Preeta reached home just after lunch. She was raging mad from her conversation with Karan.

"What does he think of himself?" she questioned "Khud uss ghadhi Mahira se shadhi kar raha hai aur mujse saval kar raha hai ghadha kahi ka... lekin mein kyun parashan ho rahi hoon? Woh Mahira se shadhi kare ya Kahira se mujhe kya... waise aacha hai nah perfect Jodi hai ek gadha aur ek gadhi... ha sahi hai!" she tried to convince herself but the thought of Karan getting married to Mahira left a bitter taste in her mouth. Her thoughts were interrupted by that sound of shouting, she looked up and realised that she was standing outside her house.

"Yeh saab kya hai?" she heard from inside. Realising it was her mothers voice she rushed in and followed the voice all the way towards her bedroom, or at least what used to be her bedroom! The room looked more like some sort of showroom for every inch was covered in colourful fabrics. She quickly concluded from the state of the room and her mother's anger that was directed at Shrishti this was her crazy sisters doing.

"Maa... Shrishti..." Preeta called to diffuse the situation before her mother ended up killing her sister. Both women turned to the door where Preeta stood with a slight smile playing on her lips.

"Preeta..." Sarla sighed "Acha huwa tu aagai! Yeh lardki ek din mujhe pagal kar degi!" she glared back at Shrishti.

"Meine aab kya kiya?" Shrishti Protested

"Kya kiya?" Sarla moved forwards and grabbed her ear giving it a twist.

"Ahhh maa, chodo dard ho raha hai!" she struggled to free herself "Di bachao mujhe!"

Preeta just laughed, "Maa aur zor se kheecho!"

"Kya Di aap bhi?"

Sarla let go of Shrishti's ear and focused on Preeta, it was good to see Preeta smiling again she thought. Maybe this engagement was just what the family needed! Her heart that had once again been at unrest since the morning settled some more.

"Kya huwa maa?" Preeta asked seeing Sarla lost in thought.

"Kuch nahi bas yeh pagal larki ne poore ghar ko sar pe utha ke rakha hai" she changed the subject not wanting to upset Preeta. "Aab tu hi isse sambhal... mein chali kitchen mein Janki ko dekh ne" and with that she left.

Preeta turn her attention back to Shrishti who was looking through the piles of clothes in the room picking one up and then shaking her head and putting it back down.

"Shrishti yeh tu kya kar rahi hai?"

"Di aap ko dikhayi nahi de raha hai mein aaj sham ke liye dress decide kar rahi hoon"

"Lekin kyun?"

"What do you mean kyun? Aaj meri saagi hai isliye"

"Ha lekin teri dress toh Janki Maa ne alag se bhegi hai na? Toh fir tu yeh..."

"Diiiiii... Meine kab kaha ke mein aapne liye dress choose kar rahi hoon?" she raise her eyebrows

"Toh phir yeh?"

"Are mein aapni pyari Di ke liye dress final kar rahi hoon! Woh kya hai na meri Di ke pass time nahi hai aapne liye toh meine soocha kyun na mein hi unki help kar doon?"

Preeta smiled "Lekin yeh sari dresses kyun nikali hai? Mein toh koi bhi dress phen lungi, Saagi teri hai to tayar tujh hona hai..."

"Mein toh tayar ho hi jaungi, but meri Di bhi to meri tarha hot and happening dikhni chahiye na!" she said while nudging Preeta with her elbow. Preeta was about to protest when Sarla came back into the room holding a gift wrapped box.

"Yeh le Preeta"

"Yeh kya hai maa?" Shrishti grabbed the box before Preeta had the chance.

"Yeh dekho... Gift Preeta ke liye hai aur tu..." Sarla tried to stop Shrishti but Preeta stopped her

"Rehne dijiye na maa. Shrishti khole ya mein ek hi baat hai" Shrishti stuck her tongue out at her mother and continued to unwrap the package to reveal an elegant while lengha suit with a matching net duppata. There was also a smaller box which was a diamond set with long earrings to match Preeta's taste and a neckless too – It looked expensive!

"Maa yeh aapne..."

"Yeh meine nahi kharida" Sarla interrupted knowing her Preeta's worry about their finances "Yeh Rajveer ne bejah hai... tere liye"

"Veer ne?"

"Veer ne nahi Rajveer ne" Sarla corrected

"Are Maa, Di Bro ko pyaar se Veer bulati hai" Shrishti grinned "But maana parega Bro ki choice is too good!" she continued admiring the outfit.

"Nahi Shrishti mein yeh nahi..."

"Oh come on Di... aap toh aise kahe rahi hai jaise Bro ne aap ko pahli baar gift diya hai"

"Lekin..."

