"Sameer, kya kar rahe ho tum, sabko pata hai main hun Mrs Maheshwari par iss tarah advertisement kyon de rahe ho?" Naina could sense it wasn't a mere need to be close to her, Sameer seemed to be edgy because of something.

"Main bas apni biwi se pyar jata raha hun." He smiled at her.

She was not convinced, "Mujhse jhooth bolne ki koshish bhi mat kijiye, Mr Maheshwari... aapke pyar ka sparsh achhe se jaanti hun main... yeh jo kar rahe ho na... pyar nahi, haq jataa rahe ho... yehi janna hai mujhe... tumhe aise haq jatane ki zaroorat kyon mehsoos hui... kuch hua hai kya?"

Sameer was astonished. She had seen his rage without him even bringing a frown on his face... she could feel his need to show his claim... she understood the difference in his touch.

His eyes searched for the two ladies. When he located them, seated together, he pointed them out to Naina... telling her what he overheard.

She followed his gaze, listening to him intently.

"Aur tum chal pade yeh dikhane ki main biwi hun tumhari?" She raised her brows with an amused expression.

"Aur kya karta? Sunta rehta ki meri Naina se kitne log apne ghar ke ladkon ka rishta jodna chahte hain?" He hissed, annoyed again at the thought.

She smiled fondly. This was not insecurity, she could make out... it was his possesiveness, his need to announce to the world that she belonged to him. Looking down at her mangalsutra, she realised, it was camouflaged as the necklace rested right over its black beads, both being exact same length. She wasn't even wearing sindoor. Sameer's habit of engulfing her in his arms just about anywhere had resulted in a stain on his clothes when she used to wear it in the early days of marriage. She had stopped putting it, to avoid any embarrassment. Since she habitually didn't wear it, the thought of packing it with her things before coming to chachaji's house had not occured to her.

Looking around, she noticed the pooja thali kept on a side table. Chachiji had used it to perform the welcome aarti for Pandit. Holding his hand, she went near the table. Everyone had gone inside the venue by now. She picked up the thali, bringing it between them.

"Ab tum meri aarti utarogi kya? Naina, maana bohot smart lag raha hun, par uske liye chachiji ne nazar utar di hai." He adjusted his collar, squinting his eyes in self praise.

She chuckled, pinching his cheek, "Haan, bohot smart lag rahe ho... yahan kuch log aise bhi honge jo tumse apne ghar ki ladki ka rishta jodne ki soch rahe honge... unhe dikhane ke liye tumhe toh sindoor laga nahi sakti... par tumse lagwa sakti hun... yeh lo."

He looked down at the kumkum in thali, and realised her intention. With a satisfied and proud smile, he took a pinch of red powder and touched it to her hair parting.

"Ab kisi ko galat fehmi nahi hogi." She kept the thali back on table, adjusting her mangalsutra as well, so that it now rested over her necklace, and not under it.

Though he badly wanted to take her in his arms, he knew this was not the right place. Picking up a handful of rose petals from the thali, he tossed over her.

She turned her face to the side, closing her eyes. If not with a touch, he would still find ways to show his love.

"Ab chalein? Yahan aise khadi rahogi toh main sirf phoolon se kaam nahi chala paunga." He said in a heavy voice, his eyes taking in a few petals stuck near the neckline.

Before he could reach there, she brushed off her front, getting rid of all the petals. With a sigh, he took off the pagdi and put it on the table. She looked at the hair falling on his forehead. Her fingers reached out on their own, threading through his hair sweep them back as they were before.

His brow quirked up. She narrowed her eyes for a moment. And ruffled his hair the next. He gasped.

"Khud theek kar lo." She grinned with eyes full of mischief.

He stared in awe as she ran away towards the rooms at the other end of the ground, holding up her lehenga delicately. Pursing his lips he let out a long exhale.

"Kahan tha, bhai? Itni der se tera intezaar kar rahe hain? Kisi doosri shaadi mein toh nahi ghus gaya tha, dekhne ki wahan kya kya bana hai khaane mein?" Pandit questioned as he reached his friends on the stage.

Munna gave Pandit a contentious look, "Yeh Pandit nahi hai, Sameer hai... tujhe lagta hai bhabhi ko yahan chod ke kahin aur jayega?"

Pandit rounded his mouth in realisation.

The stage was much larger than the ones in other marriages... to accommodate two couples. With some distance between them, two ornate seats were placed on either sides. Backdrop was decorated with floral pattern on a white frame. Abundance of flowers used all around made the air fragrant and pleasing.

All eyes turned towards the direction from where two brides came out of the rooms. Naina and Pooja didi walked with Preeti while Swati's cousin sisters walked along with her.

Not two but three pairs of eyes forgot to blink. Sameer watched Naina taking slow steps with Preeti, her eyes lowered... she looked breathtakingly mesmerizing... and he was reminded of their own marriage...

"Main iss ladki se fir se shaadi kar sakta hun." He mumbled, lost in her.

"Main bhi." Pandit said in the same tone, equally lost.

Sameer flared his nostrils, fisting his hands as they were in clear view of all guests and smacking Pandit here wouldn't be the right thing... though it was the only thing he wanted to do at the moment.

"Bhabhi hai teri." He gritted his teeth.

"Preeti bhabhi hai meri? Gadha hai kya tu... teri bhabhi hai." Pandit showed him the seething expression similar to his.

"Tu Preeti ki baat kar raha hai?" Sameer scrunched his nose.

"Uske liye ghodi pe baith ke aaya hun toh aur kiski baat karunga? Shilpa Shetty ki?" Pandit chided him.

