Chapter 84
A/N: Hey there everyone! :D :D Here is the next update! :D :D
Note: The song used here is Lovesong by The Cure. :)
Happy Reading! :D :D
"Sigh, every time..." whispered Ishaani as she wiped away the tears from her eyes, highly emotional while Ranveer looked at her, amused.
Well, he liked romance as a genre in movies but Ishaani's obsession with DDLJ confused him, and intrigued him a little as well. He knew the scene that she was talking about - the one where Simran ran behind the train to catch hold of Raj's hand. Well...
"Ishaani, I don't mean to be a party pooper, but you do realize that there was another door on the train where she could have got in from now, don't you?" said Ranveer, narrating his observation to her.
Ishaani looked at him stupidly as she had finally managed to rid her eyes of all the tears, and had miraculously not spread too much mascara around as well.
"What?"
Ranveer rewinded the scene back to the moment where Simran was running behind the train, pointing towards the screen where there was another door that she could have used to the same compartment. Ishaani noticed what Ranveer was trying to point out her and slapped his arm, annoyed that he was right and that he had officially found a "flaw" in what she considered was a flawless wonder.
"Don't be a party pooper, Ranveer. You don't understand romance and emotions," was all she could lamely defend even though both of them heard the half-heartedness in her voice.
Well, the truth was something Ranveer could always separate from the lies in her voice, so he knew that she wasn't even being truthful. Just defiant, like always.
Ranveer cocked his eyebrow at her and smiled lopsidedly.
"Just being practical, you know," he argued, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly. Ishaani stuck her tongue out at him.
"You know, there's a reason why you don't find a girl either."
Ranveer flushed dully as Ishaani got up from the bed, wincing slightly at the pain in her left arm. Ranveer gave her a worried look but she flashed him a reassuring smile, and he relaxed back. She straightened out her gown again with her free arm and quickly cleaned up the messy make-up in the mirror, a small smile on her face. So far, so good.
She turned around to see Ranveer leaning upon the doorpost with his arms crossed across his chest, an adorable look upon her face. Another customary habit. He'd always stand like that and stare at her when she was doing mundane things. It was a rather silly habit in her opinion, but she liked the way he looked at her. It felt... warm. Caring. Affectionate. Loving. As though she was some kind of a treasure he was keeping an eye out for. She would never tell her why he liked staring at her like that though.
She walked up to him slowly and snapped her fingers at him. He smiled at her sheepishly, pulling out the silk linen from his coat pocket.
"So, how are you liking the evening so far?" he asked, sounding palpably nervous all of a sudden.
"Pretty awesome. Especially the chocolates... yum!" she remarked, the gratitude in her voice evident. Ranveer grinned at her.
"So, are we ready for dinner now?"
"Dinner? What time is it?"
"It's eight-thirty."
"Whoa! Is it? Wow, I didn't realize..." whispered Ishaani, looking at the time in surprise. Time always seemed to halt when she was with Ranveer... Then why was it flying so soon tonight?
"Yep, so follow me again, missy," he spoke and he put out his arm to her. She linked hers within his and looked at him curiously.
"Where to?"
"The stars..." he replied and Ishaani gasped.
There was something about the way he said it that made a prickle arise in her heart. It was a disturbing feeling as though her heart wanted to beat away as madly as it could. She gulped slowly as she stared at him, a strange emotion suddenly bubbling in her heart. What it was though, she couldn't explain.
Ranveer held out the handkerchief and she looked confused.
"I need to blindfold you."
"This is the most clich date ever, I swear."
"Well, what's to come next is even more clich."
"I'm not complaining, you know."
Ranveer gently slipped the silk linen upon her eyes as Ishaani sighed quietly. This was already too much that he'd done for her and he still had more. What was he up to? The moment Ranveer was certain that she was blindfolded well, he took her hand in his own and led her towards their next stop, giving her instructions as and when required so that she could handle her gown accordingly. Ishaani walked silently behind him, entranced and touched with the amount of trouble he had taken just to bring a smile upon her face and make this day special for her because she was too busy pitying herself for a failed one.
