Everyone settled down for the post-wedding rituals. Kavya placed the big bowl in front of them and Aarav places his hand inside. He was enjoying playing in the milk water, as the rose petals and other stuff attracted him.

"Aaru beta haath bahar nikalo abhi aapke bhaiya aur bhabhi game khelenge" one of the relatives said

Aarav laughed "bhai aur bhabhi maa toh kabse akele games khelte rehte hai Aaru ke bina ab Aaru bhi khelga" he said

Poonam glared at Vikram, he made an innocent face. Kavya throws the ring inside and they began to search for it. Aarav also enjoyed playing with them, finally, he gets hold of the ring and gives it to Poonam.

She takes her hand out "mil gayi"

"Yaa.. bhabhi jeet gayi" Aarav shouted

"Tune cheating ki Aaru.. tune ring Poonam ke haath mein di" Vikram complained.

"Aaru ne kuch nahi kiya" he made an innocent face.

Poonam rolled her eyes at Vikram and said "Vikram.. Tum jeet bhi jaate toh bhi tumhe meri hi sunni padti"

"Daant padi bhai ko daant padi" he comments.

Vikram was about to hit him but Aarav run away from there. They greet the relatives and soon everyone leaves the house. Vikram looked around but couldn't find anyone, he moves to the kitchen and sees Poonam giving milk to Aarav.

"Bhabhi maa aaajse aap Aaru aur bhai ke saath hi rahogi na? Chintu ki tarah nahi jaogi ghar se" he asked

"Nahi jaungi.." she replied

"Ohho.. toh phir aap toh bhai ke saath unke room mein rahogi na?? Jaise wo gandi chachi aur chacha rehte hai" Aarav questioned

"Aise nahi kehte hai Aaru.."

"Aaru ko nahi pasand hai wo dono.. Aaj Aaru aapko bhai ka room dikhayega" he said with excitement. He keeps the glass in the sink and pulls her along with him.

Poonam recalls the day when he pushed her out of the room saying "ye mere bhai ka room hai aap jao yahan se"

Today he himself is taking her to the room, he brings her into the room and shows her around.

Vikram enters and Aarav made him sit on the bed beside Poonam "ab aap dono game khelo Aaru ko nini aa rahi hai" he said rubbing his eyes.

"Chalo tumhe sula toh dun main" Vikram said ruffling his hair. Aarav lays down on the bed in the center and VikNam exchanged glances with each other.

Poonam smears his head while Vikram goes to the other end. Aarav rolled his eyes towards them one by one "Aap dono upset kyun ho gaye?" he asked

"Kuch nahi tu soja.." Vikram replied and kissed his forehead. Aarav closed his eyes and soon drifted into sleep holding their hand tightly like a son hold of his parents.

Vikram notices the earrings in Poonam's ear. He lightly removed the dupatta from her head and touched her ear "ye earrings..."

"Finally tumne notice kiye" she said in a whispering tone.

He recalled the memory

Vikram had been working in the office, he looked at the time and it was 11 am but Aarav hadn't yet came to office "ye ladka hai kahan pe??" he calls him but Aarav does not pick up his call.

After about half an hour, Aarav comes to the office and moves to his desk. Vikram comes out of his chamber and asked professionally "Mr. Aarav Malhotra where were you??? Itna late office? Salary kaatunga main"

"Kaat lena Sir.. lekin bahut hi important kaam tha mujhe" he concluded.

"Pata hai na important meeting thi tumhara hona zaroori tha for your own growth," he said meaningfully.

"Sir wo kya hai na.. Mere liye mere bhai ki growth zyada important hai unhe toh apni parwah hai nahi toh mujhe karni padegi aap pareshan mat hoyie main overtime karke apna day pura kar lunga"he said calmly.

Vikram sighed in disappointment. In the evening, Vikram was about to leave and saw Aarav working. He looked at him and said "Aarav ghar chalo"

Aarav looked at the time and office hours ended. Aarav smiled "bhai.. Mere sir ka order hai mujhe kaam khatam karna hai"

"Aaru kal kar lena chalo abhi aur ye main kah raha hun" Vikram said in serious tone. Aarav got up and moved to him.

