Morning at Mandir:

Sameer had already shared the details of the happenings with his besties and they were waiting with him at the temple when Naina joined them with Swati and Preeti.

"Naina, kitni der kar di. Sab theek toh hai na? Sameer's face was already doned with worry.

"Haan woh Taiji se bach bachakar aana tha. Warna unhone toh mujhe Rajasthan bhejne ki taiyyari kar li thi. Wahan kisi bhi buddhe se meri shaadi karvake peecha chudana chahti hai meri manhoos kundali se", Naina narrated the most heartbreaking taunt without even realising it.

This angered Sameer and all the calm he was forcibly exerting was blown away.

"Yeh O bai bhi na, jaan ko aafat hai!  Arre kaise bhabhi ki shaadi kahi aur kar degi, woh bhi kisi budhdhe ke saath", Munna was furious.

"Naina, main na sirf tumhare kehne se kal wahan se chala gaya. Par ek baat achchi tarah samajh lo, tumhara Sameer tumhe paane ke liye marr sakta hai toh maar bhi sakta hai."

"Sameer, tum pehle shaant ho jao aur gussa mat karo. Dekho, kal jo hua woh hum mein se kisi ko achcha nahi laga, par chinta mat karo, Chachaji ab bhi hamare saath hai. Unhone hamesha hum behnon ko apna faisla khud lena sikhaya hai. Toh ab hum wahi karenge. Maine taiyy kiya ki ab hum apni zindagi apne haath mein lenge aur apni pareshaniyon ko khud sulajhayenge. Lekin usse pehle, mujhe tumse kuch puchna tha. Jis tarah Chachaji tumhe pasand karte hai aur hamare saath hai, mujhe laga tha ki tumhari family se tumhari Mummy mujhe pasand karti hai aur hamare saath hai. Par kal unka vyavhar kuch alag tha. Kya woh kisi baat se naaraaz hai? Ya fir koi aur baat hai?"

Sameer knew this was coming but he wasn't prepared. He had lied to her easily on phone and since then it had become a Herculean task to keep the truth hidden from her assuming that over a period he would be successful in convincing his mother for Naina and making her see through the pure heart and soul she was. But matters had taken a worse turn and his plans went for a toss and now there was no way she was going to understand and somewhere he stopped caring much; though it hurt, he didn't admit. He always craved for his mother and Naina had managed to fill that large void. He had read somewhere that girls looked for their father-type qualities in her husband, which surely Naina wasn't looking and boys searched their mother's reflection in their wives. Naina had more than filled his vacuum with her selfless love, care, and concern for him. Slowly and steadily he had crept to the top position in her priority list and that was all that mattered to him now.

He couldn't lie to her looking in the eye and so he averted his gaze. And Naina knew immediately that something was not right.

"Bolo Sameer. Kya baat hai? Kya hua hai?" She stretched and angled her neck to look into his eyes that he was very obviously avoiding.

"Tumhari Mummy mujhe pasand toh karti hai na?" That calmness in her tone and laced with fear was his undoing.

"I am sorry Naina, Mummy ko lagta hai tum mere liye sahi nahi ho. Unhe lagta hai ki main dil se sochta hoon aur tum dimaag se aur issliye tum mera fayda uthaogi. Unke hisaab se hamara rishta kabhi nahi chalega".

Naina was shell-shocked. Al the while she was in sweet oblivion that one of both family members supported them and hence it wouldn't be difficult to convince the rest. But finally, Taiji's words seem to ring true in her ears and tears rolled down her cheeks.

She turned away and Swati wiped her tears. "Kyon mujhe koi pasand nahi karta? Shayad Taiji sahi kehti hai. Na shakal hai na akal. Meri shakal toh pasand aayi nahi hogi par tumhari Mummy ko yeh bhi laga hoga ki kaisi ladki hai, kaise bewakoofonwale jawab diye honge, aur ab yeh kundali mein dosh! Zaahir si baat hai na, koi bhi kyon karvaaega apne bete ki shaadi mujhse?"

"Dukhi mat ho behen. Tujhme koi kami nahi hai", Preeti consoled her.

She hid her face in her palms and weeped. Sameer's eyes misted too and tears rolled down his cheeks. He had hidden the truth to save her from this dejection but eventually it had pained her more. It would have been better if he hadn't lied and she would have known early on.

