#1| IshRa : Meherbaan FF | Thread One - Complete. Moved to Thread Two. - Page 10

C H A P T E R 6 A A S P A A S K H U D A

Chapter Edited by Dhara (@dsgirl)

If you had to ask any of the aunties they wouldn't agree that Ishita had married and was a mother to a daughter. The girl they had known was the one who depended on Subbu for practically everything; it was Subbu get me this; oh, Subbu will get me that; why Subbu can do that for me; Subbu, I can't understand this. The girl who was totally dependant on Subbu had moved on? They had refused to accept that that. Did Subbu really leave or was it the opposite, after all when asked Ishita's daughter claimed that her parents had a love marriage? Was there another story behind all together? Had Ishita fallen for a different guy? The story did fit, Ishita had broken up with Subbu, attended his wedding, walked a way from their community and now shown up seven years later with an almost five year old daughter. If Mrs. K, the residential observer was to he asked, Subbu was heartbroken at his wedding she concluded. Ishita had changed, the girl who forever wore chudidars and refused to change with the flow of fashion now backless blouses. The girl who once chose to wear clothes based on the "emotions" and vibe; the girl who either left her hair open or in a ponytail had now learnt to style them to perfection. A fashion Institute student who was a party could have sworn that the Ishita that was so talked about wore nothing but designer outfits from the minute she entered the venue, little did this student or aunties know that Ishita still wore clothes based on their value in her life rather than the price market, and most of the outfits she owned were either gifted by her Saddu Kumar or chosen by her daughter - shopping was after all the mini Bhalla family's family time moment, especially for Ruhi and her Ishima. Ruhi loved it when her mother modelled for her and secretly, so did her papa - though he criticized Ishita.

"Ishita!"

"Ragini!"

"What are you doing here? It's been so long since I have seen you. We need to have one of those double dates again. Look at us, we're so busy."

Ishita laughed as she looked at her bestfriend, over the few months that Ishita had met Ragini, she felt like she had met her soul sister. Ragini was the person Ishita could relate to who had once been in same situation that she was in. Ishita couldn't just only related to, admire and be happy for Ragini but she could connect to her on so many levels and thus they had been best friends for a while, just like their daughters Ruhi and Tammy.

"Aap janti hai usse?" Subbu's mother-in-law inquired.

"Ishita ko? Hum maa beti ka joda ek doosre ke best friends hai."

"Haan nahi toh." Ishita laughed. "But seriously, aapka yaha aana kaise hua?"

"Mere close friend ka wedding."

"Mere bhai ka."

"Ruhi aayi hui hai? Tammy ko mat batana. Let's surprise them. Maine Ruhi ki papa ko school ke office mein dekha tha? Leave application ke saath."

"Really. I'm here for the past week or so. Mujhe toh kuch pata hi nahi. Bas itna pata hai ki Ruhi ne kuch seniors ko pitaya hai."

"Pata hai, Tammy ghar aake keh rahi thi ki iss saal ke baad ex extra rakhi bana lete hai, toh maine puch kyun and she was like Ruhi aur usne decide kiya hai ki woh aaj ke bad ek doosre ko protect karenge." Ragini laughed.

"Aww. Mera baccha." Ishita aaw'ed at her daughter.

"Waise, yeh Baap-Beti ne gift kiye collection mein se hai?"

"Yes. Noticeable hai?"

"Ji, aapki smile joh itni chamak rahi," Ragini exclaimed as she clashed her shoulder against Ishita's.

"Di, aap bhi. What is this? Har koi cheez leta hai. Chalo ek photo ho jaye taaki mein Anmol ji ko bata sakti ki mere paas tum bhi ho."

"Sure."

"How are you coping? Aaj toh voh din hai na?" Ishita said as she side hugged Ragini once they were alone.

"I'm fine, aren't you. I have my daughter and now, my husband. It's funny how life moves on. Who would have though that our parts would deviate the way they did. But we coped didn't we? We're happy." Ragini said as she placed her head on Ishita's shoulder. Ragini was a widow who married her husband's business partner to abide the promise made by her husband on his death head. While Ragini had given Anmol a loving and caring family he once craved for, Anmol had given up his identity and taken up a new one to grace his new family and Ragini's daughter who was now their daughter. Ragini had felt trapped in a marriage with her new husband, and bowled over by his love for their daughter and family. So, Ragini's story was no different than Ishita's who had married for her daughter - Ragini had done the same.

