"Ji woh matter sort out ho gaya Nanisa Hukum"Shiv said as he sipped the evening tea with her.

"Toh galti kiski thi?"Nanisa Hukum asked as she was curious to know whose mistake it was.

Yesterday Iti had been very confident as well as determinant in saying that it was his staff's fault and not hers.This was the first time she had seen the shy,quiet girl being so vocal about something other than books.

"Hamare finance department ki galti thi"Shiv said with a small smile as he remembered how Iti had proven she wasn't at fault.

Nanisa Hukum had an impressive expression hearing that.So her daughter in law was right.

"Jaane anjaane mein hi sahi pr aapne sahi ladki se shadi ki h Pratap"Nanisa Hukum said and Shiv knew this.

Even though she wasn't his choice and the two hadn't got the time to know each other and were forcefully tied together,she was a good girl at the end of the day.

A simple,sorted girl who loved books.

"Hai kaha woh wese?"Nanisa Hukum asked and Shiv smiled hearing that.

"Aur kaha hongi? library mein hi bethi h"Shiv said and Nanisa Hukum shook her head at that.

There were only two places in the whole palace where Iti sat,one is the library and the other is their bedroom.

"Kitni kitabe padhti h!"Nanisa Hukum exclaimed and Shiv agreed with her.

"Aap dono mein sab kese chal raha h?"Nanisa Hukum asked even though she knew the two were trying to get along.

"Sab thik h Nanisa Hukum"Shiv said not elaborating much and the elder lady understood.

"Aap dono ko kahi bahar jaana chahiye,ghumne ke liye"She said and he frowned hearing that.

"Kyu?"He asked.

"Nayi,nayi shadi hui h aap dono ki,ek woh h ki saara din kitabe padhti rehti h aur ek aap h jo saara din office mein hi rehte h,waqt kab guzarenge aap dono saath mein?"She asked and Shiv didn't what to reply to that.

It was true,the two didn't get much time together,they both were busy doing their own stuff in the day and Shiv would be tired so he retires to bed early while she keeps reading for a lil bit more and then sleeps.

"Hum dekhte h"Shiv said making the elderly lady nod at him.

Gauravi too joined them then and the three continued talking.

"Aapko aur Iti ko ek baar aapke papa ke ghar jaana chahiye Pratap"Nanisa Hukum said and before Shiv could reply Gauravi did.

"Kyu Nanisa Hukum?wese bhi waha jaakr kya krna h?hame woh log nhi pasand,bhabhisa ko faltu pareshani hogi"Gauravi said and Nanisa Hukum gave her a disappointed look.

"Woh aapke pita h,shadi ke baad aapko ek baar apni patni ke saath unke Ghar jaana chahiye Pratap"Nanisa Hukum said looking at her eldest grandson.

"Woh toh apne papa hone ki zimmedariya nibha nhi paaye,bhaisa kyu bete hone ke farz nibhaye?"Gauravi said and Nanisa Hukum yet again gave her a disappointed look.

"Gauravi"Shiv said asking her to not say anything else.

"Nhi bhaisa,aapko nhi jaana chahiye waha,wese bhi Nanisa Hukum unhe bhaisa aur bhabhisa ko bulana chahiye tha na?bin bulaye hi Udaipur ke Ranasa aur Ranisa chale jayenge kya kahi bhi?"Gauravi said then.

"Apne maa-baap ke ghar jaane ke liye invitation ki zarurat nhi hoti Gauravi"Shiv said and Gauravi sighed.

No matter what her brother didn't ever side with her when it comes to their paternal family.

"Kyu unhe itna accha samajhte h aap?hame toh dekhna tak pasand nhi unn logo ko"Gauravi said and Shiv glared at her making her furious too.

"Thik h kijiye aap jo aapko thik lagta h woh,pr hum ab bhi keh rahe h aur aage bhi kehte rahenge ki woh log thik nhi h"Gauravi said and left from their making the two sigh.

"Gauravi ka gussa jayaz h Pratap"Nanisa Hukum said and Shiv nodded as he agreed with her.

On the other hand,Gauravi went to the library to be with her bhabhisa after getting furious with her brother.

