Next morning, the sunrays entering into the room through the thin gaps between the curtains, fell on Naina's face breaking her deep slumber. She stirred in sleep and rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. The clinking of the bangles around her wrists confused her and when she opened her eyes, the different decor and furniture increased her confusion. But seeing the person sleeping next to her made her realise the biggest truth of her life.

The person who slept next to her was nobody else but Sameer, her husband. Wait! Not only husband but her friend too. He slept with his face turned to her side squeezing his cheeks with his shoulder, his eyelashes falling on his cheekbones, the messy hair falling freely on his forehead, the softness of his nature which reflects in his eyes hid behind his closed eyelids. The way he made her comfortable with the new changes last night was appreciable, she had assumed different things about the first night in in-laws house due to the conversation with her married cousins and her aunts.

Naina (to herself): Kitne sukoon se soye hai Sameer ji 😍....Dekho toh ek dum bacche jaise masoomiyat jhalak rahi hai unke chehre se, koi keh nahi payega ki yeh itne bade businessman hai aur itni badi company sambhalte hai 😊

Naina looked at the watch kept on the side table which showed 07:00 AM. She slipped out of the bed carefully so that due to her commotion, Sameer doesn't wakes up. She picked out a saree from her wardrobe and left for the washroom to have her bath and to get ready. After bathing, she came out wearing a red and golden tinted bandani saree with golden zari work for the embroidery and body work.

She opened her tied up hair and brushed them smooth. Applying her face cream, she patted some face powder on her face and lined her doe shaped eyes with kajal and eyeliner. She applied a light shade of red lipstick, stuck a red bindi on her forehead and filled her hairline with sindoor. She slipped some red bangles and the khandani kangan around her wrists. She wore a kundan and pearl necklace along with matching earrings and her gold and diamond mangalasutra which was like a short gold chain attached with the traditional mangalasutra with the black beads.

Checking on her look one last time she left for downstairs to prepare breakfast for everyone and the shagun ka bhog for mandir. When she reached the hall, she found Bua dadi sitting along with Dadu.
Naina touched their feet and took their blessings.

Naina: Jai Shrikrishna Bua dadi ji 🙏. Jai Shrikrishna Dadaji 🙏.

Jaiprakash: Jai Shrikrishna bahu 😊. Tu itni subah subah uth gayi, thodi der aur aaram kar leti. Kal itni tamjham mein thak gayi hogi na...

Naina: Dadaji, main toh roz subah subah hi uth jati hun aur main iss ghar ki bahu hun na, toh aap sabke liye chai aur nashta banana meri zimmedari hai...

Poonam: Toh phir hum kya karenge devrani ji??

Naina turned to find Poonam bhabhi standing near the staircase and looking at her lovingly. Naina smiled at her and went to hug her, Poonam smiled feeling the warmth of Naina's hug as since the past 10 years in Maheshwari Mansion, she hadn't received these warm hugs often as Bua Dadi comes Mumbai once in six months and Sameer couldn't hug her freely due to Prabha and Kamlesh. She patted on Naina's back and broke the hug.

Naina: Aapki jagah toh main kabhi bhi le nahi sakti bhabhi ❤️❤️. Aap toh iss ghar ki badi bahu hai aur main choti 😁

Hearing badi bahu, Poonam's face paled but changed her expression quickly so that Naina doesn't get a hint of what happens with her in this house. Bua Dadi and Dadu looked at each other with dejected looks and felt guilty when Poonam's face paled but changed their expressions too when Poonam did her's.

Poonam: Nahi Naina! Har insaan ka apne parivaar aur sansaar mein apna apna darja hota hai...Koi bhi kiski bhi jagah nahi le sakta. Na main tumhari jagah le sakti hun aur na tum meri....

Jaya: Ohho meri bahuon, yeh saari baatein tum dono baad mein kar lena....
Poonam, beta chal puja ki taiyari kar lete hai, Naina beta tu jaake Sameer ko utha de. Tum dono ko saath mein aaj puja bhi karni hai aur phir tujhe teri pehli rasoi bhi karni hai na....

Naina: Par Bua Dadi, puja se pehle bhog lagega na aur woh toh mujhe taiyar karna hai na....Pranati bhabhi ne kiya tha ghar par...

