Love in Mt. Abu- A SamAina FF

Part 18: Puja ki Shaadi

Time was flying away quickly. Naina was so drowned in thoughts of Sameer that she didn't realize Puja didi's wedding was just around the corner. The bride had her couture all set. Bela chachi insisted that Naina and Preeti should also finish their shopping now. So one fine Sunday afternoon, the ladies of the house went to the shopping complex nearby. They were greeted and shown the latest collection of sarees, dresses, churidaars and lehengas. The girls were smitten by the glittering collection. Naina was checking out the latest designs and imagining herself wearing each and every one of them, and singing songs atop hills with Sameer.

"Naina!" whispered Preeti, "kya kar rahi hai? Marwayegi kya? Taiji ne humein yahan ye paardarshi saariyon ke beech dekh liya to maar dalengi!" "Lekin yaar ye Chandni wali sari kitni achi hai na", Naina eyed it. "Haan, tu ek kaam karna. Jab honeymoon pe jayegi na Sameer jeeju ke saath, tab pehen lena... theek hai?" teased Preeti. "Kuch bhi bolti hai tu Preeti! Kaisi gandi baatein kar rahi hai," Naina retorted. Preeti slapped her palm on her head, "Gandi baatein...Bhagwan bachaye us Sameer ko ki usne tujhse pyaar kiya!"

Naina was trying out a few sarees when she noticed a salesman staring at her. He had big mustaches, and oiled up hair. And then he winked at her. "Sameer?" realized Naina. The salesman grinned at her. Naina was dumbfounded. This guy! How did he...why...he is an idiot, she thought to herself, though feeling pleased at her lover's conviction to follow her around, and that too dressed up like that champu salesman. Who would have imagined, "The Sameer Maheshwari" would oil up his hair, fumble in broken Gujarati, just so he could see his girl in a sari. A sari of his choice!

"Madam ji...aapko dikha dein saari?" the salesman called Naina. Naina smiled and went and sat near him, "haanji, dikhaye na!" Naina could see Sameer blushing under those mustaches. Naina started pointing out to sarees and Sameer kept rejecting them. "Ye to ekdum behenji type sariyan hai. Aap to pariyon se bhi zyada khoobsurat hain!" the salesman said in his weird, lispy accent, so that no one would overhear. Naina and Sameer were having fun, while Preeti was busy with Chachiji and Taiji's selections. "Ye dekhiye hamare yahan ki sabse khoobsurat saari," the salesman said and added, "...sabse khoobsurat ladki ke liye!" whispered Sameer in his husky voice, loud enough for only Naina to hear. Sameer had taken out a beautiful, red, chiffon saree with golden embroidery and embellishments. Naina took the saari in her hands. It was the most beautiful one that she had ever seen. Sameer had cunningly selected the most alluring sari in red color. He knew that red was her favourite colour. It was also the colour of love, the colour of passion and he wanted to see his bride-to-be in red already. Just then Taiji's eyes fell upon the saari in Naina's hands, "O bai...Naina...ye kaisi sari dekh rahi hai tu? Ye to paardarshi sari hai! Tu kya khud ko kisi film ki heroine samajhti hai? Sab yahan Sridevi hi bani fir rahi hain!" Taiji's temper had risen again, much to both Naina and Sameer's dismay. "Aur daam to dekho...500 ki saari! Ye paise kya tumhare papa bharenge aa kar?" she taunted. Sameer felt a jab in his chest at this. Though Rakesh and he had never got along well together, taunting Naina for no fault of hers wasn't right he felt. Before he could control his mouth, he uttered, "Arey ben! Inka hone wala pati de dega kya pata!" Naina, Taiji, Chachiji and Preeti all looked at him in surprise. Sameer hastily covered up, "Mera matlab...arey ben, aajkal ka latest fashion hai. Aajkal shaadiyon me ladkewale ladkiyon ko dekhte hi jhat se pasand kar lete hain. Kya pata aapki is pyaari si gudiya ko bhi koi acha sa ladka apne liye pasand kar le." Bela chachi got happy, "Bhagwan jhoot na bulaye bhabhiji. Ye ladka bilkul sahi bol raha hai. Bhaiya aap yahi sari de di do. Vaise bhi lal rang Naina ka manpasand, haina!" "Bela...500 ki sari hai...," muttered Taiji. "Arey ben, chinta kyun karti ho...is sari pe to 50 taka discount bhi hai, hamari dukaan ki taraf se!" added Sameer the salesman. The shoponwer raised his eyes at Sameer, but the latter gestured him to keep quiet. He knew Taiji would definitely fall for the discount trap, and that is exactly what happened, "O bai, 50 taka...chalo ghar me pehli shaadi hai. Chal le le Naina bitiya!" she exclaimed happily. Naina was elated and so was Sameer. Naina tried to delay the shopping of others as much as she could, just so she could stay in the shop and look at Sameer. And Sameer too left no chance of talking to Naina, on the pretext of showing the latest accessories. As they finally left the shop, Naina turned to look at Sameer. He was smiling, staring after her. Naina's lips crept into a naughty smile as she gave him a wink. Sameer felt his world stop. He just loved this naughty side of Naina, which was known only to him. Sameer responded by puckering up his lips in a kiss at her. Colour flushed in Naina's cheeks and she ran to join her family.