Naina told him about the conversation with chachaji in the morning.

"Chachaji, Sameer ko akelepan se kitna darr lagta hai maine aapko bataya tha... aur aaj sab chale jayenge toh ghar bilkul khali ho jayega... Sameer nahi jhel payega... uski aankhon mein abhi se ghabrahat nazar aa rahi hai... kya hum iss rasm ko kuch din baad nahi kar sakte? Ya aap sab log yahan aa jaiye... jisse Sameer ko akele na rehna pade." She had asked him.

"Naina, rasm toh shaadi ke baad hi hoti hai... lekin main tumhari baat samajh sakta hun... itne dinon se Sameer ke ghar pe sab log the aur ab achanak sab chale jayenge... aise mein tum bhi nahi hogi toh woh bohot akela pad jayega... mere hisaab se aisi rasm ka kya matlab jo khushi ke mahaul ko dukh se bhar de." Anand was able to see her point.

"Isiliye main usse akela nahi chodna chahti." Naina was little relieved to see him agreeing.

"Lekin isme ek dikkat hai... shaadi ke baad ladki ko kam se kam ek raat ke liye wapas ghar aana hota hai... yeh rasm nahi hui toh shayad sabko bura lage." Anand was concerned about others' reaction.

"Chachaji, shaadi ke baad toh main dus raat reh chuki hun... shaadi Mumbai mein ho gayi thi... uske baad jo main yahan aake rahi ussi ko phera dalna maan sakte hain... kyonki meri shaadi normal tareeke se nahi hui isliye meri rasmein bhi alag hi hongi na." She gave him the reasoning.

"Naina, mujhe pata nahi aisa maan sakte hain ya nahi... lekin tumhari baat poori tarah se galat bhi nahi hai... main aisa karta hun, Phulla bua se baat karke dekhta hun... woh badi hain... jaisa woh bolengi waisa hi kar lenge." Anand assured her.

"Aaj yahan se sab log wapas jaane wale hain, aap sab log yahan aa jaiye jisse unse milna bhi hi jaayega." She suggested.

"Aisa karo, tum sabko lekar yahan aa jao, dopaher ke khane pe... agar buaji ko tumhari baat sahi lagi toh baaki sab seedhe yahin se chale jayenge aur tum Sameer ke saath ghar chali jaana." Anand was aware Bela would be aghast if he agreed to go to Naina's house without inviting them over first.

"Theek hai, chachaji... lekin aap bua dadi ko manane ki koshish zaroor karna... aap kahein toh main unse baat kar lun?" She was keen to get an answer soon.

"Buaji abhi mandir gayi hain... jaise hi woh aayengi, main unse pooch ke tumhe bata dunga... aur haan beta, Munna Pandit ko saath zaroor lana... woh Sameer ke sabse kareebi hain... unke bina har mauka adhura sa lagta hai." Anand said with a smile.

Preeti had told her about Phulla bua's reaction when she called.

"Bilkul nahi. Sameer ko aise akele chodne ka sawal hi nahi uthta... agar sab rishtedaar aaj ruk rahe hote toh fir bhi soch sakte the... lekin mera bachha akele ghar mein toh bilkul nahi rahega. Anand, tum Naina ko keh do ki woh sab log aa jaayein dopaher ko... hum tabhi rasm ki pooja kar lenge... uske baad Naina Sameer ke hi saath wapas chali jayegi." She had vehemently refused to let Sameer be alone.

Bela gave a worried look to her husband and Phulla bua, "Lekin ji, ladki ka shaadi ke baad kam se kam ek raat apne mayke mein rukna zaroori hota hai... buaji, aapko toh pata hai... issi se woh apne mayke ki khushhaali wapas laati hai... jo uski doli jaane se bikhar jaati hai."

Phulla bua smiled at her daughter in law, "Bela, shaadi toh Naina ki Mumbai mein hi ho gayi thi...  woh theek keh rahi hai... jo itne din yahan rehke gayi hai, woh pagphera hi samajh lo... ab toh woh jaise chahe, jitne samay ke liye aa sake, woh uski marzi hai... tu pooja karwana chahti hai toh karwa lena par Naina Sameer ko ghar mein akele chod ke aaye, yeh shayad tujhe bhi achha nahi lagega."

