Hello everyone...

Finally, my laptop is back in the working condition...

And here I'm back with the next update too...

I hope you will like it...

FATE TWISTED BY LOVE

CHAPTER 5

Naina got up early the next morning & started helping Ramdhari in the kitchen. Nanu as usual was sitting in the living room reading the newspaper. Sameer too had got up early & left for jogging after a long time. When he was back, he freshened up & joined Nanu for breakfast. Ramdhari served them the meal & went to bring back their tea & coffee.

On not spotting Naina around, Nanu asked, "Ramdhari... Naina kahaan hai? Dikhai nahi de rahi." Before he could reply, he heard her voice, "Nanaji... Main yahaan hun." "Arey beta... Hamare saath naashta karne baith. Kahaan reh gayi thi?" She smiled fondly at him & answered, "Nanaji... Mera aaj upwaas hai. Aap kha lijiye. Main zara mandir hokar aati hun."

Sameer had heard the entire conversation & kept mum but Nanu had some other plans. "Naina... bas dus minute ruk jao, hum bhi saath chalte hai." He peered at Sameer & spoke, "Chalo barkhurdaar. Jaldi se kha lo, fir Naina ke saath mandir jaate hai. Bohot din se gaya nahi hun. Ab bhagwaan ko dhanyawaad toh kehna padega na." Sameer denied without giving it a thought, "Nanu... Mujhe office jaana hai. Bohot important meeting bhi hai. Waise bhi kitne dinon se office nahi gaya hun. Bohot kaam bhi pending hai."

Nanu sighed, "Beta... Hum mandir mein rehne nahi jaa rahe. Dus minute rukna fir chale jaana tum office. Thik hai..." Sameer reluctantly agreed & left to bring his bag. Nanu was waiting for them near the car, when Sameer & Naina approached the car at the same time. Nanu deliberately took the passenger seat leaving the back seat for the couple.

Sameer held the door open for Naina to get seated in the car. She settled in the car next to him without giving him a glance. Nanu kept the conversation going on discussing about work related things with Sameer. They reached the temple in the next five minutes. Once inside, Naina offered a plate of flowers & sweets to the priest. He performed the aarti while this small family stood in front of the deity praying for their happy future.

Once the aarti was done, Nanu asked the priest, "Panditji... mujhe aapse kuch zaruri baat karni hai." He agreed & Nanu continued, "Panditji... Main mere naati Sameer ki shaadi Naina se karaana chahta hun. Koi acche se mahurat bataaiye." Sameer & Naina who stood near them were shocked to hear this.

Sameer stood close to him & murmured, "Nanu... Maine kal raat kahaa toh tha na ki hum court marriage karenge, fir uske liye mahurat ki kya zarurat hai? Dates toh waise bhi court se hi milegi na?" "Beta... Tum apna kaam karo aur mujhe apna karne do. Thik hai." Sameer & Naina stood there like a statue whereas the priest shared some dates with him.

All the three walked out of the temple with different thoughts in their minds, one was very much happy while the other two were shaken with the turn of events. The driver first dropped Sameer to office & then the car was headed towards home. Many things were running in Naina's mind, but she didn't know how to voice it out to Nanu. She kept quiet for the whole drive thinking about how her life would change in the coming few days.

Sameer reached office to find his friends already waiting for him in his cabin. He sat down on his chair with a sigh. His friends knew that something was going on in their best friend's mind & waited patiently for him to speak. He looked at both of them & then told about last night's conversation with Nanu & today's episode in the temple.

They weren't surprised to hear all this as they knew Sameer very well. "Pataa nahi Nanu ke dimaag mein kya chal raha hai? Ek ke baad ek shocks hi diye jaa rahe hai. Ab jab hum unki promise poori kar rahe hai court marriage karke toh fir mandir mein Panditji se mahurat kyun nikaalna hai? Kuch samaj hi nahi aa raha.", Sameer couldn't stop from sharing this with his friends.

His friends on the other side were enjoying their friend's situation. "Sameer... Nanu ke dimaag mein jo bhi chal raha ho, hume toh bohot mazza aa raha hai tujhe aisi haalat mein dekhkar. 'The Sameer Maheshwari' jisne aaj tak kisi ladki ko ghaas nahi daala, aaj wohh ek vaade ki wajah se shaadi karne jaa raha hai. Wohh bhi uss ladki se jisne tujhse shaadi karne se manaa kar diya tha pehle aur tujhe kasskar thappad bhi maara tha.", Pandit finished with a smirk.

