No one had expected things to take such a turn... taiji and Rakesh stared at Anand... frozen at their places.
Tauji had his back towards everyone but his clenched fists showed his state of mind.
Phulla bua held her forehead in her palm... fed up with the drama.
Bela paled at her husband's decision.
Preeti wanted to hug her father... getting rid of them would be the best thing for their family.
Naina stood drained of energy and voice... not wanting to be the reason for such a big drift in relationships.
Anand stood in the center of the room... firm on his decision.
Without a word, tauji walked out after a few minutes of silence.
Taiji and Rakesh followed him after realising that Anand would not change his mind.
"Yeh aapne kya kiya?" Taiji whispered to her husband the moment they entered their room.
He looked back at her, "Kya kiya? Ab Anand ne keh diya toh kya main apni baat se palat jaata?"
"Arre toh palat jaate na... kaunsa yahan koi dekh raha tha... sochiye toh... shaadi ho chuki hai... hum chahe ya na chahe ab Naina rahegi toh uss ghar ki hi... toh isse humein kya mil sakta hai yeh sochiye... Maheshwari naam kitna bada hai... kitna rutba badh jayega hamara... waise toh itna bada ghar us ladki ka sasural bane yeh main nahi chahti thi... par ab woh sab chod ke apna faayda dekhiye... yeh ladka itni factorion ka maalik hai... iske office ke ek do case aapko mil gaye toh aur bade bade log bhi aapko janne lagenge... inke ghar aana jaana karenge toh bhi aise logon se milna hoga... hamara bhi naam bade logon mein liya jayega... hamari shaan hi alag ho jayegi." She started to think about her own benefits.
Tauji pondered over what his wife said, "Keh toh tum theek rahi ho... lekin ab wapas aa gaye hain toh fir se jaana khud ko jhukana hoga unki nazaron mein."
Taiji adjusted her pallu over her head, "Woh sab aap mujh pe chod dijiye."
Bela was upset about the way things turned out to create a sourness in blood relations.
"Buaji, aise rishte thodi toot te hain... yun saath saath rehte hue kya hum log ek doosre ko pehchanna bhi band kar denge? Aisa nahi ho sakta... aap samjhaiye na Preeti ke papa ko... thodi aur koshish kar lete hain bhaisahab ko manane ki." She pleaded to Phulla bua.
The old lady looked at her innocent daughter in law, "Tu alag hi hai, Bela... teri jaithani saara din tujhpe hukum chalati hai, tujhe kosti hai fir bhi tu uske jaane se dukhi hai."
Bela wiped the wetness in her eyes, "Ab buaji, bartan toh apas mein khatakte hi hain... koi baat nahi... lekin parivaar bikharna nahi chahiye."
"Tu chinta mat kar... main Naresh se baat karungi... chal abhi jaldi se naashte ki taiyari kar... gyarah baje panditji aayenge." Phulla bua tried to divert her attention.
Bela quickly got up, getting busy with the preparations for breakfast.
Naina was upset that chachaji had go take such a big decision.
"Naina, tu pagal mat ban... yeh khushi manane ki baat hai rone ki nahi... soch, ek jhatke mein taiji ke taano se, unki maar se, unke kaam karaane se, unke tokne se... har cheez se chutkara mil gaya." Preeti grinned, swirling around in elation.
"Lekin Preeti, shaadi mein sab poochenge ki baaki ghar wale kahan hai toh kya jawab denge?" Naina was upset.
Preeti frowned at her, "Tujhse poochenge? Nahi naa... fir tu kyon pareshan ho rahi hai... jaane de... bas ab shaadi ki taiyari shuruuuu."
