Part 27
Superb update
Ishraru shopping scene was nice finally raman told ruhi about adi in gentle way loved the way ishra handled the situation and how ruhi took the news in positive way ashok have gone bad he is really dumb hehe romi wanted to have fun on ashok expenses so raman decided to attend the party
Part 28
Awesome update
Raman teaching ruhi maths was cute Minka ishra and romi were going to attend party ishra little banter was cute raman was about to say my madrasan but stopped on right time loving how ishra are falling for each other slowly ishra dance was cute ishita was jealous seeing raman talking to shagun raman is so Caring ishra dance was nice
Pls update soon
Awesome update as usual. Eagerly waiting for the next one. Best wishes for your job and studies.
Part 29
Bhalla House - Wednesday 23rd October, Diwali morning 4 am
“Raman, wake up!” Ishita whispered. “Raman, chaar baj gaye hai, utho! Aaj Diwali hai.”
Raman stirred in his sleep and turned away.
“Aiyyo, aaj hi Ravan kumar ko Kumbkaran banna tha?” she complained. She adjusted her new purple kanjeevaram saree that her mother had gifted her for Diwali and leaned in further to wake her husband up.
“Raman, utho!” It took a full five minutes to shake him awake.
“Yaar... itni subah subah… itni subah Diwali manaane ka shauk kyun hai tum madrasiyon ko?” he groaned as he stifled multiple yawns.
“Maine to kal raat ko hi kaha tha ki jaldi so jao. Lekin aapko hi match ki itni padi thi. Aur phir jab Indian team haar gayi to aadha ghanta uspe charcha huyi. Ab chaliye, jaldi se ready ho jaaiye. Amma ke yahan jaana hai pooja ke liye.”
“Ugh… fine.” Raman stretched and got out of bed, too tired to argue with his wife. “Ruhi ready ho gayi?”
“Sab ready hi ho rahe hain. Main bahar chai banane jaa rahi hoon. Aap ready ho jao.”
Ishita hurried into the living room as Raman dragged his feet into the bathroom. He leaned against the sink struggling to keep his eyes open. As he splashed cold water on his face to jerk himself awake, his mind went back to the real reason why he was irritated last night. It’s true that the Indian team had lost the cricket match, but the subsequent phone call was what agitated him much more.
Flashback…
As he had ranted with his brother about the “unfair” match, his phone rang and the name of the last person he would have wanted to hear from flashed on his screen: Shagun.
“Hello Shagun?” He excused himself to the balcony.
“Hi Raman.”
“What is it? Itni raat ko kyun phone kiya?”
“I need a favor.”
“I thought as much. You wouldn’t call unless you needed something.”
“Don’t give me that attitude, Raman. Tumhe yaad nahi ho to main bata du, tumhara Adi se milna ya na milna mere haath mein hain.”
“Are you kidding me Shagun? Are you going to use my son to extort favors out of me?”
“Whatever Raman. Tum batao, meri help karoge ya nahi?”
“Pehle yeh batao ki kaam kya hai. Phir main decide karunga.”
“It’s for Adi. Uski school ki fees deni hai. Normally to Ashok de hi deta hain, par abhi… you know… it’s difficult for him, financially speaking.”
“Right. Throwing lavish parties isn’t a problem for him, but this is.”
“Do I take that as a no?”
“I didn’t say that Shagun. Adi ke liye main apna sab kuch de sakta hoon. Fees kitni hai?”
“Four lakh rupees.”
“Give me a couple days. I’ll get back to you.”
“Raman, zyada waqt mat lagana please. The fees are due next week.”
“Fine.”
“Aur Raman, please kisi ko batana mat ki maine tumse paise maange hain.”
Raman chuckled in his mind. There was a time when Shagun used to berate him for how little money he provided. How the tables have turned.
Before he could reply, a tap on his shoulder interrupted him. It was Ishita.
“Ek minute, hold karna,” he spoke into the phone before he turned to his wife. “Kya hua?”
“Raman, 12 bajne ko aaye. Ab jaldi so jaaiye warna kal subah Diwali ki pooja ke liye nahi uth paayenge. Yaad hai na Amma ne bataya tha…”
“That on Diwali you guys wake up before the roosters crow at the crack of dawn? Yes, I remember.”
“Raman!” Ishita chided.
“Tum jao na, main aata hoon abhi.”
“Fine.”
As Ishita returned to their bedroom, Raman attended the phone again.
“Hello Shagun?”
“Yes I’m right here. Tumhari wife se baatein ho rahi thi?” she spat.
“Shagun enough. I know you have problems with me but I won’t have you talking about my wife in that tone.”
“Don’t pretend like you really love her, Raman. We all saw you the other day. It’s obvious that you’ve made a deal. A compromise.”
“My and Ishita’s relationship is none of your business. In fact, you have no right to say anything about my life. The only link you have with me is through Adi.”
“Speaking of whom, you never answered my question. Please don’t tell anyone ki maine tumse paise maange hain. You do know na that whether or not you meet Adi, it’s in my hands?”
Raman clenched his teeth. After a moment of thought, he unknowingly played right into Shagun’s ploy. “Fine, I won’t tell anyone.”
“Thanks.”
“Have you managed to arrange a meeting with Adi for me yet? It’s Diwali after all.”
“Raman, you already know he’s not coming home for Diwali. I’ll try to arrange something for Christmas.”
“Fine.”
“Okay, bye then.”
“Shagun-” Before he could protest, she hung up the phone.
Raman threw his phone on the couch in frustration. He was in a standstill. He knew very well that Shagun would leave him hanging for as long as possible to extort favors and money, but what other choice did he have? He couldn’t meet Adi on his own. He couldn’t go to the courts and fight for custody. His family wasn’t ready to go through another custody battle. And in Adi’s case, his chances of winning a custody case would be substantially lower. The most he could do now was arrange money for Adi’s fees. He had begun a saving’s account for his education ever since Adi was born, so money was not a problem, but Raman knew he couldn’t trust Shagun with it. Knowing how irresponsible she was, who knew where or how she would spend it? But this was his son they were talking about. He couldn’t take any chances. He only had one choice.
“Raman, kal subah jab chaar baje uthaaungi, tab kud-kud mat karna ki aapki neend puri nahi huyi.”
Ishita had emerged once again from their bedroom to chide her husband.
“Aa raha hu meri maa!” He clapped his hands in surrender and picked up his phone. “Ek to pehle se hi dimaag itna kharab ho rakha hai aur phir tum…” he mumbled as he stomped into the bedroom.
“India haar gayi match mein to itni frustration? Aiyyo murugan…”
Flashback ends…
While Raman got into the shower and got dressed, Ishita made tea in the kitchen. As the tea simmered, Ishita sighed and closed her eyes. Last night she had come into the living room to remind Raman of today’s early morning Diwali plans to find him on the phone. With Shagun. She had seen her name on the screen as he turned towards her. Yes, she knew why they were speaking. Raman had already revealed his plans of trying to get in touch with Adi, and Shagun was the only one who could make that happen. But still, the knowledge that her husband was talking with his ex-wife did nothing to calm the green-eyed monster. She didn’t even know where this sudden protectiveness came from. Why was she so territorial all of a sudden? That too of a person with whom she didn’t even have a real relationship?
It is a real relationship, though. It’s for Ruhi after all. It couldn’t be completely fake.
Realization dawned on her like the rising morning sun. How important this family was to her. Not just the entire Bhalla family. But her, Ruhi, and Raman. Her work, and her relationships with her maternal family and in-laws fulfilled her, but Ruhi (and by extension of course Raman) were the center of her universe. No wonder she was territorial. And after being dumped by her fiance a year ago, this visceral response was all the more heightened. She had no control over it. The cavewoman in her saw a threat to her family.
But her rational, progressive self chided herself for such thoughts. This isn’t a threat to your family, she told herself. This is an expansion of your family. It’s an effort to make Adi a part of your family. She took a deep breath and slowly opened her eyes. The tea was almost ready. As she poured it into several cups, she willed her heart to stop beating out of her rib cage.
“Chaliye sab! Chai ready hai. Phir Amma ke ghar bhi jaana hai!” she called out to everyone. “Ruhi, aap ko bhi doodh ke saath kuch khaane ko du ya pooja ke baad?”
Ruhi galloped to the kitchen counter in her new purple pattu pavadai, specially matched to her Ishimaa’s saree. “Ishimaa, mujhe doodh nahi chahiye!”
“To phir strawberry milkshake de du? Aapko pasand bhi hai aur pooja ke time pe bhookh bhi nahi lagegi.”
“Ok mumma.” She hopped onto the table with her bua and chachu who were struggling to drink hot tea with their eyes half closed.
Ishita turned around and chuckled as she took out the strawberry powder from the top shelf. It amused her how her daughter would refuse to touch even a drop of milk on its own, but with strawberries, she will drink down the whole glass. She was sure it had nothing to do with the taste and everything to do with the pink color of the milk.
Omprakash and Toshi emerged from their bedroom in traditional attire, and made their way toward the dining table for a cup of tea. Toshi was surprisingly upbeat for having to wake up before the crack of dawn, evident by her blinding smile.
“Oho mumma, itni subah subah aap itne fresh kaise ho huh? Mujhse to aankhein bhi nahi kholi jaa rahi,” Rinki asked.
