Flashback

"Yaar yeh pani bhi nahi hai, koi kaam bhi theek se hota hai iss ghar mein?" Karan said out aloud his anger from earlier still simmering beneath the surface. "Aur Mom bhi, Babydoll aur Rishabh? Never! Kabhi nahi! Babydoll meri hai! Aur meri hi rahegi! ishsss" he huffed in frustration as he paced the length of his room still holding the empty jug. He wanted to throw the jug, he wanted to bash his fist through the wall – why was everyone always coming in the way? First that blood 'Dadhi wala Bakra' and then that stupid Mahira and then that idiot Shiv and now Rishabh!

No! he needed to do something he thought to himself... "Usse shadhi kar ke yeh soocha tha ke aab saab usse dur rahenge lekin yahan toh besharmo ki line lag gaiyi hai hume alaag karne ke liye! Kuch sooch Karan Luthra! Kuch sooch!" his thoughts were broken as he heard movement outside his room.

"Yeh kya awaaz thi?" he asked looking the clock. It was too late for anyone to be walking around the house and the footsteps that followed sounded too hurried. "kahi chor toh nahi?" he thought "How dare you Mr Chor! 'The Karan Luthra' ke ghar mein chori? Chodonga nahi!" he said as he moved to his door. Stopping to think for a second he turned and picked up his cricket bat "Aab dikhata hoon mein tumhe ke 'The Karan Luthra' choke chake kaise maarta hai!".

He slowly moved through the hallway keeping to the shadows and listening out for any noise. "Shayad mera wahem tha" he thought after ten minutes of looking around the house and finding nothing. He decided to head back to his room, bat resting on his shoulder like a gada. Just as he turned to go he heard Ramona's voice,

"Toh Sherlyn beta tumne kuch soocha?"

"Yeh tho Mahira ka room hai? Yeh Ramona aunty iss waqt Mahira ke room mein? Aur woh bhi Sherlyn ke saath?" he thought but decided to ignore it, "Yaar mujhe kya yeh teeno ki shakal bohot dekhli aaj, aur nahi dekhi jaiyegi!" he started to move again until he heard Preeta's name causing him to stop abruptly.

"... hai ke hume Preeta ko saab ki nazaro mein girana hoga"

"Preeta? Yeh Preeta ke bare mein baat kar rahe hai? Kahin Babydoll ko kuch nuksaan toh nahi pochane wale? Yeh log kabhi nahi sudhar sakte! Chodunga nahi!" he said moving closer to the door. He almost push open the door and barged in but then stopped himself "Nahi Karan inlogo ko abhi nahi pata lagna chaahiye ke tu yahan hai warna babydoll... Nahi Nahi!" realising that if he confronted them directly they would deny plotting anything against Preeta and then he wouldn't be able to save her. He pressed himself against the side of the slightly open window in a way that the trio wouldn't be able to see him and continued to listen to their conversation.

"Yeh toh tumne already try karliya hai... Lekin usska faiyda kya huwa? Kuch waqt ke liye saab theek tha aur dheere dheere woh larki phirse saab ke dil mein aapne liye jagha bana rahi hai"

"Kya kiya hai tumne Sherlyn?" he thought trying to understand what they were talking about.

"Mera matlab iss parivaar se nahi hai"

"Lekin iss mein hamara kya faiyda?"

"Preeta Arora... Bohot ghuroor hai usse aapni izaat aur character ko le kar, aur usse zyada usski maa ko! Agar hum aisa kuch kare jise log uske naam pe thuke tho woh khud kisi ko aapna muh nahi dikah payegi aur aapne aap Luthra's se, aur khas kar ke Karan se dur ho jaiyegi! Upar se Uski Maa ko lagega ke yeh saab Luthra's ne kiya hai toh woh Preeta ko yahan kabhi nahi aane degi!"

"Lekin mujhe yeh samaj nahi aaraha ke hum yeh karenge kaise?"

"Mujhe paata hai! Wait..." He heard Mahira say, turning slightly he could see her doing something on her phone.

