A few months Later

It was 5 am in the morning, the alarm buzzed and Ruhana turned it off. She tied her hair into a bun and moved a bit to get up from bed. He grabbed her wrist and she glanced at her husband with a smile "Vineet.. jaane do kaam hai"

"wo toh roj karti ho so jao thodi der" he replied and pulled her back closer to himself.

She sighed deeply "Vineet late ho jayega phir.."

"nahi hoga bas 10 minute" he said and tightened the grip of his arms around her waist.

"tumhare 10 minute ek ghanta ho jaata hai! chodo!" she slapped his palm. He leaves her making a face and she gets up from the bed.

She moved to the bathroom and took a quick shower. She gets ready and commences towards the hall. The doorbell rings, she unlocks it and takes the milk. She closes the door and heads to the kitchen. She starts the preparation for breakfast and lunch. She packs two lunch boxes and then glances at the clock hanging on the wall.

"8 bajh gaye hai tum dono ko office jaana hai ki nahi" she shouted so that two lazy people could hear her voice.

She didn't hear any response, she turned off the stove and moved to the room. Manvi had been searching for something but couldn't find it.

"kya dundh rahi hai?" She asked

"mumma wo meri file main kal kaam kar rahi thi.. pata nahi kaha gayi" Manvi replied

Ruhana walked into the room, opened the drawer of the shelf, and took out the file. She turns and hands it to her "yeh rahi.. tum so gayi thi toh maine sambhalke rakh di thi bataya tha na sab files yahi hai"

Manvi took it and smiled lightly "Thank you.."

"chal ab jaldi se ready hoke aa breakfast thanda ho jayega" she said and walked to her bedroom.

Vineet also was searching for something, she hit her forehead lightly as both father and daughter are the same "ab tum kya dundh rahe ho?" she asked

"mera wallet.." he replied

Ruhana opens the wardrobe and picks it up from the drawer. She turns and places it on his hand "kitni baar toh kaha hai tumse.. agar na mile toh iss drawer mein dekho! tum dono raat ko hi sab samaan nikalke rakha karo na jaldi aao ready hoke" she heads out of the room.

She places the breakfast on the table. Vineet came out of the room and picked up the sandwiches. "are baithke khao" she hits his arm lightly.

He looks at the time on his watch "der ho rahi hai Ruu.." he said

"baithke khao 2-3 minute se kuch farak nahi padega" she replied. He sits down and eats breakfast. He finishes it quickly and sits down on the couch to wear his socks and shoes.

"Mannu jaldi aao local train miss ho jayegi toh late ho jaogi tum" he called her.

"haan papa aayi" Manvi steps out of the room placing everything into her bag. Ruhana hands her the sandwiches. Manvi eats while Ruhana ties her hair properly.

"acha shyam ko dono jaldi aa jaana! Sharda kaki ke yahan pe dinner pe jaana hai humhe..'' She instructed both of them.

Manvi denied "mumma bahut meetings hai aaj meri.. aap aur papa chale jaana mujhe late ho jayega"

"haan toh late aa jaana.. par aa jaana" Ruhana replied.

Manvi nodded and went to wear her sandals. Both of them moved to the main gate but were stopped with Ruhana's voice "Tum dono kuch bhool rahe ho '' she said crossing her arms across.

They turned and looked at her in confusion "kya?"

She signaled towards lunch boxes placed right in front of their eyes. Manvi picked both of them and smiled innocently.

"khatam hona chahiye dono ka.. yeh nahi ki bahar cafe mein doston ke saath kha liya! aur aisa kuch plan hai toh mujhe pehle bata diya karo subah uthke main paagal nahi hun jo itni mehnat se tum dono ke liye lunch ready karti hun" she said angrily as yesterday both the tiffin returned filled.

"haan mumma hum kha lenge.. haina papa?" she asked, looking at Vineet.

"haan.. bye" he said and moved out of the house. He sat on the bike and Manvi sat down behind him. Ruhana waved them bye and they headed off towards the station. He dropped her and asked her to text him when she reached the office. She shook her head positively and rushed into the station.

She boards the local train and sits in the women's compartment. After about 12 stops, she steps out of the rain and runs to her office which is just a street away. She reaches and scans her ID.

She entered and sat at her desk. She began to work, and just then her colleague came to her "Hey Manvi.."

Manvi smiled at her "Hey Adira"

She hands her marriage card to her "Next month meri shaadi hai you must attend it"

Manvi looked at the wedding card and got anxious seeing it. Manvi smiled fakely at her and Adire walked ahead to distribute the cards. She stared at the wedding card and the date was the same as her previous wedding date. She got up and moved to the washroom immediately.

