Preeta barely noticed that the aarti was going on as she rushed into the hall completely red faced.

"Are Preeta tum kahan thi?" Asked Sarla as she spotted her daughter. "Hum saab ne aarti karli hai aab sare mehamaan kar rahe hai aur tu aab aa rahi hai? Aur tunhe yeh duppata aise kyun pahen liya?"

Preeta stepped back as Sarla moved to set her dupatta to one side. She couldn't let her move it! What would people say? She panicked

"Aa re..."

"Nahi... mein... mera matlaab hai rahne dijiye aise hi theek hai" she stuttered

Janki Shergill who was standing next to Sarla looked at Preeta suspiciously but then let it slide,

"Rahne dijiye Bhabhi... aarti abhi khatam ho jaiyegi, isse pahle Preeta tu jake aarti karle" she instructed. Preeta nodded and moved to the front.

The panditji chanted the prayer as Preeta stood in front of the dais, her concentration only half on the prayer, such that she almost dropped the aarti. She gasped but before it could drop a hand caught one end and balanced it again and continued guiding it in circular motions. Although she knew whose hand caught the thaal her eyes followed the arm up until she was looking at the face of an amused Karan Luthra.

Karan knew Preeta was looking at him, he grinned and briefly made eye contact nudging his head asking her to look forwards and continue the aarti. Preeta quickly looked to the front and tightly closed her eyes making Karan smile.

Sarla whose breath caught as she saw the aarti thaal slipping caught her breath and smiled in relief when it was saved but as soon as she realised who had caught it the smile disappeared off her face. She began to make her way to the front to stop Karan from performing the aarti with Preeta but before she could take more then two steps the aarti came to an end and everyone started to move around her.

The Panditji came to the couple and took the thaal from them,

"Bhagwaan tum doono ki Jodi hamisha banaiye rakhe" he blessed and then moved back to place the thaal at the front and to prepare for the engagement. Preeta and Karan looked at one another, one in shock and the other in happiness.

Sarla who had finally made it to Preeta heard the Panditji's blessing and a burst of anger went through her.

"Preeta..." Both Karan and Preeta looked at an irate Sarla

"Issme..." but he was stopped from continuing by Sarla

"Aap Rajveer ke mehmaan hai isliye aapse kuch kahe nahi rahi hoon" she folded her hands and continued "Aap yahan aiye hai humhari khushiyo mein shamil hoiye, khana khaiye aur ghar jaiye" Preeta looked at Karan whose eyes filled with tears seeing the hate that was reflecting in her eyes but more than that the hurt that he had caused this woman who considered him nothing less than a son was killing him. Preeta's heart hurt for both of the people in front of her but she chose to smile and try and diffuse the situation.

"Maa aap kuch kahe rahi thi?"

"Ha beta..." she said turning away from Karan "Thori der mein sagaai shuru ho jaiyegi tu zara ja ke dekh ke saab saaman stage pe hai yeh kuch choot gaya hai"

Preeta smiled and nodded "Abhi gayi" she took one last look at Karan but didn't say anything and left to check the preparations.

"Sarla Maa mein..." he started but Sarla put her palm up stopping him and then she too turned and left.

Rakhee who was witnessing this moved closer to her son and placed her hand on his shoulder. He turned to look at her,

"Mom mein..." lowering his head in defeat Karan stood before her

"Kisi ka dil todna aasan hai lekin usse jodna untna hi mushkil... iske liye bohot himaat lagti hai! Aur mujhe paata hai ke mera beta kamzoor nahi hai... woh saab theek kar dega"

"Ha Mom! Mein saab theek kardoonga" he smiled and hugged her.

The scene had been witnessed by someone else too... someone who didn't like the way things were heading. She fisted her hands at Karan's words and turned and left before the mother and son duo noticed her.

As she made her way into the main hall she was fuming, something had to be done otherwise she would lose everything and Mahira Khanna never lost! She thought to herself.

"Mahira beta, kahan thi tum?" Ramona asked as she, Kareena and Sherlyn walked up to her. When she didn't get a reply Ramona worriedly looked at Kareena.

"Mahira? Kya huwa?" Kareena asked

"I can't take it anymore!" Mahira snapped, the three ladies looked at her stunned at her outburst.

"Huwa kya hai Mahira?" Ramona asked exacerbated "Kisi ne kuch kaha hai? Kuch kiya hai kya?"

"This bloody Preeta Mom! Woh jaab dekho Karan ke paas aane ki kosish karti rahi hai... usse phasane ki koshish karti rahti hai! Aur abhi dekho usne Karan ke saath aarti bhi ki!"

"Calm down Mahira" Sherlyn said aware that they were standing right next to the stage and were beginning to draw attention from the people standing close by.

"Kaise Sherlyn? Woh..."

