Hi all,
I am back with my story # 5.This one may sound a bit hurried, because that's how I wrote it, and it's a bit quieter than the earlier 2 parts (no one-liners, more thoughts)!
Thanks for the lovely comments again... thats what keeps me going, and sorry for not being able to reply to each one individually.đ¤ I will do that whenever I get a chance.
The title song of this story is 'Lag Ja Gale' from Woh Koun thi.
The title is courtesy @Indian_isha. Her suggestion of this song influenced my plot in this update.
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Raman was going through his emails on a Monday morning. He was always nervous about the start of the week. Taking the day off on Sunday meant he was disconnected from his work, something he didnt like. He used to always start worrying about the week ahead on a Sunday evening. At least now he didnt feel that guilty, because Sunday was the day he got to spend with his daughter. He remembered those days when he was wary of being with Ruhi. How he used to avoid Ruhi because she reminded him of her. The woman who had destroyed his chance at love and life. It wasn't like that any more. It was all because of Ishita. Somewhere in her long lectures, longer stares, she had taught him to enjoy those regular moments with Ruhi. Ishita had taught him to be the family man that he had hidden within the close confines of his heart. She had opened him up to his own happiness.
An email from Tandon caught his eye. "Hello Raman, hum log agle hafte Delhi aa rahe hain... We are staying at our friend's flat. The same place we were put up in last time. Bhabhi ji ko bhi bolna. We would love to spend some time with you guys. Oh, and by the way, we will be dropping the kids at their grand parents for a couple of days. SO my wife has gone crazy planning for a grown-up party next Saturday. NO excuses, cancel whatever else you have planned and tell Ishita bhabhi to start shopping for the best dress she can find. We are going to have a blast!" Raman was so annoyed at the cheerful nature of the email that he slammed his laptop shut. He was in no position to tell Ishita to buy clothes to go to a party, to dress up for strangers. She was in no position to put up a smiling face for them, for him in front of a large gathering. SHe had just begun to start talking freely with Romi and Mihir. She was wary of contact with any man who wasnt an Iyer or a Bhalla. HE couldn't put her through the charade of normalcy just for the Tandons. Agreed, Tandon was his biggest investor, but this was something that was far more important than business. He couldn't do this to her, to them. Not when they had just started healing their fragile relationship. He desperately started looking for an excuse to get out of the party.
Ishita got home after a long day at work. As soon as she got home, Ruhi came running to her. "Ishima Ishima, look at my report card. I got A+ in all subjects". Ishita smiled. Ruhi face was all she needed to cheer up. Every worry she had, every aching bone in her body disappeared when she looked at the kid. She started going through Ruhi's report card, to check if there were any comments from the teachers that she had to worry about. She smiled when she saw that everything was OK. She asked Amma for a coffee. She told Ruhi to go play with Mutthu while she had coffee and changed her clothes. Amma signalled her to come to the kitchen quietly. "Yes amma, what happened?" Her mother told her as silently as she could. "Trisha called. She said her brother and his wife are coming to India next week. Trisha sounded so excited, she said her bhabhi had planned some big party next Saturday and obviously Raman and you were also invited. Ishoo, did you know anything about this, are you ready for this?" Ishita felt something she hadn't in a long time. She yearned to dress up and go to a place where she could talk to people, have fun, like nothing had happened.
She was aware that everyone around her was walking on eggshells. Thinking about how even a small misstep could affect her. She wanted to tell them that it was OK, and she was ready to put herself out there. Because that was the only way she could move on. How would she be able to come back to normalcy, if she didnt try? She told Amma she was OK, and decided that she wouldnt put up a fight with Raman when he told her about the party. The man was trying hard to apologise and get things back to status quo. The least she could do was support him in front of his business associates. She decided she would accept his invitation. She knew she would be safe with him.
It was Thursday by now, and neither of them had broached the subject. Raman had not planned to ask her at all. He thought he would make up some excuse at the last minute, saying he was not well or Ishita wasn't. The Tandons would understand. This way he wouldn't have to put Ishita in an awkward position, something he had done so many times in the past. This was the first time he thought of how it may affect her. He scowled, his anger began to surface again. He felt ashamed that it taken the whole Paramjeet incident for him to realise Ishita's feelings. Earlier, he had never openly acknowledged the sacrifices she had made, or cared for how she must have felt when she had to always put up the face of a happy wife in front of everyone. He had made big gestures of gratitude and apologies, but never spoke to her in the privacy of their room and said Sorry or Thank you. He hadnt even asked her how her day was, or if she was doing OK.
He had been keeping his eye on her ever since the Paramjeet incident. He had even hired a bodyguard to follow Ishita around for a couple of months. No one except Mihir knew this. If she knew, he would surely be strangled and cut down into pieces. She was very good at maintaining a brave front, but he had seen the fright in her eyes. He had seen her looking over her shoulder when she was on the streets. He had seen her jump at any unknown voice, shiver at the sound of even the phone ringing. He had not spent a long time with her in the last month, but in the time he had, there was no doubt that Ishita was still recovering. He wanted to give her space, but protect her at the same time. The only option was to hire someone to keep an eye on her.
