Couple of days later, at the dinner table, Nanaji said to Sameer "Beta, maine aaj Naina ke Tauji ko phone kiya tha. Maine un sabko aane wale Sunday ko Lunch pe bulaya hai. Toh tum ghar pe hi rehna." Sameer pointed out "Nanu, Sunday ko toh main subhase Gymkhane pe hi rahunga. Mere Nets hai, aagle Sunday humare club ka ek important match hai. Toh mera jaana jaru" 

Nanaji cut him short said in a tone that indicated that this was the final verdict "Bahu abhi tak humare ghar nahi aayi hai. Acha nahi lagta. Bidai mein chahe waqt ho, par usse yeh ehsaas hona chahiye ke woh ab humare ghar ki bahu hai aur dheere dheere thoda aana jaana chalu karegi toh usse bhi aapni aane wali zimedariyo ka ehsaas hoga. Ek din Nets miss ho jaaye ya koi match bhi, toh koi itni badi baat nahi hai Sameer." 

Sameer wasn't sure why, but he felt his Nanaji's thoughts about him wanting his Bahu to become more aware of her forthcoming responsibilities, was directed more at him though expressed with regards to Naina.

On receiving the invite for the Sunday lunch, the excitement level in the Agarwal household reached a new high. Taiji and Chachiji who had not been a part of the party that had visited the Maheshwaris the day after the wedding were very excited to see Naina's sasural. Taiji had grown sick of Rakesh talking about the Maheshwari Mansion and was keen to ascertain for herself just how much truth did his words hold. On some level she hoped that the visit would establish that Rakesh had been exaggerating all this while.

Chachiji started thinking how this would give her a good opportunity to understand what she needed to start buying for Naina to take with her at the time of the Bidai. She made a note to herself to count the number of Sofa back covers that would have to be embroidered, and to note the size of the walls in their lounge. She had already found someone close by that taught various arts and she was planning on enrolling Naina into a class to make a Nib Painting to take with her. After all, all these qualities in a girl are of great importance too.

Naina looked forward to this visit with equal measures of eagerness and trepidation. The idea of her  new home with him brought with it the excitement of the new, but also the fear of the unknown. Also, the repeated taunts from her Taiji, made her wonder if and how she would fit in with their lifestyle. Her world so far had been very small, limited to family, friends and neighbours. She had heard the story of one of their neighbour's daughter who had got married into a very rich and posh family in Bombay. At the onset her parents had been very happy about the alliance, but later the girl had faced so many problems adjusting into the new household with her in-laws finding faults with everything she did. Would Sameer and his Nanaji also find her inadequate if she came across as completely out of her comfort zone?

Preeti was more focussed on the practical problems at hand. She pointed out to her mom that Naina did not have a decent pair of chappal, appropriate to be worn during her first visit to the sasural, nor the right sort of purse to be carried while wearing a saree. The question of the purse was solved when Chachiji brought out a small golden Batwa with some sequence work design on it from her limited collection of accessories for special occasions, but chappal shopping was clearly required. Before they headed for the footwear shopping, Taiji issued a list of criteria on what was considered as acceptable footwear for a Sushil Bahu. Apparently, it meant no pretty strappy high heels, and hence she settled on beige chappals with about an inch and half of matka heels.

Sameer informed his best friends of this upcoming event one morning as they were sipping on some tea in the canteen "Yaar... woh... Nanaji ne Naina aur usske gharwalon ko Sunday ko khane pe bulaya hai. Mujhe toh samajh nahi aata abhi bulane ki jarurat hi kya hai..." Munna chimed in "Aare jarurat kaise nahi hai! Tu khud toh uske ghar ho aaya na... toh ab usko bhi toh tera ghar dekhne ko milna chahiye." Pandit corrected him "Sirf Sameer ka ghar nahi... uska bhi toh naya ghar hai woh!" Sameer gulped a little nervously thinking about all these changes, and how others around him were accepting them so matter-of-factly.

