The Next Day
11.30am - Sunday 17 August 2014
Bhalla Apartment

"Papa, hum kya karenge aaj?" ( Papa, what will we do today?)

"Jo bhi tum chahti ho Ruhi" ( Whatever you want to do Ruhi)

'"Really?"

"Yes, really."

"Toh phir hum mall chale papa? Mujhe apni dolls ke liye dress lena hai. Aur wahan par Frozen bhi chal rahi hai. Mujhe dekhna hai."
( Then can we go to the mall papa? I need to buy dresses for my dolls. And Frozen is playing there as well. I want to see it.)

Raman groaned silently, but could not help smiling at Ruhi. He had promised himself he would spend the day with Ruhi and the delighted smile on his daughters face told him just how happy she was about it.

"The madrassan was right" he thought to himself. "As usual"

Romi stood by, laughing at his brother. "Aap dolls se kheloge bhai?"  ( Will you play with dolls now Bhai?)

"Chup khotiye" Toshiji interrupted. "Jaane de apne Bhai ko. Ja puttar, tu na Ruhi ke sang ghoom ke aa. Waise bhi yeh madraasi subah se na jaane kitna shor kar rahe hai. Tum dono ko is shor se thodi rest mil jayegi."
( Be quiet, you idiot. Let your brother go. Go son, go out with Ruhi. As it is, these madrassi's have been making so much noise since this morning. You two go and get a break from all this.)

Raman shook his head in exasperation.

"Ma, aap ko hamesha neighbours se kyon problem hoti hai. Apne ghar mein hai, aap kyon concerned ho rahi hai?"
(Ma, why do you always have a problem with the neighbours? They are in their own home, why are you so concerned about them.)

"Mera kya Puttar" Toshi responded with an injured air. "Kuch bhi karein. Lekin aaj na, unki beti, damad, pota sab yahna ghum rahe hai, aur na jaane kya taiyaari ho rahi hai."
(What's it to me son. They can do what they like. But since this morning, their daughter, their son in law, their grandson have all been running around here. Don't know what they are preparing for.)

Raman couldn't help his eyes from straying towards the Iyer flat.

He had not see her this morning, despite being at home and finding himself in the living room, just opposite their front door most of the time.

"Her family must just be getting together to welcome her home" he reasoned to himself. "They must have missed her."

"As you do Raman" his inner voice told him. "Admit it, you're longing to see her."

"Nonsense" he said aloud.

"Kya Puttar?" ( What son?) Toshi was looking at him suspiciously.

"Kuch nahi Ma. Ruhi are you ready?" He asked impatiently. 
( Nothing Ma. Ruhi, are you ready?)

"Yes papa"

"Fine, then let's go."

And grabbing Ruhi by the hand, he walked out of the apartment.

**********************************************************************************************************
A Few Minutes Earlier
Iyer Apartment

"Ishu, do be sensible. You know Abhi - He is a very nice boy. His mother is a friend of mine. They know everything about you, about Subbu, and they still want to meet with us. No arguments, haan Ishu, you are going to meet Abhimanyu today, and that's it."

Ishita looked at her mother in total exasperation. They had been having this argument since last night, and her amma simply wasn't prepared to budge.

During Ishita's absence in New Zealand, her amma had been in touch with her old friend Laxmi Raghav.

Mrs Raghav had a son, the aforesaid Abhimanyu Raghav, who was also an old and dear friend of Ishita's.

Abhimanyu had married straight out of college, but his wife had died a year ago, leaving behind their now 10 year old twin sons. Abhimanyu had been living in Turkey at the time, and had only now wound up his business there and returned to Delhi. Ordinarily, Ishita would have been delighted to catch up with Abhi, but not now, not in this way, with the sceptre of marriage hanging over her.

"Ishu, I don't understand either" Vandu akka piped up. "Abhi is such a good friend of yours. So why wouldn't you want to explore the idea of marriage with him? You've known each other since you were kids, you know everything about each other. You've both had setbacks in your life- you will be able to understand each other. You know I don't support amma's mission to get you married at any cost, but Ishu, this time it's a really good match."

"Haan Ishu beta" her appa finally spoke "Abhi is a good Tamilian boy,we know the family, and he has children. You will have your own family Ishita"

Only her Bala Jeeju was silent, watching Ishita's face quizzically.

"What's wrong Ishita" he asked softly.

"Nothing" Ishita said quietly. "Nothing, I'm... I'm just tired."

How, she wondered, could she explain the real reason to her parents ?

That three months ago, she had fallen in love with a little angel who had made her feel pure love that she had not known existed.

And six days ago, she had fallen in love with that little angels father, the exasperating, annoying, khadoos Raman Bhalla. Or perhaps she had been in love with him for ever?

How to explain the depth of her feelings for him when she could not even define it to herself. And how to explain that she had these feelings for a man who claimed he did not reciprocate it, who admitted that he desired her, but was not willing to admit to the emotions that accompanied that desire.

How to explain that the man she loved was the son of their despised neighbours, the meat eating alcohol swilling punjabis?

She knew that she could never explain it, her parents would never understand. But then how was she to participate in this charade of meeting prospective bridegrooms, when she knew in her heart that she could not marry any of them.

No explanation coming forth to her, Ishita decided to do the next best thing. She decided to escape.

"Amma, appa, I'm going out" she declared, grabbing her handbag and making for the door.

"Going where Ishu? What will we say to Abhi?" Her amma wailed.

"Abhi is coming tonight na, amma. I'll be back by then. I'm just going to the mall, I just need some time"

"But Ishu..."

"Amma, it's okay, let her go" it was Bala who spoke. "Ishu will be back in time, you know that."

And Ishita ran out of the apartment.

