The bedroom was filled with utter chaos as the girls dressed up excitedly, light banter ensued over earrings and bracelets, and Swati’s mother stood at the door fondly smiling at the girls and recalling her own college days. The girls had got special dresses stitched for the occasion, Naina and Preeti of course didn’t have enough money, but Chachiji had overheard their disappointed talks and surprised them by giving money from her housewife treasury of household savings. Naina had hoped, Sameer would be enticed on seeing her in her new dress, and somehow talk to her, but now she was elated because she would be spending the whole evening with him.
Sameer whistled the tunes of ‘Dil Deewana…‘, as he dressed in black trousers and a blue slim-fit silk shirt with a black trim running down the centre near the buttons. When he picked up Munna and Pandit, he mischievously told them that he had a surprise for them, and they gave slight smiles. He thought maybe they were still angry about yesterday, but not to worry, they would forgive him once they see him with Naina.
They reached the party and waited for Naina and the other girls to arrive. Sunaina walked in arm-in-arm with Kartik, she had dressed up in a short knee-length black dress. Though she stood with Kartik, her attention was focused on Sameer. He was sitting on a chair, his elbow supported on the table, as he talked to his friends. Few people started to dance, and she soon took the chance and walked over to him, asking him for a dance.
Sameer opened his mouth to refuse, but his eyes shifted around her, to the door, as he sensed Naina. And when he saw her, his elbow slipped from the table, his heart lurched inside his rib-cage, his body tensed, and a “wow” escaped his mouth.
Sunaina was pleased with his reaction, “thanks! Main itni achchi lag rahi hun?”, she asked fishing for compliments.
He flashed an irate glance at her, “tum nai, woh…”, he gestured her to look behind, and then got up and left her dejectedly standing there.
Naina was dressed in a floor length ruby-red dress, the bodice and quarter length sleeves were formed of delicate lace, a satin red belt clinched at her dainty waist, the skirt was flowing layers of sheer chiffon. She had paired the dress with clear crystal teardrop earrings and a silver watch. Her eyes were lined subtly with kajal, and soft rose-pink lipstick glimmered on her lips. The ensemble was completed with black strappy sandals.
Elegant. Gorgeous. Perfect.
Sameer walked towards her, slowly, trying to calm his sudden raging impulses. He stopped in-front of her, and she smiled up at him, the curve of her lips tripped his heartbeats. The other girls moved away, leaving them alone.
He tilted his head, leaning a little and gazed into her eyes, “aa chal tujhe aasman me le chalu, aaj chaand ko uski aukaat dikhadu.”
Her eyes widened at his words, and then she blushed. He grinned, feeling a little foolish himself, he didn’t know where that had come from, combing a hand through his hair he tried to explain, “woh… mera matlab aaj tumse nazre hatane ko jee nai kar raha.”
She looked down, “Sameer…”, she pleaded, blushing even more.
He chuckled, “ab itna sharmaogi to dress ke colour aur tumhare chehre ke colour me koi fark nai rahega”, he teased her.
She tried to hit him, but he captured her hands. Caught in the moment he tried to raise them to his lips, and again her eyes widened, she pulled back, “Sameer, chodo… yahan nai.”
He realized where they were, and left her hands immediately, however he didn’t fail to register that she hadn’t refused him, just said not here.
“Umm… Hume sabko batana padega na?”, he asked softly, then added, “par tum chinta mat karo, maine sab kuch soch liya hai.”
She was surprised, “kya socha hai?”
He winked, “dekhti jao bas…”
She wondered what he was up to and hoped he wouldn’t be angry for all the tricks when they tell him about their plan. They moved to the table where all their friends were seated, but before they could say something, Munna and Pandit went to the dance floor, the other girls followed. Puzzled Sameer looked at Naina, “inko kya hua?”, then he became slightly sad, “shayad ab tak naraaz hai mujhse, par meri baat sunenge to samajh jayenge, haina?”
