The car stopped outside a huge gate while the guards came running to open the gate for their boss' car to enter.

As the car proceeded further Naina was left amused by the scenery in front of her. Huge gardens spread as far as her sight went, flowers blooming throughly, butterflies all around, fountains in the four corners and a white mansion in between. Guards in their black uniforms were deputed at the entrance of the house while servants in grey white uniform running here and there decorating the area with flowers and lights.

As the car stopped in front of the house, one of the guards opened Rajveer's gate, coming outside of the car he came towards Naina's side and opened the door for her. Looking meekly at her surroundings Naina timidly got off and stood reading designs on the ground.

Gently taking her hand in his Rajveer walked inside when a voice stopped them "STOP right there...don't dare yo enter Veeru"

Hearing this Naina looked up and found a man in mid twenties standing with pooja kii thaal in hand

Giving a sigh of annoyance Rajveer stated "What is all this Navu ?"

"My best friend, my brother,  and my one and only boss got married today....I have this much right to at least welcome him and his wife to their house" Naveen said with a cheeky grin

"And your boss can fire you for this" Rajveer tried to play with words

Rolling his eyes Naveen back answered "Naaaah....you can try...my best friend will kill that boss...no more discussions...my bhabhi is standing here and won't keep her hung for long so let me do her welcome"

For the next 5 minutes Naveen took is sweet time in welcoming his best friend and his bhabhi to their house which soon would be transformed into a home by God's grace.

"Okay now bhabhi you kick this pot filled with rice and come inside leaving your footprints...but please make sure to kick this pot on your dear husband's good for nothing face."

Giving out a small chuckle Naina followed Naveen's instructions...well, not all but just leaving the violent part of it. As she was about to enter her feet in the pot with red liquid, Rajveer held her hand for support.

"Thankyou for taking so long in this whole welcoming process...can we please go to freshen up sir" Rajveer asked Naveen extra sweetly annoyed with the fact that Naina needed rest and here he was holding her into these never ending rituals.

"Yaa sure but not before giving me neg" Naveen demanded forwarding his hand.

"And I thought that's what SISTER'S ask for" Rajveer pointed out

Shaking his head sideways Naveen answered "you know since I am your mom, your dad, your brother, your sister, your servant, your employee etc etc so I have to take care of every responsibility I have...."

Handing over his black card to Naveen Rajveer went away with Naina saying "do whatever you want"

"Chakk de phatte mere sher" Naveen shouted from behind laughingly.

***

Rajveer guided Naina to his room and on entering closed the door behind them getting the already nervous Naina flinch in restlessness.

Looking everywhere except Naina, Rajveer started explaining everything, "Umm....I don't know where to start from....I am really sorry for what all happened there in Bareilly....listening to their foul accusations and the fear in your eyes...I don't know what happened to me that I took such a big step without your consent....But what I felt was right at that time I did that...please don't take me wrong...you have all the freedom to decide what you want...I'd never force you...You take your time and tell me your decision...I will make arrangements as you say...and if there is someone you like....then I'll annule this marriage and get you both married....but Naina...if there is no one in your life...I'd really wanna give our marriage a chance...though none of us wouldve imagined our marriage to happen such a way but there is something special in you Naina....never in my life had any girl mattered to me this way like you do....it might not be wise to say all this now when its barely a few hours we met....i just dont know why you seem someone special....and I really want to form a bond with you...and someday I wanna fall in love with you....but all these matter only if you want"

"Jii.....I have no one in my life...if you are willing...I want this marriage to be successful." Naina said after a short break expressing her thoughts for the first time getting a big smile on Rajveer's face.

"And the pleasure is all mine....Thankyou so much Naina...I'll prove myself worthy of you...and ya please feel comfortable...I'll take my set of clothes and freshen up in the guest room...there are some casuals for you in the closet...since I didn't know what kind of clothes you prefer I ordered a pair of each....later on we can go for shopping and set your wardrobe as your choice" he ended pointing towards the walk in closet.

