"Munna, tera Swati se koi jhagda hua hai kya?" Sameer asked with a tensed expression.

"Mera kyon jhagda hoga? Main kabhi ladta hi nahi usse." Munna again gave a matter of fact reply.

"Ladega toh tab jab baat karega." Pandit muttered under his breath, his words only meant for Sameer's ears who was standing in front of him.

"Jhagda nahi hua toh fir Swati aisa kyon kar rahi hai?" Sameer frowned, ignoring Pandit's remark.

"Kya kar rahi hai?" Though Munna appeared confused, he did not show as much concern as his friends expected.

Sameer slumped on the sofa next to him, "Munna, Swati Udaipur jaa rahi hai... abhi usne Naina ko phone karke bataya."

Munna furrowed his brows, trying to remember, then gave a wide smile, "Haan, uski mausi rehti hain wahan... milne jaa rahi hogi... achhi baat hai... shaadi se pehle sab rishtedaron se mil le."

Sameer looked at him in silence for a few seconds, then spoke up in a solemn voice, "Woh ek saal ke liye jaa rahi hai."

"Kyaaa?" Munna stood up in shock.

Pandit and Sameer kept on looking at him.

Munna stared from one to another  totally confounded, "Ek saal ke liye kaise jaa sakti hai? Hamari shaadi mein do mahine bhi nahi bache."

Sameer stood up to face him, looking straight into his eyes, "Usne kaha hai woh abhi shaadi ke liye taiyar nahi hai... wahan ek saal ka designing ka course karna chahti hai... woh ghar pe baith ke saari umr nahi guzarna chahti... usne kaha hai usse kaam karna hai... uske papa baat karne jayenge tere ghar shaam ko."

"Pagal ho gayi hai kya? Yeh course ka fitoor kahan se chad gaya uske dimaag mein... aur kya zaroorat hai koi course wourse karne ki... ho rahi hai na shaadi... aaram se ghar baithe aur sabka khyal rakhe... aise shaadi ko beech mein latka ke kaise jaa sakti hai... main kya yahan baith ke uska intezar karunga?" Munna burst out furiously.

"Tujhe intezar karne ki zaroorat nahi hai... woh shaadi beech mein latka ke nahi, tod ke jaa rahi hai... Naina bata rahi thi ki usne kaha hai tu chahe toh kisi aur se shaadi kar sakta hai... kyonki ek saal tak rukna shayad tujhe manzoor na ho." Sameer held his shoulders.

Sameer's support could not keep him upright. Munna slumped on the floor, his mouth open.

"Munna, Munna, neeche kyon baith raha hai, bhai... sofe pe baith... chal uth." Pandit jumped to help Sameer pick up a dazed and shocked Munna.

Together, they dragged him to the seat.

"Swati... Swati... mujhe chod ke kaise... kaise jaa sakti hai?" He mumbled, barely coherent.

"Munna, usne toh kaha ki tujhe iss baat se khaas farq nahi padna chahiye... waise bhi tum dono mein koi zyada baat hoti nahi hai... aur shaadi karke ghar sambhalne ke liye tujhe usse behtar ladki milni chahiye... usse toh kuch zyada ghar ke kaam aate bhi nahi." Sameer kept an arm around his shoulder.

Munna turned sharply towards him, his eyes blank. Sameer thought that maybe he didn't understand what he had said. Next moment Munna burst into tears, falling on Sameer's shoulders.

"Ro mat yaar, aise bachhon jaise rone se kya hoga... sunn toh... aakhir itna bada faisla kaise le liye Swati ne? Usne pehle tujhe kuch bola nahi aur aaj achanak shaadi hi tod rahi hai." Sameer consoled him.

"Yeh koi baat hui? Aise kaise keh diya hamare bhai se shaadi nahi karegi... arre, koi khel hai kya ki pause kar ke bahar nikal gaye... main bata raha hun Munna, uska naam Swati nahi Swarthi hona chahiye tha." Pandit loudly showed his anger, speaking close to Munna's ear so he doesn't miss out a single word.

"Nahi, woh swarthi nahi ho sakti... woh toh hamesha mere baare mein pehle sochti hai... pata nahi aaj kaise bina pooche yeh faisla le liya." Munna straightened, wiping his tears.

The use of word 'pooche' instead of 'bataye' didn't miss out on both boys.

"Usne tujhe kuch bhi nahi bataya? Matlab kuch toh kaha hoga pichle dinon mein... aise hi thodi admission ho gaya... form bhara hoga, fees di hogi... yeh sab aaj hi kar liya kya?" Pandit flustered Munna even more.

"Swati keh toh rahi thi teen chaar din se milne ko par time hi nahi mila." He recalled.

"Kyon? Yahan bhi toh aaya tha parson, Swati se milne ka time bhi nikal leta." Sameer said.

