Pines Hotel

The morning sun bathed the hotel lobby in a warm, golden glow as Ruhana and Vineet approached the front desk, their bags packed and ready for the journey to Mumbai. Ruhana's mind, however, was elsewhere as she waited for the receptionist to check them out. Finally, she couldn't resist asking, "Excuse me, Miss. Myra Gupta ne kya check out kar liya?"

The receptionist, a young woman with neatly tied hair, quickly checked the computer before nodding. "Yes, ma'am. Kal raat hi unhone urgent mein check out kiya aur yaha se chali gayi."

Ruhana's brow furrowed in surprise. Myra had checked out? Without even a word? She turned towards Vineet, confusion evident in her eyes.

"Kya hua?" Vineet asked, noticing her sudden change in demeanor.

Ruhana's voice was tinged with disbelief as she explained, "Are, kal humne plan kiya tha ki Riti se milke jayenge lekin kal usne check out kar diya."

Vineet shrugged, trying to dismiss the uneasy feeling gnawing at his mind. "Are, kuch kaam aa gaya hoga. Tum usse phone par baat karlo."

They walked out of the hotel, the warm morning breeze tousling their hair. As they reached the parking area, Ruhana's eyes caught sight of a familiar figure standing a short distance away, deep in conversation with someone. It was Aaditya.

She nudged Vineet, her voice tinged with confusion and concern, "Aaditya to yaha hai!"

Vineet's brows knitted together in a frown. "Kuch to problem hai. Chalo, puchte hai," he said, quickening his pace towards Aaditya.

"Aaditya!" Vineet called out as they approached him.

Aaditya turned at the sound of his name, his expression neutral as the person he was talking to quietly slipped away. He faced Vineet, a hint of unease in his eyes, and responded, "Jee?"

Ruhana, unable to contain her worry, asked, "Tum yaha.. Myyuu kaha hai?"

Aaditya hesitated before replying, "Wo raat ko Delhi wapas chali gayi... urgent kaam tha."

Vineet wasn't convinced. His voice edged with suspicion as he asked, "Aur tumne usko akele jaane diya?"

Aaditya shifted uncomfortably, his eyes darting around as if searching for an escape. The tension in the air was palpable.

"Ek minute Vineet," Ruhana interjected, piecing together what little she knew. "Kal Myyuu bol rahi thi wo isey ek aur chance dene wali thi... Kya hua kal raat tum dono ke beech?"

Aaditya looked pained for a moment, as if the weight of whatever had transpired was too heavy to bear. He sighed deeply, his voice barely above a whisper, "Jo hua wo bas ek galatfehmi thi..."

Ruhana's concern deepened, her voice soft yet insistent, "Hua kya?"

Just as Aaditya seemed on the verge of explaining, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen, relief washing over his face as he answered, "Hello... haan jee, main aata hun."

He ended the call and looked at them apologetically. "Sorry, mujhe abhi jaana hoga..." Without another word, he hurried off, leaving Ruhana and Vineet standing there, their questions unanswered, the mystery deepening.

Vineet watched Aaditya disappear into the distance and then turned to Ruhana, his tone more resigned now. "Chalo... chalte hai. Tum Myra se hi puch lena baad mein."

Ruhana nodded, though unease still lingered in her heart as they made their way to the car. The morning that had started so ordinarily now held an unsettling air of uncertainty, the echoes of unanswered questions following them as they drove away from the hotel, leaving behind a puzzle that would linger in their minds long after they reached Mumbai.

Rajat's home

Rajat stood in the middle of his bedroom, the phone pressed to his ear as he spoke briskly, "Yes, I will be there in half an hour." His mind was already racing ahead, planning out the next steps of his day, when he casually swung open the closet door to grab a shirt. But what he saw inside stopped him in his tracks.

His conversation came to an abrupt halt as his eyes widened in disbelief. Hanging prominently among his neatly arranged shirts was a bright, colorful saree. A woman's saree. Riti's saree.

