Before sleep had overtaken him, he had been over every word she has uttered at least a dozen times.

The way she clutched his t-shirt in her sleep, he recognised that it was a familiar action, not familiar to him of course, but something that she was used to. He realised that the only thing she had truthfully answered when he had interrogated her the other day for keeping his t-shirt in her room was Mujhe darr lagta hai... she had reiterated her constant state of fear again today Mujhe har waqt darr laga rehta hai. Her fears had never been about the cats and dogs... or whatever else she had tried to blame them on, and had hence felt silly and baseless in that moment. But now he thought that he understood them.

At some point she had murmured Mujhe aadat nahi thi, itne baade jhoot bolne ki... aur ab, ek jhoot ko chupane ke liye, har waqt naye naye jhoot bolti rehti hu... He remembered something his Nanu had smiled at contently after one of her Sunday visits, when she had confessed that she hadn't actually cooked the Halwa, Bahoot sadhi bachi hai... chotasa jhoot bolne se katrati hai... dekh lena kabhi koi chal-kapat nahi karegi!

He wondered how she had managed to stay afloat, while the weight of her fears and all the lies had been constantly pulling her under. He looked at her petite frame and wondered, where and how did her limbs find the strength to keep her going?

He had gently tried to hold her hand that was clasping his t-shirt, but her hold tightened as she whimpered slightly in her sleep. He had immediately withdrawn that hand not wanting to further agitate her but had tightened his hold on her waist. A couple of tears had trickled from the corner of his eyes.

Suddenly he had remembered a small soft toy he used to have, now almost decades ago... a small Red Elephant. He wasn't sure who had slipped it into his luggage when he left for the boarding school, but he had taken it to bed for months when he first arrived there. Somewhere along the line, it had been pushed to the back of his cupboard. But he would still bring it out on special occasions, like the couple of times when his fever had peaked dangerously past 103... or that time when he had waited all day for his Mother to visit him on his 10th birthday as she has promised, but she didn't make it.

He had come across the phrase security blanket few years back and had thought of that Red Elephant. He wondered where it was now and thought she might like it. And then he almost laughed aloud in disbelief at his duel faced behaviour. He had pulled the rug from under her feet and wanted to give her a security blanket instead?!

Before he slipped into oblivion for the night, he made a vow to her, he would do everything he could to ensure that she would never have to live with any fears and lies weighing down on her. He had walked around the fire with her, without any understanding or regard for the vows he was supposed to be making to her. But this he meant with his whole being.

Sameer stirred a little and realised he was getting a crick in his neck. They had probably been sleeping in this half upright position for a couple of hours now, though she seemed to have shifted a little lower in her sleep. He whispering something, slowly nudged her to lay down properly and got more comfortable himself. Naina's hold on his t-shirt did not loosen, instead she burrowed her face further into his side, probably mistaking him for the yellow t-shirt she had grown used to in the recent times. He sleepily rubbed his thumb along her waist reassuringly. Both had slept very badly the night before. But this night was different, sleep happily weaving a cocoon around them.

Naina opened her eyes feeling rather disoriented. She had been talking to him just a while back, right? And when did she fall asleep? Did he leave? No... she immediately recognised his familiar scent and warmth. His left arm was still curled around her, but their right hands were no longer entwined. She tried to peek around without disturbing him. The curtains in her room were pulled across the windows as usual, but she could tell that dawn was on its way. A few birds could be heard chirping in the distance.

Her eyes now landed on his face. From the angle that she was lying in, his strong jaw was most prominent, followed by some view of his lips and eye lashes. Her heart should have been beating wildly, considering she was so close to him, but it had probably grown used to the closeness and following his hearts rhythm over the night.

She wondered at her lack of laaj at waking up so close to him. There were definitely a lot of butterflies in her stomach, but there was a deep sense of belonging too. He was too much hers, for this proximity to be anything but beautiful and heart-warming.

She felt relieved that she had listened to him and shared her feelings and dilemmas. Her mind now went over their conversation last night. In the almost daylight, it felt like it had been more of a confession from her end. She tried to remember exactly what she had owned up to. She had said a lot of things, expressed a lot of fears and in some ways had laid her soul bare to him. What would he think of it? He hadn't been upset or disappointed in her... well, that was a good start. In fact, he had stayed and held her through the night. She recalled how he had been gently caressing her hand and waist all the while.

