The garden where the shamiyana was set up was surrounded by a wall of white tent, with red fabric decorations against it. The edges were lined with lights, tiny bulbs in abundance that gave the place an enchanting look. Overall colour combination was red and white but there were quite a few sprinklings of green in between. And gold, that brought the feel of a royal wedding. Flower arrangements placed all around brought a distinct, pleasing smell of marriage venue. Deep red chairs were placed facing the stage which itself was covered with red carpet. Floral garlands in white formed the backdrop of the stage. The huge red and gold ornate chairs were placed next to each other for the bride and groom.

Munna Pandit were looking for their girls when they bumped into Anand.

"Munna, yeh Vishakha ji kaise... " He took them aside, still amazed to see Sameer's mother here.

"Chachaji, woh Vishakha mausi abhi shaam ko hi Dilli se aayi hain... hum sab bhi hairan hain ki achanak yeh hua kaise... par unhone kuch kaha nahi... bas itna kaha ki agar apne bete ki shaadi mein bhi nahi aati toh khud ko kabhi maaf nahi kar paati... Sameer bhi utna hi chaunk gaya tha." Munna narrated what he had seen.

"Aur unhone aane ke baad khushi khushi saari rasmein kari hain... yahan tak ki hamare saath baraat mein naachi bhi." Pandit was still dazed.

Anand looked back at her, happily talking to Phulla bua. He wondered what brought such a drastic change in her behaviour in just a few days.

"Chalo jo bhi kaaran raha ho, achha hi hua ki unko samay rehte ahsaas ho gaya... Sameer ko khushi hogi." Anand smiled, patting Pandit's shoulder, before walking away.

Munna looked at Pandit, who was standing with his jaw hanging.

"Abe tujhe kya hua?" Munna leaned to look at him closely, creasing his brow.

"Woh... Preeti ke papa ne mera kandha thapthapaya." Pandit blurted, touching his shoulder.

He got a smack on the head that brought him out of the trance.

"Kandhe pe haath rakha hai... tera rishta pakka nahi kiya... pehle Preeti toh haan kahe... Sameer ki shaadi mein aaya hai, teri nahi ho rahi... sapne dekhna band kar aur chal, apna bhai jab tak akela hai thoda bhaav de dega, ek baar bhabhi aa gayi tab toh humein akele ghoomna hi hai." Munna dragged him to the stage.

"Jo bhi maine uss din kaha, uske liye main jitni maafi mangu kam hai... bas itna kahungi ki meri aankhon pe jo parda pada tha woh hat gaya hai... aap logon ka badappan hai jo aapne itne apnepan se mera swagat kiya... yakeen maniye, main kabhi Sameer aur Naina ki zindagi mein dakhal nahi dungi." Vishakha stood with lowered head in front of Phulla bua and Bela.

Bela was about to say something when Phulla bua stalled her.

She looked at Vishakha, "Dekhiye, uss din jo hua woh theek toh nahi tha... aisi baaton se bacchon ke dil ko kitni chot pohochti hai jaanti bhi hain aap... Sameer ka dil bohot nazuk hai... Naina ne kisi tarah usse gehre andheron se nikala hai... main bas yehi kehna chahti hun ki aap apne bete ko samajhne ki koshish karengi toh pata chalega woh kitna pyara bachha hai... uske andar jo khalipan hai usse hum log jitni bhi koshish kar le bhar nahi sakte... aapke hisse ka pyar aapko hi dena hoga... ab kitni dooriyaan mit payengi pata nahi... par aapko koshish zaroor karni chahiye... ek baar hath zaroor badhana chahiye."

Vishakha looked in awe at the deep insight the old lady had given her... yes, she had to make the first move to get her son back.

"Aap... aap bilkul mere papa ki tarah baat karti hain." She uttered.

"Sameer bhi yehi kehta hai." Phulla bua smiled warmly.

"Kya main aapko buaji keh sakti hun... papa ke jaisi hain toh unki behen hui... isliye." Vishakha asked with hopeful eyes.

