Sherlyn stood behind Kareena as the doorbell rang. She saw the anticipation on the faces of the rest of the family and smiled internally knowing that their hopes of bringing Preeta into the house would be dashed within the next few minutes. Now she just needed to find a way to fill Kareena's ears to make sure that Karan married Mahira! But she wasn't stupid, she wouldn't do it herself she thought especially with Rishabh already angry at her... No she would make sure to put Mahira in the line of fire so that if anything went wrong she would remain safe!

Lost in her thoughts she didn't notice Ramona and Mahira come and stand beside her, nor did she notice Karan make a dash for the door before Rakhee stopped him.

"Ruko!" Karan heard the order in his mothers voice and turned to look at her in confusion. Before he could ask Rakhee tilted her head slightly towards the Kitchen and call to Kritika and Roo. "Kritika, Roo saab taiyaari ho gaiyi hai?"

"Ha Mamiji"

"Yes Mom" both replied respectively as they made their way into the living room

"Bhabhi yeh saab kya hai?" asked a visually upset Kareena. Rakhee smiled at the girls as they carried forward all the items Rakhee had asked for to undertake Preeta's Griha pravesh.

"Didi aap ko toh pata hai ke meri choti bahu aaj paheli baar iss ghar mein bahu ke naate aarahi hai toh usska griha pravesh toh banta hai"

"Lekin woh larki..."

"Don't be shocked Bua, jab aap isse yahan laiye the tab bhi aapne Mom se isska griha pravesh karaiya tha toh meri babydoll ka bhi hoga na? Haq hai usska!" Karan cut her off.

"Karan tum Sher..."

"Didi please, aaj mere liye bohot khushi ka din hai. Aaj meri pasand ki larki mere ghar mein, meri bahu ban kar aarahi hai. Toh please aaj koi tamaasha nahi" Rakhee indirectly taunted before turning to Karan instructing him to open the door as she collected the aarti thal from Roo while Kritika set up the rest of the items for the rituals.

As the door opened a shocked Preeta stood staring at the Luthra's. she hadn't been expecting Rakhee Aunty, Karan, Roo, Rishabh and Kritika to be greeting her at the door.

Mahira looked at Sherlyn in anger as she noticed Preeta instead of a dejected looking Dadi and Sameer. Sherlyn could only stare in shock as all her well laid out plan were coming undone!

"Preeta Putar tu aagaiyi..." Rakhee smiled unable to contain her happiness, she used her free hand to wipe a tear that escaped her eye.

"Rakhee Aunty, aap theek toh hai na?" Preeta panicked seeing Rakhee's condition.

"Ha ha Putar mein teekh hoon..."

"Rakhee humme andar toh aane de"

"Ji Mummyji" Rakhee smiled and allowed Dadi, Sameer and the Arora's into the house. "Are ruko! Tum andar nahi aa sakti!" she almost shouted causing Preeta to stop in shock. Sarla was about to snap at Rakhee but Biji held her to stop her, she had understood Rakhee's intentions seeing the aarti in her hand and other preparations just behind.

"Lekin Rakhee Aunty..."

"Aur tum mujhe yeh Aunty bulana bandh karo!" Preeta's eyes filled with tears listening to Rakhee's words. She looked at the floor trying not to show how hurt she was... again.

Karan noticed Preeta's distress and turned to him mother,

"Mom yeh kya? Aaj itne dino baad meri babydoll ghar aaiyi aur aap ne usse ruladiya?" he turned to Preeta who looked at him hopefully and continued "Tum andar aao!" he said reaching for her hand.

"Mein sirf isse nahi, tumhe bhi bahar nikal rahi hoon!" Rakhee declared slightly nudging Karan out of the doorway. Karan and Preeta looked at each other in shock and then turned to Rakhee who was looking at them with a smile plastered across her face. The rest of the Luthra's watched some smiling, others rolling their eyes. The Arora's smiled slightly understanding that Rakhee intended to perform Preeta's griha pravesh.

