City Hospital:

Raman and Ishita stare at each other in silence. Ishita looks into Raman's eyes and she can immediately tell that something is not right. 

Ishita: Raman... aap... kya hua hai?

Raman: Ishita... woh... Pihu...

Ishita: Haan please batao na... Pihu kahan hai Raman? Woh zada ghabrai toh nahi court mein? Mujhe dhoondh rahi hogi na... please batao na Pihu kahan hai?

Raman: Woh Simmi...

Ishita: Aapne use Simmi ke saath ghar bhej diya kya? Raman I know Simmi ne Pihu ko maaf kar diya hai lekin Pihu bahut time se Simmi se dari rehti thi. I just hope woh uske saath akele mein zada ghabra na jaye.

Raman: Ishita... Pihu ghar pe nahi hai..

Ishita: Kya? Phir kahan hai woh?

Raman looks at Ishita, takes a deep breath and then tells her the truth that he knows will shatter her to the core.

Raman: Ishita... yaad hai aaj morning mein tum keh rahi thi ki tumhara man Simmi ko lekar ghabra raha hai...

Ishita looks at Raman with big fearful eyes as she is not sure what exactly to expect.

Raman: Tum sahi thi Ishita.

Ishita: Matlab kya hai aapka? Pihu....

Raman: Ishita...woh... Simmi ne last moment pe apna statement badal diya aur judge se kaha ki Pihu Ananya ki maut ke liye zimmedar hai aur judge ne Pihu ko 6 mahino ke liye remand home bheja hai.

Ishita looks at Raman in disbelief for a few seconds. She does not even realise when her feet give way and she is about to sink on the floor. Raman grabs her with his arms steadying her. 

Raman: Ishita please sambhalo apne aap ko...

Ishita: Nahi... aisa nahi ho sakta... Raman... hamari Pihu... woh kiase... nahi... use in sab se bachane ke liye main khud jail chali gai thi... phir... uske saath kaise... nahi Raman... aisa... aisa nahi ho sakta...

Ishita is not able to speak more as once again she is crying unconsolably. Raman pulls her in his arms holding her securely as she continues to weep. Seeing her like this Ruhi also comes and hugs her from behind but the combined weight of first Adi and now Pihu is too much for Ishita to handle and it is almost like she has reached her breaking point. Raman kisses the top of her head and Ruhi is gently rubbing her back while Raman is still holding her. After a few minutes Ishita calms down a little however she is still sobbing and crying so Raman while still holding her in his arms speaks hoping it will comfort her further.

Raman: I am sorry Ishita. Actually galti meri hai ki main apni behan ko pehchan nahi paya. Nahi samajh paya ki jo aurat tumhe ek pal ke liye maaf nahi kar pai jab use laga ki tum uski beti ki maut ke liye zimmedar ho woh ek bacchi ki anjaane me hui galti ko bhi theek se samajh nahi payegi. Lekin Pihu hamari bahadur bacchi hai. Woh bilkul apni Ishimaa jaisi hai. Jaise uski Ishimaa ne jail mein itni bahaduri se apna time kaata tha dekhna waise hi woh bhi is time ko bahut acche se nikal legi. Aur tab tak hum sub hai na. Hum bhi yahan himmat se ek saath milke is time to kaat lenge warna Pihu wahan kamzoor pad jayegi. Aur dekhna Ishita 6 months kaise nikal jayega pata bhi nahi chalega. Uske baad hamari Pihu hamare pass wapas aa jayegi aur phir hum sab milke uski life mein itni khushiyan bhar denge ki woh pichla sab kuch bhul jayegi. Tumhe mujhpe bharosa hai na?

In between sobs Ishita nods her head saying yes.

Raman: Toh bus. Mera yakeen karo ek baar Pihu wapas hamare pass aa jayegi phir sab theek ho jayega aur tab tak main hoon na tumhare saath. 

Ruhi: Haan Ishimaa. I know yeh bahut difficult hai khas kar aapke liye. Pihu ko in sab se bachane ke liye aapne itna kuch sacrifice kiya aur aaj Simmi Bua ki wajah se sab ulta pad gaya lekin aap kamzoor mat pado Ishimaa. Hum sab hain na. Please Ishimaa.

