Once in a Lifetime Love

It was the 16^th of August, the morning a little dull because of a gathering of light grey clouds indicating that the monsoon still had much more show to put on. Roadside tea stalls did a roaring business, few school kids ran to get on their bus, an elderly gentleman in white dhoti and green kurta stood chatting with some person with a newspaper in his hand. Just a little distance away, inside the biggest bedroom of a sprawling white bungalow, a woman woke up from deep slumber with a smile on her face. She took a photo frame from her bedside table, and traced the features of the man in it with her fingers.

It was an extremely special day for Naina Sameer Maheshwari… If everything had gone well in her family, then today would have been her wedding date, instead she was now already married since three months… And she could only be thankful for this fact. There was no term called monthly anniversaries in English, but she had decided that she would celebrate this three-month anniversary of her wedding, as she had a beautiful life with the man she loved only because they hadn’t waited till 16^th August, rather had got married on 16^th May.

It was also the day when Sameer would be finally returning from his week-long business trip. She kissed the photograph, and then carefully placed it back on the bedside table. Oh how she had missed him… Checking the time once, she stood up and walked to the bathroom, while unbuttoning the shirt she was wearing, to take a quick bath. As she scrubbed herself with rose scented soap she wondered how they would spend the evening. Would they go out? Or would he want to make love early? If she was so desperate to feel him, hug him, kiss him then what would be his condition?  A small tingle ran down her spine at the thought of Sameer grabbing and kissing her just as she opened the door to welcome him.

Laughing at her imaginary scenarios, she got dressed in a red saree and went downstairs to cook breakfast.

Just as she turned off the gas, the door of the living room opened and the elderly gentleman in green kurta entered inside. Naina smiled, and went out of kitchen to greet him, “Good Morning Nanaji.”

The man smiled wide, “good morning… aaj ek hafte baad itni badi muskurahat dikh rahi hai tumhare chehre pe.”

She laughed, “aur aapke chehre pe bhi.”

Nanaji sat down on the sofa, “ghar me do samajhdaar log the na sirf toh hasne wali baate kam hoti thi… Ab shararat karne wala wapa aa jayega.”

She giggled, “chaliye aap haath muh dho lijiye… maine poha banaya hai.”

“Ah… aakhri din daliya, poha aur saare healthy breakfast ka”, Nanaji chuckled, “kal se toh phirse subah subah demand aayegi…”

“Naina! Alu-paratha banao na”, both of them said at the same time and laughed.

It was Sameer’s regular demand. He didn’t like eating upma, poha, or anything light and healthy for breakfast. He would always keep asking for different types of paratha, but most of the time it would be alu paratha. Nanaji often teased him that he should have been born in a Punjabi family.

“Kab aayega Sameer?” Nanaji asked as he sipped his tea.

She served poha and replied, “kaha tha shaam tak aa jayenge. Chai saath piyenge bola.”

He smiled and teased his bahu, “hamare saath ya sirf tumhare saath?”

Naina blushed, “kya Nanaji aap bhi… Sab saath me chai piyenge aur dinner bhi saath karenge.”

“Par aaj ke din toh tum celebrate karna chahti thi na?” He queried.

She nodded, “haan… karenge na celebrate… sab saath me…”

As she did her regular household chores around the house, she hummed a tune to herself and thought about how her life had changed since the time she had first seen Sameer. It was during the first year of college, when she had gone for her friend’s birthday party at her house. Swati and she had known each other since school, and hence when the time had come to celebrate her 18^th birthday, Naina had received permission easily to go. Just before cake cutting, she had gone into the kitchen to get a glass of water when she had almost bumped into him. They had not touched, not even a finger, but there had been a miniscule inch of distance between them as they had tried to balance themselves, and when she had looked up at him every thought had disappeared from her head. He was the most handsome boy she had even seen, and his hair… God… He was perfect. But was he for real? Just as that thought had popped in her head, he had caught her arms and steadied her. She had gone numb for a few seconds and then a high electric charge had run through her causing some strange reactions inside her body, and there had been a loud zinging sound in her ears. She could see his lips moving, but she wasn’t able to hear a word. She saw him frown, and then he snapped his fingers in-front of her face which made her jerk and come back to reality.

He smiled, “kitna ghumogi? Ruk jao ab.”

Her brows furrowed and it took her a moment to realize that they had been twirling on the spot. She blinked but was not able to say anything. He chuckled, “waise aaj tak kaafi ladkiyo ke reactions dekhe hai, par tum kuch special hi ho… ab tak khoi hui ho na?”

Dumbly she nodded, and he laughed, “wow… Sameer Maheshwari ka jaadoo chal gaya lagta hai.” And then he had winked before turning and leaving.

It had taken her full five minutes to come out of her haze, and in that five minutes she had known that his magic had indeed worked. He had stolen her heart even before he had uttered the first words. She had tried to keep him in her range of vision, and kept sighing every time he ran his fingers through his hair. It seemed she had found her once in a lifetime love.

“Sameer naam hai”, Swati had said after cake cutting.

Naina had been so lost in staring at Sameer that she had absentmindedly mumbled, “mujhe pata hai.” And then upon realizing what she had uttered she had jerked, “huh… kya? Kya bol rahi hai tu?”

