Though there was still one week to go, Naina started to plan her outfits for the wedding functions. She had two new suits.  For the wedding itself, she decided to go for the purple suit Phulla bua had given her for last Diwali. She realised there were plenty of outfits now. Her mind drifted to Pooja didi's marriage time when she and Preeti had got two new outfits each and for other events, they had to make do with old ones. How much they had fought over the old dresses, each one wanted to wear the comparatively less old ones.

Now she had enough money to buy new clothes as well. Even after giving away majority of her earnings to the 'Kaliyaan' foundation, she was left with the initial payment amount she had received for her story. Not being in the habit of spending unnecessarily, she had hardly used that money. And there was no need to do so now either. She could easily manage with all the clothes that she had recently got made.

Naina was not as worried as Sameer about the four days she would be staying with Sonali. She knew the amount of confusion and activities in a house where such ceremony had to take place. She could easily slip out to meet him. And the unending rituals that will be performed together by both families will ensure that she gets to spend time with him. They would definitely spend more time together than they could do in Ahmedabad. She smiled as his sulking face floated in front of her.

Sameer was wondering if he could persuade Naina to return to the hostel after each function, instead of staying there. It would serve twin purpose, she would be staying close to him... and he would get a chance to take her and bring her back on his bike everyday.

Sighing, he chucked away the thought, Naina would never agree to it. His thoughts then moved to the ceremonies she had described. According to his knowledge from the movies, everybody dressed up really well for all the functions. Did that mean Naina would also dress up in heavy outfits? He recalled bua dadi telling him about dressing up to match her. He quickly opened the cupboard and took out the clothes she had gifted him. He reminded himself to ask Naina exactly how many ceremonies will be there and how many clothes he needed to carry.

When they met in the evening, he was ready with his list of questions.

"Naina, jaldi se batao kitne kapde leke jaane chahiye... chaar din hain toh chaar kapde theek hain kya?" He asked the moment she came.

"Nahi Sameer, chaar se kya hoga. Aath... nahi tum das rakh lo." She said with conviction.

"Dus? Itne saare kya karenge? Wahan saara din bas alag alag kapde pehen ke ghumna hai kya?" He was amazed at her suggestion.

"Dekho jis din hum jayenge, yaani che tareekh ko toh pooja hai... agle din subah haldi aur shaam ko mehendi. Fir aath ko tilak hai aur fir sangeet. Aur nau tareekh ko toh shaadi hi hai." She told him the program.

He nodded, counting on his fingers as she mentioned everything.

"Toh yeh che mauke hain... fir dus kapade kyon?" He gave a puzzled look to her.

"Arre, jaise shaadi wale din subah mein bhi toh kuch achha pehnoge na... aakhir sabse handsome jo lagna hai tumhe." She winked at him.

"Woh toh main waise bhi lagunga," be weaved a hand through his hair, making her heart skip a beat.

"Achha, abhi bhi do kapde zyaada ho rahe hain... unka kya?" He calculated mentally.

"Ab ek do toh zyaada rakhne hi chahiye... chachiji kehti hain kahin bhi jaate hain toh thoda zyaada hi le jaana chahiye... agar ek do din aur rukna pade toh kaam aata hai." She remembered chachiji's instructions.

He sat up straight, "Do din aur kyon rukenge? Naina, dekho main pehle hi bata raha hun... ek din bhi zyaada  nahi ho sakta."

"Main toh bas chachiji ke shabd dohra rahi thi... shaadi mein thodi zyaada rukenge... jab Sonali hi vida ho jaayegi toh sab mehmaan bhi chale jayenge." She pacified him.

"Umm... Naina kya hum sirf ek din pehle chalein? Matlab usse pehle ki rasmon mein hum yahan se chale jaayein toh?" He tried his luck.

"Nahi Sameer, hum che tareekh ko hi jayenge. Tum chalo toh sahi... tumhe itna achha lagega ki kahoge ab jaldi se kisi aur shaadi mein jaana hai." She tried to make him understand.

"Bilkul nahi kahunga... mujhe iske baad seedhe apni shaadi mein jaana hai." He made a grumpy face.

The week went by in discussions and preparations. On the sixth of December, Naina and Sameer left for their friends place, to attend their wedding.

The car dropped Naina at Sonali's house before entering the neighbouring society, where Rahul and his relatives were staying. Sameer was surprised to see the arrangements being carried out on such a large scale. The entire apartment block was covered with strings of marigold flowers. There were lights too but since it was daytime, they were switched off. Yellow coloured fabric created a passage leading to the enclosure in the ground, made with red and maroon tent. Flowers adorned the tent from inside. Entire ground was covered in red carpet and chairs wrapped up in off white silk cloth were placed inside. The whole area was full of people running here and there, busy with preparations.

Rahul spotted Sameer and came running to him, crushing his friend in a hug.

