Preeti clutched the phone tighter... the colour deepening on her face.

Naina and Swati looked at each other... her expressions giving a hope... a positive signal...

"Ek... ek minute... itna lamba kaise bolun... Naina ko... dheere dheere bol na." Preeti stuttered.

Pandit pursed his lips, squeezing his eyes more... did she think all this was to be conveyed to Naina...

"Par... yeh sab... Pandit... jijaji toh Naina ko bachpan se jaante hi nahi... fir yeh dosti... yeh samosa... yeh kachodi... yeh sab... kya... " She swallowed, wanting to be sure...

He let out an audible sigh, "Sameer nahi Preeti... yeh main keh raha tha... yeh mera message hai... bhabhi ke liye nahi... unki behen ke liye... main apne dil ki baat bata raha hun... tumhe... "

Preeti disconnected... her heart in her mouth...

Naina looked in panic, "Kya hua, Preeti... phone kyon kaat diya?"

She kept sitting like a stone... oblivious to the surroundings... Pandit's words echoing in her ears.

Naina leaned closer to her, her hands in the hold of mehendi wali, "Preeti, kuch bola kya Pandit ne?"

Nodding her head, Preeti gulped.

"Tujhe gussa aaya sun ke?" Naina asked with bated breath.

Preeti sat still for sometime... then shook her head slightly.

A relieved smile spread on Naina's face... she looked at Swati, who stared back expectantly.

Naina pressed her lower lip under her teeth, nodding at her with a twinkle in her eyes.

Swati broke into a wide grin... then flicked her brows, indicating at Preeti.

Naina shrugged... they didn't know Preeti's answer yet... but she was not angry... she had accepted that much... and it was a big solace.

Preeti got up swiftly, and ran to the room. Once she had closed the door, she stood against it, breathing hard... clutching the phone against her heart.

What was this... what did Pandit say... he said he had moved ahead from friendship... where... what was he trying to convey... he had always been a jovial, carefree person, who cracked stupid jokes... she made faces at the jokes but admired his ability to laugh and make other laugh along... he shared the same likes and dislikes as her... no doubt they were quite similar... but...

And he didn't call her 'tu'... today he addressed her with a 'tum'... why... wasn't she the same friend... wasn't he the same friend...

She was drowning in different feelings and emotions... her heart wanted to convince her that he meant what she thought he did... but her mind was not ready to believe. Pandit could never fall for anyone... he himself had said many times that thankfully, he had no such ailment called love... like his other two friends.

Her throat felt dry... it had to be a prank... maybe they all were pulling her leg... yes, it had to be that... they were just teasing her... maybe Naina and Swati were a part of it too... she shook her head... no, they won't let Pandit joke about such a thing...

She shut her eyes... few tears that had gathered in them spilled down her cheeks... she had never mentioned anything to anyone, hiding her feelings under her chirpy demeanor. When she had felt the similarity between herself and Pandit, her heart had started to melt for him... a few times she had given a coy smile on his jokes, and he had laughed aloud.

"Preeti, tujhe aise dekh ke lagta hai kisi drame ki practice kar rahi hai... kya yaad aa gaya jo aise sharma rahi hai... tujhpe yeh sab achha nahi lagta... jab tak naak phula ke ghoorti nahi hai tab tak lagta hi nahi Preeti se baat kar raha hun."

She had glared back at him and he had smiled in satisfaction, "Ab lagi hamari Preeti... warna koi chui mui si heroine lag rahi thi, jo tu kabhi ho nahi sakti... haan, agar daaku rani ka role ho toh shayad tujhe heroine bana de." He had laughed aloud, munching on the samosa.

He was not rude... he never meant to offend her or make her feel bad... he had not insulted her ever... but she was just another friend... he had never made her feel anything beyond that... he had not shown any different feeling... his eyes had never softened at her... his voice had never turned warmer... he had made no effort to get close to her ever... then the call today could not mean what she thought it did... he definitely meant it as a joke.

The knock on the door was soft, accompanied by a low voice, "Preeti, darwaza khol... kya kar rahi hai?"

Swati knocked again when there was no answer.

Preeti wiped her eyes, patting her face to hide the signs of tears.

"Darwaza band karke kya kar rahi thi? Aur Naina pooch rahi hai tune phone kyon kaat diya? Aise achanak aa gayi... sab theek hai na... kuch hua kya?" Swati barraged her with questions the moment Preeti opened the door.

Her smile was wide, "Mere kurte ki zip dheeli ho gayi thi, woh theek kar rahi thi... tu aur Naina bina baat ke shor macha dete ho."