Bua dadi lovingly caressed her head and smiled at her.

Jaya: Meri pyaari choti bahu, tu jaake abhi apne pati ko uthake aa ja, uske taiyar hone ke waqt mein tu bhi bhog taiyar kar dena, warna tu bhog taiyar karke baithi hogi aur tera pati aaram se taiyar hoke aayega...

Jaiprakash: Haan beta aur Sameer ke saath hi toh tujhe puja karna hai. Chal ja aur utha de usse....

Naina left to their room meanwhile in the hall, the environment became gloomy again.

Jaiprakash: Poonam beta, mujhe maaf karde beti. Main tujhe tere kathor saas sasur se bach nahi pata....

Poonam: Dadaji aap kyun maafi mang rahe hai? Galti meri hi hai jo maine Devang se pyaar kiya aur unse yeh expect kiya tha ki woh meri aur mere bacche ki zimmedari lenge. Main toh bas apni bahu hone ka farz nibha rahi hun, Maa ji aur Papa ji apne jagah sahi hai aur aap sab aapne jagah....

Jaya: Par beti, kab tak yeh sab sahegi tu!? Tune yeh kasam kyun di hum sabko ki un teeno ko kuch na kahe hum? Tu bhi toh humari beti hai

Poonam: Dadiji, ek toh pehle hi Maa ji aur Papa ji mujhse naraz hai Devang ke chale jaane ke wajah se, ab agar aap log phir kuch kahenge toh unka gussa aur badh jayega...

Jaiprakash: Beta main soch raha tha ki tujhe Patna bhej dun Jaya ke saath....

Jaya: Yeh toh bahut acchi baat hai bhaiya!
(To Poonam) Beta tu chal mere saath, waise bhi yahan tu zulm hi sehti hai, ab aagai ki zindagi aaram se aur izzat se jeena.

Poonam: Nahi dadiji! Yahan sirf Maa ji aur Papa ji nahi rehte, Sameer bhi rehta hai. Aapko toh pata hai na, mere liye Sameer mera beta hai. Jab mera miscarriage hua tab Sameer ne mujhe apni Maa maana tha, uss din mujhe laga jaisa mera khoya hua baccha mujhe wapas mil gaya.

Vivek: Woh toh hai Bua ji! Jab se Poonam aayi hai tab se Sameer ki mayusi bhi thodi gayab hogayi hai...

Poonam: Haan! Aur yahan Fufaji aur Dadaji bhi toh hai na, jaise Sameer ke liye Dadaji, Fufaji, aap, main aur ab Naina unka parivaar hai waise mere liye bhi aap sab hi mera parivaar hai.

Prabha: Oh really! Teri aukaat bhi hai iss family ko apna kehne ki 🙄

Everyone turned and saw the evil trio of Maheswari Family; Vishakha, Prabha and Kamlesh. Poonam trembled seeing the rage in Prabha's eyes and ran into the kitchen to get her morning green tea.

Jaiprakash (sternly): Tum shayad bhul rahi ho ki yeh ghar mera hai aur parivaar bhi! Koun koun iss ghar ke aur parivaar ke sadasya hai uska faisla main karunga!!

Kamlesh: Par kakaji! Aap toh jante hai Poonam yahan kyun hai!? Woh ek bojh hai iss ghar ke liye toh hum bas usse uski jagah dikhate hai....

Jaya: Kamlesh shayad tumne suna nahi bhaiya ne kya kaha hai abhi bhi aur 10 saal pehle bhi! Iss ghar ke saare faisle Bhaiya lete hai aur bhulna maat jo pichle 18 saal se jo yahan muft ki roti, kapda aur yeh alishan ghar mila hai tumhe aur tumhari biwi ko, woh hi mere bhaiya ka faisla hai. Aur faisle badalne mein der nahi lagti! 😡😡😡

Vishakha: Buaji aap toh bura maan gayi Kamlesh bhaiya aur Prabha bhabhi ke baaton ka. Aap toh janti hai na Poonam ne kaise Devang ko trap kiya tha pregnancy mein aur iss ghar mein aa jayi aur yahan rehne lagi.