Ishita sobs a bit more thinking about how Pihu must have felt and she feels even worse because she was not in court when her daughter needed her the most. Raman once again kisses the top of her forehead and comforts her.

Raman: Bus Ishita... sambhalo apne aap ko. Yaad hai aaj morning hi maine tumse kaha tha ki main tumhari aakhon mein aasu nahi dekh sakta? Phir kya hai yeh sab? Chalo please ab rona band karo. Mere bahadur bachoon ki bahadur Ishimaa ho tum! Come on now!

Ishita cries a little more then finally she pulls herself together for she knows she has to give an equally shocking and heartbreaking news to Raman. Raman releases her from his arms and looks at her intently. Now that he is looking at her carefully he finally notices some blood stains on her clothes and he gets concerned.

Raman: Ishita yeh tumhare kapdon pe khoon kaisa? 

Ishita: Raman... woh... 

Raman: Tum toh theek ho. Koi chot bhi nahi lagi hai. Phir yeh khoon kaisa?

Once again tears come to Ishita's eyes. She tries to speak but she isn't able to utter a word so she just points her finger at the end of the corridor. Raman looks in the direction that she is pointing and sees she is pointing at the Operation Theatre and he can see a visibly worried Shagun and Aliya pacing in front of it. 

Raman: Yeh Shagun itni pareshan kyun hai aur Aliya bhi. Kya....

Then he looks back at Ishita.

Raman: Ishita... Mani ko kuch hua hai kya? Bolo na?

Ishita shakes her head saying no.

Raman: Phir kiska operation ho raha hai Ishita?

Ishita (whispers): Adi...

More tears come out of Ishita's eyes and both Ruhi and Raman look at Ishita shocked. Raman lets go of Ishita and immediately runs the entire length of the corridor hurriedly towards Shagun and Ruhi follows him too.

Raman: Shagun... what's going on?!?

Shagun: Raman! Thank God tum aa gaye! Meri kuch samajh mein nahi aa raha!

Raman: Adi... Adi ko kya hua?

Shagun: Mujhse kya puch rahe ho! Ja ke apni Biwi se pucho ki usne Adi ke saath aisa kyun kiya!

Raman: What do you mean? Ishita ne kya kiya?

Shagun: Raman Adi ka operation ho raha hai kyunki use goli lagi hai aur jante ho Adi pe goli kisne chalai...Ishita ne!

Raman: What?!?

Shagun: Haan Raman! Ishita ne Adi pe goli chalai hai! Tum soch nahi sakte kitna khoon beh gaya tha uska yahan aane tak. Uski puri shirt khoon se lipti hui thi!

Raman: Lekin Ishita aisa...

Shagun: Tumhe meri baat pe yakeen nahi hai Raman! Tumhe really lagta hai ki apne bete ke bare mein main koi bhi mangharat kahani banaungi? Yakeen nahi aata toh Aliya se puch lo... ek Patni apne Pati ke bare mein toh koi jhoot nahi bolgei na?

Raman looks at Aliya.

Aliya: Papa woh Adi ne Roshni ko mandir se kidnap kiya aur ek sunsan pahadi pe le gaya. Hum uska peecha karte karte wahan pahuche... phir wahan Adi Roshni ko nuksaan pahuchane wala tha aur usko rokne ke liye... Amma... Amma ne Adi pe goli chalai... aur Adi... Adi... itna khoon... 

Ruhi: Aliya... Roshni kahan hai? 

Aliya: RUHI! Uska naam mat lena mere samne!!

Ruhi: Nahi I meant... 

Shagun: USe kuch nahi hua afterall Ishita ne use bachane ke liye Adi pe goli jo chala di thi! Woh police ke saath gai hai statement dene aur hum sub yahan aa gaye. Actually police should arrest Ishita. Uski wajah se Adi hospital mein is haal mein hai! Agar mere Adi ko kuch bhi hua toh main Ishita ko chodungi nahi!

Ruhi: But koi toh reason hoga ki Ishimaa...

