Monday 28 September 2014
11.00am
Raman Bhalla's Office

"Lekin aap chale kyun gaye office mujhse good morning kiye bina?"
(But why did you go to the office without saying good morning to me)

"Yaar tum so rahi thi, I didn't want to wake you up."
( You were sleeping. I didn't want to wake you up)

"Aap ne sleeping pills diye theh na, is liye."
(Thats because of the sleeping pills you gave me)

Raman heard the complaint in his wife's voice and chuckled down the line. " Areh madrassan, tum ne mujhe aise pakad ke rakha tha, ab agar mein sleeping pills nahi deta, toh meri izzat toh gayi thi, beta"
(Madrassan, you were holding me so tightly, if I hadn't given you the sleeping pills, you would've done something to me)

"Raman, I'm sorry about last night. Mein ne aap ko disturb kiya." (I disturbed you) Her voice was a soft whisper, and she clutched the telephone closer to her face, blushing as she remembered how she had clung to him the previous night.

"I'll accept your sorry on one condition" he shot back at her.

"Kya?" (What?)

"Tum har raat isi tarah mujhe disturb karna, theek hai?"
(You have to disturb me like that every night)

"Ramann"

"Are you blushing sweetheart?"

"Raman, mujhe jaldi ghar le jayoge na?"
(Raman, you'll take me home soon, won't you)

"Yes sweetheart. Bahoot jald. But you need to get better quickly hmm. Kyunki ghar aakar tumhe mein ek bhi raat rest karne nahi doonga."
(Yes sweetheart, very soon. But you need to get better quickly, hmm. Because once you get home, I'm not going to let you rest even for one night)

"Raamann"

Raman chuckled as he put the phone down. At least she sounded stronger, more like his feisty Jhansi Ki Rani. Her vulnerability the night before had scared him, and he would not forget, he would not forgive, the man who was responsible for her condition. Which reminded him, he needed to speak to Neel.

He picked up the landline and buzzed his secretary. "Get Neel for me" he said impatiently.

"Sir, there's a lady here. She is insisting on meeting you. I told her you don't see anyone without an appointment but..."

"What is her name?"

"Shagun Khanna, and sir, she says it's very important."

Shagun!! Raman arched an eyebrow in amusement. What was Shagun playing at now, he wondered. Well, there was only one way to find out.

"Send her in" he barked down the line. "And get Neel on the phone for me, now"

*************************************************************************************************************
Shagun walked into Raman's office, her face defiant, her demeanour confident.

She took in the elegant furnishings, the luxury of the appointments. Who would have thought that Raman would ever be such a success, she mused. And he had lost that paunch, had cleaned up his act. He certainly looked far better these days than Ashok ever had.

The object of her thoughts was seated at his desk, phone to his ear. He waved her carelessly into a seat and continued to concentrate on his call.

"What were you saying Neel?" He asked, his voice smooth and assured.

"Bhai I was in court for another matter and I heard that Khanna has hired the best criminal lawyers in the country to try and get bail. And that he is going to plead not guilty. He says he knows nothing about Ruhis kidnapping attempt and that he was trying to defend himself against you after you barged into his house."

"But his corrupt lawyer is singing like a bird isn't he Neel? So let's stop the bastard from getting bail"

"The case is handled by the Director of Public Prosecutions office Bhai, but I'll do what I can"

"Set up a meeting with the DPP for me Neel. I know him personally. Tell him Raman Bhalla needs to see him. Today. I want that bastard to rot in jail and I'm going to make sure he does"

Raman put down the phone and looked defiantly at the woman sitting in front of him. Her eyes were red rimmed but her dubious fashion quotient had not been affected. Today she was dressed in a shimmering burgundy designer sari with a more than normally air conditioned blouse.

"Raman" her voice was shrill. "You can't do this. You have to withdraw the complaint against Ashok. What will happen to our position in society? What will happen to Adi's future?"

Raman pushed his chair back forcefully and stood up, causing Shagun to shrink back a little in her chair. He leaned across the desk, uncaring of his injured arm, and stared squarely at his former wife.

"Don't you talk to me about Adi's future Shagun. I don't want that man...that husband of yours anywhere near my son, let alone determining his future. Adi is my son and I will make sure that he is out of your influence very soon. Neel has filed custody papers and we should get an expedited hearing date very soon."

