Bela sat with a thud on the sofa.
She had stayed quiet throughout but Sameer's mother's declaration regarding three marriages made her heart sink. She had seen Sameer on Naina's birthday and also how he stood up in her support today but their was no denying the fact that if this kundali thing turned out to be true... she trembled at the outcome.
"Bua dadi, chachaji, chachiji... main aap sabse maafi mangta hun ki meri wajah se aap sabko inki baatein sunni padi... aur saath hi iss baat ke liye bhi maaf kar dijiye ki shaadi waali baat khul gayi... main nahi chahta tha taiji ko pata chale... par inko batana zaroori tha... warna yeh chup nahi hoti... aur main aap logon ke aur Naina ke baare mein aisi baatein nahi sun sakta." Sameer stood in front of Anand and Bela with lowered head and folded hands.
Anand held him by shoulders, "Nahi beta, tumhe maafi mangne ki koi zaroorat nahi hai... hum chah kar bhi kisi ki soch badal nahi sakte... na tum unki badal sakte ho na main bhai sahab aur bhabhiji ki... humein toh khushi hai ki tum Naina ke saath khade ho... aur yeh kundli wagera jaisi baaton mein mat pado... yeh sab sach ho aisa zaroori nahi hai."
"Par sach na ho, aisa bhi toh zaroori nahi hai." Bela said in a scared voice, lost in the revelation by Vishakha.
They looked at her... seated on the sofa, she stared into space.
Sameer sat down on the floor, near her feet. Bela jerked out of her thoughts, blurting, "Damadji... matlab Sameer beta... aap... nahi tum yahan kyon baith rahe ho? Upar baitho na."
She made him sit on the chair next to her.
Sameer smiled at her simplicity, holding her hands to calm her, "Chachiji, aap darr rahi hain ki meri teen shadiyan likhi hain?"
"Nahi toh." She said quickly with a fake smile.
"Toh pareshan kyon hain?" Sameer could see the tension on her face.
She looked up at her husband, then Phulla bua... and lastly at Naina.
Her expression became serious, "Beta, hum seedhe saade log hain... bhagwan mein vishwas rakhte hain aur bas yehi maangte hain unse ki hamare bachhon ki zindagi mein khushiyaan chhayi rahein... yeh teen shaadi wali baat... matlab mujhe bharosa hai tumpe... par kismat mein jo likha ho usse kaun taal sakta hai... aise mein apni beti ke liye thoda darr lagta hai."
Anand sat down next to her, placing a hand on her shoulder, "Bela, yeh sab sochna theek nahi hai... dekho na, inki ek shaadi toh ho gayi hai... ab doosri bhi ho jayegi... kaho toh do baar karwa de?"
His teasing didn't go well with his deeply religious wife.
"Dekhiye ji, aisi baaton mein mazak karna theek nahi hota... yeh sab haath ki lakeeron mein likha hota hai... aur isko koi badal nahi sakta." She got emotional.
"Bela, tu itna kyon soch rahi hai... ho sakta hai iski maa ne jhooth kaha ho, humare man mein vehem dalne ke liye." Phulla bua settled on the dining chair.
"Unhone sach kaha hai, bua dadi."
Sameer's voice shocked everyone... except Naina, who placed one hand on his shoulder.
He looked at Anand, "Chachaji, ab jo hogi woh hamari teesri shaadi hi hogi."
Bela gasped in shock... bua dadi sat bewildered.
Anand looked at him, stunned beyond belief... slowly, he looked up at Naina... shocked even more that there was no guilt on her face.
His expression turned grim. He had not expected this from her... someone in whom he had immense faith.
