Since morning Naina and Preeti were excitedly getting ready for the function. To Naina's surprise, Preeti had got up early and was not being lazy at all. They shampooed their hair... applied a pack of gramflour and turmeric mixed with milk on their faces, on Bela's insistence... ironed their clothes for the evening.

Preeti had borrowed a hair dryer from her parlor for the day. She blow dried Naina's hair, setting the ends in soft curls.

They packed all their things carefully, along with the suits, and left for Swati's house.

Her entire house was buzzing with activity. A big area outside was covered with red curtains and decorated beautifully with marigold flowers. A low stage was set against it, with a red and gold ornate sofa. On one side of the enclosed area, tables were set in a long line, covered with pink satin covers. Huge dishes were placed on them which would later be filled with varieties of food items. People were constantly moving around, giving last minute touches to the decorations.

As Naina and Preeti entered the house, they met Swati's mom and wished her.

She gently smiled at them, "Aa gayi beta... apni saheli ko achhe se taiyar kar do... aur haan... tum dono bhi khub achhe se sajna... meri betiyaan sabse sundar lagengi."

They nodded and ran to Swati's room.

There was no match to her anxiety mixed with excitement.

"Ab aa rahi ho... pata hai subah se intezaar kar rahi hun tumhara... kitna kaam hai... kaise karenge... aisa na ho ki mere taiyar hone se pehle hi Munna aa jaye",  she started her barrage of apprehensions.

Suddenly she stopped, getting all excited to see Naina's hair, " Haye Naina, tere baal kitne mast lag rahe hain... kahan se karwaye? Main bhi wahin se bula leti hun mere bal set karne ke liye."

Naina and Preeti looked at each other and Preeti gave a victorious smile.

"Tere liye aayi hai na wahin se... baal set karne ke liye... hamari Preeti", gesturing towards her sister, Naina gave a side hug to Swati, who smiled brightly and spread her free arm, turning the hug into a trio hug.

"Bas ab dekhti ja... tera aisa makeup aur hairstyle karungi na... agar jijaji behosh na hojaye toh kehna", Preeti winked.

"Nahi, nahi... behosh mat karwa bechare ko... warna mujhe anguthi kaun pehnayega?" Swati frowned... giggling a moment later, and both girls laughed along.

Later, when the saree was done, Preeti made her sit on a chair in front of the mirror. She gave a center parting and made delicate braids with small sections, starting from her forehead going till the ears. She let a few tendrils fall on her face, slightly curling them... to give a softer look. The layers at the back were curled as well.

Satisfied with the style, Preeti moved onto her face. She applied a layer of base coat and then gave an even finish with foundation to her already glowing skin. Kohl and liner, after a light dusting of gold on her lids made her eyes look mystical. A slight brush of pink on the cheeks and rust lipstick made her look like a princess. She made her wear the necklace and heavy earrings. The round maang tika filled up her forehead.

Preeti stepped back to see the result and gave a contended smile. Naina was equally amazed at how Preeti had turned her already beautiful friend into nothing less than a gorgeous film star.

Swati stared at her own reflection, stunned, "Sach mein sundar bana diya tune, Preeti."

She brought her face down to her shoulder and looked at Swati through the mirror, "Sundar toh tu hamesha se hai... tabhi toh fisal gaye jijaji."

The blush on her face made her look ethreal.

Preeti and Naina quickly changed into their suits. The hair already done, they just needed to put on the jewelry. Naina wore her golden jhumkas and a delicate gold chain... and a small mang tika. Bangles completed her look. Preeti put on the earrings, not interested in bangles.

Sameer and Pandit had accompanied Munna to his house the previous night, as his parents had insisted that they all leave together from here. Munna was pacing his room in nervousness since morning. Sameer tried to pacify him from time to time as Pandit snored happily, sprawled on the bed.

"Kab tak sota rahega, kumbhkaran... teri wajah se der ho gayi na toh tujhe bhi kabhi shaadi nahi karne dunga",  Munna shook him for the umpteenth time.

Pandit stirred, opening one eye, "Bhai, meri shaadi ke aasar toh mujhe bhi kam hi lagte hain... koi milti hi nahi... upar se tu aisa kehke subah subah dil kyon tod raha hai?"

"Subah? Dopaher ho gayi hai... do ghante mein nikalna hai Swati ke ghar ke liye",  Munna shrieked.

Pandit was relaxed, " Do ghante hain na... toh abhi mere paas dedh ghanta sone ke liye bacha hai... chal... good night... baad mein milta hun." He buried his head under the pillow.

Munna pulled away the pillow, hitting him with the same, "Abhi ke abhi uth jaa nahi toh poora jug paani ka daal dunga... yeh nahi ki bhai ki madad kare taiyar hone mein... bas sone ki padi hai."

Pandit dragged himself to sit cross legged on the bed, rubbing his eyes, "Dekha bhai, Tu jitna marzi taiyar hoja... bhabhi ke aage toh bandar hi lagega."

"Waise kabhi kabhi sochta hun tujh mein kya dekha bhabhi ne... matlab aisa kya hai jo hamein nahi dikha", he narrowed his eyes, looking at Munna from head to toe.

Munna gave a furious look to him and ran behind as Pandit jumped from the bed to hide next to Sameer who had been standing, leaning on the table behind with his hands crossed, enjoying their banter.

He held Munna by his shoulders, "Tu isko chod aur taiyar ho jaake... warna teri wajah se late ho jaayenge."

Glaring at Pandit one more time, Munna went to the bathroom, emerging after few minutes, dressed in an off white silk kurta with thin gold thread work on the neck and front.

Sameer and Pandit got dressed too. Pandit wore a yellow kurta while Sameer decided to wear the green one that Naina had gifted him on Diwali.

