Aarav was standing on the terrace looking at the myriad of stars in the sky. It was very rare to find stars at night in the smoggy weather of the sky. Aniket saw him there, he walked up to him and stood next to him. He looked at Aarav, he could notice his silence.

"Kya Dada, ye kya sitaron mein Bhabhi ko dhoond rahe ho?" he teasingly asked.

"Ani!" Aarav nodded his head in disbelief and went silent again.

"Dada, mazak masti apni taraf lekin main dekh raha hoon, aap jab se aaye hain, chup chup se hain, shaadi wali baat bhi jaldi se maan gaye, kuch hua hai kya office mein?" he asked.

"Nahi Ani, kuch nahi hua" Aarav replied, trying to avoid Aniket's question.

"Dada, aap khud kehte ho na hum dono bhaiyon ke seene mein ek hi dil dhadakta hai, apne bhai ko nahin batayenge kya hua?" Aniket further insisted.

When Aniket insisted on further Aarav told him everything that happened in the office. Aniket frowned, he couldn't tolerate that the credit for his brother's hard work was given to someone else.

"Dada aapki jagah main hot ana toh us manager ke bachhe ko aisa sabak sikhata ki usay nani yaad aa jaati"

"Kya kar leta tu? Nahi kya kar leta tu? Zara main bhi toh sunu, tu kaise mere manager ko uski Nani yaad dilwata, arey meri naukri chali jaegi agar maine kuch bhi karne ki koshish ki toh, aur agar Naukri chali gai, toh loan kaun bharega hmm? Is ghar ke renovation ka kaam kaise hoga time par hmm?" Aarav asked him.

"Arey aap dekhte jao Dada main kya karta hoon" Aniket said determinately.

"Ani tu kya karne wala hai ?"

"Aap fikar mat keejiye Dada, dekhna kaise vo Saahil sabke samne kahega ki ye designs aapke hai"

"Ani dekh tu kuch ulta seedha mat karna" Aarav warned him.

"Dada tension mat lo, aap bas mujh par bharosa rakho, aap keh rahe thay na kal ek meeting hai client ke saath aapki, bas dekhna main kya karta hoon" Aniket said with a determinant face and mischievous smile.

"Ani meri naukri ka sawal hai, tu koi ulti seedhi harkat nahi karega samjha, aaj vaise hi tune mujhe phone par phone karwa ke phasa diya, kuch hua na toh..." Aarav was warning him but was interrupted in between.

"Kya Dada, aapko mujhpar zara sab hi bharosa nahin hai kya? Isiliye aapko shadi karne ki sakht zaroorat hai samjhe"

"Ab is mein meri shaadi ka kya lena dena hai ?" Aarav peered at him and asked.

"Kaise nahi hai lena dena? Arey aapki shadi ho gai hoti toh ye sab baatein kya aap mujhse share karte? Nahi karte, Bhabhi se karte, aur aapke liye pareshan vo ho rahi hoti, aur toh aur vo jo kuch bhi karti na aapko sar hila kar manna padta, aur aap unpar itna shak bhi nahi karte, karte kya? Huh!! Ab main hun toh sab kuch mujhe theek karna padega na, bhalai ka toh zamana hi nahi raha" Aniket commented and turned to leave.

"Arey par maine kab kaha ki meri bhalai kar" Aarav tried saying but Aniket had already left.

"Pata nahi ye ladka kya karega kal" Aarav muttered.

NEXT MORNING

Aarav was getting late for his office. He immediately packed his stuff and came up to the courtyard. He was about to leave when he heard someone calling him.

"Arey Duggu, kahan chal diye? Nashta toh karta ja '' said his choti maa.

"Choti maa, bahot der ho rahi hai, main office mein kuch kha lunga" he replied.

Aniket who was already having the breakfast teasingly said "Dekha choti maa, yahi farak hota hai, biwi mein aur maa mein, abhi Bhabhi hoti toh jhatt se baith jaate nashta karne"

"Isay badi jaldi hai meri shadi karane ki, Choti maa, ek kaam karo pehle isi ki shaadi karwa do"

"Arey aisa kahin hota hai kya? Bade bhai ki shadi hui nahi aur chota bhai shadi karle" said Pooja, who just came out of the kitchen.

"Haan, aisa kahin hota hai kya?" Aniket imitates Pooja and winked at Aarav.

"Dono bilkul theek keh rahe hain Aarav, pehle shadi teri hi hogi, hum abhi se tere liye ladki dekhna shuru kar rahe hain aur is baat mein koi behes nahin" Nandini said and fed him a spoon of poha.

