Chapter One
Ishita went about running her regular errands as her thoughts lead her to think about what had lead her to where she was.
It had become unbearable for Ishita to stay a moment longer in a house where she was insulted day and night. It was only for the sake of her husband that she wouldn't speak up. Ishita knew that more than her, it was Karan who was breaking from within. Every day, Ishita would wear a fake smile on her face to reassure Karan that she was brave enough to tolerate the abuse of her step mother and sister in law.
There were so many moments when Ishita felt that Karan and she should just leave everything behind and begin a world of their own but all her hopes would come crushing down the moment she realised it was not possible. Karan was not the biological child of Santosh Sharma and she always reminded him that it was not out of love or even maternal instinct but sheer greed and selfishness to usurp Karan's father's wealth that she had to put up with him. Every week, since he had begun working Santosh Bhalla and Simmi took money from him merely to splurge.
Till Om Prakash was alive, Santosh Sharma posed as an ideal mother but the moment he passed away, the cruel woman took away all the money that Karan's father had saved up for his son's education and humiliated Karan for the meagre amount he would rarely spend on books and other necessities.
Santosh's hatred for Karan intensified the day he got married to Ishita and from then on everything went downhill.
Ishita was a middle class girl who studied at the same institute as Karan. The duo got to know each other as they were chosen by their lecturer to work on the same topic for a presentation. Other than discussing work, Karan and Ishita talked about their lives to each other and in Ishita, Karan found comfort and solace. It was then that he decided he would marry her. It was a decision that Karan took without realising that he is ought to tell Ishita about his demanding and obnoxious step mother and sister.
That's exactly what Ishita held against Karan and would never forgive him for.
Ishita snapped out of her thoughts as her little son ran to her asking to do his tie and quickly give his breakfast.
Ishita dropped Aditya, her five years old to school and drove off to work. She walked into her cabin as her Secretary told her about a woman whose mother in law tried to get her son to divorce her because she only gave birth to daughters. Ishita rolled her eyes at the matter and went ahead to discuss the case with the client. She assured Narmada, a seemingly educated and modern woman that she would get her justice.
It was soon time for her to collect Adi from school so she wrapped up her work and head out for school. Adi was standing at the gate impatiently waiting for his mother but faked anger as he finally saw her coming to him. ishita picked up her tiny tot in her arms and gave him a kiss on his cheek. She felt so much solace as she held her little one close to her heart. His anger melted in seconds and he was quick to ask his Mama out on a ice cream date. Ishita doted on Adi and never refused him any material pleasure because she just couldn't see the only person in her life unhappy. It especially didn't matter if his teeth would get cavities on them! What were the dentists for after all? 😉
Writers Corner: Books, Stories & Poems
Anupamaa
Kumkum Bhagya
9