Ruhana is astonished as Vineet invites her to meet him along with Manvi. She doesn't reply at the moment, neither does he wait for her reply. He leaves the house silently and Ruhana watches him go. Her trance is broken when Manvi calls her. Ruhana picks her in her arms and moves into the bedroom. She's upset at the moment that her mother has made up a story about Manvi. She doesn't want to start a relationship on the basis of lies. But her mother did the same.

Ruhana puts Manvi to sleep and is lost in her thoughts. Her mother enters the room and calls her. Ruhana looks at her.

"Beta...." Mrinal says.

"Nahi Ma! Aapne jhooth kyun kaha unse?" Ruhana shouts at her.

"Beta, main toh bas chahti hun tu Vineet se shaadi karle." Mrinal says.

"Jhooth ki buniyaad pe? Manvi meri beti hain, Ma. Yeh sach koi nahi badal sakta. Tum bhi nahi." Ruhana says firmly.

"Aur agar ye shadi honi hi hain toh Vineet ko meri Mannu ko bhi apnana hoga. Agar wo mujhse zyada meri bachi pe dhyan dete hain, agar wo meri bachi ko apna naam dene ke liye taiyar hain toh main ye shadi karungi. Lekin tumhare jhooth ki buniyaad pe nahi." Ruhana says angrily.

"Par beta, baat toh ban rahi thi na!" Mrinak tries to convince her but Ruhana is adamant at her place.

"Please Maa! Main jaanti hoon kya sahi hain? Mere ateet mein jo bhi hua uski parchhai bhi main Mannu par nahi padne de sakti. Vineet ache hain lekin mujhse pehle unhe meri beti ko apnana hoga. Meri bachi se pyar karna hoga. Aur ye sach main unhe kal bata dungi." Ruhana says.

"Nahi beta! Please. Tu aisa kuch nahi karegi. Tu bas unse milna. Ho sake toh akele hi jana. Manvi ko mat le jana." Mrinal says.

"Ma please1 Tum jaake so jao. Main dekh lungi mujhe kya karna hain." Ruhana says in a firm tone and asks her to leaves her room.

Mrinal sighs and leaves her room while Ruhana is lost in her thoughts. She remembers how Vineet got mingled with Manvi and vice-versa. She's annoyed with the lie that her mother has said to Vineet and Supriya. Soon, sleep takes over her.

*****

On the other hand, Vineet drops his mother at their home. Supriya also asks him the reason but he denies it. He tells her to go home and he himself drives elsewhere. He drives to his old home where Bulbul lives. He rings the doorbell and Kashish opens the door. She is surprised to find him at this hour.

"Tum is waqt? Sab thik hain na, Vineet?" Kashish asks in concern.

"Sab thik hai, Kashish. Bulbul so gayi?" Vineet says.

"Han, maine sula diya usey. Tum jao uske pas." Kashish says softly.

"Thik hain, Kashish. Tum bhi aaram karo. Main yahin rahunga aaj." Vineet says softly.

"Sab thik hain na, Vineet? Tum kuch pareshan lag rahe ho?" Kashish says softly, knowing that something has happened.

"Sab thik hain. Par maine ek faisla liya hain." Vineet says softly.

"Kaisa faisla? I hope kuch galat faisla nahi liya hoga tumne." Kashish says.

Kashish looks at him. She is very much concerned for him. She knows everything that has happened with him. She might be "Bhua" for Bulbul, but she has taken care of her like a mother in Vineet's absence. She knows that Vineet is worried about Bulbul and he wants someone who accepts Bulbul in the same way as she will accept him. Kashish looks at him.

"Kya hua hain? Kaisa faisla liya hai tumne?" She asks and Vineet looks at him.

"Nahi, Kashish. Maine sab soch liya hain. Maa chahti hain main shadi kar lun. Aur aaj ek ladki se mila. Aur kal usse milne jane vaala hoon. Hopefully, jo maine socha hai wahi ho." Vineet says.

"Kaun hain wo?" Kashish asks.

"Maa ki dost ki beti hain. Apni behen ki beti ko apni bachi bana kar rakha hain usne." Vineet says.

"Toh tum...." Kashish says but Vineet cuts her.

"Main kal usse milunga aur usey Bulbul ke baare mein bataunga. Main jaanta hoon wo meri beti ko bhi aise hi apnayegi." Vineet says.

"Are you sure?" Kashish asks, she's still doubtful about his decision.

"I'm sure, Kashish. Main wahi kar raha hoon jo mujhe sahi lagta hain." He says while looking at Kashish.

"Agar tumhe khud par vishwas hain toh sab thik ho jayega,Vineet. Abhi tum so jao." Kashish says softly, assured by his confidence.

Vineet nods and moves to his daughters' room. He finds Bulbul sleeping peacefully. He pulls out his night suit from the almirah and moves into the washroom. He changes and then slides into the bed next to his daughter. The little girl feels his presence and snuggles close to him. Vineet smiles and embraces her with one arm. Soon, sleep takes over him.

*****
The next morning, Ruhana wakes up at her usual time. Little Manvi is asleep, snuggling into her. Ruhana adores her little one for a few minutes and makes up her mind. Vineet has asked her to bring Manvi with her. She also wants to tell the truth to Vineet. The truth is that Manvi is her daughter, not her sisters' child. She wants to tell him that he has to accept Manvi before he asks her hand in marriage. She wants to be very clear about the new relationship. She's so lost in thoughts that her trance is broken by her daughter. She looks at finds Manvi sitting on her knees and looking at her keenly.

"Mumma! Kya hua?" she asks innocently.

"Kuch nahi, betu. Mumma toh Mannu ko hi dekh rahi thi." she says softly.

"No no! Mannu ko pata hai ki mumma kuch soch rahi hai. Mannu big ho gayi hai, usey pata hai." She says babyishly.

"Acha! Aur kya pata hai Mannu ko?" Ruhana asks, smiling at her innocent words and Manvi climbs in her lap.

"Mumma kuch kuch sochti rehti hain. Mannu sab samajhti hai. Par aaj hum uncle se milne jayenge na?" Manvi asks about Vineet.

"Han. Mannu aur mumma dono jayenge." Ruhana says and kisses her head.

"Yay! Mannu na pink wala frock pehnegi." Manvi declares causing her mother to laugh.

"Han Han! Pehen lena. Chalo ab hum fresh honge." Ruhana says and both mother and daughter move into the washroom.

Ruhana makes Manvi ready and they move out of the room. It's Sunday and they will leave home by 10:30 AM. They sit for breakfast. Manvi is happy to get her favourite sandwiches for breakfast. Ruhana is sipping her tea silently. She doesn't want to talk to her mother, but the lady says something that leaves Ruhana enraged yet again.

To Be Continued.

What did Mrinal say to Ruhana?

Will Vineet really tell about his daughter to Ruhana?

Stay tuned.