ALWAYS THERE

EPILOGUE

-AFTER FIVE YEARS

Raman and Ishita were sitting inside the doctor's cabin holding hands. They had sent prayers to every possible God in the universe and were hoping for nothing untoward to happen. All the tests in the last 5 years had shown tremendous improvement and today's test was going to show the final result.

D: Mrs. Bhalla, aapki reports aa gayi hain.

R: Kya hain reports me?

D: Reports ke mutabik...

I: Jaldi batayi na doctor...

D: Reports ke mutabik aap ka cancer poori tarah se cure ho chuka hain. The test results show that the organ transplant was correctly done and there is no relapse. Ab aap cancer-free zindagi jee sakti hain.

Both Raman and Ishita had tears in their eyes.

I: Nandri Murugan, nandri!

R: Thank you Matarani!

D: Yeh sab aapki inner strength aur willpower ka kamaal hain. Kai complicated cases mein hum ne dekha hain ki patient ka jazba hi use kadi se kadi mushkil se paar karwa jaata hain.

I: And mere poore family ka, mere husband ka, aur mere bachhon ka pyaar, support aur duayen thi, isiliye iss mushkil ka saamna main kar paayi.

D: Have a wonderful life ahead, Dr. Ishita.

I: Thank you!

R: Thank you for all your help doctor!

-IN THE EVENING

Raman drove Ishita to a lavish bunglow a few kms away from Delhi.

I: Raman, this is my most favourite place on earth.

R: Yeh bunglow humne 4 saal pehle humare weekly dates ke liye liya tha. Har hafte kisi hotel room mein check-in karne se achha hain na!

I: (hits him playfully) Kuchh bhi! Lekin yeh jagah hain hi itni pyaari. Aapne kitne soch-samajhke decorate kiya yeh bunglow- bilkul mere taste ke hisaab se.

R: Toh aakhir mujhe teri taste pata chal hi gayi- neithe too gaudy, nor too subtle!

I: 100% on point ho aap! Ab chalein andar?

R: Kitni utavli ho rahi hain Madrasan!

Both of them went inside and sat on the sofa. After freshening themselves up, Raman laid the table for them with all the setup for a romantic lunch date.
Ishita came down wearing a backless gown and looking absolutely ethereal.
Raman, like a gentleman, took her to the table and pulled out a chair for her.

I: How chivalrous! I like this Raavan Kumar!

R: Even I like this Madrasan, sexy wali!

Both laughed lightly when all of a sudden, Raman went on his knees.

I: Raman...

R: Shhh! (picking a bunch of roses) Aaj mujhe kuchh special kehna hain.
(giving one rose) Thank you Ishita, meri life mein wapas aane ke liye.
(giving another rose) Thank you, mujhe apne har sukh-dukh mein shamil karne ke liye.
(giving the next rose) Thank you, Ruhi aur Adi ki life perfect banane ke liye
(one more rose) Thank you itne courage ke saath life ka saamna karne ke liye.
(one more rose) Thank you for never giving up.
(last rose) And thank you for always being there with me, for me!

And last but the most important, (giving her a bouquet of lilies) Thank you for making me fall in love all over again. Love confession with lilies because you love them more than roses.

I: (teary-eyed) And I love you more than anyone or anything in the world.
Thank you for everything. Aapke pyaar ke liye, itni gehri friendship jo hain humare beech, uske liye, mere saath datkar khade rehne ke liye, har uss pagalpan ke liye, mere chehre ki iss muskaan ke liye, thank you so much!
I totally, thoroughly, madly, deeply, incredibly, irrevocably, love you!

Raman and Ishita had faced their share of sorrows, went through tremendous pain but emerged victorious with a smile on their faces and contentment in their hearts only because they had their strongest life-support, their constant source of happiness- their undying love for each other- love which was tried at every turn on the rocky road of life, but which withstood every test and continued to make these two souls beautiful, happy and one!