Part 55
Bhalla House - two days later, 8:30 pm
"Dadu! Dadi! Look what Ayush gave me!" Adi burst in through the front door, waving a purple pamphlet in the air, with his father following behind him.
"Ki hoya puttar?" Omprakash asked from the sofa.
"Look at this." Adi squeezed between his grandparents and opened the pamphlet. "There's regional football tryouts this weekend. It's open for ages 9-13. And I really wanna go. If I get selected, I'll be playing with kids from all over Delhi! We could go to national, even international meets!"
"Wow, sounds really great beta," Toshi said, beaming at her grandson's excitement.
"Papa, can I go? Please please please?" Adi pleaded.
Raman sat down on the opposite sofa, listening to his son's pleas. Ishita came by with a glass of water and handed it to him, sitting down beside him.
"I think it's a good idea beta," Raman said. "What do you say Ishita?"
Ishita hesitated to agree. Adi loved football. But the moment he entered competitive football, it would turn into a source of stress instead of a stressbuster. But then again, he was already so competitive, just like his father. Maybe he needed an avenue to express it.
"Please Ishita Aunty?" Adi implored.
"Okay beta. But only as long as it's not too stressful for you," Ishita conceded.
"YES!" Adi jumped up in joy, punching his fists in the air.
Ishita and Raman chuckled at his excitement, pleased to see he had come out of his shell, and his confidence soared.
"Aap logon ko dinner karna hai?" Ishita asked.
"Nahi Aunty, maine Ayush ke ghar pe dinner kar liya," Adi answered.
"Raman, aapko?" she asked.
"Nahin." Raman groaned and stretched his back. "Adi ko lene gaya tab Ayush ke parents ne thoda thoda karke bahot kuch khila diya. Ab pet mein paani ke liye bhi jagah nahi hai. Mujhe bas seedha shower lekar so jaana hai."
"Thik hai, aap naah lijiye. Main kitchen samet kar aati hoon."
As Raman proceeded to the bathroom, Ishita cleaned up the kitchen, washing the remaining dishes in the sink. Before heading to her bedroom to turn in for the night though, she made a quick stop at the kids' bedroom.
"Ishimaa, aaj kaunsi story sunaaoge?" Ruhi asked, as Ishita walked in.
"Aap dono ko kaunsi story sunni hai?" she asked her kids.
"Ummm... pata nahi..." Ruhi rubbed her chin in confusion.
"Main suggest karu?" Adi said.
"Haan bolo na Adi," Ishita encouraged.
"Aap woh Yashoda Ma aur Krishna ki story suna rahe the na, waise hi koi story sunao na?"
"Chalo thik hai, aa jaao."
She situated herself in the middle of Adi's bed, as Adi sat beside her, while Ruhi climbed into her lap.
"I'll tell you about the time when Yashoda Maa tied up Lord Krishna with a rope," she began.
"Wait really?" Adi's eyes widened in surprise. "She literally tied him up?"
"Yup."
Ishita narrated the tales of Krishna's mischief and how the gopis (maidens) of Gokul had complained to his mother. How Yashoda Maiyya had grown frustrated with her son and tied him to a grinding mortar as punishment. How Lord Krishna had dragged the mortar stone between two twin trees and brought them down, thus freeing the sons of Kuber from Narad ji's curse.
Adi listened to his stepmother with utmost concentration, in complete awe of Yashoda Ma and Krishna's relationship. The first time he had heard of their tale, he had felt such strong longing for such a mother. However, he had squashed his desires thinking that Yashoda Ma was a divine character, only to be found in tales and stories, similar to the 'evil stepmothers' he had once been afraid of.
But over the course of the last month, he had found such a mother in Ishita. She loved him and his sister beyond words. Even her scoldings and rebukes were conveyed with so much love. He had never been scared of her like he had of Shagun. He marveled at the difference in what he had thought of her and what she had proven to be.
His weekly therapy appointments had helped him learn to think for himself and to accept the love coming his way. And now he knew... His mom had been wrong about Ishita. So wrong.
"And that's how Yashoda Maiyya's punishment for little Krishna turned out to be a blessing for Lord Kuber's sons," Ishita said, ending the bedtime story.
She picked up Ruhi, who had fallen asleep in her lap, and laid her down on her bed, while Adi unfolded his blanket and pulled it up to his chin.
"Good night Adi," Ishita said, as she turned off the light.
"Good night Aunty," he replied.
Ishita left the kids' bedroom and entered her own, ready to turn in for the night. But turned out, she had yet to deal with her biggest baby.
Raman stood in front of their wardrobe, a frown marring his lips, his hands on his hips.
"Ab aapko kya hua?" Ishita asked.
"Look at our closet." Raman pulled his wife to their closet and showed her his problem.
"What's wrong with it?"
"What's wrong is that your clothes are taking up all the space!" he huffed, walking away.
"So what? I have more clothes than you, so obviously they'll take more space," she reasoned, turning to face him.
"You don't have more clothes. You just happen to have bigger clothes."
Sometimes I hate every single stupid word you say
Sometimes I wanna slap you in your whole face
"Raman! Itni bhi moti nahi hoon main!" she shrieked.
"Dekha, chor ki daadhi mein tinka," he chuckled. "I'm not talking about your size madrasan. I was talking about the length of your sarees."
"Yeah right..." she scoffed, making to leave for the bathroom.
"Accha naaraaz mat ho," he pleaded, pulling her back by her hand.
"Kyun na houn? Humesha mujhe pareshaan karte rehte ho," she pouted.
There's no one quite like you, you push all my buttons down
I know life would suck without you
Raman snaked his hands around her waist, pulling her back against his chest, nuzzling her neck. "You look really cute when you're mad."
She pressed her lips to avoid smiling, maintaining her annoyance. "That's not going to work this time."
"I bet it won't..." He dropped a series of kisses along the nape of her neck, feeling her melt under the onslaught of his lips.
At the same time, I wanna hug you
I wanna wrap my hands around your neck
Ishita arched her neck giving him more room, craving more of his touch, closing her eyes in pleasure.
