Chapter 37B "You know?" Raman asked getting up while Mihika left the room knowing this was personal between the two couples.
"We knew days ago, well had doubts! I confirmed when I saw your medical files, maybe next time hide the clinic's name on them. I didn't say anything at that moment, but I think we all know why a woman would go to a maternity clinic after a case of bad nausea. And honestly did you think I wouldn't find out after being a mother myself. I notice Ishita's self-consciousness about her pregnancy and her behavior all the time. She shows symptoms of being pregnant and her covering her stomach around him isn't helping my doubts."
"Vandita...I...I mean we...We didn't want to hide, but we couldn't tell either, it's complicated."
"Why? Is the baby not yours?" Bala lightly joked earning a glare from Vandita and Raman. Ishita had went completely numb hearing his words. Many thoughts ran in her head. She thought about anytime she could have possibly given a clue about the paternity of her baby and how Bala knew. But Raman was more upset hearing such words. It didn't seem funny at all to him and angered him as it seemed like a question on Ishita's character to him which he couldn't tolerate and there was no way he ever wanted his baby to be related to the man to who hurt Ishita so much. This baby was his and Ishita was his.
"This baby is very much mine!" he yelled out scaring Vandita and Bala while Ishita had tears listening to him. She grabbed his arm and tried to calm his anger though she was very happy inside that he would always stand up for her and for his baby. He was the real father of this child. But right now he was mad and his anger was bad when it came to his family...
"Raman..." she tried to say something to calm him down, but he cut her off.
"How can they say something like that?! I mean fine you know about the baby now. We didn't want to tell, it was too early and we didn't know how you would take the whole thing."
"Obviously it's too early. Raman, Ishita I'm not here to teach you anything, but I mean what are you two doing?" Vandita said confusing Raman and Ishita.
"What do you mean? Can't you just be happy for us and leave it at that?!"
"No because I'm not happy! You two are setting yourselves for disaster!"
"How?!"
"You two didn't think about anything, did you? I mean you already have a 4 month old child and she'll be almost one or a bit older than one by the time the baby is born, how you manage that?!"
"We will! It's not that hard."
"Like you've raised 2 small kids together at the same time."
"Neither have you!"
"Raman!" Ishita grabbed his arm tightly stopping him from crossing any boundaries and getting personal.
"I'm sorry. But Vandita answer one question of mine...if instead of Ishita, it was Shagun who was pregnant so quickly, would you have said the same thing to us?"
Silence took over the room. Vandita stood with her head turned away and they got their answer at that moment. Tears glistened in the eyes of Raman and Ishita as they realized that no one would stop judging their marriage. Not even the people they considered friends. Vandita and Bala never knew about the truth of their marriage, but their words were enough to know what they would say if they found out. If a second child that was biologically Raman was such a bad idea, they couldn't even imagine what would happen if the truth came out.
Their relationship was a horrible decision according to many. But it was a perfect decision according to them. They had decided they wouldn't care about others, but this was painful. Painful to see the people so close to them criticizing them for a marriage that seemed the best thing to them.
Ishita hardly knew the couple and she felt bad at the way they were talking about their decision and moreover almost calling them stupid for doing such a thing only because she was just not Shagun. As she wiped off her tears, she realized if she felt so bad, then how must Raman be feeling seeing his friends talking about their choices? He was the one that had asked her to trust them and reveal the pregnancy stating with confidence that they wouldn't be judged and now the complete opposite had happened.
"Ishita..." he suddenly thought about her. She was so worried about this very thing happening. This was her worst fear being brought to life in front of her. He turned around and sat down on the edge of the bed. Vandita shook her head at them and walked away upset at the turn of events while Bala followed quietly.
"Ishita all this..." e lowered his head feeling ashamed of how is friends' words would have hurt her.
"I'm fine Raman. It hurts. They said all that, and I feel bad. But today I'm thinking about what you had told me a while back. It's our marriage. It's between Ishita and Raman. These kids are Ruhi Bhalla and this child's name will also have your surname. It's about our lives and what we want to do with them, it's not about anyone else's thoughts on what we need to do. We're going to have two children with a small age difference, but we decided that together and it's how we will go. Maybe she's right and we might not be the best at managing them, but at least we know we made that choice on our own. And we will deal with it on our own. "
"You were right. We don't need to tell anyone about our baby. They're all busy making their own comments. Everyone wants to interfere." His anger came back.
