Manvi was feeling really tired, she settled herself on the doss and decided to have a power nap. She dreams about Viraj entering into her room and coming close to her, she wakes up with jerk and panting heavily. She thinks "yeh sapne mujhe pareshan kar rahe hai.. pata nhi kab yeh vehem mere dil aur deemag se jayega"

She hears a knock on the door, she gets up from the doss and moves to open the door. As soon as she opens the door many ladies were standing in front of her.

They stared at her for few minutes, one of them said "tum to kafi jawan ho akeli rehti ho?"

Manvi nods in yes, other one spoke "kahi ghar se bhaag ke to nhi aayi ho?"

Manvi closes the door as she does not want to answer them at this moment.

Someone knocks again at the door, she opens the door irritates and says "Aap log kyun pareshan kar rahe hai"

She then looks at a kid standing at the door, he gave her a tiffin.. she asked him "beta yeh kisne diya?"

The child says "maa ne bheja hai aapke liye"

She looks in the opposite side towards Ramlal's kholi. his wife was standing at the door, she smiles at her and thanks her and closes the door.

The day passed as she was busy in arranging the stuff into the small house. "kitchen ka saman" she pats her head "zindagi mein aaj tak ek cup chai bhi nhi banayi to saaman kaise laungi"

She recalls..

Ruhana preparing lunch in the kitchen, Manvi sitting on the slap and eating apple.

Ruhana looked at her and spoke "mannu agar khana bana nhi sakti to sabzi wagera cut karne mein help to karde"

Manvi smiles naughtily "di, seekh lungi baad mein"

Ruhana nods.. "haan haan seekh liya tune bas, abhi to yaha to maza hai lekin jab apne sasural jayegi tab kya karegi?" she asked.

Manvi gets down and speaks up "di, dekho abhi jab tak main hun yaha mujhe seekhne ki zarurat nhi hai aur kabhi hui bhi to aap ho na aapse phone par pooch lungi"

Ruhana ruffles her hairs "acha jao abhi mujhe kaam karne do"

She comes out of her trance, and speaks to herself "aur karo manmani Miss Manvi bado ki baat manni chahiye sahi kehte hai sab"

She sits back thinking what to do now, She locked the house and took a rickshaw for the interview.

She reached for the interview and enquire the receptionist.. "excuse me, main interview ke liye aayi hoon"

The receptionist shows her the way "aage se left jaiye. "

She moves there and inside the cabin she hears a voice "no, I don't want any employee who is pregnant or married chutti kitni mangti hai.. phir kitna kaam rukta hai" he said hatefully.

Hearing this without giving any interview she left the place, she then went another place.

The boss looked at her qualifications and said "Well, okay aap kalse join kar sakti hai"

Manvi smiled at this, then she remembered "Sir ek baat mujhe batani hai I am pregnant"

The boss was shocked at this "What? You are married?" he asked.

Manvi nods no.. the boss replies "I am sorry par aapko yeh job nhi mil sakti"

Manvi smiled painfully "maine sach bola isliye na?"

The boss remained silent, she looked on... "it's alright"

she takes her file and leaves from there.

She walks on the road, sits on the roadside and tears flew out of her eyes. She knew she had to face more of rejection but she cannot give up and that she had to move on. She was feeling hungry, she kept her hand on her belly "mujhe bhi bhook lagi hai" she got up and moved to a stall.

"samosa dena ek" she said.

The person gave her samosa, she checked her purse and had only hundred rupees note. She gave him and he returned her back the balance.

She thinks "jaldi job dhundni padegi mujhe"

Mumbai

Ruhana shouted on Anvi and left the room. Anvi was left teary-eyed and Vineet secured her in her arms. She hid her face in his chest. Vineet tried to calm her down. He patted her back...

"Anvi toh good girl hai na....nai rote beta!" he said hugging her.

Anvi looked at him...."But mumma ne anvi ko kyun danta? Aur unhone aisa kyu bola ki papa nahi hai. Aap ho na papa? " she asked.

He couldn't answer.....She looked at him..

"Anvi ko mumma aur papa dono chahiye. Aur maasi bhi chahiye. Aap maasi ko dhundh kar laao na." she said while sobbing.

Vineet knew Ruhana would never agree staying with him. He went away without telling her and years after, his brother had been a nightmare for her sister. How could she believe him. Tears formed in his eyes as well. After a long time, he got to know that he had a daughter and now when his love is close, she is not ready to accept him. He composed himself and made her sit on the bed. He sat beside her and cupped her face...

"Anvi....aapko mumma ke sath hi rehna hai. Papa aapse milne aayenge. Par Anvi ko papa se ek promise karna padega.." he said .

"Kaisa promise Papa?" she looked at him.

"aapko ab mumma ka khayal rakhna padega...rakhoge na? Aur jab maasi mile na toh unko meri taraf se bhi dant lagana....aur mumma aur maasi dono ka khayal rakhna hai anvi ko? Rakhegi na Anvi?" he asked.

Anvi looked at him and then nodded...."Haan papa...Anvi, maasi aur mumma dono ka dhyan rakhegi. Lekin aap mumma ko bolna ki wo Anvi ko dante nahi. Anvi ko darr lagta hai. " She said.

He smiled and pulled her in his arms...."Mumma toh anvi se bahut pyaar karti hai....ab mumma ke paas jao....aapko jana hai na fir.." she nodded and rushed to her mother while he wiped off his tears and left the house.

Anvi came and hugged Ruhana from behind "sorry mumma, Anvi aapke saath chalegi" she said with a smile.

