Taiji somehow managed to prepare two vegetables and some chapatis by dinner time. Sweating, she huffed as she brought the bowls to Bela's house.

"Yeh kya? Aisa rookha khana banaya hai... dal tak nahi hai... jaa, salad toh kaat ke laa kam se kam." Buaji made a face the moment she saw the minimal spread.

"Bela, zara salad toh kaat le." Taiji ordered as per habit.

"Bina, tujhe kaha hai na... jaa, phataphat leke aa... Bela ko aur kaam hai." Buaji strictly ordered.

Wiping her face with the pallu, taiji carried her heavy body back, muttering under her breath.

By the time dinner was finished, buaji had made her run back twice again... on some pretext or the other.

"Ab jaldi se Naresh ko bula ke laa... kehna mujhe bohot zaruri kaam hai." Phulla bua said after cleaning her hands.

"Lekin buaji, woh Anand babu... agar ek baar..." Taiji tried to remind her that Anand had to go and plead with her husband.

"Anand se baad mein baat karungi... ghar ka bada beta toh Naresh hai na... ussi se pehle sab kuch tay karna chahiye... bula usse... ya fir tu nahi chahti ki main usse bade hone ka haq doon... sunega toh tujhi se naaraaz hoga Naresh." Buaji didn't look at her.

Taiji was in a fix... if her husband came now, it would leave them in a lesser position as according to her plan, Anand needed to apologize and request his elder brother.

"Ab jaa bhi Bina, itna khati kyon hai ki jisse hilne layak bhi nahi rehti." Buaji commanded.

Having no option, she slowly walked to her house... coming back a few minutes later with her husband.

"Buaji, main..." He started the moment he came in... but Phulla bua cut him short.

"Dekh Naresh, tune badappan dikhate hue shaadi mein shaamil hone ka faisla leke bohot achha kiya... mujhe tujhse yehi umeed thi... kyonki ghar mein sabse samajhdaar hai tu... choti choti baaton pe bawaal khada karna toh iss Bina ka kaam hai... tu aisa kar hi nahi sakta... aakhir itna padha likha, jaana maana wakil hai, thodi apni izzat pe koi daag lagne dega apni hi beti ki shaadi se door rehke... chal ab baith yahan... kal subah sagai ki rasm ke liye kuch baatein tay kar lete hain."

Tauji looked dumbly at Phulla bua... he was not left with a choice after what she said... and sat down dejectedly to discuss the program.

"Anand, kal ka khaane ka kaam toh tune halwai ko bata diya hai na?" Buaji waved at Anand and Rakesh to come and sit with her.

"Jee buaji, sab ho gaya hai... woh subah saat baje se shuru kar dega... barah baje tak sab taiyar ho jayega." Anand confidently informed her.

Phulla bua breathed in relief, "Chalo achha hai... Rakesh, tu sab saaj sajawat dekh lena... phoolon se bhar dena poora shamiyana... har taraf khushi nazar aani chahiye."

Rakesh nodded, a small smile on his lips.

She looked at tauji and taiji, giving a piece of paper, "Ab tum dono ko sabse aasan kaam deti hun... yeh lo list... sab mehmano ke naam ke lifafe bana do... har ek ke liye jitne paise likhe hain utne hi daalna... aur haan Naresh, subah jaakar mithai ke dabbe le aana... har lifafe ke saath ek ek dabba dena hoga."

The two people she was addressing stared at her with pale face.

"Arre list pakdo... aur haan Bina, mujhe pata hai tu kitni bhulakkad hai... isliye saare lifafe taiyar karke mujhe dena... ek baar dekh lungi ki tune sahi paise daale hain ya nahi... kuch theek nahi hua toh pehle hi dekh lena chahiye, beti ke sasuraal walon ke saamne naak thodi katwani hai." Buaji said sternly.

Taiji took the list with shaking hands... hoping her husband would say something.

He did... at least tried, "Buaji, woh paise..."

Phulla bua again interrupted, "Nahi, abhi paise nahi chahiye... lekin haan, shaam ko halwai ka hisaab kar dena... Anand ne advance diya hai... woh kaat ke baaki paise chuka dena... baaki din bhi issi halwai ko bulana hai toh jitna kahe de dena... warna woh aane se mana kar dega toh tujhe hotel se khana mangwana padega... woh shayad thoda mehenga ho jayega."

