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.]
Adi and Ruhi sat silently, their hearts breaking into a million shards of glass which seemed to pierce every pore of their body. Even the act of breathing was painful.
"Chot... matlab?" Ruhi asked. "Kya hua mumma ko?" [Hurt? What happened to mumma?]
"Ishimaa thik ho jaayegi na bua?" Adi said in a small voice. [Will Ishimaa be okay?]
Simi tightened her arms around the kids. "Aapki Ishimaa jald hi thik ho jaayengi, thik hai? Aap dono kuch galat mat sochna." [Your Ishimaa will be fine soon. Don't think any bad thoughts.]
Ruhi wrenched herself free from her aunt's hold and stood up, face screwing up in grief and anger. "Mujhe Ishimaa ke paas jaana hai! Mujhe unhe dekhna hai!" she demanded. Tears rolled down her face in earnest. [I want to go to Ishimaa! I want to see her!]
"Nahi Puttar," Toshi said in a cooing voice. "Tumhe jaane ki koi zaroorat nahi hai. Papa hai wahan par. Dadu, Rinki bua, Chachu-Chitti, sab hai." [No puttar. You don't need to go there. Papa is there. Dadu, Rinki bua, Chachu-Chitti, they're all there.]
"Nahin! Mujhe jaana hai matlab jaana hai!" Ruhi stomped over to her brother and shook his arm. "Adi bhaiya, aap bolo na kuch?!" [No! I want to go! Adi bhaiya, say something!]
Adi gulped past the brick of terror jammed in his throat. Ishimaa... hurt... hospital... It was only now sinking in. Tears welled up in his eyes and his chest heaved in anxiety.
"M-Mujhe bhi hospital jaana hai," he muttered. "Main Ishimaa ke saath rehna chaahta hoon." [I-I want to go to the hospital too. I want to stay with Ishimaa.]
"But Adi-"
"Main kuch nahin sunna chahta!" he yelled, his voice going up a few octaves. "Please bua! Dadi! Humein le chaliye na Ishimaa ke paas?! Please...!" he begged. [I don't want to hear anything! Take us to Ishimaa! Please!]
When Adi and Ruhi looked up at them with eyes full of fear, stubbornness, and anxiety, Toshi and Simi couldn't find it in themselves to deny them anything. Regardless of how much they wanted to shield them from the ugliness of the truth.
And so, Simi had whipped out her phone and dialed Raman's number.
.....................................................................................................................
Meanwhile @ ICU, Delhi City Hospital
Raman had been glued to Ishita's bedside for two hours now. Only two people were allowed in the ICU at a time, which meant the rest of the family had come in one at a time to see her, since Raman refused to leave the room. Even now, while the family left to get some breakfast and coffee in the canteen, Raman sunk into a chair beside the bed and gazed at his wife, lying pale and still in the hospital bed.
Ever since he had watched the CCTV footage, guilt had been wrapped around his throat like a noose, tightening further and further, threatening to squeeze the life out of him. He had immediately called Pathak to get Ashok arrested, who in turn assured him that he was on his way to the police station at that very moment. Raman had the itching urge to go beat up that devil himself, but not until Ishita woke up. Not until he was assured that she would be okay.
Raman leaned forward in his chair and sunk his elbows onto his knees. Ever so gently, he wrapped his hands around Ishita's fragile fingers and brought them to his lips, raining soft kisses on the back of her hand, mindful of the IV in her veins. Tubes and machines and monitors formed a halo around his wife, and once again, his features contorted with heartache. The light of his life had shriveled up, and it was all his fault.
Ashok was his enemy. It was Raman he was coming after. And Ishita was paying the price for it. Why, oh why did he have to ask her to bring the file to his office? Why hadn't he gone home for it himself? If Ishita had never come to his office, then none of this would've happened. Ashok would've come for him, shot him, and walked away. But at least his wife wouldn't have been in harm's way. This was all his fault, Raman thought. He almost choked swallowing such a bitter pill.
He sniffled loudly and gazed at Ishita's face, fingers still wrapped around her hand. He had been osscilating back and forth between hope and despair all morning, savoring the fact that she was alive one minute while tendrils of loss wisped in the darkest corners of his heart the next.
"Wake up, my love. Please..." he whispered. "A year with you isn't enough. I want a lifetime with you... So please keep fighting and wake up. Come back to me... I love you so much..." He breathed out the last words, voice hoarse with heartache.
The door clicked open in the next second, and the surgeon walked in for his mid-morning rounds. As he checked Ishita's vitals and examined her surgical wounds, Raman's phone vibrated. The screen lit up with Simi's name. He stood up from the chair and retreated to a corner of the room to answer the call.
"Yes Simi?" he said.
"Bhai, Adi and Ruhi... they're..." Simi gulped with fright. Sounds of crying interrupted her words, and Raman's spine stiffened on impact.
"Kya hua Adi-Ruhi ko?!" he almost yelled. [What happened to Adi and Ruhi?]
"They know bhai. About Ishita. Unhone humein kasam de di toh batana pada." [They made us swear upon them and we had to tell them.]
"Tch tch tch," Raman clicked his tongue in dissappointment. "Kya zaroorat thi unhe bataane ki? Aur kasam dedi ka kya matlab hai? Kasam dene se thodi kuch hota hai?!"
[Why did you have to tell them? And what do you mean they made you swear on them? How does that change anything?!]
"Aisa nahi hai bhai. Woh dono subah se bahot sawaal puch rahe hai. School bhi jaane se manaa kar rahe hai. Hum kya karte? Woh dono toh hospital aane ki zid kar rahe hai."
