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FATE TWISTED BY LOVE

CHAPTER 32

Sameer reached office before time & was preparing himself for the important client meeting. Munna & Pandit had gone to Rajkot to attend a conference & would return the next day. So, Sameer had to manage this meeting alone.

His assistant briefed him about the schedule for the day which was packed with back-to-back meetings. Preparing himself mentally, Sameer started his day enthusiastically. As the day proceeded, he was getting tired too. His headache had started again but he ignored it as he had many things lined up.

On the other side, Naina decided to skip college that day & informed Preeti about it who wasn't much happy after knowing that her best friend had kept this important fast for her husband. As Naina was preparing for the day ahead, she heard a voice, "Naina... main andar aa jaun?"

Naina was surprised to see Anjali so early in the morning. "Arey Anjali... iss mein poochne waali kya baat hai. Aa jao andar. Waise tum itni subah subah yahaan kya kar rahi ho?" She sat down on the couch & replied, "Mujhe Nanaji ne bulaaya hai. Unhone mujhse kahaa ki yeh tumhara pehla Karwa Chauth hai. Main yahaan tumhe taiyaar karne aur tumhara saath dene aayi hun."

Nainu was grateful that Nanu thought so much about her. "Thank you, Anjali... Accha hua tum aa gayi. Yeh mera pehla Karwa Chauth hai aur main thoda nervous bhi feel kar rahi hun. Ummm... Maine kabhi yeh vrat rakha nahi hai pehle, toh thoda darr lag raha hai."

Anjali squeezed her hand giving her support, "Uss mein darne ki kya baat hai Naina... main isiliye toh yahaan aayi hun. Tum yeh vrat apne pati ki raksha aur lambi umar ke liye rakh rahi ho. Haannn... pehli baar mujhe bhi thodi nervousness hui thi par ab aadat ho gayi."

"Anjali... Tumne bhi Munna ke liye aaj Karwa Chauth ka vrat rakha hai?", she asked curiously. Her friend blushed & replied, "Main toh yeh vrat kuch saalon se kar rahi hun." Naina was happy seeing her friend's flushed face & Anjali continued, "Main bhi bilkul tumhari tarah hi thodi sehem gayi thi pehli baar, par tab Munna ki mummy ne mera saath diya aur tab se main har saal yeh vrat karti hun."

Before Naina could ask more, Anjali spoke, "Ab yeh baatein baad mein karenge, pehle jo kaam karne aayi hun wohh kar lete hai." "Kaunsa kaam?", Naina asked curiously. "Neeche chalo, sab pataa chal jaayega." Saying that, Anjali pulled her downstairs.

Naina was more excited when she saw two girls waiting for them in the living room. Some other people were making arrangements for the pooja in their house which would start in the afternoon. Anjali made Naina sit on the mattress & asked the girls to start their work.

Naina inhaled the fragrance of the mehendi that the girls were applying on her hands. Anjali spoke, "Iske bina hamara vrat adhoora sa lagega na?" Nanu replied, "Ekdum sahi kahaa Anjali. Aaj hamari Naina ka pehla Karwa Chauth hai toh mehendi toh lagni hi chahiye."

Within two hours, their hands were painted with henna. Naina loved mehendi. She always had a habit to apply it on special occasions. And from today, even this day would be added to one of those special occasions.

She blushed watching her own hands & thought, "Aaj mere haathon mein yeh mehendi mere pyaar ki nishaani hai, iss mein mere pyaar ki khushboo hai. Meri iss mehendi ka rang aaj tay karega ki main Sameer ki zindagi mein kya jagah rakhti hun."

Anjali coughed loudly breaking her sweet thoughts, "Kahaan kho gayi Naina??? Abhi Sameer ko ghar aane mein time hai, toh yeh sharmaana raat tak bachaa ke rakho." Naina blushed at her friend's teasing & looked away to find Nanu already wiping his unshed tears. He looked at the idol of the Almighty & prayed, "Bhagwaan... Mere bacchon ko har khushi dena aur har boori nazar se bachaana."

