The garden where the shamiyana was set up was surrounded by a wall of white tent, with red fabric decorations against it. The edges were lined with lights, tiny bulbs in abundance that gave the place an enchanting look. Overall colour combination was red and white but there were quite a few sprinklings of green in between. And gold, that brought the feel of a royal wedding. Flower arrangements placed all around brought a distinct, pleasing smell of marriage venue. Deep red chairs were placed facing the stage which itself was covered with red carpet. Floral garlands in white formed the backdrop of the stage. The huge red and gold ornate chairs were placed next to each other for the bride and groom.
Munna Pandit were looking for their girls when they bumped into Anand.
"Munna, yeh Vishakha ji kaise... " He took them aside, still amazed to see Sameer's mother here.
"Chachaji, woh Vishakha mausi abhi shaam ko hi Dilli se aayi hain... hum sab bhi hairan hain ki achanak yeh hua kaise... par unhone kuch kaha nahi... bas itna kaha ki agar apne bete ki shaadi mein bhi nahi aati toh khud ko kabhi maaf nahi kar paati... Sameer bhi utna hi chaunk gaya tha." Munna narrated what he had seen.
"Aur unhone aane ke baad khushi khushi saari rasmein kari hain... yahan tak ki hamare saath baraat mein naachi bhi." Pandit was still dazed.
Anand looked back at her, happily talking to Phulla bua. He wondered what brought such a drastic change in her behaviour in just a few days.
"Chalo jo bhi kaaran raha ho, achha hi hua ki unko samay rehte ahsaas ho gaya... Sameer ko khushi hogi." Anand smiled, patting Pandit's shoulder, before walking away.
Munna looked at Pandit, who was standing with his jaw hanging.
"Abe tujhe kya hua?" Munna leaned to look at him closely, creasing his brow.
"Woh... Preeti ke papa ne mera kandha thapthapaya." Pandit blurted, touching his shoulder.
He got a smack on the head that brought him out of the trance.
"Kandhe pe haath rakha hai... tera rishta pakka nahi kiya... pehle Preeti toh haan kahe... Sameer ki shaadi mein aaya hai, teri nahi ho rahi... sapne dekhna band kar aur chal, apna bhai jab tak akela hai thoda bhaav de dega, ek baar bhabhi aa gayi tab toh humein akele ghoomna hi hai." Munna dragged him to the stage.
"Jo bhi maine uss din kaha, uske liye main jitni maafi mangu kam hai... bas itna kahungi ki meri aankhon pe jo parda pada tha woh hat gaya hai... aap logon ka badappan hai jo aapne itne apnepan se mera swagat kiya... yakeen maniye, main kabhi Sameer aur Naina ki zindagi mein dakhal nahi dungi." Vishakha stood with lowered head in front of Phulla bua and Bela.
Bela was about to say something when Phulla bua stalled her.
She looked at Vishakha, "Dekhiye, uss din jo hua woh theek toh nahi tha... aisi baaton se bacchon ke dil ko kitni chot pohochti hai jaanti bhi hain aap... Sameer ka dil bohot nazuk hai... Naina ne kisi tarah usse gehre andheron se nikala hai... main bas yehi kehna chahti hun ki aap apne bete ko samajhne ki koshish karengi toh pata chalega woh kitna pyara bachha hai... uske andar jo khalipan hai usse hum log jitni bhi koshish kar le bhar nahi sakte... aapke hisse ka pyar aapko hi dena hoga... ab kitni dooriyaan mit payengi pata nahi... par aapko koshish zaroor karni chahiye... ek baar hath zaroor badhana chahiye."
Vishakha looked in awe at the deep insight the old lady had given her... yes, she had to make the first move to get her son back.
"Aap... aap bilkul mere papa ki tarah baat karti hain." She uttered.
"Sameer bhi yehi kehta hai." Phulla bua smiled warmly.
"Kya main aapko buaji keh sakti hun... papa ke jaisi hain toh unki behen hui... isliye." Vishakha asked with hopeful eyes.
