"Chalo, ab vidaii ki taiyari karo." Phulla bua stated.
Preeti suddenly felt a sharp pain in her heart... it was one thing for Naina to leave for Mumbai for studies... now she was leaving home for good...
She tried to stop her tears but they rolled down her cheeks.
"Arre Preeti, ismein rone ki kya baat hai... Naina kaunsa door jaa rahi hai? Yahin toh hogi Ahmedabad mein... jab chahe jaake isse mil lena." Phulla bua comforted her.
"Main... main ro kahan rahi hun." Preeti quickly wiped her tears.
"Haan, haan, yeh toh khushi ke aansu hain, bua dadi," Pooja chipped in, "Mere jaane pe bhi yeh dono bohot khush hui thi ki ab kamre aur almari pe sirf inka haq hai... ab Naina chali jayegi toh Preeti ka akeli ka ho gaya sab kuch... khushi nahi hogi kya?"
"Aap gayi thi toh main aur Naina the na ek doosre ke paas... lekin ab kaun hoga... main akeli ho jaungi na." Preeti said in a sad voice.
"Preeti, beta tum chinta mat karo... zyada din akele nahi rahogi... bas tumhari bhi chat mangni pat byaah kar denge... phir tum bhi apne ghar chali jaana." Anand placed one hand on Preeti's head.
"Isse bachpan se Mumbai ka shauk hai... main iski shaadi wahin karwa deti hun... hain kuch ladke meri nazar mein." Phulla bua raised her brows at Preeti.
Her heart sank...
"Main kahin nahi jaungi... mujhe aapke paas hi rehna hai." Wrapping her arms around Anand, she hid her face in his chest.
Bela smiled, "Arre beta, jaana toh padega hi, jaise Pooja gayi... ab Naina jaa rahi hai... lekin main bhi nahi chahti ki yeh itni door jaaye... iske liye yahin Ahmedabad mein hi rishta dekhna, ji."
Anand nodded at his wife, patting Preeti's head.
"Arjun, Naina ki ataichi car mein rakh de... Bela, woh phal aur mithai bhi rakhwa de... Anand, chalo, neeche sab baraati intezar kar rahe honge." Phulla bua started to direct everyone for Naina's vidaai.
"Main... ek baar... apna kamra dekh lun?" Naina asked, her own heart feeling heavy at the thought of leaving this house permanently.
"Dekh le... lekin Sameer bhi saath jayega... yeh gathbandhan ka dupatta hain na abhi... isliye tum dono ko saath hi rehna hai." Bela cupped her face, understanding her attachment to things that would suddenly not be with her anymore.
Naina walked to the room with Preeti, Sameer behind her.
"Preeti, meri kitaaben yahan se mat hatana... aur yeh kuch cassettes bhi rehne dena... aur... aur meri side pe mat sona bed pe." Naina started to get a restricted feeling in her throat.
The dream of getting married to Sameer did not bring to her mind the distance that would suddenly come between her and Preeti.
She turned abruptly and hugged her sister... the dam broke for both of them... and tears flowed freely.
"Naina... Preeti... tum log itna ro kyon rahe ho?" Sameer fidgeted, not knowing what to do.
"Aap nahi samjhoge, jijaji... ek ladki ko jab apna ghar chodna padta hai toh kaisa lagta hai." Preeti sobbed.
"Toh mat chodo." Sameer said plainly.
Naina and Preeti looked up at him.
"Haan... tum yahin raho... main bhi yahin aa jaata hun... fir hum sab ek saath reh sakte hain." Sameer gave the solution.
Laughter sputtered out of Preeti.
"Aap ghar jamai ban jaoge?" She wiped her eyes, smiling at him.
