He stood shocked, his eyes fixated on her, as she stood at a distance, her back facing him. He couldn't believe what she had just said. She had rejected his proposal. Yes, he had just professed his feelings in front of her, and she didn't waste a minute in rejecting him. Now, she's at arm's length from him, not ready to answer his questions.

"Ruhana, mujhe pata hai, baat kuch aur hai. Please batao, tum mere sath aisa kyun kar rahi ho?" he asked, his tone wavering and heavy with emotion.

"Vineet, ek baar mein tumhe samajh nahi aata hai kya? Main tumse pyaar nahi karti, itni chhoti si baat tumhe samajh nahi aati?" she spoke, her tone louder than before.

"Nahi samajh aata mujhe, tum samjha do, aur... aur agar tum mujhse pyar nahi karti, toh yahi baat meri aankhon mein dekh kar kaho, tabhi main maanunga ki tumhe mujhse pyar nahi hai," saying so, he tried to turn her toward himself but she jerked his hands away.

"Mujhe kuch nahi kehna hai, aur tum please, chale jao yahan se, mujhe akele chhod do," she shouted at him, visibly annoyed.

"Nahi, jab tak tum mere sawalon ka jawab nahi dogi, main yahan se nahi jaunga," he replied and took his seat on the chair where he was previously sitting.

He trailed down memory lane from a few hours ago. Ruhana had invited the whole team for dinner at her home, celebrating a small case they had solved by themselves. He had decided to profess his feelings.

Ruhana had just finished arranging the dinner table when the doorbell rang. She rushed to open the door, only to find Vineet, all dressed in a black shirt and khaki pants. She smiled at him and stepped aside to let him enter the house. She asked him to settle on the couch while she got him some homemade juice. As they sat together, Vineet was thrilled to learn that she had cooked all his favorite food. There was Rajma-Rice and aloo tikki, both being his favorite. However, he rarely got to eat them. His busy life didn't allow him such small, delicious pleasures after all.

"Tumhe kaise pata mujhe Rajma pasand hai?" he asked, his tone soft yet curious.

"Tumne hi bataya tha, Vineet. Aur phir mujhe nahi pata hoga toh kisey pata hoga?" she smiled at him, her tone soft, clearly pleased.

"You're too sweet, Ruhana. Ab toh mujhe bhook lagne lagi hai," he said, prompting her to act likewise.

"Haha, let everyone join," Ruhana replied, her laughter ringing in the air.

His lips curved into a wide smile, seeing her laugh. At that moment he decided to profess his love to her, no matter what consequences may come.

However, the whole team joined them and they had a good time having dinner and chit-chatting. It had been a long time since they were together.

"Ruhana, you made the evening. Itna achcha khana, aur tumne ghar bhi kitne sundar tareeke se sajaya hai," Purvi complimented her, and Ruhana only smiled.

"Jahan rehte hain uss ghar ko sundar banana padta hai, Purvi, mujhe laga nahi tha ki main isey apne taste ke hisaab se saja paungi, but the owner was nice," Ruhana explained.

"Bahut jaldi tum apna khud ka ghar sajaogi, dekhna," Abhijeet, the senior inspector, patted her head lovingly.

After having the chocolate pudding for dessert, everyone started leaving, thanking Ruhana for a scrumptious meal. Seeing them off, Ruhana entered her house only to find Vineet waiting for her.

"Tumhe ghar nahi jaana?" she asked.

"Jaane se pehle main tumse kuch kehna chahta hoon," he replied, his tone soft yet firm.

"Vineet, kya hua? Itne serious kyun ho?" she asked.

He glanced at her for some good seconds, then made her sit on the couch. Ruhana was surprised, but her eyes widened when he sat on his knees beside her and reached out to hold her hands. She knew it was something important.

