Ruhi and Nirvan were part of the school's team for an under 8 taekwondo competition. As luck would have it Abhimanyu Raghav and Raman Kumar Bhalla were forced to sit 2 feet from each other with smiles and waves to their respective kids. It was meant to be a half day affair with the kids in the ring with their coach, taking turns to show their moves.
"Ishima aap mere liye please aaj lunch me dosa aur sambhar baniye ..main ek friend ko saath me leyke aaoongi aap please ghar me hi rahiye...bye Ishima " Ruhi kissed Ishu's cheeks before she ran out of the door holding her papa's hand earlier in the morning.
Abhimanyu Raghav and RKB sat amongst the other dads cheering their kids on whenever it was their turn to perform. Raman smiled at the man next to him.." your child? He asked ...that little one who is waiting in the corner on the 2nd bench" he said. " OH Ruhi..i know her brave girl' he said Raman's chest puffed with pride while Abhi had an indulgent smile as and the man pumped his hand and said " sorry again Mr. Abhimanyu' while Abhi smiled and said "please forget it!" Raman could not be bothered.
As the morning progressed there were more smiles and waves from the 2 dads. Raman in his own hell thinking about his past with Shagun and feeling sorry for himself about Ishita.
He reached the refreshments corner to grab a cold drink. Felt a hand on his shoulder turned and shook Abhi hand off right away. Ruhi was at the snack table with the rest of her team and her coach all the while looking at Raman and smiling.
The fox had picked the right time Raman rasped in his head.
" Hear me out Raman" said Abhi with steely eyes.
"Look at this" he opened his wallet and put out a picture of 3 young kids - 2 girls and himself.
"Ishita' Raman smiled as he run his thumb over her in the picture over the little girl with a pixie hair cut and braces on. He could not wipe out the smile before Abhi saw it.
" my sister Meena and me!...that is her son Nirvan ..
" you were right at the hospital that day ...when you asked me where I was when Ishu needed me most - after Subbu.. I was with him and my sister an abandoned mother fighting a losing battle against her cancer in London. "Abhi finished.
" Sorry for your loss but I'm not interested"
" but I came to Delhi to meet you"
"WHY"
" because my best friend who never forgave for not being there after Subbu sent me an email wishing on my birthday after 13 long years."
"what" asked Raman
" After Subbu Ishu had lost touch with all our friends she went into a hell hole - it was just her family and her clinic. Bala anna filled me in on all that happened -Ruhi,your wedding, very little of our past though that I found out! "
"uhmmm" nodded Raman
" my sister - Meena -did not have that one person who could give her a little push that sensitive women like her sometimes need to go and take what rightfully belonged to her..let's say in the midst of competition. Yeh samaj seva ka booth jo chaad jathi hai unpe..." Raman knew he meant other women and samaj seva he knew what that was!
'I learnt from my mistake ..
i only wanted Ishu to realize the feelings she has for you and stake her claim!." Abhi glared at Raman before he left. He truned his head back to look at Raman as he was walking away and said
" Oh yeah she can hug me a 100 times and tell me I love you because I'm what Muthu, her family or sharavu are to her - people she likes".
I hate that you Raman like Subbu gave her tears, but your anger and coldness has crushed her. When she knows that you have doubts about our relationship wo toh..."
" uski saasen rukh jaayegi" completed Raman in with pain in his voice.
"Ruhi ko ghar drop kar do I have see Ishita now" he said like a happy camper.
" What made you tell me this now?" asked Raman this time with his hand on Abhi's shoulder.
" because you were the man that gave me my friend Ishu back and I owe you one!" he smirked!
" GADHHA ho tum" Raman chided himself aloud hit his head ran to his car with a big smile on his face...
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