Dadaji smiled at her bewildered expression, 'Arey beta itna kya dar rahi ho. Sagai toh karni hi padegi. Ya tum log seedha shaadi karne ka soch rahe ho?'

'Ji... ji... main...' Naina was even more flustered and lowered her eyes at the mention of marriage.

Dadaji leaned ahead and affectionately placed a hand on her head, 'Mujhe pata hai tum sharma rahi ho. Lekin beta, zindagi ka itna bada faisla lene ke liye sharm se nazren jhuka kar nahi dil aur dimag ki aankhen khol kar batana padega. Mujhe apne dada jaisa hi samjho. Maine tumhe akele yahan isliye bulaya hai jisse tum khul ke baat kar sako. Toh batao, kya tum meri baaton ka jawab dogi?'

Unable to utter anything, Naina just nodded, clutching her bag tight to stop the slight shiver that kept coursing through her.

Dadaji relaxed in his chair, 'Kya tumne aur Sameer ne shaadi ke baare mein baat ki hai?'

'Shaadi ke... baare mein... ?' Naina had a hint of panic in her voice. Wasn't he talking about engagement a moment back? Is this how fast things were supposed to move in a relationship?

'Oho shaadi toh karni hai na tum dono ko? Sameer ne tumhe bataya ki uski shaadi uske teesven janmdin se pehle honi zaruri hai?' Dadaji asked incredulously.

All Naina could do was nod.

A sense of relief spread on Dadaji's face as he explained, 'Fir toh tumhe sab pata hai. Isliye humne sagai abhi karne ka socha jisse papers banwane shuru kar dein. Do teen mahine baad shaadi ki tareekh nikalwa lenge. Hum sab toh raazi hain lekin tumhare parivar ki sehemati bhi toh chahiye. Tumhare bhai se main baad mein puch lunga, abhi tum hi bata do ki aur kisse baat karni hai. Ahmedabad mein tumhari family ke bade log, rishtedar wagerah jo hain unka mujhe address de do. Hum log unse milne chale jayenge.'

The panic inside Naina was snowballing into a full blown alarm. And again, she was completely alone to deal with this predicament. A simple acting task shouldn't have been this arduous and complicated. Well, if it had to be this way then she only had to do something to make it less challenging for herself.

Her voice trembled slightly with emotion as she pushed back a strand of hair, 'Papa mummy ke jaane ke baad kisi relative ke saath aisa koi rishta nahi hai. Papa ke sirf ek bade bhai the jo US mein settled hain. Unhe saalon se nahi dekha humne. Papa ki death par bhi nahi aaye the. Mummy ki family ke saath har connection khatm hue bhi lamba waqt ho gaya hai. Family ke naam par main...' She hesitated to take their name as Anuj and Tina did not consider her a family either, but she had to continue the lie, '... aur bhaiya bhabhi hain bas.'

These facts were truth as far as other relatives were concerned. She had grown up with the knowledge that her grandparents passed away long back, and rest of her father's family didn't want to associate with him due to his resentful and sullen behaviour. Naina had no place to go to during her vacations, unlike other children around her. As a child, she sometimes asked about relatives but the only answer she got from her father a couple of times was that no one wanted her to visit them.

Dadaji's face turned softer, 'Oh! Toh fir bade faisle lene mein tum logon ki madad kaun karta hai?'

'Apna har faisla humne khud hi liya hai, uncle.' Naina replied, not meeting his eyes.

After a silent pause in the room, that weighed on both of them for different reason, Dadaji let out a long exhale before addressing her with a smile, 'Aaj se tumhari family mein hum sab hain. Tum jab chaho mujhse baat kar sakti ho. Main yeh nahi keh raha ki tumhe mere kehne par chalna hai ya main tumhare liye faisle lunga, par kabhi kisi bhi baat ke liye guidance ya help chhaiye toh puch sakti ho. Aajkal ke bachhon jaisi knowledge na sahi par umr ka tajurba hai mujhe.'

And, after another pause, he patted her head, 'Aur abse uncle nahi, Dadaji bulao mujhe.'

A lump formed in Naina's throat. This affection was making her feel guilty. Just twenty four hours had passed since she started this charade and already the formidable weight of her lies burdened her shoulders heavily because these people were showing such affinity towards her. Dadaji, however, did not notice the play of mixed emotions on her face and urged her to come with him as he walked out of the door.

