Sonali's bhabhi arrived early morning... and immediately took charge of everything.

"Auntyji, aap aaram kijiye... Sameer ki shaadi ka sab kaam main aur Sonali mil ke dekh lenge." She told Rahul's mom.

The preparation for his haldi was done quickly. She asked Ramdhari to arrange for yellow fabric to decorate the hall for the function. Though there were only a few of them, she didn't want anything to be lacking in preparations.

Sameer was surprised to see the living room set up beautifully with yellow marigold flowers and flowing yellow curtain type of decorations all around.

"Bhabhi, yeh sab aapne kiya?" He looked at the changed room, mesmerized.

"Haan toh... ab haldi ka function hai yeh lagna bhi toh chahiye." She answered while arranging some petals in earthern containers around the entrance.

"Lekin aap kyon itni pareshani utha rahi hain... yahan koi dekhne thodi aayega." There was a hint of sadness in his voice.

Bhabhi stopped her work and came to him.

She pressed his arm and smiled, "Kisi ko dikhane ke liye nahi Sameer, apni khushi zaahir karne ke liye saja rahi hun... hum sab iss shaadi se kitne khush hain yeh batana chahti hun... love marriage toh bohot log karte hain... par tum logon ki tarah shaadi ke baad bhi alag rehkar parivaar ki marzi ka intezar karna shayad hi kisi se ho paaye... jitna pyar tum ek doosre se karte ho, usmein ek pal ke liye bhi alag hone se tum dono ka chehra utar jaata hai... aur yahan sirf parivaar ke liye tum dono na sirf alag rahe balki sabko khushi se shaamil hone ke liye mana bhi liya."

Sameer lowered his eyes, speaking in a low voice, "Sabko kahan mana paye, bhabhi."

She instantly knew he was talking about his mom.

"Jaanti hun kiski baat kar rahe ho... bas itna kahungi ki tum dil chota mat karo... tumhare pyar ke aage ek din sab log haar maan lenge... ismein har nafrat ko khatam karne ki taqat hai... lekin ab tum aise udaas nahi hoge... aaj tumhari haldi hai... aaj toh achhe se tumhe yeh ubtan lagani hai jisse hamara dulha ekdum chamak jaye dulhan ko takkar dene ke liye." She cheered him up.

Sameer beamed... any mention of Naina was enough to brighten his mood.

"Haldi ke liye main ekdum taiyar hun." He rubbed his hands in excitement.

"Chalo fir sabko bula lo." She directed him, going to the kitchen to get the prepared paste.

"Bhabhi, main bas paanch minute mein aata hun." He ran back to his room.

The phone started to ring when Naina was about to leave the room. She rushed back to pick it up.

"Hello Naina." His voice brought a wide smile on her face.

"Bolo." She looked back at the door, hoping no one comes in.

"Abhi mujhe haldi lagane wale hain... tumhari ho gayi kya?" He asked.

"Nahi, main bhi bas bahar hi jaa rahi thi... sab bula rahe hain." She told him.

"Achha suno... jab rasm ho jayegi toh balcony mein aana... main dekhna chahta hun tumhe." He said earnestly.

"Sameer, tum kaise aaoge... tumhe bhi toh rasm karni hai." She asked nervously.

"Woh tum mujhpe chod do... main dekhna chahta hun tum kal ki haldi ke baad zyada sundar lag rahi thi ya aaj lagogi." He said in a low voice.

"Itna sab chehre pe laga ke sundar kahan... cartoon lagte hain." She laughed.

He closed his eyes... the sound of her laugh making his heart flutter.

"Tum hamesha sundar lagti ho, Naina... kabhi bohot sundar, kabhi zyada sundar aur kabhi hadd se zyada sundar." He whispered.

"Hato, baatein mat banao." She blushed at such blatant praise.

"Aise bologi toh main abhi aa jaunga... keh dunga sabse ki hamari haldi ek saath hi kar do... ya keh deta hun ki rehne hi do... hamari haldi toh ho chuki hai." He let out a long exhale.

"Sameer, chup raho... kisine sun liya toh mushkil ho jayegi." She whispered into the instrument.

"Toh fir seedhe bahar aa jaana... main bhi yahan ka kaam khatam hote hi aaunga... aur tum daro nahi... kisiko pata nahi chalega." He assured her.

