Chapter 40
A/N: Hey there everyone! :D :D Here is the next update! :D :D
Note: The song used here in the chapter is In My Veins by Andrew Belle. :) :) Also, sorry for the slight delay in the update since I have my Muharram going on right now till next Tuesday. I'll try to keep to have the next updates up sooner though. :) :)
Warning: The chapter content is 15+, so all below the stipulated age are advised to give this a skip. :)
Not keeping y'all for long now,
Happy Reading! :D :D
Ishaani opened her eyes abruptly, wondering what it was that had broken her sleep in the first place. Through the daze of tiredness brought on from the sightseeing and shopping did sleep swoop down upon her, taking her into a world of tranquility until she thought she heard a voice. She wasn't entirely sure whether it was a part of her dream but she wished for the voice to go away until she heard it again to her utter dismay.
Twitching her eyes and finally pushing them open irritably, Ishaani slipped off the warm comfort of her blanket and got up from the bed while pulling the hood of up her hoodie upon her head, the chilly autumn getting to her in spite of the central heating. Ishaani sleep-walked towards the living room with her eyes half-shut, finally managing to locate the source of the voice. She wondered what was going on until she stopped dead in her tracks at the sight in front of her.
Ranveer stood in the center of the hall smiling to himself goofily as he was halfway through singing one of the old Kishore relics, his eyes shut look those imagining dancing with someone. Ishaani wondered what was the matter with him as she walked ahead, puzzled with this more than bizarre behaviour that was characteristic of days where he'd behave childishly once he'd get drunk. Those were the only times when he behaved his age for once and definitely the times when she'd find him adorably cute.
And as she saw him smile the same silly way, she couldn't help but take in his sight greedily for these were smiles he could no longer find in his soul when he was in his consciousness. He was too afraid to walk towards the path of happiness, she knew. And she didn't blame him either as she knew he was just trying to protect both of them from a heartbreak that neither of them had the strength to live through again. So she continued staring at him as he moved in perfect sync, his hands now suspended mid-air.
"Dancing all alone?" she spoke aloud at long last when she could no longer resist. Just like she'd expected, Ranveer stopped dancing abruptly as his eyes flew open, turning towards the direction of the voice only to find her leaning against the doorpost, giving him a sly look. Contrary to her expectations, his smile only intensified as he beckoned her to come closer.
"Join me!" he exclaimed in a sing-song tone as he looked at her excitedly, pulling off yet another graceful twirl with his suspended hands.
"Why're you dancing in the middle of the night though? Don't you have to sleep?" she asked him gently as she made her way towards him just as he put out his hand for her to accept. She willingly did so and he led her to the center of the room amidst more chuckling, but this time from her end. He turned her around, pulling her arms around his neck while his circled around her waist, dancing with the basic 'two steps forward, one step back'.
"I'm happy! It's why I dance..." he confessed like a child entrusting his secret with utmost caution, making Ishaani chuckle a little more than ever before as she finally cupped his cheek, bringing his steps to a standstill.
"Why are you happy?" she asked him as he continued to stare at her, his eyes wide. It was as though he was fascinated by the moon, drinking in her sight greedily as though afraid that if he'd close his eyes, she'd disappear away from his view like the countless times she had before in the past few years. And yet she was here tonight in blood and flesh, he now knew.
"Will you dance with me?" he asked her suddenly instead as Ishaani gasped, realizing that he'd jumped over her question as his eyes drooped sleepily before they snapped back open. Ishaani had half a mind to repeat her question as she noticed an unsaid sentiment lurk upon the tip of his tongue, something that he was capable of withholding even in the state of inebriation. But Ishaani let it go for now as he shot her a goofy smile.
"There's no music, though," she replied, baffled at what he had in mind. She enjoyed his warmth as he continued to hold on to her, his eyes boring into her soul with such a ferocity that it only made her yearn for the warmth of his smile and the strength of his embrace even more.
"I'm there, I'll sing! I know all the songs!" he exclaimed with evident pride and Ishaani laughed out loud as she ruffled his hair lovingly.
"Okay, but um, just so that you know, I still don't know how to dance," she warned and he titled his head to his side, as though pondering upon the apparent situation before he straightened himself. He gave her a nonchalant shrug, an eager look upon his face now.
"I'm enough for both of us," he whispered soulfully, and there was something about the sincerity of his words that made her eyes water momentarily as she remembered her father's most favourite quote of advise in love - the love of one is enough to suffice between two.
"Are you okay?" asked Ishaani gently, pushing away the bangs of hair from upon his face while he tucked away a few strands of hair behind her ears.
"I'm perfectly fine!" he continued with the same carefree tone even though his lisped slightly, catching Ishaani's attention instantly. He looked punch-drunk in her opinion. She noticed that his eyes were slightly glazed, looking unaware about anything and everything.
"Did you drink something?" asked Ishaani as she gave him a bewildered look, wondering why he was behaving as though he'd gotten drunk even though she couldn't smell any alcohol off of him. And yet she was certain that he was intoxicated from years of experience in handling a drunk Ranveer who'd always drink even though he knew he could never handle alcohol.
