All the Maheshwari members were present on the dining table for breakfast. After having a delightful meet with the Agarwal's the other day, everyone had the only topic left to talk about. Just then Sameer asks for their attention.

Sameer: Ahh.....Mujhe aap sabse kuch baat karni hai.

Vivek: Bolo Sameer, kya baat hai ?

Sameer: Woh...actually meri shaadi ke liye haa hai.

All gasp hearing Sameer's decision while Vishakha gets up her chair and starts walking inside.

Sameer: Maa!! Kya hua? Aap andar kyu?

Vishakha: Aur nahi toh kya (pulls Sameer cheek) Arre mere bête ne hamari bahu chun li hai toh mithai toh laani padegi na.

All start laughing and tease Sameer. Vishakha and Swati get sweets and feed Sameer a mouthful of them.

Swati: Ab hi sab laad chadav karwa lijiye devarji, jab Naina aayegi tab aapki koi demand nahi hogi.

Saying this she feeds him one more bite and all laugh loudly.

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

Agarwal house

Rama: Kya? Sach?

Rama gets shocked hearing Naina's statement of agreeing for marriage. Naina sits on of the chairs placed besides.

Naina: Haa, maine socha aur fir hi tay kiya ki main ek mauka du iss rishte ko.

Rakesh: Naina maine tujhse kal baat ki isiliye tu dabaav mein toh yeh faisla nahi le rahi?

Naina: Nahi papa, main koi dabaav mein faisla nahi le rahi hu. Main sach mein ek chance deke dekhna chahti hu.

Rakesh smiles and says

Rakesh: Arre Rama meethai toh lao hamari bachi ki jald shaadi ho jayegi.

Rakesh says taking Naina in a hug and pecks her forehead. Just then Rakesh receives a call.

Rakesh: Arre Vivek mere yaar, main abhi tujhe hi call karne wala tha.

Vivek: Acha, kis liye?

Rakesh: Ab yaar se samdhi jo banenge hum, Naina ne haa kardi hai.

Vivek: Kya? Arre yaha bhi Sameer ne haa kardi.

Rakesh: Bhagwan ki kaisi kripa hai Vivek hamare dono bacho ne ek saath hi ek saath hone ke liye haa kardi hai.

Vivek: Woh toh hai, dono ki rab ne banayi hui Jodi hai.

Vishakha hints him to ask Rakesh to hand over the phone to Rama.

Vivek: Acha Rakesh, bhabhiji ko dena Vishakha ko kuch baat karni hai.

Rakesh: Ha abhi deta hun.

Rakesh gives the phone to Rama who was feeding Dahi- shakkar to Naina.

Rama: Namaste bhabhiji.

Vishakha: Bhabhiji nahi samdhanji kahiye Rama ji. Hamare bacho ka rishta judne wala hai ab.

Rama: Zarur samdhanji, kahiye kya kehna tha.

Vishakha: Bhabhiji main chahti hu ki Naina ab jald se jald meri beti banke aaye, isiliye kya hum Roka isi hafte mein kar sakte hai? Aapka kya kehna hai?

Rama: Ji zarur, mera bhi yahi kehna hai, woh kya haina hum agle hafte Shimla jaane wale hai, toh agar isi hafte mein sab ho gaya toh bohot acha hai.

Vishakha: Ji kyon nahi, mein sabse baat kar leti hu aur Pandit ji se bhi Roke ka muhurat nikalwa lungi aur waise sham tak khabar kar dungi.

Rama: Ji ji main intezar karungi. Namaste.

Vishakha: Namaste.

Rama ends the call and announces about the Roka when Rakesh becomes emotional.

Rakesh: Ab toh mera yeh taara bhi chala jayega toh mera ghar ekdum suna suna ho jayega.

Naina: Papa please na emotional mat hoiye.

Rakesh: Ab meri rajkumari jayegi toh dukhi toh hoga hi na.

Naina; Mujhe nahi karni shaadi agar aap itne dukhi ho jayenge.

Rama: Chup reh, ek na ek din har ladki ko toh sasural jaana hi hota hai. Isiliye madam ji emotional mat hoiye aur apne kaam pe jaiye. Roke ke waqt do din chutti leni padegi tab natak karegi tu. Isiliye ja ab tayar ho aur chutti ke mail likhna mat bhulna.

