Samaina FF: Expectedly Unexpected Thread #3 (Part 35-Pg 115_No PMs) - Page 85

Deviyon aur Sajjanon 😆,

Finally maine update pura kar liya hai...This is a really long one (almost double the usual length). Hope that compensates for the delay, and also that you do not get bored reading it. I would wait for all your feedback! 😊 Good/ bad comments- all are welcome!

Part 35: Man Proposes, God Disposes

This update is a gift for Suman, aka Meenakshi! It was her birthday on 29th of August and also, she was instrumental in helping me with a lot of twists in the plot, and some very valuable information. Thanks a ton love! ❤️

This update is also for my sweet readers, whom I really trouble with frequently delayed updates! Thank you all of you guys! ❤️

Part 35 : Man Proposes, God Disposes

A sharp trilling noise awoke Sameer. He’d been dreaming- something vague. Something to do with Naina being unhappy, crying. And it’d wrenched his heart.

The ringing was incessant. Sameer felt his way about on the bedside table in half-sleep in an attempt to silence the blaring alarm clock. Moments later, he realized the culprit was not the alarm, but the telephone. Irked, he tried to orient himself, and stifling a huge yawn, bawled, “Hello…”, into the receiver.

“Good morning!” Noopur’s mellifluous voice sounded over the phone.

Sameer tried to recognize the voice. “Noopur! Yaar yeh aadhi raat ko kyun phone kar rahi ho…sab theek to hai na?”

“Ohh hello Mister…subah ke na paanch baj gaye hain…rise and shine!”

“Yaar main koi doodhwala hoon jo mujhe subah paanch baje utha rahi ho? Main phone rakh raha hun…sone do mujhe please!” he made no attempt to hide this next yawn.

“Sameer! Subah uthna chahiye sabko…shaadi ke baad tumko ekdum set kar dungi main!”

Sameer was alarmed. “Oh hello, mujhse nahi hota subah uthna vuthna!”

“Sameer! Main subah ke 3.30 baje se uthi hoon…tumhare liye aur tum ho ki tumhe sone ki padi hai!” she muttered petulantly.

“3.30 baje? Pagal ho gayi ho kya? Kyun?”

“Tum bhool gaye!” Noopur’s voice was indignant.

Sameer immediately cowered. What exactly did he forget? They weren’t married as yet, so it couldn’t be their wedding anniversary. Her birthday? Nope! That was in January! Her dad’s birthday, her mother’s?

Sameer was busy speculating when Noopur spoke again, “pata tha bhool jaoge. Aaj Karwa Chauth hai …maine tumhare liye vrat rakha hai…itni subah subah uth ke sargi khayi…aur tum ho ki…jao main nahi baat karti tumse!”

Damn! How could he be such an idiot? He rubbed his eyes fiecerly to awaken himself fully.

“Sorry sorry! Wo nind mein tha na isliye dhyaan nahi aaya! Par Noopur…yeh bhookhe rehne ki kya zarurat hai? Dekho mujhe nahi pasand koi bhukha rahe…wo bhi mere liye! Upar se abhi to hamari shaadi bhi nahi huyi hai, toh abhi yeh Karwa Chauth kyun rakhna hai?”

“Tumko kya karna hai…meri marzi…mera mann tha maine rakh liya…aur Mummyji se bhi permission le li! Vaise bhi bhagwanji ko thank you bhi to bolna hai na ki unhone tumhare jaisa pati mujhe diya….ab jab rishta pakka hai to aakhir tumhari lambi umar ki zimmedari meri hi huyi na!”

“Lambi umar?” For an instant, Sameer remembered when he’d ingested that overdose of sleeping pills and had bordered on the edge of life and death for certain very crucial hours. He wondered if someone had fasted for him then to awaken him from what was pronounced as almost death.

“Sameer?”

His reverie broke. “Hhh…haan…theek hai…jaise tumhari marzi…batao kya hukum hai mere liye?”

“Aaj shaam ko puja hai…to mandir jaana hai!”

“Done…saath mein jayenge na mandir! Main le chalunga tumhe!”

Noopur blushed. “Theek hai!”

“Kitne baje aaun?”

“Puja 4 baje ki hai…par suno…itni bhi jaldi mat aana…tayyar hone mein time lagega…kamsekam 1 ghanta!” She muttered embarrassedly.

“1 ghanta? Madam shayad aap bhul rahi hain…hamari shaadi aaj nahi, 2 December ko hai!”

“Ohho…toh kya hua? Aaj mera din hai…tum kuch mat bolo!”

“Acha baba thik hai…lekin mujhe kyun uthaya itni subah!” he whined.

“Because I was missing you!” she sighed dreamily.

“Acha…abhi se yeh haal hai?” he whispered, his tone turning sultry.

“Haal to tumhara kharab hone wala hai!” she responded suggestively.

“Mera…aur wo bhala kyun?”

“Mujhe saje huye imagine karke tumhari nind jo udd jayegi!” She uttered shyly and pressed down the receiver.

Sameer looked at the receiver and grinned. “Girls!” he shook his head. “But how sweet!”

He mused silently for a minute, “meri nind aur udd jayee…nah!”

He then grabbed the alarm clock, adjusted the ringer to sound at 7, and pulled on the blanket, rolled his eyes and said, “Girls” again, and went back to sleep.

***

Naina slipped on another shimmery crimson bangle and raised her wrist to observe the glint of the red against the golden sunlight streaming in through the window.

Her eyes then fell upon Diya, who was looking with rapture seeing her mother get ready. It wasn’t always that her mother donned make-up, wore a new saree, put that sparkling bindi and those new glittering bangles.

Diya raised her palms and studied her own simple dot and patch design of Heena against her mother’s intricate one. She’d forced her mother to take her along when she got her hands dyed for Karwa Chauth this time. Diya inspected the saffron colour on her palms and matched it against her mother’s deep maroon and seemed satisfied with the outcome. She then brought her palms closer to her nose and whiffed at the scent of Heena and her smile widened- she was in love with that fragrance!

Naina pulled her daughter’s cheeks lovingly, at which Diya returned her attention to her mother and watched in awe as she lifted a deep maroon shade of lipstick to match the saree. Naina settled for a diamond and red glittery bindi and pulled an artificial gold set out of the drawer of the dressing table. After all, that was the only one she had. She pulled the necklace over her mangalsutra, and then saw herself transfixed in the mirror as she held it. If only, all this was really for Sameer. She opened her long tresses silently, as she realized it would be Noopur who’d get to dress up for him from now, not her.

As she brushed her hair and peered into her reflection in the mirror, her mind flew back to when she’d kept her first ever fast for a good husband, on Bela chachi’s insistence. It had been her first Teej and the day that sealed her fate.

While Bela and Taiji were engrossed in prayers, Naina noticed how Preeti’s face was glowing with joy. She was sure she was thanking God profusely for blessing her with Jitesh jiju. Naina turned to the Shiv Linga and folded her hands in veneration.

“Hey Bhagwanji…kuch chamatkar kar dijiye…Sameer ne aisa na kiya ho…kuch bahot badi galatfehmi ho sab…wo…wo mere saath aisa kaise kar sakta hai…yeh sab…sab ek bura sapna ho!” she prayed silently.

She still hadn’t heard from Sameer and it was going to be nearly two months. Was it really true? Had he really been playing with her all along? Using her?

“Ohh…God no…please…please!”