He then added "Acha, tum dono bhi aajao." Munna looked at him confused "Aare, hum aake kya karenge? Tu toh apni biwi aur sasural walo se baaton mein busy hoga." Sameer replied "Pagal ho gaya hai kya? Main kya baate karunga!" Pandit smiling slyly said "Wahi baate jo Hero-Heroine karte hai..." Sameer responded irritated "Hello... mujhe koi shauk nahi hai kisika hero banneka! Tum dono bus aa rahe ho. Uske sath bhi toh uska pura khandan aa raha hai, toh main hi kyu akela rahu?" As his friends reluctantly agreed Pandit said "Yaar, sirf tere liye uss khadus Rakesh sir ke saamne aa rahe hai. Chalo ek baar phir unnki char galiya kha lenge..." Sameer just shook his head thinking, lo phir chalu ho gayi innki nautanki.

Sunday arrived, bringing with it, feelings of anticipation, anxiety, joy, excitement, envy and pride in the various people who were to be part of this visit. This time around, the Maheshwari household was getting ready to receive the samdhis. But in the absence of any females in the house, there was a sense of un-rushed calm, the efforts limited to Ramdhari cleaning and tiding the house and cooking a scrumptious meal. Nanaji had discussed this visit with his daughter, who in turn had reached out to a close friend in Ahmedabad with some requests and as a result there were a number of bags and boxes sitting in one corner of the lounge. A simple Aarthi thali was kept ready in kitchen to be fetched at the appropriate time.

Naina had spent almost two hours getting ready for this visit. Ironically it was much more time than what she had spent getting ready for her wedding! Preeti had decided that to achieve the balance between the traditional and yet not quite boring, Naina should wear her hair in a French plait and had put in a lot of effort perfecting her look for the day. Taking into consideration Damadji's preference for bangles, Naina was wearing three dozen glass bangles distributed between both her hands, placed between the Kangans and another set of gold bangles that belonged to her Chachiji. A delicate gold necklace and gold jhumka's completed the rest of her accessories for the day.

Few minutes before the agreed time, the Agarwals reached Naina's sasural. They were clearly a family who valued punctuality. Naina was in the front seat of the car with her Chachaji, with her Aunts and Preeti in the back seat. While Rakesh and Pralay travelled in Tauji's car. Arjun had enrolled for some cricket coaching classes in Surat and lived there these days, with just occasional visits to Ahmedabad. Naina had hoped he would be able to join them on this visit, but he had not been able to make it, with some important match coming up.

As they approached the big gate, Chachaji happily said "Naina beta, yeh hai tumhara sasural, tumhara hone wala naya ghar." As Naina looked at her sasural, she noted that it was a huge white mansion with a beautiful well looked after garden around it. Though the house was quite big, it did not come across as overbearing, there was a classic simplicity that made it aesthetically very pleasing. Taiji's eyes bulged, almost ready to pop! Rakesh babu had not been exaggerating, she thought. The main gate had been left open and the Nanaji's driver stood by the gate, immediately waving and indicating that they should park their cars inside in the driveway.

The Maheshwaris were standing by the steps to the front veranda to receive the guests. As Naina opened the car door and started stepping out, she felt like she was taking the most important step of her adult life. The idea that she was someone's bahu and someone's wife, which has so far felt more like just a concept, now felt only too real.

Sameer watched her gingerly step out of the car, looking a little nervous, trying to ensure that the saree did not get stuck in the car door. She was looking so different to what she looked in college every day. Today she was draped in an ink blue saree, with some sort of golden embroidery on it. There was a glow on her face, was it because of the make-up she was wearing? Her hair was in some sort of plait, but not just the usual plait that women mostly braided their hair in, and she was carrying a small slightly old looking golden purse.

As the guests approached the veranda, Nanaji welcomed them "Aaiye aaiye... Acha hua kal se baarish bhi ruk gayi hai." Tauji now stepped up to play his role "Namaste Jaiprashji. Sab Kushal mangal?" Nanaji replied that all was well and welcomed them up the stairs. As they all approached the main door to the house, he addressed his bahu "Naina beta, zara ek minute yahi ruko. Ramdhari gaya hai Aarti ki thali lane." Ramdhari soon arrived with the thali and Nanaji welcomed his bahu into the home after applying a small tikka on her forehead. Naina immediately bent forward to touch his feet earning herself a "Sada khush raho." On some silent prompting from Nanu, Sameer too touched the feet of all the Agarwal elders, thinking yeh acha hai, isse toh bus ek Nanu ke hi paair choone padte hai, aur muje itne saare logo ke!

