Part 11

Khushi came downstairs from their room. She stood beside Anjali.

"Did you cool your husband's anger ?"asked Anjali with a naughty smile.

"Di. You are too much" said Khushi.

"Ok. It is fine if you don't want to say but atleast rub off the haldi on your cheeks otherwise everyone will get a doubt how haldi reached on your cheeks when I applied it on Chote's cheeks" said Anjali with a grin.

Khushi rubbed off the haldi from her cheeks blushing.

"Khushi Beta. Did you arrange everything to go to Payal's house ? We need to take haldi there." Asked Dadi.

"Yes Dadi. Everything is arranged. Only this haldi bowl is remaining. We can leave" said Khushi.

"Ok then. Ask Mohan to keep all the needed things in the car." said Dadi then turning to Akash, " Go and take bath Akash"

Khushi went inside the kitchen to assist Mohan to take the gifts.

Just then, Akash's friends Ajay, Arun and Ankush came into the house. Akahs went near to them and hugged them.

" I missed you guys" said Akash.

"We missed you too Akash" said Ankush.

Manorama came near them.

"HHBB. How are you all ? For your best friend's marriage, you all came late" said Manorama.

"Sorry Aunty. But what to do ? Work kept us busy" said Arun.

"Also aunty, we are going to stay in India for one month. We will come daily to meet you" Ankush.

Manorama nodded her head and introduced the trio to Dadi, Anjali and Ratna. Then Manohar came there.

The three friends wished him who kept a grim face. It was clear that Manohar is not happy seeing them.

"Ok Ok Let's go to my room now. " said Akash and took them to his room.

Khushi too came there.

"Maa. I have made everything ready. Let's move" said Khushi. All the ladies left for Payal's house.

Arnav came downstairs and saw Shyam, Manohar talking in the hall. He went near them.

"Chachu. I have some important work. So, I need to leave for my office" said Arnav.

"Salesaheb. Aren't you on leave ?"asked Shyam.

"Haan jiju but some emergency popped up. Aman called me. I need to leave. I will return soon" said Arnav.

"Ok Beta. You go" said Manohar. After Arnav left, Manohar turned to Shyam.

"He exactly turned out like my brother. He too was very strict and punctual towards his duty. Even on my marriage day too, my brother came late" said Manohar.

" Where can we see a police officer like him these days ?"asked Shyam while Manohar nodded his head.

In Payal's house:

Raizadas brought haldi from their house to apply on Payal as a ritual.

Payal was made to sit down and everyone applied haldi to her.

When Khushi's turn came, she faked a smile to Payal who too faked same smile to her.

Anjali saw this exchange between them. She have been observing the tension between them. Whenever they met there won't be any heartfelt exchange between them. It was as if both were forced to be together. When she asked about this to Akash, he said what happened in temple between them at their first meet. First impression is always best impression and it lacked between them. She was worried how they both manage to be in same house with their indifferences after marriage.

"Anjaliji. Are you okay?"asked a voice and she turned to look at Karan.

"Nothing. I am fine Karan." Said Anjali smiling.

"Did you like our preparations ?"asked Karan.

Anjali looked around, " Yeah. They are good"

"Thank you soo much" said Karan.

"Well Karan. When you are going to marry ?"asked Anjali.

" When I find my soulmate, I will marry" said Karan.

"So, did you find her ?"asked Anjali.

"Nope. I am still searching for her" said Karan.

Someone called Karan and he went from there excusing himself from Anjali.

In Arnav's office:

Aman entered Arnav's cabin with some papers.

"Where are the reports Aman?"asked Arnav.

Aman handed him the papers while Arnav took a look at them.

"ASR. Why are you interested in this suicide cases ?" said Aman.

"This cases are not what they seem to be Aman. In this three months time, four members committed suicide. They all were criminals who raped the girls and with the power of money, they made the victims shut their mouth and they escaped. But before committing suicide, they all confessed their crimes. Isn't it strange ? A criminal suddenly realized what mistake he did and out of guilt committed to suicide." Said Arnav.

Aman went into a thinking mode, "You are right ASR. There is a point. But what do you think might have happened"

"Even I can't still come to a conclusion about this Aman but there is someone who is forcing all these persons to commit suicide. I couldn't able to get the link what exactly happened. Even, there is no traces of any drug in their body" said Arnav.

"Then. How to know about this ?"asked Aman.

Arnav didn't answered and sat down thinking deeply about this case which is making him go mad.

Part 11

In RM

Raizada ladies reached to home. Manohar and Shyam were in the hall looking after arrangements for marriage which is tomorrow.

"How did the function went there ?"asked Shyam.

"Everything went well Shyam beta" said Dadi.

"I am tired. I will take rest" said Anjali.

"Let's go to our room then Anjali" said Shyam holding her hand.

"Where is Chote ? Why isn't he helping you in looking after preparations ?"asked Ratna.

"He went to office Bhabhi. He said there is some urgent work" said Manohar.

"This boy.. Seriously.. I don't understand him. Always office, office" sighed Ratna.

"He said he will return soon Sasumaa" said Shyam. He then led Anjali to their room.

"Khushi. Call Chote" said Ratna to Khushi.

"Ratna. Don't disturb Chote. Shyam beta said naa Chote will return. So, no problem" said Dadi.

"Ok then. Let's lookafter the preparations" said Ratna.

After sometime, Akash's friend Arun is coming downstairs when he spotted Khushi who is instructing something to the workers. He stood there seeing her. Ajay and Ankush came there. They followed Arun's vision and looked at Khushi.

