Ruhana and Myra have profound conversations with their respective friends. Yeah, there’s something grave that the sisters are hiding. As Myra enters the house, she’s contemplating her thoughts about Vedant’s words. She knows that she mustn’t judge anyone but she did due to her past. Her thoughtful demeanour doesn’t go unnoticed by her elder sister. Upon consistent inquiry, Myra looks at her sister and makes her sit on the couch. Ruhana is apprehensive but decides to hear her out. The two sisters have a lot to share and they trust each other.

“Myra, kya ho gaya hai? Sab thik hain na?” Ruhana asks softly.

“Di, mujhe aapse kuch baat karni hain.” Myra says and Ruhana knows there’s something wrong or her little one is thinking a lot.

“Myraa! Kya hua? Vedant ne kuch kaha? Tu toh usse milne gayi thi naa!” Ruhana asks in concern.

“Haan, Di. Par Di, main chah kar bhi wo sab bhula nahi paa rahi, jo pehle hua hai. Kya aapko bhi lagta hai ki hume wo sab bhul jaana chahiye?” Myra asks straightly.

“Myraa!! Tu achanak wo baatein kyun yaad karne lagi hai?” Ruhana asks; she avoids talking about that part of the past.

“Di, I know aapko wo sab baatein pasand nahi, lekin sab yahi kehte hain ki aage badh jana chahiye. Sab ek se nahi hote lekin vishwas karna toh mushkil hai na.” Myra keeps her point.

“Jab ek baar vishwas toot jaata hai toh phir se kisi pe vishwas karna mushkil hota hai, Myra. Main jaanti hoon, Vineet ne bhi aaj mujhse yahi kaha. Lekin filhal hum dono hai na ek dusre ke sath! Wahi kaafi hai.” Ruhana says this as she embraces her little sister in her arms.

Myra says nothing but hugs her sister. Yeah, her sister is enough for her and she’s not ready to trust anyone for now, not even her new-found friend, Vedant. The sisters stay in the warm embrace for some time, before moving into the bedroom, calling it a night.

*****

Vedant and Vineet reach home. The former unlocks the main door with his set of keys. It’s quite late and they know their parents would be asleep. Vedant walks into the kitchen to have some water while Vineet locks the door again and drinks the water that Vedant passes his way. They’re drinking water when the lights turn on. They turn around only to find their mom beaming at them.

“Aa gaye tum dono? Itni derr kaise ho gayi?” Pallavi asks.

“Haan, maa. Hum abhi hi aaye. Dinner aur baatein karne mein late ho gaya.” Vedant responds.

“Aap kyun jaag rahi ho? Aap so jaao.” Vineet says in concern.

“Ab so jaungi, tum dono jo ghar mein aa gaye ho.” Pallavi says softly.

“Maa, hum bachche thodi hain! Aapko so jaana chahiye tha.” Vedant says softly.

“Han bahut bade ho gaye ho na! Ek police officer ban gaya hai aur ek businessman, maa chinta bhi na kare ab!” Pallavi says, looking at the boys.

“Maaa! Buraa na maano. Aap savere bhi jaldi jaag jaati ho. Isliye aapko aaram karna chahiye. Bas isliye humne kaha.” Vineet tries to persuade his mom.

“Haan, Haan! Jaa rahi hoon. Aajkal maa ko behlaane lage ho tum dono.“ Pallavi says softly.

Vedant and Vineet giggle while Pallavi shakes her head and walks into her room. She knows her sons are big enough to take care of themselves but a mother’s heart never remains at rest. She’s always at work, for her kids’ welfare.

*****
Vineet and Vedant walk into their respective room. After changing into their casual clothes, Vineet peers out of his room and finds Vedant on the terrace. He walks out of his room and finds his brother in his thoughts.

“Kya hua? Myra ne phir se kuch kaha?” Vineet asks, assuming that Myra said something wrong to him.

“Nahi Bhai! Usne toh maafi maangi mujhse. Aur maine bas usse kaha tha ki wo chahe toh koi bhi baat mujhse share kar sakti hai, par usne nahi ki. Pata nahi kyun, mujhe aisa lagta hai ki kuch toh bada hua hai hai uske sath.” Vedant shares his concern.

“Tu thik keh raha hai, Ved! Ruhana ne bhi kuch nahi bataya. Lekin maine socha hai ki main pata kar ke rahunga ki aisi kya baat hai jo wo log chhupa rahe hain.” Vineet says softly.

“Haan, bhai! I felt a connection with her. Isliye toh maine usey kabhi kuch nahi kaha! Varna aapko toh pata hai na ki aajkal rishteydaar bhi chhoti si baat ka batangad bana dete hain.” Vedant says.

“Jaanta hoon! Aur uske liye hume unse dosti banaye rakhni hogi. Main Ruhana ko ek aur deal ka offer dene wala hoon.” Vineet says.

Vedant tends to agree and is determined to be a kind friend to Myra. After all, he wants to erase all the bad things from her life. Comforting each-other, they walk to their rooms and call it a night.

*****

Ruhana makes Myra sleep and covers her with a duvet. She sighs deeply and lies on the bed. Meanwhile, her phone rings and as she attends the call, she’s left surprised to hear what the caller has to say.

To Be Continued.