Manvi was sleeping with the little one next to her. Aarav returned from office and looked at both of them with a smile on his face.

The girl woke up and made a sound. He said "shh... Soh rahi hai aapki chachi.."

The girl smiled hearing him as if she had understood his words. He lifted her up his arms and began to play with her.

After a while she began to cry and Manvi woke up with that. She sat up straight and said "kyun uthaya baby ko... Sone nahi de sakte na tum hum dono ko"

Aarav glared at her and said "mera mann nahi hai kya apni princess ke saath khelne ka?"

Manvi sighed deeply, she got up from the bed but Aarav stopped her "don't! Abhi thik nahi ho tum baithi raho chup chap"

Manvi eyed him, he knew what she wanted so he took out the towel from the wardrobe and handed it over to her "yelo aur jaa raha hun main bahar ache se dudh pilana meri pari ko"

He moved out of the room and Manvi smiled at him seeing his so much care and concern for her. The little one held her hand and she looked at her "tumhare chachu ko ab kehna hi padega.."

A few weeks later, Manvi had finally recovered so they planned for the baby naming ceremony. 

Manvi glanced at the baby girl, she was emotionally attached to her and therefore Anitya understood it and let her stay with her but now she must return their child to them as she is their child. 

Manvi kissed her forehead and smiled at her "ab tum apne mumma papa ke paas jaogi.." 

She walked towards Nitya's room with her "Di.." she said.

Nitya looked at her "haan Mannu.."

"Aaj meri zimmedari puri ho gayi hai... mera kaam tha surrogate banna.. Wo ho gaya ab ye aapki aur jiju ki!" she handed over the girl to Nitya.

Nitya smiled hearing her and asked "toh ab tujhe attachment nahi hai baby se?"

"Hai Di.. wo hamesha rahegi par as surrogate not as mother.. Wo toh aap ho na! Waise bhi main abhi khud ek masoom si bachi hun..." Manvi said coming back to her form.

Nitya laughed hearing her for a moment and then her eyes turned moist "Thank you mannu.. Tu nahi janti tune mujhe kya diya hai.. Iske badle mein tujhe jo bhi dungi wo kum hoga..."

"Ek promise di" Manvi said.

"Kya??"

"Chachi ka toh pata nahi lekin maasi main rahungi haa.. Aur koi iski maasi nahi banegi" she said possessively.

Nitya smiled "tera alawa aur kaun hai meri laadli behen haan? Maasi toh tu hi rahegi"

Manvi side-hugged her and the girl chuckled. Nitya said "Dekha baby ko bhi aur koi maasi nahi chahiye.."

"Acha aap ready ho jao aur isko bhi ready kardo.. " Manvi spoke and walked out of the room.

Manvi entered her bedroom, she thought about what Aniket suggested to her on the day of delivery. She saw Aarav stepping out of the bathroom all dressed up for the ceremony. He moved to the dressing table and combed his hair while humming a song.

Manvi remembered the kiss and smiled sheepishly. After that incident, he hadn't interacted with her much. He got very busy with his work and playing with the little born for whom he had been waiting for years.

In these few weeks, he hadn't fought with her too. He gave her medicines and like previously was caring. She wondered if he had feelings for her or if it was out of sympathy. She sighed deeply and decided to confess to him that she loves him and wishes to stay with him forever as his wife.

Aarav glanced at her and asked "Tumhe ready nahi hona hai kya?? Meri pari ka pehla function hai..."

"Haan bas ho rahi hun" Manvi replies. She takes out her saree from the wardrobe and goes to change into the bathroom.

After about 10 minutes she returns in a blouse and a skirt. She eyed Aarav and said "Aarav saree paas karna meri"

Aarav glared at her "khud lelo.. Naukar nahi hun main tumhara" he replied.

She gets annoyed hearing his words, she picks up the saree and ties it around. "At least pallu set karne mein madad kardo" she retorted.

Aarav gets up from bed and helps her. She forwards the pin and he attaches it. "Tumhe toh saree pehenna pasand nahi hai na?? Toh aaj kyun?" he questioned.

"Tumhe pasand hai.." She replied.

Aarav glanced at her "kya chal raha hai Manvi?" he asked straightly.

Manvi smiled "kya??"

"Uss din labour room mein tumne mujhe kiss kiya.. Na mujhe ladai karti ho.. Meri har baat maan leti ho.. Aur meri pasand ki cheezein bhi kar rahi ho.. Kyun?" he asked.

Manvi sighed deeply, he doesn't understand anything or pretended to be. Manvi crossed her arms across her chest "Tumhe sach mein kuch samajh nahi aa raha hai?"

"Nahi mujhe nahi samajh aa raha hai" Aarav said seriously.

"Ohho.. tumhe kaise samajh aayega? Apne bhai aur bhabhi maa ke alawa toh kuch aur sochte ho nahi tum" Manvi said annoyed.

"Unhe beech mein mat lao.. Yahan baat tumhari aur meri ho rahi hai" he warned her.

