"Preeti, yeh Swati ko bhi abhi jaana tha Munna ke paas? Uske bina kitna adhura sa lag raha hai." Naina was sad about their friend not being a part of this celebration.

Preeti curled her lips sadly, "Achha toh mujhe bhi nahi laga jab pata chala ki woh nahi hogi lekin Vishakha aunty ne jab humein phone kiya tab tak Swati jaa chuki thi. Aur aaj hi unki nayi shop ki pooja thi isliye woh wapas bhi nahi aa paayi."

Naina twitched her mouth, "Upar se yeh Sonali aur Rahul. Che mahine ke liye gaye the London ab saat mahine ho gaye hain lekin ab tak nahi aaye. Jaise mere function ke liye kisi ke paas time hi nahi hai."

Preeti pressed her hand, "Kaisi baatein kar rahi hai, Naina? Tujhe pata toh hai Rahul aur Sonali ek saath jo course kar rahe hain usse unke business ko kitni help hogi. Aur phone kiya tha na Sonali ne jaane se pehle... ab toh wapas aane wale hain kuch dinon mein. Tu fiqr mat kar, teri beti ko jam ke bigadne ke liye uski saari maasiyan yahan hongi."

Naina smacked her shoulder lightly, "Koshish bhi mat karna. Sameer kam hai kya jo tum log bhi yehi kaam karoge."

"Yeh kaam hum hi kar lenge... jijaji ko tere paas chod denge... aakhir teri beti ko bhi toh bhai ya behen chahiye hoga na." Preeti nudged her shoulder, winking.

"Chup kar." Naina blushed to the roots.

Before Preeti could tease her more, a gentle voice interrupted them, "Bhabhiji, aap log thoda yahan dekhiye. Kuch photos leni hain."

They looked up at a boy who was holding a video camera, and a man in monkey cap, with a still camera in front of his face.

Preeti immediately put up a hand, "Ruko bhaiya, aise kaise bina bataye photo lene lage ho. Zara achhe se pose toh karne do."

Pandit visibly flinched, turning to the side as he brought the camera down.

"Ab le lo." Her voice a few seconds later made him give a side glance at the sisters.

Preeti had her arm linked with Naina, leaning on her shoulder with a wide grin. Without lifting his eyes to look directly at them, he placed the camera in front of his eyes and started clicking. They gave various poses, brightly smiling at him... though none of them looked at him. Ajay, meanwhile made a video of them, talking in between the pictures being taken... capturing the natural warmth between them.

Preeti stopped Pandit when he turned to move away, "Suno bhaiya, zara meri kuch photo akele wali le lo... woh... mujhe chahiye."

He clenched his teeth, boiling at being called bhaiya, unable to realise that she wanted these pictures only for him. Giving the camera to Ajay, he whispered something, and walked away.

Preeti scrunched her nose, "Inhe kya hua?"

Ajay quickly adjusted the camera, "Ku... kuch nahi, bhabhiji, woh zara paani pine gaye hain."

Sameer was about to leave the kitchen with a tray full of snacks when Pandit landed at the door with blazing eyes. Keeping the tray aside, Sameer pulled him inside.

"Kya hua? Pehchan liya kya?" He asked in an anxious voice.

Pandit glared at him, "Soch raha hun khud hi bata dun Preeti ko. Kam se kam har do minute mein bhaiya toh nahi kahegi."

Sameer stared at him, flabbergasted.

Pandit fumed, "Bhaiya, aise le lo, bhaiya yahan se kheencho, bhaiya yeh, bhaiya woh... lagta hai aur aadhe ghante mein rakhi bandhne ko taiyar ho jayegi."

Sameer tried to control the laughter bubbling inside him at Pandit's mimicry, "Shaant ho ja, Pandit. Ab usse kya pata... woh toh sabko hi aise bolti hai na."

"Par mujhe kaise bol sakti hai... main toh pati hun uska." Pandit whined.

Sameer patted his shoulder, "Lekin usse kahan pata hai ki iss nakli chehre ke peeche kaun hai... tujhe toh khush hona chahiye ki usne nahi pehchana. Matlab tera getup pass ho gaya."

Ramdhari came over to pacify him, "Sochiye bhaiya..."

"Bhaiya mat bol." Pandit angrily pointed a finger at him.