"Vineet, kya hua? Jaldi batao," she asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Ruhana, ho sakta hai jo main kehne ja raha hoon, wo tumhe thik na lage, lekin mere liye wahi thik hai. Vaise toh maine tumhari aankhon mein bhi wahi padha hai, lekin main galat bhi ho sakta hoon," he said, carefully choosing his words.

"Vineet, kya hua hai? Ye paheliyan mat bujhaao," she said, visibly annoyed.

"Hum ek saal se ek sath kaam kar rahe hain, Ruhana. Aur main jhooth nahi kahunga, mere dil mein tumhare liye jo feelings hai wo dosti se kuch zyada hai, aur main wahi tumse kehna chahta hoon."

"I love you, Ruhana. Really! Kya tum mujhse shaadi karogi?" he asked, looking at her with hopeful eyes.

He witnessed the color on her face fading, her smile diminishing, and in the next moment, she jerked his hands away.

"Kya bol rahe ho ye? Aisa kuch nahi hai," she said, not meeting his gaze.

"Main thik keh raha hoon, tum bas mere sawal ka jawab do," he asked, his tone firm.

"Tumhe jawab sunna hai na, It's a NO! Main tumse pyar nahi karti, Vineet," she said, though her eyes betrayed her inner emotions.

"Main tumse shaadi nahi kar sakti, I just can't!" she said.

Vineet jolted out of his reverie and glanced at her. She was still standing at a distance, not facing him.

"Tum mujhe ek reason bata do Ruhana, tum mujhse shaadi kyun nahi kar sakti?" he demanded an answer, his tone loud and firm.

"Vineet, maine kaha na ki main tumhe nahi bata sakti. It's my personal matter, tum jao yahan se," she replied, her tone rude, leaving him stunned.

"Main wajah jaane bina nahi jaunga yahan se, tumhe batana padega," he insisted.

"Toh thik hai, tum baithe raho yahan, mujhe bahut kaam hai, aur main tumhe har baat ka reason dena zaroori nahi samajhti, samjhe tum?" She turned to him, placed the rose in his hand, and walked into the kitchen.

Vineet was stunned, though he knew there was more to the story that Ruhana was hiding. He shouted from the hall, conveying his message to her.

"Thik hai, Ruhana! Tum mat batao, main khud pata kar lunga ki tum kisse bhag rahi ho! Aur ye sab pata karna itna mushkil bhi nahi hai. Abhi toh main jaa raha hoon, lekin tumse jawab lene toh main dobara aaunga," saying so, Vineet left the house, tears brimming in his eyes.

*****
As he left, Ruhana peeped out of the kitchen. She locked the door and rushed to her room. She threw herself on the bed and broke into tears. His words were echoing in her mind.

"I love you, Ruhana!"

"Will you marry me?"

These are the words every girl longs to hear from the man she loves, but it was a different case for Ruhana.

"Main tumhe kuch nahi bata sakti, Vineet! Main nahi chahti meri wajah se tumhe kuch ho, aaj tak jo mere pas aaya hai, ya jisse maine pyar kia hai, wo sab mujhse door ho gaye. Tumhe nahi khona chahti main."

"I am sorry, maine tumhara dil dukhaya, lekin aur koi raasta nahi hai mere pas. Apne ateet ki chaanv main tumhare aaj par nahi padne de sakti, Vineet. Kabhi nahi,"

She murmured to herself, as she reflected on her life. She had a fear of losing him, and she didn't want to open the secret that she had buried in her heart.

However, she was determined to do anything to save him and his life. He had helped her heal from her earlier wounds, and now she couldn't afford to lose him.

*****

Vineet was driving toward his home, while his mind wandered over the rejection he had faced. He had seen the pain on her face, and he knew instantly that she was hiding something.

Her arrival in the CID, her meticulous and tricky answers, her wit and care, all came as a surprise to him. He had seen the same longing in her eyes too, but now, she denied it. It hurt him, but as he looked into the mirror, he found his eyes glistening with unshed tears. At the same time, there was an unwavering resolve in his eyes, determined to unmask the reality that Ruhana was hiding.