Time flew as if the hands on the clock were moving faster than the speed of light. They had their first term school examinations as well, and now the sharp sword of board exams dangled over their necks. The teachers were pleasantly surprised at Sameer’s improvement, but more than that they were astonished at the improvement in Swati, Preeti, Munna and Pandit. The continuous study sessions were finally bearing their fruits.
Sameer’s first outstation business meeting came up, and he had to leave for Mumbai for two days. Two dreaded days, reminding them of the time when two days had stretched to two months. Naina was agitated the entire time, worrying if he had eaten, if he slept properly. She managed to drive Preeti mad by continuously talking about Sameer even at home. Two days later, Sameer created a havoc by coming to the school in his car straight from the airport, his tall frame draped in a black formal suit, his restless eyes hidden behind big sunglasses. Truth was, he had been unable to resist meeting Naina, so he gave the excuse of picking up Munna and Pandit from school. It was the games period, the last of that day, and he ambled through the ground looking for her, completely ignoring the girls ogling and almost slobbering at the sight of him. When Naina saw Sameer coming towards her, she was so overjoyed, that she barely managed to stay where she was. Only the thought of the next probable world war between her family and Sameer stopped her from flinging herself in his arms. He drank in her sight, his tense muscles loosening up, his heart beating in an erratic rhythm. “What are you doing after school?”, he asked, his brain charting out probable scenarios where he could take Naina out with him.
Before she could reply, the moment was spoiled by Kamya prancing over to where they stood, “wow Sameeerrr… aaj to tum kitne handsome lag rahe ho…”, she fluttered her lashes, and the flirting started much to his irritation. He barely refrained from uttering an expletive, thankfully his friends again rescued him before he spouted something totally not acceptable in school. As Kamya left in a huff, tired of Pandit’s teasing, Naina slid up to him, “we can stay back in school for some time. Abhi kahin jaa nai sakte, papa hai school me. Aur Arjun bhaiya bhi nai hai to hume shaam ko bahar jaane ka permission nai milega.”
Sameer combed his fingers through his hair, a frustrated expression on his face, “Saala… Kabhi socha nahi tha apne saale ko miss karunga.”
‘Kahan socha tha Naina ko apne car me ghumane leke jaunga, par yahan to school me hi rehna padega ab’, thought Sameer walking along the corridors with Naina. But then as Naina smiled up at him, asking about his trip, he forgot his annoyance, instead all his attention was focused on the girl whose smile could brighten up the gloomiest days of his life.
Post their last hug in library something had changed between them. Naina only had to be in the vicinity or he just needed to hear her voice, and everything inside him tensed, his gaze automatically focusing on her. It was as if some impossibly strong magnetic force was luring him towards her. If by any chance she was close to him, he just couldn’t stop himself from touching her, even surroundings didn’t matter. He would meet her eyes, and then his gaze would slowly drift down to her lips, as his latest dreams and fantasies would flash through his mind.
Naina wasn’t oblivious to his gazes or his attention. Even if she wasn’t looking at him, she could always feel his intensifying focus as it settled on her. Like a laser beam finding its target. She herself was finding it difficult to stay away from him, her hands itched to touch him. Several times she thought back to the library incident, pondering what would have happened if he hadn’t stopped, sometimes shuddering at the thought considering it wrong, sometimes shivering pleasantly trying to imagine how it would have felt. If Sameer was dreaming about her, she was no far in that area as well, though maybe lagging behind in her imagination, because even in her dreams she hadn’t been able to kiss Sameer on his lips.
The library study sessions were getting more and more difficult for them. During one such session to distract himself from his fantasies, he asked Naina about her plans for her birthday. It was coming up in a month, and this time he wanted to celebrate the day with her. He had been horrified at the thought that he had missed her last birthday, he hadn’t even wished her, then he had remembered that Naina hadn’t ever mentioned her birthday to him. So, he had taken up the task of finding about her birthday from Swati and Preeti. On hearing his question, Naina was surprised, “how do you know when’s my birthday?”
