"Aap apne badon ka ashirwaad le lijiye." Panditji guided the newly weds.
Sameer and Naina first went to Phulla bua... Sameer bent down to touch her feet, Naina hugged her.
"Tumhe ashirwaad nahi lena?" He was surprised when Naina didn't touch her feet.
"Buddhu, woh beti hai meri... betiyan lakshmi hoti hain... pair nahi chuti... koi lakshmi ko pairon mein rakhta hai kya?" Phulla bua chided him.
"Toh kya main aapka beta nahi hun?" Sameer pouted.
Bua dadi smiled, "Beta hi hai, lekin tera farz hai apne badon ki seva karna... yeh beton ka kartavya hota hai... isliye woh pair choo ke ashirwaad lete hain aur betiyaan gale lag ke... ladkiyaan sirf apne sasural walon ke pair chuti hain... kyonki unki seva karna bahu ka farz hota hai."
"Lekin hamari beti pair nahi chuyegi... gale lagke hi ashirwaad legi, kyonki yeh bahu nahi beti banke aayegi uss ghar mein." Vishakha stepped forward.
Sameer turned to look at his mother, shocked beyond belief. She was giving the status of a daughter to Naina... when she had denied the status of a son to him all these years.
As if reading his thoughts, Vishakha came closer to them, "Naina, mere iss buddhu bete ko sambhal lena... bohot akela reh liya... ab kabhi isko akela mat chodna... mera ashirwaad hamesha tum dono ke saath hai... hamesha khush raho."
What appeared to outsiders a normal hug from a mother to her son and his new wife... was no less than a miracle for the same son.
Sameer could not react when Vishakha wrapped her arms around him and Naina together... and patted their back.
Anand and Bela were amazed too. Phulla bua smiled knowingly... there was nothing more satisfying than realising your own mistake, and be able to rectify it. Though it should have been done way back, still... she was happy that along with getting each other, both these deprived children were getting the much deserved love of their parent as well... something they craved for all their lives.
When Naina and Sameer went to take blessings from Rahul's parents, they also hugged and kissed their forehead.
"Pata nahi kyon par jab tum Rahul ke saath pehli baar ghar aaye the tabhi se mere dil ne tumhe beta maan liya tha... bas yehi socha ki tumhe zindagi ki har khushi mile... fir Naina ke baare mein pata chala, aur jab Naina se mili toh laga ki shayad tum dono bane hi ek doosre ke liye ho... aaj main kitni khush hun tumhe bata nahi sakti... bas tum dono hamesha muskurate raho, yehi ashirwaad hai mera." Rahul's mother was overjoyed.
After taking blessings from tauji and some more relatives, they went to Rakesh.
Sameer touched his feet without any fear this time.
"Tum sach mein bohot achhe ladke ho, Sameer... maine pehchanne mein galti ki... lekin iss baat ki khushi hai ki meri beti ne tumhe pehchana bhi aur tumhare liye sabke aage khadi bhi rahi... yeh himmat usse Anand se aur tumse mili hai... iske liye main tumhara dhanyavad kehna chahta hun... main waise toh kuch kar nahi saka tum dono ke liye lekin aage kabhi meri zaroorat ho toh ek baar keh dena... main iss baar apna farz nibhana chahta hun." Rakesh stroked Sameer's head.
He moved ahead and hugged Rakesh, "Papaji, aap bas aise hi muskurate rahiye aur apna ashirwaad de dijiye... aur kuch nahi chahiye humein."
When Sameer moved away, Rakesh looked at Naina, and gestured her to come closer. Naina walked to him... he patted her head, eyes turning misty. She saw the softness on her father's face that she had been craving for... and went into his arms.
"Papa." Her voice choked.
"Tere mamaji kehte hain na, ki tu apni maa jaisi dikhti hai... theek kehte hain... waisi hi dikhti hai tu... shayad isliye bhi tujhse door bhagta tha... jisse tujhe dekh ke purani yaadein taaza na ho jayein, woh zakhm fir se na dard dene lage... lekin andha tha main... jo yeh bhi nahi dikha ki tere roop mein wohi wapas aayi hai... maaf kar de, beta." Rakesh did not stop the tears from flowing, making Naina sob with him.
