"Sameer, kuch toh sharm karo... chachiji ne kaha aur tumne darwaza band kar liya... pagal ho kya... chalo, bahar jao." Naina was bewildered at his unabashed attitude.

Sameer kept taking slow steps towards her, gazing at her intently, "Sharm kis baat ki... biwi ho tum meri... dekha na chachiji ne kitne pyar se kaha ki aaram se pack kar lena, unhe jaldi nahi hai... matlab woh humein time deke gayi hain... ab unhone kaha hai toh manna chahiye na."

"Sameer, tum please jao... sab hain ghar mein... aise achha thodi lagta hai... chachaji kya sochenge." She started to step back.

"Kuch nahi... woh apne kamre mein hain." He was closing the distance between them, a smile on his lips as he realised where she was heading.

Another step and her legs hit the bed, making her fall flat on her back. She looked around in shock as he gave a lopsided smirk.

Before she could get up, he sat on the bed, leaning over her to keep her pinned, "Sirf dikhane ke liye na na bolti ho aur ishaare aise deti ho... tumhara bhi jawab nahi, meri jaan."

She opened her mouth to deny but his eyes boring into hers made her forget all words.

His one hand linked with her fingers, other one going around her head... he leaned further, sliding his nose against hers, skimming down her throat.

She drew in a sharp breath, heat spreading in her veins at the touch of his lips on the throbbing nerve at the base of her neck.

"Sameer, please... " She still tried to hold onto some sanity.

"Tum jab aise please bolti ho toh dil aur bhi machal jaata hai." His guttural voice made her spine tingle.

As he planted small kissed over her collar bone, coming down to the center of her neck, her back arched helplessly. He let his head rest on her chest, realising that he wouldn't be able to control himself if he went any further.

Taking a deep breath to clear his mind of the buzzing need, he lifted himself, keeping her pinned with his hands. Her breathing was as uneven as his... he could see the way her chest heaved. With her hair spilled all around her, it was extremely tough for him to tear his gaze away.

He placed one hand behind her head, making her get up.

"Naina, tumhara pyar jitna milta hai meri tadap utni aur badh jaati hai... dil thoda aur maangne lagta hai... mujhe samajh nahi aata main aisa kya karun jisse tumhe dikha paun ki mere dil mein tumhare liye kitna zyada pyar hai." He touched his forehead with hers.

She placed her hands on his chest, "Tumhe dikhane ki zaroorat nahi hai... jab tumhari dhadkan mere choone se aise badh jaati hai toh mujhe pata chal jaata hai tum kitna pyar karte ho mujhse."

He wrapped his arms around her, his heart thudding against her.

"Kahan jaa rahi hai, Preeti?" Bela asked as Preeti turned to go out of the kitchen.

She stopped, wondering how to make an excuse to go to the room... no one should know that Sameer was inside with Naina.

"Woh mummy, main... haan, main dekhne jaa rahi thi ki Naina ne gift pack kar diye ya nahi." She said without turning.

"Kamre mein mat jaana abhi... aise achha nahi lagta... Sameer ko kuch der baithne de Naina ke saath... kar lenge gift pack... abhi toh mehmaan aaye bhi nahi hain." Bela continued to chop dry fruits for the halwa that she had made.

Preeti turned to look at her mother, her jaw hanging, "Aapko pata hai jijaji... matlab woh kamre mein... "

Bela narrowed her eyes, "Tujhe bhi pata hai?"

Preeti swallowed, nodding.

Bela smiled, "Maine hi bheja tha usse, gift ke bahane... unki nayi nayi shaadi hui hai... aaj subah se yahan hain toh yaad aa rahi hogi ek doosre ki... itni der tak door rehna... "

She stopped, realising that she was talking to her daughter who wasn't married yet.

"Jijaji toh shaadi se pehle bhi kahan reh paate the, pehli baar unse mili thi tab bhi bahane dhoond rahe the kamre mein jaane ke." Preeti recalled when he had visited their house for the first time during college vacations... and how he wanted to be with Naina.

