Accidentally in Love
Chapter 8: Lines of Destiny

Flowers adorned the walls, colorful fabrics creating a circle of sheer enclosure, tall floor fans were placed at regular intervals to help with the soaring temperatures of March. Men and women were rushing here and there trying to finish the final preparations. The bride’s father and brother were carrying a heavy mattress, while a woman guided them on where to keep. The sounds of laughter and cheerful conversations floated in the air as everyone in Nirmal Jyoti society prepared for the mehndi ceremony of Naina Agarwal.

While a few kilometers away the atmosphere was almost similar at Maheshwari bungalow with family members and relatives trying to put a final touch on the preparations, and an overexcited groom who didn’t listen to anyone. An elderly gentleman danced to the tunes of dhol with a teenage girl dressed in green lehenga. The girl laughed, “nanaji aap itna dance karoge toh thak jaoge.”

The man bent to her level, “aree aaj toh Sameer ki mehndi hai, main zara bhi nahi thakunga.”

Sameer, the would-be groom, plonked a basket of flowers on the table, “Nanu bahot dance kar liya aapne. Bas kariye ab.”

“Aur aapne bahot kaam kar liya bhai”, Rohan prompted, as he too carried a basket of flowers, “aapki shaadi hai aur kaam baraatiyon ki tarah kar rahe hai.”

Sameer frowned at his brother, “kitna saara baaki hai ab tak, main kaam nahi karunga toh kaise chalega. Sab kuch perfect hona chahiye na Naina ke liye.”

The others started laughing at this as Sameer had been constantly puttering around the house setting things in place, adding more decorations here and there, repeatedly saying that everything needed to be perfect for Naina. Vishakha came over and smiled on seeing her kids so happy, “sab log theek keh rahe hai Sameer. Tumko thoda araam bhi karna chahiye warna shaadi ke din thake hue lagoge. Kaam baki sab log sambhal lenge.”

Sameer stared at his mother, a little taken aback at the normal tone she was using. Ever since she had come to Ahmedabad he had seen her quietly observing him or participating wholeheartedly in wedding preparations. He hadn’t been able to ascertain what she was up to, and felt as if there was some change in her or he was missing something. He wanted to discuss this with Naina, but the numerous guests at her home had almost made it impossible for him to talk to her in peace. Sometimes he felt so frustrated because of this that he thought it would have been better to do a small court marriage instead, but then the thought of Naina in red bridal wear stepping into this house would calm him down.

Munna and Pandit joined the group, and his Munna’s voice jolted him out of his thoughts, “kya soch raha hai yaar itna? Sach me… thoda araam karle warna hero jaisi shakal nahi rahegi aur fir hamari bhabhi Salman ko dekhne chali jayegi.”

Sameer’s eyes widened in surprise, and he hoped his friends wouldn’t speak anything more. No one knew yet that he had met Naina in the movie theatre first. Nanu was also perplexed, “Salman?”

Before his friends could say anything, Sameer interrupted, “haan Nanu… Woh Naina Salman Khan ki fan hai.”

Nanu chuckled, “achcha thike. Jaa ab tu kamre me.”

As Sameer sauntered up the stairs, he heard Rohan speak, “mummy, aur kuch kaam hai abhi? Bhabhi ke wahan kab jayenge?”

Sameer stopped, turned, and again rushed to the group, his voice excited as he asked, “Naina ke wahan jaane wale hai hum log? Mehndi ki rasam wahan hogi? Kisine mujhe bataya kyun nahi… Main na abhi jaake rest karta hun, fir ekdum fresh dikhunga…”

“Aaah… Bhai”, Rohan interrupted, “aap nahi aa rahe Bhabhi ke ghar… hum jayenge…”

Sameer scowled, “tum log kyun jaoge? Dulha toh main hun na.”

Vishakha smiled, “haan dulhe tum ho… lekin aaj sirf shagun ki mehndi dene jaa rahe hai.”

Sameer pouted and muttered, “kya ajeeb rasme hai… Dulhe ke alawa har koi dulhan ko dekh sakta hai.”

