Always and Forever Part 56: Magical Mt. Abu

A loud ringing sound jerked Sameer out his sleep, and he looked around in confusion. Naina stirred in his arms, mumbling, “yeh alarm… band karo na.” It was only upon hearing these words that he realized the sound was of his alarm clock. He turned over and turned it off, “itni subah ka alarm kisne lagaya? 5 baj rahe hai abhi toh…”

She nuzzled inside the blanket, “maine… pehle jaldi nikalna tha na. Toh dopahar ko packing karne ke baad hi alarm laga diya tha…”

He could barely open his eyes, but still managed to look at her incredulously, “Naina… dopahar ko alarm?”

She smiled, “raat ka toh plan tha na… toh maine socha uske baad pakka bhul jaungi alarm lagana.”

He blinked, “tumne dopahar se plan karke rakha tha raat ka? Aur yeh purple nightie tumko mila kaise? Aur haan… tumhare periods ek din jaldi kaise khatam ho gaye?”

She hummed, “abhi sone do na Sameer… baad me sawaal puchna.”

He chuckled, looping his arm around her, “okay sweetheart… so jao.”

Naina settled properly in his arms, and in just a while he could feel her breath even out. But now that he was awake he couldn’t ignore the soft naked body pressed against him, and neither could he overlook the feeling of her buttery smooth skin against his hand and leg. His mind went back to yesterday night, the surprise that she had planned… Honestly he had no expectation because she was on her periods… But then… How did it end early? He knew he couldn’t get an answer to that question until Naina was awake. And so he thought of the actual surprise… The chocolate ice-creams had gone to waste, since it must have been a part of her plan to move him out of the house, and not really an actual craving. She had been waiting for him at the terrace… Was she looking out for him to drive in? What must she have been thinking? Naina had never worn something like that ever in her life… Even in school all her skirts were till mid-calf… Short skirts and dresses were not in her wardrobe style. All her night suits also covered her full legs… But she had worn the nightie for him… To surprise him… He recalled how scared he had been to show her the nightie, but somehow she had not only found it but managed to leave him speechless…

His wife was such a vision as she had stood in-front of him letting him see her in that nightie, to let him have his fill of her sight… And stared he had… Oh yes! He was sure he remembered how the satin had molded to every curve of hers… How the lace had given him a peek of her creamy flesh… How her nipples had peaked against the satin… How the fabric had outlined the shape of her waist and the flare of her hips… He had even been able to spot the small gentle dip of her navel and it had made him want to go down on his knees and kiss her right there… But somehow he had controlled himself, asking about her periods, and she had given him the sweet news that they were free to indulge themselves and demanded that he kiss her…

After that, things were bit hazy for him, he only remembered his own desperation and difficulty to control… He definitely remembered how Naina’s nails had scored his back and told him that he need not control… He let out a sigh, his breath ruffling her hair as he recalled that in his haste to have her he had ripped the purple nightie… His first nightie fantasy of her had turned into an erotic reality, but sadly had lasted just one night… Never again would he be able to see her in a purple nightie unless he bought her a new one… He bit his lip, considering his thought, and felt that it was a wonderful idea. Maybe Naina would agree to buy one more nightie for their Switzerland honeymoon… If she did then maybe they could explore some more colors… She would look fantastic in red and black too… It would be so cold in Switzerland, and the room would have heater as well as a fireplace… Ah… the ideas that were running through his head right now! He would love to implement some of them… or all of them…

Lost in his fantasies of nighties he didn’t realize when he fell asleep. The next thing he realized was the feeling of feathery soft kisses across his chest and smiled at the realization that his wife was kissing him while he was asleep. He wondered if he should pretend to be asleep or wake up and pull her beneath him… After a brief mental debate just as he decided to pretend to be asleep for some more time, Naina suddenly placed an open mouthed kiss on the side of his neck and sucked at the skin there making him groan aloud involuntarily. She gasped and sat up, clutching the blanket, “tum jaag rahe ho!”

He opened his eyes, chuckling at her accusation, “nahi… jaag gaya… kya kar rahi thi tum?”

Color rode high on her cheeks, “m…main… k…kuch bhi toh nahi…”

“Liar”, he commented, tugging at the blanket, trying to dislodge it from under her arms. She shrieked, desperately holding the blanket, and which resulted in her crashing over his chest instead. He smirked, not minding the improvisation at all, and held her captive with an arm around her body. Stroking his knuckles down her cheek, he mumbled, “lagta hai aaj subah subah lucky hone wala hun…”

Her breath hitched as she stared into his glittering eyes, and felt the need to succumb to his demand, to his need. But her gaze strayed to the clock, and she frowned, “nahi… koi chance nahi hai…”

He rolled over, placing her on the bed, “challenge?”

She stroked her hands over his bare shoulders, marveling once more at how broad they were, “uhuh… challenge nahi… bas…” She bit her lip, wondering how to say, and he prodded, “kya Naina?” She closed her eyes and slowly said, “subah wala honeymoon pe socha tha maine… please…” He stayed silent, and she added, “aur abhi agar… umm… matlab… der ho jayegi… phir Mt. Abu pahonchke zara bhi time nahi milega… drive karke thak jaoge aur agar late pahonche toh phir aaj raat bhi…”

He glanced at the clock and understood that she was right… If they stayed in bed, they would be late, but more than that he liked that she too had some specific ideas about honeymoon. But still he wanted to make sure, “tum isi honeymoon ki baat kar rahi ho na? Main Switzerland tak wait nahi kar paunga.”

She opened her eyes, and grinned, “haan… isi honeymoon ki baat hai.”

He rolled off her, “phir theek hai… ab maine aankhe bandh rakhi hai… tum bathroom me jao… dekhunga toh pakka late ho jayega.”

He heard her chuckle, there was a brush of fabric, and then sound of footsteps… A door opened and closed and he sighed, finally opening his eyes. He looked around to see her torn nightie missing, and realized she had pulled that on in haste of escaping. He slid off the bed and pulled on his pants, stretching his arms. The weather outside was pleasant, hopefully the drive wouldn’t be so bad. He picked up their clothes, dumping them in the basket to wash, and then grabbed a t-shirt so that he could go downstairs. Just as he stepped on the last stair, Ramdhari unlocked the door and stepped in.

Needless to say he was surprised, “sahab… aap log ab tak yahan?”

Sameer nodded, “haan… aaj Mt. Abu tak hi jaa rahe hai… raat ko wahan rukenge aur phir kal subah Jaipur jayenge.”

Ramdhari nodded, “achcha… main nashta bana deta hun… aap logo ko safar ke liye kuch chahiye?”

Sameer shook his head, “nahi… bas ek cup coffee bana dena abhi.”

Ramdhari nodded once more and scurried in the kitchen, and just then the doorbell rang. He was confused as to who could come this early in morning, and opened it only to be enveloped in enthusiastic hugs of his two friends. He grinned, “tum log yahan?”

Munna drew back, “haan yaar… Gayatri didi ne bataya tum dono thoda late nikloge toh hum chale aaye milne…”

Pandit added, “aur socha tum dono ko honeymoon se pehle thoda disturb karte hai… breakfast karvayega na? Ya yahan se hi bahar bhej dega?”

Sameer laughed, “shut up… andar aao… Ramdhari bas abhi abhi hi aaya hai…”

As they went in, Sameer instructed Ramdhari to prepare more food, and then sat on the couch, grinning at his friends. Munna teased, “yaar ki hasi toh dekho aaj…”

Pandit queried, “sab intezaam kar liya hai na?”

Sameer bit his lip to stop himself from blushing, “haan… Naina ne sab packing kal hi kar li thi…”

Pandit once more asked, “lekin special packing ka kya?”

Sameer frowned, “special packing?”

Munna glanced around once, “bhabhi kahan hai?”

“Naha rahi hai”, he replied, “konsi special packing?”

Pandit rolled his eyes, “aree wahi yaar… jo shaadi ke baad zaroori hota hai. khaas kar ke honeymoon pe…”

Sameer’s mind flashed to several things including the sexy nighties he had been fantasizing about and also to his wife’s satin lingerie, and he felt annoyed that his friends were thinking like that. Narrowing his eyes, he tried to control his voice, “matlab kya hai?”

