Two days later...

Naina had been on her toes since the morning as she was on duty to arrange the crazy cocktail night for the bride and groom, and she skipped her breakfast as well because of the unstoppable work.

"Radhika, is the board ready?" She asked her best friend via Airpods tucked in her ear, and Radhika affirmed - "Yes! We have engraved their names with golden ink."

"Perfect, I told Sumit to arrange a special feast for the bride's and groom's parents. I hope maine jo food list di thi usne uska contract de diya ho? And yes, Beer is a must as they are Punjabis." Naina asked her friend while directing the helpers through her eyes to spray the purple glitter on the round tables.

"Beer, Whiskey, Rum...sab kuch rakhwaya hai. Maine khud ne personally jake dekha hai." Radhika assured the panicking girl in a soft voice as she knew how tense Naina would be being the head of their team.

"Ok! Good." Naina said, and ended the call, guiding the coworkers to be a little fast.

She left injured Sameer at home because of this cocktail party contract, her heart whispering guilty words to her for not being with him when he needed her the most. She was helpless, she couldn't break the promise she made to her customer, and being the head of their team has doubled her responsibilities. The wedding will happen the day after tomorrow, and thankfully Sangeet was canceled as the Punjabi families decided to combine the Engagement and Wedding on the same day. Naina let out a deep breath while walking around the venue, taking a glance at the ongoing work. There should be minimal yet elegant decorations is what the bride told her to do for their special night, and Naina affirmed her with a positive smile.

She was continuously taking a tour of the huge ground, watching her co-workers giving their best for the Cocktail Party pending embellishments, and each of them was contributing to making the night most beautiful for the couple.

Naina stood before the stall of the Ice Cream Sundae Bar and Waffle Bar, her back leaning against the satiny cloth with the phone in hand. She typed a message to Sameer which stated - "Hey Honey! Sorry, I am really very busy with the wedding decor. I hope you are fine, please take care of yourself. I will probably call you at night once the cocktail party ends! Miss You Shona. Love You."

She puffed out a deep breath, knowing this message wouldn't lessen his annoyance at her absence, but she was left with no choice. There is a thing called Commitment, and she had given it to the bride and groom that she would make every event of their wedding the most memorable one.

Naina spotted Radhika communicating with the DJ player, probably giving him a chart to play upbeat music at high volume.

She was about to have a chat with the guitarist resting in the room when she heard a woman shrieking at someone while raising her hands in the air - "Aap sabne milkar humein dhoka diya hain."

Naina curiously approached the crowd standing far from her vision, and she found a couple of people arguing with one another.

"What happened?" She asked the yelling lady with a worried expression.

"Dulha bhaag gaya hai." The woman informed the wedding planner with teary-eyed, anger evident on her face, and Naina gasped after acknowledging the information.

"What? But How?" Naina queried.

"Uska affair tha bahar, yeh letter chod ke gaya hai." The lady aggressively patted the white paper in her hand, and Radhika gave a disgusted look for the runaway groom who eloped from his wedding.

"Aunty, aapko pata nahi tha is bare me?" Sumit asked the groom's mother.

"Humein agar pata hota toh itna kharcha kyu karte hum oye?" The Punjabi lady replied to him annoyingly for asking such a stupid question.

"Toh ab kya karna hai?" The coworkers turned to ask worried Naina.

"Mujhe kya pata, he ran away, and now we can't do anything," Naina said frustratedly.

"I knew he had an affair." A feeble voice came from the crowd, and everyone shifted their attention to the girl, who was the groom's elder sister.

"Toh bataya kyu nahi humein?" The bride's father questioned her in a stern voice.

"Papa ji ne mana kiya tha." The girl, named Harpreet, said in a low voice, and her father's charring gaze laid upon her for revealing the truth.

"Aap sab jante the samdhi ji phir bhi aapne humari beti se apne bete ka rishta karaya?" The bride's mother, Archana, questioned the middle-aged man in a screeching tone.

"I will explain, please calm down." Harpreet looked at the bride's family with a helpless expression.

She gathered the courage to expose the story and everyone's eyes were glued to her, eagerness floating through their expressions. She gulped down and started to narrate - "My brother Harman, fell in love with a girl belonging to a lower caste family. Papa ji ko jab pata chala unhone directly mana kar diya rishta karne se kyuki hum unchi jaath wale the. Harman tried to convince him but in vain. Then Papa ji started to search for a bride, Harman wasn't ready, usne kitni ladkiyan reject bhi ki isi reason se but when he got to know the girl he loves was getting engaged to someone else. He immediately said Yes to Ridhi Bhabhi."