Naina was aware that nothing could stop him if he had already made up his mind to come here.

"Theek hai, thodi der mein bahar aa jaungi... abhi tum bhi jao... mujhe bhi koi bulane aata hoga." She accepted softly.

"Bye jaan." He blew a kiss into the phone.

She placed it against her heart for a moment before keeping the cordless back in stand... living the moment, absorbing the words, feeling the kiss.

"Nainaaa... so gayi kya... bua dadi kitni baar bula chuki hain tujhe." Preeti hollered, rushing in.

"Aa rahi hun... itna chilla kyon rahi hai?" She flicked the braid over her shoulder.

Preeti had tied her hair in a loose braid, leaving some tendrils on the side of the face. She wasn't wearing any makeup. But had worn long golden earrings to match the yellow and gold suit that Phulla bua had insisted on getting stitched for this occasion.

Bela stopped her the moment both of them stepped out of the room.

"Meri beti kitni pyari lag rahi hai... yeh rang bohot khil raha hai tujhpe... kahin kisiki nazar na lag jaaye." She quickly touched her little finger to the corner of her eye and dabbed it behind Naina's ear.

"Ab wahi khada karke kya baatein karne lage... leke aao haldi ke liye." Phulla bua called from the living room.

"O bai, yeh ladkiyaan haar baat ko mazaak samajhti hain... pata nahi..." Taiji started with her curses, but stopped suddenly... the mysterious phone call still fresh in her mind.

"Tu kuch keh rahi thi, Bina?" Phulla bua gave her a stern look.

"Main... main toh keh rahi thi ki inn ladkiyon ki umar hai mazak masti ki... aur kya kahungi." Smiling sheepishly, she adjusted the pallu on her head.

Naina was made to sit on a low, wooden stool. Phulla bua was the first one to put haldi on her.

"Yeh ubtan dulhan ko khoobsurat banane ke liye lagate hain... tujhe toh iski zaroorat hai nahi... bas rasm ke liye karna pad raha hai... warna tera hero toh aisa fida hai tujhpe ki tujhse khoobsurat uske liye koi hai hi nahi... waise main soch rahi thi kisi na kisi bahane se yahan aa hi jayega apni heroine se milne... par lagta hai tune daant diya bechare ko... warna itne din door rehne walon mein se nahi hai woh." Bua dadi teased her as she applied a generous layer on her face.

Naina lowered her eyes, thinking how right her grandmother was... Sameer was doing exactly what she was expecting... only, no one was aware of it.

Taiji was next. She barely touched her fingers to the paste and pressed them hard on her cheeks.

"Yeh sab lagane se sundar hote toh duniya mein sabhi sundar dikhte... jaisa roop rang bhagwan ne diya hai uske saamne yeh sab bekaar hain... pata nahi kya andha hai woh ladka jo itna paise wala hote hue bhi tujh jaisi se shaadi karne ko mara jaa raha hai." She muttered under her breath.

Phulla bua heard her as she was sitting right behind.

"Sahi kaha tune, Bina... jaisa roop rang Naina ka hai, uske aage yeh sab cheezein bekaar hain... woh toh pehle hi itni sundar hai... aur fir Sameer ko aise hi pasand hai... par yeh ubtan kaam naahi karti yeh baat bhi teri theek hi hai... warna itne saalon mein tu bhi thodi toh dekhne layak ho jaati yeh sab laga ke... jabse shaadi hui hai tabse aisi hi shakal surat jhel rahe hain teri." Phulla bua said loudly, causing quite a few sniggers amongst the relatives sitting in the room.

Taiji turned pale with embarrassment... getting up without another word.

Bela, Pooja, Preeti, Swati and other ladies smeared Naina with the yellow paste one after the other, saying a few words of praises.

"Bua dadi... aapko nahi lagta dulha dulhan ko bhi ek doosre ko haldi lagani chahiye?" Preeti asked with a serious face.

Naina looked up with a jerk...

"Haan beta, ab dheere dheere aisa hi hone lagega... dono ko saath bithao aur sab rasmein ek baar mein karlo." Bua dadi nodded at her suggestion.

"Abhi se ho jaata toh bechare jijaji bhi apni dulhan ko thoda rang dete." Preeti  gave a mischievous smile to Naina.

