After breakfast, Naina helped Sameer prepare the tables for the information that was provided in the file. The volume of file was considerably reduced once the data appeared in the form that she displayed.

"Itni badi problem ko tumne kaise chutkiyon mein suljha diya, Naina... agar tum office aana shuru kar dogi toh mujhe yakeen hai tum hamari bohot madad kar sakti ho." Sameer stretched back on the chair once their work was completed.

She smiled, securing all papers in the old file, "Agar main office aaungi toh meri writing ka kya hoga?"

"Tum meri topper biwi ho, tum sab kuch kar sakti ho." He took the file from her hands, keeping it on one side.

"Ab zyada makhan mat lagao... main jaise jaanti nahi ki kyon bula rahe ho mujhe office mein." She stood up from her chair, tying up her hair in a loose bun.

His one pull made her land straight in his lap, making her let out a loud gasp.

"Abhi lag jaati mujhe toh?" She showed fake annoyance.

"Main lagne deta kya tumhe? Ek kharoch bhi nahi aane dunga." He rubbed her nose with his.

"Hato... aaye bade... jaise har waqt tumhari god mein hi baithi rahungi." She pushed at his chest.

"Aapki yehi ichha hai, madam, toh aaj poora din aapko aise hi utha ke rakhunga... mujhe koi problem nahi hai... mere liye toh yeh mauka kisi inaam se kam nahi hai." He said in a husky voice, giving her a mischievous smile.

Her heart jumped wildly as he stood up, holding her in his arms.

"Sameer, neeche utaro mujhe." She clutched his tshirt.

"Daro nahi, ghumaunga nahi... mujhe pata hai tumhe chakkar aa jaate hain... bas aise hi rakhunga... meri biwi ka hukm hai." He leaned towards her face.

She placed her fingers on his lips, "Zyada smart mat bano... abhi utaro neeche... yeh bhi biwi ka hukm hai."

His smile was sly against her fingers, "Ab saare hukm thodi manunga... kuch toh meri biwi bhi manegi na."

She gave him an exasperated look.

"Uff, inn aankhon mein toh pehle hi dooba hua hun... aise dekhogi toh kho hi jaunga." He uttered in a theatrical style.

She giggled at his histrionics, "Tumhe na filmon mein hona chahiye... acting achhi kar lete ho."

"Mujhe acting nahi aati... jo karta hun dil se karta hun... sirf tumhare liye." He said lovingly, looking deep into her eyes.

The black orbs held a pool of love... and her face reflected in the center of it. She could feel his heart beating under her hand... much faster than normal.

Each time they were close to each other was like a new feeling... it was like all those previous moments did not happen between them. Each time brought the same fluttering of heart, the same swarming of butterflies in the belly, the same tightening of muscles, the same warmth surging through the veins, the same adoration for each other, the same tenderness at the touch, the same ardour to get more...

They just did not seem to have enough of each other.

After lunch, Sameer asked Naina about taiji's schedule as Preeti wanted them to be at home when the news was revealed to her.

"Main abhi puchti hun Preeti se. Taiji toh kal aa gayi par usne kaha ki chachaji pehle khud hi baat karenge. Unhone kaha taiji tumhe dekh ke kahin fir se darr ke na bhaag jayein." She chuckled.

Sameer did not mind having this effect on the most irritating person in their family.

As she went towards the phone, it started to ring.

"Hello Naina, aaj subah taiji aur taiji se baat ki papa ne." Preeti almost whispered in the phone.

"Tu itni dheere kyon bol rahi hai?" Naina was trying hard to grasp what she was saying.

"Arre behen, chai ka time hai... aur tujhe lagta hai iss time taiji yahan nahi hongi? Baithi hain bahar, apna O bai, O bai ka puraan leke... chai ka intezar karte hue... isliye dheere dheere baat kar rahi hun." Preeti leaned back a little to make sure no one was in the hearing range.

"Taiji aa gayi hain wapas toh har khane peene ke time yahin milengi... tu woh sab chod... bata kitna bada drama hua." Naina was sure taiji and taiji must have created a big ruckus.

"Pooch mat... jo tamasha kiya taiji ne... matlab tu yahan hoti na toh khush ho jaati ki sirf tere hi peeche nahi padti woh... aaj kya kya sunaya hai mujhe... matlab mazaa hi aa gaya, behen." Preeti let out an excited squeal, though in a subdued voice.

Naina rounded her eyes, "Preeti, tu na pehle decide karle tujhe drama chahiye ya nahi... jab chachaji naraaz hue the toh tere hosh udd gaye the aur ab taiji gussa dikha rahi hain toh tere liye kya picture chal rahi hai jo itni khush ho rahi hai?"

