"Aap apne badon ka ashirwaad le lijiye." Panditji guided the newly weds.

Sameer and Naina first went to Phulla bua... Sameer bent down to touch her feet, Naina hugged her.

"Tumhe ashirwaad nahi lena?" He was surprised when Naina didn't touch her feet.

"Buddhu, woh beti hai meri... betiyan lakshmi hoti hain... pair nahi chuti... koi lakshmi ko pairon mein rakhta hai kya?" Phulla bua chided him.

"Toh kya main aapka beta nahi hun?" Sameer pouted.

Bua dadi smiled, "Beta hi hai, lekin tera farz hai apne badon ki seva karna... yeh beton ka kartavya hota hai... isliye woh pair choo ke ashirwaad lete hain aur betiyaan gale lag ke... ladkiyaan sirf apne sasural walon ke pair chuti hain... kyonki unki seva karna bahu ka farz hota hai."

"Lekin hamari beti pair nahi chuyegi... gale lagke hi ashirwaad legi, kyonki yeh bahu nahi beti banke aayegi uss ghar mein." Vishakha stepped forward.

Sameer turned to look at his mother, shocked beyond belief. She was giving the status of a daughter to Naina... when she had denied the status of a son to him all these years.

As if reading his thoughts, Vishakha came closer to them, "Naina, mere iss buddhu bete ko sambhal lena... bohot akela reh liya... ab kabhi isko akela mat chodna... mera ashirwaad hamesha tum dono ke saath hai... hamesha khush raho."

What appeared to outsiders a normal hug from a mother to her son and his new wife... was no less than a miracle for the same son.

Sameer could not react when Vishakha wrapped her arms around him and Naina together... and patted their back.

Anand and Bela were amazed too. Phulla bua smiled knowingly... there was nothing more satisfying than realising your own mistake, and be able to rectify it. Though it should have been done way back, still... she was happy that along with getting each other, both these deprived children were getting the much deserved love of their parent as well... something they craved for all their lives.

When Naina and Sameer went to take blessings from Rahul's parents, they also hugged and kissed their forehead.

"Pata nahi kyon par jab tum Rahul ke saath pehli baar ghar aaye the tabhi se mere dil ne tumhe beta maan liya tha... bas yehi socha ki tumhe zindagi ki har khushi mile... fir Naina ke baare mein pata chala, aur jab Naina se mili toh laga ki shayad tum dono bane hi ek doosre ke liye ho... aaj main kitni khush hun tumhe bata nahi sakti... bas tum dono hamesha muskurate raho, yehi ashirwaad hai mera." Rahul's mother was overjoyed.

After taking blessings from tauji and some more relatives, they went to Rakesh.

Sameer touched his feet without any fear this time.

"Tum sach mein bohot achhe ladke ho, Sameer... maine pehchanne mein galti ki... lekin iss baat ki khushi hai ki meri beti ne tumhe pehchana bhi aur tumhare liye sabke aage khadi bhi rahi... yeh himmat usse Anand se aur tumse mili hai... iske liye main tumhara dhanyavad kehna chahta hun... main waise toh kuch kar nahi saka tum dono ke liye lekin aage kabhi meri zaroorat ho toh ek baar keh dena... main iss baar apna farz nibhana chahta hun." Rakesh stroked Sameer's head.

He moved ahead and hugged Rakesh, "Papaji, aap bas aise hi muskurate rahiye aur apna ashirwaad de dijiye... aur kuch nahi chahiye humein."

When Sameer moved away, Rakesh looked at Naina, and gestured her to come closer. Naina walked to him... he patted her head, eyes turning misty. She saw the softness on her father's face that she had been craving for... and went into his arms.

"Papa." Her voice choked.

"Tere mamaji kehte hain na, ki tu apni maa jaisi dikhti hai... theek kehte hain... waisi hi dikhti hai tu... shayad isliye bhi tujhse door bhagta tha... jisse tujhe dekh ke purani yaadein taaza na ho jayein, woh zakhm fir se na dard dene lage... lekin andha tha main... jo yeh bhi nahi dikha ki tere roop mein wohi wapas aayi hai... maaf kar de, beta." Rakesh did not stop the tears from flowing, making Naina sob with him.

