Hi kutties...š
Here goes the next part...
Not proofread. So kindly ignore typos.
PART-3
"I wanted to eat her pain, take it into me and make it my own."
____Ann Patchett
She looked on hiding behind the doorway at her family. Her amma...appa...brother Bala, his wife Vandu, their son Shravan...His parents, big brother Ashok, his wife Simmi, their son Aditya...They were talking to each other. About Ruhi...sometimes about her parents; Raman and Shagun! However, they forgot about one soul. These six years had changed everything. They do remember her, but they do not try to remember her!
Aside, alone, he looked on at them like her. He deliberately shrinked back in a shell. Because he does not want that happiness which she does not have. He denied everything which he wanted to enjoy once...with her. When she left it all behind for her sister's happiness, he left it all in front of her showing that nothing means anything to him when she is not around.
One such thing...something so priceless. That was her, their daughter, Ruhi! He pushed her off everytime she tried to go close to him. Not because he does not love her. But because he wanted to love her along with someone else. He wanted to share every bit of the moments with those two angels of his life whom he loves the most in the entire world;Ishita and Ruhi. He felt incomplete without her. He felt guilty whenever he spends time with Ruhi. Because, he is the one who did rudely make Ishita to give Ruhi away. To Shagun. Only if he had not sworn that day...she would have happily lived with their daughter...at least without pretending to be happy.
"Raman..." Ashok patted his shoulder making him clear his vision which was clouded in thoughts.
"Ji bhai..." He managed to utter.
"Let's go for a walk..." Ashok said pulling Raman's hand. When they moved towards the entrance, she hide back. Escaping their sight. But, the feel of her around him made his lips curl up in a light smile. Ashok was oblivious of it. They came to a street side hotel. Ordering two coffee Ashok stood next to Raman.
"I know what you're going to tell me bhai...I...don't want to listen to you...I just want some space..." He cut short Ashok when he was about to start talking.
"I knew it...Still...as your brother...it's my responsibilty to show you the reality. A way to be in peace." Ashok said bringing him in a side hug.
"I can't...I'm tired of all these..."His eyes welled up.
"You know what Raman...this is your problem...You always says you can't...you're tired and all. But...you're my champ! You should be strong. Nothing is wrong in love and war...you see...I'm asking you...just divorce Shagun...everything will be okay. You can be happy...Trust me..."
"You think Ishita will come to me if I divorce Shagun? Hahaha...that is the greatest joke of the millennium! She won't bhai...she will never...! Only if I felt that she will...I would have divorced Shagun long before. It was all some crappy promises bhai...all crap! And I'm hell stuck! No one is there for me. No one is concerned about my feelings. Everyone's selfish...Is it a sin to be a little adamant?"
"I understand. Your stand is right...But promises are sometimes meant to be broken! Some times we should snatch our happiness. I mean 'our happiness!' See, Simmi and me...We are together because I snatched her from her parents who rejected me. I'd a faith that she loves me. But I wasn't sure. Still...I won. She is with me in real...she loves me the most. Coming to you...you and Ishita are in love long before...you're hell sure that she loves you...but..you're hesitant. That's what I can't understand!"
"I'm sure that she loves me...but not more than she does to her sister bhai... Shagun is her priority...She is the one who directly and indirectly stands like a huge wall between us. It's all because of her..."
"Sometimes you're not making any sense Raman...You're not! But all I want you to do is...stop torturing Rooh. Let her know that Shagun is not her mumma. I can't tolerate the fact that you're denaying Ishita's motherhood. I just can't tolerate it. It would be hard...but...you people are too much. Maybe Ishita will reject you...but not Ruhi...a mother can never reject her children."
"What you mean bhai? You know everything right. Shagun...she will go mad. I can't risk her life...Again...people will blame me...!"
"You don't know the pain of a mother. Because you never saw it...you never saw Ishita crying for her baby. But I can feel it...you know how...? From the way Simmi cried for Adi the day he went for the summer camp. She knew that he will be back in somedays...still...she cried all night until she had him near her. Then...how would be Ishita feeling when she...knows that her daughter will never be back to her! That her daughter doesn't know that she is her mother...Just think about her...She is so much hurt...And...you're the reason..."
"Everyone's blaming me, huh? But I didn't want to do all these. This was not I wanted. This Shagun's love is what is stopping me. She is my friend...She would harm herself if I do something...I'm scared bhai..."
"When you both became friends huh? Only after marriage nah? But don't forget that Ishita is your love long before you met Shagun and befriended her! Always keep one thing in mind that many things happened even before you and Shagun got married...and I'm a living record of all of it!"
"You're hurting me bhai..." Raman hissed in pain as Ashok has been gripping tightly on his arms all the while talking furiously. Ashok looked at Raman's arms and loosen his grip. They left for the hospital after silently having the coffee. Both wanted to talk a lot...yet, stopped fearing that the other will get hurt. When Raman was a weak and helpless soul, Ashok was the most sensitive!
"I need time bhai..." Raman voiced hugging his brother when Ashok bid him goodbye. He smiled hoping for the best.
Shagun decided to be with Ruhi and Raman drove home with amma and appa. He felt restless thinking about Ashok's words. All that he wanted then was just meet Ishita and talk to her. However, he did not had the courage to do so. Time and again the thought of meeting Ishita popped up in his mind making it difficult for him to sleep.
During the past six years...he never came face to face with Ishita. In fact, he was unmindful of her whereabouts. Still, he was sure that she is just his. He was sure that she is not married. He was sure that she too has the same hope that he has. One day...they will become one!
Ashok's words echoed in his head whenever he thought of meeting her and shrugged it of as the mistake of his silly heart.
"...You always say you can't...you're tired and all."
"...you're my champ!"
"You should be strong."
"...Nothing is wrong in love and war."
"Why am I not strong enough to be selfish...?" He cried soaking his pillow in tears.
In no time he was out of the house, drove the car, aiming the hospital. He wanted nothing but see Ruhi. He could always see that glow in his daughter's face which her mother had. Now that glow is nowhere there. He just wanted to hug his princess and cry his heart out.
He had decided what he wants. Maybe that which he can do. To move on. The promise he had given to Ishita when he tried to console her was enough a change. That he won't drink from now on...only means that he'll not remember her. He will not live in past. He will spend his time for their daughter. He was changing...unknown to himself. He was pulling his heart out and wounding it to fix it. Fix to fix someone else there. All because there was someone whom he can never ever replace, RUHI!
TO BE CONTINUED...
PRECAP
"Don't...I...you please...leave..."
"Why...?"
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I know this story is (so) absurd. Am I making you bored... Do you want me to end it soon...š Do tell me...So that I can wind it up soon in some more chapters...š³
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