A little past five that evening, Naina was all dressed up for this important visit to her sasural. There was a blue plastic shopping basket, the type that can hold its shape and stand upright when left on its own, ready with an assortment of stainless-steel containers on the dining table to accompany her. Next to it, there was also another bag with a couple of gift-wrapped items.

Chachaji had called earlier to let them know that he had been caught up with some work and though running a little late would be home soon, in time to drop her off. Taiji very keen to see how Naina had prepared for the visit popped in just as Rakesh was finishing off a phone call from Anand's lounge.

Taiji addressed Bela "Aare Bela, zara yeh Naina ko bula toh bahar. Dekhu toh theek se taiyar hui hai ke nahi. Warna humre khandan ka naak katwa ke aayegi yeh ladki!" Naina answering the summons, entered the lounge with her pallu covering her head as per the earlier plan with Preeti. Taiji seeing her in this getup couldn't find anything to criticize and grudgingly acknowledged "Ha, theek hi lag rahi hai. Aur chudiya kitni peheni hai?" Naina confirmed that she was wearing two dozen glass bangles as per Taiji's standing directive.

Rakesh noting that his Bhabhiji had not been able to find any fault with his daughter spoke "Naina, yaad rakhna, tera bartaav chahe jitna bhi acha ho, kuch log toh hummesha galtiya dhundhne mein lage rahenge. Sab log dekh lo meri beti kitni sushil hai. Warna aaj kal ki ladkiyo ko kabhi dekha hai sar dhake hue?! Chal, ab taiyar ho gayi hai toh main hi tujhe chod aata hu. Mujhe waise bhi uss taraf kuch kaam hai." Naina though not very keen for her father to accompany her, could not protest.

Sameer had tried calling the corner shop a few times to order some extra cold drink bottles, but apparently there was some problem with the connection and had hence gone to the shop himself. As he returned with a bag full of bottles, he saw a car standing in the driveway, a man removing some bags from the car boot and a lady standing close by. Both had their backs to him. He wondered a little annoyed, who could have showed up unannounced like this when they were already expecting some guests, pata nahi kause kaka-kaki ya mama-mami aa tapke hai iss waqt.

As, he approached the car he heard the man complain "Itna kya samaan leke aayi hai? Saara khana wahi se paka ke laya hai kya? Innke yeha toh naukar bhi hai!" He thought the voice sounded a little familiar, but just then she answered "Papa, itna kaha? Bus ek meetha hi toh banaya hai. Aap rehne dijiye main Ramdhari ko bula leti hu." Saying so, she moved towards the front of the car and pressed the horn twice. His Sasur continued "Ek meetha? Ek meethe ke liye char dabbe lagte hai kya?" As she turned back, he looked at her slightly shocked. She was draped in a shimmering Coral/Orange silk saree with a narrow golden border and was wearing some jewellery made with pearls and corals, and of course a LOT of matching glass bangles. But, why was she covering her head? No wonder he had mistaken her for some kaki or mami.

His Sasur still not noticing him went on "Aur ab woh teri Taiji jaisi chotti soch rakhna band kar de. Bade ghar ke logon jaise rehna seekh, samjhi?" Naina seeing him and wanting to interrupt her father before he said anything more inappropriate, exclaimed "Aare aap! Kahi bahar gaye thay kya?" Sameer looked at the bag full of cold drink bottles in his hand and wondered at the need for this redundant question.

Rakesh now turned in his direction and realising that they had company, tried to put his best foot forward "Aare Damadji aap? Kaise hai? Sab Kushal mangal?" As Sameer nodded his head and replied "Ji, aur aap kaise hai?" Rakesh replied "Ha, bilkul acha hu. Bus Naina ko chodne aaya tha." Damadji asked a little hesitantly "Aap undar aayenge?" Luckily Sasurji replied "Nahi nahi, abhi chalta hu, kuch kaam hai mujhe." As Sameer nodded, Rakesh turned to Naina and directed "Mehmaanon ka ache se khayal rakhne, samjhi?" Naina agreed "Ji Papa." And she then turning to Ramdhari who had arrived meanwhile, gave some directions to carry the bags to the kitchen.