After two more hours, Preeti too joined them & was content seeing her friends happy. Nanu had invited Preeti too for the pooja. She saw that her friends had applied mehendi which was almost dry by now. She asked, "Tum dono ab taiyaar kaise hoge? Haathon mein toh mehendi lagi hai na?"

Nanu replied, "Tum ho na Preeti... Tum hi inn dono ko taiyaar kar dena." Naina & Anjali agreed with that & teased, "Isiliye toh tujhe bulaaya hai humne, taaki hume acche se taiyaar kar do." Preeti chased her friends throughout the house while Nanu kept laughing & enjoying the show.

He had never felt this content & satisfied in his life. After Sameer's marriage, this house was filled with lots of laughter, happiness & love. He was very much happy after Naina's arrival in their lives. He had always thought that a female's presence would affect the atmosphere of their house positively which had proved totally true now.

All the arrangements for the pooja were already done & the girls were getting ready for the pooja. Anjali had already brought all her stuff here that was given to her by her to be mother-in-law. Preeti helped them getting ready.

Once they were fully ready, Preeti whistled, "Yaar... tum dono ko aise dekhkar mujhe bhi shaadi karne ka mann kar raha hai." Anjali raised her eyebrows in surprise while Naina teased, "Tu kahe toh main Pandit se baat karun?" Preeti hit her softly on her arm, "Kya bol rahi hai tu Naina???" "Ohhhh... sorry... sorry... sorry... tu kahe toh main aaj Panditji se baat kar leti hun aur fir Kabir ko bhi bolti hun tere liye koi accha sa ladka dhoondne ko."

Preeti facepalmed herself & muttered, "Mujhe shaadi ki baat karni hi nahi chahiye thi." The other girls chuckled while Preeti turned away blushing. She was definitely missing Pandit today. Though she hadn't let her feelings show to anyone, but she couldn't hide it from her best friend.

Naina knew that her best friend enjoyed Pandit's company, his antics & especially his attention too. The shy smiles that Preeti had reserved only for Pandit were never missed by Naina. She was very much aware of her best friend's feelings & her own too.

When Preeti & Anjali left downstairs, Naina looked at her dashing husband's photo with all the love she had for him. She couldn't express her love in front of him but now she could, when she was all alone in the room, standing right in front of his picture.

"Sameer... Aaj maine aapke liye Karwa Chauth ka vrat rakha hai. Aaj mein ekdum Dulhan jaise saji hun aapke liye. Jab hamari shaadi hui thi tab toh mere dil mein aise koi feelings hi nahi thi, par aaj... aaj mera dil sirf aapke liye hi dhadakta hai. Jab maine aapka photo pehli baar dekha tha naa Sameer, tab hi mere dil ne ek ajeeb si khushi mehsoos ki thi. Aisi khushi jiska maine meri poori zindagi intezaar kiya tha."

She remembered the day when she had first seen this same picture in this room. "Tab se main roz iss kamre mein chup chupke aane lagi aur aapki tasveer dekhne lagi, usse baatein karne lagi. Jab pehli baar aapki aawaaz phone pe suni toh maano mere dil ne dhadakna hi band kar diya ho. Main tab hi samaj gayi thi ki aapka meri zindagi mein aana koi mahej ek ittefaak nahi tha."

Then she remembered the day, when they met for the first time, "Fir jab hum pehli baar aamne saamne aaye, toh wohh bhi issi kamre mein hua. Uss din maano mujhe yakeen ho gaya tha ki humari kismat ne hamare liye kuch toh likha hai." And then everything flashed right in front of her eyes from his wrong allegations to their marriage.

She closed her eyes & let the tears fall. "Uske baad jo bhi hua, wohh shaayad hamari kismat hi thi jo hume ek saath laana chahti thi. Aur dekho... aaj hum saath hai. Bhale hi humari shaadi sirf ek saal ke liye ho, par main iss ek saal mein meri poori zindagi aapke saath guzaar lungi Sameer... Jaante hai kyun???"

