"Kritika?" Kareena asked looking at her daughter unsure if she had actually spoken

"Ha Mom, I can explain how I ended up in Rajveer's room" she said slightly nervous as she faced her family. Rajveer slowly moved closer to her and gently took her hand in his causing Kritika to look up at him. He smiled reassuringly and Kritika nodded before turning back to her mother.

"Rajveer ke room me mein khud gayi thi"

"What? Yeh kya bakwaas kar rahi ho tum?" Kareena asked almost horrified at what her daughter was implying

"Yes Mom I went to Rajveer's room voluntarily"

"Tum pagal ho gaiyi ho Kritika? What are you saying?" Karan asked not believing what he was hearing

"Bhai..." Kritika turn to a shocked Karan but Kareena grabbed her arm and spun her round and raised her hand

"Bua!" "Kareena!" "Di, yeh aapne kya kiya?" Karan, Rishabh, Bani and Rakhee yelled simultaneously as the sound of a slap echoed across the room. Kritika looked at her mother slightly ashamed but she knew she had done what was needed.

"Kareena yeh kya kiya tumne? Koi aise aapni beti..." Bani started as she pulled Kareena away from Kritika before she could land another slap on Kritika's cheek.

"No Mom aapne suna nahi issne kya kaha? Yeh aapni marzi se... chee!" Kareena couldn't find the words to finish

Rakhee and Janki Shergill had moved closer to Kritika but she reassured them that she was fine and moved closer to Kareena flanked by Rajveer.

"Mom..."

"Shut up Kritika! Just shut up!"

"Mom meri baat tho..."

"Kuch nahi sunna hai mujhe! There is nothing that you can say that will justify what you have done!"

Kritika helplessly looked at Rajveer who understood what she needed,

"Aunty, kal mere aur Kritika ke beech kuch nahi huwa tha, infact woh mere room mein aap logoke aanhe se beese minute pahele hi aaiyi thi" Kareena looked at Rajveer not really believing him before turning away from him and Kritika, causing Janki to step in to drop another bomb.

"Kareenaji yeh dono saach kahe rahe hai, kal raat Kritika mere saath thi aur Veer aapne kamre mein Aakash ke saath".

Kareena looked at Janki and then at her daughter who was looking straight at her willing for her mother to believe her. Sensing honesty reflecting in her daughters eyes she looked back at Janki and asked the questions that were clouding the minds of all of the Luthra's

"Agar Kritika aap ke saath thi tho woh Veer ke room mein kaise aur Kyun thi? Aur ussne yeh saab kyun kiya? Jaab Akshay aur usski Mom usspe woh ghatiya ilzaam laga rahe the tab kyun chup thi yeh?" looking back at Kritika she continue "Why Kritika? Kyun kiya yeh saab tumne? Tumne hum saab ke bare main nahi soocha? Hamari chodo tum ne khud ke baare mein nahi soocha? Kitni bazaati hui hai tumhari, rishta toot gaiya tumhara, aur..." she wiped her tears remembering the words Akshay and his family used for her daughter

"Didi please aap bas keejiye" Rakhee said consoling a distort Kareena

"Kaise Bhabhi? Kaise bas karu? Kaisi, kaisi baate kahe rahe the woh log meri beti ke bare mein? Aura agar yeh baat bahar kisi ko paata chali toh kya hoga meri beti ka? Kaun maa yeh saab bardasht kar saakti hai? Aur yeh saab isski khud ki stupidity ke kaaran huwa hai" she sobbed

"Exactly Mom!" Kritika stated, her voice firm once again drawing attention to herself

"Kritika yeh t..." Bani began but Kritika ignored her and continued

"Like you said Mom, 'Kaun maa yeh saab bardasht kar saakti hai?' Burah lag raha hai na aapko ke Akshay ne aur uski family neh aapki beti ke bare mein kitna bhala bura kaha? Lekin mom yeh hi baate aap dusro ki betiyo ko kaheti aaiyi hai toh woh theek tha? Aapne ek baar bhi yeh nahi soocha ke jab aap aisi baate karti hai Preeta Bhabhi aur Shrishti ke baare mein, tho Sarla aunty ko kaisa feel hota hai? Unhe kaisa feel hota hai jab woh Preeta Bhabhi ki aankho mein aasoon dekhti hai?"

"Kritika..."

"No Mom, aapne kabhi nahi soocha kyun ke app kabhi soochti hi nahi! Iss liye, issiliye mujhe yeh saab karna para"

"Kritika calm down" Rajveer said placing a hand on her shoulder

"Isska matlab hai ke yeh saab tumne..."

"Yes Mom, it was all deliberate, mera plan tha yeh, ta ki aap ko yeh ahsaas ho ke jab aapne pe aati hai toh kitna dukh hota hai!"

"Kritika, maana ke Kareenaji galat thi leki yeh tumne jo kiya hai woh bhi sahi nahi hai" Sarla stepped in not being able to see another mother in pain.

"Aunty..."

"Nahi Kritika Maa theek kahe rahi hai" Preeta supported her mother once again causing Kritika look ashamed. Seeing the kindness of the Arora's after everything she had done Kareena felt small, very small. "Kritika Kareena bua tumhari maa hai aur tumne yeh saab kar ke ek maa ko chot poncahiye hai aur isse bara ghunha koi ho hi nahi saakta. I think you should apologise to her"

"Bhabhi mein..."

"Nahi Kritika" Kritika nodded and looked at Kareena

"I'm sorry mom"

"Aunty" Rajveer to felt the need to apologise "Shayaad humare tareeka galat tha leki hum galat nahi hai, aapki beti galat nahi hai"

"Lekin iss saab se Kritika ki baadnami huwi hai aur jo hogi... Akshay aur uski maa chup nahi rahenge... maana ke tum Kritika se shadhi karoge lekin, aise aachank rishta tootna... saab... mein..." Kareena's mind was whirling a million miles an hour with concern for her daughter

"Akshay yah uski family kuch nahi karegi" Rajveer said confidently

"Lekin..."

"Ha mom woh ghatiya log kuch nahi karenge, jab uss Akshay mein itni himaat nahi thi ke woh aap ko yeh bataiye ke meine usse engagement paach maheene pahele hi tord di thi tho woh aab kya khak kuch karega?" once again shocking her family.