Hi Everyone,

It's been a while but finally I am back with a fresh update to "Hamari Adhroori Kahaani". I hope you missed me and my story while I was away! 🤷🏻‍♀️😉

Like I mentioned, the break was inevitable as commitments at work needed to take priority but now I am back and hopefully my work commitments will not be too overburdening and I shall be able to post regular updates like before going forward.

Anyway, since I was gone for long, here is a quick bullet-point recap just in case you have forgotten where the story is at during the last two weeks:

· Ruhi tripped and fell down the stairs while doing a workout with Pihu for her sports day.

· Toshi tries to blame Ishita for Ruhi's accident.

· Adi defends Ishita only to get scolded by her for speaking rudely to Toshi.

· Adi is mad at Ishita for scolding him and for allowing Toshi to treat her badly. Ishita tries to talk to him but he refuses to understand her point of view.

· Pihu remembers Ananya's fall which led to her untimely death and is very disturbed by it. She almost spills the beans in front of Adi and Romi but manages to somehow cover up her slip-of toungue.

· Romi and Mihika are trying to figure out the truth behind Ananya's death.

·Raman continues to get blurry recollections of his past and calls Ishita 'Pagal Madrasan.'

Also, it might have probably not gone unnoticed to you that I have changed the title of this part to "Pagal Madrasan" from "Meri Janewafaa." The reason behind this is that I can't find the handwritten notes I had made for this chapter so I don't exactly remember why I wanted to name this part "Meri Janewafaa" in the first place. I usually have a notebook in which I scribble ideas for the story but for this chapter I wrote it on a lose sheet of paper and I can't seem to find it now! Anyway, that won't impact the main plot of the story. If I do manage to find the pages which has the notes then I might include that part in a later chapter coz I remember enough to know that it was a nice moment I had imagined between IshRa. So maybe I shall find my notes or maybe I shall be able to remember what exactly I had in mind or maybe I shall be able to come up with something even better- time will tell!

Anyway, you all have waited long enough for this update so let's get right to it.

Enjoy!

Love and Hugs,
A.S.

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Romi-Mihika Bedroom:

Romi is sitting on the sofa, staring absentmindedly at the laptop when Mihika walks in.

Mihika: Romi, tumhe ajeeb nahi lagta, pata nahi pichle kuch dino mein ek ke baad ek Akka, Jiju ya bachoon ke saath kuch na kuch incident hote ja raha hai. Meri toh samajh mein nahi aa raha ki yeh chakkar aakhir khatam kab hoga.

When Romi does not respond, Mihika goes and taps his shoulder. Romi is startled and looks up at her.

Mihika: Kya hua Romi? Kin khayalon mein khoye hue ho?

Romi: Mihika aaj Pihu ne bahut ajeeb baat kahi.

Mihika: Kis bare mein?

Romi: Ananya ke bare mein. Actually, Bhai ne usse kuch kaha jo bahut hi ajeeb tha.

Romi then tells Mihika about the conversation he had with Pihu and then his discussion with Adi.

Mihika: Kya tumhe sach mein lagta hai ki Akka ne Jiju ko sach bataya tha? Lekin phir Jiju ne Akka ko jail kyun jane diya? Nahi Romi, Jiju Akka ke jail jane se bahut pareshan the. I don't think unhe kuch pata tha.

Romi: Toh phir Bhai ne Pihu se aisi ajeeb baat kyun ki? I mean I know hum Pihu ko sara sach nahi bata sakte lekin Mihika jab Ananya ko Bhabhi us halat mein ghar le ke aai thi toh Pihu wahin thi, woh hospital mein bhi hamare saath thi. And sari baatein uske samne hi hui thi, phir Bhai ne use yeh ulti baat kyun batai?

Mihika: I don't know Romi lekin yeh sochne wali baat hai toh zaroor. Ab Jiju se kaise puche ki unhone Pihu se aisa kyun kaha tha, unko toh ab kuch yaad bhi nahi hoga.

Romi: Yeh kaisa raaz hai Mihika. Ek second ke liye lagta hai ki hum kuch progress kar rahe hain aur agle hi second sab kuch pehle se bhi zada confusing ho jata hai.

Mihika: Romi itna toh main Akka ko janti hun ki agar unhone kisi ko bachane ke liye apne sar pe ye ilzaam liya hai toh woh koi bahut hi khas hoga. Koi jo unke bahut kareeb hai aur Akka ke liye hamari family se important aur kuch nahi hai.

Romi looks at Mihika shocked, she too seems a little shocked herself saying this out loud but she can think of no other logic to explain Ishita's actions.

Romi: Matlab tumhe lagta hai ki hamare family me se kisi ka involvement hai?

Mihika: Haan Romi. Mujhe bhi yeh kehne mein ajeeb lag raha hai lekin maine is bare mein bahut socha and I realised ki Akka itna bada sacrifice kisi apne ke liye hi kar sakti hain. Warna tum khud socho bina kisi galti ke woh Jiju se aur bachoon se dur kyun rehti. Unko saza toh umar bhar ki mili thi na woh toh unke acche karam the ki woh itne jaldi jail se nikal gai warna woh apni puri life sabse dur us jail mein nikal deti.

Romi: Tumhara logic toh sahi hai lekin Mihika ab kya main Mummy, Papa Ji aur sab gharwalon ki jasusi karu?

Mihika: Main sirf Bhalla house ki nahi, mere ghar ki bhi baat kar rahi hun Romi. Akka ke liye dono ghar ek hi hain toh woh koi bhi ho sakta hai.