Naina smiled & blushed at the same time, "Kyunki main... main aapse bohot pyaar karti hun Sameer... Itna ki aap soch bhi nahi sakte. Kabhi kabhi mujhe darr lagta hai ki kahin mera pyaar aapko dikhaayi na de jaaye. Isliye maine aapke bed par sone ke liye bhi manaa kar diya tha. Main jaanti hun ki aapko bura lagaa hoga par mujhe ab khudke feelings par koi bharosa nahi hai."

"Main nahi chaahti ki meri feelings jaanne ke baad, hamare rishtey ke saath saath hamari dosti bhi toot jaaye Sameer... Main kabhi aapke saamne yeh nahi keh paaungi ki main aapse pyaar karti hun. Isliye aapki tasveer se kehkar mera dil halka kar rahi hun, kyunki ab yeh baat dil mein rakhna bohot mushkil ho gaya hai Sameer... bohot mushkil ho gaya hai. Main jaanti hun ki jis din aapko mere pyaar ke baare mein pataa chalega toh aap fir se mujhe galat hi samjhenge aur jo dosti hamare beech hui hai, aap usse bhi tod denge."

"Sameer... Main iss ek saal mein aapke saath sirf acchi yaadein banaana chahti hun aur isliye mere dil ki baat meri zubaan tak kabhi nahi aayegi Sameer... main kabhi aane hi nahi dungi. Main bas aapko khush dekhna chahti hun aur agar aapki khushi ke liye mujhe aapse durr bhi rehna pada, toh wohh bhi mujhe manzoor hai Sameer. I Love You Sameer & I will do anything to make you happy..."

Naina gently blew a flying kiss towards his picture & stood in front of the mirror to wipe her tears. Unknown to her, Preeti & Anjali had heard her whole self-talk. When they left from her room & reached near the stairs, they didn't find her with them, so they got back to her room & had heard the entire conversation.

Preeti & Anjali were in tears when Naina finished letting out her feelings. She had never shared this with anyone. Preeti knew that Naina loved Sameer but today after hearing everything, she was rendered speechless watching the intensity on her one-sided love.

Anjali too was aware that Naina liked Sameer but love... she hadn't thought about it at all. She had seen Sameer's & Naina's bond growing but these feelings came as a surprise for her too. Naina was selfless & after hearing her feelings, Anjali knew that Sameer was indeed very lucky to have Naina as his wife.

Before Naina moved out the room, Preeti & Anjali quietly left downstairs. When Naina descended the stairs, all the eyes were stuck on her. Naina saw many ladies sitting on the mattresses. Nanu gladly introduced her to all the ladies present there & she was happy meeting them, especially Munna's & Pandit's mother.

Naina sat beside Preeti & Anjali & the pooja started. It was late in the afternoon when all the married women from the neighbourhood had gathered in the Maheshwari Mansion. A priest was called to narrate the Karwa Chauth katha.

All the women were seated in a round circle while Nanu sat a little away from them. The photo of Goddess Parvati was placed in the centre along with a earthen pot also called as Karwa filled with water.

All the married women had a decorated thalis which is also called as Baya, consisted of roli, vermilion, sacred water, dry fruits, earthen clay pots, diyas and different types of sweets. Everyone was dressed up in a heavy sarees & jewellery to celebrate together.

The priest spoke, "Karwa Chauth vrat vivahik mahilaon ka sabse bada tyohaar hai. Iss din mahilaien bhookhi pyaasi rehkar apne pati ki lambi umar ke liye prarthna karti hain. Waise toh aap sabne Karwa Chauth ki bohot kahaaniyaan suni hi hongi par aaj mujhe Maheshwari ji ne khaas nivedan kiya hai ki main unke ghar aayi nayi bahu ke liye yeh katha sunau."

