CHAPTER NINETY (THE EPILOGUE)
THREE YEARS LATER
Aditya and Ruhi were all preparing to go to Mumbai to meet their grandparents, the Iyers and their friends who by now they addressed as siblings Ayaan, Dev, Akash, Nitya and Saanvi. It had become a treat that during the holiday the kids would either come to Delhi or Aditya and Ruhi would go to Mumbai, it was something that they started that had somehow stuck. This time Simmi had volunteered to go with them and chances were as such that it was because of the person who was picking them up.
Ishita got up in the morning and made sure everything was in order for them to travel like she always did. Jai who was supposed to be in Mumbai that morning had already arrived and they were getting late.
'Ruhi come on down, Jai is here...'' Said Ishita
'Good morning Jai...'' Said Simmi
'Oh hey beautiful... You're ready...'' Jai answered clearly flirting
'By God you can be such a flirt sometimes...'' Simmi answered trying hard to hide the fact that she was blushing but she was fooling no one
'I will pick my bag...'' She added before walking away
'Jai... Please don't do this unless you're sure. I don't want her hurting anymore and you too...'' Sid Ishita
'I know. But I have this really good feeling about her. Plus I think I may be slightly in love with her.'' He said being candidly honest which was very rare
'Oh we are using the big words now...'' Said Ishita smiling
'Well yeah... When a man knows, he knows. She will be fine with me I promise...'' Said Jai
'Well I am happy for you two...'' Said Ishita hugging her brother
Ruhi came running down with Aditya not far back. Ruhi came down picked her bag from Ishita and Aditya did the same. Aditya leaned in to kiss his mom goodbye and he sensed something was a bit off
'Mom are you okay...'' he said
'Yeah... I am absolutely fine...'' She said lying
'Why do you look so pale then...'' He asked
'Oh God I have completely turned you into a worry warrior you know. It is so sweet how much you care...'' Said Ishita pulling him in as she said
'I swear I am absolutely fine my baby...''
'Okay... But if there is anything then you will tell me...'' Said Aditya
'Yes I will... Promise...'' Ishita said as she kissed him on the check saying goodbye and together with Ruhi and Simmi they left
Ishita who had been feeling nauseated the whole morning but she wanted her kids to be ready on time and not have any worry so she woke up, pushed through and prepared them. It was however getting to her and she was beginning to feel a bit feverish. She walked back upstairs to lay down hoping to sleep it off.
Raman woke up and could see Ishita was still sound asleep. He smiled and leaned in kissing her on the cheek before he got up to go take a shower. Raman came out of the shower and he could see that she still sleeping. This was something that was not so usual but he figured that since she had an early morning with Adi and Ruhi she deserved to sleep a little more. He got ready and went down stairs to get his breakfast.
'Good morning papa...'' Said Raman
'Good morning son...'' Said Mr. Bhalla
'Good morning Mama...'' Said Raman
'Oh good morning, where is your wife?'' Asked Santosh
'She is still sleeping'' answered Raman as he sat down for breakfast
'She is an early person how come she is still sleeping. Is she okay?'' Said Santosh
'Yeah she is fine. Had to wake up early for Adi and Ruhi...'' Said Raman
'Good morning everyone...'' Said Romi
'Good morning...'' Answered everyone
'What's for breakfast, I am starving...'' Said Romi
'And where is your fianc...'' Said Santosh
'Uhhh I don't... She must be in the guest bedroom.'' Said Romi stammering
'Oh please, I saw her sneak onto your room this morning. Tell her to come down for breakfast...'' Said Santosh causing Raman and his dad to laugh at him
'Sorry... She will be down in a minute...'' Said Romi slightly embraced
'Good morning Amma...'' Said Vidya who had just walked into the room
'Oh speak of the devil... How was your night?'' asked Santosh
'It was amazing thank you. You have been really nice to me...'' Said Vidya humbly
'Oh please... Soon this will be your house too...'' Said Santosh as she turned to look at Romi before she added
'Then you will have to worry about gorgers... Hey take your time, no one is chasing you...'' Said Santosh
'Sorry I am just really hungry...'' Said Romi
Vidya took her seat next to Romi taking the plate Santosh was handing her and the glass of juice. Romi smiled and slowly put his hand below the table holding Vidya. Vidya felt it and reciprocated smiling in the process but not once did she look at him and neither did her look at her.
Ishita came down stairs still a bit sleepy as she made it to the dining room saying
'I am so sorry I over slept. Good morning everyone...'' She said
'Looks like you're still asleep to me...'' Said Romi teasingly
'Good morning hon. Are you okay...'' Said Santosh
'Yeah... Yeah I am fine. It is just that I was feeling a bit nauseated but it is a bit gone now...'' Said Ishita as she sat down next to Raman
'Good Morning love...'' Said Raman as he leaned in and kissed her
'Good morning handsome...'' Said Ishita as she kissed him back
'Hey come they are allowed to that but I am not...'' Said Romi
'What... Romi ...'' Said Vidya embarrassed at her question
'Well that is because they are married and you're not...'' Said Mr. Bhalla as he placed his newspaper down and dug into his breakfast
'Yet... I am not married yet...'' Said Romi
'Well until then...'' Said Mr. Bhalla before Santosh said
'Not that you will listen to us anyway...'' Causing everyone at the table to chuckle
'Ishita your plate...'' Said Santosh handing her a plate of food
'Yuck... What is that smile...'' Ishita said
'It is and you love it.'' Said Santosh surprised
'I don't like it now, it smells horrible...'' Said Ishita as she put the plate down and picked up a glass of water
Santosh looked at her and as a mother it didn't take long for her to realize what was happening and soon even Vidya could see. The signs were so clear she wondered why she missed them all along.
