Ruhaani arranges the room she's given at Vineet's place. Her mom helps her out and as they finish, they find Vineet standing at the door. Mrinal calls Ruhaani and the girl runs out of the room, leaving her mom and her friend alone. Ruhana glances at Vineet; she doesn't know how to thank him, but he understands even her silence.

"Tumhe thanks kehne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Maine wahi kiya jo mujhe karna chahiye. Agar tum meri jagah hoti toh tum bhi wahi karti, right?" He asks.

"Haan, lekin tumse toh main jitna, thanks kahun, kam hi hoga. You're doing so much for me." She says it genuinely.

"Ye toh main bhi keh sakta hoon tumhe! Tum bhi toh hamari company ke liye kitna kaam kar rahi ho." He says smilingly.

"Vo toh mujhe karna hi padega, as an employee of your company." She looks at him.

"Don't forget, you're my friend too. Aur tumhe bhi wahi mil raha hai jo tum deserve karti ho." He smiles while she glances at him for a few seconds.

"Jaanti hoon, Vineet. Lekin ek sach main bataun tumhe?"

"Jaante ho, jab main Mumbai aayi thi, mujhe nahi pata tha main kya karungi? Rishabh se mera rishta vaisa nahi raha tha jaisa pehle tha, jab mujhe laga ki hum ek saath nahi reh sakte, main usse alag ho gayi. Aur Ruhaani ko bhi apne saath le aayi. Rishabh ne bhi kuch nahi kaha aur main jaanti thi ki wo meri beti ka thik se khayal nahi rakh payega." She looks at him and he's listening to her intently.

"Aaj ke waqt mein bachche maa-baap ko nahi samajhte, Vineet, lekin meri beti hi meri taakat hai. Tumhe pata hai, tumhari company ka advertisement aur opening, Ruhaani ne hi check kia tha, aur mujhe uss interview ke liye aur tumhare office tak aane ke liye taiyar karne wali bhi meri Ruhaani hi thi." Saying so, she traverses down memory lane.

*****

"Mumma, aap itni nervous kyun ho?"

"Maana pehli baar interview de rahi ho, par jab aap mere questions ka jawab de sakti ho toh vahan kyun nahi? Aur dikkat kya hai? Aap pichhle 15 years se mere liye designing kar rahi ho, ye bhi toh experience hai na?" Ruhaani says causing her mom to laugh.

"Beta, itna easy thodi na hai. Aur ye sab main 20 saal pehle chhod chuki hoon. Mujhe toh darr lag raha hai." Ruhana expresses her feelings.

"Mummaa! Aap bhi na! Jo cheez aapne mujhe sikhaayi, aap khud hi bhool gayi! Ab main sikhaun aapko?" Ruhaani glances at her mother.

"Aapne hi kaha tha na, har cheez ka first time hota hai. Aur aapne ye bhi kaha tha ki jo cheez hume pasand hoti hain, vo humse kabhi nahi chhoot-ti. Phir, aap designing kaise bhool sakti ho? Aur main hoon naa, kuch gadbad nahi hogi." The girl says.

"Jaise aap mujhe first-time school leke gayi thi, waise main aapko leke chalungi, Shergill Industries. Aur mujhe toh vishwas hai, aapko job mil jayegi." She chuckles.

"Ab dekho, hume jaana hai, toh aap jaldi se ready ho jao. Be confident, sab achcha hoga." Ruhaani mimics her mother, causing her to laugh.

Ruhana says nothing but pulls her daughter in a hug, thinking of herself lucky to have a loving daughter.

*****

"Kehte hai na betiyan maa ki parchhain hoti hain aur parchhain hamesha sath deti hain. Aur vahi hua bhi hai."

"Aur dekho naa, main job ki talash mein nikli thi aur mujhe tum mil gaye. Itne saalon mein jahan log ek dusre ko bhul jaate hai, tumne mujhe pehchaan liya, Vineet." She says and reaches for his hand.

"Sach mein, tumne meri jitni madad ki hai na, vo koi apna bhi nahi karta. Aur aaj se Ruhaani bhi yahin rahegi. Jo tum kar rahe ho na wo ek family member hi kar sakta hai. Iske liye main tumhe jitna thanks kahun, kam hoga."

"Aaj se meri beti tumhare pas rahegi, aur main jaanti hoon, tum uska bahut khayal rakhoge, lekin agar usse koi galti ho jaye toh usey maaf kardena. Aunty ko shaayad achcha na lage, par tum jaante ho na Ruhaani ko?" She looks at him.

"Relax Ruhana, ab Ruhaani meri zimmedari hain, main tumhe shikayat ka mauka nahi dunga. Vo maan gayi toh tum bhi maan hi joagi na!" He murmurs the last line but she looks at him, startled.

"Tumne kuch kaha?" She asks,

"Main keh raha tha tumhe Ruhaani ki chinta karne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Vo yahan thik se rahegi." He assures her.

"Haan, Mumma! Main aur buddy, hum ek dusre ka khayal rakhenge. I promise. Ab jaldi chalo, bhook lagi hai, Dadi bula rahi hai." Ruhaani says, as she stands beside them.

"Dadi?" Ruhana is astonished.

"Haan, unhone hi kaha mujhe unko Dadi bulaane ke liye." Ruhaani says, signalling towards his mother.

Ruhaana smiles as she watches her daughter tangling her hand in Vineet's arms, taking him to the dining table. She smiles; and follows them, where Mrinal looks at her affectionately.

"Ab Vineet ke bachche bhi toh mujhe Dadi kehte, isliye maine Ruhaani se keh diya hai ki wo mujhe Dadi bulaye chahe toh maa bulaaye....par aunty na kahe." She declares affectionately.

"Ye toh aapka badappan hai, aunty. Aur aapne bilkul thik kaha, aapke roop mein Ruhani ko dadi/nani ka pyar bhi mil jayega." Ruhana says.

They sit for dinner, after which Ruhana takes her leave. She meets Ruhaani for one last time and asks her to study well. The girl assures her mom while Vineet offers to drop her off at home, to which she agrees.

The ride is silent on the way home. Vineet glances at her. Today, she opened her heart to him, and he couldn't say anything. They reach her home and she invites him in for a coffee. He politely denies it but says something that leaves her touched yet again.

To Be Continued.

What did Vineet say?

Stay tuned.