Nitya had noticed the challenging eyes of Aniket and Ishika. All the people headed towards the mandap.

"Aman ke bachhe sun" she whispered to her brother.

"Ji Didi"

"Jaise hi Jiju joote utaare tu joote utha lega samjha" she ordered.

"Don't worry Di, I am at it"

Nitya and Aman were standing behind Manvi so that they could immediately take away the shoes. But as soon as Aarav took off the shoes Ishika packed them in a box. Nitya's mouth fell open when she saw this.

"Aapke saare mansoobon par paani fir gaya na Nitya ji?" asked Aniket as he came and stood near her.

"Kya?" Nitya turned to him and asked.

"Kuch nahi, main ye keh raha tha aap bahot khoobsurat lag rahi hain Nitya ji" he said admiring her. It was for the first time that Aniket had actually noticed Nitya so closely. She looked elegant in the ivory lehenga.

"Thank you"

Aniket lifted his collars "Aapne bataya nahin main kaisa lag raha hun" he asked.

Nitya looked at him up and down, she for the first time noticed him wearing a black designer sherwani and she smiled " Aap bhi thik lag rahe hai" she said as she was annoyed because she wasn't able to get the shoes.

"Thik, par Nitya ji... main toh" before he could say something further, a waiter came over there with a tray of starters.

"Arey bhaiyya, ye ladke waale hain, ladke ke sage bhai hain, inki khaatir mein koi kami nahin rehna chahiye haan? Aap inhe ache se khilaye" she instructed him.

She went to the sitting area next to the mandap to watch all the rituals.

The wedding ceremony started, Aarav and Manvi exchanged the varmalas again. The pandit started to recite the mantras.

Meanwhile, Aman came to Nitya and said something in her ears. She saw Aniket carrying a box with him. Aman had informed her that the shoes were there in that box.

Aniket smiled and sat near Nitya

"Kitne ache lag rahe hain na dono saath mein" he said and Nitya nodded in agreement.

Pandit ji looked at Nitya and said " Beti aap zara yahan aaiye"

"Ji main?"

"Haan"

Nitya went to him and he asked Nitya to fill Manvi's hairline with sindoor.

"Ji main maang bharun?" she asked

"Haan beta, dulhe se pehle koi kanya Dulhan ki mang bharti hai" he explained.

"Par pandit ji Nitya kyun?" asked Manvi.

"Kanya ko mata gauri ka roop mana jata hai, kehte hain unka Dulhan ki maang bharna shubh hota hai, beta pehle ye sindoor aap gauri maa ko chadhaiye aur fir inki maang mein teen baar bhariye" he explained, Nitya and Manvi smiled to each other.

Nitya thrice filled Manvi's hairline with sindoor.

"Arey beta aise khaali haath nahi, Nitya beta ko kuch do toh sahi, uska neg hai" he said

"Nahin pandit ji, iske hisse ka neg toh ye mujhe pehle hi de chuki" Nitya replied, both the girls got emotional and tears fell off from their eyes.

"Arey beta chalo, jaake baith jaao, Dulhan ko rulana nahi chahiye na" said Anita and Nitya nodded and went to her place. Aniket again gave him his handkerchief and she wiped her tears. Aman found it a golden opportunity and he wisely took away the box of shoes and it went unnoticed.

"Kanya ke mata pita aayen aur kanya ka kanyadaan keejiye" the Pandit said.

Prerna and Rishabh looked at each other and said "Sadhna didi, Vivek bhaiya, jaiye"

"Hum dono?" Vivek and Sadhna looked at each other.

"Kyun nahi?"

"Didi kya meri beti tumhari nahi?" Prerna asked.

"Par ye haq toh tumhara hai na Prerna" Sadhna said.

"Didi, ye haq kanya ke mata pita ka hai, aap hi keejiye" Prerna said with a smile.

Sadhna became teary and looked at her.

"Lo, pal pal mein main roti hun isiliye aap mujhe daant lagati ho, aur ab khud rone lagi? Achha baba achha, jab Nitya ki shadi hogi, uska kanyadan main aur Rishabh le lenge" Prerna said.

Sadhna nodded, she and Vivek went to the mandap and they did Manvi's kanyadaan. Tears didn't stop when they were performing this ritual. Manvi too had got emotional and she couldn't stop her tears. Aarav had firmly held her hand during the ritual, somewhere he wanted to assure her that he was there with him. For the first time, Manvi felt that she was being tied into a sacred relationship.

"Ab Ishika beta aap aaiye aur in dono ka gathbandhan kar deejiye" instructed the pandit.

Ishika stepped up to mandap and said "Mujhe pata hai pandit ji, ki iska bhi neg hota hai, Nitya ji ne apna neg chhod diya hoga par bhaiya Bhabhi main apna neg nahin chhodne wali haan"

Aarav glared at her. Ishika extended her hand.

