Next morning when Sameer and Naina approached the dining hall, they saw that the other six were already present and were having their breakfast. Seeing Samaina, they opened their mouth to say something, when Sameer showed his palm to stop them from speaking.

Sameer: I know aap teeno mujhse apologise karenge, but no more apologies. Maafi aap teeno ko nahi, mujhe mangni chahiye. Main inn do dino se aapke saath rudely behave kar raha hun. Maine kuch zyada overreact kar liya. So, I am sorry.

Swati immediately stood up and went to Sameer, she held his shoulder and said: Nahi nahi Sameer, tum maafi maat mango. Tum galat nahi the. Haan, tumhari rudeness ka bura laga but at the end of the day, somewhere humari galti thi.

Sameer: Nahi Swati bhabhi, aap logo ki kahin koi galti nahi thi. Aap wahan shopping ke liye gayi thi, haan thodi nazar rakhni thi surrounding ki but, aapko thodi pata tha ki Naina aisse ghum jayegi. Actually, jab Naina mil nahi rahi thi, toh mujhe waisi hi feeling aane lagi jaisi Mumma ke jaane wali din aayi thi. Main uss feeling se ab tak bahar nahi aa pa raha tha, and maine aap sab se rudely baat aur behave kiya. Kal jab raat ko main stroll mein nikala, thandi hawa khayi aur shanti se socha. Tab realise hua ki galti hum sabki aur majorly halat ki thi. Mujhse yeh galti huyi ki soda peene jaane se pehle, main Naina ko uska phone lautaya nahi, Naina ki yeh galti hai ki usse phone numbers yaad nahi the aur woh mera wait karne ke bajaye mujhe bulane aagayi, aur halat ne usse unn badmashon se mila diya.

Naina: Woh....Sameer ji.....mujhe numbers yaad hai.

Sameer widened his eyes and look Naina in disbelief.

Sameer: Kyaa!? Toh kisi ke phone se phone kyun nahi kiya tha?

Naina: Main ghabra gayi thi! Anjaan chehre aur raston ne mera dimaag sunn kar diya tha. Maine bahut koshish ki thi bhaiya ka number yaad karne ko, but nahi hua. Aur mera aur aapka naya number mujhe thik se yaad nahi aaya aur Bhabhi ka yaad nahi rakha tha.

Pralay: Ab baat chidhi hi hai toh yeh bata ki, tu unn badmashon ke saath kyun gayi thi? Anjaan the na woh log.

Naina: Unhone decent kapde pehene the aur lag bhi decent rahe the. Main bina soche samjhe chali gayi unke saath. Sameer ji, bhaiya, bhabhi, sabse zyada bewakufi aur galti maine ki thi. Aur meri jagah bhabhiyon ko gussa sehna pada.

Anjali: Nahi Naina, tumhari ismein koi galti nahi hai. Tum victim thi, haan jo abhi tumne kaha uska aage se dhyan rakhna par yeh jante huye ki tum Sameer ko kitni azeez ho, hume thoda dhyan rakhna chahiye tha.

Sameer: Haan Naina, aage se please aissi galti maat karna please. Aur maine suna hai ki yahan khade teeno pati apni patniyon se naraz hai. Kyun bhai? Tum log kyun naraz ho? Biwi meri ghum huyi thi. Mujhe naraz hone ka haq tha.

Naina: Haan, aur Bhaiya aap toh kal chatt pe mujhe samjhdari aur pati patni ke rishte ke upar lamba lecture de rahe the. Aapne khud pe apply nahi kiya? Agar mujhe pata hota ki aapke lectures dusro ke liye hote hai, toh wahan par jo juice tha na woh aapke upar phek deti.

Pranati: Kisne kaha ki Pralay mujh par naraz tha?

Sameer and others widened their eyes and looked at Pranati as if she was an alien. They all could see the tension between Pralay and Pranati. Infact, Pranati herself had confessed that Pralay didn't go to their room on the previous night.

Anjali: Pranati, tu khud bol rahi thi na kal ki Pralay parso raat ko room mein aaya hi nahi tha. Tu akeli thi kamre mein.

Pranati: Woh! Woh toh maine isliye kaha kyunki maine uss waqt Sameer ko apne room ke darwaze ke paas khada dekha tha. Mujhe pata tha woh humari baat sunega. Aur Sameer agar yeh sunta ki Pralay ne mujhse baat nahi ki toh mere paas aata baat karne ke liye. Isliye!

Pralay: Main Pranati se upset zaroor tha. Lekin sirf ussi din jab tak Naina mili nahi. Uske baad jaise Naina mil gayi meri narazgi dur hogayi thi. Mujhe Sameer ka reaction justified bhi laga aur unjustified bhi. Toh maine usse kuch kaha nahi.

Naina: Haaasshhhh! Bhaiya apne meri ek tension kam kar di. Aapko nahi pata aap logon ko ek dusre se naraz dekh, mujhe kitna bura lag raha tha. Sameer ji ko samjhane jaati toh woh mujh par emotional card play kar dete jaisa uss din kiya tha.

