11:00am

Ishita- Haan I'm okay now!

Ruhi- sure Ishima?

Ishaan- Swear on me mumma?

Ishita- Haan babies, I'm all okay! Now feeling better than before!

Ishu&Rooh smile hearing this.

Ishita- So what are my babies doing without me?

Ishaan- I'd my test today. I did very well!

Ruhi- And I went to the doctor again; she said I'm also doing well!

Ishita- Ohh that's good to hear from you both! Achha Rooh are you taking your medicines?

Ruhi- Haan Ishima, on time always!

Ishaan- mumma, we'll talk to you at night. Didi we've to complete that..

Ruhi- shut up Ishu! Ishima we'll talk to you later ok bye bye!

Ishaan- bubbye mumma! Take care!

Ishita(smiles)- accha bye!

Ishita hangs up the call and rests her back leaning on the headrest. The pain of the needle on her arm was better than the pain in her heart. She had come here to unveil a truth to him. But hearing his proposal, she felt emptiness in her. She knew he was hurt, but he is doing something which he'd regret later when he realizes but it would be too late by then. She hears a knock on the door. She wipes her face with a napkin.

Ishita- come in.

These were the faces she was craving to see all these years. Even though she'd known their latest developments through the media, looking at them lively has a different pleasure.

Tears filled her eyes out of guilt seeing their shocked, surprised, happy, hurt filled eyes, all at a time. Both her parents, in-laws, siblings each and everyone warmly embraced her crying happy tears. She apologized softly and they forgave her making her promise to never repeat anything like this. It was a meet after 7 long years. Of course there was a different emotion in every hearts. Many moments spend missing them and many evenings passed reviving her memories. It was a moment to be cherished forever. Mihika was still hugging her close when Ishita saw the door opening slightly. She couldn't blink her eyes looking at the two of them. A young man and a little girl entered. The little girl caught her attention. She broke the hug and got up from her bed. She slowly approached her and bent down to her height and held onto her shoulders.

Ishita(smiling with tears)- You.. you look just like Ruhi! (Looks back at them) She.. She looks just like our Ruhi right?

The little girl was looking with tears in her eyes. The young man too bends to their height while Ishita looked at him trying to identify him.

Adi(holds her hands)- haan Ishima. She looks exactly like Ruhi. But she's our Pihu! Your daughter!

Ishita(finally strikes, her guess was right indeed and smiles)- Adii..!

At once she hugs both her kids crying happy tears. All the time she'd spent imagining to meet them one day has finally come to an end. Her kids were in her arms. Both of them cried bitterly hugging their mother tight whom they'd thought to be dead all these years. They're living a day which they had never dreamt of. She broke the hug and kissed their foreheads till she became stable. They hugged her back resting their heads near her neck.

Adi(cries)- Ishi.. Ishima.. I never thought this day would come!

She feels guiltier for not being there when he needed her the most.

Pihu(tightens her hold crying)- Why.. Mumma..(Ishita's hold became more firm feeling overwhelmed hearing that word) Why did you leave us? Don't you love me?

That was it! This question which made her heart bleed.

Ishita- sorry bacchon! I'm very sorry. I'm very sorry for not being there for you. I love you both!

Adi(breaks the hug)- Then why did you go leaving us?

Ishita- I'm sorry! But here after I'll never go anywhere leaving you!

Adi&Pihu(forward their palms)- promise?

She smiles seeing them. She wipes their tears and places her hand over theirs'.

Ishita- Promise!

They hug her happily. All the others wipe the happy tears getting at least one person back which they'd never thought of. Bala went to complete the discharge formalities and finally she went after thanking Dr.Nisha while she assured that everything would be fine.

****

Bhalla house

02:00pm

Shagun keeps banging the door for almost half an hour. Finally he opens the door. She finds his eyes blood red and his face was dull. She easily guessed what might have happened.

Shagun- Raman I've talked to the pandit. After 4 days from now, we've an auspicious time which is suitable for us to get engaged. So shall we...

Raman- WHATEVER!

He storms out of the house tired of her voice. He was fighting a battle within himself and her voice made his mind win over his heart. He comes out only to see the families coming back and going to their respective homes ignoring him. His eyes of course searched for her. He could see everyone but not her. His heart sank thinking about her. What might have happened to her? Was she still at hospital? No she was all fine in the morning. Then where was SHE? All his scary thoughts about her broke when he saw Pihu & Adi coming out from the IYER's happily holding hands talking something which he could guess that it was about her. As soon as they saw him, they stopped giving deadly glares to him. But they chose to ignore him and go inside. He sits down on the couch in the common lobby confused.

Raman(st)- What was that? Why they stop talking seeing me? And where the hell is she? Wait a min! Why should I be bothered? She's none to me! Raman she has moved on in her life! Now you.. you should too. Shagun.. hmm.. When she doesn't care, even I don't care! I'll marry Shagun soon! Marry! Yes I'll marry her. Why am I crying?(he wipes his tears) I'll marry her!

He goes out in his car angrily. Or is he angry with himself? He has to find out on his own!

****

09:00pm

Pihu- yaay! What surprise mumma?

Ishita- You'll soon get to know that.

Adi- What is it Ishima?

Ishita- no I won't. I'll reveal it soon, don't worry.

Adi&Pihu- FINE!

They put on grumpy faces. She finds them uber cute seeing their pouts. She pulls their cheeks and laugh.

