Author's POV

Everyone was shocked at the scene in front of their eyes. All the eyes were staring at them, Aarav wanted to hug her back and console her. He was about to keep his hands on her back but noticed the guests and families staring at them with questionable eyes.

He kept his hands on her shoulder and pushed her lightly trying to separate her from him. She parted and he closed his eyes for a moment.

Saahil's mother asked "samdhiji ye kya kar rahi hai aapki beti?? Isne Shreshta ke dost ko gale kyun lagaya?"

Rano remained silent at her place as she herself her in complete shock seeing what both of them did.

He got up and was about to leave but Hemadri held his hand tightly. She had tears in her eyes and desperately wanted him to fight for her.

He shook his head negatively in a big no as the consequences will be extremely bad for not only her but for her family too. The happiness will turn into a sad reality and her dignity will be questioned. She understands his concern for her but she can't lose him without even trying for once. She pleads with her eyes and he had to give up on her stubbornness. She walked towards her parents holding his hand, while everyone stared at them.

Rano had got a hint, a storm is about to occur. Her heartbeat raised and she recalled the last humiliation they face because of their daughter. She was concerned about Alok who won't be able to bear another betrayal from his own daughter.

Everyone gets off the stage, Hemadri stops when her mother approaches her. She glanced at her and asked "ye sab kya tha hema??"

"Maa.. aap jo samajh rahi ho wahi sach hai.. main aur Aarav ek dusre se pyaar karte hai" she declared.

All looked at her in complete disbelief except Shrestha. She was elated, she came and stood beside Hemadri to support her decision.

"Kya?? Agar tu iss ladke se pyaar karti thi toh kyun haan kari tune Saahil se shaadi karne ke liye?" Rano confronted her.

She inhales deeply "maa.. Kuch galatfehmi ki wajah se hum alag ho gaye they mera dil toot gaya tha isliye main laut aayi.. Aur maine haan kar diya shaadi ke liye aapki aur papa ko takleef nahi deni thi! Par jab ye wapas aaya toh main nahi rok paayi khudko..." she explains and doesn't reveal the real reason behind their breakup.

"Ye sach kah rahi hai Chachi.. Aapne dekha hai na Aarav ne kaise chachu ki jaan bachayi bahut acha ladka hai ye... aur abhi isne hema ko bhi bachaya.. please chachi Saahil se mat karayie hema ki shaadi warna wo khush nahi rah paayei" Shreshta supported her

"Chup kar Shreshta! Agar yahi baat thi toh pehle batate.. Yuh iss tarah sabke saamne tamasha kyun kiya?" Rano shouted

"Maa please.. Main uljhi hui thi aapki aur papa ki khushi ya mera pyaar.. Aur phir agar main hi khush nahi rahungi toh aap dono kya khush rah paoge?" Hemadri said with tears in her eyes.

Rano gets angry and confronts her.

Priya one of her aunts gossiped "ho gaya na tamasha.. hemadri ki shaadi mein aaye toh tamasha na ho aisa ho hi nahi sakta"

"zaroor pichli baar bhi iss ladke ke liye bhaagi hogi ghar se" other one assumed.

Hemadri replied "nahi! tab main apni azadi chahti thi.. dum ghutta tha mera waha pe... samjhe aap log" she yelled at her.

Priya glared at her...

Hemadri eyed her father who was silently standing. She walked to him and held his hand "papa.. I am sorry par aap samajhte ho na mujhe! Main shaadi ke liye mana nahi kar rahi hun par main shaadi Aarav se karungi.." she hoped he will understand her.

Alok looked towards Aarav who was silently hearing everything and had not spoken a single word "tu usse pyaar karti hai lekin kya wo karta hai??"

"He does papa! Usne hi mujhse kaha tha main aapke paas wapas aa jau.. Main uske saath bhaagna chahti thi par usne kaha wo phirse aapko aur maa ka sar sabke saamne nahi jhukne dega.. Isliye mujhse kaha agar main usse pyaar karti hun toh Saahil se shaadi karlun" she said with tears in her eyes.

Alok rolled his eyes towards Aarav, whose silence was speaking more than what can be seen. Rano said "bas hema.. Itne sab log hai yahan.. Saahil aur uske parivar ka socha kya hoga haan? Phirse ek aur baarat wapas nahi jayegi samjhi.. Chal chup chap"

"Ek minute Ranoji.." Alok said

Rano looked at him "Alokji.. Aap"

"Sawal beti ki zindagi ka hai Ranoji.. Humhe sahi galat ko napna hoga" He concluded and took steps towards Aarav.