After a little bit of clumsy maneuvering, Rakesh managed to reverse the car and his daughter and son-in-law waved him a good-bye. As they reached the stairs leading to the veranda, Naina stopped and asked the question that had been playing on her mind since his last call "Yeh saree theek hai?" And then without waiting for him to reply she elaborated "Yeh aapke ghar se hi aayi hai aur yeh moti ka set bhi, toh maine socha yahi pehenti hu. Theek hai na? Kuch jyada ya kum toh nahi lag raha hai na?"

He was amusingly surprised that she had taken his remark from the phone call so seriously and smiling very slightly replied "Ha, theek hai. Par yeh ghunghat kyun odha hai?" She replied slightly confused "Ghunghat? Yeh ghunghat thodi hai... usme toh chehera nahi dikhayi deta." He a little impatiently, as this was getting too technical for him "Jo bhi ho, sar kyun dhaka hai? Humare yaha yeh sab koi nahi karta. Koi jarurat nahi hai." Naina nodding removed the pallu from her head and stared climbing the stairs.

Sameer experienced the first slow motion moment of his life as the falling pallu kept revealing first her hair once again in an intricate looking plait, and then more and more of her back. Finally at some point the blouse started, but it seemed to end too soon, giving another glimpse of some of her lower back and waist, before the pallu at last decided to do its duty and hide the rest of her. He watched in utter fascination, forgetting to blink, as she climbed the stairs with a slight sway of her hips.

Realising that he was not climbing the stairs, she turned to look back at him and finding him still standing and looking a little lost, asked "Kya hua? Kuch yaad aa gaya? Dukkan se kuch samaan lana bhool gaye kya?" Sameer nodding his head in negation, took a step forward but stubbed his toe missing the step and winced in pain. Naina immediately climbed down the stairs and started fussing over him, asking if he was alright or hurt. He now coming back to his senses and feeling extremely conscious of what he had just experienced, mumbled he was alright and started climbing the stairs before her, not quite ready to see again what he had just seen.

As Naina followed him into the house she noticed he was wearing dark blue jeans and a chequered full sleeved shirt in red and black. She wondered a little grumpily, why was it that she had to be all dolled up wearing a saree, while he could be so comfortably attired? At least she had ensured that the saree was well secured today with about half a dozen safety pins.

When he did not head in the direction on the lounge and instead turned left towards a corridor she had not visited during any previous visits, she paused and said "Mujhe kitchen mein jana hai, woh Ramdhari jo samaan le gaya hai woh dekhna hai." He explained "Hum udhar hi ja rahe hai. Yaha se ek entrance directly kitchen ke liye hai, taaki har kisiko kitchen mein jaane ke liye lounge na use karna pade."

She looked at a small sitting area that was located to the right just as one entered the house but not part of the lounge, beyond that area was the staircase leading to the upper level. Having always wondered about the purpose of this area, she asked him "Yeh alag se baithne ke liye jagah kyun hai yaha?" He explained that it was mostly used when any employees like Munshiji visited the house for business related meetings with Nanaji, as that did not impact any personal guests that might be visiting the family. There was some simple but comfortable looking cane furniture in that area. He then mentioned "Waise Nanu bahoot baar raat ko yaha baithke radio bhi sunte hai. Kehte hai hawa achi aati hai iss darwaje se." Naina really like this design of the house and was impressed with the architecture's thought process.

As they walked through the corridor, he explained that the first room that they passed on the left was Nanaji's bedroom and the second was the guest room, just a few paces from the guest room there was a door on the right leading to the kitchen.

On entering the kitchen, as he started adjusting the cold drink bottles in the fridge, she asked him "Sameer, mehmaan che log aa rahe hai na?" He confirmed that they were expecting four adults and two kids.

She now started instructing Ramdhari, "Ramdhari Bhaiya, aap mujhe dus glass bowls nikal dijiye." Ramdhari opened one of the cabinets and got out two sets of half a dozen dessert bowls, one set a little fancier than the other with some golden design on it. Naina thought for a second and then continued "Acha, main dus bowls taiyar karke rakh dungi abhi fridge mein. Khane ke baad bahar le aana. Aur yeh jo jyada khaas wala set hai na, yeh mehmaano mein ke bado ko aur Nanaji aur Sameer ko dena. Aur yeh jo dusra set hai, issme se teen, bacho ko aur mujhe dena." Ramdhari asked "Ji, Bhabhi, par ek aur reh jaayega uska kya karu?" She replied "Woh undar aap ke liye rakh lena. Aur jab main yeh banaungi theek se dekh lena kaise bana rahi hu. Kal Munna Pandit aaye toh aaise hi unhe bhi bana dena." He happily agreed "Ji Bhabhi."