To top all her worries, she was also two months late. Initially, she’d refused to think on those lines. She’d attributed the delay due to her mental stress and the hullabaloo of Preeti’s wedding preparations and the shocking revelations she’d gotten about Sameer. Her consistent tiredness she believed was because of all the household work that Taiji was making her do; her aversion to paneer, once her favorite, she blamed on having had too much of it. Considering the frequent footfall of the guests at home, Bela had switched from her daily Tinde to sumptuous dishes of paneer and chole to suit the wedding party. That could also explain why a few of her dresses felt a bit tight. And then her frequent need to use the restroom, she dismissed as probably due to the peak of summer heat and her gulping down bottles of water.

Yet, there was a nagging feeling- what if all these were connected?

No! She could not be pregnant. How was it possible? The last time they’d been together without protection, she’d had her cycle. And the one on her birthday, she was positive they’d used protection. But the evidences were pointing in a different direction. Naina had heard even condoms were not hundred percent foolproof. She must get herself checked. It could only be a whim of her fanciful mind, and once negated, she could at least be in peace on that front. It was another thing that she hadn’t been able to gather the nerve to do the same.

Panditji handed over the prasad, “Radhe radhe gudiya…khoob bhagyasaali raho beta…sune hain top ki ho college mein…ab ishwar kare Preeti bitiya ke saath saath tumhe bhi jaldi se jaldi ek acha var mil jaye…!” Naina bent down to touch the priest’s feet and he blessed her forehead.

Bela beamed while Taiji made a face. “Acha pati milne ke liye…achi soorat nahi to acha dahej chahiye hota hai Panditji!”

The priest looked at her in surprise, but knowing her belligerence, chose to stay mum. Preeti gestured Naina to ignore their aunt, while Bela murmured, “kitni sundar to hai Naina…aur kitni sanskari bhi…sone mein tol ke le jayenge hamari bacchi ko!”

“Sanskari!” Another stab of guilt pierced her being. It has to be done. Today, now…before she loses the courage.

“Huh…sone mein tol ke le jayenge!” Taiji scoffed as she descended the stairs.

Bela patted Naina’s back affectionately and remarked, “chod inko…mera dil kehta hai…tujhe heere jaisa pati milega…Teej ka vrat bahot shaktishaali hota hai beta…bas aaj yeh vrat pure man se nibhana!”

“Ab chalein…tum do maharaniyon ka ho gaya ho toh...aur Bela meri maano to Preeti ke saath lage haath iske bhi haath peele karwa do! Bahar padhke aayi huyi ladkiyon ke parr nikal jaate hain!”

Bela grimaced and then thought, “vaise baat to theek hi keh rahi hain bhabhiji…ab teri padhayi bhi puri ho gayi, bas ab tu bhi shaadi ke liye haan kar de, phir tere liye bhi ladka dekhna shuru kar dete hain…bas kisi tarah tum dono ka byaah theek se ho jaye to main aur tere chachaji nischint ho jayenge!”

Naina gave her a feeble smile and nodded her head, “pehle Preeti ki shaadi theek se ho jaye fir dekhte hain…!”

That afternoon she sneaked out of the house on the pretext of running some errands for Preeti and fixing her appointment with the Beauty parlour. She took an auto two lanes from her home and directed at a place some 7-8 kms away. She was sure no one from her family would visit a pharmacy this far from their home, that too very frequently. As she handed over the money to the rickshaw driver, she looked around for a medical shop. Covering her face with a scarf, she walked about, when squinting her eyes against the sun, she spotted a huge board with the signpost, ‘Navkar Medicals’. She hastily crossed the road, and hopped onto the pavement, up the stairs to the shop.

When the shopkeeper looked at her in inquiry, Naina’s face froze. A fresh bout of embarrassment swept through her. For a minute, she stood contemplating, thinking that she could still abandon the plan. All would be okay. She was worried for nothing. And then she caught sight of a Ceralac box, with a smiling baby painted on top. Was it a sign? No..no…she was in a medical store. It was obvious that she would find scores of baby food boxes and medicines around. All but natural.

“Kya chahiye madam?”

“H…huh?” Naina’s reverie broke. She took in a deep breath and looked about the shop. There was a lady arranging a pile of medicines in the boxes at the back.

“Unhe bula dein please!” She gestured towards the woman.

“Meena! Aao dekho customer!”

The shopkeeper’s wife leapt to her feet and set the plastic boxes aside. “Ji… boliye madam…kya chahiye?”

“Wo..wo jo…pr…pregnancy ke liye..pp…pata karne ke liye..”

“Pregnancy tester kit chahiye?” She asked in a voice louder than Naina would have appreciated. A man carrying a toddler in his arms, an elderly lady handing out her prescription, and the shopkeeper all turned their gaze at Naina.

The woman unfazed by this, shuffled underneath in a drawer and pulled out a kit and handed it to Naina.

Naina quickly grabbed it and held it out of view and paid for it, suddenly in a hurry to escape what she felt were four pairs of judging eyes.

The next morning, just at the break of dawn, Naina opened her eyes. She turned around to check if Preeti was fast asleep. She was. The house was quiet. There was no tinkering of utensils which meant Bela chachi was still in bed too. She checked the alarm clock for the time. 4.30am.

Quietly, very carefully, Naina clambered out of bed, pulled out the tester from the hiding place and nervously made her way into the bathroom. She opened the kit, unaware of what to expect. She found a narrow plastic object with some blank space in between. She hastily unfolded the instructions sheet with it and scanned through. She did as instructed and then waited, her eyes boring into the tester, daring it to show anything else apart from negative.

About three minutes elapsed and then it appeared. A faint pink line which deepened. The Control line. Naina was about to heave a sigh of relief, when another one crept up besides it and darkened in shade to a bold pink.

There they stood- dancing in front of her- two distinct pink lines mocking her from the slide of the kit.

It was a positive. She was pregnant!

Her vision blurred. Naina felt her world crash and she threw up.

The comb fell from her hands as Naina shuddered at the memory. Diya, who was busy applying a clumsy coat of nailpolish on her fingers in an attempt to imitate Naina, looked up at the distraction. Seeing the fallen comb, she quickly bent down and retrieved it for her mother.

Naina saw Diya’s beaming face and instantly knew that all her pain and sufferings had been worth it. She could still face a hundred such traumatic days without complaint just to see her child smile the way she did. She then sat down on the stool, pulled her daughter onto her lap. Kissing the top of her forehead, she took the nailpolish bottle from Diya’s hands and started painting her tiny nails in a hue of bright pink.

***

Noopur was draped in an expensive green silk with a golden and mauve tint to it. She had put on a heavy glimmering gold set and matching jhumkas. Bangles in shades of emerald, gold and purple jingled in her wrists, which partly covered the dainty henna pattern that spread out from her palms. Her eyes were lined with kohl and a crimson lipstick gleamed on her lips.

She was indeed looking beautiful, Sameer observed, even if not enough to set his heart racing.

“Hey!” he called out to her.

Noopur jumped at his voice. For some reason, she appeared nervous and was fidgeting with the ends of her pallu. Sameer’s eyes fell upon her wriggling hands and was reminded of how Naina did the same whenever she was anxious.

“Brrr…!” he shook his head. “You are not supposed to think about Naina…think about Noopur Sameer!” he reprimanded himself.

“Hello?” Sameer crooned again.

