Bhalla House, Delhi - 1:30 pm
Raman rang the doorbell with trembling fingers while he tightened his grip on his suitcase with his other hand. His mother opened the door and instantly, her face lit up to see her eldest son after what seemed like an eternity.
"Raman, tu aa gaya, Puttar! Kitni der baad aaya hai. Chethhi andar aaja, aaj tere pasand ka saara khaana banaaungi. Bhalla ji, dekho kaun aaya hai! Romi, Rinki, dekh to Raman aaya hai!"
[Raman, you're here son! You've come after such a long time. Quickly come inside, I'm going to make all your favorite dishes today. Bhalla ji, look who's here! Romi, Rinki, look Raman's here!]
"Raman, accha hua tu ghar to aaya. Hume laga ki aaj bhi tu apna kaam karke bas nikal jaayega sheher se, humse bina mile," his father proclaimed with a certain disappointment, as he came out of his bedroom with the newspaper in hand. He knew of the troubles Raman had hidden in his heart, but he was always disappointed with the way he had distanced himself from them. Rinki and Romi too had come out of their rooms to greet their elder brother.
[Raman, it's a good thing you've come home. We thought that you'd leave the city after finishing your work without meeting us again.]
"Kaise ho, Bhai? Kaam kaisa chal raha hai Mumbai mein? Aur Mihir kaisa hai?" Rinki asked.
[How are you Bhai? How's work in Mumbai? And how is Mihir?]
"Maa, jab Bhai itne itne dino baad aate hai, to aap to bada laad pyaar karte ho apne puttar nu. Aur jab main raat ko der se aata hoon college se to mujhe to aapse aur papaji se sirf daant padti hai!" Romi exclaimed. He was certainly happy to see his brother, but Romi was more outspoken than emotional.
[Mom, when Bhai comes home after so many days, you pamper him so much. And when I come home late from college, all I get are scoldings from you and Dad!]
"Tera bhai kaam ke liye bahar rehta hai khotiya," Toshi replied to her younger son as she filled a glass of water for Raman. "Aur tenu bhi pata hai woh kitna pareshan rehta hai."
[Your brother stays out for work, you idiot. And even you know how troubled he usually is.]
"Sab thik hai Mumbai mein Rinki. Kaam, Mihir, sab thik hai. Aur Romi, maa to bas aise hi laad jatati hai. Jab tu apne college ya school ke trips se aata tha, to tuhje bhi itna hi laad karti thi, yaad hai? Tere liye bhi wo itni hi pareshaan hoti hai," Raman said.
[Everything's great in Mumbai Rinki. Work, Mihir, everything's fine. And Romi, mom is like this only. Even when you used to come home from your college or school trips, she used to pamper you a lot, remember? She worries for you just as much.]
Raman took a seat on the sofa as his mother handed him a glass of water. Nothing had changed. His mother was still the ever boisterous and uplifting woman she was. His father was still undeniably his father -- happy to see his son home but disappointed at how rarely he came home. Even his siblings. Rinki was still the shy and ever studious bookworm; Romi was still the outspoken, gregarious but well-meaning brother. In fact, even the house hadn't changed. The interior, the furniture, the decorations, the picture frames, everything was just the same.
He had repeatedly asked his parents to renovate the house but they refused. While he wanted to eliminate every reminder of his past, his parents tried their best to hold on to the vestiges of their happy family and the time they spent together. So they kept everything the same.
Well, not everything, Raman thought. He quickly surveyed the picture frames on the wall. New pictures had been added and it occurred to him that he wasn't a part of them. Rinki's annual award function, Romi's graduation, Simi and Pulkit's anniversary, Ananya's birthday, his parents' anniversary. He had missed out on so much.
It hurt him to stay away from his family, but mingling with them hurt more. It reminded him of his own failure to keep his family together. He couldn't help but think how, if his family hadn't shattered the way it had, then there would be more pictures on the wall. Of his children. Adi's and Ruhi's birthdays, Adi's first day of school, Ruhi's first steps.
But that meant Shagun would be a part of those pictures too. The very thought made him nauseated. No Raman, he stopped himself. Don't go there. Not now.
"Aap sab please baithiye, mujhe kuch baat karni hai." [Everyone please take a seat, I need to speak with you.]
