Poonam stared at him, his eyes were filled with pain, guilt, and helplessness.

"bolo Vikram kyun bheja tumne Aaru ko mental aslyum?" she questioned him

He denied "maine nahi bheja.. Tumhe lagta hai main aisa kar sakta hun? Use kisise na milne diya jaaye yeh kah sakta hun?" he asked with teary eyes.

"toh tum hi batao sach kya hai?" she asked

"har ek zid puri ki hai maine uski Poonam meri hi galti hai Poonam.. Maine use chod diya chacha chachi ke bharose aur nikal pada tumhe dundhne.. Wapas lauta toh mera Aaru jaise mera Aaru tha hi nahi.."

Flashback

Vikram went in search of Poonam, he tried calling her but her phone was switched off. He enquired about her few friends but none knew where Poonam went. He drove back home "Ab kya kahunga Aaru se.."

At home

Aarav was extremely happy that Vikram is bringing back Poonam. With this thought only, his anger had melted and that innocent Aarav returned "ooho.. Aaru ko toh bhook lagi hai bhabhi maa aayengi toh khana dengi Aaru ko"

He held his Chimpu and said "Chimpu tune bhi bhabhi maa ko miss kiya na.. Hum unse kahenge bhai se katti rahe batti na kare.."

Nitin signaled Kavya something, she picks up the milk glass and mixes something in it. She walks to him and said "beta Aaru" she kept her hand on his shoulder tightly.

Aarav felt a bit of pain, and he gets scared. He looks around but neither Vikram or Poonam were here to protect him.

Maria watched them from afar, she got tensed. She takes out her phone and was about to call Vikram but her husband who works there stops her "e Maria.. Kya hosiyari dikha rahi hai?? Victor ka ilaaj karana hai na chup rah.. Nitin sir paise de rahe hai samjha hamare khamosh rehne ke"

"Ye galat hai Steven.. Jab bhi Vikram baba jaate hai ye log shuru ho jaate hai! Vikram baba ne inn logo pe bharosa karke sabse badi galti ki hai.. Poonam madam jab thi toh ye kuch nahi kar paate they ab dekho wahi tamasha phirse shuru hoga.. Inke raste ki sabse badi rukawat jo chali gayi hai ghar se" she cries and felt bad for Aarav.

"Tu zyada shani na ban.. Jaake kaam kar apna" he pushes her towards the kitchen.

Aarav gets up and takes steps toward the stairs but Nitin blocked his way. "Kya bhatije? Apne bhai ke saamne toh bahut sher bante ho tum? Humpe hi chillate ho.. Ball fhekte ho ab kya hua haan?" he asked tapping his cheek

Aarav jerked his hand away "gande ho aap Aaru ko pareshan karte ho bhabhi maa ko sab bataunga main unhe aane do"

"Poonam nahi aayegi Aaru! Bahut jhel liya itne mahine.. Ab wahi hoga jo hum chahte hai chalo ab ache bache ki tarah ye dudh peelo" she said in soft tone.

"Nahi.. Aaru nahi peeyega aap gande ho" he shouts at her.

Nitin turns and slaps his face. Aarav had tears in his eyes "bhai ko bolunga main.."

"Acha? Vikram ko batayega? Phir pata hai na hum kya karenge uske saath?" Nitin reminded him. A fear passed down his spine.

"Are Nitinji kaafi mahine ho gaye hai kaha yaad hoga ise? Zara yaad dilaye" Kavya said with a smirk on her lips.

Aarav drops the Chimpu, he tries to run but Steven holds him by twisting his hand behind him. He winches in pain "Aah.. chodo Aaru ko... dard ho raha hai bhai.."

Nitin takes the glass of milk from her hand and tries to forcefully feed him. "ache bhatije chacha ki baat maante hai.. peeyo" he pressed his face in between his hand.

Aarav coughs badly and Steven leaves him.

"Aaru nahi chahta tha Vikram ke saath hum aisa karen?" Nitin asked

He denies "nahi.."

"Toh kuch nahi batana use thik hai na.. Warna Vikram ko bhi aise pain hoga" Nitin said pressing his wrist hard and Aarav looked at him with teary eyes.

After a minute, his head began to spine. He climbs the stairs slowly to reach his room but Kavya reaches before him and pushes him from there. He ends up rolling down and losses consciousness.

