"Jabse Sameer Naina ne apna ghar liya haina, humare saare rishtedaaro ke behavior ekdum change se ho gaye hai," Nishikant said amusingly while stuffing jeera rice.
"Matlab?" Savitri asked him in confusion.
"Matlab ki pehle sab hume kehte the ki aisa damad kyu laya hai jiska khud ka rehne ka thikana nahi hai. Na koi reputation hai market me." Nishikant said honestly, and the facial expressions of Sameer and his family changed within a moment.
"Ab kya keh rahe hai phir?" Gulping down his anger. Sameer questioned his blunt father-in-law.
"Good words." He beamed, drinking a glass of filtered water and happily staring at his hardworking son-in-law and daughter as he continued - "Sab tum dono ki tareef karne lage hai ab. They praise me for finding Naina such a good guy...unhe main batata hoon na ki tum kitna khayal rakh rahe ho meri beti ka toh ab woh logo ko jealousy hoti hai humare aur Naina ke lucky fate se."
A badge of overweening pride and pleasure instantly climbed on Sameer's handsome face and he looked at his wife struggling to smile.
"Aapka bhi toh yahi point of view tha shadi se pehle ki main Naina ke Qaabil nahi hoon." He said smoothly while maintaining a calm face, and his stinging remark saddened the happy man.
"Main kya beta, is duniya ka koi bhi baap yeh kabhi nahi chahega ki uski beti ki shadi ek aise ghar me ho jaha ladka sirf akela ho kamane wala...jis par kam umra se kahi saari zimmedariya ho, jaha uska khud ka koi rehne ka thikana na ho, jiski koi reputation na ho kahi bhi." Nishikant replied to his sarcastic son-in-law with a small smile, his voice soft and warm.
"I understand your concern as a father, par kisi ki roz beizzati karna bhi toh sahi nahi haina uncle. Aap sabne koi mauka nahi choda kabhi meri aur meri family ki beizzati karne ka, humesha humein humare past ke bare me sunaya gaya hai...especially aapke bete ne toh kabhi mujhe apnaya hi nahi." Sameer spoke without hesitating or stammering, meekly scolding his wife's family for always demeaning him and his mother and sister for their haunting past and low-class jobs.
Prashant's heated gaze met with his brother-in-law's tranquil ones, and he broke everyone's budding misunderstanding by saying in an unfriendly tone - "Mere liye ab bhi kaafi mushkil hi hain tumhein apnana." Chuckling at no one specifically. He added after a few seconds with transparency of dislike in his brown eyes - "Haa tumhe izzat dene ki koshish zaroor karuga ab se...because tum mere behen ke pati ho, par yeh kabhi expect mat karna ki humare beech kabhi bhi woh Jija Saale ka good and strong bond hoga."
Melancholy started to spread wide in the air because of the hot-blooded doctor's honest statement, and Sameer wasn't surprised even a bit with his rough tongue. He was sure Prashant wouldn't accept him. No matter how much he loves his sister and keeps her happy. He will always see him as his enemy and treat him like an outsider.
"Kya tum log sab pehle ki baatein lekar baith gaye, ab dheere dheere sab ho raha hai na sahi...kyu khamakha tension ka mahol create karna hai?" Sarita said with a disturbed look as she could foresee a fight between her son and son-in-law if they weren't be asked to dismiss this unimportant topic.
"Chalo ek good news bata deti hoon isme. Tripti ki shadi fix kardi hain February 18th ko." Vasundhara shared her happiness with her loved ones in a jubilant tone and smiles immediately lifted on everyone's faces, causing the bride-to-be to feel all shy shy.
"Kya baat hai, destination wedding?" Sarita queried excitedly.
"Nahi, yahi hai...Saurabh ji ko low-key wedding hi chahiye hai, unhe zyada grand wedding ka shauk nahi hai." Tripti said softly, a faint reflection of blush covering her face.
