Preeti tried to pacify the wailing toddler. Pooja came in finally, taking him from Preeti.
"Pata nahi Pooja didi, kyon ro raha hai itna... maine bohot koshish ki chup karane ki." Preeti was exhausted.
Pooja smiled at her, then patted her son's head, "Tu chinta mat kar... isse bas neend aa rahi hai... aaj dopaher ko soya nahi na."
"Lo, toh bata deta ki maasi, mujhe sona hai... bolta hai fir bhi nahi bata sakta kya?" Preeti was relieved that there was no big issue.
"Bolta hai, par usse kuch baatein khud hi samajh nahi aati... pata nahi chalta ki kyon gussa aa raha hai, kyon rona aa raha hai... uski thakaan ne usse chidchida bana diya... samajh nahi paaya ki usse kya chahiye... main uski baat samajh sakti hun, bina bole... uski har zaroorat pata hai mujhe... aur usse bhi yakeen hai ki main jaan jaungi... isliye dekho, meri god mein aate hi chup ho gaya." Pooja patiently explained her younger sisters before leaving the room.
Preeti gaped after her... seeking the answer to her turmoil in what Pooja didi just said. Was she irritated because she wanted Pandit to speak up clearly... or was she annoyed that he took so long, if he indeed meant what he was saying on the phone... she was again confused.
Naina observed the changing expressions on her face... until she sat down on the bed with a thud.
"Preeti, raat ko mere saath chalna zara... mujhe Sameer se milna hai." She whispered to her after closing the door.
Preeti looked at her sharply, "Chalna matlab? Ghar se bahar? Pagal hai kya? Kisi ne dekh liya toh? Maregi khud aur mujhe bhi pitwaegi... ab ek din bacha hai sirf... ek din toh shanti se reh le... pakde gaye toh taiji ne shaadi mein fir se koi adanga daal dena hai."
"Shh... bhadak kyon rahi hai... kuch nahi hoga... bas neeche tak jaana hai... sabke sone ke baad... saare din ki thakaan ke baad sabhi log gehri neend mein so jayenge... tab chalenge." Naina tried to convince her.
"Kya hai behen, samajh nahi aata kya tujhe... abhi toh bua dadi, papa, mummy sab tere saath hain... par kisi ko pata chala na toh yeh log bhi tujhse hi naaraaz honge." Preeti was miffed.
Naina pursed her lips, "Preeti, tu nahi samjhegi... Sameer se mile bina main nahi reh sakti... yeh shaadi hum dono ka sapna hai... aur tu soch bhi nahi sakti iske liye humne kya kya kiya hai... woh boyfriend nahi hai mera, pati hai... fir bhi usse door hun... ek, ek din, ek ek pal kaise kaat rahi hun main hi jaanti hun... aur woh bhi kaise reh raha hoga pata hai mujhe... Sameer meri zindagi hai... uske bina saans tak nahi le sakti... jab woh paas nahi hota toh aisa lagta hai samay ruk gaya hai... jab tak uska chehra na dekh lu mera din adhura lagta hai... uske bina neend nahi aati... uski nazren mujhe na dekhen toh sajne sawarne ka mann nahi karta... uske choone se hi mera dil dhadakta hai... uske pyar ki roshni na ho toh mere liye sab taraf andhera hai."
Preeti listened to her, mesmerized at the way Naina made her see the place Sameer had in her life...
"Tujhe agar lagta hai ki yeh theek nahi hai toh tu rehne de... main akele hi chali jaungi... lekin Sameer se zaroor milungi... kyonki mere liye ismein kuch galat nahi hai." Naina said with determination.
Preeti engulfed her in a hug, "Achha na, ab gussa mat dikha... chalungi main... jijaji ke liye tera pyar dekh ke mujhe bhi lag raha hai ki shaadi kitni door hai... tumhe toh kabka saath ho jaana chahiye tha."
Naina smiled, hugging her back.
After dinner, most of the relatives went to taiji's house... bua dadi was exhausted after the rituals, and went to bed immediately... Pooja didi slept as well, feeling tired after taking care of her hyper active son the whole day. Other elders retired to their rooms too.
