Six years later

It was Sunday, the one day he believed he was completely entitled to sleeping in for as long as he wished. But, if only life and his family were so mindful of his preferences!

Sameer pulled her pillow over his head wanting to block out the noise. But his wife immediately said "Sameer... uthiye! Sadhe aath baj rahe hai. Nanaji ka nashta bhi ho gaya. Aur Ramdhari bhaiya ko machine lagani hain."

When he did not respond, she walked to the bed and pulled the pillow away. Reluctantly opening one eye, he asked "Yaar, Ramdhari ke machine se mere sone ka kya link hain?" She tsked "Aare baba, mujhe yeh bedsheets dhone mein dalni hain." He countered "Aur kal dhone dalogi toh kaunsa aasmaan tutne wala hain?" She retorted "Aasmaan ka toh pata nahi... par itni achi dhup hogi, aisa lagta nahi hain!"

Seeing he still did not show any inclination to get up, Naina put the seven-month baby in her arms next to him and instructed "Aur neeche aane se pehle iska nappy change karke lana." He weakly protested "Yaar... par aaj toh Sunday hain..." She smirked "Acha?? Toh apne bete ko bolo ke Sunday ko nappy ganda na kiya kare."

Leaning down towards the baby, she started talking in a cooing voice "Kaun hain itna naughty? Bar bar kitni potty karata hain yeh naughty baby..."

As the baby happily gurgled in response, reaching out to clasp her hand, Sameer uttered huskily "Waise isske Papa bhi kafi naughty hain... kabhi un se bhi do meethi baate kar liya karo... ya thoda pyar..."

All these years later, Naina's heart still somersaulted at her husband's romantic advances. After lovingly gazing at him for a few moments, she ruffled his hair and affectionately pecked his cheek. 

Sameer contently nuzzled against her tummy, deeply inhaling the fragrance that was uniquely hers; Ponds talcum powder, Naturally Fair face-cream and Chandan agarbatti lit in the mandir.  To him, this fragrance meant everything was perfect in his little world.

Dropping another tender kiss on his forehead, Naina pulled away muttering "Uth jao Sameer! Suno, mujhe neeche bahoot kaam hain. Jab tak main iska nashta banati hu please isse change karke le aao." He whined in response "Kaisa bacha hain yaar... roz subhe subhe wahi kaam..." His wife glared at him "Jaisa bhi hain na... tumhara hi hain. Main koi apne maike se nahi leke aayi hu!"

He snorted "Filhal, tumhare maike se toh waise bhi kuch aane se raha! Ghar baithe baithe itne ache jamai mil gaye hai. Par tumhari Taiji ka bus chalta toh ulta humse hi dahej mangti. Kitni kangoos hai yaar!"

Ignoring his gibe about her Taiji, that she had grown to, Naina shared "Acha suno... kal raat Rohan ka phone aaya tha. Chachaji aur Chachiji ka ticket month end ka hua hai. Par Bombay ka mila hain. Agar ho sake tumhari Bombay wali meetings tabhi ki schedule karna aur unko wapas le aana."

Much to Vivek's initial disappointment, during a trip to Ahmedabad, Rohan had fallen in love with Preeti. The girl with a constant mischievous glint her eyes, bright smile and a fearless spirit had completely swept Rohan of his feet!

Vivek's repeated entreaties to his son to take all her marksheets into consideration while making this huge decision had fallen on deaf ears. Vishakha, extremely pleased with her eldest bahu, had been more than happy to support Rohan's decision to bring the second bahu from the same family. Rohan's grandmother, taking this as a personal insult for some incomprehensible reason, had completely distanced herself from the proceedings. With no option left, Vivek had given his blessings and visited the Agarwal's to ask for their second daughter's hand.

After finishing college, Preeti's priorities had shifted. More than marriage, she was bent on pursing a career in the beauty and fashion industry. She had started working at the most sought out beauty parlour in Ahmedabad.

Anand and Bela had been ecstatic at the proposal! Bela had already been at her wits end, trying to find a groom for her bold and outspoken daughter. And for Anand, being Sameer's brother was Rohan's biggest accomplishment. But of course, the final decision sat with Preeti.

