As per the plan the family headed to the Desai's the following evening.

First, the gifts were exchanged, accompanied by many expected 'iski kya jarut thi?' and 'aare aap logon ne toh bahut jyada kar diya!'. Then all the important arrangements for the engagement function were finalized.

Though the Maheshwari family had lived in Gujrat for many decades, they were Marwaris, and had many new customs to learn about now that their son was marrying a girl from a Gujrati family.

Based on what they had seen of her, so far, Payal was an amiable and lively girl. But it was clear that being an only child she had been pampered a great deal and expected things to pan out her way in everything. From the sweets to be included in the menu, to the flowers to be used in the decoration – Payal had it all figured out and the elders indulgently nodded along.

Payal then shared another idea, "Naina, maine soch hain, hum sagai ke liye color theme rakhenge! Hollywood movies mein jaise sari bridesmaids ek style aur color ke dresses pehenti hain na... waise hi meri saari cousins pink pehne wali hain. Tum aur Rohan ki sab cousins blue pehena! Acha lagega na?!"

As Naina started smiling in acceptance, Nirmala spoke "Laado to gulabi hi pehenegi! Bade armaanon se silwa hain issne lehenga."

After exchanging confused glances with Vishakha at the mention of this non-existent lehenga, Naina muttered "Koi baat nahi Dadi... main woh... Rohan bhaiya ke shaadi ki kissi function mein pehen lungi... abhi agar Payal Bhabhi ka maan hai to sagai mein blue joda banwa lungi."

Ignoring Naina's input, Nirmala addressed Paya's mother sounding emotional "Kya baatu Shobhna-ben... Rohan ke Dadaji ko gulabi rang bahut pasand tha... humesha isske liye gulabi frock silwate thay."

As Sameer wondered at this coincidence of how he too had always felt that pink really suited her, Dadi continued "Sach kahe toh, isska naam sirf kagaj pe Agarwal hain... humare liye toh Maheshwari hi hai, aur humare ghar ki toh saari raunak laado se hi hain! Maaf kijiye, par isska ji nakhush karke ghar ka koi function karna... achaa nahi lagega."

Shobhna rushed to assure the groom's grandmother "Aare nahi nahi... iss mein kya badi baat hain! Naina beti jo maan ho pehene." Turning to her daughter, she emphasized "Payal beta, waise bhi ab toh yeh bhi tumhare behenon jaisi hi hai! Aur ab jab tak Naina uss ghar mein hain tumhe bhi isske laad uthane chahiye, samjhi?"

So far, Sameer had been partially listening into to all the chit-chat, and only actively participating when some practical aspects like the venue and caterers for the event were discussed. But hearing Shobhna's last sentence his eyes narrowed – Kya dangerous aurat hain yaar... khud ke beti waha pahuchne se pehele hi Naina ka ghar se patta katne ka planning chalu kiya hain? Par inhe abhi idea nahi hain ke Nirmala devi kya cheez hain!

Payal first half-heartedly muttered "Ji Mummy." and then plastering on a big smile added "Naina, aaj se tum meri party ki! Toh ladki walon ke colors pehna!"

Payal Bhabhi... Nirmala devi apni laado ko itni aasani se Maheshwari party chodane nah dengi! Sameer smirked at the thought.

Yet again, before Naina could utter a word, Nirmala chuckled "Aare beta... Naina nahi... bidaa hoke party toh ab tumhe badalni hain!"

Sameer had to mask his spontaneous chuckle with a fake cough.

Deciding this topic should be put to an end, Vivek laughed "Maa toh bechari Payal ko dara hi degi! Aare bhai hum yaha Desai-Maheshwari party ko jod ke ek nayi sainyukat party banaye aaye hain. Hai na Santosh bhai?"

Payal's father nodded "Bilkul sahi kaha aapne bhaisahab. Aare Shobhna khane ka dekho..."

* * *

Later, as soon as they had waved goodbye to the Maheshwari family, Shobhna started interrogating her daughter "Yeh Rohan ki Dadi kuch jyada hi attached nahi hain uss Naina se? Itna kya sona laga hain uss ladki mein?"

