Morning started pretty early in Agarwal House with relatives arriving one after the other. After offering them tea, Bela took them to her sister in law's house for freshening up and breakfast... though she was embarrassed about it.

"Itna sochne ki zaroorat nahi hai tujhe, Bela... tu aur Anand kuch zyada hi seedhe ho... issi baat ka fayda uthate hain sab... duniya mein jo jaisa hota hai uske saath waise hi banke rehne ko samajhdari kehte hain... doosri baar saas banne jaa rahi hai... kuch toh seekh le." Phulla bua tried to put some sense in her simple, naive daughter in law.

She just nodded, and left to complete her work in the kitchen.

Naina was not allowed to go out alone anymore so the morning temple meetings were over. She had told Sameer about it... he was momentarily upset but it was a small price to pay for the bliss his life would soon be.

"Ab humein kisi bahane ka intezar nahi karna padega... yeh teen din nikal jaayein bas... uske baad tumhari har subah, har shaam sirf mere saath hogi." He had exclaimed happily, making her blush.

"Behen, bahar aaja sapne se aur jaake naha le, kahin sapno wale jijaji ke chakkar mein asli jijaji aa jaayein aur tu taiyar hi na ho." Preeti shook her out of her thoughts.

Naina quickly went for her bath, eager to get dressed on time.

Preeti helped her with the makeup which was just a light coverage on the face, kohl and liner for the eyes... and bright red lips.

"Gaal toh tere jijaji ko dekhke waise hi laal ho jayenge." Preeti winked, putting away the pallette of cheek colour.

Naina looked at herself in the mirror... the red saree made her look like a bride... the delicate gold set that Phulla bua had given her looked perfect for the day. Preeti had set her long hair into soft curls in the front, leaving them open at the back. She picked up the packet of stick-on bindis and selected one in deep red colour. Pinning up the pallu on her head, she was ready to welcome her prince.

Sameer was up early... too excited to sleep. He shook up Munna Pandit as well, making them finish their bath early. They all were ready when Rahul, Sonali and their families arrived from Mumbai.

"Sameer, aakhir tumne baazi maar hi li." Rahul hugged him the moment he stepped in the house.

Sameer touched the feet of all elders after meeting Rahul and Sonali.

"Jab tera tilak kiya tha Rahul ki shaadi mein tabhi lag gaya tha mujhe ki bas tera number bhi aane wala hai." Rahul's mother patted his cheek fondly.

"Mummy ko bata dun tune ussi din number laga liya tha?" Rahul whispered.

Sameer shushed him, asking Ramdhari to take the elders to the rooms prepared for them and get the breakfast ready.

"Mujhe Naina se milna hai." Sonali said the moment Sameer showed them their room.

"Mujhe bhi milna hai." Sameer sighed.

"Abe thoda sabr rakh... saare exam paas ho gaye hain... ab sirf yeh formality baaki hai... aur yeh bhi tumhari khud ki zid thi... warna abhi yahin hoti teri Naina tere paas." Rahul grinned.

Sameer gave a contented smile, "Lekin jo khushi ab hai woh adhuri reh jaati... pata hai, Naina ke papa tak apni galti maan ke shaadi mein khushi se shaamil ho rahe hain... aur uski woh hitler taiji bhi line pe hain. Sabke ashirwad se Naina yahan aayegi."

"Yeh toh koi soch bhi nahi sakta tha, Sameer... Naina sach mein bohot khush hogi... kab mil sakti hun usse?" Sonali was emotional.

"Bas tum log fresh ho jao... breakfast kar lo fir taiyar ho jaana. Gyarah baje ke kareeb hum log niklenge." Sameer informed.

At the breakfast table, Munna Pandit met Rahul and they instantly got together to tease Sameer.

"Kya Rahul, maine socha tha tu toh mera saath dega, tu bhi in dono ke saath mil gaya." Sameer pouted when  the three of them kept pulling his leg.

"Arre bhai, hum teeno hi tere saath hain... abhi hain... kal bhi honge... parson bhi... aur shaadi ke baad bhi... kasam hai ek minute ko bhi tujhe akela choda toh." Pandit put an arm around Sameer's shoulder.

Rahul grinned.

"Sahi keh raha hai, Pandit... khaas kar ke shaadi ke baad ek second bhi nahi chodenge apne bhai ko." Munna nodded with a serious expression.

"Munna, teri bhi shaadi hone wali hai, yaad rakh... tujhe chodunga nahi." Sameer flared at him.

"Mat chodna bhai... par soch le, mujhe pakde rakhega toh bhabhi kya kahegi." Munna raised his brows at Sameer.

Before Sameer could sprint after him, Rahul held his arm, "Arre yaar, tum log tang mat karo mere bhai ko, pata hai kitne papad bele hain isne shaadi ke liye... kam se kam dus minute de dena Naina se baat karne ke liye."

Sameer scowled at Rahul as all three of his friends burst out laughing.

"Chalo bacchon, jaldi taiyar ho jao... chalne mein der nahi honi chahiye." Rahul's father came out of his room, ready to leave.

The boys were ready. Munna Pandit placed all the things in the car that had to be taken.

Sameer had hired more cars... they all left together on time.

"Nainaaa, aa gaye jijaji." Preeti screamed as the cars came into view at the end of the street.

She had been standing in the balcony for the last ten minutes, on Naina's insistence.

With a thudding heart, Naina went near the window, to catch a glimpse of Sameer.

Swati and another cousin, Neelu, blocked the window.

"Aise kaise dekh legi jijaji ko... intezar karo aaj... abhi tera number nahi aaya hai." Swati teased her.

