It was evening, when Ruhana reached her home. She parked the car inside, and found some people carrying stuff inside in  the nearby  house, which was empty since a long time. An old lady was standing in her house and Ruhana asked her...
"Aunty, koi shift ho raha hai kya yahan? "

The old lady nodded... "Haan beta.... 2 log hain, lagta hain nayi nayi shadi hui hai unki. " she said.

"Chaliye Acha hai aunty. Hum milenge unse kabhi. " she said and started unlocking the door. As she was moving in, she heard a familiar voice. She turned to look and found Vineet talking to a man. She walked near to the wall which separates the two houses...

"Good evening Vineetji! Aap yahan? " she asked.

Vineet looked at her... "Maine yeh ghar kharida hai. Lekin aap? "

Ruhana smiled... "Yeh mera ghar hai. Manvi kahan hai? " she asked.

"She's inside. Aap aaiye. Mil lijiye. " he said.

She nodded and told that she'd meet them in a while.

A while later, Ruhana went to their home. She rang the doorbell. Vineet opened the door and found her with some Stuffs and coffee.

She placed the stuffs in the kitchen, when Manvi hugged her...
"Tum yeh sab kya le aayi ho? "

She smiled... "tum log aaj hi shift hue ho. Isliye thoda khane ka samaan and coffee. Chalo let's have coffee. " she said and poured coffee in three mugs.

Vineet was making some arrangements in the living room.
Manvi called him for coffee,but he didn't listen... she said.

"Vineet! Wo lamp table corner mein rehne do. Achi lagegi. "she said.

He turned to her... "how do you know ki main kya kar raha hoon? " he asked.

"Mujhe pata hai. Aap coffee pijiye." she said.

He walked towards the dining space where both Manvi and Ruhana were sitting. He took his seat and manvi passed him the coffee mug.

Manvi then said... "Acha hai Ruhana, tum yahan ho. Ab din ache niklenge." she said.

Ruhana smiled... "Sahi kaha. I guess I'm the happiest having you around. Varna Aarav ke jaane ke baad Main bahut akeli pad gayi thi. "she said.

Manvi reached for her hand and squeezed it lightly.... "Ab hum hai na, hum ek dusre ka Sahara banenge. You're not alone. " she said.

Ruhana smiled.

Vineet looked at them.... "Koi mujhse bhi puch lo, main khush hoon ya nahi. Ya mujhe kuch kehna hai ya nahi. "he said making a sad face.

Ruhana and Manvi giggled. Ruhana looked at him...
"you're no less than a kid, Vineet. " she said.

Vineet smiled... "Isliye toh main Manvi ko laaya hoon, apne sath. Hum dono ek dusre ka dhyan rakhenge. " he said while looking at Manvi, who smiled a little.

Ruhana smiled at them. She turned to manvi....
"main chalti hoon. Kitchen mein kuch samaan rakha hai. Baaki koi problem ho toh just knock on my door. And M leaving the number too. Call kar lena. " she said.

Manvi thanked her and she left.

Vineet closed the door and followed Manvi inside the bedroom. She was unpacking her things and setting the clothes in the cupboard. He hugged her as she was placing the hanger. She touched his hands...

"Vineet chhodo. I've got so much to arrange. " she said.

He placed his chin on her shoulder ... "I'll help you. "

His action tickled her on the neck and she said... "aap chup chap baithiye. Wahi help hogi. "

"arey yaar.... Maine kya kiya? Kyun dant rahi ho? " he asked.

Manvi smiled... "main Sab samajhti hoon. Aap apna samaan unpack kijiye. " she said.he smiled and they got busy in arranging their things properly.

Ruhana reached back home and walked straight into the bedroom. She picked up Aarav's picture from the side table and settled on the bed. She caressed his picture...

"Maine ek baar fir humko dekha, Aarav. History is repeating itself. Fark bas itna hai ki aaj tum mere sath nahi ho. "she said.

*Flashback Begins *
Aarav brought Ruhana to his new house. She was mesmerised with the view.
"Wow Aarav.... This is beautiful" she said.

Aarav smiles... "ye humara ghar hai. " he said.

Ruhana looks at her.... "Humara?? Tumhari family? "she asked.

He cupped her face... "mujhe aisi family nahi chahiye, jo mujhe support na kare. Maine tumse pyar kiya hai, Ruhana. And I know ke agar koi mujhe samajh sakta hai toh wo tum ho. Is ghar ko pyar ki zarurat hai, paise ki nahi. Tumse behtar kaun samajh sakta hai. Isliye hum yahan rahenge. "he said.