Romi: Mihika hum sirf ek shak pe sabse sawal nahi kar sakte kyunki agar hum galat hue toh bahut bada bawal mach jayega aur phir...

Mihika: I know Romi... but kuch toh sochna hoga aur karna hoga warna aaj jo ghar mein hua hai woh dobara hoga aur baat badhti jayegi.

Romi: Aisa kya hua hai aaj?

Mihika tells Romi about Adi confronting Toshi and then Ishita scolding Adi for it.

Romi: Oh, toh yeh baat hai. No wonder Adi Bhabhi se itna naraaz hai. Aur Mummy Ji, pata nahi woh kab yeh sab natak band karengi. But in sab mein suffer toh Bhabhi ki kar rahi hain na! Itne mushkil se do pal ki khushiyan milti hai unhe aur phir kuch gadbad ho jata hai. But ab aur nahi. Main Adi se baat karunga. Usko samjhaunga.

Mihika: Haan Romi, tum Adi se baat karo. Tumhari baat ka uspe zarror asar padega. Woh waise bhi tumhare saath hamesha se bahut open raha hai.

Romi: Don't worry main dekh lunga. Accha Ruhi kaisi hai?

Mihika: Theek hai. Medicine de diya hai. Abhi araam kar rahi hai.

Romi: Mihika abhi kisi se Ananya ke bare mein kuch mat puchna. Humein bahut soch samajh ke sabse baat karni hogi aur aise baat karni hogi ki unko shak na ho but more importantly Bhabhi ko bhi is bare mein kuch pata nahi chalna chahiye.

Mihika: You are right. But kuch toh karna hi hoga Romi. Main Akka ko aur suffer karne nahi de sakti. I can understand unki koi majboori rahi hogi but aisi bhi kya majboori ki unhe itna suffer karna pad raha hai. Aur agar hamare ghar mein se koi involved hai toh aisa kaun hai jo Akka ko yeh blame lene se rok nahi paya.

Romi: Don't worry Mihika, hum milke is baat ko solve kar ke rahenge. Lekin jaisa maine kaha humein bahut carefully yeh karna hoga kyunki agar hamare ghar mein se koi involved hai toh baat jitni choti humein lagti hai utni hai nahi.

Pihu's Bedroom:

Ishita peeps into Pihu's room. She can see Pihu lying curled up on her bed, the main lights of her room are tuned off with only the bed side lamps dimly illuminating the room. Pihu hears the door open and someone come in, she speaks without checking who it actually is.

Pihu: Neelu Didi mujhe abhi khana nahi khana. Aap sab ko bol do main so rahi hoon.

Ishita had walked in carrying Pihu's dinner for she knew very well that Pihu would refuse to eat anything unless Ishita finds a way to convince her. Ishita puts the tray of food on the table, sits on the edge of Pihu's bed before she gets on her plan to get Pihu to eat.

Ishita: Pihu Ishimaa ke haath ke bane parathe bhi nahi khayegi kya? Phir toh Ishimaa bahut sad ho jayegi.

Hearing Ishita's voice Pihu turns around immediately. Ishita keeps the tray of food on the table just in the nick of time as Pihu runs to her and hugs her. Ishita wraps her in arms around her as if she were trying to shield her from all her troubles. Pihu just holds Ishita and silently cries.

Ishita: Pihu bus beta! Itna nahi rote bacche!

Pihu: Ishimaa maine kuch nahi kiya. Ruhi Didi apne aap gir gai.

Ishita: I know beta! Meri Pihu ne kuch nahi kiya! Adi Bhiaya aise hi bol rahe the. Unka yeh matlab nahi tha. You don't even have to give an explanation. Aap nahi bhi bolte tabhi mujhe pata tha ki it was just an accident. Waise pata hai main toh apni Pihu se kuch aur hi bolne aai thi.

Pihu: Kya Ishimaa?

Ishita: Woh toh main tabhi bataungi jab Pihu rona band karegi aur meri hathoon se tasty garma garam parathe, tamatar ki chutney, aloo ki sabzi aur raita khayegi.

Pihu: Ishimaa mujhe bhuk nahi hai.

Pihu goes and lies down on her bed. Ishita sits next to her.

Ishita: Pihu phir toh aaj tumhari wajah se Ishimaa very sad ho jayegi.

Pihu: Kyun Ishimaa? Abhi toh aapne kaha ki aapko pehle se malum tha ki Ruhi Didi apne aap gir gai thi. Phir aap sad kyun hoge?

Ishita looks at Pihu for a few seconds. While they are engrossed in their conversation, unnoticed to both of them Raman comes to her room. Seeing them he gets curious and decides to hide a little behind the door and listen to their conversation just as he had stood and watched them do the maths homework not too long ago. He hides a little behind Pihu's door so that he is hidden from their view but he is also close enough to be able to see and hear everything happening inside the room. Pihu and Ishita continue their conversation oblivious to his eavesdropping.

Ishita: Woh isliye ki maine itne pyaar se apni Pihu ke liye khana banaya aur woh toh khane se hi mana kar rahi hai. Kal jab maine dinner banaya toh tum birthday party mein chali gai thi aur aaj phir tum mana kar rahi ho. Ab Pihu nahi khayegi toh uski Ishimaa bhi nahi khayegi.

Ishita pretends to be sulking and sad. Pihu looks at her momentarily then finally sits up on her bed.

