It was a bungalow, and a guy was standing out of a room, peeping inside with teary eyes. A hand pressed her shoulder.

"Vineet, kab tak yun bahar se dekhte rahoge? Agar bhagwan chahega toh wo jaldi thik ho jayegi. " the lady said.

"Kab Abhilasha, kab? 6 mahine toh beet chuke. Kab thik hogi wo? You know it's all because of you. " he shouted at her.

Abhilasha looked at him...

" I know. Main toh uski jagah lene aayi thi. Uska bura chaha tha, lekin wo fir bhi mera Acha kar gayi. Jis khushi se main Anjaan thi wo di usne mujhe. " she said tearily.

"Tumhari wajah se wo is haalat mein hai, I won't forgive you for this Abhilasha. Never Ever. " he said angrily and looked inside the room.

The room was cleanly medicated. A lady of around Abhilasha's age, was lying on the bed. Many equipments were attached to her body and she seemed to sleep soundly. She is Ruhana, Vineet's wife. An accident led her into coma.

Vineet turned to Abhilasha...

"Tumhari wajah se Ruhana is haalat mein hai. Kya kuch nahi kaha tumne usko, fir bhi wo tumhe ek zimmedari de gayi. Kyun Kiya aisa? Bolo? " he demanded answers.

Meanwhile, a little girl came running to them. She held Vineet's hand, while he lifted her in his arms...

"Daddy mujhe mumma ke paas jana hai. " she said innocently.

"Mumma rest kar rahi hai na. Hum unse bad mein milenge. " Vineet said.

"Mumma kitna so rahi hai. Unko Ruhaani ki yaad nahi aati kya? " she asked.

Vineet had no answers to the questions that his daughter was putting up to him. He just hugged her tightly, securing the little girl in his arms.

Abhilasha was watching them, her eyes being teary as well.

She pressed his shoulder...

" Ruhaani, aap chalo mere sath. Hum khana khayenge, daddy ko kaam hai. " she said.

"Mujhe daddy ke sath rehna hai, sautan mumma ke sath nahi. " she said and gave a slight push to Abhilasha.

"Wo aapki mumma hai na... " he said while looking at Ruhaani as he didn't want the little girl to call abhilasha like that. And Ruhana has given her the responsibility of Ruhaani.

" rehne do na Vineet. Sahi toh keh rahi hai Ruhaani. Main aayi hi isliye thi ki Ruhana ki jagah tumhari biwi aur Ruhaani ki maa ban jaun. Par aisa ho na saka. " She said.

Vineet ascended Ruhaani on the floor instructing her to eat food. The little girl agreed and walked away with Abhilasha.

He moved to his room and sat on the bed. He picked up the picture from the side table. It was his and Ruhana's picture. Tears trickled down his eyes...

"I'm sorry Ruhana. Meri ek galti ne sab kharab kar diya. Main nahi jaanta tha itna sab ho jayega. " he said and was lost in the past.

*Flashback Begins*

Ruhana and Vineet had been married for six years and were blessed with a daughter, Ruhaani. One day, Ruhana and Vineet were having their tea. Ruhaani was playing around them. It was a holiday and they were happily enjoying it. Suddenly, their was a ring on the bell. Ruhana moved to open the door. She saw an unknown woman, who asked for Vineet.

Vineet followed her and was stunned to see the person. The woman hugged him. Ruhana was astonished.

"Who is she? Tum jaante ho? "she asked him.

"why won't he know me? He loves me, hai na Vineet?" She said.

"dekhiye miss abhilasha, you're getting it wrong. " he said.

"I'm getting it right. You loved me. Aur ab anjaan ban rahe ho! " she blamed him.

"Enough abhilasha. Get out of my house. " Ruhana shouted.

" Chillao mat. Jo kiya tumhare pati ne kiya, maine nahi. " Abhilasha said.

Ruhana sighed... "Main jaanti hoon usne kya kiya aur kya nahi. Tum chup hi raho" she said.

"then you should see this! " abhilasha said and passed her an envelope.

Ruhana opened it and found some pictures. She glanced at Vineet angrily.

"Tum sach jaanti ho Ruhana. " he said.

Yes he had a past. He had met Abhilasha before his wedding to Ruhana. The circumstances pulled him closer to Abhilasha and he gave up on his feelings. He was engaged to Ruhana, yet he couldn't control on himself and got into a physical relationship with Abhilasha.

Abhilasha striked that she loved him and they kept on meeting. Later he got married to Ruhana and on the wedding night he told everything to Ruhana. She felt bad but she praised his honesty and forgave him. They began their life and after a year were blessed with a daughter.

Now after so many years, abhilasha came claiming that Vineet is lying to Ruhana and that she loved him. Seeing the pictures Ruhana was angry at first. She confronted Abhilasha....

" Chahti kya ho tum? " she asked straightly.

"Obviously Vineet. Ab he loves me. What can I do? " she said.

