They rode from the quieter lanes that was a shortcut to Sameer's house as it was safer & easier for Sameer to keep the bike speed in tandem with Naina's bicycle.
Within 10 minutes they were around Sameer's home when Naina stopped him,
N: Nanaji ko pata hai tum mujhe laa rahe?
S: Nahi, yeh unke lie bhi surprise hai. Bahut khush honge woh.
N: Agar gussa hue toh?
S: Sawal hi nahi uthta, mere Nanu ko jabse humare baare mei pata laga hai woh mujhse bhi zyada khush hai, itna pasand karte hai tumhe
N: Woh aaj factory nahi gaye kya?
S: Nahi, kuch kaam tha unhe subah, jaldi ghar aana tha toh maine socha isse acha surprise ka time nahi ho sakta.
N: Par tumhari colony mei kisi ne dekh lia toh?
S: Ohhooo Naina, tum tension mat lo, mai hun na tumhare saath, tum school dress mei ho, aur Nanu ghar pe hai, kisi ne dekha bhi toh samjhega tumhe Nanu ne school se bulaya hai bas.
Waise, kuch saal mei yahin ana hai aapko, toh fikar kaisi madam, acha hai dekh le.
N: Sameeerrr
S: Acha tum apni cycle gate ke andar lagao, mai ata hun
N: Kaha jaa rahe ho? Please mujhe chodke mat jao
S: Tumhe chodke chala jaun, naah, tumhe chodne ke lie thodi apna banaya hai.
Bike samne laga ke aya.
N: Jaooo

Sameer entered the house while Naina parked her bicycle & was looking at how majestic the bungalow looked. Last time when she was here with her father & chachaji, she was angry with Sameer & didn't bother to give the bungalow a look but today was different. Sameer had given her dreams back. The beauty of the garden just enamoured her & she thought, itne bade ghar mei bas 2 log rehte hai? Inke toh garden mei hi chachaji ka ghar aajae. Kitna sundar rakha hai garden, pakka Nanaji ko pasand honge phool. She saw at a little distance Nanaji sitting on the swing, reading a file. He seemed a little busy in his work & Naina thought, "Yeh Sameer bhi na, Nanaji toh kaam mei busy lag rahe hai, disturb hogaye aur gussa hogaye toh? Kya sochenge? Par tu itna kyu pareshan hai, pehli baar thodi mil rahi hai, har saal toh best student ka award leti hai tu, kitne ache toh hai!
Haa ache toh hai par tab tere trustee hai aur aaj tere hone wale Nana Sasur"; & she bit her own tongue, blushing to herself, "kya bol rahi Naina, abhi woh Sameer ke Nanaji hai, par nahi Sameer ne kaha na kuch saal mei yeh mera bhi ghar hoga, aur uspar mera bhi toh haq hai akhir vo mera pehla pyar hai toh uss hisab se uske Nanaji mere Nanaji hue. Kitna sapno jaisa hai yeh sab."

*Snaps his fingers*
S: Kaunse sapno mei khoi ho?
N: Sapno mei kaise khojaun? Yeh haqeeqat mere har sapne se bhi khubsurat hai.
S: Abhi toh shuruat hai. Aao
Ghabrao nahi, apna ghar samjhke aao.
Naina just followed Sameer slowly as he paced up & called out "Nanu, Nanu"

Nanu: (just signing a few papers) arre agaya mera sher
S: Kya kar rahe hai?
Nanu: (closing the file) kuch khas nahi, yunhi kuch factory ke kaam. Aaj bade khush lag rahe ho. (He glances at someone standing behind & notices Naina)
Arre Naina aai hai saath
S: Haa Nanu, mai aapko Naina se milwana chahta tha islie leaya.

Nanu moves forward to meet her, noticing she is extremely nervous.
Nanu: Aree waha kyu khadi ho, aao na.

She is so nervous that she is unable to even lift her eyes & think of anything but somehow manages to calm herself & just bends down to take his blessings

N: Namaste nanaji, ummm, sorry, Sir. Kaise hai aap?
Nanu: Abhi tak toh mai theek tha par ab mai bahut acha hu beti. Aur Sir nahi Nanaji kaho, apna pan lagta hai. Aur apno pe apnapan acha lagta hai. Tum theek ho? Ghar par sab theek hai?
N: Ji Nanaji sab theek hai.
Nanaji: Aao mere pass baitho. Yeh nalayak pakka surprise dene Laya na?

