So. Here I am with the second half of the Epilogue. Since some readers were confused, Sameer and Naina are in their late 50s and the current year in the story is about 2030. I  hope this part would justify the huge leap that I took. 

On a lighter note, this might be the fastest update I ever gave for EU. :P 

Enjoy the end! :) <3 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Continued...

Forty minutes later, Sameer and Naina pressed the bell of a plush bungalow residence in North Delhi. A shiny golden nameplate labeled "Anands" was affixed outside. Hurried footsteps sounded and seconds later, the door was opened by a striking middle-aged man. He smiled and immediately bent down to touch their feet.

"Namaste Papaji! Namaste Mummyji! Happy Anniversary!"

"Thank you beta Siddhant! Jeete raho!" The couple blessed him and then Sameer pulled him into a hug, as they entered the house.

Right at that moment, a seven year old came hurtling towards them with amazing alacrity. "Nanu! Nani! Happy Anniversary! Mummy, Papa ne naa aapke liye-"

Siddhant pulled the kid towards him and cut him short. "Ved, jao jaake mummy ko bula ke lao. Kaho nanaji naniji aa gaye hain!" He then turned to his in-laws, rubbing his palms together. "Thand badi ho gayi hai na...aap logon ko taqleef to nahi huyi?"

"Thand to kadake ki hai...par vaise koi problem nahi hui...kya surprise wagerah kar rahe ho tum bacche log...dekho is budhape mein kya anniversary and all-"

"Arey nahi papa, mummy- bas kuch special nahi...sab itne busy rehte hain ki milna julna itna ho nahi paata to bas socha isi occasion pe sab saath mein dinner karte hain aaj!"

With this Siddhant led them to the living room. The house was completely plunged in the darkness of the winter evening.

And suddenly, the lights turned on.

"SURPRISE!" The big shout from the group in front of them caught both Naina and Sameer unawares.

The living room was packed with familiar faces gathered around. The entire room had been decorated with balloons and streamers. A big fat strawberry cake was perched upon the table.

A strapping young man, who was recording the evening with a video camera, passed it around, and was the first to sprint towards the couple.

"Happy Anniversary Mumma, Papa!" He ensconced them both in a tight hug.

"Raunak?" Naina exclaimed in delight.

"Tu kab aaya?" Sameer was surprised too.

Raunak was Sameer and Naina's third and youngest child. Raunak was much younger as compared to his elder sisters. He was only twenty-one. Considering Naina and Sameer's impeccable track record for accidental pregnancies, Naina had realized that she was expecting for the third time, years later after she had Ananya. That had been really unexpected, especially at her age. And it had been a boy. Mr. Somani, who had grown lonely and sad after he'd lost Vishakha years ago, had lived to see the toddler, and in the midst of his pain and misery, it brought cheer to him and to his family. "Raunak lag gayi is bacche ke aane se, haina?" he used to say.

And hence, he'd been named Raunak. Of their three kids, Raunak had probably inherited the best from both his parents. He looked almost like his father. Only that he was tall- much taller, at a strapping six feet. He had similar silky black locks that he too tended with care and like his father, he too had the habit of combing his fingers through them. He excelled in sports, and was especially good in Basketball, having represented the state in zonals. On the other side, he was blessed with his mother's intellect, and had been a topper throughout his academics. Right now, having aced CAT, he was pursuing an MBA degree from IIM Ahemdabad (his parents' hometown).

"Tere exams shuru hone wale hain na lekin?" Naina asked in alarm.

"Mumma, padh liya hai maine. Aur exams next week se hain!"

This mollified Naina.

"So kaisa laga mera surprise?" exclaimed Raunak.

"Bahot acha!" Naina pulled him into another fierce hug as Sameer happily patted his back.

"Bas bas...thoda dhyaan betiyon pe bhi de do...jinhone itni mehnat se sab plan kiya hai...!" Diya chimed in as she embraced her parents, followed by her husband Siddhant, and then Ved who clamoured to be lifted in their arms, singing Happy Anniversary to Nanu and Nani.

Sameer laughed and lifted Ved with joy telling him how big and strong he was looking, as Ved beamed on happily. Raghav helped his eight-month pregnant wife, Ananya with him, and Maheshwaris' younger daughter and son-in-law greeted them on the occasion. Naina began fussing over Ananya's health and the pallour on her face, advising her on her pregnancy, and Sameer heartily agreed that his dear daughter should rest and not exert herself as she always tended to.

While Diya had taken after her father in appearance and behavior, Ananya was more like her mother in and out- right from her hair, her smile, her way of talking and laughing, her intellect and her composed demeanour. The only things she inherited from her father were her sharp, black eyes, and amazing vocal chords- so much so that after completing her doctorate in music, she was working as a lecturer at the Faculty of Music and Fine Arts, Delhi University. She also possessed the knack of poetry and prose, and had some publications to her name. Diya was always clamouring her to write a full-length novel, but like all artists Anu (as they all lovingly called her) could be incredibly moody.

Diya and Anu were taken in by their mother's new diamond necklace and complimented her on the same. Anu complained that Raghav always gifted her hard-core tech stuff that she didn't know how to use, while Sameer laughing patted a miffed Raghav's back.

Raunak was capturing all this in his video camera and turned up the music streaming out of the speakers that Ananya and Diya had carefully selected for the evening. Ved meanwhile, was throwing a tantrum, requesting for an early cake cutting. Raunak beckoned to the side, and two shadows emerged and echoed with Ved, and Sameer's mouth fell open in surprise at seeing his two best buddies, Munna and Pandit there.

They had brought their wives along for the celebrations, and all of them greeted the couple and presented the gifts they'd brought specially for them. Their visit was a surprise and had been planned by Diya, Ananya and Raunak. Naina was exhilarated to see Swati. It had been almost a year. Their kids however were in college or out of city for work and couldn't be present for the occasion and moreover the youngsters had wanted the parents to spend time with their friends rather than the kids.

Just then the doorbell rang. Raghav sprinted towards the door. Shefali and Arvind stood smiling at the doorway, holding a huge bouquet of roses in their hand.

Sameer and Naina's face lit up on seeing them. They were ushered inside and exchanged greetings with the couple. Shefali handed over the bouquet to them, and wished them many more years of togetherness.

Shefali had aged gracefully. Her hair was still as long as before, though it was more salt and pepper now. Thin framed spectacles sat on her nose. Arvind too looked as prim as ever. With age, he'd lost a little weight, and looked much leaner. But the kind face seemed kinder with the wrinkles now apparent on his face.

Years ago, when Sameer had reached Delhi along with Naina, and broken the news to his family about their impending marriage, and even about Diya, they'd all been startled for a while. And then his mother had pulled them both in hugs, and Deepika had congratulated them too. While Vishakha was apologizing for the way she'd behaved with Naina, Sameer noticed Mr. Somani appeared contrite. Though Naina had withheld the conversation her family had with Mr. Somani, later that night, Mr. Somani sat him down- man to man. It was then that Sameer learnt of the phone conversation between him and Naina's elder uncle. Sameer had been furious, but decided not to let things sour their relation any further. Moreover, Vivek Somani looked rather repentant and told him that he'd looked for Naina later when he'd been admitted to the ICU. That had mellowed him down.

Mr. Somani told Sameer that he'd do whatever was needed from his end to help him out in future if he ever wanted anything from him. A few months later, when he and Naina were catching up with Arvind and Shefali, Sameer got to know that Arvind was thinking of starting a Bio-Technological corporation of his own, focusing primarily on research on gene synthesis and genetically modified drugs in India. Sameer had been impressed by the idea, especially when Arvind told him that the idea had come to him seeing Diya's condition and the absence of a medication to cure it. He said he would try to find an inexpensive cure for diseases like PKU, but couldn't guarantee success.

Sameer realized Arvind had a lucrative business proposal, a brilliant mind and was hard-working. The only thing he lacked was capital. So that night he spoke with Mr. Somani, wondering if he was interested in investing in a bio-technological venture. Sameer couldn't afford it all by himself, considering the high-tech equipment, and the lab setups were very costly, as things had to done in controlled environments. Deepika, when came to know of the idea seconded it, and expressed a desire to be part of such a venture herself. And that's how Arvind started 'ImaGENE BioCorp', with Deepika as a partner, and Sameer and Mr. Somani as his financial backers.

Though the gene mutations for PKU continued to thwart them, all investors and partners reaped humungous benefits in less than a decade with other revolutionary projects undertaken by the company. ImaGENE BioCorp slowly moved up to become one of the top Bio-tech organizations in India, the most commendable of their achievements being finding a cure for the deadly coronavirus- a vaccine that altered the genetic structure of the virus that prohibited any mutation or the ability to latch onto a host.

Arvind moved over and clasped Sameer in a tight hug. "Sameer! Congratulations man! Congrats Naina! 30 years wow!"

"Thanks yaar! How are you boss?" Sameer responded jovially. Over years, he and Arvind had become really close friends.

"Bas sab badhiya...Next month hum Brazil mein bhi ek naya R&D centre khol rahe hain. Almost done hai, but isiliye thoda busy ho raha hu-"

Shefali came around, breaking what she called their business blabber. "Arey yeh kya, aaj bhi kaam ki baatein karoge aap dono? Yaar Sameer, mere ache khase pati ko uthake tumne workaholic bana diya." She giggled.

Sameer laughed hard, "yeh tumhare us photo wale idea ka badla hai madam!"

Shefali looked embarrassed and slammed her head. "Ab tak chidhate rahoge? Aur vaise bhi desperate times call for desperate measures. Tum apna pyaar pehle samajh lete, kyun Naina?"

Naina put her arm around Shefali's waist. "Aur kya!"

"Kya din the wo! By God, dono ke latke huye chehre, jaise zindagi mein kuch bacha hi nahi. Wo to baad mein samjha kya khichdi paki huyi thi!" Arvind laughed.

Shefali quipped, "aur kya tum dono ko na hamein thank you bolna chahiye. Humari wajah se tumne baith ke do mature logon ki tarah baat to kari! Aur aaj yeh anniversary mana rahe ho."

Munna and Pandit had joined the group by then. "Shefali, Arvind- thank you to in dono ko humein bhi bolna chahiye. Is pagal deewane ko sambhalte sambhalte hum pagal ho jate varna," Munna laughed.

"Sahi keh raha hai Munna. Baap re, ise das minute ke liye kahin akela chod do, to bhai ekdum filmy, angry young man ki tarah- yahan ladai, maar-peet, tod-fod...kya nahi ho jata tha," Pandit quipped.

Sameer looked embarrassed. "Ho gaya tum logon ka taang kheenchna?"

Shefali continued, "To yahan kaunse madam ke theek haal the...jab dekho to mood swings hi hote rehte the...kabhi Sameer se kharab insaan nahi...meri zindagi barbaad ho gayi....fir main kaise jeeyungi uske bina...ekdum Meena Kumari!"

Naina hid her face in mortification against Sameer's shoulder.

Arvind added, "Aur nahi to kya. Varna bhaag daud karo, ghar aao to madam Naina ro rahi hain. Baad mein pata chala in bhaisahab ka bhi wahan wahi haal hai. Mujhe to samajh nahi aaya dono pyaar karte hain to itni badi misunderstanding huyi kaise? Sorry yaar Sameer...tujhe kitni gaaliyan di hain maine!"

"Aur wo thappad!" Sameer brought his palms to his cheeks. "By God, jhannatedaar ekdum! But was needed haan bhai!"

Naina chirped. "So to hai! Varna Sameer to baithe bas khud ko aur Arvind bhaiya aapko compare karte rehte. Uske baal ache hain, to meri ankhein better hain. 1-1." And the group howled with laughter. When they'd been married and become quite comfortable with Arvind and Shefali, Sameer had confessed to them how he'd always compared himself to Arvind and wondered what he lacked and what he possessed in regard to him. This had earned him hordes of chuckles and stomach rattling laughter from his own wife, and the couple in front of them. This was one revelation they all still made fun of, and the only thing he ever regretted telling his friends.

