The chapter is dedicated to Nidhi from one fellow taurean to other! Happy Birthday!

Chapter 5

The solution

Sameer: I dashed through the doors like the wind, and was climbing down the stairs like some hurricane. The relatives and neighbours who had gathered around for the Muh Dikhai Rasam were chasing at my heels. Some trying to tease me while others giving me surreptitious gazes. In all of this the background of giggles remained constant. It was exhausting literally. But then mind was elsewhere, my eyes wandered across heads and faces looking for the familiar pair of eyes. That of my mother's. and then I spotted her, seated amidst the gang of aunties. She was busy preparing for the morning Rasms while she chatted along. In a jiffy I was beside her but before I could chip in, the ever so irritating aunties swooped in.

Aunty 1: arey dekho dulhe miyaan , itni jaldi?! Arey waah!

Aunty 2: soya hoga tabh na jaldi uthaa hoga... yeh toh aise hi aagaya....

With that they burst into laughter.

Aunty 3: bahu neeche nahi aayi Sameer, oh achaa, thak gayi hogi. Bahut zyada tang kiya tune?

The laughter continued and their banter started to grate on my nerves.

My jaws came together and my expressions, though I tried to manage them, turned taciturn

I knew my anger had started to flare and my palms were turned into two tight fists. Any moment explosion could happen. Just then my mother saved the situation.

Visakha: chaliye chaliye zyada tang mat kijiye mere Sameer ko, ussey kuch kaam hain mujhse.

With that she held my hand and led me to a quite corner.

Mothers they had an uncanny habit of knowing about their child's discomfort and my mother was no different. I smiled at the thought while my mother beckoned through her eyes for me to speak.

Sameer : mummy... who main... actually, Naina is in trouble.

My mothers ever so serene face crinkled all at once and now it was etched in worry

Visakha: kya hua Sameer? Tabiyat kharab hogayi kya uski?

Sameer: nahi koi aur problem hain. She doesn't have clothes

I aw the colour of my mother's face changing. First it turned pink and then red and then a deep shade of red. The confusion was gone and in its place I saw her eyes spitting fire.

Visakha: Sameer whats wrong with you? I know we have shared an open relationship more like friends but then am not interested in knowing about the intimate details of your married life. As a husband it is your duty to keep it to yourself and Naina. And now you are breaching the said sanctity. This is preposterous!

Sameer: hold on! Hold on! Hold on! What are you talking about? Why would I even share the intimate details with you. I can never stoop down to that level. You are misinterpreting my words. Jo aap soch rahi waisa kuch main bol nahi raha.

Visakha: toh kehna kya chahte ho tum?

Sameer: bolne dengi tab bolunga naa main?

Visakha: bolo Sameer

Sameer: her suitcase is misplaced and so are her clothes. Hold your horses, before you jump to any conclusion, let me clear the air. She had packed her clothes properly but the bag that got delivered here has been swapped by Kkamya as a token of jealousy cum revenge. Her bag now contains men's shirts and pants and Naina in the meanwhile is wrapped up in a towel and inconsolable.....

Even before I finished I saw my mother running up the stairs. In a jiffy was she in my room looking over in disbelief at the mess of clothes that had spilled on to the floor.

While Naina clearly looked alarmed and awaited an admonishment, I tried gauging the expressions of my beloved mother.

She looked confused, and somewhere it ranged from disbelief , to shock to laughter!?

She was laughing, and looked hysterical. I could see that she was clutching on to the note that Kkamya had written. It was an act of revenge, so that the first day post marriage was neither easy for Naina nor for me but her my mother was laughing and my wife was giving me perplexed looks.

She leaned near me and whispered into my ears

Naina: yeh bimaari khandaani hain

Sameer; matlab? Kya, kaun kaunsi bimari?

Naina: yeh.... Matlab, pata thaa mujhe aap thode khiske huye ho, lekin ap lagta hain aapke poore khandaan mein yeh bimaari hai. My sympathies

Sameer: tum.... I couldn't stop but give her incredulous looks.

