A new morning is the start of new hope, a new beginning. At least, Viren's parents and Bulbul's sister and brother in law feel so. They hope the other two will move forward in life - - it's hard, they know. But they have to move on. They can't put their life to pause.

*****
Mehrotra House

It's a silent morning. Ruhana wakes up and after freshening up, she moves into the kitchen to prepare tea for Vineet and herself. She peeps into her sister's room and finds the girl asleep. She is relieved to see her sister and her daughter sleeping, at least they are free from worldly stress for a little while. She lets them sleep and takes the tray to her room. Vineet is awake but lying lazily on the bed. She forwards his cup to him and takes her seat beside him. He asks about Bulbul, Anamika and Ritik. Oh! They all are his kids, specially Bulbul, who's more like a daughter to him since when he married Ruhana, Bulbul was just 16 years old. He cares a whole lot for her.

"They are sleeping. Waise bhi, Bubble hi Ana aur Ritik ko school drop karne wali hai, toh it won't matter. School toh waise bhi 8:30 pe shuru hoga na." Ruhana says while sipping her tea.

"Par bachon ke sath main jaane wala tha!!" Vineet looks at his wife.

"Han Vineet! Par Bulbul keh rahi thi ki uski aaj koi meeting hai jo Hotel Hilton mein hone wali hai aur bachon ke school se hokar hi jayegi toh wo drop kar degi. And did you forget, hamari Mr. Shah ke sath meeting hai, wo aane wale hain office mein?" Ruhana looks at her husband.

"Oops! Main toh bhul hi gaya tha." Vineet bites his tongue.

" Tum toh ho hi bhulakkad! " Ruhana makes a face at him at which he glares at her and pulls her close to himself.

Ruhana smiles as he knows his intensions, yet she puts her palms on his chest to maintain the distance between them. He glares at her for this act, but she clicks her tongue at him and then, slapping lightly on his cheek, she hops off the bed and moves towards the door of the room but Vineet is quick enough to grab her by her wrist and pins her against the wall.

He closes the door with his leg as his hands have pinned her hands across her back. He leans closer to her.

"You can't get off easily, Mrs. Mehrotra." He says huskily.

"Tumhe subah subah romance sujh raha hai. See the time at least. " Ruhana says.

"No! You need to give me a treat. Only then, you can go." He smirks at her.

Ruhana smiles at him. He's the one to block her way for romancing with her at any time and she ends up melting in his arms. But, today, she decides to play along.

"Not so easy, Mr. Mehrotra." Ruhana smirks at him.

" It's all good. You can't escape. Waise bhi the kids are asleep, no one is coming up here." He says much naughtily.

"Yeah I know! Then we should play a little." Ruhana winks at him.

Vineet is fascinated and his grip loosens on her hands. She frees her hands and pushes him away. Vineet is taken aback while Ruhana giggles at him. She just played along with him, he makes a sad face at which Ruhana pecks lightly on his lips and hops away from him, while he whines at her. He is like a kid who almost held the candy in his hand but it dropped on the sand.

"Better luck next time, Mr. Husband. Now, go and get ready. " Ruhana winks at him and runs out of the room while he is left agitated.
'
But as he watches her move out, a smile appears on his lips and moves into the washroom to freshen up. His day has surely got a good start.

*****
Ruhana moves into her son's room. The room is messy and a little boy is sleeping on the bed. The boy is holding a teddy bear in his arms. Ruhana sits by the boy's side and ruffles his hair.

"Good morning, Mummaa!" the boy says and keeps his head in her lap.

"Good morning, meri jaan! Ab utho, hum ready honge, fir maasi aapko aur Anu ko school drop karengi." Ruhana says softly, stroking her son's head.

"Aur aap lene aaogi na?" Ritik opens his eyes and looks at her.

"Yes baby! Aaj dopahar ko main aapko lene aaungi, lekin tab tak aapko school ke andar rehna hai aur Ana ka dhyan rakhna hai." Ruhana says looking at Ritik.

"Ritik dhyan rakhega." He chuckles , earning a kiss from his mother and then she makes him bath ready.

Asking Vineet to take a look at Ritik, Ruhana moves into the kitchen to prepare the tiffins for Anamika and Ritik. As she instructs the maid to cut the vegetables, Anamika comes running to her and hides behind her.

"Maasi, bachao." She says softly.

"Arey arey! Kahan bhaag rahi ho? Kya hua?" Ruhana asks, bending at her level.

"Mumma ..." Anamika says and then pauses as she finds her mom in the ktichen.

" Kya kiya mumma ne?" Ruhana asks.

