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"Karan, KARAN!" Kareena's shouts bought Karan out of his thoughts.

"Ha... Kya huwa?" he asked

"Kya huwa kya matlab? Yeh photos tumne print karaye hai, isska kya matlab hai?" she asked exacerbated.

Karan looked at a shocked Preeta and grinned before turning back to Kareena "Photos meine print karaye hai matlab ke maine karaiyi hai Bua" he said casually.

"Magar kyun?"

"Aap saach mein jaana chaahti hai kyun?" he asked glaring at Mahira and Sherlyn.

"Kareena Bua..." Sherlyn stepped forward suddenly worried about what Karan might say "Aab... Aab jo hogaiya so hogaiya aab jaane digiye na"

"Nahi Sherlyn, mujhe lagta hai ke Karan ko explanation dene ki raarurat hai!" Preeta interrupted partly wanting to know why Karan took this step but, also realising that it must have something to do with Sherlyn with the way in which she was trying to disperse the topic.

"Tum chup raho!" Kareena spat "Tumhe Karan se kuch bhi poochne ka haq nahi hai!"

Karan clenched his fists at the way Kareena continuously spoke to Preeta but before he could say anything in her defence Preeta herself spoke up.

"Haq?" she laughed "Haq toh aapse bhi zyaada hai!" Kareena looked at her shocked, stunned at the way Preeta was speaking to her "I mean, Karan ki iss harkat se mere parivaar ki bohot insult huwi hai toh haq toh banta hai right Ms Luthra?"

"Hey you midd..." Mahira began.

"Shuushhh!" Karan dismissed her before she could say much more "Tum na chup hi raho toh bahtar rahega! Yahan ghar waale baat kar rahe hai ghar mein muft mein rahene wale unwanted guests ko beech mein bolna nahi chaahiye!"

"Karan..."

"Yes Mom?" Karan said turning to look at Rakhee who looked at him questioningly.

"Mom woh kya hai na yahan kuch ghatiya log hai jo meri biwi ki izaat se khelna chaahte the, aur mein yeh kaise hone deta?"

"Kya? Karan tu saaf saaf bol na humme kuch samaj nahi aa raha hai" Rishabh asked realising that this was more than just Karan's way of bringing Preeta home.

"Rishabh woh..."

"Rishabhji..." Sherlyn tried once more to prevent Karan from disclosing anything, now sure that he knew what they had planned to do.

"Sherlyn please! Agar tumhe nahi sunna hai toh tum andar ja sakti ho!"

"Rishabh yeh tum Sherl..."

"Bua, please aap bhi shaant rahiye" he said before turning back to Karan "Tu bol!"

Karan grinned at Sherlyn before revealing what he and Sameer had seen and heard. He explained how he had made sure that the editor of News flash knew exactly what would happen to him and his paper if Sukki Singh's article ever saw the light of day! Leaving out a few details of his uncontrollable jealousy Karan revealed how Mahira shamelessly tried to demean another woman's character while her mother did nothing to stop her.

"Lekin bhai aapko nahi lagta ke inn ghatiya logo ko thank you toh bolna banta hai?" Sameer asked.

"Ha Sammy banta toh hai kyun ke inn logo ke ghatiya plan se meri biwi mere paas hai" he said winking at Preeta "Aur aab saab ko pata chal gaiya hai ke Mrs Preeta Karan Luthra belongs to me! So Miss ghatiya... I mean Mahira, thank you" he mocked.

The family stood in silence absorbing the events that had happened right under their noses before Roo spoke.

"Mujhe toh pahele se pata tha ke tum kitni ghatiya ho lekin aaj pata chaala ke tum kitni characterless ho. Pahele Karan bhai ke peeche haath doh ke pari thi yeh jante huwe ke woh shadhi shudha hai aur aab yeh saab! Mujhe toh lagta hai ke Preeta nahi tum humare paise aur property ke peeche pari ho! Khud kisi layak nahi ho aur tumhere Dad ki aukad toh hum sab ne dekh li hai, toh tumne soocha hoga ke kyun na Karan Luthra se shadhi karlu usske paas bohot paise hai. Bahle hi usski ek biwi ho usse mujhe kya? Disgusting! That's what women like you are – Disgusting! Tum jaisi larki ki jagha ghar mein nahi hai tum jaiso ko toh..."

"ROO!" Ramona screamed as Roo reduced Mahira to tears.

What? Bura laga?" Roo chuckled humourlessly looking at Ramona "Mein ne toh bas aapki beti ko aaina dikhaiya hai... aab agar usse aaine mein aapni badsoorat shakal nazar aagi toh issme main kya karoon?"