"Sameer, yaar tu hi bata main kaise rokun Swati ko... main uske bina nahi reh paunga... shaadi toh chod main toh dukaan bhi nahi jaa paunga." Munna sniffled.

"Roz toh jaata hai... khud bola tune itne din se mila nahi... koi khaas farq nahi padega... thode din mein bhool bhi jayega tu usse." Sameer slid his arm away from Munna's shoulders, clutching his palms.

Munna was flabbergasted, "Swati ko kaise bhool sakta hun? Har waqt ussi ke baare mein sochta hun... itni besabri se intezar kar raha hun kab woh mere ghar aayegi, hamesha ke liye."

"Waise bhai, bura mat manna, lekin tujhe dekh ke na toh teri soch pata chalti hai, na besabri dikhti hai aur na tera pyar... ab humein nahi dikhta toh Swati ko bhi nahi dikha hoga isliye usne yeh faisla liya hai." Pandit shrugged.

"Woh toh jaanti hai... maine usse bataya hua hai." Munna almost pleaded.

"Kab?" Both Sameer and Pandit gave him a questioning look.

Munna gulped, lowering his head, "First year mein... jab usse propose kiya tha."

Sameer slapped his forehead, Pandit gave him a dissatisfied look.

"Main... main uske ke ghar jaa raha hun... usse baat karunga... usse rok lunga." Munna got up suddenly.

"Tu jaake kya karega... apni mummy ko bhej de... bimaar hone pe bhi wohi khyal rakhne wali hain na toh naraaz hone pe bhi wohi manaa lengi." Sameer. pulled his hand, making him fall back next to him.

"Yeh kya keh raha hai, Sameer? Maine hamesha tere pyar ki gaadi ko dhakka lagaya hai aur tu meri gaadi ke tyre hi nikaal raha hai." Munna was on the verge of crying again.

"Munna, tune khud apne pyar ki gaadi ko laal batti dikhai hai." Pandit scoffed.

A surprised gasp escaped Munna's mouth. His friends had no sympathy for him at such a crucial time, when  his life was turning upside down. Leave aside helping him, they both were throwing taunts repeatedly.

"Agar madad nahi karni toh saaf saaf manaa kar do... meri galtiyan kyon nikaal rahe ho bina baat ke?" He was agitated.

"Galtiyan nahi nikal rahe tujhe woh samjhane ki koshish kar rahe hain jo jaan ke bhi tu bekhabar bana hua hai." Sameer softened his tone.

Munna gave him a perplexed look.

Sameer took a deep breath, "Sabko pata hai bhagwaan har jagah hai... fir bhi hum mandir jaate hain jab kuch maangna hota hai... kyonki humein bharosa chahiye hota hai, khud ke liye, ki hum apni baat bhagwaan tak pohoncha rahe hain... woh patthar ki murtiyan hoti hain yeh bhi pata hai sabko, fir bhi unko dekh ke vishwas ho jaata hai ki bhagwaan hamari baat sunenge."

"Toh main Swati ke ghar na jaun aur mandir jaun?" Munna was completely baffled.

It was Pandit whose palm landed behind Munna's head. As he looked back, Pandit raised his brows.

"Pata hai tu dukhi hai par tere dimaag ki dhool saaf kar raha tha jisse tujhe samajh aaye jo hum batane ki koshish kar rahe hain." Pandit gritted his teeth.

Sameer started in a gentle voice, "Mandir jaane ko nahi keh raha... udaharan de raha hun... jaise humein bhagwan ko dekhne ki zaroorat hoti hai aise Swati ko bhi tera pyar dikhna chahiye... usse lagna chahiye ki tu uske sapne dekhta hai, uske aane ka intezar kar raha hai, uske liye sochta hai, uski parwah hai tujhe... apni zindagi mein uski jo jagah hai uska ahsaas karwana chahiye... na phone pe baat karna, na usse milna, na koi haq jatana, na usse koi haq dena... yeh pyar nahi hai, Munna, koi bhi yehi sochega ki tere dil mein uski koi jagah nahi bas ek shaadi ki rasm poori karni hai parivaar aur samaj ko dikhane ke liye, aur fir ghar mein koi sab sambhalne wali mil jayegi hamesha ke liye."

Munna looked at Sameer blankly.

"Munna, Swati ko tere saath ki zaroorat hai jo tu dene se katrata hai shayad isiliye uska dil toot gaya hai, usko bharosa nahi raha tere pyar pe, usse lagta nahi ki tere liye woh sabse khaas hai... aur usne yeh faisla le liya." Sameer continued.

"Par woh hai sabse khaas... mere liye usse zyada zaroori kuch nahi hai... uske pyar ke bina toh main marr jaunga." Munna lamented.

