Ruhana came out of her trance with a touch on her shoulder. She turned her face up and found Sachin. She stood up and hugged him. She broke into tears while he embraced her in his arms.

" Mujhe lagta hai tujhe Doctor Sameer ki baat maan leni chahiye. " he said.

She broke the hug... "Main kisi ki baat nahi maan rahi hoon. " she spoke.

"Lekin Ruhana, yahi sahi hai shayad. " he said.

"Kaise sahi hai bhaiya? Aise kaise main vineet ko akele chhod dun? Wo kahin nahi ja raha hai. Aur na aap is baare mein koi baat karoge. I can manage with Vineet. " she said.

"lekin roo!! Sameer ne bataya sab mujhe. Vineet kab kya kar de, kya pata? " he said.

"Vineet mera pati hai. Usko kaise sambhalna hai, main janti hun. Aap please mere matter mein na hi bole toh behtar hain bhaiya. " she said.

He sighed and left stroking her head. She sat near to him and held his hand and trailed down the memory lane.

*Flashback Begins*

It was a usual but hectic day in the office. Manvi was just two years old, so Ruhana had come back early and he came back home late at night. He seemed a bit disturbed and sad. She gave him a glass of water. He took the glass and pulled her towards himself and hugged her by her waist. She ruffled his hair...

"Kya hua Vineet? " she asked softly.

He didn't replied but hugged her tightly hiding his head in her tummy. She didn't say a word but started moving her fingers in his hair. After a while, he spoke up....

"Ruhana ....tum mujhe kabhi chhod ke toh nhi jaogi na ??"

She glanced at him....

" ye kaisa sawal hai? Tum chahoge na tab bhi tumhe chhod ke nahi jaungi. " she said and kissed on his head.

He released her and looked at her....

" Nahi Ruhana, you need to promise me that you'll never leave me alone!!! Aur tum kahin bhi akeli nahi jaogi. " he said glancing at her.

She sat near him and hold his hands.....

" hua kya hai Vineet? Aur ye kya baatein kar rahe ho? Main toh tumhare bina reh bhi nahi sakti, toh kahan jaungi. Jab tak main hu na tab tak hum hamesha saath rahenge. aur agar mujhe kuch ho bhi gaya toh Manvi toh rahegi na tumhare paas." she said.

"aur agar mujhe kuch hua toh? " he asked.

"Mere rehte tumhe kuch nahi hoga. Na main tumse door reh sakti hoon aur na tumhe khud se door hone dungi. Ab ye baatein band! " she said.

He sighed and told her an incident with a friend he met, and it left him in such thoughts. She cupped his face...

"Hum kabhi door nahi honge. Maut bhi hame juda nahi kar payegi. " she said and he hugged her as tight as he could.

"Flashback Ends*

She came out of her trance with a movement on her hand. She was holding Vineet's hand and there was movement in his fingers. She smiled and wiped off her tears. He opened his eyes and sighed pain as he felt his head heavy.

"Sar kyun dard kar raha hai? " he asked.

Ruhana held his hand.. "tumhe chot lagi thi sir mein isliye dard ho raha hai. " she said making up a story,though it was the side effect of the medicine given to him.

Manvi and Aarav entered in the room..

"Papa aap mere haath ki chai piyenge na toh sar dard thik ho jayega. " she spoke with a smile.

Vineet stared at her blankly and took the mug from her hand,yet he was looking at her...

"kya hua vineet? " Ruhana asked.

"kuch nahi. " he said and began sipping his tea.

Manvi glanced at Aarav questionably. He assured her with his eyes..

"Sir, ab agar aap thik feel kar rahe hain toh hum garden chale? " he asked.

"tum ho kaun? Aur yahan kya kar rahe ho? " he asked.

Manvi was shocked... "papa ye aarav hai mera dost. Bataya tha na!! " she said.

Vineet glanced at her confusingly...

"tum kisse baat kar rahi ho? " he asked.

This left them shocked. It seemed that he forgot about his daughter's presence in the house.

This was what Ruhana was fearing off. He had phases when he forgot certain things and today he forgot about his daughter.

Manvi looked at him teary eyed. Vineet shouted...

"Ruhana ask them to leave. " he said.

Manvi shivered with his voice and left the room while Ruhana was trying to convince him. He went calm and Ruhana moved out of the room when Aarav said something that left her worried and shocked at the same time.

To be continued.