"Tumhe kaise malum chala dadi wig pehenti hain? Mujhe tak nahi pata tha." Sameer questioned Naina the moment they entered their room.

"Mujhe kaise malum hoga? Main toh bas saree hata rahi thi unke upar se... dekha toh wig hi nikal gaya." Naina shrugged, placing the new sarees in the cupboard.

Sameer held her wrist and turned her to face him, "Naina, mujhe pata hai na tumhara pair galti se uljha na woh saree dadi pe galti se giri... mat bhoolo, taiji ke keemti dinner set ke saath kya hua tha."

A triumphant smile appeared on Naina's face, "Wahin se toh seekha maine... socha dadi ko bhi ussi dawa ki zaroorat hai jo tumne taiji ko di thi."

"Aur meri sherni ne achhi dose de di dawa ki." He winked.

"Tumhe gussa toh nahi aaya na?" She raised her brows.

"Gussa? Naina, mujhe toh bohot maza aaya... unka saara style unke sar se utar ke tumhare haath mein aa gaya." He sniggered, "Woh hamesha apne baalon ko ajeeb sa jhatka deti thi, mujhe kuch bhi kehti thi toh bade ghamand se apne baalon pe haath pherti thi... aaj woh saara ghamand ek second mein utar gaya... unke jaise unka style bhi nakli tha... maine kaise apni hansi roki main hi jaanta hun." He spun her around, ecstatic at the embarrassment he had seen on dadi's face.

She laughed with him, "Tumne kaha tha na, kabhi kabhi kisi ko aaina dikhane ke liye unki bhasha mein hi baat karni padti hai."

"Lekin woh wig... uske baare mein kaise pata chala?" Sameer was still baffled about her source of this knowledge.

She narrowed her eyes, "Kal raat bataya toh tha Deepika ne... kaan mein secret... ki dadi ko ghost wali story se bohot darr lagta hai kyonki woh ghabra ke apne baal kheench leti hain jisse unka wig nikal jaata hai."

He creased his brow.

"Tumhe koi aur secret bataya tha kya?" It was Naina's turn to be perplexed.

Sameer bit his lip, "Woh... woh mujhe samajh hi nahi aaya usne kya bola... matlab... woh itne pyar se meri god mein... itne apnepan se... toh uski baat sunayi nahi di mujhe."

Her heart melted again. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she placed her cheek against his.

"Aadat daal lo, Sameer Maheshwari, tumhari zindagi mein aisa pyar aata hi rahega." Her soft voice was clear against his ear.

"Matlab?" He circled his arms around her waist, pulling her closer.

"Buddhu, bachhe aise hi pyar dikhate hain aur baatein karte hain." She whispered again.

He furrowed his brows, trying to decipher her words. When there was no teasing comment, she knew he hadn't got the real meaning.

Moving away, she pinched his nose, "Hamare bhi karenge."

By the time it sank in, she was already running out of the door.

"Naina, suno... ruko na." He dashed after her, grinning.

He caught on near the stairs but they stepped down quietly as Vivek was seated in the hall, along with Vishakha.

Naina walked to him straight away, "Jo bhi hua, uske liye main maafi chahti hun... mujhe pata nahi tha ki dadi wi... matlab, main toh sirf saree hata rahi thi."

She turned to Vishakha, "Main dadi se bhi maafi maang leti hun."

Vishakha was not sure it was a good idea to take her to dadi's room. Naina went to the side table, picking up two packets.

She came back and held out the smaller one to Vivek, "Yeh aapke liye laaye hain hum log... zyada toh nahi hai, bas bachhon ki taraf se ek choti si yaad samajh ke rakh lijiye."

Vivek took the packet, murmuring a thank you.

"Vishakha, shayad Naina ka maafi maang lena hi theek hoga... anjaane mein hua hai yeh...  ise kaise pata ho sakta tha... tum le jao Naina ko mummy ke kamre mein." He instructed his wife.

Vishakha nodded, getting up. Sameer took a step along with Naina. She looked back at him, shaking her head. With a blink of her eyes, she conveyed that she would be fine. He gulped, but let her go alone with Vishakha. He was surprised when Vivek followed them, though he stood at the door, watching the other two go to his mother.

"Mummyji, Naina sorry kehna chahti hai." Vishakha said softly.

Dadi was sitting on the sofa, her arms crossed, her leg over the other, a stern expression on her face.

Naina noticed the wig back on her head.

"Dadi, mujhe maaf kar dijiye. I'm really sorry. Mujhe koi andaaza nahi tha ki aapke baal..." She bit her tongue.

Dadi shuffled in her seat.

"Hum aapke liye yeh shawl laye the... please, agar aap yeh le lengi toh mujhe lagega ki aapne badappan dikha ke apne bachhon ki anjaane mein ki galti ko maaf kar diya. Aap sabse badi hain parivar mein... hum aapse hi toh sikhenge na. Ek maafi se mere dil ka bojh halka ho jayega, warna mujhe hamesha yeh baat chubhti rahegi ki meri wajah se aapko dukh pohocha." Naina took out the shawl and placed it in her lap.