Swati gave a perplexed look, "Kuch nahi hua kya?"

Preeti narrowed her eyes, "Kuch hona tha kya?"

Swati shook her head, not wanting to delve any information yet... maybe Pandit chickened out... she should not make Preeti suspicious.

"Kya hoga? Bas Naina ko thodi tension ho gayi thi ki Sameer ne ekdum se phone rakh diya, bina baat poori kiye." Swati gave an explanation.

"Phone kat gaya." Preeti walked out.

Naina looked up at her, searching her face for any sign of the conversation with Pandit... there were none.

"Preeti, beta tu bhi mehendi lagwa le." Bua dadi called out before Naina could ask her anything.

"Nahi, bua dadi, mujhe mehendi ki mehek se sar dard ho jaata hai... main nahi lagwati." Preeti wrinkled her nose.

"Arre, aise kaise nahi lagwaegi... teri behen ki shaadi hai... kal ko jab teri hogi toh bhi yehi kahegi kya... tere sasural wale kahenge kaisi dulhan hai, bina mehendi lagaaye aayi hai... nahi, nahi... mehendi toh tujhe lagwani hi padegi." Bua dadi was not ready to listen.

Bela made a pleading face at Preeti. Seeing no way out, she sat down in front of the girl who was waiting. Swati was sitting close by, getting it done on her palms.

"Mere haath pe M likh dena... khush ho jayega Munna." She said with a demure smile.

"Aapke haath pe kya likhna hai?" The girl asked Preeti.

"Kuch nahi... bas thodi si mehendi laga do... mujhe zyada nahi chahiye." Preeti was irked at the compulsion.

"Preeti, lagwa hi rahi hai toh achhe se lagwa na." Swati coaxed her.

Resigning to the pressure, Preeti slumped, letting the girl make pattern on both her palms. She did not even bother to look at it.

Once done, she just got up and went out in the balcony, still reeling from the effect of Pandit's call.

"Yeh didi bhi alag hain... mehendi kisse pasand nahin hoti... ab koi aur akshar nahi tha toh maine inke naam ka P hi likh diya inke haath pe." Swati listened open mouthed as the girl who had applied mehendi to Preeti held her hand to put oil.

"Kuch toh ho raha hai." She mumbled to herself.

Naina desperately wanted to talk to Sameer... to know if Pandit had been able to say anything or not. Preeti's mannerism was a bit changed... but she wasn't sure it was because of the forced mehendi or something else. After all, Preeti hated mehendi... she had sulked the whole next day when Pooja didi had made her apply it forcibly at her wedding.

Sameer and Munna stared at Pandit... he kept looking at the phone, without speaking.

"Kya kaha Preeti ne?" Munna asked in a low voice, shaking his shoulder slightly.

Pandit looked up at him, then at Sameer... then back at the phone.

"Phone rakh diya." He mumbled sadly.

"Koi nahi... sharma gayi hogi... kam se kam tune keh toh diya na... ab dekhte hain aage kya hota hai." Munna comforted him.

"Tum dono bhi shagun ki mehendi lagwa lo... ek ek tika." Bhabhi called them as the women were done with their intricate designs.

Since there were just three women, the mehendi ritual was over in a couple of hours. All men had put small tika on their hands except Sameer who had got a design made on his palm, with Naina's name in the center... and some empty space around it.

"Yeh khaali kyon rakha hai... ismein bhi design banwa leta na." Rahul looked at his mehendi, wondering at the gap in the design.

"Nahi, mujhe aise hi chahiye tha." Sameer bit his lip, looking at his palm.

"Dekh raha hun... kuch chal raha hai tere dimaag mein," Rahul smirked, speaking softly, "milne ka plan banaya hai kya?"

Sameer looked at him... and nodded.

Rahul grinned, "Shabaash, agar tu nahi banata toh mujhe hairani hoti... ab sab theek hai."

"Sameer, hum kab mil sakte hain Naina se? Mujhe toh ussi ke ghar jaake rehne ka mann tha par yeh Rahul ne mana kar diya." Sonali joined them, giving a displeased look to her husband.

Rahul wrapped one arm around her shoulder, drawing her close as he looked at her lovingly, "Kaise jaane deta, darling... tum wahan main yahan... Sameer ki shaadi hamare liye honeymoon se kam thodi hai."

Sonali was mortified, hitting him in the stomach with her elbow before running away from there. Rahul laughed as Sameer glared at him.

"Aise kyon mere samne ched raha hai? Usko bura laga hoga na?" He frowned at Rahul.