Santosh put her plate down and walked over to where Ishita was standing and held her face. Looking at her at if she was looking for something or would find out something
'Uhhh what is happening...'' Said a confused Raman
Santosh then all of a sudden become teary and pulled Ishita into her embrace hugging her tight.
'Ammi what is happening...'' Said a clueless Ishita
'Why didn't you...'' Said Santosh stopping herself
'What...'' Said Ishita
'Oh My God you don't know...'' Said Santosh
'Know what?'' asked Ishita
'Ohh I just love you to bits you know that...'' Said Santosh hugging her again which caused Vidya to smile
They probably were the only two people in that room who know what was going on.
'What was that all about...'' Whispered Raman to Ishita as his mother walked back to her seat
'I have no idea but I will take the love...'' whispered Ishita
'So Raman, any plans for the future for you two...'' Said Vidya trying to hint
'What do you mean?'' Asked Raman
'Well you know... Like kids and stuff. You two should have a mini you around.'' Said Vidya
'Oh God No... I most definitely do not want kids. I am happy with what I have now so NO kids for me.'' Said Raman before he turned to Ishita and kissed her on the cheek and walked out saying
'Gotta go I am getting late for work. See you later...'' He said walking out
Romi soon followed suit and so did Mr. Bhalla leaving the ladies in the kitchen.
'Ishu...'' Called Vidya
'Haan...'' She replied
'When did you last you know, see your period.'' Said Vidya
'What sort of question is that? What are you the menstrual police...?'' Asked Ishita letting out a soft laugh
'No... What I mean to say is that I think you are pregnant''' Said Vidya
'What... No... Come on...'' Said Ishita as she tried to recollect the last time she had her period and she couldn't quite get to it
'Oh God...'' She said with the realization
'This is not good, this is bad...'' she added panicking
'What... Why...'' Asked Santosh
'He doesn't want kids. Didn't you hear him?'' she said
'Oh Please I am sure when you tell him his opinion will change believe me. Look just go take the test and first confirm before you tell him.'' Said Santosh to which Ishita obliged
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Raman had been called back from work as soon as if was confirmed that Ishita was pregnant and Santosh wanted to just tell everyone but Ishita wouldn't let her until she told Raman first. She grew impatient and ended up calling Raman back home due to some emergency
'Okay Mom is freaking out about something. She kept on pushing me to come here as if she was...'' But as he kept on talking he saw she was a bit distraught about something
'Ishita what is it?'' he asked but she just turned and looked at him getting a bit teary
'Please tell me what's the problem ...'' he said getting worried
'Look I swear I was taking the precaution and I was even making sure I took the pill and stuff but maybe I skipped a few days I didn't know. But you have to understand that if I knew you didn't want this I wouldn't have... Oh God...'' she said
'Clam down... Tell me things I understand...'' He said holding her hand
'I am pregnant...'' She said holding her breath and Raman just kept staring at her
'Raman please say something why are you just...'' She said but he was just so taken up by emotion that he didn't know what to do except kiss her.
He placed his lips on hers and pulled her in kissing her as tears streamed down his face. She first hesitated but then kissed him thinking maybe this was his way of coping with the situation until she tasted his tears. She pulled away asking
'Are you okay...''
'You're going to have my baby. We are going to have a baby Ishita how could you think I wouldn't like that?'' he said
'Well this morning...'' she said
'Yeah because I didn't think you wanted one either. But then this... Oh My God... I get to have a little girl...'' He said hugging her
''Oh a little boy...'' she said letting out a soft laugh as she hugged him back
'But this is good right...'' She added
'Yes... This is more than right this is perfect.'' He said leaning in and kissing her tears that had streamed down her face
'You have no idea how in love with I am this minute...'' he said and when she saw the glow in his eyes, the smile on his face and heard the honesty in his voice she knew they were going to be fine
'Thank you for this...'' he added
'And thank you for allowing me do this. I get to have your baby...'' she said smiling as she leaned into him resting her head on his shoulder
'I LOVE YOU RAMAN'' She said
'I LOVE YOU MORE...'' He answered
They knew they needed to tell their children and family about this but they just wanted a moment to just be. They had been through a lot and survived hurricanes to be together. No one guessed that 6 years later they would be here holding hands thinking about life with their baby. A child they would say is Raman and Ishita's just like Ruhi and Aditya.
This story of love began with a million trials and tribulations with neither Ishita nor Raman thought they had any hope of love or happiness. They viewed the opportunity of a second chance as just a mirage not knowing their blessings were just around the corner.
DO NOT CLOSE YOURSELF UP TO NEW POSSIBILITIES, YOU NEVER KNOW WHO OR WHAT IS AROUND THE CORNER.
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