Neha Shastri, soon to be Neha Malhotra, sits at her house decked in festive finery: a deep purple lehenga with sequins sprinkled on it like stars across a twilight sky. Nikki is romping about in a miniature version of her mother's outfit, except that hers is baby blue. JandA arrive in time to see the nervous bride-to-be preparing to sit down for the ceremony.
Jassi goes up to her and asks softly, "Kaisa lag raha hai?"
Neha says nothing, but blushes deeply. Jassi hugs her.
Armaan swings Nikki into his arms and asks, "Mazaa aa raha hai?"
Nikki makes big eyes at him. "Bahut!! Mummy kitni sundar lag rahi hai na?"
Armaan nods heartily. "Bilkul. Aur ab dekhna….tumhare Raj uncle…I mean, tumhare hone wale Daddy…kitne dashing ban ke aate hai!"
Nikki: Lekin wo hai kahaan?
Armu: Errr….aate hi honge….wo zaraa "achche se" taiyar ho rahe honge…..
"Kahin dulhe raja ne iraada toh nahin badal diya?" remarks a catty aunty who has just entered.
Armaan's expression flinches just a little. "Iraada kyun badlega?" he says, putting Nikki down.
Auntyji #2(joining in) Arre beta, vidhwa se shaadi karna toh bahut himmat wala kaam hai….maan gaye tumahre dost ko..lekin ek baar ko toh lagta hi hai na….ki kahin uska mann na badal gaya ho?
Neha gets up from her place, her face ashen. Jassi frowns and holds her hand tightly.
The Walia clan enters just in time to overhear this exchange.
Armaan: (quietly) Raj apna iraada kabhi nahin badlega….aur wo Neha par koi ehsaan nahin kar raha, wo usse pyaar kar karta hai!
Auntyji #1: Ye toh uska badappan hai beta…waise, ye pehli shaadi dekh rahi hum jisme dulhan ki beti bhi shaamil hai!
Jassi comes towards them, still clenching Neha's hand, and touching Nikki's head with the other. Looking the aunty steadily in the eye, she says, "Yeh privilege sirf kuch special bachchon ke liye hota hai…..aur hamari Nikki bahut special hai!"
The aunties look nonplussed and are about to retort, but are confronted by the formidable Balwant Walia, who eyes them with distaste.
"Behenji, aap apne ghar ke jhagdo aur takleefon se fursat nikaal kar yahaan aayi, uska bahut-bahut shukriya…Raj ko kissi se certificate ki zaroorat nahin hai, wo bilkul sahi kar raha hai…...thodi der mein yahaan khana lagne wala hai, aap khaiye, piye aur jaiye…..namaste!"
The catty culprits scurry away with whatever dignity they can salvage. The rest of the family gather around them, greeting Neha and trying to get her smile back. Vedika and Nikki run off to play together. Billu runs his hand over Jassi's head. "Achche jawaab diya, Queen Victoria!"
Jassi: Apne bhi, Raja Harishchandra!
They hug. Then Puru gets into conversation with Billu, and Jassi finds herself facing a very amused Armaan.
Jassi: Kya hua?
Armu: Tumhare Papaji ke muh se pehli baar Raj ki tareef sun raha hun!
Jassi: (embarrassed) Papaji hamesha sahi baat ka saath dete hai….don't be so mean, Armaan! Waise…aapke dost hai kahaan iss waqt?
At that moment, Raj is driving his car towards the venue, smiling to himself.
Tomorrow: Antakshari!