"Yaar Sameer, tum mujhe puch lete na. Arvind ki sari buri aadaton ki list hai mere pass," Shefali chuckled.

"Oh hello! Kaunsi buri aadatein?" Arvind looked on in mock- indignation.

Shefali counted on his fingers. "Sara time kaam karte rehna...always serious....nahane ke baad geela towel sukhana bhulna-"

"Bas bas Shaurya ki amma! Pyaar kitna karta hun yeh bhul jati ho?" And he locked eyes with her lovingly.

"Batao, anniversary hamari hai aur romance tum dono ka shuru ho gaya!" Sameer chuckled.

Shefali colored. "Kuch bhi Sameer!"

"Munna uncle, Pandit uncle, idhar aao na ek baar!" Raunak interjected and then hurled away his two chachas for an exclusive video interview for the couple's oldest friends.

"Aur Shaurya ko kyun nahi laayi?" Naina turned to Shefali.

"Bhool gayi tu Naina? Honeymoon pe hai wo!" Shefali rolled her eyes at her.

"Ohh haan New Zealand gaye hain na...abhi wapis to nahi aaye honge?" Naina asked. "Phone pe to baat ho jaati hogi na?"

While Shefali started complaining about her son calling once every two days or sometimes just texting, Arvind leaned into Sameer's ears and chuckled, "Ab inhe kaun samjhaye." Sameer grinned in understanding. And as the women talked, both the men were lost in reminiscing about their respective honeymoons.

After they'd wed, Rohan and Neha had taken off on a Europe tour for their honeymoon. But with Diya there, Sameer and Naina had decided to stay local. Also, Sameer was pretty sure they should save Europe for times when they actually intended to go out and explore, rather than when they'd spend time locked up in their hotel room.

Since Naina had never seen snowfall, Sameer booked a cozy hotel stay in Gangtok. The scenery was beautiful, the weather crisp and cold, steamed up with their rendezvous inside the plush room. Sameer had been pleasantly surprised to see the red satin nightie of their college times make a reappearance. Though the nightie had stayed put on Naina only for a few brief seconds, it had led them to reminisce about their past indulgences- of that night in Naina's hostel room, the hotel where they were stranded in the monsoon, the kisses stolen in the empty classrooms and corridors, the long walks across the moonlit gardens- reliving the times when they were head over heels in love with each other as they now knew in retrospect.

However, two days into the honeymoon, they'd had a big fight. Naina complained that they hadn't gone out for any sightseeing since the past two days, and since it was her first time to the North-east and the Himalayas, she wanted to explore the surrounding areas, the temples and the museums, the shopping arcade as well as go for nature trips as originally planned.

Sameer objected, "What was there to see in hill stations, except mountains, trees and bushes, which were pretty much the same every where? The only thing that was new was the snow and Naina had gone out and seen snow fall, and played with him in the snowfield." As far as sightseeing was concerned, Sameer made it clear that the only sight he was interested in seeing was her sans clothes. That had made his wife blush, though she was still irate, and her body a bit sore as she admitted to him. A ceasefire was declared and they finally agreed on both the things- day trips to be wrapped up as quickly as possible, and their nights together to be prolonged as much as possible. With winter season at its peak, fate was on Sameer's side, for it was dark by five in the evening.

All through this time, Diya had been wondering where her parents had gone off. First there was only her mumma, then she got a papa, and now suddenly both of them had gone away, and she was in the company of strangers- a new dadaji and dadiji and a Deepika bua. Though the latter was fun, Diya still felt restless in that huge house. Sameer and Naina called her everyday and talked at length, consoling her that they'd be coming back soon, that mumma and papa had gone for some work where they couldn't take children. Finally, seeing her unease, Arvind had come and taken Diya home to be with him and Shefali till they came back, and being with familiar faces had calmed her down.

"Sameer! Jaldi wapis jana chahiye. Diya akeli hai, udaas hai, ghabrati hai."

Sameer nodded, "hmmm. I wish she had company." And then he turned to her, his eyes glinting, "Diya ke liye bhai-behen plan karein?"

Naina stammered. "Kya? Itni jaldi?"

"Jaldi kya...she's five now. And I promise Naina that I'd be there this time- right from the start."

As luck would have it, that had been the night they'd conceived their second child, Ananya!

The doorbell rang again. It was almost eight in the evening. Diya rushed to the door and opened it.

"Deepika bua? Aap? Hamein laga aap nahi aayi!"

Deepika hurried inside. She was donned in a heavy silk, with a ladies overcoat. "Aati kaise nahi...aur darwaza band kar. Itni thand ho rahi hai!"

She then hurried over to Sameer and Naina and pulled them both in a warm hug, "Happy Anniversary bhaiya, bhabhi!" Sameer and Naina greeted her warmly and she handed over their gift to them.

"Thank you Deepika! Kavya kahan hai? Aur Jatin bhi nahi aaya?"

"Kavya ke kal se preboards hain na bhaiya. To padhai mein lagi hai. Jatin ruke hain uske saath. Main bhi jaldi nikal jaungi thoda."

Sameer and Naina nodded in understanding.

"Yeh aapka wedding gift hai. Kavya ne khud pura paint kiya hai...July se lagi hai, but aapko to pata hi hai ki padhai ka aajkal kitna load hai." Deepika stated as they opened the painting to inspect it. It was a beautiful rendition of the Tiger Hill monastery in Bhutan- a picturesque building surrounded by tall mountainous cliffs.

"Amazing...This is really incredible!" murmured Naina and Sameer. "Ise living room mein laga sakte hain...She needs to be a painter Deepika- she's already so professional!" said Sameer.

Deepika beamed with pride and thanked them as everyone else gathered for a closer look and oomphed and ahhed at the marvellous painting.

"Wow! It's beautiful!" Arvind and Shefali too joined in.

"Arey Arvind, hi. Thank you. Vaise na mujhe puchna tha ki wo jo Brazil ki branch ka-"

Sameer cut her off. "-Oh hello madam, no kaam vaam abhi varna Shefali hum sabko maar dalegi."

Shefali chuckled, "Righto!" And Deepika, grinning raised her hands in defeat. "As you wish my Lord!"

Soon after, Naina and Sameer cut the strawberry cake to greetings and cheer, and Ved who'd been lingering by Nanu and Nani's side for the cake was given the first bite.

Swati ambled over to Naina with her plate of cake, "Naina, Preeti aa jaati toh aur maza aata na...itne saal baad hum sab ek saath hote."

Naina nodded sadly. "Haan, main bhi use bahot miss kar rahi hun aaj toh."

Swati pulled her sweater closer to her and shuddered, "Vaise yaar, tere shehar mein badi thand hai...is maamle mein hamara Ahemdabad hi theek hai."

Anjali too joined them and muttered, "sach mein Naina...kaise rehti ho tum? Meri to kulfi jam gayi hai."

Naina laughed. "Arey thand mein to main khud Ahemdabad ko bahot miss karti hun. Abhi to soch bas shuru huyi hai- wo to kal thodi baarish huyi isliye aaj mausam zara zyada thanda hai...varna aage December khatam hote hote aur Janwari mein khoob kadake ki sardi hoti hai yahan...aur jaise jaise umar badhti jaa rahi hai, aur zyada thand lagti hai. Varna, dekho Raunak ko-," she pointed at her son scooping out cake in competition to Ved at the dining table. "Ek yeh sweatshirt aur ek patla sa jacket, kya kehte hain ise hoodie....haan hoodie pehne baitha hai tabse...aur bolo toh to kehta hai mummy itni bhi koi thand nahi hai...ab pta nahi sach mein thand nahi lagti ya aajkal ke bacchon ka fashion hai..."

"Papa pe gaya hai na," Swati winked and Naina grinned. "Haan sahi keh rahi hai- Sameer ka bhi yahi haal tha jawani ke dino mein...kehte the Naina main bachpan se Nainital mein raha hun...mujhe aadat hai...thand nahi lagti...lekin sabse pehle sardi bhi Sameer ko hi hoti thi! Same cheez Raunak ke case mein hai."

Naina added as an afterthought, "Swati, Anjali...tum dono ko zyada tang to nahi karta na Raunak?" Since the time he'd taken admission in IIM Ahemdabad, Raunak used to frequently visit Munna or Pandit uncle's house and often had Sunday night dinners at their place.

"Chal! Raunak bhi to mere bete jaisa hai...aur jabse Mihir Mumbai mein job kar raha hai to mujhe vaise hi akelapan lagta hai...Raunak aata hai to mazak, masti aur uski baton se dil behal jaata hai," smiled Swati.

Anjali added, "sahi keh rahi ho Swati...Pranav ki bhi khoob jamti hai Raunak ke saath...Prachi ki shaadi ke baad se thoda akela sa ho gaya tha...ab to bas Raunak kab aayega usi ki raah dekhta rehta hai."

"Aur tumhare haath ka besan ka halwa bahot pasand karta hai Raunak," Naina added. 'Kehta hai Anjali chachi kitna acha khana banati hain mummy."

Anjali laughed. "Mujhe pata hai besan ka halwa uska favorite hai...isliye jab bhi aata hai pehle hi bana ke rakhti hun."

"Lekin Naina, tu itna sab saree, shawl, gifts kyun bhejti rehti hai Dilli se hamare liye? Is sabki kya zarurat hai...Raunak hamara baccha nahi hai kya? Aur gifts bhejne ke bajaye na madam, tu aur Sameer khud kyun nahi aate?" complained Swati.

"Yaar, kya bataun...kabhi Sameer ka kaam...fir Anu ki pregnancy...aur Raunak ke aaye din exams hote rehte hain to lagta hai hum jayenge to disturb hoga. Vaise bhi chuttiyon mein wo hi idhar aa jaata hai to mauka hi nahi mil paa raha."

"Yeh baat to hai...padhai bahot tough lagti hai uski...Sach kahun na Naina, jab kabhi exams ke time pe Raunak ko padhte dekhti hun na, to ekdum teri yaad aa jaati hai...jaise bilkul alag insaan ho jaata hai wo- serious, focused, padhaku...aur jab masti karne lagta hai, to lagta hai firse Sameer aake saamne khada ho gaya...Munna, Pandit ki bhi khoob banti hai Raunak ke sath...kayi baar bhram ho jaata hai Sameer hi baitha dono ke saath has bol raha hai, jaise purane din wapis aa gaye hon." She pointed over to the corner, where Munna and Pandit had joined the cake spree with Raunak and Ved. Sameer and Diya had now taken up the initiative to distribute the cake evenly amongst them all, but a few minutes later Sameer defected to the cake-eating team leading to an exasperated Diya trying to rescue a few pieces for Shefali aunty, Arvind uncle and Raghav. Siddhant pitched in to help and ensured all the guests had their fill.

For a while, they watched the antics at the table with a smile on their face. The ladies then were joined by Deepika and Shefali, and they launched into 'girl-talk', as they complimented Naina on her new necklace set and discussed shades of lipsticks and sarees. Shefali was wearing a beautiful pink silk palazzo set and it was the object of appreciation amongst the ladies.

A while later, the elders were seated on the sofas, and were indulging themselves in the past memories, their childhood and school tales, as well as the events that led upto Naina and Sameer's marriage. There were a variety of snacks and drinks laid about- from spring rolls to Tandoori paneer to mini pizzas, to samosas and jalebis, to cutlets and kababs. The assortment of drinks included alcohol for the men who drank (which meant all the seniors), and cold drinks as well as steaming cups of coffee, tea and hot chocolate for those who didn't.

