Ps- First I thank each and everyone personally for your lovely comments, and sorry for not replying any as many things went wrong in my laptop.

Friends, many of you have asked me not to end the story. But I started it as a short story and it'll end in 2-3 parts! Sorry for disappointing anyone of you. But I won't leave any wishes unfulfilled! I promise it'll be an awesome ending and you guys are going to see that yourself!

And one more question, do you all want to see Shagun's story after this or only Ishra's family moments in Sydney?

Please do tell me!

As promised, a long update! ;)

****

Pihu- No Mumma my turn!

Adi- No Ishima! You know it very well she's a cheater!

Ishita(laughs)- Alright alright!

She feeds both of them simultaneously while Raman was feeding Ruhi and Ishaan with the similar drama going on. Ishra look at each other smiling happily. Words weren't required to express their happiness. Their simple smile was enough! After the hug, they did a video call to the family and revealed the new truth which they rejoiced with happy tears. Ishita even narrated how she'd found Ruhi 8 months ago in a vulnerable position. How she had saved her from the clutches of Niddi and what happened later. Everyone have tears thinking about what she'd went through, but anyway they changed the topic not to waste the happy moments in crying to which everyone agreed. They had asked them many times to return soon, even the kids were excited too but Raman wanted some lone time with his family and even Ruhi couldn't travel air-ways soon. So after a tough round of sulking and requesting, the family agreed and wished them to have a happy time together. The entire family prayed for their togetherness forever!

After finishing the food, Adi suggested the plan of exploring the society to which his younger siblings happily agreed and they went down after freshening up. Sleep was long back forgotten due to the newly found happiness. Adi smiles for a nano second looking at Raman and goes down pulling the door. Later Raman realizes his fully grown up son was giving privacy to his parents. He hits his head blushing and finds her coming out of the kitchen looking confused.

Ishita- Raman where did they all go?

Raman- To look around the place!

Ishita- But..

Raman- Areey don't worry, they're not kids anymore! And Adi is with them any way!

Ishita- Alright!

She turns to go but he pulls her back. He locks his hands around her waist observing her keenly while she was looking down not able to meet his eyes. He pulls her chin up with his palm and again wraps around her waist.

Raman- Are you okay?

Ishita- Ye.. yeah!

She looks away again.

Raman- Look into my eyes Jaan!

She looks at him with tears which concern him.

Raman(wipes her tears)- What happened now?

Ishita- Aren't you angry?

Raman(holds her shoulders)- For what?

Ishita- Because I hid so many things from you!

Raman- I know you did, but I also know you'd tell me all that soon!

She looks and finds his response different.

Raman- I know I'm not being Ravan kumar (she smiles) but being that I'd lost you! I won't repeat the same again. I'll wait until you share everything with me.

Ishita- But still Raman (she gets up) you might have felt..

Raman- Felt what?

Ishita- Cheated!

Raman(makes her look at him)- Yeah I did! But the best part is, YOU'RE ALIVE and this is what I'd wished for all these years! And now I'm double, no triple having you all in my life!

She smiles and he opens her arms for her and she happily crawls into his embrace. He places a lovely kiss on her forehead.

Ishita- I'M SORRY!

Raman- I'M SORRY TOO!

They stayed in the same position for long smiling happily. They'd already narrated each other about Ishaan and Pihu's childhood to the other and found out that they were similar in many ways. Ishaan possessed RKB attitude while Pihu possessed JKR attitude which was the best! Though they've missed many moments which would never be fulfilled, they were happy being together and promised to never let the family break again.

Raman- Will you tell me now?

Ishita- What?

Raman- Where were you that whole day?

She suddenly comes out of his arms which he'd expected.

Raman- Tell me Ishita!

He sees tears forming in her eyes which make him concerned more than before. He pulls her head onto his shoulder and pats her cheek. She snuggles closer to him.

Ishita- I met Shagun that day!

Raman(pulls her out)- WHAT?

Ishita- Haan!

****

Flashback

She was coming out of the hospital but Shagun stops her in the corridor.

Shagun- Seems you're having a great time with MY RAMAN!

Ishita- What do you want?

Shagun- I don't want anything! I just want to tell you that, the place in Raman's life was mine which you're so proud off!

Ishita- It was! Right! Keep living in your past where I'm happy in my present! Bye!

She starts to leave from there.

Shagun- Don't forget, I'm the reason why you've got Raman and I'm the reason why you've got Adi-Ruhi and I'm the reason why you came closer!

She turns back and Shagun walks to her!

Ishita- Ok fine! I'm thankful, you're the reason I've got them! Happy?

