FF Kaun Kiska? UPDATED 17/07/16 Part 9A Pg 63 - Page 9

Ishita smoothed Ruhi's hair, then dropping one last kiss on her sleeping daughters head, she stood up and quietly walked to the door. As she pulled the door to their bedroom shut behind her and walked down the stairs, the events of a few hours ago came crowding back into her mind,

It had been a shock when Ashok had announced that his wedding with Shagun was being postponed because she was sick, especially when Shagun had appeared straight afterwards, not looking in the least bit sick, but with a stunned and haunted look on her face.

Ishita had immediately looked out for Ruhi as the drama was being played out around them, and was relieved when Ruhi came running up to where she stood with Raman. It was only then that Raman had let go of her hand, which he had been clutching tightly, bending down and gathering Ruhi up into his arms. Straightening up, holding Ruhi securely with one hand, her little arms clutched around his neck, he had immediately drawn Ishita close to him again with his free hand. It was as if he could not bear to have her distant from him, and Ishita, glad of her husbands protection, had snuggled in close to him, caressing her daughters back as they stood united. It had been thus that Shagun had approached them with Adi.

She had watched silently as Shagun pushed Adi toward Raman. Had listened quietly as Adi had pleaded " please take us home papa". She had looked at Raman then, had seen the play of conflicting emotions on his face - his overwhelming love and care for his son, his need to protect his son, to help him and to "take him home" and his realisation of the complicated relationships that they all were bound in.

Raman had squeezed her hand as he felt her eyes upon his, had turned his face to her, his eyes reassuring her in ways no words could.

"Ishita" his voice had been quiet but firm. "Tum Ruhi ko le kar ghar jao, mein Adi aur Shagun ko Mihir ke yahan le kar jaata hoon. Wait up for me please, der nahi karoonga"

Ishita had taken Ruhi from him them, in turn reassuring him with her eyes, telling him without words that she understood.

He had left then with Mihir, Mihika, Shagun and Adi. Simi and Ishita had taken Ruhi home, silent for the most part in the car, wondering what this turn of events would mean for their lives. Simi had spoken once, more to herself than to Ishita "Woh wahan theh, phir ghar kyun nahin aye? Dekha tha mein ne Param ji ko, toh phir mujh se kaha kyun nahi?"

Their silence had been truly broken when they reached home. Mr & Mrs Bhalla had asked where Raman was, and on being told what had happened, Mrs Bhalla had been full of concern for Adi, but extremely perturbed for the future.

Ishita had joined her mother in law after putting Ruhi to bed, and was now listening to her diatribe.

"Ishita, tum ne Raman ko akele uss aurat ke saath jaane kaise diya? Akhir kya soch kar tum ghar aagaye Raman ke bina?"

"Mummyji, Raman akele nahi hai Shagun ke saath, Mihir aur Mihika bhi hai wahan. Aur Raman ne khud mujh se kaha ki mein Ruhi ko ghar le kar aoon. Adi ko uski zaroorat thi aur app jaanti hai na ki Adi mujh se kitna nafrat karta hai. Toh mein bhi agar saath jaati, Adi ko shayad aisa lagta ki uske papa ko usse zyada hamari fikr hai. Aap pareshan mat ho Mummyji, Raman wapas ajayenge jaldi."

"Ishita, tu badi nadan hai, badi bholi hai. Tum uss Shagun ko nahi jaanti, hum jaante hai. Woh bahut hi kameeni cheez hai. Agar sachmuch mein Ashok ne usse Shaadi karne se inkaar kar diya hai, toh tumhe kya lagta hai, woh zindagi bhar Mihir ke flat mein rah legi? Nahi, Ishita, uss aurat ko toh status chahiye, society mein naam chahiye, aur agar Ashok nahi, toh ab woh sab kuch usko Raman bhi de sakta hai na. Mujhe bhi Adi ki fikr hai Ishita, woh mera jigar ka tukda hai, lekin Adi ko mohra bana kar woh Shagun Raman ke zindagi mein phir aajaye, mujhe is baat ki bahut dar hai."

"Lekin Mummyji" Ishita tried to interrupt . "Raman Shagun ko wapas apne zindagi mein nahi aane dega, woh Adi ke liye kuch arrangement kar lega, lekin Raman ab mere pati hai, woh aise kaise Shagun ko wapas...?"

Toshiji looked at Ishita, her eyes bright with unshed tears. "Ishita, puttar, yeh sach hai ki tu Raman ki biwi hai, lekin tum dono ka rishta toh sirf Ruhi ke liye bana tha na? Mein jaanti hoon ki tum dono ek dusre ke kareeb aa rahe ho, dheere dheere zindagi se samjhauta kar rahe ho, lekin puttar, tum nahi jaanti, woh aurat mere puttar par koi Jaadu kar deti hai. Raman uss se itna pyar karta tha, uss ke jaane par woh bilkul toot gaya tha. Aur Adi, Adi toh Raman ki jaan hai. Mujhe bahut dar lagta hai ki agar Shagun ne Raman ko Adi ka waasta diya, toh Raman...Raman kahi..."

"Mummyji"

Ishita took her mother in laws hands in hers. Her equation with Raman had changed irrevocably that night, but she knew that her mother in law was ignorant of that fact, and so imagined that Raman could walk out on her for Shagun. But Ishita was absolutely certain of her husbands love. Their confession earlier that evening had simply been a verbalisation of what they had both known in their hearts for some time now. And their lovemaking, their passion, his tenderness with her. Ishita had seen the love in her husbands eyes tonight, she had felt it in every pore of her being, had surrendered not just physically to him, but to the love that she could see within him. Tonight she had joined not only physically with her husband, but their intimacy had linked their souls together, irrevocably. Ishita had lived with Raman for over eight months now, but tonight, for the first time, she had felt as if she truly knew him, knew the goodness in him. Tonight, they had ceased to be two different lives, they were one now. And she knew that Raman could not leave her, not for Shagun, not even for Adi. For to leave her would mean that Raman would have to destroy himself. Her faith was resolute.

"Mummyji" she repeated. "Aisa kuch nahi hoga. Aap kehti hai ki aap Shagun ko jaanti hai, lekin aap Raman ko bhi toh jaanti hai na? Kya aap ka beta aisa kabhi kar sakta hai, kya woh mere saath, Ruhi ke saath aisa kar sakta hai? Kabhi nahi Mummyji, aap please tension mat lo. Raman woh pehle wala Shagun ka Raman nahi raha, Mummyji, Raman mujh se pyar karta hai, he loves me. " she smiled shyly, lowering her eyes momentarily as a blush settled over her face. She looked at Toshiji again "Aaj hi usne mujhse kaha, Mummyji, he loves me"

Toshiji looked at her smiling daughter in law and gathered her into her arms. "Kaash tu jo keh rahi hai wohi ho Ishita. Rabba, mere bacho ki raksha karna."