At Sameer's house, it was the time for baraat to leave.

He went to stand in front of his nanu's photograph, "Kaash aap yahan hote, nanu... jis Naina ko aap itne saal pehle ghar leke aaye the, aaj ussi Naina ko main bhi lene jaa raha hun... hamesha ke liye... aapne usse mujhse bhi pehle pehchaan liya tha... agar aap mujhe raasta dikhate toh mujhe itne andheron se guzar ke uss tak nahi pohochana padta... lekin ab koi andhera nahi rahega... Naina ke aane se yeh ghar khushiyon ke ujale se bhar jayega... aapka aashirvad chahiye, nanu."

He lowered his head. A hand stroked him fondly, making him look up with a start.

"Papa hamesha tumhe aashirvad denge, Sameer... jahaan bhi honge, tum tak apna pyar zaroor bhejte rahenge... chahe zariya koi bhi bane... har aane wala pyar samajh lo papa ka hi roop hai." Vishakha looked at her father's picture, wishing that she had understood what he always wanted to say about Sameer, while he was alive.

Without a word, Sameer nodded... and turned to face her.

He was surprised to see his mother dressed up for the occasion in a bright saree and heavy jewellery... she was wholeheartedly participating in everything.

"Bhai, chal na, pehle toh tujhe itni jaldi thi jaane ki... subah hi taiyar tha... ab tere pairon mein mehendi lag gayi kyakya?" Munna shook him, bringing him out of the thoughts as everyone moved out.

The bedecked white mare waited at the door... band had already started to play the tunes of wedding songs... cars were parked outside the gate to  carry all guests to the bride's house. Besides the family, there was Mumshiji and his family along with some more people from the factory, and a few known people who had always been close to nanu.

Rahul helped Sameer sit on the mare while Munna Pandit danced wildly in front of it, urging the band walas to play the tune of 'Aaj mere yaar ki shaadi hai'.

Rahul and Rishi also joined them, eventually pulling in Sonali and bhabhi too.

A few minutes later, Rahul's father urged them to stop and proceed.

"Yahin atke rahe toh der ho jayegi... abhi wahan pohochke thoda rasta chalke tay karna hai na... tab naach lena." He told the dancing group.

They agreed, not wanting to earn Sameer's wrath by delaying the arrival at Naina's house.

About half a kilometer from her society, they descended the cars, planning to cover the distance on foot, getting the real feel of baraat.

Sameer watched with a wide grin as Munna Pandit again jumped to dance, not ready to stop this time. One song after the other, they continued, as the procession slowly moved towards Naina's society. Everyone was left in splits when his goofy friends started their nagin dance, not bothered that it was the middle of the road.

When Rahul and Sonali joined them, their energy levels further increased.

"Arre bhabhi, aap bhi aao na... aur Rishi, tere liye card chapwaun kya... chal idhar aa." Munna pulled the two of them.

At an extremely slow pace, they reached the lane where shamiyana was put up for their welcome.

"Auntyji, uncleji... ek baar toh aapko bhi aana padega." Pandit folded his hands in front of Rahul's parents, who complied without hesitation... showing their happiness through dancing.

When bhabhi and Sonali got together, Rahul asked the band wala to play 'Lo chali main, apne devar kisi baraat le ke, lo chali main', making everyone stand back and clap along.

At the end of this song, again the band started to play tunes of some folk sehra songs, making everyone dance together.

What happened next not only shocked Sameer, but left Munna Pandit speechless as well... when Vishakha joined the dance with them. Genuine happiness reflecting on her face, she swirled to the band, while her eyes shone with unshed tears.

Others could not understand the extent of impact this had on Sameer... except Munna Pandit, who had seen him shattered again and again by his mother... and today she was giving him every reason to rejoice.

"Mausi, aap... aap..." Munna tried to speak, but could not.

"Arre, tum dono kya chup chaap khade ho, tumhare bhai ki baarat hai, mere bete ki... aao, mere saath nacho." She pulled his hand happily, gesturing at Pandit to come as well.

