PART 12
Raman and Ishita landed in Delhi. The morning after the news and the journey was a quite affair. Raman thought of ways to make Ishita smile while she was sad thinking about her little doll.
Ruhi was her life. How could she think of being away from her? How could she not meet Ruhi whenever she liked? The kid was like a daughter to her. She cared for like a mother.
Ever since Ishita came to know about Ruhi's adoption, she had been restless. She hadn't slept the entire night. She didn't even sleep in the plane. She was preoccupied with the thought of not being able to meet Ruhi often.
No matter how much Raman convinced her that they would meet her when ever she wanted to, Ishita knew it wasn't possible. What if the parents don't allow me to meet her? She thought to herself.
It was early morning when their flight landed. Mihir and Mihika had come to pick them up and take them home. They were very excited, desperate to know if Raman and Ishu had finally confessed.
"Hey bhai!", Mihir said hugging Raman. Raman hugged him back managing a forced smile. "He buddy!"
Mihika saw a very dull looking Ishu. She didnt even look up to greet them. She was only walking machanically. Mihika clicked her fingers in front of her eyes. "Akka!! Hi!", she said. Ishita looked up and said a teary hi.
Mihir and Mihika looked at each other. They could see very evidently that something was wrong. They silently walked back to the car. Mihir took the wheels, Raman sat next to him. The ladies settled themselves at the rear. The drive to Bhalla house was a long one.
Everyone was silent for sometime. Then, soft, silent sobs could be heard. Mihika couldnt take it anymore. "Jiju, what has happened? What did you tell akka? Why is she crying? Did you hurt her? Akka you tell me, whats wrong.. I'm worried.", she went on and on.
"Miku, let bhai answer at least. Im sure he has not done anything.", Mihir put in. "You stop supporting your best friend. You men dont know how to behave with women. She loves you jiju. You cant do this to her.", Mihika continued. "I havent done anything.", Raman tried to defend himself, when Mihika cut him. "I dont want to talk to you. Akka you tell me.", she said.
"Mihir, stop the car. And Mihika, come ahead and sit with Mihir. I want to be near Ishu.", Raman said. "Why? So that you can dominate her?", Mihika scolded yet again. "Miku i haven't done anything, for Gods sake. Just come ahead and sit. I can take care of her.",Raman tried again.
"I've seen how much you can take care.", Mihika said. "Mihika, please. He hasn't done anything. Let him come behind. I need him.", Ishita said. Mihika looked at her in disbelief. She nodded her head in negative and went to sit beside Mihir. Raman came and sat next to Ishita.
Slowly moving close, he put his arms around her. She gave up and started crying hugging him. He ran his hands through her back, calming her down. "Raman can we go to the NGO now?", she asked between her tears.
"Ishita, its too early in the morning. The kids must be sleeping and Ruhi is not there anyways. We can go later during the day. Lets go home and freshen up first.", he explained. Ishita nodded, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Okay, enough of suspense. What's happening? Where is Ru?", Mihir asked. Raman explained to them what had happened. "Don't worry akka, Ru is getting a new life.", Mihika said.
"Miku, you think im crying because Ruhi is getting adopted? I am the happiest person on earth if something good happens to her. I pray day in and day out for her. The thing is, since the time i have known this news, there are these negative thoughts creeping up. I can feel that there is something wrong. And i tried to set those thoughts aside, but i cant. I just cant.", she said.
"Calm down Ishita. Lets go home, meet maa and then come to the NGO alright. You need some to rest. Sleep till we reach home.", he said patting her head. She closed her eyes still resting her head on his shoulder. He rested his head on hers and slept off too.
"Mihir, do you think they confessed?", Mihika asked him. Glancing at them from the rest view mirror, he smiled. "Looks like it. The way hes holding her and the way she is calm in his arms, it definitely does look like they are deeply in love.", Mihir replied.
Raman and Ishita were at the NGO as soon as they could manage. They reached home to be welcomed by all the Iyer's and the Bhallas. Though they were happy to see everyone, Ishita's mind kept going back to Ruhi. She knew her Princess wasn't gonna be okay. She knew something bad was coming.
As they reached the NGO, the kids ran upto them. They spent sometime with them. The NGO felt different without Ru. It felt weird that the familiar smiling bubbly little kid wasn't there to jump into their arms. It felt weird that Ruhi wasnt there.
Raman and Ishita went to the NGOs office. "Hi Annie.", Ishita greeted. "Hi to you guys. How was the trip?", she asked with a warm smile. "It was great. Annie, we came to talk about Ruhi's adoption.", Raman said.