Swati had chuckled, “bholi mat ban… dikh raha hai mujhe ke teri nazre kispe atki hui hai.” Then she had seriously added, “par Naina… iska koi fayda nahi. Woh second year me hai, humse ek saal bada, aur college ki saari ladkiya uspe marti hai. Yeh har dusre din kisi na kisi ladki ke saath chipka hua dikhta hai… First year pe toh nazar bhi nahi daalega.”

Naina had ignored all the details and asked, “hamare college me hi hai toh paanch mahino me maine aaj tak kabhi dekha kyun nahi?”

Swati had laughed, “kitaabo ke alawa pehli baar tujhe kisi aur ko dekhte hue dekh rahi hun. Naak hamesha kitaab me ghusi hui rehti hai, zaahir si baat hai ke nazar nahi padi teri.”

Over the next few weeks she had tried to find out as much details as possible about Sameer. She had also been surprised at her own self because Sameer was literally everywhere, she could not understand how had she not noticed him. Naina had documented each bit of information she had gathered. He came on bike, liked to wear jackets, was very specific about his clothes and overall look. Once she overheard him talking to his friend where he confessed that he used to smoke before but had given up when Nanu had caught him. She loved this fact, and also she found the word Nanu quite cute. She noticed how he would be surrounded by girls all the time, but he always maintained a respectful distance, didn’t touch unnecessarily, and it seemed he had no love interest at least in the college. Naina was an observant, and she understood that his casual attitude, relaxed charm and harmless flirting gave him the image of a Casanova, which he definitely wasn’t.

Swati knew about her new obsession, as she called it, and often teased her. Once when they were in canteen, Sameer had entered with a gang of boys, and Swati had nudged her hard, “Naina woh dekh kaun aaya?”

Naina had not needed the nudge or the not-so-quiet declaration; she had already known he was around because somehow she always sensed him. But Swati’s words had been overheard by Sameer, and he turned to look at them with a curious smile. Naina blushed furiously, not at all knowing how to control her reaction. His eyes narrowed and then widened for a bit before he flashed her a magnificent smile.

Swati nearly swooned as she exclaimed, “oh my God… usne tujhe smile di…”

“Shut up”, Naina admonished.

Next day when she had been drinking water, someone had come to the tap next to her, and a small gust of wind had told her exactly who it was. She had stilled in that position for a moment, and then straightened, trying her best to not blush or stare too hard. He had finished drinking and looked at her with a puzzled expression before smiling and closing the tap she had been drinking from.

“Pani waste nahi karna chahiye”, he had whispered, and she had turned red in mortification. He had chuckled and asked, “toh… tumhara naam Naina hai?” Her eyes widened and she wondered how he knew. He said, “kal canteen me suna.” Her eyes widened even more and he laughed at her speechless state. “Jadoo ka asar ab tak hai”, he mumbled, winked and left. Naina had clutched on to the cooler, trying to calm her racing heartbeats. He not only remembered her name, he had also remembered it was her who had almost collided with him at the party more than a month ago.

Her stalking or rather stealth following continued as her hunger for information increased. She just felt as if she needed to know more and more about him. Naina had never thought she would go to this extent for a boy, but she did… she followed him around, she drank water from the same tap after he was done drinking, she picked up a photograph he had dropped, she positioned herself on purpose at places where she knew he would pass from hoping she would get to see him, she tolerated a game of cricket only because he played on the team. Once someone spilled juice over his shirt, and his friend offered him a spare shirt, and to Naina’s surprise Sameer unbuttoned his shirt then and there to change into the new one. The girls around him fanned themselves or sighed aloud, causing Naina a twinge of jealousy. He had been wearing a vest, but still she had thought for the whole day why did he need to change in-front of others.

Over the course of first year she had accepted that her love would remain one-sided, and unfulfilled, because she could never confess to him. She just became tongue tied whenever he was around, and also he was so handsome and rich, there was no chance for a boy like him to fall in love with her. The two months of summer vacation were a torture because she couldn’t see Sameer and neither hear his voice. It seemed as if his laughter was her energy and someone had stolen it from her.

The second year had started with an almost heartbreaking news for Naina as she heard on the very first day that Sameer had a new girlfriend named Aditi from his own class. She moped around, unable to focus on studies until the end of that day when she overheard Sameer’s laughter. Peeking from around a tree she saw him in his usual place, beneath a huge banyan tree, lounging on his bike surrounded by his friends and one girl – Aditi. She started to leave from there until she heard Aditi exclaiming how foolish people were to think there was an affair between her and Sameer. Naina’s heart thudded with hope and she paused to hear. Sameer also laughed, and said that just by giving a chocolate for rakhi, sister turned into girlfriend. He considered her sister!! Naina had collapsed against the tree, thanking God.

Couple of days later in computer classes, few third year students were volunteering to oversee the practicals of second year students. Aditi was helping Swati and Naina. To Naina’s joy Aditi was easy to get along, intelligent and quite a good teacher. They bonded over the week in those practical sessions, and Naina found out that Aditi chattered a lot, she just liked to talk. Once she asked inconspicuously, “tum dono ka koi boyfriend hai kya?”

Swati giggled, “mujhe toh Shahrukh Khan chahiye, aur woh iss college me hai nahi. Lekin Naina ko Salman Khan pasand hai, hamare college wala.”

Naina pinched her friend, furiously whispering, “kya bol rahi hai tu… chup ho jaa.”

Aditi asked with a puzzled frown, “kaun Salman?”

Swati replied, “aree wahi… jise log tumhara boyfriend samajhte hai… Sameer.”

