When finally they sat on the chairs, Sameer leaned a bit towards her, his eyes ahead, "Sorry, thoda natak karna pada... warna sabke saamne tumse haar jaata."

"Achha, ab sabke saamne biwi ke aage sher bane rehne wala pati banna hai tumhe?" Naina was miffed.

"Arre yaar, akele mein tum mujhe jo bhi bana lena... par abhi toh izzat ka sawaal tha na." He pleaded.

"Aur uske liye yeh bhi nahi socha ki tumhare chehre pe dard dekh ke mujhe kaisa lagega... ek second mein jaan nikal gayi thi meri." She frowned.

He pursed his lips... turning towards her, he started to take his hand to hold his ear.

"Hato... ab tumhari izzat kam nahi hogi jab sabke saamne apni biwi se kaan pakad ke maafi mangoge?" She held his hand, keeping it pressed to the chair, to stop him from holding his ear.

"Sabke saamne meri biwi ne itne pyar se mera haath pakda hai... isse toh izzat mein chaar chand lag gaye." He gave a lopsided smile.

She quickly removed her hand, looking around... a dark tint of colour settling on her cheeks.

"Hayee jaan, kab tak aise sharmati rahogi?" He loved the glowing cheeks.

"Chup raho, Sameer, sab humein dekh sakte hain." She gulped, colouring even more.

"Toh? Main darta warta nahi hun kisi se... kaho toh abhi sabke samne tumhe baahon mein le ke dikhaun?" He teased.

"Sameer beta." Anand's voice floated from behind him.

"Jee chachaji." He quickly sat straight, looking back at Anand.

"Beta, yeh Naina ke mamaji hain." Anand introduced the humble looking man.

Naina immediately got up, going to him with folded hands.

He patted her head, "Khush raho bitiya, tumhe dekhte hain toh didi ki tasveer aankhon ke saamne aa jaati hai... bilkul unke jaisi lagne lagi ho... pata hi nahi chala kab itni badi ho gayi."

"Mamaji, aap akele hi aaye hain? Mamiji aur Sejal ko nahi laaye?" Naina peeped behind him.

"Nahi beti, Sejal ki pareeksha chal rahi hai isliye tumhari mami bhi nahi aayi... humne socha kam se kam hum aa jaate hain warna jijaji..." He stopped abruptly, scared that he should not say anything against his sister's husband in front of a new son in law.

"Aap mile papa se?" Naina asked softly.

"Na... nahi... jaane se pehle mil lenge... abhi hi pohoche hain." He was clearly not comfortable.

"Bhaisahab, yeh Sameer hai... bohot achha ladka hai." Anand pointed at Sameer.

He bent down to touch the feet of Naina's mamaji.

"Khush rahiye, damaadji... pata chala aapka bada karobar hai... aapke liye shayad yeh kaafi na ho par hum..." He hesitantly took out a small packet from his cloth bag, extending it to Sameer.

He looked at Anand, who slightly dipped his head.

Sameer took the packet, folding his hands, "Mamaji, aap yahan aake humein ashirvad de rahe hain itna hi kaafi hai mere liye... iski koi... "

Mamaji shook his head, "Nahi damaadji, aap toh hamare jamai ke bhi jamai hain... aapka rutba bohot upar hai... khaali haath thodi aa sakte the."

He looked back at Anand, "Ek baar jijaji se mil lein, fir chalte hain."

Anand nodded.

He stroked Naina's head, folded hands in front of Sameer, and left.

"Kahin jaa rahe hain tumhare mamaji?" Sameer asked, wondering why he's not staying for the wedding.

"Wapas gaon jayenge." She swallowed.

He looked at her, perplexed, "Kyon? Abhi aaye hain na?"

"Mamaji purane khyaalon ke hain... ladki ke ghar ka paani bhi nahi peena aisa mante hain... isliye rukenge nahi... apna khana aur paani saath laate hain... waise bohot hi kam aate hain Ahmedabad... papa se darte hain." She told him.

Sameer turned to look at her, "Toh tum apni mummy jaisi dikhti ho... shukar hai sasurji pe nahi gayi."

His joke did not register, as her thoughts went to her mother, and her eyes turned misty.

"Mujhe pata nahi meri mummy kaisi dikhti thi... unka bas ek dhundla sa photo hai... lekin mamaji hamesha kehte hain ki main unke jaisi dikhti hun... kaash main bhi apni mummy ko dekh paati." She said in a lost voice.