Naina silently nods.

Nanu: Darata kyu hai bachi ko? Kya karta hai Sameer par sach kahu, sabse acha surprise hai. Waise itni akal toh tujhmei hai nahi, sangati ka asar hai zaroor. Dil khush hogaya mera.

Naina: (softly muttered) Nahi Nanaji, Sameer toh bahut intelligent hai.

He looks at both one after the other & then just quietly looks at Naina for a few seconds.
Naina felt a little odd & thought probably Nanu was pricked & she angered him in the very first meeting.

Naina: Sorry, Nanaji mera vo matlab nahi tha. Mai toh basss
Nanu: Aaj se zyada khush mai kabhi nahi ho sakta. Mujhe khushi hai maine jo socha tha tum bilkul waisi ho. Sameer ka saath Sameer se bhi pehle dogi. Woh ek baar khud pe bharosa kho dega par tum uski kabiliyat par kabhi ungli nahi uthne dogi.
Teri choice pe garv hai mere Sher. Jaisa khud heere jaise hai na waisa hi chamchamata hua moti dhunda hai tune.

Nanu: Ramdhari, chai banao, aaj mai khushi se inn bacho ke saath chai piyunga. Chalo bacho andar chalte hai.
N: Nanaji, aapka garden bahut sundar hai.
Nanu: Thank You, tumhe phool pasand hai?
S: Naina ko toh pholon se itna pyar hai na Nanu, ki yeh unse bhi baatein karleti hai.
Nanu: Bas isi tarah zindagi bhar iski pasand napasand ka khayal rakhna hai tujhe, samjha nalayak?
S: Humesha rakhunga Nanu.

Nanaji: Acha laga Naina ki tumhe bhi prakriti itni pasand hai. Jo insan prakriti se juda hota hai na woh kitna bhi aage jae, apni zameen ka saath kabhi nahi chodta.

Nanu sits on the sofa while Sameer sits next to him & Naina on the adjacent sofa on the right of him.

S: Nanu, kal aapne pucha tha na ki kya maine aur Naina ne apne dil ki baat boli? Nanu, aap sahi the, humne kal sab bol dia aur aaj mai aapse milwane islie laya kyunki aaj hi ke din pichle saal hum mile the. Aaj ka din khas hai aur aapka aashirwad isse sabse khas bana dega.

Nanu: Khas toh bahut hai fir yeh din. Iss ek saal mei mera beta jitna khush hua hai na usse bhi zyada yeh bada hua hai na Naina, yeh inn 16 saalon mei nahi hua.
Tum ismei jo badlav laai ho na beta, wo kitne sundar hai mai kya batau. Burai toh isme pehle bhi koi nahi thi bas gusse mei ghumta tha. Tune isse ladai se nahi achai se logo ko marna sikha dia.

*Ramdhari brings chai and snacks & keeps them on the table*

Naina gets up to serve snacks to Nanaji

Nanu: Waise toh ghar aae mehman se kaam nahi karaya jata, par mere lie tum mehman nahi ho, iss ghar ka hissa ho aur mujhe dekhkar acha laga tum bhi iss ghar ka hissa banna chahti ho. Itne saal se iss Ramdhari ke haath se parosa hua khake bor hogaya.

Aaj apni hone wali bahu ke haath se leke, aisa lag raha dunia ki sabse badi khushi milgayi.

Hearing the word 'bahu', Naina shivers & this shakes the plate in her hands she was about to serve Sameer but he puts his hand below & balances it.