When dadi did not even glance at the gift or Naina, Vishakha spoke up, "Mummyji, maan jaiye na. Naina aapke liye yeh tohfa laayi hai, isse accept kar lijiye."

Dadi slowly looked down at the shawl. She couldn't deny that it was an elegant looking soft pashmina piece with delicate hand work. But she couldn't give the satisfaction to others by expressing any admiration.

"Vishakha, tumhare kehne pe rakh rahi hun. Lekin iss ladki ko samjha dena. Yeh ghar mera hai aur yahan main kisi tarah ka drama bardaasht nahi karungi." She placed a hand on the shawl, giving a forbidding glance to Naina.

Naina quickly nodded her head from side to side, showing her acceptance.

Vishakha gestured to Naina to leave. Vivek moved away from the door, taking a breath of relief... he didn't want any unnecessary tension in the house.

Once Vishakha was alone, she looked her mother in law in the eye, "Mummyji, Sameer aur Naina bhi utne hi mere bachhe hain jitne Rohan aur Deepika... aur iss ghar ko maine uss din se apna maana hai jis din se yahan kadam rakha hai... agar kisi bhi bachhe se anjaane mein koi galti hoti hai toh usse maaf karna badon ka farz hai... jaise badon ki galti ko nazarandaaz kiya jaata hai waise bachhon ki galti bhi bhula deni chahiye."

Dadi's anger shot up as she pointed a finger at Vishakha, "Iss low class ladki ke liye tum mujhpe ungli utha rahi ho? Tumhara woh awaara beta kya kam tha jo aisi badtameez ladki se shaadi kar li. Aur tum unke liye mujhse behes kar rahi ho? Mat bhoolo ki yahan laake kitna bada ahsaan kiya hai maine tumpe."

Vishakha looked at the finger and said in an icy voice, "Nahi bhooli... aur yeh bhi nahi bhooli ki iss ahsaan ki kitni badi keemat deni padi mujhe aur mere bete ko... mummyji, iss ghar mein maine pehle din se Rohan ko apne bachhe jaisa maana, balki apne bete se zyada pyar diya usse... lekin aapne apna waada tod diya aur mujhe majboor kar diya Sameer ko hostel bhejne ke liye... aapki talaq dilwane ki dhamki se darr ke maine yeh baat maan li... lekin main kab tak iss baat ka saboot aapko deti rahun ki main Rohan ko apna beta manti hun? Sameer ko door karne se Rohan ke hisse ka pyar badhne ya ghatne wala nahi tha, lekin aapne hamesha mujhe blackmail kiya... duniya fir se mujhe wapas papa ke ghar dekh ke kaise kaise taane degi yeh kehke aapne mujhse pataa nahi kya kya zyadati karwayi Sameer pe... na main usse pyar de paayi aur na uss masoom ko wajah samjha paayi... aur dheere dheere uski berukhi ne mujhe bhi rookha bana diya... mera beta awara nahi hai, na kabhi tha... usne akele zindagi mein itna kuch haasil kiya hai jispe mujhe kitna garv hai yeh main aapko bata nahi sakti... aur Naina... Naina kya hai iss baat ko samajhne ke liye ek saaf dil chahiye... Naina ki wajah se sirf Sameer ki zindagi mein hi nahi meri zindagi mein bhi pyar wapas aaya hai, apne bete ka... isliye aaj aap yeh achhi tarah samajh lijiye ki ab main apne bete aur beti ke khilaaf kuch nahi sunungi... yeh kal se jo aap kar rahi hain, mujhe samajh aa raha hai, lekin sabke saamne kuch kaha nahi... par main hamesha chup rahungi aisa sochne ki galti bhi mat kijiye."

Dadi was stunned.

She had observed that Vishakha had become a bit defiant in last few months, going to Ahmedabad whenever she wished, even at the time of Rohan's college result party. But she had not expected her meek, timid daughter in law to lash out so coldly at her.

"Tum jaanti ho kisse baat kar rahi ho?" She flared her nostrils.

Vishaka gave a poised look, "Jaanti hun, mummyji. Lekin aap bhi jaan lijiye ki ab main woh Vishakha nahi hun jisse aap apne bete ki doosri biwi banake laayi thi... ab main Vivek ke business ki fifty percent partner hun, iss ghar ke bachhon ki maa hun, society mein Mrs Vivek Somani hun aur yeh identity aap mujhse nahi cheen sakti... rahi ghar ki baat, woh toh naya khareed lena bhi mushkil nahi hoga agar aapko mera yahan rehna pasand nahi... aur mujhe yakeen hai mera parivar mere saath khushi se naye ghar mein chalega... kyonki unhe mere pyar pe poora bharosa hai."

The world seemed to slip away from beneath dadi's feet as she stared with open mouth at Vishakha. She had often mocked a few of her friends who lived alone as their children preferred to stay separately. She took pride in the fact that she was given utmost respect in the house and her son and daughter in law would never ever take such a step. But the undaunted manner of Vishakha's indirect threat had left her shaken today.

