Arjun and Naina reached their home early morning.

Chachiji hugged her.

"Kitne dino baad dekh rahi hun tujhe... dekh toh kitni kamzor ho gayi hai... khati peeti nahi hai kya wahan... ab do mahine mein mere haath ka khana khilake ekdum gol matol kar dungi",  she glanced at her from top to bottom.

"Kya chachiji, gol matol ho gayi toh sab moti kehke chidayenge", Naina basked in the warmth of motherly affection.

Chachiji immediately made a face, "Moti kyon... khate peete ghar ki bolenge."

They all laughed and went inside.

Preeti was still sleeping, as expected.

Naina opened the bag, taking out the gifts she had bought for Preeti. Noiselessly, she placed them around her on the bed and went close to her ear.

"PREETI"

Getting up with a start, she sat up on the bed with eyes wide open.

"Preeti... Preeti... " Naina shook her.

Preeti came out of her shocked state, "Huh... ha... haan... kya hua?"

Naina gave a big smile and spread her arms, "Main aa gayi."

Preeti kept a hand on her heart, breathing heavily, then jumped off the bed, running behind her sister, "Naina ki bachchi... aaj nahi bachegi  tu... abhi mujhe heart attack aa jata... aise chillata hai koi... woh bhi aadhi raat ko... pagal hai kya tu... Mumbai jaakar bhi akal nahi aayi... tu ruk... aaj toh main tera..."

And she collided with taiji who was entering the house to ask Bela for some milk.

"O bai... yeh subah subah kya dhama chaukadi macha rakhi hai?" She hollered.

Naina stood quietly at the kitchen door and  Preeti stood rubbing her arm which had banged into taiji.

"Oh! Toh yeh maharani aa gayi isliye ghar ka mahaul kharab ho raha hai", she gave a disgusted look to Naina.

"Namaste, taiji", Naina wished her.

Taiji had no intention of staying quiet, "Haan, haan, namaste... bahar kya rehne lag gayi tere toh par nikal aaye hain... ladkiyon jaisi koi aadat seekhi bhi  hai ya nahi... aur yahan bhi... "

"Arre, bhabhiji, kya sahi time pe aayi hain aap, Maine abhi chai banayi hai... baithiye aapke liye lati hun... biskut ke saath",  chachiji interrupted the bitter words of taiji, gesturing at Naina and Preeti to leave.

Happy with the offer, taiji settled down on the swing, asking Bela to give some chai for her husband as well, since she had run out of milk.

Both girls quietly slipped back to their room.

The moment they closed the door, Preeti hugged Naina, " Sorry behen, meri wajah se tujhe aate hi taiji ke taane sunne ko mil gaye."

Naina smiled affectionately, "Arre, yeh taane toh paida hui tabse sun rahi hun... inko chod... yeh bata... "

Preeti cut her in between, stepping back with hands on her waist, "Ek minute, ek minute... mujhe toh tujhpe gussa nikalna hai... tune meri neend kyon kharab ki... woh bhi mujhe dara ke?"

Naina wrinkled her nose and held her ears, pointing at the bed with her eyes.

Preeti turned and saw the number of gifts Naina had placed there. She clasped her hands over her mouth.

"Itne saare gifts... sabke liye le aayi kya?" She shrieked.

Hugging her sister from behind, Naina told her, "Sabke liye toh laayi hun par yeh saare tere hain."

Preeti ran to the bed in excitement, opening the wrappers.

Naina had brought one suit, three tops, one bag, a book on hair styles and a pair of jeans.

"Jeans... Naina tu jeans leke aayi?" Preeti looked at her in surprise, as Naina was earlier not comfortable in wearing jeans.

"Haan... kyonki ab main bhi pehenti hun... aur tu toh pehle se pehenti thi na." Naina remembered the black jeans.

"Oye hoye... jijaji ne tera style bhi badal diya", Preeti could not let go a chance to tease her.

Naina glared at her, "Zyada bolne ki zaroorat nahi hai... chup chaap yeh sab dekh aur bata tujhe pasand aaye ki nahi."

She excitedly looked at all the things and hugged Naina, "Bohot pasand aaye behen, thank you."

Later, Naina gave a saree to chachiji and shirt to chachaji.

Chachaji was overwhelmed by her gesture, "Beta iski kya zaroorat thi?  Ek toh tum ab paise bhi nahi leti... upar se hum logon pe itna kharcha kar diya."

Naina smiled, "Aapne aur chachiji ne toh hamesha mujhe diya hi hai... aaj pehli baar main apne kamaye hue paison se aap logon ke liye kuch laayi hun... kyonki main lana chahti thi... apni khushi aap sabke saath bantne ke liye."

Chachiji kept a hand on her cheek, "Meri choti si gudiya kitni badi ho gayi."

Naina handed over the gifts to other members...  no one bothered to ask anything or thank her, except Arjun.

Sameer reached the big white bungalow, expecting his friends to welcome him like last year.

Ramdhari opened the door. The house was surprisingly quiet.

