Ruhana had been doing preparations for the day. It was a special and most important day of her life. Past few years have been full of trauma, sadness and grief. Festivals, occasions were not celebrated with happiness but with fears, society tantrums and mostly stress about the case. 

She heard a loud scream from Manvi's room. She rushed to the room and saw her sweating heavily. She jerked her hands and legs a few times “no no.. Nahi..”

She sat down on the bed beside her and pulled her into a hug. “shh.. Kuch nahi hai mumma hai” 

The trauma had left a deep impact on her. Ruhana rubbed her palm and calmed her down. After a while, she took a heavy breath and looked at her with a smile. “Tumhare sab cheezein ready kar di hai maine ready ho jaao office jaana hai na! Aaj toh chutti le sakti thi” she said

“Mumma bas do ghante mein aa jaungi” she promised to return early.

“Thik hai.. Do ghante matlab do ghante” Ruhana ruffled her hair and walked out of the room. Manvi got up from bed and moved to the washroom to freshen up. 

She took a bath and then stepped out of the room. She glanced at herself in the mirror and smiled at herself a bit. She combed her hair and walked out of the room. 

She found a gift wrapped on the dining table. She picked it up and opened it. It was a soft toy, she caressed it and turned back only to see her father standing there. 

“Happy Birthday Papa/mannu” they said in unison. 

He kissed her forehead lightly “aaj bahut saalo baad yeh janamdin acha hoga..” he caressed her head. 

“Papa lekin main aapke liye kuch nahi laayi” she said

He made a face “mujhe toh mera gift chahiye!” he demanded

“kya chahiye aapko?” she asked

“tumhare mann ki baat!” he replied as he had seen her in a dilemma since Sharda had got an alliance for her. 

She remains silent. Ruhana steps out of the kitchen and glances at the breakfast “aaj ke din tum dono ko daant khani hai… Chalo breakfast karo” 

They sat down and had breakfast. Manvi quickly eats and leaves in a hurry. 

“taal di na” Ruhana said

Vineet nodded in yes. “chalo tum breakfast khatam karo aaj mujhe koi drama nahi chahiye sirf khaas logo ko bulaya hai maine shyam ko” Ruhana said

“kise? Society mein se kisiko nhi bulaya hai na tumne.. Ek hi baat karte hai kab kar rahe hai hum iski phirse shaadi” he replied annoyed 

“nahi tum chitna mat karo aaj sab acha hoga” Ruhana said with a smile. 

“mera gift?” he asked

“ab main hun na tumhara gift” Ruhana replied 

“wo toh saalo se ho par aaj toh chahiye na..” he demanded 

“shyam ko mil jayega abhi ready ho jao.. “ she ordered and picked up the dirty plates. She moved to the kitchen and placed them into the sink. 

Her phone beeped, she checked the message and sighed deeply. “yeh Shardaji bhi na.. Jaane ab shyam ko kya hoga” 

Manvi reaches office, everyone wishes her and greets her. She hates this one day's attention but managed to politely thank them. 

She attends important meetings, she gets upset as her only special friend had not wished her. Did he forget or was busy in his case files? 

“aaj wo ladka aane waala hai tujhe dekhne!” she received the text from her mother. 

She gets anxious about it. She got up from desk and immediately left the office. She took the train and within an hour she reached her home. 

The house was a mess, Aarav and Chintu were helping Ruhana with decorations. 

“tum dono ne kitna khachra kar diya hai” she spoke

“saaf kar denge mohtarma aur tum zyda apna lecture mat do! Kamre mein jaake baitho shyam ko aana bahar” Aarav replied, giving her a look. 

She sighed deeply and went to her room. It had been 4 years since she had not celebrated her birthday. Life had been cruel to her, the marriage turned into a worse nightmare for her. The wounds have healed but pain remains. She lost herself but today she wanted to just love herself. 

“happy birthday to me” she smiled a bit. She opened the wardrobe and a gift box was kept there. She picked it up and opened it. It was a one piece dress, she admired it. 

“Saath mein matching earrings and necklace hai..” she read the note. 

She searched for them and found them on the dressing. She changed and got ready for the evening. She heard the music sound and guests voices from the hall. She got anxious for a minute, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She walked out to the hall. 

Ruhana glanced at her with a smile on her face. She signaled with her hand she is looking gorgeous. 

Vineet said “choice meri hai” 

“matching meri hai” she argued. 

Aarav moved to her and gave her bloquet of flowers. She gave a look and he knew the reason for it “case mei busy tha isliye nahi kiya.. Baad mein ladh lena..” he said

She takes the bouquet and smiled a bit “thank you” 

Chintu came to her and kissed her cheeks “Di aap bahut achi lag rahi ho.. Happy Birthday” he said

She ruffled his hair and walked to her parents. Ruhana kissed her forehead “aise hi muskurati rehna..” 

She blinked her eyes in a yes. Ruhana noticed the society people entering the house. It is the moment of happiness so she doesn't want to spoil it. Vineet glanced at them “yeh log” 

“aaj apna mood kharab mat karo.. Celebrate karna hai aaj bas” she spoke looking at him. 