“Oye fresh kyun na hoon huh? Meri Ruhi te Ishita ki pehli Diwali hai. Aur mera Raman puttar kitne saalon baad ghar pe Diwali mana raha hai. To kya hua agar ek raat ki neend gayi? Ek kaam karna tum dono, Rinki aur Romi. In madrasiyon ki pooja ke baad na tum dono dupahar ko so jaana. Phir shaam ko sab ko dikhaayenge, ki hum Punjabiyon ki Diwali kaisi hoti hai, thik hai?”
“I can’t wait for tonight,” Romi commented. “Itne patakhe fodenge ki maza hi aa jayega, by god.”
Ishita deposited a tall glass of strawberry milk in front of Ruhi, who was engrossed in Romi and Toshi’s conversation, and gently nudged her to begin drinking. She, too, joined everyone and grabbed a cup of tea for herself.
Meanwhile, Raman emerged from their bedroom in a white kurta and purple vest to match Ruhi and Ishita’s outfits, all coordinated by the one and only Madhavi Iyer. She was as excited as Toshi for Ishita, Raman, and Ruhi’s first Diwali, so much so that Madhu and Toshi had gotten into a fight about where Diwali would be celebrated. Omprakash and Vishwa had to intervene and convince them to celebrate in both Tamilian and Punjabi manners to calm the fight. For the Tamilian ceremony, Madhu had been annoyingly insistent that Ruhi, Ishita, and Raman all wear color coordinated outfits for the pooja, and Raman didn’t have the ability to deny it, even though he partially regretted wearing the color purple now. Some colors even he couldn’t pull off.
And then his eyes froze on his wife. She barely used makeup; kajal and lipstick at most for special occasions, sometimes a hint of mascara. And yet, as she sipped tea in her purple kanjeevaram saree with her satiny hair flowing down her back, Raman could not take his eyes off her. The hottest model of the world could be in his line of vision and he wouldn’t notice her. Somehow, he tore his eyes off her and sighed. He grabbed his cup of tea from the counter and sat on the couch marvelling at his situation. Why did his wife have to be so damn gorgeous? Yes, he had admitted to himself at this point that his wife was stunning. There was no point denying it. But the worst part was, Ishita didn’t even realize how beautiful she was. She had no idea what effect she was having on him; it was all unintentional, making Raman feel even more guilty for having such reactions for a woman he couldn’t have. For five years, women threw themselves at him, whether it was for his looks or money, he didn’t know. But none of them caught his attention. He had no interest in any of them. Now, here was a woman, his own wife no less, who got his heart pumping and blood drumming in his ears and he couldn't do anything about it.
The vibration of his phone from his kurta’s pocket forced him to take his mind off his wife (which he was utterly thankful for). He opened his phone and the notification ruined his mood all over again.
Shagun: Please get that money as fast as possible, Raman. The fees are due soon.
He pressed his lips together and a vertical line appeared between his eyebrows. He set his tea aside and typed his reply.
Today is Diwali. My accountant will probably be unavailable. I will get back to you after a couple of days. You said the fees are due next week, right? I’ll get you the money till then.
“Diwali ke din to apna mood thik rakho Ravan kumar.”
He looked up from his phone to find his wife standing there. Apparently he had been less than successful in hiding his scowl.
“Subah subah tum madrasiyon ne utha diya to kahan se thik rahega mood?” he shot back.
“Chai doon aur?” She pointed towards his cup on the table. “Sab ne pee li hai aur thodi bachi hai. Agar aap ko chahiye to.”
“Nahi, mera ho gaya.”
“Thik hai.”
Raman sipped the rest of his tea, and sent a message to his accountant. He didn’t want to disturb him on Diwali, but sending a message wouldn’t hurt.
Call me when you have a chance within today or tomorrow. Doesn’t have to be today though. Enjoy your Diwali.
“Aiyyo, aap sab ready hai ki nahi?!” Madhu’s voice drifted through the front door which was slightly ajar. Ishita opened the door and saw her mother walking toward their flat in her dark red saree, as Mihika worked on the last finishing touches of the rangoli at their entrance.
“Ishu, come on kanna. Pooja ka time ho gaya hai.” Madhu said.
“Haa Amma, bas sab chai pee rahe the. Aa hi rahe hai sab.”
One by one, the Bhallas filed out into the Iyers’ flat for their first Diwali together.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Iyer house - 7 am
“Kya ajeeb baat hai yaar, Bala. Jis time pe main roj uthta hoon, utne time me aaj do baar naha chuka hoon,” Raman complained as he rubbed his hair dry. “Upar se tel itna daal diya hai tum logon ne ki teen baar shampoo karne ke baad bhi nahi nikla saara.”
“Kya Raman, oil bath lena to hamari Diwali tradition hai. Aur agar itni problem ho hi rahi hai, to humne thodi force kiya tha oil bath lene ko? Ishu ne to kitni baar kaha that you don’t have to do this if you don’t want to?”
Raman casted away his towel on the chair by the dresser of Mihika’s room, which he was using right now to get cleaned up after his oil bath.
“Amma-Appa ka chehra dekha tha tumne?” he replied. “Dono ne kuch kaha nahi, par unki kaafi iccha thi mujhse oil bath karane ki. So I thought, why not?”
Bala shifted on the rocking chair where he was seated. “Are you regretting it now?” he asked.
“I’m regretting this conversation with you,” Raman replied curtly.
Bala suppressed a chuckle. He had been there when Raman insisted on taking the oil bath. He had also witnessed him taking part in every ritual of the pooja with Ishu and Ruhi with such enthusiasm, he found it hard to think that he could ever be complaining about waking up early in the morning. It made him wonder whether he was actually annoyed by today’s early morning rituals, or if he was simply hiding his excitement behind a facade of jokes and quips.
As Raman put his purple vest back on and began combing his hair, Mihir came in to call them for an elaborate South Indian themed breakfast.
“Periamma ne aap sab ko bulaya hai naashte ke liye. Bhai, main kya batau, itni saari dishes banayi huyi hai, mujhe to dekhkar hi bhookh lag gayi,” Mihir said.
Bala stood up from his chair and straightened his veshti. “To ab batao Mihir, kaisi lagi yeh Diwali?”
“Amazing Bala Jeeju. Especially jab bhai ne oil bath liya na…”
Raman turned around and glared daggers at Mihir, who lost his nerve and let his sentence dangle unfinished. “Rehne de Mihir, zyada uchal mat. Teri aur Mihika ki shaadi ke baad teri bhi yahi haalat hogi, dekhna.”
Working to hide the scarlet color rising to his cheeks, Mihir quickly left the room, with Raman and Bala on his tail.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Diwali breakfast at the Iyers was such an elaborate affair, it might as well have been lunch. Dishes ranged from savory items including dosa, idli, and medu vada to sweet treats such as payasam and halwa. With the Bhallas, Iyers, Bala and Vandu, along with Mihir and Simi (who couldn’t make it to the pooja but joined for breakfast), the dining table had been outnumbered in capacity. While the ladies and children sat at the table, most of the men took their plates to the sofa and chairs in the living room. The house was much more lively than it was during the pooja. The sun had come up and mostly everyone was wide awake, indulging in a luxurious breakfast. Loud conversations echoed from every corner of the room, ranging from world affairs to local gossip.
“Pulkit ji nahi aaye Simi?” Ishita asked. She was seated with her sisters and sisters-in-law at the edge of the table.
“Nahi na Ishita, woh to taiyyar bhi ho gaye the aane ke liye. Lekin Ananya nahi maan rahi thi. Phir unhe achanak se rishtedaar ke phone aane lage abroad se Diwali wish karne ke liye. Tab unhone suggest kiya ki main abhi aa jau, aur woh ghar pe ruke Ananya ke saath.”
“Par shaam ko toh woh aayenge na?”
“Yes yes, definitely. Tab tak to Ananya ka bhi mood ho jayega pathakhe fodne ka.”
“Pathako ka to naam mat lo, Simi. Ruhi aur Shravu ne naa jaane kitne hafto se rat laga rakhi hai, ‘patakhe kab fodenge, kab fodenge,’ ” Ishita sighed.
“I know right?” Vandu agreed. “Yeh to shukar hai ki is saal hum ne Diwali ke pathake jaldi khareed liye, warna pichle saal to Shravu Bala ke kaan kha gaya tha. Aur is baar to Ruhi aur Ananya bhi hai saath mein, to aur bhi excited hai.”
“Excited to hum sab bhi hai,” Rinki interjected. “Bas in baccho ki tarah hum dikha nahi sakte. Kitne saalon baad mumma-papa ko itna excited dekha hai Diwali ke liye. Warna pehle to bhai Mumbai mein hote the Mihir ke saath aur mumma ka man hi nahi hota tha Diwali manaane ka. Dekhna, is baar, Ruhi aur Shravu se zyada to mumma pathakhe fodengi.”
“Lekin sach mein Ishita,” Simi squeezed Ishita’s hand. “Tere aur Ruhi ke aane ke baad, bhai mein itna change aaya hai ki kya batau. Change se bhi zyada, aisa lagta hai, ke mera purana bhai wapis aa gaya. Jo khush raha karta tha, khud bhi hasta tha aur logon ko hasata rehta tha.”
Simi blinked away the mist growing in her eyes, and Ishita knelt her head down to hide her blush.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Akash Ganga Society Compound - 11 pm
True to Rinki’s prediction, Toshi had been the one to burst the most firecrackers that night.
