Guilt, trust, love

PART 12

Mrs. Bhalla proposed the idea of Ishita's remarriage with Subbu.

T: Tu khud soch Madhu iss baare mein.

Amma: But Santoshi, Ishita loves Raman. How will we explain to her after she recovers from the amnesia?

T: Uski fikra to mujhe bhi hain. Par maine Raman se kai baar puchhne ki koshish ki uske aur Shagun ke rishte ke baare mein. But wo kabhi bhi kuchh bhi nahi bolta.

S: Haan Auntyji, yeh baat toh maine bhi notice ki hain. Lekin Ishita ke iss halat ke bawajood bhai ka uss Shagun se milna-julna kam nahi hua hain. Kabhi uske liye breakfast le jaate hain, kabhi paranthe. Kabhi use shopping pe le jaate hain. Yeh baat toh tay hain ki bhai ka aur Shagun ka rishta kuchh alag hain.

Amma: Shayad sach mein Shagun ke pet mein usika baby ho.

Everyone was silent for a while. Toshi reasoned her thought of Ishita-Subbu marriage stating that even Ishita needs a life partner. And as she only remembers Subbu, it will be easy for her to accept him. When she gets fine, we will tell her the truth and hopefully she will understand.

In the evening, Amma tries to discuss the topic with Appa.

Amma: Vishwa, kyun na hum Ishu ki shaadi karwaye Subbu se?

Shocked by it, Appa choked on his sip of coffee.

Appa: Yeh kya bol rahi ho Madhu. You know ki Raman Ishu shaadi shuda hain. Aaj ke halat jo bhi ho, how can we deny this fact?

Amma: I am not asking you to deny it. But, Raman ne Ishu ke saath itna bura kiya; he had an affair with Shagun and never tried explaining it to any of us ever. Jab Ishu ko yeh saari baatein yaad aayengi, toh wo kitni toot jayegi. At that time, she needs a partner who will never make her feel unloved, unwanted, stand tall by her. She at least won't loathe herself.

Appa: I understand your concern, but Subbu?

Amma: Aaj ke halat mein, who else is there whom we can trust about our Ishu? I won't be able to see her broken and all alone in her life Vishwa. She will at least have a friend forever in the form of Subbu. She needs a stable life hereafter. Ho sakta hain, yeh Murugan ka koi positive sign ho Ishu-Subbu ke liye. Even He doesn;t want Ishu to suffer.

Appa: But I still need time to think on it. Main Bhallaji, Vandu-Bala aur Ishu se bhi baat karna chahta hoon.

Saying so, he leaves. Amma prays to Murugan to show her the right path to her daughter's happiness.

At night:

Appa comes with 2 cups of coffee in Ishita's room.

I: Appa aap?

Appa: Coffee laya hoon. Bohot din ho gaye, we didn't have a heart-to-heart talk.

I: Come na, sit.

Appa: So Ishu, how's life? Kuchh naya? Kuchh khaas?

I: (laughing) Kya accent maar rahe ho aap! Wah wah. (pauses and smiles) Par haan. Kuchh naya aur khaas toh hain.

Appa:(surprised) Achha? Woh kya?

I: I have found a great friend. Kabhi kabhi kaisa hota hain na Appa? Humein jo cheezein bohot kareeb mehsoos hoti hain, wahi dekhne mein humein kitni der lagti hain.

Appa: So right. But yeh naya friend hain koun?

I: Waise toh naya nahi hain. Aap sab jaante ho use. And I am sure you love him too.(bites her tongue) I mean, like him.

Appa: Ohhh. Par jara details toh bataon.

I: He is one of a kind. He makes me feel myself, talk to myself. Woh jo bolte hain na, uske peechhe ko karan hota hain, koi kahani hoti hain. I don't know why but I feel strongly connected to him.

Appa:
(self thought) Kya yeh Subbu ke baare mein baat kar rahi hain? Warna aisa koun ho sakta hain jiske saath Ishu itne kam time mein itni comfortable ho gayi. Raman ko to bhul chuki hain. Shayad use saalon pehle ka Subbu ke saath ka relationship yaad ho, but may be Subbu is trying to befriend her all over again. Usne kaha toh tha that he will try talking to Ishu like a good friend  and help her regain her memory)

Woh karta kya hain?

I: Doctor hain. Mann ka aur dil ka. I mean uski baaton se toh kabhi kabhi woh psychologist yah counsellor hi lagte hain. (laughs)

Appa:
(self-thought) Doctor? I am now sure that she is talking about Subbu.

Both finish their coffee and Appa leaves Ishita's room. She messages Raman 'good night' and sleeps off thinking of her interactions and friendship with Raman.