Chapter 6
Raman's POV
He draw the curtains to find Ishita talking with a Jr. Architect. One of her hand is on her forehead to block the sun rays from blinding her vision.
Agar koi mujhse puchhe ki Raman, what was the first thing which clicked between you both? My answer would be her dedication with which she works. You know I'm very passionate about my work.. Mere seniors mujhe iss baat ke liye praise karte hai.. And I've seen the same passion in her.. She has some fire within.. A fire to prove herself ! Jo bahout kam dekhne ko milti hai..
(If someone asks me Raman, what was the first thing which clicked between you both? My answer would be her dedication with which she works. You know I'm very passionate about my work.. My seniors always praise me for this..And I've seen the same passion in her.. She has some fire within.. A fire to prove herself ! Its a very rare quality!)
I'm sure mere employees zaroor yeh kahenge ki I'm biased towards her... But that's not the case..! aaj ka he example lelo.. Kitne employees aise honge jo chutti wale din bhi kaam karne ke liye tyaar ho.. ? Bahout kam!
(I'm sure my employees will complain that I'm biased towards her.. but that's not the case. You can take today's example.. just tell me how many of you are ready to work even on holidays..? Very few!)
His trail of thoughts were broken by a call. He picked up his BlackBerry lying on the table.
Mom!
"Hey Mom! Good Afternoon!" I wished.
"Hi.. Kaise ho?" She asked.
(Hi.. How are you?)
"Main thik hu, aap sunao !" I replied.
(I'm good.. how are you?)
"Great.. Waise kya baat hai aaj tum kafi khush sound kar rahe ho?"
(Great.. Btw what's the matter? you're sounding pretty happy!)
"Khush toh main hu..." I confessed in chirpy voice.
(Yes.. I'm happy!)
"Hmm.. Good! Khair maine yeh puchhne ke liye call kiya tha ki tumne money transfer kar diya donation ke liye?"
(Hmm.. good! Anyways I called to ask you if you've transferred money for donation?)
"Woh..toh main bhul gaya !" I replied apologetic.
(That.. opps I forgot!)
"Uff Raman, kya hoga tumhari yaadash ka? Meri maano shaadi karlo!"
(Uff.. Raman what are you going to do with your poor memory? Trust me, get married!)
"Ussi ki taiyaarion mein laga hua hu!" I replied as a matter of fact.
(I'm busy in preparations of that only!)
"Toh tum nahi manoge?" She asked, very serious suddenly.
(So you're still adamant on it?)
"Matlab?!" I asked confused.
(I didn't get you?!)
"Raman.. Woh tumhe reject kar chuki hai !"
(Raman.. she has rejected you already!)
"Aur bahout jald haan bhi bolne wali hai.."
(And is going to accept it very soon!)
"Tum force karoge use?!"
(You're planning to force her?!)
"Use realize kara unga!"
(I'll make her realize that!)
"Kya zaroorat hai Raman? I mean humare pass tumhare liye behtar rishte hai!" She tried to reason.
(What's the use Raman? I mean we have far better alliance for you!)
"Aapke paas behtar rishte hai lekin Mere liye Ishita se behtar koi nahi hai!" I replied adamant on my point.
(I'm sure you have better options but for me no one is better than Ishita!)
"Aakhir aisa kya hai usme?" She asked unbelievingly.
(What is so special abt her?)
"Jab aap usse milengi tab aapko pata chalega!" I replied confident on my choice.
(When you will meet her, you'll understand!)
"Fine.. Tum please money transfer karva dena!" She said and ended the call abruptly.
(Fine.. don't forget to transfer the money!)
Mom bhi na! Log bina mile kaise kisi ke baare mein opinions bana lete hai.. I just can't understand it! Par koi nahi.. I'm sure mom jab Ishita se milengi she'll be fine with it..
(What shall I do with mom?! I can never understand how people tend to form opinions abt others without even meeting them once! but no problem.. I'm sure mom will we fine when she'll meet her!)