"Hello is this Sukki Singh from News Flash?" ... "Hi mein Mahira Khanna bol rahi hoon, Karan Luthra ki hone wali biwi! Ha 'The Karan Luthra' ki... Mere paas tumhare liye ek deal hai" ... "Mein tumhe kuch photos bejh rahi hoon, larki ka naam hai Preeta Arora" she said Preeta's name like it was filth causing Karan to grit his teeth. "Ha mein chaati hoon ke tum inn photos ko aise present karo, ke yeh lage ke yeh larki mere Karan pe khud ko thop rahi hai, aur yeh paise ke liye kisi ke saath kuch bhi kar sakti hai - you know what I mean right?"... "Iss mein mera kya fiyda hai uski chinta tum maat karo but tum aapna fiyda dekho – Tumhare newspaper mein Karan Luthra ki news chapegi toh sales badegi, aur mein tumhe promise karti hoon ke meri aur Karan ki wedding photos tumhe exclusively milenge" she smirked ... "Ha ha fine ek exclusive interview bhi shadhi ke badh. Lekin this is only if you are able to degrade this girls character enough that she has no choice but to kill herself!"

As she ended the called Karan clenched his fists so hard that his knuckles turned white. He saw her fiddle around with her phone again and he knew he was sending some photos to the journalist. "Yeh tumne acha nahi kiya Mahira, meri babydoll ke saath! Jaan le lunga thuhari!"

"Wah Mahira too good!" Sherlyn praised

"Aab dekhti hoon ke woh middle class larki mere Karan se dur kaise nahi rahti! ...Mom aap khush nahi hai?"

"Mahira woh..."

"Kya huva Aunty?"

"Woh mein sooch rahi thi ke... ke kya yeh sahi hai? I mean ke woh ek larki hai, aur aise kisi paar..."

"Oh come on Mom! Woh larki mujse meri khushi cheen rahi hai aur aap meri Mom ho ke uski side le rahi hai!"

"Nahi Mahira mein..."

"Aunty Mahira sahi kahe rahi hai... Aap uss Preeta ki chinta choriye woh tho hai hi ghatiya! Aap nahi janti meri shadhi se pahele woh Rishabhji ke peeche pari thi aur aab Karan ke! Aisi ghatiya larkiyo ke saath aisa hi hona chaahiye!"

Karan was all but ready to barge into the room and strangle Mahira and Sherlyn but someone grabbed his hand and covered his mouth before he could make a sound and forced him back to his room without giving him the opportunity to protest.

"WHAT THE HELL!" he shouted at the person that had got in his way

"Listen calm down!"

"Calm down... CALM DOWN? Are you crazy? Did you hear what they are planning?"

"I did and that's why I am telling you to calm down!"

"Sammy tum pagal ho? Tum mujhe calm rahene ko kahe rahe ho jab who meri babydoll ko..." he couldn't finish the thought. Sameer who had rushed past Karan's room earlier as he followed Sherlyn after seeing her suspiciously sneaking through the corridor, had witnessed the whole conversation. Although he too had wanted to tear through the door to the room and give Mahira and Sherlyn a piece of mind, he had kept his cool and had been quick to react when he had noticed a murderous looking Karan.

"Bhai agar aap usse chudail aur usski toli ko confront karoge toh woh shayad aaj kuch na kare lekin woh aur careful ho jayenge aur shayad Preeta ko aur nuksaan pochaiye. Issliye kahe raha hoon ke calm down. Aap jab ghuse mein hote ho toh rash decisions hi lete ho aur woh zyadatar galat hote hai!"

Karan glared at Sameer who placed himself in front of the door preventing Karan from leaving his room. Absorbing what Sameer was saying Karan closed his eyes and took deep breaths to calm himself down. As his rational mind began to take over he realised that Sameer was right, even if he killed Mahira he wouldn't be able to save his babydoll! The photos had already been sent and the deal done.

"Abhi humme Preeta ke bare me soochna hai usse..."

"Sameer!" Karan snapped causing Sameer to look at him anxiously, Karan hardly ever called him 'Sameer' it was almost always 'Sammy' unless he was angry. Worried that his words hadn't done anything to calm the angry young man in front of him, Sameer prepared himself for a fight to try and keep Karan from leaving the room. Karan moved forward and grabbed Sameer in a headlock just like when they were kids.

"Bhai chodo!" he said struggling to get free.

