Guilt, trust, love

FRIENDS AGAIN?

The next morning, as usual, Raman was waiting outside the Iyyer house to take Ishita for a morning stroll. He was surprised to see her walking instead of her wheel chair. He happily hugged her. Although she was astounded by it, she hugged him back. After they broke apart, Raman didn't fail to notice the small blush that had crept on her cheeks. He asked for her hand and they went to the garden for a walk. Ishita was feeling goosebumps in his proximity due to reasons unknown to her. They sat on a bench.

R: Aaj achha lag laha hain na apne pairon pe khade hoke?

I: Amazing!

R: Main bhi thak gaya tha haath gaadi ko dhakka mar mar ke!

Though Ishita laughs at it, she gets some flashes of someone saying the same to her sometime in her past.

R: Kya hua Ishita? Kahan kho gayi?

I: Yeh sab kuchh na bohot jana-pehchana lagta hain.

R: (surprised) Shayad tum sach mein jaanti ho yeh sab.

I: But it's not possible Mr. Raman.

R:Are phir wahi. I have told you a hundred times- you please call me Raman.

I: Okay, Raman. Fine?

R: Yaa (smiles) Toh kya keh rahi thi tum?

I: I was saying that I get an uncanny feeling of some connection with many things around me. Mujhe kai saari cheeze bohot paas mein lagti hain dil ke; par hoti nahi hain. I feel ki kuchh hain mere mann mein, mere dil mein jisse mera dimag anjaan hain. Koi ehsaas! Something which binds me to those things jinke baare mein maine kabhi socha tak nahi.

R: For example?

I:(absentmindedly) Aap!

R:Kya?!

I: (sincerely) Haan. Pata nahi kyun par aapke bachhon se aur aapki family ke saath bohot apnapan mehsoos hota hain.I feel I know all of them from very long. Especially, Adi and Ruhi. Unke bina toh aaj kal mera din hi nahi katata.

R: Aur mere saath?

I: (a bit hesitantly) Haan, shayad aapke saath bhi koi rishta hain mera aisa lagta hain hamesha. Kya hum sach mein pehle kabhi nahi mile?

R: I don't know...

I: Are, yeh kya baat hui?

R: Sawaal tumhara hain. Toh jawab bhi tum hi dhundo.

I: Magar nahi pata hain na koi jawab. Nahi pata kahan dhundu, kisse puchhu. Aapko puchha toh aap bhi aisahi jawab dete ho.(almost in tears)

R: Ishita, relax. Tumhare saare sawalon ke jawaab tumhare paas hi hain. Tumhare dil mein. Bas focus on your feelings, on your own emotions and voice them out. Tumhe jo bhi lagta hain, tum bolo.

I: Par kisse? Amma-appa waisehi mere accident ko lekar itne pareshaan hain.

R: Toh main hoon na. Aren't we friends? I thought we are good friends even if not the best.

I: That's not what I intended to say Raman. We are friends but...

R: But kya? You can share your thoughts with me. Achha theek hain, ek kaam karte hain. We will share one secret each everyday. Alright?

I: Sounds interesting! Okay done. Hum har roj yahi milenge and we will share one thing about ourselves and talk everything about it.

R: Friends?(forwards his hand)

I: (Shakes hands with him) Friends! I needed one.

R: Same here. I am glad to have you as my friend.

Both head towards their respective homes with plans of what to share with the new-found friend the next morning.

On the other hand, all the Bhalla and Iyyer ladies are discussing something.

T: Yaar Madhu, mujhe toh Ishita ki badi fikar ho rahi hain.

M: Mujhe bhi Santoshi. Uske head se Raman nikal chuka hain par uske heart mein abhhi woh hain.

S: Par auntyji, Raman bhai aur Shagun ka rishta bhi toh hum nazar-andaaz nahi kar sakte.

M: I know Simmi. Mujhe toh yeh sochke jyaada bad feel ho raha hain ki jab Ishu ko sab yaad aajayega, tab use kitni takleef hogi.

T: Yaar mere paas na ek idea hain. Thodi galat lag sakti hain sunne mein. Par soch ke dekh iss baare mein ek baar. Kyun na hum Ishita puttar aur Subbu ki shaadi karwaye?

Everybody was shocked but thoughtful about this idea. This one decision would change the face, fate and fortune of Ishita- Raman's relationship.