SECTION I 1994: 4 Years Later Part 3: Things said and unsaid 

Sameer unlocked the creaking front French doors of his home. The house was still dark. Sameer had given the evening off to Ramdhari. He must have gone out to his friends' place, Sameer thought as he kept his bag on the sofa and turned on the hall lights.

Today had been a very special day for Sameer! He'd finally proposed to Naina, and she had agreed to marry him. Only he knew how much he'd waited for this day. And now that it was here; the moment she'd said 'Yes', had been the happiest moment of his life till now. The moment he wanted to share desperately with the other most important person in his life- his Nanu.

Sameer smiled softly as he saw Nanu standing in the gallery, in front of the tea table, folding the evening newspaper neatly as was his habit. He stood there for a few seconds admiring his grandfather, wanting to run upto him and tell him all about tonight. And that was when he saw a young man, rushing in through the French doors in excitement; his slightly long, silky hair wobbling up and down, dancing to the rhythm of his steps, as he shrieked at the top of his voice, "Naaanuuu....Naaannnnuuu!"

Sameer saw himself scampering to meet his Nanu. His Nanu turned to face that exuberant Sameer, and his lips curved into a huge smile as he rushed forward with open arms to meet his grandson. Sameer saw him hug his Nanu hard and tight and then dance around with him with joy. The Sameer who was watching this scene unfold in front of his eyes, crossed his arms and heaved as he saw his Nanu laughing with his grandson- a shadow of his mind, an outcome of his thoughts and memories. The scene was magical, nostalgic.

And then Nanu made that Sameer stop and raised his eyebrows in expectation. "Kya hua? Haan boli?" Sameer could hear his Nanu's distant voice.

"Nannuu....," Sameer spoke in a sing-sang voice as he twirled his grandfather around again. "Yes...yes....yes!!" he yelled.

That Sameer's happiness knew no bounds. Nanu too erupted in joy and again the grandfather-grandson duo started prancing about right there, while the Sameer who was watching this, grinned softly.

He saw his Nanu kissing him and saying, "Aakhirkaar bhagwaan ne meri sun li. Ab main apne pyaare se nawase ko ghodi chadhata dekhunga." Sameer's smile faltered slightly as he saw his silhouette smiling, blushing at the thought of his wedding.

"Lekin ab tu baccha nahi raha- tujhe Naina ki aur hum sabki zimmedari bhi uthani hogi...business pe pura dhyaan...," and Nanu continued his lecture.

That Sameer kept nodding and then suddenly hugged Nanu tightly again. "Aap chinta mat kijiye Nanu, main sab sambhal lunga, aur aapko, Naina ko bahot khush rakhunga!" said that Sameer, tears of happiness in his eyes. And the real Sameer felt his own eyes get moist.

He then saw that Sameer telling his grandfather about how he'd proposed Naina and how she'd loved her birthday-cum-proposal surprise.

"Aur Nanu, wo Nani ki saree itni sundar thi...aur Naina to usme ekdum....," Sameer voice trailed off dreamily.

"Ekdumm....?" Nanu teased.

Sameer blushed and said, "Ekdum...mere hone wale naati-naatin ke nani lag rahi thi!"

Nanu's pleasant laugh rang in Sameer's ears.

"Acha sun, mummy papa ko bhi bata de ka. Ab rishta leke jaana hai na Naina ke yahaan jaldi se?" said Nanu, trying to calm down his over-excited grandson. "Ji Nanu, meri shaadi me koi aur ho na ho- aap, Munna aur Pandit hone chahiye!" Sameer responded.

"Aur Naina nahi? Naina ke bina shaadi kisse karega? Nana se?" Nanu teased again.

"Kya Nanu. Aap bhi na, Naina to hogi hi na! Aur jitni important Naina hai, utne hi important aap bhi ho. Jaise Naina ke bina shaadi nahi ho sakti vaise Nanu ke bina bhi nahi ho sakti!" Sameer told him earnestly.