Suddenly the two of them came to a halt and Ishaani heard Ranveer open a door until a cool breeze whipped her face with enthusiasm. It had to be the terrace. Suddenly, she felt Ranveer untie the piece of cloth from around her eyes until it slipped away. She opened her eyes slowly, unsure of what she was supposed to expect. But what she saw, she wasn't prepared for.
Her jaw dropped with stunned disbelief.
The entire terrace was flooded with balloons, some suspended midair but held down by their string pressed underneath the pots, while several of them slept upon the floor in lazy glory. A candle-lit table was kept at the side along with a couple of spare lamps so that the terrace was bathed in a loving glow of dim light. Before Ishaani could find her voice back that kept disappearing so often this evening, she felt a crack of light blind her momentarily.
Ranveer was back with his camera.
Ishaani looked at him, dazed just as he pushed a couple of balloons in her direction. She kicked some back at him and they got into a balloon fight until they decided that the balloons were lazy enough to rise too much in the air. Ranveer pulled Ishaani beside him and removed a couple of snaps of theirs by putting the camera on a sequence timer while both of them posed shamelessly.
Finally deciding that enough of antics were done, Ranveer helped Ishaani to the table and made her sit upon her chair while she stared at him stupidly, wondering where he was going to arrange the food from.
"I'll be right back."
Ranveer quickly jogged away, leaving her alone to stare at the ambience.
It was a full-moon light, and like always, the terrace was bathed under the milky light from the sky and needed no other light. She looked around and noticed a tape recorder sitting on one of the tables. Well, there was going to be music too, then. Text-book date. And in spite of its clich nature, she happened to love it all the more. It felt good to be silly and be treated like that every once in a while.
Ranveer returned back ten minutes later just as Ishaani finished staring at the stars in blissful oblivion. There were a myriad amount of them in the sky today and all she could do was wonder about how simple yet breathtaking could nature be, really. Years of her life underneath the stars hearing stories about them and the chanda mama, as Ranveer would put it, and yet not a single day went by when she wasn't in awe of them. What wouldn't she give to spend the rest of her life underneath them, where she truly felt she belonged...
Where she truly felt accepted.
Ranveer cleared his throat softly and Ishaani snapped out from her thoughts, giving him a goofy grin. He noticed the thoughtfulness in her eyes and smiled in understanding. The stars were always her weak point of longing. And dinner underneath a star-studded sky had to be different. Ishaani shot Ranveer an overwhelmed look just as he took his seat graciously, keeping the parcel in his hand upon the table. Ishaani sniffed at the parcel and looked ecstatic, the dreamy spell falling away.
"Pizza!"
"Your favourite Veg Pizza Large with extra cheese!" corrected Ranveer, looking at her excited expression with delight.
"Wow! But damn it, we cannot fight upon who gets to eat more pizza today because-"
"We're supposed to be civil to each other, yes. Wait," he continued as she stuck out her tongue at him, trying to provoke him into a pizza fight, but she knew he was too smart for that.
Ranveer stood up and distributed the pieces of pizza upon the plates he'd set upon the table while he filled their respective glasses with Pepsi. Both of them clicked their glasses together before Ishaani winked playfully.
"To the next rulers of the world." Both of them chuckled throatily before Ranveer returned her toast.
"To the next rulers of the world."
Both of them took a sip from their glass and set it down, staring at each other peacefully. Was a date usually supposed to be this good or were they just lucky? Ishaani stared at the crockery, lost in thought, before she realized something.
"You do know that we need to get the crockery back in place before anybody sees us using them so carelessly now, don't you?"
"Unless I want Baa whipping me on Valentine's Day, no thank you. I remember quite well," replied Ranveer, rolling his eyes at her.
"Well, not the best kind of spanking now for you, is it?" remarked Ishaani, looking at him notoriously. Ranveer choked upon his piece of pizza before staring at her in shock.
"Look at my Sunny using dirty innuendos," he spoke finally, and he could not keep the bemused tone out from his voice. Ishaani laughed shameless and he continued.
"Keep going like this and I might promote you from Deol to-"
"Lalalalalalalala... not interested! And you better stop calling me Sunny," she complained irritably.