She could hear Preeti's suppressed laugh.

"Behen, taiji ki baatein sunegi toh tujhe bhi lagega koi picture hi hai." She whispered before starting to give a detailed account of what happened at home.

Taiji had come back from her brother's house on Saturday night. Though she and her family had dinner with Anand and Bela, he had decided to break the news of Preeti's alliance to them next morning.

As expected, taiji was back in their house early, sniffing for the special Sunday breakfast of stuffed paranthas.

"Arre waah Bela, iss baar paneer ke paranthe... lagta hai Anand babu ne koi nayi company ka hisaab kitaab shuru kar diya." She settled on the dining chair, greedily breaking a piece.

Anand smiled.

Bela came out with another parantha in a plate, "Yeh toh aapke swaagat ke liye banaye hai bhabhiji... kitne dino baad aapko apne haath ka khaana khila rahi hun... sach, mujhe toh aapki bohot yaad aati thi jab bhi kuch achha banati thi."

Taiji raised one brow at her, "Tu achha bhi banati hai? Humein toh kabhi nahi khilaya... chal jaa, makhan leke aa... kaise sukhe sukhe se paranthe hain."

Bela twisted her mouth, giving her a disgruntled look before leaving while muttering under her breath, "Makhan hi toh laga rahi thi... lekin inko aur bhi chahiye... paranthe pe bhi."

After breakfast was done, tauji relaxed on the sofa with the newspaper while taiji spread her sizeable frame on the swing, taking sips of cardamon tea.

Anand looked at Bela who was nervously standing holding the back of dining chair. She pursed her lips and dipped her head.

With a deep breath, Anand looked back at his brother, "Bhai sahab, aapse aur bhabhiji se kuch baat karni thi."

"Haan bolo Anand." He didn't look up from the newspaper.

"Preeti ke liye ek rishta aaya hai... yahin Ahmedabad se." Anand said while looking at both his elders simultaneously.

"Achha? Ahmedabad se? Kaun hain? Tumhare bhaisahab jaante hi honge agar achha ghar hai toh." Taiji was all keen to know.

Tauji kept the newspaper aside, "Kaun log hain? Tumne pata karwaya kuch unke baare mein? Kaam kya karte hain? Ladka kuch naukri ya business karta hai na?"

Feeling a little nervous with so many questions, Anand rubbed his palms together before answering, "Ladka Sameer ka dost hai... aur Naina Preeti ke saath bachpan se ussi school mein padha hai... Preeti toh college mein bhi uske saath thi... uske mata pita bohot suljhe huye aur shareef log hain... unka achha khaasa business hai... ladka bhi ab apne papa ke saath sirf kaam sambhal hi nahi raha, balki kaam ko badha raha hai."

Taiji's eyes had started widening at the mention of Sameer's name, and by the time Anand ended, the eyes were as big as saucers.

"O bai, yeh ladki bhi uss karamjali ke nakshe kadam pe chal padi?" Her bewildered expression left no doubt about her thoughts towards this alliance.

"Yeh kya kar rahe ho tum, Anand? Khandaan ki izzat ka koi khyaal hai ki nahi? Chalo Naina toh tumhari apni beti nahi thi... par Preeti... woh toh khud ki beti hai na... uske liye... " Tauji started with a frown, only to be cut short by a respectful but firm voice.

"Naina hamari hi beti hai, bhaisahab... humne usme aur Preeti mein kabhi farq nahi samjha." Bela retorted without looking directly at him.

"Yeh sab kehne ki baatein hain, bahu... sab jaante hain Naina ke baare mein... arre, uske apne baap ne usse apna nahi samjha toh kaun tum aur kaun hum." Tauji dismissed her with a wave of hand.

Anand got up to go and stand with Bela, speaking as softly as his surging anger allowed him, "Bela ne theek kaha hai, bhaisahab... Naina, Preeti aur Pooja hamare liye ek samaan hain... kam se kam humne unhe hamesha apni hi betiyaan maana hai."

"O bai, tumhare kehne ka matlab hai humne nahi maana? Hum toh hamesha se iss parivaar ke liye khud ko bhi ghiste rahe chandan ki tarah... aur inko koi ahsaas hi nahi hai." Taiji angrily adjusted her pallu on the head, shifting heavily on the swing to be able to look at Bela and Anand.

"Bhabhiji, baat Naina ki nahi, Preeti ki ho rahi hai... uske rishte ki." Anand tried to steer her from her favourite topic.

"Anand, ladka Preeti ne khud pasand kiya hai?" Tauji asked in a heavy voice.