Apparently not understanding his anger, Munna stated, “aree wahi yaar… special time ke liye… hum laane wale the tere liye par phir socha…”

What the hell…? His friends… Nighties… No no… Wait… Sameer closed his eyes as his blood started to boil… He tried to think rationally… His friends wouldn’t disrespect Naina… But then what were they talking about? Just then he heard Pandit’s voice, “aree humse kya sharma raha hai… hum toh bas yaad dila rahe hai ke achche se stock karle… warna kahin gadbad na ho jaaye…”

He opened his eyes which were now clouded with confusion, “kaisi gadbad?”

Munna smacked his head, “dhyan kahan hai tera? Neend me hai kya? Aise sawaal puch raha hai… aree gadbad matlab… shaadi ke baad itni jaldi tum dono ko bachcha thodi na chahiye.”

“Bachcha”, he uttered totally confused.

Pandit grumbled, “lagta hai isne ab tak coffee nahi pee hai… dimag ki batti off hai.”

Sameer was about to question more when suddenly Ramdhari came with three cups of coffee, and almost at the same time Naina also appeared at the top of stairs. He glanced up and smiled on seeing her dressed in a simple pink salwar-kameez, with her hair open and her bangles clinked as she stepped down. The side partition hid her sindur, but he could still see a bit of it on her forehead, and of course the mangalsutra gleamed at the base of her neck.

Naina grinned at the other men, “aree Munna-Pandit… Good Morning…”

Munna smiled, “good morning bhabhi… sorry aap dono ko subah-subah disturb kar rahe hai.”

Naina chuckled, “ohoo… tum dono kabse aisi baate karne lage. Ab aaye ho toh breakfast karke jaana…”

Pandit grinned, “main bhi wahi keh raha tha… khake hi jayenge.”

“Bilkul”, Naina cheerfully agreed, and then addressed her husband, “suniye… aap jaldi naha lijiye, kapde nikaalke rakhe hai… Aur wapas aate hue bags leke aaiyega neeche.”

He smiled; still amazed at the way she automatically switched to “aap” in-front of people. Obeying his wife he stood up, and with a last puzzled glance at his friends, he walked upstairs with his coffee cup. He noticed Naina had cleaned the room a bit, fixing the bedsheet and pillows, the blanket was neatly folded and she had removed her nightie from the basket. He understood that his wife didn’t want Ramdhari to see her nightie… Well… That was fair enough… The hot coffee felt good, and it seemed to awaken his senses which flashed back to his friends’ conversation. What did they mean? What was this special packing? He recalled Naina mentioning special waxing, and smirked as he could very well remember the sight and touch of her smooth skin. But… special packing… what the hell was that? He felt like a school student who had been presented with a puzzle but was categorized as a fool who couldn’t solve it. No… Sameer Maheshwari always found a solution… Should he go back and ask his friends? But Naina was there… He had to resolve it himself…

Draining the last bit of coffee, he shrugged out his clothes and stepped under the warm shower. As the pulsating spray of water hit him, he started to solve the mystery of his friends’ early morning babbling. There were several clues – the object needed special packing, it was supposed to be essential on honeymoon, it was something that friends could gift… Hmm… Nighties and lingerie were on his list of honeymoon essentials but that’s definitely not something his friends could gift him. What then? Perfume? Cologne? But no… Munna-Pandit’s brains wouldn’t venture upon the seductive uses of cologne or perfume. What else? Did they say anything more that could be considered a hint? Ah yes… Something about children… what was it now?

Shaadi ke baad itni jaldi tum dono ko bachcha thodi na chahiye.

Bachcha… Kid… Child… So the object was something related to a child… Oh hell… Family planning… Preventing pregnancy… His eyes snapped open as the item needing special packing clicked into place in his brain… Condoms! Dammit… The muscles on his biceps and back flexed as he lifted his hands and combed his fingers through his hair, pushing the wet strands away from his face. A small shiver started at his legs, like the onset of cramps, and then trembles started to shake his whole body, such that he had to step back and lean on the wall… Dear God… They had made love so many times… Uh… He paused and corrected – okay maybe not enough times yet… But… how could he forget the need for protection? That too after having a good enough discussion on family planning with Naina before wedding…

He didn’t know how long he stood there, but a knock on the door jerked him out of his thoughts. Naina’s voice floated in, “Sameer… itni der se kya kar rahe ho? Breakfast ban gaya hai…”

He turned off the water, and tried to keep his voice from shaking, “aa raha hun Naina… 5 minute bas.”

“Theek hai”, she mumbled, and left.

Sameer’s movements were jerky and erratic as he wiped off the water from his body and wore his clothes. He was so lost in the probable repercussions of missing protection that he totally forgot to dry and comb his air, or apply cream on his face. Still in a daze he climbed down the stairs…

Naina was just keeping the tea on table when she saw her husband and frowned, “Sameer… kya hua aapko?”

He looked up, “huh? Kya…?”

Munna chuckled, “lagta hai mere boss aaj kuch zyada hi khoye hue hai.”

“Aree honeymoon ka asar hai yeh toh”, Pandit snickered, “badle-badle andaaz hai yaar ke.”

Sameer couldn’t understand the cause of this teasing, until Naina came up to him and said in a low concerned voice, “aapne baal nahi poche? Shardi ho jayegi… Aur bags kahan hai? Bhool gaye?”

He touched his own hair, realizing they were still dripping with water, and sighed, “uh… dhyan nahi raha… main aata hun…” Rushing back upstairs, he bent over the dresser trying to control his ragged breathing. He couldn’t… He couldn’t be so tensed in-front of Naina and his friends… Munna and Pandit shouldn’t know what had happened; this was private matter. And Naina… God… He couldn’t worry her today, not on the first day of their honeymoon. But neither could he hide this from Naina – she would know instantly that something was on his mind, probably she knew it already but was refraining from questioning in-front of others. Plus he was not going to spoil his honeymoon with this worry, he would be buying condoms today, so yes, Naina had to know. But he needed to calm down and explain the things to her in a proper way, answer all her queries… And… Prepare ourselves for a possible pregnancy.

Dammit Sameer…

He cursed himself repeatedly because he, and only he, was responsible for this situation. Steadying himself he vigorously rubbed his hair, and combed them haphazardly, not bothering about setting them in a style like he usually did. He stared at his reflection, mentally giving himself one more pep talk about facing the situation, and then grabbed the bags to carry them downstairs.

Naina watched her husband come down once again, and couldn’t help but think that something was wrong… If they had had an arranged marriage and not ventured into lovemaking, she might have deduced that he was nervous about the prospect of honeymoon. But knowing the devil her husband was, she was sure he already had certain fantasies ready to fulfill on the trip… This immediately reminded her of the way he had almost ripped the nightie off her body last night, and promptly blushed.

Sameer set the bags down… As he straightened his eyes fell on the flushed red cheeks of his wife, and that very sight calmed him down… He didn’t know why but the sight of her bashful face always made him feel that everything was alright in the world. This time it was the same… Yes, they had missed a very crucial part in family planning, but it wasn’t like they were college students anymore. They had been in love for years, and if they were blessed with a child so soon after their wedding then they would welcome the blessing with open arms. He knew Naina would be nervous when he talked to her, but their love was her strength, and he needed to be confident for her.

Walking over he wrapped an arm around her shoulder, and kissed the side of her head, causing his friends to hoot and tease. The breakfast was fun, and when Naina left to go to the kitchen later, Munna once more asked, “toh? Intezaam kar liya ya kuch madad kare?”

Sameer smirked, “tum logo ko tension lene ki zaroorat nahi hai…”

Pandit clapped on his back, “aree main toh pehle hi keh raha tha… apna yaar toh sher hai, sher… honeymoon pe toh poora carton leke jaa raha hoga.”

Just then a melodious voice chimed, “kis cheez ka carton?”