Soon all the guests were settled in the lounge and the elders chatting about the usual mundane topics. Ramdhari offered everyone some glasses of Mango Rasna. Naina sat clutching her glass, with her eyes mostly fixed on the floor and Sameer wondering, if she was here to see his house then why she was just staring at the floor.

Naina had taken one sweeping glance at the lounge as she entered and realised the interiors of the house also resonated with the elegance and simplicity of the exteriors. Though there were a number of dark blue sofas and arm chairs placed around the lounge, they were not the stuffed bulging kind. One end of the lounge lead into the dining area, through an arched entrance, with probably the kitchen beyond it. The walls were painted in a pale bluish grey, making the rooms seem larger and airier. There were a couple of wall hangings and a big bronze Radha-Krishna statue in one corner. A photo frame adorned by a sandalwood garland, with a photo of a kind and pretty looking middle-aged woman that Naina guessed to be his Naniji, hang to one side.

Preeti and Chachiji looked about in awe and pleasure, while Taiji with awe and a little envy. Chachiji mentally noted that there was one 2-seater sofa, two 3-seater sofas and two matching arm chairs, requiring a total of ten matching sofa back covers. She felt the wall by the dining table with was currently empty would be a perfect spot for whatever piece of art that her niece could come up with.

The Agarwal brothers and Nanaji were discussing some changes to excise duty under consideration by the state government and the impact of this change on businesses like the Maheshwari Textiles. Sameer though not really interested in this discussion was pretending to listen in. 

Taiji after looking around for a bit and then deciding that she had been quiet for far too long, addressed Sameer "Damadji dekhiye aaj maine Naina ko puri teen dozen chudiya pehnayi hai... agar aap kahe toh agli baar aur bhi pehna dungi..." Sameer exclaimed "Nahi nahi! Itni theek hain." thinking her wrists and most of the forearm was already completely hidden, anymore and the bangle would reach her elbows. Taiji was pleased with herself, thinking she had achieved what she had set out to do.

Just then there was a little hustle and bustle at the door and Munna and Pandit entered the lounge. Rakesh who had been on his best behaviour all these days, seeing that duo lost his cool, as he remembered how as per him they had always been out to give him and all the other teachers a hard time. He spoke thoughtlessly as he usually did, "Aare, tum dono toh wahi lafandar ho na jo hamesha school mein kisi na kisi shaitani mein lage rehte thay? Abhi bhi kuch sudhare ho ya waise hi ho? Aur yeha kya kar rahe ho?!" Naina watched in horror as her father indulged in a rant very characteristic of him, but very ill-timed, especially today.

Before Nanaji could say something diplomatically, Sameer sprung to his feet with indignation. When his friends had described Rakesh as khadus time and again, he had taken it as just another of their jovial exaggerations but seeing someone talk to them in this manner in his house was completely unacceptable. He was about to snap at Rakesh, but seeing her looking aghast at her father, Sameer instead addressed her "Naina, Munna ki mummy aur meri mummy mauseri behene hai. Munna aur Pandit dono ki meri life aur iss ghar mein bahoot importance hai. I hope tum hamesha yeh baat yaad rakhogi!"

Tauji understanding that Rakesh had touched a nerve with the new son-in-law, immediately tried to set things right and addressed Munna and Pandit "Acha toh phir aap log toh Naina ke devar hue. Bahoot acha laga aap se milke." Turning to Rakesh, he laughingly continued "Aare bhai Rakesh tum bhi na, kaha school ki baate leke baith jaate ho... Bachpan mein toh saare bache shaitani karte hai..." Taiji too added "O bai... mujhe toh ab tak yaad hai kiss tarah woh gaav ke school ke masterji roz Rakesh babu ka kaan pakad ke inhe ghar le aate thay... roz koi nayi shaitani ki shikayat leke." Hearing this almost everyone laughed, while Rakesh's ex-students looked astonished imagining someone pulling his ears, and Rakesh himself turned red with mortification.