Shagun: RUHI SHUT UP!! Tumhara Bhai yahan operation theatre mein zinagi aur maut se lad raha hai all thanks to your so called Ishimaa aur tumhe reason ki padi hai!! Arey woh hoti kaun hai Adi ki zindagi apne hathoon mein lene wali! 

Ruhi: Shagun Mumma yeh aap kaisi baatein...

Ruhi is interrupted as Toshi, Bhalla Ji, Romi, Mihika, Bala, Kiran, Madhavi and Vishwa come there.

Toshi: Kya hua Puttar? Achanak hum sab ko hospital kyun bulaya Ruhi ne? Sab theek toh hai na?

Shagun: Kya khaak theek hai sab! 

Bhalla Ji: Shagun kya hua saaf saaf batao.

Shagun: Aapke Pote ka operation chal raha hai!

Toshi: Kya?!? Kya hua mera Adi ko?!?

Shagun pretty much repeats the story blaming Ishita for Adi's condition. The Iyers and the Bhallas are in complete shock and disbelief at first and then they all are unanimously angry towards Ishita. 

Toshi: Ishita... Ishita ne aisa kyun kiya? Tum logon ne use roka kyun nahi?

Shagun: Hum kuch bolte ya karte usse pehle Ishita ne goli chala di!

Madhavi: Ishu se aisi galti! Hamare Adi ke saath aisa...

Bala: Amma agar Ishu ne actually aisa kuch kiya hai toh koi reason hoga na. Bina kisi wajah ke Ishu aisa kar hi nahi sakti hai.

Shagun: Haan Bala tum toh hamesha us Ishita ki hi side loge kyunki tumhari nazroon mein woh kabhi galat ho hi nahi sakti. Lekin is baar Ishita se galti nahi gunah hua hai! ADI... ADI PE GOLI CHALAI HAI USNE!

Their discussion on who is at fault comes to an abrupt end as the lights of the operation theatre goes off indicating that the operation is over. They all wait anxiously, every second seeming like an eternity. Finally the doctor emerges.

Doctor: Aap Patient ki family hain?

Raman: Yes I'm his father. Doctor mera Beta theek hai na?

Doctor: Humne bullet nikal diya hai. Fortunately bullet ne kisi organ ko hit nahi kiya tha abdomen mein so we were able to repair all the damage. 

Raman: Matlab Adi... he is fine! Use kuch nahi hua hai right?

Doctor: Actually no. He is not fine!

Ishita: Lekin abhi aapne kaha ki aapne sara damage repair kar diya phir....

Ishita had been standing at a far away distance from the operation theatre but seeing the doctor come out she was not able to stop herself from coming there to get an health update on Adi.

Doctor: Actually patient ko sar pe bhi gehri chot lagi thi and it looks like he had a concussion on the spot jiski wajah se patient ke brain mein bahut swelling ho gai thi and oxygen bhi nahi ja raha tha. We tried to release the pressure so that swelling kam ho jaye but aisa hua nahi. 

Ruhi: Lekin iska matlab kya hai?

Doctor: Matlab yeh hai ki patient coma mein ja chuka hai.

Every one lets out gasps of shocks and disbelief!

Raman: Doctor woh theek toh ho jayega na?

Doctor: Look aise cases mein hum kuch bhi nahi keh sakte hain! For now he is stable and hum unhe ICU mein shift kar rahein hain where we will be constantly monitoring him. 

Shagun: Doctor there must be something we can do? 

Doctor: Look main aap logon ko koi jhoothi ummeed nahi dena chahta. Jitna zada time patient coma mein rahega utne hi zada complications badhne ke chances hai. Agar brain hi theek se kaam nahi karega toh uska asar dheere dheere body ke baki organs pe bhi padne lagta hai. Isliye aap ko har situation ke liye ready hona hoga. But be rest assured hamari side se unhe best treatment and care milegi. Please excuse me.

The doctor leaves. Ishita is standing with tears in her eyes, staring at the operation theatre when suddenly someone grabs her arm tightly and spins her around. Raman is staring at her, his eyes burning with rage and anger and before she knows it he raises his hand and slaps her hard on the face! Because she wasn't expecting it she loses her balance and is about to fall but Bala and Ruhi both immediately rush to her side and hold her so that she does not fall flat on the floor.