“Hhh..Hi Sameer!”

“Ready? You look beautiful!” he complimented her.

“Thanks!” she mumbled.

Sameer was a bit taken aback by her lack of enthusiasm. “Chalein?” he asked hesitantly.

Noopur bit her lip and then nodded.

“Kya hua? Pareshaan ho?”

“Pareshan…nahi..nahi bilkul nahi!” she fumbled.

Quickly, she grabbed her pooja thali and followed Sameer outside to his car.

Sameer noticed that she not her usual vivacious self today and had kept exceptionally quiet all through the journey. He tried to prod her into telling him the reason for her anxiety, but she avoided the question everytime.

Finally, as they reached the temple, Sameer suggested, “tum yahin utar jao…parking thodi door hai…main laga ke aata hun okay?”

Noopur gave him a brief smile and descended from the car.

As soon as Sameer was out of sight, Noopur cursed herself, “idiot Noopur…bata kyun nahi deti use…yeh date ko bhi aaj hi aana tha….saara mood kharab ho gaya…yaar bhagwanji aapko nahi chahiye ki main apne hone wale pati ke liye fast karun…ab bolun kaise ise?” She was blabbering to herself, when she saw a handsome young woman was eyeing her with curiosity.

Naina was gazing at the saree draped by her in wonder when she realized that the woman had spotted her staring.

As Noopur met her eyes, she smiled kindly and walked upto her. “Aap first time fast kar rahi hain?”

Noopur reciprocated the smile and nodded her head. She observed that a girl of about five to six years of age was clinging to the lady’s pallu.

“Aapki beti hai?” Noopur asked as she bent down to smile at the child.

“Haan…Diya, aunty ko namaste karo!”

“Namaste!” Diya murmured.

“Namaste beta! Diya! Bada pyaara naam hai!” Noopur smiled at the woman.

Naina smiled back. “Aap kisi ka wait kar rahi hain? Katha ka time ho raha hai!”

Noopur’s face fell again.

Naina observed this and enquired, “kya hua? Any problem?”

Noopur hesitated for a second and then confided in her, “actually…maine fast to rakh liya subah…lekin ab main mandir nahi jaa sakti…tayyar hoke baithi hi thi ki pata nahi kaise aaj meri date aa gayi…abhi to pure paanch din bache the…aur upar se mere fiancé mere saath aaye hain…unhe kya bolti…kuch samajh nahi aa raha!”

Before Naina could respond, Diya shrieked with joy. She freed herself from her mother’s clasp and strutted ahead, “Sameer uncle!”

Naina looked in surprise as Sameer came into view. His eyes fell upon Diya running towards him happily. Suddenly beaming widely, he scooped her in his arms.

“Arey Diya! Kaisa hai mera baccha?” Sameer pecked her cheek happily. And then his eyes fell upon Naina, and then Noopur. His mouth fell open and colour drained from his face.

Noopur looked from Sameer to Naina in bewilderment. Moments later, Sameer put Diya down and guiding her by his finger, led them to where the women were standing. Sameer observed that the two women who seemed to matter in his life were standing side by side- one whom he loved and the other whom he was going to marry. Oddly, he felt as if he was two-timing them. Was he?

“Hi!” he whimpered at Naina.

“Hi!” Naina responded.

“Aap dono ek dusre ko jaante ho?” Noopur asked before she could contain herself.

“Wo h..h…haan!” Sameer mumbled nervously. “I’m sorry…introduction nahi karwaya maine!”

Sameer contemplated for a minute. If he told Noopur that this was ‘his Naina’, it would spoil her mood. It was a special day for her and she was staying hungry to pray for his well-being and their togetherness. To meet an ex at this time was certainly not appropriate.

He pointed towards Naina, “yeh…yeh meri colleague hain…but she’s more like a friend to me…Mrs. Reena Mittal!”

“Mrs. Mittal…this is Noopur…my…fiancé!” He elaborated to Naina, deliberately avoiding her gaze.

Naina stood still, reeling from the information. “So this…this is the girl he’s marrying?” She felt a sudden distaste for this woman and glanced at Sameer in indignation.

“Hello Reena!” Noopur held her hand out to shake.

Naina took the hand extended out to her. “Reena? Hmm…Naina nahi bataya…does she know about us?” she pondered.

“Pleased to meet you Noopur!” Naina responded courteously, and Sameer felt sure that he’d only imagined the dirty look that Naina seemed to have given him moments ago.

“Aur yeh Diya!” he gaily introduced the child.

Noopur smiled and shook Diya’s hand, “mili main abhi Diya se!”

Naina convulsed seeing Diya standing between Sameer and Noopur. Nope! They won’t be her parents. Diya belonged to her.

Sameer observed that Naina had stiffened. In order to diffuse the somewhat lingering tension around, he hastily turned to Noopur, “Pooja ke liye nahi jaana? Tabse bahar hi khadi ho?”

Noopur blushed and mumbled, “wo…nahi bas abhi jaati hun!”

“Noopur kya hua hai? Batao toh?” Sameer asked, now exasperated.

“Iski to badi chinta ho rahi hai!” Naina gritted her teeth.

Noopur threw Naina a helpless look, unable to explain to Sameer her predicament. “Kuch nahi hua baba…tum wait karo na park mein wahan…hum pooja karke aate hain?”

“Okay…jaise tumhari marzi!” Sameer ceded defeat.

Diya interrupted, “mummy main Sameer uncle ke sath khelun tab tak please?”

Naina was in no mood for it, but then thinking these were the only memories Diya could cherish of her father, relented. “Dhyaan rakhna iska Sameer!”

Sameer nodded happily and led Diya to the nearby park. As soon as they were alone, Noopur turned to Naina, “sorry mujhe pata hi nahi tha aap Sameer ko jaanti hain…maine socha shaadi hone wali hai to fast rakhti hun inke liye aur ab dekhiye…pooja kaise karun?”

Naina felt happy for a moment that it was Sameer’s fiancé who was greeted by Aunt Flo on her first matrimonial fast. Then realizing her duty, she shuffled her emotions aside and explained, “aisi situation mein ya to aap fast mat rakhiye…vaise bhi shaadi to huyi nahi hai na aapki abhi…aur agar rakhna hi hai toh aap kisi aur ko keh sakti hain pooja karne ke liye aur aap door se katha sun sakti hain!”

Noopur’s eyes lit up. “Really? Kisi aur se pooja karwa sakte hain? Aap help karengi meri fir?”

“Main?” Naina asked in shock.

“Haan aap Sameer ki friend bhi hain…please! Main yahi bahar baith ke katha sun lungi!”

Naina looked at the youthful, pleading face. Shuffling her prejudices and her own emotions aside, finally she acquiesced. “Okay!”

Noopur smiled gratefully and thrust her pooja thali towards Naina.

Quietly, Naina balanced both the trays, and entered the temple for the pooja. Ironically, both the trays were deep down meant for Sameer.

Naina settled down in her place in a circle with the other women and eyed Noopur standing in a corner, fidgeting with her pallu, watching the katha from a distance. She looked regretful and upset that she hadn’t been able to be a part of the pooja.

Funny that she should get her periods mysteriously early today. It almost seemed as if God did not want her to observe this fast. Was it because she wasn’t married as yet? But no…God had been kinder to her on that front. She didn’t know why she’d started keeping this fast in the first place- it was as if divinity had shown her the path and she’d trotted along it.