"You still think this isn't working?" he whispered between kisses.
"Yes..." she whispered back.
"So you're still upset?" He scraped her hair to the side, giving special attention to each inch of her exposed skin.
"Yes..."
"Anything I can do?"
"Yes..."
Ishita continued saying 'yes' throughout the night, but in answer to an entirely different question.
You're an asshole but I love you
And you make me so mad, I ask myself
Why I'm still here, or where could I go
You're the only love I've ever known
But I hate you, I really hate you
So much I think it must be
True love, true love
It must be true love
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Bhalla House - three days later, Saturday, 9th June, 7 am
"Are you ready Adi?" Ishita asked, zipping his backpack.
"Yes Aunty." He rolled up his socks to his knees. "Main mom ko phir se message kar deta hoon. So she gets there on time."
"Ruhi, papa uthe ki nahi?" Ishita asked.
"Nope," Ruhi said before taking another bite of her toast.
Ishita sighed and headed to their bedroom. Adi's regional football tryouts were today, and they had to get to the field by eight o'clock. Both her kids were up and ready, but Raman refused to budge.
"Raman, wake up already." She sat on the edge of their bed and shook her husband's sleeping form. "Utho na baba, please..."
Raman groaned and turned on his side, facing away from his wife. "Sone do na thodi der."
"Aiyyo aaj hi Ravan kumar ko Kumbhkaran banna tha?" she muttered in exasperation. "Raman, Adi ka match ek ghante mein shuru ho raha hai. Please uthiye na."
Instead of waking up, her naughty husband pulled her down on the bed, wrapping his arms around her. "Ek kaam karo, tum bhi so jaao thodi der," he yawned.
Ishita pushed back on his chest and straightened herself, escaping from his hold, much to his disappointment. "Aap ko is waqt yeh sab sujh raha hai?" she chided him.
"Kya yaar..." Raman sighed, closing his eyes again.
Just once try to wrap your little brain around my feelings
Just once please try no to be so mean
Repeat after me now R-O-M-A-N-C-E
Come on I'll say it slowly (Romance!)
You can do it babe
Ishita stood up from the bed and chewed her lip. Time for plan B. She left the bedroom and found her kids on the couch.
"Adi, Ruhi, come here," she beckoned.
Two minutes later, all three of them burst into Raman & Ishita's bedroom.
"WAKE UP PAPA!"
"UTHO RAMAN!"
Raman jerked awake as he found his blanket pulled off his bed, whining at the loss of warmth.
"What the hell?!" he yelled as he sat up, running a palm down his face.
"Good, you're finally up." Ishita bundled up the blanket and threw it on the couch.
At the same time, I wanna hug you
I wanna wrap my hands around your neck
"All three of you are done for." Raman climbed off the bed and gave chase.
Adi and Ruhi squealed in delight as they escaped to the living room, but Ishita wasn't so lucky. She found herself caged in his arms before she could cross the threshold of their bedroom.
"Ab ruk, tujhe mazaa chakhaata hoon," he threatened playfully.
"Woh sab baad mein. Abhi jao, naah lo, aur ready ho jao." She pushed him towards the bathroom and broke free of his clutches.
Raman ruffled his hair, hiding a smile. He may love his early morning sleep, but he loved these smiles more.
You're an asshole but I love you
And you make me so mad, I ask myself
Why I'm still here, or where could I go
You're the only love I've ever known
But I hate you, I really hate you
So much I think it must be
True love, true love
It must be true love
https://youtu.be/c6vsHF3E9NU
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Arch Sports Field - 8:30 am
The whistle sounded and Adi set off with the football. He kicked it across the grass and ran behind it, barrelling towards the goal. He passed it to his teammate who kicked it to the goal, only for the ball to be stopped by the other team's goalkeeper. Five minutes later, the opposite team scored a goal much to Adi's dismay. He somehow took over the ball and kicked it to the goal.... and missed.
Adi grew distressed as the opposite team gained an advantage. He wiped the sweat on his forehead with his sleeve, glancing at the scoreboard apprehensively. His next glance went to the bleachers, and his anxiety eased somewhat. Ishita, Raman, Ruhi, Toshi, and Omprakash sat in the bleachers, waving and cheering for him, boosting his confidence. But his mom wasn't there, despite his many calls and messages. Where was she?
The coach blew his whistle again, and Adi turned his attention to the ball, infused with newfound strength. He and Ayush teamed up kicking the ball to each other and finally scoring a goal for their team. Their match continued, with the kids showing their best skills, and the team selectors noting down their strengths and weaknesses.
The match ended in a tie, and the selectors congratulated the boys on a good show of skill. They promised to email the results of the team selection as well as mail a formal letter of selection after their region-wide tryouts ended.
"How did I play guys?" Adi asked, as they all headed to the parking lot.
"Tu te chaa gaya puttar!" Toshi exclaimed.
"Bahot accha khela aapne beta," Raman said.
"Kahan accha khela?" Ruhi intervened. "Bhaiya ki team jeeti to nahi."
"Ae Ruhi chuhi! Tujhe pata bhi hai kitna hard hai ek goal karna?" Adi flicked her in the head. "Zyada smart mat ban tu."
"Bhaiya! You flicked me!" Ruhi scrunched her eyes in annoyance, glaring at her brother and rubbing her head where he had flicked her.
In response, Adi stuck out his tongue at her.
"Bhaiya!" Ruhi screamed and jumped at him, as Adi swiftly parried her attack and ran off.
Ruhi gave chase, much to her mother's concern.
"Adi! Ruhi! Don't run around the parking lot! Gaadiyaan hai aas paas!" Ishita picked up the pace to follow her children.
However, before any of them could get any farther, a familiar car pulled into the parking lot. Adi stopped in his tracks, causing Ruhi to almost bump into him. Ishita came up behind them along with the rest of the family, as they surveyed the black Mercedes Benz that had pulled in.
Shagun stepped out of the back seat, eyes covered with sunglasses. Her mouth curved up in a smile at seeing her son and then turned into a scowl at seeing everybody else.
