Ekansh:
"Ruhi!" I whispered against her pale face. She was still unconscious. When I checked her pulse, I found it to be more in number than normal. Her body temperature was also high but her blood pressure was low.
After Ruhi lost consciousness I took her to her bedroom and made her sleep on her bed. We guessed that no food for the past few days was the main reason for her to lose consciousness.
Ruhi's family doctor had sent her blood to the lab for examination. For now, we are waiting for her reports to arrive.
Everyone except Maa, my bhabhi, and I left the manor for Sajjan Dadaji's cremation.
After a few minutes, her family doctor stepped inside the room. He appeared quite happy and I didn't get it especially when the death happened a few hours ago. "Ruhi's reports have arrived." His eyes glistened as they landed on me. "Mera Shak sahi nikla. Ruhi Maa banne wali hai. She is pregnant." (My doubt was genuine. Ruhi will be a mom.)
I blinked my eyes several times and stared back at my wife. I wasn't ready for this but my heart rate increased and I felt nothing but happiness. "Congratulations, Ekansh!"
I lifted my head and met his eyes. " Thank you!" I whispered, smiling at him. He handed reports to Maa, who, for some reason, looked shocked rather than happy.
After he left, her eyes darted at me. " How? " she demanded. Did you force yourself on her?"
I sighed, "Maa, I am not that pathetic." I acknowledged her. "Maa," I climbed down and walked towards her. "Ruhi and I were living happily. I agree I like another woman but when I realised that I was neglecting a diamond for a worthless stone, I left her. But suddenly she came in between us and before I could stop, things got complicated." I shared everything to herâthe days of our romance. The day I made our relationship official. The club night incident. Then the truth of Anthra. "I didn't have the guts to stop Ruhi when she took everything herself."
She took a deep breath and glanced at Ruhi. "What you did, you did to save her. But she got in this mess because of you, Ekansh. And this time, I want to stand with Ruhi. I will support her in whatever decision she takes, in your case."
Nodding my head, I accepted it, "fine. Maa. But don't separate me from her."
Her hand rested on my cheek, "I am your biological mother and I want you to be happy. But I even want her to be happy too. We elders already forced a decision on you both. Now, we don't want to do it. If you want you can fight for your right. And if she wants she will fight for her right. Let anyone support her or not. I will support her." She declared.
"Ok. Maa." She pulled me in a hug and patted my back.
"I wish that you both stay together, forever. And congratulations you are going to be a dad..."
"Thank you, maa."
After Maa assured me, I went to cremation ground, to attend the final rituals of Sajjan Dadaji's cremation.
Ruhi:
It was late evening when I opened my eyes. I stared out of the window as tears showed no limitations to flow out of my eyes.
Maa was lying on the couch. Ekansh was nowhere which calmed my anger but even distressed my heart. He would have left by now. Well, why would he stay? I shouldn't keep hope on him.
I climbed down my bed and walked inside the bathroom and carried a pair of fresh clothes too. I sat down under the shower and cried out of my heart. My tears got mixed with the drops of water, falling from the shower.
Once again emptiness loomed back into my life. Once again I have to live with my nightmares. But this time. No one will be there to hold me. No one will be there to wipe my tears. To hug me. To assure me that they are there for me.
"Dadu!" I whispered. "Just show up from anywhere. Your Ladoo can't live without you."
Kiske liye jiye hum ab. Aur ji ke bhi kare kya. (Why should I live now? And for whom?)
Wo toh shayad chale gaye apni mohabbat ke pas. (Ekansh might have gone tp his girlfriend.)
Aur dadu aisi jagah Jahan se hum unhe laa toh nahi sakthe par shayd unke pas jakar unke sath toh ji sakthe. (And dadu went to a different world, from where I can't bring him but yeah, I can go and live with him.)
I stood up and changed my clothes, letting the water drops drop from my hair.
I stepped out of the bathroom and saw Him. I stared at him, surprised. Next, I walked past him, ignoring him. I didn't find Maa on the couch either.
"Ruhi!"
No. I want him to go. I don't want him to come and give me false hopes back to back. He walked past me and stood in front of me. I closed my eyes.
"Meri Jaan!"
I opened my eyes and found him kneeling in front of me.
"Apki zimmedari khatam hogayi, Ekansh. Ab aap ja sakthe apni mohabbat ke pas!" I informed staring to my left. (Your responsibility has ended, Ekansh. You can go back to your lover.)
"Unhi ke pas toh hai hum!" I tilted my head towards him and glared at him. (Yes, i am with her.)
I sniffled, "Ek bar toh bana liya apne Hume bewakoof, dusri bar banane ki koshish kar rahe hai." (You made my fool for once, you can't do it once again.)
"Ruhi, I did that to only save you."
"New story!" I walked to the door, pulled it open, and demanded, "Leave." Instantly I felt hurt and tears fell out of my eyes.
"Ruhi. Atleast let me explain." Shaking my head, I grabbed his arm and dragged him out.
"Get out, Ekansh!" I slammed the door on his face.
I sat on my bed, leaning against the headboard of my bed, I hugged my legs and stared at the lonely walls.
I received a knock, "Ruhi!" Maa's voice came from the other side of the door.