Ridhi's family unbelievably stared at Harpreet as they couldn't believe their daughter was just a way for Harman to forget his ladylove. The groom's sister courageously met her rueful gaze with the lachrymose bride and told her in a heavy voice - "He wanted to move on, he started to care for you, par use woh feel nahi aayi jo use us ladki Tamanna ke saath aati thi. In short. He didn't vibed with you, he tried to forget Tamanna, but he failed. Phir ek hafte pehle Tamanna ka call aaya Harman ko, and she told him she broke the engagement with her fiance because she wants to marry him."

"Harman wasn't convinced, he thought she was fooling him like before, but is time Tamanna ne kaha ki she is ready to marry him right now...Harman wanted to talk to you, Bhabhi, for hurting your feelings for months, but he was a coward. He just wrote a letter and told me to explain the whole story to you, and then they." Harpreet stopped, her voice shaking, and Ridhi noxiously stared at her ex-sister-in-law while grasping the ends of her dress. The groom's sister wet her lips and completes the sentence - "They Ran Away."

The bride's father, his brothers, and their sons rushed to indulge in a massive fight with the groom's family as they didn't just cheat them but also broke their fragile Daughter's heart. Harman's father tried to handle the matter but the Punjabis being hot-blooded people furiously punched him, and Harpreet endeavored to stop the battle. The crowd formed into a circle, watching the live drama, and youngsters from both sides beat one another in aggression.

Naina's phone was beeping continuously but because of the loud shrieks and wails in the ground, she couldn't hear a single ring. She ran to tell Sumit to handle this situation as it was going out of control, and someone might call the cops for the bride's family misbehavior.

Harpreet regretted telling the truth to Ridhi's family, but she wanted them to know that her brother Harman, shouldn't be held accountable for everything occurring here. Their father's overweening pride and concern for his so-called prestige in society is also responsible for this current predicament, and if someone should be punished for breaking Ridhi's heart then it should be both Harman and their father, not just one person because both of them did injustice to the poor young girl, they both used her and her family's emotions for their own benefits.

"Aaj toh maar dalunga main in sabko, ek ek kar ke, yeh sare kamine logo ne mil kar meri behen ka dil toda. Woh Harman, *** kahi ka...peeth dikha ke bhaag gaya." Bride's real brother ferociously looked at the groom's family while wiping his blood-stained mouth, and was about to deliver another punch on Harman's cousins for taking his side instead of sympathizing with Ridhi. But his father held him back, saying - "Jaane de puttar, inhe toh saja waheguru ji denge."

"Aap please sab shant rahiye, ladai jhagde se kuch nahi honewala hai. Harman ran away with Tamanna, aur ab tak toh unki shadi bhi ho chuki hogi. Better we maintain peace. I know, jo bhi Ridhi ke saath hua is really wrong, but we can't do anything now. We can't force Harman to marry her, let's end the conflict here." Naina requested the furious families with a thoughtful expression, sweet buds gleaming on her forehead, turning her head towards Ridhi's shattered family. She appended - "Aur aap log shukar manao bhagwan ka jo Harman ne shadi ke baad Ridhi ko dhoka nahi diya, aise log toh extra marital affair bhi rakh sakte hai if their ex's returns. Be happy our Ridhi is saved from a loveless marriage."

"Say anything you want. But I won't spare these people aasani se." Ridhi's brother said venomously.

"Kya karege aap? Kidnapping? Murder? Aur phir kya hoga? Jail me jaoge aap, aur aapke parivaar ka naam kharab hoga woh alag. Janti hoon gussa aa raha hai aapko inpe, but ab kar bhi kya sakte hai. Your one wrong decision would ruin everyone's lives in your family...so please don't do anything in aggression. Just don't." Naina requested the young boy in a soft voice, and he rashly burnt in the rage of slaughtering these people for breaking his delicate sister's heart.

"She is right. Tum gusse me kuch bhi galat mat karna." The Bride's father told his elder son with a pensive look, and the young boy disappointedly looked at him.

Finally, the fight ended between the youngsters, and Sumit asked Naina - "The wedding is canceled now, but what about the expenses we spent in arranging all the previous events?"

"Don't worry about the money, they have signed the contract, usme clearly mention hai ki koi bhi reason se agar shadi cancel hogi toh isme humari koi galti nahi hai and we should get our payment," Naina assured the worried boy with a calm smile, and Sumit just hummed while looking at Ridhi, shedding silent tears.

"Bahut galat hua yaar Ridhi ke saath." He said with a woeful expression.

