After the Agarwals left for their home, Sameer and his friends headed upstairs to his room. Munna immediately questioned "Yaar, kya ho gaya tha? Naine ne Preeti ko upar kyun bulaya tha?" Sameer not wanting to lie to his friends replied "Woh usse saree fix karne mein kuch help chahiye thi..." Both his friends looked at him shocked, Munna exclaimed "Kya?! Aisa kya kiya tune uski saree ko?"

Before the falsely accused culprit could defend himself, Pandit smirked "Abe Chenu, tu bhi na, such mooch akal se paidal hai. Yeh bhi koi poochne ki baat hui... Bhai-Bhabhi peheli baar private mein mil rahe thay, toh bus humare bhai ka paair thoda fisal gaya hoga!" Sameer retorted "Paair mera nahi, uska fisla tha..." Pandit looked at him in admiration "Kya baat hai yaar... manna padega tera jadu toh kuch alag hi hai..." Sameer shaking his head said "Bewakuf... such mooch fisal gaya tha... iss carpet aur uss lambi saree mein atak ke. Issliye Preeti upar aayi thi, uska purse leke. Shayad safety pin thi usme..."

Satisfied with this explanation the duo stopped teasing him. Munna now asked "Waise kuch baat bhi ki ke nahi?" He replied "Ha, kuch kitabon ke baare mein." Pandit asked "Sirf kitabon ke baare mein? Bus?" To which he nodded in agreement. Munna now said "Koi baat nahi yaar, tu bilkul udaas mat ho... Ab toh woh yeha aati rahegi... Nanaji ne bola jo hai uske ghar walon ko Sunday ka." 

Sameer getting irritated at the implication that he was eager to meet her or talk to her, responded "Hello... mujhe koi shauq nahi hai usse milne ya baate karne ka. Waise bhi yeh ladkiya bahoot boring hoti hai baaton ke maamle mein. Bus har waqt wahi shopping ya fashion ki baate... mujhe woh sab bilkul acha nahi lagta. Aur waise bhi Sunday ko toh main ghar pe hota hi nahi hu... toh baat karne ka toh koi zanjaat hi nahi hoga." Pandit shaking his head dejectedly responded "Aur ek hum hai jo iss zanjaat ka kitni beqarari ke sath intezaar kar rahe hai... Bhagwan bhi pata nahi aise logon ko kyu deta hai jinhe koi kadar hi nahi hoti!"

Once the Agarwals reached their home, Bela set about making tea for everyone, while the rest of the family sat in the lounge dissecting the visit. The size of the house and the estimated value was mentioned by Rakesh, Taiji had to grudgingly accept it too. Bela talked about the lovely furniture and the well-maintained garden, she was especially impressed with the condition of the roses and wondered just what fertilisers did the gardener use. Tauji remarked about the prospects for growth of Maheshwari Textiles, thinking to himself how he could potentially gain from being closely associated with that family now.

Preeti started opening all the gifts received by Naina and everyone admired the lovely sarees and the jewellery. Taiji remarked "O bai, sari kharidari toh ekdum mehenge dukano se ki hai. Waise abhi iss sab ki kya jarurat thi? Tabhi dete jab apni bahu ko ghar le jaate. Bidai ka toh koi naam nahi lete aur cheeze itni de rahe hai..." Bela addressing Naina said "Naina, main Pooja ko bol dungi tujhe jaldi uske naye tailor ke pass le jaaye. Inn sab sadiyo ke blouse wahi se silwana. Pooja keh rahi thi woh kafi madern design banata hai. Aur waise bhi tujhe ab apna rehen sehen uss ghar ke hisab hi rakhna chahiye. Damadji ka uthna baithna toh bade logon mein hi hoga."