Pihu: Aap sad mat ho Ishmiaa. Main khana kha lungi.

Ishita smiles a little knowing she has gotten her way but still looks at Pihu with concern just so that she can indulge her daughter a little.

Ishita: Pihu bina bhook ke kha logi?

Finally, Pihu also smiles for she knows she has been trapped in her own lie but she is after all Ishita's daughter and can talk herself out of anything just like her mother.

Pihu: Pehle bhook nahi lagi thi Ishimaa but ab thodi thodi lag rahi hai.

Ishita pulls Pihu up from her bed straight into her lap and hugs her tightly, squeezing her a little just to make her smile a little more. Raman who is still hidden from both of their view sees this and smiles fondly. In his head he is wishing that he too could snuggle with Ishita this freely but then the next instant he remembers their "Pihu ke liye" conversation and stops his mind from going in that direction. He focuses his attention back on Pihu and Ishita.

Ishita: Chalo phir! Garma garam khana thanda ho raha hai dheere dheere!

Pihu who has finally snapped out of her somber mood nods looking excitedly towards the tray of food lying on her table. Ishita makes Pihu sit on her bed again, gets up to get the food, then sits on the bed again with the tray resting on her lap. She then feeds Pihu a few bites in silence. Only after she is assured that Pihu is eating properly does she resume talking to her while periodically feeding her.

Ishita: Pihu ek baat batao beta. Tum itni der se Ruhi se milne kyun nahi gai?

Pihu: Ishimaa woh mujhse gussa hongi isliye.

Ishita: Kyun?!? Ruhi tumse gussa kyun hogi?

Pihu: Maine unhe force kiya tha mere saath workout karne ke liye. Agar main force nahi karti toh unko yeh chot bhi nahi lagti.

Ishita: Aisa kuch nahi hai Pihu. Dekho khel khel mein thodi bahut chot toh lag hi jati hai. I am so glad ki tum wahan thi. Agar tum nahi hoti toh humein time pe pata hi nahi chalta ki Ruhi gir gai hai.

Pihu: That is what Ishimaa. Main wahan thi hi nahi. Ruhi didi thak gai thi isliye woh 5th floor pe ruk gai and unhone mujhe 7th floor tak jane ko kaha. Jab main thodi der baad wapas aai toh woh giri hui thi. Agar main hoti toh main unhe for sure save kar sakti thi par main unhe akele chod ke upar chali gai. Mujhe unhe akele nahi chodna chahiye tha aur mujhe sports day ke liye yeh sab workout wagerah bhi nahi karna chahiye tha. But mujhe laga is baar Papa aur aap dono aaoge aur main chahti thi ki main jeetun so that aap dono ke liye mera yeh sports day sab se special ho. Sab meri galti hai.

Ishita: My God Pihu! Tum apne is chotu se dimaag mein itni badi badi baatein kaise soch leti ho?

Pihu: Main aapki aur Papa ki intelligent beti hun na isliye.

Pihu and Ishita both laugh softly.

Ishita: Woh toh tum ho. Lekin itna zada apna dimaag use karna bhi acchi baat nahi hoti hai.

Pihu: Main sahi hi soch rahi hun Ishimaa.

Ishita: Bilkul nahi! Meri baat dhyan se suno aur samjho meri choti si over intelligent beti! Accidents kabhi bhi kisi ke bhi saath ho sakta hai chahe wahan koi ho ya na ho. Ruhi ke saath bhi aisa hi hua. Tum agar wahan hoti bhi toh Ruhi ko save nahi kar pati kyunki tum size mein choti ho toh tum use girne se kaise rokti?

Pihu: Par Ishimaa...

Ishita: Par kya Pihu? Main sach keh rahi hun. Waise tumhe ek secret bataun. Yeh chalte chalte gir jane ki problem sirf Ruhi ki nahi but kisi aur ki bhi hai!

Pihu: Kiski Ishimaa?

Ishita: Hmmmm... batati hun but yeh hamara secret hoga. So tum jake kisi aur ko mat batana.

Pihu: Ek aur secret?!?

Ishita: Yes, ek aur secret. Tum ho na meri best secret keeper. Toh tum mera secret safe rakhogi right?

Pihu: I promise Ishimaa! Main kisi ko nahi bataungi hamara pehla secret aur yeh wala bhi!

Raman frowns a little and wonders what the other secret Pihu is referring to is. But he has no time to brood over it as Ishita had only paused for a few moments to feed Pihu a few bites and is now about to share another secret with Pihu, only this time Raman will be part of it too but she won't know it.

Ishita: Good. So ab suno! Ruhi se bhi zada is ghar mein tumhare Papa clumsy hain!

Pihu looks at Ishita with big wide eyes glowing with surprise and mischief. Raman on the other hand hears this and is annoyed.

Raman (self-musing): Pagal Madrasan! Pihu ka mood theek karne ke liye kuch bhi bol rahi hai! Main clumsy hoon?!? Agar main yahan chup ke inki baatein nahi sun raha hota toh batata main Pihu ko ki kaise kal raat ko hi maine uski Ishimaa ko girne se bachaya tha. Agar maine use pakda nahi hota toh woh khud sir ke bal girti. Phir Pihu khud hi samajh jati ki kaun kitna clumsy hai!

On the other side of the door, Pihu and Ishita oblivious to Raman's presence continue their fun discussion which is keeping Pihu thoroughly engaged so that Ishita is able to feed her dinner without any fuss as Pihu is happily taking regular bites of food from Ishita's hands.

