Bela sat with a thud on the sofa.

She had stayed quiet throughout but Sameer's mother's declaration regarding three marriages made her heart sink. She had seen Sameer on Naina's birthday and also how he stood up in her support today but their was no denying the fact that if this kundali thing turned out to be true... she trembled at the outcome.

"Bua dadi, chachaji, chachiji... main aap sabse maafi mangta hun ki meri wajah se aap sabko inki baatein sunni padi... aur saath hi iss baat ke liye bhi maaf kar dijiye ki shaadi waali baat khul gayi... main nahi chahta tha taiji ko pata chale... par inko batana zaroori tha... warna yeh chup nahi hoti... aur main aap logon ke aur Naina ke baare mein aisi baatein nahi sun sakta." Sameer stood in front of Anand and Bela with lowered head and folded hands.

Anand held him by shoulders, "Nahi beta, tumhe maafi mangne ki koi zaroorat nahi hai... hum chah kar bhi kisi ki soch badal nahi sakte... na tum unki badal sakte ho na main bhai sahab aur bhabhiji ki... humein toh khushi hai ki tum Naina ke saath khade ho... aur yeh kundli wagera jaisi baaton mein mat pado... yeh sab sach ho aisa zaroori nahi hai."

"Par sach na ho, aisa bhi toh zaroori nahi hai." Bela said in a scared voice, lost in the revelation by Vishakha.

They looked at her... seated on the sofa, she stared into space.

Sameer sat down on the floor, near her feet. Bela jerked out of her thoughts, blurting, "Damadji... matlab Sameer beta... aap... nahi tum yahan kyon baith rahe ho? Upar baitho na."

She made him sit on the chair next to her.

Sameer smiled at her simplicity, holding her hands to calm her, "Chachiji, aap darr rahi hain ki meri teen shadiyan likhi hain?"

"Nahi toh." She said quickly with a fake smile.

"Toh pareshan kyon hain?" Sameer could see the tension on her face.

She looked up at her husband, then Phulla bua... and lastly at Naina.

Her expression became serious, "Beta, hum seedhe saade log hain... bhagwan mein vishwas rakhte hain aur bas yehi maangte hain unse ki hamare bachhon ki zindagi mein khushiyaan chhayi rahein... yeh teen shaadi wali baat... matlab mujhe bharosa hai tumpe... par kismat mein jo likha ho usse kaun taal sakta hai... aise mein apni beti ke liye thoda darr lagta hai."

Anand sat down next to her, placing a hand on her shoulder, "Bela, yeh sab sochna theek nahi hai... dekho na, inki ek shaadi toh ho gayi hai... ab doosri bhi ho jayegi... kaho toh do baar karwa de?"

His teasing didn't go well with his deeply religious wife.

"Dekhiye ji, aisi baaton mein mazak karna theek nahi hota... yeh sab haath ki lakeeron mein likha hota hai... aur isko koi badal nahi sakta." She got emotional.

"Bela, tu itna kyon soch rahi hai... ho sakta hai iski maa ne jhooth kaha ho, humare man mein vehem dalne ke liye." Phulla bua settled on the dining chair.

"Unhone sach kaha hai, bua dadi."

Sameer's voice shocked everyone... except Naina, who placed one hand on his shoulder.

He looked at Anand, "Chachaji, ab jo hogi woh hamari teesri shaadi hi hogi."

Bela gasped in shock... bua dadi sat bewildered.

Anand looked at him, stunned beyond belief... slowly, he looked up at Naina... shocked even more that there was no guilt on her face.

His expression turned grim. He had not expected this from her... someone in whom he had immense faith.

His voice conveyed the betrayal he felt, "Maine tum dono se yeh umeed nahi ki thi... agar mujh pe bharosa hi nahi tha toh keh dete... yeh dikhawa kyon kiya?"

Sameer quickly got up and went towards Anand. Naina stood behind Phulla bua who looked up at her. She shook her head... to convey that they had not done anything to betray the family.

"Aapse zyada bharosa kisi pe nahi hai, chachaji... humne woh shaadi ki nahi thi... shayad bhagwan ka ishara tha... hamari shaadi galti se... ya yun kahiye, achanak ho gayi thi." Sameer explained before others could start thinking anything.

He looked back at Naina... she blinked in assurance.

Turning towards chachaji and chachiji, he narrated how Rahul's mother had applied tilak on him, considering him Rahul's brother... and when he helped Naina when she was about to fall, his tilak had touched the parting of her hair, giving her the symbol of marriage.
Bela placed a hand on her heart... she was astonished at this sign from the powers above...