"Arey beta, mera aashirwaad to hamesha tum dono ke saath hai. Ab jaldi se bahu ko le aa taaki hamare is khaali se ghar me kuch raunak ho sake!" Nanu patted Sameer's cheek lovingly.

And then Sameer saw himself going about the house with Nanu, informing Ramdhari as he too clapped with joy and congratulated his young master. And then he and Nanu became immersed in discussions about revamping the décor of the house and getting it painted for the bride to enter.

All this would have happened for real, had it been a few months before. But when did life come with a guarantee? Sameer heaved as he creaked open the door of his Nanu's room. Sameer had instructed Ramdhari to keep it impeccable- as it used to be when Nanu was around. He hadn't changed the arrangement of the furniture or of the showpieces in his room. His clothes, he'd donated to the needy as per his last wishes and his books often gave direction and solace to Sameer in times he felt alone and uncertain of himself.

Ramdhari had set the almirah again after Sameer and Naina had left for their date. He was such a kind person, thought Sameer. Ramdhari had been with his Nanu for so long, that Sameer didn't even remember seeing Nanu or his house without Ramdhari around. His father had brought him along to help him in his duties while he was employed as a servant with Nanu. And after his father's death, Ramdhari had taken over the responsibility. He now felt almost like family to Sameer.

Ramdhari had been of such a huge help in executing his proposal plan for Naina. And Naina hadn't suspected for one second that the saree had not fallen out of the almirah by accident, but Sameer had spent two days in going over the collection of his Nani's sarees, trying to figure out which one would look the best on Naina. And obviously, he'd settled down for the pink one. Naina in pink always made Sameer's heart flutter. Sameer made a mental note to thank Ramdhari tomorrow.

Sameer quietly propped himself on Nanu's bed and pulled a pillow over on his lap. His eyes fell upon the photo frame on the bedside table. Sameer lifted it slowly as his hands grazed over Nanu's face in the picture. It had been one of those pictures that Sameer had clicked for Nanu. Nanu had loved it so much that he'd got it framed and kept it in his bedroom.

A silent tear trickled down Sameer's cheeks as he murmured, "Love you Nanu". Sameer lay down on the bed, looking at the photoframe in his hands, drifted into the memories of the past- both happy and sad. He kept on caressing the picture as he reminisced how Nanu had presented him with the gold chain that he was wearing currently, on his 17th birthday. The time when Nanu had prepped him for the headboy competition, stood up for him when he felt low, how he'd helped him realize his feelings for Naina and win her love back. Sameer had transformed from a lonely teenager to a loved, responsible grandson, best friend for Munna and Pandit, and world's most love-worthy man for his girlfriend, Naina! And it had all been possible because he had come back to Ahemdabad, back to his Nanu. Sameer tried not to think about that fateful day, but today his mind cheated him.

***

Thursday, 23rd Dec, 1993

The college winter break had started. It had been an unusually damp and chilly morning for Ahemdabad.

"Nanu, Goood Mornnninggg," Sameer's voice boomed in Nanu's ears. Nanu's light sleep was broken by the cheerful greeting of his grandson. He propped himself up onto the pillow with Sameer's help as he rubbed his eyes and saw Sameer's beaming face.

"Aaj bada khush lag raha hai. Kya baat hai? Naina ne shaadi ke liye haan kar di kya?" Nanu teased as he put on his glasses.

"Naannuu! Aap bhi na. Hamesha mujhe tang karte rehte hain," Sameer spoke demurely, but couldn't help blush.

"Ye lijiye...garma garam chai. Maine apne haathon se banayi hai- aapki manpasand, ilachi, adrak daal ke- masala chai," Sameer said as he poured out the tea for both of them.

Nanu took the cup from him in surprise, "tune banayi hai? Chai? Tujhe paani bhi garam karna aata hai? Nahi nahi...gas jalani aati hai? Arey nahi...hamara kitchen kahaan hai ye pata hai?"