"Exactly! Inn 9 mahino mein bahut kuch hua hai Aarav.. Paris mei mujhe nahi acha laga tumhara kisi aurke saath ghumna.. Mujhe takleef hui jab tumne mujhe sirf apne bhai ki surrogate kaha.. Bache ki delivery ke baad tumne mujhse thik se baat bhi nahi ki mujhe takleef hui.. Tumhara over protective nature jo kabhi mujhe irriating lagta tha achanak mujhe pasand aane laga.. Jab tum mujhe pura attention dete they mujhe acha lagta tha.. Tum mere paas aate they toh ajeeb si beichani hoti thi mujhe.. Because I love you" she confessed glaring at him.

Aarav was shocked hearing her confession.

"Kya kah rahi ho tum?? Pregnancy mein tumhare mood swings control karne ke liye main tumhari baat maanta tha Manvi.. Iska ye matlab nikala tumne" Aarav said leaving her in complete disbelief.

"Aarav.." she uttered.

He goes to the wardrobe and takes out the marriage contract. He shows it to her "ye yaad hai na tumhe?? Jabtak tum mere bhai ki surrogate ho hamari ye shaadi hai uske baad ye shaadi dissolve ho jayegi... yahi tay hua na hamare beech toh ye I love you.. Kiss kahan se aa gaya isme?" he said leaving her with tears in her eyes shattering her heart. She thought all this months he had also developed some feelings for her.

"Kya tumhare dil mein mere liye zara bhi jagah nahi hai?" she questioned in stammered tone.

"Nahi hai.. Mere liye tum hamesha mere bhai ki surrogate rahogi isse zyda kuch nahi.. Tum ache se jaanti ho ye shaadi, saath rehna mujhse nahi hoga.. Itne mahine kaise maine tumhe bardasht kiya hai ye main hi jaanta hun! Kitni baar tumne mujhe hurt kiya hai apni baaton se par main kuch nahi kah sakta tha.. Aur delivery ke baad tumhara khayal rakha kyuki Aditi ne kaha tha tumhe care ki zaroorat hai.. Isliye nahi mere dil mein feelings hai tumhare liye" Aarav spoke looking straight in her eyes.

Manvi exhales "fine.. Toh mere jaane se tumhe farak nahi padega?" she asked.

"Nahi padega.. Infact tum jaogi toh mujhe mera kamra wapas mil jayega.. Mera bed, wardrobe bhi aur most importantly meri azaadi.." he said dreamily. Manvi hits hard on his chest continuously for breaking her heart and simultaneously cryings.

Aarav stops her "Are.. paagal ho gayi ho kya??"

"I hate you I hate you... I hate you" she shouted a loud.

"I hate you more.. Bhabhi maa ki maasi ki beti.." Aarav said and left the room with a smile on his face.

Manvi sits down on the bed and cries remembering his words. She takes out the suitcase and throws her things into it.

Aniket enters the room, Manvi eyed him and runs to him. She hugs him and he caressed her head consoling her. "Jiju.. mujhe nahi rehna hai yahan aur" she complained and demanded him to make arrangements to send her back to Delhi.

He wipes tears from her eyes "sorry.. Tumne iss ghar ko itni badi khushi di.. Aur mera nadaan bhai tujhe pyaar bhi nahi kar paaya.."

"Sahi toh kaha usne.. Main yahan ruki thi aapki surrogate banne ke liye.. Phir usne shaadi ki mujhse issi wajah se.. Yahi toh tay hua tha bache ke aane tak hum pati patni banke rahenge.. Ye contract mein toh mention hi nahi kiya humne agar ek ke dil mein feelings aa gayi toh kya karenge?" she said and cries more.

Aniket had tears in his eyes, he wanted to speak to Aarav about it but Manvi denies "nahi jiju.. Aap hi kehte ho na zabardasti na toh shaadi chalti hai aur na pyaar hota hai.. Toh yahi khatam karte hai iss baat ko.."

He held her hand and squeezed it lightly "maine socha tha shayad tum nahi jaogi.. Par iske liye bhi main ready tha.. Delhi mein maine baat ki hai tum phirse apna career shuru kar sakti ho.. Hmm.."

Manvi nodded in yes.

"Chalo abhi aansu pahucho.. Neeche rasam shuru hone waali hai.. Hmmm.." Aniket said again wiping her tears with the top of his fingers.

"Aap chaliye main aati hun" she said. Aniket nodded and he goes out.

Aniket comes downstairs and saw Aarav sitting beside Nitya. He had the little girl in his lap and was playing with her.

Nitya eyed Aniket and signals him to come. He commences towards them and sat down on the other side of Nitya. She asked "mannu kaha hai? Tum toh use bulane gaye they na.."

"Ready ho rahi hai.. Aa jayegi thodi der mein" he replies knowing she needs time to compose herself from the recent heartbreak.

Nitya found him staring at Aarav with fixed gaze, she asked "aise kyun aaru ko ghur rahe ho?? Kuch kiya kya isne?"

"Apne laadle se hi pucho.." Aniket replied. He takes his daughter from his lap and places her into the cradle so that ritual can begin.