Shagun- I guess you've forgot, let me remind you! It was because of me why Raman use to show you off in front of me and to make me jealous, Raman used to come near you. Oh yeah how can I forget! It was only because of my bitter words you've dressed up for Raman! Remember that night (laughs) of course you would! I was a stupid to help you all that while, I became the surrogate mother, did all that bhoot drama ... Ohh god! But if you see, if Shagun wouldn't be there! Raman Ishita would've never ever met! Raman would have never loved a behenji type like you! Any ways he didn't have any CHOICE after all you loved Ruhi as your own and Raman can't get any better girl as he was a divorcee with kids! But still he loved you! Actually you don't deserve him! You've cheated him for faking your death! He deserves better! Any way who am I to guide the great Isheema! You're a cheater Isheeta and you don't deserve Raman! Remember that!

Shagun left from there smirking as she knew Ishita would go leaving Raman and she would become his! Ishita sat down for hours in the nearby park forgetting the world.

I hate this while writing, but to do justice to Shagun's role, I had to think evilly!

****

Present,

He looks at her bewildered and shocked by Shagun's audacity! He finds her wiping tears and notices her hands shivering. He at once pulls her into his embrace and she breaks down which she was holding onto from a long time now!

Ishita(sobs)- Raman, I know.. I've hurt you.. I've hid things from you.. But she.. she said.. I was a choice.. Choice?

He pulls her into his embrace and comforts her gritting his teeth thinking about that idiot who doesn't leave a single chance to trouble them.

Raman- Shh.. Ishita.. Ishita listen to me! (he cups her face wiping her tears) Who is more important for you? She or me?

Ishita- Of course you Raman!

Raman- Then listen to me only and never get bothered with her words, as she only wants this! She wants you to feel like this and create troubles between us. Even you know that!

Ishita- Yeah.. I know!

Raman- Then good! It's us who know about our relation Ishita! We don't need anyone's opinion to prove our love. Right?

She looks up with tears and he wipes them.

Ishita- I'm sorry! I was just..

Raman(hugs her again)- It's ok! But never get carried away like this! Alright?

Ishita(holds his hands)- hmm!

He feels bad seeing her broken like this which was a new development in her in the recent years. He decided to bring back the tigress Ishita whom he'd always adored and he knew she'd be back very soon.

The door bell rings and they break the hug. They wipe their face making sure they wouldn't know they were crying, he opens the door only to find Adi and Ruhi's hands filled with shopping bags.

Ishita- What's all this?

Ruhi- The routine, Ishima! Ishu's never ending snack shopping! And you know what?

Adi- Even Pihu is the same!

They all laugh together finding the kids similar!

The cute little kids pout and go inside hand in hand grabbling away the ice-creams.

Raman- Haan haan after all their Mumma is the same! Kyu madrasan? You and your love for shopping!

Now Ishita pouts and goes inside, grabbing a few bags from them.

They giggle at his one-liners which were getting back on track.

****

10:00pm

Raman- Aren't you guys sleepy? (yawns)

Ishaan- No Papa!

All of them were seated in comfortable positions on the floor over a soft floor bed and they were chatting about anything and everything.

Raman- Adi, Pihu, Ishita.. Aren't you guys tired? Don't you have any jetlag problem?

Pihu- Papa I'm very happy today! That's why I'm not sleepy!

Adi- True Papa!

Ruhi- Achha Bhai! Do you know why Papa is sleepy? (She winks at him)

Adi(giggles)- Oh haan haan I get it!

Raman- What?

Ruhi- Don't act Papa! We know everything!

Ishra blush looking at each other while Adi-Rooh giggle.

Ishita- Chup! Now come on Ishu, Pihu!

Ishu&Pihu- What Mumma?

Raman, Ishita, Adi, Ruhi(unison)- Brush your teeth!

All the three of them burst into laughter having the same thoughts running and have a hi-fi!

Ishita- Is that even a joke?

Raman(laughs)- When did we say it's a joke?

Ishita- Ok fine whatever! Ishu, Pihu come on go now! And Ishu take didi to your room bachha.

They run together hand in hand while Adi-Rooh reminisce their childhood finding them do similar acts. Adi side hugs Ruhi and Ishra smile seeing them grown as they were acting matured.

Ruhi(folds her legs)- I'm okay Bhai!

Soon the kids come back but this time Adi himself agrees of being sleepy and all the others agree too. Adi and Ishaan settle in a room while Ruhi and Pihu in the other. Though both Raman and Ishita ask Pihu and Ishaan whether they could sleep without them, they happily nod as they wanted to be with their newly found elder one! This was a new change, as the kids never slept without Ishra in the past 7 years which makes them smile. Ishita asks Raman to go and sleep and he agrees. She wraps the work and feels him hugging her waist from behind and places his chin on her shoulder. He'd now changed into his night clothes. She leans her back on him relaxed. Both of them enjoy their intimacy closing their eyes.

