(Manik and Riya reach home and find Raj walking in the hall, talking to someone on the phone and shouting angrily.)

Raj- I don't know how you will do it. Just convince them about this deal and call the investors.

(Manik sighs, looking at him while Riya holds his hand.)

Riya- Don't let him affect you, Manik. Tum Cabir aur Mukti se baat karo jaa ke.

[Riya- Don't let him affect you, Manik. You go talk to Cabir and Mukti.]

Manik- Hmm.

(Manik sighs and goes from there while Riya goes to the room.)

(Manik reaches Cabir's room and finds Mukti sitting near the window and Cabir using his phone, sitting on the bed. He knocks on the door, and both look up at him.)

Mukti- Bhai.

[Mukti- Bro.]

(Mukti goes and hugs Manik while he, too, takes her in a brotherly hug, sighing. He looks at Cabir, who is looking away and takes a deep breath. Manik then breaks the hug with Mukti and goes to Cabir. He sits with him while Cabir gets away from him.)

Manik- Cabir I am sorry yaar. But uss time ek dum se mujhe bohot gussa aa gaya tha.

[Manik- Cabir I am sorry. But I got very angry at that moment.]

Cabir- Mujhe aap se koyi baat nahi karni hai Bhai. Aap please jao yahan se.

[Cabir- I don't want to talk to you, bro. Please leave from here.]

Manik- Arey gussa kyu kar raha hai yaar. Acha I promise aage se aisa kabhi nahi hoga.

[Manik- Hey, why are you getting angry? Okay, I promise that it will never happen again.]

(Cabir turns towards him and speaks up.)

Cabir- Aap humesha aise hi karte ho Bhai. Aap Mom Dad se ladayi kar ke chale jaate ho aur uske baad vo dono bhi chale jaate hain. Aur aaj agar Bhabhi nahi aati to pata nahi kya karte hum. Aap teeno mein se kisi ko humari parvaah nahi hai Bhai. Aap sab bas ladte rehte ho.

[Cabir- You always do this, bro. You go away after fighting with mom and dad, and they, too, leave. And if sister-in-law wouldn't come on time today, I don't know what we would have done. None of you three cares about us, bro. You all just keep fighting.]

Manik- Cabir aisa nahi hai yaar. Tune dekha naa vo dono kya kya bol rahe the. Aur tujhe to pata hai ki gusse mein mujhe kuch samajh nahi aata. But iska ye matlab to nahi hai naa ki mujhe tum dono ki parvaah nahi hai. I care for you guys yaar. Bas kabhi kabhi aise react kar deta hoon main. Par I promise, aage se aisa kabhi nahi hoga. I won't let you guys suffer. Promise.

[Manik- Cabir, it's nothing like that. You saw what both of them were saying. And you know that I do not understand anything in anger. But that doesn't mean that I don't care about both of you. I do care for you guys. I just react like this sometimes. But I promise this will never happen again. I won't let you guys suffer. Promise.]

Cabir- Pakka sure ho iss baar aap?

[Cabir- Are you sure this time?]

Manik- Haan pakka. Tu bhi kya drama kar raha hai Cabir.

[Manik- Yes, sure. What drama are you doing, Cabir?]

Cabir- I hate you so much, bro.

(Cabir gets up and starts to leave from there, but Manik pulls him back and takes him in a brotherly hug, which Cabir too instantly reverts.)

Mukti- Mujhe to aap dono humesha bhool jaate ho yaar Bhai. This is not done.

[Mukti- Both of you always forget me, bro. This is not done.]

(Saying this, she joins them, and they hug together. Manik sighs looking at them.)

(The Malhotras are sitting at the dining table having breakfast together when Raj speaks up.)

Raj- Riya, tum khush ho iss shaadi se?

[Raj- Riya, are you happy with this marriage?]

(They all stop eating and look on, confused at Raj while he again speaks up.)

Raj- Answer my question, Riya. Are you happy with this marriage?

