Hi people I am relatively new here, and this is an humble effort. Please read and enjoy. Constructive criticism is a welcome.
The Test
"Adi! What are you saying beta? This is not a joke!" Raman gritted his teeth. He couldn't believe that his innocent son could cunningly cook up something so wile. What had Shagun done to him? He was just a shadow of a child now.
Adi flinched at Raman's voice but kept his facade intact, "It's true Mom, that witch purposely poured the hot oil on my hand! She hates me! Look at my hand Dad, it's all because of her" ! He ran to Ashok to complain.
"Adi!" Raman's voice thundered throughout the hall. There was an eerie silence and Adi was not so sure of his great ploy anymore. "Take her name with respect. She is my wife and your mother!"
"That woman is not my mo..." Adi reacted immediately but Raman interrupted again.
"Shhh!!! I am not done! I am telling you again, this is not a joke! If you choose to play this dirty game then be ready to face the consequences too! I am not going to be there to save your ass like last time!"
"And you," he pointed his finger at Shagun. "Talk to your son, make some sense to him. By the time I reach the station with my wife the news of you withdrawing the case should reach me if you ever wish to marry this 6 foot! Otherwise your dream wedding will remain as a dream! Mess with my wife I will make your life miserable!" Raman was dead serious, Shagun and Adi huddled closer, chill radiated from Raman's voice.
He turned around and approached Ishita who was still stunned, unshed tears adorning her eyes. Ruhi was crying, hugging her waist tightly, and the policemen were just waiting to take her with them. What she thought of the day and look how it turned out. Why was it so difficult for her to bask in happiness for sometime. Always, always there was something that hampered her joy even before she embraced them full heartedly. The authority understood the severity of the issue, it's involving the Raman Kumar Bhalla. The case was high profile and he had contact everywhere, they couldn't act stupidly lest it backfired at them.
Raman cupped her face gently, tilted her face, urging her to look into his eyes. His thumb ever so gently caught the tears before they fell. "I am going to be right there with you and take you home. Ok? Nothing is going to harm you. Come on my Jhansi Ki Rani, spending time in police station is not something new for us right?"
She couldn't help from chuckling and whimpered at the same time, her lips trembled swallowing the sobs that were going to erupt. She needed to be strong for him, for Ruhi. But it's undeniable that she felt so humiliated. To be alleged for child harassment, she who yearned for children and loved them like anything because of her limitation in that matter. It's heartbreaking, being accused of such an unthinkable act.
"Hey...shhh..I will take care of everything. Don't you trust me?" he asked as another tremor shook her body. She just nodded her head, faintly. Raman couldn't help from tearing up seeing his fierce wife crumbling in front of his eyes, trying hard to hold herself. He understood perfectly how she felt, this woman who knew nothing but to love and give, to accuse her of something that was so out of her character was unforgivable. He cursed inwardly for being so lenient with Adi, indirectly encouraged him to play such a horrible stunt.
"I am so sorry," he said. She shook her head immediately, holding his hand that was still cupping her face lovingly. No! She couldn't see him like this, weak and defeated.
"No. Don't be." She closed her eyelids once, telling him it's fine and she understood. Reluctantly both of them distanced themselves from each other. Ishita kneeled down to Ruhi, wiping the tears on her cheeks, she held her close, "Ru baby, mama will be right back to tell you the bed time story, now be a good girl and go home with Dadi and Dadu." Ishita hugged the child closer and whispered in Ruhi's ears which immediately calmed the girl. She nodded her head and walked straight to her grandparents. She knew her mother will always keep her words.
Ishita turned, "lets go officers." She walked out without looking back, her head held high. Raman fisted his hand, seeing his wife accompanied by the officials. He fished his mobile and rang Pathak's no, very quickly, he briefed him with the details. "Go now! They are not going to keep her there, she is not stepping into the cell. Do you hear me? Good!"
"Mihir!" Mihir ran to him. "This shouldn't go out! The whiff of this will ruin Ishita's career then I will just to have to kill those who caused this!" He eyed Ashok, Suraj and Shagun dangerously.
"I will take care of it bhai, leave it to me". Before Raman marched to Ashok, Mani stopped him.