Sameer: Kounsa jhooth bola tha? Tumhare liye Pralay aur Pranati mujhse upar hi toh hai.

Naina: Sameer ji! Maana ki ab tak woh upar the. Par ab aap hai! Samjh kyun nahi aa raha aapko! Aapko bol diya hai ki aap meri duniya hai, jeene ki wajah hai, khushiyon ki wajah hai, mera sab kuch hai. Main aapko ek biwi ki tarah pasand karti hun. Ab kya stamp paper par likh ke dene se maanenge aap?

Naina hmphed and turned around showing her back to Sameer, who was shocked seeing Naina speaking so much without any break and stutter. He chuckled seeing her cute pouted face and asked the others through his eyes to turn around. They did with a smirk and Sameer held his cute wifey's face in his palm. And kissed her cute button nose and puffed cheeks.

Sameer: I am sorry Jaan. Maine tumhe galat samjha. Please apne buddhu Sameer ji ko maaf kar do.

Naina: Nahi. Aap humesha aisse karte hai. Pehle mujhe dukhi karne wali baat karenge aur phir aisse chehre pe kiss karke, yeh puppy face karke mujhe maana lenge. Ab toh main tabhi manungi jab aapke dost, yaani Munna Pandit bhaiya dono bhabhiyon se maafi mangenge aur unke saath patch karenge. Aur haan, aapko mujhe woh kal jahan kulfi khayi thi wahan leke jaana padega. Wapas kulfi khani hai mujhe.

Sameer: Jaisa meri pyaari biwi chahegi, waisa uska yeh budhu aur thoda gusse wala pati karega.

Hearing this a small smile broke her face, but she controlled it and kept her straight face. Sameer immediately turned her around and stood next to her, keeping his arm around her and cleared his throat to draw others' attention.

Sameer: Munna Pandit! Chalo, meri dono bhabhiyon se maafi mango. Unhe gaale lago aur patch up karo.

Munna: Swati, main tumse isliye naraz nahi tha kyunki Naina Bhabhi ke ghum hone ki main tumhe wajah maan raha tha. Isliye tha kyunki tumne uss din Sameer ki chinta ka mazak udaya tha. Isliye, mujhe maaf kar do. Aur I love you ❤️

Swati: It's ok. Maine uss din out of line bola tha. Maine dekha tha Sameer ko uss waqt. But still maine uske darr ko samjha nahi. Sameer, iss cheez ke liye I am sorry.

Anjali: Pandit, tumhe kuch bolne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Humare beech mein bhi behes issi baat pe huyi thi. Sameer, even I am sorry for that.

Sameer: Koi baat nahi. Raat gayi baat gayi. Ab sab kuch sahi hai. Humne ek dusre ko maana liya hai. So baaki ke din full enjoy karenge.

Naina: Main ab tak nahi maani.....

Sameer: Haan toh maan jaogi 20 minute mein. Car bahar hi khadi hai. Kaho toh Jaydev Ji se kehkar ek bike bhi mangwa leta hun.
(Whispered in her ears) Bike pe tum mujhe kaske pakadke baithti jo ho. Car mein haath tak nahi pakadti.

Naina's eyes widened and she hit his arm softly. But her inner state was something else. Her heart fluttered remembering yesterday's bike ride and her cheeks and ear burnt and got pink.

Swati: Waise hume nahi pata tum dono ka inside joke kya tha. Par tum dono ko finally newly married couple ki tarah dekhke mujhe bahut khushi huyi.

Sameer chuckled and pulled Naina closer by shoulder, and replied: Mujhe bhi.

Naina smiled at him, and finally the coldness between all couples was over.

Sameer: Hmm, toh aage ka kya plan hai? Kahan ghumne chale?

Sameer had tagged the other three couples along with him and Naina for the kulfi treat. They all had finished eating kulfi, with enjoying the serene and colorful streets of Jaipur.

Naina: Woh..main soch rahi thi ki kyun hum sab Udaipur chale? Jaipur mein woh hi sab fort, palace aur historic jagah hai. Udaipur mein kuch alag dekhne ko milega aur hum sabki ek short road trip bhi ho jayegi.

Sameer: Hmm, idea bura nahi hai. Baaki sab kya kehte ho?

Anjali: Sameer woh actually tumhe batana bhul gaye hum, hum chaaron ko wapas Mumbai jaana hoga kal. Actually Shruti ghar aa rahi hai, uska husband London gaya hai sab settle karne, ek baar ho jaane se woh aake Shruti ko le jayega. Tab woh hai ghar par, uske pagphere mein hum nahi the, aur woh akeli thi aur ab bhi jo 2-3 hafte rahegi tabhi akeli hogi isliye.

Swati: Haan aur adhi trip hum sab saath mein the. Baaki ki adhi trip hum chaaron continue kar lo. Waise bhi hum sab Mumbai mein hi rehte hai. Phir kabhi saath mein ghumne nikal jayenge.