Ruhana smiles.... "I'm really lucky aarav. Agar tum na hote toh aaj haalaat kuch alag hote. Thank you for loving me. "she said.

He made her sit on the couch.... "jab maine tumhe pehli baar dekha tha tab hi samajh gaya tha ki tum kuch khaas ho. And you really proved that. I'm glad ki tum meri life mein ho. "he said as he pulled her in his embrace.

*flashback ends*

Ruhana came back into reality as tears touched her cheeks. Her tears dropped on aarav's picture and she smeared the picture...

"Main itni bhi khas nahi hu Aarav ki tum apni jaan de do. Tumne mujhe khaas banaya tha....apne pyar se. Ab tum nahi toh wo bhi nahi. "she said as tears welled up in her eyes.

She rested her head on the backrest allowing the tears to flow out.

ViMan home
Manvi was carefully walking, she collided with Vineet.

Vineet asked her "kya kar rahi ho tum?"

Manvi sighed and spoke up "ye ghar itna bada hai aur mujhe kuch pta nhi chal raha"

Vineet held her hand and took her out of the house. Manvi asked in confusion "aap mujhe bahar kyun le aaye?"

Vineet spoke up "tumhari help karne"

He made her stand at the main door and was holding her hand "ab main tumhe bataunga aur tum suno bas"

"samne das kadam pe sofa hai" Manvi and Vineet stepped and he was right.

"ab right mein kitchen hai, approximately 15 kadam" vineet said.

They walked to the kitchen and it was 16 steps. Manvi smiled "16 steps" she uttered.

Vineet turned her "ab yahan se left mein ek guest room hai aur samne hamara bedroom"

He guided her and Manvi created the map of the house in her mind. Manvi then asked "aap dinner mein kya khayenge?"

Vineet said "Manvi, hum bahar se manga lenge"

Manvi denies "Are nhi na main banati hoon" and moved to kitchen. She reached the slap and pulled out the ingredients and others stuff. She started cutting the vegetables, Vineet entered inside and was looking at her every move carefully.

Manvi smiled and asked him "kya dekh rahe hai aap?"

Vineet was surprised "tumhe kaise pata main yahan hoon! Aur tumhe dekh raha hoon? Maine to aawaz ki bhi nhi"

Manvi poured the vegetable into the pan and said "in kuch hafto mein main aapko ache se jaan gayi hoon"

Vineet spoke up, by holding her arm "to tumhari help kar deta hoon main"

Manvi pushed him back "nahi aapki help nhi chahiye mujhe, aap chup chap jayie yahan se gadbar hui fir mujhe mat kehna"

Vineet sighed and said "bahut na karti ho tum", he moved out and found Ruhana standing at the kitchen door with a smile on her face. Vineet left in embarassment.

Manvi smiled and continued with preparing food. Ruhana recalled a similar incident.

Flashback
Ruhana came back from office and settled on the couch, she looked around and Aarav was not there. She then heard a noise from the kitchen, she moved in and was shocked seeing Aarav making food.
Ruhana said "Aarav tum kyun khana bana rahe ho? Main aake bana deti na!"

Aarav looked at her and smiled "come on Ruhana, don't be stupid main koi zalim boyfriend nhi hoon jo tumse pehle office ka kaam karvaunga aur fir ghar ka kaam bhi and waise bhi mujhe bahut shauk hai cooking ka"

Ruhana looked at him with a naughty smile "ahan, then I can help you"

She touched his hand and Aarav glanced at her "Ruhana, tumhare irade mujhe thik nhi lag rahe hai!"

Ruhana stirred the vegetable along with him by touching his hand. Aarav moved her away and said "Ruhana, don't disturb mera concentration kharab mat karo jao yahan se"

Ruhana smiled "Arey main to help kar rahi thi tumhari"

Aarav denies "nhi tumhari koi zaroorat nhi hai mujhe jao tum"

Ruhana shook her head "tum bahut mana karte ho mujhe" and left from there.

Flashback over

She came out of her trance when Manvi said "Aap firse yahan aa gaye maine kaha na aap jaake apna kaam kijiye"

Ruhana smiled and said "Manvi main hoon Ruhana"

Manvi looked at her and smiled "Ruhana, tum acha hua aa gayi ab dinner yahi kar lena"

Ruhana said "nahi, tum dono ko main disturb nhi karna chahti hoon, main to kuch saman dene aayi thi"

Manvi spoke up "isme disturb karne ki koi baat nhi hai, tum dinner yahi karo"

Ruhana agrees and they had the dinner together.

To be continued...