Lights of Eternity
Part - 9: Bold in Love

The big classroom was filled with sounds of rustling pages and scribbling noises from pens. It was the last day of 12^th boards and the students were busy writing feverishly, squeezing out each minute. Sameer’s nose nearly touched the supplementary as he jotted the answer to the second last question, he quickly checked his watch, last thirty minutes. He couldn’t help but glance up at the girl sitting in the farthest row, like him she also had her head down, the black pen gleamed, and golden inscription shone bright as it caught the light of the sun. His lips curved in a small smile as he saw her writing with the pen he had gifted her, he himself was using her lucky pen. Naina felt his gaze on her and looked up, she smiled as their eyes met, then signaled him to focus on the paper. He chuckled and returned to answering the last question.

The bell rang signaling the end of time and the teachers got busy collecting the papers, struggling with some students as they kept asking for extra 5 minutes. Sameer handed over his paper and rushed outside, waiting for everyone else. Slowly everyone drifted outside, and his face lit up as he saw Naina coming towards him, “achcha gaya, aur saare questions answer kiye”, he said before she could ask her regular question. She grinned, the relief evident on her face, along with her own exams she had been equally worried about Sameer’s papers. Soon the remaining gang also joined them, and they strolled outside, with Naina going over the questions again, and Preeti trying to shut her up saying it made her feel sick.

As Naina tucked the question paper in her bag, she saw that Sameer was walking along with a gloomy expression. “Kya hua?”, she asked brushing her hand along his.

He smiled at her gesture, “aaj last paper tha.” He didn’t need to explain further, she understood, he had been sad since many days because once the exams were over he wouldn’t be able to meet her daily and it grated on his nerves. Add to that he had to go to Delhi for two weeks, for business and also his mother’s insistence that he stay with them for some time. He wouldn’t have listened to her request if it hadn’t been for Rohan and Deepika. “Tum bhi chalo na mere saath”, he pleaded.

Naina laughed, “haan haan kyun nai. Tum ghar aake baat karlo sabse, permission maang lo apne saath le jaane ki.”

Sameer looked at her, “baat to sirf sasurji se karni hai, shaadi ki”, he was quite solemn.

Her laughter caught in her throat, as she met his intense gaze, “Sameer tum bhi na. Pure pagal ho, kuch bhi bolte ho”, she tried to lighten his mood.

He leaned on his bike, “main to ekdum serious hun, bas tum haan boldo.”

She blushed, fidgeting, she didn’t know what to answer, how to make him understand. Since a couple of months he had started these sudden talks about their marriage and she flushed every time he broached the topic. Even though she knew that they would get married eventually, it wasn’t something she felt comfortable to discuss yet. He sighed, “its okay. I understand. But only three years more, as soon as we pass from college you are mine.”

She smiled, twining her fingers with his, “I am always yours.”

He grinned, she could disarm him and make him smile with just a simple sentence. The others came up to them, and Munna cleared his throat, “tum logo ka ho gaya ho to baat kare. Aaj kya karna hai?”

“Haan yaar, itni mushkil se to inn logo ko permission mili hai kuch der bahar rehne ki”, Pandit added indicating the girls.

Naina tried to pull her hand back from his hold, but he didn’t relent, and watched as her face slowly turned a shade of red. He smiled ignoring her attempts, “movie dekhne chale?”

“Nai nai, koi aisi jagah jaana padega jahan hamare pehchaan wale humne na dekh sake”, Preeti said.

A few other students, including Kamya and Hema, came up to meet them and Sameer left Naina’s hand reluctantly. They all talked about their plans for summer vacations and Kamya slowly sidled up to Sameer, “tum agar yahin Ahmedabad me ho to kya hum vacation me mil sakte hai?”

Naina fumed, but Sameer was confused, “kyun? Vacation me kyun milna hai?”

Kamya smiled edging even closer, “aisai Sameer. Kisi restaurant me ya movie dekhne chal sakte hai saath me.”

It took a few minutes for Sameer to process that Kamya was asking him out, but Naina had grasped on to the situation immediately, and she was not going to tolerate it anymore. Kamya’s attempts to lure Sameer kept on increasing day by day and she decided she had to put an end to it. On an impulse, she held Sameer’s hand, he instinctively folded his fingers over hers, and then surprisingly realized what she had done. He looked down at their intertwined hands, and then up at her face, her eyes were narrowed as she looked at Kamya, who was also looking at their joined hands in surprise. “Sameer tumse nai milega”, she said in a firm tone.

