Aarav turned to leave but stopped when Manvi held his wrist. He looked at her and she smiled at him "sorry" she apologized.

"Kisliye?" He asked.

She sat up straight and made a face "main kabhi kabhi tumse ladai karte karte bahut kuch keh deti hun! Chahe wo agastya ke waqt pe kahi gayi baatein ho ya jab hospital mein bhoolke aaye they tabki.. Paris mei bhi I over reacted.."

Aarav sits down on the bed and touched her temper. She eyed him and asked "What??"

"Bukhar aaya hai kya tumhe? Tum mujhse maafi maang rahi ho?" he asked in disbelief.

Manvi closed her eyes for a moment, she smiled at him "dekho.. Ab mujhe gussa mat dilao.. Waise hi naraz hun tumse main"

"Kyun?" he asked eyeing her.

"Tum hospital se gayab ho gaye bina bataye" she complained.

"Ab agar tumhe bhool jaata toh tum hi mujhe sunati na.. Aur bhabhi maa aur bhai baby ke parents hai unka tumhare saath hona zyada zaroori tha" He replied innocently.

"Tumhara bhi tha" she said.

He just smiled at her "so jao kaafi raat ho gayi hai" he said.

"Problem kya hai tumhari? Main yahan bahut zaroori discussion kar rahi hun.." Manvi argued with him.

"Tum nahi samjhogi" he said with some pain reflecting in his voice.

"Kya nahi samjhungi? Mujhe pata hai Di ka miscarriage tumhari wajah se hua tha aisa tumhe aaj bhi lagta hai.." she revealed.

He glanced at her in state of shock "what??"

"Jee haan! Isliye tum itne over protective hote rehte ho.. Just get over with it!' she said

"Get over with it?? Maine bhabhi maa se unka maa banne ka haq chinna.. Aur tum kehti ho get over with it?" he retorted.

"Yes.. bahut pyaar karte ho na apne bhai bhabhi se.. Ek baar socho unhe kitni takleef hogi ki abtak tum uss hadse ke liye khudko zimmedar maante ho.. Uss ek darr ki wajah se tum aane waale baby se door hone ki koshish kar rahe ho.. Kya nahi kiya tumne iss bache ke liye? Jisse nafrat karte ho usse shaadi ki... apni maa tak se khilaf gaye tum! Aaj jab ye baby ko dekhne ka din aaya toh aaye hi nahi..." she said.

He looks away as he couldn't hold his tears. She made him face her, he hugged her tightly and cried. Manvi smeared his head and said "Aarav.. Jo dil mein hai kah do.. Kabhi kabhi kuch baatein hum apne se nahi kah sakte hai lekin dusron se kah sakte hai"

"Aaj bhi bhabhi maa ki wo cheek mujhe sone nahi deti hai raat ko.. Jo haadsa mere liye tha uska sikhar bhabhi maa ho gayi.. Aur phir unki aankhon mei maa na banne ka dard dekhta hun toh mujhe aur zyda guilt hota hai! Tumhe hospital mein jaanbujhke nahi choda tha maine.. Paris mei bhi.." he paused.

He parts the hug and held her hand tightly "promise me.. Baby ko kuch nahi hoga??" he asked with tears in his eyes.

"Kuch nahi hoga Aarav! Abtak tumne mera khayal rakha hai na? Haan thoda over protective hue mujhe tang kiya par baby abtak thik hai na.. Aur baby ko aise hi apne chachu pasand hai buddhu.." Manvi said hitting his head lightly.

He smiled a bit, she takes his hand and places on her belly. Aarav feels the child and smiles emotionally.

He wiped his tears and glared at her "ye sab bhabhi maa aur bhai se mat kehna.."

"Nahi khaungi.. Itna bharosa kar sakte ho na" Manvi said with a smile.

He nodded and went to the bathroom.

Nitya was standing at the door with a broad smile on her face. For him, only his brother and sister-in-law's happiness mattered the most.

She went to the room, she lays down on the bed, and keeps her head on Aniket's chest. He wraps his hand around her and pulls her closer into the embrace. He asked "kya hua?"

"Mera Aaru.. itne saalo se mujhe hasata raha aur khud kabhi nahi bataya wo khud kitna.." she closed her eyes and tears escaped down her eyes.

Aniket smeared her head and said "aisa hi hai mera bhai.. Isliye itni fikar hoti hai mujhe itni! Manvi toh kuch mahino mein chali jayegi aur mera bhai phirse akela ho jayega"

Nitya looked at him and made a face "Manvi nahi jayegi.."