"Did I drink something? Nobody told me anything though. How rude! I only drank what you gave me," he added rather childishly as Ishaani's eyes widened to the size of saucepans, suddenly realizing what it was.
The kadha.
She couldn't for the life of it imagine how something like a kadha could get him into a condition like that, until it suddenly hit her. The extra ingredient upon the recipe that Mala had flagged for her. She'd had her doubts about it but she was now certain that it was the only thing that could have triggered the reaction, past experiences with the same flashing back into her mind with razor-sharp clarity.
Knowing that there was nothing she could do about the situation now, she decided to take her mind away from upon it and get him to cheer up a little more. She contended herself with watching him be innocently happy like the way he was in that moment. If he wasn't capable of letting himself be so when in his senses, then this was the perfect interlude.
"So tell me, why're you dancing?" she asked him softly as he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer. His other other interlocked within her own while she put her free hand upon his shoulder, letting him lead her slowly into the dance as she followed his steps rather uncertainly.
"Because I love to dance! I haven't danced in a long, long time," he reminisced as he slowly twirled her around twice, his arms now wrapped around her stomach as she danced backing him. The hood slipped away from upon her head and she felt Ranveer's stubble tickle the line of her neck, his chin now perched upon the crux.
"And even sung songs of Kishore?" she asked jokingly and chuckled, swaying calmly in the same position while Ranveer sighed in response.
"I listen to them. Him, Rafi and Mukesh," he added and Ishaani let her eyes close, remembering all the times when she'd watch him do the most bizarre of antics in his drunken stupour that were adorably cute more often than not while she'd drink in his sight greedily.
Those were the only times that she'd ever see him carefree even then, and now was no different. And even before Ishaani could say anything further, Ranveer broke into the first verse of Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si, taking Ishaani by surprise, who burst into another fit of laughter at the way he was singing. Ranveer stopped dancing abruptly as he let go of her, pouting rather childishly as he turned his back upon her.
"You're laughing at me? Why're you laughing at me? You're laughing because I can't sing?" he whined reproachfully as he refused to look at Ishaani, not meeting eyes with her even once. Ishaani went over his opposite side but he firmly turned his back upon her again.
"No, I-"
"Go, I don't want to dance now. You always do this... whenever I'm happy or in the mood to dance, you ruin my mood," he protested not unlike a disheartened child as Ishaani finally managed to get him to turn around and look at her. He turned his face away from her now instead.
"Okay, let's talk then," suggested Ishaani reasonably, having a hard time keeping her face straight at the kind of expressions Ranveer was now beginning to pull at her. It made her want to squish his cheeks but she kept restraint upon her emotions. Ranveer spoke once again, sneaking a quick glance at her even though he was pretending not looking at all.
"I don't want to talk to you."
"Fine, then I'll just go back to sleep," replied Ishaani in mock sadness as she made to leave, but was held back by Ranveer who'd caught her wrist. He gave her a grudging look, clearly torn between dancing with her and being miffed at her for laughing at his singing skills. Ishaani smirked as he pulled her closer to him, holding her hands within her own as his eyes stared at her despondently.
"I want to dance with you," he repeated again and Ishaani kissed the button of his nose gently.
"Then we'll just dance upon the music on the radio, okay?" she asked and even before he could reply, Ishaani walked over to the music system sitting upon one of the side units and put it on. Waiting for Adele's Hello to draw to an end, Ishaani walked back to Ranveer, who in turn looked at her intently, lost in thought. She snapped her fingers at him, effectively bringing him out of his reverie just as the next song began.
Nothing goes as
planned
Everything will break
People say goodbye
In their own special way
All that you rely on
And all that you can fake
Will leave you in the morning
But find you in the day
"So tell me... Why are you happy today?" asked Ishaani softly as they quietly danced upon the slow rhythm of the song. She eyed Ranveer keenly as their fingers remained interlocked, her other hand upon his shoulder and his upon her waist. And yet she realized that the childish innocence upon his face was beginning to fade away as the present-day Ranveer's essence was making a comeback, his eyes suddenly turning dewy while his voice rose barely above a whisper. And yet she could see the child-like plea in his eyes that made her heart bleed just a little more.
"You care for me so much... You defended me in front of everyone today and in front of Sharman. You spoke good about my face and about me. You're dancing with me right now even though you don't know how to," he added softly just as Ishaani smiled, letting him twirl her around once as they parted, only for him to pull her back to him once again.
And I cannot get you out
Oh, you're all I taste
At night inside of my mouth
Oh, you run away
'Cause I am not what you found
Oh, you're in my veins
And I cannot get you out
"I can never match the things you've done for me, Ranveer," she whispered back in the same loving whisper as Ranveer sighed, his eyes never once leaving from upon her face. Brown and black met in a battle of passionate ferocity, each willing to drown themselves in the essence of the other's soul. After the first chorus came to an end, Ranveer finally spoke once again, this time his voice choking with an emotion Ishaani instantly felt.