Nanu pacified, “aree itna udaas mat ho. Naina ko kal milega hi na… Sangeet jo hai.”

Sameer cheered up, “Sach? Iska matlab main Naina se seedhe suhaagraat pe nahi, usse pehle bhi mil sakta hun.”

A long silence prevailed after this sentence, and then his friends and Rohan started snickering, while Deepika looked confused. Nanu was trying his best to control his laughter, and Vishakha looked on disapprovingly, “Sameer… yeh kaisi baate kar rahe ho?”

Sameer flushed, and mumbled, “rasam thi na… aur purane zamane me toh zara bhi milne nahi dete the.”

Nanu patted his back, and asked, “waah… purane zamane ki rasmo ka bada pata hai. Kisne bataya?”

“Naina ne”, he blurted, and then bit his lip, cursing himself mentally. His friends started laughing aloud, and Rohan tried to turn his laughter into cough.

“Waah”, another voice interrupted, “badi achchi bahu laa rahe hai Maheshwari ji. Aisi baate karti hai woh… Shaadi se pehle hi iske lakshan theek nahi lag rahe, pata nahi shaadi ke baad kya hoga.”

Sameer turned to look at Dadi, who had an evil smirk on her face, having done and said what she wanted. She still continued, “isse zyada sharif aur sanskaari bahu nahi mili aapko? Pata nahi… jiski baate aisi hai uski harkate kaisi hogi.”

Everyone had fallen silent, the jovial atmosphere turned sour. Sameer’s blood boiled on hearing the hateful words, and he opened his mouth to let Dadi know his exact thoughts, but someone beat him to it. Even before he could utter one word in Naina’s support, Vishakha spoke up, “mummyji please… aap kaisi baate kar rahi hai? Hum sab Naina se mile hai aur uske parivaar waalo se bhi… Woh sab log bahot achche hai. Rahi baat Naina ke sanskaaro ki toh usko puraane reeti-reewaz ka gyaan hai isime uske sanskaar jhalakte hai. Sameer ko bhi Naina ne samjhaya hai warna woh bina shikayat ke itne din mile bina nahi rehta.”

Sameer turned to his mother in surprise, amazement written all over his face as he heard his mother defend Naina. Vishakha continued, “aap dekh rahe hai na iss ghar me sirf Naina ke aane ki umeed se hi kitni khushiya hai. Papa khush hai, Sameer khush hai, hum sab khush hai… Mujhe pata hai aapko Naina pasand nahi kyunki isse pehle Sameer ne aapki club member Mrs. Gupta ki beti Anushka ke liye inkaar kar diya… Lekin iska matlab yeh toh nahi ke aap hamesha Naina ki burai karenge.”

Dadi looked visibly irked, the calm slyness faded from her face, “Vishakha tum zyada bol rahi ho…”

“Jaanti hun”, Vishakha accepted, “kabhi nahi bolti aapke saamne, lekin iss shaadi ki khushiyo ko kharab hone nahi dungi. Aap achcha nahi bol sakti toh naa sahi, kamsekam bura mat boliyega aage se…”

Dadi huffed, glaring at all of them and then left from there. Sameer still looked dazed, not sure if what he had seen and heard was right. Vishakha saw his reaction, and felt a bit of twinge inside her heart at the realization that her son was surprised on what she did, which meant he never expected it of her. She sighed, “upar jao Sameer… teen ghante me mehndi ki rasam shuru hogi.”

He left from there, his mind whirling with thoughts. As soon as he reached inside his room, he rushed to the telephone and dialed the one number that he needed the most now. He waited as the ring went through, wondering who would pick up, and then some female received the call. When he asked for Naina, the lady asked suspiciously, “aap kaun bol rahe hai?”

Sameer knew that if he revealed his identity, people would tease him, ask him to have patience and would definitely not allow him to talk to Naina. And so he lied, “umm… main Naina ke college ka professor bol raha hun. Uske shaadi ka card mila, par main Mumbai me hun toh aa nahi sakta, isiliye chahta tha ke khud wish karu.”

The woman was still suspicious, “naam kya bataya aapne?”