"Chodu?" Karan asked tightening his grip as Sameer grunted and said yes. "Pehele tu sorry bol!"

"Sorry? Sorry kisliye? Meine toh aap ko isliye roka kyun ke mein aapko janta hoon... agar aap uss ghatiya larki ke paas gaiye toh aap khud ko rok nahi paiyenge aur agar aapne uss ko kuch bhi kiya toh Preeta ke liye aur problems hogi kyunki yeh jo humari family hai woh humesha ki tarha Preeta ko hi blame karenge!"

"Phrise 'PREETA'?" Karan said letting go of him slapping the back of his head in the process.

"Lekin meine galat kya kaha, aap issliye gussa hai kyun ke uss Mahira ne Pree..."

"Sameer agar tumne babydoll ka naam liya na toh mein maar maar ke tumhara woh hal karaunga ke tumhari woh lambu tumhe pahechaan nahi paiyengi!" Karan threatened.

"Lekin mein Pree... I mean..." he corrected himself seeing Karan's glare "mein yeh kahe raha tha ke agar aap uss Mahira ko kuch karenge toh app ussko baacha nahi paiyenge aur hamari family bhi usiko blame karengi toh woh aur problem mein phas jaiyengi" he said confusing even himself in the process.

"Tu yeh kya baak raha hai?" Karan asked

"Offho bhai mein Pree..."

"Ahhhahah... Naam nahi!" Karan cut him off again

"Are yeh kya baat huwi? Abb mein Pree... uska naam liye bina kaise samjau?"

"Kyun? Bhabhi bol! Bhabhi hai woh teri, toh tu usse Bhabhi bol! Aur zara izaat se baat kar meri babydoll ke bare mein! Bhabhi Mom ke saman hoti hai toh woh teri Mom hai..." Sameer looked at Karan in shock "...I mean Mom jaisi hai, aur Mom ko naam se nahi bulate aur na hi 'tu' kahe ke! samja" Karan finished. Sameer laughed internally seeing his brothers possessiveness for Preeta and nodded with a smile.

"Ha Bhai, Bhabhi ko bachane pe dhyan dijiye... mujhe pe nahi" he mumbled the last part.

"Kya? Kya kaha tu ne?" Karan moved closer to Sameer again who raised his hands in surrender.

"Nahi bhai mein toh kahe raha hoon ke hume kuch karna parega aur woh bhi jaldi!" That bought Karan back to the current problem and tension clouded his features. He thought that he could call the reporter and try and pay him off but then realised that that would probably cause another set of problems. Reporters like Sukki Singh needed gossip and if he tried to offer him more money he would probably paint an even worse picture. He imagined something like 'Karan Luthra caught having an affair while being engaged' or something along those lines. Not that he cared about himself but that would still paint Preeta in a bad light.

Sameer observed as his brothers expressions changed from stressed to worried to anxious to angry until suddenly he smirked the ever famous 'Karan Luthra' smirk which told Sameer that his brother was up to something devious.

"Bhai?" Sameer asked bringing Karan out of his thoughts

"Sammy..." Karan grinned putting his arm around Sameer's shoulder. Sameer looked at Karan questioningly "Sammy woh teri Bhabhi hai na, ussne mujhe kaha tha ke woh mujhe aapna husband nahi maanti. Aur yeh bhi kaha ke woh 'Miss Preeta Arora' hai"

Sameer looked at Karan sadly "Ha bhai saab ke liye woh 'Miss Pree..' I mean... ha wohi" his brothers mood swings were beginning to give him whiplash he thought as Karan glared at him again.

"Lekin woh toh 'Mrs Preeta Karan Luthra' hai!" this time Sameer didn't say anything he just looked at his brother waiting for him to continue "Aur ab waqt aa gaiya hai ke saab ko yeh baat pata chale ke woh 'Preeta Karan Luthra' yani meri babydoll 'The Karan Luthra' ki wife hai! Tu janta hai kitni problem ho rahi hai? Tu nahi janta... yeh saab besharaam log teri Bhabhi Maa ke peeche pare rahe te hai yeh jaane ke bawajood ke usski shadhi ho chuki hai!"

"Bhai aap yeh kya..."

