Guilt, trust, love

A CONSTRUCTIVE STEP

That day, the dinner was a silent affair as by then, everybody had come to know about Ishita's reason of coming back. It was not that they didn't understand her point of view, but they could also feel Raman's pain. Ishita had very little food.

-At night
Ishita had dozed off on the sofa in sitting position. Raman had to attend a video conference, so he had gone to Mihir's place. When he returned, he remembered that Ishita was still on medication due to her accident. He woke her up.

R: Ishita, Ishita, utho.

I: Kya hua? Are aap aa gaye? Sorry, meri aankh lag gayi.

R: Are, isme sorry kya. Anyway, yeh lo.

I: Doodh? Mujhe nahi chahiye. I don't like to have milk.

R: Ishita, bachhon jaisi baatein mat karo. Tumne dinner bhi theek se nahi kiya hain. And you also have to take medicines.

I: Ohh main toh bhool hi gayi.

R: Haina, lekin mujhe yaad tha.

They shared a brief eyelock, after which Ishita had milk and medicines. She abruptly got up and began packing a bag. Raman was perplexed and also scared to know that she was going away again.

R: (in one breath) Ishita, kahan ja rahi ho? Maine ab kya kiya? Kis baat ki saja de rahi ho?

I: (calmly) Relax Raman.

R: But why are you leaving me again?

I: Main sirf wahin kar rahi hoon jo karne main yahan aayi hoon.

R: Kya karne aayi ho?

I: Apne bachhon ko pyaar dene aur secured feel karwane. So I am going in the kids' room and now onward I will be staying there itself.

I: Aur humare pyaar aur secured relationship ka kya?

R: Pyaar ka toh pata nahi, security iss rishte mein ab phir kabhi nahi aa sakti. Jis security ki aap baat kar rahe hain, woh aapne apne haathon se apni pehli biwi aur pehle pyaar ko bahaal ki hain. So please, yeh baatein dobara mat chhediye mere saamne.

Saying so, she left the room.

R: (self thought) Ishita, humara rishta aise adhoora nahi rahega. It will be a complete healthy relationship very soon. Humare saath waise bhi kabhi kuchh instant raha hi nahi hain na, aur isiliye shayad ever-lasting hain sab. Yeh tumhara gussa, narajgi, sab kuchh main mita doonga. Tumhari hasi, muskaan, sukoon wapas laane ke liye main kuchh bhi karne ko tayyar hoon Ishita... kuchh bhi.

-Next morning
Ishita came down after having bath. She could smell the aroma of idli-sambar and came happily chirping.

I: Mummyji, kya khushboo aa rahi hain khane ki...

Her words died in the mouth when she saw Raman in the kitchen cooking food.

I: Raman, aap? Ye kya kar rahe ho?

R: Idli- sambar.

I: Iss sab ki kya jaroorat hain?

R: Of course hain.

I: Are haan, sorry, sorry, main toh bhool hi gayi, ki yeh sab aapne Shagun ke liye banaya hoga.

R: (though disheartened) Kyun? Shagun to nahi khati yeh sab shayad.

I: (in one go) Toh baby maang raha hoga na, aakhir mera hi toh bachha hain.

R: (pleasantly surprised) Baby? Humara?

I: Haan... matlab woh maine flow mein bol diya... woh...

R: Sahi hain. Humara hi toh baby hain. Usme saare gun tumhare honge. Tumhara khoon, tumhara ansh, tumhari sirat.

Ishita got teary eyed. Raman wiped her tears, but soon Ishita broke her trance and spoke sternly.

I: Lekin mujhe koi idli nahi chahiye. Shagun ko hi khila dijiye.

She left the kitchen leaving Raman smiling and thinking.

R: (st) Mujhe jald hi kuchh karna padega.

-After some time

Raman asked everyone to gather in the hall including Shagun and Manoj.

I: Raman, baat kya hain?

R: Darasal main sab se kuchh kehna chahta hoon. Lekin iss sab se pehle main phir se ek baar Ishita se aur baaki saare gharwaalon se maafi maangna chahta hoon. In pichhle kuchh dino mein jo kuchh bhi hua, woh saari meri galati thi. Mere intentions achhe the, lekin woh ek faisla-sachhai chhupane ka, wo galat tha.

I: Enough Raman. Maine kitni baar kaha hain, I don't want to talk about it. Ab sab ke saamne yeh kya naya...

R: Iss ke saath saath, kuchh aur bhi hain. Woh actually Shagun aur Manoj se kehna chahta hoon. Mujhe pata hain, tumhare poorane apartment mein bohot issues huye. And once again, uska jimmedar bhi main hi tha. Unn logon ne iss bachhe ke wajah aap dono ko galat samjha, aur wahan se nikal diya.
Isiliye, maine ek naya flat liya hain, tum dono ke liye.

I: Lekin Raman agar Shagun humse door rahegi toh humare bachhe ka khayal koun rakhega?

Raman and everyone smiled hearing her concern.

R: Isiliye flat isi building mein liya hain. Taki hum Shagun ka khayal bhi rakh payenge. Jab chahe humare bachhe se mil payenge.
Yeh uski possession  papers and keys.

-Flashback

Raman went to Shagun's room.

R: Shagun, main tumse abhi jo kehne ja raha hoon, use please galat mat samajhna. Tumne jo mere aur Ishita ke liye kiya hain iss bachhe ko apni kok dekar, woh bohot bada hain. And I will be thankful for that till eternity.

S: Baat kya hain Raman? Khul ke bolo.

R: Actually I want you to move out of this house. Kab, kahan sab maine soch rakha hain. Lekin ab all of this is getting really awkward. Ishita iss framework mein comfortable nahi hain. Aur ab main sirf wahin karna chahta hoon jo meri Ishita ke liye sahi ho aur jisme woh khush rahe. I really love Ishita a lot and main use aur takleef bilkul bhi nahi dena chahta. I want her to feel secured and important jo woh hain, lekin main hi yeh baatein use theek se jata nahi paya. Now I want to do what's the best for our relationship.