By the time halwa was prepared, entire family had gathered at the dining table.
Naina came out of the kitchen with the bowl and gestured to Sameer. He was quickly by her side and they placed some halwa in mandir. Then they went to the huge photograph of nanu put up on the wall.
"Nanu, aap hamesha se Naina ko iss ghar mein dekhna chahte the na... lekin aaj jab woh yahan hai toh aap chale gaye." Sameer's voice choked.
Naina placed one hand on his arm, "Nanu hamare saath hain, Sameer... dekho kaise muskura rahe hain... maine unhe hamesha aise hi dekha hai... woh tumhe bhi aise hi dekhna chahenge... isliye hum unko jab bhi yaad karenge khush hokar karenge."
She looked at the smiling picture, "Nanu, aaj maine pehli baar apne ghar mein kuch banaya hai... sabse pehle aapko khilana chahti hun... mujhe pata hai aap ka kitna mann tha mere haathon ka khana khane ka."
Sameer took some halwa in a plate and placed it in front of nanu's picture.
Vishakha could see the traits of her father in Sameer... and surprisingly, in Naina too.
Sameer took a seat and Naina went back to the kitchen after placing the bowl on the table.
"Bhai aaj toh mazaa hi aa jayega... iss Ramdhari ke haath ka kha kha ke hum toh bhool hi gaye the badhiya khane ka swaad kya hota hai... ab bhabhi ke haath ka khayenge toh pet bhi duayein dega." Munna grinned as he pulled a chair.
"Toh apne pet ko kahiye thode din aur gaaliyaan hi dede... kyonki abhi hum Naina bhabhi ko rasoi mein ghusne nahi denge jab tak unke haathon mein mehendi hai." Ramdhari quipped, arranging the dishes on the table.
"Arre Ramdhari, chinta mat kar, mehendi nikal ke khaane pe nahi lagti... khaane ka swad waisa hi rahega." Munna assured him.
Ramdhari gave him a shocked look, "Aapko lagta hai humne Naina bhabhi ko isliye mana kiya hai, bhaiya?"
"Ramdhari, tum Naina ki madad karo, main samjha dungi isse." Vishakha instructed him.
As he went away, she told everyone about her father's wish. When Munna told her how nanu had met Naina in school and had liked her so much that he had started to see her as Sameer's wife, not only Vishakha but others were taken by surprise too.
"Matlab Sameer se bhi pehle papa ne apna liya tha Naina ko? Unhone kabhi bataya nahi." Vishakha wondered.
Sameer pursed his lips... there was no way nanu could have said anything to her... each time they talked, it was her complaints and him defending his grandson.
"Mausi, aapse kabhi iss baare mein baat nahi hui hogi... waise pata toh humein bhi nahi tha... aur na Sameer ko." Munna looked at his friend.
"Kamaal hai, papa ko aur Sameer ko ek hi ladki pasand aayi." Vishakha was astounded.
"Issi ko kismat kehte hain, Vishakha ji." Rahul's mother exclaimed.
"Chaliye, sab log shuru kijiye." Naina said in a lively voice as she came out of the kitchen, having no idea about the talks going on.
"Naina, tum bhi yahan baitho... sab saath mein khayenge." Vishakha gestured her to sit next to Sameer.
He pushed the chair back for her, pulling it closer to himself after she sat.
She narrowed her eyes at him... he gave a cheeky smile.
Ramdhari served the halwa... and it received praises from everyone... except Sameer... and Pandit.
"Bas ab toh thode din ka intezar hai fir jam ke bhabi ke haath ka khana khayenge." Munna said as he took the third helping.
"Pandit, tumhe nahi pasand aaya kya?" Naina asked, seeing him so quiet.
