Samaina FF : Can I Love You

Chapter 13 : Invites and cards

It was a Saturday morning at Agarwal house, but it wasn't a normal Saturday. Today the house was in a state of mess, not with dust or dirt but the living room was strewn with collection of wedding cards, tea cups and plates of snacks. Arrival of their damadji was just an excuse for Beena to order Bela to prepare hot piping pakoras. As soon as a plate of pakoras would come to the living room Taiji would offer the plate to Sameer saying "Damadji kahiye na", but she would end up eating them all.

Naina sat beside Sameer selecting the wedding card. But being the choosy man he was, it took them piles of cards to select a good one. "Nevah agar itna taime ladki dhoondhne mein lagaya hota toh iss karamjali Naina se toh accha he rishta milta", taiji murmured with her mouth stuffed with pakoras. Bela hearing her remark, slightly pushed the swing on which taiji was sitting causing the the hot cup of tea to fall on her hands. "O Bai", she screamed in pain. "Sorri bhabhiji, main abhi barf laati hoon", Bela said going into the kitchen to bring ice cubes. Applying them on Taiji's hand she said "Zyaada jal raha hai kya?" Snatching the ice from her hand taiji went to her home to apply it with peace.

"Sameer yeh dekho na, yeh accha hai na", Naina said picking an emerald green card with gold decorative florals. "Nahi Naina, isme woh wali baat nahi hai", he scrunched his nose. "Tumhe toh kuch bhi accha nahi lag raha, aise toh ho gayi humari shaadi", Naina dropped the card down and crossed her hands. "Are main toh sabse best wala choose karna chahta hoon after all meri wife bhi toh sabse best hai", he knew exactly what to say to melt her anger. "Bhagwan jhoot na bulvaye beta, Naina theek he bol rahi hai, agar card chunne mein itna taime lag raha hai toh kal ko jab hum shaadi ka joda lene jayenge tab toh aur bhi taime lagega". "Chinta mat kijiye chachiji woh jaldi ho jayega", Sameer smiled at Chachi. "Accha woh kaise?", Naina was curious. "Kyuki tum joh bhi pehnogi woh apne aap best ho jayega", he winked at her.

Swati who just came, stood fixed at the door hearing Sameer's remark and seeing him wink at Naina, who gently hit his forearm causing Sameer to chuckle. "Chalein Naina", her voice drew attention of everyone present in the living room. "Swati beta andar aao na, wahan kyu khadi ho", Chachiji smiled at her. "Namaste chachiji, main yahan Naina ko lene aayi hoon, har Saturday hum library jaate hai na." "Lo aaj toh nahi ho payega, hum log Naina ki shaadi ka carad dekh rahe hai. Tu bhi aa jaa chunne mein humari madad kar de." "Theek hai", removing her slippers she came inside the house. "Jab select ho jayega hum chale jayenge." "Select ho tab na, damadji ko koi bhi carad pasand nahi aa raha. Tu bait main tumhare liye chai banake lekar aati hoon", before Bela could go to the kitchen Preeti said, "Ek second mummy, aap baitiye, main bana leti hoon chai. Swati tu bhi chal." "Arre isse kyu le jaa rahi ho", Bela said to her daughter but it was too late as Preeti caught Swati's hand and pulled her along wit her to the kitchen.

"Tujhe chai banana nahi aata, mujhe kyu layi yahan?", Swati asked. "Tujhse ek zaroori baat karni thi", Preeti looked at the living room to make sure no one was listening to her. "Dekho swati, main directly mudde par aati hoon. Sameer se kya problem hai teri?" "Kya problem matlab? Tunne dekha na Naina se kiss tarah baat kar raha tha woh." "Usne kya galat kaha?" "Tujhe sach mein sunai nahi diya, woh bol raha tha na ki Naina joh bhi pehnegi woh apne aap best ho jayeha. Main bol rahi hoon Sameer Naina ko fasane ki koshish kar raha hai." "Naina machli nahi hai joh woh usse fasane ki khoshish karega. Aur waise bhi usne keh diya na ki woh tumhare aur Naina ke beech nahi aayega toh phir bharosa kyu nahi karti uss par." "Preeti tumhe dikhai nahi de raha hai ya tum dekhna nahi chahti. Sameer clearly Naina ko mujhse dur kar raha hai, aur ek din woh zaroor dur kar dega." "Tujhe aisa kyu lag raha hai Sameer usse tumse door kar dega?" "Mujhe bas pata hai." "Aree koi waja--".

"Swati Preeti, jaldi aao, humne cards chun liye", Naina's voice came from the living room. Naina held out two cards to Preeti. "Yeh peela wala hummare taraf se aur laal Sameer ke taraf se." The yellow one had Ganesh ji's image on the front and when opened it contained beautiful mandala designs etched in maroon print. The red one was even special. The front page had golden embellishment of ghatbandan and when opened prints of bride and groom in Rajasthani painting style, holding mala in their hands. "Wah Naina yeh toh bohot sundar hai", Preeti said and Sameer and Naina looked at each and and smiled. "Carad toh chun liya ab kya chapega woh bhi toh sochna padega na", Chachiji said. "Naina hai na Chachiji woh likh degi", Sameer gently held Naina's hand. "Haan haan, main likh doongi". "Chalo ek kaam toh ho jayega. Beta likhne ke baad mujhe de dena main chapne keliye de doonga. Toh bai Anand main ghar chalta hoon", Tauji left for his home.