His brain worked a rocket speed, “aah… Pawan… Pawan Mathur.”

“Achcha thike, ek minute”, the woman replied. Sameer tapped his foot, waiting impatiently, hoping Naina would understand. He could hear muffled sounds, and tried to decipher if one it was his Naina, but he didn’t have any luck.

After five minutes, when he thought surely he won’t get to talk to her, and was starting to feel dispirited, a gentle voice came through from other end, “Ji Pawan Sir… Main Naina bol rahi hun.”

He was taken aback. Was there really some Pawan Mathur in her college? He could not understand what was happening, and he stammered, “Nai…Naina.”

“Ji”, she replied.

He thought he should introduce, “uh… Naina main Sameer.”

A soft chuckle escaped from her mouth, “jaanti hun… kahiye.”

He breathed, “tumse baat karni hai… please.”

His voice caught her attention, and she understood this was not a regular call. “Ek minute”, she muttered, and then he could hear some more sounds, some voices, music, a whistle of pressure cooker, and then again her voice came through, “ab kahiye. Main bathroom me aa gai.”

He was momentarily distracted at the sudden image of Naina inside bathroom, “uh… bathroom?”

She smiled, “haan… aur kahin se theek se baat nahi hoti.”

He sat down on the bed, and asked, “tumhare college me sach me koi Pawan Mathur tha kya?”

She laughed, “bilkul nahi… par naam sunte hi samajh gai thi ke Pawan nahi Sameer hai.”

He smiled, slightly amazed at her deduction skills. She gently asked, “kya baat hai Sameer? Bataiye na.”

Sighing he closed his eyes and narrated how he had felt some changes in his mother ever since she had come to Ahmedabad. Also, how she was talking properly, and seemed happy with the wedding. Naina queried, “khush toh honge hi na Mummyji. Unke bade bete ki shaadi hai.”

“Haan par…”, he tried to explain, “kabhi mere results se ya cricket se ya kisi bhi cheez se khush nahi hui. Toh aaj shaadi ki itni khushi ke uss khadoos budhiya ko bhi suna diya?”

She was perplexed, “kaun budhiya?” And then her eyes widened, “hey bhagwaan… aap Dadiji ki baat kar rahe hai?”

He rolled his eyes, “aur kaun hoga? Khadoos bhi choti si baat boli maine toh… tum janti ho woh tumhari…” He bit his tongue and trailed off, chiding himself for being so callous. No bride should know that someone in her in-laws family was criticizing her.

“Kya hua?” She asked, “Dadiji meri burai kar rahi thi aur aap bhadak gaye?”

He tried to deviate, “koi burai kyun karega tumhari? Tum ekdum perfect ho.”

She smiled, “aapke liye. Duniya me har kisike liye toh perfect nahi hun, aur naa hi mujhe banna hai. Bas aapke liye perfect hun utna hi kaafi hai.”

He hesitantly enquired, “tumhe bura nahi laga?”

She softly assured, “bilkul bhi nahi. Par aapne zyada gussa toh nahi kiya na?”

He frowned, “wahi toh keh raha hun. Main kuch bolu usse pehle hi Mummy ne unko jhaad diya achche se. Yeh bhi kaha ke tumhari burai na kare, aur shaadi ki khushiyo me rukawat na bane.”

Naina smiled at this, her heart warming at the support from her sasuma, “sach me? Aapko toh khush hona chahiye fir…”

His voice had an undertone of puzzlement, “haan hun… par saath saath… ummm… confused bhi hun… confused ka hindi nahi aata mujhe.”

She chuckled, “mujhe English samajh aata hai. Par confused kyun?”

“Mummy ne isse pehle mujhe kabhi support nahi kiya”, he confessed, “unke liye hamesha unka pati aur Rohan sab kuch the. Main kabhi unke parivaar ka hissa tha hi nahi, toh fir ab aisa kya ho gaya.”