In the living room after they were left alone and Girish told Sameer about their plans for the engagement, Sameer had the same reaction as Naina.

'Sagai?' He stared at his parents, flabbergasted.

Giving him a teasing look, Girish held back his laugh, 'Haan bacchu. Tune kya socha tha, masti se ghumta rahega jaise do saal se ghum raha hai? Beta ji, ab paon mei responsibility ki bediyan lagne wali hain. Jab tera baap nahi bach paaya toh tu kaise bachega.'

'Lekin papa abhi Naina se sagai kyon karni hai? Abhi toh mere thirtieth birthday mein bohot time hai.' Sameer whined.

Ambika, who generally was soft towards him, made a stern face, 'Kya matlab hua is baat ka? Sameer, main dekh rahi hun tu Naina ke saath dhang se behave nahi karta hai. Kal ki baat baad mein karenge pehle yeh bata tujhe itna bhi yaad nahi rehta ki use kis din shaadi mein jaana hai? Kaise keh diya tune ki aaj jaana hai jabki shaadi agle hafte hai? Iska matlab hua Naina ki baat ya toh tu dhyan se sunta nahi hai ya use importance nahi deta.'

Girish excitedly shifted ahead, perching on the edge of the seat, and encouraged his wife, 'Yeh hui na baat. Ab isko do yeh saare lesson. Waise bhi isko mujhse zyada zarurat hai.'

Sameer widened his eyes at his dad. But Girish was enjoying the show too much to even bother.

Ambika admonished him for the previous evening too, 'Kal Naina ke saath rehne ki jagah tu apne room mein bhaag gaya. Apne ghar mein uska saath nahi de sakta toh zindagi mein kaise dega? Naina bichari badi decent ladki hai warna koi aur hoti toh kal ke baad tera muh na dekhti.'

Sameer muttered under his breath, 'Main kaunsa uska muh dekhna chahta hun.'

'Ab kya budbuda raha hai?' Ambika smacked his arm.

'Yaar mummy, maaro toh mat.' Sameer rubbed his arm, then looked at Girish, 'Samjhao apni biwi ko, violence tolerate nahi karunga. Warna main inki koi baat nahi manne wala.'

'Tu toh kya tera baap bhi inki saari baat maanega.' Girish sneered, 'Aur beta, pitne ki aadat daal le. Biwiyan bhi aate jaate haath saaf kar leti hain.'

Ambika turned to look at him with wide eyes, 'Sharam nahi aati, jawan bete ke saamne aisi baat karte? Maine kab maara tumhe?'

Girish quickly fished out his phone and moved his fingers on the screen with a solemn expression, 'Din bataun, date ya time? Weekly, monthly ya last six months ki report dun?'

'Offo aap dono fir shuru ho gaye.' Sameer intervened, his mind still muddled at the thought of an impending engagement, 'Mujhe... mujhe abhi se sagai nahi karni.'

And suddenly it dawned on him. He got up with a start, the colour on his face drained, 'Dadaji... kya dadaji Naina ko sagai ke liye keh rahe hain?'

Ambika pulled his arm to make him fall back on the sofa, 'Dadaji usse kuch zaruri baat kar rahe hain. Aur hum tujhse. Abhi yahan concentrate kar. Jab Naina pe dhyan dena chahiye tab kahin aur khoya rehta hai aur ab isko Naina ke alava kuch sujh nahi raha.'

Sameer gulped, 'Mummy, papa, please yaar thoda time toh do. Aap log toh aise ek ke baad ek bomb girate ho jaise World War chal raha ho. Kal hi toh Naina se mile ho, aur aaj sagai karni hai. Agle hafte kahoge shaadi kar le.'

Girish shot an astonished look to his wife, 'Ambika, hamara beta toh future dekh sakta hai. Isey pehle hi pata hai agle hafte inki shaadi hone wali hai.'

'Kya?' Sameer almost fell off his chair, 'Sh... shaadi... agle hafte...lekin... Naina...'

Both Ambika and Girish burst out laughing. Sameer gaped at them with wide, foolish eyes.

