Wish you all a Merry Christmas! May your life be filled with love, joy, laughter, contentment, harmony, peace and mercy!!
Love You❤

"Yeh tum... tum... Sameer... Preeti aa jayegi?" Naina was bewildered.

He had already opened half the buttons of his shirt.

"Toh kya kapdon pe haldi lagaogi?" He was unfazed... undoing the rest of the buttons and threw off his shirt.

The sight of him standing bare chested gave her shivers... it had been days since she had seen him like this... it reminded her of the mornings in Rahul's house... and the nights, when he slept without t-shirt, holding her close.

"Ab dekhti hi rahogi toh pakka Preeti aa jayegi." He grinned, enjoying the effect he was having on her.

"Aise... aise nahi lagate... bas chehre aur haathon pe laga dete hain." She lowered her eyes, turning to the side.

He held her arm, pulling her closer, "Lekin hum toh kuch bhi waisa nahi karte jaisa sab karte hain... teesri baar shaadi ho rahi hai... kam se kam ek baar toh achhe se haldi lagni chahiye."

He flattened his palm over the back of her hand and dipped it in haldi again... brought her hand on his chest and smeared it over himself.
He made her dip the fingers once again and rubbed her hand over his abdomen.

"Sameer... aise nahi..." She closed her eyes, her heart racing as he pressed her palm over his muscles.

"Ab meri baari." He smiled slyly, making her heartbeat go skyrocketing.

He would not apply in the usual manner, she was sure.

And she was right in her assumption.

He leaned... rubbed his cheek against hers on one side... and the other one on the other side.

Making her dip the fingers in the paste one more time, he made her put it on his face.

Holding her hair, he pulled the head back... and leaned again to rub his cheek on her neck.

The goosebumps erupted all over as her heart hammered against her chest, ready to jump out.

"Naina." He whispered when she kept her eyes shut even after he had lifted his head.

She slowly opened her eyes. He pointed at her night suit. She looked down, and noticed the haldi stains on her kurta... all the paste that he had made her put on his chest was now on her kurta.

He took some more haldi on his fingers... she looked up... her mind fuzzy with the thought of what he was planning to do.

He went on his knees, lifted the kurta a little above her navel... and started to smear the soft skin of her waist with the mixture.

She drew in a sharp inhale... sucking in the stomach, holding her breath as his fingers moved all over the skin.

The slow movement of his hand on her heated skin made the fluttering inside her turn into a storm. She clutched his shoulders.

He stood up after a few minutes... her hands slipped from his shoulders to the chest... and she crashed against him, her legs turning into jelly at his onslaught.

"Ab tumhe achhe se haldi lag gayi." He whispered in a rough voice, holding her tight, his blood pounding in his ears.

They remained in each other's arms for a while, calming themselves and the other...

Naina stepped back eventually... her forehead creased up as she saw his body covered with haldi.

"Sameer, tum aise kaise wapas jaoge... main toh ghar par hi hun par tumhe jaana hai." She was worried.

"Haldi ke baad kya karte hain?" He asked softly.

"Naha lete hain." She answered.

"Toh?" He raised his brow.

She widened her eyes, "Toh kya?"

"Ab haldi tumne lagayi hai toh saaf bhi tumhi karogi na... ya fir main aise hi chala jaun?" He pointed at himself.

Naina was startled, "Main... main kya karun?"

He continued to look at her for sometime, seeing the changing expressions on her face.

Then, to her relief, his face softened into a grin, "Kitna darti ho tum... budhu, zara geele kapde se saaf kardo... bas itna hi keh raha tha."

She rushed to the washroom to get a wet towel... giving it to him when she was back.

"Ahaan... saaf toh aapko hi karna hai, madam." He flicked his brows, standing with hands on waist.

"Tum bhi na... saaf hi karwana tha toh itna saara lagwaya kyon? Bas thoda sa chehre pe laga ke ho jaata." She started to wipe off the stains.

