I know I'm not updating this story as regularly as I want to. My apologies for the same. Somehow I find writing this one much more complicated than my other stories. Lots of characters and situations to deal with, plus all this trying not to make it boring! Hope I've succeeded though till now! 😆
I'm beginning a new section where I'm taking the story back to the present, right where we left off at Section I, where Sameer proposes Naina. Section II was about some past reflections on a few of their firsts.
With this section, we embark on the journey to convince the families.
Hope you all like it.
Wednesday, 14th September, 1994, 9.00 pm:
"Chachaji! Naina called out to her uncle at night, after dinner. Chachi was busy winding up the kitchen and Preeti was helping her. Taiji and Tauji, along with Rakesh and Arjun had retired to their home. The same morning Sameer and Naina had carefully discussed about the course of action for future. That included Sameer informing his parents about Naina and his plans to marry her. And Naina informing chachaji and chachiji about Sameer and his proposal.
"Haan Naina beta bolo na...kya baat hai? asked chachaji, as he was going over some official documents. "Aapse kuch baat karni hai chachaji...z...zaruri hai! Naina stammered, her heart pounding against her rib-cage. "Bol na meri gudiya! Chachaji encouraged her. "Chachaji wo baat aisi hai ki...ki...wo main...wo...wo..., Naina started. "Naina...tum itna hichkicha kyun rahi ho? Ghabrao mat...tumhare chacha tumhare dost bhi hai na! Bolo! Chachaji tried calming her down. Naina took a deep breath and blurted, "Main Sameer se shaadi karna chahti hun! And then she breathed out.
Chachaji looked stunned at her, his expression back to formal and solemn. After a pause of a few seconds, he voiced, "Sameer? Naina lowered her eyes to the ground. "Ji! Sameer Maheshwari...Mujhe maaf kar dijiye chachaji. Maine aapko yeh baat pehle nahi batayi, lekin Sameer aur main ek dusre ko pasand karte hain. Aur usne kal mujhse pucha hai ki kya main usse shaadi karungi, Naina spoke hurriedly.
The clanking of the utensils stopped as Bela chachi and Preeti stood frozen in their places. The entire house suddenly became pin-drop silent. As she took in a few minutes to let Naina's words sink in, rage came over Bela chachi and she stormed into the living room. She pulled Naina aside and screwed her ear, as she started lambasting her. "Hamare bharose ka aisa fayeda uthaya tune...ek ladke ke saath tera chakkar hai chee...Naina humne tujhpe kitna bharosa kiya...tujhe apni betiyon se badhke pyaar kiya...aur tune aaj ye chura hamare kaleje mein hi ghonp diya..., Chachi was in tears, while Naina looked ashamed, about to cry herself. Preeti was terrified seeing the reaction of her parents.
Not that she and Preeti hadn't expected this, but seeing the response from Chacha and Chachi, Naina trembled to think how Tauji and Taiji would react. Not to mention her father. He would try to rip Sameer off in rage. Overcome with fear, Naina stood silent as Chachi kept on berating her.
Suddenly Chachaji raised his hand, commanding his wife to show restraint. His eyes had a strict look as he peered at Naina and asked, "ye wahi Sameer hai jo hamare ghar aaya tha...jo tumhare saath school mein padhta tha...wahin jispe Arjun ne paper chori ka galat ilzaam lagaya tha...? Naina nodded her head slowly.
Chachaji asked again, "aur kab se chal raha hai ye sab? Naina remained silent. Chachaji prompted, "school se? Naina nodded again, feeling guilty and embarrassed at the same time. Preeti was as sure as Naina that now she will get a slap. Naina had already closed her eyes tight in anticipation, ready to bear the brunt. But the slap did not come.
"Wo tumse pakka shaadi karna chahta hai...? Chachaji questioned instead. Naina opened her eyes and a moment later, nodded.
"Usne kaha hai tumse? Kya usne apne gharwalon se baat ki hai? Uske Nanaji to ab is duniya me nahi rahe...fir uske maata pita? Chachaji asked reasonably. Naina knew she had to reveal Sameer's background now. "Wo chachaji...uski mummy Dilli me rehti hain. Unhone dusri shaadi ki... Ignoring the gasp by Bela chachi, Naina continued, "kyunki Sameer ke papa uske bachpan mein hi guzar gaye the...uske sautele papa Dilli mein hain. Wo wahan uske sautele bhai Rohan aur uski behen Deepika ke saath rehti hain.
Chachaji pondered over the new found information. He couldn't deny he'd felt betrayed by Naina's revelation, but as his initial bout of rage gave way to lines of reason, he felt concerned for Naina's future and happiness.
