IshRa FF Strangers Chapter 22-27 Page 94-95 *Completed* (3/3/15) - Page 24

Chapter 10

This was wrong. So wrong. Wrong in every possible way, Ishita's mind screamed. Stop him! Push him away! It commanded but her body seemed to have a mind of its own as Ishita lay motionless beneath him. His lips had just touched hers. She had just shuddered in response to the delicious friction of his stubble and the feathery softness of his lips against hers when she heard her name being called out, "Ishita puttar!"

The sensual haze she seemed to have been in vanished in a second. Her heart that had stopped beating a while ago picked up at top speed. Her mind finally won over her traitorous body and she shoved him off of her and got up. She dared not look at him as she hurriedly made her way to the door and opened it to find Mrs. Singh.

Ishita straightened her dupatta and her hair nervously as she tried her best to appear calm, "Hello Mrs. Singh! How are you?" "Ishita puttar, are you alright? Were you making rotis or rolling in the flour yourself?" she asked laughing as she helped Ishita get the flour off of her clothes and face. Just then, Raman appeared behind Ishita. One look at Raman's state and Mrs. Singh couldn't help but giggle embarrassedly. "I.. I am so sorry. Looks like I came at the wrong time and disturbed the two of you. I'll just come back later," she said as she turned away. "No Mrs. Singh!" Ishita stopped her for no other reason than that she did not want to be alone with Raman just now. "It's really alright. I mean, it was nothing. Raman and I, we, weren't doing anything.." Ishita fumbled on embarrassedly before deciding to shut up. "We were just figuring out how to make aloo parathas," Raman chipped in. "I can see that. You were only making aloo parathas," Mrs. Singh teased. Raman and Ishita both gave embarrassed smiles. "Why are you both acting as if I caught you doing something wrong? You are newly weds. If you won't "make aloo parathas" then who else will?" she continued. Desperate to change topics, Raman asked, "How come you are here so early? Is everything okay?" "Oh! Silly me!" Mrs. Singh slapped her forehead, "I came to tell you that there is a phone call for you. Shuklaji from Delhi is on the line. But if the two of you are busy, I am sure he can call back later." Mrs. Singh grinned at them but for both Raman and Ishita the mention of Abhinav Shukla was a big reality check. They looked at each other worried. "We'll come over right now," Raman said. Ishita brought a towel for him from the bathroom and they quickly cleaned up and headed out with Mrs. Singh.

***

Leaving Raman and Ishita to speak to Abhi, Mrs. Singh quickly made herself inconspicuous.

"Hello Abhi?"

"Yes, Raman. How are you?"

"I am good. How are things there? Did you find him?"

"Not yet."

"Oh okay. Have you been in touch with Mihir? Are things going smoothly? He has handled the media, hasn't he?"

"Mihir is handling everything well. Raman, how is Ishita?"

"She is right here. Hold on," Raman said as he handed the phone to Ishita.

Ishita took the receiver from him wordlessly.

"Hello, Sir?"

"Hello Ishita. How are you?"

"I am okay sir. My Amma and Appa. Do you know how they are doing?"

"Actually, I called to tell you that.." Abhi paused on the other end.

"Is everything okay Sir?" Ishita couldn't help the panic in her voice.

"Don't panic Ishita. I need you to be calm. Your mother, Mrs. Iyer, she had a mild heart attack."

"What?!"

"She was suffering from high blood pressure for the past week or so, since you went missing. Last night she complained of chest pain and breathing troubling and was immediately rushed to the hospital. She is doing much better now. I personally went to check in on her and spoke to her doctor. They are keeping her under observation now and she'll most likely be discharged tomorrow or the day after."

Ishita just stood numb on the other end.

"Ishita? Ishita? Are you there?" Abhi asked.

Raman noticed how Ishita's face paled all of a sudden and how disturbed and upset she looked. "Are you alright?" he asked placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. The receiver slipped from her hand and she looked at Raman teary eyed before running out the door. Raman picked up the receiver.

"Hello Abhi? What happened?"

"Raman, is Ishita okay?"

"She left crying. But what happened?"

"Ishita's mother had a mild heart attack last night.."

Raman listened worriedly as Abhi told him what he'd told Ishita about her mother.

"Raman, I know its going to be difficult, but please, do not try to contact her family directly. I promise to update you regularly about Mrs. Iyer's condition. But don't initiate any direct contact, okay? We've done all this, gone to so much trouble. We don't want to risk everything falling apart now. Please."

Raman murmured a yes as he replaced the receiver and headed back to their cottage.

***

Ishita was sitting on the couch, a faraway look on her face as tears streamed down her eyes when Raman reached their cottage. "Ishita," Raman said gently as he approached her. Ishita did not look at him. She continued looking away as she spoke. "Whenever I fell ill, Amma would sit by me, all day all night long till I got better. Even if I so much as scraped my knee, she would get so worried. And today.. She has had a heart attack and I'm not even with her. She got a heart attack because of me.. She fell ill worrying for me!" Ishita broke down sobbing.