He kept his head on his shoulder "haaye mera pyaar bhai.. Kitna pyaar karta hai mujhse"

Vikram jerked his head away "zyada maska mat maar mujhe.. Kaha tha tu subah?? Bina kuch bataye mat jaaye kar kitni baar kaha hai tujhe? Sunta kyun hai tu meri baat" he scolded him.

Aarav takes a deep breath "Calm down bhai.. Wo Dubai se famous jewellers aaye they aur main apni hone waali bhabhi ke liye wahi se gift lene gaya tha unke jaane se pehle" he revealed

Vikram anger melts hearing his words. Aarav shows him the earrings which he brought "ye dekho bhai.. Jab aapki shaadi hogi na.. Main chupke se bhabhi ke kamre mein jaunga aur unhe ye dunga aur inhe pehenke hi unhe aapse shaadi karni padegi"

"Hey bhagwaan ye ladka khayali pulao kitne pakata hai.. Aisa thodi hota hai" he slapped his head from behind.

"Nahi hota hoga lekin meri bhabhi yahi pehengi samjhe aap.." Aarav warned him.

"Mere baap jaise teri marzi tu kar liyo ab ghar chal.." Vikram gave him and they headed back to home.

Vikram had tears in his eyes, he glanced at Aarav "Tu thik ho gaya hai kya aaru?? Kabhi kabhi lagta hai tu ek dum thik ho gaya par dusre se hi pal waise hi.."

Poonam held his hand and he looked at her. "Ise yaad aaya ise kya karna tha Poonam.. Matlab isne tumhe ye earrings room mein diye" he said as he had seen him going to her room before they left for Mandap.

She nodded in yes.. "Haan Vikram.. Aur mujhe yaad hai tumne mujhe bataya tha Aaru kya chahta tha isliye maine pehen liye"

He kissed her hand and tears falls down her hand. She lifted his face up and said "Vikram.. Dekhna jald sab yaad aa jayega Aaru ko aur ek dum thik ho jayega hamara Aaru"

"Hmm.. hum na ise doctor ke paas leke jayenge ek baar checkup ke liye pata toh chale kitna improvement hai" he said

"Main le jaungi shaadi ke chakkar mein tumne office pe bilkul bhi dhyan nahi diya hai" Poonam replied

"Are waha chachaji hai na dekhne ke liye aaru pehle hai" VIkram said

Poonam thought for a moment, she said "Vikram.. Chachaji ki bhi umar ho rahi hai unpe sab zimmedari mat daalo"

Vikram shook his head positively "baat toh sahi hai tumhari main jaata hun office kal aur tum mujhe batana doctor kya kehte hai"

Poonam blinked her eyes in yes.  She remembered the last night, she asked "Vikram kal raat tum pareshan kyun they?" 

Vikram looked at her, it seems she had noticed him standing tensed yesterday at the door when she was putting Aarav to sleep. He eyed Aarav's face and slowly removed his grip. He got up and moved to the balcony getting anxious about it. 

Poonam also walked to him, she kept her hand on his shoulder and turned him around. He couldn't look up at her as he didn't want to hurt her with the decision. Poonam sensed there is something big which is worrying him, she held his hand and asked "kya baat hai Vikram? sab thik hai na?" 

"pata nahi Poonam.." he denied 

She was confused "baat kya hai? saaf saaf batao mujhe" she said 

"kuch mangna chahta hun tumse.. dogi?" he asked in a soft tone 

"puch kyun rahe ho? haq hai tumhara jo kahoge wo dungi tumhe hai" she said with a smile on her face. 

Vikram sighed deeply, the words were stuck in his throat. For the sake of his brother, he is going to snatch the parenthood right from her. It pained him too but he can't let his brother get neglected in the future because of his own child and lose him. 