S: Aaram se Naina.
N: Sorry wo ekdum se
Nanu: Maine tumhe bahu keh dia
N: Ji woh
Nanu: (laughs a little) Sach hi toh kaha. Pehle aao tum bhi baitho.
N: Aap lijie na Nanaji
Nanu: Mere lie tum dono bache, barabar ho, aur mere bache mere saath khaenge, Naina, yeh kya itna zara sa khaegi? 1 piece dhokla bas? Aur lo.
N: Nahi Nanaji bas
Nanu: Apne ghar mei kaun sharmata hai? Apne ghar mei bhi soch sochke khati ho?
S: Waha kya khati hogi Nanu, taiji humesha tokti jo hai isse.
N: Aisa nahi hai vo toh bas aise hi
Nanu: Acha toh kya kya pasand hai tumhe? Hobbies? Kya banna chahti ho zindagi mei? Itni honhar ho, shaadi krke kewal ghar thode sambhalna hai.
N: Nanaji mujhe CA banna hai chachaji ki tarah.
S: Lekin yeh kahaniya bahut achi likhti hai.
N: Mai toh bas aise hi likhti hun, Yeh bhi toh itni achi kavitae likhta hai, ekdum dil choone wali.

*Nanaji had such a proud wide smile on his face seeing both highlighting each other's qualities.*

Nanu: Aur?
N: Aur mujhe taare dekhna, nayi jagaho pe ghumne jana aur gaane sunna bhi pasand hai.
S: Aur isse padhai karke mujhe bor karna bhi pasand hai.

Nanu shrieks a little laughter, seeing Sameer making a puppy face complaining about Naina.

N: Mai bor kaha karti hu, mai toh bas, padhna acha lagta hai aur ache marks bhi toh laane hai na.
S: Ha ha janta hu padhaku Naina. Aur haa Nanu, isse meri complaint karna bahut pasand hai.
N: Arre maine kaha na galti hogayi, wo toh galatfemi mei ki.
S: Rehne do teacher ki chamchi. (Makes a cute face and acts to be angry)
N: Arree, par tumse baatein karna pasand hai yeh nahi bataoge tum. (Getting in her Naina devi mode) but realises Nanu is right here, she goes a little silent.
Sorry woh..

Nanaji: (laughing & showing fake anger to Sameer) Tu kyu meri beti ko tang kar raha hai? Itni pyari beti hai, khabardar tune isse padhaku aur chamchi kaha toh, sochlena

N: (Relaxing a bit) Dekhiye na Nanaji har baar bas aise hi chidhata rehta hai. Mai toh nahi chidhati isse.
S: Waah, Mere Nanu ko bhi apni side kar lia. Cheating
N: Nanaji dekhiye na.

Nanaji: Arre, mai toh teri side hi hun, akhir tere dil mei bhi toh Nainaaa ka casette bajta hai? Aur kya galat keh rahi hai yeh, padhai kia kar iski tarah ache marks aaenge.
Mere dono bache acha kare mai toh yahi chahta hun.

Aur Naina, kabhi yeh tang kare, seedha iski shikayat mere se karna, theek kardunga isse. Khabardar kabhi rulaya isse toh.

S: Kabhi Nahi Nanu, I promise.

Nanu: waise Naina, tumne yeh toh bataya tumhe CA banna hai par vo toh tum apne chachaji ko dekhke banna chahti ho, tumhare dil mei kya hai?
Kisi ko dekhke kuch banne ki prerna lena achi baat hai lekin apne sapno ko kabhi nahi chodhna.
N: Writer banne ka bhi man hai. Kahaniya likhna pasand hai.
Nanu: Yeh hui na baat, tumhari aankho mei yahi chamak dhund raha tha mai.
Yeh sab toh theek hai,yeh batao khana banana pasand hai?

*Naina was lost in thoughts about probably Nanu not finding her capable enough to be a daughter in law cos she did not mention any household work & isn't that what she had heard her taiji screaming all her life*

N: Nahi, Nanaji wo, khana banana zyada nahi ata bas thoda bahut help krleti hun. Par mai sab seekhlungi.

Nanu: Seekhna toh padega warna mere iss bhukad ko kaise sambhalogi aur haa mere iss nalayak ko bhi sikhana. Bataya isne Mt Abu mein kaise tumlogo ne milke rotiya banai, bahut acha laga. Dono ladke ladki ko ana chahie, zindagi ki zaroorat hai yeh.

