After the dinner, Bulbul runs to her room while Viren rushes on the terrace. Ruhana winds up her work and sits on the couch. She's thoughtful for some reason. Vineet keeps his hand on her shoulder and it breaks her trance. He knows her sister's words are bothering her. She might not mean it, but Ruhana is thoughtful, because she always tries to make things easy for her sister.

"Ruu! Itna mat socho. Bulbul abhi pareshan hai isliye usne wo sab kaha." He says, trying to convince his wife.

"Par sach hi toh kaha hai na, Vineet. Main office ke kaam ki wajah se uspe dhyan nahi de payi. Vineet, baat ye nahi hai ki usne kuch kaha, baat ye hai, ki Bubble bhi mera hissa hai. Usey bhi waqt milna chahiye." Ruhana says.

"Jaanta hoon. Ab toh uski taraf meri bhi zimmedari banti hai. Don't worry, she will be fine." Vineet says, trying to, convince her.

"Haan Vineet! Main nahi chahti ki Bulbul ko aisa lage ki main usey ignore kar rahi hu. Mere liye tum, Viren, ye ghar, Bulbul - - sab barabar hai. Mujhe sab pe dhyan dena chahiye aur is waqt mujhe bubble ki help karni chahiye. Tum office sambhal loge na? " She asks.

"Haan Ruu! I'll manage. Tum Bulbul ki help karo. Is waqt tum hi usko samjha sakti ho." Vineet says.

He knows what both Ruhana and Bulbul mean to each other. They can't live without each other. When one's in pain, the other can feel it with a high intensity. Their bond is the  same as  Vineet shares with Viren, so he can understand his wife well.

Vineet embraces her in his arms, it's the way Ruhana feels calm, at the same time, they hear a loud sound from Bulbul's room. They glance at each other and rush to the girls' room, and they get shocked seeing the situation inside the room.

*****

Bulbul is extremely anger, there are books scattered on the floor and the bed. As Ruhana enters the room, a pen and a book lands near her feet. She is bewildered.

"Bubble! Ye sab kya hai??" Ruhana asks.

"Di, ab aap lecture na do, kya sahi hai hai aur kya galat!! Professor Ashima ne already mood off kar ke rakha hai." Bulbul says angrily.

"But anger is not a solution. Aise books phenkne se assignment thodi hoga!!" Ruhana says as she picks up the scattered books and arranges them on the study table.

"Manti hoon, double kaam karna hoga, par isse fayda toh tera hai na, you'll remember it all. Shayad tujhe us exam ke liye kuch padhna hi na pade!" Ruhana says.

She wants to make her sister understand that her hard work won't go in vain. She will remember the concepts more clearly, and that is why this is right. They do need to work again, but it's for their own good. She cups Bulbul's face.

" Aise gussa karne se kuch badlega nahi. Na tera project pura hoga. Main hoon na!! Hum dono mil ke karenge." Ruhana says, trying to convince Bulbul.

"Aap help karogi na?" Bulbul asks again.

"of course! Tere har project mein teri help ki hain toh isme kyun nahi!! Abhi tu rest kar, aise gusse mein karegi toh kuch nahi hoga. Kal se karenge. " Ruhana says.

"Haan, We're having leaves for next 15 days. Uske baad project dena hain, and then exams." Bulbul tells Ruhana about her prep leaves.

Ruhana smears Bulbul's head and asks her to rest. She settles her bed as well and then Bulbul asks her to stay with her. Vineet, who's been watching the two sisters smiles contently and makes his way to his room.

Ruhana sits on the bed and Bulbul leans on her, placing her head on her sister's chest.

Ruhana begins to smear her head. She knows her little one is still tensed, and as a consequence, she's not talking.

"Bubble! Tu hi mujhe kehti hai na ki main tension na lun, toh tu kyun yun gumsum baithi hain!! Jab tu mujhe udaas nahi dekh sakti, toh main toh bilkul nahi dekh sakti. Hum kal se banayenge tera project!! " Ruhana says.

"Di, it's not that easy!! Aap kyun nahi samajh rahe!!" Bulbul says, parting the hug.

"Easy toh kuch bhi nahi hai, bubble! It's our way of  seeing things." Ruhana says.

"Aap toh yahi kahoge! Lekin all these assignments!! This is a pain! Aap nahi samjhoge! You never did the assignments. You just gave exams." Bulbul says non-chalantly, not realising her words.

Ruhana looks at her, astonished. Yes! Ruhana might not have attended any school or college, but she has done many more things than that. She's done her studies privately and it led to late nights when she'd finish her assignments, after Bulbul sleeps. So, the girl is still unaware of the hardships. Ruhana didn't expect this from her, she knows that the girl is in anger and she isn't thinking her words, but she didn't know that her hardships would go in vain like this. She composes herself.

"Haan! Bubble! I agree! Mere time mein aisi assignments nahi hoti thi! I've never done it like this. Lekin itna zaroor jaanti hun, I didn't have anyone to help me. Raat ko jaag ke assignments kia karti thi, aur subah hote hi baaki kaam! Raaton ki neend gawai maine aisi assignments ke peeche. But, you're getting so much help. Then also, you're crying! I am there to help you, fir bhi tujhe doubt hai? "Ruhana asks her sister.

"Doubt nahi, darr hai! Aur agar aapko kaam aa gaya toh! Aapko jana pada toh!" Bulbul asks.

Ruhana sighs. So, Bulbul thinks that she will not keep her words. She might have to go, but for now, she has put all the work on Vineet. Still the girl is not understanding.

"Kal se main office nahi ja rahi, Bulbul. We will work on the project. Jab tak tera project finish na ho jata, I'll stay home. Vineet aur Viren sambhal lenge." Ruhana says, hoping her sister would understand.

Bulbul nods, snuggles close to her sister and sleeps. Ruhana kisses her head and keeps a pillow below her head. She covers her with a duvet and leaves the room. Yet, Bulbul's words are echoing in her ears.

She checks upon Viren, he's playing a video game, it's his ritual after a long tiring day. He says that though it's of his childhood, yet it helps him calm his nerves, it's a stress buster for him. Ruhana ruffles his hair and asks him to rest well.

*****
She enters her room and finds Vineet easing on the bed, watching some old songs. She moves into the washroom to change into her night dress. She's still thoughtful about Bulbul's words - - it's pinching her because it came from her own sister. If it had been someone else, she'd not have paid any attention to it. But right now, it's Bulbul - - her little sister - - whom she loves the most. She sighs deeply and after splashing water on her face multiple times, she cleans her face and moves out.

She slids on the bed and keeps her head on Vineet's outstretched hand. It's her ritual. He begins to smear her hair and asks about Bulbul.

"Is she fine?" He asks.

"Haan! Abhi toh sula diya usey! Lekin mujhe is baat pe yakin nahi ho raha ki usey lagta hai ki main fir se usey beech mein chod dungi. Na jaane usey aisa kyun lagta hai!!" Ruhana shares her heart with her hubby.

"She's tensed, Ruu! Isliye usne kaha! But don't worry! She will be fine soon. Bas uska kaam ho jaye fir dekhna tum!" Vineet says.

"Haan! Aur is sab mein usey lagta hai I never went through what she's going through!" Ruhana says.

Well! Something harsh coming from your loved ones always hurt, and to say that Ruhana is hurt, it's true.

"Oh! Ruu! Ab tum itna na socho!" Vineet says and adds something that leaves Ruhana astonished and thoughtful at the same time.

To Be Continued.

What did Vineet say?

And why does Bulbul doubt her sisters' words?

Stay tuned to know more.