"Yeh hamari buaji hi hain." Bela offered with a wide smile.

"Beta, buaji kahogi toh achha lagega mujhe... lekin ek baat pehle hi bata deti hun... jo mujhse rishta banate hain unhe pyar zaroor deti hun par galti pe daant bhi lagati hun... chaho toh Sameer se pooch ke dekh lo... baad mein mat kehna ki bahu ke ghar wale tumpe gussa dikhate hain." Phulla bua warned her.

Vishakha laughed, "Aap jitna chahe daant lijiye... aapka haq hai... aakhir meri beti ki daadi hain."

Bela sniffed, getting emotional at her statement.

"Ab aansu mat bahane lag jaana... chal Naina ko laane ko bol... varmala ka waqt ho raha hai." Buaji chided Bela.

"Yaar, yeh Naina ko itni der kyon lag rahi hai... kabse aake baitha hun main." Sameer peered at the entrance of her building.

He had already changed into the deep blue suit that he had to wear from now till dinner. The white sherwani was to be worn again for pheras. He could have worn the suit right from the beginning... but he wanted to arrive at Naina's doorstep in sherwani that she had so lovingly chosen for him. Changing twice was a problem and everyone had adviced him to wear suit, but he wanted to see the happiness on her face when she would see him sitting on the horse in the sherwani... something she had always dreamt of. And the contented, proud smile he got was totally worth the effort. But now the wait was getting unbearable for him.

His three friends were standing with him as he restlessly looked around.

"Jaake le aayein kya bhabhi ko?" Munna asked.

"Haan." Sameer beamed at the idea.

"Chup raho... shaadi ke din pitna hai kya?" Rahul pulled back Munna who was about to run towards the house.

Munna gave him a puzzled look.

"Arre ladkiyon ke kamre mein nahi jaate shaadi wale ghar mein." Rahul informed.

Sameer was reminded of Rahul's wedding when he had entered the room seeing Naina's dupatta on the bed... whatever had happened that day was something he could never forget... it was the day of the beginning of their wedding... and after three months, today would be the culmination.

It was the longest wedding anyone could have ever had... but no one in the family would ever know about it... it was a little secret between the two of them. A blush crept up on his face as he realised his wait of three months would end tonight.

"Le, aa gayi teri Naina." Rahul nudged him out of the memories.

All eyes turned towards the entrance.

Preeti and Swati held Naina as she slowly walked towards the stage...

Sameer felt his breath quicken as his eyes scanned her, going up slowly from her feet.

Her glittering pink and silver lehenga covered her feet completely... it swayed lightly as she took small, slow steps. Her fingers were locked with each other... delicate, mehendi coloured hands adorned with some kind of jewellery that covered the back of her hands... her wrists filled with pink glass bangles, with some golden ones in between. She was wearing the dupatta over her head, like all brides... her face framed by the bejeweled border of her dupatta. The necklace and earrings seemed to be made to match the colour of lehenga... and the colour on her cheeks. He bit his lip as he saw the pink hue on her face, the colour that appeared whenever he went close to her. The heavy necklace seemed to weigh her down though, as she moved with lowered head, but that was how a bride moved... he had seen in the films. His gaze reached the nosering that rested on her lips, and he was instantly jealous... he could not even touch her at the moment and the golden loop was over those plump, pink lips. He diverted his eyes to the maang tika... this one was different from what she had worn on earlier occassions... he had been suggested this by the salesgirl, saying this would make any bride look aristocratic... not that his Naina needed anything to look like a queen... but he wanted the best for her, and he had bought it along with the jewellery she was wearing now. He wasn't sure she would like it, but now that she was wearing it, the piece looked like it was made for her. The drop shaped gem below the pendent resting on her forehead dangled with every step. Her hairline was completely covered by the design... and he had to agree... she did look ethereal. A few curls, mixed with the strings of white flowers were visible on her shoulders... his throat went dry... the fragrance of white flowers of his room flooding his senses...

