Naina could not meet Sameer for next three days. He was restless but there was no way she could manage to come out.

Preeti's parlour classes were not there for a week. And taiji had come back after a few days of visit to the village. The respite that the girls and chachiji were feeling had ended.

Naina was more at the receiving end after rejecting the proposal brought by taiji.

But she felt confident about facing her... as compared to earlier.

Chachaji was getting ready for office in the morning and chachiji was preparing breakfast and tiffin for him when taiji stormed in, all dressed up in a gaudy saree and wearing gold jewelry.

"Bela, O Bela... zara chaar paranthe bana de... tere bhaisaab ke liye... mera cylinder khatam ho gaya... ", she ordered, settling down on the swing.

"Jee bhabhiji", she muttered under her breath about how taiji was always ready to dump the entire household work on her.

Taiji continued in loud voice, "Aur abhi mujhe inke saath jaana hai inke client ke ghar... unka grah pravesh hai... nai saree lee hai... aur ye haar bhi liya hai... ab rob to dikhana chahiye na."

Bela gave a fake smile from the kitchen, "Bohot achhi saree hai, bhabhiji."

Naina came to the kitchen to help... but taiji got a glimpse of her.

"Tu wahan kya kar rahi hai... idhar aake zara mere pairon mein tel laga... wahan gaon mein kitna chalna padta hai... mere toh pair toot gaye... aur aaj firse bahar jaana hai."

Naina picked up the bottle of oil and went out to the living room.
Sitting on a low stool, she started massaging oil on taiji's feet.

"O bai, haathon mein mehendi lagayi hai kya? Zara dum laga ke maalish kar", she hollered.

Naina continued massaging one foot for a few minutes, then got up... picking up the bottle.

Taiji looked at her in surprise, "Chal kahan di? Doosra pair kaun karega?"

"Woh taiji, tel garam karke laati hun... aapko aaram milega", she politely smiled.

As taiji relaxed back on the swing, it moved and hit Naina's leg... and she lost her balance. Trying to save herself from falling, she lunged for the chain of swing, and the bottle of oil went in the air... falling back... it landed on taiji's forehead, spilling some oil on her face and tumbling down to spread on her clothes.

Naina looked in horror as taiji sat frozen in the shocked expression... her eyebrows high, shoulders puffed up, palms open and spread wide, eyes looking down at the greasy patch forming a dark stain on her new saree...

Bela came running from the kitchen, "Arre Naina, beta tujhe lagi toh nahi?"

Naina shook her head quickly, keeping the lips sealed, holding onto the sides of her dress.

Looking at the oil dripping figure on the swing, Bela clapped her palm on her mouth.

Taiji raised her head slowly and turned towards Naina, eyes red in anger.

Suddenly, loud, abusive voice echoed in the house, "Meri nai saree ka satyanash kar diya, karamjali... teri aankhen kaam nahi karti kya... ab kaun bharega yeh nuksaan... tere baap ke pass toh apne kharche uthane layak bhi paise nahi hain... unka pet bhi hum bharte hain... aur unki beti hamare hi paison mein aag laga rahi hai..."

Taiji tried to stand to hit Naina but she stepped back, scared.

A few drops of oil from Taiji's clothes fell on the floor... and as she moved to get hold of Naina, her foot slipped on the oil on floor.

Taiji screamed.

Hearing the commotion, Preeti and chachaji came running from their rooms. Both froze in their tracks at the scene in front of them.

Taiji lay flat on the floor like a huge sack of rice as four pairs of eyes stared... motionless.

"Ahhh... Ab koi mujhe uthayega bhi ya main yahi dard mein padi rahun... hey bhagwan... kamar toot gayi lagti hai... pair bhi", her painful cry brought everyone back.

Chachaji and chachiji ran to help her. With great difficulty, they lifted her heavy body and made her sit on the dining chair.

Bela gestured to Preeti and she brought a towel to wipe off oil stuck everywhere on taiji.

Naina tried to step closer when Bela narrowed her eyes and shook her head slightly, asking her to stay away... not wanting to invoke taiji's wrath again.

