The day passes in a blur. Though, it’s Saturday, Ruhana and her dad come back home tired. Ruhana plops down on the couch, sighing deeply. Her mom, Sandhya gets water for both the father and daughter. She looks at them and smiles, she knows they are tired.

“Kya baat hain? Aaj bahut thake hue lag rahe ho? Zyada kaam tha?” Sandhya asks caringly.

“Haan mumma! Ek meeting toh already thi, usme bhi papa mujhe le gaye! Huh! Aur fir, Aadhya wale consignment ko aaj jaana tha. Aur jo ek aur fashion house tha, unko bhi aaj hi meeting karni thi. Jaan leli bachi ki!” Ruhana makes a face.

“Ab kaam toh karna padega na bache!” Sandhya says, as she opens Ruhana’s hair and moves her fingers in her hair.

“Han, lekin aapke pati ne aaj mujhse zyada kaam karvaya. Ek extra meeting! 2 hours! You know, main 2 hours pehle aa jaati, lekin your husband blocked me.” Ruhana says making a face which only causes her parents to laugh.

“Okay, I can make up for it, Princess.” Ronit says softly.

“Howw?” Ruhana rolls her eyes at her dad who tends to think.

“What about dinner at your favourite restaurant?” Ronit asks while looking at her.

“Dinner treat!!! Hotel Rainbow mein?” Ruhana asks, her eyes shimmer with joy.

“Yes, Princess. Come on, get ready.” Ronit smiles.

“Okay! I’ll be back. Aap dono bhi jaldi se ready ho jao.” Ruhana chuckles softly.

“Arey arey! Itni furti! Abhi toh koi thaka hua tha?” Sandhya teases her daughter.

“Daddy is giving us a treat! Toh jaldi ready hona padega. Papa ne mind change kardiya toh?” Ruhana reasons and runs to her room picking her things.

Sandhya shakes her head. This girl is mature enough but acts babyishly in front of her parents. If someone sees her like this, they won’t believe that this girl is the one holding Mehra Industries in its current place. A small smile is playing on Sandhya’s lips when her trance breaks. She looks at Ronit quizzically.

“Kya soch rahi hain aap?” Ronit asks her.

“Kuch nahi. Bas ye soch rahi thi ki Ruhana apne sath hamare liye luck leke aayi thi aur jaldi hi….” Sandhya says but pauses leaving the sentence incomplete.

“Toh aap kyun uski shadi karvana chahti hain?” Ronit asks his wife.

“Lekin sach toh yahi hain na, Ronit. Duniya ki reet bhi toh yahi hain.” Sandhya says emotinally.

“Lekin beti ki razi bhi toh honi chahiye, Sandhya. Aur phir aisa thodi hain ki aapki beti shadi ke baad humse door chali jayegi. Reet bhale hi aankhein nam karne wali ho, lekin rishtey toot-te nahi hain.” Ronit says.

“Han lekin…” Sandhya says but Ruhana cuts her.

“No lekin! Aapko main itni aasani se nahi chhodne wali nahi hoon. Aap na ek kaam karo, aisa ladka dhundho, jo ghar jamai banne ke liye ready ho jaye. Toh mujhe kahin bhi jaana na padega. Simple!” Ruhana ends her sentence with a giggle.

“Chup! Aisa thodi hota hain.”Sandhya slaps Ruhana’s cheek.

“Main toh aisa hi karungi. I’m the Princess, you know!” Ruhana winks at her parents.

She’s dressed in a nice turquoise colour one-piece. Her hair are open and she has applies Kajal on her eyes, and a nude lipstick shade. That’s how she likes it. Her parents look at her and smile, they know, she won’t like the topic of marriage and therefore, they drop it and soonish, the family of three leave for their private dinner party.

*****

Singhania House

Anoop returns home in the evening while Vineet is being the couch potato. He’s been sleeping all the afternoon. And right now, he is also lying on the couch, but he gets on his feet in a moment and hugs his father.

“Dad! How were the meetings?” He asks his first question.

“Was good, son. But yes, you need to meet the CEO of Shah enterprises on Monday.” Anoop looks at Vineet.

“Arey! Aate hi kaam bata diya! Not fair, dad.” He makes a face.

“Tum toh bhul jaoge, yaad mujhe hi dilana padega.” Anoop rolls his eyes at his son while Naina serves him water.

“You mean to say, main bhullakad hoon?” Vineet makes a face.

“Aur kya? Itna bhullakad hai, ki tu ye bhi bhool gaya ki hume aaj hamare weekly dinner outing pe jaana hain!” Naina says, sitting beside her hubby.

“Oh!” Vineet looks at his parents, his lips form an O, he really forgot their dinner outing.

“Oops! Bhool gaya! But don’t worry! Main abhi ready hoke aata hoon. Aap dono bhi ready ho jao!” Vineet turns on his heels towards his room.

“Lekin—- aap dono. Aap dono ne agar wo baat ki toh main gussa ho jaunga.” He looks at both his parents, who look at him quizically.

“Kaunsi baat?” Naina asks, though she understands his words.

“Wahi, jo aap subah se kar rahi ho.” Vineet glares at her playfully.

“Acha thik hain! Koi baat nahi hogi. Tum ready ho jaao.” Anoop barges in between.

Vineet chuckles, he knows his dad is his saviour. He runs into his room while his parents just laugh at his antics. A mature person is acting like a kid, and he’s happy to get his candy, that is the dinner outing.

It’s the family ritual, they go out for dinners on Saturday. On Sunday, Naina and Anoop prefer to relax at home until it is necessary to go out, even if it is to get groceries. While, Vineet has his plans with friends, or sometimes, he also spends time with his parents.

A little while later, they leave the house.

*****
Hotel Rainbow

The Mehra Family reach the restaurant and Ruhana occupies the corner table. There are glass walls in this restaurant such that, you can see outer beauty. There’s a resort, and it is lit at night, while on the other side, you can see the ocean. It’s located in such a way, that one side of the hotel faces the sea.

Ruhana loves watching the sea waves, and therefore, she runs to occupy a corner seat. But hey, she bumps into someone. She looks up and finds a young lad, almost of her age, looking at her keenly.

“Hey, this is booked!” He says.

“No! That’s reserved for me.” She shouts at him.

“No no, you’re late, Miss. Now, I’ll be sitting here.” he says and sits on the bench.

“Arey, ye tumhara hotel nahi hain, Mister! Jao dusri table pe baitho.” Ruhana makes a face at him.

“Toh tum dusri table pe baith jao.” He says non-chalantly.

“You know what, you don’t know manners! Tumhari girlfriend hoti toh ek minute mein usey baith jaane dete, hain na?” Ruhana makes a face at him.

He’s no one but Vineet Singhania, and they are arguing for a table.

“You should have some manners too. Go get a new seat!” Vineet says and begins to read the menu.

Ruhana stamps her foot on the floor. She slaps on his shoulder.

“Huh! You’re insane!” Ruhana glares at him.

Vineet begins to retort, but his father’s voice startles him and Vineet just makes a face hearing him. Ruhana clicks out a tongue at him before getting seated at the table she wanted already.

But Vineet glares back at her, and the game is on.

To Be Continued.

😝Fought in the very first meeting.. Where will this meeting take them?

Stay tuned.