Until recently, Raman was torn between two women. On one side was his ex wife, Shagun who had done everything in her power to make his life a misery, on the other was his present wife, Ishita who had done everything in her to take away all his pain and replace it with happiness. He did not love Shagun yet she kept forcing herself back into his life ever since Ashok had dumped her. Ashok was finally fed up with her bipolar-type behaviour. She became obsessed with Raman, even though she was the one who had divorced him in the first place. Shagun could not bear Raman's happiness. Why should he be happy when she, herself is unhappy. Why should he be able to move on, when she couldn't? She realised that Raman was indeed her true love and she was blinded by Ashok's charms, money and fame. The novelty however soon wore off. Ashok became interested in other women, and the one thing that kept Ashok and Shagun together was no longer present in their lives. That one thing was Raman's failure. Ever since Ishita had entered his life, he had nothing but success.
Even Adi had seen past her evil ways, he realised that it wasn't Raman in the wrong, rather it was Shagun. This realisation had been instigated by Ashok, he was the one who blurted out the truth to Adi while intoxicated. Shagun became so helpless, her web of lies started to untangle. Adi begged his father and step-mother for forgiveness, yes he referred to Ishita as his other mother and he was so close to disowning his own mother but unlike Shagun, Raman has showed him the right path. Accept her as your biological mother, she gave birth to you and somewhere in that black heart of hers, she has love for you so don't disrespect her he told Adi. However Adi could not bear the sight of his mother and begged his father to send him back to boarding school so that he could stay as far as possible away from her. Raman respected Adi's wishes, and Adi would often come during school holidays to meet Raman and Ishita and not to forget his baby sister, Ruhi.
Shagun was all alone. No Raman, no Ashok, no Adi. She had lost all three men. She started to lose control on her life while on the other hand Raman had full control on his. Ishita was now the love of his life. It took him so long to realise how much he had loved her and she was equally in love with him. Raman did not care that Ishita would never be able to give him any children, he had never used this against her. He just wanted her love and his children and nothing else. In short their life was perfect, Ruhi had made it perfect, she had brought them together. She was the chocolate chips to their chocolate chip cookie however Shagun was the sour milk, which was always ruining their perfect little family.
It was night before Ishita's birthday, Ruhi had a party planned for her Ishi maa. She had chosen the cake, the party decorations, the music and even bought several gifts and a card. She had specifically told Raman to buy a gift from himself but little did Ruhi know that Raman was planning a surprise of his own. It was 10pm, Ishita had gone to visit her parents as her Vandu akka, who was heavily pregnant with her second child, had come to visit her. The entire Bhalla family had gone to bed and Raman had used this time to set up his surprise. For weeks he had been practising how to make the best idli, sambar, dosa and pysam and had secretly been taking lessons from his mother in law. He finally mastered all 4 items, which he had begun to make. It was 11.30pm, the entire Iyer family knew of Raman's surprise therefore they had made sure that Ishita didn't return before 12.
Raman finally took all 4 dishes into the bedroom and he then moved on to decorate the bedroom with candles and flowers of all sorts. He scattered rose petals on their bed, chocolates placed on the bedside table. Near the window he had set up a table for them both with small tea candles and placed the dishes that he had made. He had also bought a tiny white chocolate cake which he had placed on Ishita's dressing table and had put a single candle in it. And finally he had taken out the gifts that he had bought for her, two sarees and two jewellery sets. One saree was very similar to a bridal saree and the one was a beautiful blue lace saree.
It was 11.55pm, Ishita should be back soon. He was pacing up and down the room. He finally heard the main door close and he could hear Ishita muttering to herself. He smiled and quickly ran to switch the lights off. He could hear Ishita walk upto the room, she pushed the door open and she looked up. She was in awe. She couldn't digest what she was seeing. She looked around and she saw Raman standing by the window, smiling at her. She had walked upto him. "Happy birthday, my jhansi ki rani" he said, pulling her towards him. Ishita was even more shocked, she and Raman had never shared this kind of relationship before, not unless Ruhi was with them. She looked around, "Ruhi isn't here" he whispered into her ear. Ishita blushed, "thank you" she said. Raman handed her the gift packets, he told her to open the one in the golden bag today and the one in the red bag tomorrow. She had nodded, she walked towards the bed only to realise that Raman had scattered petals on the bed. She blushed once again, she could feel the blood rushing to her face. Raman had noticed this and had smirked.