Suddenly her heart squealed in delight, mujhe pata tha, yeh dress lucky hi hai! Aise hi log kehte hai ke safed rang ashubh hota hai... mere liye toh hamesha hi lucky raha hai Yehi toh pehna tha... jab Sameer ne kangan pehenaye thay... aur humara pehela car drive... aur aaj bhi jab woh peheli baar mere pass... She blushed deeply.

Then she stared wondering again. What did his staying in her room mean? Had he been trying to just soothe her fears? Or had something changed between them? Suddenly she felt a little embarrassed that she had told him about envying Smita. Would he think she had been asking for some romance for herself too? She coloured more than a little. Hoping and asking are two different things, right?

She quietly deliberated on what she hoped would be the outcome of this conversation. She had told him almost everything apart from the fact that she loved him deeply. But was there any need to say that aloud? Who would she love, if not him?

Three little words... so commonly used in books and movies and yet felt more potent than even the wedding vows they had made to each other as they walked around the holy fire. Would he understand them, if left unsaid? She wasn't sure.

And so, she did what she thought should be enough to bridge the gap between them. Actions are supposed to speak louder than words, right? Her heart hammering the mantra He is mine... she shifted even closer to him and wrapped her left arm around him. There... it couldn't possibly be more obvious that she wanted him to stay close.

She tried to keep her breathing as even as possible as she felt him stir.

As he returned to the land of the awake, he felt like he was waking up for the first time, or at least waking up with hope for the first time. The vow he had made as he fell asleep, was still close to his heart. And so was she. In fact, she was much closer than last night.

The first thing he saw as his eyes opened was her arm across his body. For a moment he wondered if he was dreaming or hallucinating. But then his mind and body both registered her soft curves pressed against his side. Her face was hidden, as if she was almost burying it into his rib-cage.

His heartbeats accelerated, his heart probably having to work overtime to pump blood to a certain part of his body which was now up and awake too. Surprisingly he did not feel any guilt today. The desire which had so far felt only natural, now felt right too, as his heart happily intoned the mantra She is mine.

Her hair which had been tied in a bun the night before, were now sprawled across her back. How he had longed to see it like this... This would be a view worth waking up to every morning. He had always prided himself on his own mane, but he now admitted that her tresses were in a league of their own! His fingers itched to run through them. He wished she had been sleeping in a different angle, Yeh chehera chupake sone hi kya jarurat hai?!

His eyes drifted to her arm hugging him. The Kangan clad wrist seemed so tiny... he wanted to measure it, feeling quite confident that he would be able to encircle it perfectly between his thumb and index finger. He gulped as some visions of holding her wrists in certain scenarios and positions played out in his mind and he was achingly aware of the effect of these fantasies on his body.

In that moment, he really envied the Kangans that had been wrapped around her all these months. They had been marking her as his all this time, but now he wanted to claim her as his.

Did she just move? Was she awake, he wondered? No, she wouldn't hold him so close if she was awake... pakka neend mein mujhe pillow samajh rahi hogi... he smiled thinking of the innocence that he had seen in her eyes time and again. He now hoped to see the passion reflecting in them too.

But first, he would fulfil all her dil ke chotese armaan. She deserved that and so much more.

He had grown up in a hostel, where enforcing personal boundaries had been an uphill battle. But somethings he had always drawn a line at, like sharing food and drinks. As a kid, he had been very susceptible to coughs and colds, and just being vigilant about this one thing on the doctor's advice had made a lot of difference. But it was time to let go of some old habits and embrace new ones, or least make an exception when it came to her.

He couldn't get over the fact that she felt ashamed of yearning for a little of the cliched romance in her life. But, had she wanted it with him? Maybe it was just the idea that she longed for and not for him in particular. After all, what had he done in all these months that she would love him? Forget love... even just like him!

From the very start he had pushed her away and been plain rude. Memories of the time when he had made the call to tell her that he did not want to interact or acknowledge their relationship in college, or her teary eyes on Teej when he asked her to stop wearing the kangans, to the last straw when he left her weeping and in shock on the college bench after asking her to cancel the Bidai or come prepared to stay in the Guest room run through his mind.

How could she love a brute like that? She had not come to stay in his home out of love. She was here because there was no other place she could go to. But he wanted her to live here because there was no other place that she would rather live in.

