Prem Vivah

• Husband Material •

Sameer returned to his house, defeated, loosening the plain white tie as he directly went to Naina's place from the office, and was still in formal clothes. He plopped himself on the sofa while rubbing his drowsy eyelids, and recalled the accusations made from their side on him and his family.

He wanted to reprimand them right that moment for insulting his mother's and sister's hard work. He didn't care much about his reputation, but people humiliating his two important women was something he couldn't quietly listen to. But since the situation wasn't appropriate for another battle, he gulped down the urge of rebuking them and stood there silently.

Sameer knew from the beginning her dominating family wouldn't agree for their wedding unless they suck the blood out of their skins with their continuous drama and stinging words, and he was right.

He simply unbuttoned the sleeve of his light grey shirt and stared at the crystal white table placed on the floor. He lifted a piece of marble from the bowl and perused it with a somber countenance.

"Ladkiwale hone ki wajah se I can understand their fear...but it wasn't their fear. It was their ego. They are ready to ruin her happiness because of their egoistic nature. Had I been there at their place I wouldn't have tormented my daughter so much. Pata nahi bechari Naina ka kya haal hoga." Sameer thought with extreme guilt covering his heart and he wanted to meet her right now.

"Itna late kaise hua aaj office se aane me?" Savitri questioned her son once she came out of the kitchen.

"Extra kaam tha." Sameer lied.

"Sach me?" She looked at him apprehensively, and he tried to nod his head.

"Acha! Chal fresh ho jaa...khana taiyar hai." Savitri lovingly patted his cheek and Sameer gave a small smile.

• Inside Naina's bedroom.

Naina was sitting on the bed, against the pillow, hugging the speaking-elephant with an ashen face, and her eyes were swollen red because of her unrestrained tears. She cannot believe her own brother and father refused to see her cries and become a stone-hearted person. She had been the apple of their eye since childhood and was brought up with so much love and care, but when she needed their support the most they refused to give it to her. She wept harder, thinking about Sameer. How bad he must have felt because of her brother's disparaging words. He didn't utter a word for the sake of her, but she can understand deep down his delicate heart would have cracked a zillion times. She wished she could make her family apologize to him and his mother and sister for being disrespectful.

She stiffened, running the pad of her thumb under her wet eyes, her lips trembling as she felt heaviness embracing her soul, and tears rolling down her soft pink cheeks.

Sarita entered her room with a morose countenance, and her eyes welled up with warm fluid as she reckoned her daughter's disheveled state. She took heavy steps towards her sitting posture, and sat down on the bed in front of Naina, caressing her messy hair gently.

Naina slowly raised her head to look at her mother's rueful expression, and asked her in a weak tone while crying - "Kya aapko bhi Sameer galat lagta hai aai? Aaj sab itna sunne ke baad bhi?"

Sarita violently shook her head for a no, and said gently - "Mujhe kabhi woh bura nahi laga beta, mere liye toh tumhari khushi zyada mayne rakhti hai, aur aaj toh maine dekh bhi liya tum dono ek dusre se kitna pyaar karte ho." Lovingly wiping away Naina's wild teardrops. She spoke further in a meek tone - "I am sorry bala...main nahi janti tumhare bhai aur baba ko kaise samjhau, woh dono ego me aake yeh sab kar rahe hai. Trust me, they love you so much, mujhse bhi zyada un dono ne tumse pyaar kiya hai bachpan se."