Pihu: Really Ishimaa?

Ishita: Hmmm... ek baar pata hai kya hua tha. Raman chalet chalte washroom mein gir gaye the!

Pihu: Aise hi gir gaye?!?

Ishita: Well washroom ki farsh thodi geeli thi aur Papa ki gardan thodi akdi hui thi toh who bina dekhe chal rahe the aur gir gaye!

Pihu: Phir kya hua Ishimaa?

Ishita: Phir kya! Ghar mein aur koi tha nahi so mujhe ja ke unki help karni padi aur maine unki help ki aur unhe kamre mein le ke aai phir unke liye medicine bhi laya jaise aaj humne Ruhi ke liye kiya! Isliye keh rahi hun yeh dono Papa aur Beti bilul same hai!

Pihu laughs and Ishita is finally relieved to see her be her old self again! Raman on the other hand is lost in deep thought and contemplation as he wonders if Ishita is making up the story to cheer Pihu up or if this might have actually happened.

Raman feels frustrated thinking that he barely remembers anything or anyone from his past. His life before the last two years is like a blank book- he has no clue of the things that might have happened, the people who were part of his life. Had he remembered his past life Raman could have gone and argued about him falling in the washroom, but he does not even remember if it has happened or not. Raman shuts his eyes for a few seconds trying to remember. At first nothing comes to his mind, just like his life is a blank book his mind too is an empty canvas showing him nothing. Raman feels a rare kind of anger, the kind of anger one feels when one is trapped by his own shortcomings. In his case his biggest shortcoming is his own memory.

Raman is about to give up and open his eyes when but just then as if his mind was just waiting for his blood to boil with anger he sees once again images of what he thinks is possibly the incidenct Ishita is telling Pihu about.

Raman opens his eyes stunned. The recollections coming to his mind are pretty much what Ishita was telling Pihu about and that too crystal clear.

Raman (self-musing): Yeh toh mujhe kuch kuch waisa hi yaad aa raha hai jaisa Madrasan Pihu ko bata rahi thi. Lekin aur koi toh tha nahi washroom mein. Matlab Madrasan ne jhooth bola kya?!?

Raman instantly closes his eyes, trying to remember more. He calms himself down and focuses on the last images that came to his mind. Once again he sees some recollections of his fall and this time he is not alone- a woman whose face he can't see clearly is helping him.

Once again Raman opens his eyes surprised at the clarity of his recollections.

Raman (self-musing): Damnit! Jab cheezein saaf yaad aati hai toh adhoori si kyun hoti hai? Yeh kaun aurat hai jo meri help kar rahi hai? Ishita ke baal toh lambe aur stright hai. Mujhe joh dikhi uske baal curly hai lekin kapde ki thaan usne bhi Madrasan ki tarah hi lapeta hai. Kahin yeh Pagal Madrasan sach toh nahi bol rahi hai?

Curious Raman closes his eyes yet again and concentrates hard on his recollections. Once again he sees himself with a woman but this time they are no longer in the washroom. They are in his bedroom. He is talking to her but he can't see her face clearly.

Raman opens his eyes once again frustrated that he could not see the face of the woman clearly but the more he thinks about it the more he feels convinced that the woman in this particular memory of his is Ishita.

Raman(self-musing): Matlab Ishita Pihu se sach bol rahi thi. Lekin ek baar girne se koi clumsy thodi ho jata hai. Sahi mein Pagal Madrasan hai yeh! But Raman Bhalla sochne wali baat yeh hai ki Ishita ne kaha ghar mein aur koi nahi tha isliye use teri help karni padi. Agar ghar mein aur koi nahi tha toh Ishita yahan kya kar rahi thi woh bhi mere kamre mein? Aakhir connection kya hai mera isse ki baar baar main iski taraf khicha chala ja raha hoon?

While Raman was busy trying to remember parts of his life that he has forgotten and figure out whether Ishita was telling the truth about him being clumsy he did not realise Ishita had managed to feed Pihu all of her dinner and was about to walk out of the room. Fortunately for him he saw her stand up just in time and was able to slip away before Ishita walked out of the room and walked right into him!

Ishita and Pihu continue their conversation still clueless to the fact that Raman had pretty much heard everything they said to each other before he walked away.

Pihu: Ishimaa parathas sach mein bahut tasty the. Hamesha ki tarah!

Ishita: The na?!? Aur dekho agar main nahi aati toh tum bhooki so jati aur itne tasty parathe miss ho jate. But abhi ek zaroori kaam hai jo Pihu ne nahi kiya hai.

Pihu: Kya Ishimaa?

Ishita: Pihu apni Ruhi Didi se toh mili hi nahi.

Pihu: Arey haan. Dekho Ishimaa maine unke liye Get Well Soon Card bhi banaya hai.

Pihu excitedly shows Ishita the card she makes which genuinely impresses Ishita.

Ishita: Toh Pihu ek kaam karte hain. Tum jao aur Ruhi ke pass raho. Agar use kuch bhi chahiye ho toh tum use la ke dena but use chalne mat dena. Jab tak tum Ruhi ka khayal rakhogi tab tak main aur gharwale sab dinner kar lenge. Is tarah tum Ruhi ke saath time bhi spend kar logi aur hamari help bhi kar dogi! Kaisa laga mera idea?

Pihu: As always perfect plan Ishimaa! Aap sabke bare mein soch lete ho!

