Ruhana finds solace in Vineet's presence, but at the same time, his words leave her shocked. Yeah, he asked her to play his lover, and now he has made a decision, a difficult one for her. She parts the hug and stares at him. Understanding her inner turmoil, Vineet cups her face, his hands exuding warmth.

"Ruhana, please tum itna mat socho, I promise, kuch galat nahi hoga," He says, trying to convince her.

"Lekin Vineet, tum jaante ho main kyun hichak rahi hoon, main phir se koi galti nahi karna chahti. Isliye main keh rahi hun ki tum usey samjhao, ye sab karne ki kya zaroorat hai?" Ruhana asks, her tone soft and heavy.

"Zaroorat hai, Ruu, agar zaroori nahi hota toh main tumse ye favour nahi maangta. Please, mana mat karo," He requests, holding her hands.

Ruhana nods understandingly and she sighs deeply. She knows she can't back off. She loves him and all she desires is to see him happy. If this play could benefit him, why not? They sit in silence for a little while before they part ways. Vineet is all set to take forward their plan. They part ways on a positive note.

*****
A new day fills you with a lot of positivity. Ruhana, too, felt energized in the morning. A long day lies ahead, she has to do a few meetings, and there's one with Vineet too. As his name strikes her, Ruhana feels scared. She's to start her mock play today. She has to play his lover, but having feelings for him, she's scared that she might cross her limits. But his words ring in her mind, she has to keep control on her emotions, if she needs to help him. Sipping her morning tea, Ruhana braces herself for the challenges that lie ahead.

After getting ready for the day, she prepares a quick meal for herself, there's aloo sandwiches, and a cup of steaming tea. Meanwhile, her phone rings and she picks it up, its a client that she can't ignore. She takes the call and walks into the kitchen, unknown that Vineet has entered the house, and is now munching on the sandwich.

Ruhana walks out of the kitchen, holding another sandwich and that's when realization strikes her. However, in a second, her eyes meet with Vineet, a mischievous glint in his eyes. She's pretty stunned, and as she disconnects the call, she glares at him.

"Tum kab aaye?" She asks.

"Jab tum phone pe busy thi, tumhe toh pata hi nahi chala, very bad, tumhe dhyan rakhna chahiye," Vineet says, his tone playful.

"Tum ho na dhyan rakhne ke liye, main kyun rakhun?" She plays along.

"Achcha, aur agar abhi koi aur aa jata toh?" he questions, yet a smile is tugging at his lips.

"Koi aur kaise aata, Vinuu? Mere flat ki dusri chabi sirf tumhare paas hai, aur mujhe yaad hai, darwaza lock tha, toh tum hi khol ke andar aa sakte ho," She glances at him, it's obvious for her to understand that Vineet is playing with her.

"Agar koi aur aa jaata toh? " He asks, retaining the question.

"Nahi aayega, khair, what are you doing here? Aaj toh meri ek meeting hai, mujhe Hotel Radisson jana hai, tum yahan kaise?" She asks, her tone laced with concern.

"Ab reason doon tumse milne ke liye?" He asks, darting his eyes at her.

"Nahi, main toh aise hi puch rahi hun. Tumhari biwi abhi tak muh fulaaye baithi hai?" She asks, her tone laced with sarcasm.

"Haan! Ussne bahut koshish ki baat karne ki, lekin maine hi nahi ki, usse baat karne ka koi fayda nahi hai, Ruhana," He says, as he trails down the memory lane, remembering the morning scene with Abhilasha.

Vineet woke up in the morning and didn't find Abhilasha beside him. He shrugged his shoulders and walked into the washroom to freshen up. He didn't want to get into an ugly spat with his wife, so he decided to take a shower, the argument of last night still lingering in his mind. He brushed his teeth and then turned on the shower. As the cold water fell on his bare skin, he felt a little relaxed. A new feeling that felt buzzing is that he could read the differences in his wife and friend. Ruhana and Abhilasha were two different persons and Vineet could finally see it. Their words rang in his mind.

"Tum Ruhana ke yahan kyu jaate ho? Tumhe pata bhi hai ki society wale kya baatein karte hain?"

"Kahin tumhara koi chakkar toh nahi chal raha hai na us Ruhana ke sath?"

"Bahut cosy hote rehte ho tum uske saath? You should remember that you're married, Vineet!" Abhilasha had said.

On the other hand, Ruhana was completely opposite of what Abhilasha.