"Ab dekhna chahogi? Agar maaf kar sako toh?" A voice beside her made her turn.

Her eyes opened in disbelief seeing Vishakha standing in front of her...

"Naina, mum... yeh shaam ko hi aayi hain... isliye tumhe bata nahi paya." Sameer said in a low voice.

She bent quickly to touch the feet of her mother in law... and was surprised when she blessed her with a smile.

So Preeti was right.

"Beta, maine Sameer ke saath saath tumhe aur tumhare parivaar ko bhi bohot dukh pohochaya hai... kya tum mujhe maaf... " Vishakha started in a heavy voice.

"Yeh aap kya keh rahi hain... aap... please... aap yahan aayi yeh hamare liye... " Naina choked on her words, feeling emotional about the happiness Sameer must have felt at this gesture of his mother.

Sameer placed one hand on her shoulder, showing his support. Vishakha noticed the way they both felt each other's joys and pains.

"Main beete hue pal wapas toh nahi laa sakti par koshish karungi ki apni galti sudhar lun... mere bete ki zindagi mein itni khushi laane ke liye thank you." She patted Naina's cheek, gave one look to Sameer, and went back.

Naina didn't get time to ask Sameer about it as relatives started to come up on the stage to get pictures clicked. Several photographs later, finally their group of friends came up.

"Arre o photographer, zara hamari bhi achhi wali photo kheech de hamare bhai bhabhi ke saath." Munna commanded.

"Achhi kahan se hogi, jaisi shakal hai waisi hi photo aayegi na." Swati made a face at him.

"Kyon bhai, shakal mein kya kharabi hai... achhi hai tabhi toh tune pasand kiya mujhe." He went closer to her, giving a crooked smile.

Swati blushed, lowering her eyes.

"Aaj main apni Swati ke saath hi photo khichwaunga." Munna declared, pushing Pandit away.

"Arre toh main kahan jaun?" Pandit frowned.

"Tu Sameer ke side mein chala jaa." Munna said without looking up.

Swati was sitting on the bar of Naina's chair and Preeti was next to Sameer. Munna stood with Swati, leaving Pandit in a dilemma as now he was left with no option but to go and stand near Preeti... and he didn't want to make her uncomfortable.

"Aap beech mein mat rahiye... iss taraf aa jaiye jisse balance ho jaye." Photographer looked up from his camera, directing Pandit.

"Main, main neeche jaa rahi hun." Preeti started to go.

"Preeti, yeh kya?" Sameer stopped her, "Hum sabhi dost hain na? Fir yeh sab kyon? Munna ki sagai mein bhi toh hum sabne ek saath photo khichwaye the... aur kuch nahi toh apne bachpan ke dost ke saath toh khadi ho hi sakti ho na... ya fir meri saali banke mere bhai ke saath khadi ho jao."

Preeti looked up at Sameer, then glanced at Pandit.

A small smile on her lips made his heart jump to his mouth. He walked to stand beside her.

Rahul and Sonali joined them, along with Rishi. But he did not dare to come near Preeti again, after the lashing he had received the previous night.

Once the photo session was over with all friends, family and relatives, it was time for dinner.

"Sameer aur Naina ke saath unke doston ko bitha dete hain... aaram se masti karte hue kha lenge." Anand suggested.

"Waise toh ji dulha dulhan ke saath ladke ke ghar wale baithte hain." Bela looked at her husband.

"Toh fir Vishakha ji aur Rahul ke mata pita ko bol dete hain." Anand suggested.

"Nahi, bachhon ko ek saath khane dijiye." Rahul's mother said from behind.

Anand and Bela turned.

"Maaf kijiye, aapki baat kaano mein pad gayi toh khud ko rok nahi paayi... aap bachhon ko baitha dijiye ek saath... woh log khul ke masti mazak karte hue kha lenge." She gave a genial smile.

"Arre nahi behenji, aisa kuch nahi hai... yeh toh isliye keh rahe the ki..." Bela was scared that she shouldn't be offended... after all she was like a mother in law to Naina.

"Bela ji, main aap logon ke saath khana chahti hun... aur Vishakha ji bhi... iss bahane hum logon ki thodi baatein ho jayengi." Rahul's mom calmed her.

Anand got two tables set up, one for elders and one for Sameer Naina and their friends.

As they settled down to eat, Preeti and Pooja decided to serve.

