Wish you all a very happy new year... I wish it fulfills all your hopes, dreams and aspirations... each day be filled with joy and happiness... may God bless you and protect you all through the year!!
I am extremely grateful to all of you for showering so much love on me... you all are the best thing that happened to me in the past year... I feel blessed to be loved by such beautiful people.
With the new year, this story will also enter a new phase... I hope you all enjoy it as much as you have appreciated the journey till now.
And the biggest hope and prayer of all of us comes true... we get season 2 of our show with our Ashdeep as early as possible...
Naina told Sameer about Preeti's breakdown. It was a relief for both of them. Sameer wanted to tell his friends right away. But Naina stopped him... they had to deal with Preeti's apprehensions... her fears were deep set. Naina wanted her to accept her feelings without any pressure... from her heart.
Later, Sameer went out to the back lawns where preparations were in full swing for evening sangeet. He was excited for Naina to come to his house... though she would come with her family and go back with them... still, it was sending his heartbeat into overdrive.
"Umeed hai yeh sab tumhe pasand aayega, Naina... aaj tum apne ghar pehli baar apni family ke saath aaogi... woh bhi dekhenge unki beti ka ghar kaisa hai... main chahta hun unhe har taraf woh khushi nazar aaye jo main tumhari zindagi mein laana chahta hun... aaj iss ghar mein har taraf itni roshni bhar dunga jitni roshni se tumhare aane wale kal ko roshan kar dena chahta hun... itne phool saja dena chahta hun jinki khushboo se tumhara har din mehekta rahe... Naina, tumhare aane se yeh ghar phir se ghar ban jayega."
"Tu chinta mat kar bhai, aaj aisi sajawat hogi jaisi Ahmedabad mein kisi ne pehle nahi dekhi hogi... poore ghar ko hum phoolon aur roshni se bhar denge... bhabhi ke ghar wale dekhte hi reh jayenge." Munna patted his shoulder.
Sameer turned to see his two biggest pillars of support standing right behind him. His face broke into a thankful smile.
"Tum dono saath ho toh mujhe kisi baat ki chinta nahi rehti." He took both in a crushing hug.
"Bas, bas... ab baaki ka pyar bhabhi ke liye bacha ke rakh... saara humpe hi lutayega kya?" Munna moved out of his hold after a while.
Sameer grinned, "Uske liye pyar ki kami nahi hai... roz aur zyada ho jaata hai... aur ek baar yahan aa jayegi na... toh main... "
"Humne yeh nahi poocha... itna sab batane ki zaroorat nahi hai... jab bhabhi yahan aa jayegi toh humare maa baap bhi shukar manayenge ki unke laal unhe wapas mil gaye." Pandit covered his ears.
"Chup be Pandit, pata hai kitna intezar kar rahe hain tere ghar wale... aur waise tu bada ghar pe auntyji ke pair dabata hai ya uncleji ke liye chai banata hai." Munna smacked him
"Arre yaar, tum dono lado mat... tum jab tak chaho yahan reh sakte ho... kabhi bhi aa jaa sakte ho... shaadi ka matlab yeh thodi hai ki mere bhai mujhse alag ho jayenge." Sameer pulled Pandit aside from Munna, saving him from more hits.
"Teri shaadi ka matlab humein mat samjha... jab woh yahan hai nahi toh din raat uski mala japta hai... jab bhabhi tere saath hogi toh humein dekhne ko bhi nahi milega tera chehra... bhai alag nahi honge par tere paas bhaiyon ke liye time kahan hoga." Munna kept his hands on waist, frowning at him.
Sameer pursed his lips, lowering his head as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"Chal koi baat nahi, tu bhi aish kar... kya yaad karega... nahi karenge tujhe pareshan." Pandit nudged him.
"Samjha karo yaar, meri court marriage ko ek mahine se upar ho chuka hai... lekin fir bhi Naina ka intezar kar raha hun... ab itne din ke intezar ke baad jab wo aayegi toh..." Sameer wrinkled his nose.
"Theek hai... ab zyada safai mat de... shaadi meri bhi hogi do mahine baad." Munna smiled shyly.
"Jab tum dono ki hogi tab samjhoge meri baat." Sameer beamed.
"Tum samajh lo bhai, meri kismat mein yeh sab nahi hai... yeh pyaar vyar mere liye bana hi nahi hai." Pandit sighed wistfully.
Sameer bit his lip... he wished he could tell Pandit what Naina had disclosed in the morning.
"Dil chota mat kar... pata nahi kyon par mujhe lagta hai ki sab theek ho jayega." Munna side hugged Pandit, comforting him.
Pandit took a deep breath, and smiled cheerfully, "Hum iss baare mein ab koi baat nahi karenge... chalo, dekhte hain sab intezam theek se hua ya nahi."
Munna and Sameer decided to stall the topic for now... as it would not bear any result.