Every minute or so, a loud babble of laughter would escape from the group as they teased Sameer and Naina, while music, apt to the mood, churned on in the background.

Yaadon ke purane album mein, Chhupa ke rakhe hain humne woh din

Gullak mein padi chavanni si, Bacha ke rakhe hain humne woh din

Na kisi manzil ki fikar thi, Zindagi jeene ki umar thi

Dosti aur doston se udhar ke din the

Woh din bhi kya din the, woo

Hmm... woh din bhi kya din the, woo

Woh din bhi kya din the, woo

Hmm... woh din bhi kya din the, woo

Bigde hue insaan the, Shaitan ki santaan the

Hmm....Lekin brother jo bhi kaho, Wo yaar hi toh jaan the

Sameer pulled Munna and Pandit close to him, one arm around Munna's mouth and the other around Pandit's as they both launched into the tale of how Sameer had been about to kiss Munna in his sleep thinking it was Naina, and that was how they discovered that he was madly in love with her but didn't know it himself.

College ki kudi se karne aankhein chaar ke din the

Aaye zindagi mein Pehle pehle pyar ke din the

Woh din bhi kya din the, woo

Hmm... woh din bhi kya din the, woo 

Sameer's eyes met Naina's across the sofa and he winked. Naina had had a great laugh when Sameer had told her this story of how his subconscious had revealed his love for Naina in front of his best friends.

Ved broke the lovelock as he flung his arms around his Nani and started brandishing his new drawing into her face. "Nani...dekho maine yeh family picture draw ki hai...aur yeh collage banaya hai. Teacher ne mujhe 5-stars diye hain-"

Naina appreciated the artwork her grandson was showing, who in appearance was very similar to his own father, Siddhant. She knew he was quick at grasping topics at school, and was confident that he had taken after his father in the intellectual department as well- not that his mother fared badly. She was pretty sharp too, but Siddhant was nothing short of a genius. And then Ved turned on his heels and scrambled away as fast he'd come.

"Well, he takes after his mother in his restlessness," Naina smiled inwardly and returned her focus to the conversation at hand, where the topic was their school days.

As the latest party songs played on loop, Swati stated that children these days were much more open about love, but in their times, even being seen talking to a boy was considered scandalous.

"Aajkal ke gaane dekho kitne bold hain...aur movies bhi kitni open ho gayi hain...bacche yahi sab seekhte hain dekh ke- soch Naina, agar tu, main ya Preeti Taiji ke saamne gaate, Tu mera boyfriend, main teri girlfriend-" she chuckled.

Shefali joined them. "Vaise hamare zamaane mein bhi kuch gaane to bold the...shayad hamein hi samajh nahi aate the." She fixed an amused gaze at Naina, and then both burst into laughter along with Swati. They all were laughing on a common memory- when Naina being an utter simpleton in matters of love was enquiring about the meaning of the song 'Aag barasti hai saawan mein pani ka hai naam,' and how her Taiji had rewarded her with a slap because of it. Naina couldn't help but smile inwardly at how being in Sameer's arms had rendered the explanation of the song quite clear to her.

Naina's train of thoughts was broken as another peal of laughter rang out at the table as Deepika narrated an anecdote of Sameer donning hair masks to impress Naina. And then Shefali pulled up the story about how her first meeting with Sameer and Naina had been like with Arvind by her side. It had been an awkward beginning, and had taken time to get used to, but in the end they'd ended up becoming close friends.

As Naina conversed with her friends, she absently started twirling a groom and bride wedding showpiece that Mr. Arora had gifted Diya for her wedding the last time he'd come to India, a few months before he passed away. When the Aroras had heard that Naina was reunited with Diya's father, they'd been overcome with joy and had met Sameer when they came to visit India. Mr. Arora had especially taken a liking to him and the feeling was reciprocated by Sameer, who'd been especially grateful that they'd taken care of Naina and Diya when he wasn't around. Sameer would always say that they'd shown kindness upon a stranger and because of it, he was indebted to them for life. And Mr. Arora would waive it off, citing that he was happy that Naina and him had found their happily ever after and that Diya had found a father that she deserved. Though Mrs. Arora left the mortal world a few years later, Mr. Arora remained in touch with Sameer and Naina, and paid them a visit whenever he was in India. In those interactions and meetings, the way he could seek advice from him, or share news- good or bad knowing it would be understood; Sameer felt the inklings of the father-son bond that he'd missed out on.

Among the food and frolic on the other end of the hall, the youngsters were babbling together. The center of the commotion was Raunak, presently under the scrutiny of his elder sisters, who'd heard him talking to a female friend on phone, and were insistent, almost accusing him that he sounded love sick.

"Bata bata, kya naam hai uska?" Diya chimed and Siddant leaned in, interested.

Raunak shook his head. "Arey didi koi nahi hai! Anu didi samjhao na!"

"Main kya samjhaun? Tu blush kyun kar raha itna?" Ananya replied, as Raghav started pulling his leg.

"Haan, aur yeh I miss you too kya hai bhai? Hum kal paida nahi huye hain Golu!" Diya said.

"Didi....Golu nahi...," Raunak clenched his teeth in embarrassment. Much to his mortification, most of his family still addressed him by his childhood nickname that he'd got because of his chubby disposition as a baby.

"Ab to yeh naam uske liye reserved hai," Siddhant winked at him, and was greeted with laughter.

"Come on guys, be practical. She's just a friend," Raunak defended himself.

"Just a friend? Mamu aap friendzoned ho?" Seven-year old Ved chirped in between.

"Oye...tu jaa yahan se...aur tujhe yeh sab words kaise pata? Bacchon jaisi baat kiya kar na!" Raunak shooed the child away.

Diya waived him off. "Aajkal ke bacche humse zyada tez hain," she said as she pulled Ved onto her lap and fed him a spring roll from her plate. And then she asked suddenly, "tu sach mein friendzoned hai?"

His eyes widened as to the incredulity of the situation. "Didi, main kyun friendzoned hounga?" Raunak raved his fingers through his silky strands.

"Kaun friendzoned ho gaya?" Deepika bua chose that moment to join the youngsters. Most of the times, the kids actually considered her as a part of their group rather than as an adult.

"Deepika bua...Raunak ko pyaaaaarr ho gaya hai!" Ananya giggled.

"Oh teri ki...kaun hai wo bechari?" Deepika's eyes glinted with amusement, as she dipped her fork onto Raunak's plate and put a piece of Tandoori paneer in her mouth.

"There's no one! She's just a FRIEND," Raunak emphasized.

"Ek ladka aur ek ladki kabhi dost nahi hote," Deepika intoned in a mock Monish Behl accent, which caused another peal of laughter at their table.

"Damn! Why is everyone so engrossed in love stories in this family?" muttered Raunak in exasperation.

"Kyun pyaar mein kya burayi hai?" Diya asked.

"Diya didi...just because jiju aur aapki badi tedhi love story thi, iska matlab yeh nahi ki sab pyaar mein hain," Raunak countered.

"Love stories kabhi seedhi nahi hoti," Ananya replied. "Aur teri to mujhe hamari family ki sabse tedhi wali lag rahi hai!"

Deepika nodded. "Yeh to Raunak ke batane pe pata chalega kitni tedhi hai."

"Arey yeh kuch bole toh na! Kehta hai pyaar nahi hai- sirf achi dost hai!" Siddhant explained.

"Typical! Maheshwari men syndrome!" Deepika mumbled.

"What?" Diya and Ananya erupted in laughter.

"Toh tumhare papa se liya hai isne yeh pakka!"

"Papa se? Lekin papa aur mummy to school me mile the na...and they fell in love in college! Papa ko bhi time laga tha samajhne mein?" Ananya asked incredulously.

Deepika sighed. What could she tell these kids about their parents' nearly catastrophic love saga. She leaned in conspiratorially and mumbled, "tumhare papa ko shayad tumhari mummy se school mein hi pyaar ho gaya tha, par maanane ko raazi nahi...jab dekho to Naina meri achi aur sacchi dost hai."

Another bout of laughter erupted at the table.

"Fir to shukar hai main ladki huyi...mujhe to ek nazar mein pata chal gaya tha ki Sid is the one," Diya exclaimed, and Anu high-fived her elder sister, "Bingo for Raghav."

Raghav put his arms around his wife and cuddled her, while Siddhant responded lovingly to Diya, "Thank God it wasn't a case of hallucination due to medicines, or I would've been heartbroken."

Diya had actually met her husband, the quiet and resigned Dr. Siddhant Anand as his patient, on the pretext of some change in her PKU medications. Though the disease was mostly tamed by her early-twenties, it was out of habit that Diya still took precautions with her diet. And one day, when her health had suddenly suffered a setback despite no laxes from her side, her family had been livid to know that a new doctor had been assigned her case in the hospital. The other doctors convinced the furious and incredibly worried Maheshwaris that Dr. Anand had actually worked with professionals like Dr. Mehra, and was undoubtedly the best in his field. Finally, Arvind had done some digging and got to know that Dr. Anand was indeed quite reputed for his skills.

However, for Diya, who lay on the hospital bed, fighting a flare-up of her biological system, it had taken just one look at Dr. Anand for her to fall in love. Initially, she chided herself, thinking her reaction had been due to her misfired senses when she was ill. But as she recuperated, she found her heart aflutter everytime Dr. Anand wandered into the ward to check-up on her with that dainty, gentlemanly smile on his face. When he touched her wrists for pulse, she was surprised that he could not sense the erratic rhythm of her heart. When his stethoscope touched her chest and back, Diya had the weird impulse of wanting to pull him close to her. She made weekly appointments on some random pretexts just to see him.

Months swept by and Diya's hopes fell. She'd almost resigned herself to the fate that Dr. Anand wasn't the least bit interested in her. And why would he be? She was a patient for life. A doctor, of all other people, knew what kind of life and dangers an ailment like hers entailed. She couldn't really blame it on him. She stopped her appointments, when one day she received a call from Dr. Anand himself wondering if she was all right. Diya was startled.

It was when they met outside the next day that Dr. Anand told her that she could no longer be his patient. This appalled Diya even further. Was she too obvious? The usually bold and flamboyant girl of twenty two could barely ask why? Dr. Anand seemed to get flustered that moment, and then slowly he met her gaze and said that he wanted to get to know her better and it wouldn't be possible if they remained a doctor and a patient. Diya was still confused, when he took a deep breath and confessed that he'd diagnosed himself as being in love- with her. It still took two complete minutes for Diya to make sense of his words, much to the uncomfortable silence that treated Dr. Anand then. And then she finally asked, "Siddhant? Are you saying you like me?"

The doctor met her eyes again and pursed his lips and nodded.

"Since when?" she asked incredulously.

He merely shrugged and said, "I really missed you these past few months. I think that's what made me realize I had to at least talk to you- tell you how I'd been feeling. I'd always been intrigued by your fiery temperament. By just being there in a room, you made me smile. And when you used to come up citing excuses as check-ups, I started wondering if you liked me the way I did. And then I would shake myself up, thinking I was too old for you."

"You are just 31!" muttered Diya.

"How did you know that?" asked Siddhant in surprise. "And it's still old enough compared to you," he thought inwardly.

"Duh!" Diya rolled her eyes and smirked. "Did you expect I'll not dig up information about my crush?"

Dr. Siddhant blushed and then shook his head in mirth. "Guess I'm not the only one to brag about my detective skills here."

The coffee turned cold, as Dr. Siddhant gave in to his blossoming feelings and the doctor-patient relationship turned romantic. Now they'd been married for ten years and counting.

As for Anu didi, as they all lovingly called his sweet sister Ananya, Raghav jiju was his mother's find through a matrimonial app. An IIT graduate, he was a software engineer at a multi-national company in Gurgaon and was nothing short of a tech wizard. Their family was nice, and the dynamic Raghav jiju hit it off with his demure, soft-spoken Anu di almost instantly. So much so that both Anu and Raghav refused to meet any other prospects after their first meeting, and declared they wanted to get married to each other. That had been four years ago.

