Prem Vivah

• Milan Ki Raat •

Naina was sitting near the pandal of Ganesha, wearing a decent cotton blue suit and lime yellow dupatta. She didn't wear any fancy ornaments or heavy makeup to look beautiful, she accepted her flaws such as her tiny-tiny pimples, mild rashes on her neck, and baby hair on her forehead. She was scrolling through her social media account, missing someone special. She twisted her lips while liking the picture of Sameer which he uploaded in the morning with his new colleagues. He looked naturally happy with the people around him and her eyes glinted in joy. She turned off her phone and gazed at her black bracelet.

She tapped on the electronic device for once, sending him I Miss You, then after a few seconds, she sent another secret note of I Wanna Hug You Tight. She waited for his response, but it didn't come and her mood turned gloomy.

Naina once again clicked on the bracelet and delivered one more message I Want To Talk To You Right Now. She knew she was behaving like a clingy girlfriend, but she can't stop missing him. It has been 18 hours since they last talked, and it was aching for her to wait for another day to talk to him.

Suddenly her phone chimed with his name flashing brightly on the screen, Naina quickly picked up his call, and heard him asking her - "Tum kaha ho is waqt?"

"Main niche society me hoon, kyun?" Naina answered him.

"Umm aise hi...tum apne ghar jaogi do minute ke liye? Mujhe tumhe video call karna hai abhi." Sameer lied to her as he was standing precisely outside the society gate, looking at her secretly.

"Oh really? Wait a minute haa, main karti hoon." Naina rushed upstairs at a cheetah speed, and as soon as she disappeared from his sight. He scurried towards his floor, taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

Sameer didn't want to spoil the surprise he planned for Naina, hence he sent her back to her home by lying about video calling her. At first, she might get upset for ruining her mood but he is sure as soon as she would see him at their favorite meeting spot there would be no bound of happiness for her. Beaming internally, he reached his house and rang the doorbell.

Savitri opened the door after a few seconds, and her jaw dropped when she saw her young son standing there with a bright smile. Sameer lovingly engulfed his mother in a tight hug and said softly - "Mala tujhi khup athvan aali aai."

(Mujhe aapki bahut yaad aayi aai)

Savitri was still in deep shock that it was arduous for her to speak anything, owing to her current situation Sameer gently pecked her forehead and tried to crack a joke - "Bas aai ab itna bhi surprise hone ki zarurat nahi hai, aapka beta hi aaya hai uska koi duplicate copy nahi."

"Par tu achanak kaise aaya?" Savitri finally found her voice and asked him in a meek tone.

"Surprise! Chalo ab mujhe andar aane do I am so tired." Sameer looked at his mother with a puppy face, and Savitri allowed her son to enter the hall. He dropped the bag on the floor and slumped his battered body on the homey sofa.

"Tune kuch khaya?" She asked him concernedly.

"Nako aai, mujhe aapke haathon se bana khana hai," Sameer demanded while giving a cute smile.

Savitri lovingly cupped his chin and said - "Mera bacha, abhi banati hoon tere favorite sabudana vaade."

"Pehle aap baitho, mujhse baat karo uske baad dekhegey khane ka." Sameer held her wrist, ushering her to sit beside him. She smiled and complied with his request.

"Kaisi hai aap? Medicine leti haina time pe?" He asked her worriedly.

"Haa beta chinta mat kar, tere liye aur shivi ke liye mujhe jeena toh padega na, aur waise bhi mujhe apne natin/nati aur pota/poti ko bhi toh dekhna hai," Savitri said with a lopsided smile while making her son feel shy. Sameer rubbed his beard, thinking about Naina, who would carry their child in her tiny womb, and a sudden sense of pride crept into his heart.