Thursday 24 September 2014 at City Hospital (Cont)

Raman opened the door slowly and stepped inside, his eyes searching wildly for his wife, for someone to tell him that she was well, that she would be okay.

Then he saw Mihika.

He moved towards her slowly, his eyes fixed on her face, asking her questions to which he did not want answers. His eyes were a plea, an entreaty.

Mihika watched him, transfixed. She had never seen such terror on anyone's face before. She stepped toward him instinctively, forgetting her dislike for him, forgetting what he was. All that she knew was that this man before her was hurting, anxious, terrified ... and that his fear was born out of love. Love for her akka. Her akka, who had been rejected countless times. Yet he loved her.

"Mihika" Raman's voice was a mere whisper. "Ish.." He cleared his throat, choked up by the tears that he had not known he had been holding back. "Ishita...woh..."

Mihika put a hand on Raman's shoulder. "She's sleeping, but she should be fine. She had concussion and she was in a lot of pain so she has been sedated and is being monitored. But she should be okay."

A flicker of hope lit up Raman's face. He gripped Mihika's shoulders. "Are you sure? You're not just saying that, are you? She will be fine? Meri Ishita..."

"Yes, jeeju" Mihika did not realise the term that slipped out of her mouth. She put her hand over her mouth the next minute, as realisation hit her, but then, the look on his face tore down her defences. "Yes jeeju" she repeated. "Akka will be fine. But jeeju, who did this? Who would want to kidnap Ruhi?"

Anger replaced the concern and anxiety that had been fighting for space on Raman's countenance.

"Ashok Khanna" he said grimly. "It has to be him. It can't be anyone else. No wonder that bastard withdrew the custody case. This is what he was planning. I'm going to deal with him Mihika, but I need to see Ishita first" He nodded towards the door in front of which Mihika had been sitting. "She's in there?"

"Yes, but jeeju, periamma is in there."

"I don't care Mihika" Raman shook his head. "Ishita is my wife, and I'm tired of hiding. Hiding our love, our relationship. What for? We were going to tell everyone anyway and I'm going to do it now."

He started striding towards the door and Mihika ran to catch up with him. "I agree, jeeju, I agree, you need to tell everyone. But not like this. Not when akka is lying unconscious. Imagine how periamma and periappa will feel. Please"

Raman stopped and turned his piercing gaze on her. He nodded swiftly. "Fine. I won't say anything now. I'm going to see my wife though Mihika. I need to see her. And nothing and nobody can stop me"

Yeh dil tanhan kyun rahe
Kyun hum tukdo mein jiye
Kyun rooh meri yeh sahe

******************************************
Inside Ishita's Room

Madhuri Iyer was sitting by Ishita's bed, gazing lovingly at her sleeping daughter. Ishita's head was bandaged, and her face pale, but otherwise she looked as if she were in a normal sleep. Her breathing was even, her chest riding and falling rhythmically.

There were tubes attached to Ishita by a cannula in her left hand, and her vitals showed up without glitches in the monitor by the bed. It was a calm and peaceful vista.

That calm was not to last.

As Mrs Iyer stroked her daughters hand, the door to the room flew open. She turned towards the disturbance with a frown, only to see Raman Bhalla standing at the door.

While Mrs Iyer had accepted the support and goodwill of the senior Bhalla's after learning of Ishita's accident, it was because she did not hold them responsible for what had happened to Ishita.

No, there was only one person who she held responsible for her daughter's condition. One person who she held responsible for the pain her daughter was in. Raman Bhalla. It had to be Raman Bhalla and his notorious unethical conduct which had led to the kidnap attempt on his daughter. And which had in turn led to her own daughter, her Ishita, nearly losing her life.

Madhuri Iyer loved her Ishita as only a mother can love her young. She could not countenance the sight of her daughter lying injured, silent. She needed someone to blame. And that someone was Raman Bhalla.

And now he stood there, acting as if he owned the room, the hospital. What business had he here, when his actions had put her daughter in this condition in the first place?

She got up from her chair, moving swiftly towards the door.

"Stop" she hissed. "Tum yahan kya kar rahe ho? Yahan sirf family allowed hai. Tum bahar jao." She noticed her niece behind Raman and looked angrily at her. "Mihika, why did you let him in? Lekar jao isse yahan se."
(Stop. What are you doing here? Only family is allowed here. You go outside. Mihika, why did you let him in? Take him away from here)

Raman stood transfixed, his gaze fixed on Ishita. He could vaguely sense that his mother in law had moved toward him, was saying something to him, but the words did not register. All he could see was his wife. She lay deathly still, her eyes closed, her face pale. Mihika had said she was fine but she didn't look fine. He turned his anguished eyes to Mihika, his vision clouded by tears.

Mihika understood the look in her jeeju's eyes. "It just looks bad" she said reassuringly, ignoring her periamma for a moment. "She is fine" Raman turned his head toward the bed again, drinking in the sight of his wife.