[It's not like that bhai. They've been asking questions since the morning. They won't even go to school. What can we do? They're asking to come to the hospital.]
Raman sighed and rubbed his eyes with his free hand. He had managed to shield his children from this horrific turn of events but how much longer could he keep this up?
"Nahi... Woh log hospital nahin aa sakte," he decided. "Main nahin chaata mere bacche apni maa ko aise dekhe. Ek kaam karo. Tum unhe phone do."
[No... They can't come to the hospital. I don't want my kids seeing their mother like this. Do one thing. Give them the phone.]
"Haa bhai, main phone speaker pe karti hoon." [Okay bhai, I'm putting the phone on speaker.]
A moment later, he was bombarded with a million questions from two distraught voices.
"Papa, mumma ko kya hua?" [Papa, what happened to mumma?]
"Humein Ishimaa se milna hai!" [We want to meet Ishimaa!]
"Adi... Ruhi... Shaant ho jao bacche..." he began. "Dekho, Ishimaa thik ho jaayengi. Yahan sab doctor log unka khayaal rakh rahe hai. Aap logon ko aane ki zaroorat nahi hai."
[Adi... Ruhi... Calm down kids... Look, Ishimaa will be fine. All the doctors here are taking care of her. You guys don't need to come here.]
"Lekin papa, agar Ishimaa ko kuch ho gaya-" [But papa, if something happens to Ishimaa-]
"Nahin beta! Kuch nahi hoga aapki mumma ko!" he said hastily. "Papa pe bharosa rakho. Papa kuch nahi hone denge unhe." [No beta! Nothing wil happen to your mother! Just trust papa. Papa won't let anything happen to her.]
His children argued once again and Raman's heart strained against his rib cage. The door clicked open again and he turned his head to see the doctor leaving.
"Ek minute beta. Ek minute phone hold karo," he said. "Main bas do minute doctor se baat kar lu." [One minute beta. Just hold the phone for a minute. I'll just talk to the doctor for a minute.]
He covered the phone's microphone with his palm before calling out to the doctor, who turned back around to face him.
"How's Ishita now?" he asked, holding his phone away from his ear.
"Her vitals look good, Mr. Bhalla. As I said earlier, we won't know the full extent of damage until she wakes up."
"Okay... thank you."
Instead of leaving however, the doctor pursed his lips as if holding back on saying something.
"Is there something else, doc?" Raman asked.
"Um... Are you talking to your children on the phone?"
Raman glanced at the phone in his hand. "Yes. Why?"
Despite his hesitation, the surgeon said what was on his mind. "Mr. Bhalla, I suggest you let your children meet their mother. I know you don't want them to see her like this, but..."
"But what?"
"You don't want them growing up with any regrets. And neither do you want them blaming you for it."
Raman's brows furrowed in confusion. What regret? And why would his kids blame him? When realization dawned, his brows relaxed and eyes widened.
"Doctor... Do you think..." Air rushed out of his lungs as he struggled to speak. "Do you think this is the last chance for my kids to see their mother alive?"
"I sure hope not. But no one can predict surgical outcomes, Mr. Bhalla. You never know what's going to happen. I see life and death every day and my motto is 'hope for the best, prepare for the worst.' I am hoping that Ishita will make a full recovery, but it's best that we prepare for the worst as well. Rest the decision is up to you."
The doctor left the room, and Raman stared off into space. It wasn't until panicked voices sounded from his phone that he blinked back to the present.
"Simi, Adi aur Ruhi ko lekar yahan aa jao," he declared. [Simi, bring Adi and Ruhi here.]
.....................................................................................................................
Adi and Ruhi arrived at the hospital an hour later with Simi. Immediately, they sprinted into their father's arms in the waiting room.
"Papa!"
"Dad!"
Raman wrapped his arms around his children, gathering them close to his chest. He pressed alternate kisses to their cheeks and caressed their backs in an effort to soothe them. "Shhh... Shhh beta... Bas, aise rote nahi..." [Don't cry...]
When they pulled back, their first question was, "Where is Ishimaa?"
Raman nodded and stood up, clasping their hands. He led them to the ICU and stopped at the door.
"Just wait here okay? I'll take you inside in a minute."
Raman went inside and pulled up the white sheet over Ishita's arms, covering her IVs and making sure none of her wounds or scars were visible. He came back out a second later and beckoned his kids inside.
When they viewed the sight of their mother lying still and lifeless in the middle of tubes, IVs, and hospital machines, their hearts dropped. Adi gasped and sniffed with fright. Huge tears welled in Ruhi's eyes and they rushed down her cheeks.
"Mumma..."
"Ishimaa..."
They tiptoed to her bedside even as their father held them close.
"Mumma," Ruhi gulped. "Please uth jaao na. Agar aap... agar aap nahi uthe toh main... main kabhi brush nahi karungi. Din bhar candy khaaungi. Sab teeth mein cavities ho jaayengi phir bhi," she threatened her mother.
[Mumma. Please wake up. If you... If you don't wake up then I'll... I'll never brush my teeth. I'll keep eating candy all day. Even if I get cavities in all my teeth.]
"Haan Ishimaa," Adi joined in. "Main bhi kabhi brush nahi karunga. Aur... aur main... main kabhi padhai nahi karunga. Sirf TV dekhunga aur video games khelunga. Aapko uthna padega Ishimaa!"
[Yes Ishimaa. I'll never brush my teeth either. And.... and I'll... I'll never study. I'll just watch TV and play video games all day. You have to wake up Ishimaa!]
Ruhi hiccupped from the force of her sobs. She stepped forward and pressed a soft kiss against her mother's cheek. The warm motherly scent she was used to was replaced by clinical antiseptic.