"Toh iss baat ko batane mein teri jaan nikalti hai? Usse phone pe baat karega toh tera bill badh jayega? Thoda apnapan dikha dega toh tujh mein kaante ugg ayenge?" Pandit was openly disgruntled.

Munna shook his head in frustration, "Sabke saamne kaise uske paas jaa sakta hun yaar, samjha karo na."

"Kyon? Main aur Pandit toh nahi sochte aisa... hum kabhi nahi peeche hat te apne pyar ko zaahir karne se... balki humein khushi hoti hai ki sabko pata chale hamare dil mein ek khaas insaan ke liye kitni chahat hai... aur uss insaan ko batane mein humein koi jhijhak nahi hoti ki uske kareeb rehna chahte hain." Sameer was still soft.

Munna lowered his head, "Sameer, tere ghar mein toh koi hai nahi aur Pandit ke mummy papa kaafi modern hain... lekin hamare ghar mein aisa nahi hai... kuch maryada hai jinhe sabko nibhana padta hai... kuch daayre hain jinke bahar nahi jaa sakte badon ke saamne... mere kuch gaanv wale cousin toh sabke saamne apni biwi se baat tak nahi karte."

Sameer and Pandit were shocked beyond belief. It took them a few moments to come to terms with the scenario that Munna presented.

When he found his voice back, Sameer spoke up again, "Munna, ghar mein hogi yeh problem, bahar konsa daayra rokta hai tujhe? Aur phone? Woh toh apne kamre se kar sakta hai na?"

"Tum samajhte nahi ho... fir aadat pad jayegi, usse bhi aur mujhe bhi... aur main nahi chahta ki kabhi ghar pe aisa kuch ho jisse ghar walon ko lage ki hum unka lihaaz nahi kar rahe." Munna was rattled by his friends' questions.

"Munna, tujhe pata hai na Naina ke tauji aur taiji kaise hain... unki soch, unke khyaal kitne purane hain... fir bhi chachaji ussi ghar mein reh ke kitne alag hain, khule vichaaron wale. Maine hamesha unhe chachiji se pyar se baat karte dekha hai, sabke saamne bhi... bohot baar woh haath bhi pakadte hain aur gale bhi lagate hain... Swati aaj ke zamaane ki hai, Munna... usse tu ghar ke kone mein le jaa ke sajana chahta hai toh isse achha usse jaane de... chod de uske sapne dekhna... tu layak hi nahi hai uske." Sameer was fed up of reasoning.

Fresh tears filled up Munna's eyes, "Aisa mat bol yaar, main Swati ke bagair ek din bhi nahi reh paunga."

"Poore hafte mila nahi usse... jaise abhi reh raha hai baad mein bhi kaam chala lena." Pandit said in a curt voice.

Munna rested his head in his hands, crying bitterly.

Sameer's heart melted at his plight. He shifted closer, wrapping an arm around him, patting his back when Munna shed uncontrollable tears on his shoulder.

"Dekh Munna, tujhe aaj ke time mein wapas aana hoga... tu iss athaarvi sadi ki soch ko yahan nahi chala sakta... pyar ka paudha lagaya hai toh usse seenchna bhi padega... warna woh sookh jayega... tu lucky hai ki teri itni bewakoofiyon ke baad bhi Swati tujhse pyar karti hai... lekin ab tujhe khud ko badalna hoga, apne aap ko uske pyar ke layak banana hoga... sirf business sambhal lena koi uplabdhi nahi hai... rishte sambhalna seekh... warna jaise maine apni mummy ko khud se alag kar diya tha, pyar aur apnepan ke izhaar ki kami ke kaaran, Swati bhi door ho jayegi tujhse, uske dil ka pyar kab nafrat mein badal jayega tujhe pata hi nahi chalega." Sameer guided him, his eyes having a forlorn look.

Munna jerked back to look at Sameer, his face contorted with this comparison.

After a few moments of silence, his eyes cleared up, "Sameer, yeh toh maine kabhi socha hi nahi... Vishakha mausi ne apni nayi family mein jaake jaisa bartaav tere saath kiya main bhi lagbhag wohi kar raha hun Swati ke saath... yeh main kya kar raha hun, bhai... tera dard apni aankhon se dekha fir bhi wohi dard main usko deta raha jo mujhe sabse zyada pyaar karti hai... main kitna bada gadha hun."

Pandit let out a relieved breath, "Shukar hai tune khud ko pehchana toh sahi, hum toh kab se keh rahe the ki tu gadha hai."

