"Naina! Dekh na yeh kitna acha hai. ''Swati nudged Naina to look at the salwar on mannequin.
"Chi! Kitna ajeeb rang hai iska.Tu na kuch aur choice kar.'' Naina prodded a disappointed Swati for another round of search and selection.
"Swati! Dekh na yeh wala kitna acha colour ka hai.Material bhi achi hai''. Naina exclaimed as she tried the dress on her.
"Arey! Par uska price bhi to dekh le.Budget mein bhi hona chahiye.'' Swati threw the words as she scanned for few more of the stock.
"Hey bhagwan! Yeh to mehngai ka pehla example hai.Ab yeh bi gaya haath se.'' Naina placed back the dress with frown adorning her face.
"Kya hua? Itna sada hua face kyun banayi hai? ''Swati asked as she tried a dress on her.
"Itna paison se mere do salwar aur aajayenge.Aaj din hi kharab hai'' Naina was definitely upset.
"Sameer! Tu sach mein Naina ke saath shopping karne aya hai? Itna acha mauka tha thoda daru chadha lete.'' Pandit was pissed with Sameer's idea of accompanying to the market place.
"Arey wo behenji ka koi bharosha nahin hai.Kab kis baat ka badla lele. ''Sameer said as he searched for some key rings to take back home.
"Tum dono yahan ruko.Main thoda andar se aata hun. ''Munna said and disappeared into the garment store.
"Oye Pandit! Main kuch madad karun?'' Munna offered to help Swati who was confused between the good and better ones.
"Acha madad karoge? Khud ka kabhi ek shirt kharida hai?'' Swati replied back to all the grinning Munna.
"Ye tu naraj kyun hota hai?Yeh to bada sundar rang hai.'' Munna said as he picked up a maroon salwar suit from the pile.
"Yeh sundar hai? Bandar ka rang hai.'' Swati pulled the dress and threw back to the pile.
"To phir yeh wala bada jachega tum par.Kasam se.'' Munna took the dress and studied its embroidery designs.
"Acha to hai par budget mein nahin hai.Maa ne to badi muskil se paise diye hein aur yeh to iska dugna hai. ''Swati really loved the dress but the budget upset her.
"Tu sirf itna bata tujhe pasand hai na.'' Munna got serious and asked meeting her eyes with his.
Swati blushed into scarlet shade and could only managed to nod a yes'.
"Naina! Jaldi karo.Humein der ho rahi hai.'' Sameer hurried Naina as she was trying a different set now.
"Sameer! Yeh mujhpe kaisa lagega?'' She turned around to show the sheath gown she was trying.
Sameer looked into her eyes and threw a side glance at the gown.
He smiled.
He broke into peals of laughter.
"Naina! Seriously...Hhahhaa..tum..yeh ..Hhahhaha ...pehenogi?'' Sameer placed hand on his stomach as it hurt from laughing like maniac.
"Sameer! ''She pouted in anger and moved out of the section.
"Naina! Suno .Yeh behenji bhi na.Pata nahin kya samajhti hai khudko.'' Sameer raced behind her following her till first floor of the store.
"Dur raho mujhse.'' Naina shouted as she again went back to the salwar suit section.
"Bhaiya ji! Aap wo yellow salwar pack kar lijiye''. Naina ordered half-heartedly.
"Madam ji wo to abhi abhi ek customer le ke chale gaye. ''The shopkeeper informed much to chagrin of Naina.
"Ab kya karungi.? '' She sat near the stock searching for something better that could catch her eye.
"Kya hua? ''Sameer asked though she had asked to stay away from her.
"Ek acha sa salwar suit meri naseeb main nahin hai aur kisiko koi fikr nahin hai.'' She said with a gloom as she saw Munna and Swati selecting clothes together.
Sameer smirked with style as she went for another round of search.
"Yeh kaisa lagega?'' Naina voiced with a pitch higher for him to listen.
