"Naina, tune socha tak nahi ki chachaji ko iss baat se kitna dhakka lagega... papa ki baat alag hai par unko tujh par kitna bharosa tha." Arjun managed to speak after being tongue tied for a few minutes.

"Chachaji ne hi meri shaadi Sameer se karwayi hai, bhaiya... Mumbai mein... court marriage... Phulla bua bhi saath thi." Naina quietly gave him the next piece of information.

"Kyaaa?" This was too much for Arjun.

He held onto the railing for support... the news had hit him harder than any fast delivery by a bowler.

His little sister had suddenly grown up... she was always more smart, more brainy, more courageous, more determined than him... and she had proved it yet again. He knew he had no right to question her... he had never been able to stand up for her... but then, he had never been able to stand up for himself ever.

He clutched the railing tighter, not sure how he would take the answer of the next question.

"Kaun hai woh?"

Naina looked him straight in the eye, "Sameer... hamare school mein tha yahan... aur Mumbai mein college mein bhi saath tha... yahin rehta hai... Ahmedabad mein... hamare school ke trustee Jai Prakash Maheshwari ka naati... Sameer Maheshwari."

Arjun had guessed right... he couldn't take it. His legs gave way and his back slipped down on the floor...

Sameer Maheshwari... the rich, arrogant, aloof guy... how did he get close to Naina... he had never seen her talk to any boy in school... for that matter, he had never seen Sameer talk to any girl in school.

"School se?" He asked in a faint voice.

Naina sat down next to him. The time had come to tell her brother what all had happened in her life. She narrated everything from the beginning... her feelings for him from the first day, his indifference, her acceptance of the fact that they could never be together... and then the college... how two lonely souls found the answer of their emptiness in each other. She told him how Sameer had helped her in everything, making her stronger. Arjun was surprised to know that chachaji and chachiji were aware and approving. When Naina told him about the situation that led to her sudden marriage... he was aghast. And was impressed with her decision to get married with proper rituals... her persistence to make everyone accept her relationship...

They sat in silence for quite some time after she had told him everything.

Taking a deep breath, finally he looked up at his sister, "Mujhe hamesha se lagta tha tu ek din bohot kuch haasil karegi... aur tune itni jaldi mujhe sahi saabit kar diya... na sirf apne sapne poore kiye balki apna pyar bhi paa liya."

His eyes pooled up as he patted her cheek, "Kaun kehta hai ladkiyan kamzor hoti hain... meri behen ko dekho zara... itni si umar mein yeh kahan pohoch gayi... sirf apni himmat aur mehnat se... Naina, tera yeh bhai aaj tak tere liye kuch kar nahi paaya par aaj tujhe vishwas dilata hun ki teri iss ladai mei tere saath rahunga... main bohot khush hun tere liye."

The tears that spilled from her eyes were a mixture of relief, happiness and respite.

"Thank you, bhaiya." She hugged him for the support he was ready to give.

Later in the room, she waited near the phone, waiting for it to ring, worried about Sameer.

He had reached his house when the brightness of daylight had just started to dim, though outside was still lit enough to see everything clearly. The moment he reached the open door of his house, seeing all lights on in the living room, he realised his friends were home.

"Munna Pandit." He yelled at the door itself.

The scampering of feet from inside confirmed his notion.

"Sameer." The two of them jumped on him, unmindful of causing any injury or fearing a fall.

Sameer had expected this reaction and he was prepared. The force did make him stumble back but he regained his balance soon, hugging his friends.

"Arre bhai kahan reh gaya tha tu... kitne din se baithe hain tere liye." Munna asked when they parted.

"Maine bataya tha Ramdhari ko phone karke ki exams ke baad teen chaar din Mumbai mein hi rukunga... usne nahi kaha tumse?" Sameer was surprised.

"Usne kaha tha par humne socha pata nahi teen din ya chaar din... isliye teesra din khatm hone se pehle hi aa gaye yahan." Pandit explained.

"Toh mera naam kyon le raha hai... bol na ki Ramdhari se achha achha khana banwa ke khana tha isliye intezaar nahi hua." Sameer laughed.

"Yaar, ab pet toh bharna hi hai toh kha lete hain... waise ab mujhe khaane ka itna bhi shouk nahi raha." Pandit shrugged.

Munna burst out laughing, "Sameer, iski baaton mein mat aaiyo... do din mein ek mahine ka rashan kha chuka hai."

Pandit showed a fist to Munna. Sameer put an arm around each of them, walking back to his room... thankful that he was not alone in the house.

