“But why did she leave?” she asked, she had to pretend for Ishwari’s sake to get the truth out of him. “Because I cheated on her with Ishita , but then I also left Ishita for her, and she left me because of Ishita , that too with Alia,” he told her. “Aren’t you bothered by Dev’s absence? He was your son, wasn’t he? And who did you exactly love? Ishita ? Or Ishwari?” she asked. “I don’t know what exactly I feel for Dev, because he blackmailed me when he got to know about my and Ishita ’s affair and eased out money from me, and I also don’t know who I exactly love,” he said.

“Whattt? Shashank? Are you crazy? Means? You don’t know what exactly you feel for your own son? And you also don’t know who do you love? If you didn’t love Ishwari, how did you had a child with her? And Shashank, I also don’t know from where and when did Dev come into the picture, I don’t even know who your first wife was from who you had Dev, I wasn’t even the part of your marriage with Ishwari, I wasn’t there when she had Alia. Shashank, tell me truly, what’s going on? Shashank tell, I want to know the truth,” she demanded holding his arm and he jerked away her hand.

“Mauli!” he shouted and she gasped and shook her head. “I had gone abroad for some work, I was there for many years, I had gone because I had a big project with some actor, it took a lot of time, I never raised a question, I trusted you because you were my friend, Shashank you will have to reveal what’s the matter,” she said and he sighed.

“You know what? I did a big mistake by coming here thinking Ishita was here, but I am getting interrogated instead about my life, bye Mauli,” he said and left. Mauli got thinking.

Raman returned and had a suitcase in his hand, Prerna followed him inside shocking everyone. Gajendra and Sandhya rushed to them. “Prerna you here?” Gajendra asked in a shock, she just smiled and touched his feet, he blessed her. “Raman, why did you bring her here? You know you’re getting married, Ishita is also here, guests will also be there, what will they say? What will you tell when they ask why is your first wife here?” she asked.

Prerna went and touched her feet, she blessed her out of compulsion. “Relax aunty, I am dying already, that’s why Raunak was given to you all, I want to spend my last days with Raunak,” she said and took Raunak from Raman and went taking her suitcase. “Raman, why is she here? It’s not a good idea to bring her here, today she just requested to stay here, tomorrow she will expect your love as well,” Sandhya said. “I also feel the same now,” Gajendra said.

“Mom, dad, if you remember she married someone else and left me,” he said. “But did she love him?” Sandhya asked. “Don’t know mom,” he said and looked down. “Beta, Ishita , please just focus on her, you’re getting married to her,” Sandhya reminded and he nodded and walked away, they looked on. He came to Ishita who was sleeping as it was night. He smiled and pulled a duvet over her and left from there.

Next morning, Ishita woke up and freshened up and heard some voice from outside and exited her room. She got shocked to see a girl sitting beside Raman on dining table who was none other than Prerna. She clenched her fists tightly in anger and rolled up her sleeves and walked to her. Prerna sensed her presence. “Oh, you’re Ishita , right?” she asked with a smile and Ishita smiled back snobbily. “I am just not Ishita , I am soon going to be Mrs Raman Bhalla, and by the way its my place where you’re sitting, kindly move,” she said and Prerna raised her eyebrows at her. “Oh by the way I am Prerna,” she said introducing herself. “Okay Miss ex Raman Bhalla, kindly move as I said before,” Ishita said and Prerna shifted, Sandhya, Gajendra and Raman chuckled.

Ishita looked at Raman. “What are you laughing at? You should’ve said this to her,” she said and looked away creasing her eyebrows and poured juice for herself. He understood its her mood swings taking over her. As she was about to drink it, he grabbed the glass from her hand and she looked at him with questionable gaze. “Why are you drinking by yourself? Think about the baby, the baby doesn’t only wants to have juice, he also wants that papa makes him and mumma both drink it, right baby?” he asked caressing her tummy and within seconds her mood changed.

She smiled at him. “Yes, the baby wants that only, please do it,” she said and he made her drink, Sandhya and Gajendra smiled seeing them. Raman placed the glass back on the table. His phone began to ring and he picked it. It was Mauli. “Hallo?” he spoke over the phone. “Hallo Raman, thank God you’ve taken Ishita from here, she was right that Shashank would come here while trying to find her and he came,” she said. “Oh, okay, tell me the rest later, bye,” he said and disconnected the call.

