(Flashback - in a dream; Ishita's!)
Raman strolled in the family room to see his mother and Mrs Iyer perusing something in a magazine.
Ishita engrossed in a book, extended ona recliner.
What are you reading, chicken soup for the fool?' mocked raman, dropping down on the plush ottoman next to her.
Nope. I am reading 101 ways of recognizing a nut!' Ishita shot back, syill reading.
Self-awareness! That's good reading!'
For an answer ishita, slyly, rubbed her chin with her middle finger. Grinning, raman turned to his mother. Mom, im going away for three months!'
Finally some good news! What are the charges?' Ishita piped, slamming the book shut.
Attempted murder of a brainless wonder!'
Ooh! You mean suicide!'
Will you both please stop this nonsense?' Toshi interrupted.
Ishita, let Raman speak,' Madhavi said, her tone sharp.
Ishita opened her mouth to protest, but Raman cut her off. Dad and MB want me to spread the new project for our manufacturing sector. For that, office have to be set up in Big Apple and Dubai. There will be a lot of travel back and forth, so staying here doesn't really make sense. Ill be working out of our Mumbai HQ.'
When do you have to leave?' Toshi questioned, her expression glum.
Tomorrow morning. Mom please, don't look like that, its just few months.'
you wont understand what a mother feels when a child goes away,' an empathizing Madhavi offered. bala and Vandita had recently moved to Mumbai.
Badi maa, its no big deal. GRBR yaar! Well have more fun without him.' Ishita added.
GRBR? What does that mean?' Raman asked.
GRBR means, good riddance to bad rubbish,' replied ishita, her tone condescending.
Raman shook his end. You are so lame! Why do I even talk to you?'
'Because you're so needy and pathetic! And because no one else will talk to you. I am just doing charity.'
Needy and pathetic! Big words for someone like you. Charity is what I do when I let you sit next to me or touch my CDs and blue rays, which you literally beg for!'
The only thing I'll ever beg for is a knife, so I can do you-know-what-to-you-----
Raman cut in, How about, I first demonstrate you-know-what-to-you with a knife then?'
Enough, both of you!' Madhavi and Toshi hollered simultaneously.
Do you both even realize that there are other people around you?' said Toshi, ticked.
If no one else steps in, these two could go on for days without a break,' said Madhavi, shaking her head.
Ishita experienced some awkwardness, so did raman. He got to his feet. Mom, I'll be in the gym. Bye aunty, bye brainless wonder!' he said, exiting. This time I win the last insult' contest, thought raman. He broke into a brief victory dance on his way to the gym.
Next day, around 9 am, the phone in the iyer household rang.
Chotu, its raman. He wants to talk to you,' Vishwa broadcasted to his daughter.
Ishita was engrossed in seeing a sea sponge beat the dear life out of a squid while a squirrel with her head stuffed in a glass bowl, looked on. Sponge bob square pants sillies! Ishita watched either cartoons or news while having breakfast.
raman wants to talk to me?' he's on his deathbed or what?' she whispered, grabbing the receiver from her father who always saw humour in her silly jokes.
I heard that!' Raman retorted.
Good! What do you want?' Ishita asked.
Why aren't you here yet? I am leaving in twenty minutes!'
"Your highness, am I supposed to carry your bags to the car?'
Not for me, for mom!' Raman barked, hanging up.
Appa, im going over to the white house (Ishita's nickname for the bhalla mansion). Raman is leaving for a few months and I think badi maa is depressed.' Ishita hurried out.
Ask her over for lunch. After that maybe all you ladies can catch a movie or something,' vishwa shouted.
That's a great idea!' Toshi, madhavi and ishita, did not miss a single movie in the theatre - hindi, englsih or with subtitles. No amount of teasing and mocking by the rest of the clan could encumber the movie struck trio.
On entering the living room, ishita spied raman hauling his luggage down the stairs. He looked up on hearing footsteps.
Where's badi maa?'
In her room.' Raman opened and started putting a few things laid on the dining table his suitcase. Ishita observed him, bemused; she has assumed the servants packed for him or lugged his stuff around.
Raman looked up. What?'
Ishita shrugged her shoulders and looked away. On cue, Toshi and Mr Bhalla appeared from their room. Hello ishu,' Mr Bhalla warmly greeted her. You're ready to leave, puttar?' he asked Raman.
Yup, where's MB?'
We'll pick him up from the office. Lets go!'
Mihika bhabhi got a small bowl of dahi and cheeni, which she handed to Toshi.
Take care of yourself; make sure you eat your food on time. Come back soon Raman,' toshi sniffed, feeding her beloved son.
Mom please! You are so flimy,' Raman hugged her.
Next, Raman hugged his SIL. Mihika, take care of yourself... for me.' In good homour, he received an elbow in the ribs.
Ishita standing next to mihika bit her lips. What should I do if he hugs me, she thought.
Raman gave her a quick side-glance. He stepped towards her. Ishita stiffened.
Take care!' was all Raman said and did.
You too.' Ishita murmured, slackening; the fleeting disappointment confounding.
The servants carried the bags to the awaiting car. Everyone except Raman, who was yapping on his cell, headed outside.
Few minutes later, his father impatiently said, Mihika beta, see what is taking raman so long?'
Mihika, a serious horticulturist, was at some distance inspecting the newly laid grass with her MIL.
Poised close to the main door, Ishita offered, I'll go and check.' She ventured inside and glanced around. There was no sign of him.
Raman, raman, uncle is calling you!'
I'm right here!' raman!' sounded Raman's voice.
Startled, ishita whirled around. Raman stood close behind, his eyes fixed on her.
Uncle is calling you. You're... getting late!' Ishita stuttered, unnerved by the sudden proximity.
Raman languidly hooked a finger under Ishita's chin, tipping her face to his. Wary, she stared back.
After a few, kind of like waiting-for-the-needle-to-pause on the weighing scale, breathless seconds of Ishita's life, Raman murmured, try not to miss me too much!' Briefly, his thumb caressed her chin, the touch so brief that Ishita felt she had imagined it.
Speedily Raman headed out. ishita touched her chin, struggling to comprehend the melancholy stoking her.
What nonsense! It was nothing!' Ishita challenged the empty hall, shaking her head trying to free it of someone. When she finally emerged outside, ishita saw the car leaving the driveway. Her eyes fell on badi maa who forlornly gazed at it.
Badi maa, its time to open the champagne bottle!'
raman has been away for so many years, I was just beginning to enjoy being a mother to two sons. Now, he is gone again.'
its no big D, four months will fly like this,' Ishita snapped her finger, plus you have me to keep you busy. Remember ME?'
Even you'll get married and go away one day. Then again I'll be alone!' Toshi grumbled.
Please, now you are purposely thinking of reasons to get sad. Let us go home. Mom is waiting for us. We all are going for a movie after lunch. Shahrukh Khan's latest, Main Hoon Na,' Ishita said, imitating the hair flicking shoulder touching' immensely popular move.
Oohhh! I like Shahrukh Khan,' Mrs Bhalla, squealed, like a giddy headed teenager.
Oohhh! I like him too!' Ishita squealed right back.
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hey guys as promised here is the update...
Cricket
Music Corner
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