He'd taken a fascination to calling her that and it really annoyed her. Deol or Leone, she hated both. Ranveer shook his head and left the statement unspoken as they finally resorted to a hungry attack upon the Italian delicacy.
Both of them ate their pizza happily, making sure not to get any kind of stain upon their chic dresses. The moonlight streamed directly upon them as the stars glittered, happy to see their two favourite people enjoying together on a day like this. All these years, the stars and moon remained witness to the boy narrating a new story every night for the girl, and the girl's several narratives from the day that the boy would listen to in patience and silence most of the time. Both of them were unaware about their untold story that the Universe was made witness to every single day.
Finishing their dinner greedily amidst gossiping and a lot of laughing upon the silly couples at the now on-going prom, the two of them looked at each other, their faces beaming with a new-found joy. This day was certainly going much, much better than either of them expected it to go. Ranveer got up and disappeared for the second time that night even though he returned quickly after ten minutes, bringing along two bowls of ice-cream and two plates of chocolate truffle cake upon it. Ishaani's birthday cake. Ishaani smiled at him as he set the items across both their sides, along with two extra finger-bowls.
What was he made of, really?
"So, I hope dinner was satisfactory," said Ranveer as both of them finally wrapped up their dinner and wiped their hands clean, looking at each other contentedly.
Ishaani nodded her head and remarked enviously.
"You'd really make a good boyfriend, you know. I'm already jealous of the girl you'll fall in love with."
"You should be, and with good reason too. She'll be nothing but the best," boasted Ranveer. Ishaani threw her napkin at him.
"But will you find anyone who can bear you? Only I haven the strength, talent and skill for it," boasted Ishaani in turn, while Ranveer laughed immoderately. They were back in to their banters. They could never remain civil with each other for long.
"Huh, as though you are any less," remarked Ranveer as he rolled his eyes at her and threw back the napkin at her. "I have to do all of your work too."
"First learn to tie your shoelaces and tie before doing my work," shot back Ishaani acidly before she noticed his tie with the perfect triangle. "Wait, who tied them for you today?" she added further, now looking surprised.
"Baba..." replied Ranveer grudgingly and Ishaani stuck out her tongue at him again.
"See, thought as much. Writes a thesis paper on the recent global boom in the market and its effects on the future world economy but can't a shoelace, or his tie, or even his nadas for that case," she complained, shaking her head at him in exasperation. She'd taught him to tie his shoelace so many times but this was the only thing Mr. Prefect Perfect was incapable of doing.
"Yeah, yeah, you can't wear a saree now either, can you?" retorted Ranveer, but Ishaani waved him off airily.
"Whatever."
Both of them fell into a pregnant silence, staring at each other with a hundred gratuitous prayers going to the Almighty for the other's presence in their life. After some time, Ishaani decided to initiate conversation once again.
"So, is this it then?" Ranveer snapped out of his thoughts and shook his head.
"Well, there's still one little thing remaining in our... uh..."
"Date-" added Ishaani, and Ranveer nodded his head. She noticed that he had not used the word 'date' even once during the entire evening.
"Yes, date..." continued Ranveer hesitantly and Ishaani slapped her hand upon her forehead before asking curiously.
"What is it?" Ranveer got up from his seat and walked up to her. He held out his hand to her.
"May I ask the pretty lady for a dance?"
Ishaani shook her head at him as she accepted his hand and stood up, her stilettos giving her the advantage to reduce the six-inch difference between their heights straight to half.
"Ofcourse, but only if you know how to make a girl who can't dance, dance with a sling on."
"Challenge accepted, m'lady."
Ranveer took Ishaani to the center of the terrace and pulled her right arm upon his shoulder while her left arm remained gingerly sandwiched between them, creating a decent amount of distance. Ranveer noticed that Ishaani had switched the promise band to her right finger now. He looked awkward as he wondered where to place his hands before Ishaani pulled both of them around her waist and smiled.
"This is the only way we'll be able to dance. But what about the music?"
"I made you another mixed tape. All your favourite English songs. I hope you like it," he added, looking nervous.
