"Ab hum yahan bhi saath hain." Sameer leaned against Naina's face, resting his cheek on hers.
She let out a shaky exhale... never had she seen such mehendi... but then, there was no other Sameer in the world. He was special... and everything he did was special... and by falling in love with her, he had made her special too.
She turned, burying herself in his chest, "Sameer ki Naina se achha koi naam nahi hai mere liye."
He engulfed her in his arms, "Ab tumhe Sameer ki Naina banne se koi nahi rok sakta... rok toh pehle bhi nahi sakta tha par ab hum khule aam apna pyar jata sakte hain."
A faint sound of a whistle of night watchman made her alert, "Khule aam pyar jatane ke liye abhi kal ka din baaki hai... humein ab chalna chahiye... isse pehle ki chowkidaar aa jaye."
He tightened his hold, "Naina, aaj rukne do na... kal ki raat toh fir se alag rehna hi padega."
"Bas kal ki raat hai, Sameer... fir tumhe kabhi jaane ko nahi kahungi... jab humne itna waqt nikal diya toh bas ek din bacha hai ab toh." She fiddled with the button on his shirt.
"Jo time nikala hai usmein tum mere saath thi... lekin jab se yahan aaye hain tumhare liye taras gaya hun, Naina... pata hai, main Munna Pandit ke saath bed pe sota tak nahi... neeche ek bed lagaya hai... darr lagta hai... tumhari aadat jo pad gayi hai... kahin raat ko unme se kisi ko Naina samajh liya toh." He sulked.
She knew he was sad, but she couldn't stop her giggles.
"Tum hans rahi ho mujhpe?" He glowered, holding her shoulders to look at her.
She kept a hand on her mouth, shaking her head in negative... stayed quiet for a few seconds... then burst into laughter.
He narrowed his eyes, "Zara ghar aao... fir dekhta hun kaun hansta hai... mera mazak uda rahi ho... pata hai ek raat ko neend mein tshirt nikaal di thi maine... takiya pakad ke so raha tha subah... itni der tak Munna Pandit ne mazak banaya ki takiye se kaam chalana padta hai mujhe."
She looked at the drooping corners of his mouth, and bit into her inner cheek to control her laugh.
"Unhe kya pata... yahan aane se pehle takiya nahi tha... meri Naina thi mere saath... meri baahon mein... har raat ko." His voice turned raspy in an instant as his hand went around her waist, rubbing on the skin as his fingers touched her through the slit of her kurta.
She gasped, squirming, "Sameer, chodo na... Preeti aa jayegi."
"Nahi aayegi." His eyes turned darker... he brought up his other hand which had mehendi on it, using his fingers to trace the side of her face.
"Chowkidaar aa jayega." She drew in a sharp breath.
"Nahi aayega." He reached her lips, tracing the lower one with his thumb.
"Koi... koi aur..." Her voice turned shaky as her lips quivered.
"Koi nahi aayega." He slipped the finger down her neck.
She closed her eyes... running out of excuses, feeling his fingers burn her skin as he slowly moved them along the neckline. The neck of her kurta was not low, just a little lower than collarbone... still his touch left her nerves in a jumbled mess.
"Naina, tum duniya ki sabse khoobsurat dulhan banogi... main intezar nahi kar sakta tumhe dulhan bana hua dekhne ka." He whispered in a throaty voice, seeing her blushing face.
She opened her eyes slowly, looking into his...
"Mat dekho aise... main raat bhar so nahi paunga." He sighed.