Sameer: maa, aap has rahi hain, yahan bechaari k paas kapde nahi hain pehene ko aur aap has rahi hain. You remember right that we have the muh dikhai rasm and we should be ready for that.

Visakha: yes my darling son I remember and am laughing because it's a joke and I think you both should laugh at it. And coming to your concern, well there are plenty of sarees that I had bought for my daughter in law and she can choose any of them and I have the matching blouses and petticoats too. So you both need not worry.

Naina: but my undergarments.....

She muttered

Visakha: what?! Ohkkk

With that my mothere siddled by my bride's side and whispered something into her ears. I saw her face light up instantly and for once Naina looked genuinely relieved.

Visakha: now Naina I think its enough, no more crying. Rather am amazed that you didn't laugh. This juvenile attempt at getting back at you, I must thank god for Sameer that she chose you and not that Kkamya. Yes I wasn't convinced at first, rather the doubts plagued my mind until the day of the marriage. I would like to make a confession that I even felt that you were to bring doom into sameer's life but when I saw the happiness on my son's face, I knew, that this marriage can never go wrong. I might have been stubborn and even unwelcoming initially but now I need to tell you that you would always have me by my side. We are going to be great buddies. And now my dear daughter in law its time for you to doll up ans tun all the guests and relatives. Go on and get ready. I'll send in the clothes and jewellery.

With that my mom winked at her. How easily she put Naina at ease, made her feel at home all at once. I was felt stunned and somewhere I felt proud of her. I looked at Naina only to find her misty eyed and while my mother was turning to go, she hugged her. While my mother patted naina's back as if in understanding. Wow! These two were racing ahead, already so well adjusted in their roles.

Visakha: Sameer instead of gaping at us, please go and get dressed. You are already late.

The house looked like some mess, with cushions and matresses strewn all over. The aunties sat all over chattering, the laughter echoed across the walls, while the air smelled of flowers. Across from the kitchen came the constant clang clang sound of the utensils while tea brewed on the oven. Ramdhari moved along the hall, carrying paper cups filled to the brim with Tea, offering them to the guests while an assortment of refreshments, ranging from kachori, to puri , chole to aloo sabji followed on neatly arranged plates along with sweets to give company. The atmosphere looked festive.

Sameer

Wow! How had I missed all of it when I came down the stairs the first time over? I smiled at my thoughts, I was too preoccupied with the trouble at hand. Once maa left our room, and I got my clothes out of the cupboard, I saw Naina still standing at the same corner with her eyes downcast. I was mystified at her stance and was about to ask her whether my presence was making her uncomfortable when a subtle knock on the door broke my trace. Naina took a dash for the bathroom, while I opened the door only to find pushpa our maid standing there with plate covered with a red veil. I was intrigued and even before I asked, Pushpa conveyed, that these are for Bhabhi. I took them in. when I knocked on the bathroom door, she opened a flicker to peep in, once she saw me standing with the plate in hand, an understanding dawned on her and she simply took them in without a single word. I was about to protest, since I needed for her to come out, I needed to take a shower. But then I thought better of it and quietly moved to the other room, that was the only vacant one till now to get ready. And now here I was standing dressed in a red kurta and pyjama, amidst the cacophony of laughter and food, while I waited for my beautiful bride to descend down the stairs. I kept looking at my watch, like a fool, why was she taking so long? But then I knew that women usually took time to get ready. When pushpa had handed me over the plate, I sneaked a peep at the articles inside. I had smiled at the pink saree, and the light diamond jewellery. I knew, she would look beautiful in them. And now the wait to see her seemed endless.

