Thursday 24 September 2014
City Hospital
12 noon

"Doctor, woh theek toh ho jayegi na?"
(Doctor, she will be fine, won't she?)

"Absolutely, Mr Iyer. Darne ki koi baat nahi. She has concussion and she will have a headache for a few days and needs absolute rest. But there is no need to worry."

Mr Bhalla grasped Mr Iyers shoulder. He had been waiting with his neighbour at the emergency ward at the hospital where Ishita had been brought two hours ago. Mrs Bhalla was sitting with Mrs Iyer, her arm around the other woman. They fought like cats and dogs, but in this crisis they had come together.

If only their families could always be friends Mr Bhalla mused. For today, watching the way in which Ishita had tried to protect Ruhi, a wild idea had taken root in his mind. Ruhi needed a mother, and Ishita... Ishita loved her as a mother would, as a mother should. If only... but she was engaged. And Raman.... Raman hated her...

"Bhalla sahib" Mr Iyer was speaking and Mr Bhalla focused on his friend. "Please tell me, yeh kaise hua? How did this happen?"

"Aaiye, baith ke baat karte hai" 
(Come, let's sit and talk)

Mr Bhalla led Mr Iyer to the alcove where their wives were sitting with Mihika, and started to recount what had happened that morning.

He told them how he had been waiting for the school transport to pick Ruhi up, that he had seen Ishita come down just before the bus arrived. He added how Ishita had come over with Ruhi, how she had been concerned about the trip and had wanted to call the school and then how the kidnappers had grabbed Ruhi, and Ishita's fall while trying to rescue Ruhi.

*Flashback starts*

After Ishita had fallen, Mr Bhalla had been in despair.

The kidnapper was almost at the steps of the bus with Ruhi , ready to get into the vehicle, ready to take their child away. It was then that Romi had zoomed into the scene. Mr Bhalla often despaired of his younger son and his unnecessary mucking around here there and everywhere, but for once Romi had been at the right place at the right time.

Romi had taken in the scene at a glance and had rammed his motorbike right into the kidnapper's legs. Ruhi had been dislodged from the thugs arms by the impact and had scrambled away into her daddu's waiting arms.

The security guard  had also run up to them by then and the kidnappers, realising that they had been thwarted, had given up their attempt to abduct Ruhi.

They had managed to get away though, speeding away in the mini bus. Romi had wanted to give chase, but Mr Bhalla had insisted that he take Ruhi inside and stay with her, while Mr Bhalla had brought Ishita to the hospital.

*Flashback Ends*

Mr Bhalla clasped Mr Iyers hands gratefully.

"Aur phir aap log bhi ghar aaye aur hum ne aap ko Ishita ke baare mein bataaya. Iyer sahib, agar aaj Ishita waqt par nahi aati, toh hum apni bacchi ko kho dete. Ishita ne Ruhi ki jaan pehle bhi bachai thi, jab uss ne expired cough syrup pee liya tha. Uss waqt hamaare Raman ne aap logon ke saath bahut badi badtameezi ki thi, aur uss ki maafi hum aap se  jitna bhi maange kam hai. Aaj Ishita ne phir hamaari Ruhi ko bachaa liya. Jis bachi ko uss ki khud ki Ma thukra kar chali gayi, usko aap ki beti ne do baar nayi zindagi di. Hum kis tarah se Ishita ki shukriya kare, hum nahi jaante."
(And then you arrived and we told you about Ishita. Mr. Iyer, if Ishita hadn't arrived in time today, we would have lost our Ruhi. Ishita had saved Ruhi's life earlier too, when she drank the expired cough syrup. At that time, our Raman was very rude to you and no matter how much we apologise for that, it won't be enough. Today Ishita saved Ruhi again. She has given life twice to a child whose own mother rejected her. I really don't know how we can ever thank Ishita.)

"Haan ji"Mrs Bhalla spoke up, wiping her tears. "Mein ne kitna bura bhalla khaya is ladki ko, aur aaj phir isi ne hi hamari bachi ko bachaaya. Aap humme maaf kardijiye."
(Yes, I said so many rude things to this girl and she saved our child's life again today. Please forgive me)

Mr Iyer put a reassuring hand on Mr Bhalla's hand.

"Bhalla sahib, Bhabhi ji please. Aap maafi mat maangiye. Joh ho gaya so ho gaya. Ishita Ruhi se bahut pyar karti hai. Woh apne aap ko kabhi maaf nahi karti agar Ruhi ko kuch ho jaata. Aur woh bilkul theek ho jayegi. Doctor sirf uss ko overnight observation ke liye yahan rakhna chahta hai, phir woh ghar aajayegi . Lekin Bhalla sahib, Ruhi ki jaan ki dushman kaun hai? Ye sab kisne kiya?"
(Mr Bhalla, bhabhiji, please, you don't have to apologise. What happened is in the past. Ishita really loves Ruhi. She would never have forgiven herself if anything happened to Ruhi. And she will be fine. Her vitals are good. The doctor is only keeping her in for overnight observation, then hopefully she can go home. But Mr Bhalla, who is after Ruhi? Who did this?)