"I know, I am feeling bad for her. Bechari kitni khush thi subah haldi ke time." Naina replied to her in a meek tone while watching Ridhi's mother consoling her heartbroken daughter.

"Life is so unpredictable yaar, we never know kab kya ho jaye. A few hours ago Everyone was happy, and look at them now, ek dusre ki jaan lene pe aa gaye hai." Radhika spoke with a dejected sigh escaping her mouth, and Sumit commented gently - "That's why we should live in the present, kyuki future ka toh waise bhi koi idea nahi hai kisi ko, aur past toh khair sabka bura hi hota hai mostly."

"You guys take care of the guests. I will have a chat with the bride's family." Naina informed her coworkers in a solemn tone, and they nodded.

     •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Naina returned home after having a hard day, containing nothing but just disappointment, but thankfully Ridhi's family was understanding enough to pay them the amount of money they invested in the events. Naina took medicine to soothe her headache and was mentally exhausted.

She hasn't used her phone after texting Sameer, and suddenly she was reminded of asking him how he is doing.

Naina lifted her phone from the couch where she left it last, and there were seven missed calls from - Jaaneman --> Her future husband. Panicked engulfed her as she thought why Sameer phoned her so many times, that too without any pause after every call.

She quickly dialed her numbers, and the romantic song was playing as his caller tune. Naina paced the room in fear while gripping her phone, and soon the call was activated from the other end.

"Chalo aakhir tumhe waqt mil hi gaya phone karne ka." Naina was astonished when Savitri, the soft-spoken woman, taunted her in a stern voice.

"Kya Hua Aai?" Naina asked her in a soft voice.

"Kuch Nahi." Savitri said tersely.

"Batao na, please." She insisted.

"Kya faida, jab tumhari zarurat thi mere bete ko tab toh tum thi nahi wahan." Savitri spoke venomously unlike her usual self, and Naina frightfully asked her - "Kya hua hai Sameer ko?"

"Gir gaya tha woh bathroom me aaj subah." The woman apprised her in a firm voice while looking back at her son, who was sleeping.

"What? But kaise?" Naina almost screamed, her body quivering in response.

"Us se sahi se chala nahi jaa raha tha gehri moch ki wajah se, aur main society ke mandir me gayi hui thi. Sameer ko washroom aaya tha, usne koshish ki chalne ki, par nahi ho paya, usne tumhe calls bhi kiye itne taki tum aake uski help kar sako, uska dayna haath kaam nahi kar raha phir bhi usne baar baar tumhe phone lagaya par tum toh na jane kaha busy thi itni, aur aakhir me bechara mera beta koshish karte karte gir gaya." Savitri held Naina accountable for Sameer's wounds, and the young girl slapped her mouth in utter terror, tears naturally making their way out of her eyes.

"Mujhe sach me nahi pata tha Sameer ko itni chot aayi hai pair me, kal raat jab main mili thi use toh he was fine." Naina said weakly while sensing the warmness sticking to her cheeks as tears rolled down for the guilt and pain she experienced right now. To accomplish the given commitment she forgot to fulfill the responsibility as his girlfriend and most importantly as his partner.

And there, Someone was watching her crying relentlessly, and that person's heart dropped lower to his/her stomach.

Savitri sobbed over the call as deep down something was tormenting her, and she took out her frustration on Naina. She cleared her throat and told her dolefully - "Jaane do, aakhir sehna toh humesha ki tarah Sameer ko hi padha na...tum, tumhara kaam, tumhara parivaar, sab kuch is rishte me humesha se sirf tumhare liye raha hai. Mera beta toh kabhi shamil hua hi nahi in sab me, chalo aaj toh use sirf halki si chot lagi hai jo kal theek ho jayegi, par us chot ka kya jo tum humesha se use deti aayi ho parivaar ke naam pe. Aaj bhi itne din hone aaye hain par tumhare ghar me koi maan nahi raha is rishte ke liye, kyun? Kya kami hai aakhir mere bete me, aur kya special hai aisa tum me jo tumhari family ko itna ghamand hai. Mera beta laakhon rupay kama raha hai, kisi sadak kinare nahi baitha hai woh jo tumhare gharwale uski beizzati karte hai, usko apnane se mana kar rahe hai."

Naina furrowed her eyebrows in apprehension as she couldn't decipher why Savitri was reprimanding her with pain evident in her voice. There's something she was trying to hide but couldn't.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Savitri's heavy voice - "Haa hai humara past bura, nahi tha mera pati kisi kaam ka, main toh khud ab tak unse shiddat se nafrat karti hoon, par us past ko jake saalon beet chuke hai. Na Kamlesh raha aur na hi uski yaadein zinda rakhna chahte hum, par tumhara parivaar toh Sameer ko uske baap ko leke aise taane marte hai jaise ki uski kartooton me mera beta bhi shamil tha."