She smiled, “koi naraaz nai hai tumse. Tum fikar mat karo. Hum bahar jaake sabse baat karenge.”
He brightened up, “haan yeh achcha idea hai. Waise bhi mujhe tumko kuch dikhana tha. Tab tak chalo dance karte hai.”
“Tum jao main aati hun, mujhe pyaas lag rahi hai”, she started to move away.
He caught her hand, “ruko… yahan wait karo, main leke aata hun.”
Naina stood near the table, tapping a foot to the music beat, watching the teachers standing around in circles, chatting merrily and students dancing. Sunaina was sulking in a corner, and Naina wondered about the reason, then she saw Kartik dancing with a senior girl, and realized the cause. Next moment, Kartik left the senior, and sauntered over to Naina, eyeing her from top to bottom, he smiled as he came up to her, “wow, you look amazing!”, he exclaimed.
She gave a hesitant smile, “uh… thank you.” Her eyes wandered, searching for Sameer, to excuse herself, and also because she knew how he would react to this.
“Idhar udhar kya dekh rahi ho?”, Kartik spoke up and Naina looked back at him, wringing her hands in nervousness. He extended his hand, “so, will you dance with me Naina?”
Agitated, she thought of a way to refuse politely, but before she could say anything a warm possessive arm slid around her waist, and a rough voice sounded, “no, she won’t.” She looked up to see Sameer standing beside her, his face set in a hard expression, the fingers of his other hand tightly clasped on the glass of water he had brought for her.
Kartik looked at the hand on her waist, then up at Sameer, and he clearly geared up for an altercation, “tu hota kaun hai isko roknewala?”
Naina touched Sameer’s hand gently to keep him calm, then spoke to Kartik, “actually, Sameer ne mujhe already dance ke liye puch liya hai, aur maine haan bol diya hai”, she clarified, “so, if you will excuse us.” She turned to Sameer, “chale?”
Sameer nodded and almost banged the glass of water on the table, he quickly guided her to the dance floor, away from Kartik. They started dancing, he was still glowering, the sight of Kartik so close to her, asking her for dance didn’t sit well with him at all. Was he jealous? The scowl on his face deepened. No, he was possessive. Naina was his, and it’s natural that he wouldn’t like any other boy around her.
“Sameer”, she called softly, and he looked down at her, “I am sorry. Main use mana hi karne wali thi.”
He saw her expression and realized she was anxious about his reaction. He knew it wasn’t her fault, and he should not spoil their evening just because of one silly incident. He visibly calmed down, and pulled her closer, delighted when she didn’t object, “mujhe pata hai tum uske saath nai jaati. Lekin usko tumhare aas paas dekhte hi mujhe gussa aa jaata hai. Aur dusre ladko ko dekhke bhi. Tum na kisipe dhyan mat dena, idiots hai saare.”
She laughed, “wow! Ek idiot dusro ko idiot keh raha hai.”
His eyes narrowed, “main idiot hun?”
She nodded, “haan. Mujhse itne din dur jo rahe, to hue na idiot.”
He grinned, then tightened his hold on her waist even more, “kaho to abhi aur paas aa jau.”
She smiled, blushing and reveling in his changed demeanour. They danced for some more time, and he adored her as she twirled, laughing, her eyes twinkling as bright as the crystal in her ears. None of them paid any attention to others, or even cared about what steps they were doing, they were not dancing for winning any title, but to enjoy the togetherness that both had been yearning for. He checked his watch, and looked around, everyone was busy, so he bent and whispered, “mere saath chalogi?” She was puzzled but nodded, and he took her hand, guiding her out of the party hall and to the spacious backyard gardens of the hotel.
“Sameer, kahan le jaa rahe ho?”, she asked, gripping her dress in one hand, and trying to match his pace.
“Surprise hai”, he assured and took her down a zig-zag stone pathway, and finally stopped outside a single storeyed cream coloured structure, with a huge tinted glass door. Confused, she looked up at him, and he smiled, “jao darwaza kholo.”
