"Sameer jo keh raha hai woh pata hai tumhe?" Anand said in a harsh voice, his eyes fixed on Preeti.

"Ky... kya papa?" She trembled, clutching the back of chair.

"Yeh rishta? Tumhe maloom hai iske baare mein?" His tone made her throat go dry.

Naina felt her heart fall to the pit of her stomach. She had expected chachaji to happily consider this alliance... they all had. But his demeanor now was nowhere close to their expectations.

Preeti lowered her head.

"Chachaji, usse... " Sameer stood up, trying to speak for her.

Anand stalled him, showing his palm, his eyes still on his daughter.

"Main tumse kuch pooch raha hun, Preeti." His voice was grave.

Closing her eyes, Preeti nodded once, not having the courage to face her father.

"Kaisa rishta? Kya hua hai? Kuch bataiye toh sahi... mera dil baitha jaa raha hai." Bela was frantic.

Anand looked at his wife, "Mujhse kya pooch rahi ho... apni beti se poocho."

Bela quickly turned to Preeti, her eyes wide.

There was a fraught silence in the room.

"Tere papa kis rishte ki baat kar rahe hain? Kaunsa rishta aaya hai, Preeti? Bol na." Bela almost screamed.

"Woh, chachiji... woh Pandit... " Naina stepped in.

"Kaunse panditji... bade mandir wale ya chowk ke mandir wale? Kiska rishta bata diya ab unhone?" Bela immediately started to think.

"Panditji nahi... Pandit... Sameer ka dost." Naina said in a soft voice.

Bela's mouth fell open as she turned to look at her, then glared at Preeti who still stood with her head lowered.

"Sun liya tumne? Pandit... apne Sameer ka dost Pandit... jisse hum itne saalon se dekh rahe hain... ab toh ghar bhi aata jaata hai." Anand was enraged.

"Preeti... beta yeh sab kya hai?" Bela uttered in disbelief.

"Aisa kuch nahi hai, chachiji... Preeti aur Pandit toh... " Naina started to explain that they had got together just a few days back.

"Naina." Anand's seething voice made her go mum.

"Main Preeti ke muh se sunna chahta hun." He crossed his arms with indignation.

Naina slipped her hand into Preeti's palm, gripping it tight to give her strength.

Preeti had no idea why her father was so vexed. He had been extremely supportive when Naina had told him about Sameer. In fact, he had given them so much of liberty even before they were married. Why, then, he was suddenly acting like a typical villian of Bollywood movies.

"Bol Preeti." Bela nudged her desperately.

Naina squeezed her hand.

With a deep breath, Preeti made up her mind.

She looked up at her mother, then glanced at her father. For a moment, her resolve faltered seeing the grim line of his mouth. Her gaze shifted to Sameer. He blinked his eyes in assurance.

"Main aur Pandit... hum... hum pasand karte hain ek doosre ko." She said in a low, but firm voice... tightening her hold on Naina's hand.

The three younger people in the room could hear their hearts beating so loud, they were sure everyone else could hear it too.

Anand stepped forward. His hand went up in air with a force.

Preeti squeezed her eyes shut.

Naina quickly pulled her, trying to hide her behind herself.

Sameer took two long strides to stop him.

"Itna drama kaafi hai ya aur chahiye?" Anand's amused voice floated in the room as his hand landed softly on Preeti's head.

Preeti's eyes shot open, going as big as saucers, along with Naina.

Sameer stood frozen.

Bela came to stand next to her husband, holding his arm and smiling at their children... who gaped foolishly at both of them.

"Ab tum log muh band kar sakte ho." She chuckled.

Three mouths closed together.

"Ch... chachaji... yeh kya... kya hua?" Sameer was the first one to get some bearing of what was happening.

"Tum bachhon ko lagta hai tum hi humein bewakoof bana sakte ho... dekho, hum bhi kam nahi hain... kaisa daraya tum teeno ko?" Anand smirked.

Naina and Preeti still hadn't found their voice.

"Nahi chachaji... aisa kuch... kuch nahi tha... main aapko ussi din batana chahta tha par... par aap office chale gaye." Sameer stuttered somehow.

Anand patted his shoulder, "Koi nahi beta," he looked back at Preeti, "Sameer aur Naina yahan nahi the par tum toh yahin thi na... tumne kyon nahi bataya?"

She still stared at him with stony eyes.

"Preeti, beta pagal wagal toh nahi ho gayi na?" Bela shook her, rounding her eyes dramatically.

"Chachiji, aapko pata tha?" Naina hadn't blinked yet either.

She nodded with a gleeful smile.