Savitri harshly wiped away the flood of bitter liquid, her heart vigorously breaking while thinking why her son was the one in this relationship suffering every day. Why he has to bear all the torture and mental trauma? Why is he the one always who makes efforts to improve himself because he doesn't want to cause pain to his woman? She took haste breaths in rage, and taunted Naina while walking away from Sameer's sight as she saw him taking a turn in his deep slumber - "Kya kuch nahi kiya hai mere bete ne tumhare liye itne saalon me batao mujhe, haa diya hoga tumne bhi pyaar, par mere bete jitna nahi, woh tumhare liye sabse ladh sakta hai, par tumse nahi ladh sakta itna pyaar karta hai woh tumse, woh tumhare liye apni jaan tak de de itna chahta hai mera beta tumhe, roz tadapte hue dekhti hoon main use. Maa hone ke naate dil toot tha hai mera yeh soch kar ki aakhir mere bete ke naseeb main itna dard kyu likha hai...usne bachpan se sirf dukh aur takleefein sahi hai, khushiyaan toh jaise roothi huwi ho us se. Subah uth kar woh roz aise dikhata hai sabko jaise woh raat ko roya hi nahi tumhari wajah se, par maine dekha hai uske aansuon ko. Arey mera beta toh itna khudgarz hai ki woh toh duaaon me bhi khud ke liye kuch na maang kar tumhare liye sab kuch mangta hai."

Naina plopped on the sofa, tears stroking her cheeks as she was deeply hurt by Savitri's banefully honest words. She knew Sameer suffered so much and her family's tantrums and harsh comments were just doubling his concealed wounds, but what can she do? She has given him the option of getting married in court, but if he doesn't want to accept the offer then she can't force him.

Savitri was hyperventilating for being too harsh with Naina, but the incident which took place in the morning was bothering her mind. She shivered while clutching the sides of her cotton saree, and told her in a choked tone - "Tum sirf uska pyaar nahi uski zarurat ban chuki ho Naina, aur agar is baar tumne mere bete ko beech raah me chod diya na, toh sach keh rahi hoon. Marr Jayega Woh...nahi seh payega woh yeh dard."

"Aai." Naina's response was quick, trepidation visible in her meek voice, and Savitri said with tears in her old eyes - "Tumhe lag raha hoga main overreact kar rahi hoon, haa kar rahi hoon main overreact...kyuki tumhare bhai ne aake mujhe saaf saaf keh diya hai ki main apne bete ko tumse door rakhu har kimat pe, warna anjaam bura hoga. Subah se itne tension me baithi hun main akele, pata nahi aur kya bura hona likha hai Sameer ke naseeb me, isliye last time pooch rahi hoon...tumhe yakeen hai tum mere bete ka saath de paogi agar tumhare parivaar wale nahi maane toh?"

"Dada aaye the waha? Aur unhone yeh sab kaha?" Naina asked Savitri with anger rising in her tone.

"Haa, yahi sab kaha usne." She replied to her in a shaking voice.

"Maafi mangti hun itna kuch sunane ke liye par main tang aa chuki hoon yeh roz roz ke drame se, iska kissa khatam karo jaldi. Ya toh puri tarah mere bete ki banke raho ya use chod do abhi hi. Faisla, tumhara hai." Savitri spoke with an ashen countenance, and before Naina could utter a word, the call was disconnected.

She gripped the electronic device in her sweaty palm, her heart burning with a need to rebuke her elder brother for taking her life's decision. She appreciates his concern as a brother but it is becoming toxic for her now. She cannot understand how he is claiming to care for her when he doesn't care an ounce about the pain his stubbornness was causing her. If he loves her so dearly and so unconditionally then why is it taking him ages to understand the simplest thing that her happiness is connected to Sameer, and if by any means they part ways, the Real Naina inside her would be dead that day.

Naina was flaming in sheer abomination, and when she veered to the front side, someone quickly hid behind the wall, making her dubious. She was sure someone was secretly hearing her and watching her too, but who that could be?

She wanted to get up and check who was being a clandestine detective, but the stinging words produced by Savitri seized her thoughts, and she sat there, lifelessly, shedding untrammelled tears.

