FF In Her Majesty's Secret Service COMPLETED 2/9 pg 79 (R18) - Page 43

Ha ha, I don't think so, half of it would be censored 😆

Thanks Nikki. So does the Raman in this story have shades of KK? 😆

"Jiju, aap?" Mihika looked at Raman in dawning horror. "Woh aap theh? Toh woh aap ke saath kaun thi?"

At the same moment, Romi added two and two together and came to the realisation that the movie his Bhabhi had just told him she had gone to with his Bhai, and the "rangraliyan" at the cinema hall that Mihika was talking about were interconnected. He let out a loud guffaw, which turned into a silent chuckle at a look from Raman.

Mihir, in the meanwhile, had also recollected his conversation with Mihika that morning, and the "besharmo" at the cinema that she had been going on about, and Anwar's revelation that the cinema had been booked by Raman led him to the realisation that the "movie" being shown at the Reading had been by none other than his Raman Bhai. One look at Ishita's face had revealed to him Raman's partner in crime and he too started to chuckle silently.

Mihika, however, who could not even begin to imagine her Ishu akka in such a compromising situation, continued to look at Raman in horror.

Raman looked at the stunned and grinning faces around him, and collected the remnants of his dignity. He drew himself together. "Mihika, I have no idea what you are talking about" he said firmly. "Now, I don't know about all of you, lekin mujhe toh bahut bhookh lagi hai. Come, Ishita"

And taking Ishita's hand, he stalked off, pulling her behind him.

"Raman, kahan jaa rahen hai, Buffet toh us taraf hai" Ishita whispered, as Raman walked purposefully towards the door leading out to the corridor and the lifts down to the hotel proper.

Raman made no reply, walking out the door with Ishita, and propelling her to a small secluded nook in the corridor, half hidden behind some large potted palms. It was only when they were in the relative security of that convenient hiding place that he finally looked at Ishita, who was squeezed up against him in the tiny nook.

"Pakde gaye, jaan" the blush on his face had receded, and was replaced by a wide grin. He guffawed loudly, and Ishita joined in, her embarrassment and consternation disappearing before the infectious delight that her husband was displaying.

"You don't mind, Raman?" she asked him, touching his face gently.

"Yes and No, sweetheart" he caught her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing her palm with soft feather like kisses. "Yes because they won't give us any privacy and No because I just can't hide what I feel any more."

"Poor Mihika" Ishita smiled, her heart skipping a beat at his gentle kisses. "Kitni confused hai woh."

"Don't worry about Mihika" he responded, pulling her even closer, locking his arms around her back. "Mihir will explain everything to her. Tum toh bas meri fikr karo"

"Kyun" Ishita looked up at him innocently. "Aap ko kya hua?"

"Mujhe kya hua?" He brought his head down closer to hers. "Tum batao na. Deewana ho gaya hoon tumhare liye. Aaj subha tumhe us tarah chod kar jaana pada tha, tab se bas tumhari hi chehra dikha raha hai ankhon ke saamne. Kaam mein man nahi lagta, kisi aur ke saath rehne ka dil nahi karta, you tell me, kya hua hai mujhe"

His lips had been coming down closer and closer to hers as he spoke, and they finally settled on hers, softly. Her lips parted at his slight touch and she could taste the champagne he had drunk as she darted her tongue tentatively into his mouth. He drew back, looking down at her flushed face.

"Doctor ho na tum, toh batao mujhe kya hua hai? Diagnosis se pehle treatment nahi karte, Dr Bhalla"

Ishita blushed, and looked up into his eyes, drowning in their searing intensity. "Mujhe lagta hai aap ko pyar ho gaya hai, Mr Bhalla"

"Accha" he arched his brows. "Aur iska illaj kya hai?"

Ishita blushed even more deeply, but did not drop her gaze."Wahi, jo aap ne mujhe aaj subah karne nahi diya" she whispered.

His eyes appeared to darken further as he dropped a short hard kiss on her parted lips. "I won't stop you now" he said huskily. "Let's go"

"Raman, your guests" Ishita was protesting as he again took her hand, and started towards the lift.