Saying this Rama pushes Naina towards her room.

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

The dappled sun descended from its in the sky to somewhat to the terminus at the horizon in the West, it shone through the trees creating mysterious shadow. The blue sky was dotted with fluffy white clouds that drifted lazily in the gentle breese. Naina was just over with her lunch when her phone started ringing and she received the call of her sister Preeti.

Preeti: Tune haa kardi? Kyu? Tu use ache se jaanti bhi nahi hai Naina, tune itni jaldi kyu ki? Mujhse ek baar baat toh kar li hoti.

Naina: Arre arre Rajdhani express, zara break toh laga. Meri puri baat toh sunle, tujhe apne saare sawaalon ka jawab mil jayega.

Preeti: Toh bolna jaldi jaldi.

Nanina: Tu bolne degi tab bolu na.

Preeti: Acha theek hai main kuch nahi bolungi, ab bata ki tune ha kyu ki?

Naina: Kyunki main chahti hun ki main bhi settle ho jaun aur Sameer ko ek mauka du. Preeti woh bohot ache hai aur Mummy-papa ko bhi pasand hai toh ek baar chance dena hai . Mummy papa ki choice galat thodi hogi.

Preeti: Tu pressure mein to decision nahi le rahi na?

Naina: Nahi baba, Main sach keh rahi hu. Maine unse baat ki hai aur woh....woh bohot sache lage mujhe.

Preeti: Tujhe kaise laga ki woh sacha hai?

Naina: Sachai toh aankhon mein dikhti hai na aur unki aankhe jhoot nahi bolti.

Preeti: Tu achi hai isiliye tujhe sab aise lagta hai.

Naina: Nahi Preeti, tu ek baar unse mil toh , tujhe automatically pata chal jayega.

Preeti: Tu pakka sure haina?

Naina: Ha hun aur nahi lungi main koi bhi pressure. Tu meri itni chinta mat kar aur apna khayal rakh. Mere bhanje ya bhanji ko kuch hona nahi chahiye.

Preeti: Ise kuch nahi hone wala ullta mujhe hi kuch ho jayega. Iski wajah se kal maine 3 ice-cream khaye.

Naina: Bache ki wajah se ya tujhe khud khane the?

Preeti: Main thodi na khati hu itna.

Naina(sarcastically): Ha ha isiliye toh bache tujhpe gaye hai.

Preeti: Who toh hai.

Naina: Bhukkad kahi ki, chal ab mujhe apna kaam karne de aur apna khayal rakh. Bye.

Preeti: Bye

Naina then disconnects the call and resumes with her work.

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

The black clouds engulfed the sky with the white moon spreading it's light all over, the roads were partially covered with people who wanted to spend time with their partners, while most of them were departing back to their houses after an exhausting day.

Naina- Hello...

Sameer- Hii, Me Sameer bol raha hu....

Naina- Pata hai, number saved hai..

Sameer- ohhh....

After Sameer's words there was silence between them....

Naina-Roke ki tarikh aagayi???

Sameer-Haa, Maa keh rhi thi ki kuch do din baad ki tarikh nikli hai..

Naina-Oh, Accha..

Sameer-Ahh....Naina kya tum aapne decision ke baare me sure ho??..Muje lag rha hai ki shayad tumne aapne parents ko mere adoption ke baare me nhi bataya hoga, pls tum unhe ye bata do......Me nhi chahta ki ye unhe kisi aur se pata chale aur vo hurt ho....

Naina-Mujhe pata hai ki aapka unhe hurt karne ka koi iraada nhi hai. Par kabhi-kabhi kuch baate sirf hum dono ke aapas me hi honi chahiye..

Sameer-Haa par phir bhi......

Naina-Agar unhe kabhi kisi aur se bhi pata chal jaaye to me unhe samjha dungi. Aur mujhe pata hai ki vo acche se samjha jaayenge ki mene asse kyu kiya.

Sameer-Hmm....

Just then Rama calls Naina down for dinner and Sameer overhears it.

Sameer-Naina tumne khana nhi khaya hai to tum pehele khalo phir baat karenge. Ye zaruri todhi hai ki mera call aaye aur tumhe utthana hi padega.

Naina-Asse to nhi hai ki call utthana padega. Par me utthana chahti thi.

There was silence on the call which was broken by Naina..

Naina-Ab kuch boliye bhi??

