"Sameer, humein neeche jaana chahiye... chachiji ne yeh pooja ki thali ke liye tilak laane bheja tha mujhe... woh intezar kar rahi hain." Naina touched Sameer's arm.

He was so lost in her, the reason why they were here was forgotten.

"Kaisi pooja?" He mumbled.

"Sagai ki... neeche... jahan Pandit aur Preeti hain." She said slowly.

Sameer shook his head, trying to clear the fog that had made everything else hazy.

"Uh... haan, chalo." He ran his fingers through his hair.

She picked up a small pouch before walking back, and he followed her. As they reached the door, he held her arm, making her turn to look at him.

"Tum bohot sundar lag rahi ho, Naina." His voice was heavy.

Sensing his turmoil, she brought his hand to her lips, placing a kiss on the palm, then smiled at him.

"Ghar chalke batana kitni sundar lag rahi hun." The mellow tone of her voice, along with a promise, was soothing for him.

Finally, he smiled.

"Kaise jhatke deti ho tum... bata toh deti pehle ki yeh pehnne wali ho." His eyes were roving over her again.

"Main aayi thi balcony mein, tumhe dhoondne, par tum kahin dikhe hi nahi." She lamented.

"Dekha tha darwaze pe... jab tak main bahar aaya tum andar chali gayi thi." He recalled the fleeting glimpse that he got.

"Toh bolo, meri kya galti hai?" She was petulant.

His eyes darkened at her puffed cheeks and pouted lips.

"Tumhari galti yeh hai ki tum itni sundar ho... ki tumhe na dekh paane se meri paaglon jaisi haalat ho jaati hai... ki tumhare har naye roop se mujhe pehle se bhi zyada pyar ho jaata hai." His words proclaimed his feelings.

"Ab zyada shayar mat bano... chalo neeche chalte hain... warna koi humein dhoondne aa jayega." A proud but shy smile spread on her lips.

He stopped at the base of the stairs, "Tum pehle chali jao... main thoda ruk ke aata hun... koi dekhega toh theek nahi lagega."

She nodded, looked around to check if someone was visible... and finding no one in view, asked for his handkerchief.

"Kya hua?" He was perplexed.

"Do toh sahi." She insisted.

He fished out the white kerchief from his pocket and handed it to her.

Keeping her eyes on him, she opened one fold, and placed a kiss on the corner, putting it back in his hand.

She was out of his grasp before he could react. He was still standing with the handkerchief when she halted at the gate of building and turned. He lifted the piece of cloth to his lips, and kissed over the impression of her lips. She smiled, her eyes filled with mischief before darting out to the decorated area.

"Naina." He muttered, looking at perfectly curved mark on his hanky.

He placed his lips again on the red imprint and closed his eyes. Her fragrance lingered in the hanky, along with the warmth of her lips that seeped into him as his lips touched the same surface. Her gesture had filled him with gratification... at least for now.

Preeti was standing next to Pandit, resplendent in the saree and partially open hair. Pandit couldn't take his eyes off her.

"Aise mat dekho... sab hain yahan pe." She hissed, conscious of the way he was looking sideways throughout.

"Aur kahan dekhun... jaise canteen ke poore menu ke baad bhi mujhe sirf samosa hi dikhta hai waise hi yahan mujhe tumhare alava koi nahi dikh raha." He said dreamily.

She glared at him, "Mujhme aur samose mein koi farq nahi hai?"

Still lost in her, he twitched his tongue unknowingly, conveying his no.

A wide smile spread on Preeti's lips, "Ab mujhe tumhare pyar pe poora yakeen ho gaya."

Swati's giggles made her look behind.

"Preeti, tu na shaadi ke baad apna naam badal ke samosa hi rakh le... kyon Pandit... theek rahega na?" She leaned to tease Pandit.

He blushed, looking away at last.

"Aur tera naam kya rakhenge shaadi ke baad?" Naina chipped in, joining the gang.

"Arre bhabhi, meri Swati ka naam waise hi itna pyara hai, naya naam kyon dena." Munna nudged her with his shoulder.