"Thank you, yaar... aane ke liye... mujhe toh subah tak bhi yakeen nahi tha ki tu aa jaayega... zyaada baat karta nahi hai na kisi se... toh laga ki shayad yahan aana tujhe pasand na aaye." Rahul was genuinely happy to see him.

Sameer looked at the shining face of his friend, and gave a warm smile, "Aana toh tha hi, tumhari shaadi kaise miss karta?"

Rahul took him upstairs to the house where he was staying with his parents and brother.

"Dekh Sameer, waise toh yahan room hai... tu chahe toh akele reh sakta hai ya fir mere saath bhi reh sakta hai. Rishi, mera chota bhai, woh doosre room mein chala jayega." Rahul offered.

"Usko pareshan kyon karte ho... main alag reh lunga." Sameer didn't want to disturb anyone.

Rahul leaned towards him, lowering his voice after looking around, "Pareshan toh usne mujhe kar rakha hai... zara bhi Sonali se baat karne ki koshish karta hun toh foran mummy ko awaaz laga deta hai. Tu agar mere saath rahega toh kam se kam baat toh kar lunga. Ho saka toh ek baar milne ka bhi chance nikaal lenge."

Sameer agreed to stay with Rahul, understanding his dilemma.

After he had freshened up, Rahul introduced him to his parents and brother. They welcomed him with warm smiles.

"Achha hua beta, tum aa gaye. Rahul ke muh se bohot naam suna hai tumhara. Milne ka bada man tha." Rahul's father patted his back.

Rishi shook hands with Sameer, speaking slowly, "Thank God, ab aap rahoge bhai ke saath. Saara time kud kud karke mera toh dimaag kharab kar diya isne. Pata nahi bhabhi ne kya dekha isme jo shaadi ke liye maan gayi."

Rahul smacked his brother, making him shout back, "Yeh mat samajhna teri shaadi hai toh main kuch kahunga nahi... agli baar maara toh dikha dunga."

His mother shushed him, pointing at the number of people moving around.

Sameer was feeling strange amidst such family bickering. Rahul took him down for lunch where other relatives were seated. He moved around talking to many people, introducing Sameer to them. After lunch, they went back to the room to relax for some time before the evening Ganpati pooja.

Naina, on the other hand, mixed up with Sonali's parents with ease. Her elder brother and bhabhi were equally nice.

"Toh tum ho Naina. Thank you beta, Sonali ko padhane ke liye." Her mother thanked  Naina.

"Aunty, please aap mujhe thank you mat kahiye... yeh bohot choti si baat hai."  Naina was embarrassed.

Sonali brought her to the room. The whole place was filled with clothes, though it was a fairly huge room. Naina looked around to find a place  for her suitcase but was unsuccessful.

"Sonali, main apna samaan kahan rakhun?" She asked, seeing Sonali take out more clothes from the cupboard.

"Yahan," she turned smiling, "Maine purane kapde hata ke tere liye jagah bana di hai."

Before Naina could open her mouth to protest, she pulled the suitcase from her hand.

"Kuch bolne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Yahan sab meri baat mante hain, tujhe bhi manni padegi." She ordered.

Naina couldn't suppress her smile, "Ab teri shaadi hai toh baat toh manenge hi na."

After lunch, they started to get ready for the pooja.

Ganpati pooja was done to take blessings of God before starting the marriage rituals, praying for everything to go smoothly and without any hinderance.

The ground in Sonali's society was decorated for pooja. The idol was placed against a yellow background of silk fabric. The elevated platform was decorated with flowers spreading their fragrance all around. The lights strung all over the covered area made their presence felt in spite of daylight still strong outside.

Naina had dressed up in a pink suit.  She wore the long earrings she had purchased in Ahmedabad... and added a small nose stud. Leaving her hair open, she was ready.

By the time Naina and Sonali went down, Rahul and his family had arrived. Sameer looked around, eyes searching for her. His frustration was growing by the minute. Had they been in the hostel, he would have met her in a short while.

A whiff of her fragrance made him aware of her presence and he turned.

His eyes refused to blink, not wanting to miss even a fraction of her sight.

He was entranced by her simple beauty. The plain pink suit was a darker shade than she usually wore, but it contrasted beautifully with her skin. The dangling earrings touched her cheeks as she moved, making him go weak in the knees. And her nose stud... he drew in a sharp breath... first time she had worn a nose stud... and his poor heart was ready to jump out of his mouth.

She looked up at him, taking in the red shirt with dark trousers. With fingers in pocket, he looked dreamy. Naina wanted to run to him, feel the  silky texture of his shirt against her cheek, wrap her hands around him. But she couldn't.

Slowly, she came and stood next to him, pulling his hand out from the pocket, holding it under her flowing dupatta.

Sameer gaped in shock as she stood smiling, without looking at him... her fingers clasped around his as several people walked by.