Always and Forever
Part - 39: One More Step Closer

Sameer licked off the last of the sugar syrup from his spoon, making satisfying sounds in his throat. Naina grabbed the box of mukhwas from the shelf and laughed, “bas karo Sameer… aur kuch nahi bacha usme.”

He pouted, “chup… bahar theek se kha nahi paaya.”

Ramdhari came in with the next load of used plates, and scoffed, “chaar-chaar gulab jamun kha gaye aur kehte hai theek se nahi khaya.”

“Oye”, Sameer reprimanded, “tum hisab rakhte ho mere khane ka? Seekho Naina se kuch… woh nahi hoti toh aaj aloo bhi nahi milta.”

Undaunted by the annoyance, Ramdhari replied, “main kyun seekhu… biwi thodei na hun… main toh itna hi dekhunga ke kitna khana banana padta hai. Ek insaan itna aloo aur itna meetha kaise kha sakta hai.”

“Tum…”, Sameer started to argue, only to be stopped by Naina’s laughter. She took the bowl and spoon from Sameer’s hands, and said, “tum dono roz aise jhagadte ho kya?”

Ramdhari nodded, “hafte me ek-do baar toh ho hi jaati hai behes… aap aayenge toh shayad nahi hoga, kyunki aap toh sahab ko roz aloo khila dengi.”

Naina crossed her arms, her eyebrows quirked, “aisa kisne bola? Mera aisa koi iraada nahi hai.”

Sameer scowled at this new information, while Ramdhari grinned cheekily at him, happy that his memsahib was on his side in this matter.

Naina giggled on Sameer’s pout as Ramdhari left from the kitchen to clean the dining table. She went up to him and quickly kissed his cheek, “muh fulana bandh karo.”

He smiled, forming his face in a pleading expression, “tum roz aloo dogi na?”

She laughed, “sochungi… pehle yeh batao aaj pure ghar me meri itni tasveere kyun hai?”

“Khaas surprise hai”, he rubbed his hands in glee, “Taiji ke liye. Tumhe unki shakal dekhni chahiye thi. Khaas kar ke college trip ka photo jisme tumne night dress pehna hua hai… Taiji toh behosh hi hone wali thi – ‘oh bai! Raat ki photu!’ Hahahaa…”

She leaned onto the countertop, “hamesha pareshan karna zaruri hai?”

He nodded, “haan bilkul… ab batao chalo… tumne promise kiya tha shaam ko bataogi mujhe sagai aur sangeet ka dress.”

She smiled, “chalo… bahar hai.”

As she stepped away, he grabbed her hand, turning her, then quickly dipped and pecked her lips. She smiled, “bas itna sa?”

“Laalchi”, he pinched her nose, “chalo… baki ka Taiji ke saamne deta hun.”

She laughed accompanying him outside, knowing very well that he won’t do any such stunts in front of her family…yet. He looked around eagerly, “kahan hai?”

Chachaji queried, “kya dhund rahe ho beta?”

“Surprise”, Naina giggled, “maine Nanu ke room me rakha hai.”

Sameer stopped searching around, curiously looking at her, “Nanu ke room me?”

She nodded, “haan… chalo.”

He was surprised when she took hold of his hand without any fear and guided him to Nanu’s room. As they entered the room, he said, “tumne sabke saamne mera haath pakda!”

Her brows furrowed, “gale bhi lagaya tha pehle… accident ke baad… bhul gaye?”

He countered, “haan par… woh alag tha… mujhe chot lagi thi.”

“Uhmm”, she hummed, and pointed, “woh dekho… udhar hai hamare sagai ke kapde.”

He looked at the costumes in surprise; she had placed them on a table beneath Nanu’s photo. Moving forward he touched the blue fabrics, there was a lehenga, and a kurta-pyjama set. She came beside him, keeping her hand over his, and answered his silent question, “roka ke din maine Naniji ki saree pehni thi… aur ab shaadi ke liye sabse pehla rasam sagai hoga, toh maine socha… Nanaji ka aashirwaad.”

His eyes turned moist, “tum kaise soch leti ho itna sab.”

She inched closer to him, and he wrapped his arm around her, there was no need for her to answer anything. After few minutes, he frowned, “ek minute… Yeh lehenga kaha se aaya? Tailor ne tumhare kapde de diye?”

She chuckled, “nahi… aaj fitting ke liye bulaya tha, par maine kaha ke kal aaungi, aur yeh wala lehenga leke aai sirf, tumhe dikhane ke liye.”

“Oh”, he nodded, “toh dikhao.”

“Dekh toh liya”, she supplied.

He grinned, “pehenke sweetheart.”

She pushed him away, “bilkul nahi. Tumko actual dress dikha diya, utna bahot hai. Pehenke toh bilkul nahi dikhaungi. Warna… warna fir sagai ke din tum zara bhi excite nahi hoge mujhe dekhke.”

He laughed softly, and pulled her close, “mujhe nahi lagta ke meri zindagi me ek bhi aisa din hoga jab main tumhe dekhke excite nahi hou.”

She wrapped her hands around his waist, resting her head on his chest, and closed her eyes. A moment later he called her, “Naina.”

“Hmm”, she hummed still not opening her eyes.

He softly queried, “sangeet ke dress ka color kya hai?”

“Paas wale room me hai”, she mumbled.

He was extremely surprised, but then the excitement of seeing her sangeet dress took over and he pulled her along, “jaldi chalo.” Quickly opening the door, he frantically searched on the bed, the table, the shelves, and even inside the cupboard. There was nothing. Frowning, he turned back to find her waiting near the closed door, and went up to her, “kahan hai?”

She slid up to him, stood on tiptoes, looping her arms around his neck, and kissed him. “Yahan”, she murmured against his lips, and as soon as he opened his mouth to ask, she slipped her tongue inside, making him forget everything. He made a surprised little sound, but her taste mixed with the sweet flavor of mukhwaas shot to his head, and he clasped her to him, kissing her back eagerly. When they parted he asked, “kiss hi karna tha toh uss room me kar leti.”

She nipped at his jaw, “Nanu the wahan.”

He chuckled, holding her close, “main sangeet ka dress bhula nahi… yeh cheating hai.”

“Mujhe pata hai”, she accepted, “par woh color special hai, maine khaas tumko uss din surprise dene ke liye chuna hai.”

He sighed, “okay… tum jeeti. Lekin iska harjana dena padega… ek aur kiss chahiye.” She grinned victoriously puzzling him but then he again forgot everything as her lips brushed his.

Soon it was time for the Agarwals to leave, and Sameer felt a strange void at not being able to drop Naina off. She blinked at him, somehow understanding that he was disturbed, and signaled that she would call him. He nodded, and together with his mother and Rohan, waved off the Agarwals. Later at around 12pm, he was still pacing his bedroom, Naina hadn’t called. Why was she taking so much time? There was knock on his bedroom door, and Rohan peeped in, “bhai… sorry… main Preeti se baat kar raha tha. Bhabhi ne kaha hai ke dus minute me aapko call karenge.”

He sighed in relied, “thike Rohan… Good Night.”

“Hello”, he picked up the receiver as soon as the phone rang.

She smiled, “haaye itna intezaar.”

His lips curved automatically on hearing her voice, “fikar ho rahi thi ke itna late kyun ho raha hai.”

“Tumhe toh samajh jaana chahiye tha ke Laila-majnu baat kar rahe honge”, she supplied.

He chuckled, “haan… par bhul gaya tha. Khair jaane do… ghar pe sab theek?”

She leaned on the window, “haan sab theek hai… Taiji ki zubaan pe toh taala lag gaya hai aisa lag raha hai.”

He grinned, satisfied, “kaash bedroom ke furniture bhi aa gaye hote. Kitna mazaa aata… khaas kar ke bed achche se dikhata unko.”

“Besharam”, she chided, but couldn’t control the giggle that spurted out of her.

He moved his hand through his hair, smirking, “usme kya besharam… shaadi ke baad hum kya karenge woh toh Taiji ko pata hi hoga na. Pralay aasman se thodi na tapka hai.”

She scowled, “Sameer… please… mujhe bilkul nahi sochna Pralay kahan se aur kaise aaya…”

Sameer was silent for a moment, processing her words, and then shuddered, “aah… theek bol rahi ho… uss line pe naa hi soche toh achcha hoga. Imagine bhi nahi karna. Kuch aur bolo… jaldi.”

She racked her brain for some topic and asked, “tum udaas kyun the hum nikal rahe the tab?”

He sighed, “hamesha main tumhe ghar drop karta hun… toh aaj adhura sa lag raha tha.”

She smiled, “hmm… kal mummy aur Rohan ki flight kab hai?”

“11am”, he replied, “kyun?”

She slowly replied, “main soch rahi thi… unse milne aaungi, phir tailor ke paas jaana hai fitting ke liye.”

He frowned, “par tumhe toh akele nikalne nahi denge na.”

She sighed, “sach me aloo nahi khilana chahiye tha… dimag kaha gaya tumhara Sameer?”

