Bhalla House - two days later, Friday, 8 am
"ISHITA! ISHITA!" Raman yelled, shuffling through their closet. "I'm getting late and I can't find any of my ties!"
Sarees and leggings and kurtis came flying out of the wardrobe as Raman angrily muttered under his breath, something along the lines of 'kapdo ki thaan' and 'madrasan' and 'mere kapde kharaab kar diye.'
"ISHITAAA!!!"
"OH MY GOD, I'm coming, just hang on!" Ishita shouted back. She came storming into the room, muttering something along the lines of 'kud kud kumar' and 'murugan' and 'pranth.'
"What is it, Raman?! Can't you be even a little bit patient? I was in the bathroom for heaven's sake!" she huffed.
That's when Raman slammed the left door of the wardrobe shut and his eyes landed on his wife. Frustration changed to shock which changed to desire in the matter of a moment. For his wife stood in a pink bathrobe, moisture clinging to her skin, her wet hair tied in a loose bun, tendrils framing her face.
"Ab aise hi khade rahenge ya bolenge bhi ki problem kya hai?" Ishita snapped her fingers in Raman's face. [Are you just going to stand there or even tell me what the problem is?]
He blinked and cleared his throat, exasperation showing on his face. "I've been shouting for the past five minutes ki problem kya hai. Where are all my ties! I have a board meeting in half an hour!"
"Your ties are in the bottom drawer, Raman. You didn't have to empty the entire closet and mess up our whole room to find them!"
"I've been looking for a good 15 minutes and I couldn't find them. Tum hi nikal ke do." [You only find them.]
Raman threw the last pair of trousers on the bed and scooched to the right, giving Ishita room in front of the cupboard. She opened and closed a series of drawers until she found the drawer on the bottom right with all his ties. She removed the entire drawer and placed it on the edge of the bed, proving her point.
"See, they're all right here. Instead of looking calmly, look at what you did. It looks like a storm passed through here. Oh god, it's going to take me a full hour to reorganize this again. You really have no regard for anyone else around here do you?"
"Calm down, Jhansi ki Rani. It's not like you have to work today, right?" Raman grabbed black tie and began tying it around his neck. "You have the day off, so might as well make yourself useful."
Ishita gasped. "What the heck do you think I do at home if I'm not working? Do you have any idea how hard a working mom's job is? We are never not at work. Kabhi ghar ka kaam, kabhi clinic ka kaam, kabhi aapke aur Ruhi ke hazaar demand-" [I have housework, and clinic's work, and the thousand demands from you and Ruhi-]
"Madam, this is really not the time for a lecture. And don't take my kid's name to get out of doing your work." He continued struggling with the tie.
"Oh give me that!" Ishita swatted his hands away and began tying his tie properly around his neck. "Itne bade CEO ban gaye, lekin ek tie to bandhti nahi aapse." [Such a big CEO but can't even tie a necktie properly.]
She came so close that Raman struggled to breathe. He could smell her flowery shampoo, and if he raised her hands ever so slightly, he could probably touch her smooth skin too. His heart slammed against his rib cage and sweat beaded on his brow.
"Yeh lijiye, ho gayi aapki tie." [Here, your tie is done.] Ishita smoothed his tie and adjusted the lapels of his coat. She only realized how close she was to her husband when she looked up and met his eyes. The air between them grew tense and practically crackled with electricity. Her breathing grew faster and as scared as she was, she longed to be even closer.
"Ishita... Do. Not. Move." Raman enunciated each word with such authority that she couldn't move even if she tried. He raised his hands and trailed them from her forearms to her elbows and up to her shoulders leaving goosebumps in their wake. Then, in one swift movement, he roughly brushed her left shoulder with his right hand as his other hand jerked her to the opposite side.
The sudden jerking movement broke her trance and gave her another reason to be annoyed. "What the hell was that, Raman?!"