Kamya sputtered in surprise, “i…iska ma…matlab tum…tum dono…”

Sameer grinned, he loved the way Naina had possessively declared their relationship, “haan hum saath hai”, he informed Kamya.

Preeti and Swati were astonished at Naina’s boldness, while Munna and Pandit hi-fived, their other classmates looked on in shock at Sameer and Naina. They couldn’t believe that the rich and handsome Sameer Maheshwari was in a relationship with padaku behenji Naina Agarwal. Hema suddenly remembered something, she looked at Sameer, “oh to isiliye tum Mt. Abu jaane se pehle itne pareshan the jab Naina absent thi aur paise bharne ka akhri date tha”, she exclaimed finally realizing why Sameer kept on asking to extend the dates.

Kamya was even more shocked now, “tabse?”, she asked looking at Naina.

Sameer laughed, “usse bhi pehle se”, he said honestly. He had accepted now that he was completely smitten by her simplicity ever since she had started to teach him for head boy competition. Everyone talked for some time more, Sameer didn’t leave her hand, and she didn’t try to tug it free, Kamya kept on looking dejectedly. After everyone left Sameer suggested they go to his home, they can watch movie and also buy some snacks enroute. He turned towards Naina, “mere saath bike pe chalogi?”

She flushed at his proposal, but nodded, making him smile broadly. The remaining four took an auto and Sameer instructed them to rent a movie cassette. “Tum dono time pe aa jaana”, Munna teased, “bhabhi maan gai hai to bike pe long drive pe mat nikal jaana.”

He kick-started his bike, Naina swiftly covered her face with dupatta, and perched behind him. He was happy that she accepted the bike ride but was disappointed that she didn’t hold him at all, instead sat stiffly holding on to the bar at the end of the seat. He sighed, thinking its best not to ask her to do something she wasn’t comfortable with yet, after all the way she had held his hands in-front of everyone was quite bold enough for her. As they turned from the school compound, merging into the traffic, she kept her hands on his shoulder, he jerked slightly at her touch, and looked at her in the rear-view mirror. Her face was covered, but from the crinkling eyes he could tell she was smiling, and he smiled too. The weather was hot, but he kept hoping that the ride didn’t end. They stopped at a small restaurant to pick up some snacks and then started on their way again. This time Naina had to hold on to the bag of snacks with one hand, so absentmindedly she slipped her free hand around his waist. Sameer jumped in his seat, immediately applying brakes to stop the bike from wobbling, and looked around at her. “Kya hua? Bike kyun rok di?”, she asked confused, her hand still holding his waist.

Sameer looked at her for a moment, then smiled, “kuch nai, bas aise hi”, he started driving again relishing the feel of her hand.

They reached home and handed over the snacks to Ramdhari, Sameer asked him to prepare something cold to drink. Everyone else was already in Sameer’s room upstairs, and they also started going there. As soon as they reached the top of staircase, Sameer pulled her to him and turned so she was plastered against the wall and he was leaning over her, one hand on the wall and the other clutching her waist. She gripped his shirt, as she looked into his eyes, “kya kar rahe ho?”, she whispered.

He bent closer, increasing her heartbeats, she closed her eyes, “aaj to kaafi bold ho gai meri Naina”, he said against her ear. She shivered feeling his breath. “Pehle sabko bata diya hamare baare me, fir bike pe…”, he trailed looking at her face.

She opened her eyes, “bike pe kya?”

He smiled, understanding that she still hadn’t realized how she had held him, “restaurant se nikalne ke baad kaise bethi thi yaad karo”, he said dropping a quick kiss on her cheek.

