Ab Chahe Ma Roothe Ya BabaSunday 27 September 2014
Aakash Ganga Society
Mayur Vihar
"Lekin Iyer sahib. Teen mahine? Raman kabhi haan nahin karega." {Three months Mr Iyer? Raman will never agree to that}
"I know Bhalla sahib. Three months is a very long time. But mein kya karoon? Madhu is very upset. Woh is shaadi ko sirf yahi shart par manegi, ki Raman aur Ishita ki full Tamil rituals se shaadi ho, aur hamare pandit kehta hai next three months koi muhurat nahi hai. Aur Madhu kehti hai ki jab tak phere ke saath shaadi nahi hoti, woh is rishte ko nahi manegi. Aur agar aap logon ko, Raman aur Ishita ko, manzoor nahi, toh woh Ishita se rishta tod degi." {I know three months is a very long time Mr Bhalla. But what can I do? Madhu is very upset. She will accept this marriage on these terms only - that Raman and Ishita have a proper wedding with full Tamil rituals, and our pandit says that there is not duplicitous date for the next three months. Madhu is adamant that until a wedding happens with all religious rituals, she will not recognise the marriage. And if you, if Raman or Ishita don't agree to this, she will break all her ties with Ishita}
Mr Iyer shook his head in frustration. He had also been upset by the step that Ishita had taken without their knowledge, by the deceit that their daughter had engaged in, but he was prepared to trust Ishita's judgment. He knew how deeply hurt she had been by her infertility, by her rejection by Subbu and the many other suitors her mother had misled into meeting her, and the fact that she had, by this marriage, gained a daughter in the little girl she truly loved, as well as a husband who truly appeared to love her, had gladdened Mr Iyers heart.
But Mrs Iyer had been adamant. Ishita's wedding had been an obsession with her, fuelled by the rejection by Subbu, the failure to find another match. Abhi had seemed to her to be the answer to all her prayers. But Ishita had betrayed her dreams, by secretly marrying a man Mrs Iyer detested. A grand wedding, the pretence that this was their idea, was what Mrs Iyer considered to be necessary to save face in front of her family, friends and their community. And until the wedding took place, she was adamant that Ishita would stay with them.
Mr Bhalla and Mr Iyer were sitting together on one of the benches outside their building. After the revelation on Friday about Raman and Ishita's secret marriage, things had been very difficult in both households. Especially for the two mothers. Raman had not helped matters by declaring that he did not want Ishita to get stressed and did not want any visitors except Ruhi. In any event, both Mrs Bhalla and Mrs Iyer had refused to go to the hospital, although Mr Iyer had heard Madhu crying herself to sleep worrying over Ishita.
Mr Bhalla thought deeply about Mrs Iyers pre-condition as the two men sat in companionable silence.
Mr Bhalla of course was secretly delighted. He had seen firsthand Ishita's protectiveness over Ruhi, and that day in hospital, he had started to hope that Ishita could truly become Ruhi's mother. Mrs Bhalla was still slightly miffed, but Mr Bhalla knew she would come around. Ishita may not be the Punjabi bahu she had been searching for, but she too had seen Ishita's love for Ruhi and had witnessed Raman and Ishita's desperation for each other in the hospital. No, the real problem was Mrs Iyer. She had been planning Ishita's wedding to Abhi, she had seen Raman drunk, he had had her arrested, she was rightly concerned about her daughter. She had now decided on this tamilian wedding in order to reconcile herself to the marriage, to save face, and he has no objections to it. But it was the three month delay in the muhurat that had him worried. Would Raman agree to staying apart from Ishita for three more months?
Well, they would have to convince Raman. Ishita would never be happy if her marriage cost her her relationship with her mother. So for Ishita's sake, for her happiness, Raman would have to agree.
Mr Bhalla sighed and clasped Mr Iyers hand.
"Theek hai Iyer sahib. Mein Raman se baat karta hoon. Mein bas hospital ja raha hoon in an hour, undono ko pick up karne. Mein Raman ko samjhaonga." {All right Mr Iyer, I'll talk to Raman. I'm going to the hospital in an hour to pick them up, I'll try and make Raman understand}
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City Hospital
"Now remember Mr Bhalla, you do need to rest. You've been an absolute terror the past two days, trying to turn your hospital room into your office, but you've been through surgery and you need to take this seriously. Don't over stress yourself at work, go for physio, follow the physio's instructions and look after your wife" Doctor Bhavna looked sternly at Raman.