Rakesh spoke up "Bade log?! Woh dono Munna-Pandit kabse bade log ho gaye? Mujhe achi tarah yaad hai school mein kaise thay wo dono!" Tauji immediately told him off "Rakesh, apni yeh bachkana harkate chod do. Sasur ban gaye ho. Kum se kum beti ke sasural walon se kaise baat karte hai itna toh yaad rakha karo. Devar hai woh Naina ke, agar aaj Sameer jyada ghussa ho jata toh pata nahi kya ho jaata." Taiji not willing to let this opportunity slip addressed her niece in a patronising tone "Naina, ek baat samajh le, aurat ko apne sasural walon ka maan hamesha rakhna padta hai." After looking pointedly in Rakesh's direction, she continued "Phir woh chahe jaise bhi ho... devar toh devar hote hai, samjhi?" Naina nodded in understanding.

Preeti now pulled the bank pass book out of the bag. Taiji immediately grabbed it and opened it. She blinked at the opening balance and exclaimed again "O bai! Dus hazar rupeeye! Itne paise abhi se isske naam karne ki kya jarurat thi?" Rakesh retorted "Aap ko shayad yeh bahoot jyada lag rahe hai, par meri beti ke sasural walon ke liye ke koi bahoot badi rakam nahi hai." Taiji made an irritated face and plopped the pass book on the table.

Chachaji picked it up and looked at it with a thoughtful expression, but he did not say anything. He remembered that Taiji had been having a go at Naina about some expenses when he had brought Nanaji home the other day. He now wondered just how much had Nanaji heard and what had he made of it. He wondered if this was Nanaji's way of diplomatically offering to bear Naina's expenses while she was still in this house. Though he was happy with Nanaji's concern for his niece, he felt uneasy about the impression they had probably created on him as a family.

Later that evening finding Naina alone in her room, Chachaji said to her "Naina, yeha baitho mere paas aur bolo tumhe aaj kaisa laga. Woh ghar aur waha ke log kaise lage?" Naina smiled and said "Ghar aur log dono acche hai. Nanaji toh bahoot hi ache hai. Pata nahi kyu par mujhe woh bilkul aap jaise hi lagte hai." Chachaji was very pleased to hear this. He nodded "Ha, Jaiprakashji toh such mooch bahoot ache hai. Mujhe yakeen hai woh tumhara bahoot khayal rakhenge."

Then he added in a teasing voice "Waise, unka Naati kaisa laga tumhe?" Naina just blushed and mumbled "Woh bhi ache hai." Chachaji added very happily "Ha beta, mujhe bhi Sameer bahoot acha laga hai. Bhagwan ki krupa hai, warna mujhe nahi lagta main kitna bhi dhundh leta toh bhi tumhare liye itna acha rishta dhundh pata. Main toh iss rishte se bilkul dil se khush hu. Dekho, tumhari Chachi theek keh rahi thi, dheere dheere uss ghar ke sare taur tarike seekh lena. Ache log hai, par tumhe bhi apni taraf se koshish karni hogi, samjhi?" Naina replied "Ji, chachaji. Main puri koshish karungi."

Chachaji went quiet for a minute or so as if weighing something in his mind and then said "Naina, beta main khush hu ke Sameer ke Nanaji ne tumhare liye bank account khola hai. Par main nahi chahata ke jab tak tum iss ghar mein ho, uss mein se koi paise use karo. Beta, jab tak tum iss ghar se bida nahi hoti tum humari zimedari ho. Tumhe kisi bhi cheez ki jarurat ho toh bus mujhe bata dena... Bhabhiji ko batane ki koi jarurat nahi hai." Naina replied "Chachaji aap toh mera itna khayal rakhte hai, mujhe aur bhala kya chahiye hoga? Aap fikar mat kijiye, main uss account se koi paise use nahi karungi."

A little later, after ensuring that she was alone, Naina pulled out the photo that her sister has picked up from his room. As she looked at it, she noted that is was clicked somewhere outdoors, with just some open farmland in the background. Sameer dressed in a jeans and casual half sleeved red t-shirt was smiling very happily in it. Seeing the look on his face, she instinctively felt that the person who clicked this photo must be very special to him and someone who made him happy, briefly she wondered who it could have been. 

His eyes, his wind tossed hair and his smile, all made her feel a little warm on the inside. Initially, she felt a little guilty at having this photo without his permission, but then rationalised that she was after all his wife and there was absolutely nothing wrong, in fact it was completely within her rights to gaze at his photo whenever she felt like it!

