02:00am

Due to her dry throat, her sleep breaks. Finding him nowhere in the room makes her scared. She tries calling him many times but in vain. As there was no option left she hurriedly alerts the family and everyone start finding their own ways to trace him.

After an hour, her mobile starts ringing, flashing his name. She answers it the next instant.

Ishita- RAMAN! WHERE ARE YOU?? ARE YOU OKAY??

Raman- ...

Ishita- RAMAN! PLEASE TALK TO ME! IS EVERYTHING OKAY?

Raman(slowly)- Ish.. Ishita..

Ishita- ya tell me.

Romi signs her to change it into speaker mode. She does the same.

Raman(cries)- Our daughter.. Ishita.. She.. She took away.. She took our daughter away from us!

His words shocked the entire clan over there. They didn't know how to react. The soul of the house! RUHI! What had happened to her? Who took her away?

Ishita- WHAT NONSENSE RAMAN? Adi&Ruhi both are sleeping inside. I went to their room a while ago searching for you. WHAT TYPE OF PRANK IS THIS? YOU'VE DISTURBED EVERYONE!

He wasn't even clearing her misunderstanding. He was crying at his fate. How was he supposed to tell her? They had got ANOTHER daughter an hour back and she's not with them anymore!

Ishita- Raman! STOP ALL THIS AND COME BACK HOME! I WON'T SPARE YOU TODAY!

Raman(cries)- No! Ishita.. OUR daughter.. Shagun.. She gave birth to a baby GIRL.. Niddi took our baby away Ishita.

She sinks down on the sofa when Romi holds her for support.

Prakash(Raman's Dad)- What? What did you say? Shagun has given birth? But it's not time yet.

Raman- She's pre-mature Papa!

I didn't even see her. (pause) I'm coming home. Will explain everything.

After good 10 minutes, he enters the house to see their mothers crying holding each other while their fathers trying to console them but they didn't have anyone to get consoled. He scanned the room and found everyone's face tensed with tears. He found her at last seated down near the couch in a corner. He ran to her. He wipes her tears and she looks into his eyes.

Ishita(cries)- Hamaari bacchi hui hai Raman! Usse le aao na please!

(Our daughter Raman! Please bring her to me!)

Raman(cries)- koshish ki.. lekin uss Niddi ne ek shart rakha..

(I tried.. But Niddi has put up a condition)

Ishita(wiping her tears)- Yeah! We'll listen to her! Come on let's go.

She pulls his hand but he holds her back.

Ishita- Let's go! I want our baby back!

Raman(low tone)- At least listen to the condition.

Ishita- Whatever Raman! We'll give her anything she wants. At any cost I want her back!

Raman- Even at the cost of RUHI?

Ishita- Yes Ram.. WAIT! What did you say?

He nodded his head saying what she had heard was the truth. There was a pin drop silence listening to her condition. Yeah everyone wanted the new little member back but never in their dreams had they expected at the cost of RUHI! The soul of the house! Is this a game? They'll get their baby back at the cost of their Angel!!

Ishita- WHAT RUBBISH RAMAN? Ye nahi ho sakta! Mai Ruhi ko kahi jaane nahi doongi!

(WHAT RUBBISH RAMAN? No, this can't happen! I won't let Ruhi go anywhere!)

Raman- This is her BLOODY condition. Only if you along with Ruhi go to a place where she says all alone, only then she'll give us our baby instead of Ruhi!

Ishita- WHAT INSTEAD RAMAN? SHE'S OUR BABY. BOTH ARE OUR BABIES. WE JUST CAN'T SELECT ANY OF THEM FOR THE OTHER!

Raman- EXACTLY! Even I won't let you or Ruhi go anywhere. But I do not understand what to do. How can we get our daughter back? Doc said she won't survive if she's away for more THAN A DAY!

Toshi(Raman's mom)- NOO! This can't happen. How can we let her die? She's innocent!

Ishita- RUHI will not go anywhere! Is that clear to everyone?

Of course she won't. But now what'll happen to the new-born? Will she never get the happiness she deserves? Will she never lead happy life with her family? Will her life be sacrificed for the sake of her elder sister? Was she born for this after a tough struggle to bring her into this world? All these thoughts roamed in their mind. An hour passed. None knew the solution for this! They couldn't even approach police as Niddi had scared Raman by sending a deadly picture of the baby. She placed a gun near her tiny head hiding her face with her Dracula nails threatening to kill her if police gets even a small hint.

