Aarav was busy with his mothers who have been teasing him. Nandini asked "Toh kaisa lag raha hai engagement karke?"

"Acha hi lag raha hoga! Dekha nahi kaise ghur raha hai Manvi ko" Pooja replies on his behalf.

Aarav passed a fake smile to them and thought "God! Kaha fhas gaya hun.."

Nandini laughs "bas bas ab aur mat chedo.. Chal Manvi ke saath jaake kuch khale" she said.

Aarav agrees and gets up from the couch. He had a sigh of relief, he went to the food area and grabbed a plate for himself.

Sadhna comes to the place holding Manvi's wrist. Manvi said "badi maa suno toh"

"Kuch nahi sunna hai mujhe! Chalo dono saath mein baithke khana khao" Sadha intructs.

Manvi stared at him for a moment, Aarav thought "ghur toh aise rahi hai jaise zeher khane ko bol diya ho mere saath"

"Khana aur iske saath.. Bhooki marr jaungi par ek plate mein nahi khaungi" she thought making a face.

"Muh toh aise bana rahi hai.. Jaise shahzaadi ho!" Aarav smiled fakely.

"Ye iski sarcastic smile.. Kis angle se seedha saadha lagta hai?" Manvi thought.

"Kya tum dono bas ek dusre ko ghure jaa rahe ho?" Sadhna questions.

"Acha toh mere saamne sharam aa rahi hai.. Koi baat nahi main jaati hun" Sadhna assumes

Manvi smiles "jee badi maa" she said.

Sadhna leaves them alone.

Manvi picks up another plate still her eyes fixed on him. Aarav thought "tevar toh dekho! Maa ke saamne shareef aur peeche aa gayi asliyat pe"

Manvi thought "tevar abhi dikhaye kaha hai shaadi ke baad aise tevar dikhaungi na jeena muskil kar dungi!"

He asked "kuch kaha tumne?"

Manvi eyes became wide, and she nods her head in no "nahi.. Aapne kuch suna?" she asked.

Aarav refuses and both of them eat food from their respective plates. Aniket and Ishika came towards them.

Aarav tries to escape as he knows both the devils will tease him but Aniket grabbed his wrist "dada.. Mere pyaare dada" he said in the softest tone of his.

Aarav eyed at him and warned him not to tease but Aniket wasn't scared of his threat. "Kya dada.. Aise khone mein khade hoke bhabhi ke saath khana kha rahe ho humhare saath toh kabhi aise nahi khaya aapne?" he asked teasingly.

"Aur nahi toh kya.. Engagement pe ye haal hai shaadi ke baad pata nahi kya hi karenge bhaiya" Ishika joined him.

Manvi smiles fakely and thought "kya family hai ek dusre ko tease hi karte rehte hai aur ye kuch bolta bhi nahi hai inhe! Definately mujhe aisa partner nahi chahiye tha"

"Attitude toh dekho! Kuch bol bhi nahi rahi hai.." Aarav thought.

Manvi rolls her eyes towards him and he looks away. Aarav said "Ani.. bahut ho gaya aajke liye!"

"Kya dada.. Thik se baat bhi kaha hui hai bhabhi se? Waise aapse toh pehle bahut mulakat hui.. Socha nahi tha aap mere pyaare bhai ki jeevan saathi ban jayegi" Aniket spoke turning towards Manvi.

She smiled and replied "ji.. Mujhe bhi nahi pata aisa kuch hoga mere saath"

Aarav understood this taunt was for him. He thought "masoom ban rahi hai kitni..! Jo hai bhi nahi"

"Ek baat.. Mere dada na bahut zyda seedhe saadhe hai! Koi bhi unka fayda utha leta hai.. Aap unke saath rahogi toh main US mein befikar rahunga ki koi toh hai mere dada ko sambhalne waala.. Jo sabko sambhalte hai.." Aniket said while Aarav looks at him emotionally.

