Guilt, trust, love

BEING THERE FOR EACH OTHER

Raman and Ishita came back home. He sent Ishita with Ruhi-Adi to drop the off to their classes so that he could inform their families about the sad news.

R: Amma, Appa, Mummy, Papa, rather aap sab se main kuchh kehna chahta hoon. Ishita ko isliye bahar bheja taki wahi saari baatein baar-baar sunke use aur takleef na ho.

T: Kya hua hain puttar, mera dil baitha ja raha hain.

Mr. B: Haan Raman, jaldi bol.

Ap: Ishu theek to hain?

Am: Haan, kahin use memory loss ki koi takleef to nahi ho rahi.

R: Dekhiye, aisa kuchh bhi nahi hain. But, aaj subah Shagun ka ek chhota sa accident ho gaya aur woh bathroom mein phisal ke gir gayi.

Am: Ayyo Murugan! Phir?

R: (with teary eyes) We lost our baby.

All: (shocked) Kya?!!

Raman sank on the sofa chair nearby while the whole family was trying to console him.

R: (crying) Humne phir ek baar humara bachha kho diya. Aur is baar bhi meri hi galati ke karan. Maine hi Ishita ko yeh ummeed di ki ab sab kuchh sahi hoga. But I shattered her hopes once again. I am sorry. Main aap sab ki maafi chahta hoon. Is dauran aap ko bhi bohot takleef hui hain I know.

Simmi: Bahi, tu to sab sab ke achhe ke liye hi kar raha tha na. Apne aap ko dosh mat de. Main toh Ishita ki halat soch sochke mari ja rahi hoon.

R: Woh bas strong banane ki koshish kar rahi hain. Lekin andar se toh woh bhi toot chuki hain.

Ap: Ab hum sab ko use sawarna hoga.

Mr. B: Aur Raman, tuze use wapas jeetna hoga.

R: Haan, papa. Ab jo hoga waisehi hoga jaise Ishita chahti hain. I will try my best ki meri wajah se use koi dukh-dard na mile.

-At Night:

In Ishra Bedroom:

I: (knocks the door) Main andar aaun?

R: Tumhe puchhne ki jaroorat hain?

I: (comes in) Kya aaj main yahan so sakti hoon? I mean couch pe of course.

R: (self thought) Abhi usse sawal puchhna theek nahi hoga.

(gets up and stands beside her) Yeh room tumhara hain, tum jahan chaho so jao.

I: Woh I was not feeling well. To bachhon ke kamre mein soti toh khamakha unhe takleef hoti. So I thought ki aaj yahan so jau, if you don't mind.

R: Of course. Lekin medicine ka kuchh aur doon?

I: Nahi, it's alright. Thanks.

Ishita sat on the couch and Raman went to the washroom. After a few minutes, he could hear soft sobs from the room. Worried he came out only to find Ishita sleeping wrapping the quilt covering her face. Raman took no time to understand she was crying. He sat on his knees near the couch and pressed his hand on her shoulder. She was startled. He gently took off the quilt from her face.

R: Kya hua Ishita?

I: Nahi... kuchh nahi. (gets up) Mujhe paani chahiye tha. Abhi kitchen se laati hoon.

R: Side table par jar bhara pada hain.

Raman came near her and made her sit on the sofa and himself sat beside her.

R: Kyun ro rahi thi Ishita? Please talk your heart out.

I: (crying) mujhe... mujhe darr lag raha hain; guilty feel ho raha hain; incomplete lag raha hain... mujhe... mujhe nahi pata mujhe kya ho raha hain. (holds her head in her palms)

R: Kis baat ke liye?

I: Har ek cheez ke liye. Mujhe guilty feel ho raha hain ki shayad mujhe humare bachhe ko bina kisi disputes ke accept kar lena chahiye tha. Toh shayad aaj woh humare saath hota.

R: Nahi Ishita, isme tumhari koi galati nahi hain. Shagun ka washroom mein girna was an accident. It was just meant to be.

I: Mujhe darr lagta hain phirse akele padne ka.

R: Tum kyun akeli rahogi kabhi? Aur tumhe akela chhod kaun raha hain? Tum agar chaho tab bhi akele nahi rahogi. Main hoon na tumhare saath.

I: Kya hum sach mein phir se ek ho payenge? Kya hum ek saath reh payenge? Does our 'happily ever after' really exist?