******
Ishita's POV
She forced shut her eyes as she tried to forget what happened few hours back. His words kept echoing in her ears.
"Ishita I know you love me.. And I will make you confess soon!
...I WILL MAKE YOU CONFESS SOON"
Murgan... Yeh kaisi mushkil mein phas gayi hu main..! Kya karu , kya na karu kuch samajh nahi aa raha! Batau ya naa batau ? Kabhi kabhi lagta hai ki zyada se zyada kya ho jayega agar bata dungi toh? Phir lagta hai shayad bahout chala jayega!
(God.. where have you trapped me? What to do and what not, I just cant understand! Should I tell him or not? Sometimes I feel nothing worse than what is happening can happen! then, it feels like really.. a lot will be lost!)
Amma kahan ho aap? Aapki Ishita ko aapki guidance ki zaroorat hai! Kyu meri life itni complicated kardi murgan? Kyu?
(Where are you Amma? Your Ishita needs your guidance! Why god.. why have you turned my life into this complicated mess?)
"Ishita ! Mujhe tumse yeh ummeed nahi thi...!"
(Ishita.. I was not expecting this from you!)
"Appa ! Maine bahout koshish ki.. Par main haar gayi.. Mera dum ghut raha tha wahan!"
(Appa I tried my best.. but I failed.. It was so suffocating there, I would have died!)
"Toh thodi koshish aur karni chahiye thi...Jo bhi hai, par tumhe iss tarah wapis nahi aana chahiye tha!"
(Then, you should have tried a little more harder.. whatever it is, you shouldn't have come back like this!)
"Par appa.."
(But.. Appa)
"Nahi.. Ishita! Tum apna nahi toh humara he khayal kar leti.. Kya izzat reh jayegi humari samaj ke saamne?!"
(No Ishita! if not your, you could have at least given a thought abt us.. How will we face the society?)
"Kya samaj ke saamne izzat beti se jyada zaroori hai?!"
(Your reputation in front of society is more important than your own daughter?!)
"Zabaan ladaogi abb tum humse?!"
(So you have guts to argue with us?)
"Main behs nahi kar rahi Appa! Aapko samjhane ki koshish kar rahi hu ! Amma aap he samjhaye na Appa ko?!"
(I'm not arguing Appa! I'm just trying to make you understand ! Amma please, make appa understand!)
"Main kya samjhau ? Woh Jo keh rahe hai sahi hai ! Jaise aaj tak sab chal raha tha, waise he aage bhi chalta rehta!"
(What should I make him understand? whatever he's saying is right! Everything would have worked the same way it has been working till now!)
"Amma?!"
"Shuru shuru mein sab ke beech problems hoti hai.. Phir sort out ho jata hai! Lekin iska matlab yeh thodi hai ki hum sab chodd kar aa jayenge !"
(In beginning everybody has to face some problems.. then everything gets sorted out! But that doesn't mean that you will stop trying and come back just like that!)
She looked at them, unbelievingly. This was her family.
"Tumne Jo karna tha tumne kar liya lekin abb tum yahan nahi reh sakti.. Chali jao aur dobara kabhi lautkar mat aana!"
(Whatever you wanted to do, you have done that but now.. you cant live with us! Go away.. and don't you ever come back!)
She looked at the sky with glassy eyes. Then, she suddenly felt a tap on her shoulder.
"Ishita !" Raman said.
She becomes conscious abt his presence as she wipes her tears away. She turns around to face him. He looks at her for a while in silence and then, "Tum to rahi thi kya?"
(You were crying?)
She moves her head in negative, "Nahi!" I replied as I move my gaze away. He looks her with disapproving look.
(No!)
"Okay.." He mumbles and was abt to say something further but she interrupts.
"Aapko kuch kaam tha?" I asked.
(You had some work?)
"Yup.. Tumhe ghar drop karna hai.. Aur kuch nahi !" He replied.
