Anoop was reading a book in his room but his entire attention was somewhere else. Pooja noticed it and she sat near him.

"Kya hua Ji? Aap aise khamosh kyun hain, aaj toh kitni khushi ka din hai, aaj humare bete ka rishta taye hua hai '' she asked him.

"Pooja, kya tumhe wakai lagta hai ki jo humne kiya, yeh jo Aarav ne kiya vo theek tha?" He asked.

"Aap kya kehna chahte hain?"

"Mera matlab hai, hum dekhne Nitya ko gaye toh aur Aarav ne pasand Manvi ko kar liya, ye baat theek hai kya? Sabko itna khush dekh kar maine bhi rishte ke liye haan keh di lekin, man hi man mein mujhe ye sab thik nahin laga Pooja '' he explained.

"Lekin aapko ye sab thik kyun nahi laga, mera matlab hai, aapko kyun lagta hai ye rishta thik nahi hai?" Pooja further questions.

"Mujhe pareshani is rishte se nahin, balki jis tarah se ye rishta taye hua hai, us se hui hai Pooja, kahan toh Aarav ladki se milne tak mein ghabra raha tha, aur kahan usne kuch der mein hi uski behen ko pasand kar liya, aur humne bhi jaldbazi mein haan kar di, kahin hum kuch galat toh nahi kar rahe na Pooja" he was worried.

"Aapki baat thik hai ji , pehle toh mujhe bhi ye baat badi atpati lagi, lekin jis vishwas se Aarav ne apni pasand batai hai na, mujhe lagta hai zaroor baaton hi baaton mein usay Manvi pasand aa gayi hogi" Pooja said with a smile.

"Aur Manvi, vo toh khush hogi na?" He asked.

"Haan Ji, vo zaroor khush hogi, varna vo bhi toh aazad thi is rishte mein liye gaye faisla ka virodh karne ke liye" Pooja explained.

"Pooja, vo sab toh thik hai lekin kahin hum Nitya ke saath koi anyaay toh nahi kar rahe na?" Us bachhi ne toh kuch kaha bhi nahin, aur jhatt se apne liye aaye huye rishte ko apni behen ki godh mein daal diya " he said.

Pooja thought for a while and said "Ye toh aap theek keh rahe hain ji, maine bhi is baare mein socha, rishta uske liye aaya tha aur Aarav ne Manvi ko pasand kar liya, par pata hai main bhi uske liye kuch soch rahi thi ki agar humara Ani, Nitya ko pasand kar leta hai toh kitna achha rahega na?" She suggested with a smile.

"Kya? Pooja tum bhi na, sach mein kamaal karti ho, abhi bade bete ki shadi hui nahi aur tum chote bete ka rishta jodne lagi" he commented laughingly.

"Arey toh ismein harj hi kya hai, Jaise Aarav aur Manvi eksath achhe lagte hain, vaise Nitya aur Aniket bhi kitne pyaare lagenge na, bhayi mujhe toh Nitya bhi badi pasand thi" she replied.

Aniket was passing by their room and had heard the last part of their conversation.

"Mujhe bhi Nitya pasand hai Maa" he said to himself.

He went inside and said "Kya baat hai Maa, aapne mere liye Nitya ko pasand kar liya"

"Tu chup chup kar hamari baatein sun raha tha, haan?" Pooja sternly asked.

Aniket mischievously replied " Haan, aur aapki pasand mujhe pasand hai"

"Kya ? Besharam kahin ka, bhai ki shadi hui nahi aur ye apna ghar basane ki baat soch raha hai" she said.

"Arey Maa, mujhe vakai Nitya ji achhi lagi" he said with a grin and Pooja started beating his shoulder lightly and Aniket ran to save himself.

"Besharam kahin ka! Badtamiziyan badhti jaa rahi hain iski din par din, mazak hai ki khatam hi nahin hota iska" she said while trying to chase him.

