While her brain was busy reminding her of the great doings of SuVeer, her heart made her remember something else. Something that she felt with someone who isn't Aneesh. That comfort, that peace that her heart got with someone, which she can never get with Aneesh. Though Monami already know who that person is, she's just constantly denying accepting what her heart has already accepted.

Taking a deep breath, Monami was about to open her mouth to say something about her decision when a loud, shrill voice came from behind that made all of them look back in utter surprise.

Karan - Y..Ye yaha kya ho raha hai?!

Supriya (excitedly) - Arre beta, achha hua tu aa gaya! Yaha par Monami or Aneesh ke rishte ki baat chal rahi hai. Aneesh ko to humari Monami badi pasand hai, ab bus Monami ke faisle ka hi intezaar hai hume. 

Hearing what Supriya said, the land beneath Karan's feet slides away and the sweets which he had brought upon Supriya's order, fell from his hand. Saying that he was under shock would be an understatement. Karan's face went pale, eyes bulged out and jaw dropped on this newfound information that the girl whom he loves is here talking about getting married, but he is not the guy. Karan's eyes immediately snapped towards Monami, and he found her looking pale, scared and anxious as her eyes were casted down and she was fidgeting continuously with her fingers. 

The moment Karan looked at Monami, unknowingly, she looked down as if ashamed of something. Maybe ashamed of not accepting what her heart is screaming and telling her. Monami's heart beats grew faster as she sensed Karan's intense gaze on herself. The way Karan was staring at Monami, with his eyes filled with passion, anger and disappointment, somewhat seem not nice to the spectators there. Aneesh noticed how Karan's gaze was affecting Monami, and he decided to be the 'hero' in the situation. Flop hero is silent here.

He encircled his arm around Monami's shoulder as if very much concerned for her and looked straight at her. This behavior of his looked sort of odd to both Supriya and Raghuveer as Monami clearly looked uncomfortable but they knew that they can't say much as they and Akhilesh can be future relatives and them voicing it out can make things terrible for Monami only, if she gets wedded off to that house. Though SuVeer held themselves back, but Karan couldn't. There was already fire ignite in his heart and this one move of Aneesh, just added fuel in it. 

Karan stormed with big steps towards where Monami and Aneesh were and immediately removed his hand from Monami's shoulder with much force and anger. SuVeer, Aneesh and Akhilesh were shocked of this move of Karan, but the most shocked one was Monami. She had expected him to be angry but didn't expect this intensity. The fire of his heart could be seen in his eyes and how hurt and angry he is. Karan's eyes held so much that Monami wasn't even able to look at him. 

Raghuveer - Karan, kya kar rahe ho beta?!

Karan (angrily) - Ye sawaal aap mujhse nahi Monami se kijiye pitaji, isse puchhiye ki ye kya kar rahi hai?!

Supriya - Karan! Pagal ho gaya hai kya? Kya bol raha hai? Andar chal, zaroor tujhe koi galat fehmi hui hai!

Karan - Galat fehmi mujhe nahi, aap sabko ho rahi hai. Aap sab Monami ki khamoshi ko uska sharmana samajh rahe hain, lekin yakeen maniye..vo ye shaadi nahi karna chahti!

What Karan said, shocked everyone as none of them were expecting this. Not even Monami was expecting that Karan will say what she wants to say so aloud. Raghuveer thought that Karan is doing so unnecessarily and in rage but when Karan showed Raghuveer his hand, surprisingly he too halted in his steps. The fire in Karan's eyes was so strong that it can burn down anyone. Karan looked towards Monami, only to find her shivering and breathing heavily as her fears were coming true. Seeing Monami's condition, Karan's demeanor calmed a bit, and he encircled his arm around Monami's shoulder, making everyone there widen their eyes in shock.

Karan - Monami, chalo..sach batao sabko. Batao sabko ki tum ye shaadi nahi karna chahti!

SuVeer were surprised and somewhat ashamed at the scene that Karan was creating as they were unaware of what had happened between Monami & Karan. Also, now Aneesh was very much irked. First of all, Monami's shyness, then Karan's arrival and him trying to stop the alliance and on top, Karan's hand around Monami's shoulder, everything was enough to hurt his ego. 

Aneesh (coming forward) - Maante hain hum ki tum Sarpanch ji ke bete ho, magar ye mera aur Monami ka aapsi maamla hai. Aur Monami kyu nahi karna chahegi mujhse shaadi? Kya kami hai mujhme?! Ghar-baar, daulat-shauhrat, zameen-jaydad..sab hai! Raj karegi Monami!

