Part 16

Ok people... here is the next part. Read and enjoy and don't forget to vote and leave your comments... I love them and they inspire me to continue this most beautiful track.

In the late afternoon, Sameer was packing his bags with MP's help.

Munna expressed worriedly: Yaar Sameer, waise toh bahut achcha hai, ki ab tu 24 ghante Naina ke saath rahega, par yaar andar se aisi feeling aa rahi hai, jaise dushman desh mein nihaththa ja raha hai. Yaar Naina ke saath rehne ke liye tujhe uss safari suit aur uske lambe chaude khandaan ko bhi toh jhelna padega!

Sameer: Munna, main janta hoon Rakesh sir bahut naaraz hai, aur honge bhi. Waise bhi wo mujhe pasand nahi karte aur ab toh meri wajah se unki beti ko chot bhi lag gayi. Main jaanta hoon, aasan nahi hoga waha rehna, par yaar Naina ke liye main kuch bhi kar sakta hoon. Agar Naina apni jaan ki parwaah kiye bina mujhe bacha sakti hai, toh kya main uske liye uske papa ki daant aur thode thappad nahi kha sakta? Waise bhi mere honewale Sasurji hai....itna haq toh banta hai unka. Sameer jibed him playfully.

Pandit: Sahi ke raha hai tu Sameer...ab okhli mein sar de hi diya hai toh musal se kya darna?
While the trio were hugging, Nanu walked in and seeing them hug, commented.
Nanu: Wah wah, dost ko vida kiya ja raha hai?
The trio broke their hug.

Nanu: Packing ho gayi Sameer? Zaroorat ka saara saaman rakh liya?

Sameer: Ji Nanu....Sabkuch rakh liya. Then thinking something, he asked. Ek baat puchu Nanu?

Nanu: Puch na beta.

Sameer: Aaaj aapne mujhe school se rusticate hone se bacha toh liya, par jo sazaa dilvayi, wo sazaa hoke bhi mujhe sazaa jaisi kyon nahi lag rahi hai? Aisa kyon lag raha hai ki aapne yeh jaan bujkar kiya? Aap kyon chahte hai ki main apni galati sudharne liye Rakesh sir ke ghar jaaon?

Nanu: Chal, yeh jaankar achcha laga ki tu bina kahe hi samajh gaya ki main chahta hoon ki tu wahan jaaye aur rahe. Par beta, main bhi tera Nana hoon. Yeh baal dhoop mein safed nahi kiye hai.

Pandit: Fir kaise safed huye?

Nanu: Chup karke khade raho wahi par...Nanu playfully glared at Pandit and continued. Sameer, jaise tu bina kahe meri baat samajh gaya, mein bhi toh tera Nana hoon. Bina kahe hi samajh gaya. Jab se tu Mt. Abu se wapas aaya hai, tu mera wo Sameeer nahi raha, badal gaya hai. Teri aakhon mein ek alag si khushi hai, aur thodi si udaasi bhi. Der raat tak phone pe baat karna bhi bandh hai aur tune apne baal bhi katwa liye!

Sameer's eyes whisked to his Nanu with a surprised look, that though Nanu never asked or interfered in his matters, he had noticed everything all along.

Nanu continued: Aur aaj jab sab tujhe kasoorvar thehrakar sazaa ki baat kar rahe the, tere chehre se saaf pataa chal raha tha ki tujhe apni koi fikr nahi hai. Par jab Rakeshji ne Naina ke baarein mein bolna shuru kiya, toh teri aakhon mein khudke liye naraazgi dekhi maine, kuch na kar paane ki majboori saaf jhalak rahi thi. Toh ab tu bataa, aisa kya hai jo tune mujhe ab tak nahi bataya? Beta, yeh baal na tajoorbe se safed huye hai....waise toh teri aakhen padhkar bataa sakta hoon ki tere mann mein kya chal raha hai, par main chahta hoon ki tu mujhe sirf apna Nanu nahi dost bhi samjhe, aur apne dil ki baat kahe....Bol na beta, kya baat hai jo tujhe itna pareshan kar rahi hai!

Sameer thought for a few seconds and looked at his friends. They also signaled him to share everything with Nanu.

Sameer: Nanu, aa...aap... aap sahi the, uss special friend ke baarein mein....wo Naina hi hai aur main usse....mein usse bahut pyar karta hoon.

Nanu rejoiced: Yeh toh bahut Khushi ki baat hai beta... Naina toh bahut achchi ladki hai!

Nanu recalled how she had rushed him to the hospital when he had collapsed in the market. The poor girl had missed her debate competition and later he came to know that she had to incur teacher's wrath, but still she hadn't uttered a word in her defense. Such selfless pure soul she was and thus perfect for his kind-hearted Sameer. They were perfect for each other.

Nanu: Fir tu itna udaas kyon hai, kya wo tujhse pyar nahi karti?

Sameer: Nahi nahi Nanu, wo toh bahut pyar karti thi!

Nanu: Thi... Matlab?

