Manvi was surprised, Vineet was sliding the glass bangles in her left hand. She was glancing at him silently in the mirror. A smile appeared on her face as those were the bangles which she picked up at the stall in the market today.

She turned towards him, he took her right hand slides remaining. She asked "Aapne yeh kab liya?"

"Jab tum baarish mein bheegne mein busy thi" he said.

She smiled with teary eyes, he looked and asked "kya hua?"

"Kal aapne mere saath waqt bitaya.. Mujhe acha laga, sach kahun aajse pehle itna acha kabhi nahi laga mujhe" she said with a light smile on her face.

"I felt the same, itne saalo baad busy life se nikalke maine asal zindagi dekhi" He said.

"Abhi aapko office jaana chahiye, meri wajah se 2 din se nahi gaye hai aap" she spoke.

He was about to say something.. But his phone rang. He picked it up "yea.. I will be there"

"See you in evening" He said and left.

The house phone rang, Manvi picked it up "hello.."

"Maa aap.. Kaise ho? Dawai li aapne time se?" she asked.

Gautami replied "haan baba.. Waise 2 din se tumhe toh meri fikar hui nahi socha main hi karlun"

Manvi smiled and said "aisi baat nahi hai maa wo Vineetji ke saath bahar gayi thi kal pura din"

Gautami was shocked "kya? Yeh toh kamaal ho gaya! Aajtak maa ko shopping karane nahi leke gaya ab biwi ko ghuma raha hai" she said.

Manvi smiled and replied "Aap wapas aayengi toh aapko bhi le jayenge ab wo badal gaye hai"

"Tum khush ho?" she asked.

"Bahut.." Manvi replied..

"Chalo main rakhti hun kuch do hafton mein laut aaungi" Gautami said.

Manvi nodded and ended the call. She looked at the time it was 1 pm. She sighed.. "Are khana leke jaana tha office.."

She quickly moved to the kitchen and packed the lunch box. She moved out "kaka.. Office jaldi chalyie warna daant padegi aapko bhi mujhe bhi"

"Jee mam"

She reached office in 20 minutes, she went to his cabin. She tried to open the door but it was locked. She glanced at the glass door. She knocked.. "Vineetji.."

He came and glared at her in anger..

"Darwaza kholyie na.. Main khana laayi hun" she said showing the tiffin.

"You are late..mujhe nhi khana hai.." he said in anger.

She sighed, she moved out. Naina came to her and smiled "Manvi.. Mam aap thank you so much uss din aapki wajah se meri naukri bach gayi jaate jaate.. Waise aap yahan kaise?" she asked.

"tumhare sir ko khana dene. " she spoke.

Naina smiled and took the tiffin "ek baar ghar aayi thi aapke haath ka khana khaya tha.. It was so delicious. Layie bahut bhook lagi hai.."

She opened the tiffin and kept it on the table. Vineet saw this, he opened the door and said in loud tone "Naina."

Naina turned and gulped down her throat "ji sir.."

"Aajki report chahiye mujhe abhi mere cabin mein" he said.

"But sir.. It is lunch time now" Naina said.

"Haan to office canteen mein jaake khao.. Khana" he ordered. He picked up the lunch box and moved to cabin.

Naina glanced at her Manvi and spoke "mam aap kitni lucky hai aapke husband aapke haath ka bana hua khana kisiko khane nahi dete.. Kitna pyar karte hai aapse aur ek mera husband hai.. Tareef tak nhi karta mere kaam ki.. Huh" she said and was about to go.

Manvi replied "wo meri izzat karne lage hai Nainaji pyar nahi"

"Mujhe toh aisa nahi lagta Manvi mam... I mean uss din show mein bhi he cared for you jab aap walk kar rahi thi aapse zyada wo darr rahe they.. Aur phir wo stupid aadmi jisne aapke saath flirt kiya usko naukri se hi nikal diya Sir ne.. Jealous bhi hue they he definitely loves you"

"Are han staff aapse milna chahta hai uss din show ke baad ho nhi paaya aayie mere saath please" Naina said and pulled her along.

Vineet was standing at the door, he had heard their conversation. He moved back in and seemed to be lost. "Kya main sach mein usse pyar karne laga hun" he thought.

Manvi entered inside and found the lunch box still filled with the food. She looked at him and said "aapne khana kyun nhi khaya?"

But he was lost, he had not heard her. She waved her hand in front him "Vineetji main aapse baat kar rahi hun"

She sighed, she deliberately dropped down the file on the floor. He came out of his trance of thoughts with this. "Kya hua?"