"Ye achha hai tum behno ka, har jagah lootti ho neg ke naam par" Aarav said.

"Huh! Kanjoos kahin ka arey apni behen ko neg dene mein jaan jaa rahi hai, pata nahi shaadi ke baad mera kya hoga" thought Manvi.

"Duggu, behen hai tumhari chalo dedo isay iska neg" said Nandini and Aarav gave her some money.

Ishika smiled and tied the gath bandhan.

"Ab aap log pheron ke liye khade ho jaiye" said pandit and they stood up.

The pandit recited the first mantra "Teerthvratodhyapan Yagyakarm maya sahaiv priyavayam kuryaah, vaamangyami tada tvadiyam braviti vakyam prthamam kumari"

Aarav and Manvi looked at him and he explained " Kanya kehti hai Teerth ho yagya ho ya aadi koi bhi dharm ka karya ho, toh aap mere saath karenge, yadi aapko sweekar ho toh main aapke vaam ang mein aaun"

Aarav thought " Lo ab isay sab jagah saath mein le jana padega, pooja path bhi akele nahin kar sakta main"

Aarav and Manvi took the first step together.

Pandit ji said " Pujya yatha swau pitrau mamaapi tatheshbhakto nijkarm kurya, vaamangmayami tada tvadiyam braviti kanya vachnam dvitiyam"

"Iska arth hai ki kanya kehti hai, jaise aap apne mata pita ka samman karte hain vaise hi aap mere maata pita ka bhi samman karein, kutumb ki mariyada anusar dharm anushthaan bhi karwayen, yadi aap ye vachan mujhe dete hain, toh main aapke vaam ang mein aaun" he further explained.

Aarav looked at Prerna, Rishabh, and then at Vivek and Sadhna, he smiled, and then they took the second step of marriage.

Pandit ji recited " Jeevanam avasthatrye mam palanam kuryaat, vaamangmayami tada braviti kanya vachnam tritiyam"

He explained " Arthaat, Kanya apne apne var se teesra vachan maangti hai ki aapko Jeevan ki har avastha mein, yani yuva avastha, praudh avastha aur vriddha avastha, teeno mein mera saath nibhayenge, mera paalan karenge, yadi aapko ye sweekar ho toh main aapke vaam ang mein aaun"

"Haan indirectly panditji ye keh rahe hai ki mujhe is bala ko apne gale laga ke rakhna hoga hamesha ke liye" he thought eyeing her.

"Panditji ye kyun nahi kehte ki mujhe bhi isay jhelna padega, vo bhi zindagi bhar" Manvi thought pasting a smile.

"Arey dono aage toh badho" Nandini said and they took their third step.

"Kutumbsampalansarvkarya karty pratigyam yadi kaatam kurya, vaamangmayami tada tvadiyam braviti kanya vachnam chaturtham" Panditji said.

"Kanya var se kehti hai, Ki ab taka ap ghar Parivar ki chinta se puri tarah mukt thay, ab jab aap vivah ke bandhan mein bandhne jaa rahe hain toh bhavishya mein Parivar ki sabhi zarooraton ko poora karne ka dayitva aapke kandhon par hoga, yadi aapko ye sweekar ho toh main aapke vaamang mein aaun" he further explained.

Aarav thought "Waah, matlab sab kuch main karunga, aur ye madam bas baithi baithi khaat todengi"

And they took the fourth step.

Pandit ji said " Svasadykarye vyavharkarmanye vyaye mamaapi mantryetha, vamangmayami tada tvadiyam broote vachah panchmatra kanya"

"Kanya var se kehti hai ki apne ghar ke kaaryon mein, vivaah aadi, len den athva, anya kisi kharch hetu yadi aap meri bhi salaah le lein, toh main aapke vaamang mein aaun" he explained

Aarav thought "Ye kaise biased vachan hain, arey apne paise bhi kharch karne se pehle mujhe ab is se poochna padega kya"

Manvi had a sarcastic smile on her face "Ab maza aaega na, ab isay sab mujhse poochna padega" she thought.

Pandit Ji recited "Na mepmaanam savidhe sakhinam dayutam na va durvyasanam bhanjshachet, vamangmayami tada tvadiyam braviti kanya vachnam ch shashtham"

"Kanya var se vachan maangti hai, ki jab main apni saheliyon ke beech baithi houn, to aap mera kisi bhi tarah ka apmaan nahin karenge, aap juye jaisi kisi bhi buri aadat se door rahenge, toh main aapke vaamaang mein aaun" he explained.

Aarav looked at Manvi and smiled giving her the assurance that he would at least follow this vachan with utmost sincerity. Manvi too smiled back and joined her hands. They took the sixth step.

Aniket said softly " Saare vachan aur unke matlab yaad kar leejiye Nitya ji, aapki shaadi mein kaam aaenge"

"Ji, kya matlab?"