Much later, when the whole household had gone to bed, Naina sat by her study table scribbling something in her personal diary, sipping on a cup of Milk with Haldi and Sunth, listening to Vividh Bharti Station on the radio in a low volume, to not disturb her sleeping sister. She used to do this often in the past. But since the wedding, the last couple of months had left her feeling quite unsettled and she had not felt like writing in the diary. But, today had been different, and she had picked her pen and the diary again.

Geeta Dutt's melodious voice crooned the song from the movie Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam in the background

Maine Sindoor Se Maang Apni Bhari, Roop Saiyan Ke Kaaran
Sajaaya (2)
O Maine Saiyan Ke Kaaran Sajaaya
Iss Darr Se Kisi Ki Nazar Na Lage (2)
Jhat Nainan Mein Kajra Laga Baithi
Piya Aiso Jiya Mein Samaaye Gayo Re
Keh Main Tan Mann Ki Sudh-Budh Ganwa Baithi
Har Aahat Pe Samjhi Woh Aa Gayo Re (2)
Jhat Ghunghat Mein Mukhda Chhupa Baithi
Piya Aiso Jiya Mein Samaaye Gayo Re!

And the resulting entry was as below.

24th July 1994

It's been a while since I wrote here last. The last time I wrote, I was Ms Naina Agarwal and now I am Mrs Naina Maheshwari. I even have a bank pass book as a proof of this new name! These last couple of months have been extremely strange to say the least... half the time... no, actually much more than half the time I have been feeling completely lost, just following a new set of instructions every day.

Life used to be so much simpler, I knew exactly what I wanted and what was expected of me. And then I bumped into him, and everything changed instantly. I can barely recollect the first few days after that incident, like I was moving through some daze. Some vague memories of talking to his Nanaji, the rituals, the endless wait to find out what came next and then the relief knowing I wasn't leaving this home anytime soon. I suppose it must have been equally hard for him too. I am sure this is not how he must have imagined getting married either. But apparently God spoke in the form of Guruji! Well, at least my family is quite pleased with the match and Chachaji really likes him. And that is good enough for me. Nanaji is really kind too. As strange as it may sound, he makes me feel safe.

About him... I can't really make up my mind... I mean of course he is educated, from a good family and very handsome too! But I don't know... its sort of hard to put my finger on... but his behaviour is very confusing. Sometimes he acts like a complete stranger... and I know we were strangers when we got married... but won't we always stay strangers if we don't try to get to know each other or talk to each other? And then at other times, he suddenly decides to act like a complete husband! Especially when he wants to scold me about something like Papa's behaviour towards Munna-Pandit today or losing the kangans... Oh god! That was awful... that whole incident with the kangans going missing... All the elders would have absolutely killed me had he not found them. But, how and where did he find them? I must ask him this... that is, whenever his lordship decides to start having a proper conversation with me.

Today after seeing all those books in his room, I thought we had finally found something to talk about and just then that fiasco with the saree had to happen! I hope he doesn't start thinking of me as a clumsy silly girl. And thank God... He doesn't know how to drape a saree! My poor heart would have been completely broken if he did! Dear God, I promise to come by the mandir tomorrow and offer you one nariyal.

I really liked his home though. It's big and has that feel of luxury to it, but it doesn't feel like a museum. I remember visiting Tauji's client Mr Shukla once with him and his house was beautiful but like a museum... filled with souvenirs from all over the world and everything was so perfectly placed that one would always feel scared of even breathing like something might get broken.

Anyway... coming back to my sasural... Goodness me! I really do have a sasural now. And a Nana Sasur and him! Nanaji has said he would like me to keep visiting now... hopefully he will talk to me properly next time... I just have to make sure that I don't wear the saree so long and trip on it again. Do I have to wear a saree every time I visit them or was it just because it was the first time today? I will have to check with Chachiji. I really liked the peach coloured saree they gifted today, it has such a simple and small border and that pearl and coral set will go with it beautifully. I should buy some matching glass bangles as well! 