"Hmmm...Naina tum jaanti ho na wo log kitne ameer hain. Sameer abhi baccha hai. Kal to uske mata-pita ne mana kar diya ki ek middle-class ladki se use shaadi nahi karni to tum kya karogi...aur usse zaruri hai wo kya karega? Aur upar se uski mummy ki dusri shaadi...tum jaanti ho na...bade bhaisahab aur bhabhiji ye kabhi baat nahi maan payenge...aur Rakesh bhaisahab to shayad hamesha se hi Sameer ko pasand nahi karte! Chachaji tried to reason with Naina.
Naina stood listening to all this. Chachaji's eyes flickered onto Naina's determined yet abashed face. Then he spoke again, "Lekin mujhe Sameer pasand hai...!
Naina, Preeti and Bela looked up in surprise. "Ji...aap ye kya keh rahe hain? Bela interrupted but paused at her husband's gesture. A smile crept across Naina and Preeti's lips as they saw Chachaji smiling. "Par jitna main use jaanta hun...sirf us hisab se...main ye baat ghar pe kisi aur ko batane se pehle Sameer se milna chahunga...aur agar wo meri gudiya ko hamse zyada khush rakhega to main tum dono ki shaadi zarur karwaunga, ye mera vaada hai tumse! Chachaji declared happily.
Naina was overwhelmed by Chachaji's words. She could not believe that he had accepted Sameer's proposal so easily. She'd thought she would have to go about convincing him and Chachi for days before they relented. Of course he wanted to scrutinize Sameer and his character to his satisfaction. But that was normal considering how protective Chachaji was for Naina. With tears in her eyes, Naina couldn't help but hug her chacha, as she started crying out in joy. "Thank you Chachaji! Thank you so much! Seeing her husband's support for the couple, Bela too softened. After all, she too had liked Sameer when he'd come over to help during Puja-Varun's wedding. And also when he'd forgiven Arjun and in a way saved his and his father's reputation in school.
***
Wednesday, 14th September, 1994, 9.30 pm:
"Mom! Vishakha heard Sameer's voice and was surprised. "Sameer...kaise ho tum? she asked. "Main theek hun...actually mujhe aap logon se kuch zaruri baat karni hai...kya aap log kal Ahemdabad aa sakte hain? he spoke. "Ahemdabad? Kal? Lekin kya hua Sameer...aisa kya zaruri baat hai jo tum phone pe nahi kar sakte? Sab theek hai na? Vishakha asked in concern. "Nahi...sab theek hai...bas hai ek baat...agar aap aa payenge to acha hoga...kamse 3-4 din ke liye please...mujhe is waqt aapki zarurat hai maa...Nanu nahi rahe...varna aapko pareshan nahi karta! Sameer confessed, his heart heavy as he recalled his grandfather. How he wished Nanu was here with him. He would have taken care of everything then. "Theek hai...main tumhare papa se baat karti hun...kal subah phone karti hun okay? she said as she hung up. Sameer looked at the receiver and sighed. He wished he would be together with Naina, soon!
The next morning, Vishakha called Sameer and informed him that they would be arriving on Sunday. His step-father, Mr. Somani had taken a few days leave on her insistence and since it was Rohan and Deepika's mid-term break from their college and school respectively, they would bring them along. Sameer had formally thanked Mr. Somani before he replaced the receiver.
***
Thursday, 15h September, 1994, 2.00 pm:
"Sameer! Dheere chalao! Naina yelped as she tried to cling onto him for support. "Hahaha! Sameer was laughing joyously and celebrating with an overspeeding bike ride. "Gir jaungi main! Naina shrieked. "Mujhe kas ke pakdo na...mere hote huye kaise girogi! he shouted back as he accelerated more. "Sameer! Itni kya excited ho rahe ho? Naina shrieked. "Arey Chachaji maan gaye...mujhse milna chahte hain...Step 1 done...ab hamari shaadi hogi! he declared happily as he swerved the corner around Rajshri Park. "Sameer...zinda bachenge to karenge na shaadi...dheere karo...! Naina commanded. "Tum to abhi se biwi ki tarah order dene lagi ho! Sameer exclaimed as he slowed down. Naina breathed a sigh of relief as the bike jerked to a halt and propped herself down immediately.
"Tum na...sudhroge nai! she tapped his arm feigning anger. "Ye umar sudharne ki nai...bigadne ki hai jaaneman! he winked at her as he climbed down the bike.
As they made their way inside the park, Sameer wrapped his arm around her shoulders and said, "Naina...Sunday ko mom bhi aa rahi hain...unse bhi baat karni hai...phone pe batana sahi nahi laga isliye bula liya...par unke saath mere khadus pitaji bhi aa rahe hain! Naina smacked him for disrespecting an elder and he grinned.
A few minutes later, they settled down on the grassy lawn as they discussed the dos and don'ts that Sameer should follow when he met Chachaji and planning on how to tactly broach the topic in front of Sameer's family.
Cricket
Marathi TV