Naina saw Swati reprimanding him with her eyes, but blushing and loving this attention. It was so heartwarming to see her friends happy in the company of their love. She turned to look for Sameer. He was at the far end, holding the hanky in his hand, eyes fixed on her. She waved at him, calling him over.

"Kya hua, Sameer? Yeh roomal pakad ke kyon ghoom raha hai? Zukaam ho gaya kya?" Munna was concerned to see him with hanky in hand.

"Nahi, woh bas aise hi." Sameer pocketed the handkerchief.

When it was time for the ceremony, a brief pooja was performed first. Pandit's mom gave gifts to Preeti after doing her tilak and Bela did the same for Pandit.

"Ab tum angoothi pehnao, Preeti." Anand directed.

Naina held out the tray where rings were placed amidst rose petals. Preeti picked up the one for Pandit. He extended his hand. Preeti slipped the ring on his finger, smiling.

Sameer was reminded of their engagement. He looked down at Naina's hand, the ring glistening on her finger. Taking advantage of the people around them, he held her hand. She gave him a stunned look... but smiled the next moment, shaking her arm to cover their joined hands with her long, flowing sleeve.

"Swati, le yeh thali... ab Pandit ko anguthi tu pakda de." She handed the tray to Swati, not wanting to move away from her place.

Elated, Sameer pressed her hand, linking their fingers.

After Pandit had slipped the ring on Preeti's finger, everyone showered rose petals on them.

They looked at their hands. The ring was the first material sign of belonging to each other... the acceptance of family making it more special.

"Ab tu sach mein meri beti ban gayi... bas paanch din aur, fir mere ghar mein bhi raunak ho jayegi." Pandit's mom fondly held Preeti's face, planting a kiss on her forehead.

"Preeti, ek baat puchu?" Pandit whispered in her ear once the elders had gone after blessing the couple.

"Hmm." She didn't look at him.

"Main bhi mummy ki tarah tumhara swagat kar sakta hun?" He waited expectantly for her answer.

She turned sharply at him, her eyes going wide for a moment.

But her reply shocked him, and filled him with intense pleasure.

"Sabke saamne thodi... baad mein kar lena." Her voice was low... her eyes soft... her smile alluring.

"Bade daant dikha raha hai? Ek anguthi se itni khushi ho rahi hai toh shaadi mein kya haal hoga tera?" Munna's teasing voice reached him.

Pandit looked at him, still in daze over Preeti's permission... a goofy grin lighting up his face.

"Kya baat hai, Preeti? Pandit ko dekh ke lag raha hai uski koi lottery lag gayi hai." Munna asked Preeti.

"Haan toh lottery hi lagi hai... meri behen jo mil gayi usse." Naina wrapped her arms around Preeti's shoulder, flicking her brows at the boys.

"Toh usse Pandit ke liye chod do na... tumhe gale lagna hi hai toh main hun yahan pe." Sameer eyed her arms around Preeti.

"Jijaji, do behno ke pyar ke beech mein aap nahi aa sakte... Naina pe sabse pehla haq mera hi rahega." Preeti piqued him more, by circling Naina's waist.

"Pehla toh aapka tha, saaliji, lekin sabse zyada mera hi hai... aur hamesha rahega." He gave an intense look to his wife.

"Achha? Aisa hai toh aapko challenge diya... abhi, Naina ko aise pakad ke dikhao... yahan saare rishtedaar, saara parivaar hai... dekhte hain aap kitna haq jataa paate ho." Preeti tightened her arms around Naina, throwing him a daring look.

"Pagal hai kya, Preeti?" Naina wriggled out of her embrace.

"Sameer, tum iski baat mat suno... iska dimaag kabhi kabhi aise hi kharab ho jaata hai." She looked at Sameer in panic.

But the damage was done.

"Mujhe tumhara challenge manzoor hai." His words made her shiver.

She looked around. The place was swarming with people, each one known to them. There was no way he could be this close to her. It was not a done thing in their society... this open display of feelings.

But then, there were no rules for Sameer.