All three men stilled… Munna-Pandit glanced at their bhabhi, the faces blanched, and tongue-tied in embarrassment… Sameer cleared his throat, racking his brain for a suitable answer, and then said, “uh… woh… camera rolls ka Naina… bahot saari photo khinchenge na…”

Naina beamed at him, “haan… main toh sab jagah ka list banake rakha hai ghumne ke liye… Aur shopping bhi karenge, sabke liye gifts leke aayenge.”

Sameer nearly groaned on hearing this… They were going on a honeymoon and his wife had made a list of places to visit, rather than positions to try. Ignoring his friend’s snickers, he stated, “hume nikalna chahiye, warna der ho jayegi. Chale?”

Stowing the bags in the boot of the car, he held the door open for his wife to sit in. Once she was comfortable, he turned around to hug his friends once more and was treated to a fresh bout of teasing. Finally after ten more minutes they were on their way… Naina had a wide smile on her face as she glanced at the roads and shops speeding past, but Sameer was lost in his own thoughts of how to speak to Naina… One thought was to simply buy the condoms and then talk to her directly in Mt. Abu, but one look at her smiling face and he knew he didn’t want to do that… He had to speak to her now so that they both could enjoy the journey with each other like a couple on honeymoon should. If he kept hiding then the road trip would turn into a disaster because there was no way Naina wouldn’t be attuned to his mood.

Even as this thought crossed his mind, he heard her soft voice, “kab tak chup rehne ka iraada hai Sameer? Jo bhi baat hai bata do na…”

His tensed shoulders relaxed and he smiled at her, “bas thodi der sweetheart… soch hi raha hun ke kaise…”

“Jaise har baat samjhate ho”, she interrupted, “seedhe saaf tareeke se.” Just then the sound of ringing bells grabbed their attention… She grinned, “Sameer…”

He nodded, “let’s go.”

Parking the car outside the familiar temple where they visited every week, they climbed up the stairs in complete sync just like they had done that first time when they were teenagers. He stood beside her as they prayed, and then sat on their usual bench. She held his hand, waiting in silence for him to begin. He took a deep breath, exhaled hard and then stated, “aaj jab Munna-Pandit mujhe ched rahe the, mujhe yaad aaya ke hum dono… umm… actually main… main shaadi ke baad ek bahot important cheez bhul gaya hun.”

She was confused, “kya?”

“Protection”, he confessed.

Still it was unclear for her, “protection matlab?”

He closed his eyes for a moment, and then leaned towards her, murmuring in her ear, “lovemaking ke time pe protection… taaki pregnancy na ho… matlab… condoms…”

She sat frozen for few minutes, her mouth open, her eyes wide, and her grip on his hands tightened enough to dig her nails in his skin making him hiss. She jerked, quickly leaving his hands, and clapped a hand over her mouth as if to stop herself from shrieking…

“Naina”, he muttered.

She shook her head, her eyes moving to the idol inside the main temple before settling on him again, “m… mandir hai…”

The absurdity of her statement at such a crucial moment almost made him smile, but he controlled it and said, “koi farq nahi padta… hum yeh baate car me nahi kar sakte.”

She gulped, the panic rising in her big eyes, “ab kya hoga?”

He quickly wrapped an arm around her shoulder, “shsh… shaant ho jao pehle… main hun na tumhare saath… tumhe darne ki koi zaroorat nahi hai…”

She closed her eyes, leaning on his shoulder, quite forgetting that she was always the one to say no to such proximity in temple. He rubbed her arm, waiting until she calmed down. After a while he asked, “tum theek ho?”

She nodded, her voice low, “haan… par… ab kya…?”

He kept his voice steady and sure, knowing she needed the comfort, “maine bahot socha… pehle main bhi thoda ghabra gaya tha. Saari galti meri hai… Mujhe iss baat ka dhyan rakhna chahiye tha. Tumhe toh idea bhi nahi tha… Lekin mujhe pata tha… I was worried… Par phir baad me shanti se socha toh laga ke koi itni ghabrane wali baat nahi hai.”

She straightened then, looking at his face to make sure he was saying the truth. He smiled, “Naina… pehli baat toh hum assume nahi kar sakte key eh 3-4 baar me tum pregnant ho jaogi… I know… kabhi-kabhi sirf ek baar hi kaafi hota hai… koi guarantee nahi hai… lekin iski guarantee bhi toh nahi hai na ke pregnant ho hi jaogi, right?”

She nodded, and then queried, “par agar…”

He assured, “agar tum pregnant hoti ho toh hum soch lenge ke hamare life yeh khushi bhagwaan ne jaldi likh di thi… Dekho, main maanta hun he hamari shaadi abhi abhi hui hai, lekin hum ek dusre se kitne saalo se pyaar karte hai. Hamara rishta naya nahi hai, financially bhi hamare life me koi kami nahi hai, aur parivaar ka support bhi hai… toh agar baby aata hai toh hum uss situation ko handle kar sakte hai…”

She kept staring at him for a long minute and then slowly asked, “tum… tum khush hoge agar aisa hua toh?”

He cupped her face with one hand, “sweetheart… jab tak tum mere saath ho mujhe har pal sirf khushi hi milti hai… toh phir hamare pyaar ki nishaani se main khush kyun nahi hounga? Unplanned hoga par life me hamesha sab kuch plan se toh nahi hota na… We will celebrate whatever happens… Agar pregnant nahi hoti toh bhi, aur hoti ho toh bhi…”

Her brows furrowed and she quickly counted something on her fingers puzzling him… Her eyes looked little hopeful as she said, “Sameer… mere periods abhi abhi khatam hue hai… matlab saare 3-4 baar nahi sirf kal raat wala hi risk hai… aur… umm… library me jo padha tha uske hisaab se yeh time sahi nahi hai pregnancy ke liye… chances bahot kam hai.”

He digested the information, and let out a small sigh, the pressure on his chest easing a bit, “yeah… tum theek bol rahi ho… par phir bhi… next month tumhare dates aate hai tab tak wait karte hai… kuch keh nahi sakte.”

She nodded, “hume kuch… I mean… kuch karna hoga? Ya sirf wait kare…?”

He smirked, “oh sweetheart… of course hume karna hoga… aisa bilkul mat sochna ke iss baat ki tension me hum hamara honeymoon kharab karenge… Isiliye hume sabse pehle chemist ki dukaan pe jaake poore trip ke liye condoms kharidne honge.”

Her mouth opened in an O causing him to chuckle and then she slapped his shoulder. He yelped, “ow Naina… mandir me apne pati ko koi maarta hai kya?”

She indignantly quipped, “mandir me aisi baate koi karta hai kya? Besharam…”

He grinned, keeping a firm hold on her hand, knowing that she would still think about this, but she would be okay… they would be okay… Someone rang the temple bell once more, and he looked towards the premises, closing his eyes, thanking God for giving him the happiness he had never even dreamt of and wishing for strength to always keep his family happy and protected. Naina stared at her husband, a serene smile playing on her lips on reminiscing how he had transformed from an anguished teenager who didn’t believe in God to a responsible, respected man who had the capability and willingness to take on every hurdle that came in his life. She tugged on his sleeve, making him open his eyes and look at her, and she asked, “toh…? Chale honeymoon pe?”

He looked surprised for a moment, and then laughed, “oh yes Mrs. Maheshwari… chalo…”

Fifteen minutes later they stopped at a Chemist shop and Sameer disappeared inside for ten minutes while she sat in the car biting her nails in nervousness. When he came back with a big black polythene, her eyes widened and she gasped, “itna saara laaye ho?”

He chuckled, “haan… poore trip ka stock hai… I guess enough hoga, par I hope kam pade.”

Impossibly enough her eyes rounded even more and she bit her lip afraid she would blurt out something that would embarrass her. He smirked, quickly leaning over to peck her lips and she gasped, “Sameer…”

He started to drive again, “aadat daal lo… honeymoon pe sirf romance hota hai aur mera romance sirf room me nahi hoga.”

“Hawww”, she exclaimed, “bahar romance kaun karta hai? Chee…”

He shrugged, “yeh trip toh sirf trailer hoga… tumhe kya lagta hai? Switzerland me jaake kya hoga… tumhara dream spot hai na, pahadiyo ke beech me, udhar main pakka tumhe kiss karunga.”