"Just hear me out before you get all mad again, will you! Look there!" Raman turned her around and pointed in the far corner of the room just in time for Ishita to see a spider crawling away. "There was a spider on your shoulder."
Realization dawned on Ishita and her breathing returned to normal. Of course, she thought. Why else would he want to come close to her?
Raman cleared his throat and hoped Ishita hadn't noted his pounding heart during their unfortunate close situation. "I have to go. Meri...meri meeting hai. Yeh saara jhamela samet lena aaj ke din mein..." He vaguely gestured to the mess on his bed and the floor, as he stumbled out of the room. [I... I have a meeting. Try to fix this mess in today's date...]
Do dil mil rahe hain
Do dil mil rahe hain
Magar chupke chupke
Do dil mil rahe hain
Magar chupke chupke
Sabko ho rahi hai
Haan sabko ho rahi hai
Khabar chupke chupke
Do dil mil rahe hain
Magar chupke chupke
Saanson mein badi bekarari
Aankhon mein kayi rat jage
Kabhi kahin lag jaaye dil toh
Kahin phir dil na lage
Apna dil main zara thaam loon
Jaadu ka main isse naam doon
Jaadu kar raha hai
Jaadu kar raha hai
Asar chupke chupke
He grabbed his laptop bag and the tiffin on the dining table, as he rushed through the living room and towards the front door. In his hurry to find his shoes, he stumbled into Romi at the door.
"Ouch bhai!" he exclaimed. "Dhyan kahaan hai aapka! Mera pair kuchal diya!" [Where is your attention? You crushed my foot!]
"Mera dhyan-" Raman attacked, exasperated beyond belief. "Mera dhyan yahin hai! Tu... tujhe kya hua hai, yeh bol! I'm perfectly fine," he stammered, a bit too defensively. "And what are you even doing here? Shouldn't you be at the office?!" [I'm paying perfect attention! Something's wrong with you probably. I'm perfectly fine.]
"I told you yesterday bhai, I have a class presentation at 9 so I'll be late coming to work. Don't you remember?" Romi limped to the sofa. "Wow, aapka dhyaan really nahi hai aaj kal." [Wow, you really have lost your focus nowadays.]
"Lagaau kya abhi kaan ke niche?!" Raman threatened. "Itna zubaan chalaane ki zaroorat nahi hai tujhe!" [Should I slap you right now?! You don't need to run that mouth of yours so much!]
"Waise aapko itna paseena kis baat pe aa raha hai, bhai?" Romi prodded further. He knew exactly which buttons to push on his elder brother. [By the way, why are you sweating so much bhai?]
"Tu apna kaam kar jaakar!" Raman hastily put his shoes on. "Agar yeh meeting nahi hoti na abhi to tujhe aise thik karta beta..." [Just mind your own business! I'd really teach you a lesson or two if I didn't have this meeting...]
Raman slammed the door leaving a chuckling Romi behind.
Aaise bhole bankar hai baithe
Jaise koi baat nahin
Sab kuch nazar aa raha hai
Din hai yeh raat nahin
Kya hai kuch bhi nahin hai agar
Honthon pe hai khamoshi magar
Baatein kar rahi hai
Baatein kar rahi hai
Nazar chupke chupke
Do dil mil rahe hain
Magar chupke chupke
Sabko ho rahi hai
Haan sabko ho rahi hai
Khabar chupke chupke
Do dil mile rahe hain
Magar chupke chupke
"Bhabhi! Can I borrow-" Rinki opened Ishita's bedroom door and stumbled back. "Wow, it looks like a cyclone passed through here. Bhabhi, are you okay?" Rinki grew concerned seeing Ishita standing by the cupboard with her palms covering her face. If only she knew, her bhabhi was hiding a severe blush.
Ishita removed her palms and saw Rinki standing at the threshold of her bedroom.
"Yes... yes, I'm fine, Rinki. I'm okay. What did you need?"
"I was asking if I could borrow your laptop charger for today, since you don't have to work. Mine's been missing for a few weeks now."