"Maloom nahi Iyer sahib" Mr Bhalla replied with a sigh. "Hum ne Raman ko khabar kar diya hai, woh private plane se Delhi aa raha hai. Ab woh hi aa kar pata lagaaye ga."
(I don't know Mr Iyer. We have informed Raman. He is coming to Delhi by private plane. Now he will find out when he gets here)

*************************************
Delhi Airport - Domestic Terminal
3.00pm

Raman ran to the waiting car, his heart thundering, his mouth dry.

"Ghar chalo. And drive fast. Jaldi." (Home. And drive fast. Quickly.)

Ever since he had received the call from Simmi about Ruhi he had been frantic. Simmi had not told him much, simply that someone had tried to kidnap Ruhi, but they had been unsuccessful. Ruhi had a few bruises and was shaken up, but she was safe and at home, where Romi was on guard.

"Keep her at home. Tell Romi not to leave her" Raman had barked down the phone. 'I'm coming."

Mr Mehta had understood Raman's anxiety and had immediately pulled strings to get Raman to Delhi on his private plane.

Well, he was here now and soon he would be home, with Ruhi, but why wasn't Ishita picking up her phone? He had tried calling her immediately on hearing the news, and had tried countless times since, but she wasn't picking up. Why? She had said something last night about having a very busy day scheduled today, but he had called the clinic and had been told that she had not come to work today.

"Maybe she is with Ruhi" he thought hopefully. "But then why is she not taking my calls?  

                        Chaahe dukh ho, chaahe sukh ho
                        Dil ne tujhko hi pukara
                        Tuune humko hai banaya
                        Tunne humko hai sawaara
                        Jahan ko rab ka hai
                        Humme tera hai sahara

*************************************
City Hospital
Outside the Recovery Ward

Mihika looked at her akka's ringing phone. Raman again. It must be the twentieth call he had made in the past few hours. She knew she should answer, but what could she say to him? My sister is in hospital because she tried to save your daughter. Your wife is lying injured? No, no matter how much she disliked Raman Bhalla, she could not give him a shock like that. He was on his way back to Delhi apparently. He would find out about akka soon enough.

She let the phone ring...

*************************************
Bhalla Apartment
3.20 pm

"Ruhi" Raman called out as he banged on the locked door to the Bhalla Apartment. "Romi. Simmi"

"Bhai" the door was opened by Romi, who shut the same as soon as Raman entered. Simmi and Neelu stood in the background.

"Romi, where is Ruhi? How is she?"

"Bhai, Ruhi is fine. Bas thodi upset hai, lekin usko chot nahi lagi. Apni room mein hai, Rinki ke saath"
(Bhai, Ruhi is fine. She is a bit upset, but she isn't injured. She is in her room with Rinki)

Raman brushed aside his brothers reassuring hand and rushed to his daughters room. Rinki was sitting in Ruhi's bed, cradling a tearful Ruhi in her arms.

"It's okay baby" she was whispering to her niece. "Aap ki mumma theek hojayegi. Don't worry"
(It's okay baby. Your mumma will be fine. Don't worry)

"Ruhi" Raman rushed into the room and scooped Ruhi up into his arms. "Are you okay, baby?" he asked, showering kisses on his daughters face, his racing heart finally slowing down as he gathered his precious child close to himself.

Ruhi's face had crumpled further at the sight of her father. She flung her arms around him and sobbed loudly into his shirt.

"It's okay Ruhi. It's okay beta. Papa is here. Itna kyun ro rahi ho aap? Aap toh papa ki brave girl ho na?" 
(Why are you crying so much? You are papa's brave girl, aren't you)

Raman held his daughter close to his chest and turned a helpless face towards Rinki.

"Where is Ishita Rinki? I thought she would be here. Mein kab se call kar raha hoon, lekin woh phone hi nahi uthathi. Ruhi needs her. Ruhi needs her mother."
(Where is Ishita Rinki? I thought she would be here. I've been calling her for so long but she's not picking up her phone. Ruhi needs her. Ruhi needs her mother)

Rinki looked at Raman, her face ashen and her eyes filling with tears.

"Bhai, you don't know?"

"Know what?" A cold fear enveloped Raman as he took in the look on Rinki's face. "Know what Rinki?"

"Bhai, woh Ishita bhabhi. Jab kidnappers aye, toh woh wahi thi. Aur Ruhi ko bachane mein usko chot lag gayi. She fell down Bhai, and she gashed her head. She was unconscious. Woh phir Romi aageya aur woh kidnappers bhaag gaye, but if bhabhi hadn't been there, toh phir woh log..."
(Bhai, Ishita Bhabhi was there when the kidnappers came. And she got hurt while trying to save Ruhi. She fell down Bhai and she gashed her head. She was unconscious. Then Romi arrived and the kidnappers ran away, but if Bhabhi hadn't been there, then those people...)