"Tum teeno saans le sakte ho... warna unn teeno ke yahan pohochane tak shayad neele pad jao." Rahul's voice seemed to be coming from some faraway place.

Sameer gulped, looking around... and he realised Munna Pandit were as lost as him... Munna in Swati, and Pandit in Preeti.

Munna had seen Swati dressed up like this a few times... but today, walking along Naina dressed as a bride, she made him think about their wedding, which was scheduled a few months from now. Her shy smile as she looked at him made him wish it wasn't that far.

Pandit was mesmerised seeing Preeti. Her yellow lehenga made her glow... like a bride. She was walking with lowered eyes... though it was to help Naina with her lehenga... he felt it was the shyness of bride. He knew she wouldn't look at him... at least not yet... but he couldn't take his eyes away from her.

"Sab log dekh sakte hain tum teeno ko... Sameer ka toh theek hai par Munna Pandit, tum zara muh band karlo." Rahul again shook the two of them.

Sameer had told him about Pandit's proposal to Preeti, and he had decided to stay quiet about his brother Rishi's interest. After all, Preeti and Pandit were known to each other since childhood... and he sincerely wished they got together. Rishi would easily get over it. He had met Preeti just two days back, and didn't know anything about her. It could be just plain attraction.

The three boys looked sheepishly at each other as the girls reached the stage.

Naina slowly lifted her eyes... and looked at him, as she climbed the two stairs. With each step she took towards him, they felt their heartbeats getting faster.

He stood up from the chair, turning to face her as she reached him.

"Hum jeet gaye, Naina." He said in a soft voice.

Her warm smile lit up his world.

"Hamara pyaar jeet gaya, Sameer." She said with her eyes full of love.

They were surrounded by friends before they could say anymore. But they didn't mind... now they had a lifetime with each other.

Heavy garlands were brought in a tray. They were handed one each.

It was time for them to commence their wedding ceremony... with the exchange of varmala... floral garlands.

"Bhai, waise toh tu khushi khushi sar jhuka lega bhabhi ke aage lekin aaj tujhe apne yaaron ki baat manni padegi." Munna said loudly.

Before Sameer could react, Munna Pandit had picked him up, taking him away from easy reach of Naina.

"Bhabhi, ab thodi mehnat toh tumko bhi karni hogi." Pandit exclaimed.

"Chal Naina, dikha de ki hum ladkiyan bhi kam nahi hain." Swati encouraged her.

Anand and Arjun picked up Naina, bringing her to Sameer's height in the air.

She tried to put the garland, but Munna Pandit stepped back, taking Sameer with them.

She pursed her lips, he crinkled his eyes in helplessness.

Naina looked down at Swati, and gave a faint smile.

Swati patted Preeti's arm, flicking her brows.

And they both turned towards the boys... Swati staring directly at Munna with a coy smile and Preeti looking at Pandit.

The boys froze... they were not expecting such attention in front of everyone.

Sameer looked at Naina, and she winked at him, making him go numb too.

Putting the garland was easy as none of the boys moved.

The sound of claps brought them out of their stupor.

"Katwa di naak... bas ladki ne ek baar dekha aur teeno ke teeno pighal gaye." Rahul showed fake anger.

It was Sameer's turn now.

He tried to put it, but Naina herself leaned back. Sameer raised his hands again, but she dodged.

"Bhai, yahin haar jayega kya? Do baar miss hua hai... aur nahi hona chahiye." Munna pumped him.

Sameer bit his lip at her... it didn't work as she wrinkled her nose, discreetly showing her thumb to him.

Frowning, he leaned, and grimaced.

Naina immediately bent to see what happened... and he put the garland around her neck... grinning.

The sound of claps and shower of petals made them look away from each other. Putting them down carefully, others moved aside.

Photographers clicked the pictures, asking them to stand in different poses.

Next part in the evening.