Raman sat down next to her and took her hand in his, "Ishita.." "What kind of an unfortunate daughter am I? I can't even be with my mother when she needs me most. I can't even.. I can't even see her, hold her hand, take care of her.. I can't even hear her voice!" Ishita continued crying miserably. "Ishita.. Your amma is alright. Abhi spoke to the doctor. It was only a mild heart attack. They are going to discharge her in two days' time. She will go home and rest and be perfectly fine in no time. Trust me!" Raman assured her. "What if.. What if Abhi is lying? What if Amma's condition is actually serious and he is not telling me?" Ishita asked growing hysterical. "I am sure Abhi is not lying. Or he would have told me the truth wouldn't he? It's the exact same thing he told me too," Raman tried to explain. "No! No! All of you are lying. I need to speak to Amma! I need to speak to Amma right now!" Ishita said getting up and wiping off her tears. "No Ishita. You cannot. Abhi has specifically said that we should not initiate any direct contact. It'll put us at risk," Raman said. "I don't care!" Ishita yelled. "I don't care.. About this mission, about the risks.. I don't care! I need to speak to Amma!" Raman grabbed Ishita's shoulders forcefully and shook her, "Ishita! Listen to me! Stop!" Ishita froze for a second before she slumped onto the floor when Raman released her and started crying. "Please.. Please.. Just once.. I want to hear my Amma's voice just once," she begged him crying. Raman looked at her distraught form and felt anger and frustration. This wasn't their fault. Neither she nor her family should have to bear the punishment for that killer, who was still walking free. He crouched down to her and pulled her into his arms. "Okay. We'll call your Amma," he said running a soothing hand through her hair.

***

"Appa! Appa! It's me.. Ishu.." Ishita stammered as she clutched onto the receiver as if her life depended on it. Raman stood outside the phone booth and waited for her to finish talking.

"Ishu.. I.. I thought you weren't allowed to contact us?" Mr. Iyer asked worried.

"I am not Appa. But I had to hear Amma's voice. How is she Appa?" Ishita asked.

"She is doing better Ishu. It was a mild attack. The doctor said we should be able to take her home tomorrow or day after."

"Appa.. Please, please can I hear Amma's voice? Just once?"

"One second"

Ishita heard the muffed noises as her dad took the phone to her mom.

"Ishuuu..." Madhavi Iyer's voice on the other end sounded frail, tired.

"Amma! Amma! Its me, Ishu. How are you Amma?" Ishita asked crying.

"Ishu.. Where are you? Where have you gone? Why didn't you call for so long? Where are you? Are you okay?" Madhavi Iyer asked frantically.

"Amma! Amma! Please calm down. Please. I am fine. I promise. Please don't worry about me."

"But where are you Ishita? And why haven't you returned home in so long? Tell me the truth.. Everyone is lying to me.. Are you in trouble? Tell me!"

"Amma.. Please.. I called you to tell you that I am absolutely fine. I am not in any trouble. I promise. I can't tell you where I am."

"But why? Whats going on?"

"Amma.." Ishita started to tell her mom everything. Just so that she would calm down but she caught herself in time. What could she tell her? That there was a killer somewhere hunting her down at this very moment? That her life was in danger? That she was in Ranikhet under Witness Protection, with a man who she did not even know existed till that fateful night?.. A man she hated in the beginning but was now beginning to.. She remembered the incident from the morning and glanced towards Raman. What could she possibly tell Amma? At that moment, she would have given just about anything to be able to lay her head on her Appa's lap or be able to hug her ever sensible Vandu akka or listen to Mihika's nonstop nonsensical chatter. Anything, anyone, so she could change what had happened that night. Anything so she could erase her past - every worry, every pain she'd given her parents, that life had given her. "Just take care of yourself Amma and I will be home very soon. I promise. Don't worry about me. I am fine! Love you Amma!" Ishita hung up and stepped out of the booth. Her limbs felt as if they'd suddenly turned into stone. She couldn't move or maybe did not want to move. She sat on the steps of the tiny shop and stared into nothingness. She imagined her mother, connected to a hundred wires, her tired, sad eyes searching for her at every noise. This was the second time she'd caused her mother to be in this state. What had she done wrong? Why was she so ill-fated? Ishita was barely aware of Raman's hand on her shoulder. When he helped her onto her feet and started walking, without any thought, Ishita rested her head on his shoulder. Raman immediately placed his arm over her shoulder and pulled her into his side.

When they reached home, Ishita slumped onto the couch and curled up. Raman wanted to say something, anything, to ease her pain but didn't know what to say. He headed over to the kitchen and heated up left overs from the previous night. He laid out the table and brought Ishita over. When she sat at the table lost in thought, not even glancing at the food, Raman pulled his chair next to her and started feeding her. He felt this odd ache in his chest, like his heart was breaking, to see her in this state. When a tear or two escaped her eyes, he gently wiped them away with his finger. When they were done eating, Raman led her towards the bedroom. "Ishita, you must be really tired. You should sleep on the bed tonight," he said as he helped Ishita into bed and tucked her in. As he turned to leave, Ishita caught hold of his hand. He turned around surprised when Ishita said in a shaking voice, "Please.. Please don't go.. Please don't leave me alone.. tonight.." A lump formed in Raman's throat as he looked at her innocent, angelic face. Despite every instinct that told him not to, he sat down beside her and pulled her into a tight hug.