*Flashback Continues*

It's Ruhana's 9th month. It's Sunday, but Vineet had a meeting so he leaves, assuring Ruhana and asking her to call him if she feels the need to go to the hospital. Though, he knows that they may need to visit the hospital anytime soon, as the doctor already told them.

Ruhana assures him playfully that the baby will arrive only after he comes home. Vineet leaves for his meeting while instructing the housemaid to take care of Ruhana.

*****
Vineet is in his office, busy with his meeting with the foreign delegates. They were discussing the deal when Vineet's phone rang disturbing them. He attends the call and gets shocked to hear that Ruhana has gone into labour and he is needed at home.

Vineet panics at the moment and after explaining his situation to the delegates, he leaves for home. The delegates decide to wait until his wife gets fine.

Vineet reaches home and takes Ruhana to the hospital. She's taken into the labour room immediately. Vineet asks the doctor if he can join her but the doctor denies. Ruhana's already in pain and they need to operate on her. Already, they had complications in the pregnancy but Ruhana wanted to take a chance.

Vineet decides to let go and finishes the formalities. Three hours later, he's given the news that his wife has delivered a baby girl. But along with that, he's told that the baby is not normal.

Vineet is shocked to learn the truth. The doctor told him that the baby is abnormal. She might not have a normal life. He's also told that the growth of her brain might stop after a certain age. He's shocked beyond words. The doctor asks him to tell the same to his wife.

After some time, Ruhana is shifted to a normal room. Vineet is informed about the same, but the man leaves the hospital for a little while. Maybe, he couldn't digest the sad fact about his daughter. He was very excited to hold the piece of his heart in his arms, but the reality is different.

*****
After some time, he returned back and got his wife discharged. Ruhana feels his changed behaviour but doesn't ask. Usually, when he is unable to express his feelings, he becomes silent. And today, they have become parents to a baby girl. So, maybe, he is being emotional.

Ruhana feeds the little girl and makes her sleep. Meanwhile, Vineet enters the room. Ruhana holds his wrist.

"Vineet! Kya hua? Aaj toh tumne baat hi nahi ki! Dekho hamari beti toh so gayi tumhara intezaar karte karte." She makes a cute face.

"That's good na! Ab hum baat kar sakte hain." Vineet says.

"Kaunsi baat? Kya hua? Tumne toh aaj guriya ko god mein bhi nahi liya!? Kuch hua hai?" Ruhana asks, unknown to the fact.

Yes! The doctor told her that her baby girl is weak, she is a special child, but Ruhana is completely fine with it. Little did she know that her husband has taken a decision that would change her life.

"Tumhe faisla karna hai! Tumhe chunna hai! Main ya ye bachi!" Vineet says rudely.

"What? Are you out of your mind? Main kisi ek ko kyun chunu?" Ruhana asks.

"Kyunki ye meri beti nahi hai! Iske liye mujhe hamesha doctors hi dhundhna padega! Isliye tum soch lo! Tumhe kya chahiye, main ya ye ladki!" Vineet says coldly.

"How can you say this! Is bachi ko itni mushkilon ke baad paaya hai humne! Aur tum chahte ho main kisi ek ko chunu! Tum paagal ho chuke ho! Main toh kisi ek ko chun nahi sakti." Ruhana shouts at her.

"Par tumhe chunna hoga!" Vineet repeats his words.

"Fine! Main tumhe chhodti hoon. Tum kya meri beti ko chodoge, tum uske baap kehlane ke laayak hi nahi ho. Main tumhe chhodti hoon. Aur is galti ke liye tum bahut pachtaoge! You will regret!!" Ruhana scoffs at him and leaves him the next day.

*Flashback Ends*

Vineet comes out of his trance. Yes! He's regretting it since the day Ruhana left him. He doesn't know where she is, where is his daughter? Also, his business has suffered a downfall ever since his wife left him. His eyes are teary. His phone rings breaking his trance. It's his manager who tells him that his tickets to Singapore are booked. He agrees and then gears up for another meeting.

*****
It's evening, Ruhana and Manvi are heading home. Manvi is chuckling and telling her mother about the drawing that she has made during the day.

"Mumma! Aaj maine 2 paintings banai! Aap unko frame karogi na!?" Manvi says.

"Han Mannu! Hum frame karvayenge." Ruhana smiles.

"Yay! Aur fir hum bahar bhi jayenge na? Sameer uncle ne bataya Mannu ko!" Manvi says.

"Han bilkul! Aur hum vahan bahut maze karenge. Mannu aur mumma painting bhi seekhenge." Ruhaan exclaims.

"Aap bhi seekhogi?" Manvi looks at her astonishingly.

"Haan agar Mannu mumma ko sikhayegi toh!" Ruhana says, looking at her daughter.

"Mannu sikhayegi!" Manvi chuckles happily.

Ruhana looks at her daughter affectionately and with all such chit-chats, they reached their society. Ruhana parks the car while Manvi hops out of the car putting on her shoulder bag and holds her mother's handbag. As the mother and daughter move towards the flat, they are greeted by a neighbour. It's Varsha Khanna, the one who's quite an envy of Ruhana.

