Ruhana throws a sharp glance at Vineet, who’s about to talk to her daughter. She asks Manvi to go into the food court with her Uncle Sameer. Manvi agrees, holds Sameer’s hand, and walks toward the food court while Ruhana looks at Vineet.

“What are you trying to do, Vineet?” Ruhana asks, her tone firm.

“Ruhana… tum… wo main…” He stutters.

“What?” she asks. Conscious of the other people in the auditorium, she motions for him to follow her.

She takes him to the hotel garden, where they are alone. She didn’t want to create a scene, so she brought him there. She folds her arms across her chest, gazing at him.

“What do you want, Vineet? Tumhe kya lagta hai ki hamesha wahi hoga jo tum chahte ho?” she asks, her tone firm.

“Aur maine tumse kaha tha na meri beti ke aaspaas bhi nazar mat aana tum! Fir bhi tum usi ke paas jaa rahe the! Maine kaha hai na ki tumhara usse koi rishta, koi vasta nahi hai. Tumhe koi baat ek baar mein samajh hi nahi aati. 18 saal pehle bhi yahi problem thi, aur aaj bhi hai! Ekdum chikne ghade ho gaye ho tum!” she says, her tone firm and accusatory.

“Ruhana, tum mujhe ek mauka…” he begins, his tone laced with guilt, but she interrupts him.

“Ek mauka! Itna sab ho jaane ke baad tum chahte ho ki main tumhe ek mauka doon? Kisne kaha tumse ki main tumhe ek mauka dungi, aur ye ki main tumhe maaf kar dungi? Mujhe batao, Vineet.”

“Kya tumhe lagta hai ki mere saamne ye 1-2 aansu gira ke tum apna pachtava pura kar loge? No! Never! I mean, tumne soch bhi kaise liya ki main tumhe maaf kar dungi? Uss din tumne sirf Manvi ko nahi, mujhe bhi reject kiya tha, Vineet! Tumse mujhe ye umeed nahi thi!” She glances at him, her eyes radiating a fury intense enough to burn him.

“Kitni mannat maangne ke baad humari zindagi mein khushiyan aayi thi. Uss din jab Manvi ka janam hua tha, tab tak toh sab thik tha! Uske baad kya hua? Jaise hi doctor ne tumhe problem batai, tumne humara haath chod diya. Jab mujhe tumhari zaroorat thi, tab tumne mujhe akele chhod diya, kyunki tumhe wo acceptable nahi thi. Toh aaj kyun usse milna chahte ho? Kyun?” she yells at him, her eyes teary and her voice heavy with emotion.

“Kyun tumhe lagta hai ki aaj main tumhe maaf kar dungi? Main jaanti hoon, tumne use dekha hai. Tumse zyada sensible hai meri beti! Duniya ke liye tum uske sage baap ho lekin na tumne ek baap hone ka farz nibhaya aur na hi pati hone ka! Toh kis haq se yahan aaye ho!? Tum soch rahe ho ki tum use behla sakte ho, par aisa nahi hai, aur ab toh mujhe tum par bilkul bharosa nahi hai. Pehle mann mein ek aas thi ki shayad tumhe apni galti ka ehsaas hoga aur tum aaoge mujhe lene, hamari beti ko ghar le jaane, lekin aisa nahi hua. Tab mujhe tumhari zarurat thi, lekin aaj nahi hai. Na mujhe tumhari zarurat hai aur na Manvi ko!” she says while he stands with his head down.

He knows he deserves it. He’s worthy of all her anger. He can feel her stern gaze on him but doesn’t have the courage to meet her eyes. She gazes at him, demanding answers.

“Kya hua? Ab koi jawab kyun nahi dete, Vineet? Uss din toh badi aasani se keh diya ki tumhe chunna padega, ab kya hua? Ab apne defense mein kya kahoge?” she asks, her tone accusatory.

Vineet glances at her, but he has no words to speak, nor does he have the courage. He realizes how wrong his decision was to abandon his wife and newborn daughter. His eyes are teary now, the guilt running down his cheeks.

“Ruhana, mujhe maaf kar do. Main jaanta hoon meri galti maafi layak toh nahi hai, lekin tum…” he says after gathering much courage and apologizes to her.

“Maafi? Itna sab hone ke baad, tumhe ab ehsaas hua hai, Vineet? But I’m sorry, main tumhe kabhi maaf nahi karungi, Vineet. Uss din tumne mera dil hi nahi, mera pyaar, aur mera bharosa bhi toda tha. Tumhe kya lagta hai, aise rokar tum mujhse maafi maangoge aur main pighal jaungi? Nahi, Vineet! Main tumse pyaar toh karti thi, lekin ab main tumse nafrat karti hoon. Jab tum meri beti ko hi na apna sake, toh mujhe tumhari zarurat nahi hai,” she replies bluntly, her tone emotionless.

“Tumhare liye yahi sahi hai ki tum apni galti ke guilt mein jiyo. Tumhe ehsaas hona chahiye ki jo bhagwan deta hai na, usse achcha kuch nahi hota. Achcha hua maine tumhe chhod diya, nahi toh na jaane tum hamari beti ke saath kya kar jaate, shayad use marne ke liye chhod dete. Lekin ab tumhe maafi toh nahi hi milegi,” Ruhana screams, her tone sarcastic.

“Tumhe lagta tha na ki Manvi abnormal hai, kuch nahi kar payegi. Ab tum dekhoge ki wo kya kar sakti hai. Shaam ka function attend kar ke hi jaana, tumhare liye zaroori hai wo,” she says and turns to leave, leaving no room for argument.

Vineet sighs deeply as he watches her go away. He knows he has lost the only chance he had, and her tough demeanor is enough for him to understand that she’s not easy to please anymore. The Ruhana he knew is not the same anymore. With a heavy heart, he enters the auditorium again. He finds that everyone is busy with their tasks, and his gaze rests on Ruhana, who’s helping Manvi with something.

The girl is giggling, and her mom is also smiling. He finally realizes that there’s no space for him in their life anymore, and this is the destiny he has built for himself.

To Be Continued.