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"Shaadi? Seriously?" Both Sidharth and Shehnaaz screamed at their respective houses.

"Arrey ab itni subah subah oh hum mazak karenge nahi tere saath. Serious baat hi hogi na. Arrey itna accha rishta aaya hai, isko thukra denge na toh paap lagega." Said Kulwant Ji caressing Shehnaaz's head to convince her but her daughter was still in shock.

"Waise maan na padega, tumhare Lovely marriage bureau ne kya kamal ka rishta dhunda hai. Khandani raees hai, upar se dahej ka bhi koi chakkar nahi. Ab bataunga uss Raj Mehra ko. Bada bolta tha meri ladki ke baare mein. Jab pata chalega kis ghar mein rishta tay kara hai, aankhein phati ki phati reh jayegi." Said Balbir Ji, his chest puffed up with pride.

Before Shehnaaz could protest, Kulwant Ji said agreeing with him, "Sahi keh rahe ho tussi. Aur woh uski biwi Simran hai na, baat baat pe tokti rehti hai, teri beti kisi kaam ki nahi, koi accha rishta nahi aayega... Ab bolti band hogi uski, jab dhoom dham se apni beti ki shaadi karaungi."

Shehnaaz nodded in disbelief hearing her parents' words. "Arrey unko dikhane ke chakkar mein mujhe suli mein thodi chadha doge aap log? Koi mujhse bhi toh pucho. Mujhe nahi karni hai shaadi."

"Kaisi baatein kar rahi hai? Kya kharabi hai iss rishte mein?" Asked Balbir Ji making a worried face.

"Kharabi..."

For once Shehnaaz felt like telling everything to them but then controlled herself. "Kharabi nahi hai, it's just main abhi shaadi nahi kar sakti. Mujhe apne dam pe kuch karna hai pehle."

"Uski toh koshish tere andar dikh nahi rahi. Pura din phone pe ghusi rehti hai aur camera ke aage bakwas karti rehti hai. Yeh toh tu sasural jaa ke bhi kar sakti hai." Said Kulwant Ji.

"Mummy mein bakwas nahi karti. Insta pe relatable reels bana ke upload karti hoon. Aap ko idea bhi hai mere kitne followers hai?"

"Aur aaj kal yeh hi log business karte hai Mummy. Aap dekhna Di bhi aise hi ek din crore o kamayegi." Said Rishi which Shehnaaz gave her 'that's my brother' look.

The siblings where playing ludo when Gill family dropped the bomb and they had to witness the family drama.

"Tu zyada apni Di ki chamchagiri mat kar. Apni padhai pe dhyan de warna tera bhi rishta pakka kar dungi." Said Kulwant Ji glaring Rishi.

"Yaar Mummy aap ghum phir ke mere pe kyu aa jaate ho. Mere classes hai, main ja raha hoon. Bye!" Rishi went outside getting irritated.

Balbir Ji looked at Shehnaaz and said softly, "Puttar meri baat sun. Humari umar ho rahi hai. Waqt rehte dono baccho ki shaadi karani hai. Humari phoolon ki dukan abhi acchi chal rahi hai, zaroori nahi humesha aisa rahe. Ladka bohut accha hai. Haan kar de. Yaa phir tujhe koi aur pasand hai toh bol humein."

"Papa... Main...." Shehnaaz again tried but failed to say anything.

"Papa main aap ko kaise baatau ki mujhe jo pasand hai woh aur apne dushman team se hai. Agar baata diya toh mahabharat part 2 idhar hi dekhne ko mil jayega." She thought sighing.

On the other hand, Sidharth was too shocked when his parents gave the news of his marriage.

"Aap logo ne mujhse puche bina meri shaadi kaise tay kar li?" He asked with disbelief.

"Beta tujhe puchte toh tu ek baar mein nhi maanta. Phir tujhe maana ne mein aur time chala jaata. Utna time nahi hai humare paas." Said Raj Ji giving explanation.

Sidharth gave a sarcastic smile. "Kyu aap ko kal subah panwel nikalna hai?"