"Pandit ke mata pita aaye the rishta leke... humne unse baat ki aur Pandit se bhi... humein woh log bilkul sahi lage Preeti ke liye." Anand carefully put across the scenario.

"Aapke bhaisahab pooch rahe hain ki Preeti bhi uss maharani ki tarah prem vivah karna chahti hai kya?" Taiji could not keep the jealousy out of her voice.

"Preeti aur Pandit jaante hain ek doosre ko lekin shaadi hum log tay kar rahe hain... Sameer ne bataya hai yeh rishta." Anand played with words again, knowing how his conservative elders would react if he told them that Preeti and Pandit loved each other.

Taiji gulped at the mention of his name again, making the swing lurch dangerously as she shifted again. Bela glanced at the hooks on ceiling, pitying them as she silently said sorry to them.

"Tumhara dimaag kharab ho gaya hai... itni tarakki toh kisi ne nahi ki hogi jitni tum dikhane pe tule ho... hum log muh dikhane layak nahi rahenge samaaj mein." Tauji roared.

Anand was unfazed, "Bhaisahab, samaaj ko agar hamare bachhon ko khush dekh ke takleef hoti hai toh aise samaaj ki parwaah nahi hai mujhe... aur waise bhi... mere bachhon ne aisa koi kaam nahi kiya jisse koi bhi unpe ungli utha sake... Sameer se achha ladka Naina ke liye main toh kya yeh poora samaaj bhi nahi dhoond sakta tha... aur ab Preeti ke chunaav pe mujhe utni hi khushi hai kyonki Pandit bhi Sameer ki tarah bohot samajhdaar aur pyar karne wala ladka hai."

"Aapki isi choot ne bigaada hai ladkiyon ko... aur iss Bela ki TV mein ghusse rehne ki aadat ne... ab jawan ladkiyon ko yeh sab wahiyat filmein dikhaoge toh aisa hi anjaam hoga." Taiji snorted angrily at Bela.

"Aapko bina dekhe kaise pata yeh filmen wahiyat hoti hain, bhabhiji? Kya aap chupke chupke dekhti hain?" Bela couldn't keep her inquisitiveness at bay.

"Chup kar... mujhme abhi lihaaz aur sharm baaki hai." Taiji again pulled at her pallu.

"Dikhti toh nahi." Bela muttered under her breath.

"Bina, yeh faaltu ki baatein band karo," Tauji snubbed his wife, looking back at Anand, "Aur tum, sun lo, Preeti ki shaadi hum tay karenge... uske bade... woh khud yeh sab karne ke layak nahi hai."

"Bhaisahab, shaadi maine tay kar di hai." Anand said in a stiff voice.

"O bai, tay kardi ka kya matlab? Badon se pucha tak nahi aur faisla le liya? Yeh izzat hai aapke bhaisahab ki aapki nazron mein? Yeh sab uss jali kundali ka sikhaya hua hai... iss Preeti ko bhi besharam bana diya... kahan hai yeh ladki... Preeti o Preeti... bahar aa issi waqt." Taiji hollered.

Preeti stepped out of her room. She had been listening to the entire conversation without much surprise. Taiji had not disappointed her, speaking all dialogues that she had predicted to herself. Tauji had also brought up the same arguments like those villian type relatives in movies.

Taiji slid off the swing, walking to her quickly.

"Zara si ladki hai aur shouk aise lage hain... kya lagta hai tujhe... apne inn andhe maa baap ko bewakoof bana sakti hai... mujhe nahi... udti chidiya ke par gin sakti hun... tere lakshan mujhe college se hi theek nahi lag rahe the." She grasped Preeti's shoulder, shaking her hard.

"Lekin taiji, college mein toh aisa kuch nahi tha." Preeti looked up at her innocently.

Taiji's eyes widened at her impertinence. She looked at her parents in shock, but they seemed to be unaffected by their daughter's brashness.

"Tu mujhe sikhayegi ab... besharmi ki hadd hoti hai... yeh nain matakka iss parivaar mein toh chalega nahi... sunn le ladki, hamare khandan ki ladkiyan wahin shaadi karti hain jahan maa baap kehte hain... aur agar maa baap iss layak na ho toh ghar ke bade yeh faisla lete hain... teri shaadi bhi wahin hogi jahan tere tauji aur main chahenge... kyonki tere maa baap dikha chuke ki unki toh akal modern banne ke chakkar mein khatam ho chuki hai." Taiji gave a scornful look to Bela and Anand, digging her fingers in Preeti shoulder.

Today's update is unedited... will check later and make the corrections.... please let me know if you spot anything that needs to be fixed

Next update tomorrow morning