It was midnight. Aarav couldn't sleep, he didn't want the previous episode to repeat. He was thinking about the alliance and what would happen if the girl too rejected him. Just then someone switched on the night light outside his room. Aarav came out of the trance and saw his mother approaching him.

"Arey Maa, aap itni raat gaye yahan?" he asked.

Pooja smiled, she sat next to him on the bed and said "Kyun, main tere kamre mein ab aa bhi nahin sakti?"

"Kya maa, aapko is kamre mein aane ke liye koi wajah chahiye kya?"

"Toh phir?" she asked.

"Par maa, bahot raat ho gayi hai, aap ab tak soyi nahin?" Aarav asked.

"Mera beta bhi toh nahin soya ab tak"

"Neend nahi aa rahi thi maa" he replied.

"Chal, aaj main tujhe sulati hun"

"Maa?" Aarav looked at her all surprised.

Pooja smiled and placed his head in her lap, she sweetly ruffled her hand through his hair and said "Ab bata tujhe neend kyun nahi aa rahi thi hmm?"

"Maa, tch! Kal sab thik toh hoga na? Mera matlab hai, pichle do baar se main ladkiyon ke aage thik se apni baat tak nahin rakh pata, is baar bhi aisa hua toh? Maa main kya baat karunga us se'' he explained everything.

"Tu bhi na, bilkul paagal hai, sach kehta hai Ani, mujhe na tumhara admission co-ed mein hi karna chahiye tha" she said laughingly.

"Kya Maa, Ani ke saath saath tum bhi?"

"Toh aur kya kahun, aise paagalon jaisi baatein koi karta bhi hai ? Beta, ladkiyon se baat karna itna bhi mushkil nahin hai, kisi ladki se baat karne ke liye us se sirf baat nahin karni hoti beta, balki uske mann mein jhankna hota hai, tumhein agar sach mein us ladki se baat karni hai na toh uski or bade pyar se dekhna aur uski baton se zyada ye samajhne ki koshish karna" she explained.

Aarav thought for a while and with a sweet smile he said "Maa itni der se bas main yahi soch raha tha ki kya baat hogi, kya kahunga main us se, lekin tumne meri sab mushkil hal kar di" and further asked "Vaise Maa, tumhein kaise pata tha ki main ab tak jaag raha hun"

"Maa ko apne bachche ki har dhadkan ka ehsaas hota hai Aarav" she replied while patting his forehead.

"Maa, ek baat puchun? Jab main aur Ani, tumhari jagah choti Maa ko zyada pyaar karte hain, toh tumhein bura nahin lagta? He asked.

Pooja smiled and said "Aarav, mujhe bhala kyun bura lagega, mujhe toh aur khushi hoti hai, garv hota hai apne dono beton par, lagta hai ki mere matritva ko, meri parvarish ko safalta mil gayi" she further explained "Aarav, Karan aur Nandini ki toh koi aulaad nahin hai, shuru shuru mein kalejaa katta tha, tumhein aur Ani ko unki godh mein daalkar, par jaise jaise tum bade hote gaye, tum dono ne bhi unki maata pita na ban paane ke dukh ko samjha aur unhe mujhse zyada pyaar dene lage, mujhe garv hai Aarav, ki tum dono ko maine bilkul sahi parvarish di hai, dusron ke jazbaaton ko samajhne ki, unhei mehsoos karne ki"

"Maa, aapne humein jo sikhaya hai, ekdam sahi sikhaya hai, apne bachhe ko aise kisi ki godh mein hanskar rakh dena bahot saahas ka kaam hai, jo tumne kiya" he said.

"Bas Aarav, jaise tum apne Chote Papa Mummy ki baatein dil se samajh lete ho na, vaise hi us ladki ke jazbaat samajh lena, jis se tum shaadi karoge" she explained.

Aarav just smiled and nodded.

NEXT MORNING

Aarav was tense as they had to meet the girl and her family. He was pacing in the entire courtyard. All others were busy making preparations for the day. Aniket and Ishika saw him tense and they winked at each other. They were planning something mischievous.

Aniket came near him and said "Arey Dada, kya marathon mein jaane ki practice kar rahe ho?"

Aarav peered at him and asked, "Kya bakwas kar raha hai tu?"

"Arey aap tehel rahe hain aise poore aangan mein toh main..." Aniket said laughingly.

"Ani!" Aarav glared at Aniket.