And now all eyes, especially his mother's were on him to get married. Sometimes in their excitement, they all forgot Raunak was just twenty one. And what he had with this girl they were pulling his leg about- meaning they were friends, good friends, even best of friends, but nah, there wasn't any romance in there. She was unlike any other girl he'd dated before. She wasn't his type, yet he'd been teased by his group of friends in college about her, and so had been she. Just because they hung out frequently, maybe everyday together, studied together, ate-out together, and were really comfortable in talking to each other, did not make them a couple for heaven's sake.

Unfortunately, his father and Arvind uncle had walked over to the commotion now.

"Kaunsi ladki bhai?"

Naina's ears perked up too and she and Shefali came towards them. "Ladki, kaunsi ladki? Tune mujhe bataya nahi Raunak tujhe koi ladki pasand hai. Abhi to teri padhai puri nahi huyi-"

"Maa...main bas 21 ka hun. Abhi se shaadi kara doge kya?"

"21 tera pura ho chuka hai. 22 mein lag gaya hai. Teen mahine mein tera birthday hai. Toh 23 ka ho jayega. Ab aisa thodi hai ki aaj dhundhna shuru kiya to kal ladki mil jayegi...aajkal achi ladkiyan kahan milti hain, kisi kisi ko 5-6 saal lag jaate hain rishta pakka karne mein-"

"Main bhaag raha hun yahan se...sab bacche ki shaadi ke piche pad gaye hain," Raunak muttered. "Aur mumma papa...aaj aapki anniversary hai...aaj aap please apni shaadi pe focus karo!"

This earned them laughs from the crowd. Raunak, seizing the opportunity for diversion, got up and said, "ok everyone....why don't you all share your memories with the couple- excerpts from their youth, their love story, anything?"

Everyone cheered.

"Sabse pehle main!" Deepika bua raised her hand, and after thinking for a moment, she put the plate of samosas that she was savoring on the table and began.

"You know jab inka breakup wala phase tha, to Sameer bhaiya was full-on in shayar mode. Wo gaana hai na...Raunak chala na, main shayar to nahi...magar aye haseen...jabse dekha humne tujhko mujhko shayari aa gayi....matlab din raat Kishore Kumar aur Md. Rafi ke gaane chalte the by God....60s aur 70s ke music ki puri jaankari ka shrey main Sameer bhaiya ke heartbreak ko deti hun!"

Everyone laughed.

"But mummy-papa, aap log to college sweethearts the na- toh fir yeh separation phase?" Raghav couldn't help asking, and then bit his tongue at the inappropriateness of the question directed at his in-laws. Though Raghav was aware that his in-laws had a love marriage, there had never been an occasion for details.

"Tum logon ne Meena Kumari aur Devdas ki kahani nahi suni matlab?" Pandit chimed in.

"Yeh to masala material hai," Shefali rubbed her hands excitedly and Swati chipped in too.

"Arey 90s ki ekdum dhamakedaar story thi inki...school mein wo pehli nazar ka takraana...aur fir ek dusre se beinteha nafrat karna...," Munna began.

"Bas karo tum log...," Naina started and Sameer butted in at the same time. "Oh hello! Control!"

"Arey mumma, papa...sunne do na...," Diya exclaimed.

"Toh yeh un dinon ki baat hai jab Sameer aur Naina pehli baar Pragati Vidya ka Mandir mein mile the...," began Munna.

The friends launched into the tale of how the two had always had an inexplicable chemistry despite being opposites. They were supposed to be arch enemies, yet destiny always threw them together. And then they started college at St. Xaviers in Mumbai, where they finally let go of their acrimony and became friends (the part about the physical intimacy was cleverly left out during the narration), and that the friendship soon blossomed into love. But neither Naina had the courage to confess her feelings, nor did Sameer have the wit to understand what his heart was yearning for.

"Finally...college khatam hote hote inhe realize hua ki yeh ek dusre ke bina nahi jee sakte...aur dono ne bhaag ke shaadi kar li," Deepika elaborated.

"Lekin Naina ne jab apne ghar pe yeh baat batayi, to family ne zabardasti use Sameer se alag kar diya...aur udhar Sameer sochta raha Naina ne use chod diya...wahan Naina ko laga ki Sameer uske piche nahi aaya....," Swati explained.

"Aur fir wahi breakup ki ram kahani...rona dhona...main jee nahi sakta...main jee nahi sakti...aur kismet ka chamatkar dekho...paanch saal baad dono ko aamne saamne laake rakh diya," Munna said.

"Naina bhabhi was a writer...debut novel di thi Somani Publications mein...jo ab tum sambhalti ho," Deepika turned to Diya, who nodded. "Sameer bhaiya bahot naraaz the bhabhi se ki unhone supposedly dhokha diya...lekin pyaar to pyaar hai...mana nahi kar paaye...bas dono fir kareeb aa gaye...aur sab misunderstandings khatam...aur aaj hum sab yahan hain."

"Wow!" Siddhant and Raghav clapped. Naina and Sameer looked every bit mortified. Somehow this very personal rendezvous was turning out into a spill-the-secrets spree.

Diya was listening to all this silently. She'd heard this modified version before and knew the tale was morphed for the benefit of the younger generation and the rest of the family, but unlike Raunak, Diya and Anu were aware of the truth.

Once when Diya was fifteen, while rummaging through the almirah for some document, she'd stumbled upon the marriage certificate of her parents. The date of marriage written there was 2nd December, 2000. Just as she was putting it back in place, something struck her as odd. It was 2010, and she was already fifteen, so how could her parents have been married in 2000? She checked the date again, and thoroughly confused, brought it up with her parents that Saturday morning when Anu was out for her tuitions.

Sameer was getting ready to go to work, while Naina was busy feeding a cantankerous Raunak, who was a little over a year old.

Unsure of how to put her thoughts into words, Diya just handed the certificate to her mother.

"Mumma....ispe aapki shaadi ki date galat likhi hai kya?" she muttered.

Naina looked up from Raunak, at the certificate in Diya's hand. Her face paled.

"Beta, tumhe kahan se mila yeh? Hazaar baar bola hai, us almari mein important documents hain. Bacche haath nahi lagate," Naina began, but then she noticed the look on Diya's face. She was an adolescent of this newer generation. She had access to more books, more material on TV and the internet than they had back then. Could she have guessed?

Sameer came upto them to bid them all goodbye, when he noticed the strained faces of his daughter and wife. Raunak was silently chewing on the khichdi that his mother was feeding him.

"Kya hua? Itni pareshan kyun ho? Diya, mera baccha, kya hua beta?" Sameer pulled his daughter into a hug.

Diya shook her head, and wrenching herself free from her father's grasp, ran inside her room.

Sameer looked at Naina quizzically, and she whispered, "Diya ne hamara marriage certificate dekh liya hai...pata nahi kya chal raha hai uske dimag mein..."

Sameer's face blanched as well. He sighed, "do you think we should tell her? She's old enough to know?"

Naina got up from her chair. "Tum thoda Raunak ko sambhalo. Main baat karke dekhti hun."

There Diya was sitting on her bed. Her emotions were a mix of confusion, curiosity, helplessness and a tinge of betrayal. She remembered being there as a child when her parents got married. She had photos with them during the ceremony, but her mother had always told her that they'd eloped and married long before, and the recent event had been for the benefit of the society. Maybe they'd lost the original certificate? That was plausible.

Naina entered the room and put her hand over Diya's head. "Beta." She stroked her hair.

She turned to her mother, her eyes pleading. "Kya papa mere real papa nahi hain? Kya main adopted hun?"

"Diya," Naina pulled her close to her bosom, "kaisi baatein kar rahe ho beta?"

"Aapne kaha tha papa foreign mein rehte hain...fir kaha Sameer uncle papa hain...mujhe yaad aa raha hai."

"Diya, Sameer sach mein aapke father hain...biological father...and I'm your mother...I gave birth to you."

"I really love you mummy...and I love papa so much....par please sach batayo mummy," Diya's eyes were sparkling with tears.

Naina pondered over it for a minute. She could still cover it up, but then Diya may get to know someday. She had found the marriage certificate today. What if she hears it from someone else and feels that Sameer had abandoned them? Moreover, she was growing into a nubile young woman herself. Naina knew about the boys she crushed on, though she never explicitly shared it with her mother. She could know from the way her cheeks turned crimson in the presence of a boy in her class. It was time for her to get closer to her daughter- become a friend over a mother. Never in the whole wide world did she want Diya to make the same mistakes as she had. After all, not everyone was Sameer. So she decided, whatever be the outcome, Diya should know.

Naina heaved a sigh and began. "Beta, I could go ahead and lie to you still, but I think you are grown up enough...."

By the time Naina finished, it was late afternoon. Diya was deeply struck, deeply troubled. Conflicting emotions coupled with embarrassment and shame rushed through her mind. Her parents? How could her parents have done that? It was so...so disgusting...how could they have been...been so...so irresponsible...and they hadn't been married!

Vague childhood memories came to the fore- her mother trying to cover-up details about her father, lying to neighbours and friends that they were going to visit him, when they went to Jaipur to Mr. and Mrs. Arora, the memories of meeting Sameer uncle and instantly taking to him as a child, the fights between her parents, the frequent bouts of crying, then the sudden appearance of relatives who'd abandoned her mother. Her heart plunged. Her mother had faced it all alone. Her father had been clueless. And had he not come back in the picture or loved her mother the way he had...Diya shuddered to think what would have happened to them.

Her mother looked highly abashed telling her these personal secrets, but she did not want Diya to be as reckless with her life as she had been. Yes, she wanted her to listen to her heart, but also be mindful of her life, her parents and siblings.

The following night was uncomfortable for Sameer, Naina and Diya. Nine year old Anu didn't understand the tension. Sameer couldn't eat or sleep for fear that his elder daughter will hate him for abandoning her, for acting like an inconsiderate fool with her mother. Naina was nervous too, afraid that the value system they'd tried to inculcate in their children would come crumbling down. Diya couldn't really meet Sameer's eye- flashes of embarrassing scenes she did not want to imagine flitted through her mind, paining her, flustering her. Later the next day, unable to take it anymore, Sameer too had sat down with Diya face-to-face. He was very gentle with her and reiterated what Naina had told, that they had been wrong in their youth, and that he loved her mother, Diya, Anu and Raunak beyond measure. He promised that he would always see to it that they came to no harm.

That had assuaged Diya a bit, and slowly, she had accepted that reality. Most of all, despite everything, she was relieved that Sameer was really her father, for having had to know an alternate reality at this stage would have been heart-breaking for her. It took time for Diya to return to normal, but as she grew up, she started understanding why her parents may have acted the way they had.

Diya was jerked from her thoughts by Pandit uncle's guffaws.

"Bhai, jo bhi kaho, mere liye to sabse favorite moment hoga jab Sameer ne apne sasurji se tapaak tapaak khaye hain...ohoooo...," Pandit laughed.

"Tu aaj tak usi pe atka hai?" Sameer laughed.

Munna exclaimed, "Sahi to keh raha hai...arey shaadi ke time ladka ladki ki kundli milwane ki jagah, damad sasur ki milwani chahiye thi- kya darr tha Safari suit," his eyes caught Naina's, "mera matlab Librarian, matlab tumhare papa, Rakesh sir ka..."

"Tu meri khinch raha hai? Tune nahi khaye Swati ke papa se jaise?" Sameer quipped.

Munna's hand flew to his cheeks. "Bahot khaye hain yaar. Par kya karein- pyaar ka dard hai meetha-meetha, pyaara-pyaara," he crooned at Swati, who blushed and rolled her eyes at her husband at the same time.