"Arrey... Main baatati hoon." Said Simran Ji going near him. "Mujhe khabar aayi hai, woh Lovely marriage bureau mein Gill's ne apni beti ki photo diyi hai. Bohut accha rishta karwati hai woh. Iss se pehle woh log apni beti ke liye koi accha rishta dhunde, hum unko dikha denge ki hum bhi unse kam nahi hai, haan."

"Aur humein toh marriage bureau ke bharose bhi nahi rehna padha. Mera khas dost hai, uski beti ke saath hi teri shaadi hogi." Said Raj Ji happily.

"And what about meri marzi?" Asked Sidharth helplessly pointing towards himself.

"Nobody cares bhai." Said Dimple watching from laptop, eating peanuts.

Sidharth gave her angry stern look making her shut her mouth.

"Mujhe manjoor nahi hai." He said suddenly. "Main shaadi nahi karna. That's my final decision."

"Tujhe maana karega? Haan? Itna bada hogaya hai? Mera beta mujhe....Ahhhhh....."

Raj Ji sat on the sofa keeping his hand on the right side of his chest.

"Kya hogaya ji aap ko?" Asked Simran Ji panicking.

"Lagta hai...heart attack aane wala hai..." He said doing full drama to which Sidharth and Dimple rolled their eyes knowing their father's tactics very well.

"Papa at least acting toh thik se karo. Heart left side mein hota hai, right side mein nahi." Said Sidharth and Raj Ji immediately shifted his hand to the left side and continued acting.

Sidharth was about to ask him to stop but suddenly they heard something to which Raj Ji stood up being all fit.

Balbir Gill was announcing loudly about his daughter's marriage, intentionally trying to make the Mehra's jealous.

"Yeh kyu subah subah bhok raha hai? Chalo Simran chal ke dekhte hai. Kuch ulta seedha bakwas kar raha hoga na, chhodunga nahi iss baar."

Raj Ji and Simran Ji went outside in full fight mode while Sidharth became puzzled with all this.

"Suru hogaya... Mehra vs Gill fight no. 743" Murmured Dimple in a tired tone. "Kaash main bhi Rishi ki tarah ki tarah waha hoti. Damn i miss him!" She said and close her laptop.

As soon as Raj Mehra stepped outside, his eyes landed on Balbir Gill who was talking to some neighbours.

He noticed Raj Ji and started flexing. "Aur kuch log keh rahe the meri beti ke liye accha rishta nahi aayega. Mumbai ka top rishta aaya. Ab hogi meri beti ki shaadi dhoom dham se aur jalne wale jalte rahenge."

Balbir Ji smirked making Raj Ji angry for a moment but then he also smirked.

"Arrey khuskhabri suno sab. Humare Sidharth ki shaadi fixed hogayi." He announced dragging the attention of those few neighbours present there, as well as Balbir Ji.

"Sidharth ki bhi? Kiske saath?" Asked the neighbours being genuinely happy.

"Mere dost ki beti hai. Bohut acchi ladki hai, aur family ke baare mein toh kya hi bolu... Bhai ek status hai. Not like some third class people."

Raj Mehra intentionally triggered Balbir Gill which he understood.

Balbir Ji laughed out sarcastically. "Bol bhi kaun raha hai? Jinka khud ka koi class nahi hai. Bloody halwai."

Zaban sambhal ke Balbir Gill!" Shouted Raj Ji. "Meri mithai ki dukan pe kuch bhi bola na, muh tod dunga tera!"

"Oye dhamki kisko deta hai be? Haath laga ke dikha. Tere dono haath kaat ke phek nahi diye toh main bhi Balbir Gill nahi."

"Khabardar mere husband ko kuch kaha toh? Pure ke pure parivar ko iss moholle se bahar phekwa dungi." Shouted Simran Ji coming in Raj Ji's support.

"Chup kar kamini. Mere husband se uchi awaz mein baat kiyi na, moholla kya seher chhorna padega tum sabko." Said Kulwant Ji standing beside her husband.

And the world war began while the neighbours became shocked, they got stuck in the middle of both the parties.

Hearing their shouts, Sidharth and Shehnaaz also came out of their houses and tried to stop their parents.