"Adi, is your match over?" she asked.
"Yes mom," he answered.
"Did you make the team?"
"They'll email us the results later. But mom, where were you?" Adi asked, questions and accusations in his eyes.
"I was busy," she replied curtly.
"But mom, I texted you three times to remind you-"
"Adi enough!" she gritted out, rubbing her throbbing head.
Adi's face fell in disappointment. How he wished his mom would've come on time. It was his first time trying out for a major competitive league and she hadn't made it. Every time he had looked over to the bleachers, the absence of his mother had pinched him in the eye. But he should've known. He should've learned to expect disappointment by now. After all, this wasn't unlike the rest of his special events. Usually, he could pacify himself saying his mom was busy or tired. But he wasn't in the mood for it anymore.
Raman ground his teeth, angry at his ex-wife for hurting and disappointing his son over and over again. Especially when Adi kept forgiving her, continuing to give her more and more chances. Maybe it was time for him to see his mother for who she really was.
"What exactly were you busy with Shagun?" he asked, calling her bluff. The sunglasses on her eyes, her fingers rubbing her head... He could easily tell she was sleeping off a hangover.
"I don't owe you any answers, Raman," she spat out.
"That's true. But you do owe Adi an answer."
Shagun averted her eyes, looking away.
"Because you don't work a job, right? Like Ishita or me? Neither are you elderly or sick or tired like Adi's grandparents. So... what were you busy doing?" Raman crossed his arms across his chest, proving his point.
Adi exhaled heavily from his nostrils. Dad was right. How was mom always busy or tired or unavailable when it came to him and his necessities? His father handled his huge business, but was still always available for him and Ruhi. His stepmother worked as a full-time dentist, but she was still constantly at their beck and call. He knew of his grandmother's aching knees, his grandfather's back pain, Rinki bua's job, Romi chachu's growing responsibilities at the office... Yet they all found time to spend time with him and attend his special events. So what was stopping his mom?
Shagun gulped and scrunched her nose in haughty irritation. Rather than answer Raman's questions, she turned to Adi. "Beta, I was thinking of going shopping today. Do you want to come and buy some new video games?"
Adi discreetly rolled his eyes. Helped by his family and his therapist, he had learned to allow himself to healthily express every emotion he felt, rather than hide it under a facade. And right now, he was miffed with his mother. It was always like this. It was always about what his mom wanted. Never mind what he wanted, or even needed.
"What say Adi?" Shagun repeated.
Adi turned to his father instead. "Papa, can we go home? I'm really hungry."
Raman ruffled his son's hair and smiled. "Sure beta. Let's go."
Raman guided his children and family to their cars, him and his wife driving them home, leaving behind a shell-shocked Shagun.
She was used to always being the center of attention. More importantly, being at the center of her son's attention. He had always loved her, sought to please her, sometimes been scared of her, and in rare instances, even gotten upset with her.
But today, for the first time ever, Adi had ignored her. He had walked off without giving her an answer, pretending as if she wasn't even there. She stood there, unable to process what had happened. She wasn't mad, she wasn't dissappointed, she was simply... shocked.
"Adi..." she whispered into the air to no one in particular. But her son was long gone.
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Bhalla House – a week later, Sunday, 17th June, 11 am
"Is everything ready here?" Romi asked.
"Almost..." Ruhi placed the candles on the cake as Rinki finished decorating the edges with icing.
"Adi, tum yeh dishes taste karke bataao na, sahi hai ya nahi?" Ishita asked. "Yeh sab non-veg hai."
"Sure Aunty." Adi picked up a couple spoons and tasted the curries laid out on the table. "It's all good Aunty. Spicy and chatpata," he said a couple minutes later.
"Oh no! Mumma ka message aaya hai! They're on their way back!" Simi exclaimed. "Sab log chup jaao, jaldi!"
Everyone scrambled to their hiding spots. Adi and Ruhi crouched down behind the sofa; Simi and Ishita hid behind the kitchen counter; and Romi and Rinki creeped into the closest bedroom, hiding behind the ajar door.
Their front door clicked open and Toshi walked in with her husband and son trailing behind.
"Maa, aaj ke baad kabhi mujhe apne saath shopping par mat le jaana," Raman complained. "Dimaag ka dahi ho gaya. Itni dhoop mein ek dukaan se doosri dukaan humein ghumaaya..."
"Raman sahi keh raha hai, Toshiji," Omprakash joined in. "Aap ne aaj bargaining ki had kar di..."
"Maa kasam, toothpaste aur toothbrush ke liye paanch-dus rupiye ki bargaining-"
Before Raman could continue ranting, noise exploded around him. Six bodies shot out of nowhere and yelled, "SURPRISE!"
Raman and Omprakash dropped their shopping bags in surprise as they stumbled back. Toshi hobbled forward and joined Simi and Ishita.
"What's all this?" Omprakash asked.
"HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!" the crowd yelled.
Ruhi and Adi ran up to Raman, enveloping him in a bear hug, almost toppling him over. Meanwhile, Rinki, Simi, and Romi walked up to Omprakash, touched his feet, and hugged him. Both fathers were brought over to the dining table and they almost gasped at the sight.
A large rectangular chocolate cake sat in the middle, covered in blue icing and chocolate ganache. Copper casseroles of their favorite chicken and mutton curries surrounded the cake, along with piles of naan and basmati rice.
"To yeh sab planning chal rahi thi aap logon ki?" Omprakash asked.
"Ek minute..." A light bulb turned on in Raman's head. "Maa, kya isliye aap ne humein pure market mein ghumaaya?"
Toshi laughed without abandon. "I had to keep you guys occupied, you know."
"Papa! Ab cake kaato na!" Ruhi urged.
Raman and Omprakash cut the cake, feeding their children and wives, and gobbling up massive bites of chocolate cake in return. Simi served two plates for the two fathers and sat them down for lunch.
"Papa, Bhai, aap log lunch shuru kijiye. Aur yeh batayiye ki taste familiar hai ya nahi," she said.