Sharda introduced the family to Vineet and Ruhana. “Shardaji… aise” she tried to speak

“humhe sab bataya hai bhabhi ne.. Aur humhe koi aitraaz nahi hai iss rishte se US mein sab kuch hai hamare paas” the mother said

“dekhiye humhe koi jaldbaazi nahi karni hai.. Humhe waqt chahiye” Vineet said

“isse acha rishta nhi milega” the other society member commented. 

“are betiya chahe divorcee ho ya kuwari achi sasural mein hi lagti hai.. Maa baap ke ghar nahi” the gossip begins. 

“rishta khud chalke aaya hai aur aap dono ab bhi soch rahe ho” the other lady commented. 

Manvi glanced at everything, it was not something new she had witnessed. She just doesn't understand society, why can't they let someone live in peace. 

Aarav whispered in her ears “tum jo faisla logi yeh dost.. Chintu aur tumhara maa baap saath honge Manvi..”

She looked at him with teary eyes and he shook his head in yes. 

“aap guarantee deti hai ki yeh log mere saath wo sab nahi krenge?” Manvi finally breaks her silence. 

Everyone stared at her, she walked closer and stood in front of her parents. “aapne dekha hai na sab saalo se? Kya hua?? Papa ne police station ke Kitne chakkar kaate hai mumma bhi meri fikar mein yahan se waha bhaagi hai! Maan samaan sab kho gaya hamara… main ladki hun toh yeh matlab nahi ki hamesha main hi compromise karungi!! Ab toh bilkul nahi” she said in a loud tone. 

Aarav smiled hearing her words.

“faisla jaanna hai na aapko mera.. Thik hai toh suniye mera faisla” Manvi said. She walked out of the house, everyone followed her. 

She had been waiting for something, everyone was confused at her actions. Finally after 10 minutes, a car stops in front of the house. The person comes out and hands her the keys. She signs the documents and he leaves. She turned and walked to her father.

She forwarded the keys “yeh hai mera tohfa aapke liye papa! Itne saal aapne aur mumma ne bahut kuch kiya hai mere liye.. Inn logo ki insult sahen ki.. Taane aur jaane kya kya ab meri baari hai mujhe koi dusri shaadi nahi karni hai sirf aap dono ke saath rehna hai.. Chintu ki behen bankar aur Aarav ki dost”

She glanced at them and they smiled at her. 

Tears slipped down her eyes “nahi hoga mujhse.. Phirse kisi pe bharosa nahi kar paungi main.. Na phirse mujhe wo sapne dekhne hai aur na unhe pura hone ki chah rakhni hai! Nahi hoga”

Vineet stepped forward and wiped tears from her eyes. “yahi sunna tha tumse mujhe.. Mujhe pata tha tum abhi taiyar nahi ho” 

Ruhana glanced at everyone “sun liya aap logo ne! Meri beti yahi rahegi.. Jabtak wo Mann se taiyar nahi hogi main uski dusri shaadi nahi karungi. Yeh ghar uska hai parayi na pehle thi aur na aage hogi..” she declared 

“lekin Ruhana har ladka deep jaisa nahi hota hai” Sharda said 

“ji janti hun! Lekin jaldbaazi bhi nhi hogi.. Jab meri beti mujhse aake kahegi haan mumma main ab taiyar hun toh hum sochenge..” Ruhana said and folded her hands gesturing to the uninvited people to leave the house. 

They left and Aarav whistled “yeh hui na baat! Chaliye ab celebrations double” 

Vineet Ruhana and Manvi hugged each other. “Proud of you beta.. Yeh car?” Ruhana asked

“loan pe li hai.. Aur no sawal haan! Ab hum long drive waali trips pe jayenge…” she said with excitement. 

“pehle Driving seekhni padegi” Vineet said with his eyes moist. 

“main hun na!” Aarav shouted. They laughed hearing his words. 

They went back into the house. Aarav placed the cake in the center of the table. Vineet and Manvi cut the cake. They fought to feed Ruhana, she sighed deeply and stuffed it into their mouths ''janamdin mubarak mere pyaaro..”

Aarav clicked their family picture and smiled looking at Manvi. She took the decision which he wanted her to take. She thanked him with her eyes for showing her the right path and he thumbs up. He picked up her gift and ran away. She ran behind him to take it but he kept on teasing her. 

Vineet and Ruhana smiled seeing their tom and Jerry chase. He asked “Ruu.. Uska yeh faisla sahi hai na?”

“abhi ke liye sahi hai Vineet.. Aur janti hun main tum kya soch rahe ho! Hamare baad kya hoga hamari beti ka.. Agar bhagwaan ne chah toh koi aisa zaroor aayega jo use ijjat maan samaan de jo usey deep se nhi mili.. Use uske Sach ke saath apna lega aur uske shaadi ke baad ke problems ko samajhega” Ruhana said, grabbing his hand. 

“hmm tabtak hum hai” he said and pulled her into embrace. 

“chachi khana do!” Chintu shouted 

Ruhana smiled and asked them to settle on the dining table. She served the special food she made for each one of them. The birthday was indeed special as Manvi took the best decision of her life and her parents supported her like always. 

Life is all about family who stand with each other, support and most importantly fight for truth and justice.

................... The End ................

Hope you all like the end. ❣️💗❣️

Happy Birthday to me 🥰 it's time to love myself more than anything else 💞

and yours RuVineet

Good bye and see you in other fictions.