|Based on the backdrop of my story "My Little Man"|

Ruhana Malhotra - - A businesswoman. She is a lively girl, who handles her father's business, along with her brother. She is a happy girl and she believes in love. She's happy with her family, until an alliance comes for her. Her brother teases her for the same, while she gets irked. Her mom convinces her to meet the guy. Ruhana agrees for her parents' sake. She knows her parents will always think the best for her.

But! Her happiness is short lived. The person whom she thought of, her parents must have chosen for her, is quite different.

The guy is Vineet Singhaniya - - her father's friend's son. Ruhana agrees to meet him, but the first meet with him shattered all of Ruhana's dreams. On one hand, she thought of getting someone who will love her irrespective of her flaws. But on the other hand, the guy denied to marry her. Instead of denying himself, he asks her to deny  the wedding.

Ruhana is shocked. Why would her parents bring such an alliance who's not interested in marrying her? She's shocked to learn that Vineet is a widower and a father to a five year old  son. Ruhana is rooted to learn the truth. She composes herself and looks at Vineet.

"Why don't you deny? It's your problem that you don't want to marry." Ruhana says.

"Just do what I asked you to. I can take care of myself and my son." he says rudely.

"then tell your mum! I'm not a toy to play with. Why would I marry a widower?? This should be your denial. Mere parents ko toh shayad kuch pata hi nahi hai!" Ruhana shouts at Vineet.

"go and tell them! But deny the wedding."  Vineet says aloud and leaves the room.

Ruhana is startled at the moment. She doesn't know what to do. The alliance her father has got for her is a single father and a widower. How can her father get such an alliance? She's lost in thoughts when a little boy runs into the room and hides behind her,holding her dupatta.

"Veer!"

Another guy comes calling the name, and stands at the door of the room. Ruhana looks at the guy and then at the boy who is hiding behind her.

"Veer,chalo! Aise bhaagte nahi hai! Hum ghar ja kar khelenge." The guy says while looking at the boy.

"No! Mujhe papa ke pas nahi jaana." the boy retorts.

Ruhana is astonished. So, he is  Vineet's son. The boy is so innocent and is fearful of his father. He holds on her dupatta tightly. She bends to the boy's level.

"Aisa nahi karte. Aap jao. Aapki dadi bhi wait kar rahi hongi na!" Ruhana says.

"Haan Veer, chalo!" the guy says and introduces himself as Sachin, Vineet's younger brother.

Veer looks at Sachin and then hugs Ruhana, who's surprised at his action.

"No! Mujhe nahi jaana!!" he says.

"Beta! Zidd nahi karte. Chalo, aao. Aunty ko kaam hoga na!" Sachin says.

"Aap jao! Main aata hoon aunty se baat karke!" veer says.

Ruhana asks Sachin to leave Veer with her. The guy turns to go and Ruhana gives a chocolate bar to Veer. The boy squeals with joy. Ruhana smiles and smears his head. The boy looks at her.

"Aap mere sath mere ghar chaloge na?" he asks.

"Ye aapse kisne kaha?" Ruhana asks, surprised by his words.

"Dadi ne kaha. Unhone bola ki ab se aap meri Ma ho. Aur Maa toh Veer ke sath rahegi na. Main aapko Maa bolun?" veer questions innocently.

Ruhana is touched with the boy's words. He instantly called her Maa, without worrying about anything. On the other hand, there's Vineet who doesn't want to marry her and his son is calling her Ma. It's a dilemma.

" Batao na! Aap veer ke sath rahogi na?" The boy asks innocently.

Ruhana looks at the boy, unable to respond to the boy. He holds her hand and again calls her Ma, and the lady melts to the words of that innocent boy. She pulls the boy in a hug, the boy puts his arms around her neck and places his head on a shoulder. Ruhana smears her head and kisses on top of his head.

They part the hug and Ruhana asks Veer to go to his chachu. The boy agrees when Ruhana promises to meet him often. Kissing her cheek, veer runs out of the room.

Ruhana sits on the bed, thinking about her conversation with Vineet and his son, Rajveer. They are poles apart. The father wants her to deny the marriage while the son is calling her mother - - a Lost relationship in his life. She is in a dilemma-- she can't marry a person who didn't even talk to her properly on their first meet.

Her trance is broken with a touch on her shoulder. She looks up to find Vineet's mother standing in front of her.

"Jaanti hoon ki tum kya soch rahi ho? Lekin main ye bhi jaanti hoon ki tumse behtar sathi vineet ke liye koi nahi ho sakta." Gautami says.

