The next couple of weeks went by without much changing between Naina and Sameer. Some days they didn't find the other in their vicinity, and when they did, they pretended to not notice. Both would turn away not acknowledging the other, but it did not stop their eyes from furtively drifting in the other's direction from afar.

Sameer would make it a point to turn his back to her as she alighted from the rickshaw and walked to the inner smaller entrance to the college past the cycle and bike stands. But, he would end up watching her progress from the corner of his eye, his gaze always briefly landing on the old-fashioned gold kangans on her wirsts, seemingly screaming silently to him of their connection. Even without realising he started finding some excuse to delay his departure from the college till she had arrived.

Swati would keep pestering Naina for details on whether Jijaji called her or wrote her letters. Naina would mumble some excuses about the families being very conservative and hence the restricted interactions. Every now and then Swati would tease her and sing her songs related to dard-e-judai and pyar ke dushaman zalim gharwale. Preeti tried to mostly dwell on the positives and refrained from any in-depth discussion on that subject, not having anything constructive to offer her sister.

One evening as the three boys were enjoying some chat at one of their favourite stalls near Law Garden, Sameer proposed that they bunk college the next day and watch the newly released movie Hum Hai Rahi Pyar Ke starring Juhi and Amir. He really wanted to watch a light-hearted comedy to divert his mind. Pandit immediately ruled out the idea "Bhai kal college bunk karne ka toh sawal hi nahi aata! Parso kar lenge." On further questioning by Sameer, he elaborated "Yaar, kal woh Teej hai na, toh saari ladkiya jinki shaadi ya mangni hui hai bahoot saj-dhaj ke aayengi." Sameer prompted "Aur aaisi ladkiyon ko tujhe kyun dekhana hai, jinke sath koi chance nahi milega?"

Munna laughed "Bhai, woh iss liye dekhna hota hai ke pata toh chale ke kaha koshish karna bekar hai! Jab hum third year mein thay, toh bechara Ponga badi lagan se uss Shanti ke peeche pada tha, par Teej pe jab woh kisi aur ke naam ko mehendi laga kar aayi toh bechare ka biklul dil tut gaya tha." Pandit remarked "Ha yaar. Ek toh yeh holidays mein bahoot sari ladkiyo ke rishte ho jaate hai, jo hume pata hi nahi chalta. Toh bus kal ka din bahoot important hota hai sabka latest status samajhne ke liye. Film hum kal sham ko ya parso dekh lenge."

That night Sameer wondered how she would explain her mehendi to her classmates tomorrow. Or had she already shared the news of their nuptials? But, it didn't seem likely considering any gossip like this would have reached him and his friends immediately. It was after all a small town and an even smaller college.

Bela was quite excited about Naina's first Teej post her marriage and brought her a new pretty red shalwar-kameez and lots of delicate glass bangles. Taiji gave Naina explicit instructions to decorate her hands with Mehendi and wear the glass bangles and then observe a fast for the day after performing some pooja early in the morning before heading to college.

This created a new challenge for Naina. What would he think? The thought of announcing her marital status in public when he was not willing to acknowledge their relationship, did not sit well with her. She told her aunts that she had to complete some assignment urgently and would apply the mehendi later at night post that. When questioned by them the next morning she made excuses that she had been studying till late and then fallen asleep forgetting all about the mehendi. This earned her a big lecture from Taiji, post which she applied a few inconspicuous dots of mehendi, put on the new colthes and slipped on about a dozen glass bangles on each hand.

But Naina realised that the real challenge was when she sat down for the pooja. All her life so far, she had found that praying came very naturally to her. Her faith had always given her a sense of hope and determination. All these years her prayers had extreme clarity. Mostly they had comprised of wishes to top the exams or a certain chapter to not feature heavily in the exam paper. Sometimes they had included other requests like hoping that Chachiji would buy that specific hairband or Chachaji taking them to try the chat at that new stall that had just opened or a specific movie to play on cable TV. Of course, she at times prayed for others too, like hoping that Preeti would pass her exams or Arjun bhaiya would win the cricket tournament or Pooja didi would find her groom soon.