Sameer's blood boiled as he remembered her tight slap. No one had ever rejected him but this girl had the audacity to answer him back & even slap him. The girl who seemed innocent & naïve to him on his first meet didn't have the same impression of her now. According to him, she looked like a cunning & smart girl at the moment who was going to use this situation in her favor to the fullest.

He looked at his friends with displeasure & spoke, "Tum dono ko mazaa aa raha hai meri haalat pe. Kaise dost ho tum? Mujhe help karne ke bajaay mujhpar hass rahe ho." His friends just grinned in response. He stood up & faced away from them, & gazed outside the window, "Uss ladki ko toh main shaadi ke baad acche se samjhaunga ki yeh 'Sameer Maheshwari' kaun hai. Usne thappad maara tha na mujhe, uska hisaab toh mein baad mein lunga. Ab bhi uss thappad ki goonj mere dil aur dimaag mein basi hai. Uska hisaab toh usse dena hi padega. Waise bhi uske koi sapne main poore nahi hone dunga. Isliye toh main prenuptial agreement banvaa raha hun, taaki usse ek futi kaudi bhi na mile divorce ke baad. Agar usse yeh lag raha hai ki mujhse shaadi karke usse ek sukoon bhari, aish aur aaraam ki zindagi milegi, toh usse bohot badi galatfehmi ho rahi hai kyunki main uska har ek sapna todne waala hun."

Munna & Pandit heard his each & every word clearly. They knew his friend was very much impulsive in making decisions but they also knew that they won't be able to change his mind & opinion about Naina. He had already set his mind to take revenge on the poor girl & they couldn't do much to change that, but still they tried.

"Sameer... Ek baar thande dimaag se soch. Agar usse tere paison mein interest hota toh shaadi se manaa kyun karti aur fir tujhe thappad kyun maarti? Usne tujhse shaadi ke liye isliye manaa kiya kyunki tune uske character par ungli uthaayi thi aur thappad bhi kyun pada tujhe, yeh toh yaad hoga na tujhe yaa main yaad dilaun? Dekh Sameer, tu jo bhi soche, mujhe toh yahi lagta hai ki Naina ek acchi ladki hai, koi chalkappat nahi hai uske mann mein. Tune sab dekha toh tha na hospital mein, kaise usne Nanaji ka aur khaaskar ke tera khayaal rakha tha.", Munna spoke whatever he felt was right.

Pandit continued, "Haaann... Naine ne hamare liye khaana laaya. Jab tak Nanaji hospital mein the tab tak wohh wahaan rahi hai din-raat. Yaad hai na Sameer kaise usne prayer karte waqt Nanaji ke liye gyarah somvaar ka upwaas rakhne ka vaada kiya tha. Tu yeh sab kaise bhool sakta hai. Tu jaisa soch raha hai waisa kuch nahi, wohh sach mein acchi hai. Tu jab London mein tha tab bhi usne Nanaji ka kitne acche se khayaal rakha, humne dekha hai sab."

Sameer couldn't resist her praises anymore, "Sab naatak hai. Nanu ke saamne acche bane rehne ka naatak kar rahi hai wohh. Tum dono ko nahi dikhai dega, tumhare aankhon pe uske acchai ki patti jo lagi hai. Tum dono ko nahi samaj aayega. Par main uski koi bhi saazish poori nahi hone dunga. Usse kya lagaa ki mujhse shaadi karke usse sab mil jaayega, main aisa kabhi nahi hone dunga. She doesn't know who I am. But don't worry, shaadi ke baad usse sab samaj aa jaayega."

His friends kept watching him & then Munna challenged, "Sameer... Ek din aisa aayega jab tu iss decision ko regret karega. Par tab tak bohot late ho gaya hoga. Dekh lena Sameer... Mark these words, 'You will regret this badly.' Aur tab hum bhi tumhari koi help nahi kar paayenge. Tere best friends hain hum isliye tere saath zaroor honge par humse koi madad ki ummeed mat karna tum.", saying this, Munna left his cabin followed by an unhappy Pandit.

