The next day, everyone was present at the breakfast table. Aarav said "thank you bhabhi maa.. kal din khaas karne ke liye" 

Nitya smiles "kaise nahi karti? tum mere aur Ani ke liye sab kuch karte ho toh kya hum tumhara birthday khaas nahi kar sakte?" she asked 

Aniket said "aur kya.. hamari 5th anniversary pe tune surprise party di thi.. wo hum bhi de sakte they par hum jante hai tujhe sirf family ke saath apni khushiyan banthna acha lagta hai" 

Aarav smiled and gave him a side hug "isliye toh aap best bhai aur bhabhi maa ho!" 

After a while, Manvi got ready and came downstairs.

"Acha Di aaj mera show hai.. Main fatafat jaake wapas aa jaungi" Manvi informed.

Aarav refused "nahi tum nahi jaogi.. Ghar pe itni larpwahi karti ho waha pata nahi kya hi karogi" he was concerned.

Aniket glanced at him and said "Aaru.. teri biwi hai na.. Leke jaa aur wapas ghar leke aa"

Aarav stared at him and replied "bhai.. Mujhe apna bhi kaam karna hota hai"

"Koi nahi main iske saath chali jaati hun phir waha se hum shopping ke liye jayenge" Nitya came to the conclusion.

Manvi agreed "thik hai Di.."

Manvi and Nitya went to the event, Nitya stayed with her and Manvi elated to get her attention. She said "Di.. kitna acha hai na.. Ab mujhe sab attention mil raha hai aapka.. Uss jalkukde ko jalane mein aur maza aayega"

Nitya sets her hair and replied "mannu.. Kya tum bhi bechare ke peeche padi rehti ho!"

"Wo bhi toh mujhe tang karta hai aap uski side mat lo zyda" Manvi made a face.

Nitya smiled "acha baba.. Nahi leti uski side!"

Manvi glanced at the staff and said "meri Di hai front seat pe bithana samjhi.."

"Jee mam.. Aayie Nitya mam" the assistant showed the way to Nitya.

Nitya went with her and she was feeling proud of her sister as she had earned so much respect. She grabbed her place and within a minute the show started.

Manvi walked at the ramp, and one of the people said "ye ladki kitni hot hai na.."

"Wo toh hai yaar... bandi ab tak single hai ek baar pat jaaye na.. Toh hamari raat bhi haseen ho jaye"

A sigh of relief escaped Nitya's mouth "thank God.. Aaru ne mannu se shaadi karne ka faisla liya! Reception hoga to ab is surrogacy ki wajah se ispe ungliyan nahi uthengi!"

The show ended, Nitya went backstage and saw Manvi talking with someone.

"Mam.. humne aapko ek hafte pehle contract bheja tha aapne ab tak sign nahi kiya hai" the manager said.

"Main yeh film nahi kar paungi" Manvi rejected the offer.

"Dekhiye aapke kuch conditions hai toh bata dijiye hum contract amend kar denge.." the person spoke.

Manvi replied "dekhiye mujhe koi interest nahi hai aapki bakwaas film mein kaam karne ka! I am happy with my modelling career"

She walked away from there, she came to Nitya and asked "kaisa tha show?"

Nitya stared at her, she was just speechless. How will she repay her for this? Manvi snipped her fingers in front of Nitya's eyes "Di....." she uttered her name.

Nitya asked "tumne surrogacy kyu chuni mannu? You got a film offer... international shows"

Manvi made a face and replied "Di please aap phirse shuru mat ho jaana.. You come first before everything and please ab guilt leke mat baith jaana! Mannu ko jo milega usmei khush rahegi and waise bhi I am happy with my modeling career.."

Nitya smiled hearing her words. Manvi then pushed her towards the exit as she wanted to go shopping.

Both of them went to the mall, Aniket joined them. Manvi teased "kya baat hai jiju... aap toh Di ko shopping mein bhi company dete ho"

"Company kum romance zyada karta hai!" Nitya replied.

"Haan toh isme bura kya hai? Biwi ho meri haq banta hai" Aniket says holding her hand.

Manvi keeps her hand on Aniket's shoulder "jiju.. Seedha bolo na ghar mein Auntyji jo kuch karne nahi deti hai! Isliye aap.."

Aniket stared at her and laughed "baat toh sahi hai saali sahiba aapki! Yahi baat tumhari Di saalon se nahi samajh rahi hai"

Nitya eyed at him and replied "sab pata hai mujhe tumhara Ghar pe bhi maa ki baat ka kaha asar padta hai inpe.. Baad mein mujhe daant khani padti hai kahi pe bhi shuru ho jaate hai" 

"ab toh tum khud hi maa ko daant deti ho" Aniket replies.

Nitya glared at him "Sirf unki faltu ki baaton ke liye.. warna toh unki respect karti hun main samjhe tum!" 