Adi turned away in fright, unable to see his mother in this condition any longer. He burrowed closer into his father's chest, his back shaking from his sniffles. He had just found his mother. He wasn't ready to lose her so soon.
Raman's heart broke at the scene in front of him. Listen to your kids Ishita... If not for me, then wake up for them at least...
After a few moments in silence, Raman ushered his children outside. He crouched down to their level and wiped their tears one by one.
"Ab rona nahi, thik hai?" he said. "Ishimaa jald hi thik ho jaayengi. Hmmm?" [Now no more crying, okay? Ishimaa will get better soon. Hmmm?]
Adi and Ruhi nodded, wiping away the last of their tears.
"Good," Raman sniffed. "Aap logon ne breakfast kiya?" [Did you guys have breakfast yet?]
"Nahi bhai," Simi spoke up from the sidelines. "Dono ne subah se kuch nahi khaaya." [No bhai. They haven't eaten anything since the morning.]
"Aur jeeju ne toh kal raat se kuch nahin khaaya," Mihika commented. [And jeeju hasn't eaten since last night.]
Ruhi's head snapped to her father. "Papa? Aapne kuch nahi khaaya?" [Papa? You haven't eaten anything?]
Raman sighed. Rather than answer his daughter's question, he put forth another suggestion. "Chalo, hum log canteen chalte hai. Let's get you both something to eat." [Come on, let's go to the canteen.]
He held their hands and led them down to the cafeteria. Despite their diminished appetite, they picked out a couple bagels, fruits, and a few juice boxes before sitting down at a table. Raman spread a dollop of cream cheese on two bagels and handed one to each of his kids, coaxing them to eat. As they took a bite of their bagels, Raman poked a straw into a juice box and handed one to both of them.
"Papa, aapne bhi puri raat kuch nahi khaaya na?" Adi asked. [Papa, you haven't eaten anything all night, right?]
Raman's eyes lowered. Instead of waiting for his answer, Ruhi simply brought her half-eaten bagel to her father's lips. "Papa, aap bhi khaayiye," she urged. [Papa, you also eat.]
Raman's eyes watered. He hadn't been able to stomach anything since last night, had ignored everyone's entreaties for him to eat or drink or sleep. But when his kids implored him to do so, he couldn't refuse. He had been losing his mind over Ishita all night, but his children were the one thing that could keep him sane. He needed to keep it together for them.
Raman took a bite of Ruhi's bagel. Adi peeled a banana for him. They fed each other bagels, apples, and bananas, drawing strength from each other, clinging to the tiny shreds of hope and support in the midst of a storm.
.....................................................................................................................
Mayur Vihar Police Station – a few hours later, 2 pm
The doors burst open and Pathak stomped in. The last twenty hours of his life had been nothing but chaos. From the news that Ishita bhabhi had been shot, to the police surveillance of the crime scene, to ballistics testing of the bullets found at the scene, to finding the CCTV footage of Ashok Khanna who had fired the shot. Other than the few hours spent eating and sleeping, he had been working nonstop to bring that culprit to justice. And it looked like they were finally getting somewhere.
He approached the main desk of the police station. "Is prosecutor Karan Sehgal here?" he asked.
"Neil!" a voice sounded from the side.
Pathak turned his head and found the man he was looking for. He jogged to him and said, "Did you get him?"
Karan nodded. "We got him. He was holed up in a basement apartment on the far side of town. The police tracked him with his phone records. He's in interrogation with the lead investigator. I'm just about to join them."
"I'm coming with you," Pathak declared.
"No, you're not. You're not a criminal lawyer anymore, Neil. You can't be in interrogation with a suspect. I may be your friend from law school but I'm not going to break the rules for you."
"I'm the victims' legal counsel," Pathak argued. "I can sit in to represent them. Make sure they get the justice they deserve."
Karan sighed. "Fine. But don't say or do anything out of line. Be professional."
After one final nod, Pathak followed Sehgal into the interrogation room. Ashok sat at a table in handcuffs with a court-appointed defense attorney at his side. A police officer circled the table, stopping to wave at the prosecuting lawyer.
"Hey there Sehgal. Look who's here." He pointed at the table. "The one and only Ashok Khanna."
"I see." Karan Sehgal dropped his arrest report onto the table and leaned down to tower over Ashok. "Fancy seeing you here Mr. Khanna. We've been expecting you. I think your buddy Oberoi just got arrested for sexual misconduct. And isn't your brother under investigation for tax fraud too? It was just a matter of time before you got here."
Ashok sneered and looked away.
"Sehgal, why don't you read him his charges?" the officer suggested.
"Oh that's a good idea." Sehgal picked up the file from the report and read aloud, "Two counts attempted murder, two counts aggravated assault, two counts assault with a firearm, unlawful discharge of a firearm, and felony public endangerment." He blew a breath and dropped the file on the table. "Wow Ashok... That's quite a rap sheet, if I do say so myself. Eight charges should put you in jail for a lifetime."
Pathak watched the proceedings from the corner. He had been a criminal lawyer years ago, and he recognized the tactics being used by the prosecutor and police officer to intimidate the suspect.
"Even you know these charges are a bit much," Ashok's defense attorney spoke up. "Lower the charge from attempted murder to attempted manslaugter. And aggravated assault to just assault. Then we'll talk."
Pathak stiffened in shock. Lowering the charges meant a shorter sentence. It meant that Ashok had lost his temper in the heat of the moment and fired his gun, instead of planning it out in advance. To his relief however, Sehgal didn't budge.
