"Aapne toh hum sabke dil ki baat keh di, jee." Bela wiped her eyes as her husband came to sit beside her.
"Naina ke liye jo dil se nikla maine likh liya, Bela... iss bachhi ne aaj tak humse kuch nahi maanga tha... aur jab maanga toh woh aise ladke ka saath jo hum khud bhi uske liye kabhi nahi laa sakte the... Naina jaisi beti paana kismat ki baat hoti hai... aur hum bohot kismat wale hain ki khud ki na sahi par bhagwan ne humein Naina ke roop mein ek beti di." Anand said in an emotional voice.
"Haww... aur mere aane se aapki kismat kharab ho gayi kya?" They looked at Pooja, standing next to their chairs, sulking.
"Beta, tumhare aane se hi toh hamare ghar ki kismat khuli... tum hi woh lakshmi ho jiske aane ke baad hamare achhe din shuru hue." Anand cupped her face, smiling with moist eyes.
"Tu kaise aa gayi? Golu ko kahan choda?" Bela stood up immediately, looking for her grandson.
Pooja had not come with them earlier as her son was feeling unwell. Bela was worried to see her alone now.
"Mummy, chinta mat karo. Golu ko dopaher dawa khilake sulaya tha... jab utha toh uska bukhar bilkul chala gaya tha... jab usne khali ghar dekha toh zid pakad li ki woh bhi jayega... isliye hum aa gaye... usse Preeti ke paas choda hai." Pooja calmed her mother, sitting down with her.
Preeti rushed after Golu as he ran towards the food tables.
"Dekh Golu, maasi laake degi tujhe khaane ko... ruk jaa nahi toh pitaai karungi." She tried to run, lifting the lehenga with both hands.
Golu stopped suddenly, making her stumble.
Two hands held her shoulders from behind, "Sambhal ke, abhi gir jaati."
She looked back at Rishi, frowning.
"Mujhe khud ko bachana aata hai... tumhari madad nahi maangi... par chote bhai ka farz nibhane chale aaye toh yeh bhi bata dun ki mere paas bada bhai bhi hai aur chota bhi... aur banane ka mood nahi hai... shaadi ke liye aaye ho, mere jijaji ke mehmaan ho isliye chup hun... warna mujhse baat karne se pehle college mein log mandir jaate the, apni salamati ki prarthana karne." She stepped away from him, crossing her arms, chin held high.
Rishi was aghast, "Main... main bas aapki madad kar raha tha... aapko koi galatfehmi hui hai... maine kuch aisa kaha jo aapko bura laga toh I'm sorry par main... mera aisa koi irada nahi tha."
"Koi iraada rakhna bhi mat." Preeti turned... and her forehead creased.
Golu was gone again.
"Maasi... dekho main yahan hun." His excited voice came from the other side.
She saw Golu happily munching a pakoda as he walked towards her... holding Pandit's hand.
"Yeh kisne diya tumhe?" She bend down, worried that he might have picked up from somewhere.
"Mausaji ne." He smiled up at Pandit.
Preeti and Pandit looked at him, astounded... as Rishi glared at both of them.
"Mau... mausaji?" She croaked.
"Mummy ne kaha tha hum mausaji ke ghar jaa rahe hain... jab maine inse pucha ki yeh aapka ghar hai toh inhone haan bola... hue na yeh mere mausaji." The little boy explained the grown ups with patience.
Rishi walked away from there.
Pandit looked at Preeti's face.
She was at loss of words, for once...
"Chal mere saath." Preeti tried to pull Golu.
"Nahi, main mausaji ke saath rahunga... woh mujhe soft drink pilayenge." Golu hid behind Pandit.
