Hi All
Thanks again for the wonderful comments and encouragement.🤗
I am back with the 3rd installment. The first 2 were used to lay some foundation around their thoughts, which I will use to build a few stories. So, from here on now, the only focus is on getting these 2 back together. And any turmoil I write about will be a happy one. I have written a bit about Ruhi's situation but I have still kept it positive.
Note; I am very bad at writing 'happy' stuff, so if these subsequent parts look lame, please do let me know, I will try to improve. I live to learn every day!😊
THe inspiration for this part is 'Mora Saiyyan mose bole na' by Fuzon.
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Ishita had just finished a root canal, and wanted to just relax in her office for a few minutes before she left for home. Ruhi was going to spend the evening at the Bhallas today. There was a party at the Bhallas for Romi's exam results. Ishita smiled when she remembered how her Bala Jiju had brought ROmi back on track. He was the one who found about the culprits in the paper-leaking case, but had managed the situation so effectively. ROmi was brought down to earth by Bala's generosity and capacity for mending. He had instantly turned into a serious man. Turns out, he was really smart too! He was not 'distinction' material, but wasn't a bad student. When he put his heart to it, he actually passed with first class. Ishita was happy that things were getting better at the Bhallas. Simmi and her baby were doing well too, and from what she had heard from Mihir, Simmi was getting to terms with her reality. She had apparently also started talking normally. Well, as normally as she could, thought Ishita.
She instinctively took the phone out of her locked drawer. The whole Parmeet fiasco had taught her not to leave her phone unattended. She turned it on to see a couple of calls from Ruhi's school and a few more from Raman. She stood up with a small shudder. There could be only one reason why she received a call from Ruhi's teacher and Raman at the same time. It wasnt rocket science. Ruhi was ill, something happened to her. She called Raman first, she couldnt get through to him. She then called Ruhi's teacher. She got through to someone in the admininistration office, who told Ishita that Ruhi was fine. The relief Ishita felt forced her to let out her held breath, and she sat back down. She then went into her regular mode and started talking fast "Arre, phir itni baar call karne ka kya matlab. Agar Ruhi theek hai, to parents ko aise phone karke kyon daraate ho aap. Aapko pata nahin main kya kya soch rahi thi. Agar koi emergency nahin hai, to aap email kar sakte ho, text bhej sakte ho, ya Ruhi ke haathon ek letter bhi bhej sakte ho. Kucch nahin to aur ek ghanta ruk jaate, Ruhi ke paapa aane hi waale the Ruhi ko pick up karne. You could have spoken to him then. Please agli baar se, be a bit more considerate". The lady on the other end didn't know what had hit her. The poor woman only answered the phone because all teachers were busy in classes. She could only manage "Dekhiye madam, I will pass on your comments to the school management, but I all I know is that Ruhi's teacher told me to expect both of you in her office and that I should ask you to wait, she wanted to speak to you together. So please, can you come over as soon as you can ?" Ishita calmed down, maybe the teacher wanted to talk about Ruhi's progress in class, after all. "OK theek hai, I'll leave now" she said, and hung up. SHe went into the ladies room and looked into the mirror. That temporary scare had just made her face look like a mess. She splashed water on her face and wiped it dry. She wasnt in the mood for any make up. Not like this was a date. "hold on, where did that thought come from? this is an official meeting at Ruhi's school, for God's sake. Just because he would be there, and I would have to spend some time with him doesnt mean there is anything more to it." She talked to her reflection, as she had started doing more regularly. Because she was back home, and alone most of the time, she was the only one she could lecture. The one thing that she missed most was not being able to confront Raman on every silly aspect. She shook her head, thinking this wasnt the time to think about Raman. "If I start now, I will never be able to get to Ruhi's school in time".
