Love in Mt. Abu- A SamAina FF

Part 3: Mandir wali Date

Naina could hardly sleep that night in excitement. For the first time in life, she was free- away from home and so near to the love of her life. It was only 4.30 am when she woke up finally to get ready. She took her bath and put on the beautiful blue churidar dress that Swati had shared with her. She woke Swati up to help her get ready. "Ye kya hai, ye baalon me ribbon lagana zaruri hai kya? Khule chod na baalon ko! Shraddhari wala step cut kya faltu me diya hai Preeti ne?" said a sleepy Swati. "Ye tum dono ko subah subah Mandir me milne ka bhoot kyu sawar ho gaya! Sameer uth bhi jayega itni subah?" Naina smiled at this and wore the jhumkas that Sameer had gifted her yesterday. They really were beautiful and complimented her attire well. As the light fell on them, they shone, even though the shine was nothing compared to the one on Naina's face. She couldn't wait for Sameer to see her wearing them. "Arey Naina ruk! ye matching chudiyan bhi pehen le. Ekdum dulhan lagegi...Sameer ki dulhan", teased Swati. "Kuch bhi bolti hai tu Swati", protested Naina, but then obeyed her. When Swati was done, she exclaimed, "Haila Naina, tu kya jach rahi hai! Sameer dekh ke pakka lattu hone wala hai!" Naina and Swati chatted happily waiting for Sameer. It was almost 6 now.

Sameer woke up earlier than usual today. These days he found himself excited to get up early. He found himself humming, "Kya yahi pyaar hai...Haan yahi pyaar hai...Dil tere bin lagta nahi...Waqt guzarta nahi...hmmm..hmmmm". And then as if jolted into consciousness, "Ye kya gaana gaa raha hai Sameer, focus", he thought. He was figuring out what to wear. "Yaar Naina ka favourite color to maine pucha nahi! Ab kya karun", thought Sameer in frustration. Then he made up his mind and wore the red turtle neck he'd worn on his first day in Ahemdabad. "The chewing gum start!" he winked to himself. He got ready, put on his watch. "Waah Sameer, tu to ekdum hero lag raha hai. Naina to bas dekhti reh jayegi", he thought, his hands combing through his luxurious hair.

***

At a quarter to 6, Sameer was outside Naina's hostel. The morning was cool and breezy. He looked up at the window from where Naina had seen him off last night. He whistled twice, just beneath the window. Naina, who had been waiting for him, felt her heart skip a beat and she rushed downstairs. Swati saw her off. As Sameer was whistling and looking at his watch, Naina appeared at the doorway. (Theme music plays). Sameer looked up. (There was total silence- only the sound of the whistling breeze). The morning breeze was nothing compared to the breeze in which Sameer had been lifted. He was spellbound. She was looking like a fairy- a dream come true, so beautiful, so so...innocent! And that shy smile on her face. (Mere rang me rangne wali, pari ho ya tum pariyon ki rani...song plays in background). Both were stunned and lost in each other's eyes. Naina slowly advanced towards him and Sameer lost track of everything. He was only gazing at her, mouth open. Naina was loving his reaction. Wo man hi man Swati ko thanks kar rahi thi ki uski wajah se use Sameer ka ye anmol reaction dekhne ko mila. "Ahem ahem, kahin kho gaye kya", she teased shyly. Sameer came back to his senses and started smiling his wide naughty smile, "Wo meri ek special dost aane wali thi mujhse milne, usi ka intezaar kar raha hu. Tumne dekha hai use?" he teased back. "Hmm, meri aankhon me dhundh lo, shayad mil jaye", replied a blushing Naina. Both became shy again and Sameer again looked into her eyes. (Ye un dino ki baat hai theme music plays.) Her innocent dove like eyes had been accentuated by the kajal lining them. Sameer moved forward slowly, closer to her face. Naina became nervous feeling him this close to her. He inched forward, but she didn't resist. She was bound by his gaze. He raised his hand and took a speck of kajal from her eyes and put a kala tika behind her ear. "Ab aise hi dekhta rahunga to tumhe meri nazar lag jayegi", he smiled naughtily. Naina blushed again. "Vaise maine to socha tha tum mujhe dekh ke flat ho jaogi, ye to ulta ho gaya aaj", accepted Sameer giggling. "Ab chale mandir, isse pehle ki sab uth jaye aur humari date me fir koi pareshani aa jaye", asked Naina grinning too. "Oh to ye date hi hai! Not bad Naina, wo bhi mandir wali date, chalo", laughed Sameer at an irked and shy Naina.