Lunch went by comfortably. Dadi had completely forgotten the incident of wig, her mind preoccupied by new twist in the positions that threatened her supremacy in the house. Her evil mind started to think how to make her son show Vishakha her place... to make her go back to the same old acquiescent self.

An elderly lady came after lunch to take the blouses for stitching. Naina stifled her smile as Sameer let out a relieved breath on seeing the lady. He was in a jittery mood ever since Vishakha mentioned, "Boutique se koi ayega."

While Vishakha and Naina prepared for the fast next day, with Deepika excitedly helping to put up all things for pooja, Rohan took Sameer to his room to show his collection of music cassettes. A sheepish smile made its way on his face when Sameer pointed at the timetable still stuck above his table.

"Woh thoda asaan ho jaata hai sab kaam manage karna." He rubbed the back of his neck.

Sameer laughed whole heartedly.

"Pata hai, Sameer, tumse aise baatein karne ko, tumhare saath hansne ko, mazaak masti karne ko kitna tarasta tha main... jab bhi tum aate the toh hamesha mujhse gussa rehte the... mujhe rona bhi aata tha ki tum mujhe apna bhai nahi maante aur gussa bhi ki mere itni koshish karne ke baad bhi tum koi baat nahi karte... lekin jab tumne aana band kar diya aur maine ghar mein baatein suni tab jaake pata laga ki humara rishta itna uljha hua kyon tha... usse pehle main nahi jaanta tha ki tum mere... lekin sach keh raha hun, yeh baat jaan kar tumhare liye mere mann mein pyar aur izzat badh gayi... bhai, tumne toh apni mummy mere saath share kar li lekin main tumhe ek family nahi de paya... mujhe hamesha yeh dukh rahega ki jitne achhe tum aur mummy ho utni achhi dadi aur papa kyon nahi bane... isliye maine hamesha mummy ke jaisa banna chaha... nanaji ke baare mein unhone jo bhi bataya woh seekh maine apne liye nanaji ka aashirwad samajh li... main jaanta hun tum nanaji se bohot pyar karte the... kya unki khatir tum mujhe apna bhai maan loge?" Rohan let out the feelings that he could not speak up the previous night.

Sameer got up from the chair and went near him, placing a hand on his shoulder, "Rohan, mujhe tumse shikayat thi ki tumhari wajah se mummy ne mujhe khud se alag kar diya... tumhe kareeb rakha aur mujhe apni zindagi se nikaal diya... lekin baad mein samajh aaya ki isme dosh tumhara bhi nahi tha... tum toh khud meri tarah maa ke pyar se door the... bas tumhari kismat achhi thi ki woh pyar tumhe meri maa se mil gaya... jab main yahan aata tha toh mujhe tum pe isliye gussa rehta tha kyonki har baat mein mummy tumhari tareef karti thi aur mujhe tum jaisa banne ko kehti thi... jaise mera koi wajood hi nahi,  agar unka pyar chahiye toh Rohan bano, Sameer kisi layak nahi hai... lekin ab aisa kuch nahi hai... nanu agar zyada din saath reh paate toh shayad main pehle hi samajh jaata lekin woh toh... par Naina ne aake dheere dheere mere dard ke saare badal hata diye... Rohan, yahan aane ki zid Naina ki hi thi par ab mujhe khushi hai ki hum yahan aaye... tum bhai toh pehle se hi the, aaj dil se tumhe apna bhai maanta hun."

Rohan quickly took him in a brotherly hug, awashed with relief and affection.

When they parted, he gave a lopside grin, "Bhabhi pe lattoo ho tum."

It was Sameer's turn to blush, "Naina hai hi itni achii."

Rohan gave a playful punch on his shoulder.

"Mere paas toh Naina hai, yeh batao, tumhare dil mein kaun hai?" Sameer quirked up a brow.

Rohan shrugged, "Koi nahi hai, bhai... pehle padhai mein laga raha ab office mein... meri kismat mein shayad aisa wala pyar hai hi nahi."

"Arre, school mein, college mein... ladkiyan toh thi na. Kisi se baat nahi bani? Padhai mein toh Naina bhi lagi rehti thi fir bhi ek nazar dekhte hi usne mujhe..." Sameer stopped abruptly.

Rohan was excited, "Batao na, kya kiya bhabhi ne? Mujhe tumhari love story sunne ka bada mann hai... bhabhi ne kaha Ahmedabad aana padega... dil toh chah raha hai tum logon ke saath hi chal padun."

His eagerness made Sameer laugh again, "Jab chaho aa jaana... lekin rukna padega kuch din... hamari love story kuch ghanton mein khatam nahi hone wali."

"Bhai, tumhari love story toh saalon khatam nahi ho sakti... main bhagwan se mangunga ki janmon tak na ho... tum aur bhabhi jaise ek doosre ka saath dete ho, aisa lagta hai sirf ek doosre ke liye hi jeete ho." Rohan smiled with genuine warmth.

Next update tomorrow evening