The final stage of surrogacy was about to happen, Manvi was nervous. She wanted her sister to be with her at the crucial moment.

She can't hide from Nitya anymore, she marched straight to her room and said "Di..."

"Haan mannu.." Nitya asked while folding the ironed clothes.

"I am the surrogate" she said straightforwadly.

Nitya looked at her and smiled a bit "kuch bhi mat bol mannu.."

"Di I am serious.. Jiju ki surrogate main hun! Aapke mana karne ke bawjud maine ye kiya.. Aur kal final stage hai surrogacy ka.." she informed leaving Nitya totally shocked.

She went to her and held by arm, she gazed at her with fixed eyes "mannu.. Ye mazak nahi hai na??"

Manvi denided by shaking her head in no a few times. She was angry at her for taking such step even after her refusal. She shouted "mere mana karne ke baad bhi tumne ye kiya mannu! Samajh nahi aati hai kya tumhe meri baat haan? Ya bas apni hi manmani karni hai tumhe"

Manvi stayed calmed and replied "samajh aata hai Di.. aapka aur jiju ka rishta nahi tootne de sakti thi main!"

"Mannu meri zindagi ka faisla tum nahi kar sakti ho.. Tum janti bhi ho kiya kya hai tumne? Ye baat kisise chupegi nahi aur saamne aayegi toh tumhari badnami hogi jo main nahi chahti thi" Nitya confronted her.

"Di aisa kuch nahi hoga.." Manvi said

"Tujhse zyda duniya dekhi hai maine mannu.. Kal tum nahi jaogi samjhi abhi ke abhi aditi ko phone karogi aur kahogi tum isse peeche hat rahi ho" Nitya ordered her.

Manvi stared at her sister shockingly, she knows Nitya is concerned about her but Manvi wants to keep Nitya's happiness first. She refused "main aisa kuch nahi karungi Di.. maine documents sign kiye hai aur jabtak main aapko bacha nahi saup deti main peeche nahi hat sakti"

"Thik hai.. Tum nahi hat sakti lekin main aur Aniket toh hat sakte hai!" Nitya decarled and walked out of the room.

Manvi followed her and shouted "Di please baat toh suno.."

"Nahi sunna hai mujhe mannu.. Saalo se sun rahi hun tujhpe aanch nahi aane de sakti hun main! Mere dard ka hissa tujhe nahi bana sakti hun" Nitya said with a pain reflecting in her voice.

Aniket and Aarav had just returned from office. Manvi grabbed her hand near to her heart and said "Di.. mujhe parwah nahi hai kisiki bhi! Aap mere saath ho toh main har kisise lad sakti hun! Jaise aap mujhe takleef mein nahi dekh sakte ho main aapko nahi dekh sakti hun.. Isliye aapki baat na maanke maine apni dil ki suni aur surrogate ban gayi" tears slipped down her eyes.

Aniket was shocked to hear her words. Aarav closed his eyes for a moment and murmured "iss ladki ka muh band rah hi nahi sakta hai"

Kaushalya was stunned too, she shouted "kya?? Matlab mere Aniket ke bache ko janam ye besharam ladki janam degi"

Manvi looked at her and said "haan.. Aapke bete ka bhala hi kar rahi hun na.."

"Isme kuch bhala nahi hai! Ye samajh nahi samajhta hai ye surrogacy wagera.. Tum kuwari ghar ke bahar ghumogi aur ijzat hamari kharab hogi!" Kaushalya confronted her.

"Yahi wajah thi mannu maine tujhe uss din mana kiya tha.. Aaj Maaji kal baaki sab tujhe badnaam karenge.. Itni si baat tujhe samajh kyun nahi aati hai?" Nitya asked her again.

Manvi was silent, Nitya moved to Aniket and said with heavy heart "Aditi ko phone kijiye aur use kahiye embryo ko dissolve karde.."

Aniket was left speechless, they had waited for this moment for 7 years. Aniket asked "Nitu ek baar phirse sochlo."

Nitya refused "nahi.. Main apni khushi ke liye mannu ki life barbaad nahi kar sakti hun"

"Aisa kuch nahi hoga bhabhi Maa" Aarav finally broke his silence.

Nitya stared at him "Aaru... Tum"

Aarav went to the room and got the contract marriage papers. He took a deep breath as he was about to throw an item bomb in the house. He descended the stairs and looked towards Manvi with anger gaze.

"Aise mat ghuro mujhe.. Di se aur jhooth nahi bol sakti thi main" Manvi clarified.

Aarav argued with her "par apna muh toh band rakh sakti thi na.. 12 ghante aur!"

"Kal ka din bahut important hai aur Di mere saath ho ye main chahti thi." Manvi confornted him.