Sameer gave a sheepish smile, "Haan woh toh hai."

As the brides came nearer, Naina looked up... and Sameer winked.

He could see a faint smile spread on her lips. She lowered her eyes again as the camera person was capturing their every move, video camera was rolling too.

Munna stared at Swati with open mouth. She smiled at his display of adulation.

"Kaisi lag rahi hun?" She whispered as they stood side by side.

"Meri jaan lag rahi hai." The words slipped out of his mouth.

"Kyaa? Dukaan lag rahi hu? Munna, Preeti ne bhi yehi kaha tha... matlab achhi nahi lag rahi... kuch gehne hata dun kya... sachhi batao... mujhe photo mein bohot sundar dikhna hai." Her face fell.

Munna jerked out of his trance, nervously looking around to see if anyone had heard her outburst.

"Idhar udhar kya dekh rahe ho? Ab mujhe dekhna bhi achha nahi lag raha kya? Ab main kya karun, apni hi shaadi se uth ke kaise jaun?" The corners of her mouth dropped as she whined.

"Swati, Swati... chup hoja... bohot achhi lag rahi hai... ekdum heroine... filmon wali... aur photo bhi heroine jaisi hi aayegi dekhna." Munna finally found his voice.

"Toh fir dukaan kyon bola pehle?" She pouted.

He smiled shyly, "Dukaan nahi, jaan bola tha... meri jaan."

Swati gasped... he wasn't the one to use such endearments. Suddenly, the changed equation of their relationship dawned on her, and she blushed, realising that probably now she could see the real romantic side of his. Ever since Sameer had made him discern the need to express his love, Munna had changed a lot... he talked to her everyday on phone, met often, held her hand in every meeting, even hugged her a number of times... but still restrained himself to talk freely, got conscious when she mentioned about honeymoon. Thus, him calling her 'jaan' was a pleasant surprise that made her go red, in spite of the heavy makeup.

"Baaki baatein baad mein kar lena, abhi varmala ka time hai." Naina brought Swati out of her dreamland, holding out the basket with heavy floral garlands.

Swati picked up one. Munna picked up the other. Amidst laughter and teasing, they exchanged the garlands. Everyone clapped, showering petals on them. Naina jerked off the petals which had accidentally fallen on her. When a handful again landed on her, she looked behind... and her doubt was confirmed.

Sameer winked again.

After a photo session, it was time for varmala of the other couple. Naina picked up another basket, with another set of garlands, and went ahead to give them to Preeti and Pandit. Putting the basket away, she came and stood right next to Sameer.

"Kya baat hai, Mr Maheshwari, bade phool barsa rahe hain aap." She quirked up a brow.

He gave a lopsided smirk, "Mrs Maheshwari ko Chandni film itni pasand hai na... main toh bas apni Chandni pe pyar barsa raha tha."

She gave a light smack on his chest, then opened her fist to share the petals she was holding. He picked up half, placing his palm under her hand.

They were on the stage, in direct view of all guets and relatives. Anyone who saw them could comprehend the ease and comfort they shared, leaving no doubt in anyone's mind about their relationship.

Once the ritual was performed, and pictures were clicked, most of the people went back to their seats.

Naina helped Preeti to sit on the chair, next to Pandit.

"Mujhe bohot ajeeb lag raha hai." Pandit blurted the moment they sat.

"Kya ajeeb lag raha hai? Kuch ulta seedha toh nahi kha liya na? Pet mein dard ho raha hai? Tumhare liye soda laane ko bolun Naina ko?" Preeri barraged him with concern.

"Arre ajeeb tumhe dekh ke lag raha hai... matlab tumhe itna sharmate hue kabhi dekha nahi na... aur aaj tum gardan tak nahi utha rahi... college mein gundi ki tarah rehne wali aisi bhi ho sakti hai koi yakeen nahi karega." Pandit voiced his amazement.

And immediately realised the wrong choice of words.

"Gundi? Main college mein tumhe gundi lagti thi?" Preeti glared at him, the relief at him being fine forgotten.

"Nahi, nahi, mera matlab buri wali gundi nahi... achhi wali." Pandit gulped.

Preeti narrowed her eyes, "Gunde achhe kabse hone lage?"

"Arre yaar, mera matlab diler si thi na tum... kisi ki galat baat sunte hi jhagda kar lena, kisi ki bhi badtameezi bardaasht na karna, bina dare sach ka saath dena... ekdum hero type thi." He clarified.

Preeti lowered her head. He had often praised her heroics in college as well. Probably he couldn't see the softness in her eyes because he was impressed more by her hard demeanor.

"Abhi fir se sharmane lagi... abse aise hi rahogi kya?" He asked in a low voice.

"Sharma nahi rahi... bada sa judaa banaya hua hai, uspe dher saare gajre lagaye hue hain, fir yeh itna bhari dupatta... itna bojh leke gardan upar kaise tikegi?" She looked up with a jerk, showing fake annoyance.

"Kamaal lag rahi ho... yeh judaa, gajra, yeh naak ki baali, bindi, chooriyan, yeh jhilmil dupatta... inn sab mein bohot khoobsurat lag rahi ho." He admired each of her adornment.

"Dekh lo achhe se... bas aaj hi pehna hai itna taam jham... dubara mat kehna mujhse." Preeti tried to keep a straight face, though her heart thudded wildly.

"Kabhi kuch nahi kahunga... tumhe jo achha lage, jismein khushi mile wohi karna... mujhe tum har tarah se khoobsurat lagti ho." His eyes filled up with love as he took her hand within his palms.

This time, Preeti actually lowered her eyes with a demure expression.

Next update tomorrow evening