Sameer who had overheard this exchange was thinking Yeh acha hai, yeh jo kuch kahe har baat ka jawaab Ji Bhabhi hai. Main kuch bolu toh pehele panch minute toh behes mein hi laga rehta hai! Just then Ramdhari turned towards him and said "Bhaiya, aap rehene dijiye, hum sab theek se laga denge." Sameer said a little gruffly, as he exited the kitchen "Ab laga toh diye hai maine! Aur kya lagana hai?" Ramdhari shaking his head said to her "Bhabhi, Bhaiya toh aasie hi jaldi naraaz ho jate hai... aap bilkul bura maat maana. Hum toh ab bikul bhi dhyaan nahi dete."

Naina just smiled and started getting all the containers opened and bowls laid out. One of her new learning from the baking class was a Mixed Fruit Trifle Pudding. She had got all the basic ingredients ready at home and brought them along, the only thing remaining was to assemble them in the bowls so that the layers would look pretty and then leave them in the fridge for a couple of hours.

Nanaji was in the lounge when Sameer made his way there after depositing the cold drinks in the fridge. He immediately inquired "Aare, mujhe laga Naina aayi hai. Kaha hai?" Sameer explained that she was in the kitchen doing something, though he wasn't exactly clear what. Nanaji now smiled "Aare ha, ussne mujhe phone karke poocha tha, ke kuch naya dessert seekha hai toh lana chahati thi. Maine kaha issme poochne wali kya baat hai, Rustom aur Dinaz toh bahu ke hath ka kuch khake bahoot hi khush ho jaayenge."

About fifteen minutes later, when he could no longer contain his curiosity about this dessert that had arrived in 4-5 different containers, Sameer headed back to the kitchen. Ramdhari was near the stove chopping some salad, while she was bent over the table in the kitchen adding some sweetened cherries on the top as the finishing touch to the dessert.

His eyes were once again drawn to her back, now arched and the vertebrae in her upper back clearly visible. Feeling a little out of his element, he wondered what was different this time, he had seen her in sarees a number of times now, so why was he feeling affected as never before? Why had his eyes not felt drawn to her back before? Surely, something was different, but what? Or had he always just seen her from the front while draped in a saree?

Sensing him, she straightened and turned to him, looking expectant she asked "Kaisa lag raha hai? Trifle pudding banaya hai. Maine socha unhe shayad kuch modern dessert acha lage..." He replied "O... dikh toh acha raha hai, ab taste toh khane ke baad hi pata chalega, right?" She agreeing to his logic, asked him if she should make him a smaller tasting bowl. Just then they heard a car honk outside indicating arrival of the guests. Naina with some last-minute instructions to Ramdhari followed him toward the main door.

As the approached the main door via the lounge this time, seeing Nanaji in the lounge, Naina touched his feet saying "Sorry Nanaji, main aate hi kitchen mein chali gayi. Socha mehmaan aane se pehele dessert bowls taiyar karke rakh deti hu. Kaise hai aap?" Nanaji smiled saying "Koi baat nahi beta. Aur aaj toh bahoot pyaari lag rahi ho." She beamed and replied, "Thank you, yeh toh aap ne dee hui... matlab woh Mummyji ne bheji hue Saree aur Jewellery hai." Nanaji was even more pleased at her thoughtfulness of wearing something that was from his house.

By the time they both reached the main door, Sameer was already near the car hugging the guests alighting from the car. Naina who had never interacted with a Parsi family before watched in fascination. She stood a few steps back seeing them all greeting each other with deep affection. The kids, a boy of about 9 and a girl of about 6, excitedly and rather impatiently started handing over some boxes of sweets to Sameer and Nanaji, while the adults all laughed indulgently. The elder man who Naina presumed to be Rustom Uncle, then looked at her and said to Nanaji "Jaiprakash, pehele usse toh milao jisse dekhne ke liye hum sab aaye hai. Tum dono ko toh saalo se dekh rahe hai!"

