Aakash Ganga Society
5.00pm

It had been difficult. It had taken a great deal of cajoling on the part of both Raman and Ishita. But finally their mothers had agreed. Mrs Bhalla, to inviting the Iyers to celebrate Ruhi's custody win with them. And Mrs Iyer, to accepting the invitation.

"Sirf Ruhi ke liye" Mrs Bhalla had said huffily to her son.

"Only for Ruhi, Ishita" Mrs Iyer had unknowingly echoed her Punjabi neighbour.

The invitation itself had been made in the middle of the common space between their two apartments. No mans land, Ishita thought resignedly as she stood just outside her doorway, trying not to laugh at the looks on the faces of both her mother and mother in law. Still, they had agreed to spend time together, in one room, and that was a start.

Mihika had been a tougher nut to crack.

Ishita had called her at work soon after leaving court, and Mihika had immediately vetoed the idea of attending a function with " those crazy Bhallas", but once again, Ishita had used the emotional blackmail of Ruhi to get her to agree. And perhaps the knowledge that Mihir would be there too played a large role in Mihika's assent.

She had been suspicious though. " Why do you want to go akka? And why is this Rinki so chummy with you these days, huh?" For Ruhi, Ishita had responded. It was for Ruhi, and that's why she was friendly with Rinki, who was a lovely girl nonetheless, and why she wanted to attend her celebration. So Mihika had relented. Besides, Ishita suspected that her cousin was now ready to forgive her boyfriend for not taking her out with him the previous Sunday, after having kept up her one-sided estrangement with Mihir all week.

Raman's siblings had been busy at work in the Aakash Ganga community hall for much of the afternoon, decorating the room for Ruhi's celebration. Raman and Mihir had joined them after a brief sojourn at the office, Raman declaring that the occasion demanded a break from the humdrum of work. Ishita too had made the excuse of cancelled appointments to join in the preparations, happy to be around her little family.

Even Bala, informed about the wonderful news by Ishita, had come straight to Mayur Vihar after picking up Shravu from school, and had offered to help for a little while before leaving to pick up Vandita. And of course they would all attend tonight, Ishita, he had assured her. He would convince her Vandu akka.

Bala had joined Raman and the others in the hall, and although Simmi's baleful glare and caustic tongue had banished Ishita when she had gone over to enquire if she could help, Bala was made of stronger stuff and had disregarded Simmi. He was now busy with the decorations, hanging up enough pink balloons to gladden Ruhi's little heart.

Seeing Simi's hostility, and not wanting to do or say anything to blight this special day, Ishita had decided to stay outside with Ruhi and Shravu. She was now happily playing soccer with them, refereeing the two little combatants who seemed more interested in kicking each other than the ball.

Raman had stepped outside the hall to take a phone call when he noticed his wife, their daughter and her nephew at play. His responses to his client grew perfunctory as he watched them, his eyes misty with happiness.

Ishita was running after a giggling Ruhi, who had picked up the soccer ball in her hands, and the loudly whining Shravu. Her hair was flying around her face, her dupatta, tied around her slim waist, flapping as she ran. She looked beautiful, ethereal, and as he watched, she caught up with Ruhi and pounced on her, their giggles drowning out Shravu's complaints.

"Mr Ali, I'll call you back" Raman switched off the call and stared at his loves instead. "Thank you Matarani" he whispered. "Thank you"

"Papa" Ruhi had noticed him and called him over now, and he strolled over to join them.

His smile made him look so handsome, and so much younger, Ishita thought, blushing, as he reached them and was immediately pounced on by Shravan. "Raman uncle" he whined. "Tell Ruhi she cant hold the ball, she has to kick it. And chitti is taking her side. It's not fair."

"I tell you what Tingu" Raman caught Shravu by the shoulders and crouched to face his giggling wife and daughter. "These girls don't know how to play soccer. I'll be on your team, okay"

And then he too launched himself into the game, his laughter joining with theirs, his heart close to bursting with joy.

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7.00pm
Community Hall

Raman looked around the community hall with satisfaction.

The hall was beautiful, decorated with pink and silver balloons and tinsel. There were pink and silver ribbons tied around the pillars, and sheets of fairy lights had been suspended from the ceiling, twinkling above the arriving guests. Pink was his baby's favorite color and so pink it all was.

The caterers that Raman had hired were handing out drinks and snacks to the guests as they arrived, and the mood was already jovial.

He had decided that tonight was truly going to be a celebration for Ruhi, not just the outcome of the custody case, but also to make up for the neglect he had subjected his child to over the years. The birthday parties he had not attended. The school functions he had missed. He had always loved his little girl, but had never been able to express it - tonight was his thank you to her for continuing to love him even when he was too scared, too confused, to reciprocate.