"Roo" Ramona raised her hand but before she could slap Roo someone grabbed her shoulder and swung her around and... Thisshhhh. The sound of the slap resonated through the room. Everyone looked in stunned silence while Ramona held her right cheek which had turned red and started to sting from the contact.

"Bhabhi yeh..." Kareena started but Rakhee raised her palm to stop her midsentence. Mahira quickly moved to check if her mother was okay,

"Mom aap theek toh hai?" but she got no response from Ramona who was still staring at Rakhee in shock. "Yeh kya kiya aapne!" She screamed at Rakhee and aggressively moved towards her. Rakhee continued to look at Ramona without an ounce of guilt in her eyes. "Mein aap se baat kar rahi hoon!" She screamed getting no acknowledgement from Rakhee. "Meri Mom pe haat uthane ki himaat kaise ki aapne? Abhi ke abhi meri Mom se maafi maangiye!" Rakhee looked at Mahira before looking back at Ramona but still didn't say a word. "Baheri hai aap? Meine kaha meri Mom se maafi maangiye!" frustrated at still not getting a reaction from Rakhee, Mahira raised her hands to grab her by the shoulders but was intercepted by Roo.

Roo whose anger had spiked seeing the way this nobody was speaking to her mother slapped Mahira hard enough to cause her to fall to the floor.

"Mere ghar mein kade ho kar meri Mom se aaise baat karne ki galti dubaara ki toh jaan le lungi!" she glared at Mahira who started to look around the room for someone to stand up for her. But, other than disgusted looks from the Luthra's she received no sympathy. She stole a look at Sherlyn who stepped behind Rishabh to avoid eye contact, before looking at her mother who hadn't seemed to have recovered from the slap she had received from her 'best friend'. Managing to stand up, in her stupidity she approached Karan,

"Karan tu... tum dekho na, yeh Ruchika ne mujhe, tumhari Mahira ko thappad mara" she said grabbing his sleeve, the family watched as she behaved like a crazy person.

Preeta who was watching the drama burned in jealousy as Mahira continued to touch her Karan. She almost stepped forward and pushed Mahira away but seeing Karan taking Mahira's hand in his stopped her in her tracks.

"Roo, yeh tumne kya kiya?" he asked looking at Roo who continued to glare at Mahira.

"Ha Karan, bolo isse ke mujse se maafi mange!" Mahira smiled at him before looking at Roo.

"Iss ek hi thaapar maara? Aise log ek thappad se nahi samajte hai!" he said jerking her hand away before slapping her on the other cheek.

"Karan?" she whispered. Ramona came back to her senses and moved to her daughter to console her.

"Rakhee mein..." she began but was stopped by Rakhee who raised her palm. She glared one more time at the mother daughter duo in disgust.

"Aisi larki pasand ki hai aapne mere bete ke liye?" Rakhee turned to her mother-in-law and then looked at her sister-in-law. "Iskeliye meri bahu ko bura bhala kahe rahi thi aap? Waise aap se aur expect bhi kya kiya ja saakta hai aapki paasand toh Sherlyn aur Mahira jaise lirkiya hi ho sakti hai" she spat at Kareena.

"Bhabhi!" Kareena protested "Iss mein Sherlyn ki kya galti hai?"

"Come on Bua, issne mere Dad ko galat dawi de ke unki taabiyt kharab ki hai aur aap Mom se yeh pooche rahi hai ki isski kya galti hai?" Roo asked.

"Nahi, mein... me... meine jaanbuch ke nahi kiya tha. Bua... Rishabhji... Mein..." Sherlyn started her fake waterworks to gain sympathy, but the only person who fell for it was Kareena.

"Roo yeh tu kya kahe rahi hai. Sherlyn se galti ho gaiyi thi. Woh aisa jaanbuch ke kabhi nahi karegi. Tum aise Sherlyn pe aise ilzaam nahi laga saakti"

"Kyun nahi laga saakti Roo ilzaam isspe?" Karan asked angered by his aunts double standards. Kareena looked at Karan who glared at Sherlyn "Jaab aap har waqt bewajah meri biwi pe ilzaam laga sakti hai toh Roo isspe kyun nahi laga saakti?"

"Karan, Sherlyn iss ghar ki bahu hai!"

"Aur Preeta meri bahu hai!" Rakhee declared. "Mein nahi chaahti ke iss ghar mein bewajah ke jagde ho lekin mein yeh bardasht nahi karongi ke koi meri bahu ki insult kare! Khas kar ke tum!" she said looking at Mahira. "Aur tum..." She said looking at Ramona "Tumhe thappad toh mujhe ussi din maar dena chaahiye tha jab tum aapni iss badtameez, bhad dimaag larki ki shadhi mere shadhi sudha bete se karne ke liye tayar ho gaiyi thi! Tabh toh mein kuch nahi kar paiyi..." she glared at Kareena daring her to interrupt before continuing "... lekin aab bohot huwa! Tum aur tumhri yeh beti abhi ke abhi Preeta se haath jod ke maafi mangoge"

"Maafi aur isse?" Mahira said in distaste "Isski aukaad nahi hai ke mein isse maafi mangu!"