"Ab aayega khel ka asli maza.. Ab ye Vikram ko hurt karega aur phir Vikram ko ise mental asylum bhejna hi padega" Kavya said with a smile on her face.

"Lekin tumhe lagta hai dawai asar karegi? Itne mahino se isne li hi nahi.. Aur ise sab yaad aane bhi laga tha" Nitin said worriedly.

"Bharosa rakhiye.. Bahut hi strong dose hai bahut hi zordaar asar karegi.." Kavya spoke with a mischievous smile on her face.

"iska kissa yahi khatam kardo itne saal se sarka dard bana hua hai" Nitin said

Kavya refused "nahi.. hum aisa nahi kar sakte hai Vikram ki kamzoori hai ye aur hamari takaat samjhe aap" she exclaimed. Nitin nodded..

Nitin takes out his phone and calls Vikram. He said in fake concern "Vikram beta tu jahan bhi jaldi aaja.. Aaru gir gaya hai Poonam ko dekhne ke liye neeche daudte hue aa raha tha sun hi nahi raha tha hamari"

Vikram was shocked hearing him "What?? Main abhi aa raha hun chachaji.." he speeds up his car and within 15 minutes he reached home.

Maria saw all this, she thought "bahut galat fayda utha rahe hai ye log Aarav baba ki beemari ka.. Jesus please do something so that Vikram sir sees the reality of them"

Vikram goes upstairs and sees him lying on the bed unconscious. He sits down beside him and holds his hand tightly. There was a wound on his forehead, he sighed deeply "kyun aisa karta hai Aaru? Pehle bhi Poonam ki wajah se tujhe chot lagi thi aur aaj phir uski wajah se tujhe lag gayi.."

Kavya and Nitin exchanged glances with each other as that day when he was sitting outside. Nitin had beaten him up and showed as if he had met with an accident. They knew he will forget about the incident due to his weak brain cells.

"Beta choti si chot hai maine patti kar di hai ghabrao nahi" Nitin said keeping his hand on his shoulder

"Chachaji aap nahi hote toh pata nahi kya hi kar baithta ye.. I am really sorry iski wajah se aap dono ko itni pareshani hoti hai" he apologized to them.

"Sorry mat kaho beta.. Aarav hamara beta hai" Kavya said and Vikram smiled hearing her unknown of the fact that they are taking advantage of his strong trust in them and Aarav's innocence. It is not Poonam but them who are trying to harm Aarav.

Poonam gets shocked hearing him, she gets up from bed "What??"

She remembered many times Aarav tried to tell her something.

"Bhabhi maa wo.. Aaru ko ache nahi lagte chacha chachi.."

"Pareshan karte hai Aaru ko"

"Aap hoti ho na toh Aaru ko darr nahi lagta"

"Bhai ko pucho na wo thik hai??"

She now understood why at the hospital after the checkup he enquired about Vikram's wellbeing. She eyed Vikram and was getting angry at him for blindly trusting Nitin and Kavya. She read his eyes which were in deep guilt for blaming her and trusting them more than her.

Vikram remained sitting beside Aarav, and the next morning he opened his eyes. A smile appears on his face and he caressed his head "Aaru.."

Aarav looks around the scenario, he sat up straight and gets a few blurry images of someone holding his hand tightly and harming him. Vikram held his hand but Aarav pushed him hard. Vikram ends up falling on the floor, he was left with wide eyes seeing his reaction.

"Door raho Aaru se.." he shouts at him.

Vikram gets up and glances at him "Aaru kya ho gaya hai tujhe? Mujhe dhakka de raha hai? Bhai hun main tera"

"Nahi aap gande ho aapne bhabhi ko nikala ghar se.. Bhabhi chahiye mujhe" he yells at him.

Vikram comes closer to him and tries to hold him but Aarav doesn't let him touch him. "Bhabhi..maa chahiye Aaru ko" he demanded

"Main gaya tha lekin mujhe nahi mili.." he explained.

