Chapter 8

PART 7
I went back to my bedroom. Preethi, Chacha and Chachi we happily chatting around. More than Karan trying to harm my life , I was worried about my married life with Sameer. He was being very nice to me , trying to let go of his past and be that dutiful husband ...but how long is what I wondered. As I stood by the balcony , I saw my father go to the telephone booth and make a call. It made me think why would he do that when , he had a phone at home.

I quickly went dialed Sameer's house number.

"Rohan , has Sameer reached home. He said he will call me but he hasn't. Its been more 45 mins since he left , so I was worried.

"Bhabhi , relax !! he will be fine. Probably gone for a long drive. He does that very often.

"No !! he told me he is going straight home . Please Rohan , go with someone and check. There is only one road from my house to yours. The other two roads are blocked as they are repairing the road.

"Bhabhi , you don't worry. He will be fine. He is not a kid.

"Rohan , with Karan following around , I feel he will create some problem. Please understand...

"Okay...You don't worry , we will go and check.

With that Rohan hung the phone.

I waited for more than an hour near the phone but there was no call. I tried again, aunty tried to calm me saying he is fine and that they will be late. My heart told me , that she was lying . People in the family tried to calm me. I wanted to talk to him , I wanted to hear his voice, I wanted to know if he was fine or not. Seeing the commotion at home , Tayiji popped in and started saying that wherever I went , I will take ill luck with me. I decided to ignore her because at the moment for me his safety mattered.

Finally around 12:30 , Sameer called.

"Hi Naina, you were worried ? I had actually dropped at my friends place, so got late ...sorry."

"Lair !! Where are you ? You are not at home."

There was a silence from him and I knew I had caught him red handed. I could here Ambulance sound at the background. He had to be at the hospital ..

"Naina , I am fine. Its late , you go to sleep and we will talk tomorrow. Take care..."

He didn't answer my question . Now I was sure something had happened. I told Preethi. It was too late even to go and check. Chachi and Chacha ji had gone to bed after aunty said everything was fine. So I couldn't wake them up too.

Preethi , then called up one of her friend whose sister was working at Metro Hospital , where most of the rich people went. She asked her to find out if anyone named Sameer had been admitted.
After what seemed like eternity, we got a call from her friend's sister. Preethi picked the phone, and looking at Preethi's face I knew my fears were becoming reality and proving Tayiji to be absolutely rt.
Tears started rolling from my eyes. My whole world was crashing and I had done nothing to mess it up this way. Just like any other girl of my age , I agreed for a marriage. I knew I couldn't back track, that would be like hurting him and embarrassing his family, even if my intentions were to keep him away from a mess called Naina Agarwal.

Chacha ji always told me that what we are today, is because of our decisions in past. Today my decision of accepting this marriage had not only affected me but him too..the love of my life. I wondered, If I had said ,no ..what would have happened?? I might have had a miserable life being Karan's wife..I still had time ...but now if I go back , then ...its not fair to him. Even if it means out of pity , he agreed to marry the Behan ji of his class. I cant make him look bad in front of the world. I will leave the decision with him , if he still wants to marry me after all this ...hmmm...

"Naina !! what are you thinking??"

"I want to meet him"
"Its so late now. Tomorrow morning we have to go to temple , then we will go and meet him. No one will know.
And...about Sameer , getting beaten by Karan and his friends ...tell only Papa and mummy when they are alone."

"Preethi , I think papa has got a hand in this."

"Tauji, your dad ...?? Why do you think that way??"

"Because I saw him making a call from that phone booth , just after Sameer left. When there is phone at home why should he go out and call?
Me marrying Karan , will make Papa and Arjun Bhaiya rich."

"Naina , till we are sure , we shouldn't blame someone "

"Preethi, Sometimes its best to accept reality than live in cuckoo land."