Ishika came to him and held Aarav by his shoulders. Ishika brought a marker along with her and said "Bua Ji, vo list toh deejiye"

"Kaisi list ? Aur tu ye marker ke saath kya kar rahi hai " he asked

"Arey agar us ladki ne kaha ki usay aap ki chaati par bade bade til chaiye toh, main toh til banane ke liye ye marker laai thi" she giggled.

"Ishika ki bachhi!" Aarav muttered and ran after her to chase her.

"Maa, maa bachao na mujhe" Ishika said and hid behind her mother.

"Haye daiyya, ee sab ka ho raha hai bhai" Anita asked as she saw the two of them running around her.

"Mami ji samjha leejiye apni pyari ladli ko jab dekho tab chedti rehti hai mujhe" he complained.

"Ishika! Hum tumhari pitai kar denge samjhi? She asked and then asked again "Aur haye daiyya tune kapde nahin badle Aarav?"

"Hey bhagwan ye ladka! Nandini tum samjhao apne bete ko kuch, arey yahan hum nikalne wale hain aur ye isne kapde hi nahin badle'' Pooja complained.

"Aarav, kya hai ye beta? Dekho ab main daatungi haan, jao jaldi se kapde badal lo" Nandini said with a smile.

"Dada, vo white shirt" Aniket reminded him.

"Theek hai mere baap, vo white shirt hi pehnunga, ab jaun, taiyyar ho jaun?" he was troubled and said.

"Aur zara jaldi haan Dada varna pata chala, Dulha yahin reh gaya aur barati barat leke chale gaye" Aniket again said to tease him, Nandini hits him lightly.

Aarav shook his head in disbelief and went to his room.

NiVi Mansion

All the family members were tense as this was again a family visiting theirs for Nitya's alliance. Prerna was pacing the entire hall. Her face looked as if she was going to cry.

"Hey bhagwan, Didi, vo log hamari Nitya ko pasand karenge na" a worried Prerna asked.

"Prerna tum kya ye pure kamre mein aise tehel rahi ho, arey bhayi sab theek hoga" Sadhna assured her.

Nitya came there to take something from the kitchen.

"Haan lekin tum apni is laadli ko samjha do haan, pichle kitne rishton jaise is baar kuch gadbad na kare" Sadhna glared at Nitya and warned her.

Aman came with a notepad in his hand and showed it to Nitya.

"Ye kya hai?" she asked.

"Scorecard" Aman replied.

"Kiska scorecard?" she asked while drinking a glass of water.

"Aap ne kitne ladke reject kiye hain, ye uska scorecard hai" Nitya coughed when he said this and then Aman further said "ab tak 32 ladke hain, is mahine ke end tak half-century puri ho jaegi, haina Didi?"

Prerna too looked at the scorecard and said "Hey bhagwan! Sab kaise hoga?"

She came up to Nitya and said "Nitya beta, main tere haath jodti hun, tu please is baar mana mat karna haan"

"Kya Chachi aap haath mat jodiye na please" Nitya said.

"Aur sun, vo log tujhe dekhne aa rahe hain na aaj, maine tere liye saree nikaal kar rakhi hai tu vahi pehnegi" Saadhna instructed.

"Saree? Kyun? Maa mujhe shaadi nahi karni aap log please mere saath zabardasti mat keejiye na" Nitya requested.

"Arey aise kaise nahin karni shaadi haan? Kya hai ye sab? Dekh Nitya mujhe aaj koi tamasha nahin chahiye samjhi? Aur agar kuch kiya na toh dungi ek thappad" Sadhna warned her again.

Manvi saw all this and she stood in front of Nitya "Badi maa, badi maa, rehne deejiye na, Nitya ko shaadi nahin karni toh aap kyun peechey padi hain uske"

"Tu chup kar, tujhe kuch nahin pata, jaa Nitya ko uske kamre mein leja aur saree pehenwa ke hi lekar aaana neechey jab hum kahein tab" Prerna scolded her.

Both the girls went upstairs to their room.

"Didi sab theek toh hoga na" Prerna almost started to cry.

"Dekha, ye baar baar rona na mujhe tumhara pasand nahin hai Choti" Sadhna said.

Nitya's room

"Koi meri baat hi nahi sunna chahta, arey mai padhna chahti hun, mujhe nahi karna ye shaadi" Nitya complained.

