"Mere liye?" Naina was thrilled.

"Haan, surprise hai yeh... mummy ne tujhe pehle se batane se mana kiya tha." Preeti gave an elated smile.

"Yeh wohi hai na jo teri dress lene gaye tab dekha tha." Naina spread the outfit on the bed, her eyes twinkling.

"Mummy ne tabhi dekh liya tha tujhe kitna pasand aa raha tha yeh... isliye agle din jaake le aayi." Preeti elaborated.

"Haan pasand toh aaya tha par maine socha yeh shayad ghar pe sabko achha na lage... thoda alag hai na." Naina was still looking at the lehenga that had enchanted her that day.

"Behen, ab toh mummy hi leke aayi hain... toh tu mast hoke pehen... kitna bhi alag ho kya farq padta hai... aur agar kisi ko padega toh woh mere jijaji ko padega... jinke hosh udne wale hain tujhe iss lehenge mein dekh ke... waise unke hosh toh tujhe kabhi bhi dekh ke udd jaate hain lekin jab tujhe ismein dekhenge toh pakka behosh." Preeti giggled, having faith in the effect of this outfit on her jijaji.

"Chup kar, hamesha Sameer ke liye aisa bolti hai." Naina reprimanded her, though she knew Preeti was right.

She picked up the top, holding against her as she looked into the mirror. It was a dull gold blouse, with extra long sleeves. But they were cut upto the elbows, leaving a trail of fabric hanging down. She had been impressed by the new and different design when she had seen it first. Even the lehenga aas not the usual stuff. It was deep maroon in colour, plain but having rufflles attached to it, unlike any other she had seen till date. There was no dupatta.

"Pakka na Preeti, pehen lu na? Kahin taiji kuch kahengi toh nahi?" Naina was still apprehensive.

"Taiji?" Preeti let out a hearty laugh, "Unke muh pe taala lag gaya hai jabse Mumbai jaane ke baare mein suna hai... mujhe nahi lagta unhe ab kuch dikhai ya sunai dega... bas Phulla bua ke darr se idhar udhar chupti ghoom rahi hain."

Naina could not help but grin to hear this. Taiji had never shown any compassion to anyone in the family. It was time she got a dose of her own medicine.

Preeti wrapped her arms around Naina's shoulders, touching her head to hers, "Behen, hamare ghar ke liye jijaji bohot shubh hain... jab se unka rishta juda hai iss ghar se, hamari ek ek karke saari problem solve ho gayi hain... Rakesh tauji bilkul badal gaye, ab har waqt chillate nahi hain... paida hue tabse hamare sar pe latki taiji naam ki talwar ab jaake nikal rahi hai hamari zindagi se... sach bolu toh mujhe tauji ke jaane ki bhi bohot khushi hai, waise toh kisi baat se lena dena hai nahi bas kuch hota hai toh hukm sunane aa jaate hain, aur papa bhi zyadatar maan lete the unke bade hone ki wajah se, lekin teri shaadi mein jo jhatka diya papa ne unhe, mujhe lagta hai uski himmat bhi jijaji ne hi di hogi unhe, jaane anjaane mein... aur sabse badi baat... "

"Sabse badi baat kya?" Naina quizzed when Preeti stopped in mid sentence.

"Sabse badi baat, Pandit ko aakhir ahsaas hua toh sahi... maine toh do saal aansu baha ke umeed hi chod di thi... kabhi nahi socha tha ki usse pyaar ka matlab samajh aayega... lekin usse aaya bhi aur jatana bhi seekh liya... ab toh lagta hi nahi ki yeh wahi Pandit hai... bas khana dekh ke woh purana wala Pandit ban jaata hai." Preeti laughed again.

Naina noticed that his habit did not bring any frown on her face anymore... when two hearts are filled with love for each other, flaws are easy to accept. There is no need to change the other... you fall in love with the person as a whole, and all their traits are nothing but just them... the one you love.

"Sirf hamare liye hi nahi, jijaji toh Swati ke liye bhi shubh hain... dekh na, Munna jijaji kitne badal gaye the... college ke shuru ke dino mein toh achha khaasa tha sab kuch... Swati khush hoke batati thi jab woh dono bahar jaate the... lekin second year mein kab thoda chup rehne lagi mujhe dhyan hi nahi raha." Preeti narrowed her eyes, trying hard to recall.