Neyonika- Raj please. Hum ne baat ki thi naa iss baare mein. Tum jaisa soch rahe ho vaisa kuch nahi hone wala hai.

[Neyonika- Raj please. We talked about this, didn't we? Nothing of what you are thinking is going to happen.]

(Riya looks at Manik confused, to which he sighs and looks at Raj and Neyonika, who are busy arguing.)

Manik- Will you guys stop with this drama show of yours? That, too, this early in the morning. Just stop this, please.

Raj- Tumhe to sab drama hi lagta hai Manik. Yahan meri company ka sawaal hai. And I have decided to end my deal with Dixits. To tumhari ye jo bhi contract marriage hai iska tum dekh lo kya karna hai.

[Raj- Everything seems to be drama to you, Manik. Here is the question of my company. And I have decided to end my deal with Dixits. So you can do whatever you want about your contract marriage.]

Cabir- What! Dad kya bol rahe ho aap! Aise kaise shaadi khatam kar do?

[Cabir- What! Dad, what are you saying? How can we end a marriage like this?]

Neyonika- Calm down, Cabir. Aisa kuch nahi hone wala hai. The deal is still on, so stop panicking.

[Neyonika- Calm down, Cabir. Nothing of that sort is happening. The deal is still on, so stop panicking.]

Mukti- But Mom aap log kar kya rahe ho? Bhai and Bhabhi are married. Koyi mazaak thodi naa tha vo sab.

[Mukti- What are you both doing, Mom? Bro and sister-in-law are married. It was not a joke.]

Neyonika (pissed)- Mukti I know...

Manik- Mukti, Cabir. Relax, guys. We are not ending our marriage. Just enjoy your breakfast.

(Saying this, Manik continues having his food. Riya sighs looking at Raj, and is about to continue eating when Raj again speaks up.)

Raj- Riya tum ne jawab nahi diya mujhe. If this deal breaks, do you want to stay in this marriage deal? Manik se puch ke to koyi fayda nahi hai kyunki usse taunts maarne ke alava kuch aata nahi hai so I am asking you.

[Raj- Riya, you didn't answer me. If this deal breaks, do you want to stay in this marriage deal? There is no use in asking Manik because he doesn't know anything except taunting.]

(Riya is about to speak up, but Manik laughs, and she shakes her head in disbelief at him.)

Raj- Kya kar rahe ho tum Manik? Mujhe baat karne doge tum usse?

[Raj- What are you doing, Manik? Will you let me talk to her?]

Manik (still laughing)- Main kya karu Mr. Malhotra. Lagta hai aap ki age ho gayi hai to aap cheezen bhool-ne lag gaye hain. To bas vahi soch ke hasi aa rahi hai mujhe.

[Manik (still laughing)- what do I do, Mr Malhotra. You seem to have become old, and that's why you have started forgetting things. So, just thinking about it makes me laugh.]

(Raj takes a deep breath to control his anger and turns to Riya again.)

Raj- Riya...

Riya- I am happy with this marriage, Dad. In fact maine Manik se shaadi deal ki vajhe se nahi ki thi. And ours is not a contract marriage jo iss deal ke saath khatam ho jaye. We got married legally and deal hai yaa nahi hai, usse humare relationship par koyi farak nahi padega.

[Riya- I am happy with this marriage, Dad. In fact, I did not marry Manik because of the deal. And ours is not a contract marriage which ends with this deal. We got married legally, and whether there is a deal or not will not make any difference to our relationship.]

Manik- Mil gaya aap ko aap ka jawab Mr. Malhotra? Yahi keh raha tha main. Maine kitni baar ye point clear kiya hai that I did not say yes to this marriage because of your deal. It was my decision, and your contract will have a null effect.

[Manik- Got your answer, Mr Malhotra? That's what I was saying. How many times have I cleared this point that I did not say yes to this marriage because of your deal? It was my decision, and your contract will have a null effect.]