Ishita opened the packet, it was a beautiful saree, a traditional red saree with intricate golden thread work. "Wow, Raman, I don't know what to say. I mean thank you". Raman being Raman said "Whatever Jhansi ki rani, I have great taste you see unlike you!", Ishita pouted in dismay. "Now take the packet and go get changed". Ishita nodded and walked to the bathroom. 10 minutes later, she had returned, taking Raman's breath away. "Wow" he whispered. She looked like a new bride. She walked towards him "well, you scrub up well, maybe I should do all your shopping!" he joked. "Okay, Ishita I have a surprise for you, remember once I tried to make dosa but epically failed? Well this time I made 4 dishes for you and yes I made it by myself! But I did take lessons from your mum!". Ishita looked towards the table and she was lost for words, before she could say anything Raman gestured her to sit down and she had done so. Today Ishita had nothing to say, she was just happy. "Today I will feed you Ishita", said Raman, bringing a morsel of food towards her and without hesitating she ate it. Bit by bit Raman fed her the dosa then the idli with the sambar and finally the pysam. "Mmm, everything tastes so yummy" said Ishita, "well duh, what else did you expect from me?" sniggered Raman. "Actually my mother is such a great teacher, that's why you were able to learn" snapped Ishita.
Raman could not take her eyes off Ishita, she looked beautiful when she was angry. Raman grabbed her hand, "Ishita, let's go cut the cake" and he took her towards the dresser. "Make a wish" he said. Suddenly Ishita began to well up but she fought back her tears. She bent down towards the cake, closed her eyes and made several wishes. She then stood up, and hand in hand they both cut the cake. Ishita couldn't take her eyes of Raman, she realised how much she had loved him. She could die for him. Ishita then took a slice of the cake and fed it to Raman and he purposely bit her finger, "ayoo!" screamed Ishita staring at her finger. "Oi drama queen, shut up and eat this cake", he pulled her with one hand, resting his hand on her hip. She ate the cake.
Suddenly Raman hugged Ishita, "Ishita, I'm really sorry for all the pain that I caused you ever since I met you. I have always been horrible to you, insulting you and your family but I promise that from today I will never hurt you. You are my life and its taken me so long to realise that you are the true love of my life. I have been waiting for months to tell you but I could build the courage to do so. You have always helped me and you have always supported me. I have never met a more perfect wife or mother before and you are my whole. My entire world, without you I am nothing. Without you, I have no reason to live" Raman had broken down. Ishita could not stop sobbing and she wanted to saviour this moment so she cupped his face and said "Raman, I love you!".
Raman's face lit up like the moon. "Really?" he asked, "yes, really!" replied Ishita. Raman had finally let go of Ishita and said, "Ishita, today you look like a newly wedded bride again, and today you will feel like one too". Ishita was left dumbstruck, "wh.. wha... what do you mean Raman?!" she asked. "Today I'm going to be exercising one of my several rights as your husband", and he picked her up and took her towards the bed. That night they had finally consummated their marriage.
It was finally the morning of Ishita's birthday, 8am to be precise. The love birds embraced each other while they slept. Raman was the first to wake up, he saw his warrior princess looking beautiful. She had natural beauty and he had decided to peck her on the forehead which lead her to wake up. Ishita had an unusual glow about her, she opened her eyes and saw Raman smiling at her. "Good morning hubby!" she said, "good morning my darling" said Raman. After a few intimate moments Raman had finally asked Ishita about her wish. "Ishu, what did you wish for last night?". Ishita hesitated at first, "well I wished for a few things. The first was for our children's happiness and health, the second was for yours, the third for our entire family and the fourth.." and just then Ishita had stopped, she had become all teary eyed again. Raman cupped her face, "its okay if you don't want to tell me" he said. "No, its not that" she replied, "the fourth was to have children, I make this wish every year but it doesn't mean that its ever going to come true". Raman hugged Ishita, "Ishu, children or no children, I still love you! And you are a mother, remember that! Giving birth doesn't make a woman a mother, look at Shagun!". Ishita smiled at Raman and hugged him tightly.