"I will handle the scumbag, you go to Ishu." Raman hesitated for a second then thought better of it, because he knew Mani had his hands around Ashok's neck with the impending deal between them.
Shagun was very much in shock, not with what Adi did, as that was preplanned by them but with the turning of the event. She didn't expect this reaction from Raman. She was so confident that Raman will listen to Adi as usual and blast Ishita. She couldn't believe what she saw, was that love between that two? Raman is so over her; Shagun, the Stunner! He is in love with that behenji now, it was so evident in the way he held her and danced with her. Raman was finally out of her spell which she couldn't believe at all, come on what is that behenji compared to her? Even Adi couldn't budge him this time and he was dead serious about his threat. She should do something immediately to fix it, her wedding with Ashok is in question now. And that Abhimanyu! How on earth that Ishita woman managed to wrap these men around her fingers? Abhi went inside the study with Ashok and Suraj for 10 minutes and Ashok was literally twisting her arm to withdraw the case if she ever wants to marry him. Shagun was well aware that she needed to choose her battle wisely. This one she needed to relent, she would let them win this round.
"But Mom, you asked me to do it! Then why do you want to tell the police I played a prank? What if they put me in jail for lying?" Adi whined.
"Adi, beta I know but didn't you hear your dad just now? He will stop the wedding and if I tell the police that I planned everything to put the behenji in jail then they will definitely arrest me. But if you say you did it just...like for fun, just joking they will forgive you because you are just a kid. Please beta, we don't have time. Come on!" Shagun dragged a still whining Adi out.
Raman's car screeched and stopped outside the police station, he was late; 30 minutes. Damn Dehli traffic. He stormed inside to witness Pathak arguing with the officer's in charge to bail Ishita out. And Ishita, his eyes yearned for her. She was sitting, forlornly on the bench, her shoulders hunched and her eyes closed. She looked so beautiful in that blue saree, some local culprits eyeing his wife, smirking and whistling. Leaning her forehead on her hands, she looked like a pale fairy that needed immediate rescue. Raman's blood boiled looking at her state. He just wished to punch those men who had the audacity to look at his wife. But there was another matter in hand now, which was more pertinent.
What the hell was Shagun still doing? He walked to the officer in charge to blast him, and just then the devil in question walked in with his son. Adi solemnly walked in, and in a very hushed voice he admitted that it was an accident and he wanted to take revenge on Ishita for scolding his mother in front of everyone during mehendi. The officer was angry for being made into a fool and gave an earshot to both the mother and son duo.
Ishita was sitting so still, with her head down until Raman kneeled in front of her and held her hands, bringing her out of the trance. He urged her to stand and they walked out, with Pathak, Shagun and Adi trailing behind. Ishita started to sniff, as if the enormity of the whole incident just descended on her. There was no way she could stop her tears now. The humiliation, the pain and fear of Raman not believing her and leaving Ruhi behind. The guilt of being the cause of Raman being at loggerhead with his son. Most importantly the pain she felt for that young boy who was nothing but a puppet in his mother's hand. Raman didn't even wait even for a second, ignoring everything else at the moment he gathered the only woman that mattered to him the most close to his heart and started to console her. Her body racked with her silent sobs, he could feel her tears seeping into his shirt, he tightened his arms around her peppering soft kisses in her hair and whispered softly to calm her.
"Shh..it's ok love. All ok now. Stop, I can't bear it" and that did it like magic, she stopped crying, her body still shook slightly due to the tremor. Raman held her close to his side with one arm and turned to Shagun and Adi who looked at them with evident disgust.
"Adi, you better apologise to Ishita aunty for the ridiculous stunt you pulled off!" Ishita held his shirt indicating it's not necessary. She didn't want to further the discrepancy between the father and son but it went in vain, Raman refused to relent.
"Adi!" he ordered again.
"No! Mom..." before Adi continued to whine, Shagun held his shoulder, "Just say it beta!"
"I am sorry," he grumbled. Ishita just nodded and urged Raman to let it go.
"Ishita and I are going to re-open Adi's custody case, Shagun. He is not going to stay with you anymore!" with that Mr and Mrs Raman Kumar Bhalla settled into the car and drove off.
CID
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