Mihir had told him many times that the only way to get her back to normal was to make sure they talked about it calmly. But Raman wasnt prepared, he wouldn't admit it, but seeing Ishita afraid had taken a toll on him too. He had never imagined that he would be be so affected by her silence, and he didnt like the feelings that were awakening in him. He had always been secrectly protective, and caring. But he never thought he would feel connected to another soul again. The whiff of love that came at him suddenly had scared him. If that is what it was, Love?
They met that evening when Raman carried a sleeping Ruhi to the Iyers' home. "She slept so soon? kya hua? Did she eat anything?" she asked touching Ruhi's forehead. Raman assured her Ruhi was fine, and placed her on Ishita's bed. He did not want to leave, and it turned out she didnt want him to go back so soon either. She had that look on her face that said she wanted to talk. "Raman, woh maine suna Rajeev aur Shweta aa rahe hain, and Saturday ko koi party hai ?" "Mihir, that stupid useless fellow. Abhi bhabhi ka chamcha ban gaya hai kya, usne bola tumko? dekho Ishita, its OK. Main sambhal loonga. You dont have to.. "
She didn't let him finish. "No, Trisha called Amma and told. Its OK Raman, they are important clients of yours. I am fine to attend the party if you want. Let me know what time, and I will be there. I have quite a few appointments on Saturday, so I'll come directly from the clinic." Raman admired this woman. He just muttered "Thanks, I'll text you the details. Aur haan, woh party thodi formal si hai." He left it at that. He was trying to hint to her that she should wear the blue dress that hadn't yet seen the light of the day. He knew she didnt have any more western clothes, so she would wear it anyway. "OK Good night" they said to each other and he left.
"No Raavan Kumar, no way will I wear that medium sized dress and prove you right, again". She suddenly thought "Aiyyo Muruga, I dont have anything to wear. Kal Mihika ko leke shopping jaana padega."
Raman was waiting with the Tandons at the party. Ishita was uncharacteristically late. He already knew that she was stuck in traffic. The man he had hired had already given him an update. So he knew roughly what time she would show up. He had felt so relaxed since he spoke to her on Thursday. The relief was evident in his behaviour at the party. He was mingling more freely with the other guests. Since he had stopped drinking, he realised how much fun it was to be lucid and sober when everyone
else was getting drunk. He was people watching today and was also making an effort to be casual with his employees who had also been invited by the Tandons. Mihir was there too, but he was over at the singles table chatting with his bachelor friends.
After some time, Mihir came to him with a glass of vodka. He said "Raman bhai, aaj pi lo yeh". "Shut up Mihir, you know right, maine yeh sab chhod diya hai. Ruhi ko promise kiya hai maine." "I know bhai, but I think she wont mind today. If she knew the reason. You need this drink"
"Kya mazaak kar raha hai? jyaada pi li kya?"
"Turn around bhai"
Raman felt electricity run through him. This is what it feels to be hit by lighting then? SHe was NOT wearing the blue dress, instead she had decide to change the rules of the game. The woman actually wore a saree to the party. Raman's shock rendered him speechless, and it took a lot of self-control to not take that drink from Mihir.
One look at his face, and Ishita knew she had taken the right decision. Her look had knocked his socks off. She was wearing a silverish, georgette saree with a halter neck blouse of the same colour. The saree was a designer one, with curved border and mango-embroidered pattern in zari. She was wearing huge pearl loop earrings and metallic bangles. Ishita had never spent so much money on one outfit, but Mihika encouraged her splurge for the party. The only thing she did not change was her hairstyle. He long mane was straightened, no frills. She slowly went to the Tandons, wished them warmly and accepted their compliments on her look. By that time, Raman had recovered. He smiled falsely at the conversation she was having with with them.
After what seemed like a lifetime, she turned around and coolly said "Sorry Raman, woh main traffic mein phas gayi thi main, and mera last appointment bhi late hua. Thats why I am late".
"Yes I know, you left office quite late and there was traffic too, its ok. You are here now. I had already informed the hosts". Oh no, what had he just done.
"You know? aapko kaise pata? maine to kisiko phone ya text bhi nahin kiya tha?" Raman had no choice. He had to tell her, but he didnt know how. If he told her about the body guard, she wouldnt have hesitated to slap him right there in front of everyone. At least the first time she slapped him was in private, but this would be too much. He was, after all, CEO of the year.
He was praying that someone would come save him. The music started, and mercifully Rajeev dragged him and Ishita to the dance floor. "COme on guys, baatein to hoti rahengi, have fun, loosen up a bit". They had to hold each other quite close and dance intimately. They fit perfectly.
Ishita was still waiting for an answer. "Ishita, dekho drama mat karna yahaan please. Woh, I hired someone to keep an eye on you last month. Only for a couple of months. This was because I knew you were a bit scared, and I couldnt watch over you 24 hours a day, so I did what I thought was best". He hadnt expected her to smile. She just said "You knew I was scared?"
***so, thoughts???
Arjun
Cricket
6