Jaiprakash: Bas!!! 😡😡
Bahut hogaya hai! Poonam iss ghar ki beti hai aur bhulo maat Vishakha ki jo pyaar tumhe 10 saal ke Sameer ko dena chahiye woh Poonam ne 18 saal ke Sameer ko diya tha...Bhulo maat woh tumhe aunty bulata hai aur Poonam ko bhabhi maa , aur mujhe majboor maat karna ki mujhe Vaishali se kiya hua waada todne pade!
Aaj Naina ka pehla din hai iss ghar mein mere ghar mein laxmi aayi hai, main nahi chahta ki tum teeno ke wajah se kalesh phele na aaj aur nahi aagai kabhi bhi! Kyunki Poonam ke liye khade hone ke liye uska pati nahi tha, par Naina ke liye khade hone ke liye uska pati Sameer jaroor khada hai aur hum sab bhi! Iss meri chaitavni samjhna!

Meanwhile, when Naina entered their room she found Sameer sleeping peacefully on his side hugging a pillow tightly like his favourite doll without whom he wouldn't have sleep. She sat next to him observing his features; his silky locks fell on his forehead, his even breathing made his nose puff whenever he inhaled, the rough darkness on his cheek and chin gave him his charismatic spark.

Naina(to herself): Sameer ji sirf bahar se hi nahi balki andar se bhi bahut acche hai aur khubsurat hai. 6 mahine pehle jab yeh mujhe dekhna ke liye ghar aaye the tab main kitni ghabra gayi thi, pata nahi tha ki inke saath sab accha rahega ya nahi par uss din bhi inhone meri marzi pehle rakhi aur kal bhi....Thank you bhagwan ji aapne mujhe Sameer ji mere pati ke roop mein diya 😊

Seeing the time, Naina tried waking Sameer as they have to do the puja on the specified time and she has to leave for her house too for pag phera. .

Sameer: Ammmm, Bhabhi Maa thodi der aur sone dijiye na!

Naina: Sameer ji main Poonam bhabhi nahi Naina hun!

Sameer: Naina!? Kya bhabhi maa aap bhi Naina ka naam leke mujhe phasa rahi ho, woh toh apne ghar mein hogi na.......

Sameer opened his eyes with a jerk and seeing Naina the reality registered him. He sat up sat and smiled sheepishly with his hand behind his neck, Naina bursted out with laughter, seeing Sameer's flustered face.

Sameer: Nai...Naina wo...woh I'm sorry mujhe laga ki Poonam bhabhi aayi hai roz ki tarah aur....

Naina: Aur laga ki humari shaadi nahi huyi hai abhi tak 😂😂😂😂😂😂
Sameer ji, aap na bahut cute ho 😊

Sameer: Accha! Toh main sirf aapko cute hi lagta hun ya kuch aur bhi lagta hun??

Naina: Aap toh acche ho! Maine apni kuch friends se suna tha ki unke fiancee bar bar unse milne aate hai aur apne jude huye rishte ka fayda uthate hai, par aapne kabhi aissa kuch nahi kiya. Aapko aapke dayre pata hai aur apne kabhi usse langha nahi aur toh aur kal bhi apne jabardasti nahi ki...😊
Aur aap kitne handsome ho aur workout ke wajah se body bhi kaafi acchi...

Naina bit a her tongue as she realised what she was about to blurt, Sameer who was lost in Naina's words and how her eyes twinkled while she was speaking, got mischievous when she abruptly stopped speaking and he understood where her thoughts were running. Not being able to stay under his gaze, she stood up and went near the door.

Sameer: Arrey kahan chali!?? Apni baat toh buri karti jao 😏😏

Naina closed her eyes and taking a deep breath she turned and stood infront of him fidgeting her pallu, as she wasn't getting courage to say that he looked really hot due to the workouts 🙈🙈. Sameer smilingly held her hand and made her sit next to him.

Sameer: Daaro maat! Main majak kar raha tha....

Naina: Amm woh, main keh...woh main

Sameer: Ssssshhhh! Janta hun kya bologi, yahin na ki "Sameer ji, ek patni apne pati ki tarif kar sakti hai aur pati ka haq hota hai apni patni se khudke baare acchi baat sunna". Janta hun yeh sab par jis kaam mein meri patni yaani tumhe uncomfortable feel ho uss kaam ko karne ki izzazat nahi hai tumhe....Ab se agar koi kaam karne mein uncomfortable lage toh maat karna aur karwane wale ko maana karna chahe woh koi bhi ho! Including me!! Thik hai!???