They pulled up their chairs and dug into their food... and smiled at the first bite.
"Yeh khaana 'Kakke da Dhaba' mein se laaye?" Omprakash asked, relishing the taste of their favorite Punjabi dishes from their favorite roadside dhaba.
Simi nodded.
"Lekin woh to lagbagh ek ghanta door hai!" Raman exclaimed.
"Tabhi toh aap dono ko itna ghumaya bahar!" Toshi answered. "Wahan se khaana laane mein Romi ko do ghante lag gaye. Aur Adi-Ruhi ko yeh cake bhi banana tha na?"
"You guys made this cake? At home?" Raman asked, genuinely surprised, even as he chomped down on naan and chicken.
"Yes papa!" Ruhi squealed.
"Technically Ishita aunty helped though," Adi said, giving credit where credit is due.
"Except for the eggs," Ishita clarified. "Adi did all that. Cracking and beating the eggs and all."
Adi laughed silently recalling how his Brahmin Ishita Aunty's face had screwed up in disgust at the prospect of handling raw eggs.
After lunch, Ruhi demanded her father and grandfather sit down on the sofa so they could start the gift giving session.
Romi gifted his father a portable back and neck massager. Rinki and Simi had saved up together and bought him a luxurious care package, containing his favorite cologne, body wash, shaving cream and razors, face masks, chocolate truffles, and a bottle of his favorite red wine.
Meanwhile, Ishita pulled Raman aside and discreetly handed him a small gift-wrapped box.
"I know you didn't have time to buy a gift for papaji," she explained. "So this is from us."
Raman smiled. Not only had it slipped his mind, he had also been quite busy at work over the past week. But he was never worried. He had his wife to count on.
"Thanks madrasan," he whispered.
"Chaliye."
"Ruk do minute." He stopped her by the hand and whispered in her ear. "You didn't have lunch. Sab non-veg tha isiliye? Kuch veg order nahi kiya apne liye?"
"Aisa nahi hai," she explained. "Vandu Akka and I are taking Appa out for lunch later. I'll eat then."
"All right. That's fine then."
They joined the crowd again and Raman handed his dad their gift. Omprakash tore off the wrapping paper and opened the box to reveal a brand new fitbit smartwatch.
"Ae te badi changi ghadi hai puttar," he commented.
"Sirf ghadi nahi hai papaji," Ishita interrupted. "Aap ise apne phone ke saath connect karke apni heart rate, breathing, walking steps, sab kuch track kar sakte hain. Yahan tak ki aap ki sleep cycles aur neend ki quality bhi record kar sakte hai."
Omprakash's eyebrows raised up in surprise. He promptly put on the watch and took Romi's help connecting it to his phone's bluetooth, while Adi and Ruhi lined up to give Raman their gifts.
"Papa, this is for you." Ruhi handed him a square box wrapped in hot pink gift wrap.
"Beta, kam se kam is gift ko toh pink mein wrap nahi karna tha?" Raman chuckled, as he tore open the box. He flipped the lids open and pulled out a sleek black mug that said in white cursive letters... 💙My first love, my forever hero, my dad 💙
Raman's lips turned upwards and his eyes watered. "Come here beta."
He pulled his daughter forward, cocooning his little girl in his arms, dropping a wet kiss on her cheek.
"Papa! Aapki daadhi chubhti hai!" Ruhi pulled back and rubbed her cheek in mild annoyance.
Next, Adi presented his gift, a large but thin rectangle-shaped frame wrapped in green gift wrap.
"Yeh kya hai Adi, itna bada?" his father mused, even as he opened his gift.
When he finally gazed at his son's present, his watering eyes spilled over. It was a collage of old and new photos of him and his son, surrounded by a thick silver frame. Each old photo was taped adjacent to a newer one, highlighting the passage of time, the years that had gone by. But in every photo, their smiles were unchanged. Even with the years they had lost, they never lost out on their love, their bond.
"Maine dadi aur bua ki help li thi saare photos print karne ke liye... Um... how do you like it papa?" Adi asked, his heart in his throat.
"I... I love it beta..." Raman's voice was low but flooded with emotion. "These are the best gifts ever."
He momentarily set down the collage and opened his arms for his kids. As he hugged his son and daughter, his wife lovingly gazing at them, he forgot every moment of every year he had lost with them. Life was paying him back for everything he had missed out on.
Little did he know, life was a bitch.
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Bhalla House – Next day, Adi and Ruhi's bedroom, 4:45 pm
Adi scrolled through Rinki bua's tablet, immersed in the young adult e-book she had purchased for him. One more page... one more page and he'd know who kidnapped the royal prince.
"Bhaiya! Adi bhaiya!" His sister stormed into the room and he groaned, even as his eyes remained fixed to the screen.
"Whaaaat?" he gritted out.
"Shravu aaya hai next door, periamma aur periappa ke saath. Chalo na uske saath khelenge!" she squealed.
"Tum jaao, I'll come later," he whispered. The villian was going to be revealed soon. He couldn't afford to even move, much less leave his book.
"Bhaiya chalo na!" Ruhi pulled on Adi's hand, but he was too engrossed in the e-book.
Ruhi sighed. Her parents were still at work. Dadi was in the living room with her friends Pammi and Dolly Aunty, glued to the TV's most dramatic Indian soap opera. Dadu had his head stuck in a newspaper. And Adi bhaiya was glued to this e-book. Hopefully the people next door were less boring.
"Ugh... fine. Main hi jaati hoon." Ruhi ran out of the bedroom, with a quick goodbye to her grandparents in the living room, before flying next door to play with Shravu.
Adi's eyes ran across the page over and over. He reached the last paragraph of the chapter. The prince was in the hideaway, tied to a chair, a black cloth covering his eyes. The cloth was removed and he blinked his eyes open, adjusting to the darkness, as his kidnapper's figure appeared before him. His vision focused and he saw his kidnapper, who turned out to be...
Adi gasped. The prince was kidnapped by none other than... his own mother. He read the last paragraph again. And again. And again. All along, she had been the wolf in the sheep's clothing.