"Are Bhabhi..." she was cut off by Kareena who noticed Rakhee and Karan approaching them "App kahan the?" she asked changing the topic before Karan got angrier at Mahira than he already was.

"Han woh... mein..." Rakhee panicked for a second

"Are Rakhee Aunty aap theek hai?" Preeta who was passing by saw Rakhee standing with Kareena and remembered that she was supposed to give her pain killers."

"Ha mein theek hoon... matlaab aab theek hoon" she caught herself before Preeta became suspicious.

"Theek hoon matlab?" Ramona interrupted giving Preeta a dirty look

"Woh inke ke pair mein sprain aaiya tha tho issliye mein pooch rai hi thi ke woh theek hai ya nahi"

"Wah Rakhee teri toh aish hai ek tho teri yeh choti bahu hai itni sundar, aur Karan putar ke saath isski jodi bohot hi bahdiya hai bhai uparse yeh tera kitna kahiyal rakhti hai" Mrs Sharma praised coming up to the group with some of the other society ladies.

Preeta looked at Rakhee feeling a bit embarrassed expecting her to correct this woman but nothing of the sort happened. Rakhee stood beside Preeta beaming, her expression confused Preeta who turned to look at Karan who was smirking like the cat that caught the mouse. Preeta recalled his words from earlier – he was right people will mistake them for a couple! Realising what she was thinking Karan winked at her and slightly rubbed his neck.

A light blush covered her cheeks and Preeta adjusted her dupatta to make sure her neck was covered. She took one last look at Karan who continued to grin and then quickly turned back to Mrs Sharma thankful that the lady hadn't noticed the subtle exchange between herself and Karan.

The situation did nothing to help Mahira's already sour mood and as she saw Karan move to stand beside Preeta she stepped forward with the intention to slap Preeta, but before should could Kareena interrupted,

"Yeh aap kya khe rahi hai Mrs Sharma? Yeh aur mere Karan ki biwi?" she looked at Preeta like she was filth and then turned to Mahira pulling her to the centre of the group "Yeh hai hamare Karan ki hone wali biwi Mahira... Mahira Khanna. "Aur yeh larki... hamare ghar mein kaam karti thi... isse zyada kuch nahi!"

Mahira smirked at Preeta who felt hurt at Kareena's bitter words. She shook her head and mentally scolded herself for once again getting roped into Karan's words and actions – she should have remembered that she couldn't trust him! He was just trying to hurt her and once again like a fool she had let him!

She looked at Kareena and smiled deciding that she wouldn't let this woman and her words and thoughts get to her, besides what did it matter? It was true this selfish family meant nothing to her anymore! But she wouldn't give Kareena the satisfaction of putting her down, she had worked hard to get where she was and no one would take that away from her. She knew Kareena had deliberately failed to mention that she was Bani Luthra's Physiotherapist so she could make it sound like she was the house help – Well Kareena Luthra the days when Preeta Arora listened to your taunts and insults were gone! With that thought in mind Preeta Spoke

"Aunty yeh sahi kahe rahi hai mein ek doctor hoon, Dr Preeta Arora, aur mein Mrs Bani Luthra ki physiotherapist thi"

"Are wah toh tu hai woh jiske haato mein jadu hai?" she smiled and turned to Mrs Bose "Aap ko yaad hai Baniji toh chal bhi nahi paati thi aur aab dekhiye" Mrs Bose and the other ladies appreciatively smiled at Preeta.

"Beta aap kya aapna number degi mujhe? Meri sasuma ko bhi pair mein problem hai aur hum ne kitne sare doctor ko dikahdiya hai lekin bahtra nahi huwa."

Preeta smiled, "Ji Aunty zaarur"

"Waise Rakheeji, aapko nah Karan ki shaadhi isse hi karni chahiye! Ek toh yeh Karan ke saat zyada achi lagti hai aur upar se Doctor... Yeh Karan ka bhi kayal raksakti hai aur Baniji ka" Mrs Ahluwalia laughed.

"Haji ha..." Mrs Sharma added "Aur dekho dono ki pasand bhi ek hi hai, same to same ji" she said pointing out the matching attire the duo donned.

"Meri maniye toh aap iss wali ko cancel kar dijiye" Mrs Ahluwalia gestured to Mahira "Aur Preeta ki shadhi Karan se kara dijiye"

"What RUBBISH!" Kareena spat "Yeh kya bakwaas kar rahi hai aap? Mahira ek unche ghar ki larki hai hamare standard ki! Yeh larki mere Karan ke liyak nahi hai! Isski Maa aur yeh do take ki..."

"Excuse me Ms Luthra!" Preeta raised her voice "Aapni zaaban ko lagam dijiye! Honge aap ke paas paise aur 'high class' hone ka status par yeh status ke liye aapne kiya kya hai?"

