Ruhma Carter

First Appearance: 15th October 2015 ('The Key') - (17x116)

Last Appearance: Current Character

Occupation: Midwife

Portrayer: Bharti Patel

Series Appearances: 17 18 19 20 21

## Development

### **Introduction**

The BBC described Ruhma as "a midwife who promises to ‘deliver’ a refreshing perspective on all things pregnancy related."[2] In an interview with the BBC, Patel stated that Ruhma is "a woman's woman", and that Ruhma believes "a pregnant woman will and can have a very joyous and natural experience and that we should embrace the female body".[2] Patel added that she "wants to promote more midwife-led home births, so watch out any doctors at The Mill who don’t agree - Ruhma will give a good fight."[2]

Ruhma is introduced as a former colleague of Emma Reid's (Dido Miles), where she acted as her sonographer.[3] Upon her arrival at The Mill, she shared scenes with Valerie Pitman (Sarah Moyle) and Sid Vere (Ashley Rice), where she helps a pregnant patient.[4]

### **Relationships**

Upon being asked about Ruhma potentially having a love interest, Patel commented "Honestly, I doubt it; she's a very busy independent woman [...] If it were to happen I think it would be a bolt out the blue, Ruhma isn't looking and it's not on her radar at all."[2] However, when Ruhma saves a pregnant patient of Heston Carter's (Owen Brenman), Ellen Markwardt of *What's on TV* stated "Ruhma has made a real impression on the GP."[5] However, when Ruhma is introduced to Heston Carter (Owen Brenman), the pair initially dislike each other, resulting in an argument that ends in a kiss.

## Storylines

Ruhma is introduced as a sonographer for Emma Reid (Dido Miles) and Howard Bellamy (Ian Kelsey), and it is explained that her and Emma are former colleagues. Mrs Tembe (Lorna Laidlaw) calls her into The Mill, where Valerie Pitman (Sarah Moyle) insists that there is no record of her meeting. While she argues with Valerie, a pregnant patient of Sid Vere's (Ashley Rice) begins to feel ill, so she treats her. Valerie later calls her and apologises, and Ruhma is called in for another meeting. When Jimmi Clay (Adrian Lewis Morgan) and Heston Carter (Owen Brenman) hear of Ruhma's potential hiring, they disagree, insisting The Mill does not need a residential midwife. However, Mrs Tembe disagrees, and appoints Ruhma as a midwife. Ruhma stores meat in the fridge, but tells Heston that it is a placenta, to which he is disgusted by. The pair attend the theatre together, after which Ruhma asks Karen Hollins (Jan Pearson) if Heston is single; he later takes her on a date to a fancy restaurant. Heston asks Ruhma to his house for dinner, where she explains her housing difficulties. Heston offers to allow her to stay with him, and when he tries to kiss him, she backs away.

Ruhma is evicted from her house, so Heston invites Ruhma and her children, Shak (Sunjay Midda) and Alia (Mandy Thandi), to live with him. Ruhma plans to propose to Heston on her birthday, while Heston has the same idea. He proposes to Ruhma in a restaurant by arranging a Bollywood style dance routine, and she says yes. After the pair become engaged, Shak expresses his disgust with the wedding. When Ruhma asks him to give her away at the wedding, he initially refuses, but later agrees. Ruhma receives a tip-off that she could sell furniture from people's estates. She sells the furniture online to make money for the wedding. On their wedding day, the police arrive at the venue and take Ruhma in for questioning. They accuse her of stealing the items and selling them for a monetary gain, to which she refuses, and insists that she had no knowledge of the items being stolen. Heston defends her to the questioning officer, and they eventually believe Ruhma. After the ordeal, they agree to postpone the wedding, and in March 2018, the couple get married. When Ruhma mishears Ayesha Lee (Laura Rollins) and Al Haskey (Ian Midlane), she reveals that she is losing her hearing. Heston suggests seeking treatment from a private audiologist, and although she initially disagrees due to working for the NHS, she seeks help.

When Ruhma learns that Alia (now Lisa Ambalavanar) has had a nude video of her and her boyfriend leaked online, she is embarrassed and infuriated, but supports her. When Alia's boyfriend is later ran over, the entire Carter family unit are suspected as culprits for the hit and run. When he is believed to be the culprit, Ruhma is disgusted by the way Shak is treated by the police. In November 2018, Heston is killed when Al crashes the car. Although she attempts to remain positive for her children, she is devastated. She suggests that The Mill keeps Heston's memory by buying a memorial bench for the outside area. When she treats a couple who cannot afford IVF, Ruhma offers to pay for their treatment. The husband rejects her offer, insisting that they are not a charity case. The next day, Ruhma is thrilled when she learns that the wife got pregnant. It is suggested to Ruhma that she starts exploring hobbies, so she begins painting. She invites Alia to a life drawing session, but the nude model is revealed to be Shak. When Alia leaves for her first year at university and Shak becomes a police apprentice, Ruhma begins to feel lonely. She becomes over-involved in a new parents' life, visiting the couple daily and bringing gifts for the baby. The father snaps at Ruhma, and she leaves. When Heston's memorial bench is stolen, Ruhma finds it on a secondhand sale website. She tracks down the seller, Lee Harwood (Matthew Mellahieu), and forces him to reassemble the bench at The Mill, which she later has concreted into the ground.