"Kya? Kab ki baat hai?" Bela questioned.

It was Preeti's turn to go quiet.

"Kab mili thi pehli baar?" Bela asked again.

"Pehli baar matlab shaadi ke baad jab pehli baar mili thi... jab pagphere ke liye aaye the... Naina ke saath." She tried to cover up her folly.

"Achha ab tu yeh sab chod aur bahar ki almari se achhe wale cup nikaal le... aur woh platein bhi jo tere papa pichli baar diwali pe laaye the." Bela got busy with the preparations again.

Preeti thanked her stars that her mother was not paying much attention, quickly moving out to get the things she had asked for.

As she was coming back to the kitchen, she saw Sameer walking out of the room.

"Kya baat hai, jijaji... yahan toh mummy bhi aapka saath deti hain." She chuckled.

"Pandit sunega toh khush ho jayega, saaliji." He smiled back.

Preeti stopped in her tracks, "Pandit kyon khush hoga?"

"Jiske sasural wale itna saath dete hon romance ka, uski toh chaandi hai na." He flicked his brows.

Preeti coloured to the roots at his implication, running away to kitchen.

Just then, the door bell rang, to divert everyone's attention.

Anand opened the door to Pandit and his family. Bela came out from the kitchen to welcome them along with her husband.

After greeting each other, the elders entered the house. Pandit followed them, his hands folded as he wished Anand and Bela. They smiled at him. Pandit's eyes moved to Sameer who was standing near the dining chair. With a frown, he jerked his head towards Anand and Bela. Pandit scrunched his nose wondering what was wrong with him. Sameer again indicated towards the floor, gritting his teeth. Pandit looked aeound in confusion, then looked back at his friend. Sameer scoffed at him, discreetly pointing down. He scratched his head, looking at the floor.

When the actions didn't make any sense, he came to where Sameer was standing, "Bhai, teri athanni gir gayi hai jo baar baar dekhne ko keh raha hai? Mujhe toh kahin nahi dikh rahi... aur sasural mein athanni ke liye itna pareshan hona sahi lagta hai kya?"

"Gadhe, sasural tera bhi hone wala hai... pair choone ko bol raha hun tere hone wale saas sasur ke." Sameer hissed in a low voice.

"Oho... bhai, main toh bhool hi gaya." He quickly went to where Anand was sitting, bending down to touch his feet.

Anand staggered, "Kya hua, beta?"

"Ji woh... sorry... main pair choona bhool gaya tha." Pandit sheepishly admitted.

Everyone laughed while he bent to touch Bela's feet as well.

"Aadat daal le ab." His mother chided him, asking him to sit next to her.

"Sameer, tum bhi aao, yahan baitho." Anand patted the seat next to him.

Sameer greeted Pandit's parents before sitting down with Anand.

"Sameer, kaise ho beta? Kaam kaisa chal raha hai?" Pandit's father asked him.

"Jee, seekh raha hun... abhi kuch din hi hue hain factory jaate hue." Sameer replied politely.

"Koi nahi, shuruat ho gayi hai... aage bhi achha hi hoga... tum jaldi seekh jaoge... isne bhi toh kuch din pehle hi poori tarah se samajhna shuru kiya hai, pehle toh kabhi kabhi aata tha dukaan pe... aur ab dekho, naya market banane ka plan paas bhi karwa liya apne aap." Pandit's dad proudly looked at his son.

Anand asked him a few things about the new project. Bela went to the kitchen to get snacks and juice for everyone.

"Aap log lijiye na." She urged after she had placed everything on the table.

The platter included kachori, samose, cutlets, jalebi, rasgulle and halwa.

After the elders had taken, Anand asked Sameer and Pandit to take a plate too. He picked up after some reluctance... he didn't want to be holding a plate full of food when Preeti arrived, but could not say no to his would be father in law.

"Main chai ka dekhti hun." Bela went back to the kitchen.