Naina: Par bhabhi...

Anjali: Naina, yeh trip actually tumhare aur Sameer ke liye plan huyi thi. Taaki tum dono ek dusre ko time de sako aur ek dusre ko behtar jaan sako. Hum sab bas tumhe uncomfortable na lage akele ek dusre ke saath isliye aaye the. Par ab jab tum dono comfortable hogaye ho. Acchi bond hogayi hai, toh aage ke 5 din saath bitao. Phir pata nahi aissa mauka kab milega.

Swati: Waise bhi Pralay aur Pranati hai na tumhare saath. Ab friends trip se yeh family trip hogayi.

Sameer: Bhabhi, accha hota agar aap sab humare saath trip continue karte. Par Shruti bhi important hai. Koi baat nahi. Hum sab winters mein kahin jaane ka plan banayenge.

Anjali: Of course! Aur waise bhi Navaratri celebrations mein hum sab milenge hi.

Sameer: Chaliye ek badhia jagah pe aap sabko Rajasthani lunch karwata hun.

After having a scrumptious lunch at a local restaurant, all of them went on a long drive alongside the National highway and called it off a day as Mundit and Swanjali had to pack their luggage for tomorrow's flight back home.
Whereas Samaina and Pranati Pralay packed a small luggage for the 2-3 days trip to Udaipur. Sameer had asked Jaydev Ji to fill the tank of the car and also check if it will be okay to take the car for the long distance.

At one side, Samaina's day went well and they mended their friendship with other three couple but on the other side Preeti and Rohan's day was anything but good.

Preeti was not able to sleep all night. She was just turning and rolling over the bed as the visuals of Ruhaan and Monica couldn't stop coming in front of her eyes. Whether her eyes are open or closed, all she could see was Ruhaan being intimate with an unknown girl. The eerie silence was disturbing now as after some moments, she starts hearing the grunts and moans of Ruhaan and Monica.

Irritated with that, she climbed down and went to the balcony of her room. She noticed that the darkness was about get replaced with the brightness of Sun and soon a new day would began. So she sat there for sometime and then went back to her room when the Sun rose and started cleaning her room.

It was sight of fright for Bela and Beena, seeing Preeti awake at 7:00 and that too fully dressed up.

Bela: Bhabhi, aaj suraj pashchim se uga hai kya!? Ya mujhe cheezein dikhayi dene lagi hai?

Beena: Lag toh mujhe bhi kuch aissa raha hai Bela. Mujhe Preeti naha dhoke ready dikh rahi hai. Woh bhi subah 7 baje aur Sunday ke din.

Preeti was drawn out of her reveries with Bela and Beena's conversation. She smiled brightly at them and pulled them into a hug. Last night when she came home, she opened the door with her keys and didn't disturb anyone. So she could not get a chance to meet her mom and aunt.

Bela: Kya hogaya? Achanak se gale kyun lag rahi hai?

Preeti: Kuch nahi. Mann kiya apni Mummy ke gale lagne so lag gayi.

Beena: Waise tu kal raat kitne baje aayi thi? Bell kyun nahi maara?

Preeti: Late hogaya tha. Bataya tha na Mummy ko. Actually woh.....haan uss hotel mein kisi ek guest ka kuch chori hogaya tha. Toh isliye sabko rok kar rakha tha. 9 wahin baj gaye the. Phir traffic aur Rohan bahut slow drive karta hai. Hogaye the 10:30 aate aate.

Bela: Isliye subah subah uth ke taiyar baithi hai?

Preeti: Haan aissa hi kuch samjh lo. Aur ek aur reason bhi hai. Main Rohan ki bhabhi se milne ja rahi hun. Kal unki tabiyat kharab hogayi thi, chakkar khake seedhiyon se gir gayi thi.

Beena: Hey bhagwan! Sar par zyada chot nahi aayi na?

Preeti: Nahi Taiji, kuch hi seedhiyon se giri hai. Halki chot hai. Bandage hua hai bas.

Bela: Ek kaam kar beta, ghar se nashta le jaana Rohan aur uske bhai bhabhi ke liye. Mahaul accha nahi hoga aur aisse mein ghar ka accha khana sharir mein jaana zaroori hai.

Preeti: Thik hai. Pack karke de dena. Waise main kuch madad karun kya nashta banane mein?

Bela: Nahi koi madad nahi chahiye. Tu jaake chatt par dekh aa ki Rakesh bhaisahab ka meditation session khatam hua ki nahi.

Preeti: Thik hai. Waise aapki Jiji ya Jijaji se baat huyi hai kya?

Beena: Nahi. Humne kiya nahi. Ghumne gaye hai dono, akele waqt guzarne se hi beech ki awkwardness dur hogi. Aisse mein baar baar call kyun kare?

Preeti: Hmmmm....