He came behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder "I am sorry Naina. Mujhe tumse sach nahi chupana chahiye tha. Main buss nahi chahta tha ki tumhe zara sa bhi dukh ho aur maine socha aadhe ghante mein Mummy tumhe theek se jaan nahi paayi hogi issliye aisa keh rahi hogi. Dheere dheere main unhe mana loonga tumse dobara milne ko, toh jab woh tumhe jaan lengi toh pakka maan jayengi. Unhe samajh aa jayega ki jab baat meri hoti hai toh tum dil se sochti ho aur jab baat tumhari toh main dil aur dimaag donon se sochta hoon." He let his hand drop and bent his head in remorse "par Mummy ko lekar meri soch har baar galat ho jaati hai. Jab bhi hamara rishta thoda theek hone lagta hai, woh fir uspar dhoke ka waar karke tod deti hai, par iss baar saza tumhe mili. I am sorry Naina".

Naina heard the guilt and pain in his voice and that was it. She could never let him blame himself for the poor circumstances. He was only trying to protect her and it was not his fault that the situation turned around not in their favour.

She held his hand, "tum please dukhi mat ho. Tumhari koi galati nahi hai. Par ek baat batao, tumhare Mamaji Mamiji ka toh mujhe samajh aata hai, woh toh mujhe pehle se pasand nahi karte. Par fir Mummy agar pasand nahi karti thi toh ghar aane ke liye maan kaisi gayi? Mujhe laga unki haan thi issliye baaki sab maan gaye par agar unki bhi na thi toh fir tumne sabko itne kam waqt mein manaya kaise?"

"Hmm..ummm, Chodo na Naina, usse kya farak padta hai? Tumne kaha na kuch socha hai, toh buss woh batao", he tried to deviate the matter.

"Sameer, baat mat badlo aur nazrein mat churao. Sach batao kya kiya tumne aisa ki sab maan gaye?" Naina was persistent.

When he averted his gaze. Naina and all were suspicious that something big had happened. Even Munna Pandit hadn't known as they hadn't visited his place.

"Bolo Sameer!" Naina became slight aggressive forcing him to speak up and placed a hand on his  shoulder which brushed on his chest and he hissed slightly in pain.

She caught it instantly and brought her hand closer to his heart and brushed her fingertips on the soft material of the shirt. He controlled it this time but the slight change in expression was enough to give him away.

"Kya hua hai Sameer? Chot lagi hai kya?" Now she was worried.

"Ummm...nahi kuch nahi! Buss aise hi. Nahate waqt bathroom mein gir gaya aur chot lag gayi", he formed a very lame excuse and didn't meet her eye.

"Bewakoof lagti hoon mein tumhe? Seedhe se batao kya hua hai? Chott dikhao!" And the boldest version of Naina took over when it was about Sameer's pain and her hands went to his shirt button.

He caught her midway as it was always like that, when he was bold she blushed profusely and was extremely shy but when she made a bold move, he was caught off guard.

"Naina , kya kar rahi ho? Sab dekh rahe hai!"

"Haan toh dekhne do! Mujhe kisiki parwaah nahi hai, sirf tumhare dard ki fikar hai. Ab seedhe tareeke se dikhao warna Munna Pandit zabardasti karenge".

His eyes widened and he gulped. There was no deterring Naina when she was in her masterni mode.

Seeing no other option, he undid the first button and pulled his shirt and vest to the side exposing his heart, which had Naina carved over it permanently.

Naina was shocked in horror and gasped, while their friends's eyes widened.

She came close to instinctively touch and soothe away his pain but her hand stopped midway with the fear of inflicting more pain. Unstoppable tears pooled her eyes and dropped continuously.

"Sameer....kyon?" Was all she could manage to get out as words died in her throat. While on one hand she was awed by the depth of his love, on the other hand, she never wanted him to hurt himself for or because of her.

"He let go the hold on his shirt and seeing her devastated, took a step closer and held her hands and placed them on his heart. "Kyon ki tum mere dil mein ho Naina, buss main chahta tha ki sab yeh samajh le ki ab hum ek hai ek dusre mein baste hai aur koi hume alag nahi kar sakta."

"Kitna khoon baha hoga, kitna dard hua hoga tumhe?"

"Tumhare durr ho jane ke darr se zyaada dard nahi tha."

She clenched her eyes imagining his pain of being betrayed by his family and how destructive he could get for her. She opened her eyes and wiped her tears.

"Naina, mujhe lagta hai ki hume abhi bhaag jana chahiye, teen mahine baad shaadi karke laut aayenge. Kal jo bhi hua uske baad waise bhi hamare gharwale hamara saath nahi denge. Woh chahte hi nahi ki hum saath rahe. Dushman hai sab pyar ke. Pataa nahi kyon par mujhe yakeen hai pakka Mummy ke husband ne kuch kiya hoga. Mujhe bilkul bharosa nahi hai unpar. Na woh mujhe pasand karte aur na main unhe. Aur main tumhare bina nahi reh sakta. Ab mujhe kisiki parwaah nahi, buss tumhare saath rehna hai."