"Arre yeh kya laga rakha hai tune... abhi vidaa thodi ho rahi hai meri gudiya jo rona dhona shuru kar diya... Naina, chal apne chacha chachi ka ashirvad aur le le fir kuch rasmein baaki hain." Phulla bua came over to lighten the heaviness of atmosphere.

Wiping her eyes, Naina went towards Anand and Bela, along with Sameer.

"Thank you, chachaji... aaj ka din aapki hi wajah se aaya hai." She folded her hands in front of Anand.

"Aapne shuru se hamara saath diya hai, chachaji... agar aap hamari baat nahi samajhte toh pata nahi humein kitna waqt lag jaata apni manzil tak pohochane mein." Sameer touched his feet before thanking him.

Anand was too overwhelmed to speak anything. He just patted their heads.

Bela kissed both their foreheads and blessed them.

"Ab ho gaya sabka? Ab hamari baari aa gayi hai?" Preeti asked in a tired voice.

"Tumhari baari? Tumhare bhi pair choone hai kya?" Sameer was perplexed.

"Yahan mere pairon ki nahi jijaji, aapke pairon ki baat karni hai." Preeti kept her hands on waist, giving him a sly smile.

Munna held the box tightly, "Bhai, chinta ki koi baat nahi hai... yeh kori dhamki dene wali hai... tera samaan hamare paas surakshit hai."

"Mera kya samaan?" Sameer was still not able to understand.

"Aapke joote, jijajj... unke bina wapas nahi jaa  sakte... aur unke liye aapko hamari maang poori karni padegi." Swati explained, not paying any heed to Munna.

"Sameer, tere joote hamare paas hain... inki baaton mein mat aana." Munna said with confidence.

Preeti and Swati looked at him, then at each other... and grinned.

Munna was suddenly not as confident anymore.

He looked at Pandit, holding the box closer to himself, "Tune sambhal ke rakha tha na isse?"

Pandit nodded.

"Theek hai, toh de do joote jijaji ko... fir hum paise nahi mangenge." Preeti held her chin up in the air.

Munna seemed more unassertive now, "Tum... tum lao tumhare paas hain toh... joote de do, paise le lo."

"Chalo theek hai... jijaji, aap do hazaar rupay do aur joote aapke." Preeti put forth her demand.

"Do hazaar? Pagal hai kya Preeti? Itne paise mangta hai koi?" Bela reprimanded her.

"Main 'koi' nahi hun, mummy... inki special saali hun... aur yeh bhi jijaji hain... Naina ke liye do kya yeh dus hazaar bhi de denge." Preeti said with a twinkle in her eye.

Munna pitched in before Sameer could speak, "Paise ki baat baad mein karna, pehle joote laake toh dikhao."

Preeti huffed at him, "Aapko badi jaldi ho rahi hai, hone wale jijaji... jab aapke churayenge tab bolna... abhi zara yahan ki setting dekhne do."

Everyone laughed and Munna flushed, pursing his lips as he stole a glance at Swati.

"Tum jitna bologi de dunga par mere joote toh laa do." Sameer smiled.

Preeti winked at Swati, who went in... coming back within seconds, holding Sameer's jootis.

Munna Pandit looked in awe at exactly the same shoes that they had been safeguarding for so long. Munna quickly opened the box... and his jaw hit the ground.

It had nothing but old newspapers. He looked at Pandit, who shrugged in resignation. None of them could understand how this happened when they were holding the box in their very own hands all the time.

"Baad mein Swati se poochunga... kya shaatir chorni hain yeh ladkiyan... hamare haath ke neeche se chori kar li aur humein pata tak nahi chala... bhai, shaadi ke baad Swati se zara bachke rehna padega." Munna said with resignation.

Pandit looked wistfully at Preeti, wondering if he could also see such dreams about her... with her behaviour varying with him so often, his mind had become a total mess. He didn't know what to make out. Taking a deep breath, he decided he should ask her directly. Though he had said he would wait till the marriage gets over... but it had officially concluded now.

Rahul's mother came forward to take out money from her bag when Vishakha stopped her, "Itna toh karne dijiye."

She smiled and nodded.

Vishakha took out two bundles of notes from her purse, "Yeh lo beta, Sameer ki taraf se... tumhari joote chupayi."