Preeti had stood up to tie her hair into a ponytail when the bell rang. Bela gestured her to open the door. The door opened to reveal Rohan standing in front of her. Preeti was shocked and immediately a urge to hug him tightly surged into her, but she stopped as she was in her house and he was standing on the door with her mom and aunt present in the hall.

Bela: Arrey Rohan! Aao aao andar aao. Preeti, baju ho. Rohan ko aane de.

Preeti nodded her head and made way for him to come. Rohan touched Beena and Bela's feet and took their blessings.

Beena: Bhabhi kaisi hai abhi?

Rohan: Kal se better hai. Bukhar utar gaya hai. Sar dard kar raha bas.

Bela: Beta khayal rakhna Bhabhi ka. Preeti abhi bata rahi thi ki jaane wali hai tumhare ghar.

Rohan: Haan ussi wajah se aaya hun. Actually main apne flat se kapde lene aaya tha, toh socha ki ek saath isse lete huye chalu.

Beena: Tum bhaiya bhabhi ke saath nahi rehte beta!?

Rohan: Nahi aunty. Filhal nahi. College Churchgate mein hai, aur ghar Juhu mein. Aane jaane mein 2 ghanta aaram se lag jaata hai. Aur Juhu wala ghar jab tak main aaya Mumbai ready nahi hua tha. Toh isliye....

Bela: Oh, nahi accha hai matlab. Itna time aane jaane mein lagne se behtar hai ki paas mein hi kahin reh lo.

Preeti: Rohan, breakfast kar lun phir nikalte hai. Hmm?

Rohan: Haan haan tum aaram se breakfast kar lo. Main toh bas sabke saath time spend karne ke liye aaya hun. I hope maine kuch galat....

Beena: Beta tum kabhi bhi aa sakte ho yahan. Tumhara hi ghar hai. Haan, tum dono rishta pakka nahi hua hai par iska matlab yeh nahi ki tum aa ja nahi sakte.

Rakesh: Agar sab kuch sahi se chala toh bahut jaldi tum Sameer ki tarah iss ghar ke bete ban jaoge. Phir toh haq hoga tumhara yahan aana.

Rakesh had just finished his meditation and came down to home from the terrace, and found Rohan sitting in the hall. Rohan smiled at him and touched his feet too.

Rakesh: Bela! Bhabhi! Kuch khilao pilao Rohan ko. Aap dono ke hote huye khali haath baitha hai baccha.

Rohan: Nahi uncle. Main breakfast karke aaya hun. Aunty aap bas aap sabke liye prepare kijiye.

Beena: Bhabhi bimaar hai toh zaroor khansama ke haath ka khaya hoga. Kya khaya tha waise?

Rohan: Main apne flat gaya tha na, wahan bread thi toh maine sandwich bana li aur kha liya.

Bela: Beta sandwich foreigners ke liye breakfast hoga. Par hum Indians ke liye aloo parathe, aloo puri, poha, roti sabzi, kachori, vada aissa sab kuch breakfast hota hai. Isliye, tumhe yahan breakfast karna hai hoga.

Beena: Aur Rohan beta, jab tak bacche ke sharir mein Maa ke haath ka khana nahi jaata tab tak bacche ka pet bharta nahi hai. Toh ruko aur aaj humare haath ka nashta khao.

Bela and Beena ruffled his hair and went inside kitchen to prepare breakfast. Seeing Bela and Beena's concern for him, Rohan's eyes pooled up and he suddenly felt overwhelmed.

Rakesh cleared his throat and said: Toh beta, graduation ke baad kya plan hai?

Rohan: Dada ka business join karunga. Unhe aaram karne bolunga. Maana business Sameer ji ki tarah bada nahi hai, par usse bada karne ki zimmedaari maine uthane ki sochi hai.

Rakesh: Uh huh! Beta koi bhi business bada hai ya chota woh bas dekhne wale ki nazar mein hota hai. Dekho, ek aam aadmi ke bada business kya hai? Jiska naam sabko pata ho, jiske services ke baare mein sabko pata ho aur uska istemaal bhi karte ho. Aur chota business woh, jiska naam kuch gine chune log jante ho.
Par ek businessman ke nazar se dekho toh uska business ussi bada ho jaata hai jis din uske clients, employees aur woh khud, khush ho. Uske business ka purpose fulfill ho jaye. Samjhe beta? Toh kabhi bhi apne business ko chota maat samjhna.

Rohan: Mujhe guidance dene ke liye kitne log hai. Dada hai, aap hai, Preeti ke Papa hai aur hopefully Sameer ji bhi hai.

Rakesh: Sameer zaroor help karega. Aur dekhna sabse zyada ussi se madad milegi tumhe. Bahut accha aur nek hai Sameer.

Naresh: Din bhar damad ki tarif karta rahega toh damad hichki le le ke maar jayega. Jara saans toh le lene bacche ko.

Naresh and Anand came to hall from their respective rooms and sat on the longer sofa set where Rakesh was already sitting next to Rohan on the single sofa. Rohan stood up once again and for the last time to take blessing of Naresh and Anand.