After somewhat cleaning her, chachaji helped a limping taiji to her house, calling up the doctor to come urgently.

Naina and Preeti cleaned up the oil stains from the floor. Thankfully, the swing was saved and the floor had very less stains. The entire brunt was borne by taiji... whose wide circumference helped everything else to remain clean.

Naina went to the kitchen, followed by Preeti.

She sadly looked at Bela, who had her back to them, " Sorry chachiji, aapka saara tel bikhar gaya."

Bela stopped working... there was a silence of few moments, then she turned... giving a stern look to Naina... then looking at Preeti.

And the three together burst into laughter, holding their stomach with one hand while the other was cupped over their mouth... to stifle the sound.

Tears rolled down their faces.

When they could breathe a while later, Preeti, still clutching the side of her stomach, looked at Naina in admiration.

"Wah behen, aaj toh tune woh kaam kar diya jo mummy bhi nahi kar payi", she raised her brows at her mother, "Kyon mummy? Taiji ko dhool chatane ka man toh aapka bhi karta hoga na?"

Bela gave a look of annoyance, before shyly looking down, "Woh toh meri jethani hain... unke liye bura kaise soch sakti hun."

And she looked back at the girls' shocked faces, grinning... stepping ahead to hug both of them.

"Mummy, dara diya tha", Preeti let out a breath of relief.

When they seperated, Preeti again turned to Naina, "Aaj tune subah subah itna achha nazara dikha diya ki aaj ka din to pakka mast jaayega... teri ek galti ne dil khush kar diya."

Naina raised her eyebrows and narrowed her eyes, giving a mysterious look, "Galti?"

Preeti and Bela stared at her, astounded.

Preeti was the first to recover, "Haww, Naina... sachhi? Fir toh tujhe Veerta Puraskaar milna chahiye."

They turned towards Bela, who pursed her lips and stroked Naina's cheek, before turning back to her work.

Both ran to their room.

Chachaji came back after half an hour... after the doctor had come and gone.

Bela came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands with the edge of her saree, "Kaisi hain bhabhiji? Zyaada toh nahi lagi?"

Chachaji quickly removed his slippers near the door and walked in, "Theek hain, doctor ne kaha kuch nahi hua... bas thoda pair mud gaya hai... do din aaram karengi aur uspe zor nahi daalengi toh theek ho jaayega... baaki sab theek hai... waise chot se zyaada toh unhe apni nayi saree kharab hone ka dukh ho raha tha... aur keh rahi thi naya haar bhi saaf karwana padega."

He looked towards the room of girls and said in a low voice, "Naina toh theek hai na? Usse bata dena kuch nahi hua... bechari dar gayi hogi."

Bela tipped her head slightly.

"Ab jaldi se mera tiffin laga do... der ho gayi hai... main taiyar hoke aata hun", he rushed to his room.

Bela went back to the kitchen.

Preeti was still not over the feat Naina had pulled.

"Tujhme itni himmat kaise aa gayi, behen? Matlab taiji...? Agar unko zara bhi shaq ho jaata toh tera toh aaj kriya karm ho jaata."

Naina was also in wonder now that she thought about it.

"Pata nahi Preeti, bas tel lagate hue jab taiji kuch kuch bol rahi thi toh meri ankhon ke aage unka uss din wala roop aa gaya... unhone anjane mein hi sahi... par mujhe Sameer se alag karne ki koshish ki thi... waise main toh sirf thoda sa tel unki nayi saree pe girana chahti thi... par jhule se takrane ki wajah se saara gir gaya... aur fir woh khud hi fisal gayi."

Preeti listened in awe...

The ring of the phone brought the sisters out of their thoughts.

"Hello", Preeti picked up.

"Hello, Preeti... kya kar rahe ho tum dono?" Swati's voice at the other end was full of excitement.

"Khushiyaan mana rahe hain", Preeti replied animatedly.

Swati was surprised, " Achha, ghar wale Naina aur Sameer ki sagai karwa rahe hain kya?"