"Beti Naina... aaj tumhara pehla Karwa Chauth hai aur yeh tumhare liye bohot khaas bhi hai. Toh ab main jo kahaani sunaane jaa raha hun usse dhyaan se sunna. Aaj main aap sabko Raani Veeravati ki kahaani sunaane waala hun. Yeh kahaani ek patni ke pyaar aur vishwaas ki kahaani hai."

"Bohot samay pehle ki baat hai, Veeravati naam ki ek Rajkumari thi. Jab wohh badi hui toh unki shaadi ek Raja se hui. Shaadi ke baad wohh Karwa Chauth ka vrat karne ke liye apni maa ke ghar gayi. Veeravati ne subah hote hi Karwa Chauth ka vrat shuru kar diya. Wohh bohot hi komal aur naazuk thi."

"Veeravati vrat ki kathorta sahan nahi kar saki. Shaam hote hote usse bahut kamzori mehsoos hone lagi aur wohh behosh si ho gayi. Unke saat bhai the aur wohh sab Veeravati ka bohot khayaal rakhte the. Unhone uska vrat tudwa dena thik samjha. Unhone pahaadi par aag lagaai aur apni behen se chand nikalna bataakar unka vrat tudwaaya aur bhojan karva diya."

"Jaise hi Veeravati ne khaana khaaya, unhe apne pati ki maut ka samachaar mila. Unhe bada dukha hua aur wohh apne pati ke ghar jaane ke liye ravaana hui. Raaste mein unhe Shivji aur Parvati Maa mile. Maata ne unhe bataaya ki unhe jhootha chand dekhkar Karva Chauth ka vrat toda hai. Issi wajah se unke pati ki maut hui hai. Veeravati apni galti ke liye maafi maangne lagi. Tab Maata ne vardaan diya ki unka pati jeevit toh ho jaayenge, lekin poori tarah swastha nahi honge."

"Veeravati jab apne mahal mein pahunchi toh unhone dekha ki Raja behosh the aur sharir mein bohot saari suiyaan (needles) chubhi hui thi. Wohh Raja ki seva mein lag gayi. Seva karte hue roz ek ek karke sui nikaalti gayi. Ek saal beet gaya aur ab Karwa Chauth ke din behosh Raja mein sirf ek hi sui bachi thi."

"Raani Veeravati ne Karwa Chauth ka kada vrat rakha aur wohh apni pasand ka karwa lene bazaar gayi. Peeche se ek daasi ne Raja ke sharir se aakhiri sui nikaal di. Raja ko hosh aaya toh unhone uss daasi ko hi apni Raani samaj liya. Jab Raani Veeravati waapis aayi toh unhe daasi banaa diya gaya. Tab bhi Raani ne Karwa Chauth ke vrat ka paalan poore vishwas se kiya."

"Ek din Raja kisi dusre rajya jaane ke liye ravaana ho rahe the. Unhone daasi Veeravati se bhi poocha ki unhe kuch mangwaana hai kya. Tab Veeravati ne Raja ko ek jaisi do gudiyaan lane ko kahaa. Raja ek jaisi do gudiyaan le aaye. Veeravati geet gaane lagi, 'Roli ki goli ho gayi... Goli ki roli ho gayi...' Iss gaane ka matlab yeh tha ki Raani daasi bann gayi aur daasi Raani bann gayi"

"Raja ne iska matlab poocha tab Veeravati ne apni saari kahaani sunaa di. Raja samaj gaye aur unhe bohot pachtaawa bhi hua. Unhone Veeravati ko waapis Raani banaa diya aur usse wohi shaahi maan sammaan lautaaya. Maata Parvati ke aashirwaad se aur Raani Veeravati ke vishwas, bhakti aur poorna nishtha ke kaaran unhe apna pati aur maan sammaan waapis mila."

While the priest continued with the tale, everyone lighted a lamp in their thalis & circulated their decorated Baya thalis while listening to the story. They prayed to Parvati Maa for the well being & long life of their husbands.

Once the pooja was done, Naina took blessings from the priest & all the elder women present there. They blessed her saying, "Akhand Saubhagyavati Bhava..." Everyone retired to their homes to wait for the moon to rise at night. Preeti & Anjali stayed with her till late evening.