***

Both reached the temple stairs. Plain Jane Naina was finding her new avatar difficult to manage. "Ye Swati ki bacchi...heels me chalte kaise hain", she was thinking. Sameer understood her problem. Anticipating that she might lose balance, he held out his hand for her to hold. Both started looking in each other's eyes again. (La la la lala theme music plays). Sameer suddenly realized his mistake, and folded back his hand, "uhh..umm I'm sorry". Naina smiled to mention that it was okay. As both started climbing up the stairs, Naina slid her hand into Sameer's hands. Sameer was stunned for a moment and looked over at Naina in surprise. She was blushing and looking down, but did not let go of his hand. (Theme music plays again). Us time Sameer ka expression dekhne wala tha. Sameer too held her hand back, pangs of both love and guilt showing on his face. "Ek baat puchun Naina. Umm....kyun..?" he asked. Both knew he wanted to ask Naina about this new gesture. The last time he had dared to hold her hand, he had got a slap. "Kyunki mujhe tumpar bharosa hai Sameer! Main jaanti hun hamara pyaar ekdum pavitra aur saccha hai. Maine tumhara haath mandir me pakda hai, bhagwanji ko sakshi maan ke. Mujhe ye sahi laga so kiya", replied Naina. Sameer's guilt was unbearable now. How could he tell her, break her heart? After darshan, they both sat down nearby. "Naina, agar main kabhi kuch galat karu, to kya tum tab bhi mujh par bharosa karogi?" asked Sameer anxiously. "Agar tumhe us galti ka ehsaas hai to...haan. Aur galtiyaan to sabse hoti hain na. Mujhse bhi to huyi thi. Kitna galat ilzaam lagaya tha maine tum par. Lekin tumne bhi to mujhe maaf kar diya na Sameer. Sameer, tum bahot ache ho dil se. Aur main jaanti hun tum agar galti kar sakte ho to use sudharne ki himmat bhi rakhte ho" said Naina. Sameer could take it no more. He was about to disclose the bet to her, but seeing her happy face, words did not leave his mouth.

They both started walking back towards the hostel. Sameer was going over what Naina had just said. His thoughts were broken by Naina's loud yell, "wow...wo dekho Sameer, ekdum Chandni wali pahadiyaan! Naina was so excited, she ran over to the lush green valley, Sameer on her heels. He remembered her Chandni wish. "Naina!" shouted Sameer, signaling her to pose. Song plays in background:

Aaja aaja meri bann jaa,

Aaja aaja meri bann jaa

Rang bhare baadal se

Tere naino ke kaajal se

Maine iss dil pe likh diya tera naam

Chandni o meri chandni

He took out his camera and clicked her picture. "Humari yaadon ki shuruaat", he exclaimed with a broad smile. Naina, tum wahan khadi ho jao, pahadiyon ke beech", said Sameer and started clicking her pictures enthusiastically. "Arey Sameer bas, sari reel mujhpar hi khatam kar doge kya tum", laughed Naina. She took the camera from him and started clicking Sameer's pictures. After a while, Sameer asked hesitantly, "ek photo...uhh...hum dono sath me lein?" Naina smiled and nodded. Sameer looked and spotted a couple sitting nearby. "Excuse me, kya aap meri aur meri dost ki sath me ek photo lenge?" The guy agreed, "Kyun nahi!" As Sameer and Naina posed, the guy joked "Arey itni door door kyun khade ho, bhai behen ho kya?" Sameer and Naina recalled the horrific Rakhi incident. "Nai nai", said both and inched closer to each other. "Arey bhai, aap hi ki girlfriend hai na, thoda pyaar se to photo khinchao". Both Naina and Sameer felt shy at the mention of girlfriend. Sameer hesitantly put his hand lightly over Naina's shoulders. This was Sameer's first touch on her shoulders. Butterflies erupted in Naina's stomach. She looked up at him as she felt his touch. Sameer's eyes met hers. The picture was taken!

After a few more clicks, Naina suddenly looked at her watch. "Baap re 8 baj gaye! Ab to sab uth gaye honge. Hey Bhagwan ab kya hoga! Chalo jaldi se wapis jaate hain isse pehle kisi ko hamare baare me pata chal jaye". She was tensed now. As they reached the hostel compound, Sameer said, "Naina, wo...wo mujhe tumse kuch kehna tha...". "Bolo na..", she smiled shyly, anticipating those three magical words. Sameer tried to gather the courage, but failed yet again seeing the smile on her face. "Wo...wo aaj tum bahot sundar lag rahi ho, matlab roz se bhi zyada". Naina blushed and ran away to her hostel. Swati was already waiting and took care that no one saw her coming.