"Isi liye yeh sab kar rahe ho? Because I got custody of Adi?"
(Is that why you're doing all this? Because I got custody of Adi?)

"You didn't just get custody of Adi Shagun. You lied and cheated your way into getting custody. But no, is liye nahi kar raha hoon. The reason your husband is currently behind bars is not because of my son, it's because of what he tried to do to my daughter, because of what happened to my wife"

"Ruhi is my daughter too Raman, and Ashok would never have let her get hurt. And as for your so called wife? Kis ne kaha tha usko hero banne ko? And tell me, tum ne uss behenji se shaadi kaise ki?"
(Ruhi is my daughter too Raman, and Ashok would never have let her get hurt. And as for your so called wife. Who asked her to try and be a hero? And tell me, why did you marry that frump in the first place?)

"You'll never change, will you Shagun? Yahan Ashok ke liye rone ayi thi lekin aa gayi na apne aukaad pe. Why are you so interested in my wife hmm?"
( You'll never change, will you Shagun? You came here to plead for Ashok but you're showing your true colours now. Why are you so interested in my wife hmm?)

Shagun flicked back her glossy curls.

"I have no interest in your wife Raman. I just want you to leave Ashok alone, withdraw the complaint against him. We need to get out of India, after all this embarrassment."

"No"

Shagun stood up and faced Raman.

"Then I'll make it impossible for you to ever see Adi. But if you let Ashok go, then you can have Adi's custody"

Raman looked at his ex wife incredulously, his disgust showing in his eyes.
"You are bargaining with our son, Shagun? You dumped Ruhi without a second thought, but I always thought you at least loved Adi. Lekin tum toh..."

Shagun cringed inwardly before the disgust in Ramans eyes, but her face reflected none of her shame.

"I do love Adi...mein pyar karti hoon Adi se. But what you've done to us by getting Ashok arrested means that it's impossible for us to live in India now. Ashok has a huge estate in Mauritius ... hum wahan jaayenge. Adi can live with you and come over to us for holidays. After all tum ne Ruhi ko mere pass aane nahi diya, toh Adi aur Ruhi ki bonding ke liye, I guess Adi needs to stay with you. I'm offering you a good deal Raman... Ashok's freedom in exchange for Adi."
(I do love Adi. But what you've done to us by getting Ashok arrested means that it's impossible for us to live in India now. Ashok has a huge estate in Mauritius. We will go there. Adi can live with you and come to us for holidays. After all, you didn't let Ruhi come to me, so for the sake of Adi and Ruhi's bonding, I guess Adi needs to stay with you. I'm offering you a good deal Raman ...Ashok's freedom in exchange for Adi)

Raman walked over to the door of his cabin and held it open, gesturing Shagun over with his eyes.

"I don't make deals over my children Shagun. I'll see you in court"

Shagun stalked to the door, then pirouetted to face Raman. "Adi is not Ruhi, Raman. Uss ki custody itni asaani se nahi milegi tumhe, because Adi will do and say in court exactly as I say. Think about what I've said and call me"
(Adi is not Ruhi, Raman. You won't get his custody so easily because Adi will do and say in Court exactly as I say. Think about what I've said and call me)

"Goodbye Shagun" And Raman slammed the door in Shaguns face.

*********************************************
4.00pm
Iyer Residence

Mr & Mrs Iyer looked at each other over their mugs of coffee. Ishita had been resting quietly for most of the day, but now that Ruhi was home from school, mother and daughter were enconsed in Ishita's room, poring over Ruhi's homework.

"Well Madhu" Mr Iyer beamed at his wife. "Chalo, yeh theek hua. Panditji has managed to find a muhurat in two weeks Ishu bhi do hafte mein bilkul theek ho jayegi. But tell me Madhu, how come there was no muhurat for three months when you went alone earlier?"
(Well Madhu, that went well. Panditji has managed to find an auspicious date in two weeks. And Ishu too will be fine in two weeks. But tell me Madhu, how come there was no muhurat for three months when you went alone earlier?)

"Kya Vishwa, rehne do na. Ab humari Ishu ko uss ki family mil jayegi. Ab mein jaanti hoon Raman Ishu se sacha pyar karta hai, toh mujhe ab koi chinta nahi hai. Bas ab sab kuch theek se ho jaye aur hamari Ishu apni ghar chali jaaye."
(What Vishwa, let it be. Our Ishu will get her family now. Now that I know Raman truly loves Ishu, I have no worries. Now I just pray everything is fine and Ishu goes happily to her home)

"Everything will be fine Madhu. Don't worry."