She locked herself into the washroom and began to take heavy breaths. She placed her hand on her mouth so that her voice didn't reach out to anyone. She closed her eyes and took deep breaths. After a while, she managed to compose herself. She wiped tears from her eyes and stepped out of the bathroom. She looked around and a few of the office girls were looking at her.

She wiped her face and glanced at herself in the mirror. She moved out and the manager had been waiting for her.

"Sir ne tumhe bulaya hai" he said

Manvi nodded yes, it seemed like someone must have complained to him about her panic attack.

"ab dekhna boss kaise ise fire karte hai" she heard the gossip.

She gets anxious, she moved to the chamber and knocked the door "May i come in Sir.."

"please come in" the CEO said

Manvi entered inside and was nervous. She sat down on the chair and glanced at him. He checked something on the screen and printed out a paper. She thought he must be printing her termination letter.

"Sir wo.." she wanted to explain.

"I know everything!" he said, showing his hand. He signed the paper and handed it to her.

"kal se I shouldn't see you on the desk.. you may leave now" he said

Manvi gets disheartened hearing him. She nodded and got up from the chair. She turned and he asked "At least say a thank you"

She turned and looked at him in confusion. She checked the letter and she was left astonished seeing it. It was a permanent position in the company as an accountant. "Sir.. yeh?" as her trial period still had a month left.

"tumne jo final presentation submit ki thi.. board of directors were really impressed.. hamare accounts sab accurate hai! So how can I let go of such a capable employee" he replied with a smile.

"par Sir wo mere.."

"that is your personal Manvi! as long as it doesn't affect the work I don't care" he replied.

She thanked him and moved out of the cabin with a smile on her face. She moved to her desk and continued working. Later in the evening, she attends the important meetings and leaves the office.

Chintu's Home

Ruhana looked at the time and it was 7 pm. She called Manvi who picked up her call after a few rings. "haan mannu kaha rah gayi?" she asked

"mumma bas 5 minute mein pahuch rahi hun" she replied and ended the call. Ruhana moved to the couch and sat down beside Vineet.

He gestured with his eyes, she blinked it in a yes. Chintu and Aarav were playing on his phone while sitting on the stairs. Aarav takes out something from his bag and hands it to him. Chintu opens it and reads. A tear slipped down his eyes seeing it, he hugged him tightly "Thank you bhaiya"

Aarav ruffles his hairs "main puri koshish karunga tumhari mumma ko insaaf mile.."

Chintu parted the hug and smiled "aapki wajah se toh Manvi Di case jeeti hai.. unhe dekhke daadi ne himmat ki aur case phirse re-open karwaya mujhe yakeen hai aap mera case bhi jeetoge.."

Chintu ran to Sharda and showed her the PIL copy. Sharda gets emotional seeing it, she glanced at Aarav and thanked him.

Manvi entered inside and placed her bag on the chair. Everyone settled on the dining table to have dinner. "Waise aaj achanak dinner pe bulaya aapne? Kuch khaas wajah hai?" Vineet questioned her

"Haan Vineet.. Tumhe maine bataya tha na meri behen ka pota jo US mein job karta hai" Sharda said with a smile.

Ruhana and Vineet exchanged glances with each other, understanding what she meant.

"Abhi wo India aaya hua hai.. Tum kaho toh main usse Manvi ki shaadi ki baat chalau?" she asked with a positive response.

"Shardaji.. Aap janti hai abhi ek saal hi hua hai yeh case khatam hue" Ruhana said

"Sab pata hai mujhe.. Abhi toh puri zindagi padi hai iske aage akele thodi na rahegi? Bahut hi acha ladka hai aur main bas iska bhala hi chahti hun na'' Sharda explained as she was concerned for Manvi.

"Hum aapko sochke batate hai" Vineet said as it is another big decision after whatever happened in his daughter's life.

Sharda agreed "thik hai.. Maine tumhe sab details already forward kar di hai aur Aarav tum toh lawyer ho na pata kar sakte ho sab" she said

Aarav smiled at her "wo toh main kar sakta hun lekin jiski aap baat kar rahi hai uske mann mein kya hai wo bhi jaan lijiye" he spoke looking at his friend Manvi who was silent throughout the conversation.

"Aapko jo thik lage '' she replied with a smile on her face. She picked up her plate and went to the kitchen. She washed it and Aarav came over to her. She took his plate and began to wash it.

Aarav stared at her and said "har baar haan kehna zaroori nahi hota hai Manvi.."

She looked up at him and smiled "pichle kuch saalon mein jo hua wo tumhe pata hai."

"Isliye kah raha hun.. Agar apne baare mein sochogi toh selfish nahi kahlaogi.." Aarav advised.

Aarav received an urgent call and left from there leaving her in a dilemma.