"Raman" a loud voice stopped them from behind. It was Mr Malhotra, standing at the door to the restaurant. Raman muttered a curse under his breath but turned around, still holding onto Ishita's hand.

Mr Malhotra walked up to them. "Raman, I was looking for you. I have to leave soon, and I just wanted to discuss something about our marketing strategy for our Chennai plant with you and Subramanian. Mrs Bhalla" he smiled fondly at Ishita." Can we steal just a few minutes of Raman's time from you"

"Of course" Ishita smiled back, trying to free her hand from Raman. "Aap jayiye, mein..." But Raman would not leave her hand, his grip tight and sure." You can stay with us Ishita" he said firmly, as they walked back inside the hall with Mr Malhotra. "This will only take a few minutes."

They walked past Mihika, Mihir and Romi who were still huddled together. "Mihika, why can't you understand yaar" Mihir was saying patiently, while Romi stood by grinning. "Aaj subah tum Bhabhi par shakh kar rahi thi aur ab Bhai par. Yaar, isn't it obvious what's going on?"

Raman sailed right past the trio, not letting Ishita stop, until they reached the small table at the back of the hall where Mr Malhotra had been sitting with Subbu.

"Ah, Subramaniam" Mr Malhotra said to that young man." Just show Raman your projections"

Subbu handed the paper to Raman, who sat down at the table and started flicking through the pages with his left hand, his right still firmly clasping Ishita's. His downward gaze missed the startled look that Subbu gave to Ishita, who was in the process of making herself comfortable in her seat, and had not yet noticed her former fiance.

"That all looks fine sir" Raman was murmuring, as Ishita finally adjusted her sari pallav to her liking and looked up. She looked straight into the eyes of her former partner.

"Subbu" Ishita exclaimed in surprise, just as Raman handed back the marketing projections to Mr Malhotra. Raman turned and looked at Ishita, noticing the surprise in her face. Then he turned his gaze to Subbu, who was sitting ramrod straight opposite them, his face a study of conflicting emotions. Realisation dawned on Raman. He stiffened and let go of Ishita's hand.

"You know Subramaniam, Mrs Bhalla?" Malhotra asked politely as he stood up, ready to leave." Chalo, accha hai. Subbu, you stay here and chat, I need to leave now. Thank you Raman" he extended his hand to Raman, who standing up, took it silently, his face expressionless. "And you too, Subbu" Subbu also stood up and took Malhotra's hand in turn, also silently.

"I'll see you out Sir" Raman finally found his voice.

"No, no, absolutely not Raman. I am fine, you stay" so saying Mr Malhotra left, leaving only Ishita, her husband and her former fiance at the table.

Ishita remained seated, Raman standing beside her and Subbu opposite, at the other side of the table. Soft music was playing at the dance floor, where some couples were entwined in each other's arms, and the noisy conversation of the others having their dinner echoed around the room. Amidst all the noise however, their corner of the room appeared so quiet that Ishita could hear Raman's ragged breathing, could feel the anxiety emanating from him.

Ishita raised her eyes to Raman's face, but he averted his gaze from her, looking at a point in the distance, his face a stony mask. Slowly, she slid her hand into his, entwining her fingers with his.

"Raman" she said gently, all her love, trust and faith in her husband and their relationship loaded into her voice. He looked at her then, hesitatingly lowering his eyes to her. She held his gaze, her grip on his hand tightening "Raman, baitho. Please."

He sat down slowly, his eyes locked with hers the entire time. She smiled tremulously at him, her free hand grasping his captive hand at the wrist, her grip offering him security and reassurance.

Subbu had also sat down opposite them, his face a mixture of shock and bewilderment.

Ishita gave another reassuring smile to Raman before turning her head and raising her eyes to Subbu.

"How are you Subbu?" her voice was gentle and interested. "Mihika said she said seen you in town. How are your wife and your son? Your amma told us when he was born. He must be almost a year old now, yes?"

"They are fine Ishita" Subbu said slowly. He looked at Raman, whose eyes were flitting between his wife and Subbu, and whose expressionless face showed no reflection of the turmoil that was waging in his heart. "I am sorry, Mr Bhalla, I didn't realise...Your name sounded familiar, but I had no idea that Ishita was married to such a distinguished person. Amma ne toh kaha tha..."

