Kabhi to nazar milao

Dinner

"Achha ye batao tumne yeh sab kaise kiya? Subah toh itni jaldi tum ghar pe aa gaye the." Naina was still mesmerised by all the preparations he had done.

"Woh Sameer Maheshwari ka khaas talent hai... woh nahi bata sakta", he raised his collars.

Naina tugged at his sleeve, blinking her eyes innocently, "Main khaas nahi hun kya?"

Without warning, he kissed her cheek, not able to resist the innocent expression. Naina blushed at the unexpected kiss, instantly lowering her eyes.

"Tum toh sabse khaas ho", he lifted her face, placing a finger under the chin.

"Baat mat talo... batao kaise kiya", she said slowly, trying to control her racing heartbeat.

"Kal shaam ko yahan aaya tha... yeh balloons toh tab hi laga diye the...woh andar jo board hai woh bhi kal hi bana liya tha... phool lene aaj subah paanch baje gaya tha... fir yahan aake saare phool lagaye... uske baad ghar aaya. Restaurant waalon ko kal hi maine paise de diye the aaj poore din ke liye... mujhe pakka nahi tha ki hum kis time aayenge bua dadi ke ghar se." He gave her all details.

Naina was puzzled, "Sameer, maine toh kal raat ko phone pe tumhe bataya ki bua dadi ne tumhe ghar pe bulaya hai... fir tumne yeh jagah pehle hi kaise chun li? Agar unhone nahi bulaya hota toh thodi tum yahan aate."

He scratched his head, "Woh Naina, main tumhe lene aane wala tha... gussa mat karna... par maine socha tha ki tumhara wahin intezaar karunga jahan ek baar pehle tumhe lene aaya tha... rickshaw stand ke paas... mera man nahi manta tumhe akele rickshaw mein aane dene ko."

She didn't know what to say.

Suddenly, she realised that it could not be a one day plan... he must have been thinking about it for some time... all those gifts... he must have carefully thought of all these things.

"Yeh saare gifts toh tumne kal nahi liye honge... kabse socha hua tha yeh sab?" She raised her brows.

"Yeh saare gifts maine Ahmedabad mein hi le liye the... soch ke rakha tha ki yahan aake pehla mauka milte hi tumhe ye sab dunga. Iss restaurant ko kai baar aate jaate dekha tha maine... zyada log aate nahi hai yahan... ek baar maine andar aake bhi dekha tha... khana toh pasand nahi aaya par iska yeh garden bohot achha laga... kal jab yahan aake baat ki toh yeh log khushi khushi mujhe ek din ke liye dene ko maan gaye."

His thought, his gesture, his efforts, the planning, preparations, his resourcefulness... everything left her overwhelmed.

They left a while later, after Naina had carefully packed all the gifts.

It was already dark when they reached the college. As she started to turn towards her building, Sameer stopped her "Umm... Naina... mere saath candle light dinner pe chalogi?"

She looked at him, surprised, "Sameer, dinner pe kaise jaa sakte hain? Abhi thodi der mein gate band ho jayega."

He smiled, "Bahar nahi jaana... peeche ground mein... apni jagah... tum bas woh bua dadi wale alu paranthe le aana."

She had forgotten about the paranthe. Since Phulla bua had specially made them for him, she agreed to meet him for dinner.

In her room, Naina placed the saree and the dress on her bed, fascinated at what he had done today. She took the rose and put it in a thick book, wanting to preserve it forever. Glancing at the bracelet, she brought it to her lips and kissed it.

"Tum yeh jo choti choti baaton mein bhi itna pyaar bhar dete ho na, Sameer, iske liye toh main tumhe zindagi bhar bhi thank you bolti rahun toh kam padega." She lovingly stroked the saree and the dress.