"Raman, it's okay. No need for this anger."
"No it's not! No one can tell me who I should marry, no one should tell me when I should have kids or how many kids to have. It's between me and you. If you say you don't want kids it's different, but why would they say that? Ishita, they're our friends and neighbours. Can't they simply congratulate even if they don't mean it and be happy? How can they tell me having this baby is a bad idea? They don't even know what's happening in our lives. They don't know what this child is to me or you."
"Exactly they don't know and we can't tell them either. So just ignore like you tell me too." She tried to calm him down and saw a tear rolling down his cheek...
"Raman...no...don't cry."
"But they're my friends. How...they...why? What's happening to me right now?"
"Nothing's happening. You're thinking too much about everything. Vandita and Bala have their own opinion on everything and we can't do anything about it. Isn't that what you said once? So simply ignore, it's hard because they're friends, but try to think of it as their advice for you. You like it, you take, and if you don't like, just leave it. Right?"
He nodded halfheartedly as she continued...
"And I also know you're probably thinking about me and chotu here, but we're both fine as well. The doctor said it was a bit dehydration and some tiredness that caused me to faint. I hope you're okay with that now."
"Dehydration and tiredness?! And you said you were resting. Then how did this tiredness come in?"
"Raman...I was resting because I was tired from the day, so tiredness was always there. But it's in everyone, even you! You're tired too!"
"I'm tired from working, how did you get tired?"
"From stuff...I went down to the park with Ruhi, I did office work, and there was other things like..."
"Like? Let me guess you probably ended up cleaning the cupboard again or probably snuck in some kitchen work."
"A cup of tea and organization doesn't mean a lot of work."
"Sure it doesn't! Now did the doctor give you anything or just suggested rest?"
"I got an injection already and he gave something for this little bruise. And of course rest."
"Good so now lay down and try to sleep. I'll grab something to eat and then come."
"Should I come?"
"No I'll get it myself. Don't worry."
As she lay down in bed, he tucked in with a blanket and gently ran his hand over her head. She smiled before she closed her eyes tired. She would be fine. He knew it was okay now. She and the baby were there and fine. He turned off the lights for her and quietly walked out to the living room where he found an upset Mihika sitting with her face in her palms.
"Mihika...you alright?" she looked up at him and got up looking at him with apologetic eyes.
"I'm sorry. I was busy on my phone and I ignored your call. I didn't know it would be so serious. I...this time it was all my fault...if anything happened to Akka, I...I'm so sorry."
"It's okay Mihika. Ishita's fine...but please next time..."
"I'll be more careful. I promise!"
"I trust you on that."
"How's she now?"
"She's sleeping. I'll go to her once I eat."
"Should I serve?"
"I'm fine. You also try to sleep."
He walked away to the kitchen while Mihika headed to her room when suddenly she stopped at the door. She thought back to his words..
"Jiju...wait, what did Akka tell you was the reason for her fainting?"
"A bit of dehydration and tiredness. Why?"
"I knew it. Jiju it's more than that."
"What do you mean? Ishita's hiding something..." he asked as he sat down at the table. Mihika walked over to him sitting across from him.
"She is. The doctor said she was straining herself...with Ruhi...today she was climbing up the stairs with Ruhi and she was dizzy then as well. I'm sorry, but I had to tell you. Akka is really strainings herself as she takes care of Ruhi."
"Ruhi...and this happened twice today?!"
"I helped her the first time...Jiju I know you're in a tough spot, but please find a way to solve this."
"I'll do something..."
~~~
Precap: IshRa's talk and Raman's worry for Ishita.
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That was all for now! This was shorter, but the next one will be longer for sure! Until then please like this and leave your feedback! Will look forward to it!
I've also posted a note on page 123, so please do have a look at that!
Chapter 38- Page 131
Edited by smilesforever98 - 10 years ago
CID
9