko.”

Naina’s heart thudded as she realized what he must have remembered, so she inched closer to him, “I am sorry… apne dil ke dard me maine tumse bahot si aisi baate keh di jo kabhi nahi kehni chahiye thi.”

He looked back at her face, noticing the distressed expression, and calmed down, “nahi… aisa kuch nahi hai. Mujhe bas achanak se yaad aa gaya… par agar uss din tumne woh sab nahi kaha hota, toh naa main behosh hota, aur naa hi hospital me admit hota, naa tum mujhse milne aati aur shayad naa hi mujhe apne pyaar ka ehsaas hota… pata nahi aur kitne din nikal jaate nasamjhi me.”

Her heartbeat tripped and she swayed as she murmured, “behosh…??”

He quickly held her, alarmed, “kya hua tumko?”

She looked extremely pale, “tum… tum uss din behosh ho gaye the?”

He nodded, “haan. Raat bhar bahar tha toh bukhar aa gaya tha. Dil aur dimag me uljhan thi ke kyun main itni koshish kar raha hun tumhe manane ki, kyun tumhara dukh mujhse dekha nahi jaa raha, kyun main tumko muskurate hue dekhna chahta hun… aur fir ek ummeed thi ke tumko haste hue dekhunga naye cycle pe par aisa hua nahi… aur tumhari baate… tumko mujhse dur jaata hua dekh nahi paaya…”

Tears now flowed from her eyes, as she tried to apologize, but he just shook his head and pulled her in his arms. As her arms went around him, he placed his cheek on her head, “shsh… rona bandh karo. Yahan rulane ke liye nahi laaya main tumhe. Hum saari achchi yaade yaad karte hai.”

She sniffled, “mujhe chodo toh sahi… school hai.”

He tightened his hold, “meri padhaku… aaj school bandh hai. Koi nahi hai yahan… sirf tum aur main.”

She drew her head back to look at him, “yeh sab tumne plan kiya?”

He smiled, “haan… socha school ki kuch yaade taazaa karte hai.” He dipped his head and softly kissed her, and she couldn’t help but respond. Pulling back from the kiss, he sighed in happiness, “parking done… ab classroom, library, playground…”

“Ek minute…”, she interrupted, “yeh sab kya hai?”

He grinned, “woh saari jagah iss school me jahan main tumhe kiss karunga.”

She was still stammering in surprise, not knowing how to react when he grabbed her hand and ushered her inside. They reached the courtyard, and he excitedly pulled her to the water taps. But when he tried to kiss her, she tickled him and pulled free. He ran behind her, and game of merry chase ensued across the tiled floor, over the drawn stapu blocks, their laughter ringing in the air. She tried to stop herself from crashing into him, when he blocked her way and to both of their surprise they twirled like they had so many times before. The fingers linked, and they stared at each other losing themselves to the magnetic pull that always existed between them. When they stopped the bright sunlight shone in her eyes, and she blinked, but the next moment it didn’t disturb her anymore and she looked up to see that Sameer had shifted, blocking the sun.

Naina hamara rishta bhi toh dhup-chaanv jaisa hai… Meri parchai se bhaagkar koi fayda nahi hai. Main toh hamesha wahan rahunga jahan tum rahogi. Aur haan… ab hum alag toh nahi ho sakte.

His softly spoken words came back to her, and she felt how true he had been. In his efforts to convince her, to win back her love, he had stated the complete truth about their relationship at that time. They could not be separated, not then, not now, not ever. Feeling overwhelmed, she flung her arms around his neck and pulled him in for a long deep kiss beneath the pouring sunshine, while he clutched on to her, trying to balance them. His head was still reeling when she pulled back, but her eyes sparkled as she asked, “next kahan?” He had a surprised look for a moment, and then threw back his head in a roaring laughter, that caused something to clench in her stomach and she stared at him fondly.

They roamed hand-in-hand in the corridors talking about how Sameer had been running after Pankaj to hit him, and they had almost collided with one another. When they reached the washrooms, Sameer bit his lip, pulling away from her and sneakily opened the ladies bathroom door. Naina came up behind him and tugged at his arm, “besharam… kya kar rahe ho?”