Rakesh: Bhaisahab, mera damad hai hi itni tarif karne ke layak toh kyun na karun. Mujhe meri purani chulbuli beti wapas dene mein laga hai. Pyaar toh usse zyada hoga hi.

Anand: Dekh rahe hai Bhaiya. Rakesh bhaiya ko Sameer se kitna lagaav ho raha hai. Ab toh darr hai ki kahin humari jagah bhi na de de Sameer ko 😂

Rakesh: Chinta maat kar Anand. Tere iss darr ko bahut jaldi sach sabit kar dunga 😂

Beena: Anand! Naresh ji! Rakesh ne kya galat kaha? Sameer lakhon mein ek hai. Toh please ab shuru maat ho jaana jhagde karne mein.

Bela: Rohan beta, yeh lo kachori aur aloo sabzi.

Rakesh: Pata hai Rohan, tumhari Bela aunty ke haath jaisi kachori tumhe puri Mumbai mein toh kya puri duniya mein nahi milegi. Humare ghar ki Kachori Queen hai yeh. Aur Bhabhi ke haath ki aloo ki koi bhi dish kha lo, waisa swaad tumhe kahin nahi milne wala.

Rohan: Khushboo badi acchi hai. I am sure taste usse bhi acchi hogi.

Rohan took a bite and moaned in delight. Kachori was perfectly crisped and the seasoning of the curry was bang on.

Rohan: Aunty, itna tasty bana hai ki ab dekhiyega har Sunday tapak padunga aap dono ke haath ka khana khane.

Bela: Haha, zaroor beta.

Rohan: Waise Rakesh uncle, Naina ji ki mummy ke haath ki kya speciality thi?

Rakesh smiled remembering Rama's prepared food, and wiped the lone tear formed in his eyes before replying.

Rakesh: Tumhari Bela aur Beena aunty ke tarah Rama bhi bahut accha khana banati thi. But uske haath ke mithai jaisi mithai koi nahi bana sakta. Koi bhi mithai bolo, woh bana leti thi aur itna tasty banati thi ki halwai ko peeche chod de. Aur uska yeh gunn Naina mein hai. Naina ke haathon mein bhi jadu hai. Bahut tasty mithai banati hai. Khila khila ke mujhe diabetes karwa di aur khud hi ab mere peeche padi hai diabetes ko leke.

Naresh: Rakesh! Betiyan hoti hi aissi hai. Sabko pyaar ke dor se bandhke rakhne wali. Tabhi toh shaadi karke beti bida hoti hai taaki apne ghar jaisa apna sasuraal bandh ke rakhe.

Rakesh: Sahi kaha apne bhaisahab. Lekin mere case mein beti bida zaroor hogayi lekin saath mein ek beta milgaya. Aur Sameer kuch kam nahi hai. Naina ne usse bhi sikha diya hai. Subah huyi nahi ki dono ke message aane shuru ho jayenge. 'Papa medicine liya tha na? ', 'Papa walk pe nikle na? ', 'Papa mitha bilkul maat khana aur na hi dekhna', 'Papa exercise kiya na', Papa yeh Papa woh. Uff!

Rohan: Uncle, aap Maa Baap bachpan yeh hi karte aaye hai na apne bacho ke liye. Har kadam pe aapne saath diya hai. Toh bas hum sab bhi abhi woh hi kar rahe hai. Maana ki aap apna khayal khud rakh sakte hai. Lekin yeh jaan ke ki haan aap sab time to time kar rahe hai, unhe kitna accha lagta hoga. Nahi?

Anand: Rakesh bhaiya, aapko khush hona chahiye ki aapka damad bhi aapka utna hi khayaal rakhta hai jitna aapki
beti rakhti hai.

Rakesh: Kisne kaha main khush nahi hun? Mujhse zyada khush sasur shayad hi koi hoga. Khair, tu apne hone wale damad par concentrate kar.

Hearing this Rohan's cheeks turned pink and Preeti fidgeted with her kurta. She ran inside the kitchen when she noticed her family looking at her mischievously.

The Agrawal family diverted their attention from the blushing couple and got engaged in the conversation about other topics.

After breakfast, Rohan and Preeti left Agrawal house. Preeti was still under the daze of last night's happening and she couldn't realise that Rohan was driving on another route rather than the route to Juhu. Seeing Preeti lost in some thought, he knew that something is definitely wrong.

Rohan: Preeti!

Rohan tapped on Preeti's shoulder to bring her out of her daze. Preeti was startled and looked here and there to find Rohan had parked the car in front of Nehru Park.

Preeti: Rohan....

Rohan: Boudi ke paas jaane se pehle I want you to clear what's going on in your mind. Chalo, utro.

Preeti nodded and left with him. They settled on a bench in a secluded place where no other bench was there. And the only invasion could be the ones who will be jogging. But being it 11:45 AM on a Sunday morning, they knew hardly anyone would jog.

