"Alia, where are you?" Purab called out for her angrily.

"Looks like someone was missing me badly." Alia said in her sickly sweet voice.

"Why have you done this?" he asked looking straight into her eyes.

"What did I do?" she feigned innocence.

"Don't act. I know very well that you have done something to cause differences between Aryan and Shahana." he almost shouted at her.

"May be Aryan has found someone better than her. After all, she is.........."

"Shut up Alia. You may be blind but I know my son very well. So, it will be better if you confess what you have done or I'll find it out myself and then the consequences will not be good for you." he threatened.

"Why do you think that every problem is caused by me?" she asked.

"Who else can do such heinous acts?" Purab questioned back.

"Mmmm........What about Pragya?" Alia replied nonchalantly.

"Di? She can never do such a thing."

"Go and ask her then." she shrugged.

-----

The sangeet ceremony of Pranbir was a joyous event. The lovebirds could not control their happiness or excitement. Rhea tried to save Aryan from Dimpy who seemed to be stuck to him like a piece of iron getting attracted to a magnet.

Shahana and Aryan tried to keep as much distance as possible from each other. 

Pragya noticed Shahana glancing sadly at Aryan once and went to her.

"I know it's difficult for you, but keep faith. Everything will be back to normal after a few days." she said and placed a hand on Shahana's shoulder.

Shahana gave her a feeble smile and nodded.

Soon it was time for Rhea and Shahana's performance. During it, Aryan could not take his eyes off her. Dimpy was trying to say something but he was least concerned about her.

How he wished everything would have been fine between them! How he wished he could dance with her! How she wished she was his!

His trance was broken by the echoes of the applauses.

"Aryan!" Dimpy shouted shaking him hard.

"What is it? Why can't you leave me alone for a minute? Are you an idiot not to understand that I need some peace?" The barriers of his patience had been broken.

Dimpy was dumbstruck by his sudden outburst. She had never expected him to loose his calm composure.

"Now why have you sealed your mouth?" he asked her, his voice laced with irritation.

"I.....I was reminding you that the next turn is ours." she said fearfully.

"Let's get over with this quick then." he said and walked to the dance floor without her.

Dimpy was closer to Aryan more than that he would have liked. But, he could not say her anything in front of the guests. The music began playing and Aryan began dancing half-heartedly.

Dimpy turned towards Shahana and gave her a smug smile. She could bear it no longer and decided to leave. Alia found it a perfect opportunity to humiliate her. She put her leg forward a bit. Shahana, who was is a hurry didn't notice it. As a result, she tripped and was about to fall.

What happened next had not been anticipated by anyone.

Instead of Shahana, it was Dimpy who was lying on the ground while Shahana was held securely in Aryan's arms. There was a pin drop silence in the hall.

As soon as Aryan had noticed that Shahana was about to fall, he had rushed to save her, leaving Dimpy. 

Dimpy was so overjoyed by her victory that she failed to notice Aryan leaving her and lost her balance. Before she could understand anything, she was kissing the hard floor.

Rhea had almost chocked trying to suppress her laughter. She could control it no longer when Dimpy looked up with an annoyed look and guffawed loudly. The other guests took cue and burst out laughing too.

This broke Arhana's trance and they straightened themselves. Dimpy stared at the crowd of people laughing at her expense and ran away from there, followed closely by Alia.

-----

"Calm down dear, being angry will not solve your problem." Alia tried to pacify an angry Dimpy.

"Aunty, we need to find a permanent solution for Shahana. I don't think she will stay away from Aryan for a long time. Moreover, Aryan too cares for her. Didn't you see how he humiliated me in front of so many people just to save that girl?" Dimpy was determined to throw Shahana out of Aryan's life.

"Hmmm.......I guess you are correct. Then there is Purab too. Let me think......." Alia lapsed into thoughts. 

"Aunty, I have a plan!" Dimpy exclaimed excitedly.

[Plan muted]

"Why didn't I think of it earlier? I will make all the arrangements. After our plan is successful, Shahana's chapter will be over in our lives forever." Alia said with an evil smile.

-----

"Di.....I need to talk with you." Purab said to Pragya.

"Yeah. Feel free." Pragya said with a smile.

"Di, do you know what's up with Aryan and Shahana?" he asked.

Pragya froze for a moment.

"Wha......What about them?" she tried to act oblivious.

"Haven't you noticed how are they growing distant since the past few days? There is something wrong. Shahana considers you as her maasi, so I........."

"Let the things go on the way they are. It's for the betterment of everyone." she replied coldly.

Purab was stunned. He could not believe that Pragya was saying these. 

"What are you saying di? They love each other and how will they be happy if they separate?" he asked.

"Time will heal every wound." came Pragya's answer.

"How can you say this di? I myself have noticed the sorrow in Aryan's eyes. He......." Purab was interrupted by Pragya.

"Why are you only thinking about your son? What about my Shahana? Even if their love story progresses, where will it lead to? Alia will plot something or the other to separate them. So, it's better the stop it at this stage." Pragya tried to explain her logic to him.

"I'm Aryan's father. I will give assent to their alliance. Then there are other family members, we will stand up together against Alia." Purab reasoned.

"We were there with Bulbul and Disha too. Did that stop Alia? NO! I will not let any harm come to any of my daughters and that's final." she said angrily and trotted off.

"I disagree with you di. They are made for each other and I'll clear their misunderstandings." he promised to himself.