Payal shrugged "Mummy... sirf Dadiji nahi... uss ghar ke sab log ussko leke bahot overprotective hain. Rohan bhi bahut attached hain usse. Bata raha tha... Rohan ke Dadaji and Naina ke Dadaji unke gaav mein bahut purane neighbours thay, aur Vivek uncle aur Naina ke father ekdum close friends almost like brothers. Naina char saal ki thi jab accident mein uske parents ki death ho gayi. Tabhi se woh inke sath hi rehti hain."

Squinting slightly, Shobhna asked "Par inke sath kyu?? Koi aur rishtaydaar nahi hain kya uske?"

"I think shuru mein Naina ki grandmother bhi rehti thi unke sath... but she passed away too. Naina ki ek bua hain jo Canada mein settled hain."

"Aare toh bua ke pass kyu nahi rehti woh?!" Shobhna was surprised.

"Pata nahi Mummy! Aapko kya lagta hain main Rohan se yeh sab discuss karti hu? Hume karne ke liye aur bhi bohot sari interesting baatein hoti hain!" Payal responded irritated.

Santosh patted his daughter's head "Dekho kitni samahjdar hain meri beti. Nahi toh tum! Aare humme kya lena dena woh ladki usske bua ke sath rahe ya kissi aur ke sath!"

Scowling, Shobhna muttered "Aap dono baap beti ko toh duniyadari samajh hi nahi aati! Aare kal ko uss ladki ki shaadi hogi, aage delivery hogi, saalon maike aayegi... saare kaam meri Payal ke sar aayenge. Aur kharcha hoga woh alag! Apni beti bhihane mein kamar dhili ho jati hai... Tu kissi aur ki zimmedari kyu leni?!"

"Mummy! Main kyu karungi yeh sab? Main toh rahungi US mein Rohan ke sath... Rohan ki mom aur Sameer ki biwi kare yeh sab kaam!" Payal easily shrugged off her future responsibilities.

The older lady tsked "Phir wahi bewakufon wali baat... aare ghar mein jo pheli bahu aati hain saari zimmedariyan bhi usse hi uthani padti hain."

Santosh laughed "Yeh sahi kaha tumhari maa ne. Issliye Desai khandan ki saari zimmedari Lata Bhabhi ne utha rakhi hain."

Smarting from the remark, Shobhna headed inside in a huff "Ha ha... jaise maine toh kabhi kuch aap ke parivar ke liye kiya hi nahi! Aur uss paheli bahu ke jo laad uthaye jaate hain uska kya? Main chahe jitna bhi kar lu... aapki Maa ki toh wahi sabse pyari bahu rahegi! Lata Bhabhi ki rai puche bina ek patta nahi hilta unka!"

* * *

Across town, on entering their home, Naina asked, with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes "Toh Dadi aap kuanse color ki saree pehenengi sagai mein? Pink ya blue??"

When the old woman huffed, Sameer sardonically chuckled "Lagta hain Payal Bhabhi abhi samjhi nahi hain... Maheshwari apna rang badlate nahi. In fact, baaki sab ko apne rang mein rang lete! Right Dadi??"

First, Nirmala smiled broadly "Bilkul sau take wali baat kahi hain tune!" and then continued with a frown "Aur waise bhi jarurat hi kya hain yeh alag alag unifarum ki?? Shaadi-bhyaa wala ghar toh sare rangon se bhara hona chahiye! Aare bhai ab kya hum nimantran ke sath logon ke liye kapade bhi bheje?! Jiska jo maan ho pehene..."

Naina immediately smirked "Toh Dadi... main neele rang ka lehenga banwalu?? Nahi toh woh Madhuri wali green saree leti hu..."

Looking mildly bashful, the elderly lady responded "Dekh laado, ab sagai pe toh gulabi hi pehena... phir shaadi ke functions mein hara, peela, neela... jo maan ho pehen lena. Thik hain na?"

