FF; MIRAGE OF SECOND CHANCES CHAPTER 63/65 PAGE 131 - Page 83

CHAPTER SIXTY THREE

'Ring... Ring...'' the phone went off again and before Ishita could assess what was happening

'Hello...'' Said Raman

Ishita stared at the phone her heart beating so fast she could feel it almost popping out; she held her breath not believing she had actually heard his voice? Was it even him or was she hearing things that weren't their

'Hello is anyone there...'' added Raman but Ishita just stayed quiet as Vidya mouthed

'Talk to him...''

There was a sudden silence at the other end of the line, almost as if he was going to just hang up and out of the blue she heard him say

'ISHITA...''

Ishita heard his voice and so wanted to say something to him, ask him if he was okay, hear him actually talk to her but her mouth wouldn't just open

'Ishita I know it is you, please say something...'' Raman said

Vidya put her hand on the speaker of the phone and turned to Ishita saying

'Say something, are you just going to let him think you don't care. He already knows it is you... Come on'' She then handed Ishita the phone but she still said nothing

'Okay if you do not want to talk to me that is fine...'' he said holding his breath before he added

'Just say something so that I know you're okay...'' Said Raman

He was hoping and praying that she was fine. She hadn't tried to talk to him in over 2 weeks and now all of a sudden she was calling. Something was not right and he could sense she was not alright.

'Ishita please...'' he said his voice giving away

Ishita put her hand on her mouth fighting the urge to call his name, fighting the urge to let him hear her voice or how much she missed him, how much she wished he was here. It broke her heart but she had to be strong for everyone's sake, or so she thought.

She took the phone and painfully hang up before she turned to Vidya and broke down completely crying in her arms

Raman started to panic. For a man who was supposed to be everyone's shield even he found this odd. He quickly tried to call back on her number but she refused to pick his calls, and so he began to dial the very same number that had called him but even that, no response.

He grabbed his coat and car keys and dashed out of the house only to bump into Romi

'Whoa where are you going''

'I need to go at the hospital...'' said Raman

'What! Is everything okay...'' asked a concerned Romi which caught everyone else's attention

'Did you hear anything. Is Ishita okay...'' asked Mr. Bhalla

'I do not know... I just... I feel... Look I just want to check on her that's all...'' he finally managed to say because even he couldn't quite explain the whole situation

'Like what! Do you have some information...'' Said Romi

'Not really, I just got a call...'' Said Raman

'And what did they say...'' Said Mr. Bhalla

'She didn't say anything... But I know it was her...'' Said Raman

Romi looked at him and felt sorry because he could only imagine what his brother was going through. He was trying to be tough and be a man for everyone else but this was his wife, it is so sad how he was getting to be treated. In fact it was not fair on him or anyone in this situation

'Raman look let me go and check on her then I will give you an update alright. You're in no right frame of mind to drive let alone show up there like this...'' Said Romi

'What is that supposed to mean? Get out of my way...'' Said Raman

'No I can't and you know why...'' Said Romi

Raman was slowly turning back to his old habits. He would try and seem fine for everyone else's sake but he would drown inside and when it became too much, when it became so overwhelmingly flooded, he would drown his sorrows in a bottle of scotch.

'Just... Get...'' Said Raman stammering

'Raman your drunk, let me do this. I swear I will give you her full details even the number of times she in hales; I will count them if you need me to. Just please do not go to the hospital in this state, you and I both know the results of this will be worse than what it is now...''Said Romi before eventually walking out leaving Raman standing at the door

He looked at his brother disappear and he turned and walked back into the house with a million things going through his mind. He didn't want to be this man, this weakling of a man but every minute she wasn't here with him, he was going crazier and crazier and it was becoming a problem for him to keep it together.

Meanwhile Ishita was uncontrollable crying in Vidya's arms as she tried to speak through her sobs

'Did you hear his voice, he sounded so broken. I did this, I did this to him, this is my entire fault. This is what I do, I break people. It was not meant to be this way... I wish there was something I could do to make him feel better, what do... I just...''