His brows furrowed, and then it clicked, “oh… oh… oh haan… good idea… main aa jaunga subah… aur tailor ke paas bhi le jaunga…”

She smiled, “chalo samajh toh aaya… aur uske baad?”

His smile widened, “uske baad… ghar? Sirf tum aur main… Ramdhari ka koi toh rishtedaar nikal hi aayega.”

She laughed, “umm… idea achcha hai… par iss baar nahi… iss baar kahin aur chalenge.”

“Kahan?”, he queried.

She bit her lip and then said, “public library… tumko yaad hai, humne kuch information dhundna tha?”

His heart thudded, “haan… tum sure ho wahan mil jayega?”

“Try karte hai”, she shrugged, “kuch mila toh theek hai warna kuch aur sochenge.”

He hummed, “thike… chalo ab tum so jao. Main kal subah milta hun tumhe. Good Night Sweetheart.”

“Good Night”, she replied, “aur suno… kal black pehenna na… tumpe bahot achcha lagta hai.”

He chuckled, “jo bologi pehen lunga… par mujhpe saare colors achche lagte hai.”

She laughed, “jaanti hun… I love you.”

“I love you too”, he replied with a satisfied smile.

The next morning dawned bright and clear, and Naina happily dressed up in a blue-green salwar-kameez. Preeti looked on with a frown because naturally she couldn’t go to the airport, her parlor was open today, and also there was no scope for her to join. Naina could easily join because Vishakha would know she was spending time with Sameer, but there was no excuse for Preeti.

“Achcha sunn”, Naina turned to her sister, “hamare saath mandir chal, phir wahan se auto leke wapas aa jaana.”

Preeti frowned, “mandir? Aaj kyun mandir jaana hai?”

Naina smiled, “aree tu shanivaar ka vrat karti hai na… toh mandir toh jayegi na.”

Preeti thought her sister had gone mad, “main kahan vrat karti hun?”

Naina sat next to her on the bed, and whispered in her ear, “yeh tu jaanti hai, main jaanti hun, aur koi thodi naa jaanta hai.” Preeti’s brows furrowed as she thought about what Naina was saying, and then her eyes widened, her face took on a delighted expression, and she hugged her sister.

Sameer came along with his mother and Rohan, to wish farewell to the Agarwals. Vishakha said before leaving, “chaliye Belaji… ab seedhe shaadi ke liye aaungi. Tab tak kuch bhi baat ho toh please phone kijiyega bejhijhak… Baaki aapka beta toh hai hi yahan.”

Bela was stunned for a moment, and looked at the calendar, slowly saying, “bhagwaan jhuth na bulaye, dhyan hi nahi raha ke itne kam din bache ab shaadi ka kaam shuru honeme.”

Vishakha smiled, “hota hai… aap fikar mat kijiye, main Delhi se jo bhi hoga sambhal lungi. Aur phir ek tareekh se toh hum sab yahin rahenge shaadi ke baad tak.”

They waited for a few more minutes, doing some small talk, Taiji also came over to wish goodbye. And then they all left, with Preeti following at a little distance. When they reached downstairs, Naina asked, “Sameer… woh airport jaane se pehle mandir chale thodi der ke liye?”

He shrugged, “haan chalo.”

In the car Vishakha asked, “aaj mandir kyun beta? Kuch khaas hai?”

Naina replied, “Mummy, aaj shanivaar hai na. Preeti ka vrat hai, har shanivaar mandir jaati hai.”

Sameer nearly lost control of the car for a moment on hearing this and Rohan coughed. The combination of Preeti and fast was totally unimaginable. Naina glared at the two brothers and continued her tale of Saturday fast with Vishakha.

At the temple, Rohan wondered how he would get time to talk to Preeti, but he need not have worried because his bhabhi had a plan ready. To Sameer’s astonishment Naina started to tell Vishakha about their first date, “aapko pata hai Mummy, main aur Sameer school se bahar pehli baar yahan mile the jab hum 11^th me padhte the.”

Vishakha looked surprised, “Sameer mandir aaya tha?”

He chuckled, “dhoka hua tha mere saath mummy… mujhe laga paas wale Rajshri park me milne bulaya, lekin saare armaano pe paani fir gaya jab isne kaha park nahi mandir jaana hai. Ek toh subah 6 baje yahan aane ke liye 5:30 baje uthna pada, aur fir mandir ki itni saari seediya, subah ki aarti, aur phir gaay ki poonch se jhaapat.”

Vishakha’s eyes kept widening in surprise, “tum itni jaldi uthe the tab? Aur mandir me jaane ke liye maan bhi gaye? Aur… yeh gaay ne kyun maara?”

Naina laughed and explained how Sameer had thought they were meeting at the park, but when she had said to come to temple he hadn’t been able to escape. “Main toh mandir ke deewar pe sir peet raha tha”, Sameer informed, “ghanti zor-zor se baja raha tha taaki Naina peeche mudke mujhe dekhe, par yeh toh prarthna karne me hi vyast thi.”

Naina smiled, “haan… aur Sameer upar neeche ho rahe the kyunki inhe kuch samajh nahi aa raha tha… aarti lena bhi nahi aata tha inko toh… haath hi jala bethte agar panditji saamne se inke sir pe khud aarti nahi dete.”

He grinned mischievously, “aur phir… jab hum bahar nikal rahe the panditji aake Naina ko kehne lage ke gaay mata ko ghaas khilaye bina naa jaay… aisa karne se manchaha var milta hai.”

She blushed, but said, “haan toh theek hi kaha tha na… pehli date pe jo maanga woh mil toh gaya.”

He laughed foldly, “uss din mujhe kya pata tha ke tum kya maang rahi thi? Aur yeh bhi nahi pata tha ke bhagwaan sach me sunn lenge… Warna main itna hasta nahi… Dekha mummy, mujh jaise bhole-bhale ladke ko kaise fasaya tha isne… Mandir bhi le aai bhagwaan ko dikhane ke yeh ladka chahiye, phir neeche le jaake gaay mata ko bhi meri shakal dikha di, aur mere hi haatho se unko laddoo bhi khilwa diye.”

Vishaka was amused by the tale she was hearing, “tumne sach me yeh maanga tha Naina?”

Naina bit her lip and nodded, “main chahti thi ke hamare pyaar ki pehli mulaakat pe bhagwaan ka aashirwaad ho. Par thoda zyada hi aashirwaad mil gaya Sameer ko…”

Sameer continued as she trailed off, “Chachiji aa gayi aur mujhe gaay ke peeche chupna pada… bas mil gaya aashirwaad gaal pe gaay ki poonch se… Upar se ghar wapas gaya toh Munna-Pandit ched rahe the ke… umm… Naina ki zulfon ne mere gaalo ko chhuaa ke nahi… Aur phir Nanu ki kahani.”

“Kaisi kahani?”, his mother asked.

“Mere gaal pe nishaan dekhke Nanu ne kaha ke unko unke jawani ke din yaad aa gaye”, he explained, “bata rahe the ke Nani ko shaadi se pehle ek baar milne gaye the chup-chupke, aur woh bhi mandir me mile the… Phir beech me Nani ki buaji aa gayi, aur Nanu ko chupna pada… gaaye ke peeche chupe the woh bhi, aur unko bhi gaaye ki poonch se itne chaate pade ke unka gaal bhi meri tarah laal ho gaya.”

Naina had heard this tale before in college but still she could stop her laughter, and Vishakha also started laughing, finding the coincidence too amusing. She looked at the giggling couple and said, “toh yeh thi tumhari pehli date… sach maano mujhe yaqeen nahi ho raha ke Sameer mandir aaya tha… mujhe laga kahi ghumne gaye honge ye phir movie dekhne.”

Sameer shook his head, “Naina alag hai mummy… pehle se hi… mujhe toh tab bhi pata tha ke main ise movie ke liye puchunga toh kabhi nahi maanegi… isiliye toh isiko pucha tha maine ke kahan mile. Aur sach kahu toh main tab bhagwaan me maanta bhi nahi tha, phir bhi Naina se milne mandir aaya karta tha… dheere-dheere kab vishwas hone laga pata nahi chala.”

Naina smiled, “aur tabse hum dono har somvaar ko yahan milte hai… chahe kitni bhi dates pe jaaye, lekin har somvaar ka yeh date fix hota hai.”

Vishakha cupped Naina’s cheek, “suna tha ke pyaar me insaan badal jaata hai, lekin mera beta kisike liye iss hadd tak badal jayega yeh maine kabhi nahi socha tha. Bhagwaan kare tum logo ki har date uss pehli date jitni hi khaas ho.”

“Mummy”, Sameer exclaimed, “yeh kya bol rahi ho? Har date pe chaante padenge phir toh…”

Naina hit him on the arm, and everyone started laughing. Soon Sameer spotted Rohan and Preeti coming around the temple, and said, “hume ab chalna chahiye, warna airport pahonchne me late ho jayega.”

