"I promise, Mumma. I will be the same as you are. Vaise bhi Dadi kehti hain ki main aapki parchhain hoon. Aapko pata hai, jab main wahan thi, tab kayi baaton mein dadi kehti thi ki main ek dum aapke jaisi hoon, par kuch aadatein Dadda jaisi hain. Aur aapko ek secret bataun?" Ruhaani glances at her mum, who nods affirmatively.

"Aapko pata hai, mere kuch dost mujhse mere dad ke baare mein puchte they, main kehti thi, ki wo nahi hain. I mean, maine unhe kuch nahi kaha, but unknowingly Dadda filled that space. Aur aapko pata hai, unse shadi karne ka faisla leke, you did the best thing. Mujhe pata hai, aap pareshan thi, par it's okay! Ab na koi bhi hume pareshan nahi karega, specially wo Kamini aunty! Main toh khud unko card deke aaungi," the girl says enthusiastically.

"Jab meri beti mere sath hai toh koi mujhe kaise pareshan kar sakta hai? Aur main khush toh iss baat se hoon ki tumne iss change ko itni achche se accept kar liya, varna kuch log toh accept nahi kar paate," Ruhana says, tapping her cheek.

"Mumma, I knew it. Aur main chhoti bachchi nahi hoon. Haan, I am not that big either, lekin mujhe pata hai ki sab cheezein ek si nahi hoti. Aur maine aapko Shriya ki mom ke baare mein bola tha naa, jab wo kar sakti hai toh aap bhi toh kar sakti ho. Dadi kehti hai, sabko partner chahiye hota hai. She says I am her partner, jaise Dadda is yours." She giggles.

"Sab baatein dadi kehti hain ya dadi ke naam se tum keh rahi ho, haan?" Ruhana glances at her daughter.

"Arey nai nai, Dadi kehti hai," Ruhaani responds, her tone playful and there's a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Achcha, achcha! Chalo bahut baatein ho gayi hain, tum table set karo, main noodles leke aati hoon." Ruhana taps her cheek.

Ruhaani giggles, takes two plates, forks, and everything important to the dining table. As Ruhana watches her, she feels a sense of gratitude towards this girl. At the age where she'd have her own aspirations, her urge to live life, yet, she's here supporting her mom. Sometimes, mom guilt washes over her for not letting her daughter enjoy her life, at least, she feels so. On the other hand, Ruhaani thinks that it's enough for her that her mom is by her side, and of course, she's determined to make life a better place for her mom.

The scrumptious fragrance of the noodles brings her out of her trance. She serves the noodles on two plates and heads out towards her daughter. The girl is already munching on the garlic bread and chuckles upon seeing her mum with her favorite food ever. They have their dinner with light chit-chat, and afterward, they head into the bedroom. Ruhaani is quite excited for the upcoming wedding, and her mum is glad to know the same. Ruhana freshens up and as she enters the bedroom, the doorbell rings. She checks the clock, it's ten p.m., who could be at this hour? Vineet, maybe? But why'd he be here? His mum has restricted them to meet, excusing them for business works. Well, pushing away her thoughts, she opens the door, and she's pleasantly surprised to find Vineet at the door.

"Tum yahan? Ma ko pata chala toh naraaz ho jayengi," Ruhana says, though she welcomes him in.

"Maa ko bata ke hi aaya hoon. Aur main kal tak ka intezar karna nahi chahta tha." He smiles at her.

"Kya hua hai? I mean, aisi kya baat hai?" She asks, her curiosity piqued.

"Mere pas tumhare liye surprise hai!" He says, maintaining the mystery.

"Kaisa surprise? Hum ice-cream khane jayenge?" Ruhaani chuckles, barging into the conversation.

"Nahi, Ruhaani. Tumhe koi ice-cream nahi milne wali hai, shadi tak thik rehna hai ki nahi?" Ruhana says, concerned for her daughter.

"Mumma, please! One ice-cream!" She requests.

"Baat toh aisi hi hai, I'll treat you to ice-cream. Par pehle kaam ki baat karein?" Vineet looks at Ruhaani who agrees.

"Vineet, bolo na, kya baat hai? Itni raat ko aaye ho tum, koi zaroori baat hi hogi." Ruhana looks at her would-be husband.

"Haan, vo main tumhe kuch papers dene aaya tha." Vineet says, he forwards some papers towards Ruhana.