So he had thrown caution and cost to the wind, asking Rinki to invite all of Ruhi's friends, sending Ishita to buy a special outfit for their daughter, and ordering a huge complex Dora The Explorer cake that he knew his little girl's would absolutely adore.

His eyes lit on his mother, and he grinned to himself, shaking his head.  Toshi Bhalla was resplendent in a bright red salwar suit, red and white roses in her hair, and strands of pearls festooned around her neck. She was a vision to dazzle every eye, as she stood with her best friend Pammi at the entrance, greeting their neighbours and friends.

Ruhi had been stationed with her but had run away after 5 minutes, and was now happily being chased around the hall by her Romi chachu. She was wearing the flouncy pink and silver dress lovingly chosen by her Ishima, pink ribbons in her hair, her papa's special gift of a pair of diamond studded silver bracelets adorning her hands.

Earlier, Raman had grabbed Ruhi during one of her circumnavigations of the hall with her little friends, pulling her into his arms. "Baby, calm down" he had lovingly admonished his panting daughter. "You'll get tired now beta, aur party abhi shuru nahi hui hai" (The party hasn't even started yet). Ruhi had stood still for a moment, and then tried to pull her hand away, wanting to rejoin her friends.

"Wait beta" Raman had taken out of his pocket the little silver bracelets that had caught his eye when he had been buying Ishita's thali and ring two weeks previously, and kneeling down beside Ruhi, had clasped them on her little wrists. Raman knew how girly his daughter was, how much she liked sparkly things and so he had gone back to the jewelry shop after court today, and had bought them for her. The jeweler had told him the bracelets could be joined together and added to as Ruhi grew older.

He looked lovingly at his daughter now as she held up her hands, admiring the sparkling strands. "Thank you papa" she squealed. "Mein ja kar sab ko dikhaon?" (Can I go and show everyone). "Yes, go" he smiled, straightening up, as Ruhi gave him a fleeting kiss and ran off.

His daughter attended to, Raman's thoughts drifted to his wife. A companion bracelet to Ruhi's was secure in his jeans pocket, and he couldn't wait to gift the second of his girls today. The music which Romi had arranged was blaring out of the speakers as Raman wandered over to stand by the dias, looking out anxiously for his wife.

"Come quickly madrassan" he texted once again. "I miss you"

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7.05 pm
Iyer Apartment

Ishita was standing in the middle of the Iyers living room waiting for her amma and Mihika, and reading a text from Vandita, when Raman's text arrived.

She smiled as she looked at his message, and then called out urgently.

"Amma, it's just Ruhi's party. Why are you taking so long? And Mihika, you too, jaldi aao na. Akka and Bala Jiju are here. Akka just texted, they are just parking the car. And appa went half an hour ago. Jaldi karo na please." ( Be quick please)

"Aa rahe hai kanna, why are you fussing so much? Hum toh sirf mehmaan hai, tum ghar walo ki tarha fuss kyun kar rahi ho" (We are coming child, why are you fussing so much? We are just guests, so why are you making a fuss like it's your own function?) Her voice was followed by Mrs Iyer herself, who sailed regally into the living room, a white and gold Kanjeevaram sari draped around her, gold jewellery dripping off her ears, throat, hands and fingers.

"Amma" Ishita gasped.

Ishita herself was dressed in a simple pink sari, the chiffon fabric flecked with silver highlighting the glow on her face. Her sari had been chosen to complement Ruhi's outfit - she may not yet be able to claim her daughter as her own, but she wanted some link, some visible bind to her today. Her thali, threaded with her rings, was hidden beneath her high necked, sleeveless blouse, and the two Chooda on her arms were her only visible jewellery.

" What is this amma? she asked in some exasperation. " It's just a simple children's party downstairs, not a wedding reception."

"I'm not going to let that Toshi Bhalla win over me Ishita. I saw her going down. Lal suit pehen kar. Young girl dikhna chahti hai. Usko mein bataongi class kya hai" ( I saw her going down. She was wearing a red suit. Wants to look like a young girl. I'm going to show her what class is)

Ishita looked up and muttered "Aiyyo Murugan, give me strength"

"Ishu, I heard that" Mrs Iyer responded.

"Fine, I wanted you to hear it. Please, now let's go amma. Mihika we are going"

Ishita shepherded her mother to the door and then stepped back in shock.

Abhi stood at the entrance, his hand poised to knock.

"Chitti, Ishu" he exclaimed, smiling happily. He then looked again at Mrs Iyer in her sartorial splendour and his smile faded.

"Kahin jaa rahe theh aap log?" He asked in a more subdued tone. ( Were you going somewhere?)

