A few days pass by. Ruhana hasn’t talked to Vineet since their last interaction. He tries to talk to her, but she avoids him. She doesn’t want to discuss their relationship because she’s scared he might take a step ahead since she denied him the first time. However, Vineet has other plans. He’s ready to wait if he has to for a few more years. But he has decided that he will marry Ruhana, somehow and anyhow.

On the other hand, Ruhana has been contemplating her thoughts about him. She has found him to be kind. For the past few days, Ruhaani has been constantly asking about him, and Ruhana has been avoiding the question. But she knows that she has to open up to her sometime. It’s a fine evening, and Ruhana has returned from the office. Ruhaani gets tea for her and finds her mother lost in her own reverie. She keeps the tray on the side table and looks at her mother.

“Mumma, kya baat hai? Aap kuch pareshaan si lag rahi ho? Sab thik hai?” Ruhaani questions, a doubt lingering in her mind for a long time, but she couldn’t pull enough courage to ask her about it.

“Kuch nahi beta, bas kaam ka thoda sa stress hai!” Ruhana tries to avoid the questions her daughter has.

“Mumma, jaise aap meri har baat samajh leti ho, vaise hi mujhe bhi samajh mein aata hai. Aapki hi beti hoon aur aap kab upset ho, aur kab khush, mujhe achche se pata hai.” Ruhaani says, trying to sound casual.

“Nahi, beta, aisi koi baat nahi hai.” Ruhana says again, but this time, Ruhaani holds her hands and sits right in front of her.

“Mumma, ab main bachchi nahi rahi hoon, mujhe sab samajh mein aata hai. Aapki aur Vineet uncle ki ladai hui hai na?” She asks, but Ruhana doesn’t reply and it only strengthens her doubts.

“Matlab aap dono ki kuch baat hui? Batao na kya hua? Aur aap uncle ke calls kyun nahi le rahi ho? Vo kabse aapko phone kar rahe hain. Abhi unhone mujhse kaha ki main aapse kahun unse baat karne ke liye.” Ruhaani sounds worried as she looks at her mother.

“Tum usse keh do ki main baad mein baat kar lungi usse. Mujhe abhi bahut kaam hai.” Ruhana says, her voice cold.

“Kyun nahi, Mumma? Kya hua? Uncle bhi kuch pareshan se lag rahe the.” She enquires again.

“Beta, tu iss sab mein mat pad. Tu apni padhai pe dhyan de. Main dekh lungi mujhe kya karna hai. Tum apni padhai pe dhyan do. Main nahi chahti tum iss sab mein pado.” Ruhana instructs her daughter.

“Nahi, mujhe jaanna hai kya hua? Uncle ne kuch kaha aapse? Vo gussa hai?” Ruhaani asks.

“Nahi, vo jo chahta hai wo main nahi kar sakti, beta.” She replies dejectedly.

“Par kyun nahi? Kya chahiye unhe?” Ruhaani asks, unable to understand the need for this trifle.

“Tum wo sab mat socho, Ruhaani. Tumhare exams aane wale hain, tum exams pe concentrate karo.” Ruhana looks at her daughter again; she wants to keep her away from this mess.

However, Ruhaani is just like her mother, stubborn and adamant at the same time. Life’s been hard for the two, and now both of them want a smooth life. Ruhaani looks at her mom.

“Mumma, agar aap ziddi ho, toh main bhi kam nahi hoon. Mujhe jaanna hai aisa kya hua hai jo aap aajkal uncle ki koi baat nahi karti ho. Bolo na! I am big enough to understand.” She explains.

“Beta, dekh, abhi main koi baat nahi karna chahti. Aur mujhe Vineet ke baare mein toh koi baat nahi karni hai. Ek usne zidd pakdi hui hai, aur ek tumne!” Ruhana makes a face.

“Haha! Hum toh hai hi ek jaise! Aapko pata hai, dadi kehti hai ki main aur uncle bilkul ek jaise hai. Unhone toh itna tak bol diya tha ki aisi harkatein karungi toh log mujhe unki beti hi samjhenge.” Ruhaani giggles.

“Fir maine unse kaha ki main toh hoon bhi unki beti jaisi! After all, unhone mera itna dhyaan rakha. Jab aap nahi thi na tab bhi unhone mera itna khayal rakha, waise hi sab karne ki koshish ki jaise aap karti ho, hai na mere uncle supersweet?” She chuckles again.

“Mere bas mein hota na toh aap dono ki shadi karva deti. Ek jaise hi sochte ho, aur ek jaisa hi nature hai aap dono ka. Aur aap dono dost bhi hain, isse achcha match kya ho sakta hai?” Ruhaani reasons, and Ruhana is surprised. Again, she’s at square one.

She looks at her daughter in surprise, who smiles at her, assuring her of the response she has just given. Ruhaani holds her mom’s hands in hers.

“Mumma, mujhe nahi pata ki aapke aur uncle ki kya baat hui, par ab aap gussa chhod do na! Uncle ne hamari itni help ki hai, ab aapko bhi unki help karni chahiye, I mean unke sath ke clashes khatm kar do na, Mumma. He’s a sweet guy.” Ruhaani says.

Ruhana is left thoughtful at the moment. Yeah, she’s still at a crossroads. Her daughter mentioned that she’d like it if they got married, so is it a hint? Is she sure enough about this decision? However, Ruhana is unable to make a decision. Should she accept his proposal? What if he changes? But well, he hasn’t changed one bit in the last eight months, why’d he change now? She sighs deeply, and meanwhile, a masculine voice falls in her ears. As she turns around, she finds Vineet standing at the door. Ruhaani rushes to hug him, and after meeting her, he asks her to go into her room as he has to talk to her mom. His voice contains urgency, and being the sensible soul that she is, Ruhaani leaves the two in the living room and moves into her room.

Ruhana is still keeping away from Vineet. However, her daughter’s words have shaken her resolve a bit. Meanwhile, his voice falls on her ears.

“Maine tumhari aur Ruhaani ki baatein suni. Kya ab bhi tumhe lagta hai ki tumhe kisi aur ki consent ki zaroorat hai? Jaanti ho, Ruhaani ne mujhse bhi yahi kaha tha ki kash aap meri mumma se pehle mile hote! Aur kya chahiye tumhe?”

“Tum hi kehti ho na ki wo tumhare jazbat samajhti hai, toh vo ye baat kyun nahi samjhegi, Ruhana? Faisla tumhare haath mein hai, aur apni beti ka faisla toh tum khud usse sun chuki ho. Mujhe kisi se koi farak nahi padta, mujhse iss baat se farak padta hai ki tum khush ho ya nahi? Tumhari aur Ruhaani ki khushi mayne rakhti hai mere liye. Main aaj bhi wahi baat kahunga. Main intezar karne ke liye taiyar hoon, Ruhana. Lekin shadi toh main tumse hi karunga. Itne lambe intezar ke baad manzil tak mujhe pahuchna hi hai. Aur….” He says, and she looks at him, peering into his intense eyes.

“Aur?” She asks, unable to move her gaze from him.

“Aur meri manzil toh tum ho. Baaki faisla tumhara hai. Umeed karta hoon, tum sahi faisla logi.” He says and leaves the house, leaving Ruhana stunned at the moment.

To Be Continued.