"What the..." he muttered, trailing off as confusion turned to a mix of shock and irritation. His hand fell to his side as he disconnected the call, his gaze fixed on the unexpected garment that seemed so out of place in his meticulously organized closet.

He turned around quickly, and there she was Riti, standing just a few feet away, a playful smile tugging at her lips. Her presence was as unexpected as the saree, yet she looked completely at ease, as if she belonged right there in the midst of his once solitary space.

Rajat's brow furrowed, his voice sharp with confusion as he asked, "What the hell is this? Tumhare kapde mere closet mein kya kar rahe hai?"

Riti's smile widened, her eyes gleaming with mischief. With an air of playful nonchalance, she took a step closer and teased, "Patidev, aap shayad bhool rahe hai meri aapse shaadi hui hai, toh iss kamre ki har ek cheez par mera barabar ka haq hai. Main apne kapde yahan hang nahi karungi toh kaha karungi?"

Riti's teasing smile lingered as she watched Rajat sigh, his expression a mixture of exasperation and resignation. Without saying another word, he reached into the closet, took out his coat, and slipped it on with practiced efficiency. His silence spoke volumes, and it was clear that he was choosing to avoid any further banter this morning. He grabbed his keys and headed for the door, leaving Riti standing in the room, her playful energy undiminished.

As the door closed behind him, Riti's smile widened, a mischievous glint in her eyes. She murmured to herself, "Dekhte jao, Rajat Sareen. Aage kya kya karti hoon main... tumhe to sudhar ke hi rahungi." The challenge had been set, at least in her mind, and she was determined to make her mark in his life, one small act at a time.

With that, she turned and made her way downstairs to the living room, her steps light and purposeful. Upon reaching the hall, she saw Sumitra, her mother-in-law, seated comfortably, her presence warm and welcoming. Riti approached her with a respectful smile and bent slightly to take her blessings.

Riti nodded, a hint of concern in her voice. "Haan, Maaji. Pata nahi kaha reh gayi dono."

Just as the words left her lips, the front door creaked open, and Ruhana walked in, accompanied by Vineet. Riti's face lit up at the sight of her sister, the worry momentarily vanishing. Ruhana and Vineet exchanged polite greetings with Sumitra, who smiled warmly.

Sumitra, always the gracious hostess, said, "Tum logo ka hi intezar kar rahi thi. Baitho, main aati hoon." With that, she excused herself, leaving the three of them alone in the room.

Riti's eyes scanned the doorway again, her smile fading slightly when she noticed that Myra wasn't with them. She turned to Ruhana, her brows furrowed in mild confusion. "Ruu, Myra nahi aayi tumhare saath?"

Ruhana's expression mirrored Riti's concern as she shook her head and replied, "Nahi, wo kal raat hi Delhi wapas chali gayi bina kuch kahe."

Riti's eyes widened in disbelief, her voice rising slightly in bewilderment. "Aise kaise chali gayi? Usne to kaha tha wo aaj ayegi!" A surge of worry and confusion gripped her. She immediately reached for her phone, her fingers already dialing Myra's number. "Main usko call karti hoon," she said, her tone a mix of urgency and concern.

Riti quickly took out her phone and dialed Myra's number, the worry and concern evident on her face. On the other end, Myra glanced at the caller ID and saw Riti's name flashing on the screen. She felt a pang of guilt as she remembered that she had promised to meet her sister. Reluctantly, she answered, trying to keep her voice steady, "Hello, Di..."

Riti didn't waste a moment, her tone a mix of confusion and frustration as she put the phone on speaker. "Kya hello? Tum mujhse mile bina Delhi kaise chali gayi!"

Myra was taken aback, her heart racing as she realized that Riti had somehow found out about her abrupt departure. Fighting back the tears that threatened to spill over, she forced herself to sound composed. "Wo, Di, urgent kaam tha isliye main aa gayi."

Riti wasn't convinced. There was something off in Myra's voice, something that didn't sit right with her. "Come on, Myra, don't lie to me. Bataogi kya hua?" Riti's voice was firm yet filled with concern.

