After the usual poses were given, Sameer asked Pandit to stand closer to Preeti.

"Abe, pitwayega kya?" Pandit scoffed.

"Sab khana khane mein lage hain... koi nahi dekh raha." Sameer winked.

Pandit realised that he was right. Mostly people were on the other side, and whatever few were still in this portion were either eating from the plates they were smart enough to fill up right in the beginning or were craning their necks eagerly to look for an opening.

"Soch kya raha hai... teri sagai hui hai aaj... chal jaldi se khichwa fir Munna Swati ki bhi khichwani hai." Sameer impelled Pandit.

"Jijaji, tauji ne dekh liya toh shayad... " Preeti hesitated.

"Saaliji, aap unki chinta mat karo... woh aur taiji idhar nahi aane wale." Sameer reassured her.

"Tumhe kaise pata?" Naina eyed him suspiciously.

He took out the hanky from his pocket, opened one fold and pressed it to his mouth. No one could understand the reason... however, Naina's eyes went wide.

"Mujhe pata hai kyonki maine hi bheja hai taiji ko khana khane... na woh khud dikhengi na tauji ko hamare aas paas aane dengi." He lifted his eyes to give her a meaningful look.

"Sameer, tu baar baar muh kyon saaf kar raha hai?" Munna was seeing him with the hanky for third time.

"Woh kuch khaya tha... toh socha saaf kar lun... kuch laga reh gaya toh photo mein bura lagega." He pocketed the handkerchief nonchalantly.

The photographer asked Pandit to kneel in front of Preeti, his fingers around her ring, if that was okay with them.

They complied. Next, he asked them to stand holding hands, looking into each other's eyes.

Few more pictures later, Sameer asked Munna to get clicked with Swati. Since his parents were also not around, he shyly posed as the photographer suggested.

"Sameer, please batao na, tumne kya kiya... kyon itna yakeen hai ki taiji yahan nahi aayengi?" Naina looked back at the guests before tugging his arm again.

He smirked, "Taiji ko Mumbai jaane ka khauf toh pehle se hi hai... maine thoda jhatka aur de diya... jitne din yahan rahengi, dari hui hi rahengi."

"Par kiya kya?" She was keen to know.

Flashback starts

Sameer went towards the ladies to ask them to have dinner.

"Taiji, aap itni chup kyon hain? Aur sabse alag bhi baithi hain... shayad aapko akelapan lag raha hai." He stopped in front of taiji who was sitting alone on a chair in one of the last rows.

"Nahi, nahi... main bas woh... kuch soch rahi thi." She came out of the thoughts that were frightening her... the thoughts of staying in Mumbai.

"Jee, samajh sakta hun... aapko lag raha hoga ki jab aap Mumbai chali jayengi toh hum sabki kitni yaad aayegi aapko." He said wistfully.

"Bohot yaad aayegi... Bela ki." The melancholy in her voice could not be missed.

"Abhi hum log yehi baat kar rahe the... humein bhi aapki bohot yaad aayegi... isliye soch rahe the aapke jaane se pehle kuch din aapke saath bita lein... shaadi khatm hote hi main aur Naina aa jaate hain aapke paas... hafte, dus din ke liye... fir Pandit aur Preeti reh lenge... dus barah din... kam se kam jab tak yahan hain aapko bhi akelapan na lage... humne dekha hai, tauji zyadatar bahar rehte hain aur jab yahan hote bhi hain toh kuch na kisi file mein lage rehte hain... aapse baat ho nahi paati unki toh aapko bhi kisi se bolne ka mann karta hoga... hum logon ke aapke saath rehne ke do faayde ho jayenge, ek toh aap akeli nahi rahengi, doosra aapki samjhdaari se humein kuch na kuch seekhne ko hi milega... arre aap kuch na bhi batayein toh bhi aapko saara din itni achhi tarah se ghar sambhalte aur sabka khyal rakhte dekh ke hum sab zaroor achhi baatein seekh lenge."

With each sentence of Sameer, taiji's face became more and more pale.

"Kaisa laga mera idea? Mujhe pata tha aap khush ho jayengi... main zara tauji se baat kar leta hun iss baare mein... waise toh unhe koi aitraaz nahi hoga par bata deta hun... oh, abhi khana kha rahe hain... koi baat nahi, jaise hi yahan aate hain main bata dunga." He peered behind him, trying to locate tauji... but couldn't find him.

"Dikh nahi rahe... taiji, aap khana kha ke unhe apne saath yahin le aana... main tab baat kar lunga." His sweet smile was the baleful threat that brought back sweatbeads on her forehead.