"Aap bilkul theek keh rahi hain, buaji... itne saal akele rehne ke baad ab hamari wajah se Sameer ko fir se yehi dukh ho, aisi rasm se kaise khushhaali aayegi ghar mein? Main bas ek baar Naina se pooja karwa lungi... aur fir hum shaam ko hi uski vidaai kar denge." Bela could not think of letting her son in law bear the same pain again.

Sameer was astounded at the way Naina had made her entire family agree with her logic.

"Waah, Mrs Maheshwari, marwari bante hi aapko apne faayde ke liye baatein banana aa gaya." He teased.

"Oh, toh iska matlab aap jo mujhse pyaari pyaari baatein karte the, woh sab apne faayde ke liye tha?" She raised a brow.

"Aur kya... aakhir tum choti moti baat se toh mere jaal mein phansti nahi... isliye badi machli fansane ke liye bada jaal bunta tha." He shrugged.

"Yeh machli toh tumhe dekhte  hi phans gayi thi... pehli nazar mein... ussi din se tum aise chaa gaye the mere dil aur dimaag pe ki maths ke formule hon ya account ki balance sheet, economics ke graph hon ya business studies ke points... sab mein bas tumhara hi chehra dikhta tha." Naina gave him a soft smile.

"Uff... meri topper biwi toh pyaar bhi aise karti hai jaise exam ka revision kar rahi ho... yeh bhala kaisi tareef hui... tareef karni hai toh mujh jaise handsome pati ke liye tumhe padhai ko beech mein laane ki kya zaroorat hai?" He brooded.

She could see the glow on his face... both at the thought of her staying back with him, and at hearing how much she had loved him since the first day.

"Abhi jaake sab ke saath baithte hain thodi der, jab woh log chale jayenge tab sun lena apni tareef, jitni chahe." She ruffled his hair, turning to go.

His sudden pull made her bang into him... and a mark of her lipstick got printed on his shirt.

"Kya karte ho, Sameer... dekho ab shirt kharab ho gayi... change karlo warna sabke saamne aise gaye toh itna mazak udayenge na." She frowned.

"Tum mazak thodi banne dogi apne pati ka... kardo change." He kept her close.

"Hato... tumhe bas aisi hi baatein aati hain." She coloured deeply.

"Baatein toh aur bhi aati hain, tum sunne ko haan kaho ek baar... fir bataunga." He leaned towards her.

"Sameer, abhi bahar jaana hai... please, chodo na." She squirmed to move out of his hold.

"Theek hai, abhi chod deta hun... lekin iss nishan ka badla lunga... aur mere nishan tum jaanti hi ho..." He winked, making her colour to the roots.

"Uhh Sameer..." She stopped at the door, turning to say something.

He had taken the shirt off... she just turned again and went out... knowing that it would not be a good time to ask him anything.

Living room had packed suitcases lined up in one corner. Others were busy packing up what few things were left. Vishakha stood in front of her father's picture, her back to Naina.

"Mummy." Her voice made her wipe her eyes before she turned.

"Naina, tum sirf Sameer ke liye hi nahi, mere liye bhi lucky ho... itne saalon se meri aankhon pe jo parda pada tha woh shayad tumhare aane se hi hata hai." She said in a grateful voice.

"Agar aap bura na maane toh ek baat pooch sakti hun?" Naina asked with hesitation.

"Bolo na, beta... jo chahe pooch sakti ho." Vishakha placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Aap... aap firse aayengi na... humse milne?" She looked at her... with hopeful eyes.

Vishakha's eyes welled up. She took Naina in her embrace.

"Zaroor aaungi, beta... baar baar aaungi... jo galti maine itne saal ki, usse fir se nahi dohra sakti." She was overwhelmed at the way Sameer had forgiven her so easily... and Naina had accepted her in their life.

"Thank you, mummy." Naina rested her head on a mother's shoulder.

Sameer saw them from the doorway... stepping out of their view, not wanting to disturb the two most important women in his life.