"Beta, tum log bhi baith jao, yeh log de denge." Anand told them, gesturing at the waiters.

"Papa, apni behen aur jijaji ko hum hi khilayenge... toh baaki sabko bhi khila denge." Pooja smiled sweetly at her father.

He went to her and dropped his voice, "Kuch gadbad ka plan hai kya?"

She shook her head too soon, and he smiled, "Zyada mat karna, kisi ko takleef na ho."

Plates were set and everyone settled.

Sameer held Naina's hand under the table.

She glared at him, "Yeh kya? Chodo, main khana kaise khaungi?"

"Main khila dunga." He leaned, rubbing his shoulder with hers.

"Abhi toh tumhe bataya bhi nahi ki tum kaisi lag rahi ho... jab se dekha hai dhadkan ruki hui hai... duniya ki sabse khoobsurat dulhan lag rahi ho... main tumhare har shringaar ki tareef karna chahta hun... apne tareeke se." He moved his fingers over her bangles, making them tinkle.

She shuddered... they were surrounded by friends and family...

"Abhi nahi, Sameer... yahan sab log kya sochenge... theek se baitho na tum." She tried to draw her hand back.

He held it again, in a strong grip.

The huge chairs on the stage had put a lot of distance between them. He was relieved now to be closer to her... and looked for every opportunity to touch her.

"Sameer, please, koi dekh lega." She pulled her hand to free herself.

His hold tightened, "Dekhne do, meri biwi ka haath hai... mujhe haq hai pakadne ka."

Naina shivered at the deep, intense voice.

"Pehle khana kha lijiye jijaji, uske liye aapko bhi apna haath chahiye aur Naina ko bhi." Preeti bent to whisper between them.

Naina jerked, but Sameer smiled, "Aapko kya pata, saaliji, kitni mushkil se yeh haath sabke samne pakadne ka permit mila hai... maine kitna intezar kiya hai iska kisiko andaaza bhi nahi hai."

"Lekin ab toh khatm ho gaya na intezar, bas ab phere hone baaki hain... uske baad aapki Naina aapke saath, hamesha ke liye." Preeti stood between them.

It did not deter Sameer from bringing her hand to his lips. He placed a kiss on her knuckles, making her stare in alarm.

"Mere saath toh hamesha se thi meri Naina, ab mere paas bhi hogi." He said softly.

"Hayee, jijaji, kya pyari baatein karte ho... aapka koi bhai hota toh main usse abhi shaadi kar leti." Preeti held a hand to her heart.

"Bhai toh hai... bas tu yeh shaadi ki baat pe kayam rahiyo." Munna raised his brows at Preeti as he joined their conversation.

She gave him a sharp look, "Jijaji, aap zara apni shaadi tak chup raho... aisa na ho Swati ko asliyat pata chal jaaye aur woh mana kar de."

Munna widened his eyes, "Asliyat? Arre main koi gunda mawali hun kya? Ya doosri shaadi kar raha hun, pehli biwi ko chupake? Kya asliyat hai aisi jo mujhe hi nahi pata?"

"Teri asliyat hai tere dimaag ki kami... chal chup karke baith aur khana kha." Pandit pulled him away.

Pooja was already serving. Preeti picked up a bowl of kofta curry and started putting in all plates.

She then picked up the dish of paneer and started serving. Pooja had given chapatis to everyone. They started to eat.

"Arre, aap kuch le nahi rahe... yeh daal lo... bohot achhi hai." Pooja offered to Sameer.

"Daal mujhe bhi bohot pasand hai, Pooja didi, mujhe bhi de do." Pandit was sitting next to Sameer.

"Ye le, mujhe daal zyada pasand nahi hai." Sameer gave his bowl to Pandit...

And he promptly took one big spoonful... the moment he gulped it down, his eyes started to water... and he started coughing, shaking his head wildly.

Preeti turned to look at him, and was shocked. Placing the bowl of paneer back on the table, she came running to him.

His face had turned red, and he was constantly coughing.

She looked up at Pooja didi and she twisted her hands in helplessness. Preeti gave him a glass of water which he gulped down... she quickly picked up two barfis from the tray of one passing by waiter and stuffed in Pandit's mouth, rubbing his back.

"Tujhe pata hai na, mirch nahi khai jaati tujhse, fir kyon khayi daal?"

Everyone looked at her in wonder... but Preeti's attention was only on one person.