"Aaiye Sameer bhaiya, hum aapka hi intezaar kar rahe the",  he took the bags.

Sameer looked around... nothing seemed to be disturbed, there were no bowls and plates of snacks lying on all available surfaces... Munna Pandit were not here. He was disappointed.

"Bhaiya, aapke liye nimbu paani bana de?" Ramdhari asked.

"Nahi... mujhe kuch nahi chahiye",  Sameer was upset.

"Theek hai... aap naha lijiye... hum nashta bana dete hain."

Sameer went to his room. Without his friends, the house looked empty... and depressing. Maybe, they had some family requirement...  or maybe they had gone out somewhere... and will come later...

He really missed them.

Lost in thoughts, he picked his towel from the cupboard and opened the bathroom door.

The two people he was missing so much rushed out and crushed him in their hold.

Sameer was taken aback.

"Tum log yahan bathroom mein kya kar rahe ho?" His shock was evident in his voice.

Munna was the first to leave him, "Arre yaar, tujhe surprise dena tha."

"Tujhe laga hoga hum yahan nahi hain... Bol... aisa hi laga tha na?" Pandit nudged him in the ribs.

Sameer gave a sheepish look to them... then stepped forward and hugged both his friends.

"Tujhe akele kaise chod dete..." Munna laughed.

Pandit stated his reason, "Aur phir Ramdhari se badhiya badhiya khaana bhi toh banwake khaana tha."

Sameer was delighted... the house filled with their banter and laughter... and demands.

After his bath and a heavy breakfast, he unpacked and gave a shirt, sunglasses and deos to both his friends.

They were thrilled with their gifts, trying the sunglasses, spraying the deo and dancing with their new shirts.

The shrill ring of phone reverberated in the room and Sameer rushed to pick it up.

Heading towards the window, he spoke into the receiver, "Hello?"

"Hello, Sameer", her voice filled him with a pleasant sensation.

" Naina, iss samay... badi diler ho gayi ho... ghar walon ne dekh liya toh kya kahogi? " He marveled at her courage to call in the middle of the day.

"Keh dungi ki unke daamad ji se baat kar rahi hun", she said with confidence.

The phone slipped from his hand. Getting it back, he placed it on his ear, shocked at her words, " Naina, ky... kya bol rahi ho?"

Her laughter rang in his ears,"Itne mein hi ghabra gaye, darpok."

Sameer had recovered a bit, "Achcha, main darpok... abhi aata hun wahan... sabke samne tumhara haath pakadke... tumhe gale lagake... tumhari aankhon mein aankhen daalke... zor se tumhare gaal pe ki... "

"Bas... bas", her shy voice stopped him.

" Arre, abhi toh shuru bhi nahi hua... abhi se bas... sun toh lo kya, kya karunga", Sameer continued to tease her.

Naina had gone red, "Mujhe nahi sunna... ghar pe koi nahi hai isliye phone kiya... bas itna kehna tha ki shaam ko main aur Preeti market jaayenge... chaar baje."

Sameer was not done yet, "Ghar pe koi nahi hai... matlab mauka hai... Jaan, tum pink suit pehno main abhi aaya".

She squeezed her eyes shut as the colour deepened, "Sameer, chachijj sirf neeche sabzi lene gayi hain... aati hongi... main rakhti hun... bye."

He gave a victorious smile... few hours from now, he could meet her.

As he turned, both Munna and Pandit glared at him, hands on waist.

He raised his brows at them.

"Doston se theek se mila bhi nahi aur bhabhi ke paas ja raha hai... woh bhi unke ghar... bhai shaheed hone ka iraada hai kya",  Pandit gave him a serious look.

Sameer smiled at his friends, " Abhi kahin nahi jaa raha... shaam ko chaar baje jaunga.... market mein."

Both boys exhaled loudly.

"Achcha Munna, yeh bata teri aur Swati ki baat kahan tak pohonchi?" Sameer wanted to know about his friend's love story.

They settled back on the bed.

"Bohot aage pohoch gayi bhai, ghar tak chali gayi", Pandit said excitedly.

Sameer sat up in surprise, " Ghar tak? Matlab sabko pata chal gaya?  Ab kya karega tu?"

Munna gave a blushing smile, looking down, "Shaadi karunga... aur kya?"

Sameer was shocked, "Tu abhi shaadi kar raha hai?"

Munna laughed, "Abhi nahi agle saal... college ke baad... par haan, sagai abhi kar raha hun... bas tera intezaar tha."

Sameer immediately hugged his friend, elated.

Pandit jumped on them, not to be left out.

As the news sank in, Sameer could not hide his excitement, "Munna, sach mein sagai ho rahi hai teri?  Kaise manaya ghar walon ko? Aur pata kaise chala?

Munna explained how once, while going to the temple, Swati's mother had seen them near law garden, feeding kulfi to each other... she asked Swati later at home and she confessed her love to her mother. Her family being progressive, did not raise much objection, except that marriage would be only after they both get their degrees. But Munna's family was a difficult task... his father flatly refused in the first try... when Munna said that he'll never get married to anyone else, he cited the family requirement of a heir... finally Munna had to threaten him by saying that he'll leave the house forever and settle down with Swati in some other city, doing some job in a company.

