Delhi
I: Okay so that is a long story, but I'll directly come to the point, the actual answer to your question, the answer you want to know. And that is, No. She is not my daughter, she is not mine and Raman's daughter. Sometimes I wish she was, then maybe she could have brought him back.
Vikram's expressions changed, he got the hint she gave him without even trying. She still misses him, still wants to be with him. If today he was here, she wouldn't even want to see his(Vikram's) face.
V: No Ishu, that is not the only answer I want, I want the other answer too. HOW ARE YOU RUHI'S MOTHER?
I: When Raman was 16 years old, his bhaiya and bhabhi died in a road accident. They were trying to have a child from a very long time, but it wasn't happening. Toh they prayed day and night to Ambe Maataa and promised that they will visit mataji when she'll get pregnant. And after a month she did get pregnant, they visited the temple and right there, they made another promise to visit again when they would have a baby. It took 3 hours from Delhi to visit that temple. So when Ruhi was born, the whole family was very happy and his bhaiya and Bhabhi decided to visit that temple but because Ruhi was just born, they decided to go alone. On their way to temple, they had an accident and right on the spot his Bhabhi died, his bhaiya
was still alive when they brought him to the hospital, he went to see him, and Bhaiya's last words to him were, " Aaj se Ruhi tumhari beti hai, kuch bhi hojaye, par tumhari beti koi aanch nahi aani chahiye." This incident broke them all, Raman almost went into depression but Ruhi helped them all, she was such a bundle of happiness. He always used to show me her videos, the first word she said was "paa", the first time she started walking. Ruhi was so special to him that he actually rejected so many girls who wanted to marry him but they were not ready to accept Ruhi. And that's when we met, maybe he was rejecting them all for me and God wanted me to have the most adorable daughter ever.
Vikram was shocked to know all of that, all these years he was confused about all of it and Ishita getting pregnant before her marriage was something he never thought she can do. She herself never wanted that to happen, but then how did she have a daughter with him, when he left her all alone right on the second day of their marriage. He gathered himself and asked, " And Ruhi knows about all of it? "
I: She does, she knows about it all. She was 10 years old when we got married, she had no problem with us getting married and in accepting me as her mother. But he never wanted anything to be kept away from her, so we went to her and told her everything, it was very difficult for her at that small age to understand all this. But we spent all our time with her, so that she never feels alone. She was the happiest little human on the day of our marriage.
She started crying because it reminded her of how difficult it was for Ruhi to see Raman go and never come back. It was more than what she felt, she lost her husband but Ruhi lost her father, not once, twice. Vikram consoled her. She wiped her tears and started talking about it again.
I: That's why I never leave her alone, especially on this day. We never celebrate but she always insists on celebrating, because for her getting a mother matters more than losing her father but deep down, she hides her pain by trying to enjoy. But today, I left her alone and trust me, I feel very bad about it. But Mihiku insisted me on doing this, she made me realise, ki bhale hi ruhi ke paas main hun, lekin uske papa ki jagah koi nahi bhar sakta and all these years, she never got time to remember and enjoy her memories with Raman. So this time, I want to give her that time, sirf Ruhi aur uske Papa. It's just been a day and I already miss her.
V: Do you wanna go back? I can't see you two love birds away, uske pyaar main tadap rahi ho tum.
I: Very funny, tadap toh rahi hun, lekin I promised myself to leave her alone for today. Aur waise bhi kal toh milna hi hai usse. Abh bhookh lagi hai aur dekho tumhari baaton ke chakkar main shaam hogayi.
V: Oh madam, tumhari bhookh pe toh mera dhyaan hi nahi gaya, but I have already planned for dinner, lekin usme time hai. Toh abh tumhe divert karna padega bhookh se.
I: Karna toh padega, nahi toh tumhe khaa jaungiii.
V:Khaa lo mujhe sherniiiii, okay lekin abhi ke liye main tumhe coffee banake deta hun, then you can wait for dinner.
I: Sirf tumhare liye, sirf tumhare liye, coffee se kaam chalaungi main. AUR YEH KYA BAAT HUI, YEH KAPDE PEHENKE NAHI JAUNGI MAIN DINNER PE.
V: Mujhe pata tha yeh aane wala hai, so I have decided ki hum shopping pe jayenge and you can buy whatever you like.
I: Tu mera boyfriend hai kya re? Mere itni achi planning toh maine bhi nahi ki kabhi.
V: Pati toh banaya nahi tune, abh isse hi kaam chalana padega. *winking*
I: Chidak le jale pe namak, aur bhi chidak le. Jitna mann kare utna chidak le.
He started smiling at her, while she moved closer to him, sitting on his lap,both his hands entwined at the back of her waist. Her forehead meeting his, and she said, " But Vikram, genuinely I'm so thankful for you, to you, I have been so rude to you from the beginning, I have hurt you so much, lekin tune mujhe kabhi akela nahi choda, tu nahi hota toh mera kya hota. Thank you. "
V: Bas kar pagli, Rulayegi kyaaaa. Chalo na we have to go shopping. Main coffee banake aaya.
And he went away,hiding his tears but atlast they made their way in the kitchen.
They reached the mall and she straightaway made her way to the store full of Indian dresses, and she found nothing to wear even after half-an-hour. Vikram nudged her. She replied, "Kuch samaj nahi aaraha "
V: What is the purpose of buying a dress tho?
I:Dinner date with my long lost boyfriend.
V: Haan toh uss boyfriend ki shaadi nahi hai, it's a date, you gotta wear something to impress him.
I: BUT........
Before she could say anything else, he pulled her out of the store and took her to another store. And there, the first dress she saw was a short black dress, it was like she fell in love with that dress, but she moved ahead.
V: Ish,you love that dress, what's it with you?
I: I know, but it's been so long, that dress makes me feel like a girl, and the perfect bahu inside me isn't ready for that.
V: That's a whatever kinda logic.
He took his hand, the dress in his another hand, went to the changing room and pushed her inside softly and gave her dress.
V: I want you out in that dress in 5 minutes or else I'm gonna come inside.
After 5 minutes,she opened the door a little, and peaked out to call Vikram.
I: Come inside, I need help.
V: No, main din dahade apni izzat nahi lutwana chahta.
I: Tumhari izzat ki toh, I'm having problem with the chain naaaa. Please come naaaa.
He went inside and there she stands in that black dress, he couldn't stop staring her.
I: Taadna band karo, aur kaam karo.
She turned her back to him, he turned her chain up, she looked at him in the mirror and this reminded her of Raman and how her blouse was stuck and Raman helped her out. She was lost in her memories, when Vikram tapped her neck to bring her back.
V: Chalen?
I: Tum chalo, I'll be there in a minute.
V: Okay, I'll be on the billing counter.
He left her alone, before she could go back in her memories again, she pushed herself out of the changing room with all of her belongings.
- to be continued -