"Pataa nahi kya jaadu chalaaya hai iss Naina ne, pehle Nanu aur ab mere friends bhi uski hi side par hai. Par main uske behkaave mein nahi aaunga, uski masoom shakal par nahi jaaunga. Wohh kuch bhi karle, main uska har plan nakaam kar dunga. I promise you Naina that you will regret marrying me for the money & I will make sure you don't get even a penny from me or Nanu. I promise that..."

At the other side, when Naina reached home with Nanu, she was anxious about the whole marriage thing. She knew that even if the marriage was real, their relationship would be a fake one. The moment Sameer had accused her of being a gold digger & characterless, she knew that he would never understand & treat her properly. She cursed herself for agreeing to the marriage as she knew this would ruin her life ahead. But what can be done now? She can't change it.

The year after marriage was going to be hell for her, she knew beforehand. The promise between the grandfathers was the only reason she had agreed & accepted the unwanted marriage. She strengthened her resolve to stay calm & strong & maintain her self-respect & dignity till the end which she had already put on stake.

The court marriage & the prenuptial agreement clearly meant that he wasn't trusting her. He had informed Nanu about the court marriage but he didn't mention a word about the agreement which clearly showed that this was going to be between them only. No one was supposed to know this. She had no one to share this with anyone anyway but she was sure that his best friends would be knowing the whole equation between them.

She was in her room trying to concentrate on her studies, when she heard a knock. Nanu stood before her, "Arey Nanaji... Aapko kuch kaam tha toh mujhe bulaa lete, main aa jaati neeche." He stepped in her room & sat down comfortably on the couch. He gestured her to sit & she settled down beside him.

"Naina... Main toh bas yunhi aaya tha tumse milne. Neeche akele baithkar bore ho raha tha, toh socha chalo dekhte hai ki meri bacchi kya kar rahi hai." He looked around & saw the books that were spread across the study table. He blessed her wholeheartedly, "Naina... Apni padhai poori karne ke baad aage kya socha hai?" She looked a little confused with his question, "Nanaji... Mujhe kuch samaj nahi aaya."

He asked her straightforward, "Naina... Tumhara course do saal ka hai. Uske khatam hone ke baad kya karogi, kuch socha toh hoga na tumne? Jaise koi job ya khud ka business?" Now she understood & debated just for a minute before answering, "Nanaji... Aap agar bura na maane toh kya aap mujhe permission de sakte hai?" He raised his eyebrows at her in question, "Kaisi permission?"

She took few deep breaths before asking, "Kya main part-time job kar sakti hun Nanaji?" Now it was Nanu's turn to be confused, "Part-time job, kis liye? Course khatam hone ke baad full time job kar sakti ho tum, fir part-time kyun karna hai?" She started again, "Mujhe part-time job abhi karni hai Nanaji, mere studies ke saath saath."

Nanu didn't know what to say to that & she continued, "Dekhiye Nanaji... Main jaanti hun ki aapko mera yun baahar kaam karna pasand nahi aayega. Bhala kaun apni honewali bahu ko aise kaam karne ki permission dega. Par Nanaji, please mujhe iss job ke liye manaa mat kijiyega. Maine aapka aur Nanaji ke vaade ka maan rakha aur ab aap please mujhse iss part-time job ki permission de dijiye."

Nanu sat there in stunned silence, not knowing how to respond to that. He knew that his heart attack & his illness had played a major role in making these kids agree for the marriage. They were doing this only for him. And now he somewhere understood that she wasn't ready yet to accept his grandson as her life partner. He remembered that she had refused to marry Sameer & after his hospitalization, they had agreed albeit reluctantly. He knew he can't push her more towards his grandson & the unwanted marriage, so he half-heartedly gave in.

"Thik hai Naina. Jaisa tum chaaho. Aur ek baad yaad rakhna, tum iss ghar ki bahu nahi, beti ho. Samjhi? Aage se kabhi khudko akela mat samajhna, hum sab hai tumhare saath. Agar tum chaaho toh ek baar Sameer se bhi baat kar lena, shaayad hamari office mein tumhe koi job mil jaaye." She denied immediately, "Nahi Nanaji... Main aapki company mein kaam nahi karungi. Main kahin aur kaam karna chaahti hun. Aur... aur... main yeh baat abhi unse nahi kahungi. Pehle mujhe koi job mil jaaye fir main unse baat kar lungi."

