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PROLOGUE
"Excuse me, I had called to take an appointment for my daughter,
Ruhi Bhalla, with the dentist. Could you check?" Raman asked at the reception
of Batra clinic holding on to little Ruhi in his arms. The child was crying in
pain. "Ruhi, it's okay baccha. Just some more time and we'll be done." He said caressing her
cheeks.
"Yes sir, Dr. Iyer will attend your daughter in a few minutes.
Please have a seat till then. You will be let in as soon as the previous
patient comes out." The nurse replied. Raman sat in the waiting area with Ruhi
on his lap. "Okay Ruhi, listen to me." He said trying to distract his daughter
"Mihir chachu was saying you have a new friend in school. Who is it? Papa ko
nahi bataogi?"
Ruhi got distracted momentarily as she started telling her father
about her new best friend and all the fun they had in school. She was
animatedly telling him about a story her friend had told her while he just
adored his little princess and smiled. "Mr.Bhalla, you can go in. Second room
to the right." The nurse instructed.
Raman knocked at the door and entered with Ruhi behind him,
holding on to her fathers coat. Ishita was standing near desk, her back towards
the door. She turned back to greet the patient at the door when she was
surprised to see him there. Wait.. am I dreaming? Or is it Raman actually?'
she thought to herself.
Raman, on the other side looked equally stunned. Ishu?
Seriously?' He grinned to himself. "Ishita Iyer?" he asked. "Raman Bhalla?" she
smiled back broadly. "Oh My god! It's been ages! Where have you been Ishu?" he
came forward to hug her. She hugged him back "Long story!" she sighed "What
brings you here Raavan Kumar?" She asked.
"My daughter, Ruhi. She had a pain in her tooth." Raman said
bringing her ahead. Ishita sat down on her knees to come at par with Ruhi's
height. "Hi Ruhi!" Ishita said extending her hand. "I'm Ishita. Aap mujhse
dosti karoge?" she asked. Ruhi looked at her father as if for approval, still
holding her cheek. Raman smiled and nodded. She placed her little hand over
Ishita's and smiled. "Okay! So let's see what is bugging this beautiful girl
here!" she said carrying Ruhi to the examination table.
"Nothing to worry, Raman. She's okay. Just some food stuck in."
she said while taking off the gloves. She then carried Ruhi back to the desk
and made her sit on the table. "So Ruhi, pain gone?" Ishita asked. "Yes aunty"
Ruhi replied. "Okay! So Ruhi deserves a treat, doesn't she papa?" she asked
winking at Raman. "Of course she does" Raman replied. Ishita asked for a pastry
to be brought for Ruhi as the kid clapped her hands in joy. "Thanks aunty" she
said kissing Ishita on the cheek.
"Ruhi looks so like Shagun, na Raman? How's she?" Ishita asked.
Raman's stance changed. He was about to reply when the nurse called to say that
her next patient had arrived. "Duty calls! It was great to meet you again,
Raman. We should catch up!" she said getting up. Raman got up too and picked
Ruhi in his arms. "Yeah we should!" Raman said. She gave him her card and asked
him to call her directly in case Ruhi needed her. Raman smiled and walked out
of the cabin carrying Ruhi in his arms.
Ishita sat back on her chair that afternoon after a series of
appointments. She closed her eyes and rested her head back, remembering the
happy times that she had spent with Raman and Shagun. They were childhood
friends who lived in the same neighbourhood and studied in the same school.
Inseparable' is what everyone called them. They would practically be together
all day. Go to school together, come back together, study together and play
together. After they finished their schooling, Ishita's father decided to move
back to their hometown, Chennai. The three still managed to be in touch through
phone and emails for a few years. As time went by, each got busy with their own
life and career and Ishita lost touch with her best friends. The last she heard
of them was that they were getting married. An invite had reached their old
home and she found it covered under layers of dust when the family returned.
She tried calling the number mentioned on the card but it seemed to be a wrong
number.
A beep on her phone got her back from her
reverie. Hey Ishu, coffee today at 7?
CCD Powai? - Raman' his message flashed. Sure done! Get Shagun along na. Been ages since I even saw her! '
she hit the send button and smiled to herself. She was beyond excited to be
meeting her best friends again.
Raman found himself sitting at the coffee
shop at 6.45 itself. He re-read Ishita's message from earlier that day. I wish
I could, Ishu. I wish I could get to see her again' he thought to himself. A
lone tear escaped his eye. "Oh My God! I didn't know Raavan Kumar can cry too"
he heard. Ishita was standing there with a shocked face. He chuckled and got up
to hug her. "Woh, some dust got into my eyes" he said. Ishita settled herself
on the sat opposite to his.
"So where have you been? I sent you the
wedding invite, tried calling the landline but no response." He said sounding
cross. "Actually, amma fell ill. She needed a surgery. The hospitals in Chennai
weren't well equipped and Dr.Karnik, her doctor advised us to move to Delhi for
a few years. She could have got the best treatment there and the best surgeon
available in India as at Fortis Delhi. We moved to Delhi for about 3 years,
went back to Chennai for another 2-3 years and shifted back to Mumbai about six
months back." She explained.
"Why didn't you contact me if you were in
town?" Raman asked. "I didn't have your number, Raman. I went back to our old
society but I saw some demolition work going on. I didn't know how to contact you but I knew
we'd meet." She said. "And I'm engaged" she said showing off her ring. "That's
great Ishu. Who is it? Love or arranged?" He asked "Umm.. arranged. Subramanian
Chandran, software Engineer, works in Mumbai." She said. "Congratulation Ishu!
That's awesome news." He said
"Okay,
enough with me. Tell me where is Shagun? I want to tell her too" Ishita asked.
"Umm.. She's no more Ishita. We lost her in an accident two years back." Raman
said. "I needed you so bad then but I didn't know where to find you" he sighed.
To say Ishita was shocked would be an understatement. She didn't know what to
do or how to react. Tears started flowing through her eyes.
After a lot of crying and pacifying, Raman
took her home. "Ishu? Come in" her amma said. She was surprised to see Ishita
all disheartened and a guy with her. "What happened Ishita? And who is he?"
appa asked. "Amma, Appa, don't you remember me?" Raman asked. Amma squinted her
eyes and tried to remember who it was. His face looked oddly familiar. "Raman!"
she greeted him. Raman told them what had happened. Amma appa were sad to after
hearing about Shagun. After all, she was like a daughter to them too.
Raman and Ishita would meet frequently after
that. She would regularly go and meet Ruhi and Raman would come to meet amma
appa too. They would meet after work and tell each other what they were upto
for so many years and how much they missed each other. Life just got better for
both of them with the presence of the other.Heya! If you appreciate the work, do hit like and leave a comment! I Love Reading them!!
Direct link to Chapter 1
Edited by RaYaKapoor - 9 years ago
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