"Nanu!! Mujhe sab aata hai. Maine sab seekh liya hai. Naina ne mujhe chai banana sikhaya to maine sabse pehle aapke liye banayi. Pike dekhiye na kaisi hai?" Sameer implored.

Nanu smiled broadly, surprised and in awe of the girl whose love had transformed his grandson to this extent. Sameer had left his ego aside and had become extremely responsible, caring and more loving than he could have ever imagined.

Nanu took a sip and his lips curved into admiration.

"Hmmm...kamaal hai! Pehli baar banayi tune? Bahot badhiya hai ye toh!" Nanu's approval prompted a smile on Sameer's apprehensive face as he took a sip too. Sameer's face lit up.

"Well, actually not bad Sameer!" he patted himself. "Nanaji, abse roz subah aapke liye chai main banaya karunga," he said happily and Nanu blessed him. The grandfather-grandson duo chatted for another half an hour as they sat drinking tea together.

If only Sameer had realized his Nanu had looked weak that morning! If only he had taken Nanu's ill health, his cold and cough since the past night seriously! If only Sameer knew that the tea he made for him for the first time, would be his last morning tea. Nanu had been talking to him for half an hour, sitting next to him, but Sameer had failed to notice the discomfort he was feeling. His hand would move over his chest and he would rub it every now and then. A while later, Sameer and Nanu had gotten ready and Sameer had requested him to join him for a movie at the theatre. It was meant for just the two of them! Nanu hadn't been feeling upto it, yet he'd agreed seeing Sameer so excited. Those three hours in the cinema- how Sameer wished if he could turn time, he would have rushed Nanu straightaway to the hospital. By the end of the movie, Nanu had looked extremely worn off. They'd driven back home and settled down for lunch. But Nanu did not have appetite for that too. And then suddenly, he had collapsed.

Sameer shivered as he thought about that day. Almost a year had passed by, yet the memories of that day were vividly etched into his mind. Time seemed to have stopped as he'd rushed Nanu to the hospital, while Ramdhari had informed Munna and Pandit. His parents had flown all the way from Delhi; and Naina, Preeti and Arjun had rushed over to his side. Nanu had had a severe heartattack and Sameer had been a day late in identifying it. Nanu had hardly regained consciousness for a few minutes, where he'd pleaded with Vishakha to take utmost care of Sameer and to fulfill each wish, each desire he might have at present and in future. But Sameer! Sameer had been in a daze all that day. He'd remained sitting besides Nanu all the while, clutching his hands in his own. And then Nanu had spoken to Sameer, telling him that he loved him more than anything else in his life, and now that he'd led a contented life, it was time for him to go. Those words pierced Sameer's heart even today. Nanu had told him that from now on, Sameer would need to gear up for responsibility sooner than was due for him. He'd also expressed full faith and confidence in his abilities and was sure that Sameer would live upto his name. Nanu had blessed Munna and Pandit too. And then he'd called Naina close and patted her cheek and forehead in blessing. His hand had then wandered over to caress Sameer's cheek. And then, with one last look at both him and Naina, he'd smiled and breathed his last.

***

Sameer was brought out from his solemn reverie by the familiar two rings of the telephone. He immediately pulled himself up again, as a small smile quivered onto his lips. She always knew! Sameer wiped the tears in his eyes on his shirt sleeve as he walked over to the telephone in the gallery outside. As he picked up the receiver, Naina's voice sounded, "Sameer. I Love You!" Sameer could just smile at her words. How had he got so lucky to have her in his life? He must have showed some real generosity to someone in his past life and this is why, God had blessed with Naina in this one. She knew he would be missing his Nanu tonight and she was there to provide him her love- to remind him that he was not alone.

"I Love You too Naina," Sameer sighed and couldn't help adding, "bas ab jaldi se mere ghar mein aa jao. Ab aur akele nahi reh sakta main."