Nanaji quickly diverted the topic, asking Naina to sit down in a specific location facing the east. He started "Naina beta, tumhari saas bhi aaj yeha hoti toh aur bhi acha hota, par usne hi yeh sab tayari karwayi hai. Tum aaj peheli baar apne ghar aa rahi ho... bahoot khush hu main." and then proceeded with handing her multiple boxes filled with expensive sarees and also a red velvet covered jewellery box. The jewellery box revealed a beautiful set necklace and earrings, made with cultured pearls and corals.

The Agarwals watched all the gifts being handed to Naina. Most of them watched with growing pleasure and one with increasing envy. Naina who had not been expecting so many things, was a little stunned and stammered "Nanaji... itni saari cheezo ki kya jarurat hai..." Nanaji smiled "Aare beta, baat jarurat ki nahi, humari khushi ki hai. Waise toh ab yeh ghar bhi tumhara hai, akhir iss ghar ki bahu ho tum." He then drew out a bank pass book and handed it to her saying "Yeh baaki sari cheeze to tumhari saas ki taraf se hai. Yeh sab shopping wagaira waise bhi meri bus ki baat nahi hai... aur main thoda practical kisam ka insaan hu. Maine socha tumhe kuch aur saadiya aur gehene dene se toh behetar yeh hoga ke main tumhare naam ka bank account khol du. Issme kuch paise deposit kiye hai, tum aapni marzi se jo chaho le lena." Naina looked at the bank pass book with the name Mrs Naina Maheshwari written on it and feeling overwhelmed once again reached forward to seek his blessings.

Nanaji also had some gifts for the other family members. Once these were distributed, he asked Ramdhari to start serving lunch. The newlyweds were sited at the dinning table with the elders in the family, while the rest of the younger generation were served lunch around a couple of coffee tables. Ramdhari kept serving his new Bhabhi the best bits. The Bhabhi complimented him on his cooking at some point, earning herself a huge grin and another very loyal supporter in the household.

Once lunch was done, Nanaji asked the elders to accompany him to the garden for a stroll and said to Sameer "Beta, Bahu ko uppar le jao aur terrace aur tumhara kamra dikhayo." Sameer looked to his friends and Naina to Preeti for support and hoping they would join them. But the trio completely ignored this plea for help and started watching the TV with much concentration. Seeing Nanaji was waiting for his instructions to be followed, Sameer set out to give his new wife a tour of the floor above.

As they both silently climbed the stairs, he noticed that she was walking a little awkwardly, struggling with the saree as it seemed to be a bit too long for her. Couldn't women adjust the height of the saree to their own, he wondered.

When they reached the top of the stairs, Sameer headed in the direction the terrace, which was located towards the front of the house. As Naina stepped into the terrace, she noticed a number of potted plants along one edge of the balcony. There were a few Roses, some Mogras and one Raat-ki-rani. There was a covered 2-seater swing in one corner of the terrace and a few plastic chairs stacked by the wall. A small shallow earthen plate filled with water for the birds was left on the ledge. There were couple of Mango trees to one side of the terrace giving that side a beautiful lush green look.

Looking at the swing, she wondered if he often sat there and then had a fleeting image of them both sitting there together enjoying some tea. Swallowing nervously, she quickly averted her eyes away from the swing. As her gaze turned in his direction, she saw him standing by the parapet wall peering down at the adults in the garden. Naina stood there unsure of what to do.

Sameer abruptly turned away from the wall and headed inside saying "Andar chale?" She just nodded her head and followed him. Once inside he pointed to a closed room in one direction saying "Yeh storeroom hai." and then headed to the room in the other direction saying "Aur yeh mera kamra hai." 