After the night’s Laxmi pooja and Ganesh vandana, she had organized an elaborate Punjabi dinner in her house giving tough competition to her rival’s South Indian brunch that morning. The ladies had changed into salwar-kameez suits from their earlier heavy sarees, while the Iyer men, who had worn veshtis that morning, put on free moving kurtas. The first firecracker was burst by Ananya with help from her father, who then invited everyone to join in. Ruhi and Shravu had a bit of ‘friendly’ competition going on who could burst the most crackers that night, although it turned hostile more than once, demanding Raman and Bala’s attention. To mitigate their feud, Bala began a new competition: Shravan and Ruhi vs Raman and Bala. If there was anything more vicious than Ruhi and Shravu competing against each other, it was when they were in one team. They were a force not to be reckoned with, which Bala and Raman soon learned. Even then, Toshi’s excitement outshined them all. With every cracker she burst, she made sure to include anyone on the sidelines (especially Madhu), spreading her joy like wildfire.
“Ab yeh last patakha hai Shravu! Hum jeet jaayenge!” Ruhi ran across to Shravu with the last chakri (ground spinner). She laid it on the ground in front of him, and Shravu lit it up. As the chakri spun around on the concrete, Shravu and Ruhi jumped up at their victory.
“Hum jeet gaye papa! Dekha Raman Chitappa, hum jeet gaye!” Shravu hollered over the noise of the crackers.
“Haa tingu, tum log jeet gaye baba.”
“Thank god jeet gaye, warna jo hungama khada hota…” Bala whispered, eliciting a chuckle from Raman.
“Bala, are you guys ready to go now?” Vandu approached him from behind. “It’s almost midnight. Simi aur Pulkit bhi nikal rahe hai.”
“Yes yes, let’s go.”
“Main Shravu ko leke aati hoon.”
As Vandu and Bala bid everyone goodbye and cajoled Shravu into getting into the car, Ishita took Ruhi upstairs to get ready for bed. Meanwhile, the rest of the Bhalla and Iyer clan worked on winding up the mess in the compound before heading upstairs.
As Raman opened the front door to his flat, his phone rang again.
“Shagun, please stop calling me dammit!” he whispered loudly.
“Sir?” a man spoke from the other end of the line.
Huh? Raman looked at the screen. It was his accountant.
“Oh sorry man, I mistook you for someone else.”
“No problem sir. I saw your message earlier. How can I help you?”
“Are you sure you’re okay to talk right now? It’s almost midnight. We can speak later if you want.”
“No sir, right now is a good time.”
“Okay.”
Raman walked into his room and sat on the couch, as he explained his predicament.
“I see. Sir, if your wife-”
“Ex-wife,” Raman gritted out.
“Sorry. If your ex-wife needs the money so soon, then we need to act fast. The banks will be open tomorrow, but they close again on Friday for bhai dooj. Then it’s the weekend. So tomorrow is the only chance to transfer money soon enough. Tomorrow, we should get that investment account unlocked. If you haven’t used it for so many years, it may be locked. Then we can get the money transfered.”
“Okay then, we can meet at the office and then go to the bank. What time works best for you?”
“Afternoon is a good time, sir. How about around 1 pm? After lunch?”
“That’s great. I’ll meet you at 1 pm at my office then. Just text me what documents I should bring.”
“Okay sir.”
Raman tossed his phone to the end of the couch. He spread his legs, rested his elbows on his knees, and dropped his head into his head and took a deep sigh. If only he could have enjoyed this Diwali without Shagun dangling a sword over his head. He was home for Diwali for the first time in years, with his wife and daughter no less. The joy radiating from his family was immeasurable tonight, and as delighted as he was, he couldn’t help but notice that his son should have been there too. His son’s absence was the central factor that had been keeping him away from home for so many years. And his absence still held true. He couldn’t trust Shagun but the fact that he was doing all he could gave him hope. Enough hope to imagine next year’s Diwali with both his children. He wondered how excited Adi would get to burst firecrackers. Would he be the one to mediate Ruhi and Shravan’s fights? Or would he encourage their competition? How excited would Toshi be if Adi were here? Thinking of his son, he straightened up and sank back into the couch with the hint of a smile on his face. He noticed Ishita had returned too by then in her night clothes, as she hung her purple saree in the cupboard.
“Ruhi so gayi?” Raman asked.
“Haa. Bahot thak gayi thi. Badi mushkil se use brush karwaya.” Ishita closed the cupboard and grabbed a brush to detangle her hair. “Waise yeh Ruhi aur Shravu ke beech chal kya raha tha? Dono kabhi jhagad rahe the, kabhi uchal-kud kar rahe the?”
“Arey, woh to dono ne competition chalu kar diya tha ki kaun zyada pataakhe fodega. Usi baat pe jhagad rahe the. Phir Bala ne suggest kiya ki woh dono ek team mein aur hum dono ek team mein khelenge. To shayad, agar woh dono saath ek team mein ho to jhagdenge nahi. Phir kya tha, jaise jaise woh log jeete, waise unka uchalna-kudna bhi bhad gaya.”
“I guess it’s safe to assume ki woh dono hi jeete honge.”
“Obviously.”
Ishita set down her brush and sat down on the edge of the bed in her salmon pink kurti and white leggings. She rubbed her fingers together as she tried to contain her anxiety. When Raman had entered the house earlier after bursting firecrackers, she was on her way to the bathroom and she had heard him get a call from Shagun. Like this morning, she had brushed it off. But walking into her bedroom and seeing her husband smiling after said phone call was a sight she couldn’t brush off. Should she ask him about it? Would she be able to deal with the outcome? What if he still had residual feelings for his ex-wife? What would that mean for her? And what about Ruhi…? She shook her head and squeezed her eyes shut. No jumping to conclusions. She could just ask-
“Kya hua? Koi dimaag ka dohra pada?” Raman chuckled.
Ishita shot her eyes open. “Kya?”
“Why were you shaking your head? Kya soch rahi thi?”
All right, this was it. Moment of truth. “Um… Shagun se kuch baat huyi aapki?”
Silence. Raman stiffened in his place and rubbed his palms.
“Woh aap keh rahe the na Adi se milne ke liye…” Ishita clarified.
“Abhi tak kuch baat nahi bani. Adi Diwali ke liye ghar nahi aata. Shayad Christmas ke waqt baat ban sakti hain, par tab tak it seems difficult.”
“Oh, I see. To phir-”
“Main change karke aata hoon,” Raman interrupted and walked to the bathroom.
As Raman took off his vest and kurta, he pondered over his dilemma again. He was on the verge of revealing Shagun’s extortion efforts to Ishita, but he recalled Shagun’s condition of keeping it all a secret. Considering that he depended on her to meet Adi, he didn’t have much choice. So he kept it to himself. There was no point in worrying Ishita anyway. Besides, he was used to dealing with messes on his own. He had been alone for years; he was used to it. He would deal with this mess the same way. On his own.
Ishita laid out her bedding on the sofa, her head still full of doubts. She placed her pillow on one end of the sofa. As she straightened her blanket, she noticed Raman’s phone lying on the end of the couch. She gently placed it on the side table, only to be caught off-guard by an incoming message that raised even more questions in her already troubled mind.
Shagun: Thanks for your help, Raman. I knew I could count on you :)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Part 30
Khanna Mansion - Next day, Thursday 8 am
“Shagun! Are you listening to me? Get your eyes off your damn phone for one minute, will you?!” Ashok ordered.
Across from him on the breakfast table sat Shagun with an untouched breakfast. She tore her eyes off her phone and looked up to find a seething Ashok glaring at her.
“What is it, Ashok?! Itna chilla kyun rahe ho?” she snapped.
“I asked, where are the bagels? You know I like to have one with my coffee for breakfast.”
“How am I supposed to know Ashok? Ghar ke naukar se pucho.”
“Tum saara din karti kya ho? Kuch bhi to nahi. Kam se kam mera ghar to sambhal hi sakti ho. Par tumse to woh bhi nahi hota. Useless woman.” He took a bite of his eggs.
“Don’t you dare speak to me like that,” Shagun shot back. “Tumse tumhara business to sambhalta hai nahi. Kisi aur ko mat sikhao…”
“Aur yeh tum phone mein dekh kya rahi kabse?”
“I’m waiting for Raman’s reply. Let me remind you that he is paying for Adi’s fees this term. Tumne jo mana kar diya.” She took a sip of her tea as she shot daggers at her boyfriend.
Ashok replied with just as much spite. “Look Shagun, I don’t have any time or money or energy to spare for your son. If you can’t remember, your ex-husband has already made my life hell. And I promise you he will pay for that.”
Shagun rolled her eyes.
“Screw breakfast.” Ashok shoved his plate away and stood up. “I’m going to work.”
He grabbed his coat and laptop bag from the couch and ordered his driver to start the car. He sighed and ran a finger through his hair, as he sat down in his car and slammed the door shut. He and Suraj had been talking with a new investor that they met on an international trip. With the most recent hit his business had taken, it was crucial that they recruit this new investor. Thinking about the losses his company had incurred renewed his anger at Raman Bhalla all over again. No matter what he did, Raman freaking Bhalla always one-upped him. When they competed for the contract, he won. When Ashok threw a party to show off his wealth, and more importantly, show off Shagun, it didn’t phase him once. He had a new wife after all. But come what may, that son of a bitch could not win. He smiled as an idea formed in his mind. For it just occurred to him that he still had the hukum ka ikka (ace of spades) in his deck. Aditya Bhalla.
