Next morning 6 A.M.

Nandini, mukti, alia were right now standing at the doorstep of navya's house. There was a lot of hustle bustle even at this time. As the door was open, they walked in looking around for some family member. They saw some kids playing, so they asked one of them to call the bride, navya.

Soon navya came running down the stairs as the kid told her that 3 girls have come who are calling her. As soon as she saw her friends she hugged them. Her eyes turned moist but realising that people around are watching she covered up with a smile.

Soon navya introduced her friends to her family. Nandini told them that they had come to take part in the wedding.

It had been 2 hours now, but nandini had not got a single chance to talk to navya in private. The people around were not ready to leave them alone, especially navya's cousin sisters. Nandini, alia and mukti shared helpless looks with each other. They just didn't know what to do! Navya was also observing them and she was now sure that they want to talk and she also knew about what, so she was avoiding the situation.

Nandini signalled mukti and alia to come aside and then told them that they should distract the cousins till then nandini would talk to navya. Duo did as suggested and finally nandini had navya alone.

"navya, mujhe ghuma-firakar baat karni ni ati hai...so i will come straight to the topic. Tum janti ho tum kya kar rahi ho??? You are destroying three lives! Have you seen cabir's condition? He is like a living dead..." nandini was saying but navya interrupted.

"nandini tum ache se janti ho maine kabhi cabir ko koi false hopes ni dye the! I had always warned him ki this will not lead to anything.." navya defended herself but hearing about cabir had shaken her deep down her heart.

Nandini interrupted her " okay you don't wanna talk about cabir, then lets talk about you....what are you doing ? whom are you marrying? A 30 year old pot bellied government employee?? Whose aspirations and beliefs don't match yours?? What are you planning to do..get married have kids and live in that town of lucknow all your life?? Come on navya answer me"

"they (in-laws) have permitted me to complete my engineering and then i can.." as navya spoke with a shaky voice, nandini interrupted her "permitted you?? What do you mean by 'permitted you'?? who are they to decide for you...for god's sake navya this is 21st century!! Are you planning to shift from one prison(her home) to another prison (in-laws home) ?? " as nandini spoke with frustration, navya's patience too gave up and she spoke rashly "toh kya chahti ho tum?? Kya karun main? Ma-papa se jaa k bol du ki main iss larke se ni kisi aur se shadi karna chahti hun...unhe sharminda kar doon puri family aur society ke saamne?? Being a girl i have always been a burden on them..yet they have done so much for me...its time for me to payback..even if that means that i have to sacrifice my own happiness...i will do that!" by the end navya had moved to tears. Pity took over nandini's rage , so she spoke softly now, "larkiyaan bojh ni hoti hain navya. We are no less than a boy. We can earn our living and be independent. And about your parents...navya...maa-baap ka farz hota hai bachchon ko palna unhe bara karna...wo humpar koi ehsaan ni kar rahe hain...and if they are making you feel like you have certain obligations to them, then that's not true love and care. Parent should be happy in their child's happiness...yaar! and there is one person who is dying every second just to see you happy...you are not a burden for him...you are his reason to live...think wisely navya...because you have spent 22 years of live under bondage...but you have an opportunity to live the rest of your life freely, the way you want...what will you choose...life long servitude or freedom? And about this society..they enjoy the drama navya and the next second they forget about it...inke darr mein jiyogi toh you will never move ahead in your life" nandini had made navya think. Though navya was aware of these things but probably she had chosen to ignore, but now when nandini said the same things it brought out the deep buried insecurities and fear. Navya started wondering , for whom is she doing all this? Her family? Who didn't once ask for her view...if she liked the boy or not, and just fixed the marriage.

While navya was busy thinking, nandini left from her room. she knew she had done her part, there was nothing more that she could do. Now everything lies on navya, what she chooses!

