As Ruhana freshens up and relaxes on the couch, Manvi climbs on the couch beside her and tells her about her day. Ruhana pats her cheek.

"Mannu ne Nani ko pareshaan toh nahi kiya na?" she asks her little one.

"Pareshan!! Arey toofan hai teri beti!! Kabhi idhar kabhi udhar. Bas khelna hota hai. Aaj toh homework bhi pura nahi kiya teri laadli ne!" Mrinal says as she settles on the couch.

"Naani! That's a sheclet(secret)!" Manvi glares at her grandmother.

"Wo toh maine bataya hi nahi! Bataun!! " Mrinal winks at the little girl.

Manvi stands on her knees on the couch. She puts her arms around her mom's neck and looks at her grandmother.

"Mumma sirf Mannu ki baat maanti hain! Aapki nahi maanegi!" Manvi glares at her.

"Mannu! No shouting. Milkshake khatam karo and finish your homework." Ruhana says.

"Mannu ko nahi karna! It's boring!" Manvi makes a face but Ruhana glares at her.

"No shaitani. Tum book nikalo, mumma help karegi. Chalo!" Ruhana descends Manvi on the floor and the girl runs into her room glaring at her grandmom. Afterall, she wished to play a little more.

Mrinal laughs and looks at Ruhana.

"Bilkul tujhpe gayi hai! Tu bhi aise hi mujhe satati thi." Mrinal says.

"Par main homework karti thi. Ye shaitan ko karvana padta hai." Ruhana says and it only makes the two of them smile.

Ruhana keeps her mug on the table and holds her mom's hands in hers.

"Thank you, Maa! Agar tum na hoti toh main ye sab kuch manage na kar pati." Ruhana says.

"Main kyun na hoti!! Aur maine kya kiya hai ? Sirf tera sath diya. Maa apne bachon ka sath nahi degi toh kaun dega! Maine vahi kiya jo mujhe karna chahiye tha. Aur ab tujhe bhi aage badhna chahiye." Mrinal says softly.

"I know! Aapse hi toh main hoon. Aap nahi hoti toh main na khud ko sambhal pati aur na Mannu ko!" Ruhana says, her eyes welled up with tears as she thinks about her past.

"Main toh hamesha tere sath hoon beta. Par ab tujhe apne aur Manvi ke baare mein sochna chahiye." Mrinal says, trying to convince her daughter.

"Sab soch liya hain, Ma! Next week hum naye ghar mein shift ho jayenge. Vahan se Mannu ka school bhi paas hai aur mera office bhi. Sab kuch sahi toh hai, Maa! Tum ho aur meri Mannu hai - - Isse zyada kuch nahi chahiye mujhe." Ruhana says with a smile, though she knows what her mother means behind her words.

" Dekh beta! 4 saal ho gaye, ab toh tujhe aage badhna chahiye. Manvi ko sirf teri hi nahi, ek pita ki bhi zarurat hai. Tu kyun usey ek pita ke pyar se door rakh rahi hai??" Mrinal asks her, she can't see her daughter alone.

Okay! She has gone through a bad relationship in the past, but it doesn't mean every other person will be the same. Mrinal wants Ruhana to forget the past and move on. She wants Ruhana to find a suitable partner and marry him, only to give a better life to Manvi.

But! Ruhana is not ready.

She has faced so much in the past that she's not ready to believe anyone. Moreover, she can't trust anyone with her daughter. She can't let anyone play along again.

"Ma! I have already told you, I am not going to remarry. Please tum is baat ko yahin khtm kardo. Mujhe nahi karni shadi. Main khush hoon tumhare aur Mannu ke sath." Ruhana says, her voice is heavy.

Mrinal begins to say something but at the same time they hear Manvi.

" Mumma!!! Jaldiii aao! " the little girl shouts from the room.

Ruhana excuses herself and tells her mom that she will join her in the kitchen in a few minutes. She needs to hear her little daughter first.

*****

Ruhana moves into her room and finds Manvi sitting on the bed, her bed table open. She glances at her mother and calls her. She asks her about something. She's working on her English homework, and she can't understand the spelling. Ruhana explains it to her and helps her write it.

She leaves Manvi to do her homework, and looks at herself in the mirror. She combs her hair and braids her hair. Ruhana stares at herself, she's grown more mature than she thought. She's a mother now, and she has to stay happy for her only daughter.

She comes out of her trance with a tug on her hand. She looks down and finds Manvi staring at her.

"Kya hua? Homework finish nahi kiya? " Ruhana asks.

"Kardiya. Par aapko kya hua?" Manvi asks in her babyish voice.

"Kuch nahi!" Ruhana says as she gets on her knees to her daughter's level.

The girl stares at her for a few seconds and then hugs her, locking her arms around her neck. Ruhana hugs her back, her one hand on her head and the other on her back. She's surprised at her daughter's act.

She sits on the bed, yet the girl is hugging her. She parts her and makes her sit in her lap.

"Kya hua mannu ko?" she asks.

"Mumma sad hai toh mannu bhi sad hai." the girl says innocently.

Ruhana looks at Manvi, did she see tears in her eyes?? But, Ruhana didn't say anything and the girl is too small to understand her pain.

"Mumma sad nahi hai!" Ruhana smiles.

"Aap sad ho. Mannu se jhooth nahi bolo. Jab aap sad hote ho toh aap ya mirror dekhti ho ya fir Mannu ko! Aaj dono ko dekha. " Little Manvi says in her babyish voice.

Ruhana smiles. It's true, either her eyes are fixated on her daughter or her mother. She usually looks into the mirror to see how much she has changed and all she sees is herself and Manvi. And she wants to keep her daughter safe from all the evils.

"Dekho! Fir se kho gayi! Very bad mumma!" Manvi glares at her mother.

"Baat batao Mannu ko!" the little one asks.

"Mumma toh Mannu ke baare mein hi sochegi na!" Ruhana says and pulls Manvi in her embrace.

The little girl places her head on her mother's shoulder and puts her arms around her neck. Ruhana kisses on top of her head. Having this little bundle of joy in her arms, gives solace to Ruhana. She tightens her grip around her daughter, only praying for happiness for her. While, Mrinal is looking at them with a smile on her face.

Life is certainly beautiful for both the mothers and daughters.

But will it remain the same?

To Be Continued.

Stay tuned to know more.