Nitya opens her eyes, she sat up straight and Aniket was still beside her. Aniket asked "Nitya.. Thik ho na?"

"Aniket main thik hun.. Aaru lauta?" she asked.

"Haa laut aaya hai lekin office chala gaya aate hi.. Tum aaram karo main kuch khane ko laata hun tumhare liye" he said.

She held his arm, a tear escaped down her eyes. Aniket sits back and wipes it with tip of his finger "nahi Nitya.. Main janta hun humhe jo khoya hai wo kabhi wapas nahi aa payega aur shayad ye dard kabhi main kum nahi kar paaunga lekin aise aansu bahane se bacha nahi lautega hmm.."

"I am sorry Ani.. chahke bhi main tumhe phirse wo khushi nahi de paungi" she apologises.

He held his hand and squeezed it lightly "meri toh asli khushi tum ho Nitya... bhagwaan ne chah toh phirse tum Maa banogi"

Nitya looked at him, she was feeling blessed to have a husband like him. He had always loved her and even went into a heated argument with Kaushalya. God had boon her with the pain of life which had no cure but she can't let Aarav blame himself for this.

"Aaru ki galti nahi hai Aniket..." she said.

"Janta hun ache se.. Ye ek haadsa tha Nitya! Tum sambhal jao toh use samjha dena kyuki iss waqt wo kuch nahi samjhega" Aniket exclaimed as he knows his brother.

"Aur tum hi ho jo usko samjha sakti ho.. Hmm.." Nitya nods in yes. He lightly kisses her forehead and goes out of the room to get something for her to eat.

It has been a week since the incident and Aarav didn't even appeared in front of Nitya for once. He was in guilt and thus was avoiding to face her or Aniket. He spent most of his time in the office but Nitya had enough of his ignorance.

It was late night, Aarav returned home and the same moment light gets turned on. He saw and it was Nitya standing in front of him. He lowered his gaze and walked away to his room.

Aniket was standing at the corner, she eyed at him "khana garam karoge?" she asked.

He nodded in yes and walked towards the kitchen while Nitya went to Aarav's room. She tries to open it but it was locked. She banged the door "Aaru.. darwaza khol"

However, she doesn't get any response. Nitya said "Aaru abhi ke abhi darwaza nahi khola na toh ghar se chali jaungi main.." she tried her last option and in a few seconds the door opens.

She walks inside and find him standing in front of the window. His back was facing her, she kept her hand on his shoulder and tries to turn him but he didn't. She came in front of him and saw his eyes filled with tears. The guilt, pain was clearly visible on his face, like a child runs away from his parents when they commit a mistake he was in the same position.

Nitya touched his cheek lightly and he closed his eyes for a moment. "Aaru.. baat kar mujhse... dekh toh sahi ek baar"

"Mujhe neend aa rahi hai bahut kaam hai kal" he said in low tone and turns away. He walks towards the bed but Nitya held his wrist.

"Enough Aaru!" she scolded him.

He silently turns towards her and she said "kaha tha na Ani ne tumhari galti nahi hai toh kyun nahi maante ho?? Haan?"

"Meri galti hai! Aap aur bhaiya upar kitne pyaar se kamra saja rahe they... maine aapko awaaz di ek baar nahi baar baar aap aayi aur mujhe bachane ke liye bhaagi! Main agar aapko pukarta nahi toh aaj wo bacha nahi main jaata..." tears brims down his eyes.

"Aur kya tab humhe dukh nahi hota Aaru?? Ye bacha toh meri kok mein tha lekin tum toh pale palaye ho... iske aane se pehle main Maa bani hun tumne mujhe bhabhi Maa bola hai.." she said and tears made ways from her eyes.

"Aur maine hi aapse Maa banne ka haq chinn liya" he said with extreme guilt.

She made him sit on the bed and said "nahi Aaru.. wo ek haadsa tha! Ek bacha kho chuki hun pehla nahi khona chahti please apni bhabhi Maa se aise nazrein mat pher warna main kaise jee paungi haan??"

Aarav hugs her instantly and cries. Nitya caressed his head softly "I am sorry bhabhi Maa... maaf karo mujhe please bhai aur aapse sabse badi khushi chenn li maine jiske liye khudko main kabhi maaf nahi kar paunga.."

"Aise nahi kehte hai Aaru.. maine kya kaha tha jo hota hai usmein bhagwan ki icha hoti hai! Tu ye samajh bhagwaan chahte hai main apna saara pyaar tujhe dun..." Nitya said with a light smile on her face.

Aarav parts the hug and glances at her innocently. Aniket enters the room and said "sahi kah rahi hai Nitya Aaru.. "

"Bhai... mai.." he looks down. Aniket lifts his face up.