Naina was silent for a moment; she understood his confusion and dilemma. Also, she didn’t know the detailed history of his childhood yet, but after meeting Viskhaka, Rohan and Deepika, and hearing to some of the incidents from Sameer she had started to understand that there was definitely something more than what met the eyes. However, right now Sameer needed something from her to ease his confusion, and maybe hold on to the hope that was sprouting in his heart because of his mother’s support. So she said, “aapko pata hai mere ghar me sabse zyada muh fulake rehne wale konse log hai?”

He didn’t know why she was asking this, but the answer was easy, “tumhare papa aur Taiji.”

She laughed softly, “bilkul theek… lekin iska matlab yeh nahi hai ke woh log bure hai ya mera bhala nahi chahte. Taiji ki shaadi ke baad unko bachcha hone me bahot waqt laga, iss wajah se unhone apne susural walo aur samaaj ke bahot taane sahe hai… yahan tak ke aaj bhi kuch log puch bethte hai ke Pralay unka khud ka beta hai ya god liya hai, kyunki Taiji ghar pe sabse badi hai aur Pralay hum sabme se sabse chota. Kadwahat sunte sunte unki boli bhi kadwi ho gai hai, par dil kadwa nahi hai.” Sameer listened to this information attentively as she continued, “Papa ko hamesha se shikshak banna tha, aur woh bane bhi… Librarian hi sahi lekin school me kaam karte hai… Apna sapna pura kiya lekin yeh nahi jaante the ki shikshak ki naukri me kamai vaqalat ya CA jitni nahi hogi. Unke dono bhai unse zyada kamate hai, aur unko lagta hai ke iss wajah se ghar ke faislo me unki koi ehmiyat nahi hoti. Aur fir mujhe janam dete hue meri maa chal basi… Inhi cheezo ne papa ko chid-chida bana diya… Woh apne dimag me paiso ko izzat ke barabar maante hai, isiliye jab dekho tab paise ki baat karte hai ya izzat ki. Lekin iska matlab yeh nahi ke unke dil me mere liye koi jagah nahi hai.”

Naina paused for a bit as someone moved in the corridor outside bathroom, and then started speaking again, “kehneka matlab yeh hai Sameer ke zindagi me kisne kya bardaasht kiya hai yeh hume hamesha maalum nahi hota… sirf kuch baato pe ya kuch ghatnao pe adhaarit hum logo ke charitra ki dhaarna bana lete hai, par kya woh hamesha sahi hota hai? Aap sochte hai ke aapko Mummyji ke baare me sab pata hai ke unhone kaise aapko akela chod diya hostel me… Lekin Sameer, akele hone ke liye akela rehna zaruri nahi hai… kai baar insaan bheed me bhi tanha hota hai… Aapke papa ke guzar jaaneke baad Mummyji ki jo maansik haalat hogi usko samajhne ke liye aap tab bahot chote the, aur dusri shaadi ke baad unhone jo pareshaniya jheli hogi unko jaanne ke liye aap wahan the hi nahi. Galti unhone ki hogi, lekin har baar galti unki hi ho aisa zaruri toh nahi hai na? Kabhi kabhi insaan haalaat ke haatho majbur hota hai aur kabhi kabhi unko haalaat ka andesha tak nahi hota.”

Sameer thought about what she was saying… Was it possible that there was more the story of his mother than what he knew? Was it possible that she had really faced problems in Delhi? Was it possible that his image of a happy Somani family which had made him burn with jealousy was not the reality? He didn’t know what to do… He didn’t know how to find out… And so he asked again, “mujhe kya karna chahiye?”

“Kuch nahi”, she replied, “bas apna dimag shaant rakhiye aur sabse achche se baat kijiye… Bikhre rishte judne me waqt lagta hai, par waqt ke saath saath sab kuch theek ho hi jaata hai.”

He sighed, “aur agar waqt ne asar nahi kiya toh?”

She smiled, “waqt agar haalaat sudhaar nahi paata toh haalaat ko sweekar karna zarur sikha deta hai… Yaqeen kariye mujhpe. Khushnaseeb hote hai woh log jinhe rishto me dusra mauka milta hai… Kadwa bolne se achcha hai chup rahiye aur dekh lijiyega dheere dheere waqt ka marham har ghaav bhar dega.”

