Redemption's Dance: A Tale of Love and Forgiveness

Ch-16

As Shubman and Ishan came downstairs, they saw Dadi and Atharv playing together in the living room. The sight of them brought a momentary sense of peace amidst the whirlwind of emotions.

Dadi looked up as they approached. "Kaha chale Dono?" she asked, curiosity and concern evident in her voice.

"Dadi, wo..." Ishan started, trying to find the right words to explain.

Before he could continue, Shubman interjected. "Dadi, Ishan ki tabiyat thik nahi hai isiliye use hospital leke jaa raha hun," he explained, his tone calm but serious.

Dadi's face immediately showed worry. "Kyun, kya ho gaya beta?" she asked, her eyes darting between Ishan and Shubman.

"Kuch nahi, Dadi. Bas thakan lag rahi hai aur ulti ho rahi hai," Ishan said, trying to downplay the situation.

"Ulti? Thik hai, jao dikhake aa jao," Dadi said, still looking concerned but trusting them to handle it.

"Thik hai, Dadi. Atharv ka dhyan rakhna aur apna bhi," Shubman said, giving her a reassuring smile.

"Haan, thik hai," Dadi replied, her gaze softening as she looked at Atharv, who was now engrossed in his toys.

With a final nod, Shubman and Ishan left the house, the weight of their unspoken concerns hanging in the air.

The ride to the hospital was silent, filled with the weight of unspoken words and heavy thoughts. Ishan and Shubman sat in the waiting room, surrounded by other patients and their families. Across from them, Ishan noticed a couple who seemed to mirror their situation in some ways. The husband was gently hugging his partner, whispering words of comfort and reassurance.

Ishan couldn't help but smile at the sight, feeling a pang of longing for a similar connection. He thought about his own life and how drastically it had changed. Once, he had dreams of becoming a dancer. But after his marriage, his mother had urged him to focus on Shubman and Atharv, who were devastated by his sister's death.

Atharv had been just one month old when Ishan married Shubman, and Ishan had hoped that with time, things would get better. But instead of healing, the wounds seemed to deepen. Shubman had never smiled at him, never spoken kindly to him. Their interactions were filled with taunts and bitterness.

Lost in these thoughts, Ishan barely noticed Shubman shaking him gently.

"Ishan," Shubman called.

"Haan," Ishan replied, snapping back to the present.

"Doctor bula rahe hai, chalo," Shubman said.

"Ji," Ishan said, and both of them stood up and walked to the doctor's office.

Inside the room, the doctor was sitting behind her desk, reviewing some files. She looked up as Ishan and Shubman entered, greeting them with a warm smile.

"Good morning, Mr. and Mr. Gill," she said. "Please, have a seat."

They both sat down, trying to mask their anxiety. The doctor picked up the phone and called the nurse. "Please come and run the necessary tests on Mr. Ishan Gill."

A few moments later, the nurse entered. "Mr. Ishan, if you could come with me, please," she said politely.

Ishan stood up and followed the nurse out of the room, leaving Shubman alone with his thoughts. He paced the small space, worry and guilt gnawing at him. The minutes felt like hours until finally, Ishan returned and sat down beside him.

"Ho gaye saare test?" the doctor asked, looking at the nurse who had just returned.

"Ji, doctor. Bas reports nikalni hain," the nurse replied.

"Acha, thik hai. Tum jao," the doctor said, dismissing the nurse before turning her attention back to Ishan and Shubman. "Toh, Mr. and Mr. Gill, chinta ki koi baat nahi hai. Aapke reports 2-3 din mein mil jayenge. Aap mein se koi bhi aake le jaana."

"Ji, doctor," Shubman said, nodding.

With the consultation over, both of them stood up to leave. The doctor smiled at them reassuringly. "Take care, and if you have any concerns in the meantime, don’t hesitate to contact us."

They thanked the doctor and left the room, walking down the sterile corridors of the hospital in silence. The ride back home was just as quiet, each of them lost in their own thoughts.

They were sitting in the car, the silence between them heavy and oppressive. Shubman kept glancing at Ishan, his mind racing with questions and concerns. Finally, unable to bear the silence any longer, he broke it.

"Kab se ho raha hai ye sab?" Shubman asked, his voice tense.

"Pichle kuch hafton se," Ishan replied curtly, still looking out of the window.

"Toh bataya kyun nahi?" Shubman pressed, frustration creeping into his tone.

"Nahi bataya hamari marzi," Ishan said, his voice cold and distant.

Shubman clenched the steering wheel, trying to keep his temper in check. "Ishan, please. Agar main pyar se baat kar raha hun toh tum bhi kar lo na. Kya chala jayega tumhara?" he said, irritation evident in his voice.

Ishan turned to face him, his eyes filled with a mix of anger and hurt. "Nahi karni hame aapse baat. Chup rahiye, bilkul chup. Muh bhi mat kholna aap, samjhe?" he snapped.

Shubman was stunned into silence, the harshness of Ishan's words cutting deep. He swallowed hard, feeling a mix of guilt and helplessness. He realized how much he had pushed Ishan away, how his actions had built a wall of resentment between them.

The rest of the drive passed in silence, the tension palpable. When they finally reached home, Ishan got out of the car without a word, heading straight inside. Shubman watched him go, feeling the weight of their fractured relationship bearing down on him.

Inside the house, Dadi and Atharv were still playing together, their laughter a stark contrast to the heavy atmosphere between Ishan and Shubman. Ishan forced a smile as he approached them, trying to mask his inner turmoil.

"Maa, Maa!" Atharv called out, reaching for Ishan with his tiny hands.

Ishan picked him up, hugging him tightly. "Haan, beta. Maa yahin hain," he said softly, finding some comfort in Atharv's innocent embrace.

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