THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OVERWHELMING RESPONSE. AS ALWAYS I AM GRATEFUL TO EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU FOR READING IT. HERE WITH TWO CHAPTERS AGAIN HOPE YOU ENJOY THEM.
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
'Everyone in my family was elated when this happened. Even my dad, it was like this baby was an answer to the insanity that had been going on in that house for the couple of months. They were all excited and happy ...'' Said Raman
'This news came after the rift business...'' Said Vandu
'Yeah just a couple of months later...It was like this child was going to just bring all of us together. Simmi who was still at college then had just finished and had moved back home and Mihir, well... He was there and with him then, that is all you could ask. It was all good for about 18 weeks of that pregnancy when it all fell a part, I say this was the time those vows and promises lost meaning to her'' Said Raman
'What caused her to break her promises?'' Vandu asked
'Wow...Where do I even begin...'' Said Raman as he stood up to stretch his legs and in all honesty for strength to begin this roller coaster ride
'Anywhere will suffice...'' Said Vandu
'You know she broke her promises but even I wasn't so innocent...'' Said Raman a disappointment in her voice
Vandu knew this story all too well, at least part of it. The first time Raman walked into her office it was because his father had forced him to see a therapist and things with Ishita were not doing so well. So he would show up, pretend to talk about it but talking about how his dad was and how it made his mother feel, rarely did he talk about himself or his wife. If he was going to get past it, he was going to have to tell this story
'I mean we were happy, we knew we were going to have a baby boy; we had even pickeda name, Aryan Kumar Bhalla... ' Said Raman remembering the moment as he smiled
'Simmi who was still at college then had just finished and had moved back home and Mihir, well... He was there and with him then, that is all you could ask. It was all good for about 18 weeks of that pregnancy when it all fell apart '' Said Raman
'What happened after 18 weeks...'' Asked Vandu as Raman become teary
'Well Mrs. Bhalla and Mr. Bhalla sorry for keeping you waiting...'' Said the doctor
'No it is fine... I just need to know that my baby is okay...'' Said Ishita who had a feeling something was wrong
'I am so sorry to have to tell you this but your baby... You have a still baby... It is something called Intrauterine Fetal Death'' Said the doctor
'What... What do you mean...? I do not understand what you mean when you say that...'' Said Ishita
'Mrs. Bhalla...'' Said the doctor
'Ishita... Call me Ishita...'' She said as tears filled her eyes
'Just tell us in a language that we understand'' Said Raman
'Ishita has a stillbirth... It means her fetus is not viable...'' Said the doctor and Raman sat back in the chair confused about what to say or even do
'I am... Raman what is she saying is wrong with my baby... Nothing is wrong...'' She said as she turned to look at him
'Come on do not cry... Nothing can happen to my baby...'' She added
'I am so sorry Ishita... But the fetus...' Said the doctor and Ishita interrupted
'Stop saying fetus... This is my baby...'' Said Ishita and the doctor just looked at her feeling sorry for them and with that a reality hit Ishita
'Raman... My baby ... My baby ...'' She cried as she held her tummy and she went into shock
'I am so sorry about your loss...'' Said the doctor
'I don't understand what your trying to mean by not viable. I need you to say it...'' Said Raman
'Ishita is carrying a dead baby...'' Said the doctor causing Raman to hold his wife as he broke down in tears
The doctor gave them a minute or two to allow them time to process what was going on and try and accept it too although she knew it was going to be hard. She knew Ishita was going to be hit the hardest become she was just staring into blank space as tears flowed down her face so she turned to Raman and said
'Listen, we need to schedule surgery and remove it. I have scheduled it for Friday which is a week from now. It would have been earlier but she is much of a shook that the surgery may harm her and she may also not be psychologically ready but you need to understand that by Friday she needs to be here...'' Said the doctor
You should have seen her. It was like with everyword that doctor said he was taking away her life with it. I don't think I have ever seen her so shattered.'' Said Raman as tears filled his eyes
'I am so sorry for your loss...'' Said Vandu
'She was so devastated... It broke my heart to see her like that...'' Said Raman
'Why... I did everything you asked of me. What did I do wrong'' Ishita cried
'This was not your fault... Ishita no one really knows the exact reason for these sometimes they just happen'' Said the doctor
'Then why... Why is it that this happened? Why to me? I am a good person... I did everything right...'' She cried as she turned to Raman and cried some more as she struggled to talk between sobs
'Raman... I swear I did everything right... I swear...'' She cried
'I know... Ishu... I know... It is okay...'' Said Raman as he held his wife in his arms as she cried and as he struggled to keep it together as well
Raman got up from where he was sitting and walked around the room almost as if he was trying to block whatever memory he was having in that moment
'When something like this happens to you, you feel like everything in the world is against you and your world is just being shattered to pieces and there is nothing you can do. What made it hard for me is I had to watch my wife break and yet I was too weak to even stand by her...'' He said as he wiped the tears that had streamed down his face and Vandu who knew he had to feel like, just let him be
He composed himself as he completed his bottle of water and then he continued
'We left the hospital and went home and all the while she didn't say anything. It was like she was in a daze in her head that she just couldn't get out of. She didn't talk and so I didn't push it. Maybe this was not a very good thing but decided to give her space.''