After having a war with numerous disputes between their minds & hearts, THEY came to a decision.

Raman&Ishita- I'LL GO!

Raman&Ishita- NOO YOU WON'T!

Raman&Ishita- I'LL GO!

Raman- Argghh! I'll go.

Ishita- No Raman! You won't. She asked me to come right. I'll go.

Raman- But not alone. I'll come with you.

Ishita- No you won't come with me!

Raman- But, why? She's dangerous Ishita! She has escaped from the clutches of the police! She has a gun! I won't let you go there alone!

Ishita- But, Raman what if that becomes a disadvantage for us?

Raman- why would it be?

A call breaks their talk. Raman answers it.

Caller- Make it quick. Send Ruhi along with Ishita. And mind you, no double-crossing! If you act smart, your dear child will be dead even before you see her!

Raman(screams)- NOOOO! PLEASE! DON'T DO ANYTHING TO HER! WE'LL DO WHATEVER YOU WANT! (weeps) But please don't harm my daughter. She's too small and harmless. What did she do to you that yo..

She smirks wickedly and ends the call abruptly.

Raman- hello! HELLO! DAMMIT!

He throws the phone away in anger. She came to him and placed her hand on his shoulder from behind.

Ishita- Raman. We don't have time. We've to make it soon. Let me go!

Raman- ok but I'll be just behind you in another car.

Ishita- hmm alright.. But!

Raman- No but! I'm coming with you. That's it! I've decided!

Both of them take their respective keys and go but in different directions. She approaches the main door while he goes inside. When they find that the other one isn't beside, they turn around and find themselves in OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS! Have their paths already changed?

Ishra- come on!

Ishita- what let's go!

Raman- but (points a finger at their kids' room)

Ishita- NOO Raman! We won't!

Raman- but she won't return our baby back unless she sees Ruhi!

Now they reach out each other and stand in their old positions surrounded by the others.

Raman- we've too yaar!

Ishita- but ..

Raman- we'll manage.

Ishita- what manage Raman? They're our daughters. We can't take the things lightly!

Raman- do you think I'm not serious! My veins will explode if the things don't set right!

Prakash- Stop fighting! It's not the time to fight! It's the time to act smart!

They look helplessly at each other. They never had thought something like this would happen! They knew it very well, what did their kids meant to the other. Their LIFE! They obviously trusted each other. They knew that the other one is equally affected by this mess. But as usual, they vent their frustration at each other in demise. This time it's for not being able to protect their daughter. Or would it turn out to be DAUGHTERS?

Raman(leaves a heavy breathe)- Look.. Ishita.. Take Ruhi.. Take her along with you. I'll be right behind you in my car. The moment she hands over our baby to you, I'll come to you. I PROMISE! .. (a long gap) Alright?

He tends out his hand. She sees his hands and legs shivering out of fear. Her situation wasn't different. Her sari covered her legs and she gritted her teeth tight and held her fists tight with which she could control her upper body. She slowly places her right palm over his reluctantly. She wasn't sure about taking their another baby along. Their newborn's life was at risk. Are they going to regret this decision of theirs' of risking the other one's too? The moment they touched, they felt their palms cold. FEAR! It was evident just by a mere touch. What if something goes wrong? What if it turns out to be something else? What if something happens which cannot be CHANGED?

Ishita(holds his hand firm)- Raman..

Raman(closes his eyes to stay strong and holds her hand tightly in his)- WE'RE TOGETHER IN THIS!

They walk towards their kids' room taking trembling steps. All the others stood as mute spectators. Not because they don't have any solution. The reason was, it was the question of THEIR kids, whose life was at risk and maybe they're gonna put the other one's too. It was their decision after all. So they chose to stay mum. All their elders and siblings gave the much needed emotional support and assured them the almighty would be with them. But are they strong enough to face the situation? Are they ready to put another child's life at risk?

Here the kids are fast asleep. They don't know what commotion had taken place in the hall.

****

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Stay home, stay safe!

~Jaanishra