Aarav and Manvi were sitting on the couch with their head down. Nitya and Aniket were standing in front of them crossing their arms across. 

"Aaru aaj tu mujhse thappad khayega! shaadi koi contract nahi hoti hai" Aniket scolded him for taking the step. 

"ek baar ye sab karne se pehle puchna chahiye tha humse" Nitya confronts them. 

"aap karne nahi dete" Manvi replies. 

"hadh hoti hai..  bacha aane ke baad tum dono apni shaadi khatam kar do mazak hai kya ye?" Aniket scolded him.

Aarav said "bhai.. mujhe jo sahi laga maine kiye bhabhi maa ke liye aur aapke liye jaan bhi de sakta hun ye toh bas ek contract marriage hai" 

Nitya glared at him "stop it Aaru.. main tumhe daanti nahi hun ye matlab nahi ki tum kuch bhi karoge aur main saath dungi! jante bhi ho inn sabke baad kya asar padega tum dono ki zindagi mein?" she asked slapping his cheek lightly. 

"nahi socha bhabhi maa.. bas aapko maa banta dekhna chahta hun aur bhai ko papa jo.." He said with teary eyes. 

Aniket looked at him and said "Aaru.." 

Aarav takes a deep breath and walks to his room. Nitya glared at Manvi and she said "aur jiju rakshabandhan pe aapne kaha tha jo main aapke liye karungi aap nahi daantoge" 

Aniket sighed deeply "hey bhagwaan!" he hits his own forehead and Manvi goes to her room. 

Nitya couldn't sleep the whole night, Aniket was also in the same position as hers. Nitya stood up from the bed and went to the window. She stares outside at the sky, Aniket came to her and kept his hand on her shoulder.

Nitya turned towards him and hugged him tightly. She closed her eyes and said "Ani.. ye dono humse itna pyaar karte hai ki!.. Inn sabke baad dono ki zindagi mein kya asar padega ye soche bina itna bada faisla kar liya"

Aniket rubbed his soft hand into her hairs and replied "hamari khushi chahte hai na Nitu! Aaru toh waise bhi apni bhabhi Maa ke liye kisi bhi hadh tak jaa sakta hai toh ye contract marriage toh kuch bhi nahi hai.."

Nitya looked up at him and said "janti hun.. Dono hamare dard ko khatam karna chahte hai! Isliye sab hone ke baad bata rahe hai.. Pata tha hum mana kar denge"

Aniket smiled lightly at her and spoke "ek tarah se acha hi hua na.. Mannu surrogate hogi toh iss ghar mein rahegi, tum uska pura khayal rakh sakogi.. Aur maa ka jo darr tha bacha delivery ke baad shayad na de wo bhi nahi hoga"

"Wo toh hai Aniket.. Aur Aaru ne thik hai contract marriage hi sahi par ye karke mannu ko badnaami se bacha liya!" Nitya was proud of Aarav's decision.

"Toh kal hum mannu ke saath hospital jayenge.. Abtak dono ne hamara saath diya hai ab hamari baari hai" Aniket said.

Nitya nodded yes and both of them went to sleep.

The next morning, Kaushalya began the prayers. Everyone joined, Manvi looked at her and said "Auntyji... aaj aapka aashirwad chahiye"

She bends down and touched Kaushalya's feet to take her blessing. Kaushalya thought for a moment, she finally blessed her.

Manvi turned towards Nitya and apologized "I know maine galat kiya.. Aapse bina puche itna bada decision liya par aapke liye hi tha!"

"Maaf kiya tujhe maine.. Thank you Mannu.. Tum meri zindagi mein farishta banke aayi ho" Nitya said getting emotional.

Manvi smiled hearing her and hugged her tightly.

"Bhabhi Maa.. sara credit isko mat do.. Ye contract marriage ka idea mera tha! Aur isse sign bhi maine hi karwaye they surrogacy documents pe" Aarav informed her.

Aniket smiled and kept his hands on Aarav's shoulder "Ache se jaanta hun beta.. Ye uth patang ideas tujhe hi aa sakte hai! Bas ek baar Good newz mil jaye phir teri ache se khabar lunga"

Aarav rolled his eyes towards him and replied "bhai.. Zaroor le lena filhal hospital jaana hai.. 9 baje operation hai iss chipkali ka"

Manvi made a face and said "Di.. ek toh main pehle se hi nervous hun upar se ye mujhe aise bol raha hai"

"Dekho chipkali.. Aaj tum koi gadbad nahi karogi samjhi! Chup chap Aditi ki baat sunogi.. Aur meri bhi" Aarav warned her.

Manvi refused "tumhari baat nahi sunungi main"

She walked out of the house, Nitya sighed deeply "kal tak toh bahut mature baatein kar rahe they dono aaj phirse apne pagalpan mode pe aa gaye hai" she said.

Aniket laughed "ab yahi dono ki personality hai.."

They also walked out and sat inside the car. Nitya and Manvi were nervous, Aniket said "Saali sahiba.. Don't worry humhe pura bharosa hai ye jung aap hi jeetengi"

Manvi smiled hearing his words, Nitya held her hand and assured her "sab thik hoga Mannu"

They reached the hospital in an hour due to the heavy traffic on the roads. Aarav and Manvi got down and headed inside the hospital.

The receptionist saw them and recognised "Aap dono..phirse"

"Dekhiye appointment hai hamara" Aarav informed.

"Manvi Raichand.." Manvi told the name.

The receptionist checked and said "oh yes.. Dr. Aditi is waiting! First floor second room"

Aarav glanced at her and asked in a sarcastic tone as earlier she wasn't ready for it "Raichand..."

