Agarwal Mansion.

Pandit: papaji aap yeh kya keh rahe hai?

Preeti: Ha papa, Sameer aur Naina saath mein....Hum use ache se jaante tak nahi hai.

Rama: To janne ki koshish karte hai na Preeti.

Rakesh: Dekho Naina, mujhe pata hai ki maine yeh sab tumse bina pucha hi tay kar lia. Par beta Sameer bohot acha ladka hai, aur tumhare liye bilkul sahi hai.

Rama: Ha Naina, aaj jab hum mile na toh ekdum se use attached sa laga. Aur tumne dekha na ki woh apne family ka kitna dhyan rakhta hai. Vishakha bhabhi bhi bol rahi thi ki woh ekdum seedha sadha sa aur family person hai. Aaj kal ke ladke aise thodi na hote hai.

Preeti: Mummy, aunty toh uski taarif hi karengi na par agar reality mein kuch aur hua toh?

Pandit: hume pehle thik se puri jaanch padtal karni padegi.

Rakesh: isiliye toh hum tumhe keh rahe hai ki tum socho. Tumhe jitna time chahiye utna lo. Naina hamara tumpe koi pressure nahi hai,jobhi faisla hoga woh akhri faisla tumhara hi hoga.

Everyone was looking at Naina while she was still in shock.

Rama: Naina aaram se sochke faisla le. Aur ab hum sab so jaate hai aur thodi der Naina ko akele sochne dete hai.Preeti-Pandit tum bhi jao aur koi tension mat lena.

Naina sits on the terrace all alone watching everyone retiring to their rooms.

***************************

Maheshwari Mansion.

The rising sun cast a rosy hue across the morning sky. Golden fingers of sunlight lit up the scene, bringing with it a flurry of early morning activity. Another day had dawned, bringing with it new hopes and aspiration.

With earphones plugged in his ears, Sameer was all sweaty and perspired due to running physically and mentally. His father's words could not let him sleep peacefully. All positive and negative thoughts were running across his mind since last night. While bodily he had reached the Mansion's gate. He viewed at his Bhai and bhabhi sipping their morning tea as usual.

Sameer: Good morning!

Swamun: Good morning!!

Swati: Toh devarji, meri devraniji ke baare me kuch socha ya nahi?

Sameer: Bhabhi please.

Swati: Please kya, sochna toh padega na.

Sameer: Nahi abhi tak kuch nahi socha.

Munna: Arre isme sochna kya hai, haa bol de. Tujhse waise bhi koi pattni nahi hai.

Swati: Itni toh ladkiya hai inke peeche.

Munna: Lekin saath la hi nahi raha na ye. Kisiko toh haa bole.

Sameer: Aapne thodi na itni jaldi haa ki thi, apne bhi toh time liya tha na.

Munna: Ha kyuki woh teri bhabhi thi na, Naina nahi.

Hearing this Swati glares at Munna making him tongue tied.

Swati(To Sameer): kya baat hai Sameer, koi problem hai kya?

Sameer: Koi problem nahi hai Bhabhi. bas itni jaldbaazi, I mean sab aise itni jaldi decision lena, kuch gadbad toh nahi hogi na?

Munna: Yeh jaldbaazi nahi hai Sameer, Bas sab chahte hai ki tu ache se settle down ho, apni life partner ke saath khush ho. Meri bhi toh shaadi yahi age mein hui thi na. Sameer yahi age sahi hai, kyuki abhi hi samay hai jab tum apne life partner ko samjha, uske saath apna quality time spend karo. Ek baar jab yeh time chala gaya na toh tumhe yeh sab experience karne nahi milega kyunki uss qakt tum family, professional responsibilities mein itne ulajh jauge toh tumhe ek dusre ko time dena bohot mushkil ho jayega, which may lead to misunderstandings or anything else. Aur hume Naina tera saath dene ke liye ekdum sahi lagti hai.

