Plot
Mangal, a 35-year-old uneducated woman but a dedicated homemaker, lives with her husband, their two children, and her in-laws. Lakshmi, her cousin, a 22-year-old orphan, lives with Mangal's parents and works as a tailor to support the family. Mangal's husband, Adit, is a highly educated, 40-year-old, handsome but irascible man who works as a senior manager in a company. He detests Mangal and belittles her for being orthodox, uneducated, and for her simple dress sense. Mangal is unhappy with the way Adit treats her, but does not protest. She still tries to impress him. Unlike Adit, his parents and their son, Akshat, appreciate Mangal for her efforts and contributions. Adit's level headed father, Sudesh and austere mother Kusum, defend Mangal whenever Adit berates her.
Lakshmi, on the other hand, is described as kind, hardworking, and cheerful. She is a gifted singer and songwriter but has never had the chance to showcase her talent . Lakshmi is socially smart, knows the English language, and is good with technology, unlike Mangal, who neither understands English nor is proficient with technology, which often leads Adit to insult her. Lakshmi is mistreated by Mangal's cunning and greedy mother, Shanti, and her spoiled sister, Lipika, but she is loved by Mangal and her father, Bhushan. Mangal took Lakshmi under her wing, cared for her, and mentored her like a daughter after Lakshmi's parents passed away. Lakshmi discontinued her studies after the 10th grade to assist Bhushan in running the shop, supporting her family in their pursuit of a better life. Mangal rejects Nitin, a billionaire, as a potential suitor for Lakshmi because of his two failed marriages. Adit snaps at Mangal for the drama with Nitin and expresses his difficulty living with Mangal for the past 15 years. He says that Lakshmi might ruin the life of the man she marries just like Mangal ruined his, as Lakshmi is much like Mangal. Kusum reprimands him and assures him that she and Mangal will find a respectful suitor for Lakshmi.
Kusum's stern younger sister, Gayatri, lives in a mansion with her cunning sister-in-law, Sanjana, and her son, Kartik. Kartik is a handsome, rich, and successful singer who, unlike Adit, is good-natured, caring, loving, and cheerful. Much like Mangal and Lakshmi, Kusum and Gayatri share a close, sisterly bond. Kartik respects and admires Mangal, just as Kusum and Akshat do. Gayatri's husband, Umesh, and their daughter, Nidhi, have gone to America for Nidhi's studies. Gayatri feels insecure and possessive of her son because of a curse given to her by her mother-in-law, who said that one day Kartik would be separated from her and she would die alone, yearning for him. Sanjana hates Gayatri for deliberately separating her mother and Umesh, which led Sanjana's mother to curse Gayatri. Sanjana constantly schemes against Gayatri, taunting her as a means of avenging her mother. Kartik has been in a relationship with Jiya, a dancer, for the past two years, but he has never disclosed it to anyone. However, Gayatri is aware of their relationship, unbeknownst to Kartik. Kusum and Gayatri harbor a deep disdain for Jiya due to her manipulative and undesirable nature, believing her to be unfit for Kartik.
Adit has a secret extramarital affair with Saumya, his spinster colleague who is envious of Mangal being Adit's wife and seeks to usurp her position in the household. She constantly devises schemes against Mangal to accomplish her goal, while Adit consistently supports Saumya over Mangal and defends Saumya when Kusum and Shanti berate her. One day, Kusum overhears a phone call between Saumya and Adit and is infuriated. She tells Saumya to stay away from Adit, still unaware of their affair. Kusum frequently taunts Saumya for her lack of knowledge in household chores, subtly berating her whenever the opportunity arises. Lakshmi meets Kartik for the first time when he saves her from a thief who stole her purse. Lakshmi goes to participate in a poetry competition, and her dupatta falls on Kartik's banner. Kartik decides to help her, and they share a moment, which goes viral on social media, spreading rumors about them, making Jiya jealous. Jiya often encourages Kartik to disclose their relationship to Gayatri, but Kartik fears Gayatri's reaction and asks for more time. During the Holi celebration, Jiya spikes Kartik's drink with bhang to make him disclose their relationship, leading to her being rebuked by Gayatri. In his intoxicated state, Kartik says "I love you" to Lakshmi, shocking Jiya, but no one except Jiya hears him. An acquaintance of Gayatri proposes Lakshmi's hand in marriage for her son Rohan to Mangal. The proposal falls through after Nitin sends fake videos of himself and Lakshmi to Rohan on the day of their "bariksha" ceremony. Adit protects Lakshmi's reputation by threatening Nitin with an FIR if he doesn't back off. Jiya tries to kill herself after Gayatri refuses to forgive her, leading Kartik to warn Gayatri that he would have died if something had happened to Jiya. This distresses Gayatri and forces her to agree to their relationship. Gayatri lies to Jiya about Kartik's horoscope, saying that he might die if he marries her at a particular time, causing Jiya to break off their engagement, shocking Kartik. Kusum and Gayatri decide to get Lakshmi and Kartik married and hide Kartik's relationship with Jiya from Mangal and Lakshmi.