Ishita- Raman!

Raman(kisses her neck to which she closes her eyes) hmm.

Ishita- Let's go to the room.

Raman- As you say!

He picks her in his arms after switching the lights off and she happily wraps her arms around his neck and he walks towards the room smiling. He places her on the bed and goes to lock the door. When he turns around, he finds her quickly running into the wash grabbing her clothes.

Raman- Ishita, what happened?

Ishita(doesn't turn towards him)- Hmm.. nothing!

She locks the door confusing him. He looks around the room as he got freshened in a different one before! He finds the room filled with everyone's pics but he searches for a pic of them together but doesn't find anyone. He feels hurt but quickly covers up as he finds her coming out in a white kurti and black leggings.

Ishita(wipes her face)- Aren't you sleepy Raman?

Raman- Are you?

Ishita(smiles)- No!

He comes to her and they settle down on the couch. She lays down in his lap hugging his leg while he places his legs on the footrest, caressing her hair.

Raman- Do you know? Pihu does the same when she doesn't get sleep!

Ishita- And Ishaan makes me sleep like this often in the evenings.

She looks up at him smiling and finds him having the same expression.

Ishita- Raman..

Raman- Hmm..

Ishita- You know.. how did I.. how did I meet Ruhi?

He makes her sit beside him holding her hands.

Ishita- Raman.. I met her eight months ago! Actually not her, but I spotted NIDDI! I immediately informed police about my case, first they weren't ready to arrest her as it all happened in India but later due to the influence of few friends here, finally they'd agreed and enquired about the case and took her into custody. Her passport and citizenship card were stolen due to which she couldn't escape! Later we checked her entire house and I found Ruhi tied up in the store room. Raman she was.. she was crying bitterly Raman and none felt pity for her. She was crying my name.. I.. she sobs and he pulls her, hugging her tight imagining the pain their daughter had gone through. They searched solace in each other arms' trying to get over, imagining about Ruhi's life in these 7 years! I'd literally lost my mental balance seeing her. I ran to her and hugged her tight! I was crying louder than her. She was too broken and vulnerable! My heart ached to see her like that Raman.. I felt very bad seeing her like... she breaks down once again, he pulls her closer comforting her. I took her away from there to a hospital first (they break the hug and hold hands again after wiping their tears) She was in a trauma! It took her around 2 months to understand what was happening around her! Her mind was stuck at that horrible night when we all got separated! She was too innocent Raman! Why did she have to go through all this? I would be really happy if all this would've happen to me instead of..

Raman- Stop it Ishita! I don't have any more courage to suffer once again!.. Ok listen whatever happened with us was not at all fair but it did right! We can't undo it! But we'll not spoil our future which is much better now compared to those 7 years. In fact THE BEST! Alright?

Ishita nods understanding and wipes her tears.

Ishita- Shall I continue?

Raman- Yeah! (wipes his own tears)

Ishita- Ishu was very much disturbed those 2 months as I wasn't in a state to handle him. But later on when Ruhi came back home, he started to smile like before and Ruhi too started recovering slowly. She was in depression for 7 years and tortured daily by that WITCH she grits her teeth And you know I slapped her mercilessly till she begged me not to! Her cheeks became double the size of her face! I was little satisfied to give her the pain in some way but not completely! he smiles as he too felt like slapping her hard but thank god she did that already She had internal injuries that were the reason, we couldn't return and I didn't want you all to see her in that state. So I thought let her once recover and then we'll all come over there. But Ruhi booked the tickets without informing me as she was too excited to meet you all. Even I tried to bring them along but the doctor had strictly denied. So.. I came alone, but thank god I did and they were saved from that hijack!

That word sent a shiver and he hugged her close. He cried helplessly for not being able to protect Ruhi! He breaks the hug suddenly.

Raman- Ishita why only after you've found Ruhi, you wanted to return?

She looks up but he turns his face away.

Ishita(sobs)- Ramann..

Raman- I know many things went wrong in our life years ago, but you never felt that you should let us know about Ishaan or even about you BEING ALIVE!

Ishita(sobs)- Ramann..

He wipes her tears and waits for her answer.

Ishita- Raman.. My one mistake had become the cost of Ruhi's life.. I didn't want to come back and destroy your life more!

Raman- What was left to destroy?

Ishita(sobs)- Raman, I..

Raman- Ishita..

Ishita(wipes her tears)- I'm telling you.. Just wait..

