"Shukar hai aa gaye... warna humein lag raha tha ki Naina ki vidaai aaj hi ho gayi hai... ab toh pagphere ke liye hi aayegi." Preeti let out a long exhale as Sameer stopped the bike at Law garden.

Naina smacked her on the arm, "Kuch bhi bolti hai... soch liya kar ek baar muh kholne se pehle."

She rolled her eyes, rubbing her arm, "Yeh lo, hum yahan intezar mein sookhe ja rahe hai aur yeh hain ki haath sek rahi hai... yaar Swati, zara isko ghadi dikha... chaat khane ka naam leke aaye the, behen, dukaan kholne nahi."

Pandit looked at Preeti , "Preeti, yeh toh kamaal ka idea hai... dukaan hi khol le tu... waise bhi itni der mein tune jitna khaya hai woh ek poori dukaan ke samaan se kam nahi tha... koi grahak nahi aaye toh bhi tujhe chinta nahi... apni dukaan, apne hi pet ke naam."

Preeti gave him an angry look, "Pandit, maine kaha tha na mere khane pe nazar mat laga... maine roka hai tujhe kabhi samose khaane se? Maine toh nahi kaha ki tu bhi yahan kadhai rakhke samose talna shuru kar de."

Munna looked from one to another, then scratched his head, "Yaar maana hum sabka college khatam ho gaya par tum dono ko lagta nahi ki chaat ke thele aur samose ki kadhai ke liye itna padhne ki zaroorat thi hi nahi... woh toh tum waise bhi laga sakte the."

Preeti and Pandit looked at him, then at each other, and said together, "Hum kahan itna padhe... college toh hum doston se milne jaate the."

They again looked at each other, and burst into laughter. Others joined them... shaking their heads at the similarities between their dissimilar friends.

When Naina and Preeti reached back, Bela was not at home. She had gone out to buy some groceries. After they arrived, Anand took Phulla bua to the doctor as her BP was a little high.

The girls relaxed on the swing in the living room, chatting about random things.

"Bela, o Bela." Taiji's  low voice reached them.

Preeti looked back in disbelief as she had never heard taiji speak so softly. Naina sat with a straight face.

"Taiji, mummy bazar gayi hain... kuch kaam tha?" Preeti stood up, ready for the barrage of taunts.

"Kitni khareedi karti hai yeh." Taiji's voice rose to the same level out of habit, but went down the next instant, "Uhh... koi baat nahi... kaam... haan woh... main baad mein aati hun."

Naina stifled a laugh... Preeti stared dumbfounded at the retreating figure, not believing what she saw... or heard.

"Behen, tujhe dikha jo abhi hua?" She rubbed her eyes.

"Kya hua?" Naina asked innocently.

Preeti turned sharply towards her, "Nahi dikha na... lag raha tha mujhe... yeh sach ho hi nahi sakta." Clutching her stomach, she groaned, "Naina, aaj shayad zyada hi chaat kha li... mera dimaag hil gaya hai... mujhe taiji ke sapne aa rahe hain."

Naina finally got an excuse to laugh, "Pagal, sapna nahi tha... woh sach mein aayi thi."

Preeti was taken aback, "Hain, taiji aayi thi... matlab woh sach mein ek bhi taana mare bina chali gayi? Na mummy ko kosa na humein sunaya... aur o bai bhi nahi bola... taiji ka dimaag bhi hil gaya kya? Aaj pehli baar khana banwa ke woh khane bhi nahi aayi thi."

Naina openly laughed at Preeti's shocked mumbling.

She dumbly stared at her sister, "Tujhe dekh ke bhi kuch nahi bola... na muh banaya... Naina, kuch baat toh hai... aisi taiji toh humne aaj tak nahi dekhi."

"Chod na, aaj unka man nahi hoga taane dene ka." Naina tried to play it down.

Preeti was not able to get over it, "Woh taiji hain hamari... taane unke naam se jude hain... iske alawa woh kuch karti hi kahan hain... pata nahi tujhe yeh sab itna normal kaise lag raha hai... kahin yeh kisi bade toofan se pehle ki shanti toh nahi?"

Naina shivered at her words... it would be no less than a storm if the identity of the caller was out... there would be no saving her... or Sameer.

She looked at Preeti... probably, Preeti should know... that was the only way to settle her inquisitive mind and stop her from making her own theories.