"Yaad kaise rahega... second year se toh tera saara dhyan Pandit pe rehne laga tha... aas paas kya ho raha hai kaise pata chalta?" Naina poked her forehead.

Preeti bit her lip, smiling, "Shayad yehi wajah hogi... khair, jo bhi ho, lekin Swati ki sagai tak fir bhi Munna jijaji itne rukhe nahi the shayad... mujhe lagta hai kuch baat hui hogi jiski wajah se uske baad woh itne badal gaye... lekin ab kyon sochna, ab toh jijaji ne unko bhi sahi line dikha di hai... aur Swati ki smile wapas aa gayi hai."

"Tum sabke liye hi nahi, Preeti, Sameer mere liye bhi shubh hai... itna ki main kya kya bataun... jis din se usne mujhse baat karni shuru ki, meri kismat ke baadal hatne lage... aur jabse usne mujhe pyar kiya, mere liye har raasta aasan ho gaya... jo bhi main chahti thi woh milta gaya... yeh uske saath ki wajah se hi hua ki mujh mein itni himmat aayi... ussi ne mere sapne sach kiye hain, mujhe iss mukaam pe pohochaya hai ki aaj sab mujhe ek writer ke taur pe jaante hain... mere liye Sameer sabse lucky hai." Naina reminisced about the days in college.

"Ladkiyon, taiyar hona shuru kar do... der na ho jaaye... woh log aayein isse pehle hum sab ko taiyar hoke neeche pohoch jaana hai." Bela entered the room, a hassled expression on her face.

"Mummy, aap itni pareshan kyon ho?" Preeti asked.

Bela gave her a worried look, "Beta, mujhe toh samajh hi nahi aa raha... buaji ne jo khabar sunayi hai uski khushi zaahir karna chahti hun par bhabhiji ka ghabraya hua chehra dekh ke chup ho jaati hun... ab unke saamne naach toh nahi sakti na... lekin mera mann khushi se naachne ka hi kar raha hai."

Naina and Preeti hugged her from both sides, smiling.

"Ek baar taiji yahan se chali jaayein fir hum sab jam ke nachenge." Naina happily remarked.

"Woh toh hai." Bela beamed.

"Achha Naina, tujhe apne kapde pasand aaye?" Bela saw the outfit lying on the bed.

"Thank you, chachiji... bohot pasand aaye... lekin aap kyon leke aayi... mere paas toh pehle hi itne kapde hain." Naina pouted.

Bela placed her hands on the waist, "Kyon, ab sab kuch Sameer ki pasand ke hi pehnegi kya... hum tere liye kuch nahi le sakte... hum kya paraye ho gaye hain?"

"Offo mummy, itni filmy mat bano." Preeti rolled her eyes.

Bela flicked up her brows, "Abhi toh aur filmy banungi... jab saara din filmen dekhungi maze se... tu aur teri taiji, dono se chutkara milne ke baad."

"Haww... aapko mujh se chutkara chahiye... yehi tha aapka pyar?" It was Preeti turn for drama.

"Band karo yeh naatak... tumhari azaadi mein abhi waqt hai... mat bhoolo yeh bediyan tumhare pairon se nikli nahi hain." Naina raised her voice, along with her chin, contributing to the histrionics.

Three of them burst into peals of laughter till Anand called out Bela's name from outside. Directing the girls to get ready, she rushed out.

Two of them started to get dressed for the evening.

The sound of cars stopping made Naina dart to the balcony. Guests had arrived.

Preeti tried to come out but Swati and Pooja didi held her arms.

"Dekh toh lene do ek baar." She whined.

"Jee nahi... jab neeche bulayenge tabhi dekh sakti hai... tu usse aur woh tujhe... samjhi?" Pooja didi made her sit firmly on the bed.

Brooding, Preeti sat back with a thud.

Everyone welcomed the groom's family. Sameer had not seen Naina for more than two hours, since she was getting ready along with Preeti. He was sure all girls would come out to the balcony to catch a glimpse of their jijaji... the new one.

But he got late. When he looked up, all he could see was a fleeting glance of her flowing hair as she was going back to the room. Fretting over the distance, he joined everyone as they walked towards the area where a small platform was set up for the ceremony, along with chairs for the guests.