"M... m... main akeli kahan hu... Pralay ke papa... woh bohot baatein karte hain mujhse... woh... woh bula rahe hain... jaati hun." She scurried towards the food section.

"Bina, kahan jaa rahi hai aise uchalte, kudte? Idhar aa... mujhe leke chal zara khane ke liye." Phulla bua's stern voice froze her in her steps.

"Bua dadi, chaliye main aapko le chalta hun." Sameer offered to help.

"Kyon, main kya tujhe buddhi nazar aati hun? Jaa, apne doston ke saath reh... yeh Bina hai na... isse bhi toh aadat daalni chahiye meri seva karne ki... ab kuch dinon baad meri padosan ho jaayegi toh har kaam ke liye isse hi awaaz dungi." Bua dadi had a sinister undertone in her voice that made taiji shiver, along with sweating.

She could see her bleak future.

Sameer watched in amusement as bua dadi, who could do everything easily on her own, taking a long time to lift herself up from the chair, leaning on taiji's shoulder, and walking with a limp, muttering about pain in her knees.

Satisfied, that taiji would neither come back this side easily, nor let tauji be seen anywhere here, he asked other ladies to proceed for food before going back to his waiting friends... and wife.

Flashback ends

"Sameer, tum toh peeche hi pad gaye taiji ke." Naina was stunned at his tricky manoeuvere.

He gave her a deep look, "Maine kahan kuch kiya hai, Naina... taiji ne jo tumhare saath itne saal kiya uske liye main unhe kabhi maaf nahi kar sakta... agar woh tumhare ghar ki badi nahi hoti toh dekhna tha... main kya kar sakta hun... sirf tumhari wajah se chup hun... warna nanu se seekha hai maine 'badon ko izzat do par unhe pata hona chahiye ki woh bade hain, agar unhe iss baat ka ahsaas na ho toh woh tumhari izzat ke kaabil nahi hain'... unhone badon ki beizzati karne ko nahi kaha par itna zaroor samjhaya ki unki har baat aankhen band karke sirf izzat dene ke naam pe nahi maan leni chahiye... aur maaf karna, Naina, taiji aur tauji apni kisi bhi baat se bade hone ka ahsaas nahi karwate."

She placed a hand on his arm to calm him, "Ab yeh sab chodo... woh log yahan se jaa rahe hain."

The rancour in his eyes was replaced with determination instantly.

"Baad ka chodo... woh abhi bhi yahan nahi dikhne wali jaldi se... na tauji ko aane dengi... toh mere challenge ko poora karne ka time aa gaya hai." He leaned towards her, grasping her hand.

"Sameer, bas taiji tauji hi toh nahi aayenge, baaki log hain na yahan." She panicked.

"Sab khaane mein busy hain... aur tum ab baatein karke time barbaad mat karo, aao idhar, Munna Swati ka ho gaya, ab hamari baari hai." He pulled her hand, dragging her for the photo shoot.

After a few normal pictures, he asked her to stand with crossed arms... he did the same as they posed with their backs pressed against each other. Then he stood behind her, holding her shoulders. His wink to the photographer was not noticed by anyone.

"Aap zara muskura ke gaal pe haat rakhiye." Photographer instructed Naina.

She was perplexed, but did as he told.

"Nahi, yeh toh aisa lag raha hai jaise daant mein dard hai... aise kijiye bas ek ungli rakhiye." He showed how he wanted her to pose.

Naina again followed him.

"Umm... ek kaam kijiye, yeh dupatta le lijiye sar pe... chinta ki baat nahi hai, main aise photo lunga ki aapko lagega aapki dress ka hi hissa hai." He gave a heavy dupatta to her which he usually carried with him to use as a prop.

"Iski kya zaroorat hai?" Sameer frowned, not happy that her hair would be hidden.

"Bhaiya ji, aap dekho toh sahi... aisi photo nikalunga ki aapko lagega aapki shaadi ho rahi hai." He grinned.

The gang realised that he wasn't aware they were the only married couple here.

"Ay photographer bhai, inki shaadi pehle hi ho chuki hai... do mahine ho gaye." Munna chuckled.

The man was surprised. In his entire career, he had not been asked by any husband to suggest poses which could get him closer to his wife... such requests were subtly made by boys who wanted to make the most of this opportunity by either getting clicked with their girlfriend or their crush.

He came back to his senses when Naina asked if she had placed the dupatta properly.