"Aise kaise sirf chehre pe lagwa leta... chehre pe kal sab laga hi denge... yeh toh sirf tumhara haq hai na." He covered her hand with his palm, pressing it on his heart.

The hint of red that spread on her cheeks was visible even through the haldi he had smeared on her face.

She carefully cleaned the traces, swallowing hard as the heat from his skin burned her even without direct touch.

Sameer was no better... the movement of her hands on his chest was brewing a storm in him... the damp towel was no help in the fire surging through his veins.

He held her wrist suddenly, "Bas Naina... iske aage khud ko rokna mushkil ho jayega."

She stepped back instantly, knowing what he said was correct... she was drowning in the moment too...

Sameer put on the shirt. He was doing the buttons when there was a soft knock on the door. Naina waited till he had tucked in the shirt properly.

"Ho gayi rasm? Ab jaana padega, jijaji... main zyada der bahar nahin reh sakti... koi uth gaya toh mushkil ho jayegi." Preeti whispered as she closed the door behind her.

Sameer smiled at her, "Thank you, Preeti... iske badle mein main bhagwan se yahi mangunga ki tumhe bhi jaldi hi pyar ka ahsaas mil jaye."

Both girls looked at him in wonder.

"Sach keh raha hun... jo ladki pyar ko itni achi tarah se samajhti ho uske dil mein sachmuch ek samandar hoga pyar ka... bas usko pehchaan nahi paa rahi shayad... koshish karke dekhna, Preeti... ho sakta hai aankhen band karne pe tumhe bhi woh chehra nazar aaye jo tumhare dil mein chupa hai." He wanted Preeti to introspect as well... if there was some hidden feeling in her, like Pandit, he didn't want two such important people in his life to remain unaware of them.

"Aap apni love story chod ke mere liye kyon pareshan ho rahe hain, jijaji... meri kahani ka hero shayad bhagwan banana hi bhool gaye." Preeti tried to wave off his suggestion.

Sameer went close to Naina, taking her in a side hug, "Ya shayad tumhi aankhen nahi khol ke dekh paa rahi ho... Naina, tumhe Preeti ki madad karni chahiye... aakhir pyar ke baare mein isse tumse achha kaun bata payega."

She narrowed her eyes, "Tum kiski baat kar rahe ho, Sameer? Kuch hua hai kya?"

He patted her cheek, "Kuch nahi hua... par agar kuch ho sakta hai toh main chahta hun meri saaliji usko nazarandaaz na karein."

Leaving the two of them puzzled, he moved out to the balcony. Munna Pandit were ready with the ladder.

Munna gestured at him, while Pandit kept his eyes on the road, holding the ladder tight.

"Yeh Sameer aisi baatein kyon kar raha tha, Preeti? Aaj koi baat hui kya?" Naina whispered to her as they waited for him to reach down safely.

He waved back at them, so did Munna... but Pandit just flicked his gaze once and looked down again... not smiling or waving.

"Ab isse kya ho gaya? Aaj inn ladkon ne zaroor kuch kiya hai." Naina could sense some discomfort in the carefree demeanor of Pandit.

"Tujhe toh nahana padega, behen... warna subah itni saari haldi dekhke ghar wale pakka samajh jayenge." Preeti observed her clothes and skin smeared with haldi.

Naina picked up her towel and another night suit... and went to the washroom, leaving Preeti to ponder over what Sameer had said.

"Jijaji ne aaj aisa kaha kyon?" Preeti furrowed her brows.

She recalled the comments made by Rahul's brother, "Uss ladke ne toh kuch nahi bol diya sabke samne... pitega yeh... aaj kuch nahi kaha isko toh soch raha hai Preeti ne lift de di... ek toh hum sab se chota hai, upar se Sonali ka devar... kaise isko seedha karun... kuch sochna padega."

Sameer's words were still ringing in her ears when Naina switched off the light after her bath.