"Really? You want me to believe that everything this man did was in the heat of the moment?" Sehgal mocked. "He hid behind a building and waited until Raman came out of the building to fire a bullet. None of this happened in the heat of the moment. It was all pre-meditated. I'm not lowering the charges."
"Listen Mr. Sehgal," the defense attorney replied. "Mr. Khanna was agitated. He has lost almost all his wealth and property. What he did was wrong, but he's not a psychopath. Attempted murder is a bit much. Bring it down to attempted manslaughter."
"How about this? I'll take off the firearm charges, if you plead guilty to attempted murder and aggravated assault."
"And what about public endangerment?"
"Come on counselor," Sehgal huffed. "He fired a gun in public premises. No way am I letting him go on that. Anyone could've been hurt. Anyone could've died. Did you know one the bullets he fired ricocheted off a car and landed in a tree trunk? That bullet could've hit anybody."
Ashok rolled his eyes. "That bullet was only meant for Raman."
"Is that a confession, Mr. Khanna?" Sehgal raised his eyebrow.
"No, it's not!" the defense attorney exclaimed. "That's my client expressing his irritation at the turn of events in his life." He discreetly murmured something to Ashok about keeping his mouth shut.
"Listen Mr. Khanna," Sehgal continued. "We have you dead to rights on CCTV footage and ballistics reports. Take the deal while you can. Plead guilty and spare the victims from the trauma of a public trial."
"Okay wait," the defense attorney countered. "What if my client pleads guilty to aggravated assault if you take off the attempted murder charge?"
Sehgal's jaw dropped. "Are you kidding me? He's almost killed a woman and you're telling me to take off the attempted murder charge? He's lucky she isn't dead yet, otherwise he'd be pleading to murder."
"Well then, if you want him to plead to attempted murder, you have to take off the aggravated assault charge."
Their negotiation continued and Pathak was growing frustrated by the minute. He had witnessed first-hand how much this man had made Raman bhai's life miserable over the past ten years. And now, his bhabhi, Raman bhai's life and breath, was swinging between life and death. He had had enough.
Pathak moved faster than anyone could blink. He charged forward and threw the table aside, gripping Ashok by the collar and slamming him against the wall. Pathak pushed his forearm against Ashok's throat, unhindered by the fact that he was a foot taller and two sizes bigger. As mad as he was right now, he could probably tackle a bull and win.
"Take the goddamn deal Ashok," he growled. "This is the last of the tiny mercies we'll throw at you. Do some good in your life and just take the plea deal."
A shocked prosecuting lawyer and police officer had come up behind him, trying to pry Pathak off Ashok, but to no avail.
"An innocent woman is lying unconscious in a hospital bed because of you," Pathak continued. "Pray to god that she wakes up. For your sake. Because if she doesn't wake up, then I'll make it my mission to send you to jail forever. The basement where we found you will be heaven compared to the hellhole where I'm going to send you."
Despite the pressure on his throat, Ashok chuckled. A wicked smirk crept up his lips. He had meant to shoot Raman to kill him. Turned out, he'd killed him way worse. Mihir, Pathak, Romi, Raman... He had managed to kill them all with one shot. So many birds with one stone. So much more bang from one buck.
Pathak fumed seeing him smirk. That's what made him snap. He fisted his hand and brought it forth to punch him, only to be stopped by Sehgal, whose arms came around Pathak's chest to wrench him off Ashok.
"Enough Neil!" Sehgal shouted, dragging him out even as Neil clawed at Ashok. Sehgal didn't let go his friend until they reached the corridor outside the interrogation room.
"What is wrong with you Neil?!" Sehgal yelled, shocked at his behavior. He had never seen an attorney like Pathak lose his professionalism before.
"Just give me five minutes alone with that prick," Pathak gritted out. He made to enter the interrogation room again but his friend pushed him back.
"You know I can't do that. It's already against the rules for you to sit in on a criminal interrogation. The only reason you're here is because you're a friend and you're the victims' legal counsel."
Pathak ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "Karan, you have to work out a plea deal. This case cannot go to trial. This man has already put my clients through hell." He blew out a shaky exhale. "If this goes to trial and if anything, and I mean anything, goes wrong then this prick will go off scot-free. I can't let that happen."
"Nothing like that is going to happen," Sehgal insisted. "Even if this goes to trial, we have him dead to rights. There's no way he's getting off."
"No Karan." Pathak shook his head. "You and I both know how messed up the justice system is. One misplaced piece of evidence. One botched testimony. One mistake is all it takes for the lowest of the low to walk free. I just can't take that risk. Ashok can't go free."
Sehgal had no answer. He could only peer at his friend curiously. "What's gotten into you, Neil?" he asked. "I've never seen you this distraught over any case or any client."
"That's because this isn't just any client. This time it's family. It's about my brother."
"What brother? I thought you were an only child."
"Raman bhai is more than a brother to me. When I lost my job as a criminal lawyer seven years ago, he was the only one who believed in me. The only one who gave me work. He's the reason I'm such a hotshot lawyer today. He's even the reason I met my wife Trisha. Everything I have today is because of him."
"Wow..." Sehgal was left speechless. "I had no idea."
"Karan, this guy has made Raman bhai and Ishita bhabhi's life hell for as long as I can remember. Let's go back inside and give him what he deserves."
"Yes, but I'll do that. You can't go back in there."
"Excuse me?" Pathak furrowed his brows in anger.
"You heard me, Neil. You're too close to this case. You can't be in there."
"But Karan-"
"Just trust me, okay? I do this for a living. I've sent the worst criminals to jail. I won't let Ashok get off. Okay?"
Pathak nodded hesitantly.
"Just have faith."