As Naina followed him towards the room she thought feeling a little flustered, that she was completely alone with him on this floor and was now entering his room. They were alone together after close to two months of marriage. She didn't know what to expect. Would he hold her hand again? She quickly glanced at her wrists to reassure herself of the presence of the kangans.

As Sameer entered the room, he went and stood by the window inside. He couldn't make up his mind about what to say to her, he had unnecessarily made her the scapegoat when he was annoyed at her father's behaviour. He knew he needed to apologise as she hadn't been in the wrong at all.

Naina cast a self-conscious glance around the room noting the bed, closets and his study table. She was very surprised to see a punching bag like the one that Prem from MPK had in his room, here too. There was a table with a TV and VCR on it as well.

Naina looked back in his direction, as he stood there silently. Why was he not saying anything? Was he still annoyed from that incident between her father and Munna-Pandit? She started tentatively "Sorry, woh aapko Papa ki baat ka bura laga hoga na... woh bus thode ghusse wale hai. Par agar aap kahe toh main Munna-Pandit ko sorry bol dungi." Sameer was a little surprised to see her apologising for no fault of her own, he looked at her as she stood there with an apprehensive expression "Tum kyu sorry bol rahi ho? Sorry toh mujhe bolna chahiye, tumhari toh koi galti nahi thi, phir bhi maine khamokham tumhe suna diya. I am really sorry."

Naina left a weight lift off her chest... so he wasn't annoyed at her. And thinking it made sense to her, she replied in an understanding tone "Koi baat nahi... Woh Chachaji bhi kabhi kabhi Chachiji ko hi dant dete hai, jab ki unhe shikayat toh kissi aur se hoti hai." Sameer feeling perplexed asked "Chachiji ko kyun dante hai agar galti kisi aur ki hoti hai?" Naina didn't know how to explain this behaviour... it's just something she grew up seeing in the men in her family and close friends. As husbands they seemed to think that there was this one person they could get away with directing their frustrations at, even when the poor wife wasn't at fault. It was as if, the wife will always understand. She just replied uncertainly "Pata nahi kyun... par hota toh aise hi hai..." Sameer not satisfied with this explanation started staring out of the window again.

About a minute later, he heard her exclaim "Aare wah!" Thinking she must be impressed with the TV in his room, something that always impressed almost everyone who visited his room, he glanced over his shoulder. But she wasn't looking at the TV, instead she was looking with great pleasure in the direction of the bookshelf mounted above his study table. It held his collection of non-academic books, mostly English novels and some comics too.

Still looking towards the books, she continued "Yeh saari kitabe aap ki hai?" He replied feeling curious "Ha, kyun tum bhi english novels padhti ho kya?" She replied "Mujhe kitabe padna toh bahoot acha lagta hai... par english novels bahoot nahi padhi hai... bus school ki library mein kuch classics thi wahi padhi thi. Abhi college pe toh notes banana se hi fursat nahi milti. Aur woh Papa ne bhi mana kiya hai jyada english novels padhne se. Aapne yeh sari padhi hai?" Pleased with the admiration in her voice, he replied "Ha, mujhe hostel ke dino se hi adaat hai sone se pehele music sunne ki aur fiction ya koi sports related magazines padhne ki." She asked "Kya mein dekh sakti hu?" He responded "Ha, kyun nahi..."

As Naina moved in the direction of the bookshelf, her foot caught in the slightly puffed up carpet there and she ended up stepping on the saree pulling the pleated part away from the navel. The inner petticoat was still very much in place and nothing new was exposed, that wasn't already on display a moment before. But Sameer looked on in shock and she burned in mortification holding the bit that had come off. The saree was very slippery and the safety pin that had been holding it in place was now bent out of shape. Naina looked at the ruined pin and asked him "Aap ke pass dusra safety pin hai?" He wondered why in the hell would he have a safety pin, but trying to be helpful said "Nahi... par kuch aur help kardu?"