Raman's hand stilled on Ruhi's hair, his reassuring caresses frozen. In the past few hours, his world had been shaken. But Ruhi was okay, and he had been too. But now, this. Ishita. His Ishita. What was Rinki saying? What did she mean?

"Rinki, where is Ishita, how is she?"

His voice was quiet but there was a torrent of emotion behind it.

"Bhabhi is in City hospital Bhai. Mumma aur papa bhi wahan hai. I don't know how she..." Rinki glanced warningly at Raman, gesturing towards Ruhi who had set up a fresh wave of crying.

"Ishima" she sobbed.

"Ruhi, beta, listen to papa" Raman pushed aside the fear  rising in his heart, focussed on his daughter. "Tumhari Ishima ko kuch nahi hoga. She will be fine. Mein jaa raha hoon usko ghar laane. You stay with Rinki bua ok"
(Ruhi beta listen to papa. Nothing will happen to your Ishima. She will be fine. I'm going to go and bring her home. You stay with Rinki bua, okay)

Raman stood up, gently handing Ruhi back to Rinki. He felt lightheaded, and there was a ringing in his ears. Rinki's words played back at him over and over. "Fell down". "Unconscious". "Gash". "Unconscious". "Hospital".

"Papa, mein bhi aaongi" He heard Ruhi's plaintive voice over the voices in his head. (Papa I want to come too)

"No Ruhi, stay here. I'll go and bring Ishima. I promise". And with those words Raman Bhalla ran out of his daughters room and his home, hell bent on getting to his wife.

                        Bas tera saath ho...chaahe jo baat ho
                        Tere kehne se kar jayenge
                        Hum mar jayenge...hum mar jayenge

*****************************************
City Hospital
Outside the Recovery Ward
3.50 pm

Mihika was sitting outside the Recovery Ward, still clutching her akka's bag and phone. Her periamma was inside Ishita's private room where the doctor had given permission for one visitor at a time. Ishita akka was fast asleep, her head bandaged, but thankfully her vitals were all good.

Mr & Mrs Bhalla had just left for home and Mr Iyer had gone to the cafeteria to have some coffee. Mihika had finally managed to reach Vandu akka and Bala jeeju, and they were on their way.

The double doors to the ward opened and a man came in. He held himself tautly, his face expressionless, yet there were a myriad of emotions playing beneath his visage. He looked around him wildly, searching, desperate, and then his eyes lit on Mihika.

Mihika stood up with a gasp. Raman Bhalla. He was here.

***********************************
Raman's fears had been increasing exponentially the closer he got to the hospital.

He had been strong for Ruhi, but he could not deceive himself. A head wound which caused unconsciousness could be very serious. He refused to linger over what might be, but he could not stop the dread that rose up in him.

She had only been a part of his life for four-five months, his wife for a month, and yet she was as necessary to his life as the air that he breathed. He could no longer live without her. He could not even imagine life without her. And Ruhi. Ruhi finally had a mother. How would his daughter cope if something happened to Ishita.

"No" his heart screamed at his mind. "Don't even think that. Nothing will happen. Nothing."

He asked at the reception about Ishita and was directed to the Recovery Ward. His feet were suddenly leaden, heavy. He dragged himself towards the Recovery Ward, his heart beating wildly, his breathing heavy.

He opened the door slowly and stepped inside, his eyes searching wildly for some signs that his wife was well, that she would be okay.

Then he saw Mihika

                        Apni annkhe khali kar de
                        Kaash to meri annkhen bhar de
                        Mere yaara tere gum ... agar payenge
                        Humey teri hai kasam, hum sawar jaayenge

                        Do yeh saugat tum ... Toh zamaane ki hum
                        Har khushi se mukar jaayenge
                        Hum mar jayenge...hum mar jayenge
                        Mere yaara tere gum ... agar payenge
                        Humey teri hai kasam, hum sawar jaayenge

                        Tere kandhe se hee lag ke...
                        Yaara beete umar saari
                        Sochon kaisi hogi kismat...
                        Hua yoon tu phir hamari
                        Saare aansoon toh ho tere
                        Aur annkhen ho hamari

                        Tere dard humey jo miley pyar mein
                        Hum khushi se youn bhar jayenge
                        Hum mar jayenge...hum mar jayenge
                        Mere yaara tere gum ... agar payenge
                        Humey teri hai kasam, hum sawar jaayenge

                        Chaahe dukh ho, chaahe sukh ho
                        Dil ne tujhko hi pukara
                        Tuune humko hai banaya
                        Tunne humko hai sawaara
                        Jahan ko rab ka hai
                        Humme tera hai sahara

                        Bas tera saath ho...chaahe jo baat ho
                        Tere kehne se kar jayenge
                        Hum mar jayenge...hum mar jayenge

                        Mere yaara tere gum ... agar payenge
                        Humey teri hai kasam, hum sawar jaayenge