Ruhana tells Raunak’s truth to Vineet. He’s shocked to know it but he knows that she’s ditched in love and it will be hard for her to work with the man again. He comforts her and assures her that he will handle Raunak. She feels light after talking to him. Vineet then leaves her home, asking her to take care and to rest the other day. Since it’s Saturday, he will handle the work himself. She’s amused but she has no other option but to agree with him. He knows that Manvi and Vineet won’t let her work in this condition.

*****
Ruhana moves out of her room and finds Avni doing her homework. Manvi is locking the door and runs to her sister. She makes her sit on the couch.

“Di, aap thik ho na?” Manvi asks her again.

“Han, Mannu. I am fine. Tu itna pareshan mat ho.” She says smearing her head.

“Kaise na karun? Aap ko pata hai main kitni ghabra gayi thi jab dost ka phone aaya tha. Unhone kaha aap behosh ho gayi thi.” Manvi says, her heart is again beating with double intensity.

“Aur aapko pata hai na zyada stress se aapki tabiyat kharab ho jaati hai. Ab aapko toh khud ki koi chinta hai nahi, toh mujhe karni hi padegi." Manvi says softly.

"Relax Mannu, main thik hoon. Aur phir tu hai na mere pas, phir main chinta kyun karu" Ruhana smiles at her baby sister.

"Main bhi toh hoon, Mumma."Avni looks at her mother.

""Han tum hi ho, Avni. Mujhe toh ab tumhari Mumma ka bhi dhyan rakhna padega. Uff, kitna kaam hai mujhe?" Manvi makes a face.

"Maasi, no drama! Nai toh Mumma hum dono ko "Drama Queen" bolengi." Little Avni chuckles, causing her mom to laugh.

"Usme toh koi doubt nahi hai, beta ji! Tum dono drama queen hi toh hai." Ruhana smiles.

Manvi and Avni make a face but end up hugging Ruhana. She also embraces them in her arms.  She kisses their heads and then stands up to prepare food for her sister and daughter. It's going to be a good time with them.

*****
Vineet reaches home and is thinking about Ruhana. He lives all by himself and has only a househelp, Savita Kaki, whom he treats like his mother. The lady has brought him up and she stays in the house with him. He moves into his room and freshens up. Fifteen minutes later, he changes into his casual dress and there’s a knock on the door. Savita Kaki is at the door, offering milk to him. She knew that he’d not have anything but she wants him to have milk. He agrees to her obediently and then asks the lady to rest.

He sits on the bed after locking the door. He’s still thinking about Ruhana. He's baffled to know that Raunak and Ruhana were connected in the past. He didn’t imagine that Ruhana would hide such a secret from him. He knows there’s more story to what she told him today. Her sister, Manvi, she is 17 years younger than her, now, that’s odd. How’d it be possible?

Well, everything is possible, her parents might have adopted a child or she might be her cousin whom she takes as her own sister. Vineet is amused with the bond that Manvi and Ruhana share. The latter cares for the former as a mother cares for her child while the former acts like a baby to her. Now that Ruhana has told him about Raunak, he’s thoughtful about the same. It’s a little odd and he wants to ask Ruhana about the same, but he doesn’t hold any courage. He doesn’t want to cause pain to her by asking anything about Manvi or Avni.

He’s touched that she told him about Raunak and now, he has to handle him all by himself. He can’t put Ruhana in pain now. He sighs deeply and decides to meet Ruhana the other day.

*****
Mehra House

Ruhana is feeding Avni with her hands as per the girl’s demand. Manvi makes a face while looking at her sister.

“Aap mujhe bhi khila sakti ho. Main bhi hoon yahan,” She says eyeing Ruhana.

“Maasi, aap chotu baby nahi ho na, isliye mumma mujhe hi khilayengi.” Little Avni says teasingly.

“Arey, tumhari Mumma se toh choti hoon na. Aur badi sister choti sister ko khila sakti hai.” Manvi says.

“Noo! Wo meri Mumma hain toh vo mujhe hi khilayengi.” Avni says.

“Areyy, wo meri behen hain….” Manvi says but before she could say more, Ruhana stuffs the paratha into her mouth, leaving her amused.

“Kyun behes karte ho dono? Tumhe pata hai na ki main tum dono se bahut pyar karti hoon. Aur Mannu, tu Avni se behes kar rahi hai? Bachi hai wo abhi! Bhul mat, tujhe bhi aise hi khana khilaya hai maine. Kitne nakhre they tere!” Ruhana slaps her cheek lightly.

“Avni good girl hai. Wo nakhre nahi karti.” the little one chuckles.

“Han thik hai, Di toh aise hi bolenge. Aur aapko toh kabhi bhi mere nakhron se chhutkara nahi milne wala.” Manvi says while looking at Ruhana and hugs her in an impulse.

