It was early morning, Ruhana had been sipping coffee and was lost in her own thoughts. They paid a surprise visit to Deep home, nothing was suspicious and even enquired about the neighbors who had known them for years. Vineet had even enquired Deep's office colleagues and everything was in their favour but still, she wasn't sure about his family. 

Vineet and Manvi returned after taking a walk, they glanced at her. Manvi said "papa mumma ko kya hua?? aaj toh hamare aane hi ahat hi nahi hui inhe?" 

"soch vichar kar rahi hogi.. tum jaake ready ho jao office jaana hai na main dekhta hun tumhari mumma ko" he replies

She nodded and moved to her room. Vineet sat down beside her and asked "kya hua Ruu??" 

She came out trance of her thoughts with his voice. "pata nahi Vineet.. ab bhi main Deep ke parivar pe bharosa nahi kar paa rahi hun" she said

"aisa kyun kah rahi ho?" he asked. 

"tumhe ajeeb nahi lagta koi maang nahi kuch nahi?" she asked

"haan laga toh.. lekin phir sab pata kiya na humhe" he replied

She looked on at him and he held her hand "mannu Deep se mil chuki hai na kayi baar.. aur vishwas nahi karenge toh kaise rishte nibhenge haan?" 

"baat sahi hai tumhari lekin mannu  ki zindagi ka sawal hai Vineet.." she said

"toh kya karun main? tum hi batao mujhe" he asked for a solution to her doubts about Deep's family. 

"Papa mumma ko na unke ghar chod do kuch din sab doubts clear ho jayenge" Manvi suggested while coming out of her room. 

Ruhana glared at her "chupke chupke baatein sun rahi hi thi?" she asked

"obviously.." she giggled and gave her a hug from behind

"aap zyada kyu soch rahe ho?? aapki mannu sab sambhal legi.." she said not to get worried about her. 

"janti hun tu sambhal legi" Ruhana replied tapping her cheek. 

"toh bas.. aur waise bhi Deep ek dum papa ki tarah hai kuch hua bhi toh jaise papa ne aapko sambhala wo mujhe sambhal lega" she said. 

Ruhana smiled hearing her words. She then glanced at the time "ohho aaj toh late ho gaya mujhe.. bye bye.." 

"Are ruko" 

"no papa deep lene aane waale hai.. aap aaram se jao office" she shouted while stepping out of the house. 

"sab thik hoga Ruu.." he said

She smiled at him and seems to be satisfied. 

Manvi's leave was accepted so Ruhana took her shopping. Manvi looks at the attire, she glances at the price "mumma inmein se koi bhi pasand nahi aa raha hai mujhe! Chalo na wo saamne waali shop mein chalte hai" she points towards the shop which was opposite the showroom.

"Nahi.. yahi se lenge" Ruhana spoke.

"Shaadi meri hai na? Toh dresses main select karungi please chalo udhar" Manvi requests.

Ruhana agrees and goes to the other shop. Manvi selects a few lehenga's and other dresses. Ruhana eyed her and asked "pakka?"

Manvi nods in yes "haa.. Waise bhi mujhe designers pasand nahi hai! Aur pair utne hi fehlane chahiye jitni chadar ho toh kyun aap apni hi kahi baat nahi maan rahi ho?"

Ruhana smiled at her maturity. She kisses her forehead and moves out of the shop after making the payment.

"Oh God! Mumma I want that" she said with excitement.

Ruhana looks and it was a teddy bear. Ruhana sighed deeply "mannu shaadi hai 15 din mein.."

"Haan toh? Shaadi hai toh teddy nahi khareed sakti apne liye?" She asked.

"Hey bhagwaan ye ladki toh mere samajh ke bahar hai kabhi lagta hai bahut mature ho gayi hai dusre hi pal ye ladki mera vehem tod deti hai" Ruhana muttered.

Manvi smiled innocently "aap jaake meri dresses ki matching jewellery lo main leke aati hun teddy bear" she moves to the shop and gets the teddy bear.