"Kya kaha tha tumhari amma ne?" Raman's voice was dangerously quiet.

"Aap please mind mat kijiye." Subbu had some of the tact of his brother, but also, unfortunately, a lot of the unsubtle tendencies of his mother. "Amma said Ishita had been forced to marry a divorcee so he could get custody of his daughter, that it was a compromise. And because Ishita couldn't find a husband, because of her condition..." His voice trailed off as Raman half stood, even as Ishita pulled him back down, soothing him with a glance.

"Your amma was wrong, Subbu" she said with a smile. "There is no compromise. Bahoot pyaar karti hoon mein apni pati se, apne bachoon se. Aur bahoot pyar karte hai woh mujhse. Koi condition nahi hai meri Subbu. Mein ek Ma hoon. And I am the luckiest woman in the world. Kyunki mere pati mujhse bahoot pyar karte hai"

She turned to Raman as she spoke the last words, and the love and sincerity in her eyes bowled him over. The love, the devotion, the commitment that he saw in her eyes was for him, and for him alone.

Raman had always had a little flicker of doubt in his heart that Ishita still carried a torch for Subbu, that somewhere, deep inside, a flame still burnt that time and marriage to Raman had not extinguished.

Even though she had been utterly open with Raman about her relationship with Subbu, had shared how hurt she had been at his betrayal, and had reassured Raman that the love she felt for Subbu had faded, Raman had still been insecure about Subbu, about the 12 years that Subbu had spent with Ishita, that he, Raman, had missed.

Now though, seeing her with Subbu, he was finally at peace. What he saw in Ishita's eyes for Subbu was merely the mild concern that one showed for an old acquaintance or a distant friend.

The fires that smouldered in those eyes, the love that darkened her velvety brown orbs, the devotion that was reflected in her face, were for Raman and Raman alone.

Raman smiled at Ishita. He had imagined that if he ever saw Subbu, he would give the coward a piece of his mind, and a taste of his fist, for the pain he had caused Ishita in the past. Now though, he wanted to thank Subbu. To thank him for being such a prize fool as to walk away from an angel like Ishita, to thank him for creating the opportunity that allowed him, Raman Bhalla, to seal the greatest deal of his life, that allowed him to experience the overwhelming love that Ishita had brought into his life. Subbu was utterly insignificant, he now knew, and he was damned if he was going to waste any more energy on him.

His musings were interrupted by Mihika, who had spotted Subbu, and brushing aside Mihir, had descended on their table, ready to defend her sister from whatever calamity was in the making.

"Akka" she stood protectively on the other side of Ishita, glaring at Subbu.

Raman extracted his hands from Ishita's and stood up. He extended his hand to Subbu, shaking hands firmly with him. "It was nice to finally meet you Subbu" he said easily. "Enjoy the rest of your stay in Delhi"

Raman turned to Ishita "Ishita, excuse me for a couple of minutes please" he smiled at her, then patting Mihika on the shoulder, whispered " Mihika, look after your akka for a while, huh."

Raman left the table and walked towards the dance floor, passing Mihir on the way. "Yaar, Mihir, I'm going to dance with my wife soon. Can you make sure that tumhari waali bodyguard kisi tarah se dance floor par bhi nahi aa jaaye." "Aur tu" he snapped at Romi, who was standing close by. " Tumhe badi der se dekh raha tha. Tu yah toh apni Bhabhi ka saaya bana hua hai, ya to phir Shagun ka picha kar raha hai. Baat kya hai?"

"Bhai, woh toh mein Bhabhi ka hifazat kar raha tha, ki Shagun ya Ashok uski mood kharaab na karein"

"Accha"Raman drawled, taking a flute of Champagne offered by a passing waiter, and draining it quickly. " tu fikr mat kar, abhi yeh Shagun, Subbu, sab ka muh bandh karta hoon mein. Compromise, indeed."

He took of his jacket and tossed it at Romi, then strode off, leaving a grinning Romi and a bemused Mihir behind.

Sorry it's been a busy day, just got home from court at 9.00pm, trying to watch the big rugby game ( Go the All Blacks) and post at same time 😆

ishra

thanks for the pm😳😃