Rahul, Sonali, bhabhi and their parents were at the main gate... ready to receive the bride's family.
Munna was looking after last minute preparations in the garden. Pandit and Rishi were checking the food behind the partition of canopy.
"Pandit, aaj firse Preeti se milna ho payega... main toh bohot nervous ho raha hun." Rishi hummed as they peered into the covered trays of sweet dishes.
Pandit froze... he wanted to tell Rishi what nervous meant... what he was feeling about facing Preeti after his almost confession to her... he was jittery... his hands were cold, and damp... he didn't have the courage to go out after the voices of guest's arrival reached him... he had no idea about Preeti's reaction. Though she wouldn't say or do anything in front of her family, he knew she would not be the same with him.
"Pandit, chal na, bahar chalte hain... yeh sab ho gaya hai... aur abhi khaana lagne mein bohot time hai." Rishi started to move towards the main party area.
"Umm, tu chala jaa... main zara abhi dene wali cheezein dekh lu." Pandit tried to control the quiver in his voice.
Rishi walked out alone.
Everyone was looking in awe at the bungalow. The white, aristocratic mansion stood gleaming in the night... defying the darkness around. Covered with orange strings of flowers, it looked happy and welcoming.
"Itna bada ghar hai Sameer ka?" Bela was astonished... but the next moment, she closed her eyes and started to murmur something.
"Bela, yeh kya kar rahi ho?" Anand leaned and whispered.
"Nazar utar rahi hun... meri hi lag jayegi." She looked at him apologetically.
Anand smiled, "Apno ki nazar nahi lagti... agar aapke dil mein pyar aur apnaapan ho... tum hairaan ho Sameer ka ghar dekh ke isliye aisa keh diya... isse kuch nahi hoga."
Bela smiled back, though she was not convinced. Looking around, she realised all relatives were whispering amongst each other.
"O bai, yeh ghar hai ya mahal... kiraye ka liya hai kya shaadi ke liye?" Taiji asked her husband, sure that Sameer could not be the owner of such a big house.
"Dheere bolo Bina... sab hasenge tum pe... Jai Prakash Maheshwari ka ghar Ahmedabad mein sabse bada aur khoobsurat hai yeh zyadatar log jaante hain... maine bhi aaj tak bahar se hi dekha hai... aaj pehli baar mauka mila hi andar jaake dekhne ka." Tauji gave the house a jealous look.
"Kya baat kar rahe hain ji... woh ladki jiske naseeb mein ek ghar tak nahi tha aaj tak woh kal se Ahmedabad ke sabse bade banglei ki malkin ban jayegi?" Taiji stood rooted at the realisation.
"Apni apni kismat hai, Bina... jisne kabhi kuch nahi chaha, kabhi kuch nahi maanga usse bhagwan ne itna sab de diya... aur jiska laalach hi khatam nahi hota usse bhagwan na shakal dete hain, na akal aur na dhan daulat." Phulla bua commented as she crossed taiji to walk ahead.
For once, even Phulla bua's taunts didn't effect taiji... her entire focus on the huge house... making her envy Naina for everything.
"Lekin uski kundali jali hui hai... usse kaise yeh sab mil sakta hai... uske paas na maa baap hain na ghar... na sundar hai na koi gun hai... fir kaise itne bade ghar ki bahu ban sakti hai?" She was still finding it unbelievable.
"Ab yahin khadi khadi badbadati rahogi toh chokidaar bahar nikaal dega... chalo chup chap." Tauji pulled her by arm, dragging her inside.
"Aap sabka swaagat hai apni beti ke ghar mein." Rahul's mom greeted them.
Phulla bua folded her hands, "Dhanyavaad... aapko dekh ke itni khushi ho rahi hai ki bata nahi sakti... aap aaj Sameer ki maa ka farz nibha ke na sirf Sameer ke liye balki hamare liye bhi bohot khaas ban gayi hain."