"That I will doctor" Raman put his good arm protectively around Ishita, who smiled up tremulously at him.
The past two days had been difficult for Ishita. Raman had found out from Bala that Mrs Iyer was adamantly against their marriage, and had shut herself in her room, refusing to listen to anyone, and refusing to see Ishita. So to spare Ishita the knowledge of her mother's unwavering anger, Raman had declared that they would accept no visitors except Ruhi.
Ishita had protested initially, but her injuries had left her with intense headaches, and she had relented, spending most of her time sleeping under the influence of painkillers, her waking time spent cuddled with him. He had been worried but Doctor Bhavna had told him there was no real cause for concern, her headaches were to be expected, but that she needed to be kept away from stress, to be looked after for a while.
He had shielded her so far, but they were going home now, and Mrs Iyer would be just next door. Raman knew how much Ishita loved her parents, how difficult the deceit had been for her. Their marriage being revealed in the way it had, had meant that the news had cone as a total shock for Mrs Iyer. How could he, Raman, now make things right between his wife and her mother?
"Now Dr Iyer, or should I say Dr Bhalla?" The doctor was speaking again, and Raman switched his attention back to her.
Ishita smiled uncertainly, looking up at Raman. He clasped her hand firmly, smiling sweetly back at her. "It's up to you sweetheart" he said softly. "I would be honoured if you would take my name, but it's totally your choice"
Ishita turned back to Dr Bhavna. "Dr Bhalla" she said smiling. "Dr Ishita Raman Bhalla"
"Well then Dr Bhalla. You've had a head injury and you know what that means. No stress, lots of bed rest, and no going to work for the next week. I'm going to let your husband go now, but you need to have some final tests before I release you. Mr Bhalla can come back for you in a few hours. Mr Bhalla, you need to take very good care of your wife. She is not to be subjected to any kind of stress, you understand?"
"But Doctor" Ishita protested. "I want to go with Raman"
Raman had been looking at his phone, reading the text message from his father and frowning. He looked up now, grateful for the short respite offered by the doctor.
"It's okay sweetheart" he cupped his wife's face with his good hand, smiling reassuringly. "I'll come back and pick you up soon. You go and get those tests done, hmm."
Ishita nodded reluctantly and Raman stood up, his hands lingering on her cheeks in a final caress.
"See you soon biwi" And he walked out to find out what the problem was that his father wanted to see him about
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One hour later
Bhalla Apartment
"No papa, absolutely not. Three months is out of the question."
Raman looked angrily around the room, at the gathered participants. His father had picked him up from the hospital, had told him that Mr Iyer was waiting to see him, wanted to speak to him. Well, here they were now. His parents, Mr Iyer and Bala. And they were telling him of Mrs Iyer's precondition, that he and Ishita would have to stay separately for the next three months until their religious wedding ceremonies were held.
Bala came up to Raman and took his hand.
"Raman, I know how you feel, but Ishu will never be happy if her relationship with amma breaks down. Just talk to her, I am sure she will agree"
"Bala, I'm not against having a Tamil wedding and I'm not against Ishita staying with her parents until the wedding either. But three months is too much. She's been through so much Bala. The doctor said she can't be subjected to stress. Do you know how stressful this will be for her? Knowing about her mother's preconditions, knowing she will not be able to be with me and Ruhi for so long, knowing that her Amma will break all ties unless she agrees. I am not putting my wife through this. No way."
"Then what is the solution Raman? Amma is adamant. Ab hum kya karein?" {What can we do?}
"Let me talk to Amma. Mein usse baat karta hoon."
"Puttar, tu us madrassan se kya baat karega?" Mrs Bhalla had been sitting silently, but could no longer hold her tongue. "Woh toh bilkul paagal ho gayi hai. Mad mad. Areh hum bhi toh is shaadi se khush nahi hai, lekin hum maan gaye. Tumhare liye. Toh woh kyun nahi maanti?" {Son, why will you talk to that woman? She has gone completely mad. Mad, mad. After all, we aren't happy with this wedding either, but we have agreed, for your sake. So why won't she? }
"Ma, please. Yeh aap mujh pe chhod dijiye. Bala, let's go, amma se meri baat karwao" {Ma please, let me handle this. Bala, let's go, take me to amma}
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Iyer Apartment
Mrs Iyer sat stiffly on the sofa, not looking at Raman, who sat opposite her.
