"Naveen" called Rajveer. They were both on the terrace, enjoying some late night drinks. "Sach batayega, kuch pucho toh. "
"Haan mere bhai...puch."
"Tune mujhe yaha kyun bulaya...shaadi ke ek mahine pehele ?"
"Matlab ?"
"Matlab yeh..ki tu mujhe apni khushi mein shamil toh karna chahta tha...par uske saath koi aur bhi vajah thi...hai na ?"
Naveen looked at him. " Yaa veeru...woh Indian Intelligence exams kyun nahi likhta tu...I feel you will be good at detective work."
Rajveer glared at him. Naveen accepted defeat.
"Fine baba..batata hu...Dekh...yeh ek arranged marriage hai...Naina apne MBA ki college se internship karne gayi...aur uss company ka boss Abhimanyu tha...Usne isse dekha...pyaar hogaya aur humare ghar rishta bhej diya. Ma - Baba ne dekha ki acha parivaar hai, ladka well settled hai...aur jab tak mujhe ismein involve kiya...almost 50 percent pucca hogaya tha...And when I met, ladka mujhe theek hi laga..."
"But.." asked Rajveer.
"But...meri chotti behn hai yaar woh" said Naveen , emotioally."Meri bachi...pata hai jab woh paida hui thi..I was just 6 yrs..and when I held her...I had promised myself ki iss gudiya pe mein koi aanch nahi aane dunga...and I wanted to be sure...ki he is the right person for Naina... I wanted another person's vie...someone who I trust...and someone who I am sure is a very good judge of character."
Rajveer smiled..." Hmm..isilye pure shaam ko mujhe Abhi ke saath chipka ke...khud bhaag gaya...huh ?"
Naveen laughed. "Toh..kya verdict hai ?"
Rajveer thought for a while. " He seems genuine...good."
"I know that, dhakan...Is he the perfect match for her ?"
Rajveer asked himself the same question and for the first time, his inner conscience din't have an answer.
*****
The next day, as Rajveer was accompanying Naveen's mother and Naina to the market.
"Rajveer, ek baat puchu...kal sangeet mein humare kaafi rishtedaar tumhare liye puch rahe the...agar tumhe intrest hai toh batana, mein baat chalaungi.." said Ma.
Rajveer blushed. " Nahi aunty...mera iss waqt shaadi ka koi interest nahi hai. "
"Arre...aise kaise...kuch toh soch rakha hoga tumne...acha batau kaisi ladi chahiye tumhe..?"
"Umm." fidgeted Rajveer...while Naina looked on, amused.
"Jaane djiye ma..dekho kitne sharma rahe hai..." said Naina teasingly. "Baad mein bata denge."
As they approached the market, some goons started teasing them...and insulting Ma. Rajveer's blood boiled. He went and beat them into a pulp, hurting himself.
Naina sat beside him, putting ointment on his hands.
"Rehne do Naina...I am a soldier..I am fine."
Naina lifted her head angrily.
"Soldier hai toh kya hua...insaan nahi hai...dard mehsus nahi hota....aap aur bhayya na...sach mein...bada hero banne ka shauk rehta hai...dikhana hai ki strong hai...maan liya meine ki strong hai aap...khud dekha aaj market mein...b chup chap davai lagane dijiye."
Rajveer smiled as she bent down to apply the medicine and bandage it.
Naveen brought the food tray to the room and went to check on his mother.
"Chaliye..ab khana kha lijiye."
Raj touched the food tray when Naina lifted it.
"Patti pe lag jayegi..rukiye.."
She lifted the roti and put the sabzi in it and rolled it. Handing it over to him, she started making another one.
As Rajveer ate, he watched her.
"Rajveer...vaise...ma ki baat ka jawab tayar kiya aapne ? ki kaisi ladki chahiye ?"
She looked up to see him gazing intently at her.
"Kya hua ?" she asked.
"Naina, tumhe kaise pata chala...ki Abhimanyu is the right one for you ?" he asked seriously.
Though a little taken aback, Naina smiled.
"Kisse pata chalta hai Rajveer ? Shaadi is a leap of faith."
" Par vishwaas toh chahiye na...yeh leap ke liye. "
"Haan...aur mujhe vishwaas hai."
" Abhi pe ?"
"Khud pe " answered Naina.
Rajveer looked at her stunned. He found her self confidence very attractive.
Rajveer looked here and there for a minute. An awkward silence filled the room.
"Umm..Rajveer...aapne army profession kyun chuna ?" asked Naina to divert the conversation.
"Tum ne MBA kyun chuna ?" asked Rajveer.
"For the money." answered Naina casually.
Rajveer looked at her surprised. He never expected this answer.
"So you like money ?" he asked her.
"Yes...I want to give my parents a very comfortable life...aur mujhe apne bhayya ke liye porche lena hai...and.."
"So, you want money for your family ?"
"Haan...mere parents ne mere aur bhayya ke liye bohot sacrifices diye...ab meri duty hai..to give them a relaxed and happy life...a lot of respect in society...mera parivaar mere liye bohot maine rakhta hai...vaise bhi bhayya army mein hai...agar unhe apne desh ko first priority dena hai...toh parivaar ko second priority dena padega...isiliye woh mere zimmedari hai...
Vaisee mere aur bhaya ki deal hui thi bachpan mein...woh bina koi ghar ka tension liye apne desh ka seva karenge...aur mein apne parivaar ki dekhbaal karungi...in a country that is safe because of my bhayya."
Rajveer smiled at her.." Yeh Naveen toh bekaar mein bhaav khata hai ghar ka kaam karne ka...iss ghar ka beta...toh tum ho Naina."
Naina smiled at him and left saying good night.
Rajveer looked at the hallway, where Naina had left...taking his heart with her.