"You saved me from going to jail and you stood tall to everything I hoped you'd become one day. You gave me 51% of Mota Babuji's company even though you didn't need to. You made me a part of his legacy," he added with the same humility and gratitude as they separated for the second time, Ishaani now backing him as her hands now remained crossly held within Ranveer's own ones. She could feel his soft breath upon the skin of her neck that made her shut her eyes involuntarily, enjoying the sensations it was causing upon her skin.
"You deserve it, Ranveer. Nobody can take this away from you because this was always yours to fulfill and achieve," replied Ishaani as they now swayed upon the spot, both of them content in the other's embrace. They could feel the unsaid emotions between them swirl in the air along with the aching beauty of the song, wrapping them in its wake as the next stanza began.
Everything will
change
Nothing stays the same
Nobody here's perfect
Oh, but everyone's to blame
Oh, all that you rely on
And all that you can save
Will leave you in the morning
And find you in the day
"I never thought that you could love me, ever. Especially after that night..." began Ranveer as he turned her around once again, his statement trailing away the moment their eyes met. It was as though he'd lost the will to walk down the path he so wanted to get away from in the first place, the darkness now frightening him after finally catching the glimpse of sunlight in all those years.
"Why did you think that?" asked Ishaani hoarsely. She could feel a lump rise up her throat, seeing the pain in Ranveer's eyes that his soul was writhing in just at the thought of what had happened that night. She couldn't muster the courage to watch him buried under the excruciating agony of a past that she so wanted to forget and yet his gaze held her own in a hypnotic trance from which she couldn't break away.
"I thought that I deserved it - your hatred, your indifference... your rejection. It hurt so bad... so bad... and yet I knew I deserved it because I'd betrayed your trust that night. I never deserved you..." whispered Ranveer in self-reproach, giving her a heartbreaking look.
The pain and bitterness in his voice for himself took Ishaani off-guard as she realized what she'd made him live under in all those years - an illusion of something that was not even his fault to begin with. But she knew that it was deeply seeded in his soul now, something he would never be able to heal from unless and until he finally decided to let go of it. And yet even after everything that she'd put him through and after everything that she'd told him, he was still standing with her today, sharing his moments of happiness that were now a rarity for him to experience.
Oh, you're in my
veins
And I cannot get you out
Oh, you're all I taste
At night inside of my mouth
Oh, you run away
'Cause I am not what you found
Oh, you're in my veins
And I cannot get you out
(No, I cannot get
you out)
(No, I cannot get you)
(Oh no, I cannot get you out)
(No, I cannot get you)
"I was the one who broke your trust that night, Ranveer. Not you. Because even in your last few moments in the house, you made sure to protect me and do whatever it took to give me back my happiness, even if that meant giving me the sadistic pleasure of watching me snuff that breath out of you slowly and intimately by calling you a servant," she countered just as the song fell quiet, not missing the violent flinch of Ranveer's features at the dreaded word. He hissed, as though stung.
Ishaani could feel the same pain reverberate in her soul as she realized how much he must have had to love her to put so much at stake for her even after all these years when he could have very well sought to torture her and make her pay for what she did to him. And yet his love for her was beyond everything else for him even today, she realized. He was the one torturing himself by bearing the pains for both of them like always. And in that moment, she knew that she'd fallen in love with him all over again even though it was something she believed wasn't possible.
But then again, she knew that his love had always been like that - unconditional and unrequited, with no complains and no demands. She was the one too stupid to miss it.
"I don't want to be like this anymore, Ishaani..." he whispered quietly at long last, finally letting a tear slip away as Ishaani circled her arms around his neck. She felt her lips tremble in the pain of his soul as he continued.
"I don't want to hurt anymore. I want to become... whole, again. I want to shut my eyes... and take the leap. I'm tired of the pain, Ishaani. I'm tired of living with it, suffocating like this. I cannot take it anymore... It's- it's killing me," he added as Ishaani wiped away the tear from upon his face with the sleeve of her hoodie, feeling her own eyes sting with the hot prickles of the salty water.
She knew that she only had nine days in hand, even though how it was that she'd convince him to take the leap was something she couldn't decide upon anymore. Both of their emotions were a tangled mess and no matter what they said to each other, she knew that she wasn't going to be able to let go of the past anymore than he could. Perhaps he even would for her sake, but she was incapable of doing so.
Everything is dark
It's more than you can take
But you catch a glimpse of sun light
Shining, shining down on your face
Your face
Oh your face
"Then trust me. Take the leap, and I'll catch you, I promise," she begged of him as Ranveer stared at her pensively, a woeful smile crossing up his face at her words.
Even through the haze of intoxication, she knew that all Ranveer wanted was to be emancipated from the insurmountable pain. It was all that Ranveer yearned for, tired of being lifeless and broken. It was beginning to kill him in ways that she couldn't describe, and yet she knew it. In those six and a half years, she'd had a driving force to keep her alive in the form of her revenge with Chirag. But Ranveer had nothing except for the fact that his breath was latched to hers. The only thing keeping him alive was his love for her, that in turn was what killed him a little more every single day instead.
