Aniket returned home in the evening, and the household comes and keeps the evening tea on the table. This happens rarely as Nitya also comes and has an evening with him. He goes upstairs to the room but couldn't find her.

He then heads towards Aarav's room but it was empty too.. "Yahan bhi nahi hai.." he remembers something and commences towards another room which was at the other end of the corridor.

The room had been closed for years as there were some painful memories attached to it. He takes baby steps toward the room and reaches the entrance of it. He finds his wife sitting on the floor, her back facing him. There was a pin drop silence, he walks inside and sits down beside her facing her.

He rolled his eyes to her and she had felt his presence. She turned and smiled at him "sorry.. Tumne mana kiya tha par maine ye kamra khol liya" she apologized.

He looked at her hand and there were tiny little baby clothes in her hand. He recalls...

A few years back, Nitya was 6th months pregnant and everyone was desperately waiting for the baby.

Aniket had planned to decorate the baby room, and Nitya was sitting on the chair and giving instructions what to placed where. Nitya scolded him "Ani.. ye cradle saamne hona chahiye.. Waha pe baby wardrobe aayega"

Aniket makes a face as 4th time she had told him to place the cradle to the same position. "Final hai??" he asked.

She glared at him "what do you mean by final hai? Pehle lagao toh"

Aniket places it there, he then opens another box and it was a remote control car. Nitya hits her head own her forehead "hey bhagwaan.. Ye toh car aise uthake laaya hai jaise baby bahar aate hi car racing mein hissa lega" she muttered.

"Ab I don't know na.. Kab kaunsi cheez chahiye baby ko? Isliye jo mujhe laga main le aaya" Aniket said innocently.

"Haan haa.. Rakhiye isko waha corner mein" Nitya pointed towards the one end of the room.

There was a rubber carpet made up of puzzle pieces. Aniket tried to arrange it properly and Nitya admired him as he was looking so cute. She places her hand on the belly and said "dekho papa aapke liye kitni mehnat kar rahe hai.."

Aniket smiles hearing her words. Aarav shouted "bhabhi maa...."

Aniket sighed "iss ladke ko chain nahi hai"

Nitya stands up from the chair, Aniket stops her "wait.. Pehle room ka decor toh khatam karwa do"

"Ani.. sara kaam aaj hi karoge? Abhi time hai na bache ke aane mein! Pehle jaake bade bache ko dekh aau" Nitya said.

"Are wo apna kaam khud kar lega.. Tum baitho yahi mujhe aur bhi kuch dikhana hai tumhe" He again made her sit on the chair.

Nitya sighed deeply "Ani.. aaru ghar sarpe utha lega main nahi gayi toh"

"Wo toh uski aadat hai!" Aniket said.

"Thik hai phir baad mein usne aapko daantna na mujhe mat kehna phir" Nitya warned him

Aniket ignored it, he opened the box and handed the two pairs of clothes he bought for the kid. Nitya touched it and a tear of happiness escaped down from side of her eyes. She was emotional as it has written "baby Raichand"

"Ye ek pink aur blue kyun?" she asked.

"Agar beta hua toh pink pehnayenge.. Beta hui toh blue" Aniket replied.

Nitya smiles and hugs him tightly "ye toh bahut hi acha hai.. Dekhna jab baby born hoga na sabse pehle yahi hum usko pehanenge"

"Bhabhi maa... kaha ho aap! Bhai iss haal mein toh chod doh unke saath romance karna" he shouted a loud.

Aniket parts the hug and sighed "kabab mein haddi.."

Nitya glared at him "don't you dare say that" she scolded him.

Aniket complained "dekha.. Kaise aapki mummy aur aapke chachu aapke papa ke zulm karte hai.."

Nitya smiled at his words "Acha tum baaki sab apne hisab se rakhdo.. Main zara dekhke aati hun Aaru ko kya chahiye"

Aniket nodded and Nitya leaves the room. After about 10 minutes, Aniket hears her loud scream he rushed out of the room leaving the toy on the floor broken.

He came out trance of his thoughts. He held Nitya's hand and squeezed it lightly in between his fingers. She said "iss baar koi galti nahi hogi... hum nahi khoyenge apna bacha"

Aniket wipes tears from her eyes with the tips of her finger and said "pehle bhi tumhari galti nahi thi.. Wo haadsa tha"

"Chodiye na.. Wo waqt yaad nahi karte hai aur ab aane waale bache ke baare mein sochte hai" Nitya said with exctiment.