Sameer-Kya har-baar laafzon ki zarurat hoti hai? Kuch baate khamoshiyon me bhi to hoti hai.

Khamoshiyan aawaz hain
Tum sunne to aao kabhi
Chhukar tumhe khill jaayegi
Ghar inko bulaao kabhi
Beqarar hain baat karne ko
Kehne do inko zaraa....

Khamoshiyan..teri meri khamoshiyan

Khamoshiyan....Lipti hui khamoshiyan.

The silence was carry forward for little longer than expected and was this time broken by Sameer....

Sameer- Tum jaake aapna khana khalo hum kal baat karte hai...

Naina-Hmm...Bye..

Sameer-Bye...

They both disconnect the call and Naina descends down for dinner.

Rakesh-Itni der kyu lagadi?? Hum kabse intezaar kar rhe the.

Naina-Sry Papa..Vo ek important call attend kar rhi thi.

Rakesh-Kiska??

Rama- Aree abhi-abhi toh roka tay hua hai to important call kiska hoga samajhiye na.

Naina- Maa.

Naina blushes hard while Rama-Rakesh laugh...

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

The whole house of the Agarwal's was decorated with marigold flowers. The house was all neat and clean with people running around to make the arrangements from the Groom-to-be's family.Rakesh was checking the pleasantries. While Rama and Preeti were busy making special eatables and Pandit was balancing himself on the stool in order to fetch the dinner set kept up the shelf in the kitchen.

Preeti-Pandit dinner set nikala ya nhi??Kitni der??

Pandit-Arre me yaha balancing bhi kar rha hu aur dinner set bhi nikal rha hu .Yaha me ittna kar rha hu aur tum waha khadi hoke teacher ki tarah lecture de rhi ho.

Preeti-Tumse na ek kaam dhang se nhi hota,Tum utro neeche me nikal leti hu.

Preeti said with a rolling pin in her hand.

Pandit-Nahi Biwiji Nahi, Dhiraj rakho aarahu neeche.

Pandit climbs down the stool holding the dinner set..

Pandit-Ye lo, pakdo tumhara dinner set,ab me kahi bhi chadne-vadne nhi wala.

Saying this Pandit walks out of the kitchen with the stool in his hand..

Preeti-Ek kaam kiya to itna thak jaate ho, humare jitna karte to mar hi jaate.

As soon as Rama hears this she slaps Preeti's shoulder and says..

Rama- Pagal hai kya ,asse koi bolta hai?

Preeti-Mummy yaar aap bas mujhe chilate ho usse to kuch nhi khete ho.

Rama-Usse nhi Unnhe bol aur jaa jaake dekh Naina taiyaar hui ki hi??

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

Dressed in an orange colored saree with golden thread work and green border, Naina was looking elegant and divine. Her hair were left open and her face with minimal make up and natural glow. She was staring at herself through the mirror all nervous and with an uneasy feeling.

Today is the day. She is gonna meet him, not as a stranger nor as a friend but as his to-be-wife. Today they'll be finalizing their alliance, their future together. Naina was nervous thinking about him and his family and their behavior after this day.Just then Preeti knocks in.

Preeti: Naina ho gayi tayar?

Naina(Hypered): Woh log aagaye?

Preeti: Arre itna hyper kyon ho gayi? Woh log nahi aaye hai abhi tak.

Naina relaxed and sat on the bed.

Preeti: Nervous?

Naina: Hmmm

Preeti: Madamji abhi tak shaadi baaki hai, ab hi itni nervousness toh shaadi mein kya hoga?

Naina: Yaar lets call it off.

Preeti: Pagal hai kya? Saari tayari ho chuki hai. Ladke wale kabhi bhi aa sakte hai.

Naina: Preeti main kya karu? Mujhe na bohot darr lag raha hai.

Preeti: Isiliye keh rahi thi ki time le par tu meri sunti kaha hai?

Naina: Are mujhe Sameer ke bare mein koi doubt nahi hai, Bas abse you know, main committed rahungi. Mujhe saari cheezein soch samaj ke karni hogi, all and all. Main kar toh paungi na?

Preeti: Naina deviji, aap sab cheezon mein ache ho aur jab mujh jaisi ladki dari nahi toh tu kya darr rahi hai?

Suddenly the door bell rings and they both gasp.