"Yeah of course, it's over there on the dresser." Ishita pointed across the room. "You didn't find it in your cubicle at work?"
"No bhabhi, I think it's gone for good now." Rinki walked across the room and unplugged the laptop charger. "I'm going to order a new one soon. But you know bhabhi, I'm thinking of getting a new laptop only now. I've been using this for almost four years now. Maybe it's time for a change. I heard there's a new macbook in the market-"
"Rinki, Rinki," Ishita interrupted her innocent, well-meaning sister-in-law. "I would love to chat about the latest laptops out there, but..." She gestured to herself, moist and dressed in a bathrobe. "I have to get dressed."
"Oh yes, of course! I'm so sorry! I'll be out of your way."
Rinki skipped across the room but stopped at the door and glanced back.
"Are you sure you're okay bhabhi?" she asked. "You seem a bit flushed. And sweaty."
"I-I'm... I'm fine... R-Rinki," Ishita stammered. "Just feeling a bit hot right now. I was messing through my closet looking for an outfit before you came in. That's why I'm a bit like this. I'm fine, don't worry."
"Okay, if you say so..." Rinki reluctantly left the room with more suspicions than she had coming in (after all, why were her brother's ties all scattered over the floor?).
Kahin aag lagne se pehle
Uthta hai aaisa dhuaan
Jaisa hai idhar ka nazara
Vaisa hi udhar ka samaa
Dil mein kaisi kasak si jagi
Dono jaanib barabar lagi
Dekho toh idhar se
Dekho toh idhar se
Udhar chupke chupke
Do dil mil rahe hain
Magar chupke chupke
Sabko ho rahi hai
Haan sabko ho rahi hai
Khabar chupke chupke
Do dil mil rahe hain
Magar chupke chupke
.....................................................................................................................
Nritya Pravah Dance Studio - Tuesday, Jan 21st, 6 pm
"Kahaan reh gayi tumhari beti, Madrasan? Uski class to 15 minute pehle hi khatam ho gayi thi na?" Raman grumbled. [Where's your daughter, Madrasan? Her class ended 15 minutes ago.]
"Wah ji, matlab ab woh late hai to meri beti? Aur jab woh kuch accha kare to woh aapki beti?" Ishita crossed her arms in disappointment. [Oh, so now that she's late, she's my daughter? But if she does something nice, then she's your daughter?]
"What can I say, she gets all her good traits from me," Raman answered smugly. "But seriously, where is she?"
"Sometimes the bharatnatyam teacher keeps them all for a few more minutes. She'll be out in a few minutes. Just be patient."
Raman and Ishita were leaning with their backs to their car waiting for Ruhi's dance class to end. Ishita's car was in the shop, so Raman had picked her up from her clinic to come pick up Ruhi from dance class.
"That's it. I'm going inside." Raman straightened himself and put his keys in his pocket.
"Wait, wait Raman, look! Here she comes!" Ishita pointed to a group of girls running from the studio into the parking lot. Ruhi was one of the first to appear in her red and white salwar suit and anklets twinkling at her feet.
"Aa gayi Ru? Why were you late today?" Raman asked. [You're here Ru?]
"Because madam wanted us to practice our mudras again. And that stupid Niyati couldn't get anything right, so we all had to stay."
"Ruhi, that's bad manners. Aise kisi ka mazaak nahi udaate," Ishita chided. [You shouldn't make fun of anyone like that.]
"Sorry Ishimaa."
"Chalo, ab apni anklets nikalo warna pure raaste aap cham cham karte rahoge." [Come on, now take off your anklets or they'll keep making noise all the way home.]
"Okay."
Ruhi took off her anklets and threw them in the back seat along with her backpack and dupatta. She began to climb in, but spotted something on the other side of the road by the entrance of the neighboring sports field.
"Papa! Mumma! Look there! Kulfiwala! I want a chocolate kulfi, please!" she pleaded.
