Sameer reached home, still lost in the thoughts of what all Naina might be going through... he was even feeling annoyed at her for forcing him to leave. Parking his bike, he kicked it in frustration... and walked in, his face contorted in anger.

"Aaiye, aaiye... aakhir aapko yaad aa hi gaya ki aapka bhi ek ghar hai." Somani taunted the moment Sameer entered the living room.

He glared at his step father, gave a disgusting look to his mother who stood a little away from him... and frowned at another person present there.

"Sameer, yeh tumhare Kamlesh mama hain... Gandhinagar se aaye hain... namaste karo." Vishakha commanded.

Sameer looked at the stranger, wondering where this relative had been all these years... and why was he here today. But he folded his hands at him, without a word.

"Khush raho, Sameer beta... main toh Vishakha didi se hamesha kehta tha ki Sameer ko hamare paas rehne do... bhare hue ghar mein rahega toh bachha khush rahega... apne dukh bhool jayega... par teri mummy ne meri baat maani hi nahi... kehne lagi Kamlesh bhai, aapko bekaar takleef hogi... Sameer ko waise bhi hostel ki aadat hai... woh akela hi khush rehta hai... usse kisi ki zaroorat nahi hai." Kamlesh mama sneered.

Sameer disliked him instantly... everything about his personality and demeanor made him look untrustworthy.

"Sameer, Kamlesh mama hamare bulane pe Gandhi nagar se yahan aaye hain... tumhe uss parivaar ki asliyat batane... jisse tumhari aankhon pe bandhi patti utar jaye aur dekh sako ki kaise ek paise wale ladke ko woh log apne jaal mein phansa rahe hain." Vishakha crossed her arms, giving him a piercing look.

Before Sameer could speak, Kamlesh started to say in his irritating voice, "Haan beta, Vishakha didi sahi keh rahi hain... maine pata lagaya... arre, bada ghatiya parivaar hai... kehne ko wakil aur CA hain dono bhai par rehte uss chote se kabootarkhane mein hain... aur inka ek aur bhai toh school mein librarian hai... bolo... yeh bhi koi kaam hua... usse zyada paisa toh humara naukar kama leta hai... inke paas koi pushtaini daulat, jaaydaad bhi nahi hai... ekdum rookhe sookhe... aise aadmi ka kya naam hoga samaaj mein... aur biwiyan bhi gaon ki hain... ekdum ganwar... teri mummy aur mami jaisi nahi, padhi likhi aur smart... aise ghar ki ladki kya seekh ke aayegi aur kya tareeke jaanegi bade ghar ke."

Somani pitched in, "Arre bhaisahab, aisi ladki toh naak hi katayegi sabke saamne... soft drink ko sharbat bolegi aur snacks ko farsaan... main toh sharm se mar jaun agar mere ghar mein koi aisa kahe."

Sameer gave him a menacing look, not wanting to start any discussion with these unworthy people... his Naina did not need their approval... nor did her family...

"Sun liya Sameer... kis kuen mein koodna chahte ho tum... abhi toh shuruat hai toh uss ladki ne aur uske gharwalo ne mujhse itni badtameezi ki hai... kal ko usse utha ke yahan le aaoge toh hamare sar pe hi baith jayegi." Vishakha echoed her husband and brother's point.

"Bas kijiye aap log... jaante kya hain aap Naina ke baare mein... uske liye kuch bhi kehne se pehle soch lijiye ki woh patni hai meri... aur iss ghar ki malkin hai... aaj aap log ussi ke ghar mein khade hokar ussi pe ulte seedhe ilzam laga rahe hain." Sameer roared when he could not take it anymore.

The sound of slap rang through the room.

Sameer looked at his mother... her hand still raised... an ugly scowl on her face.

He gave a scornful smile, as a tear spilled from his eye, "Bas yehi kar sakti hain aap... har baat ko meri galti kehti hain aur uski sazaa de deti hain... par ismein aapka kasoor nahi hain... hote hain kuch log jinke paas pyar ka ek katra tak nahi hota... na dil mein, na unki zindagi mein... toh kaise kisi ko pyar denge... kaise pyar ko samjhenge... sabko sirf thappad marna aata hai... yahan aapko, wahan Naina ke papa ko... lekin sirf Naina hai jisse mere aansu pochna aata hai... mere bina kahe mera dard samajhna aata hai... mujhe andhere se nikalna aata hai... ussi ne sikhaya hai mujhe muskurana... ussi ne mere saare kaale saaye khatam kiye hain... aap logon ko usse sharm aayegi... mujhe toh aap logon ki soch se sharm aa rahi hai."

"Sameer." A shaky voice made him look towards the passage that led to his room.

Munna stood behind a pillar, with Pandit next to him. They seemed to be standing there for long but he had not noticed.

"Munna Pandit... tum.. " Sameer was cut short by his step father.

"Kaha tha na tum dono se, bahar nahi aana... jao andar kamre mein... yeh gharwalon ke beech ki baat hai... ek toh muftkhoro ki tarah din raat yahan rehte, khate, peete ho upar se ghar ke maamlon mein bhi ghuse jaa rahe ho." Somani shouted at them.