Tauji and taiji looked at each other... crestfallen.

"Chalo bhai, ab sab log jaake so jao... mujhe bhi neend aa rahi hai... subah jaldi uthke saare kaam dekhne hain." Buaji streched her legs before getting up.

Tauji and taiji started to move towards the door with heavy steps when buaji called out again, "Arre Bina, ek baat aur... kal jo rishtedaar ayenge unka tumhare yahan hi theherne ka intezam kar lo... Rakesh aur Arjun ab shaadi tak yahin rahenge toh tumhare paas kaafi jagah hai."

Taiji had no energy left to reply. She just dragged herself back home along with her husband.

"Buaji, hum dekh lete na sab kuch... aapne yeh kyon kiya... aapko pata hain bhaisahab aur bhabhiji paison ke liye thodi aanakani karte hain." Anand spoke up, quiet till now as buaji had directed him and Rakesh to not utter a single word when she spoke to their elder brother.

She patted his shoulder, "Yehi soch ke hum aise logon ko har zimmedaari se mukt kar dete hain... ki inse kya umeed karni... par beta, jab woh bade hone ka haq chahte hain toh zimmedaari bhi uthani chahiye... tu chinta mat kar... bas dekhta jaa inn dono ko kaise main sabse bada bana ke rakhti hun."

She left for her room. Bela also went back to relax after a long day.

Rakesh, however, stayed behind.

"Anand, yeh kuch paise hain... zyaada nahi hain... Naina ke liye kuch le lena." He extended an envelope towards his younger brother.

Anand held his hand between his palms, "Bhaisahab, aap ka aashirvaad hi Naina ke liye sabse keemti hai... aur kisi cheez ki zaroorat nahi hai... yeh paise aap Arjun ke liye rakhiye."

Rakesh lowered his eyes, "Aaj tak jo bhi thoda bohot tha, maine Arjun ke liye hi kharch kiya hai... nahi... iska dukh nahi hai... bas iss baat ka afsos hai ki kaash kabhi thoda dhyan apni beti pe bhi diya hota... aaj usse mere paison ki koi zaroorat nahi rahi... fir bhi agar uske liye koi chota mota zevar banwa saka toh shayad dil ko kuch sukoon milega."

Anand could understand his sentiments... he took the envelope without any more argument.

Naina paced her room... waiting for Sameer's call.

"Kya baat hai, behen... mujhe toh pata hi nahi tha tu mujhse itna pyar karti hai." Preeti raised her brows in appreciation.

Naina gave her a confused look.

"Kal maine kaha ki tu safed kurte mein bhatakti aatma lagti hai aur aaj tune usse chod ke yeh neela night suit pehen liya... mujhe toh laga tha tera pichle janam ka koi rishta hai uss kurte se... jabse paida hui tabse pehen rahi hai." Preeti was back to her drama.

Naina rolled her eyes, "Kitna natak karti hai, Preeti... chup baith... mujhe tension ho rahi hai Sameer ka phone kyon nahi aaya abhi tak."

"Jijaji ka phone toh aa hi jayega... par tu yeh bata uss kurte ko aisa kya wardan hai ki woh phata bhi nahi itne saalon mein?" Preeti tapped her temple.

Naina jerked to look at her, wondering if she was aware that it was torn now... but Preeti seemed to be lost.

"Nahi, matlab sochna toh banta hua na... baaki kapde phat jaate hain aur woh safed kurta hai ki," she suddenly looked at Naina with a serious expression, "Tu usse saath toh le jaane ka nahi soch rahi na?"

Naina shook her head too fast.

"Oho, toh lagta hai madam ne pehle hi planning kar li hai shaadi ke baad kya pehnegi... bata na... kya legi... ya fir woh bhi jijaji ne..." Preeti winked, back to her teasing.

Naina flushed as she remembered the pink nightie that Sameer had bought.

"Haye sachhi... jijaji ne..." Preeti screamed in excitement.

Naina quickly covered her mouth with her palm, "Pagal hai, chilla kyon rahi hai... sabko batana hai kya?"

Preeti shook herself free, whispering, "Nahi chillaungi, bas mujhe bata de kya liya hai jijaji ne."

"Nightie." Naina lowered her eyes, colour on her face getting darker.

Preeti widened her eyes with a naughty smile, "Nightie... lagta hai hamare jijaji ne honeymoon ki taiyari bhi shuru kar di hai."