Ishita shed tears for her friend. She had to live her moment of loss, while she felt nothing for Subbu, Ragini had to live with the memories of the man who had done nothing but love her unconditionally. If life was hard for Ishita, it was times harder for Ragini who put a bright smile every day. They were know as the business trophy wives, women who did nothing but prettied themselves. The beauties with brains who were not all pretty but had minds of their own. Where Ragini was envied for marrying into such great families twice, no one knew of Tamanna's parentage, the had only known what was true, Tamanna was Anmol and Ragini Agnihori's daughter and Ruhi was Ishita and Raman Bhalla's daughter. All evidence of the court custody case destroyed and the case dropped and shut forever. Only those close to the Bhalla's knew of it, to the world Ishita was Ruhi's mother, and to those aware of the Ishita's condition Raman had just claimed that they had her through surrogacy, which was true, Ishita was Ruhi's mother in ever sense. After Ashok declaring bankruptcy due to his gambling addiction and lavish gifts to his various girlfriends, Shagun had laid claims on more than half of his fortune which was granted to her, unable to handle the business deals she had sold the businesses to Raman who had purchased them for Aditya declaring Ruhi, Ishita and his family as his Heirs to his personal fortune. Shagun who was trying her luck in the media gladly accepted letting Ruhi be truly Ishita's with claims that she still had Aditya, Raman's favourite child.

Ragini and Ishita's lives seemed to be dreams come true - two normal girls of high societal birth marrying big. No one knew the harsh realities behind their fairytales.

Ragini and Ishita sat on the bed, hugging their knees as they laughed out loud at their situations. They laughed like mad women finally leaning against the wall with smiles, and just like the masks were on.

"Ruhi, juice toh drink karo."

"Uncle, mujhe mango juice bilkul pasand nahi."

"Yes papa, yeh uncle mujhe juice pila ne ko keh rahe hai."

"Phone usse toh de do,"

"I said wait, can't you see I'm busy dammit, and you disturbed me for this? You call this work? Why do your heads even pay you. People like you should stick to working for some unless company with your bloody one track mind, some bloody IITian you are. Out." Raman's angler blasted through the phone, making Subbu keep the phone away from his ear, "Oh. I wasn't taking to you. Ruhi prefers pineapple juice just like her mother and totally despises manufactured mango juice, just the home made aam ras made by her mother on rainy days for her."

Subbu had handed the cell phone back to the girl he was instructed to feed juice to by a lady in the room who claimed that she needed to go lend a hand to the child's mother.

The kid, Ruhi, had given him a look and then a victory smile continued talking into the phone, as she waked along with him to the kitchen. The kid was rude just like her father he had decided, she could have just told him that she didn't like the juice instead of going the long way and making her father speak to him.

The kid, had finished talking into the phone and she bid her father a talk to you later, papa.

"What's your name, uncle?" Ruhi had asked Subbu, giving him the RKB look.

Ruhanika Bhalla was used to either being ignored or admire but not stared at, she was a big girl, why did these strangers stare at or coddle her. Ruhi was instructed by her Vishwa uncle not to mind them but Ruhi was Ishita and Raman Bhalla's and like her parents she too had her limits and her limits were done for the moment.

"Subramanian, you call me Subbu."

"Cool, Subbu." Ruhi said as she flashed her million dollar smile.

"Ruhi, kaha gaya tha mera baby. Mama was searching for you. Do you know how worried I was."

"Uffo. Mama, yeh toh drama hai. Those ladies were sticking to me like flies to a jar of honey. Creepy. I know I'm adorable and all that but yeh toh zyada ho gaya." Ruhi shrugged.

Ishita laughter as she lifted her daughter doing their nose rub thing. "Bilkul apne papa ki tarah bat karne lagi go."

"Papa kehte ki mai Ishima ki tarah hoon."

"Haan, tum ho hi meri xerox copy. Chaaalo, mama ke saath juice piyo, papa ne kya kaha tha?"

"Mama bohot chalak hai, jab tak papa nahi aate mujhe mama pe watch over karna hai and Shravan ki dadi ko insult karne ki puri permission hai. Mama, mein kehti hoon ki uss villain ki recording kar lete hai and phir whenever hum horrible feel karein dekh lete hai, jaise papa humare dekhte hai jab voh humein miss karte hai."