I waited eagerly for the sun to rise. I had to meet him . He didn't sound happy at all. How would someone be happy when FIL sends people to beat up his SIL. He must be cursing the time he said a YES to this marriage. It was already, 4:30 in the morning and sleep were nowhere close to my eyes. There was no point on being on the bed. I got up and thought of ironing our clothes and getting ready.
By 7:30 , we were ready to go to the temple. That s when we understood, that we were not going alone and chacha ji was going to accompany us.

On the way we told Chacha ji what had happened, he agreed to accompany us to the hospital.

"Do you think , we should go this early?? Its only 8:15 in the morning."

"By the time we reach there it will by 9:00"

Chacha ji didn't argue anything further as he understood my state of mind. We reached the hospital and went to the private room section and I saw Rohan talking with his dad near the reception.

"Bhabhi , what are you doing here??"

"Well , I can ask you the same question Rohan. Hello Uncle , how is Sameer now?"


"He is fine beta, just a small cut on his forehead. We kept him here for observation. That's all nothing to worry.
I got in and saw his mom sitting next to him . It reminded me of how he had fed me yesterday. My heart wanted him to be with me life long at the same time telling me , that it wont be easy. There will be challenges...was I ready to face them?? One look into his eyes and the answer that popped in my head was "Yes , anything for him!!"

"Naina , Preethi ...how did you know... Who told you ?...you girls came alone??"

"Aunty, we are not alone. Chacha ji is came with us, he is at the reception ,talking to Rohan and uncle" said Preethi.

Hearing this , aunty went out of the room to meet him. I kept standing next to the footrest of the bed and looking at him.

"How are you Jiju??"

"I am fine Preethi but who told you about this?"

"Her heart !! She felt something was not rt and she heard sound of ambulance while you were talking to her. Then it was pretty easy to find out. "

Soon , Rohan walked into the room.

"Bhabhi , I am sorry I didn't mean to lie yesterday but we didn't want to scare you hence didn't say anything."

"I understand Rohan."

"Alright , you both talk...we all are going to the canteen to have something to eat. Preethi, lets go.."

With that both Rohan and Preethi left. I sat on the by standers bed and waited for him to speak. Tears slowly found its way out. He got up and sat next to me .

"If I knew , you would find out ...then would have told you. Please don't cry. Karan won't disturb us again. He is moved to a de-addiction center now and his sister will be getting married soon to one of dad's friends son. Your dad will not trouble you because the main reason itself doesn't exist...don't worry everything is ended up fine. They are also happy , we are also happy."

"SMILE Naina .."

"Why did you not register a police compliant?? Why did you let him go ??"

"Whatever he did was under the influence of substance. He has a sister , and police at their door step means they will have trouble finding a match for her. They are not bad people, its only their son who has got into a wrong path..."

"Really?? Or is that you knew my dad was involved and you didn't want him to get arrested."

"Naina, you are thinking too much. Nothing like that ."

"You know why I called Rohan yesterday ?? Because I saw my father making a call from the phonebooth outside our house. Don't lie to me Sameer , I know him. He is my father. He will do anything for Arjun Bhiaya to be happy and successful. Because his son's success is his success!!"

"Naina dear , family fights shouldn't reach the world outside the family. Others will make use of it and destroy us. Now your side of the family is also a part of our family. We can sort this out amicably . Dad and Nanu will speak to Tauji and Chachi ji about it . So just relax. "

"That is not the right ..."

"Shussh!!"

"Don't shush me !!"

"Hey , how could you speak like that to your husband. No respect at all !!"
I knew he was trying to lighten the atmosphere. But I was in no mood for his light-hearted jokes. I was furious. People called me unlucky because of my fathers action.

"Not yet Sameer , we still have nearly 48 hours to get into holy matrimony!! You have time to back track on ur decision if you think I am not good for you . Do think about it..its not late."

Saying so , I walked towards the door. I wanted him to let go this decision of marrying me . It was best for him and for me. Though another part of me wanted to be with him, always.