"No betu," Ishita immediately shook her head. "It's January, you can't have ice cream in such cold weather."
"Please Ishimaa?! Please papa?"
"Come on, Madrasan. Ek kulfi se kuch nahi hoga. Yeh roz roz thodi na ice cream ki demand karti hai. Let's go Ru," Raman agreed. [One kulfi won't hurt. It's not like she asks for one every day.]
Ishita sighed. "Fine. But if she gets a cold then that's on you, Ravan kumar."
The family of three crossed the street. Ruhi and Raman almost jogged there, while Ishita begrudgingly followed.
"Bhaiyya, ek chocolate kulfi bacchi ke liye aur humaare liye do kesar-pista kulfi," Raman gave the order. [Brother, one chocolate kulfi for the girl and two kesar-pista for us.]
"Nahi Raman, mujhe kulfi nahi chaahiye," Ishita said. [No Raman, I don't want one.]
"Madrasan, learn to live a little. Ek kulfi se kuch nahi hoga tumhe." [One kulfi won't hurt you.]
"That might be true for both of you Delhiites, but I'm not used to Delhi's winters. I don't want any kulfi."
"Okay fine," he conceded. "Bhaisaab, aapke paas aur kuch hai jo in madam ke liye thanda na ho?" [Brother, do you have something for this madam here that isn't too cold?]
"Humaare paas yeh garam-garam moong dal ka halwa hai sahab." The vendor pointed to a hot pan on the side on a low flame. "Thandi mein bahot accha hota hai madamji, lijiye." [We have hot halwa sir. It's great for winters.]
"Nahi, mujhe nahi-" [No, I don't want-]
"Madam ke liye ek plate de do," Raman cut off Ishita's meek protests. "You like halwa, Ishita. Just have some." [Get one plate for Madam.]
Soon enough, the family of three had licked clean their ice cream sticks and halwa plates and paid the vendor. They made their way to the street crossing at the gate of the empty field. That's when Ruhi spotted something strange on the nearby bench.
"Mumma, look," She pointed at the lone boy sitting on the bench with his nose in a book. "Why is he there all alone?"
"Maybe his parents haven't come to pick him up yet, Ruhi. There was football practice happening here before we picked you up," Ishita replied.
Raman turned his head to look at whom his wife and daughter were talking about and his heart dropped to his stomach.
"That's Adi," he blurted out.
"WHAT?" Ishita was shocked.
"Shhh," Raman shushed her. "Let me go talk to him."
Tentatively, Raman approached his son on the bench and took a seat beside him.
"Hi beta," he whispered.
Because of how engrossed he was in the book, Adi hadn't noticed his dad approaching and jumped at the soft whisper.
"Aap? Aap yahan kya kar rahe hai?" he asked. This cannot be happening again, he thought. I don't want to see him. The one day that the driver had to be late. [You? What are you doing here?]
"Beta... I..." Raman had hoped he'd have more time before he had to introduce Ruhi and Adi, but he didn't want to lie about why he was here. If Adi did decide to tell Shagun, then he didn't want to give her the opportunity to suggest that he was illegally following Adi.
"I want to introduce you to someone. This is probably really fast and overwhelming, but I don't want to hide it from you. Ruhi beta, idhar aao!" He beckoned Ruhi to come forward. [Ruhi dear, come here!]
The little girl looked up at her mother, confused at how her father knew that boy. "Come Ruhi, papa bula rahe hai na?" Ishita nudged her daughter along and brought her to her father. [Papa is calling you, right?]
"Ruhi beta, aap puch rahe the na, aapke Adi bhaiya kahan hai? Dekho, aapke Adi bhaiya waapis aa gaye hostel se," Raman explained. "Adi, this is Ruhi, your-" [Ruhi beta, you were asking about your Adi bhaiya, right? Look, he's here. He's back from his hostel. Adi, this is Ruhi, your-]
"My sister," Adi finished the sentence, leaving Raman and Ishita astonished. "Yeah, mom told me. And let me guess, this is your new wife, Ishita right?" He pointed at the woman behind Ruhi.