Swati: Par aapko agar koi bhi doubt ho toh woh usse clear karo. Usse jaanne ki koshish karo. Jab tak aap usse jaanoge nahi tab tak aap sahi decision nahi le paoge.

Munna: Aur uska raasta bhi teri bhabhi laayi hai.

Sameer gives them a confused look and then looks at the paper forwarded by Swati. She hints him to read; Sameer opens the chit which read out a phone number.

Swati: Jaake usse baat kijiye. Aapki saari problems ka hal yahi hai.

Saying this she winks at him and walks towards the house accompanied by her husband.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The light of dawn seeped in the room as Naina rubbed her bleary eyes and walked towards the window opening the curtains. Sleep was far way from her eyes last night. She was thinking about her Father's wish of having Sameer as her husband. She didn't know him at all, his nature, his behavior, his choices, nothing and that is why she wasn't sure about him. But she had full faith in her parents. She knew her parents would not choose anyone who would hurt her and of course the last decision was hers. She was all in her thoughts when she heard her mom calling for breakfast.

The whole table was filled with lavish South-Indian dishes. Pandit was serving himself a couple of Idlis whereas Preeti was showing tantrums to drink milk while Rakesh was busy sipping his morning tea and reading newspaper. Naina walked towards her chair and seated next to Rakesh resting her head on his shoulder.

Rakesh: Good Morning!!

Naina(tiredly): Good morning.

Rama; Kya hua beta teri aanken sooji hui kyu hai?

Naina: Kuch nahi, bad neend puri nahi hui.

Preeti: Aur neend tension ke wajah se nahi aai hogi na?

Rakesh: Itna tension mat le beta, dheere dheere sab samaj ke faisla le, koi pressure nahi hai.

Rama: Aur apna mood theek kar pehle, Main tera nashta lagati hu.

Saying this Rama starts serving Naina and they all have their breakfast chatting and hearing to Preedit's sweet fight. Which Naina knew was for cheering her mood up.

Rama: Naina zara mere saath kitchen mein aa toh.

Rama says to Naina and walks towards the kitchen.

Naina: kya hua mummy?

Rama : sun mujhe pata hai ki yeh shaadi ka decision bohot bada aur zindagi ka sabse important faisla hai isiliye sirf humpe bharosa rakhke tu yeh faisla mat lena. Sameer bhale hi kitna bhi acha ladka ho, tera uske saath man milna zyada zaroori hai. Isiliye use baat kar, use jaan, uski soch ke bare mein jaan aur fir faisla le. Yeh le.

Rama hands over a chit to Naina.

Naina: Yeh kya hai?

Rama: Sameer ka no. hai, use baat kar. Mujhe pata hai ki yeh sab mostly koi maa nahi karti par yeh teri zindagi ka sawaal hai isiliye sab jaayaz hai. Ab jaa aur pehle naha le warna kaam ko late ho jayega.

*************************

Kamya, Naina's friend and colleague was waiting for Naina in the corridor of the building where their clinic was. Naina comes out of the clinic with her bags and walk towards Kamya.

Kamya: kitni der kar rahi hai Naina.

Naina: arre last client ke bohot zyada demands the, uski shaadi hai toh usse wajan bhi kam karna hai, chehre pe glow bhi chahiye. Sab kuch ek saath.

Kamya: Acha sun, main jo bata rahi hu woh baat bohit important hai. Isiliye puri baat sunne ke baad hi reaction dena.

Naina: Thik hai par bata toh.

Kamya: meri shaadi tay hogayi hai.

As soon as these words left Kamya's mouth, Naina was shocked. She couldn't think of anything at that moment. And when she came into senses and was going to ask her about everything, she was stopped by Kamya.

