Mrinal, Ruhana, Ruhaani, and Vineet sit down to have some snacks and coffee. They sit together, and Ruhana narrates some anecdotes from her stay in London while Mrinal shares stories of Ruhaani's time at home. The lady has praised her daughter, and her heart swells with pride. She knows that this mother-son duo has taken good care of her daughter, and she's forever grateful for it. Meanwhile, Mrinal insists she stay for dinner, but Ruhana politely declines.

"Aunty, hum phir kabhi aayenge. Maybe, next week? Aap please bura mat maaniye, main thodi thakaan mehsus kar rahi hoon, toh hum ghar jaayenge." She explains her point.

"Thik hai, beta. Lekin yaad rakhna, agle Saturday ko tum dono hamare sath dinner kar rahe ho. Abhi se invitation de rahi hoon main dono ko." Mrinal looks between Ruhaani and her mom.

"Of course, Dadi. Aur aap naa vo banana... Daal Makhani, Naan, aur chilli paneer bhi banana." Ruhaani says, insisting she cook her favorite dishes.

"Ruhaani, ye kya hai? Aunty, aap kuch bhi banaiyega, iss ladki ki baaton mein mat aaiye." Ruhana looks at the lady.

"Nai, nai, Dadi, jo maine bola wahi banana. Mumma ko bhi pasand hai." She says it mischievously while her mom glares at her.

"Phir toh yahi banega! Menu toh fix hogaya." Mrinal beams at the girls, and Ruhana shakes her head.

"Aap dono ne na issko sar pe chadha diya hai, dekho kaise has rahi hai!" She says, and Vineet reaches Ruhaani's side, side-hugging her.

"Humne kuch nahi kiya, Ruhana. Tumhari beti hai hi itni pyaari! Uski baat maanne mein harz hi kya hai?" He says.

"Hanji, maano maano, par iski galat baatein mat maanna, Vineet. Agar ye zidd karegi toh tumhe hi sambhalna padega." Ruhana eyes him.

"Main sambhal lunga, tum pareshan mat ho." Vineet comforts her, silently promising the same to himself.

"Okay, keep your word then! Ab hum chalte hain." Ruhana looks at Mrinal and seeks her blessings.

As Vineet walks out to drop the two off, Ruhana remembers that Vineet wanted to talk about something. She asks Ruhaani to sit in the cab, which is already booked. She turns to him.

"Vineet, tumhe kuch baat karni thi na?"

"Haan, Ruu... par..."

"Par? Vineet, kaho na, kya baat hai?" She insists.

"Ruhana, vo... vo main tumhe baad mein bataunga. Abhi tum thaki hui ho, ghar jaa ke rest karo. Hum kal baat karenge."

"Kya hua? Koi pareshani ki baat toh nahi hai na, Vineet?" She asks, reading the hesitance in his eyes.

"Nahi, Ruhana, aisa nahi hai. Tum fikar mat karo, hum baad mein baat karenge." He explains.

"Okay, par phir bhi agar kehna chaho toh keh dena, Vineet. Take care!" She smiles warmly at him and then leaves with her daughter.

Vineet watches them until the car disappears from his view and he sighs deeply. Yes, he wanted to talk to her and profess his feelings for her, but he thought otherwise as she got busy talking with his mother. Okay, a little more wait won't harm. And of course, he wants to talk to her in complete privacy and wants to make sure that she doesn't misunderstand him. However, he knows she won't take his words the wrong way, but he's still doubtful. After all, he doesn't want to lose her friendship.

*****

The mother and daughter reach home, and Ruhaani runs into her room to take a shower and change. She also offers to make tea, and Ruhana agrees. Ruhana then moves into her bedroom to change her clothes and prepare for the next day. A little rest won't harm her until Ruhaani prepares the tea.

As she freshens up and changes into her nightdress, her thoughts linger on Vineet. She feels that he wants to say something of great importance to him.

She had observed a sense of hesitance in his eyes and tone when she asked him about the matter. Okay, it might be something business-related, but when it's about business, he's not hesitant; he commands, and she follows him. But today, she feels that there's much more to his side of the story. She wants to know it all, so she picks up the phone and types a message. Meanwhile, Ruhaani enters the room, holding a tray with two mugs of coffee. Ruhana is surprised because Ruhaani isn't fond of drinking coffee much.

"Kya baat hai, aaj tu bhi coffee pi rahi hai," she asks, putting her phone aside and forgetting to press the send button.

"Maine socha company dedun aapko," her daughter beams.

"Awww!! That's so sweet, beta. Achcha, ab ye batao tumne college ke baare mein kya socha hai?" She asks, remembering that they have to think about her college.

"Yeah, Mom, I am thinking. But we still have time. Boards toh hone do, but ab aap kahin nahi jaaoge." Ruhaani hugs her mom.

"Bilkul nahi jaungi, beta! Ab toh bilkul nahi, tumhare exams mein main tumhare paas hi rahungi. Khair, chalo, tumhe kal se padhai shuru karni hai aur mujhe kaam pe jaana hai. Back to back work!" Ruhana says, feigning sadness.

"Aww, why don't you take a break? Aap kehti naa toh Vineet uncle aapko chhutti de dete," she says cheekily.

"Achchaa?" Ruhana rolls her eyes at her darling daughter.

"Of course Mumma, mujhe nahi pata hoga toh kisey pata hoga? Jab Vineet uncle mere liye ek party organize kar sakte hai, unhone mujhe ek tablet gift kiya aur ek dress bhi, toh vo aapko chhutti kyun nahi dete?" Ruhaani looks at her mother.

"Vaise aapko ek secret bataun? Jis jis din mera exam tha na, uss se ek raat pehle Vineet uncle bhi jaagte they mere sath jaise aap karti ho. Vo apna laptop leke mere room mein aa jaate they, kehte they dadi dantengi derr tak jaagne ke liye, isliye hum ek saath kaam karenge. Aur exam wale din mujhe school drop bhi kia aur pickup bhi karte they.. Ek din unki meeting thi toh unhone mujhse kaha ki main school mein hi unko wait karun. Aur school guard ko bhi bol ke gaye they ki wo mujhe akele kahin jaane na dein!" The girl narrates the tale affectionately.

"Ab aap batao, vo itne sweet hai toh kya aapko maangne par chhutti nahi denge? Main sahi keh rahi hun, agar vo aapko pehle mil jaate toh kitna mazaa aata naa! We'd be a little family of three... nai nai, four! Dadi ko kaise bhool sakte hain!" she responds cheekily.

However, Ruhana is thoughtful about her daughter's words. Yeah, she has said this before and now again. What does she want to indicate? Of course, she's missing the love and warmth of a father, and Vineet has filled that void to some extent, but hey, he's not her father. As Ruhana contemplates her thoughts, she comes to the conclusion that Ruhaani needs a father figure, and she's in love with the person that Vineet is. She's often comparing him to her real dad, and yes, Vineet is better than Rishabh in every way.

But hey, where is all this going? The adoration, the love, the right he shows to her, and the way he cares, are all melting her heart. And now it strikes her. She picks up her mobile and sends the message to him. Within a second, her phone beeps, and his name flashes on her screen. She reads the message, and a smile spreads across her face. Surely, he's up to something, and now, she's looking forward to meeting him the next day.

To Be Continued.