Hey All! Back again! I hope that the chapter is fine. If not, apologies in advance :)
Happy Reading!
CHAPTER-30: BLACK OUT
_____________________________________________________________________________
Having her breakfast, Ishani slowly got up as she felt her head heavy. "Whoosh! This is so heavy!" she said as she got up with the help of the side table. . Looking at the sun from the balcony, she said "The rays, missed it in Dallas. Though you were physically present, I did not feel you" she turned "It's perfectly fine now" she smiled as she now slowly managed to stride to the wash, for bath.
Twenty five minutes later, she saw herself in the mirror wearing a white tee and a blue printed long-skirt. Complimenting herself about her look, she cleared the plates as she now went towards the kitchen for preparing Rashni's breakfast. "Kaki!" she entered as she smiled, beamingly.
"Ishani? What happened? Do you need something?" she asked as she now saw the unclean plates. Taking them, she said "Ishani, just take rest. We'll take care of everything" as she recalled Ranveer's words. Looking at her bemused, Ishani said "Kaki, it's perfectly fine. I'll take care of it. I just came here to prepare the breakfast for the two of them. How about Isha? Did she have anything?" she asked as she now took the needed ingredients for the breakfast.
"She hasn't. Yet, why don't you take rest? You must be tired." she tried to make her agree, but failed in doing so.
"Kaki, I'll be fine. Where's the atta?" she asked as she now peeled the potatoes, for the paranthas as Amba helped her in getting them.
As she started making the dough, Amba asked "Ishani, are you fine? You seem tired" she stroked her hair to which she answered "I am Kaki. You've asked me this for the hundredth-time now. Just feeling a bit giddy. It'll be fine. I always have them."
"Giddy? Why do you have to do this then? Give this to me. I'll take care of these. Make my granddaughters get up. That is more than fine. The breakfast will be ready by the time they reach." She said as Ishani interrupted "Kaki, I'll just finish cooking for Rashni. She'll not have any other food other than the ones prepared by me. I hope you didn't mistake me. I just..." she explained, "Ishani, I know about kids, its fine. You may...Why am I going to say anything?"
"Thank you so much Kaki" she hugged her as she rushed out to take a vessel and made poha, in a jiffy. "Pretty much experienced in poha, eh?" Amba chuckled as Ishani smiled "She likes this for morning. At times, I give her Cerelac." she transferred them into a small bowl as she kept them aside. "Kaki, just make sure that it is hot...I'll be back" she wiped her hands as she ran towards her girls' room.
***
"Babies! Wake up! It's time!" she set her hair into a bun as she shooked Alakya. "Mama!" she wailed, "Two minutes...Just two minutes" she said as she covered herself with the quilt, tightly. Smiling carelessly, she went towards Rashni's cot, as she saw her sleeping, pleasantly, without any sort of tension in her. Gazing at her lovingly for a few minutes, Ishani finally, carried her into her arms as she sang-
We're all in our places
With sunshiny faces,
And this is the way
To start a new day!
Good Morning Baby girl!
As Rashni yawned, Ishani wiped off the tears which were driving out from her eyes because of her yawn. Taking her inside the bathroom, she took the paste as she made her brush, first with the brush and then the hand. As she helped Rashni in brushing with her index finger, she bit it hard, as usual, as Ishani shrieked in pain, once again. But all Rashni could do was, laugh at her, shamelessly.
"Rashni, please stop biting my fingers! It's becoming a hard time for me to do a plaster every day!" she cried as she now undressed her for bath. Sensing that she was going to bath, she started crying as she always hated to have a bath.
"Princess! Stop being like your Papa. If he doesn't like water, that doesn't mean that you should be the same. Look at him; he started developing a liking for rains just because I loved them. Now if you love daddy, stop crying and have a quick shower. Mama will get a chocky for you if you do so" she challenged her, hinting her for a chocolate as her return.
Quickly stopping her false crying, she obliged to her mommy as she made it difficult for her by splashing water over her face, dress, hair as Ishani now begged for freedom "Princess, stop this!" she cried as Rashni gave her a toothy smile. "Stop smiling at me like that. I'll complain to your Papa!" she warned as she heard Alakya say from a distance "Don't ever imagine that he'll believe you!"