"Wo sab toh thik hai.. Lekin baby aur maa? I mean.. Surrogate maa hai kahan pe?" Aniket questioned.

"Aaru ke saath mein hai" Nitya replied.

They heard the loud voices from downstairs. They exchanged glances with each other and sighed in disappointment

"Ho gaya mahabharat shuru chalo maza lete hai" Aniket said

They go out of the room, Aniket closes the door and they descended the stairs. 

Manvi wanted to go for the dinner with Agastya but Aarav blocked his way "Tum nahi jaa rahi ho" he clearly denied.

"Tum kahoge aur main maan lungi?" she asked crossing her arms across her chest.

"Manni padegi.. Tum mere bhai ki surrogate ho aur meri wife ho uss naate main tumhe rok sakta hun" He said.

"Oh really??" She asked and he shook his head in yes. Manvi didn't give a damm, she gives a push and was about to move out but he held her hand.

"Nahi jaana toh nahi jaana" he said adamantly.

Aniket and Nitya came downstairs and saw them arguing standing at the door.  Nitya asked "kya hua hai tum dono waha khade khade kyun lad rahe ho?"

"Bhabhi maa.. Aapki ziddi behen ek baat nahi sunti hai meri.." Aarav complained.

"Are but hua kya hai?" Nitya asked the reason of their argument.

Manvi goes to her and said "Di.. mera ek dost hai uske saath dinner pe jaana hai mujhe lekin ye aapka laadla deevar mujhe nahi jaane de raha hai"

"Koi dost nahi hai.. Ek model hai" Aarav replied.

"Toh kya hua?? Di I am going" Manvi didn't listen and walked out of the Aarav.

Aarav sighed in disappointment. Aarav was concerned, he moved to Nitya and said "bhabhi maa ne roka kyun nahi?? Pata nahi kaun hai wo ladka.. Kuch kar diya toh?"

"Aaru.. mannu sirf dinner pe gayi hai na aa jayegi pareshan mat ho" Nitya replied.

Aarav made a face "pregnant hai toh aap ya bhai kuch kahoge hi nahi use.. Mujhe hi dekhna padega" he walked out of the house.

Aniket smiled at this, Nitya eyed him and asked "badi hasi aa rahi hai tumhe?"

"Haa.. Aarav Manvi ki fikar karne laga hai.. " He said with a hope.

"Usko manvi ki nahi baby ki fikar hai" Nitya corrected.

Here, Agastya and Manvi came to the restaurant for the dinner. The romantic songs were playing in the background, the environment was so romantic. Manvi said "Thanks.. This is really romantic and cute"

She placed her hand on the table and he keeps his hand on hers "I am glad you like it"

The waiter placed the glass and a wine bottle in front of them. Agastya poured it into her glass, Manvi smiled and said "main wine nahi lungi"

"Kyun?" He asked.

"Aaj mera mann nahi hai" Manvi just gave an excuse.

Aarav was sitting on the table, just behind them, and keeping an eye on every move she was doing. Aarav smiled and murmured "Acha hua nahi pee warna.. Murder kar deta yahi!"

Agastya glanced at him and Aarav covered his face with the menu. Manvi ordered the food, Aarav panicked "pata nahi kya kya mangwa rahi hai ye ladki.. Bhabhi maa ko puchna padega"

He picks up his phone and calls Nitya, she answers his phone "haan Aaru.."

"Bhabhi maa.. Pregnancy mein ye.. Daal makhani.. Chole bhature aur garlic naan wagera khana thik hai kya??" he questioned.

"Haan baba.. Sab thik hai" Nitya replied.

"Acha.. thank you" he said and ends the call.

The food arrives and Manvi eats most of it. Agastya was shocked "wow... aap itna kuch khati hai.."

"Nahi main toh isse aadha hi khati hun.. Pata nahi aaj kaise itni bhook lag rahi hai" she herself wasn't sure why she ate so much. Maybe it was due to the pregnancy.

The waiter comes and Agastya pays for it. They get up and move out of the restaurant. Aarav follows them and but in a second they were disappeared. He heard a loud sound of Manvi and rushes in the direction. 

To be continued..