Mumbai is a dream city and it's  home to many people. Even when people are disheartened, disturbed and sad, this city tends to fill them with zest and enthusiasm. Such is the story of Ruhana Malhotra. She's a lady in her early thirties, who lives with her five years old daughter, Bulbul Malhotra.They are happy with each other, though, Ruhana has a grief in her heart and her daughter is unable to understand her. Though, for the little girl, her mom is her world. Ruhana works in an MNC , and takes care of Bulbul as well. Bulbul is now five years old and naughty.

It's a fine day, it's a Sunday Morning. Ruhana wakes up on her usual time, and finds Bulbul sleeping while snuggling closer to her. She has her head placed on her arm,while her hand is wrapped around her mother's waist. Ruhana smiles as she adores her little one. She is a true replica of her father. Ruhana places her head on the bedrest, and her eyes fall on a picture, their family picture which is placed on the platform of the bedrest. She picks it up and smears her husband's picture.

"You broke your promise ,Vineet. Tumne vada Kiya tha ki hamesha mera sath doge, lekin Tumne vada tod diya. Dekho kitni akeli pad gayi hoon main." She says to herself, and tears escape her eyes.

That's true. She cannot cry, she cannot scream out her pain. Because she can't let herself weak in front of her daughter. She has to stay strong for Bulbul. And so she cried in silence.

Her husband, Vineet Malhotra, was the senior official of CBI. He loved his job and family equally. They were happy and were blessed with a little angel. But destiny has it's own plan. Unfortunately, during a case , while catching the culprit, he was shot near his heart. Though, the culprit was caught, Vineet could not survive, and left Ruhana alone with her daughter. It's been three years since then. Now that Bulbul is grown up, Ruhana is smiling again.

Her trance is broken and she looks at her daughter. It's bulbul, who stirred in her sleep. She  kisses her head softly, while smearing her hair. She then frees herself from her grip and moves  to freshen up. After freshening up, she moves to prepare tea for herself and did her daily chores. Meanwhile, she heard her daughter calling her. She rushes inside the room. She finds Bulbul lying on the bed, her eyes still closed.

"Mumma!! Aap aa gayi?" The little girl asks.

"Han ! Kya hai?" Ruhana asks.

Bulbul opens her eyes and glances at her mother.

"Aap lucky ho na mere liye. Toh bulbul Ka din aapko dekhe bina kaise shuru ho sakta hai? Batao! Aur aap ho ki bulbul ko akele chod ke chale jaate ho." Bulbul questions as she stands on her knees on the bed.

Ruhana smiles and kisses her forehead lovingly.

"Mumma ka toh din, raat, Khushi,hansi, sab Bulbul se hi toh hai. Toh mumma apni Jaan ko chod ke kaise ja sakti hai." Ruhana says.

Bulbul hugs her keeping her head on Ruhana's chest and wraps her arms around her.

"bulbul bhi kahin Nahi jayegi , mumma ko chodke." She says.

Ruhana smiles while smearing her head. Her words reminded her of Vineet. Why won't it? She's a replica of her father. Ruhana kisses her head.

"Chalo ab jaldi se ready ho jao." Ruhana says.

"Fir hum mall jayenge na ?" Bulbul asks.

Ruhana nods and then helps her to take a bath and makes her ready. It's almost 11AM, until Bulbul finishes her milk and breakfast. She chuckles.

"Chalo mumma! Bulbul ko games bhi khelna hai." She calls for her mother.

Ruhana smiles at her excitement.

"Uffo meri toofan mail! Kaam toh karne de." Ruhana says.

"Uffo mumma! Aapko pata hai na hum Sunday ko bahar jaate hai, fir aap pehle se kaam kyun Nahi Karti." Bulbul frowns at Ruhana.

Ruhana smiles. She knows her daughter is excited to go out. But she has things to handle. She can't leave everything and leave.

"mumma ko aur bhi kaam hai na beta. Hum wo sab karenge Jo meri gudiya ko Karna hai, okay!" Ruhana taps her cheeks.

Bulbul nods, Ruhana finishes her work, grabs her purse and they walk out. She instructs Bulbul to not leave her hand in the mall and bulbul agreed.

Soon, they reach the mall, and bulbul chuckles.

"Mumma, bulbul ko new school bag chahiye." She says.

"Acha. Chalo fir. Lete hai, mumma ko bhi new hand bag lena hai." Ruhana says.

"Mumma ka purse bulbul choose karegi, aur mumma Bulbul ko Elsa Anna wala bag dilayegi. Deal??" the little girl looks at her mother.

Ruhana laughs. By Anna Elsa, her daughter meant for the school kits of Frozen series. But since she loved the two sisters, they're always Anna and Elsa for her. Bulbul looks at her mother.