"Mummy Papa kya kar rahe ho sab dekh rahe ho sab kya dekh rahe hai." Said Shehnaaz trying to stop her parents.

Sidharth also did the same. "Bas hogaya ab. Enough!"

Both the parents stopped and took breath.

"Sahi keh raha hai tu. Subah subah inke muh lagna hi bekar hai. Abhi teri shaadi kara ke inn dono Miya Biwi ka muh band karwaunga. Mumbai ki sabse badi shaadi hogi yeh." Said Raj Ji proudly.

Balbir Ji rolled his eyes. "Aaya bada Ambani ki aulad. Sabse badi shaadi toh meri beti ki hogi. Aur tum jalkukde jalte rahoge."

"Hum bade se bada lodge book karenge."

"Lodge? Hum koi bada hotel nahi nahi resort book karenge."

"Hum palace book karenge, palace."

And the fight again started while Sidharth and Shehnaaz looked at each other sadly, being equally hurt after hearing about each other's marriage.

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At night, Sidharth and Shehnaaz stood at their balconies which were face to face, and they were talking on phone.

"Shehnaaz mujhse yeh sab aur nahi tolerate ho raha. Mera dimaag kharab ho raha hai ab. Tu apne Papa ko jaa ke bol de ki tu unke pasand ke ladke se shaadi nahi karegi." Said Sidharth being restless.

Shehnaaz was looking at him, with pain in her eyes.

"Maan le maine aaj iss rishte se maana kar diya, woh kal ko chaar aur rishte leke aa jaayenge. Tab bhi kya tu yeh bol paayega ki tu mujhse pyaar karta hai, mujhse shaadi karna chahta hai?"

Sidharth sighed. "Look Shehnaaz, all I need is time....."

"Aur kitna time Sidharth? College days se pyaar karte hai hum ek dusre se. 6 saal hogaye humare rishte ko. Phir bhi hum mein himmat nahi hui apne apne Mummy Papa se baat karne ki. Tu mujhe bol raha hai maana karne ke liye? Main toh phir bhi ladki hoon, jiski haan ya naa ki koi value nahi hoti. Hum ladkiyon ke liye yeh sab bohut mushkil hai. Tu toh ladka hai, kya tu apne parents ke against jaa paaya? Unne convince kar paaya ki tu yeh shaadi nahi karna chahta?"

Sidharth looked down, he had nothing to say.

He paused for a while and then spoke, "Main abhi maana nahi kar paaya lekin.... Trust me, baat aage badhne se pehle kuch na kuch jugad ho jayega. You know main tere alawa kisi aur se shaadi nahi kar sakta, aur na hi tujhe kisi aur ka hone de sakta hoon."

Shehnaaz nodded in no, wiping her tears. "Let's accept the fact Sidharth. Hum apne parents ko hurt nahi kar sakte, unke against nahi jaa sakte, kuch nahi kar sakte hum. Jab maine tujhse pyaar kiya tha na, uske consequences ke baare mein socha tak nahi tha. Umeed thi ki ekdin humari family ke bich ki yeh dushmani khatam ho jayegi, aur tab hum apne baare mein unhe baata denge. But I was wrong. Now I regret that I fell in love with you. Iss se behtar toh hum bhi dushman hi the yaar. Agar pyaar nahi hota toh hum bhi abhi ek dusre se compete kar rahe hote ki kiski wedding zyada grand hogi. Kam se kam itna dard toh nahi hota."

"Shehnaaz tu pagal hogayi hai? Kya bole jaa rahi hai? I promise inn dono mein se ek bhi shaadi nahi hogi, na teri, na meri... Agar hogi toh sirf humari."

"That's impossible. Jab tak hum dono mein himmat nahi aa jaati apne parents ko face karne ki, kuch nahi hoga. Aur woh himmat kabhi nahi hogi.Isliye aaj se mujhe call mat karna, aur na hi mujhse milne ki koshish karna. Aaj se Sidharth aur Shehnaaz secret lovers nahi, sirf neighbours hai."

"Shehnaaz...."

Before Sidharth could say anything, Shehnaaz cut the call and went inside her room while crying. Sidharth kept watching her, his heart pained, tears rolled down his cheeks, yet he didn't get the courage to do anything.