Ramdhari gaped at him, "Lekin hamare toh bhaiya hi hain aap."

Pandit slapped the back of his head, "Arre haan. Achha tu bol le."

Sameer stalled Ramdhari with a hand, gesturing at him to continue his work. When he went back to making the cold coffee, Sameer narrated the incident of his first phone call to Naina in college, from his hostel to hers... when he had told the warden that he was her brother. And he had called up again that night, mentioning the same relation.

Pandit widened his eyes, "O teri. Tune aisa kaha? Lekin kaise..."

Sameer showed him his crossed fingers, "Aise karke bol diya. Uss waqt mere liye Naina ki awaaz sunne se zyada zaroori kuch nahi tha. Aaj bhi hamare liye inn sabke beech rehna zaroori hai toh inn baaton pe zyada dhyan mat de. Jab bhi Preeti bhaiya bole, tu ungliyaan aise kar lena."

Pandit looked at his crossed fingers and sighed, crossing his own, "Preeti toh itni baar bolegi ki shayad mujhe aise karke tape laga leni chahiye ungaliyon pe."

Ramdhari gave him a glass of cold water. Gulping it down in one go, Pandit went out. With a deep breath, Sameer picked up the snacks and slowly walked out into the hall. Ramdhari followed him with a tray of glasses filled with juice, cold coffee, lassi and soft drinks.

Naina and Preeti were chatting with few younger women at the far end. Feeling the warmth that she was so used to, Naina looked up towards the passage that led to their bedroom. It was empty. She chewed her lip. In the room full of ladies, she could still feel Sameer even though he wasn't visible. Once again, she looked out for any woman with covered head... it was quite possible that he dressed up as one and tried to gain entry. There was no such woman... moreover, he would have easily been identified had he tried that, because of his height. She smiled, recalling the time when she had made him wear lehenga in a showroom.

Sameer moved around, offering the snacks to ladies. Hardly anyone glanced at him, only checking out the food items before picking up what interested them. His hands shook a little when he extended the tray towards Vishakha.

After taking a piece of mathri, she pointed in the direction of Naina and Preeti, "Aisa karo, Raju, bhabhiyon ke liye ek plate mein sab kuch daal ke unke paas hi rakh do."

He nodded, quickly moving away.

Naina was listening to another girl tell about her wedding when she felt the familiar scent around her, closer this time. She lifted her head to scan the room. Though her eyes couldn't locate him, she knew Sameer was here... close by.

Sameer noticed her looking around, and quickly lowered his head... though, with great difficulty. He walked towards her hesitantly, clutching the tray.

Preeti excitedly saw him approaching, "Le aao bhaiya, bohot bhook lagi hai."

Sameer held his breath as he offered the eats to them, hoping Naina doesn't address him the same way. It was another thing to pacify Pandit but if Naina called him 'bhaiya', he wasn't sure he could take it.

Naina inhaled deeply, narrowing her eyes as she again searched the room. She could feel him... close, very close. She glanced at the curtains, wondering if he was hiding there... but they seemed flat... all of them.

Preeti touched her arm, "Kya dhoond rahi hai, behen? Agar jijaji ko dekhna hai toh abhi intezar karna padega."

"Chup kar, Preeti. Aisa kuch nahi hai." Naina chided her.

Sameer instantly looked up, smiling at the colour rising on her cheeks.

"Chal kuch kha le... itni der tak bina khaye rehna theek nahi hai." Preeti's voice made him lower his head again.

Absent mindedly, Naina lifted her hand to pick up dhokla, her eyes searching for the presence that she could feel distinctively around her.

It all happened at the same time.

Her fingers brushed against his hand at the edge of the tray... his eyes shot up... her head jerked to look at him as the touch gave her familiar shivering sensation.

Their eyes met for a brief second before he quickly lowered them again, his heart pounding hard against his chest.

The touch was enough for her to know... a fraction of second glance into those black eyes was another confirmation. With a crooked smile, her eyes roamed over him, hand still in the plate. She was indeed impressed with the efforts he had taken to hide his identity.

"Nahi, mujhe yeh sab nahi chahiye. Aur kya hai kitchen mein?" She left the dhokla, drawing her hand back and wiping her fingers with the napkin delicately, watching him see her action from the corner of his eyes.

He stood silent.