"Ha Sammy yeh saab ghadhe meri babydoll se dur nahi rahe sakte, aur woh bajarbatti" he huffed "Woh bhi unse yeh nahi kahe sakti ke bhai saab mujse dur raho meri shadhi ho chuki hai aur woh bhi 'The Karan Luthra se!'"

"Lekin woh yeh kaise kahe sakti hai bhai?" Sameer asked slightly annoyed at his brother.

"Kyun nahi kahe sakti Sammy?"

"Kyun ke yeh haq aapne unse khud cheena tha!" he replied this time unable to hide the bitterness in his voice.

Karan looked at Sameer and recalled his mistakes again, "Janta hoon Sammy" he said moving away to hide the tears that let his eyes. Although Sameer wanted to be angry at him, he also knew how much Karan Loved Preeta. After a few minutes of silence he moved closer to Karan who was standing at the open window and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Bhai"

"Sammy meine bohot galat kiya hai! Bohot galat! Jisse mein pyaar karta hoon maine uss se hi itni chot di hai"

"Bhai..."

"Nahi Sammy main janta hoon, lekin mein yeh bhi janta hoon ke usski chot pe malaham bhi mein hi laga saakta hoon. Mein chaahta hoon ke woh yehan aaiye aur mere pass raheke mujhe saaza de!"

"Bhai aap..."

"Ha Sammy mujhe pata hai ke mein bohot selfish hoon lekin mein Preeta ke bina nahi rahe sakta!"

Sameer smiled and hugged Karan to comfort him. "Sammy bohot galtiya ki hai meine lekin aab unhe sudhar ne ka time aagaya hai!"

Sameer nodded in agreement realising that he too needed to make amends.

"Kya tu mera saath dega Sammy?"

"Ha Bhai, aapka yeh Lakshman humesha aapke saath hai" he smiled

"Thank you Sammy, thank you" Karan said hugging Sameer again.

"Lekin bhai hum karenge kya?"

"Sammy aab saabse pahele tumhari Bhabhi ko iss ghar mein lana hai, iss ghar ki Sita ko iss ghar mein lana hai aur woh bhi humme nahi ghar walo ko!"

"Kya? Lekin Bhai..."

"Ha Sammy..." Karan smirked "Mahira aur Sherlyn ne jo soocha hai usske liye mein unki jaan le leta lekin unohne anjane mein hi sahi lekin mujhpe ek ehsaan kar diya hai..."

"Yeh aap kya kahe rahe hai?"

"Yes Sammy, mein kabse sooch raha tha ke Preeta ko iss ghar mein kaise laya jaye lekin mujhe yeh samaj nahi aa raha tha ke kaise... mein Preeta ko janta hoon, itna saab kuch hone ke badh woh khud nahi aaiyegi aur khas kar ke tab jab Sarla Maa usse aane nahi dengi. Lekin Mahira ki iss ghatiya harkat ne mujhe ek idea diya hai"

"Kya bhai?" Karan smiled again and moved towards his wardrobe and opened the door. He reached into the furthest corner and carefully pulled out what Sameer realised was a small box. Karan carried the box to his bed motioning Sameer to follow. Placing the box on his bed he reached for the chain that was around his neck and pulled it out from inside his top revealing a pendent shaped like a metal rod and a diamond ring. Sameer watched as Karan took the rod off the chain and placed it on the opening on the box snapping it into place. Turning it 180o he used it as a key and a latch to open the lock and lift the lid open.

Karan took out a photo frame and smiled, he stroked the face of the beautiful blushing bride that was standing next to him in the photo.

"Bhai yeh?" Sameer asked seeing a framed photo of Karan and Preeta from their wedding day.

"Ha Sammy meine yeh shadhi ke dusre din frame karaiyi thi" he placed the photo back in the box and held up a USB stick for Sameer to see. "Iss mein meri aur Preeta ki shadhi ki photos aur videos hai jinhe maine uss photographer se khareede the"

Sameer was stunned at the revelation; he had assumed that Karan had gone mad in his anger and wanted nothing to do with Preeta. He knew that deep down Karan loved Preeta but he didn't realise that despite his anger his brother was holding the memories of that day so close to his heart.