She was flanked by Mr Iyer and Vandu, who was sending dirty looks at Bala, who sat beside Raman, a reassuring hand on his shoulder. Mihika, who had also been sent into the doghouse by her periamma and akka for not revealing her sisters secret as soon as she found out, hovered in the kitchen, sending compassionate glances towards both her periamma and her two jeejus.
"Madhu, just listen to him, please" Mr Iyer looked at his wife pleadingly.
"I'm listening Vishwa. But I'm not changing my mind. Itna kuch kiya Ishita ne, is aadmi ke liye, hamara nahi socha. Apni amma ko paraya kar diya. Log kya kehenge, ki hum ne apni beti ko bina shaadi kiye hi aise kisi ko de diya? Yeh registered marriage mein nahi jaanti. Only temple wedding. And if Ishita can't do this much for me, for her Amma, toh...toh mar gayi mein uske liye." {I'm listening Vishwa, but I'm not changing my mind. Ishita did do much for this man, she didn't think of us at all. She's treated us like we were strangers. And what will people say, that we just gave our daughter away just like that, without marriage? I don't recognise this registered marriage, only a temple wedding. And if Ishita can't do this much for me, for her amma, then ..then, I'm dead for her}
Tears glistened in Mrs Iyers eyes as she made this final declaration. Ishita had been her reason for living - these past three years, she had taken every slight, every insult to her daughter onto her own heart. This betrayal by her daughter, and the deceit that had accompanied it, was just too much for Madhu Iyer to take. She had been desperately worried about Ishita since the incident, had barely slept since Thursday, yet she had refused to go and see her. Her hurt and anger had now coalesced into an egoistic affront from which she could not, would not emerge except on her own terms.
Raman saw her tears, and heard the hurt in her voice. His ego rivalled his mother in laws, but when it came to his Ishita, there was no ego, no pride. There was nothing except his overriding desire to protect her, to make her happy, to keep tears from ever coming into her beautiful eyes. He would do whatever it took, say whatever was needed, but he would make things right.
"Amma" he started hesitatingly. "I know you're angry, you have every right to be angry, but Amma, please, take your anger out on me, not on Ishita. Ishita is..." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "Amma, Ishita never wanted to deceive you, she wanted to tell you straightaway, to get married only with your blessings, but I insisted. Ruhi's custody case was on our heads, I needed to focus on that, and I know, I know what you think of me, I knew you wouldn't agree to our marriage, that's why I guess I took the easy way out"
He paused again, looking straight at his mother in law, but she remained unmoved.
"Amma, you want us to marry in a temple, that's fine, we will do that. You want Ishita to stay here until the wedding, that's fine too, I know she will want you to look after her while she is recovering. But amma...amma, three months is too long. We've just, she's been through so much amma, and if she finds out she has to stay away from Ruhi, from me, for three more months, she will be very distressed."
Raman got up from his chair and walked up to Mrs Iyer, kneeling by her side. "Please" he said quietly. "Mein apni sari zindagi Ishita ko apne palkon pe rakhoonga, usko kabhi koi gum nahi hone doonga, lekin amma abhi usko meri zaroorat hai, Ruhi ki zaroorat hai. Doctor ne kaha hai usko koi stress nahi honi chahiye. Agar aap isi tarah naraaz rahi, agar aap ne us se kaha ki woh three months tak hamare saath nahi reh sakti, toh it won't be good for her amma. And I can't take that risk. Amma, Ishita loves you, woh aap se, appa se bahoot pyar karti hai, aap logon ko naraaz karke woh khush nahi rahegi, lekin ab woh humse dur bhi nahi reh sakti. Aap apni naraazgi mujhpe utariye amma, lekin jab Ishita ghar aaye, toh aap please usse naraaz mat hona, uske saamne ye shart mat rakhna." {I'll treasure Ishita for the rest of my life, I'll never let any harm come to her, but amma she needs me now, she needs Ruhi. The doctor said she shouldn't be put under any stress, it's not good for her. But if you stay angry like this, if you tell her she can't be with me and Ruhi for three months, how do you think she will feel? It won't be good for her amma. And I can't take that risk. Amma, Ishita loves you, you and appa, very much. She will never be happy if she is the reason for your anger, your unhappiness, but she won't be happy without Ruhi or me either now. You can take your anger out on me, but when Ishita comes home, please don't be angry with her, don't put these preconditions before her}
Mrs Iyer looked properly at Raman for the first time. She could see nothing but sincerity and honesty in his eyes. She thought back to the scene in hospital on Thursday when Raman had pleaded to see Ishita, then to Friday, when Ishita had begged to be allowed to see Raman. She remembered the way in which her daughter had literally fallen into Raman's arms, the way she had clung to him, uncaring of the fact that her parents, his parents, his family, were all present. She recalled how Ishita's face lit up, how she came alive in Ruhi's presence. She, Madhu Iyer, may have found Abhi to be the perfect match for Ishita, but it was Ishita's life after all. And it was obvious that for Ishita, her perfect match was this man who now knelt before her, tears in his eyes, pleading. He displayed none of the arrogance and attitude that had set the Iyers against him. He was humbling himself, and he was doing it only for her daughter.
