They moved outside and waited for the cab to arrive. Chintu came running from his house with his things and smiled "aaj toh bahut maza aayega"

Ruhana ruffled his hairs "bilkul aayega..."

The cab arrived in few minutes and four of them settled in it. They reached the picnic spot in an hour. Everyone grabbed the things and walked towards the entrance.

Ruhana placed the mat on the grass under the tree shade and smiled "chalo ab sab samaan yahan rakho"

Chintu and Manvi placed the baskets. "Di chalo na waha jaate hai dekho kitna kuch hai waha"

"nahi Chintu baad mein" she denied as she wasn't in the mood to do any fun activity.

Vineet and Ruhana exchanged glances with each other.

Chintu makes a sad face but understands. He hugged her from behind and kissed her cheek. She tapped his face lightly.

"how boring!" the voice was heard.

Everyone looked in the direction and it was Aarav.

"main toh apna kaam chodke isliye aaya tha laga kuch interesting hoga par yeh toh bahut boring picnic hai" he said making a sad face.

"toh tum hi isey interesting banado" Vineet said

"wo toh main bana hi dunga! Chintu chalo hum waha jaake khelte hai.. Baithte rehendo tumhari Di ko old people ki tarah..." Aarav commented and she stared at him.

Aarav picked up the ball and everyone got up from their places. They moved to the more open area and began to play. Ruhana stated at Manvi, she walked to her and grabbed her hand. " chalo"

"mumma nahi" she denied

"maine kaha na chalo" She pulled her and Aarav threw the ball toward her. She grabbed it and he smiled.

"nice catch ab zara idhar paas karengi" he said

She threw it towards Vineet instead. Vineet throws it towards Aarav and he runs backward to catch it. He misses his balance and drops to the floor. 

"lagi toh nahi?" Ruhana asked

"ji nahi.." he denies and gets up again. Aarav glanced at Manvi who wasn't smiling. He whispered something in Chintu's ear.

Chintu agreed, he walked to Manvi and pulled her hair lightly. She glared at him "Chintu.." 

"aapko toh gussa karna aata hai..." he laughed. He tickled on her stomach, she got annoyed with his act. 

"Chintu ke bache.." she commented. He ran away and she followed him. 

"Aarav bhaiya bachao" Chintu hides behind him.

"hatiye aap" she said angrily. 

"are bache ko maarogi? paap lagega.." he said teasingly. 

"aapne hi usey yeh karne ko kaha na?" she asked as he had never done this with her before.

"main kyun kahunga?" Aarav asked innocently. 

Manvi stamped her foot in anger "mujhe baat hi nahi karni hai.." she walked away from there. Aarav and Chintu shared high-5. 

"Are waha kaha jaa rahi ho? ruko aate hai hum.." they followed her. 

Chintu holds his ears and apologizes. Aarav got the ice cream for her and asked her to smile a little.  "yeh dost aapse maafi mangta hai ab aapko tang nahi karega aap pankaj udaas ki tarah udaas chehra leke baith  sakti hai" he commented

She smiled a bit hearing his words. She takes the ice cream and Aarav is delighted with it. 

"Chalo iss hasi mazak se iske chehre pe thodi muskurat toh aayi warna 2 saal se bas ghumsum hi dekha hai isey" Ruhana admired her daughter. 

"haan acha suno mannu se baat karo job phirse start krne ki kaam karegi toh yeh sab bhool payegi" he said worriedly

"Vineet usey force mat karo jab mann hoga toh khud kar legi" she replied

"par.."

She grabbed his hand tightly "I know you are worried for her.. Par abhi toh yeh case khatam hua hai 2 saal se chain se ki saans nahi li hai humne abhi enjoy kijiye jab waqt aayega main usey samjha dungi thik hai?" she said

"thik hai biwiji.. Chaliye aapko aapki favourite chaar khilata hun" Vineet said with a smile.

She nodded and they moved to the chaat corner.  Vineet ordered one chaat and Ruhana sat down on the bench. He takes the plate and pays him. He sits in front of her and both of them eat it.

"yeh teeno kaha chale gaye?" Ruhana wondered

"yahi honge tum khao na" he said

She eats with him. Just then trio comes there.

"are yeh toh cheating hai aap hamare bina kha rahe ho" Aarav complained

"haan chachi cheating hai yeh" Chintu said the same.

"are toh khao tum log bhi.. Jo lena hai lo" Vineet said

"pani puri.." Aarav and Chintu said in unison.

They held the bowl in their hands and stands in front of the corner. "Chintu competition karoge?" Aarav asked

"haan bhaiya" he agreed and they began to eat. Chintu loses and makes a sad face.

"Aarav ek bache se completion.. Meri mannu se karke dikhao" Ruhana said

"haan kyu nahi.. Aayie Manviji.." Aarav said forwarding her a bowl.