"Alakya, C'mon! He will support me!" she cried from the bathroom, making Rashni get up from her bath tub. "Let me see, Mama" she challenged her as Ishani came out with Rashni who was covered with a tiny bathrobe which had a sky-blue and a pink combination.
"Alakya, Stop acting! Get up" she hit her on her back as Alakya threw her hands up, her eyes still closed, asking Ishani to lift her. Smiling at her, Ishani made Rashni sit on a baby chair as she carried Alakya, though with a bit of difficulty. "Alakya, ask your Papa to carry you the next time. Mama is getting weaker day by day" she said as she tucked Alakya's clumsy hair into the right place. "Mama, are you okay?" she asked, her voice concerned.
"Of course, sweet heart. I am." She ruffled her hair as they went inside the bathroom. "Mama, look at me" she said her mouth, white in colour because of the paste's effect.
She looked on, tired as she said "Brush your teeth completely...You may talk later." Finishing with her brushing, Ishani said "I'll get your dresses, have a quick shower and come back soon."
"Mama, shall I have a head bath, please?"
"Not today, Mama is very tired" she said, her voice unconscious.
"Okay" she sighed as she went out to take Alakya's dress. "Is that yellow frock fine for you?" she heard Ishani shout from a distance. "Yes Mama" she answered as Ishani gave her the dress. Closing the door, she held her head as she sat down "Why am I feeling so weak? Why am I not able to do much amount of work like earlier? What is wrong with me?" she thought as Rashni, with a difficulty said "Mam...Mama" as she threw her hands, asking her to carry her. Getting up from the bed, she found herself dizzy as she slowly carried her and made her lay upon her shoulders. Picking her a tee which had chocolate prints and a jean skirt, she dressed up Rashni quickly. Combing her hair, Ishani made her completely ready for the day as Alakya now came out. Making Rashni sit down, she advanced towards Alakya as her head spinned. As she noticed Ishani very weak, she caught hold of her and asked "Mama, you're lying again. You look pale and...growing cold! Let me get the medicines." She said as Ishani stopped her "It should be taken after the breakfast, Alakya" her eyes now, going cataleptic. "Okay...Okay...Where are the medicines?" she asked her as she mumbled "In...Inside the wa-" she went unconscious. "Mama? Mama!" she called her again and again as she rushed towards her room.
"She must have kept it somewhere..." she thought as she searched every other place in her room and finally found out after five minutes. Smiling, she rushed towards the kitchen, making sure that she wasn't noticed by anyone. "What shall I make? What shall I make?" she thought as she noticed oranges near the cutlery. "Orange! Juice! I can make juice" she ran as she peeled off the orange peels and made the fruit into juice, as quickly as possible. Looking at the place, she thought "I can clean up the place later..." and ran with the juice and medicines.
"Mama! Mama" she woke her up, sprinkling some water as she gave her a huge glass full of juice. Drinking them, Ishani held her head as she tries to tell her something. Guessing them, Alakya said "Mama, I know. It's just 8 and we'll be fine. We'll have our breakfast only if you give us" and made her have the medicines. After its effect on her, Ishani's face was pretty fresh as Alakya now scolded her "You are becoming irresponsible, Mama. I've messaged Papa and he'll call you anytime now." She threatened her as Ishani's face went all scary with that. "Ranveer? Why...Who asked you to tell him?" she cried as the phone rang. "Ha! Papa is never late!" she squeaked as Ishani now picked up the call "Hello, Ranveer?" Rashni heard her Papa's name as she tried "Pa...Pa" she asked Alakya to pick her up as she carried her and made her sit on Ishani's lap, who was now sitting, cross-legged.
"Can you switch on the video call? I want to see your beautiful face."
Switching it on, Ranveer looked at her for the next two minutes. Heaving out a huge sigh, he started "Why the hell are you doing this? I asked you to take them and even wrote them in your hands. Can't you realize its importance, Sunny? Why do you do this? To be frank, you are making a fool out of you. The doctor has asked you to take them regularly for another few months so that you come back to normalcy, without any weakness in your body. Can't you understand them? How can you be so damn careless?" he shouted at her as Rashni saw them with her eyes wide open, trying to comprehend what their parents were talking all while. As she found both of them silent, she looked at Ranveer, who was still staring at Ishani, who was although was looking down in shame. Calling him, she pointed at her tee with her tiny fingers. Failing to understand them, Ranveer asked-
"What does my princess want?" he asked, pouting at her daughter. But all she did was pointing at the tee. Understanding them, Ishani said "Baby wants a chocky, right princess?" she asked as Rashni nodded, smiling beamingly at her success.