As she came out, mukti and alia approached her with hopeful faces. Nandini shrugged her shoulders and asked them to wait and see what happens. They were standing in a corner and talking when they saw some ladies entering navya's room and after a few moments they came out with navya and started doing some puja. Navya looked pale but also undecided and the trio (nandini, alia, mukti) crossed their fingers!

Nandini, mukti and alia were mute spectators for the next 4 hours, bit by bit losing hope of navya's heart change. Whenever by chance navya looked towards her friends she could see tears in their eyes and pleads on their faces.

Manik, Dhruv and abhi were ringing them up time to time to know if there was any good news. But they got the same answer everytime. Finally when the news that baraat was on its way was announced, nandini just lost all hope and rang up manik, crying hysterically

"manik!! Please i need you...please come here" she pleaded. The boys were sitting in a nearby coffee shop all this time, so it didn't take manik much to reach where nandini was. As soon as she saw her she just ran into his arms and cried like a baby. Manik held her tightly in the hug, consoling her, but he himself was crying in his heart.

(Ignore the smiling face )

"nandini, sweetheart chup ho jao....aise mat ro...you will fall sick..please" he was consoling and cajoling her .

"main navya ko convince ni kar pai manik!! Nai kar pai...main ni samjha pai usey ki uski khushi cabir ke sath hai! Ab main cabir ko kya bolungi?? Main cabir ka dil toot te hue ni dekh sakti..." she was hiccupping now because of excessive crying. He tightened the hug and kissed her head numerous times. He knew how much she believes in love, true love! And today her faith in love was shaky. He understood her turmoil. She was girl, who could fill the whole universe with love, if that would have been in her power. She has so much love in her heart.

He was rubbing her back till her sobs changed into whimpers and sniffs. His phone started ringing. He picked it up, holding her in his embrace.

"hello, manik" came abhi's voice.

"haa kya hua??" asked manik.

"yaar cabir ko pta ni kya sujha...wo yaha se ye bolkar nikal gya ki usey navya ki shadi apne ankhon se dekhni hai!!"

"what!!" shouted manik, startling nandini. She broke the hug and looked at him fearfully, scared that something wrong has happened.

"guys tum log bhi yaha ao...we need to keep an eye on cabir...koi puche toh bolna groom k side se ho" manik instructed and hung up.

"manik kya hua cabir ko??" she asked.

"cabir yaha aya hua hai...he said he wants to see navya's wedding" he informed and again pool of tears started forming in nandini's eyes.
"shhhh...nandini...ye rone ka time ni h...we have to be strong for our friends...they need us...chalo...let's find cabir first" manik spoke softly rubbing her tears off her cheeks. She nodded and they started searching for cabir.

They met mukti and alia who too were looking for cabir, as they had been informed by Dhruv. The baraat had arrived and the groom's side was now settling down. Orchestra had been arranged on one corner of the lawn where food arrangement was done, while the wedding was to be held indoors.

Suddenly they heard the voice of cabir over the mike. They were looking for him inside, so realising that he is outdoor, they ran out. Till then cabir had begun singing.

Accha chalta hoon
Duaaon mein yaad rakhna
Mere zikr ka zubaan pe swaad rakhna (x2)

(channa mereya means: light of my soul)

Dil ke sandookon mein
Mere acche kaam rakhna
Chitthi taaron mein bhi
Mera tu salaam rakhna
He was singing with a smile on his face and the guests present there mistook him to be a performer and they were enjoying the show. While on the other side his voice reached till navya's room and she came running to her window. Accidently at the same time cabir also looked in the same direction and an eyelock happened and the pain in his eyes reflected in hers.

Andhera tera maine le liya
Mera ujla sitaara tere naam kiya
He sang the above two lines looking straight in her eyes.

Channa mereya mereya
Channa mereya mereya
Channa mereya mereya Beliya
O piya... (x2)

Nandini held manik's arm for support as it was getting difficult for her to bear the pain of cabir. He took her in a side hug.