"Hum ander aa jaaye bhabhisa?"Gauravi asked as she stood at the door.

Iti on seeing her immediately sat properly and closed the book she was reading and asked her to enter inside.

The dogs who were sitting with their heads on Iti's lap too saw who entered and then again relaxed and laid down.

Gauravi sat with a slump and her face had an agitated, furious look which Iti noticed instantly.

Being the quiet girl she was good at observing people.

"Kuch hua h kya Gauravi?"Iti couldn't help but ask as her sister in law seemed pissed and she had never seen her like this.

"Aapke pati ko samjhana itna mushkil kyu h bhabhisa?"Gauravi asked as she sat with her legs folded on the couch.

Iti was a lil amused hearing her statement.

"Aur aapke kuch nhi h woh?"Iti couldn't help but say which made Gauravi sulk.

"Abhi ke liye toh nhi h!sunte hi nhi h hamari baat kabhi!"Gauravi said and Iti waited patiently to let her say whatever she wanted to.

"Sabko dikhayi de jaata h ki woh kese h!yaha tak ki Veer ko bhi,jinhe sabhi log acche lagte h,unhe bhi papa aur unki family nhi pasand aur ek bhaisa h jo pata nhi kyu itna acche se pesh aate h unse!"Gauravi said and Iti understood it was regarding Shiv's father's side of the family.

She knew Gauravi and Veer didn't like their paternal family because she has heard them trying to avoid meeting them many times in the past month.

"Agar aapko bhaisa kahe na ki aap dono ko papa ke ghar jaana h toh aap mana kr dijiyega"Gauravi said and Iti shook her head at that.

"Hum kese mana kr de?woh aapke papa h,hum aisa nhi kr sakte Gauravi"Iti said and Gauravi sighed.

"Aap dono ko itna accha kyu banna h?"Gauravi asked making Iti smile.

"Bhabhisa trust me bhua sa aur dadisa bht kharab h,bhaisa ke saamne acche bante h aur unke peeth peeche baatein krte h,hame bhi bht taane deti h pr hum toh palat kr bol dete h unhe,Veer pagal h jo sunte h unki baatein aur phir bura manate h unn baaton ka!"Gauravi said and Iti agreed with her because even in her first meeting with them they had tried to demean her.

They were the ones who had taunted her for not being from a royal family and also that she came in between Shiv and Aradhya.

She didn't liked them too.

"Pr kya kare hum?agar aapke Bhaisa ko milne jaana h unse toh hame bhi jaana padega na unke saath"Iti said as she caressed the dogs heads and Gauravi pouted hearing that.

"Pr dekhiyega aapko bhi kuch khaas pasand nhi aayenge woh dono"Gauravi said and Iti didn't say anything but agreed with her.

She already didn't like them.

"Toh aap yaha bethi h"Shiv's voice caught their attention and Iti stared at him while Gauravi didn't even spared him a glance.

"Aapse hi baat kr rahe h hum Rajkumar sa"Shiv said amusedly as he knowingly went and sat beside his sister even though there wasn't much space on the couch as Iti,Gauravi and the two dogs sat on it.

"Waha pr jaakr bethiye na aap!"Gauravi said irritatedly and he just chuckled at her as he wrapped his arm around his lil sister's shoulder which she tried to remove.

"Acha hamari baat toh suniye"He said.

"Aapne suni thi?"She said and he sighed.

"Gauravi Nanisa Hukum chahti h hum unse milne jaaye"He said.

"Aap unhe mana kr sakte h bhaisa"Gauravi said.

"Hame bhi woh kuch khaas pasand nhi h wese"Shiv said and she narrowed her eyes at him.

"Phir bhi milne jaa rahe h unse!"She said.

"Haa kyuki hum nhi chahte koi bhi Nanisa Hukum ke baare mein baatein kare"He said.

"Kiski itni himmat ki Udaipur ki Ranima ke baare mein baatein kare?"Gauravi asked making him smile at her.

"Log toh baatein krte hi h na?aap toh jaanti hi h,wese bhi yeh bas formality h jo hame puri krni h"He said.