As they all climbed up the steps, Naina feeling a little shy and apprehensive, took a couple of small steps forward. Nanaji gave her a reassuring smile and said "Aao beta, yeh hain Rustam Bharucha, college ke dino se mera ekdum jigri dost aur yeh hain Dinaz Bhabhi. Naina quickly drawing the pallu around her, bent forward to touch their feet. Nanaji then introduced her to Rustam's son Behrooz and daughter in law Freni, who insisted that there was no need to touch their feet and Freni instead pulled her into a warm hug. Finally, the kids Peroz and Parinaz were introduced who looked at Naina with undisguised fascination and curiosity.

Once inside the lounge, Dinaz patted the spot near her on the sofa and asked Naina to sit there. She then went on to tell her how she and Sameer's Nani had been great friends too. As she reminisced about the old days and Nani, her eyes turned a little misty. She looked at Naina with warmth and turned to Nanaji "Bhaiji, aaj isse dekh ke bahoot yaad aa rahi hai Janaki ki." Rustam also added "Such kehta hu Jaiprakash, main aur Dinaz toh humesha Bhabhi ko yaad karte hai, aur unke hath ki Muthiya. Kya swaad tha Bhabhi ke hatho mein." Nanaji's eyes too misted up feeling very emotional over this conversation. Dinaz now remarked happily taking one of Naina's hand in her own "Bhaiji, yeh toh Janaki ke hi kangan hai na? Ek baar bhi maine usse bina inn kangan ke nahi dekha tha."

As they all recollected various memories to do with Nani and the wonderful person she had been, Naina listened in attentively, rubbing the kangans slightly she thought a little nervously that she had some very big shoes to fill, and hoped that she would be able to prove herself worthy of the kangans.

Dinaz then indicated something to Freni, post which she headed to the kitchen, when Naina tried to follow her saying "Main dekhti hu Bhabhi ko kya chahiye..." Dinaz stopped her saying "Aare, tu baith. Freni saalo se aati hai iss ghar mein. Usse sab pata hai." Few minutes later Freni arrived with an Aarti thali in her hand and Dinaz issued instructions to the Maheshwari family to sit together in a particular spot and proceeded with the aarti and handing of coconuts and gifts. Behrooz clicked some photos on his camera, promising Nanaji that he would get a set printed for them too. As Naina touched the feet of the elders once again, Sameer thought Chalo aaj isse jyada pair chune padenge! But his sense of triumph was short lived as Nanaji indicated to him to seek everyone's blessings too.

Once all the formalities were out of the way, Rustam uncle pulled out something wrapped in a brown paper bag from his bag and handed it to Sameer winking "Chalo, ab asli celebration shuru karte hai! Sabke liye ek-ek lagao." When Nanaji half-heartedly tried to object "Rustam, aaj rehne do." He replied "Aare baba, sirf aaj ki hi toh guarantee hai... kal kisne dekha! Hai ni?" He then continued in a teasing tone "Bhai, Sameer isse darr ke na bole toh samajh bhi sakte hai. Tu kyun darr raha hai?! Waise bhi humare yeha Bahu ke rukhe-sukhe welcome ka bilkul bhi rivaaj nahi hai."

He then directed Behrooz to accompany Sameer and help. As the two younger men headed to the dining area, Ramdhari brought out a tray with glasses and then a number of cold drink bottles. Naina looked on absolutely clueless as per what was happening. Nanaji seeing her confused expression called out to his grandson in a slightly conscious voice "Beta, Naina ko bacho wala cold drink hi dena." She wondered dumbfounded Bacho wala? Matlab kya? Maine toh aaj tak ek hi tarah ki cold drink dekhi hai.

Once everyone was handed their glasses, Rustam uncle boisterously called "Let's have a toast to the health and happiness of the newlyweds." As Naina started raising her glass imitating everyone else, Freni whispered to her saying "Aare, yeh toast tumhare liye hai. Tumhe glass nahi uthana hai." Naina quickly put her hand down. Rustam uncle patting Sameer on the back exclaimed "Shaadi bahoot bahoot Mubarak Dikra!" Sameer smiled but with some uncertainty reflecting in his eyes, a look that was not lost on his wise old uncle.