Since he met his father, his rage and longing for his dad had been battling in Adi's heart, but right now, rage was winning. He was all alone, and his mother was all alone, but his father was happy with his new wife who stole his sister. This should have been his family. Ruhi and mom and dad living all together as one happy family.
"Adi, let me explain," Raman began. "Ishita and I-"
"I don't want to hear it!" Adi snapped his book shut, startling Ruhi.
"Aap gussa ho bhaiya?" she asked. [Are you angry bhaiya?]
The anger dissipated from Adi's heart as soon as he heard his sister's voice. No one with a heart could stay mad at that angel for long.
"Um... I-I'm not angry Ruhi. I-I just... I didn't expect..." Adi cleared his throat and collected himself. This girl was hardly five years old. Just as old as he was when his world came falling apart. She didn't deserve any of this.
He stood up and stuck out his arm. "Hi Ruhi, it's nice to meet you."
Ruhi hesitantly glanced at her parents, then returned the gesture and shook her brother's hand. "Hi bhaiya, it's nice to meet you too. Aap yahan kya kar rahe ho?" [What are you doing here?]
"Meri football practice thi. Tuesday aur Thursday yahan meri football practice hoti hai, from four to six. Aur tum?" [I had football practice. Every Tuesday and Thursday from four to six. And you?]
"Main wahan dance studio mein dance sikhti hoon." She pointed at the building across the street. "On Tuesday and Wednesday. Both bharatanatyam and ballet. Just like a princess." [I learn dance in that dance studio over there.]
She flashed her teeth at her brother who hesitated, but returned a smile of sorts back at her. That was all it took for her to get comfortable.
"Bhaiya, aap humaare saath ghar chalo na!" she demanded. "Dadi, dadu, bua, chachu, sab aapse milna chaahte hai! Hum itni masti karenge-" [Bhaiya, come home with us! Dadi, dadu, bua, chachu, everyone wants to meet you! We'll have so much fun-]
"Ruhi beta, mumma-papa ne bataya tha na," Ishita interrupted her daughter, "Adi bhaiya Shagun mumma ke saath rehte hain. Woh humaare ghar pe phir kabhi aayenge." [Ruhi beta, didn't mumma and papa tell you, Adi bhaiya lives with with Shagun mumma right now. He'll come to our home some other time.]
"I-I have to go..." Adi stammered. He slung his backpack over his shoulder and sprinted for the parking lot. Fortunately, he didn't have to cross the street, for the driver pulled up with the car at that very instant.
"Adi wait!" Raman called.
"Aditya, your book!" Ishita ran behind him and followed him to the car. "Beta, aap apni book bhul gaye the bench pe." [Beta, you forgot your book on the bench.]
She extended her arm with the Chamber of Secrets in her hand. Adi snatched his book back, and in that moment, he channeled his anger to the one person who he could be mad at. Sure, he had mixed feelings for his father. And his sister. But this woman was nothing but trouble for him.
"Mat boliye mujhe beta!" he screamed. "Yeh sab aapki wajah se ho raha hai! Aapne mujhse aur meri mom se papa ko cheen liya! Aur Ruhi ko bhi! I don't want any of you in my life! JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!" [Don't call me beta! This is all your fault! You snatched my dad away from me and my mom! And you took Ruhi away too!]
Adi climbed into the car and slammed the door behind him, tears streaming down his face. His lungs burned with the effort to not sob like a baby, but he wouldn't give this woman the satisfaction of knowing how much he hurt. He had been forced to grow up very early in life, and he knew how to hold his own now.
