The scene was fraught with tension as Manvi stood trembling, her cheek still stinging from the force of Aarav's slap. Sharda approached her gently, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Manvi beta..." she began softly, her voice filled with concern.

But Manvi couldn't stay still. Her heart raced as she dashed out of the hall, desperate to find Aarav. Tears blurred her vision as she called out to him, "Aaravji, rukiye!" Her cries fell on deaf ears as he continued walking, his strides fueled by anger.

Summoning all her courage, Manvi reached out and grabbed his wrist, halting him in his tracks. His eyes bore into hers, filled with a mix of rage and pain. "Aap aisa kyun keh rahe hain?" she pleaded, her voice trembling with emotion. "Aapki patni ki saree pehnne ki itni badi saza?"

Aarav's grip tightened on her arms, his fury boiling over. "Yeh thappad tumhe saree pehnne ke liye nahi pada hai!" he thundered, his voice echoing in the empty street. "Yeh thappad tumhe mujhse meri beti ko door karne ki koshish ke liye pada hai."

Manvi's eyes widened in shock at his words. "Main aapko Khushi se door karne ke baare mein soch bhi nahi sakti hun," she insisted, her voice firm despite the pain coursing through her.

But Aarav's accusations continued to fly, each word cutting deeper than the last. "Soch nahi sakti? Toh Khushi ne kyun kaha main tumhara divorce karke tumhe hamesha ke liye ghar le aau uski sauteli maa banake?" His anger was palpable, his grip unrelenting.

Manvi's world spun as she struggled to comprehend the situation. "Main nahi janti, Aaravji... Wo toh bachi hai," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

But Aarav's accusations only grew more vehement, his words laced with pain and betrayal. "Bachi hai isliye tum uska fayda utha rahi ho?" he accused, his grip tightening with each accusation hurled her way.

Desperate to defend herself, Manvi shook her head, her eyes brimming with tears. "Aap yeh kya keh rahe hain... Aap galat samajh rahe hain mujhe," she protested, her voice breaking under the weight of his accusations.

But Aarav was beyond reason, consumed by his own pain and anger. "Galat samajh raha hun main tumhe? Nahi! Sach yeh hai ki tumne meri beti ka fayda uthaya hai... Uske emotions ke saath khilwad kiya hai tumne!" His words hung heavy in the air, each syllable a dagger aimed at her heart.

With a final, anguished cry, Aarav stormed off, leaving Manvi standing alone in the empty street, her heart shattered into a million pieces. And as the realization of his accusations sank in, tears streamed down her cheeks, a silent testament to the pain and betrayal she felt in that moment.

Khushi's shock at Aarav's actions was palpable as she turned to Sharda, her eyes filled with disbelief. "Daadi, dadda ne dost ko thappad maara! How can he do that?" Her voice quivered with anger at her father's behavior.

Sharda, taken aback by Khushi's words, looked at her with a mixture of concern and pain. "Beta, tumne kya kaha unse?" Her voice was gentle, trying to understand the situation.

As Khushi explained, Sharda's expression shifted to one of stunned realization. Cupping Khushi's face in her hands, she implored softly, "Khushi, dadda se baat karne se pehle ek baar mujhse baat kar leti..." Her eyes reflected both sadness and a plea for understanding.

But Khushi's determination overshadowed any hesitation. "Aapse kyun karti main? Unhone phirse meri dost ko hurt kiya hai! I need to speak to him," she declared, rushing out of the hall in pursuit of her father.

Finding Manvi standing alone on the empty road, Khushi's heart constricted with guilt and sorrow. She approached her friend from behind and enveloped her in a tight hug. "I am sorry, dost! Mujhe nahi pata tha dadda iss tarah aapko sabke saamne thappad maar denge," she murmured, her voice filled with remorse.

Manvi closed her eyes briefly, taking in the comfort of Khushi's embrace before turning to face her. "Khushi, tumne apne dadda se mere divorce ki baat kyun ki?" she questioned, her voice tinged with hurt and confusion.

But Khushi's conviction remained unwavering. "Galat kya hai isme? Aapke so-called husband kitna torture karte hain aapko! He doesn't deserve you... My dadda and I do!" Her words were adamant, filled with a daughter's protective instinct towards her father.

Manvi's gaze softened as she looked at Khushi, trying to make her understand. "Khushi, tum kya kah rahi ho? Samajh hai tumhe kuch?" Her voice was gentle yet pleading, hoping to bridge the gap between them.

But Khushi's resolve didn't falter. "Haan mujhe samajh hai dost! Aapke aane ke baad main badal gayi... Dadda badal gaye... Hum saath rahenge as a family toh khush rahenge," she affirmed, her words filled with hope for a united family.

"Khush rehne ke liye ek chatt ke neeche rehna zaroori nahi hota hai, Khushi," Manvi replied softly, trying to impart a lesson in acceptance and self-worth.

But Khushi persisted, her words carrying the weight of her emotions. "Kyun nahi! Aapka aur mera rishta dosti se badhke hai... Yeh baat aap ache janti ho," she said meaningfully, hoping to convey the depth of their bond.