They return home in the evening, Manvi keeps the shopping bags on the couch and shouts "papa we are home!"

"Wo ghar pe nahi hoga Mannu" Ruhana said.

"Kaha gaye papa?" she asked.

"Decor waale se baat karne gaya hai! Aur jo humne catering book kiya tha na usne mana kar diya toh bas kisi aurse bhi baat karne gaya hai" Ruhana informed.

Manvi sighed deeply "papa ko sab akele karna pad raha hai.. Rishtedar bas khane aa jaate hai"

"Ab hum nahi karenge toh kya padosi karenge shaadi ke kaam?" Ruhana asked.

"Point toh hai mumma.." Manvi agrees.

Just then Vineet enters the house, he asked "kya point hai?"

"Kuch nahi papa.." she held his and pulls him towards the couch. She shows him everything they had bought.

"Ek second ye color bilkul acha nahi lagta hai tumpar.. Kyun liya?" he asked pointing towards the Saree.

"But I like this color" Manvi protests.

"Par mujhe nahi acha lagta hai.." Vineet said.

"Thik hai.. Exchange kar dungi" Manvi agrees making a sad face.

Vineet sighed deeply and hits her forehead "zaroorat nahi hai.. Lekin isko kisi function mein mat pehenna"

Manvi smiled and Ruhana said "kya hai Vineet.. Jaate jaate bhi beti ko bigad rahe ho! Sasural mein koi nahi sunne waala hai iski"

"Mumma Deep aisa nahi hai.. Wo zaroor sunenge meri" Manvi said.

"Ohho.. badi jaldi pehchana kya baat hai??" Vineet teased her.

"Offo Papa.." she hides her head on his chest while he caressed her head. Vineet was pleased Deep is understanding and perfect for his daughter.

The wedding preparations were in full swing, the decors were putting the lights on the terrace. Ruhana didn't like the color, she said "Vineet ye white waale ache nahi lag rahe hai.."

"Thik toh lag rahe hai na? Andar tumhari pasand ke flowers lagaye hai na" Vineet argued.

"Lekin mujhe contrast lights chahiye" Ruhana said stubbornly.

"Dekho tumne kaha tha tum mere kaam mein kuch nahi bologi apni pasand ki shopping kari hai tumne" Vineet muttered.

"Haan toh? Maine jo dress pasand ki thi tumne wo mannu ko pehenne nahi di na.. Toh ab lights meri pasand ki lagegi" She said angrily.

Vineet argued with her, and the worker from upstairs shouted 'sir.. Ye lights lagani hai ki nahi?"

"Nahi lagani hai dusri lagao" Ruhana shouts.

Vineet stares at the workers and warns him "nahi jo maine batayi hai wahi lagegi.. Full payment chahiye na apna?"

Manvi comes out of the house hearing their voices, she sighed deeply "aap dono kya itni si baat pe lad rahe ho?" she asked.

"Lad nahi rahe hai ek solution pe aane ki koshish kar rahe hai" Vineet replied.

"Solution ye hai ki.. Red, blue, and white contrast ki lights lagengi.. Meri pasand" Manvi said with a smile on her face.

"Best hai.. Jiski shaadi hai wahi sab decide kare kyuki inhe toh wahi karna hai jo mujhe pasand nahi hai" Ruhana said scarcastically.

"Haan jaise tumne meri mann ki kari hai na.." Vineet said.

"God.. aap dono ne agar aise kiya na toh main shaadi hi nahi karungi! Bhaiya lights chodo aur jao yahan se" Manvi shouts.

"Nahi nahi.. Thik hai pakka no arguments" Ruhana promises her.

Manvi smiles "Good.. ab chale andar kuch der mein guests aane lagenge phir mat kehna maine late kiya" she requests.

"Thik hai.. Jaake ready ho jao tabtak main khana dekh leti hun" Ruhana pushes her into the house.

