Manvi came back to colony and climbed upstairs to her quarter. She opened the door and entered inside. Manvi opened the door and saw Ramlal there.

Ramlal said "jee wo khane ka tiffin lene aaya tha"

Manvi asked him to get in "wo aap andar aayie main deti hoon"

Ramlal gets inside the house, Manvi cleans the lunch box and gives him back "thank you so much for the help"

Ramlal takes the lunch box and noticed her face which was pale and tensed he asked her "bahut pareshan lag rahi ho sab thik hai na?"

Manvi smiles lightly and nods "haan sab thik hai bas naukri ki talash mei subah se idhar udhar bhatak rahi thi"

Ramlal thinks and advises "aap itni achi angrezi bolti hai yaha ek school hai aap waha try kijiye shayad waha kuch ho jaye" and he walks out of the quarter.

Manvi thinks "school, waha bhi try kar leti hoon"

She goes to change her clothes and sits on the bed, she sees the picture of her and Ruhana looks at it and talks "di, ab samajh aaya mujhe aapne kitni mushkilon se Anvi ko paala hai.." she keeps the picture back and sleeps.

Next day, the train reaches Kanpur, Anvi and Ruhana get down. Ruhana thinks "phir wahi aa gayi jahan se sangharsh shuru hua tha apne shaher"

Anvi looked at Ruhana and asked "mumma, hum yaha kaha rahenge?"

Ruhana looked down to her and said "Apne ghar, jahan main aur tumhari maasi pehle rehte they"

They move out of the station and takes auto the house. After 20 minutes they reach the house.

Ruhana looks at the house, which was closed from years. Someone sees her and rushes to her "Are Ruhana beta tum yaha"

Ruhana smiles and asked "kaise ho kaka aap?"

Kaka nods "Acha hun jaisa tum chodke gayi thi waisa hi hai ghar" he hands her the keys of the house "yeh lo ab mera kaam khatam main chalta hoon zaroorat ho to bata dena main hazir ho jaunga"

Ruhana thanks him for taking care of the house and goes inside with Anvi. Many memories flashed in front of her eyes seeing the house. The childhood, she spent here with her sister and parents.

Anvi looked around and spoke "mumma yeh ghar to bahut acha hai"

Ruhana nods "acha aap kaunse room mein rahoge?" she asked her.

Anvi thought and said "Emm, Anvi ko upar wale room mein rehna hai" she pointed towards the room.

Ruhana agrees to her demand "thik hai jab Anvi badi ho jayegi to Anvi ko wo wala room de denge lekin abhi anvi mumma ke saath rahegi"

Anvi nods and asked her "mumma maasi kab ayengi?"

Smile vanishes from her face and she says "jab mil jayegi tab"

They get busy in arranging and cleaning the house. Ruhana smiles seeing Anvi, Anvi then recalls something.. she says "mumma, aapne station se new number liya tha na Anvi ko phone do papa ko batayegi"

Ruhana just nods and hands over her the phone.. Anvi dials Vineet's number and places it on her ear.

Vineet picked up the call "haan Anvi aap pahuch gayi?"

Anvi was surprised and asked "haww, aapko kaise pata Anvi ka call hai"

Vineet smiles lightly... "pata hai mujhe"

They talk for some time and Anvi disconnects the call.

Manvi comes to the school named St. Mary, she entered inside and asked "principal's office?"

The teacher showed her the way and she went. She knocked at the door and then entered inside.

The principal looked at her "yes, how can I help you?" she asked.

Manvi questioned "kya yaha koi vacancy hai? I am in urgent need of job"

Principal asked for her qualifications, she hands over the file. The principal sees and it was quite impressive. She then looked at her and said "dekhiye aap over qualified hai hamare accountant retire hue hai par aap"

Manvi said instantly "main kar lungi mujhe job chahiye par usse pehle main aapse kuch kehna chahti hoon"

Principal looks on "jee"

Manvi took a deep breath and said "I am pregnant and unmarried"

Principal looked at her and spoke up after some time "it does not matter to us, you are appointed"

A smile comes on her face "thank you so much"

"salary kitni hogi?" Manvi asked her.

"about ten thousand" the principal told.

Manvi thinks "paanch hazar toh kiraya jayega.. kaam chal jayega" and said "jee thank you" she got up and moved out.

She came to colony and meet Ramlal, she said "kaka thank you mujhe school mein job mil gayi"

Ramlal smiled "bahut acha hai"

Manvi moved upstairs to her quarter.

Here Ruhana who took transfer from her office meet the boss. The boss said "Miss Ruhana welcome we are pleased to have you here you will be paid about thirty thousand per month"

Ruhana smiled "thank you mam"

"well you can start the work from tomorrow" she said.