She squinted her eyes thinking, after a minute her eyes widened in realization as she remembered how she had gripped his waist, she blushed, her lips parting in surprise. He gave a soft laugh, “I enjoyed it”, then unable to resist her parted lips he dipped his head and covered them. She made a little sound of surprise, but the next moment she was kissing him back, and her hands wound around his neck. He gathered her closer, removing her rubber-band with one hand, and burying his fingers in the mass of black hair. This was new, Naina always kissed him back, but this urgency was new in her and it was making him shudder, clutch her tightly as if he would never let go of her. He groaned as he pulled back, panting, he wanted to kiss her some more but was painfully aware that they were standing near the staircase where Ramdhari could see them if he came out of kitchen, or any of their friends if they came out of his room. She had dropped her head against his chest, he kissed her hair, inhaling the fragrance of her shampoo. “Koi aa jayega”, he whispered finally drawing her away from him. He handed her the rubber-band, “chale?”

“Tum chalo, main aati hun”, she needed just a minute more to calm herself.

He nodded and left. She detoured to the bathroom, splashing cold water over her face. What had come over her? She had told everyone about her relationship with Sameer without any fear. She had held him on bike, and it had just felt perfectly right. In fact, she had been completely unaware of it until he had pointed it out. And now she had kissed him without any hesitation at all, and that too in the middle on the house where anyone could have seen them. She recalled their previous encounters and was aware that every time Sameer had to coax her, make her comfortable, wait for the kiss to actually happen, but today it was different. He had been impatient, and straightaway kissed her without any reservations and she had responded just as fervently. She clutched the edge of the sink, surprisingly enough she wanted to kiss him again. She felt as if the brief kiss they had shared wasn’t enough, she wanted more. She shivered, puzzled over her strange longing, she looked at her reflection, her hair was mussed, her lips were of a slightly deeper shade from the kiss, and her eyes still had the glaze of desire. Was this how she looked every time he kissed her? She combed her hair, then stopped before tying them, after thinking for a few seconds, she left them open, smiling at the thought of his reaction.

Sameer glanced up as she entered, then did a double take and looked again, taking in her open hair. He was still suffering from the lingering effect of the kiss and she had to leave her hair open. And why did she wear pink today? How would he be able to control himself? She sat next to him smiling guilelessly, and he barely restrained himself from kissing her again. Thankfully Ramdhari entered just then with the snacks and cold coffee. They munched on the snacks while the movie played. After eating they settled themselves comfortably. Munna sat on the floor and surprisingly Swati kept sitting next to him, much to his joy. Preeti sat on the edge of the bed with a pillow on her lap, and Pandit hesitatingly sat next to her and sighed in relief when she smiled at him. Sameer and Naina observed their friends, amused, he lifted a brow in question and Naina stifled a giggle. He leaned back resting against the head-board, and extended his hand to her, she hesitated only for a moment, before snuggling up to him, resting her head on his shoulder as he wrapped his hand around her. They watched the movie in silence, Sameer kept on playing with her hair, lifting her hand to kiss her fingers, and she drowned in the ecstasy of being so close to him. She smiled mischievously, as she lifted his hand to her lips, he smiled thinking she would kiss him, but instead she bit on his finger. He hissed, controlling the sound that threatened to erupt from him, his eyes narrowed as he looked at her naughty smile, then smiled wickedly at her. She knew he would do something in retribution, so she was prepared when he lifted her hand again, but instead of biting her he simply kissed her hand again, confusing her. Few minutes later when she had decided that he wasn’t going to do anything, she felt his fingers trailing along her waist, and her eyes widened as she gasped. His other hand skimmed her arm, sliding up slowly. She looked up at him, but he was watching the movie with rapt attention. She tried to free herself from his grip unsuccessfully, instead somehow, she ended up being tucked more firmly against him, with his hand now holding her waist instead of her shoulders. “Leave me”, she whispered. He didn’t look at her, but shook his head in negative, smiling slightly. She tried again, but he gripped her tighter against him, she was almost turned towards him, lying on his chest. Finally, she gave up struggling and forced to relax herself. He had just started this to pay her back for biting him, but now he tensed up as she almost melted against him, her soft body pressed to his. He looked down at her, rubbing his thumb against her cheek, trying to control himself. The phone rang, a much needed distraction, and he clambered to pick it up.

