After the Aarti, Vardhaan and Nitya together kept the thaali in front of the shivling. They joined their hands and prayed together.

'Hey Mahadev, mujhe kis baat ki sazaa mil rahi hain? Kya main apni family deserve nahi karti? Kyu mere saath aisa hua?Please, mujhse nahi bardasht ho raha abb Mahadev. Please kuchh kijiye'

'Hey Mahadev, hum yeh toh nahi jaante ki Nitya kin cheezo se guzri hongi par itna zaroor jaante hain ki aap unhe kabhi akela nahi chhodenge. Par hum unhe aur takleef mein nahi dekh sakte. Kyu? Yeh toh hum bhi nahi jaante par itna toh jaante hain ki abb hum unn par koi aanch nahi aane denge'

A tear leaked her eye while praying and she was about to wipe it off but Vardhaan beat her to it and gently wiped the lone tear with his thumb. He let his thumb caress her cheek a bit assuringly.

They were looking at each other, lost in a whirlwind of emotions, when a throat clearing brought them out of their reverie.

"Dadabhai, Nitya, you can keep the thaali back now", Vigyan snickered.

Heat crept Nitya's cheeks and she retreated her hand back from the thaali. Vardhaan kept the thaali back on its place and scratched his forehead.

" Achha bas bas stop teasing them...look ar their faces", teased Raghav.

Vardhaan threw a warning look at Raghav and Nitya sauntered quietly towards Riddhi.

"I thought you people have enough self respect left to leave quietly after all the insult Mr. Maheshwari", said Abhay.

"I am sorry Hukum sa, but we are not leaving unless Mr. Suryavanshi gives us the deal respectfully back", spatted Aarambh.

Vardhaan snickered, "Did I not make it very clear about cancelling the deal Mr. Whatever you are?"

"You can't talk to me like that!!!!! I want the DEAL. THAT'S IT", Aarambh shouted.

"Aur aapko lagta hain ki aap HUMSE, Jaisalmer ke YUVRAJ se aise baat kar sakte hain? Don't you think that you should keep your voice in check in front of me? When you are well aware of what I can do to you", smirked Vardhaan.
(And do you think you can talk to ME, the CROWN PRINCE of Jaisalmer in this way?)

"Agar thodi si bhi sharam bachi ho toh aap logo ko nhi lagta ki aap logo ko yaha se abhi chale jaana chahiye", Anuj said.
(If you have atleast some shame left, you should have left by now)

Rituraj went near Nitya and shouted, "Dekh liya manhoos??!!! Aaj teri wajah se kitni beizzati ho rahi hain..sabko apne iss achhai ke dhong mein phaas ke hume bura bana rahi hain. Peecha chhod de humaara aur kitna barbaad karegi hume".
(See you bad omen??!!! Today we had to face such grave insult only because of you...you have trapped everyone in your facade of goodness and now trying to frame us as bad. Just leave us alone, what else do you want to destroy for us)

She was about to answer when her head felt light and black dots appeared in front of her eyes. She heard her father's voice calling her drama, some snickers from her family, a faint Naina from her bhabhi, before Vardhaan's voice reached her ears and she felt herself engulfed in a strong pair of arms as a warm familiar cologne hit her nostrils before she lost consciousness, uttering just one word......Vardhaan.

Vardhaan held an unconscious Nitya in his embrace firmly. He looked at his mother for consent and when she nodded he picked her unconscious form in his arms and walked to the guest room .

He settled Nitya on the bed and covered her with a duvet. He called Ragini to check on Nitya and then called Vigyan.

While Ragini was checking Nitya, Vardhaan's eyes were fixed on her and he said to Vigyan, " Make sure the Maheshwaris don't leave till I come out there".

"Yes Dadabhai, they won't leave right now. I will make sure of that", saying this Vigyan left.

"Maa sa, Nitya theek toh hain na, achaanak behosh kaise ho gayi?", Vardhaan asked.
(Maa sa, Nitya is fine right? How did she faint all of a sudden?)

Ragini shook her head disappointed and heaved a long sigh saying, "She fainted because of all the fiasco and stress. She had an anxiety attack".