Ruhi: PAPA! Yeh kya kar rahe ho aap?

Raman: SHUT UP RUHI! ISKI WAJAH SE MERA ADI EK ZINDA LAASH BAN KE REH GAYA HAI! 

Raman pushes Ruhi aside roughly and grabs hold of Ishita's arms so tightly that she winces in pain but she does not say anything to stop him and just looks at him with tearful eyes.

Raman: HOW DARE YOU! TUMNE ADI PE GOLI CHALAI KAISE? ITNI HIMMAT AAI KAISE TUM MEIN? TUMHARE HAATH NAHI KAAPE? TUMNE ADI KE BARE MEIN EK BAAR NAHI SOCHA? TUMNE EK BAAR NAHI SOCHA KI USPE GOLI CHALANE KA MATLAB KYA HOGA? SUNA TUMNE DOCTOR NE KYA KAHA?

Bala: RAMAN YEH KYA TAREEKA HAI APNI BIWI SE BAAT KARNE KA?

Raman: AREY KAUN SI BIWI? EK BAAT BATAO BALA BHAGWAN NA KARE LEKIN AGAR KAL KO AGAR KIRAN NE SHRAVU PE GOLI CHALA DI TOH TUM KYA KAROGE?

Bala: Raman I know tum Adi ke liye bahut pareshan ho! Hum sub bhi utne hi pareshan hai and chahte hai ki woh jald se jald coma se nikal jaye aur theek ho jaye. Lekin Raman ek baar Ishu ko bolne toh do ki wahan hua kya tha. Bina puri baat jane...

RAMAN: AREY NAHI JANNI MUJHE KOI BAAT. IS AURAT NE MERE BETE PE GOLI CHALAI JISKI WAJAH SE AAJ WOH IS HAAL MEIN HOSPITAL MEIN PADA HUA HAI. AB AUR KUCH JAN KE KUCH BADLEGA KYA- KYA ADI WAPAS THEEK HO JAYEGA. NAHI NA?!?

Ruhi: PAPA PLEASE! Yeh kya keh rahe ho aap?

Toshi: Ruhi! Badon ke beech mein mat hi bol toh better hoga. Aur Raman kuch galat nahi keh raha.

Madhavi: Aiyo Ishu. Tumse aisi umeed nahi thi mujhe. Tum Adi ke saath aisa kaise kar sakti ho?

Ruhi: Papa please aap Ishimaa se aise kaise baat kar rahe ho? In fact aap sab log Ishimaa se aise kaise baat kar rahe ho!

Raman: RUHI AGAR TUM CHAHTI HO KI ISSE KOI RUDELY BAAT NA KARE TOH ISSE KAHO KI HUM SAB KI NAZROON SE DOOR CHALI JAYE!

Ruhi: Papa please don't...

Ishita just places her hand on Ruhi's shoulder, silencing her and silently walks away so that she is far enough from their sight but not far enough that she can't see what is going on. 

The private ICU is on the 6th floor of the hospital. As soon as Adi is moved there everyone rushes to go see him. At first Ishita does not move but as soon as the family has taken the elevator to go one floor up, she takes the staircase and goes up. Once again she keeps a safe distance from everyone so that they can't see her but she is clearly able to see the door to Adi's room. 

The doctor allows them to see Adi only for 5 minutes. Everyone goes in and when they come out they all are crying- some sobbing and some shedding silent tears as it broke their heart to see Adi is this state and what was hurting them even more was the fact that Ishita was responsible for putting Adi in this condition. Although Ishita has kept a distance inside she is more restless than she has ever been in her life. All she wants to do is go see Adi but she knows that no one will let her go on so she is using every bit of self control to keep herself from forcing her way into the ICU to see her son. 

It is almost nighttime. The doctor comes and asks everyone to leave for the night and return in the morning.

Raman: Doctor, mera Beta yahan admitted hai. Hum use akela chod ke kaise ja sakte hain?