"Dekho bhai, Anjali ke papa ne to mujhe hamesha sar-aankhon pe rakha hai...maine nahi khaye thappad vappad," Pandit declared.

"Yahi galti ho gayi papa se," Anjali giggled, "tumhe akal aa jaati na thodi," which caused them all to crack-up.

And then Munna and Pandit recounted tales of how Naina's father, the school librarian had seemed to hate Sameer's guts for he had an air of entitlement around him. He'd been labeled a mischief maker in the school early on, though on most of those instances, Sameer just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. And presumed as the culprit behind those mischiefs, Sameer had been on the receiving end of many a tight slaps from the school librarian.

Pandit even joked that none of the boys would have dared to have a crush on Naina in school. They teased that even Sameer must have worked up the courage only when the librarian was out-of-sight and out-of-mind, back in Mumbai.

"Matlab papa bhi apne sasurji se darte the?" Siddhant whispered in Diya's ear. Diya looked at him and grinned. "Aisa suna to hai...tum akele nahi ho jise apne sasurji se darr lagta hai!"

"Main kya karun...aaj bhi jab dekhte hain na mujhe, lagta hai kabhi kha jayenge gusse mein!"

"Kuch bhi- tumhari imagination hai...papa ab naraaz nahi! Kitne pyaar se baat karte hain tumse." And then she added in a conspiratorial whisper, "Kaise baal baal bache the na hum us raat?"

"But kitna exciting tha na wo time?" Siddhant nodded fondly at his wife as they both reminisced the day they'd been caught red-handed.

It was during that horrendous Coronavirus pandemic that had plagued the world. The entire country had been put in a strict lockdown, and there was no activity or movement outside. Yet, for Diya and Siddhant, their love had been at its peak. Even those nightly video calls could not suffice the burgeoning desire to meet each other and to be in each other's arms. So as soon as the lockdown was relaxed a bit, one night Siddhant in a romantic Romeo-like adventure lunged over the compound of her home, while Diya awaited her lover by her window. It was almost 1am in the night, and Diya had ensured her parents and siblings were all asleep. Thankfully, Siddhant had no climbing up to do for Diya's room was safely on the ground floor. As soon as the lovers saw each other, there was a fierce embrace and a sudden, unforeseen locking of lips. The dead of the night, the pent-up longing, the romantic adventure brought the heat of the moment up. Their kiss deepened, the embrace tightened.

For a few minutes, Diya and Siddhant forgot where they were, what they were doing- so lost were they in the feel of belonging to each other. Lines might have been crossed that night, if it hadn't been for Sameer, who having gotten up in the night for a bottle of water, heard voices in his daughter's room.

Scared that there was a burglar, or wondering to whom Diya was talking to so late in the night, Sameer knocked on her door. "Diya? Beta jaag rahe ho?"

It was her father's voice that pulled Diya back to consciousness. Siddhant too heard him and their faces paled as Sameer knocked again.

"Diya? Are you all right?"

Sameer thought he heard whispers, and worried for his daughter's safety, barged the door open before Siddhant could hide or make an escape.

There was a man in his daughter's room. And he froze in midstep.

It hardly took him five seconds to figure out the situation from the disheveled look on both their faces, the open window, the guilty gulps.

Sameer plunged at the man and pulled him by the collar. His face was white with fury. "Kaun hai tu? Aur meri beti ke kamre mein kya kar raha hai?"

Diya blanched. "Papa...please...Siddhant...please leave him papa....papa...please!"

Siddhant could do nothing but gulp in fear at the murderous rage in Sameer's eyes. He was trembling with fright, when a stinging hard slap landed across his cheek.

"Papa!" Sameer's hand was raised again but Diya was pulling Sameer away from Siddhant. "Papa please...leave him...papa I love him..."

"Love him?" These words kicked sense into Sameer. "You love him?" He asked, startled, horrified that his daughter could be involved with a man. "You called him here?"

Diya started sobbing, and Sameer instantly softened. He forgot Siddhant and moved to hug his daughter, and saw that Siddhant had moved towards her too. A nasty glare from Sameer, and he backed off, but his eyes continued to flicker between him and Diya in worry.

"Uncle...please don't be mad at her...it's not her fault...I can explain-," Siddhant found his voice.

Sameer stared him down coldly. "You can?" He cocked his brows. "Then explain!"

Siddhant started stuttering in nervousness.

"Maybe start with why are you in my daughter's room," Sameer snapped. He loathed this guy. How could Diya love him?

"I'm really sorry...sir...I didn't mean to...I love...I love Diya but I didn't...."

Gratefully, Naina chose that moment to appear. She had realized Sameer wasn't in bed and had gone out to look for him and found the commotion in Diya's room.

"Kya ho raha hai yeh?" Naina eyed the scene in astonishment. Diya sobbing in Sameer's arms, and a hapless young man almost trembling in front of him. "Kaun hai yeh?"

Sameer turned to her. "Apni beti ke boyfriend se milo...kya naam hai Siddhant...Siddhanton ki badi kami hai iske pass lekin!" Sameer clenched his teeth. Diya shook with fear, but Sameer didn't even lift a finger at her.

Siddhant's face hung down. Naina took a few minutes to process this. She was surprised. Diya had never told her about liking someone. She thought she'd open to her about her crushes after the talk they'd had a few years ago. Suddenly, Naina realized why the name sounded familiar. As Siddhant moved aside, towards the window, she could see him clearer in the moonlight sweeping into the room.

"Tum to Diya ke doctor ho," she exclaimed in surprise, recalling the face she'd seen when she accompanied Diya on a few of her appointments.

Sameer was startled at this piece of information. He was her doctor? Of course! He now recognized him from their first meeting (which hadn't been pleasant as well) when he was furious over aggravation of Diya's PKU a few years ago. That Siddhant had been clad in scrubs and wore thick conspicuous glasses unlike now.

Naina saw Sameer's infamous anger coiling up in his arms. He might hit the guy. She didn't deny that she felt livid at Diya, and to say, somewhat unhappy that she'd allowed a man inside her room in the dead of the night. And then she realized, she had done so for a young man she herself loved, ages ago in that hostel room. Her fury led way to motherly concern. She didn't want Diya to suffer a fate similar to hers. She didn't know Siddhant. No, she mustn't jump to conclusions.

"Relax...ok...calm down...aaram se baat karte hain." Naina switched on the light, and pulled Diya towards her. She was still sobbing.

"Siddhant, I think it is better that you leave right now. We'll talk tomorrow," Naina said, sure that a sensible conversation couldn't happen with Siddhant and Sameer in the same room tonight.

Siddhant cast a look towards Diya who nodded. "Please call me tomorrow," he said to her causing Sameer to throw him another dirty look. Naina led him outside and mumbled that they'll talk tomorrow as Sameer was furious with them both, and she too was disappointed with her daughter's behavior.

When Naina got back into her room, Diya was sitting trembling on the bed, while Sameer was strutting around in rage.

"I'm...I'm sorry papa...," Diya sobbed.

Naina saw Sameer soften at the tears in his daughter's eyes, but did not relent and continued pacing.

Naina came and sat down besides Diya on the bed, and took her in her arms. Through sobs and tears, Diya narrated how she'd fallen for Dr. Siddhant, and how he too had started reciprocating her feelings. It was because of the lockdown that they were missing each other a lot, and were desperate to meet.

"And how do you know that guy loves you as much as you love him?" Naina asked. "Do you realize how dangerous it was letting in someone like that? It's so risky! And what if he took advantage of you? You are young! You wouldn't even realize it until it was too late! Did you not remember what I told you about my life and about being careful?"

Diya sobbed. "He's a nice guy mumma...I want to marry him...I wanted to tell you and papa but-"

"Marry him?" thought Sameer, his face contorted with disgust. That stupid guy. He looked like a fool too! Pata nahi kaise doctor ban jaate hain. To top it all, he is so much older than Diya!

"-but?" prodded Naina.

"- his parents are against him marrying out of their caste. He's their only child and...that's why he has been trying to convince them and wanted time."

"Nonsense. Bahana bana raha hai! Aur time chahiye to tumse door kyun nahi rehta?" Sameer hollered. "Romance ke liye tayyar hai, lekin commitment ke liye nahi...kya hoga is desh ka! Vaise hi umar kaafi lag rahi hai iski-," Sameer was blabbering on.

Naina looked at Sameer in amusement. Despite the situation and her sobbing daughter in her arms, she saw a hint of her own father in Sameer tonight.

"Tumhe kya hua?" Sameer turned to her suspiciously.

Naina took a breath and shook her head. "tum thodi der ke liye bahar jaoge Sameer?"

Sameer opened his mouth to protest but clamped it shut at the expression on his wife's face. "I don't like that guy!" He pouted as he left the room, though Naina was sure he was standing just outside the door. He really loved Diya.

"I know how you feel beta....," Naina started, but Diya cut her off. "I'm sorry mumma...papa is so disappointed in me...I never wanted to hurt any of you..."

"Papa kuch disappointed visappointed nahi hain. He's only concerned for you. All he wants is your happiness."

"He will never accept Siddhant now!" Diya sobbed morosely.

"Wo tum mujhpe chod do," Naina said, "but we'll meet Siddhant and decide as your parents if he is indeed right for you. You are young and bound to make mistakes. Please know that whatever me and your papa decide, it will be for your happiness. I think Siddhant is a decent guy, but we want to be sure. Also, we need to meet his parents. They should be convinced too. Call him over for lunch tomorrow and we'll talk to him first."

"Mumma...you're the best!" Diya flung her arms around her. "I'm really sorry mumma...please tell papa not to hate me....not to hate Siddhant."

"He doesn't hate you. He loves you more than anything in his life. You are still his favorite, you know that right? You're just like him. Stubborn!"

Diya smiled despite her tears.

"And he'll get around to Siddhant. He'll be fine as long as he turns out to be a nice guy who can keep his daughter happy!"

With this, Naina tucked her daughter to sleep. "So jao abhi...call him and tell him you're fine. And kal ek baje lunch pe bulao use."

Naina turned the lights off as she exited the room. As she expected, Sameer was standing huddled in the corner against the wall. He raised his eyes to her in concern.

Naina smiled at the irony of it. Years ago, she was the girl with the secret rendezvous with her lover, and Sameer was the man who climbed up pipes and balconies stealthily to be with her. And the same Sameer was now offended by the presence of a man in his daughter's room. How fate plays around.

Naina motioned for him to come over. She took hold of his arm, and rested her head on his shoulders.

"She's fine. And I think that Siddhant is a good guy. His parents are against an inter-caste marriage, but Diya loves him, and he seems to love her too."

"Lekin Diya bacchi hai abhi...abhi to Diya ne Master's khatam ki hai....yeh sab boyfriend wagerah..."

"Sameer, she'll be twenty five this December. Hamari Diya ab bacchi nahi hai...she's a grown woman now. She craves someone's love, she craves to be someone's wife. We can't really scold her for having feelings for some man. It doesn't mean she loves us less. It's just that she loves someone else too now. She also deserves the love that we have, doesn't she? And let's not forget, kabhi hum bhi young the...kabhi tum bhi aise hi mere room par aaya karte the...it's natural for a girl in Diya's age to fall in love, isn't it?"

Sameer listened to her in silence and sighed. He put his arm around her and pulled her close. He smiled and nodded. "You're the best!" And then he added as an after-thought, his face sulking again. "But I still hate him!"

Naina laughed at his child-like jealousy. "Aaj tum mujhe apne papa ki yaad dila rahe ho."

Sameer shook his head. "I finally understand the man! Is ladke ko dekh ke hi mera BP high ho raha hai!"

"Fir to acha hai ki Siddhant doctor hai...BP ka ilaaj bhi free mein kar dega haina?" Naina laughed.

