CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!
This is indeed a great day for all of us as our Ashdeep won the award for best jodi as Samaina... something we have known for long but now it has been acknowledged... and they gifted us a beautiful picture with each other...
Nothing could make the morning more lovely and precious...
This is the best news for the fandom in last three months...
Hope we get the other good news soon...
Wish many more for them...

And now for today's update 😊

Hayee Naina, kitni pyari lag rahi hai... ekdum nayi dulhan... main hi behosh ho rahi hun tujhe dekh ke, Sameer toh aaj gaya kaam se." Sonali beamed with genuine praise in her eyes, unmindful of the fact that Sameer was within hearing distance.

She was so right, he thought with a sigh... he was completely knocked out seeing Naina dressed like this. All he wanted to do was to crush her in his arms, stroke the satiny skin of her waist, taste those plump lips, drown in her deep eyes, feel the bangles tinkle under his fingers, move her long lustrous hair to one side and pull the strings at her back...

His mind had started to build new fantasies. Swallowing hard... he realised he needed to curb his chain of thoughts. The way he had lost control in the morning was not a good sign.

"Sameer, kya soch rahe ho... chalo na." She tugged at his arm.

One look at her and he didn't know how to stay away... he didn't want to... but it was required... for some more time... for her...

"Tu theek hai na, Sameer... itna paseena kyon aa raha hai tujhe?" Rahul stopped near him as Sonali started to lock the door.

"Main theek hun... woh thodi garmi hai na aaj... aur itne dino baad bahar nikal rahe hain." He tried to blame his state on the weather.

"Kal hi toh tum log gaye the shopping pe." Rahul looked at him strangely.

"Kal... haan kal woh... arre yaar, ab lag rahi hai aaj zyada garmi toh kya karun... shayad yeh shirt aisa hai... pata nahi." Sameer frustratingly looked away.

Naina and Sonali looked at him puzzled, wondering what made him so angry.

Without a word, they entered the lift. It had been decided that they would go together in Rahul's car as it would not be comfortable for Naina to sit on the bike wearing a saree.

Sonali sat in front with Rahul while Sameer settled on the back seat with Naina. The moment car started to move, she sought his hand, knowing that there was something burdening his mind. He looked at her... there was an understanding in her eyes... without knowing the reason for his irritation, she was trying to soothe him. The touch of her soft hand did the magic... he felt a calmness descend on him.

His relieved smile made Naina also smile in relief. She could feel his edginess when he was talking to Rahul. He was fine while they were in the room, even when they were coming out of their room, he had brushed his fingers along her waist... and when she had glared at him, he had winked. Suddenly, he had become upset over a simple question. In fact, even before Rahul had asked him, he was lost in thoughts. She was worried.

Leaning closer to him, she said in a low voice, "Sameer, tum theek ho na? Tabiyat kharab toh nahi lag rahi? Nahi toh hum wapas jaa sakte hain."

His eyes brightened at the prospect... if he said he wasn't feeling well, they could go back... just the two of them. He looked at Naina... and his eyes travelled over her all dressed up for the event... he had seen her excitement yesterday when she was buying all these things... dressing up as a married woman for the first time meant a lot to her.

He couldn't take away this chance from her.

"Main theek hun... bas uss samay thodi garmi lag rahi thi lekin ab nahi... wapas jaane ki zaroorat nahi hai... hum log pooja mein jayenge." He smiled warmly at her.

"Yaar Rahul, kuch gaane toh laga... aise sookhe sookhe car chala raha hai... tujhe nahi karna hoga apni biwi se romance, mujhe toh karna hai." He tappped Rahul's shoulder.

The awkwardness that had come up after his curt reply immediately melted... Sonali put some Bollywood songs while Naina turned crimson at his words.

"Tujhe kabse romance ke liye gaano ki zaroorat padne lagi... tu toh inn gaano se kahin aage hai, bhai." Rahul chuckled.

Sameer grinned at Naina... making her colour more.

"Aise sharmate hue toh sach mein nayi dulhan hi lag rahi ho." He whispered.

She turned her face away, not able to bear his teasing eyes.