Pihu hugs Ishita and they both walk out of her room. Ishita makes her way to the kitchen while Pihu makes her way to Ruhi's room.

Bhalla Dining Table:

Ishita, Mihika and Neelu are busy working in the kitchen preparing dinner and laying out the food on the dining table for everyone to eat. One by one Bhalla Ji, Toshi, Simmi, Param, Romi and Raman come to the dining table and slowly start helping themselves to the food laid out in front of them. Mihika too comes and sits down next to Romi. She looks around the table and wonders out loud.

Mihika: Ruhi ke saath koi hai kya?

Ishita: Haan Pihu uske pass hai.

Mihika: Akka un dono ko khana kamre mein hi de aate hain.

Ishita: Actually Pihu ko maine pehle hi khila diya aur Ruhi ne bhi thodi der pehle kuch kha ke medicine liya tha toh abhi use bhook lagi nahi hogi. Kuch der baad main uske liye dinner le jaungi. Tum log toh khana shuru karo.

Romi: Bhabhi aap bhi aao.

Ishita: Haan Romi main ek second Adi aur Aliya ko bula ke aati hoon.

Just then Aliya comes and joins everyone. Ishita looks at her and then stares behind her hoping to see Adi follow her, however Adi is nowhere in sight.

Ishita: Aliya, Adi nahi aya khana khane?

Aliya: Amma woh actually office ka kuch zaroori kaam kar raha hai. Use waise bhi bhook nahi hai.

Ishita looks visibly upset hearing this. She knows very well that Aliya is lying and the actual reason Adi is refusing to eat dinner is because he is still very angry at her. Ishita looks directly at Aliya, their eyes meet and no words are said between them. Through her eyes only Ishita asks Aliya if she should go talk to Adi but Aliya shakes her head slightly indicating a no for now is not the right time as he is still very angry. Ishita sighs and as always starts to get very restless just like she used to every time any of her three children were upset with her. Without looking she picks up a lemon that is lying in the kitchen and begins cutting it with a sharp knife without paying the slightest attention. Aliya notices this, gets up and quickly goes to Ishita's side before she hurts yourself.

Aliya: Amma! Dhayan se! Abhi aapka haath kat jata.

Ishita snaps out of her thoughts, looks down at the lemon she has cut unevenly and then at Aliya.

Aliya: Amma aap please yeh sab chodo. Neelu dekh legi. Aap chal ke dinner karo hamare saath.

Ishita follows Aliya. She is about to sit down on the vacant chair next to Raman when her eyes fall on Adi's vacant chair. Ishita sighs, stands up and walks away from the dining table. Raman's eyes follow her and he calls out to her confused.

Raman: Ishita kya hua? Bina dinner kiye kahan ja rahi ho?

Ishita turns around, looks at Raman's concerned face. Right now she misses her old Raman. Had her old Raman been there with her, he would have surely advised her and helped her out with suggestions on how to clear the misunderstanding with Adi. But she thought she could not tell him anything because he does not remember any of it- how she and Adi established the bond of mother and son and how it evolved over the years. If only she knew that although Raman does not remember anything his heart always points him to the right direction and he can easily tell and understand what a special bond she shares with all 3 children.

Ishita: Woh... Amma...haan... woh Amma se kaha tha maine sham ko milne aungi but yahan itna kuch hua ki main ja hi nahi pai... woh mera wait kar rahi hongi... khana bhi nahi khayengi mera wait karte hue are raat ko time pe soyengi bhi nahi...mujhe achanak yaad aya toh maine socha ja ke jaldi se unse mil lun.

Raman: Haan that's fine but dinner toh kar lo!

Ishita knows that if she talks to Raman for two more minutes she will not be able to keep from him what is troubling her so she starts walking towards the house main door and speaks in a hurried voice as she walks out the house.

Ishita: Wahin kuch kha lungi. Wahan bhi sab dinner kar hi rahe honge.

Raman: Lekin tumhare medicines...

Raman hears the main door open then immediately slam shut and realises that Ishita left without listening to his reply. He looks around at everyone with a partly confused and partly amused expression.

Raman: Yeh ho kya gaya ise achanak? Lagta hai Punjabi ghar mein Madrasi khana miss kar rahi hai tabhi aise khana dekh ke bina khaye apne Amma ke pass chali gai. Lekin khana banaya bhi toh usi ne. Itna hi miss kar rahi thi apne ghar ka khana toh chole with sambar powder bana deti- mujhe toh waise bhi pasand hai.

Romi, Mihika and Aliya look at each other and smile silently. Raman catches them silently exchanging knowing looks while smiling away at each other.

Raman: Yeh tum teeno apas mein kya muskura rahe ho!

Romi, Mihika and Aliya all laugh a little and finally Romi puts Raman out of his misery by answering his question.

Romi: Bhai aap nahi samjhoge! Yahan alag hi story chal rahi hai!

Raman: Kaisi story....

Mihika: Wahin same old story Jiju. Beta hai apni Ishimaa se naraaz so woh gusse mein khana nahi kha raha aur yeh dekh kar uski Ishimaa se bhi khaya nahi ja raha!

Aliya shakes her head and joins in the conversation.

Aliya: Maine Adi se kaha bhi ki jitna woh khana abhi avoid karega utna hi zada Amma baad mein use khilayengi aur woh mana bhi nahi kar payega isliye Amma se jo gussa hai use khane pe nahi nikale aur chup chap dinner kar le. But meri sunta hai woh kabhi jo aaj sunega!