Manvi's heart swelled with love for Khushi as she cupped her face tenderly. "Haan! Mere liye tum meri beti jaisi ho... Tumne mujhe apni maa hone ka darja diya, yahi mere liye garv ki baat hai lekin tumhare dadda ne mujhe uss nazron se kabhi nahi dekha Khushi.. Zabardasti rishte nahi juda karte hai bache," she explained, her words carrying both love and wisdom.

But Khushi remained stubborn, unwilling to accept defeat. "Jhooth! Aapke dil mein dadda ke liye feelings hai," she insisted, her tone resolute in her belief.

"Khushi bas! Main nahi chahti meri wajah se tumhara aur tumhare dadda ka rishta kharab ho! Main issi waqt ghar se jaungi aur tum phirse apne dadda se iss baare mein baat nahi karogi samajh gayi," Manvi warned her firmly, her voice tinged with sadness at the prospect of their relationship being strained.

But Khushi shook her head in denial, refusing to heed her friend's warning. She gestured for Manvi to join her in the car, silently signaling her decision to stand by her father despite the turmoil. And as they drove off towards the mansion, the air was heavy with unspoken emotions, each woman grappling with the weight of their choices and loyalties.

Malhotra Mansion

As Aarav stepped into the familiar confines of his home, the echoes of Khushi's words reverberated in his mind, stirring up a tempest of emotions within him. With a heavy heart, he made his way to the bar, his steps weighed down by the burden of his turmoil.

Fingers trembling, he reached for the whiskey bottle, his once steadfast resolve crumbling in the face of overwhelming despair. The bottle, a silent witness to his struggles, beckoned to him like a siren's call, offering temporary solace from the storm raging within.

Without hesitation, Aarav twisted the cap off the bottle, the sound slicing through the air like a knife. With each gulp, the fiery liquid burned its way down his throat, momentarily drowning out the cacophony of thoughts tormenting his mind.

The familiar sting of alcohol provided a fleeting respite, numbing the raw edges of his pain, if only for a moment. Yet, beneath the haze of intoxication, the weight of his emotions remained unyielding, a constant reminder of his inner turmoil.

As he drained the last drops from the bottle, a hollow emptiness settled over him, leaving behind only the bitter taste of regret. For in that moment of weakness, Aarav found himself ensnared once more by the demons he had fought so hard to escape.

Manvi steps out of the car, her resolve firm as she enters the hall. Aarav's sight, drinking as usual, fails to surprise her anymore. Quietly, she heads to her room, packing her belongings, ready to bid her final farewell.

Placing the saree before Aarav, her voice remains steady and resolute, betraying none of the turmoil within her. "Mera koi irada nahi hai aapki patni banne ka aur Khushi ki sauteli maa banne ka, Aaravji! Aapne mujhe mere pati se bachaya, mujhe ghar laaye, mujhe rehne ke liye chatt di. Zindagi bhar aapki shukarguzar rahungi. Aur rahi baat mere aur Khushi ke rishte ki, toh haan, mere liye wo meri beti se bhi badhke hai aur hamesha rahegi! Maine aapki beti ke emotions ke saath koi khilwad nahi kiya hai."

Aarav's response is laced with sarcasm, his eyes hardening with unresolved emotions. "Kisibhi keemat pe iss ghar mein Khushi ki sauteli maa nahi aayegi! Tumne bahut kuch kiya hai meri beti ke liye! Uski keemat bhi tumhe mili... aur kya chahiye? Meri beti... hai wo sirf meri!"

Manvi's calm demeanor remains unshaken as she responds, her resolve unwavering. "Jaa rahi hun main. Pehle hi chali jaati lekin aapki beti ne mujhe roka hua tha. Uska dil rakhne ke liye main ruki rahi."

Aarav's attempt to assert control manifests in the form of a blank cheque, thrust forcefully into Manvi's hand. "Jitni amount bharni hai bhar lo! Lekin mujhse aur meri beti se door raho..."

In a moment of defiance, Manvi tears the cheque in half and discards it, her rejection of his attempts at reconciliation clear. "Mujhe aapse kuch nahi chahiye..."

Aarav's tone grows harsher. "Kamre mein tasveerein lagana... mera khayal rakhna! Mujhe meri beti ke qareeb le aayi tum... sab isliye na taaki uski sauteli maa ban sako? Par main aisa kabhi hone nahi dunga! Kabhi bhi nahi..."

Frustration and sorrow evident in her voice, Manvi sighs deeply. "Bas kijiye... mujhe laga itne mahino mein aap mujhe samajh paaye hai par nahi! Khair... aap pehle hi mujhe bahut kuch de chuke hai." Recalling his past actions, she softly adds, "Khayal rakhiyega apna," With a soft reminder to care for himself, she walks out.