Naina gasped, her cheeks flaming and turned to focus on her computer screen; Aditi looked at her profile thoroughly, and then said, “Sameer ko toh har ladki pasand karti hai Swati. Tumhari saheli me aisa kya khaas hai ke Sameer isko pasand kare.”

Naina didn’t turn to look at Aditi and neither did she say something, but she stiffened for a brief moment before her shoulders slumped and she tried to pay attention on the computer screen.

Three days later Aditi had caught her while she had been leaving from college and pulled her away. Naina had shrieked, “Aditi kya kar rahi ho?”

Aditi hadn’t replied, but had almost dragged her behind the sports room on the ground, and pushed her. Naina had closed her eyes expecting to fall, but a pair of hands had steadied her, and she had stilled. Sameer… She could never forget the touch; this was the second time he was holding her like this.

“Thanks Aditi”, his voice had sounded deep and close; and she had hoped she wasn’t dreaming. She heard some footsteps and she understood Aditi had left. There had been few minutes of silence in which she could hear a bird calling from somewhere, but she didn’t open her eyes because she knew he was still there as he still had her arms in his grip, and she knew that if she saw him she would lose her voice and make a fool out of herself.

“Naina”, she had heard him call out softly, and without thinking further or debating anything she had simply confessed, “I love you Sameer.”

She had felt him freeze, the breath falling on her forehead had stopped, and then after a moment he exhaled as his fingers tightened on her arms. Another minute passed before he asked, “tumne aankhen kyun bandh rakhi hai?”

Naina had thought that she should have felt disappointment, but she hadn’t, she had only felt happy that he was still there, still talking to her. She had smiled and replied, “tumhe dekhti hun toh kuch bol nahi paati.”

He had chuckled and requested, “aankhen kholo please… mujhe dekhna hai.”

She had complied, and as her gaze met his, she had again forgotten everything except him. He had looked at her for a moment, and then asked, “kal mere saath coffee peene chalogi? Umm… ya chai, jo bhi tum piyogi?”

She had been surprised, it was like asking out, a date, and happily she had nodded because again she hadn’t been able to speak anything. Their first date at a small coffee house was something she would always remember, because Sameer had talked non-stop about him, and to all his questions she had either nodded or shook her head. At the end he had asked her for a breakfast date, and said, “agli baar mile usse pehle mere saamne bolna sikh lena. Ek hafta hai college me sikhne ke liye.”

That one week she had desperately tried to speak up whenever he was around, he had done his bit too, greeting her several times in a day. Finally on the third day, after another failed attempt when he had snatched her lunch, she had indignantly said, “aree woh mera hai.”

He had paused, his mouth open in surprise, and then he had glanced at the contents in the tiffin and then at her, his expressions turning incredulous, “seriously? Aloo parathe ke liye tum bol padi?”

She blushed, and he chuckled, “ab wapas chup mat ho jaana. Aur ab yeh paratha mera. Tum batao tumko canteen se kya chahiye, main laa deta hun.”

She had shook her head, and he had frowned pushing her tiffin back to her, and finally she had said aloud, “nahi… yeh tum khao. Main sandwich le leti hun.”

“Main laata hun”, He had grinned and gone to fetch it for her.

Their second date had been much more normal than the first one because she was now able to speak to him. The conversations ranged from hobbies to likes and dislikes, to movies and ambition. At the end he had asked, “next time kya karna chahogi?”

Hesitating just a bit she had asked, “umm… Rajshri park ke saamne jo mandir hai wahan miloge kal? Subah 6 baje.”

His eyes had widened, “tumhare papa dudhwale hai kya? 6 baje kaun uthta hai?” He hadn’t given an answer to her question, but the next day when she had gone to the temple he had been waiting near the stairs.

Slowly with time as she got to know him more, she had fallen more in love with him, but he had never discussed anything with her. Yet, she believed their relationship to be exclusive. He respected her, valued her opinion, talked with her as much as possible, and she had never seen him flirting with anyone now at all. Their temple dates, every week, had continued, and after two months on one such date, when they were sitting on a bench, he had said, “Naina… mujhe lagta hai main tumse pyaar karne laga hun.” She had gasped, and then grinned wide. He had chuckled, “kuch bolo Naina.” Her eyes had welled up in joy, and she had said, “main aur kya kahu… bas… I love you.”

After this confession, their dates had progressed to eating together in college as well, and once he had asked her out for a movie. They also talked daily over the phone. Soon second year flashed by, and then came the summer vacations where she couldn’t meet Sameer because her family took them away to their ancestral village, and she couldn’t even call him because there was only one PCO booth in the village and if she called the whole village would know. When she came back, she realized that she wouldn’t see Sameer in college as well because he had already graduated. However, as soon as she entered the classroom Swati gave her a note, and she opened it to reveal Sameer’s handwriting asking her to come meet him at the place where they had met first time. She smiled and rushed to the grounds, behind the sports room. He was leaning against the wall, but straightened as soon as he saw her, and without thinking anything she focused only on the relief and joy she felt on seeing him, and rushed in his arms. He reeled from her hug, but quickly wrapped his arms around her as well, murmuring, “I missed you.”

She burrowed her face in his neck, “I missed you too… bahot yaad aati thi. Mujhe laga aaj bhi nahi milenge hum.”

“Impossible”, he had pulled back and grinned, and then in continued enthusiasm, he had cupped her face and kissed her on cheeks quickly. She had frozen in shock, her eyes wide, mouth open. After a moment he had realized what he had done, and panicked, “oh shit… sorry Naina… main… main…” But then he had yelped in pain, because she had pinched him, “ow! Kya kar rahi ho?”