He turned off the tablet, staring into space, trying to process the plot twist he had just read. Just then, a knock sounded on his bedroom door, snapping him out of his reverie.
"Hi Adi beta," Shagun said. "Your dadi said you were in here, so I came in to meet you." She sauntered in and sat down on his bed beside her son. "Kaise ho beta?"
"I'm fine mom," he replied with a smile on his face. "How are you?"
"I'm good beta..."
Shagun detailed the latest of the parties and functions she had attended, regaling about the newest dresses and jewelry she had bought. Even so, she left out the uglier details. How Suraj had taunted her and degraded her for her spending, unaware that this was now the only source of joy in her life. She ruminated on the recent lack of attention from Ashok, how he ignored her, how his gaze wandered to younger and skinnier women nowadays. As it turned out, his love had highs and lows. It was never constant, never reliable.
She had just escaped the Khanna Mansion after another ugly fight between both brothers. A fight regarding money over anything else. Her anxiety had heightened, scared that another home of hers was being threatened because of lack of money.
Therefore, when she saw no light around, she naturally floated over to the one source of light in her life, like a moth to a flame. Her son. Because his love was constant, always reliable.
"How was your weekend beta?" Shagun asked Adi, when her narration was over.
"It was a lot of fun mom. We all celebrated Father's Day together!" he beamed. "And Ruhi and I made a chocolate cake. She kept licking the batter and Ishita Aunty had to ask her to wash her hands over and over again." He rolled his eyes as he described his sister's antics.
"And I had to break and beat the eggs, you know? Ishita Aunty doesn't touch eggs. She's a pure vegetarian. You should've seen her face when I read that point from the recipe." He laughed as he imitated his stepmother's scrunched up face.
Shagun's nostrils flared in anger. "Isheeta, Isheeta, Isheeta! Tum bhi in sab Bhallas ke tarah uska naam ratne lage na!" she yelled, roughly getting up from the bed, glaring down at her son.
Adi exhaled roughly, standing up to face his mother. "Why are you so mad at her mom?" he asked innocently. "She never says anything bad about you. In fact, no one here badmouths you. Then why do you always have to say such bad things?"
Shagun staggered back slightly. This was the first time Adi had ever talked back to her. "What the hell did these people do to you?" she sneered. "Is this how you talk to your mother?!"
Adi met her eyes, his gaze unblinking. He wasn't scared anymore. "Mom, Ishita Aunty is actually very nice. Please don't say such bad things about her."
Shagun's eyes widened and she saw red. Adi was the one person she relied on to be there for her. He was supposed to be her constant support, her ever reliable pillar. Now even he was slipping from her fingers. If she lost him... She would be all alone. No, she couldn't let that happen.
"Isheeta is your stepmother Adi!" she boomed. "It's all a hoax! Woh sirf tumhe pyaar karne ka naatak kar rahi hai! She doesn't love-"
"No mom!" Adi interrupted. "She's really genuinely that nice. You're wrong about her! You were wrong about everyth-"
The rest of his words died on his tongue, as a resounding slap landed on his cheek. He staggered back, clutching onto the desk behind him for support, as his eyes pooled with heartbreak. No one had ever slapped him before. This was what he got for daring live freely. For falling in love with his family. For being brave enough to speak up in their defense.
"Shagun! How dare you!"
"Yeh kya kar rahi ho tum?!"
Two angry, shocked voices echoed from the doorway, their footsteps becoming louder and louder as they apporached Shagun and Adi.
Raman pulled Shagun away by the hand as Ishita stepped in front of Adi, shielding him protectively. Adi tightly clutched the pallu of her saree, hiding behind her figure. How the tables had turned! He was hiding from his own mother – his own flesh and blood – behind his stepmother.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Raman fumed. "How dare you hit him?! Aaj tak maine aur Ishita ne humaare bacchon par apni aawaaz tak nahi uthayi, aur tumne humaare bete par haath uthaane ki himmat ki?!"
Shagun wrenched her hand free. "He's my son, Raman! I get to decide what to do with him! He disrespected his mother and needed to be taught a lesson," she spit back.
"ENOUGH!" Raman bellowed. "He's not an object that you get to own or a chess piece you can boss around for your own pleasure! Uski bhi feelings hai, emotions hai. Tum kabhi uske baare mein kyun nahi sochti?!"
"Shagun, tum uski maa ho," Ishita added, fiercely protecting Adi behind her. "Tumhaare har faisle mein tumhe khud se pehle uske baare mein sochna chahiye. The moment you became a parent, he should've always come first!"
"Ho gaya shuru tumhaara lecture?" Shagun mocked. "Tum apna muh band-"
"Zabaan sambhaalke Shagun!" Raman roared. "Biwi hai woh meri!"
"I've had enough of you both." Shagun sidestepped Ishita and grasped Adi's hand behind her. "Come on Adi. We're leaving."
She dragged Adi out of the room, her fingers bruising his upper arm, much to Ishita and Raman's utter shock.
"Shagun, what the hell are you going?!" Raman shouted.
"Ruk jaao Shagun! Use aise lekar mat jaao!" Ishita begged.
"Mom! Mom please stop!" Adi pleaded, tears streaming down his face. "Mom, I'm sorry! Main phir se aisa kabhi nahi bolunga! Please mujhe lekar mat jaao! Please mujhe yahin rehne do!" he sobbed. But his pleas fell on deaf ears.
By now they had reached the front door, crossing over into the lobby between the Iyer and Bhalla houses, and mostly everyone had gathered, trying their best to stop Shagun.
Toshi cried out for her grandson, pleading Shagun not to leave with Adi, even as she was supported by Dolly and Pammi. Omprakash tried his best to calm down his wife, as he simultaneously begged for Shagun to stop, horribly reliving a flashback from five years ago. Madhu and Vishwa joined their pleas, their heart breaking at Adi's plight, a grandchild they had grown to love just as much as Ruhi and Shravu. Bala sent over compassionate glances and words to Adi, trying his best to get him to calm down while keeping a glance over on his six-month pregnant wife, hoping the stress didn't prove too much for her.
