REDEMPTION ISHRA FF NOTE AND CHAPTER 22 page 52 - Page 8

CHAPTER-9

Mahabalipuram is blessed with history , good beaches and sincere people,: the town enriched the culture and heritage of Kancheepuram . They went to Mahabalipuram via Covelong, a beautiful fishing village. Mahabalipuram was a famous sea port of the South Indian dynasty of Pallavas. It has a group of sanctuaries; the famous Pancha rathas that depicted Arjuna' penance, a giant open air rock relief known as the Descent of Ganges or Bhagiratha's penance, Varaha Cave Temple and the Shore Temple.

Ishitha took them shopping before visiting the shore temple. She bought a silk skirt and blouse for Ruhi and asked him to buy a lungi for himself. When he struggled to wear that damn long thing, Adi voluntarily offered help. He suspected that Ishitha purposefully did all that so that Adi ended up helping him.

The shore temple was a magnificent structure that contained thousand's of rock structures that depicted the Mahabharatha. From Ishitha's face he could understand that the shore temple was Ishitha 's favorite among the places they have visited in Mahabalipuram. He saw the tears that streamed down her face when she was praying before the deity in the semi dark temple shrine. Raman felt like reading her mind so that he could know what she was seeking, while praying with such devotion...

***

All were having dinner.

"Where are we going tomorrow, Ishima?" Ruhi enquired.

" um.. your Adi bhaiyya will take you and your Papa to see 'vaan irai kal' ."

" Why are you not coming with us Ishima? I won't go without you!"

" Nothing like that Roo, see vaan irai kal is also called Krishna's butter ball, it is so beautiful..."

" It will be so boring without you Ishima..."

"OH , my company is that boring is it? Adi said jokingly.

"Why are showing attitude? I don't speak Tamil and is very much unfamiliar with the place..." Raman interjected.

" So you admit that you don't have the capacity to handle two small children!" Ishitah said dramatically."

" Oh , cut it out, we will be fine without you!"

***

Raman and the children were on their way back to Ishitha's house. Adi was lecturing Ruhi about gravity and how Krishna's butterball defied many laws of Physics. Ruhi nodded her head now and then to convince her brother that she was understanding every single word that he was saying. Raman shook his head, smiling.

Suddenly, he got a phone call from Mihir. Mihir informed him that the venue of ' South Asian Enteprenuer's Meet-2015' has been shifted to Chennai and that he was waiting for him in ' Madras Royal Resort'. He immediately directed the driver to the resort.

***

" Bhai, thank God, you managed to reach in time". excalimed Mihir

" Mihir, take a breath, we were not very far from here." explained Raman.

Mihir took Adi and Ruhi into a warm hug.

" Where is Ishu akka , bhai?"asked Mihir.

"Amma bailed out today." Adi replied.

The children moved towards the swimming pool towards the left.

"Is she alone there?" Mihir asked worriedly.

" Don't fret , Mihir, I will drop these two home in the evening."

"I have a better idea! There is still time for the function to start, why don't you go pick Ishu akka . She will be happy to attend a page 3 party."

"Beta, you want to make the madrassan happy or you want to get into the good books of her younger sister.?"

Raman heard Aditya chuckle.

"Whatever, Bhai!"

***

Even though he made fun of Mihir, he knew that Mihir's suggestion is right. Whatever said and done, if not for Ishitha's kindness, Ruhi wouldn't be this happy and this trip helped a lot in improving his and Aditya's relationship. It was high time he returned the favor.

The sun had set by the time Raman reached Ishitha's house. A BMW parked in front of the house made Raman curious. He silently made his way into the house through the the partially opened front door. He could hear voices from the living room.

When Mr Iyer had transferred Raman's ancestral home to his name eleven years ago, both parted wishing never to see each other's face again. Maybe destiny was against Raman's wish. Raman stealthily hid behind the curtains.

" Ishu, how long are you going to reject my love? Its been eleven years, please forgive me." Mr Iyer pleaded with his favorite daughter.

A tearful Ishitha answered back.

" No matter how much we love each other, I am never going to return to your house appa."

"It is not my house alone, Ishu! "

" And you are not my father alone , Vandu akka is craving for your love too...you are not even talking to her. "

" She is no longer my daughter! Whatever hardship she face in her life, she herself is responsible. I did not choose that middle class man for her! "

"That is so hypocritical appa, Vandu akka was forced to elope! Do you even remember how much you insulted jiju and his family when they came to your house , asking akka's hand in marriage. They were kind enough to never take out their insult on akka..."

" I would have found a better man , someone who would have treated like a queen, if she gave me a chance! "

" I married the man of your choice and I was treated like an insignificant speck of dirt by my husband and his family!"

" Raman Bhalla was not my choice, I hated him then , I hate him now!He is a dishonorable man and I was forced to get you married to him, I had to secure your future...there are many things you don't know Ishu... "

" And I don't want to know either, you made sure I had no future with him, You lied to him that I agreed to marry him on the basis of a contract... A CONTRACT... how can you expect him to treat me with respect?"

" I expected nothing less from that man , Ishu! Don't you understand , I included the divorce clause in the contract that you could be free from him.."

"FREE FROM HIM ONCE HE SERVED HIS PURPOSE , RIGHT...how can you use another human being like that?"

Ishitha was burning in rage. In a corner , another man's heart was being broken into a million pieces.

" He did not do it for free, he had his own selfish reasons, Ishu...and will you have agreed to the marriage, if I told you about the contract then?"

"You misused my trust and cheated me into signing the bloody contract!"

"All that was your own good Ishu, why don't you understand?"

Ishitha took a deep breath to calm herself. Raman could hear his heart beating in a maddening pace, he could hardly breathe...

" Leave it appa..."

"OK. I will never bring up this topic again, but you should leave all that dentist buisness and come back to Mumbai. I cannot even sleep properly knowing that you are living a hard life, bringing up Adi all by yourself."

" No, appa. My decision is final! We love our life in Delhi.."

" Then at least allow me to clear off the loan...'

" Please appa, it is my duty to save something for my child. I wanted to give Adi the flat, out of my hard work alone and I will pay off the loan."

" Now you are being adamant just like Madhu."

The mention of Madhavi Iyer brought a smile on both their faces.

" I am leaving for Mumbai tonight, Ishu, if you need anything please contact me and please bring Adi to Mumbai soon."

As soon as Mr iyer had left, Ishitha went into her bedroom. Raman's knees collapsed and he harshly fell onto the floor. Memories flashed before his eyes. A heart wrenching sob escaped his lips. Raman Bhalla cried himself to sleep on the hard, cold floor, hidden behind the curtains.