Ruhana nods and leaves, she comes to the St. Mary School along with Anvi.

Anvi looked at the school "wow kitna acha school hai mumma. Anvi yahan study karegi? She asked.

Ruhana nods with a smile "haan beta aao"

She meets the principal who tells her the procedures. Principal said "Miss Anvi Khanna welcome to St. Mary School"

"thank you mam" she smiled cutely.

The fate had brought Anvi to same school.

Here Manvi was at home, she keeps her hand on her belly "kuch mahino mein sabko pata chal jayega tab kya karungi main" she sighed.

There was a knock at the door, she turned and saw a lady at the door.

"main Laxmi hoon Ramlal jee ki patni aap jabse aayi ho bahar ka khana khati ho"

"wo mujhe banana aata nhi hai isliye" she replied

"are toh mereko bolti chalo hum aapko batate hai" she entered inside and then taught her how to cook.

Manvi smiled "Madad ke liye shukriya."

"aur kuch ho toh batana samne hi hoon main" Laxmi said and moved out.

6 months later

Manvi came out of her quarter and women started to talk..

"aisa lagta hai yeh peth se hai"

"haan par isne to kaha tha yeh shaadi shudda nhi hai deva re deva"

"na jaane kiska bachcha leke ghum rahi hai.."

Manvi remained silent, she composed herself and moved further.

The owner comes to collect the rent from each quarter of the basti, Manvi hands him the money "yeh lijiye"

The owner smiles "time pe kiraya deti ho.. sahi hai"

One of the lady, shanta speaks "isko idhar se nikalo naa jaane kaha muh kaala karke aayi hai"

The owner looked at her and said "dekho madam mujhe meri bhadi ka kiraya mil raha hai isse zyada mera koi kaam nhi tumhara marad daaru peeke aata hai to tumhe bhi yaha nhi rehna chahiye.. par maine rakha hai na zyada merese behes nhi karne ka.." and walks away from there..

Manvi moves back into her quarter and closes the door, she cries hearing all this taunts but she had accepted this as her destiny now.

Later in the evening, there was pooja at the colony. Everyone got ready for it.. Laxmi, wife of Ramlal, knocked at Manvi's door.

Manvi opened the door.. laxmi said "tayar ho jao pooja shuru hone wali hai"

Manvi calls her Kaki "nhi kaki.. mera mann nhi hai"

Laxmi understood why she is denying and said "Are aise kaise nhi chalo jaldi aao"

Manvi agrees and comes down, everyone see her and refuse to be part of pooja..

Shanta shouted "ye iss pooja mein rahegi to hum mein se koi iska hissa nhi hoga"

The others agreed with her. Ramlal said "ek minute shanta bai kyu? Sirf isliye ye kuwari maa banne wali hai?"

Manvi protests "jaane dijiye kaka main chali jaati hoon waise bhi ungli haar baar aurat par uth ti aayi hai"

Laxmi interrupts "sahi kaha tumne.. ek ladki ki izzat ke saath khilwad ho to ladki ko ghar mei chup rehne ko kaha jaata hai.. har haal mein kasoor ek ladki ka hi hota hai.. shanta bai mujhe nhi maloom iske saath kya hua lekin main itna janti hun ki yeh majboor hai par bebas nhi.. himmat hai isme jo duniya ka samna kar rahi hai"

Manvi smiles as there are still people who respect women and are true human being.

One of the elder living in the colony speaks up "bas.. bahut hua yeh basti mein har tarah ke log rehte hai yeh gareebo ki basti hai jahan har koi apna hai samjhe.."

Shanta comes to Manvi and folds her hands "maaf karo apun ko bhool gayi thi main yeh sab"

Manvi nods with a smile on her face and hugs her. They sit for the pooja and complete it.

Ruhana's home

Ruhana was working on her laptop as soon as she started the windows, background image turned up, it was of Ruhana, Manvi and Anvi. Her eyes became moist seeing the picture..

"mannu, tune kaise socha ki tere bina main khush rahungi ek baar mujhse pucha to hota.. please wapas aaja bahut yaad aati hai teri.."

Anvi gets up and sees Ruhana.. "mumma aap ro rahe ho?" she asked her

Ruhana looks at her and denies "nhi beta.."

"Anvi se jhoot nhi bolte very bad" she speaks in her innocent voice..

Ruhana smiles "haan, aapki maasi hai na mujhe bahut pareshan karti hai. Dekho phir gayab ho gayi"

Anvi thinks and replies "Acha.. iss baar maasi milengi na to unko hum ache se daant lagayenge aur haan unhe ghar pe lock kar denge taki wo phirse na jaa paye" she said.

Ruhana smiles and nods "okay done just hope tumhari maasi jaldi mil jaye" she takes her into her lap and hugs her.

To be continued.