"You're suspended mid-air, Ishaani... You'll catch me, but who'll catch you?" he asked of her worriedly as he let Ishaani fall in a graceful arc, pulling her up once again the moment the final chorus of the song rented the air.
"I trust you. You've always broken my fall," replied Ishaani confidently as Ranveer let his chin rest upon her head, their hands interlocked. Ishaani now let her head fall upon his chest in return, silently dancing to the soft, slow tune as they realized that the song was an ironic reflection of their situation. And so neither of them sought to break the silence anymore.
Oh, you're in my
veins
And I cannot get you out
Oh, you're all I taste
At night inside of my mouth
Oh, you run away
'Cause I am not what you found
Oh, you're in my veins
And I cannot get you out
(No)
No, I cannot get
you out
(Oh, you're in my veins)
No, I cannot get you out
Oh no, I cannot get you
"I just want to be happy," whispered Ranveer once the song got over. Ishaani sighed and separated herself from his embrace before walking towards the radio and shutting it off for the night. She made her way towards Ranveer, who still remained rooted to the spot, and cupped his cheek lovingly, pouring as much passion into her voice as much as she could muster.
"Then let me in. I can fix you. All you need to do is let go, okay?" she begged of him as he stared at her silently, his eyes opening and shutting once in every few seconds as though trying to recollect something. When Ishaani almost gave up hope for an answer to come her way, Ranveer spoke aloud at long last.
"Frail and
pale I go, my steps leave no trace;
Can you ever recall, the outline of my face?
Asked me to take you to my secret place,
But I can't find my way, in this dusky space!
Beloved moves on, my heart takes up the race;
I inhabit this heart, I have to chase and chase...
With a sea inside, I moored my soul to a brace;
Now the sea is sinking, in an ocean of grace."
"Wow... that's beautiful. Farsi, I'm assuming?" asked Ishaani as she remembered the mesmerizing beauty with which he'd recite Farsi poems back when they were teens, this exact poem being the first of many that he'd recited to her when he'd gotten drunk for the first time. Ishaani smiled, reminiscing the memories it brought to the fore along with the same love in his voice that it held for her all those years ago. The love was still there for her, she knew. Perhaps more so than ever. She just had to get him to let go.
"Yes..." replied Ranveer, sighing tiredly and looking lost as though confused about the battle he was fighting. Ishaani wondered how she could read his mind and soul so well now, considering how thick she used to be at one point of time.
"You still remember all those Farsi poems that you'd narrate to me?" asked Ishaani in wonder as Ranveer gave her a gentle smile. The same kind he'd give her father when he'd praise him for his accomplishments.
"I never forget," replied Ranveer rather vaguely. Ishaani gave him a bewildered look, wondering whether there was more to his answer that met the eye. She decided to let go of it for now however as she put forth her next statement, remembering the poets whose poetry he'd quote to her.
"This must be Rumi..." she spoke, slightly uncertain although that was quickly wiped away when Ranveer nodded his head in agreement, a sheepish smile upon his face now. "He was always your favourite," remarked Ishaani, just as Ranveer sought to recite yet another piece of poetry.
"This one is from Saadi Shirazi:
"With only
your thought, I was mad and blind,
Curtains pulled away, spellbound is my mind!
If in my whole life, one day's spent with thee,
This is my harvest, the rest sinks in the sea!
Looking for The Beloved, I step with my heart;
Strolling on feet, the journey ends at the start!"
"Magnificent..." was all Ishaani could whisper in awe as Ranveer ended the poetry on a high note, leaving Ishaani spellbound by the ripple effect it had around the room, especially as she felt the words vibrate in her soul. She looked at Ranveer, who was now looking at her with the same awe that he'd have upon his face every time he'd watch her silently, until Ishaani couldn't take it anymore. She let a few tears fall from her eyes even though she still found herself incapable of lowering her gaze.
"How can you love me so much, Ranveer? When all along I've given you nothing but pain?" asked Ishaani as Ranveer kissed away the tears from upon her face, seeing her eyes sparkle in the warmth of the dim lamps in the room. It was as though he'd never seen her before in his life, trying to memorize every single bit of her essence and the touch of her skin against his own. When Ishaani let out a soft sob, Ranveer spoke quietly, his voice holding a strange power that captivated her attention.
"You gave me the biggest gift of my life, Ishaani. You said that you've loved me all along when you gave me those paintings and it was then that I knew that it was true and that I wasn't being delusional anymore. You gave me the gift that I've been waiting for ever since my life truly began, Ishaani. All these years, I could never see the love in your eyes for me when I was a servant because I was too afraid to look... Maybe I was too afraid to meet eyes with you in the first place because I was afraid that you'd see my feelings dancing naked through them..." he confessed. His eyes remained wide enough, letting his soul open to her a little more while she let herself delve into the mesmerizing pools of chocolate in his eyes. She suddenly realized that their lips were barely apart.