Doctor: Mr. Bhalla agar Adi normal ward mein hota toh uske saath aap mein se koi ek reh sakta tha. Lekin ICU ke rules different hai. ICU patients se aap ek baar morning mein aur ek baar evening mein woh bhi sirf 5 minutes ke liye mil sakte hain aur koi family member yahan raat ko nahi ruk sakta. Yeh hospital ke rules hain and we are very strict about our rules so aap sab ko hamare rules follow karne honge and there can be no exception. Aapka cell phone number hai hamare pass. Jaise hi Adi ke condition mein koi bhi change ayega aapko immediately inform kar diya jayega but for now you all have to leave. 

Raman tries a bit more to convince the doctor to let at least one person stay as this is the first night but the doctor refuses to bend the rules so reluctantly they all make their way to the elevator to go downstairs. On the way to the elevator they all cross the corridor where Ishita has been silently standing and staring at Adi's door non-stop for the last few hours but no one except Bala, Kiran and Ruhi look at her. 

Ruhi: Ishimaa chalo. Hum yahan nahi ruk sakte. Humein ghar chalna hoga.

Raman: Ruhi iske liye meri car mein koi jagah nahi hai.

Bala: Ruhi, Ishu hamari car mein aa jayegi.

Madhavi: Bala hamari car mein bhi Ishu ke liye koi jagah nahi hai.

Bala: Amma...

Madhavi: Bala maine keh diya na. Chalo ghar chalo. 

Raman: Ruhi chalo.

Ruhi: Lekin Papa...

Raman: Ruhi. Jis car se yeh mere bete pe goli chalane ke baad hospital aai thi usi car se ghar tak bhi ja hi sakti hai na. Tum mere saath aai thi isliye tum mere saath chalo. Humein Shagun ko drop karte hue ghar jana hai.

Mihika: Jiju it's been a long day for you. Aap Ruhi aur Aliya ko ghar le ke jao. Romi aur main Shagun ko ghar drop karke aa jayege. 

Raman: Thanks Mihika. 

Everyone walks forward without giving a second glance in Ishita's direction but Ruhi stands at her spot staring helplessly at Ishita.

Ishita: It's ok Ruhi. Papa ke saath jao. He needs you right now. Main aa jaungi. Sabko kuch khila ke hi sone jane dena ok.

Ruhi nods and leaves Ishita behind with a heavy heart. 

Bhalla Drawing Room:

It's been four hours since the Bhallas minus Ishita got back home from the hospital. Everyone in the house is emotionally drained and physically exhausted and has gone off to sleep after forcing themselves to eat some food so that they too do not collapse and land up in the hospital when they need to be strong and be there for each other for the events that have transpired within the last 12 hours have shattered all of them in ways they are yet to discover. Raman comes downstairs, looks around the house and sees no one. He goes and peeks into Ruhi's bedroom but finds her sleeping alone. He then goes to Pihu's bedroom and finds it empty too. He comes back to the drawing room and bumps into Aliya.

Raman: Aliya tum yahan? Beta tum theek ho na?

Aliya: Haan Papa I am fine. Woh main aap hi ke pass aa rahi thi.

Raman: Haan bolo kya baat hai?

Aliya shows Raman Ishita's car keys and phone.

Aliya: Woh Papa, Amma ki car keys aur phone toh mere pass purse mein the. Maine abhi apna purse khola tab mujhe yaad aya. Hum unhe aise hi chod ke aa gaye ki woh apne aap aa jayengi lekin ab woh ayengi kaise?

Raman: Taxi se aa jayegi.

Aliya: Papa, Amma aaj apna purse le ke toh gai hi nahi. Bina paise ke kaise?

Raman looks at Aliya not sure what he should do. On the one hand he can't seem to get over the fact that Ishita shot Adi and it is because of her that his son is lying in a coma in the hospital right now and on the other hand he knows that when he came down and was going from room to room to check on everyone he was actually looking for Ishita.

Aliya: Papa humein ja ke Amma ko ghar le aana chahiye.

Raman: Are you serious Aliya? Uski wajah se tumhara Pati zindagi aur maut se lad raha hai aur tumhe uski fikar ho rahi hai?

Aliya: Kaun sa Pati Papa? Kya Pati apni Patni ke samne kisi aur ladki ko uski shaadi ke mandap se bhaga ke le jata hai kyunki woh us ladki se pyaar karta hai?