She held his hands again, "mujhe bhi sirf tumhare saath rehna hai Sameer par bhaagna problem ka solution nahi hai. Hum kyon bhaage jab humne kuch galat nahi kiya! Agar hum bhaag gaye toh sabki nazar mein hamara pyar galat saabit ho jayega aur sabka galat nazariya sahi. Na hum kabhi apne parivaar se nazarein mila paayenge aur na woh kabhi duniya se. Yaad hai na Chachaji ne kya kaha tha, ki hamari nazrein kabhi jhukni nahi chahiye. Sameer, humara pyar hamari takat hai, use kamzori nahi banne dena hai."

"Toh kya kare? Chod de ek dusre ko, haar maan le. Apna mann maarke apna pyaar kurbaan kar de? Yeh main nahi hone doonga Naina", he declared firmly.

"Nahi aisa kuch bhi nahi. Bura mat manna Sameer, par shayad tumhari baat sahi ho sakti hai. Chunki tumhare gharwale mujhe pasand nahi karte, ho sakta hai ki koi tareeka nikala ho hume alag karne ka. Lekin agar jo Panditji ne kaha woh sach hai, toh fir?"

"Fir kya? Tumhe kya lagta hai Naina, main tumhe chodkar kisi aur se shaadi karoonga?"

"Nahi Sameer! Tum par khud se zyaada bharosa hai mujhe. Par hume koi aur raasta dhoondhna hoga na. Dekho Sameer, iss problem ke teen solutions hai". Sameer and all friends were now attentive to topper Naina.

"Ek, iss darr se kal kya hoga, hum aaj hi kadam peeche hata le aur alag ho jaaye".

"Sapne mein bhi mujhe chodne ki baat mat sochna Naina, aag laga dunga duniya mein", Sameer blasted away option one.

"Dusra, gharwale jisse bole usse shaadi kar le aur fir dusri shaadi bhi kar ke, shayad ek dusre se".

"Arre wah Naina, yeh toh badhiya idea hai! Jijaji, aap na tension mat lo! Aap Naina se aur mujhse donon se shaadi kar lo. Fir aapki dou shaadiyon wali problem bhi solve ho jayegi aur mujhe toh waise bhi usi ghar mein shaadi karni thi jaha Naina ki ho, toh aap se better toh koi ho hi nahi sakta!"

Preeti adored her Jijaji and he couldn't help but smile at her antics and despite himself "Kyon nahi Saaliji, waise bhi saali aadhi gharwali...." Naina furrowed her brows and smacked his arm and pulled her sister's hair, while others laughed.

"Aur Naina ki dusri shaadi Munna se karwa dete hai, waise bhi bhai manti hai use, toh shaadi mani nahi hayegi". The laughter died down and Munna shrieked "Yeh kya bol rahi Preeti?"

"Preeti, chup kar, kuch bhi bolti hai", Swati reprimanded her.

Preeti looked at them both, "Achcha sorry sorry! Munna na sahi, Pandit se karwa dete hai, woh bhi toh bhai jaisa hai!"

Pandit shocked, Preeti rocked.

"Nahi Preeti, main mazaak mein bhi nahi soch sakta aisa, kisi aur se shaadi, namumkin hai yeh!" Sameer decreed.

"Teesra option, hum apni kundali ka sach pataa karke uska upaay karna hoga", Naina put across her thoughts.

"Chautha option bhi hai Naina, bhaad mein jaye sab. Hum shaadi karenge".

"Sameer, please. Bina lade haar maan le kya? Tumhe pata hai na mujhe haarna bilkul nahi pasand. Fir yeh toh hamare pyar ki ladayi hai, ismein kaise haar maan sakte hai. Please Sameer, ek koshish karna toh banta hai na", she almost pleaded with him to get over his fear of losing each other.

Finally, he gave in, "theek hai Naina, tumhari baat kaise taal sakta hoon. Par agar jo tum soch rahi ho waisa nahi hua toh? Main tumhe kho nahi sakta Naina, tumhare bina jeene ke baare mein soch bhi nahi sakta".

"Aisa kuch nahi hoga Sameer. Agar meri koshish fail ho gayi, toh fir jo tum bolo jaisa tum chaho hum waisa hi karenge. Main tumhare saath rehne ke liye kuch bhi kar sakti hoon. Jab kahoge jahan le jaoge, chal dungi. Chahe jo ho jaye, hum hamesha saath rahenge", she assured him firmly.

He smiled "theek hai bolo kya karna hai?"

"Uljhan ko suljhana hai!"

"Kya bol rahi hai Naina, theek se batana na", Swati quipped.

"Tere topper dimag mein koi idea pakk raha hai na behen", asked Preeti.