Bela had prayed to all the God possible and promised many kilos of pedhas, while the couple conversed in the inside bedroom. When Rohan had assured her that she would be free to pursue all her dreams – whether it was opening a beauty parlour or becoming a personal stylist for Madhuri, Preeti had agreed to the match. Of course, her decision also had something to do with the way her heart happily twirled noting the pure and sincere love in Rohan's eyes.

A little over a year after their wedding, due to a great job opportunity for Rohan, he and Preeti had moved to Chicago with their three-month old daughter Riya. But neither the move nor the responsibility of a small child affected Preeti's dreams for herself. She had started a beauty parlour in their garage there, which over the years had garnered a lot of loyal customers. Now located on a busy street in one of the upmarket localities, Preeti's business was doing very well. And Vivek was finally satisfied that his younger bahu though not an academic was an astute business owner!

Vishakha was very content that thanks to the two sisters who loved each other dearly, her family would always remain close-knit. All she had to do now was focus on Deepika's entrance exams, and then her university education, and then find her a good groom. And Deepika was completely committed to the being the-coolest-Bua-ever!

Walking out of their bedroom, Naina shot him one last directive "Sameer agar garam coffee peeni hain toh dus minute mein neeche jao. Main phir se bilkul bhi garam nahi karungi. Bedsheet bhi lete aana... aur uss din ki tarah Mohit ko uppar hi bhool mat aana!"

The moment he heard her footsteps descending the stairway, he chuckled and addressed the baby "Iss mamle mein, tumhari Mummy sirf bolti hain! Itne saal ho gaye, par ek baar bhi, my coffee has not been less than perfect!"

Mohit, though least interested in his father's smugness about his perfect coffee, happily reached out to grab a handful of his hair.

"Yaar, mujhe to lagta hain tu baap ko ganja karne ka plan banake ki paida hua hain!" Sameer scowled as he pried his beautiful hair out of the baby's hand. "Pata hai, tu agar deekhne mein bilkul apni mummy ki copy na hota toh main toh tujhe tere un parampujya khadus Nanaji ke paas hi chod aata!" he added, as he fetched a nappy.

Though he had not verbally expressed his anger, Sameer had never been able to forgive his father-in-law after he understood how his wife had been treated like a burden by her father. Luckily, Rakesh had moved away to live with Arjun and his family in Mumbai. After being on the state team for couple of years, it seemed like Arjun might soon get a chance at being on the national team.

Few minutes later, feeling triumphant like he had won some battle, Sameer eyed the freshly changed baby. But Mohit immediately burst into tears. A quick check revealed the cloth nappy was wet again!

The process had to be repeated. But this time, despite knowing it would earn him a lecture from his wife, Sameer used a disposable nappy which would last for a couple of hours.

As Mohit wriggled a lot while he tried to get him into some pants, Sameer was fake scolding his son "Kitna hilta hain... Bilkul monkey hain! In fact, sirf monkey nahi... donkey bhi hai!" when a five-year-old bounding into the room, jumped on the bed next to her little brother. She immediately pouted "Papa, jab main chotti thi... kya aap mujhe bhi monkey aur donkey bulate thay??"

Beaming at her, Sameer responded "Nahi toh! Tum toh Papa ki Princess ho... aur princess bhi kabhi monkey ya donkey hoti hain?!" She pondered on his words for a few moments before saying "Par, Mohit toh kitna cute hain... Pata hain, mere saare friends kehte hai ke he is the cutest!"

Putting on a thoughtful look, Sameer replied "Hmmm... waise cute toh hai... after all thoda bohoot toh mujhe pe bhi gaya hai." Then tickling her tummy, he added with a grin "Par apni Saraa didi se bahoot kum! Tum toh 200% cuteness ho."

Giggling madly, Saraa screamed "Papa!! No tickling!!!"