Aarav presses his neck and pushes him against the wall. He had completely lost control and not realizing he is harming his own brother "kaha na maine.. Sirf bhabhi chahiye... Aaru ko sirf wahi pyaar karti hai"

Vikram choaked, he pushes him hard with his energy and Aarav ends up tripping on the floor. Vikram coughs, he gets worried as Aarav's aggressive behavior was at its peak. He began to throw things at Vikram and shouted "jao aap yahan se.. Bhabhi maa.."

He runs out of the room, Vikram fears he might harm someone unknowingly. He follows him and Aarav comes out of the bungalow. He sees a kid playing, he rushes to him and kneels down. He asked him by jerking him a few times "bhabhi maa ko dekha tumne haan?? Kaha hai dekha unhe...?"

"Nahi..maine nahi dekha" the kid denied

Aarav gets angry and beats him up "kabse yahan khel rahe ho? Kaise nahi dekha tumne unhe haan? Roj toh hamare saath khelti hai bhabhi maa..." the kid began to cry but Aarav was not in his senses to understand anything all he wanted Poonam.

Vikram comes running and pulls him away from the kid. "Aaru kya kar rahe ho tum?? Ye dost hai tumhara.."

"Nahi sirf bhabhi maa Aaru ki dost hai..." he said stubbornly. The kid's mother came and saw his son crying. He complained that Aarav had beaten him.

She fumes in anger "Vikram apne iss paagal bhai ko ghar mein band karke rakho tum samjhe! Warna iss mohalle se nikal jao.."

Vikram glared at her "main kahi band nahi karunga Aaru ko aur na ise kahim leke jaunga samjhi aap"

He held Aarav's hand and drags him inside the house. Aarav tries to free his hand "Chodo.. Mujhe bhabhi ke paas jaana hai.."

Vikram said "nahi aayegi Poonam.. Please Aaru meri baat maanlo aur pareshan mat karo mujhe" he folded his hands in front him.

Aarav gets more annoyed, he began to scatter everything in the hall. Nitin tries to stop him but Aarav gave him a hard push and his head gets hit by the wall. It started to bleed and he screamed "Aah.."

"Hey bhagwaan... aaru beta chachaji hai tere" Kavya scolds him.

Aarav made a face "Sab dante hai Aaru ko.. Bhabhi maa chahiye" he breaks the vase. He picks up the glass piece, Vikram goes to him and throws it away

"Aaru tujhe lag jayegi.." Vikram said in concern.

Aarav again pushes him, and he again tries to leave but Vikram doesn't let him go.

"Vikram.. Mujhe darr hai kahi ye khudko hi na nuksan pahucha de.. Dekh apne chachiji haalat" Kavya cried

Vikram looked at him and felt so helpless. He doesn't know what to do, he can't send him to a mental asylum and Aarav was not getting calm down. He drags him upstairs and brings him to the room.

"I am sorry Aaru.. tune koi rasta nahi choda mere paas" he closes the door and locks him inside.

Aarav banged on the door "kholo darwazaa... aaru ko bhabhi maa chahiye..." he screamed his lungs out.

Vikram was feeling broken, he can't let Aarav harm anyone. Vikram thought of calling the doctor, he sighed deeply "itna sab ho raha tha mere toh deemag se hi nikal gaya.. Doctor wahi Aaru ko dawa deke shant kar sakte hai"

He comes downstairs and saw Kavya bandaging Nitin's wound. Vikram apologized to them for his behaviour. Nitin said "beta Aaru ki haalat bigadti jaa rahi hai.. Aaj usne tujhe hi chot pahuchayi.. Kahi agar kal usne khudko hi..."

"Nahi chachaji... ye sab Poonam ki wajah se hua hai usne itne din tak Aaru ko dawai nahi di isliye ye sab hua! Main abhi doctor ko phone karta hun wo kaise bhi Aaru ko shant kar denge aur phir regular dawaiyan chalengi toh aaru thik rahega" he said

Vikram searches his phone and then calls his doctor.

Kavya fumed in anger, she said "humne toh socha tha ye Aaru ko mental asylum bhej dega.. Kuch kijiye Nitin warna sab plan pe pani phir jayega hamare.."

"Main kya karun Kavya?? Khoon bhi baha diya maine par ye Vikram hai ki taiyar hi nahi hai Aaru ko bhejne ke liye... ab humhe hi use bhejna padega" he spoke with a smile on his face as Vikram's love for Aarav is extremely strong. He can bear everything for him but will never send him away. 