Ishita- you guys are too cute! Don't worry I won't keep you waiting for long!

They smile hearing this and Adi feeds her the next bite and she feeds them both happily. Their elders see and hope the happiness soon returns to them. They pray to god requesting him to knock some sense into Raman!

****

Adi- Come on Ishima! It'll be fun.

Pihu- Haan mumma!

Ishita- ok fine! Let's go

Adi wraps a shawl around Ishita and zips up Pihu's jacket. She admires seeing her son fully grown. She thinks of all the lost time and wipes her tears hiding it from him. Finally they go reach the parking area and have a walk for long and settle on a bench talking about all the lost years.

Shagun- PIHU!

They turn around to find the source of the voice who had disturbed their family time.

Shagun(makes a yuck face but smiles again)- Come to mumma beta!

Pihu- I'm right beside my mumma!

Shagun(stares at Ishita)- What magic have you done on my kids?

Ishita- Your kids? When were they yours' Shagun?

Shagun- I'm their real mother you can't change the fact!

Ishita- Right! But I'M THEIR MOTHER! So it's better if you stop your stupid games. Or else..

Shagun- Or else what? What can you do? Raman is mine. We're getting engaged in 3 days and we'll marry very soon. There's no place for you Isheeta IYER! Haha actually that name suits you more!

Adi grits his teeth listening to this. Ishita sees this.

Ishita- Adi go up along with Pihu.

Adi- But Ishima..

Ishita- it's okay Adi I'll manage!

Adi nods and takes Pihu along

Ishita(folds her arms)- So what were you saying? Raman is yours? Shagun you had 7 long years. But still you couldn't be his. And now when I'm back, how are you so sure that he'll be yours?

Shagun- Don't you remember? Raman proposed me right in front of you. We're going to be together very soon even before you realize.

Ishita- oh! Okay. So are you done with your shopping? Or is anything left?

Shagun(confused)- do you realize what I've just said?

Ishita- Ya! You're getting married soon. So of course you'll have to shop many things.

Shagun- what nonsense?

Ishita- Nonsense is your thoughts! Nothing is yours nor will it happen. This is my place. Raman, kids all are mine. So you better find a new place which you could call yours.

Shagun- Isheeta you..

Ishita(shows her palm)- enough Shagun! I can't stand here to argue with you on a baseless topic. I challenge you! Raman will be mine again and that too in front of your eyes! In fact he's MINE forever!

Shagun- CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!

With that Shagun leaves fuming from there to her apartment.(here she stays in a different house but in the same colony) Ishita smiles seeing her. She could guess she's gonna have another sleepless night planning and plotting. She also turns to leave but hearing his car's horn stops her. She turns around finding him approaching her lost in his mobile cursing someone. She was continuously drooling at him until he dashes into her.

Raman- andhe hai kya sab? dekh ke na..

(Why is everyone blind? Can't you just..)

She falls in his arms where he catches her waist firmly. His words die seeing her. Her face was shining just like before in the moon light. She looked like she was growing old the other day. But having her face this near made him realize her beauty still drove him crazy just like before. Or even more? He caresses her cheek while she closes her eyes. He feels happy thinking she still responds in the same way and the chill wind was creating havoc in him. He tucks her hair strand behind her ear. His touch was already making her feel butterflies in her stomach. Especially his hold on her waist! Now when his fingers brushed her ear, her knees started giving up. Oh god! This man and his touches were made of some magic! A mere touch could make her forget everything. The crackling sound of the gate broke their trance when he made her stand carefully and both turn in the opposite directions to wipe their unshed tears and again look at each other.

Raman- How.. how are you?

Ishita- good.

Raman(puts his mobile into his pocket)- What are you doing here?

Ishita(adjusts her shawl)- just came down for a walk.

Raman- Ishita.. I..

She looks into his eyes deeply and closes her eyes hearing her name for the second time now.

Her mobile rings breaking their trance. She signs him and he nods. She answers the call.

Ishita- haan Mani. Yes I'm fine. No no not needed. It's okay

His blood boils hearing his name. How could he forget that? Having her close made him forget THE BITTER TRUTH! He calms down his raging breath and makes a firm decision not to melt seeing her! When he was busy in burning, she disconnects the call and waits for him to talk.

Ishita- You was saying something?

Raman- YES! I'M..

Ishita- Wait! Before you say something I wanna tell you something really important! It's about R..

Raman- JUST SHUT UP! I DON'T WANNA HEAR ANYTHING! FOR GOD SAKE STOP YOUR DRAMA..

Ishita- At least listen to me once..

Raman- NO I WON'T! WHAT WILL YOU SAY? SORRY RAMAN I WAS ALIVE AND NOW I'M WITH THAT SHANI???

Ishita(wobbly voice)- Listen to me once Raman!

Raman- LOOK! I'M MAKING THIS VERY CLEAR NOW! I DON'T CARE WHATEVER YOU DO. WHOMEVER YOU'RE WITH! I'M GOING TO MOVE ON IN MY LIFE AS YOU DID. I WAS A FOOL HOPING.. Actually forget it!

He goes from there angrily!

Ishita- IT'S ABOUT RUHI RAMAN!

Hearing that makes him stop in mid. He turns around shocked.

****

How was it friends?

I'm very happy with the response I get. But I would feel really happy if you guys spare a moment to comment.

All the type of suggestions are welcome!

Hit the star and shower your love in the form of comments!

Stay home, stay safe!

~Jaanishra