'Ishu this is ridiculous. You are clearly madly in love with this man, why on earth are you asking for a divorce. This doesn't make sense. I am no love doctor but even I know this is not right...'' said Vidya as she took Ishita into her embrace

'Talk to me dear, what are you so afraid of'' Said Vidya but Ishita just kept on shaking her head as almost as if she was fighting with herself not to say anything

'Ishu you will not get a sound ear like mine. I don't know much about you and Raman so my opinion is kind of neutral so you can tell me, maybe I will understand your plight better than most...'' Said Vidya convincingly and it took Ishita a minute to try and digest what Vidya had said and to be honest she was tired of holding it all inside

Half the time she was scared of what might or might not have been that even when she closes her eyes, she gets glimpse and pieces of what actually happened

'I don't remember...'' Said Ishita

''What...'' Vidya said

'The 4 hours I just...'' Said Ishita and like a weight was slowly lifting, she finally opened up.

Vidya turned off her phone because she didn't want this moment to go to waste, she didn't want to be interrupted because she had been there for close to three weeks and for the first time this was actual progress.

She quietly sat back and listened to Ishita talk and even Vidya could tell that this was the first time since this whole thing began that she as actually speaking her heart out with no filter or worry

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Romi showed up at the hospital and normally he was the reasonable one but even he couldn't tolerate this nonsense that Ishita was trying to do. What was the need to just torture his brother in that manner, what was his fault in all this?

Mihika turned and he could see Romi walk in the hospital and he looked pissed which was not a familiar sight

'Romi is everything okay...'' Said Mihika

'No... Nothing is okay. I have to talk to your sister...'' Said Romi

'Okay calm down okay... This is a hospital not a bar or a market...'' Said Mihika

'Romi what happened...'' asked Jai who had just walked into the room

'What your sister is doing is not fair... It is not fair that she gets to torment my brother and imagine that it is okay. Who does she think she is...'' Said Romi

'What is going on? Will you keep it down...'' Said Abhimanyu

'Look Abhi your sister needs to make up her mind, she either wants a divorce or she doesn't. She either wants to see Raman or she doesn't, she either wants to talk to Raman or she doesn't. This business of thinking she is going to string my family into this web of pain than it already in I will not tolerate it.'' Said Romi

To say everyone was taken back would not have done justice to it, Romi was so angry and bitter that even those who knew how calm and cool headed he usually was couldn't believe what they were seeing

'Romi please just...'' Jai tried to say

'No Jai... That house is already in shambles I do not know how else she expects to make pay us more than that. My mother barely talks to anyone, my sister spends all her time locked in her room, Raman spends most of his time with work or drinking and the kids are not idiots they are beginning to notice.'' Said Romi

'Wait it sounds like your blaming Ishita for something... Are you actually blaming Ishita for something...'' Asked Abhimanyu who was being defensive

'Look all I want is for her to make up her mind on what she wants. We get it, her family is made of saints and mine is the devil I get it BUT we do not deserve this especially Raman...'' Said Romi as tears filled his eyes

'Romi just calm down...'' Said Mihika who genuinely understood where he was coming from but Abhimanyu didn't

'No Mihika let him say his peace ...'' Said Abhimanyu as he came and stood right in front of Romi in a threatening way

'Abhi you can threaten me all you want this doesn't mean it isn't true. You Iyers all claim to be your own person and do things for each other well in the Bhalla household we meddle and this is me meddling to make sure my brother doesn't do something stupid...'' he said walking a head as he stood in front of Mr. Bhalla who had walked in and witnessed the whole thing

'This is not fair. This is not fair on Raman and you all know it. If she is going to go out of his life, let her go instead of having one foot in and the other out giving my brother misguided hope...'' he said before eventually walking out

Mr. Bhalla stood and watched and just kept quite because he knew that Romi was right. None of this was right, Ishita's shutting down everyone from the Bhalla house was not only illogical but also unfair especially her husband who most definitely didn't deserve this

'Can you imagine... The insolence of those people...''' Said Abhimanyu

'Abhi watch your tongue... I get you love Ishita but do not forget, she is here because of that insolent family. You and I both now even with everything else, they helped you find her and without them, you wouldn't be here having a sister to protect...'' Said Mr. Bhalla