"Preeti, bata na... Sameer pakka kisi wajah se aisa keh raha tha... koi hai kya? Mujhe kuch kyon nahi bataya tune?" Naina turned towards Preeti, bringing her out of her thoughts.

"Nahi, behen... tujhe lagta hai koi hota toh main tujhse chupati... pata nahi jijaji ko kya lag raha hai... ho sakta hai kal woh tumhare dost Rahul ka bhai kuch keh raha ho unse." Preeti blurted.

Naina sat up, surprised, "Kaun... Rishi? Uska kya? Woh kahan se aa gaya inn sab mein?"

Preeti narrated the conversation she had with him. Naina listened with open mouth.

"Rishi toh Rahul se chota hai... matlab hum sab se bhi... usse pata nahi hai kya ki tu humare saath ki hai?" She said in a shocked voice.

"Baat bade chote ki nahi hai... agar jijaji uske liye aisi baat kar rahe hain toh hairani hai mujhe... ek din ki mulakaat se kaise woh mujhse yeh pooch sakte hain." Preeti was perplexed.

"Pehli nazar ki mujhse baat mat kar... mera khud ka pyar pehli nazar ka hi hai... lekin tu apne dil se pooch... kya tujhe bhi Rishi ke liye kuch mehsoos hua hai?" Naina tried .

"Nahi Naina, mujhe aisa kuch nahi laga... arre, mujhe toh uski baatein ajeeb lagi... maine uske baare mein socha tak nahi." Preeti was irritated.

"Toh fir jaisa Sameer ne kaha, aankhen band kar aur dekh kiska chehra aata hi saamne... shayad tujhe jawab mil jaye." Naina told her softly.

The moment Preeti closed her eyes, faces of their group loomed in her thoughts.

"Sach hai, mujhe toh sabse hi pyar hai... inn sabke bina rehne ka soch bhi nahi sakti." She smiled, drifting off to sleep.

Naina sighed... maybe Sameer was wrong.

Morning was abuzz with activities in their house, with the guests who were staying in taiji's house coming over again and again to ask for things like towel, toothpaste, hot water, shoe polish.

"Yeh Bina dhang se mehmaano ka dhyan bhi nahi rakh sakti... aaj iski fir se khabar leni padegi." Phulla bua muttered angrily.

"Buaji, aap nashta kar lijiye... kaafi der ho gayi hai." Anand said.

She stood up from the swing, "Tum log khao, main aaj Bina ke ghar nashta karungi... zara dekhun toh kya intezaam kiya hai usne sabke liye."

"Lekin buaji, wahan toh khana nahi ban raha... bhabhiji kal raat mujhe bol gayi thi puri sabzi banane ke liye... maine saari taiyari kar li hai... jaise hi sab log naha ke aayenge main nashta laga dungi." Bela came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on the pallu.

Buaji slapped her forehead, "Tujhe kabhi akal nahi aayegi, Bela. Maine kaha tha na, Bina ko main sambhalungi... tum log bohot bhole ho, nahi samajhte... main uski saari chalakiyan dekh rahi hun... aaj toh tune bana diya, ab se mat banana."

Anand smiled fondly at his wife before looking back at Phulla bua, "Koi baat nahi, buaji... hum sab ek hi parivaar hain... aur bhabhiji sabka khyal rakh rahi hain utna hi bohot hai... jahan tak khane ki baat hai... yeh naashte ke baad ab ghar mein kuch nahi banne wala... halwai ko bol diya hai... aaj dopaher ke khane se lekar shaadi ke agle din tak saara intezam wohi karega... aaj aur kuch mehman bhi aa jayenge isliye ghar mein banane ka hisaab nahi ho payega."

Phulla bua sat down again, "Chalo theek hai, ab jo ho gaya woh ho gaya... lekin aage main jo kahungi usmein tum dono beech mein mat bolna."

They nodded.

The relatives started to arrive soon  for breakfast and Bela got busy in the kitchen, with Preeti helping her. Naina wanted to help too but Bela told her to stay in her room.