She had huffed, “toh aur kya karu… pehli baar kiss karneke baad koi shit aur sorry bolta hai kya?”

His eyes had lit up in amusement, and he had pulled her back to him, “achcha? Toh phir theek se kiss karne do wapas…”

She had pushed him away, “chance gaya.” He had laughed and they had talked for a few more minutes, fixed up a date for next day, and then she had to leave for her class. Before going, she had said, “Sameer aankhen bandh karo, main kuch laai hun tumhare liye.”

He had happily closed his eyes, extending his hand, and she had grasped his hand kissing the inside of both palms before fleeing from there, leaving him with a wide smile.

Few months passed, and then one day she had called up Sameer in evening asking him to meet her in morning at temple. It was a Thursday, and so he had understood that something had happened. She had told him that her family was looking for a match for her wedding and had called a boy to meet the next day; he had fumed about the situation for few minutes, before grabbing her hand and taking her to the adjoining park. Puzzled she had asked, “yahan kyun le aaye?”

He had pulled her in a hug, and said, “mandir me allow nahi karti tum isiliye… suno… waise toh main tumhare third year ke baad puchne wala tha par ab waqt nahi hai… mujhse shaadi karogi?”

She had clutched him tight, sobbing in relief, as she murmured yes over and over. She had been so scared about the situation, not knowing about his thoughts, worried about what her family would do. He had then cupped her face, wiped the tears and warned, “asaan nahi hoga Naina. Marwadi hai hum dono lekin alag samaj se hai. Nanu maan jayenge par tumhare parivaar wale asaani se nahi maanenge.”

She had thought about it for only a fraction of second before saying, “jo karna hoga main karungi, par tumhare bina nahi jee sakti.”

He had wrapped his arms around her, “tumko pata hai, humne date karna shuru kiya uske baad bhi maine itna waqt kyun lagaya pyaar ka izhaar karne me?” She shook her head, and he said, “dekhna chahta tha ke tumme kitni himmat hai… samajhna chahta tha ke kahin mushkil ghadiyo me tum saath toh nahi chod dogi na.”

She had pulled back and asked, “uss din tumne mujhe sports room ke wahan kyun bulvaya tha Aditi se kehke?”

He had smiled, “tumhe yeh kehne ke liye ke yeh sab me dimag mat lagao, shanti se padhai karo. Itni ladkiya mere aage peeche ghumti thi ke aadat ho gai thi mujhe… laga tum bhi unme se hi ek ho… par uss din jab tum bina dekhe sidhe pyaar ka izhaar kar bethi, mujhse pata nahi kyun naa nahi bola gaya. Aisa laga jaise naa bol diya toh haath aai koi anmol cheez kho dunga. Aur mujhe pata tha ke tum sach bol rahi ho, tumhare chehre pe tha sach… woh muskurahat… aur phir tumhari aankhon me sach tha… isilye tumpe aur khudki zindagi pe ek chance liya. Aur mujhe bahot khushi hui jab tumne mujhe jawaab ke liye ek baar bhi nahi pucha, mujhe waqt lene diya, aur hamesha mere saath rahi.”

She had hugged him again, kissing him over his heart, and he had sighed foreseeing the struggle they would have to go through before they could spend a life of bliss.

The arrival of Maheshwaris with Sameer’s rishta had been nothing less than an apocalypse. Somehow Sameer had convinced his Nanu and his mother both, but the Agarwals had raged and refused. When Naina had been questioned she had agreed and declared that she loved him as well and wanted to marry him. Her father had hit her, making Sameer yell and lunge, but Nanu had controlled him. Finally after several hours, Nanu had tried to convince them giving the logic that Sameer and Naina could have run away, but they had chosen to confide in families which meant that their relationship was pure. They had left after that, and Naina had had to of course face the wrath of entire family but she had been prepared for it. Her only solace had been Preeti, her cousin, who knew about Sameer always.

After a week, Naina had felt the sun shone brighter as her Tauji agreed for her marriage with Sameer. She had felt the joy seep into her bones, and even her Chachaji and Chachiji were happy. Her father though still reluctant couldn’t go against Tauji’s orders. The preparations started, and the date was finalized to be on August 16^th. However, on May 14^th, a week after the approval from her family, when she had returned from college she had overheard her father, Taiji and Tauji discussing about getting her married off to some boy called Mitesh on 17^th May, as Sameer was from different cast. She had heard how they had agreed just to calm down the Maheshwaris, and for time to make their own plan, there had been many good mahurat but still they had chosen a date three months away so that everyone is relaxed. She had rushed back downstairs to call Sameer, and told him about what she had heard. He had been shocked at the vileness of her family, and instructed her to go about as usual, and not let anyone else know. He had assured her, “tum sirf meri ho.”

Next day, he had arrived in her college along with Nanu, and asked her straightaway, “kal mujhse shaadi karogi? Mandir me… Kisiko bina bataye.”

She had taken a deep breath understanding that in that moment everything depended on her. But she knew her Tauji, he would do whatever he wanted in any way possible, her feelings didn’t matter to him. And so she had agreed to marry him next day. Nanu had blessed her and promised that one day her family would understand.

