Ruhana embraces Manvi in her arms. Having the little one in her arms is soothing for her. She kisses on Manvi's head and the girl looks at her. The tears in her mom's eyes are clearly visible to her. She wipes her tears with her hands.

" Aap ro mat, Mannu ko acha nahi lagta." Manvi says babyishly.

" Mannu ke hote hue mumma kaise ro sakti hai!!" Ruhana smiles.

"Good! Aapko pata hai, aaj class mein sabne Mannu ke liye clap kiya. Kyunki mannu ne sari poems ache se recite kiya." Manvi says.

Manvi crawls down from her lap and takes out her diary. She  opens up a  page and forwards it to Ruhana. It's a note about the girl's performance. In Manvi's school, the teachers take oral assignments and give notes or remarks in the diary. The remark is for good, Manvi has been good at her recitals and work. Ruhana picks up the pen and signs beneath the note and pulls Manvi closer.

"That is good. Mumma is proud of you." Ruhana says.

"Fir Kal hum mall mein jayenge. Kal chutti hai. Aap mannu ko treat doge na! " Manvi chuckles, looking at her mom.

Ruhana looks at her and realisation strikes her. It's Saturday, weekend and she also has a leave. She has forgotten the count of dates and days, but this little girl is there to remind it. Manvi stands on her knees.

"Aap bhul gayi thi! Offo mumma! Aapko sab yaad dilana padta hai. Bhulakkad mumma!"  Manvi slaps her own forehead and then giggles at her own words.

Ruhana just smiles at her words. With her around, no moment is dull for her. She lifts Manvi in her arms and moves out of the room. The girl is giggling, since her mother's fingers on her waist are tickling her. Ruhana makes her sit on the dining table and moves into the kitchen . She asks her mom to move out and serve the food to Manvi. It's her favorite food - - Chhole & Rice. Ruhana's mom prefers to have chapati, so Ruhana begins to make the chapati as she hears Manvi chuckling to see her favorite food. After the dinner, and chatting with her mom for a while, Ruhana moves to her room and finds Manvi laughing at something. She looks on and finds her watching a cartoon. Ruhana sits on the bed and Manvi crawls towards her, making her space on her lap.
Ruhana smiles and picks her phone  as manvi watches the cartoon. She's engrossed in reading something when Manvi calls her. Ruhana looks at her daughter, who's already lying beside her, seems like, she is sleepy. Ruhana puts her phone on charge and turns to her daughter.

"Hum kal mall jayenge na! Mannu ko teddy bear chahiye." the little girl says.

" Han jayenge. Abhi so jao tum!" Ruhana says as she leans towards her and keeps one hand behind her head while the other over Manvi and the girl holds her hand.

Ruhana kisses the  girls' head and pats her head, while the little girl drifts into sleep in no time. Ruhana covers her with a blanket and lies on her back.

Her life is perfect. Her mother and her daughter are by her side - what else does she need? Well, she may miss the love of a partner, but given the condition she's in, she chooses to stay single - - her daughter is her partner for life. She doesn't need anything other than her daughter. She kisses Manvi on her forehead and eases on the bed adoring the little girl by her side.

*****
Next Morning, Ruhana wakes up as the sun hinders her sleep. She wakes up and sets the curtain, so that it doesn't disturb her daughter's sleep. She moves into the washroom to freshen up. It's Saturday, so she can shower later on, and finish all her pending work. Later, she has to take her daughter to the mall.

Fifteen minutes later, Ruhana walks out of the washroom and finds her mother in her room. She is sitting on the bed and caressing Manvi's head, while the little one is still asleep. Ruhana smiles at her as she spots two cups on the side table. It's a daily ritual of both mother and daughter. Ruhana sits on the bed and keeps her head on her mother's lap. Mrinal moves her fingers in her hair and Ruhana closes her eyes. She feels peace when she sits like this. They don't know for how many moments they sit like this, but Ruhana sits straight and picks her mug. She looks at her mom.

" Maa! Aaj shaam ko hum mall chalenge. Tum list bana lo, kya kya lena hai." Ruhana says, savoring her tea.

"Tu mannu ko leke jana!" Mrinal says.

"Tum nahi chalogi? Chalo na!" Ruhana says.

"Nahi! Mujhe meri saheli Supriya se milna hai. Aaj uske ghar kitty party hai." Mrinal says.

