Aarav's Home

He had been working on some case files. His housemaid, who is the mother figure to him, came and kept a few photos in front of him. Aarav stared at her "kaki phirse.."

"Main ab yeh ghar nahi sambhal sakti hun" she declared

"Kyun? Har mahine aapko salary deta hun main! Mera ghar sambhalne ke liye" Aarav argued with her.

"Khana banake rakhke gayi thi main phir bhi aapne nahi khaya.. Har baar yahi karte ho aap mujhse aapke nakhre nahi sambhalenge chup chap ek ladki pasand karo" she said pointing towards the photos.

Aarav made a face "aap sabko koi kaam nahi hai kya? Shaadi hi zindagi nahi hoti hai kaki.. Main khush hun apni life mein aur aapko kaam nahi karna hai toh main dusri dundh lunga" he said teasingly.

"Aasan lagta hai dusri dundhna? Tum kuware ho babu iss wajah se koi bhi apni lugai yahan nahi bhejega samjhe.." she said

"Acha? Lekin aapke miya toh 10 saal se aapko yahan bhej rahe hai" Aarav laughed at his own statement.

She slapped his head from behind "chup chap yeh khana kha lena.. Aur agar Manvi beti ke ghar khane waale ho toh mujhe subah bata dena" she said

He smiled hearing her words. He thought something and she noticed his deep thought expression "kaha kho gaye?"

"Kaki.. uske liye rishta aaya hai aur mujhe nahi lagta wo abhi taiyaar hai phirse kisi rishte mein bandhane ke liye" he shared with her.

"Hamare yahan aurat ko sahenshilta ki murat kaha jaata hai Aarav baba.. Usse umeed karte hai ki wo sabki haan mein haan milaye ghar ko bandhke rakhe. Uske apne sapne, khushi mayne nahi rakhte hai.. Kehte hai ki ab mard aur aurat barabar hai par kehne aur sochne mein farak hota hai" she explained to him.

Aarav nodded in yes "janta hun kaki.. Samaaj ke darr se ladkiyan dusri shaadi kar toh leti hai par usmein ghutti hai! Kyuki pehli shaadi ke dard se ubarti tak nahi hai aur samaaj rishtedar use phirse nayi zanjeer mein kaid karwa deta hai.. Main umeed karta hun meri dost sahi faisla legi" he said with concern.

"Aap bhi sahi faisla lijiye aur ladki dekhiye.." she said

Aarav sighed in disappointment "aap jao kaki ghar! Kal se aana mat" he replied, annoyed. She laughed at his irritation and left from there.

Singhania House

Ruhana and Vineet were sitting on the chairs placed in the garden and sipping coffee. Manvi stepped out and placed the plate on the table "jaldi se khao garam garam hai!"

"Mannu tu bhi toh khale" Ruhana said

"Main bana rahi hun na.. Aap dono khao" she smiled and went back into the house to make more fritters (Pakode).

Vineet looked at his wife and asked "kya socha hai Ruu tumne"

"Shardaji pehli nahi hai jisme Manvi ke rishte ke baare mein baat ki hai humse Vineet.. Main bhi chahti hun meri beti ko waisa humsafar mile jiski kamna humne ki thi lekin ab thoda darti hun main Vineet.." she said as she had seen her daughter sufferings and that breakdown she had a few times.

"Usne haan toh kah diya hai par doctor ne bhi kaha tha shaadi mein dikkat aayengi aur mujhe nahi lagta hai yeh sab jaankar koi bhi hamari mannu ke liye haan karega" he shared his concern.

"Haan aur main nahi chahti yeh samaaj ke dabaav ki wajah se uski manzik stiti pe asar pade.. Mujhe phirse apni beti ko toota hua nahi dekhna hai Vineet! Bahut waqt laga usey apni job shuru karne mein aur jabtak wo khud humse aake nahi kahegi hum koi faisla nahi lenge" Ruhana said

Manvi steps out and places another plate in front of them. She sighed "aap dono toh yeh bhi nahi khaye.." she said

Ruhana smiled "kha rahe hai.. Tum baitho aur khao hamare saath"

She nodded and sat down on the chair. She began to eat the snacks, Vineet asked "office mein sab kaisa hai mannu?"

"Thik hai papa.. Job permanent ho gayi hai aur promotion bhi" she replied with a smile on her face.

They were left surprised hearing her "aur yeh baat tumne batayi kyun nahi?" Ruhana asked

"Kal mauka kaha mila mumma.. Batane ka" she replied

"Haan kal kaki ne tumhare rishte ki baat kar di thi" Vineet said

"Wo bhi mera bhala hi chahti hai.." she said with a smile.