"Maybe I was just too stupid to not realize that I was in love with you all along, even when I thought that Chirag was the true love of my life. It's been you all along, Ranveer. It's only been you," she emphasized in a soft whisper, feeling the tension of the moment build up.
Ranveer titled his head ever so slightly before meeting lips with her in a single, slow capture, letting his lips linger upon her own for a few moments as he eliminated all the gap between them. Ishaani shut her eyes the moment she felt his fingers press the small of her back to him, relaxing in his embrace as her lips now remained firmly under the capture of his own. She let his tongue make its way into her mouth with an enticing swirl, her heart thumping against her chest a little louder while the mingling of their scents only seemed to accentuate the depth of the moment more. She'd come to love the surprise of these unanticipated moments between them that brought along a whole myriad of emotions, leaving her craving for yet a little more each time.
Separating from each other after the passage of an indefinite amount of time, Ranveer looked up at Ishaani, his eyes moist.
"Is it that easy to let go?" he asked, and Ishaani didn't let her heart crack at the sound of the plea in his voice for an answer that they both hoped would be easier than they knew it was. And yet Ishaani nodded her head, cupping his cheeks once again as their foreheads fell against each other's in harmony.
"It is easier than you think. Break through the bonds, Ranveer. You know the drill - break through them and you're free to embrace all the happiness you want and you deserve. And I can help you. Do you trust me?" she asked as he hesitantly separated himself away, looking troubled now. Ishaani noticed that his eyes had began to droop yet again as she held him in her embrace firmly.
"I... I-" stuttered Ranveer disorientedly as his head fell upon Ishaani's shoulder, the latter nearly losing her balance alongside in her quest of keeping her hold upon him.
"Ranveer! Ah, you're heavier than you look!" she complained as she straightened him up once again, pulling his arm around her shoulder. Letting out an exhausted huff of breath, she began her journey towards his room, half-pulling him and half dragging him alongside as she cursed her luck for the height difference between them. Ishaani had barely made it six steps ahead when Ranveer's eyes snapped open again.
"Where are you taking me?" he asked her rather sleepily as he tried to pull away his arm from around her shoulder but ended up almost toppling and making Ishaani topple with him alongside. Ishaani realized that he'd gone back to the child-mode as he had on a pout worthy of the same.
"I'm putting you back to bed. You need to sleep now," replied Ishaani, catching hold of his arm once again, this time a little more strongly as she directed him towards his room. He managed to break free from her grip even though he staggered a little.
"No, I want to dance!" he protested as he began making his way in the opposite direction, Ishaani catching hold of his hand at the last minute, preventing him from going any further.
"Ranveer, no! Off to bed, now!" she ordered, tugging at Ranveer's hand. But to her dismay, he began putting up a fight against her as he kept pulling her back into the living room, not unlike a wriggling puppy putting up a tussle with a bone being snatched away from it.
"Let go... let go of me, Sunny Deol... No, I want to dance!" he yelled out at long last when Ishaani shot him a dirty look for calling him Sunny Deol even though it was a name that she'd heard him call her by after ages. Knowing that there would be time for nostalgia later, she'd barely tugged at his hand again when he managed to break free of her grip even though the next moment, he fell upon the floor in a crude crash.
"Yee-haw!" he yelled at Ishaani as he put up his hands to fight against her. Ishaani was halfway torn between laughing and rolling her eyes at him before she simply picked him off the floor, relinquishing her hold upon his hand once again.
"Argh, damn it! Stop pulling me back!" she whined when he pulled her back once again, but unlike the previous time, Ishaani made sure to keep her grip upon him firmly. She knew the only thing that'd work upon him now - something she'd done several times as a teen when he'd become senseless like this.
"No, why're you taking me to the washroom! No! I want to dance! I want to sing!" he complained as he tried fighting against her grip, but in vain. Ishaani pushed the door to the en-marble flooring of the bathroom as they entered within, Ishaani pushing Ranveer against the wall having the shower overhead.
"Stand here quietly or else I'll get you all wet in the shower," she threatened the moment Ranveer opened his mouth to speak, knowing that if there was anything he hated in the world apart from backstabbers and betrayers, it was getting wet in the water like this.
"Aye, no! You wouldn't!" he shot back as his eyes bulged at her, hoping to scare her into letting him go back to dancing. On the contrary, she silenced his complaint with a look of her own.
"Promise me you'll go to bed then," she blackmailed and Ramveer stared at her in silence. Ishaani watched on with a mixture of amusement and exasperation that he actually seemed to be contemplating her offer. And as much as she loved the child-like Ranveer, years of experience had certainly taught her that he could get rather tiresome and stubborn as well. And just to prove her point, Ranveer stuck out his tongue at her and shook his head vehemently.
"No!" he yelled out childishly and even before he had the time to react, Ishaani turned the knob of the cold water on by relfex, the water immediately drenching Ranveer, who shrieked at the top of his voice.
"ARGH! RAINS!"
"It's not the rains, you idiot! It's the shower!" countered Ishaani as she stepped away adeptly from the water at the right time, leaving Ranveer to stand in the shower, drenched to the core. But along with the stubbornness came a streak on unpredictability for the next moment, Ranveer began to splash the water in Ishaani's direction, catching her square in the face and her clothes.