Finally, Girish patted his knee, 'Chill kar beta, shaadi mein abhi time hai. Waise ek baat kahun, tera excitement dikhane ka tareeka thoda abnormal nahi hai? Agar humein pata na hota ki Naina teri girlfriend hai toh sochte ki tujhe usse shaadi karni hi nahi hai.'

Ambika shook her head, 'Ab hamare saamne natak mat kar. Hum koi old fashioned parents nahi hain jo kahenge ki yeh mat karo woh mat karo. Apna pyar express karna toh achhi baat hai.'

Sameer wiped his sweaty forehead, and tried to pursuade his parents, 'Okay. Samajh aa gaya sab kuch. Lekin mummy, aap dadaji ko sagai ke liye manaa lo na. Mujhe... humein... dono ko... thoda time aur chahiye. Abhi se...'

'Abhi se kya hota hai?' Ambika was not ready to listen to his reasoning, 'Arranged marriage thodi hai jo ek dusre ko samajhne ka time chahiye. Dekh, Sunday ko engagement ho jayegi toh humein satisfaction ho jayega.'

With his lips drooping at the corners, Girish resonated his wife's fears, 'Actually bina commitment ke kahin tum dono ka rishta... kahin break up na ho jaaye.'

'Nahi papa,' Sameer assured him with as much conviction as he could pull together, 'Main kyon Naina se break up karunga? Main Naina se... mujhe Naina... woh achhi hai.' He didn't know what to say about his feelings for her.

Girish rolled his eyes before telling him in serious, whispering tone, 'Tu kyon karega, teri toh lottery lagi hai. Dar humein is baat ka hai ki kahin Naina ko apni galti ka ahsaas na ho jaaye. Isse pehle ki woh tujhse break up kare, jhat mangni aur pat shaadi kar le.'

Ambika gave an exasperated look to her husband before turning to Sameer, 'Reason jo bhi samajh le, Papaji ne engagement ke liye Sunday ka din chuna hai toh tum dono ki engagement usi din hogi. Isliye ab koi behes nahi. Papaji Naina se baat karke uske gharwalon ko contact karenge. Agar unse milna hai toh hum log Ahmedabad chale jayenge warna seedhe Sunday ko hi baat ho jayegi. Tab toh aana hi hai unhe.'

'Dadaji Naina se...' Sameer jumped up, 'Woh Naina ki family se baat kar rahe hain?'

His face ashened. Naina would obviously flip at such talks and spill the beans. It would be the end of this drama... and end of his chance to earn some time. Dadaji would not trust him anymore and would get someone at the earliest to tie him down with. The reprimand he would receive for pulling such a stunt would be so colourful that he would never dare to oppose any of their decisions in future. Naina would end everything for him... he was sure.

He had to stop her before she...

Sameer was about to rush to the study when he saw Dadaji emerging out, followed by Naina. His feet froze. The expression on Dadaji's face was unreadable. And Naina... with lowered eyes and grave expression, she looked as guilty as charged.

The game was over.

He was paralyzed. A cold shiver ran down his spine at the mere thought of facing the consequences.

Without giving him a glance, Dadaji walked in and took a seat on his regular chair. He gestured to Naina and patted the sofa adjacent to him. And to Sameer's horror, she quietly took the seat next to Dadaji. His Dadaji. Wow. While he stood like an accused, she was seated with his family to watch him get slaughtered now. All because of her inability to carry on with a little act for which he had paid her a handsome price.

Eventually, Dadaji looked up at him, 'Naina ne mujhe sab bata diya.'

Sameer shot a fierce glance at her. But she sat there with head bent down as if she was the most innocent person in the world. His insides fumed and his hands twitched to shake her and ask why did she ditch him like this.

But what Dadaji said next put buckets of cold water on his fury, freezing his blood in his veins.

'Naina ne bataya uske bhaiya bhabhi tumhare rishte ke baare mei jaante hain aur unhe koi aitraaz bhi nahi hai. Jab woh Australia se phone karenge hum unse baat kar lenge par Sunday tak unka aana toh mushkil hai. Isliye sagai mein Naina ki family bhi hum hi honge.'

Naina looked up with a jerk. She had presumed that after knowing about her relatives, Dadaji would wait till he hears from her brother... and would wait till he gets a confirmation. But he planned to go ahead with his initial plan of Sunday.

Sameer was flummoxed. He did not understand the situation. Naina seemed surprised at this announcement... Dadaji said Naina had told him everything, yet he wanted her to get engaged to him. What was going on? Was she still his girlfriend... or not?

