The guests had left. The girls had changed and were relaxing in their room.

"Shaam ke sangeet ke liye taiyar hain na, Naina?" Sonali was excited.

"Main nahi karne wali koi dance.. . mujhse nahi hoga." Naina threw her hands in air.

"Karna padega... hum sabne kuch na kuch ready kiya hai..tu toh waise hi itna achha dance karti hai... kar le na kuch plan... abhi toh time hai." Sonali implored.

Naina thought for a while, and brightened, "Theek hai, lekin uske liye mujhe saari chahiye... mere paas toh hai nahi." Her face fell.

"Meri lele... aur inme koi nahi jaegi toh bhabhi se le lena... woh kabhi mana nahi karengi." Sonali gave the solution.

Naina nodded... and the two of them set about to check the few sarees Sonali had in her cupboard. The pink one was chosen instantly, both for the colour and it's suitability. Naina tried the golden blouse. It was not exactly her size but she had to wear it only for one dance. She decided to manage with it.

They selected the jewellery to go with her look. Sonali was thrilled to know the song she had planned.

Bhabhi went to check on Sahil, along with her husband. Sahil and his mom were staying in a flat on the second floor.

He laid in bed, a heavy bandage around his nose, some scratches on his face here and there.

"Itna zor se darwaza kaise laga Sahil? Mujhe toh samajh hi nahi aa raha... aisi tez hawa bhi nahi chal rahi thi." She was confused about her brother's injury.

"Pata nahi, didi... ekdam se zor se band ho gaya." He was equally puzzled.

She narrowed her eyes, "Sach bata, tune kisi se jhagda toh nahi kiya na?"

"Jhagda kyon karega? Behen ka sasural hai... yahan kisi se ladai karne thodi aaya hai," his mother defended him.

"Chalo apna dhyan rakho, Sahil, aur kisi cheez ki zaroorat ho toh bata dena... main chalta hun zara mithai ke dabbe banwane hain shaam ko Rahul ke ghar le jaane ke liye." Amit got up to go, patting his wife's shoulder to tell her to be with her brother.

After he left, bhabhi again gave him a speculating look, "Tu pakka kisi kaam se upar aaya tha... lekin humne toh kuch kaam bola nahi... toh kis liye aaya?"

Sahil lowered his eyes, "Main papa ko phone karne aaya tha... mummy ne kaha Naina se baat karne se pehle ek baar papa se bhi puch lun."

Her eyes widened, "Naina se kya baat karni thi tujhko?"

"Isko pasand hai woh ladki... humne socha theek hai, chote ghar ki hai toh kya hua, sundar hai aur Sahil ko pasand bhi aa gayi... toh shaadi ki baat kar lete hain." Her mother answered.

Bhabhi's mouth fell open, "Yeh kya bol rahe ho? Aap logon ne mujhe kyon nahi bataya? Naina se kuch kaha toh nahi na?"

"Nahin didi, papa se baat karke ussi ke paas jaa raha tha... tabhi yeh ho gaya," Sahil pointed at his nose.

"Lekin maine kal usse choodiyan di thi, usne khushi se le li," he told his sister.

She remembered the fallen bangles, she had stepped on them accidentally but they were already on the floor. Now she could understand what Naina meant when she said she didn't need them. She had not said anything about Sahil.

Bhabhi hit her forehead, "Arre pehle mujhse toh puch lete... Naina ke saath rishta nahi ho sakta... kisi bhi haalat mein nahi."

Her mother was annoyed, "Kyon nahi ho sakta? Sahil jaisa itna sundar ladka, aur itna paise wala kahan milega usse... humara sab kuch Sahil ka hi hai... koi kami nahi rahegi usse... chote ghar se hai, uski toh kismat khul jaayegi."

"Aap ab tak aisa hi sochti hain, mummy. Naina ka ghar jaisa bhi ho, ab uske paas paison ki koi kami nahi hai... aur woh paise uske khud ke kamaye hue hain... lekin usko laalach nahi hai.. apni saari salary woh gareeb ladkiyon ki padhai mein lagati hai... aur uski jahan shaadi hone wali hai na, woh Ahmedabad ke sabse ameer ghar ka ladka hai." Bhabhi cleared their minds about Naina.

Sahil was crestfallen. He had never thought Naina could be already engaged.

Their mom was not impressed, "Haan to isliye hi saari salary de deti hai, jab itna raees ladka pasand karke baithi hai toh apne paise kya karne hai?"

Bhabhi let out a deep breath, "Har kisi ko sirf paisa nahi chahiye hota, mummy... Naina ke liye pyaar se bada kuch nahi hai... woh aur Sameer ek doosre se jaisa pyar karte hain woh aap samajhna to door soch bhi nahi sakte... unn dono ki beeti zindagi ki kadwahaton ke baad aaj agar woh itne khush hain toh uski wajah unke dil ki khushi hi hai jo unhe iss pyar ne di hai... dono hi khud se pehle doosre ko rakhte hain."

"Sameer? Yeh toh wohi hai na jo Rahul ke saath aaya hua hai?" Sahil could now see things more clearly.

His sister nodded, "Haan, Sameer bhi in sabke saath hi padhta hai... dono Ahmedabad se hain... agar mujhse pucha hota ek baar toh main pehle hi bata deti."