"Aapke liye maine ye ek chamach kha liya na choti maa, ab main chalta hun, main wakai bahot late ho raha hun '' Aarav excused himself and left.

"Maa, Choti maa, main bhi chalta hun"

"Arey, ab tu kahan chal diya?" Pooja asked.

"Main, IIT Delhi aur fir..." Aniket paused

"Fir kahan?"

"Fir..."

"Fir kya Bhabhi, nikal jaega apne doston ke saath idhar udhar, tarah tarah ki cheezein khane"

"Aapne mere mu ki baat cheen li choti Maa, Kulaachi ke mashoor chole kulche, Sitaram ke chole bhature aye haye, aur vo Bittu ki aloo tikki, Chaina Ram ki rasmalai, paranthe wali gali ke paneer parathe, aur vo gol gappe..." he licked his lips saying the name of the mouth-watering dishes.

"Wah! Ye dekha tumne Nandini, ye janab kya kya planning karke baithe hain aur tabiyat kharab ho gayi fir?" Pooja glared at him.

"Jaane do na bhabhi, U.S mein kahan usay ye sab khane milta hoga"

"Toh jab ye bimar pade toh tum hi khayal rakhna iska Nandini" Pooja commented.

"Tu jaa na Aniket...Jaa" Nandini said, Aniket gave a sweet smile to her and left the house.

TK Industries

Everyone was in the conference room discussing the heads-up before the meeting which was to be held in the next two hours. Aarav too entered the conference room. He looked at Saahil who was right in front of him, laughing with the manager and talking to him. They had asked Aarav to give a presentation to them before the clients arrived.

The meeting went for more than an hour, Aarav was asked everything about the designs and he answered everything very well. Later a woman entered the conference room along with the managing director. He introduced her to everyone in the conference room.

"Good Morning everyone, meet her, she is Ms. Shreya Bhagat, the Executive Director of Dockside Builders, she is going to sign a contract with us today, hopefully," he said laughingly, Shreya smiled.

"Well, yes, hopefully, if everything went well" she too said with a wide smile.

The meeting started, Saahil presented the designs and represented everything in the same way Aarav had done before, he was clever that way.

"Well, I like your designs, but I want some clarity..." she said and continued with a few questions related to costs and quality, etc but Saahil was unable to answer them.

"Sorry Ma'am vo main batata hoon aapko vo..." he looked at Aarav who had now started to enjoy the meeting moments especially when Saahil had been trapped.

"Kya hua Mr. Saahil, ye designs aapne banaye hain toh aap Ms. Bhagat ke questions ka answer kyu nahi de paa rahe hain" the Managing Director asked.

"Well, Mr.K.K mujhe toh lagta hai aapne ye designs kahin se chori kiye hain aur de diye is bichare ko present karne ke liye" Shreya commented.

"No Shreya, aisa bilkul nahi hai, ye designs hamare original designs hi hai, I think there is some confusion" he said and turned to Saahil again and whispered to him "Mr. Saahil, Ms. Bhagat ke sawalon ka theek theek jawab deejiye warna main tumhe fire kar dunga"

"Sir wo main batata hoon na..." Saahil stuttered, he was sweating profusely.

"Mr. Saahil, ye questions mein kisi nausikhiya, abhi abhi degree liye huye architect se nahin puch rahi hoon, balki aap jaise experienced insaan se puch rahi hoon, ya toh aap ye maan leejiye ki ye designs aap ki nahin hain, aapko diye gaye hain, ya fir mere sawalon ka jawab deejiye" Shreya muttered, she was way too annoyed now.

"Ji ji... madam...wo" he couldn't say a word further.

"We are calling off the contract K.K"

"Nahi, nahin madam, main batata hoon, darasal ye designs mere nahin hain, ye Mr. Aarav Malhotra ke hain" Sahil couldn't handle the pressure further and he finally uttered the truth. Everyone in the room was shocked and their eyes widened.

"Ye kya khel chal raha hai Mr. K.K, kisi aur ke designs koi aur present kar raha hai, aur claim bhi kar raha hai?" Shreya asked.

"Ho sakta hai kuch misunderstanding rahi ho Shreya, I apologize from their end" he replied and then he turned to Aarav and said "Aarav apne designs Ms. Bhagat ko properly present karo aur unke sawalon ka jawab do"

"Ji sir" Aarav got up from his seat and then properly presented the designs, he then further gave more than satisfactory answers to Shreya's questions. Shreya was very much impressed with his presentation and the way he answered her questions.

"Ye contract main aapki company ko deti hoon Mr. K.K," she said and then further completed the formalities of the same.