"Matlab..." Aniket stuttered and turned to pandit and said "Bhayi pandit ji ye saare vachan aur unke meaning maine samajh liye hain, aap meri shaadi mein itna explain mat kariyega, meri shaadi short mein niptaiyega"

All others laughed hearing that and Nitya blushed hearing that.

"Arey beta, Duggu ko uska last vachan to lene de" said Nandini.

Pandit ji said "Parstriyam matrsmam samikshya sneham sada chenmayi kaant kurya, vaamangmayami tada tvadiyam broote vachah saptmatra kanya"

"Ismein kanya var se kehti hai ki aap par striyon ko maata ka sthaan denge aur pati patni ke beech kisi ko bhaagidaar nahi banayenge, yadi aap ye vachan dete hain, toh main aapke vaamang mein aaun" he explained.

"Arey ye guarantee toh main aapko de sakta hoon Bhabhi, par stri ko lana toh door ki baat hai, dada toh dekhenge bhi nahin" Aniket said and Aarav glared at him, while all others laughed at this and they took the last step of marriage.

"Ab aap dono baith jaiye"

Both of them sat down and pandit instructed Aarav to tie the nuptial necklace around Manvi and also fill her hairline seven times with sindoor. Aarav tied the mangalsutra to Manvi and then filled her hairline with sindoor seven times as instructed by pandit ji.

"Ab ye vivaah sampan hua, aaj se aap dono pati patni huye" said pandit ji and Aarav and Manvi looked at each other.

"Ab aap dono badon ka aashirwad le leejiye" he said

Manvi and Aarav got up to take the blessings of the elders. First, they took the blessings of Pooja and Anoop and then of Nandini and Karan.

"Beta tum dono ek doosre ka saath bahot ache se nibhana" said Karan.

"Haan beta, Manvi ab tum iski patni ho, ab se meri saari zimmedari tumhari, ab se tum iska khayal rakhna" said Nandini and Manvi smiled.

"Khyal toh main choti ma bahot ache se rakhungi" she thought

Next they came up to Sadhna-Vivek to touch their feet.

"Nahi beta, betiyaan pair nahi chooti" said Vivek and both of them hugged them.

They heard a sobbing voice and they looked in that direction, they saw Prerna in tears. Manvi ran to her and Aarav followed her. She hugged her mother tightly and both of them cried hugging each other. Rishabh too went teary.

"Bas bas, bahot khush raho" he said and even separated Prerna from her.

Aniket tried to lighten up the mood and stood in front of him.

"Arey bhayi mere pair bhi toh chou" he said.

"Main, aur tere pair chuunga?" Aarav asked all annoyed.

"Aur nahin toh kya, arey aapki shaadi mein maine kam papad nahi bele, chaliye aap dono mere pair chuiye" he said.

"Chup kar Ani, kuch bhi bolta hai, ulta tujhe bhai aur Bhabhi ke pair chune chahiye" Pooja said.

"Par Bua, Bhaiya, bade bhaiya ke pair chuyenge ye toh samajh aata hai, par umar mein toh bhaiya, Bhabhi se bade hain, fir vo kyun bhala Bhabhi ke pair chuyenge" asked Ishika.

Aniket smiled and touched the feet of both Aarav and Manvi "Kyunki rishte mein Bhabhi mujhse badi hain isliye" he explained with a smile.

"Chaliye ab aap vida ki taiyyari kar leejiye" said Pooja.

Prerna nodded and Sadhna went along with her to make the arrangement for vidai ceremony.

"Arey lekin main jaaunga kaise, mere joote kahan hain" said Aarav looking around.

"Arey Dada, vo toh aap fikar mat keejiye, mere saath safe hain" said Aniket and he took the box to him. When Aarav opened it, they found that it was empty.

"Kahan hain ismein joote?" asked Aarav and Aniket took the box from him. He saw that it was empty.

"Mil gaye joote?" Nitya asked laughingly and Aniket understood that she had taken them away.

"Kya Ani bhai, ek kaam diya tha aapko, aapne vo bhi thik se nahin kiya" Ishika complained.

"Haan, aapke bhai na, kisi kaam ke nahin hain, chaliye chaliye Jijaji, jeb dheeli keejiye" said Nitya.

"Koi zarurat nahi hai Dada, apne paas inka doosra set rakha hai, rakh lein ye joote" said Aniket.

"Ab neg toh neg hota hai, dena toh padega, chaahe aap joote lein, ya na lein" said Nitya.

"Aise kaise de dun neg saali sahiba, pehle haath pair dabaiye,khaatir keejiye thodi" Aarav said to tease her.

"Ohhh!! Kya baat hai, shaadi hote hi, inke muh mein toh zaban aa gai bhaiya" Ishika commented.