(Meanwhile, Manik looks at Cabir and Mukti and takes a sigh as he finds them looking at Raj and Neyonika sadly.)

Manik (clearing his throat)- Mukti, Cabir tum dono ko college nahi jaana hai? You are already 15 minutes late. Come on, get going.

[Manik (clearing his throat)- Mukti, Cabir, you guys don't have to go to college? You are already 15 minutes late. Come on, get going.]

Mukti- Ji Bhai.

[Mukti- Yes, bro.]

(Mukti and Cabir look at Riya, a little scared, and she nods her head at them, after which they leave, and Raj speaks again.)

Raj- Samajh gaya main tumhara point, Manik. But I am not okay with this deal, so I want to back out. Tumhe ye shaadi continue karni hai to karo. Par ye deal ab khatam hone wali hai.

[Raj- I understand your point, Manik. But I am not okay with this deal, so I want to back out. If you wish to continue this marriage, then do so. But this deal is about to end now.]

(Riya and Manik look at each other, to which he asks her to let them be and continues eating.)

Manik (slowly to Riya)- Just let them be. They both are crazy for money, but we have other works to do.

Riya (slowly)- How are you so okay with all this, Manik? They are talking about us.

Manik (sighing, speaking slowly)- I have already clarified my point to them. And I am not the same Manik I was years back, jo pressure mein aa kar unki baat maan jayega. I won't let them break our marriage. So don't stress and just let them be. Hmm?

[Manik (sighing, speaking slowly)- I have already clarified my point to them. And I am not the same Manik I was years back, the one who will obey them under pressure. I won't let them break our marriage. So don't stress and just let them be. Hmm?]

(Riya nods a yes, and they both continue with their breakfast while Raj and Neyonika are still arguing.)

Neyonika- Aisa kuch nahi hone wala hai Raj. The deal is still on.

[Neyonika- Nothing like this is going to happen, Raj. The deal is still on.]

Raj- Tumhe sirf paise se matlab hai Neyonika. Ashwin Dixit ke itne rivals hai business mein aur uss vajhe se sab meri company ke saath business karne se manaa kar rahe hain. Main ab aur losses bear nahi kar sakta.

[Raj- You are only concerned about money, Neyonika. Ashwin Dixit has so many rivals in the business, and because of that, everyone is refusing to do business with my company. I can't bear the losses anymore.]

Neyonika- Aur Dixits se deal karne pe jo profit ho raha hai uska kya Raj?

[Neyonika- What about the profit we get from our deal with Dixits, Raj?]

Raj- You are unbelievable, Neyonika. Tum se baat hi karna bekaar hai.

[Raj- You are unbelievable, Neyonika. It is useless talking to you.]

(Saying this, he pushes his plate away and leaves from there.)

Neyonika- Damn it.

(She, too, pushes her plate away angrily and leaves from there. Manik and Riya finish their breakfast, and she sighs.)

Manik- Arey it's okay baba. Unke kuch kehne se kuch change nahi hone wala hai. So relax. We are adults, and it was our decision to get married. They cannot interfere like this.

[Manik- Hey, it's okay. Nothing is going to change just because they say something. So relax. We are adults, and it was our decision to get married. They cannot interfere like this.]

Riya- I know, Manik, but if this deal breaks, Dad and Harshad will think ki ye sab meri vajhe se hua hai. I don't want to face them.

[Riya- I know, Manik, but if this deal breaks, Dad and Harshad will think that all this has happened because of me. I don't want to face them.]

Manik- And you think main unko kuch karne dunga? Listen, don't stress yourself, okay. Nothing like this is going to happen. Be it, Ashwin Dixit or Raj Malhotra, no one can break our marriage. Don't think about them and focus on your work, hmm? Okay, you want me to drop you at the hospital?

Riya- Nahi tum jao main chali jaungi.

[Riya- No, you go, I will go by myself.]

Manik- Okay. Don't stress, okay. I will see you in the evening.