Ruhana turned around and said "sorry, mumma ne Anvi ko zyada daant diya na"

Anvi nods in yes cutely. Ruhana cups her face kisses on her head "Acha par aap ready kaise ho gaye mumma ke saath jaane ke liye ab?"

Anvi smiles "papa ne kaha ki aapke saath rehna aur aapka khayal rakhna. Anvi papa ki sab baat maanegi. Wo good girl hai na. "

Ruhana smiles and pulled her in her embrace.

Anvi speaks up "mumma chalo Anvi packing karti hai" she packs her stuff the way she knew, Ruhana later keeps her stuff properly.

They were all set to leave the society; Vineet came to drop them to the railway station. He took their luggage and settled it in the car, here Ruhana hands over the flat key to the chairman of the society.

He says "achanak yun tum jaa rahi ho Anvi ko bahut miss karenge bahut hi pyaari bachchi hai"

Ruhana smiles, she walks towards the exit, then sees Nilima..

"ek baat kehna chahti hun aapse jaane se pehle, phir kabhi kisi bhi aurat ke saath batameezi mat kariyega warna insaniyat se bhi vishwas uth jata hai. "

Nilima stands with lower head, folds her hands in forgiveness. Ruhana walks and sits inside the car..

Anvi was sitting in the front and Ruhana was sitting at the back... Vineet adjusted the rear mirror not to look at the back road but to look at Ruhana.

Paas aaye..

Dooriyaan phir bhi kam naa hui

Ek adhuri si hamari kahani rahi

He keep on looking at her, who seemed to be lost somewhere..

Aasmaan ko zameen, ye zaroori nahi

Jaa mile.. jaa mile..

Ishq saccha wahi

Jisko milti nahi manzilein.. manzilein..

Anvi sees something and tells Vineet to stop the car, Vineet stops the car

"kya hua Anvi?"

Anvi smiled and said "ice-cream chahiye"

Vineet nods "lata hoon"

he removes the seat belt and goes to get the ice-cream. He comes back with two cones of ice-cream, one he gave to Anvi.

He then steps back and knocks on the glass window, Ruhana shutters it down and he forwards her the ice-cream. She takes it from his hand and their hands touch.. they both look at each other.

Rang the, noor tha

Jab kareeb tu tha

Ek jannat sa tha, yeh jahaan

Waqt ki ret pe kuch mere naam sa

Likh ke chhod gaya tu kahaan

Ruhana takes the ice-cream and turns up the glass of the window. Vineet looks on and smiles sadly..

Hamari adhuri kahani..

Hamari adhuri kahani.. (x2)

He comes back inside the car and drives towards the railway station... they reach railway station and walk to the platform..

Anvi was playing on her own. Ruhana looked at Vineet and said "Thanks, Anvi ko manane ke liye"

He smiles and speaks "Farz tha mera. Ye adhura nhi chhod sakta. "

Ruhana further speaks.. "Kanpur mein main apna naya number tumhe de dungi.. aur Anvi se tum kabhi bhi milne aa sakte ho" she said.

Vineet does not look at her and says "main janta hoon. Meri itni hi fikar hai to jaa kyun rahi ho?" he asked finally.

Ruhana smiled painfully... "Main is shahar mein nayi zindagi bananae aayi thi. Manvi ko ek achi zindagi dene, par kuch nahi de saki. Iss shahar ne bahut kuch diya hai mujhe par usse kahin zyada liya hai mujhse. Meri behen, meri zindagi chheen li mujhse. Ab main yahan nahi reh sakti. Ab aur khone ki himmat nhi hai mujh mein" she sighed tearily.

Khushbuon se teri yunhi takra gaye

Chalte chalte dekho na hum kahaan aa gaye

The train arrives at the platform, Ruhana gets up Vineet holds her hand and speaks up " apna khayal rakhna, wapas mudke meri taraf mat dekhna, warna main khudko nhi rok paunga" he said in a heavy voice.

Jannatein agar yahin

Tu dikhe kyon nahin

Chaand suraj sabhi hai yahaan

Intezar tera sadiyon se kar raha

Pyaasi baithi hai kab se yahaan

Ruhana had tears in her eyes, he then let go her hand as Anvi comes to them... Coolie takes their luggage into the train, Ruhana holds Anvi's hand and walks towards the train. Vineet looks on..

Humari adhoori kahaani

Humari adhoori kahaani.. (x2)

Anvi frees herself and runs back towards Vineet, she hugs him and Vineet hugs her back. He kisses her forehead and says "aapko yaad hai na papa ne kya kaha hai aapko"

Anvi nods..

Vineet with his heavy heart "jao.."

Pyaas ka ye safar khatam ho jayega

Kuch adhura sa jo tha poora ho jayega

Anvi rushes to her mother and they enter inside the train, they settle inside the coach.. Vineet stood there and watched as the train started to move.

Jhuk gaya aasmaan

Mill gaye do jahaan

Har taraf hai milan ka samaa

Doliya hain saji, khushbuein har kahin

Padhne aaya Khuda khud yahaan..

Ruhana closed her eyes and let the tears flow out of her eyes, she wanted to turn and see him for one last time.

finally she looked out the window but he had turned himself to opposite side.

Hamari adhuri kahani

Hamari adhuri kahani.. (x2)

He turns back but the train had already left the platform.. he smiled painfully and walked towards the exit of the railway station.

Inside the train, Ruhana wiped her tears and thought in her mind "sorry Vineet I am really sorry"

To be continued.