Naina

I saw the saree and found the matching blouse and petticoat along. But what brought a relief to me was seeing the set of undergarments, stacked neatly hidden below everything else. My mother in law seemed to be a godsend. Initially I had been skeptical of her, since whenever we met, she seldom spoke to me looking me in the eye. I could tell, she wasn't the happiest at the choice. On one occasion she took me out with her for shopping, and I remember the whole time I kept wringing my fingers in nervousness. She seemed stern on that day and when she led me to the saree shop where I was actually at my wits end, since I couldn't select any one saree, she had seemed exasperated and a bit annoyed. Though later she had helped me choose and infact guided me all along. But somewhere doubts reared their head over as in about my future. While on our way back to hell! Yes I address my father's house as hell, since I was never welcome there and after my alliance was fixed with Sameer, my days seemed longer and the tortures were brutal. The whiplash of words were now hard to digest and I wanted the ordeal to be over. So while enroute to hell, we stopped at a mall, where she beckoned me to follow. To my surprise she led me to the section of lingerie. I had turned beetroot red but she urged me buy nightwear and undergarments of my choice since or else as per her, our shopping would be left incomplete. And I had obliged. Thank god, I did! Since today when I was stuck in the pool of mess created by Kkamya, the same lingerie came to my rescue rather my mother in l

'w came to my rescue. She told me that though she had sent few of the sarees to me before our wedding but had kept all the lingerie with her. I smiled as I got ready admiring myself in the mirror. I had noticed that my mum in law carried herself in style, her sarees, her make up, her jewellery all looked so classy and so was her choice, the pink Silk saree with the golden deep cut blouse made me appreciate my own self while the diamonds added to the glitter. I smiled. I literally wanted to see Kkamya's face now, all her attempts to land me in a soup had failed.

Sameer:

I had lost track of time waiting. With my eyes closed I leaned on the wall, when the soft cham cham made me open my eyes and take notice. The sound came from my beautiful bride, who now descended the steps in a soft slow rhythm. I couldn't stop myself from gazing in wonder. She looked.... Well I was speechless beyond words. The silk saree hugged her in all the right places accentuating her figure while her long tresses were left open, the diamonds glittered at the neck seemed like shedding a spotlight on her making her look brighter and stunning. The diamond drops that hung from her ears twinkled in glory and the shine of the same emanated from her eyes. The soft pink blush on her cheeks, the demure walk, the way she had pinned her saree neatly, it all looked so ethereal. While she moved towards me, the wind blowed, and where her aanchal covered her midriff, flew all at once giving me ample view of her white skin, her navel and her saree that hung low from her waist. Though she was quick to cover yet that one glimpse was enough. I was mesmerised and my insides suddenly were on high alert. I could feel my heart beat a 100 times faster and my skin craved her touch. How I wanted to pull her in my arms and kiss her senseless. The image of her navel and white skin plagued my mind while my unwavering gaze followed her like hawk. As if on cue, she looked at me and as if my eyes conveyed my not so pious thoughts, she blushed and looked away. She came and stood by my side. Our palms brushed against each other and I could feel the electricity. We both looked at each other and we both knew that the connection that I had sensed from day one was undeniable. I couldn't help but smirk at the knowledge while she looked away in shyness. Hmm...I was happy at this development, since now I knew, I could start my lessons in intimacy without delay and tonight would be the first night for lesson one. I smiled at my own thoughts.

The ladies led to the wider section of the hall, that had been cleared of all mess, while two low level stools were neatly arranged in front of a large brass urn that was filled with milk and decorated with rose petals. The urn sat on a low table matching the heights of the low stools. We were made to sit on the stools and while I wondered as to whether we both were supposed to drink milk from the urn, we were directed that two rings would be put in and we were to find them with our hands. The wheels of my mind starting turning and I knew that what I was to look for apart from the rings in the urn. As if sensing my thoughts, I saw my demure bride peeking at me with a suspicious scowl on her face. And the moment I looked at her she looked away. Haha! My wife already could read my thoughts. The progress seemed great!