Raman: I know Aliya Adi bhatak gaya hai. Lekin mera yakeen mano ek baar woh hospital se theek hoke ghar aa gaya uske baad main use samjhaunga, zaroorat padi toh use councillor ke pass le jaunga. Mujhse jo ban padega woh karunga lekin hamare Adi ko wapas le aunga main.

Aliya: Aapka Beta Adi shayad wapas aa bhi jaye Papa lekin woh Adi jisse maine pyaar kiya, jisse maine shaadi ki thi woh Adi kabhi wapas nahi ayega.

Raman: Aliya...

Aliya: Papa please. Mujhe is bare mein koi baat nahi karni hai. Aap mujhe yeh bataye Amma ke bare mein aap kya karna chahte hain? Woh ghar kaise ayengi?

Raman stands in silence pondering over Aliya's question, when someone rings the door bell. Aliya hurries to open the door. She steps back to let someone come in- it's Ishita. Raman feels a sense of relief but his relief is only momentary for as soon as he sees Ishita, he sees the blood stains on her clothes and he is immediately reminded of what she has done.

Aliya: Amma aap ghar kaise aai? Aapki car ki chabhi toh mere pass reh gai thi.

Ishita stops as soon as she comes in front of Raman. Raman notices that Ishita is out of breath, sweating profusely and looking absolutely exhausted but he does nothing to help her nor does he ask her why she is in such a bad state.

Ishita: Woh main chal ke aai.

Aliya (shocked): Hospial se yahan tak! Tabhi aapko itna time lag gaya.

Ishita looks at Aliya shocked that she is talking to her normally and isn't angry with her as she ought to be for there is no denying that no matter what the circumstances, Ishita is responsible for putting Adi in the hospital in his current state but she is too tired to figure out or ask her or even talk to her about anything so she just looks at her and says nothing.

Aliya: Amma aap chalo kuch kha lo. Aise toh aap bimaar pad jaoge.

Ishita: Mujhe bhook nahi hai Aliya. Tum sab ne kuch khaya?

Aliya: Haan Amma.

Ishita: Ja ke thoda sone ki koshish karo Aliya.

Aliya nods and Ishita drags her feet up the stairs towards her bedroom. She is so tired that she is barely able to pull herself up the stairs but then she looks down at her clothes and sees the blood stains and her desire to take a shower comes back stronger than ever and she finds every last bit of energy left in her to walk up till her bedroom. Aliya watches Ishita stumble, then she notices Raman- he is watching her walk up the stairs like a hawk. She can see on his face that part of him wants to help her but something is holding him back.

Aliya herself is dealing with confusing and conflicting emotions towards Adi and Ishita. She does not know what to feel and what to do so she decides to do nothing for now and silently goes back to her room. Once both Aliya and Ishita have left, Raman sits alone in the darkness in the drawing room his mind trying to process his feelings of anger towards Ishita and his guilt of having thrown Adi out of the house, abandoning him, which he feels must have pushed him to take such drastic steps.

Raman-Ishita Bedroom:

Ishita turns on the light and walks into the bedroom. She looks around and an involuntary shiver runs through her body for everything feels different, everything feels cold. With her hand she gently touches the same cheek on which Raman slapped her in the hospital. It doesn't hurt anymore but the imprint of that slap is one that will remain engraved in her heart, mind, body and soul forever. As she stands in the room her mind goes back to earlier in the morning- when they both had woken up in each other's embrace, shared a kiss and when he had multiple times lovingly taken her in his embrace and how she did not want to let him go. So much has happened in the last few hours that it seems like everything has changed. They will perhaps never again be like they used to be in the privacy of their bedroom.

Ishita closes her eyes to stop another round of tears that are threatening to roll out of her eyes yet again and walks into the washroom. Once she is in the washroom she lightly shuts the door behind her, not realising that she has forgotten to lock it and immediately begins taking off her clothes and depositing them into a pile on the ground right next to her feet. She then goes stands underneath the shower, turns the water on and soaks herself in cold water. When the cold water touches her body at first it stings everywhere but in this instant she welcomes the pain for this pain is nothing compared to the pain her aching heart is enduring with every breath she is taking. She closes her eyes to soak the pain in and her mind goes back to all the hurtful words so many of her family said to her. Now under the flow of water, Ishita allows her tears to flow freely and they mix with the water as soon as they escape her eyes.