It wasn't that Naina let Diya completely off the hook. She made Diya and Anu, then twenty, sit down in a girl-to-girl talk and talked about Diya's boyfriend visiting them for lunch today. While at it, she again briefed them on the recklessness she and their father showed in their youth and how it had affected them both. It was a stern reminder for Diya and a complete shock for Anu who got to know about her parents' tumultuous affair and her sister's secret one- all in one day.

Naina told them that being in love was a great feeling, but one must always ensure that the other person is worthy of the love you're showing him or her. A heart in love can be absurdly foolish and blind, and force one to do things they would not have been expected to and even trust people you shouldn't. Hence while it is easy to forget about societal norms and inhibitions in the heat of the moment, it is important to exert caution and care and to not get ahead of oneselves. Naina explained how she and Sameer had always felt that because of their actions, they'd put at risk the life of their unborn child. If Sameer had not been in love with her, or had been an unscrupulous guy, she along with Diya would have had to struggle through the rest of their lives as well.

The lunch that day was a gruelling affair- where Sameer grilled Siddhant on his work, education, life, ambitions, hobbies, bad habits, past relationships (which Naina elbowed him to leave), his parents and family background. A week later, Sameer grudgingly announced that Siddhant seemed fine enough to him. His judgement at the lunch, coupled with some information that he had extracted on his personal life seemed fine enough to proceed.

The task came of convincing Siddhant's parents to accept the proposal, who wanted a Punjabi bride for their only son. When Sameer looked at his daughter's hopeful face, the way she lit up in presence of Siddhant, Sameer acceded and used his businessman abilities to full use in the meeting between the two families. Maheshwaris and Somanis were as it is reputed names, plus Sameer allayed all their fears about adjustment, and going to the extent to tell them that the happiness of their children was of prime importance to them. What good were caste and creed if two people were not happy with each other? And if two people were in love, they were more receptive towards each others' culture, traditions and values. He was sure that Diya would be the daughter-in-law that they always wanted for their son, for if there was someone who had an amazing level of empathy and kindness, it was Diya.

With some thought and consideration, finally both sides had acquiesced and Diya and Siddhant were married. But ten years later, even when Sameer and Siddhant were on good terms, Siddhant couldn't shake off the feeling that his father-in-law never forgave him for stealing into his daughter's room. And Sameer, who'd put the incident behind him long ago, and who was now really fond of Siddhant, did however amuse himself by unsettling his son-in-law once in a while.

"My turn!" Shefali's loud proclamation brought Siddhant to jerk into the present, and remove his hand from his cheek where his father-in-law had blessed him with a slap that fateful night. He caught a glint of amusement in Sameer's eyes, who gave him an endearing smile. Shefali meanwhile had turned to the new Alexa device and was whispering a song. "Sameer, yeh tumhare liye- Arvind aur meri dedication!"

Immediately the device lit up and the speakers blared at full volume,

Yeh ladka hai allah kaisa hai deewana

Kitna mushkil hai tauba isko samjhana

Sameer clasped his face in his hands, "fir se?" he groaned good-naturedly. His late realization of love had made him an eternal object of teasing amongst his friends. Though it was true. He had been a dolt. He looked at Naina who was laughing along with the rest of them.

Ke dheere dheere dil bekarar hota hai

Hote hote hote pyar hota hai

Ho yeh ladka haye allah kaisa hai deewana

On the other side, his son was being heartily ribbed. Deepika nudged Raunak at the song, stifling a grin. "Dekha...Maheshwari men syndrome!"

"Bua...bas karo na!"

Humne to itna dekha, humne to itna seekha

Dil ka sauda hota hai, sauda zindagi ka

Raghav came to his rescue. He was patting his brother-in-law's back jovially, when he was distracted by his wife's lilting voice. The singer in Anu had reared its head and she was singing along.

Milte hi kaise koyi hota hai deewana

Kitna mushkil hai tauba isko samjhana

Ke dheere dheere dil bekarar hota hai

Hote hote hote pyar hota hai

Ho yeh ladka hai allah kaisa hai deewana

Ananya's gaze was locked with Raghav's as she crooned, causing her husband to reminisce the first time he'd met her. Having studied in a boys convent, then at IIT (well known for its dearth of girls), Raghav had decided that once he started working, he'd date a few girls before settling down for good. Though things hadn't really gone as per his plan, and before he could strike the deal with a girl he'd been mildly interested in in office, his parents had put up his profile on a matrimonial app. Raghav was appalled when he heard this and not to mention, extremely reluctant to go in for an arranged marriage.

One could imagine his dour mood, when he had to follow the convention and meet a girl in a traditional set-up. The girl was a music teacher. Music? Art and Technology were poles apart. How could two individuals with such different bents of mind fit together, he thought inwardly, barely glancing up as the girl in question walked into the room. However, the moment he laid his eyes upon her, he was entranced. And as she let out a small, hesitant smile, he knew he'd found the one. Later, Ananya had told him during their engagement-cum-courtship period that she had never clicked with any of the other matches her mother had foisted upon her. She had been yearning for some thrilling love story like her parents, or her elder sister, or her friends. Yet, with Raghav, it had happened almost instantly. All her reluctance had evaporated as she instantly realized that he was the love story she was searching for.

The lovelock was broken as her elder sister Diya, coughed behind them. Flustered, Anu turned her attention back to her parents. "Mumma, papa, tell us about the most special moment or moments of your courting phase."

Naina and Sameer thought for a few seconds. "For me, it was the first time I almost bumped into him in school. It was his first day and he was running chasing some guy, and we almost collided. And I was left looking in his eyes. I was a very nerdy girl. But that was the day I understood what people said when they talked about love and crushes and the racing of one's heart. I think in retrospect, that was the moment I fell for him, and till date, it remains one of my dearest memories," answered Naina, as their children and friends howled, hooted and clapped.

All eyes turned towards Sameer. He mock-thought for a few moments and then cut his eyes to Naina as he muttered, "baarish I guess...monsoon...wo baarish mein ice-cream khana, Mumbai ki baarish mein bheegta hua samandar, aur hathon mein Naina ka hath...". A tinge of red crept up on both their cheeks, as they remembered those romantic moments, even the unsaid memories of getting drenched in the rain and making-out or the time they were stranded together in a hotel room.

His response was greeted with an even louder cheer.

As the evening drove on, Sameer did infact sing "aye meri zoharazabi, tujhe malum nahi, tu abhi tak haseen, aur main jawaan...tujhpe qurban meri jaan meri jaan..." in front of the crowd to a blushing Naina mumbling to regard his age and the audience.

When egged on by her children and friends, Naina fumbled on a few lines of "Aaye ho meri zindagi mein, tum bahar banke, Mere dil mein yunhi rahna, tum pyar pyar ban ke...Ankhon mein tum base ho, sapne hazaar ban ke...Mere dil mein yunhi rahna, tum pyar pyar ban ke," to a hearty applause and the loving look in her husband's eyes.

Raunak and Ved took to the stage next as they cavorted around to Punjabi hits like "Dil chori sadda ho gaya ki kariye...ki kariye...Naino mein kisi ke kho gaya ki kariye ki kariye," "ohooo...ohooo...ishq tera tadpawe," and "dil lena, dil dena ki sauda khara khara...," and soon enough Raghav and Siddhant joined in, as their family cheered and clapped.

The evening had been rather enjoyable- a gathering of select few- a close knit circle of family and friends, where they could all be themselves, joke and tease sans pretenses. Maheshwaris considered themselves lucky that they had such jovial and understanding son-in-laws and the bonds with their friends had remained intact over all these years.

Some more fun moments followed as more anecdotes were exchanged and past memories and incidents were discussed. Raunak pulled out his new IPhone XX and clicked several pictures of the guests around. In the end, Arvind captured a beautiful family picture with Sameer, Naina and their kids and spouses and Ved, which Raunak immediately set as his Facebook Cover Picture. Then the ladies busied themselves in serving dinner, some of their husbands setting the table, some gathering the dishes, some merely wiling away the time still clutching glasses of Whiskey and Rum.

Raunak pulled Ved up, "chal beta...ab tu aur main hi bachelors bache hain yahan pe...tujhe main hi khilata hun."

Ved snorted. "Huh...aap akele ho...I'm taken!"

Raunak chuckled. "Taken? Acha...kaun hai wo madam jisne hamare Ved sahab ka dil taken kar liya?"

"Snigdha!" Ved declared proudly.

"Abhi batata hun teri mummy ko...Diya didi....," he mock cried for his sister.

"Nahi...mummy ko nahi please!" Ved cried.

Raunak laughed, as he scooped dinner onto a plate for Ved. "To fir yeh palak paneer khana padega."

Ved made a face, but acquiesced. "Ok mamu."

"Aur abhi tu khel kood, padhai likhai pe dhyaan de samjha! Snigdha ko kehna ki abhi tu romance ke liye thoda chota hai....10 saal aur wait kar le!"

"Aapne bhi maami ko wait karne ke liye bola hai?"

"Teri aisi ki taisi,"Raunak lunged at him, but missed. Ved scampered off with his plate chuckling.

Raunak shook his head, "Yeh khandaan hi pura love-obsessed hai," and then ladled out some fried rice and dal makhani onto his plate.

As dinner drew near its end, Sameer ambled out in the cold, rubbing his hands. Deepika had tipped him on it. And there as he expected, Raunak and Raghav were standing huddled in a corner, two bright stubs glittering in the dark in their hands. As Sameer approached them, he could smell the smoke around. He cleared his throat, starting the two men.

"Papa? Aap?" Both men immediately dropped the cigarette and stomped the stubs with their feet.

Sameer strode upto them.

"Papa, thand hai bahar kaafi...," Raunak began.

"Tune kabse shuru ki cigarette?" Sameer cut him off.

"Wo...wo...," Raunak's eyes shifted from his brother-in-law who looked as guilty as him to his father.

Sameer's gaze darted to the ground. He rubbed the sole of his boot over the stub. "Gold Flake right?" He looked up at them both. "Used to be my brand too."

Both their eyes shot up to him. "Aapka?"

Sameer smiled. "I was a chain smoker once. I'll not say I'm still not tempted at times, but I've quit for good. Especially after Dr. Saxena told me to take care of my heart. And of course because of your mother," he looked at Raunak, who was speechless.

Sameer turned to Raghav, "Anu is cool I know, but your mother-in-law and even Siddhant will start giving you lectures on cancer and weak lungs and heart and what not," he laughed at them both, "which is all true."

Raghav shifted on his feet. "I'm trying to quit too papaji. Bas wo stress itna hota hai aajkal office mein....is month release hai..."

Sameer nodded in understanding. "I know you are trying to quit. Anu told Naina and Naina told me." He placed a commiserating hand on Raghav's shoulder. "Secrets in this family are a myth. By the way Anu was looking for you."

Raghav nodded. "Ok papa...," and he was off.

Sameer then turned his focus to his son, who scorched under his father's searching gaze. "Papa...wo friends ke sath kabhi kabhi...try ki hai...I don't smoke regularly."

Sameer peered into his eyes for truth and then nodded. "You won't realize when you become a regular. Like what happened with Raghav. And me," he added.

Raunak looked at his feet. "Sorry papa."

"Nah! It's okay. You are young- I expected you to try all this. I was your age once, wasn't I?" His eyes were kinder as he gazed at his son.

Raunak smiled a little, as his father looped an arm around his shoulders as they walked.

"I was almost an alcoholic as well," Sameer whispered and Raunak's eyes shot up to his. Sameer nodded. "Hard core. I think had I not met your mother, I would have needed rehab."

"What?" Raunak was shocked. He'd seen his father drink often, but always in a measured fashion. Why he'd had a few Whiskeys tonight as well, yet he was calm as a feather.