He knew he was a little broken, not someone she deserved, and maybe not someone she wanted either, but he could try to be a better man for her. He would try to become at least something of a hero for her. She was simple and easy to please... he could at least hope to become a decent enough guy for her, right?

He wanted her to know and feel, that he wanted her out of love, and not out of pity or just as a samjhota. He could sense the daylight approaching swiftly now. Feeling determined that this day would also usher in a new phase of their relationship, he clasped her hand and after squeezing it gently, slipped out of her bed and room.

Naina let out the breath she was holding. She had moved at one point and had felt his body tense. He had stayed in bed for a little while after that, but then had eventually left. Without a single word.

She wasn't sure how to interpret his silence, but thought his quiet departure spoke volumes. He had not known what to say to her after all that she had said last night. And hence decided to leave without saying anything.

He had not understood her unspoken words of love. Or even worse, he had understood but did not want to acknowledge them. She shivered.

Now she was sure that she had done the right thing by not telling him that her heart belonged to him. It would be easier to pretend that this night had never happened, that she had never woken up in his arms. She heard the birdsong but wanted to wail, Shut up! There is nothing to be merry about! He left. Her head started throbbing.

Sameer moved around his room unnecessarily, the excitement in him too hard to contain. His mind was already buzzing with ideas, all that he wanted to do, to make her smile, time and again. And so, he sat at his table and started making a list. The list started with her chote-bade armaan and then he added some of his own.

The completed list seemed to have all the ingredients required for a happy married life. Well... at least for the start of one! But, as most cooks know, method and timing are equally important to end up with a well-executed and tasty recipe, right?

Sameer arrived downstairs much earlier than usual, his heart thundering in anticipation. What would he say and what would she say? He blushed a little every time he remembered holding her close to him. He approached the kitchen practicing a nonchalant Good Morning in his head but was puzzled to find Ramdhari by himself cooking the breakfast.

Ramdhari glanced at the clock and uttered "Sameer bhaiya aap toh bahoot jaldi neeche aa gaye aaj... abhi nashta bana rahe hai. Aapki coffee pehele bana dete hai, bus panch minute lagenge." He ignoring this information asked "Tumhari Bhabhi kaha hai?!" Ramdhari replied "So rahi hai... subhe hume darwaja khola toh kehene lagi tabiat theek nahi hai, toh aap ko nashta karwa de..." He sounding worried "Tabiat theek nahi? Kya hua?? Doctor ke pass jana chahiye phir toh..." Ramdhari replied sounding not worried at all "Keh rahi thi... bus sar mein dard hai. Aap chinta mat kijiye, thoda aaraam kar legi toh theek lagega unhe..."

Sameer snapped "Tu doctor hai? Bada bol raha hai!" Ramdhari used to his bhaiya's mood swings, continued adding sugar to the coffee and remarked "Doctor toh nahi hai... par sardard se itna pareshaan bhi nahi hote! Bhaiya, woh uth jayengi toh hum unhe theek se nashta khila denge aur phir goli bhi de denge. Aap nashta kar lijiye aur befikar hoke college jayiye. Bhabhi ka sardard bhi unka college ka time hone tak theek ho jayega."

On the surface his words made sense, but still not satisfied, Sameer headed to her room. The door was closed from the inside. He knocked softly a few times, but she did not respond. He decided that she must be asleep and returned to the dinning table. After finishing his breakfast half-heartedly, he left for the day.

Love is no doubt beautiful, but the slow realisation of being in love is even more beautiful. Even when one is not aware of the outcome, it still gives wings to our hearts. That day it was no different for Sameer, suddenly the sunshine was golden, all the colours seemed brighter and even the cows sitting in the middle of the road holding up the traffic did not seem like a nuisance.

In college Munna sensing his happy mood, asked him "Naina theek hai ab? Baat ki tune usse?" Sameer nodded trying not to blush "Ha... theek hai. Bus woh kuch soch ke pareshaan thi..." Munna sounding genuinely concerned asked "Pareshaan kyun thi?"

Sameer not used to hiding things from his two besties, but realising that certain things should stay between just the two of them now, stuttered "Pareshaan thi... kyun ki... woh... usse... ha, uski Taiji ne kuch ulta seedha sunna diya tha usse!" Pandit asked "Yeh Naina ki Taiji kafi khatarnak malum hoti hai..." Sameer retorted "Khatarnak nahi... kafi khudgarj aur shayad bolna toh nahi chahiye par Kamini types lagti hai!" Pandit continued "Yaar, tune peechle janaam mein na pakka koi bahoot bada punya ka kaam kiya hoga... isiliye Naina uske baap ya Taiji pe nahi gayi hai! Kasam se, aisa hota toh main toh bikul tere ghar na aata!" Munna laughed it off "Bhai, Bhabhi jaise bhi nikalti main toh tere ghar aana kabhi na chodta!"