And so on 16^th May, Sameer and Naina had got married in a temple with all Hindu rituals, and their wedding was duly registered. It was a simple wedding with their friends as guests, and she had worn a maroon saree given by Aditi, with simple jewellery. But once the mangalsutra had been tied around her neck by Sameer, she had stopped feeling the need of any jewellery, and the sindur in her maang had made her realize there was no need for makeup too.

Not to mention the news hadn’t been well received by Agarwals, Chachaji had been in a state of shock, Tauji and her father raged, Taiji cursed, Chachiji weeped. This time when her father tried to slap her, Sameer caught his hand, and muttered furiously, “meri patni pe haath uthaane ka aapko koi haq nahi hai.”

Chachaji had come over and asked, “aisa kyun kiya? Itna bada kadam… jab sab kuch theek chal raha tha toh aise neech harkat kyun ki?”

Naina had sobbed, unable to explain her condition, and Sameer had held her taking charge of the conversation, and explained how it had been a plan to get her married off to someone else. Chachaji hadn’t been able to believe it until Tauji had accepted it himself, declaring that he would do whatever was needed to save the family’s honor. That had broken off the ties between Chachaji and his brothers, because Chachaji and Chachiji had chosen to accept the wedding and bless the couple.

Her grihapravesh had been a silent affair, and his friends including Aditi had valiantly tried to decorate his room for their first night. However, Naina had been too apprehensive all of a sudden. She had come into a new home, a new life just like that, with no preparations. Preeti had packed some of her clothes, but that was all she had. She stared at herself in the mirror, and whispered, “Mrs. Naina Sameer Maheshwari.” It felt incomplete… There were so many things missing from their wedding. What had she thought and what had been the reality? Sameer hadn’t arrived with baraat and white horse, but rather on his bike dressed in a simple cream kurta. No one had danced on their wedding. There hadn’t been any laughter or songs ringing around their homes.

When Sameer had entered the room, he had found her silently crying, and sat beside her, looping an arm around her shoulder. She had turned towards him, hiding her face in his chest and cried. When he had asked if she was not happy with the marriage, she had sniffed, “kehte hai shaadi ke mehndi ka rang jitna gaada hota hai pati utna zyada pyaar karta hai… par mere haatho me toh mehndi hi nahi hai Sameer…”

He had looked thoughtful for a minute, and then got up to search through his desk. Coming back with a red pen he had drawn a few flowers, leaves and loopy designs on her left hand, “yeh lo… ekdum laal gaadi mehndi, kyunki main tumse bahot pyaar karta hun. Ab ek aur rasam karte hai, tum mera naam likho apne haath me aur main dhunduga.”

She had stared at him unable to say anything… the designs on her hand were childish but the intention behind it was so pure that she just couldn’t be sad anymore. Grabbing the pen from his hand she had turned her back to him, and written his name in loopy handwriting, trying her best to hide it as much as possible. When she had presented her hand back to him, he had searched through for ten minutes before finding his name and grinned wide, exclaiming, “yeh raha.”

She had pouted, and he had laughed, enfolding her in his arms, “mujhe bahot achcha laga yeh rasam… Naina, main jaanta hun hamari shaadi me saari rasme nahi hui, par iska matlab yeh nahi ke hamari shaadi adhuri hai, ya hamara pyaar pura nahi hai.”

Naina had glanced up at him, wondering how he had known what she was thinking. He had cupped her face, kissing her forehead gently and whispered, “I love you.”

Her eyes had closed, happiness blooming inside her, she had looped her arms around his neck wanting more and she knew he too wanted it because she had observed him staring at her quite often when they were together. He dipped and as his lips had touched hers suddenly everything that had seemed incomplete now had felt complete. They had struggled together for a few minutes to find the perfect angle, to find the proper pace, and then the slow and soft kiss had deepened taking her breath away. He hadn’t asked for anything else that night, they had just fallen asleep in each other’s embrace, cherishing the togetherness.

The next day she had herself prepared sweet suji halwa in morning, thus doing the rasam of first cooking, and then Sameer had taken her out for shopping as she had very limited clothes. He had sneakily pointed out some nighties to her, mischievously biting his lips and she had swatted his arm, blushing till the roots of her hair. However, when he had gone to get the car, she had quickly rushed inside and purchased a deep-red nightie, hiding it inside her purse carefully. The day after, Sameer’s mother had flown in to bless her, and Chachaji had come to pick her up for the pagphera rasam. The one night away from Sameer had made her restless; she kept craving for his warmth, for his touch. When he had touched her waist and belly in morning while kissing her, she had been stunned but now when she thought about it, there was a fluttering sensation inside her belly and she had wanted to feel more of it. That evening when Sameer had come to pick her up, she had been just too happy, and Chachiji had commented how Naina’s home had already changed, and she had realized that it was the truth. The house where she had grown up was no longer her home; rather her home was with Sameer.

That night when he had tried to kiss her, she had escaped asking him to wait for some time, and had dressed up in the night gown she had bought. She hadn’t been sure what was going to happen that night, but she was sure it would be something extreme, something she couldn’t even imagine. Hesitantly she had stepped out, and heard a surprised choking sound, and looked up to see Sameer coughing with a glass of water in her hands. She had rushed up to him, patting his back, enquiring if he was alright, and he had nodded. Somehow keeping the glass back on table he had stared at her up and down, and her nervousness had returned. When he had gripped her arms, she had closed her eyes shut.

“Naina”, he had murmured.

She had smiled, eyes still closed, recalling the first time they had been like this, and she had again repeated, “I love you.”