After the birthday celebration and proposal, Sameer had dropped Naina home by half past nine. As per Sameer's plan, Shefali and Preeti were ready to receive her. Seeing no one in sight, Naina had rushed over to Shefali's house first to change.

"Acha, kisi ne late hone pe kuch kaha to nahi?" Sameer asked.

"Nahi. Zyada kuch nahi. Taiji zara chilla rahi thi, par fir Shefali ne keh diya ki main uski padhai me madad kar rahi thi...aur padhte padhte waqt ka pata hi nahi chala...jab bhook lagi to yaad aaya ki 9.30 baj gaye hain! Baaki Preeti ne thoda Taiji ka dhyaan bhatka ke sambhaal liya!" explained Naina.

"Tumhe pata hai, tumhare saath itna khana khane ke baad mujhe firse khana khana pada," she chuckled.

"Matlab shaadi ke pehle moti hone ka iraada hai," Sameer chuckled, knowing Naina would take time to figure out the hidden meaning behind this line.

"Kya? Tumse to kam hi kha rahi hoon!" Naina's innocent response affirmed his assumptions. Naina had not understood the hidden meaning.

Sameer sometimes wondered, "itna dimag hai is ladki mein,fir bhi kuch kuch baatein bilkul nahi samajhti!"

"Moti to tum hogi shaadi ke baad...pakka...," Sameer responded slyly and not at all innocently.

Sameer and Naina spent a long time on the phone that night, reminiscing about the olden days, right from school to college.

"Wo first kiss yaad hai Naina? Ab to aise kayi saare kisses honge," Sameer prompted again, teasingly. He could imagine Naina blushing at the other end.

"Kuch bhi Sameer!" she mumbled.

"Vaise Naina, tumhe pata to hai na shaadi ke baad kya kya hota hai?" Sameer asked flirtatiously as he settled down on the arm chair.

"Ab sab to pehle hi kar liya humne!" muttered Naina, embarrassed.

Sameer let out a chortle. He pulled the receiver away and looked at it incredulously. "Meri biwi kitni bholi hai!" he thought and then spoke again, "madam, ye bas trailer tha. Picture abhi baaki hai!"

It was Naina who was surprised now. "Really? What more was there to do?" she thought in excitement as she twirled her engagement ring on her finger. Sameer smiled, sensing her curiosity. He would explain it to her post marriage, no worries. No, he would practically demonstrate everything to Naina. How he wished it could be soon!

"Acha Sameer, main ghar pe bata dun kya?" asked Naina.

"Haan Naina, humein batana to hai, par pehle mujhe bhi mom-dad ko phone karke bulana hoga, sab samjhana hoga aur convince karna hoga ki wo tumhare ghar tumhara haath mere liye maangne jaayein!" explained Sameer.

"Haath maangne...mera? Sameer ke liye?" Naina mused, as reality started to sink in. She was finally going to marry her Sameer! She tried to pull herself out of her dreamland and focus instead on what Sameer was saying, "ek kaam karte hain, kal college me decide karte hain ki kisko kaise batana hai okay?"

"Hmm.," replied Naina, unable to suppress the colour in her cheeks. "Thank God he wasn't there at the moment or he would have relentlessly teased her about it," thought Naina.

"Aur suno, wo angoothi abhi chupa ke rakh do. Kisi ne tumhari ungli pe batane se pehle dekhi to bawaal ho jayega," said Sameer.

"Tumhe kaise pata ki-," Naina spoke, astounded.

"Tumhe khud se zyada jaanta hun. Ye angoothi maine pehnayi hai to tum ise pakka nahi utarna chahogi. Par chinta mat karo, mangni ke time pe bhi main hi tumhe ye angoothi firse, sabke saamne pehnaunga," Sameer told her. Naina couldn't help but smile. Sameer knew her in and out! She took the ring off her finger, albeit, not wanting to, and carefully put it in her jewellery box. And then Sameer and Naina chatted and flirted over the phone for another hour.