He took a glance at her face and found her a bit calm than before...taking it as a positive sign Rajveer proceeded to take his clothes and when he was about to leave Naina called from behind "Ji if you want you can change in this room only...This is your room....I'll take the guest room"

Flashing a small smile at her Rajveer answered "The moment I married you Naina...you got all rights on my possessions and me as well...please don't say this from onwards that this is mine or that is mine....everything is OURS"

These assuring words got a big smile on her face...for the first time after her brother's death someone thought for her or she got a sense of belonging. Giving a nod to Rajveer with her smile she moved to the closet while Rajveer went out.

After sometime she came out of the washroom in a simple light blue patialla suit and found Rajveer in his casuals sitting on the bed with the first aid kit probably waiting for her. Hearing the sound of the door closing Rajveer looked at her and for a moment got lost in his newly wedded wife's beauty. "Come here...we need to do your dressing" he called out to her after composing self  bit. Slowly moving towards him she sat adjacently. With polite hands Rajveer took the antiseptic solution cotton and dapped the wounds on her forehead and arms while she was just looking at him admiringly. "and done" he said tucking the last piece of bandage on her forehead. "Come let's go down for breakfast....Navu would be waiting for us" Rajveer stood up to go downstairs when Naina voiced "Umm...Ji you also got wounded...we need to do your dressing as well..."

"Rajveer"

"huhh ?" she asked in confusion

Chuckling at her innocence he explained "My name is Rajveer....you can call me that"

"How can I call you by your name ?" she asked timidly...."if I can call you by your name then why can't you ?" he replied

"Maa never to addressed baba by his name....she used to say husbands are like god and we can't call them by their names" Naina justified her action

"Naina...that was in Bareilly...and its a patriarchy thinking...a husband and a wife are equal in a marriage....no one is less or more...and I'd really want you to call me by my name" he told her truthfully. 

Shaking her head in denial Naina took the first aid box from him and started treating his wounds. Once done with it they went downstairs. She was following him since Naina wasn't aware of the house....Instead of the dinning hall Rajveer took Naina towards the entrance and stopped near a giant portrait hung on the wall of two couples surrounded by various pictures showing a very happy family.

"Meet them Naina....they are mine and navu's parents...our parents were best friends since their college time and later we too also got inseparable....My dad, Vikram Singh Shekhawat and my mom, Vineeta Singh Shekhawat....and these....Ira aunty and Inder uncle....navu's parents........" he said with moist eyes pointing at the portrait. Taking a deep breath he continued "I wanted you to meet them at first Naina but your wounds needed attention....you know we all used to live so happily in this house. We were a complete family....a happy family" he said with his eyes getting teary. "Dad and Uncle used to look after our family business...Shekhawat Group of Industries....my dadaji had started this business....and now I am taking the legacy forward."

"Do you know because of our friendship Navu and me were given the name Naveer...#Naveer" he continued chuckling a bit and pointing at a silver nametag below a collage which naina assumed to be of Naveen and Rajveer, naina too smiled freely meeting her new family and getting to know such deep bond between people. Where in today's world let away relatives but even siblings or children end the relation for money, here they all were a great family...without any blood relation, they formed an example. "Ohh god...I've been holding you for so long....come lets have lunch" he guided her towards the dining hall. All this while Naina was looking at him in admiration...respect for her man rose more in her eyes....he was a surely an emotional person and the one who loves his family. Silently she promised herself to forever support him and stand by his side.

-----

Vocabulary

Pooja kii thaal: a tray or large container on which the entire puja materials are accumulated and decorated.

Bhabhi: Sister-in-law/brother's wife

Neg: The practice of giving money etc. to family members and others on any auspicious occasion.

Chakk de patte: A panjabi phrase to motivate someone to do well

Mere: My

Sher: Lion

Ji: Used with names and titles to show respect

Dadaji: Paternal grandfather