When along with my mother the ladies urged us to put our hands inside, Naina seemed ill at ease and hesitant. She knew that I was up to some mischief. Yet she did and the momet she did, while the ladies and my mother who had now chosen sides cheering for us both, I grabbed her hands. She tried in vain to wriggle free while I clutched harder every time she tried to break free. I loved the expressions on her face. Her cheeks had gone pink at first, to a fiery red now while her eyes that had at once turned to two big saucers, shot daggers at me. and I on the other hand, kept smiling at her enjoying the show. Just when I thought I had an upper hand, she pinched the insides of my palm that led me to yelp in surprise while she freed her hand from my grip. Before anyone could shoot us with a volley of questions, Naina showed the ring that she now held in between her fingers. I was left dumstruck. While I was busy troubling her, she had managed to free herself and also simultaneously retrieve the ring from the urn. Wow! I was impressed. I had some tough competition. And hence I decided to give her a tough competition. In the next round, it was my turn to win. Naina seemed a bit distracted to my advantage since every now and then she kept checking on my expressions. I let her stew in suspense. Round 3 happened to be the most important of all, since it was the decider, and we both concentrated on finding the ring. The shouts of Sameer and Naina grew while we tried in vain to locate that one ring that evaded us both. A thought crossed my mind while my hands touched something solid. I had found the ring, while Naina was still feeling for it. I got hold of her palm yet again and while she was all read to shoot knives at me with her eyes, I slowly slipped the ring between her rings. She looked awestruck, while I murmured all yours. Without giving her time to react, I brought our hands out, while she held the ring, I held her wrist.

Visakha: yeh kya Sameer? Yeh toh cheating hui, ek ko ring nikaalni thi, yahan toh, khair Naina k haath mein ring hain toh Naina winner.

Aunty1 : haan aur kya! Matlab Sameer pe bahu ka raaj chalega. Tu gaya beta. Visakha didi aapka beta toh joru ka ghulaam bana samjho.

They giggled in chorus while my eyes never left Naina's while she looked on in wonder and confusion

Sameer: maa, aap hi ne toh kahan thaa, ki shaadi mein mere tumhaare ki jagah nahi hoti , sirf humaara hota hain. Toh iss game mein ek ki jeet kaise ho sakti hai, we are husband and wife toh hum uss hisaab se hum dono jeete naa.

Aunty 2: wah bhai waah kya baat kahin hain! Dil jeet liya aap k ladke ne visakha didi.

My mother smiled at all the endearments and praises for me while my eyes never left Naina's. she smiled at me while her eyes looked misty. When I leaned towards her.

Naina: mujhe itne attention aur pyaar ki aadat nahi hain. Mujhe aadat nahi hain itne ache logon ki. Sameer mujhe maaf kijiyega, maine aapko upar kamre mein bahut galat salat bola. Aapko glat samjha. Aap bilkul waise nahi jaisa maine aapke baarein mein socha thaa.

Sameer: aur kya socha thaa tumne

Naina: yahin, kia ap akdoo, ghamandi aur ek number k shaitaan hain

Sameer: I scowled at her description, matlab mein....

Naina: aap bilkul waise nahi hain, haan thode shararati hain lekin ghamandi badtameez aur akdoo bilkul nahi hain balki bahut hi sweet hain aur ek baat bolun aaj aa piss red kurte mein bahut handsome lag rahein hain

Sameer: acha! Toh main handsome hoon, acha hain , toh phi tumhe first lesson mein problem nahi hogi. You will pass with flying colours.

Naina: lesson? Pass? Flying colours? Main samjhi nahi aap kehna kya chahte hain

Sameer: baby who kya haina, jaisa ki maine tumhe pehle hi kahan thaa ki hum apni shaadi mein slowly and steadily aagey badhengey. Toh mujhe lagta hain ki aaj raat toh humaare pehle padav ka waqt aagaya hain since now even you find me handsome hot and desirable and naina you look delectable. The colour looks fabulous on you and I can't wait to have you alone in a room.

With that I winked at her, while her eyes had turned to two big saucers and her cheeks were now painted in a pink hue of blush.

Check mate! I patted myself on the back!