"No, stop splashing water on me! No!" she yelled aloud irritably as Ranveer only continued to throw more and more water upon her while the only thing she could do was to shield her face. And that was until Ranveer spoke.
"You're such a wuss."
"What did you call me?" asked Ishaani as her head snapped in his direction, uncaring about the water. Seeing her reaction, Ranveer gave her a satisfactory nod as though anticipating the exact same way that she did react in. It was a surprise to her that he could still predict her reactions in spite of being knocked out in the head like the way he was in that moment.
"Wuss! Wuss, wuss, wuss-" began Ranveer in a sing-song chant before Ishaani managed to get her hand upon the knob from a safe distance. She increased the flow of the water, making Ranveer jump even more as the water got colder.
"Argh, turn it off! TURN IT OFF!" he yelled in plea as he tried to get away from the flow of the water but somehow seemed to keep bumping into the wall instead. Ishaani laughed rather immoderately and Ranveer shot her a dark look.
"Say sorry first!" she teased, folding her arms across her chest casually. Ranveer gave her an outraged look.
"No, I won't!"
"Well, three fingers point back to you then," she replied simply, and just like she'd expected, Ranveer's mouth fell agape as the words fell flat upon his lips in a dead whisper.
"Did- did you call me a wu-wuss?" he stuttered after a few seconds as he shivered in the water, looking gobsmacked. Ishaani put her hands upon her hips, looking ready to reprimand him.
"Yeah, I did. You can't even kiss me without trying to break through the boundaries or without initiating first. It's always got to be me anyway," she added and noticed Ranveer's mouth now fall in a perfect 'O', knowing how to press his sore points as he flushed heavily. She didn't know why she said what she did, but she did enjoy the fact that she'd made him completely defenseless with a lot of pleasure.
"So you're the real wuss. Wuss, wu-" began Ishaani just as she saw something flicker in Ranveer's eyes. The next moment, she realized what.
Before Ishaani could complete her statement, Ranveer caught hold of her hand and pull her closer to him, pulling the zipper of her hoodie down as he stared at her smugly. Ishaani was taken aback by the swiftness of his action as his hands now locked around her waist while Ishaani wriggled against him, the water from the shower now drenching her completely. And yet the water didn't bother her much as she continued to stare at Ranveer, realizing that the present-day Ranveer was breaking through once again, the same hesitation in his eyes that a moment ago was nothing more than a childish antic adopted by kindergarten children. And even though she shivered under the coldness of the water, the reason behind the goosebumps erupting upon her skin was something else entirely.
Ranveer on the other hand, looked at her in intrigue as the shock faded away from upon her face, leaving behind an even bigger smirk as she now stood still.
"That's the only amount of daring you can show, really. Pulling my pigtails as a kid and now this. Fattu!" she added.
She watched Ranveer gasped, remembering from school that it was a word he'd always hate even though she hardly used it in light of her favourite term, Mr. Prefect Perfect, that seemed to do the job just fine. And yet Ishaani couldn't help but feel her heart begin to race a little more as she noticed his expression turn unfathomable, the thrill of unpredictability suddenly making her speak once again.
"Let go, Ranveer. Let go," she urged softly. The love and passion in her own voice startled her and so it did to Ranveer as well, who suddenly looked as though he'd been hit by a bolt of lightening. He took a good long look at her, Ishaani quick to realize that her words had triggered something within him. Even before she could make out what was going on in his mind, however, Ranveer let go of her.
Ishaani couldn't help but chuckle as she turned her attention towards the incessant water, shutting off the supply at long last even though she shivered even more at the absence of the water. Thinking about the warm bed that awaited her in the next room and the warmth of the central heating outside, Ishaani had almost reached the door of the washroom when she felt a tug from behind, bringing her steps to a halt with an abrupt jerk. The next moment, her teeth chartered violently as her arms were suddenly exposed to the cold air, her tank top hugging her figure even more so.
She turned behind to look at Ranveer, who'd now begun twirling her hoodie in the air as he shot her a mischievous look.
"Ra-Ranveer, what're you up to?" she stuttered as she backed into the room, Ranveer tracing her footsteps slowly and letting her hoodie fall upon the ground with grace. Her head was about to hit the wall when Ranveer broke the impact but putting his hands in between the wall and her head, cushioning her with a twinkling look in his eyes.
"Who's the fattu now?" he asked as his voice dipped to a husky whisper, Ishaani feeling a new set of goosebumps breaking upon her skin that had nothing to do with the cold anymore.
"I- I didn't-"
"What happened, Ishaani? Why are you stuttering suddenly? You had so much to speak about just now... What happened? Need help finding your voice?" continued Ranveer in the same whisper as Ishaani saw the empty pool of his eyes brim with an emotion she hadn't seen for herself in years. The air was suddenly fraught with the tension between them as the essence of the innocent childhood faded away to give birth to the fire of youth and the love that burned in their hearts.
