Chapter Seventy
'Anyway, I left Aditya with Rinky... He is down stairs... And FYI I am taking him with me for the night too. Sleep over at my place...'' Said Romi
'What place you stay at the Mansion...'' Said Mihir
'No... I occasionally stay there when mom flips but I have a house of my own, I am a grown ass man...'' Said Romi and Ishita smiled
'How does he get, you to smile and I don't...'' Said Mihir and Ishita looked at him before he eyes turned to Raman
'Saying inappropriate things can lead to a heavy beating...'' Said Raman
'Apologies... ' Said Mihir
'So, you are not going home...'' Said Romi
'No... Just a few finishing touches on the house and we are out of here as well...'' Said Raman
'Ishu... If he becomes annoying, your welcome to stay at my house. It is cozier...'' Said Romi
'Will Miss Vandu be there as well...'' She asked
'No why would you ask something like that in front of these idiots...'' Said Romi
'Ohhh... Why... Why would Vandu be there...'' Said Mihir
'You are seriously slow...'' Said Raman turning to Ishita
'Can you please give us a second...'' He said, and she obliged walking out
'That goes for you too...'' He said looking at Mihir and he more than gladly walked out following Ishita
'Did not want to say this in front of her but you look like crap...'' Said Romi
'Thank you... I think the look suits me...'' Said Raman sarcastically
'I agree...'' Said Romi chuckling
'So, what is going on? Why are you here?'' Romi asked
'I needed a place to go be with Ishita. She is not fine and as you know: Mom...'' Said Raman
'Oh yeah... I get that mom is cuckoo these days buuuttt...'' Said Romi
'But what...'' Said Raman
'I mean you could have sent Abhimanyu to get her out of there. Got yourself and her and apartment and by end of day you would have had a place to stay. He would have been a better option than Mihir...'' Said Romi
'I have no idea what you are talking about'' Said Raman
'Uh... Ha ...'' Said Romi
'Besides I did not bring her to Mihir. I came to a hotel, my hostel if I remember correctly. Besides Abhi would not suffice after what I heard'' Said Raman
'What was that...'' Said Romi
'I eavesdropped on her conversation with Grandpa...'' Said Romi
'He is in town...'' Said Romi
'No, he went back. He just came by apparently to check on Ishita if I was treating her well. At least that is what he said to me when I saw him off ...'' Said Raman
'And that is not the case...'' Said Romi
'Nooo ... He is blackmailing her...'' Said Raman
'Come on... Say things that make sense... Why would he do that? Isn't she married to you because she wanted to, and he asked her'' Said Romi
'Apparently No... Also, I am beginning to think this marriage of mine is all but a sham...'' He said
'Okay wait... I am missing something here... If granddad is blackmailing Ishita ... What does he need her to do in return?'' Said Romi
'From the little I heard. It has something to do with the Aroras ...'' Said Raman withholding
'She is so scared of Grandpa. I wish you could see her face when she got back home and there he was. Aditya looked like the life had been sucked out of him. They are petrified of us... I think that is why she just lets mom insult and humiliate her like that... I feel so bad for her...'' Said Raman and Romi frowned a bit listening to his brother
'Last time she was so out of it that she ended up drinking herself silly. It is so strange, and I never believed that one can just be talkative and say their inner most thoughts when they are drunk, but I think with her, being drunk would have been the perfect excuse to just let it all out. Suddenly I see her is such a different light. She is an amazing woman you know...Not to mention extremely weird. And I also think she had a double personality'' Raman added scoffing as he said
'Shagun pops in out of nowhere this morning and suddenly I am so mad. Why does she have to hear such crap from people like her? She doesn't deserve it... Right''
'WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED LAST NIGHT...'' Said Romi somewhat amused not at the topic but his brother's sentiments
'What do you mean'' Said Raman
'What happened that was so drastic that you fell in love with her in one night?'' Said Romi
'What the hell are you talking about?'' Said Raman
'Do you hear yourself when you talk about her?'' Said Romi
'I do not follow...'' Said Raman