Manvi stared at him, "hamesha parivar ko khudse aage rakhte hai! Isliye khudke sapno khawaisho ko bhi todke mere sapno ko udaan di hai dada ne.. Aap bas mere dada ko thoda apne baare mein sochne ka sikha dena" he added on.

Manvi sighed and thought "mere sapne tode hai isne.. Ab dekho kaise tandav karungi iske sar pe main"

She smiles at Aniket and said "main koshish karungi.."

Aarav thought "jhoothi smile aur jhoothi baatein!"

Ishika acts to be emotionally "haaye mere toh aansu hi nikal aaye ye dukh bhari kahani sunke... chalyie waha sab bula rahe hai"

Everyone heads into the house, the guests had left and only family members were having discussions. Nitya comes to Manvi and asked "sab thik hai?"

"Haan sab thik hai" Manvi replied with a smile but Nitya was sure she isn't happy with the engagement just pretending to be the happiest bride.

Anoop and the family stands up, he folds his hand in front of Vivek and says "chalyie.. Ab shaadi ke din mulakat hogi! Aur tab aapki beti ko apne ghar le jaane aayenge tabtak aap sambhalke rakhiye hamari amanat"

Vivek greets him and says "Chinta mat kijiye.."

Prerna eyed Manvi and asked her to take blessings. Manvi sighed deeply and murmurs "abhi thodi der pehle toh liya tha.. Shaadi ka toh pata nahi lekin meri kamar mein dard zaroor hoga"

Nitya hits her arms as she finished blabbering. Manvi takes blessings from the elders, Nandini kisses her forehead "hamesha khush raho.. Ab tumhara swaghat ghar mein karungi!"

Manvi smiles, Aarav takes blessings from Manvi's and Nitya's parents. Prerna says "bhagwaan tumhe aur taraki de aur hamare jamai ji toh buri balaye se bachaye"

Anita says "buri bala toh ghar pe kundali maarke baithi hai.."

Pooja hits her arm, Nandini had heard Anita's words.

Aman asked "jiju aap agli baar kab aaoge?"

Aarav rufles his hairs and replies "jab aap bulayenge hum aa jayenge"

"Thik hai lekin aate waqt na wo chandni chawk ka special chole khulche lete aana.." Aman spoke while others ended up laughing.

"Aman aapke jiju ab aapki Di ko leke jaane ke liye aayenge!" Prerna said.

"Haan toh chole khulche toh laa hi sakte hai na" Aman spoke.

"Haa.. mera duggu ghodi pe haath mein chole khulche ka packet leke aayega" Nandini comments.

Aman finally steps aside and the Malhotra family departs the house.

Aniket looks at Nitya, he said "sorry agar aaj mere mazak se aapko hurt hua ho toh"

"It's fine.." Nitya replied.

"Shaadi mein mulakat hogi.. Baarati honge toh umeed hai swaghat ache se hoga hamara" Aniket said winking at her.

Nitya smiles "zaroor bahut ache se swaghat karenge aapka" she agrees.

"Aur haan aaj aap bahut achi lagi rahi thi.. Ye colour bahut khilta hai aap par" Aniket spoke praising her.

Anoop shouted "Ani...."

Aniket rushes out "Aaya papa" Nitya laughs.

Manvi was tired of maintaining a smile throughout the engagement. She touched her cheeks and moved towards the kitchen self-talking to herself "Ice pack lagana padega aa mere toh gaal hi dukh gaye itni badi smile dete dete"

Nitya comes and said "mannu.. Ye sab karne ki zaroorat nahi hai"

Manvi turns and takes a deep breath "behena.. Samjhaya tha na iss baare mein baat nahi karenge aur ab engagement bhi ho chuki hai" she spoke.

"Toh? Todi bhi jaa sakti hai na.. Main Aniketji se baat karti hun wo apne bhai ko samjhayenge aur unki baat maan bhi lenge Aaravji" Nitya said.

Manvi tried to divert the topic "ooho kya baat hai? Ek hi din mein itni achi tarah se jaan liya devarji ko?" she teased her.

Nitya gave her a serious look "main serious baat kar rahi hun!"