On the other end, Myra's resolve crumbled. She placed her hand over her mouth, trying to stifle the sobs that were now escaping as the painful memories of the previous night flooded her mind. The sight she had witnessed, the betrayal she felt—it was all too much to bear. Desperate to end the conversation before she broke down completely, she choked out, "Di, meri battery khatam ho rahi hai... I'll call you later. Bye," and abruptly disconnected the call.

Riti stared at the phone, her mind racing with a hundred questions, none of which had any answers. Beside her, Ruhana and Vineet exchanged concerned glances, their own doubts deepening.

Vineet broke the silence, his voice low and serious. "Kuch to gadbad hai. Aaditya bhi koi galatfehmi ki baat kar raha tha."

Riti nodded slowly, her thoughts still on Myra. "Hmm..." she murmured, trying to piece together the fragments of the situation.

Before they could discuss it further, Sumitra returned to the room, carrying a tray with tea and snacks. She smiled warmly at the three of them, her voice gentle as she said, "Are, aunty aapne takleef kyun ki," Ruhana protested politely.

Sumitra waved off the concern with a smile. "Are, takleef kaisi? Ghar ke log ho tum," she said as she set the tray down.

They settled down with their tea, the earlier tension easing slightly. As they sipped their tea, Riti's sharp eyes darted between Ruhana and Vineet, sensing something unspoken between them. With a mischievous glint in her eye, she teased, "So, Roo, tum maan gayi ya Vineet ji ko aur papad belna padega tumhe manane ke liye?" She raised her eyebrows playfully.

Ruhana and Vineet exchanged a look, one that spoke volumes. Riti caught the subtle exchange and couldn't help but grin. "Lagta hai baat ban gayi. Congratulations!"

Vineet placed his cup on the table and chuckled. "Hamara chhodo, tum batao kaisa hai tumhara akdu pati?"

Riti sighed dramatically, rolling her eyes. "Abhi to rasta bhatka hua hai... sahi raste pe le hi aaungi," she said with mock seriousness, making them all laugh.

Vineet raised his cup in a mock toast, "All the best for this!"

As the laughter subsided, Ruhana looked at Riti with genuine affection. "I'm thankful to Vineet jo mujhe yahan leke aaya... tumse bhi mulakat hui aur Myyuu se bhi."

Riti nodded, her eyes softening. "Haan, mere liye best wedding gift tha..." The sisters shared a warm hug, their bond evident in the way they clung to each other.

With a final round of goodbyes, Ruhana and Vineet got up to leave for Mumbai. Riti watched them go, her heart full but still heavy with the unresolved worries about Myra. As the door closed behind them, Riti couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong, and she knew she would have to get to the bottom of it.

Rajat sat in his office, the air heavy with tension as he tried to get through to Aaditya, who had been sitting silently across from him, clearly troubled. Rajat's patience was wearing thin as he leaned forward, his tone more insistent this time. "Aaditya, jabse aaye ho aise hi baithe ho. Bataoge kya hua hai?"

Aaditya finally looked up, his face etched with worry and regret. He took a deep breath and began to recount everything that had happened the previous night the misunderstanding, the heated words, and how Myra had left abruptly without giving him a chance to explain.

As Aaditya finished speaking, the door to Rajat's office creaked open, and Riti walked in. She had come to meet Rajat but froze when she overheard the conversation. Her eyes widened in realization, and she interrupted, her voice filled with disbelief. "Oh... isliye wo raat ko hi chali gayi Delhi?"

Aaditya looked up at her, his expression unreadable. Rajat, however, was quick to respond, his tone dismissive. "Seriously, Aaditya, let it be. It's her loss."

Riti's shock turned to anger as she processed Rajat's words. "Hello... galti tumhare dost ki hai, na ki meri behen ki!" she shot back, her voice sharp with indignation.

Rajat, not one to back down, retorted, "It is her mistake. She should have listened to him."