'It was their fault that she was taken in the first place...'' Said Abhimanyu

'NO... It was Tarish's fault. You see if any of my daughters showed up and told me another woman was trying to wreck up her engagement and that other woman was married to one of my sons, even I would have reacted. Maybe not in a gullible manner like they did but yeah even I would have acted. And as for Simmi, that poor girl was engaged then dumped then finds out that the man she loved was actually a gigolo hired by a psychopathic human trafficker. She has lost not only the man she thought was the love of her life but also her brothers and also probably her family in general. So NO from where I sit, these were unfortunate circumstances where the Bhallas were used as collateral damage'' Said Mr. Bhalla

Abhimanyu looked at Mr. Bhalla and it was like a light bulb had just light up in his head. He had never really tried to see it from that perspective because in his mind, they were to blame for it all. It was easier to blame them because they were there. Seeing it from another point of view it made sense and kind of made him feel like a jerk for talking to Romi in that manner. Mr. Bhalla came forward and stood in front of his children and said

'Look them and we need to figure out what she is hiding and what she is so afraid of. A lot of people are depending on her especially her family and as long as she keeps in this state, she is going to shatter a lot of people without even knowing it. So go be your secretive siblings self and do good by Raman like he did by you all. He saved Ishita in more ways than one and you all know it. It is high time you all do the same for him...''

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Two Weeks Later

Ishita had been in the hospital for a month and she was much better in fact she thought it was high time she left for home but the doctors had told her she needed to stay one more week just to make sure everything was as close to perfect as they could possibly get her.

What they however didn't tell her was that this was actually her biological father and husband's meddling habits wouldn't allow that AND unless the doctors were actually sure, she wasn't leaving this hospital.

Plus it also gave everyone time to plan. But it was time that had run our as she was to be released the following day.

'Okay everyone it is really important that you understand that everything I did, I did because I wanted to make sure my wife was okay...'' Said Raman

Everyone had gathered at the Bhalla mansion for a meeting that Raman had called. The Bhallas, the Iyers, Romi, Simmi, Abhimanyu, Mihika, Jai, everyone who held an important part of Ishita's life was present and they all were curious to know what Raman was talking about

'All of you are here because even though we may not necessarily have a liking for each other, we all have one very important thing in common, Ishita. I want you all to please keep an open mind as you meet this person because she is and has been an intricate part in ensuring that she gets the most important care and treatment...'' He added

'Raman... What is the purpose of being overly dramatic...'' Said Mihika

'Just please bear with me a little...'' Said Raman before he turned to Romi and said

'Bring her in...''

Everyone turned to see what the fuss was all about. Raman was acting a bit weird and it to be honest was not a very usual thing. When Romi walked back in someone else was walking behind him

'Hey hey hey...'' Said Vidya

'Vidya hey, what are you doing here...'' Said Jai

'Well it is really great to see you too...'' Said Vidya

'Yeah nice to see you, what are you doing here...'' Asked Abhimanyu

'I will let Raman explain that...'' Said Vidya as she sat down

'Raman what is going on?'' asked Mrs. Iyer

'Well Ishita was not doing so well in so many ways and I for one was not going to sit back and adhere to her stubbornness of not wanting to see a therapist so I made other arrangements...'' Said Raman

'Meaning what exactly...'' Said Mr. Iyer

'I had to hire someone who was versatile in their work and was also willing to go to extremes to get results. Even if she was didn't want a therapist I thought she needed one'' Said Raman

'Okay so what you are saying is you lied to her and invaded her privacy...'' Said Mr. Iyer

'Yes I did and I am not sorry about it. Whether you all want to admit it or not, she is my wife. I have a right to worry about her just like every one of you...'' side Raman looking at the Iyers

'I get it trust me. I only said that because I wondered why I didn't think about it earlier...'' Said Mr. Iyer smiling at Raman

'Okay but Vidya is related to this whole story in what way...'' Asked Jai

'Oh Vidya is the therapist...'' Said Romi

'Am sorry I thought I heard you say Vidya is the therapist. I mean Vidya, her...'' Said a shocked Jai

'Ouch Jai really... I will ignore that insult...'' Said Vidya

'No really, she is one of the best in her field...'' Said Romi

Mihika and Abhimanyu looked at each other and suddenly broke out in fits of laughter not believing what they were hearing

'I am sorry but this is hard to believe. You have to be the most playful unserious person I have ever met...'' Said Abhimanyu

'No seriously aren't you a little bit too chirpy to be a therapist...'' Said Mihika