“Raman, if you remember, Reema is coming today,” Sandhya said. “Reema?” Ishita asked Raman. “My sister,” he said and she smiled, he looked at Sandhya. “Okay mom, I will pick her,” he said. “Raman, I will also come with you,” she said. “Okay,” he agreed. “After that the functions will start, Ishita , are you really okay with all the functions happening today only? I mean, what’s the big deal? We can do haldi and mehendi today, then sangeet tomorrow and then marriage and photography can be done the day after tomorrow and then finally the reception can be done after that,” Gajendra said.

“Yes Ishita beta, and you’re pregnant, so the functions can be held the same way Gajendra jee said,” Sandhya said, Ishita thought for a while and then nodded. “Okay mom dad, that would be good,” she said and smiled. “Let’s go Ishita and pick Reema,” he said and stood up, she also stood up and the duo made way outside and sat in the car and drove off.

At the airport, Ishita saw a girl waving at them and she gained Raman’s attention and pointed at her. He smiled. “She’s Reema,” he told her and they walked to Reema who hugged him and Ishita instantly. “Bhaiya, bhabhi, long time no see,” she said and they hugged her back. She broke the hug. “But Reema, you never saw me before,” Ishita said and Reema laughed a little. “So what? Now I saw you and then I didn’t,” she said and Ishita also laughed. The trio sat in the car and drove off. “By the way Reema, I am asking again, you have no problem by Ishita ’s child not being my biological child, right?” he asked while driving.

“Bhaiya, I have always wanted your children badly, I badly wanted to be a bua, I always said that your children would just be like my children, but did I ever said that if they would be adopted then they won’t be loved by me? I didn’t, did I? Bhaiya I have no problem,” she said and he smiled. The drive continued and the car halted outside their house. The trio got out, Reema took her luggage and rushed inside. “Mom! Dad!” she exclaimed and hugged them tight. They hugged her back. She broke the hug and her gaze went on Prerna.

“Prerna?” she asked. “What Prerna? You used to call me bhabhi,” Prerna said. “Are you my bhabhi now that I should call you bhabhi? I will only call her as bhabhi,” Reema said pointing at Ishita and then went to Raunak and just as she was about to pick him, Prerna stopped her. “Why so much love for him Reema? When there is no respect in your heart for me?” Prerna asked. “Because he’s a pure hearted baby who is abandoned by his biological father only to be adopted by bhaiya and that makes me his bua, and you left my bhaiya as soon as you got to know that he’s infertile, so why should I respect you?” Reema asked.

Prerna became speechless and watched as Reema picked Raunak and took him away. Raman and Ishita also went to Ishita ’s room and sat together closing the door. “By the way Raman, I would need to take a shower, so why are you here? The functions would start soon enough,” she said. “And after the shower you would be too tired,” he said. “Why?” she asked getting confused. “You’re pregnant and you also would be tired,” he said and she folded her arms on her chest.

“Yes, so? You’re offering me that you’ll give me a bath?” she asked looking away. “No, but really, I can help,” he said and she looked at him widening her eyes and raising her eyebrows at him. “What? In what would you help? Are you mad?” she asked. “Just in shampooing your hair,” he said and she shrugged. “Okay,” she said and stood up and laid clothes for herself on the bed and took the towels. “Come, won’t you come now?” she asked and he stood up and followed her, she was about to bend to open the shower but he stopped her and opened it himself.

Just as he did it, she slipped and screamed but he held her before she could touch the ground and they had an eye lock. He straightened her realizing it sometime later and she looked on. “Hmm so Mr. Raman Luthra, remember you’re not here to romance me but to shampoo my hair,” she said teasing him and he smiled. “Okay soon to be Mrs. Raman Bhalla,” he teased back and signed her to sit in the bathtub. She sat in the bathtub and hung her wet hair for him.

He squirted some shampoo in his hand and shampooed her hair but then struggled with her length. “What happen? Can’t do it?” she asked teasing him and he shrugged and comtinued struggling. “Aray I will do it, don’t worry,” she said and turned to him signing him to go. “You sure?” he asked. “Its not the first time I am showering, is it?” she asked teasing him again and he left from there.