"Vo sab aaj hum sambhal lenge na Nitya, dekho aaj ki baat toh sambhal lo tum, baaki ka main sochti hun na kuch na kuch, aaj toh jaana hi padega na un logon ke saamne, Bade Papa aur Badi Maa ki izzat ka sawal hai, fir dekhna, pakka main koi na koi chakkar chala dungi, teri padhai ka, promise" Manvi swore and she promised her.

"Par Mannu" Nitya made a face.

"Pakka Nitya, main pakka koi na koi chakkar chala lungi, par aaj taiyyar hoja" Manvi requested her.

A couple of hours later the Malhotras arrived at the NiVi mansion. Bhagat Ji was also there as he was the mediator. The family looked at the house, Anita was awed looking at the mansion.

"Haye daiyya! Itta bada ghar?" she commented.

"Chup karo, aur aise deede faad faad ke mat dekho" Sharad whispered to her.

"Arey aaiye aaiye Anoop Ji, chaliye main aapko sabse milwata hun" Bhagat ji said.

He introduced them to the entire family and they all settled to talk. The elders talked for a while.

"Haye daiyya! Aap bhi illahbaad, hamara matlab hai Prayagraj ki hain?" Anita asked Sadhna.

"Ji haan, mera mayka vahin ka hai" Sadhna replied.

"Phir toh humari jeejhi aur hum log padosi huye aapke, arey aapne pehchana, ye saree vahin se laaye thay hum haan" she said.

"Lagta hai Mami ji specially apni saree ka pradarshan karne aai hain yahan" Aniket whispered in Ishika's ears and she giggled.

"Aarav beta, Bhagat ji bata rahe thay, tum architect ho, kahan kaam karte ho beta tum?" asked Vivek.

"Ji vo TK industries" he replied.

"Arey waah vo toh badi reputed company hai" Vivek said.

"Beta, hamari Nitya hai na, bade shaant svabhaav ki hai, tumhe us se baat karne ki pehel karni hogi beta" Rishabh said and Aarav blushed.

"Aur hamara Aarav bhi bahot shaant svabhaav ka hai Rishabh bhaisahab" said Karan.

"Lo Ram milayi jodi, ek andha, ek kodhi" Aniket whispered to Ishika.

"Prerna, hamari betiyon ko bulwao" said Vivek to Prerna.

Prerna called Manvi and asked her to get downstairs with Nitya. As per her mother's instruction she had worn the pearl embroidered white saree. Manvi and Nitya both stepped downstairs. Aarav saw her from a distance and smiled lightly. Here Aniket saw Manvi and he identified her.

"Arey aap? Aap yahan?" he said excitedly

Manvi too was surprised to find him there "Arey aap?"

"Tum dono ek dusre ko jante ho kya ?" Karan asked

"Arey ye vahi hain, jinhone meri madad ki thi '' he replied and then again excitedly asked "Aur kya aap hi Nitya hain? Meri hone wali Bhabhi?"

"Jee?" Manvi peered at him, she was confused.

"Nahin Aniket beta, ye meri beti hai, Manvi yeh Nitya nahin hai, Nitya toh vo tumhare peechey jo khadi hai" Prerna said with a smile.

Aniket turned, he was stunned when he saw Nitya, his eyes shined, for a moment he forgot that they were there for his brother and her alliance. He was lost seeing Nitya, she looked like pearl on petals.

"Arey tu beech mein se hatt, jise dekhna hai usay toh dekhne de" Pooja said and Aniket came out of the trance, he moved away.

"Aniket ke bachhe ye kya ho gaya tha tujhe, ye teri hone wali Bhabhi ho sakti hai, aur tu isay dekhkar kho gaya, Chee!!" Aniket thought.

Aman had noticed Aniket's expression and whispered to Manvi "Di, ye Aarav ji ka chota bhai kuch tharki nahin hai kya, dekha nahin, kaise di ko ghoor raha hai, arey shaadi inhein karna hai ya Aarav ji ko"

"Chup kar ! Aise nahin bolte" Manvi scolded Aman.

"Nitya beta yahan aao, hamare paas baitho, Ani, uth toh" Nandini said. Aniket got up and he stood aside. The family asked many questions to Nitya as well and she answered them quietly. She was waiting for the time when she would talk to Aarav in privacy and tell him everything.

"Nitya, beta Aarav ko apna kamra dikha laao" Prerna said.

"Haan, dono akele mein baat kar lo, aur saare doubts clear kar lo aap log" Anoop said.

