Kiska Hai Tumko Intezaar

Padhe likhe log iss time sote hain... phone phone nahi khelte

By the time the rituals, photographs with known and unknown people and dinner were done, it was past midnight. It wasn't a traditional vidai, yet Natasha and Naina could not hold back their tears. It felt like a parting that would not be ending anytime soon.

Taking Natasha in a tight hug, Naina faked a smile, whispering to her, 'Thodi acting karni padegi, warna Sameer ki family ko lagega yeh kaisi vidai hai. Mere aansu sirf dikhave ke hain. Tu bhi thodi si rone ki acting kar le. Authentic lagega.'

Natasha had known Naina forever. She could very well discern what her friend was doing... trying to hide her emotions behind a facade of norm. But she was too overwhelmed to tell her so. Had she not been leaving in a day's time, she would have teased Naina mad.

All she could do now was to wrap her arms around her and bury her face in Naina's neck, 'No worries, babydoll. Hum toh paida hi actors hue hain. Itni natural acting karenge ki Sameer tak ro padega.'

And this made Naina actually chuckle, amidst her tears, 'Yeh zyada ho gaya. Woh saari duniya pe bhadak sakta hai par kisi ke liye ro nahi sakta.'

Natasha pulled back, wiping her cheeks, 'Naina, I just pray ki na usey kabhi rona pade na tujhe. I know thoda old fashioned aashirwad lag raha hai par mera toh haq banta hai na.'

Though they could not hear their conversation, Munna Pandit took their emotional appearance to be the apprehension of living with Sameer.

Pandit stepped ahead, his voice low as he leaned towards Naina, 'Tum ghabrao nahi. Humne Sameer ko tight kar diya hai. Agar usne zara bhi herogiri dikhane ki koshish ki toh tum mujhe ya Munna ko call kar dena. Humein usko line pe laana aata hai.'

Natasha looked at him and winked, 'Don't worry, uske liye Naina kaafi hai.'

Later, as the car sped towards Sameer's house, he could not help asking, 'Pandit kya bol raha tha? Tum dono usse kya baat kar rahe the?'

Naina's head snapped in his direction. But contrary to the reaction he could have expected, a gentle smile played on her lips as she answered in a soft voice, 'Kuch khaas nahi. Woh bas itna keh raha tha ki tumhare yahan mujhe kabhi aisa nahi lagega ki main sasural mein hun. Maine kaha mujhe pata hai. Aunty, uncle, Dadaji, aur Anu... sab itne ache hain.'

Perplexed, he blinked twice, wondering what got into her... till Naina flicked her brows towards the driver. His mouth rounded in realisation. Of course, the driver was here. They could not let their cover slip in front of him.

Ambika and rest of the family were present at the door when Sameer and Naina alighted from the car. After puja, Ambika welcomed Naina in proper traditional way, making her perform all rituals that a new bride does, when entering the home for the first time... from tilting the rice kalsh with her right foot to stepping into red alta and leaving the red footprints while she walked in.

Dadaji warmly patted her head, 'Naina, aaj se yeh tumhara apna ghar hai. Tum hamare liye Sameer aur Anu ki tarah ho. Isliye aaj se tum bhi hum sabko apni family manna. Theek hai?'

Before she could even nod, Girish added, 'Aur apni family mein uncle aunty nahi, mummy papa kaha jaata hai. Isliye aaj se tum humein kya bulaogi?'

This transition was expected. Naina had thought about it number of times, and had felt happy to be able to address them like that. But now, when the moment was here, she found herself frozen. Her eyes darted to Ambika, and the image of her mother's face reflected in those warm, welcoming eyes.

Ambika smiled, 'Take your time beta. Lekin yeh aadat daalni toh padegi. Koshish karogi toh itna bhi mushkil nahi hoga. Ek ladki ke liye naya ghar, naya mahaul, naye rishte... sab thoda overwhelming hota hai, par hum inhe aasani se apna sakte hain agar dil se apna mane. Naina, jaise tumne Sameer ko apne liye chuna, aur usey apne dil mein jagah di, apni life mein jagah di, aise hi hum sabko bhi dil se apna maanogi toh yeh ghar, yeh parivaar tumhe apne ghar, apni family jaisa hi lagne lagega.'