"Uss hero ka toh pata nahi par Naina ne usse pehle hi rang diya apne rang mein... bas zara alag rang tha." Bua dadi was no less, giving a naughty look.

Naina gaped at her... turning into a puddle at the memory of her lipstick mark on Sameer that bua dadi had seen in Mumbai.

"Haaye, mujhe bhi milna hai apne hero jijaji se... kab se tareef sun rahi hun... Naina, aisa kar, bula hi le... aa jayenge na bulane se?" Pooja joined in.

Swati leaned on Pooja's shoulder, "Arre Pooja didi, ek baar phone karne ki der hai... jijaji toh Naina ke liye pahad tod ke bhi aa jayein... bulate hi do minute mein neeche khade honge... lagta hai unke paas pankh hain."

Naina turned beetroot as the other women started to tease her too.

"Aap sab meri beti ko aise chedo mat." Bela went near her, stroking her head.

Naina was thankful for being saved when Bela turned to look at her, "Hamari gudiya ki kya galti hai agar Sameer hi itna joru ka gulaam hai... ek seeti bhi baja degi toh abhi dauda aayega."

"Chachiji, aap bhi... " Naina looked at her, turning red to the roots.

Everyone started to laugh... she got up and ran to her room, the sound of laughter following her.

Sameer went back to the hall after talking to Naina. Munna Pandit were there along with Rahul and his family.

"Yeh shirt utar de, Sameer... warna haldi ke nishan se kharab ho jayegi." Rahul said.

Sameer looked around... Sonali, her bhabhi and Rahul's mom were present besides men. He hesitated.

"Aise kar, tu koi ghar ki t-shirt pehen ke aaja... ya baniyaan pehen lena... jaa, fatafat badal ke aaja." Munna suggested, understanding his dilemma.

Sameer ran back to the room. Searching amongst the few clothes that he had kept in this room, he found one vest... he usually didn't wear one under shirts or t-shirts but owned a few... to wear with kurtas. Discarding the shirt, he quickly pulled down the vest over his head... looked at himself in the mirror... and picked up his towel, putting it around his neck, the idea of sitting in front of everyone only in a vest seeming a little uncomfortable.

Aunty was the first one to put haldi on him. She just patted small amount on his cheeks, shoulders, hands, knees and feet.

"Hamesha aise hi khush raho... aaj jitna pyar hai dono mein, bhagwan kare usse bhi zyada ho har aane wale saal ke saath... tum dono ki zindagi mein itni khushiyan rahe ki kabhi kisi pareshani ki chhaaya bhi aas paas na fatke... aur yeh saath hamesha bana rahe... har janam mein." She blessed him in an emotional voice, cupping his face.

Sameer saw the wetness in her eyes... and he could feel his own getting damp...

So this was how a mother's blessings felt... this was how a mother was happy for her son... this was what a mother desired for her child... this was how a mother prayed for her own...

This was what it meant to have a mother who loved you...

He swallowed the lump that had ballooned in his throat, and bent down to touch her feet.

She patted his cheek, eyes brimming as she smiled, "Bas khush rehna... kabhi bhi zaroorat pade toh apni iss maa ko yaad kar lena... tujhe toh maine pehle hi beta maan liya tha... ab woh bahu bhi meri hogi... jaise Rahul aur Sonali hain, waise hi tu aur Naina... kal ko Rishi ko shaadi mein bhi tum dono ko bhai bhabhi banke sab sambhalna hoga."

Rishi smiled dreamily, "Inke bina kaise hogi meri shaadi mummy, inke ghar ki bhi toh hogi woh shaadi."

His mother looked back at him, puzzled... as everyone else gave a shocked look.

Rishi quickly straightened, looking at her nervously, "Mera matlab ab yeh bhi mera bhai hai toh iske ghar ki hi hui na meri shaadi... isse aur Naina ko aana hi padega."

His mother got up and pulled his ear, "Naina nahi, ab se bhabhi bola kar... samjha."

"Ahh... samajh gaya... abhi tak aise kaan kheechti ho jaise main chota bachha hun... inn logon jitna ho jaunga agle saal... jab dono bade bhaiyon ki shaadi karwa di toh meri ki taiyari bhi shuru kar do." He rubbed his ear.