She takes it in her hand. "jeetunga toh main hi" Aarav said with confidence

"Aarav mannu se nahi jeet paoge.. Chalo mannu shuru ho jao" Vineet said

Manvi and Aarav began to eat PaniPuri. She coughed a bit and Aarav gives her water to drink but she denies and continues eating. Aarav gives up and she smiled "pani puri toh main hi kha sakti hun zyda."

"chalyie ab aap sabko main ghar chod deta hun" he said

"are nahi Aarav hun cab se chale jayenge" Vineet replied

"are chalyie na ab itna bhi paraya nahi hun main" Aarav insists and they moved with him to the parking lot.

Everyone settled down in the car and Aarav headed of towards their home. He dropped them, Manvi Chintu and Ruhana moved into the house.

Aarav looked at Vineet who said "aaj tum aaye bahut acha laga.. Yeh case khatam ho gaya hai par umeed krta hun tum aate jaate rahoge ghar"

"aap jab kahenge yeh nacheez haazir ho jayega.. Namaste" he greets him and moved to his home.

Vineet moved into the house. Chintu was leaving, he ruffled his hairs. Vineet closed the door and walked to his bedroom.

Ruhana had been checking the file "Acha suno next week Monday mannu ka doctor ke saath appointment toh tum half day le lena"

"haan thik hai.." he agreed. He changed and settled on the bed. She lays down beside him.

Manvi had been sleeping, she gets a nightmare about the past. She gets up with jerk and takes a heavy breath. She was feeling scared in the room, she got up from the bed and rushed to RuVi's room. She finds the space between two, she hopes on bed and lays down in between them closing her eyes. Ruhana placed her hand on her head and caressed it lightly.

Vineet held her hand tightly and she felt secured. Ruhana kissed her forehead softly and they slept.

Next Week

It was her therapy session with the psychiatrist. "so kaisa lag raha hai divorce papers ko apne haath mein dekhke?" the doctor asked

"mahaz ek kagaz ka tukda kya khushi dega mujhe? isse uske diye hue zakhm to nahi bhar jayenge meri aatma pe lage ghav kum nahi honge" she replied

"Manvi isliye main hun yahan pe mujhse baat karo tumhare dil mein jo hai sab mujhe batao" she said with a smile

Manvi glanced at her "usse kya mere sharer mei lage ghav mit jayenge? meri ijjat wapas laut aayegi? wo maan samaan sab wapas aa jayega? wo zabar.." she paused and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath and the doctor moved to her. 

She sat down opposite her and grabbed her hand. "yeh batao tumhare liye tumhare maa baap kya hai?" 

She opened her eyes and looked at her with a smile "wo nahi hote toh main shayad zinda nahi hoti uss shaadi mei ghut ghutke marr jaati" 

"dekho udhar" the doctor pointed towards the window. She glanced outside and her parents were worried about her. 

"ab tumhe yeh sochna kaise tum unn do chehre pe muskurahat laa sakti ho.. aur janti yeh kaise hoga?" she asked

Manvi eyed her and the doctor replied "tum jab muskuraogi.." 

"janti hun koshish karti hun lekin.." 

"Zindagi jeene ke liye sirf ek wajah kaafi hoti hai aur tumhare paas toh do wajah hai tumhare maa baap" she added with a smile.

Manvi nodded yes. "kya karun main? na chahke bhi mujhe sirf wahi yaad rehta hai.. sab achi yaadein dundhli padh gayi hai.." she said 

"janti hun main.. par tum yeh nahi janti hamara deemag sabkuch yaad nahi rakhta hai sirf wahi yaad rakhta hai jo hum yaad rakhna chahte hai.. hum hamesha wahi sunte aur dekhte hai jo hum sunna ya dekhna chahe hai Manvi.. it's all physiological Manvi.. agar kuch kadvee yaadein takleef de toh nayi khubsurat yaadein banani chahiye.." she said

She nodded in yes. The doctor looked at the reports and asked her to wait outside.

Ruhana and Vineet walked in and settled on the chairs.

"doctor sab thik hai na ab?" Ruhana questioned

She kept the file and looked at her seriously "panic attacks waqt ke saath kum hote chale jayenge  shaher pe lage ghav toh bhar jaate hai lekin mann mei lagi chot ko bharne mei saalo lag jaate hai! Janti hai meri ek patient ki dusri shaadi ko 10 saal ho gaye lekin abtak wo apne pati ke qareeb nahi aayi hai. Aap samajh rahe hai na?"

"jee doctor samajh rahe hai!  Uski agar humhe dusri shaadi ki toh problems honge" Vineet said

She smiles "aur mujhe nahi lagta aapki beti phirse kisi naye rishte mei bandhna chahegi"

"lekin doctor iss tarah puri umar?" Ruhana asked as a concerned mother.  Someone should be there to look after her after them.

"waqt Ruhanaji.. Sabse bada marham hota hai aap sab uske panic attacks mei usse sambhal lijiye baaki aapki beti manage kar hi legi" The doctor advised.

They shook their head positively. He held her hand tightly and she smiled at him assuring life has better plans for their daughter if not they will make better for her by staying with her always.

............