Raman was sitting silently hugging ishita while ishita wasn't understanding how to tell him that toshiji is no more. Raman was already broken and she don't have the courage to see him more broken but she had to do it. So she closed her eyes tight and said -raman.
Raman didn't reacted and was just hugging her when she said again-raman, mummy ji nahi rahi. She left us. She said and cried while Raman didn't reacted. Amma -appa start crying hearing this while ishita shaked raman and said -suna aapne mummy ji nahi rahi. Kuch toh boliye raman, kuch toh boliye. She said crying but he didn't reacted nor cried.
Few hours passed like this, ishita and appa complete all the formalities to take the body home while raman was just sitting like a statue, ishita was trying hard to make him cry at least react but like he was in huge shock to say anything. He was just looking at the room where toshiji's body was kept.
Soon they took her body to bhalla mansion only to get another shock. The mansion was full with media people, all wanted to talk to raman about the downfall of bhalla group of companies and death of Toshiji. All were asking many questions from him while he was just too lost to say anything. Seeing the choas ishita finally shouted -cant u people see how broken he is, kuch toh insaniyat chodiye. Let him live in peace and mourn over his loss. Aap log please yahan se chale jaiye. She said folding her hand and all went slowly.
Appa called pandit for the last rights of Toshiji but before that Raman got notice from the court that his bungalow is being taken by the court as his company has became bankrupt and for settling the dues, they will auction the mansion along with his all leftover property.
This came as another blow for raman but nothing was much more then his mother's death. They finished all the rituals and finally took her body for cremation while the mansion was locked.
Ishita and amma went to their house while appa and raman went with other to do the last rites of Toshiji.
Amma and ishita was sitting when amma said -kuch khayegi kanna. Tune bahut der se kuch nahi khaya. Teri tabiyat bhi thik nahi thi, u just came from hospital.
Ishita looked at her amma and cried laying in her lap -yeh sab kya ho gaya amma, Sab kuch khatam ho gaya. Mummy ji hume chod kar chali gayi. Raman itne tut gaye hai, Unka business property sab kuch barbaad ho gaya. I don't know how to console him.she was saying and crying when amma said -dont cry kanna, dheere dheere sab thik ho jayega.
Ishita -kahin raman mujhse nafrat toh nahi karenge naa amma. She said looking at her mother.
Amma -no kanna, why will he.
Ishita -meri wajah se sab barbaad ho gaya, agar main unki zindagi mein nahi hoti toh shayad mummy ji zinda hoon.
Amma -nothing like that kanna, joh kismat mein hota hai wahin milta hai. U don't think negatively. It's not the time to think about it. It's time to take care of him. He needs u. She said caressing ishita's hair to which ishita just nodded.
After few hours, Raman and appa came back after completing the last rituals of Toshiji. Seeing them coming back ishita went to them with water.
Appa took water and ishita said -raman paani pee lijiye.
He just look at her and went inside without saying anything. Ishita cried seeing his condition.
Appa-he is in very bad condition kanna. Puri tarah tut gaya hai woh,tumhe pata hai he was so lost that I had to help him in completing the rituals. Bahut akela feel kar raha hai. u have to be strong very strong to take care of him.
Ishita -i am trying to be brave appa, but mujhse raman ki aisi haalat dekhi nahi jaa rahi. Unka sab kuch Ek din mein chala gaya, mummy ji chali gayi, business chala gaya. Even his bungalow is going to auctioned tomorrow. Woh ghar jisme woh paida hue, jisme unhone apni zindagi guzari, woh ghar bik raha hai and we r not able to save it. Main kya karun appa, kaise brave rahun main. She said crying and hugged appa tight.
Appa -i know kanna,sab kuch khatam ho raha hai and it's hard for u to be strong but u have to be kanna, for ur raman. Tu hi kehti thi naa that u r his meera, uske liye kuch bhi kar sakti hai. Toh tumhe Aap uski dhaal banna hoga, u have to protect him against all cruelty as he is not in a position to do it. Apne raman ke liye strong reh aur usse sambhal. He needs u. He said caressing her hair softly.
Ishita nodded and said -main jaun unke paas.
Appa nodded and ishita went inside. She looked around and saw him sitting in the corner on the floor. She cried seeing his condition and went to him.
He didn't said anything just kept his head on her lap. She started caressing his hair softly and said -aap akele nahi ho raman, main hoon aapke saath. I know the time is very tough. Bahut kuch bahut jaldi jaldi mein ho gaya but trust me soon everything will be fine. Haan mummy ji ki jagah toh koi nahi le sakta but still we have to overcome this loss. Kyunki mummy ji jahan bhi hongi aapko iss tarah dekh kar ro hi rahin hongi. Aap nahi chahti naa ki woh roye toh please kuch boliye. Talk to me Raman, share ur pain with me. Main aapki biwi hoon please mujhse baat kijiye mujhse aapki yeh khamoshi bardasht nahi ho rahi. I just can't bear it silence. Kuch toh boliye raman. She said and looked at him only to see him already slept. She smiled in between her tears seeing him sleeping like a baby keeping his hand under his hand. She caressed his hair and said hugging him tight -please talk to me Raman, kuch boliye, kuch toh boliye. She was saying and crying and slowly she too slept hugging him.
Amma came after a while to check them and saw them sleeping together on the floor. Amma felt bad for them and prayed her murugan to make everything fine for them. She covered them and went.
Soon amma appa too slept.later in night Raman got up feeling heaviness on his chest. He saw ishita sleeping over him in a uncomfortable position. He got up and placed her gently on the bed. He covered her properly and went to the window. He was standing in the window thinking about his life, how it changed in a nano second.he was lost in thoughts when he felt her arms around him and she said resting her head on his back-aap uth kyun gaye.
Raman hold her hand over his chest and was standing when ishita kissed his back and said -kuch toh kahiye raman. Main taras gayi hoon aapki awaaz sunne ko. Mujhe pata hai aap bahut takleef mein ho but please mujhse baat kijiye. I am dying to hear u raman. She was saying and sobbing.
Raman couldn't see her weeping and said slowly-sab kuch badal gaya.he said and a tear fell off his eyes.
Ishita smiled finally hearing his voice after so long.
Ishita -main kabhi nahi badlungi raman. Main hamesha aapke saath rahungi, aapke paas rahungi. She said caressing his hair while he turned and took her in a bone crushing hug and cried -maa, mujhe kyun chod kar chali gayi.
Ishita cried with him and said -raman please chup ho jaiye. Aise nahi rote bachcha. She said caressing his back while Raman continued crying bitterly.
Bindi
Udne Ki Aasha
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
10