Preeti wished Vishakha and Rohan goodbye, saying that she would take an auto to her parlor. The other four left in Sameer’s car for the airport. Naina glanced out of the window thinking about how Vishakha had mentioned to Chachiji about their next arrival being for wedding. The time was coming soon, after so much wait, finally everything was happening. The weather after Uttarayan was already milder, hinting about the oncoming spring, and she wondered how it would feel when finally all the rituals would start. At the airport they didn’t have much time before they needed to go inside, so the goodbyes were short, and Vishakha assured once more that she would take care of everything from Delhi. Sameer and Naina waited outside until take-off, and together they squinted at the plane disappearing into the clouds. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder, “toh… chale ab?”

She nodded, and as they walked back to the parking area, she asked, “Sameer… Mummy hamesha aate hai aur kuch dino me wapas chale jaate hai toh uske baad tumhe akela nahi lagta? Aisa nahi lagta ke kaash woh yahin rehte?”

He unlocked the car, holding the door for her to sit, and then slid into the driver’s seat before answering, “sach kahu toh jab school me tha tab lagta tha… ke mummy mere saath hoti… do din ke liye aati thi toh sochta the kaash do din aur hote…”

He was silent as he handed over the parking receipt to the attendant and then exited out of the gates. Merging into the traffic, he continued, “par jabse Delhi se wapas aaya tabse aisa nahi laga… shayad isiliye ke maan liya tha ke mummy ki zarurat wahan zyada hai, ya phir yeh maan liya tha ke mere naseeb me yeh kuch hi lamhe hai mummy ke saath… lekin dukh nahi hota. Ab toh zara bhi tanaav nahi hai mere aur mummy ke beech me, phir bhi aisa kabhi nahi laga ke woh yahin rahe, kyunki mujhe pata hai ke unka ghar Delhi me hai aur mera Ahmedabad me. Isiliye akela nahi lagta…”

Then he glanced over at her and smiled, “haan par ab tumhare jaane ke baad zarur akela lagta hai.”

She placed a hand over his on the gearshift, and said, “bas ab toh thode se hi din bache hai… phir kabhi akela nahi lagega tumko.”

He grinned and slipped on his sunglasses, “haan… aur tum abhi se sunn lo… main tumhe mayke bhi akele nahi jaane dunga… udhar bhi main tumhare peeche peeche aaunga… phir chahe koi kuch bhi soche.”

She laughed, “thike… aur tum fikar mat karo… koi kuch nahi sochega.” The easy talk about future life continued as the car sped through the narrow streets of Ahmedabad, cutting through the Saturday traffic. They reached the tailor’s shop in around thirty minutes; it was in one of the busiest markets, positioned between a small restaurant serving snacks and tea, and a chemist shop. The shop itself looked like a dingy hole in the wall, and Sameer frowned, “Naina… tum sure ho yahi dukaan hai? Yeh toh koi kabootar khana lag raha hai.”

However his doubts were soon assuaged as a young lady stepped outside the shop, and he recognized her as Ruksana the helpful assistant of the old tailor. She smiled at them, “aree aap log aa gaye. Aaiye aaiye… masterji aapka intezaar kar rahe hai.”

They found the old tailor at the back of the shop working on a yellow colored dress. Sameer excitedly asked, “yeh tumhara hai Naina?”

Before she could reply the tailor replied, “ji nahi barkhudaar… Bibiji ki saare kapde andar hai, bas ek baar fitting dekh lu uske baad do-teen din me ekdum taiyar ho jayenge.”

Sameer frowned, looking around the small shop, “yahan kahan fitting lenge? Idhar toh jagah bhi nahi hai.”

The tailor stood up and chuckled, “khuda ki rehmat se jitni jagah hai utna bahot hai… yeh dekhiye.” He pushed aside a curtain to reveal a tiny room that looked like a hole in the wall. The sides of the room were walls of course, but it seemed to be made up of wrapped up clothes from floor to ceiling. Sameer blinked at the colorful display, and wondered if it was magic that held up those fabrics together… why didn’t they topple? The tailor got his measuring tape, and instructed, “Ruksana… jaao bibiji ki madad kardo.”

Sameer came out of his haze, “kya? Idhar? Iss… iss kamre me fitting hogi? Naina yahan kaise change karegi? Jagah bhi nahi hai hilne ki… aur itne saare kapde… gir gaye toh… darwaza tak nahi hai.”

The tailor shook his head, “dikkat kya hai barkhudaar? Hamare saare grahak idhar hi fitting ke liye aate hai… Aur phir yahan hai hi kaun? Sirf aap, hum, aur Ruksana.”

Sameer glared at the old man and stated to say something, but Naina held his hand, “Sameer… rehne do… tum yahan bahar wait karo inke saath. Main andar manage kar lungi.”

“Par Naina…”, he objected, “idhar kaise…”

“It’s okay”, she assured, “fikar mat karo…”

He sighed, “thike… main yahin hun… aur tumhara ho tab awaaz lagana, main… main… inko naap lene dunga, aur… dekhunga nahi.”

She smiled at how he understood that even though he was here with her she didn’t want him to see her wedding outfits yet. The small room was indeed small, and Naina tried her best not to hit any of the clothes on the side for she was afraid the whole thing would topple over. One by one she tried each of the outfit, and Ruksana helped her to note what needed to be adjusted or altered, and then she would call the tailor to check. Whenever the curtain parted she would glance at Sameer, but he remained true to his promise, standing with his back to her, but keeping a sharp watch on the old tailor, making sure he went inside only when Naina was ready. At last everything was duly noted, and she came out of the room, calling out to Sameer. He turned and grinned, “sab done? Kab tak milega?”

The tailor checked the calendar and replied, “ek hafta lagega aur. Phir main aapke ghar bhijwa dunga sab.”

“Nahi”, Naina interrupted, “main aake le jaungi.”

Sameer chuckled, “haan haan… warna saara surprise khatam.”

“Bhuk lagi hai”, Sameer said as soon as they stepped out, “lunch karne chale?”

She smiled, “haan… yahan paas me ek Kathyawadi thali wala restaurant hai, wahan chale?”

He grinned wide, “achcha idea hai, waise bhi bahot bhuk lagi hai.”

The kathyawadi thali was huge with several items, and he became extremely happy on seeing that one of the vegetable was garlic-potatoes, and the desert included shrikhand and kulfi. The food was delicious, and he kept demanding in between for Naina to feed him which she did without any complaints. As he sat replete after the wonderful meal, he sipped on the cool buttermilk, and said, “Naina suno na… aaj library nahi jaate… ghar chalte hai.”

She chuckled, “kabhi toh romance ke alawa kuch aur socho.”

He smirked, “tumhe dekhke romance hi aata hai dimag me… par filhaal romance nahi, main toh sone ki baat kar raha tha. Itna saara khake toh thoda sona padega na.”

She rolled her eyes, “ji bilkul nahi… office me hote toh sote kya?”

“Office me hota toh itna khata hi nahi na”, he countered.

She huffed, “mujhe behes nahi karni… hum aaj hi library jaa rahe hai.”

He objected, “par Naina…” However she interrupted him, “Sameer please… shaadi nazdik aa raha hai. Dhire dhire ghar se nikalna mushkil ho jayega, tumhare saath bhi. Ab tak ghar me furniture aayega tab nikalna padega, phir ek baar dresses collect karne, aur phir tumhara trip bhi toh hai Jaipur wala. Taiji roz naye naye bahane dhundti hai mujhe nikalne na dene ki, aur ek baar Phulla bua aa jayegi toh uske baad toh koi chance nahi hai nikalne ka.”

He frowned, “par abhi bhi kaafi waqt hai.”

“Aisa tumhe lag raha hai”, she replied promptly, “sirf do hafte bache January me, aur utna time hi hai mere paas ghar se nikalneka. February shuru hoga aur mera bahar nikalna bandh.”

His eyes widened, “itni jaldi?”

She nodded, “haan… sagai 13^th ko hai. Usse dus din pehle Ganesh Puja hogi, aur fir bandh… aur… hamara milna bhi bandh.”

He was shocked, “Naina… itne din kaise rahunga… mar ja…” She covered his mouth with her hand, “ulti seedhi baate mat karo. Main bhi toh rahungi na tumhe dekhe bina. Aur hum phone pe toh baat karenge na. Ab chale yahan se warna library me time nahi milega.”

He nodded, and paid the bill. As they drove to the library, he said, “hume pyaar hua hai tabse hum kabhi bhi teen-chaar din se zyada alag nahi rahe. Summer vacations me bhi mandir me mila karte the.”

She tried to reason, “dedh saal alag rahe hai… main yahan aur tum Delhi me.”

“Woh alag tha”, he countered, “ab tumhare liye kaafi hoga sirf phone pe baat karna?”

She was silent for a long time, contemplating on what he said. She knew it wouldn’t be enough to just talk on call, her days seemed incomplete without seeing him. Lost in thoughts of their different ways to meet since college time, she didn’t notice when they reached the library and he parked the car. He caught her hand as they walked inside, and slowly she said, “nahi… sirf phone pe baat karna kaafi nahi hoga. Lekin rasme hai, gharwale nahi manenge.”

Naina guided him towards the non-fiction department, and then they looked around. He whispered, “kidhar hai?”

