Change is the ultimate constant in life. As the seasons change within the blink of an eye, people too, change and so do the situations in life. Ruhana Saxena believes so. She is still pondering over the events that have changed her life brutally. Tears escape her eyes, and at the same time, a sweet voice interrupts her thoughts.

“Mumma…”

“Where are you? Mumma?”

“Kya hua, Ari? Kya chahiye?” She turns toward her five-year-old daughter, Aarna.

“Kya hua? Aap bhul gai? Aaj Papa ka birthday hai, hum jaayenge na unse milne?” Aarna asks, her tone laced with innocence.

“Nahi, beta, hum unse milne nahi jaayenge,” Ruhana says, her tone soft.

“Par kyun? Papa mujhse baat nahi karte, par aapse toh karte hain na? Aur phir aapne hi kaha tha na ki aap mujhe special days pe Papa ke paas le jaogi, phir aaj toh Papa ka birthday hai,” Little Aarna
retorts with her own reasons.

Ruhana makes her sit on the couch and sits beside her, while Aarna actually climbs into her lap. The little girl fixes her eyes on her mom, who cups her cheek softly.

“Beta, mujhe pata hai ki aap apne Papa se bahut pyaar karti ho, par wo toh nahi karte na, vo hamesha aapko dant-te rehte hain. Aur phir mera mann nahi tha aapko wahan chhodne ka. Haalanki aapki Dadi aur Bhua aapka pura dhyan rakhti, lekin mera mann nahi tha isliye hum yahan aaye. I am sorry, bache, par aaj hum ghar nahi jaa sakte,” Ruhana explains, her tone soft.

“Lekin Aarna toh Dadda se pyaar karti hai na, mujhe unse milna hai,” Aarna retorts, boring her eyes into her mother’s.

“I know, betu, lekin main majboor hoon, main nahi chahti ki wo phir se tumhe hurt kare,” Ruhana says, her tone soft, seeking understanding in her daughter’s eyes.

Little Aarna turns sad, her sorrow visible in her eyes, and she returns to her game zone. Ruhana sighs deeply. Aarna’s sad face is her weakness. She follows her little one into her room and finds her sitting with her favorite stuffed toy in her hand. She watches her, silently talking to her little toy.

“Arii, I’m sorry, beta, lekin hum bas Papa ke paas nahi jaa sakte, baaki hum wo sab kuch karenge jo meri Princess kahegi, sachi,” Ruhana says, trying to convince her little one.

“Par kyun? Dadi bhi toh wait karti hai na, Mumma? Please chalo na,” Aarna requests, gazing at her mother.

“Aaru, please, aap bhi samajhne ki koshish karo, mujhe wahan nahi jana hai, aur main nahi chahti ki vo phir se humein hurt kare,” Ruhana says while Aarna looks at her walking away.

The little girl reflects on her life before she moved into this house with her mom. Her dad, who’s an influential businessman, isn’t on talking terms with her; he has never loved her or pampered her and has always stayed away from her. Only her grandma and aunt have loved her. Since a year, her life starts getting better when Ruhana enters her life. She even marries her father, and that’s when Aarna thinks that her life will also change. However, her hopes shatter when even after his marriage to Ruhana, he doesn’t budge. It is only Ruhana who cares for her, and no matter how hard she tries, she can’t fill the gap between Vineet and Aarna. Though she’s small, she understands the gravity of the situation. She has seen her parents arguing just before they move into this new home. She knows that Ruhana is upset with Vineet and that he won’t pay heed to her. Yet, little Aarna wants to visit her father on his birthday.

On the other hand, Ruhana is sitting on the couch, tears rolling down her eyes. She glances at her little one from the corner of her eyes. She knows that Aarna is sad at the prospect of not going to meet her father, but she can’t let her go into that house. She’s further reminded of past instances. She feels her heart stabbed as she ponders over the painful events of her life, where her husband was the culprit. When he can plan hurt her, he can hurt Aarna too, and she’s well aware that he doesn’t like Aarna, he doesn’t feel any emotion for his daughter. Also, she has promised herself that she won’t take her to his home ever again.

Although it’s Vineet’s birthday and just last year, they had celebrated his birthday together, many things have changed since his last birthday. Now, she doesn’t want to see his face. At the same time, she doesn’t want Aarna to stay away from the love of her dad. She has made up her mind to bring them together.
Meanwhile, her trance is broken by Aarna’s voice, and as she looks up, she finds the girl next to her. She gazes at her questioningly.

“Mumma, sorry, main zidd nahi karungi, hum nahi jaayenge Dadda se milne, unhone aapko bhi hurt kia,” she says, realizing the truth.

“Sach mein? Agar aapko jana hai toh main aapko chhod ke aa sakti hun,” Ruhana says, her tone soft.

“No, mujhe nahi jaana, mujhe aapke sath hi rehna hai,” Aarna says, as she sits on the couch, clinging to her mom.

“Aari, hum ghar jaayenge lekin tab jab wo apni galti maanenge aur hum dono lene aayenge, I promise, Papa will change jab wo aapse dobara milenge,” Ruhana says. While her daughter might not understand at the moment, she knows that Ruhana is the only one who can bring her father back to her.

Aarna snuggles close to Ruhana, and the latter embraces her with her arms, and in that moment, she’s aware that until this little girl is with her, she can achieve whatever she wants to.

*****
In the Raichand household, Vineet is in his room, staring into nothingness. It’s his big day, but he’s upset. His mother enters his room only to apply tilak on his forehead and she begins to leave his room without talking to him, or even wishing him for his big day.

“Maa…” he calls her.

“Maa? Kis haq se tu mujhe Maa keh raha hai, Vineet? Tune itna kuch galat kiya hai na ki mujhe sharam aa rahi hai ki tu mera beta hai,” his mother, Savita says, her tone clipped.

"Ma, maine jo kia….” he begins to explain, but his mother interrupts in the middle.

“Apni beti se nafrat karne ki kya excuse hai tere pas, Vineet? Aur Ruhana, uske sath kya kiya hai tune? Aur usko hurt karne ki kya wajah hai tere pas? I mean aisa kya hua hai jo wo yeh ghar chhod ke chali gai?” Savita questions while Vineet downs his head, having no answers.

“Aaj tera janamdin hai, Vineet, lekin tu aaj akela hai, teri apni galti ki wajah se. Teri berukhi ke baad bhi Aarna tujhse pyar karti hai, zidd kar rahi hogi Ruhana se ki usey tujhse milna hai, lekin tune usey pyar toh kya kabhi apni baahon mein bhi nahi uthaya,” Savita chides him.

“Vineet, tere paas ek nahi 2-2 lakshmiyan thi, ek beti, ek patni, tune dono ko jaane diya, aur phir tu jaanta hai kya hua? Apne iss male ego se nikal, beta, ab agar kuch hua na toh hum sadak pe aa jayenge,” she warns him and leaves the room.

While Vineet is left thoughtful. His mom is right, he has taken their love lightly. He has never loved his little girl, while the lady who has not even birthed her, loves her unconditionally. She hates him for his deeds, but right now, he knows, he needs to convince them – his daughter and his wife. It might take some time, but he will do it, he will bring his girls home again.