It was midnight, Nitya and Aniket were sleeping in the room. Aarav slowly gets into the room, he takes slow steps toward them. He heads towards Nitya and touches her feets "Sorry bhabhi maa.. aapko aur bhai ko bina bataye main bahut bada kadam utha raha hun.. " he thought. 

He was about to leave but Nitya calls him "Aaru" 

He turns back and glanced at her. She asked "sab thik hai na? itni raat ko yahan?"

He smiles lightly "haan bhabhi maa sab thik hai" 

She held his hand and he sits on the bed beside her. She caressed his hand and said "pareshan ho mat Aaru.. mil jayegi surrogate" 

He nodded in yes. "bhabhi maa.. mai.. wo" he looked at her and she gave him a look. 

"sab thik hai na?" She asked as she found him worried. 

He smiles "ji bhabhi maa.. bas bhagwaan se prathna karna main jo chahta hun wo ho jaye" he said.

"zaroor hoga Aaru.." She assures him and he leaves the room. 

A few days later
It was day of rakshabandhan, Kaushalya's brother had came over.

Aniket was angered with him for supporting Kaushalya for his divorce decision with Nitya.

Nitya said "aaj nahi Ani..."

He nodded and hugs her. 

Aarav pulls them apart and Aniket glared at him "Aaru...  Kya hai"

"meri bhabhi maa se aaj aap nahi chipko ye haq mera hai"  he said hugging Nitya from behind and she tapped his cheek lightly. 

"haa..  Aaj toh mere devar ka din hai" she said

Aniket gave him a look.. "huh... Kaash bhagwan ne mujhe behen di hoti teri jagah"

"jiju main hun na"  Manvi spoke coming out from the room

Aniket smiles and shows his tongue to Aarav.

"this isn't right... Hamesha main hi bandhta hun na aapko rakhi"  Aarav said getting possessive.

Aniket teased him "nahi nahi tu toh bas apni bhabhi maa se rakhi bandwa"

Manvi pulls him to the couch.  Aarav gets annoyed,  he moves and both of them began to argue. 

Nitya shot a deadly glare to Aniket "kara di dono mein ladai tumne"  she scolds him

Kaushalya finally said "tum sab tayhor ke din toh aisa mat karo chalo rakhi bandho"

Aarav takes the thal from Manvi's hand and does Aniket's arti and then ties rakhi to him "mera haq koi nahi le sakta"  he said eyeing at Manvi.

She made a face, Aniket smiles at her and said "tum bhi bandho.."

She smiles and ties rakhi to him.

Aniket hands her envelop. She takes it and said "jiju... Aapse bas promise chhaiye "

"kis baat ka?"  he asked.

Aarav shot a glare at her.  Manvi eyed him and smiles.  She said "bas jo main karungi uske liye gussa nahi karoge"

Aniket promises her and Manvi smiles.

Aarav sits down and Nitya does the ritual.

"bhabhi maa iss baar aapka gift hoga wo surrogate jo bhai aur aapke bache ko janam degi" he said with a smile on his face.

Manvi wanted to speak but Aarav showed his eyes. 

Nitya smiles, Aarav bends down and takes her blessings. 

The next day, Aniket was working in his office, and he heard his phone ringing. He saw the name flashing on the phone screen, it was from doctor Aditi.

He picked up the call "yes doctor Aditi"

"Mr. Raichand.. Humhe aapke liye surrogate mil gayi hai toh agar aap hospital abhi aa sakte hai toh hum aage ka process shuru kar sakte hai" she informed leaving him traumatized.

"Ji doctor.. Main aur Nitya aate hai" he confirmed and ended the call.

He immediately left the office and went home. He reached home in half an hour and saw Nitya sitting on the couch reading a book. He approached her and said "Nitu.."

Nitya looked up at him surprisingly, she glanced at the clock hanging on the wall it showed 3pm in the afternoon. She questioned "Aniket aaj aap itni jaldi? Sab thik hai office mein?"

"Haa.. Doctor Aditi ka phone aaya tha unhone kaha surrogate mil gayi hai. Abhi hospital bulaya hai" He informed her.