Why does he like bangles so much though? I mean they are pretty and all... but so noisy at times and it's so hard to go about your normal work wearing so many of them! I obviously don't mind wearing just the kangans all the time... in fact it now feels weird to be without them and somehow, I feel strangely connected to him wearing these, knowing that the hands that wore them before me, held him as a baby and loved him all through his childhood. The kangans have watched him grow. I wonder how his Nani was? And even more importantly I wonder, how his mother my actual saas is?! I hope she likes me.

Oh, dear God! I almost forgot about the photo... has he realised that it is missing? And if so, what does he think about it? I am sure he will think I took it! Will he be cross at me? But, why would he be cross? It's just one photo... Pooja didi had about 4-5 photos of Jiju with her and that too before the wedding. Should I apologise to him about Preeti taking the photo? But it will sound even stranger that his Saali took the photo... no, I will not bring it up and will decide what to say only if he asks about it. But I will treat Preeti to some chaat soon, she definitely deserves a treat for bringing his photo along.

Time to sleep for now! Feels so good to be writing here after such a long time. I really should write more regularly.

The next morning as soon as Sameer met his friends, he blurted "Yaar, woh Naina toh kal bina pooche hi meri room se kuch le gayi." Munna said surprised "Aare, Nanaji ne toh usse itne gifts diye, usske baad bhi usne kuch churaya tere room se?" Pandit pointed out "Tum logon ne sunna nahi kya? Nanaji ne usse kaha hai... ab yeh ghar uska bhi hai. Toh ghar se kuch leke jaana chori kaise hui?" 

Munna nodding his head asked "Waise kya le gayi?" Sameer mumbled "Photo..." Pandit applying his powers of deduction started "Julia Roberts ke poster mein toh usse koi interest nahi hoga... toh woh Michael Jackson ka poster le gayi kya? Waise mujhe nahi laga tha ladkiyo ko woh MJ dikhne mein itna acha lagta hoga." Sameer impatiently replied "Poster nahi... Nanu ne nikala hua woh mera photo... jo bedside table pe frame mein lagaya tha... woh le gayi..."

Munna Pandit both burst out laughing. He asked a little annoyed "Issme hasne wali kya baat hai?" Pandit answered "Hasne wali baat toh hai hi... tu toh aaise bol raha tha jaise pata nahi kya le gayi..." Sameer responded "Tumhe chotisi baat lag rahi hai?" Munna said "Yaar, agar tu sirf iss baat pe naraaz ho raha hai ke Naina photo le gayi... toh mujhe bikul samajh nahi aata... biwi hai teri, toh le gayi... ha, agar iss baat se naraaz hai ke badle mein apni photo kyu nahi chod gayi... toh phir tera ghussa theek hai." Sameer realising his complaint did not make any sense to them, let it go.

The next time the trio saw Naina in college, Munna quickly said to Sameer "Bhai, please photo ko leke Bhabhi se koi jhagda mat karna!" And so, when she slightly smiled at him as she passed by, he nodded in recognition. The next time he saw her, he slightly waved the notebook in his hand and she mouthed a shy Hi. This became their new standard, acknowledging the other, but still not quite interacting.

Nanaji called the Anand the following week, inviting Naina over on Sunday and extended the invitation to Preeti too. He mentioned that as Sameer usually left for his cricket by 10 or so, it would be good if Naina could come over about 11 and then stay for lunch. And so, began the Naina's Sunday visits to her sasural.

Visit Number One

Once again draped in a saree, though a simpler printed silk in multiple shades of green, Naina reached her sasural. Chachaji had decided to accompany her that day. When they arrived about 11 am, they learnt that Sameer had already left for the Gymkhana about 10 am, just as Nanaji had indicated during the last visit.

Nanaji and Chachaji had a nice long and not so formal chat this time around. They tried to draw Naina into the conversation as much as possible, but she was probably still feeling a little shy and kept her responses as short as possible. Chachaji thanked Nanaji once again for letting Naina complete her degree and about his dreams for her.