Excited by the action around him, Mohit squealed in delight too. Chuckling, Sameer picked him up and kissing his nose headed downstairs "Dariye mat... aap ko koi nahi bhool rah hai! Aur aapas ki baat hain... uss din toh maine bus aaise hi natak kiya tha, tumhari mummy ko tang karene ke ilye. Cot mein tumhare favourite bunny ke sath rakh ke gaya tha, right?"

As they entered the lounge, Saraa rushed to the elder man in the sofa "Great-Nanu! Papa Mohit ko monkey aur donkey bula rahe thay." Sameer made a face at her "Oye Nanu-the-great ki chamchi! Har baat pe meri chugli lagana jaruri hota hain kya?" She immediately corrected him "Papa, teacher ne seekhaya hai Grandfather-the-great nahi... Great-grandfather hota hai."

Nanaji held his hands out "Aare iss badmash Chintu ko yaha do! Kab se rasta dekh raha tha iske uthne ka."

As Sameer put Mohit in his grandfather's lap, Saraa complained "Great-Nanu, par Chintu toh main hu na..." Nanaji immediately kissed the top of her head "Haa bhai, Chintu toh tum hi ho! Yeh badmash toh Mintu hain. Dekho sab kuch bhoolne laga hu! Budha ho gaya hu na..."

Satisfied with his response, Saraa cuddled against him and started making funny faces at Mohit, who now tried to grab her hair.

Sameer fondly teased his grandfather "Nanu, agar budhe hone ke itne advantages hain toh main bhi jaldi budha hona chahata hu! Roz subhe aap walk ke liye jaate ho to colony ki sari dadiyon ko aap ka intezar rehta hain. Kaise pyar se kehti hain – Maheshwariji aap ka ghutna toh theek hain na? Kal aap deekhe nahi toh chinta ho rahi thi..."

Chuckling softly, Nanaji winked back "Dheere bolo... tumhari biwi ne soon liya toh kabhi tumhe walk pe akele jaane nahi degi. Uska bus chale toh tumhe apne pallu se hi bandh ke rakhegi!"

Though he was joking about it, seeing his Ram-milayi jodi so deeply in love with each other, had been one of the biggest joys of his life. Every year on their wedding anniversary, Nanaji sent a big donation to the ashram run by the Guruji who had got them married. Naina's arrival had brightened their home and given him and his grandson a new lease on life. Then Chintu-Mintu had driven the silence away from every corner, filling it with their constant laughter and shrieks.

Ramdhari called from the door "Bhaiya bedsheet dale dhone mein?" His bhaiya shrugged "Hain toh dalo... mujhe kyu pooch rahe ho." Ramdhari asked "Par kaha hai?" Giving him a 'duh' expression, Sameer replied "Bedsheet hain, toh bed pe hi hogi. Main koi usse saadi ki tarah lapet ke ghumne se toh raha..."

"Matlab upar hi chod aaye hain! Humne toh pehele hi Bhabhi se kaha tha ke jarur bhool jayenge... hume hi layi padega..." muttering to himself, Ramdhari climbed up the stairs. Sameer rolled his eyes and thought to himself – Jab tak iski biwi gaon se wapas nahi aa jati aisa hi ukhda ukhda rahega! Aur saare nakhre hume jhelne padenge.

As Saraa giggled "Papa, aap mummy ki saadiya bhi pehente ho??", her mother called from the dining room area "Saraa, Papa ko tang karna band karo aur jaldi aao dining table pe. Maine tumhari favourite Maggie banaya hai."

The moment the father-daughter duo arrived at the table, Saraa pulled her mother down and started whisper yelling "Mumma, Papa ne Mohit ko aaj woh expensive wala nappy lagaya hain... aur uss din wo usse bhoole nahi thay uppar... wo toh bus aapko tang kar rahe thay... maine khud apne ears se suna." 

As Naina glared at Sameer, he in turn glared at his daughter "Lagta hai aaj sham ko kissi ko ice-cream nahi khani hai. Ek number ki expert ho gayi hain yeh, idhar ki baat udhar karne mein!" Ignoring her father, Saraa enthusiastically attacked the noodles in her bowl.

