Connected: A YHM Story ✔️

Chapter 64 - The One Where Ashok Gets His Due

Bhalla House – 9 am

"Nahin! Mujhe school nahi jaana!" Ruhi shrieked. "Mujhe mumma aur papa chahiye!" [No! I want to go to school! I want mumma and papa!]

"Aise zid nahi karte puttar," Toshi coaxed. "Tu dadi ka accha baccha hai na?" [Don't be stubborn dear. You're dadi's good child, aren't you?]

"Adi, aapne uniform nahin pehni?" Simi asked, seeing him in casual clothes. [Adi, you haven't worn your uniform yet?]

"Nahi bua. Aur main tab tak nahin pehnunga jab tak aap humaare sawaalon ke jawaab nahi dete," he replied. "Ishimaa aur papa kahan hai?" [No bua. And I'm not wearing it until you answer our questions. Where are Ishimaa and papa?]

Adi and Ruhi were on a mission. And no one was going to stand in their way.

It had been a weird night. They had come home last evening from their respective football and dance practices with Ishimaa, only for her to go back out to give Papa some file he had forgotten at home. The next thing they knew, everyone had gone out and Simi bua had come over to look after them. They were told everyone had gone out for an errand or two, and Ishimaa and Papa had some work at his office.

Their evening had passed by in silence as they worked on their homework and went next door to play with Shravu and Kshitija. Even so, the tension amongst Simi bua, Vandu periamma, and Bala periappa was unmistakable. Even when dada, dadi, and Rinki bua came home at night, awkward, painful silence had hung in the air. What pricked them the most however, was having to fall asleep without Ishimaa or Papa.

It wasn't like they hadn't stayed without their parents before. Sometimes Ishimaa had a late surgery. Sometimes Papa was working late. They had even spent a week without them when they went to Chennai. But this time, Adi and Ruhi could tell something was off. Ishimaa and Papa would never let them go to sleep without one of them tucking them in.

Their suspicions had been proven right when they woke up this morning to find that Ishimaa and Papa hadn't come home all night. And so Adi and Ruhi had made it their mission to find out where their parents were.

"No! I'm not going to school!" Ruhi stomped over to the couch and plopped down on it. "First get me mumma!" she demanded, slamming her fists on the cushions.

Simi and Toshi exchanged concerned glances. They had no idea what to do now.

"Dekh Ruhi chuhi," Simi said. "Abhi tum log school jao aur phir shaam ko main tum dono ko Ananya ke saath park mein le jaaungi. Thik hai?" [Look Ruhi chuhi. How about you guys go to school right now, and when you come back home, I'll take you to the park with Ananya?]

"Nahin! Mujhe park mein bhi nahi jaana aur kisi ke saath khelna bhi nahi hai!" Ruhi cried. [No! I don't want to go to the park! I don't want to play with anyone either!]

Toshi turned to her grandson, hoping he would be a bit more reasonable. "Adi puttar, tu to samajh na?" [Adi son, why don't you understand?]

Adi crossed his arms against his chest and joined his sister on the couch. "Tell us where Ishimaa and Papa are first," he demanded.

No answers.

Ruhi finally pulled out her secret weapon. "Aap dono ko meri aur Adi bhaiya ki kasam!" [Swear upon me and Adi bhaiya!]

Simi gasped. Toshi's fingers flew to her mouth. After moments of harsh silence, they exchanged a wary glance. Toshi nodded at her daughter. It was time. They had no other choice. Simi took a deep breath and squeezed between her niece and nephew, putting an arm around each of them.

"Adi... Ruhi... Kal raat ko... Kal raat ko aapki Ishimaa ko... chot lag gayi," she stammered. "Woh abhi... abhi hospital mein hai. Aapke papa bhi wahin hai." [Last night... Last night your Ishimaa... got hurt. She's... She's in the hospital right now. Your papa is there right now.]