Back in the house, Shagun scrolled through her past messages to Raman. As soon as Ashok told her he couldn’t spare money for Aditya’s fees, she immediately contacted Raman for the money. It was the best (and only) option she had. She had leverage against him after all. He wanted to meet Adi, and only she could make that possible. She could use that leverage to both get the money and keep that transaction a secret. She’d be the laughing stock of the town if anyone found out that she was taking money from her ex-husband who she had left because he didn’t earn enough. But although her initial plan was simply to get money for Aditya’s fees, the gears in her brain had been turning last night. It wouldn’t hurt to make sure she still had a hold of her ex in some way, especially if Ashok’s business was going to continue downhill. She knew for a fact that Raman didn’t love Ishita. Not the way he had loved her. If she could be a bit sweeter to him, she could still keep him in her clutches. Which is why she had sent the late night message.
Thanks for your help, Raman. I knew I could count on you :)
But to her bad fortune, no answer. Oh well, she could keep trying. Besides, if not her, she knew someone else who still held such power over her ex-husband. Her very own son, Aditya Bhalla. A tool she meant to use very smartly.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Bhalla House - Thursday, 12:30 pm
“Ruhi, read one chapter of your book first before you start the TV,” Raman said as he wiped his plate clean.
He was too late. His daughter had already made a beeline for the couch after her lunch and planted herself in front of the TV. Raman sighed and stood in front of the screen to block her view.
“Papa! Please move aside na!” she implored.
“Ru, Ishimaa ne kya bola tha? Vacation hai to iska matlab yeh nahi ki aap reading bhul jao. Pehle jaake apni book padho phir TV dekhna. Aur phir shaam ko niche khelne jaana, thik hai?”
“Papa, just one cartoon, pleeeeeease?” She made her signature puppy dog eyes.
“Thik hai, phir jab Ishimaa clinic se aayengi to woh puchengi aapko ki aap ne reading ki ya nahi. Tab kya bologi?”
“Par abhi to afternoon hai papa. Main ek cartoon dekh kar padh lungi.”
“Aap bhul gayi? Aaj Ishimaa ka half day. Do baje tak aa jaayengi woh. Jao, jaake reading karo apni.”
“Oh no!” Ruhi clapped her palm on her mouth. “Main to bhul hi gayi!” She ran into her room and shuffled through her backpack to take out her chapter book and began reading.
“Nautanki…” Raman chuckled.
He checked his watch. It was half past 12. He had to meet his accountant soon and transfer the money. He picked up his laptop bag from his bedroom with all his important documents and headed toward the door.
“Maa, main kuch ghanto ke liye office jaa raha hoon. Kuch kaam hai,” he said to Toshi in the kitchen.
“Thik hai puttar. Aaram se jaayio aur jaldi waapis aa jana!”
He left the building and got into his car. As he opened his messages app to text his accountant, he came across his last received message from Shagun.
Thanks for your help, Raman. I knew I could count on you :)
What the hell was her problem? Why was she bothering with such kind words when both of them knew neither of them had anything in their heart? He shook off his confusion and texted his accountant.
I’m on my way to the office. I’ll meet you in the parking lot and we can leave for the bank in my car from there itself. No need to climb up to my office.
The reply came seconds later.
Okay sir. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Bhalla House - 6 pm
“Chal Ruhi ki bacchi neeche chalte hai khelne!” Shravu called out. “Amma! Main aur Ruhi neeche jaa rahe hai!”
Shravu and Ruhi ran down the stairs to join the other kids of the society in their play.
“Society compound se bahar mat jaana Shravu! Ruhi!” Vandu called after them from the balcony but they were too far away.
“Don’t worry, Akka. Ruhi kayi baar neeche gayi hai aise. Use pata hai society ko chod ke kahin nahin jaana hota hai. Aur waise bhi, main abhi Appa aur Papaji ko message kar rahi hoon ki woh baccho par nazar rakhe. Woh dono niche hi hai kisi society ke kaam ke liye.”
Vandu returned to the kitchen and joined Ishita.
“Sach mein Ishu, family paas mein ho to baccho ko sambhalne ka kaafi tension kam ho jata hain.”
“Haan akka, ekdum correct. Waise aapne bataya nahin, aap ka aur Shravu ka aane ka plan kaise bana?”
“Arey woh Bala ke department ka koi Diwali social hai aaj, so use wahan jaana pada. To main aur Shravu dono ki ghar par bore ho rahe the. Isiliye maine socha, yahan Miku ya Amma-Appa kisi ke saath time spend karte hain, aur Shravu bhi Ruhi ke saath khelega.”
“Accha? To matlab mujhse milne nahi aaye the?” Ishita took mock-offense.
“Arey no baba, nothing like that,” Vandu added defensively. “I thought you’d be at work. But look at the irony. Appa society ke kaam mein busy hai, Amma Toshi aunty ke saath Dolly aunty ke ghar par gayi hai, aur Miku bhi Mihir ke saath bahar gayi hai.”
“Shukar manao ki main thi yahan. Warna do khali ghar milte aapko.”
“Khali kyun? Romi aur Rinki bhi nahin hai?”
“Nahin na, woh log bhi apne friends ke saath gaye hain bahar. Keh rahe the, ‘family ke saath to Diwali mana li, ab friends ki baari.’ Waise akka, ab aap log aa gaye ho na, to khana kha kar hi jaana. Main bas usi ki taiyyari kar rahi hoon.”
“Kya bana rahi ho?”
“Aloo matar ki sabzi, tadka dal, aur saath mein roti aur rice.” She set out potatoes to chop and peas to peel, and both sisters set to work.
“Bas Murugan se pray kijiye ki Ravan kumar koyi nooks na nikale,” Ishita commented. “Waise to ab mujhe mummyji ne kaafi kuch sikhaya hai ki Punjabi khaana kaise banate hai, par kya pata, Ravan kumar ko kya galat lag jaaye.”
“You guys are too much…” Vandu chuckled.
They talked about everything they could think of while they cooked: how ergonomic the new instruments at Ishita’s dental clinic were now that they had changed suppliers; Vandu’s stress over how many instances of academic plagiarism she had to deal with during the last bout of exams; whether or not they should enroll Shravu and Ruhi in any extracurriculars soon; Ruhi’s interest in dance; Shravu’s interest in swimming; and much much more.
As they cooked the last few rotis, Shravu and Ruhi came bursting in through the front door, cheeks flushed and out of breath.
“Amma, I’m hungry!”
“Ishimaa, bhookh lagi hai!”
“Haan beta, bas khaana taiyyar hi hai. Yeh kuch rotiyaan ban jaane do,” Ishita said.
“Tab tak I’ll get you guys washed up.” Vandu led both kids to the bathroom, as Ishita flipped the last roti over the stove.
She set up the food and plates on the table and glanced at the clock: 7:15 pm. She knew the rest of the family would be home by 8. But when was Raman coming home? All Toshi had told her was that he’d gone to work for a few hours. No mention about when he’d come home. He hadn’t even texted her personally like he usually did if he was going somewhere or if he would be late. All of a sudden it seemed like she was slowly growing distant from him.
When were you ever close in the first place, Ishita? How can you grow distant from someone who you were never close to?
The sound of chairs being pulled back and the squeals of exhausted, hungry kids ended her musings.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Bhalla House - 9:30 pm
“Amma, one game na. Please?” Shravu pleaded.
“Periamma, abhi to vacation hai. Hum vacation mein nahi khelenge to kab khelenge?” Ruhi joined in.
They had been glued to the TV playing video games with Romi, who simply pretended to go to the washroom while the kids pleaded with Vandu to continue playing. He knew better than to go against the Iyer girls.
“Akka, khelne do na in logon ko. Aap hi ne kaha, abhi tak to jeeju bhi ghar par nahi aaye. Aap log ghar pe jaake karoge kya?” Ishita suggested.
“Okay fine.” The words had so much so as left her mouth and Ruhi and Shravu shrieked with delight.
Romi joined them again and they continued their game. Meanwhile, Toshi, Omprakash, Madhu, and Vishwa engaged in an after-dinner card game next door.
“Ishu, chal andar tere room mein baithte hain,” Vandu suggested.
They sat on the couch of her bedroom but Ishita was unable to hold a conversation with her sister as her eyes kept glancing at the overhead clock.
“Akka one minute please.” She interrupted Vandu’s monologue on the newest pasta recipe she had tried. “I’ll just call Raman and ask when he’ll be home. Usually unko itni der nahi lagti.”
“Haa haa Ishu, koi baat nahi.”
She dialed Raman’s number. No answer. She dialed again. No answer.
“Woh phone nahi utha rahe hain,” she said, puzzled. “Main unke office main try karti hoon.”
She dialed the reception at Raman’s office.
“Hello?” the receptionist answered.
“Hi, this is Ishita Bhalla, Raman Bhalla’s wife. Aap bata sakti hai woh kahan hai? Aur ghar kab tak pohchenge? Ho sake to meri unse baat karwa dijiye please?”
“Oh, hello ma’am. Office to bandh ho gaya hai. Main bhi abhi nikal hi rahi thi. Lekin Raman sir to aaj office aaye hi nahin.”
“Really?” Her eyes grew wide. “Are you sure?”
“Yes ma’am, 100% sure.”
“Oh okay. I think unki shayad kahin bahar meeting hogi. Don’t worry. And thank you itni raat ko mera phone uthane ke liye.”
“No worries ma’am, good night.”
