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Life ... is strange. There are moments when you don't have the will to go on and days stretch before you but there are also days filled with sheer bliss and in the light of the happiness we forget that every thing we sense is mortal. Our time is limited yet we have to love and live hard to make the most of the time we are gifted with.

Standing near the window of his room, Nanu was having similar thoughts. A week had passed since the Samaj Samelan but the translucent memories of fainting helplessly hadn't left haunting him. He had lived a full life - long and happy but he had one concern, one responsibilty - Sameer.

He looked at the empty road outside his house through his window glass. Night had enveloped the city, dusk was long gone but his thoughts didn't cease.

When he looked back in life, he felt content but when he thought of Sameer fear used to trap him. It was too soon to leave the boy alone. He had to teach him the basics of the business. Devang would take Kamlesh's position and Sameer his. He had made the decision but his grandson needed to learn a lot and stand on his own two feet, before his Nanu died.

"He would be left alone in the world after me." Nanu thought. "I can teach him business skills, he is talented. I should finalize my will tomorrow but if I die soon who will take care of him? I trust Kamlesh and his family, Munna Pandit are also like his real brothers but my child needs more."

Suddenly, a lot of light filled Nanu's room, he turned around and found Sameer standing near the switch board.

"What are you doing here alone in the dark, Nanu?" Sameer asked.

"Thinking."

"Thinking?"

"Yes, sit."

Sameer took a seat on one of sofas in Nanu's room while the old man sat next to him. After a long pause, he said

"Do you trust me, beta?"

"Do you have doubts on that?"

"No."

Nanu smiled while running his hand through his grandson's head.

"When I experienced angina for the first time -"

"Nanu, don't."

"No. Listen. When I experienced angina for the first time, the first thought I had was of my very dear friend."

Sameer was hoping that Nanu would take his name. He looked down at his toes to hide his disappointment, failing miserably. Nanu laughed out loud.

"Do you want to know the name of that friend?" He asked.

Sameer looked up, silently.

"You."

Sameer tried to muffle his laughter.

"In you, I've found a son, a confidant, a friend. I can't choose the right words to describle what I feel for you, beta. I share an extraordinary relationship."

Both of them looked at each other, emotions filled to the brim.

"I have no regrets, demands or questions from my life but I love you, Sameer. You know what comes with human love?"

Sameer nodded his head in a no.

"With a human's love comes attachment and fear. Even with pure love, you can't just let go or not be protective and scared for the ones you love. Since I fainted that day, my fears for you have crept back. If I die, how will you survive?"

"Nanu please na. Kuch aur baat karte hain."

"This is important. You can push away the thoughts of mortality but not mortality itself."

"What do you think? I wasn't afraid. I have no one, but you. You are my Nanu, my Mummy, Papa everything. I shiver at the thought of losing you. If you'll die, I'll die. Even I'm afraid but that doesn't mean that I'll start talking nonsense like you."

"You won't but I have to. You are my responsibility and I won't fail you. Starting from tomorrow you'll train under me. I'll prepare my will tomorrow. Death will come when it has to, I'm old but I'll fulfill my responsibilities."

When Nanu had finished speaking, Sameer was looking down again with tear filled eyes.

"There is one more thing." Nanu continued. "I want you to get married."

Sameer looked up with shock.

"I want you to understand that one day Munna - Pandit will get married and have a life of their own, you won't have time for each other like you used to. Mama Mami will be here but they are not your Nanu, that will be when you'll feel lonely and would need a companion. Someone for yourself. Do you believe in the institution of marriage, Sameer?"

"I've never thought about it."

Nanu raised an eyebrow.

"It was marriage that pulled my mother away from me. The need of a companion ... This is what drove my mother away from me, right?"

"Yes. It was but it was also the love and support of your Nani that made me move on from her death and live again. Her love gives me purpose, even now. Have you ever seen your Poonam Bhabhi look anxiously at the clock when Devang's time to come home nears? Or the banters between your Mamaji and his Bombay wali? That's love too Sameer. That is what marriage brings."

"What did you do for Nani?" Sameer asked suddenly. "I mean Poonam Bhabhi waits for Devang Bhaiya, Nani motivated you, what did you do for your wives?"