Pandit had taken first bite of kachori when Preeti stepped into the room, along with Naina. In nervousness, he took few quick bites, stuffing his mouth with more than he could chew. Thankfully, Preeti didn't look at him initially. But Sameer did... and rolled his eyes.

Pandit was lost in how beautiful she looked. He had rarely noticed girls clothes earlier, but he had observed Preeti closely during Sameer's wedding... she looked charming in everything, but dressed up in traditional clothes, she was stunning.

She touched the feet of Pandit's parents before taking a seat.

"Humein jab Raghav ne bataya ki usse Preeti pasand hai toh sach maniye humein bohot khushi hui." Pandit's mom said as she smiled at Preeti affectionately.

Anand and Bela looked at each other, perplexed.

"Raghav? Aap Pandit ke rishte ke liye nahi aaye?" Anand decided to make things clear.

It was their turn to be baffled.

Sameer realised the mix up. They were aware of his actual name as they all were in the same school but it had slipped everyone's mind to tell chachaji and chachiji.

"Chachaji, Pandit ka hi naam Raghav hai." He informed, shocking Anand and Bela even more.

Pandit's father started laughing as the perplexity that had ensued due to the name amused him.

"Bhai sahab, hamare bete ka naam darasal Raghav hai... woh bachpan se iski khaane ke peeche pagal hone ki aadat ki wajah se sabne isko Pandit bulana shuru kar diya... pandit logon ko bohot shouk hota hai na khaane ka... dheere dheere yeh naam aisa fit hua ispe ki sab iska asli naam bhool hi gaye." He explained.

Pandit was red with embarrassment as he was still holding a plate with partially eaten kachori and some sweets. With a rueful smile, he put the plate back.

"Arre beta, khao na... tumhare liye hi banaya hai... Preeti ne bataya tha tumhe kachori aur samose kitne pasand hain isliye banaye hain." Bela picked up the plate, handing it to him again.

Pandit took it, stealing a glance at Preeti. To his relief, she was smiling as she too looked at him shyly.

The discussion took off from where it had been halted due to the confusion.

Pandit's mother called Preeti to sit with her, asking her about her plans now that college was over.

"Maine parlour ka kaam seekha hai... woh karna chahti hun." Preeti truthfully told her about her interests.

She smiled, "Haan, bataya tha Raghav ne... iske papa keh rahe the ki jo supermarket khol raha hai usmein ek parlour bhi khol le... fir tum usse chala lena."

"Lekin aunty, pehle mujhe experience lena padega na... doosre logon ke saath kaam karke." Preeti quickly spoke up.

"Jab tak tumhe lagta hai tumhe experience chahiye, tab tak bahar kaam kar lena fir apna parlour chala lena, theek hai." The lady said genially.

Anand and Bela were relieved with their progressive mindset... lot of people still raised their eyebrows when they heard that Preeti was working in a beauty parlour.

The conversation then shifted to the topic of marriage.

"Dekhiye, bachhe toh kabse ek doosre ko jaante hain... hum log bhi itni baar mil chuke hain... toh intezar karne ki kya zaroorat hai... iske doston ke saath saath hi iski shaadi ho jaaye toh achha hoga... isliye hum toh jaldi se jaldi tareekh nikalwana chahte hain." Pandit's mother suggested.

"Jee, theek hai, main kal hi baat karta hun panditji se... jo tareekh sabse pehle milegi woh rakh lenge." Anand agreed.

Pandit looked at Preeti who was sitting on the other side of his mom. She wasn't looking at him but he could see her lips curled into a smile.

Naina was elated to hear this. She was reminded of the idea that Pandit had mentioned to Preeti few days back.

"Chachaji, jis din Munna aur Swati ki shaadi tay hui hai, woh mahayog ka din hai... Swati ne bataya tha uss din bohot si shaadiyaan ho rahi hain... kyon na panditji se poochke inki shaadi bhi ussi din ke liye tay kar lein... muhurat bhi achha hai aur humein taiyari ka thoda time bhi mil jayega." She brightly looked at Anand.

