Starting something new is beautiful. You’re excited and nervous at the same time. However, starting something from scratch can be difficult, especially when you have to relive all the memories of the past. Ruhana is going through the same feeling; she’s happy but also ecstatic to take a leap of love and faith. When she thought she wouldn’t need anyone, Vineet entered her life and filled it with love. He filled the void of a father for Ruhaani, and now, they’re getting married. As she watches her daughter and friends dancing to a happy tune, tears escape her eyes, and Mrinal doesn’t fail to notice them. She sits by her side.

“Aaj ke din tumhari aankhon mein aansu? Kya baat hui hai?” Mrinal asks.

“Kuch nahi, Ma. Kuch bhi nahi hua. Bas soch rahi thi ki yeh din meri kismat mein likha hua tha. Tabhi toh main Mumbai aai, Vineet se, aur aapse mili. Lekin is sab mein wo purani yaadein bhi taaza ho gai. Jaanti hoon, vo samay toh beet chuka hai. Par phir bhi…” Ruhana explains her inner turmoil.

“Jaanti hoon, beta. Yeh bahut mushkil samay hota hai. Kabhi kabhi nayi shuruaat karne mein hum unhi palon se guzarte hain jo pehle beet chuke hai, lekin hume unhe sanjo kar aage badhna hai, unke baare mein soch kar peeche nahi rahna hai, samajh rahi ho na?” Mrinal looks at her.

“Jaanti hoon, Ma. Isliye toh mujhe khushi hai ki maine wahi kiya jo sahi tha, aaj se do saal pehle bhi aur aaj bhi. Sach hi toh kaha hai na kisi ne ki waqt se zyada kisi ko kuch nahi milta. Aur mujhe Vineet se behtar saathi nahi mil sakta naa!” Ruhana smiles, she’s certainly convinced that she has got the best in her life.

“Yeh toh thik kaha tumne, beta. Mujhe toh aisa lagta hai ki ishwar bhi sahi waqt aur sahi insaan ka intezar karta hai, tabhi toh itne saalon ke baad mere bete ne tumhe chuna.” Mrinal says, a smile adorning her face.

Ruhana says nothing but hugs her, or rather, hides herself in the lady’s warm embrace. Mrinal pats her head, and then decides to leave. It’s the engagement in the evening, and the marriage will take place the next day. Ruhana sees her off, and returns to the proximity of her sweet haven. The guests are gone and there’s only Ruhana, her daughter, and her friends in the house. She glances at them and her heart feels full.

“Ana, Pree, I am glad you two could make it on time. Varna mujhe laga tha ki meri shadi mein main hi akeli pad jaungi.”

“Aise kaise nahi aate? Tumhari shadi thi, miss kaise kar dete?” Priyanka asks.

“Aur vaise bhi nayi shuruaat mein hamesha shaamil hona chahiye. Aur tumhare liye toh ye sach mein ek nayi shuruaat hai na?” Anamika asks, and Ruhana nods affirmatively.

As Anamika and Priyanka hug Ruhana, Ruhaani captures the moment on camera, and further, they click many pictures as they have brunch, courtesy of Anamika and Priyanka. Later, they get ready for the evening.

Post lunch, Ruhana sends her friends to rest in her daughter’s room while she asks Ruhaani to take a nap in their bedroom. She also sits on the bed, and in the meantime, her daughter hugs her, locking her arms around her neck. Ruhana holds her hands and kisses her knuckles.

“Mumma, are you okay?” Ruhaani asks.

“Yes, Princess! Jab tum mere sath ho toh bhala mujhe kya hoga? Aur ab tumhare Dadda bhi honge.” Ruhana replies with a smile.

“You know what, Mumma? You’re the best I could have, sach mein! Aapne wo sab bhi kiya jo shayad ek dad ko karna chahiye, par ab he will do. Unhone promise kiya hai mujhse, ki ab wo hamare liye wo sab karenge jo humne itne saalon tak miss kiya. He’s the best, na?” Ruhaani asks, while her mother couldn’t help but agree with her.

