Manvi and Ruhana delve into their delicious meal, which happens to be Manvi’s favorite—naan and dal makhani. Her mother didn’t want to leave her alone during lunch, so she came back to the room, ordering her favorite food. Manvi is a happy child, and when her food is good, her mood improves.

As they continue eating, Manvi looks at her mom and throws a question her way, leaving her astonished. Honestly, she didn’t anticipate it coming from her daughter, but hey, she has raised her so beautifully that she understands every emotion connected to her mom. Well, Ruhana has always been her point of contact. However, with her medical conditions, people assume that she might not understand what is going on around her. But this girl has proven them wrong. She can’t see her mom upset.

“Vo uncle kaun they?” A brief question from her startles Ruhana.

“Vo koi nahi they, aur Mannu ko unse koi baat nahi karni hai, okay?” Ruhana looks at her daughter, not wanting her to be affected by his presence.

“Par unhone Mannu se baat ki thi, aur fir maine unko kaha ki main jaise hoon na perfect hoon, toh unhone smile kiya.” Manvi narrates the restaurant incident.

“Aap unko jaanti ho?” Another innocent question pops up from her.

“Haan, lekin ab vo mere friend nahi hain, aur isliye Mannu bhi unse koi baat nahi karegi. Vo is layak hi nahi hai ki usse baat ki jaye..” She murmurs the last sentence, but Manvi’s piercing gaze catches her off guard.

“Unhone aapko hurt kiya? Jaise wo Sharda aunty aur Varsha aunty karte hain?” She asks, her tone innocent and eyes curious.

“Haan betu, unhone bhi Mumma ko hurt kiya. Aur ab wo chahte hain ki Mumma unhe maaf kar de, par beta, hamesha aisa nahi hota.” Ruhana says, trying to prove her point.

“Hamesha sorry bolne se sab thik nahi hota. Aur jab aap zaroorat se zyada kisi ko hurt karte ho na, tab toh bilkul bhi nahi.” She says, her tone soft, and Manvi, like a mature adult, nods affirmatively.

“Mannu ko pata hai, lekin aap udaas mat ho. Main na un uncle ko aapke paas bhi aane nahi dungi.” Manvi says innocently, her tone laced with concern for her mother.

“Mujhe pata hai, lekin ab aap room se bahar nahi jaogi. Mumma thodi der mein laut aayegi, thik hai?” She asks, and Manvi bobs her head multiple times, understanding her mum’s instructions.

Assuring herself that her daughter will be fine, Ruhana locks the door and walks back into the auditorium. Upon entering, she finds Sameer and sends him a thumbs up. He walks towards her, asking about Manvi.

“Manvi thik hai? Khana khaya usne?” He questions, his tone concerned.

“Haan, vo thik hai. Lekin….mujhe tumse kuch baat karni hai….” Ruhana says, her tone urgent.

“Kya hua?” Sameer asks, though he knows that she wants to talk about Vineet, but he wants her to say it.

She looks around and, finding a tranquil corner, holds his hand and pulls him with her. Facing him, her face mirrors urgency and anger.

“Tum jaante ho, Sameer. Main usse milna nahi chahti. Main jaanti hoon ki tum Vineet se bhi milte ho, shayad tumne hi usey mujhse milne ki baat ki thi, lekin tum jaante ho main usse milna nahi chahti. Main uski shakal bhi nahi dekhna chahti. Tum please usse keh do ki vo meri aur meri beti ke aas-paas bhi nazar na aaye.” Ruhana looks at Sameer.

“Par wo sharminda hai, Ruhana. Ek baar uski baat sun lo, please…” Sameer insists, his tone gentle.

“Itni badi baat keh kar, ab 18 saal baad agar wo sharminda hai toh uska koi matlab nahi hai. Usne mere liye, meri bachchi ke liye kuch nahi kiya hai, aur isliye main usey kabhi maaf nahi kar sakti. Usne ek raat mein faisla le liya ki Manvi uski beti nahi hai, aur ab agar wo mujhse expect karta hai ki vo ek baar maafi mangega aur main usko maaf kar dungi, toh aisa nahi ho sakta, Sameer.”