"Suniye ji, ismein sach mein inn bachhon ki koi galti nahi hai... yeh toh bhagwan ka ishara tha." She tugged at her husband's sleeve.

"Kab ki baat hai ye?" She turned towards Sameer.

He mentioned the date in December.

Bela narrowed her eyes to remember something... and her eyes widened as the realisation struck her.

She got up and rushed to Phulla bua, "Buaji, woh bohot shubh din tha... hum log bhi Patel sahab ki beti ki shaadi mein gaye the aur raaste mein kuch paanch saat jagah pe bharat ya tent dekhe the... Patel sahab ne bataya ki uss din ka muhurat bohot shubh tha, shaadi ki koi ek rasm nibhane se bhi uss din ki shaadi ko poora mana jaata... aur dekhiye, inki shaadi ki shuruaat kitne shubh din se hui."

She cupped Naina's chin, "Beta, ab mujhe bhi yakeen ho gaya ki tum dono ka rishta janmon ka hai... tumhe ek hone se kaun rokega jab bhagwan ne khud milaya hai tumhe."

Anand smiled at Sameer, about to say something when a heavy voice boomed from the door.

"Main rokunga."

They turned to look at tauji standing at the door, taiji and Rakesh behind him.

"Nahi Naresh, ab tu kuch nahi bolega... inki shaadi hoke rahegi." Phulla bua stood up from the chair.

Tauji walked in, hands locked behind him, "Shaadi hai yeh, bachhon ka khel nahi ki jaise marzi kar di... buaji, aapki main bohot izzat karta hun... lekin iss maamle mein mujhe apne khandaan ki izzat ki bhi parwah hai... iss Anand ki tarah main aankhen band kar ke samaj ko nazarandaaz nahi kar sakta."

"Sameer jaisa ladka samaj mein izzat kam karne ki nahi badhane ki wajah hoga, bhaisahab." Anand stood in front of his elder brother, arms crossed against his chest.

Rakesh stepped ahead, looking at Sameer with contempt, "Arre yeh kya izzat badhayega... iss balon ki dukaan ko khud kitni izzat milti hai pata hai mujhe."

"O bai, yeh bataiye Anand babu, aap ne badon ka lihaaz chod diya hai kya? Kaise soch liya ki aapka faisla sab maan lenge?" Taiji adjusted her pallu on the head, looking at her husband, "Aapke bhaisahab itne bade wakeel hain... sab tarah ke bade logon ke saath uthna baithna hai unka... aise bina ghar parivar wale ladke ko apni beti de di toh kya kahenge sab... ki chote, gareeb bhai ki bin maa ki bachhi thi isliye hum logon ne kahin bhi dhakel diya."

Rakesh directed his anger towards taiji, "Matlab kya hai bhabhiji aapka? Main kam kamata hun toh aap log meri beti ki kahin bhi shaadi kar doge?"

Sameer folded his hands in front of the elders, "Dekhiye, main jaanta hun yeh shaadi ki baat sunke aap sabko dhakka laga hai par yakeen maniye tauji, taiji, Rakesh sir... main Naina ko bohot khush rakhunga... usse kabhi koi kami nahi hone dunga... mere paas parivaar nahi hai par main aap sabko apna parivaar manta hun... Naina ka har rishta main dil se apnaunga... aapko kabhi shikayat ka koi mauka nahi milega."

Rakesh placed his hands on his waist, "Tujhe dekhke hi mujhe shikayat hai... ab bol... main zindagi mein teri shakal dobara nahi dekhna chahta... yeh shikayat door kar sakta hai?"

"Papa, aap Sameer se aise baat nahi kar sakte... jo kehna hai mujhse kahiye." Naina stepped between her father and Sameer, infuriating Rakesh and shocking others.

Rakesh raised his hand to hit her when tauji's voice boomed again, "Raaakesh... kabu rakho khud pe... mat bhoolo ki main hun yahan faisla karne ke liye."

Sameer instinctively placed his hands on Naina's arms as Rakesh raised his hand.

Taiji rounded her eyes, pulling Naina towards her, "O bai, abhi se yeh besharmi kar rahe ho badon ke samne... aage jaake toh hamari naak hi kata doge."

She turned towards Naina, pinching her arm where Sameer had placed his hand, "Tujhe jo sanskar diye the unhe kya Mumbai ke samundar mein baha aayi... yahan tera saara parivaar hai aur tu sabke saamne na sirf zubaan chala rahi hai balki chipka chipki bhi kar rahi hai?"

Her fingers got harsher on Naina's skin with every word... she flinched in pain, twisting her arm.

