"Hello! Hi Raman!! Ishita calling."
"Ishita, I am busy right now, can we talk later?"
"Please, don't avoid me Raman. This is important. I know you have been avoiding me. Things have changed between us to a tremendous extent. I need to talk to you. Will you please come home early?"
"Can you not wait Ishita? I'll try to be home in 2 hrs approximately."
"I'll wait for you (Her mind was clouded with so many thoughts and yet she was ready to wait for him. For 2 hrs, for 365 days , forever..) Ok, listen. Will you pick up Ruhi from her school?"
" Yes, but could it be possible for Vandu akka to pick her up?"
"Sure Raman, will check with Vandu akka. See you soon. Remember, I'll be waiting for you."
What has happened to Ishita? What does she want to talk to me? She sounded confused, happy and worried at the same time.
Ishita called Vandita and asked her to pick Ruhi. Vandita agreed.
" How am I gonna tell Raman? Will he believe?" She was restlessly waiting for her husband (who was for namesake... was he? really? after that incident ...) and her sweet daughter.
"Ishita, is Ruhi home? When I went to Ruhi's school, the Peon told me her relative picked her up already", Vandu was telling her younger sister.
"Don't worry akka, Raman might have picked her. Both will be shortly here."
"Ishita, Ishita, Ishita..Where the hell this woman has gone? She calls me in the office and asks me to come early and now she is nowhere to be found. Ishita..."
"Raman, Sorry I was with akka. Where is Ruhi? "
"How will I know? I told you to ask Vandita to pick her from school. She might be playing around with Shravan."
"No Raman, the Peon told that Ruhi left with one of her relatives. She is not here." She was panicking.
"Shravu, have you seen Ruhi? Do you know with whom did she leave the school?"
"No, chitti. I met her on our lunch break and she left before amma came to pick me. What happened chittappa? Is Ruhi alright?"
"Nothing has happened Shravan. You go and play outside". Now, it was Raman who was not able to think straight.
Ishita ran towards Bala. " Jiju, Have you seen Ruhi? Shravu told me that she left with someone from our home."
"Don't panic Ishu. Call Romi and Simmi. Ask them if they went to her school." Bala enquired everyone who was at home.
Mihir came to Raman's place on receiving his call. Raman sounded so concerned and worried.
"Bhai , we'll go and check in her school again" Both Romi and Mihir echoed.
"Ishu akka, Me and Simmi will look around our society." Mihika expressed her opinion.
"Oh, Bhalla ji. Where is my Ruhi puttar? Is she OK? I am worried for her."
"Tussi thand rakho Toshiji. Everyone is looking out for her. Nothing will happen to her."
After hours of searching Ruhi in school, society and at her friend's house, everyone came barehanded. Ishita was losing her control. Raman lost his cool. Both were scared out of their mind.
"Raman, I think we should go and lodge a police complaint", Bala suggested.
Raman's thinking ability was blocked. All he could think was "No, not Ruhi too". Ishita on the other hand was trying to control her overriding emotions. Mihir and Bala were about to go to the police station and the phone rang.
Raman sprang from his seat to receive the call.
"Hello, Hello, Hello. Speak up damn it. Why have you called, if you don't want to speak?" It happened twice. Raman was about to throw the phone. It rang again. This time Ishita picked.
"Hello, who is this? Will you please talk at least?"
"mmm Ishita ji. I love to hear your voice. I am craving for you"
"Who are you? Stop talking to me in a cheap way." At that instance, Raman whirled from his place and put the phone on speaker.
"Ishita ji, calm down. You look too hot when you get angry.( Raman's blood was boiling on hearing that) I have been trying to get closer to you and you kept running. I like to chase, Ishita."
"Shut up. What the hell are you blabbering? What do you want?"
"YOU", the man on the other side said with a very cool voice.
There was a dead drop silence in the room. Raman was struggling to keep his cool. Everyone was confused with the new turn of events.
" What happened my hot pie? Why are you silent? Yes, you heard it right. I want YOU. And I know you yourself will come to me if you want to see your daughter."
And that did her. Every cell of her body shivered in response to the voice on the other side of the phone. Someone had kidnapped Ruhi and wanted to make a trade now.