"Ru baby, boori baath. Aap papa ki tarah Ravan Kumar thodi ho ki jo raste pe milta usko dant dengi. Aur papa ne kaha ki mamma to protect karne hai mere baby ko,"

"Secret tha. Uffo." Ruhi shook her head.

"Accha, ab mera baby secrets bhi rakhta hai. Kitna bada ho gaya hai mera baccha. Chalo, juice, Ru. Papa ke tarah topic change karne mein ustad ho gayi ho." Ishita said as she walked away with her daughter.

A flustered Subbu asked the person who walked by who happened to be Shravan.

"Woh kaun hai?"

"Chitti?" Shravi replied wondering if Subbu uncle failed to recognise Chitti.

"Ishita nahi, woh kid?"

"Woh toh Ruhi hai, my cousin sister. Chitti ki daughter."

"Kya?"

"Woh Ruhi hai, Ruhanika Bhalla. Four and a half years old. Bahut annoying hai. Har waqt mujhe jagada karti hai, papa ki brat. Aapko pata hai na ki mere papa best hai, Ruhi ko bolo na. Woh hamesha bolti hai ki uske papa better hai. Mein toh apne little sister ko Ruhi ke saath bilkul khelne nahi dunga. Woh sirf mer hogi. No girl-talks with Ruhi."

A shocked Subbu ruffled Shravan's hair and told him to walk away. A confused Shravan walked away to his Chitti.

Ishita had a daughter? A almost five year old daughter who resembled her in every bit?

"Medicine has advanced alot, don't be disheartened you will be blessed with a child. If you can't conceive by traditional methods we shall try science, science will give you your child and all you need is love and patience towards each other, you'll need to be each other's strength," Subbu remembered what the doctors had told Nalini who had failed to conceive almost five years into a marriage with a health sex life. Nalini couldn't take the the first mock thrown at her and cried for days until Subbu had taken her to visit the doctor. Subbu had remembered Ishu then, she had faced worse without even trying from him and his mother. All Subbu had asked his mother in return of marrying Nalini was to keep mum about Ishita's condition. Months later Nalini barged into Subbu's workplace with a pregnancy test in hand as she hugged him claiming that she was pregnant. Somewhere down the line of Nalini and his mother flaunting their achievement, Subbu had given up interfering.

He now tried his level best to come in here's with the fact that Ishita now not only had a man in her life but a daughter too.

"Ruhi, drink bhi karlo na. Agar Ru drink nahi karogi toh mama bhi drink nahi karogi and then we can't go shopping!"

"Akka, shopping. Ru baby drink fast. Fir car nahi milegi and we won't be able to go."

On hearing the word shopping, Ruhi's full tummy suddenly made space for a glass of pineapple juice. She gulped down and then rushed up to her Paati to get her "clingy purse". Her Paati kissed her and wished her safety. Ishita looked on as her daughter mingled with her family.

"Sorry, Ishu. I have business to handle. Urgent and it just popped up. Nitya is going clothes shopping too along with her sister, take another car and join them, please?" Vishwa apologised.

"Vish. I'm a big girl. I have Mikku and my papa ki bodyguard with me. I'm safe."

Ruhi came running along and tugged at Vishwa's pants indicating at him to lift her up. She whispered something in his ears and he in return asked her to give her Mamu a big wala kiss.

Ishita, Mihika and Ruhi left in a car that followed Nitya and her sister's.

They were dropped at the boutique they were to shop at. Unknown to Vishwa, Subbu had been dragged along by Nalini who claimed to be unable to take care of their son while she shopped.

They met up with Mihika, Ishita and Ruhi at the entrance. Ishita who was too engrossed in her talks failed to notice Subbu while Mihika glared at him.

"Mr. Bhalla has instructed his family to shop as they like. His secretarial office will clear the bills. And he has requested the bride to shop for herself, his wedding gift to you. Happy shopping." the manager welcomed them.

"Papa ne kaha hai? Chalo Mama, aish karte hai."

"Ruhi, don't run baba, gir jaogi and fir bada sa bubu (wound) ho jayega and app toh Mamu ka wedding enjoy nahi kar sakoge. Careful baccha." a worried Ishita chased after an excited tip.

Mihika linked her arms with Nitya, "A tip from one Jiju ki saali to the hone wali saali - jiju itne meherbaan itne easily nahi hote, Akka ka Kud Kud Kumar. Toh jab meherbaan hote hai toh full faida uthana padta hai. Jaise hum sab ka gang uthata hai. Kuch bhi select karlo yaha , he'll buy it for you, promise jo kiya hai."