Manvi goes to the room and wears the yellow lehenga along with flower jewelry. Her phone ranged, she slides the screen and sighed "Shru.. kaha ho tum?" she asked.

"Mannu sorry yaar.. Main aaj nahi aa paungi" She apologized.

Shruti was her childhood friend but got busy after her marriage. "Ye kya baat hui? Meri shaadi mein tu nahi aayegi toh kaise hoga?" she asked.

"Mannu main aana chahti hun par yaha.." she paused.

Manvi understands "samajh gayi main.. Kitni baar kaha hai uss marriage ko end kar! Par nahi unke darr se bas wahi ghutna hai" she complains.

"Mannu.. Tere jitna lucky har koi nahi ho sakta hai na! Suna maine Deep aur uski family ke baare mein! Itna acha sasural har kisike naseeb mein nahi hota" she said.

"Wo toh hai! Main samajhti hun teri majburi chal mujhe late ho raha hai phone karti hun baad mein" she spoke and disconnects the call.

She prayed for her best friend's well-being, she picks up the ring bracelet and struggled to wear it. She walks out and says a bit loud "mumma.. Ye toot jayega isko pehena do na"

Ruhana turns and looks at her with a smile, she ties it on her wrist and then kisses her forehead "kitni achi lag rahi hai meri beti.."

"Meri bhi" Vineet said stepping behind Ruhana.

Manvi smiles, she sits on the stool and the Haldi ceremony starts.

Ruhana digs her hands into the haldi bowl and then applies to Manvi's face. A wide smile curved up her lips, Ruhana said "yeh haldi tera rang aur nikhar degi..."

"Roo.. meri beti na rang pehle se hi nikhra hua hai!" Vineet said.

'Haan pata hai.. Mujhe gayi hai na" Ruhana replied winking at him.

"Excuse me? What do you mean by mujhpe gayi hai?? Mana ki zyda gun tumpe gaye hai par..." Vineet paused when Manvi held his hand.

"50-50.." Manvi concludes.

"Fine.. 50-50" Vineet agrees.

He applies the haldi on her face and a bit on her nose. Manvi smiles while Ruhana clicks the picture capturing the precious moment.

The relatives, and neighbors take their turns and soon the Haldi ceremony comes to an end.

Ruhana looks at Manvi and said "mannu nahake aa jaa phir pandit jee ayenge pooja ke liye"

Manvi nods and goes to her room to take the bathroom to take a bath. After the bath, she comes out wearing a saree.

Ruhana takes her to the house temple which was at the left corner of the hall, the priest begins the pooja. She looks around and Ruhana said "kaam hai Vineet ko.."

Manvi sighed "papa bhi na puri shaadi mein kaam hi karte dikh rahe hai mujhe" she complains.

"Bahut kismat waalo ko aisa mauka milta hai! Pooja pe dhyan de ab" Ruhana said, Manvi closes her eyes and prays.

The priest ties the kangana to her hand and explains its importance of it. The day ends and guests leave the house.

"Mumma papa kaha hai?" she asked.

"Kal ki tayari kar raha hai.. Aa jayega kuch der mein" Ruhana shouts from the kitchen.

Manvi sighed deeply as she isn't getting any time to even have a conversation with her father. She moves to her room and lays down on the bed to sleep. Ruhana turns off the hall lights and walks to her room.

Vineet asked "so gayi mannu?"

"Haan so gayi! Aise ignore karoge toh kaise chalega?" Ruhana questions.

"Ignore nahi kar raha hun! Baat karunga toh emotional ho jaunga aur uske saamne nahi hona chahta hun" Vineet replies helplessly.

"Jaanti hun mere pari ke papa.. Shaadi waale dekhna tum hi rone waale ho sabse zyada chupalo abhi jitna chupana hai" Ruhana said patting his cheeks lightly. He smiles at her and pulls her into his embrace. It's so difficult for parents to send away their daughter whom they had raised with love and care.