Preeti: Aagaye jijaji, tu itna tension mat le aur chill kar. Main neeche jaa rahi hu tujhe lene aaungi

Naina: Hmm.

Naina stands in the room and watches Preeti go down to welcome the guest.

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

Rakesh opened the door and welcomed the guests inside. Everyone touched Dada-Dadi's feet to seek blessings while Rama introduced Preeti and Pandit to the elder mosts. Preedit hugged Swamun and all settled down comfortably.

Dadu: Bhai Rakesh, tumhari badi beti toh ekdum hasmukh hai aur pyari bhi.

Preeti smiled fondly and Dadi patted her cheek saying

Dadi: Rama tumhari dono hi betiya bohot hi gunni hai aur tumhara damad bhi.

Rama: Kakiji hamara hone wala damad bhi toh itne sanskari hai isiliye hamari bachi ko bhi toh waisa hona chahiye na.

Swati: Woh toh hai auntyji, isiliye toh Naina ne bhi haa kardi.

Vishakha: Arre haa, Naina kaha hai? Use bhi bula lijiye woh akeli kya karegi upar.

Vivek: Ji bhabhiji use bhi le aaiye, hum rasam abhi hi kar lete hai. Phir aaram se baate karte baithenge.

Rakesh: Haa Rama, Vivek sahi keh raha hai Roka abhi hi kar lete hai.

Rama: Ji , Bhabhiji kakiji aap aajaiye aur ek baar dekh lijiye sab theek hai ya nhi. Preeti tu jaa Naina ke paas, main bulati hu.

Swati: Auntyji main bhi jau?

Rakesh: Arre usme puchne ki kya baat hai beta, jao na, Preeti use le ja.

Preeti: Ji, aao Swati.

Swapree got up to Naina's room whereas the other ladies move towards the another room for checking the arrangements.

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

The girls descend down the stairs and Samaina's eyes meet. Dreesed in a Pista coloured kurta Sameer was looking breathtaking.

Both had several emotions in their eyes. Preeti and Swati make Naina sit besides Sameer. Everyone was happy to see their children happy together. Soon they start with the ceremomy. Rakesh comes forward; puts a tika on Sameer's forehead and handovers him a suit piece, Rama follows the same process and handovers him a gold chain. Sameer then touches their feet and they bless him wholeheartedly. Dadi next comes forward and applies a little amount of kumkum on Naina's forehead and keeps a beautiful saree on her lap. Vishakha comes forward and slips two heavy gold bangles in Naina's hand and says....

Vishakha- Ye shagun ke kangan hai Naina ab inhe uttarna nhi.

Naina- Jii.

Sameer and Naina pass on their gifts to Swati and Preeti respectively. Both stand up and seek blessings from all the elders.

Dadi- Sameer bohot naseeb wale ho tum jo tumhe Naina jaisi samajhdaar jeevansaathi milli hai..(to Naina) Ab bas tumhara ghar aane ka intezaar hai. Jo ki bohot jaldi hoga, Nhi??

Samaina blushes profusely and all starts laughing...

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

Main vaari jaawa, main vaari jaawa, saathon ki ho yeh kasur re

Main vaari jaawa, main vaari jaawa, dil toh hoya Majbur
Main vaari jaawa, main vaari jaawa..

All the Ladies had occupied the dinning table were as the gentlemen's were sitted on the sofa....Naina was gazing at Sameer not aware of the discussion going on.

Chu liya tune labh se aankho ko, mannate puri tumse hi

main vaari jaawa
tu mile jaha, mera jahaan hai waha, raunake saari tumse hi

ho chu liya tune labh se aankho ko, mannate puri tumse hi

tu mile jaha, mera jahaan hai waha, raunake saari tumse hi

piya o re piya, piya re piya re piya
piya o re piya, piya re piya re piya

Suddenly Sameer looks back at her and passes a small smile. Naina does the same, they share an eyelock. Swati nudges Naina back to her senses and eventually she gets involved in serving the lunch.

Inn duriyo ne, nazdikiyo se, sayda koi kar liya
Ho jhuk ke nighaho ne, dil se ishq ka vaada koi kar liya
Main vaari jaawa, main vaari jaawa, saatho ki ho ya bin
Kasur re

Sau-sau taaro se, bhar key eh daaman, le chal mujhe
Kahi dur
Piya o re piya, piya re piya re piya
Piya re, re piya

Rama, Preeti and Naina served food to everyone and were about to settle down when Vishakha said...