"Tu fikar mat kar... main mana lunga... jab thodi si rooth jaati hai toh aur bhi pyaari lagti hai." Rahul turned to gaze at the empty passage from where Sonali had gone to her room.

When they were back in their room, Munna and Sameer grabbed Pandit, asking him about Preeti's reaction.

"Usne phone rakh diya, yaar. Issi baat ka darr tha... kahin naraaz na ho jaaye... pyar ke chakkar mein dosti bhi khatam ho jaaye... mujhe nahi bolna chahiye tha." Pandit was stressed.

"Nahi bolta toh kya karta? Dost banke baitha rehta? Aur ek din uski shaadi mein jaata phoolon ka guldasta le ke... aur uske saath khade ladke se haath mila ke badhai deta... ki aapko bohot bohot mubarak ho, meri shubhkamna hai ki aapki aur meri dost ki jodi hamesha bani rahe... kabhi aana zaroor mere ghar... aur kuch saal baad achanak Law garden mein milta toh Preeti ek chote bachne ko god mein utha ke kehti 'beta yeh tumhare mama hain'." Munna blasted Pandit.

"Aise mat bol yaar, dekh toh kitna pareshan hai bechara... tune toh isse Preeti ke bacchon ka mama bana diya." Sameer consoled Pandit who was staring at Munna, bewildered at the picture that he had painted.

"Isko neend se jagane ki zaroorat hai... jitni shiddat se samosa dhoondne jaata hai utni shiddat se Preeti ke paas jaane ki koshish kyon nahi kar raha? Darre ja raha hai bas... kuch seekh apne doston se... bhai, Swati ko kitne saal manaya hai maine pata hai na tujhe, aur tu hai ki ek din... nahi nahi, ek phone mein phuss hoke baith gaya... Sameer kaise data raha apne aur bhabhi ke ghar walo ke aage, dekha tha na... tu toh hamari naak hi katwa dega." Munna was agitated.

Pandit looked like he could cry any moment.

Taking a deep breath, Munna came and sat on the other side of him.

He started to speak softly, "Tu dil chota mat kar... mujhe pakka yakeen hai Preeti maan jayegi... balki mujhe hamesha se lagta tha ki tum dono itne andhe kyon ho... kyon nahi dekh paa rahe jo baaki sabko nazar aata hai... tum dono bilkul ek jaise ho, aur ab ek hone ka time aa gaya hai... main Swati se baat karunga raat ko, tab pata chalega wahan kya hua."

"Aur main Naina se milne jaunga toh pooch lunga." Sameer chipped in.

Munna Pandit turned to look at him with wide eyes,  speaking together, "Tu fir se bhabhi se milne jayega?"

"Haan toh... mujhe uski mehendi dekhni hai... aur apni dikhani hai." He looked down at his palm where the green lines had started to turn dark as they dried up.

Munna gave him a worried look, "Sameer, roz, roz chance mat le bhai... yahan toh shaadi se pehle milne ki sakht manahi ho jaati hai... agar kisi ko pata chala toh... jab sab kuch achha ho gaya hai toh tu kyon usse bigadna chahta hai?"

Sameer thought for a few seconds, then smiled, "Munna, sab kuch achha karne ke liye humne bohot mehnat ki hai... khud apne haathon se kaise bigaad sakte hain? Lekin Naina se mile bina rehna mere liye aisa hai jaise bina saans liye rehna... nahi ho sakta, yaar... aur aaj ka plan Naina ne hi set kiya hai... tu chinta mat kar... kuch nahi hoga... bas thodi der ke liye jaunga... usse bhi mera intezar rehta hai."

Munna held Pandit's shoulder, "Aisi himmat dikhani hai tujhe... apne pyar pe bharosa rakh... dekhna bhabhi zaroor hamara saath degi... aur jaldi hi hum Preeti ko bhi bhabhi bula payenge."

After a long time, Pandit's face broke into a smile.

Sameer hugged his friend, exhilarated at the revelation of his love. Munna joined in the hug, and the trio felt the strength of each other... for each other.

Later in the evening, all material for next day's sangeet function started to arrive. Munna Pandit, along with Rahul and Rishi, got everything put up in the garden behind the house. The area was huge and all guests could easily fit there.

Sameer supervised the last few changes that were being done to his room. Once the workers left, he looked around. The room was decorated in white and blue... the colour of Naina's choice. Walls were painted a very subtle shade of icy blue. Sheer blue white curtains flowed from ceiling to the floor, swaying in the breeze coming from the large window. A big book case was fitted on the wall, the shelf holding his favourite photo frames now right in the middle of it. The bed was shifted to the center of the wall against which it was placed. A big frame with a picture from Rahul's wedding adorned the wall over the headrest... they both were looking at each other with just a hint of smile on their faces. The sparkle in their eyes and radiance on the face was clearly seen in the picture. The small tables on both sides of the bed had lamps that gave a soft glow to the room when switched on. The dressing table now had a narrow cabinet on the side... to store her jewellery and cosmetics.