"Mahira!" Karan stepped forward but Rakhee held him back.

"Theek hai toh abhi ke abhi mere ghar se niklo!"

"Kya?" Mahira asked

"Rakhee yeh tum kya kahe rahi ho?" Ramona asked at Rakhee's blunt order.

"Lagta hai tumhe sunaiyi nahi diya – Abhi ke abhi niklo mere ghar se! Get out!" Rakhee shouted at Mahira.

"Bhabhi aap yeh..."

"Kareena Di aap beech mein nahi hi bole toh bahtar hoga"

"Nahi mein.. mein nahi... Karan tum kuch kaho na" Mahira looked towards Karan only for him to look towards the door.

"Suna nahi Mom ne kya kaha?"

Mahira looked at Sherlyn for help but she only shook her head. Realising that she was cornered, Mahira moved towards Preeta and grabbed her hand. Stunned Preeta looked at Karan who had instantly moved to her side to ensure Mahira didn't try anything stupid.

"Preeta tum kaho na Rakhee aunty ko. Woh mujhe jane ko kahe rahi hai"

"Preeta ka haath chodo" Karan said seeing Preeta's discomfort. He harshly grabbed Mahira's hand causing her to let go of Preeta. Seeing his anger Preeta held his arm and blinked her eyes indicating that she was fine causing him to somewhat calm down.

"Preeta Bhabhi kuch nahi kahegi Mom ko. Mom ne pata nahi kyun par tumhe do option diye hai 1. tum aur yeh jo tumhari Mom hai abhi ke abhi meri Preeta Bhabhi se maafi, sorry haath jod ke maafi mango yah 2. Abhi ke abhi yahan se niklo!" Roo spoke.

"Mein koi maafi nahi..."

"Mom" Mahira interrupted and shook her head at Ramona "Mein... mein maafi maangti hoon" she said looking at Karan.

"Mujhse nahi Preeta se maafi mango" Karan snapped. Mahira closed her eyes and bit her tongue so hard, to reign her anger and hate in that she could taste the bitterness of the blood seeping out from where her teeth clamped down knowing she didn't have a choice. She knew that if she didn't let go of her pride now she would have to leave Luthra house and she would lose everything. With that thought in mind she took a deep breath and grudgingly turned to Preeta.

"I'm sorry" she whispered.

"Sunaiyi nahi diya, kya bola tumne? Aur Mom ne haath jodne ko kaha tha" Roo smirked at Mahira's pale face.

"Meine kaha I'm sorry" Mahira gritted through her teeth slightly louder while folding her palms together.

"Aur aapko alag se invitation dena parega?" Roo said looking at Ramona who begrudgingly followed in her daughters footsteps.

Preeta looked at Rakhee who nodded at her before speaking,

"Aab mein aap saab ko yeh baat akhri bar kahe rahi hoon, agar kisi ne meri bahu ke saath batameezi se baat ki toh mein usse maaf nahi karungi! Agar kisi ko bhi Preeta se problem hai tho usske liye iss ghar ke darvaze khule hai woh ja saakta hai!"

Kareena looked at Rakhee stunned realising that she too was included. Looking back at Ramona Rakhee continued,

"Chaahti toh hoon ke tumhe aur tumhari iss batameez beti ko abhi ke abhi iss ghar se nikal du. Lekin aaj mere bahu ka iss ghar mein pahela din hai, toh mein aaj ke din kisi ke saath itna bura nahi karna chaahti hoon! Lekin isske baadh iss larki ne kuch bhi harkat ki to usska kya haal hoga yeh tum sooch bhi nahi saakti!"

Turning back to Preeta, Rakhee smiled "Putar tujhe dair ho rahi hai tu Karan ke saath kaam ke liye nikal"

"Ji" Preeta smiled back.

"Karan,"

"Yes Mom hum nikal te hai" and with that he reached for Preeta's wrist and dragged a protesting Preeta out of the house.

As the family dispersed someone who had also been privy to Mahira's doing smirked. "Aacha kiya... It was a good idea to let Karan handle this one. If we would have handled it then, the only thing we would have achieved is to stop the story and photo's Mahira had sent to the newspapers from being leaked. Yes, we would have made sure that Preeta's self dignity and respect remained intact but this..." they grinned "... This is amazing! But then I guess this is why he is 'The Karan Luthra!' right?"