After those final words of assurance, prosecutor Karan Sehgal entered the interrogation room once again, infused with even more purpose. For now, he had one more reason to bring this culprit to justice.
.....................................................................................................................
General Ward, Private Suite @ Delhi City Hospital – four hours later, 6 pm
Raman paced back and forth in the suite, glancing at his wristwatch every now and again. Ishita had been moved from the ICU to the general ward an hour back and she was due to wake up any minute. She hadn't woken up yet, and Raman was growing impatient. He had refused Romi's suggestion to go for a walk. He had refused when Adi asked him to come home for a nap. He had remained ensconced in his wife's room, frustration and impatience spiking to a peak.
The door opened behind him and he turned to see the doctor walk in.
"Doc, why isn't she up yet?" he asked. "It's been 24 hours. How much longer now?"
"Any minute now, Mr. Bhalla." The doctor checked the monitor and adjusted Ishita's morphine drip.
It took a few minutes, but eventually Ishita's eyelids fluttered. Her head shook slightly and she moaned something unintelligible. Raman watched as she woke up, his heart stuck in his throat.
.....................................................................................................................
The first thing Ishita knew when she came to was searing pain. Not from her gunshot wound. Not from her concussion. The pain shot through her body from her heart and mind and soul, threatening to drown her out.
Gunshots... Blood... The last scene she had witnessed flashed behind her eyelids, and her head shook from side to side, refusing to believe what her eyes had seen.
Raman.
Raman was dead.
The love of her life was gone. She had pushed him out of the way and he had fallen down, but none of it mattered, because a bullet still hit him and his blood still shed. And then she had collapsed and the world had blacked out.
But now, her senses were returning and the dread that had gripped her throat returned in full force. She wanted to scream, shout, and cry out. She opened her mouth to do so, but nothing but a moan fell out.
"Ishita..." a voice called out. "Can you hear me? I'm your doctor. Can you open your eyes for me please?"
No... No... she thought. She couldn't open her eyes. She wanted to die. She couldn't stay alive. Not in a world where Raman didn't exist. Her chest rose and fell with harsh, painful breaths. Tears sneaked out of the corners of her eyes.
"Madrasan... uth ja na..." Her favorite husky voice reached her ears. "Aur kitna tadpaayegi mujhe?" [Madrasan... wake up now... How much more will you torture me?]
Raman.
Raman was alive.
The realization had her breaths turning into sobs. With herculean strength, she managed to open her eyelids. Her husband's gorgeous face materialized in front of her eyes, and a wave of relief washed over her.
"Raman..." she squeaked, utterly relieved.
The uncertainty and agony of the last 24 hours reared back and knocked into him so hard, Raman almost doubled over. He stumbled forward and braced his forearm by her head, lowering himself to kiss her on the forehead. His tears fell unbridled, mixing with her own.
"Ishita..." he croaked, gasping for breath. "Thank god you're okay..."
He pressed another long, hard kiss onto her forehead before straightening himself and helping her up. He made room for the doctor to examine her, sitting on the edge of her bed, facing her and holding her hand. His eyes burned into her as if he were scared she might disappear if he blinked. Ishita held her gaze on him with tear-stricken eyes, still convincing herself that he was real and alive and right in front of her. It wasn't until the doctor tapped her shoulder that she tore her gaze off her husband.
"I just want to check your pupillary responses and neural deficits, Ishita," he explained. "Then I'll leave you guys alone."
He flashed a light into each of her eyes. Then he held up an index finger and asked Ishita to follow it with her eyes. Once satisfied with her pupillary responses, he asked about other symptoms.
"Do you feel any pain or pressure in your head? Any nausea, vomiting, or dizziness?"
Ishita shook her head in the negative.
"Do you know what day it is?"
"Um... Tuesday, September 18?" She said yesterday's date.
"Close enough. It's actually Wednesday, September 19 today. You've been unconscious for 24 hours so it makes sense you'd think that. But other than that, you seem to be doing well. Your vitals are good, and you don't have any neural deficits."
Raman breathed a sigh of relief.
"Ring for the nurse if your pain gets too bad and we can adjust your morphine drip. I'll take your leave for now."
As soon as the doctor said the words, Ishita's head pivoted to her husband. Raman scooched closer on the bed and gently framed her face with his hands, taking in a sharp, shaky inhale. Their foreheads bumped together and Ishita gripped his wrists, tears streaming down their faces.
"Raman... Are you... Are you okay? Aapko... Aapko goli lagi thi... Mujhe laga ki aap..." Ishita couldn't even finish her terrifying sentence. [You... You were shot... I thought that...]
"I'm okay... I'm fine Ishita..." Raman breathed. "Mujhe goli sirf chukhe nikli thi. I have nothing but a scratch on my arm." He kissed her cheek. "I was so worried about you. I thought... I thought I lost you yaar..." Every last bit of his desperation was packed into his guttural voice. [The bullet just grazed me.]
"I'm okay, Raman... We're okay..."
A hint of awe and wonder peeked from her voice, as she was grateful for the fact. They really were okay. There was a moment yesterday when she had thought it was the last moment of her life. That she would never see Raman again. Or her children. A tiny shudder rolled through her body.
"Shhh..." Raman rubbed his hand down her back, soothing her shudders. "It's over. It's all over..." he whispered.
In the very next minute, he had his arms around her, his nose digging into her hair. Ishita ignored the dull ache in her abdomen as her arms tightened around her husband, fingers threading into his hair, despite the IV in the back of her hand.
"Don't you dare pull a stunt like this ever again," Raman chided her with a trembling voice. "Tum lecture deti ho tab tak theek hai, par aise shock mat diya karo." [It's fine until you give me lectures, but don't give shocks like this.]
