US

It was early morning, Manvi woke up with a sweet voice. She smiled and got down from bed. She came out and was surprised to see Aarav singing the bhajan.

She moved forwards and was even more surprised when she saw Ruhana's and Vineet's photo frame kept in front of God.

Aarav completed the Aarti, he turned and smiled seeing her.

"Good morning Mrs. Raichand" he said.

He came with the pooja thal, Manvi took the aarti and smiled. She was about to pick up the laddo.

He hits her hand "ahan pehle nahake aao" he said.

She nodded. She asked "Aarav ye tasveer mandir mein?"

Aarav looked back and smiled "Haan Manvi kehte hai bhagwan hum insan ko jeevan dete hai lekin mujhe jeevan inhone diya hai mere liye yahi mere bhagwan hai"

He then looked at Manvi and said "wo paas nhi kam se kam roj subah maa papa ki iss muskurati hui tasveer ko dekhke hi sab khud hi acha ho jaata hai"

she was surprised.... "itna pyar Aarav! wo bhi unse jo tumhare janam data nhi hai. kitni khushkismat hun main tumhe paake" Manvi said.

"khushkismat main hun Manvi, jo sadak ke kinare baithe jhoote polish karke padta tha usko apna beta banaya ek naam diya Aarav Raichand" his eyes became moist

"Manvi puri zindagi nikal jayegi par main maa papa ka upkar kabhi nhi chuka paunga" he spoke.

Manvi wiped his tears "Aarav aisa mat bolo kuch mahine bas fir to tum unke paas jaa hi rahe ho na?" she asked.

He nodded positively yet was lost in thoughts. Manvi asked "ab kya hua?"

"bas aisa lag raha hai jaise kuch thik nhi ho raha hai" Aarav told.

"tumhare mann ka vahem hoga Aarav kal baat ki na tumne" Manvi said.

"Haan lekin maa papa se baat nhi ho paayi sham ko karta hun abhi to waha raat hogi" Aarav replied.

"thik hai" Manvi turned to go, she stopped with his call.

"ye 8 baje uthna nahi chalega kalse tum 7.30 mere saath puja ghar mein" Aarav said

Manvi turned and said "Haww ye kya baat hui ek din hua nhi mujhe aaye hue tumne to order dena shuru kar diya complaint karungi tumhari maa se"

Aarav smiled "kar dena filhal nahake aao" he said.

"Haan jaa rhi hun" Manvi spoke and left.

Pune

Ruhana was the one to wake up early. It was just six in the morning. She sat up on the bed and turned to the other side, but sighed. She stood up in the balcony of her room and looked at the rising sun, and suddenly her eyes brimmed with water as she trailed down the memory lane.

*Flashback Begins *

It was the time when after their marriage, Vineet took her for a trip and they went to Nainital. They had booked a hotel and she was quite happy as it was their first outing in one year of their marriage. Since they were tired because of their a day long journey, they slept early.

Next Morning, Ruhana woke up and was happy as the cool morning breeze entered the room. She stood in the balcony and the was mesmerised to see the rising sun. Vineet hugged her from behind...

"Mere bina ye khubsurat nazara dekhogi? " he asked.

She turned to him in the hug... "Mera khubsurat nazara toh tum ho,jo us ugte suraj ko bhi maat de. " she said.

He smiled and embraced her in his arms...

"hamara rishta aur saath isse bhi khubsurat hoga. " he said.

She smiled..."Hum yunhi har din ek nayi subah hote dekhenge? " she asked.

"Haan! Yunhi, saath saath. " he said and she hugged him.

*Flashback ends*

She wiped off the tears, and picked Vineet's picture...

"Tumne vaada kiya tha lekin tod diya. Aaj bhi ek nayi subah ka aagaz hua hai, lekin tum sath nahi ho. " she said and hugged the picture close to her heart.

On The other hand, in Delhi, Vineet was in the balcony, holding Ruhana's picture in his hand. He looked at the sun and then at her picture..

"Bas kuch mahine aur Ruhana! Hum phir sath honge aur is khubsurat nazare ko yunhi sath mein dekha karenge. Bas kuchh din aur... " he thought as tears leaked down his eyes and he hugged the picture.

After sometime, he moved down to the nearby park for jogging. He thought "agar sehat ka khayal nahi rakha toh milegi toh bahut gussa karegi" he smiled lightly and starts jogging.

His eyes fell on someone, who was shouting. He moved and asked "bhaisab kya hua?"

"Wo kutta kabse peeche pada hai" he said while hiding behind him.

Vineet smiled, he sent away the dog easily. The man was surprised "yeh aapne kaise kiya?"

"Mere dost ka bhi kutta hai na toh bas aadat hai" he said.

"Waah mota bhai myself Karan Shah" he said while shaking his hand with him.

"Vineet Raichand" he said.

Karan asked "aapko pehle dekha nahi yahan? Naye aaye hai?"

"Haan wo Sunshine Apartments mein mera beta rehta hai uske yahan hi" Vineet said.