Munna looked at  him with a dejected expression, "Toh pehle hi achhe se dhulaii karke samjha dete na... kam se kam meri Swati mujhe chod ke toh nahi jaati... ab toh main uske saamne bhi nahi jaa paunga... kis muh se jaun usse itna dukh dene ke baad... main uske layak hi nahi hun...usse toh mujhse kahin zyada achha aur pyar karne wala pati milna chahiye... maine apni bewakoofi se kho diya apni sabse keemti cheez ko."

"Lekin mujhe aur koi nahi tum hi chahiye ho, Munna." Swati's voice rang in his ears.

While Sameer and Pandit looked back at the main door, Munna shook his head, not moving or looking up.

"Ussi ki awaaz sunai de rahi hai... ab toh bas aise hi khyalon mein uski awaaz sununga aur sapno mein usse dekhunga... isse zyada milne ki koi umeed nahi rahi mujhe... Swati ne sahi kiya jo mujh jaise gadhe ko chodkar Udaipur jaane ka faisla kar liya."

Pandit gave a hard blow on his head, "Tujhe har baat dhulaai karwa ke hi seekhni hai kya? Mud ke dekh, sirf awaaz nahi Swati poori ki poori hai yahan."

Munna stood up with a bewildered expression, turning to look at the door where Swati stood gazing at him. He shot up, stumbling to quickly reach her. They stood watching the tears in each other's eyes for a while... and then Munna pulled her in a crushing hug. It was Swati's turn to lose balance. This was the first time in their relationship of three years that Munna had hugged her... till now, it had only been an arm looped around her shoulders just a couple of times. It took her a few seconds to assimilate that he was actually holding her in his arms, with full right and warmth and love. Slowly her arms wrapped around him as she let out years of hidden emotions, feeling a burden lifting off her chest.

All inhibitions, frustrations, hurt, anger, complaints, bitterness... everything was washed away in those moments as they soaked in the assurance of each other's unbridled love.

It was an emotional time for their friends too. Sameer held Naina close as she wiped her eyes while Pandit let out a sigh of relief.

"Bhabhi, itna dara diya aapke iss plan ne mujhe... Swati ke jaane ka sun ke mere toh haath paon phool gaye the." Munna groused as they all sat together to have lunch later.

Naina smiled. She had heard their initial conversation and Munna's views had jolted her. It was then she decided that they needed to talk to him more clearly. She had called Sameer to tell him the same when Pandit came and told them how Munna was not even ready to discuss. She decided he needed a shock treatment. That was when she devised a plan and told Sameer and Pandit, who readily agreed. Munna had been taking Swati for granted for too long. It was time he needed to be told that she was not bound to him... and bring in the fear of losing her.

Naina had called up Swati after the two boys started with their conversation. She had been scared at first, but agreed to come over. The suffocation was killing her, making her wonder what kind of life she was committing herself to.

Munna's realisation lifted the mist that had surrounded their relationship... the rain of tears had washed away the thick smog, making everything bright and beautiful.

To spend some time with each other, Munna and Swati left after lunch. Pandit stayed back.

"Sameer, tune jo Vishakha aunty wali baat boli na bhai, ekdum sahi nishane pe lagi... ekdum fit thi iss mauke ke liye." His hunger had returned once the tension was over and he happily bit into a piece of dhokla.

"Pata nahi yaar, aisa laga ki Swati ki ghutan main mehsoos kar sakta hun... uski zaroorat ka ahsaas hua mujhe... iss tarah ke rookhepan se pyar kaise khatam ho jaata hai yeh soch ke darr gaya... lekin jaise Naina ne meri zindagi ki iss kami ko poora kiya, waise hi aaj Swati ko bhi uska rishta lauta diya." Sameer looked lovingly at his wife, keeping her close to him as they sat together.

After dinner, when they were in their room, finally Sameer noticed the file kept on the table, realising that he had not touched it the whole day. With a sigh, he pulled a chair, sitting down to spend some time as he didn't want to go unprepared for the meeting.

Naina was in washroom, changing for the night. The time of staying away had ended. She took a bath, and pulled over the red nighty that she had bought with Sonali in Mumbai but hadn't worn even once. A shy smile crept up her face, imagining Sameer's reaction.

When she opened the door, he was bent on the pages of that heavy file he had brought from office yesterday, with his back to her. She walked up to him.

"Sameer, iske liye mujhe pata hai kya karna chahiye." She threaded her fingers in his hair at the back of his head.

"Naina, ismein information itni zyada hai na, isliye thoda confuse ho raha hun.... batao kya karun." His eyes stayed glued to the pages.

She extended her arm to pick up another file from the other end of the table when he noticed the red satin covering her arm.

With a jerk, he looked back. His mouth fell open as he saw the red nighty that covered her fully, but was moulded against all her curves in a delectable manner.

And he cursed himself for not being aware that the five days were over.

Okay, so this completes 400 chapters 😌😌 hence this looonnng update.

Next one tomorrow morning