Sarla was a little annoyed at the way the Luthra's assumed Preeta was here as their daughter-in-law and would have said as much, however, she remembered the message she received earlier and stayed calm. The same message that had convinced her to come to Luthra house!

"Mom..."

"Tum chup chaap khada rahe yahan!" Rakhee ordered as she indicated to Kritika to move forward.

As Kritika moved in front of the duo she lifted her hands and draped the red dupatta that she had been holding over Preeta's head. "Welcome Preeta BHABHI" she emphasised. Karan smiled at how radiant Preeta looked as she blushed hearing Kritika's words.

Next Rakhee carried out their aarti and then asked Preeta to kick the kalash and to step into the Alta before stepping onto the house.

"Are are aise nahi!" Roo stopped the couple after a few steps. Everyone looked at her in confusion wondering why she was stopping the ceremony. "Are aise maat dekho mein toh bas yeh kahe rahi thi ke aab Karan bhai ko Preeta Bhabhi ko aapni bahoon mein utha ke mandir tak lejana hoga!" she declared.

Preeta looked at her wide-eyed while Karan smiled at his sister's happy face. He was finally seeing his little sister smile whole heartedly after so many days and decided that to keep her happy he would do anything! Plus the added benefit of carrying his babydoll in his arms! How could he refuse?

"Yeh kya bakwaas hai Roo!" Kareena finally snapped. Before she could say anymore Rakhee intervened,

"Didi Roo sahi toh kahe rahi hai!"

"Bhabhi..."

"Karan" she gestured. He didn't need to be told twice! Before Preeta could refuse she was floating in the air. She immediately wrapped her arms around his neck worried that he would drop her causing Karan to discretely wink at her leaving her gasping in shock.

"Wah bhai... Chachi ne ek baar kaha aur aapne Preeta ko jaat se utha bhi liya!" Kritika teased.

Karan grinned and started walking towards the Mandir room with everyone else following. They took blessings with Preeta still in Karan's arms.

"Are aab toh isse neeche utar de" Rakhee laughed seeing Karan looking at Preeta. He looked towards Rakhee before looking back at Preeta and shook his head making Rakhee, Kritika, Rishabh, Sameer and Roo laugh while Kareena, Ramona, Mahira and Sherlyn looked irritated. The Arora's looked on unsure of what to make of this mans behaviour, on one hand he acted like Preeta meant the world to him and on the other hand he had left no stone unturned to hurt and humiliate her.

Preeta glared at Karan, one because he was being so shameless and two, because she was still angry at him and she knew that he was fully aware of this, yet here he was taking full advantage of the situation! She wriggled around hoping he would let her go but his grip only became tighter. She looked at him and he again winked at her annoying her further. Suddenly she grinned back at him remembering a way to shock him.

Karan saw the sudden change in her expression but before her could make heads or tails of it she discretely pinched him on the back of the neck causing him to automatically let her go. If she hadn't been expecting it Preeta would have surely ended up laying on the floor but her feet hit the ground and she easily caught her balance.

"Kya huwa putar?" Rakhee asked confused.

Karan glared at Preeta before replying "Kuch nahi Mom, woh kya hai na, yeh bajarbatti ittni mooti ho gaiyi hai ke peet mein mooch agaiyi"

"What!" Preeta snapped "Mein aur mooti"

"Aur nahi toh kya!" he grinned and continued teasing her. They argued for a few more minutes before Preeta moved closer in order to strangle him.

"Yeh kya batameeze hai!" Kareena demanded seeing an opportunity to insult Preeta and her family "Bhabhi aisi batameeze larki ko aap iss ghar ki bahu banana chaahti hai? Hum saab ke saamne yeh Karan ke saath kaise baat kar rahi hai?"

"Kareenaji aapni zaaban ko sooch samaj ke kholiyega! Mein aapni beti ke bare mein kuch bhi ulta sheedha nahi sunungi! Khas kar ke aap se!"