Her sixth month of pregnancy was nearing its end and along with it, the feeling of unease, discomfort had sharply risen. Naina often found herself choked and breathless at nights and woke up occasionally to calm herself. Generally the feeling died down after a few minutes, but that night had been exceptionally different.

She’d had another nightmare. She’d been telling Sameer that she was pregnant and he’d spurned her, told her he didn’t want anything to do with it. She’d been crying when she heard Sameer call out for her. Moments later, she saw Munna rushing towards her, weeping profusely, telling her that Sameer was dying. And then she saw Sameer’s hazy form, being pulled into a vaccum, away from her, while Sameer continued to call her name, flailing his hands about, desperate to get to her. The scene dissolved and Naina jerked awake at that moment, all breathless, her heartbeats wild with trepidation, a deep sense of foreboding, an ominous feeling settling around inside her.

“Sameer?” she whispered, looking about her. The room was dark. Neither Sameer nor Munna were anywhere around.

Must have been her fluctuating hormones and her mind playing with her again. She tried to take in a few deep breaths as usual, and patted her hand around on the bedside table for the bottle of water she kept handy every night. Quickly, she unscrewed it and took a few gulps. She expected to feel better any moment, but the feeling would just not go away. Slowly, easing herself down from the bed, Naina clutched her protruding belly and slipped on her daily slippers. Doctors had advised her not to walk barefoot, as the cold was harmful for her and the baby. Cautiously, she ambled to the window and threw it open. A whiff of fresh, cold night air rushed across her face. She shivered and pulled her shawl closer around her to keep herself warm, but stayed there, breathing in and out.

She started walking about her room slowly, continuing to take deep breaths as she tried to shake off that dire feeling, but to no avail. The clock showed 12.30 and Naina felt her belly squirm. Lovingly, she caressed her palms over her stomach.

“Are you up too?” she whispered to her belly.

The baby moved slightly again. “I’m worried for your dad! Is he okay?”

There was no movement now.

Naina presumed it was better that she took some rest for the baby’s sake and laid down on the bed again. She shut her eyes, still breathing heavily and tried to sleep. But the restlessness refused to go away. It wasn’t due to her pregnancy she felt. Something bad had happened or was about to happen- her sixth sense warned. And somehow, that something was related to Sameer.

She lay on the bed for a few more hours, desperately trying to rid her mind of horrid images- of unpleasant things happening to him, but couldn’t. She felt worried, very worried for him and before she knew, she was silently praying to God for his safety.

All this came as a surprise to her herself, for by that time, Naina had assumed she hated Sameer with every fibre of her being. It was clearly not the case. She hadn’t forgotten him.

Tossing and turning about for a while, Naina glanced back at the clock. 4.00 am. Giving up on the idea of sleep altogether, she slipped out of bed again and went to wash her face and freshen up. The sinister feeling still hung about the room and she decided to go out for a change.

Peeking out of her door, she saw a dim light emanating from the kitchen. As she reached there, Arora aunty looked up at her in surprise.

“Naina? Itni jaldi uth gayi? Kya hua beta? Tabiyat theek nahi lag rahi?”

Naina shrugged. “Pata nahi aunty. Kuch ajeeb sa mehsoos ho raha hai…bahot ghabrahat ho rahi hai…jaise kuch bura hone wala hai!”

Mrs. Arora quickly checked her forehead for fever and made her sit down. “Baith…thodi chai pi le…shayad behtar lage!”

Naina nodded and settled herself on a stool as Arora aunty put the kettle on boil on the empty stove and ran the ladle around the sewai kheer simmering on the other.

“Aap itni subah subah uth ke khana kyun paka rahi hain? Aur yeh kheer kiske liye hai?” Naina asked curiously.

Arora aunty smiled at her. “Arey tujhe nahi pata? Acha tere wahaan Teej hoti hai na! Aaj Karwa Chauth hai to sargi bana rahi hun!”

“Ohh…aaj Karwa Chauth hai?”

Arora aunty nodded and continued her cooking.

“Aur yeh sargi kya hoti hai?” Naina, now interested, asked again.

Arora aunty explained that on the day of the fast, women had to get up early morning, before dawn and eat certain things mandated as per custom- five things white in particular. This was known as sargi and was typically made by mother-in-law for her daughter-in-law. Then as soon as dawn breaks, the women observe a strict fast, with no food or water, attend the katha before dusk and wait till the moon appears, worship it at night and then end the fast.

Naina listened to this new information with rapture.

How could she have known that this symbolic fast would be recreated in a movie releasing just next week, which would turn out to be one of the best sellers in the history of Indian cinema- the story of Raj and Simran of Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge- one which popularized Karwa Chauth as a cult in every Indian household.

Till then Naina had only heard about this fast before from her friends in Mumbai and was fascinated to see Arora aunty preparing for it. Suddenly she remembered a fact.

“Aunty? Yeh fast pati ki raksha ke liye hota hai na- unki lambi aayu ke liye?”

Mrs. Arora nodded, “haan!”

Naina sat indecisive for a minute. She recalled Sameer telling her once that his mother religiously fasted on Karwa Chauth. It had so happened that one time she’d been really unwell and on doctor’s advice, had skipped it. Five months later, his father had eloped with another woman. Hence when she got married to Mr. Somani, she sincerely kept the fast every year without fail, praying for his long life and their wedded wellbeing.

No Naina! Sameer isn’t your husband. But then she didn’t have one. And isn’t what Sameer and she had for the past two or so years, a form of Gandharva marriage? Yes, they were together of their own free will and the result was blossoming in Naina’s womb. So what, if he’d dumped her, she still could not see any harm being brought upon him. To rest her fears, she exclaimed, “main rakh sakti hun Karwa Chauth ka vrat?”

Arora aunty looked at her in surprise. “Tujhe rakhna hai? Beta aisi haalat mein?”

Naina nodded. “Dil baitha jaa raha hai…aur mann mein lag raha hai jaise use kuch hone wala hai…main rakhna chahti hun!”

“Itna sab hone ke baad bhi Naina?” Mrs. Arora asked in astonishment.

Naina nodded slowly.

Mrs. Arora walked upto her and pulled her into a warm embrace. She kissed her forehead and smiled at her, “rakh le…agar tere dil ko sukoon mile toh…kaisa aadmi hai wo…itna pyaar karne wali ladki ko kaise chod diya usne…main bhagwan se prarthna karungi ki use akal aa jaye aur wo tujhe aur tere bacche ko apna le beta! Dekh lena…aaj wo hamari zarur sunenge!”

Naina raised her fingers to wipe the tears from her eyes and then Mrs. Arora hurried her, “ek kaam kar tu yeh sargi fatafat kha le…aur theek se khaana…chuhiya ki tarah khaati hai…pure din bhookhe rehna hai!”

After the two women were done with the break of dawn meal, Mrs. Arora fished out a henna cone from the fridge and started decorating Naina’s hands with it. She went out to the market around noon, and brought her a shiny pair of red bangles. She then searched in her almirah for a suitable saree for her and found it. “Yeh le Naina…yeh saree Shalu ke liye li thi…!”

Naina looked at the sequined red georgette with awe. “Aunty yeh to nayi hai!”

“Haan toh ab wo kab Amreeka se aayegi, kab pehnegi…tu aaj pehen le yeh…!”