Wiping his eyes, Munna Pandit started to dance again, with new enthusiasm... it was a day of double celebration in their friend's life... and they couldn't thank God enough for this.

Sameer wiped his eyes too... so that he could see the sight clearly... the sight of his mother smiling for him, dancing at the biggest occasion of his life...

And a silent word escaped his lips, "Mummy."

As if she had heard it, Vishakha turned and looked at him... then went towards Ramdhari who was holding her bag. She took out a bundle of notes, came to him, and indicated him to bend down.

As he did, she circulated it over his head a few times and gave it to the person holding the mare. And then, took a swipe from the corner of her eye and dabbed it behind her son's ear.

Years of pain seemed to melt away from Sameer's heart.

Probably this was also his nanu's aashirvad, as Vishakha had said... the source could be anyone, but the love was definitely coming from up above. He looked up at the open sky... and thanked nanu.

"Chalo, ab jaldi se dulhan ke darwaze pe le chalo... mere bete ko zyaada intezar mat karao." She told Munna Pandit, trying to move away so that no one could see her tears.

The sound of band reached the room through open window, making Preeti and Swati smile wide and Naina blush.

"Baraat aa gayi." Preeti exclaimed, getting up quickly.

Naina felt a fluttering in her heart... the moment they had been waiting for was here... Sameer had reached her threshold, as a groom... to take her as his bride... to bind her to him forever, for many lives...

"Sameer." She turned towards the balcony.

"Naina, tu yahin reh... bahar mat aana." Preeti stopped her while going out with Swati.

"Chup kar, apne dulhe ko main zaroor dekhungi." Frowning at her, Naina stepped out.

Baraat was at the entrance... Munna Pandit were once again doing their nagin dance, making everyone double in laughter again. Naina craned her neck, but all she could see was the white mare...Sameer was hidden behind the elaborate gate set up for the welcome of baraat.

The band started to play 'udde jab jab zulfein teri'... the group moved ahead.

And he came in view... his eyes immediately darting up to the balcony, as if he had also been waiting to get past the hindrance.

Both drew in a sharp breath at the same time... taking in the sight of each other...

Naina joined her index finger with her thumb, raising her brows to appreciate him.

'Jab aise chikne chehre... toh kaise na nazar phisle.'

Sameer looked at her, his eyes lighting up... and dipped his head to the side, pressing his lower lip under his teeth.

"Bas dekh liya na, chal ab andar, nahi toh mummy gussa karengi." Preeti pulled her away from the balcony.

With pursed lips, Naina came back to the room, waiting for the time when she would be called down.

"Naina, woh jijaji ki mummy thi kya?" Preeti asked.

"Huh... kya?" Naina was still lost in her handsome groom, thinking about how royal he looked sitting on a horse, a bright turban on his head.

"Jaag ja, behen, unke saath hi jayegi thodi der baad... tab tak toh humpe bhi thoda dhyan de le... kisi zamane mein tera parivaar hua karte the." Preeti shook her.

Swati sighed, "Rehne de, Preeti... ab kya parivaar aur kya dost... iske liye toh sab kuch bas Sameer hi hai."

"Tum dono na pitogi mujhse... jab tumhara number aayega tab dekhna... isse bhi zyada tang karungi." Naina glared at them.

"Achha woh sab chod, yeh bata wahan neeche Sameer ki mummy thi kya? Tune dekha hai na pehle unhe?" Swati was curious.

"Sameer ki mummy? Nahi, nahi, woh kahan se hongi? Woh toh iss shaadi ke bilkul khilaaf hain... bataya tha na tumhe, yahan aayi thi toh kitna sab kaha tha unhone." Naina shook her head.

"Ek baar jijaji ke ghar pe ek purana album dekha tha... usmein jo photo thi, mujhe laga wohi hain... kyonki ek wohi nayi lag rahi hain, baaki Rahul aur Sonali ke rishtedaron ko hum achhe se pehchante hain." Preeti narrowed her eyes, judging the similarity between the picture and the new face.