"Dekha choti maa shaadi ka asar"

Nitya smiled as she understood that by saying this he had forgiven her and accepted her sister as his wife.

"Chup karo tum log, Aarav jeb dheeli kar apni de paise Nitya ko" Karan said and Aarav smiled at him, he gave her the neg and she accepted it with all respect.

Nitya returned the shoes to him and he wore them.

Prerna and Sadhna came over there with the arrangements they had made for vidai. Aniket sat inside the car they had booked for the groom and bride, he was going to drive it.

Hmm hmm

Baabul jo tumne sikhaya

Jo tumse paya

Sajan ghar le chali

Hmm.. hmm..

Manvi hugged Rishabh and she started to cry.

Sajan ghar le chali

Sajan ghar me chali

Yaadon ke lekar saaye

Chali ghar paraaye

Tumhari laadli

Hmm.. hmm..

Manvi then saw Vivek standing in the corner and she stepped up to him and hugged him.

Kaise bhul paungi main baba

Suni jo tumse kahaniyaan

Manvi came up to Sadhna, and she cried hugging her.

Chhod chali aangan mein maiyya

Bachpan ki nishaaniyaan

Manvi then saw Prerna who was crying profusely. Manvi hugged her tight.

Sun meri pyaari behna

Sajaaye rehnaa

Yeh babul ki gali

Tears fell off her face when she saw Nitya in a corner. Nitya and Manvi had been more than sisters and best friends; she hugged her tightly. Nitya wiped her tears and tried to smile.

Ban gaya pardes ghar janam kaa

Mili hai duniya mujhe nayi

Naam jo piya se maine joda

Naye rishto se bandh gayi

She asked Manvi to take the puffed rice grains and throw them over her head. Manvi did the same. Manvi looked at her family and gave them a sad smile.

Mere sasur ji pita hain

Pati devta hain

Devar chhavi krishan ki

Anoop placed a hand on Rishabh's shoulder. Aarav knew that the family was emotional so he joined his hands before his father-in-law. Aniket too waved at them from the window of the car

Sajan ghar mai chali

Rishabh took them along with him. Rishabh made them sit inside the car.

Sajan ghar mai chali

Aniket drove the car and took them to the Malhotra house. Manvi was silent throughout the entire route. The elders had reached before them so that they could welcome Manvi and Aarav.

Pooja saw the car coming toward the house and she instructed Ishika to bring the pooja thaali. Ishika got it.

"Ishi, jaa jaake paani leke jaa aur pila bhai Bhabhi ko, aur haan neg lena iska bhi" said Anita

All laughed and Ishika went to the car and offered them water. They took it and then Ishika said " Lao bhai lao mera neg"

"Ab kis baat ka neg?" asked Aarav.

"Arey paani pilaya hai maine aapko, neg do"

"Ab iska bhi neg"

"Haan Aarav beta, ye bhi neg hai, arey teri vo Indore waali bua ne to sone ki anguthi li thi mujhe aur teri chachi ko paani pilane ke liye" said Karan and others laughed.

"Hey bhagwan kahan phans gaya" said Aarav and he took out some money and gave it to Ishika.

Pooja said " Jao Nandini le aao apni bahu ko"

Nandini took Manvi out of the car. Pooja gave the aarti thali to Nandini and said " Lo Nandini karo aarti Manvi aur Aarav ki"

"Lekin didi?"

"Pehla haq tumhara hai" said Pooja.

Nandini performed Manvi and Aarav's aarti and then Pooja did the same. The band was there Aniket and Ishika made them dance and also made other family members dance.

Aniket took both his mothers aside and said "Ab mere neg ki baari"

"Kya? Tu kyun neg lene laga ab, choti maa main bata raha hun, isay ek paisa nahin doonga mai" Aarav said

"Aapse neg lega bhi kaun, arey Dada, main toh neg apni dono maaon se maang raha hun" Aniket said

"Bilkul thik keh raha hai Ani, Ani beta chhodiyo mat inhe, arey jab bhai laaye thay bhabhi ko toh maine bhi liya tha apni maa aur chachi se, unki bahu ko ghar lane ka neg aur full support kiya tha Bhabhi ne bhi" Anoop said.

"Ye baat toh bilkul sahi hai jeejhi, Ani beta hi toh laya hai bahu ko ghar, nikaaliye paise" Anita said.

"Arey tum unhe kya keh rahi ho, kayde se maami-saas toh tum bhi ho chalo, paise tum bhi nikaalo" Sharad commented.

"Haan haan toh deti hun na" Anita said with a smile and gave him some money and then Nandini and Pooja did the same.

Aniket showed the money to Ishika " Dekh dekh Ishi ki bachhi tere neg se zyada mile hai mujhe"

"Haww!! Ye kya bhai aap mujhe chidha rahe ho" Ishika complained and made a face. 

To be continued.