It was another day. Ruhana woke up and found Vineet still sleeping. She got down of the bed, but a painful sigh escaped her lips,as she kept her leg on the floor. Manvi came inside the room with a tray in hand...

"aapse kaha tha na bed se neeche nahi utarna. Ghav bhara nahi hai. "she said caringly.

Ruhana smiled... "par uthna padega na. Kaam kaise hoga? " she asked.

"Main hoon na mumma! I will manage. Aap chai piyo. " she said forwarding a cup.

"tujhe chai banani kab se aa gayi? " Ruhana asked.

She smiled...

"Mujhe pata hai aapko subah chai aur papa ko coffee pasand hai. Maine dono banai. " she said.

Ruhana smiled looking at her daughter,while Manvi climbed up the bed in order to wake up her father. She held his hand...

"Papa wake up. " she said.

Vineet moved a little....

"sone do na Ruhana..." he said.

"Arey main mumma nahi manvi hoon. Ab chalo utho. It's an order aur aap Manvi Malhotra ka order deny nahi kar skte. " manvi said nudging him and pulling his arm.

Finally, he woke up. Manvi forwarded the coffee mug...

"aaj coffee manvi ne banai" she said while looking at him.

He nodded...

"fir toh achi hi hogi. " he said while taking a sip.

Ruhana was watching them with a smile on her face. Manvi nudged her..."kya soch rahi ho mumma? " she asked.

Ruhana nodded negatively... "kuch nahi beta. "

"toh aap mujhe aur papa ko aise kyun dekh rahi ho? Kahan kho gayi? " she asked.

She smiled...

"Main soch rahi rahi thi ki jise har waqt mumma papa ki zarurat hoti thi, wo aaj khud hamara dhyan rakh rahi hai. " she said.

Manvi glanced at her...

"ofcourse maa. Ab main nahi karungi toh kaun karega. " she said.

"Aur Ruhana, hamari beti ab badi ho gayi hain. She can manage. " Vineet said.

"Right Papa. Mumma ko samjhao ye baat. " Manvi replied.

Ruhana smiled... "acha acha, main samajh gayi. "

Manvi and Vineet giggled. Ruhana smiled. Meanwhile, manvi's phone rang. She moved out of the room.

Ruhana looked at her feet and removed the bandage. Vineet looked at her...

"ye chot kaise lagi? "he asked.

"wo kal raat ko lagi. Don't worry thik ho jayegi. " she smiled.

He didn't seem convinced and checked her wounds. He then went to bring the first aid box and started cleaning her wounds. A painful sigh escaped her lips and he clutched on his kurta. He looked at her...
"it's done! Aankhein khol sakti ho. " he said,in his forever caring tone.

She looked at him, he had a smile on his lips, as if nothing happened last night. He patted her cheek and left to get fresh. Ruhana watched him going..

"kaash sab kuch pehle jaisa hota vineet. Tum bhi, main bhi. But aaj toh tumhe kuch yaad hi nahi. " she thought to herself and moved out of the room.

Her trance was broken by a soft touch on her shoulder. She looked up and found Sachin. He helped her stand up...

"itna sab hua, tune mujhe phone kyun nahi kiya? " he asked.

"aapko pareshan nahi karna chahti thi. Aur fir Manvi thi na yahan. Sab manage ho gaya. " she replied.

"han ab toh tumhari beti aa gayi hai. Meri zarurat hi kya hai? " he said sadly.

"Maine aisa kab kaha? "she looked at him.

"abhi toh kaha. Mujhe toh tumse baat hi nahi karni. Manvi na batati toh mujhe kuch pata hi nahi chalta. " he said with mocking anger.

"mujhe bhi call nahi karne diya mumma ne. Aur kuch karne ko bhi mana kar diya. " manvi complained.

"aur suno... meri bhanji ko bhi pareshan kar diya. " sachin said.

Manvi giggled. Ruhana smiled... "aapki zarurat toh roz hoti hai. Agar aap nahi hote, toh shayad main sabkuch sambhal nahi pati. " she said, as tears welled up in her eyes.

Past flashed in front of her eyes. Sachin pulled her in his embrace, and smeared her head...

"don't worry. Ab sab thik ho jayega. Tu bas apna aur vineet ka dhyan rakh." he said.

Meanwhile, Vineet came out and looked at them...

"kya ho rhaa hai? " he asked.

"Papa, mumma na aapki complaint kar rahi hai mama se. " manvi said.

Vineet looked at her open mouthed, Ruhana glared at Manvi, who bits her tongue...

"main mazak kar rahi thi. " she said, at which Vineet and Sachin laughed while Ruhana stared at them and Manvi.

She knew it was for her to make her feel better. She composed herself and moved towards the kitchen. Manvi stopped her while hugging her...

"aap kitchen mein nahi jaogi. Radha kaki aur main karlenge. Chalo baitho." she said pushing her towards the sofa. Ruhana tries to speak but she didn't let her. Meanwhile, the doorbell rang and Manvi answered it, after which she hugged the person and seemed happy.

To be continued..