All the guests were served hot food along with cups of tea.

Taiji hobbled in a little later, "O bai, mere toh pair hi dukh gaye sabki farmaish poori karte karte... Bela, o Bela, jaldi se naashta de de."

"Aaja Bina, kabse tera intezar kar rahi thi... aa baith." Phulla bua said sweetly, pulling a low stool near her swing.

Taiji was immediately alert... buaji talking to her softly was not a good sign.

"Jee buaji." She settled on the seat offered.

"Dekha Bina, tu ghar ki badi bahu hai... ab bhabhi, yani teri saas toh hai nahi toh unki jagah tu hi sab sambhalegi." Phulla bua took out a pouch of red satin from the folds of her saree.

Taiji's eyes widened... expecting some traditional heirloom... some piece of exquisite jewellery coming her way.

"Haan, haan buaji... mera toh farz banta hai... sab mujhe hi dekhna hai... ab ghar ke bade hain main aur Pralay ke papa... aap chinta mat kijiye... hum sab sambhal lenge... woh bhi achhi tarah." She smiled cunningly, rubbing her hands in anticipation.

"Mujhe tumse yahi ummeed thi." Phulla bua patted her head, then turned her face back to the kitchen, "Bela, aaj Bina khana nahi khayegi... Naina ke liye upvaas rakhegi... yeh khud badon ka farz nibhana chahti hai... ek baar haldi ki rasm ho jaye aur Naina naha le, tabhi isse khana ya chai dena."

Taiji was crestfallen... no food till afternoon... she was already famished... the wait would kill her.

"Le... lekin... buaji... aisa kaunsa... upvaas hota hai... Pooja ke liye toh nahi rakha tha." She tried to recall Pooja's wedding rituals.

"Tujhe kaise pata hoga... Bela ne rakha tha... aur saara kaam bhi sambhala tha... tujhe toh sirf baithna hai." Phulla bua chided her.

Taiji eyed the pouch... hoping for some solace in the form of jewelery.

Buaji noticed her gaze, and opened the pouch slowly, "Arre haan, yeh toh bhool hi gayi."

Tauji walked in at that moment, "Anand, zara khana khilwao, bhai... subah se bhooke hain."

"Naresh, aaja, tera hi intezar kar rahi thi." Phulla bua fiddled with the pouch, with taiji holding her breath... and brought out a piece of paper.

She forwarded it to tauji, "Yeh le, raseed hai... Naina ke zevar banne diye the... aaj leke aane hain... adhe paise de rakhe hain... baaki tera hissa hai... chuka dena aur zevar shaam se pehle laake mujhe dena... ab tum dono ki toh koi beti hai nahi... isliye maine socha Naina ke zariye hi thoda punya kama lo... aakhir woh bhi tumhari beti jaisi hai... aur fir ghar ke bade hone ke naate tumhara zyada haq hai uspe... main toh Anand se keh rahi thi Naresh khushi khushi poore paise de dega... par Anand maana hi nahi aur aadhi keemat advance de di... khair koi nahi... ab yeh le aana naashta karke... Bela, jaldi se apne jeth ko khaana khila."

Tauji gulped, seeing the amount to be paid to the jeweller. He looked at his wife... she wiped her sweat with the pallu... there was no way they could get out of this in front of all relatives.

Pooja arrived with her son as they were having breakfast. Everyone instantly got busy with the chubby, naughty child who happily enjoyed all the attention, jumping around and demanding one thing after the other.

"Naina, kya sundar lag rahi hai tu... haldi toh aaj hai par tujhe dekh ke lag raha hai haldi ka rang tujhpe pehle hi chad gaya hai... chamak rahi hai." Pooja didi hugged her sister, admiring her shining face.

Preeti gave a slanting look to Naina, "Woh kya hai na, Pooja didi... iski saari rasmein alag hi chalti hain... iske saath kahan kuch seedha hota hai... isliye haldi se pehle hi haldi ke rang mein rang gayi hai."