Ishita's feet start to tremble and she sits down on the floor. She curls her legs up to her chest and wraps her arms just below her knees, resting her chin on her knee. Silent tears continue to flow out of her eyes non-stop. She looks up at the ceiling and in her mind she is having a conversation with her Murugan, who she has always believed is watching down on her and seeing her go through all the ups and downs she has been through in life but in this moment she is questioning everything including his existence.

She wonders if her Murugan can see the anguish of the ordeal she has been through on her face and if he can her the silent prayer her heart is saying every single second. She thinks what can she possibly ask from him for he should know what she most desires, what her heart is wanting and wishing for without even her having to say it to him. Every single wrinkle on her forehead is filled with worry for the life and safety of him who is so near and so dear to her heart. She thinks that she destroyed her own life with her very own hands the second she held that gun and pointed it at Adi and only Murugan now has the power to mend her fate. She has surrendered her destiny, her future and her fate into his hands for it all depends on what fate he has decided for Adi. She hopes that just like he listens to the prayers of thousands of others who come to his doorstep and bow their head in front of him, he will listen to her too for she is literally sitting naked, bearing her heart and soul out to him with her head bowed. She always believed that her Murguan would never let anyone go empty handed and she wonders what will he give in her hand this time around. As she sits drenched in the cold water she hopes that Murugan is showering her with some kind of blessing that will set everything alright. Ishita feels lost as she does not know what to do next and she prays that he gives her some kind of sign which will show her the way forward. She feels like she is stuck in a maze and can't find her way out unless he guides her for surely he knows where her heart is and why she had no other option but to take matters in her own hands knowing that the consequences would be catastrophic. She thinks she is no stranger to hardships, she knows what it is like to be shattered into pieces but she wonders how much more strength does she have in herself to pull herself and her life together now that she feels shattered and destroyed from the inside out yet again. Ishita suddenly starts feeling very cold and shivering uncontrollably but she isn't able to find the energy to get up or to even raise her hand so that she can turn the knob for the hot water on so she just sits with her head bowed, feeling rejected and hopeless as she feels this time around she might not be able to pull herself together and recover from this ordeal. She thinks she has so many times asked him for blessings or shared with him the deepest desires of her heart out loud. He knows all of her dreams and her desires so he must also know how hard she tried today to avoid the inevitable when she was faced with an impossible situation. Once again in her mind she starts replaying every single second of what happened during the day starting from the moment Adi turned up in the temple wondering if there is anything she could have done differently which could have possibly changed the outcome of this day but her mind draws a blank and she knows that there was no other way out.

It's been 15 minutes since Ishita stepped into the shower and finally Raman walks into the bedroom. He looks around for a second wondering where Ishita is and then he hears the shower running and immediately understands that she is in the washroom. He turns off the lights, goes and lies down in bed but sleep is nowhere in sight so he just stares at the ceiling in the darkness. It's been another 20 minutes since Raman has been lying down in bed and he can still hear the shower running. 10 more minutes pass and when Ishita still does not come out, Raman gets up, goes to the washroom door and knocks without saying anything. Ishita also does not respond from inside. Raman then notices that the washroom door is unlocked and Ishita has only shut it partially. He hesitates for a few moments, then opens the door and goes inside.

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Thanks for reading. Do let me know what you think of the story so far by leaving a comment. Also if you do like it then please do click on the star and vote! And please do share this story with others who you think might find this to be an interesting read.

Up Next: Ishita and Raman talk. Will Ishita be able to explain to Raman what actually happened in proper detail. Find out in the next update.

Also if you aren't already reading it, I have another ongoing YHM based Fanfiction story called "Hamari Adhoori Kahaani." For more details on that story you can check the external link in this post or visit my profile where you can find the story under stories by me.

Once again thanks for reading and stay tuned for more!

Love and Hugs,
A.S.