Writer's POV :-

They turned back to see the person who shouted suddenly. 

A slim tall feminine silhouette, walking through the start of the lawn, came into their view. 

As she was coming by crossing the pathway opposite the lights, they couldn't clearly see his face.

"Ahh...there she is! What happened baby?" Exclaimed Neel faking the excitement.

He extended his left hand as the girl approached him and held his palm tightly.

"Neel... I won't let him marry... isne meri zindagi barbad ki hai; main bhi ise khushi khushi settle nahi hone dungi... (he had destroyed my life; I too, won't let him get settled happily)." Came her acidic reply and the venomous look she was throwing on Aakarsh.

No longer it took the Verma's and Neev to recognise this human species. The sudden entry -- though half expected -- of her, brought a change in their expression, immediately.

And, by the change in body language, perhaps, Diksha and her parents too got an idea of the identity of the girl standing in front now.

"Now, what the hell are you doing here?" Aakarsh let out an ounce of his flaming anger on her as soon as she faced him. 

Eyes turning red with the extreme rage that he was feeling running in his entire system, Aakarsh had got all his temper held by a flimsy thread of patience. 

"Easy there boy.... that's now how you talk to your would-be Bhabhi (sister-in-law; wife of elder brother)..." Neel smirked, instigating him over the 'sister-in-law' word. 

Apart from Aakarsh and Neev, others frowned over this new information.

Neel's marrying Stuti!?

Woah! The kind of news it is!

"Stuti... did you forget that I've asked you to never show your face to us. How dare you violate my words?" Krishna said, gritting her teeth, controlling her urge to beat the shit out of this imprudent girl. 

Pure hatred was dripping from every single word that left her mouth.

"Choti Maa... Com'on at least aap to swagat kijiye apni hone wali badi bahu ka (at least you do the welcome of your would-be elder daughter in-law)." Neel grinned shamelessly, knowing exactly how much his words were irking them.

"Neel... tumhe tamasha karne ki zarurat nahi hai... jo bhi kehne ke liye aaye ho, kaho aur jao iss ladki ko le kar yahan se ( you don't have to create nuisance over here... say whatever you've come to say here for and leave with this girl)." Mrinal said sternly, sensing the matter getting out of hand.

"Uncle, before Neel speaks anything...let me tell you guys that I won't let Aakarsh marry anyone." Stuti chided looking at Aakarsh with sheer hatred glazing in her eyes. 

"And who the hell are you to decide anything for Aakarsh? Last time I checked, you were the same pathetic person who didn't do anything other than scheming against her own friend." This time it was Neev who jumped in the conversation supporting his friend. That's what a true friend does, right?

"Huh... last time, right? The same last time I got to know that this friend of yours was nothing but a molester in the disguise of a friend. He is a bloody haras..." Stuti's words were abruptly stopped mid-sentence by a skin wrenching tight slap landed on her face.

No double guessing the person who would have done the honours.... *Note the sarcasm*

Diksha had enough of listening to the rantings of Stuti. Everything was under control, for her, until Stuti decided to bad mouth Aakarsh. 

Before Stuti could insult him anymore, Diksha gifted her with a tight slap; something which she had planned to do with Stuti, since the time she learnt about Aakarsh past.

The moment Stuti entered the scene, Diksha's hands were itching to give her a warm welcome gift. Slap — indeed a hot one! 

"Ae scarecrow agar ab tune apna ye dustbin jaisa muh khola, to do aise aur kheench ke lagaungi ki dharti ko matha tekte firegi (now, if you'd open this dustbin of a mouth of yours, I promise I would slap you two more times, that too so hard that you'll be seeing kissing the earth)...!" 

Like a feisty lioness roaring in the wide jungle to warn all the enemies out there, Diksha too shouted at Stuti, who was looking completely taken aback. 

"Woah man!!" Exclaimed Neev, grinning astonishingly at the fierce girl — Diksha!

"How dare you?" Neel yelled, taking a step forward in Diksha's direction.

"Stop right there if you don't wish to have a deformed facial structure before leaving..." Aakarsh said in a dead angry tone when he saw Neel approaching Diksha.

"Ohh...I see... and who is this girl precisely, if I may ask...but wait judging from the presence of the beloved old friends... She must be Diksha..." Neel said looking at Diksha and her parents. 

In return Mayank and Annapurna glared at him. But they know it's not an appropriate time to initiate any other matter. 

"That's none of your concern!" Neev interrupted. 

"Then it mustn't be your concern too, an outsider doesn't need to interrupt in family matters...you don't need to stand here." Neel cocked his left eyebrow mocking Neev's interruption.

"Yeah family... These people are my family and Ohh let me remind you, Main Neev hoon Neel nahi jo apne sage ka sath chhod doon aur use backstab karun... (I'm Neev not Neel to leave the side of my own people and backstab them.)" Neev hissed, glaring at him hard.

"You piece of..." Neel started but the next moment his words were cut off by Mrinal.

"Neel... I'm repeating it again and it would be better for all if you just explain your sudden visit here? Instead of creating a drama." Mrinal asked him menacingly as he knew this verbal quarrel could anytime turn into a full fledged fight sequence.

"Chote Papa, I will tell my motive behind visiting you, but first ask this girl to apologize to Stuti." Neel said, eyeing Diksha with an agitated look.

"I won't apologize... Maine kuch galat nahi kiya (I didn't do anything wrong)... she was insulting him ( Aakarsh)." Diksha said, stubbornly, pointing a finger to Stuti.

"Before this leads anywhere, Mrinal let's see off the guests. They are done I guess." Krishna said, getting his attention. Mrinal nodded in return.