Ishita called out after Shagun, pleading her not to take Adi away. She had already felt the pain of being separated from a child. She couldn't take it again. She dashed towards them, stubbing her toe on a nearby table, but darted forward anyway, ignoring the throbbing in her foot. Somehow, she managed to catch Adi's hand, only for Shagun to wrench it free and pull him away.
Raman ran behind Shagun, yelling and sobbing, internally cursing his life for repeating history from five years ago. He couldn't bear to watch his son go again. Not when he clearly didn't want to leave himself. He would fight tooth and nail, climb mountains and swim across fire... But he wouldn't watch his son be taken away. Not again.
He managed to step in front of his ex-wife, stopping her before she could reach the elevator and leave with his son in tow.
"Tum Adi ko lekar nahi jaa sakti Shagun!" he declared, eyes raining hellfire.
"I can and I will, Raman," she answered. "Agar tum chaahte ho ki Adi yahan rahe to Isheeta ko yahan se jaana hoga!" she declared. "Iski wajah se mera beta mujhse zubaan ladaane lagaa hai!"
Ishita was knocked back as she registered her threat, hurting her as a blow to the head. On the other hand, Raman erupted with rage.
"Ishita kahin nahin jaayegi!" he roared. "Aur naahi Adi kahin jaayega!"
Shagun laughed haughtily. "Don't forget Raman. I hold Adi's custody. No one can stop me from taking him away. Not you, not the police, and not the courts. If any of you stop me now," she addressed all the gathered Bhallas and Iyers, "then I'll call the cops on you!"
She sneaked past her ex-husband and dragged her son into the elevator. Undeterred by her threat, Raman stepped forward to follow them, only for the elevator doors to close on his face. He ran to the stairs, taking them two at the time to reach the parking lot, but by the time he got there, he saw Shagun's Mercedes pull out and speed away with his son. Adi was gone... Again.
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Shagun sped her car down the road, steaming with anger. This was it. She was taking Adi back. Everything she had control over was slipping from her grip, but Adi was not going to be one of those things.
In the back seat, Adi struggled to keep his sobs under control, as he twisted his neck and peered out the window, watching his building get tinier and tinier, retreating into space, until it disappeared. The sight itself jammed razor blades into the flesh of his heart, shredding it to pieces. He was being taken away from his family. Again.
"Adi, please chup ho jaao!" Shagun yelled as his cries increased in pitch. "Tum apni maa ke saath ho kisi kidnapper ke saath nahi!"
Then why didn't he feel like he was with his mother? Where was the love and warmth and affection he had learned to expect from a mother? The kind that his stepmother showed? All along he had been wary of Ishita's intentions and motivations. When he should've been worried about his own mother instead.
His worst nightmare was coming true, being orchestrated by none other than... his own mother. He replayed her stinging slap in his mind again. And again. And again. All along, she had been the wolf in the sheep's clothing.
Shagun halted the car at a red light behind a long line of unmoving cars. The light turned green almost immediately, but none of the cars budged, owing to a traffic jam. Horns and angry expletives sounded all around, and Shagun groaned in frustration.
Adi couldn't stand it anymore. He couldn't stand being with his mother, his fright and anxiety overwhelming him in a flooded wave. He couldn't stand going back to the loveless empty mansion, where men like Ashok and Suraj lived. Even the thought of going back to the bleak and dreary Khanna Mansion, when he had lived in such a lively Bhalla House for so long, nauseated him. He had to do something. Now.
As the clamor of horns and the shouts of angry drivers filled the air, Adi did the first thing that occurred to him. He unlocked the car door, scrambled out, and ran.
He ran away from the traffic jam, away from his mother, away from every trouble and fear in his life. He ran until his lungs burned, until his face was drenched from sweat instead of tears, until his legs turned to jelly. He just ran...
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Meanwhile, back at Akash Ganga Society
Raman climbed up the staircase, out of breath, determined to get his son back. He wasn't going to let history repeat itself again. Not when he and his son had come so far.
He rushed into their floor to find his distraught family in the lobby. They all pounced on him for answers but Raman was quick to reassure them.
"Aap log chinta mat kijiye. Main abhi Adi ko lene jaa raha hoon," he said. "Ishita, meri gaadi ki chaabi kahan hai?"
Ishita hesitated to answer. If she gave him his keys, her hot-headed husband would speed down to the Khanna Mansion to get back their son. But she also knew that Shagun wouldn't budge.
"Raman, aap aise gaadi lekar peeche mat jayiye," she suggested.
"Kyun na jau?!"
"Just think Raman. Aap abhi un dono ke peeche jaayenge to kya Shagun maan jaayegi? Nahi na? Woh Adi ko waapis nahi aane degi, aur hum use force bhi nahi kar paayenge. She holds legal custody."
"Then what do you suggest?!"
"Aap... um..." The wheels turned in her head. "Ek kaam kijiye. Aap Pathak ko phone karke puchiye."
Raman chewed his lip as he forced himself to rethink his stance. If there was one thing that could ground him in a time of crisis, it was his wife's voice. And she was right. Now was the time to use his head, not force. He fished out his phone to dial Pathak's number but was interrupted by his mother's cries who was being ushered into their living room by her friends.
"Woh chudail humaare bacche ko le gayi aur hum kuch nahi kar paaye!" Toshi wailed.
"Toshi, Toshi, tu ro mat," Pammi urged. "Sab kuch thik ho jaana hai."
Pammi, Dolly, and Omprakash tried their best to comfort a devastated Toshi, but to no avail. They surrounded her on the couch of the living room, fanning her and rubbing her back, as Raman and Ishita watched them from the threshold of their door.
"Woh aurat to maanne se rahi... To mera puttar ghar kaise aayega?" she cried out.
"Ek idea hai..." Dolly mused. "Shagun ne kahan agar Adi yahan rahega to Isheeta ko yahan se jaana hoga. To agar woh kuch din ke liye Iyer house shift ho jaaye to..."