"Ek pal ke liye bhi maine ya Nitya ne tujhe iss haadse ka zimmedar nahi mana hai Aaru.. toh tu khudko maankar hum dono ki takleef aur mat badha..." Aniket explained.

Nitya held his hand and said "aur Maa toh main hi chuki hun Aaru... jab ghar aayi thi tune mujhe bhabhi Maa bulaya tha aage bacha aaye ya na aaye mujhe farak nahi padta kyuki jabtak tum ho main Maa rahungi"

Aarav smiles lightly, Aniket ruffles his hairs and said "Chal.. bahut ho gaya ye humse baat na karna ab chup chap khana kha teri wajah se mujhe bhi bhookha rehna pad raha hai"

Aarav looks at him in confusion "matlab??"

"Kya?? Tujhe pata nahi hai kya jabtak tu khana nahi khata hai teri bhabhi maa mujhe bhi khana nahi khane deti hai" Aniket said all annoyed.

Aarav held the plate immediately and tore the bite of the chapati. He mixes it with vegetables and feeds Nitya with his hand as he knows she must also not have eaten. Nitya feeds him back and they exchanged glances with each other emotionally.

Aniket was shocked "main bhi bhookha hun"

Aarav refuses to share the food "aap dusri plate le aao isme sirf main aur bhabhi maa khayenge"

Nitya smiles as finally he had been cheered up and understood. Aniket smiles and trio shared the hug. Nitya knows somewhere in his heart this guilt will remain and he won't show it ever just for them.

Tears escaped down Manvi's eyes hearing the truth. Nitya smiles lightly "uske baad kabhi bhi usne nahi dikhaya apne chahre pe haan use ye baat pareshan karti hai uski wajah se main kabhi maa nahi ban paungi.. Isliye wo Maa se hamesha ladta hai! Mujhe cheek bhi aati hai na toh pareshan ho jaata hai... aur itne saalo baad ye ek nayi umeed hai jise wo apne haath se nahi jaane dena chahta! Isliye kabhi kabhi bahut zyada over protective ho jaata hai ya ghabra jaata hai" she explained.

Manvi's heart melts, she didn't know this side of him. Nitya held her hand and said "mera Aaru bura nahi hai mannu... please samajhne ki koshish kar ye bacha humse zyada uske liye zaroori hai! Ye bacha hum teeno ke dard ko khatam kar dega... isliye inn mahino mein tujhe thoda sa Aarav se over protective behaviour ko tolerate karna hoga.. Main usko samjhaungi lekin.."

Manvi kept her other hand and squeeze it lightly "Di.. please aage mat bolo kuch! Aapke liye kar lungi usko bhi bardasht"

"Aur koshish kar usko apne dil se samjhne ki mannu..." Nitya tapped her cheek lightly. Manvi smiles and hugs her.

Aarav enters the room "chipku...." he calls her.

Manvi and Nitya part the hug, he glanced at Nitya and notices tears under her eyes. He glared at Manvi "Tumne bhabhi maa ko rulaya?" he asked.

Manvi glared at him, she said "are.. Har baar main hi thodi tumhari bhabhi maa ko rulati hun! Iss baar wajah tum ho"

Aarav panics hearing that, he questions "kya galti hui mujhse??"

Nitya gets up from the bed and ruffles his hair "kuch nahi Aaru.. bas mannu ko kuch samjha rahi thi aur use bata rahi thi tum kitne ache ho"

"Bhabhi maa isko meri achayi kabhi nazar nahi aayegi.. Mujhe toh darr hai baby iske andar na seekhle chachu se kaise ladai karni hai" he said imagining that.

Manvi was left with an open mouth "Excuse me.. Tum..." she paused when Nitya eyed her.

"Main kya haan??" Aarav asked.

Manvi ignores him and walks out of the room. Aarav eyed Nitya and asked "bhabhi maa kya hua?? Meri wajah se kyun roh rahi thi aap sach batao na.."

"Aaru... kuch nahi hua hai! Ye khushi ke aansu hai" Nitya assured him.

He agrees and shows her some new designs for his next show. Manvi stood at the door and eyed at him with a smile on her face.

Nitya ruffled his hair "Mannu ki baat ka bura laga na tujhe?" she asked.

"Sach hi toh kaha tha usne.. Mera haq nahi bache pe koi bhi! Aur meri wajah se phirse aap dono bacha kho do ye toh main bhi nahi chahunga.. Isliye abse kuch nahi kahunga use.." he said with a light smile on his face.

Nitya looked at him she wanted to explain but he diverted the topic. Manvi realized she had overreacted and spoke such words that must have hurt him. 

To be continued....