Vandu took the box of tissues that was on the side of her table and placed it where Raman was seated then she went back and sat down
'Thank you...'' Said Raman as he removed some tissue and wiped his face
'We got home and everyone was waiting for us especially my mother...''
'Oh hey... How was the doctor's appointment? How is my grand baby doing'' Said Santosh
'Santosh... Let them in at least...'' Said Mr. Bhalla before he took Raman and said
'By the way, you need to leave for Goa tonight... We have that deal with that fashion designer Heidi is it. She is in Goa and specifically asked for you...''
'Papa... I can't...'' Said Raman but Ishita just walked passed them all and didn't say a thing
'Ishu... Ishita...'' Called Simmi worried
'What...'' Said Santosh who hadn't noticed
'She looks like she has been crying and so does he. What is wrong'' Asked Simmi
'The baby, the doctor says Ishita is crying a still baby and thus needs to have a stillbirth' said Raman in an almost absentminded manner
'What do you mean? I don't know what that means?'' Said Simmi whose brain had just refused to process what was going on
'I mean Ishita is carrying...'' Said Raman but Santosh completed
'A dead baby... Oh God my poor child...'' Said Santosh as she put down whatever she was holding and walked upstairs to check on Ishita
Mr. Bhalla walked up to his son who looked like he had the world on his shoulders and not knowing what to do just hugged him and with that, Raman broke down. He held onto his father and cried. He didn't know what to do and was way too shattered to even say a thing.
'Why... I just want to know why...'' Said Raman
'It is okay... Maybe it wasn't God's plan and he was something else planned for you...'' Said Mr. Bhalla
'God's plan really sucks right now... My wife... Papa you should have seen her and I don't even know what to say to her. What do I say to her...'' Said Raman between his sobs
'Well you're going to have to be strong for the both of you. She needs you now more than ever...'' Said Mr. Bhalla
'I couldn't bring myself to look at Ishita and that was selfish of me because I knew she was blaming herself for it all but I was just to shattered as well to be there...'' Said Raman irritated and angry with himself
'So she just stayed upstairs all alone while everyone in your family stayed with you'' Asked Vandu
'No... My mother made it upstairs that day and wanted to talk to Ishita and see how she was doing but when she got upstairs Ishita was in bed and asleep...'' Said Raman
'What do you mean asleep?'' Asked Vandu
'Like sleeping, she went upstairs, changed her clothes and crawled into bed and she just slept. She didn't talk to anyone or eat anything that whole day. She just slept'' Said Raman
'Yo... Is it healthy that she has been sleeping the entire day...'' Asked Mihir
'Don't say Yo... and maybe this is what she needs after what she has had to go through today'' Said Mr. Bhalla
'I am just worried about her health. She hasn't eaten the whole day'' Said Santosh
'Maybe we wake her up and make her a snack...'' Said Simmi
'No... Just let her rest... She needs it...'' Said Raman
'And that was that... We let her sleep it off something that now I think back at shouldn't have been allowed to happen'' Said Raman
'Why is that'' Asked Vandu
'We gave her too much space... That should have never happened and she grew distant from everyone'' Said Raman
'How about your family, how did they deal with it? Such a thing has to affect everyone involved, so how about them...'' Asked Vandu
'My mother somehow slowly pulled us all back. She didn't let us fall off the rail. When mom prepared a meal we would all go down stairs to share a meal and try and get back to normal. She would try and do things to make sure none of us, especially me was left alone and was also encouraged to grieve but Ishita, she didn't come down for a meal or even participate in those crazy games my mother did and we never pushed her to. My mother cared about bring her family back and trying to ensure everyone dealt with it, I should have cared about bring mine back, I should have been there as well but I took the easy route. I gave her space.'' Said Raman
'Raman I think we should call Heidi and cancel given everything'' Said Mr. Bhalla
'No... No this is a huge deal for us. Just... Let it be I will go'' Said Raman
'Are you seriously going to Goa and leaving your wife here in this state...'' Asked Mihir
'No... I will just postpone it until a week after the surgery... I will talk to Heidi and we shall organize a conference call for Friday...'' Said Raman
'So either way, your planning on leaving her here with these people during such a time. She hasn't even mourned properly and just stays cooked up in that room'' Said Mihir
'What do you mean these people? We are her family too...'' Said Mr. Bhalla
'Yeah right...'' Said Mihir sarcastically
