When finally they sat on the chairs, Sameer leaned a bit towards her, his eyes ahead, "Sorry, thoda natak karna pada... warna sabke saamne tumse haar jaata."
"Achha, ab sabke saamne biwi ke aage sher bane rehne wala pati banna hai tumhe?" Naina was miffed.
"Arre yaar, akele mein tum mujhe jo bhi bana lena... par abhi toh izzat ka sawaal tha na." He pleaded.
"Aur uske liye yeh bhi nahi socha ki tumhare chehre pe dard dekh ke mujhe kaisa lagega... ek second mein jaan nikal gayi thi meri." She frowned.
He pursed his lips... turning towards her, he started to take his hand to hold his ear.
"Hato... ab tumhari izzat kam nahi hogi jab sabke saamne apni biwi se kaan pakad ke maafi mangoge?" She held his hand, keeping it pressed to the chair, to stop him from holding his ear.
"Sabke saamne meri biwi ne itne pyar se mera haath pakda hai... isse toh izzat mein chaar chand lag gaye." He gave a lopsided smile.
She quickly removed her hand, looking around... a dark tint of colour settling on her cheeks.
"Hayee jaan, kab tak aise sharmati rahogi?" He loved the glowing cheeks.
"Chup raho, Sameer, sab humein dekh sakte hain." She gulped, colouring even more.
"Toh? Main darta warta nahi hun kisi se... kaho toh abhi sabke samne tumhe baahon mein le ke dikhaun?" He teased.
"Sameer beta." Anand's voice floated from behind him.
"Jee chachaji." He quickly sat straight, looking back at Anand.
"Beta, yeh Naina ke mamaji hain." Anand introduced the humble looking man.
Naina immediately got up, going to him with folded hands.
He patted her head, "Khush raho bitiya, tumhe dekhte hain toh didi ki tasveer aankhon ke saamne aa jaati hai... bilkul unke jaisi lagne lagi ho... pata hi nahi chala kab itni badi ho gayi."
"Mamaji, aap akele hi aaye hain? Mamiji aur Sejal ko nahi laaye?" Naina peeped behind him.
"Nahi beti, Sejal ki pareeksha chal rahi hai isliye tumhari mami bhi nahi aayi... humne socha kam se kam hum aa jaate hain warna jijaji..." He stopped abruptly, scared that he should not say anything against his sister's husband in front of a new son in law.
"Aap mile papa se?" Naina asked softly.
"Na... nahi... jaane se pehle mil lenge... abhi hi pohoche hain." He was clearly not comfortable.
"Bhaisahab, yeh Sameer hai... bohot achha ladka hai." Anand pointed at Sameer.
He bent down to touch the feet of Naina's mamaji.
"Khush rahiye, damaadji... pata chala aapka bada karobar hai... aapke liye shayad yeh kaafi na ho par hum..." He hesitantly took out a small packet from his cloth bag, extending it to Sameer.
He looked at Anand, who slightly dipped his head.
Sameer took the packet, folding his hands, "Mamaji, aap yahan aake humein ashirvad de rahe hain itna hi kaafi hai mere liye... iski koi... "
Mamaji shook his head, "Nahi damaadji, aap toh hamare jamai ke bhi jamai hain... aapka rutba bohot upar hai... khaali haath thodi aa sakte the."
He looked back at Anand, "Ek baar jijaji se mil lein, fir chalte hain."
Anand nodded.
He stroked Naina's head, folded hands in front of Sameer, and left.
"Kahin jaa rahe hain tumhare mamaji?" Sameer asked, wondering why he's not staying for the wedding.