Later that day when Naina did not show up at the expected time in college, Sameer approached his Saali "Preeti, Naina aayi nahi abhi?" Preeti replied calmly "Ha, uska phone aaya tha... keh rahi thi bahoot sardard hai, aaj college nahi aayegi. Aaram karegi ghar pe." He nodded, muttering 'Pata nahi nashta kiya ke nahi..."

Naina sat listlessly all day, surrounded by a number of melancholy thoughts.

Seeing herself in the mirror in her white dress, she now wondered if her Chachiji had been right all along. Was it really an inauspicious colour? Meera bai had donned this colour in her love for Krishna and had happily loved him from afar. But then Meera's love had been of a different flavour, probably a lot purer than hers. She was after all just a simple girl made of flesh and bones, with a simple longing for her beloved. Would loving him from afar be enough?

She had grown up reverently listening to the tales from Ramayana. She had idolised Sita, who followed her Ram into exile, unable to bear the idea of being deprived of his company and staying away from him. But Ram had allowed her to follow him, he had indulged her demands and needs. What if Ram had said no? Would Sita still be applauded for loving her husband from a distance, from the superficial luxury of a palace?

As she bathed, she tried to wash away her shame of waking up all buttoned up, unloved and unclaimed, after spending her first night in her husband's arms. She now remembered the years of constant drumming into her head that men are easily tempted, and girls needs to guard their virtue. Maybe she never had anything to guard.

Once again envy arose within her, apparently Swati's charms could win hearts from a distance, while she couldn't even make a place in her husband's heart. Forget his heart, not even his bed.

She recalled a long-forgotten memory. They had been in 12th standard and she used to walk with Swati from an after-school class couple of days a week. There used to be a group of boys, that they would encounter on one of the corners. The boys would whistle when they passed by and Swati would complain about how she hated all this constant attention where ever she went. It was always taken for granted that the boys whistled for Swati. Then one day when Swati was absent, the boys still whistled when she walked by alone and in that moment Naina had incredulously but happily thought, so they don't whistle just for her! She now thought that she should have turned around and checked, maybe there had been some other girl walking behind her.

He tried winding up the work in the factory as fast as possible that afternoon, but with Nanaji away there were a lot of things where his input was required. When he got home a little after half past six that evening, Ramdhari informed him that Bhabhi had ventured out only briefly once during the day and had barely eaten. Sameer knocked on her door again, only this time more insistently till she opened the door. She looked really ill.

Sameer exclaimed "Naina, kya ho gaya hai?! Tumhari tabiat toh bahoot kharab lag rahi hai... chalo abhi doctor ke pass jaayenge. Mujhe subhe hi yeh Ramdhari ki baat sunni nahi chahiye thi." She mumbled "Nahi... uski koi jarurat nahi hai... doctor kya kar sakte hai..." Seeing his confused expression, she added "Theek ho jayega... bus woh... migraine type sardard hai.. do-teen din toh lagenge na... Dawai li hai maine." He asked "Aur khaana khaya? Woh bhi toh jaruri hai na..." She assured him she would eat something for dinner and went back inside.

He fretted and fussed around her when she had an early dinner and then headed back to her room. He insisted on her swallowing the pills in front of him.

As he closed the window, he asked hesitating a little "Agar tumhari tabiat itni kharab hai... toh main yahi so jaayu? Kal bhi toh soya " She blurted "Nahi! Uski kya jarurat hai... sorry, kal baat karte karte aakh kab lag gayi samjha hi nahi... aap raat ko kab uppar gaye... woh bhi nahi samjha. Ekdum subhe Ramdhari ne bell bajayi tabhi aakh khuli..." He thought feeling a little off balance, Matlab isse samjha hi nahi ke main raat bhar yahi iske pass soya tha?! Aisa kaise ho sakta hai? Ajeeb ladki hai... itni bhi kya gehri neend ke peheli baar humne sath mein pass-pass raat jugari... aur madam ko samjha hi nahi?!

