Sameer had a tough time restraining himself from holding Naina... she was right in front of him... but so were many other people. He did not let his eyes leave her though, even for a single moment.

Her movements, her smile, her proximity, everything was mesmerizing him.

"Sameer, Naina ke alawa aur log bhi hain yahan," Rishi nudged, bringing him out of the world he was lost in.

Naina blushed, immediately moving away.

"Woh mujhe Rahul ko kuch kehna tha." She looked at Rishi.

"Kya? Main bol deta hun." Sameer offered.

"Usko batana tha ki Sonali neeche wale kamre ki khidki mein hai... woh aaj ke liye hum dono neeche shift ho gaye the." She conveyed.

Sameer nodded and walked up to Rahul who was still glancing at the balcony repeatedly.

Sameer waved at him to bend down and whispered Sonali's message. Rahul straightened, immediately directing his gaze at the window of ground floor house and a bright smile appeared on his face.

As Rahul's father asked the band to stop, Amit came forward to help the groom step down the horse.

Naina stepped behind bhabhi who was standing with Sonali's mother and other ladies at the main entrance to perform the aarti. Rahul bent his head as his mother in law applied red tilak and welcomed him inside, along with his family. When everyone moved in, bhabhi turned to go and keep the aarti thali back.

"Bhabhi, yeh tilak kya sirf dulhe ko hi lagta hai?" Sameer's voice stopped her.

She turned and smiled at him, "Waise toh dulhe ko lagate hai par koi aur chahe toh laga sakte hain."

She raised her eyebrows at him in question as he pointed towards his forehead.

Naina, who had stopped and turned too, looked in amazement as Sameer got a tilak put again.

"Ab yeh bhi bata do yeh tilak ka shauk kaise ho gaya tumhe?" Bhabhi teased after she was done.

Sameer gave a smirk, "Bas aise hi, samajh lo ek aur dulha aaya hai."

Naina wanted to put her hand over his mouth... petrified that he would blurt out something.

"Toh ghodi chad ke aate na... hum toh khushi se swaagat karte." Bhabhi's smile widened.

"Dulha toh dulha hota hai na... ghodi pe aaye ya aise hi... dulhan ko toh lekar hi jayega." Sameer glanced at Naina, grinning as bhabhi gave a playful smack on his arm and left.

Naina moved towards him to give a piece of her mind when bhabhi called over her shoulder, "Aaja Naina, Sonali ko leke aana hai."

He stepped in front of her as she came ahead.

"Sameer, yahan itne log hain... tum kya kar rahe ho? Aur kya bol rahe the bhabhi ko? Please kisiko batana mat." She pleaded.

"Nahi bataunga... par tumhe kuch batana hai." He raised his hand to touch her face.

"Abhi nahi," she ducked, running away to follow bhabhi.

"Naina," he called out after her, pouting.

Holding her lehenga with both hands, she hurried towards the house, looking back to give a cheeky smile... and Sameer felt his heart jump to his mouth.

The bride arrived shortly, moving slowly towards the raised platform created specially for the bride and groom.

Naina had stayed back, calling Sonali's cousins to walk along with her.

She stood behind most of the relatives, watching Sonali reach the place where Rahul was waiting.

He came forward and offered his hand to his bride to help her come up the two small steps to reach the platform. Two heavy flower garlands were brought and handed to them. They stood facing each other.

Rahul had warned his brother and cousins that no one would pick him up... at such times, the boy was usually picked to make it difficult for the girl to put the garland around him. The bride was then picked up by her brothers to reach him and it was a tussle from both sides to make each other wear the garland.

"Mujhe yeh circus nahi chahiye... agar tum mein se kisi ne koshish bhi ki mujhe upar uthane ki toh wahin pe dhulai kar dunga... samajh  gaye na?" He had told all of them after the evening pooja.

He didn't want Sonali to be uncomfortable being picked up in the heavily dressed state. She had once mentioned how traumatizing it must be for the bride to be raised up like this when it was difficult to even walk properly without help. More than the moment or her dulha she would be worried about keeping her dupatta from slipping away from the head... or getting torn as it was pinned at various places.

Now that the moment was here, he bowed his head, letting Sonali put the garland with ease. Her grateful smile was worth the teasing that he was subjected to by his relatives and cousins... that he was already dancing to the tunes of his soon to be wife. Rahul completed the ritual by putting a similar garland around Sonali and everyone clapped, along with showering petals on them.

Naina suddenly felt emotional... a lump forming in her throat.

"Yeh din kya meri zindagi mein aayega jab saare gharwale khushi se mujhe aur Sameer ko aise ek hone denge," she wondered.

The flower petals that were being showered on the bride and groom somehow landed on her.

Startled, she picked up one from her dupatta and looked around. Sameer stood beside her, with a handful of petals.

"Unpe dalne hai, mujhpe nahi," she tried to hide her shy smile, picking up another one stuck to her dupatta.

"Tumhe batana hai ki ek din humpe bhi sab aise hi phool dalenge," he put her unspoken fear to rest.

Naina looked at him in wonder, thinking how he could read each and every thought of hers.

He held her hand, pressing it gently when she tried to take it away from his grasp.

"Tum itni sundar lag rahi ho ki mere dil ki dhadkan kaabu mein nahi aa rahi." He leaned sideways, speaking in a low whisper.

Her cheeks flamed up... the goosebumps erupted all over as his thumb made slow circles on the back of her hand.

"Sameer... " Her shaky voice made him move closer to her.

"Tumhari mehendi mein mera naam hai, tumhare maathe pe mera rang... toh dar kyon rahi ho?" He smiled at her.

She shivered at his words.

"Haan, mujhe pata hai tumne woh rang nahi hataya... bas chupa ke rakha hai, " he read her thoughts again.