Preeti rounded her eyes at the bundles, then looked up at her, "Aunty, itne paise nahi chahiye... hum toh jijaji se mazaak kar rahe the... soch ke ki thoda mol bhaav karenge... aap... aap bas 500 rupay de dijiye."

Vishakha gave a deep look to the petite girl, wondering how she could be so blind to think that these people would be after Sameer for money.

"Haan, haan, behenji... yeh ladki toh pagal hai, kuch bhi bolti hai... 500 bhi bohot hain... aap bas 101 de dijiye shagun ke." Bela said in an urgent voice.

Vishakha smiled at her, "Yeh paise main apni khushi se de rahi hun... Sameer ke liye yeh baat jooton ki nahi, rasmon ki hai... shayad hi koi mauka raha hoga jab maine iske liye koi rasm ki hogi aaj se pehle... aaj mere bete ki shaadi ke din main  nahi chahti kuch kami rahe."

Bela was reluctant, "Lekin hamare yahan..."

Sameer stopped her, "Chachiji, aapki har baat maani hai maine... aap bhi meri itni si baat maan lijiye, please."

She pondered for a while then nodded.

Vishakha extended her hand again, but Sameer held it. She looked at him in surprise.

"Yeh rishta aur yeh parivaar paison se nahi bandha hai... yahan paison se zyada pyar aur apnepan ki keemat hai... aur inki baat taal ke main uss pyar ka apmaan nahi karna chahta... aap Preeti ko do hazaar hi dijiye." He looked at his mother, speaking softly, with respect.

Vishakha could feel her chest swell up with pride. This was her son... he had better understanding of people than her, at such a young age.

Preeti took the money Vishakha gave her... handed it to Swati and took the shoes from her.

She kneeled on the floor to make Sameer wear them.

"Yeh kya kar rahi ho?" He stepped back in alarm.

"Jo joote churate hain, wohi pehnate hain... chaliye ab pair aage kariye." Preeti said adamantly.

"Abhi abhi bua dadi ne bataya tha ki ladkiyan lakshmi hoti hain... unse pairon ko haath nahi lagwate." Sameer took another step back.

"Arre woh apne ghar ki beti aur behen ke liye hota hai." Preeti explained.

"Tum bhi wohi toh ho... yeh ghar, ye parivaar mera hai toh tum bhi meri choti behen hui na... main tumhe kaise apne pairon ko haath lagane de sakta hun?" Sameer said in a soft voice.

Naina looked at him with eyes full of love... he did not need any vows in front of the holy fire... he was ready to accept everything without any compulsion, without any promise.

"Preeti, Sameer ki baat maan le... mera hero shakal se hi nahi dil se bhi hero hai." Phulla bua tapped Preeti's head, gesturing at her to get up.

Sameer put on his shoes, and looked at his wife. She gave him a gratifying smile.

"Ab ghar chalo, hamare mandir mein ek baar tum dono bhagwan ka ashirwaad le lo fir vidaai ki taiyaari karenge." Bela came forward to direct them.

Preeti ran ahead, to make the arrangements. She checked the mandir, realising that it did not have the silver anklets of Naina's mother that she had wanted to keep here. She remembered that her mother had put them back in their room since there were some helpers in the kitchen. Preeti rushed to her room, looking for them frantically. As she checked the drawer, a hair band got entangled in her hand. In a hurry to get rid of it, she pulled at it, and her fingers hit the packet Pandit had gifted her, tearing off the cover.

She stilled... looking at the dark cardboard box that had a small white paper pasted on it. It said

I love you so much

With trembling fingers, she opened it to see a heart inside, with a band aid over it... and another chit,

It hurts

Her heart stopped beating...

When she went out a few moments later with the anklets, her eyes searched for Pandit. But he had not come up with others. Neither had Munna. Only Naina and Sameer with her family stood in front of the mandir. She placed the anklets in pooja thali.

"Sameer, yeh payal Naina ki maa ki hain... inhe choo ke ashirwaad le lo." Phulla bua told him.

Sameer kept his fingers on them for a few seconds, then touched the fingers to his forehead, and his heart.

Bela put a tilak on him, and a small dot on Naina.

I know you all would be expecting an evening update but today I have something urgent to deal with... won't be able to work on the story during the day...

Please accept my apologies beforehand. Would give both updates tomorrow for sure, Sunday being a holiday.