It was already seven in the evening but there was no trace of Mr Sameer Maheshwari. Neither he had called her nor left any message. Nanu had called multiple times on his grandson's mobile but it was all in vain as it was switched off. Even the office landline wasn't reachable. Nanu was frustrated & had even called Munna & Pandit, but even their mobiles weren't reachable as they were in Rajkot.

Sameer had been busy the whole day in back-to-back meetings. He had skipped his lunch too. He had forgotten to charge his mobile today which resulted to the battery giving up by afternoon. He kept the phone on charging in his office but again in his rush to attend the meeting he had forgotten to switch the button on.

He kept busy till eight thirty at night while his assistant was a little nervous of asking his boss if he could leave now. Sameer saw through his nervousness & asked, "Kya hua? Tum aise idhar se udhar kyun chal rahe ho? Kuch kehna hai toh jaldi bolo, mujhe bohot kaam hai."

His assistant rubbed his hands together & fumbled, "Wohh... Sameer sir... Aaj... aaj Karwa Chauth hai... toh... toh... kya main abhi ghar jaa sakta hun?" Sameer who was still busy reading some file, looked up shocked & asked, "Aaj... aaj Karwa Chauth hai???" His assistant nodded & replied, "Toh... Kya main ab ghar jaun? Meri wife mera wait kar rahi hai. Chand already nikal chuka hai."

Sameer nodded in trance & his assistant left hastily. Sameer closed the file & remembered if Nanu or Naina had mentioned anything about Karwa Chauth & then it suddenly clicked him that Nanu was definitely asking him to come home early when he was having breakfast.

He got up hurriedly & picked up his mobile to check if there were any calls from them but was shocked to see that his mobile was still switched off. He kicked the chair & muttered, "Sameer... Tune charging pe phone rakh toh diya, par button switch on karna kaise bhool gaya? Nanu aur Naina ne kitne calls kiye honge ab tak."

Sameer picked up his landline phone to call Naina but he got another shock that even it wasn't working. He banged the phone receiver & picked up his bag & mobile & rushed home. He cursed the traffic on the way as he was already getting late to reach home. He even cursed himself some more for not paying attention to what Nanu was telling him in the morning.

On the other side, Nanu & Naina had tried calling Sameer multiple times but it was all in vain. Even Kabir had come to pick up Preeti. He saw that Sameer hadn't come home yet. Anjali had left to Munna's place as she was going to break her fast there as she did the same from past few years.

Preeti wanted to shout at Sameer & also at Naina. She had already told her best friend that he wasn't worth all this, but Naina hadn't listened. And Sameer... What could she say? Preeti wanted to go to his office herself & drag him here. Her best friend hadn't eaten or even drank a single drop of water since morning.

As it was getting late, Naina & Nanu both insisted Preeti & Kabir to leave for their home. After they left, Nanu turned to her, "Naina... tum chaaho toh Sameer ki photo dekhkar apna vrat chod sakti ho. Waise bhi nau bajne aaye hai, ab tumhe aur bhookha rehne ki zarurat nahi hai."

Naina lowered her eyes & spoke, "Main Sameer ke aane ke baad hi apna vrat chodungi Nanaji... Aap... aap please kuch kha lijiye..." Nanu was very much disappointed in his grandson. He had never thought that Sameer would be so irresponsible. He replied with a heavy heart, "Mujhe ab bhook nahi hai..."

Nanu was about to turn when Naina blocked his way, "Aapko meri kasam hai Nanaji... Please aap khaana kha lijiye. Aapko fir davaai bhi leni hai." Nanu didn't say a word & sat down at the dining table. Ramdhari served him a plate of delicious food which Nanu ate half-heartedly.

Nanu coaxed Naina to break her fast too but she was adamant that she would break her fast with Sameer only. He retired to his room while Naina went back to her room. She kept on looking at the shining moon with misty eyes. She was feeling weak & dizzy now.