"Kaise? Kab se?" Sameer asked the question that each of them had in their fuddled minds.

Anand put an arm around Bela's shoulder, "Bela ne bataya mujhe... aur yeh bhi ki meri iss pagli beti ko dukh hai ki sab aaram se maan jayenge, bina koi drama kiye... toh hum dono ne socha chalo, drama de dete hain isse itna pasand hai toh."

"Lekin aapko yeh sab... pata kaise chala?" Naina asked Bela.

She smiled, looking at Preeti, "Parson jab phone baja toh mujhe laga tera hoga... lekin mujhse pehle Preeti ne utha liya... main Preeti ke kamre mein jaane lagi usse kehne ke liye ki meri baat bhi kara de Naina se... tab suna woh tujhse Pandit ke baare mein baat kar rahi hai... yeh ki uske papa shaadi ke liye maan gaye... main toh gusse mein ussi waqt baat karna chahti thi par fir yaad aaya, Preeti ke papa hamesha kehte hain ki jab zyada gussa aaye tab kuch bolna nahi chahiye aur kahin akele mein baithkar poori baat ke baare mein doosre insaan ke pehlu se bhi sochna chahiye... lekin aisa karne se pehle hi Preeti ke papa office se aa gaye... toh maine unko sab bata diya... jisse woh soch lein ab kya karna hai... fir kal humne Pandit ke ghar phone kiya... uski mummy se pata chala Pandit ne unhe bata rakha hai ki usse Preeti pasand hai... aur uske papa bhi taiyar hain."

"Matlab... Pandit ko pata tha ki aap log jaan chuke ho?" Preeti finally spoke up.

Bela cupped her face fondly, "Nahi beta, maine unhe mana kiya tha Pandit se kuch kehne ko... usse pata chal jaata toh woh tum sabko bata deta na... aur kisi ko nahi par tujhe toh bata hi deta."

Preeti blushed... of course, he would have told her.

She hugged her mother, a smile finally spreading on her face, "Thank you, mummy."

Bela patted her back, "Thank you na apne papa ko bol... unhone tere rishte ke liye bhi haan kar di aur teri drame ki ichha bhi poori kar di."

"Aur heart attack bhi de diya." Preeti pouted as she stepped back, looking at her father.

Anand engulfed her in his embrace, "Meri bitiya kuch chahe aur main na dun usse aisa kaise ho sakta hai... hmm."

A chuckle escaped Preeti's lips as she wrappped her arms around him, "Aur main ghabra gayi ki mere HAHK ke Alok Nath jaise papa achanak DDLJ ke Amrish Puri kaise ban gaye."

Finally, sounds of relieved laughter filled up the room.

Anand held Preeti's shoulders, looking at her "Tumne humein pehle hi kyon nahi bataya? Agar bata deti toh Phulla bua ko takleef nahi dete na, itne ladkon ki enquiry karne ki."

Preeti bit her lip, "Woh main... main darr gayi thi."

"Darte tab hain jab koi galat kaam kiya ho... ya aapko khud pe bharosa na ho ki aapka chunaav sahi hai ya galat... Pandit toh bohot samajhdaar aur shareef ladka hai... usko pasand karke koi galti thodi ki hai tumne... beta, pyaar ke liye himmat chahiye hoti hai... jaisi Naina aur Sameer ne dikhayi thi... aur Pandit ne bhi, apne ghar pe bata ke... agar tum khud mujhe batati toh mujhe bohot khushi hoti." He said.

"Sorry papa, aage se sabse pehle aapko hi bataungi." Preeti held her ears.

"Aage se? Tu kitne ladke aur pasand karne wali hai, beta?" Bela widened her eyes in fake surprise.

"Mummyyyy." Preeti stomped her foot.

Bela sniggered, "Ab tu aadat daal le, main aur Naina milke tujhe khoob chidane wale hain."

Both sisters hugged Bela together. Anand took all of them in his arms. He looked back to see Sameer standing with a contended smile.

"Tumhe kya phone karke bulana padega? Idhar aao." He opened out one arm, inviting Sameer to join the group hug.

With a broad smile, he quickly went into Anand's open arm, his other one going around Naina and Preeti.

Later, as they sat together, Bela informed, "Humne aaj shaam ko Pandit aur uske mummy papa ko bulaya hai... baat pakki karne ke liye."

"Aa... aaj shaam ko?" Preeti stood up in panic.

"Haan... ab milna toh padega na... rishta jodne ke liye." Bela shrugged.

Naina pulled her down on the sofa, whispering on her ear, "Achha hai na, tum dono ko jaldi ho rahi thi shaadi ki... ab shaadi ki baat hone lagi toh darr kyon rahi haihai?"