Ambika was elated at this decision, 'Yeh bhi koi kehne ki baat hai papaji. Naina ko toh maine kal hi apni family ka hissa maan liya tha. Is buddhu ladke ne pata nahi humein pehle kyon nahi milwaya. Ab tak toh maine inki shaadi karwa bhi di hoti.'

Sameer gritted his teeth. It felt like the only aim of each and every person in his family was to see him tied into matrimony. Couldn't they wait for him to fall in love at least? How could a person concentrate on finding the one who could make the bells of his heart ring at first glance? The bells had gone silent, buried under the orchestra of wedding band baaja. And what was with Naina. What game was she playing?

That was when Anaya entered the house. Seeing Naina, she rushed ahead and took her in a warm hug before commenting, 'Main aaj hi soch rahi thi ki pata nahi dubara kab tumse milna hoga. So nice to see you Naina.'

Sameer seethed, muttering to himself, 'Jise dekho Naina Naina karte rehte hain. Arey main bhi toh hun. Meri kisi ko padi hi nahi hai.'

Anaya then looked at her mom, 'Aap fir se shaadi ki baat leke baith gayi. Mummy, relax. Mujhe pata hai aapko bhai ko dulha bane hue dekhna hai par Naina ka bhi socho na. Usey kuch din hum logon ke saath comfortable hone ka mauka do fir aage ki planning karna.'

Sameer heaved a sigh of relief and quickly moved ahead, putting one arm around Anaya's shoulder and dragging her away from Naina, 'Exactly Anu, main bhi yehi keh raha hun. Itni jaldi kya hai... thode din ruk jaate hain.'

She gave an incredulous look to Sameer, then glanced at Naina, who seemed a bit nervous, then asked, 'Kuch baat hai kya?'

Ambika announced in a cheerful voice, 'Papaji ne engagement ki date fix kar di. Isi Sunday ko.'

If Sameer had hoped for some support from Anaya, he was in for a surprise.

She jumped in excitement, 'Wow! Sunday ko bhai aur Naina ki engagement! Matlab ab main officially Naina ko bhabhi bula sakti hun.'

The room was soon filled with feverish discussion about the upcoming event. The only people who were quiet were the ones who were being discussed.

Suddenly, Naina stood up and announced with some hesitation, 'Mujhe... mujhe jaana hoga. Nutty... meri flatmate aane wali hai aur uske paas keys nahi hain.'

Though Ambika wanted her to stay for dinner again, she did not insist when Naina said that Natasha was coming back after two days. Again, Sameer was asked to drop her back.

Both did not utter a single word. Sameer stopped the car in front of metro station but Naina did not make any attempt to leave.

'Metro station aa gaya.' He said drily.

Finally, she turned her face to look at him and said in a controlled voice, 'I need to talk.'

'Bolo.' Was all Sameer muttered.

"Yahan nahi. Some place... jahan main woh sab keh sakun jo mujhe kehna hai.' Her voice was a mere hiss.

Sameer wondered if she wanted to confess her mistakes, or apologise for the way she behaved, or plead for forgiveness for something she had said to his grandfather... or what?

He suggested gingerly, 'Kisi restaurant ya cafe mein...'

'No.' Naina strongly rejected even before he could complete his sentence, and ordered, 'Take me home. Nutty raat ko do baje tak aayegi. Hum ghar pe baat karenge.'

'Tumhare ghar pe?' The shock was evident in Sameer's voice.

'Kyon? Main do din tak tumhare ghar aa sakti hun toh tum ek baar bhi nahi chal sakte?' Naina snapped.

Sameer knew she would be alone if her flatmate was not there. Well, if she didn't have an issue with that, why should he care. As it is, an altercation in public place was not something he wanted either. He drove straight to her society. After parking in the guest slot, he followed her to the lobby. The guard eyed him with suspicion, then asked him to write his name and number in the open register on his table.

'Naina yeh...'

He started but again, Naina did not let him finish, 'Society ka rule hai. Guests ka record rakhne ke liye. Details de do.'

When she turned towards the stairs, he wanted to tell her that elevators were meant for using. But was glad he decided to remain shut when Naina turned the keys in a first floor house.

Next update on Thursday