He decided to tell them about his marriage at the first possible opportunity. After Ramdhari served tea and snacks in the room, he closed the door.

"Darwaza kyon band kar raha hai... peetega kya?" Pandit jumped up on the chair, folding his legs under him.

"Kuch batana hai tumko." Sameer stood with hands in pocket.

"Kuch bhi bol bhai... utna bada jhatka nahi lagega jo tune bhabhi ke baare mein bata ke diya tha." Pandit picked up one samosa, happily taking a bite.

"Maine shaadi kar li hai."

The cup dropped from Munna's hand.

Pandit fell from his chair, the food in his mouth getting lodged in his windpipe.

Sameer immediately gave a glass of water to him, thumping his back.

Munna was still in a daze, mouth open.

"Tune... tune... shaadi... ab bhabhi... matlab Naina ka kya hoga?" Pandit managed to speak in a weak voice after a while.

"Abe, Naina se hi ki hai... aur kisse karunga?" Sameer smacked his head.

"Oh!" Pandit stood up, rubbing his head with one hand and his hip with another.

"Bhai, ek baat kehni hai... bohot zaroori." He gave a pleading look to Sameer.

"Aage se khabar sunane se pehle zara surakshit jagah pe bitha diya kar... aise toh meri haddiyan toot jayengi... mujhe abhi tak ladki bhi nahi mili aur tu shaadi karke aa gaya." The forlorn expression on Pandit's face made him smirk.

Munna was still sitting like a stone, oblivious to happenings around him.

"Munna... tune suna Sameer ne shaadi kar li." Pandit shook him.

Munna stood up with a jerk.

"Chal Pandit, yahan nahi rehna... isne humein iss layak bhi nahi samjha ki apni shaadi pe bula le... yahan tak ki bataaya bhi nahi... toh hum kaunsi dosti nibha rahe hain... isko koi zaroorat nahi hai hamari... zabardasti iske sar pe kyon baithe rahein... chal khada ho ja... hum abhi jaa rahe hain yahan se." He pulled Pandit's arm, dragging him towards the door.

"Munna sun toh, main batata hun na yeh kaise hua... ruk toh... " Sameer ran towards the door to block his way.

"Bhai sun toh le uski baat... aise kaise jaa sakte hain... maine toh postman ko pata bhi yahin ka de diya... meri saari chitthiyan yahin aayengi." Pandit was timid.

"Munna, ek mauka toh de yaar, sun toh sahi... sab kuch itna achanak hua ki mujhe bhi pata nahi chala." Sameer tugged at his arm, pulling him back inside the room.

Munna looked at him angrily, "Pata nahi chala? Kyon? Behosh karke phere padwa diye kya? Teri shaadi ho aur tujhe pata na chale... aisa kaise ho sakta hai? Kya ek din bhabhi ghanti baja ke tere darwaze pe aa gayi... aur darwaza kholte hi gale mein varmala daal di? Sameer, itne bhi gadhe nahi hai hum log... pata chal gaya ki tu humein apni zindagi mein koi jagah nahi deta... kuch nahi lagte tere."

Sameer hugged him fiercely.

"Tum hi toh sab kuch ho mere... Naina aur tum dono ke bina main jeene ka soch bhi nahi sakta... bhai se bhi badh ke ho tum dono... parivaar ho mera... tumhari wajah se hi toh yahan aa paata tha inn saalon mein... warna iss khali makaan mein ghut ke mar jaata yaar." His voice choked as he pulled Pandit as well.

The three of them could not stop themselves from crying over each other's shoulder.

"Bas bhai... ab kitna rulayega... shaadi ke baad sab rote hain yeh toh suna tha par doston ko bhi rulate hain yeh nahi pata tha." Pandit moved out of their group hug, wiping his face.

"Tu har baat ka mazaak bana diya kar." Munna growled at him, blowing his nose.

Sameer rubbed his eyes, happy to get his friends back.

They settled back on the bed after Ramdhari had cleaned the room and brought them fresh tea.

"Ab bina ruke saari kahani bata de nahi toh aaj mera dimag garam ho jayega." Munna warned Sameer.

He told them the entire story about the situation created by Rakesh sir that brought chachaji to Mumbai and resulted in their sudden marriage.

"Ek mahine se ho rakhi hai teri shaadi... aur tune socha nhi ek baar bhi batane ka?" Munna was miffed again.