Sonali's family was extremely happy to meet Naina and Sameer.

"Naina, mujhe pata hota tum dono Sonu ke yahan ho toh main pehle hi bol deti usse... aur agar nahi bola tha toh kya khud nahi aa sakti thi tu... beta, yeh tera ghar bhi toh hai... kaha tha na maine, mere liye toh tu Sonu jaisi hi hai." Sonali's mother stroked her hair lovingly.

"Sameer, tum toh ab damaadji ban gaye... toh kya bulaye tumhe?" Amit teased Sameer.

"Kyon bhaiya, aap mujhe toh Rahul hi bulate hain, fir isse special naam kyon milega?" Rahul chimed in, pouting at Sonali's brother.

Amidst laughter and teasing, the preparations for pooja started.

Naina accompanied Sonali to the kitchen to see bhabhi busy in preparing prashad.

"Naina." She hugged her immediately.

"Congratulations... aise achanak shaadi kar li... bulaya bhi nahi... main toh kitna soch ke baithi thi teri shaadi mein hum sab Ahmedabad aayenge." She showed fake anger.

"Bhabhi, Ahmedabad toh aapko aana hi padega... abhi wahan ek baar fir shaadi hogi." Naina smiled.

Bhabhi widened her eyes, "Kya, tu fir se shaadi kar legi... Sameer ka kya hoga?"

Naina was taken aback... till she heard Sonali's laughter behind her.

"Bhabhi, aap aise heart attack mat do isse... aapke inn jokes ki aadat sirf mujhe hai... yeh toh aisi baat sunke abhi behosh ho jayegi." Sonali nudged Naina, seeing her startled expression.

"Arre budhu, tere Sameer ko tujhse koi alag kar sakta hai kya? Main toh bas teri taang kheech rahi thi... sorry." Bhabhi held her ears.

Naina joined in their laughter, enjoying the banters of a lovable family.

The pooja began with all women of the house sitting on the mattresses placed in the center of the room. A few more ladies from the neighborhood had joined them. Bhabhi got two big green leaves and gave to everyone. Naina saw them placing the leaves in front, side by side. She did the same. Bhabhi then got a cane basket full of marigold and rose petals. Everyone picked up quite a handful and placed on one of the leaves.

"Yeh kya hai, Sonali?" Naina asked her friend, not understanding anything.

"Jitne zyada ho sake utne phool apne liye utha le... baaki abhi samajh aa jayega." She replied.

Naina cupped her palms, picking up the petals and placed them on her leaf.

Bhabhi kept the basket with leftover petals on the chair behind Naina and settled next to her, arranging her flowers on the large leaf.

Sonali's mom explained to everyone the ritual to be followed, more for the newly weds, as all others were well aware. She would start with the prayers to Ganpati as all auspicious occasions started with his aarti, and then pray for the husbands, asking God to give them everything... a wish for each... health, success, happiness, career, stable life, wealth, a beautiful house, blessings of parents, laughter of children, affection of siblings, unconditional love and support of wife, peace of mind and a lot more things. With each wish, wife would pick up some petals and place them on the other leaf. As the ritual would get over, the other leaf would be full of the fragrant petals which would be then placed in the temple as the prayers of wives for their husbands.

The aarti started and Naina got engrossed in the serene chants, hearing all the wishes and repeating them in her heart with Sameer's name before she placed each portion of flowers.

The whole process lasted for about an hour. At the end of it, bhabhi asked all ladies to put the leaves with petals in another basket which would be taken to the temple later.

No one noticed Naina hide her leaf in the folds of her saree. Except Sameer, who was seated with other men behind.

A knowing smile spread on his lips... her wishes for him were precious, she would never let them mix with all others, lest it confuses the powers residing above.

Her love was unmatched.

After the pooja, the women applied tilak to their husbands, using the same finger to apply as sindoor.

When it was Naina's turn, she put the tilak on Sameer's forehead and slid the same finger to the parting of her hair. His lower lip went under his teeth as he drew in a sharp breath at such acceptance of their relationship in front of a room full of people. Before she could move away  he touched a finger to his tilak and put the same kumkum on her forehead, under her bindi.