Nanaji mentioned that he had recently been to the school and had been very happy to see his Bahu's name on the topper's list. Naina was very pleased to hear that pride in his voice and replied "Nanaji, aapko toh yaad nahi hoga, par aap ne hi mujhe award diya tha. In fact, school ki taraf se jo bakshish mila tha, uske alawa bhi aap ne aapni taraf se ek Kitaab bhi gift ki thi The Dairy of a Young Girl. Bahoot bar padhi hai maine, bahoot hi acchi kitab hai." Nanaji had always had the habit of gifting a book to the students who excelled in school, wanting them to push their limits and learn perseverance. He thought with a mixture of joy and disbelief that one of those books would now find its way back into his home.

They had lunch together, this time a simpler fare than the last, but still special enough to indicate that they were entertaining guests. Chachaji felt that maybe with him around Nanaji had felt the need to keep the conversation centered around topics of interest to him. Also, Naina going to her sasural for lunch every Sunday was different to some additional Agarwal showing up every time. And hence, when it was time to leave, Chachaji said to Nanaji "Agar aap theek samjhe toh agli baar humare yeha se koi Naina ko sirf drop aur pick karne aa jaayega." Nanaji readily agreed "Ha, kyu nahi. Aur aap bilkuli chinta mat kijiye."

Visit Number Two

The next Sunday, Arjun was in town and hence the drop and pick duties fell to him for that day. He eagerly accompanied his sister to the Maheshwaris, keen to see her much talked about sasural for himself. Naina was once again dressed in a saree, a bandhani silk in Mango Yellow, as Chachiji had not been sure about the expectations of her in-laws.

Nanaji was pleased to meet him and said "Aare beta, Sameer bhi ghar pe hota toh aur acha hota. Tum dono cricket khelte ho... bahoot sare baate hoti ek dusre se karne ko." Arjun replied "Koi baat nahi Nanaji, main toh har ek-dedh mahine mein aata hi hu Ahmedabad. Agli baar mil lunga Sameer se."

That day when left to themselves, Nanaji gently asked Naina a little more about her growing years and tried to understand the Agarwal family dynamics better especially with regards to her. He asked her bit more about her general hobbies and travels so far. He told her a little about his and Sameer's general routine and his plans for Sameer to join the business after the end of this academic year.

When Ramdhari served them some tea, Naina asked him "Bhaiya aap ne yeh kausa masala use kiya hai chai mein? Bahoot acha hai... main Chachiji ko bhi bolungi lane ke liye." Ramdhari beaming with pleasure replied "Bhabhi, yeh toh humari ma ne banaya hai. Peechli baar gaav gaye thay tabhi bheja tha. Unhe pata hai ke Nanaji ko bhi bahoot acha lagta hai. Agli baar aap ke liye bhi le aayenge." Naina not wanting to take any undue advantage, immediately replied "Nahi nahi... jab bhi main yeha aayu, aap bus mujhe yeh special chai pee dijiye." That day onwards, during every visit Naina received a steaming cup of the special tea with a warm smile from Ramdhari.

Later that day after Arjun picked her up, he stopped by an ice-cream shop. After getting one Kesar-Pista for himself and his sister's all-time favourite Chocolate for her, they settled down in one corner for a chat. Arjun started "Naina, mujhe toh aaj Sameer ke Nanaji se milke bahoot acha laga. Chachaji aur Chachiji dono hi kafi tarrif kar rahe thay unki. Par, tu khush hai na? Tujhe rishta acha laga hai na?" Naina smiled and said "Ji Bhaiya, bahoot ache log hai. Nanaji toh bahoot achi soch rakhte hai. Na toh sirf mera college jana unhe pasand hai... balki aaj mujhe kaha hai ke har baar yeh saree pehene ki bhi koi jarurat nahi hai. Agar unke yeha koi guests aane wale ho, toh mujhe bata denge. Keh rahe thay unhe iss mausam mein gardening karna acha lagta hai. Toh agli baar se mujhe bhi seekhayenge."

Arjun was extremely pleased to hear that the family was so broadminded and so welcoming of his sister. They talked some more about how Arjun's coaching was coming along and some of the important matches he was played recently and then headed home.

The only thing that Naina was not very pleased about, but did not mention to anyone, was the lack of initiative from him about increasing their interactions.