All dressed, they left with Munna's parents and some relatives for Swati's house.

The girls awaited their arrival... peeping out from the window in Swati's room.

"Aa  gaye",  Preeti screamed.

Naina and Swati looked at their men, their hearts missing a beat.

Swati suddenly felt too shy to watch and turned her back to the window.

"Dekh na, Swati, jijaji kitne handsome lag rahe hain", Preeti nudged her.

She lowered her eyes, "Handsome hain toh lagenge hi na."

Preeti moved closer and said softly, "Handsome hain tabhi toh Naina ko pasand aa gaye the, school mein".

As the meaning registered, Swati pursed her lips and frowned at Preeti.

Laughing, Naina wrapped her arms around Swati from behind, "Mere jijaji bhi aaj kamaal lag rahe hain... bilkul iss rajkumari ke rajkumar."

Preeti joined in, holding her ears till Swati smiled and enveloped her in a hug.

Outside, Swati's family greeted the guests, giving special attention to their would be son in law. They were made to sit comfortably and waiters were summoned to serve soft drinks and snacks. Pandit was thrilled to see the variety of food items. Sameer's eyes were searching for Naina. She could not be seen anywhere.

"Pandit, chal zara dekhte hain baaki sab kahan hai", he nudged Pandit.

"Dekhne kahan jaayenge? Andar ghar mein thodi jaa sakte hain... bhai, ladke wale hain... sabki nazar humpe hogi... chup chaap baitha reh... bhabhi abhi aa jayegi, doosri bhabhi ke saath", Pandit had good experience of going to such functions.

It was difficult to sit patiently for Sameer, knowing that his Naina was  here somewhere. He got up and went around... checking up all the people seated in the decorated place. As he stood contemplating whether to go inside the house or not, a small boy banged into his legs. He quickly held onto the boy, preventing him from falling. The boy looked at him and tried to wriggle out of his hold as a fat lady came panting behind him.

Sameer kept the boy in his grasp till the lady stopped and caught her breath, "Kahan bhage jaa rahe ho Parlay babu... tumhare liye ice cream yahin mangwa dungi... aise daudao mat mujhe."

Sameer thought the face and the voice sounded familiar but he could not remember.

Holding the boy's hand, the lady adjusted her pallu on the head, muttering, "Yeh Naina Preeti bhi pata nahi kahan ghus ke baithi hain... ye nahi ki aake apne bhai ka dhyaan rakhein."

The memories of her harsh words about Naina in the temple came back to Sameer... and he looked sharply at taiji... thinking of giving her a piece of his mind.

But Pandit's words rang in his ears... that he had to impress her family.

"Auntyji..." He called out to the lady who was dragging her son in a tight hold.

She stopped to look at him with a questioning look.

"Aap kahein toh main iss bachche ke  liye ice cream le aaun?" He offered politely.

"Tum kaun ho?" Her tone was rough.

Sameer smiled politely, "Jee main issi ghar se hun... rishtedar hun."

Taiji shoved her son towards him, "Theek hai, khila do ice cream... par dhyan rakhna mere bete ka... kuch bhi hua isse toh tumhari khair nahi."

Then she turned to her son, "Bhaiya se keh dena jo bhi khana ho... aur kahin bhag mat jaana."

The small boy nodded and happily walked up to Sameer, holding his finger.

For a small, frail body, the boy had a huge appetite, Sameer discovered later. He had eaten two ice creams, one kulfi, a plate of pakode, one alu tikki and was now gulping down his seconds soft drink. Sameer wondered where all the food was going.

Satisfied, that he was done with eating, Sameer held his hand and started walking back to leave him with his mother, when he felt a tug at his hand.

He looked down at the boy and he wrinkled his nose, "Bathroom."

Sameer sighed and looked around. Seeing no such place, he realised that they needed to go inside the house.

Naina and Preeti were adjusting Swati's pallu on the head when her mom called out to Naina.

"Beta, zara aarti ki thali sajaa de... main pehle bhool gayi thi aur abhi bahar kaam hai."

Naina smiled at her, "Aap bahar ka dekh lijiye, auntyji, main saja deti hun thali."

Telling Preeti that she was going to the kitchen, Naina walked out.

Sameer entered the house, looking around hesitantly, wondering whom to ask.

Pralay had been here earlier... he left Sameer's hand and ran to the bathroom at the end of the corridor.
Sameer ran behind him...

And collided with Naina.

Immediately, his hands closed around her waist, saving her from a fall. The shock made her cling on his kurta, clutching tightly... eyes closed.

As the same touch sent her heart racing and familiar musky smell filled her senses, she opened her eyes, widening them at the sight in front of her.

He looked dashing. She had seen him in this kurta earlier but today, with hair falling on his forehead, he looked even better. Her hand involuntarily moved to his forehead, to adjust his hair.

Sameer had felt her, an instant before he saw her... her heavenly smell had reached him and before he could look around, she banged into him. He could not thank his stars enough... in a house full of people... where he had thought that talking to her would also be not easy...  he was holding her close, and she was lovingly playing with his hair.

Hearing someone coming, Naina came to her senses... and ran away to the kitchen, without a word.

Sameer kept staring after her. As she moved around in the kitchen, his eyes feasted on her... starting at the feet.

Golden bellies matched with her outfit. The bottom had gold sequins adorning the fabric. The long kurta had a gold border and embroidered pattern on the front. The sleeves were long... and bangles filled up her wrists. He noticed she was wearing the ones he had gifted her in college. The flowing dupatta was pinned on one shoulder. Her hair looked different today. The waves were ending in soft curls and the maang tika made her look like a dream. The delicate chain around her neck made his fingers itch... to trace it.

He wanted to hold her close... and tell her how beautiful she looked.