The bunglow was covered with strands of marigold flowers... strings of lights formed a canopy over the entire garden... a raised platform was placed against the backdrop of pristine white silk sheets... chairs, decorated with red and white silk covers, were placed in front of the platform. At the far end were tables of food containers, waiting to be filled with delicious fare being prepared behind the walls of red and pink awnings that surrounded the sitting area. The passage from the gate to the back lawns was lined with lights and paved with flower petals.
Even the inside of the house was decorated with flowers. Sonali's bhabhi had got the walls decorated with yellow and red fabric curtains... giving a traditional look to the ambience. A heavy piece of floral decoration was placed on the main door... and smaller ones on all inside doors. Earthern pots were placed around the corners, filled with petals and floating candles. Incense sticks in the temple in living room filled up the house with a pleasing aroma, making the environment serene and pious.
Bhabhi had taken him to the market to buy some personalised gifts for Naina's family. She sat with Sonali and packed them tastefully in baskets, covering with golden net and red satin ribbons. Baskets of fruit and sweets were also brought and kept alongside other gift items.
Sameer was thankful to bhabhi and Sonali for bringing the special touch to arrangements which would have never occured to him or Munna Pandit.
"Bhabhi, aap sabne aake mere liye itna kuch socha, yeh sab kiya, iske liye main jitna bhi thanks karun kam hai." Sameer said after seeing the array of beautiful baskets near the main door, ready for gifting.
Bhabhi gave a light smack on his head, "Zyada bade mat bano... yeh thank you wagerah paraye logon ko kehte hain... hum toh haq se yahan aaye hai aur apne ghar ke bete ke liye saari taiyari kar rahe hain... aur yeh mat samajhna tum yeh kehke humein neg dene se bach jaoge... ghodi chadoge toh tumhari aarti karke achha sa neg wasoolungi tabhi tumhe jaane dungi apni Naina ko lene... aur wapas aaoge toh grah pravesh se pehle bhi hamare haath garam karne padenge."
Sameer scratched his head, "Bhabhi, yeh neg kya hota hai... kahan milega... main pehle hi laa ke rakh leta hun."
Bhabhi stared at him for a few seconds, then threw her head back and laughed.
"Bhool gayi thi... samjhana padega tumhe... neg ka matlab shagun ke paise... aise maukon pe behen, bhabhi, saali... sab neg maangte hain... yeh bas chedne ka aur hansi mazak ka tareeka hota hai waise toh... hum yahan na bhi lein lekin tumhari saaliyan nahi chodengi... joote chupane ka dena padega... usse pehle ghar mein jaane ke liye bhi rasta roka jayega tumhara... taiyar hoke jaana." Bhabhi explained.
Sameer nodded slowly, "Oh achha... joote ke baare mein bataya tha Naina ne... lekin baaki sab kyon nahi bataya?"
Bhabhi raised her brows, "Achha ji, toh Naina ne sikha padha rakha hai... lekin kuch baatein woh bhi batane mein sharma gayi hogi."
Sameer gave her a quizzical look... was there something else?
"Apni dulhan ko kamre mein le jaane ka neg bhi behen bhaiyon ko dena padta hai." Bhabhi leaned closer and said in a low voice.
Sameer blushed to the roots, lowering his head as he bit his lips.
Bhabhi pinched his cheek and left, leaving him with thoughts of the next day.
Naina finished her bath. Preeti dried her freshly shampooed hair, she had planned to style them in the evening with soft curls.
They ironed their clothes for the evening, prepared the jewellery and other accessories.
Phulla bua directed Bela to see that the girls wore suitable clothes for the occasion.
"Aur tum log bhi zara achhi, bhari sadiyan pehenna." She looked at all the ladies sitting in the room.
"O bai, ab kya nai saree khareede iss ladki ke sangeet ke liye? Shaadi uski hai aur uske baap ne haath jhaad rakhe hain... saara kharcha hum log karein." Taiji cribbed in low voice.
"Bina, ek parivar mein ghar ke badon ki zimmedari hoti hai saare shubh kaam karna... sirf naam ke liye bade nahi hote... kaam bhi karna padta hai... izzat kamaoge toh milegi... sirf pehle paida hue isliye tum bade nahi kehalaoge... iss baat ka saboot bhi do ki jo izzat mangte ho uske layak bhi ho." Phulla bua sternly quietened her.
"Yeh baat toh hai, buaji... jab tak apni zimmedaari nahi nibhayi jaati tab tak apne haq mangne ke liye muh nahi kholna chahiye." One of the ladies commented... she had always been at the receiving end of taiji's comments and this was the perfect occasion for her to get even.
Taiji narrowed her eyes at the new speaker, and twisted her mouth... not able to retaliate in front of buaji.
I'm sorry for short update... lost my draft of yesterday... had to type again in the morning which started quite late after last night's party. Will make up for it tomorrow. Sorry to disappoint you all.