"Be practical Nitu.. tum ache se janti ho Aaru sirf usko surrogate manta hai aur jabtak bacha nahi aayega wo Manvi ke baare mein uss tarah se nahi sochega.. Manvi ki aankhon mein Aaru ke liye pyaar nazar aane laga hai mujhe aur darr hai uska dil toot jayega.." he said as he knows his brother well.

Nitya sighed deeply "nahi.. Na toh meri behen akeli hogi aur na mera devar! Inn dono ko saath rehna hi padega.." she said adamantly.

He smiled hearing her words "Nitya.. Contract pata hai na tumhe?"

"Haan pata hai! Surrogacy ke baad meri mannu ka bache pe haq nahi hoga aur shaadi bhi khatam ho jayegi dono ki.. Sacrifices karne they dono ko hamare liye ye bhi nahi socha phir khudka kya hoga" she said angrily.

Aniket opens the side drawer and takes out some papers. He shows it to her, she gave him a look "kya hai ye?"

"Dekho.." he said.

She took the papers and opened them. Aniket smiled "janta hun tumhe mannu ki fikar hai.. Surrogacy ke baad wo Delhi jayegi shayad bahut kuch sunna bhi pade.. Isliye Delhi mein unka permanent contract karwaya hai maine ek company mei.. She can restart her career immediately" he said.

Nitya hugged him tightly as he understands her every concern. "Thank you Ani.. lekin ye bas backup plan hoga Mannu yahi rahegi Aarav ki patni bankar" she said with a hope.

"Sure ho?" He asked.

She parted the hug and sighed helplessly. Aniket held her hand and said "mujhe nahi pata iss surrogacy ke khatam hone ke baad Aaru ke dil mein Manvi ke liye kya feelings hogi lekin ye hamari zimmedari hogi itni badi khushi dene ke baad hamari mannu pe koi muskil na aaye.. Hmm.."

Nitya nodded in yes and Aniket kissed her forehead lightly.

The next morning, Kaushalya was in the temple. She closed her eyes and prayed "hey prabhu.. Saalo baad iss ghar mein khushiyan aane waali hai iss baar kisi ki bhi nazar mat lagne dena! Nitya meri pasand nahi thi par maine kabhi nahi chaha wo iss dard se guzre iss baar uski manokamna purna kar dena"

She opened her eyes and turned to her right. Nitya was standing beside her with folding hands. Nitya eyed her and touched her feet taking her blessings. Kaushalya blessed her and walked off from the temple.

Nitya follows her and said "maaji.. Main mannu ki godh bharai karna chahti hun"

Kaushalya stopped and turned towards her. "Godh bharai? Nahi.. pichli baar.." she said

"Pichli baar toh godh bharai ho hi nahi paayi thi.. Iss baar mujhe karni hai" Nitya concluded.

Kaushalya said "bacha tumhara aur Aniket ke ka hai.. Manvi ki godh bharai karna mujhe sahi nahi lagta hai"

"Janam toh wahi dene waali hai na.. Mujhe iss bache se judi har ek cheez karni hai koi kami nahi chahti hun main" Nitya exclaimed.

"Tumhe jo karna hai karo" Kaushalya replies. Nitya smiled as she agreed to have baby shower.

Later in the evening, everyone were gathered at the hall. Nitya glanced Aniket and asked him to speak to Aarav about it. He denied and signs her to speak to him instead. She shot a deadly glare at him and Manvi noticed them speaking through their eyes.

"Kya aap dono isharo isharo mein baat kar rahe ho?" Manvi asked

Aniket shot a deadly glare at her "wrong timing saali sahiba.." he murmured.

Aarav asked "kya hua??"

"Wo.. wo...padso hum" Aniket said in stammered tone.

"Kya bhai?" Aarav looked at him bewildered.

Nitya sighed in disappointment "Aaru padso hum godh bharai karne waale hai.." she said.

Aarav looked at her shockingly. He didn't say anything but just walked off from there. Aniket said "maine kaha tha aise hi react karega.."

He gets up and goes to the terrace. Aarav was standing leaning against the wall and thinking about the incident.

"Bhabhi maa aao na.."

"Dekho maine kya kya plan kiya hai aapki godh bharai ke liye.."

"Bhabhi maa..."

He closes his eyes and Aniket lightly patted his face. Aarav opens his eyes and glances at him with moist eyes. "I am sorry bhai.. Sorry..." he apologizes. Aniket pulls him into his embrace and caressed his head.