"Chup kar, Preeti." Naina covered her face with her hands.

The phone started to ring just then.

"Jaa, tere unn ka phone aa gaya... kar lo planning honeymoon ki... main toh sone chali." Preeti nudged her, settling in bed as Naina ran out to the balcony with the cordless.

"Itni der se yaad aayi tumhe?" She complained the moment she picked up the phone.

"Yaad kabhi jaati hi nahi toh aayegi kaise... jab tum samne nahi hoti toh sirf tumhe yaad karne ka hi kaam hai mere paas." His voice made all her anger go up in the air.

"Hato... bade aye... zyaada baatein mat banao." Her already red cheeks darkened some more.

"Achha... abhi aake batata hun tumhe kitna yaad kar raha hun." He said in a low voice.

"Nahi Sameer, aana mat." She was quick.

"Uff, meri kismat... abhi toh shaadi poori hui bhi nahi aur meri biwi mujhe apne paas aane se bhi mana karne lagi." His sadness reached her.

"Arre baba, main paas aane se mana nahi kar rahi... main bas..." She tried to explain.

"Mana nahi kar rahi toh aa jaun?" He cut her short.

She became silent, understanding his game.

"Bolo na... tum nahi chahti main aaun?" He asked again, his voice heavier.

"Main chahti hun tum kal subah aao... angoothi lekar... sagai ke liye... Sameer, kal tumhari angoothi hogi mere haath mein... aur parson tumhare naam ki mehendi." She looked at her hand.

He smiled, "Kal sabke saamne tumhara haath pakad ke main tumhe angoothi pehnaunga... pehla kadam tumhari taraf... tumhare poore parivar ke saamne."

"Papa aur tauji taiji bhi maan gaye hain... sab kuch waisa ho raha hai jaisa hum chahte the... bas agar... " She stopped, knowing he wouldn't like it.

"Agar kya... bolo na... kuch kami hai kya... tum batao kya chahiye... main tumhari har ichha poori karunga." He earnestly asked.

She sighed, "Agar tumhari mummy bhi iss shaadi mein shaamil hoti toh... "

"Rehne do, Naina... unke paas shayad dil hai hi nahi toh pighalega kya... itna kaafi hai ki unhone iss shaadi ko rokne ki koshish chod di hai... unki baat na hi karein toh achha hoga." She could feel the bitterness and disappointment in his voice.

But next moment, he was back to normal, "Achha, yeh chodo... kal kya pehenogi yeh batao."

Naina smiled fondly, wishing she could comfort him as he tried to hide his pain, "Kal saree pehen rahi hun... chachaji laye the mere birthday pe."

"Tum saree mein hogi aur main bas tumhe dekh paunga... itne logon ke samne aur koi chance toh milega nahi... haye... inn saari rasmon ke saath ek rasm aur honi chahiye... dulha dulhan ko akele mein milne dena chahiye har rasm ke baad... theek se tareef toh kar sakein ek doosre ki." He closed his eyes, recalling the time when she had worn saree for the party of her show.

"Haan, haan, kyon nahi... main sharmate hue keh dungi sabse 'aapke damadji zara meri tareef karna chahte hain... toh hum log thodi der mere kamre mein jaa rahe hain' aur sab kahenge 'haan beta, jao na, damaadji ko kaise mana kar sakte hain... jao aur aaram se aana, koi jaldi nahi hai'... aur main tumhe apne kamre mein le aungi." She said sarcastically.

"Sachhi... yeh theek rahega... fir bataunga tumhe ki..." His excited voice was stopped in between by Naina's stern retort.

"Chup raho... sapne dekhne ki zaroorat nahi hai... sagai ka function hone ke baad chup karke wapas chale jaana... zara bhi ulti seedhi koshish kari toh dekh lena... ghar mein itne saare log honge."

"Tum kyon fikar karti ho, meri jaan... kal ki baat mujhpe chod do... tum nahi keh paayi toh main keh dunga tumhare ghar walo se... lekin tumse mile bina wapas toh bilkul nahi aa sakta." He was determined.

She shivered, "Nahi Sameer, please aisa kuch mat karna."

His voice turned raspy, "Apni dulhan ko apni baahon mein na lun, yeh toh ho nahi sakta... bas tum kal ka intezar karo... good night, sweetheart."

The sound of disconnected phone rang in her ears.