He chuckled, “dekh raha hun ke yeh bathroom ab tak waisa hi hai na jaise itne saal pehle tha.” When she looked confused, he shared how he had by mistake entered the ladies bathroom the day he had come for admission, and also admitted that some girl had seen him. Naina controlled her laughter as she recalled how she had spotted a boy inside this bathroom, and it had been just the day before Sameer joined school, so that meant she had seen him.

When they reached the library, Sameer went up to the librarian’s chair, “ahan… pujya sasurji ki chair.” Naina chuckled as he pretended to talk to her father, “aaj toh isi library me Naina ke saath romance karunga, aur aap kuch nahi bol payenge mujhe.”

She laughed when he dragged her to the corner table where they used to sit and study, “tum pure pagal ho.”

He turned the chair and sat down in his usual manner, and combed his fingers through his hair, “woh toh main hun.”

“Hum yahan bethke kya karenge?”, she enquired.

He pulled a random book that was on the table, and handed it to her, “padhao mujhe.”

Perplexed she stared at the book, “kya? Yeh toh 10^th standard ki English ki book hai.”

“Perfect”, he decalred, “padhao na…”

Amused at his demand, she opened the book to the first chapter, and tried to act serious as she read through and explained to him. He rested his elbow on the table, and placed his cheek on his upturned palm, staring at her. When she paused for a moment, he sighed, “tumhe pata hai… jab tum mujhe padhati thi na headboy competition ke liye tab bhi pata nahi kyun tumhe aise dekhne ka man karta tha.”

“Jhoothe”, she scoffed.

He grinned, capturing her hand and dropping a small kiss on her fingers, “sach… tumko yaad hai, first time tum mujhe padhane aai aur Biology chuna… kya chapter tha woh! Lecture ke saath saath physical demonstration bhi ho gaya.”

Even though she understood what he meant, she raised her eye brows, “matlab?”

He smirked, “matlab… galti se mera haath lag gaya toh tumhara haath kaanpne laga tha.”

She denied, “aisa kuch nahi hua tha. Woh to mujhe thand lag rahi thi. Usme tumhara koi yogdaan nahi tha.”

His face scrunched, “yog… kya? Naina… Hindi me bolona.”

She laughed, “yogdaan… contribution.”

He grinned, stood up and tugged her in his arms, “abhi dikhata hun contribution.” Before she could say anything or do anything, he had captured her lips, and backed her on the library table. The skirt hindered him from pulling her completely to himself while she was seated on the edge, but it didn’t stop him from removing his shoe and trailing one socked foot up her leg. She moaned, her hands fisting in his hair while he feasted on her mouth. After a little while he drew back a little, and whispered, “sach kahu… uss din tumhara haath chune pe mujhe bhi kuch hua tha. Par maine ignore kar diya… socha aisa kuch nahi hai. Lekin uske baad se library classes ka wait karta rehta tha. Ek do baar socha firse try karta hun touch karne ka toh pata chale ke sach me kuch hota hai ke nahi… par fir woh karna sahi nahi laga.”

She traced her fingers on his face, and offered, “toh aaj check karlo kuch hota hai ke nahi.” She kissed his smooth jaw, nipping a little, and he sucked in a breath before she took his mouth again. This time he let his hand drift up her body, beneath the baby soft cashmere, and the equally soft top that had molded to her skin. She trembled when he found her breast, and rubbed the tips to hard aching points, and he felt her hand opening the buttons of his shirt seeking his skin. And oh boy… he smiled against her mouth as the thought flashed across his mind, that, ‘kuch nahi, bahot kuch hota hai.’

By the time they drew apart her hair was messed, her top pushed up slightly baring her mid-riff, his shirt was half open, and they both were breathing heavily. His eyes glittered as he glanced at the librarian’s chair, and wondered what would be his reaction if he knew about this adventure of his daughter. Looking back at her, he dropped a soft kiss on her lips, and then straightened her clothes. Empty or not, this was still school, and not their home where he could lose his control to an extent. Nothing mattered to him more than her comfort and respect, and so he buttoned up his shirt, and just hugged her, closing his eyes at the peace that coursed through his body always when he had her in his arms.