"Umm... Preeti... mujhe pata hai taiji ko kya hua hai." She said in a low voice.

Preeti's eyes went wide, "Bata na... muh mein dahi jama ke kyon baithi hai."

Naina quickly went to the door and latched it from inside. Then she dragged Preeti to their room, not ready to take the risk of her reaction in the living room.

She was right.

Preeti's excited scream could have made the entire neighborhood rush to their house had Naina not covered her mouth with her hand.

"Chup kar jaa, behen... nahi toh taiji hi aake puch lengi ki kya hua." She said desperately when Preeti continued to jump and scream excitedly.

"Naina, iss baat ke liye jijaji ko meri taraf se ek badi si, mast wali kiss de dena." She pulled Naina's hand away from her mouth, grinning widely.

The colour instantly settled on her cheeks.

Unmindful of what she had said, and its effect, Preeti swirled, "Taiji ki bolti band kar di... jijaji toh chaa gaye... ek dose mein kaise shehed mein doob gayi hain... main jijaji ko bolungi ki aisi dose mahine mein... nahi, nahi hafte mein ek baar toh de hi dein."

"Pagal hai kya? Ek baar pakda nahi gaya toh kya tab tak bewakoofi karega jab tak koi pehchan na le?" Naina widened her eyes at her.

"Arre tu chinta mat kar... agar jijaji ne hamare ghar ke sabse bade namune ko kaabu mein kar liya toh mujhe poora yakeen hai woh kuch bhi kar sakte hain... woh toh jaadugar nikle, Naina." Preeti was in awe of Sameer now.

"Haan, jaadugar toh hai mera Sameer." Naina dipped her head and dreamily looked out the door.

"Aye hayee, mera Sameer... behen, tu chinta mat kar... jijaji na bas tere hi hain... dekha hi maine... unke dil ki cassette ki A side mein bhi Naina bajti hai aur B side mein bhi... ab woh tere paas se hilne wale toh bilkul nahi hai... bas aise hi kaam karke hamari zindagi bhi thodi aasan bana de toh hum gareeb bhi dua de denge." Preeti was back to her dramatics.

Naina gritted her teeth at her, "Tu chup kar jaa... aur yaad rakh... iske baare mein muh se ek shabd bhi nahi nikalna chahiye... taiji ke saamne khi khi karegi toh unko ek second mein shaq ho jayega... agar teri wajah se Sameer ka naam samne aaya na toh dekh lena... teri shaadi kisi aise ladke se hone ki prarthana karungi jo..."

Preeti interrupted her in mid sentence, "Bas, bas behen, main samajh gayi... kisi ko pata nahi chalne dungi... bas tu Amir, Akshay aur Shahrukh ke alava kisi ka naam mat lena."

The two sisters ended their conversation as the doorbell rang. Chachaji, chachiji and Phulla bua were back. The girls were happy to know that bua dadi was feeling much better now.

"Woh Beena aur Naresh ki faaltu baaton se thoda BP badh gaya tha... ab theek hai." She patted their heads.

"Taiji ki aap chinta mat kijiye... woh..." Preeti blurted, but stopped as she saw Naina's stern look.

"Woh kya?" Bua dadi looked at her.

Preeti was quiet for a moment, but smiled the next, "Woh toh hamesha hi aisi baatein karti hain... aadat hai humein... koi farq thodi padta hai unki aisi baaton se."

"Arre waah, meri Preeti badi samajhdaar ho gayi hai... Anand, iske liye toh main Mumbai mein hi ladka dhundti hun." Phulla bua pulled her cheek.

Anand smiled, "Kyon nahi, buaji... Preeti toh hamesha se Mumbai jaana chahti thi."

Preeti hugged bua dadi, happy at the prospect.

Later, while Bela was preparing dinner, taiji came again, spoke to her in hushed tones, and  went away... without placing any demands. Bela was shocked at her behaviour, both at the low voice and no order of tea and biskut.

The family had a peaceful dinner, without any interference from their relatives.

After dinner, Phulla bua made Anand and Bela sit with her.

"Kal subah pehle panditji se tareekh ki baat kar le fir ek baar aur koshish karenge inn teeno ko samjhane ki. Agar Naresh thoda dheela pad jaaye toh Bina aur Rakesh ko manaya jaa sakta hai... waise bhi inn logo ne aur kuch toh karna nahi hai... bas shakal dikhane aana hai shaadi mein... agar zyada nakhre karenge toh hum sadan jaakar wahin se Naina ko vida kar denge."