Rohan: Batao! Kya baat hai? I know kal hotel mein kuch toh hua hai mere jaane ke baad. Bolo kya hua hai? Unn aadmiyon ne kuch kiya tha kya?

Preeti: Rohan, main jo batane wali hun. Usko dhyaan se sunna. Aur most importantly cool mind se sunna.

Seeing Rohan giving a nod, Preeti took a deep breath and held Rohan's hand. To give herself strength to remember those things and speak or to give him the strength to hear, she doesn't know.

Preeti: Jaisa maine kaha tha ki kal unn aadmiyon se bachke main ek kamre mein chali gayi thi. Main wahan ke wardrobe mein chup gayi thi. Wait karte karte mujhe nind aa gayi aur main so gayi thi. Meri nind kanch tootne ke awaaz se tooti thi. Maine gap se jhanka toh ek couple make out kar raha tha. Mujhe awkward laga aur main aankhein bandh karke baithi rahi. Trying not to pay attention. But jab uss ladki ne ladke ka naam liya, mujhe unki taraf dekhna pada.

Rohan: Kyun?

Preeti looked at her with misty eyes and replied: Kyunki uss ladki ne tumhare dada ka naam liya tha.

Rohan's eyes widened and he felt like someone punched him in his gut and knocked him out. He could not decipher what he heard. So he decided to reconfirm.

Rohan: Tumne kiska naam suna tha?

Preeti looked down and said: Ruhaan bhaiya ka.

Hearing Preeti take his brother's name, Rohan got agitated. He stood up and looked at her with disbelief.

Rohan: What nonsense! Tumhe pata bhi hai ki tum kya bakwas kar rahi ho.

Preeti sighed and held his hand. She tugged it and made him next to her. She was rubbing her thumb on the back of his palm and spoke.

Preeti: Mujhe pata hai tumhe shock laga sunke. Par Rohan, yeh hi sach hai. Maine uss hotel room mein uss foreigner ke saath tumhare bhai ko hi dekha tha. Agar mere paas proof hota toh main zaroor dikhati.

Rohan: Preeti tumhe zaroor koi galatfehmi huyi hai. Mere dada aissa kabhi nahi kar sakte. Woh meri Boudi se bahut pyaar karte hai.

Preeti: Rohan! Tum maano ya na maano, yeh hi sach hai. Mujhe ek baat batao. Kal jab Boudi seedhiyon se giri, tab tumne apne Dada ko call kiya hoga. Hai na?

Rohan: Haan, kiya tha. Par woh kisi important meeting mein the. Isiliye main ghar gaya.

Preeti: Tumhare mujhe ghar chod ke jaane ke baad woh aaye the ghar? Aaj subah the ghar par?

Rohan: Nahi unhone kaha ki unhe urgently Mumbai se bahar jaana padega. Kal aayenge wapas. Mujhe kuch samjh nahi aa raha hai, Preeti. Par main janta hun ki koun mujhe sach bata sakta hai. Chalo mere saath.

Rohan held her hand and walked out of the park and drove towards Ruhaan's office. His mind was clouded with several thoughts. Purvi's bright face when she sees Ruhaan at the door came into his mind, her pale face when Ruhaan doesn't come home or have a meal with her came into his mind, her blushing face when Ruhaan gets her gifts or gives her compliments came into his mind, her excitement about going out with Ruhaan came into his mind. Yes, from the past 9 years, Purvi spent more time with him than Ruhaan, Yes from the past 9 years, he saw Ruhaan and Purvi spending very less alone time with each other, Yes from the past 9 years he saw Purvi in the shoes of a mother, wife, daughter, sister, niece and the lady of his family and house, but he never saw Ruhaan in the shoes of a husband and brother. He never paid much attention to Purvi and him by his own. It was always after seeing Purvi crying or cribbing, Ruhaan took an initiative to make her happy or take them both out for a small outing.

Did Rohan overlook these things? Was he blind to see his Boudi's agony and his Dada's betrayal? He has to find the answers. And he will!

Preeti kept her hand on top of his, which was over the steering wheel. Rohan looked at her, and she gave a small encouraging smile.

Preeti: Rohan, main janti hun ki tumhara aur tumhare Dada ka khoon ka rishta hai, par yeh maat bhulna ki Boudi ne tumhe woh pyaar aur sab kuch diya hai jo ek Maa apne bacche ko deti hai. Unhone motherhood ko nahi chuna, tumhare liye. Isliye kuch bhi ho jaaye, apni Boudi ka saath kabhi maat chodna.

Rohan: Tumhe yeh bolne ki zaroorat nahi thi Preeti. Maine kal bhi kaha tha tumse, mere liye Boudi se badhkar koi nahi hai iss duniya mein. Dada bhi nahi. Aur agar Dada ne Boudi ke pyaar ka, unke samman ka aur unki izzat ka galat fayeda uthaya hai, toh main unhe sazza dene se peeche nahi hatunga.