She also whispered back, “mujhe kya pata… main thodi na yeh sab roz padhne aati hun. Udhar dekhte hai.” They moved towards the area she was pointing at but it only had several biographies. He turned a circle on the spot, looking around and was amazed at the sheer size of the library. When he had given the card to Naina, he had not imagined that the public library was so huge and held so many books. Who read all these stuff? Love stories, mystery, thriller, autobiography, biography, cook books, fitness books, maps, tour guides, history, science, and he was sure he had seen a comic section as well. He poked Naina on her arm, “itni kitaabe padhta kaun hai?”

She swatted his hand away, “shsh… dheere bolo. Library hai. Aur yeh kitaabe insaan padhte hai.”

“Main bhi insaan hun”, he argued while browsing through another section, “aur main nahi padhta yeh sab.”

She chuckled, “tum insaan nahi gadhe ho.”

He grinned, “iska matlab tum gadhe se shaadi kar rahi ho?”

She sighed dramatically, “kya karu? Pyaar bhi toh gadhe se hua.”

He pinched her nose, and then pointed to another section, “woh dekho gadhe ne kya dhund nikala.”

She glanced in that direction to see two notice boards indicating medical books, and pregnancy section. Gripping his hand she excitedly whispered, “family planning bhi usi taraf hogi.” They looked through the aisles and Sameer said, “hamare school ki library kitni choti thi na Naina… mere sasurji se kahin chup nahi paate the. Waise ek baat batao… Rakesh sir ki tarah yahan koi librarian nahi hai? Usise puch lete.”

She huffed, “haan custodian se jaake puchte ke hum dono ki shaadi hone wali hai par family planning ke baare me kuch nahi pata… konsi kitaab padhke sikhe?”

He laughed softly, pulling out a few magazines from the shelf, and Naina handed over a few more books in his arms as she attentively read the titles. “Udhar bethte hai”, she pointed to a table, and blinked in surprise to see Sameer carrying so many books and magazines in his arms. She had not realized that they had picked so many books, yet he was carrying all of it effortlessly, just as strong and reassuring as always. He placed everything on the table and grinned at her, “shuru kare?”

She nodded, but before he could sit, she held his arms, inching closer, then slid her palms up to cup his face and stood on tiptoes, kissing him softly. He responded automatically, gripping her waist. The kiss was brief and tender; she smiled as she drew back, and then sat down. He stood transfixed to the spot for a moment and then sat down next to her, his eyes wide, lips still wet as he whispered in amazement, “tumne mujhe public library me kiss kiya.”

She covered her mouth to stifle her giggle, “haan… kiya… koi problem?”

He shook his head, murmuring an amazed wow, and then pulled the thinnest magazine towards him. Flipping through the pages he tried to find out the information they required, but his mind was still on the soft kiss. It wasn’t even for a minute, but still… She had kissed him… in public library… The girl who used to be afraid of holding hands in college library was now kissing him in public library. Did Naina drink some kind of boldness potion? Or did the Kathywadi food had something mixed in it?

Naina browsed through a fat book, blushing a bit on her own action. She had done it… for real… she had just seen him carrying all those books without any complains, grinning cutely with those tempting locks of hair on his forehead, and she had been amazed for a moment at the fact that this was the man she was going to marry… she had thought of kissing him… just thought, and the next moment she had realized she was kissing him.

Oh God Naina… Kya karti hai… Na jagah dekhti hai, na waqt… kisine dekh liya hota toh…

Just as that thought popped in her head she looked around frantically. Suddenly she felt his hand on hers, and looked at him. He smiled, gently squeezing her hand, “ghabrao mat… kisine nahi dekha… aur iss library me CCTV cameras nahi hai ab tak.”

She sighed in relief, returning to read her book, but he asked, “waise… yeh meherbaani achanak kyun hui?” She blushed, biting her lip, and he groaned making her chuckle. “Bas aisai…. Man hua”, she whispered, “ab padho.”

He discarded the thin magazine and pulled another one to him, murmuring to himself, “kaash aisa man har dus minute me ho…”

She smiled on hearing him, but didn’t reply, afraid that she would really think of kissing him again, and might do it again too. After around fifteen minutes when she looked back at him, he had his head down on a book, and eyes closed, and his breath was even indicating that he had falled asleep. She chuckled, lifting her hand to push the strands of hair from his forehead, “hamesha ki tarah library me so gaya… kitaab na ho maano takiya ho jispe itne araam se so jaata hai.”

He caught her hand, pulling it beneath his cheek and continued sleeping. She smiled, letting him use her hand as pillow, and continued reading. Another thirty minutes later she found something interesting in one of the books, and whispered, “Sameer… utho.” There was no response, so she shook him gently, “utho na…”

He lifted his head a bit, his face scrunching adorably, and then he settled on her hand again, mumbling, “Naina… sone do na.”

She huffed, “utho na… important information hai.”

He again murmured, still half-asleep, “kya hua?”

She shook him again, with no result. Suddenly her eyes sparkled mischievously, and she leaned towards him, whispering in his ear, “Sameer utho… zaruri baat hai… main pregnant hun.”

“Kya!!??!!” He woke up with a jerk.

Naina covered his mouth, muffling his scream, “shsh… good morning!”

He pushed her hand away, then placed his own hand over his heart, exhaling hard. She grinned at him with triumph, and he grumbled, “God… Naina… heart attack aa jaata mujhe… Pregnant? Really? Aur koi tareeka nahi mila uthaneka. Main sochu ke ab tak toh sirf sapne me hi kiya tha, usme kaise pregnant…”

He trailed off, biting his tongue as he realized what he was uttering in nervousness. Her eyes widened like saucers, and her cheeks flushed with color, she softly asked, “sapne me kya kiya?”

He cleared his throat, “uhh… kya fizool ke sawaal puch rahi ho… bataona kya information mila.”

She glanced at him almost squirming in his seat, and shook her head, amused by the fact that the man who had taught her about physical intimacy was still apprehensive of speaking about his dreams and fantasies. For half a minute she thought to tease him, make him confess what he had been dreaming about, but then she had a fairly good idea about what he had been dreaming that could end up in her being pregnant. Did he really have such elaborate dreams? How exactly this fantasy stuff worked? And why didn’t she get such dreams? The only detailed dream she had had was of the hug in park where Taiji had interrupted. Did only boys such dreams? Naah… How could it be? There’s no trademark on dreams. Then why didn’t she? Maybe she would have to think about it when she was awake, so then she could see it in dreams… She had read something like that once in an article, that the topic which dominated your mind most of the time is what you would also dream about. So… if she thought about it, then she could dream about it… Maybe she would give it a try today.

“Naina”, he shook her, “kahan kho gai? Bataona kya mila…”

She shook her head, “uhh… haan… yeh padho… isme menstrual cycle ke baare me likha hai. Mahine ke days ke hisaab se detail hai.”

He read the page with a puzzled expression on his face that just kept getting profound as he continued, “yeh day 1 matlab? Mahine ka pehla din? Aur yeh kya hai… eggs… tumhare body ke andar egg thodi na hai? Insaan ho tum, yeh book me kisi murgi ke baare me likha hoga.”

Naina smacked him lightly on his arm, “nahi… aurat ke baare me hi hai. Human reproduction ka chapter yaad karo school me. Usme bhi tha… uterus me egg hota hai, jo yaa toh baby banta hai, ya fir periods ke time pe… umm… tut ke body me absorb ho jaata hai.”

He frowned, his gaze dropping to her stomach, “tumhara matlab hai… tumhare pet ke andar eggs hai? Yeh kaise possible hai Naina?”

She clucked her tongue, “aree padho toh sahi… murgi ke ando se tulna mat karo. Insaan ki body me alag hota hai. Mahine ka pehla din yaane meri cycle ka pehla din.”

He scratched his head, “ab cycle kahan se aai yahan? Naina theek se samjhao na.”

“Uff”, she slapped her own forehead, “do pahiyo wali cycle nahi, meri monthly cycle… menstrual cycle.”

His brows furrowed in confusion, “uhh… sorry par sab kuch sir ke upar se jaa raha hai.”

“Ek minute, main abhi aai”, she stood up and walked away, disappearing around the aisle. He sat waiting, scratching his head, trying to read the information in book, but it was no use. Anyways he had never understood anything in books until Naina explained. He sighed, maybe this time too he would understand in that way, he hoped he could, this was important. Funny, how proud he had felt when he had made Naina understand that talking about periods was not a taboo, and she could share with him. He had thought he knew everything. But now, the lines in the book seemed so alien that he wondered if he even knew half of it. Eggs…?? Who would have thought Naina had eggs inside her body? He looked down at his own stomach, did he too have them?

Before he could contemplate further, Naina returned armed with a notepad and pen. He grinned, quite used to her teacher mode, and felt a thrilling sensation move up his spine at the thought of being able to see his Naina that way again… such a long time after college. She took her seat, flipped the notepad open to an empty page, and then scribbled down 1-31 in a straight row on one side of the page, and 1-30 on another side. On top of each column, she wrote ‘month 1’ and ‘month 2’. On another blank page she drew a ‘V’ joined at the top with a straight line, from the ends of which two double-curvy lines extended on each side ending on a bloomed lily type flower, beneath which she drew two ovals. Tapping her pen to gain his attention, she began explaining, “ab dekho… yeh hai female reproductive system…”

His eyes widened, “kya? Sach me… School me padha hua ab tak yaad hai?”

