Hand in hand
Ishita was heading back from the clinic. She was half dead from all the standing and temper tantrums of the kid she had treated. The minute she got into her car and started it she found herself transported to her own bedroom. The broken bed, waking up to her husband's breath fanning her fingers and her own screech on seeing him so close. " Shock thi ya excitement" she chuckled in her head feeling his warmth on her fingers again as gripped the steering wheel of her car. Raman's recovery was so like Raman talking about her screaming rather than his presence in her bed!
" Pagal Madrassan ..aisi chllathi kyun ho wo bhi subah subah."
"tum mere bed pe kya kar rahe ho" screamed Ishita.
"wohi jo tum mere ghar me kar rahi" he replied.
"Patni hoon tumhari" she replied.
" Ussi cheez ka toh rona hai" he winked at her.
"Utho" he said putting his hand out and helping her up.
" hummm" she moaned making his insides melt, holding his hand brushing up unintentionally against his legs while standing up, bringing a smile on his face.
Ishita and Raman had come a long way in their " sirf Ruhi ke liye" marriage. She smiled a lot more at him now and he winked at her across his family filled living room when he pulled her legs or irritated her with his taunts. He looked forward to getting home not just for his daughter but for Ishita too. Sharing their day over a cup of tea, changing, making their bed or just Raman was fiddling around with Ruhi's board games when she was sorting out clothes for all them for the next day. Tonight it had taken Ishu longer get home to her Raman and Ruhi. She was still on the phone asking Ruhi about her bedtime brushing when she brought her car to a screeching halt. There was woman with a bottle in her hand sitting in the middle of the road in pouring rain! Ishita had no choice but to get down to get the woman out of her way.
Ishita was shocked to see Shagun completely drunk squatting on the road. It was really dark and desolate around except for the abandoned car on the otherside of the road. Ishita did not feel safe squatting beside Shagun in the pouring rain. It was Delhi afterall!
She quickly grabbed Shagun dumped her in her car and decided to drive her to Ashok's place. The traffic was maddening as was Shagun's constant rattle. Her phone was dead and she dialled Raman's number from Shagun's phone which her preferred to ignore. She decided she would head to the Bhalla house and get Raman to drop Shagun off later. She could certainly not leave her alone and vulnerable on the road!
Raman was furious when he saw Ishita walk in with a sauntering Shagun. He was quiet when Ruhi asked her why Ishita got sick Shagun mama here instead of taking her to Ashok uncles' house. Raman looked daggers at Ishita when she got Shagun to lie on the bed. Mummyji, Papaji Romi were all disgusted and no one offered any assistance. Ishita came out expalined to Ruhi and the rest that Shagun mama was on the road after an accident to the car so she could not get back to Adi bhaiyya and the roads were blocked becasue of the rain. Ihsita and Raman would drop her in the morning because Ishima did not want to worry Adi Bhaiyya so late in the night. Raman softened a little when he heard the logic in her thought process. He grabbed a pillow and his phone and headed to Ruhi's room wagging a finger at Ishu to get Shagun to shut her up.
Ishita got back to the bedroom. Forced Shagun to change and slipped out of her wet clothes herself. Raman in Ruhi's bedroom had called Mihir and told him to get help and clear the "nagin" that was there in his bedroom. " Zaroor Bhai" replied a clearly upset Mihir.
Ishita got to the kitchen made herself a coffee. She sat at her balcony cradling the steaming coffee cup in her hands and staring at the falling rain. A million thoughts were running through her head. Raman walked over and saw the tears streaming down her cheek. He sat next to her, " What were you thinking Ishta?" he spat out. " AAp ke bare may Raman" she said softly. " Mhuje pata hai Raman aap ko Shagun ki fikr nahi hogi par bachon ki to hogi. Aur mhuje na aap sab khi fikr hai Raman." He eased the coffee cup out of her hands and sipped from it, trying to gulp down the lump that was forming in his throat.
"You know what it does to me to see her in the same planet, And now on my bed Kiske bharose usko yahan leke ayi ho Ishita?" he roared silently. " mere pati ke bharose pe" she said before she set aside the cup he was holding and slammed into his chest. Raman rocked slightly backward at the intensity. He hugged back as he whispered into her hair "kya ho tum Ishita??" "Apki Patni aur 2 bacchon ki ma" she said simply.
"Accha theek hai kal tum wo bed,mattress comforter sheets pillows aur wo aurat sab ko bahar phikwa dena. I don't want anything here that's been contaminated by that woman." growled Raman wiping her tears away from her flushed cheeks. " Accha toh Ruhi aur phir aap" she crinkled her nose looking up at his face from his chest. " Mhuje to laga ki main tumhara hoon aur Ruhi hamari". " Ofcourse aap Shagun ki ex-husband nahi ho - mere Ravan Kumar ho- aur Ruhi toh hamesha se hai meri!" she smiled snuggling into his neck.
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