Nitya smiled as she listened to Mihika's advice. Nitya looked at the woman infront of her, Ishita, as she spent time with her daughter. The woman talked about by be very one present here. Nitya didn't feel anything for Ishita, nothing but pride. Ishita had faced alot in her short life. While Nitya was a freelance artist doing as and what she pleased Ishita was a responsible mother, wife, daughter who had waked past the harshest phase in her life. Nitya remembered the day her sister rushed into her room and had jumped around the house. The sister who had spent weeks weeping in her room. Subbu's parents had called their parents with a proposal for Nalini with the condition that the wedding had to take place soon.

Nalini, who was madly in love with Subbu agreed for the marriage without any thought. Nitya had seen the much talked about Ishita at her sisters engagement. Everyone whispered about her, the girl who attended her lovers engagement. Nitya's first opinion if Ishita was that she was beautiful. She wondered what made her to be brother-in-law break up with a like Ishita.

During her assignment to cover "Meri Maa - a tribute to Motherhood" and th then media craze surrounding the scoop for Raman Kumar Bhalla's wife and daughter, who were protected from he media by Raman's legal team, Nitya had met Ishita all over again. Ishita-Ruhi the mother daughter pair who would unveil the even. It was seven years post the first time Nitya had seen Ishita, seven years after she had cut ties with everyone. Ishita hadn't recognised her.

As Ishita and Ruhi posed for pictures and moved as guided by the media Nitya had noticed the attention and care Raman Kumar Bhalla who stood along with them as the main sponsor showered towards them. She noticed the way he protectively placed an arm behind Ishita as she twirled Ruhi around. She had noticed him steal looks at Ishita and Ruhi were lost in their own world not caring about the media and the spotlight on them. As the media took a time out, Nitya had noticed Raman's security team focus on Ishita-Ruhi, and when Raman had absentmindedly handed Ruhi his phone.

When the media was crazy about Raman and his wife, Nitya was crazy about Ishita. She wanted to solve the enigma that clouded her fiance's mind. She wanted to know why Ishita had disappeared and then she found it.

It had been the day her father had paid her a visit had she decided to use up the dinner passes to a top notch restaurant. They had been so ecstatic to try the place out with a full paid coupon. She had remembering dressing up in her best outfit on her date with her father. And then remembered to pick her sisters gift from an expensive boutique. She was leaving the boutique when though the frames she saw Ishita modelling in various outfits while her daughter clapped away and a man whose back could be seen critiqued along with the child. She had Ishita pouted, glared and had then walk back in followed by assistants. Nitya had walked away.

That night, at the restaurant as the artists played their tunes had Raman Bhalla's security team arrived to check the place out. They had stayed in the shadows as Raman Kumar Bhalla arrived hand in hand with Ruhi who in turn had held Ishita's hand.

"Papa, I really love this place. Look at the band. I feel like I'm in a movie. Haina, Ishima."

"Haina, Ishima?" Raman Bhalla had imitated Ruhi.

"Haan, papa." Ishita had spoken to Raman.

They had proceeded to their seats when Ruhi requested her parents to dance. And to that Ruhi was picked up by her father as they headed to the dance floor. Held by both her parents, Ruhi and her parents moved to "I Feel Good". With Raman and Ruhi breaking into random dance moves as Raman carried Ruhi, while Ishita laughed as accompanied them to them admiring the moment. It was when Raman held Ruhi in one arm and used the other to dance with Ishita to when Raman and Ishita took turns to feed Ruhi who insisted to be fed by both her parents as she couldn't decide what to have had Nitya understood why Ishita had stayed away from her community and relatives. She understood why Raman took drastic steps to protect his family from the media with the event being a rare opportunity to have a glimpse at his private life. So that night before she used up her coupons she walked out of the restaurant with her father as she claimed that she wanted to eat roadside food and that she would return here tomorrow. Nitya had given up he biggest scoop in her career and she did not regret it. It was the least she could do for the woman shunned by her loved ones. She closed the chapter to Ishita Iyer and walked away as soon as the assignment was done, not once attempting to contact Ishita. On the day before her departure she had watched as Raman Kumar Bhalla walked down a fleet of stairs with a sleeping Ruhi in his arms and Ishita walked besides him. On reaching the car park he had placed Ruhi into Ishita's arms who held her protectively. He had then opened the door to his car and both Ishita and he had protectively placed their palms on Ruhi's head as Ishita seated herself. Raman had then made sure that Ishita and her kapde ki jhaad' was into the car. He had then walked to the other side, entered the vehicle and driven away with his family. Nitya had let them go, but fate had other plans.

