"Preeti, sab saaman rakh liya na tune... achhi tarah dekh le, beta, kuch reh gaya toh mushkil ho jayegi." Bela was tensed as she again checked Preeti's bags.

"Subah se teen baar check kar liya hai, mummy... sab kuch sambhal ke, dekh ke rakha hai... aap itni tension mat karo... meri koi pehli shaadi thodi hai." Preeti said nonchalantly.

Both Bela and Naina stopped what they were doing, staring at Preeti with open mouth.

She looked at them, and realised what they deciphered, "Mera matlab saaman sametne mein pehli thodi hai... Pooja didi aur Naina ki shaadi mein bhi toh sab kaam kiye hai na... bina kisi galti ke... do shaadiyon ka experience hai."

While Naina let out a spurt of laughter, Bela was exasperated.

"Kuch toh soch samajh ke bola kar... sasural mein aise baat karegi toh woh log kahenge kaisi bewakoof ladki hai." She poked her daughter's head.

"Pandit ke mummy papa kuch nahi bolenge... meri baatein unhe bohot samjhdaari wali lagengi... kyonki itne saalon se Pandit ki baatein jo sun rahe the." Preeti shrugged, smiling.

Naina grinned, "Yeh toh hai."

Bela again showed her annoyance, "Tu zaroor naak katwayegi hamari... aur yeh kya Pandit Pandit karti hai... Raghav bulaya kar."

Naina and Preeti looked at each other, then burst into peals of laughter as Bela glared at them.

"Mummy, Raghav bolungi toh lagega kisi aur se shaadi kar li... second standard se Pandit bulati hun usse... ab nahi badal sakti... aur na woh badal sakta hai... Raghav bolne pe jawab tak nahi dega." Preeti held Bela's shoulders, speaking softly.

Bela smiled in understanding, "Achha theek hai, lekin yeh 'chalega, karega' nahi, zara izzat se toh bula sakti hai na... jaise Naina bulati hai Sameer ko."

Preeti shot a quick look to Naina, who winked at her.

"Theek hai... jaisa aap bolo... ab main jaun? Woh baraat leke aayenge usse pehle taiyar hona hai na?" She gave a big, fake smile to her mother.

This time, Bela joined the girls in their laughter.

The venue for marriage was at a little distance from their house. It was a bigger ground than the one in their society. They had decided to go for it since both marriages were taking place at the same venue. Preeti and Swati were to get dressed at the venue itself where a few rooms were alloted to them. Preeti left with all her things carefully packed in two bags.

"Chachiji, Naina kahan hai?" Sameer asked as he entered the house.

Bela looked up from the thali she was setting for welcome of groom, "Naina andar kamre mein hi hai."

"Aap zara bula dengi? Mujhe mere kapde chahiye the, taiyar hone ke liye...aur towel bhi... nahana padega pehle." He stood in the living room.

Bela smiled, "Preeti nahi hai, tum chale jao... yahin naha ke taiyar ho jao aaram se."

Sameer tried to keep his expression normal as he walked to the room, his heart dancing at the opportunity.

"Aur haan beta, darwaza band kar lena... woh kya hai na, bhabhiji kabhi bhi, kahin bhi prakat ho jaati hain." Bela called out from behind, chuckling as she recalled the time she had entered the room once.

Sameer did not look back, lest the blush on his face would make her laugh more.

Naina was ironing the dupatta, her back to the door.

He entered the room stealthily, and closed the door behind him.

Hearing the sound, Naina said without looking, "Chachiji, aapke kapde agar press karne hain toh de dijiye, mera ho gaya."

She flicked off the switch, putting the hot iron under the bed... and turned, only to find him right in front of her. His arms went around her before she could grasp anything.

"I missed you, jaan." He murmured in her ear.

She rested on his chest, cocooned in the circle of his arms, "Abhi toh gaye the."

"Abhi? Teen ghante baad aaya hun... pehle Munna ke ghar gaya fir Pandit ke... uski mummy toh baraat mein chalne ko keh rahi thi... par maine kaha meri Naina ke bina akele toh nahi aa sakta baraat mein." He tilted his head back to see her face.

"Har jagah majnu banke dikhana kya zaroori hai?" She stifled a smile, trying to look annoyed.

"Achha, har jagah nahi toh yahan dikha sakta hun?" He whispered.

"Sameer... koi aa jayega." She stalled him as he leaned towards her neck..

"Maine darwaza band kar diya hai." He tightened his arms, making her jerk towards him.

Her eyes widened... he had closed the door while their family and relatives were right outside. Before she could admonish him, he placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Chachiji ne hi kaha hai, ki main yahin naha ke taiyar ho jaun... aur darwaza band rakhun... jisse koi aur na aa jaaye yahan." His embarrassment at chachiji's words was gone.

"Sam... Sameer, chachiji ne kaha aur tum aa gaye... aise sabke saamne darwaza band karke? Kitne log the bahar? Kya soch rahe honge sab." She was red to the roots.

"Arre baba, koi nahi tha... sirf chachiji pooja ki thali sajaa rahi thi... shayad sab log taiyar hone chale gaye hain... bahar koi nahi hai." He soothed her fears.

"Sach bol rahe ho?" She raised her brows, thinking that maybe he was doing so only to pacify her.

"Tumhari kasam." His words eased all her doubts.

"Itni si baat ke liye kasam ki zaroorat nahi hai... hato, main kapde deti hun tumhare." She tried to move out of his hold.

"Pehle kuch aur?" He eyed her lips.

