Naina was not sure she heard it right... her heart was beating so loud that her own ears were deafened by the pounding.

"Chachaji, yeh aap kya keh rahe hain?" Sameer's shaken voice confirmed that what she had heard was correct.

"Haan Sameer, ab yehi raasta hai hamare paas. Ek baar tum dono ki shaadi ho jayegi toh main khud bhaisahab ko phone karke bata dunga. Gussa toh unko hona hi hai... par unke gusse ki wajah se unki har galat baat ko hum sar jhuka ke maan nahi sakte." Anand justified the need for the extreme step.

"Aur tum dono ko darne ki zaroorat nahi hai... yeh shaadi hum karwa rahe hain... main iss ghar ki sabse badi hun isliye usko mera faisla manna hoga... woh itna sanki hai ki agar samjhane ki koshish ki toh woh koi bhi pagalpan kar sakta hai... isliye yeh kadam uthana pad raha hai... ek baar usko samajh aa jayega ki ab woh Naina ko apni jaydaad nahi samajh sakta, woh kisi ki biwi ban chuki hai toh musibat hi khatam ho jayegi." Phulla bua explained.

"Naina, beta tumhara kya kehna hai iss baare mein?" Anand looked at her.

Naina swallowed, not able to speak.

Sameer could understand the dilemma she was in.

"Chachaji, Naina hamesha se khushiyon se bhari dhoom dham wali shaadi chahti thi... aise chup chap, bina kisi ko bulaye..." Sameer put forth her thoughts.

Chachaji nodded in understanding, "Hum bhi apni bachhi ke liye uski shaadi mein woh sab kuch karna chahte hain jo Pooja ki shaadi mein kiya tha... bhagwan ne chaha toh aisa hoga bhi... abhi hum sirf court marriage karke certificate banwa lenge ki tum dono kanoonan pati patni ho... jisse Rakesh bhaisahab koi ulti seedhi harkat na karein... woh kam se kam kanoon ke khilaaf nahi jayenge... ek baar tum dono ke exams khatm ho jaayein toh Naina wapas ghar aa jayegi aur hum saari rasmon ke saath isko vida karke tumhare saath bhejenge."

The relief Sameer felt at the thought of her dream getting fulfilled was visible on his face. He pressed the hand he was holding, giving a look of assurance to Naina.

Chachaji's words were comforting for her as well. A small smile appeared on her face.

"Lekin court mein toh pehle apply karna padta hai... toh kal kaise?" Sameer now had new doubts.

"Jab kal raat Naina se pata chala ki bhaisahab agle hafte hi yahan aane wale hain toh maine apne dost ko phone kiya jo yahan high court mein vakil hai... usne kisi tarah aaj baat karke kal 12:30 ka time humare liye le liya hai... ab tum dono ko kal humare saath chalna hoga... main aur buaji tumhare witness banenge." Anand narrated the schedule.

Sameer could feel the shivering of her hand... he himself was finding it difficult to fathom that they would be legally married in less than twenty four hours.

"Naina, bata beta... tu chalegi na court? Tujhe koi darr ya takleef toh nahi hai na?" Phulla bua asked her gently.

Naina took a deep breath... and shook her head.

Thinking about her father's anger, many times in her life she had given up her needs and wants... sometimes she was too scared to ask, other times the lack of finances made her remain quiet and quite a few times he just did not bother what she hesitantly requested. Once, while in school, she was to be given the 'Best Student' trophy and she had asked him to attend the function. In spite of being a staff member of the same school, he had not come... preferring to go and watch Arjun's practice session. There were various other occasions when he had simply neglected her presence... or condemned it.

It was time to take her own decisions. She was an adult now... earning enough to support herself... she had half of the family with her...

And she had Sameer...

"Main taiyar hun, chachaji." Her voice was firm.

Anand smiled in relief... he knew it was not the marriage that was the problem... it was the way it was being done. Naina's relationship with Sameer was not wrong in any manner... he was the most suitable match for her, who loved her more than his own life... and she adored him... they had to get married eventually... but with proper rituals... Naina deserved all the love and pampering that a bride to be gets...

