"hmmm....Miss.....ummm???!!!!" Sameer was done with his painting, he had painted the same girl whose photograph took over all his senses and made him fall in love for her at first sight. It was the person who he saw 7 years back but the mark she had made in his heart was still impossible to remove. "I don't even know your name!" Sameer pouted. "Ok so let's call you Miss Dreamgirl..." He uttered and gave his painting a final touch by writing the sobriquet 'Miss Dreamgirl' at battom. He stared at his painting and adored it for hours when he realised it was already 2:30 am and he should go to bed. He was confused where to put that beautiful painting of a beautiful girl to hide it from all others. He finally opened his closet made aside all the shirts hanged over there and kept it rested to the wall of it. He gave a cute peck on it and said pouting alot "Now miss dreamgirl I am going to marry someone else but this is the truth that you are my first love and nobody could take your place in my heart. I don't know who are you whether you are like me or someone different, whether you like sports or painting but the one thing I know you are so much beautiful and innocent that you could take anybody's heart.....ahhh the man who will marry you would be the luckiest one I am jealous!" He sighed as a tear that rolled off his right eye making everything blur. "Goodnight dreamgirl" wiping up all his tears he went to bed.
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"Naina wake up fast you are still asleep!" Bela came rushing towards her. "ummm chachiji let me sleep today is Sunday..." She rubbed her eyes and put on her blanket on her face. "Oh god, this forgetful girl, don't you remember! Sameer will be arriving today and maybe engagement ceremony would also be done." Listening to which she immediately woke up with a jerk and a wide grin on her face suddenly she turned beamish. Naina got out of bed, brushed her teeth as quickly as possible and went for taking bath while Preeti was still roaming sleepy, taking a toothbrush in her hand not at all willing to proceed. Naina came out of her room after getting ready for whole half an hour which was the longest time she had taken to get ready till date. She wrapped a baby pink coloured saree with silver coloured not so heavy jewels, silver coloured small bindi, her lips glossed in pink that gave her a look of perfect to be daughter in law.
"Oh gosh!" Taiji came rushing towards Naina.
"What happened Bhabhi ji is Naina not looking good?" Asked Bela confused on her sudden reaction.
"No but Sameer too is coming!" Listening to it Naina blushed and a trace of smile made its way to her lips making her face pink too. "So she needs to hide her face from him......before marriage he couldn't see her" uttered taiji due to which Naina's smile faded and her face fell. She was now not allowed to show her face to one person for whom she did all those get ups, for the first time taking so much of time. She took over veil and pulled it till her neck quietly and went towards kitchen.
"Aahhhh" exclaimed Preeti.
"What happened?!" Replied Naina.
"Hey Naina its you... Thank god, I thh..thought" Preeti sighed in relief
"And what did you thought?" Asked Naina continuing her work in kitchen.
"I thought stree has come over here to marry someone!" She said and laughed. By not getting any reaction from Naina she finally asked why did she having that much long veil on her face. Naina narrated the whole story and also how disappointed she was to hear those rituals. Preeti consoled Naina when Bela came running towards them to inform that they had arrived. Sameer along with Vishakha and Nanaji stepped into the house, had a warm welcome, they were being lionized in living room while Sameer sat in abience. Bela ran to kitchen to call Naina. She held tray of cups and headed towards them. Looking at the veil Vishakha asked about it and was satiated by Taiji's ritual story about it. Naina was able to look through her saree, she saw Sameer for the first time her heart raced inside her chest she blushed. Whereas Sameer was not enjoying the meet as a result he watched the paintings made by Naina which was unknown to him.
"Sameer do you like these paintings?" Asked Bela when she noticed him.
"Yes aunty they are really good and perfect I wish I could be able to make this one day...ummm..from where you buy these paintings aunty?"
"They are not bought jiju" a voice came to Sameer's ears from kitchen's door. "They are all my sister's art" she said proudly keeping a tray of snacks in front of all.
"O..ohh Nice..." Sameer was speechless.
Following to it ring ceremony was completed and all mouths were sweetened with dessert. Vishaka suggested to let Sameer and Naina coze in privacy for few minutes as she was a lady with modern thoughts. Obeying to which Preeti took Naina and Sameer to her room and made them sit comfortably leaving them alone. There was an awkward silence for few minutes and finally Naina decided to initiate the talk.
"H...hhiii how are you?" Naina asked a bit nervous but still blushing.
"Listen! Miss....ummm...Miss Naina, I want you to be very clear with this...with this marriage okay, please never ever hope for any romanticism in our relationship. We will just remain like two strange people under one roof that's it and nothing else. And please don't ever try to be my wife okay!!"
Naina's eyes welled up with tears as every word left Sameer's mouth she never thought of Sameer being rude to her she never thought he would not like her in her dreams. Despite of being hurt she gained courage to ask-
"But why....am I that bad?" asked Naina in a husky voice.
"Ha...I don't want to know how good or bad you are it's just that I have a dreamgirl, the girl I don't know, I am even unaware of her name but the thing is I cannot forget her. I cannot forget that face, never!" He said travelling to another world, the world of her dreamgirl.
Before Naina could say something Preeti arrived to call Sameer as his family was leaving. Sameer knew that he acted uncouth and thus asked Preeti for one more minute. "Na...Naina I am sorry if I hurt you but its just that I wanted to tell you the truth before marriage, Nanaji really likes you and that's why I agreed for this marriage that's it...I am sorry!" He consoled her and absquatulated.
Naina immediately closed the door she put off her veil and started sobbing, her eyes red due to the wound given by Sameer. Nothing happened as she thought, Sameer was not like she imagined it was a total heartbreak to listen those cursing words from Sameer's mouth. She cried and cried more. After biding good bye to Sameer and his family, Preeti headed towards Naina with vim, excited to know about their conversation when she saw that door was shut, she knocked the door and asked her to open it. Naina replied that she was changing and it will take time, her voice still not supporting her words. Preeti was standing confused that why Naina had so hurry to change her clothes.
Naina opened the door wearing her normal dress, without any jewellery but she smudged her kohl so that Preeti wouldn't find that she had cried.
"You are again looking like a ghost my sis! This time monjolika" said Preeti and chuckled expecting a glower from Naina but she didn't do anything just went back to her bed willing to sleep.
"Hey wait wait you cannot sleep like this I want to know what you both talked...ha ha .... something romantic??"
Please never ever hope for any romanticism in this relationship
Sameer's exact words echoed in her ears which was hurting her again and again. "Preeti go, I want to sleep, just go" she shouted.
"Is he not good?" Preeti was able to sense something wrong. Naina then decided to lie, so that Preeti would statisfy her eagerness.
"No Preeti he is so good" Naina started still facing to opposite side. "He told me about his comapany he work late night so he was asking if this would be okay with me" she added eyes brimming with tears.
"Oh god, this was so vapid I thought of something like you are so beautiful Naina......but whatever you both are perfect boring for each other" she laughed hurting Naina a bit more.
"Now go I want to sleep I am knackered today."
Preeti left the room closing the door while Naina pulled her blanket and cocooned herself into it.
I never thought you would do this. I never thought my marriage would be a compromise. I never thought....
She sobbed more and slept.
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