Chapter 2

Part 2: What are friends for, after all!

It was a restless night. Conflicting emotions were racing through Sameer's mind. He was still wearing the sweater. Munna and Pandit had been teasing him about it. Pandit even said, "Bhai kamal kar diya Naina ne toh. Teri itni fikr karti hai wo? Vaise ladki achi hai na Sameer. Munna then added to the teasing, "haan haan, aur bhai Sameer to ye sweater dil se lagaye baitha hai. Ab sweater itna acha jo hai. Pandit added, "sweater se zyada Sameer ko sweater banana wali achi lagti hai. Sameer felt him blushing, but still did not take the sweater off. The warmth in it was incredible. Half the night, he was lying on bed looking out at the moon through the window. He was thinking about how his life had changed after he'd met Naina. As the clock struck 2, Sameer dozed off, engrossed in her dreams.

Naina was still savoring the taste of rabdi in her mouth. That was a first. She ate from Sameer's hands! Well, actually it could have been the second time, had she accepted him giving her his birthday cake. But that time, it was all too soon. But now, as time had passed, Sameer was proving himself to be good guy. Despite all the allegations Naina had hurled at him, and the harassment he got from Papa, still Sameer chose to befriend her. If love was not magic, what else was? Naina was elated seeing Sameer wearing the sweater that she'd gifted him, tonight, and the compliments he was receiving from his friends. And add to it, the teasing. Well, she couldn't deny it. Naina liked it when Munna and Pandit teased Sameer with her name. And the way, Sameer would smile shyly.

Swati came up from behind and broke her reverie. "Naina, Sameer ke khalayon se bahar nikal ke mujhe bhi to dekh, she added naughtily. "Vaise kya soch rahi thi sapnon me? Maine Munna Pandit ko baat karte huye suna ki Sameer sweater milne pe bahot zyada khush tha. Aur ho kyu na, tune itni mehnat se uske liye banaya. Ab ye pyaar ka jaadu hota hi aisa hai. Naina smiled shyly, and making sure everyone else was asleep, she showed her the earrings that Sameer had given her today. "Naina, waah, ye to bahot khubsurat hain, aur mehenge bhi honge. Sameer tere liye specially laaya? Main galat thi Naina, wo tujhse bahot pyaar karta hai, exclaimed Swati. Naina said, "mujhe to yakeen nahi hota Swati, ki wo mujhse itna pyaar karta hai. Tujhe pata hai, jitni achi uski surat hai, usse bhi acha uska dil hai. Ekdum bhola bhala, bachhon jaisa. Jab wo smile karta hai na to aisa lagta hai bhagwan ne mujhe khushiyan de di hain. Main kitni pagal thi, ye pyaar vyaar ka matlab hi nahi jaanti thi. Bas Sameer aaya, mera Prem, aur usne mujh Suman ko pyaar karna sikha diya. Tujhe pata hai kal subah wo mujhe pass me mandir bhi leke ja raha hai.

"Ohh, mandir! To tune decide kiya kya pehnegi date pe? said a worried Swati. "Naina, tu please aise behenji jaise mat ban ke jaana, she added. "Behenji! Kya matlab hai tera Swati? Aur kya date, hum to bas bhagwan ji ke darshan karne ja rahe hain, exclaimed a piqued Naina. "Arey meri bholi Naina, tu jaisi hai vaisi hi Sameer ko pasand hai. Lekin kabhi kabhi saiyaan ji ko surprise karna bhi acha hota hai. Soch jab tu uske saamne jaaye aur wo bas tujhe dekhta hi reh jaye, ekdum filmon ki tarah, said Swati dramatically. With this, Swati hurried over and took out two-three dresses that she had bought from home. "Inme se dekh, koi pasand aa rahi hai kya tujhe, asked Swati. Naina examined the beautiful churidars. "Swati, ye light blue wala try karun kya please? Wo light blue Sameer ka favourite rang hai na, Naina explained shyly. "Oh, to matlab ab kapde bhi Sameer ke pasand ke hi pehnegi, laughed Swati and urged her to try it. "Kal subah main tayyar hone me teri maddat karungi, varna tu to pagal jaise chali jayegi! "Thanks Swati, tu kitni achi hai, Naina said and hugged Swati, touched by her gesture. Swati said, "dosti ki hai nibhani to padegi na. And thus chatting happily, both went to sleep.