Expectedly Unexpected: A SamAina FF

Part 9: The Romance

Sameer and Naina's friendship was deepening with time. They now knew that if they wanted to be friends, they would have to take the physical attraction piece of it along with it. Though neither of them minded their growing intimacy; they also enjoyed each other's company during the times they were completely platonic as well!

They'd started going out for movies, for picnics, for outings. It would be an understatement to say that Sameer and Naina had explored the whole of Mumbai on Sameer's bike. Naina had shed her initial apprehensions about touching him in public. Well, after what all had happened between them, she wasn't the one to blame. She couldn't resist him! And Sameer, well, he never told Naina, but he found it extremely hard to control himself with her hands around his waist, her body so close to him on the bike.

They'd taken numerous evening walks along seasides. Mumbai evenings were the loveliest, Naina would say. And yes, she adored the sea. And for this reason, Sameer would often take her to the popular sea-sides of Bombay. Sometimes, they would sit there in silence, hearing the waves crash against the shore. They wouldn't even realize when dusk would become night as they sat there listening to the music of the sea. And sometimes, they would take walks around the magical Marine Drive. And during one such walk, when the weather was breezy and the evening cool, Sameer's hand found Naina's and his fingers entwined in hers. She looked up at him in surprise, but he continued to look ahead as he clasped his hold on her fingers tighter. Naina hardly had any option but to hold his hand back in return. The brainy side of her squeaked that she was in for a heart-break. She'd already turned physical with him and now she was getting more and more emotionally involved. It had already been three months since their relationship began, yet he still seemed so far away from loving her or from confessing what exactly he felt for her. But then, this was the first time, he'd displayed his affection for her in full public view. Did his holding her hand meant that he did love her, or was it because he thought of her as a friend- well a friend who came with some added benefits (a term she got to know about a decade or two later). This would not end well, her mind warned her. But her heart could not muster the courage to confront him or take her hand out from his grip- ever!

Sameer did not know why he held her hand that evening. Somehow, it seemed the right thing to do. He enjoyed her company. He enjoyed their intimacy. He enjoyed listening to her innocent talk. Sameer finally felt, he'd found a real friend in Bombay. A friend he could put onto the pedestal of Munna and Pandit, maybe higher. Her hand clasped in his, felt as if it completed what seemed to be missing from his life. He continued to walk as his fingers caressed hers, revelling in the warmth she provided him.

***

"Main nahi aa raha!" Sameer declared in a huff. "Aaoge!" Naina was adamant too. "Ji nahi! Tum jao na! Main kyun aaun? Vaise bhi ye ladkiyon ki shopping me mujhe koi interest nahi!" Sameer tried to reason with her. Naina made a face and said, "ladkiyon ki shopping nahi...shopping karne ja rahe hain...tum bhi apne liye kuch le sakte ho na!" "Arey tum jao na wo Shraddha-Shruti ke saath!" snapped Sameer in irritation. "Wo sab ghar gaye hain na Sameer...chuttiyaan hai na Holi ki!" Naina tried to explain. "Aur mujhe yahan Professor ne rok liya wo Literary Week ke liye!" she muttered sadly. "Ab kamse kam kuch ache kapde to pehen lein tyohar pe!" she added, making a cute, pleading face.

Sameer melted a little. "Acha theek hai! Chalta hun!" he gave in finally. "Yay! Sameer! Tum kitne cute ho! Thank you so much shweetu!" she yelped in joy as she pinched his cheeks hard in happiness. Sameer knew he must have blushed at that moment. Whenever she pulled his cheeks like this and called him shweetu or sweetheart or darling, the raunchy Sameer would rise inside him, which he would have to quell, at least till they got some privacy. Sameer knew that Naina had presumed that he didn't want to go home for the Holi vacation as Nanu was abroad. What she didn't know was that Sameer had willingly stayed back in Mumbai, despite fervent attempts by Munna and Pandit to invite him to their grand Holi fiesta, laced with bhang and colours and masti, and maybe a few girls. And it was only because he knew Naina wasn't going back to Ahemdabad and he did not want to leave her alone, or maybe he just wanted to be with her. Whatever it was, he now found himself convinced to go out for shopping with a girl.