A loud crack sounded across Ishita's heart. Apparently the universe had planned more plight for her than just seeing her son be dragged away from her sight.
Raman thought he couldn't have been angrier than when he saw his ex-wife drag his crying son away. But he was proven wrong.
"Aap ko pata bhi hai aap kya bol rahi hai?" he hissed in a low, deadly voice. He snaked an arm around his wife's lower back, holding her close.
"Dolly, tu apna muh band rakh!" Toshi wiped her tears away, anger taking over her grief. "Mera pota chala gaya toh kya main apni bahu ko ghar se jaane ko bolungi?! Iski wajah se hi yeh ghar ghar hai! Yeh meri bahu kam beti zyada hai!"
The slight flutter of anxiety in Ishita's chest abated. Her family had her back. She wiped her tears and took a deep breath, even as her husband fumed at their guest.
"Dolly Aunty, agar aap humari madad nahi kar sakti toh please apne ghar chale jaayiye," he said with as much respect as he could muster. "Yeh humaare ghar ka maamla hai, aur hum sab ise milkar suljha lenge."
Even at such a low volume, his voice was icy deadly, and every hair on Dolly's body stood up.
"So-Sorry R-Raman..." she stammered. "Mera matlab to bas... I mean temporary solution..."
Raman ignored her pathetic excuses and donned the swift, sharp CEO mask. Now wasn't the time for all this. He had other, more important things to work on.
After one last reassuring glance to his parents, he turned to his wife. "Ishita, tum mummy aur papa ko andar lekar jaao. Main sab se pehle Pathak ko phone karta hoon."
"Okay Raman," Ishita gulped.
Her husband darted into their bedroom. But before she could usher her in-laws in their bedroom, her gaze wandered around. "Ruhi kahan hai? Kahin usne yeh sab dekha to-"
"Don't worry Ishu," Vandu spoke up from across the lobby. "Shravu aur Ruhi dono andar ke kamre mein khel rahe hain. Tu uski fikar bilkul mat kar."
"Thanks Akka." Ishita placed a hand on her sister's forearm. "Kya aap use kuch ghanto ke liye wahin occupied rakh sakti hain? Yeh saara maamla suljhaane mein waqt lagega."
"Of course Ishu... You don't worry at all. Ruhi aur Shravu ko main sambhaal lungi. You go and figure this mess out."
Ishita nodded in appreciation at her sister before herding her in-laws inside. As she consoled Toshi and Omprakash, urging them to sit in their bedroom and have some water, Raman called Pathak in their bedroom, informing him of the situation and asking about their legal options.
The call went on for fifteen minutes and Raman grew frustrated by the moment.
"What do you mean we can't bring him back today?!" he roared into the phone.
"Bhai, the civil courts work really slowly. Even if we file for custody today, we won't get an answer back for at least two or three weeks. I can get the paperwork started today, but it will take time," Pathak answered.
"Three weeks?! Absolutely not! I don't want my son staying with that woman for another three minutes, much less three weeks!" he yelled. "She hit him, Pathak! She slapped my son across the face!"
"Wait... Really?" Pathak's voice turned low with shock. "That's... that actually works in our favor."
"Excuse me? How exactly does my son getting slapped work in our favor?" he hissed.
"Bhai, don't get mad. Just listen to me with a calm mind. If Shagun actually hit Adi, that means there's evidence of abuse. In cases of abuse, the courts work at the speed of light." Pathak's brain brewed with a plan. "Bhai, I'm going to file for an order to remove Adi from Shagun's care. I'll go to the courts myself and get a hold of as many judges as I can and get the order passed. By the end of the day, she won't be his guardian."
"Does that mean I can bring Adi home again?"
"Yes bhai. He should be back home for good by the end of the day. Once he's back, we can talk about making you his legal guardian. For now, I'm just going to remove Shagun as his guardian."
"That's perfect Pathak. Thank you so much."
Raman hung up the phone and pocketed it, as he slumped down on the couch. He finally saw a ray of hope, thanks to Pathak, but his heart was still throbbing in pain.
Ishita walked into their bedroom and grew concerned at her husband's state. She was in the exact same boat.
"Raman..." she whispered, as she came in to sit down beside her husband, draping her arm across his shoulders, massaging them to calm him down.
"Adi waapis aa jaayega," she said. Although she couldn't tell if she was trying to reassure him or herself.
"Is baar use sirf waapis nahi laana. Use humesha ke liya le kar aana hai," he mused. "I want his legal custody. We should be his parents. Not Shagun."
"What are our options? Pathak ne kya kaha?"
"He said he's going to file for an order to remove Adi from Shagun's care. In fact, he promised me that he'll get the order today. We can get him back by the end of the day."
"That's great..."
They sat together like that, in complete silence, their breathing harsh and painful. Raman slipped down from the couch and sat on the floor, dropping his head into his wife's lap.
"I feel like history is repeating itself..." he whispered.
"No it's not," Ishita said with complete conviction. "Adi will be back before we know it." She carressed his hair and bent down to kiss his head, even as a lone tear escaped from the corner of her eye.
"I believe you. When you say it, I almost believe it," he sighed. "Ishita?"
"Hmm?"
"You're not thinking about what Dolly Aunty said, are you?" He raised his head to meet her eyes. He knew his wife to be selfless. But could she really entertain this thought? "Tum kahin mujhe chod kar jaa-"
Ishita pressed her palm against his lips to stop him from verbalizing their worst fear. "I can't even stomach the idea," she said. "Hum dono ke dur hone ka toh sawaal hi paida nahi hota."
She sat down on the floor beside him and he took her into his arms, bringing his lips down on hers. She returned the gesture with equal fervor, pouring their desperation and vulnerability and anxiety into each other, clinging to each other's unwavering pillar of support. And thus, even in the shadow of anguish surrounding them, they found a flicker of hope.
They didn't come apart until Raman's phone rang.
He removed his phone from his pocket, and they both gasped at the name on the screen: Shagun. He answered the call and put the phone on speaker, but before he could a word in edgewise, Shagun said something that shook the ground beneath them.