She looked at him horrified, “nahi…!”

“Haan”, he affirmed, “maine kaha na… aadat daal lo.”

She huffed, crossing her arms, and turned her head to look out of the window. He chuckled at his wife’s antics, waiting patiently, and soon enough he felt her relax and glanced at her to find her smiling at the view of green fields. Very soon she started talking about the places she wanted to visit and things she had read up about Jaipur and Udaipur. He could see that they would have a packed schedule, and he could also imagine his plans of being secluded in their room away from the world vanish in thin air. Judging by the way she was announcing the places and describing them, he knew it would take up a lot of time to visit and some of those excursions might be tiring enough to prevent any action at night. Plus if they visited all those places there was almost zero scope of making love to her during the day. He didn’t like the idea at all, and hence asked, “tumne itna sab research kab kiya? Aur tumhe nahi lagta ke yeh bahot zyada jagah hai?”

Her face fell immediately, “zyada hai?”

He gulped wanting to give in, but still refrained and nodded in a yes. She frowned, thinking for some moment and then replied, “I am sorry… Maine kabhi aise trips plan nahi kiye.”

He glanced at her quickly before focusing on the road again, “matlab?”

She shrugged, “bachpan se hum sirf har saal apne gaanv jaate the… wahi vacation hota tha hamara. Garmi ki chuttiyo me dadi ke ghar jaana… Wahan gaanv me kuch hafte bitana aur udhar ekdum simple se din guzarte the… Kheto me jaana, ped pe chadna, talaab me tairna… jab bade hue toh woh sab bhi bandh ho gaya… Ladkiya hai, nadaan hai, jawani me kuch gadbad na karde aisa bolke ghar pe bithate the, chulha-chauka sikhate the… Vacation tabse vacation jaisa lagna bandh ho gaya. Phir dada-dadi ke guzar jaaneke baad gaanv jaana bhi bandh ho gaya. Kahin aur jaane ki baat kabhi ghar pe koi karta hi nahi tha… Summer vacations Ahmedabad me hi nikalta tha. Toh shayad isiliye main plan nahi kar paai ke har ek din me hum kitni jagah cover kar payenge…”

His heart clenched on hearing her tale… He had known her for so many years now, and had never wondered why they never went on any trips… Agarwal family spent time together, but only at home. Taiji and Chachiji would stay at home always, managing food, household responsibilities and other needs of the family. Tauji, Chachaji and Rakesh sir had their personal social life, separate from their families. The only time the ladies of the house got to mingle with other was during some puja, satsang, or family functions. Even eating outside was never a family event… Add to that there were those never ending responsibilities that are piled on girls in such households.

Naina had been in a shell, hiding her true self even from her family… All they could see was a girl without a mother who was grateful for the upbringing she received and fulfilled the expectations of being an ideal daughter of the prideful Agarwal khandaan. None of them knew about the hidden movie fanatic inside her, the mischiefs she could get into, the strength of her character, the latent ability to speak her mind and persuasiveness, the hidden boldness under the cover of innocence. Her love for him had given her the strength to express in outbursts taking him by surprise in the initial years and slowly he had started to see the girl behind the shield she had put on and that peek had been enough for him to fall in love with her… Over the years his love had given her the courage to come out of her shell and transform into the woman she was today.

Marriage had given him the freedom to express his love physically to her… He knew that this bond would also strengthen the robust emotional bond they already shared. He wanted and craved for every opportunity to touch her, make love to her, feel her against him. And so he despised the plans she had made, the long list of places she wanted to visit. But after listening to her apology and the tale of her vacations, he realized that in all his own plans of enjoying physical intimacy, he was forgetting that marriage wasn’t only about the lovey-dovey moments or passion filled hours, but rather it was also about being the wings underneath their partner’s dreams. Naina had always been his pillar of support, always aiding and encouraging him to achieve his dreams and fulfill his responsibilities. But now as a husband he had the freedom to let her pursue her own dreams, and also give her the moments she had missed from her childhood. Yes, she was confident woman, but she could be successful as well… Yes, she was intelligent, but she could be independent as well… Yes, she was a family oriented woman, but she could also be a career focused one… Yes, she was knowledgeable courtesy the books she read, but she could also be experienced now that she could have access to the world…

Right then and there, halting at a signal he decided that their honeymoon, in India and Switzerland both wouldn’t be only about physical intimacy like usually honeymoon is perceived to be, but rather it would be an exploration on every front. They would gain experience in all senses… He spotted a boy selling roses and signaled him to come over. Buying six blood-red roses, he paid the money, a little extra than quoted, and then handled over the bunch to his wife.

She smiled, “thank you Sameer…”

He winked at her and started to drive again, framing his thoughts and then said, “Naina… Mt. Abu me toh itna ghum nahi payenge hum log, aur Jaipur pahonchenge uske baad meri meeting hogi ek-do din… Toh I have an idea…”

She turned slightly in her seat to look at him clearly, “kaisa idea?”

“Hotel me tumko jo time milega tum usme apna yeh travel plan theek se kar sakti ho”, he suggested, “sirf jagah ke naam kaafi nahi hai na… Talk to the hotel manager or concierge, map le lena reception se… har jagah kahan aati hai aur kitna distance hai uske basis pe plan karna. Jaise koi do jagah agar same direction me ho toh hum saath me cover kar sakte hai… Aur distance dhyan me rakhke decide kar lena ke kitni jagah ghum sakte hai.”

She looked hesitant, “itna saara planning main kar paungi?”

He confidently stated, “why not? Mt. Abu me break leneka idea bhi toh tumne hi suggest kiya na map dekhke… kitna achcha idea tha… I am sure tum baki ke trip ka plan bhi kar hi logi… Aur haan… sab jagah cover karneki tension mat lena… aisa nahi hai ke hum kabhi wapas Jaipur ya Udaipur nahi aa sakte.”

She was perplexed, “hum wapas kyun aayenge? Ek hi jagah pe baar baar ghumke kya fayda? Paise barbaad honge na…”

He chuckled, “nahi Naina… it’s not like that… See, mere business trips ke wajah se hum kaafi jagah repeat karenge… Jaise Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai… Yeh merger ki wajah se ab Jaipur bhi add ho gaya uss list me. Traveling se experience milta hai, aur hum kismat wale hai ke hum afford bhi kar sakte hai… Toh tum jagah repeat karneki tension mat lo… Aur let’s say Jaipur ke saal me do trips lagte hai toh hum unn do trip me Jaipur ki alag-alag jagah cover karenge, ya phir Jaipur ke aas-paas kahin ghumenge. Afterall, Rajasthan me sirf Jaipur aur Udaipur toh nahi hai, dusri bhi bahot saari jagah hai…”

She nodded, “haan… India me kitni jagah hai ghumneki… adhi toh shayad mujhe pata bhi nahi hogi.”

“Hamare paas poori life hai explore karne ke liye”, he replied, “Switzerland trip ke baad hum hamare yearly vacation trips bhi plan kar lenge. Business trips ke alawa hum saal me kamsekam do baar kahin akele ghumne jayenge… Zyada din zaroori nahi, 3-4 din bhi bahot hai, par jayenge zaroor. Rohan Mumbai shift hoga toh udhar bhi ghumneka plan karenge, kabhi shayad Delhi… Aur ek baar at least Chachaji, Chachiji, Papa sabke saath kahin jayenge… Full family… Jaise Mt. Abu ka trip kiya tha.”

She grinned at him, “aur Tauji-Taiji?”

He laughed, “har baar lottery toh nahi lag sakti, toh unhe bhi le jayenge… Kya pata… Ho sakta hai thoda ghumke unka bhi koi nazariya badle ya unki soch me sudhaar aaye.”

When she didn’t reply to him, but rather just kept admiring the roses, he asked, “kya soch rahi ho?”

She shook her head, “bas yahi ke main itni lucky kaise ho gai ke mujhe tumhare jaisa insaan jeevan-saathi ke roop me mila?”

“Hmmm”, he pretended to think as he pulled out his sunglasses from the dash to counter the sunrays that had now started to wind-shield, “main bhi soch hi raha tha… par jahan tak mujhe yaad hai shuruwat tabse hui jab tumne sirf ek nazar me mujhe apna dil dene ki himmat kar li.”