"In dono ne apna intezam khud kar liya... woh bhi itni achhi ladkiyan dhoond ke." His father stroked Sonali's head who was standing next to him,  then looked at Rishi, "Tu bhi dhoond lega toh karwa denge... par ladki meri dono betiyon jaisi hi honi chahiye."

"Inki behen hai toh inke jaisi hi hogi na." Rishi muttered.

The voice didn't reach his parents but Munna Pandit heard it, standing right next to him.

Munna looked at Pandit... the expression on his face was pure anger.

Pandit clenched his fists at Rishi's words... the way he was talking, there was no doubt that he was speaking about Preeti... and it wasn't going very well with his system.

The voices and laughter around brought him back to the ceremony.  Bhabhi delicately put haldi on Sameer... and when he was relaxed that she was done, she filled up her hands and smeared all over his face... laughing as he jerked back.

"Ab lag raha hai ubtan lagi hai." She wiped her hands on a napkin and stepped back.

One by one, everyone did the same, not sparing any part of his face, neck or arms.

In the process, some haldi paste fell on Munna and Pandit as well when they tried to tease Sameer and he tried to catch them.

"Yeh toh bada achha shagun hai... ab tum dono ki shaadi bhi jaldi hi ho jayegi." Aunty exclaimed.

"Meri shaadi toh do mahine baad hai, auntyji... sagai ko ek saal ho chuka hai." Munna lowered his head, smiling shyly.

"Arre waah... kaun hai ladki? Yahan hai kya? Humein bhi milwao na." Aunty was genuinely happy for him.

"Swati... Naina bhabhi ki saheli." He was even more shy, taking her name.

"Swati... kitni pyari hai woh... ek baat toh hai beta... tumhare Ahmedabad mein ladkiyaan hain badi sundar... dil khush ho gaya tumhari pasand pe, Munna." She patted his head.

"Haan, yeh baat toh hai... yahan ki ladkiyaan bohot pyari hain." Rishi was lost again.

"Pandit, tumne bhi koi pasand kar rakhi hai kya?" Bhabhi asked him.

"Haan." He blurted, still angry with Rishi's dreamy declaration.

Sameer and Munna looked at him, astounded at his answer.

"Aur woh bhi milegi kya shaadi mein? Tum logon ki hi dost hai kya?" Bhabhi excitedly asked.

Pandit gazed at his friends, then looked back at bhabhi, grinning foolishly, "Woh toh har shaadi mein hoti hai... meri pasand... kachodi... mujhe toh inn sabse pehle se pyar ho rakha hai usse."

Sonali chuckled, "Pandit ko khane se itna zyada pyar hai, mujhe nahi lagta isse jaldi se koi ladki dikhti bhi hogi... tum na bas khaate hi rehna... sab ladkiyon ki shaadi ho jayegi tab sochna ki kachodi toh hai par saath mein khane wali koi hoti toh achha hota."

The words hit Pandit hard... of course his love for food was foremost... but was it all he wanted... when Sameer and Munna would be married, he would be alone... would the idea of going out to eat be as exciting...

Suddenly, the food was not that alluring... he wanted someone to share it with him... someone who loved the food as much as him... loved to talk about food... was happy to be laughed at just to make their friends happy... was ready to go all out to help friends...

And the face that loomed in front of him was only one... the answer to all his questions...

Preeti.

Na jaane mere dil ko kya ho gaya
Abhi toh yahin tha abhi kho gaya

Ho gaya hai tujhko toh pyar sajna
Lakh karle tu inkaar sajna

Pandit looked around... thunderstruck... how could he hear a song...

"Arre Rahul, yeh slow gaana hai, ispe thodi naachenge... koi achha sa shaadi wala cassette lagao... zara masti maza hona chahiye." Bhabhi's voice made him realise that the song was actually being played.

Pursing his lips, he lowered his head.

"Kuch samajh mein aaya ya abhi bhi dhool jami hai dil aur dimaag pe?" Sameer whispered to him from behind.

He had been observing Pandit since morning... his lost looks, less appetite, confusion, angry glares at Rishi, going into dreamland repeatedly... he was noticing everything.

Munna had seen it too.

They both knew the answer.

Now they waited for Pandit to realise...

That it was love...

He loved Preeti.