After a while, she said that she wanted to see the classroom, and Sameer nodded, feeling slightly heavy at heart, because he knew the time had come for her to know the truth. As they entered the 11^th standard classroom they had shared, she excitedly rushed inside and went to the desk he used to sit on. Turning to him, she called, “Sameer… yahan aao na. Dekho yeh wahi bench hai jahan tum bethte aur yahan main.”

A small smile curved his lips, and she frowned, “wow. Mujhe nahi pata tha ke tumhe library itna pasand hai. Wahan se nikalte hi mood off kyun ho gaya tumhara?”

He shook his head, “mood off nahi hua… par… mujhe kuch baat karni hai tumse.”

She asked what is it that was troubling him, and he held her shoulders staring at her face, wondering how much time it would be again when she would look back at him with the same affection and trust. It broke his heart in a million pieces, just by the thought that after knowing the truth she would probably look at him with disgust, or worse turn her head away from him. She wouldn’t leave him, that much he knew and was sure of, but she could be angry… very angry when she would know that he had broken his promises. He swallowed making her sit on her usual bench, and then he slid on the bench he used to sit on getting a feeling of deja-vu, of the day they had talked openly for the first time. How they had shared each other’s pain about their families… That day he had felt… connected. Yes, that day he had truly bound one string of his heart with her, and he had not known that the connection would be so strong that even they themselves would be unable to break it.

He sighed, not wanting to delay any further, “Naina… maine tumse kiye hue kuch promises tode hai. Please meri baat pura sunna, aur fir… jo tum kahogi mujhe manzoor hoga.”

She was confused at his somber tone, “kya baat hai Sameer? Mujhe batao please…”

He took a deep breath and then began to tell her of the incidents that had happened when he had gone to Delhi after Nanu’s death. He had written some of the atrocities in his letters, but never the whole extent as he hadn’t wanted her to worry about him. But now… he told her everything… about the loneliness, the rage, the desperation, the suffocation. He closed his eyes, as if to shut off the memories, “usi dauran main bhaagke tumse milne aaya. Lekin tumhara waise photograph dekha toh…” He told her about how he had seen a group of boys leering over girls’ photographs in-front of a studio in Delhi, and he had almost visualized the same thing happening with Naina’s photograph. He paused for a minute, as he came to the most difficult part, but then determinedly told her of meeting that rowdy gang of boys on his return. He explained how he had pulled off a bike stunt so that they wouldn’t bother him, but then they had been so impressed that they had befriended him. He told her of how he had felt suddenly happy about having a few people around him who wanted to be friends, who admired him, who again considered him a hero instead of a burden. His hands shook as he confessed about playing cards using money, smoking, sneaking out of house… He ruthlessly controlled his tears not wanting her to pity him, “bahot baar socha ke yeh sab galat hai. Tumse jo waade kiye the ek ke baad ek todta gaya. Jis din tumne yahan mujhe principal sir se bachaya tha uss din se hi maine cigarette peena chod diya tha. Koshish ki… par tumhari baate yaad aa jaati thi. Wahan Delhi me bhi khud ko roka, mana kiya… lekin jab unn logo ne uksaya ke main mard hoke bhi darta hun toh maine…”

He sighed, his shoulders slumping, “kitna bewakuf tha main… fir ek din unn logo ke saath movie dekhne jaaneka plan bana. Par usi din tumhari chiththi mili, aur Amrita ne kaha ke tum phone karne wali ho toh main nahi gaya unn logo ke saath… bach gaya. Uss din tumhare khat me tumne likha tha ke kaise main tumhari takat hun, mere protsahan ke wajah se tum achche se padh paa rahi ho, meri kahi hui baate yaad karke tum udaasi dur karti ho. Mujhe aisa laga jaise… kisine thande paani ka pura jug merepe daalke mujhe jaga diya ho neend se. Mujhe ehsaas hua ke jahan mujhe tumhara takat banna chahiye, uski jagah main kamzor ho raha hun. Meri harkate tumhara sir garv se uncha nahi karega balki sharm se jhuka dega.”