The call ended.
Ishita leaned back into the couch and hugged her phone close to her chest. Her eyebrows scrunched up and a vertical line appeared between her eyebrows. Just like that, she felt the distance between her and her husband grow ten-fold.
“Ishu, kya hua? Raman ka kuch pata chala?” Vandu patted her sister’s shoulder.
Ishita placed her phone on the side table and turned towards her sister.
“Akka, receptionist ne bola ki Raman to aaj office aaye hi nahi the.”
“To kya hua Ishu, it’s possible that he had a meeting somewhere else in the city. You know na, aaj kal log business meetings restaurants aur cafes mein bhi karte hain.”
“Akka it’s not just that. Woh dupahar se gaye hain aur abhi tak nahi aaye. Kaunsi meeting itni lambi chal sakti hain? Aur agar unhe zara bhi der honi hoti hai to woh mujhe phone karte hai, ya at least message to karte hi hain. Par aaj naa to unka phone lag raha hai, na woh kisi message ka reply de rahe hain.”
“Ishu, kayi baar to Miku bhi messages ya missed calls ka reply nahi deti. Tab to tum hi Amma ko samjhati ho na that she is a grown woman who can take care of herself? Then even Raman can take care of himself too na? Ho sakta hai uski phone ki battery kam ho, ya kisi client ke saath phas gaya ho? There must be something else bothering you, isn’t it? Tell me.”
Her sister could see through her like a window. Without even meaning to, Ishita confessed to the distance growing between her and Raman since Ashok’s Diwali party. His conversation with Shagun, his efforts to get in touch with Adi, the phone calls and messages between them, and most importantly, Raman’s secretive nature about the whole matter.
“Ishu,” Vandu caressed a hand over her sister’s back. “Isn’t it a good thing that Raman is trying to get in touch with his son?”
“It’s a great thing, Akka. But it’s just that…”
“I know Ishu, your doubts are valid. Lekin aise sochne se kuch faayda nahi hoga. Tum Raman se face to face directly baat karo. Agar tumhe koi doubts ya fears hai then ask him directly. Clear communication is key to a successful marriage.”
Ishita pondered over her sister’s advice. It made perfect sense, but only for a real, true marriage. Their marriage was only for Ruhi. Sirf Ruhi ke liye. Did she even have the right to confront Raman over these issues when they didn’t concern Ruhi directly? What answer would she get if she dared ask? What if Raman refused to answer because it wasn’t her right? Or worse, what if he did address her questions and gave an answer she couldn’t hear? What if his and Shagun’s relationship was more than just exes? As far-fetched as the possibility may be, she was not ready to give another man the opportunity to reject her again.
“Ishu.” Vandu shook her arm and caught Ishita’s attention.
“Huh?”
“I know you are scared. But this is the best way to go about resolving the issue.”
Ishita nodded.
The bedroom door opened and Romi called to Vandu and Ishita.
“Woh Shravu aur Ruhi ko neend aane lagi hai. Kuch minute mein dono couch par hi so jaayenge.”
“Oh thanks for letting me know Romi. Main Shravu ko leke nikalti hoon abhi.”
Romi nodded and returned to the living room to shut down his video game.
Vandu squeezed Ishita’s hand as a sign of reassurance and left the room.
“Akka!” Ishita called to Vandu when she was at the threshold of the bedroom.
Vandu turned around.
“Akka, kisi ko batana mat ki Raman Adi se milne ki koshish kar raha hain. It’s a sensitive subject around here.”
“Don’t worry Ishu, your secret is safe with me.” Vandu smiled and left for the living room.
Ishita got up and followed her to bid her goodbye and put Ruhi to sleep. To her good fortune, Ruhi was so sleepy, she didn’t ask where Raman was and why he wasn’t home yet.
About 20 minutes later she returned to her room and saw a message notification on her phone. Reading it, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Raman: Sorry for missing your calls. Just finished work. I’m on my way home. I had some food a couple hours ago, so I won’t eat dinner. Did you and Ruhi eat?
She typed back a reply.
Yes, everyone has had dinner. Ruhi just fell asleep.
She received a succinct reply.
Okay 👍🏼
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Bhalla House - 10:45 pm
Raman crept into his unusually quiet apartment and closed the door behind him. The faint moonlight from the window was the only source of light illuminating the otherwise dark living room. It looked like everyone had gone to bed. He hadn’t expected to be greeted by a horde of family members but yet, finding his normally loud house so quiet made him feel empty inside. As he walked inside, he noticed the table was empty too, echoing the hollowness inside him. He knew that he had informed Ishita that he wouldn’t be eating dinner, yet the sight of an empty dining table bothered him. He then realized that what bugged him was not the quiet house or the empty table, but his wife’s absence. In the past three months of their marriage, he had grown accustomed to either expecting her at home if he came late from work, or waiting for her to come home if she was doing late hours at the clinic. Their late night meals had become a ritual without which his day seemed incomplete. Recalling their banter over her less than perfect Punjabi food or his over the top Italian cooking made him chuckle out loud despite himself.
Ignoring the growing hollowness in his chest, he proceeded towards Ruhi’s bedroom to check on her. His angel slept like there was no tomorrow. Pressing a gentle kiss on her forehead he closed the door to her bedroom and headed towards his own room. Ishita had already gone to sleep on the couch. She was facing away from him and having missed the sight of her peaceful sleeping face hollowed his chest even more. He set aside his laptop bag and grabbed his sleep clothes from the cupboard and headed to the bathroom for a quick shower and change.
Ishita sighed from her couch. She had heard Raman come in, but couldn’t bring it in herself to face him, so she had feigned sleep. But despite her numerous efforts, sleep evaded her. Ever since she received Raman’s message, she had been oscillating between confronting him or not. Unfortunately, her insecurities had gotten the best of her at the end. She was not ready to face the prospect of her marriage failing and losing Ruhi in the process. She had already lost her once. She couldn’t bear for that to happen again.
Underneath the showerhead, Raman closed his eyes and ran his fingers through his hair, trying to wash away the exhaustion of the day. It took forever to get his account unlocked thanks to numerous calls to the customer service department, being put on hold for hours on end, and waiting for the ever so elusive manager. His accountant being there was a blessing he couldn’t be more grateful for. He made a mental note to raise his salary in the new financial year. After finally getting access to his account, he had to deal with endless phone calls with Shagun to make sure she got the money, and more importantly, that she paid the fees as soon as she received the money. Raman knew better than to trust her with such a huge amount of money. In exchange for the money then, he had spent a good half an hour providing suggestions on how he could meet Adi. He even offered to drive out of the state up to his boarding school to meet him if only Shagun could authorize him as a visitor. But she had shot down his every suggestion and ended the phone call with a loose promise to think about the possibilities he had mentioned. He groaned in frustration at the memory. That was when he decided that he would allow Shagun one more chance to get serious about this, or else, he would declare an ultimatum and finish his dealings with her. If she wouldn’t cooperate, Raman Bhalla had other ways to get what he needed.
He dried himself off and put on his night clothes. He brushed his teeth and was ready to leave the room when he noticed the dental floss on the shelf. He shook his head and tore off a piece of floss and began flossing his teeth. He had gotten into a huge argument with his wife when she found out that he never flossed his teeth. She had gone on and on about gingivitis and bacterial plaques and decay until he gave in and promised to floss every day. Ishita -- the woman would surely be his end. Doing things on his own without relying on anyone came as second nature to him now. It was his way of protecting himself, even from his own family. Yet, hiding the money transfer from her felt… wrong. He wasn’t doing anything wrong per se. After all, he was paying his own son’s school fees. But it still didn’t sit right with him. Yes, Shagun had asked him not to tell anyone, but with that promise came the condition that she would help him meet Adi. If she wouldn’t keep her end of the bargain then he wasn’t compelled to keep any secrets either. He finished flossing, threw away the piece of dental floss, and rubbed his palm down his face, making a firm decision. Shagun had one more chance to get a meeting fixed with Adi. If she did, then he could reveal to Ishita that he had to pay four lakh rupees for Adi’s fees in order to get that meeting fixed. If not, he would reveal that Shagun had asked for the money to pay Adi’s fees but hadn’t kept her end of the promise. Either way, he wouldn’t be keeping the secret for long.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Part 31
Bhalla House - Sunday, 27 October, 3 pm
“Ishimaa, chalo jaldi!” Ruhi pleaded. “Ice cream parlor band ho jayega!”
“Sirf teen baje hai Ru. Ice cream shop itni jaldi band nahi hota,” Ishita chuckled. “Do minute ruko, main Neelu didi ke liye kapde dhone ke liye nikaal deti hoon phir chalte hain.”
Ruhi paced impatiently across her parents’ bedroom as Ishita sorted through her and Raman’s clothes from the laundry basket, making sure pockets were empty and sarees were okay to be washed in the washing machine. She glanced at her daughter and smiled. There was never a dull moment with her around. Before her Diwali vacation ended today, Ruhi had asked for one last outing. After much consideration, they had decided on a girls day out with Rinki and Mihika -- first ice cream, then to the theatre to watch the new Disney movie.
“Hum movie ke liye late ho gaye to?” Ruhi asked.
“I promise beta, hum late nahi honge. Ishimaa aapko time pe pohcha degi. Dekho, I’m almost done. Aap jaake shoes pehen lo, aur dekho Rinki bua aur Mihika chitti ready hai ya nahi.”
“Okay mumma!”