"Aur main bhi seriously kah rahi hun.. Parivar khush hai! Kabhi kabhi parivar ke liye aise faisle lene padte hai so please khudko guilt mein mat rakh" Manvi requests holding her hand.

"Wahi toh baat hai na mannu.. Engagement mein teri chehre pe jo muskan thi usko main ache se padh sakti hun! Aur tujhe aise dekhke ke mujhe guilt ho raha hai bahut zyada" Nitya said with teary eyes.

"Tumhari toh galti bhi nahi hai Nitu.. sach batane ka idea maine diya tha tumhe.. Usko jaake itne bade bade shadh bhi maine kahe they.. Aur maine mana bhi nahi kiya so please khudko doshi mat maan warna mujhe anxiety ho jayega" Manvi spoke making a face.

Nitya looks away, Manvi hugs her from behind and said "Nitu.. please na apne sapne pure karle! Aur agar tum aise guilt mein jaogi na toh kabhi safal nahi ho paogi please mere liye..."

Nitya taps her cheek lightly and Manvi smiles "ye hui na meri behena waali baat"

"Acha.. mujhe chod marr jaungi main" Nitya spoke as her neck was choking.

Manvi left and laughed "lo karlo baat yahan suli pe main chad rahi hun aur maut isko aa rahi hai"

Nitya smiled "sorry.." she apologized.

"Phirse sorry bola na toh tumhara US ka visa phad dungi main.. " Manvi warned her.

Nitya denies "nahi okay kuch nahi bolti.."

Manvi again hugged her and both the girls moves upstairs to change.

Malhotra Niwas

Today they all planned to sleep in the courtyard together retrieving their childhood memories. Aarav, Aniket and Ishika were arranging the mattresses.

"Isharo isharo mein.. Dil lene waale baate de ye hunar tune seekha kaha se" Aniket began to sing actually tease Aarav.

Ishika laughed, she joins him "khamoshiyan ghunguane lagi... tanhaiyan muskurane lagi"

Aarav stared at both of them "bas karo tum dono! Sharam aati hai ki nahi?" he asked annoyed.

"Aap ho na sharafat ke devta.. Hum toh besharam hi ache hai" Ishika said sharing a high-5 with Aniket.

Aarav shouts "choti maa..."

"Dada ab toh choti maa ke pallu se bahar aa jao! Aapki engagement ho chuki hai" Aniket said.

Nandini comes out of the room grabbing the blankets. She places them on the mattress and eyed at Aarav "kya hua duggu?"

"Inn do nalayako ko samjha do mujhe zyada tang na kare.." Aarav complains.

"Offo.. Ani aur Ishu aaj ke liye bahut ho gaya! Zyada tang kiya na toh dono ke kaan kheechungi" Nandini warns them.

Everyone comes out of the room after changing and sits down on the mattresses. Pooja said "chalo engagement bina kisi rukuwat ke achi tarah se ho gayi bas shaadi bhi ache se ho jaaye mere Aaru ki"

"Ho jayegi jijhi... Ghar ka renovation bhi kuch dino mein complete ho jayega! Bahu ke kadam shubh hai.. Uske iss ghar mein aane se pehle hi hamare Aarav ke kayi kaam pure ho gaye" Anita spoke..

Sharad smiled and said "chalo itne saalo baad iss ghar mein khushiyan ne dastak toh di!"

Aarav looks at Sharad and replies "khushiyan iss ghar mein pehle bhi thi mamaji.." he knows as this comment was towards Nandini.

Anita says "kaha thi Aarav? Itne saal se teri taraki ruki hui thi.. Rishta bhi toh nahi ho raha tha tera.. Ishu ke papa sahi kah rahe hai"

Aarav smiles at her and replies "mamiji.. Hum khushiyan choti choti cheezon mein dhundte hai isliye ye parivar saath hai aur hamesha rahega. Aur meri taraki, ghar ka renovation kisi aurke wajah se nahi hua hai.. Meri mehnat se hua hai!"