A smile curved her lips hearing his words, she kept the book aside and stands up. She said getting excited "ye toh bahut achi baat hai Aniket.. Chalyie chalte hai hospital"

"Haa.. lekin agar hum apne do naadano ke bina jayenge toh bahut daant khayenge baad mein!" Aniket said.

"Mannu toh apne shoot mein busy hai aaj aur Aaru ka bhi fashion show hai aaj!" Nitya infromed him.

"Acha.. toh tum ready ho jao phir chalte hai hospital" Aniket said, Nitya agreed and rushed upstairs to her room.

Kaushalya warned him "meri baat ache se sunle Aniket.. Koi airi gairi ladki tere bache ko janam nahi degi samjha!"

Aniket glanced at her and replied "Maa.. mujhe samajh nahi aa raha hai aakhir aap chahti kya ho? Agar aap hamari khushi ka hissa nahi ban sakti ho toh please aisi baatein karke khushiyon ko nazar bhi mat lagao" He was annoyed with her mother behaviour.

"Main nazar lagaungi? Tere bhalle ke liye hi kah rahi hun... jaane kaun ladki hogi? Kya sanskar honge uske. Kaunse dharam jat ki hogi.. Pehle sab pata kar lena phir hi haan karna" Kaushalya proposed.

Aniket sighed deeply and replied "Maa.. please inn sabse bahar niklo! Ek ladki apni zindagi ke 9 mahine aapke bete aur bahu ke liye qurbaan karne jaa rahi hai.. Aur aap ye sab kah rahi ho"

"Toh muft mein nahi kar rahi hai! Ache khase paise milenge.." Kaushalya rebuked.

Aniket gave up, there is no point in arguing with her. Nitya came downstairs and both of them left for the hospital leaving behind Kaushalya fuming in anger.

"Pata nahi kaunsi ladki hogi.. Aur agar bacha dene se mana kar diya baad mein toh pachtana padega dono ko" Kaushalya grinned. She took a deep breath and went to the temple for evening prayers.

At the Court

Manvi and Aarav were standing in front of the registration office. Manvi snatched the papers from the lawyer's hand and began to read them.

"Chipkali.. Ye tarika nahi hota hai! Tumse chutkara paane mein main koi galti nahi karunga" Aarav said

Manvi eyed him and muttered in anger "tumpe bharosa toh main kisi janam mein nahi kar sakti"

The lawyer interupted "mam jaldi kijiye.. 5 minute mein humhe andar jaana hai bahut muskil se maine aaj ka appointment liya hai"

Manvi read the contract papers and handed it back to the lawyer. Aarav asked "Satisfied?"

Manvi moved inside the office, followed by Aarav. Both of them were feeling guilty for taking a such drastic step without seeking Aniket and Nitya's permission and blessing but this was for their own good.

The officer asked them to sign the contract marriage papers. Aarav held the pen and looked toward Manvi whom he hates the most in the world but his hatred for her is no more than the happiness of his brother and sister-in-law.

"Taiyar rehna divorce ke liye.. Aur dusri shaadi ke liye"

"Aniket shayad meri kismat mein maa banna likha hi nahi hai"

He took a deep breath and signed the papers. Manvi thought for a moment, she stared at him and recalled Nitya's tears and desire to become a mother. She finally signed the papers and pushed them towards the registrar's officer.

"Well.. congratulations Mr and Mrs. Raichand! Aajse ye contract end hone tak aap dono pati patni hai" the registrar declared officially registering them as husband and wife into the system.

They exchanged glances with each other. They never wanted to be called as each other spouse but destiny bound them into this sacred relationship even if this is a contract marriage but it's marriage.

The lawyer handed Aarav a copy of the contract and both of them headed towards the parking. Aarav looked at her and said "bhabhi Maa aur bhai ke liye hum ye kar rahe hai.. Yaad rakhna"

"Mujhe batane ki zaroorat nahi hai! Main bhi ye Di aur jiju ke liye kar rahi hun" Manvi replied and sat inside the car.