"Diksha, show them the way to the main hall and ask Ramesh to serve refreshments to the guests." Mrinal said, referring to Neel and Stuti.

❃❃❃

They all were sitting in the hall after half an hour.

Stuti was clinging to Neel not caring about the people seated in front of them.

"Without wasting the time over mere issues, come straight to the point." Mrinal asked Neel in a no nonsense tone. 

"Okay... so this property..." Neel started, pointing towards the Maninagar's property documents.

"I want you to transfer the property on my name... in return I'll be giving two of my important factories worth the sum amount equal to Maninagar's whole property." Neel proposed. 

He took out some papers from his coat's inner pocket and slid it towards Mrinal.

"No..." Krishna protested, the moment he completed his words.

Mrinal understood her inner turmoil behind this reaction, but he knew better that it's not the time to act repulsively.

"Neel... you clearly know that we are not going to accept this proposal of yours." Said Mrinal, gesturing towards the unopened documents kept in front of him.

"Okay, if this is your decision... but, I would say that it was my duty to make a deal out of court, peacefully, but if you're not willing to grant this exchange... then be ready to face me in the court." Neel said, smirking at Aakarsh, keeping the papers back in his coat. 

"Don't be so proud over your imaginary victory... this time things won't go your way... and I'll make sure you are left with zero, at the end." Aakarsh replied to his challenging smirk.

"Let's see brother, besides there's a piece of advice, even if you come clean in terms of your background no decent girl will agree to join her name with you." Neel said, eyeing Diksha.

"Huhh... jisne apne Bhai ko dhokha dene me koi kami na chhori ho wo clean background ke bare me Baat na hi kare to Acha... (the one who didn't leave any stone unturned in betraying his own brother, must not talk about clean background)." Diksha said, gritting her teeth, trying not to pounce and beat him that instant.

"Koi momentarily sath de de to usko lifetime support samjhne ki galti mat karna (if somebody stood by your side momentarily, don't mistake it with lifetime support)... out of pity someone might help you... but no one would wish to be tagged as the wife of a harasser." Standing up with Stuti to walk out from there, Neel instigated Aakarsh at the end.

"Don't cross your limits, Neel. You can leave now." Mrinal warned him.

They walked to the door but before crossing the threshold Stuti turned back and came in front of Aakarsh.

"Tum bas kisi ladki ki zindagi kharab karoge usse shadi karke (you'll only spoil her life by marrying that girl)... knowing the fact you molested someone, you'll only ruin her life by dragging her into this pathetic life of yours. Har koi use molester ki biwi bolega... Yaad rakhna (everyone will tag her as the 'wife of a molester'... Do remember this)." She said acidly looking at Diksha and Aakarsh simultaneously.

"Tum jaisi badtameez ladki ko iss baat ki fikar karne ki zarurat nahi hai... Aakarsh se shadi karke koi bhi achi ladki khud ko luckiest hi feel kargi. Raha sawaal tumhare jhuthe allegations ka to jhooth zyada din nahi chalta... (a girl as presumptuous as you doesn't need to worry about this matter... any decent girl would feel herself luckiest enough to marry Aakarsh. And about your false allegations then let me tell you that no lie can survive forever...)."

"Think about yourself... what would happen to you once the truth is out. And this time don't even think you guys can trap him because I am there to shield him against your nasty foul play and I don't let people go without destroying them to the soil. Do remember it!" Diksha stepped in front of her covering Aakarsh. 

She said each and every word with so much determination that it not only irritated Stuti but also gave a proud feeling to her and his (Aakarsh) parents. 

Though they were surprised to see their daughter getting all protective for Aakarsh but it's clear from today's incident that even when no one would believe and support him, this feisty girl will always has his back.

Same goes with Aakarsh as the way he stopped Neel taking a step towards her, made it crystal clear that pairing up these two was not a wrong decision they took.

Aakarsh was looking at her with many emotions lining up altogether in his charcoal black eyes. 

His mind was still trying to process all the scenes and conversations that the very hall of Nakshatra witnessed just now.

Stuti didn't say anything more and left the spot stomping her feet on the ground.

❃❃❃

"No Aakarsh you can't take over the property without marriage." Niranjan Desai informed him.

They were discussing the clause and conditions of the testament when Aakarsh raised his concern of getting married.

"There should be a way!" Aakarsh said, getting frustrated.

"Aakarsh it's written in the will and you can't repel it." Mayank said seeing his frustration.

"Wo dekha maine uncle but aise conditions bane hi kyu (I saw uncle, but I just can't understand the need of such a clause)..." Aakarsh said. 

Closing his eyes he rubbed his face with both of his palms. Looking at his state Diksha was feeling a bit restless. She just wanted to provide the much needed support and warmth that he needed right now.

"Jo bhi hai bhai man na padega tujhe kyunki mujhe nahi lagta ki court Kisi bhi keemat pe iss clause ko invalid karega (whatever it is brother you have to accept it because I don't think court is gonna turn this clause invalid at any cost)..." Neev said after thinking about something.

"Par kyu...like aisa thodi na hota hai... property milni Aakarsh ko hai to isme uski biwi ki kya zarurat hai (but why? Like it doesn't make sense... it's Aakarsh who will get the property then why his wife is needed in this)? Diksha asked after reading the terms.

The parents shared a knowing look when someone exclaimed, grabbing their attention. 

"Wo isiliye kyunki chahe sari mehnat kyun na daal do isme, kisi bhi halat me Aakarsh, Tum puri property claim nahi kar sakte (that's because even after putting all your efforts in it, in no conditions Aakarsh, you can claim the whole property)..." 

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Here's the update for you guys! 🤩

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