4.

Naina was sitting in the garden, gently watering the plants. The soft afternoon breeze moved through the leaves as she carefully sprinkled water over the flowers.

Just then, Pratibha walked over and sat beside her on the small bench.

“Beta,” she said warmly, “kal ghar mein Satya Narayan ki pooja rakhne ka soch rahe hain. Tumhari aur Veer ki shaadi ke liye bhi… aur ghar ki shanti ke liye.”

Naina looked at her and nodded politely. “Theek hai, Mummy ji.”

Pratibha smiled and continued, “Toh Veer ke saath aaj shaam ko market jaa kar kuch samaan le aana. Main list bana dungi.”

Naina nodded again. “Ji, Mummy ji.”

“Theek hai,” Pratibha said happily as she got up and walked back inside the house, already thinking about the preparations for the pooja.

Naina stayed in the garden for a moment longer, gently watering the last few plants, her mind quietly wondering about the evening trip to the market with Veer.
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Veer and Naina were strolling through the market, the evening bustle all around them. Small shops were lit with yellow lights, vendors calling out to customers, and the aroma of fresh snacks floating in the air.

Naina looked at the list in her hand and said, “Coconut lena hai.”

Veer nodded and the two of them walked toward a nearby shop, buying the coconut.

After that, Naina continued, “Aur sabzi bhi leni hai thodi.”

They walked toward a vegetable vendor.

“Bhaiya, aalu kitne ke diye?” Naina asked.

“40 ke, madam,” the vendor replied.

Naina frowned. “40 ke? Kal maine liye toh 25 ke the. Itna rate kaise badh gaya ek din mein?”

The vendor shrugged. “Arre madam, itne ke hi hain. Aapko nahi lene toh mat lo.”

Naina looked at him for a second, then turned to Veer. “Haan theek hai… chaliye.”

Veer looked at her, surprised. “Arre lekin—”

Before he could finish, Naina grabbed his wrist and started walking away.

Veer’s eyes dropped to her hand holding his wrist, and for a moment he just stared at it quietly.

He came out of his thoughts when they heard the vendor calling out behind them.

“Arre aa jao madam! Le lo… 30 ke lagaunga.”

Naina immediately turned back and walked toward him with Veer.

“Haan chalo, 30 theek hai. Pehle hi maan jaate. Do kilo kar do,” she said confidently.

The vendor packed the potatoes and Veer picked up the bag. They began walking again.

Naina giggled softly. “Dekha? Maine kitne achhe se rate kam kara diya.”

“Haan, sach mein… aapne toh mere bahut paise bacha liye,” Veer said with a hint of sarcasm.

But Naina, not catching the sarcasm, simply smiled brightly. “Welcome.”

Veer looked at her for a moment and just smiled.

Soon all the shopping was done and they returned to the car, placing the bags in the trunk before sitting inside.
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While driving back home, Veer noticed a small ice cream stall at the corner of the road and slowed the car to a stop.

Naina looked at him. “Kya hua?”

“Ice cream khayengi?” he asked.

Naina looked outside and spotted the stall. Her face lit up instantly. “Haan, bilkul!”

They both got out of the car and walked toward the stall.

“Kaunsa flavour?” Veer asked.

Naina looked at the options, clearly confused. “Butterscotch… nahi… chocolate… nahi nahi… black currant… nahi… mango…”

Veer chuckled softly. “Main decide kar leta hoon.”

He ordered two chocolate cones.

They walked to a nearby bench and sat down. Naina happily licked her ice cream.

Suddenly she paused, realization hitting her.
“Aapko toh meetha zyada pasand nahi tha na?”

Veer nodded. “Par kabhi kabhi kha lena chahiye na.”

Naina nodded seriously. “Haan, bilkul sahi kaha aapne.”

Veer looked at her and added with a teasing smile, “Is baat pe… aaj aap bhi doodh piyengi.”

Naina immediately shook her head. “Nahi nahi! Bilkul nahi.”

Veer burst out laughing.

They finished their ice cream happily and soon drove back home, the quiet evening road stretching ahead of them.
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The next day, there was a pleasant hustle and bustle around the house. Preparations for the Satya Narayan pooja were in full swing.

Naina and Pratibha were in the kitchen, carefully checking if the food and prashad were prepared properly, while outside in the courtyard Veer and Prakash were talking to the guests who had started arriving.

Soon everyone was seated for the pooja.

“Veer, Naina… aao, jaake aage baith jao. Pooja shuru hone wali hai,” Pratibha called out.

Both of them walked forward and sat near the pandit ji. Naina quietly pulled her dupatta over her head.

Veer suddenly realized he had forgotten to bring a handkerchief to cover his head. He looked around restlessly. As he was about to get up to fetch one, Pratibha immediately called out,

“Kahan jaa raha hai? Pooja shuru ho gayi hai!”

Before he could explain, she shot him a strict look. Veer quickly sat back down, slightly nervous.

Naina noticed and whispered softly, “Kya hua?”

“Main rumaal lana bhool gaya hoon… ab sar kis se dhakun?” Veer muttered.

Naina thought for a moment and said quietly, “Kisi se maang lijiye.”

Veer nodded at the idea at first, but then suddenly another thought crossed his mind.

Without saying anything, he scooted a little closer to Naina and gently pulled the end of her pallu that was hanging on the side… placing it over his head as well.

Naina froze.

She turned to him quickly and whispered, “Aap yeh kya kar rahe hain? Sab log yahan hain!”

Veer simply shrugged slightly. “Toh kya karoon? Sar toh dhakna hai na.”

Naina looked at him pleadingly, her eyes wide with embarrassment.

But Veer only gave her a small, calm smile, as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

Soon both of them faced forward again, following the pandit ji’s instructions quietly.

Among the guests, some smiled warmly seeing the young couple sitting so close together.

But a few others whispered among themselves, gossiping softly, “Kitne besharam hain… badon ka toh chhodo, bhagwan ka bhi lihaaz nahi hai.”

Naina lowered her gaze slightly, hearing the murmurs, while Veer sat beside her calmly, still holding the edge of her pallu over his head.

That's it for this chapter guys .

1136 -  words.

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