Naina eyed her gratefully. She remembered her first katha, and how after that prayer, her heart had calmed down a bit. And then when the moon shone bright, Naina had hastened after Arora aunty to offer her prayers. As she set her eyes on the moon tinted in an amber glaze through the sieve, she prayed for the well-being of Sameer, and to ward off any evil, any misfortune surrounding him. She asked for forgiveness for any wrongs she might have committed while observing the fast. Wistfully, she then pulled out a photograph of Sameer from her purse and turned the sieve over it, trying her best not to cry. She then pulled herself together and offered water and sweets to the moon and then closed her eyes in veneration.

Little did she know that it was then that Sameer had finally opened his eyes in that ICU in Ahemdabad and that the doctors had proclaimed him out of danger. Her prayers had always been answered, but she was till now unaware of it all. Yet she’d trudged along, never letting her faith in Almighty be shattered despite the tribulations she endured in life. The fact that after the Karwa Chauth vrat, Naina had somehow felt reassured and the ill feeling had vanished, had been gift enough for her.

The chants around the circle of ladies caught back Naina’s attention. The tale of Queen Veeravati was being narrated. She’d apparently been a beloved sister of seven brothers. When she was married and it was time for her to observe her first Karwa Chauth, her brothers had been tensed about their delicate sister keeping hungry all day long. In an attempt to end her misery, they tricked her into eating by lighting a fire far off in the jungle and convinced her that the moon had risen for her. The simpleton queen believed them and broke her fast. It is said that just after that her husband was taken seriously ill and had been covered with scores of needles. The queen and her brothers then realized their folly. Since then, every day the queen would prick one needle out from her husband’s body. This continued till the next Karwa Chauth which the queen had decided to observe with utmost devotion. Before she could take out the last remaining needle from her husband’s body and awaken him from his deep slumber, she heard a seller selling the worship items needed for the fast and ran out. Her maid, on seeing the queen leave, quickly pulled out the remaining needle from the king’s body. The king woke up and saw the maid and presumed her to be his wife. The real queen was appalled when she got to know of this treachery and kept mumbling, “the queen became the maid and the maid became the queen!” Once the king countered her on this on the coming Karwa Chauth, Veeravati narrated the entire incident. The king was deeply repentant and apologized to her and then restored her as his wife and queen and banished the maid.

Naina laughed inwardly at the irony. She’d dreamt of being Sameer’s wife all along, had observed fasts for his well-being and here she was- the queen banished as the maid, and a new girl entered his life at the last moment and claimed him. “Had she really done something to offend God? Why couldn’t Sameer choose her instead?” she mused sadly.

The one who was the subject of her consideration was busy playing hide-and-seek with his daughter in the nearby park. Diya had been excited to meet her Sameer uncle after a long time. She’d hoarded him with things that happened at her school, the fancy dress competition where the teacher gave her the first prize, to her beautiful mehendi design that she’d got with her mother and her gleaming pink nails. Sameer had listened to all her ramblings with enjoyment and when she wanted to play games with him, he had been up for it. Thirty minutes later, both the father-daughter duo sat down exhausted on the bench and Diya mumbled tiredly, “paani!” She turned her pleading eyes to Sameer.

“Pyaas lagi hai beta? Uncle abhi paani leke aate hain!” Sameer pulled her up in his arms and strode towards a general store nearby. He asked for a bottle of Bisleri, uncorked it and gave it to Diya who drank the elixir gratefully. Once she was done, Sameer took a few sips as well and asked her, “ab chalein…aapki mummy aane wali hongi?”

Diya nodded enthusiastically. She grabbed the bottle from his hands, looking at it in fascination, “main yeh rakh lun?” she asked humbly. It wasn’t always one brought a new transparent bottle home. Her mother rarely brought one and kept reusing the old ones.

Sameer grinned and nodded.

Diya smiled happily at him. She’ll decorate it and plant a flower in this bottle, she thought as she placed it carefully in her sling bag.

After an hour, as the katha finished and Naina descended down the stairs, Noopur got up to greet her and began thanking her profusely. Naina smiled at her courteously and assured her that it hadn’t been inconvenience at all. Although inwardly, she was comparing herself to Noopur- what had Sameer found in Noopur that wasn’t there in herself? Her eyes flicked to her expensive drape and then compared it to her own flimsy one. Naina had actually worn the same saree that had been gifted by Somani publications a few months ago and over which she and Sameer had had a steaming fight. Yes, there was one obvious thing- their status, she sighed sadly.

Just at that time, Sameer who was noticing the conversation from afar, questioned her. “Noopur…tum ab tak andar nahi gayi? Aur yeh N…Reena ji tumhari thaali kyun leke aa rahi hain upar se?”

“Wo…wo actually na…!”

“Sameer uncle, Frooty chahiye!” Diya tugged at his arm, breaking the conversation.

Naina hushed her, “Diya bade baat kar rahe hain..aur ab bas karo…Sameer uncle ko tang mat karo…ghar jaake deti hun Frooty!”

“Yaar Nai…,” he immediately checked himself, “…Reena it’s okay…vaise bhi hum ghar hi jaa rahe hain…tumhe bhi chod deta hun…aa jao!”

Naina started to refuse, but Noopur added, “haan please…why not…itna to hum kar hi sakte hain!”

“Tum kya kar rahi ho isme?” Naina muttered to herself irritably and then made to follow Noopur and Diya who was right behind her.

Seeking a moment, she pulled Sameer by his shirt to her. “Duffer ho tum kitne…wo down hai tumhe samajh nahi aata?” she whispered in his ear.

“Down hai?” Sameer’s face showed genuine surprise. “Toh bol kyun nahi rahi thi…ek ghante se puch raha hun kya hua hai?”

“Kaise bolegi? Ladki hai!”

“To tum bhi to ladki ho…tum to bol deti thi!”

“Meri baat alag hai! Aur baad mein bolne lagi thi…pehle kabhi bataya tha tumhe?”

“Hmm…pehle sirf pet dard hai, sir dard hai bahana karke baith jaati thi!” he retorted.

Naina opened her mouth to answer, when they heard Noopur’s voice, “Sameer…Reenaji? Kya hua…ruk kyun gaye?”

“Aa…bas aa rahe hain!” Sameer called out and they both hurried towards the car.

This time the front seat was reserved for Noopur, or so she assumed, for she settled herself there comfortably. This somehow irked Naina, although she realized that her position in Sameer’s life had changed. Quietly, she sat herself and Diya at the back of the car.

Naina observed Noopur from the back seat, her wavy hair, and her glowing skin. Desperate to find flaws in her, she thought, “Vaise to sundar hai…lekin zara zyada patli nahi hai? Kuch khaati peeti hai ke nahi? Aur zarurat se zyada hi gori hai…ekdum safed si lag rahi hai, jaise khoon ki hi kami ho!”

Sameer got inside and rammed the door shut. He turned to Noopur, “tum down ho?”

Noopur was horrified hearing it from his mouth, and to top it, felt embarrassed that this conversation was happening in front of another lady. Is he insane? What will Reena think of him? “T…tum ko kaise pata?”

“Guess kiya…vaise tumse yeh umeed nahi thi haan…tum itni upfront ho mujhe laga bata dogi…kaunsa tum koi behenji type ladki ho!” Sameer smirked and cast Naina a shifty glance. Naina responded by narrowing her eyes at him.