'You realize it wasn't so long ago you were planning on setting her up with Mihir and using her to get to Shagun. Then you made plans to have her fall for Mihir such that she tells you about the Aroras. Suddenly that planned has changed from using her to protecting her... You follow what I mean'' Said Romi
'That's... Wait No...'' He said as if confused
'This is bad... This is bad... Mihir... I... Look... Leave... Now ...'' Said Romi
'Why...'' Said Raman
'You're sending Mihir to go check on your wife knowing he has feelings for her is you giving him the go that is alright...'' Said Romi
'What kind of bullshit are you spewing'' Said Raman''
'Look your marriage isn't normal... Not to mention real in a sense... If she somehow chooses Mihir which possibility of that happening Raman I swear is very real, she would not have done any wrong... Technically speaking from what you told me. Given how close she and Mihir are not to mention the talkative friend, Rinky... Sooner or later Mihir will deduce the same thing, Him and you are similar in that sense. Once it is something you want, consequences are damned you get it... Mihir won't admit it now because we are brothers however I guarantee Raman, he is falling for your wife too and you keep letting him...'' Said Romi as he stood up
'Now I am telling you this because I love you both and I do not want you to fight over a woman. Because she is your wife for now, you sort of have dibs on her however; we Bhallas are unmannered bunch of people. Mihir... If he wins her heart over ... The only thing you will have as a marriage will be a piece of paper...'' He added which got Raman thinking
'Okay... Okay... I am only staying here one night anyway...'' Said Raman
'Don't say I did not warn you...'' Said Romi
'Forget that. Can I ask you something random...?'' He said
'Okay...'' Said Romi
'If say I woke up one morning and told you that I was not Raman but someone else... What would you think...?'' Said Raman
'That your crazy...'' Said Romi
'Seriously...'' Said Raman
'I am being serious'' Said Romi
'Like I was convinced that I am someone else stuck in Raman's body... Almost like I had two personalities...'' Said Raman
'Like a Multiple Personality Disorder kind of way...'' Said Romi
'Yeah kind of...'' Said Raman
'What would the other personality want...'' Said Romi
'To kill Raman...'' Said Raman
'That doesn't make sense... Wouldn't that mean Raman is suicidal if he is asking to kill him... Or this is not literally speaking'' Said Romi
'I don't know...'' Said Raman
'Take her to the doctor first thing. Given how she takes all that beating and how Aditya says her Uncle treated her, I am not surprised she has a mental illness...'' Said Romi
'I never said it was Ishita...'' Said Raman
'Oh Please, you must think I am so gullible...'' Said Romi shaking his head
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TEASER:
''Okay I need warning when you are planning to pop up...'' Said Raman his hand on his chest
''Are you okay...'' He asked
''What...'' She said looking at him
''Ishi... Ahh... Sorry Nikita... Are you okay... For a second you were out of it...'' He said and Ishita turned looking at him in utter disbelief
''No... No... Why is... I can't... No...'' She began panicking
''Chill out a second...'' Said Raman as he grabbed her hand
''You need to stay as far away from me as possible. She will kill you...'' Said Ishita her voice breaking
''Who will kill me?'' He asked
''Nikita... Raman Please... I am begging just do as I say... You... You lied... You said I did not act out of the ordinary... You said I... You lied... You always lie... You...'' She began hyperventilating
''I can't... I can't...'' She continued
''Ishu... Ishita... Calm down... Ishita...'' He tried to grab her hand but she instead pushed him away and turned to leave but she could not hold her weight
She was scared and this was the first time she showed it. She always showed courage and was never easy to read but this was different. She was petrified and they all could see it
''I have... I want to leave... I have...'' She began and Mihir came forward grabbed her hand helping her to her feet
''Come on... I got you...'' And together they walked out leaving a completely perplexed and slightly jealous Raman behind
Anupamaa
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