"Mummy, main kya pehnu?" Preeti screamed from her room.
"Naina, beta dekh zara jaake... usse bol suit pehen le aaj... sirf baat karne hi aa rahe hain toh saree zaroori nahi hai." Bela said as she kneaded the dough for kachoris.
Naina went to their room. She was startled to see the condition inside. Clothes laid strewn all over the bed, box of bangles was open with few of them spread on the table, various earring sets spilled out from the box where they were stored.
Preeti sat amidst everything, holding her head.
"Yeh kamre ka kya haal kiya hai tune, Preeti?" Naina stepped in, looking around.
"Dekh na, Naina, ... sab kapde kitne bekaar hain... pehli baar milungi Pandit ke mummy papa se... koi achha suit hi nahi hai." Preeti whined.
Naina pushed aside a few clothes, making some space for herself to sit on the bed.
"Woh tujhe pehli baar nahi dekh rahe. Mile toh hain... pehle bhi aur abhi hamari sagai pe, shaadi pe... unhone tujhe bohot saja dhaja dekha hai... aaj uski zaroorat nahi hai... teri shakal aur bahari sundarta ko jaan chuke hain aur tere mann ki khoobsurati ko pehchaan gaye hain kyonki tune unke bete ko pyar kiya hai... jo ladki unki sabse pyaari cheez ko apni zindagi banana chahti hai woh unke liye har tarah se best hai... aaj unse milne ke liye tujhe dikhawa nahi karna... bas shaanti se milna hai." Naina smiled at her, keeping one hand on her knee.
The lines of frustration and confusion on Preeti's forehead eased, "Sach? Tujhe lagta hai unhone mujhe pehle hi pasand kar liya hai?"
"Aur nahi toh kya... tabhi toh aa rahe hain... dekha hai na tune, kitne shaant se hain woh log... hamesha kitne pyar se baat karte hain hum sabse... ab jo unhe pata chal gaya hai ki tu unke bete ki pasand hai toh tujh pe pyaar ki baarish hi kar dengi aunty." Naina pinched her nose.
Preeti blushed, pulling her hand away, "Baatein toh aise kar rahi hai jaise unhone khud aake tujhe bola ho ki unhe iss shaadi se koi aitraaz nahi hai."
"Toh tujhe bola hai ki aitraaz hai? Jo tu itna darr rahi hai?" Naina narrowed her eyes.
"Nahi, nahi," Preeti quickly defended them, "Pandit keh raha tha uski mummy toh bohot khush hain."
Naina gave her a serious look, "Waise ho sakta hai tera dil rakhne ke liye keh raha ho... aur yahan aake woh log kahein ki 'Yeh shaadi nahi ho sakti... kahan yeh ladki aur kahan hamara rajkumaar'... aur apne bete ka haath pakad ke chale jayein... saara khaana khane ke baad... ab hain toh Pandit ke mummy papa na... mauka mila hai achha khaane peene ka toh ussi ka faayda uthane aa rahe hon... kya pata."
"Nainaaa." Preeti smacked her on the shoulder, "bakwaas mat kar. Aise nahi hain woh log."
"Aise hi honge, Preeti... tabhi Pandit bhi aisa hai." Naina sadly looked at her sister.
"Chup kar ja tu... warna pit jayegi... woh sab bohot achhe hain." Preeti huffed, getting up from the bed to stand with her back to her.
"Ab yeh toh unke aane ke baad hi pata chalega... behen, teri kismat mein na sirf kitchen mein ghuse rehna likha lag raha hai mujhe toh." Naina stood up, holding her shoulders from behind.
Preeti turned sharply, hands on waist, nostrils flaring in fury, "Ab tune ek shabd aur bola na toh main..."
"Toh tu Pandit se shaadi nahi karegi?" Naina rounded her eyes innocently, before sprinting away from her.
Preeti gritted her teeth, running after her. In no time she caught with Naina as there was hardly any space to run around... and both sisters hugged, laughing.