Ruhi made a beeline for the living room. Ishita quickly sorted through the last few pants in the laundry basket and found some cash which she stowed into the drawer of the side table. She checked the pockets in one final pair of pants and found a receipt. She wondered what it was for; Raman wasn’t the kind to save ordinary receipts. Curiosity got the better of her. When she read the receipt, her jaw hit the floor.
It was a receipt for a money transfer of four lakh rupees. As she read through the rest of the text, her heart dropped into her stomach. The money had been transferred to… Shagun. What in the world? How could Raman have given such a huge sum of money to his ex-wife and not tell her? Phone calls and text messages were one thing, but this? What the hell was going on? Ishita blinked back her confusion and curled her hands into fists. That was it. She made a resolve to ask Raman clearly about what the hell was going on between him and Shagun. She couldn’t take it anymore. She had given him the benefit of the doubt for almost a week now. But now, the limit had been crossed.
“Ishimaa, Rinki bua aur Mihika chitti ready hai!” Ruhi shouted from the living room.
Ishita cleared her throat and stood up. Now was not the time to lose control. She had plans with her daughter and sisters. Raman was out for some work too. She couldn’t confront him until he came back home anyway. She quickly folded the receipt and placed it in her purse.
“Coming Ruhi!” she called out to her daughter as she left the basket of dirty clothes in the laundry room and stepped out into the living room. True to Ruhi’s words, Rinki and Mihika were already there ready to go. “Chale?” Ishita asked.
“Chalo akka.”
“Let’s go bhabhi.”
They descended the steps, got in the car, and drove off to the nearest ice cream parlor. Ishita gripped the handle of the steering wheel and tried her best to hide the growing ache inside her heart.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Starbucks - Sunday, 4 pm
Raman twisted his phone in his hand, maintaining his stare at the entrance of the cafe. The woman was fifteen minutes late. Not that he was surprised. He couldn’t expect anything else from his ex-wife. But her careless, irresponsible attitude was getting on his nerves now. After their conversation on Thursday, she hadn’t replied to any of his messages or phone calls. So this was his last olive branch. His last attempt to get Shagun to cooperate and help him meet Adi. If this didn’t work he would take the legal route. He’d do whatever it takes to get back in his son’s life.
More importantly, after this final meeting, he’d update Ishita on how this endeavor was going. While the rest of his family would be too emotionally worn out to be able to keep up with the constant struggle of getting Adi back, he had now come to the conclusion that Ishita was strong enough to take it. One of his initial concerns had been whether Ishita could deal with another legal battle to get custody, but Ruhi and Adi were different people. Ishita was Ruhi’s first parent. Naturally, her custody case would affect her gravely. But Adi’s case wouldn’t leave such an intense impact. Moreover, he’d find out soon enough whether Shagun was keeping her end of the promise or not. Then he could also reveal the four lakh rupees money transfer. As much as he was used to doing things on his own, these lies of omission were harder to keep up with. Tonight, he’d have a conversation with his wife and clear the air.
The chimes of the entrance rang signalling the opening of the door. Shagun strolled in in a black net saree with matching earrings and hair in curls. She instantly spotted Raman and took the seat opposite him.
“Shagun, tumhe pata hi hoga maine tumhe yahan kyun bulaya hai,” Raman began without beating around the bush.
“Hang on Raman, mujhe coffee shop main milne bulaya hai aur mujhe coffee nahin pilaoge?” she asked suggestively.
Raman straightened in his seat, leaned forward, and glared daggers at Shagun.
“Listen Shagun, mujhe tumhare saath coffee peene mein koi interest nahin hain. Maine tumhe yahan isiliye bulaya hai taaki hum once and for all baat kar sake. Kya tum mujhe Adi se milwaaogi ya nahi? It’s been a week since I first spoke to you lekin tumne abhi tak koi concrete answer nahin diya hain.”
“Raman, you know very well that it’s not that easy.”
She grazed her fingers against Raman’s hand, who instinctively jerked his hand away. He saw what she was doing and he wasn’t going to fall for it.
“Don’t talk in riddles anymore, Shagun. I’m tired of playing along with you. The only reason I’m entertaining you is because if you cooperate then we can do this without too much of a fuss. If you don’t cooperate, then I can still take the complicated and messy legal route, but that won’t be good for anyone. Not me, not you, not my family, and certainly not Adi. But you better believe I’ll do what it takes to get back in my son’s life, because that’s best for him in the long run. So tell me, are you or are you not going to let me meet Adi?”
“Raman, money is still tight around the house for us. If you could just help me out some more, then I promise you-”
“Don’t lie to me Shagun,” Raman interrupted. “I know for a fact that your boyfriend now has a partnership with a new international investor so money should be the least of your troubles. I’m not giving you another penny. The money I gave you on Thursday was only for Adi. I don't owe you anything.”
“I’m not lying to you Raman!” Shagun shot back. “You don’t think I care for Adi? I do, that’s why I’m here meeting his father without even telling Ashok.”
“I don’t care about you and Ashok. Are you going to let me meet Adi or not? Just answer me dammit!” Raman was on the edge of his patience. “Don’t forget Shagun, I gave you the money and promised to keep it a secret only on the condition that you get Adi to meet me. If you won’t hold your end of the promise, I won’t hold mine. How would you like to explain to your social circle that you borrowed money from your ex-husband?”
Raman had hit the nail right on the head.
“Fine!” Shagun conceded. “I’ll bring Adi home during his Christmas holidays and you can meet him then, happy?”
“Thank you.”
Raman smiled at his victory. But before he could completely process the joy, his smile dropped and he watched in horror as his wife walked into the cafe.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
10 minutes earlier on the road outside Starbucks
“Ruhi, be careful not to spill the ice cream, okay? Almost melt ho gayi hogi,” Ishita urged.
“Don’t worry bhabhi, mere paas napkins hai. I’ll clean it up if anything spills,” Rinki replied from the back seat.
They had all ordered one scoop of their favorite ice cream at the ice cream shop, but Ruhi, being the ice cream enthusiast that she was, ordered two scoops of double chocolate chip ice cream with sprinkles on top, which meant she had to finish the rest of her ice cream in the car on their way to the movie theater. Ishita followed Mihika’s directions from the passenger seat and drove to the theater, all the while trying hard (and failing) to keep thoughts of Raman and Shagun out of her head. Her head was spinning and she wished she hadn’t skipped her afternoon cup of tea in the rush to leave. Suddenly, the answer to her prayers appeared, and she turned into a shopping plaza.
“Akka, yahan kyun turn kiya?” Mihika asked.
“Miku, dekh yahan ek Starbucks hai,” she replied. “Main bas ek cup coffee leke aati hoon. I missed my afternoon cup of tea and my head is spinning.”
“Okay just be quick or else Ruhi-”
“Ishimaa! Aap kahan jaa rahe ho?! Hum movie ke liye late ho jaayenge?!” Ruhi fulfilled Mihika’s prediction before she could even voice it out loud.
“Don’t worry baccha. I’ll just get a cup of coffee and be right back.”
Ishita grabbed her purse and exited the vehicle. She opened the door to the cafe and the aroma of coffee calmed her nerves. But the sight that greeted her next gave her a whole new hurt, this time not in her head. Her husband, sitting across from his ex-wife, smiling at her.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Ishita and Raman locked eyes, a million unsaid questions passing between them. They were less than twenty feet apart but the distance they felt between them could be uncountable miles. Shagun turned around to see exactly what caused this horrific expression on Raman’s face; when she saw Ishita standing at the entrance of the cafe, she couldn’t suppress a smirk.
“Looks like I’m not the only one who lied to their partner about meeting their ex, huh?” she teased Raman. She was right all along. She still had control over him. She had a hold on him. She came before Ishita. Her eyes twinkled like the earrings she wore, and a wicked smile adorned her lips.
Raman paid no attention to her and stood up, walking briskly towards his wife, blood pumping in his ears. Just when he had made the resolve to clear the air with her, she showed up at the wrong time and probably got the wrong idea too.
“Tum yahan kya kar rahi ho? Tumhara to movie ka plan tha na?” he asked.
“Aur aap yahan kya kar rahe ho? Aap to kisi kaam se bahar gaye the na?” she shot his own question back at him. “Ya phir yahin tha aapka zaroori kaam?” Her eyes glimmered with hurt and unshed tears.
“Ishita, tum galat samajh rahi ho. Main tumhe batana hi wala tha-”
Her phone buzzed and cut their conversation short. It was a message from Mihika.
Akka, Ruhi is getting crankier by the minute. Only you can handle her. Please come fast.
“Abhi aapki kisi safaai sunne ka waqt nahin hain mere paas,” she said with as cool a tone as she could muster. Yet her voice wavered. “Ruhi, Mihika, aur Rinki bahar gaadi mein mera intezaar kar rahe hain.”
“Ishita wait-”
She blinked back her tears and turned around to leave the cafe, ignoring both Raman and the growing headache and heartache inside her.
Raman sighed and rubbed his temple. He returned to his seat to collect his things. What position had life put him in? He finally understood what it meant to be caught between a rock and a hard place. The empty abyss inside him deepened.
“I’ll be in contact with you once December begins, Shagun,” he said without looking at her. He could feel the smirk on her face without even looking. He wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of getting to him. “I’ll get in touch with Adi no matter what it takes.”
Raman left the cafe without so much as a second look at his ex-wife worried about Ishita's temperament.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
“Akka, aap to bina coffee ke hi wapis aa gayi?” Mihika asked as Ishita turned the car out of the shopping plaza and onto the main road.