"Yeh aapka ghar nahi hai... yahan hukum chalane ki koshish mat kijiye... aapse kahin zyada haq hai Munna Pandit ka yahan rehne ka... agar aapko kisi baat se problem hai toh jaa sakte hain... Ahmedabad mein hotel hain rehne ke liye." Sameer walked to stand with his friends, infuriated at their insult.

"Sameer, mat bhoolo ki tum apne papa se baat kar rahe ho." Vishakha screamed.

Sameer retorted sharply, "Papa nahi hain ye... sirf aapke pati hain... aur jab aap hi maa nahi ban payi toh inse mera koi rishta nahi hai."

Kamlesh mama intervened, "Naa, na, Sameer beta, aisa nahi kehte... tumhare maa baap tumhara bhala hi chahte hain isliye samjha rahe hain... uss ghar ki ladki ke liye apna ghar kyon barbaad kar rahe ho? Woh iss layak nahi hai... arre kahan tu hero jaisa aur kahan woh uss choti si society mein rehne wali desi ladki... tujhe toh..."

"Bas kijiye... jo bhi aapka naam hai... mera ghar, mera parivaar, mera wajood, sab kuch Naina hai... uske aur Munna Pandit ke alava yahan mera koi rishta nahi." Sameer cut the cunning man's voice.

"Jo ladki ghar mein kadam rakhne se pehle hi gharwalon ko bahar nikalwa de... woh ghar mein aane ke baad kya karegi." Vishakha said sarcastically.

"Gharwale? Kaun? Aap log? Jo pichhli baar teen saal pehle aaye the yahan... ya yeh, jinhe aap mama bana ke laayi hain... jinhe aaj se pehle kabhi yaad nahi aaya ki unka koi bhanja hai jo akela rehta hai... aap sab toh pehle hi baahar hain... aapko koi kya nikalega." Sameer mocked.

"Agar ek taraf tumhara parivaar, business, paisa aur ek taraf Naina ho toh kisse chunoge tum?" Somani questioned.

"Ek taraf poori duniya hogi toh bhi main Naina ko chununga... usse badhkar mere liye kuch nahi hai... Naina meri duniya hai... uske bina mar jaunga main." Sameer choked.

Munna Pandit placed their hand on his shoulder.

"Vishakha didi, aap sahi hi keh rahi ho... iske bas ka business sambhalna nahi hai... theek hai, aap kehti ho toh main dekh rekh ke liye yahan aa jaata hun... ab kakusa ka khada kiya hua itna bada kaam iss jaise duniya se bekhabar ladke ko toh nahi saunp sakte... chaar din mein sab khatam kar dega." Kamlesh greedily looked around the house.

"Uski zaroorat nahi padegi." A new voice made them look at the door.

Munshiji walked in, with a bag in his hand.

"Sameer beta, jaisa tumne kaha tha, maine papers banwa liye hain... ikkees saal ke hote hi yeh saari property, factory, business sab tumhare naam ho gaya tha... isliye abse sirf tum iske baare mein koi faisla le sakte ho." Munshiji smiled, handing a file from his bag to Sameer.

Somani, Vishakha and Kamlesh gaped in shock as Sameer went through the file. He then asked Munshiji for the other file which was handed over to him. He checked that one as well... and turned towards his mother.

"Yeh lijiye." He extended the second file towards her, "Yeh papers hain nanu ke Gandhinagar wale ghar ke... aur unki zameen jo gaon mein hai uske... maine apni marzi se aapke naam kar diye hain... ab aapka koi hissa nahi hai baaki properties mein."

Somani opened his mouth to say something when Sameer cut him short, "Aap yahi kahenge na ki yeh poori property ki haqdaar hain... inhi ka sign kiya hua paper bhi hai jisme inhone kaha hai ki shaadi ke baad yeh kisi cheez mein apna hissa nahi lengi... inke papa ka sab kuch unki marzi se kisiko bhi diya ja sakta hai."

Somani looked in disbelief and contempt at his wife, "Yeh tumne kya kiya, Vishakha? Tum apna hissa kaise chod sakti ho?"

Sameer looked at his mother, standing with downcast eyes, "Jab yeh apna jeeta jaagta hissa chod kar hamesha ke liye usse bhool sakti hain toh yeh zameen aur kagaz ke tukde kya hain?"

Vishakha did not look up...

"Yeh ghar maine Naina ke naam kar diya hai... aur business mein woh meri barabar ki partner rahegi... isliye uske baare mein soch samajh ke boliye... aur uski family ke liye kuch na kahein toh achha hai... wahan bhi kuch log aapke jaise hain par Naina jis ghar mein pali hai woh pyar se bhara hua hai... apnepan ki god di hai chachiji aur chachiji ne usse... aur wahi apnapan woh log mujhe dete hain." He declared proudly.

"Sameer, baat ko samajh nahi rahe ho tum... woh log dikhawa kar rahe hain... kal jaise hi yeh sab unke haathon mein aayega, unke rang dhang badal jayenge... isliye shaadi apni barabari ke logon mein honi chahiye... humne dekhi hai ek ladki Dilli mein... Shaila... uske papa ka marble ka business hai... kaafi paise wale hain... ladki bhi bohot modern aur sundar hai... unki iklauti beti hai... shaadi ke baad unka sab kuch tumhara ho jayega." Somani softened his voice.