(He cups her cheek softly and kisses her forehead, to which she smiles, looking at him. He, too, leaves for his work after that, and Riya leaves for the hospital.)

(Manik is working in his cabin when his phone rings.)

Manik (on the phone)- Yes.

Receptionist- Sir Mr Veer Mehra is here to meet you. Should I send him in?

Manik- Hmm. Send him in.

Receptionist- Okay, sir.

(Manik cuts the call and shuts down his laptop. After a few moments, there is a knock on the door, and Veer enters the cabin. Manik gets up with a smile, and they both greet each other.)

Manik- So, how are you doing, Mr Mehra?

Veer- Well, I am all good, Mr Malhotra. What about you?

Manik- I am a little stressed with work and meetings, but it's okay. I will handle it.

Veer- Come on, Manik. Manik Malhotra never complains about work. In fact, Manik Malhotra is known to be the most hardworking businessman, right?

Manik- Ho gaya? Acha ab ye to bata ki aaj achanak yahan kaise?

[Manik- Are you done? Okay, now tell me, how are you suddenly here today?]

Veer- Oh, I am here about this business deal and...

(They discuss their businesses when Manik's phone rings, and it's Mukti.)

Manik- Just a minute, Veer. It's Mukti.

Veer- Yes, sure, bro. It's okay.

(Manik gets up and goes to a side to attend the call, but Veer can still hear Manik. Whereas Mukti has called Manik to send another car as her car's tire got punctured, but the driver cannot find a mechanic. Veer chuckles sadly, listening to Manik talking to Mukti, and sighs deeply. Manik returns after a few moments and finds Veer lost in some thoughts.)

Manik- Hey, Veer. Are you okay? You seem lost.

Veer (teary eyed)- Nahi vo bas tu Mukti se baat kar raha tha naa to...

[Veer (teary eyed)- No, it was just that you were talking to Mukti, so...]

Manik- I am so sorry, Veer. I...

Veer- Nahi yaar pagal hai. Teri galti nahi hai. In fact hume to pata bhi nahi hai ki kis ki galti thi...jo kuch bhi hua tab was devastating. Tabhi uske after effects abhi tak hai.

[Veer- No, are you mad? It's not your fault. In fact, we didn't even know whose fault it was... everything that happened was devastating. That's why its after effects are still there.]

Manik (confused)- But Veer, kuch investigation to ki hogi naa tum logon ne. Kon responsible tha uss accident ke liye?

[Manik (confused)- But Veer, you must have done some investigation. Who was responsible for that accident?]

Veer- I don't want to say this and don't mind, Manik, but it was Riya's father- Ashwin Dixit.

Manik (shocked)- What? Are you sure?

Veer- There was no proof, Manik. But Dad told me that he was very sure that it was him. There was some rivalry between them for some land. Dad wanted to build a hospital named after his daughter there.

Manik- Daughter?

Veer (teary-eyed)- We all wanted a daughter Manik. I wanted a little sister to play with. After that accident, the doctors tried to deliver the baby safely, and they did. The surgery was successful, and Mom gave birth to a girl, but she was declared dead.

(Manik sighs sadly, listening to him, and goes to his side and rubs his arm.)

Veer- We don't know ki kisne kiya sab and Dad bhi Mom ke saath busy ho gaye baad mein. Jisne bhi ye sab karvaya usne saare proofs gayab karva diye aur hum kuch nahi kar paye. Tune dekha tha naa party mein Mom ko. She still gets flashes about the accident. Unn ko lagta hai vo responsible hai uss sab ke liye.

[Veer- We don't know who did all that, and Dad also got busy taking care of Mom after that. Whoever did all this cleared all the proofs, and we couldn't do anything about it. You saw Mom at the party, right? She still gets flashes about the accident. She thinks she is responsible for all that.]

(Manik sighs, looking at Veer, and thinks something deeply.)

(On the other side, Riya is in her cabin attending to a patient. As the patient leaves, she sits back in her chair and calls the receptionist.)