When the meeting ended their managing director came to Aarav and said " Very well done Aarav, I m very much impressed, aaj tumhari wajah se hamari company ko itna bada contract mila hai, aur yahi nahi aaj tumhari wajah se hi humari company bade nuksaan se bach gai"

"Thank you so much sir, vaise ye mera kaam hi tha"

"Nahi Aarav tumhein dabaya nahi gaya hota toh humein toh pata hi nahi chalta ki is company mein chal kya raha hai, Aarav, main tumse bahut khush hun, tumhein aaj se promote kiya jaata hai aur yahi nahin, tumhari salary mein double raise bhi hoga" K.K announced.

"Kya? Ye kya aap sach keh rahe hain sir?" Aarav asked with a wide smile.

"Bilkul sahi suna tumne Aarav"

"Sir, aap aap jante nahin hain sir aapne mujhe kitni badi khushi di hai Sir, main main bayan nahi kar sakta"

"Tum ye sab deserve karte ho Aarav" K.K said, he pats Aarav's back and was about to leave.

Later he came to know that Saahil was fired and even the manager was given a big warning. Aarav thought for a while about the meeting and he wondered how all of a sudden all those unexpected questions were asked by Shreya to Saahil. When Shreya was leaving he followed her to the door and stopped her there.

"Ms. Bhagat, Ms Bhagat rukiye please"

"Aarav, kaho"

"Pehle toh main aapse thank you kehna chahunga, aapki wajah se mujhe promotion aur increment dono mila hai, I am very thankful ma'am" he said with a smile.

"You deserved it all Aarav, tumhe jo mil raha hai, vo apni mehnat ka hi mil raha hai"

"Thank you so much ma'am"

"Vaise Aarav as a senior I would like to give you a piece of advice"

"Jee Ma'am kahiye na"

"Aarav, itna seedha hona, simple hona bhi theek nahi ki log tumhara fayda uthaye, tumne itni mehnat isiliye nahi ki thi ki koi aur uska credit le jaae, dekho Aarav tumhe apne liye bolna seekhna hoga" she said.

"Ma'am main jaanta hoon aur bolta bhi lekin..." he tried to explain but was interrupted by her.

"Vo toh achha hua ki us ladke ne mujhe pehle hi sab kuch inform kar diya, varna main Saahil se vo sab sawal karti hi nahi" Shreya said.

"Ladka, kaunsa ladka? Aur ma'am kya aap pehle se jaanti thi ki designs Saahil sir ke nahin thay

"Vo kaun tha ye toh main nahi janti par haan usine mujhe sab bataya tha, ye bhi ki jo designs mujhe bataye jaane wale hain vo kisi aur ne banaye hain" she said and then she got a phone call.

"Excuse me" she said and stepped forward to leave the building.

When Aarav turned to go she called him again and said "Aarav I remember vaguely us ladke ko ek phone call aaya tha aur usne kaha tha, main Aniket bol raha hun"

Just as he heard this, a wide smile appeared on Aarav's face. Aarav remembered Aniket's determinant face and his promise of last night, he shook his head.

Malhotra Niwaas

Aarav returned home, he was standing in the courtyard. Everyone else was talking and laughing. Aniket saw him there but Aarav glared at him. It appeared to Aniket as if he was fuming in anger and he got confused. All others also thought the same.

"Aarav tu aa gaya..aur kya hua Aarav tu Aniket ko aise kyun ghoor raha hai, isne phir se koi profile bana di kya" Karan asked.

"Chote Papa, aaj main isay chhodunga nahi, iski wajah se aap jaante nahin hain ki kya hua hai aaj" Aarav muttered.

"Ab maine kya kiya Dada?" Aniket asked in confusion.

"Kya kiya? Kya kiya? Abhi batata hun" Aarav muttered again and he came to Aniket fuming in anger.

"Dada, dekho pehle batao maine kya kiya fir peetna" Aniket said and he started running away from him.

"Tu ruk, tujhe toh main batata hoon aaj"

"Arey Aarav hua kya hai bhai" Anoop came in between and asked

"Aap hatt jaiye Papa, aaj main isay chodunga nahi" Aarav breathed and again went after Aniket.

As Aarav stepped toward him, Aniket took a step behind till he reached the wall. Aarav raised his hand and Aniket closed his eyes, he thought he was about to get a slap.

"Dada!"

He was surprised when Aarav pulled his cheek instead and then hugged him.

"Dada?"

Aarav smiled at him and said "Kya hua? Drama karna kya sirf tujhe aata hai? Bhool mat main tera bada bhai hoon, aur Ani, aaj jo tune kiya hai na uske liye bahut bada thank you mere bhai"

"Hey bhagwan! Ye chal kya raha hai, koi batayega mujhe" Pooja said, holding her head.