“Okay”, he exhaled, “tum jo bol rahi ho wahi karunga. Par ek baat bolu Naina… tum hamesha itni heavy heavy baate karti ho, ek baar tumko uthake dekhna padega ke kahin tum bhi toh tumhari baato jitni hi heavy nahi ho.”

She gasped, “haww… mujhe moti bol rahe hai… moti hogi aapki Karishma, Raveena aur woh… woh Julia Roberts.”

He laughed aloud, “wow Naina… ab tak saare naam yaad hai… par tumne asli baat toh samjhi hi nahi.”

“Konsi baat?” She asked in a disgruntled tone.

He smiled, his eyes glittering, “yahi ke maine kaha ke main tumhe uthake dekhunga…”

She frowned and blurted in confusion, “aap mujhe kyun uthayenge god me… main koi bachchi thodi na hun.”

He choked and started laughing again, “Oh Naina… I love you sweetheart… bahot saara… kabhi socha nahi tha ke meri zindagi me koi itni bholi si ladki aayegi.”

“Main itni bhi bholi nahi hun”, she blurted again making him laugh harder, and she asked piqued, “aree aap has kyun rahe hai?”

He bit his lip to calm down, and suggested, “achcha meri not-so-bholi biwi, zara yeh sochke dekho ke shaadi ke baad pati apni patni ko god me kab uthata hai… aur haan… god me uthana nahi bolte use baaho me uthana bolte hai. Movies pasand hai na toh socho zara…”

Her nose crinkled as she thought, and recalled flashes from movies where a hero would swing up the heroine in his arms… But more than the movies, the recollection from books were more prominent, as she remembered that most of the instances would lead to them proceeding to bed or whatever place they could find, for kissing or… or… lovemaking. Her eyes widened and mouth fell open. Oh my God… Did Sameer mean it that way? Was he hinting that he would carry her in his arms to their… bed? No no… they were still not married… How could he talk like that? But they would be married in just two more days, so maybe it was okay to talk? And did that mean she could talk? Wait… did that mean she wanted to talk? He was calling her innocent… did he expect that she wouldn’t know anything? But… she knew things… maybe not everything but somethings… Would he be okay if he knew that she knew?

“Naina…”, his voice broke through her thoughts.

She jerked, “h…haan…”

He asked, “samajh aaya?”

She hesitated wondering what to reply, but decided to be honest, “ji woh… umm… haan.”

His eyes widened, he was surprised that she had understood the context, but was also pleased because this meant… well… this surely meant that he would not have to wait a long time to make love to her. She had indeed said the truth then… she was not that innocent… well… well… How many layers did his wife have? And he would surely ask her about the source of information later… But for now he chose to celebrate the fact that she knew, and mumbled, “toh… ready ho Naina?” A loud gasp and the beeping tone from disconnected call was all the answer he received and he fell back on the bed laughing.

Sameer didn’t realize when he fell asleep while thinking of the conversation he had with Naina, and by the time he woke up and went downstairs, his friends, Rohan and Deepika were all ready to leave for Naina’s home. The pout returned on his face, and he stared at the group morosely, cursing these rituals which prevented him from seeing Naina. Vishakha was instructing the group about the things that were to be taken which apart from the bowl of mehndi also included some saree and jewellery, some flowers from a puja, and several other stuff. She also gave a small black pouch to Rohan, and said with a smile, “photo khinch lena Naina ki”, and then left from there.

Sameer frowned, “photo tum kyun khichoge? Function ke liye toh photographer hai.”

Rohan chuckled, “bhai… yeh polaroid camera hai… photographer ke khiche photos toh aap dekh nahi paoge na abhi, isiliye mummy ne yeh diya taaki aap aaj hi dekh sako ke bhabhi kaisi lag rahi hai.”

Sameer was pleasantly surprised by this, and after the group left, he went inside the kitchen not exactly sure if he should do this, but once again he was blindly trusting Naina. His mother was puttering around with Ramdhari, preparing something. The sight itself was so odd. Even in Delhi he had rarely seen his mother cook. He cleared his throat, and Vishakha turned, pausing in her task, and asked, “kuch chahiye Sameer?”