(Yup.. I have to drop you home! nothing else!)
She looks at him, "Aaj ka kaam over?!" To which he nods.
(Today's work is completed?!)
"Fine.. I'll get my bag!" I replied and left the spot.
The journey back to her home was quiet. Both of them were lost in their own world.
Raman stole glances at her, thinking that she isn't noticing but she was very well aware of his intense gaze which was making her nervous. She took a deep breath, as she closed her eyes.
*****
Raman's POV
Well a lot of things were going on in his mind while driving her back to home. What was bothering him the most was her constant denial to accept her feelings though it's clearly written on face. He stole glances at her to find her nervous.
Woh jaanti nahi hai yaa jaan ke bhi anjaan ban rahi hai?! Aur agar sab samjhti hai toh Itni zidd kis baat ki? Agar reject kiya hai toh koi reason hoga na?! Wohi batado! She's just playing with my patience... Abb I don't know main kab tak khud ko kabu mein rakh paunga!
(Is she really not aware of it or she's trying to ignore it? And if she understands everything then why so stubborn? If she has rejected me then there must be some reason for that! I just want to know that! She's just playing with my patience..now I don't know till when I will be able to control myself!)
**********
Ishita's POV
Aap ne ek he rat lagayi hui hai ki mujhe reason do ! Kyu reject kiya iska reason do! Main kya reason du aapko Raman? Jab mere paas koi reason hai he nahi.. It's not you.. It was never you.. It has always been me.. And will remain so ! I'm sorry!
(You're so adamant to know the reason behind my rejection! But what should I tell you? I don't have any reason Raman..It's not you.. It was never you.. It has always been me.. And will remain so ! I'm sorry!)
The car came to halt making her come out of her thoughts. She looked through the window, they've reached her home!
"Thank you!" I said.
"My pleasure!" He replied.
She opened the door and was about to step out when Raman winced in pain. She immediately turned around, "Kya hua?" I asked worried.
(What happened?)
He moved his head in negative, "Kuch nahi.." He replied while looking at his hand which was burned this morning.
(Nothing!)
She too looked at his hand. The burns were better but ointment was needed. After thinking for a while, "Aap ghar chaliye.. Main aapko ointment de deti hu!" I said.
(Please come home with me.. I'll give you the ointment!)
"Uski koi zaroorat nahi hai.. Tum mujhe naam message kar do ointment ka.. I'll buy for myself!" He replied a bit coldly.
(There's no need for that.. please message me the name of the ointment.. I'll buy for myself!)
"Woh bhi kar dungi.. Par abhi aap ghar chaliye dawa lagwa lijiye.. Phir chale jayega!" I insisted, "Warna burns aur pain karenge!"
(I'll do that as well.. but for now please come with me.. otherwise the burns will hurt more!)
He looked at her, maybe trying to figure out her motive.
"Chaliye!" I said as I moved out of the car and so did he.
(Come!)
Main unhe dard mein nahi dekh sakti, No matter what!
(I cant see him in pain, no matter what!)
**************
Raman's POV
Raman walked behind her, totally confused about what to expect next! She pressed the door bell. A girl of nearly Ishita's age opened the door.
She must be Mihika!
"God Ishu! Where the hell were you?" She exclaimed. "Do you have any idea main kitni pareshaan thi?"
(God Ishu! Where the hell were you? Do you have any idea how much worried I was for you?)
But then, she stopped as she noticed him. She looked surprised. Ishita moved inside, "Sorry.. Office mein urgent kaam aa gaya tha.. Isliye jana pada!" She said.
(Sorry.. there was an urgent work in office so had to leave!)
"Hmm.. No need to apologize.. Bas you could have messaged me. I was worried about you!" Mihika replied to which Ishita nodded.
"Hello!" She wished him as well.
"Hi!" I replied with a polite smile.
"Please have a seat!" She said.