"Jo hukum meri pyari Dadi-sa!" smiling, Naina quickly hugged the old lady.

Glancing at the duo, Sameer scowled – Mutual admiration society ka concept hi inn donon se aaya hoga! Jab dekho ek dusre ko makhan lagane mein lagi rehti hain...

"Sameer, kal kitne baaje jaana hain tujhe office?? Breakfast jaldi bana du tera?" Vishakha's words nudged him out of his thoughts. He followed her towards the dining area, "About sade aath baaje niklunga..."

"Mood thik hain tera? Kuch hua hain kya?" Vishakha asked, lowering her voice. Surprise flickering in his eyes, Sameer mumbled "Mujhe kya hona hain... thik hu Mummy." But she continued, "Kuch dinnon se kuch chup-chup se rehte ho... aur aaj subhe toh mooli ki sabji bhi bina kissi drame ke kha li!"

His gaze softened, noting that nothing escaped his perceptive mother. Vishakha had dedicated her whole life to her family and, almost always, picked up even the slightest anxiety in her kids. As a wave of affection surged within, stepping closer he dropped a quick kiss on her head "I am okay, Mummy. Bus workload bohot badh gaya hain. Don't worry... ho jayega settle kuch din mein."

Feeling relieved, she enquired "Kab khatam hoga tera yeh internship?"

"Christmas break se pehele khatam ho jayega. Phir February tak project presentation tayaar karke review ke liye college mein submit karna hain."

Looking very pleased, Vishakha muttered, as she stood by the dining table and transferred the mithai given by the Payal's mother to a round stainless-steel container "Chalo achha hain. Pata nahi kaha chale gaye itne saal... iss saal, Rohan ki shaadi bhi ho jaayegi aur tera MBA bhi! Vivek toh kabse tere business join karne ki raha dekh rahe hain... ab woh bhi thoda aaram kare..."

"Agar tumhe lagta hai bete ke business join karte hi main retire hone wala hu... toh aaisa bilkul nahi hain!" Vivek declared from the sofa he was settled on.

Vishakha retorted "Waise toh meri koi baat aap ko sunayi nahi deti... phir yeh kaise sunayi diya?! Mera kya hai... aur dus-pandhra saal aaise hi kaam karo!"

Rolling his eyes at his parents bickering, Sameer called out "Goodnight, everyone. Mujhe sone se pehele ek assignment complete karni hain."

As he climbed the stairs, Nirmala called out "Bahut jagna maat... aakhon ke neeche kali aa jaayegi. Aur haldi wala dudh pee lena... Naina ke hathon bhejwati hu." Knowing any objections would be overruled, Sameer dutifully nodded "Ji Dadi."

"Vishakha, please mujhe ek coffee bana dena." Vivek requested as he switched on some news channel.

Before his wife could respond, Naina rose to her feet "Mumma, aap change kar lijiye. Coffee main bana deti hu."

Vishakha smiled appreciatively, "Thanks beta. Aur ha, woh abhi laya hua dudh ubal ke Sameer ko dena. Pehla wala thoda hi bacha hain toh coffee mein use kar lena." Nodding her head in agreement Naina headed to the kitchen.

After giving Vivek his coffee, Naina stood by the kitchen platform waiting for the milk to boil.

Her lips curved into a smile as her aimlessly drifting gaze settled on the new spice rack, which she had persuaded Vishakha to buy around diwali. Maine toh dekhte hi kaha tha Mumma se ke ekdum mast lagega iss corner mein! Aur sare spices aakhon ke saamne rehenge toh Payal Bhabhi ko dhundne bhi nahi padenge... warna humari laung steel ki dibbi mein pathform ne neeche, aur dalchiIi kanche ke bootle mein uppar wale shelf mein! Koi logic hi nahi tha... Mumma aur mujhe chod kar toh kabhi kissiko kuch mil hi nahi sakta tha!