The kids had started getting a little bored and antsy now. As the adults conversed and joked, they started walking and looking around, trying to find something interesting. Naina noting this, approached Sameer who was fetching something from the dining area and said "Sameer, maine bacho ke liye kuch gifts laye hai. Socha tha jaate waqt dungi, par lagta hai woh abhi bore ho rahe hai, toh abhi de du?" He replied "Sure, par dono ke liye kuch hai na? Warna abhi third world war shuru ho jayega!" She responded smiling "Ha, maine Nanaji se poonch liya tha, ke kitne bache hai aur kitne saal ke." Sameer thought to himself Nanaji se badi baate hoti hai isski. She added before heading inside "Kitchen mein bag rakha hai, main abhi le aati hu." Sameer cast a long glance at her retreating figure, his eyes lingering and still trying to figure out something. Then taking a big gulp of his bado-ka-cold-drink, he headed back to the sitting area.

Couple of minutes later Naina brought out a bag with some shiny gift-wrapped packages and handed one each to the kids and the third one to Parinaz with instructions to that this one was to be shared. The kids excitedly opened the packages, what had taken Preeti ten minutes to pack, was unwrapped in about thirty seconds! The individual gifts revealed two sets of colouring books, while the third was a packet of colouring pencils and the much-coveted Camlin sketch pens. This discovery lead to a lot of squeals of delight and the kids moved to a table to the side to create some masterpieces.

The conversation between the adults moved to the topic of the new project that Sameer as getting involved in. The machinery was arriving on Monday and the installation would commence shortly too. When questioned by Rustam uncle, Sameer explained that he was planning attend college for some time and then to head to the factory about lunch time for the next few weeks, unless circumstances demanded that he bunk college all together.

Behrooz though working in a different industry had stories to share about some new changes that had been introduced in his work place. Nanaji and Rustam Uncle reminisced about the early days of their own working life. Naina mostly listened in with fascination, asking a question or making a remark here and there. Nanaji proudly told the Bharuchas about her academic achievements and his keenness for her to grasp some understanding of the business too post her graduation. Rustam and Dinaz spoke to her for a bit about her interests and also asked some questions about her family.

Parinaz who had been colouring something very diligently for the past fifteen minutes or so, now rushed to Naina saying "Didi, yeh dekho maine yeh pura bunch of flowers colour kar diya!" As Naina started complimenting her on the choice of colours and the how she had mostly stayed within the lines, Freni explained to her daughter "Pari, beta she is your Chachi not Didi." When Pari did not seem convinced Freni went on "Naina is married to your Sameer Chachu, toh ab woh tumhari Chachi hai, samajhi?" Parinaz nodded with some understanding and asked "Oh, like Rahul Chacha and Rohini Chachi?" Freni confirmed that was right and explained to Naina that Rahul was one of their neighbours who had recently got married.

Parinaz now asked "Toh phir tum ab yahi rehti ho?" Naina shook her head saying "Nahi, main toh apne ghar rehti hu." The next question immediately popped "Par wedding ke baad Rohini Chachi toh Rahul Chacha ke ghar mein hi rehti hai, toh tum kyun nahi rehti yaha?" Naina smiled a little nervously before offering what she thought should suffice as a good explanation "Abhi na tumhare Sameer Chachu ki padhayi chalu hain aur meri bhi, toh main humare final exams khatam ho jayenge tab aayungi." Parinaz now understanding the real reason said "Oh... jaise Peroz ko exams ke dino mein uske friends ke sath khelna allowed nahi hota waise hi?"

Peroz who had never liked this practice of not being allowed to play with his friends to his heart's content, now joined the conversation "Par yeh toh bilkul wrong hai! Final exams ko toh abhi bahoot time hai, right?" He turned to Nanaji and said "Nanu, aap Chachi ko ghar le aayiye, aur Mummy ne mere liye jaise time-table banaya hai, waisa hi bana dijiye. Then Chachu can first finish his homework and play and have fun with Chachi! Main toh aaise hi karta hu." All the elders except the newly-weds laughed good naturedly at this solution presented by Peroz, while those two blushed a little, each conjuring up their own version of games that could be played with their spouse. Nanaji assured Peroz that he would give it some thought.