Riti's eyes narrowed, a sarcastic smile playing on her lips. "Haan, pehle aap log galti karo aur phir hum ladkiya aapke excuses sune... Tum log kabhi apni galti mante hi nahi."

The room filled with tension as they started to argue, their voices growing louder with each exchange. Aaditya, caught in the middle of their escalating spat, sat there helplessly, covering his face with his hands. He could feel the weight of their words, but he knew there was nothing he could do to stop them. The argument wasn't just about Myra anymore; it was about their fundamentally different views on how to handle relationships.

Feeling utterly overwhelmed and knowing he couldn't calm them down, Aaditya decided to leave quietly. He slipped out of the cabin, muttering to himself, "Inn dono ka kuch nahi ho sakta," as he walked away, shaking his head.

Riti, still fuming, turned towards where Aaditya had been standing moments ago and called out, "Aur tum—" but stopped mid-sentence when she realized he was no longer there.

Rajat, now standing with his back to her, shot a pointed look over his shoulder and said, "See, tumhari wajah se wo chala gaya." With that, he walked out of the office, leaving Riti standing there alone.

Frustrated and seething with anger, Riti let out an exasperated sigh. "Dono dost ek jaise hain... huh," she muttered under her breath, sinking into a chair with an irritated huff. The office, once bustling with tension, now felt eerily quiet, leaving Riti alone with her thoughts and a growing determination to set things right.

As Vineet and Ruhana drove toward Mumbai, the rhythmic hum of the car engine filled the comfortable silence between them. Ruhana, lost in thought, suddenly turned to Vineet with a curious expression. "Vineet, tumhare mom-dad tumhare saath nahi rehte?" she asked, her tone gentle yet inquisitive.

Vineet's face softened, a hint of something bittersweet in his eyes as he glanced at her. "Nahi... Unko mere gusse se bahut problems thi, to maine ghar chhod diya 5 saal pehle," he replied, his voice calm but tinged with the weight of old memories.

Ruhana looked at him with concern, her brow slightly furrowed. "Oh! Kabhi baat nahi ki unse?" she asked, trying to understand the depth of his estrangement.

Vineet sighed lightly, keeping his eyes on the road. "Kabhi kabhi mom se baat kar leta hoon, par dad ka ego aur mera bhi... hum baat nahi karte," he admitted, the tension in his words betraying the unresolved feelings beneath the surface.

Ruhana was quiet for a moment, processing what he had just shared. Then, with a slight smile, she asked, "Acha, to mere Dad se tum akele baat karne aaoge shaadi ke liye?"

Vineet turned his head slightly to look at her, a playful glint in his eye as he smiled back. "Of course, khud ka business hai... Ab main bachcha nahi hoon jo wo mujhe daant ke bhaga denge," he said with a confident grin.

Ruhana couldn't help but burst into laughter at his comment, the tension from the previous conversation easing into lightheartedness. The thought of Vineet standing up to her father with such confidence was both amusing and endearing to her.

As they continued their journey, the bond between them felt even stronger, as if sharing these personal stories had brought them closer. The road ahead seemed a little less daunting now, with both of them knowing they had each other to face whatever came their way.

In Delhi

Myra returned to her house with a heavy heart, her mind made up. She couldn't stay in Delhi any longer; the memories were too painful, the betrayal too fresh. Without hesitation, she began packing her things, her movements hurried and shaky as she fought back the tears.

As she was folding her clothes into a suitcase, Anand, her mentor and a father figure to her, walked into the room. He noticed the hurried packing and frowned in concern. "Kahi jaa rahi ho?" he asked, his voice gentle but laced with confusion.

Myra paused for a moment, then turned to face him, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "Haan sir, main apne ghar wapas jaa rahi hoon... wapas yahan nahi aungi," she replied, her voice trembling as she forced the words out.

Anand was taken aback, his shock evident as he processed her words. "Par kyun beta? Bangalore mein kisine kuch kaha tumhe?" His concern grew, and he wondered what could have driven her to make such a sudden decision.

