EPISODE 3. ISHQ CHUPTA NAHI CHUPANE SE
Part 9 Tumse Milke Mein Ne Jaana Josh Kya Junoon Hai Kya
Scene 1
Raman walked up to the DJ just as the song on the turnstile was drawing to a close. He made his request and upon the DJ's smiling acquiescence, took the microphone and moved to the centre of the dance floor.
The song having ended, the few couples on the dance floor were drifting off as Raman started to speak into the mic.
"Ladies and Gentlemen. I apologise, maafi chahta hoon, aap logon ko disturb karne ke liye. When I was speaking earlier, ek baat kehna chahiye tha, jo mein ne kaha nahi, toh ab please just bear with me."
He paused, as everyone stopped in their tracks, watching him intently.
"Baat zara personal hai, lekin kabhi kabhi dil ki baatein sab ke saamne karne mein hi samajhdari hai. Aaj mein ne hum sab project par kaam karne walo ki families ko thank toh kiya tha, lekin aisa ek koi hai, jiski mein khaas mention karna chahta hoon. Woh insaan jis ne mera saath diya, mujhe support kiya, sirf meri kaam mein nahi, lekin jis ne meri zindagi hi badal di. Bilkul akela pad gaya tha mein zindagi mein, sub kuch hote hue bhi kuch nahin tha, lekin us ne meri zindagi mein aa kar mujhe badal hi dala. Aur aaj mein sirf us ko thank you nahin kehna chahta, lekin kuch aur bhi aylaan karna chahta hoon."
Everyone's eyes were on him, as he extended his hand in Ishita's direction.
"Ishita, please come here"
Ishita had been sitting at the table after Raman left, trying to placate Mihika who was glaring daggers at Subbu. She had followed Raman with her eyes as he walked away, had seen him speak to Mihir and Romi, but then he had disappeared from her view, until his voice over the sound system had silenced her soothing murmurs to Mihika.
As he had started speaking, she had known that he would call her up. He had thanked her publicly once before, at their society hall, by giving a speech in Tamil. Tonight, though was different. She had seen the glint in his eyes as he had taken her leave, and she knew that although he had acted civilly to Subbu, Subbu's words about their marriage being a compromise, and her "condition" had bothered him deeply. She knew her Raman and now that he had decided to give up hiding their love, she had the feeling that he was going to make a very public proclamation of his feelings.
Although Ishita was a very private person, and had always disliked public displays of affection, when she was with Raman, her decided views on the subject went for a toss. Being with him was all that mattered to her, and if she were to be honest, she did derive a secret satisfaction in being publicly adored and desired by the most handsome and desirable man in the room. Although Ishita did not usually have a jealous nature, Shagun's proximity always caused a slight insecurity in her. And not just Shagun. Remembering her jealousy that night at the Taj, when she had seen Raman dancing with another woman, still made her blush.
She stood up, and smiling down at Mihika whispered "Mihu, next time, Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman saath dekhne jayenge, hmm. Raman ne toh us raat mujhe kuch dekhne hi nahi diya." Then she walked through the crowd, to where her Raman waited for her.
Scene 2
Raman stood in the middle of the dance floor, the murmurs of the crowd of his clients, friends and other guests ebbing as Ishita approached, her gait confident, any trepidation she felt well concealed.
He loosened his black tie, then ran his hand through his hair, before extending it towards Ishita just as she reached him. She took his hand, her smile wavering tremulously as she met his gaze.
"I know a lot about figures and projects and balance sheets." There was pin drop silence as he began speaking again. "Lekin pyar kya hota hai, woh toh mein jaanta hi nahi tha, Ishita. You taught me. I had lost myself, you found me, and you re-introduced me to myself. I love you Ishita, beyond reason, beyond words. Meri zindagi tumse hai, meri jaan ho tum."
He paused, his eyes welling up. Ishita blinked back her own tears, then slowly lifted her hand to his face, wiping away the precious drops that had escaped his eyes. He caught her hand, kissing it before continuing.
"Jo kehna chahta hoon, woh mujh se kahin zyada acha, kisi ne is geet mein likha hai. Tumse milne se pehle zindagi ki parwah nahi thi, par ab toh jeene ke dua karta hoon, tumhare liye, tumhare sangh. This song is for you, my love"
He tossed the mic to the DJ and snapped his fingers, before taking Ishita's other hand in his too.
The music started to play:
Pal do pal
Ki kyon hai zindagi
Is pyar ko hai
Sadiyaan kaafi nahin
To khuda se maang loon
Mohlat mein ek nayi
Rehna hai bas yahan
Ab dur tujh se jaana nahin
Raman took Ishita into his arms, swaying slowly to the beat of the music, leading her steps to match his. He mouthed the lyrics as the song played, his eyes holding hers in an intense gaze.
The room, the crowds, Subbu, Mihika, Shagun ... Everything appeared dim and hazy to Ishita. All that she could see, all that she could feel was Raman.