S: Mai kaha bhukad hun Nanu?
N: Bhukad nahi ho? Chaas aur chai ek saath kaun pita hai?
S: Arre wo pila rahe the maine pilia.
N: Aur samose, biscuit, dhokla sab kha lia
S: Toh kya hua, yar ab unlogo ne itne pyar se dia toh mai kaise mana karta?
N: Muh se

Nanu was constantly smiling seeing them so happy, comfortable & themselves around each other.

S: Dekha nanu kaise ladti hai mere se
N: Nanaji Maine kaha kuch kaha, yeh ladta hai.
Nanu: Acha acha bas bacho, tumlog baitho mai 2 min mei aya.

N: Sameer, der hojaegi, Chale kya?
S: Bas Nanu ko aane do. Chinta mat karo kuch nahi hoga.
N: Theek hai. Waise tumhara room kaunsa hai?
S: Wo samne wala, aao dikhata hun.
N: Nahi, nanaji kya sochenge
S: Sochna kya hai? Tum pehli baar ghar aai ho, toh ghar toh dikhaunga na.
N: Nahi Sameer aise tumhare kamre mei jana theek nahi hain.
S: Mai bhi toh gaya tha na Naina, tumhare room mei. Ghabrao nahi, Nanu jante hai hume hum galat nahi hai. Aao

Naina follows him & enters Sameer's room;

N: Itni badi photo laga rakhi hai apni, itna pyar karte ho khud se.
S: Haa par isse zyada tumse karta hun.
N: Acha, jhoote.
S: Sachi, tumhe sabse zyada pyar karta hun mai. I love you Naina.
N: Tum bahut ache ho Sameer. Par yeh kya hai? (Pointing to the boxing punch)
S: Yeh, yeh toh bas aise hi, exercise karne ke lie hai, punching bag. (Demonstrates how he uses it)

N: Sirf, exercise ya apna gussa utarne ke lie?
S: Tumse nahi jeet sakta mai, kaise pehchan leti ho?
N: Janti hun na tumhe, gussa naak pe jo rehta hai.
(Giggling to herself) Waise Sameer, books toh itni rakhi hai, padhte bhi ho? Padhai chor.
S: Arre student hun toh books toh hongi na, warna log kya kahenge, girlfriend padhaku topper aur boyfriend ke pass books bhi nahi hai. Padhaku ka boyfriend padhaku lagna chahie na.
N: Jao tum bahut chidhate ho mai baat nahi karungi. (She turns to face the other side when sees a wallpaper of a girl on the wall)
Yeh kaun hai? Kaun hai yeh yaha kya kar rahi iski photo? Tumne yeh kaisi photo lagai hai?Sameer yehh

S: Shaant Naina shaant, yeh toh Hollywood ki heroine hai Julia Roberts. Bahut famous hai.
N: Famous hai toh picture mei dekho, kamre mei kyu hai? Tum baat mujhse karte ho dekhte isse ho?
S: Naina, aisa nahi hai. Sachi jabse tum aai ho, maine isse dekha bhi nahi, yaad hi nahi tha
N: Jhoot
S: Sachi, meri heroine toh tum hi ho na.
N: Hatao isse
S: Nainaaaa? Kyu???
N: Mai jaa rahi hun.
S: Achaa, gussa mat ho. (He removes the poster) ab khush meri heroine.
Naina nods
Itni jalan?
N: Jalan nahi hai?
S: Fir?
N: Tum kisi aur ko dekho, mujhe pasand nahi.
S: Tumse meri nazar hate toh kisi ko dekhun na.
N: Mujhe bhi kaha koi yaad rehta hai. (Lost in each other's eyes)
"Naina hears footsteps & moves"
Nanaji aa rahe, chalo bahar
Nanu: Yaha ho tum dono!
N: Vo Nanaji bas aise hi yaha sameer ka kamra dekhne aagayi. Sorry nahi ana chahie tha
Nanu: Kitna sorry bolti ho beta. Maine kaha na tumhara ghar hai kahi bhi aa jaa sakti ho. Bharosa hai tumdono pe.
S: Yahi samjha raha tha mai isse.

Nanu: Naina beta, (handing over a saree) yeh Sameer ki Nani ki saree hai. Sameer ki patni ke lie rakhi thi. Ab beta mai toh budha ho chuka hun, Zindagi ka koi bharosa nahi hai...

