Ruhana reaches the office after back to back meetings. As she enters the office, she finds Abhilasha getting out of the car, and she sighs. Ah, she’s here, again! She will again blame them. For a rushy moment, her eyes meet with Abhilasha’s and Ruhana could see a steely resolve there.

Oh, so, does she still believe her husband is having an affair? If it’s like that, she has to make her assumptions true. This is the only chance and of course, Vineet wants the same.

She walks into Vineet’s cabin and as she peeps in, she finds him busy in a meeting. She lets him work and enters the cabin from the other door, which is a different cabin. She sends a quick message to Vineet about Abhilasha’s arrival and gets busy with work. Some ten minutes later, the landline on her desk rings and she immediately picks it up. Vineet’s deep voice falls in her ears as he asks her to come into her cabin. She agrees and disconnects the call.

She reaches out for the secret door amidst the mirror wall between the two cabins. This is something that Vineet got done when they first met a couple of months ago. He’s glad to have Ruhana close, and sharing a cabin doesn’t mean that they are in a relationship. They’re two childhood friends who want to make some new memories in the life ahead. As she enters the cabin, Vineet smiles at her, and Ruhana is surprised that Abhilasha hasn’t reached them yet.

“Tumne mujhe yahan kyun bulaya?” She asks, feigning innocence.

“I told you to start our play, ab jab Abhilasha yahan aai hai, toh it’s the right time, don’t you think so?” Vineet asks, his tone gentle.

“Yeah, you’re right, Vineet. Main jaanti hoon wo hamari ek bhi baat nahi sunegi, aur agar tumhe lagta hai aisa karne se usey kuch samajh aayega, toh main tumhare sath hoon, Vineet. You know that all I wish for is your happiness,” She replies, her tone soft and as Vineet looks into her eyes, he only finds a certain kind of love and affection for himself.

“I knew, you’d help me, and I promise, we will take it to any extent if that’d be necessary, please allow me for that,” Vineet says, his tone gentle and soft.

“You have all the rights, Vineet. I don’t think there’s anything I can stop you from, if it results into your happiness,” She says, her tone heavy with emotion.

He says nothing but pulls her in an embrace, a much needed friendly embrace filled with a kind of warmth. In that embrace, Ruhana knows that it’s a treat to retain this beautiful friendship rather than coating it with love. As soon as the realization dawns upon her, Ruhana is thrilled to act his lover, only to see the smile etched on his face forever.

*****
Abhilasha enters the room and finds Ruhana and Vineet sharing an intimate embrace. She's stupefied at the moment, maybe, she didn't anticipate it at the moment. Meanwhile, Ruhana's gaze fell on her and her lips quirk up in a smirk.

“Abhilasha, tum yahan? What brings you here?” Ruhana asks as she parts the hug and Vineet also turns toward her.

“Yeah, I had some work with Vineet. Now, if you can leave us alone,” Abhilasha glances at Ruhana, asking her to leave them alone.

“Oh! Sorry to interrupt you, Abhilasha. But we have a meeting in an hour. We need to leave, as we have to visit Hotel Radisson Blu for the same,” Ruhana says, reaching out to hold Vineet's hand.

“Par mera Vineet se baat karna zaroori hai,“ Abhilasha presses further, gazing at Vineet.

“Vo toh tum ghar pe bhi kar sakti ho, Abhilasha. He's your husband, vo tumhe ghar par bhi milega baat karne ke liye, par ye meeting dobara nahi ho payegi, I hope you understand, “ Ruhana says, her tone soft.

“Haan Abhilasha, tum ghar jao, main shaam ko tumhe milta hoon. Abhi ye meeting zaroori hai aur phir humein lunch ke liye bhi jaana hai, I mean mujhe aur Ruhana ko, “ Vineet says, emphasizing on the last line.

“Lunch? I mean do you have lunch meeting with your clients?” Abhilasha asks, her tone laced with surprise.

“Nope, just Vineet and I! Actually, Abhilasha, ek client se main deal karne wali thi on Vineet’s behalf. Vo kya hua na, Vineet ne mujhse promise kiya tha ki agar vo deal humein mili toh vo mujhe treat dega, toh humne lunch ke liye decide kia, our little lunch date,” Ruhana says, her tone exuding confidence as she emphasizes on the word ‘date’.

Abhilasha seems to say something, to object on the lunch date, but the ring of Vineet’s phone cuts throught the silence spread in the cabin. He excuses himself to attend the call and in the meanwhile Ruhana turns toward Abhilasha who’s stunned at the turn of the events.

“Shocked, huh? Kya soch rahi ho, Abhilasha?” Ruhana asks, her tone soft yet laced with anunderlying challenge.

“Ruhana, you’re doing it the wrong way, tum jaanti ho ki Vineet shadi-shuda hai, fir bhi tum uske sath…” Abhilasha says, her tone accusing.

“Maine kya kiya, Abhilasha? Tum shayad bhul gayi ho ki main aur Vineet bachpan ke dost hain. Aur kya dost ek sath lunch nahi kar sakte? Ya phir tumne soch hi liya hai ki Vineet ne affair kar rakha hai? Kyunki it’s obvious, tum toh usey time toh deti nahi ho, toh ab banda kare bhi kya! Jahan usey pyar milega, wo wahin jayega,” Ruhana explains, her tone laced with a little sarcasm.

“Tum galat kar rahi ho, Ruhana, main jaanti hoon tum hi ye sab kar rahi ho, aur Vineet ko bhi tumne hi bhadkaya hai,” Abhilasha again accuses her.

“Oh really? Kya tumhare hisab se ek ladka ladki agar sath mein hai toh unka affair hai, aisa hi sochti ho tum har kisi ke baare mein?  Soch bhi skti ho kyunki tum yahan aayi hi isliye ho kyunki tumhe lagta hai ki Vineet aur mera affair chal raha hai! Tumhe apne pati pe hi bharosa nahi hai, Abhilasha, aur toh main tumse umeed hi kya kar sakti hoon, Lekin please, meri dosti pe ye daag mat lagao, Vineet is my childhood friend and best friend too, meri zindagi ki har detail vo jaanta hai, isliye tum bina wajah mujhe accuse mat karo,” Ruhana says, her tone laced with anger.

Meanwhile, Vineet turns around ending his call and finds both ladies facing each other. He’s half amused, half frustrated, seeing them together. He stands by Ruhana’s side, facing Abhilasha.

“Abhilasha, please tum yahan koi scene create mat karo, tum ghar jaao, main tumhe sham ko milta hoon,” Vineet says, his tone cold.

“Main scene create kar rahi hoon? Tum Ruhana se pucho yeh kya bole jaa rahi hai, usko kuch kyun nahi kehte?” She asks, her tone laced with anger.

“Vo thik keh rahi hai, now if you excuse us,” Vineet says, and holds Ruhana’s hand, and moves forward.

However, Ruhana excuses herself, she asks Vineet to wait for a minute. She walks back toward Abhilasha, gazing in her eyes. She leans closer toward her, almost whispering in her ears.

“And to clear your doubts Abhilasha, I love Vineet, and you can’t limit my love, maybe, he’ll fall for me soon,” Ruhana says, a smirk dancing on her lips.

Abhilashs is stunned at the moment while Ruhana walks ahead, entangling her hand with Vineet’s as they exit the cabin.

To Be Continued.