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"Priyanka what are you saying? Tere gharwalon ne tujhse bina puche teri shaadi fixed kar diyi? How can they do this?" Asked Ankit with disbelief. He and Priyanka were sitting in a cafe.

Priyanka nodded sadly and said, "Papa keh rahe the unke kisi dost ka beta hai. Unhone zuban de diyi hai. Maine maana kiya toh tere baare mein puchne lage, ki mera tere saath kuch chal raha hai yaa nahi?"

"Toh tu keh deti na haan main Ankit se pyaar karti hoon?" Asked Ankit loudly.

"Haan taa ki Papa tere aur mera milna permanently band kar de." Said Priyanka being louder.

"Unko waise bhi tu pasand nahi hai. Agar yeh baat bahar aayi na, mujhe kamre band kar ke kal hi shaadi kara denge meri."

"Waise bhi toh kara hi rahe hai. Tu bhi kar le chup chap, accha hi hai."

"Apni marzi se shaadi nahi kar rahi hoon Ankit. Aur maine yaaha tujhe ek solution nikaal ne ke liye bulaya hai, faltu ka gussa dikhane ke liye nahi."

"Kya solution nikalu? Tu toh apne Papa se baat bhi nahi karne degi mujhe. What else can I do?"

"I don't know!" Said Priyanka holding her head in frustration. "Just do something. Kyu ki main bas itna jaanti hoon, main tere alawa kisi aur se shaadi nahi kar sakti. Tujhe sayad lag raha hai mujhe inn sab mein bada maza aa raha hai but it's not the truth."

Priyanka was on a verge of breaking down while Ankit felt guilty for being loud. But he too was frustrated after hearing that his lady love would marry someone else.

"Priyanka I'm sorry..." Ankit tried to hold Priyanka's hand but she took it back.

"I should go." She said controlling herself and picked her bag. She paid the bill and left from there leaving a sad and worried Ankit behind.

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Toh tu mujhe chhor raha hai Kartik? Itne saalon ke relationship ke baad?" Asked Naira smiling bitterly which broke Kartik's heart.

He hold her hands and said, "Chhor nahi raha baby. Bas gharwalon ko samjhana mushkil hai. Agar tu modelling nahi karti toh koi problem hi nahi hoti. Main apne gharwalon se kab ka baat kar leta aur ab tak humari shaadi bhi ho chuki hoti."

"Toh tujhe bhi ab mere modelling karne se problem hai?" Asked Naira with disbelief.

"Tu galat samajh rahi hai Naira. It's an what-if situation."

Naira sighed. "You know jab maine Mom ko tere baare mein baataya tha na, unhone pehle hi kaha tha ki Kartik ki family humse bohut alag hai, tu samajhdar hai, soch samajh ke koi decision lena. Mera tab ek hi reply tha, mera Kartik sambhal lega. Aur mera tujhpe abhi bhi bharosa hai. I know you will do something. But yeh mat bol ki agar main modelling nahi karti toh kya ho sakta tha. Tu jaanta hai main unn ladkiyon mein se nahi hoon jo apne pyaar aur career mein se kisi ek chiz ko priorities kare. Mere liye dono important hai. Aur jis din aisa situation aayega ki mujhe ek ko choose karna pade, it will be over for us."

Saying that Naira left Kartik's hands and gave him a quick hug. Kartik was standing there like statue, stuck in a situation he never wanted to be.

Then Naira and Kartik both broke the hug and went to different paths while controlling their tears

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It was late at night. Shehnaaz was crying, burying her face in pillow. Sidharth was sitting on the bed, going through the photo album of their college days while smiling sadly.

Priyanka was returning home in cab, looking blankly at the outside. Ankit was still in the cafe, where they once came for their first date and many times after that. He was remembering everything which made him more sad.

Naira reached home, locked herself in her room and started crying her heart out.

Kartik called her but she didn't pick up and he tapped the phone on his forehead sighing.

All of them remembered their college days when they first fell in love, when everything seemed much easier which is far from the reality.

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That is it for today.

Hope you all like it.

Thanks for reading.