Sameer reached home, still lost in the thoughts of what all Naina might be going through... he was even feeling annoyed at her for forcing him to leave. Parking his bike, he kicked it in frustration... and walked in, his face contorted in anger.
"Aaiye, aaiye... aakhir aapko yaad aa hi gaya ki aapka bhi ek ghar hai." Somani taunted the moment Sameer entered the living room.
He glared at his step father, gave a disgusting look to his mother who stood a little away from him... and frowned at another person present there.
"Sameer, yeh tumhare Kamlesh mama hain... Gandhinagar se aaye hain... namaste karo." Vishakha commanded.
Sameer looked at the stranger, wondering where this relative had been all these years... and why was he here today. But he folded his hands at him, without a word.
"Khush raho, Sameer beta... main toh Vishakha didi se hamesha kehta tha ki Sameer ko hamare paas rehne do... bhare hue ghar mein rahega toh bachha khush rahega... apne dukh bhool jayega... par teri mummy ne meri baat maani hi nahi... kehne lagi Kamlesh bhai, aapko bekaar takleef hogi... Sameer ko waise bhi hostel ki aadat hai... woh akela hi khush rehta hai... usse kisi ki zaroorat nahi hai." Kamlesh mama sneered.
Sameer disliked him instantly... everything about his personality and demeanor made him look untrustworthy.
"Sameer, Kamlesh mama hamare bulane pe Gandhi nagar se yahan aaye hain... tumhe uss parivaar ki asliyat batane... jisse tumhari aankhon pe bandhi patti utar jaye aur dekh sako ki kaise ek paise wale ladke ko woh log apne jaal mein phansa rahe hain." Vishakha crossed her arms, giving him a piercing look.
Before Sameer could speak, Kamlesh started to say in his irritating voice, "Haan beta, Vishakha didi sahi keh rahi hain... maine pata lagaya... arre, bada ghatiya parivaar hai... kehne ko wakil aur CA hain dono bhai par rehte uss chote se kabootarkhane mein hain... aur inka ek aur bhai toh school mein librarian hai... bolo... yeh bhi koi kaam hua... usse zyada paisa toh humara naukar kama leta hai... inke paas koi pushtaini daulat, jaaydaad bhi nahi hai... ekdum rookhe sookhe... aise aadmi ka kya naam hoga samaaj mein... aur biwiyan bhi gaon ki hain... ekdum ganwar... teri mummy aur mami jaisi nahi, padhi likhi aur smart... aise ghar ki ladki kya seekh ke aayegi aur kya tareeke jaanegi bade ghar ke."
Somani pitched in, "Arre bhaisahab, aisi ladki toh naak hi katayegi sabke saamne... soft drink ko sharbat bolegi aur snacks ko farsaan... main toh sharm se mar jaun agar mere ghar mein koi aisa kahe."
Sameer gave him a menacing look, not wanting to start any discussion with these unworthy people... his Naina did not need their approval... nor did her family...
"Sun liya Sameer... kis kuen mein koodna chahte ho tum... abhi toh shuruat hai toh uss ladki ne aur uske gharwalo ne mujhse itni badtameezi ki hai... kal ko usse utha ke yahan le aaoge toh hamare sar pe hi baith jayegi." Vishakha echoed her husband and brother's point.
"Bas kijiye aap log... jaante kya hain aap Naina ke baare mein... uske liye kuch bhi kehne se pehle soch lijiye ki woh patni hai meri... aur iss ghar ki malkin hai... aaj aap log ussi ke ghar mein khade hokar ussi pe ulte seedhe ilzam laga rahe hain." Sameer roared when he could not take it anymore.
The sound of slap rang through the room.
Sameer looked at his mother... her hand still raised... an ugly scowl on her face.
He gave a scornful smile, as a tear spilled from his eye, "Bas yehi kar sakti hain aap... har baat ko meri galti kehti hain aur uski sazaa de deti hain... par ismein aapka kasoor nahi hain... hote hain kuch log jinke paas pyar ka ek katra tak nahi hota... na dil mein, na unki zindagi mein... toh kaise kisi ko pyar denge... kaise pyar ko samjhenge... sabko sirf thappad marna aata hai... yahan aapko, wahan Naina ke papa ko... lekin sirf Naina hai jisse mere aansu pochna aata hai... mere bina kahe mera dard samajhna aata hai... mujhe andhere se nikalna aata hai... ussi ne sikhaya hai mujhe muskurana... ussi ne mere saare kaale saaye khatam kiye hain... aap logon ko usse sharm aayegi... mujhe toh aap logon ki soch se sharm aa rahi hai."