"No lekin wekin! Aaj meri saagi hai aur mein chaahti hoon ke aap yeh hi dress pahene warna me naraz ho jaungi!"

"Thik hai meri jali mein yehi pahenugi... Aab khush?"

"Bohot khush!" Shrishti grinned and the two sisters hugged. Sarla smiled seeing her daughters and wiped a tear from her eyes and slowly made her way out of the room. The moment was broken with the ringing of Shrishti's phone.

"Bro ka call hai..." she informed Preeta as she answered the phone "Hello Bro kaise ho aap?"

"...."

"Di? Ha woh toh yahi hai..."

"..."

"Ek minute... Di Bro aapse baat karna chaahte hai..." she said handing her phone to Preeta.

"Hello... Veer..."

Preeta moved towards the window and continued to have a conversation with Rajveer. He had called to let her know that he had sent her an outfit for the evening which he wanted her to wear. She had thanked him and informed him that although she thought it was too much on his part she would wear his gift that evening. As the conversation came to an end he had asked why she wasn't answering her phone she had made some excuse about the battery being low and ended the call.

The conversation about her phone made her realise that it was still sitting in a certain Luthra's pocket! Shrishti who had heard the whole conversation saw the shift in Preeta mood.

"Kya huwa Di?"

"... Kuch... Kuch nahi" she turned to looked away from Shrishti's concerned eyes as she knew she wouldn't be able to hide anything from her sister.

"Di..." Shrishti gently turned Preeta back towards her "Aap jante ho na ke agar aap pareshan honge toh mein bhi pareshan ho jaungi, phir aap bataye yah nahi..."

Preeta looked at Shrishti and contemplated for a few minutes before she narrated what had happened between her and Karan. As she spoke her anger at Karan returned and she turned to the window taking deep breaths hoping to calm herself. Shrishti on the other hand smirked at Karan Luthra's state but quickly formed a neutral expression and moved closer to Preeta.

"Di... Yeh Karan Sir ka mujhe samaj nahi aata" Preeta looked at her sister as Shrishti continued "Nahi... I mean woh shadhi kar rahe hai uss lutari Dulhan se lekin aab bhi aapki life mein dakhal de rahe hai!"

"Shrishti yeh tu..."

"Nahi Di... Sidhi baat hai woh aap ko khush nahi dekh sakte aur unhe dar hai ke aap Bro se shadhi kar ke khush rahegi toh unke badle ka kya hoga?"

"Shrishti yeh tu kya kahe rahi hai? Mein Veer se shadhi nahi kar rahi hoon! Meri shadhi already ho gaiyi hai!" realising that she had slipped up Shrishti changed her tune

"Nahi Di... mere kahene ka matlab hai ke woh humare ghar ki khushi nahi dekh sakte... soochiye... hum Akaash ko bachpan se jante hai kya woh kabhi assi ghatiya harkat kar sakta hai? Mujhe toh lagta hai ke woh aap se badla lene ke liye meri saagi rokna chaahte hai!" she looked at Preeta who was absorbing her words. Waiting a little longer she changed her expression "Di mujhe bohot daar lagraha hai! Kahi woh meri saagi main problem nah create kare! I mean aap ko dukh dene ke liye kyun ke aap ne un ki ego ko hurt kiya Bro se shadhi ki baat kar ke... Ha Di woh aapko aur aapki life ko control karna chaahte hai!" this angered Preeta

"Aisa kabhi nahi hoga! Karan Luthra nahi to mujhe control karega na hi meri family ko hurt karega! Mein aab usse karne nahi doongi!"

"Right Di" Shrishti encouraged

"Mr Luthra aab Preeta Arora aapni zindagi mein aapki dakhal andazi bardasht nahi karegi, because it's My life and only I have the right to make decisions in my life!

Karan was having an awful day especially after his conversation with Preeta. Things had clearly not gone as planned and he began to worry that he had made things worse. He thought back to earlier in the day, Preeta had told him that she would marry that Rajveer... he had felt immense pain in his heart. He had wanted to scream and shout and knock some sense into her but he was unable to say anything in the moment. He realised it was guilt that had stopped him and that thought bothered him!

Why was he feeling guilty? Preeta had wronged him! It was her fault that Rishabh married Sherlyn and that his dad was in a coma... she deserved what she got! But even as he thought it he realised that he couldn't really blame Preeta for Rishabh's marriage when his own family had forced the wedding. It wasn't Preeta's fault that Sherlyn was living freely in his house and it definitely wasn't her fault that his Dad was in a coma!

"Karan tu ready hai?" Rishabh called from the door breaking his train of thought.