He continued in a monotone, “uss din main nahi gaya… aur agle din mujhe pata chala ke unn ladko ne kuch ladkiyo ko cheda tha aur market me maar-pitai ki thi. Mere paas naa hote hue bhi uss din tumne mujhe sambhal liya. Uske baad main sirf school aur ghar pe focus karne laga, radio station me kaam bhi kiya… aur jab Ahmedabad wapas aaya tab tumse milke apni zindagi ke woh pal bhul gaya, uski koi ehmiyat nahi rahi… main tumse chupana nahi chahta tha kuch bhi… par unn dino ko yaad bhi nahi karna chahta tha. Uss din woh purane bulding ke paas jab tumne mujhe pucha… tab aisa laga ke yeh saari baate shaadi se pehle tumko pata honi chahiye.”

There was a prolonged moment of silence, in which he waited for her to say something, to ask, to demand explanation as to how he had broken the promises they had made to each other. Naina sat looking at him, her hear aching at what she heard. She had known that there was more to his life in Delhi than what he had told her, the pain in his voice whenever he had talked from there on phone had been evident, and each time it had broken her heart. She had felt helpless that she had been unable to be there for him, to support him, to be his strength. When he had returned, she had also been relieved to just have him back with her, and she had never enquired about that phase in his life. And now… he had told her everything, and was sitting with his head bowed, shoulders slumped as if… as if he had committed some crime and was waiting for judgement from her.

Unable to hold back anymore she stood up and sat next to him; he automatically shifted making space for her, and looked up. She noticed his eyes were red with unshed tears, and the strained expression on his face told her how much he was trying to control himself from breaking down. Cupping his shoulders she felt the strength in his muscles – how often she had leaned on these broad shoulders for support, but now he needed her support. Her hands skimmed up his neck and face, her thumb tracing his cheekbones, and she leaned forward brushing her lips softly on his forehead. A shuddering breath escaped from his lungs at this unexpected compassion from her, and then she managed to completely stun him as she pulled him in her arms and held him tight.

“Naina…”, he managed to whisper.

She tightened her hold, her lips in his hair, “shsh…” And he hushed… his heart thudding inside his ribs, tiny shudders running down his spine, and his breath leaving his lungs in gasps… after what seemed like many hours he wrapped his arms around her and let himself go… His eyes burned as the tears he had held back finally started to fall, and he sobbed harder. After few minutes, he felt her kiss his hair, then drift down to his ear, and she whispered, “I love you Sameer.”

He sucked in a breath, the words hitting him hard, just like it had when he had heard them the first time in Mt. Abu. That was the first time he had felt he belonged and this time too he felt the same. That time his mother had abandoned him, and this time he had felt that Naina might do the same, even if it was for a brief period of time… but she hadn’t… she had understood, and she had again made him realize that no matter what he was not alone anymore.

He pulled back, cupping her face, and said, “I love you too…” He hugged her to himself, not allowing an inch of space between them, “I love you”…  He kept on muttering… and she rubbed his back, not complaining about the tight hold, knowing that he needed it. Beneath the bench, his legs tangled with hers, and skirt rode a little high baring her calf. His hand drifted down her back, down the tempting curve of her waist and hips, glided along her thigh and reached down, his fingers warm on the bare skin of her leg. She clutched his shirt, whimpering at the sudden sensation, and he loosened his hold. But she immediately grasped his hand, keeping it where it was, and kissed his neck. He did the same to her, and then skimmed his lips along her cheek, coming to her luscious mouth that parted invitingly, and he accepted it. If the kiss in library was laden with passion, this was laden with promises… there was no demand, no hurry. None of them had ever realized that each kiss could be so varied, so different, so subtle, so full of meaning. Their lips moved against each other’s, silently promising always and forever.