“Haan woh line bahot thi na, aur tumne bhi kaha ki Ruhi cranky ho rahi thi so I came back without coffee,” she replied.
They drove in silence to the movie theater, as Ishita tried to make sense of her thoughts. All throughout Diwali, Raman had been getting texts and calls from Shagun, which in her logical mind she knew were about Adi. But her text was way too friendly for what she knew Shagun to be. Nevertheless, as uncomfortable as it made her, at least she knew why Raman had been in contact with her. What happened after that truly worried her. Raman had been out on Thursday saying that he was going to his office but his receptionist said he never went there. Then today she finds that Raman transferred four lakh rupees to Shagun. And while she was under the impression that he had been out for work, he was in a coffee shop smiling and chatting with his ex-wife. Ishita took a deep breath. She needed answers. And that too soon. Tonight itself.
“Akka, is everything okay?” Mihika asked as soon as they reached the movie theater and joined the line for tickets. “You seem off and worried. Kuch baat huyi hai kya?”
Ishita mentally kicked herself. She needed to be better at her poker face. Her sisters knew her extremely well; they could see right through her.
“Everything's fine Miku. This simply proves that I’m too dependent on caffeine. I’ll be fine.” She gave a light chuckle. “Dekh, ticket counter bhi aa gaya.”
They bought one child and three adult tickets and proceeded inside the cinema hall.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Bhalla house - 10:30 pm, Ishita and Raman’s bedroom
Raman sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing his palms together and leg shaking. Ishita was with Ruhi right now reading her a bedtime story. As soon as she came back, they’d have the dreaded conversation. As soon as he had come back home from the coffee shop, he had been waiting for Ishita to return, but when she did walk in through the front door with Ruhi and Rinki, he willed for time to move slower. Who knew where their conversation would land them, what the status of their relationship would be after. How would Ishita react? What would she say? What if she couldn’t forgive him? He knew how big her heart was and how selfless she could be, but would he be extended the same liberty?
By a peculiar turn of events, they hadn’t had a chance to speak all evening. Ishita was pulled into the kitchen to help with dinner preparations while Raman had to get on an urgent video call with Mihir. He had run into a problem with their presentation that they were to submit the next day to their client regarding the progress of their project. Dinner had been the usual affair, except for the fact that Ishita refused to even look at him. And he knew that the icy demeanor she held towards him did not escape anyone’s notice. Although nobody asked them anything directly, he could tell from their stares and glances that they sensed the chill between them. They were the same stares and glances he had received after his divorce with Shagun. The same stares and glances (no matter how well meaning) that he couldn’t bear to see then. But now, he couldn’t care less about them. Because all that he could see was that Ishita was upset. Ishita was hurting. Because of him. And he couldn’t let that go on for any longer. So now he was waiting in their bedroom, waiting for his wife to come in so he could do whatever it took to wipe that frown off her face.
Ishita closed the picture book and placed it on the side shelf in her daughter’s room. She kissed Ruhi good night and headed towards her own room. Her limbs suddenly felt like lead, refusing to budge. All evening she had tried her best to not look at her husband, acting cold and distant, because if she did take one look at him, she would not be able to keep herself calm. But now, she needed answers. As much as the answers might scare her. She willed her legs to move and opened the door to her bedroom.
Raman looked up and found his wife staring at him with a million questions in her eyes. He marveled at how someone could look this beautiful in night clothes, but that was beyond the point. For right now, the glimmer of unshed tears in her eyes beckoned his attention.
“Ruhi so gayi?” he asked, trying to start a conversation.
“Haan. Badi mushkil se. Aaj ki movie ki bahot baate kar rahi thi. Kal school jaana hai yeh keh kar sulaaya.”
Suddenly it occurred to him that Ruhi was with Ishita when they accidentally met today at the coffee shop.
“Does Ruhi know that… that…” he faltered.
Ishita turned to face him and finished his sentence for him. “What? That you were hanging out with your ex-wife behind my-” She caught herself at that word. “Behind your family’s back?”
Behind his family’s back? Did she really think that he was sneaking around with his ex-wife? He stood up to face Ishita.
“Ishita, I just want to know if Ruhi-”
“No, she doesn’t know. Neither do Mihika or Rinki. I didn’t tell anyone.” Of course he wanted to know about Ruhi. That’s what their marriage was. Sirf Ruhi ke liye. Just for Ruhi.
“I was meeting her to try to get in touch with Adi. I told you a week ago.”
“That’s all you told me, Raman. That you’re trying to get in touch with Adi. But how can that justify everything since then? Your constant phone calls and messages with her? Your-”
“Ishita, those phone calls and messages were to try to get a meeting fixed with Adi. You know how Shagun is. She wasn’t going to cooperate after just one conversation. I wanted to meet Adi on Diwali but apparently he doesn’t come home for Diwali. I have finally managed to get a meeting with him for when he comes home for Christmas. I-”
“That’s great Raman. I’m glad you’re rebuilding your relationship with your son. But what about the relationship you’re rebuilding with Shagun?”
“Excuse me?” Raman’s deep voice turned to steel at the insinuation of him and Shagun rekindling their relationship.
All of Ishita’s built up anger burst open at Raman’s attempt to play innocent. How. Dare. He.
“On Thursday, you said you had some work at your office and you were gone for the whole day. When I called your receptionist, she said you were never there. Today I found a receipt.” She fished through her purse for the receipt that she had tucked away earlier and showed it to him. “A receipt for a four lakh rupee money transfer to Shagun. Something which I would think you would have mentioned to me once, unless you were hiding something. And to top it all off, I find you at a coffee shop smiling and happily chatting away with your ex-wife when you’ve told me that you had work to do!”
Raman’s jaw dropped. Lady luck was really not on his side today. What are the chances that Ishita not only shows up at the exact coffee shop where he was meeting Shagun but also finds the receipt for the money transfer before he had a chance to tell her everything himself? He should have been more careful with the receipt. He took a deep breath.
“Ishita, you are right to have these questions, but I promise you, I was going to explain everything tonight after meeting with Shagun today.”
Raman couldn’t find the rest of his words, as he saw a tear roll down Ishita’s cheek. The first time he had seen her cry was when she found out Subbu had had a baby boy, and it threw his world off its axis. The fact that the second time he saw her cry was because of him pushed a sharp needle of pain through the flesh of his heart.
Ishita braced herself. This was it. This was when he finally confessed to having feelings for Shagun. She didn’t blame him. A five year long marriage that gave him two kids was bound to be more important than a fake marriage that lasted three months. So she stood there with tears streaming down her face, waiting to get rejected. Again.
“The receipt you found was for money for Adi’s school fees. Apparently Ashok was going through financial trouble and he couldn’t pay them this term so Shagun asked me. I had already invested in a separate account for Adi’s education when he was born, so that’s where the money came from. On Thursday, I was at the bank with my accountant getting the account unlocked and transferring the money to Shagun. The reason why I didn’t tell you or anyone is because Shagun asked me to keep it a secret in exchange for getting to meet Adi. She would be embarrassed if it was revealed that she had to take money from her ex-husband who she left because he didn’t earn enough in the first place.”
Ishita wiped her cheeks and paced up and down the length of the bedroom, trying to process all the new information.
“And today,” he continued, “I was meeting her to get a concrete answer regarding whether she would let me meet my son or not. She had been keeping me hanging for a week so I wanted to force an answer out of her one way or another. It took some time, but she’s finally agreed to let me meet him when he comes home for the winter holidays.”
Ishita sighed and closed her eyes. She cleared her throat and faced her husband.
“Raman, do you have any idea what I have been through over the past five days? I’ve been thinking that you’ve developed feelings for Shagun again, that our marriage would end-”
“Ishita, look at me.” Raman walked towards her and held her hands in his. He gave them a tight squeeze before continuing. “I am not interested in any form of relationship with Shagun. Woh mere liye Adi ki maa se zyada kuch nahi hai. You have nothing to worry about.”
Ishita wriggled her hands free and took a step back. Raman’s touch sent tingles down her spine and now was not the time to get distracted.
“How could I not worry, Raman? You were married to her. For five years. And you both have two children together. Compare that to our marriage. We’ve been together for three months. And our marriage isn’t even a real marriage. Isn’t it natural for you to get feelings for Shagun? You’ve been talking about rekindling your relationship with your son. Amidst that process, how far-fetched could it be if you caught feelings for your son’s mother too? What if you never moved on from her truly? It took me almost a year to get over my feelings for Subbu and we weren’t even engaged yet.”
“Are you not listening to me?” Raman asked, barely masking his anger at hearing his wife’s ex’s name from her mouth. “I don’t. Have. Feelings. For. Shagun.” he gritted out through clenched teeth.
“Look at you. I mention her name and your emotions get shot to hell. Did you not realize that what you were doing to me over the past few days was exactly what Shagun was doing to you when your marriage to her broke? The lies of omission, the sneaking around, the-”
“Enough.” Raman’s voice was icy cold. He knew he didn’t have feelings for his ex-wife. But for Ishita to suggest that he was on her level was infuriating. “Don’t you dare compare me to what that woman did. You have no idea what happened there. So don’t bring that up.”
Ishita gulped. The look on Raman’s face and restrained tone of his voice told her that she shouldn’t extend the conversation. But she still feared she was right. She had seen him hate Shagun with a passion. Which meant he had loved her and could still love her with that passion too.