'Actually I am a therapist and a psychologist. I have a few degrees and PhDs here and there...'' Said Vidya

'A few really? She is being modest...'' said Romi

'Anyway I ask, would you trust a very serious stranger with you secrets...'' Asked Vidya to which everyone nodded understanding their point of view

'Plus there is a time to be chirpy, and quiet and talkative and serious. You just have to know what to do and at what time...'' she added

'I still can't believe it either...'' Said Mr. Iyer who was more in awe of how amazingly she hid that fact and how intelligent she was much more than she led everyone to believe

'I could tell you something about you that I don't think many people in your life know about, maybe then you may take me seriously'' Said Vidya looking at Abhimanyu

At first he hesitated but the temptation was too much to resist so he gave in

'Okay give it your best shot...'' Said Abhimanyu

'You have been in love with the same girl for a very very long time...'' Said Vidya looking straight at him careful not to give anything away

He looked at her and smiled saying

'Ishu could have told you that...''

'Maybe but you and I know that she is the most secretive human being in the world and that girl knows how to keep a secret. She is the take it to the grave kind of friend...'' Said Vidya looking at him

'Wait is it true Abhi...'' asked a very amused Mihika which caused Vidya to chuckle a little bit

'Okay fine but how about the way your face lights up when she walks into a room, or the way you flinch every time she is with eehhhmmm. OOhhh and does Ishita also know about the tattoo...'' asked Vidya to which everyone attentively looked at Abhimanyu and the smile he had on his face suddenly disappeared

'Okay we are not here about me, this is about Ishita...'' he said in a bid to change the topic which made Mihika even more curious and she looked at him eyes wide open not believing what Vidya was saying

'Oh My God she is telling the truth isn't she...'' Mihika said

CHAPTER SIXTY FOUR

'Okay fine but how about the way your face when she walks into a room, or the way you flinch every time she is with eehhhmmm. OOhhh and does Ishita also know about the tattoo...'' asked Vidya to which everyone attentively looked at Abhimanyu and the smile he had on his face suddenly disappeared

'Okay we are not here about me, this is about Ishita...'' he said in a bid to change the topic which made Mihika even more curious and she looked at him eyes wide open not believing what Vidya was saying

'Oh My God she is telling the truth isn't it...'' Mihika said

'Mihika enough drop it...'' Said Mrs. Iyer who knew exactly what Vidya was talking about

'Okay then, so now that I think I have managed to convince the skeptics can we now get down to business...'' Said Vidya to which everyone agreed

'Okay then, first things first. Ishita has post traumatic disorder and partial amnesia. She is out of danger but she still feels like she is still in it. She feels she cannot be safe here and also it will be easier when she leaves to go too Mumbai. She wants to go back to Mumbai...'' Said Vidya

'Why does she want to go to Mumbai...'' Said Mr. Bhalla

'Because it is home, somewhere she will feel safe...'' Said Mrs. Iyer defensively

'Actually it is because so she doesn't have to deal with all the chaos of having to explain herself to you all plus YES she does feel safer in Mumbai than here in more ways than one...'' Said Vidya

'What do you mean to explain to us all? Isn't she coming back home...'' Said Mr. Iyer

'Well I said she wants to go back to Mumbai, I never told you she was going to be staying with you. Your daughter in her own way, which is quite impressive by the way, can be very cunning when she wants to be. I do not know how or when but she has somewhere she plans on staying which is not the Iyer house...'' Said Vidya

Wait she wants to disappear and change her identity again doesn't she?'' Said Jai

'Why would she do that? I don't get it. Does she feel we would not take care of her...'' Said Mrs. Iyer

'Am afraid I can't answer that yet...'' Said Vidya

'So how about her! Her health, how is she. Why is she behaving like this...'' asked a desperate Raman

Santosh and Simmi were also sitting in the room but all the while they just kept quiet and kept their opinions to themselves. They really didn't think anyone wanted to know anything about what they had to say any way.

