Vineet and Ruhana stand facing each other. Ruhana is surprised, touched by the light of understanding in his eyes. His unwavering trust in his gestures and the way he looks at her have changed her perspective. She understands that his emotions run deeper than what he shows on his face. He has always been there to help her and has done so much for her. She feels forever grateful to him. She poses her first question about the message he sent last night. He glances at her, knowing that she is curious about the matter he wants to discuss. He knows that she won't rest until they converse about what he intends to share with her. He snaps out of his trance at the sound of her voice.

"Vineet, ab bolo bhi, kya baat hai? Kal bhi tum baat karne mein hichkicha rahe they. Please batao na kya baat hai?"

"Ruhana, mujhe tumse kuch bahut zaroori baat karni hai, lekin pehle tumhe meri baat aaram se sunni hogi, uske baad hi kuch kahogi. Aur main jo bhi kahunga bahut soch samajh ke kahunga, please, mujhe galat mat samajhna."

"Vineet, kaisi baatein kar rahe ho? Main bhala tumhe galat kyun samjhungi? Tum batao na, kya baat ho gayi? Kal se dekh rahi hoon, kuch kehna bhi chahte ho aur keh bhi nahi rahe ho. Kuch hua hai kya? I mean, Ruhaani ne kuch kaha ya maine?"

"Nahi, nahi! Aisi koi baat nahi hai, Ruhana. Main yeh nahi chahta ki tum meri baat ka galat matlab nikaalo, aur cheezein bigad jaye. Main ab sab thik karna chahta hoon, tumhare liye, hamare liye."

She glances at him, trying to grasp his words. However, she knows where this conversation is heading; they have already talked about this, and the next topic is "relationship." Though she is not ready for any relationship right now, with Vineet around, life seems good. She anticipates that this is what he will say, and she doesn't know how to respond.

"Dekho, Ruhana, hum pehle bhi iss baare mein baat kar chuke hain aur tab tum taiyar nahi thi. Aaj phir main tumse wahi baat karunga, lekin iss baar main wo kahunga jo mere dil mein hain." He glances at her.

"Vineet, tum jaante ho na ki main abhi...." She starts to speak, but he interrupts her.

"Main jaanta hoon, lekin Ruhana, main yahan tumhe apni baat kehna chahta hoon. Tumse kaha tha maine ki maine ab tak shadi isliye nahi ki kyunki tum jaisi partner nahi mili. Ab lagta hai ki shayad ab tak main tumhara intezar kar raha tha."

"Ab main ye jazbaat mann mein nahi rakh sakta tha, isliye tumse kehne ka socha. Maine pehle hi tumse kaha hai mujhe galat mat samajhna. Ho sakta hai jo jazbat main rakhta hoon, vaisa tumne na socha ho, lekin ek dusre se kuch kehna bhi toh zaroori hai. Jaanta hoon, log bahut baatein karenge lekin hume sirf apne baare mein sochna chahiye. Log toh kehte hi rahenge."

"Tum meri sabse achchi dost ho, Ruhana. Lekin ab main chahta hoon ki ye dosti se kuch aage badhe. Tum mere liye ek dost se kuch zyada ban gai ho, I - I really love you!" He says, peering straight into her eyes, and she is stunned.

"aur apne baare mein sochne mein koi buraai nahi hai, Ruhana. Kya tumhe nahi lagta tumhare saamne tumhari puri zindagi padi hai. Mujhe na tumhare...." He adds, but Ruhana interrupts him.

"Vineet, please, main iss baare mein baat nahi karna chahti. Maine tumse pehle bhi kaha hai main nahi soch sakti iss baare mein...Ruhaani hai mere paas, aur kuch nahi chahiye mujhe." The instinctive mother in her speaks.

"Ruhaani ko hum mana sakte hai na! Ruhana, please samajhne ki koshish karo." He tries to convince her.

"Vineet, please, tum samajh nahi rahe ho! It's not as easy as you think! Tumne toh apni baat keh di, lekin kya tumhari Ma maanengi? Aur main toh pehle hi kayi baatein sunti hoon, jisme ki galti meri nahi thi, infact kisi ki bhi nahi, alag hona mera aur Rishabh ka mutual decision tha, phir bhi logon ko lagta hai ki main galat hoon. Mera koi affair hai aur isliye maine apne pati ko chhod diya." She says while glaring at him.

"Tum jaante ho vo jo meri padosi hai, Mrs. Prabha, unko bhi lagta hai ki mera tumhare sath chakkar hai aur isliye maine Rishabh ko divorce de diya. Tum kyun in sab baaton ko sach saabit karna chahte ho?" She says, raged at the moment.

"Vineet, dekho, main tumhare emotions samajhti hoon, lekin ye sahi nahi hai. Aur main nahi chahti ki log tum par bhi ungli uthaye. Isliye ab ye sab baatein mat karo. Please." Saying so, she storms out of the cabin, holding back her tears while Vineet stands stunned at his place.

******

Ruhana walks into her cabin and settles into her swivel chair, tears trickling down her cheeks.

She feels she's been harsh with him, even when he was just professing his feelings. But she doesn't want people to blame him for marrying a divorcee or to stain his love in the name of pity. This is why she lashed out at him. She has her emotions building up but doesn't want people to believe that they've been having an affair. She is determined not to let anyone blame Vineet or Ruhaani.

Meanwhile, the phone on her desk rings. She wipes her tears and tries to sound casual as she picks up the call. It's the manager from Elegance Avenue, proposing a different time for the meeting. Ruhana makes a note of it and tells the manager that she'll confirm shortly. After disconnecting the call, she walks into Vineet's cabin to inform him of the change in the meeting time. He accepts the change as per the client's request, and Ruhana makes the necessary adjustments.

The day passes in a blur. Ruhana is still working on her designs when there's a knock on the door. She allows the person to enter, and it's Vineet. She averts her gaze and focuses on her work, an ethnic range requested by a client. She doesn't respond to him, and then he breaks the silence.

"Ruhana, meeting ka time ho gaya hai, come on, let's go," he says.

"Vineet, tum chale jao, mujhe ye designs aaj finish karne hain. Maine manager ko inform kar diya tha ki tum unse miloge aaj," she says, her tone cold.

"Lekin isey toh tum handle karne wali thi na?" he asks, his gaze questioning.

"Haan, lekin ab tum karo. Mujhe Ruhaani ko uski friend ke ghar se pick up karna hai. Main late ho jaungi," she responds, and he knows that she's trying to avoid him due to their earlier discussion.

"Ruhana, main jaanta hoon ki maine tumhe hurt kiya hai lekin mera maksad wo nahi tha. Main bas tumhe apni feelings bata raha tha. Main bas ek chance lena chahta tha," he explains.

"Vineet, dekho, mujhe uss baare mein koi baat nahi karni. Tumne apni baat kahi aur maine nahi maani, it's simple. Jo tum chahte ho wo itna simple nahi hai, Vineet," she emphasizes the last line.

"Hum koshish toh kar sakte hain na?" he asks, his gaze hopeful.

"Vineet, mujhe koi koshish nahi karni. Mere liye meri beti sabse pehle aati hai, uske baad hi kuch aur. Tum please, ye baat apne dimag se nikaal do. Aur jao, nahi toh derr ho jayegi," she says, and he's disappointed.

He leaves the cabin, and her words weigh heavy on his chest. He did profess his feelings, but she disapproved of them. However, her eyes portray a different emotion. He decides to wait until the time is right and when she will herself confess her love for him.

To Be Continued.