"Vineet, ye naatak karne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Tum kaho toh main Abhilasha se baat karungi,"

"Tum jaante ho main tumhare liye kya feel karti hoon, lekin main nahi chahti ki Abhilasha ya koi bhi mujhe tumhare toote rishtey ke liye zimmedar maane,"

"Maine bas apne dil ki baat kahi thi, Vineet. Mujhe nahi pata tha ki tumne shadi karli hai, aur ab main jaanti hoon ki tum apni wife se bahut pyar karte ho, main nahi aana chahti tum dono ke beech,"

"Hum koi aur raasta nikaalenge, Vineet,"

He opened his eyes with a jerk. He knew both the ladies loved him. Of course, he didn't accuse Ruhana, he respected her feelings for him, and told her that he can't love her. It's not a compulsion that the person whom you love, loves you back. And Ruhana had accepted it gracefully. While Abhilasha had already stained his relationship with Ruhana. He sighed deeply. He came out of the shower and got dressed. As he stepped out of the room, he found Abhilasha setting the breakfast. She sounded cheerful.

"Vineet, good morning, aa jao, nashta ready hai," She said cheerfully.

"Achanak se nashta? Tumhe kahin bahar breakfast pe nahi jana?" He asked, his tone laced with sarcasm.

"Tum aisa kyun keh rahe ho? Aaj toh main ghar pe hi hun, aao baitho, maine Poha aur sandwiches banaye hai, aur haan tumhari coffee bhi ready hai." Abhilasha said, trying to please him.

"Are you alright, Abhilasha? Tum toh kabhi subah kitchen mein ghusti nahi ho? Radha kahan hai?" He asked about the housemaid.

"Raadha ki tabiyat thik nahi thi, toh maine usey chhutti de di, tum baitho na," Abhilasha said, reaching out ot hold his hand.

Vineet eyed her with suspicion and she understood his hesitation. She held his hands, her tone soft.

"I am sorry, Vineet. Maine kal kuch zyada boldiya," She tried to apologise.

"Sorry? Kisliye? Phir se ek baar wahi sab kehne ke liye? Kyunki tum toh apni galti repeat hi karti ho, ye kuch nayi baat nahi hai," Vineet taunted.

"Vineet, maine kuch galat toh kaha nahi hai, tum toh uske sath aise rehte ho jaise wo tumhari biwi hai, aur tum usey haq jatane dete ho, mere hotey hue?? How could you?" Abhilasha said, her tone loud.

"Han, tum toh sahi hi hoti ho, Abhilasha, baaki sab galat hi hote hai, hain na? Yahi problem hai tumhari, khud ke aage kuch dekh nahi paati ho," Vineet said, finding her going on the same track of insulting Ruhana.

"Aur thik hai, tumhe jo assume karna hai, karo. Mujhe jo karna hoga, main karunga, agar tumhe mujhse zyada society ki chinta hai toh main kuch nahi kar sakta, vaise bhi aaj tak tumhe apne status aur society ki hi chinta rahi hai, tumhara pati hoke bhi main toh teesre number pe hi hun. Usually, biwiyan apne sapne bhi pati ke baad rakhti hain, lekin tum ho ek! "

"Tumhe kuch samjhana hi bekar hai. Tumne ek din wait kia mera, ek do din maine apni dost ke sath guzzaare wo tumhe dikha, lekin jab jab maine tumhara intezar kia wo tumhe nahi dikha. Jab bhi tumhare dost aate hai tum mujhe toh bhul hi jaati ho, main exist hi nahi karta tumhare liye! Toh ab kyun tumhe jalan ho rahi hain agar main do pal Ruhana ke sath bita raha hoon ya uske ghar jaa raha hoon?" Vineet said, his tone loud and firm.

"I don't need your aid, Abhilasha. Aur na hi mujhe tumhari sorry chahiye, kyunki tum kabhi nahi badlogi, hai naa! So just forget it. Tum apne doston ke sath enjoy karo, aur mujhe Ruhana ke sath jo 2 pal ka sukoon milta hai, wo jeene do," Vineet said, folding his hands in front of his wife.

He left the house and Abhilasha watched him go. She had again touched the topic of Ruhana and enraged him.

Vineet comes out of his trance and glances firmly at Ruhana. He reaches out to hold her hands and looks into his eyes.

"Ruu, it's high time, we pull our play to reality. It's not that hard, tumhe karna hoga, mere liye." he says, his tone soft.

"I will do, Vineet. Mujhe bas tumhari khushi chahiye. Bas agar main kuch galat karne jaun toh rok lena, please," She says, her tone laced with emotion.

He says nothing but pulls her in a friendly hug, assuring that everything will go as they have planned.

To Be Continued.