"Kuch nahi kiya maine. aapki laadli ko aaj 2 ponytails nahi banvaani." Bulbul makes a face.

" Kyun? roz hi toh banati hai na Anaa." Ruhana asks while looking at her sister and her daughter.

" Par aaj nahi. Aapko pata hai meri friend hain , Teeya, wo aisa banati hai, mujhe bhi banana hai." Little Anamika says and forwards a paper towards Ruhana .

Ruhana smiles, it's a braid. Though Anamika's hair are short, but the girl wants the braid. Bulbul whines looking at her sister.

"Ab isey braid chahiye. Roz nayi farmaish! Aisa thodi hota hai. "Bulbul comments.

"Kyun nahi? Teri beti hain toh tujh par hi jayegi na. Tu bhi bachpan mein yahi karti thi. " Ruhana says, slapping Bulbul's cheek lightly.

"Arey! Ab main badi ho gayi hun! " Bulbul glares at her.

" Toh kya hua? Mere liye toh tu bachi hi hai. Aur tu ja , ready ho ja. Aaj Ana ke baal main set karti hoon, jaise meri bachi chahti hai. Chal ja! " Ruhana says.

"Han, jao mumma! Nahi toh aap Ana ko dantogi." Anamika chuckles.

"Acha bachu! Abhi mumma ko bhaga rahi ho! Maasi ke sath team up ho gayi!" Bulbul glares at Anamika who chuckles at her mom and hugs Ruhana.

Bulbul smiles at her daughter and sister and then moves to get ready. Ruhana makes a braid for Anamika and the girl is all smiles. Meanwhile, Ritik comes to her holding his shirt in his hand. He hands the button of his shirt to his mom. Ruhana shakes her head and asks the maid to prepare milk for both the kids. She attaches the button and makes Ritik ready and it's 7:40 am already.

The maid forwards the milk to the kids. While Ruhana quickly prepares paratha and the kids special dish - - aalu ki sabzi and packs their tiffin. With it, she also gives Bulbul her cup of coffee. Bulbul tells her that she might be late in the evening, at which Ruhana asks her to just inform her about her whereabouts. Bulbul agrees and leaves with both Anamika and Ritik.

Ruhana sighs deeply, one set of task is over, but she has to get ready and prepare the lunch and has to send the lunch box for her. She turns to move in the kitchen but Vineet blocks her way. He asks her to sit on thr couch and forwards a cup of tea towards her.

Ruhana is touched, she looks at her husband and says something that only makes him happy.

*****
Singhaniya house

The house is chuckling as the little girl of the house is awake and she is all dressed up in her school uniform. Only her hair is left to be done. Little Raina runs to her grandfather and climbs in his lap.

"Dadu! Papa so rahe hai abhi tak!" she kind of complained to her grandfather.

"Oho! Raina ke jagane se bhi nahi jaage?" The old man plays along.

"Nooii! Dadi ne bhi unko nahi jagaya!" she informs, in a sad tone.

"Koi baat nahi bache! Aapke papa kaam kar rahe honge. Isliye nahi uthe." Shrikant says, he knows his son must be working late at night.

"Wahi toh Dadu. Papa bas kaam karte rehte hai. Thish ish wlong(wrong). Aap unko danto nai toh wo sabko dantenge. " Raina looks at her grand-dad who chuckles.

"Kya ho raha hai?" another deep voice greets the duo.

"Aapki shikayat." Raina glares at her dad.

"Areyy! Maine kya kiya? Kal toh hum Water Park bhi gaye they." Viren reasons.

"Lekin aapne gussa kiya, kiya tha na Dadu?" Raina looks at shrikant who nods positively.

"Ishliye aapko Raina se promise karna padega." Raina says as she stands on the couch, to match with her dad's height.

"Ab kya chahiye meri guriya ko?" Viren cups the girls' face.

"promish karo ki aap gusha nahi karoge!!"She says forwarding her hand.

Viren looks at her. Yes! He is short-tempered and his past has made him rude and arrogant. But he can't deny this little girl. She is not only his part but his mirror image as well. He holds the girls' hand and she chuckles. She hugs him and places her head on his chest, while he lifts her in his arms.

The sweet moment is disturbed by Madhu, who calls them for breakfast. Viren makes Raina sit on the chair and he sits beside her. His mom serves breakfast when the doorbell rings. Viren moves to open the door and he is left shocked and enraged to see the person, adding to which, his act shocked his parents and his little daughter is left scared.

To Be Continued.

Who's arrival raged Viren?

What did Ruhana said to Vineet?

Stay tuned.