Listening to Aneesh, Karan gritted his teeth so tight that his tight jaw bones were visible. By what Aneesh said, Karan got to know about his character and Karan's hold tightened around Monami's shoulder protectively. Supriya saw the situation tensing and as she stepped forward to stop Karan, Raghuveer held her back as he was doubting on some other possibility. 

Karan - Shaadi sirf ghar-baar, daulat-shauhrat, zameen-jaydad ke bal par nahi hoti, insaan ka character bhi hona chahiye! Monami ko doctor banna hai, support karoge? MBBS ke baad MD karegi, ghar sambhal loge? Monami bahot samajhdaar hai, uske opinion ko respect kar paoge?!

Aneesh was found tongue-tied at what Karan asked but now even Akhilesh was fuming because why does Karan knows so much about Monami and her ambitions. For everyone, they don't have any relation, but their heart knows what connection they share. Even SuVeer were very much surprised as they had never thought that Karan would be knowing so much about Monami that too just after a few days of his arrival. 

Supriya - Karan, tu ye sab kaise jaanta hai?

To Supriya's question, Karan had no answer, and he just stood their quiet. He knows that if he says anything about his feeling towards Monami, it will create a whole scene. Monami slowly looked towards Karan as if confirming from his eyes whether whatever he wrote in his letter was true or not. Sensing the tension in the environment, Aneesh thought to take revenge of the insult Karan just did. 

Aneesh (coming forward) - Arre auntyji aap isse kyu puchh rahe ho? Puchhna hai to Monami se puchho na! Dekh nahi rahe kaise chipki khadi hai ek paraye mard se, na koi laaj, na sharam. Isi ne bataya hoga apne iss aashiq ko apne bade-bade sapno ke baare mein. Kyu? Sahi keh raha hoon na?!

Karan just rolled his eyes at what Aneesh said as he wasn't much affected, but Monami's chin wobbled, and eyes welled up. He is the same guy who was just going to be her groom but the way he was doubting her and putting false accusations, Monami was now very sure that she has to take a stand for herself otherwise, such scenes will become her whole life. 

Monami - Aashiq?! Jab na maine, na Karan ji ne..kisi ne bhi apne rishte ke baare mein kuchh nahi kaha to aap kaun hote hain humare rishte ko koi naam dene wale? Aur haan, maine hi bataya tha Karan ji ko apne sapno ke baare mein!

Everyone was utterly stunned as they have never seen Monami so fierce. They way she took stand for her respect was commendable and Karan's lips curved into a smirk, being proud on her. Akhilesh just couldn't take it anymore and stepped forward. 

Akhilesh - Ae ladki, chup karja!

Monami (fiercely) - Kyu? Kyu karu chup?! Rishta mera, shaadi meri hogi, to bolne ka haq bhi to mera hoga na! Mujhpe to sabne ungli uthadi lekin aapke le jo shehzaade hain, inki baatein nahi suni, kaise bina soche-samjhe mujhpe aur Karan ji par ilzaam laga diye! Agar mere sapno ki kadar nahi kar sakte to kamse kam mazaak to mat udao!

Listening to Monami's outburst, Aneesh was about to step forward when Raghuveer came between Monami and Aneesh. He was very well aware that the matter is turning serious and Karan trying to stop the alliance has a big reason hidden, so to just shoo away the matter, he comes in between and folds his hands in front of Aneesh and his father. 

Raghuveer - Akhilesh ji, shayad kuchh galatfehmi hai. Shayad humari bachi ye rishta nahi karna chahti. Main chahunga ki aap uska aur humara maan rakhe aur ye baatein bahar na jaane de. Aapka waqt barbaad karne ke liye hum maafi chahte hain!

Akhilesh (angrily) - Arre jab rishta karna hi nahi tha tumhari beti ko to bulaya kyu tha hume?  Itna sar par mat chhadhao iss ladki ko, asli beti nahi hai ye tumhari. Shayad bhool gaye ki ise maa-baap ne paida hote hi chhod diya tha ise. Ladki ke lakshan sahi nahi lagte!

Now Karan's patience broke and he couldn't hold himself anymore. He stormed towards Akhilesh and directly held his color, shocking everyone else. Karan's grip on Akhilesh's color was as tight as his clenched jaws. Raghuveer and Aneesh immediately went towards them to get Akhilesh out of Karan's hold but the rage in him, made everyone fail.

Karan - How dare you?! Himmat kaise hui tumhari Monami ke baare mein ye bakwas karne ki?! Tum hote kaun ho ye batane wale ki kise sar pe chadhana hai aur kise nahi?

Raghuveer (angrily) - Karan, chhod unhe! Main kehta hoon chhod!