"Tum..."

"No Ms Luthra, mein batati hoon... aapne kuch nahi kiya hai! Yeh so called 'high status' aapke bhai ka hai jinke ghar mein aap muft me rahti hai! Aur kya kaha aapne mein aapke bete ke layak nahi hoon aur yeh hai" she said giving Mahira a once over and laughing out aloud "Ha shayad theek kaha kyunke yeh bhi aapki tarah dusro ki menhat ke dam par jeeti hai"

"Yeh kya bakwaas kar rahi ho!" Ramona stepped in

"Bakwaas nahi saach kahe rahi hoon, aap khud toh koi kaam kar nahi saakti aur aapne aapni beti ko bhi yehi sikhiya hai... ameer larke se shadhi karo aur zindagi bhar uski kaamayi pe aish karo... right?"

"How dare you! Tum meri MOM se aise batameezi se baat nahi kar sakti!" Mahira stepped into Preeta's personal space trying to intimidate her to no effect

"Hum batameeze logo se aise hi baat karte hai" Shrishti said as she and Rajveer who had been watching the scene play out from the stage stepped behind Preeta. "Aur kya glat kaha meri Di ne? Aur Di aap bhi na... yeh bichari alsi, faltu larki jo koi kaam karne ke layak nahi hai aur kya karegi? Obviously Mr Karan Luthra jaise insaan se shaadhi"

The women who had joined the group laughed at Shrishti's comment while giving Ramona and Mahira a mocking look.

Loosing her cool Ramona raised her hand to slap Shrishti, unfortunately for her Preeta who was anticipating her move grabbed her hand mid-swing.

"Aaaaa!" Ramona screamed as a livid Preeta twised her hand "Ahhhh Choro"

"How dare you! Himaat kase huwi meri bahen pe haath uthane ki" The fire in her eyes stopped everyone from intervening "Shayaad tum bhool rahi ho... maine abhi kaha ke mein ek physiotherapist hoon... Do you know what a Physiotherapist is Mrs Ramona Khanna?"

"Aaaaaa..." she cried again as Preeta further twisted her wrist

"Meine poocha... Do you know what a Physiotherapist is?"

"Haa AAhhh... haadd... haa...hadiyo ki Doctor" she groaned

"Right! Hadiyo ki Doctor jo ke hadiya jord ti hai... lekin jo hadiya tord bhi sakti hai! Agli baar meri bahen par umli bhi uthaiyi tho yeh haath itni jagha se torungi ke duniya ka koi bhi doctor usse jor nahi sakega! Do you get that?" she said giving Ramona's hand one last twist before letting it go causing her to fall backwards.

Karan looked at Preeta almost a little scared, his babydoll was dangerous he thought!

"Nahi Pari, itni aasani se nahi!" Rajveer glared at Ramona and Mahira who had caught her mother before she landed on the floor, sending a sense of dread down the former "Isne sirf tumhari bahen pr haath uthane ki galti nahi ki hai balki Shergill parivaar ki hone wali bahu pe haath uthaiya hai! Isski saaza isse maine dunga!" he said in a calm tone which came across more threatening than if he'd have raised his voice.

"Nahi Veer rahene doo..." Preeta started but was stopped by Veer

"No Pari... inhe inki aukad dikani hi paregi... Shtishti..." as he said her name Shrishti instantly moved besides Preeta.

"Yes Bro... Di aapko meri kaasam aap chup rahiye!" she said pulling Preeta back so that she could stop interfering in the entertainment.

"Toh Mrs... kya naam tha? Yaar Shrishti inn chote logo ka naam yaan nahi raheta..." he smirked as he threw an insult Ramona's way.

"Bro Ramona... Ramona Khanna" Shrishti said putting on an English accent.

"Khanna? Yaar Shrishti yeh naam kuch suna suna nahi lagta?"

Shrishti smirked looking at the panic in Ramona's eyes, she realised that she was recalling what happened to Sherlyn.

"Ha Bro suna suna toh lagraha hai"

"Kahan suna hai... kahan suna hai..." Rajveer pretended to think "Ha yaad aaiya... Woh kal humne naiya naukar rakha tha uska naam bhi Mr Khanna tha right?"

"Ha Bro... Lekin woh koi aur Khanna hoga, Mrs Kareena Luthra toh kaheti hai ke yeh loge bohot raees hai... nahi Bro woh koi aur hoga"

"Ha tum sahi kahe rahi ho lekin poochne mein kya jata hai? Suno..." He called a nearby waiter and asked him to go and call Khanna who was helping clean the dirty cutlery.

The colour drained from Ramona's face as soon as she saw her husband walking towards them dressed in the same uniform as the rest of the waiters.