As he left the room, he mumbled "Acha, raat ko kabhi bhi kuch bhi theek na lage toh mujhe awaaj lagana." She nodded without meaning it and closed the door.

Maine roka nahi wo chala bhi gaya
Bebasi door tak dekhti reh gayi...

Ek main ek tum ek deewar thi
Zindagi aadhi aadhi banti rah gayi...

Ye kasak dil ki dil mein chubhi rah gayi
Zindagi mein tumhaari kami rah gayi...

(credit - Shayar Bashir Badr)

After another restless night, Sameer found she was still not recovered and wanted to rest another day. Ramdhari was rather surprised to see his bhaiya drinking the coffee without any complaints and wondered what how his skills in this department had suddenly improved. His bhaiya was feeling too troubled by his wife's headache to care about the taste of his coffee.

In college he approached Preeti again and fretted "Hi, woh Naina ka sardard toh theek hi nahi ho raha hai... tum please college ke baad thodi der ghar jaa sakti ho kya? Aaj factory mein bada shipment bhenja hai... mujhe jana hi padega... Nanu bhi nahi hai..." His Saali extremely pleased to see this concern, assured him that she would skip the last lecture and head to his house early and stay there till he got back.

Naina was quite surprised by Preeti's visit. And Preeti now understood Sameer's concern. Her sister really looked terrible, her eyes swollen and hair unkept. Preeti checked for any fever but was relived to find that it did not look like the Flu. Naina tried to assure her it was just a headache and nothing that wouldn't settle down in a couple of days.

She fleetingly wondered if she should share the reason for her despair with Preeti, but then decided that there was nothing new to be shared. Her husband had not wanted to accept their relationship pre-bidai and his stand was still unchanged. Preeti had already questioned her wisdom in running behind him and would probably only further tell her off for her stupidity.

Preeti updated her with the gossip about the latest nok-jhok between Taiji and her mom and another prospective proposal received by Swati. Pooja and family were planning to come stay for a few days around Diwali and Preeti was excited about the Diwali shopping. Naina smiled and made some appropriate responses where expected. She tried to convince Preeti to head home saying she wanted to nap for a bit, but her sister was resolved to keep her promise to her Jijaji.

About six Sameer called from the factory saying he was leaving soon and would pick Preeti from outside their gate to drop her home. At the agreed time Preeti said goodbye to her sister with some additional instructions about food and sleeping early.

Once she settled in the car, Sameer asked her "Kaisi hai Naina?" She replied truthfully "Mujhe laga nahi tha ke itni bimar lag rahi hogi... par yeh toh such mooch kuch jyada hi " He butt in "Main toh kal se hi keh raha hu ke doctor ke pass jana chahiye. Par meri toh koi sunta hi nahi hai!" Preeti tried to assure him that Naina did not have any fever and would probably feel much better in day or so.

He then suddenly remembering his manners said "Waise, thank you. Tum aaj uske pass ruki thi... mujhe toh samajh hi nahi aa raha tha ke kya karu... office jana bhi important tha." Preeti responded warmly "Kaise baate kar rahe hai aap... Naina toh meri behen hi nahi best friend bhi hai. Uske liye toh meri jaan hazir hai!"

He smiled at her and then after a few moments of silence said a little softly "Waise, mujhe tumhe sorry bhi bolna chahiye. Maine bina soche samjhe bohoot takleef di hai tumhari behen ko." Preeti blinked a few times wondering if she was hallucinating. He went on "Preeti, mujhe idea nahi thi ke tumhari Taiji Naina se itna bura behave karti hai. Uss din dekha toh bahoot shock laga mujhe. Naina ne bhi kabhi pehele bataya nahi tha..."

Preeti answered solemnly "Woh kya bata sakti hai. Usse shayad aadat toh ho gayi hai Taiji ke tannon ki, par phir bhi kabhi kabhi bura toh lagta hi hoga na. Par shikayat bhi kisse kare... Rakesh Tauji bhi toh kabhi uske peeche khade nahi hue hai. Aur woh bol bhi kya sakte hai, Naina ki koi zimmedari uthayi bhi nahi hai hai unhone ek baap ki tarah. Taiji janti hai ke Mummy-Papa ko bhi unki umar aur rishtey ka maan rakhna padta hai." He again tried to assure her that he had been completely unaware of all these things and apologised.