Aarav looked at him silently, he was scared for a moment. Alok questioned "pyaar karte ho meri beti se?"

"Ji.." he replied softly

"Wajah jaan sakta hun pehle uska dil todne ki aur uski shaadi ka hissa banne ki?" Alok asked

Hemadri feared if he spoke the entire truth everything will be ruined. She walked and said "papa maine bataya na koi galatfehmi thi..."

Aarav stared at her for a moment, she signaled him not to reveal anything.

"Ji.. wo bas chahta tha apne maa baap ka dil na dukhaye aur Shreshta ne mujhe bulaya tha main nahi janta tha ki hemadri ki shaadi hai" he gave the answer and Hemadri had a sigh of relief.

"Ye sach hai chachaji.. Main chahti thi ye aur Hemadri ek ho jaaye isliye maine jhooth bolke Aarav ko bulaya yahan.. Kyuki main janti hun pyaar na hone ka dard kya hota hai" Shreshta exclaimed and Alok is aware of her condition.

Hemadri looked at him with pleading eyes to allow her to marry Aarav.

"Shaadi karna chahte ho meri beti se?" He asked

Aarav looked at Hemadri, though he wants to get married to her he can't pull her into the mud along with him. He is certain after knowing his reality they will not even speak to him with respect.

"Sir.. mai...bahut pyaar karta hun aapki beti se.. Lekin meri majburi hai main usse shaadi nahi kar sakta" he finally revealed.

Hemadri held his hand "Aarav please. Mujhse pyaar karte ho?" she questioned with tears in her eyes. Aarav gets lost in her eyes, she cupped his face and requested him to answer

"Sirf haan ya na kehna" she said

"Haa.." he said as she knows he won't lie.

"Meri khushi chahte ho??" she asked

"Haa.." he said

"Mera dil tumne mere bhale ke liye toda tha?" she questioned

"Haa..." he replies

"Kya tum mujhe Saahil se shaadi karte hue dekh sakte ho?" She asked with pain reflecting in her voice.

Aarav gets silent for a while, he said "nahi..." A painful smile appears on his face, he understands her trick and she is trying to convince her parents that he is perfect for her without revealing the reality.

"Tum yahan meri shaadi todne aaye they?" she asked

"Nahi.." he denied

"Bhagoge mere saath abhi.. Maa papa nahi maan rahe hai.." she said

"Nahi.." he remained firm in his decision. Alok was just left flabbergasted, a smile appears on his face

Rano gets emotional, she could sense how deeply her daughter loves him. She kept her hand on Alok's arm and he looked at her.

Alok walked to Saahil's parents and his father said "Alokji.. Hum apni itni badi beizatti bardasht nahi karenge"

"Mujhe nahi pata tha meri beti kisi aurse pyaar karti hai agar pata hota toh main shaadi tay nahi karta" he said

"Are toh pata karna chahiye tha na aapko! Samaaj mein ijzat hai hamari.. Aap pehle bhi ek baar apni beti ki wajah se badnaam ho chuke hai phir kyun hona chahte hai haan?" he confronted him.

Hemadri said "uncleji! Mere papa ki galti nahi hai.. Pyaar main Aarav se karti hun aur shaadi usise karungi..."

"Really hemadri? Ye Aarav hai.." Saahil said in a sarcastic tone. She glanced at him and he smiled broadly.

Saahil walked to Aarav and stood in front of him. Aarav noticed some kind of confidence in his eyes. His ego was hurt by the fact that Hemadri refused to marry him.

Shreshta thought "itna sab ho raha hai yahan aur ye Myra gayab hai..." she moved around to find her but failed to locate her. She dialed her number but it was not reachable.

Saahil scanned at him from head to toe, and said "personality toh bahut hi achi hai tumhari.. Attractive bhi ho, aur sexy bhi lagte ho kaafi demand ho nahi?"

Aarav stared at him and he got a hint that he is aware of his reality. He wanted to leave immediately but now everything was out of his hands. He can't let Hemadri face everything alone by herself. He eyed her and she gulped down her throat in fear as worse is about to happen.