“But it’s true Raman-”
“That’s it.”
“What?”
“We’re ending this conversation right here, right now. Before I say something that both of us will regret.”
They both stared at each other in silence for what seemed like an eternity, before Raman left for the washroom to change into his night clothes. Ishita was left standing staring at the spot where he stood. She walked over to the couch and sat down with her head in her hands. Her bedding for the night was placed on the side table, but she couldn’t bring herself to lay it out on the couch. In fact, she couldn’t deal with being in this room. In this house. She couldn’t deal with looking at her husband right now. She needed a break. Fresh air. She scribbled a quick note on a post-it and stuck it to the cupboard before wiping her face, grabbing her phone, and walking over next door to her parents’ house.
“Aiyyo Ishu? Itni raat ko? Sab thik to hai na kanna?” Her mother asked as she opened the door.
“Amma, sab thik hai. Bas aap logon ki yaad aa rahi thi, isiliye aa gayi. Ab kya mujhe koi occasion chahiye apne Amma-Appa ke ghar aane ke liye?” She tried her best to hide her inner turmoil.
“Nahi Ishu, tum to jab chahe aa sakti ho. Come come.” Madhu opened the door and ushered her daughter inside.
“Ishu beta, itni raat ko kaise aana hua?” Vishwa asked from the couch. Mihika too had come out to the living room from her bedroom.
“Appa, mujhe aap logon ki yaad aa rahi thi, isiliye aa gayi.”
“Are you sure kanna?” Madhu asked. “Aur koi baat to-”
“Amma, aisa kuch nahi hain. Ab kya main apne hi ghar mein parayi ho gayi?” She teased her parents.
“No beta, bilkul nahi,” Vishwa replied. “Tum jab chahe yahan aa sakti ho.”
“Thank you Appa. Mujhe bas kuch din yahan rehna hain. Is that okay ya aur bhi questions bhi hai aapke?”
Both Madhu and Vishwa definitely had more questions. Something was wrong. Their daughter wouldn’t show up at their doorstep this late at night just because she missed them. But they knew better than to ask right now. She clearly didn’t want to talk about it.
“Koi questions nahi hai beta,” Vishwa replied.
“Akka, come na!” Mihika dragged Ishita into her bedroom. “We’ll sleep together like the old days. Before you got married.”
Ishita found it hard to think about the days before she got married. Ruhi and Raman were her entire world now. The ache in her heart ripened at the thought.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Raman came back from the bathroom in his night clothes. He was still angry, but thinking about the situation from Ishita’s perspective told him that she wasn’t wrong. Her doubts and fears were valid. But he had no clue how to assuage them.
He opened the door to his bedroom to find the couch empty. He looked around but Ishita was nowhere to be seen. Before he left to look for her in the rest of the house, he found a post-it note stuck to the cupboard.
Raman, I’m going to Amma & Appa’s for the night. I need some space. And time to think. --Ishita
Raman took the note in his hand and read it again. And again. He crumbled the note in his fist and his heartbeat drummed in his ears. Was this it? Was she going to decide that he wasn’t worth it? That she wouldn’t put up with him and this fake marriage? No. He wouldn’t let that happen. He would fight. If not for himself, then for his daughter. Ruhi needed Ishita. And he knew damn well Ishita needed Ruhi too.
He marched over to his in-laws’ house and knocked with a ferocity that surprised him. Madhu opened the door. Seeing her son-in-law fuming confirmed her fears about her daughter’s predicament.
“Mujhe Ishita se baat karni hain.”
“Woh andar Mihika ke saath hain. Come in, Raman. Come in.”
Raman didn’t bother with formalities. He was being rude, not acknowledging or greeting his mother-in-law and father-in-law but he couldn’t think of anything except Ishita right now.
He reached Mihika’s bedroom (and Ishita’s former bedroom) and knocked on the door. Mihika opened it.
“Mujhe tumhari behen se akele mein baat karni hai. Abhi, isi waqt.”
“Kya hua jeeju, aap-”
“Mihika, I don’t have time to answer your questions right now. Just let me talk to Ishita right now. Privately.” He put emphasis on the last word, and Mihika knew not to argue. She let Raman in and left the room, closing the door behind her, leaving Raman and Ishita alone.
“Raman, aap yahan kyun aa gaye?” Ishita asked. The whole point behind coming here was to not have to face him for a while.
“Yahin sawaal main tumse puch sakta hoon.”
“Maine likha to tha. I just need some time to think. Just let me stay here for a few days. I think we both could use some space.”
After a long stretch of silence, Raman asked the question he feared the most.
“Do you regret this marriage?”
“What?” Ishita was utterly confused.
“Just answer me. Do you regret this marriage?”
“No, not at all. This marriage gave me Ruhi. She’s my world.”
Raman took a breath of relief. She wasn’t leaving him. Even if it was just for Ruhi. Sirf Ruhi ke liye. In that moment, for the first time, he found himself being jealous of his daughter. Damn, if this woman didn’t drive him nuts.
“I just need a couple days away from you,” she continued. “To think. To get my head straight.”
“Okay then. Tell me when you are ready to come back.”
He ended the conversation and left his in-laws’ house, with their conversation replaying in his head. His legs led him into his flat, his bedroom, and to his bed, but his mind was stuck on a phrase Ishita had said.
I just need a couple days away from you.
He lied on his bed, staring at the ceiling. He knew himself better than anyone, so why did it hurt when Ishita wanted to be away from him? He knew better than anyone that he thrived in solitude. That alone is what protected him. He wanted - no, needed - to be alone, to thrive. He had trained himself to be on his own. To protect his heart. But the truth of the matter was that Ishita had begun to break the walls he’d built around himself, without even meaning to. He couldn’t find words to describe it, but she could fill the emptiness in his life like no one could. What they had was something he’d never experienced before. He tried to remove thoughts of his wife from his head and fall asleep. But every time he tossed and turned in his bed, his gaze lingered on the empty couch. And the emptiness in his heart, his soul, and his life magnified.
Lafzon se jo tha pare
Khaalipan ko jo bhare
Kuch to tha tere mere darmiyaan
Rishte ko kya mod doon
Naata yeh ab tod doon
Ya phir yun hi chhod doon, darmiyaan
Benaam rishta woh…
Benaam rishta woh, bechain karta jo
Ho naa.. sake jo bayaan, darmiyaan
Darmiyaan Darmiyaan
Darmiyaan Darmiyaan
Kuch to tha tere-mere darmiyaan
Haaye
Darmiyaan Darmiyaan
Darmiyaan Darmiyaan
Kuch to tha tere-mere darmiyaan
Oh its a special feeling
These moments between us
How will I live without you [x2]
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Iyer House - midnight, Mihika’s bedroom
Ishita tossed and turned on the king-sized bed. Although Mihika had fallen asleep long ago, Ishita wasn’t granted the same fortune. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t get thoughts of Raman out of her head. Did he even know that he hadn’t moved on from Shagun? Or was she reading into it too much? Was she projecting her own insecurities on the situation? Many such questions plagued her, and she knew it was necessary to take some space and distance herself from the situation. But try as she might, she couldn’t distance herself from thoughts of her husband. Everywhere she looked, memories of Raman appeared in her mind. The cupboard reminded her of their argument over how much space her sarees took in their cupboard. The dresser reminded her of their banter over how long she took to get ready. And how he looked at her with a slack-jawed expression when she finally was ready. Even the bed reminded her of the many nights they had spent with Ruhi in between. She closed her eyes and sighed. She had no clue what they were now. All she knew was that she could not give up on their relationship.
Aankhon mein tere saaye
Chahoon to ho na paaye
Yaadon se teri faasla haye
Jaake bhi tu na jaaye
Thehra tu dil mein haaye
Hasrat si banke kyun bhala
Kyun yaad karti hoon
Mitti hoon banti hoon
Mujhko toh laaya yeh kahaan
Benaam rishta woh…
Benaam rishta woh, bechain karta jo
Ho na sake jo bayaan darmiyaan
Darmiyaan Darmiyaan
Darmiyaan Darmiyaan
Kuch toh tha tere mere darmiyaan
Haaye..
Darmiyaan Darmiyaan
Darmiyaan Darmiyaan
Kuch toh tha tere mere darmiyaan
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Lovely updates .
It’s like reliving yhm .
It’s that beautiful .
Coming to the story .
Why didn’t Raman use funds from his personal savings account to pay for Adi’s fees ?
Why take the troublesome route ? Unless ,he wanted to show off to Shagun that he had created a trust fund in Adi’s name .
I feel that he does have some feelings for Shagun still .Even if not a friendly one .
Adi too may get impressed I guess .
N transferring this Amt need not have been hidden from Ishu as it was not his personal savings account n the whole process had been laborious n time consuming .Ishu cares more for Raman than how much Raman does for Ishu .
ISHU’s choices are closed while Raman’s isn’t .Hence Raman was not innocent in what he was doing in Shagun’s company .
God .Ishu is definitely a very strong woman .Even if Ruhi keliye .Loyalty is a part of any marriage .N that’s lacking from Raman’s part .
| topics | author | replies | views | reply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -SG- | 1 | 239 | ||
| ChanChanMan | 1.1k | 156.4k | ||
| -SG- | 1 | 278 | ||
| --PriyaRay-- | 7 | 1.2k | ||
| Phoenix- | 3 | 645 |
comment:
p_commentcount