Chapter 1
In his last moment Mr Bhalla had told Raman his last wish, a wish that
to this day has not been fulfilled. Simply because Raman hasn't a single clue
who this Ishita is; what she looks like; where she lives! He doesn't even know
her last name!
As has been the case for the past 4 years, Raman is lost in his own
world trying to figure out how to fulfil his father's last wish. So invested in
his thoughts is he that he doesn't notice his daughter Ruhi has let go of his
hand and begun to cross the road.
"AAAHH, PAPA!"
Pulled out of his thoughts, Raman sees Ruhi lying on the road, partially
covered by a woman. He immediately runs to her.
"Ruhi, are you ok? How many times have I told you not to leave my hand
while crossing the road," seeing that she is ok, Raman starts lecturing her on
road safety, completely forgetting about the lady who saved his little
princess.
"Wait a minute Mr... whoever you are, why are you lecturing this little
girl, are you her dad?"
"Yes, I'm -"
"If you're her father then you should've been taking care of her, but
no, you must have been busy day dreaming about some woman. Don't you know these
are the streets of Mumbai; you have to watch every step here! Learn to look
after your daughter. This is ridiculous, first you make a mistake and then you
scold this poor little-"
"Excuse me, you're stopping me from lecturing my own daughter, yet you've started lecturing me - a complete stranger to you! If you
like giving out advice so much, then take an advice from me as well - open your
mouth less, you look prettier that way!"
With that said Raman leaves from there, feeling proud that the final
word was his.
_________________________________________
"Papa, who was that? You both were fighting like I do with my best
friend, Shravan!"
"She was no one, Ruhi. I don't even know her- Wait, what did you say?
Shravan? That's a boy's name. You best friend is a boy?! And he fights with
you?! What did I tell you Ruhi. Stay away from boys, they are smelly, rude and-"
"But Papa, Shravan isn't smelly, he actually smells very nice!"
"You sit that close with him that you can even smell him? Who is this
Shravan kid that fights with my daughter, I want to meet him. Bring him to meet
me when I pick you up from school tomorrow. I'll see how he fights with you
after that!"
_________________________________________
"Ishita Di, I'm here. By the way, who were you talking to just now - that
man and the little girl with him? Who were they?"
"I don't know Mihika, but whoever he was I hope I never see him again - arrogant,
obnoxious man!"
Mihika watched Ishita walk away fuming, and smiled at the fact that her
sister didn't answer her question about the little girl. Her sole focus was on
the man. She wondered who he was to have brought out such an immense reaction
in her sister. Something her whole family had been trying to do since the past
few months. Although Ishita smiled and laughed with everyone, Mihika saw the
pain in her dull eyes, that small glimpse of sparkle that had been there while
she spoke of the man reminded her of the old Ishita. While Ishita wished to
never meet the man again, Mihika prayed that Ishita crosses paths with him
again. If that was the only way to bring her sister out of her gloomy state,
then so be it.
_________________________________________
The following day started like every other in the Bhalla household, full of chaos as different voices resonated from every corner of the house.
Romi - "Bhai, could you drop me to college!"
Ruhi - "Papa, I can't tie my shoe laces!"
Rinki - "Bhai, could you get me this on your way home!"
Ruhi - "Papa, I'm getting late, hurry up!"
Poor Raman, tired already, and the day had just started. But this is
what his life had become, everyone always asking him for something or the
other. His siblings were too busy in their own worlds to pay enough attention
to their elder brother; had they paid closer attention they'd see that all this
running around was taking a toll on him. Dark circles, pale skin, slow walking.
They all headed out together as Raman drove everyone to their
destinations. Once he had dropped Romi and Ruhi off, it was only him and Rinki
in the car.
"Bhai, I think you should hire a baby sitter for Ruhi, because I have to
study for my exams and the only place I can properly concentrate is in the
library. Romi Bhai is never home to look after Ruhi anyways. Even you're at the
office all day."
"Yeah ok, I'll think about it. When are you going to start going to the
library?"
"Well, my first exam isn't for another 2 weeks, so I'm going to start
going to the library in 2 days, until then I'll just revise at home, but after
that Ruhi will need someone to look after her."
"Ok, I will look for a baby sitter. Now here's some money, be safe and come
straight home after college."
That brought a smile to Rinki's face. "Yes Bhai, you look after yourself
too." Rinki started to open the door, only to be stopped by Raman's next words.
"I love you Little Sis."
That was enough to get her teary eyed. She turned and gave her brother a
quick hug.
"I love you too Big B."
