Chapter 5 : Agar Tum Saath Ho

Diya-Rahul's Bungalow

Arvind is seen getting ready when his wife Shweta comes from the adjacent room which happens to be of Rahul and Diya with alot of jewelry options to select from

"Arvind, Diya has given me now so many jewelry pieces to choose from that it's going way above my head to choose from, she is taking a shower so I have to decide myself, but can't seem to choose one.Please help me selecting one.?"

"Shweta, Aarohi se pooch lo, woh hai humari ghar ki fashion stylist, yeh baat alag hai ki yeh ghar humara nahi bas jab tak ghar ki renovation chal rahi aur laad sahab ki shaadi ki rasamein na ho jaaye joh issi ghar mein jahan pe uske dono baap ke shaadi ki rasamein bhi hui thi".

"Agar woh ghar pe hoti toh pooch leti, Maysha aur Aarohi dono subah se parlour mein hai batao bhai ki shaadi hai aur dono aise apne aap ko tayyar karni baithi hai parlour mein jaise apni ho".

Arvind comes and hugs Shweta from behind while she trying to figure out which jewelry set matches to her outfit "Toh hone wale Dulhe ki mumma aap bhi wahi kar rahi ho joh uske behene kar hai."

"Arvind par mein kahan itna makeup ya hairstyling kar rahi hoon? Mein toh bas jewelry ka hi dekh rahi thi?"

"Par baat toh ek hi na"

"Hmm, chalo teek hai...waise batao na Arvind in mein se kaunsa necklace mere iss outfit se match karega?"

"Yeh" he points the necklace to her and she becomes happy "Teek hai aap kehte hai toh mein yeh haar pehenti hoon".

"Teek hai..acha Rahul ready hai?"

"Haan woh Rudy ke kamre mein gaya hai abhi".

"Oh okay, mein bhi jaata hoon".

Shweta nods her head and she takes the jewelry piece towards the dressing table and ties the piece onto her neck but the moment she was about to hook the necklace Arvind comes from behind and hooks it for her

"Abh meine choose kiya hai yeh necklace, toh mein hi apni khubsoorat patni ko sajaaun"

"Arvind"

He then applies sindhoor on her forehead which was missing from her look.

"There you go Mrs.Kothari, now you look perfect as the To be Groom's mother".

Shweta blushes.

---

The hall of Rahul's and Diya's bungalow had been beautifully decorated for the engagement party of their son.The guests start entering and the entrance stands Arvind and Rishabh welcoming the guests.

While welcoming the guest Rishabh cracks a joke with Arvind

"Bhaisahab maana padega, hum dono ki kismat almost ek jaise hi hai jahan pe hum kisi aur ke bache ko apna naam dekhe aur abh unki shaadi karva rahe hai".

"Yeh baat toh sahi" Arvind laughs at his joke which is undoubtley true.

*

As the guest gather and cheer for the to bride to be and groom to be as they descend down the stairs with their groom men and bridesmaids .

Ayush, Palki's step brother along with Shayan accompanied Rudra while Palki was accompanied by Maysha and Aarohi.

Maira who is seen holding the arm of Ishaan enjoying the moment as her brother becomes a fiance.Palki's step dad Rishab is seen being with delight with his wife Preeta as they see their daughter getting engaged.

Rahul and Diya were feeling just as overwhelmed just like Arvind and Shweta seeing their little grown up so big.

Mayank and Shaira smiled seeing their union as Rudra and Palki exchanged rings.

Suddenly Maira gets a call and she takes out her phone and she sees the caller id and it happens to be Maan, she doesn't answer his call and puts it on silent.

