Sameer reached home, swinging the car keys around his finger, whistling happily. As he entered the room, seeing his friends still fast asleep, he became quiet. Walking softly to the bed, he decided to lie down for some time. Lack of sleep the whole night and contentment of meeting Naina made him drift into dreamland in no time... a smile playing on his lips.

It wasn't the same for Naina though.

"Naina, ek buri khabar hai." Preeti blurted the moment she entered their room.

Her heart sank.

"Papa ko do din aur lagenge Dilli mein... aur do din Phulla bua bhi nahi aa payengi kyonki airport ki hadtaal ho gayi hai." She said nervously.

Naina sat on the bed with a thud... her main support systems would be missing for another two days... the wait was getting longer.

Preeti sat next to her, wrapping one arm around her shoulder, "Tu ghabra mat... jaise hi woh log aayenge, hum ussi din baat karenge... bina koi time ganwaye."

"Lekin Preeti, ek ek din bohot keemti hai mere liye... Sameer ne mujhe bas saat din ka time diya hai." She feared the consequences of his coming here in seven days.

Tension gripped Preeti as well. Each day was crucial if they had only one week to work.

However, she consoled Naina... assuring her that once her father and their grandmother were here, everything would fall in place soon.

Later in the day, taiji was sipping her cup of cardamom tea, leisurely sitting on the swing. Arjun was turning the pages of a magazine when tauji and Rakesh walked in.

"Arre, aap itni jaldi aa gaye?" Taiji adjusted her pallu on the head, surprised to see her husband at home before lunch.

"Haan, aaj court band ho gaya... kuch hadtaal hai... pata nahi kya ho raha hai iss desh ka." He settled on the sofa, rubbing his forehead.

"Bela, tere bhaisaab ke liye zara chai bana de... thak gaye hain." Taiji hollered.

"Mere liye bhi bol dijiye, bhabhiji... yahan toh aapko banani bhi nahi hai fir bhi kanjoosi kar rahi hain." Rakesh remarked bitterly.

"O bai, khud chai ka bolne mein bhi thakan hoti hai kya aapko... bas saare kaam koi aur karke dede, inhe toh yehi chahiye... Bela Rakesh babu ke liye bhi bana de." She made a face at him.

Naina brought the teacups in a tray, giving to both the brothers and went back to the kitchen.

"Arre haan Bina, aaj woh Aggarwal samaj ke pradhan ji mile the... keh rahe the koi ladki batao unke bete ke liye... ab Naina ki padhaai ho gayi hai toh kyon na issi ki baat karein unse." Tauji said, as if he remembered her existence only after seeing her.

Arjun looked up sharply, "Lekin tauji unka beta achha nahi hai."

Taiji gave him an angry look, "Achha nahi hai ka kya matlab hai...  theek thaak paise wale log hain... padha likha hai... ab college nahi gaya toh kya... usse kaunsa collector banna hai... dukaan hi toh sambhalega apne baap ki."

"Taiji, main jaanta hun uske baare mein... woh... woh... har hafte alag ladki ke saath ghumta hai." His voice fell in volume as he mentioned the reason for his dislike.

"Shaadi ke baad sudhar jayega... abhi thode din ghum fir liya toh kya ho gaya." Tauji said in a stern voice.

Naina was listening to the conversation from the kitchen... gripping the platform hard... her knuckles had gone white as the talks progressed.

"Kya guarantee hai ki shaadi ke baad sab theek ho jayega... aise log nahi sudharte kabhi." Rakesh's loud voice took everyone by surprise.

Arjun was happy that his father was talking in favour of his sister, but his next sentence shattered everyone's hope.

"Pata chala shaadi ke kuch dino baad isko wapas yahan patak gaya...  fir se yeh bhojh hamare sar pe aa jayega."

Hot tears spilled down Naina's eyes... this is what she meant to her own father... a burden.

Taiji spoke up in a curt voice, "O bai, ab ladka hai toh thoda bohot chalta hai... isme koi badi baat nahi hai jo aap log til ka taad bana rahe ho."

Preeti could not take it anymore. Storming out of the kitchen, she stood holding the dining chair.

"Uski ek choti behen bhi hai, taiji... kal ko woh bhi yehi karegi toh kya aap Pralay ki shaadi usse karwa dengi?" She tried to keep her voice in control, not showing the extent of anger boiling in her.