Preeti: Rohan, kya main Jijaji se baat karke uss hotel ka CCTV footage nikalwa dun?

Rohan: Nahi Preeti. I am sorry but main iss matter mein tumhari family mein se kisi ko involve nahi karna chahta. Humari shaadi ki baat uthi bhi nahi hai, aur agar mera bade bhai casanova hai, yeh unhe pata chal gaya toh gadbad ho jayegi. Isliye....

Preeti: Koi baat nahi Rohan. Main nahi bolungi unhe kuch. Tumne mujhe iss matter mein involve karne ka socha. Utna hi kaafi hai.

Rohan gave a small smile and raised their intertwined hands near his face and kissed on top of her hand. And kept it on top of his heart.

Rohan: Tum bhi toh meri family ka hissa ho.

Preeti gave a huge smile to him and kept her head on top of his shoulder, and wounded her arm around his left arm.

Reaching Ruhaan's office, they got down and straightway walked towards his secretary's cubicle. Everyone knew Rohan, so nobody stopped him. He barged into the cubicle, startling the poor man sitting behind the desktop.

Rohan banged his palm on the table and with a stern voice asked: Sunil, main pehli aur aakhri baar puchunga! Kal raat ko Dada yahan office mein the?

Seeing his forthcoming boss angry, Sunil gulped and decided to speak the truth.

Sunil: Nahi Rohan Sir!

Rohan: Kahan hai woh? Don't tell me woh Mumbai ke bahar gaye hai.

Sunil: Juhu ke Novotel mein kal shaam se hai. I guess aaj shaam ka checkout hai unka.

Rohan: Unke saath koun hai?

Sunil: Koi nahi Sir. Koun hoga? Ruhaan sir akele hai, unhe ek important zoom meeting karni thi. Isiliye gaye hai. Koi ladki ka chakkar nahi hai Sir.

Rohan smirked and said: Maine kahin par mention nahi kiya ladki ka chakkar. Tumne khud bola hai. So don't test my patience and spill it.

Sunil: Sir, main nahi bol sakta kuch aur. Ruhaan Sir mujhe fire kar denge.

Rohan: Aur agar tumne mujhe sach nahi bataya toh I will make sure ki tum aur tumhari family kahinke nahi rahoge. Bhulo maat ki I have the power to destroy you!

Sunil: Haan, woh uss hotel room mein ek ladki ke saath the. Woh ladki humare foreign client ki Secretariat se hai.

Rohan: Yeh pehli baar hai?

Sunil: Sir.....aap....khud apne Dada se puch lijiye. Main kuch nahi bol paunga. Mere khyaal se woh ab bhi ussi hotel mein honge. Please sir, aap dono bhai ke beech mein mujhe maat phasaiye.

Preeti held Rohan's arm and whispered in his ears: Rohan, chodo inhe. Dekho inn par gussa karne se kuch hone se raha. Isliye, yahan se nikalte hai. Aur yeh keh rahe hai na ki abhi tak Ruhaan bhaiya hotel mein honge. Wahan chal ke tum khud unse baat kar lo!

Rohan: Thik hai! Main ja raha hun. Par koi hoshiyaari maat karna. Dada ko inform karne ke baare sochna maat! Warna mera ek phone call aur tumhara bhai college se bahar!

Sunil nodded his head. Rohan and Preeti had just stepped on the last tile of the room when they halted hearing Sunil.

Sunil: Sir, aapko kya lagta hai Ruhaan sir aapko sach bata denge? Pichle 4 saal se unke saath kaam kar raha hun. Inn 4 saalon mein na jaane kitne raaz chupaye hai unhone.

Rohan: Toh tum woh raaz hume bata do.

Sunil: Kaaash mujhe saare raaz malum hote. Khair, Rohan sir mein itna hi keh sakta hun ke, samay rehte sahi kadam utha lijiyega. Nahi toh baad mein sab kuch barbaad hone ke baad aapke paas mauka toh hoga lekin uss kadam ka koi fayeda nahi hoga.

Rohan couldn't understand what Sunil was trying to say, and he didn't have that much patience to decode his words too! So after giving a final and deathly glare to the trembling secretary of his brother, he left along with Preeti.

Preeti: Rohan ek baat bolun?

Rohan: Hmm

Preeti: Tum Boudi kuch maat batana jab tak tumhare paas saboot na ho Ruhaan bhaiya ke khilaaf.

Rohan: Haan Preeti. Itne saal ka vishwas hai Boudi ka. Toot ke bikhar jayegi woh. Aur agar bina saboot ke gaya toh manegi nahi, aur mujhse naraz hogi so alag. Aur kya pata main Dada se baat karke unka mann badal sakun.

Preeti: Agar tumhare Dada aissa bahut pehle se karte aa rahe hai, so I don't think ki woh itne jaldi badal jayenge.

Rohan: Let's hope for the best!