*************************************************
Raman Bhalla's Office

"Bhai, thande dimaag se socho. (Bhai, think with a cool head) Shagun is not wrong about Adi's custody, you know. It won't be that easy for you to get access to Adi."

Raman, Neel and Mihir were seated around Raman's desk. Even with one hand in a sling and tiredness etched in his face, there was no doubt who was in control of the meeting.

Raman turned his piercing gaze on to Neel.

"After everything that Ashok has done Neel? He tried to kidnap Ruhi, his goons hurt Ishita, he shot me. And you're saying the court would leave my son with a man like that rather than with his own father?"

"Bhai" Neel spread his hands out in a gesture of defeat . "Everything you say is true. Lekin Adi ab bacha nahin hai. (But Adi is not a child anymore) He is almost 12. The court will take his views and wishes into account if your application is contested by Shagun. And besides, it's Shagun who has custody not Ashok. Mein manta hoon, (I admit) Ashok's conviction will influence the court, but bhai you know how slowly the courts move here. It will take years until the criminal case is heard. In the meantime, Ashok is presumed innocent until proven guilty. What Shagun is offering is full custody to you - and she and Ashok won't be around to influence Adi."

Mihir had been sitting quietly listening to the exchange between Raman and Neel. He could see how abhorrent the idea of making a deal with Shagun was to Raman. And yet, he could also see the merits of the idea. It would take a long time for Raman to re-establish his relationship with Adi. To do it with Shagun hovering over Adi, influencing him against his father, spewing hatred, would make the father son relationship all the more difficult.

"Mihir?" Raman said quietly, a question in his voice.

"Bhai, Neel has a point. Aap Ishita bhabhi se kyun nahi baat karte? (Why don't you talk to Ishita bhabhi?) After all, this affects her too. And bhabhi will give you good advice"

Raman stood up and walked to the picture windows behind his desk, looking out at the skyscrapers beyond. His thoughts mirrored those of Mihir. Everything in him screamed out against letting Ashok get away with his atrocities. But he needed to get Adi away from Shagun. He needed to talk to Ishita.

************************************************
9 pm
Iyer Apartment

Ruhi was lying sprawled across Ishita's bed, fast asleep, her tiny hand tightly clutched within Ishita's. Ishita sat back against the headboard, ostensibly reading a novel, but her eyes straying to gaze at Ruhi every few seconds.

Raman stood by the door unobserved, watching his two princesses. He noted with relief that Ishita's face looked clearer, less furrowed with pain, her eyes brighter and more alert. He had just spoken to his parents in law and he knew that some of her brightness was due to the fact that the pandit had managed to find a muhurat in less than three weeks.

She was happy, secure, was it really fair to burden her with Adi's issues now, to tell her about Shagun's deal?

"Raman" her soft voice cut through his thoughts. "Wahan kyun khade ho? Paas aao na"
(Raman, why are you standing there? Come to me)

He walked over to the bed and knelt by her side, hiding his face in her lap.

"Raman" Ishita ran her fingers through his soft short curls, her hand lingering on the nape of his neck. "Kya hua. Is everything okay?"

He lifted his head and gazed up at her. "Of course nothing is okay. Amma and appa just told me about the muhurat. I just have two weeks of freedom left hmm?"

"Raman, what's wrong?"

"Areh mein ne kaha na, I only have two weeks of freedom left. Phir tum aa jaogi, mera sar khane zindagi bhar ke liye."
(I told you, I have only two weeks of freedom left, then you'll be there to harass me for the rest of my life)

He laughed and made as if to stand up, but Ishita held on fast to his shoulder.

"Raman, mein aap ka chehra padh sakti hoon. Mujhe kaho na"
(Raman, I can read your face. Tell me what it is)

She swung her legs over the side of the bed and sat up, snuggling into him as he sat beside her. He pulled her close with his good arm, crushing her to himself.

"I don't want to worry you. Tum abhi theek ho rahi ho and I..."
(I don't want to worry you. You're just getting better, and I...)

