Ruhana reaches the church where she visits when she is sad or upset or sad. Today, she’s happy after meeting her father yet she feels that Naina will not accept her. She didn't want to stay alone at home and so, she is in the church. She stands in front of the idol of Jesus Christ imbibing the calmness that the idol was radiating. She closes her eyes, taking in the calmness that she’s feeling right now. Of course, being in a religious place always calms your nerves.

A few moments later, she opens her eyes feeling a known presence. She opens  her eyes and is astonished to find a certain someone – Vineet. Her eyes turn watery instantly.

She has been rude to him at the police station, she didn't reply to him, instead she scolded him when he tried to talk to her.

Later, she meets her father unknowingly. She never wanted to go away from Vineet or her father. But she had to. She is getting weak. She wants to hug him ending the distance between them. She can't hurt her father anymore. She has seen the pain in Vineet's eyes, and she has experienced it as well. She wants her father and her love to be happy. But, she thought that it was possible only if she stays away.

She stares at him without the blink of an eye. He looks weak, unhappy and pained. As she’s savouring the sight of him, he looks at her and Ruhana looks away instantly.

"Ab bhi baat nahi karogi?" Vineet asks her.

Ruhana doesn’t reply. Actually, she doesn’t have answers to his questions. She knows Vineet will shower questions on her. She knows that she has hurt him and she will never forgive herself for the pain that she has given to the love of her life. She can’t meet his gaze and so she turns away but Vineet holds her wrist.

"Mujhe pata hai tum yahan is church mein, ya mandir mein tab hi aati ho jab pareshan hoti ho. Ab kya yahan reh ke bhi jhooth bologi?" he asks her.

"Vineet, tumhe ghar jana chahiye." she says to avoid further questions.

"Tumhe bhi ghar mein hi hona chahiye. Papa bhi aaye they na tumse milne… unka hi lihaaz karleti. Par nahi! Tumhe mahaan banna hai na." he says angrily.

Vineet didn’t like it when Anoop told him that Ruhana didn’t agree to come home. He knows she’s in similar pain as him, but he wants her to realise that her act was wrong. She finally breaks her silence.

"Vineet, jo maine kiya wo tab sahi tha. Kya tum nahi chahte they tumhare parents sath rahe?" she asks, boring her eyes into his.

"Haan, main chahta tha. Lekin ye nahi pata tha na, apne pyar se door ho jaunga. Aur na hi tumhe papa se door karna chahta tha. Main chahta tha hum sath rahein. Lekin tum chali gayi. Ye bhi nahi socha ki main kaise rahunga tumhare bina… " he says angrily.

"You should have moved on.” Ruhana says straightly.

"Ah! Mujhe move on karne ko keh rahi ho? Khud move on kar payi? Kyun hai tumhari aankhon mein dard aur aansu?? Bolo na! Bolo ki 6 mahinon mein tumne mujhe kabhi yaad nahi kiya!" he asks angrily.

Ruhana looks at Vineet. He’s angry and it is justified. He is angry at Ruhana for taking the decision of separation. He’s angry for leaving him without meeting him and leaving a letter. Their perspectives differed but they always hoped for a positive result.

" You have to say it today, Ruhana! Keh do tum mujhse pyar nahi karti. I swear I won't disturb you anymore. At least, I'll know ki main jisse pyar karta hoon, usey meri kadar hi nahi." he says, his words pinch her heart.

Ruhana breaks into tears hearing his words. She hadn't assumed that he would say something like this. She holds his hands.

“Aisa toh mat kaho, Vineet. Tum jaante ho aisa nahi hain.” She says, her eyes turn watery again.

“Toh aur kya kahun? Tum toh chali aayi mujhe, papa ko chod ke. Maanta hoon jab maa ne mana kiya tha toh maine bhi tumhe shaadi karne se mana kar diya tha, Janta hoon tumhe takleef hui hogi lekin us baat ki itni badi saza di tumne! Kyun, Ruhana?” He asks, his voice is heavy and eyes are teary.