" Hanso nai. Anna ko Elsa ki baat maanni chahiye." bulbul says while pointing at herself and Ruhana.

Ruhana shook her head and they enter a shop which sold school bags and handbags. Bulbul spotted a pink coloured school bag with imprint of Frozen Sisters.

" Ye chahiye Bulbul ko. " she chuckles.

Ruhana nods, she asks the shopkeeper to put the bag aside and she asks them to show her some handbags. One of the shop helpers started showing her the handbags. Bulbul chuckles as her eyes fell on a golden coloured handbag.

" Mumma, Yeh acha hai." she says.

Ruhana smiles. Even she liked it. But now she decided to buy it. She made the payment and took the bags and moved out of the shop.

Bulbul seems happy. Then Ruhana's eyes fell on a shop, she had to purchase some groceries. The shop was full and so she entered the shop and made Bulbul stand in a corner. She instructed her to not leave her place. Bulbul agreed. Ruhana went for the shopping.

Meanwhile, being the naughty girl she is, Bulbul sneaked out of the shop as she found some other kid playing along. It was a girl of her age and she started playing with her. She didn't realise that she came far from the shop. Now that, the other girl went off with her parents, Bulbul felt lost.

"Main kahan jaun? Ye mall toh itna bada hai." the little girl stood thinking.

She's worried, she's scared, but she's lost in the mall. She realised she should have listened to her mom.

As she was frantically looking for her mom, a guy taps her head. Bulbul looks at him.

"Aap kaun ho?" she asks.

"Tum kise dhundh rahi ho?" he asks.

"Mumma kehti hai strangers se Baat nahi karna chahiye. Aap toh stranger ho." she says innocently.

The guy laughs.

"kahan hai aapki mumma?" he asks.

"wo kho gayi. Matlab Bulbul kho gayi." she says sadly.

He tweaks her nose.

"toh aapka naam bulbul hai? Bahut hi pyara Naam hai." he says.

"Mumma bhi yahi kehti hai. Lekin abhi mujhe mumma ke Paas jana hai." bulbul says.

"Apko Mumma ka haath chod ke nahi aana chahiye tha." the guy says.

"Bulbul ko khelna tha. Lekin ab Mumma nai mil rahi. Wo vegetable shop pe gayi thi. Par bulbul raasta bhul gayi. " she says.

The guy smiles.

"Chalo, hum aapki mumma ko dhundhte hai." he says.

"Par…" the little girl looks at him.

She doesn't know him and how can she go with him. He's still a stranger.

"Mera Naam Kavin hai. Aur aaj se main aapka dost hoon." he says.

Bulbul stares at Kavin for some good seconds and then hold his hand. Kavin smiles and then they move into the direction, bulbul was going.

On the other hand, Ruhana was worried not finding bulbul in the shop. She asked the guard outside the shop who told her that bulbul went out. Ruhana sighed.

"Ye ladki din par din shaitan hoti ja rahi hai. Sunti nahi hai." she murmurs.

She is searching her daughter frantically, when a voice reached her. Bulbul calls her.

"Mumma!!" she calls.

Ruhana looks at her as Bulbul rushes to her.

"Kahan chali gayi thi? Jaan nikal gayi thi meri.. Kaha tha na shop Mein Hi khade Rehne ke liye." ruhana scolds her.

"Bore ho raha tha na." Bulbul reasons.

"toh aise haath chuda ke jaogi. Agar kch ho jata toh?" ruhana asks.

"nai hua na. Dekho mujhe new dost bhi mile." bulbul turns to look for Kavin but he was gone.

"Kaun mila?" Ruhana asks.

"Unhone bola ki wo mere dost hai. Wo hi laye mujhe yahan. But ab chale gaye." bulbul says.

"Jaane do. Chalo ab. Aur haath chod ke nahi jana." ruhana says.

Bulbul nods, they play along in the kids zone and all the way to home, bulbul talked about Kavin.

Ruhana is touched. She wanted to thank him, but she could not. He was gone and all her daughter is doing is talking about him.

The day ended on a happy note.

Next morning, Ruhana made Bulbul ready for school, and she herself got ready for office. She dropped bulbul to her school and then went to her office.

Though, she had appointed a cab driver for picking bulbul and other kids of the society they lived in. But today, she has a strange feeling. She decides to pick Bulbul from the school. She reaches bulbul's school, she's a bit late. But the scenario in front of her left her shocked.

To Be Continued.

What did Ruhana see?

Is her daughter in danger?

Who is Kavin?

Stay tuned for next part.

Navkiran_Shergill I hope you like it. It had to be a one shot, but now it's a two shot. Will try updating soon. Lemme know how you liked it.

Other readers, please press the star button at the end. It will just take a mini second of your time. And do leave comments.

Thank you!