Satisfied with this, Peroz headed back to the drawing table, but came back to Naina a minute later with his colouring books and said "Chachi, my favourite animal is a tiger, but there are no tigers in this book... can you please draw it for me?" Naina accompanied him to the kids table and after pondering on it for a couple of minutes set about drawing the tiger for him.

Abruptly Peroz asked her "Chachi, can I try your cold drink?" Naina looked at their glasses and said "Aare humara toh same cola hi hai... taste kyun karna hai tumhe?" Peroz asked her in a slightly lower voice "Toh tumhare cold drink mein bhi Rum nahi hai?" Naina asked confused "Rum? Matlab??" He now explained with a feeling of self-importance "Aare, all those elders have Rum in their cola. Sometimes Papa lets me have a small sip from his glass. I know how it tastes. Toh tumko bhi nahi diya special drink?"

Naina now understanding what the bacho wala cold drink had meant, shifted a little uncomfortably. She had grown up hearing very strong views about anti-alcohol consumption. Something she had associated with rowdy and destructive behaviour. But, as she cast another glance at the happy faces indulging in some fun and animated conversations, she couldn't reconcile this situation to any of her preconceptions.

The other thing that jumped at her was the easy banter, the way the Bharucha adults seemed so approachable. There was a lack or formality between all, but it did not come across as the younger generation respected their elders any less. Rustam uncle constantly teased his wife and Bahu. Had she not been aware of their relationships, she would have easily mistaken Freni as Rustam's daughter.

She had been very nervous about meeting them all post that phone call from Sameer. Especially since she had expected them all to be rather snobbish and far too posh for her to know how to deal with. She had wondered what would it mean if they didn't like her? What if they found her too gauche? But here was a very loving warm family, so down to earth and doing everything to make her feel welcome. This was very different to what she had known all her life, but different doesn't have to translate to bad or wrong, she decided. She felt that this marriage was going to offer a window to worlds hereto unknown to her. And she now looked forward to it with anticipation.

She looked at the rare carefree look on Nanaji face and smiled a little. Naina then looked at Sameer and her breath caught as she saw him laughing whole heartedly at something that Behrooz was saying, his eyes crinkled at the corners and his whole body shaking in mirth. She had never imagined that he could laugh like that, was it the effect of the alcohol she wondered briefly, but then decided that it was the effect of the people around him. Her soul absorbed the joy radiating from him in that moment and it reflected in the shy and adoring look on her face as she sat there unable to take her eyes off her husband.

Dinaz quietly nudged her husband drawing his attention to the look on the new Bahu's face and both smiled at each other in understanding. The Bharuchas had an elder daughter closer in age to Vishakha, while Behrooz was born after a very long gap of about fifteen years, which Rustam liked to call their surprise gift. They loved Sameer like a younger son and had always made a point of ensuring that he stayed with them in Bombay for a week or so over the summer vacation.

It was a time that Sameer had always looked forward to eagerly. The visits to the beach and bhelpuri stalls, churning and making ice-cream at home in the rented wooden ice-cream pot, long sessions of playing cards wagering some peanuts. Dinaz and later Freni too fussing over him, Rustam uncle teasing Dinaz aunty and everyone else in the house, the times when he had been proudly presented as Chachu to the younger generation, those were the best memories of his childhood. The only time he had experienced what a home could really mean.

In fact, after Sameer turned eighteen, Rustam had offered him his first drink in the presence of his Nanaji. Rustam believed that if the kids are exposed to these things at home in a safe environment, they are much less likely to do these things out of curiosity or sense of rebellion outside the home. Nanaji had followed this with a long talk when on their own, stressing on how they were in no way endorsing drinking just that he should know what it was and would rather not experiment with on his own. Sameer had understood this and had always refrained from drinking while out with his friends in Delhi. It was only at family gathering like this that he indulged in small amounts. And of course, there had been that one exception to this, when he had traveled to Udaipur with Munna and Pandit last year.

Few minutes later Ramdhari brought out some freshly fried snacks and potato wafers and headed back in to fetch some tomato ketchup. Freni got a smaller plate ready for the kids to share, which Sameer brought over to their table.