"Bhai agar app Bhabhi se ittna pyaar karte hai tho aapne unnhe choda kyun?" he asked.

"Uss din mera gussa mere pyaar pe haavee tha aur shaayd mein yeh bhi janta tha ke uss waqt mein Preeta ko ghar le ke aata toh saab usski aur insult karte. Uss waqt mein shaayad usska saath na deta aur woh yeh bardaash nahi kar paati. Janta hoon ke jo maine kiya woh usse zyaada galat tha lekin, tab mein kuch bhi theek se sooch nahi paiya aur galti pe galti karta gaiya. Aur jab hosh aaya toh ahasaas huwa ke meine kya kar diya hai lekin tabtak haalat aur bigar gaiye the aur woh baar baar mujhe kahene lagi ke mein usske liye kuch nahi hoon – that I mean nothing to her! Aur tab mera ego beech mein aagaiya. Mujhe laga ke usse aana chaahiye mere paas aur mujhse aapna haq khud lena chaahiye! Saab ke ke saamne yeh kahena chaahiye ke Karan ki biwi mein hoon Mrs Preeta Karan Luthra, aur Karan mere siva kisi ka nahi ho sakta! Mujhe laga tha ke agar meine Mahira se shadhi ke liye ha kardi toh woh bajarbatti daurtee chali aaiyegi. Lekin ussne kya kiya? Woh uss dadhi waale baakre se shadhi karne ke liye ready ho gaiyi! Woh toh aacha huwa ke uss ghadh ke baache ne ghar aa ke humme bataiya ke woh babydoll se shadhi kar raha hain aur shadhi maine rok li!"

"Aapne rok li?" Sameer asked feeling a little confused. Karan widened his eyes at what he had let slip.

"Woh meine..."

"Bhai" he interrupted indicating to Karan that he wanted the truth.

"Woh mein aur Rishabh wahan gaiye the aur..."

"Aur?"

"Aur... aur meine hall mein aag laga di" Karan finally admitted.

"Bhai?!!?" Sameer gasped in shock.

"Aab tu mujhe aise maat dekh! Aur aapna muh bandh kar"

Coming out of his shock Sameer couldn't help but laugh "Aap na..." he could find the words so just shook his head. Karan too started laughing recalling all that he had done.

"Aap aur Bhabhi bilkul ek jaise ho" Karan looked at him waiting for Sameer to continue "App unse itna pyaar karte hai but aapki ego beech mein aaja ti hai, aur Bhabhi bhi aisi hi hai." As Karan absorbed what Sameer was saying he continued "Lekin bhai pyaar mein ego nahi hota, pyaar mein toh sirf pyaar aur vishvaas hota hai".

Karan closed his eyes and nodded knowing that both he and Preeta had made the same mistake of not trusting one another – him with the photos Sherlyn showed him and Preeta with everything related to Prithvi.

"Bhai"

"Janta hoon Sammy," Karan said opening his eyes and looking directly at Sameer "Meine aur Preeta ne bohot badi galti kari hai, khaas kar ke meine! Lekin galti sudhari bhi jasakti hai aur isski pahel meine kar di hai! Aur mein Preeta ka vishvaas aur pyaar phir se paa kar rahoonga... usse iss ghar mein aapne paas vapas leke aunga - I think it's about time I claim what's mine!" he declared

Sameer smiled seeing his determination clearly reflecting in his eyes.

"Aab tu yeh mujhe dekh ke smile karna bandh kar aur kaam pe lagja" Karan ordered.

"Kam pe?"

"Ha, aab yeh le" Karan handed Sameer that USB stick with the wedding photos and videos in it "Tu abhi ke abhi sare news channel aur newspaper heads ko contact kar aur unhe yeh keh ke tere paas ek breaking news hai 'The Karan Luthra' ke bare main. Woh news kaal subha tak charo aur phail jaanee chaahiye! Tabtak mein iss Sukki Singh ka patta kata hoon!"

Sameer looked at Karan in understanding and the brothers grinned at one another before getting to work. "Get ready Mumbai... to meet Mrs Preeta Karan Luthra!" Was his last thought before the phone attached to his ear was answered. "Hello mein Sameer Luthra bol raha hoon..."