Noopur elbowed Sameer, gesturing him to stay quiet for they weren’t quite alone right now to speak of such personal things. Sameer couldn’t help feeling amused at her concern, but then regretted it as he realized that Noopur wasn’t aware of what his relations once were with the lady sitting at the back of his car, courtesy him.

A sudden question popped up into his mind as he remembered that Naina never used to visit temples during those days of the month. “Ab tumhara fast…pehle hi bol raha tha mat rakho!”

“Wo actually Reena ji ne meri help kar di…unhone mere behalf pe pooja kar li aur maine bahar baith ke katha sun li!” Noopur looked at Naina once again in gratitude.

Naina smiled back. “No problem!”

Sameer was rendered speechless for a minute. Naina had done the part of pooja intended for him. He couldn’t help feel gloated. Suddenly his mood was ten times chirpy as he snapped his seatbelt in place. Under the pretext of adjusting the mirror, he moved it so that Naina’s face was visible in it.

He started the car and observed Naina discreetly through the mirror and noticed that though the ornaments she’d worn seemed inexpensive, she had the capability to still get heads to turn. His eyes fell upon her saree and he finally recognized it.

“Vaise Noopur…tumhari saree bahot sundar hai! Kahan se li?”

“Wo yeh to mummyji ke saath jab pichle Saturday Nalli gayi thi CP mein…tab unhone dila di thi!” Noopur explained happily.

Sameer smiled at her and then cleared his throat and added loudly, “aapki bhi saree bahot achi lag rahi hai Reena ji…red suits you!”

Naina almost scowled at him. Damn him! He’s recognized the saree. “Thank you!” she grumbled.

“Vaise pata hai tumhe maine green colour kyun select kiya?” Noopur twittered.

Sameer turned to her briefly and asked, “kyun?”

“Sameer! Kyunki green aapka favorite colour hai!”

“Par Sameer ka favorite to blue hai!” Naina spat out without thinking.

Sameer looked at her from the rearview mirror and widened his eyes. Naina bit her lip, but somehow didn’t feel too apologetic about her outburst.

Noopur turned back and eyed Naina with surprise. “Blue? Aapko kaise pata?”

Sameer cocked his brows and smirked at her through the mirror, waiting for her cover-up story.

“Arey wo bas guess kiya…yeh hamesha Diya ko kuch blue hi gift dete hain na…isliye bas…!” Naina completed, hoping the explanation was believable.

“Ohh!” Noopur seemed disappointed. “Blue? Maine pucha to tumne green bola tha?”

“Pehle blue tha…lekin jabse tumhein is green saree mein dekha hai tabse green ho gaya hai!” Sameer murmured huskily.

Noopur blushed and Naina choked. When their eyes met again in the mirror, Naina gave him a ‘pathetic and that-was-such-a-cliché-line’ look and Sameer grinned, despite himself.

Soon neither were speaking a word, as their eyes met on and off through the mirror. Naina was reminiscing how his cheesy lines used to work upon her as well. For a while, Noopur seemed completely forgotten as Sameer’s gaze travelled to the pink hues creeping up over Naina’s cheeks. She was looking so graceful- simple, yet breathtakingly beautiful. He never knew how she managed to trance him, but none had been able to capture his attention the way she did so effortlessly.

Noopur meanwhile, was fussing about her new lipstick. Suddenly, she turned to Naina and complimented her on her lipstick shade. “Yeh Burgundy red hai na…aap pe yeh colour kitna suit kar raha hai!”

Naina snapped back from the alter-world where she was kissing Sameer. Processing Noopur’s compliment a few seconds late, she gave her a polite smile, and then shifted a little in her seat and surreptiously her fingers checked if the lipstick she’d put in the morning was still really there. “It was! Aarrghhh..all the times when she’d complained of how these cheap lipsticks didn’t stay put for long…this was the time she was hoping for it to have faded by now. But it had chosen this very day to surprise her. Her fingers went around her purse and started fidgeting with the straps.

Sameer was trying hard to keep his attention on the road. It was a little over 6.30 in the evening and it was already a bit dark courtesy the cold. A little fog too seemed to have crept in by now. But Sameer’s distraction was not the dark roads or the misty weather. And like Naina, he was trying not to let the carnal visuals conjured by his mind, disrupt his view of the road. He noticed the fumbling of her hands, and out of the corner of his eyes, saw her checking for her lipstick. He couldn’t help but smile.

“Itni hasi kyun aa rahi hai tumhe?” Noopur quipped suddenly.

He glanced at her and then back on the road, shaking his head, “kuch yaad aa gaya tha…!”

Naina understood the hidden implication of what his memory had retrieved. Perhaps the same what hers had.

She immediately cleared her throat and began as a matter of factly, “Noopur, aapko pata hai na aaj aapka pehla Karwa Chauth hai to aaj shaam ko aap thoda chai ya juice kuch le sakti ho ek baar. Kehte hain pehli baar liya to aage bhi le sakte hain- matlab agar aap lena chaho toh!”

“Really? Reenaji, aap kitni achi hain! Thank you so much!”

Sameer was displeased by the disruption.

A few minutes later, he enquired, “Arvind ji aaj ghar pe honge na Reenaji…aaj bhi bahar toh nahi?”

Naina gave him an angry glare. “Kyun? Obviously honge!”

“Nahi main to bas pooch raha tha…bahot busy jo rehte hain aajkal!”

“Thank you…lekin aaj wo bilkul busy nahi…,” Naina responded, and Sameer detested her suggestive tone.

The rest of the journey passed in tid bits of conversation. After dropping Naina and Diya at home, Sameer and Noopur went ahead to his place where his family was waiting for Noopur and Vishakha to be able to break the fast together.

It was around fifteen minutes to eight when Naina spotted a few ladies of her building rushing out to worship the moon and break their fast. Quickly she collected her pooja thaali and made her way to the balcony. She eyed the sacred moon through the sieve and lit a diya for worship. Secretly, Naina fished out that photograph of Sameer from their college days, which she’d always used for breaking her Karwa Chauth every year and directed the sieve at it. Quietly she prayed for Sameer’s long life, health and well-being, and his happiness. She knew she had no right to. The only reason for her to keep the fast now was to keep herself away from the scrutiny of the society members.

She then turned the sieve back to the skies, chanted the prayers and offered water and sweets to the moon. As she kept her plate down, she realized Diya was standing besides her. She was startled and immediately hid Sameer’s photograph behind her. As Diya was growing up, and now knew Sameer, she had to be all the more careful while handling such details. Naina realized that Diya was directing one of her sparkling new crystal glasses filled with water towards her.

“Diya? Kya hai yeh?”

“Mumma…aapne subah se paani nahi piya na hi kuch khaya…ab chaand nikal aaya aur pooja bhi ho gayi toh main aapke vrat todne ke liye paani laayi hun special wala!” Diya beamed.

Naina was warmed by the thoughtfulness of her small child. She smiled and patted her head, and quickly took a sip from the glass that Diya had handed out to her. Once done, she broke a piece of Kalakand into half, and put one in Diya’s mouth and then hers. The mother-daughter giggled, and made way towards the kitchen. Naina began preparing dinner, while Diya eyed the now empty Bisleri bottle happily. Diya had poured what remained of the water in that bottle into the glass, which her mother drank to break her fast. Now the bottle was ready to be decorated. All thanks to Sameer uncle! Diya thought happily.