"Haa toh? Unfortunately tum unwanted pati ho mere! So I can use your surname aur bahar abhi kisiko pata nahi hai famous model manvi sharma ne ek jalkukde se shaadi ki hai" Manvi replied.

Aarav eyed at annoyed and she laughed.

They reached the room, Aniket and Nitya also arrived. Manvi lay on the stretcher, the nervousness was clearly visible on her face. She grabbed Nitya's hand tightly and said "Di aap mere saath andar chalo please"

"Don't worry Manvi.. Minor sa hi hai!" Aditi said asking her not to get worried or tensed.

Nitya smiled "Thik hai main chalti hun tere saath andar"

The nurse dragged the stretcher to the OT, Nitya stood beside Manvi holding her hand. Manvi panicked seeing the operation instruments. She shouted "nahi... Di no.. mujhe behosh kardo please"

Nitya was shocked at her reaction, she calmed her down "mannu relax.. Aise ghabrate nahi hai"

Aarav heard her screams and said "bhai mujhe pata tha ye ladki aise hi karegi.. Iski wajah se agar process mein gadbad hui na toh jaan se maar dunga.."

Aniket calmed him down "Aaru... Shant ho jao nitya hai na andar"

"bhai ye ladki meri bholi bhali bhabhi maa se nahi sambhlegi mujhe hi seedha karna padega iss tedi cheez ko" he said  and marched into the operation theatre.

Everyone saw him, Nitya moved a side while Aarav came closer to her. He argued "problem kya hai tumhari?? Apni marzi se ye sab ke liye ready hui thi na toh kyun natak kar rahi ho?"

"Main natak kar rahi hun? Are you out of your mind? Mujhe hospital ke naam se hi chid hoti hai phir bhi main Di ke liye yahan tak aayi.." Manvi confronted him.

"Haan toh ehsaan nahi kiya hai kuch! Dekho chipkali.. Ye last stage hai surrogacy ka agar isme problem hui na toh tumhe ghar se bahar fhek dunga main" He warned her.

Aditi smiled seeing them, Aarav had cleverly distracted Manvi. She looked at the screen and carefully transferred the embryo inside her. It took about 15 to 20 minutes and ArMan had been arguing all the while. Nitya was just amazed at this.

Nitya looked at Aditi with hope, Aditi blinked her eyes, and a smile curved up her lips as the transfer was successful.

"Ho gaya.. Ab tum dono ladna band kar sakte ho" Nitya said.

Aarav and Manvi looked at her in a state of shock. Manvi glanced at Aditi and asked "ho gaya?? Aise kaise ho gaya?"

"Jaise hota hai waise ho gaya! 14-15 din baad pregnancy test karenge and hopefully it's positive" Aditi took off her gloves and walked out of the OT.

Nitya kissed her forehead and said "paagal ladki.. Itne usse hi ghabra gayi labour pain mein pata nahi kya hi hoga tera?"

"Di.. ye sab first time hai na.. Toh bas ho gaya I am sorry" she apologized.

"I understand.. Aaru main aur Aniket iske medicines le aate hai! Tum isko leke car parking tak aa jaana" Nitya informed and moved out of the OT.

Manvi sat up straight and Aarav helped her stand up. She asked "mere kapde kaha hai? Iss hospital dress mein thodi ghar jaungi main?"

"Pata hai mujhe.. Pehle chalo toh sahi changing room tak" Aarav gave her support to walk. Eventough, she was perfectly fine but he was caring towards her.

She went to the changing room while Aarav stood outside.

Aniket made the final payment while Nitya collected Manvi's medicines. They came to the parking lot and found them arguing over something "ye dono kabhi nahi sudhar sakte hai" Aniket said.

"Haa.. par issi ladai ki wajah se toh mannu distract hui toh ye transfer easily ho gaya! Hopefully 15 din baad good news mil jayegi" Nitya said with excitement.

Aniket nodded in yes "haa.. Lekin 15 din mannu ko koi stress nahi lena hai! Maa se jitna door rahegi acha hoga.."

"Tum chinta mat karo.. Main sambhal lungi" Nitya assured him she won't let anyone snatch her happiness.

They sat inside the car and headed towards home. Manvi looked at Nitya and kept her head on her shoulder.

About an hour of journey, they reached home and were shocked to find many people present in the house. The servants were serving them snacks and drinks, Kaushalya was having a conversation with knowns ones.

Aniket glanced at his mother, she came to him and he asked "ye kya tamasha ho raha hai Maa?"

"Are ye sab Aarav aur Manvi ko shaadi ki badai dene aaye hai" Kaushalya informed.

Aarav and Manvi exchanged glances with each other.

Aniket eyed her suspiciously, one of the guest spoke "court mein jaake shaadi karna bhi shaadi hoti hai koi? Na pandit na phere.. Riti riwaz bhi hote hai"

Nitya said "hote hai auntyji.. Lekin uss shaadi ke baad bhi.. Court mein jaake sign karne hote hai! Mere devar aur behen ne ye direct kar liya toh isme koi burai nahi hai"

"Burai nahi hai par samaaj ke saath chalna hota hai humhe beta.. Tumhari shaadi bhi vidhi vidhaan ke saath hui thi!" Gaitri told her.

"Ji Gaitri maasi hui thi.. Waisa dikhawe ka tamasha dubara nahi hoga aap sab yahan se jaa sakte hai" Nitya takes stands for Manvi and Aarav.

The guest felt insulted, Kaushalya asked them to stop but they left leaving her fuming in anger. Manvi and Aarav waved them bye as Kaushalya's plan failed. 

To be continued...