Preeti looked at Naina and smiled, "Woh din bhi jaldi aayega... abhi toh Naina ne kuch aisa kiya hai jiski wajah se hum sab naach rahe hain."

"Bata na aisa kya hua hai?" Swati was curious.

Preeti narrated the whole incident to Swati who listened with open mouth.

Their timid and quiet Naina had come a long way.

"Yaar, Naina toh badi bahadur ho gayi hai... taiji se bhid gayi?" She was amazed, like everyone else.

"Isiliye hum sab khushi mana rahe hain... akhir taiji ko kisi ne toh takkar di." Preeti still could not stop grinning.

"Tum log yahan khush ho rahe ho aur bechara Sameer ro raha hai", Swati sighed.

Preeti was immediately worried, "Kya hua jijaji ko?"

At the mention of Sameer's name, Naina snatched the phone from Preeti, "Swati, kya hua Sameer ko? Woh theek toh hai na? Bol na... chup kyon ho gayi?"

Hearing Naina scream into the phone, Swati smiled, "Kuch hua nahi hai baba... bas tujhse milne ke liye bechain ho raha hain... teen din se mili nahi na tu usse... Munna bata raha tha majnu jaisi haalat ho gayi hai bechare ki... hai Naina, itna kyon tadpati hai?"

Naina heaved a sigh of relief that he was not unwell, then sulked, "Main apni marzi se thodi karti hun aisa... jab se taiji gaon se aayi hain... ghar se nikalne ka mauka hi nahi mila... jab dekho yahin baithi rehti hain... main toh khud mari jaa rahi hun Sameer se milne ke liye."

Swati beamed, "Chal fir, teri mushkil ka hal mere paas hai... aaj tum log mere ghar aa jao... mummy papa aaj Gandhi Nagar jaa rahe hain... kal aayenge... unhone kaha Naina Preeti ko yahan bula lo raat ke liye... tu kahe toh main chachiji se puch leti hun."

Naina was happy but wasn't sure they'll get permission to stay for the night, but she went to the kitchen and handed over the phone to chachiji.

She talked to Swati and hearing her request, assured her that she will speak to her husband and let her know soon.

Chachaji sat at the table, quickly having his breakfast.

"Suniye ji, woh Swati ka phone aaya tha", Bela narrated the entire conversation.

Chachaji thought for a moment, then smiled, " Jaane do Bela, ladkiyaan ab badi ho gayi hain... aur Swati toh inki bachpan ki saheli hai... isiliye uske maata pita ne bhi kaha inko bulane ko... ab Swati kal tak akeli thodi rahegi. Bhej do dono ko."

"Par bhabhiji... ", the habit of taiji's approval was deep set.

Chachaji had a mischievous glint in his eyes, " Bhabhiji toh do din tak bistar se uth nahi sakti... unse kyon puchna ya batana... "

Bela looked at her husband with wide eyes.

"Swatiiii... hum aa rahe hain... chachaji ne haan keh di", Naina could not contain her happiness.

Swati was elated, "Main abhi bata deti hun Munna ko phone karke... Sameer ki jaan mein jaan aa jayegi... dopaher ko woh log aa jayenge yahan."

Naina skipped a beat, "Agar kisi ne dekh liya toh... aise ghar pe aana theek hoga kya? Matlab tere mummy papa ko pata chala toh?"

"Maine pehle hi puch liya hai... mat bhool meri sagai ho chuki hai Munna se, woh aata rehta hai yahan... maine mummy ko pucha tha ki tum dono bhi aaogi toh kya main Munna aur uske doston ko bula sakti hun... hum log picture dekenge aur saath mein khana khayenge... mummy ne kaha theek hai." Swati cleared Naina's doubt.

Sometimes, Naina wondered why her family was not as broad minded... but then she realised that chachaji was always supportive of everything... even chachiji gave in to their requests more often than not... the problem was taiji and her conservative mindset.

She shook her head to throw thoughts of taiji out of her mind and focus on the meeting with Sameer today.

The butterflies in her stomach made their presence felt... a gap of three days had made her yearn for his arms around her... she could feel her heartbeat go wild at the thought of meeting him.