" Main kya karti, Vineet? Aur koi option nahi tha. Mujhe laga tha mere jaane se sab thik ho jayega. Aur maine Naina aunty se vaada kiya tha ki agar wo aayengi toh main chali jaungi. Jana toh tha hi.” Ruhana says tearily.

"Aur mera kya? Mere pyar ki value nahi thi kya? Ya tum mujhse pyar hi nahi karti thi? Ek minute mein faisla le liya! Aur kya chhod ke gayi mere liye? Sirf ek letter!! Kyun Ruhana?" he says coldly, jerking her hands.

Ruhana is in awe. She has only seen his jolly side, and today, he is angry. And, she deserves his anger, after all, she is the one to hurt him.

"Pyar toh bahut karti thi. Aaj bhi bahut pyaar karti hoon, Vineet. Kuch rishtey doori se aur strong ho jate hain, Vineet. Jaise ki humara rishta. Ye pyaar kam hone ki jagah aur badh gaya. Main na tumhe bhuli hoon aur na papa ko. Kyunki Papa ne mujhe zindagi di toh tumne usey jeena sikhaya. Humara rishta itna majboot hai aur isliye toh hum aaj yahan khade hain, is church mein. Kabhi socha nahi tha ki hum aise milenge. I'm sorry, Vineet, really!" she says in a teary voice.

“ I know, maine tumhe bahut hurt kiya hain. Papa ko bhi takleef hui hain. Lekin us waqt mujhe jo sahi laga maine kiya. Please mujhe maaf kardo. Mujhe laga Naina aunty mujhe pasand nahi karti toh main wahan reh ke bhi kya karti, tumhare saamne tumse door nahi reh paati, isliye chali gayi thi. I am sorry, Vineet.” She apologises heartily, holding his hands.

Vineet looks at her. His gaze softens seeing her crying. He can't bear tears in her eyes. He loves her with all his heart and he knows that she has been right on her place. If he had been at her place, maybe, he’d have done the same. He holds her hands.

"Agar tum mujhse pyar karti ho toh is doori ko khtm kardo. Mujhe is baat se koi farak nahi padta ki maa kya chahti hai? Mujhe farak is baat se padta hai ki tum kya chahti ho? Mujhe hamare rishtey se farak padta hai, Ruhana. Mere liye bhi tum aur Maa dono important ho." he says softly.

Ruhana looks at him for some good seconds and hugs him as tight as she could, ending all the distance between them. They close their eyes feeling each other’s warmth. Well, if they are this close, things will mend for sure. She apologises while in the hug and he kisses her forehead softly and wipes the tears from her cheeks.

“Main jaanta hoon tumne wahi kiya jo tumhe sahi laga, lekin mujhe sab sahi karna hain. Mujhe Ma aur papa hi nahi tumhara sath bhi chahiye. Tumhe apni zindagi mein lana chahta hoon main. Isliye abhi hum ghar jayenge. I don’t care about Ma. Tum bhi chinta mat karo.” he says, he’s very angry with his mom.

Ruhana cups his face and kisses his forehead. She looks at him.

"Main abhi ghar nahi aa sakti, Vineet. Main tumse milungi, ghar bhi aaungi, par aaj nahi. Main chahti hoon, Naina aunty bhi mujhe dil se accept karle. Jis din ye ho gaya, main aa jaungi tumhare paas.” Ruhana says.

"Ruhana… tum firse unki baat…" Vineet rages as he is angry on his mom but Ruhana keeps her fingers on his lips.

"Vineet, wo maa hai tumhari. Please aise mat kaho. Agar Naina aunty mujhe accept karlengi  toh meri family bhi puri ho jayegi na. Kya tum nahi chahte aisa ho? Hum aur hamare parents… Choti si duniya hogi hamari!" she says in order to convince him.

Vineet nods affirmatively and agrees to wait. Ruhana smiles lightly, casting a look at the idol, they lighted the candles and then leave the church, hoping for a better future.

To Be Continued.