Naina was not sure she heard it right... her heart was beating so loud that her own ears were deafened by the pounding.
"Chachaji, yeh aap kya keh rahe hain?" Sameer's shaken voice confirmed that what she had heard was correct.
"Haan Sameer, ab yehi raasta hai hamare paas. Ek baar tum dono ki shaadi ho jayegi toh main khud bhaisahab ko phone karke bata dunga. Gussa toh unko hona hi hai... par unke gusse ki wajah se unki har galat baat ko hum sar jhuka ke maan nahi sakte." Anand justified the need for the extreme step.
"Aur tum dono ko darne ki zaroorat nahi hai... yeh shaadi hum karwa rahe hain... main iss ghar ki sabse badi hun isliye usko mera faisla manna hoga... woh itna sanki hai ki agar samjhane ki koshish ki toh woh koi bhi pagalpan kar sakta hai... isliye yeh kadam uthana pad raha hai... ek baar usko samajh aa jayega ki ab woh Naina ko apni jaydaad nahi samajh sakta, woh kisi ki biwi ban chuki hai toh musibat hi khatam ho jayegi." Phulla bua explained.
"Naina, beta tumhara kya kehna hai iss baare mein?" Anand looked at her.
Naina swallowed, not able to speak.
Sameer could understand the dilemma she was in.
"Chachaji, Naina hamesha se khushiyon se bhari dhoom dham wali shaadi chahti thi... aise chup chap, bina kisi ko bulaye..." Sameer put forth her thoughts.
Chachaji nodded in understanding, "Hum bhi apni bachhi ke liye uski shaadi mein woh sab kuch karna chahte hain jo Pooja ki shaadi mein kiya tha... bhagwan ne chaha toh aisa hoga bhi... abhi hum sirf court marriage karke certificate banwa lenge ki tum dono kanoonan pati patni ho... jisse Rakesh bhaisahab koi ulti seedhi harkat na karein... woh kam se kam kanoon ke khilaaf nahi jayenge... ek baar tum dono ke exams khatm ho jaayein toh Naina wapas ghar aa jayegi aur hum saari rasmon ke saath isko vida karke tumhare saath bhejenge."
The relief Sameer felt at the thought of her dream getting fulfilled was visible on his face. He pressed the hand he was holding, giving a look of assurance to Naina.
Chachaji's words were comforting for her as well. A small smile appeared on her face.
"Lekin court mein toh pehle apply karna padta hai... toh kal kaise?" Sameer now had new doubts.
"Jab kal raat Naina se pata chala ki bhaisahab agle hafte hi yahan aane wale hain toh maine apne dost ko phone kiya jo yahan high court mein vakil hai... usne kisi tarah aaj baat karke kal 12:30 ka time humare liye le liya hai... ab tum dono ko kal humare saath chalna hoga... main aur buaji tumhare witness banenge." Anand narrated the schedule.
Sameer could feel the shivering of her hand... he himself was finding it difficult to fathom that they would be legally married in less than twenty four hours.
"Naina, bata beta... tu chalegi na court? Tujhe koi darr ya takleef toh nahi hai na?" Phulla bua asked her gently.
Naina took a deep breath... and shook her head.
Thinking about her father's anger, many times in her life she had given up her needs and wants... sometimes she was too scared to ask, other times the lack of finances made her remain quiet and quite a few times he just did not bother what she hesitantly requested. Once, while in school, she was to be given the 'Best Student' trophy and she had asked him to attend the function. In spite of being a staff member of the same school, he had not come... preferring to go and watch Arjun's practice session. There were various other occasions when he had simply neglected her presence... or condemned it.
It was time to take her own decisions. She was an adult now... earning enough to support herself... she had half of the family with her...
And she had Sameer...