Noting his wife was still looking annoyed, slipping his arm around her waist and pulling her closer, he spoke in an appeasing tone "Aare Jaan, tum toh janti ho ke tumhe chede bina mera khana hazam hi nahi hota." She immediately tried to pull away muttering "Chodo Sameer... Sab ke samne acha nahi lagta." He pouted "Bus sorry hi to bol raha hu..."

Saraa immediately shared the wisdom gathered at school "Mumma, kisi ke sath quarrel ho jaye toh humari teacher bhi kehti hain ke sorry bolo aur ek dusre se shakehands karo." Then she asked with a quizzical expression "Par Papa, aap toh humesha Mumma ko hug karte ho. Toh shakehands karna chahiye ya hug??"

Sameer first corrected her "Shakehands nahi... handshake hota hain." Then trying to explain his affectionate behaviour towards his wife, he added "Aur friends ke sath handshake karte hain... par gharwalon ko hug karte hain. Jaise hum sab tumhe aur Mohit ko karte hain... ya tum din mein sau baar apne Great-Nanu ko karti ho!"

Satisfied with this explanation, Saraa nodded and took a big forkful of her noodles. A few moments later she laughed her mouth full "Papa, aap ko saadi peheni aati hain kya? Aap bahoot funny lagoge!" As Sameer fake glared at his daughter, Naina burst out laughing "Saraa, tumhara idea acha hain!" Then nostalgically recalling something, she spoke with a sweet smile on her face "Pata hain, jab mein peheli baar iss ghar mein aayi thi... toh mujhe bhi doubt hua tha ke kahi tumhare Papa ko saadi pehenana toh nahi aata!"

Knowing that she was referring to that incident in their bedroom when she had tripped and pulled the pleats off her saree, Sameer smiled too. Then his eyes glinting naughtily, he addressed his wife "Ab toh tumhe pata hain na ke mujhe saadi pehena nahi aata... but am I good at the R E V E R S E"

Saraa frowned understanding that something was being said between her parents that they did not wish to share with her. 

Colouring deeply, Naina muttered "Tumhare jaisa besharam aadmi maine zindagi bhar nahi dekha hain!" As she headed inside to the kitchen, he responded with pride "Aur kabhi dekhogi bhi nahi!"

Few minutes later, Nanaji joined them at the table "Waha se iss shaitaan ka sara dhayan idhar hi tha... toh hum bhi yeha aa gaye." Seeing his sister eating something that looked much more interesting than the solid foods his mother had recently started feeding him, Mohit grabbed some noodles from her plate and stuffed them in his mouth. But tasting the spice, he immediately spit them out and started bawling.

Naina rushed out and taking him from Nanaji's arms, started coddling him "Aare my baby... kissne noodles khaye... beta wo teekhe hain. Mumma ne tumhare liye kheer banayi hain... ab hum wo khayenga." Settling in a chair with Mohit in her lap, she brought a spoon to his mouth "Chalo, ab hum dekhenge ke kaun first apna breakfast khatam karta hain. Mohit ya uski Saraa didi!" 

Not wanting to lose her track record, Saraa immediately stuffed another forkful in her mouth.

Feigning a sad expression, Sameer uttered "Ek-do spoons kheer ke mujhe bhi dedo... mere farmaish ka toh tum kuch banati hi nahi ho. Ab toh sirf inn dono ki pasand puri hoti hai iss ghar mein!" Still adoringly looking at her son, Naina muttered "Bheegoyi hain moong ki daal... Lunch mein bana rahi hu tumhara favourite halwa." Hearing this, her husband immediately had a satisfied look in his eyes.

Just then Ramdhari entered "Bhabhi hum batana bhool gaye thay. Kal sham ko factory se Munshiji ka phone aaya tha aap ke liye. Keh rahe thay kuch sign karna hain aap ko." Naine nodded and then said to Sameer "Suno, sham ko ghumne niklenge na toh pehele factory par jayenge. Do din Mohit ki tabiyat theek nahi thi, toh aana nahi hua. Par mujhe payroll check karke sign-off karna hain. Ek ghanta lagega mujhe... Aisa karna mujhe waha drop karke tum inn dono ko uss paas wale park mein le jana."