Umesh and Nidhi return home. Nidhi, spoiled and ill-mannered much like her aunt, eagerly aids in her schemes to create drama within the household. She harbors a deep disdain for Lakshmi, looking down on her for coming from a lower-class background and viewing her as unmodern and uneducated. In contrast, Umesh is kind-hearted, much like his son, Kartik. He takes a liking to Lakshmi and agrees with Gayatri on the decision to betroth Lakshmi to Kartik. Together with Kusum and Gayatri, he pressures Kartik to respect their choice and marry Lakshmi, despite Kartik's repeated protests that he does not wish to marry her. Kartik's reluctance stems from his love for Jiya, and he plans to express his true feelings to Lakshmi through a letter. However, Gayatri intercepts this letter and replaces it with a love letter of her own. Determined to uncover the truth behind Jiya's breakup with him, Kartik enlists Lakshmi's help to make Jiya jealous and win her back. Unbeknownst to Lakshmi, she receives Gayatri's love letter and begins to fall in love with Kartik, believing he is marrying her out of love. Meanwhile, Kartik thinks that Lakshmi is aiding him in reconnecting with Jiya by pretending to accept their marriage. Kartik grows suspicious of Lakshmi's calm demeanor during their engagement ceremonies and attempts to speak with her and Mangal, but Kusum and Gayatri repeatedly intervene, preventing him from doing so. Mangal also grows suspicious of Kartik's distant and indifferent behavior during the functions and tries to talk to him, but Kusum and Gayatri stop her too before Kartik reveals the truth.
After Lakshmi tells everyone about the love letter, Kartik is taken aback. Unaware of her innocence, he misunderstands her and feels deeply betrayed by her. Determined to run away on the day of marriage, he encounters Lakshmi on the way, who shows him the letter she received. In that moment, he reveals the truth about the original letter, leaving her devastated. Lakshmi pleads with Kartik to stay, promising that she will halt the marriage and disclose everything to Mangal. However, Adit, who overhears their conversation, warns Lakshmi that he will divorce Mangal if she reveals the truth. Driven by jealousy of Kartik’s success and the family's appreciation for him, Adit wants Kartik and Lakshmi to marry, hoping that he will experience the same loveless marriage with an unmodern woman that he endures. Faced with this ultimatum, Lakshmi feels compelled to marry Kartik to protect Mangal’s marriage, which only deepens Kartik's sense of betrayal. Frustrated, he rebukes Lakshmi for her actions. When she explains that Mangal would be heartbroken if she found out the truth and had to cancel the wedding, Kartik begins to understand her motives and offers an apology. Realizing the complexities of their situation, the two decide to honor their marriage by remaining friends for the rest of their lives, navigating their new relationship with understanding and compassion.
Saumya tries to bond with Mangal's daughter, Ishana, to separate her from Mangal but fails. She also asks Adit to marry her after her parents give her an ultimatum to marry within 20 days. Kusum decides to have Adit and Mangal remarried on their 15th anniversary to improve their relationship. Gayatri starts to feel envious of Lakshmi's increasing closeness to Kartik, and Sanjana seizes the opportunity to taunt her, suggesting that Kartik will abandon her for Lakshmi just as Umesh abandoned his mother for her. Sanjana schemes against Lakshmi, intending to cause her to disappoint Gayatri. However, Kartik stands up for Lakshmi, offering her his support, which makes Gayatri feel insecure. Unlike Adit, Kartik treats Lakshmi with respect and genuine care, embodying the qualities that Mangal had always wished for in Lakshmi's husband. Lakshmi gets rebuked by Gayatri for getting over-involved in Mangal's life.
After Adit refuses to marry Saumya, the latter decides to marry Manan, Adit's childhood friend, which makes Adit jealous. Saumya attempts suicide on the day of her marriage at Adit's house, stating that she does not want to marry Manan, causing the police to confront Adit. Kusum decides to let Saumya stay at her house until the police drop their suspicions against Adit. Saumya sees this as an opportunity to become a permanent part of Adit's life. Upon discovering Saumya and Adit’s affair, Lipika begins blackmailing them, demanding money in exchange for keeping their secret. . When Shanti discovers the scheme, she is both shocked and deeply upset. In her distress, she confronts Kusum and exposes Adit's infidelity, but Kusum refuses to believe her.Gayatri plots against Lakshmi which creates misunderstandings between Lakshmi and Kartik but the couple reconcile. Kusum expels Saumya from the house after Mangal reveals that Saumya's parents didn't abandon her but she abandoned them, after learning of it from Saumya's mother. Kusum learns of Adit and Saumya's affair on Saumya's birthday . Kusum is heartbroken and severs all ties with Adit which leaves the latter equally devastated. To regain Kusum's trust, Adit attempts to be kind to Mangal. In response, Kusum resumes the preparations for Adit and Mangal's second wedding, offering Adit a second chance.Kusum urges Shanti to conceal the truth from Mangal, convincing her that Adit is changing for the better and that revealing the truth could potentially destroy Mangal's life. Troubled by this prospect, Shanti agrees to go along with Kusum's plan. Lakshmi, on the other hand, harbors suspicions about Adit. After Adit and Mangal's second marriage, Saumya devises a scheme that leads to Adit's imprisonment on false charges of domestic violence, while also framing Lakshmi as the one who filed the complaint against him. Adit lashes out at Lakshmi after Mangal manages to get him released.