She blushed, hiding her face in the bloomed roses, breathing in the heady fragrance, yearning to throw her arms around her husband and snuggle in his warmth. They stopped for lunch at a highway restaurant, and Sameer sighed as he sipped on a glass of fresh orange juice. It wasn’t that hot yet, but still the AC in the restaurant felt good, and suddenly he truly appreciated Naina’s brainwave of not driving the entire distance to Jaipur on the same day.

She flipped through the menu and asked, “kya order kare?”

He tilted his head, “tumhe jo man ho hamare liye order karo… main bathroom jaake aata hun.”

Naina stared at his retreating back, puzzled at his action… He always used to take her suggestions into account and place the order in restaurants. But today, he left the task to her…

The waiter soon came forward, “madam… order karna chahenge abhi?”

She glanced at the bathroom door for a moment, and then nodded, choosing a couple of dishes and placing the order. He came back after 5 minutes, his hair partially wet, and grinned, “done?”

She nodded, “aaj tumne kyun nahi kiya?”

He shrugged, “aisai… waise bhi usually tumhare suggested dishes hi order karte hai na hum toh tum order place karo ya main kya farq padta hai… Achcha ab apne watermelon juice toh taste karvao mujhe…”

Sipping from her glass he somehow managed to keep their conversations light-hearted not letting her know that he had intentionally left her alone. If he wanted her to be independent then he had to give her some leeway and protect her from afar. Slowly he would have to start introducing Naina to his business circuit, and even though she was confident enough to carry on conversations with a person once she was comfortable, the business parties demanded a different level of confidence and flair which she had yet to build.

Their order arrived within fifteen minutes, and he insisted that she feed him the first morsel of their first meal of their honeymoon. She giggled as she obeyed, and glared at him when he licked her fingers. He fed her as well, and pouted in disappointment when she didn’t even let her lips touch his fingers. As he devoured the last chapatti, she asked, “hum kitni der me pahochenge?”

He popped a piece of cucumber in his mouth, “bas 2 ghante aur… tired?”

Her lips curved in a lazy smile, “hmmm… kal theek se neend nahi hui na…”

He almost spat out the water he had just sipped, and his eyes widened, “Naina…”

She smirked, “kya?”

He gulped, “uh… theek se neend kyun nahi hui?”

“Yaad nahi”, she promptly replied, “tabhi toh jaldi Mt. Abu pahonchna hai.”

He gaped at her for a minute and then murmured, “wow… main jaldi pay kar deta hun… let’s go…”

Once in the car, he kept glancing at her repeatedly, until she asked, “kya dekh rahe ho baar baar?”

He bit his lip and then delicately proposed, “ummm… kal woh purple nightie toh… you know… toh ab…”

She innocently queried, “ab?”

He cleared his throat, “uh… main soch raha tha… if you say yes… hum naye kharid sakte hai… I mean koi aur color ka… par agar tum comfortable ho toh hi…”

She pretended to consider the matter, “itna pasand aaya tha tumhe?”

He flashed a naughty smirk, “kal raat samajh nahi aaya?”

She bit her lip and blushed, “konsa color soch rahe ho?”

His mind whirled with his fantasies, “red – jaise subah roses kharide… Black – andheri toofani raat ki tarah… Pink – tumhare hothon ki tarah…”

She stared at him with her mouth open for a minute, her cheeks flushed, her breathing uneven… Then she managed to squeak, “wow… lagta hai bahot socha hai tumne…”

He sighed, “you have no idea… purple wala toh sirf pehla fantasy tha…” Suddenly he chuckled, “tumhe yaad hai main Delhi gaya tha aur wahan se Rohan ne tumhe phone karke bataya tha ke main ajeeb behave karta hun raat ko…”

She nodded, “haan…”

He divulged, “uss raat pehli baar tumko purple nightie me fantasize kiya… aur… umm… main neend me almost Rohan ko kiss karne wala tha.”

Her mouth fell open in shock… It took her a couple of minutes to register what he said… And then she started laughing, “Ro…Rohan ko kiss… Hahaha… Oh God… Bechara mera devar…”

He growled, “bas Naina…”

She tried to calm down, “sorry… par…”, and then promptly dissolved into laughter.

He swiftly parked on the side of the road, which thankfully was an empty stretch, quickly undid his seatbelt and leaned over sealing her lips with his. She gasped at the sudden onslaught, giving him the perfect opportunity to deepen the kiss… It was hard and brief… too short for her liking… Even before she could respond he pulled back and nipped at her full lower lip, murmuring, “aur hasogi?”

She licked her lips where he had bit, “punishment tha?”

He smirked, “yes…”

“Kam tha”, came her pat reply, shocking him, his expressions making her giggle once more.

He closed his eyes, groaning, “Naina…”

She pushed him away, “chalo… drive karo… mujhe jaldi Mt. Abu pahonchna hai.”

He shook his head, buckling his seat-belt again. His mobile rang, and seeing the number from Agarwal house, he handed it over to Naina. The remaining journey passed in small conversations and she also managed to take a quick nap. It was 3pm by the time they reached the market area of Mt. Abu, and Sameer woke her up. She stretched, “pahonch gaye?”

He smiled, “market tak… wahan dekho…”

She looked to where he was pointing and smiled seeing the nakki lake glistening at a distance. The memories of boating, teasing and every loving moment flashed through her mind; she sighed, “yeh jagah hamesha khaas rahegi.”

He agreed, “haan… hamesha… check-in karke wapas aate hai bahar… chai peene.”

She grinned, “aur imli?”

“Sirf ek condition pe”, he started, starting to drive again, “mujhe bhi khilaogi… jaise last time bus me khilaya tha.” She gasped and promptly blushed recalling the kiss. He chuckled, “itna sab karneke baad bhi meri biwi kiss ki baat pe sharmati hai.”

On seeing the grand sprawling building of Sterling Hotel she frowned, “hum yahan rahenge?”

He nodded, “haan… Gayatri didi ne booking karwai hai… Aur waise bhi woh lodge chahe kitna bhi special ho, honeymoon couple ke liye sahi nahi hai.”

She sighed in agreement, but nevertheless missed the gardens and the chances of recollections. As they stepped out of the car, handing the keys to the valet, he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her to him, “I understand sweetheart… bahot saari yaadein hai na uss lodge me? I promise hum phirse kabhi aake rukenge wahan… Par iss baar yeh hotel zyada sahi hai.”

She nodded and smiled, “koi baat nahi… chalo jaldi… mujhe room dekhna hai…”

“Uff yeh betaabi”, he teased, “kamre me pahonchte hi treat milegi lag raha hai.”

She swatted his hand and he laughed slightly, walking her to the reception. The check-in was quick and the suite room perfectly suited for honeymoon. The huge bouquet on the table was made of a glorious assortment of flowers, she sniffed at it and mused, “sirf ek raat ke liye Gayatri didi ne itna bada kamra book kiya…”

He came up behind her, wrapping his hands around her waist, “ek raat ho ya ek hafta, we deserve the best on our honeymoon. Aur ab…” Turning her to him, he dipped for a kiss, but just then the bell rung making him curse aloud. She chuckled, pulling back, “bags aa gaye lagta hai… jao dekho… main fresh hoke aati hun.”

Sameer paid the tip to the bellboy who had wheeled in their luggage, and locked the door. Yes, he had said they would go out but he was not going anywhere without his kiss, and if he knew his wife she would try to escape asking him to wait for the night. Naina came out, wiping her hands on a towel, “tum bhi fresh ho lo… Phir chalte hai…”

He debated for a minute, but then opted to wash his face because he felt bit tired and sticky. As he splashed cold water on his face, he wondered if early summers felt like this in Mt. Abu then how the weather would be in Jaipur and Udaipur… Probably hotter… Maybe this wasn’t the best weather to tour these places, but then in a way it was good… If it was too hot then Naina would cancel most of the places from her long list and they could stay inside the room.

