I'm sorry for not being able to reply to your comments last few days due to a very hectic week... please keep giving your views though, I read each one of them and it gives me immense satisfaction and motivation
"Bhai sahab, waise toh hum apni taraf se poori koshish karenge ki aapko iss shaadi mein koi shikayat na ho lekin agar aap kuch batana chahe toh keh sakte hain." Anand courteously asked Pandit's father.
"Aap kaisi baat kar rahe hain... yeh hamare bachhon ki shaadi hai, koi business ki deal nahi... hum dono mil kar saari taiyari karenge... chahe woh sagai ho ya shaadi... saara kharcha aadha aadha hoga." Pandit's father was aghast at Anand's hint.
It was a shock for Anand and Bela.
"Aap kyon kharcha karenge? Hamari beti ki shaadi hai toh yeh sab hamari zimmedaari hai." He enforced.
Pandit's mom gently smiled, "Shaadi toh hamare bete ki bhi hai."
"Lekin aisa toh kahin nahi hota, sab log... " Bela was surprised but was cut short by Pandit's mom again.
"Dekhiye Bela ji, hum inn purane riwaazon ko nahi maante... haan, samaaj ke niyam ke hisaab se shaadi ke baad Preeti hamare ghar rahegi lekin uske alawa aap kabhi bhi aisa mat samajhna ki aapko apni beti se alag hona hai... aap jab chahen wahan aake mil sakti hain ya usse bula sakti hain... aur Raghav ko bhi... yeh dono hamare liye barabar rahenge hamesha... isliye inki shaadi bhi hum do parivaaron ki barabar ki zimmedaari honi chahiye... aur ismein hum koi samjhauta nahi karenge." Her words were even a bigger surprise for Bela.
She looked at her husband. He blinked... silently assuring her that it was all right.
Looking back at the guests, he said, "Dekhiye, mere do bade bhai bhi hain... shahyad unhe thoda aitraaz ho iss baat se."
Pandit's father placed one hand on Anand's shoulder, "Naresh ji ko jaanta hun main... unhe yakeenan bohot si baaton se aitraaz hoga, aur unki patni ko bhi... lekin main khud unse baat karunga, apke saath baith ke... humein iss samaaj ki ladkiyon ke prati dharna ko badalne ki koshish karni chahiye... maa baap apni ladki bhi dede aur iss baat ke liye jhuke hue bhi rahe, aisa mujhe bohot galat lagta hai... khaaskar jab mata pita ko yeh sab karne ke liye karz tak lena pad jaata hai... maine apni behen ke saath iss tarah ka bartaav hote dekha tha apni shaadi se pehle... tab toh main kuch kar nahi paaya lekin jab meri shaadi hui tabhi soch liya tha ki na meri beti aise saude ke saath kisi ke ghar jayegi aur na kisi aur ki beti apne maa baap pe yeh bojh daal ke mere ghar aayegi... ab bhagwan ne beti toh di nahi, lekin Raghav ki dulhan hamare ghar hamari sharton pe hi aayegi... aur aap iske baad iss baare mein kuch nahi bolenge."
Anand felt the dampness in his eyes... first Naina, and now Preeti, both his daughters had chosen such good life partners for themselves... he would not have been able to do so for them. Pooja was married to Varun who was a reasonable boy but there had been several issues during her marriage and even after that, regarding the gifts that were given or the food being served, or even the respect being shown to them by girl's side... her in laws seemed to be highly unsatisfied with everything.
After the initial bitterness Vishakha had shown towards them, at the time of wedding, she had been extremely loving and affectionate towards Naina and showed remorse for her earlier behaviour. And now Preeti. He thanked God for bringing such love in the lives of his daughters and prayed for this good fortune to prevail all their life.
Anand accepted the terms without any further reluctance, showing his gratitude at their thinking.
"Agar aap jaisi soch samaaj mein aadhe log bhi rakhein toh ladkiyon ki zindagi bohot aasaan ho jayegi... aur unke ghar walon ki bhi." He folded his hands.
