Chapter 2

So your wait finally ends!

Naina's steps faltered as realization dawned upon her. Her breathing hitched and she let out a gasp in shock. The world seemed like a whirlwind around her, succumbing Naina into utmost darkness. Not even the brutal tears could decipher the trauma she had just experienced. Her determined faith was wavering in doubt, and all her heart could do was weep in despair.

The school corridors that once consisted of boisterous students flocking around now haunted with cacophonic sounds. She had graduated from school, her life had turned to a new chapter; college, yet this one place held incomparable memories. Memories of their first day of each grade and its accompanying fears. Memories of first friends that grew up to become best friends. Memories of stressful tests and the desire to top the class. Memories of sharing lunches and laughters.

Naina's lips curved into a distant smile as she touched the walls of her favorite classroom; Grade 11. The Naina Agarwal had only imagined of cherishing these memories back until Grade 10. However, little had she known, that she was about to encounter a whole new life, filled with absurd and jittery emotions, of which some were painful and put her to test. About to meet a person she would soon call her soulmate; the one she would have unwavering faith in. The boy she crashed into on the first day of Grade 11; perhaps the flimsiest encounter ever! The boy she fell for in the first instant, the boy with so many flamboyant layers waiting to be discovered and deciphered. By her. The boy called Sameer Maheshwari. Her Sameer.    

Now that she touched the old benches and desks that creaked ever so often, her eyes glistened in happiness. School hadn't lost its magic, she knew that very second. Tracing over the heart with S and N engraved on it, she smiled, reviving old memories. What was initially considered to be immaturity and craziness now reminded her of the best moments of her life.

"Naina? Sameer peeked into the empty classroom, curious and pleased. She had been scratching on the desk that she abruptly stopped and tried to hide. Sameer's brows furrowed into a frown. It was the last day of school, and here she was, doodling something secretive, on one of the school desks.

"Naina, what are you doing?

"Umm--nothing at all. Naina stuttered, making Sameer doubt even more.

"Naina, I've known you for two years--

"One and a half. She corrected.

"We've been in a relationship for a year--

"13 months and 12 days. She corrected again.

"Right. He stopped to admire her.

"How do you remember everything so precisely?

"How can I not remember the best feeling I've ever experienced? Her smile widened as her eyes glinted in pride. He touched her hand as softly as possible as she sensed shivers running through her back. He had done it numerously, secretly, whenever he could, yet each time was a new sensation. A feeling of unfamiliarity despite the belongingness. Eyes met as words lost their purpose. They promised a certain future, cherished old memories, and spoke of love.

Naina hadn't realized the shift of his orbs from hers to the desk as he very cunningly moved her hand.

"Sameer! She gasped in embarrassment as he broke into fits of chuckles. Still holding her hands so that she couldn't cover her artwork any longer, Sameer smirked,

"You may know the exact dates, Naina Agarwal, but this Sameer Maheshwari knows you inside out. Especially your weak points.

Her cheeks flustered as she tried to weaken his grip, all attempts in vain. His eyes scrutinized at what she had drawn, a small smile creeping up to his face. At the corner of her wooden desk, Naina had engraved a heart with a cross through it, just like any other lover. The protractor that one was used to solve trigonometric equations, now had just witnessed an expression of pure, innocent love. Sameer grinned in admiration. Unable to contain his happiness, he loosened his grip on her, yet still held her hands firmly. Gazing into her eyes, he praised,

"This is the prettiest and most precious memory I have ever and will ever come across.

She blushed profusely but the crimson effect didn't deter her gaze from him. He took the protractor from her and scratched out the wood to write N' followed by an S'. It wasn't the neatest, but the best for her, for them. Her face spoke in delight before querying,

"Why an N' followed by an S'? Shouldn't it have been the other way around?

"Why do you think that? He asked, perplexed at her logic.

She looked away sheepishly, "Well, hasn't it been like that all along? The boy's name followed by the girl's?

His frown soon relaxed as laughter replaced worry. Her brows furrowed in confusion and he stopped to explain.

"Naina, we've always been rebels. Knowingly, or unknowingly, we've always broken stereotypes. How could we have not broken this one?

"Sameer, I don't--

"I don't care what the society norms say. You introduced me to the word called Love', familiarized myself to this beautiful emotion. Your love and faith changed me from reckless to mature. I may credit my mother and Nanaji for my upbringing. But only you for bringing out the good side of me.

Her eyes brimmed with tears of happiness as she bit her lip, unable to control the pride and contentment she had just felt. Little did she know what her actions did to Sameer. Each time she bit her lip, he had to gain control over his wild imaginations. They had just passed Grade 12, and his male hormones had taken a toll over him; for the better or the worse, he couldn't decide yet.

"Thank you. Was all she could voice in gratitude, breaking his chain of thoughts--or dreams--to his relief.

"I love you, Naina Agarwal. And today, on the last day of Grade 12, I promise to never disappoint or ashame you. I'll never let your faith on me waver, Naina. Because I can't imagine a life without you. And I don't want to either. You are my happiness. My solace. My home.

"And you complete me. They both said in unison, smiles reaching their eyes.