Jo tu mera humdard hai
Jo tu mera humdard hai
Suhana har dard hai
Jo tu mera humdard hai
He smiled slowly at her, brushing a gentle kiss on her forehead, before twirling her around. His eyes lit up with delight at the smile he received in return, and turning her around until she was in his arms again, he tightened those strong arms around her, as she lifted her arms to encircle his neck.
Teri muskurahatein hai taagat meri
Mujh ko inhi se umeed mili
Chahe kare koi sitam yeh jahan
In mein hi hai sada hifazat meri
Zindagi badi khubsoorat hui
Jannat ab aur kya hogi kahin
Her arms around his neck, Ishita laid her head on Raman's shoulder, their slow steps matching as their shadows merged into one.
Jo tu mera humdard hai
Jo tu mera humdard hai
Suhana har dard hai
Jo tu mera humdard hai
Some other couples joined them on the dance floor, Mihika and Mihir amongst them.
Mihika had tears in her eyes as she looked at her akka and Jiju. Finally, her akka, who had so much love to give, had given so much of herself to everyone, finally her akka had also received the love that she so deserved. "Areh, zara hum ko bhi dekho yaar" Mihir's voice cut through Mihika's thoughts, and she turned to smile at him.
Raman and Ishita had eyes for no one else. They had completed a journey from hate to tolerance to liking to friendship to love and finally to desire. Tonight, Raman had acknowledged their love publicly, and their mutual desire could not be hidden. Each slow step they took, each tender look they exchanged, his hand gentle on her waist, hers clutched tightly around his neck, every gesture, every touch, proclaimed more loudly than any words could, the intense desire that they felt for each other.
Teri dhadkanon se hai zindagi meri
Khwaishein teri ab dua-e meri
Kitna anokha bandhan hai yeh
Teri meri jaan jo ek hui
Lautoon ga yahan
Tere paas wahan
Wada hai mera mar bhi jaoon kahin
"Sweetheart ..." Raman had come to a standstill, his endearment whispered into Ishita's ears.
"Hmmm?"
"I want to be alone with you. Please"
Ishita stepped out of his arms, and smiled up at his face flushed with desire and longing. She took his hand, and led him off the dance floor, and out of the restaurant.
Jo tu mera humdard hai
Jo tu mera humdard hai
Suhana har dard hai
Jo tu mera humdard hai
Hmm humdard hai
Scene 3
Back in the suite that Raman had engaged for them, Ishita sat at the dressing table slowly taking off her jewellery. Raman was sitting on the edge of the king sized bed that dominated the bedroom, watching her, sipping slowly from a glass of champagne.
Her actions were languorous - finally, after the weeks they had spent conducting their clandestine love affair in hurried secrecy, they had all the time in the world tonight, to explore each other, to tease and play, to increase and renew their acquaintance with old and new nuances of each other's bodies and souls.
Ishita watched Raman watch her in the mirror. The way in which he had proclaimed his love for her today, their dance in each other's arms in front of the world, had awakened a bold streak in her. This morning, when she had tried to seduce him to rid him of his insecurities, she had been shy, trying to guess at what would be right, what he would enjoy.
Now, however, she wanted him as an equal. She wanted to tease him, to entice him, to make him want her with the same desperate passion she felt for him. She wanted to give him pleasure, knowing that he would reciprocate, knowing that their fulfilment would be the physical embodiment of a mutually acknowledged love in which there was no room for insecurity or anxiety. They had laid bare their insecurities and vulnerabilities to each other and they had triumphed.
"Raman" she called out softly. "Aap mujhe zara help kar dijiye, please."
He got off the bed slowly and walked up to her. Ishita's heart best faster with each step he took, his nearness causing a flutter in her stomach, a longing that was in equal parts painful and pleasurable.
He put down his wine glass next to her discarded jewellery, his hand touching and caressing the glittering silver strands as he stared at her reflection. "Kya karna hai?" His voice was husky with desire, almost unrecognisable.
"First this pin" she indicated the pin that held her sari to the strap of her blouse. "Can you take it off please."
He tore his eyes away from her face, bending his head as he slowly unpinned the flimsy material from captivity, his fingers brushing her shoulder.
"Damn" he swore and flinched involuntarily as the pin pricked him on his index finger.
Ishita immediately turned around and grabbed his hand, putting his injured finger into her mouth, sucking to sooth his pain. She had tried to do this once earlier, but he had pulled his hand away, discomforted by the intimacy of the action.
Now, however, he stood still and let her minister to him, her unpinned sari pallav falling unheeded to the floor. She finally took his finger out of her mouth. "Better?" she asked softly.
"This one too" he whispered, holding out another finger.
"Liar" Ishita smiled, but took the proferred finger into her mouth, and slowly sucked at that too. "Now" she said as she finally let go of his hand. "Won't you finish helping me?"
He had picked up his drink, and had been sipping slowly as she spoke. He now put his glass back and tilted her head back with his hand. "Ab kya?"
"Help me take the rest of my sari off, please" she said softly. One hand still on her chin, Raman pulled her towards him by the other, holding her slim waist to bring her closer to him. He then brought his hand down from her face, pulling the sari away from her underskirt in one swift move. The white fabric billowed as it fell onto the floor, settling in a cloudy pool around Ishita's feet.
