CHAPTER-22
Raman brought the clawed end of the smashed bottle to his neck. With a smile he closed his eyes.
" Bhai, what the hell do you think you are doing?
Raman's eyes flew open as his mind registered Neil's voice.
" Neil? Ishitha asked curiously.
" Neil, a dear friend of mine...Someone I owe my life to.
" N..Neil...What are you doing here?. Raman stammered.
" Most importantly what were you doing? Neil questioned, his arms tied in front.
Raman threw away the bottle guiltily and refused to answer Neil or meet his eyes. Neil walked towards Raman and held him by his shoulder.
" Bhai you are one of the strongest persons I have come across in my life...And now you have become one of those weaklings who kill their selves?
" My daughter died ...she died Neil. Raman said in a weak voice
" WHAT?
" Ishitha had a miscarriage...my child was lying dead inside her for days and ...and we did not even know...
" How did it happen?
" I don't know...I did not stay long enough to know...
" What are you doing here? You should be with Ishitha
" I can't...I cannot even show her my face ...What right do I have to grieve over my daughter? I never showed any interest over my child ...I never offered to help my pregnant wife in anything...I never went with her to the Doctor's or ..or buy those sweets she craved for...now my baby thinks I am happy that she died...Why can't you understand Neil...I have to go to her and convince her of my love...and you are not letting me do that..
" Bhai..no -
" GO NEIL, I DON'T NEED YOU HERE Raman shouted.
Raman's mercurial behavior was scaring the shit out of Neil.
" Bhai you have got to calm down..
Raman without paying two hoots to Neils words, bent towards the bed and took the discarded bottle in his hands. He stood with his back to Neil
" Bhai throw it away, please... Neil pleaded.
Suddenly Raman started laughing..it was a hysterical and desperate sound.
" Neil, why should I obey you? Why does everyone think that they can order Raman Bhalla about Raman asked in a mirth filled voice as he rotated the bottle in his hands.
" Bhai-
Raman turned with a maddening grin plastered on his face and he lunged his hand backwards and threw the bottle on Neils face with all his strength.
" OH MY GOD, Raman...did..did something happen to him.?
" He managed to save his face but hid\s arms got badly hurt when he tried to dodge the bottle...
" I... I don't know what to say Raman..
" Everything after that is a blur...I must have cleaned his wound...the next thing I remember is being in psychiatrist's consulting room.
" Why didn't you say all this before, Raman? You were never even in Paris..I thought so wrong of you..All that time you were in your own personal hell.
" I could not even share my favorite colour with you then, how could I confide in you that your husband had become a nutcase. he let out a humorless smile.
" What was happening in my head was beyond my control then...Neil shared the details of my depression with my family, only my father was kept in the dark...ofcourse my family's resentment towards you increased manifolds ...they managed to take revenge on you \by forcing Shagun once again into my life and making sure that you come to know of it...In their eyes she was the angel who would rescue me from the ' wife from hell'
" Then I left you, didn't I ? I never even tried to fight for my husband and my home..
" Please don't blame yourself...I was not someone worth fighting for ...Your appa was right ...you deserved better...I..I...did feel sad when you left Ishitha...but then again you and Adi were safer by staying away from me..
" Shut up Raman...if I have ever looked upon you or made you feel worthless I am sorry Raman...Why didn't you ever come back? At least to meet Adi?
" I had to be admitted in a hospital by the time Adi was born...I ...I again tried to kill myself. A shame faced Raman said as he lowered his head.
" But Raman , appa told me that you left after getting the documents of your property and our divorce..
" I never came to he hospital, how could I come there and leave without seeing my son or thanking my wife for bringing him to this world...Oh Ishitha , I am terribly late , but I have to say that I am forever indebted to you ...till the day I take my last breath I would be grateful to you giving birth to my son going through that much pain... Raman's eyes were moist as he finished.
Ishitha let out a sob. She could not stop herself from hugging him or kissing him on the lips. She had to wait for twelve years to hear it from him, the words that she once longed for. Raman felt that he is a lucky bas***d to have her willingly in his arms once again, to have her kissing him without any coercion from his side, from a woman like Ishitha, this was a sign of acceptance...till then he never really dared to hope, but now he realised that Ishitha Iyer had once again gifted him a portion of her heart and this time around he was going to hold on to that place like iron fillings to a magnet.
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