Aniket sighed deeply and mumures "choti maa ki baat ho toh zuban toh yuh chalti hai inki par khudke maamle mein nahi chalti hai.."

Pooja said "Aaru.. jaante hai sab teri mehnat se hua hai bhabhi toh aise hi.."

Aarav stands up and leaves from there. Sharad said "hum toh bas aise hi keh rahe they ye toh naraz ho gaya"

Ishika looks at her father and said "aap aur maa na kuch bhi kehte rehte ho"

Pooja stands up but Nandini stops her "bhabhi main dekhti hun duggu ko"

"Haan jeeke dekho.. " Pooja said, she eyed at Anita and she looks away apologizing with eyes.

Aarav was standing leaning against the wall and staring at the stars in the sky. He then looks at the ring on his finger and recalls everything.

Nandini comes to him and smiles "pata hai jab meri aur Karan ki engagement hui thi main bhi apni anguti ko aise ghanto ghura karti thi aur sochti thi jaane kya hoga shaadi ke baad" she said.

Aarav looks up and said "choti maa.. Nahi main aisa nahi soch raha tha"

"Acha? Neeche kya tha? Mama mami se aisa bartaav kyun?" she questions him.

"Main ache se jaanta hun dono ko! Unki har ek baat ka matlab bhi samajhta hun aur jo mamiji ne engagement mein kaha wo bhi maine suna tha" he said meaningfully.

"Isme galat kya hai duggu? Aur ye toh main pehle bhi sun chuki hun.. Kyun itna pareshan ho raha hai apne mama mami ki baat se?" she questions him.

"Kyuki wo log nahi samajhte aapka mera aur Aniket ka rishta..." Aarav said.

"Haan toh na samjhe.. Aur khushi ka mauka hai aise gile sikhwe dil mein nahi rakhte hai bade hai wo dono! Choton se galti hoti hai toh bade maaf karte hai na.. " Nandini spoke.

Aarav nods in yes, he walks downstairs with Nandini and apologizes "mujhe aise nahi bolna chahiye tha.."

"Haaye daiyaa.. Koi baat nahi Aarav beta.. Tumhari shaadi hai toh sab maaf hai tumhe" Anita spoke.

Anoop smiled "bahut baatein ho gayi.. Abhi so jaate hai shaadi se pehle ki rasom ko enjoy karne ke liye aaram bhi zaroori hai" he said.

Everyone agrees and lays down in their respective places. Aarav was in the middle while Ishika and Aniket were sided by side with him.

He exchanged glances with them, he was about to get up but Aniket held his hand "dada.. Jagah nahi hai aapko hamare beech hi sona padega"

"Ani.. kal subah mujhe office jaana hai aur raat bhar tum dono mujhe tang karte rahoge" Aarav said.

"Bhai.. kuch hi din bache hai aapki azadi ke phir humhe apne bhai ko share karna padega na bhabhi ke saath! Toh aapko hamara torture sehna hi padega" Ishika replies.

Aarav sighed deeply and they began to tease him.

Karan was hearing their giggle sound, he said in sleepy tone "agar tumhe apna ye tom and jerry khel khelna hai na toh chatt pe jaake khelo sone do humhe"

Aniket said "sorry chote papa.."

Aarav glared at him, Aniket turns his head away and sleeps. After about 10 minutes, Aarav gets up and goes to the other end. He sees Pooja sleeping beside Anita and there was some space beside Nandini.

He lays down beside her and the moment he got into the comfort, Nandini began to care his head. He was surprised, she lightly opened her eyes and smiled "duggu.. Ye naya safar bahut hi khushiyon bhara hoga!

He nods in the head yes and closes his eyes. Nandini kisses his forehead and said "aur haan sahi kehta hai Aniket.. Maa ke pallu se bahar nikal"

Aarav sighed deeply "Aap bhi na.. Biwi ke aane se aapko aur maa ko pyaar karna thodi chod dunga main.." he said.

Nandini smiles and moves her fingers in between his hairs. 

To be continued...