"Yaar Sameer, Munna, badi ghabrahat ho rahi hai... sab log mujhe hi dekhe jaa rahe hain... aisa lag raha hai jaise abhi bolenge, beta, nach ke dikhao." Pandit looked around nervously.

"Abe, nachne ko kyon bolenge? Aur teri sagai mein aaye hain toh tujhe hi dekhenge na... tu chinta mat kar, ek baar Preeti aa jayegi toh tera dhyan kisi pe nahi jayega... tab yeh saare darr khatam ho jayenge." Munna consoled him.

"Sachhi?" Pandit looked at his friends anxiously.

"Aur kya... ek baar yeh ladkiyaan neeche aa jayen bas, pata nahi kya kar rahi hain itni der se kamre mein... Naina ko toh aana chahiye tha na." Sameer craned his neck to check the entrance of the building, a glum look settling on his face to see no activity in that direction.

"Sameer, yaar, teri shaadi ho chuki hai... aise kar raha hai jaise aaj teri hi sagai ho aur tujhse intezar nahi hi raha apni hone wali dulhan ko dekhne ka... zara Pandit ko bhi thoda sambhal." Munna chided him.

"Nahi bhai, tu laga reh kaam pe... main aisa karta hun, jaake do samose kha leta hun... pet ke chuhe aaram se baithenge toh dil bhi shaant ho jayega." Pandit glanced in the direction of food tables.

"Chup karke khada reh yahin pe... ek baar bhi khane ki taraf dekha na toh kasam se, teri sagai samose se hi karwa denge." Munna held his arm, not trusting him to stay put.

"Main puchta hun chachiji se, aur kitna time lagega." Sameer saw Bela near the gate and started to go towards her.

Just then the girls came out of the building, Preeti accompanied by Naina, Swati and Pooja didi.

He stopped in his tracks, transfixed.

The entire view around him blurred... he could only see her, walking slowly towards the stage. He was standing midway between the gate and stage. Her eyes fell on him. Flicking up her brows, she smiled, asking silently how she looked. His glassy eyes followed her movement, not able to comprehend anything else.

What was she wearing?

He had not seen this outfit before. It had to be new... had she kept it as a surprise for him?

Whatever it was, it had taken his breath away.

It appeared to be a modern version of a lehenga. A dark maroon skirt, without any golden or silver work, unlike other lehengas, was lined with some kind of wavy layers, making it look more flared. Her blouse was gold... and he loved it. It was without any work or embellishments either, and the neck was upto her collar bone... but a slit a few inches below showed some skin, only when she moved. The sleeves were intriguing... hanging loose from her elbows, but going much below her waist... a sliver of skin visible there too. She had left her hair open, cascading like a silk curtain behind her... and framing her face softly. The face itself was like moon... soft and dewy. She was wearing a dark red lipstick, matching with the shade of her skirt. Kohl lined eyes gave an enchanting effect to her jewellery devoid look.

Sameer saw her walk past him, rooted to the spot. He was amazed how she left him spellbound everytime. Munna's words echoed in his ears... 'teri shaadi ho chuki hai'... but the marriage had not dimmed his yearning for her. If anything, it had flared his desires even more... and now, he burned to see her closely, to touch her.

As if his wish was heard by the powers above, he saw her walking towards the building again. Thrilled at having his prayers answered so soon he discreetly followed her.

Naina was checking for something amidst the things kept on dining table when she felt his hot breath on her ear. She turned swiftly and collided with his hard chest.

"Sameer... tum yahan kya kar rahe ho?" She asked ingeniously.

She was aware of the effect her dress would have on her... and his glazed eyes left no doubt in her mind.

"Yeh kahan se aaya?" His question did not state anything but she knew what he wanted to know.

"Chachiji leke aayi thi... abhi shaam ko hi Preeti ne diya... achha hai na?" Her eyes glimmered.

"Oh Naina, jaan logi kya meri?" He slipped his arm around her waist, his fingers digging into the thin line of bare skin.

"Pasand aaya tumhe?" Her voice was soft and low.

He stared at her face, reflecting the gold hues of blouse. The smooth, silky skin had become translucent. Her ruby red lips looked more plump... and inviting. But he knew he could not... not yet.

Next update tomorrow morning