Romi laughs a little as he chews and swallows a bite of food.

Romi: Aliya relax! Waise bhi dono Maa-Bete ko chain nahi ayega jab tak woh is matter ko sort out nahi kar lete aur jab tak dono saath mein baith ke dinner nahi kar lete dono ko neend bhi nahi ayegi! Kaun sa pehli baar ho raha hai yeh is ghar mein!

Mihika: Right Romi! Waise agar Adi apne zidd pe ada raha toh aaj ratoon raat dobara kitchen ki puri safai ho jayegi. Aaj morning bhi Akka ne sabse pehle pure kitchen ki safai ki hai! Agar dobara unhe yeh karna pada toh magnifying glass ke saath bhi dhoondhne pe kitchen mein thodi bhi dhul ya gandagi nahi milegi.

Romi: Don't worry. Main thodi der main ja ke Adi se baat karta hun.

Raman is listening to their conversation with mild curiosity and confusion. He wonders why Mihika said this is the same old story- has this happened before. Raman always knew Adi had a very special connection with Ishita- noticing that connection is what helped him remember that Adi is his son. Raman remembers how Adi had hugged Raman tightly after Raman had saved Ishita from being cremated alive and brought her back to the hospital after the antidote for the snake poison was given to her.

Raman was at first confused at Adi's reaction but he remembers that as he had hugged his son, probably for the first time since he had forgotten him he had felt their bond only so much was happening at that moment that he could not realise it. But then Raman realises that he was not even married to Ishita at that point but still Adi saw a mother figure in Ishita. He had only started analysing the facts in his mind when Param speaks to Toshi distracting him completely from what he was thinking.

Param: Waise yeh Ruhi aur Adi ko hua kya hai Mummy Ji? Hum toh ghar pe the nahi. Office ka kuch kaam tha. Sab theek toh hai na?

Toshi: Puttar woh Ruhi aaj sham ko Pihu ke saath exercise karne gai thi aur usi chakkar main gir gai.

Param nudges Simmi with his foot under the table and she immediately starts pretending showing concern for Ruhi asking what happened.

Simmi: Kya hua Ruhi ko?

Toshi: Oh zada kuch nahi Puttar. Sidhiyon se gir gai thi. Halka moch aya hai.

Simmi's expression changes immediately hearing this. Toshi and Bhalla Ji look at her and think that she is worried that Ruhi too got injured severely like Ananya did the night she died after being pushed off the stairs by Ishita. Little do they know that the real emotion in Simmi's heart is anger that Ruhi fell off the stairs and managed to escape with nothing more than a foot sprain while her own child lost her life in a similar incident.

Bhalla Ji: Simmi Puttar tu ghabra mat sab theek hai.

Param understands very well what is going on in Simmi's mind and he engages his in-laws in a deeper conversation before they notice that what is actually going on in her mind is very different from what they expect her to be thinking about.

Param: Ummmm... Mummy Ji aur Adi ko kya hua? Woh Ishita Ji se naraaz kyun hai?

Toshi: Aaj kal ke bacche bhi na! Baron se baat karne ka lihaaz nahi. Bachpan me Ishita ne theek se kuch sikhaya tha nahi aur ab bade ho ke mujh se zubaan ladata hai toh use daat ke dikhane ki koshish kar rahi hai ki usne use sab sahi aur galat sahi sahi sikhaya hai!

Romi: Mummy Ji, aap aadhi baat kyun bata rahe ho?

Toshi: Kaisi aadhi baat? Ab kehne ko bacha hi kya hai? Ab toh apne hi ghar mein apne Pote ki baatein sunne ko mil rahi hain mujhe.

Romi: Mummy main toh bus itna keh raha tha ki sabko yeh toh batao ki Adi ne aapko ulta jawab diya kyun. Aisa kya keh diya tha aapne ki use aapse zaban ladani padi. Hamara Adi toh aisa nahi hai. Bhai aur Bhabhi ne toh kabhi Adi ko aise badon se baat karna nahi sikhaya.

Toshi: Romi! Ek toh tu wahan tha nahi toh tu beech mein mat hi bol! Zaroor us Ishita ne hi tere kaan bhare honge!

Romi: Bus karo Mummy Ji! Bhabhi ne mujhse kuch bhi nahi kaha lekin iska matlab yeh nahi hai ki mujhe kuch dikhta nahi hai. Aur har choti badi cheez ke liye Bhabhi ko blame karna band karo aap. Zaroor aisa hi kuch kaha hoga aapne Bhabhi ke bare mein Adi ke samne tabhi toh woh itna bol gaya aur usko chup karane ke liye Bhabhi ko majbooran uspe chillana pada hoga jabki Adi apni jagah par bilkul sahi hai. Lekin Bhabhi baat ko badhana nahi chahti thi kyunki aapko aur takleef hoti. Jisne puri baat sambhali hai aap ulta usi pe blame dal rahe ho! Kamaal karte ho aap bhi Mummy Ji!

Toshi: Oye! Ab tu bhi mujhse zubaan ladayega kya! Aur koi baat nahi sambhali hai us Ishita ne. Ja ke keh de use sambhalna hi hai toh Adi ko zara sambhal le. Aaj toh bada Ishimaa Ishimaa kehta phirta rehta hai pata chala kal ko usne apne Ishimaa se bhi zubaan lada liya jaise mujhse ladaya tha.

