Part 1
He woke up with a start, disoriented for a sec, he looked around.He was on bed in his room and when he turned he could see the room in disarray with the cupboards opened and things missing. Seeing them,everything came crashing down on him.His heart started beating faster.
'The sign on the dreaded document.
Adi & Ruhi's swap.
Ishita fleeing with Ruhi.
His visit to Morgue .'
He recalled everything. He also remembered how his father made him sleep by giving him a tranquilizer.
The images of the dead bodies and the morgue, still haunted him.Somehow he couldn't shake it off from his mental image.He longed for Ishita and Ruhi.He wanted to shake Ishita and put some sense into her. More than that he wanted to see his wife and child alive with his own eyes.Not able to rest anymore he wandered downstairs.
When he was about to enter the hall , he heard some doctor informing his father about seeing his wife and daughter at Ashok's place.The disappointment and anger that he was suppressing hit hard.
"How can she be at Ashok's house of all the places."
Some rational part of his mind reminded him that its her sister's house too but he was not willing to make any allowance. He took his car keys from the key holder and immediately rushed to Ashok's place.
On entering Ashok's house, the first thing he noticed was Ruhi playing with some toys in the hall.His legs began to buckle ,holding on to the sofa he sagged in relief.He reached her in two long strides ,picked her up and hugged her tight. Showering kisses all over her face he cried holding her close.
Ruhi was surprised to see her father there.
"Papa,How come you are here? Is the game over then? Can we go home now...Did we win? As much as I like Mihika Chitti's house, I wanted to see you...But Ishima is not well,she has fever & the doc asked her to rest but she was wandering above" Ruhi gushed out nonstop.
He didn't completely register all her blabberings, he was just happy to hold her and listen to her.He informed her that soon they will go home and asked about Ishima's whereabouts.
Ruhi excitedly showed him the bedroom upstairs and also informed him that Mihika Chitti was in the kitchen. He asked her to continue playing.He rushed to the bedroom and stopped near the door.
He found her looking out near the window lost in thought. On seeing him she turned and now she was watching him like he was watching her.
His head spun . His pulse raced.He was so glad the she was here in flesh and looking at him.He really hoped that he was not hallucinating the whole thing and at any moment he may wake up in bed alone.He desperately wanted to touch her to prove to himself that this is real.That she is alive and that she is before him.
Ishita couldn't believe Raman was here.Mihika's words hit her hard.
'What will happen to Ruhi if something happened to you.'
She knew she didn't think about her actions nor their consequences , she was desperate to keep Ruhi with her. Ruhi is her daughter. Ruhi is hope. Ruhi is everything.
"How can she survive without Ruhi?"
But seeing Raman here and looking how flustered he was,guilt hit her straight in the chest.In her selfishness she never once thought how Raman would cope.Now that she calmed down a little , her rational mind couldn't identify with her actions so far.
For a long minute no one spoke,each in their own thoughts.In silence they both looked at each other.And then his heart lurched in his chest.
"Oh My God".He closed the distance between them and took her in his arms and hugged her hard.She was real,she was soft and she was warm beneath his fingers.Tears started rolling down his eyes.He let the heat of her surround him.
Ishita didn't really understand what was going on but she was not in the mood to decipher either.Seeing Raman again her anguish rose.She pulled from his embrace and stared at him with accusing eyes.
Seeing her flaring eyes, his own temper ignited.
"How could you leave the house like that?What are you thinking? What if anything happens to you or Ruhi? How do you think I will survive?" He shouted on her face.
She was in no condition to listen to his outburst nor calm him down like she always does.
She tried pushing him away but he didn't let that happen.He caught both her hands and pulled them wide making her come close to him.She tried to break free from his hold but in vain. Attempting to pull her hands free again ,she started shouting.
"What am I supposed to do? You signed my daughter away? What are you even thinking?Can't you read before you sign?"
Tears started falling down her face and she still couldn't get her hands back, but in the struggle she got her hands near his collar.
With his hands locked on hers and with hers on his collar,she started shaking him and continued shouting.
"How can I send Ruhi to Shagun? What am I without her? All this is because of you? You don't trust me? You don't share important things with me?" Saying these words she broke down.
He immediately pulled her into his arms and held her tight and he began sobbing along with her. For a sec she placed her head on his shoulder and sobbed silently but she immediately withdrew.
With big tears rolling down his cheek he pulled out of her embrace and with his hands on her shoulders he asked. "So, by running away what are you trying to prove.Yes, I made a mistake.We need to figure out a solution but how does you running away solve anything.And you are planning to leave me alone?"
"Yeah, from last night we all were doing that , did we find any solution.I can never send Ruhi to Shagun " Ishita replied sobbing into her hands and kneeled down.
"Ishita you need to think.We have to send Ruhi to Shagun atleast till Monday.And on Monday we can bring a stay order as the courts will be open.We need to talk to Ruhi and we need to make her understand , and make this less traumatic for her."
The whole time he was speaking,she was shaking her head emphasizing NO' with tears running down her face.
He held her shoulders and lifted her up and pressed his fingers tightly into her hands as if wanting her to understand the situation.
"Ishita ,please understand.We don't have a choice.Shagun will anyway take Ruhi away,We need to make it easy on her.Please prepare your heart"
Defeated,she removed his hands from hers and and yelled "I hate you Raman... I will never forgive you for this."
His heart stopped beating for a sec.He was this close to hear her profess her love and only he knew how he was waiting for that, but now with in a span of hours everything was changed.These three words pierced his heart.
Did he think everything was going to be finally fine only yesterday and today everything was shattered and broken around him.
His love,his family,his hope everything was being snatched away from him.
He nodded as if he couldn't speak and turned his back to her,wiping his tears.
When he was about to get Ruhi, He heard voices downstairs. Shagun was fighting with Mihika.He immediately rushed to them.
Shagun on seeing him fired. " So, this is your plan, to hide Ishita here.How long are you planning to hide her.Do you know what a court notice is?"
With out paying any heed to Shagun, he turned to Mihika and asked her about Ruhi.Mihika said that she sent her inside.
Then he turned to Shagun and replied."Shagun , give me 2 mins I will bring Ruhi to you.Take care of her tomorrow.I have someone keeping a watch on you, so don't try anything funny.Iam already on the last bout of my patience with you, so this time beware" and without listening to her answer went in search of Ruhi.
After a lot of convincing and heartbreak Shagun managed to take Ruhi away and they were left with Ruhi's tears echoing in the house.
They both returned home lost in their thought.Neither spoke to each other.And when they entered the building they both stopped at the threshold with each looking at the other.
"Ishima, I don't want to go...plz Ishima...
Ishita can't conceive,how will my family pro-spire.
You ruined my life."
With all these thoughts in her mind , she didn't want to go with Raman.
Locking her eyes with his,She informed him " I want to stay with my mother, Iam going to my house."
"With out Ruhi , we don't have an us, we don't have anything
I hate you."
Looking into her eyes he nodded and went inside.
Edited by Anuhyaa - 10 years ago
Anupamaa
Health and Fitness
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
9