Sameer paced to and fro in the college corridors, eyes searching for just one person. His Naina. The day had ended, all the professors had left, but he couldn't find her. Sameer had last seen her during first break, when their friends had all gathered at Rose Garden cafeteria to grab some snacks in order to satisfy their hungry stomachs. But for Naina and Sameer, snacks break meant a time to openly gaze at each other in adoration. It was a time to hold hands without being called out at. A moment of pure bliss before homework burdened them all.

Unfortunately, Sameer hadn't been able to steal moments of innocent romance with his ladylove today. Although he had been experience a new wave of emotions unknown to her, yet Sameer knew Naina's limits and would only progress with her permission. The biting of lip that ignited the desire to feel them himself, the unusual flying kisses that erupted butterflies in his stomach, the secretive winks that made him gasp in shock. He was truly crazy in love; drooling over her.

Lunch break had ended by the time he returned, and he had stomped his foot in helplessness and regret; Naina must have been worried in his absence. To add on to his misery, Naina and Sameer had different classes the last two periods; two hours of separation. Intolerable separation.

Sameer had rushed out of class the minute he heard the dismissal bell, eyes mourning to catch a glimpse of her, heart crying to hold her in his arms. A strange fear had settled inside him, a fear he wasn't able to ignore. Preeti came out first, followed by Swati, but no sign of Naina. His heart sank as worry swept across his face.

"Naina? He asked in restlessness.

Swati and Preeti shook their heads, faces reciprocating the concern.

"She seemed amiss in class too, Sameer. Naina had excused herself to the bathroom 20 minutes ago, but hasn't returned yet. Swati replied with her brows arched in fret.

"Did you two fight? Preeti asked threateningly upon pondering.

"Why would they fight, Preeti? Pandit probed.

"Well, I don't see any other reason why she would disappear. Preeti shrugged, anger slowly seething through her. She had always been protective of her sister, especially ever since Naina fell in love with her Mr. Charming, Sameer Maheshwari.

"No Preeti, Sameer and Naina didn't fight. Or else, Sameer wouldn't have been blushing in class at the constant teasings. Munna reminded sheepishly.

"Right, Sameer? But Sameer had wandered off to a distance, trying to comprehend the turn of events.

Munna rested his hand on his shoulder in assurance, "We'll find Naina, don't worry, Sameer.

But he hardly registered the words spoken by his friends. All Sameer could think of was her. She had been missing from the past 20 minutes and seemed amiss in class. Naina had been jovial before lunch break, Sameer recollected. Something had happened during lunch break that made her upset. Extremely upset. Or else she wasn't one to compromise studies for some stupid reason.

"Where are you Naina? Sameer muttered in despair. His brain rummaged through all the possible locations. He couldn't disregard the haunting possibility of her being...No. College was a safe place. She wouldn't have gone back home. Not when she knew she would have to answer all her family members. Not when Preeti; the person she shared everything with, was here in college. She couldn't have gone to their meeting spots; the cafes, the park near the temple. And then it clicked. His face brightened, grabbing everyone's attention.

"I know where she is. Sameer exclaimed.

"Where? He received four voices in unison.

"School.

As he drove his car relentlessly, sweat beads formed on his forehead as Sameer tried to hide the fear. The only place dear to Naina after the temple and their meeting spots was their school; where everything started. Despite the tension, he couldn't help smiling. She was the most unique person he had ever met in his entire life. And he was the luckiest, Sameer admitted.

"Naina? Sameer called out in anxiousness as he entered the main corridor of their school. Within a span of three minutes, he had recklessly searched through each room, each bathroom, library, and sports ground in the vacant school. A distraught Sameer then slowly took steps towards the last place; the playground.

His vision cleared to notice a girl in a white top and red skirt, a bag dangling on one shoulder and legs swinging to and fro as she sat on a bench.

"Naina! He screamed in delight as he dashed towards her. He crouched in front of her to notice a tear stained face. Her hands had constantly been fidgeting, fingers battling with each other.

"Naina, what's wrong? Sameer asked concerned. Naina looked away before abruptly getting up. Sameer hesitantly rose, trying to read her eyes that she refused to show. She turned away from away and started pacing around, acting oblivious to him.

"Naina, what--

"Sameer! She interrupted, still not meeting his gaze.

"Actually, I'm in so much stress. College is way harder than I thought. All the work, all the pressure..it's just too much for me to handle. Sameer knew she was hiding something. Naina had never been intimidated by work, never in school, and neither in college, he had no doubt in that.

"Naina, I don't--

"Oh Sameer. I know. I know how to reduce this stress. This pressure. I know it's not correct, but hey, it's just this one time. And we won't let anyone else know. Promise. With that she extended her hand, eyes still fixated everywhere else but him.

She gestured him to give something to which Sameer looked confused.

"C'mon Sameer. Don't pretend now. We won't let anyone know. I only want one.

"One of what? Sameer asked bewildered now.

"Cigarette. Her eyes finally met his as his breathing hitched. Her eyes were red; in rage, in betrayal, in hurt. Her lips twitched and her teeth gritted.

"C'mon Sameer Maheshwari. Pass me a cigarette. She repeated, rage blazing vigorously through her eyes.

So now that the suspense has been revealed, do let me know what you felt of this update! 

Waiting, waiting!