This hushed marriage would definitely raise questions... he had discussed it with Bela... she was initially apprehensive about such a huge step... the society would view it with suspicion... but Anand had not bothered about the society ever... for him, the happiness and dreams of his children were foremost... and if that meant breaking some rules of the society, he was ready.

"Mujhe khushi hai ki tum dono waqt ki ahmiyat ko samajhte hue iss shaadi ke liye taiyar ho... par aaj tumse yeh waada main bhi karta hun ki ek baar fir se shaadi hogi tumhari... meri beti doli mein zaroor baithegi... band baaje ke saath uski baraat aayegi." Anand promised Naina with misty eyes.

She could not stop herself from rushing to him. As Naina soaked in the affection of the person who was her father in true sense, Phulla bua called Sameer. He immediately sat near her feet. She kept his head in her lap, fondly stroking.

"Teri Naina ko tujhse koi nahi cheen sakta... tum dono ek doosre ke liye hi bane ho aur hamesha saath rahoge... kal ke baad woh Rakesh toh kya uske farishte bhi tum dono ko alag nahi kar payenge... ab toh khush hai na mere hero?" She pulled his cheek.

With a shy smile, he glanced at Naina, making her blush as well.

After lunch, chachaji gave Sameer the list of documents that they needed to bring to the court the next day while Naina helped her grandmother in the kitchen.

"Naina, beta mere paas kuch nayi sareeyan rakhi hain... tu unmein se koi dekh le kal ke liye." Bua dadi suggested.

Her words made Naina realise that she actually would be a bride and she needed to dress up for the part... if not entirely, at least wear a saree.

She was reminded of naniji's saree.

"Mere paas ek saree hai... agar aap bura na maano toh main woh pehen lun?" She asked.

"Tere paas toh college ke kisi program ki halki si saree hogi... shaadi ke liye kuch alag hona chahiye na... mana jaldi mein kar rahe hain par hai toh humari beti ki shaadi." Phulla bua smiled warmly.

Naina stepped closer to her, "Bua dadi, woh college ki saree nahi hai... Sameer ki nani ki hai... bohot sundar hai... jab hum Ahmedabad gaye the tab usne di thi... nanaji ne pehle se Sameer ko de ke rakhi thi uski dulhan ke liye."

There was a teasing glint in bua dadi's eyes, " Oho, tum dono ne toh poori taiyaari pehle se hi kar rakhi hai... dulhan ki saree bhi taiyar aur dulhan bhi... aur tera hero toh jaane kabse taiyar baitha hai."

Naina's eyes grew wide at her words, a dark streak of crimson spreading on her face.

The old lady chuckled at her condition, "Ab sharmana chod aur yeh bata aur kya kya saaman hai... kuch zevar bhi hain kya?"

"Nahi aur kuch toh nahi hai... par kuch chahiye bhi nahi." She needed nothing when she had her most precious possession.

Bua dadi gave a soft pat on her cheek, "Kal subah yahan leke aana sab kuch... Yahin se taiyar hoke court chalenge... college se aise nikalna theek nahi lagega."

Naina nodded.

Though the initial shock had subsided, Naina felt something tugging at her heart as they bade goodbye to Phulla bua and chachaji in the evening.

Sameer could see the pain in her eyes. He stopped the bike at the small restaurant where he had taken her once earlier. They quietly walked through the enclosed area to reach the garden at the back. It was deserted like last time.

"Kya baat hai, Naina? Ab toh chachaji aur bua dadi ne problem hi khatam kar di... fir tum itni dukhi kyon ho?" He asked the moment they sat on the lone white bench.

Naina stared at a distant point, "Sameer, kitni ajeeb baat hai na... sabke maa baap apne bacchon ke liye kitna kuch karte hain... par hum dono ki kismat dekho... ek baar tumhari maa ne apne faayde ke liye tumhari shaadi karwani chahi aur ab papa mere saath aisa hi kar rahe hain... kyon Sameer... hum hi kyon... kya hum itne bure hain ki humare liye unke man mein koi pyar, koi apnaapan nahi hai."