There in the Maheshwari household, the atmosphere was festive. Vishakha had initially been dismayed that Noopur had strangely got her menses on such a pious day, but tried not to dwell too much on it. She hoped what happened was for the better. And then when she got to know that a colleague of Sameer’s had helped her in the pooja, she felt comforted.

“Mummyji? Aaj wo urad ki daal main banaun?” Noopur asked.

“Tum? Lekin kyun beta? Tum baitho aaram se. Ek to tabiyat bhi theek nahi hai…Sadashiv dekh lega!” Vishakha rested her hands on her shoulder, while at the table, Mr. Somani cracked another joke and Deepika laughed, and Sameer smiled.

“Yeh mera pehla fast hai…please mummyji? Mera bahot man hai…mummy ne jaane se pehle mujhe sikhayi thi!” Noopur pleaded.

Seeing her so keen on it, Vishakha acceded, “acha chalo bana lo…lekin fir papa se yeh shikayat nahi aaye ki abhi to shaadi bhi nahi hui aur Vishakha behenji ne kaam karwana shuru kara diya bahu se!” Vishakha chuckled.

Noopur modestly shook her head and started for the kitchen.

Vishakha called out, “aur yaad hai na beta…kuch chaaku, churi nahi choona…kuch kaatna nai, todna nahi!”

“Yeh kaatna nahi, todna nahi ka kya logic hai mummy?” Deepika interrupted.

“Beta kehte hain is din yeh sab nahi karte, jaise sote huye ko bhi nahi jagate, roothe ko manate nahi! Ab rasam hai to hai!”

Noopur glanced at Sameer and bit her lip. If only she had this information before she’d woken him up today morning. But, never mind, a telephonic wake-up call didn’t count right.

Reassuring herself, Noopur headed to the kitchen. Deepika called, “main bhi help karti hun bhabhi!”

Once in the kitchen, with the help of Sadashiv and Deepika, Noopur set about cooking the traditional meal.

“Vaise na mummy kehti hain…pati ke dil ka raasta uske pet se hoke jaata hai…aapne to ise seriously le liya ise bhabhi!” Deepika teased.

“Kuch bhi…wo to main mummyji ke liye kuch special bana rahi thi!”

“Achaji…vaise urad ki daal to Sameer bhaiya ko bhi bahot pasand hai!” Deepika winked and Noopur blushed.

“Kya baat hai? Kya jaadu kar diya hai mere bhai ne? Chehre se laali hat hi nahi rahi hai!” Deepika started giggling.

“Deepika!” Noopur groaned good-naturedly.

“Acha acha theek hai…nahi chedti!” Deepika relented and darted to the fridge. She extracted a packet of glucose and mixed it in a big bowl of water.

“Kya bana rahi ho?” Noopur asked curiously.

“Glucose…mummy ko fasting ke baad bahot weakness ho jaati hai na…to fast ke just baad main unko glucose deti hun…laakh baar mana kiya ki yeh sab vrat mat karo, ab umar ho gayi hai lekin ulta mujhe daant pad jaati hai ki tum pati ke liye nahi karogi…batao!” Deepika rolled her eyes.

Noopur grinned, “toh nahi karogi kya?”

“Main kyun bhukhi rahun? Wo rakhega kya? Wo rakhega to theek hai…manage kar lungi…par mere se yeh upwas nahi hote…aur mera maanana hai ki bhagwan ko dil se yaad karo, unka shukar ada karo, kaafi hai!”

Noopur nodded, “baat to sahi hai!”

“Meri maano next time Sameer bhaiya se bhi upwas rakhwao…main bhi dekhun bhookhe kaise rehte hain!” Deepika chuckled. “Aapko bata hi dun…khaane peene ke naa bade zyada shaukeen hain! Wo pet wala rasta bilkul sahi chuna hai aapne!” Deepika chuckled.

Noopur looked at her in surprise. “Acha mujhe to ab tak nahi pata tha itna bada foodie hai!”

“Arey seriously! Mazaak nahi kar rahi…maine unko ab tak sirf do baar khana chodte huye dekha hai…ek to nanu ke jaane ke time aur dusra Nai…,” Deepika checked herself before completing the statement.

“Naina ke time?” Noopur finished for her and Deepika observed her face had fallen. She nodded.

Noopur started kneading the dough silently. Deepika wanted to kick herself for spoiling her bhabhi’s mood by invoking her brother’s past girlfriend.

“Sorry bhabhi…!” she tried helplessly.

“Bhoola nahi hai na use ab tak?” Noopur enquired all of a sudden.

“Wo…wo…bhabhi vaise bhoole nahi hote to shaadi ke liye aapko haan nahi kehte naa…aap pehli ladki ho jise dekhne ke liye Sameer bhaiya raazi huye the…mummy ne almost give-up kar diya tha!”

Noopur didn’t answer. She was still lost in thoughts.

“Sameer bhaiya aapke saath khush hain…aur waqt ke saath insaan sab bhul jaata hai…don’t worry!” Deepika patted her hand.

Noopur gave a feeble smile and began working voraciously in the kitchen for the next half an hour or so. Her back had started to ache by now and the lightheadedness and cramping due to her periods were making her more exhausted.

Deepika watched in silence as she sat on a stool nearby, and muttered, “chaand nikalne wala hoga na!”

“Hmmm!”

The next moment, Deepika shrieked as Noopur suddenly crashed to the floor.

Deepika pulled her up in her arms and exclaimed fearfully, “Sadashiv paani lao!”

Sadashiv hurried and passed her a glass of water, which Deepika quickly sprinkled onto Noopur’s face.

“Bhabhi…bhabhi…aap theek ho?”

Noopur opened her eyes slightly and groaned, clutching her head.

“Oh My God! Weakness ho rahi hai!”

At a loss of what to do, Deepika grabbed the bowl of glucose water and thrust it at her. “Yeh piyo bhabhi!”

Noopur, her senses still disoriented, took a few sips. In a minute, she regained some of her consciousness and glanced around the kitchen, at the stove where her dal was simmering. Her gaze darted back to the bowl in Deepika’s hands and she glanced at her in horror.

“Mera vrat!” She was on the verge of tears.

Deepika’s eyes fell upon the glass of glucose water in her hands, and her hand clamped to her mouth.

At a distance, they could hear footsteps and voices of Vishakha, Sameer and Mr. Somani.

Noopur had just a moment to decide. She quickly lifted herself off the floor, threw the bowl of glucose in the sink, just as Vishakha entered.

“Deepika, kya hua? Kyun chillai?”

“Wo…wo mummy!” Deepika started incoherently.

“Wo mummyji…actually mujhe thoda chakkar aa gaya tha…bhook se aur aaj tabyat bhi theek nahi hai na…to Deepika bechari ghabra gayi!” Noopur explained.

Sameer put his arms around Noopur’s shoulders to steady her, “kaha tha na mat rakho yeh fast vast…meri sunni nahi hai tumhe….chup chaap khana khao ab!”

Noopur smiled at his concern and placed her hand over his. “Theek hun main Sameer! Itna ghabrane ki baat nahi hai!”

Vishakha too looked apologetic that she’d permitted Noopur to fast in this condition. Perhaps she’d been a little selfish.

Mr. Somani too muttered that Noopur should take care and that you should pray and devote yourself only to the extent your body allows you to! That advice went for Vishakha too.