"Haan, maine suna hai woh bohot shubh din hai... uss din toh bina tithi nikawaye bhi shaadi ki jaa sakti hai, itna achha muhurat hai... humein koi aitraaz nahi hai agar aap yeh tareekh pakki karein." Pandit's mother readily agreed.

Naina glanced at Sameer. He was smiling at her... fiddling with the button of his shirt. Her eyes widened for a moment, then she lowered them, her cheeks flushed pink as she recalled his words in the room. After a few seconds, when she looked up at him, he was still doing the same thing, his gaze fixed on her. On the pretext of smoothening her hair, she gingerly placed one hand on her shoulder for a moment, before swiftly bringing it down. His eyes lit up.

"Sameer, beta aap bachhe thodi der andar jaake baatein kar lo... tab tak hum log baaki sab tay kar lete hain." Chachaji brought him back to his surroundings.

"Theek hai, chachaji." He stood up, calling Pandit with a wave of his head.

Naina took Preeti's hand and four of them went to the room.

The moment they were inside, Naina pulled Preeti in a tight hug, "Preetiiiii, agar tum dono ki shaadi ek saath hogi toh kitna maza aayega."

"Naina, ab aise gale lagane ka kaam jiska hai usse karne do... tumhe kisi ko gale lagana hai toh main hun na yahan." Sameer spread his arms.

"Chup karo... mujhe apni behen ko hi gale lagana hai." Naina did not leave her sister, tightening her embrace to tease Sameer.

Pandit gave a puzzled look to them, "Bhabhi, aapki baat kuch samajh nahi aayi... hum dono ki shaadi ek saath nahi hogi toh shaadi kaise kahenge usse? Ismein aapne 'agar' kyon lagaya? Hum dono ek saath hi shaadi karenge na... ya ismein bhi college ki tarah proxy lagti hai?"

The smack he received from Sameer was well deserved.

"Woh Preeti aur Swati ke liye keh rahi hai... kuch toh dimaag lagaya kar." Sameer gave him a flustered look.

Preeti glared at him as she moved apart from Naina.

He dipped his head to the side as he looked at her, letting out a long exhale, "Jab se dil lagaya hai, dimaag kahin lagta hi nahi."

"Haan, jaise pehle toh dimaag se bohot kaam lete the na tum... aaj toh mummy papa ko bhi pata chal gaya ki tumhara sirf muh chalta hai, woh bhi pet ke kehne pe." Preeti frowned at him.

He went close to her, taking her hands in his, "Ab se main poora ka poora bas tumhare kehne pe chalunga... tum kaho toh solah somvaar ke vrat bhi rakh lun, karwachouth bhi... aur bhi koi vrat hote hain toh woh bhi rakh lunga... jaisa bologi waisa hi karunga."

Preeti blushed profusely as Naina smirked.

"Lo, ek aur joru ka ghulam taiyar ho gaya." Sameer said with a sigh.

Naina playfully smacked him on the arm, "Tum toh rehne do."

He quickly wrapped his arms around her, "Arre, main toh hun hi... isiliye keh raha hun, ek aur... ab tum behnon ko pata nahi kya jadoo aata hai ki hum becharon ke paas aur koi raasta hi nahi hai."

She tried to wriggle out of his hold, flicking her eyes at the other two.

Sameer crushed her more to himself, looking at Pandit, "Yaar Pandit, agar main apni biwi ko apni saali ki shaadi ki badhaai de raha hun toh tujhe ismein koi problem hai kya?"

Pandit turned towards them, his eyes shut, "Na, na bhai, tu laga reh... tab tak main bhi apni hone wali biwi ko theek se badhai de deta hun."

Before Preeti could object, he turned and pulled her in his arms, murmuring in her ear, "Hone wali biwi ji, shaadi ki badhai ho aapko."

Next update tomorrow morning