It was nearly 10am, Ruhi had got breakfast ready for her Ishi maa, even Adi had joined them to celebrate, but him coming was a surprise for Ishita. The entire house was decorated and both the Bhallas and Iyers had come together to celebrate Ishita's birthday. After much hesitation, Raman had let Ishita get ready, but this time he was the audience. She wore the beautiful blue saree and the diamond set her husband had got for her. She and Raman both walked out together, hand in hand only to be surprised by their families!
"Ishi maa" cried Adi and Ruhi as they ran up to her with gifts. Ishita had kneeled down to hug them both. "Happy birthday Ishi maa!" they said and they both gave her their gifts. "Thank you my babies and Adi, thank you for surprising me with your visit!" and she kissed them both. The children had got her a family portrait, beautifully framed, chocolates, teddies, flowers and all sorts of bits and bobs. Raman looked at his family from afar, he was truly a very happy man. The entire family spent the rest of the day celebrating and had even gone out for lunch and dinner.
2 months later
"Ishita! Where is my suit?! Ishita where are you?!" shouted Raman? Mrs Bhalla ran into the room, "Oi Raman, why are you shouting?" she asked? "Areh maa, this madrasian is nowhere to be found and I have a very important meeting today! She was supposed to pick out my suit" he replied angrily. Just then Ishita walked back into the room from the bathroom. She looked awfully pale. Raman took one look at her and realised something was wrong. "What's happened Ishu?" he asked as he ran to hold her, "Raman, I've been sick and feeling unwell for the past few days!" and before she could say anything she had collapsed.
Ishita woke up at the hospital with her family surrounding her bed. "How did I get here?" she asked, slightly confused. Before anyone could reply, the doctor walked in, "I'm sorry but everyone except the patient's husband must leave" and so they did. Raman asked the doctor about Ishita's health, and he was told that she must take a urine and blood test in order to find out the underlying cause for being unwell. Ishita seemed worried but she provided the samples without hesitation. Raman kept assuring Ishita that nothing was wrong and that she's fine but in his heart he knew something was up. He was starting panic.
A few hours late the doctor returned with the results, she had a worried smile on her face. "Ishita, Raman, I have the results here!" she said. "Yess please just tell us!" snapped Raman, Ishita place her hands on his shoulder and he grabbed hold of her. "Congratulations Ishita! You're pregnant!" and just then Ishita's world began to spin, she couldn't believe it! "What!" she shouted "But I can't get.." "Yes I know Ishita, I've read your case notes but we've double checked everything and you are pregnant, in fact you're two months pregnant!". Raman couldn't digest this, he looked at Ishita and then back at the doctor, he asked again, just to make sure that the doctor wasn't playing a cruel game with them both. "Raman, I can do the scan just to prove it to you!". Raman needed proof so he told the doctor to do the scan which revealed not one, but two heart beats! Ishita couldn't contain her happiness and she cried for hours, holding onto Raman. "Raman, you have given me not one, but 4 gifts. Our twins, Adi and Ruhi. I will forever remain in debt to you!" cried Ishita. Raman cupped her face, "but Ishita, you have give us a family. Without you, I wouldn't have had a second chance with either of my kids or my family, so no I am in debt to you!". When the two families heard about Ishita, they were estatic, especially Adi, Ruhi and Shravan (oh and Shravan's new baby sister).
7 months later, Ishita gave birth to two healthy children, her family was complete but little did she know, trouble was lurking around the corner. Shagun had returned.
Please please please comment and let me know what you think of it! Ideas for future OS will be appreciated!
Health and Fitness
Anupamaa
