Kabhi to nazar milao

Shagun

"Tumne bhabhi ko haldi lagayi?" A voice stopped him in the stairs.

"Nahi," Sameer looked back at Rishi, coming down behind him.

"Toh chalo na, main dhund raha tha par tum kahi dikhe hi nahi... upar hi the na?" Rishi stopped him.

"Main wahan peeche khada tha isliye nahi dikha shayad." Sameer gave a fake smile.

Rishi dragged him back to the house, "Abhi laga do, jitne zyaada log lagate hain utna achha hota hai."

Sameer found himself again in the same room.

"Auntyji, ek devar baaki hai abhi." Rishi called out to Sonali's mom.

Sonali looked up at him... and grinned.

"Arre Sameer, main soch hi rahi thi ki tum kyon nahi aaye... aao na." She gestured to him to come.

"Beta yeh..." One of her aunt asked her in a low voice.

"Maasi, jaisi mere liye Naina hai, waise hi yeh Rahul ka best friend hai... hum sab ek saath padhte hain... samajh lo Naina aur Sameer ek hi hain." She said loudly, making all relatives hear it.

"Matlab?" Another lady raised her eyebrows.

"Matlab mere liye ek jitne khaas aur Rahul ke liye bhi... inki wajah se hi main aur Rahul saath hain." She smiled gratefully at him, and moved her gaze to the other side of the room to look at Naina.

"Chalo fir tum dono ek saath haldi laga do." Bhabhi called Naina again.

"Par maine toh laga di thi, bhabhi." Naina said, suddenly conscious as everyone looked at her.

"Toh kya hua... fir se aaja," Sonali gave a crooked smile, knowing that the tease will be missed by most as her face was completely covered with haldi.

It however did not miss on the two people for whom it was intended.

Naina and Sameer together sat in front of Sonali. Naina showed him how to take the paste in the bunch of fresh grass and apply on her face.

Sameer took some as she had mentioned and applied it on her feet, "Bhabhi ho na ab toh tum."

He earned a special place in the heart of all people present in the room with his one gesture.

Naina felt herself swell up with pride. It was a small thing but it showed his immense respect for women.

She walked out with him, stopping at the door. Rishi joined them.

"Aap ho Naina. Nice to meet you. Kal dekha tha par tab pata nahi tha. Waise bhai kaafi tareef karta hai aapki. Woh serial bhi bana rahe ho na aap?" He asked.

"Bana nahi rahi... bas likha hai." She clarified.

"Kya baat hai. Abhi se itna kuch. Aapka toh autograph le lena chahiye. Aage jaake star ban jaoge toh miloge nahi." He was impressed.

Naina laughed, "Aisa kuch nahi hai. Sonali aur Rahul hamesha hamare khaas dost rahenge. Unse milne toh hum Ahmedabad se bhi aayenge."

He looked from one to another, "Aap dono bhi... matlab bhai aur bhabhi ki tarah..."

Naina smiled, looking up at Sameer. Then she circled her hands around his arm, giving the answer to Rishi's question.

Sameer looked at her in surprise, showing her right on him standing right outside a room full of their friend's relatives.

"Aap logon ka college badi sahi jagah hai... kaash mera bhi admission wahin hota toh meri bhi baat ban jaati." He sighed.

Looking at Sameer, he asked, "Tum chaloge ya hum log jaayein... tumhara shayad abhi man na ho."