Kamya: Mujhe pata hai bohot sawaal hai par itna time nahi hai mere paas. Main tujhe sab short mein batati hun. Dekh, woh ladka ankit mere hi building mein rehta hai, Mom -Dad ko pehle se hi pasand tha. Kal uski family aai thi mujhe dekhne; unhe main pasand aai aur unhone haa kar di. Phir Roka bhi ho gaya kyunki meri bhi haa hi thi. (pause) Ab puch jo puchna hai tujhe.

Naina: Tu aise kaise haa kar sakti hai? Tu use thik se jaanti bhi nahi hai aur tune toh kaha tha na ko tu love marriage karegi, uska kya?

Kamya: Naina, mere family ko who pasand hai aur somewhat mujhe bhi. Acha dikhta hai, kamata hai, family bhi achi hai toh koi problem nahi hai. Ayr jaha tak jaanne ki baat hai who toh hum ab bhi kar sakte hai. Hum dono toh abhi movie ke liye bhi jaa rahe hai. Dheere dheere jaan lenege na. Aur yahi toh special baat hai na arrange marriage ki, hare k din ek-ek pehelu saamne aata hai. Aur haa'love marriage karne wali thi par ab koi ladka hi nahi mila, isiliye joh mila use hi choon liya.

Naina: Aur pyar, uska kya?

Kamya: Pyar ka kya hai Naina, pyar toh ho jayega. Aur kya pata yahi who insaan hai jo mujhe hamesha khush rakhega.

Naina: Aur agar nahi rakha toh?

Kamya: Har baat mein negitiviye kyu dhoondti hai tu? Zara positive bhi toh soch. Har baar practical hona sahi nahi hai, kabhi-kabhi kuch cheezein kismet pe chodni chahiye. Agar maine aise sochke use na kar bhi diya toh yeh guarantee thodi na hai ki agla acha hi hoga. Sachai aankhon mein dikhti hai, aur unki ankho mein dikhta hai ki who sacche hai. Ab aur sawaal nahi mujhe late ho raha hai, who ruke hai.

Kamya says and runs downstairs. Naina keeps watching her retrieving figure and sees her all happy to meet her to-be-husband.

It was the end of August, the clouds spat out their beads of water. Puddles began plinking as the rainfall became heavier. The roofs of the cars danced with sprays of water. Stalls of hot steaming tea and and fritters were covered by the crowds of people. Preeti was observing the scene sitting in the coffee house and sipping her hot coffe and munching onto her sandwiches. She was waiting for Naina as they were called by Pandit cause he wanted to talk about something important which was related to Sameer. Naina enters the coffee house and sees only Preeti.

Naina: Aate hi khana shuru kar diya bhukkad.

Preeti: Arre bahar aaye hai toh khana toh chahiye na, aur waise bhi main ab sirf ek nahi do hu.

Naina: Hey bhagwan!! Mujhe tujhse koi behes nahi karni hai mata. Main already bohot frustrated hun.

Preeti: Ab kya hua hai tujhe?

Naina: Jabse mere shaadi ki baat chhidi hai tabse har jagah shaadi hi shaadi ho rahi hai.

Preeti: Hein? Aisa kya hua hai?

Naina: Dekh aaj subah jiss rickshaw se main aa rahi thi kaam pe, uss rickshaw driver ki shaadi tay hoyi hai isiliye who apne fiancée se baate kare jaa raha tha, baton se hi samj aa rha tha. Aaj 2-3 clients the jinki shaadi hai isiliye unhe weight kam karna hai aur toh aur Kamya ki bhi shaadi tay ho gayi hai. Ab toh mujhe shaadi ke naam pe bhi gussa aa raha hai.

Preeti: Oh god!! Behen tu chill kar aur ek coffee order kar.

Naina: Wiase jiju ne kyu bulaya hai?

Preeti: Kya pata? Abhi tak aaya bhi nahi hai.

Just then Pandit enters the coffe house and walks towards their table.

Pandit: Hello saaliji!!

Naina: Hello!!

Preeti: Toh kya important baat karni hai tumhe?