Sameer: Nanu wo mujhse na ek bahut badi galati ho gayi... Sameer started to narrate how he placed the bet to avenge the insults and accusations hurled at him by her and her father, how he had tainted his upbringing, maligning his Nanu and mom's name. So, he had seeked revenge by making Naina fall in love with him and making her confess I love you in front of everyone, so he could show Rakesh sir, what kind of upbringing he gave to his daughter. But, while faking his friendship, he got to know what a pure and genuine soul she was, how much dedicated she was to him and how much she loved him. And unknowingly, he too fell for her. He also told Nanu that he had committed himself totally to his Naina in a temple, promising her several lifetimes of togetherness, and he also cut his hair to assure her of his love. But when she came to know about the bet, she was heartbroken. She had said she forgave him but now didn't even want to be friends with him, forget being a special friend. So, this school competition was a golden opportunity for him to gain her trust back and invoke that love she still had for him, but now he had again done a disaster and she got hurt because of him.

Nanu could see the love in Sameer's eyes, now lowered, remorse over his actions. He was upset that Sameer had tried to play with someone's feelings, which was not like him, but now he was truly guilty and wanted to mend the broken heart, trust, friendship, and love.

Nanu was angry though: Sameer, tune yeh bahut galat kiya. Main kabhi soch bhi nahi sakta tha ki mera shararti Sameer kisiki bhavnaon ke saath bhi khel sakta hai. Yeh paap hai!

Sameer: Jaanta hoon Nanu, isliye ab tak aap ko batane ki himmat nahi ho rahi thi... maine socha ek baar Naina ko mana loon, hamare beech sab theek ho jaaye, fir aap ko bataunga. Naina kehti toh hai ki usne mujhe maaf kar diya, par main jaanta hoon ki uske dil mein dard hai, aur dil se usne mujhe maaf nahi kiya, aur ab yeh bhi kehti hai ki mujhse koi rishta nahi rakhna chahti.

Nanu: Bilkul sahi hai, tujhe itni aasani se maaf thode hi karegi....tune kaam hi aisa kiya hai, dil lagaya bhi aur tod bhi diya. Par beta, agar saari zindagi aur aanewali har zindagi uske saath bitani hai toh pehle jo raita failaya hai use samet...Matlab mein jo soch raha tha aur mera tujhe waha bhejne ka nirnay bilkul sahi tha! Dekh beta, ab tujhe uske saath 24 ghante rehne ka mauka milega, school mein bhi aur ghar par bhi. Ab tujhe apne pyar se, aur apni koshishon se uske dil ka dard dur karke usmein fir se pyar jagana hoga. Yeh raasta aasan nahi hoga, kyonki wo khulkar tera saath nahi degi, aur Rakeshji ko toh tu jaanta hai, teri galatiyan khodkhodkar nikalenge aur baaki parivar jane tere saath kaisa bartav karega? Par tujhe himmat nahi haarni aur apna dheeraj nahi khona. Ek baar tere gusse ki wajah se sab bigad gaya hai, ab tujhe uss gusse par kabu rakhna hoga aur pyar se aur aaram se dheere dheere sab theek karna hoga, Samjha?

Sameer: Ji Nanu, aap fikr mat kijiye, main ab samajh gaya hoon. Aur Naina aur apne rishte ko sahi karne liye jo bhi karna padega main karoonga. Chahe jitna waqt lag jaaye, main peeche nahi hatoonga!

Nanu: Yeh hui na Sameer Maheshwariwali baat...And he hugged him, MP also joined the hug.

Nanu: Aur tum dono, rahu ketu, galati karne se Sameer ko rok nahi sakte the?

MP: Nanaji wo... and they started ruffling their hair...Nanaji wo hum Sameer........

Nanu: Haan haan theek hai theek hai....ab apne dost ka saath do...par koi bawal mat karna..

Munna: Hum toh Sameer ka saaya hai Nanaji.

Pandit: Haan Nanaji, Sameer ke saath saath, Sameer ke sang sang!

All four hugged. Then, Nanu instructed him again to keep patience and not lose his cool. He had not only to win back Naina's heart but also make place in her family if he dreamt of their future together. The Agarwals had to accept him.

Agarwal house:
Naina had just arrived from the hospital and was seated at the sofa. Chachiji was fussing around her with a pillow and asking her to relax. The hand was loosely bandaged so that the burnt part would not scrape anywhere, but the slightest movement hurt her and she cried out in pain.

Taiji: O bai....aa gayi maharani karamkand karke...thoda dyaan nahi rakh sakti thi! Pataa bhi hai, iss haath ke ilaaj mein kitna paisa kharch ho jaayega. Paise tou ped pe lage hai tumhare aur tumhare baap ke liye, ki bade bhaisahib ne ped hilaya aur note baras pade!

Chachaji: Buss kariye Bhabhiji, bachchi kitni takleef mein hai, abhi hamara saara dhyaan ispar hona chahiye ki Naina jald se jald theek ho jaaye!