Nanu knew that whatever happened before his heart attack had made her sour or else, she wouldn't have asked to look out for a part-time job. Making up his mind, he spoke a bit hesitantly, "Naina... Tumhe pataa hai na ki tum mujhse kuch bhi baat kar sakti ho, kuch bhi share kar sakti ho. Tumne mujhe apna Nanaji maana hai, toh tum apni har khushi aur har gham mujhse share kar sakti ho. Main shanti se tumhari baat sununga bhi aur hum milkar uska solution bhi nikalenge."

Naina understood that he wanted to talk about Sameer but she didn't dare to open her mouth. She knew once she started, she wouldn't stop & would blurt out everything to Nanaji. She could never lie to him so she just nodded in reply. Nanu got up with a sigh promising himself to give her all the happiness she deserved. He had to now make sure of keeping his eyes & ears open, especially around his grandson. He had no doubt in mind that Sameer had hurt this soul very badly.

Sameer returned home a little late that night due to some last-minute conference call. He freshened up & called out loudly, "Ramdhari... Khaana lagaa de, bohot zor ki bhook lagi hai." He came out & started bringing all the casseroles & dishes. Sameer looked at him, "Mere akele ke liye yeh sab baahar kyun laa raha hai? Ek hi plate lagaa de."

He smiled at him, "Bhaiya... Kisine khaana nahi khaaya hai. Nanu bhi abhi hi laute hai, baahar gaye the shaam ko aur Naina didi ne bhi kuch nahi khaaya hai subah se, unka upwaas jo tha." Sameer asked him to call them for dinner. He went to call them while Sameer sat there on the dining table alone lost in his thoughts. Did that girl really didn't eat anything since morning? Wasn't she acting to gain Nanu's sympathy? His friends' words kept ringing in his mind.

"Arey barkhurdaar... Chalo khaana kha lete hai. Ramdhari jaldi se khaana paros de. Aur Naina kahaan hai? Hamari wajah se usne bhi kuch khaaya nahi hoga ab tak." Naina joined them in the next few minutes & settled down beside Nanu. She served a little food from her plate in a small bowl & kept it in front of the Ganpati idol in the temple & prayed for a while. Sameer was gazing at her sharply while Nanu & Ramdhari looked warmly at her. Once she was back at the dining table, everyone started their meal.

"Nanu... Ramdhari bataa raha tha ki aap shaam ko baahar gaye the. Aapko pataa hai na doctor ne kahin baahar akele jaane se manaa kiya hai, fir aap akele kyun gaye? Naina ko saath le jaate, waise bhi poora din ghar mein hi toh rehti hai." Though his casual remark sounded like concern towards his Nanu, but it stabbed someone's heart deeper than expected.

"Sameer... Mujhe thoda important kaam tha isliye main baahar gaya tha. Aur tum chinta mat karo, main driver ko saath le gaya tha." He looked at Naina & continued, "Waise bhi Naina ka upwaas tha, toh main kahaan usse baahar le jaakar aur thakaata." Sameer & Naina remined quiet while Nanu continued, "Main apne lawyer, Mr Purohit se milne gaya tha. Tum toh mujhe kaam ka hawala dekar nikal gaye subah toh ab mujhe hi aage ka sab dekhna padega na."

Sameer shifted uncomfortably on his chair & asked, "Aap lawyer se kyun milne gaye the?" Nanu replied with a smile, "Ab tum toh court marriage ke liye dates laane se rahe toh maine socha main hi kar leta hun. Kal Purohitji court mein tum dono ki register marriage ke liye application lekar aayenge. Toh tum ghar par he rehna. Maine Rahu-Ketu se baat kar li hai, kal subah office ka kaam wohh dono dekh lenge."

None of them uttered a word after that & finished the dinner quietly. Once back in their rooms, Sameer & Naina tossed & turned throughout the night, but sleep was far away from them. He didn't realize that Nanu would start the legal process so soon. He wanted to drag some time but now he couldn't do anything when Nanu himself was managing all. He still hadn't prepared the prenuptial agreement. He needed to do that fast before the date of wedding was confirmed.