"Haan, bas side se thoda aage kijiye." He walked upto her, habitual of doing such things.

Sameer stalled him, showing a hand when he had taken just a few steps.

Turning towards Naina, he himself secured the dupatta.

"Koi pin nahi hai, yeh kaise tikega sar pe?" She was apprehensive.

"Main dekh lunga, tum gaal pe ungli rakho, jaise usne kaha hai." He reposed her worries.

She did that, giving a beaming smile while Sameer held her shoulders.

Next moment, while she stood in the same pose, his arms circled around her, and he leaned to touch his forehead to her temple.

The pose was captured before her smile changed.

"Sameer, yeh... " She gasped.

"Dupatta fisalne laga tha... usse sambhal raha tha." He grinned.

Before she could say more, he pulled her against his chest, holding her in his arms, "Daro nahi, main hu na."

Her hand involuntarily landed on his chest. But a knowing smile graced her lips... as she realised what he was doing.

This picture was perfect too.

"Ab zara hum sabki group photos bhi lena." Sameer waved at his friends... who stood in awe.

"Muh band karo apne aur aa jao." He smirked.

Pandit and Preeti stood in the center, with other two couples on either side.

First picture had them standing close, next one saw their arm around their girls' shoulder... on Sameer's insistence.

When Sameer suggested they all stand behind the girls, placing hands on their shoulders, it seemed to be a natural progression.

He wrapped his arms around Naina's waist from behind, placing his chin on her shoulder, "Jaldi se aise karo... bas akhiri photo hai yeh... khana khatam karke log aane lage hain."

Munna and Pandit glared at him.

"Jaldi karo, yaar." He pushed Pandit towards Preeti.

It was not that they hadn't hugged or been in proximity before but doing so when they were alone was natural. Here, with the fear of being seen, Pandit and Munna were sceptical. Both boys hesitantly did as told when Sameer urged again, keeping their hold light.

"Dil toh kar raha hai tumhe aise hi pakad ke rakhun." Sameer pressed himself on Naina's back.

"Bohot besharam ho tum." She whispered as his fingers rubbed her waist.

"Ho gaya, bhaiya ji." The photographer announced, lowering his camera.

While the other boys moved away, Sameer, on the pretext of straightening his hair, placed a quick kiss on Naina's cheek.

Her hand flew to her face.

"Tumne besharam kaha toh maine socha jab tumne naam de hi diya hai toh kaam bhi waise hi hone chahiye na... tumhara diya hua naam bekaar thodi jaane dunga." He winked, whispering to his wide eyed wife.

"Abhi tak gaal pe haath rakh ke khadi hai, Naina... photo ho gayi." Swati looked at her.

Sameer furrowed his brows, "Haan Naina, kahin sach mein toh daant mein dard nahi ho raha? Kya hua dikhao."

She hastily stepped back as he tried to cup her face, "Kuch... kuch nahi... theek hun main."

With a satiated smile, he straightened, looking at Anand who was coming in their direction.

"Sameer, ho gayi photo?" He asked.

"Jee chachaji, bohot achhe se." Sameer flashed an innocent smile.

"Fir tum sab log khana khane chalo... baaki sabka ho gaya hai... ab tum log ek saath kha lo." He looked at everyone, waving in the direction of dining area.

"Bas hum sab jaa hi rahe the." Sameer held Naina's elbow, taking her along as he asked his friends to follow.

"Challenge poora maana jayega ya abhi kuch baaki hai, saaliji?" His voice was filled with mischief as they sat down at the table with their plates.

Preeti joined her hands, touching them to her forehead, "Aap jeet gaye challenge, jijaji... aur kuch baaki nahi hai... mahaan hain aap... galti hui jo aisa challenge diya... hamari sabki jaan aapne khatre mein daal di."

Sameer threw his head back and laughed before replying, "Aisa aap keh rahi hain... yeh dono toh mujhe thank you bol rahe the."

Munna and Pandit looked up with a jerk. They had not said anything. Swati and Preeti turned to them with narrowed eyes.

"Saale, tu kaand khud karta hai aur naam hamara lagata hai hamesha se... abhi tak apne sar pe le lete the par hone wali biwi se pitwayega toh dekh lena... bachega tu bhi nahi." Pandit gritted his teeth.

Seeing the flustered faces of their fiancees, Swati and Preeti broke into spurts of laughter.

Would try to give an evening update today....
Actually my mind has been maintaining social distancing with me since last two days... if I'm able to locate where it is quarantined, would make it work from home for sure...
If not 🙏🙏