“Mumma! Aapse ek baat kahun?”

“Yahan par sab mera khayal rakhte hain. Aapko pata hain, Dadi roz meri pasand ka khana banati hain, wo bhi khud se. Main unko kehti hoon ki main sab kha lungi, par vo mujhse puchti hain, phir banati hain.”

“Vineet uncle is sweet! Vo Dad se bahut alag hain. Kaash Dad unki tarah hote….”

“Jitna vineet uncle karte hain na utni care dad ne toh kabhi nahi ki meri. You know what, he’s perfect, aapko na pehle hi Vineet uncle ko choose kar lena chahiye tha.”

“He’s so considerate. Mere bas mein hota toh main aapki aur vineet uncle ki shadi karva deti.”

It’s just been two weeks that she is staying with Vineet and his mother, but she is always praising him. Yeah, it’s been six months since Ruhaani and Vineet met, and they share a cordial bond with each other. But now, after staying with him, and noticing his behaviour closely, she thinks that he’s a better person than her biological father. Of course, he’s taking all the responsibilities that a father should.

And wedding? Is the girl serious?

However, Ruhana hasn’t thought of it. She takes him as a good friend, though, he is more than that. He often drops her to her house, he comes to pick her up, there are times when Ruhaani is getting late, so he drops her to school as well. And yeah, sparks are igniting in the society. People feel that she’s a divorcee and a mother, and it’s shameful for some other guy to drop her home. Well, they take it as an affair.

Meanwhile, Vineet is unaffected by the same. He feels that they have formed a beautiful relationship, and it’s not bound to have a name. Therefore, they don’t need to be scared. Ruhana feels the same and therefore, she doesn’t pay heed to the people in society.

But, her daughter’s words have stirred the unsaid emotions in her. She’s been quietly adoring him, liking his presence around her, but, her daughter has pushed her to think.

However, her thoughts won’t help. What if he thinks otherwise? Though, she has noticed his gestures around her, he has turned warm towards her, if she’s doing overtime, he stays back and drops her at her home safely. He’s highly caring for Ruhaani, and it hits Ruhana’s heartstrings.

Ah! She can’t make any decisions without talking to him.

*****
Vineet is on the balcony of his room, staring at the moon. His thoughts are pondering over Ruhaani and her mom. This girl has made her home in his heart. She’s sweet, and respectful and even helps him sometimes. Life has taken a good turn for him. He has got a chance to win the girl’s heart.

For what? Well, he’s not wooing his college friend. He has fallen for the soul she has become- she’s a confident woman, a mother, and a great friend. She’s brought up Ruhaani so gracefully, that the girl has become her mom’s replica. She reminds him of Ruhana.

Working with her has become therapeutic for him. He knows that if he talks about her future life, and her take on relationships, she will back off. And he doesn’t want to lose her. Though, he wants to profess his feelings for her.

There’s nothing wrong about falling in love. Every person in the world has the right to love and be loved in return. What if she’s a divorcee? What if, she’s mother? She also needs love in her life. She needs someone who can bring her solace, who can love her the way she wants. If her past relationship didn’t work, it is not her fault. A relationship works on efforts, only a woman’s efforts can’t run a relationship. He trails into the past, reminiscing her words.

“Vineet, ab meri beti hi meri duniya hain.”

“Tum jaante ho, maine bhi chaha tha ki mujhe koi aisa saathi mile jo mujhse pyar kare, jo meri zimmedariyan sajha kare,par meri zindagi mein aisa sathi nahi tha.”

“Aur kisi rishtey mein bina wajah bandhe rehna bhi mujhe pasand nahi aaya, Vineet. Lekin samaaj mein ab bandishein hain. Tumne ab tak shadi nahi ki, ye baat kisi ke liye mayne nahi rakhegi, lekin main talaakshuda hoon, ek beti ki maa hoon, ye zaroor log kahenge, aur phir wo log ye bhi kahenge ki maine tumhare liye apne pati ko chhod dia..itna doglapan(double-faced) hain is samaaj mein.”

“Ab toh main kisi rishtey ke baare mein nahi sochti. Ruhaani hain na mere sath, bas wahi mera sahara bhi hain aur wahi mera sath degi, main jaanti hoon.”

“Dusre mauke aayenge lekin ye samaaj un maukon mein bhi nuks nikaalega, Vineet.”

“Lekin haan, mujhe khushi hain ki tum mujhe mil gaye. Har rishtey ko naam dena zaroori nahi hota, tum ne hi kaha tha naa! Aur dosti se zyada pavitr(sacred) koi rishta nahi hota, Vineet. Vaada karo, tum hamesha mera sath doge.”

“Main aur uncle toh hamesha aapke sath hain, Mumma!” Ruhaani’s voice echoes in his mind.

He comes out of his trance, and as he gazes at her picture with him, he smears the picture.

“Maine vaada kia tha ki hamesha tumhara saath dunga, lekin iss baar har khushi tumhari hogi, ye bhi mera vaada hai tumse.”

He makes a mental promise to himself that he will talk to her about them and give her all the happiness she deserves.

To Be Continued.