⚠️Warning
High Drama Quotient😋
Read at your own risk🤥

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He spent most of his time outside her ward stealing glances at her from the small glass panel on the door. And at times when she would be sleeping soundly, he would silently sneak in and longingly look at her.

Her proximity gave him a strange comfort, a feeling he had missed every day of the past 7 years. 'IshiMaa' he would inaudibly mumble and rest his head near her feet.

When Mihika first saw him lying at her Akka's feet, her stomach churned with fear and she rushed towards him in order to shoo him away. But her heart did not allow her to act on her plan when she saw an expression of comfort and peace adorn his face. He woke up horrified when she caressed his head gently. He was scared she would send him away from his IshiMaa, not letting him spend the little time he had found with much difficulty.

Kam Hai Waqt Yeh
Mujhko Pata Hai
Isiliye Dar Lagta Hai

"Please" he mouthed with folded hands and begged her to let him stay by his mother's side.

Mihija could not control her tears looking at his vulnerable sta7te. Why did God have to punish this innocent boy by keeping him away from his mother for these many years? She lamented as she rubbed his back to comfort him.

Faaslein Kyun
Umr Ke Dekho
Uparwala Rakhta Hai

Two days later Ishita was discharged from the hospital and Mihika took her to her hotel room. Adi found a nice excuse of discussing the menu for Mihika's wedding and reached her hotel room where his IshiMaa was currently residing.

Ishita seemed to like this boy a lot as he reminded her of her son Adi. Although Mihika was out for some work, Ishita insisted him to stay back as she had an urge to spend some time with him. She was overwhelmed when he willingly agreed. Little did she know that Adi was more delighted than her to stay back. After all this is what he had been looking forward for since her return.

"Tum mujhe mere bete ki yaad dilate ho" she exclaimed.

"Aur aap mujhe meri maa ki" Adi immediately replied.

They shared an emotional eyelock as Ishita cried at her helplessness of not being able to meet her son although she wanted to and Adi cried at his helplessness of not being able to reveal his identity to his mother who was just a few inches away from him. Their eyes strained and burnt with the pain, and they looked away hiding their tears from each other.

To lighten up the mood, Ishita began to ask Adi about his studies and other interests. Adi was more than glad that she broached the topic as he always wished to share his success with his IshiMaa. He happily told her about his studies, the milestones he achieved as a student, his achievement in the sports field and everything else that he had wanted to share in the last 7 years but wasn't able to.

"I am proud of you my son" she remarked on learning his extraordinary achievements.

That is all Adi wanted to hear!
His IshiMaa was proud of him!
This!!!! This was the biggest achievement of his life. No other award or success in the world could replace the feeling of pride he was now witnessing on his IshiMaa's face.

"Thanks IshiMaa" he whispered overjoyed.

'IshiMaa?' Did she hear him say that?

"Tumne....abhi...kya...kaha?" She asked doubtfully.

That's when Adi realised his slip of tongue. "Maine....maine bas....'thanks' kaha" he said nervously.

"Oh.... mujhe laga...." she cut herself in between.

"Kya laga?" Adi asked quickly.

"Kuch nahi" she shrugged acting nonchalant although the thought of being addressed as IshiMaa after 7 years had turned her emotional.

"Achha ye batao ke tumne wedding planner banne ka kaise socha?" She asked to distract herself from the thought.

Adi excitedly went on to tell her how he decided to work in a small company instead of joining his father's business as he wanted to create his own identity.

"I appreciate your thoughts. You are making me prouder AB" she smiled cheekily. Adi responded with a similar smile glad that of all people in his family, IshiMaa was the only one who understood him and encouraged him, just like he had expected her to.

"But haan ek advice bhi hai mere paas tumhare liye. I hope you don't mind" she added after a poignant pause.

"Of course not. Aapka toh haq banta hai" he said in a flow "I mean poore haq se advice kijiye" he quickly changed.

"I am glad ke tumne khud apne pairon par khada hone ka faisla kiya. Mai tumhari khuddaari ki daad deti hoon. Par beta apni khuddaari ko khudgarzi me mat badalne dena" she adviced.

"Matlab? Mai kuch samjha nahi" he asked.

"Dekho AB, jaise ke tumne bataya, tumhare Papa ne ek bahut bada business empire establish kiya hua hai. Jab unhone ye business khadi ki hogi tab unke bhi kayi armaan honge. Socha hoga ke kisi din unka beta unke business me unka haath batayega. Thay kiya hoga ke jis din beta padhayi poori karega us din apna business uske naam karke use us business ko aur aage badhata hue dekhenge. Toh zaahir si baat hai ke jab tumne unhe apne plans bataye honge, unke dil ko thoda baut toh thes pahuncha hoga. Isliye AB, mai ye keh rahi hoon ke khuddaar banne ki koshish me, khudgarz banke apne Papa ko akela mat chod dena. Mai ye nahi keh rahi ke tum apni naukri chodkar unki office join karlo. Balki mai ye keh rahi hoon ke tum apni naukri ke saath saath kabhi kabhi khud aage badhkar apne Papa ka haath batao unke kaam me. Unhe achha lagega" she explained.