'She has been traumatized, A LOT. Don't mistake the smile on her face and that front she puts up. It is bad even though she does a really good job at hiding it but it will get worse, it will become a problem for her to hide it sooner or later. The nightmares that she has, as bad as they are, they will get worse. For as long as she doesn't deal with whatever is going on they will only worsen.'' Said Vidya

'How do you know all this...'' asked Mrs. Iyer

'It is my job to know Mam. She finds it hard to sleep because she is scared of closing her eyes. She is in the hospital so it helps that someone is always there to monitor her when she gets the sleeping pills. What I am worried about is what will happen if she is alone or around you...'' she said pointing at the Iyers

'What sort of statement of that, Are you saying we cannot take care of our daughter...'' Said Mr. Iyer

'Oh not at all but she knows how to manipulate you pretty well. You will easily give her what she wants because she is good at convincing everyone how amazing she is doing. Did you know she keeps a prescription of sleeping pills under her pillow? She takes 3 valiums to just calm herself down. All this was happening right under your nose and still you did not know because like I said, hiding her emotions she is a master at it. In fact if you didn't know what you're looking for, you wouldn't even know that she does all this.'' Said Vidya

'Wait so what you're saying that she is doing pills now...'' Said Abhimanyu

'Well it is not as bad yet, I replaced her sleeping pills with vitamins. She won't even notice the difference but sooner or later she will...'' Said Vidya

'I don't understand, I thought she was doing okay...'' Said a disheartened Mihika

'Well she has had years and years of practice so...'' Said Vidya

'Why are you telling us this? Why don't you first tell us why she is acting to such an extreme...'' Said Raman

'You need to understand what I am telling you first. Understand the gravity of her mindset; understand why she is acting the ways he is. For her the world is not black and white anymore. She had been taking care of everyone else all her life. Her siblings, her parents, her husband, his children, her husband's family and this was okay because for her that creates a balance and gives her purpose to live, purpose to be happy. But then she fell in love and all of a sudden she let her guard down and from then on everything falls apart. She was thrown out, got kidnapped, got all sorts of things done to her, she almost died, oh and the most important trigger of them all, the unaccounted for four hours before you rescued her...'' Said Vidya looking at Raman

'What happened to my wife, Vidya'' Said a scared Raman

'She doesn't know and so even I don't...'' Vidya answered

'What nonsense? What do you mean she doesn't know and so you don't? Isn't it your so called job to know...'' Said Mihika

'Look she doesn't necessarily remember what happened to her or she is afraid to...'' Said Vidya

'Okay I am not understanding anything. Can you just explain what you're trying to say...'' Said Mrs. Iyer who was getting increasingly anxious and nervous

'The last proper recollection she has is right after Tarish switched off the live feed of the camera. He smacked her around before she blacked out. Then she remembers being driven to that building and when they got there, all she remembers is him asking her where Mayra was...'' Said Vidya

'Wait I thought he and Ms. Tee thought she was dead, then how can he again be asking for her. This is confusing and doesn't make a lot of sense...'' Said Jai

'Yeah she says he got a call right before he switched off the camera. It is that call that someone told him that you were actually alive but what they didn't know is where you were or which name you were using...'' Said Vidya looking at Mihika

'So you're saying she went through all this because of me...'' Said Mihika

'Not because of you, she was trying to protect you...'' Said Vidya

'Still why is she asking for a divorce from Raman? I still cannot see how all this is connected'' Said Abhimanyu

'Actually everything is connected. Like I said she doesn't remember a lot and mostly is because she won't let herself remember. I for one think they tortured her and maybe tried to get her to talk where Mayra was but she wouldn't barge so she blacked out the whole thing to endure the pain...'' she said before looking at them and realizing they were not understanding a things she was telling them

'Look at it this way; you know how when you go through something so horrible that your brain refuses to actually process things as they are. When she tells this story she says she remembers him beating her, she could taste her blood in her mouth, then she blacks out again and during these blackout she just kept seeing Adi asking her to come back and Raman telling her he loved her. She says she doesn't know why but she did and all she could hear was them begging her to come back ...'' Vidya added which made everyone in the room to start tearing up especially Santosh

'Then there are the flashes between the blackouts that she has and during this time she could see Tarish on top of her holding her hands down, she doesn't know why and she says she is afraid to find out. Personally I think the memory of Adi is actually him talking to her in the hospital as is that of Raman, not when she was in that building like she thinks. She mixes up the two...'' Said Vidya

'Wait! What do you mean by, he holding her down...'' Said Raman holding his breath

'Wait I remember finding her in torn clothes, there was blood everywhere and her clothes so stained with blood. I found Tarish hitting her as she tried to fight back. She kept on saying I tried to fight him...'' Said Abhimanyu as he tried to recollect something he was desperately trying to forget

Everyone in that room was thinking the exact same thing and in a way all of them were afraid to ask because if the answer was in the affirmative then it was not only going to break Raman but also her entire family

'Was my wife raped Vidya...'' asked Raman his voice breaking

'I don't know...'' She answered

Raman just stayed there staring at Vidya hoping his wife didn't go through this. She didn't deserve this. She deserved much better than this. What was her crime in all this?