Naina kept thinking about how she should start forward. She needed to start hunting for a job soon. She couldn't sit here & do nothing. She had a long way to go, starting from a job, then her studies & then this fake marriage life. The main concern was her accommodation. Where would she go after the divorce materialized? She had no relatives or no one whom she knew for that matter. After a year, she had to leave this house & find a hostel room for herself. She cried herself to sleep that night yet again.

The next morning didn't go as expected for Sameer. The lawyer came a little late after collecting the application form from the court. He filled the form after asking the required details from the couple. He asked for their two photographs each & all the documents required. After collecting everything, he left bidding them goodbye & told them that he would inform the date later that day.

What the couple didn't know was that Mr Purohit was a lawyer cum friend to Nanu. So, he had come prepared. Even the date was already decided. They just needed the confirmation from the court that the date was available for them. Nanu had managed the same date that the priest had suggested while their visit to the temple. He very well knew that Sameer wouldn't go forward as committed by him for the court marriage, so he had taken the lead himself.

Sameer & Naina didn't understand why everything was happening so fast? They hadn't thought that Nanu would escalate the marriage process so soon. Sameer still had to make a prenuptial agreement whereas Naina wanted to hunt for a part-time job for herself.

Once the lawyer left, Sameer too left for office. He couldn't sit at home & see all the preparations that Nanu was planning for the marriage. He just hoped that Nanu wouldn't ask him to prepare for a reception party which he didn't want at all. He wasn't ready for that. When he entered his cabin, he called his friends to join him. As soon as they arrived, his phone rang. He picked up the call & put it on speaker.

"Sameer... Abhi Mr Purohit ka call aaya tha. Date confirm ho gayi hai. Ek hafte baad tumhari aur Naina ki shaadi hogi. Main aaj bohot khush hun beta, bohot bohot khush. Mera sapna poora hone jaa raha hai. Sameer ghar jaldi aa jaana. Bohot taiyaari bhi karni hai." The call went off & the three friends kept staring at each other. Munna & Pandit didn't know what to say while Sameer was totally in shock. He wasn't prepared for this at all. He was going to get married to her in a week. He didn't know how to react to this. Mundit silently exited his cabin leaving him alone with his thoughts.

On the other side, Naina had gone numb with the news. She was going to get married to him in the next week. She sat in front of the mirror & looked at herself closely. She touched her neck slightly & closed her eyes, a picture of her appeared before her eyes where she was wearing a saree & the mangulsutra tied in her neck & her hairline was smeared with vermillion. Her eyes opened with a jerk & her eyes watered immediately.

She took the photograph of her Nanaji & caressed his face. "Nanaji... Meri shaadi ho rahi hai. Main aapka aur Nanaji ka kiya hua vaada poora karne jaa rahi hun. Bas aapka aashirwaad mujhpar humesha rakhna, mujhe uski bohot zarurat hai. Aapko sab pataa toh hoga hi, dekh rahe hai na aap sab? Bas mujhe thodi himmat dijiyega taaki main yeh ek saal yahaan khushi khushi kaat sakun." She closed her eyes & let her tears flow silently.

When Sameer reached home that evening, he saw Nanu sitting with some people whom he couldn't recognize. He greeted everyone & went to freshen up. Once back in the living room, he saw Naina too had joined them. He sat beside Nanu, "Nanu... Yeh sab log kaun hai?"

Nanu introduced them, "Yeh hai Mohanbhai Sanghvi, hamare jewelers rahe hai bohot saalon se. Inhe maine bulaaye hai, kyunki shaadi ke liye hume Naina ke liye mangalsutra aur kuch jewelry leni hogi na? Aur yeh hai Kamleshbhai Shah, yeh tum dono ka naap lene aaye hai. Maine tumhare liye already sherwani order kar di hai aur Naina ke liye bhi saree chun li hai."

Nanu turned to the others, "Yeh hai mera naati Sameer, jiski shaadi hone jaa rahi hai." He turned to Naina, "Chalo ab jaldi se jewelry aur mangalsutra ke designs mein se jo pasand aaye wohh chose kar lo." He turned to the tailor, "Aur aap tab tak Sameer ka naap le lijiye." The couple hesitantly agreed to everything that Nanu made them do.