Nitya smiled and took Aarav to his room.

Nitya's room.

"Ahh!" Aarav cleared his throat.

"Kamra bahot sundar hai Nitya ji aapka'' he said.

Nitya didn't say anything, she was silent.

"Chaliye aap lagta hai sharma rahi hain, main aapko apne baare mein sab batata hun, aap mere family background ke baare mein sab jaanti hi hain, main bahot simple Parivar se aata hun, bahot bade bade khwab nahin hain mere, bahot chote chote khwab hain, apna ghar renovate karwana chahta hun, apne bhai ki padhai puri karna chahta hun, Maa Papa aur Choti maa chote papa ke sab sapne pura karna chahta hun, aur apne liye bas itna sa khwab hai ki mera saath dene wali, mujhe bhale hi na samjhe, mere Parivar ko samjhe, unko mane, unki izzat kare, bas itna hi" he said and came to Nitya again.

"Dekhiye main ye shaadi apne Parivar ke liye karna chahta hun bas" he further said.

Nitya hadn't spoken a word since they had entered the room, she looked upset too. Aarav remembered his mother's words from the other night "Ladki ka mann padhna seekho Aarav"

"Nitya ji, itni der ho gai hai, keval main hi main bole jaa raha hun, aap kuch kehna nahi chahti?" he asked.

Nitya turned to him, she was in tears. Aarav couldn't see tears in her eyes, he came near her and asked "Arey, Nitya ji, aapki aankhon mein aansu kyun hain, aap, ro kyun rahin hain''

"Dekhiye meri baaton ka bura mat maaniye" Nitya spoke for the first time in the whole time.

"Nitya ji aap khul kar apni baat mujhse keh sakti hain"

"Dekhiye, Aarav ji, main yeh shaadi nahi karna chahti, mere family wale meri shadi karna chahte hain, par main shadi nahi karna chahti, main toh...main toh aage padhna chahti hun, M.D karna chahti hun" she said within tears.

"Kya?" Aarav was shocked.

"Haan, aapne bilkul thik suna, main yeh shadi nahi karna chahti" she said.

"Toh fir aapne mujhse milne ke liye haan kyun ki?" he asked

"Apne family ke liye, Aarav ji, aap apni family se bahot pyaar karte hain, maine dekha ye, main bhi apni family se bahot pyaar karti hun, unki Khushi ke liye maine aap se milne ke liye haan kar diya Aarav ji" she explained.

"Toh fir aap hi is rishte se mana bhi kar deejiyega Nitya ji" he said and was about to leave but Nitya held his hand and stopped him

Aarav turned and Nitya looked at him, he said "Nitya Ji, aap mujhe mat rokiye please"

"Aarav Ji, main is rishte se mana nahin kar sakti, main ab tak kai ladko ko mana kar chuki hun, ab bhi kiya toh mere Parivar waalon ka dil toot jaega" she said.

Aarav had listened to her but he jerked his hand off her hold. Manvi had heard their conversation, she saw him leaving the room. She followed him and stopped him mid-way.

"Aarav Ji dekhiye meri behen padhna chahti hai, aap kisi ki zindagi bachane ke liye kuch kar nahi sakte kya? Arey kaise aadmi hain aap?" she said

"Manvi Ji mera rasta chodiye"

"Agar aaj aapne mana nahin kiya toh meri behen hamesha ke liye aapke saath ek anchaahe rishte mein bandh jaegi, aur uski zindagi barbaad karne ke doshi aap honge" she said.

"Manvi ji, please mera rasta chhodiye" he said, Manvi got aside, he started stepping downstairs.

"Thik hai ab ek masoom ladki ki zindagi kharab hogi aur vo bhi sirf aur sirf aapki wajah se" she said, Aarav had heard it and he went into the hall.

The family members looked at him with hope. Nandini raised her eyebrows to ask if he was happy. He smiled at her.

"Aarav beta, tumhein hamari Nitya kaisi lagi" asked Sadhna.

"Haan Aarav, kya Nitya tumhein pasand aai?" asked Pooja.

Aarav was silent, both Nitya and Manvi came over there.

"Arey bol na, bolta kyun nahin hai, Nitya achhi lagi na tujhe?" Anoop said.

"Ji main shaadi ke liye taiyyar hun" he said and everyone's face lit up they were about to celebrate but Aarav further said "Par Nitya se nahin, balki Manvi se"

To be continued..