She pulled open the door and stepped inside with a tray of food. Placing it beside me, she sat in front of me. Ekansh stepped inside and stood near the door.
I acted as if he did not exist in my surroundings. That's the only way to ignore him.
"Ruhi!" I pulled her in a hug and sobbed over her shoulder. "Dadu left me! He cheated me, maa. Why did he leave me?"
She pulled away and cupped my cheeks. "He didn't cheat you, Ruhi. He just didn't want to see you in pain."
I closed my eyes, "he shouldn't have shown me so much love. How can I live without him? I... I don't want to live."
"Aise math boliye, Ruhi." I opened my eyes and glanced at her. "He made you a strong girl, he wanted you to make your own identity."
"But I have no one now. Kiske liye jiye hum ab?" I questioned her. (For whom should I live now?)
She smiled out of the blue, took my hand and placed it over my lower abdomen. "Is masoom ke liye Jo apke duniya mei khushiyan ki barish lekar ana chahta hai." (For this little one, who wants to come into your life and shower your life with joy.)
My eyes widened with surprise. Just then I stared at Ekansh and he nodded his head, slightly.
I looked at my lower stomach. "Am I pregnant?" I confirmed.
She nodded her head. Another set full of tears flew out of my eyes.
For an instant, it felt like I had my whole world. I gulped and stared back at her. She showed reports of my pregnancy.
It's positive.
I opened my mouth to express my feelings but I closed it back. I can't think of anything other than this to keep me happy once again. A huge smile occupied my face.
"Maa!" Ekansh voiced. "I will feed her."
My smile dropped, I stared at her and shook my head. "I don't want him to come near me, Maa."
Immediately Mom turned and repeated my words, "She doesn't wantâ"
"âI heard it, Maa. You don't need to repeat it." He said and sat on the couch.
I huffed and glared at him. He stared back at me with a blank face.
When Maa brought the spoonful of rice and paneer curry, I stared at it constantly.
I hadn't eaten for the last three days. But now I have to eat. Not for me but for my baby.
I took the rice in my mouth and minced it. But my heart was still hurt. Tears flew out of my eyes as I ate the food spoon after spoon.
Ekansh approached me and knelt beside the bed.
Though I want to rip his soul, I want him to be with me. He had become my strength that I can't say to him.
"He is always with me, isn't he?" I asked as I stared at the plate.
Maa cupped my cheeks and whispered. "Yes, Ruhi. And who knows he might be planning to come back into your life as your son."
I inhaled deeply and closed my eyes. Resting my head against the headboard, I let tears escape out of my eyes.
"Ruhi, please don't cry. Think about your baby." I nodded my head.
"Kya kare, Maa. Dard bahut ho raha hai. My heart doesn't want to accept it. I mean he was here, speaking with me and it just happened. What if I never got the chance to see him " (What should I do, Maa? It's too painful.)
I felt his warm, hard grip on my legs. "Ruhi!" he whispered. I pulled my leg away from his grip and covered it with my dupatta.
"Kya hum sab nahi hai apke liye, bacha?" She asked. I nodded my head. But I can't tell her what I used to feel about my dadu. And not 100% but 50% of it I started to feel in her son, Ekansh. But he broke it. (Aren't we important to you, my baby?)
"Please eat some more. You hadn't eaten for three days." I nodded my head and had another few spoons of rice. I am going to be a mother, I have to stay strong and healthy. I wasn't ready for this but the happiness I am receiving through this feeling is enough to fight a war with the whole world. I don't even care about Ekansh's betrayal. "I will leave fruits upon the tea table. Eat them if you feel hungry."
Then. She left me with Ekansh in my room. He took a pillow and lay down on the couch.
My dadu lost his life in front of my eyes. In the middle of the night, I woke up and went to my Dadu's room. I stood in front of his huge portrait.
I touched my belly, "Agar yeh sach hai ki aap Ane Wale ho. Toh jab aap wapas is duniya mei aoge na hum apko bahut dand lagane Wale hai, Dadu. Bhala..." I cut off as a sob escaped from my eyes. "...kaun aise Bina bathaye chod kar chala jatha hai." Shaking my head, "This morning, it wasn't you, right? Maybe that person was your mannequin? For how long did you hide this from me?" (If it's true that you are going to come back into my life as my son, I will scold you so much. How can you leave me and go just like that?)
"Ruhi!"
I took deep breaths as I felt his presence behind me.
"Ruhi!" He voiced again this time with helplessness. "Speak with me."
"Kaun ho aap humare?" (What relationship do we have?)
"I am your husband."
"To remind you, I already signed divorce papers."
"In which I didn't sign and tore those papers."
"Great. I will file for divorce this time," I announced and walked back to my room.
"Ruhi!" He came calling. "Ruhi!" He grabbed my arm and spun me. "Matlab kya hai apka?" (What do you mean?)
"Divorce, Ekansh. Don't misinterpret that this baby will correct the things," shaking my head, I assured him. "This is my baby, not yours. And I want to divorce you at any condition."
"Fine. This is only yours. But divorce, I will not give you."
"Fine then. Let's roam to and fro between home and court. Cause once I decide it's decided. I will divorce you, Ekansh Razdan!" I declared.
****
What do you think Ruhi should do?
Share your views in the comments.