"Are toh main aata na tumhare saath.. Bhabhi Maa ki parwah sirf tumhe hi nahi hai" Aarav rebuked.

Aniket recalled Aditi's words about Aarav finding the perfect surrogate. He sighed deeply "Aaru tumne bhi itne din se jhooth kaha.. How could you?" he interuppted

Aarav turned towards him and said "bhai.. Aapne bhi toh mujhe nahi bataya tha Maa ke aapko emotionally blackmail jab kiya divorce ke liye"

Aniket stared at him "Aaru.. par yahan sawal Manvi ke future ka tha! Humne tah kiya tha mannu nahi banegi iska hissa kyuki"

"Unmarried hai isliye na.." Aarav completed his sentence.

Aarav made both of them sit on the couch. Manvi gulped down her throat, she excused herself but Aarav grabbed her hand and said "bhaagne ki zaroorat nahi hai.. Humne jo kiya bhale ke liye hai bhai aur bhabhi Maa ki"

Nitya's heartbeat raised hearing his words, she asked curiously "aur kya kiya tum dono ne??"

"C..c...c.." Aarav stammered for the first time while speaking to Nitya.

Aniket asked "c.. C kya??"

Aarav looked at Kaushalya who was passing him anger stare. He gulped down his throat and murmured "aaj toh Aarav tu ghar se bahar jayega.."

Nitya saw him murmrung, she asked "Aaru.. ye kya barbada rahe ho.. Bataoge bhi kiya kya hai tum dono ne" she was losing her patience now.

"Humne contract marriage ki hai Di... delivery tak ye mera husband rahega legally" Manvi spoke.

Aniket's and Nitya's eyes widened hearing her words. They stood up from their place and shouted in unison "kya?? Tum dono ne ek dusre se shaadi ki?" this was something unexpected.

Aarav made a face and said "bhai.. Bhabhi Maa I know shocking hai par sirf bacha hone tak hum pati patni rahenge uske baad ye shaadi apne aap khatam ho jayegi"

He showed the contract, Aniket looked at it. Nitya snatched the papers from his hand read the contract. She was in deep shock, she glanced at Aarav who never wanted to get married "Aaru.. tujhe toh kabhi shaadi karni hi nhi thi na"

"Nahi karni thi bhabhi Maa.. isliye ye contract marriage ki hai! Surrogate mil nahi rahi thi aur phir ye bhi toh chahti thi madad karna.. Aapne kaha agar ye shaadi shuda hoti toh dikkat nahi hoti.. Isliye maine isse shaadi karli" Aarav concluded.

Nitya's head started to spine hearing his words. "Ye dono... shaadi ko ek contract bana diya inhone jante bhi hai shaadi ka matlab kya hota hai?" she was extremely angry at them for taking such step.

"Di please.. Hamare liye aap aur jiju pehle aate hai! Aur uske liye hum ek dusre ko agle 9 mahine jhel sakte hai! Kal main jaungi hospital aur aapko nahi aana hai toh koi baat nahi.." Manvi declared and left to her room.

Aarav took back the contract papers and said "Aapne hi sikhaya hai agar dusron ki khushi ke liye thoda bahut sacrifice karna pade toh kar lena chahiye.. 7 saal se bhabhi Maa aapko maa ke haatho zaleel hote dekhte aaya hun! Aapka aur bhai ka rishta tootte nahi dekh sakta tha.. Aapko kho nahi sakta tha isliye ye kadam uthaya maine!" 

He walked towards his room. The moment he left, Kaushalya started "shaadi gude gudiyon ka khel hai jo ye dono nadani mein karke aaye hai! Besharmi ko toh saari hadh paar kar di hai.. Kaha tha maine Nitya tujhse ek din apni behen ko rawana kar dena par nahi! Sanskar sanskriti sabki dajiya udadi iss ladki ne"

Aniket turned towards her and shouted "Maa.. maanta hun dono ne bina puche galat faisla liya hai par jo kiya hamari khushiyon ke liye kiya! Besharam kah rahi ho aap jis ladki ko wo 9 mahine hamare bache ko apni kok mein rakhegi.. Aur Aaru uske saath saath hamare bache ko protect karega buri nazar se pati banke! Dono ek dusre se bahut nafrat karte hai par hamare liye saath khade hai.. Thoda sa agar aap Nitya ko sunane ke bajaye dono ko shabashi de dogi na toh choti nahi ho jaogi.. Par tumhe samjhana namumkin hai.."

He held Nitya's hand and went to the room. They were in shock by Arman's drastic step, they didn't know how to react. Whether to scold them or praise them for the sacrifice? 

To be continued..