"Arey lekin ye toh tum khud chahti ho na" Aniket commented and Pooja threw a pillow on him.

"Tu chal nikal yahan se !"

"Arey jaa raha hun jaa raha hun" he replied and went out of their room.

He came to the corridor and said "Kaash Maa tum ye samajh paati ki main mazak nahi kar raha tha "

He ruffled his hair and went to his room.

A FEW DAYS LATER

The family was preparing for the wedding and the date of engagement and wedding had been fixed. It was just a few days before the engagement. Nitya hadn't slept properly all these days. The thought that her sister's life was going to be sacrificed because of her dream of completing her further studies constantly stayed with her. She stepped towards Manvi's room very determinedly.

Manvi's room

She knocked on the door and Manvi saw her standing at the door and smiled.

"Arey, ye kya, tujhe kab se andar aane ke liye darwaza khatkhatane ki zarurat padi hai, aa na" she said.

She was busy arranging some things for the engagement.

"Mannu, main neechey Maa aur Chachi ke paas jaa rahi hun" Nitya hesitantly said.

"Haan toh jaa na mujhe kyun batane aai hai" Manvi replied with a smile.

"Mannu, main unhe, sab sach batane jaa rahi hun" Nitya said.

"Kya? Nitya tu pagal ho gai hai kya? Saari mehnat bekaar karegi kya? Arey itne mushkil se badi maa aur maa tujhe jaane dene ke liye maaane hain, tune sab sach bata diya toh vo fir rok lenge tujhe'' Manvi replied, worry written all over her face.

"Par Mannu, main aise khudgarz nahin ban sakti, main apni padhai ke liye teri bali nahin chadha sakti, isliye main jaa rahi hun, aage bhagwan ki jaisi marzi" Nitya replied innocently and was about to leave but Manvi held her hand and stopped her, she pulled her inside the room.

"Kahin nahi jaa rahi hai tu, samjhi? Dekh Nitya,ye shaadi main sirf tere liye nahin, balki maa aur papa ke liye bhi kar rahi hun, isliye please ye sab mat kar, aur tujhe meri kasam hai jo tune kisi ko bhi kuch batane ki koshiish ki hai toh" Manvi warned her.

"Par Mannu..."

"Maine kaha na, kisi ko kuch batane ki zarurat nahin hai, chal ab meri madat kar engagement ki taiyyariyon mein"

THE ENGAGEMENT DAY

It was the day of engagement. The NiVi Mansion was decided as the venue of engagement. The house blossomed with the flower decorations and it sparkled like fireflies in the evening. The other guests were there, and the groom and his family were to arrive soon. The Wadhva family was waiting for their arrival. Nitya had already got ready, she dazzled in the pink embroidered lehenga. She was helping Manvi in getting ready.

Manvi bloomed in the purple frilled lehenga. She carried a wide smile on her face.

"Mere saamne ye aise itni badi smile leke mat ghoom , mujhe pata hai, tu andar se bahot udaas hai" Nitya commented while correcting her palla.

"Arey waah! Main bhala kyun udaas hone lagi aur madam, main muskura rahi hun kyunki...hayee main itni sundar hun main kya karun" she said and took her own balaiya in from the mirror.

"Tu khush hai Manvi?"

"Of course hun, aur tu bhi hoja, chal ek achhi si smile de mujhe" Manvi replied.

Nitya couldn't smile so Manvi started tickling her and she had to smile.

In the Hall

The Malhotras had arrived at the NiVi mansion. At first, the parents came out of the car, and then Aniket carried a wide smile, wearing an off-white sherwani. He stepped forward and then Aarav came out of the car. He had donned a black pathani suit, in which he looked the most handsome groom ever. He too smiled lightly looking at the mansion which was beautifully decorated.

"Dada ghar ko toh khud dulhan ki tarah sajaya hai inhone" Aniket said with a smile and Aarav nodded at him.