Vishakha- Naina tum Sameer ke pass betho. Aaj hi ka din milega phir pata nhi kab sagai aur shaadi hogi.

Swati- Haa Naina, Waise bhi Deverji bohot busy hoote hai aur jaldi milte bhi nhi.

All start laughing agreeing to what Swati said as Naina settles down besides Sameer.

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

The afternoon sky, was like a beautiful canvas graced with sky blues and pure milky whites. The last September days were made to be like this. The soothing cool breeze passed over the fresh green grass with yellow butterflies dancing above them. It was just like a dream.

The lunch was a lively, fun-filled affair. After a heavy Punjabi meal everyone now was waiting for some chilled ice-cream. Rama and Naina were serving walls of ice-cream; Preeti was talking with the other ladies while the Men were busy talking about the current politics. Swati brought out the trays of ice-cream bowls when Rama hinted Rakesh.

Rakesh- Mujhe aap sabhi se kuch kehna hai.

Everyone shifted their attention to him.

Rakesh- Aaj humare bacho ke Roke ke subh avsar par hum ek aur khushkhabari dena chahte hai.

Dadu- Arre Wah, do khushkhabariya ek saath, matlab double methai.

Munna- Dadu, pehle khushkhabari sun to lijiye.

Rama- Kakaji ab double nahi triple meethai hogi, kyuki hamari Preeti aur Damadji double se triple hone wale hai. Preeti pet se hai.

Swati: Congratulations!!

Saying this Swati hugged her and followed by her everyone wished them for best and then everyone savoured on the sweet dish. And soon the Maheshwari's asked for their leave.

Dadi: Roz phone pe baat karna mujhse, ab toh bas tumhari yaad aati rahegi.

Vishakha: Ab intezaar nahi hoga hume, jald se jald ghar le jayenge hum.

The elder ladies say and hug Naina warmly. She touches their feet for the last time and then turns to Swati to do the same.

Swati : Are nahi-nahi, main tumhari jethani nahi behen hu aur behen ke gale milte hai.

They hug each other.

Naina: Agli baar please Advait ko bhi le aana, uske bina khali khali lagta hai.

Swati: Zarur, iss baar Mummy-Papa zidd kar rahe the aur plane mein bhi shant nhi baithta issliyle chod aayi.

Everyone bids them a bye and the Maheshwari's travel to the airport.

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

Verdant scenery, salubrious weather, snow-clad hills and an old-world charm, Shimla has always enticed people for years. Also known as the 'Queen of Hills', Shimla is a picturesque hill town nestled at an altitude of 2205 metres in the enchanting state of Himachal Pradesh.

The sky was clear with a chilly gust blowing. Dressed in heavily woolen clothes, the Agarwals were standing with their tour guide and an another family, the Mehrotras; waiting for the third family who were going to accompany them in the trip. 

Tour Guide, Swapnil: Sanket, tumne call kiya toh kya keh rahe the sir?

The tour guide asked his co-tour guide.

Sanket: Sir, woh aa hi rahe hai, keh rahe the luggage pickup se nikal chuke hai.

Everyone waited for the other travellers while clicking some photos of the surroundings and introducing each other.

Preeti: At last yaar hum Shimla, Kullu-Manali ghumenge. Kabse aana tha hume.

Naina: I know, kitna beautiful hai yaha sab.

Preeti: Par yaar yaha toh hume jacket hi pehnni padegi na, its so cold. Itne ache tops dikhenge hi nahi.

Naina: Woh compulsion toh tujhe hai. Tujhe sardi nahi honi chahiye kyunki tu pregnant hai aur goliya nahi le sakti. Par main photos ke liye toh nikal hi sakti hu.

Preeti: Tu mujhe chidda rahi hai na. Shrap hai mera ki kuch aisa ho jisse tujhe majbooran jacket pehenna hi padega.

Naina: Chal-chal shrap vrap kuch nahi hota,aur aisa kuch bhi nahi hone wala.

Suddenly the tour guide said

Sanket : Woh rahe Mr. Maheshwari.

Hearing the name Maheshwari, Naina gasps; turns and sees him.

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

Word count: 3332

At last the chapter's here.

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Love
Shambhavi and Hemangi.