"Maine dhyaan nahi diya... main toh bas Sameer ko hi dekh rahi thi." Naina was lost again.

"Haan, haan pata hai... jijaji ki aankhen bhi tujhpe hi ataki hui thi." Preeti nudged her.

Downstairs, Bela was ready with the aarti thali to welcome her son in law. All Naina's relatives waited at the entrance, except taiji, who was asked to stay back by Phulla bua. Not that she had energy to come down, being denied food since morning. Though, she had sneaked in some tea and fruits a couple of times, not caring if it would be inauspicious for Naina, for whom she was supposedly fasting. Phulla bua didn't bother to check. She had no faith in all this fasting... she had asked Bina to do it just to punish her for spreading baseless rumours about Naina and Sameer, and to keep her away from the marriage function. She could only spread negativity and bua dadi didn't want any thing to hamper the happiness of her grandchildren.

Arjun helped Sameer to step down.

"Aapka swagat hai, damaadji." Bela said with a smile.

"Chachiji..." Sameer made a face.

"Aaj toh yehi kahungi... aakhir aaj aapki saas banke naak jo khichni hai." She laughed.

Sameer wondered what it meant. Seeing him confused, Vishakha leaned towards him.

"Tumhari saas tumhari naak pakadne ki koshish karengi, tumhe khud ko bachana hai... agar unhone aisa kar liya toh iska matlab ab tumhara control tumhare sasural walon ke haath mein hai." She whispered in his ears.

Bela stiffened suddenly, her smile fading. She had not noticed Vishakha till now.

The change in expressions of the entire family was noticed by everyone.

"Vishakha mausi aaj hi Dilli se aayi hain... shaadi mein shaamil hone ke liye." Munna said with a wide grin, scared that the happy moments should not turn uncomfortable due to whatever had happened in the past.

"Aapka swagat hai, samdhan ji." Anand folded his hands, smiling.

Vishakha stepped ahead, her hands folded too, "Dhanyavad, aap logon se maafi... "

Bela didn't let her say anymore, "Arre maafi ki kya baat hai samdhan ji, Sameer ne bataya tha aapko koi zaroori kaam tha jiski wajah se aap bahar gayi hui thi... woh achanak shaadi ki tareekh nikalne ki wajah se pehle nahi aa payi... par koi baat nahi... shaadi pe toh aa gayi na... apne bete aur bahu ko aashirvad dene... utna kaafi hai."

Vishakha looked around at the curious faces of relatives... and realised why Bela was trying to save her... to maintain her respect in front of all these people.

She swallowed... these were the people she was considering as lower to her in status... she herself was much lower to them in every manner.

Stepping ahead, she hugged Bela, surprising, rather shocking everyone.

"Apne damaad ki naak zor se khichiyega... main chahti hun yeh zindagi bhar apne sasural walon jaisa ban ke rahe." She said with damp eyes, and a wide smile.

Bela put the tilak on Sameer. He was asked to touch the highest beam of the gate with a long twig of neem tree given to him. It was to signify that the position of groom was higher than others present there, a ritual that was practiced since ages.

Next, Bela chachi moved ahead to hold Sameer's nose, expecting him to shrink back.

To everyone's surprise, he leaned, letting her do it in first try.

"Yeh lo, damadji toh pehle hi apni saas ke kaabu mein aa gaye." A lady from the relatives laughed, making others tease him.

"Chachiji aur chachahi ke kaabu mein kya, main toh inke saath rehne ko bhi taiyar hun... yeh sirf Naina ke hi nahi, mere bhi mata pita se kam nahi hain... aur hamesha rahenge." Sameer looked at the ladies sniggering behind Bela.

"Aur yeh hero hamara beta rahega hamesha... iski naak toh kya, main toh kaan bhi kheech sakti hun." Phulla bua pulled one of his ear, then held his face and kissed his forehead, blessing him.

With a wide grin, Sameer walked inside the venue where he was made to sit on a decorated stage which had two ornate chairs.

He waited impatiently for his Naina to come and sit with him.