"I- you- no- we- us-" struggled Ishaani as she felt her breath cease, now consciously aware about the water droplets rolling upon her skin and down her neck. Ranveer didn't take his eyes off of her own pair of onyx ones even once.
There was something about the way he was looking at her that created a explosion of emotions in her stomach. And suddenly, she wanted nothing more than to have Ranveer's lips upon her own giving her the love of a lifetime that she could now see filling in the chocolate orbs of his eyes with an intensity that swept her off her feet. And in that moment, she realized that he was beginning to let go at long last, inching closer and closer towards the cliff.
"Shhh," he whispered as he pressed his finger upon her lips, striking her completely dumb. He continued speaking in the same maddeningly desirable whisper. "You've spoken a lot for tonight. You drenched me in the cold water ofnthe shower even though you know I hate getting wet, no? So a little punishment is definitely in order."
Ishaani gave him a thrilled look as she waited with baited breath, no longer knowing what to expect at the sudden turn of events except for her heart to beat harder and faster once again. She could feel the heat rise up her chest and through her neck as she felt him take her lips with his own finally, his fingers trailing through the exposed skin on her back. Ishaani arched her head towards him as his hands now traveled from behind her head to the arc of her back in a slow, tantalising trail.
Ishaani circled her arms around Ranveer's neck, letting her fingers gently massage the small of his neck as she felt him relax and moan softly in her mouth. Ishaani remained too lost in the way his tongue seemed to find its way into her mouth every single time with an expertise that left her greedier for more as Ranveer pressed her form against his own, all the space between them now remained eliminated.
Ishaani suddenly felt her legs hit the side of something that snapped her out of their moment, astonished that they'd now reached the edge of his bed. Ranveer gently separated himself from her embrace when he noticed what she was looking at, smiling quietly even though Ishaani noticed the uncertainty upon his face. She turned her back against him as she blushed in spite of herself, wondering what was to happen next. She could feel the butterflies make constant rounds in her stomach, the colour creeping into her cheeks as she felt the graze of his fingertips trail along the column of her neck.
Ishaani shut her eyes with a sharp intake of breath as she felt her back park against his chest, his stubble tickling her with a soothing prickle. Ranveer pushed away the hair from upon the right of her neck slowly, leaving the exposed side of her wet skin to his liberty as he began placing trails of slow, hot kisses upon them, Ishaani squirming in delight. Her arms now remained locked into an embrace upon her waist along with his own remained around hers, the sparks in her heart exploding with a euphoric set of emotions that she felt course through her like an adrenaline rush.
Ishaani freed herself with a twirl as Ranveer raised his head, looking bewildered at the sudden interruption. But even before he could say or assume otherwise, Ishaani pulled him back into a kiss and let him guide her into a gradual fall until she laid upon the bed, never once breaking away contact. He now remained atop of her, his lips trailing away towards her chin and down her neck. Ishaani shut her eyes once again the moment Ranveer chose to venture daringly towards her neckline, leaving hotter and hotter trails of kisses that made her moan as she tugged at his t-shirt, her nails digging deeper into it.
Within a swift snap of a moment, Ishaani had flipped Ranveer upon his back as she now remained straddled above him, deciding that it was time to return the pleasure. She let her lips tease against his own, planting small kisses upon his cheek until she reached his ear. She could feel Ranveer moan in pleasure as she sucked at his earlobe slowly, leaving hotter, wetter kisses behind his ear the moment she realized it to be his weak spot. She enjoyed the reaction she was getting out of him as he moaned her name in a slow, gritty whisper.
Ishaani pulled Ranveer's hands around her waist as she pulled him up with her in a see-saw, the latter still under the arousing ministration of Ishaani's lips sucking at his earlobe. Her legs now curled around his waist as Ranveer pulled her apart and let his lips crash against her own heatedly, bridging away all the gap in between them. Ishaani let her tongue leave no inch of his mouth unexplored as he grunted against her lips in dark, brooding ecstasy, her hands now running up the smooth build of his chest while his hands now traveled through the back of her top.
She felt Ranveer trail lower once again as her head arched behind with a deep groan of pleasure that remained embedded halfway down her throat, her eyes falling shut as she felt herself hit the soft plush of the bed. Ranveer pulled her hands away from around his neck and pinned them on either side of her in painful wait before letting his fingers trail along the sensitive skin of her arms slowly, leaving her yearning for more and more as she felt him pressed against her legs.
Ishaani kissed the blade of his shoulder as his lips returned back to the soft flesh of her neck, hoarsely whispering his name as she remained writhing in pleasure beneath him. Her head fell to her other side as he returned the call of her name in a husky whisper, his fingers now trailing away the tank top from upon her stomach while her own dared to trail beneath his sweatshirt, trying to make out what the warmth of his bare skin felt like.
She could begin to feel herself grow warm in spite of the cutting chill as his lips left the deck of her neckline, his own breathing uneven. His lips now trailed in between the bridge of her chest, trailing lower and lower with a heated ferocity that left her at his mercy as he now reached along her stomach, kissing the bare skin as her top went higher, her body erupting in a fit of goosebumps. She was no longer in control of herself as her senses were beginning to get hazy, her nails now digging into the small of his neck as she clenched at the back of his hair for support.