Chintu and Sharda entered the gate. Chintu picked up the pakoras and began to eat them "yummy.. Di mujhe aur chahiye" he said as he knew she had cooked them.

"Thik hai phir chalo banate hai andar" she replied and went inside with him.

Sharda settled down on the chair and Ruhana forwarded her to have some but she denied "nahi.. Tum dono khao bas tumhara faisla janne aayi thi main" she said

"Shardaji hum bhi chahte hai meri beti ko jo uski pehli shaadi se nahi mila ab mil jaaye lekin mannu pe koi zor zabardasti nahi karni hai humhe.. aur jaldbaazi toh bilkul nahi" Ruhana explained

"Main bhi yeh nahi kah rahi hun Ruhana ek baar milne ke liye kah rahi hun aage tum logo ki marzi" she insists as she really wants Manvi to get settled.

"Tum dono hi socho.. Jabtak naye rishte mein bandhegi nahi purane ko kaise bhool payegi haan? Usey woh pyaar maan samaan milega jo use Deep aur uske parivar se nahi mila tab hi sahi mayne mein khush rah payegi na?" Sharda said briefly.

"Aap sahi kah rahi hai Shardaji lekin mujhe ek baar mannu se baat karne dijiye phir main aapko batata hun" Ruhana replied softly.

Manvi and Chintu were preparing more pakodas. Chintu eats warm and burns his mouth. Manvi hands him water and said "garam hai Chintu thoda thande hone toh phir khao"

"Di par garam garam is so yum.." He said licking his lips. She made some more and packed them.

"yeh lo ghar jaake aur kha lena.. Chalo tumhe apna college ka assignment bhi karna hai na" she spoke handing him the tiffin

"are haan main chalta hun bye" he kissed her cheek lightly and left the house. Manvi cleaned the slab, washed the utensils and moved out of the kitchen.

Ruhana and Vineet came into the house and closed the door. She glanced at them and smiled. 

"nashta toh peth badhke kar liya ab lunch ka kya program hai??" Vineet asked

"aaj Sunday hai toh main toh kuch nahi banane waali hun" Ruhana replied and sat down on the couch. It is her day off today, she turned on the television and played her favourite programme. 

Manvi and Vineet made faces as they hate this series. He glanced at her and she denied. He gave her a look, she signaled with her eyes that they would be thrown out. 

"tum dono koshish bhi mat karna kuch khurafat karne ki!" she said

"Haww mumma humne toh kuch kaha bhi nahi" Manvi replied looking at her. 

"rag rag se wakif hun main! Chup chap aake baitho.. Tumhari news aur Tumhari movie chalti hai toh main dekhti hun na?" Ruhana asked, raising her eyebrow. 

They exchanged glances with each other and sat down on the couch helplessly. Manvi slightly slides the remove and passes it to him. He changes the channel and she glared at him "maine kaha tha mat karna koi khurafat dono" 

"repeat telecast dekh lena tum! Abhi hum teeno bahar jaane waale hai kyu mannu?" he asked

She agreed "haan Haa.. Aap jaake ready ho jaao"

"Acha? Kaha jaa rahe hai hum?" she asked, crossing her arms. 

"wo wo" He couldn't think of the location. 

She snatched the remote and switched back "baap beti muh pe ungli rakhke baithe raho" 

Manvi glanced at Vineet and gave a look as usual the plan failed. They watched the show with her but then slowly began to take interest. It ended with suspense and sighed. "ab agle hafte tak intezar.. What nonsense isse acha toh movie hi dekh lete" Manvi complained

"haan dekho ab jo tumne dekhna hai par pehle lunch ki tayari karo dono jaao" she signalled to both of them. 

Vineet smiled "Jo aagya home minister ji. Chalo beta" 

Manvi gets up and both head to the kitchen. Ruhana smiled lightly. 

Manvi and Vineet began to do preparations for the lunch. He thought of speaking to her about that alliance. 

"mannu.. Main nahi chahta phirse wahi sab ho! Beti ho toh shaadi karke sasural jaana hi padega.. Samaaj waale kya kahenge.. Humse kitne log rishta rakhenge todenge yeh sab sochte agar tumne haan kaha hai toh... " he paused looking at her. 

She smiled a bit "mujhe pasand nahi meri wajah se aap dono ko koi kuch kahe" she replied

He held her face in between his palm and looked straight into her eyes. "kuch toh log kahenge logo ka kaam hai kehna.. Agar tum taiyar nahi ho toh hum iss rishte ke liye mana kar denge.."

She nodded in yes and he kissed her forehead lightly.