Naina nodded. She was about to leave when Sameer held her hand and again, signalling her to sit again. He walked to his side of wardrobe and brought a small packet.

Naina: Ji yeh kya hai???

Sameer: Tumhare liye wedding gift kharida tha maine, kal dena bhul gaya toh abhi de raha hun. Kholke dekho na kaisa hai???

Naina opened the packet and saw a black velvet box with the trademark of Maheswari Industries. She opened the box and a beautiful set of temple jewellery having emerald green and magenta color stones with small off white beads and the ends of the designs and similar designed earrings.

Naina: Sameer ji yeh bahut khubsurat hai 😍❤️
Aapne kab li isse??

Sameer: Woh humari engagement ke baad baad li thi. Actually jab market mein naye naye trends aati hai ussi hisaab se humari jewellery designer naye naye designs ready karke lati hai mere paas, toh jab usne yeh design banayi thi tab mujhe tumhara khayal aaya aur maine usse yeh exclusively mere liye banane ke liye kaha aur company ke liye kuch aur designs banane ke liye kaha. Yeh banke humari shaadi ke 3 din pehele aaya tha....

Naina: Thank you so much Sameer ji ❤️
Par main aapke liye koi gift nahi layi...

Sameer: Koi baat nahi Naina! Tum meri wife banke meri life mein aayi yahi hi bahut badi gift hai mere liye 😊😊
Accha main jaake taiyar ho jata hun phir woh puja karni hai aur tumhe tumhari mummy ke ghar bhi drop karna hai....

Naina: Ji woh Pralay bhaiya aur Bhabhi aayenge mujhe lene.

Sameer: Oh thik hai, main tumhe shaam ko pick karne aa jaunga.

Naina: Thik hai...Aap jaake naha lijiye main jaake prasad aur nashta banati hun.

Sameer nodded and left to washroom and Naina too left after securely keeping the gift. Reaching kitchen, Naina started her cooking work. She decided to make kanda (onion) poha for breakfast along with bread butter and moong dal halwa for the puja bhog. She soaked moong dal in a container and started off with her poha.

To a strainer, she added flattened rice (poha) and rinsed it under running water until it turned soft.Then she added turmeric and 1/2 teaspoon salt to the poha and tossed to combine. Then she heated oil in a pan on medium heat. Once the oil got hot, she added the mustard seeds and let them pop.Adding peanuts, she sauted it for a minute or two until they started turning brown. Then adding chopped onion, green chili and curry leaves, she cooked it for 2 minutes until the onions softened.
After the onions softened, she added green peas soaked in warm water and mixed them all, leaving them to get cooked for 2 minutes until raw smell of peas goes away.Then she added in the rinsed poha and tossed to combine and cooked for 1-2 minutes.
She added some coriander leaves and tossed them, and then covered the pan with a lid and turned heat to low. Letting it to be like that for 2 minutes, she then turned off the heat. She transfered the poha in a casserole, squeezing in some fresh lemon juice and garnishing poha with more coriander leaves and sev, she kept the casserole on the dinning table and then again went inside the kitchen to make moong dal halwa.

She grinded the soaked moong dal into a coarse paste, and in a pan heated ghee to fry the dal paste on low flame until the paste turned golden brown.
Adding milk she kept stirring it continuously. She continued to cook on a low flame, until the milk dried up, then she added condensed milk and kept stirring it continuously, until the desired consistency was reached.

She was garnishing with the almonds, raisins and pistachios when Poonam came in.

Poonam: Naina! Khusboo bahut badhiya aa rahi hai 😍😍😍

Naina: ☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️
Thank you Bhabhi, pata nahi taste kaisa hoga..

Poonam: I'm sure woh bhi bahut badhiya hoga...
Aur I'm sorry main tumhari madad nahi kar payi woh Bua dadi ji ke ghutno mein dard tha toh unki malish kar rahi thi...

Naina: Koi baat nahi bhabhi....Waise bhi sab hogaya na. Aap meri serving mein madad kar dijiyega.

Poonam: Hmmm...

Naina: Waise bhabhi aapse ek baat puchna tha, puchu??

Poonam: Haan bilkul! Puccho kya puchna hai...