***

Sameer called up Munna and Pandit next.

"Bhaiyon..., kapde silwa lo. Tumhare bhai ki shaadi hai," he declared with glee.

Munna and Pandit were overjoyed, "matlab bhabhi ne haan kar di?"

Sameer responded with happiness, "Bilkul haan kar di! Vaise use wo surprise bhi bahot acha laga. Aur tum dono ki madad ke bina ye kabhi nahi ho sakta tha. So thank you so much yaaron!"

Munna and Pandit had helped Sameer with the execution of the surprise plan. They'd helped him decorate the trees, get the cake and Swati and Preeti had helped him choose the ring as they knew Naina's choice better than anyone. And then they'd made sure they got the saree blouse pre-fitted for Naina. Shefali had taken care that Naina would escape unscathed from the prying eyes of her Taiji and father. And then as planned, by ten minutes to eight, Munna and Pandit had lit up the garden, lighted the diyas and left, giving the loverbirds the privacy to cherish their special moment together!

Pandit spoke, "arey bhai, thank you kya? Dosti ka ik usool hai- no sorry, no thank you! Kabse ye Munna ke ghar pe baithe hain intezaar mein ki bhabhi haan karengi ya nahi!"

"Haan to karni hi thi, pyaar jo karti hai mujhse. Par sach bolun, darr fir bhi lag raha tha. Bahot mushkil se saccha pyaar mila hai yaar, bas ab kuch gadbad na ho!" Sameer replied earnestly.

Munna consolded him, "Sameer, pyaar ki tension mat le. Bas tension le to wo tere sasur Safari suit ki. Soch wo kitne thappad maarega jab use pata chalega ki uski beti ke saath tune chakkar chalaya,wo bhi school se, itne saalon se, theek uski naak ke niche!" But at these words, Munna, Pandit and Sameer started giggling, trying to imagine the shock on their librarian teacher's face when he found out that his daughter was in love with his least favourite student in school of all times, and now she wanted to marry him.

It was right from standard eleventh that Sameer and Naina's affair had started. They'd spent some lovely moments in school, outside of school, in temples, even on the rooftop of Naina's society, yet Safari suit had never got the wind of it! Sameer chuckled as they recollected how Naina had refused to tie him a Rakhi in front of her father and the excuse she'd given- "Main aise badtameez aur bigde huye ladke ko rakhi kaise bandh sakti hun?" The trio laughed as they reminisced about their school memories and how they'd outwitted the librarian on umpteen occasions. Even Naina knew that her father had been quite unreasonable with Sameer and hence she didn't blame Sameer for not liking him. She knew quite well that Sameer bore all the torture inflicted upon him, only because he knew one day, he was going to marry his daughter.

Sameer would often joke, "Naina, tumhara baap, mera matlab tumhare param-pujya pitaji hamari shaadi ke baad bhi to mujhe thappad nahi maarenge na?"

"Munna, tu Swati ko bhi bata de. Main kal usse bhi personally thank you bol dunga. Shefali ko Naina ko ghar chodte time thanks kar diya tha, aur Preeti se thodi der pehle phone pe baat ho gayi. Naina ne phone kiya tha," Sameer spoke into the receiver.

"Vaise Sameer, thode din me to bhabhi tere saamne hongi. Fir tujhe phone ki zarurat hi nahi padegi," Munna teased.

Pandit exclaimed, "arey hamein to phone karega na," to which Munna again quipped, "pagal ho raha ponga Pandit, shaadi ke baad Sameer ko bhabhi se phursat milegi tab na," and the duo chuckled hard.

"Chup karo tum dono. Kuch bhi bolte rehte ho," Sameer said, thankful that they couldn't see him blushing like a beetroot over the phone.