She went even paler remembering her doubts about him knowing just how to slip on the kangans so easily "Aap ko saree bhi pehenate aati hai?" Sameer very confused replied "Nahi toh... mujhe saree pehenana bhala kyu aata hoga!" She felt a little relieved and after thinking for a few seconds said "Aap please Preeti ko upar bhej dijiye aur usse kahiye ke mera purse leke aaye. Aur please baaki kisiko kuch mat bataiye... warna pata nahi kya samajh lenge..." The colour on his face heightened instantly, thinking people might hold him responsible for her state of undress... well slight undress. As he headed out, he said a little gruffly "Aur saree itni pairon mein aaye aisi pehni hi kyun thi? Apni height ki hisaab se peheni chahiye na..."

Naina cursed Pretty for insisting that she should drape the saree this morning wearing the heels. As per Preeti, women looked very comical when they first draped the saree and then wore the heels, well right now Naina would have preferred that to standing in his room holding the saree pleats in her hand. She looked around the room, willing Preeti to appear there very very soon!

Luckily when Sameer went downstairs, the elders were still in the garden now settled on a few chairs on the lawn. He quickly told Preeti that Naina needed her upstairs with her purse, Preeti though confused complied without any questions and headed to his room, where she found her sister holding her saree. Preeti gasped in shock "Naina, yeh kaise hua? Jijaji ne kuch kiya kya?!" Naina retorted angrily "Pagal ho gayi hai kya?! Woh kyu aisa kuch karenge? Sab teri galti hai... saree pehenayi hi nahi thi theek se. Ab mere purse se dusra safety pin le aur jaldi theek kar... aur iss baar itni lambi mat rakhna, please woh heels ko bhool ja!" Preeti instantly set about rectifying the situation.

Couple of minutes later, Preeti looked happily at the saree once again neatly in place, but her sister seemed to be lost in another world, looking in the direction of a photo frame placed on the bedside table. Preeti teased her "Kya baat hai... Jijaji se baate karke maan nahi bhara jo ab photo ko dekhne mein lagi hai?" Naina replied blushing "Aisi koi baat nahi hai... bus soch rahi thi unki smile kitni achi hai na... aaj tak maine kabhi unhe muskurate dekha nahi hai." 

Seeing her sister looking genuinely happy for the first time since the wedding, Preeti smiled making up her mind. She marched to the bedside table and removed the photo from the frame. Naina watched in horror and stammered "Preeti... kya kar rahi hai tu...? Please photo wapas rakh." Preeti just poked her tongue out, put the photo in the purse and walked out of the room. Naina could do nothing but follow her downstairs.

Luckily the elders were still in the garden when the sisters entered the lounge. Sameer let out a breath seeing everything was under control and seemed like she had listened to him and the saree was no longer trailing on the floor. They all watched some TV for a bit, till the elders headed back in.

As the Agarwals started getting ready to leave, Nanaji addressed Tauji "Jagdishji, mana Bidai mein abhi kuch der hai, par Naina ab iss ghar ki bahu hai, aur ummeed hai aap logo ko kabhi kabhi mere ussne yeha bulane pe koi problem nahi hoga. Jaise aap jaante hai humare yaha koi aur aurat nahi hai, toh jitna yeh dheere dheere ghar ki baate samajhne lage, utni hi isse baad me aasani hogi." 

Before Tauji could reply, Taiji spoke up "Bhaisahab, aap kuch galat toh bol nahi rahe hai par bidai se pehele yu ladka ladki ka itna milna-julna theek bhi toh nahi lagta." Nanaji nodded looking a little disappointed "Main samajh sakta hu aapki hichkichahat... koi baat nahi, usually Sameer Sunday pura din cricket ke liye bahar hi hota hai, toh Naina ko tabhi bhej dijiye... aur sath mein Preeti ya koi bhi aur aapke ghar se aa bhi sakta hai." Tauji replied "Jaiprakashji, please humme sharminda mat kijiye... Naina aap ki bahu hai... aap jab chahe boola lijiye." Soon after the Agarwals said their goodbyes.

As Sameer watched them all heading to the cars, he thought that the mystery of the length of the saree had been solved. With the heels back on, the saree now looked a little on the shorter side!

(I hope you all are enjoying the story so far! A big thanks to all of you for your votes and comments.  Lots of love, May)