Ishita pulled away to gaze at his face, caressing his cheek softly with her hands. 'Tell me" she whispered.

"It's ... It's about Adi" he begun. He told her what had transpired that day. About how Shagun had barged in demanding that he withdraw his complaint, the deal she had offered him, about Neel's advice. He told her that he had spoken to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who had echoed Neel's warning about the delays in the trial process and that Ashok would be almost certainly released on bail sooner or later. "It's going to be a long and ugly legal battle Ishita - both to get Ashok convicted and also to get Adi's custody."

He released his grip on Ishita and turned around to gaze at his sleeping daughter, before pulling his wife into his arms again.

"Ishita, when I see you with Ruhi, when I see how much love you give her, I can't help wondering about Adi, about how he must be, in that boarding school, all by himself. I want to bring him into our family Ishita, I ...but I can't let that Ashok walk away scot free either. After what he did to you, to Ruhi...I want to make him suffer. I want to make him hurt, the way he hurt you. I..."

"Take the deal Raman"

"Ishita?"

Ishita looked squarely into her husband's eyes. "Take the deal. Bring Adi home"

She traced the furrows in his forehead, trailing her fingers down his cheeks to his lips, leaning in to kiss him gently. "Soch kya rahe ho aap? (Why are you thinking so much?) Bring our son home please. I don't like this talk of revenge Raman. I don't want you to spend your energy and time in bringing someone down. Spend your time on us, on the people who love you. Let it go Raman. And bring Adi home."

He heard the utter conviction in her voice, tasted her sweet honesty with his lips. He knew how righteous she was, how much she had suffered because of Ashok, and yet for his sake, for his love, she was willing to let Ashok go scot free.

"It's not that simple, Ishita" His voice was gruff, trying to hold back the tears that such manifestations of her love invariably brought to his eyes. "If Ashok gets off scot free now, he will be back to create trouble in the future. He is embarrassed now, he might disappear for a while, but he will regroup, he will come back."

"Yes but Raman, humme bas thoda sa waqt hi toh chahiye na, Adi ka dil jeetne ke liye. We just need a little time to win Adi over. And what guarantee is there Raman, if we don't withdraw the complaint, if we fight for custody, that Ashok won't bribe his way out of the criminal charges anyway? And in the meantime, he and Shagun will keep on poisoning Adi against you, against his family. You have the upper hand now Raman, use it."

Raman looked at his wife in awe and then started chuckling.

"Kya?" she asked. (What?)

"Lagta hai tumhari head injury ki ek fayeda hui hai. Smart ho gayi ho"
(Looks like there was a side effect to your head injury. You've become smart)

"I'm serious Raman. Take the deal"

Raman heard the sincerity in her voice and nodded his head.

"I'll talk to Neel tomorrow. Thank you Ishita"

He hesitated slightly and then pulled her close again, glancing towards the half open door.

"Thank you" he whispered again, as he lowered his lips onto hers, kissing her deeply yet tenderly. Her protestations at his gratitude were lost as she snaked her arms around his neck, kissing him back.

"Our family will be complete Raman" she whispered when he finally released her. "Our family will finally be complete" She smiled at her husband. She would do anything for him. And she knew that his happiness lay in his children, in his family. It was not going to be easy, but she would try to be a mother to Adi too. For Raman.

***********************************************
Tera saath hai toh
Mujhe kya kami hai
Andheron se bhi mil rahi roshni hai
Tera saath hai toh
Kuch bhi nahi hai toh
Koi gum nahi hai
Har ek bebasi, ban gayi chandni hai

Tootee hai kashti Tez hai dhaara
Tootee hai kashti Tez hai dhaara
Kabhi na kabhi toh ... milegaa kinaara
Bahee jaa yeh samay ki nadee hai
Isse pyar karne ki aasha jagee hai

Tera saath hai toh
Tera saath hai toh Mujhe kya kami hai
Andheron se bhi mil rahi roshni hai
Tera saath hai toh

Har ek mushkilll Saral lag rahi hai
Har ek mushkilll Saral lag rahi hai
Mujhe jhopadi bhi mahal lag rahi hai
In ankhoon mein maana nami hi nami hai
Magar is namee par hi duniya thamee hai

Tera saath hai toh
Tera saath hai toh Mujhe kya kami hai
Andheron se bhi mil rahi roshni hai
Tera saath hai toh