"The stuff here is so expensive. This outfit you're wearing costs more than three months of our salary and it's the cheapest thing here. Just because the guy is hospitable doesn't mean that we can rip him off."

"Trust me when I say that can afford it. And he said to choose an outfit from here and I really love this one, Akka." Nitya pacified her sister.

Subbu looked towards Ishita who purchased the outfit chosen by Raman and her while Mihika and Ruhi played along.

"Subramanian, my good friend. So many years later we meet." a man and his wife approached Subbu.

"Veer, it's so great to see you, friend. What are you doing here in India. LA ka hot shot."

"Oh. Nothing. Trying hard to score a deal with a Delhi based businessman."

"Isn't that Ishita? My class mate Ishita? Oh, Veer my classmate who we used to hang out with, the topper who Subbu dated. So you'll finally married." Veer's wife stated, giggling as she tapped into her phone. "Done. You'll are cordially invited to our first get together in India in the last seven years. We are finally meeting every one after so many years and I tell you, Veer and I are so excited to meet our friends."

"Ishita? The Ishita who took a break from studies to get married to Subbu. She looks so different, man. Hot. Subbu, you are a lucky man, lucky man indeed."

"Oh you'll have a daughter. She looks exactly like her mother. No hint of you at all. And she's so adorable."

Subbu remained mum. A part of him wanted to keep quiet and agree to the claims while another part of him wanted laugh it off - laugh at the mess he had gotten himself in and the future that could once be his that he now had a glimpse of.

It was Ishita who was called over who shattered his day dream.

"Ishita. Damn. I couldn't even recognise you. You look so different. And your daughter is so adorable. What is this? You take a break to get hitched and don't even invite us. So how is them married life Ishita and Subbu?"

Ishita who now sported a what-the-f**k look stood calmed herself as she explained.

"We called off the wedding. We broke up on the day of our engagement. Subbu's wife, Nandini, is right there."

"Nandini, the Nandini who was paired up with Subbu all the time?"

"Yes. Her. They married less than a month into the break up, right Subbu?"

"And that kid?"

"Ruhanika. My daughter."

"How old is she?"

"Five in a few months. She grows up so fast."

"We have a reunion today in a whole. We don't know when we'll meet again."

"I'll take Ruhi home," piped up an excited Mihika, "Go na Akka. Meet you friends. God knows when you'll will meet again."

Raman Bhalla had just completed a meeting and casual meet up with the political leaders of the state he was visiting. Raman Bhalla was informed of Ishita's Paati's birthday the next day and the next day also being the premiere launch of the first look of the much awaited "Meri Maa", he had preponed his visit to Ishita's hometown. It was a coincidence that he had spotted Ishita walk in with a couple. Ishita looked ravishing in the lehenga choli he had gifted her, carefully getting Ruhi to approve of it. After smiling to himself whilst muttering, "Pagal aurat se kaatne jaa raha hoon. Such mein pagal ho chuka hoon," he walked over to his wife.

The mutual friends of Subbu-Ishita gathered at the reunion were shocked to see Ishita walk in. More than shocked of you asked them. Post Subbu-Ishita's breakup, and the first year that Ishita had skipped their annual reunion everyone had asked about her which only disturbed Subbu and his wife, Nalini. no one knew what had transpired between Ishita and Subbu or the reason behind their breakup but as the years passed Ishita who had disappeared off the face of the planet had turned out to be a topic not to be discussed and life went on with everyone busy in their own careers and family - the annual meet being the only thing that kept them linked.

They had cordially welcomed Ishita back into their group once again and in less than a minute her 7 year long absence all forgotten. It was then someone had spotted Raman Kumar Bhalla walk towards them and everyone broke into whispers about him.

"He is so hot." said one.

"And he's a married man. With a kid." contradicted the other.

"Seriously envy his wife."

"Seriously hate his wife, more like it."

Raman walked towards Ishita who had her back faced towards him. He thought of mischief. He headed towards his Jhasi ki Rani, ran his arm along her milky waist and then pulled her towards him totally aware of the effect he had on her.

"I like this song. Chalo dance karein?"