Aarav's phone ranged, he picked up the call immediately "haan Aditi"

"Aaru.. Manvi ko leke jaldi hospital aao! She has to sign documents surrogacy process shuru karne se pehle" Aditi informed.

"Haan bas 15 minute mein pahuchta hun" Aarav replied and ended the call.

He sits in the car and drove off towards the hospital. Within 15 minutes, they reached the hospital. Both of them went straight to Aditi's cabin, the doctor smiled seeing them.

Aarav and Manvi sat in front of her, Aditi praised them "tum dono apne bhai bhabhi ke liye jo kar rahe ho.. Bahut hi kum log kar paate hai! Ye document ache se padhke sign kardo Manvi.."

Manvi thought about Nitya's disapproval. She had never taken any big decision of her life without her support. Aarav stared at her and said "jaane do chipkali tumse nahi hoga.. Aditi main apni ek aur dost se baat karta hun"

This triggered Manvi's ego and she immediately signed the papers while Aarav smiled broadly.

Aarav looked toward Aditi and said "Aditi please.. Jabtak ye surrogacy process complete nahi hota tum bhai aur bhabhi Maa ko mat batana Manvi unki surrogate hai"

Aditi agreed and replied "Don't worry Aarav.. Ye confidential hi rahega! Jabtak Manvi khud nahi chahegi hum unhe reveal nahi karenge"

The nurse entered inside and informed "mam.. Mr and Mrs Raichand are here.."

Aarav's eyes became wide "what?? Bhai aur bhabhi maa. Yahan dekh liya humhe toh maar dalenge.. As hum unse jhooth bolke nikle hai" he reacted.

Manvi argued with him "pehle nahi aa sakte they.. Pakde gaye na yahi hamara murder ho jayega"

"Mujhe nahi pata tha dono itni jaldi aa jayenge" Aarav rebuked and both of them began to argue over the matter.

Aditi sighed deeply and shouted "guys! Relax dono abhi treatment room mein hai tum dono corridor se nikal jao hospital ke bahar"

Manvi and Aarav immediately left the cabin. They walked towards the exit while Aniket and Nitya were approaching them from the same direction. They indeed up colliding with each other, Manvi's eyes became wide. She ran out of the hospital leaving Aarav behind, before he could escape Aniket saw him.

Aniket was surprised, he asked "Aaru.. tum yahan hospital mein kya kar rahe ho?"

"Bhai.. Aditi meri dost hai! Usne kaha aap dono aane waale toh main aa gaya" he made up the excuse.

Nitya smiled hearing his words, she grabbed his hand and said with enthusiasm "surrogate mil gayi hai Aaru.. ab intezar nahi ho raha hai!"

"Bhabhi Maa intezar toh mujhse bhi nahi ho raha hai.. Chalyie Aditi aapka wait kar rahi hai" Aarav said. Aniket and Nitya walked towards her cabin while Aarav waited outside.

He messaged Manvi "bhabhi Maa aur bhai ke saath aaunga main tum car leke ghar chali jao aur haan dhang se chalana.. Meri car tok mat dena"

Manvi was waiting for him outside the hospital, her phone beeped. She checked his message and sighed deeply "ghar chali jau! Car ki chabi toh khud leke baitha hai"

She marched inside the hospital and searched for him.

Inside the Cabin

Aditi smiled and said "finally humhe ek perfect surrogate mil gayi hai.. So let's start the process"

Nitya and Aniket glanced at each other with happiness. Nitya looked back at Aditi and asked "Doctor.. Kya hum mil sakte hai usse?"

"Sorry Nitya ji.. It's confidential wo abhi saamne nahi aana chahti hai! Aur Aarav ne toh use dundha hai uspe toh bharosa rakhiye.. Jise dundha hoga best hogi" aditi exclaimed.

Aniket understands and said "bilkul.. Humhe aap par aur Aarav pe pura bharosa hai! Aap aaj hi treatment shuru kar dijiye"

Nitya agreed with him, that if Aarav had chosen the surrogate she must not be questioned.  Aarav gave her the rakshabandhan gift not aware it her own sister.

To be continued...