'This is why I miss you' he told in his mind as he stared at her in awe 'Na koi aapki tarah mujhe samajh sakta hai aur na hi koi mujhe aapki tarah samjha sakta hai!' He thought.

"Kya hua AB? Tumhe bura toh nahi laga?" She asked apprehensively.

"Nahi....nahi.... infact mujhe toh bahut achha laga aapki baatein sunke. Thoda mushkil hai Papa se deal karna, par aapki khatir mai koshish karunga is advice par chalne ki. Aap hamesha aise hi mujhe advice karte rehna" he replied.

"Is that so? I am glad ke tumhe meri advice achhi lagi. And I really wish ke mai hamesha tumhe aise advices de paati. Par kya karun? Mai toh kal wapas Australia jaa rahi hoon" she pouted.

"Kya? Aap jaa rahi ho?" That came as a blow for him.

"Haan" she casually replied.

Adi stood up instantly, clenched his fist and began to walk away as he could not bear that his IshiMaa was leaving him, yet again.

"Kya hua AB?" Ishita asked confused with his reaction.

He inched towards the door without a reply.

"Aise achanak kahan jaa rahe ho? Koi kaam hai kya?" She asked following him. No reply yet.

"Thodi der aur baitho na beta. Mujhe aise akela chodke mat jaao" she pleaded as she strangely felt her heart being ripped off as he opened the door and set his foot outside.

"Mai nahi aap gayi thi akela chodke mujhe. Aur abhi bhi jaa rahi ho" his pain came out in the form of anger as he yelled without turning towards her.

"Tum....ye....kya keh....rahe ho? Mai kuch....samjhi nahi" Ishita tried hard to understand.

"Aapko samjha kar bhi kya fark padne wala hai? Jab aapne mujhe di hui kasam todne se pehle ek pal keliye bhi mere bare me nahi socha, aur aaj 7 saal baad yahan wapas aane ke baad bhi mujhse na milne ki koshish ki, na hi ye jaanne ki koshish ki ke mai kis haal me hoon, toh kya fark padta hai. Jaao aap, chali jaao" he vented out his pain.

Ishita stood dumbstruck as she connected the dots... AB...Son of a business tycoon...captain of the football team....kasam....7 saal..... "Adiiiiiii!" She called out overwhelmed. "Adi ho na tum mere" she turned him around and cupped his cheeks longingly.

"Yaad hoon mai aapko?" Adi asked sarcastically.

"Aise kyun bol rahe ho beta? Mai tujhe bhool sakti hoon kya? Tu toh mere jigar ka tukda hai" she caressed his cheek, then took his palm in her hands, rubbed it and kissed it affectionately.

"Jhoot bol rahi ho aap" he turned away.

"Nahi beta... Sach keh rahi hoon mai" she tried to assure him as she went around him and cupped his cheeks again.

He held her arms and demanded an explanation for the pain of rejection that was eating him up since her return "Toh phir us waqt kyun mai aapko yaad nahi aaya jab aapne ye duniya chodke jaane ka faisla kiya? Kyun mere baare me ek bhi baar nahi socha? Kya sirf Ruhi hi aapki sab kuch thi? Mai aapka kuch bhi nahi tha? 'Adi Promise' kaha tha na aapne. Phir kyun Adi se kiya hua promise thoda aapne? Kyun?"

Ishita's arms shook out of Adi's hold and hung loose at her sides as reality struck her. She had never really thought of the situation she was putting her darling son Adi in, neither did she think about her new born Pihu. She had been so selfish when she thought of ending her own life in her self-agony. A mother cannot be selfish! No! A mother can never be selfish!

As she stood there analysing her impulsive decision and its consequences which she had never thought of, her mind travelled back to the words spoken by her husband on that dreadful evening which had shattered her completely and unable to digest the venom he spat at her, she had mindlessly walked towards a cliff and jumped off it.

She slumped on to the floor saying "Raman ne sahi kaha tha! Mai....M...m....m....Maa...kehlane layaq nahi hoon" she stuttered over the word 'Maa' as she tried to hard to come into terms with the bitter truth. Truth? Well, she assumed it was!

Oh no! What had he done? In an attempt to find answers to his stupid unreasonable questions he had pushed his mother back to the worst day of their life. With his confrontation, he had proved to her that the bitter words spoken by his father that evening were true. No! He didn't mean to do that! He never woulf have done that! Now what if his mother decides to end her life again by considering herself of being called a mother? The fear shook his insides and he jumped to her side denying her  "No....no...no... Ye sach nahi hai IshiMaa"

He was now cupping her cheeks as affectionately as she had held his cheeks a while ago. "IshiMaa" he called out with all the love he had for her.