She chuckled, “haan… par maine abhi abhi book me bhi dekha.”

“Toh book me mujhe bhi dikha deti”, he reasoned, “draw kyun kiya itni mehnat se?”

She rolled her eyes, “kyunki book me zarurat se zyada information hai, phir tum mujhe har word ka meaning puchoge… ab chup… aur suno dhyan se…”

She tapped the two ovals on each side of the ‘V’, “yeh hai ovaries, yahan pe har mahine eggs bante hai.”

He immediately queried, “kaise?”

“Natural hai”, she informed, “ab aisa maano ke mere periods kal khatam hue, matlab ke aaj 17^th January mere menstrual cycle ka pehla din hai. Iss book me likha hai ke day 1 se leke day 7 tak eggs bante hai ovaries me.”

He nodded, imagining small oval shaped eggs inside the two big ovals. She continued explaining indicating the curvy lines, “yeh hai fallopian tubes jo ovaris aur uterus ko jodta hai.”

His head tilted to one side, “matlab… yeh V shape uterus hai?”

She beamed at him, just like she used to when he would understand whatever she was explaining, “haan… yeh uterus hai. Day 11-21 ke beech me yeh eggs jo ovary me hai, who fallopian tubes ke through uterus tak travel karte hai, aur isi dauran uterus me ek protective cover banta hai, aisa maano jaise koi pouch.”

He looked at her waist, “itni si toh kamar hai tumhari, jisme yeh pura system hai, toh itne saare din kaise lag sakte hai travel karne me?”

She shrugged impatiently, “dheere jaate honge… bekaar ke sawaal mat pucho… aage suno. Itne dino ke andar agar baby banta hai toh uterus ke andar baby hoga aur woh cover usko protect karega, warna 28^th day pe woh eggs tut jayenge, aur uterus ki jo protective cover hai woh bhi tut jayega, jo periods ke time pe blood ke saath nikal jaata hai body me se.”

The whole process that Naina explained played like an animation movie inside his brain, and his eyes widened, “tabhi dard hota hai…”

She frowned, “huh?”

He tapped the image she had drawn, “yeh… eggs tutna, protective cover tutna… isi wajah se tumko periods ke time dard hota hai.”

Her lips curved in an amused smile, “maine kabhi socha nahi… periods ke time dard hota hai bas yeh pata tha… par shayad tum theek keh rahe ho… yahi wajah hogi.”

He smiled, “aur kya likha hai? isme family planning kaha se aai?”

“Yahi toh hai”, she indicated the diagram again, “yeh time jab eggs travel kar rahe hote hai, isme se ovulation day calculate karna hota hai.”

His brows crunched again, “matlab?”

She blushed a bit, “matlab… umm… woh din jab pregnant honeke sabse zyada chances hote hai.”

“Ohhh”, his eyes widened. He gulped and asked, “toh woh kaise pata chalta hai?”

She cleared her throat, trying not to imagine how pregnancy happened, but rather on the science. She indicated the dates she had written, “tumko yaad hai maine Mt. Abu me bataya tha ke har month same date pe periods nahi hoti?”

He nodded, “haan… tumko 3-4 din pehle hota hai peechle mahine ke date se.”

“Correct”, she continued, “ab humne example ke hisaab se kaha ke kal mere periods khatam hue, yaane month 1 ke 16^th ko, toh month 2 me mere periods maan lo 2 din pehle shuru honge yaane ke 14^th ko. Toh iss mahine ki 17^th se leke next month ke 13^th tak ka dates hai mera monthly cycle.”

“Okay”, he nodded, “samjha…”

She scribbled some more, and then explained, “ab… do situations ho sakte hai, ya toh mere periods 2 din pehle aaye, ya toh 4 din pehle yaane ke 12^th ko…” He nodded again, and she continued, “agar 2 din pehle aate hai month 1 ke date se leke month 2 ke date tak 28 days hote hai, aur agar 4 din pehle aata hai toh dono dates ke beech me 26 days hote hai… correct?”

He leaned further to look at her calculation, and took some time to process all the numbers, then nodded, “haan… samajh aaya yeh bhi.”

She smiled, “ab ovulation day calculate karneka formula hai – shortest cycle minus 18, aur longest cycle minus 11. Matlab hamare example me 26 minus 18, aur 28 minus 11.”

He bit his lip, doing a quick mental math, and said, “8 aur 17.”

She nodded, “correct… yaane ke mere menstrual cycle ke 8^th day se 17^th day tak sabse best chances hai pregnant honeke. Lekin isme yeh bhi likha hai ke inn dino ke beech me sirf 12-24 ghante ka time hota hai kabhi toh jab pregnant ho sakte hai.”

He scratched his head again, “toh ab woh kaise pata chalta hai?”

She shook her head, “nahi pata chalta… hum sirf itna hi calculate kar sakte hai… Kuch dino ka yeh time frame jiske beech me pregnancy ke high chances hote hai.”

“Hmmm”, he hummed and pulled the notepad to himself, studying all the diagrams and numbers once again, trying to remember what Naina had explained. After ten minutes he queried, “Naina… tumne kaha day 1-7 ke beech me eggs bante hai, aur 11-21 ke beech me travel karte hai. Toh beech ke 4 din kahan gaye? Aur 28^th day ko tut te hai toh 21^st day ke baad kya hota hai?”

She grabbed the book, reading again, “21^st ke baad kya hota hai yeh toh likha nahi hai… lekin isme likha hai ke yeh 28-day cycle pe based hai… mera khayal hai cycle agar 26 days ka hoga toh 26^th day pe eggs tut jayenge, tabhi toh periods shuru honge.”

He nodded, “ho sakta hai… lekin pehle ke 4 din?”

She frowned, “isme likha hai 7^th day ke baad ‘egg prepares to be fertilized by sperm’; lekin iska matlab mujhe samajh nahi aaya.”

His eyes widened for a moment, before his entire face turned red, and he choked, starting to cough. She was alarmed, and rubbed his back, “Sameer… Kya hua? Paani laau?”

He shook his head, trying to control his reaction, “umm… nahi… main theek hun… bas woh… gale me thodi khus-khus hai… chaas bahot thanda tha na.”

She kept rubbing his back, while glancing at the book again, “iska kya kare? Yeh wala portion mujhe samajh nahi aaya… Koi aur book dekhe?”

“Nahi”, he immediately replied, “aah… mera matlab… jo zaruri tha woh toh samajh aa gaya na… ab 4 din ko goli maaro… jo bhi hoga body ke andar hi hoga na, system me set hai sab… humko toh sirf woh calculation jaanna tha… pata chal gaya kyun track karte hai period ke dates family planning ke liye.”

She sighed, “thike… waise bhi mujhe pata nahi itni kitaabo ke alawa aur konsi book me yeh information milegi…”

He nodded fervently, “wahi toh… jaande do. Jitna pata karne aaye the woh pata chal gaya. Ab nikalte hai.”

She closed all the books, “chalo yeh rakh dete hai pehle… aur thodi der fiction wale section me jaate hai… main shaadi se pehle toh wapas nahi aaungi yahan ab, toh thode books le lu. Rishtedaaro ke pagalpan ke beech me kitaabe hi mera dimag theek rakhegi.”

He chuckled, glad that she was convinced to let go of the topic, “okay… chalo… main magazines rakh deta hun, tum books rakh do.”

Together they put away everything that they had taken to read, and then proceeded to the fiction section. Sameer just looked around, still slightly amazed at the large variety of books, while Naina hopped from one aisle to another, selecting books to take with her. Her attention by a pink and blue hard-bound book, and smiling to herself she pulled it out, tracing her hand over the title – Romeo and Juliet – the love story that had kicked off her and Sameer’s journey as lovers. She recalled her confusion regarding bhavarth, her query about aag barasti hai sawan me, her wonderful audition where she spoke the dialogues only thinking about him, their duet audition where she had wished Sameer was saying all those words to her for real.

As she stood lost in memories, suddenly a pair of strong arms slid around her waist, pulling her back to a hard chest, and a deep voice breathed in her ear, “Haaye meri Juliet. Kaise apne haatho ko apne gaalo se lagakar mujhe soch rahi hai. Kaash… Kaash ke main uske haatho ka dastaana hota, toh woh bhi mujhe pehen leti, aur main uske gaalo ke kareeb jaakar uske chehre ko choom leta.”

She closed her eyes as his lips brushed on her ear and cheek, her heart thundering, she voiced, “ab tak yaad hai pura dialogue? Tumhe pata hai… uss din tumpe gussa thi phir bhi yahi soch rahi thi ke kaash woh saare shabd sach hote.”