"Sarla! Tum shaayad bhool rahi ho ke iss waqt tum mere ghar mein khardi ho toh aapni haad mein raho!"

"Haad mein nahi aap bhool rahi hai! Aur mein aur mera parivaar yahan aapni marzi se nahi aaiye aap ke ghar wale aaiye the humare ghar hume yahan bulane!"

"Shut up!"

"Mrs Luthra aap meri Maa se tameez se baat kijiye! Warna aap ko jawab toh mein bhi de sakti hoon!" Shrishti warned.

"Kitni batameez ho tum!" Ramona stepped in seeing this as a way to impress Kareena and make sure that she remains on Mahira's side "Tum mein itni bhi tameez nahi hai ke jab bade baat kar rahe ho to tumhe beech mein bolne ki koi zararurat nahi hai!"

"Mom aap kise kahe rahi hai? Yeh toh hai hi aisi! Aur waise bhi jiski Maa ko baat karne ki tameeze nahi hai ussme tameeze kaise hogi"

Preeta was about to take a step towards Mahira but Karan beat her to it,

"Tum tameeze ki baat na karo toh bahatar rahega!" he snapped as he came and stood in front of Sarla and Shrishti effectively shielding them from Kareena, Ramona and Mahira.

"Karan?"

"KARAN!" Mahira and Kareena said respectively.

He continued to glare at Mahira realising that this stupid woman seemed to love getting herself insulted...

"Tumhari himmat kaise huwi meri Sarla Mom ki insult karne ki?"

"Karan yeh tum kya kahe rahe ho? Yeh tumhari Maa nahi hai! Tumhari Mom Bhabhi hai!" Kareena snapped not liking Karan ruining her plan to insult the Arora's so much so that they left on their own.

"Sahi kaha aapne Bua... Meri Mom yeh hai..." he said looking at Rakhee who smiled at him in encouragement "... Lekin Sarla Mom ko main aapni Mom manta hoon aur meri nazar main inka darja meri Mom jitna hi hai! Aur aapko mujhe yeh batane ki zarurat nahi hai ke mein aapni Mom ki baizaati karne walo ka kya haal karta hoon!"

"Toh tum" he looked at Mahira as if she was vermin "Meri Mom se abhi ke abhi maafi mango! Aur yeh me request nahi kar kaha hoon, bata raha hoon!"

"Karan tum Mahira ko isse mafi mangne ko kahe rahe ho? NO! Mahira maafi nahi mangegi woh iss ghar ki hone wali ba..."

"Didi Mahira iss ghar mein sirf ek mahamaan hai!" Rakhee said having had enough of this drama "Aur mein manti hoon ke mahamaano ki izzat ki jati hai leki mahamaano ko bhi yeh pata hona chaahiye ke gharwalo ki izzat kaise karte hai!" she continued moving to stand beside Sarla. "Lekin isse bhi kya expect kar sakte hai? 'Jiski Maa' hi aisi ho usski beti se kya umeed kar sakte hai?" she threw Mahira's words back at her.

"Mummyji yeh aap kya kahe rahi hai Mahira Karan ki..."

"Sherlyn tum chup raho toh tumhare liye aacha hoga!" Rakhee said without looking at her "Mahira Karan ki yah iss ghar ki kuch nahi lagti! Karan ne usse aapni sagai kabki tordi hai, aur issme aur isski maa mein zara bhi sharaam ya atmasamaam hota toh yeh yahan se kabke chale gaiye hote!"

Sherlyn silently stepped back as the Arora's looked at Rakhee in shock, Rakhee had always been the soft spoken ideal daughter-in-law that never raised her voice and was never able to stand up to Kareena. This Rakhee one the other hand, seemed to harbour so much bitterness towards her sister-in-law.

Sarla gained a newfound respect for Rakhee Luthra but what she was still trying to understand is what bought on this change? What had happened in this house after her family were thrown out?