"Bas neeche jaa rahe theh Abhi" Mrs Iyer piped up before Ishita could say anything. "Ruhi Bhalla ki party hai. Uski custody mil gayi uske sharaabi father ko. Tum bhi chalo na hamaare saath. Come, come." ( We are just going downstairs Abhi, it's Ruhi Bhalla's celebration party. Her drunkard father won her custody. You come with us too. Come come.)

"Amma, please don't say such things. And I'm sure Abhi doesn't want to go to a children's party" Ishita blurted out, annoyed at the way her mother spoke of Raman, and of who she spoke to. She rued Abhi's timing, mentally kicking herself. She had completely forgotten that he was due back from Singapore today.

Abhi looked at her, a pensive look on his face. "Actually Ishita, I would love to come, if you don't mind. I really like what Bhalla is doing with the Mehta campaign. He is a real genius at marketing. I should congratulate him about his daughter."

"Of course you should come jeeju" Mihika had come up behind Ishita and she linked her arms with her cousin and aunt, beaming at Abhi. She was dressed to kill in tight jeans and a white kurta. Well, dressed to kill Mihir, if truth be told. "Of course you should come" she repeated. "Let's go"

"Kya kar rahe ho ? (What are you all doing?) Look, we actually made it down here before you all" Vandita's voice called out from the stairs and the Iyers and Abhi started walking towards her.

Ishita took a deep breath, noticing how Abhi had slowed to wait for her, how he had paired himself with her, and the smiles her mother and sisters gave as they stepped ahead.

"Help me Murugan" she muttered to herself as Abhi smiled down at her. "I missed you Ishita" he was whispering, his head bent, close to hers, as they turned the corner and arrived at the hall.

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7.20pm
Community Hall

Shravan had run off to join Ruhi as soon as they had arrived at the hall, and Vandita had gone off muttering to look for her mother and sisters.

Left to his own devices, Bala had gravitated towards Raman and Mihir, both of whom were standing staring pensively at the door, glasses of Amber liquid in their hands.

"Relax" Bala whispered to Raman, correctly interpreting the look on his face. "Ishu must just be coming"

The words were barely out of his mouth when there was a shimmer at the door. Mrs Iyer stood framed in the doorway, glittering in her white and gold, even as Mrs Bhallas smile turned into a frown at being out blinged.

If the sight of Mrs Iyer had given rise to envy in the hearts of Toshi and Pammi, the vision that was Mihika, the next to come into view, gave rise to entirely different sensations in the hearts and other parts of the young men in the room.

She sauntered in past the older ladies, her tight jeans accentuating her curves, her head held high, her heels clicking. Looking around casually, she smiled and headed for Romi, who was staring at her with his tongue almost out of his mouth, while ignoring Mihir who was staring desperately at her.

But even Mihika was forgotten at the sight of the next entrant at the door.

"Oh no" Bala muttered. "Where did he come from?" Bala glanced anxiously at Raman, putting a restraining hand on his shoulder as Raman took an involuntary step forward, his face thunderous, his eyes darkening with angry passion.

Ishita stood framed in the doorway. Her glossy raven locks fell past her shoulders, her chiffon sari in Ruhi's favourite colour gave her an air of untouched innocence. But there was something else attached to her. An arm around her shoulder. Abhi's arm.

Ishita looked anxiously toward Raman and her jeeju, desperately wishing that Abhi would disappear off the face of the earth. She had just a moment to take in his lithe form, casual in faded jeans and a crisp white shirt, set off by a tailored jacket, before her eyes were drawn to his face. She noticed her husbands flashing eyes, his brow ominously crinkled in a frown, his lips set in a thin line.

Then as she stared, Raman started to walk toward them.

"Murugan" Ishita whispered for the umpteenth time that evening. "Murugan, please, please, please, help me."

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Aaa dekhe zara
Kis mein kitna hai dum
Jum ke rakhna kadam
Mere saathiyaan

Aage nikal aaye hum woh
Piche reh gaye
Upar chale aaye hum woh
Niche reh gaye

Woh humse haarenge
Hum baazi maarenge
Hum unse kya hai kam
Naachenge aise hum
Naachenge aise hum
Naachenge woh kya (kya kya)

Saare sheher mein humi hai
Humsa kaun hai
Dekho idhar hum yahi hai
Humsa kaun hai

Dekhenge dekha hai
Jaadu kya aisa hai
Yaaron se jalne ka
Kaaton pe chalne ka
Kaaton pe chalne ka
Kya hai fyaida

Aaa dekhe zara
Kis mein kitna hai dum
Jum ke rakhna kadam
Mere saathiyaan