“Why? You want to hide your age from me?”, Sameer teased.
Naina laughed rolling her eyes, “No, it’s just that I don’t recall telling you about it.”
“That’s because you didn’t Miss Topper; I asked Swati and Preeti about it”, he clarified.
“Oh Okay”, she replied and returned to her book.
Sameer frowned, “Hey! You have to tell me about your plans.”
Naina looked up, “I don’t have any plans. My birthdays are never celebrated.”
Sameer was unable to think how that would feel. His birthdays were always celebrated, even when he was in hostel. His mother had come, however reluctantly it must have been, and Nanu was also always there. And his last two birthdays had been extremely special with Naina by his side.
Confused he asked, “Why?”
Naina shrugged, “It’s the same day my mother died, after giving birth to me”, she tried to speak casually but didn’t completely succeed in hiding her grief.
Sameer could see through her nonchalance and something pierced through his heart, like a sharp nail being suddenly thrust, there was yet so much to know about this girl, the way she was trying to hide her pain even from him, her smile was a measure of her strength, and every day he kept falling in love even more, if such a thing was actually possible. He didn’t tell her, but he decided to give her the first surprise by celebrating her birthday this time, and every year from now, the spirit of this girl should be celebrated every day.
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“Naina, thanks again your notes yaar, they are amazing”, Mohit capered towards where Naina was sitting in the canteen, while Sameer glowered at the adjacent table. If it was possible to kill someone just by staring, Mohit would have burned to ashes right there. However, Sameer couldn’t achieve the feat and Mohit plopped down on the chair next to her. “Mujhe ek doubt hai yaar, please help kardo na meri”, he drawled flashing a pleading smile and Sameer clenched his fists, the snacks he had bought lay forgotten.
Mohit, a nerdy boy from class 11th, with an ambition of being a surgeon, and a habit of rote learning, had been persistently requesting Naina for her old notes, until she had relented just to get rid of him. Unfortunately, that hadn’t happened. Sameer wouldn’t have minded, he knew Naina’s notes were good, but this boy had made it a habit to follow Naina around the school asking for her help. Sometimes Naina helped, sometimes she avoided, but usually she couldn’t refuse directly. As if that wasn’t enough, two days ago, Mohit had helped Rakesh sir when he burned his leg accidentally because of a hot silencer while parking his scooter. To make matters worse, the guilty silencer was attached to Sameer’s bike. This incident had given Rakesh sir one more reason to hate Sameer. Even worse, Rakesh sir had taken an instant liking to Mohit because of his well-mannered behavior, and then he had come to know of his merits, despite being from a poor family, so he had also told Naina to help out Mohit with studies making it more difficult for Naina to say no. Why does he have to call her yaar? Acting as if she is his friend? I will strangle this boy. Sameer was tasting the vile flavor of jealousy for the first time, and it wasn’t sitting well with him, it left a sour taste on his tongue. He pushed back his chair making as much noise as he could, as he got up to buy a cold drink, maybe that could cool him down. Naina glanced at him apologetically, understanding his jealousy, since she had been on the same boat quite often before, but at the same time finding herself helpless.
Couple of days went by, and Mohit continued to seek her favors, sometimes interrupting even when Naina was talking to Sameer. Mohit behaved so casually, as if he didn’t realize he had interrupted their conversation, and maybe he didn’t, thought Sameer, because he usually had his nose buried in a book. God, such a pest! Sameer tried to control his temper, knowing it wasn’t right, but his control didn’t extend to one person, and that was Naina, he could share everything in his life except Naina. No matter how much he tried to ignore Mohit, he couldn’t, he kept failing miserably.
Today was one such day, just before the last period, he was talking to Naina in the corridor trying to convince her to go out with him after school, anywhere outside school, even temple was okay, he needed some respite from office and classrooms and he wanted Naina to be with him. Mohit had again interrupted their conversation, as if he had complete right to do so, and asked Naina about a chemistry question. Aaj to yeh gaya kaam se. Man to kar raha hai isko yahin dafna dun. Saala, safari suit ka chamcha. Jab dekho tab meri Naina ke aas paas bhanvre ki tarah mandrata rehta hai.