Rakesh: Arre haan wo toh ho ji jaayegi. Aur Bhabhiji aapko paison ki chinta karne ki zaroorat nahi hai, school ke trustee ke Naati ki laparwahi se hua hai yeh, toh school ka trust fund hi Naina ke ilaaj ka kharcha uthayega, Principal sir aur trustee Maheshwariji ne khud mujhe aashwast kiya hai!

Taiji: Ne wah! Aapke toh bade maze hai Rakeshji, beti ki chot ko paisa kamane ke zariya bana liya, par ab 24 ghante iss maharani ki seva kaun karega, seedha haath jalakar aayi hai.
Then, she directed her taunts to Naina: Ek toh waise hi jali hui kundali lekar paida hui hai. Paida hote hi maa ko kha gayi, ab haath bhi jala liya. Agar karamjali, kahi chehra ya aakhen jal jaati toh saari umar hamari chaati pe moong dalti. Waise bhi haath theek bhi ho gaya toh kya, jale ke nishaan toh kabhi nahi mitte...ek toh na shakal hai, na baap ke paas dene ko dahej, upar se ab shareer pe daag bhi reh jaayenge... kaun karega isse shadi? Rajkumar toh aane se raha, ab toh koi sadak chaap bhikhari bhi iska haath nahi thamega...

Sameer had just reached the floor and was trying to figure out her flat and hearing the commotion and Rakesh sir's voice, he turned to flat 101. He was standing by the door and heard everything, all the taunts that were hurled at Naina. He was guilty that because of him, she was subjected to this, but more so angry that how neither her father nor her Taiji cared about her pain but were rather worried about money, marriage, and dowry.

Naina's eyes were brimming with tears, and he could see the mixed pain due to the burns and also the burning taunts. Wish he could stop it right now and take her away with him. He closed his eyes and tried to calm down. He could not act on the whims of his anger, he had willingly embarked on a thorn-filled path and now had to walk down all the way as he could visualize, a smiling Naina with love-filled eyes, welcoming him at the other end with open arms.

Preeti: Buss kijiye na Taiji...dekhiye na Naina kitni taqleef mein hai!

Tayiji: O bai! Ye taqleef mein hai, aur hume jo taqleef hogi uska kya?

Chachi: Bhagwan jhooth na bulvaye Bhabhiji. Hum sab hai na, milkar Naina ka khayal rakhenge. Waise bhi Naina beti hamare saath rehti hai, aap chinta mat kijiye, hum khayal rakhenge iska.

Just then, Sameer said from the door: Namaste! Main Sameer...
All eyes darted to him.

Rakesh: Lijiye Bhabhiji, savak aa gaya, ab aapko Naina ke liye pareshan hone ki zaroorat nahi hai. Ye rakhega Naina ka khayal aur uske theek hone tak uski seva karega aur tab tak yahi rahega, 24 ghante!

Taiji: O bai....ab ek paraya jawan ladka hamare ghar mein rahega...Rakeshji, aapki toh mati maari gayi hai, jawan ladkiyon wale ghar mein aap ek anjaan jawan ladke ko le aaye, upar se 24 ghante wo hamari ladkiyon ke aas paas rahega! Agarwal khandaan ki toh naak hi kat jaaeygi!

Rakesh: Koi naak nahi kategi... yeh yahan naukri karne aaya hai...toh wahi karega...Naina ke saare kaam aur ghar mein uske hisse ke saare kaam bhi ye hi karega! Maheshwariji ne khud iski sazaa taiyy ki hai!

Tauji: Maheshwariji? Rakesh, kya tum school ke trustee Jaypraksh Maheshwariji ki baat kar rahe ho?

Rakesh: Ji Bhaisahab, yeh unka Naati hai, par ab hamara naukar.

Tauji: Chup raho rakesh. Itne bade ghar ke ladke se tum chakri karvaoge?

Sameer still standing at the door: Ji, main toh buss apni galati sudharne aaya hoon. Sab kuch theek karne and his eyes met Naina's, who didn't know how she should react.

Taiji realized that he belonged to a rich family and it was her husband's policy to befriend all rich families so that he could be hired for all their legal works and they would gain name, fame, and wealth.
She suddenly changed her tactics: Aao na beta, andar aao, bahar kyon khade ho.

Sameer started to come in but Chachiji's words stopped him.

Chachiji: Joote bahar hi utarkar aana.

Sameer halted and bent down to remove his shoes and socks on the threshold.

Just then a neighbor girl was about to saunter past him in the house hollering: Bela aunty, aapne Jamnagar ke mandir se sindoor mangwaya tha na, main leke aayi hoon.
She was about to enter when Sameer straightened, and his shoulder hit her hand carrying the bottle. The bottle fell from her hand and the sindoor spread on the floor near the threshold.

Before Sameer realized, and anyone stopped him, he stepped on it and entered inside with red footprints, marking and firming his entry in the Agarwal house.
So, whether or not they liked him yet, the would-be damaad made his grand entry.