Aniket returned home around 6pm, he saw his mother sitting in the temple and praying. He climbed the stairs and went straight to his room.

He looked around and saw Nitya standing at the window staring outside. He moved closer, there was a smile on her face. He rolled his eyes towards the sight and saw a kid playing on the street with her mother. The sight was overwhelming for her, he kept his hand on top of hers. She broke her trance and looked at him "aap kab aaye Aniket?" she asked.

"Abhi kuch der pehle.." He replied.

"Aap change kar lijiye main chai banati hun" she spoke and turned to leave the room. She stopped when he held her wrist.

He turned her around and she stared at him. He said "I am sorry.. Maa aksar wo sab kah deti hai jo unhe nahi kehna chahiye!"

"Aap kyun sorry bol rahe ho Aniket? Unhone kuch galat toh kaha nahi hai.. Sachai hai" she said with a painful smile on her face.

"Nitu.. jo bhi ho par unhe haq nahi tumhe aise taane dena ka! Aur humne sab try kiya hai na 7 saalo mein?" Aniket spoke.

"Phir bhi main iss ghar ko wo khushi nahi de paa rahi hun! Jab ghar mein aayi thi toh socha tha maa ka dil jeet lungi par jabse wo haadsa hua aur main kabhi maa.." she paused for a moment recalling the past.

Aniket consoled her and said "kismat mein hoga toh hum maa baap banenge! Tum wapas office join kyun nahi kar leti ho? Ghar mein rehti toh ye sab sochti rehti ho, maa ki baatein sunti ho aur khudko takleef deti rehti ho"

"Aniket.. Maa ko dusra mauka mil jayega mujhe sunane ke liye aur jabtak aapka saath hai Aarav ka pyaar hai mujhe takleef ho hi nahi sakti" She said with a smile on her face.

Aniket glanced at her and kissed her forehead. She closed her eyes for a moment, he pulled her into his embrace.

Nitya tried to free herself "Aniket chodiye.. Chai banani hai mujhe"

He didn't leave her and said "pati office se aaya hai wapas toh thoda romantic hona toh banta hai na aur tumhe chai ki padi hai" he placed a soft kiss on her neck.

Nitya blushed hard with his move, she tried to free herself from his grip "Aniket.. Maa ki ek awaaz aayegi na toh sab romance aapka nikal jayega"

She heard a loud voice "iss ghar mein chai milegi ki nahi?"

Nitya eyed him and said "Dekha.. Ab mujhe daant padegi! Aniket aap bhi na" she rushed out of the room and went downstairs.

Aniket smiled, he took out his trousers and t-shirt from the wardrobe and changed.

Nitya came to the hall and saw Kaushalya getting up from the temple. She avoided her gaze and headed towards the kitchen "ye Aniket bhi na.. Aadhi daant toh mujhe inki wajah se padh jaati hai '' she murmured.

She was surprised to find tea already prepared. She was confused and wondered who had prepared the tea. She poured the tea into the cups and took it outside. She gave one cup to the Kaushalya and kept the other one on the table for Aniket.

Aarav picked up the cup and grabbed his place on the couch. Nitya eyed him and hit her head on her forehead playfully as he hadn't changed his clothes. Aarav smiled and requested his eyes will do later.

Kaushalya eyed him and scolded "Aaru... abhi aaya hai! Jaake kapde toh badal le.."

"Maa chai thandi ho jayegi itni mehnat se banayi hai maine" Aarav said while sipping it and then bit his tongue out.

Kaushalya eyed him "kya tune banayi hai??"

"Matlab bhabhi maa ne banayi hai.. Main toh abhi abhi bahar se aaya hun aapke samne" He said, covering the blunter he was about to create.

Aniket came downstairs and sat down beside Aarav. Nitya handed him the tea, Aniket smiled "Are waah 2 minute mein chai taiyaar"

Aarav hits hard on his feet with his own feet and passes a deadly glare "bhai.. Chai pijiye zyada baat mat kijiye"

Aniket was completely confused by his actions.

Kaushalya finished her tea and walked away from there to her room.

Nitya finally ended up laughing out loud, Aniket and Aarav stared at her. Aarav whispered "dekha bhai.. Aise bhabhi maa ko hasate hai aapke romantic tariko se nahi"

Aniket glared at him and scolded him "besharam!! Bhai aur bhabhi ke kamre mein jhatke hue sharam nahi aati hai tujhe?"