Pandit: Maine kal Shyam se bolke Sameer ke professional life aur thodi personal lefe ke baar mein information nikalne boli thi.

Naina: Toh kya mili khabar?

Pandit: Sameer bohot hi decent amily se hai. Who Ahmedabad mein hi pala badha . Pragati Vidya Ka Mandir is school mein tha, average tha lekin surricular activities mein bohot acha tha. Patel Mahavidyalay college mein usne graduation complete ki aur fir 1-2 saal apne dad ke company mein kaam kiya. Lekin fir use acting karni thi toh Mumbai aagaya. Uski 1st serial YUDKBH bohot hit thi, uske wajah se use bhot fame mila aur ek ke baad ek offers milte gaye aur woh aur bhi famous ho gaya. Lekin aaj tak koi bhi controversy nahi hai.

Preeti: Lekin uska Ashi ke saath kuch tha na.

Pandit: Nahi Ashi ke saath uska koi bhi naata nahi tha aur naahi hai. Sameer bohot hi professional hai uske kaam ke bare mein. Uska naam bhale hi uske co-stars ke saath juda ho, par uska koi bhi Affair nahi hai.

There was an awkward silence between the three of them. Everyone knew about actors having many relation controversies and were expecting Sameer to have one too but he was an exception which was surprising and impressing.

Pandit: Naina, aaj subah tak mujhe bhi thoda doubt the lekin abhi jab maine yeh sab suna toh mujhe lagta hai ki Sameer genuinely saccha hai.

Preeti: Sach behen mujhe bhi tera jaise hi abhi shock laga hai. Par agar yeh saari cheze sach hai toh mujhe lagta hai ki he is the perfect husband material.

Pandit: Ha Naina, ek actor hoke itni actresses ke saath kaam karke koi bhi controversy na hona, koi relation na hona aur fir bhi family man hona bohot badi cheez hai Naina.

Naina: Main....ahh..main abhi kuch keh nahi sakti. Mujhe unse baat karni padegi. Aur shayad aur time bhi chahiye hai.

Preeti: Behen, main tujhse keh rahi hun ki yeh decision Mummy-Papa ke pressure mein mat le. Iss bare mein toh bhi thodi selfish ho aur bas apne khushi ke bare mein soch. Okay?

Naina: HHmmmm

Naina hums sighingly.

************************************

Maheshwari Mansion,

All the Maheshwari members were in the living room enjoying Dadu's talks about his era. Dadi was cursing about the restrictiona that were put on girls in her time and was imagining herself getting the opportunities that a girl gets now-a-days. Everyone was enjoying their little family time, when Vishakha came with a good news.

Vishakha: Meri Rama bhabhiji se batt ho gayi hai aur parso milne ka din tay ho gaya hai.

Dadi: Arre wah, sabse milna hoga ab. Vishkha kitne baje aayenge woh log?

Vishakha: Subah 11 baje aa jayenge , maine kaha ki yahi khana kar le.

Dadu: Ha yeh bohot acha kiya, unke wajah se hume bhi kuch meetha mil jayega aur Naina se bhi milna hoga. Kyu Sameer?

Sameer nods his head in a yes pursing his lips into a thin line.

Swati and Dadi go towards their room for the welcoming preparations whileMunna and dadu were busy discussing about the works scheduled that day that were to be cancelled. Wgereas our hero was tensed about whether Naina would say yes or no to the alliance from which his family had too many expectations.

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Word count: 2527

Hey amigos!!

The 4th chapter's here. Please ignore the grammatical mistakes. Sorry for the delay. As informed earlier it would not be possible for us to update the next chapter soon as I have wedding functions in my house and Hemangi is travelling. Please bear with us for this upcoming week, I promise after that we will be on our schedule of updating stories on Wdnesday and Sunday.

Also please take a note that there is a problem of retreiving comments which will be solved soon, so please till that time comment on my anouncement board so that I can read it or just DM me .

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Love,

Shambhavi and Hemangi.