'I won't take long. I will be back by in no time to take care of her. She barely talks to me and when I try she sort of just stares and when she sees my face she won't stop crying. So I think maybe I should just give her sometime and when I get back, we, me and her... we are going to deal with it'' Said Raman
'That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard. Not cool... At a time like this no husband should leave his wife alone... Dude you're an idiot...'' Said Mihir
'MIHIR... ' Barked Mr. Bhalla causing Mihir to put his hand on his mouth like a naughty child
'Your drunk... Go upstairs and try and sober up... Let your brother make his own decisions'' Mr. Bhalla added
'Of course you would say that... This deal is big for the company isn't it...'' Said Mihir before he stumbled off going upstairs
'I should have listened to Mihir... I should have been paying more attention but I just'' Said Raman
'Why do you have so much guilt with this? What about you? I mean even you were allowed to grieve... This was happening to you as well...'' Said Vandu
'True... And that was the difference... I allowed myself to grieve or at least I thought I did... She didn't and being her husband as much as she had to do it on her terms, I should have been there when she did but...'' Said Raman
'Ishita I am going to Goa next week... I have some work I have to take care of but I will be back by Friday...'' Said Raman
'You're going to Goa ...'' She asked as if surprised before she looked away saying
'Okay...''
'Oh and today I have this really important conference call at office...'' He said but before he could explain himself she replied
'Okay...'' Still looking away
Raman packed his laptop bag as she sat on the bed with a cup of coffee in her hand looking out the window. After about 20 minutes Raman had grabbed whatever he needed and he was walking out when he heard her say
'I will have that surgery today Raman, I won't postpone and I won't wait... It is too painful... It is too painful to keep it while I know it is already... Please don't be late'' She said as tears filled her eyes and she kept quiet again
This was the longest conversation they had had in almost 6 days and Raman could tell from the sound of his voice that Ishita was still hurting and if this helped, he was going to be damned than let her bear anymore.
'I will be here on time... I PROMISE...'' He said as he leaned in and kissed her forehead before walking out
'Buzz... Buzz'' Off went the phone
'Raman what did we say about allowing phone calls in here...'' Said Vandu
'Sorry but this number is only used in case of emergencies...'' Said Raman as he grabbed his phone to read the message that was on it
'What the...'' He said
''Is everything okay'' Asked Vandu
'Apparently Ishita somehow just acquired well 55% of my company'' Said Raman
'She what...'' Said a surprised Vandu
'I have to go... I have to... This doesn't add up... I have to go...'' Said Raman and he grabbed his coat and walked out leaving a very perplexed Vandu behind.
Meanwhile back at the Bhalla premises, Ishita was making her way out when she met with Shlok and Romi who were waiting for her outside
'So where to next... Are you coming home or your still playing house...'' Said Shlok
'I am afraid I am still on Mrs. Ravan Kumar duty so... I am off to the Bhalla house'' Said Ishita
'I have to say though, I think his father is going to try and get him to sign over proprietorship to him.'' Said Romi
'Well then I hope Kushan comes through for us because if he doesn't then we are screwed'' Said Shlok
'He will come through because he cares about Raman more than a client. They are really good friends and if anyone will get through him, it is Kushan'' Said Ishita
'I really hope so...'' Said Shlok before he said his goodbyes and walked to his car
'Ishu wait...'' Said Romi as he stopped Ishita from walking away
'About earlier, I am so sorry about that. I just don't want to see you hurt again. You know how much I respect you and how I would never think of you that way'' Said Romi
'I know... And thank you for that apology. Just you need to trust that I can do something right for once. And I also need you to believe I never slept with Abhimanyu or Abhya I swear. It hurt because I never thought I would ever defend or justify myself when it came to you because I thought you knew me better than that...'' Said Ishita
'I know and you don't... I am sorry... This... You being in that house and being his wife is going to be a little hard to get used to'' Said Romi
'I am not his wife; I am pretending to be until he gets better... We are divorcing after this remember'' Said Ishita
'Will you...? It might not be as easy as you think'' Said Romi hugging Ishita as he walked away causing Ishita to whisper
'It has to be...''
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