Within 15 minutes, they reached the hotel. With their smartness, they acquired the extra keycard of the hotel room, and sight horrified Rohan and sent disgust to Preeti.

Ruhaan and Monica were wrapped in sheet in their naked form, and were hungrily attacking on each other. Rohan grabbed the glass artefact from the table and smashed it on the ground.

Hearing the noise of glass breaking, Ruhaan and Monica got distracted and looked up. Ruhaan was shocked and Monica was irritated. Monica was about to shout on the intruders when Ruhaan threw her away from him. He stood up immediately forgetting that he was completely naked. Rohan pulled Preeti into his arms and hid her face in his chest.

Rohan: Ab aur aapki yeh friend kapde pehnkar garden mein aa jayiye. Main aur meri girlfriend wahan aapka intezaar kar rahe hai.

After Rohan left, Ruhaan hit his forehead with his palm and paced around the room in anxiety.

Ruhaan: Shit shit shit shit! Rohan ne mujhe aur iss Monica ko saath dekh liya. Ab yeh pakka tamasha karega. Purvi ko pata chala toh woh ek minute nahi lagegi apne uss budhe baap ko bolne mein. Aur uska baap mujhse mera business aur paisa le jayega.

Monica: Ruhaan baby, who was that? And why was he glaring at you?

Ruhaan looked at Monica who looked tempting and he wanted to push her back on the bed and rock her world. But now talking with Rohan was more important.

Ruhaan: He is my brother. You get dressed up and leave for your hotel. We will meet later.

Ruhaan hurriedly wore his clothes and ran to the garden where Preeti and Rohan were sitting.

Ruhaan: Bittu!

When Rohan heard his nickname from Ruhaan's mouth, he clutched his fist and pressed his eyes tightly.

Ruhaan: Eh bittu, apne Dada ke paas nahi aayega?

Rohan stood up and aggressively replied: Don't! Don't you dare! Apni gandi zubaan se mujhe maat bulana. Mera naam maat lena!

Ruhaan: Thik hai! Nahi lunga. Par meri baat toh sunn.

Rohan: Nahi sunna mujhe kuch bhi. Bas itna bol do ki meri Boudi ko dhokha kyun diya? Kya meri Boudi ka pyaar tumhare liye kaafi nahi tha!? Kya meri Boudi tumhara sahi se khayal nahi rakhti? Kya meri Boudi sundar nahi?

Ruhaan: Nahi beta! Aissa nahi hai.

Rohan: Toh phir kyun? God dammit why!? Meri Boudi tumhare intezaar mein ghar par ghanton darwaze ka paas baithi rehti hai! Kitni baar bhookhe pet so jaati hai. Tumhare pasand ke rangon ne apna cupboard bhar diya hai! Arre apna favorite color tak bhul gayi hai woh! Aur tum! Tum unhe wahan akela chod ke yahan..... Chi!

Ruhaan: Rohan, meri baat sunn. Main..... I was drugged! Main yahan apne foreign delegation se milne aaya tha. Drinks zyada hogaye the, aur mera control...... I lost my control.

Rohan: Really? Am I that dumb? Mere chehre par C likha hai kya? Tumhe dekhke lag nahi raha ki you were drugged! Aur kal raat ko tumhari baatein drugged aadmi jaise nahi lag rahe the! Ek drugged aadmi ek nahi do nahi chaar baar ek ladki ke saath physical nahi ho sakta!

Ruhaan: Rohan sunn....

Rohan: Nahi! You listen to me Mr. Ruhaan Roy Choudhary! Maana main tumhara saga bhai nahi hun, maine tumse aur tumhare rishtedaaron se yeh baat bahut baar suni hai. Par kuch kaha nahi because that was true. Haan hun main illegitimate. I accept that. But iss illegitimate child ko Boudi ne except kiya. Unhone mujhe saage jaisa pyaar kiya hai. Aur main uss pyaar ke badle unhe dhokha nahi dunga.

Ruhaan: Rohan tu jaisa samjh raha hai waisa kuch nahi hai. Yeh... Yeh pehli baar hua hai.

Rohan: Really? Kya proof hai? Kitne baat mere saamne business trip bolke 2-3 din bahar gaye hai. Kya pata business ke naam par kal ki tarah apni kisi mistress ke saath nikale ho.
Mujhe bas apni aankhon woh dekhna tha jo mujhe pata chala. Aur maine dekh liya. Ab main yeh nahi kahunga ki Boudi ke liye badal jao. Nahi! Bilkul nahi. Main bas uss din ka intezaar karunga jab Boudi ko pata lagega. Kyunki agar main jaake bolta hun ki tumhara extramarital affairs chal raha hai. Woh mere upar hass degi.
But this doesn't mean, maine maaf kar diya. Nahi! Nahi kiya hai tumhe maaf. Aur haan, meri Boudi duri banake rakhi hai na, toh usse barkarar rakho! Bahut jald woh tumse dur ho jayegi. So just wait and watch!

With that being said, Rohan left with Preeti without hearing another word.