(Ignore the smiling face)

Mmm... mehfil mein teri
Hum naa rahe jo
Gham toh nahi hai
Gham toh nahi hai
Qisse humaare nazdeeqiyon ke
Kam toh nahi hai
Kam toh nahi hai
She remembered all those moments when he was with her like a true friend.

Kitni dafaa, subah ko meri
Tere aangan me baithe
Maine shaam kiya
Channa mereya mereya
Channa mereya mereya
Channa mereya mereya Beliya
O piya... (x2)
She was still looking at him, but he turned his face away from her. And that move of his tore her heart apart.

Tere rukh se apna raasta
Mod ke chalaa
Chandan hoon main
Apni khushboo chhod ke chala
Mann ki maaya rakh ke
Tere takiye tale
Bairagi, bairagi ka sooti chaula
Odh ke chalaa
It was like some spirit possessed her and she came out crying like a maniac.

Channa mereya mereya
Channa mereya mereya
Channa mereya mereya Beliya
O piya...

Her parents were dumbfounded seeing her running like that. They too ran after her. Without caring for anything or anyone she directly ran into his arms and started crying.

"i am sorry cabir!! I am sorry...i know mujhe ye realise karne mein bahut late ho gya...ki main tumhare bina ni reh sakti" she said still hugging him. The onlookers were confused that by just one song a singer had the bride in his arms. Is he a hypnotiser or something! Some wondered aloud while family members were flabbergasted.

Cabir twirled navya around in his happiness and she smiled. They both had a lot to say to each other but just then navya's mom came and pulled them apart and in flash of a second , navya's cheek had the imprint of her mother's fingers. The sound of the slap boomed through the place and people were stunned into silence. Cabir pulled navya behind him, now that navya had given him her approval he held the steering of their relationship's vehicle and his first thought was to sort out this mess without hurting much people.

"ae larke! Hat jao samne se....mujhe apni beti se baat karne do" shouted her mother.

"aunty please...iss tarah se violence karne se kya hoga...hm araam se baith kar baat karte hain...main apne parents ko bulata hun...wo baat karenge apse...if you want...but yeh shaadi toh ab ni hogi" cabir declared.

"tu bolega aur hum maan lenge! Tu hota kaun h humein apni beti ki shaadi karne se rokne wala!!" came the voice of navya's father.

On the other side, seeing their union , their friend's were super happy. But then realising that the situation was getting heated they made a few phone calls.

Navya's father tried to pull a scared navya from behind cabir. But cabir stopped him.

"uncle please dekhiye...main bol raha hun araam se baat kijiye" he warned.

"nhi toh kya kar lega tu??" instigated the father. And he found himself looking straight into a pair of eyes.

Manik stood in front of cabir.

"uncle hum kar oth bahut kuch sakte hain....police ko bula sakte hain...apko apni beti ki jabardsati shaadi krane k jurm mein jail ho sakti hai...aur aap...(pointing to the groom's father) dowry lene ke jurm mein jail ho jaegi...now aap log decide kijiye ki aap kya chahte hain?? Peace talk or violence??" manik spoke with so much conviction and determination, and moreover his over powering demeanour had them thinking now. Navya's father pulled back realising the situation.

"that's very good uncle! Now that apne apni beti ki shaadi pe itne kharch kiye hain...main ni chahta ki ye waste ho...islye shaadi toh hogi...lekin mere yaar ki...aur wo v uske pyaar se!!" manik said and put his arms round cabir's shoulders.

"aur aap sab jo guests aye hain...jo apka kaam tha...you know boufet enjoy karna...aap kijiye...khaiye piye...aur araam se ghar jayiye!" manik announced in a funny way and his friends chuckled.

Till then cabir's parent also arrived panicked , dhruv brought them to cabir and they relaxed seeing him fine.

"beta tum theek ho?? Hume pehle q ni btaya ki tumhri ye haalat meri bahu k kaaran hai!! " his mother spoke worried and then smiled at navya.
She touched their feets.

"mom mujhe laga apki bahu ke layak ni hai apka beta!" cabir said cutely looking at navya.