S: Nanu, kya bol rahe ho?

Nanu: ssshh, aaj bol lene de beta.

Naina: Nanaji par....

Nanu: beta, hum kuch bhi kahe zindagi se muh nahi mod sakte, sachai koi nahi thukra sakta. Budhape ka koi bharosa nahi hota. Ek khwaish meri aaj tune poori ki Sameer, mereko Naina se milwa ke aur sach kahu toh ab mujhe poori tarah bharosa hai, ki mera Sameer surakshit haatho mei hai aur Naina yeh sirf saree nahi, mera aur teri Nani ka aashirwad aur bharosa hai jiske saath mai apne iss bete ko tumhe saunp raha hu.

N: (She touches the saree with her forehead & bends to touch his feet) Mai koshish karungi Nanaji ki aapko kabhi nirash na karun, par dar bhi lgta hai agar apke vishwas pe na khari utari toh?

Nanu: Naina, har kisi ki zindagi mei yeh mod aaega hi. Kisi ki bhi zindagi 100% perfect nahi hoti. Tum dono ki zindagi mei, rishte mei bahut utar chadav aaenge,pyar hojana ya saathi milne ka yeh matlab bilkul nahi hai ki ab humari life mei sab kuch sahi rahega. Bura waqt agar nahi aaega toh ache waqt ki ehmiyat kaise samjhenge hum?

Tum dono ek dusre se kitna bhi pyar karo, ya koi bhi kisi se kitna pyar kare,socha hai kabhi unmei jhagda kyu hota hai? Islie nahi kyunki wo ek dusre ki izzat karna band kr dete hai, parwah nahi krte balki islie kyunki saathi hone se pehle wo ek insan hai,aur har insan ke apne kuch gun aur khamiya hoti hai, jo apas mei takrati hai aur agar na takrae, toh ek dusre ko behtar kaise banaege?
Ek dusre ke vicharo ko jab milaoge tab hi khush rahoge lekin usko milane mei aksar khan khan hogi hi.

Sameer: Nanu, kya aap aur naniji bhi ladte the?

Nanu: (smiling a little) arre bilkul, lekin jante ho iss jhagde ki khubsurati kya thi? Ladne ke baad hum reh nahi paate the aur muh fulae rehte the ki kaun manae, par jab mana lete the toh har pal jeete the, vo pal bhi jo kho chuke the.

N: Nanaji, dar lagta hai kahi kabhi kuch galti hogayi ya hum sambhal na pae toh? Aap toh mere gharwalo ko jante hai.

S: Mai tumhare gharwalo se lad lunga, tum dekhna.

Nanu:Itna asan nahi hota beta. Bacho, agar kabhi lage ki haath choot rahe hai, toh haath chod dena, bas saath kabhi na chodna. Tum dono jis raah pe chalne wale ho, usmei bahut kathnaiya aaengi, apas ke madbhed, society ki bandhishe, gharwalo ke vichar, apni apni mehwatkanshaie, umeedei, sab kuch aisa lagega tumhe alag kr raha hai,ulajh raha hai.

Shahreer se duur hojana par dil se kabhi ek dusre ko duur mat karna. Aksar ishwar, rishton mei, kaam mei, aise imtihan leta hai aur inmei kewal waqt ke saath behna chahie. Ek dusre ka sahara banke bahoge, toh bhagwan khud tumhara raasta banaege wapas aane ka. Bas apne pyar pe, vishwas pe bharosa rakhna aur dekhna, samundra ki lehron ki tarah tumlogo ka pyar sab shaant kar dega. Bas na kabhi ek dusre pe shaq karna, na shaq karne ka mauka dena. Samjhe?

S&N: Ji Nanaji.

Nanu: Naina, man toh nahi hai par beta mere khayal se ab tumhe ghar jana chahie, zyada der hogayi toh daant kha jaogi.

N: Haa, Nanaji mai chalti hun. Ummm nanaji agar aapko bura na lage toh kya mai yeh saree, baad mei lejaun? Aapne mujhe itne pyar se aashirwad dia hai, lejana chahti hun par itni mehngi aur pyari saree dekhi agar taiji ne vo bhi school se laate toh hungama kardengi. Mai kisi din mauka lagte lejaungi. Sorry.