The Malhotras entered the mansion, and the Wadhvas welcomed them. Aarav and Aniket touched the feet of the elders. Aniket was looking around, his eyes searching for Nitya but she wasn't found anywhere.

"Aaiye aaiye aap logon ka hi intezaar tha" said Rishabh.

Vivek and Sadhna applied tilak to everyone's forehead as a sign of welcoming them inside.

"Ghar bahot sundar sajaya hai aapne Vivek sahab" said Karan.

"Ji ismein hum dono ka koi haath nahin hai, ye saaj sajawat mein toh sirf hamari ladies ka dimag chalta hai '' Rishabh explained.

"Haan toh kyun na sajaayen? Ghar ki pehli beti ki shadi hai bhai '' Sadhna replied.

"Ab yahin khade rehke sari baatein karenge kya aap? Andar nahin chaliyega?" Prerna said and all of them went inside.

"Nandini ji aaj toh aap Aarav ki nazar utaar leejiye, kitna achhe lag rahe hain dekhiye" Sadhna said with a smile.

"Haan toh hamare duggu ki nazar ab aap hi utaar leejiye, aapka bhi toh beta hai vo" Nandini replied.

"Kya choti maa, shaadi hone jaa rahi hai meri, ab toh mujhe duggu bulana band keejiye" Aarav said.

"Dekha Nandu, shaadi hui nahi aur tevar badal gaye hain aapke laadle ke, ab ye na aapka raha na Pooja bhabhi ka" Karan commented.

"Hmm sab dekh rahi hun main, kya hi kar sakti hai bichari maayein ab" Nandini replied dramatically and the two laughed as Aarav was irritated again.

"Choti maa!" Aarav made a face and she pulled his cheek.

"Prerna ji, saari rasmein shuru kar dete hain, vaise bhi humein aane mein deri ho gai hai '' Pooja suggested.

"Haan haan kyun nahi, main abhi dono ko bulwati hun"

She asked a maid to get Manvi and Nitya downstairs. Both girls stepped downstairs. Aarav saw Manvi and he was lost for a while when he saw her in that attire but was brought back from the trance, after hearing Ishika's voice.

"Haye bhabhi kitni pyari lag rahin hai" she said.

Manvi's eyes went on Aarav and she thought "Dikh toh aisa bhola raha hai jaise duniya ki sari masumiyat ho ismein"

Aarav thought " Huh! Tevar toh aise de rahi hai jaise shadi karke ehsaan kar rahi hai mujhpar, maine toh kaha tha, mana kar deti ghar walon ko"

Manvi thought "Kaise ghoor raha hai mujhe, jaise aaj ke aaj kha jaega" she forced a smile.

"Haan haan dikha lo, magarmuch ke aansu ke jaise magarmuch ki hasi, arey koi fida nahi ho raha tumpar" thought Aarav and looked away.

"Haw! Muh hi fer liya! Jane do, main bhi isay bhav nahin dungi" Manvi thought. She came forward and touched the feet of the elders.

Meanwhile, Aniket's eyes were there on Nitya, he was staring at her continuously. Aman noticed this again and stood in front of her blocking his view. Ishika had noticed everything and she giggled.

"Kya hua? Tu kyu hase jaa rahi hai khi khi karke" Aniket asked.

"Maine dekha, kaise aap Nitya di ko ghoore jaa rahe thay, aur kaise unka bhai unke aage aake khada ho gaya, aww, bechare bhai" she laughed looking at Aniket's face.

"Hamari Manvi toh ekdam chaand ka tukda lag rahi hai" said Nandini

"Haan, aur vo bhi daag ke saath" thought Aarav..

"Nitya bhi toh kitni sundar lag rahi hai" said Pooja.

"Oho, aap dono ye kyu nahi kehti, ki dono betiyan badi pyari lag rahi hain" Karan commented.

"Chaliye bhaisahab, taarefein hi mat keejiye, ab bas isay aur apna bana leejiye" Sadhna said and they took her to the mini stage that was setup inside the hall.