Preeti peered into the tray, biting into a sandwich, "Itna kuch toh hai, Naina. Aur kya khana hai tujhe?"

Her eyes fixed on him, she scrunched her nose, "Yeh sab khane ka man nahi hai. Mujhe kuch aur chahiye."

Preeti leaned towards her, lowering her voice, "Behen, restaurant mein order nahi kar rahi hai tu jo kuch bhi bol degi... yehi sab bana hai toh yehi milega na. Kuch kha le warna ek baar pooja shuru hui toh aise hi baithna padega function ke khatam hone tak."

Naina dipped her head at her sister's advice, looking back at Sameer, "Tum batao kya sabse achha hai isme... umm, naam kya hai tumhara?"

Sameer lowered his head even more, his heart thundering so hard that it was difficult to hear any other sound, except her voice.

Preeti's voice floated again, "Tu yahan interview lene aayi hai kya, Naina? Itni der se bina kuch khaye baithi hai, behen... chal main tere liye plate laga deti hun."

Naina held her hand, flicking her brows at Sameer, "Nahi Preeti, tu rehne de. Inka kaam hai na, yeh laga denge."

Preeti gave a shocked look to her sister. It was absolutely unlike Naina to order servants or tell them their work. She looked at the person in front of them. He wasn't their regular help either. She was sure he was a temporary arrangement, only for today.

Taking a plate, Preeti piled up a few eatables and looked back at the tall yet apparently nervous man, "Bhaiya, aap jao."

Naina chuckled as he quickly turned and rushed towards the kitchen.

"Suno Raju, idhar zara cutlets do." Vishakha called out, pointing at two ladies sitting on the other side.

After serving them, and a few more, he stole a glance at Naina. Thankfully, she was talking to Preeti... but still not eating.

A voice interrupted his thoughts, "Arre, kahan khoye ho? Tumse hi pooch rahi hun... ismein moongfali toh nahi hai na? Mujhe allergy hai."

Sameer looked at the lady in front of him, not able to recognize her... his eyes raced between the cutlets and her face. He had no idea about the ingredients.

"Main... main abhi... woh Ram... matlab woh bhaiya... abhi..." He fumbled, turning to look at Ramdhari who came running, answering the query of the lady.

When she made a face at Sameer, Ramdhari quickly placed a hand on his arm, smiling politely at the lady, "Madam ji, hamara bhai naya naya gaon se aaya hai, isliye sharmata hai. Pehle kabhi yeh sab kiya nahi na. Aap aaram se khaiye... moongfali kisi cheez mein nahi hai."

Naina's eyes had been following Sameer wherever he went, moving only for a few seconds when Preeti asked her something. His alias was Raju, she gathered. He had taken care of everything... his hair, his complexion, hidden the smile under a moustache, he was even walking with a little hunch... she was amazed at the details of his disguise. Vishakha and Preeti, in spite of looking at him and even after talking, couldn't recognise. He indeed looked like a scared, docile, ignorant villager.

When she saw Ramdhari helping him, she instantly knew it was a joint plan.

Sameer kept watching Naina as he went about serving others... but did not go near her again. He wasn't sure she had recognised him or not, but he didn't want to take a chance.

Vishakha went to the photographer, and directly addressed Pandit, "Tum yahan light wagerah set kar lo, ab hum function shuru kar rahein hain. Achhe se cover karna, baad mein kuch gadbad hui toh payment nahi karungi. Aur haan, angle ka khyal rakhna... aisa na ho ki Naina Preeti ke chehre nazar hi na aaye aur tum unke samne khade hue logon ki hi phote lete raho."

Ajay shook his head quickly, "Nahi mam, aap bilkul tension mat lijiye. Video se aapko koi shikayat nahi hogi... aur photo," he swallowed, looking at Pandit, then smiled brightly at Vishakha, "photo mein toh Shekhar bhaiya expert hain."

Nodding, Vishakha went away.

Ajay turned to Pandit, "Bhaiya ji, please dhyan rakhna. Waise main koshish karunga ki video camera set karke aapko pakda dun jisse main photo le sakun."

Pandit thumped his back, "Yaar tu itna pareshan mat ho. Aunty ko chehre chahiye na... hamari nazar toh khud ussi chehre pe atki hai, bhai."

Ajay wiped his forehead, "Lekin mam ko dono chehre chahiye... aap... aap kar loge?"