She looked at him in amazement... he winked, mouthing 'I Love You'.

With flushed cheeks, she went back to the kitchen where bhabhi was making arrangements for lunch. Sonali was helping her.

"Suno, aaj tum log yahin reh jao na... kitne din ho gaye hain." Bhabhi looked at them hopefully.

"Nahi bhabhi, nahi ho payega... exams sar pe hain... padhna bhi hai... ek baar khatam ho jaayein fir aaram se aake rukenge." Sonali felt bad saying no to her invitation.

"Haan bhai, ab hamari yaad hi kahan aati hogi... ab tera Rahul hai tere paas... sab pata hai mujhe tera exams ka bahana... hamesha ki tarah ab tak toh tune saari taiyari kar li hogi... jaanti nahi hun kya... lekin bahana achha hai isliye bana diya jisse bhabhi ke paas rukna na pade." She teased her sister in law.

Sonali wrapped her arms around bhabhi's shoulders, "Aapko pata hai aisa nahi hai... aap toh bohot special ho mere liye... achha theek hai, ruk jaate hain."

She looked back at Naina, "Theek hai na, Naina?"

Bhabhi was ecstatic, "Bilkul theek hai, aaj hum teeno khoob masti karenge... der tak baatein karenge."

Naina gave an apologetic smile, "Nahi bhabhi, hum nahi ruk payenge... iss baar bohot padhna baaki hai... kabhi show ki wajah se toh kabhi yeh papa wali tension se time nikalta gaya aur ab tak course baaki hai... wapas toh jaana padega."

Bhabhi's face fell. Sonali could not see her like this.

"Achha aisa karte hain, main aur Rahul ruk jaate hain. Naina, tum log chale jao... tujhe koi problem toh nahi hai na?" She came up with a solution.

Naina looked at her sharply.

"Nahi agar tujhe problem hai toh koi baat nahi... hum sab wapas chal lenge." Sonali offered.

"Arre woh baat nahi hai... main bas yeh soch rahi thi ki ghar toh tumhara hai... mera matlab... jab tum nahi hoge toh hum kaise... hum log hostel wapas chale jaate hain." Naina suggested.

"Jee nahi," Sonali vehemently shook her head.

She turned towards bhabhi, "Yeh ladki na kuch zyada hi tera mera karti hai... aaj rehne dete hain... agli baar ruk jayenge."

Naina was embarrassed at spoiling their program, "Achha baba, jaisa tu kahe... tum raho yahin... hum tumhare ghar chale jayenge."

Both bhabhi and Sonali beamed and hugged her.

"Achha sun, jab bhi yahan se jaate hain toh mummy dinner pack kar ke deti hain... isliye John ko maine shaam ke liye mana kar diya tha... dinner tum le jaana... subah woh aa hi jayega... aur breakfast ke baad hum bhi aa jayenge." Sonali directed her.

Naina nodded.

After lunch, they left Sonali's house. Rahul had asked the driver to drop them home as they had come together and Sameer didn't have his bike.

"Aap zara paanch minute mandir ke saamne rok denge?" Naina said to the driver as they left the society.

"Mujhe pata tha tum mandir jaogi." Sameer pressed her hand.

She raised her brows at him.

"Tumne woh phool bachakar rakhe hain... sabke saath nahi daale." He entwined his fingers with hers.

Naina opened her bag and brought out the petals wrapped in the leaf.

"Yeh meri pehli pooja thi... main khud bhagwan ke charnon mein rakhna chahti hun." She stroked the wishes she was delicately holding in her hand.

Sameer slid his hand in pocket and took out another leaf.

Naina stared at him, "Yeh kiske hain?"

"Yeh meri pooja hai, tumhare liye... tum kar sakti ho toh main kyon nahi... jaisa aunty ne bataya, maine sab kiya... tumhe tilak bhi lagaya... ab main bhi inhe mandir mein rakhunga... jisse bhagwan ek saath hum dono ki saari mannat poori karein."

Her eyes misted at one of her wishes already being fulfilled... that he remains with her in everything she did.