Ranveer let his fingers run astray as he let them trail through her top and below, running through the gaps between her pyjamas and her hips in the softest of touches while he let the fingers of his other hand trail through her back. Ishaani felt her hip buckle against his own in spite of herself at the electrifying sensations his fingers were causing in every single pore of her body.
The next moment, however, she felt Ranveer's hips buckle back into hers messily as he groaned her name aloud, beginning the upward ascent once again, clearly enjoying the emotions he was evoking out from her at the simplest of touches. And yet it only left Ishaani aching for more as his lips made her only too aware about the drenched top that kept pressing into her skin every time he kissed the fabric of her top, creating a heat of its own.
Ishaani felt her fingers interlock within Ranveer's own suddenly as his lips now acknowledged the swell of her tank top at long last, his lips never once breaking contact as he lightly sucked at the flesh through the material hesitantly. When Ishaani groaned rather throatily in return not unlike a satisfied cat, Ranveer let his hands fall away from her own. He let his other hand travel upon her top a little more confidently, softly kneading the accompanying swell the moment his hand reached at par while he continued sucking at the other half firmly. Ishaani's resistance failed as she gripped his t-shirt even harder, her eyes rolling back into her head while the warmth around her legs only intensified with the passing moments.
Ishaani let her hands fall away from upon his t-shirt and run through his hair dementedly as he switched sides, her breathing erratic as her back arched to give him better access. Ishaani felt Ranveer's hands fondle her delicate flesh with an expertise that pushed her on the brink of an entirely new world filled with ecstasy and blissful oblivion as his thumbs now traced circles upon the heated flesh. Ishaani felt her hips buckle against Ranveer's for the second time that night as she found herself on the brink of an unexpected orgasm, her moans reaching a new peak as her fingers grasped his hair tightly before falling to her side in a tired limp. She felt the orgasm abate gradually without reaching breaking point, her chest heaving against his form as he finally reclaimed her lips in all glory, taking her through the path of feeling as their tongues met against the other in a battle of dominance.
The absence of her painful clutch however made Ranveer snap open his eyes suddenlty as he finally looked at Ishaani, lifting away his lips from upon her own slowly. He looked as though whipped by the realization of what he was doing, in her opinion. Ranveer sat up straight as he flushed heavily, disentangling himself from Ishaani and letting his legs swing from the bed while Ishaani did the same. She straightened her top, her face flushing heavily as she still felt the sensation of his fingers running all over her body, feeling the same explosion of sparks at just the mere thought of it.
Both of them remained out of breath for a few moments as they felt the prickles of excitement fade away, leaving behind the daunting realization that they'd taken it a step further tonight.
"Wow, that was something, wasn't it?" asked Ishaani at long last, her voice still not entirely back to normal as she tried to straighten her hair that had gotten a little too entangled. Ranveer looked at her, still spellbound by whatever had happened between them until he found his voice back at long last, not meeting eyes with her suddenly.
"Call me whatever you want, Ishaani. This is not me. I cannot cross that boundary because... well, it's you," he replied sincerely and Ishaani took his hand within her own, kissing his fingertips softly. She was grateful that Ranveer didn't pull away his hand, noticing how even more so inviting he looked with his hair all messed up.
"It's your respect for the love that you have for me that prevents you from doing so, Ranveer. I understand. So there's nothing to be guilty about, okay?" she asked as she pulled up his chin and met eyes with him, the guilt in his own ones evident.
"I- I'm sorry. I shouldn't have-" began Ranveer, but trailed off when he realized that Ishaani had understood what he was referring to.
"It's alright, okay? I wouldn't have minded it even if you'd have gone further," she added gently as Ranveer gave her a small smile, letting Ishaani pull him into an embrace.
"Thank you... for understanding," he emphasized as a meaningful whisper in Ishaani's ear, still not breaking away from the embrace. They both felt a strange wholeness in the other's arms, a solace that they'd been deprived of since long.
"It's us, okay? We've survived through a lot, and we'll survive through this as well," she added with a smile. She stroked his hair while he did the same, sighing deeply into her hair.
"I hope so."
"I know so. By the way, you didn't tell me whether you trust me or not to help you," she voiced out, remembering the point they'd left their conversation at in the living room before the unexpected happened.
Ishaani waited in silence as Ranveer remained in her embrace until she realized that he'd fallen asleep. She smiled gently and made him lie down upon the bed, feeling the goosebumps erupt upon her skin as she remembered that they were both still drenched. And yet even as she watched him sleep peacefully, she couldn't help but feel her heart gush with pride at the kind of man that she'd fallen in love with, or rather at the fact that a man like him loved her so unconditionally. And on the spur of the moment, she made herself a promise.
A promise to never let go of him, no matter what.
Constructive criticism will be more than welcome and sorry for any typos. :D :D
Next chapter:
Chapter 17
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