'Isn't there a way to find out?'' asked Mr. Iyer

'No I tried. When they brought her in the doctors didn't care to examine her, the never used the rape kit because they were so concentrated on trying to save her. It was negligent on their part if you ask me but now it is too late...'' Said Vidya

'So what? How do we help...'' Said Jai

'Just be there, that is the best you can do...'' Said Vidya

'Why wouldn't you just tell her that she wasn't? She doesn't remember after all'' asked Simmi who was had tears rolling down her face as she couldn't hold it together any more

'That won't solve a thing... Just prolongs the problem and we do not want that, we want a solution'' Said Vidya

'Is this why she wants to divorce me? Does she think I will just leave because of that? Is that how little she thinks of me?'' Said a disheartened Raman as tears filed his eyes

'Actually it is the exact opposite. This divorce she asks for because she thinks she is doing it for your sake. When she saw your mother by her bed side, she remembered how everything turned out the day she was kidnapped and she says and I quote ''if she was willing to get rid of me because of something that she thought I did in my past imagine what she will do if she found out that I may have been raped. I would be an embarrassment. She would never allow me near her son and grand children. I doubt she would even believe me. I lied to them, to all of them...'' Said Vidya

'Wait so this is all because of me after all. I am not a monster...'' said a very teary Santosh

'She says Raman would move to the end of the world for her and given the chance she knows he would choose her...'' Said Vidya

'Damn Right I would...'' Said Raman looking at his mother

'But that is the thing, she doesn't want you to'' Said Vidya as she came forward and touched Santosh saying

'I know what you are thinking and No she doesn't hate you and No this is not your fault. She is just a little confused and hurt and rightly so. Plus she is ill and she is going to need a lot of your help. She is stubborn that one but just bear with her if not for anyone for yourself...'' Said Vidya but Santosh just kept her eyes down as tears rolled down her face

'So what do we do? How do we help ...'' Asked Mr. Bhalla

'I do not want to dictate but I would have thought that the best place for her to be right now is at a rehabilitation facility...''Said Vidya but Raman interrupted

'Never going to let that happen...'' Said Raman

'BUT knowing you all, you're never going to allow that so here is my proposal. I was of the suggestion that you find a place for her where she will have someone who will push her to want to be better. She is going to need a lot of help and with that knee; she has very minimal movement in her left leg so she is going to need some help. I think you all should convince her to stay here with Raman...'' Said Vidya

'Of course we should...'' Said Mrs. Iyer sarcastically

'Look here Vidya we can take care of our daughter, we have been through this and worse with her and she turned out pretty well if you ask me. So you will excuse me if I would rather have my daughter with me than here, No offence...'' Said Mr. Iyer looking at Mr. Bhalla

Mr. and Mrs. Iyer understood what Raman had gone through and his family and what he could do for Ishita but they didn't trust them just yet to leave their daughter in their care.

'I am not saying this because he hired me or because he and I are colleagues, I am suggesting this because he is the better alternative. He pushes her and not in bad way without even trying. She told him about her past without hesitation, she told him about her father without hesitation; she has shared parts of herself that I guarantee most of you her siblings do not know...'' Said Vidya trying to convince them as she came forward and stood in front of Mrs. Bhalla saying

'If there is any place where she will be forced to face her demons it is with him because forgoing the obvious reasons, she feels safer with him than with you all. She is in love with him her wanting Mumbai is her running away. She said to me that the last time she slept without pills was the night Raman spent in the hospital with her after that she barely closes her eyes...'' Said Vidya

'I understand but she is my baby and you will excuse me but I can't trust that she will be safe here. I am not angry at any of you I swear but the mother in me is skeptical to leaving her here after everything. What happens when she makes another mistake? I just...'' Said Mrs. Iyers as tears filled her eyes