She looked up at him. The red pagdi, red tilak, his closed collar suit... he did look like a groom... a very handsome groom.

Watching her looking at the pagdi, he removed it, sliding it behind, letting the silky hair fall on his forehead.

Naina was filled up with an urge to run a hand through his hair. She bit her lip the moment he jerked back his head and weaved a hand through his locks.

"Chalo ab un dono ko congratulate karke aate hain." He pulled her hand, walking towards their friends who were now seated on heavily decorated ornate chairs.

"Rahul, badhai ho yaar, aakhir tera din aa hi gaya... Sonali, tumko bhi," Sameer shook hands with Rahul and smiled at Sonali.

Naina hugged Sonali, "Congratulations, tum dono ko."

Sonali and Rahul beamed... their glowing faces reflecting their happiness.

"Tu chinta mat kar... tera number bhi jaldi hi aayega." Rahul assured Sameer.

"Aap log zara saamne dekhiye." The photographer standing a little away directed them.

Naina stood with Sonali while Sameer stood next to Rahul, smiling at the camera.

Suddenly, all cousins of the couple raided the stage, asking to be clicked in various poses. Sameer moved next to Naina, holding her hand to move away and let the family get pictures clicked.

"Arre tum dono kahan jaa rahe ho... humare saath bhi photos khinchwao." Rishi stopped them.

Sameer stood close to Naina, half behind her. The camera captured all the angles but failed to pick up one detail... Sameer's hand on Naina's back, under her dupatta.

The smile froze on her face... unable to react to his touch as they were on camera, she pursed her lips to stop their quivering as his fingers moved lightly over the doris... colour creeping up on her face.

Thankfully, the younger lot moved away as the pictures were done and Naina quickly stepped ahead.

Once they were away from the crowd, Naina turned towards him, narrowing her eyes, "Yeh kya kar rahe the tum?"

He pulled her cheek, loving the fake anger, "Check kar raha tha, koi dori khul toh nahi gayi."

And she was crimson again.

Not able to bear the closeness, she ran away to where bhabhi was talking to some relatives.

"Theek hai, buaji, main time pe sab rakhwa dungi. Driver aa jayega aap logon ke liye. Aap bilkul chinta mat kijiye." Bhabhi was assuring an elderly lady.

The lady looked at Naina.

"Yeh Sonu ki saheli hai na?" She asked.

Naina folded her hands in greeting.

"Jee... Sonu aur Rahul ke saath padhti hai." Bhabhi looked at Naina lovingly.

"Teri mummy kab se pareshan ho rahi hain... Sahil ke liye... unko bata deti na." Buaji suggested.

Naina stiffened.

Bhabhi recovered quickly from the jolt buaji had given, "Naina ka rishta pakka ho chuka hai."

Buaji nodded sadly, "Oh achha, kahan tay hua tumhara rishta beta?"

She looked at Naina.

"Inke sheher ke hi hain woh log. Yeh Ahmedabad se hai." Bhabhi replied before Naina could say anything.

Buaji nodded, losing interest as she did not know anyone in Ahmedabad.

After she left to join other ladies, bhabhi turned go Naina, "Sorry Naina, tujhe Sahil ki wajah se kaafi pareshani hui."

"Arre nahi bhabhi, aap kyon sorry bol rahi hain? Buaji ko kuch pata thodi tha Sameer ke baare mein." Naina immediately replied.

Bhabhi lowered her eyes, "Buaji ki nahi Sahil ki galti ke liye maafi chahiye... woh usne tujhe... sach keh rahi hun, mujhe kuch nahi pata tha... agar usne mujhse kaha hota toh main pehle hi usse rok deti."

The realisation dawned on Naina that bhabhi was now aware of her brother's advances.

"Bhabhi please, aap aise mat bolo... Sahil ko bhi pata nahi tha... aur usne koi badtameezi nahi ki mere saath... bas ek gift diya tha... aur jabse usko chot lagi hai tabse meri koi baat  nahi hui usse." Naina did not want a sister to have any bad impression about her brother because of her.

"Haan woh upar hi hai... kal wapas jaayenge mummy aur Sahil... ab aise naak pe patti laga ke toh aa nahi sakta na... par ab mummy bhi kuch nahi kahengi tujhe, maine bata diya unhe Sameer ke baare mein." Bhabhi patted her cheek.

"Thank you, bhabhi... Sonali bohot lucky hai jo usse aap jaisi bhabhi mili." Naina was impressed with her compassion and warmth towards everyone.

"Tu bhi lucky hai... teri bhi toh bhabhi hun na? Apni shaadi mein bulana zaroor... jis din tu Sameer ki dulhan banegi uss din mujhe bohot khushi hogi." She teased, and hugged Naina.

"Toh aaj hi khush ho jao." The words were out before Naina could stop them.

"Kya?" Bhabhi narrowed her eyes, moving back.

"Matlab aaj Sonali dulhan bani hai toh aaj khush ho jao, " she quickly tried to make up for her blunder.

Bhabhi looked at the bride and groom, "Aaj toh bohot khush hun."

Heaving a sigh of relief, Naina too looked at her friends, surrounded by someone or the other.

And she missed Sameer. Looking around, she spotted him leaning against a support pillar, arms crossed, gazing in her direction.

Naina walked back to him as bhabhi went about taking care of the guests.

Sameer kept watching her walking towards him. The way she held her lehenga delicately, slightly hitched to avoid tripping over it, the way she looked down as she moved, the way her soft curls fell over her shoulders, the way her eyes shone as they saw him, the way her light pink painted lips curved into a smile, the way she coloured slightly at his constant stare, the way her dupatta covered everything that could raise his heartbeat but still managed to send his pulse racing with vivid images of their evening meeting... his throat went dry... extremely dry.