She stepped up to the door, and pushed it open to reveal a room, decorated with soft yellow fairy lights, bright red and blue ribbons twisted across the ceiling and walls, candles lit in glass lanterns hung on hooks on the walls or were placed on every available surface, a large round table sat in the centre with eight chairs and a glass vase full of colourful gerbera daisies was placed in the middle of it.
“Pasand aaya?”, he asked softly from behind her.
She turned to him, eyes brimming with tears, and lips parted in wonder, “yeh sab tumne kiya?”
He wrapped his arms around her, “haan, club house hai yeh, maine subah book kardiya aur baad me aake decorate kiya. Kaafi dino se sabko bahot dukh diya maine, isiliye socha aaj kuch special karta hun. Naina, woh sab log maan jayenge na?”
She rested her head on his chest, trying to string words together. He thought his friends were angry on him, and he wanted to make this evening special, to win back the friends he thought he had lost. “Sameer, koi bhi tumse naraaz nai hai”, she assured again, “tum ruko, main sabko bulake laati hun.”
He drew back, “koi zarurat nai hai. Maine waiter ke haatho note bhijwane ka intezaam kar diya tha pehle hi, woh log aate hi honge. Main bas tumko sabse pehle dikhana chahta tha.”
After about ten more minutes, their friends drifted in the room, slowly, curiously looking around. Naina stood silent, wondering how to tell him that everyone was aware of everything, while Sameer practiced his speech in his mind, a speech that he had meticulously prepared hoping to clear all misunderstandings. Munna and Pandit shuffled their legs, Swati and Preeti tried to hold back their giggles, while Kamya and Hema were whispering among themselves.
Sameer cleared his throat and started confidently, “Hi… Mujhe tum sabse kuch kehna hai… actually main aur Naina… woh hum… hum dono…”, he trailed off stammering, the well-practiced speech forgotten in anxiety.
Pandit grinned and poked Munna, “Chenu yeh to aise hakla raha hai jaise shaadi ki khabar de raha ho.”
Munna laughed, “aree chup kar Ponga. Shaadi ki khabar deni hogi tab yeh hosh me kaha rahega. Safari Suit ke thappado se hi behosh ho jayega.”
Everyone erupted in laughter at this, and Sameer stood confused. Naina was trying her best to not laugh, “Munna… Pandit…”, she warned but then a giggle spurted out of her too.
“Sorry bhabhi”, Munna managed to apologize between laughter.
Pandit coughed, “woh kya hai na bhabhi, itne dino baad iski akkal thikane pe aai hai na to humse raha nai gaya.”
Sameer gaped at his friends, “kya bole tum dono? Bhabhi?”
“Kyun? Naina inki bhabhi hi hui na jijaji”, Preeti sniggered.
“I…iska m…matlab tum logo ko pata hai ke main aur Naina firse…”, Sameer asked puzzled, only to be cut off by Munna, “kya yaar, tu firse hakla raha hai, woh bhi bina whisky piye.”
“Whisky??!!?”, Sameer exclaimed.
Naina came up to him, “nai… whisky nai… weeky… haina?”
Sameer’s expressions still clearly reflected his confusion. Swati chuckled, “kya jijaji… aapko yaad nai… mera aur Munna ka jhagda hua tha aapki wajah se aur aapne uss gam me kitni whisky pee thi.”
“Sameer mujhe nai pata tha ke tum itni sharab bhi pite ho”, Kamya added her own two cents, “tumhari whisky ke wajah se to Munna aur Swati ek dusre se ek hafte se baat nai kar paaye.”
“Yeh sab chal kya raha hai? Inn ladkiyo ko whisky ke baare me kaise pata?”, Sameer demanded.
Naina slid her hand into his, entwining their fingers, and he looked down at her immediately. She smiled mischievously, “tum meri photo apne desk ke drawer me rakhke usse baat kar sakte ho, lekin mujhse baat nai kar sakte.”