As he approached, she finished off the drawing and handed it to Peroz with a sense of accomplishment. Peroz looked at it for a few moments before turning to him saying "Chachu, yeh Chachi ne banaya hai." Sameer took the drawing and looked at it intently for a few moments before remarking to her "Wow, tum toh ekdum versatile ho." As Naina glowed in the pleasure from this unexpected compliment, he went on "Pata hai, this reminds me of some of those sculptures and paintings I have seen in the Ajanta-Ellora caves. You can see the same buddha from different angles and he has different expressions ranging from sad, thoughtful to happy."

Naina wondered just how he was able to recognise the expressions of the animal in the picture. After a brief pause, looking at the drawing from different angles he continued "Left side se yeh Kutta lagta hai, saamne se dekho toh Billi aur right se mujhe toh Bakri lag raha hai." As both the kids burst into giggles, he chuckled softly too. Naina now catching on, pulled the drawing from his hand and said "Acha, itna bura bana hai to aap hi nikal dijiye." Peroz taking the drawing from her hand sweetly said "Chachi, mujhe toh acha laga. I am sure, ke main iss pe orange aur black strips banaunga na toh yeh bikul tiger hi lagega."

Naina now smiling said "Waise pata hai, jab main dus saal ki thi, tab ek baar drawing competition jeeta tha." As Sameer wondered to himself just how had things gone so bad from there on, she added "Hua yeh tha, ke papa ne galti se mera naam 5-8 age group mein register kar diya tha, aur uss waqt main bahoot short thi, toh teachers so bhi samjha nahi. Waise bhi baaki sare participants umar mein kafi chote thay, toh main jeet gayi!" The kids laughed at this story and he remarked cheekily as he walked away "Kya matlab short thi?" Naina just rolled her eyes at the implication.

Freni asked Naina to re-join the adults saying given a chance the kids would not leave her alone for a minute. As Naina sat next to her and Dinaz on one of the sofas, Freni turned to her mother in law saying "Mummy, main bol rahi thi na aapko, yeh blouse ka naya style acha lagata hai na? Woh Joshi aunty ke ghar ki shaadi ke liye main bhi banwaungi." Dinaz started looked at the blouse closely and approvingly asked Naina if she had got it stitched in Ahmedabad or if she had ordered it from Bombay? Naina confirmed it was stitched by a local tailor, but who specialised in the modern styles. She now feeling relieved by their approval, went on to mention to the ladies how she had been a little apprehensive about wearing it as she had previously only worn the more traditional designs. Freni assured her that it suited her perfectly and once again voiced her own resolve to get one stitched just like it.

Sameer had been sitting closer to the other men, but his ears had perked up the moment he heard them discussing her blouse. What was the difference between a traditional and modern blouse, he wondered?

Soon Ramdhari started serving dinner and they all moved to the dining area. As the three ladies walked in front, Sameer noticed the varying lengths of their sleeves and the depth of the back neckline. Oh... this is what was different! No wonder he had not noticed her back before! The coral-orange fabric contrasting so beautifully and yet adding a peachy glow to her skin. If his eyes frequently wandered to her back that evening, being the obstinate Mr Maheshwari that he was, he attributed this only to his newly acquired knowledge of different types of blouses, and not to the charms of the wearer.

The Bharuchas were extremely touched by Naina's gesture of bringing over a dessert and highly praised it. If the jelly was not as perfectly set as it should have been, or if the sponge cake at the base slightly denser than what they were used too, it did not matter. All that mattered was, this lovely girl was making every effort to make a home of the Maheshwari mansion.

Over dinner, Nanaji mentioned to Naina that he was going to be away the next weekend as he was attending some wedding in Baroda. She promised to come by the weekend after per their now established routine.

After dinner Rustam asked Behrooz to click some photos of the newly wedded couple. He said he had spoken to Vishakha recently and had promised to send her some post this trip. Naina very quickly learnt that Behrooz took his photography very seriously. A fair amount of time was spent on short listing places offering optimal lightening, and then a lot more on getting them to pose perfectly. Freni quickly dabbed some of her lipstick on Naina's already rosy lips. As a warm-up Behrooz clicked some group photos and a couple of just the Maheshwari family. Finally, it was time for just Mr and Mrs Maheshwari, who soon decided that posing with family was much easier.

