Expectedly Unexpected: A SamAina FF

Part 6: A Farrago of Emotions

It was only after the project presentation that Sameer and Naina finally got some time to themselves- time to think about what had happened last night, that is- apart from the project work. They both were sitting togther as usual, but neither could muster the courage to look at the other.

Sameer was feeling immensely guilty. He knew he should not have made out with a girl like Naina again. It was all his fault. The first time, they'd both been drunk. But that wasn't the case last night right? He could have just completed the project, sipped his coffee and gone back to his hostel. But no, he had to come close to her. He had to untie her hair, hug her- why? What had entered inside him to do such foolish things? And what in the world was wrong with Naina? She was a simple, righteous girl. How could she not slap him, scold him and tell him off? That is the way things should be! That is the way things were considered normal- by Sameer, by Naina and by the rest of the society. And that kiss in the morning- what did she mean by that? She should not have kissed him like that. No. The kiss had unsettled Sameer more than the plethora of events last night. Naina had been cool, calm and composed- hardly jittery when she'd brought her lips to his. As if all this was normal between them! Was it normal? Who was he to her that she'd exposed herself like this to him- that too when she was fully in her senses. Sameer knew his charm- the charm he'd always boasted about, the charm which could impress any girl in his vicinity; was working. And for the first time in life, he found himself hoping it wasn't.

Naina on the other hand was extremely scared and extremely regretful. She wanted to shake herself and remind her that she was Naina Agarwal- the girl who everyone looked upto. The girl who never did anything wrong in her life. And yet here, she'd repeated her mistake. She'd slept with Sameer again. And today, she couldn't convince herself that it wasn't either her or Sameer's fault. They were not drunk last night. No, she knew she was finding it hard to stay away from him and deep down, she'd been longing for him from the past few months. But what about Sameer? He had numerous women with whom he could, and he did sleep! Naina was one among them. What was she expecting last night? That he would tell her that he loves her? And that he would marry her? Sameer had hardly uttered a single word to her since the morning. Yet, instead of being angry at him, she'd kissed him, had sat down on his bike and was back to sitting besides him in class. Naina felt that Sameer had a certain hypnotic effect on her. Whenever he looked into her eyes, she forgot who she was and became the wild woman that made love to him. Her morals, her judgements all faltered in those moments their eyes locked. And then it was only Sameer who mattered. She wanted to live every moment that she had with him. After all, who knows? He might leave her one day.

As soon as the lectures ended, Sameer sprang up from his place and without even half a glance at Naina, left the class. He couldn't bear being around her anymore. He felt afraid- what if he just kisses her again? Naina looked on at him, heartbroken. He'd indeed left her! And so soon! Slowly, she watched the rest of the class empty through teary eyes, before she slowly packed her things and made her way back to her room.

Neither Naina nor Sameer had any appetite for lunch or for dinner that day. Naina came back to her room and as she closed the door, she drifted over to the mirror plastered onto her steel almirah. The Naina that stared back at her was completely different. She was a stranger. Her reflection revealed a pair of melancholic eyes, set into a tired face. Her usually chirpy self was nowhere to be seen. The twinkle in her eyes that was there till this morning, did not exist anymore. The lips which would usually curl up into a smile, were drooping helplessly at the sides. Naina could not figure out if the reason behind her gloom was her actions of the night before or the mere absence of Sameer.

As she wiped her face with her palms, she decided she needed a shower. She made her way into the bathroom and slowly undressed herself, her eyes now staring at the dismal reflection in the bathroom mirror. Naina stepped under the shower and turned on the tap. And then as the cold water spurted over her, her eyes widened. Naina gasped, as if awakened from a strange dream, from a stupor. Her eyes squinted at the showerhead as she saw the water drenching her, washing away her sins and the love of last night- the remnants of his touch on her. The tears that streamed out of her eyes, mingled with the jet spray as she felt her body go numb under the water. She couldn't take it anymore. She held onto the taps for support and wept. Her wails ricocheted off the bathroom walls- as if they were determined to entrap her secret within the enclosure- to not let anyone get the wind of it, especially Sameer. She was irresponsibly in love with him. Love with a man, no girl should ever fall for. A man who had the potential to destroy hers and his own life completely. Yet she pined for him. Yearned for him to come to her right then and wrap her in his arms and console her.