There was an aftermath party which was at the same place. Manvi was celebrating her victory and the perfect revenge she had taken on him for rejecting her. Aarav watched her, she moved closer to him and said "haaye.. Haar ke bhi thik se dukh bhi nahi mana sakte ho tum!"

Aarav smiled at her "yahi farak hai tum mein aur mujhe mein.. Tum hawa mein ho aur main zameen pe!" He said meaningfully.

Aarav had to be there, like a spot he accepted losing the competition. He said "it's completely fine.. Haar jeet toh lagi rehti hai! Aur aage bahut mauke aayenge mere paas waise bhi mujhe apni company se liye kisi popular model ki zaroorat hai hi nahi.. I give opportunities to new ones"

Everyone present there appreciated his positive spirit and appalled his thinking "Aarav.. What a spirit man!"

"Ye sab maine apni bhabhi Maa aur bhai se sikha hai.. Unhone hamesha mera saath diya isliye aaj main yahan khada hun!" He added.

"Aarav I am really impressed.. And tumhare AR designs, shows ke baare mein bahut suna hai! Main overseas mein ek bahut bada fashion week launch kar raha hun! I would like you to be part of it" one of the judges said.

Aarav was astonished to hear him. He smiled and said "Definitely.. It will be my pleasure but please don't expect me to have some popular models" he looked towards Manvi who was frowning in anger.

"I will meet you soon with the contract" He shakes hands with Aarav and leaves the party.

Aarav walked towards Manvi and smiled "So.. ye tha mera revenge.. Tumhari jeet ko barbaad karne ka" he said proudly.

Manvi confronted him "it's not over yet! Dekhna ek din tum mere saamne gidgidaoge aur main tumhe reject karungi!"

"Aisa din kabhi nahi aayega.. Aarav jhutka hai toh sirf apne bhai aur bhabhi maa ke liye aur unke saamne! Don't give so much importance to yourself in my life! Apna samaan pack karke ghar se jaane ke liye taiyaar ho jao" Aarav warned her and walked away from there leaving Manvi annoyed and pissed off.

At Home

Nitya remembered Kaushalya's words, each and every single word of her pinned her heart like a needle. She was deeply hurt with Kaushalya's unexpected decision which she had taken for Aniket.

This was direct to her soul, tears were brimming down her eyes endlessly. Aniket was standing outside the door and silently staring at his wife. He was feeling ashamed of his mother and didn't have the courage to face his wife. It was difficult for him to console her today but he had to do it. He himself was deeply hurt with his mother's stubbornness, he took slow steps towards Nitya.

He stopped beside her and sat down on the bed. He turned his face towards her, it was breaking him even more. Her eyes were swollen and red due to excessive crying. He lifted up his hand and placed it on her shoulder from behind her back. After a few seconds Nitya turned her face towards him, silent tears again brimmed down her eyes. He slowly pulled her closer and she kept her head on his shoulder. He caressed her head gently and tried to console her.

He broke his silence "Maa ne jo kaha wo galat tha Nitu.. tumhe chodke kisi aurse shaadi karna ye toh main apne sapne mein bhi nahi soch sakta hun" he assured her he won't ever agree to Kaushalya's condition.

Nitya knows that he loves her immensely and won't ever think of another woman. She doesn't need his assurance on this but she was scared of Kaushalya's pledge of going on hunger strike. She said "janti hun aap kabhi mera dil nahi todenge Aniket.. Lekin maaji khana peena.."

Aniket sighed, even in this condition she is worrying about Kaushalya who just humiliated her. He just wished his mother could see Nitya's selflessness and love towards not only him but the family. "Aisa kuch nahi hoga... ache se janta hun unhe! Ye bas baat manwane ke tarike hai unke" he replied.

Nitya looked towards him and he wiped her tears with the tip of her fingers. He said softly "tumhari aankh mein aansu ache nahi lagte hai Nitu.. agar Aaru ne dekh liye na toh mujhe sunayega main uski bhabhi maa ka khayal nahi rakhta hun"

Nitya composed herself when he took Aarav's name. She said "aaj bahut bada din hai uske liye! Mannu aur uske saamne aap iss baat ka zikar bilkul mat karna! Main nahi chahti hamari wajah se dono ko pareshani ho"

Aniket understood it and agreed "nahi karunga par.. Aaru se kuch baat chupti nahi hai! Maa khana nahi khayengi toh uske mann mein sawal uthenge"

"Hum sambhal lenge.." Nitya said trying to be strong. Aniket silently stared at her, he shook his head affirmatively.