"Miku, first aid box kahan hai ?" Ishita shouted from inside.
(Miku, where's the first aid box?)
"Wahin second cupboard mein hai !" Mihika replied.
(Its there only in the second cupboard!)
"Mila?!" Mihika asked to make sure if she found it.
(Got it?!)
"Haan.." Ishita replied as she came out with the first aid box.
(Yup!)
"Umm.. Main office ka kaam kar rahi thi.. So I'll just go ahead with that!" Mihika excused herself to give them some time alone.
(Umm.. I was doing some office work..So I'll just go ahead with that!)
Ishita sat besides him and carefully applied the ointment, "Main aapko yeh ointment ka naam message kar dungi.. Apply it twice a day! Normal burns hai toh scars bhi nahi rahenge! Par phir bhi aap ek baari doctor se zaroor mil lena.. " she said as Raman looked at her unbelievingly.
(I will message you the name of the ointment.. apply it twice a day! They're just normal burns so they wont leave scars provided you religiously apply the medicine.. but still I recommend you to meet the doctor once at least!)
"Could you please give it a rest ?!" I hissed in anger.
She looked confused, "What?!"
"Exactly! What is it? Tum samjh nahi rahi ho yaa samjhna nahi chahti?!" I asked as my patience gave up with that game of pretending she was playing.
(Exactly! What is it? You're not understanding anything or you're not willing to?)
"Sir.. I don't understand..." She replied but couldn't complete.
"Yes.. You seriously don't understand! I need my answers I don't care!" I replied agitated.
"Kya janna chahte hai aap?" She asked finally talking straight.
(Fine.. what do you wish to know?)
"Tumhare inkaar ki wajah!"
(The reason for rejection!)
"Maine mana kiya kyunki main shaadi nahi karna chahti!" She replied.
(I rejected because I don't want to marry!)
"Mujhse nahi karna chahti?" I replied to provoke her.
(You don't want to marry me?)
"Kisi se nahi karna chahti.. Aap nahi.. Kisi se bhi nahi!" She replied a bit irritated.
(No one.. neither you nor anyone else!)
"Kyu?!" I demanded.
(Why?)
Ishita looked away, "Aap nahi jante main.. Main.."
(You don't know! I'm.. I'm..)
"Yehi ke tum divorced ho!" I announced. She looked at him stunned as tears streamed down her face.
(That you're divorced!)
"Right?"
"How do u know?"
"Doesn't matter!" I replied.
He took a deep breath so as to calm himself and ran his fingers through his hairs, "Look Ishita!" I began, calmly this time, "Mere ko iss baat se koi farak nahi padhta.. Naa he meri family ko koi problem hai.." I stopped for a while to look at her. Her head was bowed down as she stared the floor with eyes brimming with tears.
(Look ishita! I don't care if you are divorced.. neither do my family has any issues!)
I took her hands in mine, "Sab ka past hota hai.. Mera bhi hai.. Meri bhi sagai hui thi phir toot gayi ! Lekin iska matlab yeh toh nahi hai ki hum aage nahi badhenge.. Bhulna padhta hai yaar!"
(Everyone has some past.. I have one as well.. even I was engaged for months but then it broke off! but that doesn't mean that we'll not move ahead.. we have to forget it!)
She looked at him for a moment or two, "Kuch cheeze nahi bhula sakte.. Mera ateet un mein se ek hai! Woh har kadam, har mod par mujhe darrata hai.."
(You can never forget few things... my past is one of those! At every step.. every point of time.. it is always there to haunt me!)
"Abb nahi darrayega! Main hoon tumhare saath.. Tumhari shield banke..tumhe protect karne ke liye.. Lekin sirf baar mera aitbaar karo...please abb kuch mat chhupao!" I assured her as I squeezed her hand gently.
(It wont haunt you anymore... I'm there with you.. just like your shield to protect you always.. But for once trust me and let me in!)
Book Talk
Anupamaa
9