Preeti gulped, "Aise achanak... matlab maine toh koi taiyari bhi nahi ki hai."

"Tujhe kya taiyari karni hai... tune haan bolna tha woh pehle hi bol chuki hai." Naina teased her.

"Sameer, Pandit ko hum saalon se dekh rahe hain... chaar paanch baar uske mata pita se bhi mil chuke hain... woh aur Preeti bachpan se ek school mein aur fir ek college mein padhe hain toh ek doosre ki aadat aur vyavahar achhi tarah pehchante hain... inke saath hone se achha toh kuch ho hi nahi sakta." Anand warmly told Sameer.

"Chachaji, hum sab bhi bohot khush hue the jab humein pata chala." Sameer grinned.

"Toh humein bhi tabhi khush kar dete na... itne din kyon chupa ke rakha?" He showed fake annoyance.

"Yeh sab abhi hua hai, chachaji... hamari shaadi ke time pe... usse pehle aisa kuch nahi tha." Naina informed them.

It was Bela and Anand's turn to be surprised.

"Pandrah din mein shaadi ki baat bhi kar li Pandit ne... itni jaldi ho rahi hai usse?" Bela blurted.

Preeti blushed profusely, making her parents laugh again.

Sameer told them how he and Munna realised that Pandit had a soft corner for Preeti, even before he himself could understand.... how they together made him see the hidden feelings in his heart, and then encouraged him to speak to Preeti. Naina told them about Preeti's apprehensions... how she did not accept his proposal as she felt he was not serious about anything... and how she slowly understood his deep love for her.

"Main toh sochta tha meri yeh beti buddhu si hai... lekin isne itni samajhdaari dikhayi apni zindagi la yeh ahem faisla lene mein... mujhe garv hai tumpe Preeti beta." Anand was filled with pride.

"Aur iss baat ki khushi hai ki tumne Pandit jaise ladke ko chuna hai... bas ab sabse baat karke jaldi hi shaadi ki tareekh nikalwa lenge." He added.

Looking at Bela, he inquired, "Bela, bhabhi ji kab tak wapas aayengi apne bhai ke ghar se?"

Bela was unsure, "Pata nahi ji, unhone itni jaldi mein jaane ka faisla le liya ki koi baat hi nahi hui... mujhe nahi pata woh kyon gayi hain aur kab tak lautengi... yeh toh bhaisahab se puchna padega."

"Waise ek baat Sameer se bhi puchni thi... yeh bhabhiji ke jaane ka tumse kya lena dena hai... Preeti ne aisa kyon kaha ki fir se tum sambhal lena?" Anand turned to Sameer, his brows joined in confusion.

Sameer was suddenly fearful. It was one thing to give it back to taiji but he had tremendous respect for Anand... and he didn't want Anand to feel that he lacked respect for elders.

"Haan Sameer beta, yeh toh mujhe bhi nahi samajh aaya." Bela was curious.

Preeti and Naina looked at Sameer's face that had gone white.

"Papa, ismein jijaji ki koi galti nahi hai... unhone jo bhi kiya theek kiya." Preeti came to his rescue.

She narrated how taiji went on ridiculing Naina in front of Sameer, which he couldn't tolerate. Anand was furious when he came to know of the vile words she had used for Naina's character.

"Jijaji ne unse koi badtameezi nahi ki... sirf unki haan mein haan milayi aur kaha ki woh aur Naina el mahine ke liye unke ghar aake rahenge jisse woh Naina ko saare kaam aur achhi aadtein sikha dein... bas taiji gayab... aapko toh pata hi hai unhe apne ghar mein kisi ka aana pasand nahi hai... kaam karna padta hai na... ab ek mahine tak damaad ki sewa karni padti toh taiji sookh ke aadhi ho jaati." Preeti giggled, recalling taiji's expressions.

Anand had a hearty laugh, "Yeh bohot achhe tareeke se sabak sikhaya tumne... sach kahun, Sameer, toh mujhe bhi unki baatein bohot buri lagti hain par zyadatar rishte ka lihaaz karke chup reh jaata hun... jaanta hun yeh galat hai par kuch kar nahi paata... lekin tumne galat nahi kiya... isliye daro nahi... woh aa jayengi thode din mein... Bela ke haath ki chai ke bina woh zyada din nahi reh sakti."

Bela made a face at her husband as he  winked at her.

After lunch, Bela got busy preparing for the welcome of their guests. Naina and Preeti helped her while Sameer went out with Anand to buy gifts for them.

Next update tomorrow morning