It was bright and sunny outside when Naina and Preeti finally stepped out of their society gate.

"Kaisa laga apna surprise?" Sameer was waiting right there.

"Bohot achha... dono surprise bohot zyada achhe hain." Naina beamed, pointing a finger at him and then joining her thumb and index finger to show her appreciation.

"Jijaji, rakh lo meri behen ko aur achhe se bata lo ek doosre ko ki kaise lag rahe ho... main jaati hun nahi toh mummy ko heart attack aa jayega soch ke ki main aaj bhi mehendi nahi lagwa rahi." Preeti pushed her sister towards Sameer.

She landed on his chest, losing her balance. Sameer's arm came around her, holding her firmly.

"Preeti, pagal hai kya?" She scowled at Preeti, struggling to get away.

Sameer tightened his hold while Preeti sped away, winking at him.

"Chodo na, Sameer, koi dekh lega." Naina's focus went back to him, as her eyes darted around.

They were standing next to the gate. Thick rectangular pillars were put up for decoration and presently they were covered with strings of marigold flowers. Sameer took two steps back, pulling her along.

"Yeh jagah sirf tumhari balcony se dikhegi... aur ghar pe koi hai nahi... toh abhi humein koi nahi dekh sakta." His eyes were fixed on her beautiful face, framed by flying hair.

"Fir bhi, Sameer, koi aa gaya toh aise achha nahi lagega... humein aise chup ke milne ki kya zaroorat hai... hamari shaadi ho gayi hai... ab yeh sab... " Her protests were cut midway as he placed a finger on her lips.

"Woh har pal jab tum mere paas nahi hoti, main tumhe dekhna chahta hu, tumhe choona chahta hu, tumhe apne kareeb mehsoos karna chahta hu... ghar par nahi hain isiliye chup ke mil rahe hain... ghar pe hote toh ab tak main... " This time, her finger was over his lips.

She shook her head, not trusting herself with the words. Whenever he talked like this, goosebumps erupted all over her body. Whatever closeness they shared, it couldn't lessen the effect of every single touch of his... every deep look of those dark eyes. Her heart lurched at his effortlessly handsome looks and his half smile as he admired her. His heady, musky scent stirred her insides. His impatience made her shudder with excitement.

She closed her eyes... hoping it would help calm her racing heart.

"Aankhen kholo, Naina." His low voice reached her.

"Pehle kyon nahi bataya tumne?" He was suddenly upset.

Her eyes shot open, "Kya nahi bataya?"

His lips dropped at the corners, "Main itna bura lag raha hun ki tum mujhe dekhna tak nahi chahti... bata deti toh main change karke aa jaata... abhi kar leta hun."

He turned to leave. She held his arm, making him spin towards her.

"Kisne kaha tum achhe nahi lag rahe... tum bohot, bohot achhe lag rahe ho... isliye aankhen band ki thi maine... tumhe dekh ke dil bekaboo ho raha tha." She ran her palm over his jacket, stopping to fiddle with the pocket square.

"Sachi?" His eyes lit up.

"Muchi." She blinked hard.

His grin got wider, "Bol ke nahi, tareef toh jata ke karte hain."

She placed her fingers on his lips again as he leaned towards her, "Abhi jaane do, Sameer, mehendi lagwani hai... tumhara naam bhi toh chupana hai usmein."

He tried to at least peck her, but she managed to give him a slip, running away as he stood watching her dupatta trail behind her, a soft smile adorning his lips.

"Naina, theek se rakh diye na saare kapde?" Bela's voice made her look up in confusion as she sat next to Preeti.

"Kapde, Naina... kal ke tilak ke liye... jinko sametne ke liye tu ruk gayi thi isliye der se aayi hai." Preeti raised her brows.

Naina rounded her eyes in comprehension, "Oh haan... kapde... tilak ke... rakh diye, chachiji... sab sambhal ke rakh diye."

Bela let out a relieved breath, "Shukr hai... mujhe toh darr hi laga rehta hai kahin kuch gadbad na ho jaaye."

"Bela behen, teesri shaadi hai ghar ki... fir bhi itna ghabrati ho... tum toh kismat wali ho ki sab kuch sikhane samjhane ke liye tumhari jethani bhi tumhare saath hai." One of the ladies from group of relatives remarked.

Taiji had somewhat absorbed the shock of leaving in last few days. Though she was still not her normal self, retorting to everything with bitterness and contempt like before, her basic nature had started to surface in a few scornful remarks. She looked around to be sure that Phulla bua was not anywhere close.

