Ruhana comes back from her meeting and Manvi gets excited to see her mother. She hugs her and then after her mom settled on her chair, she brings her sketchbook.

"Mumma!! Dekho Dekho, maine kya banaya." she chuckles.

"Han Ruhana, tumhari beti na bilkul tumhari tarah hai. Kaam ke waqt disturbance pasand nahi." Maansi says.

"Mumma kehti hai, mann laga ke kaam karna chahiye." Manvi says.

"Haan Bilkul. Aur Manvi toh mumma ki har baat maanti hai." Maansi says.

"Yes!Mannu good girl hai. Abhi aap mumma ko drawing dekhne do." Manvi snaps at her mom's friend.

"Okay ma'am!" Maansi says dramatically.

Manvi giggles at her actions, while Ruhana smiles. Her little one is fine now. She's not angry for leaving her alone. Ruhana sees the sketchbook and is awestruck. Manvi has made sketches of two people - - Herself and her mother.

The sketches look so alive that they will speak in a moment. Ruhana looks at Manvi who's smiling at her, hoping her mom will like her work.

"Ye toh pyara hai, bilkul meri mannu ki tarah." Saying so, Ruhana kisses Manvi on her head.

"Sachi mein Acha hai?" She asks.

"Haan meri jaan! Mumma jhooth nahin bolti." Ruhana says cupping her face.

"Fir hum isko frame karenge." Manvi asks.

"Haan! Abhi jab hum ghar jayenge tab hum frame karvayenge. Okay!!" Ruhana says.

Manvi chuckles and Ruhana asks her if she had her food, to which the girl denies. Ruhana gives her the lunch box and asks her to eat, while her phone rings. It's work time. She talks on the call and agrees to meet the clients the next day. For now, she has a meeting with one of her teammates, for a project. She looks at Manvi, and she is determined for some reason.

*****

The day passes in a blur. It's time to go home. Ruhana instructs one of the project mate to finish the file and bring in the next day, also he is asked to mail the soft copy to her. Finishing her task, she leaves the office along with Manvi. The girl is excited to go home, finally she will be able to play for some time.

On the way to their home, Ruhana gets the sketch framed and it makes her daughter happy. She claps her hands, while Ruhana smiles.

"Mannu aise aur drawings banayegi." She declares.

"Haan! Mumma mannu ke liye books leke aayegi. Fir hum ache se drawing karenge." Ruhana says.

"Painting bhi!" Manvi chuckles.

"Haan! Karenge. Mumma ke pas ek idea bhi hain." Ruhana says.

Manvi looks at her mother. She's thrilled, she wants to know her mother's plan. She asks but Ruhana denies.

"Aap mannu se sab puch leti ho, par aap mannu ko kuch nahi batati." Manvi makes a face.

"Acha thik hai! Kal bataungi main Mannu ko. Fir jo bhi karenge, Mannu aur Mumma sath mein karenge." Ruhana says.

Manvi chuckles, seems like she liked the idea. Amidst all such fun, they reached home. Ruhana parks the car at  her allotted  place and they move towards their building. On the way, they meet a woman, and Manvi greets her. The lady makes a face.

"Mumma, aunty face kyun bana rahi hai!!" Manvi asks her mother innocently.

"Beta, kuch logon ko greet karna nahi aata. Thik kaha na, Mrs. Mishra." Ruhana says sarcastically.

"Tumhari bachi normal toh hai nahi, sirf muskara dena hi greet karna nahi hota." Mrs. Mishra taunts her.

"Oh yeah! Lekin ek bachi ke saamne muh banana zaroor ill manners hai. Khair aap mein hi tameez nahi hai, toh aapke bete mein kya hogi." Ruhana retorts.

"Shut up! Tum hoti kaun ho is tarah mujhse baat karne vali! Jaane Kya kia hai jo is bachi ko leke yahan aayi ho." Mrs. Mishra taunts as she doesn't know that she is a divorcee.

"Oh shut up, Mrs. Mishra. Meri zindagi mein aap dakhal na de toh acha hoga. Vaise bhi jo bhi main hoon na, aapse behtar hoon. Maine kya kia hai aur kya nahi aapse behtar jaanti hoon, aur na hi kisi ki kami se usey neecha dikhane ki koshish karti hoon. So shut your mouth. Did you get it!! "Ruhana shouts back, as now the accusation is on Manvi.

"Kuch galat hi kia hoga, tabhi chupa rahi ho." another lady, Mrs. Khanna says, and they smile coyly.

"Oh Haan!! Kiya na! Ek galat aadmi se shadi kar li thi, par usey chod ke galti sudhaar li. Aap logon ki tarah nahi hoon na main, ki bache galti kare toh unhe dantna nahi,badhava dena hai. Main mahaan nahin hoon aapki tarah. Okay!!" Ruhana shouts aloud.

The ladies stare at her, they didn't expect her to shout on them.

" Aur Haan! Aapki society ki book mein ye nahi likha hai, ki divorcee ladies yahan nahi reh sakti. So better mind your own business. Got it!! Kisi ke status se uska character verify nahi hota, though, aap logon ne bata diya hai ki aap mahila hokar bhi kitni insensitive aur giri hui hain. Aage se soch samajh ke bolna, samjhe!! " Ruhana says and moves to her flat.

Manvi is scared to see Ruhana so angry. Ruhana sits on the couch while Manvi gets water for her.

" Mumma! Gussa nahi! Mannu ko darr lagta hai. Wo aunty aise hi bolti hai. Unko god punishment dega, hai na! "she asks, as this is what she is taught.

" Main bhagwan se unki complaint karungi. " Manvi says innocently.

Ruhana smiles amidst tears and hugs her daughter. Manvi wraps her arms around her mother's neck. They stay in the hug for many moments, before Manvi announces that she is hungry. Ruhana asks her to change, and the girl agrees. Both the mother and daughter change the dress and Manvi gets busy in watching her show, while Ruhana prepares the dinner. Manvi is squealing occasionally and it leads Ruhana into her past, which was beautiful and happy.

She shushes her feelings, and they have dinner. After playing for a little while, Ruhana puts Manvi to sleep, and she herself drifts into the memory lane - - the past that she left behind, for her only daughter.

To be Continued.

What happened in the past?

Stay tuned.