She laughed, despite her contorted features and unending tears. Immediately, she winced at the pain lancing through her abdomen.
"Don't make me laugh," she hissed. "It hurts."
"Sorry... sorry..." He pulled back and surveyed her cautiously. "Are you okay? Is the pain too much? Do you need more morphine? Should I get the doctor? Do you-"
"Raman, Raman, calm down." She pressed her forefinger to his lips. "I'm fine. Just stay here with me."
"I'm not going anywhere. I'm right here. I got you."
He situated himself right beside her and she burrowed her head into his chest. Raman pressed his mouth on her hair, breathing in her scent, holding her close.
"Don't ever leave me madrasan," he whispered. "I won't be able to live without you."
Ishita looked up and met his eyes. "I can't live without you either Raman."
She closed the distance between them and sealed their lips in a kiss, kneading them harshly. Raman matched her passion – almost overpowered it, in fact – pouring all his desperation, anguish, relief, and love into the kiss.
.....................................................................................................................
"Ishimaa..."
"Mumma..."
Adi and Ruhi stood at the threshold of Ishita's room, feet glued to the floor. Half of their being told them to run forward and tackle their mother, while the other half forced them to stand afar lest they accidentally hurt her any further.
"Aao na Ruhi, come here Adi..." Ishita beckoned to her children. [Come na Ruhi, Come here Adi...]
"Ishimaa aapko bula rahi hai beta," Raman said, standing up from the bed. "Aao, daro mat." [Ishimaa is calling you beta. Come, don't be scared.]
Ruhi ran forward, getting the green-light from her parents, and climbed onto the bed into her mother's arms. Ishita hugged her little girl and and rained kisses all over her face.
"Adi, aapko Ishimaa se nahi milna?" Raman asked. [Adi, don't you want to meet Ishimaa?]
Ishita turned to look at her son, opening an arm towards him, even as the other arm held her daughter close. "Idhar aao Adi," she said. [Come here Adi.]
Adi shook his head. "Nahi... Aapko chot lagi hai... Aapko pain hoga..." [No... You're hurt... You'll feel pain...]
"Mujhe bilkul pain nahi hoga bacche. Mera beta mujhe hug karega toh saara pain chala jaayega." [I won't feel any pain my child. If my son hugs me, then all my pain will vanish.]
She beckoned him once more, and this time Adi didn't hesitate. His face crumbled and he ran to his mother, hugging her from the other side. Ishita gathered him close, kissing his forehead and caressing his hair.
"Are you okay, Ishimaa?" he asked, looking up.
"I'm absolutely fine baccha." Ishita kissed his cheek. "Bas thodi si chot lagi thi. I'm completely fine now." [I was just a little hurt.]
"Mumma, aap kabhi humein chod kar mat jaana," Ruhi cried. "Warna main aapse humesha ke liye katti ho jaaungi!" [Mumma, don't ever leave us. Otherwise I'll be mad at you forever!]
"Shhh... mumma bilkul thik hai baby. Aur main apne babies ko chod kar kaise jaa sakti hoon? Huh?" [Shhh... mumma is absolutely fine baby. And how could I possibly leave my babies?]
Ruhi buried her face into her mother's chest and Adi rested his head on her shoulder, their arms enveloping her in a hug. Ishita held them close, kissing and caressing them, breathing in their presence. She had actually thought she would never see them again. And she was eternally grateful to be proven wrong.
.....................................................................................................................
The rest of the evening had been just as chaotic as the last twenty-four hours, but this time, it was the chaos of joy and jubilation.
One by one everyone had come over to see Ishita, relieved that she was out of danger. Toshi and Madhu had both packed a tiffin for everyone's dinner, and for once, neither of them had argued which tiffin was better. They were simply happy to see that spirits had lifted, as everyone shared a fusion Punjabi-Madrasi dinner.
Ishita fed her kids with her own hands, while also urging Raman to take extra helpings of food. She had been heartbroken to know how little they had eaten all day and had resolved to make sure they all ate properly. Raman too, ate heartily, as morsels of food actually went down his throat now.
That night, Ishita sent Adi and Ruhi home with lots of kisses and hugs, even as they promised to return bright and early next morning. Raman had even let them take the next two days off from school, and to their joy, Ishita had permitted for the same. After all, the children needed time to calm down and heal before things returned to normal.
Our coming-of-age has come and gone
Suddenly the summer, it's clear
I never had the courage of my convictions
As long as danger is near
As the clock now struck ten, their boisterous family left for home, leaving Raman and Ishita alone in the privacy of the hospital suite.
"Here, have some water."
Raman handed his wife a glass of water and sat down beside her on the bed. Ishita took a sip of water and returned the glass to her husband who placed it on the side table.
"Are you okay, Ishita?" he asked. "Sab log ek saath aa gaye, itni aawaaz kar rahe the... Tumhe zyada takleef toh nahi hui?" [Everyone came at once. There was so much noise... It didn't trouble you too much, did it?]
"Absolutely not Raman. Family se kaisi takleef?" [How could family trouble me?]
Raman chuckled lightly and draped his arm around her shoulders, pressing his mouth to her hair. Aftershocks of grief and loss still zapped his heart. He had come so close to losing her.
And it's just around the corner, darling
'Cause it lives in me
No, I could never give you peace
"Are you okay, Raman?" she asked, brows furrowing at his nervous demeanor.
Raman laughed bitterly. "No... No, I'm not okay," he gulped. "This was all my fault." He lowered his head and mumbled with downcast eyes.
Ishita cupped his cheek and made him look at her. "What are you saying? How is any of this your fault?" she asked, utterly perplexed.