"Guys... hum yahan shopping ke liye aaye hai! Uske baad main ghar chali jaungi aur kaho toh aap dono ke liye ek room bhi book kardun?" Manvi asked in a teasing tone.

Nitya slapped her head from behind "besharam ladki... kuch bhi bakwaas karti rehti hai"

Aniket protested "sahi baat hai Nitu.. waise bhi bahut time ho gaya hai nahi?" he asked.

Nitya turned and walked away from them "hey bhagwaan.. Jija saali milke mujhe tang karte hai.. Bas ek mera devar hi hai jo mujhe pareshan nahi karta" she mumured.

She stops and looks back. Aniket and Manvi were selecting a few dresses, Manvi came running and said "Di.. ye aap try karo."

"Par yahan hum tumhare liye aaye hai" Nitya comments.

"Offo Di.. reception mera hai na? Toh meri Di ko bhi toh best lagna hai.." Manvi said with excitement. Nitya agreed and tried out the outfits.

Aniket took Manvi to the men's section and asked her to select one for Aarav. Manvi made a face and refuse "not at all jiju.. Main uske kuch select nahi karne waali hun!"

"Come on Mannu.. Nitu bhi mere liye select karti hai na.. Ab biwi ho tum uski" Aniket reminded her about the marriage.

"Permanent nahi hun.." Manvi rebuked.

"Temporary hi sahi.. Ho na.. Toh select karlo please" Aniket requests but Manvi remains adamant.

Nitya comes and smiles "it's okay Ani.. main uske liye select kar lungi"

"Haan aap hi karo Di.. waise bhi he only cares about his bhabhi Maa.." Manvi said crossing her arms across her chest. She was angry at him for scolding her yesterday.

Nitya selected one for Aarav and then Aniket went to the counter for the payment. Both the girls head towards the parking lot lifting the bags in their hands.

Aniket joins them after a few minutes and they headed back home.

At home

Aarav was inside the room, he checked the medicine pills and sighed deeply "iss ladki ne dupahar ki medicine nahi li hai.."

He heard the loud noise, he walked downstairs and saw Manvi opening all the bags. She passed a saree to Kaushalya "Auntyji.. Aap yahi pehnna reception pe"

Kaushalya actually liked the color of the Saree. "Waise main toh le nahi rahi thi par Di ne kaha.. Thank her" Manvi informed.

Kaushalya looked toward Nitya and said "dhanyawad.."

Nitya was surprised as for the first time she had thanked her for something without outbursting her hatred. Manvi whispered in Nitya's ear "lagta hai aapki daant ka sadma abtak hai inhe"

Nitya hits her elbow asking her to remain quiet. Aarav comes and asked "tum serious ho bhi ya nahi?"

Manvi looked at him and stands up. She keeps her hand on her waist and asked "Ab kya kiya maine??"

"Tumne dupahar ki medicine skip ki hai.. ! 15 din crutial ka matlab pata hai tumhe?? Dekho ye mazak nahi hai! Bhabhi Maa ki zindagi ka sawal hai samjhi! Agar tumhare ye shows ke chakkar mein agar... surrogacy pe asar pada na toh tumhe iss ghar se kya iss shahar se bahar karunga main" Aarav said in firm tone.

Manvi was annoyed hearing him, she shouted back "What do you mean by mazak?? Mujhe bhi pata hai crutial ka matlab samjhe tum! Bhabhi Maa.. bhabhi Maa karte phirte ho wo meri Di hai samjhe! Tumse zyda mujhe unki fikar hai.. Ek surrogate toh dundhi nahi gayi tumse.. Main bani toh mujhe hi suna rahe ho.. Daant raho ho! I hate you"

She pushed away the clothes and went upstairs to the room.

Nitya looked at Aarav with anger gaze "Aaru! Kya ho gaya hai tujhe? Choti choti baat pe use daant raha hai.. Itna over protective mat ho"

"Toh kya karun bhabhi maa? Ye aakhiri mauka hai jise main nahi khona chahta hun! Maa ko ache se janta hun main.. 15 din mein wo nahi hua jo hum chahte hai toh.." he sighed deeply as he didn't even want to speak about that. Nitya grabbed his hand and squeezed it a bit "Aaru.. main samajhti hun par tumhe mannu ko bhi samajhna hoga.. Rahi baat dupahar ki dose ki toh maine de diya hai! Dusre packet se as subah waala mujhe mila nahi.."

Aarav realized he had overreacted. Aniket kept his hand on his shoulder "chote... bhale hi tum dono ka rishta ek samjhota hai lekin usse tujhe nibhana hoga.. Uss samjhote tak! Aur mujhe vishwaas hai mera bhai iss rishte ko immandari se aur ache se nibhayega.." Aniket spoke.

Aarav turned his head towards him and Aniket blinked his eyes. Aarav went upstairs to pacify Manvi. 

To be continued...