"Aur kya, Lata behen, humne toh hamesha apna farz nibhaya hai... sab kuch sikhane ki koshish ki hai... inn ladkiyon ko apni beti se bhi badh ke maana hai, isliye sanskar aur khandaan ki maryaada ke baare mein sikhate hain." She adjusted her pallu.

"Aap theek keh rahi hain, Bina behen... aapki di hui seekh hai jo ladkiyon ko itna achha sasural mila hai... bachpan se aisi shiksha di hai aapne." The lady praised her more, aware of her fondness for getting importance.

"Yeh baat toh hai, Lata behen... dekhiye na, Naina kitni khush lagti hai... chehre ki chamak se pata chalta hai sasural mein kitna pyar milta hai isse." Another lady chipped in.

Naina lowered her eyes shyly as Preeti nudged her.

Taiji looked at her in disdain, "Hai hi kaun iske sasural mein... akela ladka hai... koi parivar nahi... na koi kehne wala na sunne wala... kismat khul gayi iski jo bada ghar mil gaya warna iski shaadi honi bhi mushkil hi thi... pata nahi uss bholuram mein akal kam hai ya aankhon se kam dikhta hai jo isse shaadi kar li... jiss layak nahi hai usse kahin zyada mil gaya isliye par nikal aaye hain Naina ke... kuch bhi pehen ke ghoomti hai... sharm lihaaz kuch bacha hi nahi."

Naina shot an angry glance at taiji... she was used to hearing about herself but she couldn't tolerate anything against Sameer.

"Aankhen aur dimaag sab sahi hai, taiji, tabhi itni kam umr mein itna bada business sambhal rahein hain Sameer." Her voice was sharp, making taiji give her a furious look.

Before she could snap back, a voice from behind made everyone look in that direction.

"Naina, tum yahan itni dhoop mein aise hi baithi ho? Yeh lo, apne sunglasses tumne car mein chod diye the... main le aaya hun." Sameer walked straight to her, oblivious to the sniggering he had evoked.

There was no direct sunlight over them. Naina was aware of the reason why he got his own sunglasses for her... she could see the seething behind his smile.

"Main mehendi lagwa rahi hu... pehna do zara." She raised her chin, looking directly into his eyes, though the mehendi was just being put on one of her hand.

The anger melted away instantly as he slipped the sunglasses over her nose.

"Damaadji toh kisi rajkumar se kam nahi lagte... aur itni fiqr karte hain Naina ki." Lata behen fondly looked at the two of them.

"Tabhi toh itni khush lagti hai hamari bitiya... itne saal Bina behen ke taane sunne ke baad ab jaake khushiyaan aayi hain iski zindagi mein... bhagwan kare yeh hamesha aise hi khili hui rahe." Other lady whispered in her ear.

All relatives were aware of the nature of Agarwal family members.

"Arre haan, Naina, mummy ka phone aaya tha... tum taiyar ho rahi thi isliye tumse baat nahi ho payi toh mujhe bata diya... woh keh rahi thi shaadi ke liye tum diamond wala set pehenna, woh lamba wala nahi... garmi hai na toh bhari ho jayega... lekin saree wohi pehenna jo unhone pichle hafte Dilli se bhijwayi thi... aur haan... Deepika ne kaha hai bhabhi ki bohot saari photo bhejne ko... toh mehendi lagwane ke baad tumhari photo leni hai mujhe... Dilli bhejne ke liye... sab parivaar wale dekhna chahte hain." Sameer said it loud enough for all ladies to hear it.

Taiji's face fell at the mention of jewellery.

"Aapki mummy ne khud saree bheji hai Naina ke liye?" Lata behen could not help but ask.

Sameer turned to the lady with a triumphant smile, "Jee auntyji... mummy khud nahi aa paayi isliye unhone kapde aur zevar bhijwa diye the apne manager ke haath... Naina jitne bhi kapde yahan pehen rahi hai mummy ne khud pasand karke khareede hain uske liye... unka kehna hai ki waise toh Naina pe sab kuch achha lagta hai par ab usse kuch naye fashion ke kapde bhi try karne chahiye... aur Deepika toh kehti hai ki bhabhi kisi heroine se kam nahi lagti."

"Sirf kapde dene koi Dilli se aaya tha?" Another voice asked with open incredulity.

"Jee, manager subah ki flight se aake shaam ko chala gaya tha... Dilli door hi kitna hai agar by air jao toh." Sameer answered nonchalantly.

A few gasps could be heard at the picture of affluence he was painting.

Naina bit the inside of her cheek, to stop herself from laughing. Preeti did the same.

"Khud kyon nahi aa paayi aapki mummy... aakhir bete ke sasural ka pehla function tha." One of the ladies sitting near taiji jeered.