He shrugged. "You know son, there's more to our story than what was said tonight. Lots of things you don't know," Sameer stated calmly, earning him another baffled look from Raunak.

"One day, maybe the two of us would sit down man-to-man, as friends, and I'll tell you the real deal. Maybe over a couple of drinks?" Sameer chuckled, as Raunak blushed. His dad knew that he was a drinker too? How did he have this sixth sense considering he never drank in front of him?

Sameer understood and squeezed his arm as they walked. "I'm your dad. I know you better than you think!"

Raunak felt uncomfortable. "Papa...wo friends ke hi saath-"

"As I said beta, I expected it," Sameer responded calmly as the two walked ahead.

After a brief silence, Sameer started, "Raunak. When I was 21, I thought I knew the best. I believed the world revolved around me. That's the energy, the vibe that youth brings with it. And then life happens. You experience things- wonderful things, tragic things. You assimilate these experiences and grow older, wiser by the day. And then one fine day, like a gentle breeze of wind, love knocks at your door. You can choose to ignore it, or you can choose to face it- immerse yourself in it wholeheartedly. And then you change- you become a better version of yourself. That's the point of love. The person you love and who loves you, accepts you the way you are- but it still enables you to bring out the best in you- all for that one person."

"And that was mom?" Raunak asked.

Sameer took a sigh and nodded. "Yes."

Raunak was surprised. This was the first time his father was being so candid with him. Mostly he'd shared such camaraderie with his sisters, and he with his mother.

"But you know what Raunak, it is important to be receptive towards that love- to know and understand your feelings, to be in touch with what your heart really wants. Because true love doesn't come to everyone, and even then, it doesn't always guarantee a happily ever after. It blesses a select few and then it is upon us not to miss that shot at happiness that life sends our way. No matter how short or long that love is, the memories of time spent with that person can wade you through a lifetime."

For some queer reason, Raunak was thinking of her as his father talked, and he realized how out of character it was for his dad to be talking stuff like this with him. "I know all this papa-"

"-do you?"

Raunak saw his father staring at him. "Then I presume you were thinking about that young lady in question?"

Raunak's face colored and that was evidence enough for Sameer that his son had indeed fallen for someone. Some lucky girl it would be! He thought inwardly, hiding the pride he always felt for his son.

"She's just a friend-" Raunak protested, then bit his lip. He'd fallen right into the trap.

Sameer turned and put both his palms on his shoulders. "That is for you to decide if she's really just a friend or if you are scared to accept that you have feelings for her that go beyond that faint line between love and friendship. Think carefully Raunak. Take your time. There's no hurry but then life, and the girl in question wouldn't be waiting around you forever. Life doesn't always give one second chances. I know, because I was in your shoes once, ignoring what I was feeling, the flutter in my heart whenever your mother was around- I kept attributing it to friendship, even though it was much more beyond it. And then when I lost her I realized my folly. It was difficult to live, to breathe, to be in existence in a world where she wasn't mine. I got another shot at life and love, and I couldn't be more grateful for that. I have you, Anu and Diya. I have Naina by my side and there's nothing more I've wanted in life. I know you are the master of your own life and that these days, youngsters are different, more casual about love. I just do not want you to miss your chance and suffer through what I did." Sameer looked at his son with love. "I just want you to be happy!"

Raunak was shocked to the core. He nodded at his father, unable to form any sentences.

"And Raunak?" Sameer raised his brows. 

"Yes papa?" Rauank responded in a daze.

"I know you're young, handsome and talented. You must be getting a lot of female attention-"

Raunak's face colored at this.

"But please don't fool around with this girl or any other girl giving them false hopes. Don't play with any girl's heart and then leave her heart-broken. If you do that, neither I nor your mother will forgive you."

Raunak was flummoxed. "I won't papa....I know that."

"Bwwaahh...thand bahot ho gayi hai haini? Der bhi ho gayi hai, 10.30 baj rahe hain. Ghar chala jaye?" And Sameer was back to his normal self.

Raunak nodded. "Aap chaliye papa....main aata hun."

Sameer hurried inside, leaving Raunak alone with his thoughts- thoughts of her. Why had his father's words affected him the way they had? He really didn't think of her in that way, did he? Was he ready to lose her? I mean if she decides to be with someone, he'd be happy for her.

"Would you Raunak?" a voice inside him asked, the voice he'd been quelling for months.

"Ummm, but his dad told him that a commitment should be done only when one is sure about it."

While Raunak fought this battle in his head, the guests started taking their leave. Munna and Pandit were a little too tipsy having taken full advantage of the alcohol abundance in Delhi compared to their hometown. Diya urged the uncles and their wives to sleep it off there for the night. Deepika had left earlier to help Kavya with her exam preparation. Soon after Arvind and Shefali took their leave, and then Raghav took Anu home. The party had been fun with close friends and family, everyone decided and the kids especially got to know a new, never-known-before side of their parents.

Raunak drove his parents back home, but all through the car journey, Sameer noticed with immense satisfaction, he seemed to be absorbed in thoughts. Perhaps he could fulfill Naina's wish for a daughter-in-law soon, he smirked to himself. It was a quarter past eleven, before they reached home, tired with the day's exertions.

Raunak parked the car and told his parents that he wanted to take a small stroll.

"Thand mein?" Naina was alarmed, but Sameer saw Raunak was mulling things over.

"Jaldi aa jana beta!" He said to Raunak, as he and Naina entered the living room.

"Raunak ko kya hua hai?" Naina asked. She seemed worried for her son.

"Wahi to soch raha hai wo."

"Matlab?" Naina looked in confusion at her husband.

"Naina yaar...he's grown-up. Treat him like a man. He's not your baby now and he's fine." He put his hands over her shoulders and winked. "You focus on me tonight!"

"Yeh lo...puri zindagi tum pe focus karne me nikaal di-"

"Shhh!" Sameer pulled her closer. "Badi unromantic ho gayi ho aajkal!"

Sameer hummed, "Raat akeli hai, bujh gaye diye....aake mere paas," he pulled her even closer, "kaano mein mere....Jo bhi chaahe kahiye...Jo bhi chaahe kahiye".

Naina was uncomfortable. "Sameer...Raunak bahar khada hai...andar aa gaya toh?"

"Nahi aayega....!" Sameer said, his eyes peering into his wife's. "Dance?" He proffered his hand.

"Dance? Tumhare ghutne nahi dard kar rahe hain?"

"Yaar Naina...Main pyaar ki baat kar raha hun aur tum ghutne mein dard ki. Love and romance should be timeless!" He huffed and turned away from her, sulking.

Naina looked at him in amusement. And then pulled him towards her by his arm.

He relented instantly and smiled. His hands landed back on her waist, while she settled her arms around his neck.

"Music?" she asked.

Softly, he started crooning and moving with her.

Aate Jaate, Hanste Gaate... Socha Tha Maine Man Mein Kai Baar

Woh Pehli Nazar, Halka Sa Asar...Karta Hai Kyun Is Dil Ko Bekaraar?

Ruk Ke Chalna, Chalke Rukna...Na Jaane Tumhe Hai Kiska Intezaar?

Tera Woh Yakin Kahin Main To Nahin....Lagta Hai Yehi Kyon Mujhko Baar Baar?

Yehi Sach Hai, Shayad Maine Pyar Kiya....hmmm haan haan....Tumse...Maine pyaar kiya...

His forehead touched hers as they moved slowly, in sync.

Raunak was heaving and sighing as he returned from his walk across the block, his mind more confused than ever. Why did his dad have to feed him absurd thoughts like he was in love with her, as if he was too naïve to know it himself? He was about to put his key in the lock, when he heard mild laughter through the doors. And then his dad's soulful voice wafted through the doors....

Aate Jaate, Hanste Gaate...Socha Tha Maine Man Mein Kai Baar

Hothon Ki Kali, Kuch Aur Khili...Yeh Dil Pe Hua Hai Kiska Ikhtiyaar

Yehi Sach Hai...haan haan....Tumse...Maine pyaar kiya...

Again his mother's laughter. Curious, he hid himself behind the bushes, and peered in through the window. Inside the dimly lit living room, his parents were in each other's arms, gazing lovingly in each other's eyes, his dad singing, a radiant smile lighting up his face, and his mother blushing and giggling....

The scene was endearing to Raunak. To have his parents, nearing sixty, still behave like teenagers, as if they'd just fallen in love- their happiness was...was contagious. Unknown to him, a smile was playing on his own lips. He was lucky to have such parents who were so devoted to each other and to their children.

Raunak saw his dad take out his phone from his jacket pocket, and slowly type something on the screen. A moment later, he saw his mother's eyes gleam as a melodious song started to play.

Yeh lamha jo thehra hai, Mera hai ye tera hai

Yeh lamha main jee loon zara....

His dad pulled his mother back in his arms, beaming wide as he murmured along with the song as they danced slowly. Raunak turned around, letting them have their moment in private.

Tujh mein khoya rahoon main, Mujh mein khoyi rahe tu

Khudko dhoondh lenge phir kabhi...

Tujhse milta rahoon main, Mujhse milti rahe tu

Khud se hum milenge phir kabhi....

Haa. phir kabhi

Memories of his childhood resurfaced in his head as he listened to the song. When he'd been about seven or eight, this movie had released and his dad being a Dhoni fan, had taken them all to the theatre to see the film. Afterwards, he'd taken a special fancy to its songs and the lead actor, the late Sushant Singh Rajput, calling him a wonderful find. He would always be amazed at how exceptionally multi-talented he was and their entire family had been rattled with the news of his tragic early demise. Raunak had faint recollections of his dad singing this particular song, day and night, for months and years to come, sometimes singing it to his mother, twirling her as she worked in the kitchen, or sometimes practicing it over his old guitar, or simply blaring it from speakers on wintry evenings.

A small beep sounded from his phone. It was a WhatsApp text from her.

"Asleep? How was the party?" said the message.

Raunak read it immediately, and was about to type his reply, almost, that he saw his parents dancing in the privacy of their living room that his fingers stilled.

It was such a personal moment, yet he wanted to share it with her- know her views on it. She practically knew everything in his life- right from the little nothings, to the huge wins and the grave disappointments. For the past three years he'd known her, it was as if she'd become an unsaid center for him. When he got admitted to IIM in Ahemdabad, the thought of parting from her had been devastating. She had cried, she admitted, but Raunak had assured her it would be fine. He had never accepted it, but he had been miserable without her too. And this was when they spoke over phone, texts and video calls daily. He just did not know why he missed her so much- even more than he missed his parents, his sisters and his best friends. Why hadn't he seen it before? She cared for him more than was expected. And he had always reciprocated that care.

He tapped at the display picture and it zoomed in. A slender girl with incredibly long, black hair, and a pretty face was sitting on a rockside by a lake. It was from the vacation she took with her family last year. Amidst the verdant forest, the sparkling water, she looked nothing less than a forest fairy. Raunak turned back. His parents were still laughing, still in each other's arms. His dad was pressuring his mum to sing a song for him, and she was denying it, grinning, laughing as he twirled her around. He stared at the photo and then his parents. And all of a sudden, he had a moment of epiphany. In the laughing couple in the living room, he saw himself twirling her, their hair greying at the edges, but their love ever young and plentiful.

Excerpts from the song playing inside reached his ears.

Kyun bewajah gungunaaye, Kyun bewajah muskuraaye

Palkein chamakne lagi hain...Ab khwaab kaise chupaaye

Behki si baatein kar lein, Hans hans ke aankhen bhar lein

Ye behoshiyan phir kahan...

Tujhme khoya rahoon main, Mujhme khoyi rahe tu

Khud ko dhoondh lenge phir kabhi...

