Guilt, trust, love

DISTANCE MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER

Raman and Ishita used to meet each other and spend a lot of time together. They bacame good friends. Raman used to remind her of her medicine-time, doctor's appointment and took care of her. Adi and Ruhi too used to be with Ishita all the time. She enjoyed their company. Nobody made any efforts to make Ishita remember anything as the doctor had warned them against it. As Ishita's health was improving, she started walking on her own and did many things without anyone's help. The family was happy with it. One day, Mrs. Bhalla went to Raman's room.

R: Mummy aap yahan?
T:Haan. Kyun nahi aa sakti?
R: Aisa nahi. Woh kuchh kaam tha toh mujhe bula lete.

T: Nahi, tujhse kuchh jaroori baat karni hain.

R:Boliye na.

T:Woh Ishita...

R:(cuts her) Kya hua Ishita ko? Woh theek toh hain?
T:Haan haan. Ab toh woh bina kisiki madad liye kai kaam karne lagi hain.

R: I know. Improvement kaafi hain usme.

T: Toh ab hume nahi lagta ki tujhe usse milna chahiye.

R:(shocked) Maa, yeh kaisi baat kar rahe ho aap. Aisa kya hua hain jo main usse nahi mil sakta? Kya usne kuchh kaha aapse?

T: Bilkul nahi. Us bechari ko toh pata bhi nahi tum dono ka rishta kya hain. Par use yun jhooti ummedein dena bhi toh galat hain.

R: Jhuti ummeed? Matlab?

T: Tune dekha nahi, Subbu se jyada woh tere saath khush rehti hain.

R: Of course maa. She is more comfortable with me. Biwi hain woh meri. Aur ab ek achha dosti ka bond develop ho raha hain hamare beech.

T: Usi baat ka toh darr hain hume. Vandu, Mihika aur Simmi ne hume realize karvaya ki shayad use tujhse pyaar ho raha hain. Aur hum iss baat ko nazar andaaz nahi kar sakte ki tu uska ex-husband hain.

R: Ex-husband? Really maa?

T: Shagun ke pet mein tera bachha hain Raman.

R: Aisi kai saari baate hain jo aap logon ko nahi pata. Lekin main uska explanation sabse pehle apni Ishita ko dunga. Phir aap sabko sab kuchh pata chal hi jaeyga, but first Ishita. Aur rahi baat usse milne ki, toh woh main band nahi karnga, I am sorry but main usse jaroor milunga.

Saying so Raman leaves while Mrs. Bhalla keeps thinking of his statements.

Later in the evening, Raman tries to meet Ishita but all the family members make it a point that he can't meet her. Although Ishita feels sad, she wards off her restlessness in the name of friendship.

I:(to herself) Aaj Raman kyun nahi aaye. Busy honge shayad. Par no message, no call. Itna bhi kya kaam? Offo Ishu, why are you thinking so much about him? Vandu akka is right. Unhe time nahi mila hoga. Hazaaro kaam honge unhe duniya mein. Leave it. Kal subah walk par toh milenge hi na. Everyday woh wheel chair par se mujhe ghumane le jate the... kal main apne paon par jaungi...(happily smiles).

Ishita gets some flashes of her being on wheel chair and Raman helping her but dismisses those thoughts. She eagerly waits for the next morning to meet Raman as she has grown fond of him. Although she knows that he is a divorcee, a single father with 2  children, she doesn't understand why she feels so attached to him. She is still oblivious to Shagun's existence in his life.

On the other hand, Raman also sits in his room holding Ishita's picture in his hand.

R:(to her picture) Ishita, I am so sorry ki aaj main tumhe nahi mil paya. I don't know how to make our families understand everything par mujhe abhi unhe kuchh nahi batana surrogacy ke baare mein. Uss khabar par pehla haq tumhara hain. Main ne pehle hi bohot nainsaafi ki hain tumhare saath tumhe iss baat se anjaan rakh ke. Meri wajah se tumhe itne bade dard se gujarna pad raha hain. I don't even know ki tumhe jab sab kuchh yaad aajayega toh tum mujhe maaf kar dogi ya nahi. But, I just hope our love wins. Main ne haar nahi maani hain, aur agar jaisa maa keh rahi hain, waise agar sach mein tum mujhse pyaar karne lagi ho, toh the wait will be worth it! Sab log mujhe tumhara ex-husband kehte hain. Toh theek hain. Hum humare rishte ki ek nayi shuruat karenge. Iss baar dosti se.  Aur woh Subbu na tera koi nahi lagta, samjhi? Don't make me so jealous ki mooh tod du main uska. (smiles to himself) And haan, I love you! And miss you yaar. True that distance makes the heart grow fonder.

Both are waiting for the next morning to bring in new hopes. Raman is determined to get his Ishita back to old self. He believes love can conquer all.