This time he had leaned down, letting his lips touch hers, and whispered back, “I love you too.”

He had pulled her to him, her body pressed flush to his, their lips moving against each other’s, his tongue boldly swiped in her mouth and she moaned. He let her breathe, moving his lips to her throat and shoulders, making her sway, and cling to him. Her body reached a feverish pitch with just his kisses, and then his hands started wandering. That night she had understood what desire was. Her body had pulsed with a need she had never known as his fingers moved rhythmically over her curves. Her knees had buckled under the onslaught of pleasure and when he had picked her up in his arms carrying her to their bed, she had looked into his glittering eyes and surrendered. He had still taken time with her, aiming to cherish rather than possess. He had asked for permission needlessly because she was in no state to speak and her answers had only been moans or sighs of his name. He had asked her to trust him, again needlessly, because she already trusted him and that is why she was there in his arms on the bed. When discarded fabric had met the floor and skin touched skin, she had gasped in wonder, her eyes huge, and he had again enquired if she was alright. She had smiled and kissed him, giving him both the assurance and the consent that he had needed.

She had not known that her body had so many sensitive places where his touch could play havoc. She had been unaware of the delicious sensation he could bring with his mouth on her body. She had been completely ignorant of the way a man and woman’s body met, fit like pieces of puzzle, the way they completed each other. The sharp pinch of pain had been brief and soothed with his words and kisses, and once she had ridden through the pain, it had been all about fulfillment to an extent she had never imagined even in her dreams. Her loud moan of pleasure and arched body had led to his completion, and she had been fascinated with the veins protruding on his neck and shoulders as he grounded himself against her. Many minutes later when he had been able to speak, he had again enquired if she was alright, she had chuckled rolling over to face him, and had enquired if she could look forward to this every night. His delighted expressions had made her reach up and kiss him again.

Few days later she had joined the college back to sit for her final exams, and now she was the center of attention because Sameer had come to drop her on his bike, and pulled her into a hug before letting her go. So, her classmates had enquired, and she had let them know about her marriage. That evening when he had come to pick her up, she had groused about how his hug stunt had made people inquisitive. He had chuckled saying as if the mangalsutra wouldn’t have been proof enough, and had demanded that she hold him properly on bike, like a wife held her husband. A slightly delayed monthly flow in June had made Sameer realize the panic a pregnancy alert could cause, and he had sanely bought condoms. Naina still laughed sometimes recalling their first adventure with the condom as they both had tried to figure out the thin, slippery, rubbery thing, ending up quite sticky in the process.

Handling college plus home was not easy, more so because she wanted to take up responsibilities at home too, especially things like Nanaji’s breakfast and medicines. She didn’t have a mother-in-law present at home to guide her or help her, but Sameer and Nanaji always supported her with anything she wanted to do. They would even try her amateur cooking attempts with a smile on their face lest she felt sad, and that would motivate her to improve. They had their shares of quarrels as well. If she didn’t like his shaved stubble in the sink, he felt irked at her long hair which sometimes fell on the floor. If he didn’t like her habit of keeping the dressing table messed up, she was frustrated at his habit of leaving his clothes all over the house and then forgetting where they were. She was not perfect, Sameer was not perfect… but together they had been trying to set up a home that was perfect for them. Nanaji had always been the guiding light in Sameer’s life and was now in hers too as he discussed with her regarding her career interests ever since her college had ended.

The month of August had arrived with the news of his first independent business trip, until then Nanaji had always been with him, guiding him, teaching him, but the time had come for him to spread his wings on his own. He had been apprehensive, but Nanaji had not tried to guide him, it had been Naina who had calmed him, motivated him, given him the assurance with her love. This was one event for which they had been waiting, as this meant that Sameer’s on-the-job training would end, and he would be completely independent in office. After their wedding Sameer and Naina had decided that they would go on their honeymoon after Naina’s college ended and Sameer started to handle his work independently. The night before Sameer was supposed to leave he had made long slow love to her, keeping her awake most of the night and then again reaching for her at the break of dawn. And on the first night she had been alone, she had missed his warmth so much that she had been unable to sleep, and finally around midnight she had ditched her clothes and worn one his shirts after which she had been able to sleep a bit. This last one week she had taken up the habit of wearing his shirt to bed, it gave her a feeling of his nearness. And now finally he would be here today…

At around 5pm, Naina was picking dry clothes from terrace when she heard the car horn and rushed to the parapet in time to see Sameer’s car entering the gates. She dropped everything and ran downstairs as quickly as possible. The flight of stairs from terrace to ground floor seemed too long, and she saw him enter the house as she reached the turn of the last set of stairs. With a smile on her face, she quickly descended the stairs, but in her haste she slipped on the last two stairs and yelped, her eyes closing in fear. But she need not have worried… Sameer looped an arm around her waist, catching her fall, and pulling her to him. She clutched onto his shirt, her face buried against his shoulders, and she breathed in deep inhaling his unique smell. He dropped the leather bag from his hand and wrapped his other arm around her too, rubbing his cheek on her soft hair; he spoke softly, “Naina…”

“Sameer…”, she breathed, “tumko bahot miss kiya maine… I love you.”

He kissed the side of her head, “I love you too Naina… aur yeh red saree me sexy lag rahi ho.”

A coughing sound from the top of stairs separated them, and they saw Nanu grinning down at them. Naina blushed, and Sameer grinned, “kya Nanu… itne dino baad romance kar raha hun aur aapne disturb kar diya.”