Ruhana is astonished but she parts the hug and feeds them both with her hands. The smiles on their faces are more precious to her and they surely widened when she fed them. Soonish, they finish their dinner and Manvi and Avni rush into Ruhana’s room. Well, it’s not too late, but they’d like to have some fun before going to sleep.

Ruhana finishes her tasks and heads to her room. She finds Avni and Manvi securing the corners of the bed and she knows that the empty space in the middle is for her, Manvi gestures to her the same. As soon as she settles in bed, the two girls snuggle close to her and she just smiles. With them around, she feels that life is a bit easier.

*****
Ruhana settles in bed and the two girls hug her. Avni hugs her mom putting her hand across her waist while Manvi hugs her from her shoulder. Ruhana is glad to have them with her.

“Di, please ab se aap apna dhyan rakhna. Aap aise karogi toh mera aur Avni ka kya hoga?” She asks, she’s still upset with the incident.

“Mannu, I’m fine. Kuch nahi hua mujhe. Main jaanti hoon tu mera ache se khayal rakhegi. Tere hote kuch ho sakta hai mujhe?” Ruhana says patting her cheek.

“Uh, Di! Please! Main aapka dhyan rakhun ya aap mera? Ye aapka kaam hai. Han, main Avni ka khayal rakhungi, lekin mera khayal toh aap hi rakhogi. Isliye please, next time itna stress mat lena.” Manvi again says it.

“Aapke alaawa aur hai kaun mera? Mumma papa bhi toh nahi hai na. Aap ko khona main afford nahi kar sakti , Di.” Manvi says emotionally and hugs her sister.

Ruhana turns emotional too. Yeah, these three are the only family to each other. Even Ruhana doesn’t have anyone apart form her sister and daughter. Ruhana kisses Manvi’s head and cups her face.

“Mannu, jab tak main hoon na, sab sahi hoga. Aur main jaanti hoon, Avni ki chinta karne ki mujhe koi zaroorat nahi hai. Ab ye emotional baatein chhod, ye bata, tera kaam finish hua aaj?” She asks.

“Han, Di. Wo sab Shruti ke paas hai.” Manvi replies.

“Avni ne bhi sara homework karliya, Mumma.” The little girl says.

“Aur phir Maasi ko pareshan kia.” Manvi mimics her at which the girl stares at her.

“Maasi ko pareshan karna toh uska right hai! Jaise tere pas mujhe satane ka right hai, hai na?” Ruhana winks at her sister.

Manvi stares at the mother-daughter duo and they laugh. Meanwhile, Avni holds Ruhana’s hand and asks her to sing a lullaby, her favourite one and Manvi also support the little one. Ruhana smiles and asks them to lie down on the bed. Ruhana places a cushion beside Avni and then begins to sing the lullaby. She looks at the moon that’s visible from the window.

Chandaniya chhup jana re
Chhan bhar ko luk jana re

Avni looks at Ruhana who kisses her head lovingly.

Chandaniya chhup jana re
Chhan bhar ko luk jana re
Nindiya aankhon mein aaye
Bitiya meri so jaaye

Ruhana smears Avni’s head and she does the same with Manvi who smiles at her.

Nindiya aankhon mein aaye
Bitiya meri so jaaye
Leke goad mein sulaaoon
Gaoon raat bhar sunaoon
Main lori lori, ho main lori lori
Lori lori…

Little Avni is blinking her eyes at her mom. Manvi giggles at her act. She remembers that she used to do the same in her childhood. She keeps her head in Ruhana’s lap.

Kardhaniyan chhun chhun bajein
Palkan mein sapna saje

Ruhana looks at the two girls, these two are the reasons that she’s alive in this world.

Dheeme dheeme, haule haule
Pawan basanti dole
Dheeme dheeme haule haule
Pawan basanti dole
Leke goad mein sulaaoon
Gaoon raat bhar sunaoon
Lori lori…

Little Avni falls asleep in no time. Ruhana gazes at Manvi who seems to be asleep. She gently places her head on the pillow and smears her head.

Suddenly, Ruhana’s eyes turn watery. She gazes at Manvi for some good seconds and continues to sing the song.

Meri muniya rani bane
Mehlon ka raja mile..
Dekhe khushiyon ke mele,
Dard kabhi na jhele…

She kisses Manvi’s head and a teardrop escapes her eyes.

Meri muniya rani bane
Mehlon ka raja mile..
Dekhe khushiyon ke mele,
Dard kabhi na jhele…
Leke goad mein sulaaoon
Gaoon raat bhar sunaoon
Main lori lori, main lori lori

Ruhana looks at both her girls and she covers Avni with a duvet while she turns towards Manvi and smears her head again. It seems like she wants to say something but she’s unable to do so. She sighs deeply and meanwhile, Manvi pulls her hand under her head, asking her to sleep.

Ruhana smiles and lies on the bed. She just hopes for a beautiful morning.

To Be Continued.

Is Ruhana really hiding something else?

Stay tuned.