The driver floored the gas, and Adi turned away from the window, as he couldn't bear to look again at the family he secretly longed for. He saw how his sister was supported by both her parents even in her slightest moments of hesitation. She was unsure of shaking his hand but a single glance from her parents was enough to give her confidence. She was picked up by two happy parents from her dance class, but he had to wait for a driver after a two hour grueling football practice. A sport he only held onto as a way of being connected to the happiest memories of his childhood. Learning to kick a ball in the park with his father and uncles. He was an expert at the sport now, but that hardly mattered. The pain was still there. It never left, only lingered. And after the week he had, it was growing. He furiously wiped his tears and opened his book. He was all alone, just like another young wizard he knew of. And that wizard's journey was his way of escaping reality now.
.....................................................................................................................
"Aapne suna Adi ne kya kahan?" Ishita asked Raman as they drove home. Ruhi was listening to music in the backseat. Fortunately, she hadn't heard Adi's outburst, but Raman couldn't say the same. [Did you hear what Adi said?]
"Suna maine. Uska gussa jaayaz hai lekin... I don't know how to handle this..." he replied. "This has to be Shagun's doing. Warna woh aise kyun sochta ki mujhe aur Ruhi ko uski life se tumne cheen liya? Shagun was the one who left our house with him. Us waqt Adi chota tha to shaayad use yaad nahi hoga. Aur usi baat ka faayda utha kar Shagun ne uske dimaag mein zeher bhar diya."
[I did. His anger is valid but... I don't know how to handle this... This has to be Shagun's doing. Otherwise why would he think that you took me and Ruhi away from him? Shagun was the one who left our house with him. Adi was so young so he probably doesn't remember. And that's what Shagun is taking advantage of to poison his brain.]
"Hmmm..."
"Ishita, are you okay?" Raman asked. "Tumhein Adi ki baat ka bura to-" [You don't feel bad from he said-]
"No Raman, not at all." Ishita didn't let Raman finish that thought. "That boy has been through so much in such a young life. He is entitled to his frustrations. Aur Shagun ne uski life mein aisi negativity bhar di hai, ki this is expected. Lekin mujhe aapse puchna chahiye. Are you okay?" [And Shagun has incorporated so much negativity in his life, that his is expected. In fact, I should be asking you. Are you okay?]
"I don't know, Madrasan." Raman's laugh held no humor. "I wasn't expecting this to happen so soon, lekin aaj apne dono bachhon ko ek saath dek khar itna accha laga mujhe... Adi hum sab se gussa zaroor hai, lekin ek baat tumne notice ki? Usne Ruhi se kitne acche tarike se baat ki." [I wasn't expecting this to happen so soon, but it felt so nice to see both my kids in one place... Adi is mad at all of us, but did you notice something? He spoke very nicely with Ruhi.]
"Woh jahan bhi rahe, hai to Bhallas ka beta hi na? Uska gussa uski acchai aur pyaar ko chupa sakta hai, lekin mita nahi sakta," Ishita noted. [No matter where he stays, he will remain a Bhalla. His anger can only hide his love and goodness, not eliminate it.]
"Let's just hope thoda sa pyaar usne apne papa ke liye bhi bacha kar rakha ho." [Let's just hope he has some love left for his papa too.]
"Aapke liye bhi pyaar hai Raman. Agar pyaar nahi hota to itna gussa bhi nahi hota. I read a very nice quote once, 'If you have never been hated by your child, you have never been a parent.' " [Of course he does. If he didn't love you, he wouldn't be so mad at you.]
"Wow, look at you getting all the wiser. Age is treating you well Mrs. Bhalla."
"I'm not that old and you know that."
"By the way, you've never been hated by Ruhi. Does that mean you're not a parent?"
"You know, when she becomes a teenager, that's when the hate will start. I remember when us three sisters were in high school, we were always at loggerheads with Amma. Vandu Akka was not that bad, maybe because she was the eldest and most similar to Amma, but Mihika and I were always fighting and bickering with her. We got along so well with Appa though. I have a feeling that's going to happen with this little one." She pointed her head to the back gesturing towards Ruhi. "She is so similar to you, that she will be best friends with you, but it's her mother she will hate."