Nanu laughed as he came down, “shaitaan… tu kabhi nahi sudhrega.”

Sameer knelt to take his blessings, and then they started to talk about work, but Naina said she would prepare tea, and asked Sameer to freshen up first before talking. He agreed and dashed upstairs. As Naina grated ginger in the tea, she heard Sameer holler from upstairs, “Naina… Upar aao na… Mere kapde nahi mil rahe.”

Nanu chuckled, “jaao dekhlo ab konse kapde kho diye.”

She grinned and moved up; even though she knew that there was no chance to misplace any clothes because since last one week it was only her in their room, and she had kept all his clothes in order. As soon as she entered the room, Sameer locked the door, and pushed her against the nearby wall, slamming his lips on her. Her hands fisted in his hair as she responded with equal fervor. His hands wandered over her bare waist, moving to her breasts. She moaned, her body eagerly responding, but a glance at the window made her realize it was still evening and she pushed him, “Sameer… abhi nahi… dinner ke baad.”

He groaned, “Naina… ek hafta ho gaya… aur kitna intezaar karwaogi.”

She adjusted her saree pallu, “bas thodi der aur… phir jo tum chaho.”

His eyebrow quirked, “pakka? Jo main chahu?”

She blushed, and went back downstairs, after checking her reflection in the mirror once. The trio had tea and snacks while chatting about his work. Sameer brought out a saree and gave it to Naina, wishing her, “happy three-month anniversary.”

She grinned, “tumhara gift room me hai.”

His eyes widened dramatically, “hey bhagwaan… Nanu ke saamne aisi baate.”

Nanu started laughing, and Naina sputtered, “kuch bhi bolte ho… Nanu aur main saath me laaye hai… Tumhare liye naya office bag. Cupboard me rakha hai.”

He chuckled, “phir thike… main toh kuch aur hi…”

“Chup”, she interrupted, “main khana bana leti hun.”

He suggested, “ah… Naina… sab bahar chalte hai na… tumhe celebrate karna tha na aaj.”

She smiled, “yahin celebrate karenge… mujhe pata hai, ek hafte se bahar khate khate tum bore ho gaye hoge.”

He smiled back in relief as he had indeed missed home cooked meal. The dinner wasn’t elaborate but it was perfect because Naina had cooked all his favorite dishes, and she had even prepared a chocolate cake. Later when Nanu went to sleep at his usual time, Sameer went inside the kitchen scooping his wife up in his arms. She shrieked, “Sameer… thoda kaam baaki hai.”

“Kal karlena”, he said, climbing up the stairs eager to make love.

He put her down inside the room, locked the door and turned to find she had moved to the balcony. Ambling up behind her, he wrapped an arm around her waist, and moved her hair aside with his other hand, kissing her on the shoulder and neck. She sighed, collapsing against his chest, his lips kept moving on any bit of exposed skin he could find. He murmured in her ear, “jaanti ho maine tumko kitna miss kiya… so bhi nahi paata tha tumhare bina.”

“Main bhi nahi”, she sighed and turned to him, hugging him properly.

He hugged her back, but after few minutes, he started to get impatient, “Naina… aise shanti se baad me khade rahenge na.”

She laughed, “okay… main bas nahake aati hun…”

He pouted, “red saree me hi raho na.”

She pecked on his lips, “paanch minute lagega bas. Garmi ke wajah se bahot paseena hua hai. Aur nahake, red night gown pehen lungi.”

His eyes lit up and he agreed to her idea. As she rummaged in the cupboard for her gown his eyes fell on the laundry basket and he frowned, “Naina… isme mera shirt kyun hai? Main toh ghar pe tha hi nahi.”

She stilled, and turned to look at the basket, her cheeks red. His confusion increased, “kya hua? Bataona…”

Naina gulped, and slowly confessed, “ummm… woh… mujhe neend nahi aati thi bilkul bhi tumhare bina… toh… main… main tumhara shirt pehenke soti thi.”

His eyes widened in surprise and interest, “sach? Wow… toh aaj bhi pehno na… mujhe dekhna hai.”

She gasped, but then looking at the hopeful expressions on his face, she agreed. Turning back to the cupboard she kept the gown and pulled out a white shirt of his, and a salwar from her section. He scowled and tugged the salwar from her hands, “main nahi tha tab bhi yeh pehenti thi kya?”

She shook her head, and he grinned, “toh fir aaj bhi koi zarurat nahi hai… ab jaldi jao… aur sirf paanch minute… warna main darwaza todke andar aa jaunga.”

A small laughter escaped her mouth at his impatience, and she quickly went inside to take a much needed shower. She wiped herself properly, applied a fragrance that she had bought on her pulse points, and then pulled on his shirt. Boldly enough she skipped the undergarments too like she had done when he was not here. And then taking a deep breath she opened the door, and stopped in surprise to find him right there… waiting outside the door… his breathing already heavy. He had ditched his t-shirt, and was standing there in just his light-grey tracks, his broad chest and shoulders causing her body to clench with need. He was ready… she could see it… and she wondered at how it would be… Usually he was a long and slow type, sometimes there had been urgency but even then he used to take a lot of time to bring her to pleasure, prolonging their lovemaking. But today… today the air in their room seemed to be thick with something electrifying and the rumbling thunder outside only made her heart beat harder.