Later she came out with wet hair and dressed up for the haldi ceremony. Soon she was called and went outside and was made to sit beside Raman. Gajendra applied haldi to both of them and they smiled. Sandhya came and applied haldi first to Raman and then to Ishita . Then Reema came and applied haldi. Prerna also came and applied haldi and it continued. The haldi function was done and the guests began to go and Raman and Ishita also went to their rooms. Ishita just washed herself normally as she had already taken a bath and after that, she went to Raman’s room and didn’t find him there and sat there waiting for him as she was in a mood for some naughtiness as what he wanted earlier was left incomplete.

Raman was inside and was done with bathing and didn’t found a towel, he peeped outside to check if someone was there, his gaze went on Ishita and he smiled naughtily. He went inside and extended his hand outside. “Is anyone there? I need the towel,” he said and smirked, Ishita heard him and saw the towel on the bed and picked it. She stood up and walked to him with baby steps and gave him the towel, he took the towel but then pulled her inside as well and closed the door. She smiled as this was very much expected. “Oh wow, you got to know?” she asked and he smiled.

“Yes, I saw you sitting on my bed, and that’s why I pretended I didn’t knew you’re here,” he said and she chuckled. They got under the shower holding each other, he got closer to her and she closed her eyes. He placed a tiny peck on her cheeks and her breathes became uneven, he nuzzled in her hair and she creased her eyebrows with her eyes still closed and placed her hands on his bare shoulders.

He got closer to her ear. “Ishita , I love you and I promise to never leave you alone in anything,” he whispered softly and she opened her eyes and looked at him and smiled and hugged him. He hugged her back. “You knew what was going on in my mind?” she asked. “Yes, I knew, and I also think it’s too early for romance, because first, let’s get to know each other better, and…,” he was cut in between. “Raman, I already know you and you also know me, you understand everything without me speaking, romance doesn’t hurts, it just makes me happy, and we are already very close,” she said.

“Ishita , we don’t need to rush, let’s take it slowly,” he said and she broke the hug and looked at him, he held her close. “You okay with it?” he asked and she nodded. “You’re right, we should take it slow,” she said and began to leave but he stopped her and moved all her wet fringes away from her face. “Ishita , when I try doing something, I feel as if I am forcing myself on you,” he said and she once again tried to leave, he pulled her again and slowly pinned her to the wall.

They kept looking at each other. “Do you doubt my love for you?” he asked and she shook her head and just hugged him tight. They slipped and fell in the bathtub and laughed. “Are you okay?” he asked and she nodded. They got up and he closed the shower. He draped the towel on her shoulders and she smiled and walked outside. He dressed himself closing the washroom door a little and walked outside and saw her wiping her hair. “Ishita , should I bring your clothes here? You’re drenched, you will slip,” he said.

She shook her head. “Its okay I will go,” she said and began to leave but slipped and he held her. “Careful Ishita ,” he said and picked her in his arms and dropped her till her room. “Thanks,” she said and he went.

At evening, the mehndi function was held. Ishita got mehndi on her hands with the letter K hidden. She showed her mehndi to Raman. “Look, there’s your name hidden somewhere,” she said and blushed showing her hands. He scanned the mehndi and then after sometime found his name on her wrist.

“Found it, but why here?” he asked. “Because this vein is vena cava and it goes to my heart, and my heart also goes out to you, love,” she said and blushed, he smiled and softly pecked her cheek, Sandhya and Gajendra smiled seeing the duo.

Alia had gone to school. And as Shashank had promised to meet her by hiding, he had come to school but by taking principal’s permission. Alia was called to principal’s office and she came and as she saw Shashank, she smiled and hugged him. “Beta, I will make you meet your brother, you just have to come with me right now,” he said and she agreed and got her bag from the classroom and came back to him. He went taking her and the duo sat in the car and drove off, the car halted at his house.

He got out and made her also come out. “But papa, why did you bring me here? Is bhai here?” she asked, he grabbed her hand and went inside with her and they sat on the couch. “He’s not here, but I will make you meet him,” he said and she got confused. “How and when?” she asked. “Soon baby, but for that, you have to wait for some days, and stay with me, okay?” he asked, she thought for a while and nodded. He smiled.