"Lekin Vineet shadi karna nahi chahte. Aur main bhi aisa rishta nahi chahti jahan mera pati meri respect bhi na kare." Ruhana retorts.

"Beta, usey waqt do, he will accept you eventually." Gautami says, trying to convince her.

"Vo chahte hain main shadi ke liye mana kardun. Aur unka beta - - - Maa kehta hai mujhe! What should I do? Nafrat aur pyar ek sath jhel nahi paungi main." Ruhana says.

"Ek mauka, bete!" Gautami looks at Ruhana.

Ruhana doesn't know but she agrees. She can't let down Veer's hopes. She wished for Vineet to change after their wedding. Ruhana's brother confronts her but the lady stays firm at her place. She put Veer first. Since he called her Ma, her motherly affection is bubbling in her heart, and she wants to embrace him like her own son.

*****

The wedding takes place, yet the man is not changed. After the rituals, when she enters his room, she finds him asking the servant to keep her luggage in the guest room. She is astonished at his anger.

"Tum guest room mein ja sakti ho." he says coldly.

"Han! Agar guest hoti toh. Par main tumhari biwi hoon aur main toh isi kamre mein rehne wali hoon." She says firmly.

"Ye shadi sirf ek samjhauta hai!" Vineet says coldly.

"Han! Sirf hamare liye. Tumhari maa aur bete ke Liye nahi. Isliye hamari baatein is kamre se bahar na jaayen toh acha rahega." She says and moves into the washroom.

Vineet bangs his hand in the air. He sits on the bed, mad at the happenings. He loved his late wife dearly, and can't forget her yet. But, did Ruhana ask him to forget her. No! She just married him, and he is taking things in a wrong way.

His trance is broken when she comes out of the washroom and settles her bags in one corner of the room. Vineet doesn't pay a heed to her and moves into the washroom. Ruhana sighs deeply,but she decides to give some more time to Vineet. He may accept her then.

*****

The days pass by. It's been a month since their wedding yet there's no change in Vineet's behaviour. He doesn't  even smile at Ruhana when their gazes meet.  She always tries to talk to him, but it's all in vain. He doesn't show affection towards her. While, Veer is fully inclined towards her, he's the one running behind her, calling her Maa. Ruhana is overwhelmed to find the love Veer holds, yet her heart craves for her husband's love. She knows it's hard - - but she has to make things alright.

*****

It's another fine day, when Ruhana says something to Vineet while he's working on the laptop.  He's in a fix and that's when Ruhana keeps her point of view in front of him.

"You don't need to teach me what I should do and what not!" he glares sharply at her.

"I know, you're able enough to know what's right or wrong. But I thought you should consider this aspect too, and I don't think you've had thought of it. Because you didn't apply it to your real life, and that's why I am suffering." Ruhana retorts sharply.

" I asked you to deny the marriage, you didn't. "he shrugs his shoulders.

" Oh yeah! I couldn't turn my back towards Veer. He called me Maa, but you being a father couldn't understand his feelings, why would you understand mine? " Ruhana says.

" You had the problem, you should have denied. "Ruhana says.

" if you had denied, then there won't have been any problem. Now don't teach me. "Vineet shouts angrily.

" I won't, Mr, Singhaniya. Just do me a favor, tell your mom that you want a divorce, free me! Kyunki main bhi aisa pati nahi chahti jo mujhe respect tak nahi de sakta. Tumse Acha tumhara beta hai, Maa maanta hai toh utni izzat bhi karta hai. " Ruhana says, she's fed up with Vineet's behaviour.

" Lekin tum! Izzat bhi na de sake. Jaanti hoon, you will never love me, lekin izzat ki haqdaar toh main hoon. You've crossed your limits, Mr. Singhaniya. Meri koshishein fail ho gayi. " she says angrily.

"Now I'll do what pleases me. Bahut koshish karli is rishtey ko sambhalne ki, ab nahi. Ab toh ye rishta tootega hi." She snaps at him and leaves the room.

She runs into Veer's room and closes the door. She sits on the bed and breaks into tears.

Did she marry only to give tests? Why is Vineet being so indifferent? She tried everything to make space in his life and heart, but it has no use. He has caged himself. And now Ruhana is done. When he can't accept her, respect her, why should she do the same? She'll do the same he does. She'll divorce him - - break the knot with Vineet.

And Veer - - he'll be her son always - - her little Man - - who'll love her unconditionally. She knows she will be happy this way.

****THE END****

Some relationships are beyond any name.

Ego can spoil a relationship in a matter of seconds.

Make sure to respect those who love you, they deserve it.

~~❤️❤️~~