6 years had passed but Vineet had no clue of Ruhana.He turned a workaholic.Sachin Angel and Rajat shifted to his house.But he wasn’t  talking properly to anyone.This was the way to hide his tears and grief.He was missing her badly.

Morning arose.He opened his eyes with buzz of alarm.He was irritated.He stepped down to bed and moved to washroom.After freshening up,He stepped into room and got ready for office. He moved down to living area. A smile was appeared on his face when two tiny hands wrapped around his legs.

“Mamu office mat jao na. “Five years old Saransh said cutely.

He bent down to his level and kissed on his forehead. “Saransh Mamu ko bahut kaam hai. “He said.

“Mujhe waterpark jana hai. “He said cutely which made him smile again.

“toh kya kiya jaye. “Vineet pretended to think..

“mmmm.  Mamu sham  ko jaldi ayenge aur Saransh ke sath waterpark jayenge “He said. Saransh smiled and wrapped his arms in his neck.

“Yaye. Bye mamu.It's school time. “Sarnash pecked Vineet's cheek and ran to other side. Vineet smiled.

Meantime Angel called him for breakfast. He nodded and sat to have breakfast .

“Where is Sachin? “He asked while munching sandwich.

“Aaj wo office nahi ayega. Usko fever hai.”Angel replied.He nodded and left after having breakfast. Angel kept breakfast in tray and move to her room. She entered into room and kept the tray on table. She sat on bed beside Sachin. She ruffled his hairs and checked his forehead.

“It's still hot. “She mumbled. Then she felt his arm around her waist and his head in her lap.

“Sachin temperature abhi bhi hai. Kisne kaha tha barish mein bheegne ko. “She scolded him.

“Mann kiya toh bheeg liya.Kal raat agar meri baat maan leti toh mujhe fever nahi aata. “He complained.

She slapped his head lightly. “Kal raat Saransh hamare sath so raha tha. Toh aise kaise maan leti. “She said.

“Ab toh woh school gaya na. ab maan lo. “He said and pulled her in the blanket. And the room filled with their moans and giggles

.

…

.

Vineet reached his office. He directly moved to his cabin. He switched on the laptop and started working on it. A painful smile appeared on his lips when he opened the drawer.It was His and Ruhana photograph. He caressed her photo lightly.

“Where are you Ruhana? Kahan ho?Kahan kahan nahi dhoonda. Kyun gayi? Sab acha tha, main shadi karna chahta tha fir kyun? “A tear slipped from her eyes.

His tears fell on Ruhana's face in the picture ..“Tum bhi toh pyar karti thi na mujhse? Fir kahan chali gayi? Hum sath they toh khush they. Itna pyar dene ke baad kyun akela chhod diya mujhe? Bolo! “ he said.

“Tumne mujhe wo sab diya jo main chahta tha, mujhe badal diya. Aur ab na jaane kahan kho gayi ho? Laut aao Ruhana. I promise yahan koi tumse kuch nahi kahega. Hum pehle ki tarah khush rahenge. Main tumhe har wo cheez dunga jiski tum haqdaar ho. Laut aao. Tumhare bina har pal mar raha hoon main, please laut aao. “ he said as he hugged the picture closer to her heart.

…..

In other corner of city, it was middle class society. A lady around 50's knocked the door of a small house. A lady about 24 opened the door. Her face expressions changed. She looked at the old lady and gulped her saliva down to her throat.

“Aunty. “She about to say but lady cut her angrily.

“Ruhana 3 mahine ka rent balance hai. Is mahine agar tumne wo nahi diya toh I'm sorry main tumhe yahan nahi rakh paungi. “She warned her.

“Aunty aapko pata hai na ki last month Aaryav bimar ho gaya tha.jiski wajah se main kaam pe nahi ja payi upar se itna kharcha… Uske. pehle Aaryav ka admission fee tha. Is mahine main aapko 2 months ka rent de dungi. “Ruhana said pleadingly.

“Nahi Ruhana tumhara problem hum samjhte hai. par hamare khrche bhi hai. Tum bhi samjo. pehli tareekh tak mujhe sara rent chahiye. “She said strictly and left the place.

Ruhana sighed helplessly. She moved in.She stopped with a tough glare of tiny tot.

“Aap mujhe aise kyu dekh rahe hai? “She asked.

“Mumma wo moti aunty I hate her. Jab dekho aap par chillati hai. “He said angrily.

“Aaryav aisa nahi kehte. wo badi hai na. “Ruhana said.

Aaryav nodded. “Jab main bada ho jaunga na mumma main bahut kaam karunga aur sabko paise dedunga. “He said cutely but Ruhana could sense a tinge of maturity at his face.Being a single mother she suffered a lot but the hard time made her strong and her 5 years old son bit matured  before time.She had tears in her eyes but wiped it. She kissed Aaryav's forehead.

“Chaliye school ke liye late ho raha hai. “Ruhana said while holding his hand. He pouted. She walked out of her house and locked the door. They reached to a nearby stoppage,after wait of few minutes, Aarav school bus arrived. She made him sit in amd bid bye. She took an auto and headed towards her workplace. Her mind was occupied by different thoughts.

“6 saal beet gaye aur sab kitna badal gaya. Maine Vineet ji se alag ho ke sahi kiya, shayad.  Wo mujhe har us ek pal ki keemat dete the jo maine unke sath bitaye. Papa ki. maut ke baad meri zindagi ek. mazak ban. ke reh gayi. Maa ka ilaaj krane ke liye un badnaam galiyo mein ja khadi hui. Vineet ji ne. meri is majboori ka khoob fayda uthaya par ache the.Pyar karne lage the mujhe par Angel ji ke kadwe bol wo main toh seh sakti thi par Apne Aaryav ke liye bardasht na kar pati. I'm sorry Vineet aapke hi bete se aapko dur kiya par aapne bhi toh majbur kiya ki chali jau main. Jab aayi toh pata chala aapka ansh mere andar hai,jis maa ke liye maine khud ko bech diya usi ne hath chhuda liya aur chhod diya dar dar ki thokre khane ko. Par sab sambhal gaya. Aaj apne Aaryav ke liye ek achi zindagi lane ki koshish karti hoon par uski zaroortein puri nahi kar pa rahi. “A fresh tear fell from her eyes.

“Khair mera beta samajhdaar hai.. samajh jata hai.tum jaisa nahi  hai ziddi aur gusse wala. “She smiled bit at her thought.

“Madam aapka stop aa gaya. “Driver voice brought her out of her thoughts. She paid the bill and moved inside.  Wo meri zindagi zaroor sanvarega. “ she thought and headed down of the auto and moved inside.