Deepika looked deeply perturbed for she’d broken her bhabhi’s fast, that too, when the moon was due any time. But Noopur didn’t mention anything that happened in the kitchen to the family as they all relaxed in the living room.

Soon, Sadashiv announced that the moon had risen. All made their way upstairs to the roof. Deepika lingered behind, looking extremely contrite. But Noopur clasped her hands and pulled her along softly. “Don’t worry! Anjaane mein huyi baat ka bhagwaan bhi bura nahi manate…bas dil saaf hona chahiye!”

Deepika was almost in tears. She hugged Noopur. “I’m really sorry bhabhi! Maine bahot badi galti kar di…!”

“Koi nahi…tumne jo kiya isliye kyunki tumhe meri fikr thi aur agar kisi ki nanad itni sweet ho to bhagwan bhi hamari sab bhool chook maaf kar dete hain!”

Deepika nodded, wiping her tears, a slight smile now tugged at her lips. Noopur really had a heart of gold. Instead of being livid at her, she shielded her from her mother’s wrath and prevented the spoiling of the festive season in the house.

Sameer bhaiya was indeed lucky.

How to write? Matlab Mai ye likhne pe to concentrate nahi kar pati hu.... aur ek Baar, aur ek Baar phirse update padh leti hu😭😭.

Sur di, delay ki kya compensation hai...! Itna bada update.... Happy me🤗!! I am very much happy how the story progresses❤️.

Apt title 😍❤️. Noopur.... isse pyaar to hoga nahi, par nafrat bhi nahi hota, dubhidha. Slowly, she falls for Sameer😭. Mujhe na lagta hai Sameer Ko khud pata hi nahi what's going on his life. Iski batti to jalne se Rahi...🤔!!

Karwachauth... Bengalee culture mein to hota nahi... Serials mein dekhi thi but itni detailing mein maine first time padha. The whole scenario regarding Karwachauth was phenomenal. How Naina is preparing herself for Sameer (indirectly hi sahi, subtle mein khush ho jaate hai), she did not need heavy saare, heavy makeup... Her simplicity talks❤️!

That thodu past revealation... Preeti was getting prepared for shaadi... that time Naina was pregnant... Aisi dikkat kisi ladki ke life mein na ho😭😭🤧. Jab family aur closed ones ki Sabse zyada zaroorat thi... Tab to koi tha hi nahi. Na jaane kitne baar Maine ye single update read ki... Every time I just can't control my eyes😭😭. She faced a lot... aur abhi bhi jhel rahi hai. You mentioned some Arora Aunty... Abhi bhi bahot dots Milne baki hai. Arvind ka to alag hi kissa hai, bhai😳.

Naina's endless talks with her unborn child 🤧🤧❤️. Indirectly, her teez and her prayer were not in vain... She felt relieved, Sameer too💕🤧🤗. Yeh pyaar nahi to kya hai. Ab to mujhe Aisa lag Raha hai ki Naina ki kabhi shaadi hui hi nahi Arvind se... Mujhe ek baat lag Rahi hai....

Mandir scene... Noopur is unable to doing pooja, sachi mein itni Khushi mili! Noopur aur Naina Ko ek saath dekhkar bechare Sameer ke Nazar hi dhundla Ho Gaya... Mai royun ya hasoon😂😭😭. Car conversation was soo good!

Acchi to noopur Naina dono hi dekh rahi thi... Par Sameer ke aankhon mein, Dil mein Naina ka jaadu chalta tha, Naina ka hi jaadu chalega...😍💕💕.

Diya, I just love her sooo much💕🤧. She is the only solace for Naina. Sameer-Diya bond... This father daughter duo have my heart ❤️. Mere biology padhai mein jab kabhi PKU ata hai... I only remember Diya🤧💕. She just wanted that bottle... Bacchi ko kya din dekhne pad rahe hai🤧😭😭.

Noopur ki to vrat hi complete hui nahi... Thanks to her tiredness and Deepika! Arvind is not at home. Apni uske paas hoga....

And naina completed her vrat... She takes water from that bottle which was given to diya by Sameer 💕❤️🤧. Oh! It was subtle... But I feel content. Sachi mein, Sameer is soo lucky man!

Ab bas apni diya ko uski biological father mil jaaye... ❤️🤧🤧. I cried... But I love this update so so much! You create magic... just magic😍😭.

I know... Bahot hi bakwas tha meri ye comment... But I really don't know what to write this update and what not. And this update will be my most favourite update of EU for sure❤️🤗.

And and again Happy Happy birthday Suman di❤️❤️🤗!

Will be eagerly waiting for next update... Intezaar mushkil hai.. Lekin is story ke liye kuch bhi😘❤️.

You take care, Di❤️🤗

With love, Suparna

Very nice update...Diya is so sweet yaar apni mummy ko kitna pyaar karti hai,ab or nhi please jaldi mila do naina sameer ko

Hi.... Firstly a big sorry bcz aap 15 days lekar itna bada khoobsurat part likhi hai aur hum lalchi readers 15minme use padkar... Nxt update ki request karte hai... Par kya kare apne hume apke sameer naina se aise band diya hai ki kya kahe jab woh saat hai toh hum khush jab woh alag toh hum dukhi... Anyways ur today's update was splendid the way u connected it with the past... Was superb.... N thanku ki nupur apna fast pura nahi kar payi... 😜😜😜 u know ajkal updates ka bahot jyada intezar hota hai... Par padte waqt literally mere haath shake hote rehte hai... Ki pata nahi aur kitna dukh hai naina ke liye... Janti ho this phase is necessary for the story to go further par emotionally bahot bura lagta hai naina ke liye par aj nupur ke liye bhi... I agree sameer had a bad phase but naina also didn't have anything gud... Except diya n with it came pku at least sameer got his family under this pretext... Anyways a last request kya agle kuch updates fast fast ho sakte hain.... Taki ye phase jaldi jaldi Gujjar jaye abhi toh arvind ka bandaphod (secret) baki hai....😊😊😊bi.. Tc happy ganesh chathurti to all 🙏

Hi surbhi

I was wandering like bhatakti atma ki koe luck mile aur mil gaya update. As soon as I read tittle "man propose n God dispose" bahut happy wali feeling aayi and yes feeling retain till last line.

Thnk God nupur ka fast pura nai hua but sahi mayne me Naina ka hogaya. Little angle diya did the pleasure of fulfilling nainaz fast. Aap bhale mjhe core hard hearted samjhe per mjhe na nupur k lie bilkul bhi bura nai laga.

Some part of nainaz past got revealed but major part is left, abhi arvind ka Sach baki hai.

Update was really big aur bore hone ka sawal nai uththa, arey isse bhi double lamba hum per sakte he.

And yes update was beautifully waeved. Thnks for such beautiful story.

Bye take care

Regards sakina

I hate this Noopur ese jaldi se bhagao 😡

Hi dear it was beautiful worth the wait. Just reveal that when are you going to reveal to sameer that diya is his daughter. Waiting for his rea tion. After how many updates we are going to get that and yes mystery of arvind appearance and disappear. Hey there's much to come out.

Wow thanks for the update... if naina is fasting for sameer and it’s obvious she is not married to Arvind even for name sake...

The small glimpse of her past looks so painful 💔

Thanks for not letting Noopur fast for sameer..

Hope through naina’s Family or diya sameer gets some hints and starts chasing the truth

Want some happiness in Naina’s life soon. Her life looks too painful