He shook his head, “nahi… bas woh… polaroid camera ke liye thank you.”

She smiled, “koi baat nahi. Mujhe pata hai tum inn rasmo me nahi maante, par fir bhi Naina ke liye sab kar rahe ho. Par tum dekhna… tumhe bhi bahot maza aayega. Jao ab taiyar ho jao.”

He nodded, and left from there, not finding any words to continue the conversations. It was strange to have his mother talk to him so nicely. When he came back down dressed in a leafy green kurta, he was even more surprised to see that his mother had prepared tea for everyone, and was engrossed in a deep conversation with Nanu regarding the grihapravesh rituals. She sat sipping her tea, and said, “papa dekhiye, waise toh bahot saari rasme hoti hai lekin hum sirf ek-do zaruri wale raat ko karenge. Sameer aur Naina dono thak gaye honge, aur dulhan ka joda bhi bhaari hoga. Baki ki rasme agle din subah ko muh dikhayi se pehle kar lenge.”

He sat down next to Nanu, in a daze accepting the cup his mother offered, and found that he had a lump in his throat. His mother was concerned about Naina, he had seen her engrossed in the wedding preparations from the day she had arrived, and even now she was handling whatever aspect she could. It made him think of Naina’s assertion all the more… Had he wronged his mother all these years just like he had done with Rohan and Deepika?

However, before he could think about it, the happy group tumbled inside talking nineteen to dozen, and Deepika rushed up to him chattering animatedly, “Sameer bhaiya… Bhabhi bahot pretty lag rahi thi… Bilkul heroine ki tarah.”

Sameer grinned, “tumhari bhabhi hamesha hi pretty lagti hai.”

Rohan waved a envelope, “par aaj zyada lag rahi thi bhai… dekhna hai?”

Sameer kept the cup aside and stood up, “jaldi de.”

Pandit snatched the envelope from Rohan, “aree itni jaldi kya hai. Yaad hai tune Ritu ke saath meri date kharab ki thi? Aaj badla lunga… Bhabhi ki photo tab tak nahi milegi jab tak… umm… haan jab tak The Sameer Maheshwari sorry nahi bolega.”

Munna laughed, he knew Sameer would never apologize, and this meant that there would be a good tussle to see. Vishakha and Nanu started to interrupt, but before they could say something, Sameer smiled, “Pandit… I am sorry.”

Everyone looked on stunned, and Pandit stammered, “tu…tu theek toh hai na bhai… tune maafi maangi…!”

Sameer shrugged, “aaj aanth din ho gaye Naina ko dekhe hue.”

His friends didn’t find anything to say at this and neither anyone had the heart to tease him with the photo. Pandit handed it over to him, and said, “theeke yaar… senti mat ho… aaj dekhle, fir shaadi ke din tujhe bahot chedenge.”

Sameer grinned, grabbing the envelope and rushed out to the garden wanting some privacy. He hid behind the garden shed, feeling that his friends still might find a way to tease him, and opened the envelope. There were four photographs and a letter… She had sent a letter for him! His heart skipped beats as he saw her in a green and orange lehenga, sitting in-front of the dressing table. The picture was taken from the side, and he couldn’t see her full face because she was wearing earrings, but he could see her brilliant smile. Another photo was of her standing in the balcony, amidst the roses that she had planted to shoo off Taiji from spoiling her balcony peace. The third picture had her sitting on the bed and she was holding a photo frame with his picture! It was a shot from their roka day, and he never knew she had it framed for her room. And the last one was of her with her face hidden in one hand, smiling, and surely blushing, probably because of something someone had said. He grinned lifting that picture to his lips, and dropped a kiss on it. He simply loved to see her blush. Keeping the photographs carefully back inside the envelope, he opened the letter… and felt the earth shift beneath his feet.