Raman- hmm

Ishita- My mind wasn't in my control. I didn't know what was I doing, it was like I wasn't in my senses. I went towards the cliff and.. (he hugs her tight not able to listen the next words) Raman.. It's fine.. I'll just..

Raman(makes her head rest on his shoulder and pats her cheek)- No! Tell me everything!

Ishita(holds his hand)- hm.. Raman.. trust me I didn't find any other alternative. I felt my world has ended and I got the feeling of my death approaching (He shivered listening to it) So I jumped..

He couldn't control anymore and hugs her crying.

Raman(sobs)- I'm sorry Jaan! It happened all because of me!

Ishita(sobs along)- It's not only your fault! I couldn't think anything rationally!

After sometime, they break the hug wiping their face.

Ishita- It was a deep one Raman but soft at the end, maybe thick bushes. But none could come down there without jumping. Maybe that was why..

Raman- We couldn't get any info about you!

Ishita- Hmm yeah! I came into conscious after 3 days in a hospital. Later I found that I was in Agra! Few people who were travelling found me and took me along with them and admitted in the hospital.

Raman- HOW THE HELL CAN THEY JUST TAKE YOU ALONG? THEY DIDN'T EVEN INFORM THE POLICE! AND WE THOUGHT YOU WERE DEA..

Ishita- It's ok Raman. Leave it!

Raman- Arrey but..

Ishita- It's only because of those people, I'm alive today!

Raman- hmm

Ishita- Later for a month, I stayed in the hospital as I was in complete depression. But one day I fainted and was declared 5 weeks pregnant! You know.. I didn't even celebrate the news.. rather.. I..

She starts to sob again and he pulls her close as he was himself crying and didn't have any words left to console her.

Ishita- I was.. just breathing Raman. I was lost in my own world which I can't even explain! It took me another month to absorb the news. I slowly started taking care of myself as it was the only reason I stopped..

Raman(with tears)- Stopped what?

Ishita(looks down)- To die!

It wasn't a new shock, he'd guessed that already! He just pulled her into himself. She was lying on his chest sobbing while he was crushing her helplessly thinking about her state and how she'd managed pregnancy with her already complicated history!

Ishita- A long lost friend of mine bumped into me unknowingly. We were best of friends in our school days. She was the one who treated me, and I confided everything to her. She had asked me many times to return back but I didn't had any courage.. left to face you! I'm.. I'm sorry Raman!

He once again curses himself for not being able to protect her or even treat her well. Why did he do that? She is the one he loved the most in the world! THEN WHY? Why did he burst at her and she'd suffered for something which wasn't her fault? Why did he leave her alone? He tightens the hold around her as the guilt was killing him deeper and he didn't know what to do!

Ishita- Raman.. That's all!

Raman- No no! I'm fine. Just continue..

Ishita- But you..

Raman- Ok I'll be fine but only if you tell me everything!

Ishita- hmm. Later she was going to Sydney as she was recently married and her husband stayed there. She had asked me to accompany if I wanted. First I denied but later, I agreed as I didn't have any option left! I stayed in the same society of theirs'. I started looking for some job and got it in Fairfield hospital. Slowly Ishaan was born which changed my life! He's a carbon copy of you Raman! And I could see, he'd the essence of the entire family! He was the reason I came out of depression. But..

Raman(she wipes his tears)- But?

Ishita- Because of my depression, Ishaan didn't make any movement till 7 months. You know I was really scared thinking the worst! He holds her hands tight imagining her state But after getting a lot of scoldings from the doctor, I started taking care of myself even more than before! I didn't want to lose the last hope of my life! So I was carefull, and with god's grace, Ishaan was a happy healthy child!

She smiles after a long time, which makes him smile too! He holds her hands after wiping their tears again.

Raman- Then?

Ishita(smiles)- Then.. My world was filled with his cuteness, his laughter, his cries! He made me live again Raman!

She keeps her head over his hands. He caresses her hair.

Raman- hmm..

Ishita- Of course Raman!

She gets up.

Raman- What?

Ishita- I really missed you A LOT!

Raman(blushes)- How did you know I was thinking the same?

Ishita(smiles)- Yeah I of course know everything about you!

Raman- Then, tell me! When did you miss me?

Ishita(blushes)- There wasn't any moment when I hadn't missed you!

He pulls her cheeks lovingly and joins their foreheads by cupping her face and she closes her eyes smiling, holding his hands. They stay in the same position. He kisses her forehead and she rests her head on his shoulder, while he wraps her in his arms caressing her hair and back.

To be continued...

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How was it friends?

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Stay home, stay safe!

~Jaanishra