Raman was very angry. He had already cancelled his meetings in the afternoon because his mother had made him buy drinks and snacks for this sad excuse of a party in the evening. He was not pleased with how Bala had managed Romi's crime. Raman was of the opinion that Bala should have beat Romi up, make him see sense in the only language he understood. Raman wanted Romi to be expelled, and he could give him an intern's job in his company. Romi would then learn all life lessons, the way a man should. These Madrasis are so soft, they dont know how to fix problems like us Punjabis do. "Ruhi kucch galat karegi to main us Madrasan ko handle nahin karne doonga. Bachhon ko sar pe chadhake rakhte hain, us Tingu ko hi dekh lo. Mere sar pe chadhke bharatnatyam bhi kar sakta hai woh!" He then smiled at his trail of thoughts. He remembered how he was a few months ago. The only problems he worried about were work-related and most of them had to do with some games Ashok and Shagun were playing. "Jab se woh Madrasan life mein aayi hai, mera to attitide hi change ho gaya. Itna bada CEO hoon main, and ek tingu bacche se pareshan hoon". No, he thought "I have to make sure Ruhi is brought up like a Punjaban. I dont want her to grow up into another Ishita. I dont want anyone calling her Bhashan Kumari BHalla" Which reminded him to drive faster. He had already brought everything they needed for the party. He just had to go pick Ruhi up and then go home. He had received a call from Ruhi's school telling him that Ruhi's teacher wanted to meet both the parents together. "Phir se koi donation ka drama karenge. Yeh school hai ya charity foundation. Har mahine kucch maangne ke liye haath phailaate hain. Hum bhi padhe likhe hain yaar, aise donation de deke pass nahin hue the". He instantly looked up and moved the mirror to look at it. He ran a hand around his chin and grimaced "Pehle pata hota ki aaj Ishita se milna hai, woh bhi public place mein, to shave karke aata. Pata nahin yeh bewakoof aurat teacher ke saamne kya bolegi". He smiled again "Wah beta Raman, tu kabse teri shakal ke baare mein itna sochne lag gaya"?
Both of them were sitting in the teacher's office. They had only said Hello to each other when they met. They had look at their phones a few times, pretending to check messages or the time. Anything they could do to avoid conversation. His mood had improved, he was no longer mad about his mother forcing him for Romi's party. These few minutes with her had calmed him down, and this was the longest they had been alone in a room in a long time. If this wasnt a message from fate, what was. "Suno", he said. "Hmmm" she said immediately looking up, as if she was expecting him to talk to her. "Woh I know Mom ne Amma appa ko poocha hai, tum log aa rahe ho party mein na?" This is not what he had wanted to say. It sounded lame to him. Of course they wouldnt come. What with all the loud music, drinks and chicken. What he really wanted to ask her was if she was OK. "No, actually woh amma appa humaare family friend ke yahaan ja rahe hain, un ki beti ko dekhne aa rahe hain aaj koi." She replied, knowing what was coming next "Dhyaan se suno, tum teeno ko bulaaya tha. Tum to nahin jaa rahi ho na? Phir problem kya hai. Tum aaogi to ghar pe sabko accha lagega". He knew the moment he said that last sentence, she would look at him with her eyebrows raised and a question in her eyes, loaded with a bit of residual anger. Before she could answer, the teacher came in. "Hello Mr and Mrs Bhalla! Sorry to keep you waiting"
"Yeh teacher log itna punctual kyon hote hain" Both of them thought together.
They were franctically running around the mall looking for things the needed to buy. It was already 6:00 PM and there was so much to be done. Ruhi was sulking,apologetic. Turns out, the teacher hadn't called them to talk about Ruhi's good grades or behaviour. She was actually calling to complain about something. Ishita and Raman were not expecting that. "Hello both. Actually I wanted to ask you if everything was OK at home". They looked at each other, shocked. They had never let anything slip out in front of Ruhi. Yes, she was a bit lost because of her living arrangements. Her clothes, shoes, toys were all divided into two places. Some times, they used
to struggle to find matching pair of socks in the same house. But Ruhi was having fun with all this. She was treating this as a vacation period. Did the child actually get affected so badly that her teachers knew? "No" they said simultaneously, not as firmly as they'd have liked to.
The teacher saw the panic in their eyes, and said "Oh nothing to worry about. Its just that we had given the class a major project to complete. We had given them 2 weeks, and had told them to make sure they work with their parents on this. You see, in this school, we like to make sure that parents are spending productive time with their kids. Aaj kal, parents apne kaam mein busy rehte hain. Even at home, when they are with the kids, its like they are all leading separate lives. THe parents are either working on their laptops, or watching TV or reading something while the child is playing with toys. I dont mean to imply that the children are being ignored, its just that we would like them to spend time together as a unit. I hope you understand Mr. Bhalla, I am sure its like you have these team-building events in your company right?"