Sameer’s mouth fell open in shock. Everyone laughed even harder. He stuttered, “t…tumko yeh…yeh kisne b…bataya? Aur…whis…whisky ke baare me?”
She grinned, “tum bhul gaye Sameer, tumne hi to bataya mujhe.” He was perplexed, “maine?”
She nodded, “Weeky… Naina… weeekkky. Nanu ki weeky…”, she imitated Sameer.
He stumbled backwards, leaning on the edge of the table, “iska matlab uss din maine tumse baat ki thi?”, he asked slowly.
Naina smiled, “haan. Aur usi din tumne Munna aur Pandit ko nashe ki haalat me sab kuch bata diya tha.”
“Mujhe pilane ka plan tha? Swati aur Preeti ke saath tum logo ka koi jhagda nai hua tha?”, he asked his friends.
They nodded grinning. He thought for a moment, and then his expressions changed, he straightened, and turned to Naina, “aur tum bhi shamil thi iss plan me?”, he demanded furiously.
The laughter ceased. Munna stepped up, “nai Sameer. Plan mera aur Pandit ka tha. Bhabhi ko baad me bataya humne.”
“Aur uske baad pura hafta tum sab log natak karte rahe?”, he raged, “mujhe pareshan kar rahe the? Mazaak bana rahe the mere darr ka?”
They fell silent. None of them had expected Sameer to be angry, even though Naina had warned them that it could happen. “Mujhe puri baat batao”, Sameer shouted, making the girls flinch.
Naina opened her mouth, but Pandit gestured her to stop. He and Munna told everything to him, about their whisky plan, the phone conversation that had happened, the plans they had made for the whole week. Cleverly they didn’t mention that it was Naina who had come up with the plan, but rather they gave the impression it was a combined effort. “Lekin Bhabhi uss din sach me royi thi. Aur humne jo kal tereko hall me kaha woh bhi plan me nai tha”, Munna informed.
“Aur kal Naina jab baarish me college me ruk gai, hum logo ko usne nai bataya tha ke woh kya karne wali thi”, Preeti added meekly.
Sameer processed all the information, then turned to Naina, “meri car? Usme bhi tumne hi kuch kiya tha kya?”, he asked.
Naina looked up at him, then took a deep breath, “Sameer… bahot ho gaya. Ab natak bandh karo, warna yeh log sach me naraaz ho jayenge”, she smiled.
He stared at her for a long moment, surprised, then smiled. The smile turned to a wide grin, and then he started laughing at everyone’s shocked expression.
“Yeh natak kar raha tha gussa honeka?”, Pandit asked confused.
Naina chuckled and nodded. Sameer sobered down, “sorry yaaro… par tum log ek hafta natak kar sakte ho to main kuch der to kar hi sakta hun na”, then he looked at Naina again, “waise tumko kaise pata chala ke main natak kar raha hun? Tumhe darr nai laga?”
She shook her head, then smiled, “darti kaise? Tum acting achchi kar rahe the par mera haath chodna to bhul hi gaye”, she lifted their twined hands and raised her eyebrows.
He looked at their hands in surprise. He was pretending to be angry on everyone, so ideally, he should have left her hand, but the feel of their clasped hands had felt so natural that he hadn’t even realized it. He grinned sheepishly, ruffling his hair with his other hand.
Naina left his hand, puzzling him, but when he looked at her she gestured towards Munna and Pandit with her eyes. Sameer understood, he took a deep breath and turned to his friends, “itna sab honeke bawjud tum logo ne mera saath nai choda, thank you… aur sorry meri bewakufiyo ke liye.”
Pandit acted shocked, “Chenu… Dadi ne isko sirf manhoosiyat nai, dosto se thank you aur sorry bolne jaisi gandi cheeze bhi sikhai hai.”
“Sahi keh raha hai tu Ponga… apna Sameer hota to gale milta”, Munna added.