Myra shook her head, the tears now spilling over as she struggled to maintain her composure. "Nahi, par aapka beta... usne mujhe puri tarah tod diya hai!" she cried, the emotional pain evident in every word.

Anand's eyes widened in disbelief. "Aaditya! Wo Bangalore mein tha?" His mind raced, trying to connect the dots.

Myra nodded, her face a mixture of sorrow and betrayal. She didn't want to relive what had happened, but she knew she couldn't keep it from him. Before she could say more, Anand pressed further, his voice firm with concern. "Kya kiya usne?"

She hesitated, her hands trembling as she continued to pack, unable to face him directly. But Raizada wasn't about to let it go. His voice grew sterner, almost demanding as he repeated, "Maine pucha, kya kiya usne?"

Finally, Myra broke down, the words tumbling out between sobs. She told him everything—how she had hoped to give Aaditya another chance, how she had trusted him despite their rocky past, and how, once again, that trust had been shattered. "I wanted to give him a chance... par again he betrayed me," she finished, her voice a broken whisper as she wiped away the tears streaming down her face.

Anand stood there, stunned and heartbroken for her. He had always thought highly of Myra, treating her almost like a daughter, and to see her in this state, because of his own son no less, filled him with a deep sense of guilt and anger. He wanted to comfort her, to make things right, but he knew that words wouldn't be enough. The damage had been done, and it was clear that Myra's mind was made up.

Silence hung heavy in the room as Myra continued to pack, the finality of her decision settling in for both of them. Anand, realizing the gravity of the situation, stepped closer, his voice softer this time, "Beta, tumhare saath jo bhi hua, uske liye main maafi maangta hoon... par please, apne decisions gusse mein mat lo."

Myra looked at him, her expression a mix of sadness and resolve. "Sir, main yeh decision gusse mein nahi, dard mein le rahi hoon. Mujhe jaana hoga."

With that, she zipped up her suitcase, the sound echoing in the quiet room. Anand watched her, feeling helpless as she prepared to leave.

Rajat was in the middle of an important meeting in the conference room, his focus entirely on the presentation being discussed. The room was filled with the quiet hum of serious business talk, everyone around the table engrossed in their tasks. Just then, the door swung open without a knock, and in walked Riti, completely unannounced.

All heads turned toward her, including Rajat's, who immediately felt a surge of frustration. In his mind, he thought, "What the hell is she doing here?" His eyes narrowed, sending her a glare that could have burned through steel. But Riti, with her usual flair, ignored his intense gaze and walked in with a purpose.

"Rajat, kal hi aapki shaadi hui hai aur aap yaha kaam kar rahe hain! Mujhe mandir jaana tha!" she announced, her voice breaking the businesslike atmosphere of the room. Then, as if suddenly realizing her 'mistake,' she looked around at the startled faces and added with feigned surprise, "Oops, I am sorry everyone, but aap hi batayiye, shaadi ke dusre din koi office aata hai?"

One of the employees, caught off guard by her sudden entrance and question, hesitantly responded, "No, ma'am!"

Riti flashed a triumphant smile and turned back to Rajat. "Dekha, Rajat? Aapke employees bhi mana kar rahe hain. Chaliye, jaldi, late ho raha hai," she insisted, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Rajat clenched his jaw, his anger simmering just below the surface. He started to respond, "I... am..." but before he could finish, Riti stepped closer, her voice dropping to a whisper that only he could hear.

"Zyada bolenge to bahut embarrassed feel karwaungi... chup chap chaliye," she warned, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

Rajat sighed, realizing he was cornered. With no other option and knowing Riti well enough to understand she meant every word, he stood up, his movements stiff with suppressed irritation. He could feel the eyes of his employees on him, but he couldn't afford to create a scene. Silently, he followed her out of the conference room, his frustration evident in every step.

As they walked down the hallway, Riti glanced at him with a smug, victorious look, her eyes dancing with amusement. Rajat didn't need to say anything his expression said it all. She had won this round, and she knew it.