*Based on the backdrop of "Falling For You" *

It was a pleasant morning. A couple was fast asleep on the bed. The room was painted in white and it was elegantly decorated. In a small corner, several pictures were placed on the wall. It was the pictures of the couple, some with their daughter as well.

Someone was peeping into the room through the keyhole. It was a girl, of around 18 years of age. She was smiling to herself. It seemed that she had some plans up  her sleeves. She opened the door with the help of a master key, the key which is mostly used by her father.

She holds up the tray that she kept aside and takes baby steps inside the room. It's not that she's an early riser, but today is an exception that she woke up early and prepared coffee for her parents.

What's special? Nothing as such. But she says today's a day they should celebrate. She looks at her parents, and meets her father's eyes. She smiles at him and runs over to him.

"Good morning Dad!" she says as she puts her arms around his neck and kisses his cheek.

"Everything is prepared?" he asks in a low tone.

"Yes Dad." she nods with a smile.

He shakes his head and glances at his wife, who's sleeping peacefully.

"Wake Mum!" the girl nudges her father, who smiles in reply.

He's Vineet Malhotra, a top notch businessman. He's grown up professionally over 18 years. As his daughter grew, so did his business. And his wife, Ruhana Malhotra, was equal partner to him in this business association. Now they have a perfect successor for their business in the face of their daughter, Ruhaani Malhotra.

Vineet shakes his wife lightly such that she opens her eyes…

"Wake up mumma!" Ruhaani speaks.

Ruhana eyes her daughter…

"you woke up this early? Everything okay?" she asks.

Ruhaani smiles.. "yes mumma!" she says as she clings over her.

"toh what's today?" she asks.

"first you get ready, tab hi bataungi." she said as she forwards a cup of coffee towards her parents.

Ruhana glances at Vineet who nods innocently..

"I don't know anything." he says..

"Tumhe nahi pata hoga toh kise pata hoga? Ye sari nautanki Ruhaani ne tumse toh seekhi hai." she says.

"Of course Ruhana. Wo kya hai na betiyan hamesha apne papa pe hi jaati hain na!" he says with a smile.

"Lekin tumhari tarah sab dramebaz bhi nahi hote." She replies.

Ruhaani giggles watching her parents argue over her. Ruhana glances at her…

"what's the plan?" she asks.

Ruhaani nods her head….

"i won't tell you see for yourself." she says and runs out of the room.

Ruhana is left bewildered. She looks at Vineet who refuses to tell anything to her. She pouts but he smiles and asks her to get ready.

She is surprised. Neither Vineet, nor Ruhaani is telling her anything.. There is nothing special, then what are they hiding. Moreover, what are they upto? She thinks but then chides herself moves to take a shower.

After getting ready, she moves out of the room. She hears some giggles. As she followed the sounds, she found both Vineet and Ruhaani giggling over something.

"What is happening?" she asks while folding her hands across her chest.

"Nothing." they replied in unison.

Ruhana glances at both her husband and daughter. She knows there is something happening between them and they are not telling her. Ruhaani comes by her mother's side and makes her sit on the dining table. Ruhana finds the table already laid with the breakfast. She was astonished.

"Ye sab kisne banaya?" she asked while looking at Ruhaani.

"Maine!" Ruhaani replies while looking at her.

Ruhana raises her eyebrow at her daughter… "Really?" she asked.

"Papa helped." she replied while looking at Vineet.

Vineet took his seat beside Ruhana while Ruhaani clinged over them. Ruhana was still confused and thinking what they were upto.

"Koi mujhe batayega ki ho kya raha hai?" she asked as she sipped her coffee.

"Mumma, do you remember aaj kya hai?" her daughter questioned.

Ruhana tends to think… "tum dono mein se kisi ka birthday toh nahi hai aur na hi hamari anniversary." she said.

"Tell me something else mumma! Aur kuch yaad aata hai aapko?" Ruhaani asks.

"Nahi baba. Tum log hi bata do. 2 ghante se dekh rahi hoon, dono baap beti mujhse kuch chupa rahe hain." Ruhana replies.

Ruhaani giggles… "Okay. It's time for your surprise." she chuckles.

"Kaisa surprise!" she asks.

Ruhaani denies telling her. Ruhana looks at Vineet…

"tum ye sab apni beti se hi pucho. Mujhe jo karna tha wo maine kardiya." he said.

"aap log yahin wait karo. Main aati hoon." she said and ran into her room.

"Vineet ye sab kya chal raha hai? Please batao." Ruhana asks.

Vineet shrugs his shoulders… "Tum khud dekhna. I bet you'll love it." he said.

Ruhana was thinking when her trance was broken by Ruhaani's voice who asked her to close her eyes. Ruhana closes her eyes, and Ruhaani keeps something on her lap and asks her to open her eyes. Ruhana opens her eyes and is astonished to see a book in her  hand. It was titled "From Her Heart to His"

She looked at them…
"Now what is this?" she asked.

"open the book mumma!" Ruhaani said.

Ruhana opened the book and was astonished to see that it had been 18 years since they told their story to the world, that too, in the form of a book. It was before Ruhaani's birth when Vineet promised her to take their story to the world. And so forth they published a book "Falling For You".

Now, that it had been eighteen years, she was holding another book in her hand. She flipped to another page and there were two pictures, one when Ruhaani was born and the other was a recent picture of the three.

She flipped another page and was astonished to read it. The book she was holding was her diary that she used to write. It contained all her feelings for Vineet, all her attempts and failed plans to bring him back to life. It also contained those moments when she got married to Vineet. The sleepless nights with her daughter were also depicted in the same. In short, it was her life story. Her eyes turned watery instantly.

"this is your diary mum. I thought some more things are there to tell to the world. And those were the secrets embedded in your diary." Ruhaani said.

Ruhana smiled. Vineet pulled her in his embrace…
"Jab Ruhaani ne mujhe ye kaha toh mujhe laga ki ye idea acha hai. So i agreed and this book is the result." he said.

"And it is already loved mum." Ruhaani chuckled.

"Life is a story in itself. And mere life ko meaningful tum dono banate ho. This is the best gift ever." Ruhana said.

Ruhaani smiles… "then let's go. There are people who want to interview us" she chuckles.

Ruhana and Vineet smiled at her excitement and followed her. Another new milestone was awaiting them, now A family in particular.

****THE END****

Life is a story in itself, and Family and Friends make it meaningful.

Ruhaani08 i hope you like it. ❤️