He came out of the bathroom to find Naina keeping aside clothes in the cupboard, and he frowned, “Naina… tum kapde kyun arrange kar rahi ho? Hum kal jaldi nikal jayenge.”

She giggled, “sirf night dress nikala hai Sameer… market se wapas aake change toh karenge na, toh maine socha night dress hi better hai.”

He smirked, walking over to her, “market se wapas aake kapdo ki kya zaroorat hai…”

She scrunched her nose, “besharam… ab chale?”

As she tried to leave, he grabbed her arm, pulling her back to face him, “itni jaldi kya hai… we are not going out before a kiss…”

She looked into his mischievous eyes and then looped her arms around his neck, pulling him down a bit. The mischief in his gaze turned to surprise and she graced him with a sensual lopsided smile, “Mr. Maheshwari… agar aap soch rahe hai ke kiss mangne se main sharma jaungi toh aisa nahi hone wala… Yeh hamara first honeymoon trip hai… Aur main aapka poora fayda uthane wali hun…”

He held her waist, flushing their bodies, “promise?”

“I promise”, she whispered and lifted up to the kiss. A longing shudder ran through his body as her soft lips touched hers… It felt as if he hadn’t kissed her for so long, even though that wasn’t the reality, but still… He just couldn’t explain the yearning he had for her. It surely surpassed the limits of normal sanity, but he didn’t want to think about it… As far as he was concerned he wanted to kiss her numerous times in a day, and he knew he would keep wanting that for many years to come, and he would make sure that he never let an opportunity pass to kiss his wife.

She whimpered as he deepened the kiss, one strong big palm cupping her skull, long fingers sinking in her silky strands. Her one hand played with the hair at his nape, and the other dipped inside the collar of his shirt… They were moving, she knew it, but didn’t care… Only when the back of her legs hit the bed did she realize where he had guided her. They fell on the bed without breaking the kiss, and she could feel the ridiculously intricate towel-swans crushing beneath their weight.

“White bedsheet”, he panted, parting from her mouth.

She frowned for a moment, and then chuckled, “uspe konsa color tha?”

He nuzzled the side of her neck, “huh?”

She stroked his shoulders, “white bedsheet pe konse color ka nightie tha?”

He lifted his head, staring into her eyes, “sweetheart… tumhe lagta hai lovemaking ke time pe fantasy me bhi main nightie rehne dunga?”

Laughter bubbled out of her after a moment of surprise, and she pushed him, rolling over his body. Her forehead touched his, her gaze holding his captive, “I love you Sameer… Maine kabhi nahi socha tha ke pyaar meri zindagi itni badal dega… Tumhe pata hai… Jab tum mujhe choote ho, kiss karte ho, aise khulke apne fantasies batate ho mujhe ehsaas hota hai ke tumhari nazro me kitni khoobsurat hun…”

His hand stroked her back, “tum duniya ki sabse khoobsurat ladki ho… aur sirf meri ho… meri wife… Mrs. Naina Sameer Maheshwari.”

She laid her head on his chest, silent for a moment, and then said “maine apne book ke liye do titles soche hai…”

He hummed, “kya?”

“Pyaar ka waada… Hamesha”, she informed, “aur dusra… Ek duje ke saath… Hamesha.”

“Hamesha zaroori hai”, he observed.

She nodded, “haan… kyun hum saath the, saath hai, aur saath rahenge… Hamesha…”

He agreed to her, “of course… par maine bhi ek naam socha tha…”

She lifted her head to look at her husband, “really? Konsa?”

He bit his lips, his eyes dancing with mirth, as he said, “shaadi wala pyaar… Inspired by Mt. Abu trip ke tests…”

She let out a “haww”, before trying to hit his shoulders which promptly resulted in her being pressed flat to the bed again as he claimed her mouth in another ravishing kiss. By the time they separated she was panting hard for breath and her hand was beneath his shirt on his bare back. He dropped a peck on her nose, “market trip cancel kare?”

She took a deep breath, “nahi… market jaate hai… phir aaneke baad kaafi time hoga.”

He pouted, “honeymoon hai Naina…”

“Mujhe pata hai”, she replied, “par mujhe bhuk lagi hai… aur tumne kaha tha chai piloage.”

He sighed, “fine… jaisi tumhari marzi.”

As he tried to get up, she looped her arms around his neck pulling him down for a soft long kiss, the tenderness from her making him smile. Breaking the kiss she rubbed her nose with his, “I love you so much.” He closed his eyes in contentment on hearing the words.

The trip to the market was unadventurous but soothing, and a complete contrast to the previous trips where once their classmates were hovering around and the other time the family was there. This time he kept her anchored to him with a hand around her waist, and didn’t miss a chance to nuzzle her hair when she tried out different earrings and bangles on his insistence. When they chose to have tea at a small shop near nakki lake, she sat sideways on the wooden bench to view the sun over the lake. He frowned for a moment, unable to see her face and then straddled the bench moving closer to her and pulled her back against his chest. She gasped, “Sameer… hum bahar hai…”

He shrugged, “toh? Tum meri biwi ho… Aur tumhare haath me yeh chuda proof hai ke hum honeymoon couple hai… Main dur nahi rahunga.”

She chuckled, “kuch khane ka order kiya?”

“Yes madam”, he mumbled, placing his chin on her shoulder, “beautiful…”

She smiled, “haan… dubte suraj ki kirno me jheel wakai khoobsurat lag raha hai.”

He sounded surprised, “really? Maine toh notice hi nahi kiya.”

“Kya? Toh phir tum kya…”, she turned her head to look at him but trailed off on seeing his face so close to hers, his breath fanning his neck, his lips an inch away from her skin… His eyes glittered with desire as he dropped a soft peck near her ear making her shiver in his arms. A boy placed the tea and snacks on the table, and cleared his throat to bring the lovebirds out of their trance. Naina jerked and blushed; Sameer scowled, pulling out some cash and handing it over to the boy. She reached out to pick a samosa, but he slapped lightly on the back of her palm, making her exclaim, “oww!”

He instructed, “tum sirf chai apne haatho se peena… baaki sab main khilaunga.”

She was perplexed, “par kyun?”

“Kyun hum honeymoon pe hai”, he replied, “aur main romantic hun.”

She giggled as he picked up a samosa, took a small bite letting the steam escape, and then blew on it before feeding her. The food depleted slowly the way they were eating, but nevertheless it felt like she was having the most amazing food. In the last light of the dusk they walked hand-in-hand through the busy market, her eyes taking in the familiar sights. He pointed towards the last few boats on the lake, “jaana hai tumhe?”

She shook her head, averting her eyes shyly, “uh… room me jaana hai…”

He blinked, “kya kaha?”

“Room me jaana hai”, she mumbled again, her cheeks flushing with color.

A broad grin curved his lips, “seriously? Ah… finally… meri Naina ko yaad aaya ke ab woh meri biwi hai…”

She punched him lightly on his stomach, “pehle imli dhundo… warna main nahi jaungi.” He laughed and pulled out a pack from his jeans pocket. She squealed, “yeh kahan se aaya?”

“Jab chai ki dukaan pe nashta order karne gaya tha tabhi wahan ek aurat aai thi imli bechne”, he said, “toh kharid liya.” She started to take one out, but he stopped her, “uh uh… abhi nahi… abhi just chai pee hai… acidity ho jayegi… room me chalke khana.” She pouted, and he chuckled, “soch lo… tum abhi khaogi toh main bhi abhi taste karunga… aur tumhe pata hai main kaise taste karunga… yeh jagah pe, you are okay?”

She huffed in irritation, pushing the imli back in the polythene. He took it from her hands, stuffing it back in his pocket. Ignoring her annoyed mutterings he grabbed her hand and started walking. The hotel they were staying at was nearby the market area, so thankfully it didn’t take them a lot of time to walk back. Once in the room, she quickly grabbed her clothes and tried to go to the bathroom. He grabbed her from behind, “main bhi aau sweetheart…?”

She squirmed out of his hold, “nahi… market me imli khane di hoti sharafat se toh bathroom me entry milti… par ab… intezaar karo…”

He frowned, “that’s unfair… aur tum mujhe nahi rok sakti honeymoon pe…”

Just then his mobile rang, diverting his attention, and she quickly dashed inside closing the door with a thud. He cursed, “dammit”, and took a deep breath before receiving his mother’s call.

