Ruhi got up and went down to her room to brush and get ready for breakfast.
Raman was just about to end a video conference call. Thanks a ton, I really appreciate it. Yes, I received all the documents. So I'll speak to you tomorrow then. Bye.
With that he made a call to a furniture consignment shop before going for his bath. He got ready and took one quick look at the mirror. He smiled touching his clean shaven face thinking, now she will see my sorry face more clearly. Last year on this day, he gave her a thank you speech in tamil and that impressed her alot. He wondered what he can do like the previous year to make her smile and within a few seconds he realized what he was going to do.
He got ready and went down for his breakfast and there he saw her standing in the kitchen helping mummyji and simmi with the cooking. The whole house was vibrant and cheerful as the heart and soul of their house was with them - Adi and Ruhi.
Raman was watching Ishita smiling and laughing with the kids as she served them parathas. She brought his breakfast too but did not speak much to him. She answered when he asked her a few questions- how is mihika doing? Do you have to go to the clinic today? When she answered that she had to go for a couple of hours, he offered to drive her and pick her up. As expected, she refused saying Romi will drop her and looked at Romi who smiled and said ofcourse bhabhi.
Raman was disappointed and a bit angry with her for behaving like this but he reminded himself that this is all because of what he did so he will have to be patient and win her trust again. Her mood lightened when her Amma walked wishing everyone for baisakhi. She gave Ishita the food items that she had made for Tamil New Year - vadai, payasam(kheer) and manga pachadi. Oye, tumhara vada aur kheer toh taste kiya hai par yeh kya hai? asked Mrs Bhalla. Yeh Manga pachadi hai..new year special food item. It has boiled raw mango chunks in jaggery seasoned with fried neem flowers and red chillies so there is sweet sour bitter and hot taste. This is to remind us that lifeis a mixture of all emotions, has ups and downs but on the whole it is wonderful and sweet just like this pachadi.
Wah Madrasan changa kaha...ab toh ise taste karna hi padega. Par pehle tu humaare ghar ke special laddu khake dekh. She stuffed Mrs Iyer's mouth with one full laddu. It was quite a sight making them all laugh.
Ishita and Romi left for the clinic as she was getting late. Raman waited and left after the furniture guys came and took the couch. He told his mom that the couch was shaking and the cushion gave him a backache and that was the reason he was getting rid of it. Mrs Bhalla said ok and asked Raman to come early as they were having a get together in the evening to celebrate the new year.
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It was evening and the celebration had started in the Bhalla house. Adi, Ruhi and Shravu were dancing with Simmi while Romi played DJ. The kids made sure that everyone shaked a leg including Dada Dadi, Ishima, Paati, Thatha, Vandu, Bala..they didn't spare Neelu also...except for Mihika who said she will come later as she told her periamma that she had a headache and will join later.
Mihir and Rinky had also arrived at the building. Before they got out of the car,
Mihir told her, Rinky I need a favor from you. Can you please come with me to meet Mihika? I don't know how you feel about this but I need to tell you something as a friend and your husband. I was heartbroken when Mihika left me for Ashok and I was very upset with her for breaking my heart, but today I have learnt that there was a very big reason for her to do this and that reason is me. I'm not the one who lost everything...she was. I had you all to take care of me while she suffered in silence and couldn't share her sorrows with anyone. Rinky, I have to apologize to her for misjudging her...I know I'm married to you and I won't back off from my responsibilities nor will I cross any boundaries. I need to speak to her and wish that you come along.
Rinky had tears in her eyes. She said Mihir, I'm your friend first and then your wife. My respect for you has increased today. You don't need my permission or company to talk to Mihika. You must talk to her and make her feel better. I need to respect you both and give you the space as I trust you completely. I will be at mom's house, waiting for you. They both smiled with tears in their eyes.
He said thanks Rinky...I'll be there soon.
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Romi was sipping his cola smiling watching everyone dance but his mind drifted to what had happened earlier that day. After dropping Ishita, Romi went to the supermarket to pick up some items for the party in the evening. List le liya na puttar...koi cheez bhool na nahi, said mummyji. Haan mummyji sab aajayega tussi chill maro yaar, he told her and left with his Bhabhi. When he was billing the items that he had bought, he saw a familiar face in the next counter. It was Sarika. She paid for the stuff she bought and carried four bags of what looked like heavy grocery items. She was struggling with the bags when he walked upto her and said mujhe de do...mein leke aaoonga. She frowned and said no thanks..I will manage. He scolded her and then begged her to agree and she finally gave in realizing that she wouldn't be able to walk till a rickshaw with these bags. He placed both their bags in the back of the car much to her protests and asked her to get in so he can drop her. After keeping the bags in her house he asked her for a glass of water. He handed over the empty glass to her and said thanks,and she suddenly jerked as though she had a shock and quickly put her hand on her tummy. She felt the baby move for the first time and that too to his voice. Her mouth was open with excitement while he panicked and asked her if she was ok. She got his hand on her belly and made him feel it too. It felt like a tiny fist rubbing real quick against his palms. Haan I felt it too he said excitedly and they smiled at each other. Within a minute they sensed what they were doing and flashed back into reality. He quickly took his hands off and left uttering a silent ok then chalta hoon while she stopped smiling and looked down.
Romi...romi...kahan khogaye? asked ishita snapping him out of his thoughts. kuch nahi bhabhi..bhatao...
arey along with the groceries that you brought this afternoon there was an extra bag that doesn't belong to us. It has some sooji and atta. Can you take it to the shop tomorrow and return it...god knows whose bags they have given us by mistake.
Don't worry Bhabhi. I'll take it tomorrow.
He didn't tell his Bhabhi about what happened today. He saw how his mom and mrs iyer were force feeding vandu didi and taking care of her and the baby inside of her. Sarika's didn't have this luxury as she had to take care of herself and her mom who was unwell. These thoughts disturbed him. He was in a way happy that he would meet her again tomorrow in the pretext of bringing her missed out grocery bag to her. I have to google tonight and see what babies look like at this stage, he thought to himself.
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Raman entered and instantly all eyes were on him. They called out his name in excitement and asked him to join them to dance. Chalo na papa said Ruhi and Adi said haan chaliye na...aapke haath mein kya hai? Raman was carrying a paper covered parcel. These are some sketches for a presentation at work tomorrow. I'll go keep this and come down after changing. Neelu coffee upar le aana, he said and started to go when Ishita said Ek minute and walked to him. Mummyji said you have backache because of the couch. How is the pain now?
Dard toh hai, he said with pain in his eyes and walked away.
She looked at him with a sad face deciding whether to follow him or not.
Arjun
Cricket
Udne Ki Aasha
411