There was something written… but he ignored it for that moment and focused on the mark at the bottom of the letter… The end said “aapki Naina” and then there was a red kiss mark… her lips… His Naina’s lips… she had kissed the letter and sent it to him… With trembling hands he lifted the letter and touched his own lips to the mark, feeling electricity zing through him as if it wasn’t just a mark but rather her lips in real. Oh God… He couldn’t believe she had done this… How? It was such a bold action for his shy blushing Naina… Even as he thought of this, somewhere he knew that it wasn’t the complete truth… Yes, Naina blushed and gasped, she was shy in-front of family, but with him… with him most the times she had let out a part that was different from what everyone knew of her. Even though they had not been associated for a long time, she had trusted him enough to hug him and give him permission to kiss her hand in her home; she had let him inside her room past midnight; she had been the one who had kissed him first on his cheek… All this didn’t just show the trust she had on him, but also the fact that she had a bold streak hidden inside her, that might not have had received the appropriate conditions to flourish. It would be fun to discover that part of her after their wedding.

Taking a deep breath he finally focused on the content of the letter and it read, “Sameer… Mujhe pata hai aap pure ghar me sabko pareshan kar rahe honge ki aap mujhse mil nahi paa rahe. Aur aaj bhi muh fulake bethe honge ke Rohan, Deepika aur aapke dost aa paaye yahan lekin aap nahi…”

He frowned, and thought that surely his siblings had spilled the beans to their beloved bhabhi… He huffed and continued to read, “aur ab aap yeh soch rahe honge ke yeh baat zarur mujhe Rohan ya Deepika ne batai hogi. Haina?”

He flushed… How did she know this? He found the answer as he read on, “par shayad aap yeh bhul rahe hai ke main aapko jaanti hun. Aap ne hi kaha tha na? Ek baat kahu sach… main bhi aapko bahot miss karti hun. Tabhi toh roz aapke phone ka intezaar karti hun. Achcha… abhi yeh letter ek khaas sawaal puchne ke liye likha hai… Chahti toh thi ke aapko phone karke puchu par abhi toh bilkul mauka nahi hai phone ke aas paas jaaneka, isiliye yeh chiththi. Main apne haathto sirf S likhwau ya aapka pura naam? Agar aapka jawaab S ho to ek ring bajake phone kaat dijiyega… aur agar pura naam ho to do ring. Aur haan… Niche kuch khaas bhej rahi hun aapke liye… I love you… Aapki Naina.”

The warmth that spread through him on reading this made him feel as if there was no space left in his heart. There was a certain fuzzy excitement in the way she knew him so well, and also the way she didn’t fail to let him know that. He had just needed to assure her one time, and since then she had been handling all his confusions and questions perfectly. He kissed the mark one more time, and then folded the letter keeping it inside his pocket as he knew his family would surely ask to look at her pictures, and he didn’t want any eyes on his first love letter.

At the Agarwal house two girls etched mehndi design on her legs, and one lady sat drawing beautiful flowery pattern on her hand. As she reached her palm, she asked, “naam kya likhwana hai?”

Naina bit her lip, wondering if Sameer hadn’t received the letter or maybe he had not had the time to see it. What should she do? She closed her eyes and thought about his demands to her for saying his name, his happiness every time she said it, and knew that she had to write his full name… There was nothing to ask… And just then, the phone rang once and disconnected. She waited, holding her breath and it rang again, making her grin.

Taiji grumbled, “oh bai… pata nahi kaun kambakht hai jo phone bajake kaat raha hai baar baar. Aur Naina tu kya apne daant dikha rahi hai, batana haath pe kya likhwana hai tereko.”

Naina opened her eyes, smiled, and took the name of the one person who was changing her entire life, “Sameer”, and watched as the lines of destiny were drawn on her palm.

Few kilometers away at Maheshwari bungalow, Sameer sat on a low settee his hand outstretched as a woman etched the name he had asked her to on his hand. He grinned, hoping this would surprise Naina. As the final stroke was done, he lifted his hand, staring at the name and murmured the lines he had written for this special day –

Yeh naam sirf haatho pe nahi,

Kismat ki lakeero pe bhi likha hai…

Tujhe chaha sirf sapno me nahi,

Har saans se duao me maanga hai…