*

Maira goes upstairs to the terrace and tries to calm her anxiety, she lets out a sigh and says to herself "Here even though am with Ishaan posing as a happily married couple, but yet am not happy with us parting ways, and on the other hand with Maan's existence back into my life, and having a feeling that may be there is more to Maan and Aarti's situation that had met my eye back then for which I need answers and seeking answers will only mean that I am still not over Maan and what if Maan was used by Aarti and he wasn't in his senses like Maan claimed to be and which could be also the a truth which I had denied.But if we ever get back together after Ishaan and I split I wonder if Maan too would want to have children and am sure he would be.Kanha ji this is all going above my head, and am seeming like a selfish person.My emotions are all over the place."

Shweta who has been searching for Maira reaches the terrace and finds relieved seeing Maira, she walks up to her.

"Maira? What are you doing here dear?"

"Shweta maasi!" she turns back and hugs Shweta "Maasi..." she starts to sob

"Maira what happened, you scaring me, please tell me what happened dear?"

"Maasi, given your experience in your love life with being married with Arvind Mausaji and Papa as your ex...I need you to just try to help my friend who might be feeling too much overwhelmed with similar emotions."

"Okay! I can but this friend here who is herself feeling so much for a friend should stop crying and tell me the problem for which I help by giving an advice for your friend.Alright".

Maira wipes her tears and explained the situation.

"Maira given the scenario, I feel that your friend needs to give each relationship time, the one with her husband will have it's own fated ending but while maintaning professional conduct with the ex your friend should just maintain professionalism until she has moved on from the divorce proceedings, because dealing with the past with ongoing divorce will only lead to problems and not solutions, if past requires closure or a new beginning everything will fall into place at the right time.For now your friend has to only be concerned regarding how she can ease out her pain while going through the divorce.I hope my advice will help benefit your friend Maira".

"Yes Maasi, thanks well actually she is a childhood friend whom I have known her very closely and thats why seeing her distress, made me also feel sad for her situation."

"I understand, anyways Maira fix your eye make up, Ishaan might be awaiting for you for dinner.Don't keep Ishaan waiting while you think so much for your friend's situation".

Maira laughs through her tears "Yes Shweta Maasi and Maasi please can this conversation be between us? I just don't want Mom and Mama to be worried ".

"Understood my dear, don't worry".

Shweta cups her chin with her hand and then taps her back signalling her that she is heading downstairs and for her to comedown shortly.

Shweta leaves, and Maira stays back for a moment longer. She smooths her saree, takes a deep breath, fixes her mascara, and looks at her reflection in the glass door.

“Pull yourself together,” she murmurs. “For Rudra and everyone.”

Her phone vibrates again.

Maan (missed call – 2)

She locks the screen without calling back.

Downstairs, the music has softened into dinner-time chatter. Ishaan is standing near the buffet, speaking politely to Mayank and Shaira. The moment he spots Maira, his expression changes—relief, familiarity, something achingly tender.

“There you are,” he says softly when she reaches him. “I thought you got lost in the crowd.”

She smiles, slipping her arm into his. “Just needed some air.”

“You okay?” he asks, instinctively.

She nods. “Yeah. Just… emotional day.”

He doesn’t push. Instead, he squeezes her hand once—grounding, steady. The kind of touch that reminds her why falling out of love with him feels impossible.

Nearby, Maysha laughed lightly, leaning toward Ayush at the drinks counter. He handed her a mocktail with a sly grin.

“So,” Ayush said casually, “do you always flirt this effortlessly at family gatherings, or am I just lucky?”

Maysha rolled her eyes, laughing. “Careful… you’re flirting with the groom’s sister.”

“Lucky me, then,” he said, smiling. “She’s keeping me entertained.”

From a little distance away, Mayank has been watching the exchange. He nudges Shaira gently.

“Do you see that?” he murmurs.

Shaira follows his gaze to Maysha and Ayush, then looks back at him. “What about it?”

“That… right there,” he says, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “That ease. That stupid confidence.”

She raises an eyebrow. “You’re comparing yourself to him now?”

Mayank chuckles softly. “I’m remembering myself. Your cousin’s wedding. Me landing up uninvited, pretending I belonged.”