Sameer was satisfied with the changes... nothing major was done, on Swati's advice... but still the room looked more welcoming.

Now it looked like their room... his and Naina's... and he couldn't wait to bring her here.

The phone started to ring as if she knew he was thinking about her.

"Hello Naina." He said without hesitation.

"Koi aur hota toh?" Her soft voice was a melody for his system.

Taking a deep breath, he whispered, "Tumhara phone bhi tumhari khusboo lekar aata hai... mujhe pata tha yeh meri Naina hi hai."

The colour crept up on her face at his voice.

"Toh?" He asked the question that always loomed between them.

"Toh kya?" She questioned back.

"Toh kuch nahi?" He furrowed his brows.

"Kuch hona tha kya?" She asked innocently.

"Nainaaa." He pouted.

Her soft giggle made him realise she was pulling his leg.

"Achha, mujhe sata rahi ho... yaad rakhna, har baat ka badla lunga." He bit his lip.

"Tum pakke marwadi hi rehna... hisaab kitaab karte raho." She teased some more.

"Toh ab yeh marwadi aapke ghar aane wala hai mehendi ka hisaab lene... taiyar rehna... Mrs Maheshwari." He drawled on the name.

The sound of this name never failed to give her goosebumps. It did the same now.

"Sameer, suno... main batati hun kya karna hai." She told him what she had decided.

His eyes brightened... looking at the watch, he noticed they still had a few hours before they could meet.

"Achha ab yeh batao, kya Pandit ne kuch bola Preeti se?" Naina came to the question she wanted to ask for long.

"Haan... Pandit ne usse bataya ki woh kya mehsoos karta hai... par Preeti ne phone rakh diya... Pandit ki baat poori bhi nahi hui thi... Naina, Preeti ne kya kaha? Pandit bohot pareshan hai." Sameer was eager to know her answer.

Naina wrinkled her nose, "Preeti toh aise baat kar rahi hai jaise kuch suna hi nahi usne... maine poocha toh keh diya ki phone kat gaya... thodi pareshan woh bhi lag rahi hai... par Pandit ke baare mein kuch nahi kaha... yahan tak ki usne mujhe bataya tak nahi Pandit ne usse kya bola."

Sameer was worried now, "Tumhe kya lagta hai... kya woh gussa hai Pandit se? Kya inki baat ban payegi? Tumhe lagta hai Preeti ke mann mein kuch hai?"

"Tumse achha kaun jaanta hai Sameer ki mann ki baat chupayi jaa sakti hai... apne sabse kareebi logon se bhi." Her voice was low.

"Lekin jo galti maine ki main nahi chahta wohi galti Preeti kare... Naina tum usse baat karo na... pata toh chale aakhir uske dil mein kya hai." He pestered.

Naina thought for a while before speaking, "Tum jab aaoge toh Pandit ko saath lana... aage ka main dekh lungi."

A wide grin split on his face... his Naina was on the job... something good will definitely happen.

"I Love You Naina." He blew a kiss into the phone.

She chuckled at his excitement, "Aaj se teen saal pehle koi soch bhi nahi sakta tha ki Sameer Maheshwari aane wale saalon mein na sirf apni love story likh lega balki apne dost ke liye bhi itni koshish karega."

"Teen saal pehle ka chodo... abse teen saal baad ka socho... hum kahan honge... iss ghar mein... iss kamre mein... tumhe baahon mein leke main tumhe kiss karne hi wala hunga... tabhi rone ki awaaz ayegi... tum mujhe chod ke jaldi se bed ki taraf mudogi aur kahogi 'hato Sameer, hamari gudiya uth gayi hai'... aur main pyaar se dekhta rahunga kaise meri zindagi ki do sabse khubsurat ladkiyan ek saath hain."

She turned scarlet to the roots, disconnecting the phone with shaky hands. The picture he had shown was so vivid that she could even hear the crying of a baby.

"Naina, aaj pata nahi Golu kyon ro raha hai... hamesha toh khelta rehta hai maze se." Preeti's voice brought her out of the trance as she gaped at the child with her... wailing as he tried to jump out of her grip.

"Tu hans kyon rahi hai?" Preeti looked at her in confusion as Naina burst out in laughter, blushing at the same time.