"Now that will be a sight to witness. Because right now, she idolizes you and worships the ground you walk on..."
The rest of the drive went on smoothly, but the weight of Adi's outburst hung heavy in both their hearts.
.....................................................................................................................
Bhalla/Iyer Residence - 8:30 pm
"Ruhi! Shravu! I mean it, no more fighting!" Vandu yelled. "Play nice or no playing at all! We'll all go home and go to sleep!"
She stomped out of the bedroom in a huff, quashing the third fight of the night between Shravu and Ruhi. Vandu and Bala had a date night today and had left Shravu at the Iyer house with Mihika. They were back at home now joined by Raman and Ishita who brought Ruhi over to play with Shravu, as well as Mihir who used any opportunity he could to spend time with his fianceé.
Vandu joined her sisters again at the table while Bala, Mihir, and Raman snuck into the Bhalla house to open a bottle of Raman's finest scotch.
"Yaar, in bacche logon ne to dimaag kharaab kar diya," Vandu complained, as she slumped into a chair beside Ishita and across from Mihika. [These kids have given me a headache.]
"I wouldn't have sent you Akka, but I just couldn't deal with them for the third time in a row," Mihika said. "Are you sure you're ready for another one in a few months?"
"I think we'll be fine. I have Bala, and Shravu is learning to be more responsible. We'll manage. By the way, don't you want to join your fiancé across the hall?"
"Akka!" Mihika blushed. "I'm not that obsessed with him that I'd leave my sisters here. Sisters before misters."
"I meant, don't you want a taste of Raman's finest scotch bottle? He was bragging about it nonstop."
"All due respect to jeeju, but I can't handle scotch or whiskey. Just wine or cocktails for me."
"Ishu," Vandu nudged Ishita who seemed deep in thought. "Hum log kab se itni bakwaas kar rahe hai, tujhe kuch nahi kehna hai?" [We've been talking so much nonsense, and you nothing to say to us?]
"Oh sorry, maine suna nahi. Kya keh rahe the aap log?" she replied. [Sorry, I didn't hear you guys. What were you saying?]
"Kya baat hai Ishu? What's wrong?" Vandu asked, genuinely concerned.
"Akka... Miku... Aaj main Adi se mili." [I met Adi today.]
Ishita took a deep breath and told her sisters about her first time meeting her stepson.
"I don't believe this Akka," Mihika exclaimed. "Does he really believe that you stole Ruhi and Raman jeeju? Does he even know how they came into your life?"
"I don't think so. Raman thinks that Shagun probably put those ideas in his head. And I believe that. That woman is capable of anything, beyond our imagination."
"But to her own son, Ishu?" Vandu wondered aloud. "Would she really want her own son to feel so alone and betrayed just so she can have her ego?"
"You'd be surprised, Akka. This whole situation is just so complicated. I can't even imagine how bad Adi must be feeling. Ruhi found her family before she started understanding much. Even today, she is quite protected from all this. But Adi, he witnessed all the ugliness of Shagun and Raman's divorce and then the custody trial. Then he was alone in a hostel for so long... away from family..."
"Ishu, you're not feeling bad from what he said though, right? You're not taking it personally?"
"Not at all Akka, he's a kid. And he's entitled to his anger."
"How's Raman taking all of this?"
"He's... He's being strong. He knew to expect some anger on his part, but it's still hard to deal with, you know? I mean can you imagine not seeing your kid for five years?"
Vandu and Ishita's glance instinctively strayed to the bedroom, where their kids played.
"But he's back now," Ishita continued. "And we're not letting him get further from us."
"Just be careful Akka," Mihika warned.
"About what?"
"Okay, please don't take this the wrong way. I know that Raman jeeju is loyal to you and that we would all do anything for you. Iyers and Bhallas included. But their affections for Adi run much deeper than their affections for you. You are selfless to a fault, so don't let that undermine your position in that family."