Raman: Romi, Mummy bus karo aap dono! Look main yahan tha toh nahi jab yeh sab hua and meri samajh mein puri baat bhi nahi aa rahi but itna main yakeen se keh sakta hoon ki Ishita Adi ko aapse batameezi se baat karne ke liye kabhi nahi bhadkayegi. Aur Adi bhi itna bigda nahi hai ki bina kisi baat ke aapse batameezi se baat kare.

Toshi: Matlab tu kehna chahta hai ki sari galti meri hai?

Raman: Maine aisa kab kaha Mummy! Main itna keh raha hun us samay ghar mein sab pareshan the Ruhi ko lekar. Ho sakta hai ghabrahat mein thoda zada aap bol gai, thoda Adi overreact kar gaya aur Ishita bhi shayad Ruhi ke chinta mein Adi se zada gusse mein baat kar gai ho. Choti si baat hai aap log sab bekar mein use kheech ke itni badi bana rahe ho. Kabhi kabhi aise situations mein insaan overreact kar jata hai and I guess aap sab hi kuch zada react kar gaye. Ab please is baat ko yahin khatam karo. Yahan aap dukhi ho, wahan Adi naraaz hai aur Ishita bhi clearly pareshan hai. Aise toh kabhi koi solution hi nahi niklega.

Romi: Bilkul sahi kaha aapne Bhai. Ek kaam karo Bhai aap ja ke Bhabhi se baat karo main tab tak Adi se baat karta hoon.

Romi gets up and starts walking towards Adi's room when Raman rushes towards him and stops him midway.

Romi: Kya hua Bhai kuch kaam tha kya?

Raman: Nahi Romi. Main bhi chalta hun tere saath Adi se baat karne. I mean Ishita toh apni Amma se milne gai hai so main usse kya baat karunga.

Romi looks at Raman and smiles which confuses Raman.

Raman: Ab kyun muskura raha hai tu?

Romi: Bhai Bhabhi kahin nahi gai hai. Bahar jake dekho ya toh woh corridor mein sofa pe baithi hongi ya phir neeche garden mein kisi bench pe.

Raman: Kya? Aise kaise? Usne toh kaha ki woh apni Amma ke yahan ja rahi hai.

Romi: Kya Bhai. Apni wife ko itna toh jante ho na ki woh apni problems dusron ke pass kabhi nahi le jati. Ulta sabke problems apne sar pe le leti hai. Bhabhi Periamma ke pass nahi gayi hongi kyunki woh unki shakal dekhte hi samajh jati ki phir kuch gadbad hui hai jis wajah se woh pareshan hai.

Raman: Phir woh aisa keh ke ghar ke bahar kyun chali gai...

Romi smiles again.

Romi: Kyunki woh aapko bhi apni pareshani mein pareshan nahi karna chahti thi. Aapki kal raat ko tabyat zada kharab thi shayad isliye.

Raman: Oh! In that case I guess mujhe usko akela hi chod dena chahiye. I guess woh yahin chahti hogi tabhi woh aise bahar chali gai...

Romi: Bhai kaise ulte tangent pe ja rahe ho! Yeh biwiyan kabhi seedhe se aake nahi kahengi ki unko apne pati ki help ki ya support ki zaroorat hai khas kar in mamlon mein. Aapko khud samajhna hoga aur unhe samjhana bhi hoga aur sambhalna bhi hoga.

Raman: Lekin Romi problem kya hai mujhe toh yeh bhi nahi malum. Isliye pehle hum chalke Adi se baat karte hain...

Romi: Un dono ke beech jo hua woh important nahi hai. Problem yeh hai ki Bhabhi aur Adi ek dusre se zada der tak naraaz reh nahi sakte lekin Adi ka gussa bilkul aap pe gaya hai isliye woh itni aasani se thanda hoga nahi. Toh jab tak uska gussa thanda nahi hota Bhabhi usko kuch samjha nahi sakti aur mana nahi sakti, isliye wahan woh bechain hai aur yahan Adi aadha gusse se aur aadha bhook se pareshan hai.

Raman: Arey yaar! Mujhe toh laga tha ki sirf Madrasi ke screw thode dheele hote hai lekin mera Punjabi Beta itna teedha kaise ho gaya!

Romi: Kya Bhai! Adi ki Ishimaa bhi Madrasan aur biwi bhi upar se uske andar Punjabi khoon. Thoda toh is khichdi ka teedha asar hoga hi uspe.

Raman: Romi lekin problem yeh hai ki main Ishita se kya baat karun. I mean main toh usko utne acche se janta nahi. I mean mujhe kabhi kabhi lagta hai ki main use janta hun aur samajhta hun but right now mujhe kuch samajh mein nahi aa raha ki main kya karun.

Romi: Bhai aapse zada aur koi Bhabhi ko na janta hai na samajhta hai.

Raman looks at Romi in surprise.

Raman: Really tumhe sach mein aisa lagta hai?

Romi: Of course Bhai! Bus dimag se nahi dil se socho kyunki is waqt ek Maa ka dil takleef main hai. Aur Maa ka dil logic pe nahi chalta. Hamari Mummy Ji ko hi dekh lo. Mere, aapke aur Simmi Di ke mamle mein pehle woh dil se sochti hai, dimaag hardly use karti hain.

Raman is still not entirely convinced that he will be able to handle Ishita. Romi senses his hesitation and places his hand reassuringly on his shoulder.