"Hum nhi chahte aap ya bhabhisa ya koi bhi unke ghar jaaye,hame nhi pasand woh log,bhua sa toh ekdam nagin h nagin,aur dadisa nagin ki maa"Gauravi said and Shiv gestured her not to say that.

"Ab yahi sach h"Gauravi said and he sighed.

"Hum isliye waha jaa rahe h taaki koi yeh na kahe ki Nanisa Hukum hame apne papa ki family se milne se rokti h,ya koi yeh na kahe ki Nanisa Hukum ki wajah se hamara rishta unse accha nhi h"Shiv said and Gauravi stared at him.

"Rishta Nanisa Hukum ki wajah se nhi,unki wajah se hi kharab h!unhone kabhi hamare baare mein nhi socha aur jab ab aap Rana sa ban gaye h toh unhe yaad aaya ki woh hamare papa h"Gauravi said angrily and Shiv sighed.

"Gauravi,aap kyu itna gussa krke khud ka hi mann kharab krti h?agar woh log itne important hi nhi h toh kyu itna sochna unke baare mein?aisa kyu nhi sochti ki jese aap roz itne saare logo se milti h wese hi unse bhi mil rahi h"Shiv asked and she shook her head in denial at that.

"Kyuki kisi se bhi milne pr hame hamara bachpan yaad nhi aata! Yeh yaad nhi aata ki papa hone ke bawajood bhi anath jese rahe h hum,yeh yaad nhi aata ki grandparents ke naam pr sirf Nanisa Hukum hi thi hamare paas!yeh yaad nhi aata ki itne saare log hone ke bawajood bhi sirf Nanisa Hukum aur aapne sambhala h hame!"Gauravi said as angry tears poured down her eyes and Shiv wrapped his other arm around her,taking her in his embrace.

As Iti heard her she felt bad.She hadn't known about their childhood.She knew their parents were divorced but she didn't know it was this ugly.

"Itne saare aansu?woh bhi unn logo ke liye?itni ahemiyat kyu Gauravi?"He asked and she shook her head in denial at that.

"Ahemiyat nhi gussa h"She whispered.

"Aap ek Rajkumari h,aapka gussa bhi bht keemti h,hrr kisi pr thodi nikal sakti h aap yeh"He said as he caressed her hair.

As he consoled his sister Iti sat not knowing what she should say.

"Aur anath mat kahiyega apne aap ko aage se kabhi bhi!hum h,Nanisa Hukum h,ab toh Iti bhi h!phir anath kese hui aap?anath woh hota h jiska koi nhi hota?aapke liye toh itne saare log h na yaha?"Shiv said as he broke the hug and wiped her tears with his thumbs as he cupped her face.

Fang and Nimbus got down off  the couch and stood infront of Gauravi barking at her as she cried.

"Haa dekhiye yeh dono bhi toh h na?"Shiv said and Gauravi chuckled at that and patted the two dogs who jumped on her and licked her face off the tears.

"Bas,bas bas!"Gauravi said as she chuckled.

Shiv smiled as he saw her and patted her head,Gauravi hugged him tightly in response and he smiled at her.

"Pr phir bhi hum nhi chahte ki aap unke ghar jaaye!"Gauravi said as she broke the hug and he sighed.

"Thik h toh nhi jaatein bas?!aap bas roiye mat"Shiv said and patted her head and Gauravi smiled and hugged him again.

"Hame pata tha aap hamari baat zarur manenge!"Gauravi said as she happily got up from the couch.

"Hum jaa rahe h Nanisa Hukum ko batane ki aap dono nhi jaa rahe waha!"She happily said as she ran out of the library making him shake his head at her antics.

As the two were left alone neither of them knew what to say.

Iti didn't know how he must be feeling at this moment.

"Yeh gussa aur nafrat hamare papa ne khud kamaya h,chahe kitni hi koshish kr le Veer aur Gauravi kabhi bhul nhi payenge woh sab,dono kaafi chote the,baaki baccho ke papa ko unke saath dekhte toh woh bhi zidd krte ki hamare papa bhi ho hamare saath,pr hamare papa ko fursat hi kaha thi,ab jab inhe unki zarurat nhi toh woh aana chahte h hamari zindagi mein wapas"Shiv spoke with a sigh and Iti couldn't help but hold his palm as she rubbed circles on it with her thumb.