"Thank you mujhe bolna chahiye... tum zaroor papa ki beti rahi hogi kisi janam mein... bilkul waise hi sabko samajhti ho... waise hi pyar deti ho, bina kuch wapas paane ki ichha karte hue... tum sach mein bohot achhi ho, Naina... maine tumhe pehle pehchana nahi... lekin ab jaan gayi hun... mere papa ke saare gunn tumme aur Sameer mein bant gaye hain... isliye tum dono ki jodi perfect hai." Vishakha finally acknowledged what was weighing on her mind for a long time.

"Nanu ki beti toh aap bhi hain na, mummy."

Naina's one sentence jolted her...

"Maine apne papa ki di hui har seekh ko, har shiksha ko apni nayi zindagi mein dhalne ke liye peeche chod diya tha... mujhe laga mera beeta kal kahin mere aane wale kal pe haawi na ho jaaye... isliye maine mudkar nahi dekha... socha, Sameer ke paas papa hain... akeli toh main hun... usse pyar mil hi jayega papa se... mujhe pyar paane ke liye bohot mehnat karni hogi, kyonki main kisi ki bani banayi duniya mein kadam rakh rahi thi... aur uss duniya mein jagah banate banate main bhool gayi ki yahan maine ek jagah khaali chod di hai... iska ahsaas mujhe pichle hafte hi hua... jab mujhe aaina dekhne ko mila." Vishakha recalled her husband's harsh words.

"Jaane dijiye na mausi... aap Sameer ki shaadi mein aayi... khushi se usse aur bhabhi ko ashirwaad diya... ab purani baatein peeche chod ke aage ka sochte hain." Munna came in, dragging Sameer along.

Vishakha looked at him, "Shayad Ahmedabad ki hawa mein hi kuch khaas hai... jo sabko itna achha bana deti hai... Munna, tum aur Pandit hamesha Sameer ke saath rehna."

"Yeh lo, ab Sameer ke nahi toh kya hum Rashtrapati ke saath rahenge... lekin ab ghar mein nahi rakhega yeh humein... bhabhi jo mil gayi... ab hamari gaddi khatre mein hai... mausi, aap Sameer ko bhi samjha do... bhai bhai hota hai... biwi ke aane se bhoolna nahi chahiye usse." Munna said with a dramatic drawl.

Sameer gave him a threatening look. Munna saw Pandit coming in, and he rushed to him for support.

"Pandit, samjha de isse... bhai bhai hi rehta hai."

Pandit, who was lost in his dreamland, gave a befuddled look to Munna, then Sameer... and said, "Kaun bhai?"

Sameer burst into laughter, sticking his tongue out at Munna.

Vishakha felt a contented warmth engulf her, seeing her son laughing with such abandon... something she had never seen before. The shine in his eyes, the happiness on his face... she looked back at her father's picture... and saw Sameer's face reflecting in him.

Her son was ready to be the man her father was... Naina had prepared him to be Sameer Jai Prakash Maheshwari.

Soon, everyone gathered in the living room, chatting and laughing about various things.

Vishakha noticed how Naina directed Ramdhari to pack sweets for everyone and gave individual packets to all. In between, she gave shy smile to Sameer everytime he looked at her. She had easily slipped into the role of a wife... who could take care of everything at the same time. She was giving attention to smallest details, from giving sweets for Sonali's parents and brother who could not come to packing more laddus for Rahul, knowing his love for them.

"Thank you, Naina... ab main aaram se laddu khaunga... warna tumhari yeh dost toh khareed ke laane tak nahi deti." Rahul made a face at Sonali.

"Theek hi toh kehti hai... itne laddu khayega toh khud laddu jaisa ho jayega abhi se... jab tere bachche honge toh school mein tujhe unka dadaji samjhenge." His mother teased him.

"Yeh kya baat hui mummy, chaar laddu ke peeche aapne toh mere bacchon ke school tak mein meri beizzati kara di." Rahul pouted at his mother.

"Beta, tu fikar na kar... jam ke kha... meri tarah... insaan jitna meetha khaata hai utna hi meetha rehta hai zindagi mein." Rahul's father patted his son's back.

Sameer glanced at Naina, giving a suggestive smile.

She bit her lip, making him narrow his eyes.