“Main jaanti hoon ki maine kaise sab kuch manage kiya, itna bada business khada kiya, sab kuch maine apne aap kiya hai, aur Manvi ko bhi ek decent, achchi parvarish di hai. Agar main uske sath rehti, toh itni khush na hoti.” Ruhana says, her tone filled with rage as she talks about Vineet.

“Haan, main usse pyar karti thi, lekin ab main apni beti se bahut zyada pyar karti hoon, aur ab main nahi chahti ki wo mere aas-paas bhi nazar aaye.” Ruhana says, her tone filled with an unwavering resolve to not forgive him.

Sameer wants to say something, but he’s unable to speak. She’s right. Vineet has certainly hurt her more than one can imagine. And now, he wants her to forgive him. But why? Is his mistake forgivable?

Well, for her, it isn’t. She has still not forgotten his words from eighteen years ago. And she can’t bring herself to forgive him.

Meanwhile, someone calls for them, and they close the topic, oblivious that Vineet has heard them, especially Ruhana, and there are remnants of tears in his eyes. But, well, he takes it as his fate.

*****
Later that night, Vineet is in his room, contemplating the day’s happenings. He is standing in front of the mirror, glancing at his reflection. He looks weak, with withered handsomeness, and that pale look on his face is enough to show that he’s aged in a way he shouldn’t have. He holds the same feelings; he’s utterly disappointed in himself.

“Manvi meri beti hai, tumhari nahi. Main tumhe uske aas-paas bhi nahi bhatakne dungi.”

“Tumne jo kaha tha na uski tees aaj bhi hai mere dil mein… tumne kaise soch liya main tumhe maaf kar dungi.”

“Ab tum dekhoge ki jis bachchi ko tumne thukraya tha, wo tumse behtar insaan bani hai.”

Ruhana’s words are still echoing in his ears, with tears streaming down his eyes. He knows it’s all that he has brought upon himself. With Ruhana leaving his home, his business has suffered a downfall. The first day at the conference hardly helped grow his business. However, he’s willing to see his daughter for once. Yeah, he doesn’t have any right to her, and she might not know him, but he wants to take a chance. He sighs deeply before dwelling into the night.

*****
Ruhana takes Manvi for a stroll in the garden of the hotel while she’s still thinking of her conversation with Vineet. She has firmly told him that she won’t entertain him, nor will she forgive him. Also, her resolve is steely; she is reminded of something and calls out to Manvi, who comes running to her in no time.

“Mannu, ek zaroori kaam toh hum bhul gaye.” She exclaims.

“Mannu ko yaad hai, Mumma bhulakkad hai…” The girl giggles, causing her mom to roll her eyes at her.

“Achcha, kya yaad hai?” She asks.

“Mumma ko drawing sikhana hai, chalo, hum abhi drawing karenge, aur aapko pata hai, Mannu ne nayi painting banai…” Manvi chuckles.

“Arey wah, aur abhi tak nahi bataya, chalo, jaldi dikhaao.” Ruhana says.

Manvi gets excited; she holds Ruhana’s hand, and the two begin to walk inside the hotel building. They reach their room, and the first thing that Manvi does is show a painting to her mother. She has drawn the imagery of the garden and the big fountain they saw last night. Ruhana feels her heart swelling with pride.

Manvi is exceptionally good at drawing, and it makes her proud. Ruhana pulls her into a hug, kisses the top of her head, and tells her little one that she is proud of her. All she hears is Manvi’s chuckles and giggles. Soon, they immerse themselves in drawing, with Manvi seriously explaining something while her mom gazes at her, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts.

When Manvi notices her stare, she asks her about it, but Ruhana just pulls her daughter into a hug, leaving the girl surprised.

To Be Continued.