Vardhaan shut his eyes close and gritted his teeth, fisting his palms.

"Let's go out, she needs rest", saying this Ragini left, Vardhaan trailed behind her.

He stood by the door looking at Nitya, "Maa sa, hosh aane tak ruk jaate hain", he said.
(Maa sa, let's wait till she gains consciousness)

Ragini looked at the tensed and worried face of her son and said, "Theek hain ruk jaao tum thodi der, bas agar Nitya ko kisi zaroorat ho toh bula lena".
(Fine, you can stay back for sometime, also let me know if and when Nitya needs something)

"Yes Maa sa, and please do make sure the Maheshwaris don't leave right now. I need to personally see them off", he gritted his teeth at the last part.

Ragini nodded and was about to leave the room when they saw Kritika at the doorstep.

"Yes, you need something?", Ragini asked.

She looked at Vardhaan who was pressing his temples to control his anger and then at Nitya lying on bed.

"Dekhiye Rani sa, main jaanti hu ki aaj yaha jo kuchh bhi hua usse aapka function kharaab hua hain. Jo bhi hua nahi hona chahiye tha", Vardhaan cut her off .

(Rani sa, I know whatever has happened today has spoiled your function. Whatever has happened, shouldn't have.)

"Aap bilkul galat soch rahi hain Mrs. Maheshwari. Hume chinta kisi function ke kharaab hone ki nahi hain. Hume koi fark nahi padta ki aaj ka function kaisa guzra. Hume chinta hain toh basss Nitya ki. Aaj aapki family ne unki sagi beti ke saath, aur khaaskar aapke pati ne jo apni sagi behen ke saath kiya hain usse aap logo ko sharm aani chahiye. Galat Nitya nahi, aap log hain".

(You are thinking it all wrong Mrs. Maheshwari. I don't care about the function bring spoiled. I care only about Nitya. Whatever your family has done today with their own daughter, and especially what your husband did today with his own sister, you people should be ashamed of that. Nitya is not wrong, you all are)

"Main jaanti hu Yuvraj, jo bhi Nitya ke saath ho raha hain...aisa sulook kisi ke saath nahi hona chahiye and please trust me I love Naina like my own sister. Main toh bass ek baar ke liye use dekhne aayi thi", saying this Kritika walks towards the bed and gently caresses Nitya's head, dropping a chaste kiss on her forehead.

(I know Yuvraj, whatever is happening with Nitya...no one should be treated this way. I just came to see her once)

"I won't ask you the reason behind all this as I know it's Nitya's place to tell. I hope she trusts me someday enough to tell everything.  But, I'll certainly make sure that she does not have to go through all this humiliation ever again", Vardhaan said with a determined voice.

He glanced at Nitya's sleeping figure and was about to leave the room when he heard her whimpering.

He rushed to her side and sat beside her, his hand instinctively coming up to caress her head.

Her eyes jerked open with tears flowing out free.

Nitya held his other hand and started rambling fearfully.

"Yuvraj, Yuvraj woh woh mujhe maar denge . Baba mujhe maar denge. Nafrat karte hain sab mujhse, woh maar denge mujhe..."

(Yuvraj, they will kill me. Baba will kill me. Everyone hates me, they will kill me....)

She kept whimpering badly so Vardhaan pulled her into a hug and caressed her head which he kept on his broad chest.

"Shhh....kuchh nahi hoga...humne waada kiya hain naa aapse ki kuchh nahi hone denge. Aap humara bharosa karti hain na?"

(Shh....nothing will happen...I promised you right? That I won't let anything go wrong. You trust me right?)

She nodded and hummed on his chest.

She looked at him again and said with a low determined voice.

"I want to fight it Yuvraj. I can't let them hurt me and my self respect anymore. I can't let them walk over me anymore just because them being my family. Main abb aur beizzati bardasht nahi kar sakti woh bhi apne khud ke gharwaalo ki di hui. Yeh nahi hoga abb aur mujhse".