Nanu: Tumhari amanat hai jab chaho lejana, nahi hoga toh kisi din Sameer ke haath bhijwa dunga. Theek hai.

S: Haa tabtak mai isse sambhal leta hu.
N: Acha, nanaji mai chalti hun (touches hiz feet)
Nanu: Jao Naina ko chod ke aao. Fir ana Beti, bahut acha laga mujhe aaj. Bhagwan kare tum jaldi humesha ke lie aao yaha, fir khoob baatein aur masti karenge saath.
N: Zaroor Nanaji. Aapke saath garden bhi toh banana hai, naye naye phool lagane hai.
S: Ji Nanu, chale Naina. Swati ko phone kardo. (Hands her the phone)

Sameer & Naina walk towards the gate as Naina removes her bicycle from the stand.

As they stepped out of the gate, Naina stopped him

N: Sameer
S: Haa?
N: I LOVE YOU! (Tears welling her eyes)
S: Nainaa? Tumne toh kaha tha tum kewal khas mauke pe kahogi
N: tumne bhi kaha tha har din khas banaoge.
S: Toh?
N: Toh kya?
S: Toh yahi ki, aapko aapka hone wala ghar kaisa laga?
N: Sapno se bhi khubsurat. Aur Nanaji apno se bhi apne. Ramdhari bhaiya bhi kitne ache hai.
S: Tum aaogi toh sab perfect ho jaega.
N: Jaldi aaungi.

They walk towards the point where Preeti was to meet quietly just glancing at each other in between. The winter evening seemed to be speaking their tale of love in that silence, making their togetherness more romantic as the setting sun promised to bring a new dawn in their new relationship from the next day. The silence had a lot more words of love flowing than they could ever express because their hearts were just contented of having the other by side.

The gang was waiting in the roadside & as they reached,

Preeti: Haeeee yeh sharma sharmi. Kya kya kia jijaji?
S: Apni behen se puchna
P: Aae hae hume bhi bataiye bhabhi
N: Apne bhai se puchlena. Chal Preeti.

And they both move towards their house with Naina lost in the warm feeling of love that she just recieved from her future home.

************************************

" Happy 25th Anniversary of our first meet Mrs Maheshwari" ; said Mr Sameer Maheshwari, sitting in his bed at midnight of 12th February, with his wife Naina in a side hug, kissing her forehead, on their kingsize bed in their mansion as their diaries lay open in their laps

"Same to you Mr Maheshwari", said Naina as she kissed his cheek. Yakeen nahi hota 24 saal pehle dekha hua sapna sach ho raha hai, aaj hum sach mei apni apni diary ko ek karke uss din ko jee rahe hai.

S: Kitne pagal the na hum?
N: Tum aaj bhi ho
S: Tumhare pyar mei theek waise
N: Mai bhi
S: Waise ab toh aag barasti hai sawan ka matlab pata hai ya aaj fir samjhau?
N: Issh, chupp, thappad khana hai. Sab samjhti hun mai, masoom nirdosh nahi rahi.
S: Haeee, meri kismat. Issi baat pe meetha milega?
N: Tum na (gives an air punch)
S: Par sach mei, saare sapne sach hogaye, bas kami hai toh Nanu ki
N: Kaash Nanu se fir kabhi mil paati, kitni baatein karni thi unse, kitna kuch seekhna tha.
S: Shayad isilie uss din Nanu hume aashirwaad de gaye, unhe ehsas tha shayad.
N: Apni zindagi ki punji de gaye, aur mujhe tum.
S: Unke vishwas aur humare pyar ko 25 saal hue hai Naina.
N: I LOVE YOU FOR MAKING MY EVERYDAY MAGICAL WITH YOU. Har din aaj bhi utna hi khubsurat hai ek dum tumhari kavitao jaisa.
S: I LOVE YOU TOO FOR BEING THE MAGIC IN MY LIFE. Mera har din ekdum khubsurat hai tumhari kahanio jaise.

And they slept in each other's embrace peacefully, fighting, joking, romancing, teasing each other over their best days when they started growing together & promising to stay the same till their last breath. A promise of together forever that was made 25 years before, in that temple.