Vikram calls the doctor, who informs him that he has emergency surgery today and will come tomorrow. Vikram thanked him and disconnects the call.

Maria comes out of the kitchen, she forwards the food plate to him "chote baba ka khana.." she said

"Thank you, Maria.. Lekin kaise khilau use? Mere saath bhi nahi kha raha hai sirf Poonam chahiye use' he said with teary eyes.

Maria looked at Nitin and Kavya for a moment, she said "Aap unhe paas rahenge toh wo kha lenge.."

Vikram smiles at her and moves upstairs. He didn't hear his voice, he opened the door and finds him sleeping. He had a sigh of relief, he sat down beside him and there was something in his hand. He takes it and it was the picture of him and Poonam which he clicked during the wedding.

"Dekha kitna pyaar karta hai Poonam ye tumse.. Aur ise main kaise samajhau? Tumne hi iska accident kia.. Aaj tumhari wajah se mere bhai hi haalat aur bigad gayi hai.." he complained to her.

"Jaate jaate bhi tumne mere Aaru ko takleef dedi" he said in a hateful tone. Kavya heard his words and thought this to be the right moment to hit on his weakness as his biggest strength is gone forever. He will be now obliged to follow them.

Vikram sleeps beside him and at late night. Nitin enters the room with cat paws. He takes out an injection and injects it into Aarav's arm. He looked at both of them and smiled broadly "aaj tumhari aakhiri raat hai bhatije iss ghar mei.. Jee bharke apne bhai ke gale lagke solo.. Kal lakshman ko vanvaas jaana hoga aur Ram ko apne pyaare chacha chachi ki sewa karni hogi.." he thought.

He leaves the room quietly and just waited for morning to arise.

As the sun rays touched Vikram's face. He opens his eyes, glanced at Aarav, and kisses his forehead, "sote hue kitna shant lag raha hai..ziddi kahika.. Lekin main bhi tera hi bhai hun tujhe manake hi rahunga Poonam ke bina bhi hum pehle rehte they ab bhi rahenge samjha"

He got down and moved to his room to freshen up. He then goes downstairs, Nitin and Kavya smile at him "Aaru thik hai?" they asked

"Wo toh uske uthne ke baad hi pata chalega.." He replies and sits down for the breakfast. Maria serves him but he was unable to eat.

Kavya said "khao beta.."

"Kaise khau chachi? Mera bhai gusse mein apni bhook pyaas bhi bhula baitha hai.. Pehle bhook lagti thi toh tanki pe chadke mujhe office se ghar bulata tha.. Aur ab.." he closes his eyes for a moment.

"Poonam bhabhi ko bula lijiye na.." Maria said, Kavya, glared at her.

"Nahi Maria wahi zimmedar hai mere Aaru ki iss haal ki.. Wo toh iss ghar mein kabhi nahi aayegi" he said in determined tone.

Nitin smiled, he looked at the clock and counted in his mind "ek doh.. Teen tamasha shuru"

Steven comes running and shouts "aah.. Maria.."

Maria looks up at him and fumed in anger. He started his drama, Steven comes and drops on Vikram's feet "Aarav Sir paagal ho gaye hai VIkram sir.. Main toh dudh leke gaya tha unke kamre mein mere upar hi fhek diya unhone.. Mujhe kaam nahi karna hai sir.."

Vikram sighed deeply, Aarav comes downstairs holding his head. He was having a bad headache. Vikram loses his patience, he moves to him and holds him tightly "kya hai ye Aaru?? Kyun sabko maarte phir rahe ho tum haan?? Main kabtak tumhare liye akela sabse ladta rahunga haan?? Ek baat kyun nahi samajh aati tumhe Poonam nahi aayegi wapas" he scolded him.

Steven exchanged glances with Nitin and paid him for the work he had done.

Aarav could hardly understand Vikram's words. He was having hallucinations, Vikram was explaining to him but Aarav assumed he is trying to harm him. His anger is triggered and in that state, he pushes Vikram hard. Vikram's head gets hit on the coffee table and within a few seconds, blood begins to ooze out from it.

"Door raho Aaru se.." he shouts.

Vikram was taken aback by this move of his, he got up. Before he could speak to Aarav, he heard voices from the outside.