Pandit pulled up his collar, "Tune abhi Pandit ka kamaal dekha hi kahan hai. Woh toh kuch mahino se samose nahi mile isliye thodi kamzori hai warna teri chutti karke main akela hi video aur photo sambhal leta."

The commotion around the sitting area halted their conversation, and they immediately moved in front of Naina and Preeti.

The girls were sitting on separate comfortable chairs, with some distance between them. Vishakha held the pooja thali, ready to perform the aarti for Naina. Her eyes searched the room.

Before Vishakha could begin, Naina started to cough.

"Naina, beta kya hua?" Vishakha worriedly leaned to check.

Naina looked up, speaking in a choked voice, "Ra... Raju... paani."

Vishakha hollered towards the kitchen, "Raju, paani la jaldi se."

Sameer ran out with a glass of water. It took all his willpower to not sit next to her and make her drink. However, his eyes popped out when Naina grazed his fingers while taking the glass.

She took one sip, and held back the glass to him.

Vishakha stroked her head, "Ab theek lag raha hai?"

She nodded.

Looking at Sameer, Vishakha waved her hand, "Tum jao."

"Nahi." Naina's sharp voice made everyone stare at her in amazement, including Sameer.

Without looking at him, she rubbed her throat, "Mummy, gale mein kuch ajeeb sa ho raha hai. Baar baar paani chahiye toh kitni baar awaaz lagayenge Raju ko. Isse glass ke saath yahin rehne dijiye. Mujhe jab bhi chahiye hoga yeh foran paani de dega."

Vishakha glanced at him before nodding. Sameer kept his head lowered for now, knowing that most of the ladies would be looking at him. If he had any doubt, Naina's gesture made it fly out of the window... she knew it was him... for sure.

He watched as Vishakha performed aarti, putting a tika on Naina's forehead, and placed a few gifts in her lap.

Kissing her forehead, she gave a loving smile, "Bhagwan kare tumhara aane wala bachha, chahe woh beta ho ya beti, bilkul tum dono ki tarah ho... itna hi pyara, masoom aur bhola."

"Vishakha ji, Sameer ke jaisa hua toh bhola nahi ho sakta... uski shararatein dekhi hain humne." One lady chuckled.

Vishakha widened her eyes at her, "Arre aisa kya dekha aapne? Sameer toh bohot seedha sa hai."

A few ladies laughed while the one who spoke earlier answered, "Preeti ki shaadi mein hi dekha tha humne. Apni biwi ka pallu chodta nahi hai ek minute bhi. Bas Naina ke peeche, peeche lattoo banke ghoomta hai... aur iske aage kya batayein, aap apne bete se hi pooch lena."

A loud laughter erupted in the room. Naina turned beetroot at the memories of that time. Sameer chewed his lip, stealing a glance at her. His gaze got stuck at her blushing face.

Preeti chipped in with a teasing smile, "Aunty, jijaji ka bas chale toh Naina ko ek second ke liye bhi apni nazaron se door na jaane dein."

One lady raised her brows, "Aisa hai toh dekho zara, kahin ghoonghat nikal ke hamare beech mein hi toh nahi aa baitha chupke se."

Everyone, including Vishakha, quickly looked around. Pandit and Sameer looked at each other... and Pandit rolled his eyes.

Naina placed a hand on Vishakha's arm, "Aap chinta mat kijiye, mummy. Sameer aise ghoonghat mein kahin nahi hai."

Vishakha nodded, and sat down with other ladies. A mischievous smile played on Naina's lips when Sameer looked at her from the corner of his eye. But she didn't turn in his direction. He breathed in relief... she was in the game too.

Preeti again leaned towards her, "Waise behen, aaj jijaji ne mujhe hairan kar diya. Main toh kabse soch rahi thi ki bas abhi dikh jayenge yahi kahin. Kaise maan gaye woh itni der tak tere bina rehne ko?"

"Preeti ki bachhi." Naina gritted her teeth before her eyes lifted to glance at Sameer.

This time, he gave a lopsided smirk, dipping his head.

His breath got stuck in the throat as she winked.

I thought I'd be able to wrap up Godhbharai in today's update but in spite of keeping it so long, couldn't do it. So you'll get the next part tomorrow.

Daily updates start from now.