"Aapka beta? Wo Deep Raichand?" he asked.

"Haan.." Vineet said.

"Arey waah! Uska chokra hai na Ansh, bahut pyara hai. aapke apartment ke saamne hi mera cafe hai aap kabhi aana waha mota bhai" Karan said.

"Haan zaroor" Vineet said.

Karan moved saying "Aur meri biwi ke haath ki chai mast hoti hai peena"

Vineet sighed and said "chai toh main apni biwi ke haath ki peeta hun.. Nahi peeta tha" and walked back to the home. As soon as he reached the house phone rang, he picked up the call.

"Hello.."

"Papa! Kaha they aap? Itne din se aapse baat karne ki koshish kar raha hun lekin ho nhi rahi thi" Aarav said from other side.

"Aarav main jogging ke liye gaya tha kaise ho tum?" he asked.

"Main toh thik hun aap aur maa kaise ho?" Aarav asked.

Vineet lied to him "haan main aur tumhari maa maze mein hai bacho ke ghar toh maa baap thik hi hote hai na" he said.

"Acha maa kaha hai zara unse bhi baat karwado meri aap" Aarav said.

"Aarav wo toh Tara ke saath shopping karne gayi hai pata nahi kabtak lautegi" Vineet said trying to keep himself normal.

"Thik hai papa fir main kal phone karta hun" Aarav said.

"Are nahi Aarav, kitna expensive padta hai call karna tum fikar mat karo hum thik hai, khush hai. Tum apna aur Manvi ka khayal rakho mujhe aur tumhari maa ko sukh lene do khatirdari ka" he said.

"Thik hai papa aap kehte ho toh main phone nahi karunga rakhta hun" the call ended. Tears leaked down from Vineet's eyes.

He kept the receiver down and thought "mujhe pata hai Aarav agar tumhe pata chala main aur Ruhana alag alag reh rahe hai toh tum seedha yahan aa jaoge sab chodke aur main wo nahi chahta hun. Abhi tumhari job lagi hai tumhari shaadi hui hai main nhi chahta hamari wajah se tumhe koi problem ho"

Ansh came to him running and notices tears in his eyes, he asked "senior aap ro rahe hai?"

Vineet nodded in no "nahi beta hum nahi roh rahe hai aap ready ho gaye school ke liye?"he asked

"Haan main mumma papa toh chale jayenge aap kya karoge akele ghar pe?" he asked in a most innocent tone.

"Hume ek new dost mila hai na hum wahan. chale jayenge" Vineet said with a light smile.

Pune

Ruhana composed herself and freshened up. She found both the rooms closed. She walked into the kitchen and prepared tea. Meanwhile, Mahesh came out of the room and saw her in kitchen..

"Maa aap kyun chai bana rahi ho? Mithi bana degi. " he said.

She smiled lightly.. "Main jaanti hun wo bana legi. Par mujhe toh aadat hai na. Tumhare papa ke liye banati aayi hoon, aur ab tumhare liye bana dungi. Ghar mein already bahut kaam hote hain, itni madad toh main kar hi sakti hoon na Mithi ki. " she said handed him the tray.

He took the tray and moved inside the room. She picked up the cup which she made for herself and took a sip, but drained it into the sink the very next moment and washed the utensils and moved into the room. Her eyes were teary, she was missing Vineet, and still it had been just two days since their parting. Meanwhile, Mithi, Mahesh and Mishti left for their office and college after the breakfast. Mahesh gave her a number..

"Maa isme society office ka number hai, kuch chahiye ho toh phone kar dena wahan, wo ghar pe de jayenge. " he said and left.

She just watched him going and closed the door.

She was thinking about Vineet and moving to her room when the phone rang. She rushed to pick it up..

"Vineet kaise ho? Khana khaya? Dawaiyan le rahe ho na? Dekho apni sehat ke sath laaparwahi mat karna. " she said all in one breath.

"Tumhe kaise pata main hoon line par? " he asked from the other side.

"tumhari nas nas se waakif hoon main. Tumhari har harkat pehchanti hoon, tumse door kabhi rahi nahi na. " she said tearily.

His eyes were moist too. He asked about her wellbeing..

"Tumhare bina kaisi ho skti hoon main, Vineet. Bas intezar kar rahi hoon ki kab ye 6 mahine beetenge aur hum milenge. "she said.

"Hum milenge aur phir koi hame alag nahi kar payega. Hamare bachon ne kiya hai uska hisab toh unhe chukana hi padega. Tab tak apna khayal rakhna." he said.

"tum bhi apna khayal rakhna. Saransh hoga na wahan tumhare sath,wo tumhara dhyan rakhega. " she said.

"Chalo rakhta hun, aur tum chai pi lena, jaanta hoon, mere bagair toh tum kuch karti hi nahi. " he said.

"Zindagi hi paas nahi toh kya karungi aur meri zindagi toh tum ho."she said and the line was disconnected.

Both of them had tears in their eyes. Vineet wiped his tears and walked into Karan's cafe while ruhana just sat down hugging his picture. 

To be continued.