'Mrs. Iyer I understand your skepticism but I will do everything in my power to make sure that your daughter is okay. She is not just your daughter but mine as well...'' Mr. Bhalla tried to speak

'Please Mr. Bhalla you will excuse us if we do not believe what you are saying...'' Said Mr. Iyer

'She is my wife...'' Raman whispered

'What...'' Said Mrs. Iyer

'She is my wife and I have a right to worry and take care of her just like you all. SHE IS MY WIFE...'' Said Raman as tears flowed down his face

'Raman I under...'' Said Mrs. Iyer

'No you do not understand. You cannot begin to fathom what I have been through for the last month. My children are in shatters because she is not here. Ruhi cries because she worries, Aditya thinks again someone is going to give up on him as always he is going to lose his mother. Somehow they know that she wants a divorce, they do not understand that she is not well. I worry that she may never be okay, I can't focus on anything, I cannot concentrate because half the time I don't know how she is doing. My life is just... Look she is my wife and I have a right on her as much as everyone in this room. I WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO TAKE HER AWAY FROM ME...'' Said Raman

'Mama how about we just find another solution...'' Said Mihika who could understand exactly what Raman was going through

The Iyers knew that Raman would more than take care of their daughter but it was only normal for them to worry about her, she was their little girl. After everything even understanding that maybe Simmi or Santosh or Mr. Bhalla were completely not at fault, it still didn't change the fact they didn't think she would be safe there.

'How about you all move into my house? It is just 15 minutes from here and we will be able to keep an eye on her. Plus it will solve this problem. We really need to give her the best care and you all know that Vidya is right...'' Said Abhimanyu

'Please Mrs. Iyer I will make sure that she is well taken care of just do not take her away. I will leave this house if it makes you feel better. Can I leave this house?'' Said Raman desperately

'What No! Raman seriously...'' Said Jai

' No really if your parents want me to move I will...'' Said Raman

'Mama seriously stop being stubborn. You know as well as I do that this is the right thing to do. You have been with her since she was 14 years and I do not think she ever even told you about her time at the compound or her dad, hell you do not even know the purpose of that garden she loved so much and I guarantee Raman does...'' Said Jai looking at his mother

'He managed to do that in less than 2 years. Mama this is the right thing to do...'' he added

Mrs. Iyer was not an idiot, she knew what Jai was saying was actually true but that didn't mean that she would just leave

'I need more reassurance, that just isn't enough...'' Said Mrs. Iyer

'Mihika and Abhimanyu can stay here...'' Said Vidya causing everyone to just look at her

'What...'' Said Mihika

'Yes Yes the house is big enough and they will keep an eye on her. I would have asked you to stay as well but I know you would not agree so how about you leave Mihika and Abhi here, they can keep an eye on her and they will give you feed back every time you need them to...'' Said Raman looking at Mr. and Mrs. Iyer

'I am not so sure about this...'' Said Mihika

'Why not, it is actually a great idea...'' Said Jai

I have work doofus I just cannot leave Mumbai...'' Mihika tried to say but Jai interrupted

'I can handle that. You know I can...'' Said Jai before he turned to Abhimanyu and said

'Uhh so what is your excuse...''

'Work, company, deadlines, you know. The whole owning a company thing kind of takes a lot of my time'' Said Abhimanyu

''Oh please Abhi, you own a tech company. You can manage that anywhere with a computer and Wi-Fi...'' Said Mrs. Bhalla

'Wow you really have no idea what I do for a living do you...'' Said Abhimanyu looking at Mrs. Bhalla in a perplexed manner before he said

'It is fine I can make it work. Anything for Ishu and Mrs. Bhalla it is not a tech company, it is a Fashion House. Clothes, Jewelry, Shoes, vegera, vegera...''

'Okay it is settled then...'' Said Raman looking at the Iyers before they nodded in affirmation

'Okay all this planning is fine but who of you is going to convince her to come stay here. She is adamant she does not want to...'' Said Jai

'I guess we all are going to have to convince her until then she will stay at Abhimanyu's...'' Said Mrs. Iyer wondering what they were going to do but not known to them were two very nosy children who were standing at the Balcony and listening to this conversation all this time and they, like their father, were not going to let their mother leave without a fight.