Sameer reached home after nine thirty & was shocked to see Nanu waiting for him in the living room. When Naina went to her room upstairs, Nanu had come out of his room. He wanted to give a piece of his mind to his grandson. How could Sameer behave this way? This was their first Karwa Chauth & he was late for that. How could he do that?

Sameer took hesitant steps towards his grandfather as he knew that the bomb was going to blast soon. Nanu got up from the couch & stood right in front of his grandson. Sameer lowered his head & mumbled, "Sorry Nanu... mujhe aane mein der ho gayi." When Nanu didn't reply him after that, Sameer looked up to see his grandfather's eyes misting up.

"Nanu... aap ro kyun rahe hai?" Nanu sat down on the chair nearby with a thud & said, "Aaj mujhe tum par bohot gussa aa raha hai Sameer. Par main wohh bhi nahi kar paa raha. Tum jaante bhi ho Sameer, aaj Naina subah se tere liye bhooki pyaasi baithi hai aur tu... tujhe ghar aane ki ab fursat mili. Tum dono ka aaj pehla Karwa Chauth hai aur tu late aa raha hai. Subah se Naina ne ek boond paani tak nahi peeya hai tere liye aur tu abhi aaya. Kya teri zindagi mein mere aur Naina ke liye itni hi jagah hai?"

"Tu aisa kar ab se office mein rehna hi shuru kar de. Ghar bhi aane ki zarurat nahi hai tujhe. Kaun hai tera yahaan, huh??? Jab dekho tab kaam... kaam... kaam... Sameer itna bhi kaam mein mat doob jao ki apni family ko bhool jao. Kiske liye kar raha hai yeh sab huh? Apni family ke liye hi kar raha hai na? Toh fir kaam aur family mein balance rakh. Maine pehle bhi kaha hai aur aaj bhi keh raha hun Sameer... Kaam ke liye apni family ko kabhi mat bhoolna. Aaj... aaj... jo tune kiya hai na Sameer... usse main bohot naaraaz hun tujhse, tune aaj mujhe bohot sharminda kiya hai Sameer... bohot sharminda kiya hai..."

Sameer sat down on his knees in front of him, "Nanu... aap... aap please aisa mat kahiye. Main... main kaam mein itna busy tha ki time ka pataa hi nahi chala, aur kaam ke tension mein subah aapki baat maine thik se suni bhi nahi Nanu... I'm sorry Nanu... I'm very very sorry... Please mujhe maaf kar dijiye... main aage se aisa nahi karunga... I promise Nanu... Main aage se kaam ke liye aapko aur Naina ko nazar-andaaz nahi karunga. Please mujhe yeh ek mauka de dijiye. Main jaanta hun ki maine aapka aur Naina ka dil dukhaaya hai. Please mujhe maaf kar dijiye..."

Sameer cried his heart out as he realized that he had hurt the two most important people of his life today. Nanu patted his head lightly & replied, "Tujhe main tab hi maaf karunga, jab Naina tujhe maaf karegi. Jaa... Naina ka vrat khulwa de. Usne subah se kuch khaaya peeya nahi hai. Thodi kamzor bhi lag rahi thi abhi."

Sameer wiped his tears & got up. He hugged his grandfather & mumbled his apology again. He rushed upstairs towards his waiting wife. When he opened the door, there was no trace of Naina in the bedroom. He immediately hurried towards the balcony & found her standing there, holding the railing...

Naina had sensed him the moment the door to their room opened. As he reached her, Naina turned & collapsed in his arms. She whispered his name before everything blacked out for her. Sameer held her in his arms & whispered through tears, "I'm sorry Naina..."

How was the update???

Honestly speaking I didn't know anything about Karwa Chauth...

With the help of my friend & google, I've written this update...

If you find anything missing, then I'm sorry for that... I tried my best here...

Next update will be full of Samaina moments as I'm missing them tremendously...

Will be updating the next part on Saturday...

Till then, take care & stay safe...

Ignore the mistakes...

With Lots of Love,

Daksha...❤