"Raman, baatein baad mein karenge. Tu pehle mainu yeh bata ki tu kya khayega? Tere liye palak paneer banau? Ya chole bhature?" Toshi asked. [Raman, we can talk later. First tell me what do you want to eat? Should I make palak paneer? Or chole bhature?]
"Maa please. Yeh sab baad mein. Baat karni bahot zaroori hai." [Mom please. Food can be discussed later. What I have to say is important.]
Raman was a man of few words so when he insisted that he needed to talk, his family understood the severity of the situation. Even his mother quieted down and the family gathered around him on the sofa, as Romi pulled up a chair from the dining table.
"Bolo Raman, kya baat hai?" His father asked him to initiate. [Yes Raman, what's the matter?]
Raman took a deep breath and began narrating the events from Mumbai's business party and this morning at the orphanage.
.....................................................................................................................
By the time Raman finished speaking, his family was in a state of shock.
"Ruhi? Bhai yeh to wohi naam hai na jo aap chahte hain apni beti ke liye?" Rinki asked. [Ruhi? Isn't this the name you wanted for your daughter?]
Raman merely nodded. He couldn't bring himself to say a word more; he was on the verge of tears. His mother was already a bawling mess who his father could barely handle.
"Woh kamini Shagun!" she exclaimed. "Uski itni himmat! Hamari bacchi, Bhalla ji hamari bacchi ko itne saal humse door rakha! Hamari Ruhi... Raman, tu kuch bhi kar, par meri bacchi ko mere paas le aa. Mera Adi to mujhse door ho gaya, lekin meri Ruhi mujhse door nahi honi chahiye!"
[That witch Shagun! How dare she! She kept our child away from us for so many years! Our Ruhi... Raman, do whatever you have to, but brin my child to me. My Adi is already separated from us, but my Ruhi shouldn't stay away from me!]
Seeing his mother's tears, Raman gathered himself. He didn't have the privilege of being weak right now. His family needed him.
"Maa, main aap se vaada karta hoon, Ruhi ko main zaroor le aaunga. Filhal use kisine adopt kiya hai. Kisi dentist Ishita Iyer ne. Lekin adoption agency wale saare tests aur investigation karle, uske baad woh hume Ruhi se milne denge. Humara uspe sabse pehla haq hai. Aur woh zaroor humare paas aayegi. Aap sab bas kuch dino tak vishwas rakhiye. Main sab thik kar dunga." Raman assured his mother.
[Mom, I promise you, I'll bring Ruhi here. Right now she's been adopted by some dentist Ishita Iyer. But as soon as the adoption agency does all the tests and investigations, they'll let us meet Ruhi. We have the first right on her. And she'll surely come to us. Just keep faith for a few days. I'll fix everything.]
While Mr. Bhalla took his wife inside to get her rested, Rinki and Romi came and sat beside Raman. Rinki rested her head on her brother's shoulder and reassuringly patted his arm. "Bhai, aap tension mat lijiye. Dekhna Ruhi jald hi hamare paas aayegi," she said. [Bhai, don't worry. Ruhi will be with us soon.]
Romi was at a loss of words, so he merely put his arm around his brother to offer support. And Raman couldn't have felt more thankful for having his family around at a time of crisis.
.....................................................................................................................
Iyer House, Delhi - 10 pm
Ishita rubbed her head as she walked out of her bedroom having put Ruhi to bed. She had been showing off her newfound ballet skills and the drawings she made that day with much enthusiasm which meant getting her to fall asleep was a difficult job. But that wasn't the cause of Ishita's worry. She was more than happy to see her daughter this chirpy. It was what she had mentioned while brushing her teeth that worried Ishita.
"Ishimaa, aapko pata hai, Shravu mujhse keh raha tha ki woh uske papa ke saath itni masti karta hai. Woh cricket khelte hai, swimming jaate hai, aur video games bhi khelte hai. Kaash mere papa bhi hote mere saath."
[Ishimaa, do you know, Shravu was telling me how much fun he has with his father. They play cricket, they swim, and they play video games. I wish my father lived with me too.]
Ruhi had mentioned it in a very casual tone as a passing by comment. She didn't seem too bothered by not having a father but those words now gave way to a deep-rooted fear of Ishita. What if she wasn't enough for Ruhi? She knew Ruhi was happy, then why did she feel that she needed her father? Was she going wrong somewhere?