"Nahi, kuch nahi... tum jaldi se naha lo... humein time pe nikalna hai na." She gave him a stern look.

With a sigh, Sameer took the towel she offered, and went for his bath.

A few minutes later, he stepped out, whistling as he ran his fingers through the wet hair.

She stood adjusting her dupatta... in her pink lehenga... and his whistle lost sound... just a swoosh of air escaping his puckered lips.

She looked breathtaking.

The light pink lehenga gave her a soft, delicate look... fresh as a dew drop... she looked like a dainty doll.

Hearing the sound of whistle, she looked up. Her dark, eloquent eyes lit up to see the effect on him.

"Tum... tum... " He stuttered.

"Sameer, tum bhi jaldi se ready ho jao, please." She averted her gaze, the droplets of water slipping down his chest making her throat go dry.

He knew they didn't have much time... and a number of people were just on the other side of the door... but seeing his wife in that pastel pink lehenga... the skirt glittered with silver flowers over the flimsy material, full sleeved blouse made her slender arms look longer, the deep neck gave a glimpse of her gleaming back whenever her hair moved... her curvy waist was in his direct view as she hadn't yet secured the dupatta properly, her made up face... dark eyes, pink mouth, rosy cheeks, a tiny diamond for bindi... her mehendi adorned hands clenched near her belly, glass bangles on her wrists clinked with every movement, a thin necklace with matching earrings had a bewitching effect on his nerves... his mind buzzed with the need to feel her.

"Sam... " Not even a single complete word could come out of her mouth as his arm went around her waist, making her crash against his chest with a hard pull.

That instant, persistent light knock on the door made him look at it in frustration.

"Tum bathroom mein le jao kapde." She wriggled out of his hold, going towards the door.

"Maaasiiii, kholo na... jaldi se." Golu's voice made Sameer stop in his tracks.

He stood with crossed arms as the little bundle of trouble sprang in the moment door was opened.

"Dekho mera naya dress... achha hai na?" He jumped in excitement.

His exuberance made Sameer smile, "New dress mein bade achhe lag rahe ho."

Golu turned to see him standing in a towel, and his mouth dropped at the corners.

"Aapko nahi mila new dress? Maasi ne leke nahi diya? Isiliye aap aise khade ho na... main bhi kapde nahi pehenta agar mummy achhe wale nahi deti." He said sympathetically.

Naina's eyes widened as Sameer looked at him, amused at his capability of arriving at such conclusion.

"Yeh lo." She handed him the clothes, giving a flushed look, worried that Golu might cause them some embarrassment in front of everyone.

"Mujhe leke diye hain aapki maasi ne new kapde... main naha ke aaya tha isliye abhi tak nahi pehne." Sameer cleared his doubt before going to the washroom.

"Kahan hai Golu?" He asked as his eyes took in the empty room when he came out a few minutes later.

"Pooja didi ne bula liya usse... jijaji ke saath neeche gaya." She turned to look at him.

Her eyes brightened at his sight. The dark blue sherwani made him look even more handsome, if that was possible. It was plain, with a floral pattern design on the collar band. Same pattern was there on his pocket square. Paired with white, narrow pants, it made him look like a Prince. Her heart skipped several beats as she noticed how alluring his trimmed stubble and swept back hair looked with the outfit.

"Kaisa lag raha hun?" He flicked his brows, pleased with the open admiration in her eyes.

"Ekdum malai ke katore." She muttered in a low voice.

"Achha?" He gave a lopsided smile.

"Kahan jaa rahe ho?" She was surprised to see him walking towards the door... she hadn't seen him properly yet and he was leaving.

Sameer grinned, turning after putting the latch on the door, "Jaa nahi raha... tunhare paas aane ka raasta saaf kar raha hun."

She watched with bated breath as he closed the distance between them.

"Golu ke aane se ek kaam reh gaya tha." He held her shoulders, turning her around.

The dori was left open for him. He slowly tied the strings, the slight brush of his knuckles at her nape making her erupt in goosebumps.

"Ab theek hai." He smiled at her through the mirror.

"Abhi bhi kuch baaki hai." She picked up the kamarband.

His eyes glittered as she twisted in a feminine, graceful manner, putting the ornament around her waist to tie it. He kneeled next to her, holding the two ends of this fascinating piece of jewellery. The clasp was quite small. He leaned closer to get a proper look. His nose brushed against the side of her waist. His eyes drifted up to her face. She stood with closed eyes. His gaze moved back to the level he was at... taking in the bare waist under her dupatta that he could see clearly as he sat on the side. Tearing his eyes away, he tried to focus on the task in hand. The clasp somehow got into the groove meant for it, but it felt loose. He leaned, pressing it with his teeth to secure it. Her sharp intake of breath was not just a sound, he could see her belly drawn in completely. Without moving away, he placed a kiss on her waist, just above the band of her lehenga. She clutched the sides of her skirt. He traced a finger along  the kamarband, admiring how beautiful it looked on her tiny waist.

"Pehle kyon nahi bataya aisa bhi kuch hota hai?" He whispered, eyes still stuck to it.

She was in no state to speak. Sameer looked up at her shut eyes, her heaving chest, goosebumps all over her belly, neck and sides of the face... and he stood up, taking her in his arms.

Her eyes shot open.

"Fir se laga lena." His deep, glittering eyes and his hoarse voice fogged her mind even more, giving her no understanding of his words.

Before she could ask, his thumb grazed her lips, wiping off the colour... and his mouth claimed hers.

Her gasp got muted in his mouth.

Next update tomorrow evening