His eyes roved over her from top to bottom as if she was already naked. “Bahar aao”, he instructed in his midnight silk voice that he used while making love to her. Her lips parted on an exhale, the special baritone of his voice causing desire to pool inside her. She inched forward, stepping out of the bathroom, but because he was standing so close to the threshold that as soon as she came out her feet touched his, her body brushed along his, and she had to tilt her head back to look at him. Lighting flashed outside along with the loud thunder and she was in his arms, his lips capturing hers, she had no clear idea of who had made the first move and it didn’t matter. His teeth nipped at her lower lip, the urgency and impatience evident, and as she gasped his tongue met with hers, dancing to a tune they both knew very well now. His hand was on her thigh, fingers stroking the sensitive skin, and when he glided upwards he groaned aloud at finding her bare.

Her world seemed to shake suddenly; she opened her eyes to make sense, and blinked in surprise at finding herself being held up against the wall while he was guiding her legs around his waist. “Sameer”, she sighed in confusion, and he peppered kisses all over her face, his hips grinding against here, the soft cotton of his tracks feeling slightly rough as it rubbed her. She squirmed and he leaned more onto her, pinning her with his weight, his mouth working on her throat. Clinging to his shoulder, she took short sharp breaths trying to find some respite but the cloth against her flesh was not enough, she needed more… Desperately she moaned, “Sameer… kuch karo.”

A deep grunt was all the answer she received, but soon he kissed her again, and down below his fingers moved from her bottom to between them, his thumb rubbing insistently causing her to shudder. More… More… That was all she could think. And just then two of his fingers dipped inside her so suddenly that she wrenched her mouth away from him, a soft shriek escaping from her mouth as her body clenched around the marauding fingers. The deep sure strokes made her moan, and she opened her eyes slightly to look at him only to find him staring at her with a deep glitter in his eyes. As soon as their eyes met, he withdrew his fingers from her, making her moan in disapproval, but then his knuckles brushed her as he tried to push down his tracks. She helped him, pushing the fabric down with her feet, and a few seconds later he was there, right where she needed him, poised for entry.

He took a deep breath, met her gaze, and then started to push in. She stiffened for the briefest moment at the intrusion, but then her body stretched, accommodating him just as it had so many times. And he filled her completely; burying his head against her throat, his breath coming is loud gushes. Suddenly he cursed, “shit… condom.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck, not letting him withdraw, “abhi nahi… please…”

His hips thrust involuntarily, but he said aloud, “Naina… risk hai… pregnancy…”

She dropped her head on his shoulder, panting, “bas ek baar… sirf ek baar.” After this long separation she needed to feel him, without any barrier, just once, just like the first time.

He couldn’t refuse her; neither his heart allowed him to, nor his body, and catching her lips with his, he gave her what she demanded for. In the position that she was, she couldn’t control his movements, neither could arch, but her nails scraped down his nape and spine, indicating her pleasure and demand for more. The barely-there control which he had been struggling to hold on to snapped, and his hips moved hard and fast. The slippery friction of his thrusts, his hands on her body, his mouth molding her lips, the feeling of finally having him, being with him, everything came together like atoms attracting each other, and a bright light sparked behind her eyelids as she came apart, shuddering and moaning. Gasping for breath she came back to her full sense, feeling her muscles pulse as if they were liquid, and she realized he was shaking in her arms, the deep rumbles she could hear were a mix of thunder and his groans. She stroked his back, trying to soothe him, and after a minute, he drew back and kissed her nose. She smiled, and he grinned, “yeh shirt ka idea achcha tha.”

She hummed, her eyes half-closing at the pleasure that she still remembered, “effect toh kaafi tha.”

He chuckled, “effect khatam nahi hua ab tak.” When her eyes widened, he faked surprised, “kya? Tumko kya laga, ek baar me ho jayega? Ab tak toh shirt utaari bhi nahi hai..”

Her one leg slid down his thigh to the tracks stuck near his knee and her eyes sparkled, “aur tumne pant…”

He laughed, “ek minute”, and tugged his pant down with his foot, causing him to move inside her, and she squirmed. Starting to feel feverish again, she said, “mujhe niche toh utaaro.”

He grinned, “uh uh… jaisi ho waisi hi theek ho.” He gathered her in his arms properly and carried her to the bed, still lodged firmly inside her, the ecstatic wetness increasing the sensitivity for both of them. They tumbled together on the bed, and he kissed her deep and hard, and down below she started to feel him fill her again. Surprised she wrenched her mouth away from him, her eyes round in wonder. He chuckled, “ek hafte alag rehne ka asar hai shayad, ya fir iss shirt ka…”

He pulled back a bit and entered again in a short hard thrust causing her to arch her back, her eyes squeezing shut in bliss, and she clutched onto the sheets. He moved his hand up her body, undoing the small buttons one by one, until his shirt lay open baring her flesh to him. Pulling her up, he quickly divested her of the white shirt, dropping open mouthed kisses on her bare shoulder. And then she was flat on bed again, her eyes closed, her fingers in his hair as he feasted on her body, licking, nipping, suckling… Time lost all meaning for her as her body turned pliable to his demands… The thunder rumbled, lighting flashed silver, and the skies opened to let the downpour drench the earth. The open balcony doors let the August storm in, and she lifted to the man above her, as he took her to the breathtaking point of intolerable pleasure and they forgot that they were two different beings… Just like the earth needed the rains again and again, no matter how much they loved each other they could never get enough of each other, and the once in a lifetime love translated to a bond of eternity.