Mihika noticed her cousin's fallen face and invited her to sit beside her on the sofa as she switched off the TV. "Kya hua akka? Aap ka chehra itna utra hua kyu hain?"
[What happened akka? Why the long face?]
Ishita sat down beside her and crossed her legs. "Amma appa so gaye kya?" she asked. She didn't want to broach the subject in front of her parents. It might open a whole new can of worms, if her mother started insisting she get married again.
[Have amma appa gone to sleep?]
"Haa akka, periamma ne bas abhi dawaai li aur andar gaye sone ke liye. Aap bataiye aap itne pareshan kyun hai?"
[Yes akka, periamma just took her medicine and went inside to sleep. Tell me, why are you so tensed?]
"Mihika, abhi jab main Ruhi ko brush karwa rahi thi to usne kuch aisa kaha jo mujhe bahot chubh raha hai."
[Mihika, right now when I was helping Ruhi brush her teeth, she said something that's troubling me.]
"Kya akka?"
[What akka?]
"Usne kaha ki Bala jeeju ko usne Shravu ke saath bahot time spend karte dekha hai, as father and son. Usne kaha ki kaash uske bhi papa hote jiske saath woh masti kar sakti. Kahin aisa to nahi ki use apne papa ki kami khalti hai? What if I'm not enough for her as a single parent? What if amma was right? Was it a bad idea to adopt and raise a child as a single mother? Maine socha tha ki ek bacha adopt karne se mujhe khushi milegi, lekin maine yeh nahi socha ki iska us bacche pe kya asar hoga. Kahin maine galti..."
[She said she's seen Bala jeeju spend a lot of time with Shravu as father and son. She wished that her father be here too with her. What if she feels the absence of her father? I thought that if I adopt a child, I'll be happy. But I never thought how that would affect the child. Did I make a mistake...]
"Akka, just stop right there. Aap kya bole jaa rahi ho? Ruhi kitni khush hain yahan aapke saath. Aap ko aisa kyun lagta hai ki aapne galti ki? Ruhi ke dimaag main ek choti si baat ayi aur usne bol di. Aap ye sochiye ki woh aapke saath itni open hai, aapke saath itni secure feel karti hai ki uske man ki har baat woh itni asaani se bol deti hai. That means you're going right as a parent. You're doing nothing wrong and you are more than enough for her."
[What are you saying? Ruhi is so happy with you here. Why do you think you've done a mistake? A small thought came into her mind and she said it. You should think that she is so open with you, that she feels so secure with you that she can easily tell you anything on her mind.]
"Nahi Miku. Yeh uske dimaag mein aayi choti si baat nahi hain. Yeh baat aage jaake badh sakti hain. Jaise jaise woh badi hogi, waise use apne papa ki kami mehsoos hone lagegi. Agar use mujhse shikayat hogi to main..."
[No Miku. This isn't just a fleeting thought. This might become a problem in the future. She'll feel the absence of her father as she grows. What if she has a complaint with me...]
"Akka, use apne papa ki kami to hamesha khalegi. Chahe woh yaha hamare paas rehti ya usi orphanage mein. Lekin iska matlab yeh to nahi ki woh khush nahi hogi ya use aap se koi shikayat hogi. Aap ki galti thodi hai ki uske papa uske saath nahi hai? Mere papa bhi mere paas nahi hain, mujhe unki kami mehsoos hoti hain, lekin mujhe amma se ya periamma-periappa se koi shikayat nahi hai. Main bahot khush hoon aap sab ke saath. Jaise mere liye periappa mere father figure ban gaye, waise Ruhi ke liye bhi to uske periappa hai. Aur duniya mein kitne bacche hote hain jo single mothers ke saath bade hote hai. Sab ko kabhi na kabhi yeh mehsoos hota hain ki unke papa nahi hai unke saath, lekin woh apni maa se bahot pyaar karte hain aur khush bhi hote hain. Ruhi bhi khush hai."
[Akka, she'll always feel her father's absence. Whether she stays here or in the orphange. But that doesn't mean she isn't happy or that she would have a complaint against you. It's not your fault that her father isn't with her. Even I feel the absence of my father, but I don't have any complaints against periamma and periappa. I'm very happy with all of you. And just how periappa is my father figure, Ruhi too has her father figure in her periappa. And there are so many children who are raised by single mothers. They all miss their fathers sometimes but they are also loved and happy with their mothers. Ruhi is happy too.]