He quickly got up and came behind me . Before I could realise what was happening , the room door was locked , I was leaning on the door , his hand holding mine in tight grip and his eyes were piercing me.

"What do you mean by that ?? I thought , I made it very clear no going back. Do you think after what happened between us in the last these few days , we will be able to walk away from each other?? I wont be..., I am very sure. Looks like you want to ...do you want to??...will you be able to ??"

I looked away from him. We were standing very close, facing each other. There was barely any distance between us. He slowly took both my hands and kept it on his chest.

"Naina dear, look into my eyes and tell me the truth. Would you be able to walk away from me?? These few days meant nothing to you ?? You didn't feel for me at all?? Don't lie girl...I can see it in your eyes...you might not be in love with me...but I am sure you care for me ..., we won't be able to move on with out each other..."

He kept looking into my eyes . I knew he was right. For him , it was all about the word he gave to his mom , my family and being a righteous husband . His words did melt my heart , those buried feelings for him was finding its way out and I was loosing all my will power to hold back my love for him. Don't know what got on to me, I broke down . Started crying and next moment the two of us were hugging each other. His one hand was around my waist and the other back of my head, and his chin just above my head.

"That's my girl. When challenges come we don't walk away Naina , we stay together and face it."

We heard Rohan and Preethi's laughter. Quickly I moved away and I unlocked the door , went and lied down on my bed. She wiped her eyes and sat on the chair next to the bed. We sat as if nothing happened ,but our heartbeats told a different story.

"So both of you got some quiet moments to talk??" , asked Preethi

"Preethi, you think they only talked??" Questioned Rohan.

"Aha , look at the blush on their face...haha...shall I call this KODAK MOMENT Bhaiya??"

For once both of us were quiet. We just smiled because what happened was totally unexpected. When it happened , we felt it a natural thing to happen . But now...all we could do was blush.

"Sameer, beta how are you feeling now??" We hadn't realized that the elders were at the door.

"I am fine Chacha ji. "

"Good."

We all sat and talked for nearly an hour. There was laughter and happiness even though , we were at hospital. I also noticed Rohan and Preethi's budding friendship. It was nice to see families interacting with each other.

"I think we should leave now. Bela will be worried besides , she has to get ready for her haldi and Mehandi."

"Yes !! he will get discharged in another hour or so."

"We also planned it in the evening."

Some more discussion happened regarding the ceremonies and then , I saw her holding Chachi ji's hands and walking out of the room. The way she held his hand made sad, I wanted my hands to be holding hers...another day and her hand will be in mine. Dad and mom accompanied them outside.
"Bhaiya, you better change ur cloths and get ready. "

"Why , should I change my cloths?? Looks fine."

"Well , when you had the intelligences to lock the door and romance ,then be a lil more smart and see to that people don't come to know of the act"

"We didn't do anything ."I said with a straight face, ignoring his piercing eyes.

"Yep, the Kumkum from temple that was there on Bhabhi's forehead and strands of her hair is on your shirt...its says it all. "

That's when I realized.

"Do you think others would have noticed ?? We didn't do anything wrong. She was crying , I just hugged to console her."

"Bhaiya , you don't need to justify. Its ok. " He was laughing and I knew for life long he would be teasing me with this. Sometimes I wonder, if doctors are this jovial in nature . At least Rohan my brother, the to be doctor was.

"How did you know , that the door was locked."

"hmmm...I came here with food for Bhabhi, then saw the door was closed , so I went back and told them she was not hungry. I felt you both needed sometime with each other to sort out things."

"Thanks Rohan!!"

"Forget the thanks, tell me what were you doing...spill some details..will be good for me too...I also need to get married one day.." he winked.

"Really?? The way it is going , I think I will need coaching from you Rohan. Now get lost . I need to change."
"Aww...My Blushing Brother!!"

PS : Sunday Treat !!Hope you all will like this part...eagerly waiting for your comments...happy reading!!