His parents agreed, though were not happy. But when they met Swati and her family, their opinion changed, and they were exhilarated to get such a beautiful and understanding girl as their daughters in law. Now everything was cordial.

Sameer was stunned. So much of drama and histrionics ensued their declaration of love in front of their families.

"Yaar, itna sab karna padega?" He wondered aloud.

Munna slapped his back, "Bhai... tujhe toh pata nahi kya, kya karna padega... maine apne papa ke thappad khaye... tujhe toh bhabhi ke papa, tauji, taiji, bhai sabke khane padenge... bas shayad chachaji aur chachiji sirf kaam kheench ke chod de."

Sameer widened his eyes at him, "Dara raha hai?"

Pandit looked straight at him, "Tu dar raha hai?"

Sameer got up, clasping his hands firmly, "Nahi... Naina ke liye main sab kuch kar lunga... sab kuch sun lunga... bas meri Naina mujhe mil jaaye... aur iske liye main uske ghar waalon ke pair bhi pad sakta hun aur unse ladai bhi kar sakta hun... aur thappad bhi kha sakta hun."

Pandit smacked him, "Pitne ki aadat school tak theek thi... abhi zara dimaag laga aur damaad wali izzat kamane ki soch."

Both Sameer and Munna narrowed their eyes at him, wondering what was cooking in his mind.

Pandit excitedly looked at one, than other, "Ab Munna aur Swati bhabhi ki sagai mein Naina ka poora parivaar aayega... hum bhi honge... unke samne apni aisi chavi bana ki sab teri taarifon ke pul bandhe. Bas itna achcha banke dikhade ki jab  tu rishta mangne jaaye toh woh mana hi na kar paayein."

Munna was amazed at his plan, "Kya baat hai Pandit... bina kisi tajurbe ke tune bada dhaansu idea de daala."

Pandit sighed ruefully, "Tumhare liye bhabhi nahi mili par apne doston ki love story toh dekhi hai na maine."

They sat making plans for the engagement.

In the evening, Naina left for the market with Preeti. She wished she had dressed better, rather than the plain, old top and skirt. But dressing up would have raised doubts in her family's mind.

"Na milne se toh ghar ke kapdon mein milna hi theek hai", she consoled herself.

Sameer was waiting, along with Munna Pandit. They discreetly smiled at each other. This market was too close to their house... openly talking to each other held the risk of being seen by someone known.

Naina gestured towards a paani poori stall and the boys joined them after a gap of few minutes. Sameer stood next to Naina.

He leaned sideways, " Achchi lag rahi ho."

She wrenched her nose, "Jhoote... purane se ghar ke kapde hain... badalne jaati toh sab sau sawal puchte... isiliye yehi pehen ke aana pada."

"Tum jo bhi pehenti ho, uss dress ki kismat khul jaati hai", he whispered.

Naina put a water filled poori in her mouth and glanced at him. His eyes got stuck on her puffed up cheeks. He just wanted to pull them before doing a few more things.

"Bhaiya ji, aapne to poori khai nahi... yeh gal gayi... doosra plate le lo",  vendor's voice brought him out of his dreamland.

Sameer had parked his bike in a secluded lane behind the market. He asked Naina to come with him as Preeti went to the shop to buy the things her mother had asked them to pick up.

Naina entered a few minutes after Sameer. She was immediately pulled against him, her back to the wall.

"Paani poori khaake hi shayad tumhare gaal aise ho gaye hain",  he teased, eyeing her cheeks.

She rounded her eyes at him, "Haww... tum mujhe paani poori jaisa bol rahe ho?"

He nodded, "Aur kya... aisi hi gol mol... thodi khatti, thodi meethi... aur thodi teekhi bhi", his voice turned husky, " dekhte hi man karta hai kha jaun."

"Hato",  she pushed him, blushing all the way from her feet to face.

"Tumhe toh zyaada pasand bhi nahi hai... paani poori", she did not raise her eyes to him.

"Mujhe jo bhi pasand hai, un sabse badhke ho tum",  he came close again.

"Rehne do... khaana dekhte hi sab kuch bhool jaate ho, mujhe bhi", she pouted.

"Khaane se zyaada pasand ho yeh kya khake batana padega?" Holding her hand he started taking it to his mouth.

Naina pulled her hand away from his hold and ran back, joining Preeti.

Later in the night, as the phone rang, she picked up in the first ring.

"Hello sweetheart", his voice stunned her.

"Sam... Sameer... tum kuch bhi bolte ho",  her ears burned.

"Jo ho wohi toh bola... aur bhi bohot kuch bol sakta hun... meri jaan, meri pari... jaanejigar...j "

"Bas, bas... itna kaafi hai... chup raho", she had gone crimson.

Sameer could almost see her, holding the phone close to her chin, head tilted, shyly tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, turning red at his voice.