Naina: Woh bhabhi, Devang bhaiya kahan hai? Meri aur Sameer ji ki shaadi ko tay huye 6 mahine hogaye hai, maine unhe ab tak dekha bhi nahi hai. Woh na sagaai mein aaye the aur nahi sangeet, mehendi, haldi aur shaadi mein...

Poonam's face lost its colour hearing Naina's question. She was lost of words to answer her, what would she say that Devang has left the house forever and wouldn't return home. How would she tell Naina that this is why she is ill-treated here. But before she could reply somebody else replied.

Sameer: Devang bhaiya jo abroad mein business sambhalte hai woh thoda crisis mein chal raha hai isliye nahi aa paye aur jab sab thik ho jayega tab hi aayenge...
( To Poonam ) Bhabhi Maa aapko Dadu bula rahe hai....

Poonam left and Sameer walked to the kitchen counter and smelled the halwa.

Sameer: Ummmm, Naina kya khusboo hai 😍😍😍
Dikhne mein bhi bahut tasty lag raha hai, chalo jaldi se puja kar lete hai taaki main yeh halwa kha saku...

Naina: Uske liye aapko puja tak ka wait nahi karna padega, maine aapke liye halwa nikal kar rakha hai. Mujhe pata hai ki aapko moong dal halwa pasand hai...😊😊

Sameer: Kyaa!!?? Thank you so much Naina 😍😍
Pata hai last maine halwa tab khaya tha jab Mummy thi....😞😞😞
18 saal hogaye moong dal halwa khaye, jab se Mummy gayi hai tabse moong dal halwa khane ka maan hi nahi hua....

Naina: Sameer ji, aapko wait nahi karna padega. Jab bhi maan kare tab mujhe keh dijiyega main aapka favourite khana banake aapko khila dungi 😊😊

Sameer: Thank you Naina ❤️
Waise main yahan tumhe thanks bolne hi aaya tha...

Naina: Thanks kis liye!?

Sameer: Woh...woh mere liye kapde aur baaki sab cheeze nikalne ke liye. Aadat nahi hai na nahane ke baad sab cheez ready dekhne ki...par aaj se roz koi hoga jo mere liye saari cheezein nikal ke rakhegi aur mere liye mere manpasand ka khana bhi banayegi...😊😊

Naina: Aap ne woh dialogue nahi suna kya? Dosti mein No sorry and No Thank you 😁
Aur main toh aapki wife bhi hun toh uss hisaab se thank you ki koi jagah nahi haan sorry ki hai agar aapne kabhi mujhe naraz kiya toh 😂😅

Sameer: 😅😅😅😅
Haan woh toh hai....

Jaya: Lo yeh dono tota maina yahan hai! Tum dono ka toh pata nahi lekin ghar ke baaki logo ko bhook lagi hai....
Toh chalo aur puja karlo phir sab breakfast karlenge...

Samaina: Ji chaliye...

Samaina stood infront of the idol of Krishna and Radha, Naina pulled the pallu of her saree over her head and joined her hands infront of Bhagwaan ji and Sameer too closed his eyes and folded his hands, and both of them started to pray for the well being of their families and strength for fulfilling their duties towards each other rightfully.

After the puja, everyone settled on their respective chairs for breakfast. Dadu on the head chair, Bua dadi on his left, Vivek on his right, followed by Vishakha, Kamlesh and Prabha, Sameer sat next to Bua dadi and Naina Poonam got involved in serving.

Prabha: Yeh kya!? Poha!? Yeh sab koun khata hai!? Aur yeh kya bread butter!? Seriously ab yeh din aagaye Vish didi ki bread butter khana padega!??

Naina: Woh Mamiji, kal bahut heavy khana khaya sabne shaadi mein isliye maine socha aaj thoda light khana bana diya....

Sameer: Aur jisse khana hai woh khaye nahi toh kitchen wahan hai jaake khud banake kha le....

Jaya: Aur Poha mein harz hi kya hai!!?? Poha nahi khana toh kya khayegi tu? Bread butter se bhi problem hai tujhe!! Agar itni problem hai toh ja jake khud khana banake kha le 😡😡😡

Kamlesh: Yeh kyun banayegi? Hai na Poonam, 10 saal se humari seva mein. Yeh jaaye aur banake laaye khana humare liye.

