Aarav laughed so hard that tears fell his eyes. His mother came in hearing his laughter.

"Kya hua? Kaha hai Radhika?"

(What happened? Where is Radhika?)

He passed her the letter still laughing. His mother's expressions changed as she read the letter and Aarav's laugh started turning into cries.

"Why me mumma? Why me? Koi aur nhi mila tha usse ye sab krne ke liye? I was so nice to her. I wanted to make a home with her, a family with her. Usne aise mazak banaya meri feelings ka. Ek baat mujhse keh deti toh mai khud hi shaadi nhi krta na. Lekin ye. Umeed de kr, sapne dikha kr unhe tod kr chali gyi. Apne husband ke saath."

(She didn't get someone else to do this to? She made fun of my feelings like this. She could have told me I would have denied marriage. But this. She gave me hope and then left. With her husband.)

He spat out the word 'husband' with so much disgust. His mother rubbed his back as she tried to console him. She felt so angry.

It was her family's problem then why was her son suffering? She should have been courageous to tell her father about her love and marriage but she chose to destroy her son's life.

She would never forgive her and neither will she let her family off the hook easily. They will have to pay for it. Their reputation was at stake.

She picked up the letter and the papers and said.

"Chal mere saath."

(Come with me.)

He wiped his tears and looked at her.

"Kaha?"

(Where?)

"Ye saara tamasha khatam krne aur iss ladki ki kartut iske ghar walo ko batane."

(Finishing this drama and telling this girl's deed to her parents.)

Aarav shook his head and said.

"Leave it mumma. Usne jo krna tha kr dia-"

(She did whatever she wanted to-)

"Aise kaise! Parso reception hai. Saare rishtedaar aa rhe hai. Kya jawab denge hum unhe? Ki ladki shaadi ki agli subha bhaag gyi? Kya izzat reh jaayegi hamari society mai. Tum chahe jitna marzi keh lo ki society doesn't matter but sach yahi hai ki it does. Jo log shaadi mai the wo ghar ke the. Lekin jo reception mai aayenge wo kitni baatein banayenge."

(How so! It's reception day after tomorrow. All the relatives are coming. What will we tell them? That the girl ran away the next day of marriage? What will be our reputation in society. Whatever you say that society doesn't matter but the truth is that it does. The people in marriage were family. But the ones who will come in reception will take ill.)

She said and started going out. He followed her knowing it was no use to tell anything to her. She was right in a way. They drove to Radhika's maiden home and rang the bell.

Her mother opened the door and was surprised to see them there.

"Arre aaiye na samdhan ji. Aap log itni subha subha."

(Come. You guys so early.)

She asked looking a little confused. The ritual was that Radhika's brother's would get her there for the Pag Phera.

"Kya kre aapki beti ne gul hi aisa khilaya hai."

(What can we do your daughter's deeds are such.)

She said angrily making her confused. Her father saw them and greeted them. Kiara was also present now.

"Mai samjhi nhi."

(I didn't understand.)

She said smiling while his mother thrusted the letter in her hand.

"Ye! Aapki beti chhod kr gyi hai. Ghar se jaane se pehle."

(This! Your daughter left this. Before leaving home.)

"Mumma aaram se."

(Mumma calm down.)

Aarav tried calming her. Now that he was calm he realised that it wasn't her parents fault.

Her parents read the letter and their expressions changed. Kiara read it from over her mother's shoulder.

Her father fell on the couch with a thud.

"Papa!"

Kiara held him and he cried joining his hands.

"Ye sab meri galti hai. Shayad mai hi apni bachi ko sahi se paal nhi paaya. Meri parvarish mai koi kami reh gyi hogi tabhi usne aaj itna bada kadam utha lia."

(This is all my fault. I couldn't upbring her properly. My upbringing might have been wrong that she did this.)

He cried and Kiara rubbed his arms hugging him. She too felt like crying. Why would her dida do something like this? Why did she not tell anyone about anything?

For the first time in her life she was hating her dida for making their father cry and join hands in front of someone.

Her mother too joined her hands and bowed her head.

"Hume maaf kr dijiye. Hume sach mai koi andaza nhi tha ki Radhu aisa kuch kr degi."

(Please forgive us. We had no idea Radhu would do something like this.)

His mother was so angry that she couldn't make sense of anything. For her, her son's happiness mattered which was snatched away the girl.

"Mai ye sab nhi jaanti. Aapki beti mere bete ka dil aur hamari izzat dono uchhal kr chali gyi. Parso reception hai saare rishtedar aa rhe hai. Kya jawab denge hum unhe?"

(I don't know all this. Your daughter had damaged my son's heart and our reputation. Its reception day after tomorrow. What will we reply?)

Her mother closed her eyes in the shame her daughter's actions were bringing them. She could have talked to them. Atleast they would have tried to understand her point of view.

"Mai aapse uski taraf se maafi maang rhi hu. Aap bataiye mai kya kru? Kaise sahi kru uski galti ko?"

(I apologise on her behalf. You tell me what do I do? How do I correct her mistake?)

Kiara felt bad that because of Radhika's actions their parents have to bow down in front of someone. She felt so angry.

'I wish I could do something jisse mere mumma papa ko ye sab na karna pade.'

She thought. But she couldn't. She could not do anything to rectify the thing her sister had done. Moresoever, she felt bad for her jiju. He was a nice man. He didn't deserve this.

Her eyes widened when she heard the next words his mother had uttered.

"Aapki beti already shaadi shuda thi. Toh ye shaadi toh kisi mayne rakhti nhi. Lekin duniya ki nazar mai shaadi toh huyi hai. Toh dulhan bhi honi zaruri hai."

(Your daughter is already married. So this marriage is a faux. But in the world's eyes the marriage has happened. So the bride is important.)

She took a pause and said the next words looking towards Kiara.

"Kiara aur Aarav ki shaadi karwa dijiye."

(Get Kiara and Aarav married.)

Everyone looked at her wide eyed.

"Mumma!"

Aarav shouted. How can she suggest something like that. Kiara was a lot younger than him and was just 19. Moreover she was his so called ex wife's sister.

"Ye-ye aap kya keh rhi hai?"

(Wha-what are you saying?)

Her mother asked and she repeated more firmly.

"Kiara aur Aarav ki shaadi krwa dijiye. Yahi ek raasta hai jisse hamari aur aapki dono ki izzat salamat reh skti hai. Ek beti toh izzat nilam krke chalo gyi abd dusri agar usse sawar de toh kya harz hai?"

(Get Kiara and Aarav married. This is the only way by which yours and ours both respect will be saved. One daughter damaged our reputation so if the other mends it what is wrong in that?)

Aarav looked at his mother angrily.

"Nhi! Aisa kuch nhi hoga. Isme Kiara ki koi galti nhi hai why punish her?"

(No! Nothing like this is happening. There is no fault of Kiara in this.)

"Aur jo uski behen ne kia?"

(What about what her sister did?)

His mother yelled back. Kiara just sat there numb.
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