Sameer grinned and walked to them, and the trio hugged, laughing. The tears in their eyes didn’t matter, because their hearts were singing with joy. At the same time, the girls suddenly enveloped Naina in a hug, taking her by surprise, and Sameer saw the tears and emotions from his eyes, reflected in hers as well. They were lucky, very lucky, to have friends like these, and he couldn’t understand how he could have ever thought of himself to be unlucky.
They danced together, making up for all the weeks of gloom, and then enjoyed a scrumptious dinner served specially for them in the club house. The non-stop chatters covered the moments of plans over the week, different perspectives from each one, how they struggled sometimes to maintain the act. Sameer was overwhelmed at how each one of them had contributed, even Kamya and Hema, who were not really a part of their group in school. After dinner, Munna suggested that the rest of them go back to the party, else it is possible someone will find it odd.
When they were leaving, Naina also accompanied them thinking they all were leaving, but Preeti stopped her, “tu kahan chali hamare saath… tu yahin reh”, and she pushed her back, surprising her. Sameer caught her neatly as she stumbled backwards, and grinned at Preeti, “thank you saali sahiba.” Preeti grinned back and left, closing the door behind her. Sameer steadied Naina and went to lock the door.
“D…darwaza lock k…kyun kiya?”, Naina asked nervously.
He chuckled, and walked over to her, “tumhe dar lag raha hai mere saath?”, he asked taking her hands in his own.
She shook her head. He turned on the music again and lowered the volume, “let’s dance”, he smoothly turned her into his arms.
They swayed to the clear lilting notes of ‘Saathiya…‘ for some time, and then he suddenly twirled her so that her back was pressed to his chest, his arms encased her warmly, he bent and whispered in her ears, “I love you Naina. Bahot pyaar karta hun tumse, aur hamesha karunga.”
She closed her eyes, shivering at the proximity, at the feel of his breath on her neck, “I love you too Sameer.”
“Firse bolo, aur aankhe kholke”, he demanded softly.
Heart thundering, she opened her eyes, turned her head slightly to look up at his profile, “I love you Sameer.”
The moment froze as their eyes met, and compelled by an irresistible pull, he inched closer. She couldn’t bear the overpowering sensations anymore, and closed her eyes again, hoping to escape them. He smiled, and straightened, dropping a kiss on the top of her head instead. He turned her, again pulling her close by the waist, “ek baat puchu?”
“Hmmm”, she rested her head on his chest, still swaying to the beats of music.
He played with the fingers of her hand, “Munna aur Pandit ne thik se bataya nai lekin yeh saara plan tumhara tha na?” She nodded against his chest.
“Tumko kabhi aisa nai laga ke chod du beech me, kyun itni mehnat karu aise ladke ke peeche jo tumhari baat sunn bhi nai raha?”, he prodded further.
She smiled, “tumhe kal aisa laga ke chalo Naina khud ko manhoos samajh rahi hai to achcha hi hai, mera kaam to ho gaya ab woh mujhse dur rahegi…?”, she counter questioned.
He thought for a moment, “nai… tab bas mujhe tumhare dimag se yeh bekaar ke khayal dur karne the. Tum aisa soch bhi kaise sakti thi ke tumne mere liye kuch nai kiya. Tumne to mujhe itni khushi, itna pyaar diya hai jitna aaj tak kisine nai diya.”
“Mere sawaal ke saath saath tumne apne sawaal ka jawaab bhi de diya Sameer”, she looked up at him.
He gazed into her eyes, lost in the warmth and love shining in them. Slowly he lifted the hand he was holding, and not taking his gaze off hers, he placed a soft kiss on her fingers. She smiled, and then a question of his, and the incident that was disturbing her came to the fore again, and she decided to address them, “Sameer… Sorry.”
He was puzzled. She continued, “mujhe pata hai tum sach me darr rahe the apni Dadi ki baato se. Main tumhare darr ko samajh rahi thi, par use dur karna chahti thi… mazaak nai bana rahi thi uska. Aur yeh dress, yeh bhi maine tumhare liye hi khaas silvaya, maine nai socha tha ke woh Kartik…” she trailed off, turning away from him.