By the time he finished talking, she came out dressed in a simple night-suit, much like she used to wear before wedding, the only difference was that even though it was pant and top, it wasn’t cotton, but rather smooth glossy satin… And that too in a shade of blush pink… He stared at her, his mouth slightly open, his eyes wide… Pretending to be oblivious to her husband, she hummed a song and moved to the mirror, opening the bun she had tied before shower, and started to comb her long tresses.

He started to move towards her, slowly, in a kind of trance where he could see nothing but her. As soon as he was within reach, he extended his hand to touch her, and she flicked her hair back… The silky strands slipped over his hand making him draw in a deep breath…

“Kitni garmi hai”, she mused and stood up, moving to check the air-conditioner. He turned towards her, starting to walk once more… She fiddled with the remote, and then grabbed his mobile from the side-stand, “Sameer… maa ka phone tha na? Main thodi der baat kar leti hun… Tum fresh ho jao tab tak.”

Before he could reply she had already dialed the last received call number from his call-logs, and he muttered a few choicest curses, combing his fingers through his hair in frustration. As she laughed over the phone, exclaiming in delight, he dragged in a deep breath, thinking that since she had showered, he should too… Wash off the grime and dirt before making love to her… Irritated with her supposed indifference towards him, he jerked his shirt open, dropping it on the floor. His jeans followed and he strode inside the bathroom in his boxers.

Naina glanced at the bathroom door, her eyes sparkling with mischief… She quickly finished the call, and then moved in superfast speed around the room. Ten minutes later, Sameer came out with a pristine white towel wrapped around his waist, and blinked… Most of the lights were off, the clothes he had discarded were neatly spread on the chair, and his tracks were there on the side of bed… What disappointed him the most was the sight of his wife, leaning on the headboard at an odd angle, most definitely asleep.

He walked over to her side, and leaned down, his tone a whisper, “Naina… Sweetheart…”

She hummed, moving a bit, but kept sleeping. A few strands of her hair were on her face, and he reached out to move them, his fingers grazing her baby soft skin. Her face glowed in the dim night lights, the innocence radiating in extra prominence. He wanted to wake her up, he wanted to kiss her senseless, he wanted to touch her, make love to her… But her adorable sleeping face was so serene that he gave up his desires with a longing sigh.

He slipped an arm behind her neck and gently moved her, making her lie down properly. Pulling the blanket up to her shoulders he went to the other side of the bed, shedding the towel and slipping into his tracks. He climbed up on the bed, beneath the blanket and inched closer to his wife, murmuring in extremely low voice so that he didn’t disturb her, “honeymoon ki pehli night me hi tum so gai… Man toh kar raha hai tumhe uthau, par phir itne araam se sote hue dekhke jee nahi chah raha… Mujhe pata hai, tum jaan-bujhkar aisa nahi karogi… Shayad sach me bahot thak gai ho…” Stroking her hair, he pressed a kiss on her forehead, “koi baat nahi… tumhare saath toh har din honeymoon hai… Tumhe hug karke so paa raha hun, utna hi kaafi hai mere liye… Good Night sweetheart… I love you…”

He closed his eyes missing the lone tear that cascaded down his wife’s cheek… The next thing he knew was being pressed to the bed while a weight straddled along his midriff and his lips captured in a scorching kiss. Her taste flooded his mouth making him groan, the desire that he had barely restrained raged through his body once more, and his hands reached up to hold her waist, fingers digging into soft skin. She left his mouth, peppering kisses all over his face, her teeth nipped his ear lobe and beneath it, her lips trailing to his throat, closing in a hot suction over his bobbing adam’s apple. His entire body jerked and tightened as her hips moved over his straining erection, her small palms caressing maddeningly over his bare chest, stirring up a storm inside him.

“Naina…”, he groaned, clenching his jaw.

She cupped his face, moving to his lips again, and she murmured between kisses, “sorry… I am sorry… main bas tumhe ched rahi thi… mujhe laga…”

Her statement was interrupted as he rolled over, pinning her to the bed, his surging chest pressing to her supple breasts. Her head fell back on the pillow, her breath leaving her mouth in short gasps as he feathered kisses on the side of her face and neck. He reached down, one hand trailing down her body to her thigh, groaning as he found bare skin beyond the lacy panty. Draping that sleek bare leg over his hip, he thrust against the moist lace, “kya laga tumhe?”

She moaned, her voice laced with desire, “mujhe laga tum uthaoge mujhe…”

Long fingers dipped inside the lace, cupping her bottom, “pant kahan hai sweetheart?”

Her palms trailed down his back, tracing the dips in his spine, “zaroorat hai uski?”

He chuckled, moving one hand beneath her top to cup her breast, “so… tum natak kar rahi thi?”

She sighed as his fingers stroked and teased, his thumb flicking the hardened nub, “please…”

“Please?” He queried, “kya request kar rahi ho Naina?”

She huffed, “tumhe pata hai…”

He smirked, “shayad… but you know what… tumne itna pareshan kiya hai toh thoda punishment toh banta hai… so tell me… please kya?”

She threw an annoying glare at him but he only grinned in response… His thumb and forefinger tweaked her nipple lightly, making her gasp, and she arched her hips communicating her need without words. He just lifted his hips up, losing contact, “uh uh… muh se bolo Naina…”

“Pareshan mat karo na”, she whined.

He nipped at her throat, “sweetheart… pareshan karna toh shuru bhi nahi kiya hai ab tak.” She hissed as his teeth moved over the satin top, finding a spot he had already marked last night, “dard hua?”

She swallowed, “nahi… uhh…”

Her words caught in her throat as he lifted her top up and away, his tongue soothing the dark red mark. His tone was husky as he said, “aaj koi aur jagah dhundni padegi…” And then a torturous finger tip moved over her swells, stopping frequently as he kept repeatedly asking, “yahan?”

Every time she made some sound… a moan or a gurgle, unable to form coherent words and he would move away. The fingertip circled her left nipple, “yahan?”

Before she could reply, he dipped and took the hardened nub between his teeth, biting lightly through the lace. Her breath broke, back arched and she moaned aloud as bolts of electricity shot from her breast to her stomach, pooling into a burning liquid heat between her legs.

“Let me see”, he growled and turned her on her stomach… She clutched the pillow feeling as if she wasn’t on a solid bed, but rather on a boat that was rocking amid swirling wild waters. He flung the blanket aside, placing open mouthed kisses along her back… The straps of her skin colored bra lowered to her arms as his teeth sank on her shoulder, making her moan. He moved down to her legs, tickling the sole of her feet lightly, making her squirm… His warm hands stroked up her legs, followed by his lips… He teased the sensitive skin at the back of her knees and then moved up her thighs. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to assimilate the new sensations as his nose brushed against the lacy edge of her panty… He seemed to be drawing in a deep breath, though she didn’t know why…

Sameer shuddered, the musky smell of her arousal hitting his nostrils making him breathe in deep, to control or to give in, he didn’t know… His fingers toyed with the sheer material for few seconds before he slipped it down her legs… She jerked, not sure where things were heading, and he could feel her body tense… He feathered kisses at the small of her back, his hands cupping her smooth round bottom, gently kneading, being careful to not scare her… Slowly he felt her relax, and he caressed upward until he reached the hooks of her bra…

The struggle that ensued made her giggle, but soon she once more forgot to breathe as he successfully opened the hooks, exclaiming in delight, peppering quick kisses on the smooth expanse of her back to celebrate. She moaned, trying to turn over, but he stalled her… He smoothed aside the straps of her bra, slid an arm under her rib and lifted her a bit, pulling the bra away from her body… He settled beside her, turning her a bit, his chest pressed to her back and the hand beneath her body moved to her breasts…

“Oh”, she whimpered…

He knelt over to watch her flushed face, dropping a peck over her ear, tracing his tongue over the delectable whorl, suckling on her lobe… His muscular leg slid between her slim ones, parting her a bit and the other free hand moved down her stomach to stroke playfully at her most sensitive part. She bit her lip, one hand clutching fistfuls of the bedsheet, and the other lifting up behind her, to curve around his head, sinking in his hair. His mouth closed over the pulse at the side of her neck as his long finger dipped inside her, and she moaned, “Sameer…”

He hummed, “kya hua Naina…? Yahi chahiye tha na…?”