"Tumhe samajh nahi aata kya? He doesn't love you. Chali kyun nahi jaati ho? " Ruhana said angrily.

"Tum chali jao na. Mujhe toh Vineet ke sath rehna hai. " Abhilasha said carelessly.

Ruhana was frustrated... " Yeh sab pehle sochna chahiye tha tumhe! Ab kuch nahi ho sakta. " she said.

"Is ghar Mein ya toh main rahungi ya tum. " Abhilasha warned her and left.

Ruhana was left shocked. She moved into her room where Vineet was already there. He was playing with Ruhaani.

"Vineet yeh sab kya hai? " she asked angrily.

"Mumma why are you angry? " Ruhaani asked.

"Ruhaani, beta aap apne room Mein jaake khelo. Mujhe aapke papa se baat karni hai. " Ruhana said.

The little girl rushed out of the room. Vineet looked at her... "Ruhana main tumhe sach bata chuka hoon. " he said briefly.

" kaunsa sach? Yahi ki tum ab tak uske contact mein ho? " she glanced at him angrily.

"She was my past. " he said.

" oh ha! Isliye wo aayi hai apna haq jatane. Ya tum hi chahte ho wo yahan rahe, meri sautan meri aankhon ke samne rahe. "she said.

"Ruhana please. Main nahi jaanta wo yahan kyun aayi hai. Mera aaj toh tum ho! " he said tearily.

"prove it then. That you don't love her. Aaj wo tum par haq jata rahi, kal meri beti pe bhi jatayegi. Push her out of the house. " she said angrily and turns towards her almirah.

Vineet was left confused. He didn't know what to do. Meanwhile, Ruhaani entered in with a chocolate in hand. Vineet made her sit in his lap...

"Kisne diya chocolate?" he asked.

"mum.... Nahi sautan mumma ne! " the girl replied instantly. She heard Ruhana saying the first word and Abhilasha said to her that she's her mother now.

Vineet eyes her... "Yeh aapko kisne kaha? " he asked.

"Wo jo aunty hai na, unhone bola. Unhone bola wo meri mumma hai. But unhone mumma se ladai ki. " Ruhaani replied as she saw Ruhana.

Ruhana had heard her and went to her... " Aap aise nahi bolenge. Wo aunty kuch din mein chali jayegi. " she made her understand.

The little girl nodded her head and left the room. Ruhana also followed her asking her to walk slowly. She descended down the stairs and saw Abhilasha in the hall. She remembered her words. She was lost in her thoughts. She thought Vineet cheated on her. Unfortunately, he leg slipped and she fell off the stairs.

Ruhaani got scared and Vineet panicked seeing the situation. He lifted her in his arms and rushed out to the hospital.

City Hospital

He got a stretcher. Ruhana's head was bleeding severely. Vineet was worried. He called doctor and one of them took her into emergency. Vineet was standing outside the ward when Abhilasha came there. Vineet blurted out on her.

"It's all because of you Abhilasha. Kyun aayi ho hamari life mein! Tumhari wajah se meri Ruhana mujhpe vishwas nahi karti. " he shouted.

"I didn't know ye ho jayega. " she said tearily.

"Tumhe kuch pata kahan hota hai! You just see yourself and your happiness and money. "Vineet shouted.

"I'm sorry! " she replied.

He turned around while the doctor came to him and says that Ruhana is hurt badly in the head. Vineet wished to see her. He looked at her, she was sleeping on the bed. Vineet caressed her head. She opened her eyes. She wished to see her daughter. Vineet lifted Ruhaani in his arms. The little girl was scared seeing her mother like that. Abhilasha entered behind. She was guilty for whatever she did. Ruhana asked for her hand, and secured her daughter's hand into hers. Abhilasha was quite shocked, that she was giving her a bigger responsibility. Ruhana was teary eyed and she fell unconscious. Vineet called for doctor who declared that she's slipped in coma.

Vineet was left shocked. He sat on the bench with a thud.

Ruhaani hugged him asking him about Ruhana. He couldn't do anything. She was present in his life, but not near him.

*Flashback Ends*

His eyes were teary. He didn't want her to be in hospital. So he got her home with all the medical care . She was in front of her eyes atleast. He hoped daily that she'll get up and hug him, but his hope was always broken.

Abhilasha was guilty of whatever she did but wanted to apologize, so stayed back taking care of Ruhaani.

His trance was broken by his little girl. He saw Abhilasha along with Ruhaani.

"Ruhaani ne khana kha liya. "she said innocently.

" good! " he said taking her in his lap.

"Ab aap bhi khalo. Ruhaani ko pata hai aapne nahi khaya kuch. Mumma aapko dant nahi lagati na. " she said.

He smiled lightly and at the same time the little girl forwarded a spoonful of rice in his mouth. He smiled as he munched on it and pulled her in his embrace. Abhilasha was watching them with teary eyes , maybe she was happy with the little she had to witness with her eyes.

****THE END****

Love isn't weak to break because of someone. And some relationships develop with time, on the base of care and concern, too.