"Yaar Munna, phone pe kaise samjhata yeh sab... isliye socha ki yahan aake hi sab kuch bataa dunga." Sameer gave his reasons.

"Theek hi hai, Munna... phone pe batata toh hum itne din bina dhol bajaye kaise rehte? Ab maze se naachenge." Pandit jumped up from the bed, dancing to his own loud rendition of 'aaj mere yaar ki shaadi hai'.

Munna pulled him back, slapping a hand on his mouth, "Chup kar ja... baat karne de pehle... shaadi ho gayi hai toh bhabhi kahan hai yeh pucha tune?"

The realisation hit Pandit... he raised his brows in question at Sameer.

"Woh apne chachaji ke ghar pe hai." He said with lowered eyes.

"Bhai tu khul ke samjha... rooth gayi kya ek mahine mein hi? Matlab aisa kya kiya tune ki itne dino ka pyar bhool ke shaadi ke foran baad maayke chali gayi?" Pandit was confused now.

Sameer told them about the decision two of them had taken about a proper marriage with rituals, including the entire family.

Munna finally smiled in pride, "Dil khush kar diya tune, Sameer... bhabhi ko bhi maan gaye... yaar, uske ghar waalon ko jaanta hun main... unko manaane ki koshish kisi pahaad chadne se kam nahi hai... aur tum dono yeh kaam karne jaa rahe ho... sach mein yaar, tum dono ke jaisa pyar mushkil hai kahin milna... hum iss jung mein tera poora saath denge bhai."

Sameer felt a sense of relief wash over him... they had more people in support now. He couldn't wait to tell Naina about it.

She picked up the phone as soon as it started to ring.

"Hello."

"Naina."

It felt like she was hearing his voice after ages. Inhaling deeply, she let the sound from the receiver seep in her soul.

"Naina?" He asked to confirm if everything was okay.

"Sameer... tum theek ho na?" She asked.

He smiled in relief, "Haan, theek hun... Munna Pandit hain yahan mere paas... aur pata hai Naina... unhone kaha ki woh hamara saath denge."

"Mere saath bhi yahan koi hai Sameer." She recalled her talks with her brother.

"Pata hai. Preeti." He knew she was with them.

"Nahi. Arjun bhaiya." The contentment in her voice reached him.

"Kya? Tumne Arjun se baat ki? Aur woh maan gaya? Aaram se?" He was taken aback.

Naina told him about her conversation with Arjun. Sameer was elated to know that at least one member agreed to support them without any drama.

"Itni achhi news sunke toh tumhare paas udke aane ka man kar raha hai." He suddenly wanted to see her.

"Kaash hamare paas pankh hote." She wanted the same.

His eyes brightened, "Pankh nahi lekin pahiye toh hain... main car leke aata hun... tum aa jaana neeche jab main horn bajaunga."

"Nahi Sameer, main aise nahi aa sakti... yahan sab jaante hai mujhe... koi bhi dekh sakta hai... aur ghar pe kisi ko pata chala toh hamari mehnat bekaar ho jayegi." She curbed his plan.

He was dejected, "Haan, woh toh hai... Naina, bohot yaad aa rahi hai tumhari... kal tak hum itne paas the aur aaj ek doosre ko dekh bhi nahi sakte."

She was missing him too... a lot...

"Tum kal subah mandir aaoge?" She asked softly.

"Haan... aaunga na... roz aa jaunga... jaldi aana... jisse humare paas zyada time ho." He was excited.

"Che baje... wahin intezar karungi tumhara." She was happy at the prospect of seeing him.

"Tab tak ke liye kuch dogi nahi?" His voice turned heavy.

She gave a long, hard kiss into the receiver.

He closed his eyes, "Naina, ab kal subah tak kaise rukunga? Abhi aana hai mujhe... tum balcony ka darwaza kholke rakhna."

"Aaj chachiji yaha rehengi hamare saath... woh keh rahi thi kuch baatein karni hai mujhse... please, yahan mat aana... main kal milungi na tumse." She said earnestly.

"Oh jaan, kitna miss kar raha hun tumhe." He placed one hand on his heart.

"Good night... jaan." She smiled into the phone.

"Haye, jab tum aise bolti ho toh man karta hai... man karta hai... " He stopped.

"Kya man karta hai?" She prodded.

"Kal bataunga... nahi... karke dikhaunga." He kissed into the phone.

The blush coloured her cheeks as she kept the phone down.

He took out his wallet, smiled at her picture... and kissed it.

They both wanted the morning to come soon.