IshRa FF Beginning Again

Part 1

Chennai
Ishita glanced around the table and wondered not for the first time what she was doing here. At one end of the table her Uncle was laying out his plans for the family's latest party. At the other end her cousins were arguing over the best food for the Party . Her Uncle had originally invited her for what was supposed to be a quiet family dinner. It had become clear to her, very quickly that this was a planning for a new husband.
"I have to be out of my mind to get myself involved in this . How did I end up here" Ishita thought. She knew the easy answer. Her husband had lied and blown their marriage apart. The harder answer was what part she might have played in getting herself here.The thought of Raman caused an ache in her chest. It had been 3 month now since she had fled Delhi and the disaster that her marriage had become. Ishita had thought that time would ease the pain but it only seemed to make it worse. Raman was never far from her thoughts. When she woke up in the morning there was that moment between sleeping and waking that she was sure he was there beside her. Her last thought at night was how cold and lonely the other side of the bed was. And in between Ishita did everything she could not think about where Raman was and what he was doing or worse yet who he might be with. Like Shagun. The first Mrs..Bhalla and as far as Ishita was concerned the most two faced deceitful person she had ever met. Shagun had wormed her way into her life pretended to be her friend, all the while knowing that Ishita didn't know who she really was. Then she had played on Raman's guilt over letting an innocent man "die" for her crimes. After that she just stood back and watched while everyone's lives came crashing down. Ishita heard Raman's voice in her head. "Jaan
, are you out of your mind to leave me, just like that" She could imagine the disappointment rising in his eyes at the idea of where she ended up. "Do you really want to be doing this?" Quickly before she could change her mind Ishita threw down her napkin and pushed away from the table, "I'm sorry, Uncle , but I really need to leave now" Her Uncle was startled by her actions "we haven't had dessert and I still need some ideas from you on our Party" "No, I really have to go" Ishita called over her shoulder as she hurried out of the dining room and grabbed her purse from the table by the door. Out on the sidewalk she hailed the first cab that was passing by and gave the driver Patti's address. When she was settled inside she leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes "It's certainly nice weather we've been having" the cabbie said trying to make small talk. "The whole summer has been really good" "yes," Ishita answered "it's been a lovely summer." Where had the summer gone? It had disappeared like so many things lately. And once again for no reason Raman's face appeared in her mind. Not the last time she'd seen him when she walked out of the Bhallahouse slamming the door behind her but farther back to the beginning when the future and life in general still seemed bright. "How do I get that back" she thought "that bright and happy life" In no time the cabbie pulled up in front of Patti's flat, Ishita hopped out quickly and turned around to round to reach in to pay him. "Let me take care of that" said a voice behind her and a hand reached around her handing some bills to the cabbie. Ishita turned and found herself facing the one person she didn't expect to see.

To be continued...