Sudesh discovers Adit's affair with Saumya and accuses Kusum of betraying Mangal by keeping the truth hidden from her. Kusum tells Sudesh that if Mangal learns the truth, she will leave the house, devastating the children. She reassures him that Adit is making an effort to change, convincing Sudesh to keep the truth from Mangal. Saumya manages to have Adit unknowingly sign the divorce papers intended for him and Mangal. Lakshmi discovers that Saumya has framed her and filed the case against Adit, and she confides in Kusum about the situation. Meanwhile, Saumya blackmails Lipika, threatening to expose her photos with her boyfriend unless she gets Mangal to sign the divorce papers. Kusum confronts Saumya, and Mangal, upon learning of Saumya's infidelity, exposes the truth to Adit. However, Saumya manipulates Adit into believing in her innocence, swaying him despite the evidence. At Lakshmi's birthday party, Lipika deceives Saumya by claiming she has gotten Mangal to sign the divorce papers. Meanwhile, Lakshmi stumbles upon the divorce papers and rushes to inform Mangal, but she meets with an accident on the road. Kartik donates his blood to Lakshmi, an act that ultimately saves her life. Despite her best efforts to inform Mangal about the divorce papers, Lakshmi is unable to communicate, hindered by a series of unfortunate circumstances. Her inability to move or speak, caused by neurological impairment resulting from the accident, further complicates matters. Saumya makes preparations for her marriage with Adit and fixes the date on the day of karwachauth. Thanks to Kartik's efforts, Lakshmi recovers from her condition. Upon regaining her strength, she confides in Kartik about Adit, leaving him deeply shocked by the revelation.
Mangal witnesses the marriage between Adit and Saumya, a moment that devastates her completely. Kusum and Sudesh, upon learning of the situation, are equally heartbroken and, in response, sever all ties with Adit. An infuriated Shanti blames Kusum. Adit is rebuked by Kartik, Lakshmi, Mangal, Shanti and his parents for his betrayal. Mangal learns that Kusum, Shanti and Sudesh have been aware of the truth all along which makes her feel betrayed by them as well. Mangal decides to leave the house, but Kusum stops her and throws Saumya and Adit out of the house. Ishana is devastated upon discovering the truth about Adit, she hides the truth from Akshat and chooses to stand by Mangal, offering her unwavering support alongside the rest of the family. Together, they strengthen Mangal's resolve, enabling her to take charge and care for her family. Adit moves in with Saumya, but soon finds himself missing his family and struggling with absence of Mangal's care. Meanwhile, Mangal and her family face the challenges brought on by Adit's absence and the sting of his betrayal. Lipika's involvement in Adit and Mangal's divorce is exposed by Saumya and she faces Shanti and Kusum's wrath. Lipika breaks down and reveals that she couldn't get Mangal to sign the divorce papers, meaning Mangal and Adit are still legally married. However, Mangal remains unfazed, pointing out that Adit had willingly signed the divorce papers, unlike her. She asserts that she has no desire to remain in a forced relationship, especially after his betrayal. For Akshat's sake Mangal allows Saumya and Adit to stay at her house. Saumya is shocked by Mangal's relevation that she is did not sign the real divorce papers. The truth about Saumya and Adit’s incomplete marriage is finally revealed to the family. In response, Kusum decides to throw Saumya out, but Adit intervenes, warning her that he would leave and take the children with him if Saumya is forced to go. This ultimatum compels Kusum to let Saumya stay.
Jiya makes a startling re-entry into Kartik and Lakshmi's lives. Gayatri permits Jiya to take any actions necessary to drive a wedge between Kartik and Lakshmi. As a result, Jiya is determined to pull Lakshmi away from Kartik. Kartik becomes furious upon encountering Jiya and firmly rejects her love as well as her proposal to sign a contract. Meanwhile, Mangal is compelled to work as a laborer to support her household after Adit freezes her bank account. Lipika’s engagement is called off when her in-laws discover Mangal’s failed marriage.Lakshmi is blamed by Kusum, Gayatri, and Shanti for revealing the truth about Mangal, despite her intentions to defend Mangal from humiliation. As a result, Gayatri gives Lakshmi an ultimatum: either leave the house or cut ties with Mangal entirely This forces Lakshmi to distance herself from Mangal. Kartik reluctantly agrees to work with Jiya to avoid legal repercussions. He attempts to confide in Lakshmi about Jiya but is persuaded by Gayatri to remain silent, fearing it would further distress Lakshmi, who is already upset over Mangal’s situation. Elsewhere, Akshat becomes upset with Mangal after facing ridicule at school regarding her new job. However, Mangal manages to mend their relationship and starts a tiffin job service.