She takes the papers, they are some property papers, which say that the flat in which she's currently living, has been transferred to her name, she's the owner of this flat. However, she will be going to his house with Ruhaani, but, this will always be there. Ruhana has been intending to buy this flat but couldn't do so. He further tells her that when she went to London, he initiated the process at the same time, and now, this flat is in her name. Right now, the papers are in her hand, she's unable to believe it. She looks at Vineet, who's smiling at her gently. She's awestruck, she doesn't know how to react.

"Vineet, tumhe ye sab karne ki kya zaroorat thi?" She manages to ask.

"Kyun nahi? Main jaanta tha, ki tum kharidna chahti thi ye ghar, lekin vo kaam maine kar diya, meri beti aur patni ke liye. Isme kya galat hai?" He asks, his tone filled with emotions.

"Aur vaise bhi ye mera hi kaam hai, main chahta hoon, ki ye ghar hamesha tumhare pas rahe, bas isliye, maine isey tumhare aur Ruhaani ke naam pe karva diya." He explains.

"This means a lot, Vineet. Lekin sach mein, tumhe ye sab karne ki zaroorat nahi thi, vaise bhi ab hum dono ko tumhare sath hi rehna hai na," she says.

"Han, toh tum dono vahan rehna, main yahan rahunga!" He chuckles, causing Ruhana to smile.

"Kyun? Aap mere bina yahan nahi aa sakte!" Ruhaani says, rolling her eyes at her father.

"Kyun nahi? Ye mera ghar hai." He reasons playfully.

"Nope! Aapko yahan aana hai toh mujhe bhi leke aana hoga." Ruhaani declares, and the two indulge in a banter, while Ruhana watches them with a smile on her face.

Her decision is right, she knows. This man is quite perfect for her, when he can think of her first, she knows how her life would be after the wedding. Now, she's excited enough, eager for the wedding day.

*****
The next day brings them closer to their wedding day. It's time for the Haldi ceremony. Ruhana knows that she will get the Haldi only when it's first applied on Vineet. But she's a little worried because she doesn't have anyone to be by her side. Though Mrinal has assured her that she won't feel alone, Ruhaani's friend, Shriya, and her mom are there, along with a few more ladies from the colony too. But Ruhaani notices that her mum is sad. She rushes to her side.

"Mumma, why are you upset? Dadi abhi aati hi hongi, aap udaas mat ho," Ruhaani tries to comfort her.

"Teri Ma ko udaas hone ki aadat hai, Ruuh, maine kaha tha main aaungi, par ye sunti hi nahi hai." A familiar voice falls in their ears, and as the mother and daughter look around, they find a lady beaming at them.

"Aur maine bhi toh kaha tha, ki main hamesha rahungi, lekin tumhari Mumma ko kabhi yaad hi nahi aati hamari. Yahan inko inka college ka purana dost jo mil gaya hai," another lady comments.

"Pree Maasi, Ana Maasi! Aap dono! Mumma didn't tell me ki aap dono aane wale ho!" Ruhaani beams at the two ladies and pulls them inside the house.

"Mujhe toh kaha gaya tha ki hum busy hai, phir time kaise mil gaya?" Ruhana rolls her eyes at her friends.

"Humne ek saath aane ka plan kiya tha, isliye humne tumse chhupaya," Anamika explains.

"Ye achcha hai, pehle upset karte ho fir...." She says, but Pree interrupts her.

"Fir manane aaye hain na, maan jao. Hone wali dulhan ke chehre pe gussa achcha nahi lagta hai." Pree chuckles.

These two are Priyanka Sehgal and Anamika Gupta, they are Ruhana's best friends. Anamika is her friend from her hometown, Jaipur, while she met Priyanka in Mumbai, in her initial days. They had shared an apartment initially, and it has been a year since they met.

Ruhana pulls them in a bone-crushing hug and at the same time, Mrinal knocks on the door. Ruhana introduces her friends to her mother-in-law, who blesses them in turn. Priyanka assures Mrinal that they will take care of the ceremony, and the lady is mighty pleased. She takes the first chance to put Haldi on Ruhana and blesses her for a beautiful married life. Following Mrinal, Priyanka and Anamika apply Haldi, and it's a happy moment.

Ruhana watches as her daughter and her friends dance to a happy tune. Life seems good at the moment. It's surely a beautiful start to her new life.

To Be Continued.

Anamika_anu Preetx😬i hope you two like this sweet surprise. More to come. 😬😬😁😁

I love ya.