Vineet and Ruhana have started spending a lot of time together. The former has started maintaining a distance from his wife and he knows his wife is not pleased with the same. Though she's still busy with her friends, kitty parties, etc. Maybe Vineet thought that, seeing him drift away, she would work on their relationship. But to no avail. Ruhana forwards a cup of steaming coffee towards him and he comes out of his trance.

"Kya sochne lage?" Ruhana asks.

"Ruhana, mujhe laga tha ki agar hum ye naatak karenge toh Abhilasha hamare rishtey pe kaam karegi, vo kuch toh karegi jisse hamare beech ka distance khatm ho, lekin aisa kuch nahi hua." Vineet expresses his concern.

"Jaanti hoon, Vineet. Maine bhi kuch aisa hi socha tha kyunki vo mujhe pasand nahi karti, lekin usne abhi tak kuch nahi kiya. Shayad vo sab kuch samajh kar bhi nasamajh bani hui hai." Ruhana says.

"Aur tum kyun usko indirectly samjhana chahte ho, Vineet. Shayad baith ke baat karte toh sab thik ho jaata." She again keeps her point in front of her.

"Ruhana, usey kuch farak toh padta hai, main tumhare sath rehta hoon, ye vo achche se jaanti hai. Ya toh vo kuch plan kar rahi hai, ya usey farak nahi padta. Agar usey farak nahi padta toh.... " He says it but leaves his line incomplete.

"Toh kya? Vineet, dekho, aise jaldbaazi mein koi faisla mat lena. Main jaanti hoon tum kya soch rahe ho? Iss waqt tumhari bhi wahi haalat hai jo meri hai. Lekin main jaanti hoon ki tum mujhse nahi Abhilasha se pyaar karte ho. Aur tumhare case mein tum dono pyar karte ho ek duje se lekin, shayad Abhilasha ab apna svarth dekhne lagi hai, Vineet. Aur insaan thoda selfish toh ho hi jaata hai. Lekin phir bhi, usey apnon se door nahi hona chahiye." She explains.

"Tum thik keh rahi ho. Mujhe lagta hai hume ek step aage badhna hoga." He says and in the meantime, Ruhana's phone rings.

She smirks, looking at the caller's name. She winks at Vineet and tells him that it's his wife's call. She talks for a little while and her expressions are enough to tell that there's something on her mind, surely. She talks for a little while and then disconnects the call. She tells Vineet that she's going to meet Abhilasha within some time. He smiles; he knows the drill. The two friends part ways: Vineet leaves for office while Ruhana goes to meet his wife.

*****
Ruhana reaches Cafe City Delight, where Abhilasha called her. Her heart is thumping but she has to do this. She never wanted to be rude to anyone, but here, she has to fake being in love with her childhood friend. She is in love with him already! It's another thing that he loves someone else and is married.

Ruhana enters the cafe and finds that Abhilasha is already waiting for her. The look on her face is enough to tell Ruhana that she is annoyed and will talk to her about Vineet. But why is she concerned now? When Vineet told her about his expectations, then why didn't she rectify herself? Why is money more important than love? Ruhana wonders.

She walks towards the corner table, takes her seat across Abhilasha and smiles at her. The lady preferred coming to the point. Her demeanour indicates that she wants to ask something from Ruhana but is unable to express her feelings.

"Kya hua, Abhilasha? Mujhe yahan kyun bulaya?" Ruhana asks, pretending to be unaware of all the happenings.

"Mujhe tumse kuch zaroori baat karni hai. Main jaanti hoon ki tum Vineet ki achi dost ho, lekin tum ye bhi jaanti ho na ki vo shadi shuda hai. Toh tum usey kaise apne ghar pe rukne de sakti ho?" Abhilasha asks.

"Tumhara matlab kya hai, Abhilasha? Vineet mera dost hai.

Ye ghar bhi usi ne mujhe dilvaya hai. Toh vo jab chahe mere ghar pe aa sakta hai. Maine toh ek spare key bhi Vineet ko de rakhi hai. Vo kya hai na kayi baar aisa hua ki Vineet ghar aaya par tum nahi thi, toh maine usey apne ghar ki chabi de di. Ab band ghar mein hi aana hai toh vo mera ghar ho ya uska khud ka! Kya farak padta hai?" Ruhana shrugs the matter off in a second.

"Kyun nahi farak padta? Tumhe koi dikkat nahi hai isse? I mean, log kya kahenge?" Abhilasha says, trying to threaten Ruhana, that people might assume that she has an affair with Vineet.

"Logon se mujhe farak nahi padta, Abhilasha. Mujhe farak padta hai ki Vineet kya sochta hai? Ya mere dost, mere colleagues, kya sochte hai? Tum, ye society wale koi maayne nahi rakhte mere liye. Aur vaise bhi vo mere ghar pe rahe, usse tumhe kyun takleef hai? Tumhari privacy pe toh koi farak nahi pad raha aur na tumhe pad raha hai." Ruhana commented, and she could see the changes in Abhilasha's expressions.

"Kya hua? Kisi ne kuch kaha hai kya tumse?" Ruhana asks and the lady has no answer.

Abhilasha is irked. Ruhana's arrival has changed her life. She feels that her husband is not listening to her anymore. He's always with Ruhana and sometimes, he stays at her place only. He has forgotten that he has a wife at home. It has hurt her, but she couldn't see her deeds. Ruhana looks at her and smiles, she knows it's time to throw an ace.

"Vaise Abhilasha, koi kuch bhi kahe usse kya farak padta hai? I mean tum apni kitty parties mein busy rehti ho. Vineet ne bataya mujhe, vo keh raha tha ki uska ghar jaane ka mann nahi karta kyunki tum rehti hi nahi ho. Bechara! Isliye maine kaha ki main usey niraash nahi karungi. Aur tumne dkeha hoga, bahut khush hai Vineet aajkal. Vaise agar tumne paise se zyada rishtey ki ehmiyat samjhi hoti toh acha hota. Kahin aisa na ho jo kuch tumhare paas hai, vo tumse chhin jaye, iss aadat ki wajah se" Ruhana says, boring her eyes into hers.

Abhilasha is stunned with Ruhana's words while the latter thanks her for the coffee and takes her leave. ON the other hand, Abhilasha is too shocked to react, but she's determined to talk to her husband today, either by hook or crook.

To Be Continued.

What will Abhilasha do now?

Stay tuned.