"Mat bulao mujhe Maa Adi. Mai maa... nahi hoon tumhari" she said keeping her eyes tightly shut while streams of tears gushed out of them.

"Shut up! Just shut up!" He reprimanded her "Khabardaar agar phir se ye baat apni zuban pe laayi toh" he warned her.

"Mujhe tum logon ki zindagi me aana hi nahi chahye tha. Meri wajah se tum sabki zindagi barbad hogayi" she blamed herself. He mellowed down seeing her vulnerable state and wound his arms around her. He rubbed her back as she cried on his chest like a small kid.

Adi, her son, who once used to cry out his tears and fears on her chest was today returning the favour to her.

"Bas, bas" he comfortingly said wiping her tears and helping her towards the couch. He poured a glass of water and extended towards her.

"Are you ok?" He asked concerned. She nodded her head in affirmative, although she didn't look ok to him.

"IshiMaa.... Aap is ladke ko pehchanti ho jo aapke saamne khada hai?" He asked standing in front of her. She stared at him in confusion.

"Theek se dekho IshiMaa... Kya aap pehchan paa rahi ho mujhe?" He sought her attention.

"Aapko yaad hai woh badtameez ladka jisne aapse, aapko neecha dikhane keliye, khud se aur Shagun Mumma se maafi mangwayi thi? Yaad hai woh badmash bachha jisne aapko jail bhijwane ke khatir apne hath pe kholta hua paani daala tha? Pata hai woh khurafati student Aditya Bhalla jiske khilaf school ne disciplinary action li thi, use pichle 7 saalon se lagatar 'Most Disciplined Student of the Year' ka award mil raha hai" he paused to see her reaction and then continued
"Studies toh meri sabse badi kamzori thi. Maths aur science me toh hamesha grace marks ki wajah se hi pass hota tha. Kya aapko hairani nahi ho rahi ye jaankar ke is saal mai sirf apni university ka nahi, balki poore state ka topper hoon" he proudly announced. "Aapko yaad hoga ke kaise mai mobile aur video games me hi apna sara waqt gawa deta tha. Outdoor games khelna toh door ki baat, mai toh ghar se bahar bhi nahi nikalta tha. Par aaj mai Delhi ke sabse bade football club ka President hoon"

"Look at me IshiMaa! I have changed! Sirf surat hi nahi badli meri, fitrat bhi badal gayi hai. I have changed for better. Aur jaanti ho is change ki wajah kya hai? Rather, koun hai?" He asked.

"Aap ho IshiMaa!" He answered for her "Aaj mai jo bhi hoon aapki wajah se hoon. Aapka pyar, aapki naseehatein, aapki parwarish, aapki tawajjo, aapki dekhbaal, aapki fikr aur sabse badhkar aapki MAMTA ne mujhe saraha hai. Mujhe nalayak se layak, badmash se shareef, bewakoof se samajhdaar, ladaku se padhaku banaya hai. Infact sach kahun toh jaanwar se insaan banaya hai. Kya ab bhi aap samajhti ho ki aapke aane se meri zindagi barbaad hogayi? Kya abhi bhi aapko lagta hai ke aap meri maa nahi ho?"

"Adi" is all she could manage to utter amidst the overflow of her emotions listening to Adi. How tactfully he had healed her deep wounds! She was amazed to see her son having grown up into a sensible and mature young man. Indeed he had changed, changed for better like he said.

She extended his arms for him and he rushed into her arms. Not even a second did he wait before crying vigorously on her chest. Time to be a kid again! After all he had found her arms after such a long time.

"Na mera bachha" she kissed his hair and rubbed his back. "Ab kabhi mujhe akela chodkar mat jaana IshiMaa. Mai nahi reh paaunga aapke bina. Aur agar jaana pade toh mujhe bhi sath leke jaana. Mai mar jaaunga par aapko kahin nahi jaane doonga" he blabbered between his sobs.

Jab Jaana Ho Door Akele
Mujhko Bhi Le Jaa

"Thathhh! Chaanta khayega ab mujhse. Kaisi baat kar raha hai? Mare tumhare dushman. Tumhe toh bahut lambi umr jeeni hai" she pushed him out of her embrace and scolded him.

He chuckled and she glared at him "Mazak lag raha hai tumhe?"

"Nahi! Itne saalon baad kisi ko meri parwah karte hue dekh ke achha lag raha hai" he smiled wide.

Maa Tu Nahi Hogi Toh Bata
Meri Koun Kare Parwaah

"Adi.... Ghar pe sab theek toh hai na beta?" She asked worried as she suspected things were not alright back at her.....errrr....Raman's home.

"Nahi... Par ab sab theek hojayega. Aap jo aagayi ho" he stated confidently.

-------The End------

Finallllllyyyyyyy!!!
Phewwwww....
Finally I completed this one.
After a year and a half I was able to draft the last shot of a TS.
Facepalm🙈

Ashamed to apologise for such long delay!
Still holding my ears and saying a Sorry🙉

Hope u liked the end...

Lots of love!