When he came back this time he simply held her hand, she understood for she too had been gripped by that same tense impatience since he had touched her. Finally, the movie ended, and Munna and Pandit hugged Sameer for he was leaving for Delhi the next morning. They went downstairs leaving Sameer and Naina alone for some time. He simply locked the door and pulled her catching her lips without any preliminaries. No words were needed, not when they had touch, and need, and desire. He slipped his hand around the back of her neck, his long fingers sliding under her hair and clasping her skull, angling his head and deepening the pressure. The warmth and taste of him filled her, easing a hunger that needed to be fed. He lifted his head, kissing her cheeks, her eyes, not wanting to let her go, yet knowing that he had to. But when he started to draw away she flung her arms around him and pressed her lips to his, kissing him feverishly, making him groan and pull her tighter against him. He didn’t know what had come over her, but he let her set the pace, relishing in her sudden boldness. She trailed one hand on his face her fingers against his jaw, roughened by the evening shadow of beard, the other hand touched the back of his neck, the skin warm under the silk of his hair, and let herself savor the taste of him, the pressure of those firm lips, the undeniable surge of excitement when he made a low, rough, sound in the back of his throat and abruptly took control from her deepening the kiss. This time when they separated, he firmly hugged her to him, his lips touching the top of her head as he drew in much needed breath. Naina clung to him, trying to calm her racing heart, slightly embarrassed, wondering what he would be thinking of her. Probably he understood what she must be thinking, he pulled back and cupped her face, kissing her forehead, “I rather liked the parting gift”, he smiled, “now two weeks in Delhi I will keep on dreaming about this bold Naina.”

She smiled, feeling at ease, “will you call me?”

He hugged her again, “yes I will”, he assured, then teased, “hopefully when I come back I will get a similar welcome gift.”

She tickled him, and he laughed. “Let’s go”, he stole a quick kiss before opening the door and leading her downstairs.

The two weeks in Delhi was a whirlwind of work and fun-time with Rohan and Deepika. Dadi tried to dissuade him from using the telephone just as she had when he had stayed there earlier. But this time she was not prepared to face the changes one year had brought in him. To her extreme disappointment, she couldn’t keep him under her thumb as much as she tried. He was independent, and that infuriated her. If she stopped him from using the phone, he would call from outside. If she tried to keep him hungry or offer him stale food, he would go out to eat, often accompanied by Rohan. If she tried to curb him from venturing out of the house by not letting him use their car or bike, he would simply call for a car from the hotel that had been booked for his meetings. When his mother tried to ask him to listen to Dadi, he clearly stated that this wasn’t his home, he was just visiting as a guest and for his business, if she had any problem he could arrange for his stay at the hotel as well. One fine morning, he was sitting in the drawing room reading the newspaper, when he overheard Mr. Somani discussing about buying shares. During breakfast he advised Sameer to invest some profit and personal savings in shares as well. Sameer declined, saying that shares were too new to him yet, and he preferred to invest in government bonds on behalf of his company and post-office savings certificates for his personal portfolio. Dadi smirked on hearing this and said that he was still a kid who feared in making decisions. Mr. Somani told him he was making a mistake by not listening to his advice. Sameer shrugged letting the taunts pass, he wasn’t averse to shares, he had even started some minor investments, but he was just feeling uneasy to invest more yet. He didn’t want to explain this to the family, so he just kept quiet focusing on the horrible parathas cooked by Keshav. It was one of the few things Nanu had taught him about business, he would tell Sameer of deals when he has trusted his instinct and it had been right on spot. So, he too trusted his instinct now. Exactly a week later, when there were just two days left for his departure, his instinct was proven right as the Harshad Mehta scam shook the nation and the stock market crashed. Only government securities were stable and any investments in insurance and post-office were secured. Maheshwari industries also suffered loss because the stock prices were down, but thankfully they had a secured nest of profit which would pull them back. While Mr. Somani scampered and argued to find any way out of the heavy loss he had suffered, Sameer left for Ahmedabad, asking his mother to let him know in case they needed any help.

Sameer entered his home early evening and to his surprise was immediately pulled inside, and a pair of arms enclosed him, and soft lips fused to his mouth. It took him just a moment to register the taste and smell of Naina and he dropped his bag, wrapping his arms around her, and kissing her back. He didn’t know how, but somehow, she had managed to come here to welcome him back, and he knew she had done it because he had asked. He lifted his head and looked around, then down at her, “where is everyone else?”

She smiled, “I sent them away with Ramdhari to the market.”

He grinned, “I love your idea.”

“I love you”, she said lifting to him. His heart soared with joy as he bent to cover her mouth again, “I love you too”, he murmured against her lips, cherishing his welcome gift.