RuhiIshRa- Final part p46 Pg 96 - Page 5

Cahpter 5

The way back home

Raman was quite surprised at the "store room" at Ishita's clinic. It was a very minimally furnished but a comfortable lounge - it had a recliner a cosy coffee table and arm chairs. "Oh toh yeh sab bhi hai tumhare clinic may?" he said..and tastefully done he noted. " so you spend a lot of time here ???" "We are a bunch of five dentists. We are attached to the hospital but the practice is our own. Sometimes we work through day, long shifts and also end up covering up for each other...shaadhi ke time pe, family functions ke liye ya phir you know the usual PMS stuff for us girls well ...anyways yeh discuss karne ke liye tho hum yahan aye nahi hai..right?" she asked.

"Haan .." you sound so sensible he thought and said " i will come straight to the point..from when we met last time in my office to your proposal this morning and your behaviour since...bohot faraq hai. Ishita ek bhar maine emotional hoke decision liya aur aaj tak pachta raha hoon. I don't want to rush again and make the same mistake. I now I'm desperate for my daughter now...you know I'm desperate for her to come back into my life ...I am very vulnerable right now..." his eyes were weary and welling up with unshed tears, he was squeezing the life out of his pen he was holding as he spoke.

Ishita realized that the man was indeed different from what he appeared to be...she was trying to form a reply to explain herself when the shrill ring of her phone disturbed the moment between them. She looked at the phone with knitted eyebrows looked up at Raman put her hand up and gestured "Sorry this is important please give me a minute.." she said and moved on to the window to take her call. Raman's eyes followed her, she did not appear very happy with whatever she had to say he noticed. "I'm afraid week of 11th is going to be busy for me I think...let's do this next month. My colleagues will be here to assist you and I will brief them."Ishita said.

She came back from the window and sat down next to Raman on the two seater sofa. Her hand was on his hand. " you need to know only one thing about this Raman...yeh shaadi yeh sab kuch sirf Ruhi ke liye hai. Kal shaam ko Ruhi ne call kiya tha and I went over to Shagun's place...I saw Shagun getting ready to leave the house for some party with Ashok. She was furious with our Ruhi for messing her outfit when Ruhi tugged at it. Ashok was so rude... mai guilty feel kar rahi hoon. I did start this mess didn't I?? I could do nothing but call her from the hospital that night because one parent had to sign her papers for treatment to start and you were too drunk to be answering your phone. Muhje usko call karna pada. I got you and our Ruhi into this I will get you out of this. I am not really after you or your money" she said. Raman felt relieved but still was far from trusting her.

"Ok then ...chalen" he said. " Haan" she nodded. They were out of the corridor, and walked towards their cars. Ishitha's car gave her trouble once again. Raman was surprised to see a squirming Ishita in his rear view mirror. She seemed to be politely but firmly shaking off the hand on her shoulder. He saw the opened hood and decided to go and check on her. The man was continuing to pester her and she had managed to put him at arms length. He was a someone who Raman would classify as dashing and looked obviously very loaded. The instant Ishita spotted Raman walk towards her...she walked briskly towards him, laced her arm through his arm walked over to the man who looked surprised. "Mr.Prateek Menon...please meet Mr.Raman Kumar Bhalla. He is here to take me home." she said. " OHH " said Prateek. " I hope you know who you are going out with Mr.Bhalla. Let me give you a heads up man to man ; you can never hope to become a father you know if you decide to marry her" he spat out. " I think I already know all that I need to know about Ishita Mr.Menon, don't need your man to man tips. Aap apne kyal rakhiye!" he said. He put his arm around Ishita tucked her into him and walked away. ""Gadi lock lar lo baad me mechanic to bhej dhenge" he decided for her. Ishita walked along. " Kaun tha wo?" he asked. " Ek lafanga...unfortunately our hospital's CEO. He is the gynaec who discovered my condition he has been after me since Subbu broke our engagement." " Why don't you marry him? Accha diktha hai kammata bhi hai?" he said. " Aur shadhi shuda bhi hai..theek hai ma nahi ban skati...par khisi ka ghar bhi nahi thod sakti!!" she said sadly.

They did not realise that what they had done for each other that day. They nodded a quick bye at their respective doors. They went back to their respective families. At bedtime they were both thinking of each other, Raman texted her and asked her to come down for a few minutes. She had just showered and changed to get to bed and was in no mood to change again. She walked down the stairs, with her face srcubbed clean. " Ishita when I went back home my father told me that he and your dad had decided that we should get married. Tum janti ho ham bhi wohi chahte hain...mujhe koi circus nahi chahiye...kal court marriage kar lete hai..are you ok with that?? " he asked " Sure" she said.

Ishita went to bed that night thinking that she was is not behaving or feeling like a bride...but she loved the thought of being Ruhi's mom. She fell asleep with a small smile..kal se Ruhi's mom and leaning on Raman did feel nice she allowed herself to think. Raman on the other hand was actually looking forward to getting to bed. Ishita did seem to fit in right he thought touching the shoulder, he had gathered her against. It almost felt real when she put his arm through his he thought. He liked the idea oh her claiming him...even if it was for Prateek's benefit! RUHI MERI BACHHI he smiled before he dropped off to sleep.