Sameer gave him a blank look and turned towards munshiji, "Thank you, munshiji... aap baaki ka kaam karwa ke mujhe phone kar dena... main parson office aaunga tab sign kar dunga."

"Theek hai, beta... waise deal toh ho gayi hai... tumhari samajhdari ki wajah se sab kuch itni jaldi ho paya... kagaz kal shaam tak taiyar ho jayenge." Munshiji patted his back, and left without acknowledging anyone.

Sameer looked at his friends, and they walked back to their room... together.

Sameer came to know that Somani had instructed them in not too civilised manner, about not coming out of the room as he didn't want to see their faces.

"Bhai, itne bure toh nahi dikhte hum log ki shakal se bhi takleef ho." Pandit looked at his reflection in the mirror, narrowing his eyes.

"Tera pata nahi par main toh theek thak lagta hun, Swati ne kaha tha mujhse." Munna blushed, lowering his eyes.

Sameer chuckled, seeing their light heartedness... understanding that they were playing it down so that he doesn't feel guilty.

The scene at Naina's house wasn't much different.

"Bhaisahab, maanta hun shaadi maine hi karwayi thi... lekin uss samay majboori bhi toh Rakesh bhaisahab ne khadi ki thi... woh achanak Naina ki shaadi karwane chal pade... woh bhi aise ladke ke saath... isliye mujhe yeh kadam uthana pada." Anand clarified.

"Aur maine Anand ka saath diya... meri baat ka maan toh rakhega na?" Phulla bua chided him.

"Aapka faisla hamesha maana hai, buaji... par aaj nahi... iss prem vivaah ka daag apne khaandaan pe nahi laga sakta... Anand, shaadi court mei hui hai na... court mein hi khatam bhi ho jayegi... wakeel hun main... sab sambhal lunga... waise bhi dono alag rehte hain... saabit karne mein zyada mushkil nahi hogi ki inko yeh shaadi kisi majboori mein karni padi aur dono yeh rishta nahi chahte... kisi ko pata nahi chalega aur rishta khatam ho jayega." Tauji was not ready to accept.

"Main aisa kuch nahi karungi, tauji... Sameer se pyar karti hun... usse shaadi ki hai... aur iss shaadi ko main marte dum tak nibhaungi." Naina rushed out of the room, not ready to accept his ridiculous idea.

"Suna nahi tune, andar jaa." Rakesh hollered.

"Rakesh, rehne do... isse bhi pata chalne do ki kaise hum iss musibat ka hal nikal lenge." Tauji restrained his younger brother.

"Yeh musibat nahi meri zindagi hai, tauji... main Sameer ko nahi chodungi... kabhi nahi." She said with determination.

Taiji sat down heavily on the sofa, holding her head, "O bai... yeh ladki ab aisi besharmi pe utar aayi hai... iski aankhon ki sharam toh bikul mar gayi... yahan sabke saamne aise kar rahi hai toh wahan Mumbai mein... he bhagwan... kya gul khilayein honge isne."

Before Naina could comprehend taiji's words, Rakesh swiftly reached her... and slapped her hard across the face.

"Aaj teri wajah se aisi ghatiya baatein sunni pad rahi hain mujhe... yeh din dekhne se achha tujhe maar diya hota paida hote hi toh achha hota." He looked at her with hatred.

Bela and Preeti quickly held Naina with their arms around her.

"Bas kijiye aap log... bachhon ki zindagi ko khel samajh rakha hai kya... yeh shaadi ek baar ho chuki hai... aur apni ichha se main dhoomdhaam se dubara karunga... aap log aana chchahein toh aapka swagat hai... aapki beti ki shaadi hai... nahi aana chahein toh bhi shaadi toh hoke rahegi... aur yeh faisla kisi keemat pe nahi badlega." Anand declared in a steely voice.

Tauji was astounded at his authority being challenged. He could not speak for a while.

When his wife prodded him, he turned his back towards the family, "Aisa hai toh sun lo, Anand... agar yeh shaadi hui toh main tumse koi rishta nahi rakhunga."

Taiji and Rakesh looked at him in astonishment... so did others.

Anand was stunned too, "Yeh kya keh rahe hain aap, bhaisahab?"

"Yehi mera faisla hai... ab tumhe sochna hai... iss ladki ke peeche tum apne bhai se alag hona chahoge kya?" He said in a stern voice.

His words 'iss ladki' made Naina flinch... she was being talked about as if she wasn't a part of this family. Rakesh also looked sharply at his brother... not sure what had made him feel more bad, his daughter being referred to like that or his opinion having no value... this matter of his daughter seemed to be a battle between his elder and younger brother where he was a mere spectator.

"Theek hai, bhaisahab... jaisi aapki marzi." Anand said in a defeated voice.

Naina, Preeti and Bela gaped at him... horrified.

He continued, "Aap rishta nahi rakhna chahte toh yehi sahi, lekin shaadi ko ab koi nahi rok sakta."