Naina was pointing something out in the book, when Mohit placed his hand exactly at the same place accidentally brushing against Naina’s fingers. “Sorry, sorry”, Mohit exclaimed, while Naina looked up in shock, not at him, at Sameer. Sameer was visibly shaking as he fumed, he could visualize steam coming out of his own ears, his fists clenched, his jaw tight as he grinded his teeth, and he turned and walked away before he did some serious damage to that douche. Naina left a fumbling stuttering Mohit behind, and went to look for Sameer, but he was no where to be found. He wasn’t even in the library, and didn’t come back for the last period, Munna and Pandit also didn’t know where he went. As the bell rung, signaling the end of the day, she stayed back, asking her friends to wait for them in the playground.
Sameer entered the classroom after 10 minutes, the temper gone from his eyes, it looked as if he had splashed water over his face, his hair was still wet at the front. He met her eyes for a moment, but didn’t say anything, just sat down on his bench. Naina cautiously went up to him and placed a trembling hand on his shoulder, “I am sorry Sameer.”
Sameer sighed, turning sideways on the bench to look at Naina, “No, I am sorry. Tumhari koi galti nai hai. I know I shouldn’t be angry, but I can’t tolerate that boy… Jab dekho tab Naina Naina… Aur uss din to woh apne dost se keh raha tha ke Naina bahot cute hai. How dare he?”, he growled, “I mean tum ho cute, bahot zyada, but usko kya hai isse. Agli baar tumhare paas aaya na to main bol dunga ke Naina sirf meri hai”, he folded his arms and pouted in anger, glaring at the blackboard.
Naina looked at his brooding eyes, swollen cheeks, pouty mouth, and gave in to her temptation, she pinched his cheeks and pulled, surprising Sameer out of his anger. He looked up in disbelief at her, saw her smiling face, and he too started grinning, beginning to enjoy, recalling she had wanted to do this since a long time. Suddenly Naina pinched harder, Sameer squeezed his eyes shut in pain, “Ow!”, and then he felt the soft brush of her lips against his cheek, like the caress of a flower petal.
Stunned Sameer opened his eyes to see Naina fleeing through the door, he touched his own cheek, unable to believe that Naina had just kissed him. A wide smile blooming on his face, he stood up and ran behind her, catching up with her near another open classroom and grabbed her hand pulling her inside. Naina struggled to free herself, but he jerked her in his arms, shifting behind the door, hiding them from view. Sameer looked down at her, she didn’t look up, but he saw a small smile playing on her lips, he tightened his embrace, eliciting a surprised gasp from her as she finally looked up into his eyes.
He bent, his lips moving close to her face, his heart racing, but the next moment he started chortling as Naina’s fingers tickled his stomach. He squirmed, laughing helplessly, but she didn’t relent, a mischievous giggle spurting out of her, his grip on her relaxed as he tried to pry her hands away from him. That was all Naina was waiting for, she suddenly pulled back and fled again. Sameer took a moment to catch his breath, wiping his teary eyes, and then dashed after her, “I am not going to leave you.” He heard her answering laughter, before she disappeared around the corner. Sameer took the turn in a skid, coming to a halt near the staircase, looking around wondering where she could be. His eyes scanned the surroundings and glittered as they landed on a set of heavy wooden door. Of course! The library! He tiptoed inside, silently searching aisle after aisle, wanting to surprise her, a smile tugging at his lips, feeling so happy that he felt if his heart had voice, it would be singing romantic songs.
However, after five minutes, and scanning through the last aisle, his smile faltered, the happiness in his heart dimmed slightly, he couldn’t find Naina. With vague thoughts circling in his mind, he started to head out of the aisle, but suddenly a pair of slender arms encased his waist, a head rested just below his shoulders, and a soft body pressed against his back. He stopped in his tracks, his heart skipping few beats, he relished the feel of her embrace, recalling how she had comforted him in Mt. Abu, but this was different, not so much as comfort as more of her right on him. Yes, she is the only one who had the right to harass him, fight with him, tease him, and then hold him, not letting him leave. And he wouldn’t have stopped for anyone but her, his heart wouldn’t have raced for anyone but her, his soul wouldn’t have longed for anyone but her.