First everyone showered Manvi with gifts and then applied tika to her forehead. Aman came forward and applied tika to Aarav, he then placed a garland around him, and Aarav too placed a garland around Aman. Later they all left the stage and it was just Manvi and Aarav standing on the stage.

Nitya and Aniket got rings for them.

"Is se pehle ki main ye anguthi tumhein pehnau, main chahta hun ki tum mere baare mein ek sach jaan lo Manvi" Aarav whispered it to her.

Manvi got worried for a second, she thought there was something serious that he had to say.

"Bolo" she spoke.

"Maine aaj tak kisi ladki ko date nahin kiya, tum mujhse kisi tarah ke romance ya romantic moment ki ummeed mat karna" he whispered and when Manvi heard this she wanted to laugh loudly but somehow controlled herself.

"Arey Dada, ab sharmana band karo, bhabhi ko anguthi pehnao vo kab tak aise khade rahengi" said Aniket.

Aarav took Manvi's hand in his, but when he did this, she got a little nervous. Her hands trembled but he held her hand firmly and then slid the finger around her.

As soon as he left Manvi's hand, she heaved a sigh of relief but it was only for a short time.

"Manvi ab tum pehnao anguthi Aarav ko" Sadhna said.

Manvi's hands were shivering, she took the ring, Aarav held her hand again and she slid the ring around his. Everyone clapped for them and they soon put a smile on their faces.

"Vaise achhi lag rahi ho tum" Aarav spoke softly when they stood there to receive the guests.

"Jhooti tareef toh mat keejiye" Manvi said, pasting a smile.

"Waah! Kamal hai na tum ladies ka, tareef karo toh mushkil, na karo toh aur bhi zyada mushkil" he replied.

"Ajeeb hai ye aadmi" Manvi thought and again pasted a smile on her face as a guest came there.

Here on other end, Aniket came up to Nitya, he saw that Aman was nowhere around and he said " Aap bahut sundar lag rahi hain Nitya Ji"

Nitya was surprised and she said "Thank you, aap bhi is sherwani mein bahot janch rahe hain"

"Vaise ek baat toh main kahunga, mera bhai laakhon mein ek hai, lag raha hai na handsome" he said.

"Haan, toh, meri behen bhi karodon mein ek hai" Nitya said proudly.

"Is mein toh koi shak nahi, isiliye toh mere bhai ne aapko reject kar ke unhe pasand kiya hai" Aniket had deliberately said this to tease her, but Nitya was reminded that it was because of her that Manvi was sacrificing her dreams, she almost became teary. She left the hall and came outside the house. Aniket saw this and he too followed her there

"Arey arey aap toh rone lagi, main toh mazak kar raha tha" Aniket said and he gave his handkerchief to her. She took it and wiped her tears.

"I am sorry Nitya ji aapko bura lag gaya, main toh bas...aur mujhe nahi laga tha ki aap mere mazak ka bura maan jaengi, mazak wala rishta hai na hamara?" he asked softly, Nitya nodded.

Sharad came up to them and said "Ama bhaanje, tumne kahin apni mami ko dekha?"

"Mamaji vo toh..."

But Sharad saw Anita at the food stall and he said " ye lo, ye toh gapagap gol gappe thoose jaa rahi hai, main samjha ke aata hun tumhari Mami ko"

Aniket and Nitya both giggled at this.

Sharad went up to her and said "Arey bhaagwaan, mana hum ladke wale hain lekin iska matlab ye thodi hai ki wadhva ji ka maal free ka samajh ke thoose jao thoose jao"

"Haye daiyya! Tum humein khane ke liye tok rahe ho?" she said, making a face.

"Arey hum tumhein khaane se nahi, balki charne se rok rahein hain, chaliye ab" he commented and took her away from the food stall all embarrassed.

To be continued..

Aarav and Manvi gets engaged.. 

How long can they hide truth from family.

Stay tuned..