Sameer turned at her with the same soft smile, though Naina could see his fingers curling into the palm as he tried to control his anger.

"Auntyji, hamare ghar mein bhi taiji ki tarah badon ka ashirwaad hai... meri daadi ka... taiji ki hi tarah wohi samjhati hain sab kaise karna hai... lekin abhi unki tabiyat kharab hai.... hospital mein hai... isliye mummy nahi aa payi." His smooth voice hit the right chord as a chuckle could be heard amongst the ladies.

Comparison with taiji left no doubt in anybody's mind regarding his dadi.

"Tum log kya baatein bana rahe ho baithe, baithe? Abhi tak mehendi lagi nahi sabki?" Phulla bua's voice resonated with authority.

All eyes turned to her as she entered along with Pooja didi.

"Buaji, aap kahan gayi thi? Kabse nahi dikhi." Lata behen asked.

"Main zara Pooja ke saath bazaar gayi thi... lekin yahan kya chal raha hai?" Phulla bua looked at Sameer.

Her experienced eyes immediately sensed the anger he was trying to hide. She glanced at taiji who was shifting nervously in her place, adjusting her pallu. It did not take her long to understand that she was again targeting Naina.

"Kuch nahi, buaji... hum sab Naina ke sasural ke baare mein baat kar rahe the." Lata behen explained.

"Kyon? Nazar laga rahi ho kya? Meri gudiya ko itna achha sasural mila hai aur yeh hero jaisa pati." Phulla bua chided them in a frivolous tone.

Sameer was relaxed... now that Phulla bua was here, taiji could not throw any venom at his Naina.

He started to leave when bua dadi stopped him, "Tu kya ladkiyon ki tarah sharma ke bhaag raha hai... tu nahi lagwayega  mehendi?"

Sameer looked at her with wide eyes.

"Naina ne lagai hai toh tujhe bhi lagani chahiye na? Yaad hai, Mumbai mein tune hi kaha tha mujhse ki bua dadi, main Naina ke liye woh sab karunga jo woh mere liye karegi... jab uske liye vrat rakh sakta hai toh mehendi nahi laga sakta?" Phulla bua looked at him intently.

"Maine bhi pucha tha, bua dadi, Sameer ne kaha unko lagwani hai... bas yahan sabka ho jaaye fir lagaa lenge." Naina surprised him again.

"O bai, yeh kya ab naya riwaaz nikalenge? Ladke bas apni shaadi mein lagate hain mehendi... har vrat, tyohaar ya doosron ki shaadi mein nahi." Taiji couldn't stop herself from retorting.

"Yeh fir boli." Phulla bua gave a disgruntled look to taiji, "Bina, tujhe prem, pyar ki bhasha toh samajh aati nahi hai... har baat mein muh khol kar kam se kam apni akal ka saboot toh mat diya kar."

"O bai, yeh toh koi mauka nahi chodti meri izzat ka falooda karne ka... kaise rahungi inke pados mein." Taiji murmured to herself, flushed with embarrassment as some ladies laughed at her.

"Sameer, aa jaa, tujhe main khud lagaungi mehendi... dekhti hun kiske pet mein dard hota hai." Phulla bua gestured at him, picking up a mehendi cone.

He happily sat next to her, opening his palm. She drew a small flower, along with the initials of their names. He beamed.

"Pata hai mujhe tu yehi banwana chahta tha... ek baar tumhare dost ki shaadi se laute the tum dono toh dekha tha maine yeh design tere haath mein." She chuckled at his elation.

"Aap best ho, bua dadi." He was thrilled.

"Chal ab yeh camera leke jo ghoom raha hai, kheech le photo apni heroine ki." She pinched his cheek.

Sameer glanced in her direction. Her hands looked beautiful. At the same moment, she turned to her side to look at him. Though her eyes were hidden behind dark glasses, he knew her gaze was directed at him. He picked up the camera, indicating at the garden with a flick of his head.

Naina would have not accepted had it not been for taiji's bitter words about him. Just to scorn her more, she cheerfully followed him to the adjacent garden where Sameer clicked her several pictures.

They both were aware of the number of appreciative glances... but a few disapproving ones were what made Naina more determined.

Soon, everyone had got their palms decorated with the patterns of dark green. Preeti had got her feet, till a little above ankles, also covered with intricate designs. Now she sat with a scrunched nose.

"Naina, sun na, mere muh pe roomal bandh de... itni saari mehendi ki itni saari mehek se mere sar mein dard ho gaya hai." She whined.

Naina grinned, winking at her,

'Ibteda e ishq hai rota hai kya
aage aage dekhiye hota hai kya.'

Yes, the effect of yesterday's episode is clouding my mind...

Next update tomorrow morning