"Bass do minute"

"Thik hai jaldi neeche aja"

Karan turned to glance at himself in the mirror as Rishabh left. He really didn't want to go to Shrishti's engagement but Rishabh made it clear that had made it clear that they would all go and that included him. With a sigh he made his way to the living room where the residents of Luthra house were dressed and waiting for him it appeared.

"Karan yeh tumne kya pahena hai?" Mahira questioned. Karan looked at her but didn't reply. "Karan..." she tried again and then looked to her mum for help.

"Karan Beta... Mahira kuch pooch rahi hai" Ramona asked keeping her tone light and sweet

"Aunty aap dekh sakti hai ke maine Indian party attire pahena hai

"Lekin Karan meine tumhare liye woh black suit karidh tha aur tumse woh pahene ko kaha tha" Mahira whined looking at the white outfit that Karan was wearing

"Kaha tha lekin 'The Karan Luthra' aapni pasand ke kapre pahenta hai dusro ki pasand ke nahi!" karan snapped.

"Lekin Karan meine black dress paheni hai toh tumhe black pahena chaahiye" Mahira continued ignoring the taunt and irritation in Karan's voice.

He was already in a bad mood and this new drama was doing nothing to help! "yeh kya bakwaas hai?! Tumhe black pahena hai tum paheno, I don't care lekin mujhe jo pahena hai woh mein pahneuga! Mein aapni life aapne tarike se jeeta hoon dusro ken ahi do you get that!"

"Karan beta..."

"No Bua aap iss mein maat pariye aap mujhe ache se jante hai aur mein dusro ke kahene se aapni zindagi nahi jeeta!" Karan said cutting Kareena off before she could say anything more.

Ramona stepped in sensing another fight, "Mahira ka matlab hai ke tum dono couple ho toh tumhe match karna chahiye... aur rahi baat aapni life aapne tarike se jeene ki toh pahle ki baat aur thi aab tumhari shadhi ho rahi hai Mahira se toh tumhe compromises toh karne parenge" as much as she tried some of Ramona's irritation seeped into her words.

Karan smirked at Ramona, this woman had already pissed him off royally by insulting his Mom and now she was lecturing him... well this was his chance to show her, her place!

"Aunty... Shadhi toh meri Preeta se ho chuki hai aur jab mein usske liye nahi badla toh aab kya khak badlunga?"

Everyone started at him, shocked at what he was saying but the most shocked was Ramona – had Karan just hinted that he accepted Preeta as his wife? She thought to herself.

"Lekin Karan..." Mahira stepped in trying to salvage the situation and establish her importance "Preeta ki baat alag hai tum usse se nafrat karte ho aur meri baat alag hai tum mujse pyaar karte ho!" she declared.

Karan turned to Mahira, he couldn't decide if she was delusional or just plain stupid

"Pyaar?" he asked "Tumse kisne kaha ke mein tumse pyaar karta hoon? Kya meine kabhi tumse kaha ke mein tumse pyaar karta hoon? Kya meine kabhi kuch aisa kiya jise tumko yeh galatsemi ho gayi hai ke mein tumse pyaar karta hoon yeh kabhi karoonga?"

Mahira gasped at his bluntness "Mein... mein..." tears began to make their way down her face.

"Karan!" Ramona shouted "Yeh kya batamizi hai? Agar tum Mahira se pyaar nahi karte toh usse shadhi ke liye ha kyun kaha?"

"Meine aapne marzi se hai nahi kaha!" he shouted back with equal anger

"Karan yeh tum kya kahe rahe ho?" Dadi asked

"Sahi kahe raha hoon! Mein Mahira se shadhi nahi karna chaahta tha nah hi aab karna chaata hoon! Yeh shadhi sirf naam ki hai aap logo ke liye!"

"Yeh kya bakwas hai!" Kareena questioned

"Bakwas nahi bua saach hai! Yeh shadhi aapki aur Dadi ki zid ke waje se ho rahi hai... mere liye yeh rishta koi miyne nahi rakhta hai aur na kabhi rakega!"

"Lekin Karan tum Mahira ke saath aisa nahi kar sakte" Dadi protested "Tum ek larki ki zindagi barbadh nahi kar saakte!"

"Kasi baat kar rahi hai aap Dadi, jab mein Preeta se shadhi kar ke usse chod diya tab toh aapne kuch nahi kaha to abb kya problem ho rahi hai aap ko? Why is it such a big deal?"

"Karan!" Ramona shouted again

"Chiliye maat! Aapki problem kya hai? App ki beti ko jo chaahiye... Mrs Karan Luthra ka naam woh usse mil raha hai isse zyda mujse kuch bhi expect maat kijye ga especially yeh compromise wala nonsense kyun ke The Karan Luthra aapni zindagi me dakhal andazi pasand nahi karta – because It's my life and only I have the right to make decisions in my life!