He turned her towards him, taking the book from her hands, “sach ho toh gaye. Uss din toh maine socha bhi nahi tha ke sach me kisi din tumhe kiss karna chahunga.”

She smiled, “achcha batao… tumko school me kabhi ichcha hui thi kya?”

He chuckled, “nahi… bataya toh tha, school me toh tumhare pavitra pyaar ke daayro me aise bandha tha ke sapne me bhi tumhe nahi choota tha. Lekin college ke second year se sab badal gaya.”

“Jis din tum business trip se wapas aaye aur mujhe khali classroom me le gaye”, she added.

He grinned, “nahi… uss din toh kiss karne ki desperation si ho gai thi… pehli baar ehsaas toh hamari college ki library me hua tha.”

She titled her head, trying to recall, “ohh… haan… tumne bataya tha… mera top uncha ho gaya tha.”

He leaned forward even more, speaking in an almost inaudible whisper, “hmmm… tum apna pen zameen pe se uthane jhuki, aur tumhari kurti zara si upar ho gai.” One of his hands slipped down her waist, dipping beneath the slit on her kameez, and his thumb stroked her bare waist lightly, “mujhe yeh dikha… thoda sa… zara si der ke liye… par effect kaafi der tak raha.”

She blushed, leaning on his chest, and he wrapped his arms around her, sliding the book back onto the shelf and then tightening the hug. After five minutes, he checked the watch, “Naina… wapas kab tak jaana hai tumhe?”

“Koi jaldi nahi hai”, she informed as she drew back, “kahin aur chale?”

He smiled, “ghar le jaunga toh raat tak chodunga nahi tumhe. Isiliye woh risk nahi lena aaj.”

She laughed softly, “mera matlab tha kahin ghumne chalte hai… shopping karne? Ya fir Rajshri park me?”

He immediately rejected the idea of Rajshri park in his mind, Naina didn’t know, but he had a fairly good idea of the crowd of couples that descended in that park every evening. And Law Garden was getting a bit boring for shopping every time. He recalled an invitation that had arrived in his office, and excitedly said, “ek idea hai… suno… teen-chaar din pehle C.G. Road pe ek naya shopping arcade khula hai, mujhe opening ka invitation aaya tha lekin main gaya nahi. Suna hai bahot bada hai, complex jaisa, lekin dukaane hai sirf… Mumbai ke bhi kuch shops hai wahan… Udhar chale aaj? Hamesha Law Garden jaate hai, yeh thoda alag hoga.”

She agreed to the idea, “thike… mujhe yeh saari books leni hai.”

He looked at the stack of seven books and frowned, “itna saara padh logi?”

She laughed, “haan… bilkul.”

They checked the books out of the library, and he carried them, stowing all of them in the back seat. Then they drove towards C.G. Road, his thoughts wandering again to the small kiss that he had been blessed with. It was such a bold gesture that he still felt absolutely amazed. But suddenly his eyes widened, and the car screeched to a halt on the side of the road.

She looked at him, puzzled, “yahan kyun roka? C.G. Road toh dur hai ab tak.”

He swallowed audibly, “tumne… tumne mujhe kiss kiya tha.”

“Sameer…”, she frowned, “library me kiya tha, yahan nahi… ab tak kyun chaunk rahe ho.”

He waved his hand, as if trying to explain, “par kiss… oh no…”

Her confusion increased, “kya hua? Kiss pe aisa reaction kyun de rahe ho?”

His expressions were one of torment, “Naina… maine lahsoon-aloo khaye the… kya kehte hai usko? Haan… Lasaniya batata… apna dish bhi, aur tumhare thali me jo tha woh bhi… aur tumne mujhe kiss kiya…”

She still didn’t get it, and asked, “toh? Tum toh kitni baar meri dish me se khate ho. Uske liye naraaz hoke kiss nahi karungi aisa thodi na hai.”

He shook his head, “par… lahsoon… garlic breath… saans ki badboo… aur kiss…”

She finally understood what he was trying to say, and couldn’t help but giggle, “ohh haan… thodi badboo toh thi.”

He closed his eyes, rubbing his palms over his face, “shit… I am so sorry… main…”

She started to laugh earnestly surprising him, and he removed his hands from over his eyes to look at her, not able to understand why she was laughing. She calmed down and held his hand, “shaant ho jao Sameer… aisa kuch nahi hua tha… koi badboo nahi thi… tumko yaad hai restaurant se nikalte waqt humne pan masala khaya tha, toh usika taste tha.”

He sighed in relief, “thank God… ab se hamesha chewing gum rakha karunga apne paas.”

She laughed again as he started to drive, and reflected on the conversation. He was so conscious of bad breath. And she remembered that whenever they had kissed he would have a minty fresh taste in his mouth. Did he brush after every meal? She didn’t… She remembered how the other day he had mentioned she tasted of chikki. Did she taste of whatever food she ate? Had her breath ever smelled bad? He had never said so… but still, maybe even she should start brushing her teeth more than once. She had already started to bath twice, so brushing after meals should not be so difficult to do. That way there would be no risk of bad breath.

It took them another twenty minutes to reach C.G. Road, and he drove a bit slow looking out often to see if he coud spot the shopping arcade. However, it wasn’t difficult at all. The whole complex was heavily decorated yet, and the gateway was twined with colorful ribbons. As he parked the car, she saw a hug board with a message of grand opening on the day of Uttarayan, and the name of the arcade – Orient Plaza.

It was indeed huge, built in the shape of a fallen E with missing middle stroke, and looked grand with the sparkling glass doors of shops, the railings that curved around each of the three floors and the third floor was just different restaurants, the creamy exterior paint, and of course the polished marble flooring. This was probably the first upscale shopping plaza in Ahmedbad, and she wondered if this would give a rise to many more such places, maybe on this same road. He held her hand as they walked inside, already happy with the shops he could see, and excitedly said, “chalo tumhare liye kuch kharidte hai.”

She pulled his hand to stop him, “mere liye toh bahot kharide hai tumne, iss baar tumhare liye lete hai, aur baki sabke liye. Mummy, Mr. Somani, Rohan, Deepika, aur… Dadi.”

He made a disinterested face, “kyun?”

She smiled, “shaadi ke baad jab yeh sab log wapas Delhi jayenge, tab hum dono milke denge. Achcha lagega na?”

He thought about it for a moment, and said, “thike… lekin inn sabke baad tumhare liye kuch toh kharidunga… Dadi ke liye shopping karneke torture se bachna padega na mujhe.”

She laughed, “ok baba… chalo ab… sabse pehle udhar chalte hai… saree ki shop hai toh Mummy aur Dadi dono ke liye ho jayega.”

They went inside and the shopkeeper greeted them eargerly, promising them latest designs from Mumbai, and showed them several sarees after asking for whom they intended to buy. Soon Naina liked an aqua blue saree for Vishakha, and Sameer had chosen the dullest grey saree for Dadi. Naina chuckled rejecting the grey saree and instead chose a pale yellow one which Sameer said was too nice for khadoos Dadi. The shopkeeper tried to show some sarees for Naina, and naturally Sameer was interested, but she pulled him outside, saying that they had already bought too many sarees for her, and first she wanted to wear them once and then she would think of buying anything new. Next they went to another shop on second floor, and bought a skirt-top set with a smart denim jacket for Deepika. Finally they moved to a men’s clothing shop and Naina immediately requested to show some plain and some striped shirts.

He asked, “striped kyun? Mr. Somani ke liye?”

She shook her head, “nahi… tumhare liye… tum plain aur checks bahot pehente ho, college me ajeeb se prints wale bhi bahot pehne hai… toh ab striped shirts lenge. Tumhara ek shirt tha college me, jiske side pe thode se stripes the, woh bahot achcha lagta tha. Aur abhi naya thin stripes ka fashion bhi hai.”

He frowned, “tumhe kabse fashion ki jaankari rehne lagi?”

Picking up a green on white striped shirt, she said, “pehle se thi… par kabhi mauka nahi tha jaankari use karne ki. Ab hai… Jao yeh try karo. Main tab tak dusra dekhti hun.”

He smiled, taking the shirt from her hands, and obediently walked away to the trial room, feeling happy that she didn’t feel hesitant to shop at expensive shops or use her fashion sense because now she had realized that she could. When he opened the trial room door after changing, Naina was already standing outside, and she smiled, approving the shirt, “achcha hai… ab yeh bhi try karo.”

This one was an off-white on blue stirped shirt and when he wore it she approved of it too. Later when he changed back into his original shirt and came out, she asked, “Mr. Somani ke liye yeh cream color ka shirt pasand kiya hai, par unka size nahi pata mujhe.”

Sameer reflected for a brief moment on Mr. Somani’s behavior with him, and sighed, “mujhse ek size bada.”

Naina smiled, asking the shopkeeper to pack the three shirts, and then held his hand, softly squeezing understanding that he had agreed to shop for Mr. Somani and Dadi just because she had asked. It took great courage to accept unwanted relations, and she was glad her Sameer had this kind of courage in him. As they stepped out of the shop, he smiled, “ab tumhare liye shopping karneki baari.”