He could understand the feeling of betrayal... his own mother had given him the same feeling number of times.

Slipping one arm around her shoulder, he drew her closer, "Naina, jin logon ne kabhi humari parwah nahi ki unke liye hum aansu kyon bahaye... tumhare papa ho yaa meri mummy... ab hum unke baare mein soch ke khud ko dukhi nahi karenge... balki iss baat se khush hokar bhagwan ka dhanyavad karenge ki unhone chachaji aur bua dadi jaise logon ko humari zindagi mein bheja."

Naina was still pensive, "Agar papa inn sabke baad bhi nahi maane toh... hum kya karenge, Sameer... papa bohot ziddi hain... aur Arjun bhaiya ke liye toh woh kisi bhi hadd tak jaa sakte hain... tumne aaj dekh hi liya... agar unhone zabardasti mujhe bula liya aur meri baat nahi maani toh... main unse sabke samne lad toh nahi sakti na... hamesha ki tarah agar unhone thappad maar ke apni baat manne pe majboor kar diya mujhe toh main kya karungi... hostel mein toh tum bhi nahi aa sakte."

He realised she was in a trance kind of state... the decision taken by her father seemed to have had a profound effect on her...

Sameer turned to face her... holding her shoulders, he made her look at him. Her eyes were dazed... seeing through him... she was deeply hurt... the pain reflecting in her eyes tore through his heart.

"Naina, Naina," he gently shook her shoulders, "meri baat suno, aisa kuch nahi hoga... woh tumse nahi mil payenge... hum yahan rahenge hi nahi... main tumhe yahan se door le jaunga... koi tumhe majboor nahi karega, Naina... tum Mrs Naina Sameer Maheshwari hi rahogi."

Her eyes slowly focussed on him, the sound of her new name filling up the emptiness inside her... making her thaw to his warmth.

"Sameer." Her voice choked.

He swallowed the lump forming in his throat, "Naina, tum sirf aur sirf meri ho... aaj, kal, hamesha."

Her eyes pooled up as she nodded, biting her lip.

Sameer lifted her hand, kissing her palm, "Mujhe  apni kismat se ko shikayat nahi hai... mera naam tumhate hathon ki lakeeron mein jo likha hai... isse achhi kismat toh ho hi nahi sakti thi... main bohot khushkismat hun."

She looked at him lovingly, "Tumse zyada khushkismat main hun... aakhir school ke sabse handsome ladke ko pata hi liya maine."

"Achha." He raised one brow, relieved to see her smiling.

"Jis ladke ko tumne pataya hai na... woh zindagi bhar tumhara saath nahi chodega... aur kabhi bhi pyar ki kami nahi hone dega tumhe," he gave a lopsided smile, "Haan, overdose zaroor ho sakti hai."

Naina looked into his eyes, "Tumhare pyar ki overdose kabhi nahi hogi mujhe, Sameer... hamesha chahiye hoga... thoda aur."

And she rested her head on his chest, the fears easing out gradually.

They reached the college when it was already getting dark. Asking her to take rest, he dropped her in front of her building and walked back to his room.

Sameer was not able to sleep. He had remained strong in front of Naina... for her sake...now the uneasiness gripped him too. He was exhilarated about the marriage but equally anxious about the reaction of her father. What if he created some kind of drama here in college... his loud and harsh words in school always managed to gather a crowd around instantly... what if he behaved in the same manner here... they had decided not to tell anyone about the marriage... but if Rakesh sir spilled the beans...

He shuddered.

Something had to be done. He made up his mind to talk to chachaji about it.

Sleep was still elusive.

He went out, going behind the college buildings to reach the back side of girls hostel.

Her door was closed. But the soft light seeping through the white curtain of the window made it clear that she was up too. He silently stood leaning against the wall...

As if on que, her shadow appeared against the curtain. Sameer straightened.

And then, she placed a hand on the white curtain... it was probably God's way of giving him comfort... the feeling of her being with him... even unknowingly... unaware that she was giving him the solace he craved for...

He held his palm to fit against the shadow of her hand... and a gentle calm spread over him.

Tomorrow would be a beautiful day.