"Chocolate? Why?" Ranveer asked as Ishani replied "I promised her to get one if she took her shower."
"Okay. Papa will get you and Alu Di a big chocky while coming back, Fine?" he said as Rashni gave him a broad smile, showing her tiny teeth.
"Ranveer" he heard her say. Looking at her still with anger, she said "I'm sorry Ranveer."
"I'm in no mood Ishani. I'm fed up with you" he moved forward to cut the call as she interrupted "Get one for Isha too" Nodding, he cut the call, abruptly and it left her, heartbroken.
With two big plates and a bowl, Alakya entered the room with their breakfast.
"Mama! Breakfast!" she said as she had her breakfast as she fed Rashni and Alakya too, side by side.
"Mama, what did Papa say? Did he scold you?" she asked, her mouth full.
"Your Papa cut the call abruptly. He's very angry." She said as Alakya consoled her "Don't worry Mama. While coming back home, he'll be back to normal. So chill"
"No Alakya. He was really angry today."
"Should I tell him?"
"No! Don't make him still angrier. I'll take care of him" she said as she fed her.
***
"Mr. RV?" he heard his name from the other side of the phone.
"Yeah. May I know who's on the other line?" he asked as he heard "There's no need of my name, Mr. RV. Just store this number as one of your enemies. By the way, before I forget, I've kidnapped your wife."
"What? Stop this sh*t and tell me who you are" his voice turned grey.
"I am serious, Mr. RV. By the way, why is she fainting always?"
"Fainting? Is she okay...Give the phone to her, I have to talk...Please" he pleaded, his eyes turning red and teary.
"Oh C'mon, Mr. RV. Stop crying like a baby and look out for a sandwich shop" he heard the voice say as he searched for them. "Did you find them?"
"N...No"
"Take a right. You'll have the shop there." He heard the voice say as he obeyed the instructions. "Yeah, I'm inside the shop. What do you want me to do now?" "Have some and pack for us too. There are two people here. Myself and your wife."
"Do you think that I am out of any job? Why should I?" he reprimanded, clutching his ring, stirring and twisting it to and fro, in tension.
"And what do you think of me? Am I mad to do these? Give the bill in the stand so that you'll get something and hung up the call.
"Hello...Hello!" he shouted as he now gave the bill for the sandwiches. "Sir, are you Mr. RV?" he heard the guy say as he nodded carelessly, without having an eye-contact.
"Sir, someone asked to give this to you" he gave him as he saw them, stunned. It was Ishani's chain which was gifted on her baby shower. Grabbing them, he asked, impatiently "Who gave you this?"
"A lady"
"Lady? How does she loo-" his phone vibrated as he now took his parcels and attended them, "Mr. RV, not bad, I must say. Don't forget that your wife is with me. I may then call anyone and ask them to show you her plasma. Is that fine?"
"No! No...No...I'm coming. Where should I come now?" he asked, panting.
"Good. Smart boy, I must admit. How about the Marine Drive? That must go good, right?"
"C'mon! Stop irritating me. Tell me cut and right of what do you want" his voice went demanding as he heard the voice "Shh! don't try to get angry. You may lose her...lose her smile, eyes, laugh, cry, everything! So think thrice before you talk. And let me give you something now. I'll allow you to talk with your wife for ten seconds. Ask her to be strong, because, I cannot afford to sprinkle water every time." as the phone was given to Ishani now.
"Ishani...are you okay?" he asked as she heard him crying now.
"Ranveer...Please save me Ranveer. It's too dark here. I'm scared" he heard her say, with fear overtaking her.
"Don't worry. All will be fi..." he heard the same voice again "I just quantified ten seconds and not ten lifetimes. Now get back to work."
"Okay..."he breathed out, "Where should I come now?" he asked, wiping his tears.
"Marine Drive"
***
Done! Constructive Criticism will be more than welcome and sorry for typos :)
Anupamaa
Hindi TV Shows