"I wish we could do more than we did but I can see that you'll be better than us?"

"I'll try." Sameer smiled sheepishly.

"Sameer, I have a girl in my mind. If you agree to give this alliance a try, I'll send our proposal to her family. You can take time to know her. I'll not deny that right to you. I need your consent not because I told you that I'm old or I'll die someday but because YOU ARE READY. Is it okay?"

"Nanu, Munna has been living with us for a week. Don't tell him I told you but -"

"- He is in love and you are trying to figure a way out to help his love story become a success?"

"Yes! How do you know?"

"My Rahu Ketu don't hide anything from me." Nanu smirked.

"Do you think it is right to find someone for myself, when my friend is in a problem?"

"You should ask Munna, to be honest. So .... Are you saying you're ready to give my idea a shot?"

"Maybe yes. Maybe no. Let me think. I'll take a day."

"Take all the time you want and umm if you want to, the girl's photo is on my bed side table."

Sameer looked at Nanu hesitantly and then got up, went to the table and picked up the picture.

"Her name is Naina Agarwal. Her father is a CA. She has a BBA degree. They are Agarwals, we are Maheshwaris ... People may object but I have seen how pure and kind her heart is. She saved me that day, remember? She is very simple but I think she will be the right bride for you."

Nanu's words blurred before reaching Sameer's ears. The girl in the picture had an unknown charm. What was it? That couldn't be pin pointed but it was drawing Sameer towards her for sure. He was ready to be bound by Nanu's trust.

Sameer didn't tell Nanu right away, but DDLJ's Raj's mandolin kept playing in his ears since he saw Naina. Munna had reprimanded him for even thinking that he would object to Sameer's marriage just because he was in a deep mess.

The next evening Sameer just went to Nanu's room and said yes.

"Haa? Haa matlab?" Nanu asked.

"For the ... Marriage." Sameer answered.

Nanu's happiness knew no bounds. He hugged his grandson tightly.

The news was then broken to Kamlesh's family. They did initially object to the caste issues but Nanu told them not to hold on to baseless rituals. They had no choice but to agree.

The next morning, Nanu, Mamaji and Devang Bhaiya went to meet the organiser of the Marwari Samaj Samelan.

"Gupta ji ... Aap toh bas ab ye shagun le kar Anand bhai ke ghar chaliye, hai ni hai ni hai ni." Mamaji had said after telling the organiser everything.

And then the little party of four went to Anand's office.

Shock, surprise, excitement everything overwhelmed Anand.

"Toh kab dekhne aaye ladki ko?" Devang Bhaiya asked.

"Dekhiye ... As much as I am overwhelmed by your fondness for my daughter, she doesn't want to get married now. She wants to pursue her masters and get a job." Anand put his point forward clearly. Even if the match was one in a million, he needed to express his daughter's dream clearly.

Silence fell in the room. Guptaji, Mamaji and Devang Bhaiya exchanged worried looks.

Nanu took a deep breath and said, "It is everyone's right to dream dreams and we are no one to cut her wings."

Nanu joined his hands in front of Anand and continued, "We like your daughter very much and we have no demands. If you agree to this alliance, we'll be the lucky ones. I assure you that even after marriage, Naina can study and do whatever job she wants. This is JayPrakash Maheshwari's promise."

Anand had tears in his eyes, he folded his hands and said, "Thank you for understanding my daughter's dreams."

"Can we meet tomorrow at 3? At your house?"

"Y-yes. Yes."

That night, when Anand went back home he saw his daughters in a different light. The thought of parting with one of them was haunting him but he knew his daughter was capable of writing any chapter of her life with a sparkling ink.

He found Bela alone in their bed room searching for something in the drawer.

"Bela! Naina ke liye rishta aaya hai."

"Kya?"

Precap - Mai ghar se bhaag rahi hu

Quick poll -

The next chapters would be from the OS from which this FF is inspired from. Do you want me to change the dialogues/ re write it in English?

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I would have posted earlier but I was watching this Bollywood film called Notebook and trust me it's a master piece. It is simple and beautiful. If you are looking for something to watch this weekend, Notebook will be a great choice.

And no I wasn't paid for this.

Completely off topic but #6YearsOfYJHD💃💃💃💃

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