"Raman, utho, please" Mrs Iyer finally spoke. "Ishita meri beti hai, tum yeh soch bhi kaise sakte ho ki mein usko harm kar sakti hoon. Abhi tum jaao, Ishita ko mere paas le kar aao, mein usko look after karoongi, abhi mein shaadi ki muhurat ki koi baat nahi karoongi. But when she is better, then we will see." {Raman, get up. Ishita is my daughter, how can you imagine I would do anything that would harm her. You go, get Ishita, let me look after her. I won't say anything about the wedding date now. But when she is better, then we will see}
Raman got up slowly. At least he had bought some time, he mused. Ishita would need one or two weeks to recover properly, and in that time, he would either get Mrs Iyer to change her mind or the pandit to change the muhurat. He was Ishitas Raavan after all. And as he had told Ishita earlier, Raavan ke dus sar hote hai, toh phir dimaag bhi utna hi hoga. {Ravan has ten heads, so he is well endowed with brains}
"Thank you amma" he said quietly. "Thank you so much"
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Three Hours Later
Raman Bhalla's Car
"Amma such mein maan gayi Raman?" {Is Amma really okay with us now Raman?}
Ishita sat snuggled up to Raman in the back seat of his car, her head on his shoulder. He tightened his arm around her, nuzzling her hair with his face, inhaling her fragrance.
"She is still upset sweetheart, but more with me than with you. But she wants to look after you while you recuperate, and I had to agree, toh maan jao please"
"But Raman, mujhe aap ke saath rehna hai, Ruhi ke saath rehna hai" {But Raman, I want to stay with you. I want to stay with Ruhi}
"I know baby. But I'll just be next door, aur Ruhi tumhare saath tum jitna waqt tak chaho reh sakti hai. I'll be at work all day sweetheart, aur mere ghar mein sab kuch abhi tumhaare liye naya hoga. Aisi haalat mein tum kaise adjust karogi? Besides, mummyji aur Simmi se takkar lene ke liye you need to be in full form, right." {I know baby. But I'll just be next door, and Ruhi can stay with you as long as you like. I'll be at work all day sweetheart and everything will be new for you in my house. How will you adjust in this condition? Besides you need to be in full form to confront mummyji and Simmi, right?}
"Really" Ishita raised her head from Raman's shoulder and looked at him quizzically. "Kya mummyji bahoot naraaz hai?" {Is mummyji really angry?}
"No, not at all. Woh sirf naraaz hone ka nataak karegi kuch din, but she will be fine. But Ishita, it's your amma who wants you home. Let her take care of you hmm, usko acha lagega. Aur kuch hi dinon ki baat hai, ek do hafton mein tum theek ho jaogi, your amma will get used to the idea of letting you go, and then you can come home" {No, not at all. She's only pretending to be angry, but she will be fine. But Ishita, it's your amma who wants you home. Let her take care of you hmm, she will like that. It's only for a few days, you will be fine in a week or two, your amma will get used to the idea of letting you go, and then you can come home.}
He tilted her face towards his and kissed her cheeks gently. " I can't wait for you to come home Ishita. So promise me, you'll look after yourself and get better quickly, theek hai? And remember, no stress, no worrying. Everything is going to be fine now jaan."
Ishita snuggled back into her husband's arms. "Everything is fine Raman, as long as you are with me" she replied.
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Iyer Apartment
9.00 pm
Ishita lay in her bed, her eyes closed, her mother's hand gently stroking her forehead. She had been wary, apprehensive when she had reached the apartment with Raman, but her mother had taken one look at her pale bandaged face and had thrown her arms around her, weeping.