Riya- Are there more patients, Liza?

Liza- No, Mam. It is lunchtime now, so there are no more patients. And the next appointment is after an hour.

Riya- Okay. Thank you.

(Riya is about to cut the call when a lady comes to the reception asking for Riya.)

Liza- Mam, there's a lady here, and she wants to meet you. She says she knows you, mam.

Riya (confused)- Knows me? Naam kya hai unka Liza?

[Riya (confused)- Knows me? What is her name, Liza?]

Liza- Mam she is Mrs Jahnvi Mehra. Should I send her in?

Riya- Haan tum unn ko cabin mein bhej do abhi. It's fine.

[Riya- Yes, you send her to the cabin now. It's fine.]

Liza- Okay, mam.

(Riya cuts the call and assembles all her things from the table and Jahnvi knocks on her cabin's door after a few moments.)

Riya- Aunty, please come in.

Jahnvi- I am so sorry if I am disturbing you, beta...

[Jahnvi- I am so sorry if I am disturbing you, dear...]

Riya- Nahi aisa kuch nahi hai Aunty and vaise bhi it is lunch break to main free hi thi. Aap aaiye naa baithiye.

[Riya- It is nothing like that, Aunty and anyway, it was the lunch break, so I was free. You please come and sit.]

(Riya and Jahnvi then sit on the couch, and Jahnvi speaks up.)

Jahnvi- Vo main yahan apni friend ke ghar aayi thi aur vapis jaate waqt maine hospital dekha to socha tum se mil lu. Actually party ke baad hum mil nahi paye aur mera bohot mann tha tum se milna ka.

[Jahnvi- I had come to my friend's house, and on the way back, I saw the hospital and thought I should meet you. Actually, we could not meet after the party and I was very eager to see you.]

Riya- Aunty, it's okay. Aap kabhi bhi aa sakte ho mujhe milne. In fact main to khud aap ko dubara milna chahti thi.

[Riya- Aunty, it's okay. You can come to visit me anytime. In fact, even I wanted to meet you again.]

Jahnvi- To aayi kyu nahi ghar kabhi?

[Jahnvi- So why didn't you come home ever?]

Riya- Aunty vo bas time nahi mila...and ye sab baatein to hoti rahengi par aap ke liye kuch mangva doon? Kya lengi aap coffee yaa...

[Riya- Aunty, I just didn't get the time... and all these talks will go on, but should I order something for you? Would you like coffee or...]

Jahnvi- Arey nahi nahi main lunch kar ke aayi hoon. Tum itni formality mat karo.

[Jahnvi- Oh no, I have already had my lunch. Don't be so formal.]

Riya- Oh, acha. Aur aap lunch bhi kar chuke ho. Matlab, it's just 02 and...

[Riya- Oh, okay. And you have already had your lunch too. I mean, it's just 02 and...]

Jahnvi- Aur tumhe abhi lunch karna hai?

[Jahnvi- And you still need to have your lunch?]

Riya- Vo aaj patients bohot the to thoda late ho gaya bas, par main abhi karne hi wali thi.

[Riya- There were a lot of patients today, so I got a bit late, but I was about to do it now.]

Jahnvi- Hey bhagwaan tum aaj kal ke bache naa. Pata hai Veer bhi aisa hi hai. Aur vo to 03 baje lunch karta hai. Aur tum to doctor bhi ho. Agar apna khayaal sahi se nahi rakhogi to baakiyon ko kaise theek karogi?

[Jahnvi- Oh God, you kids these days. You know, even Veer is just like this. He haves his lunch at 03. And you are a doctor too. How will you care for others if you don't care for yourself correctly?]

Riya- Aunty, actually ...

(Riya swallows the lump in her throat as she speaks because she has never experienced such care and concern from her mother. As Anita was always concerned about money and status, she never cared whether Riya was doing well. Riya takes a deep breath to control the overwhelming feeling inside her and talks to Jahnvi with a constant smile. On the other side, Manik and Veer are still talking, where Manik tries to distract Veer from the topic of his sister and gets successful too.)