"You think so, Miku?"
"I know so, Akka."
Mihika gently hugged her sister, and Ishita felt a bit lighter in her heart as she returned the gesture.
.....................................................................................................................
Little Smiles Adoption Agency - Two weeks later, beginning of April, 3 pm
"Yes, I'll be right in." Raman disconnected Mr. Yadav's call and turned off the engine of his car.
He had given his driver the day off, since he needed to do this alone. His and Ruhi's dental records had been matched and it was proven that he was in fact her father. A full background check was also conducted, which was a tedious process. These two weeks had been hell for Raman but they were finally over. Ruhi's adoptive mother had been informed and a meeting was fixed for them to meet.
He was now parked outside the adoption agency and was about to go in to face the woman who had adopted his child. What a game life had played, he thought. He had to go in and ask a stranger for permission to meet his own daughter, his own blood.
What if she refused to let Ruhi meet him? No, that couldn't even be a possibility. One woman had already snatched his son away. He wouldn't let another woman snatch away his daughter. He felt a sudden irrational anger at this woman, Ishita Iyer.
But what if she did let him meet Ruhi? How would he face his daughter? What would he answer if she asked where he had been? And what if Ruhi refused to meet him even if Ishita let her? How would he face another failure as a father?
Raman somehow brought his thoughts in order and silenced the maelstrom of emotions in his heart. He got out of his car and locked the door, as he donned the suave, sophisticated facade of the CEO he was. As he had made a beeline for Mr. Yadav's office, he didn't even notice that the woman who was the subject of his thoughts was seated in the courtyard.
.....................................................................................................................
Ishita sat in the courtyard of the agency and tried distracting herself with the magazines on the table. She had already checked her email and text notifications for the nth time but nothing worked to calm her down.
Just a couple days ago, she received a call from Mr. Yadav who was saying that Ruhi's biological father had come looking for her. Even all the investigation had finished, and it was proven that he indeed was her father. Ruhi's father, Raman Bhalla.
Not even a month ago, Ruhi had mentioned how she misses her father, and Ishita had grown worried. But now, her father had actually shown up. Was this a blessing or a curse, she thought? Did this mean that she had to give Ruhi up? She wasn't an expert with law, but she knew that unless they actively gave their rights up, a biological parent had more right on a child than an adopted parent.
But she was Ruhi's legal guardian. Surely she would have substantial say in her future. Plus, any judge would see that Ruhi had bonded with her and had settled with her family. No one would approve just uprooting her from there.
And where would they send her? To her father, the man who left his baby daughter in an orphanage when she couldn't even walk or talk? What would her father be like? Ruhi had been in an orphanage for four years. Where was he all this time, and why had he come looking for her now, when Ruhi had finally found a home and family, Ishita thought angrily. She wasn't going to let that Raman Bhalla snatch away her life, her child.
"Ma'am, Mr. Yadav is calling you into his office." The receptionist's voice broke Ishita's train of thought. She merely smiled at the receptionist and made her way into Mr. Yadav's office to face whatever new trouble was lined up for her.
.....................................................................................................................
Ishita opened the door of the office and greeted Mr. Yadav who asked her to take a seat. She was about to pull the chair out, but the sight she greeted was the least expected. For Raman was sitting in the chair beside her. He looked up, their eyes met, and then their eyes widened in shock.
"TUM!" They both yelled as Raman got up from his chair and Ishita slammed her purse on the table. "Tum yaha kya kar rahi ho?!" Raman bellowed. "Tum yaha kar rahe ho?" Ishita shouted in return.
[YOU! What are you doing here?!]
"Aap dono ek doosre ko pehle se jaante ho?" Mr. Yadav asked.
[Do you guys know each other?]
"Jee haa. Unfortunately, main is arrogant, rude, insensitive aadmi ko pehle mil chuki hoon. Inke kaaran meri gaadi ka accident hote hote reh gaya. Itna bada scratch ho gaya hain gaadi pe."
[Yes. Unfortunately, I do know this arrogant, rude, insensitive man. My car almost crashed because of him. It has such a huge scratch now.]