Anand nodded sadly... he wanted everyone to be a part of this happy occasion... but buaji was right... if these people wanted to take away the happiness from this occasion then it was better to keep them away.

"Buaji, aaj bhabhiji kuch badli si lag rahi thi... subah itna bhadak rahi thi aur dopaher mein khana khane bhi nahi aayi... aur abhi shaam ko ilayachi lauta ke gayi... aaj tak unhone kuch lautaya nahi hai... aur itni dheere baat kar rahi thi ki mujhe yakeen hi nahi hua woh bhabhiji hi hain... kahin aisa toh nahi ki unhone iss rishte ko manne ka faisla kar liya hai?" Bela was confused about taiji's mannerism.

Phulla bua waved her hand, "Jo dum itne saal mein seedhi nahi hui woh ab kya hogi... usse kisi achhi baat ki umeed hi nahi kar sakte... ho sakta hai wahan shaadi ka khana thoos ke uska pet kharab ho gaya ho isliye bolne ki bhi jaan nahi rahi... jo bhi ho... uske baare mein zyada mat soch... kal pehle panditji se baat kar lein... main chahti hun inn bachhon ki shaadi agle hafte mein hi ho jaaye."

"Bas ab toh kal pata chal hi jayega, buaji... ab darne ki baat nahi hai." Anand assured her.

Phulla bua took a deep breath, "Shaadi byah ka maamla bada nazuk hota hai, Anand... darr laga hi rehta hai... bas prarthana karo ki sab kaam sahi tareeke se samay pe ho jaaye... koi baadha na aaye."

Anand and Bela folded their hands and said a silent prayer.

When Sameer called up at night, Naina was in a cheerful mood.

"Hi Sameer." She chirped.

Sameer smiled, "Kya baat hai... aaj mausam achanak itna khushnuma kaise ho gaya?"

"Tumhari awaaz sunke." She smiled back.

"Hayee... phone pe bhi jaan lena koi tumse seekhe." He let out a long sigh.

"Zyada filmy mat bano... yeh lambe lambe dialogue kaunsi picture se churaye hain?" She laughed.

He sounded hurt, "Mere masoom dil ki awaaz tumhe churaye hue dialogue lag rahi hai? Naina, yeh ek sachhe aashiq ke dil ki awaaz hai... ab filmein aashiqon pe hi banti hain toh main kya karun."

"Tum aur Preeti ek number ke nautanki ho." She was amused.

"Kyon, ab saali sahiba ne kya kar diya jo tumhe filmy laga?" He asked.

Naina told him about her evening conversation regarding taiji with Preeti... and her reaction... and her request from Sameer.

"Waah, meri saaliji hi aisi hain jo mere talent ko samjhti hain." He chuckled.

"Kyonki woh bhi tumse kam nahi hai drama karne mein... abhi usko jhelti hun, wahan aake tumhe jhelna padega." She teased.

His voice turned rough instantly, "Mujhe toh tumhe chaubees ghante jhelna padega... ek baar tum aao toh... apne paas se hilne tak nahi dunga... itne dino ki judaai ka hisaab poora karte karte ek saal toh aaram se lag jayega."

"Achha, bas ek saal... matlab tum ek saal mein hi mujhse bore ho jaoge?" She asked in a heavy voice.

His heart fluttered at her tone, "Subah zara mandir aao... fir batata hun... tumhe koi shaq nahi rehne dunga ki main tumse aane wale dus janmon tak bhi bore nahi ho sakta."

The phone almost slipped from her hand.

"Ab kya hua? Abhi se taiyar hone lagi kya mandir aane ke liye?" It was his turn to tease.

"Good night, Sameer." She was about to keep the phone down, turning beetroot.

"Ruko, ruko, Naina... ek minute." He stopped her.

"Hmm." She halted.

He kissed hard into the phone, "Yeh kiss uss nishan ke liye jo aaj tumhe mila... Good night sweetheart... kal subah ka intezar rahega."

The line went dead in her shivering hand.

The night was restless as she kept tossing and turning, missing the warmth of his arms.

The doorbell rang early morning when she was getting ready to leave for the temple.

Bela opened the door... and smiled at the visitor.