Manik- Aur aunty kitna tasty khaana banati hain. Specially unke haath ki biryani ...

[Manik- And aunty cooks such tasty food. Especially the biryani made by her ...]

Veer- Khaane ki baat mat kar yaar Manik please.

[Veer- Don't talk about food, Manik, please.]

Manik- Kyu? Kya kiya hai tune?

[Manik- Why? What have you done?]

Veer- Yaar maine kuch nahi kiya par ab Mom ko kon samjhaye ki main kayi baar busy hota hoon to lunch thoda late ho jaata hai. Par nahi. Unka to 2 baje hi call aana shuru ho jaata hai ki Veer beta lunch kar le, Veer beta kuch kha le, aur main unko samjha hi nahi pata apna point. Abhi bhi dekhna thodi der mein call aa jayega.

[Veer- Bro, I haven't done anything, but who will explain to Mom that I am busy sometimes, so lunch gets a little late. But no. She starts calling me at 2 o'clock, asking me to have lunch. And I am never able to make her understand my point. And now wait and watch. She will be calling me in a while.]

Manik- Hmm.

(Manik chuckles at Veer's words but drinks a few sips of water from the glass as he remembers how Neyonika is never concerned about him. He clenches his fists tightly as he remembers all the incidents where his mother has never been there for him. His trance breaks when Veer's phone rings.)

Veer- See. Here comes her call for lunch.

(He smiles faintly at Veer, who picks up Jahnvi's call and puts it on speaker mode.)

Jahnvi- Nahi kiya naa lunch Veer?

[Jahnvi- You didn't had your lunch, right Veer?]

Veer- Arey mata shri main busy tha. Please samjho naa.

[Veer- But Mom, I was busy. Please understand my point.]

Jahnvi- Tum bacho ka naa mujhe samajh nahi aata Veer. Aur yahan mujhe teri team se koyi aur bhi mila hai. Riya.

[Jahnvi- I don't understand you kids, Veer. And here I have found someone else from your team. Riya.]

(At this point, Manik gets alert and listens to what Jahnvi is saying.)

Veer- Aap ko Riya kahan mil gayi Mom?

[Veer- Where did you find Riya, Mom?]

Jahnvi- Main milne aayi hoon usse. Vo apni friend ke ghar aayi thi iss side to socha isse mil lu. Par yahan aake to pata chala ki ye teri team se hi hai. Ye bhi bilkul teri tarhan hai. (to Riya) Am I right, Dr. Riya?

[Jahnvi- I have come to meet her. I had come to my friend's house on this side, so I thought to meet her. But after coming here, I came to know that she is from your team only. She is also just like you. (to Riya) Am I right, Dr Riya?]

(Saying this, Jahnvi puts the phone on speaker and Riya and Manik look teary-eyed at the phone.)

Veer- Mom, even Manik is in my team. Main abhi uske saath hi hu and usne bhi lunch nahi kiya hai.

[Veer- Mom, even Manik is in my team. I am with him now, and he also has not had lunch.]

(Riya sighs, listening to this as she realises that with such a topic going on, Manik would be hurting too.)

Manik (in a low voice)- Hello... hello aunty... kaise ho aap?

[Manik (in a low voice)- Hello... hello aunty... how are you?]

Jahnvi- Main achi hoon beta par apna dhyaan bhi to rakho naa. Aur apni biwi se bhi kaho ki apna dhyaan rakha kare.

[Jahnvi- I am fine, dear, but take care of yourself too. And also ask your wife to take care of herself.]

Riya (teary-eyed)- Ji aunty... rakhungi main bhi... dhyaan.

[Riya (teary-eyed)- Yes, aunty... I will too take... care.]

(Riya and Manik think of each other at the moment, feeling the same pain and emptiness from inside while remembering their mothers. They also think about each other as they know that the other must be sad after this conversation.)