"Where the heck do you get the time to do all of this?" asked Ishaani, her voice as spell-bound as the expression upon her glowing features that were highlighted by the moonlight with more benevolence.
"When you care for someone, you'll always find all the time in the world for them."
"Cheese boy," whispered Ishaani and both of them chuckled.
Ranveer quickly retrieved the remote from his coat pocket and pressed the button of the remote. The music played softly into the air, all the classics love songs from the 80's and the 90's that Ishaani loved. Keeping the remote back in his coat pocket, he put his hands around her waist again before they began dancing slowly, swaying with the rhythm of the beats. The moonlight fell upon them with all its glorious might as the stars twinkled in its wake, sprinkling its fullest love upon the two stars below.
Ishaani looked up at Ranveer and smiled, her heart the happiest it had ever felt till that moment. If this was what it meant to feel special, then she loved this. She loved feeling so extraordinary and the efforts Ranveer had taken tonight and the lengths he had gone to show how much he cherished her as a friend were all proof of how much she meant to him and how much he prized her as a friend he'd do anything for.
Ranveer twirled her around gently until they came to the same position, this time interlocking their fingers together. Both of their bands shone brightly, the words Always Together creating a bubble of security around them for the time being from a world that was most uncertain. Ranveer gracefully made Ishaani fall in an arc till he pulled her back up, both of them smiling as the first song came to an end.
The next song now boomed with its hypnotizing honesty.
Whenever I'm alone
with you
You make me feel like I am home again
Whenever I'm alone with you
You make me feel like I am whole again
Ranveer cupped Ishaani's cheek gently and nothing was needed to be said ahead. The song was dedicated to her.
Whenever I'm alone
with you
You make me feel like I am young again
Whenever I'm alone with you
You make me feel like I am fun again
Ishaani smiled as she buried her face into his chest, taking in the warm fragrance of the lemon and honey after-shave cream he used as they swayed softly amidst the balloons. Ranveer rested his head upon hers, the thrill of vanilla and roses making him shut his eyes in a bliss he never wanted to wake up from.
However far away
I will always love you
However long I stay
I will always love you
Whatever words I say
I will always love you
Ishaani looked up at him and smiled as she let her fingers interlock at the back of his neck for better support. Ranveer looked surprised but said nothing as they continued swaying, their eyes back upon each other.
I will always love you
Ishaani felt the same tension mount up between them as they now came to a standstill, looking at each other with an intensity that tugged at the others' heart hard enough to tear their soul apart with its ferocity. Yet they didn't want to break gaze for they could see the sparkle of the moonlight in the others' eyes along with the same passionate fire in them that they always loved about each other.
Whenever I'm alone
with you
You make me feel like I am free again
Whenever I'm alone with you
You make me feel like I am clean again
Ranveer let his hand cup her cheek softly again as she shut her eyes slowly, savouring the feel of the moment. She opened them back again and smiled at him gently, her fingers now stroking his hair from the behind. Ranveer tucked the few stray strands of hair behind her ears gently just as he looked at her uncertainly, their faces now barely apart from each others.
However far away
I will always love you
However long I stay
I will always love you
Whatever words I say
I will always love you
Ranveer kissed her cheek lovingly as their eyes met again, a strange modesty in them.
I will always love you
"Happy Valentine's Day, Ishaani..."
"Happy Valentine's Day to you too, Ranveer..."
Ranveer sighed as he let his head fall upon her right shoulder gently while her arm circled around his neck protectively in an embrace. There was a strange comfort in his arms that Ishaani never found in any other, not even her parents. It was as though that embrace was meant to give her all the happiness of this world and place it at her feet. An embrace that only meant calm and solace.
"Why did you let me kiss your cheek?" asked Ranveer softly, his voice not above a whisper. Ishaani could hear the tension in it and smiled in spite of herself.
"What do you mean?"
"I know you..." began Ranveer but trailed off, unsure as to how to phrase his thoughts. Ishaani understood his reference with regards to her orthodox nature and smiled.
"Well, they are ordinary guys. You are Ranveer. There's a difference. And I don't see the fuss since I've kissed you so many times on your forehead and cheek," she added reasonably just as they separated from the embrace.