"Rakhee..." Ramona whispered hearing the hostility in her childhood friends voice. She knew that in the process of chasing her daughters happiness she was losing her best friend, but what could she do? Mahira was her only daughter and she couldn't see anything beyond her.

"Ramona main chaahti hoon ke tum aur tumhari yeh beti Sarlaji se maafi mango! Abhi ke abhi yah phir mere gharse daafa ho jao!" she left no room for argument.

"I'm sorry" Ramona said half-heartedly after a pregnant pause with Mahira feeling the need for self-preservation and following suit.

"Aise nahi..." Karan smirked at Ramona and Mahira "Haath jod ke aur sar juka ke kahaiye 'Sarlaji hume maaf kar dijiye humse bohot badi galti hogaiyi'. Come-on jaldi hamare paas aap jaise faltu logo ke liye waqt nahi hai!"

Ramona looked around the room hoping for someone to support her but all she got was expectant glares. Kareen chose to remain silent, she couldn't risk being caught in this anymore otherwise she would be humiliated further by her own family.

Bitterly both Ramona and Mahira followed their hands and apologised to Sarla before storming back to their rooms.

"Sarlaji mujhe bhi maaf kardegiye mein bohot sharminda hoon..."

"Rakhee beta rahene de" Daljeet said seeing genuine guilt in her eyes.

"Nahi Biji mere ghar mein aap logo ki bohot bezaati huwi hai, aur mein uske liye aap saab se maafi mangti hoon" she said folding her hands.

"Humme ghatiya logo ki baato se koi farak nahi parta" Sarla spoke gesturing towards the direction Mahira and Ramona had left, "App hume yeh bataiye ke aapne hume yahan kyun bulaiya hai?" Sarla asked.

Rakhee looked at her slightly surprised at the coldness in her tone. She took a glance at Dadi who looked down unable to meet Rakhee's accusing eyes.

"Sarlaji mein..."

Seeing his mother struggling to express her wish to Sarla, Rishabh stepped forward.

"Sarla Aunty, woh Maa chahti hai ke Preetaji humare saath apne ghar mein rahe" he said keeping his tone light.

"Apne ghar main? Preeta toh apne ghar mein hi rahti hai lekin aap bade log hamare chote se ghar mein adjust nahi kar payenge tho aap apne ghar mein hi rahe toh aacha hai"

Rishabh was a little taken aback by Sarla's response but he wasn't a good businessman for no reason, he quickly hid his shock behind a façade of calmness and continued.

"Mein manta hoon ke Karan ne bohot galtiya ki hai lekin Sarla Aunty aap toh badi hai, isse na samaj bacha samaj ke maaf k..."

"Maaf kar du? Kyun? Issliye ke woh aap ka bhai hai? Ya issliye ke aap log ameer hai toh aap ko galti karne ka haq hai?"

Rishabh felt like he had been slapped, Sarla Arora had always treated him kindly and he too had treated her like family and today her words were making him realise his own mistakes! He realised that in trying to be a diligent son he had become a part of the crimes his family had committed. He looked down in shame not being able to continue.

Karan felt the pain his brother and mother were experiencing because of him and a tear escaped his eyes. In his anger he had not only hurt his babydoll but he had hurt her family and now his actions were hurting his own mother and brother! He dreaded to think how his Dad would have reacted if he was standing with them fit and healthy...

Preeta was observing Karan through the whole drama, her heart smiled when he defended her mum and when he referred to her as 'Sarla Maa'. But seeing his pain reflecting in his eyes all she wanted to do was hold him in her arms and prevent any pain from reaching him. Something she couldn't understand herself; he had hurt her so much that it was enough for a lifetime yet here she was wanting to take his pain away?

She was broken out of her trans as she saw him wipe his tears and took a step closer to her mother. What on earth was he doing? She asked herself, her maa wouldn't hesitate to slap him if he said anything to her!