Sameer loosened her hold and turned in her embrace, enclosing his arms around her, as he looked at her face. He felt a little hitch in his chest. Naina met his burning gaze, felt her heart pick up pace, a fluttering feeling in her stomach, she yearned for the comfort of closed eyes, yet was unable to look away from him. He stared at her, taking in the mesmerizing color of her eyes, her smooth luminous skin, the shy way she tilted her head as if she couldn’t meet his heated gaze, the alluring curve of her cheeks, her delicate pink lips. Everything about her entranced him, he thought, he could spend days just looking at her, admiring her beauty. Was he such an idiot to ever think she was not beautiful? Had he been blind?
She saw Sameer inch closer to her face, and finally her eyes fluttered close as his lips pressed against her forehead. He moved slowly, kissing her closed eyelids, feeling the movement of her eyes beneath them. His lips skimmed her smooth cheeks, now flushed with color, looking just as appealing. He trailed leisurely, brushing his lips along her skin, he drew back slightly and blew gently in her ear, making her shiver in his arms. Dipping his head, he placed a kiss on her ear, tracing back the line to her cheek, he softly kissed the tip of her nose.
Sameer’s heart was now banging against his rib-cage, he had dreamt so many times of kissing her, but this was reality, Naina was in his arms, letting him kiss her, he felt dizzy. With her wrapped in his arms, all his senses stirred, the sweet scent of her skin filling his head, the flush on her skin tempting him, the feminine shape of her body teasing him. His lips traced her jawline and one of his hands spanned across her back, pressing her harder against him, and a soft sound escaped from her throat, she couldn’t help it. The little sound made him lift his head, his breath rushing fast, he struggled to control himself, he knew he shouldn’t go further than this.
He shook his head a little, trying to clear it, he squeezed his eyes shut, trying to rein himself. Deprived of the feel of his lips against her skin, Naina opened her eyes in confusion, she saw him shaking his head. Her own body felt as if it was floating, like a feather in a breeze, her heart beating in strong heavy rhythm, she felt amazingly warm. Sameer opened his eyes and met her gaze, he was tempted to return where he had stopped, but instead he loosened his hold on her, trying to put some distance between them. Naina however, tightened her arms, not letting him go, he looked down at her mystified. She held his gaze, hoping he would understand her unspoken wish, she didn’t have the courage to spell out what she wanted, her eyes tried to convey what her heart yearned.
Lost in her impassioned gaze, Sameer felt his breath catch, his hands found their own way around her again, a few seconds or a long moment later he lowered his head, he cupped her face with one hand, placing his thumb under her chin he tilted her head back. She felt his warm breath, he felt her shiver, her eyes never wavered from his, giving him the strength, speaking of her need, understanding his desire. He kissed her, soft at first, testing, still giving her the choice to step back. But she didn’t want to, not with his taste still vibrating on her lips and the drugging ache of unexpected need churning through her body. She didn’t step back, instead raised herself on tiptoe, her hands clenching on his back, a soft moan spilling out of her. His mouth molded with hers, her lips were warm as he had thought they would be, but softer, incredibly softer than he had ever imagined. They hesitated a little, fraction of an inch gap between their lips, there was a sweetness in that, a sweetness that was its own allure, so he returned, he lingered, more than he had intended. He wanted and took, more than was wise. Sensibly when he started to pull back, she gathered him and took, more than either of them had expected.
He lifted his head, lungs heaving, panting for air, his hand rubbing her back, she gasped, her breathing erratic, resting her head against his chest, as they trembled, some mysterious emotion coursing through their bodies. She would take the feel of him with her, just as he would take the taste of her, the scent of her with him, when they drew away. But both knew, that there would be other times, when they would find each other, take from each other, give to each other, because in each other they had finally found the cessation of solitude.