"sach mein ye hai hi itni pyaari!" cabir's mother gushed.

"mom i want to get married right now!!" he announced.

"right now?? But beta humne toh koi tyari ni ki??" she asked worried.

"aunty shaadi toh yaha wese bhi hone wali thi...toh sari preparations ki hui hongi..bas aap ha kar do" urged Dhruv.

"bhai wo idiom toh suna hi hoga tum logo ne...ki...jab miyan biwi raaji toh kya karega kaji!!...chalo fir shuru karo shaadi ki rasme!" said cabir's father.
The first grrom and his family left from there not wanting more trouble and navya's family was trying anyhow to get rid of navya as quickly as possible, so they cooperated.

Dhruv , abhi, manik, nandini, mukti, alia started singing and dancing while the rituals were being performed.

Dholak mein taal hai paayal mein chan chan
Ghoonghat mein gori hai sehre mein saajan
Jahan bhi yeh jaayen bahaare hi chaaayen
Yeh khushiyaan hi paayen mere dil ne duayen di hai
Mere yaar ki shaadi hai...(4)

Pyaar mila preet mili mere yaar ko
Badi pyaari jeet mili mere yaar ko
Pyaar mila preet mili mere yaar ko
Badi pyaari jeet mili mere yaar ko
Khush hai jo dil maine mehfil ...(2)
Jeeto se saja di hai
Mere yaar ki shaadi hai...(4)

Haar nahin jeet nahin yahan pyaar hai
Jis main haar jeet ho woh kahan pyaar hai
Haar nahin jeet nahin yahan pyaar hai
Jis main haar jeet ho woh kahan pyaar hai
Lag ja gaale yaar mere
Lag ja gaale yaar mere maine dil se sada di hai
Mere yaar ki shaadi hai...(3)

Saathi sakhiyaan bachpan ka yeh angna
Gudiya jule koyi bhi to hoga sang na
Chupaungi aasoon kaise bege ge kangna
Saathi sakhiyaan bachpan ka yeh angna
Gudiya jule koyi bhi to hoga sang na
Chupaungi aasoon kaise bege ge kangna
Saathi sakhiyaan re
Saathi sun le bole jo yeh angna
Yeh mann jeevan pyaar ke hi rang main rang na
Has degi teri chudi khankegi kangna
Saathi sun le re
Mere yaar ki shaadi hai...(3) -

Soon the wedding was over and navya's bidaai was done but without much emotion from her family's side. They had not yet realised what a gem they are losing today. But it is said na that you realise someone's value when you lose them! They will realise too!

After marriage , both cabir and navya felt the luckiest person on earth. They spent their first night talking and fighting, mostly it was cabir who complained to navya the whole night that she doesn't love him and she proved her love to him by surrendering herself to him. But in the process of love making, navya had her own set of complaints that his beard was pricking her and that he has grown so thin!! They laughed, they teased, and most importantly they loved!

In this way their happy married life began.

Next day the thanking sessions started. Firstly cabir thanked each one of his friends and then navya thanked nandini specially and then the others. By the end of it all, cabir and navya's lips were taped.

The month passed in planning their life after marriage. Cabir and navya decided to postpone their honeymoon for the next vacation, because planning a honeymoon at such a short notice was not possible.

After a month
Cabir was doing MBA so he had to leave for his college, IIM banglore.
Navya's third year engineering was on and she had her summer internship at TCS Mumbai itself. She was doing B.Tech from NIT trichy.

Manik and nandini left for their internship at facebook, Hyderabad. They were doing B.Tech from IIT Kharagpur.
.....
I hope this clears the queries regarding the courses which the characters have opted.
I want to clear that the updates will fluctuate between past and present, so please keep a track and don't get confused.
In the next update, manali trip will continue.
This episode of cavya's marriage was important for the story to show that's why i have elaborated it. If you find it boring, i will understand.
But please do vote and comment if you appreciate my effort.