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It was almost midnight when Raman woke up with a persistent ache in his back. For Raman, it wasn't some unusual occurrence. But downright annoying, especially on an outdoor trip. The whole day he had been driving and later accompanied Adi to some adventure sports as well leaving his back in an awful state. He groaned as he pushed the sheet off his legs and then pressed a palm to the source of pain to stifle some of it. When that didn't work, as per his expectation, he reached out to the table lamp and switched it on.
"Ishita woh peeth pe lagana wala balm kahan hai" he called out.
It took a few seconds to register that he was all alone in that hotel room. His Jhansi ki rani was nowhere around to scold him and forcefully make him lie over his tummy and get the balm applied. For a second, his heart felt ripped at the realization. He had been this alone after a very long time. Feeling terribly homesick he took out his phone and started flipping through some old pictures. There were all smiling faces that made his heart squeeze in his chest. As he scrolled through the pics his hand involuntarily stopped at one of Ishita's picture. He did not remember taking it but thought it must be Ruhi who would've downloaded them on his phone. He couldn't help but sigh at the picture, at her divine smile. God she looked gorgeous! Her innocent face, her profound eyes filled with irrevocable trust and the serene smile spread over her lips. Once again fresh tears welled up in his already swollen eyes.
Depressed, he grazed his fingers across her smiling face. The woman had done so much for him and here was he, holidaying with his ex wife, hiding things from her and hurting her so mercilessly. It almost broke him to have shaken the trust of that one woman who gave him all the reasons to believe in the beauty of life all over again. It was probably the worst feeling of the world and it killed him inside.
"I am sorry Ishita...I am sorry for all the pain" he whispered through his tear-choked voice.
Before he could recover from his umpteenth solitary breakdown till now, his phone began to ring making him lose his train of thought. Seeing Ishita's name flash on the screen a faint smile spread across his lips. Picking up the phone with clumsy fingers, he sighed before answering, falling backwards on his bed, ready for another emotional upheaval ahead.
"Hello Ishita..." his hoarse voice could be heard through the phone, making Ishita sit up as she sensed his obviously distraught tone.
"Raman aap theek hain na" she asked as a pang of concern creased her forehead. For a split second, Raman felt flabbergasted at his wife's question. Miles away from him, it took her just a hello' to know something was not right with him.
"Raman are you OK? Mujhe tension ho rahai hai" she asked again, in a more worried tone this time.
"Main...main theek hoon Ishita...it's just a back ache. But don't worry I'll be ok" he sighed switching the phone to his other ear.
Ishita almost stood up in tension hearing about his pain. She turned on the lights and balancing the phone between her ear and shoulder began to search hectically for a piece of paper. "Raman apne mujhe pehle kyun nahin bataya ki apki back mein pain hai. Waise to maine Ruhi ke bag mein balm rakh diya tha but still main apko ek painkiller ka naam deti hoon aap please use abhi le lejiye. And it's very mild so apko koi side-effect bhi nahin hoga.Mujhe pata tha apko itni der drive karne se ye problem ho sakti hai isliye maine apni ek collegue se pehle se hi medicine pooch ke rakh lit hi...ya phir aap ek kaam keejiye mujhe apne hotel ke reception ka no de dejiye main unhein diretly medicine ka naam bata dungi and they will get it for you...and..." before Ishita could say more Raman called her out in protest.
"Ishita main theek hoon...tum itna tension kyun le rahi ho" he reassured. As Raman said those words she suddenly realized she had said her feeling aloud. Taking in a deep breath, she took a brief pause and said,"main to bas ye kah rahi thi Raman ki aap please apna pain avoid mat keejiyega warna wahan par bache bhi enjoy nahin kar payenge".
Raman smiled at his innocent wife's words.
"Don't worry Ishita, I will be fine. Aur main balm bhi laga lunga aur dawai bhi le lunga, promise. Tum bas apna dhyan rakhna. Aur hum kal dopahar tak yahan se nikal jyenge."
"Theek hai Raman, bas don't break your promise ok" she said wiping a lone tear from the corner of her eye.