"Listen to me very carefully honey. A single call to police will land Ruhi into the graveyard. Bring my Sale sahib with you if you want. But let me make one thing clear to you, I want YOU and I'll get you by hook or crook. So think fast, move quick. I am waiting for you my love."
Was that Parmeet? Ishita was feeling disgusted with his words. Simmi was in utter shock. She loved Parmeet and he was playing with her feelings all this time. Raman decided to call police but Ishita stopped him. "No, don't Raman. Haven't you heard him? One mistake and Ruhi...(She couldn't complete, she fell on the floor and started to sob heavily)". Raman wanted to go and hold her tightly, assure her that nothing will happen to their daughter; instead he stayed rooted to the place where he was. Vandita and Mihika tried to console her. Ishita stopped crying, she took a decision. She went to Raman and said, "Let's go Raman; I want my daughter back, safe. I am ready for this."
Already Raman was unable to digest the information that his pervert BIL has gone to such a low level that he had kidnapped his own niece to get his own sister in law. "That gutter scum!!! I'll kill him. You are not going anywhere Ishita. I won't allow this." In a fit of rage he broke the glass table in front of him. How could he allow this dirty exchange? His wife for his daughter? The very thought of it made him feel as if someone has sucked up his life out of him.
"Please, Raman we don't have time for this. I am ready. Ruhi is important to me than my own life. We have to hurry up."
With a heavy heart he agreed for this indecorous exchange. He asked Mihir to accompany him. On their way to Parmeet, his mind reeled with memories of Ishita. His wife (Yes, HIS wife! It all started with 'Sirf Ruhi ke liye') a doting mother, a caring daughter in law and a lovely (!!??) wife who today was ready to go to any length for her daughter and her family. Parmeet's words for Ishita were like as if somebody has poured boiling honey in his ears. He couldn't stand the very thought of Parmeet imagining his wife in incestuous way. With the storm going on his mind they all reached to their destination. Ishita took a deep breath. She looked at Raman with a pair of those compassionate eyes, somehow assuring him that everything will be alright. Raman asked Mihir to wait for him in the car. Both of them walked towards the door of godown . Before entering inside they looked at each other as if they haven't seen each other in ages. The look in Ishita's eyes made him to want to hug her, shower her with kisses nonetheless he opened the door for her. They both entered.
"Ruhi, Ruhi, Ruhi", Ishita was holding herself together just to see her beloved daughter.
"Aa gayi Ishita ji aap." Ishita shivered as the voice ran chill in her spine. Raman on the contrary stiffened listening to that gutter sludge. " You made me wait. You have to pay for it."
She walked hurriedly towards the voice , " No, please don't do anything to Ruhi. I'll pay for it. Please, leave her."
And she saw a shadow moving away from the pillar. Indeed, it was her filthy minded BIL. Parmeet came into full light. He had THAT smirk on his face. He looked at Raman, " Kyun sale sahib, aaj bahut thand pad gaye? I had told you not to cross my path. See I made you to bring your sexy wife to me."
"Parmeet, saale. You are taking advantage of my situation. Where is Ruhi?"
"Tsk,tsk..Calm down angry young man, calm down. Ruhi is safe. First ask Ishita ji to come towards me. You know, I want to hear it from your mouth. Ask her to come to me. Send her NOW."
Parmeet's every word was putting daggers in Raman's heart. His ex-wife Shagun left him herself to that 6'2" for money. And his present, love of his life ( ???), he is now forced to send her against his will to his bas***d BIL. Raman caught Ishita's eyes. She was pleading him to do what that perv was saying.
With hoarse voice Raman asked Ishita, " Go to Parmeet , Ishita."
"What did you say sale sahib. I didn't hear you. Louder, please". Parmeet was enjoying discomfort of Raman and Ishita. Well, in fact he was relishing Ishita more. She was a vision tonight. He always had imagined her coming to him, begging to give her pleasures of life. Now, here she was!! Walking towards him, on her own husband's instance who denied having any husbandly relationship with her. And there he was, waiting for her with open arms. Ishita stopped in the midway. She looked back at Raman. She tried to convey her love for him, she wanted to share something with him today, very important which could have changed their lives but destiny had planned something else for them.
"Parmeet, I'll come to you but first I want to see Ruhi. I want you to send her to Raman, NOW."