Then her mind drifted to the shalwar kameez material that she had been gifted that evening. Yeh wala blue toh mere paas tha bhi nahi... three-forth sleeves aur matka neckline acha lagega... nahi matka bohot common ho gaya hain... kuch aur select karungi...aur chunni bhi kuch contrast lungi.

Once the outfit design had materialized in her head, she chuckled yet again recalling Dadi's reaction to the color theme suggested by Payal. And then pondered on Dadi's proclamation how she was Agarwal only by name. It had not been an exaggeration. For as long as she could remember, she had been an integral part of the family. In fact, even when she tried hard, not a single memory came to mind of being an Agarwal. Restlessly, she gnawed on her lower lip till the milk rose to the top.

As she prepared a mug of turmeric milk for Sameer, she heard Dadi coughing a little in her room. The cold quickly got to Nirmala these days.

Before heading upstairs, Naina peaked into Nirmala's bedroom "Dadi, yeh haldi wala dudh pee lijiye." As the old lady started "Aare... mere liye nahi... Sameer ke liye banane ko kaha tha tujhe-", Naina tsked "O ho! Usske liye bhi banaya hain. Yeh aapke liye hain. Khaasi badh na jaaye. Pee lo, goodnight!"

Entering Sameer's already open room, she announced "Haldi dudh hazer hain! Aur sath mein kuch aur bhi!" When he just grunted in response, without looking up from his books, she pouted "Dekho toh sahi... maine ne tumhare liye special malai ka katora banake laya hain."

The words had the desired effect and he immediately turned around to inspect the contents of the katora.

Eyes twinkling, she shared "Phele wale dudh ki puri malai tumhare liye leke aayi hu! Aur, uss mein sugar ke sath Mumma ka masala dudh wala special mix dala hain! Samjho instant malai burfi tayar!!"

But instead of the beaming smile she had expected, his eyes pensively oscillated between the tray in her hands and her face for a bit. His heart stuttered, as it often did these days, before he muttered gruffly "Thanks... udhar rakh do... thodi der mein le lunga."

Sounding let down, she plopped the tray on his table and then demanded "Kuch ho gaya hai kya? Mujhse naraz ho??"

Looking a little uncomfortable, he muttered "Nahi toh... naraz kyu hone laga... kuch nahi-"

She glared back "Jooth mat bolo! Kuch toh pukka hua hain... bohot dinon ye dekh rahi hu main! Kuch bujhe-bujhe se... nahi... uljhe huye lagte ho. Dekho main phir se bata rahi hu, maine Kaka-baba se tumhari shikayat nahi ki thi. Pata nahi unhe kaha se pata chala ke Anish ke party ke baad tum raat bhar gaadi leke drive pe gaye thay."

He squinted in confusion "Aare yaar! Kaunsa gaadi ka accident ho gaya tha... ya koi drunk driving kiya... sirf long drive pe hi toh gaya tha Munna-Pandit ke sath. Papa ne phir se kuch kaha kya?"

She first shook her head "Unhone kuch nahi kaha..." and added tentatively "Par mujhe laga tabhi se tumhara mood thik nahi hain... Sameer, uss raat kuch hua tha kya jo tumne hume bataya nahi??"

His eyes widened in surprise, realizing how close her dart in the dark had struck.

Naina instantly exclaimed "Toh kuch hua tha! Abhi batao mujhe!" Instinctively reverting to their childhood equation, she continued "Sammy... you are not allowed to keep secrets from me!"

She watched expectantly, as indecision flickered in his eyes, but then he shrugged "Jab share karne wali koi baat hogi tabhi karunga, right?"

Turning to leave the room, she muttered "Batana nahi toh mat batao... but please don't lie to me! Mujhe pata hain tum mujhse hi naraz ho!"

He almost stood up to pull her back, but then restrained himself.

Looking at the door she had just exited, Sameer let out a wry chuckle and started humming.

Tujhse naraz nahi zindagi

Hairaan hoon main

Ho hairaan hoon main...

Tere masoom sawalon se

Pareshaan hoon main

Ho pareshaan hoon main...

