Sameer put Naina down gently, next to the bed.
"Mujhe bataogi nahi kya dekha tumne sapne mein? Kya kar raha tha main jo tumhe pagal bana raha tha?" He kept his arm around her waist, grazing her cheek with the other hand.
"Mere sapnon ki baatein tumhe kyon bataun? Woh toh mere apne hain... sirf mere." She flicked her brows.
Her teasing enticed him even more, "Sapne tumhare hain... aur main? Main bhi toh tumhara hi hun... sirf tumhara."
"Toh tum batao apne sapne... pehle toh bada kehte the, roz tumhe dekhta hun sapne mein... ab kyon nahi batate?" She mimicked him, making her voice heavier.
He gave a look of wonder... this girl was something else. Here he was, longing for her, aching for her... and she was playing a game of Tell Me Your Dreams.
"Dekha, tum bhi nahi bataoge na... toh main kyon bataun?" She pouted.
He tightened his hold on her waist, "Sweetheart, mera har sapna pyaar se bhara hota tha... ab bhi hota hai... jismein tum kabhi saree mein aati ho, kabhi suit mein dupatte lehrate hue, kabhi uss lehenge mein jo ek baar tumne try kiya tha, kabhi uss black dress mein hoti ho jo tumne new year pe pehni thi... aur kabhi nighty mein... fark itna hai, ab tum unn sapno ko sach karne lagi ho."
Her breath quickened... but she tried to keep her face normal, "Mere sapne mein tum kabhi suit aur tie mein dikhte ho, office mein baithe hue, kabhi kurta pehen ke pooja karte hue, kabhi track suit mein jogging karte hue... kabhi subah akhbar padhte hue garden mein, chashma lagake... nanu ki tarah, aur kabhi... "
The colour on her cheeks and lowered eyes intrigued him.
"Kabhi?" He lifted her face up, placing one finger under her chin.
A smile spread on her face as she half raised her eyes at him, "Kabhi car se bachhon ko school chodte hue."
The same feeling of confusion hit him again... why did her talks sometimes seemed to be pushing at some closed doors... what was there in his mind that remained veiled... what was it that he was not able to decipher... what was he not able to see that was so clear to her...
She looked up at him, seeing his eyes get clouded.
"Sameer, main apni aane wali zindagi ke sapne dekhti hun... jab tum apna ek naam bana chuke hoge business mein... hamara parivaar bada ho jayega... aur usse aage, jab hum bhi apni zindagi ke uss padaav pe honge jahan aaram se baith kar sab baatein yaad karenge... baalon mein safedi hogi, aankhon pe chashma hoga, chehre pe ek khushhaal zindagi jee lene ki lakeeren hongi... lekin haathon mein ek doosre ka haath hoga... dil mein itna hi pyar hoga, ya shayad isse bhi zyada... main toh poori zindagi dekhti hun tumhare saath."
He was stunned.
The picture that Naina had shown him was something his mind had never reached. He teased her about children but never really thought about the time they would actually have a child... a child of their own... someone who would be with him, not leave him and go away... and they would together see the child, or children, growing up... and one day they would be old, sit back and reminisce about the life they had shared... together.
He would be like nanu... and she would be with him still... till that time... a lifetime.
Their journey with each other had just started... she had shown him the long way they had to go.
Naina held one of his hand, and linked her fingers with his, "Dekh rahe ho tum, kaise hamare haath aapas mein fit ho jaate hain... jaise hamari kismat ki paheli ka jawaab ho... hamare pyaar ka ahsaas ho."