Before she could stop him he gently placed his hands on Sarla's shoulders and turned her around to face him. Sarla looked a bit surprised but managed to steal her expression before he noticed. Letting go of her shoulders Karan took a step back and slowly bent down until he was seated on his knees and held his ears.

"Meine galti ki hai ... lekin aap toh meri maa hai na? Jab aapko laga tha ke Preeta ki galti ki wajah se mein jail gaya tha tab aapne kaha tha ke Maa aapne baacho se bohot pyar karti hai lekin jab woh galti karte hai toh wohi Maa unhe saaza bhi deti hai! Meine galti nahi ghunah kiya hai toh aap mujhe saaza nahi dengi?"

Sarla was trying to be strong but his words and tears reflected his desperation to reduce some of his guilt. She admitted to herself that Karan was her weakness just like he was her daughters. Although she had treated both him and Rishabh as her sons Karan had somehow become her Achilles heel – the son that she would always have a soft corner for the same way she had for her daughter Shrishti.

With that thought she reached forward and pulled his hands away from his ears and made him stand.

"Mein yeh nahi kahe rahi hoon ke maine aap ko maaf kiya..." she started looking at Karan in the eyes "... kyun ke aap ko maaf karne ka haq mera nahi hai, kisi aur ka hai" she said gesturing towards Preeta "Aur yeh mein usspe chodti hoon ke woh aapko maaf karna chaahti hai ya nahi!"

Before she could move away from him Karan pulled her into a hug and keeping his head on her shoulder kept repeating "I'm sorry Maa... I'm sorry... I'm sorry Maa" Sarla eventually wrapped her arms around him to comfort him.

Preeta saw her bajarbattu breaking down in her mother's arms and her heart ached some more, she knew deep within her heart that she would eventually forgive him but she was scared that he would end up hurting her again! Lost in her thoughts she failed to notice Rakhee moving towards her until she felt a hand being placed on her shoulder.

"Bolo na Putar, rahegi nah tum humare saath?" Rakhee asked

"Ji?"

"Tu mere paas rahegi na hamisha ke liye?"

"Mein..." what should she say? Was she ready for this? Did she want to stay in Luthra house?

Seeing the conflict on her face Rishabh knew he had to intervene, Preeta agreeing to stay with Karan was the only way to fix everything between the two families! Besides he knew how much Karan and Preeta Loved one another regardless of how much they argued!

"Preetaji mein janta hoon ke Karan ne hi nahi balki hamare pure parivaar ne galti ki hai lekin aapne mujhe aapna dost mana tha na? Jab aapki shadhi ke baad mein aapse mila tha tab aapne hi kaha tha ke aap aabhi mujhe aapna dost manti hai... toh ek dost ke naate mein aapse kaheta hoon ke app Mom ki baat maanjaiye"

"Mein..." Preeta was still a little unsure and she looked at her mother who had just about managed to calm Karan down. Sarla realised that like always Preeta was waiting for her to give permission, she looked at Karan who was still holding on to her like a scared child, and turning back to Preeta she nodded.

"Preeta putar?" Rakhee questioned seeing the exchange between the mother and daughter.

"Theek hai Rakhee Aunty mein yahan rahoongi aap ke liye"

Rakhee couldn't stop smiling along with Rishabh, Sameer, Roo and Kritika, Bani Dadi too smiled in relief. Rakhee pulled Preeta into a bone crushing hug before turning to Karan

"Aab tu wahan baacho ki tahara roota rahega ya idhar aaiyega?"

"Mom! I'm 'The Karan Luthra' Mein rohta nahi! Woh toh kuch aankh mein chala gaiya tha issliye..." Karan said walking closer to where Rakhee and Preeta stood. Everyone laughed, glad that he was back to his craziness.

"Rakhee Ma'am! Rishabh Sir!" everyone turned to see a gasping Girish running towards the family.

"Ma'am... Sir jaldi chaliye Mahesh Sir ko kuch hogaiya hai! Jaldi chaliye!"