IsRa: The Moment
Background: The current scenario. This is on the day Raman-Ruhi-Shagun and Adi are leaving for the picnic.
Morning:
Ishita: Ruhi, you have to leave with them. Papa says Adi Bhaiyya has requested for your presence.
Ruhi: Ishi Maa, I want you to come. You are my Maa and Adi Bhaiyya is so mean to me. I do not want to go. I want to play with Sharvan. I will miss you.
I (tears rolling): I know. I will miss you too but it is only for a day. You will be back in the evening.
R: Evening. That is so late. I do not want to go. Let papa go. I want to be with you. Please Ishi Maa.
Ishita is perplexed and emotional. She promised Raman that she would convince Ruhi and unlike him she keeps up to her promises. Ishita tried one last time.
I: Ruhi, if you go, then I promise that you and I will go on a holiday. No studies, no sleep. Only play and eat. Okay.
Ruhi: Really, Okay. I will go but I will miss you. Why cannot you come???
(Raman overhears this conversation and is in pain. He knows he is not doing right but Adi). His phone rings and its Pathak.
Raman and Ruhi are leaving for the picnic. Ruhi and Ishita are crying. Mrs. and Mr Bhalla are not talking to Raman. Romi is displeased with his Bhai's behaviour...he loves his Bhabhi a lot. Raman tries to initiate a conversation with Ishita but she refuses. Ishita bids adieu to Ruhi and shuts her room.
In the picnic spot:
Sh: Raman, thanks for bringing Ruhi. Adi was missing her. So was I. Remember when Adi was young, we used to bring Adi him. We used to be so happy.
Ra: Really. Happy??? Shagun, if Adi was missing Ruhi then how come he is not playing with her. And if you were missing her then how come you do not know her likes and dislikes.
Sh: Oh! Raman. Why do you have to ruin such a happy moment. The kids have not met in so long; it will take time for the ice to break. Ruhi, beta come here.
Ruhi walks to Shagun. She is not happy and is missing Ishi Maa.
Sh: Ruhi, so tell me how is school?
Ru: Okay. Can I sit near the lake?
Raman calls out to Adi. Adi is unwilling but he promised his mother. So he comes to Raman. Raman holds out his hand to him and gets him to sit next to him.
Ra: So, Adi are you enjoying yourself? Papa promised you that he will not let your mom get into trouble. Promise is a promise beta.
Adi: Okay. So You are my father so you have to do it. You have no choice.
Ra: I do have a choice. I did this for you and not for your mom. You are a good kid, honest and intelligent so I had to do this. You know, Papa can never say no to you, right?
Shagun gets a call from Ashok. She takes it leaving Adi and Raman alone.
Ra: Remember, we used to bring you here when you were child.
Adi: No.
Ra: Chal, beta let us play cricket.
Ad: I do not want to play cricket or any game with you. I hate you. Mom wanted Ruhi and you so I called you. I do not know the reason I am supposed to listen to you. Just stay away from me.
Raman is hurt (so this was Shagun's ploy to get to Ishita. God, for a moment he though Adi loved him). For Shagun, it was not about Ruhi or Adi but Ishita.
Shagun returns to watch Adi walk away from Raman. Raman is hurt and walks towards his solace Ruhi. He is missing Ishita and their fights. Shagun is exhausted with Adi's tantrums. Does he not realize that they need Raman's help? She walks towards Adi.
Sh: Adi beta, whats the matter? Why are you upset?
Adi: Why could not Ashok papa come? Why did you bring him and not papa? I hate him and you know that.
Sh: Adi, listen to me and listen to me good. We need Raman to get out of this mess. This mess was created by YOU in the first place. If Raman finds out the truth, he will be shattered and might just ruin your future. No one but you, Kaka and I know the truth behind the accident so let it be that way. :
Ad: Mom, but why are you taking the blame? I am the one and it was not intentional. I wanted to experience my gift.
Sh: If I take the blame, Raman will save me for YOU. YOU are his weakness so be nice to him. Okay?
Ad: So I have to put up with him? And for how long Mom???
Sh: Till this is over.
But it is over Shagun. Shagun and Adi freeze. Shagun turns over to watch Raman fuming. She tries to calm Raman down.
Ra: Shagun, did you think I would not find out? Did you think that you would get away with this? Did you consider the harm that Adi has done?
Sh: Why are you angry? It was not intentional. And anyway, the Behenji's mother is fine, right?
Ra (super pissed): First and foremost she is my wife. She is Ishita Raman Kumar Bhalla. She is not a behenji or a nanny. She is my wife. And Shagun give her that respect. Shagun, I thought, for a moment, that you were honest and wanted to save you for Adi. How was I supposed to know that you were actually saving Adi? You should have reprimanded or punished him. What if Amma had died? You should have shared the truth. But then how can one expect YOU to be honest? You are a liar...always have been.
Shagun is shocked. She realized that Raman knew. But how did he know??
Ra: You forgot the footage. The inspector chose to show it to Pathak and Pathak called me. You have not changed Shagun. Not a bit. You are still using the children to get back to me. I hurt Ishita and my folks thinking that Adi wanted to hang out with me. He had begun caring for me. But never did I THINK that he and his mother were using me.
Ad: How dare you talk to my mom? Yes, I was the one. I and not mom did the accident. What are you going to do about it? What????
Just then Raman's phone rings. It is an unfamiliar voice.
Voice: Raman Kumar Bhalla
Ra: Yes
Voice: I am Inspector Joshi. Are you Mrs. Ishita Bhalla's husband??
Ra: Yes.
Voice: I am sorry to inform you that your wife has met with an accident and she is in AIIMS. She is very serious. Can you please rush to the hospital asap?.
RKB feels the colour draining out his face. His heart stops, his head is reeling and Ishita's face flashes in front of him and screams Ishita. He calls out for Ruhi and rushes.
(Let me know if I should continue on Part II. I will write Part II on Monday). NO PMs
Enjoy.
Mangal Lakshmi
20