Sameer nodded and then addressed Ramdhari "Waise tumhe nahi lagta aaj kal kuch jyada hi bhoolne lage ho? Parso mujhe bhi Munna ke phone ke bare mein bolna bhool gaye thay. Main aadha ghanta uska intezar kar raha tha restaurant mein!" Ramdhari grumbled "Hume kya pata ke aap unse milne wale thay. Hume toh bus itna samajh aaya ke wo aur Pandit bhaiya aur do-char din Baroda mein hi rahenge..."

Two years back, Pandit had finally got hitched. Thanks to Munna's mother, who had played a matchmaker, he had got married to one of Munna's cousin sisters. He and his wife Aarti were now expecting their first child, while Munna and Swati were blessed with four-and-half year old twin daughters. The ever-filmy Swati had named her daughters Anju and Manju after the double-role played by Sridevi in the movie ChaalBaaz. Currently both the families were out of town to attend a family wedding.

Sameer scowled at Ramdhari "Aur phone kya Munna ne tujhe inform karne ke liye kiya tha?? Message toh mere liye tha. Meena wapas aate hi usse kahunga tujhe kuch memory ke liye dava dena shuru kare!"

Trying to ensure that he was retaining his record of getting in the last word, Ramdhari cheekily addressed Naina "Bhabhi aap bhi ration mein Bhaiya ke liye badam manga lijiye. Abhi bedsheet uppar bhool aaye thay, aur kal factory se aane ke baad tiffin car mein bhool gaye thay. Abhi subha hum ander le aaye hain." His bhaiya immediately retorted "Sirf ek kaam me bikul expert hain yeh! Bus har cheez mein ulta jawab ready hota hai."

Naina tsked "Bund karo dono... har waqt lage rehte ho. Itna toh kabhi mere Chintu-Mintu bhi nahi jhagdenge..."

As Ramdhari started to head inside, Saraa announced "Papa, abhi aapko aur Ramdhari Kaka ko hug karna chahiye." Both the men asked at the same time "Kya karna chahiye??!" 

The little girl explained "Aapne abhi toh kaha tha... ke gharwalon se jhagda ko toh hug karke sorry bolte hain. Aur Great-Nanu kehte hain ke Ramdhari kaka toh humare family member hain."

Knowing that the best way of teaching your children the right values and morals is by example, Sameer reluctantly rose from his chair and awkwardly hugged a baffled Ramdhari. It was one of those extremely rare occasions when Ramdhari was speechless and quickly escaped to the kitchen.

A minute later, her eyes twinkling, Naina addressed the elder man "Nanaji, maine maali kaka ko nariyal ke paudhe lane ko kaha hain. Aaj, aap aur Saraa sath mein plant kijiye!" Voice laden with emotions, Nanaji nodded "Jarur. Ab toh iss Chintu ko bhi mujhe gardening seekhna hain!"

Sounding a little perplexed, Sameer muttered, "Nariyal ko fhal aane mein toh bahoot time lagata hoga na..." Nodding, she replied with a content look on her face, "Hain, maine padha hain aath-dus saal lag jaate hain, par nariyal ke pedh saath-sattar saal tak rehte bhi hain. Aur chahe jitna waqt lag jaaye... hum toh yahi hain."

A typical Sunday morning, mundane but joyous, continued in the Maheshwari household.

* * * * *

My dearest Readers,

Firstly, so sorry for taking so long to write an epilogue for this story. I am not quite sure why, but I just wasn't feeling inspired. I considered many ideas and many timelines, but they just didn't get me all excited. Finally, I decided to set it in a time where I could still preserve the essence of Yeh Un Dinon Ki Baat hai.

I had promised myself that I wouldn't start a new story till I had written the epilogue for RGAB. Also, the new AshDeep music video gave me the much-needed motivation!

Hope you all enjoyed this part as much I enjoyed writing it! Thank you all for so lovingly demanding this epilogue. This story will always be very special to me!

Lots of love and big hug!

May.