Naina: Mamaji, Bhabhi kyun main banake le aati hun. Aap batayiye aapko kya khana hai???

Sameer: Naina! Tum kahin nahi jaogi aur yahin baithke nashta karo.
( Eyeing Vishakha, Prabha and Kamlesh ) Jinhe aaj ka bana nashta pasand nahi woh apna intezaam khud kare! Khud matlab khud!

Vishakha: Bhaiya Bhabhi! Aap kha lo na aaj Naina ne itne pyaar se banaya hai Poha aur bura kya hai is mein??

Before Prabha and Kamlesh could say anything else, Vishakha eyed them to eat it. Sameer blinked his eyes to assure Naina that everything is fine and not to worry. But Naina being a adarshavadi bahu couldn't see Mamaji and Mamiji upset.

Ramdhari: Naina beta, aapke bhaiya bhabhi aaye hai....

Sameer: Unhe andar yahan le aayiye kaka...

Pranati and Pralay came into the dinning area and touched elders' feet and greeted Sameer with Namaste.

Jaiprakash: Beta baitho na, hum sab ke saath apni behen ke haathon bana nashta khao aur halwa bhi.
( to Naina) Bacche tujhe pehle bata nahi paya lekin tu Annapurna ki murat hai. Itna swadist khana maine akhiri baar teri dadi ke haathon ka khaya tha..

Jaya: Haan choti bahu, tere haathon mein toh jaadu hai 😍😍
Poha aur Halwa khake toh maan kar raha hai tujhe apne saath le chalun 😁😁

Vivek: Haan khana lajawab bana hai. Pralay beta, Pranati beta, baitho aur kha lo...

Pralay: Nahi uncle ji, hum breakfast karke aaye ho aur Mom kehti hai Behen ke sasural mein paani pina bhi allowed nahi.....Hum nahi mante par phir bhi

Jaya: Arrey waah! Bete tumhare ghar walon ne badi acchi parvarish ki hai tum sab ki....
( Eyeing Prabha and Kamlesh who were happily eating ) Warna maine kuch aisse bhai aur bhabhi ko dekha jo apni behen ke ghar par na sirf khate hai par unke ghar mein pao pasarke baith bhi jate hai...

Prabha and Kamlesh stopped eating and looked at her. Pralay and Pranati controlled their laughter, while Jaiprakash, Vivek, Sameer and Poonam pressed their lips together in a straight line so that their smiles gets hidden, Vishakha fumed in anger but couldn't say anything and Naina widened her eyes.

Pralay: Dadiji, humne kaha na ki hum yeh sab nahi maante. Next time jab aayenge tab pakka khake jayenge....
Kyun Pranu?

Pranati: Haan haan!
Hum bas Naina ko lene aaye hai aur ho sake toh Sameer agar aap bhi aa jaate toh accha rahega.

Sameer: Jaroor aata lekin aaj kuch investor ke saath meeting hai....

Jaiprakash: Kya!??? Tu shaadi ke dusre din office ja raha hai???

Sameer: Dadu, woh kal se kuch dino ke liye main Naina ko ghumane leke ja raha hun. Toh isliye usse pehle jo important meetings hai usse khatam karke jaana chahta hun.

Vivek: Arrey waah! Accha hai tu Naina ko leke ghumne ja raha hai...

Vishakha: Sameer beta, tum kahan ja rahe ho Naina ko leke??

Sameer: Short road trip sort of thing....

Prabha: Road trip??
Beta agar honeymoon mein jaana hai toh kahin acchi jagah par jao...

Naina choked on listening Honeymoon, Sameer sighed and closed his eyes. Opening his eyes, he replied.

Sameer: Maine kaha kya Prabha aunty ki hum honeymoon par ka rahe hai...Main aur Naina ek dusre ko time dene ke liye aur ek dusre se comfortable hone ke liye ja rahe hai...
( To Naina ) Chalo, tum Pralay aur Pranati bhabhi ke saath chalo. Main tumhe lene shaam ko aaunga.

Naina nodded and left to change her clothes. In half an hour, Naina went to her paternal house with Pralay and Pranati, and Sameer went to office.

Hello guys!
Hope you all will like this update. Don't forget to vote and comment.

See you soon in the next update.

With love ♥️
Kiara