Romi: Itna kya soch rahe ho Bhai? Bhabhi ko is waqt bus aapka saath chahiye aur kuch nahi. Agar aapko kuch samajh mein nahi aaye toh bina kuch kahe unke pass baithe rehna, unko usi mein sukoon mil jayega. Aap bus kuch aisa karo ki unka man shaant ho jaye aur kuch nahi.

Raman: Ok. Madrasan ko waise bhi lecture dene ka bahut shauk hai. Woh khud hi bol degi ki uske dil mein chal kya raha hai!

Romi: Haar baat kahi nahi jati Bhai! Kuch baatein aapko unke bina kahe samajhni hogi.

Raman: Romi ek taraf tu mujhe himmat de raha hai aur dusri taraf dara raha hai!

Romi: Bhai aap over analyse kar rahe ho. Aap bus Bhabhi ke pass jao aage aapko unse kya kehna hai aur kya karna hai woh aapko khud hi samajh mein aa jayega. Unke man ko samajhne ke liye aapko mujhse kya kisi se koi himmat ya advice nahi chahiye. Aur unko bhi aapse apni takleef share karne ke liye koi words ya lecture nahi chahiye. Aap khud hi samajh jaoge sab kuch aur unko sambhal bhi loge. Aur jab tak aap Bhabhi se baat karoge main Adi ke dimag ko track pe le aunga. Uske baad dekhna Bhabhi aur Adi khud hi sab sort out kar lenge.

Raman: Ok. Chalo main dekh ke aata hun ki Ishita actually apni Amma ke yahan hai ya jaisa tune kaha woh bahar kahin akeli baithi hui hai.

Romi: Shart laga lo Bhai! Bhabhi aapko wahin milegni jahan maine kaha!

Raman smiles at Romi, touched by his care for Ishita, and he heads out to the main door in search of his wife. As soon as Raman leaves Mihika and Aliya come to talk to Romi.

Mihika: Romi sab theek toh hai na. Jiju pareshan lag rahe the.

Romi: Haan Mihika. Sab theek hai. Bhai ki nautanki kabhi khatam nahi hogi. Actually woh Bhabhi ko pareshan dekh ke khud pareshan hai aur unhe samajh mein nahi aa raha ki woh Bhabhi ki pareshani kaise dur kare so that unki khud ki bhi pareshani bhi khatam ho jaye!

Aliya: It's amazing. Papa ko Amma yaad nahi, unka rishta aur woh pehle wala pyaar yaad nahi phir bhi Amma ki takleef se unhe aaj bhi utni hi takleef ho rahi hai.

Mihika: I know. Romi tumne kya advice diya Jiju ko?

Romi: Koi advice nahi di maine. In dono ka connection itna strong hai ki unhe bus ek dusre ke pass hona hota hai ek dusre ko samajhne aur samjhane ke liye. Bhai yeh baat khul gaye hain lekin main nahi bhula toh bus maine unse itna kaha ki woh Bhabhi ke pass jane ko convince ho jaye. Unko khud shayad malum nahi hai lekin main janta hun ki woh sabse best tareeke se Bhabhi ko sambhal lenge aur shayad dono isi bahaane thode aur pass aa jaye aur Bhai ko Bhabhi jaldi yaad aa jaye.

Mihika: Kaash aisa hi ho Romi. Kyunki jaise hi Jiju ko Akka yaad aa jayengi unko apni pichli saari bhuli yaadein bhi yaad aa jayengi. Becuase Akka completes him.

Romi: Ok ab yeh baatein hum baad mein karenge. Main zara Adi ke dimag ko track pe lata hun. Tum dono bus itna karna ki kuch bhi ho jaye Simmi Di aur Param mujhe aur Adi ko disturb nahi kare aur na hi bahar Bhabhi aur Bhai ko. Yeh dono waise bhi mauke ke talash mein rehte hain Bhabhi ko pareshan karne ke liye aur yeh kabhi nahi chahenge ki Adi aur Bhabhi ki yeh misunderstanding aasani se sort out ho jaye.

Aliya: Don't worry Chachu. Aap jake Adi se baat karo. Meri baat woh sun hi nahi raha.

Romi: Don't worry. Main ja ke dekhta hoon. Tum log bus Simmi aur Param ko kabab mein haddi mat banne dena.

The three of them nod in agreement. Mihika and Aliya quickly return to the dining table where Toshi has Simmi and Param engaged in a serious conversation regarding Adi's rude behaviour. Had it been any other time Mihika or Aliya would have tried to bring the discussion to a close but this time around they both keep their mouths shut and resume eating their dinner as they know that it is important to keep Simmi and Param busy while Romi and Raman help Adi and Ishita clear their misunderstanding.

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Thank you for reading. Will Raman be able to comfort Ishita? Will Romi be able to calm Adi's anger? Will Adi and Ishita reconcile? Will Romi and Mihika be able to figure out the truth behind Anaya's death now that they have narrowed down the suspects to someone in the family? Drop a comment to share your thoughts and stay tuned for all these questions and more will be answered in the upcoming chapters.

I work very hard to plan and write each chapter. A lot of time, energy and research goes into every single post. So if you are enjoying reading this then please motivate and encourage me by sharing your thoughts. I am eager to receive both negative and positive feedback as it will only help me improve and make the reading experience more worthwhile for you!!

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Also if you aren't already reading it, I have a new YHM based Fanfiction story called "Sanam Bewafaa." For more details on the story check out the external link below or visit my profile where you can find the story under stories by me.

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