"Bilkul bhi nahi.. Aapke chakkar mein bhabhi maa chai banane mein late ho jaati phir maa ek choti se baat toh kahi aur hi le jaati.. So you should thank me maine aap dono ko daant padne se bachaya hai" Aarav spoke, praising himself.

Nitya looked at him "wo sab toh thik hai.. Par tum ghar mein ghuse kaise? Maine toh tumhari awaaz suni hi nahi?" she questioned him.

"Jab aap aur bhai upar room mein apna romance kar rahe they.. Aur meri 19th century mein jeene waali matashree bhagwaan ki bhakti mein khoyi hui thi, tab maine ghar mein entry maari thi.." Aarav spoke.

Aniket eyed him and sighed.. "Nautanki kahika.. Waise thank you subah hi maa ne itna kuch kaha tha.."

Aarav looked at him innocently "bas thank you?" he asked.

"Haa Aniket.. Bas thank you thodi.. Bolo Aarav kya chahiye Aniket dila denge" Nitya spoke supporting Aarav.

Aniket glared at her and Nitya smiled as she enjoyed the brothers teasing each other.

"Bhai.. aapki bike jispe aap bhabhi ko bithake ghumane leke jaate ho I need that '' Aarav said.

Aniket refused "bilkul nahi milegi"

"Kyun??" He asked the reason for his denial.

"Nahi milegi toh nahi milegi" He said.

Aarav made a sad face, he looked towards Nitya "bhabhi maa dekho na apni pati ko.." he complained to her.

Nitya looked at Aniket and said "Aniket de dijiye na.."

He couldn't upset Nitya so he handed Aarav the bike keys. Aarav teased him further "are waah bhai.. Bhabhi maa ki baat toh ek second mein maan li aapne.. Thank you" he gave Aniket a tight hug and ran out of the house.

Nitya shouted "Sambhalke jaana aur jaldi wapas aa jana"

"Jee bhabhi maa.." Aarav agreed and waved her bye.

Aniket eyed her and there was a beautiful smile on her face. He was thankful to god to have a younger brother who fills the gap of a child in their life.

Kaushalya stepped out of the room and asked "kidhar gaya ye ladka iss samay par?"

Aniket replied "maa.. Aa jayega"

"Kya aa jayega? Aise acha lagta hai ladka raat bhar bahar rahe.. Iss shahar ki hawa ne tum dono ke sanskaro ki khatam kar diya hai" Kaushalya outraged at him.

"Maaji.. Aarav apne sanskar jaanta hai, kabhi aisa kaam nahi karega jisse aapka sar jhuke ya Aniket ka jhuke" Nitya said.

"Tum toh kuch kaho hi mat! Jabtak tum nahi aayi thi iss ghar mein mere dono bache meri baat sunte they... teri wajah se na toh maine apne pote ka muh dekha aur na Aarav ki shaadi dekh paungi" Kaushalya again outraged her anger on Nitya.

Aniket sighed deeply, he hated the way his mother speaks to Nitya. Her happiness didn't even last long, Aniket eyed Kaushalya and said "Maa.. aap har baat ke liye Nitya ko zimmedar nahi maan sakti ho. Kahi na kahi uski na shaadi ki wajah aapki soch hai! Jab bhi aap Nitya ko sunati ho usse zyada takleef Aarav ko hoti hai.."

Kaushalya shook her head negatively "haan.. Ab toh tujhe maa hi galat lagegi. Dursa sapoot bhi iski haan mein haan milata hai pata nahi kya jadoo karke rakha hai isne tum dono pe"

Tears slip down Nitya's eyes hearing her words. Nitya looked at her and replied "maaji.. Maine koi jadoo nahi kiya hai! 7 saal se koshish kar rahi hun aapka dil jeetne ki.. Aapko kya lagta hai main maa nahi banna chahti hun?"

"Ban toh nahi sakti hai na!" Kaushalya shouted at her.

Aniket interrupted "bas karo Maa please!! Jab bacha hona hoga ho jayega!" He held Nitya's hand and took her upstairs to the room. Nitya was again hurt, shattered by her mother-in-law's words.

A woman is incomplete till she becomes a mother and God had snatched that right from her. She sat down on the bed and closed her eyes. Aniket looked at her helplessly, he just wished for a miracle to happen so that his wife gets free from the pain and Kaushalya stops her tantrums.

To be continued..

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