Mein adhura jee raha hoon
Hurdum yeh keh raha hoon
Mujhe teri zaroorat hai
Mujhe teri zaroorat hai

He took a step forward , only to be blocked by Mrs Iyer, who stood resolutely in his way.

"Dekh liya?" She hissed. "Ab jao"
(You've seen her? Now go)

"Amma please" Raman closed his eyes briefly, trying to breath, trying to get a hold on his emotions. It was not Mrs Iyer's fault. She did not know, after all. "Just two minutes. Mujhe Ishita se mil lene dijiye. Please"
(Amma please. Just two minutes. Let me meet Ishita. Please)

Mrs Iyer's eyes had opened wide at the word "Amma" coming from Raman's mouth. She was just about to respond in the most stinging terms when there was another sound at the door. The doctor had arrived on her rounds.

*****************************************
"Dr Bhavna" read the name tag on the white coat worn by the petite young woman who stood at the door. The shapely tall nurse who had been in the room earlier, was also with her.

Anusha, that's what her name is. Nurse Anusha. Mihika remembered, looking at the name tag for confirmation. She moved towards them quickly.

"Doctor Bhavna, Nurse Anusha, please" Mihika said softly, being careful that Mrs Iyer could not hear her. "My periamma doesnt know that my akka got married. My jeeju wants to see her, just for a moment, but we can't break the news to periamma like this. Please just let Raman jeeju see akka. Take periamma with you, please"

Doctor Bhavna turned her quizzical eyes from Raman, his face taut with emotion and barely restrained passion, to Mrs Iyer, standing like a martinet in front of her daughter. She then looked back to Mihika

"Its highly irregular" she said, a tinge of an American accent in her voice.

"I know Doctor" Mihika replied. " It's irregular. It's strange. It's complicated. But please. Help us."

"Mihika , what are you saying?" Mrs Iyer wanted to be part of the conversation, but she wasn't willing to give up her position in guard of her daughter either.

"Mrs Iyer" the doctor called out. "Can I have a word with you and Mihika please. Nurse, stay here. You sir" she nodded at Raman. "Two minutes only"

The next moment she had taken the faintly resisting Mrs Iyer away and Raman was let alone in the room with his Ishita and the nurse.

*****************************************
Raman stood still until the door closed, his eyes fixed on his wife's silent, unmoving form. He knew that the nurse was somewhere in the room, but he could not see her. All he could see was Ishita.

The soft click of the closing door snapped him from the fog surrounding him and he moved to the bed, sitting quickly on the chair drawn up next to it.

Andheron se tha mera rishta bada
Tu ne hi ujalon se waqif kiya

She was still. So still. So quiet. His love, his life, his Ishita .... His vision blurred and her face danced in the haze of his tears as he gazed at her. Slowly, he brought his hands forward, wanting to touch her, to reassure himself that she was there.

"Ishita" he whispered, his trembling hands lighting on her face, softly, slowly caressing her cheeks. "Ishita, wake up please. Ye sab ... I'm sorry I wasn't here... I couldn't protect you and Ruhi. I'm sorry. I'm sorry Ishita. Uth jao na meri jaan..."

Tears streamed down his face as she continued to lie there, unsmiling, unresponsive, her even breathing her only answer.

He continued to gaze at her, tears falling unabated. And then the tears coalesced into rage. "Ashok Khanna" he muttered, his hands stilling on her face. "I won't spare you for this. You will pay for this. You will pay"

He heard the sounds of voices at at the partially open door and stood up, hastily wiping off his tears. He bent and kissed his wife tenderly, his lips soft on hers, his damp cheeks resting on her pale ones. For a moment he thought he felt her stir but then there was stillness again.

"Sir, don't worry, she will be fine" The nurse was standing by him as he straightened, and she placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

Raman nodded briefly. "Look after her please" his voice was hoarse with emotion, with pain.

Then as the door opened and Mrs Iyer came striding back into the room, Raman walked out.

He ignored his mother in laws suspicious glares, his sister in law's reassuring, concerned looks, as she stood by the door. He had only one goal, one thought - Ashok Khanna

Yeh dil tanhan kyun rahe
Kyun hum tukdo mein jiye
Kyun rooh meri yeh sahe

Mein adhura jee raha hoon
Hurdum yeh keh raha hoon
Mujhe teri zaroorat hai
Mujhe teri zaroorat hai

Andheron se tha mera rishta bada
Tu ne hi ujalon se waqif kiya
Ab lauta mein hoon in andheroon mein phir
To paya hai khud ko begaana yahan
Tanhaai bhi mujh se khafa ho gayi
Banjaron ne bhi thukra diya
Mein adhura jee raha hoon
Khud par hi ek sazaa hoon
Mujhe teri zaroorat hai
Mujhe Teri zaroorat hai