All elders looked at her, astounded at the audacity as Bela came running out of the kitchen to pull her back.

"Bela, teri beti ki zubaan badi kainchi ke jaise chalne lagi hai... badon ka lihaaz nahi hai zara bhi." Taiji fumed.

Bela tugged at her daughter's arm, gesturing her to be quiet.

Naina wiped her tears and came out, standing on the other side of Preeti, "Aapne jawab nahi diya, taiji... jin ladkiyon ke saath woh ladka ghoomta hai kya unke liye bhi aap yehi vichaar rakhengi... ki shaadi ke baad sudhar jayengi?"

"Naina, himmat kaise hui teri... andar jaa issi waqt." Rakesh stood up, glaring at his daughter angrily.

"Yeh ladki toh haath se nikal gayi Rakesh babu... ab kya andar bhejoge... Mumbai ki hawa lag gayi hai isko... TV pe aane wale program likhti hai... kisiko batate hue bhi sharm aati hai humein toh... kya, kya dikhate hain TV pe kya humein pata nahi hai?" Taiji added fuel to the fire of Rakesh's anger.

Bela widened her eyes at taiji, "Aapko kaise pata, bhabhiji... aap toh TV ke sakht khilaaf hain... fir kahan dekha aapne?"

Preeti stifled a laugh, for once, happy about her mother blurting out her thoughts without thinking.

"Bahu, humse sawal karne ki jagah agar inn ladkiyon pe dhyaan diya hota toh aaj zara tameez hoti inmein... inn faltu baaton ke liye waqt nahi hai hamare paas... jaise hi Anand aayega, main baat karunga usse... jitni jaldi isse sasural bhejo utna hi achha hai." Tauji gave his decision with a finality in his voice.

"Main iss ladke se shaadi nahi karungi." Naina said with the same finality in hers.

Taiji turned to look at her, shocked that the silent, meek girl was going against their decision.

"Toh kisse karegi? Koi rajkumaar aayega tere liye? Aaine mein shakal dekhi hai apni... na roop, na rang... na koi saleeka, na badon ka lihaaz... tere liye rishta soch rahe hain yehi badi baat hai... warns tere baap ki khali jeb dekh ke koi phatke bhi naa hamare darwaze pe." Taiji came rushing towards Naina, pulling her ear before Bela could stop her.

"Taiji, aap log pareshan mat ho... Naina ke liye rishta main dhundunga... aaj tak kuch nahi kiya hai uske liye... ab bada bhai hone ke naate itna toh mujhe karna hi chahiye." Arjun ran to his sister, keeping one arm over her shoulder, holding other palm over the ear Taiji had pulled.

"Aur suno... tu kahan se dhoond ke layega... tu bas apne khel pe dhyaan de... state team ke baad national mein bhi jaana hai." Rakesh tried to dissuade him.

"Khel pe hi dhyaan diya hai hamesha, papa, agar kuch din behen pe dhyaan de dunga toh meri practice pe koi asar nahi hoga." Arjun felt a strength in him that seemed to be coming from his sister.

"O bai, yeh shehzaade layenge apni behen ke liye kissi maharaja ke ghar se rishta... jaise koi teri iss rajkumari ke intezaar mein hi baitha hai." Taiji taunted both of them.

Preeti looked at Rakesh, disappointed again as he did not even look in the direction of his children.

"Ab toh Naina ki shaadi kisi rajkumaar se hi karke dikhayenge, Arjun bhaiya... main bhi aapke saath hun." She went to stand with Arjun, a determined expression on her face.

"Yeh koi khel nahi chal raha hai jahan tum bachche aisi chunauti de rahe ho... yeh badon ki baatein hain... jao tum log andar... shaadi byah bade hi tay karte hain." Tauji was infuriated.

Bela managed to pull the younger trio to the room.

"Preeti, beta yeh sab kehne ki kya zaroorat thi... unko bhadkana thodi hai humein... aaram se bhi toh samjha sakte hain na." She chided her daughter.

Arjun smiled at Preeti, "Isne bikul theek kiya, chachiji... hamare badon ko aaram ki bhaasha samajh hi kahan aati hai... mujhe garv hai apni dono behno pe... kaash inki himmat ka ek hissa bhi mujhmein hota toh aaj mahaul alag hota."