She wrenched her fingers nervously, wondering what catastrophe was about to hit them. Whatever shock taiji might be in, something like this would make her go back to the wide eyed, deriding version that she had been all her life... spewing venom, oblivious of the people within hearing distance.

No, she had to stop Sameer. They couldn't spoil the day for Preeti and Pandit.

But Munna did the same before her.

"Sameer, bhai, baat sun... yahan aisa nahi chalta... bade log bura maan jayenge... tamasha ho jayega, bhai... samjha kar." Munna held his arm, trying to deter him.

"Tu toh rehne de, Munna." Sameer gave him a weary look.

Preeti was also skeptical now. She had given the challenge without thinking about the consequences. Now she was regretting.

"Jijaji, sorry, maine aise hi bol diya... jaane dijiye." She tried to dissuade him too.

He looked at Naina. Her silent plea was discernible in her eyes.

He blinked hard, assuring her.

But his assurance today was not as efficacious as always.

All friends stood in silence, watching him walk away to where chachaji was standing and talking with a few guests.

"Chachaji, sab mehmano ko khaane ke liye le chalte hain." He suggested politely after greeting those who were standing in vicinity.

"Haan bilkul, bhaisahab chaliye, khana taiyar hai." Anand directed the guests.

Together, both of them asked others to proceed towards the food section as well.

Sameer went towards the ladies, asking them to do the same. When most people were busy loading their plates with the elaborate menu, Sameer went to Anand again.

"Chachaji, hum log album ke liye kuch photo khichwana chahte the, Pandit aur Preeti ki aur fir hum sabki... kya main photographer ko uss taraf phoolon ki sajawat ke paas le jaun?" He asked courteously.

"Lekin beta, aap logon ko bhi toh khana kha lena chahiye." Anand said.

"Koi baat nahi... pehle photo khinchwa lete hain kyonki khaane ki taraf abhi bheed hai." Sameer waved towards the other side of the ground.

"Yeh baat bhi hai... theek hai, tum log pehle photo le lo." Anand patted his shoulder, smiling.

Sameer then searched for the guy with camera.

"Dekhiye, humein saadi photos nahi chahiye... kuch nayi, kuch modern tareeke ki photo lena." He explained.

"Bhaiya ji, hum toh waisi hi lete hain jo sab kehte hain... kabhi apni taraf se batane ki koshish karte hain toh koi na koi rishtedaar aa jaata hai sanskaron pe bhaashan dene... isliye hum toh shaadi ke shoot mein bhi jaldi se dulha dulhan ko ek doosre ko pakadne ke liye nahi bolte... apna kaam karo aur niklo... kahe ko bina baat ke daant khaani." The man seemed to be frustrated at the way people treated him.

"Yahan aisa kuch nahi hoga... aaiye." He walked with the photographer to the side of the raised platform.

"Upar kyon nahi... wahan zada achhi aayengi na." The man frowned.

"Wahan sab jagah phool bikhre hain... yahan saaf suthra hai isliye yahin lete hain." Sameer curbed his questioning.

Other five came down to where Sameer was explaining the angles to photographer.

"Bhai, kya lagta hai... yeh Sameer kahin meri hi sagai mein mujhe joote toh nahi padwa dega?" Pandit asked Munna in a fearful voice.

"Tujhe pad jaayein toh fir bhi chalega... yeh aag teri hone wali ne hi lagayi hai... mera soch... agar mujhe pad gaye toh mera toh woh haal ho jayega... khaya piya kuch nahi, glass toda barah aana." Munna grumbled.

"Abe." Pandit gave him a shocked look.

"Sabse pehle inn dono ki lijiye." Sameer pulled Pandit's arm, gesturing at Preeti to come along.

"Sameer, please, kuch ulta seedha mat karna... taiji agar sabke saamne tumhe kuch kahengi toh main sunn nahi paungi." Naina whispered to him.

"Jaan, tum darr kyon rahi ho? Bharosa rakho... koi kuch nahi kahega." He said in a hushed tone.

She gulped, scared of his confidence.

Next update tomorrow morning