Ruhana takes a trip down memory lane when her sister tries to pamper her. Aanya is seven years younger than her, and there have been times when she had to handle things all by herself. A significant memory flashes in her mind as she glances at her younger sister, who is now fast asleep.

Ruhana was fifteen years old when the difficult phase of her life began. She had relocated from Delhi due to her father’s job and business. They moved to Bangalore and resided there for six years, during which time Aanya was born. Later, they shifted to Mumbai, and while establishing his workspace there, Ruhana’s dad encountered the first setback of his life. Aanya had just turned seven at that time.

Their parents had to leave the city for a meeting, leaving Aanya in Ruhana’s care. Ruhana had always treated Aanya like her own child. Following her parents’ instructions, Ruhana locked the doors and windows of the house and moved into her room to keep her sister occupied.

Ruhana and Aanya shared a room, as Aanya disliked sleeping alone. Little Aanya busied herself with her drawings while Ruhana began studying. Although she was worried about her parents, she understood that they were facing a serious problem and had gone to resolve it. Meanwhile, Aanya tugged at her hand, expressing her hunger. Ruhana asked her to stay in the room while she went to the kitchen. She only had to serve the food on a plate and bring it back to the room.

Ruhana was capable of taking care of herself and cooking simple meals, as her parents had been busy with their business and she had learnt how to cook. She often taught the same skills to her sister. After serving the food, she returned to her room, but certain sounds caught her attention. She followed the sound and found herself in front of her father’s study. With the house empty, her suspicion grew. She quietly hurried back to her room, gave the plate to Aanya, and instructed her not to leave the room. Curious, Aanya held her sister’s hand.

"Di, I want to come too," Aanya insisted.

"No, Aanya. You stay here. I will check. There’s someone in Papa’s study. If we both go, they might find us. So, be a good girl and stay here, okay?" Ruhana explained.

"But, Didu, I want to help," Aanya persisted.

"No, Aanya, you can help later, but for now, stay safe. Mumma asked me to take care of you, so please stay here. I will be back soon," Ruhana explained.

After much discussion, Aanya agreed. She believed her sister knew best and wouldn't let her down. Making sure Aanya was safe, Ruhana rushed downstairs and peeked through the door's eyehole. She was surprised to see her paternal uncle in the study, searching for something.

Her father and his brother had bought two adjacent houses, with the study being the only shared space. Ruhana grew suspicious, wondering how her uncle was there when he had supposedly gone with her parents. Did he lie to them and send them alone?

Many thoughts raced through her mind, but there was no one nearby to ask. She stepped back, deciding to tell her parents everything when they returned. All she hoped for was that things would improve by morning.

Ruhana comes out of her trance. With one glance at her sister, she sighs deeply. The moment she has been reminiscing about was the start of their family’s downfall.
She remembers how her father had scolded her when she told him about her uncle and her suspicions of him. He strongly denied the argument, and she also remained adamant about her views.

Within a few months, things seemed fine. The business was doing well. As they say, unexpected things happen when you least expect them. Her father faced another loss, such that he had to sell off his business and make payments to all the investors. He had been hopeless and depressed. Meanwhile, Ruhana witnessed sudden growth in her uncle’s business.

What hurt them the most was that Shekhar denied helping them. Ruhana was shocked to bits. But, somehow, they accepted the reality, and her parents started the work again. Slowly, life started getting back on track. But, it was not the end of suffering, just a new beginning.

The beep of her phone brought her out of her trance. She checks the phone, and there’s a message from Vineet. Her lips curve into a smile.

Lately, Vineet has stopped questioning her ways. He has started supporting her, and he often quotes that he will wait for her until she decides to come back to the place from where she started. She opens the message to read it.

“I have fixed a meeting with Manav tomorrow. He will be coming to the office around 10 A.M. You can deal with him in your way, and I’ll follow. But yeah, a wrong step, and I will barge in, and you won’t be able to move ahead. It’s my promise.”

As she finishes reading the first message, another message pops up.

“I already said I can wait for you to find your way to freedom soon.”

Ruhana is thoughtful after reading his messages, and she responds with a few smileys and then lies on the bed. She’s currently contemplating her thoughts about Vineet and the changes that he has brought around her.

*****

Vineet is lying on the bed, and he quickly checks the phone as it buzzes. It’s Ruhana’s response to his message. He smiles upon seeing the emojis in the message. He is determined to find the truth behind Ruhana’s changed demeanour; he wants to change how she looks at certain things and her working style.

He’s all set to wait for the longest time possible, even if it takes a decade. He doesn’t know if it will happen anytime soon, but he hopes the same. Though he has confessed his love for Ruhana, she has rejected his proposal, and it’s hard to believe that she might accept it later, but he wants to keep his hope alive.

The girl he knows is surely hidden somewhere under the rough and tough demeanour that she has adopted. He wants to wait for her, for it’s the way to the freedom his heart desires.

Love is a freedom that everyone deserves, and it’s the best when you’re treated with the same intensity of love that you shower on the other person.

To Be Continued.