Tujhse milta rahoon main, Mujhse milti rahe tu

Khud se hum milenge phir kabhi...Haa. phir kabhi

"Damn!" Raunak finally understood it. His father's words rang in his ears. There's no hurry but then life, and the girl in question wouldn't be waiting around you forever.

"Why didn't I understand it before? The Maheshwari men syndrome is real!" He cursed himself as he flew towards the garage and picked up his motorbike.

Within minutes, the bike reared out of the compound. Naina stared through the window. "Yeh ladka aadhi raat ko kahan gaya?"

"Apni Naina se milne gaya hoga...," he chuckled. When Naina looked at him in confusion, Sameer narrated what all Deepika had told him, and why Raunak had been the object of teasing at the table tonight.

"Do you really think he's in love?" Naina asked incredulously. "He's only twenty one!"

"I was twenty when I knew I loved you and wanted to marry you and I was still late!" He shrugged. "I don't know how he feels for that girl, but I told him not to run away from what his hearts says." He added after a pause, "Vaise Naina, yeh tum keh rahi ho? Raunak ki shaadi ki sabse zyada jaldi to tumhe hai!"

Naina grinned. "Aaj kal ke bacche itni jaldi commitment mein nahi padte, fir shaadi to bahot door ki cheez hai. Abhi se piche padungi tab jaake 25-26 mein dekhna start karne dega, but agar ladki usne khud hi fix kar li hai toh toh meri tension khatam." She put her arms around his neck. "I can now focus on my husband."

Raunak sped along through the bitter cold night in frenzy. He'd even forgotten his jacket in a hurry, but that didn't bother him.

A little less than twenty minutes later, he parked his bike next to a brown stone-brick double-storied bungalow.

Carefully, he slid into the shadows and pressed the bike horn twice. The sound seared through the dead of the night. As expected, she appeared immediately on the balcony. Dressed in a pale yellow frock, with a long cardigan, she shone like the moon against the inky sky. Her long hair was open, fluttering about in the breeze behind her and on her face was surprise and a smile so big that he thought will explode his heart with joy.

She crossed her arms around herself to prevent herself from shivering in the cold, and mouthed at him, "yahan kaise?"

Obviously, she hadn't expected him to be there at this time of the night. But Raunak could not answer. His gaze was fixated on the ethereal beauty in front of him. How could he have not known it before? How could he have been so blind to the one, when she'd been right in front of him the whole time. His face erupted slowly in a grin, his heartbeat escalating, and he fished his phone out of his pocket, his eyes still set on her face. He pressed dial and the girl on the balcony glanced back towards her room. He nodded and she rushed to fetch her phone.

As she slid the receive call button, and pressed it to her ears, she could hear his tremulous breathing.

"Raunak? Kya hua? Is time? Kuch bol na? Yahan achanak kaise?"

"Shhh..." He silenced her and then he steeled himself and began.

Softly he hummed in the dead of the night,

"Aate Jaate, Hanste Gaate... Socha Tha Maine Man Mein Kai Baar

Woh Pehli Nazar, Halka Sa Asar...Karta Hai Kyun Is Dil Ko Bekaraar?"

The woman looked surprised as she listened.

Raunak hummed, and then suddenly paused. Confusion spread over his face as he tried to recollect the lyrics that came next. Defeated, he continued in the sing-song voice, "aage ka...mujhe nahi aata...hmmm haan haan...."

She giggled as Raunak smiled sheepishly. Then she heard him sigh before he completed,

"Yehi Sach Hai, Shayad Maine Pyar Kiya....hmmm haan haan....Tumse...Maine pyaar kiya..."

Raunak heard the sharp intake of her breath, her eyes widening with astonishment. He felt a pang of fear, fear of rejection, the anticipation of acceptance, the trepidation of not knowing what lay in her heart. He switched to the words from the original song, words he was suddenly dying to tell her.

"I just called to say I love you

I just called to say how much I care

I just called to say I love you

And I mean it from the bottom of my heart"

As he completed, he exhaled deeply, letting out a frosty breath and shrugged his shoulders. The girl was still stunned, and Raunak waited- waited for his fate to unveil. And then she smiled- a smile so huge that it lit up her face in an angelic glow and he knew.

Her lips trembled, "Idiot! I thought you'll never say it!"

Raunak grinned. "Ideally, you are supposed to answer- Yes Raunak, I love you too or No....No, forget it, say Yes."

She was blushing now, "obviously. I love you too. You should know it by now!"

She blew him a kiss, which Raunak caught and sealed to his heart. Lyrics from his dad's favorite melody would have apt for Raunak's situation as he stared at his love in wonder.

Dil pe taras aa raha hai, Pagal kahin ho na jaaye

Woh bhi main sunne laga hoon, Jo tum kabhi keh na paaye

Yeh subah phir aayegi, Yeh shamein phir aayengi

Yeh nazdeekiyaan phir kahan

Tujhme khoya rahoon main, Mujhme khoyi rahe tu

Khud ko dhoondh lenge phir kabhi

Tujhse milta rahoon main, Mujhse milti rahe tu

Khud se hum milenge phir kabhi...Haa. phir kabhi

The new love was blooming as bright as the Night Queen on the walls of the compound, spreading its fragrance far and wide- wide enough to reach her mother's senses.

Now aware of her daughter whispering to some stranger on the phone in the balcony, she sneaked besides the balcony door and heard vows of eternal love being exchanged. Startled, she peeked down to get a look at the young man who had caught her daughter's heart.

A tall well-built figure, silky locks of hair sprayed around his face by the night wind, leaning against a fancy bike, his love-smitten eyes peering at her daughter. The sight was so shocking, so familiar that she almost stumbled over a chair.

"Sameer?" she mouthed, but no....this wasn't him. But the resemblance was uncanny. "Could this be...be his son?" she contemplated.

She glanced at her daughter. She was charmed by the young man. Quietly, she took out her phone, opened Facebook and browsed through her daughter's profile. She typed 'Maheshwari' in the friends section and bingo, a name Raunak Maheshwari popped up in her feed. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. She clicked on the profile. It was set to private, but she could clearly see the recently updated cover picture. It was a family picture at a celebration, captioned Happy Anniversary Mum n Dad. Raunak was smiling, his fingers spread out in a V. And then she saw it. Just next to him was his father, his arm around his wife, both smiling at the camera, flanked by two women that she expected to be their daughters, and their families.

"Damn! Of all the men in the whole wide world!" she heaved a sigh. She pinched her eyes closed. Of course, it was 2nd December!

She turned on her toes as quietly as she could. A quick search in the phone numbers she had strangely stored years ago when he'd called on her father's passing away yielded Sameer Maheshwari's number. She pressed dial, not even bothering with the time of the night.

The call was answered on the third ring.

"Hello?" she heard his voice, crisp as ever, even after all these years.

"Maheshwari!" she almost barked into the phone.

There was a silence at the other end.

"No...Noopur?"

"Haan...aur kaun...Tumhare Maheshwari khandan ke ladkon ko hamare hi ghar ki ladkiyan milti hain kya?"

"Kya...kya matlab?"

"Matlab ki tumhara beta...Raunak right? Is time mere ghar ki balcony ke niche khade hoke I love you...I love you kar raha hai-"

"Raunak?" Sameer was shocked.

"Haan Raunak!"

"Tumhari beti ke ghar...," Sameer remembered the name in the magazine today, "-Payal?"

"Haan Payal...I'm telling you Maheshwari...if he breaks my daughter's heart na...tumhe to maine chod diya...but I'm not going to leave him or you if any of you hurt Payal!"

"Payal...," Sameer was contemplating. "Payal wo ladki hai?"

"Haan...tum pehle se zyada dull hote jaa rahe ho kya?" she snapped irritatedly.

"Matlab tumhe koi problem nahi agar Raunak aur Payal...?"

Noopur paused for a moment. "I just want my daughter to be happy...even if it means seeing you again, I'll do it."

As Sameer ended the call, the shock on his face was reciprocated by the worry on Naina's.

"Kya hua?"

Sameer shook his head, stunned at the incredulity of the situation.

"Raunak...Raunak....," he said in a daze.

"Kya Raunak? Kya hua mere bacche ko?" Naina urged, worry writ across her face.

"Raunak is in love...and the girl is Payal...Noopur's daughter."

It was Naina's turn to be taken aback.

"Noopur ki beti? And she's okay with it?"

"Only for the sake of her daughter's happiness."

Few minutes later, they heard the creak of the main door as Raunak entered. With cat-like steps, he ascended the stairs, but sneezed just as he crossed his parents' room. The cold never agreed with him! Not wanting to be questioned by his parents at this hour and eager to continue the converstion with Payal over video-call all night long, he quickly scampered to his room.

Naina and Sameer were still amazed at this turn of fate. Raunak had no idea about Sameer and Noopur's past. Initially as they discussed this strange happening, Naina felt wary of having ties with her family again, but then she realized if Noopur, being the aggrieved party could move past it even if for the sake of her child's happiness, why couldn't they both? They couldn't mend the past, but they could prevent the future from being broken. It was as if tonight, life had come to a full circle.

Sameer was leaning against the headboard of the bed, Naina's head resting on his shoulders, when Naina suddenly pulled the quilt away and started rummaging in her drawer.

"Kya dhundh rahi ho?" he asked, as Naina continued to ruffle through the documents inside.

"Yeh!" she said as she finally got hold of the object of her search.

She got back inside the quilt, against his arms. In her hands was a thick sheath of paper bound together.

Sameer look at her curiously. "Yeh kaunsi manuscript hai? Aur yeh print kyun ki tumne? Mail kar deti."

"Tumhe laptop pe padhne mein aur edit karne mein mushkil hoti hai na, isliye tumhare liye print ki. Sameer, yeh book meri life ki sabse special book hai. Pata hai kyun?"

"Kyun?"

"Kyunki yeh hamari kahani hai," Naina answered.

Sameer raised his eyebrows, "really?"

Naina nodded. "Ekdum. Kab tak hum jhoothi kahani batate rahenge. Mujhe laga I wanted everyone to know the whole truth one day- especially our children. Hum hamesha unse pura sach chupate aaye hain, jaise ki Arvind ki aur hamari pehchaan kaise huyi...and Noopur. Raunak ko to andaza tak nahi...Isliye shayad jo baatein hum unse keh nahi sakte, ya wo jahan humein samajh nahi paaye...yeh kitaab padh kar shayad wo humein, hamare galat-sahi decisions, hamare halaaton ko, hamare pyaar ko samajh payenge."

Sameer looked at her lovingly. He pulled her closer and planted a kiss on her forehead.

"Main chahti hun tum yeh kahani padho, aur apne feelings, apne emotions mujhe batao taaki main unhe modify kar paun, include kar paun..."

Sameer smiled at her. "Of course."

And quietly, Sameer opened the book to the first page to the story of Pavan and Akshi-

Expectedly Unexpected,

by Naina Sameer Maheshwari

THE END

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I can't believe I finally wrote the words 'The End' for this story. I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I have lost track of how many times I've read through and edited this one. Yet, errors and mistakes are bound to creep in. 

So biggest question- who was confused by Raghav and Raunak's names? I was myself, but couldn't bring myself to change either of them. :P

The reason I chose such a long leap here, was because I wanted to show all these Samaina moments. My dad used to say, when you reach a certain age, you start introspecting on the life you lived- the good decisions and the bad. Yes, we are all humans, and we all have and would make mistakes. We would hurt people. But we might be touched by someone's generosity too. The important thing is to learn your lessons, so that when the time comes for us to say goodbye, we would not have any regrets left. 

I would especially like to thank Dikhsha for the lockdown idea and for using the song, "woh din bhi kya din the" from Chichhore.." I tried my best to use it in that setting you described (which I still feel is perfect), but this is as close I got it. Hope you liked it! 

My lovely readers, please drop in your reviews about the final part. I would love to hear from you! 

Much love,

Sur