Shaira exhales a quiet laugh. “You didn’t pretend. You acted like you owned the place.”

“And somehow,” he says, glancing at her, “you still talked to me.”

She squeezes his hand lightly. “Deja vu doesn’t mean destiny,” she says gently. “Let’s just hope things happens for her own good.”

Mayank nods, eyes lingering on Maysha for a moment longer before the music pulls his attention back to the present.

Maira’s gaze drifted toward the counter, where Maysha and Ayush were laughing together, their conversation easy and unguarded. A soft smile curved her lips. For the first time that evening, something inside her felt uncomplicated.

Ishaan followed her line of sight. “Your sister seems… happy,” he said quietly.

“Yes,” Maira said, her voice gentle but sure. “She really does.”

At that moment, the music swelled again, drawing everyone’s attention back to the celebration. The photographer called out, signaling the family to gather for a group photo. Guests began moving toward the center of the hall, clapping lightly, their excitement rippling through the space.

Maira straightened her posture, letting the moment settle. She offered Ishaan a small, reassuring smile and stepped forward with him, merging into the flow of guests.

*

The evening at Maan’s place was loud in the way only toddlers could manage. One of Roshni’s twin boys was busy lining up toy cars on the floor, while the other sat beside Maan on the couch, stubbornly trying to climb onto his lap.

“Arre, slow down,” Maan laughed, lifting his nephew and settling him beside him. “One at a time.”

Roshni watched from the kitchen doorway, arms crossed, amused. “See? They listen to you more than me.”

“That’s because I’m not their mother,” he said easily. “I’m the novelty.”

She walked over, handing him a glass of water. “You’re good with them, Maan. You ever think you’d make a great father?”

Maan glanced down at his nephew and chuckled softly. “Yeah… but that’s where it ends. I don’t want one of my own. Ever.”

Roshni paused, genuinely surprised. “Ever?” She looked at him now. “Why? You’d make a good father. And honestly—” she waved her hand lightly, “—with those genes, it feels like a waste.”

He laughed, but there was conviction in his voice. “I don’t see it that way. The world is already overcrowded, resources are stretched, and half the kids born don’t even get what they deserve. Economically, socially—it doesn’t make sense to me.”

She raised an eyebrow. “That’s your TED Talk answer. What’s the real one?”

Maan exhaled slowly. “I just don’t want to be responsible for another human life. I believe in nurturing—just not that way. Give me dogs any day. I’d rather parent strays than bring a child into a world I don’t believe in.”

Roshni studied him for a moment, then said casually, “But one day you’ll marry, right? What if the woman you love wants a child?”

Maan didn’t hesitate. “Then we talk about it before marriage. No surprises. No compromises that turn into resentment later.”

Roshni nodded, thoughtful. “Fair. So… are you seeing someone?”

He looked away, his jaw tightening just a little. “I wish I could,” he said quietly. “But she’s… off the market. Married. And there are things left unsaid between us. Things that need closure.”

Roshni’s expression softened instantly. She knew without him saying the name.

“Maira,” she said gently.

Maan didn’t respond, which was answer enough.

Roshni leaned forward, her voice calm but firm. “If she’s married and happy then step away. Closure isn’t worth wrecking someone else’s peace.”

“I wouldn’t do that,” he said quickly.

“I know you think that,” she replied. “But you’re already working together. That’s risky enough. Don’t insert yourself emotionally just to feel better. Don’t become the third wheel in her marriage.”

One of the boys tugged at Roshni’s dupatta, demanding attention. She lifted him effortlessly.

“Keep it professional, Maan,” she said, meeting his eyes. “Some truths don’t heal—they just complicate.”

Maan nodded slowly. His phone lay face down on the table. Two missed calls he hadn’t returned.

“I’ll be careful,” he said.

Roshni held his gaze. “Promise.”

“I promise.”

And yet, somewhere between the sound of toddler laughter and the silence of unanswered calls, Maan knew—some promises were already beginning to fray.