"That's nice Maa! Ek kaam karte hai, shaam ko main aapko drop kardungi aur lautte waqt pick kar lungi." Ruhana suggests her idea.

"Ye bhi thik hai. Par pehle bahut kaam hai." Mrinal says.

Ruhana giggles and sips her tea. At the same time, Manvi wakes up and keeps her head on Ruhana's lap, who pulls her in a hug. The girl wraps her arms around her neck and they stay in the same position. Suddenly, manvi looks at Ruhana.

" Hum mall mein kab jayenge?" she asks.

"Sham ko! Nani ko unki friend ke ghar chod kar." Ruhana says as she kisses Manvi on her cheek.

"Pakka! Fir hum pani puri khayenge na!!" Manvi asks again.

Ruhana nods her head affirmatively while Mrinal pulls Manvi close to herself. The two of them play along and Ruhana smiles. She asks her mother to make Manvi take a bath, and she agrees. Since it's the weekend, Ruhana has a lot of work to do, she settles her kitchen and changes the setting of the living room. She just sits on the couch when Manvi comes running to her, all ready to flaunt her frock, that her Nani stitched for her. Ruhana adores Manvi as she sits beside her, watching her  favorite cartoon series. She moves to take a shower while Mrinal gets busy in the kitchen.

The day passes in a blur, it's evening. Ruhana makes Manvi ready and the girl is all chuckling. She's happy to go out. She's asking her mom and grandmom to hurry up. Ruhana shushes her and after a while, the trio leave the house. They first visit their new home and then after dropping Mrinal at her friend's place, Manvi and Ruhana reach the mall.

Max Plus Mall

Manvi is quite excited  and she runs ahead of Ruhana. She holds her hand.

"Mannu, no shaitani. Tum mera hath chod ke kahin nahi jaogi. Samjhi! " Ruhana says while looking at her.

Manvi nods positively and holds her hand and pulls her along to her favorite toy shop. She runs inside and the shop owner smiles seeing her.

"Uncle, Manvi ko bada teddy bear chahiye."  Manvi says to the shopkeeper.

"Nahi uncle! Bahut bada nahi chahiye. Ye ladki toh kuch bhi bolti hai." Ruhana looks at the old man, who is the shop owner.

"Noo! Mannu ko sabse bada wala chahiye." the little one almost shouts.

"Arey chup! Pehle dekho toh sahi itni saari cheezein hai." Ruhana tries to convince Manvi, but she is adamant to buy a teddy bear only.

Ruhana gives up and they buy a teddy bear and a soft plush cushion. Little Manvi is happy. As they move out of the shop, Manvi shouts that she's going to the kids zone, which is opposite to the toy shop. Before Ruhana could stop her little one, the girl runs away and ends up bumping into someone. She sits on the floor with a thud, while the person bends to her level to help her.

A young man, in his early thirties - - he bends to her level and helps her stand up.

"Beta, aapko chot toh nahi lagi na!" he asks.

"No! Mannu strong hai, usko chot nahi lagti." Manvi ssys, smiling broadly.

"Oh! Toh aapka naam Mannu hai! Nice! Par…" he says but Manvi cuts him.

"Noo! Mannu toh sirf mumma bula sakti hai. Aap nahi. Aap Manvi bolo!"  the girl gazes at him sharply.

"Oops! Arey aap toh gussa ho gaye! Acha, ye batao, aapki mumma kahan hai? Aise akele kyun bhaag rahe ho!" He asks.

"Mannu!" they hear a feminine voice.

Manvi rushes to hug her mother and the guys' phone rings and he turns to the other side to attend the call. Ruhana turns to Manvi.

"Kaun hai ye? Tumne pareshan kiya inhe?" Ruhana asks.

"nooo! Mannu kisi ko pareshan nahi karti." Manvi exclaimed.

Also, the guy leaves in a jiffy without taking a look at the girl he saved. Ruhana takes manvi into the kids zone and leaving her there, she goes to buy some grocery.

An hour later, Ruhana and Manvi return home, they stop my Mrinal's friend's home, where Manvi finds a familiar person, she runs towards the person and Ruhana is surprised with her action.

To Be Continued.

Whom did Manvi bump into, at the mall?

And whom did she find in the other society?

Stay tuned to know more.