Ishita knew Raavan Kumar was about to explode. She immediately placed her hand on his knee, with a bit of force to make sure he got the message. He did. He didnt say anything, but gave her a look saying he wasnt happy. She spoke, before he could say or do anything. "Yes of course, we understand. But I am confused. Ruhi didnt tell us about any project. She shows me all her homework, and notes you send with her. She is a very sincere student" she said proudly. Raman saw Ishita's pride and couldnt stop from smiling. He knew he didnt have to worry about whatever silly issue this teacher was talking about. With Ishita around, Ruhi would be fine. "Oh Mrs Bhalla,
you see thats why I asked if everything was fine at home. Ruhi never slips up in school work. I reminded the class today, and thats when she told me that she had forgotten to even tell you". Ishita was a bit worried, but didnt show it. She just asked the teacher what the project was, and if it took her all night, she would be up and complete it with Ruhi. "Yes, the project is that the three of you have to make a house together. It doesnt matter if it looks like a bungalow, or a chawl or a
flat, or even a hut really. But I would like the child to understand all the components that go into a house, and what makes it a home. You need to use dolls to show all the family members,and you can buy miniature items to show inside the house, but everything else must be hand made." Ishita looked upwards. "Muruga, why are you doing this to me. Of all the things they could have asked for, they want me to build a house with Raavan Kumar. Please lord, do you have no mercy?" Raman could only smile, he knew what she was thinking.
The CEO in him got up, thanked the teacher and assured her that they would do their best. When they came out of their office, they saw Ruhi looking sad. "Ishima, papa. I am sorry. Woh teacher ka note maine bag mein rakha tha. But when we got home that day, I started playing with Mutthu and he was trying to eat my bag. So I took it from him, and tried to hide it. Maybe the note fell somewhere. I dont know where it is now, in my room or Paati's house. I am sorry". Big tears started forming in her eyes. Raman lifted up and pacified her. "Arre beta aise hota hai. Nothing to worry about. Dont worry, aapke paape and Romi chachu bhi aise hi the school mein. Dont worry, humaare DNA mein hai yeh sab galti karna". Ishita looked at him angrily, he wasnt going to let her talk to Ruhi and make her understand the importance of school work. Oh no, he had to make Ruhi think that it was OK to make mistakes at school. She let it go, she didnt want Ruhi upset and they had a lot of work to do.
They drove in their separate cars to Ishita's clinic and she left her car there. They drove together in his car to the mall. Ruhi was not feeling guilty anymore, but she was still worried. She didnt know if her parents could hack it. They had never worked together with her in her school work. And building a house must be hard work, because it took all the other parents 2 weeks. How would her parents do it in one night. "Paapa, will we be able to complete everything? and dadi ke party ka kya hoga? and hum sab samaan le paayenge? and hum house mere room mein banaayenge? ya Paati ke ghar par? Paapa, aap bhi help karoge na Ishima ki?" Raman's ego was hurt with that last question. His daughter assumed that her Ishima would do everything, as usual. He said very sweetly, but his eyes on Ishita "Beta, aapke papa bahut bade CEO hain. Main chutki bajaake badi factories banaata hoon. Yeh to phir bhi ek chhotasa ghar hai. Sab kucch main kar loonga akele. Jis din aapka toothpaste khatam hoga, ya daant mein dard hoga beta, tab aap Ishima ki help lena" That was the last straw. Ishita started laughing madly. It had been a long time since she had laughed like that, her untamed hair flying all over the place. Her lips at their widest, her eyes twinkling. That was a happy laugh.
Yes, he thought, "Its about time!" For the first time in years, he thanked God. For giving him a chance to repent. For a chance to start healing his bond with her. For giving them the most ideal opportunity to start building a home together. And most importantly, for letting this gem of a woman come into his life.
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Let me know what you think? I was planning to write about their actual experience of building something together, but the initial build-up was so long that I didnt have the energy to continue. If I dont come up with another scenario, my next one actually may be about them spending time together building the house for Ruhi.
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