"Main kabse aapse baat kar rahi hun kya ho jaata hai aapko? Kahi bhi kho jaate hai aap" Manvi spoke.

"Nahi kuch nhi.." he said.

"Aap bhi ajeeb hai na khud khana khate hai na dusron ko khane dete hai.. Ab ye khana waste ho jayega" she complained.

"Galti tumhari hai ek toh late aayi upar se naina ko lunch khane bhi diya.." he said.

She made face.. "Meri galti kaise hai? Maa ka phone aaya unse baat ki maine phir traffic delhi ka... aap hamesha mujhe kehte hai aur abhi kabse kahi khoye hue hai isme meri kya galti?" she asked.

"Okay sorry.." he said accepting his mistake.

She eyed him in shock.. "Aapne maan li apni galti?" she asked.

"Haan maan li.. Main kuch soch raha tha.. Tum kab aayi pata bhi nahi chala mujhe" he said.

She asked "Aisa kya soch rahe they aap?"

"Kuch khas nahi.. Tum ghar jao main shaam ko milta hun tumhe" he said.

"Aap pehle khana kha lijiye warna phir kuch sochte rehenge" she spoke.

"Main kha lunga.." he said.

"Kha lijiye na pehle" she requested.

He nodded and began eating the food. She noticed his staring at her, she moved her gaze and looked here and there silently. He was done with it, she closed the tiffin and moved out of the cabin.

She had a sigh of relief.. "Kaise dekhte hai mujhe aur ye nainaji kehti hai pyar karte hai izzat karte hai wahi kaafi hai" she moved out of the office.

A week passed, Manvi was happy seeing the change in him. He had turned caring towards her.. Vineet felt he might be falling in love with her after realizing and seeing her innocence.

It was late night and Vineet had not returned home. She was waiting for him, she called him but he was busy with work.

She held the cushion and sat on couch waiting for him and fell asleep in the same position. Vineet came back home around 11 pm in the night.

He was about to move to the room but saw someone sitting on the couch. He moved and saw Manvi sleeping there.

"Yahi soh gayi ye toh.."

He tend to wake her up but did not felt to do so. He lifted her up in his arms and walked towards the door. He was staring at her innocent face. He puts her down to the bed and moved but stopped. He saw her holding his hand. He smiled..

He freed his hand and covered her with blanket. He moved to washroom to fresh up and then came back. He laid to other end of the bed to sleep turning off the lights.

The next morning, Manvi opened her eyes. She turned towards her left and found Vineet awake already and looking at her. She said "Aap.." she sat up.. "Main yahan aap laaye mujhe?" she asked.

He nodded "haan.. Tum bahar hi soh gayi thi baithe baithe"

"Kal aap itni der se kaise aaye?" she asked.

"Office mein urgent kaam aa gaya hai.." he said.

She looked at the time it was 9 am, she was shocked "main itni der tak kaise soh gayi?"

"Maine alarm off kiya tha.. Aaj sunday hai na.." he said.

"Aaj Sunday hai aapko koi business party mein jaana hoga na?" she asked.

"Nahi... soch raha hun aaj tumhe shopping pe le jau.." he spoke.

She looked at him surprised "lekin mujhe kuch shopping nhi karni hai" she said.

"Kapde dekhe hai khudke? Kitne old hai and some are torn too.." he said pointing towards her sleeves.

She looked down and said "abhi Ruhana ji ne kuch dresses dilwaye hai wo kaafi hai.."

"Come on Manvi.. Vineet Singhaniya ki biwi ho tum.. Kuch toh khayal karo meri izzat ka get more dresses ya sari jo bhi tum pehenti ho" he spoke.

"Aapko pasand nahi hai na mera dress sense?" she asked.

"Aisi baat nahi hai.. Tum achi lagti ho inmein and wo uss din tum mere liye laayi thi the blazer I thought I should also get you something.." he said.

"But mujhe nahi chahiye.." she said.

"Zyada zuban mat ladao tum! Jo kah raha hun wo karo get ready" He said aloud.

She made face "aap meri sunte hi nahi hai.. Kabhi" she said.

"Toh tum sunlo baat khatam karo" he said with a smile.

She sighed and stood up.. "Maa sahi kehti hai aapse koi nahi jeet sakta" moved to the washroom.

He smiled at this.."zara sa gussa dikhao maan jaati hai.." he spoke.

"Mat dikhaya kijiye gussa, mujhe acha nahi lagta. " she said.

He looked at her,she smiled innocently. He smiled... "Jao ready ho jao. Main wait kar raha hoon. " he said and left the room.

She shaked her head and went to take a shower. 

To be continued.