* * *

Feeling out of sorts, Naina closed her bedroom door. Carelessly discarding her dupatta on the back of a chair, she pushed the button of the tape recorder placed on her study table.

Her irritation at Sameer slowly evaporated, as the soothing music from 'Roja' poured into her room.

Tere hontho pe hain

Husn ki bijliya

Tere gaalon pe hain

Zulf ki badaliya

Tere daaman ki khushboo, se mehke chaman

Sangamaramar ke jaisa, yeh tera badan

Meri jaan-e-jaan

Main teri chandani

Chhed do tum aaj koyi, pyar ki raagini

Yeh haseen vadiyan

Yeh khula aasman

Aa gaye hum kaha

Ae mere sajana...

Humming along to the song, she changed into a comfortable lemon-yellow cotton nightie and then settled at her study table, which was covered with many large sketches.

Naina was enrolled at Ahmedabad's prestigious NID, where she was in the third and final year, pursuing a degree in design. After trying her hand at designing various things over the first two years, she had finally chosen to focus on designing large handbags and small luggage. She was fascinated by the idea of creating something functional which would also act as a fashion statement. And fashion to suit every budget!

As part of the course, she was currently interning with a company that had two labels - one for the suave consumer who did not think twice before choosing to spend a couple of thousand on the latest trend, and other for the middle-class consumer who was likely to buy something new only after their current bag was beyond any restoration.

A huge board hanging on the wall behind the table was covered with swatches in many hues and types of materials ranging across real leather, faux leather, rayons, canvas, and cloth. A large transparent box filled with an assortment of sketching pencils, buttons, embellishments and zips sat on the table. A broken scissor lay to one side, which is why she had needed to borrow Sameer's scissors the previous day.

After staring at the half-finished sketch on her table for some time, Naina dropped it to the floor. She thoughtfully fingered the khadi silk on the board and then feverishly started sketching a small clutch bag in peacock blue. An idea had struck when she had heard Payal talk about color themes. As part of the wedding planning, Vishakha was trying to decide on return gifts for the younger women amongst their family and friends who would not be eligible for the sarees reserved for their mother-in-laws but were still candidates for some nice gift.

Close to an hour had flown by as she sketched many shapes in various colors, all the while trying to bear in mind what budget Vishakha might have in mind, when a knock on the door interrupted her.

Still a little perturbed by his behavior from before, she asked as she opened the door "Kya hai??"

"Tumhara, malai ka katora." he smiled from the other side, and then blushed a little at his own choice of words.

When her frown did not ease, he added, holding out a spoonful "Thank you. Ekdum mast hai! In fact, bohot control karke ek spoon bacha ke rakha hai tumhare liye." As she eyed the spoon without responding, he brought it to her lips "Ab lo bhi... warna yeh bhi chu mantar ho jayega!"

His heart stuttered once more when giving into the temptation she licked the malai off the spoon and sighed in pleasure.

Trying to divert his thoughts, he quickly added "Mummy jaisa banati hai mere liye, usse bhi acha bana hai." Knowing how huge the compliment was, she almost shrieked "Sacchi?!" "Mucchi!" he chuckled and lovingly pulled her nose. "Ouch... Sammy dard ho raha hain!" she protested scrunching her face.

He let go and then, nervously licking his lower lip, added as he started to walk away "Jab bhi mujhe puri baat pata chalega tumhe bata dungi. I promise, no secrets."

The moment his works sank, she loudly called out to his back "Matlab mujhse kuch toh chuppa rahe ho! I knew it!! Baad mein kyu... abhi batao!"

Without looking back, he shook his head "Goodnight, Nainu."

* * *

(Happy Sunday Dearies!

Hope you all are well and liked this part. Do share your thoughts. 

I would like to clarify, that I haven't really watched Balika Vadhu and hence neither the characters nor the plot is inspired by that show. In fact, I had first thought of this story when I had just started working on 'The Folly of Love', and hence the idea was put on hold for the last 4 years. Fingers crossed, I hope am able to bring it alive on paper and the readers enjoy it! 

Lots of love, May)