They heard the loud sound from downstairs and it didn't take them even a second to recognise who had exploded into the house. Nitya inhaled a deep breath and plastered a smile on her face as she knows if Aarav or Manvi read the sadness on her face they will confront Kaushalya which she doesn't want to happen at any cost.

Aniket and Nitya walked out of the room and descended the stairs. Aarav was humming a song while Manvi was totally annoyed with him. She shouted "gana gungunana band karo.."

"Mera muh meri awaaz mera ghar main jo chahe kar sakta hun" Aarav said loudly.

Manvi stamped her foot in anger, she picked up the vase from the side table and threw it towards him. He bends down and it lands on the floor breaking into pieces.

Aniket looked towards Aarav and said "ghar mein ghuse nahi ki tum dono ki ladai shuru ho jaati hai!"

Aarav turned towards him, he moved closer and gave him a tight hug "bhai.. Aaj ka din best tha! I have got an international project.." he shared the news with him.

Nitya and Aniket were overwhelmed hearing the news. Nitya said "maine toh kaha hi tha tumse..ye tum jeetoge hi"

Aarav refused "Bhabhi main jeeta nahi.. Aapki behen ki wajah se!"

He told her what happened there and smiled "lekin kehte hai na.. Jo hota ache ke liye hota hai! Mujhe usse better opportunity mil gayi" he winked at her.

Manvi defended herself "mujhe bura mat banao tum! Tumhare manager ne mujhe Mumbai bulaya aur tumne mera contract hi cancel kar diya .. meri insult ki apne office mein"

Aarav argued with her and they again started their unnecessary fight. Aarav took a deep breath and again looked at Nitya "bhabhi Maa.. mujhe na isse baat hi nahi karni hai! Bahut bhook lagi hai aaj khane mein kya hai?" he asked.

"Tum dono fresh ho jao.. Main khana lagati hun" Nitya said and walked towards the kitchen. Aarav sensed the charm was missing in her voice.

He looked towards Aniket who was trying hard to act normal in front of them. He asked "bhai sab thik hai na??"

Aniket smiled "haan Aaru sab thik hai!" He lied to him.

Aarav was convinced to hear him and went up to his room to freshen up. Aniket marched to the kitchen and said "use ehsaas ho gaya ki kuch hua hai Nitu.."

Nitya smiled hearing him, she said "jaanti hun... par abhi chup rehne mein hi bhalayi hai! Nahi chahti Maaji ne jo humse kaha Aarav unhe hurt kare apni baaton se.."

Aniket looked on at her but he was sure soon Aarav will find out about Kaushalya's drastic step.

Later on, four of them sat on the dining table for dinner. Manvi asked "Auntyji dinner nahi karengi?"

"Aaj unhone jaldi kha liya aur so gayi hai" Aniket lied to her.

Aarav found it a bit strange, he stared at his brother and sister-in-law. He thought "mujhe aisa kyun lag raha hai aaj iss ghar mein kuch hua hai jo nahi hona chahiye tha"

Nitya looked at him and said "Aarav khana khao"

He nodded yes and ate the food. Manvi eyed at Nitya and asked "Di aapki aankhein itni laal kyun hai?"

Aniket sighed deeply "dono ne sawal jawab khatam hi nahi hote hai made for each other lagte hai kabhi kabhi dono" he murmured.

"What?? Bhai don't ever say that! Ye aur mere liye bani hai.. Isse pehle main suicide kar lunga" Aarav shouted as he had heard Aniket's murmuring.

"Main khud tumhe dhakka de dungi chatt se.." Manvi reacted the same way. Nitya had a sigh of relief as this had diverted them and she escaped from answering Manvi's question.

They again engrossed into their hateful fight while Nitya looked at Aniket and thanked him with a blink of her eyes. He smiled and blinked her eyes as a response.

To be continued...