But, how do you pray for someone you don't know at all? She felt absolutely clueless when it came to his hopes and desires. What sort of life did he want for himself? And what did she want with regards to him? For the first time since the beginning of this marriage she felt completely exposed. There is nowhere to hide when one prays, it's the most honest conversation. And more importantly, before you ask for something from God, you must admit to yourself, what is it that you truly want.

What did she want? She sat there with her kangan and bangles adorned folded hands, not knowing what to pray for. Finally, she asked for what she hoped would cover both their desires 'Bhagwanji, please hum dono ko khush rakhiye'. And then trying to do the good wife thing she added something specific for him 'Chachaji kehte hai woh aapni final year ki padhai ko lekar bahoot serious hai, toh please unhe iss saal Distinction ke sath pass kijiye'. (Somewhere, the God in charge of making a note of prayers for the day chuckled and shook his head thinking 'Beta, peheli toh theek hai par tumhari yeh dusri iccha puri karna toh humare liye bhi bahoot muskhil hai!')

On the way to college Naina slipped off all the glass bangles and packed them away in her bag. She hoped the new pretty dress wouldn't arouse much curiosity with her classmates. But, she shouldn't have worried as the college was full of girls dressed up, a fair number in sarees too and wearing mehendi, bangles and gajras.

Sameer as on most days was standing near the bike stand with his friends when she arrived. Munna and Pandit were busy updating their knowledge regarding the availability status of all the girls they considered as interesting prospects. He noted from far that she was dressed in a pretty red shalwar-kameez, definitely jazzier than the clothes she usually wore. But as she passed by, he also noted from the corner of his eyes the lack of mehendi and bangles on her hands, only his Nani's kangans decked her wrists as usual. Apparently, she did not consider herself married either.

Nanaji had left instructions for him to stay at home that evening and when he got back from the factory, he informed Sameer that they had been invited to the Agarwals for dinner. Sameer was confused "Khane pe bulaya hai... aur woh kyun?" Nanaji explained "Aare beta tumhari shaadi ke baad yeh peheli badi Teej hai. Woh log chahate hai issi bahaye hum unnke ghar bhi ek baar ho aaye." He responded "Nanu aap hoke aayiye. Main waha aake kya karunga? Mujhe koi interest nahi hai unnka ghar dekhne mein."

Nanaji elaborated "Sameer, aaj bahu ne vrat rakha hoga, bechari itna taiyar hoke baithi hogi... tum nahi aaoge toh acha nahi lagega beta." Sameer instanstly responded a little angrily "Koi vrat-vat nahi rakha hai usne. Deekhi thi mujhe college mein, hatho mein na mehendi thi na chudiya." Nanaji was a little taken aback to hear this. He had expected Naina to be the sort of girl who followed at least some of the basic traditions. But he insisted that he had already accepted the invitation and they were expected to reach the Agarwals house by 7 pm.

Naina-Preeti arrived home after college to find the two older women rushing around. Bela explained that Tauji had decided that today would be a good day to invite Naina's in-laws over for dinner. Taiji looked at Naina's sparsely decorated hands and instructed her to finish a more elaborate mehendi on her hands, which Naina complied to.

The maid had been called back to do another round of jhadu-poocha. Bela fired instructions to Preeti to clean and rearrange all the show-pieces in the shelves in the lounge. She replaced the everyday-use dark sofa back covers with the ivory lace ones gifted by her sister during the last visit. A brass vase filled with a big bunch of fragrant Nishigandha was placed on the corner table.

Taiji had got the special dinner set gifted by the collector out for this special occasion. Special decorations with petals of the Genda flower were added around two plates where the guests would be sited. An aarti thali was prepared along with some envelopes to be handed to the groom and his grandfather to mark their first visit.

Cold drink bottles ordered by Chachaji were delivered by the local grocer. When Preeti voiced her displeasure at Tinda being on the menu even for this occasion, she was informed that Paneer Bhurgi and Gatta Curry was on the menu too. Rabdi and Jalebi had been ordered from the best Halwai in the town. Everyone was out to make the best impression possible on the Grooms family.

