Anand and Rakesh arranged for all the things to be taken to Naina's sasuraal. Sameer had strictly refused for any gift item or any expensive stuff... he had agreed only for the wedding day outfit to be purchased by Naina's family, on bua dadi's insistence.
Few boxes of sweets and some baskets of fruits and dry fruits were the only things they had bought for now.
"Bhaisahab, kya humein unke ghar walon, matlab Rahul ki family aur Munna Pandit ke liye kuch lekar nahi jaana chahiye?" Anand was a little uncomfortable, going empty handed.
"Anand, jaisa tumhe theek lage... agar kaho toh le aate hain... mujhe yeh sab zyada pata nahi hai." Rakesh was clueless.
"Anand, shayad tum theek keh rahe ho... ghar walon ko kuch tohfa dena koi galat nahi hoga... yeh hum sirf khushi zaahir karne ke liye de rahe hain... Sameer ko main samjha dungi.. usne Naina ke saath kuch dene ko mana kiya hai na... toh hum Naina ke saath kahan bhej rahe hain... jaan pehchan mein kisi ke ghar jaate hain toh bhi unke liye tohfe lekar jaate hain... fir yahan khali haath kyon jaayein... tum dono bazaar jaake unn sabke liye kuch le aao." Phulla bua agreed.
"Jee buaji, main toh kabse inse keh rahi thi ki beti ke sasuraal yuhin thodi chale jayenge... lekin inhone bas yehi kaha ki Sameer ne saaf mana kiya hai." Bela said in a relieved voice... glad that they would be taking some gifts with them.
"Huh... khushi mana rahi hogi tu toh... ki kharcha bacha... achha hai kuch kharidna nahi padega." Taiji taunted Bela.
"Nahi bhabhiji... maine aisa kab kaha?" Bela gave a horrified look go her.
"Bina, main soch rahi thi... jabse main aayi hun tu ghar pe hi baithi hai... kahin aane jaane ka mauka nahi mila... aisa kar, aaj inn logon ke saath bazaar chali jaa... tere liye bhi thodi bahar ki hawa khana zaroori hai." Buaji patted taiji's shoulder.
Then she looked at the brothers, "Anand, Rakesh... Bina bhi tumhare saath jayegi... lekin usko koi samaan pasand karne ke liye nahi kehna... main nahi chahti tum log usse pareshan karo... woh badi hai tum dono se... aaram se ek taraf baitha dena... aur haan, kyonki tumhare saath badi bhabhi jaa rahi hai toh zidd mat karna paise khud dene ki... uska haq hai... main nahi chahti usse aisa mehsoos ho ki uski izzat nahi ki gayi... isliye paise Bina hi degi saari kharidari ke."
Taiji stared at Phulla bua, her face white. It was like the marriage was entirely her responsibility.
"Par... par buaji... woh... Parlay ke papa ne toh... pehle hi zevar aur... " She tried to save herself from more expenditure.
"Arre haan, main toh bhool ho gayi." Phulla bua hit her forehead.
Smiling at taiji, she said sweetly, "Bina, achha kiya tune yaad dila diya... zevar toh ban gaye par daamaad ke liye chain nahi aayi... woh bhi tu le aana."
The smile that had started to appear on taiji's face after her initial reaction vanished the moment Phulla bua gave the next instruction.
"Par Sameer ne toh kaha tha... " Anand tried to intervene.
Buaji stalled him by showing her hand, "Chain shaadi ke kapdon ka hissa hai... woh Sameer ki sherwani ke saath jayegi."
Anand nodded.
Looking at taiji, Phulla bua opened her mouth to say something.
"Main samajh gayi, buaji... Anand babu, jaldi chaliye... aake taiyar bhi hona hai." Taiji rushed out of the house, terrified that buaji will ask her to spend more money.
The phone in Naina's room started to ring when she was having tea.
"Hello." She was sure it was Sameer but didn't say so as Pooja didi and Neelu were in the room with her and Preeti.