She put the dress and took a twirl to show him.
He signalled with a nod of negation. The dress didn't deserve her.Period.
After half an hour of trial and error Naina finally decided to give up with the last one to be put to test.
"Pata nahin kiska manhoos chehra dekh ke nikli thi.Ab isse bhi reject kar lo. ''She half-heartedly tried the last piece among the choicest ones.
He smiled at her and showed a thumbs up.The dress looked tailor made for her.The standard of beauty is not definite.She defined it.
She was surprised.Yet happy.Finally she found something which he liked. She liked the piece more.
She immediately checked for the price and found she is only 100 rupees short of the MRP.
"Ab yeh bhi naseeb main nahin hai.Chachi ji bhi na itni paison mein khak kapde lungi.'' She voiced and he saw her fallen face.
"Sameer chal shart lagate hein ki Naina apne paison se yeh kharid payegi ki nahin''. Pandit was completely in bet mode seeing Naina confused and sullen.
"Tu phir shuru hogaya.Shart shart. ''Sameer was pissed.
"Acha chal laga lete hein.Par yeh akhri baar haan.Us behenji ko pata nahin chalna chahiye.'' Sameer cheered up Pandit who was unhappy with his friend's temper.
"Main kehta hun ki Naina yeh zaroor kharid legi.'' Sameer put forward his side.
"Aur mujhe pakka yakeen hai ki wo nahin kharid payegi.'' Pandit put forward his side.
Naina eyes lit up as she saw something at far.
"Naina! Ho gaya?'' Sameer asked as he saw her near the payment counter.
"Haan bas do minute. ''She replied as she concentrated on the calculater.
"Ho gaya na .Thank god. She sighed as she paid and took up the packet.
"Dekha shart jeeta koun.Bola tha na.Sameer Maheshwari hamesha sahi hota hai''. Sameer was in self-praise mode.He was basking in his glory failing to see the shocked face of Pandit and tears in eyes of Naina.
He turned around and saw Naina rushing out of the store and the sorry face of Pandit was enough to indicate that 'damage is done.'
"Naina! Ruko.NAINA!'' He followed her as she tried to cross the road.
Tears had clouded her vision.Nothing hurts more than being disappointed by the person you thought would never hurt you.
"NAINA! ''He shouted and pulled her back as a speeding car sped by.
"Kya kar rahi ho?Pagal ho gayi ho? Samajhti kya ho apne aap ko?'' He was definitely angry with her careless attitude.
"Aur tum khud ko kya samjhte ho? Kabhi bhi kahin pe bhi shuru ho jate ho.'' Naina tried to wriggle out from his tight hold on her dainty wrist.
"Sameer mera haath chodo.''She voiced as she found the by passers looking at them.
His grip went loose and she crossed the road to reach the parking area.
"SORRY.'' He was truly apologetic for his stupidity.
"Tumhe der ho rahi thi na.Chalo phir.'' She said in gruff still royally mad at him.
"Naina!Yeh tumhare liye.'' He handed over her a packet and distanced himself a bit.
She opened the packet and found the same sheath gown she had eyed fondly but couldn't afford to buy it.
The packet had a note attached to it.As she opened to read it,the words brought more tears to her already swelling eyes.
"Mrs.Maheshwari .Only for you.Happy Anniversary. ''The note read.
She wiped the tears and smiled.The ice could have melted for her smile was so bright.
He looked at her and the bright smile adorning her face. Nothing is more beautiful than the smile that had struggled through her tears.
She tried to swallow,to take a breath,but her eyes met his,and there was nothing but aching intensity in his gaze.And she was drawn in and swept away.
She hated him but could never stop loving him.
----------------------------------------------------THE END----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author's Note:In my state culture,in first year of marriage girls get money from their 'maika' to do all shopping for festivities.So just tried to incorporate this ritual into the story.
P.S.:Thank you for reading.😃 Would love to read your feedbacks.😳
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