"I wont baba" he hung up and kept the phone aside without realizing the call wasn't disconnected. Though his body protested in the slightest of motion but he had to look for the balm at any cost. He opened his suitcase and began to look for it but found it kept safely near his laptop. His wife so knew him inside out, Raman thought. Laptop was the first thing that would come to his mind whenever he opened his case. As he took the balm out and was about to head towards the washroom Shagun barged in his room with Ruhi.
Ruhi quickly ran upto Raman and hugged him. "papa mujhe apke paas sona hai...mujhe Ishima ki yaad aa arahi hai" she cried in a depressed tone.
"Raman pls tum Ruhi ko apne paas hi sulayo.Woh baar baar neend mein uss behenji ka naam le rahi hai. Adi aur meri neend bhi disturb ho rahi hai" Shagun made a face.
"Wth is your problem Shagun! Ek bachi nahin sambhalti tumse. And stop calling Ishita like that aur woh bhi ruhi ke saamne" Raman yelled at Shagun unaware Ishita could hear whatever conversation was happening in the room.
"Oh god Raman tum uss behenji ki itni side kyun lete ho aur ye itni raat ko balm se kya kar rahe ho" Shagun asked in a disinterested tone stifling a yawn.
"Shagun can you pls mind your own business.Apna ye fake concern kisi aur ko dikhana. Tum jayo Adi ke paas"
Suddenly Shagun realized what blunder she was doing and started acting worried.
"No Raman pls tell me... tumhein kahin pain ho raha hai kya" she asked trying to show off how much she still cared for him.
"Shagun I am fine tum please jao apne room mein"
"No Raman tell me kahan pain hai tumhein" she saw him pressing his back.
"Oh so its your back. Ok lie down main tumhein massage kar deti hoon, you will feel much better" shagun said and snatched the balm from his hands.But before she could even come another step near, Raman took away the balm from her.
"Shagun are you bloody blind? Tumhein nazar nahin ata I am not interested in your useless concern. Main ye jo bhi kar raha hoon sirf Adi ke liye kar raha hoon. Isliye kar raha hoon kyunki main apne bte ko taqleef mein nahin dekh sakta.Uske alava I give a damn about you. And jahan tak iss balm ki baat hai then meri biwi ne ye balm mere liye diya hai and main isse khud laga sakta hoon. So you better keep your hands off me. Jo kaam karne ayi ho woh karo...take care of Adi...that's it" as Raman almost yelled in his hoarse voice Shagun walked off seething in anger. He felt hell irritated at the mess he had lnded himself into.
"papa pls mjhe shagun mumma ke paas nahin sona. Mujhe apke paas sona hai" Ruhi cuddled up to Raman again who was yet another time convinced how terribly wrong he was in supporting Shagun over Ishita. So wrong even if he would repent for his mistake forever, it won't be enough.
"papa aap mjhe Ishima se baat karvaoge na..." ruhi asked, her words bringing him back to reality.
"han beta hum ishima se baat karenge but abhi nahin subah. Abhi ishima ko neend aa gayi hogi na to unhein disturb nahin karte hain. Aap abhi so jao..."
"promise papa..." ruhi pinched the skin of her neck.
"promise..."
"ishima promise"
"han baba! Ishima promise"
"ok papa..." Ruhi finally smiled.
"good girl. Acha ruhi aap sone ki koshish karo papa abhi balm lagake ate hain" Raman said as he stood up to walk towards the loo. After a few minutes, as he walked back to his bed Ruhi was already fast asleep. Covering her with the sheet, Raman slid himself beside her and kissed her on the forehead. "I am sorry beta...main apko aur apki ishima ko itna pareshan kar raha hoon. Pls forgive papa. I love you TWO" this was all he could say before drifting to sleep.
A silent tear escaped Ishita's eye as she finally hit the pillow. She had heard it all .For once she had felt guilty of her act but now she was glad she didn't disconnect the call. Coz had she not heard it, she would have never known, how well her husband kept her trust. She would have never known how much her trust mattered to him. She would have never known this side of his story!
<<<
Cricket
Ganga Mai Ki Betiyan
Anupamaa