"You are very appealing sight Ishita ji. Even when you are trying to appear very calm and strong. I like it, still I crave for you. Ruhi come here. Look who is here."
Raman felt as if someone has blocked the air supply to his lungs. Ruhi came running towards Ishita.
"Ishima". And then Ishita felt as if somebody has lifted heavy weight off her shoulders. She sprang towards Ruhi, hugged her tightly and showered her with kisses.
Ruhi looked worried with such an affection. She asked "What happened Ishima? Why are you behaving in such a way? I was with Parmeet chachu. He said he missed me, so wanted to spend time with me. That's why I came with him."
Both Ishita and Raman were relieved to see Ruhi without any scratch. Ishita insisted her to go to Raman. Raman held her tightly, looked at her with tearful eyes. He asked her to go and sit in the car.
"Stop you drama and come to me my queen. I have been restraining myself to touch you", Parmeet blurted.
"Enough. That's it you hideous mongrel. I spared you for the first time cause you are my sister's husband. But not now."
Parmeet made a swift move and grabbed Ishita by her waist. Hugged her from behind. Ishita couldn't move. Raman stopped in his tracks abruptly as he saw that scoundrel clutching his wife. All of a sudden Ishita was on a gun point. That perv was touching his wife with one hand was holding her on the gunpoint as well. Holy hell!!! He has to act very fast. With the speed of light Raman ran towards Parmeet. He knocked Parmeet's hand, twisted it behind his back. Within seconds Parmeet was on top of Raman. He elbowed Raman, kicked him in groin. He was punching Raman's guts out of him. Ishita tried to help Raman but Parmeet pushed her hard and she landed planting her face on the floor. Raman was trying to get hold of the Pistol. With one swift move Parmmet got his pistol, now he was aiming for Raman. Blood drained from Ishita's face. Parmeet pulled the trigger, Ishita ran towards Raman with the courage of tigress, and she collapsed hitting the ground.
"Ishita...Nooo" a heart wrenching scream came from Raman. He leaped towards her. She took a bullet for him!! For him???
Parmeet ran towards the door to save himself from Raman but he ran into Police who were called by Mihir. Mihir ran towards the couple on the ground. Raman was in state of tremor. He was not able to contemplate what had had happened. She took a bullet for him!!!
He was crying his guts out. "Look at me Ishu. Please, look at me. Don't leave me. I can't imagine my life without you. Please, don't die on me. Don't go away. Say something Ishu, please."
She looked at him with the pain in her eyes. She was indeed in extreme pain. She clutched her hand around her stomach and all that she could whisper in his ears was "Please save ...save..."
Raman held her hand, "Ishu, Ruhi is safe. Nothing has happened to her. Please, stay with me."
Mihir had called ambulance. They took her to the hospital. All Raman could do was staring at his lifeless wife, his Jhansi Ki Rani. True it was!! She was his superwoman, the love of his life that he denied to accept based on his past experience. He never realized how slowly Ishita had healed him, taken over his heart. He was in LOVE with his wife and a bullet taken by his angel made him realize his true feelings towards her. He was praying to god, begging for forgiveness. He with his entire family was waiting anxiously for doctor to come out of OT.
"Mr.Bhalla" the doctor was asking for him. Raman ran towards him. "Mr. Bhalla, the bullet has not caused any serious damage to your wife. It was a flesh wound. So she is OK."
Iyers and Bhallas relaxed a bit. Raman still was l'll restless. "However, I want you to make a decision. We are not able to find heart beats of foetus. We have decided to wait for 12 hrs. But this is a very critical stage. She is losing her child. And I want you to sign a form of consent. We can save only one of them."
The information he has gotten from doctor was too much. So many things had happened that day. Raman was trying to sink in with what doctor has told him. That means Ishita is with child!! His child!!! Is that what she wanted to tell him tonight? Is that what she wanted to save? Slowly the reality hit him very hard. Ishita was living with an agony that she can never conceive and now that she has conceived, life inside her was in danger? But how could it be possible? I and Ishita never, we never had...And at that moment, the memories of that night flooded his mind..
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https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/ye-hai-mohabbatein/4040266/call-it-magic-call-it-love-ff?pn=4
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