Monday September 2014
Raman Bhalla's bedroom
Three AM
Raman woke up with a start, bolting upright as his hand groped for the light switch. "Ishita" he called out as light flooded into the room. He looked around, expecting to see his wife in the bed next to his, then realised with a start that he was at home, that they were no longer in the hospital, and that Ishita was back at the Iyers.
He glanced at the bedside clock and saw that it was three am. A sense of dread assailed him, and he threw back the bedcovers, sliding his feet into his slippers. He had the strongest feeling that Ishita was in strife, that she needed him.
The next moment he strode out of his bedroom, ignoring the ache in his bandaged arm, headed for the main door. He opened the door and stepped into the passage between his apartment and his in-laws, and then stood hesitatingly.
Everything was quiet in the dull cool Delhi night. He could hear no sound, no activity from the Iyer's apartment. How then could he justify disturbing his in laws? And yet the feeling persisted, the feeling that Ishita needed him, that she was calling him.
As he stood hesitating, the door to the Iyer apartment opened...
*****************************************
Iyer Apartment
Five Minutes Earlier
"Ishu, Ishu, its okay kanna, why are you crying? Ishita utho beta, its okay, sab kuch theek hai"
(Ishu, Ishu, its okay kanna, why are you crying? Ishita wake up dear, its okay, everything is okay)
Ishita gasped as her mothers voice dragged her out of the nightmare that had terrified her into incoherent tears. She opened her eyes and looked around wildly. She was in her room, amma's arms around her, Mihika beside her, her face clouded with worry.
"Raman" she cried out "Amma, Raman kahan hai? Woh Raman ko maar dale ga. Please, Miku, where is Raman? Help him, please, they will kill him"
(Raman. Amma, where is Raman? They will kill Raman. Please, Miku, where is Raman? Help him, please, they will kill him)
Akka" Mihika sat down beside Ishita and took her hand in hers. "Who will kill jeeju? Jeeju apne ghar mein hai na, he is fine, aap ko kyun aisa lagta hai? Its okay akka, you're just having a bad dream"
(Akka, Who will kill jeeju? Jeeju is in his house, he is fine, why are you thinking like this? Its okay akka, you're just having a bad dream)
"No" Ishita insisted, turning her tear stained face towards Mihika. "Ashok ... Woh Raman ko... Raman kahan hai Miku?" She looked around wildly, trying to get off the bed. "Mujhe uss ke paas jaana hai. I have to go to him."
(No, that Ashok will do something...to Raman. Where is Raman, Miku? I have to go to him)
"Akka its three am, jeeju will be sleeping. Aap uss se subha mil lena. Abhi aap so jao please" Mihika said helplessly, as she tried to restrain Ishita.
(Akka its three am, jeeju will be sleeping. You can meet him in the morning, go to sleep now please)
Her sister was usually so strong, so level headed, that this avatar of hers, this vulnerability, this unreasoning anxiety scared Mihika. But Ishita would not be held back. Tears streamed down her face as she pleaded with her amma and Mihika
"Please" she whispered. "Just let me see that he is fine. I wont disturb him. Amma please"
"Ishu beta, you stay here, I'll call Raman" It was Mr Iyer, awakened from his light sleep by the noise in his daughters room, he had come to enquire, and his heart ached at the sight of his daughters tears.
"But Vishwa" Mrs Iyer said in a shocked voice, walking up to her husband "It's the middle of the night. Aise kaise...?"
"Its okay Madhu, I'm sure Raman wont mind. And Ishu needs him right now" Mr Iyer reassured his wife.
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Desire ✔️
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