Poonam gets anxious with his silence but she was lightly understanding it. "kaho Vikram.. dil mein rakhoge toh mujhe hi takleef hogi" she said

"Poonam.. bache na masoom hote hai! unhe duniya dari ki koi samajh nahi hoti hai aur maa baap apne bacho ki fikar karna kabhi nahi chodte hai.. bachpan ek aisa daur hai jisme maa baap ko bacho ko apna pura samay dena padta hai khudka bhi khayal nahi rehta aur mera Aaru uss daur mei hai..." he said with his eyes turning moist. 

Poonam gulps down her throat, she asked "Aur tumhe darr hai agar hamara bacha hua toh hum Aaru pe dhyan nahi de payenge?" 

Vikram stared at her silently. She left his hand and turned to the other side with tears brimming down her eyes. He hugged her from behind and placed his hand around her stomach "I am sorry Poonam... par agar mujhe Aaru aur apni khushiyon ke beech chunna pada toh main hamesha use hi chununga ye aakhiri faisle mein mera saath de do please.." he knows she is hurt with his decision. 

Poonam touched his face and smiles with tears. "jante ho na kya maang rahe ho tum? agar Aaru kabhi thik nahi hua toh hum.." she paused. 

"bahut bada sacrifice maang raha hun tumse.. ye baat mujhe shaadi se pehle hi karni chahiye thi par tab khayal aaya hi nahi wo toh kal raat chachi aur chachaji ne baat ka zikar kiya.. tum janti ho na Aaru tumhare aur mere alawa kisiki nahi sunta hai.. sabse kaise bartaav karta hai mai.. nahi chahta main sab kuch kho dun please..." he exclaimed. 

She turned to him and smiled "samajhti hun tumhara darr, tumhari fikar.. thik hai Vikram I promise jabtak Aaru thik nahi hota hum apni family ke baare mein nahi sochenge" she promised him. 

Vikram was touched by her decision. She has a heart of gold, he kissed her forehead "main janta tha tum mere faisle mein saath dogi" 

They slept with a new ray of hope reflecting in their eyes of Aarav recovering soon. 

It was midnight, and Vikram had been sleeping sounded. Poonam felt the grip around her arm getting tightened. She opens her eyes and turns towards Aarav, he seems scared of something. Maybe, he is seeing a bad dream Poonam placed her hand on his forehead to calm him down "Aaru.. bhabhi maa hai.."

Within a few seconds, a smooth smile appears on his face. Poonam had some doubts in her mind and she thought of questioning Aarav about it tomorrow.

She lays back again and drifts into sleep.

As the sunrays touched, Poonam opens her eyes. She sat up straight and ties her hair into a bun. She turned to her left and saw the coffee. There was a note "Good morning wifey.. Here is your coffee breakfast bhi ready hai Aaru bahut hi tired hai jaldi nahi uthega enjoy your day"

She freshened up and then drank the coffee. Poonam then took a bath and wore the saree. She glanced at Aarav who was sleeping, she moved downstairs and calls Vikram.

"Haan Poonam.." he instantly picked up her call.

"Aaru ki medical reports kaha hai Vikram?" she asked

"Poonam tumhare aane se pehle chachi hi Aaru ko doctor ke paas leke jaati thi.. Unse pucho unke paas sab details hai" Vikram replied

"Acha.. thik hai" she said and disconnects the call.

She thought "Vikram kitna zyada bharosa karta hai chacha chachi pe.. Sawal bhi nahi karta kuch unse"

She moves towards Kavya's room and said "Chachiji.."

Kavya smiles "haan bahu"

"Aaru ki reports aur medical file kaha hai? Mujhe use doctor ke paas leke jaana hai" she said

Kavya asked "doctor ke?? Kya ho gaya use?"

"Nahi kuch nahi hua bas main aur Vikram janna chahte hai itne mahino mein kitna improvement hua hai" Poonam said

Kavya moves to the cupboard and takes out the file. She handed it to her "ye lo"

Poonam thanked her and leaves from there. Poonam opens the file but hardly understood the medical terms.

She called the hospital and booked an appointment for today with Aarav's doctor.