She tried to assure him that he had done at least some good, "Aapne dahez na maang ke bahoot acha kiya. Papa toh bahoot hi impress hue thay aap ke iss stand se. Par jyada important yeh hua ke Taiji ko Rakesh Tauji ko sunane aur ehsaan jatane ka ek bahoot bada chance nahi mila. Jab se yeh rishta hua hai, tab se toh Rakesh Tauji bhi Naina se kafi dhang se baat karne lage hai. Itne saalon mein maine Rakesh Tauji ko kabhi Naina ke kissi achievement se itna khush hote nahi dekha hai, jitna uski bidai pe hue thay." Preeti hoped he understood the circumstances around the bidai now.

Sameer did not feel he deserved any credit for this. He hadn't said no to the dowry out of any sense of social justice, he had just said no thinking he didn't even want to be married and hence there was no question of dowry. But, thank God, something good had come off his outburst. Retrospectively, he decided he would have still said no to the dowry, even if he wasn't against the marriage.

After deliberating a little, he said pensively "Preeti, woh Naina kuch college khatam hone ke baad job karne ki baat kar rahi thi... aur ghar chodne ki..." Preeti mumbled "Acha? Aap se yeh keh bhi diya usne... ha, soch toh rahi hai job ka. Wapas aise hi ghar toh nahi aa sakegi na... toh..." He thought, Preeti ko bhi pata hai... matlab issne such mooch plan bana liya hai ghar chodne ka. Mujhe jaldi isske sar se yeh bhoot utarna hoga! Preeti was thinking, Naina bhi na... itni kya jaldi hai isse Sameer ko yeh sab batane ki! Waise bhi college khatam hone mein toh itni der hai... tab tak shayad sab theek ho jata. Aise toh Sameer sochne lagega ke Naina ko koi interest hi nahi hai iss rishtay ko aage badhane mein...

The remaining journey of a few more minutes was concluded in relative silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Sameer refused the invitation to come upstairs and returned home. On the way back he made one quick stop.

As soon as he arrived home, he went to her room and said "Naina, main medical mein gaya tha... shayad tumhe ghar mein ki dawai suit nahi kar rahi hai. Yeh Aspro, Anacin, Saridon aur Crocin sab le aaya hu. Agar iss mein se koi kaam na kare toh kal main kuch nahi sununga... bus doctor ke pass chalna hi hoga! Aare, aise thode hi sardard hota hai... char din ho gaye..." She objected "Char din kaha... bus do din hi toh hue..." He argued "Do din kya aur char din kya... aakhen dekhi hai aapni?! Kaise suz gayi hai. Ek minute, kahi tum phir se ro toh nahi rahi thi??" She tried to brush it away "Pagal thodehi ho gayi hu main... jo har waqt roti rahungi! Aap kuch bhi sochna mat shuru kar dijiye... bus theek ho jayega kal tak."

That night she resolved to stop dwelling on the situation and once again try to push forward. The next day, she resumed her normal routine, albeit half-heartedly. Sameer was far too relived about her recovery to notice that she seemed a little lost at times.

That day as the trio sat in the canteen munching on some samosas, Munna asked him "Acha, ab bata bhi de tere chehere pe yeh baara kyun baje hue hai?" He replied "Yaar, woh Naina toh ghar chodne ka soch rahi hai." Pandit asked "Ghar chodengi? Kab aur kyun??!" He muttered "Abhi koi tareekh decide nahi kiya hai! College khatam hone ke baad.. kehti hai job dhundegi..." Munna not sounding surprised remarked "Ha, toh... saari zindagi uss guest room mein thodi na rehna chahegi..."

Seeing Sameer pale, Munna took a deep breath and said "Dekh yaar... shayad tum dono ke gharwalon se galti ho gayi yeh rishta karke. Par ab woh bhi zindagi bhar kyun pareshaan rahe? Manna tujhe koi interest nahi hai shaadi ya biwi mein. Par usse toh interest ho sakta hai shaadi shuda zindagi mein... Itni achi ladki hai, jaha bhi jayegi uss ghar mein dil jeet legi, dekh lena... Yeh bhi manna, agli baar usse tumhare jaisa bada ghar na mile, par mujhe lagta hai woh toh thode mein bhi khush rahegi. Bus koi dhang ka ladka mile..." Pandit was looking at Munna like his jaw about to hit the ground, while Sameer looked extremely irritated.