"Beautiful" said Ankush and the trio started to stare at her shamelessly.

"What are you doing guys ?"Akash came there.

"Akash. Who is she ?"asked Arun showing Khushi.

"She is soo...." Ankush is going to say something but Akash closed his mouth.

"Don't you dare to say foul words about her. She is my Bhabhi, Arnav Bhai's wife" said Akash angrily.

Arun, Ajay and Ankush were startled hearing it.

"Oh Sorry Akash. We thought her to be some relative." Said Arun.

"And thought to flirt with her. Isn't it ?"asked Akash angrily.

"Yeah. But now when she is your bhabhi, she is bhabhi to us too" said Ankush.

"You three better behave well in the marriage" said Akash.

" We will bro.. We are changed" said Arun.

"Now. Come let's go." Said Arun.

Akash nodded his head and checked his trousers.

"I forgot my mobile in my room. I will get it. You go downstairs" said Akash.

The trio nodded and left for downstairs while Akash went to his room.

"Akash" Manohar came into the room.

"Haan papa." Said Akash looking confused at his father who is angry.

"Seems like your friends still didn't changed" said Manohar.

Akash looked at his father confused.

" I heard their comments on Khushi Bitiya" said Manohar.

Akash was embarrassed and said, " They apologized to it Papa. They don't know that she is my Bhabhi"

"It doesn't matter who a woman is. We should respect her. Just because Khushi is your bhabhi, they backed off. If she was not, then that means they will flirt with her." asked Manohar.

Akash doesn't know what to say and lowered his head.

"Why did you even call them for marriage ?"asked Manohar.

"Mumma informed them when marriage was fixed Papa" said Akash.

" How many times did I said you to stay away from these trio ? The trio are nothing but spoilt brats. However good we are, when we are in the company of bad persons, people will see us as bad just like them. Isn't enough for you what you have faced because of them ? I am warning you Akash. If this time, your this soo called friends do something wrong, I am not going to help in releasing them like before. That time, it was due to your and your mother's pressure, I agreed to save them. But if they again mess with any girl, then I won't tolerate it." said Manorama.

Akash nodded his head. Manohar left from there.

Sighing, Akash left to downstairs. The trio are waiting for him.

"What happened Akash ? You seems dull" asked Ankush.

"Seems like uncle took another class for you" said Arun

"Nothing" said Akash, " Let's go"

"Akashji" Khushi came near to them, " Are you going somewhere ?"

"Yeah Bhabhi. Actually we have some work." Said Akash and then, " They are my friends Bhabhi. Arun, Ankush, Ajay"

Khushi kept Namaste to them to which they too reciprocated.

"But you are not allowed to go outside after the haldi is over Akashji" said Khushi.

"Ohh Ok then Bhabhi." Said Akash then turning to his friends, " Let's go inside guys. Bhabhi is saying naa I can't go outside"

"But it is only for an hour." Said Arun then turning to Khushi, " We will come soon Bhabhi."

Before Khushi can say anything, the trio dragged Akash and took him away.

In the Park:

Payal came to the park as Akash called her. She was confused as why did he call her when their marriage is just tomorrow. She saw Akash sitting on the bench lost in his thoughts.

"Akash" Payal called him bringing him out of his trance.

Akash stood up and looked at her. He faked a smile to her which made Payal more confuse.

"What happened ?Why did you call me here ? Do you remember tomorrow is our marriage ? We are not supposed to meet each other" said Payal.

'I Know Payal. But I want to inform you something" said Akash.

"What" asked Payal.

Akash hesitated to say, but finally he said, " I am sorry Payal. I can't marry you"

Payal looked at him dumbstruck.

"What.." Payal asked him not able to believe her ears.

"Are you Kidding Akash ?"asked Payal.

"No Payal. I am serious. All these days, I thought I love you but I realized I never love you. It was just an attraction" said Akash.

Payal looked at him with anger. She held his collar and looked in his eyes with anger.

"How dare you to even say that Mr.Akash Singh Raizada ?"said Payal gritting her teeth.

Akash got frightened seeing Payal's anger. Before he could say a tight punch landed on his face.

Akash looked at Payal shocked but Payal too was looking at her side shocked. He, then looked at Payal's beside where Karan is looking at him blood red eyes.

"Bhai" Payal said surprised to see Karan.

"I followed you to know where you are going a day before marriage and see what I came to know. This bastard!! How dare he" Karan punched Akash again. Even before Akash can say anything and do something in his defence, Karan landed him with few more punches. Payal didn't do anything to stop her brother.

Finally Arun, Ankush and Ajay came out of a tree where they are hiding. They reached Akash. The trio stopped Karan by holding him.

"Sir, Please, Please. Stop it. Don't beat Akash" said Ajay.

"It is just a prank" said Arun.

Karan looked at them with confusion. Even Payal too.

" Sorry Sir. We are Akash's friends. I am Arun. He is Ankush and he is Ajay" Arun introduced himself and friends.

"We want to meet Payalji and so we asked Akash to play this prank" said Ankush.

"Akash loves Payal" said Ajay.

"Prank!! Prank!!. What type of prank is this ?" shouted Karan then turning to Akash, " Are you dumb ? Instead of stopping your friends, you helped them. Shame on you"

Akash lowered down his head.

"We are sorry sir" said the trio in unison.

Karan glaring at them angrily, held Payal's hands and left from there. Payal too went from there shooting daggers at Akash and his friends.

Thanks to those who have commented and voted on previous update.

Next part of the story is already available in Inkitt.