"Ashok fired that gun. He was there to kill me."
Ishita gasped.
"But then you showed up and the bullet hit you instead of me. I should never have called you there. I should have come home to get the file myself. I'm so so sorry Ishita..."
But I'm a fire, and I'll keep your brittle heart warm
If your cascade ocean wave blues come
"No Raman, none of this is your fault." She brushed her thumb against his cheek. "That bullet could've hit anyone. How is that your fault?"
"How is it not Ishita?" he countered. "Ashok was there to kill me, and you got caught in the crossfire. He was aiming for me, and he shot you instead. He put you in danger because of his hatred for me."
His tongue felt like lead in his mouth. Shagun, Ashok, Suraj... They were all the shadows of his past, a part of his baggage. And his wife had paid the price for it. The ghosts were his, but they were haunting her.
"No Raman, aap galat soch rahe ho," Ishita insisted. "Whatever Ashok did is not on you. That's his fault. All of this was just... just a turn of events. You couldn't have done anything to prevent it." [You're thinking wrong, Raman.]
All these people think love's for show
But I would die for you in secret
Raman nodded and pulled her closer, breathing in her scent. "Why did you do it?" he asked suddenly.
"Do what?"
"Push me out of the way. Take the bullet that was meant for me. Did you think you were saving my life?"
Ishita peered at him with wide, curious eyes. "What do you mean?"
"You almost died madrasan. If you would've..." He shuddered to think of it. "If anything would've gone wrong, it would've killed me worse than anything."
She closed her eyes and wrapped an arm around the front of his waist. "I didn't plan it Raman. I saw a gun aimed at you and my body just reacted. It was a reflex action." She looked him in the eyes. "You would've done the same for me."
Raman nodded. He absolutely would have, no questions asked.
The devil's in the details, but you got a friend in me
Would it be enough if I could never give you peace?
"Do you ever regret it?" he asked, heart in mouth.
"Regret what?"
"Building a family with me?"
She abruptly pulled her arm away and wrenched herself out of his hold, a frown marring her lips. Raman was terrified she might answer his question with a yes.
"Ishita-"
"Enough Raman," she said, voice low but stern. "I've had it with you feeling like you don't deserve this. How can you say that I'd regret you or our family?"
"It's not about what I deserve. Because regardless of whether I deserve you or not, I'm never letting you go."
His eyes burned into hers with such intensity, she colored crimson.
And you know that I'd swing with you for the fences
Sit with you in the trenches
Give you my wild, give you a child
"Then what is this about?" she asked.
Raman took a deep breath. "Life with me has never been, and likely will never be easy. Ashok's enmity with me has threatened our family so many times. Even Shagun may be in Australia for now but we'll never know what she's up to. Whether she'll prove to be trouble for our family again. Doesn't any of it scare you?"
Ishita sighed. "Main jhooth nahi bolungi Raman. Of course it scares me. Parivaar par khatra ho toh kise dar nahin lagega? Lekin mera dar mere vishwaas se badhkar nahi hai."
[I won't lie Raman. Of course it scares me. Who wouldn't be scared if danger looms over one's family? But my fear isn't greater than my trust.]
"Matlab?" [Means?]
She lifted a hand and lightly stroked his cheek. "I mean that I trust you, Raman. No matter what comes our way, I know that we'll get through it as long you're with me."
Give you the silence that only comes when two people understand each other
Family that I chose, now that I see your brother as my brother
Is it enough?
Raman's eyes welled with thankful tears. Such powerful emotion flooded through his being.
"Bas... yahin vishwaas rakhna mujh par madrasan," he implored. "I promise, I'll never let anything happen to you or our family. Ashok will pay for what he did." [Always trust me like this madrasan.]
"He better pay." Ishita's tone suddenly turned dark. "I thought he killed you." Her hold on her husband tightened. "The bullet hit you, and I thought... I thought I'd lost you. And then... and then a bullet hit me. I thought I would never see you again. Or Adi. Or Ruhi..."
She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to force the thought out of her mind. Raman rubbed her back and kissed her forehead.
"Don't think about that now. You're not going anywhere, all right? Adi, Ruhi, me... You're never leaving any of us."
But there's robbers to the east, clowns to the west
I'd give you my sunshine, give you my best
But the rain is always gonna come if you're standing with me
Raman lowered the head of the hospital bed and leaned back, enveloping his wife in his arms. Ishita lied down with him, resting her head on his chest, reveling in the sound of his heartbeat under her ear until she fell asleep.
On the other hand, Raman had a hard time falling asleep, for only one single thought circled in his head. She trusted him. Ishita trusted him. He had no idea whether he deserved it or not, and he chose not to dwell on it any further. She had chosen to love him; she had put her trust in him. And he would never let her regret it.
He didn't know whether the demons of his past would come back to haunt them again or not. But he knew for a fact, he would lay his life on the line to shield her from them.
Strengthened by her unwavering trust, Raman's anxiety and regret assuaged, allowing him to fall into deep sleep for the first time in over 36 hours.
But I'm a fire, and I'll keep your brittle heart warm
If your cascade ocean wave blues come
All these people think love's for show
But I would die for you in secret
The devil's in the details, but you got a friend in me
Would it be enough if I could never give you peace?
.....................................................................................................................
Delhi Criminal Court – next morning, Thursday, 9 am
"Docket ending 2531, State vs Ashok Khanna. Honorable Judge Ambarnath Chaturvedi presiding."
The court officer announced the case, and Raman and Pathak watched from their place in the audience of the courtroom. Ashok was brought in dressed in a black and white striped jumpsuit, hands cuffed. The judge struck his gavel and the courtroom quieted down.