"Adi... Adi ran away. A-And... I can't find him now."
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Rashid Psychiatry – 5:10 pm
Adi panted at the entrance, hesitating to go in. When he had run away from Shagun's car, he had no destination in mind. He had simply run to escape the darkness engulfing him. It wasn't until he had been running for ten minutes straight when he realized he had lost his way. Thankfully, he recognized the street he had found himself in, realizing that his therapist's office was just a block away.
Now he stood at the door of the building, breathing heavily, wiping sweat from his forehead and neck, thinking about whether to go in or not. Thankfully his decision was taken for him when the door opened and his therapist walked out.
Dr. Zoya hoisted her purse onto her shoulder and laid her eyes on the boy front of her, her movements stilling from shock. Sweat dripped down his neck, tears stained his face, redness flashed on his cheek, and tiny bruises spotted on his arm.
"Adi, what happened beta?" she asked, concern lacing her voice. "Come in, come in."
She opened the door and ushered him in, getting him situated in her office. She had no more appointments for the day and was getting ready to go home, but clearly Adi's crisis demanded her immediate attention.
"Tell me beta. What happened?" she asked.
"My mom hit me today." Tears trailed down Adi's cheeks as he revealed his mother's actions.
Dr. Zoya listened attentively, hiding her shock and concern under a mask, keeping on a neutral clinical face. Even so, her anger heightened. Shagun's abuse had been emotional and mental so far. Today was the first time it turned physical. She had to do something.
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Akash Ganga Society Compound – 5:40 pm
"Bhai, maine aur Rinki ne puri building mein dekh liya. Adi yahan nahi hai," Romi said.
"Uske friends ko bhi maine phone lagaya lekin un logon ko bhi pata nahi Adi kahan hai," Ishita informed them.
"Main aur Bala aas-paas ke sabhi cafes aur shops mein dekh kar aaye, lekin uska koi pata nahi hai," Raman relayed.
Romi, Rinki, Raman, Ishita, and Bala were gathered in the compound after spending a frantic half hour trying to find Adi, but their efforts proved futile.
"This means he didn't come back here," Raman said. "Ab ek hi raasta hai. Humein wahin jaakar dhundna hoga jahaan se woh bhaaga tha."
Before they could proceed to their cars however, Raman's phone rang.
"Who is it now?" he muttered in frustration, as he answered the call.
"Hello, may I speak to Mr. Raman Bhalla please?" a woman said.
"This is him."
"Mr. Bhalla, this is Dr. Zoya Rashid. I wanted to let you know that your son is at my office, and he's safe and sound."
Relief washed over him even as the uncertainty of the last hour knocked into him. He lost the balance in his wobbling legs, and Ishita and Romi came up beside him to support him.
"Kya hua Raman?" Ishita asked, eyes shining with a sheen of utmost concern.
"It's Adi's therapist," he whispered. "He's at her office."
Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief. Bala folded his hands together, sending a thanks to Murugan. Romi and Rinki hugged each other, thanking Matarani for keeping their nephew safe. Ishita leaned against her husband, dropping her head on his shoulder, breathing a shaky exhale.
"Is he okay?" Raman asked into the phone.
"Physically yes," Dr. Zoya replied. "He told me what happened. And how he ran away. I thought you guys must be worried."
"We were... Thank you... Thank you so much for calling us. We'll come get him right now. We'll be there in fifteen minutes."
"Okay sure."
He hung up the call and pocketed his phone.
"Ishita come on. Let's go pick him up."
"Haan chaliye Raman."
"Bhai, main bhi chalu?" Romi asked.
"Nahin tu idhar hi ruk. Tum aur Rinki jaa kar mummy papa ko sambhaalo. Aur Bala tum bhi ghar pe ruko. Amma-Appa ya Vandu ko shaayad tumhaari zarurat pad jaaye. Aur Ruhi aur Shravu bhi ghar par hai. Main aur Ishita Adi ko lene jaate hai."
Saying so, he and his wife left.
They reached Rashid Psychiatry in a flat ten minutes.
Immediately, they rushed into Dr. Zoya's office and saw Adi sitting beside her on the couch. A wave of relief almost knocked them over, and they cried tears of happiness.
"Adi!"
"Papa! Aunty!"
Adi jumped into their arms, and his parents enveloped him, wrapping him in a safe coccoon, as the three of them clung to each other. Raman dropped a kiss on Adi's head as Ishita carressed his head.
"Kya soch raha tha tu Adi?! Aise koi bich sadak se bhaag jaata hai kya?! Tumhe kuch ho jaata to?" Raman interrogated him as they came apart.
"Adi, aapko pata bhi hai humaari kya haalat ho rakhi thi?" Ishita hiccupped. "Kaise kaise khayal aa rahe the man mein-"
"Sorry Aunty. Sorry Papa..." he sobbed. "I just... I couldn't... I couldn't stand it... Papa, I don't want to leave your house... I don't-"
"You're not going anywhere beta," Raman declared. "Your Aunty and I will make sure of it."
"Excuse me, Mr. and Mrs. Bhalla." Dr. Zoya begrudgingly interrupted their happy reunion. "I'd like to speak with you. Privately."
Ishita and Raman exchanged concerned glances. They nodded at each other as understanding passed through them.
"Adi, let's go to the car," Ishita said. "Papa doctor aunty se baat kar ke phir aayenge."
Ishita led Adi out to the car, as Raman turned to Dr. Zoya.
"What's wrong doctor?" he asked.
"I wanted to let you know that I've reported Shagun's abuse to the child welfare department. Adi should not, in any circumstance, return to her care."
"Don't worry doctor. My lawyer and I have already filed a motion in court to have her guardianship removed."
"That's good. I'd also like to increase the frequency of Adi's appointments. He made a lot of progress over the past two months but I think he still needs more attention. Can we make his appointments twice a week instead of once a week?"
"Sure, of course. Whatever you say."
After finalizing the schedule of the rest of Adi's appointments, Raman walked out to his car to join his wife and son, finally breathing with relief.
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