Somehow, Raghuveer succeeded in getting Akhilesh out of Karan's hold and within a minute, the father-son duo were seen nowhere, while Karan kept breathing heavily due to the anger that was bubbling inside him.

Supriya (angrily) - Humari izzat ka janaza nikaal liya ho to andar chalkar baat karle?

Raghuveer dragged Karan inside the house who was extremely ferocious right now. Before going in, Supriya eyed Monami once, signaling her to also come inside to which she nodded silently. As they came inside the house, Raghuveer made Karan sit on the couch and made him drink some water to cool down his volcanic head. Supriya sat across Karan while Monami stood behind her, with her eyes down and fingers fidgeting with each other. 

Supriya - Ab mujhe ek-ek sach chahiye! Monami, tum batao..Aneesh se shaadi manzoor hai ya nahi?!

Monami - A..auntyji...

Supriya - Nahi nahi, ye mat bolna ki 'Jaisi aap logo ki marzi', hume tumhari marzi jaanni hai. Aur Karan, pehle tu ye bata..tujhe kaise pata ki Monami ko shaadi karni hai ya nahi aur tujhe usse kya lena-dena, aakhir lagta kya hai tu Monami ka?!

Upon hearing Supriya's question, Karan immediately looked at Monami and Monami too looked at Karan and their eyes met. The rage which Karan has felt when he saw Akhilesh and Aneesh disrespecting Monami, still prevailed in his eyes but was a little calmed now. Monami's eyes held the same fear and nervousness that she had in the garden outside but this time, there was a strange spark too.

Raghuveer (quite calmly) - Bachon..ab sab kuchh sach-sach batao. Mamla aakhir hai kya?

Karan - Main batata hoon! Monami ke kuchh sapne hain, kuchh ambitions hain. Use ek achha, specialized doctor banna hain. Uske sapne pure hona to hum sab ki zimmedar hai na?! 

Supriya - Kaha likha hai ki sapne shaadi ke baad pure nahi ho sakte?

Karan - I know sapne shaadi ke baad bhi pure ho sakte hain lekin sirf tabhi jab pati support kare. Dekha nahi tha aapne..kaise vo Aneesh aur uska baap apni daulat ka dhaus jama rahe thhe. Aapko lagta hai vo log Monami ko support karenge?!

Karan's words held genuine logic which forced SuVeer to think about it deeply. Supriya looked towards Monami and thought to ask her about the private conversation she had with Aneesh. 

Supriya - Monami, beta jab tu Aneesh se akele mein baat kkar rahi thi..tab laga kuchh aisa?

Monami looked at Supriya for a moment and then remembered that each and every word which Aneesh said to her. He was only bragging about his wealth, his name and respect. His words and the way of saying were clearly screaming that in that household, her dreams and ambitions will be treated like mere dust. He only needs a wife for himself, not a life partner, a daughter-in-law for the house, not the lady of the house, and a woman who can give him an heir, not the one who will give him happiness.

Raghuveer - Bata beta..kya kaha tha usne tujhse?

Monami (gathering all her courage) - Uncleji, sach keh rahi hoon...uss ghar mein meri, mere sapno ki, mere khayalo ki koi izzat nahi hogi. Sirf ek bahu aur biwi bankar reh jaungi, na kabhi uss ghar ki beti ban paungi aur na hi Aneesh ke liye ek saathi. 

Raghuveer looked at Supriya while she too looked at him back. They both were convinced by Monami's words as they trust her and no matter what, love & respect for her in in-law's house is a must for them. 

Raghuveer - Theek hai fir, agar tera dil nahi hai to main kal Akhilesh ji ko mana kardunga. Aur unhone jo kaha tha, mujhe bhi kuchh theek sa nahi lag raha tha! Ab khush?

A wide smile automatically came on Monami's face and seeing that smile, Karan's lips too curled up in a wide grin. Monami came and hugged Raghuveer tightly to thank him, with slight tears of happiness in her eyes. Raghuveer too hugged her back with affection, making Karan's heart swell in joy as Monami has got what she wanted. That wide smile that lingered on Karan's face was very deeply noticed by Supriya and she had some strong doubts. 

Keeping aside all the tension which lingered till the evening in everyone's mind, everyone had dinner with contentment, but something was bothering Karan. Though Karan has taken a stand for Monami, for her dreams but he still doesn't know anything about her feelings for him. Although, he hasn't done anything to get something in return but now his heart is really craving to hear what Monami feels, whether it is a yes or a no. 

------------------------------------

Thanks for reading! 

DO VOTE & COMMENT♥️