When they finally disconnected the call, all Sameer could think of was his marriage with Naina and dream about their life post that. As he went to his bedroom to sleep, he found himself reminiscing about their courtship days till now, how they'd come a long way from not even knowing about each other's existence, to a madly-in-love couple, who couldn't even dream of staying away from each other. Over all these years, Sameer knew how especially difficult it had been for him to control himself and his fiery emotions, whenever he was in Naina's vicinity. And the difficulties had only increased after their first kiss, on the most romantic night ever- in Darjeeling, 23rd July 1992.

***

"Ho gayi 'Jeejaji' se baat?" Preeti quipped as she laid more emphasis on the word, 'Jeejaji' today.

Naina nodded as she got up on the bed. "Wo keh rahe hain ki kal baat karenge ki sabko kaise batana hai," Naina started explaining.

"Wo keh rahe hain?" Preeti cut her off, astonished.

"Matlab abhi se hi itni izzat? Haaye Naina tu jeejaji ko kaise bulayegi na shaadi ke baad- aji sunte hain, aji chintu ke papa," Preeti laughed as she received a punch from Naina.

"Acha chal, Mini ke papa, ab ladki huyi toh," Preeti was not in a mood to relent.

Naina began hitting her playfully with pillows, "tu apna soch. Pandit aur tere kitne bacche honge samjhi".

"Maine aur Pandit ne to decide kiya hai- hum ghumnege, firenge, khayenge, piyenge, aish karenge, aur fir sochenge bacchon ke baare mein," Preeti replied nonchalantly, "par ye sab to tab hoga na jab hamari shaadi hogi! Ab bas ye Taiji apna 'ladka dikhao abhyaan' band karein! Tujhe to papa ka support mil jaata hai ki Naina abhi padhai kar rahi hai, phas main jaati hun!"

"Preeti, Pandit ka kya scene hai? Uske papa mane kya?" asked Naina. Pandit's father had got to know of his son's affair with Preeti. He was not agreeing to the match because the two belonged to different castes. And Sameer and Munna were working overtime to convince him to let go of his inhibitions.

"Nahi yaar, abhi tak to nahi, lekin meri hone wali sasu maa thoda pighal gayi hain. Ab wo maan jaayein to phir yahan pe minnatein shuru- hamare ghar wale to tujhe pata hi hai," Preeti spoke, a tinge of pain evident in her carefree voice. Naina knew Preeti only too well. She knew behind the chirpy, bold girl lay a sensitive soul, known only to very selected people, and who was pining to be with the love of her life- Pandit. Naina pulled her sister into a comforting hug, wishing that Preeti's issue got resolved soon, and at the same time thinking how their family would respond when she told them that she was in love with a boy- that too Sameer, and been involved with him since school, and that now she wanted to marry him. Her dad hated him! Even though he'd given up on his favourite past time of slapping Sameer after Arjun confessed to stealing the papers, he still didn't harbor any soft corner for him.

"I better inform chachaji first," Naina thoughtas the sisters lay down to sleep. As itis over the years, Naina felt this guilt of keeping her chachaji in the darkabout her affair with Sameer. After all, in her entire family, he was the onlyone who was broad-minded enough to acknowledge the fact that even girls couldfall in love. If he knew about her and Sameer, he would have acted sensibly,would have met Sameer and judged him personally as Naina's prospective groom.Once he'd been convinced, he would have given the nod of approval and thenhelped them in trying to convince the family. This is why Naina always felt badat having had to lie to her chachaji whenever she wanted to go out with Sameer.And Preeti- well she didn't want to tell anyone about Pandit till his familygave a nod of approval. Naina knew that out of them both, Preeti was thepractical one. And she hoped that soon, neither Preeti nor she would have tohide their love-life from chachaji.  

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hey friends, what did you think of this part? Do vote and comment if you liked it. 

Personally, it was quite painful for me to edit parts of it (related to Nanu) and that's why it took me some time to come around to posting it.