"Haan. Tujhe yaad hai jab Pooja didi sweater banana seekh rahi thi tab baar baat unke gole aapas mein ulajh jaate the. Aur woh fenk dena chahti thi. Tab chachiji ne kya kahan tha! Jab guththi itni ulaj gayi ho toh shuru se shuru karna chahiye aur dheere dheere ek ek dhaaga kholna chahiye".

"Yaar Bhabhi, kya dhaaga kya uljhan, theek se batao na".

"Woh kabhi koi badi bimaari ka ilaaj karna ho toh kabhi kabhi jaate hai na dusre doctor se salah lene. Buss waise hi hume dusre Panditji ki salah leni hogi. Sabse pehle hume apni kundali fir se kisiko dikhani hogi. Kisi aise Panditji ko jo hamare parivaron ko na jante ho par janam patri ko theek se padhna aata ho. Actually, hume apni nayi patri banaani chahiye. Ho sakta hai ki kundali banane mein koi gadbad ho ya fir kal wale Panditji se koi galati ho gayi ho ya fir....."

She left it incomplete and Sameer very well knew what she implied.

"Haan, par nayi patri kaise banvayenge? Pehli wali toh gharwalon ke paas hai", Sameer asked.

"Uski zaroorat nahi padegi. Apne janmadin ki tareekh aur samay bata diya toh nayi patri ban jayegi", she supplied a tidbit.

"Haan par dusre Panditji kahan milenge jo bharose ke kaabil ho aur jo hume na jaante ho?", asked Munna.

Naina got thinking and after a few minutes, a bulb lighted "Swati tujhe yaad hai, hamare school mein ek ladki thi, Ananya, uske Papa ne jyotishshastra padha tha!"

"Haan, woh log shayad Maninagar mein rehte the", Pandit, the girl directory blurted.

"Haan...hum saatvi mein the jab uske Papa ko heart attack aaya tha. Fir tune Aanaya ki padhayi mein bahut madad ki thi toh bechari paas ho payi, warna itna school miss hua tha ki fail hi ho jaati. Par uska address nahi pataa", Swati supplied info.

"Arre, tu uski tension na le, address hum nikal lenge!", Pandit assured.

"Abe Ponga, tu koi antaryami hai?"

"Aye Chenu, kar di na wahi wali baat! Yaar school ke register se nikalenge address aur phone number. Tu humpe chod de Naina, hum pataa kar lenge", Pandit assured her.

"Aur Swati, main tujhe hamara birthdate aur time likh ke de dungi. Tu usse milna aur hamari puri baat use samjha dena. Woh aur uske Papa bahut achche hai, woh hamari help zaroor karenge."

"Par kyon? Aur sawal nahi puchenge?" Asked Sameer to clear his doubts.

"Yeh baat kisiko nahi pataa. Ananya ne sirf mujhe batayi thi. Uske Papa Konkani the aur Mummy Marwari, issliye unhone bhaag kar shaadi ki thi. Shaadi ke bahut saal baad Ananya paida hui par uski Mummy chal basi." The pain of a similar situation resonated in her tone.

Preeti placed an assuring hand on hers and she calmed down. "Mujhe yakeen hai woh hamare pyaar ko samjhenge. Aur Sameer, tum! Tumhe bina gussa kiye, bina ladayi kiye, yeh pataa karna hoga ki kya woh Panditji sach bol rahe the aur agar nahi toh gharwalon ke mann mein hamari baat ko lekar kya chal raha hai."
"Hmmmm. Theek hai." Sameer agreed.

"Par behen, jab nayi kundali banwa rahi hai toh fir kya farak padta hai woh Panditji ne kya bola?" Preeti didn't understand.

"Uljhi hui gaanth ko kholne ke liye saare dhaage dheere dheere alag alag seere se aaram se loose karne chahiye".

Almost no one understood what she meant except Sameer who smirked hard and gauged that indeed her topper brain was in full active mode. She was planning to slowly and stealthily attack the problem from all sides, not to harm anyone but defend and protect their love and emerge victorious. She had grown so much in their relationship and he felt humble when she always thanked him for instilling that confidence in her. While once she was a docile meek Naina who feared that she might not be able to own up their relationship in front of their elders, today she was ready to fight and take on the world if anyone tried to separate them. He starkly remembered her words when she had mentioned "pehla pyaar hume khud se, parivaar se aur puri duniya se ladne ki takat deta hai". And indeed she had crossed all boundaries and faced all hurdles and their relationship had stood strong withering all storms.

He was proud of his girl and knew that nothing and none can do them part, he knew even death couldn't separate them anymore. Out of its own volition, his hand held hers and placed it on his heart and no words were needed to convey that their hearts beat as one.