"Now?" he asked, letting go off her, his eyes feasting hungrily on the exposed skin between her blouse and underskirt.
Ishita stepped up to him again. She placed one hand on his shoulder, while she wrapped his tie around her other hand. "Now" she replied " it's your turn Mr Bhalla"
Raman stood perfectly still as Ishita untied his narrow tie, leaving it around his neck, using it as a lasso to pull him closer still to her. As she pulled him towards her, he groaned and grabbed her around the waist with both hands, his hands digging deep into her softness.
Ishita shivered as she pulled his tie off, her hands at the buttons of his shirt. "May I?"she asked playfully.
"Ummm" he responded, as her fingers slowly unbuttoned his shirt, her fingers grazing his chest as she worked her way down. The shirt unbuttoned to the waist, she slipped it off his shoulders. He removed his hands momentarily from her waist to shrug the shirt off, then recaptured her waist, pulling her so close that her flimsy blouse grazed his chest.
Ishita captured his hands with hers, her ragged breathing echoing his. "My turn" she whispered. "Meri blouse ke dor.. khol denge please" she moved his hand from her waist to her back. Raman fumbled with the dor for a few moments, before gently turning her around. He stared at her intently before snaking his hands around her waist again.
"Raman, mera dor" Ishita protested.
"Haan, kar rahan hoo na" he chuckled, bending his head to her back, and taking the dor in his teeth, pulling at the knot until it loosened. He heard her gasp as he bit her lightly on her back, his hands digging tighter at her waist, as he caressed her with increasing intensity, his fingers trying to push her skirt down and off her waist.
Ishita twisted and turned around facing him again. "No cheating" she scolded softly. "It's your turn"
"I haven't finished" he retorted, bringing his hands up to the blouse and pulling it down her arms, two wisps of lacy fabric all that remained between their bare chests. " Beautiful" he whispered, bending his head to kiss the soft creamy skin he had just exposed to his gaze and touch. Ishita moaned and pulled his head down, her hands digging into his thick hair, her head thrown back, her lips parted.
"Now" he forced himself to take his lips away from her, to straighten up, wanting to see what further pleasures she had in store for him. " Ab tumhari baari hai"
Ishita flicked her hair off her face, trying to slow her rapid breathing. She was quaking inwardly as her hands settled on the belt at his slim waist. She fumbled with it as he had done with her dor some minutes before, her hands trembling, until she finally managed to unhook the clasp. He closed his eyes as she pulled the belt off, her hands hesitating at the waistband of his trousers.
"No cheating" he threw her earlier accusation to him back at her. "Jo shuru kiya, woh khatm bhi karo"
"Raman" Ishita was suddenly hit by a wave of shyness. He opened his eyes and smiled at her blushing face and downcast eyes.
"Hey jaan" he whispered. "Kya hua? Ab kya sharam haya?"
Ishita raised her eyes to his and he smiled at her, capturing her lips with his, even as he guided the work of her hands at his waistband, shrugging off and stepping out of his trousers.
He deepened his kiss as he pulled off her underskirt, discarding it in the growing heap at their feet. Ishita moaned as he thrust his tongue into her mouth, drinking deeply from her, as she drank from him, the champagne he had imbibed adding to the intoxication of his kisses.
He released her mouth briefly to let her catch her breath, before recapturing it with his, while at the same time he picked her up into his arms.
He strode to the bed with her, putting her down, kneeling with her, his hands caressing her softness, probing and kneading, until she cried his name out aloud.
"Touch me" he demanded then, falling back onto the bed, and pulling her above him, until she sat over him, her eyes closed, her breath ragged.
"Look at me, sweetheart. I want you to see what you are doing to me" he demanded, until she opened her eyes. He traced her lips with his hands, and she bit his fingers gently.
"Touch me" he said again, more softly this time. He placed her hands on his chest. "No cheating, remember."
Ishita ran her hands over him softly, hesitatingly at first, then with growing confidence as his face expressed vividly the effect of her touch on him.
She exulted in the sighs which escaped him as she found his sensitive spots, touching and caressing him until he moaned out loud, her shyness forgotten in her quest to give him the pleasure which darkened his face and smoothed away the lines on his brow, leaving him looking vulnerably young.
"Ishita" he moaned her name, drawing out the last syllable, as her touch on his bare skin drove him to the brink of ecstasy. "I love you" He groaned again, pulling her down, covering her body with his, his lips fierce in their assault on hers, his hands stroking her gently, even as he claimed her, sinking into a shared release.
"Thus in this heaven he took his delight/And smothered her with kisses upon kisses/Till gradually he came to know where bliss is" - Chaucer (Troilus and Cresside)
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"You and I, it's as though we have been taught to kiss in heaven and sent down to earth together to see if we know what we were taught" - Boris Pasternak (Doctor Zhivago)
"Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be" - Robert Browning (Rabbi Ben Ezra)
Next: Epilogue
The Morning After - Page 79 Edited by Veeann - 11 years ago
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