**********************************************************************************************************
11.45 AM
Car park at the Aakash Ganga Apartment Complex

Raman walked silently towards his car. Ruhi held on to his hand, and she was anything but quiet, chirping happily about all the toys she needed to get and what flavour drink she could get at the movies.

They reached the car and Raman sat Ruhi into the front passenger seat, bending to fasten her seat belt. He was just straightening up when he heard the sound of a familiar and very feminine voice engaging in some very unfeminine cursing.

"Damn" she was saying. "Pranth. Idiot. Damn. Shit"

Raman's eyes lit up just as Ruhi put her hand up to her mouth.

"Aww papa" she giggled. "Ishita aunty naughty words keh rahi hai."
(Aww papa. Ishita aunty is saying naughty words)

Raman unfastened the buckle of the seat belt and scooped Ruhi out of the seat and into his arms. "Shall we go and see what's wrong?" he asked.

**********************************************************************************************************
Ishita glared in absolute frustration at her little red car. She had tried to start the engine, but ten days of disuse had obviously rendered her chariot useless for the time being.

"Appa was supposed to start the car everyday, lekin woh sab toh meri Shaadi ke dhun me magan theh" she murmured under her breath, sending a kick to one of the mute tyres.
(Appa was supposed to start the car everyday, but obviously they were all too busy with my marriage plans)

"Ishita aunty, aap naughty words keh rahi thi na" Ishita turned around at the sound of Ruhi's voice and then stood transfixed.
(Ishita aunty, you were saying naughty words weren't you?)

Raman stood before her with Ruhi in his arms. He was wearing faded denims with a spotless white shirt, and dark shades dominated his face.

"Kya hua ishita aunty" Ruhi put out a hand and touched her face.
(What's wrong Ishita aunty?)

"Woh Ruhi beta, meri car start nahi ho rahi hai, toh mein...I'm sorry beta, mujhe woh words nahi use karne chahiye thi na" Ishita looked squarely at Ruhi, pretending that the man who stood holding her did not exist.
(My car wouldn't start Ruhi beta, that's why. I'm sorry sweetheart, I shouldn't have used those words)

"It's ok aunty. Aap kahan ja rahi thi?"
(Its ok aunty. Where were you going)

"To the mall beta"

"Papa aur mein bhi mall ja rahen hai. Aap aao na humaare saath."
(Papa and I are also going to the mall. Will you please come with us)

"No Ruhi beta, it's okay, I"ll catch a rickshaw " Ishita said desperately. She still remembered the car journey they had taken together, both silent, she hurting and he.... he...

"Papa, tell Ishita aunty to come with us na! please"

Ruhi's words cut across her reminiscences and she nervously shook her head, looking at Raman's face for the first time.

"No, it's okay please...Raman, tell Ruhi na, it's okay. Mein chali jaongi."
(I'll find my own way)

Raman slowly took off his glasses and smiled sardonically at Ishita.

"Chashma mein ne pehna tha, aur andhi tum thi?" He drawled, his dark eyes flashing fire at her.
(I'm the one wearing dark glasses but you seem to be the one who couldn't see )

"Kya matlab?" Ishita shot back.
(What do you mean?)

"Matlab yeh ki itni der se sirf Ruhi se baat kar rahi thi, mein dikh nahi raha tha?"
(I mean that you've been talking only to Ruhi for so long. Couldn't you see me?}

"Aap bhi toh mujhse kuch keh sakte the na. Baat karte hai" 
( You're one to speak. You could have spoken to me too)

"Stop" Ruhi yelled out, shocking both Ishita and Raman into silence "Uff ho, kitna fight karte ho aap dono. Papa, no fighting.  Ishita aunty, no fighting, aap chalo hamare saath"
(Uff ho, you two fight so much. Papa, no fighting. Ishita aunty, no fighting, you're coming with us)

"But Ruhi..." Ishita tore her eyes away from Raman and focussed on his daughter instead.

"You heard her Ishita. No fighting. Ab chalo, ya saara din yahan rehna hai"
(Now let's go or do you intend to stay here all day)

Raman opened the front door with a flourish and waited until Ishita got in. Then he seated Ruhi in the backseat, fastened her seat belt and walked around to get to his own seat.

There was a new lightness in his step, and his heart seemed to be singing a happy song. The madrassan was here. And she was with him.

All his strictures to himself about staying away from her, about the fact that there were many other women to attract him, to spend his time with, had been forgotten the moment he saw her.

He sat in his seat, closed his door and started the engine. Then he turned towards her, and caught her staring at him with those big brown eyes, full of something unreadable, undefinable.

"Chale?" He asked.
(Shall we go?)

"Chaliye" she replied.
(Let's go)

"The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again"
- Charles Dickens

Hum tum se miley
Phir judaa ho gaye
Dekho phir mil gaye
Phir ho ke judaa
Phir miley na miley
Kyun na aisa kare
Mil jaye chalo
hum sada ke liye

Dil mein hume tum basa lo
Saare jahan se chupa lo
Hum band karte hai ankhen
Lo humko humse chupa lo
Dhundte sab rahe
Puchte sab rahe

Hum tumse miley...
Phir juda ho gaye
Dekho phir mil gaye
Phir ho ke judaa
Hum miley na miley
Kyun na aisa kare
Mil jaaye chalo
Hum sada ke liye

Chotisi yeh zindagaani
Usse bhi choti Jawani
Honaa kabhi khatm lekin
Yeh doh dilon ki kahaani
Tum kaho hum sune
hum sune tum kaho

Hum tumse miley ...

Hum ek hai
Do nahi hai
Do naam hai kyun hamaare
Hum aur kuch bhi nahi hai
Hum hai deewane tumhaare
Bas isi naam se
Sab pukaare humey

Hum tumse miley...

Hum Tumse Miley (Rocky - lyrics: Anand Bakshi)