She chuckled, “okay… par mujhe kapde nahi kharidne. Bahot ho gaye hai… Shaadi ke baad dekhenge kya chahiye kya nahi, aur phir shopping karenge.”

He didn’t understand what harm an extra saree or dress could cause, but he reluctantly agreed to her, “thike, kapde nahi… kuch aur lete hai…” He looked around, spotting a restaurant on the third floor, “ek kaam karo… Tum wahan Bombay Canteen restaurant me jaao, aur kuch khane-peene ka order karo. Yeh Mumbai ka restaurant hai, udhar ka vadapav aur milkshake bahot famous hai. Tumhe jo khana hai order karo, main shopping karke aata hun.”

She was puzzled, “par saath chalte hai na… warna tum zyada zyada kharidoge.”

He pinched his own throat, “I promise… zyada nahi kharidunga, aur kapde bilkul nahi. Bas surprise dunga… isiliye jaaneko bol raha hun.”

She smiled, “thike… jaldi aana.”

He nodded and sped away in another direction, and she climbed upstairs to the third floor, holding the shopping bags in one hand, looking around with interest. Suddenly someone called her name, “Naina!”

She turned to look, wondering who could know her here, and was surprised to see a girl walking towards her dressed in a black short skirt and orange fitted sleeveless top. Mitali – the over-stylish girl from their college who always had her eyes set on Sameer. What was she doing here? And how did she address her with her name? Where were the good old insults?

“Hi Mitali”, she greeted as the girl came closer.

Mitali smirked, “hi desi model… ab tak waise hi behenji type kapde pehenti ho?”

Naina rolled her eyes, “main soch hi rahi thi ke tum itni shareef kaise ho gai ke mujhe naam se bula rahi ho.”

Mitali gave a short sharp laugh, “tum yahan kya kar rahi ho? Pata haina yahan tumhare layak kuch nahi milega? Naa tumhari taste ke hisaab se aur naa tumhari aukaat ke hisaab se.”

“Tum bilkul nahi badli na”, Naina sighed, “ab tak utni hi kadvi zabaan. Problem kya hai tumhari? Maine toh kabhi kuch nahi bigada tha tumhara.”

Mitali leaned against the railing, extending her legs in a way that any passerby would automatically glance down, and said, “tumko kabhi apni aukaat me rehna nahi aata tha… chup-chap college aati, padhti aur chali jaati… jaise tum jaisi behenji type ladki ko karna chahiye. Par tumhari nazar toh college ke hero pe adi hui thi. Usko padhai me help karke usse dosti karli, aur usko mere against kar diya. Tum nahi hoti toh main Sameer ko college me hi pata leti, aur aaj meri shaadi usse ho rahi hoti.”

Naina’s gaze shifted to her hands where she was twisting a diamong ring, “tumhari sagai ho gai? Congratulations.”

Mitali scoffed, “topic change mat karo… aur haan meri sagai ho gai. Tum nahi hoti toh Sameer ke saath hoti meri sagai. Par koi baat nahi… his loss… ab dekho meri shaadi Ajit Sighania se ho rahi hai. Mumbai ke bahot bade businessman ka beta hai… ek lauta waaris. Sameer se bhi zyada ameer…”

Naina smiled, not replying anything, and neither enlightening her that she never had any chance with Sameer. After a moment, she said, “main khush hun tumhare liye. Congratulations once again… Ab main chalti hun.”

As she tried to walk away, Mitali caught her arm, a malicious smile curving her lips, “itni kya jaldi hai… saalo baad toh mili ho. Apne baare me toh batake jaao. Konse third grade office me kaam karti ho? Ya ghar pe bethi ho? Shaadi toh hui nahi, dikh raha hai… and of course… karega bhi kaun tum jaisi ladki se shaadi.”

The taunt cut too close to what she had so many times heard from Taiji, and she tensed a bit, “main school me padhati thi pehle, par ab apna book likh rahi hun. Aur haan… mera roka ho gaya hai. Shaadi agle mahine hai.”

“Oh wow”, Mitali smirked, “konse gaanv se hai ladka? Kheti karta hai ya factory me mazdoor hai?”

Naina amusedly wondered if she should let her know who she was going to be married to. And how was Mitali so confident that Sameer wasn’t in her life anymore? She looked down at herself, the blue-green dress wasn’t bad, in-fact Sameer liked this dress. It seemed Mitali was not done with her questions yet, as she heard her voice, “tumhari shaadi me Sameer ko zarur bulana. Bhagwaan ka shukkar manayega ke tumko chod diya usne.”

Naina couldn’t resist asking, “tumhe aisa kyun lagta hai ke Sameer ab mujhse nahi milte?”

Mitali made a sarcastic sound, “usme lagne ka kya hai… college ke akhri din dekha tha maine tum dono ko jhagadte hue. Aur Sameer wahan se bike leke nikal gaya tha… tumhe dump karke.”

Naina thought back to the incident she was referring to. They had indeed quarreled on the last day of college, but the topic had been silly; Sameer had been upset about not being able to meet her daily anymore, and she had termed him as childish which had made him angry. And he had left from there on his bike. However, what Mitali didn’t know was that she had waited for him in college, and he had returned an hour later armed with flowers and chocolates, apologizing for his anger. Smiling at the memory, she opened her mouth to enlighten Mitali about the incident, but before she could do so a strong arm slipped around her waist and firmly pulled her. Her smile widened because she was very much aware of this possessive gesture. Glancing up she saw Sameer, his lips pressed in a thin line, and then she looked at Mitali whose mouth was hanging open. There was a surge of petty pleasure inside her, and she said, “Mitali… tumhara guess thoda galat tha. Mere honewali pati kisi khet me ya factory me kaam nahi karte… unki khud ki factory hai… Maheshwari Industries.”

Mitali still didn’t say anything, apparently too much shocked by Sameer’s sudden appearance. He, however, totally ignored Mitali and focused on Naina, “tum yahan kya kar rahi ho? Restaurant me kyun nahi gai?”

Naina understood that Sameer was tensed because he remembered how Mitali always harassed her. She turned towards him slightly, inching closer to assure him, “main restaurant me hi jaa rahi thi, par usse pehle Mitali mil gai. Uski shaadi hone wali hai, kisi businessman se, Ajit Singhania.”

Sameer scoffed, “businessman? Uske papa ki readymade garments ka business hai, mila hun unse association meetings me. Lekin jahan tak mujhe pata hai Ajit ne ab tak ek din bhi office me kadam nahi rakha. Suna hai college khatam honeke baad bhi sirf dosto ke saath ghumta rehta hai aur sadko pe awaragardi karta hai. Ameer baap ka bigda hua nawabzada…”

Naina bit her lip to stop herself from smiling, and said, “chodo na… Chalo hum khane chalte hai.”

Before they could leave, Mitali came out of her shock, and stammered, “Sam…Sameer tum… tum isse shaadi… kaise?”

He again ignored her, and tried to pull Naina, “chalo yahan se.” But Naina stopped him, “ek minute Sameer… Mitali ne itne saalo baad bhi hume yaad rakha, toh hamara bhi farz banta hai…” She pulled out a wedding card from her purse, and handed it over to Mitali, “yeh lo Mitali… hamari shaadi ka card. 15^th February ko shaadi hai, aur 16^th February ko reception. Aana zarur.”

Sameer who had been tensed until that moment, now relaxed on seeing that Naina was not the least bit worried, but was rather busy in slaying Mitali. He smiled a bit, pulling Naina more firmly to him, and a sparkle lit up in his eyes, “waise… hume toh tumko thanks bolna chahiye Mitali. Tumhari wajah se hi toh hum aaj saath me hai.”

Mitali looked up from the red card to him, her eyes comically wide, “me…meri wajah se?”

Sameer nodded, “haan bilkul… tum Naina ko pareshan karti thi aur mujhe achcha nahi lagta tha toh main beech me aata tha… aur phir tum mujhpe line maarti thi toh Naina mujhe bachati thi… aise hi toh pyaar hua hume… Aur phir third year me tumne exams ke pehle woh ganda sa trick khela tha na, mujhe aur Naina ko classroom me bandh karke, toh tabhi maine Naina ko propose kiya.”

“Kya?” Mitali yelped in shock.

Sameer started grinning now, “haan… kitna romantic tha… kya kahu ab… Tumhara trick toh flop ho gaya kyunki hum khidki se nikalke bhaag gaye, aur teachers ko koi mila nahi class me… Lekin hume fayda ho gaya kyunki mujhe propose karne ka chance mila, aur Naina ne haan bol diya, aur classroom bhi khali tha toh… humne… you know…” He cleared his throat implying the unsaid.

Naina was almost on the verge on laughing out and she turned towards him, trying to hide her face, and he tightened his hold on her, making it look as if they were sharing a romantic hug. Mitali almost growled aloud, throwing the wedding card on the floor, and stomped away from there. He removed his arms from around Naina, and knelt to pick up the card. She also crouched beside him, and blew on the card even though there was no dust on the floor, then took the card, placing it back in her purse. They walked the few steps to the restaurant, and grabbed the furthest table. He signaled for the waiter and asked for two plates of vadapav, one bhelpuri, and two cups of masala tea.

