Viren has a good day at the office and Ruhana feels that he’s in a better state and can heal if they go for proper treatment. When they return home, he’s excited to go out for dinner, after all, he’s a little kid. He irritates Vineet, throwing plush balls at him and asking him to get ready. Ruhana is already watching them with a smile and meanwhile, her phone rings and she smiles. She begins to talk on the call and Viren is busy collecting his colourful plush balls and putting them into the box again. He looks happy when he hears Ruhana taking his name. Viren begins to look at Ruhana and as she ends the call, she finds Viren staring at him.

“Kya hua, Vir?” Ruhana asks him.

“Aap kisse baat kar rahi thi? Aur mere baare mein kisey bataya aapne?” Viren asks her, looking at her keenly.

“Oh! Meri dost se. Hum Delhi jaayenge toh milenge usse.” she says.

“Aapne unko bataya mere baare mein?” Viren asks, making a grumpy face.

“Haan, maine kaha ki mere sath mera dost bhi aayega. Toh usne kaha hai ki hum log uske ghar pe hi ruke!” Ruhana says.

“Kyun Ruu, hum hotel book karenge na?” Vineet asks as he comes out of his room.

“Maine bhi vahi kaha tha Srijita se lekin wo kehne lagi ki tum yahan aake hotel mein rahogi toh mere sath time kab spend karogi? Isliye maine kaha ki jab hum sab taiyari kar lenge tab main usey bataungi.” Ruhana tells her husband about it.

“Okay, we will see that. Hum meeting ke baad bhi tumhari friend ke ghar jaa sakte hain. Main soch raha hoon 2 din nahi balki 4 din ka program banate hain. Sunday sham tak hum ghar laut aayenge.” Vineet suggests.

“Thik hain, wo hum dekh lenge. Abhi chalein dinner pe? Dekho, Viren kitna excited hain!” Ruhana says and they glance at the guy.

He’s looking at them keenly as if waiting for them to move forward. Viren looks at them keenly and then he holds Ruhana’s hand gently in his.

“Chalo na, please. Bahut bhook lagi hain.” Viren says babyishly.

“Han chalo, Vineet, come on, let’s go.” She entangles her arm in Vineet’s and the trio walk out of the house.

Ruhana locks the door and soonish, they get on their way to their favourite restaurant— Rainbow Restaurant.

They are happy and life seems good.

*****
They reach the hotel and Viren squeals with joy. They take a corner seat and Viren sits on the sofa, asking Vineet to sit beside him and Ruhana sits opposite the two brothers. Viren is quite excited and asks to order the vegetable noodles.

“Relax, Viren. Tum chup chap baitho. Main order kar raha hoon na.” Vineet says.

“Han jaldi do, mujhe bhook lagi hain.” Viren says cutely.

“Han han, tumhe toh har cheez haath pe chahiye. Bahut bigad gaye ho tum!” Vineet says teasingly.

“Maine kuch nahi kiya. Aapne late kiya aur ab aap order karne mein bhi late kar rahe ho.” Viren makes a long face at his elder brother.

“Han han, shaitani tum karo aur fir mujhpe ilzaam lagao, yahi karte rehte ho tum.” Vineet makes a face again at the moment.

“Main karungaa! Aur aap kuch nahi kar sakte! Khaana order karo abhi.” Viren rolls his eyes at Vineet.

“Arey, karta hoon na, gussa kyun karte ho?” Vineet makes a face.

“Kyunki aap gussa dilaate ho. Dekho, dost ko bhi bhook lagi hai lekin aap baat karke time waste kar rahe ho.” Viren says, casting a look at Ruhana.

“Arey tang tum kar rahe ho!” Vineet rolls his eyes and before Viren could reply, Ruhana speaks in between.

“Hey, please, hum kuch khaayein?? Tum dono ghar jaake ladai karna. Par mujhe bhook lagi hai.” Ruhana makes face.

“Han dekho, unko bhook lagi hai aur aap mujhse lad rahe ho.” Viren says blaming Vineet.

Ruhana shakes her head and they order the food – all their favourite cuisines. They relish their dinner and Viren looks happiest at the moment. They finish their dinner and move ahead to their home. They reach home and Viren is asleep by then. Vineet looks at Ruhana in the rearview mirror and they smile at each other. Share some meaningful gazes and they get what they want to say to each other.

They reach home and Vineet wakes him up. The guy is sleepy but manages to reach his room. He jumps on the sofa but Vineet interrupts him to change his dress. Viren whines but changes into casual and lies on the bed. In no time, he falls asleep. Vineet comes to check on him and finds him asleep. He smiles and covers Viren with the duvet and kisses his head and moves into his bedroom.

He finds Ruhana sitting on the bed. He slides on the bed beside her.  Ruhana smiles at him, she knows that Vineet is thinking about his brother.

“Vineet, he’s fine. Tumne dekha aaj wo kitna khush hain?” Ruhana asks.

“Han Ruu, infact, mujhe toh aisa lagta hain ki tumne bahut kuch sambhal liya. Jitna engaged wo tumhare sath rehta hain main aisa kuch kar nahi paaya kabhi.” Vineet says.

“Baat wo nahi hain, Vineet. Maine bas wahi kiya jo sahi hai. Aur dekho, he still has a sharp mind. He just needs a better direction, that’s it.” Ruhana explains.

“You’re right, Ruhana. Main hi darr gaya tha aur maine tumse sach chhupaya. Tumhara tareeka kaafi alag hain aur engaging bhi.” Vineet praises her.

“Vineet, please, ab jo hua wo bhool jao. Ab toh hum sath mein hain na. Ab Viren jaldi thik ho jayega. Trust me!” Ruhana says softly and squeezes his hands.

Vineet doesn’t say anything but pulls Ruhana into a warm embrace. She hugs him and settles her head on his shoulder and continues to pat his back.

“Ruhana, tum sach mein meri saviour ho. I wonder tumhare bina main kya karta!! You’re doing those things which you’re not supposed to.” Vineet says, still in the hug.

“Vineet, main tumse pyaar karti hoon. Tumhari har takleef meri bhi takleef hain. Ab toh takleefein kam ho jayegi aur khushiyan doguni hongi. Bas, ab hum Delhi jaake Srijita se mil lenge aur shaayad koi solution mil jaega.” Ruhana comforts him.

“ I wish the same, Ruu. Bas, Viren thik ho jaye toh meri tension kam ho.” Vineet says softly.

“Sab thik ho jayega, Vineet. Trust me. We will do it.” Ruhana says.

Vineet nods in affirmation and they lie on the bed Ruhana snuggles close to her husband and they drift into their dreamland — hoping that things will get fine for them.

To Be Continued.

Will Viren be fine??

Stay tuned.