"Nanisa Hukum ne hi paala h hum teeno ko,unhone khud ka na sochte huye hame khush rakhne mein hi apni zindagi laga di"Shiv said as he stared at her and then looked away.

"Maybe hame inn dono ko force nhi krna chahiye"Shiv spoke as if asking her and Iti nodded her head at that.

"Agar unhe khud se milna ho toh thik h,zabardasti krke unhe hurt kyu krna?"Iti said and Shiv nodded at that.

___________________________

Iti and Shiv's bedroom,

"Wese aapne pucha nhi humse ki aapki salary kitni hogi?"Shiv asked as he remembered they have never discussed her salary.

Iti stared at him and then shrugged her shoulders at that.

"Iti,hum serious h"Shiv said as he settled beside her on the bed.

"Hame nhi pata,wese bhi kya farak padta h kitni salary ho"Iti said then looking up at him from her book.

"Aise kese farak nhi padta?aapke apne paise h woh,aapko humse demand krni chahiye salary"Shiv said but she again shrugged her shoulders at that.

"Hamare paas hamare apna credit card h aur har mahine hamare mumma-papa,dadu-dadi hamare account mein paise daalte h hamare expenses ke liye"Iti said and Shiv stared at her in disbelief.

In a generation where girls want to be independent and make their own money she was fine using her family's money.

"Aapko nhi lagta aapko khud kamana chahiye?"He asked.

"Kama toh rahe h hum"Iti said and he sighed.

"Iti yeh aap bhi jaanti h ki yeh job aapke caliber se bht neeche h,aapko isse bhi badiya job mil sakti h ya aap khud ka kuch shuru kr sakti h,yeh job kyu kr rahi h files audit krne ka?"He asked curiously as he had run a background check on her and had come to know she was a prodigy at whatever she does.

"Hame aisa kuch nhi krna,hum isi mein khush h"Iti said.

She never dreamt of anything huge,money wasn't the motivation for her work, passion was.

If she doesn't even makes money she is fine with it,her family earns enough to last her life long and she is not being dependent through this, it's just that she doesn't has that passion of being independent and making her own money.She hardly cares what she earns as long as she is having fun in doing the job.

"Acha toh life long aapko sirf files audit krna h?"Shiv couldn't help but ask,she was wasting her talent.

"Hame koi problem nhi h usse"Iti said making him sigh deeply.

"Iti,aap bhale hi khush hongi iss job se pr hum nhi chahte ki aap kuch aisa kare jo aapke liye bana hi nhi h,aap woh kijiye na jismein aapko challenge mile,yeh aapke baye haath ka khel h,kaam woh Karo jisse roz kuch naya seekhne ko milta h,jisse satisfaction mile"Shiv said as he turned completely towards her.

Iti sighed.

She didn't know what she had to do in her career.She did CA because it seemed tough and was challenging but now when she is a CA she doesn't find the job that satisfying or challenging,she can't do business because she tried doing it for her bhui and chote dadu's sake and gave up within 3 months,it was monotonous and involved a lot of interaction with people which she hated to the core.

So as of now she didn't know what she wanted to do.

"Hame nhi pata hame kya krna h aage life mein,Nanisa Hukum ne kaha ki hame job krni chahiye aur aapne offer kr di job toh hamne accept kr li,hame maza nhi aa raha h files check krne mein aur audit krne mein,hame bhi kuch challenging krna h pr hame pata hi nhi ki hamara passion kya h"Iti said and Shiv nodded as he heard her.

She was young, obviously she wouldn't know what she had to do with her life.

"Pr hum abhi ke liye toh yeh job karenge,khaali bethne se accha h kuch kr le,salary waghera ka aap dekh lijiye,hame koi interest nhi h inn sab cheezon mein"Iti said and Shiv sighed but nodded his head at that.

Shiv laid down on the

bed and even asked Iti to sleep who was still reading.

A few moments later Shiv felt some moment and a hand sneaking over his torso,a head resting over his chest and a leg moving over his waist.

He smiled and closed his eyes.