Few hours later, the new Damadji received a very warm welcome in his sasural. He carried out the obligatory round of touching the elder's feet and seeking their blessings. Greeting were exchanged, and few enquires were made about Nanaji's health and Damadji's general well-being. Subsequently Nanaji asked "Naina beti kaisi hai? Dikhayi nahi de rahi hai..." The new bride was now summoned by Tauji "Aare Bahu, Naina ko bahar le aao." Bela rushed inside and after a few last-minute instructions brought Naina out.

The Maheshwari Bahu arrived in the lounge looking very beautiful, draped in a pretty dark pink silk saree embroidered with zari, her almost waist long hair tied in a plait decorated with gajras and decked with some gold jewellery. Nanaji noted with satisfaction the sindoor in her maang, the mehendi, kangan and bangles on her hands and the gajras in her hair and decided that his Bahu looked just as she ought to. Remembering Sameer's comment from earlier in the day, turning to him he uttered without thinking "Aare, tum toh aise hi naraz ho rahe thay ke issne na mehendi lagayi na chudiya peheni... Yeh toh kitni pyaari lag rahi hai!"

Taiji looking puzzled remarked "O bai... maine toh isse subhe bhi do dozen chudiya pehnayi thi... Koi baat nahi Damadji agar aap ko chudiya itni pasand hai toh aage se Naina aur bhi pehnegi." Then shaking her head, she continued looking at Nanaji "Such kehti hu bhaisahab main toh iss ladki ko samjha samjha ke thak gayi. Har waqt bus college ki kitabon mein sar dal ke baithi rehti hai. Par aap chinta mat kijiye. Main Bidai se pehele isse sab seekha dungi." Hearing all this exchange Sameer coloured thinking she now knew that he noticed her in college. And to top it, she would think that he expected her to dress-up for him!

Naina sat there feeling contrite about the lack of mehendi and bangles earlier in the day. He had noticed and had been annoyed about it. Of course, just because his Nanaji like her elders did not wish them to interact did not mean he didn't want to. She had been worrying over nothing!

As the elders continued chatting and exchanging more information about their families, at some point Sameer headed out to the balcony adjoining the lounge with a bottle of cola. As he stood there taking in the surroundings, he realised that he was just a couple of minutes walking distance from the video shop that he frequently visited with Munna-Pandit. Strange... he had been coming so close-by over the last year, without the slightest inkling how he would one day find himself in this balcony. He must have probably passed by this building a number of times without casting a single glance in this direction. He thought of the excuses he had made to Munna when he had called earlier wanting to finalise plans for the evening to watch movie that he had mentioned the day before, and felt the guilt of hiding this marriage from them weighing on his heart once again.

Once it was time to serve dinner, Bela asked Naina to call Sameer inside. Naina found him slightly leaning over the parapet wall sipping on his cola lost in thoughts, presenting her his side profile for her study. This was probably the first time that she was looking at him properly. He was dressed in formal dark blue trousers paired with a long-sleeved shirt with thin white and light blue strips. The fine finish of the cuffs and collar indicated it was an expensive ready-made shirt, not something that was commonly worn by the men in her house. His hair was a little longer than most men, but it suited him. He had a straight shapely nose and a very strong square jawline. He was lean but not lanky. One thing that she had noticed in college over the last few weeks and was reinforced today was there was an easy confidence to the way he carried himself. He really is very good looking, she thought.

When he did not notice her standing in the doorway she stepped out in the balcony and moving a little closer cleared her throat. Once aware of her presence he immediately straightened but stayed silent. Naina started in a soft voice "Sorry, woh maine chuddiya nahi peheni aaj college mein... maina soocha sab log poochenge toh... samajh nahi aa raha tha ke kya bolungi. Mujhe nahi laga tha ke aap ko bura lagega..." Sameer not wanting her to build any expectations brusquely replied "Tumhe mere liye kuch bhi karne ki koi jarurat nahi hai. Mujhe koi farak nahi padta tum chuddiya peheno ya na peheno. In fact, yeh kanjan bhi nikal do toh acha hoga." Having said his piece, he immediately headed in, leaving her standing there. Naina couldn't determine if she felt more hurt or angry in that moment, taking a few deep breaths to calm herself she headed inside too.