Sameer responded heatedly "Sharam nahi aati tujhe?! Kal tak usse Bhabhi-Bhabhi kar raha tha, aur aaj uski dusri shaadi ki baat kar raha hai! Aur woh bhi mere saamne?! Biwi hai meri!" Munna asked "Aare, itna kyun bhadak raha hai... tune kaunsa usse such mooch biwi banake rakha hai?" Pandit chimed in "Yaar, par woh isse biwi ki tarha aur humme Bhabhi ki tarha kitna acha khaana banake khilati hai..."

Munna turned on Pandit "Tujhe kaane ki padi hai?! Aur tere ghar mein bhi toh do chacheri behene hai... aisa sasural dhundhega unke liye? Maine toh decide kar liya hai, Sweety didi ke liye rishta dekhte waqt aisa hi ghar dekhunga jaha Guest room hi na ho!" He now continued addressing Sameer "Yaar, dost hai tu mera... par yeh bilkul sahi nahi hai! Aise Guest room mein rehne se toh acha yahi hoga ke woh kissi do kamre ke ghar mein reh le, par kum se kum uska pati usse pyar de."

Pandit nodded in agreement and then said "Yaar, bahoot mushkil hai par ab usse koi dhang ka rishta milna. Bahar toh sab yahi sochenge ke itne mahine pati ke sath rahi hai..." Munna retorted "Mushkil hoga... par namunkeen nahi hai. Koi toh suljha hua ladka mil hi jayega... chahe do-teen saal kyun na lage! Hum sab dekhenge uske liye rishta..."

Sameer finally managed to get a word in "Tum log kya yeh uske liye rishte dhundhne lage... pagal ho gaye ho kya?! Aur main kaunsa chahata hu ke woh Guest room mein rahe... main toh khud chahata hu ke woh... jaldi shift ho jaye yaar" Munna asked "Ab aur kaha shift karna hai usse? Koi Girls hostel dhundh liya kya?!" He replied irately "Uppar shift ho jaye! Mere... matlab... humare kamre mein."

Munna had a smile that he was trying to hide thinking Shukar hai bhagwan ka, aakheer akal theekane pe aa hi gayi... lagta hai hume pehele hi Naina ki dusri shaadi ki dhamki deni chahiye thi isse! Pandit asked happily "Such keh raha hai tu?! Par kyun uppar shift kare woh??" Sameer answered blushing this time "Woh main... main usse bahoot pasand karne laga hu yaar... kuch din se... nahi... actually, kafi din se. Bus kuch theek se samajh nahi aa raha tha, ke exactly kya feel ho raha hai..."

Munna now beaming widely asked sounding very excited "Toh, bataya tune usse?" He shook his head "Nahi yaar... abhi nahi..." Pandit asked surprised "Aare, toh kaunse muhurat ke intezaar mein hai? Shaadi toh waise hi maha-muhurat pe hui hai teri!"

Sameer continued still blushing "Maine na kuch socha hai... aise hi nahi batayunga usse... pehele thoda date karunga usse!" His friends looked at each other confused. Munna asked "Kya matlab date karega? Aare, biwi hai teri... koi girlfriend thode hi banani hai tujhe..." He explained "Hai toh biwi, par girlfriend jaise usse treat toh kar sakta hu, right? Pataunga usse!" Pandit asked sounding worried "Bhai tujhe asie bure bure ideas aate kaha se hai?! Biwi hai... ghar ja... chahe toh jate waqt koi badasa gift le ja... aur seedhe-seedhe bol de. Sham tak Bhabhi uppar shift ho jayegi... main guarantee deta hu!"

But Sameer was not convinced "Nahi yaar, usse lagega main bus aise hi rishta apna raha hu. Dekh uske jo bhi romantic ideas hai na, pehele woh pure karne hai. Ussne woh jo bhi special se feelings ke sapne dekhe honge na woh pure karunga... aur phir bolunga!" Munna and Pandit though not completely convinced with this plan, nodded along.

Another day and the swelling around her eyes was gone, if along with it some of the sparkle left too, Sameer did not notice as he was too busy admiring the shape of her eyes. If she smiled a little less, he was too caught up in fantasizing about her alluring lips. When she swapped her golden jhumkas for the simple loop earnings, he was dreaming of all the sweet nothings he would whisper in those ears. 

The saying that beauty lies in the beholders eyes really does hold true.