Ruhana is looking at Vineet in disbelief. She didn’t think that he’d say something like that. She’s staring at him while he acknowledges his words again.

“Haan, Ruhana. Tumne bilkul thik suna hain. Main bas tumhari madad chahta hoon,” he says softly.

“Vineet! Tum sach jaante hue bhi ye sab karvana chahte ho? Maine tumse sach keh kar ek galti kar di hain, ek aur galti nahi karna chahti.” She says this while looking at him.

“Ruhana, maine kaha hai na ki tumne koi galti nahi ki hain. Hum dono dost hain, best friends! Aur pyar! Vo sirf ek rishtey tak toh bandha nahi hota hai na!” He looks at her convincingly.

“Lekin...agar maine koi galti....” She says this but pauses as Vineet places his finger on her lips.

“Shh! Koi galti nahi hogi. Main jaanta hoon tum kya soch rahi ho, lekin vaisa kabhi nahi hoga, Ruu. Trust me. “ He says.

Ruhana looks at him, and he assures her, blinking his eyes at her. Yes, Vineet asked her to play his lover in front of his wife. He wants Abhilasha to realise that love is more important than money. He wants her to understand that if you have love, life becomes easier.

He has seen immense love in Ruhana’s eyes, and now that he knows that she holds some feelings for him, it’d be easier to play along in front of Abhilasha. While Ruhana is fearful that she might lose her composure and make a mistake that she should not, Though Vineet has assured her, she is still unsure. Ruhana is lost in her thoughts when Vineet’s words break her trance.

“Ruhana, please haan keh do. Itna kya soch rahi ho? Dekho, tumhare alawa main kisi pe bharosa nahi kar sakta.” He says.

“Lekin tum Abhilasha se ye sab baatein baith ke kar sakte ho na? Tum chaho toh main bhi usey samjhaungi.” Ruhana says, she surely, doesn’t want to play his lover when she knows that she can’t get him for a lifetime.

“Maine bahut koshish ki hain, Ruu. lekin vo samajhna nahi chahti. Toh ab yahi ek raasta hain.” Vineet says softly.

Ruhana doesn’t say anything. A part of her heart wants to agree while the other part is against this decision. She doesn’t want to do that, after all, she loves him dearly. But, she agrees with him.

*****

The next day, Ruhana wakes up and sees herself in the mirror. Her eyes are slightly red, she cried to bed that night. She’s glad that Vineet didn’t insult her, yet understood her feelings. She claims that he loves her but as a friend. He doesn’t love her the way she does. He loves his wife dearly. She remembers that Vineet invited her to his home today for breakfast. They want to initiate the plan today itself.

They planned to fake their drama of love from today itself. He will introduce Ruhana as his close friend and as per he knows Abhilasha; she’ll not like it anyway. She doesn’t like it when Vineet talks to other women. Also, he has decided to keep Ruhana at her home and act as per their plan.

Ruhana sighs deeply and walks into the washroom to freshen up and get ready for the day.

It's going to be a long day for her.

*****

Kumar Mansion

Vineet wakes up in the morning and finds that Abhilasha is not in bed. He assumes she is in the bathroom. He moves onto the balcony and rests his hands on the metal railing. It’s been a few minutes when he feels a pair of hands across his chest. It’s Abhilasha who’s hugging him.

“Good Morning! Kal tum kya keh rahe they? Sorry, kal main thaki hui thi, toh jaldi so gayi thi.” Abhilasha says.

“Tumhe tumhari kitty parties se fursat hi kaha hain!” He comments.

“Tum bhi toh kal saara din apni dost ke sath they.” She complains annoyingly.

“Han, main toh ek hi din busy tha, lekin tum toh roz na jaane kahan busy rehti ho.” He says it, and it’s right in a way.

“Tum kuch zyada blame nahi karne lage ho, Vineet? Pehle toh tum aise nahi they.” She looks at him.

“Maine toh sach kaha hain, Abhi.” He smiles and glances back at her.

“Waise, aaj maine Ruhana ko breakfast pe bulaya hain, uske baad hamari ek combined meeting hain, toh hum dono ek sath niklenge. Tum kuch acha sa naashta bana do.” He says this, informing her about Ruhana’s arrival.

Abhilasha makes a face; she didn’t like it when he left her alone to spend time with Ruhana. And now he wants her to cook for his best friend. Well, what she isn’t realising is that she left home before he did. She never cancels her plans to spend time with him while he does all that’s necessary to mend the relationship that they share.

“Why don’t you order something for breakfast?” Abhilasha asks.

“Why can’t you cook? Roz toh main tumse kehta nahi hoon. Aaj meri dost aa rahi hain, aur main chahta hoon, tum usse ache se milo.” He says.

Abhilasha seems annoyed but agrees. She moves out of the room to prepare breakfast while he makes his way towards the washroom. A slight smile is playing on his lips. It seems like the first step that he has planned has stuck in the right place.

He is all set to play his second card. He sighs deeply and moves to get ready for the day. There’s a lot that he has to do and a lot that Abhilasha needs to realise.

To Be Continued.