Before the guests and the Agarwal men started their meal, Bela asked Sameer to sit on one of the sofas "Damaji, aap jara pehele idhar baithiye. Woh Naina ne aap ko Aarti karni hai." Damadji was confused "Aarti? Woh kyun? Aaj mera birthday toh nahi hai..." The elders laughed good naturedly at this and Bela explained "Woh aaj Naina ne Vrat rakha hai na aap ke liye toh issiliye." She handed the thaali to Naina who started the Aarti with mixed feelings, her hands shaking a little, similar to her confidence from his earlier words in the balcony. Seeing the Aarti thali sway a little, Bela quickly lent a supporting hand explaining "Woh peheli baar Vrat rakha hai na... subha se kuch khaya nahi hai... toh shayad thodi kamzori ho rahi hai."

Sameer was astounded to hear this bit of information. He could not imagine not eating for a whole day, especially for someone else. He noted her brightened beautiful khol lined eyes and knew it was definitely not due to tears of joy. He immediately regretted his earlier cutting remarks, thinking she was also probably just doing what she was forced or expected to, just like him. As he looked at her right hand extending forward to apply the tilak on his forehead, he thought the bangles and kangans really did add to the beauty of her dainty wrists.

Bela then brought forward a box of ladoos and prompted him to feed her one to help open her fast. He very self-consciously extended his hand holding out the ladoo towards her, and she leaned forward to take the tiniest bite possible. The sweet desi ghee motichoor ladoo tasted like ash. She wasn't sure if it was the effect of not eating anything for almost 24 hours or if it was the taste of disappointment of a new bride, having never experienced either before.

The evening was a success as far as the elders of both the families were concerned. They were satisfied with the other family and the information exchanged about relatives and social connections. Some remarks were made by the Taiji to reinforce their preference for an early Bidai, but Nanaji skillfully avoided any commitment, just nodding as if they would think about it.

Bela was especially pleased to find out that her new son-in-law actually relished Tindas, though this discovery meant Preeti's opnion of him did go down by a few millimeters. Nanaji noticed the disparity in the nature and behaviour of the two Agarwal khandan bahus and was happy to see that Naina quite obviously shared the mother-daughter like bond with Bela.

After the guests left for their home, the expected analysis of the visit was carried out in the Agarwal household. Taiji opened the envelope that had been handed to Naina and was impressed that it contained Rs 501. Bela now wished that she hadn't listened to Taiji's advice and had added more money to the envelopes that they are handed to the Maheshwari men.

Rakesh once again talked about all the luxuries that he had seen during his visit to their house, plus some additional information that he had gathered about their business over the last few weeks. Chachaji contentedly remarked about Sameer's calm and serious nature and Chachiji about the gusto with which he had finished three helpings of Tinda. Preeti remarked that he definitely resembled Salman Khan, post which Taiji gave Naina a look from head to toe and a small lecture on how she should try to make the most of her average looks. Taiji also gave some instructions to Bela to buy Naina a few new sets of bangles considering Damadji's fondness for them.

As soon as Naina retired to her room for the night, she pulled off all the bangles and the kangans, thinking Usse kya lagta hai? Main mari jaa rahi hukya yeh kangan pehene ke liye?! Samajhta kya hai khud ko? Ek toh thaali usske hath se giri thi... main toh sirf Golu ko padak rahi thi. Thodasa samaan theek se uthate aur sambhalte nahi aata toh jarurat hi kya thi uthane ki! Aur akad toh aisi hai jaise... After internally ranting for a good half an hour or so while she removed all traces of her marital status, she was completely resolved to not wear those kangans ever again and went off to bed fuming silently.

(Definitely more Samaina conversations coming up in the next chapter!)