(I can't tolerate this humiliation anymore, that too given by my own family. I can't do this anymore)

"Nitya, I am glad that you took this decision. But right now, you need some rest okay? Till then, please let me handle it".

She nodded and he helped her lay back on bed. He waited till she was asleep, which was quick due to the medicines. As she fell asleep, he placed a soft lingering kiss on her forehead and left the room.

He went back to the living room where everyone was waiting for him. His expressions hardened again as his eyes met the Maheshwari men who seemed so chilled out as if they were on a picnic.

Ragini and Aditi rushed to his side and asked "Nitya theek hain abhi?".

His eyes softened a bit at her mention and he gave them a soft nod.

His focus went back on the Maheshwaris and he walked up to them.

Noticing his presence, Aarambh looked at him with a sly smirk.

"So....you realised that the deal is important Mr. Suryavanshi?"

"Huhh...soo delusional and money minded aren't you Mr. Maheshwari?", Vardhaan asked him amused.

"Ohhh soo you believe the words of that murderer now. Right?"

And with that, the last string of Vardhaan's already thin running patience was cut off.

"ENOUGH!!!! Abb maine Nitya ke khilaaf kuchh bhi suna toh You will regret your life", everyone flinched at Vardhaan's shout.

"I will make sure that girl gets the punishment she deserves", Aarambh still said with wavering courage.

"LEAVEEE!!!! I SWEAR IF YOU TRY TO DO ANYTHING TO HER , I WILL MAKE SURE YOU SEE HELL FOR NEXT SEVEN LIFES. AND YOU VERY WELL KNOW I AM CAPABLE OF DOING THAT", with this he dragged Aarambh out by collar with the other Maheshwaris trailing behind.

He came back to the shocked faces of his family, not by Vardhaan's actions but by Aarambh's low words for his own sister.

"Maa sa, I was thinking that you should ask Nitya to stay here for a few days", Vardhaan said.

"Sure beta, I was thinking the same. She shouldn't be living alone atleast for sometime, after all that happened today", Ragini said with a sad tone.

"We can't even imagine what pain she must have gone through due to her family", Aditi said with a pained expression.

"And Akriti, Meera you people should make sure to not let her feel alone", Malini asked the youngsters who nodded.

"Bhabhi sa, please let us know if and when she needs anything. Usse yaha kisi bhi cheez ki kami nahi mehsoos honi chahiye", Anuj joined in.

(She should not feel any kind of lacking while she is staying here)

"Aur aaj jo bhi hua, uske baare mein abb se koi baat nahi hogi. Yaad rahe ki Nitya ke saamne yaa uski gair maujoodgi mein aaj ke baare mein koi baat naa ho", Abhay said with finality, gaining a nod from everyone.

(And there should be no discussion about whatever has happened today. Remember everyone, nothing about today's happenings should be uttered in front of Nitya or even behind her back)

"Par usse yaha rehne ke liye kahega kaun..jisse woh manaa naa kar paaye, main toh usko force bhi nahi kar paaungi rehne ke liye", Ragini said concerned.

(But who will persuade her to stay here...so that she can't deny, I won't be able to even force her to stay here)

"Maa sa, don't worry. Leave all that to me. You all are also tired, you should go and take rest", Vardhaan said.

Everyone nodded and left for their rooms.

Vardhaan walked upstairs and before moving to his room, entered Nitya's room which was opposite to his.

He saw her sleeping peacefully. He walked up to her side and caressed her head. Dropping a relieved kiss on her forehead, he murmured, "Hum waada karte hain aapse, aap yeh ladaai khud ladengi, par hum aapke saath khade rahenge". With one last look, he left her room.

(I promise you, you will fight this battle yourself, but I will be standing right beside you)

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Finallyyyy!!!! Completed the chapterr!!!!

I hope you guys liked it...

Sooo....how does it feel to have two forehead kisses in this chapter??!!! Let me tell you I am a sucker for forehead kisses toh woh toh bohot hone wali hain future chapters meinn!!!

Let me know through comments, how was the chapter and don't forget to vote!!!

Your Author, D.
Signing off till the next part.
See you soon❤️