Ishita had cried too - she had truly been anguished at the lies she had been telling, at the fact that she had been deceiving the parents she loved so much, and it was a relief that everything was out in the open now.
"I'm sorry amma" she had said over and over as her amma held her in her arms. "Hum galat theh, lekin us waqt, Ruhi ke liye, humme yahi raasta theek laga." {Im sorry amma, we were wrong, but at that time, for Ruhi, it seemed to be the rights thing to do}
"Shhh kanna, no tears, tumko doctor ne kaha hai na, no stress, no worry. Tum bas jaldi se theek ho jao, hum bad mein yeh sab baat karenge." {Shhh child, no tears, your doctor said no stress, no worries. You get bertter quickly, we will talk about all this later}
Vandu akka and Bala jeeju had been at home too, along with Shravan and Ruhi, who had seemed to attach herself to Shravan. "Shravu is your brother now Ruhi, so no fighting" she had said indulgently as she watched her daughter and nephew fighting over who would get to sit next to her. Ishita could tell that Vandu akka had been miffed with her, but the sight of Ishita's pale cheeks and bandages had melted her just as they had amma, and her sister had said nothing to her about Raman or about her marriage.
It was nice to be pampered by her amma, Ishita admitted, being fussed over, her every wish fulfilled as soon as it was uttered. All except one - she longed for Raman. She had gotten used to having him around her after their three days together in hospital. His presence, his touch, his fragrance, his voice - he was like a drug for her, an opiate that she couldn't get enough of, that she craved for all the time. But he had been conscious of her amma's need to repair their relationship, to spend time with Ishita, and he quietly left after settling her down.
She had had short visits from all the Bhallas, and while the tension between her amma and mummyji was palpable, she had been gratified to see the respect and understanding between her appa and papaji. Ruhi, of course, had refused to accede to a short visit, and had clung to her Ishima all afternoon. She had finally left with Raman when he had come over to say goodnight an hour ago. Amma had been in the room, so they had not been able to say much, and she had had to be satisfied with the accidental touch of his hand as he had taken Ruhi from her.
She had watched them walk away, her husband and her daughter, and had wished with all her heart that she was going with them. Still, that would come soon enough, she mused sleepily, very soon. In a week or two, they would start their lives together. And on that happy note, she lost herself in sleep.
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Ab chahe maa roothe ya baba
Yaara mein ne toh haan karli
Ab chahe sar phoote ya maatha
Mein ne teri bahan pakadli
Ho mein ne tujh pe neeyat dharli
Mein ne has ke hami bharli
Yaari choote na, toote na
Haan karli toh karli
Ab chahe maa roothe ya baba
Yaara mein ne toh haan karli
Ab chahe sar phoote ya maatha
Mein ne teri bahan pakadli
Tu hai muddat se dil mein samayi
Kab kaha mein ne mein hoon paraayi
Jab tujhe mein ne dekha tu bhayee
Mein usi waqt kadmon mein ayee
Farz ke farsh par
Pyar ke arsh par
Ho chandani ke taley
Jab mile the galey
Jism leherayen theh
Hoonth thartharaye theh
Tab ye li thi kasam
Ab na bichedenge hum
Ab chahe katein miley ya kaliyaan
Yaara mein ne toh haan karli
Ab chahe lag jaaye hathkadiyaan
Mein ne teri bahan pakadli
Mein ne tujh pe neeyat dharli
Mein ne has ke hami bharli
Ho Yaari choote na, toote na
Haan karli toh karli
Ab chahe maa roothe ya baba
Yaara mein ne toh haan karli
Ab chahe sar phoote ya maatha
Mein ne teri bahan pakadli
Laakh pehre zamaana bithaiye
Lakh deewaren duniya uthaye
Ab kadam peeche hatnena paaye
Pyar par koi tohmat na aaye
Chahe dharti phate
Ho chahe ambar phate
Bol toote na ab
Ho saath choote na ab
Jaan jaaye toh kya
Maut aaye toh kya
Pyar zinda rahe
Yaar zinda rahe
Ab chahe ghar choote ya sakhiyaan
Yaara mein ne toh haan karli
Ab chahe rab roothe ya sakhiyaan
Mein ne teri bahan pakadli
Mein ne tujh pe neeyat dharli
Mein ne has ke hami bharli
Ho Yaari choote na, toote na
Haan karli toh karli
Ab chahe maa roothe ya baba
Yaara mein ne toh haan karli
Ab chahe sar phoote ya maatha
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