"Haan Bhabhi, main toh darr gai thi, aur ye sab kya hai Duggu?" Nandini asked.

"Batata hoon choti Maa, kal jo promotion mujhe nahi mila tha na vo aaj mujhe mil gaya hai, vo bhi Aniket ki wajah se aur sirf yahi nahi, mujhe double increment bhi mila hai" Aarav announced.

"Kya? Sach?" Nandini asked in surprise.

"Haan choti maa" he said and touched her feet. He touched the feet of all other elders and then distributed sweets among them, he again hugged Aniket.

"Arey par ye tu kya keh raha tha, Ani ne kya kiya?" Anoop asked.

"Papa vo darasal kal..." Aarav explained everything to them

"Lekin Ani ne us company ki executive director ko milkar sab bata dia '' Aarav further said.

"Sach Ani? Ye tune bahot achha kiya, Aarav ki mehnat toh hai hi, lekin is mithai ka haqdar tub hi hai, varna mere bhole bhaale bachhe ki mehnat ka credit koi aur le jaata" Pooja said making him eat a piece of sweet.

"Par Ani tujhe kaise pata tha ki vo executive director hain kaun aur, tune ye sab kiya kaise? Main toh khud unhein nahi jaanta, in fact mera manager bhi us se pehli baar aaj meeting mein mila tha" Aarav asked.

"Dada, maine kuch nahin kiya, aaj aapki asli madad us ladki ne ki hai" Aniket answered.

"Ladki ne? Kaunsi ladki ne?"

"Vo Dada..."

A few hours ago...

Aniket was in the metro, suddenly at a stop, many people entered it. The metro was so crowded that no one could even take a step. He saw that a small kid had almost fallen and the people were to walk over him but a girl came in between. The girl saved the kid, she asked him to take deep breaths. He saw that she too was about to fall but he stopped her fall.

"Hey bhagwan!" she sighed.

"Aap thik toh hain?" Aniket asked.

"Main thik hun, thank you so much"

"It's okay, maine dekha aapne us bachhe ko bachaya lekin aap khud girne wali thi"

"Dekhiye na kaise jaahil log hain is metro mein, log aise andar ghuste hain jaise fir kabhi milegi hi nahin" she complained.

"I know metro ka safar karna, jung ladne se kam nahin" he said with a smile.

"Mera saaman..." she looked around.

Aniket saw that some of her files were still on the floor, so he helped her pick them up. But when he picked one of the files his eyes fell on the bold letters on its title "TK Industries"

"Ye TK Industries? Aap yahan kaam karti hain?" Aniket asked.

"Jee nahin, ye file meri nahin hai, actually ye file mere pados wali didi ki hai, aur unhe apni boss ko deni hai, jis company se uski boss ka contract hai ye uski file hai, jaldi jaldi mein vo lena bhool gai, ab main dene jaa rahi hoon" she replied with a smile.

"Oh! I see"

At Present

"Bas fir kya tha, main us ladki ke peechey gaya, usay request ki ki vo meri madad kar de, usne apni friend se uski boss ke details nikalwai aur main pahonch gaya Ms Bhagat ke office" Aniket explained.

"Chalo achha hai, lekin ye ladki bhi kisi devi se kam nahin hai Aniket, vo na hoti toh aaj mere Aarav ka itna bada kaam na ho pata" Pooja said.

"Kuch bhi kaho Bhabhi, ye bhi toh ho sakta hai, hamare Aarav ki kismet mein ho promotion milna aur jiske chalte aaj hi hamare Ani ki us se mulakat hui ho" Nandini too said.

"Tune us ladki ka number liya ki nahin? Kam se kam ham uska dhang se shukriya ada toh karein'' Pooja asked and Aniket nodded.

"Hey bhagwan! Aur naam?"

Aniket again nodded in a negative response.

"Kisi kaam ka nahin hai tumhara beta Pooja, arey, jis ladki ne madad ki itni badi uska naam tak nahin poocha'' Anoop complained.

"Papa main itni jaldi mein tha ki dhyan hi nahin raha" Aniket explained.

"Jaane do na Papa, aaj jo isne kiya hai, uske peeche iski ye bhool maaf kar deejiye" Aarav said with a smile.

"Theek hai bhai ab kar bhi kya sakte hain...Dubara kismet mein hoga toh humein vo ladki zaroor milegi" Anoop said.

"Lekin aaj ki party Dada?"

"Chaliye aaj hum sab kisi 5-star mein challenge dinner lene" Aarav announced and everyone happily agreed, they all were very excited and happy with Aarav's achievement. 

To be continued...