"Offo Swati, dekh toh lene de, kaisa lag raha hai mera Sameer." Naina tried to see past them.

"Aaj nahi behen, ab ek baar hi dekhna jab jijaji angoothi pehnayenge." Preeti blocked her view when she went to the balcony door.

"Uhhhh... tum log bohot bure ho." Stomping her feet, Naina came back and sat down heavily on the bed.

Sameer kept stealing glances at the balcony... but could not see the face he wanted to... Preeti, Swati and one more girl smiled and waved at him. He smiled back, knowing fully well that just like him, Naina would also be bearing the teasings of these three girls.

Phulla bua and others welcomed the guests at home where the arrangements for ring ceremony were done. Two chairs were placed against the wall with sofas and chairs set up on the sides of them.

After the introductions were done, Sameer was made to sit on one of rhe chairs. Sonali asked Bela about Naina and rushed in to meet her.

"Sonali... tu kab aayi?" Naina was overjoyed to see her.

"Zara pair choo ke baat kar, ladke waalon ki taraf se hun." Sonali held up her chin, pointing at her feet.

Naina grinned and hugged her, "Tu meri taraf se hai aur rahegi... samajh aaya... zyada hawa mein udegi na toh Rahul ko wahan chod ke tujhe akele mere saath aake rehna padega."

"Tujhe tera wala mil raha hai toh mujhe kyon door kar rahi hai mere iklaute pati se... abhi toh Sameer ke saath reh ke woh bhi kaafi trained ho gaya hai... balcony se chad ke aa jayega." Sonali whispered in Naina's ears.

Both had a hearty laugh.

Naina introduced Preeti and Swati to Sonali.

They all had heard so much about each other that neither felt they were meeting for the first time, gelling together without an ounce of hesitation.

When Naina was called outside, the girls accompanied her to the main room.

Sameer stopped breathing as the door to her room opened and walked out the girl of his dreams... dressed in a beautiful red and gold saree... walking slowly with downcast eyes.

She came and sat down on the chair next to him.

"Jijaji... sab log dekh rahe hain... Naina ko baad mein nihaar lena." Preeti whispered to him.

Rahul and his brother, Rishi laughed as they heard what she said. Sameer looked back at them, a blush settling on his face when he realised everyone was looking at him.

"Nahi, nahi... itna bhi mat sharmao aap... nahi toh Naina se zyada laal aap lagoge." Preeti tilted towards him, speaking in a low voice.

"Arre apna bhai sharmata nahi hai... woh toh aaj khushi ke maare laal dikh raha hai." Pandit remarked, making Preeti give him an irritated glare.

"Tu ek baat bata... tujhe kya problem hai mujhse... dekhte hi samose ki tarah talne ko taiyar ho jaati hai... maine kya teri kachori churayi hai... ya bread pakoda?" Pandit frowned at Preeti.

"Tu dhanya hai... kisi ki shaadi ho ya sagai... tu apna saara dhyaan samose ki kadhai mein hi rakna." Preeti folded her hands in front of him, exasperated at his samosa references in everything.

"Yaar Rahul, samose mein kya burai hai jo yeh itna chidd gayi?" Pandit rested his elbow on Rahul's shoulder, frustrated as Preeti huffed away.

Rahul consoled him, "Tu jaane de... samosa mujhe bhi bohot pasand hai... bas zara Sameer angoothi pehna le fir dono khane chalenge."

Pandit instantly brightened.

Naina stole a glance at Sameer. Dressed in an offwhite band gala, he looked nothing less than royal. She looked around. All her relatives were looking at him with eyes full of admiration. Sameer caught her looking at him and winked. On the pretext of adjusting her pallu on the head, she kept a hand to cover her face from the family members... and winked back, making him gape at her in awe.

Anand asked Rakesh to do the tilak for Sameer.

Bending down to touch his feet, Sameer could not believe what was happening was real.

"Rakesh sir, kabhi socha nahi tha aapse ashirwaad bhi milega." He said as Rakesh blessed him.

"Ab bhi sir kahoge kya? Ab toh rishta ban gaya hai... jaise Naina ka papa hum waise tumhara bhi hun." Rakesh surprised him even more.

"Pa... papaji." Sameer said in a choked voice.

Rakesh pursed his lips to keep his eyes from flooding... keeping a hand on Sameer's head.

"Yeh lo... sab aise ganga jamuna baha rahe ho jaise abhi vidai ho rahi hai... arre Bela, angoothi lao... jis kaam ke liye aaye hain woh toh poora karo." Phulla bua pitched in, not letting the tearful moments last long.

The rings were brought in a thali decorated with petals.

"Naina, beta pehle tu pehna de damaad... matlab Sameer ko." Bela corrected her folly before Sameer could object.

Naina picked up the ring and looked at him as he extended his hand.

Bela leaned closer, whispering, "Haath pakad ke pehenana... ab zara aadat daal... itna chui mui hona theek nahi hai."

Trying to suppress her smile, Naina held his hand firmly, slipping the ring in his finger... as Bela smiled wide with satisfaction.

"Le bhai, tu bhi pehna de bhabhi ko." Munna opened the box of Naina's ring.

Sameer clasped his fingers around her hand, squeezing it before he put the ring. He kept holding the hand admiring the beautiful diamond in her even more beautiful, slender fingers... she had painted her nails red... he was seeing that for the first time... and he was mesmerized.

Rahul nudged him as everyone started to clap... Sameer gave a sheepish smile and left her hand.

They were officially engaged now, in front of the entire family and relatives.