"Naina, beta tere chachaji keh rahe the ki hum log koshish karenge ghar pe abhi shaadi ke baare mein bina bataye sabko manane ki... warna naya hi tufaan aa jayega... bhabhiji aur Rakesh bhaisaab toh aise bhadkenge ki sambhalna mushkil ho jayega." Bela conveyed her husband's message to Naina.
"Par chachiji, shaadi ka nahi bataya toh koi bhi raazi nahi hoga." Naina was apprehensive.
"Tere chachaji aur Phulla bua milke baat karenge... unhone pehle isliye nahi kaha kyonki woh nahi chahte the ki yahan kisi ko zyada time mile sochne ka aur kuch musibat khadi karne ka... unhone kaha, Naina ke aane ke baad hi batayenge, foran shaadi ki tareekh nikalwayenge aur jhat se shaadi kar denge jisse kisi ki buri nazar na lage tum dono ko." Bela patted her cheek fondly.
Naina felt a warm sensation spread over her... chachaji wanted an early date for their marriage... the dream suddenly looked easier to achieve.
"Naina, kya Sameer ke gharwalo mein se koi nahi aayega? Uski mummy... soutele hi sahi par bhai behen aur uske papa?" Bela asked.
Naina lowered her head. She knew this topic would come up... and Sameer would never be ready to include them in the wedding functions.
"Chachiji, Sameer ki mummy bhi uske saath aisi hi hain jaise mere saath papa hain... yahan toh aap aur chachaji ho jinhone mujhe itna pyar diya ki mujhe kabhi koi kami nahi mehsoos hui... par Sameer ko na pyar mila na parivaar... unn logo ne kabhi usse apne ghar ka hissa maana hi nahi... isliye woh nahi chahta ki unmein se koi bhi iss khushi mein shaamil ho." She explained his point of view.
Bela nodded... she would have never believed that a real parent could ignore his own child like this all their lives... but she had seen the example of Rakesh... in some corner of her heart, she wished they could also take out their trouble creating relatives away from the picture and have a happy, uncomplicated celebration.
"Chal theek hai, ab tum dono so jao." She sighed, getting up.
"Umm, chachiji, main kal subah subah mandir jaungi." Naina quickly informed her.
"Arre beta, aaj thaki hui hai, kal aaram se sona... parson chali jaana." Bela was worried about her health.
"Nahi, kal hi jaungi... balki roz jaana hoga... woh maine mannat mangi hai ki jab tak sab kuch theek nahi hota roz subah jal chadhaungi." She smiled sweetly.
Bela was impressed with her devotion, "Theek hai, chali jaana... bhagwan ko bhi khush kar le."
"Aur jijaji ko bhi." Preeti whispered as Bela closed the door behind her.
Naina widened her eyes at her.
"Main mummy nahi hun jinhe tu bhagwanji ki goli deke budhu bana de... mujhe pata hai roz subah subah jaana hai ka kya matlab tha... arre pyaar nahi kiya toh kya... filmen toh dekhi hain na... sab pata hai mujhe." Preeti gave a knowing wave of head.
Naina hid her face in her palms.
Sameer turned towards the wall. Munna and Pandit were fast asleep already... but he could not stop thinking about Naina. He missed her soft feel beneath his hands. Sleeping without her in his arms was lot more tough than spending the day without her. His arms ached with the need to engulf her... his shoulder wanted her weight on it... his chest wanted her soft, warm hands over it... he wanted her scent around him... her hair on his face...
He wanted her.
Naina was not able to sleep either. She felt incomplete. The pillow was not comfortable... she needed his shoulder. The rhythm of his heartbeat under her ear was her lullaby. His heavy hand on her waist and folded leg over her knee gave her a feeling of possessiveness. His breath fanning her face was the air she wanted to breathe. His rough jaw on her cheek felt more welcome than the soft bedsheet.