Sameer took one step towards her when tauji restrained him by showing his hand, "Hum apni beti se baat kr rahe hain... tum baharwale ho... agar beech mein na bolo toh hi tumhare liye achha hai."

"Ab woh meri biwi hai, aur meri biwi ke sath aisa hote hue main nahi dekh sakta." Sameer said as politely as he could, without gritting his teeth at what Taiji was doing to Naina.

He took one step again towards her and a sound of harsh slap rang in the room.

Everyone was stunned as Rakesh fumed at Sameer... while Sameer held one hand to his cheek.

"Yeh kya kar rahe hain aap, dimag toh kharab nahi ho gaya aapka?" Anand pulled Sameer towards himself as his wife, Phulla bua and Sameer looked at him, dazed.

"Papa, jo kehna hai mujhse kahiye...mere pati ki beizzati karne ka haq nhi hai kisiko... aap..." Naina's sentence could not be completed as taiji jerked her arm hard, making her wince.

"Sameer, tum jao yahan se... tumhe koi dard de yeh main bardaasht nahi kar paungi." She tried to get out of taiji's hold.

He looked at her, pained more by her discomfort, "Tumhe aise chod ke main nahi jaunga, Naina."

Anand placed one hand on his shoulder from behind, "Naina theek keh rahi hai, Sameer... abhi tum jao... hum samjha rahe hain na sabko... main panditji se baat karke tumhe phone karunga."

Sameer rushed to Phulla bua, "Bua dadi, please mujhe yahan rukne dijiye... main... main... Naina ko... woh yahan akeli hai."

Phulla bua patted his cheek, "Abhi tera yahan se jaana hi theek rahega, Sameer... tere liye bhi aur Naina ke liye bhi."

With a heavy heart and misty eyes, he looked back at Naina, pleadingly.

"Please jao, Sameer... tumhe meri kasam." She implored, not ready to see more insults hurled at him.

"Hadd ho gayi besharmi ki... in dono ko kisi ka lihaaz hi nahi hai... ab kya utha ke leke jayega isse? Keh rahe hain na, jaa yahan se." Taiji gave him a scornful look.

Her words had no effect on Sameer, who continued to look at her as he moved away... everytime Naina tried to look at him, taiji jerked her hand, making her stand in such a way that she couldn't look back.

When he reached down, the street was almost empty. He sat on his bike, not able to start it... Naina was alone to face all of them... he couldn't just walk away... but he couldn't go against her 'kasam'.

He looked up at the balcony... and was shocked.

Preeti was standing in the balcony of bedroom. She placed one hand on her heart, then showed her palm to him in assurance... and gestured towards the road. He understood that she wanted him to leave... and was convincing him that she would be there with Naina.

With thankful, teary eyes, he pursed his lips, nodding... and started his bike.

Preeti waited till he was gone. Then went back to the door of her room. She had got up long back... when taiji had dropped the katori... and standing at the door, she heard the entire conversation.

When Vishakha was gone, she thought of going out, but Sameer had dropped the bomb about their secret marriage. She had seen and heard everything, hiding from everyone outside. Seeing her sister speak up for herself and Sameer filled up her heart with love and warmth for Naina... she didn't go out, letting Naina fight her own battle.

But the time had come to stand with her... their elders had subjected them to physical pain often as kids and teenagers but now they were adults... and Naina had not done anything wrong... she could not let her sister be punished for falling in love.

Preeti went out to the living room, going to stand in front of taiji. Bela was trying to rid Naina of the strong, painful hold... but taiji did not leave her.

"Naina ki shaadi toh ho chuki hai na, taiji... fir ab iss saare tamashe ki kya zaroorat hai?" She confronted her.

"O bai, ab tu bhi..." And she stopped... reminded of the phone call.

Her voice dropped to a much softer tone as she spoke the next sentence, "Preeti, tu andar jaa... iski galti ke liye tu kyon daant khayegi."

Her words shocked others but Preeti was unfazed, knowing that she had a stronger position because of taiji's fear, "Aap Naina ko chodiye... uski koi galti nahi hai... hum ab chote bachhe nahi hain ki aap log jab chahe haath utha denge."

"Bahu, iss ladki ko kaho, badon ki baaton mein taang na adaye... iska koi lena dena nahi hai iss maamle se toh beech mein na bole." Tauji addressed Bela, without looking at anyone in particular.

Preeti turned towards him... but Anand stopped her, "Preeti, beta tum Naina ko lekar andar jao... main baat karta hun."

The two sisters went back to their room... keeping the door open to know what was being discussed.