Guilt, trust, love

SHARING SECRETS

Ishita was sitting in the lobby waiting for Raman. She was about to call him when he came out wearing a royal blue track suit. Ishita was actually gawking at his dapper figure. Raman met her eyes and smiled seeing them sparkling. He ushered her out towards the garden area. Ishita was about to trip over a stone but Raman caught her in the nick of time. He held her hand firmly and soon they were walking hand-in -hand. Discomfiture long lost, Ishita was more than happy with her company. They sat on their favourite bench with a glass of tea from a nearby vendor.

R: So, what a pleasant weather na!

I:Yaa, it's beautiful! Bohot dino baad itna achha lag raha hain.

R: Ab to aur bhi jyaada achha lagega. Tumhe hamara secrets-sharing ka deal yaad hain na?

I: Of course. But you will start.

R:(smiles) Okay, as you wish. Let's introduce each other first with all our likes, dislikes, childhood, etc etc.

I: (excitedly) That's a great idea. I am really excited to see this side of 'THE GREAT CEO MR. RAMAN KUMAR BHALLA'.  So, when is your birthday?

R: 23rd November.

I: Your favourite food?

R: Palak Paneer with Sambar Masala.

I:(pauses and looks at him with a surprise) Such a weird combination. I thought you would like pasta.

R: Really, you remember it right.

I: Kya?

R: Um...sorry, I mean, you guessed it right. Mujhe Italian bhi kaafi pasand hain. (smiles) Btw, your birthday?

I: 14th December. And my favourite food is Daal Makhani, Pandara Road waali.

R:(smiles knowingly) Madrasan hoke Punjabiyon waali pasand?

I: (surprised) Haan mujhe bhi aisa hi lag raha hain. Par?

R: Par war kuchh nahi. Are tum madrasi ho iska matlab ye thodi ki tum hamesha medu wade mein chhed karti baitho.

I: (laughs at it) And your.....

And thus they continue to share their basic secrets. By the end of it...

R: So in Ruhi's language, humne humari basic slam book to bhar di.

I: Aaj ki sabha yahin me samapt because mujhe bohot bhook lagi hain.

R: Aur tumhare medicines ka bhi time ho gaya hain. Chale?

They start walking back to the house. Ishita was thing how he is always concerned about her-her health, medicines, likes and dislikes and almost everything.

She reaches the Iyyer house to find the whole family sitting there with some unpredictable expression.

Vandu: Ishu, kahan thi tu itni der?

I: Morning walk pe gayi thi akka. But what happened? Aap log aise kyun baithe ho sab?

Bala: Tumse kuchh important baat karni hain Ishu.

Mihika: Haan Akka, come sit here.

Ap: Ishu, I had asked you yesterday about your special friend and I have a hint of who it is.

I: (surprised) Aapko kaise pata? Main abhi milke aayi unse.

Am: Ishu, I think you should think about it seriously. Why not take this a step further?

I: Ek ek minute. Aap log kya kehne chahte ho mere kuchh samajh mein nahi aa raha. Mere uss friend ke baare mein seriously kya sochna?

V: I think he is the perfect match for you.

I: (shocked) What? Wo shaadi-shuda hain.

Ap: Haan par ab uski wife uske saath nahi hain. So, ek naya mauka toh diya ja sakta hain na iss rishte ko.

I: Appa, uske bachhe hain.

B: Bachhe nahi Ishu, sirf ek hi bachha hain Subbu ka. Wo bhi ab iss duniya mein nahi hain.

I: (shocked out of her wits) Subbu?

V: Haan, tum usi se milne gayi thi na. Usne hume bataya that you have a very good friendship now.

I: Haan friendship hain par...

Am: Par what kanna? Dekho marriage mein frienship is the foundation. Jo rishte dosti aur ijjat se bane ho woh sabse achhe hote hain. (in a low tone) Ek nafrat ka rishta kar ke ek galati kar chuke hain hum.

I: Kya kaha aapne?

Ap: Kuchh nahi Ishu. Woh apne friend ki beti ki baat kar arhi thi. Leave it. But even I think you will be very happy with it. At last, you will find a companion for yourself.

V: Think about it Ishu.

Ishita gets up and goes to her room. But there is one person in the hall who is looking at all this with questioning look- Mihika. She has seen a different kind of fondness in Ishita's eyes for Raman. She has also spotted Raman looking at Ishita with lot of love and also sometimes crying with guilt about Ishita's condition.

On the other hand, Ishita goes to her room and jumps on the bed. She starts crying incoherently. Hiding herself in the pillow, she mumbles Raman's name.

I: (crying bitterly) Yeh sab kya ho raha hain. I know I am seeing Subbu but I don't feel anything when he is around me. Why am I finding Raman closer to my heart? Oh God! What's happening?

The whole day passes like this. Ishita doesn't talk much with anyone. In the evening, she sees Raman coming back from the office. She feels a strong urge to run to him for solace but suppresses it somehow as she only remembers that she has no relation with him.

I: Woh mere kuchh nahi lagate. Pata nahi mujhe kya ho raha hain. Abhi unse koi baat na karna hi theek rahega. Kal subah dekhte hain.