Naina wanted to take immediate action against her brother for threatening Sameer's mother, but she knew Prashant would start the repeat telecast of his dialogues that he was doing all this to save her life, to protect her from Sameer, and he was receiving no benefits in all this, and currently, she was too exhausted to start a new fight, so she simply brushed aside her tears and decided to confront him one last time before taking a drastic step. That's all she could think of right now, in this intricate matter.

Naina stood up, weakly typed the password of the phone, and kissed the wallpaper of hers and his with tears constantly cascading out of her painful eyes. She doesn't know how they would get married and under which circumstances, but the only thing that concerned her right now was his injured hand and leg. God has to heal her strong man as soon as possible.

God has to show mercy on Sameer.

If he wants her to be happy he has to keep HIM happy.

No matter what happens...

     •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Next Day In The Morning, there was darkness under Naina's eyes because she was spending sleepless nights nowadays, either because of work or the pain of staying away from Sameer. She looked pale, there was no shine on her face which used to radiate her beauty. She looked as if she was too exhausted from her life as if she wanted a holiday or at least a peaceful day with just Sameer by her side and no one else. The atmosphere at her house was nothing less than a nightmare for her, she doesn't know what will happen next which will cause trouble in her messed up life. Naina exhaled slowly, drinking a mug of black coffee and simultaneously biting on the soft portion of the folded bread butter.

"Baba, Malhar is free this weekend. Should I call him at our place?" Prashant looked at his father with a serene expression.

Nishikant's body language changed instantly at the mention of Malhar, the one they were supposed to meet as Naina's prospective groom. He veered at his frail daughter, curious to know how she reacts to this topic, but her silence disappointed him. It seems like she doesn't want to fight against them for being cruel to her. She was quietly slurping the warm beverage, her eyes dried of tears.

Nishikant never knew one person would cause his exuberant daughter to turn so quiet and lifeless. Silence never occurred in the atmosphere whenever Naina was at home. She always used to make everyone laugh with her jokes and cute tactics. His eyes welled up with tears when he acknowledged how their stubbornness has caused this delicate girl to transform into a Mute Girl. He ached to apologize to her for making her shed tears every day, he ached to hug her tight and just caress her hair affectionately. He wasn't able to see her damaging herself anymore.

It was hurting him.

It was breaking his heart.

Her lifeless posture was pushing him into the lane of guilt and anguish.

Nishikant controlled his tears, adjusted the specs over his nose, and said calmly - "If you are inviting him as a guest. Then most welcome, but..." He stopped, his gaze twirling back to his daughter, once more hopelessly hoping to see at least an ounce of anger on her face, but there was nothing except hollowness. He took a dejected breath and announced - "But if you want us to meet him as Naina's prospective groom. Then sorry, it's a Clear No from me."

Sarita's and Pranali eyes bloomed with a ray of hope as they expectantly stared at Nishikant, their clammy hands mingling tightly in agitation. Naina didn't reflect any excitement as she knew her father must have found someone better than Dr.Malhar.

"Baba, what are you saying?" Prashant asked his father with a perplexed face.

"Main wahi keh raha hoon jo mujhe kehna chahiye hai." He replied to his elder son in a gentle voice.

"But he's a very nice guy...woh bahut khush rakhega Naina ko trust me." Prashant patiently tries to make his father understand that he was making a wrong decision.

Nishikant owlishly looked at his sullen son, his eyes filled with a strange shadow of regret - "Par woh khush nahi rahegi uske saath, kyuki uski khushi Malhar me nahi." His tranquil gaze once more laid upon Naina, and this time, she miraculously regarded him with a tiny hope coruscating in her dewy orbs. She stared at her beloved father with the last string of Umeed in her heart, and Nishikant took uneven breaths before saying further in a soft voice - "Sameer Me Hain."

The duo of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law exchange looks of awe as they couldn't believe Nishikant just claimed that his daughter's happiness lies in Sameer.

The same guy he loathes the most.

"Baba, aap theek hai?" Prashant stood up from the chair, staring at his father with astonishment on his face.

"Haa, maine ek Faisla liya hai." Nishikant spoke with a placid countenance, and Naina affixed all her attention to his father, anticipating his reply, and he first noticed everyone's an eager expression to know which decision he had made regarding Naina's future, and satisfaction engulfed him as excluded Prashant everybody hoped for a positive response from his side.

"Main Sameer ko ek mauka dena chahta hoon." Nishikant declared with an unruffled face, and tears cracked into her pale eyes when the most important person in her life agreed to give one chance to Sameer.

Naina blinked her warm eyes countless times before assuring herself that her father had changed his mind.

He indirectly has approved Sameer.

Their Love...

And perhaps for their marriage too.

To be continue...

How was the update?

Any favorite scene or dialogue?