Of course, she knows the bond that Vineet has made with Ruhaani. He’s fulfilling all the voids for them, he loves them with all their flaws, and this makes her fall in love with Vineet even more. However, she is now looking forward to the engagement ceremony.

*****

It’s evening. Vineet is getting ready in his room, fidgeting with his turban because he can’t set it right. He sighs, making a face. He’s in a hurry—why wouldn’t he be? It’s his wedding, and he can’t wait to meet his bride. Well, he’s not a young lad or teenager to get overly excited, but marriage is a big thing, and he’s marrying for the first time, to his lady love. He’s still fidgeting when a feminine voice falls on his ears.

“Hey! Itni bhi kya jaldi hai? Thoda humse bhi baatein karlo!”

As he looks through the mirror, he finds a lady, some years younger than him, beaming at him. She’s Suhaani Agarwal, Vineet’s first cousin, and he loves her like his own sister.

“Suhaani! Are you here for real?” he asks, his eyes wide open in surprise.

“Oh yes! Finally, tum shadi ke liye maan gaye, toh mujhe toh aana hi tha, tumhari shadi enjoy karne aur tumhari biwi se milne.” Suhaani chuckles.

“Oh my! Mujhe laga tha tum aa nahi paaogi. Ma bhi keh rahi thi ki tum nahi aa paogi.” Vineet voices his concern.

“Haan, lag raha tha, mushkil hoga, par mere bhai ki shadi hai, main kaise na aati?” Saying so, Suhaani hugs Vineet tightly.

“That’s great, you’re here. Main bas ye pagdi baandh raha tha…” he says, showing the turban in his hand.

“Tumse na ho paayega! Main set karti hun.” Suhaani giggles.

Suhaani begins to fix the turban on Vineet’s head, and at the same time, his mom enters the room, elated to find them together. She blesses Suhaani and thanks her for coming, while the girl brushes it off.

Suhaani is the daughter of Mrinal’s brother, which makes her Mrinal’s niece and Vineet’s first cousin. She jokes around as she fixes the turban on her brother’s head. Vineet gives her a shagun, as his mother passes him an envelope.

“Arey wah! Aate hi shagun! Aish hai meri toh! Mazaa aayega. Vaise bhi tumhare liye saare neg mujhe hi karne hain, aur phir shagun lena hai. Haan, I can share it with your daughter, maine suna hai wo bahut pyaari hai.” Suhaani comments playfully.

“Haan, toh tum mil lena usse shaam ko!” Vineet smiles, getting more excited with every passing moment.

Suhaani chuckles, sensing his excitement for the wedding, and heads out of the room to get ready for the engagement. Vineet sighs as he glances at himself in the mirror. He’s dressed nicely, and he knows she will be awestruck to see him. He imagines how beautiful she’ll look in that pretty lehenga, and yes, her daughter will look equally stunning. He takes a deep breath but has a hint of a smile on his lips.

*****

An hour later, Ruhana arrives with her daughter and friends. Both the mother and daughter are looking equally stunning, dressed in pink. Ruhana is dressed in a pink lehenga, while Ruhaani is dressed in a pink gown, looking elegant and beautiful at the same time.

On the other hand, Vineet is dressed in a pink three-piece suit, looking so handsome that Ruhana couldn’t take her eyes off him.

Mrinal welcomes them, and Ruhana introduces her friends to Vineet while he also introduces Suhaani as his sister. Ruhana is all welcoming towards his sister, and soon, the priest announces that it’s time for a little puja and the engagement afterward. Everyone looks happy as they sit for the puja. The priest asks Ruhana and Vineet to sit together, while Mrinal asks Ruhaani to sit with them. They’re a family after all.

After performing the puja, it’s time to exchange the rings. These are the same rings that Ruhaani chose for them.

Vineet slides the ring onto Ruhana's finger first while Ruhana follows suit. As they exchange rings, everyone throws flowers on them, and soon they pose for pictures. Amidst all the chaos, Vineet calls the photographer to get some pictures clicked with his bride and daughter. And as they pose for the camera, he whispers something in Ruhana’s ear that leaves her emotional.