Chapter 3:
"Ishima, can I eat the cake once I get dressed, please?? I can't wait for too long looking at it waiting for papa.. it looks delicious!" Ruhi requested with a little adorable pout.
"Sure beta! You can have it once you get dressed.. but for that, you have to convince your daadi and also paati. They want to wait till papa comes home." Ishima suggested hoping that Ruhi would catch her drift and make sure the cake cutting gets over with soon, before Raman comes home!
Ishita dressed up Ruhi and came into the living room where all her family members were having fun discussing Mihir and Mihika's marriage arrangements. She had never seen her mother and mother-in-law so animated and excited about an event. Mihir-Mihika wedding was something both families looked forward to as they want the two love birds to be together as soon as possible.
Ruhi ran to her daadi, "Daadi, I am very hungry. Can I have the cake now? Please?" she requested.
"Ruhi, you just had your breakfast! Let your papa come home beta. Ishima will cut the cake and then you can have it" said Thoshiji hugging her grandaughter.
"Please daadi, please paati!" Ruhi pleaded with that little lower lip pouting out. Ruhi knows now that her sweet little pout never fails and she can get her way with all her family members as they cannot bear to see the little darling even a bit disappointed.
Ishita patted herself inwardly for the brilliant suggestion to Ruhi. "Seriously, I can work wonders with this little rug rat!" she silently gave herself credit. She felt extremely proud of Ruhi and she marveled at how well the little girl caught on to her feelings never once letting her down! She took Ruhi into her arms and kissed her on her cheeks and said, "Let's do this now for my Ru baby!"
Mr. Bhalla made a quick call to see where Raman was held up on a Sunday morning. Raman did not pick up the phone. "May be he is busy, papaji. Let us cut the cake now and he can have it when he comes home" Ishita convinced them to start the process hurriedly. So they all gathered around the dining table making way for Ishita and Ruhi to cut the cake together. Ishita held the cake knife in her hand with Ruhi in front of her. She closed her eyes and wished for a birthday she would remember which she knew would only be possible with Raman by her side!
Ishita never gave much importance to her birthdays and they were mostly celebrated by her mother. Subbu's betrayal and perhaps the thought of never being able to give birth played majorly on her mind to even think of enjoying her birthday. Madhu would always make sure Ishita felt special on her birthday by making Ishita's favorite dishes. Her father would bring a small cake and three of them would cut the cake in the evening. She had become too silent and depressed since the breakup and generally kept to herself. She did visit the temple in the morning though as Madhu would insist. Ishita could never see her mother sad, so she just did what she was told without any questions asked and with a sweet smile. But Madhu never stopped Ishita from working on that day as she wanted Ishita to be occupied and not too depressed. Ishita was very thankful that she had such wonderful dotting parents. It was not that she did not like their company, she loved both her mother and father so very much but she had felt incomplete then, she had felt that something else was missing in her life.
But this time she felt differently. She wanted to celebrate her birthday. Now she had her daughter with her, Ruhi! She has a wonderfully caring husband, Raman! She now has an adorable family of her own! How she fell in love with all her Punjabi family members over the last few months when she thought she couldn't even stand them before! Yes, she felt lucky and had every reason to celebrate her birthday with her parents, with her family, with her Ruhi, with HER Raman!
Her marriage to Raman was not exactly her dream wedlock. She did not imagine this is how it would eventually turn out. The person she hated a few months back, was the person she wanted by her side on this birthday! She dare not give this feeling a name - because if she did, she would only have to call it LOVE! And Ishita was scared to think of love owing to her past experiences with Subbu but the more she avoided, the more this feeling clouded her mind. She was only operating on this feeling lately but was still not ready to accept it.
Oh yes, she was the one to instigate Ruhi to convince the elders to cut the cake quicker than expected. So, that all would be done by the time Raman came home, that was her mind in action to avoid a possible embarrassing situation. But her heart longed for just the opposite! In the war between her mind and heart, her heart won hands down! She wanted Raman to be there with her! Her secret wish! How she would deal with it could be taken care of when it came to that point. But she wished with all her heart for Raman to be there when she opened her eyes!
And Voila! Standing at the door and looking at Ishita with a playful glint in his eyes and a slight smile, stood her man, Raman! Raman raised his eyebrows as if asking if she really thought she could do this without him. Ishita blushed furiously at his gesture,, at this moment, she felt he knew exactly what was going on in her mind! His gaze was so intense that all the shyness she imagined if she had to feed cake to him, came rushing at once on to her face! He did not look or greet anyone else, he maintained his eye contact with his beautiful wife and slowly walked towards her and stood beside her. Ishita was speechless, nor could she avoid eye contact with him. She couldn't believe that her prayer had been answered so precisely! She wanted him there with all her heart and he was really there! He was her soulmate! Only her soulmate would act according to her heart's wishes even if not expressed explicitly! Ishita was on cloud nine, and her cheeks turned to the colour of ripe peeches!
Udne Ki Aasha
O Humnava Tum Dena Saath Mera
Haven For Her
Anupamaa