Preeti hugged her brother, "Aaj aapne humara saath deke humein himmat di hai, bhaiya... hum log mil ke sab theek kr lenge."

She looked at Naina's downcast face.

"Arre behen, khush hoja, woh teen hain aur hum che... jeet toh hamari hi hogi... bahumat ke bina toh sarkaar bhi nahi banti." She held Naina's face, turning it up.

Such intelligent line from Preeti made Naina break into a smile through misty eyes.

They were able to face the stubborn elder trio outside... it could only turn better when their strong pillars of support reached here in two days.

Naina was full of hope and positivity.

Swati came to meet her just as they finished lunch. She rushed in the room, closing the door behind her. Walking angrily to the bed, she stood in front of Naina, hands on hips, nostrils flaring.

"Kaisi hain aap, Mrs Maheshwari?"

Her question made Naina look at Preeti... she shook her head.

"Usse toh main baad mein nibtungi... gussa usse bhi bohot hun... par pehle tu bata... sharam nahi aayi tujhe aisa karte hue... bachpan se aaj tak hum sab kuch ek dusre ko batate hain... maine toh tab bhi bata diya tha jab Munna ne pehli baar mujhe kiss kiya tha," she looked at Preeti, "Preeti, tu kaan band karle... hum zara doosri tarah ki baatein kar rahe hain."

Preeti jumped closer to Naina, grinning wide, "Karo na, mujhe bhi sunni hai doosri, teesri sab tarah ki baatein."

"Swati, itne dino baad mili hai aur daant rahi hai." Naina pouted.

"Haan, Sameer ki biwi ko daant rahi hun... apni best friend se milti toh pehle gale lagati." She pursed her lips.

Naina sprang up from the bed and embraced her. Swati could not hold onto the anger anymore... hugging her best friend back with same love.

"Yaar Naina, batana chahiye tha na... wahan achanak hui par yahan hum band baaja leke tumhe station lene aate." She complained when they parted.

"Tujhe kisne bataya?" Naina asked.

"Munna ne... woh bhi pehle bohot gussa hua tha jab Sameer ne bataya... fir maan gaya... chalo tumhari baat bhi samajh aati hai ki rasmon ke saath fir se shaadi karni hai par doston ko bata toh dete." She was still upset.

"Swati, kaise batati? Samjhana mushkil tha ki yeh sab kyon karna pada... isliye humne socha yahan aake hi batayenge... aur agar tum station pe band baaja leke aa jaate toh yahan aate hi taiji mera band baja deti." Naina flinched as she recalled taiji's words sometime back.

Swati decided not to upset her anymore.

"Hayee Naina, teri shaadi ho gayi... mujhe toh yakeen hi nahi ho raha... matlab sagai pehle maine ki aur tune seedha shaadi ka sixer maar diya... idhar aa, tujhe badhai toh de dun theek se." She chirped in excitement, hugging Naina once again.

"Wahan saath rehte the kya? Sameer ne toh pakka ghar le liya hoga... mauka milne ke baad faayda na uthaye aisa nahi hai woh." She whispered in Naina's ears.

"Pagal hai kya... hostel mein hi the." She dashed her friend's hopes... not delving into any details about their time together.

"Yeh tum log kya khichdi paka rahe ho ek dusre ke kaan mein... mujhe bhi sunna hai." Preeti inched nearer to them.

"Arre kuch nahi, bas pooch rahi thi apne pati ke bina yahan kaise man lag raha hai iska." Swati straightened, replying to Preeti.

"Man kyon nahi lagega... ghar hai iska... hamesha se yahin toh rehti hai." Preeti was perplexed at the question.

"Hamesha se Sameer se shaadi nahi ho rakhi thi na... ab ho gayi hai... licence milne ke baad bhi itni door rehna aasaan thodi hoga." Swati winked at Naina.

"Shaadi mein license banwana padta hai?" Preeti widened her eyes.

The only licence she had heard about was driving licence.

"Naina, main samjhati hun isse... tu chai toh pila de yaar." Swati demanded.

Naina quickly went out to make tea.

"Ab bata, licence kyon banwate hain shaadi mein." Preeti clutched a pillow, eagerly looking at Swati.

"Tu yeh sab chod... ek bohot zaroori baat karni hai... Naina ko iske baare mein kuch pata nahi chalna chahiye." Swati whispered, eyes on the door.

Preeti was all ears.