"Oh please, apna lecture wapas shuru mat karna. Jis scratch ki tum baat kar rahi ho woh itna bhi bada nahi tha. Aur maine paise bhi offer kiye the jo tumne mana kar diye. Agar maangti to itne de deta ki ek nayi gaadi kharid paati tum."
[Oh please, don't start your lecture again. The scratch that you're talking about wasn't even that big. And I had even offered money which you said no to. If you would have taken them then you could have gotten a new car.]
"How mean and mannerless are you..."
"Are bas bhi kijiye!" Mr. Yadav requested in a voice that could hardly be considered a request. "Aap dono to bas shuru ho gaye. Mr. Bhalla, yehi hai Dr. Ishita Iyer. Aur Dr. Iyer, yeh hai Mr. Raman Bhalla, Ruhi ke biological father."
[Enough you guys! You guys started bickering as soon as you got here. Mr. Bhalla, this is Dr. Ishita Iyer. And Dr. Iyer, this is Mr. Raman Bhalla, Ruhi's biological father.]
The anger that Ishita felt at Raman just doubled in intensity. "To tum ho uske father. What kind of a parent are you, Mr. Raman Kumar? Aap ki beti chaar saal se ek anaath ashram mein reh rahi hain aur aapko aaj fursat mili hai aane ke liye? Kaha the aap itne saal?"
[So you are her father. Your daughter has been in an orphange for four years and you come for her today? Where were you for so many years?]
Ishita's words stung like acid to Raman's heart. But before he could answer, Mr. Yadav jumped to his defense. He was all too aware of the personality that Raman Bhalla was. "Nahi Dr. Iyer, you are mistaken. Inhe bas kuch hi din pehle pata chala hai ki Ruhi inki beti hai. Aur jaise hi pata chala, waise hi woh use dhundne aaye."
[No Dr. Iyer. He's only found out that Ruhi was his daughter a few days ago. And he came looking for her as soon as he found out.]
Ishita's anger mellowed a bit at that revelation. It meant he hadn't abandoned Ruhi. But she was still genuinely confused. And scared. "Aise kaise pata hi nahi tha inhe ki inki ek beti hai, jo ki ek orphanage mein reh rahi hai? Aur aaj kyun aaye hai achanak..."
[How could he not have known of his daughter living in an orphanage? And why is he here today suddenly...]
At this point Raman decided to interject. "Listen Ms. Iyer, you don't need to meddle into my past. What matters is that Ruhi is my daughter, and I demand to see her and take her home. I have first right on her."
"She's a child, Mr. Bhalla. Not a piece of property for you to claim right on. I have legally adopted her and she has settled in quite nicely with me and my family. I can't just uproot her and send her to you. I'm her mother. She's my everything."
For a split-second, Raman was at a loss of words. This woman had been around Ruhi for merely a few weeks and she was her everything. They weren't even biologically related.
"Look, I understand that she is a part of your family, but she is biologically my daughter. My family is waiting for her at home. Her real family." His emphasis on the word real sent chills down Ishita's spine. It was exactly what she feared.
"Calm down guys," Mr. Yadav said, trying to control the situation. "You both are right where you are. Ruhi has settled in with the Iyers so we can't uproot her from there. But Mr. Bhalla does have a right to meet his daughter. And Ruhi also has the right to know and meet her father. Right Dr. Iyer?"
Ishita simply nodded. She had to agree. Ruhi had expressed her wish of having a relationship with her father. And even if she hadn't, Ishita owed the truth to Ruhi. She was possessive of her daughter, but she also knew what was right for her.
"You're right, Mr. Yadav. But I can't just introduce Raman to her so suddenly. I need to talk to her first. I'll let her know that I've found her father and if she wishes, she can meet him. Then we'll arrange a meeting."
"That sounds perfect, Dr. Iyer."
Raman was surprisingly relieved. This woman turned out to be more reasonable than he gave her credit for.
"Thank you, Ms. Iyer. Here is my card. Once you talk to her, please give me a call and we can arrange a meeting," he said as he handed her a business card from his pocket. Ishita took it and after one last glance to Mr. Yadav, she left the room as she tucked away the card into her purse. Raman shook Mr. Yadav's hand one last time and left the office as well.
___________________________________________________________