The week went by preparing for the coming papers, library sessions in the morning and short one hour meetings in the ground in the evenings. Sameer wanted to come to her room a few times but Naina stopped him, saying that it would disrupt with their study pattern and they should not let any such thing happen. He knew she was right. She never refused him anything when he went to her room... but it played havoc with his system, making him lose sleep and concentration. He accepted her decision.
The next week was extremely tough and tiring. They had three papers with just one day gap each. The evening meetings were discontinued. They carried on with studies in the library... not wavering their attention from the books at all. Once the three exams were done, it was a big sense of relief. With only one paper left, that too after one week, the excited chatters in the corridor could be easily mistaken for the happy babble of those who had just come out after writing their last exam.
"Iss hafte ne toh jaan hi le li... ab kam se kam aaj toh main kisi book ko haath nahi lagane wala... Sonali, bolna bhi mat." Rahul perched on the parepet of college garden, feeling relaxed.
"Tumhe kya bolungi, main toh khud hi nahi padhne wali aaj... aisa lag raha hai jab se paida hui hun padh hi rahi hun... yeh aakhiri hafta khatam ho toh main prashad chada ke aaungi." Sonali leaned against her husband, placing her arm on his leg.
Naina laughed at her exaggeration, "Keh toh aise rahi hai jaise poore saal books mein doobi hui thi."
"Sun Naina, tere wali bimari nahi hai mujhe... teen mahine ki lagatar padhai na mujhe bohot zyada lagti hai... yaar hum itna padhte kyon hai? Matlab har insaan yeh sab seekh ke kya karega? Kuch aisa ho jiski humein zaroorat ho toh samajh bhi aata hai. Iss syllabus ki aadhi se zyada cheezein kabhi kaam nahi aayengi." Sonali seemed to be really frustrated.
"Aye haye, aaj meri biwi badi krantikaari ho rahi hai... chalo tumhe lunch karata hun kahin achha sa... Sameer, tum log bhi chalo na." Rahul wrapped one arm around Sonali's shoulder.
"Lunch... pata nahi... Naina... " Sameer wasn't sure Naina would be keen or not.
"Haan, chalte hain na, Sameer. Thoda change ho jayega... aaj sach mein aisa lag raha hai jaise exam khatam hi ho gaye." Naina accepted the invitation.
They left on their bikes. Naina had worn a suit. She could not sit cross legged but wound her arm around his waist the moment they reached the road.
Sameer pulled her arm to place her hand on his heart, "Dekho kaise dhadak raha hai mera dil... tumhare paas aate hi... ek hafte ke upvaas ke baad aaj kareeb aayi ho tum... ab itne din ki kasar toh poori karni padegi madam."
"Tumhare akele ka thodi tha, mera bhi toh tha upvaas." Naina shifted closer, resting her chin on his shoulder.
"Main bilkul taiyar hun har kasar ko poora karne ke liye... tum bas batao kab... baaki mera kaam hai." His voice had already gone heavy as he glanced at her through the mirror.
"Abhi aapka kaam saamne dekhke bike chalana hai... hum dono ko haddiyan nahi tudwani na... shaadi hai hamari." She held his chin to turn his face to the road.
"Hayee, yeh shaadi ki baat karke tumne aur ghantiyan baja di dil mein." He winked at her reflection.
"Kyon nahi, jab meri taiji ke taano ki ghanti bajegi toh kitna mazaa ayega tumhe aur jab papa ke thappadon ka ghanta bajega tab toh pagal hi ho jaoge tum." She teased.
"Tumhare liye sab manzoor hai... mujhe kisi ke pyaar ki zaroorat nahi hai tumhare alava... taane maare, thappad lagaye chahe ghar se nikal de... bas tumhe mere saath bhej de." He said softly.
She brought her other arm to hold him around the shoulder, "Aana toh saath hi hai tumhare, Sameer... yeh sirf ek koshish hogi... jisse kal ko dil mein yeh baat na reh jaaye ki shayad hum samjha paate sabko toh rishte behtar hote."