As they spoke to Annie, they realised that Ruhi was adopted by some Shagun and Ashok Khanna. As soon as Raman heard the name, his face changed colour. Blood shot into his eyes and he was very very angry.
"Raman, whats wrong? What happened to you?", Ishita asked looking at him. "Annie, are you sure?", he asked choosing to not answer Ishita at the moment. "Of course Raman.", Annie said, "Any problem?"
Raman took Ishita's hand in his and asked her to come with him. She had no clue why he was so angry, so pissed off. As they sat in the car, Ishita tried talking to him. "Ishita, know everything about me right? Havent you heard about him?", he asked her. Thats when she recollected having read somewhere of some Ashok Khanna who had tried to commit some fraud in The Bhalla Group of Industries.
"Isnt he the guy who tried to commit some fraud in our company?", she asked him. He nodded in positive and kept driving, rather, racing the car. "Raman, drive slow. Please. We'll see what we can do to get Ruhi out of there. Dont stress yourself. It isnt good for your health.", she tried pacifying him.
He, however, was in no mood to listen. She was seeing this side of her Raman for the first time. The ever so loving, caring and sweet Raman could be a ferocious bull too. She kept her hand over his, on the gear, as he turned to look at her.
Entwining her hand with his, he took it up to his lips and gave a soft kiss on the back of her hand as if to let her know he was okay with her around him. "Ishita, you are my strength. Im always fine when im with you. And dont worry, i'll make sure Ruhi is out of their reach very soon."
Raman pulled his car into the Khanna driveway and called out for Ashok. He was a talk man with a muscular body. Dressed in a formal suit, he came out to see who was causing the commotion. Behind him came his wife Shagun. She looked like a rich mans doll, all decked up.
"Oh you! What are you doing here?", Ashok asked as Raman stood at the giant hall of Khanna House, holding Ishita's hand. "Where is Ruhi?", Raman asked through his gritted teeth.
"How does it bother you? Shes legally adopted and shes ours now.", Ashok replied nastily. "Look Mr. 6 feet 2 inches, im really not interested in a conversation with you. Just let us meet Ruhi.", Raman said.
"Look at the shorty's audacity, Shagun. Stannding in my house, commanding me what to do.", Ashok guffawed. "Excuse me, who,do you think you are? Who are you to call him an shorty? Its not the looks that matter, its the heart and my husband has a heart of gold, unlike you who can fall so low that you ditch your best friend. Whatever you are is beacuse of him. Had he handed you over to the cops, you would have been rotting in prison. Its his good nature and the good memories he had of your friendship that he let you go. So dont you dare talk shit about him.", Ishita raised her voice. "Oh hello!", Shagun tried to cut her, but Ishita showed her hand as if to stop her from talking further.
"Just tell us where Ruhi is.", she demanded. Ashok was unable to take the insult any longer and moved ahead to harm Ishita when Raman stood in between them. "Dont you dare go near her. I'll kill you with my bare hands.", Raman warned him,"And dont think its over yet. I'll make sure Ruhi is out of here and you are punished."
Raman and Ishita were back at Bhalla house. Ishita was sitting on the bed with the pic of her, Raman and Ruhi that she had in her diary. Raman walked in to see her all lost. "Ishu!", he called out to her to bring her back.
She hugged him with all her might as drops of tears fell on his hand. "Ishu, dont cry sweetheart. We'll get Ru out of there.", Raman whislered in her ears. "I promise Ishu.. I promise."
"Raman, I know you will get her back. I know you. Just that im worried for you. Ashok was your best friend and I know you havent seen him since the fiasco. Seeing him all over again after years that too in such a situation, what you must have been through.", she said to him.
"How do you know all this Ishu? How do you know so much about me?", he wondered aloud. "Raman, I've been in love with you since ages. I've been following all your activities. I have read every article about you, collected every printed record i could lay my hands on. You were my hero. The way you took up the responsibilities after papa, I was impressed.", she said. "oh really!! And you hid this for so long?", Raman faked his anger.
"I never had the guts. I never in my dreams thought I would find my life in you Raman. I love you.", she said proudly. He came ahead smiling and kissed her forehead.
Later that night, Ishita woke up with a start. "Ru!", she screamed, which woke up Raman as well. He switched on the lights to see Ishita completely white, sweating hard in the cold AC room. He put her head on his chest trying to soothe her. "Ishu, calm down. Its just a dream.", he said. "No Raman, its not. Im sure Ruhi is not fine. Im sure something is wrong." Raman could see fear written all over her face. "I need to see her now, Raman. Shes not okay. She needs us Raman."
He nodded and got out clothes for both of them from the closet. They changed and were again at the Khanna Mansion in sometime.
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