She shook her head, while trying to move her hips against the hard length she could feel on her back. He queried in a teasing tone, “yeh nahi? Damn… Let me stop…”

She panicked on feeling his finger withdraw and quickly reached down to grab his wrist, “nahi… please…”

“Ab tak naa bol rahi ho…”, he mumbled, “kya chahiye Naina? Haath hatalu?”

She gasped as his thumb circled the sensitive bundle of nerves between her legs, the fingers of his other hand mirroring the same movement at her breast… “Kaho sweetheart”, he prodded, “hatalu haath?”

“Nahi”, she said in an irritated tone, tightening her hold over his wrist, “please… aur… aur chahiye…”

He crooned in her ear, “toh aisa bolo na…” And the next moment he dipped two fingers inside her, stroking deep and sure. He watched her face, the pure pleasure reflecting in her expressions surging his delight… Her inner muscles tightened around his fingers letting him know that she was close, and so he withdrew…

Naina’s eyes flew open in frustration, and she snapped, “kya kar rahe ho?”

He replied in an innocent tone, “kuch bhi toh nahi…” Waving his hands in-front of her face, he continued, “see… kuch nahi kar raha main…” She closed her eyes once more, trying to calm her breathing, disappointment spreading over her… He leaned and whispered in her ear, “par agar chahti ho ke main kuch karu toh bolo… aaj jab tak tum nahi bologi kuch nahi hoga…”

She elbowed him on this chest, making him laugh and loosen his hold enough to allow her to turn on her back. Glaring at him she queried, “aisa kyun kar rahe ho?”

His eyes softened, his hand moving over her stomach, “main sirf chahta hun ke tum sharmana chodke bolo jo chahti ho… main tumhara pati hun… pura haq hai tumhara mujhpe, toh bol kyun nahi sakti…?”

She bit her lower lip, “mujhe sharam aati hai bolne me…”

He rolled his eyes, “seriously? Matlab… look at us… hum aise hai bed pe… aur phir bhi tumhe sirf bolne me sharam aa rahi hai… Woh Naina kahan gai jo hare k baat mujhse keh deti thi, har sawaal puch leti thi…?”

Her cheeks flushed, eyes lowered, and he sighed, “fine… main jaake condom…”

“Yahi hai”, she interrupted.

He looked in her eyes again, “kya?”

She swallowed, “condom yahi hai…” His brows furrowed as he watched her slide a hand beneath her pillow and pull out one of the boxes he had bought this morning. He coughed, “pura box?”

She pouted, “kholke dekhneki himmat nahi hui… Par… Umm… Tum bathroom gaye tab maine yahan chupake rakha tha…”

He took the box from her hand, “kyun?”

She licked her lips, wrapping her arms around his neck, “kyunki mujhe laga tum mujhe uthaoge… aur phir jaldi jaldi me hum condom bhool na jaaye… isiliye maine yahan chupa diya… uhh…” Her voice dropped to a whisper, “so that we can make love…”

“Damn”, he mumbled, and quickly kissed her lips, “that sounds sexy…”

She smiled, lifting up for another kiss and this time he didn’t make her wait… “I love you”, he breathed before deepening the kiss, and groaned in delight on feeling her hands move down his back to his tracks. He helped her remove it, threw it down on the floor and dipped to her breasts. She arched into the heat of his mouth, her hands fisting in his hair, his name spilling from her lips like a stuck record. His lips moved to her belly, nipping her waist, and she gripped his shoulders, “jaldi…”

He chuckled and sat up between her legs, grabbing the box of condom from the bed, pulled out one and tore the pack. She stared at him with half-open eyes, her breath fast as she waited and observed. The condom seemed like a slippery transparent object… She laughed a bit when Sameer scrunched his nose at the texture. Looking at him trying to unroll it she wondered how it would be put to use. She thought to ask, but then noticed him extending it open, and trying to roll it over his erection… Her eyes widened and she promptly asked, “yeh thoda chota nahi hai?”

He glanced up, “uh… I guess stretchable hoga… let’s try.” He tried to put it on, but it was difficult as the material stuck to his skin refusing to slide down, ultimately tearing when he was half-way in. He cursed, pulling it off, and she handed him over some tissues from the bedside table.

“Library me padh lena chahiye tha kaise pehente hai condom”, he mused, as he threw the torn condom and tissues in the dustbin, “dusra try karte hai.”

She lifted on her elbows, “mujhe laga tumhe aata hoga.”

He quirked a brow, “sweetheart… agar bhul gai ho toh bata du… yeh sab mere liye bhi naya hai…”

She grinned, watching the nervous expressions on his face as he took out the second pack from the box. He tore it and started to unroll, but she stopped, “ruko…”

He looked at his wife who was sprawled in-front of him gloriously naked, but her face… oh her face had that expression which she wore during study sessions while solving a problem. His lips automatically curved in a smirk as he knew her brain was spinning at jet speed trying to resolve this new puzzle called condom.

“Aise khologe toh phirse chipak ke phat jayega”, she stated.

He asked, “toh… koi ideas?”

She nodded, biting her lip, “ummm… jaise first time lovemaking ke time kiya tha tumne…”

He tilted his head, “kya?”

Color flooded her cheeks and he could see her breath becoming shallow as she said, “uh… woh… ekdum se andar nahi gaye the… thoda thoda…” He nodded, recalling the amazing sensation of touching her first time, and the way he had tried to stretch her so that she felt less pain in accommodating him. She added, “waise hi… yeh rolled-up condom hi pehen lo phir dheere dheere unroll karo. Shayad kaam kar jaaye.”

Not really sure of her idea, he still gave it a try, and was bit surprised when the damn thing unrolled smoothly, stretching and covering his full form. “Oh wow it worked!” He exclaimed, looking up at her to find her staring at his erection without blinking…

She cleared her throat, “uh… haan…”

He leaned down over her, pushing her back onto the bed, and dipped one finger inside her, “tumhe idea bhi hai tum kitni sexy ho? I am not sure koi guess kar payega ke school aur college ki padhaku Naina honeymoon pe apne husband ko condom pehenna sikhayegi…” Slipping another finger in, he dipped until his lips brushed against hers, “tumhare chehre pe woh library wale expressions… it turns me on…”

She shivered and arched, taking his lips in a kiss, and he parted her legs fully, withdrawing his fingers and entering her with a single slow thrust. He groaned at how good it felt, and his entire body throbbed hard when she wrapped her legs around his hips locking her ankles, opening herself fully to him. A storm raged inside him, blocking his thoughts and vision, he buried his face at the crook of her neck and moved fast, taking both of them soaring to oblivion. Her arms and legs fell open slowly as he collapsed on her, and she didn’t even feel like opening her eyes. After a minute or so, she felt him withdrawing from her, and heard him groan as he sat up. He mumbled something like ‘it worked’ and then stumbled down from the bed, heading towards the bathroom. The yellow light from the bathroom spilled outside, and she finally opened her eyes, feeling absolutely spent… It was funny, she mused, even though Sameer did most of the work, she felt almost just as exhausted… Turning over she grabbed the bottle of water from the bedside table and sat up to drink.

He came outside rubbing his hand on a towel, and grinned, “wow… tum bethi ho… ready for another round?”

She almost choked, “kya?”

He laughed, climbing up on the bed, “kidding sweetheart… lekin kal subah pakka…”

She handed over the water to him, “subah jaldi nikalna hai…”

He had his fill, and capped the bottle, “don’t worry… breakfast karke hi niklenge… ab yahan aao…”

She pulled the blanket up, scooted closer, snuggling up to him, and he laid back on the bed with her in his arms… The first night of honeymoon was magical, and having that in Mt. Abu seemed like closing a loop of their life… The place where once they had separated, was now the place where they had come together in tied in every sense in the purest bond ever.