"Bahut jaldi nahi aa rahi ho, Ruhana." She says tonting at the mother and daughter.

"Late ho gaya, Mrs Khanna! Wo kya hai na, mujhe bahut kaam rehta hai! Aapki tarah dusron ki life mien dakhal nahi deti main." Ruhana replies coldly.

"Mujhe toh parwah hai tumhari! Manvi ki! Isliye pucha!" Varsha says.

"Oh! Apne bete ki bhi parwah karlo, Varsha ji! " Ruhana says as she holds the hand of Varsha's son.

The boy is a year older than Manvi and for the last ten minutes, he's been staring at Manvi. That's what Varsha's son does, every day. He stalks young girls and tries to touch them inappropriately. Today, also he tried to do the same.

"Tumne uska haath kyun pakda hai! Chodo usey!" Varsha says.

" Agar tumne uska haath pakda hota toh mujhe na pakadna padta, Varsha!" Ruhana snaps at Varsha.

"Tumne kya isey ladkiyon ko taadna hi sikhaya hai? Aise hi ladkon aur tumhare jaisi maa ke wajah se rapes hote hain!! Acha hua maine dekh liya, varna tumhara ye badtameez beta kya karta, nahi pata" Ruhan shouts angrily at Varsha and her son.

"Aur tum!! Apni behen ko bhi aise hi dekhte ho kya jaise meri beti ko dekh rahe they? Dimag se kamzor hai, lekin acha aur bura samajhti hai wo! Lekin tumhare jaison ko sabak sikhana padta hain!" Ruhana says.

The boy denies and seeks forgiveness but she slaps him hard on his face. Varsha rages and holds Ruhana's hand but the latter jerks her and twists her.

"Aur ye tumhare liye Varsha! Main sabki baatein sunti hoon iska matlab ye nahi hai ki main kamzor hoon! Talaakshuda hoon toh ye matlab nahi hai ki tum, tumhara pati aur is society ke log kuch bhi kahenge aur main bardasht karungi. Kisi ko kuch kehti nahi hoon iska ye matlab nahi hai ki main kuch keh nahi sakti. Aur jab baat meri bachi pe ayegi toh ye maa zaroor bolegi. Jaao aur apne bete ko tameez sikhaao! Nahi toh jaane kitni ladkiyon ki zindagi barbaad karega." Ruhana snaps at them.

"Aur tum! Namit khanna! Mardangi ladki taadne mein nahi hai, kisi ladki ke sath humbistar hona nahi hai...no! You must be into sex, right! Tabhi ladkiyon ko taadte rehte ho! Aur tumhari maa ko tumhari nahi meri aur meri beti mein khot dikhaayi deti hain. Mardangi saabit karni hai na toh ladkiyon ki izzat kar....ab agar tu mujhe meri beti ke aaspaas bhi dikha na...police complaint kardungi, tum maa bete ke khilaaf! Niklo! Apne ghar ka raasta naapo." Saying so, she pushes Namit and his mom to another side and makes way into the building.

"This is wrong, Ms Mehra!" A manly voice falls in her ears.

Ruhana gives the flat keys to Manvi and asks her to go home. Manvi agrees and runs up the stairs to their flat on the first floor. Ruhana turns and finds the secretary and other people. They have heard her shouting at Varsha and Namit.

"Oh yeah! Aap hi ki kami thi! Anyay ke khilaaf aawaz uthana galat hai. Lekin ladkiyan taadna sahi hai! Hai na Mr Khanna!" Ruhana snaps at the secretary who is Varsha's husband and Namit's father.

"Aap pyaar se...." He says but Ruhana cuts him.

"Ladki ko galat tarah se chhoone wale ko jail mein hona chahiye, Mr Khanna! Kahin aisa toh nahi ki aap bhi aisa hi karte hain, har raat ek nayi ladki ke sath sote toh nahi hai na! Tabhi aapka beta bhi wahi kar raha hai! Main tum sabki baatein sunti hoon, taane sunti hoon, iska matlab ye nahi ki kamzor hoon, Maa hoon, aur maa toh kadva hi bolti hai. Khair! Tum log kyun samjhoge! Tumhare liye tum sahi ,tumhare bache sahi, bhale hi wo kisi ka accident karde, kisi ladki ki izzat ucchhal le! Tumhe kya! Dubak jao ghar mein! Aur haan, mujhe aur meri beti ko kuch kehna mat, jab tak khud ko sudhaar na lo. Aur haan Mr and Mrs Khanna! Apne bete ko tameez sikhaiye! Now excuse me!" Ruhana snaps at the crowd and leaves them baffled.

She can't bear the nuisance when it comes to her self-respect and upon her daughter. She reaches her home and she's angry at the society people, but the scenario in front of her eyes make her smile. Meanwhile, Manvi walks to her and says something that leaves her astonished.

To Be Continued.

What did Manvi say?

Stay tuned.