She asked, “milkshake nahi?”

He clucked his tongue, “tumhi toh hamesha bolti thi ke khatte ke saath dudh nahi lete… acidity ho jaati hai.”

She smiled, “tum theek ho?”

He sighed and nodded, “haan main theek hun… mujhe tumhare fikar ho gai thi Naina. Kya zarurat thi usse baat karneki? Zara bhi tameez nahi hai usme baat karneki, aur uske kapde…”

Naina interrupted, “kapde se kya dikkat hai? Uski jo marzi woh pehne.”

He rolled his eyes, “c’mon sweetheart… main kapde ki buraai nahi kar raha. Tum jaanti ho ke main hamesha tumko bhi bolta hun ke tumhe jo man hai pehno. Kal tum short skirt pehenna chahogi toh bhi main mana nahi karunga. Lekin ek hota hai kuch bhi pehen lena, aur ke hota hai jo pehna usko carry karna… Mujhe uske kapdo se koi problem nahi thi, problem iss baat se thi ke woh kapde use karti hai apni body flaunt karke attention attract karne ke liye. Aur koi ladka naa dekhe toh uska mission ban jaata tha usko patana.”

She held his hand, “jaane do Sameer… uski wajah se apna mood mat kharab karo.”

He smiled, “uski itni importance nahi hai… achcha ek baat batao, tumhare paas shaadi ka card kaha se aaya? Ab tak toh printing me hai na?”

She laughed, “yeh toh sample me aaya tha woh card hai, maine purse me rakha hua hai taaki kho na jaaye. Mujhe yakeen tha woh nahi kholegi.”

He chuckled, “smart…” Just then the waiter came with their order of food, and his face brightened up. He picked up the vadapav, sniffing at it in delight, and she laughed at his antics as he took a big bite out of it. She took a much decent sized bite from her own vadapav, it was indeed delicious. Finishing the morsel in her mouth, she asked, “achcha woh story kyun banai tumne? Class me proposal wali.”

He swallowed his bite, and licked his lips, then grinned, “usko bada bharosa tha na ke hamari shaadi toh nahi ho rahi hogi, toh isiliye maine kahaani bana di… ab hamesha khudko kosti rahegi ke usne hume class me bandh nahi kiya hota toh shayad meri shaadi usse ho rahi hoti.”

She shook her head, but grinned at his wittiness, and then sheepishly accepted, “ek baat batau… jaanti hun galat hai par mujhe na bada maza aaya usko pareshan karke… khaas karke tumhe introduce karwane me aur phir tumhari story sunke uski haalat dekhne me.”

He picked up his tea, “cheers! Aur isme bura maanne wali koi baat nahi hai… usne tumhe teen saal kitna pareshan kiya, uske badle choti si sazaa hai.”

She giggled, slightly surprised at her own petty happiness. After they finished the snack, it was time to drop her off to her home. He sighed, “kal toh Sunday hai… kya plan hai?”

She had a grumpy expression, “koi door ke rishtedaar aa rahe hai… ban-thanke betho.”

He chuckled, “main kal Munna aur Pandit ke saath rahunga… bahot time ho gaya hum teeno ne saath me time spend nahi kiya. Soch rahe hai koi movie dekhe, kahin khane jaaye, bike pe drive pe jaaye.”

“Itna romantic plan”, she teased.

He laughed, “haan… bas movie me haath pakadneke jagah seeti maarenge, cold-drink share karne ke jagah popcorn pe jhagda karenge, khane me dus item order karenge aur phir bhukkado ke jaise paanch cheeze aur mangvayenge aur uske baad ice-cream bhi khayenge, phir bike pe turns lenge drive karneke aur ek dusre push karenge jagah ke liye, aur phir raat ko mere ghar jaake bed pe… oops… mattress pe muh ke bal girke so jayenge.”

She smiled, “aww… tumhe pata hai na yeh sab harkate shararti nahi bahot pyaari si lag rahi hai.”

He grinned, “toh lagegi hi na… hum hai hi pyaare.”

She laughed agreeing whole-heartedly with him. The friendship of Sameer, Munna and Pandit had been famous in school and college, the trio were like brothers, always inseparable, and would support each other without a second thought. She quickly opened her purse, pulling out a small journal, and wrote, “rickshaw ke teen pahiye. Ek bhi gayab ho toh rickshaw aage badhegi hi nahi.”

 He glanced at her, “kya likh rahi ho?”

She smiled, “story ke liye kabhi koi lines dhyan me aata hai toh isme likh deti hun. Abhi tum logo ki dosti pe kuch likha.”

He excitedly asked, “hum teeno hai story me?”

She giggled, “Sameer… tum toh hero ho hi… Aur rahi baat Munna aur Pandit ki, toh unke bina toh hamari adhuri hai.”

He had a wide smile on his face for the rest of the drive, and she was sure he would share this information with his friends tomorrow.

When they reached Agarwal house, Preeti came running excitedly hugging Naina, and squealing, “teri shaadi ke card aa gaye!”

“Kya!” Naina shrieked so loudly that Sameer stuffed his fingers in his ears. But he too grinned happily on seeing the blue and red cards on the coffee table. Chachaji invited him to sit, and he extended his hand to pick the blue card which Naina had chosen, at the same time as she picked up the red card he had chosen. Surprised, he glanced up at her to find a similar expression on her face, and smiled. Of course they would see each other’s choice first… It was so obvious.

Preeti’s excited “yes!” broke their trance. They both turned to see Bela frowning and handing over a Rs. 50 note to Preeti.

Chachaji asked, “yeh kya ho raha hai?”

Preeti replied, “maine aur mummy ne shart lagai thi ke Naina sabse pehle konsa card uthayegi… aur main jeet gai.”

Chachaji, Sameer and Naina looked at each other amused at the mother-daughter duo. And just then the dampener on happiness waddled inside, “oh bai! Shaadi ke card aa gaye aur hume koi bulata hi nahi.”

Bela picked up the vessel of peas from dining table, and said, “bhagwaan jhuth na bulaye bhabhiji, maine Preeti ko bheja tha aapko bulaane par aap hi pata nahi konse padosi ke ghar chugli kar rahi thi.”

Taiji plonked down on the sofa, “neva Bela… muh pe lagaam laga zara. Main toh dharmik paath padhne gai thi Sulochnaji ke wahan.”

“Haan haan”, Bela muttered under her breath, and then said aloud, “Sameer beta… yahi khake jaana aaj… main tuver ki kachori, matar-paneer, aur parathe bana rahi hun.”

He grinned, “phir toh khana hi padega…”

The whole family spent time on checking the cards, deciding on a plan to distribute them, and even Rakesh sir agreed to help making Naina smile with happiness. Sameer felt happy on seeing this softer side of Rakesh sir, maybe Naina was finally finding her father slowly. It was an obvious conclusion given the menu that Taiji’s family was also eating at Chachiji’s place, but still the dinner was merry with no unnecessary jibe or broken things. Chachaji asked Naina to pack the red cards properly in a bag for Sameer to take home, and she went inside the room to hunt for a bag. A minute later, she called him, “idhar aao na… bag almari ke upar hai.”

He sauntered inside, glancing up at the cupboard to see two suicases, “konse suitcase me hai?”

She chuckled, grabbed his collar, and pulled him down for a quick deep kiss, nibbling on his lip, swirling her tongue in his mouth, holding fistfuls of his hair. He clutched her to him, surprised at the sudden but amazing kiss, and shuddered when she pulled back for a brief moment and then returned to his mouth again. When she parted, he licked his lips, panting for breath, and glanced at the closed but unlocked door, “Naina… aise risk mat liya karo.”

She shrugged, opening the cupboard and swiftly pulling out a bag leaving him speechless, “risk nahi leti toh aaj kiss kar bhi nahi paate. Phir kal to milne nahi wale. Next week furniture aayega tab milenge.”

He thought for a moment, and asked, “umm… Naina… tum… tum kya kal milna chahti ho?”

She stacked the cards neatly inside the bag, “uff-o Sameer… kuch bhi sochte ho. Mujhe pata hai tum Munna-Pandit ke saath time spend karna kitna miss karte ho. Hamari shaadi ke baad bhi yeh time mat gawana… Aur shaadi ke baad jab tum teeno bahar ghumne jaoge, tab main, Preeti aur Swati ghar pe tasty pakode khate hue tum teeno ki burai karenge.”

“Haww”, he faked shock, “shaadi hui nai ke pati ki burai shuru… har patni aisi hoti hai.”

She chuckled, “melodrama… yeh lo bag… aur apne baal theek karo.”

He moved to the dressing table, setting his hair, and then dipped to peck her on lips, “I love you sweetheart.”

She smiled, handing him the bag, “I love you too… kal bahot enjoy karna, aur mujhe raat ko batana.”

He said goodbye to everyone, and then went downstairs, as usual looking at Naina who was standing in the balcony to wave him off. As he drove home, he thought about the whole day, so many things had happened today, and finally they were one more step closer to getting married.