"Chal chod beta, tujhe koi kami thodi hai ladkiyon ki... iski baat toh pehle hi pakki ho rakhi hai... main tere liye isse bhi kahin sundar ladki dhund ke laungi dekhna." His mother comforted him.

She looked at her daughter, "Tu bhi jaa beta, teri saas gussa hogi ki yahan aake baith gayi hai."

"Woh saas jaisi nahi hai... Sonu jitna hi pyar karti hain mujhe... har cheez ka khyal rakhti hain... unhone hi kaha ki main yahan aake baithu... mummy, yeh sasural nahi hai, ghar hai mera, jahan sab apne hain." Her daughter said fondly.

"Kitna achha ghar mila hai meri beti ko, shukar hai bhagwan ka." The lady folded her hands in prayer.

Her daughter gave a deep look to both mother and son, " Aur main chahti hun ki aap log bhi kisi ladki ko aisa hi ghar do... jisse woh apna maan sake... apni khushi se... uske liye apni soch ko thoda badlo aap dono."

She got up and left, leaving the two people pondering over her statement.

Sonali whistled when Naina turned up in the saree and hair tied up in a bun.

"Kya lag rahi hai, Naina... hosh udd jayenge Sameer ke... aur bhi pata nahi kis kis ke udenge... Sahil ki tarah," Sonali teased Naina after praising her.

"Zyada ho gaya kya? Rehne deti hun... apna suit hi pehen leti hun." She turned to go back to change.

Sonali held her hand, "Nahi budhu, change nahi karna hai... aaj toh Sameer ko behosh kar hi de."

They laughed thinking about his reaction.

Naina completed the look by adding traditional jewellery... a heavy necklace, gold earrings with a chain going upto her hair, along with bangles in pink and gold. She covered the bun with gold beaded chain. After applying some makeup, she put a drop shaped bindi and pink lipstick.

"Haye Naina, tune toh aaj maar dalna hai humare bechare majnu ko, " bhabhi clasped her hand over her mouth the moment she saw Naina.

They left for Rahul's house once everyone was ready. Sahil could not come so his mother stayed back with him.

Sameer was at the main entrance to welcome the guests along with Rishi. More than help, it was to catch a glimpse of Naina as soon as she arrived. Later, he wished he had stayed somewhere at the back... he would have had some time to recover.

The moment Naina stepped out of the car, he drew in a breath sharply, stunned by what he saw. Eyes turning into saucers... he gaped with open mouth as she walked in, holding her saree delicately with one hand as the other went behind her head to check the bun.

She looked like a princess... no, she looked like a queen... the queen of his heart...

He was annoyed with her. Why she had to dress up like this and meet him in front of the whole town? He wanted her all to himself... right now.

"Sameer," her soft voice seemed to be a dream.

He felt a hand on his arm. Looking at it, he realised it belonged to her... Naina was actually standing next to him.

She raised her brows to ask where he was lost.

"Kitni baar marogi, Naina?" His voice was gruff.

"Kuch special karna hai... Sonali ke liye... isliye pehna hai... baad mein badal lungi." She said softly.

"Nahi badalna... aise hi rehna... tumhe pata nahi hai kya haal ho raha hai mera... abhi, issi waqt tumhe kas ke baahon mein lena chahta hun... tumhara yeh shringar choo ke dekh na chahta hun... ek ek cheez," The voice turned more throaty.

Naina could feel his gaze piercing her... she looked away, hoping that not seeing him would make her heart slow down its erratic pace.

Sameer let his eyes move down from her face. The short sleeves of her blouse left the long slender arms bare... her wrists were covered with dozens of bangles in pink and gold. Her pink saree was giving a blushing glow to her face. As his eyes moved lower, the view of her smooth waist made him see stars... whatever was she doing to him... her pallu was pleated and pinned on one shoulder, giving a clear glimpse of her waist... though a very thin part was visible, his heart was ready to jump out of his mouth... his fingers itched to touch her, to glide over the soft, silky, delicate skin.

Just then, she was whisked away by Sonali's cousins who wanted her to show them some steps for their group dance.

"Naina, tum jaan le logi meri," he groaned, watching the girls go to the guest house on the ground floor.

Having no control over himself, he followed them.

He walked to the back side of guest house, standing close to the window. Since the house was being used to keep the things required for various ceremonies and no one was actually staying there, the windows had no curtains.

The girls showed Naina the steps they had practiced. They wanted to add some more to their dance.

Naina brought her pallu to one side and tucked it in her waist. Taking off her sandals, she started dancing. The girls stared at her mesmerised. She slowly repeated a few steps, making them do it with her. After a few attempts, they were able to manage most of the steps, though not as gracefully.

Satisfied, the girls moved out with Naina. They went to the decorated seating venue where snacks were being served. An elevated area in front marked the place where performances would be given. Naina spoke to Rahul and Sonali for some time, eyes searching for Sameer. She started feeling a little restless, reminded of the same scenario when he was missing during the day and had come back hurt.

Sameer still stood at window. The room was vacant now... but his eyes were fixed to the spot where Naina had been dancing.

She was definitely out to kill him today.

The ease at which her body moved while dancing was a treat... it was like she was being moulded into different forms as gentle air touched her at various places. Her movements were so rhythmic even without music that she was herself like a symphony.

Sameer did not know whether to scream out in joy that she belonged to him or squall in helplessness of not being able to touch her the way he wanted to.