"Mihika, enough." Ishita's tone was more stern than she had hoped. "What is up with you guys? Bala jeeju was saying the same thing the other day. My relationships with everyone in that house aren't so weak that they'd crumble with Adi coming home."
"Okay, I believe you. But then the other problem that comes up, is what would your relationship be like with Adi when he came home? You chose to be a mother to Ruhi. But you haven't chosen that for Adi. Will you be his mom when he comes home? Will he accept that? Will he be okay with that? Will you be able to love him like you love Ruhi? Because it's not fair to either of you if it doesn't work out. And where will Shagun fit in all of this? Will Adi be okay to distance himself from her? And if not, then-"
"All right, just stop, Miku! You're giving me anxiety just thinking about all of this!" Ishita implored. "I haven't thought that far. But... but it will all work out. I'm sure of it."
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"Raman, did you even listen to my story of my student getting suspended for vandalism?" Bala tapped his shoulder to bring his mind back from space.
They were standing in the balcony of Raman's bedroom, enjoying a glass of his finest scotch.
"Sorry, sorry Bala, my mind was somewhere else." Raman rubbed his temple.
"What's wrong bhai?" Mihir asked. "Even scotch isn't getting you talking."
"Ishita and Ruhi met Adi today."
Raman explained his first meeting with Adi last week, their run-in with him today, Ruhi and Adi's first meet, as well as Adi's outburst on Ishita.
"Are you doing okay, Raman?" Bala asked. He was there the first time he met Adi and had offered some silent comfort.
"I'm as good as I will be. Still getting used to seeing my son as a ten-year old. In my head, he's still that little five-year old who needed help tying his shoes," Raman chuckled. "He's really angry, but I'll get through to him eventually."
"How did Ruhi take it?"
"Much better than expected. She worked her charm and actually got a smile on his face."
"Is bhabhi okay?" Mihir asked.
"I think so. I mean, if any of this is affecting her, she's not showing it. But that's why I'm worried about her even more."
"What do you mean?" Bala asked.
Raman sighed. "I just hope she isn't too hurt by how Adi behaved today. I mean, she's very understanding with everything Adi is going through, but still. Plus, she didn't sign up for any of this. I can't expect her to accept Adi the way she did Ruhi. She'll do it if I ask or even if I imply it, but it's not fair. One would be a choice, but the other..."
"Raman," Bala squeezed his shoulder. "I know Ishita is selfless enough to do that, but if she chooses to have a relationship with Adi, she'll do it with all her heart. It's not something she can force or fake. Besides, if she is bending over backwards, then you'll be there to take care of her, right?"
"Always."
That is what Bala kept his faith in. Even if Ishita didn't think about herself, there was someone else in her life that would do it for her
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Khanna Mansion, Adi's room - 10 pm
Adi snuggled under his sheets and turned to switch off his bedside lamp. A crumpled piece of paper lay on the table. His father's business card. He smoothed the card with his fingers again and thought of his father again. He had met him twice in a week. The tendons in his heart stretched taut with pain and longing. He thought of his sister. She was so adorable, he couldn't find a single excuse to hate her. But he couldn't find a reason to love her either. He thought of his step-mom and how she had everything his mom ever desired. How his father left and lived the dream he wanted for himself and his mom.
"I hate you papa. I hate you," he cried into the darkness of his room.
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Bhalla House, Raman and Ishita's room - 10 pm
"Ruhi baby, go to sleep. Leave Ishimaa's hair now," Ishita mumbled, sleepily.
"But mumma... I love-" yawn "-your hair," yawn "so long..." Ruhi said, as she fell asleep.
On the other side of the bed, Raman was wide awake. He pulled his phone out, dimmed the brightness, and pulled up pictures of his son. Every single memory he had of his son came rushing through the forefront as he reminisced with each photo.
"I love you Adi, I love you," he whispered in the silence of the night.
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