She had felt uneasy with the incident this evening. She didn’t dress up usually, and today when she had for Sameer, it had gained the attention of others too. Maybe she shouldn’t wear such dresses or use make-up. Sameer must have felt so angry.
At the other end, inside the party hall, the dinner was just over, and the winners were supposed to be announced, so that whoever wanted to leave early could do so. JBR came up to the table where the gang was seated and inquired about Sameer and Naina. Munna fumbled, but Preeti immediately covered up, saying Naina was unwell so Sameer went to drop her home. JBR’s face creased in dilemma, and upon asking he said that the teachers were considering to award Mr. and Ms. Fresher title to them, but now that they are not here they would have to give it to someone else.
“Oh No”, Swati exclaimed when JBR left, “yaar unn dono ko bulake laate hai na, Mr. and Ms. Fresher ban sakte hai.”
Munna shook his head, “chod na pandat… woh dono to Mr. aur Mrs. banenge.” Everyone chortled at that and decided not to disturb the lovebirds, as Sunaina and Kartik were finally awarded the titles.
Inside the club house, Naina waited for Sameer to confirm her thoughts and tell her that she shouldn’t have dressed up like this for a college party. Sameer turned her to face him again, “mujhe pata hai tumne woh saara plan kyun banaya, aur mujhse iss tarah bartaav karke tumko bhi koi khushi nai mili hogi. Aur rahi baat iss dress ki, to mujhe bahot achcha laga ke tum khaas mere liye taiyar hoke aai. Par tum aisa kyun soch rahi ho ke Kartik ki harkat me tumhari koi galti hai?”, he took her hands in his, “usne tumhe dance ke liye pucha, hum party me the, koi na koi to puchta hi na tumko. Meri Naina hai hi aisi ke har koi usse dosti karna chahega. Aur ab hum college me hai to aisa sab aage bhi hoga, iska matlab yeh nai ke tum achche kapde nai pehnogi ya taiyar honese darogi. Tumhara jo man kare, jaisa man kare waise kapde pehno… jaise ichcha ho waise taiyar hona. Dusre ladko ki fikar mat karna”, he slid an arm around her waist and pulled her firmly to him, “main hoon na hamesha tumhare saath, aise hi tumhe apne paas khinch lunga.”
She blushed furiously as she landed against him, her hands on his chest, she dipped her head, hiding her face from him. He was elated that she wasn’t trying to pull back even a little bit from him, his heartbeat raced with this new-found freedom, “Naina… tum itni khubsurat dikh rahi ho aaj ke ho sakta hai tum Ms. Fresher ka title jeet jao. Tumhe janna nai hai ke kaun jeeta.”
“Nai. Mujhe yahin rehna hai tumhare saath”, she mumbled against his chest.
He chuckled, “thike, to Ms. Fresher ke jagah Mrs. Maheshwari ban jao.”
She gasped, drawing back from him, and on seeing his grin, she hit him on his arm. He tried to evade her well placed hits, “ow! Aree… kaisi ladki ho, apne hone wale pati ko bhi koi maarta hai kya.”
She determinedly pinched him making him yell again, “main to maarungi.”
He caught her hands, “iska matlab Mrs. Maheshwari banogi… right?” She looked up at him wide eyed, shocked at being caught in the trap of his words. He grinned at her expression, then brought her hands to his lips and kissed them, brushing his lips over her fingers again and again. His eyes sparkled impishly as he watched her blushing scarlet at his actions, “waise, hone wala pati sirf haath pe kiss nai karta.”
Stunned she gazed up at him, and he laughed, before retreating from her hands again. Sameer ran around the room, with Naina behind him, trying to hit him or pinch him. As the fairy lights twinkled, and the music drifted softly, she ended up in his arms again, panting and laughing, cherishing the moments of ecstasy that they could find only with each other.