At the gate, she sees Khushi, anger and tears in her eyes. Manvi smiles gently, touching Khushi's face and kissing her forehead. Despite Khushi's silent plea, Manvi gently removes her grip, leaves the house, and drives away, tears streaming down her face as she looks back one last time.

Khushi's clap echoes through the tense atmosphere, her voice cutting through the silence like a knife. "Congratulations, Mr. Malhotra, aap jeet gaye!"

Aarav is stunned, his expression betraying his shock as Khushi addresses him by his name. "Khushi..." he begins, struggling to comprehend her outburst.

But Khushi is relentless, her anger palpable as she hits him hard on the chest, tears streaming down her face, shattering her dreams. "Kar diya na aapne unhe bhi mujhse door! Aap kabhi mujhe khush dekh hi nahi sakte ho, sirf apne baare mein sochte ho aap, you are selfish Mr. Malhotra," she shouts, her voice laden with emotion.

Desperately, Aarav tries to explain, "Aisa nahi hai beta! Main sirf tumhe protect kar raha hun..."

But Khushi refuses to listen, her voice thick with emotion as she reminds him of his actions, "Yeh aapka protection hai? Jo mere dil ke itne kareeb hai use sabke saamne thappad maara aapne! Mat bhoolo aap agar wo nahi hoti toh aap aur main aaj bhi iss ghar mein ajnabee ki tarah rehte."

Khushi's accusations pierce the air like daggers as she confronts Aarav. "Are wo mujhe samajhti nahi toh main kabhi aapse baat nahi karti khudse... Unhe meri zindagi mein uss maa ki kami puri ki jise aapne zaleel karke ghar se bahar nikala tha! Bahut bure ho aap Mr. Malhotra, bahut bure..."

Desperate, Aarav cups her face, his voice strained with emotion. "Aisa nahi hai... Dadda loves you."

But Khushi wrenches herself away, her tears falling freely now. "No, you don't love me! Agar aap mujhse pyaar karte toh meri dost ko hurt nahi karte! Aapne toh unke dil se kiye hue cheezon ko bhi kaha ki sab unhone jaanbujhke kiya hai Mr. Malhotra, you are so mean!"

His heart breaking, Aarav tries to reason with her. "Khushi, tum mujhse kehti ki tumhari dost ko main iss ghar mein as paying guest rakh lun toh rakh leta... Par tumne toh use..."

But Khushi is resolute, her resolve unwavering, "Haq hai unka! She deserves to be my mother... And you don't deserve to be my father... Ab main aapke saath yahan nahi reh sakti hun!"

Aarav is shocked by her declaration, "Kya?? Tum uss aurat ke liye phirse mujhe chodke jaogi?"

With determination, Khushi affirms, "Haan jaungi!! Aur iss baar wapas nahi lautungi... Tab aapko ehsaas hoga meri takleef ka... Mere akelepan ka."

As Khushi turns to leave, Aarav rushes after her, desperation evident in his actions. "Khushi, ruko... Mat jao mujhe chodke."

But Khushi refuses to yield, pulling her hand away once more. "Main jaungi Mr. Aarav Malhotra... Mujhe nahi rehna hai aapke saath! Aap matlabi insaan ho, aapko mere emotions, feelings ki koi kadar nahi hai! Na aap mere pita hai aur na main aapki beti, hamara rishta yahi khatam," she declares firmly.

Sharda, torn between her loyalty to Aarav and her love for Khushi, tries to intervene. "Nahi beta, aisa mat karo yeh ghar tumhara hai..."

But Khushi remains resolute, her voice filled with anguish. "Nahi rehna hai mujhe yahan dadi! Issi ghar mein meri mumma ko mujhse door kiya inhone... Mujhe 15 saal apni maa se alag rakha aur ab meri dost se bhi mujhe door kar diya... Rahe ye iss ghar mein akele! Aaj se aap marr gaye mere liye aur main aapke liye... Khudko anaath maan liya hai maine aaj se," she shouts, her words echoing in the silence.

Sharda's plea echoes through the tense air, her voice trembling with emotion. "Nahi beta... Apne pita ko itni badi saza mat do."

Aarav's voice quivers with pain as he speaks in a low tone, his words heavy with sorrow. "Tum kuch mahino ke rishte ke liye apne baap se rishta tod rahi ho Khushi?"

Khushi's eyes brim with tears as she responds, her voice choked with emotion. "Aapka aur mera rishta toh toota hua pehle se tha.. Unhone ise phirse joda tha! Kho diya aaj aapne mujhe hamesha ke liye.. Kaha tha maine aapse phirse mera bharosa mat todna par aapne tod diya! Mujhse mera guroor chenn liya aapne.. Mujhe anaath kar diya Mr. Malhotra."

Aarav's tears mingle with Khushi's as he silently begs her not to leave him alone, his heart breaking with each passing moment. But Khushi, resolute in her decision, refuses to yield, turning away and leaving the house.

As Khushi walks away, Aarav collapses to his knees, his anguish pouring out in a desperate cry. "Khushi, mat jao," he shouts, his voice raw with pain, tears streaming down his face like a river of sorrow.