Once the people left, Sameer asked, "Nanu... Hum court mein shaadi karne jaa rahe hai, isme yeh sab ki kya zarurat hai?" "Sameer... Sirf tumhari shart ki wajah se yeh shaadi court mein ho rahi hai. Par ek baat meri bhi maanni hogi tum dono ko." This time Naina asked, "Kaunsi baat Nanaji?"

He caressed her head lovingly, "Court mein shaadi hone ke baad mein chahta hun ki tum dono ki shaadi mandir mein bhi ho. Bhagwaan ke saamne poore riti-riwaaz ke saath ho. Dekho bacchon, main thode puraane khayaalaat ka hun, toh main yeh maanta hun ki yeh shaadi tabhi safal hogi jab tum dono pavitra agni ke saamne saat phere lo, jab Sameer tumhare gale mein mangalsutra pehnaaye aur tumhari maang sindoor se bhar de. Yahi meri nazar mein shaadi hai. Court marriage mein kya sirf sign karoge, witness aur sub registrar ke saamne. Yeh legal wedding hui par mere dil ko tabhi tasalli milegi jab yeh shaadi mandir mein hogi. Ab hamara vaada poora hi karna hai toh jaisa main chahta hun waise shaadi karo. Maine Sameer ki shart maani ab tum dono meri bhi yeh baat maano."

Sameer & Naina glanced at each other & agreed to Nanu as right now they couldn't refuse anything that came from him. They had their dinner quietly whereas Nanu kept talking about the marriage. Ramdhari served them malai rabdi which was brought to celebrate the news of their marriage. "Arey Naina didi, aur lijiye na. Aapne kuch thik se khaaya hi nahi."

Nanu smacked him on his head, "Naina didi nahi... Ab Bhabhi bolne ki aadat daal le. Ek hafte baad yeh Sameer ki biwi hogi." Ramdhari rubbed his head for a while & then grinned happily, "Naina Bhabhi... Ab thik hai Nanaji???" Nanu & Ramdhari were happy that she would now stay with them forever.

"Accha Sameer. Tum shaadi waale din office mat jaana aur Rahu-Ketu ko bhi invitation de dena. Thik hai. Baaki sab main sambhaal lunga." Sameer instantly refused, "Nanu... Jo bhi taiyaari karni hai wohh mujhe bataa dijiye, main kar kunga. Aap abhi poori tarah se thik nahi hue hai, jo itna kaam aur stress le rahe hai."

"Arey... Teri shaadi ka sapna toh main kabse dekh raha tha. Aur ab jab ho rahi hai, toh main chain se kaise baith sakta hun. Tum fikar mat karo, main aur Naina sab sambhaal lenge. Tum bas shaadiwaale din khudko free rakhna." Sameer nodded in acceptance feeling helpless at the sudden turn of events. He never thought that Nanu would manipulate him this easily.

Once everyone retired to their rooms, Sameer made a call to his lawyer friend & asked him to meet at his office the next day. He couldn't risk to make the prenuptial agreement by their family lawyer. He needed someone who would be trustworthy & would keep this away from his Nanu. Who could be better than his own friend, Neel Oberoi? He just needed to think about the clauses that he would add furthermore in the agreement.

Naina was standing near the window & was gazing at the moon. Her life was slipping from her own hands & now she didn't know what to do, from where to start. She just knew that her life was going to change drastically once she was married to Mr Sameer Maheshwari. The handsome face she had fallen for would be the reason for her nightmares.

She took a deep breath, "Chaahe jo bhi ho jaaye, shaadi ke baad main uss pavitra rishtey ka apmaan nahi karungi. Bhale hi aap mujhse kitni bhi nafrat karo Sameer, par main ek patni hone ka poora farz nibhaungi. Hamare Nanaji ke promise ka maan rakhungi, fir bhale hi wohh ek saal ke liye hi kyun na ho. I will accept you as my husband wholeheartedly even after knowing that you won't be ever mine."

How was the update?

Any ideas about Sameer's additional clauses for the prenuptial agreement?

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With Lots of Love,

Daksha...❤