Ranveer cleared his throat whispered soulfully, the moon and stars bearing witness to yet another episode of an untold saga.
"Today, I just want to tell you sorry and thank you. Sorry for making you put up with all the things I do, all the times when I've been the reason of your sorrow and tears, and that's unbelievably been a lot of times and I'm not proud of it. My mission in life is always to be the reason of your happiness, never grief. But I also want to tell you thank you. Thank you for being there like a pillar with me in all my ups and down. For standing up for me and fighting for me and never giving up on me. Thank you for coming to into my life and for keeping me alive. Thank you for being there for me always as my best friend and for being my light, my inspiration... my world. Thank you for being you."
Ishaani smiled as she gently separated from the embrace and cupped his cheek lovingly.
"You're to me what even my own blood isn't. You just aren't my friend, Ranveer. You are a part of me. My heart, my soul... my life. You've made every single day of my life worth remembering and cherishing, both good and bad. The good days have always been with you, and the bad ones with my head upon your shoulder. You've taught me more about myself than I ever thought there was to know. You taught me how to become whole again... how to fill that gaping hole in my heart. I'm sorry that you've been bearing so much for my sake every single day just so that my smile remains the way it is and I know that no matter how much I'm going to lecture you, you will keep doing it for me. But thank you for always making me feel this special and extraordinary. Thank you for being my best friend."
Ranveer stared at their interlocked fingers, suddenly looking worried.
"How do you become whole, Ishaani? Sometimes the love of a lifetime isn't enough to fill the shattered pieces."
"But sometimes, a moment's worth of love is enough to fix the shattered pieces of a lifetime." Ranveer let the words sink in as they sighed tiredly. He let his fingers strengthen within her own in a warm grip.
"I hope you had a good time today." Ishaani nodded her head before speaking suddenly.
"You know, I was wrong. I wanted to go to the prom tonight because I wanted someone to make me feel special and loved and extraordinary. But tonight only made me realize that I don't need any prom or Valentine's Day to make me feel so. Because you make me feel special every single day as my best friend. So yes, I guess you were right. Everything does happen for the best."
Ranveer smiled at her softly, pointing towards the terrace door.
"Shall we?"
"Wait, I need to give you your Valentine's Day gift," exclaimed Ishaani at the spur of the moment.
"But you didn't have to get me anything," muttered Ranveer, looking worried.
"I didn't," whispered back Ishaani, her eyes twinkling. She gently tiptoed and kissed him on his cheek while Ranveer flushed red. He shivered slightly as she whispered lovingly into his ears.
"You're the best person I could have ever hope to spend this day with."
Ranveer smiled and pulled Ishaani into his arms as the two of them swayed silently. The dying incense of love still flickered upon the table as the sole witness of the brewing concoction of emotions bubbling unknowingly within the hearts of two people whose souls were now set aflame with the magical intoxication of an unexpectedly warm evening in spite of the cold winds.
-x-
Ishaani sat upon her bed, smiling sheepishly. She was now back into her comfortable top and pajamas, having managed to finally undress and redress after half an hour of the world's most hideous struggle. Thanking her stars that her hand didn't get too disturbed, she rested her head upon the headrest, her mind lost in the most fairytale-like day of her life. If she thought that her seventeenth birthday was the perfect fairytale day, then this was even better than that. This was the Valentine's she always wanted and hoped for - two people celebrating the day who loved and cherished each other as friends and not the over-publicized romance of being lovers in love.
She quickly snapped her eyes open and pulled out her diary, reading through her earlier entry of the day and feeling thoroughly flabbergasted. What had she expected and what had Ranveer actually given her! She uncapped her pen and pushed it upon the crisp paper in a singular sentence until she decided against it.
This was one incident she wanted to savour in her mind over and over again before she savoured it upon paper. She shut the diary and kept the pen along with it in the drawer as lied down upon the bed, switching the lights off.
And yet that one sentence said it all.
14th February 2007,
This is, hands down, the best Valentine's Day I could have ever asked for.
Constructive criticism will be more than welcome and sorry for any typos. :D :D
Next chapter:
Epistle 70
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