Seeing how they stood or sat rather awkwardly next to each other, while Behrooz gave them instructions, Rustam uncle started teasing Sameer how he had not expected him to be such a shy guy. This only increased the couple's nervousness as Sameer gingerly placed his arm around her shoulder. Rustam uncle laughingly said "Aare, itna kyun dur khada hain? Kitna sharma raha hai yeh Dikra... padosi ki biwi thode hi hai!" Dinaz too joined in jovially "Itna toh Rustam padosi ki biwi se bhi kabhi nahi sharmaya hai!" As all joined in this ribbing, Sameer feeling very impatient for this to be over, stepped behind her and leaning forward encircled her waist with both his arms. He asked sounding a little exasperated "Itna pass theek hai ya kuch aur bhi karna hai?!"

Feeling his arms around her and that too without so unexpectedly, Naina went completely still. The rest of the world seemed to fade away for a few moments as she become achingly aware of his arms gently resting across her belly, the fingers of his right-hand brushing slightly against the left side of her waist just where the pallu ended exposing her midriff. The fragrance of his either his after-shave or perfume, she knew not which, assailed her nostrils. This proximity was too much for her and she clutched on the fabric of his sleeve near her belly, fearing that she might fall as she felt her knees turn to jelly.

Sensing her sway, Sameer tightened his grip on her waist, trying to hold her upright and his body instinctively supporting her weight, as he felt her lean back into him. The back that he had watched in fascination that evening, were now firmly pressed against his chest. Realising she was not very steady on her feet, he wondered if she was felling unwell? Or had she accidently had a cold drink with some rum in it? He whispered a Tum theek ho? which went unanswered by her. He could feel her heart pounding wildly against his chest, or was it his own? He fleetingly thought that she smelled of roses and something else... though he couldn't put a finger on it. And she felt so tiny, so fragile... like he could easily break her.

She stood there, not knowing how, in the circle of his arms trembling ever so slightly. She stood there very still, torn between the urge to flee and an overwhelming need to turn around and bury her face against his chest. The heat emanating from him seemed to set her bare back on fire. In that moment, she left behind the girl she had been and embraced the woman she would come to be.

Later, when she saw the photos, she wondered how she had managed to smile as requested by Behrooz, as she could remember nothing else but being unbearably close to him.

Rest of the evening barely registered with Naina. She obviously said a warm goodbye to the Bharuchas and probably sought their blessings once again, and she must have hugged the kids with a promise to visit them all soon, but she couldn't remember any of it the next day. She walked around enveloped in a fuzzy memory of being cocooned in his arms.

When Nanaji remarked to Sameer that it was time to drop her home, she very reluctantly gathered her assortment of bags and slipped on the chappals. But, unnerved by all these new feelings that his proximity was arousing in her, she entreated Freni to accompany them on the drive back home. When she clasped Freni's hand a little too tight, while sitting with her in the backseat, the older woman only smiled with some vague understanding and squeezed it back reassuringly.

Sameer though apparently chatting with Behrooz who was keeping him company in the front seat, kept casting some fugitive glances in her direction, trying to decipher her sudden silence. He felt slightly annoyed at Rustam uncle for teasing them and much more at himself for reacting to it and putting his arms around her. It seemed she hadn't liked it, though he wasn't sure which, the teasing or the hug or both? But she had gone almost completely silent post it.

Meanwhile, the elders now left to themselves, discussed the new addition to the family. The Bharuchas were very pleased with the new Bahu. Rustam said "Jaiprakash, ab main samjha tum kya bol rahe thay. Naina se mil se such mooch tasalli ho gayi ke ladki bahoot achi hai. Na toh sirf padhi leekhi hai, par dil ki bhi ekdum saaf lagti hai." Dinaz still not over the look she seen on Naina's face as she gazed at her husband, added in an emotional and approving tone "Ha Bhaiji, aur dekh lena, bilkul tut kar pyar karegi humre Sameer se."

(Please note that I have some very close Parsi friends and hold them in high regard. The casual banter here and not so orthodox lifestyle is based on my personal interactions and impressions of that community in general. No disrespect or critique intended.)