Raman hadn't heard her call him that in a long time; he missed spending
time with his brother and sister. Despite living in the same house they
couldn't have been more distanced than they are now & he blamed himself for
it. He was so engrossed in earning money in order to gift them everything they
ever asked for, that he had neglected the most valuable gift in life... time.
No one in the Bhalla household had time for each other.
Raman didn't even have enough time for his daughter. The child didn't
have a mother as it is, and her father despite being there was non-existent in
her life. The only time they were truly able to spend together was when they'd
get ready in the mornings and Raman would drop and pick her up from school. Those
were moments Ruhi always looked forward to. Otherwise at home she'd spend the
time sitting on the sofa watching TV all day. Rinki Bua would be studying, so
she didn't want to disturb her. Romi Chachu would always play with her when he
was home, but he was hardly ever home! And her Papa was always in the office.
When Raman would come home Ruhi would be sleeping. As was his daily routine
he'd go to her room, kiss her forehead and just lie down next to her, watching
his little princess sleep.
He didn't want Ruhi to feel the absence of both parents. So today, when
he would pick Ruhi up from school, they'd go to the park together. He'd push
her on the swings, spin her on the merry-go-round, hold her hand on the rope
bridge and even play hide-and-seek with her.
YES! This is what he'd do. Cancel the evening meetings, and show his
little princess what a real loving family is really like! But first he had to
see this Shravan and tell him to stay away from his innocent little Ruhi.
_________________________________________
Ishita and Mihika were excited, their parents would be coming to Mumbai
tomorrow and then the four of them would move into their new home. They were
enjoying themselves in their Vandu Akka and Bala Jiju's house, spending the
evenings talking and laughing, playing with their nephew Shravu. But they
didn't want to impose on them too much.
"Ishu, Mihika, I'm going to get Shravu from school!"
"Ok Akka, we're going out too. We need to some last minute shopping for
the new home. And don't take Shravu to the park without us, we'll be home by
then."
"Alright, I'm taking him to the park at around 6, so make sure you both
are here by then."
_________________________________________
Raman is standing outside the school gates waiting for Ruhi.
"Papaaa!"
Ruhi runs towards him and jumps up in his arms.
"Woah Ruhi, do you want to break your Papa's back or something?!"
"But Papa, I want to stay like this, you know I like it when you pick me
up in your arms!"
"Fine, but only for a little while. Now tell me where that best friend
of yours is?"
Ruhi felt someone tugging on her leg. She looked down to see Shravan
with a big toothy smile on his face.
"Ruhi, your bag. You forgot it in class. Stupid!"
Raman put Ruhi on the floor.
"Oye! Who are you calling stupid, you didn't save the world by bringing
her her bag. Give it to me! And stay
away from my daughter, I know boys like you very we-"
"Excuse me, what kind of a way is this to talk to my son?! Do you have
no manners! Look at your age, and yet your picking on someone 5/6 times smaller
than you! Insolent man! Pick on someone your own size! I don't know what kind
of people are being allowed outside the school these days. Chee."
"Look, I was only talking to y-"
"Talking? You were scolding him. Who even are you to talk to my son?!
Shravu, I told you na, don't talk to
strangers!"
"But Mama, he's Ruhi's Dad."
"What? Ruhi's Dad?"
It was then Vandita looked down to see Ruhi holding Shravan's hand.
Something Raman too noticed. Vandita smiled at the two kids, while Raman kept
glaring at their joint hands.
"Ruhi! Come on!"
Raman forced Ruhi to leave Shravan's hand and took her straight home.
_________________________________________
"Hi Akka! Ermm, Vandu Akka why are you so angry?"
"Ishita, I went to pick up Shravan from school and saw some man scolding
my Shravu. I don't know which world he thought himself the prince of, how can
he go around scolding someone else's child. He was saying that Shravu fights
with his daughter, but they're friends. Their fights are always in jest. Aur woh, khadoos insaan, kisi Star Plus ki Saas
ki tarah aa gaya bina baat ke ladayi karne!"
"Seriously Vandu Akka, I too met some rude man yesterday, he was
lecturing his daughter when the fault was his own. I didn't know there were
this many hooligans in Mumbai."
"No Ishu, we just have a bad fortune that such men meet us only. Ok now
forget all this and let's take Shravu to the park."
_________________________________________
"Papa, how could you speak like that to Shravan? He's my best friend!
Now he won't talk to me because of you!"
"Then that's great, this is what I wanted! I've told you many times
Ruhi, stay away from boys."
"But papa -"
"Ok now no more arguing, go change your clothes. I'm taking you to the
park."
"Really Papa, don't you need to go office?"
"No, I took the day off for my little girl."
"Yaaay, we're both going to the park! I'll go change my clothes quickly!"
Edited by Arooj.M - 9 years ago
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