"Order! Order!" he declared. "Ashok Khanna has been arrested on..." The judge ran his finger down the arrest report, counting the charges listed, and gasped. "My my... Ashok Khanna has been arrested on ten different charges! Two counts attempted murder, two counts aggravated assault, two counts assault with a firearm, unlawful discharge of a firearm, felony public endangerment, assaulting a police officer, and obstruction of justice. Prosecutor Sehgal, what are these last two charges about? I see that they were added just this morning."
"Your honor, Mr. Khanna bruised his handling officer last night during interrogation. Once in lockup, he kept interrupting the officers and inspectors for trivial things like the quality of the water and lack of blankets. He disturbed them while they were on duty, interfering with the enforcement of justice."
"Interesting. I guess we should just install A/Cs and hire five-star waiters for our lockups while we're at it, huh?" the judge laughed. "I believe there's a guilty plea in place, right? Is the defendant ready to allocute in open court?"
"Yes your honor," Ashok's defense attorney said. "My client is ready to accept his crimes."
Despite his negotiations yesterday, the defense attorney hadn't been able to get even one of the charges dropped. To his dismay, two more charges had been added on this morning.
Ashok clenched his teeth in anger. If he had the money and resources, then he would've twisted out of this mess with the snap of a finger. But his fate was against him.
"Just a minute, your honor," Sehgal said. "The victim Raman Bhalla has a special request. He would like the defendant to address him while allocuting. Mr. Khanna has been troubling Mr. Bhalla for over a decade. This shooting was simply the nail in the coffin. Mr. Bhalla would like Mr. Khanna to look into his eyes when he accepts his crimes."
Ashok's jaw dropped. He thought he had been humiliated thorougly, but the worst was yet to come. To his horror, the judge agreed to Raman's request.
"Very well. Mr. Bhalla, you can step forward," the judge said.
Raman stood up and straightened his coat, as he walked to the front of the courtroom. He stopped in front of Ashok and lifted his chin, glaring at him.
"You may begin, Mr. Khanna," the judge announced.
Ashok ground his teeth together and his jaw ticked. Raman raised an eyebrow, indicating his impatience.
"We don't have all day, Mr. Khanna." The judge tapped his pencil.
When the judge started getting impatient, Ashok had no choice. His defense attorney had explained it to him; allocuting and apologizing in open court was the only way to get a shorter sentence. He took a deep breath and began speaking.
"On the 18th of September at six o'clock in the evening, I arrived at Raman Bhalla's office with my nine mm glock 19 pistol to kill him. I was frustrated at him one-upping me over the past year. I had lost all my wealth and property, and my rage manifested at him in the most dangerous way." Raman's eyes bore into him with so much anger and intensity, he almost looked away. Almost.
He gulped, but continued speaking. "I fired three shots from behind the building amidst the bushes. One hit Raman in the arm. Another one hit his wife Dr. Ishita Bhalla, who suffered massive bleeding and a mild concussion. I accept my crimes and I... I... I apologize," he gritted out. "I'm so-sorry R-Raman."
Raman stepped forward, coming closer to his enemy until only he could hear. "Now this... is checkmate Ashok. I've defeated you... no gun, no knife. You're going to be sentenced to jail for your crimes. And I'm going to go home to my wife and kids. I'm going to live a lifetime with them. And you're going to rot in prison for the rest of your life. Tujhe tere paapo ki sazaa mil gayi, che foot do inch," he smirked. [You've been served the fruits of your sins, 6 foot 2 inch.]
Raman walked away and took his seat again, leaving behind a seething Ashok.
"Thank you for your allocution, Mr. Khanna," the judge said. "Given your allocution, I can suggest minimum sentencing. But given the severity of your crimes, you'll have to serve each sentence consecutively, not concurrently."
He pushed up his glasses, wrote something in black ink, and then addressed the courtroom. "I sentence defendant Ashok Khanna to five years for each count of attempted murder, five years for each count of aggravated assault, two years for each firearm charge, four years for public endangerment, one year for assaulting a police officer, and one year for obstruction of justice. That means a total of..." He counted up the years of each sentence. "...32 years. Ashok Khanna is sentenced to prison for 32 years with the possibility of parole. Case closed."
The gavel struck and it was over. Court officers dragged Ashok away while Raman looked on, satisfaction blooming in his chest. He thanked prosecutor Sehgal for his help before returning to the hospital with Pathak, where even more good news awaited him.
"Ishita, your recovery is going extremely well. Better than I had predicted," her doctor said, as he examined her. "I think you should be ready to go home soon. A few weeks of physical therapy and you should be good as new."
"Thank you so much doctor," she replied.
"Thanks doc," Raman said, breathing a sigh of relief.
When the doctor left to go check on his other patients, Ishita turned to Pathak and Raman. "How did it go in court?" she asked.
"Ashok was sentenced to 32 years in prison," Raman revealed.
Ishita's jaw dropped. "32 years!" she shrieked. "What... What was he charged with?"
When Pathak listed off all the charges Ashok had been brought up on, Ishita gawked at him.
"Um... Don't you think... you've gone a bit... overboard?" she gently asked, when she found her voice.
"He tried to kill you madrasan," Raman interjected. "He's lucky to be alive. I would've buried him six feet in the ground if it were legal."
Ishita chuckled and shook her head. Her husband was as protective as they came. She was one lucky girl.
Raman clasped her hand and held on tight, happy to see the IV had been removed. His wife was okay; she would be good as new in no time. And Ashok was gone. It was over. His past was finally behind him, and he could only look forward to the promise of the glorious future.
___________________________________________________________