"Shukr hai sab achhe se nibat gaya." Phulla bua relaxed back on the sofa.
"Haan, buaji... ek toh Sameer itna samajhdar hai upar se sab log jo uski taraf se aaye the bohot achhe hain... koi nakhre nahi... koi taane nahi... har cheez se khush the woh log." Anand was happy.
"Haan, warna Pooja ki shaadi mein toh uski saas ne kitne naatak kiye the." Taiji made a face.
"Chup kar, Bina... jo muh mein aata hai bolti hai... tune hi dhang se khaana nahi khilaya tha Pooja ke sasuraal waalon ko... upar se unke liye ulta seedha bol rahi thi... sun liye uski saas ne... gussa nahi karti toh kya teri aarti utarti?" Phulla bua scolded her.
"Main toh bas... " Taiji squirmed, conscious at being treated like this in front of all relatives.
"Tu bas hi kar... zyada bola mat kar... jab baat karti hai kante chubha deti hai." Buaji cut her short again.
"Pooja ki saas thodi naaraaz ho gayi thi bhabhiji aur Rakesh bhaisahab ki baat se, warna buri nahi hain woh... ab toh Pooja itne saalon se saath rehti hai toh pata hi hai." Bela defended her daughter's in laws.
"Sab jaante hain, Bela, woh log bhi bohot achhe hain... tabhi toh Pooja ko bhejna chahti thi aaj hi, jabki unke ghar mein bhi kal shaadi thi... achha hua tune mana kar diya... Pooja kal subah aa jayegi toh wahan ka kaam bhi ho gaya aur yahan ki shaadi mein bhi shamil ho payegi." Phulla bua patted her shoulder, making her feel comfortable.
"Ab ganesh pujan ki taiyari kar lete hain, buaji... maine neeche panditji ko bula liya hai... aap log bhi neeche chaliye...shaam ko wahin chai nashte ka intezam kar liya hai." Anand got up, asking the relatives to come along.
"Naina, beta taiyar hoke aaja ganesh pooja ke liye... ladkiyon, tum sab bhi aao." Bela called out to the girls who were all in the same room.
"Naina didi, yeh ganesh pooja kyon karte hain?" Neelu, a younger cousin, was curious.
"Idhar aa, tujhe aam khane hain ya ped ginne hain... jo bhi ho raha hai usmein maze kar, khaa pike aish kar... doosron ki shaadi mein isliye hi toh jaate hain... yeh Naina ki tarah har cheez mein dimaag mat daala kar... chota sa hota hai... bacha ke rakh... bade hoke kaam pe lagana." Preeti pulled her to one side, giving her advice.
"Rehne de Preeti, sabko apne jaisa bana degi... aur yeh kya har time khane ki baat karti hai... tu bhi Pandit se kam nahi hai... woh bechara waise hi badnaam hai... khaati toh tu hai... usse bhi zyada." Swati chided Preeti.
"Aur yeh madam sirf khane ke shauk ko lekar Pandit ko ulta seedha bol rahi thi. Swati, tu hi bata... agar Preeti bhi Pandit ke saath ho jaaye toh kitna achha hoga na... hum sab hamesha saath reh sakte hain... lekin isko toh Pandit mein burai hi burai nazar aati hai." Naina sat down with Swati.
"Arre haan, Naina, yeh toh maine socha hi nahi... Preeti, kyon nahi pasand tujhe Pandit... itna toh achha hai." Swati was excited at the idea.
Preeti was agitated, "Tum dono pagal ho gaye ho kya? Pehle toh yeh Naina hi Pandit ka raag alaap rahi thi ab Swati tu bhi shuru kar de... arre, tum dono ki ho rahi hai na shaadi... khush raho... mere liye kuch achha nahi kar sakte toh kam se kam bura toh mat bolo."
"Chod isse Naina, iske liye toh chachaji ko hi koi dhundna padega... apne aap koi nahi pasand aane wala isse." Swati let out a sigh.
The girls went down for the pooja along with others.
Sameer had been staring at his ring for more than half an hour when Rahul tapped his shoulder.
"Naina ismein se nikal ke ayegi kya?" He asked with a serious face.
